The low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release
Apple’s low-cost MacBook has been a long time coming, but it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March. Apple has a special event taking place on March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, it says we can expect a series of press releases along the lines of the ones we saw back in 2024 … more…

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Apple Music Connect is reborn as a marketing tool for the music industry
Apple's failed social media platform Apple Music Connect is back, but this time not for fans. Instead, it's a set of promotion tools for record labels.Apple Music has added a new central resource for record industry professionalsIt's not as if Apple starts up and abandons social media programs as often as Google kills off apps, but it feels close. Alongside better-known failures such as Ping, there was Apple Music Connect, which started in 2015 and died in 2019.Now Apple has brought it back — or really just reused the name — with Apple Music Connect for record labels and music distributors. It still has a social media element in that its tools include what Apple calls social templates for promotion on Twitter, Instagram and so on. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The final countdown for Intel Mac apps has begun
Macworld Apple has made a major announcement this week that could affect the software you use, especially if it’s an older app. In a support document, Apple wrote that it will start to phase out Rosetta functionality with macOS 28. That means in two years, apps that were written for Intel-based Macs will no longer run on M-series Macs, except for “certain older, unmaintained games.” When Apple began its switch from Intel chips to its own M-series chips in 2020, it changed the architecture of the underlying workings of the Mac. To help navigate the transition, Apple created Rosetta, which acts as a translator of Intel-based apps so they can run on M-series Macs. Rosetta will be included in macOS 27, which is expected to be released this fall. After that, Apple will limit the Rosetta implementation in macOS 28. It’s been over five years since the first M1 Macs debuted. By the time macOS 28 is released in the fall of 2027, it’ll be seven years–Apple has a history of deprecating products after such time. Developers have had plenty of time to update their software to either support M-series Macs exclusively or run universally on either chip. You can check an app’s compatibility by selecting the app’s icon and pressing Command+I on the keyboard. This will open a software info window, and in the General section, look at the listing for Kind. This will show one of the following: Application (Apple silicon): The app was written for Apple chips Application (Universal): The app was written for both Apple and Intel chips Application (Intel): The app was written for Intel chips and will stop working with macOS 28 Foundry If an app is “Apple silicon” or “Universal,” it will continue to work when macOS 28 arrives. However, if an app is “Intel,” it will stop working (unless it’s one of those older games Apple has yet to identify). If the developer doesn’t update the app between now and then, you may need to find an Apple silicon or Universal alternative to continue using it. These are your options: If you bought the app in the Mac App Store, you check for any updates between now and then in the store. If you downloaded the app from a third-party site, check the app’s settings or the developer’s website for an update. If none become available between now and 2027, your options become a bit more dramatic. You can look for a new app altogether, or you can put off upgrading to macOS 28 (which we don’t recommend). Finally, if you have an older Mac, you can use it to run any Intel apps when you need them.

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‘Double-dipping’ dispute over Qualcomm iPhone chips finally ends
Apple previously accused Qualcomm of “double-dipping” as a result of the company’s policies over selling radio chips for use in iPhones. The Cupertino company had also objected to Qualcomm charging a percentage of the price of an iPhone rather than a fixed fee per chip. Apple withdrew its claims back in 2024, but an independent class-action lawsuit was still being pursued on behalf of iPhone owners. This lawsuit has now been abandoned … more…

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Can Eddy Cue break Apple’s slump?
Macworld Earlier this month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple had scaled back its plans to launch a new Health+ service and was revisiting its entire health and fitness strategy. While this could be seen as being another sign of trouble at Apple, as the company is currently mired in an ongoing narrative about its inability to ship AI features it promised nearly two years ago, I choose to see this as the opposite: a promising early sign that Apple’s executives are recognizing that its headlong charge into chasing services revenue might be coming at too high a cost. The unlikely hero in all this? Apple’s services chief himself, Eddy Cue. This isn’t good enough At the end of last year, with the departure of former Apple COO Jeff Williams, Cue took over Apple’s health division. Even though Cue has been at Apple for a very long time, he was new to this group, and it seems to have made a difference. A new leader comes in with no ego invested in the path the group has been walking down, which makes it easier to see things fresh and not be afraid to make changes. What Cue saw was a team that was busily preparing a new service, Health+, that offered AI-powered coaching features using data from Apple Health. His response seems to have been that, even for the guy whose job it is to grow and maintain Apple’s services business, the service being built was not compelling enough to launch. But I think it goes deeper than that: The App Store has several apps that mine Apple Health data to generate AI-enhanced health information. What might have felt like an add-on feature a few years ago feels more like table stakes for Apple’s own Health app these days. And, according to Gurman, Cue has asked that a bunch of the features being built for Health+ just be rolled into the Health app. It’s not Sherlocking Is it wrong for Apple to look at other apps in the app store, like Athlytic, and realize that its basic, fundamental device features are lacking? This is the classic “Sherlocking” argument, but I don’t agree with it. There is a base level of functionality that Apple should be providing with every device it sells. Apple’s brand promise is that it sells nice stuff–a little pricier than the competition in a lot of cases, but you get better quality for what you pay for. That requires a level of basic functionality that comes along with the device that you’re buying. Right now, on the health and fitness side, Apple’s in danger of creating the perception that users need to buy an iPhone and Apple Watch and then subscribe to a service (from Apple or a third party) to make it worthwhile. Apple needs to make its base offerings with the Health app more robust instead of packing features into a pay-for service. Apple Cue’s decisions seem to reflect this worldview. Apple’s services, and indeed the services of third-party app developers, should exist to augment the base level experience. Independent app makers are always aware that Apple could roll in and stomp on their apps, and the wise ones realize that Apple’s much more concerned with satisfying a broad general audience, leaving room for apps and services that cater to more sophisticated or focused users. It has always been thus. Right now, Apple Health doesn’t feel state-of-the-art. It feels like an empty shell, full of data but with no intelligence explaining what that data means. I realize that health information is tricky and highly regulated in most of the world, but it’s incumbent on Apple to make all the data it collects understandable and actionable–and it can’t hide that behind a monthly fee. A nice hotel Forgive me for this tangent, but I swear it’s going somewhere: a few weeks ago, I went on vacation. We stayed at a nice hotel rather than the less-nice-but-cheaper VRBO condo rental we usually do. Because I’m me, I started thinking about Apple. Like Apple, the nice hotel’s brand promise is that it’s a nice hotel. If the hotel didn’t clean its rooms well, didn’t provide soap that smelled nice, didn’t maintain the in-room refrigerator, didn’t clean the swimming pool, it would probably decrease its expenses and increase its profit margin. But over time, it would lose its niceness and become a lousy, overpriced hotel. It’s a tricky balance, holding to the promise of your brand while also calibrating how to make a good profit. (I will point out that the hotel has an undoubtedly high-margin bar and restaurant and rents beach supplies at an enormous markup. These are the equivalent of Apple’s services.) What I get out of Eddy Cue’s reported decisions is that he seems to understand that not everything can be a service. If you strip-mine Apple’s devices so that they’re just empty containers into which services can be placed, you lose the ability to sell iPhones for $1,200. Apple needs to keep its standards high, wherever possible, and then offer services that provide value that goes beyond the basics. I don’t expect Apple to give me “Severance” for free, but I don’t expect to pay a subscription fee to use my own Wi-Fi. Opportunity for change One final point: Apple is entering a major period of executive transition. A few people, like Williams, have already left. Tim Cook is probably not going to be around too much longer. A lot of high-level execs have been at Apple for decades, have made loads of money, and will not stick around too much longer. This can seem like a terrifying brain drain. And if it hasn’t been handled right, yes, it’s an existential risk for Apple. But it’s important to consider that it’s also an enormous opportunity, because every time someone–even a longtime exec like Eddy Cue!–is given a new remit and new responsibilities, they are given the opportunity to change direction and revisit old decisions. Change at Apple doesn’t have to be a scary thing.Foundry It’s an opportunity that happens regardless of the stature or track record of the people being replaced. Tim Cook, when he took over as CEO from Steve Jobs, made a bunch of immediate changes to corporate policy, including reinstating charity matches. Being the new boss means setting your own agenda. In fact, one might argue that to establish yourself as the new boss, you have to set your own agenda or risk being seen as a mere caretaker. Every time an executive enters a new role at Apple, they have the opportunity to revisit decisions and policies, some of which could be years or even decades old. Not that they’ll change everything, but a new set of eyes and responsibilities can often be the perfect tonic for a troubled organization. Sometimes things are not working right, but nobody feels empowered to change them–because it’s the way they’ve always been done. A new leader can make those changes without feeling any of the burden of the past. If Eddy Cue can come in and decide that something Apple’s been working on for years doesn’t meet the company’s standards, that even a potentially revenue-generating new service is a bad idea, imagine what might happen with new executives all over the company. Apple has benefited greatly from an era of executive stability over the last decade or two. Now it potentially stands to benefit from ending that era and embracing change.

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Free your iPhone from spam with these 10 tips and tricks
Macworld The iPhone has become an all-in-one device for communication, entertainment, productivity, and more. Naturally, as we install more apps, the number of unwanted notifications keeps growing. Spam is no longer limited to occasional emails, texts, and calls; many apps now use push notifications to deliver ads, irrelevant recommendations, and other distracting alerts. Fortunately, iOS includes a comprehensive set of tools that help you reduce all sorts of spam types and focus on what actually matters. 1. Good ol’ blocking Blocking remains one of the simplest, most straightforward ways to shut down a consistent source of noise. If the same phone number keeps texting or calling you, you can easily head to the info card in Messages or the Phone app’s call log and hit the Block button. All relevant third-party communication apps offer a blocking functionality as well. Similarly, if an app you installed has been abusing the push notification system, you can tweak or revoke the permission. In the Notifications section of the Settings app, you can decide how an app gets to notify you, if at all. For example, you could turn off the Sounds toggle to receive silent alerts or uncheck the Lock Screen option to stop seeing banners when your iPhone is idle. Before revoking an app’s notification permission, it’s wise to scan the settings in the app itself. Many apps let you opt out of certain notification categories. This enables you to still receive updates about the things you care about, and nothing else. 2. Limit mirroring The Apple ecosystem lets iPhone users mirror calls to nearby iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches. That’s not to mention that, beyond calls, macOS and watchOS support third-party app notification mirroring, and AirPods can interrupt your music playback to announce incoming alerts. These integrations are welcome, but can make using our everyday devices overwhelming. Fortunately, you can choose what alerts get mirrored to other devices without completely blocking them on iOS. In the Settings app, under Notifications, you can turn off (for individual or all apps) the Announce Notifications feature that reads out alerts when your AirPods are connected. Likewise, you can go to each app’s notification settings and disable the Show on Mac toggle to stop mirroring alerts to macOS. The Watch app offers a comparable section to manage the notifications iOS pushes to watchOS, too. To prevent all of your devices from ringing every time someone calls you, you can head to the Phone app’s settings and turn off Calls on Other Devices. 3. AI notification handling If you’re using a newer iPhone, the on-device AI can analyze the contents of your alerts and highlight the ones it deems important. Apple Intelligence can also summarize long or multiple texts to make grasping their content easier. To set these features up, go to the Prioritize Notifications and Summarize Notifications pages in the Settings app’s Notifications section. Foundry 4. Scheduled summaries Scheduled Summary is yet another alert management tool that helps you avoid unnecessary distractions. When enabled in the Notifications settings page, the feature bundles unimportant alerts throughout the day and delivers them together at a time of your choosing. iOS will still notify you about time-sensitive updates, like calls and urgent notifications.  Foundry 5. Focus modes Focus is Apple’s advanced do-not-disturb system, letting you pick which apps and contacts can notify you across your devices. You can create multiple Focus modes with varying rules to match your different activities. The Focus mode dedicated to work, for example, would let alerts from your boss and collaborative apps through. You could also set in-app filters that hide content accordingly, like concealing non-work inboxes in the Mail app. To set it up, head to Focus in the Settings app. Foundry 6. Messaging controls While blocking is effective for alerts coming from the same source, users often get spammed by random numbers. Luckily, the Messages app accommodates that, letting you silence all texts (or non-time-sensitive ones) from unknown numbers. It could also place them in a separate inbox to keep your main view clutter-free. Go to Messages settings, enable the Filter Spam and Screen Unknown Senders toggles, then customize how you want the feature to behave. 7. Call management In Settings > Apps > Phone, you can enable similar filters for incoming calls. Under Screen Unknown Callers, you can choose if unsaved numbers are silenced or asked for the reason of calling automatically using on-device AI. The latter option will display a transcript in real time, so you can pick up and take over the call if it turns out to be relevant. Otherwise, enabling the Unknown Callers toggle under Call Filtering will move missed calls and voicemails from unsaved numbers to a separate list. Foundry 8. Third-party solutions While call management tools have become reliable on iOS, you could still opt for third-party apps for added functionality. TrueCaller, for example, can warn you about known spam/scam numbers and look up the likely name of the person ringing you. 9. Mail filters Like Messages and Phone, Apple’s Mail app offers automatic lists to help keep your inbox clean. You can enable the Categories toggle under the 3-dot menu in your inbox to reveal five main lists—Primary, Transactions, Updates, Promotions, and All Mail. The Mail app will scan every incoming email and place it in the respective list, reserving the Primary list for essential messages. Foundry 10. Calendars Lastly, many users complain about receiving a ton of spam alerts from the Calendar app. This happens when you accidentally subscribe to a malicious calendar online. To undo the damage, go to the Calendars section of the Calendar app, locate the troublemaker, and unsubscribe from it using its info panel.

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Apple’s March 4 event may not be what you expect
Apple may skip a traditional keynote on March 4 and instead unveil new products through press releases earlier in the week. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Stop settling — Office for Mac drops 77% for lifetime access
Macworld TL;DR: Get real Microsoft Office apps on your Mac for $49.97, forever — no monthly payments. We’ve all done it: opened a free productivity app and said, “This is basically the same as Word.” Until formatting explodes. Or the spreadsheet formulas revolt. Or the file looks completely different when someone else opens it. That’s why this deal exists. Right now, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac is $49.97 (MSRP $219) and it’s a lifetime license. No subscription countdown timer. No “upgrade to continue editing.” Just install it and move on with your life. You’re getting the real lineup: Word for clean documents, Excel for spreadsheets that actually behave, PowerPoint for presentations that don’t shift fonts, and Outlook for email that keeps work and life organized. Teams and OneNote round things out for collaboration and notes. The difference is its reliability. Files open correctly. Templates work. Sharing with coworkers doesn’t turn into tech support. This is especially nice if you’re freelancing, running a side hustle, or just tired of compatibility roulette. Think of it less as buying software and more as removing a tiny daily annoyance forever. For one payment, it’s one of those upgrades you’ll notice immediately. Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac is $49.97 (MSRP $219) through February 22. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Turn your Mac into a PDF editor for $40
Macworld TL;DR: Pay once and actually control your PDFs forever — edit, sign, and organize for $39.99. PDFs are great — until you need to change literally anything. Need to fix a typo? Add a signature? Swap an image? Suddenly, you’re exporting, screenshotting, re-saving, and negotiating with your computer like it’s 2006. That’s why tools like PDF Reader Pro Premium for Mac exist — and right now it’s $39.99 (MSRP $79.99) for a lifetime license. No subscription time bomb in the background. Instead of fighting documents, you just open them and edit. Change text. Replace images. Rearrange pages. Merge files. Add annotations. Fill forms. Sign contracts. Redact sensitive info. Basically, all the things people assume PDFs should already do. It also handles the less glamorous but extremely useful tasks: batch compressing files, password-protecting documents, and OCR text extraction, so scanned pages become searchable and editable. This isn’t trying to replace complex enterprise software. It’s trying to remove everyday friction. The moment you stop working around PDFs and start working in them, you’ll notice how much time you were quietly wasting. And at this one-time low price, it’s a pretty easy upgrade to justify. Get a lifetime license to PDF Reader Pro Premium for Mac for just $39.99 (MSRP $79.99). PDF Reader Pro Premium License For Mac: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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118 hours of ethical hacking training is just $28
Macworld TL;DR: If you’ve ever wanted real cybersecurity skills, the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle is a low-risk way to start for under $30. Cybersecurity sounds intimidating — right up until you realize most breaches don’t happen because hackers are geniuses. They happen because someone didn’t know what to look for. That’s the idea behind the All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle, now $27.99 (MSRP $854). Instead of vague theory, this bundle focuses on practical understanding. Across 14 courses and 118 hours, you’ll move through topics like Python-based security tools, hands-on website testing, social engineering awareness, and real Kali Linux techniques. Not in a “movie hacker” way — more like learning the mechanics behind locks so you know when a door isn’t secure. The skills translate beyond IT careers, too. Small business owners can better protect customer data. Developers can build safer apps. Even everyday users become harder targets once they understand phishing and device vulnerabilities. Because it’s self-paced, you can treat it like a long-term skill upgrade instead of a cram session. Watch a lesson here and there, and slowly build technical confidence. Finally, understand the systems you use every day — and know where they break. The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle is on sale for just $27.99 (MSRP $854) for a limited time. The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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How to get into retro gaming on Apple TV with RetroArch
You can play classic computer games from the comfort of your couch by using RetroArch with the Apple TV. Here's how to get retro gaming on Apple's streaming box.RetroArch works on the Apple TVRetro gaming on Apple's ecosystem enjoyed a revival in 2024, as Apple updated its App Store Review Guidelines to allow emulators into the App Store. The change led to a gold rush of emulators arriving in the digital storefront, providing ways to play classic titles on your iPhone or iPad.The change also made it possible to do the same on the Apple TV. The set-top box in the living room seems like the perfect bit of kit to play retro games on, being connected to a large TV and in the comfiest chairs of the home. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s March launch may include multiple days of press releases with no keynote, per rumor
Yesterday, Apple announced a “special experience” for March 4 at 9 a.m. ET, inviting members of the press to New York, London, and Shanghai. The question right now is what format this “special experience” and the associated product announcements will take. more…

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PSA: YouTube is down, it’s not just you
If you’re having problems accessing YouTube this evening, you’re not alone. YouTube is experiencing an outage, and here’s everything we know about it right now. more…

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Apple Is Reportedly Planning To Launch AI-Powered Glasses, a Pendant, and AirPods
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (paywalled), Apple is reportedly developing AI-powered smart glasses, a wearable pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods that connect to the iPhone and use "visual context" to let Siri perform real-world actions. The Verge reports: Apple is reportedly aiming to start production of its smart glasses in December, ahead of a 2027 launch. The new device will compete directly with Meta's lineup of smart glasses and is rumored to feature speakers, microphones, and a high-resolution camera for taking photos and videos, in addition to another lens designed to enable AI-powered features. The glasses won't have a built-in display, but they will allow users to make phone calls, interact with Siri, play music, and "take actions based on surroundings," such as asking about the ingredients in a meal, according to Bloomberg. Apple's smart glasses could also help users identify what they're seeing, reference landmarks when offering directions, and remind wearers to complete a task in specific situations, Bloomberg reports. The company is reportedly planning to develop the frames for the smart glasses in-house, instead of partnering with a third-party company like Meta does with Ray-Ban and Oakley. Prototypes of the glasses use a cable to connect to a battery pack and an iPhone, but Bloomberg reports that "newer versions have the components embedded in the frame." Apple reportedly wants to make its smart glasses stand out by offering a high-quality build and advanced camera technology. The company is still working on AI-powered smart glasses with a display, though their launch "remains many years away," Bloomberg says. Apple's plans for AI hardware don't end there, as the company is expected to build upon its Google Gemini-powered Siri upgrade with an AirTag-sized AI pendant that people can either wear as a necklace or a pin. This device would "essentially serve as an always-on camera" for the iPhone and has a microphone for prompting Siri, Bloomberg reports. The pendant, which The Information first reported on last month, is rumored to come with a built-in chip, but will mainly rely on the iPhone's processing power. The device could arrive as early as next year, according to Bloomberg. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Price cut: This feature-packed iPad stylus costs just $36
This is not just a stylus pen; it’s a workflow upgrade. Simply press the Pencil Pro Ultra's Smart Switch to bounce between iOS and Android. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Car Key support now available on the 2026 Toyota Rav4
Users of the Apple Wallet app can now use a digital Car Key to lock and unlock the Toyota Rav4, but the feature's availability has yet to expand to other Toyota vehicles.Apple Car Key can be used to unlock the 2026 Toyota Rav4. Screenshot credit: Reddit user Piecake1234Since 2020, the Car Key feature has allowed iPhone and Apple Watch owners to unlock and start their cars with the use of mobile devices. According to a social media post spotted on Monday, the 2026 Toyota Rav4 has gained support for Apple's Car Key system.More than 30 vehicle manufacturers already support Apple's Car Key feature. At WWDC 2025, Apple explained that Car Key would make its way to 13 additional vehicle brands. Toyota might be the latest automaker to roll out Apple Car Key support, but there are a few caveats. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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All 2026 Major League Soccer matches are free for Apple TV subscribers
All 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) matches will be available to stream for all Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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tvOS 26.4 adds new ‘Continuous Audio Connection’ on Apple TV
In addition to removing the iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps from Apple TV, tvOS 26.4 also includes a new setting for “Continuous Audio Connection.” more…

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Car Keys in Apple Wallet just launched for a major new automaker
Apple says car keys in Wallet are set to expand significantly soon, and one major new automaker—Toyota—appears to have just launched support. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: February 17, 2026 – iOS 26.4 beta now available, what’s new? 
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year. more…

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