Apple accelerating work on three new AI wearables, per report
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is “accelerating” its development of three new wearable products, including smart glasses, an AI pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods. These products, the report says, are being “built around the Siri digital assistant.” more…

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Unlock your door with your face: Apple’s privacy-focused Face ID doorbell expected soon
Apple's rumored Face ID-powered video doorbell continues to spark excitement among smart home enthusiasts, with fresh reports… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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How to tell if your Mac has been hacked – Key signs & what to do
Macworld It’s a long-held belief of Mac users that their computers are immune to the kind of malware and viruses that plague Windows PCs. While there is some credibility in this idea, we shouldn’t get over-confident when it comes to Mac security, as there are exploits that criminals can use to hack your Mac and leave it like a wide-open door through which they can steal your data or worse. In this article, we take a look at whether Macs can be hacked, how to tell if your Mac has been hacked or if someone is spying on your Mac, and what you can do if your Mac is being remotely accessed. Here’s what you need to know – and what you need to do. Signs your Mac has been hacked: At a glance symptom checklist First some reassurance: you probably haven’t been hacked. It’s more likely that you are dealing with buggy macOS behavior or app related problems. Unfortunately sometimes a macOS update can cause your Mac to start behaving in a strange way, Spotlight indexing, or a kernal-task related to temperature control can cause high CPU usage, as we have found on many occasions. But sometimes the behaviour really is suspicious. The things to look out for include: Mac running really hot, very slow, and the fans very loud when idle. Browser-based hijacks, a change to your usual Home Page, redirects, extensions you didn’t install, and suspicious pop-ups – especially if they say ‘Your Mac is infected’. Apps you didn’t install, or don’t remember installing. Excessive use of CPU in Activity Monitor. If none of the above apply, your Mac is unlikely to have been hacked. If you are still concerned, read on for details of how to run the checks to confirm whether your Mac has been hacked. PROMOTIONProtect Your Mac: Intego Mac Premium Bundle Intego Mac Internet Security X9 offers a useful set of security utilities that help keep your Mac safe and running smoothly and its user-friendly interface is right at home with Apple’s macOS aesthetic. It’s Macworld’s Editors Choice. Now $29.99 (down from $84.99) for the first year. Get Deal What to do if your Mac has been hacked If you are convinced you have been hacked, then we recommend you do the following: Disconnect Wi-Fi. Change important passwords using a different device – including your Apple ID. Look for any unknown devices associated with your Apple ID and remove any that are suspicious. Check for unknown admin accounts, login items, remote access settings, and configuration profiles (we offer details on how to do this below). Backup your files carefully (you don’t want your backup to be infected with malware). Run a Mac antivirus. Update macOS if there are any macOS updates that should be applied. Run a clean install of macOS if you are sure you were compromised. Enable FileVault and Firewall on your Mac if it’s not already turned on. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry How to tell if Mac is hacked If you think your Mac has been hacked there are a few ways to find out. First, look for the signs: Has your Mac slowed down? Is your web connection painfully slow? Do the ads you are seeing look a bit more dodgy than usual? Have you noticed anything strange on your bank statements?  If you fear your Mac may have been hacked, here are some quick things you can do to check for signs your Mac has been compromised: 1. Check System Settings Check to see if a new admin account has appeared.Foundry In System Settings you can look for signs that your Mac has been accessed by someone other than yourself. Open System Settings. Go to Users & Groups to see if a new admin account has been added. Make sure your own account type hasn’t changed. Look for unknown login item in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Are there any apps set to launch at startup that you didn’t install? Are there any suspicious apps that have been given permission for App Background Activity that you were unaware of? Check for any extensions you don’t remember installing in the Extension section. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and check Remote Desktop to see if any applications have requested access. Look our for unexpected screen sharing or remote access enabled. Check your remote access settings. In Privacy & Security check to see if anything has been granted Full Disk Access. Also in Privacy & Security check for any Profiles that you didn’t install (you may not see anything, which is nothing to worry about). Go to System Settings > General > Sharing and check Screen Sharing, Remote Login, Remote Management and File Sharing to see if they have been enabled without your knowledge. 2. Check Activity Monitor We checked: OfficeThumbnailExtension relates to QuickLook on the Mac and doesn’t seem to be malicious, just annoying! Foundry Activity monitor is a great way to check for errant processes that are running on your Mac. One of these processes may be what is causing the symptoms that have made you concerned about your Mac, although it doesn’t necessarily mean you have been compromised. To check for suspicious processes running on your Mac open Activity Monitor. Click on View > All Processes. Click on the CPU tab. Sort by % CPU. Note any apps or processes using more than 50% of your CPU while your Mac is idle. High CPUs are normally associated with browsers, video apps and games, anything else would be unusual. Look for any apps or processes you don’t recognise If you see something that looks suspicious Google the process name (but it’s probably nothing to worry about and may be vital for your Mac). Next, click on the Network tab. Sort by sent bytes. Note anything that is sending large amounts of data when you are not uploading anything. Be suspicious of anything sending large amounts of data out, but Google unknown process names before deleting/quitting any processes. Now check Memory usage in Activity Monitor by clicking on the Memory tab. Look out for apps consuming a lot of RAM. Look for evidence of remote access, e.g. processes like: screensharingd, ARDAgent, sshd, remoted, and tools like TeamViewer. 3. Look for suspicious apps Nothing suspicious looking, but beware of duplicate apps that could be spoofs. Foundry Have a look for any apps you don’t remember installing. Open the Finder. Go to the Applications folder. Sort by Date Added (if this isn’t an option right click on the bar and choose Date Added). Look for any apps you don’t recognise or don’t remember installing. 4. Check Browser Extensions Check Chrome and Safari to see if there are any Extensions you don’t remember installing. Foundry Browser hijacks are possible even if your whole system isn’t hacked, so be sure to check Safari, Chrome, FireFox and any other browser you use. Look for extensions you don’t remember installing, and delete them. In Safari click on Safari > Extensions. In Crome click on Chrome > Settings > Extensions. 5. Scan your Mac with an antivirus solution Run a Mac Antivirus solution and scan to see if there is any malware on your Mac. Foundry macOS will automatically scan your Mac for any malware definitions that features in XProtect, but you can’t force it to do this. Therefore we strongly recommend that you run a Mac virus scan using a third party security app. Initiating a virus scan is an easy process that usually begins with the user clicking a Scan or Smart Scan button. There are various Mac Antivirus apps we recommend, our top choice for Mac users being Intego, but there are lots of options, including some free Antivirus apps. See: Best Mac Antivirus software for the best options. You may also like to read our guide on how to remove a virus from a Mac. 6. Check your password Screenshot Foundry If you think an account might have been hacked then check the website haveibeenpwned.com and pop in your email address to see if it’s featured in a data breach. If it has been then change your password! This doesn’t mean you have been hacked, but it’s certainly possible that if this information is out there you could be. How to protect your Mac from hackers macOS is a very secure system, so there’s no need to panic, but if you want to reduce the chances of being compromised then there are a few things to do. The first is to only download software from either the Mac App Store or the official websites of manufacturers. You should also avoid clicking on links in emails in case they lead you to spoof websites and malware. Don’t use USB cables, other cables, or memory sticks, that if you can’t be sure that they are safe. When you are browsing the web surf in private or incognito mode. If you ever receive a ransomware request or a phishing email do not respond as all this does is confirm that you exist. Another is to make sure you download updates to macOS as soon as they become available as they usually include security patches. In fact, you can set up your Mac to automatically download such updates. Turn on Automatic Updates in System Settings > Software Update, click on the i beside Automatic Updates and select all the options. Pre-Ventura, go to System Preferences > Software Update and click beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date pre-Ventura. Finally, consider using a dedicated security software package. You’ll find our pick of the current offerings in best Mac antivirus. Right now our top choices are Intego Mac Internet Security, but we also like McAfee Total Protection, and Norton 360 Deluxe. You should also consider using a password manager, as this will allow you to have multiple, complicated login details across all your accounts without having to remember them. Here our recommendations are LastPass, 1Password, and NordPass. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry FAQ 1. Can Macs get hacked? It may be rare when compared to Windows, but yes, there have been cases where Macs have been accessed by hackers. These kinds of attack aren’t likely to affect the general public though, so if you aren’t protecting state secrets or heavily invested in cryptocurrency you are unlikely to fall fowl of such an attack. 2. What are some examples of Macs being hacked There are various types of Mac malware that have been discovered ‘in the wild’ on Macs as you can see from our run-through of the various threats affecting macOS: List of Mac viruses, malware and security flaws. Soon after launch, Malware targeted the M1 Mac – read about Silver Sparrow and the first cases of malware for M1 Macs. In August 2023 a software developer released details about a flaw in App Management, a security feature introduced in macOS Ventura designed to prevent malicious software modifications and alerting the user in such an instance. The developer had discovered the issue before the release of Ventura in October 2022, but a fix was not immediately issued, so, in August 2023, the developer went public with details of the flaw which meant that apps could bypass the check by App Management. More here. In December 2023, a group of university researchers alerted Apple to a vulnerability in Apple’s M-series chips that can be exploited to gain access to cryptographic keys. Dubbed “GoFetch,” the vulnerability could be used by an attacker to access a user’s encrypted files. In April 2024 Apple alerted some users via an email, suggesting that they may have been the target of spyware. “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-,” read the email, as detailed here: Apple warns users in 92 countries of spyware attack. It’s not always a flaw in Apple’s software that can leave Macs vulnerable. In August 2023 a serious vulnerability that affected Intel processors was highlighted. Affected devices included Intel-powered Macs from 2015 onwards (M-series Macs were all ok). According to researcher Daniel Moghimi: “Downfall attacks target a critical weakness found in billions of modern processors used in personal and cloud computers.” Intel released a patch, but it’s not the first time this has happened. Back in 2018, in a similar case, Meltdown and Spectre attacked vulnerabilities in Intel and ARM processors. That risk was mitigated by updates to the operating system which closed off the areas that were exposed. Such vulnerabilities, though rare, could allow an attacker root access to your Mac. 3. What does Apple do about hacks Apple has gone to great lengths to make it difficult for hackers to gain access to Macs. With the protections offered by Gatekeeper, the Secure Enclave features of the M-series of chips, and the T1 or T2 chip in some Intel-powered Macs, plus Apple’s built-in antivirus XProtect, targeting Macs may well be considered too much effort by hackers. We discuss this in more detail here: How secure is a Mac? and in Do Macs need antivirus software? However, from time to time security vulnerabilities are detected that could be used by hackers to exploit Macs. These vulnerabilities are sometimes referred to as back doors or as a zero-day vulnerability. When these are identified by security researchers (or friendly hackers) they usually alert Apple to them in the hope that the company will quickly close the vulnerability, quickly – or within zero days – before it is exploited.  Apple encourages researchers to point out vulnerabilities, and when a vulnerability is discovered, Apple is usually quick to fix. Apple has even paid money to those who brought security flaws to its attention. For example, in 2021, Apple paid a student $100,000 after he discovered a dangerous vulnerability relating to Macs and reported it to Apple. The vulnerability, which could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, was identified by Ryan Pickren in July 2021 and fixed by Apple in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 on October 25, 2021. More information here: Hacker ‘could take over any Apple webcam’. But there have been cases where Apple has been criticized for being slow to respond to the threat once it’s been identified. For example, researcher Filippo Cavallarin found a Gatekeeper vulnerability in 2019 that he alerted Apple to. Having had no response from Apple within 90 days he went public with details of the vulnerability. 4. How does Apple protect Macs from hackers Apple is kept busy patching these security flaws as and when they arise, but it used to be reliant on users to install them. Before Apple launched macOS Ventura in 2022 an update to the operating system was required to get the important security component on a Mac. Since some people delay installing operating system updates this was problematic so Apple changed the way security updates are applied to Macs. These important security updates can now be delivered as background updates that can be automatically installed on a Mac without the user having to do anything – although we recommend you check the following to ensure it is set up on your Mac: Open System Settings. Choose General. Click on the i beside Automatic Updates. Make sure that the option to Install Security Responses and system files is selected, even if you choose not to select the others (although we recommend you do). Now your Mac will check for updates, download the update, and install the update without you needing to do anything. If you aren’t running a recent version of macOS then Apple won’t be issuing any security updates for you. Apple only issues security updates for the current three versions of macOS, see: How long does Apple support Macs for. For that reason we recommend that you have a Mac that supports at least the version of macOS from two years ago. Currenly only macOS Tahoe, which launched in fall 2025, macOS Sequoia and macOS Sonoma are supported with security updates. Luckily this does mean most Macs from 2018 and later are supported. Read: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run. 5. Can a Mac camera be hacked? Once a hacker has access to your Mac there are various ways in which they might try to gain information about you or use the processing power of your Mac for their own purposes. As we mentioned above, in the case of spyware the hacker might attempt to install a keylogger so that it can record what you are typing and look out for your password. The hacker could also attempt to hijack your mic or video camera. Theoretically, this shouldn’t be possible: since macOS Catalina launched in 2019 Apple has protected Mac users from these types of exploits by ensuring that you have to give your permission before the mic or video camera is used, or before a screen recording can take place. And if your video camera is being used you will always see a green light next to it. However, the example we mentioned above, where Ryan Pickren alerted Apple to a vulnerability that could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, suggests that Apple’s alert wasn’t enough to stop the camera from being accessed. There was also a camera-related vulnerability that affected Mac users of the video conferencing service Zoom. In this case, hackers could add users to video calls without them knowing and then activate their webcams but keep the light turned off. This would enable any potential hackers (or law enforcement bodies) to monitor your activities and you wouldn’t have any idea that the camera was watching you. Zoom patched the vulnerability, but only after it became public knowledge when the person who found it reported that the flaw had been left in place for three months after the company had been privately informed of the risk. For more information read: How to stop your Mac webcam being hacked. Wondering about whether FaceTime is secure? Read Is Apple FaceTime safe? Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Glossary of terms We’ll run through the types of hacks that are more pertinent to the hacking of Macs below: Cryptojacking: This is where someone uses your Mac’s processor and RAM to mine cryptocurrency. If your Mac has slowed right down this could be the culprit. Spyware: Here hackers attempt to gather sensitive data about you, such as your log in details. They might use key loggers to record what you type and eventually have the information they need to log in to your accounts. In one example, the OSX/OpinionSpy spyware was stealing data from infected Macs and selling it on the dark web. Ransomware: Some criminals use Ransomware to try and extort money from you. In cases like KeRanger hackers could have encrypted files on Macs and then demand money to unencrypt them. Luckily Security researchers identified KeRanger before it started infecting Macs so it was addressed before it became a serious threat. In April 2023 security researchers warned that a collective known as LockBit was working on ransomware encryptors that work on both Macs using Apple M-series chips and Intel processors. Botnet: In this case, your computer becomes a remotely operated spam machine. In the case of the Trojan Horse botnet OSX.FlashBack over 600,000 Mac computers. Proof-of-concept: Sometimes the threat isn’t actually seen in the wild, but is a proof of concept based on a loophole or vulnerability in Apple’s code. While this is less of a threat the concern is that if Apple isn’t quick enough to close the vulnerability it could be utilized by criminals. In one example Google’s Project Zero team designed a proof-of-concept known as Buggy Cos which was able to gain access to parts of macOS thanks to a bug in macOS’ memory manager. Port exploits: It’s not always the case that the hack is made possible by some sort of malware downloaded onto the Mac. In some cases, Macs have been hacked after something is plugged into a port. It is possible that Macs could be hacked via the USB and by the Thunderbolt port – which is a good reason to always be careful about what you plug into your Mac or leave your Mac unattended. For example, in the checkm8 exploit it could have been possible for hackers to gain access to the T2 chip by plugging in a modified USB-C cable. Similarly, in the case of Thunderspy a serious vulnerability with the Thunderbolt port could have granted a hacker access to a Mac. Feeling more secure now? Learn even more by reading the helpful tips in How to keep your Mac secure.

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Qualcomm iPhone modem cost inflation suit in UK ends with undisclosed agreement
A long-running UK challenge to what Qualcomm charged Apple for smartphone modems has concluded, as the consumer group that filed the case has chosen to end it after years of litigation.UK group drops Qualcomm royalty lawsuitBritish consumer group Which? is withdrawing a five-year-long case against Qualcomm seeking damages over artificially inflated prices on iPhone modems. Initially, the group sought damages of more than $650 million for 29 million customers in the UK.In 2021, consumer group "Which?" launched the lawsuit against Qualcomm, claiming that it illegally inflated prices for 4G modems. It said the cost was then passed on to buyers of iPhone and Samsung phones. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s all-new colorful $599 MacBook with 24-hour battery expected early next month
Apple is poised to launch its most affordable MacBook yet, potentially starting at just $599. This long-rumored device, aimed at students… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Finally! Apple adds MacBook battery charge limit to macOS 26.4
Macworld Apple released the macOS 26.4 beta to developers on Monday, and those who have installed it have found a new feature that’s been a long time a-comin’. Apple is adding the ability to set a charge limit for the battery in a MacBook. With the new slider, you can set the limit to 80 percent, to 100 percent, or to an increment (in fives) in between. OH MY GAWD ! ! ! ! ! !😳🤯Charge limit option added in Tahoe 26.4 Beta!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SxNgMV3YsP— Mr. Macintosh (@ClassicII_MrMac) February 16, 2026 Apple added an Optimize Battery Charging feature in macOS Catalina that uses machine learning to limit charging, but since then, users have been asking for the ability to manually set the charge limit below 100 percent. Apple added that ability for iPhones in iOS 18, and now finally coming to the Mac. Why is this an important feature? Every time you charge and deplete the battery, it puts wear and tear on it, and over time, the battery carries less of a charge than it used to. Charging to 100 percent and depleting completely accelerates this process. Studies have shown that keeping the battery under 100 percent lowers the amount of wear and tear, thus making the battery healthier over a longer period of time. And the lower the upper limit you can manage, the better it is for battery health. Learn more about keeping a MacBook battery healthy. There is one drawback to Apple adding this feature: The main feature of AlDente, a popular MacBook utility, is Sherlocked. However, AlDente does have a lot of features that are quite useful, such as the ability to recalibrate the battery, heat protection, the ability to control the color of the MagSafe LED,and a lot more–features Apple isn’t likely to incorprate.

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Deals: AirTag 2, M4 MacBook Air 32GB/1TB $250 off, M5 MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt Pro Cable 46% off, more
While Presidents Day is behind us now, Amazon is keeping some of the deals rolling including the ongoing price drop on AirPods Pro 3 at within $10 of the holiday low. Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is also highlighting the best chance to save yet on the new AirTag 2 with this 4-pack deal, as well as the 32GB M4 MacBook Air with 1TB storage live at $250 off and $250 off the most affordable 24GB M5 MacBook Pro. We also have rare deal on Apple’s black braided Thunderbolt Pro Cable down at $37 (46% off) and even more accessories down below.  more…

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When will new AirPods launch? Latest updates on AirPods Pro, AirPods Max 2, more
Apple has new AirPods coming this year, though some models will have to wait a bit longer for an update. Here’s the latest launch timing for new AirPods Pro, AirPods Max 2, and AirPods 5. more…

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Apple stock selloff ‘unwarranted’ – Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives
Wedbush analysts, led by Dan Ives, describe Apple’s recent share-price drop as “unwarranted.” They contend that investor fears about… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Today in Apple history: Apple introduces ‘world’s fastest’ PowerBook
On February 17, 1997, Apple introduced the PowerBook 3400, a laptop the company labeled the most powerful portable computer on the market. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Final hours: Get Disney Plus and Hulu for $9.99 before the deal ends today
Now through 1 p.m. Pacific Time, get a month of the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for $9.99 — the best streaming deal in February.Get a Disney Plus and Hulu bundle todayDisney is wrapping up a limited-time offer that drops one month of the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle to $9.99 — a 26% discount off the standard $12.99 monthly price.The promotion is available to new and eligible returning subscribers (defined as customers not currently subscribed to Disney Plus or any Disney bundle). After the first month, the plan auto-renews at $12.99 per month, or the then-current regular rate, unless canceled. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Get this super-fast Apple Thunderbolt 4 cable for nearly half off
Macworld We all have USB-C cables, but if you want to know what true speed is and get the most out of the ports on your MacBook, then you need a Thunderbolt 4 cable. Usually available for $69, you can get an Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable for $37 at Woot, a fantastic discount. This Apple cable supports data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s, allowing you to move massive files in a blink and connect high-resolution monitors. The cable is also capable of 100W power delivery, so your gadgets will all fast-charge in no time. Apple’s cable makes it possible to connect your MacBook to displays and devices with TB4, including the Studio Display, the Pro Display XDR, docks, and hard drives, to name a few. This is a 1-meter (3-foot) cable, which is an ideal length to use with devices on your desk. With its robust build and broad compatibility across Apple’s ecosystem, it serves as a reliable, high-performance cable for everyday use. Apple has supported Thunderbolt 4 in its Macs for years, but here’s a list of compatible models: MacBook Air with M4 iMac with M4 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro/M1 Max or M4, or later 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro/M1 Max or later Mac mini with M4 or M4 Pro Mac Studio Mac Pro with M2 Ultra Snag Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 cable for $37 while this deal’s still live at Woot. Since Woot is an Amazon company, your Prime membership will get you free shipping, too. Buy now at Woot

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Cosmic Orange gift guide: 30 gifts to match the ultra-bright iPhone 17 Pro
Macworld Apple stunned the world with its bold new Cosmic Orange color for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. I can’t even name the other colors they are available in… Dark Blue? Sort of White? Who cares? It has to be orange! Decision made, now comes the real challenge: accessorizing. If you’re going to walk around with a phone that looks like a tiny glowing sunset, you can’t just pair it with any random case, cable, or charger. This is a color that demands commitment. There are plenty of orange things out these—not all good—but which of the best ones most closely match the new iPhone? Known to others as Papaya with the Pantone specification 15-1243, Apple’s Cosmic Orange is a vivid, slightly lighter orange with a bit more yellow than a traditional copper tone. It’s special, just like your iPhone. We’ve rounded up the best orange accessories to turn your phone into a fully coordinated citrus masterpiece. Even if you don’t yet own a Cosmic Orange iPhone, you have a grotto of gaudy goodies to gift to your friends who do. Kuxiu X40 Turbo 25W 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand Kuxiu First on any iPhone user’s list should be a fast charger and this up-to-the-minute Qi 2.2-certified gadget is as fast a wireless iPhone charger as you can get: 25W of raw power, which is perfect for the iPhone 17 family. Even if it was 5W it wouldn’t really matter, would it? It’s a glorious orange! It folds right down to a pocketable 2.5-inch square and 0.7-inch deep 5oz tiny slab. But of course it’s finest attribute isn’t the premium build or tiny form factor, but its glowing Cosmic Orange color. Find the Cosmic Orange X40 Turbo in the U.S. through Kuxiu ($79), while U.K. orangeers can get it on Amazon (£66). Kuxiu also sells a slightly cheaper, but larger, version called the X55 Turbo. Journey MOTION Apple Watch Sport Band Journey There are a bunch of orange Apple Watch bands to choose from, in orangy colors such as “Terracotta” and “Turmeric”, but we think the closest match to the iPhone 17 Pro is the orange MOTION Sport Band from Aussie brand Journey. At $59/£49, it’s also more affordable (at Journey) than the selection of pricey bands on offer at the Apple Store. Match your wrist to your iPhone and you’ll bring brightness to your day as soon as you wake up. UAG Civilian Case UAG If the Cosmic Orange iPhone is so gorgeous, why cover it up in a dull case? Sacrilege, surely. Think again… the iPhone Pro is too lovely to risk dents and dings or a shattered screen, but you still want the world to know you’re hip to be orange. Just like the army of orange Watch straps, there are many orange iPhone cases, but our fave is the ultra-thin UAG Civilian ($65) that isn’t as fancy as some but offers great defensive strength, including 20-foot (6m) drop protection. UAG doesn’t limit its orange to the Civilian; it has juicy versions of its Monarch Pro and Pathfinder cases, too. If you must have an Apple case, skip the iPhone 17 Pro clear case that’s more white than clear. Instead, opt for the Orange iPhone 17 Pro Silicone Case with MagSafe ($49) or Sierra Orange Beats iPhone 17 Pro Rugged Case ($79), both pictured below—you can even buy the Beats case for a humble iPhone 17—we won’t tell anyone if you don’t. Apple dbrand Cosmic Orange Skins dbrand We love the dbrand iPhone cases, too, but here we highlight their shameless and self-confessed “flawless colormatched knock-off” skins that can transform a ton of other products into Cosmic Orange beauty. Whether your MacBook, iPad, AirPods, or one of hundreds of even non-Apple products (even Android phones) can now cosplay as an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The skins are precisely cut vinyl wraps that adhere to a device for the custom Cosmic look, offering scratch protection without adding any bulk. Take a look at all the tempting things to wrap in dbrand orange here with prices starting below $40. Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad Belkin Why put your iPhone on a black or white charging pad when you can power up your cheery Cosmic Orange iPhone and sad white AirPods on the beautifully orange Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Charging Pad ($75/£74). Certified by Apple with its MagSafe badge, this flat charging pad can hit 15W of power—not as fast as the 25W Kuxiu X40 Turbo but speedy enough on your nightstand while you doze from orange sunset to sunrise. Bellroy Butterscotch backpacks, bags and slings Bellroy Bellroy doesn’t label the boldest color available in its range of laptop backpacks as orange or cosmic, but this “Butterscotch” backpack will go great with your iPhone 17 Pro. In Butterscotch, Bellroy has a Classic Daypack or larger Classic Backpack (16L or 20L), both with a protective 16-inch laptop sleeve. If that weren’t enough, you can pick up a Classic Tote, Getaway Bag, and even a Sling with padded iPhone protection. Prices start at $99. Statik SmartCharge Pro Statik 15000mAh is enough battery power to recharge a faded Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro nearly three times over, and even get a decent shot of backup power into your (sadly not orange unless you skin it with the dbrand vinyl wrap, reviewed above) MacBook. The high-capacity $99 Statik SmartCharge Pro has a bunch of tools, just like a Swiss Army power penknife: 15K battery pack, 15W wireless charging pad for iPhone, Apple Watch or AirPods case, and built-in 60W USB-C cable. You even get U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ plug adapters for your travels (or the region you live in), although these are sadly black rather than orange—no matter black and orange go well together. Orbitkey Travel Sling Orbitkey Sometimes you need top do something else other than gaze at your beautiful orange iPhone. Really. Keep your iPhone and all its accessories (orange of course) in the weather-resistant $89 Orbitkey Travel Sling, which hosts a surprisingly generous 3L capacity and can be worn as a crossbody or carried as a compact pouch. There’s a quick access front zip pocket, a wide opening for effortless access to all compartments, and inside you’ll find integrated mesh pockets. Hidden RFID-blocking pockets and an anti-theft zipper locking system keep digital theft and pickpockets at bay – without impairing your access. Nomad ChargeKey Nomad So small and handy that you don’t need even the orange Orbitkey Travel Sling (see above), the affordable but super-premium $29 Nomad ChargeKey makes a great keychain accessory in limited edition Cosmic Orange. It’s a USB-C cable that delivers both in terms of charging power (240W) and data transfer (10Gbps), and is as gorgeous as the Cosmic Orange 17 Pro with a neat braided nylon sheath and electroplated zinc stain cable tips. Statik MagStack Pro USB-C Cable Statik If that built-in cable isn’t long enough for you, Statik also sells a quality braided USB-C cable in what it calls “Blaze Orange”. MagStack Pro cable is available in 3.3ft (1m) or 6.6ft (2m) lengths, and can carry up to 100W of power. Even better, it is magnetized so automatically wraps up into a neat coil when you’re done with it. Torras Cosmic Orange Special Set Torras Best known for its iPhone cases, Torras has gone all-in on orange with its Cosmic Orange Special Set ($165/£128) that includes a color-matched case, screen protector, charger, and crossfit strap. To be fair, the screen protector is helpfully clear rather than orange but the application tray makes up for it. You can buy the charger separately (see below) and choose between the Cosmic Orange LoopGo Flex Crossbody Phone Lanyard and Apple’s plain Orange Crossbody Strap. Torras Icenano FoldPro Fast Charger Block 45W Orange Torras If you don’t need the full set, you’ll be happy with the tiny orange charger. Built with a Gallium Nitride (GaN) chip, Torras’s Icenano FoldPro USB-C wall charger ($35) is cooler in temperature (and therefore smaller and lighter) but much hotter in attitude. At 45W, it’s got plenty to spare when fast-charging your iPhone 17 Pro Max, and can even power up your MacBook Air. Case Logic Reflect Laptop Sleeve Case Logic Your MacBook will thank you for the 6mm of dense memory foam that provides a protective cushion and the plush interior lining that defends the laptop from scratches, but forget all that stuff because the outside of the Case Logic Reflect Laptop Sleeve ($45) is a very Cosmic Orange, so you can hide that Silver or Space Gray monstrosity. Antler Heritage Leather AirPods Case, plus luggage tags and straps in Coral Antler Looking for a little class with your iPhone 17 Pro on your next trip? Then look no further than Antler’s lovely Coral range of travel accessories (from $20 / £14), including luggage tags and straps, packing cubes and even a cute orange AirPods case ($75 / £55). You’re not fooling anyone, Antler… your accessories are orange, not coral… unless they are actually made of coral, of course. Weatherman umbellas Weatherman It doesn’t rain but it pours Cosmic Orange gear on us, and we have just the thing for it—the Rusty Orange Weatherman Travel Umbrella ($69/£60). You’ll be delighted to see clouds in the sky when it means you can hoist our orange one proudly through the deluge without fear of getting our other Cosmic Orange goodies drenched. However… Rusty Orange? Surely, an umbrella this colorful won’t let your IP68-rated iPhone actually corrode. Logitech POP Icon Orange Keyboard Logitech Back at your desk, sometimes you have to use an old-school computer rather than your Cosmic Orange iPhone, even if it is a 17 Pro Max. Apple does make an orange version of its Magic Keyboard, but unless you can find a used one, you’ll need to buy an orange iMac to get it (see below). So rest your eyes on this orange-accented keyboard from Logitech. The POP Icon Keyboard ($49/£49) in Off White & Orange isn’t completely orange, but all the letters and funny symbols are. As it connects via Bluetooth, you can even pair it with your iPhone and ditch the desktop altogether. Orange Apple iMac Apple One of Apple’s first G3 iMacs was orange—or “Tangerine” as Steve Jobs called it. In those days, however, orange wasn’t as hip as it is today, and the Tangerine iMac was a bit of a failure, at least compared to Blueberry and Strawberry. (Fun orange fact: the iMac’s designer, Jony Ive, used to work at a design agency called Tangerine.) Fortunately, Tim Cook has forgotten the Tangerine Nightmare, and you can buy a colorful iMac again (from $1,299/£1,299) and this time in Orange—not Cosmic but very close, at least on the back. The iMac even comes with a keyboard and mouse with orange accents. Other orange Apple stuff Apple In fact, Apple makes quite a few things under its orange umbrella, even if they aren’t as cosmic as the iPhone. You can buy an AirTag Key Ring and MagSafe Wallet both in “Fox Orange”, Crossbody Strap for your iPhone, and an orange HomePod mini, Electric Orange PowerBeats Pro 2, and some faded orange AirPods Max. Jan Gruber (Foundry) Issey Miyake iPhone Pocket Apple Ok, so this is a long shot, but you might even be tempted by one of the craziest accessories on the Apple Store: the $149/£139 iPhone Pocket by Issey Miyake—available in “Mandarin”. Mandarin? Orange, ok? It’s not technically an Apple product, even if it is clearly inspired by the legendary and no doubt highly successful (I’ve forgotten) iPod Socks—also available in orange but long gone by now. Anker MagGo Power Bank (5K, Slim) – Coral Apple Consulting the electronic brain of AI, I learned that Coral is either “a pinkish-orange or an orange-pink”. While the Antler luggage accessories in Coral avoided any sort of pinkness in favor of a very Cosmic Orange, Anker’s MagGo Power Bank in Coral (£49; not available in the U.S. for some reason) is decidedly un-orange pink, which actually might be useful if reports are true that the orange iPhone turns pink when scrubbed too hard with cleaning agents.

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Mac gamers chasing PC hits may finally have an answer in GameHub
GameSir is finally offering something Mac gamers have been dreaming about for years — a way to unlock their entire Steam libraries on Apple Silicon, but the company has yet to explain how it actually works.GameSir claims to unlock Mac gamingThe GameHub for Mac promo shows Apple devices running big Windows games like Black Myth: Wukong and God of War Ragnarok — both of which are not Mac native. The headline boldly states that "Your Mac is now a gaming PC."It also promises users can access their "entire Steam library." Though Macs can already play supported Steam games, GameHub's premise is something different. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple plans M5-based Private Cloud Compute architecture for Apple Intelligence
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iOS 26.4 is here, at least in beta form, and delving into the code has revealed that Apple is preparing for CarPlay to let you watch videos when parked. more…

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Rode Wireless Pro and Wireless Go can now connect direct to iPhone
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Update your HomePod smart speaker with the latest software
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Apple Podcasts app gets advanced video podcast capabilities
Apple today announced a transformative update coming to Apple Podcasts this spring that will bring advanced video podcast capabilities… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iOS 26.4 makes it easy to see who’s using your personal hotspot data
iOS 26.4 beta 1 debuted yesterday, packing a wide array of new features, including a change for personal hotspot that makes it easy to see who’s using your data. more…

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