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- Friday May 22
- 04:18 pmAirPods Pro 3 drop to $199 during Amazon's Memorial Day sale
Amazon's Memorial Day sale delivers a $50 price cut on AirPods Pro 3, with the entire AirPods line eligible for discounts.AirPods Pro 3 are down to $199 for Memorial Day weekend.Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $199 at Amazon today, which matches the lowest price seen this quarter.Buy AirPods Pro 3 for $199 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:10 pmApple’s boldest iPhone yet: Quad-curved ‘Liquid Glass’ display set to eliminate bezel era | Mac Daily NewsApple’s boldest iPhone yet: Quad-curved ‘Liquid Glass’ display set to eliminate bezel era
Apple is gearing up for what could be its most dramatic iPhone redesign in over a decade. Fresh leaks suggest the 2027 models… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:05 pmwatchOS 27’s rumored new Apple Watch face has me very intrigued
watchOS 27’s big reveal is just a few weeks away, and one rumor indicates it could add a new Apple Watch face that’s inspired by my all-time favorite option. Here’s why the rumor is especially intriguing. more…04:02 pmOpenAI’s Codex is now smart enough to control your Mac even when it’s locked
Macworld AI development is new and exciting, but while AI agents are doing their thing, you can end up waiting for a good amount of time. It’s a nice opportunity to get up and go do something, but if your Mac goes to sleep, AI agents stop working. Some developers turn to invoking a caffeinate session or using utilities to bypass the Lock Screen settings. Others use dummy display dongles to trick the Mac into thinking a display is attached, thus preventing sleep mode. But OpenAI announced a new capability in its Codex AI assistant that makes it even easier: Codex now has the ability to keep running after your Mac is locked. Codex anywhere and everywhere, all the time.Now your Mac doesn’t have to be unlocked for Codex to use your computer.From your phone, Codex can securely use apps on your Mac, even when the screen is off and locked.https://t.co/PCGK4i7FSF pic.twitter.com/956aAtM3vl— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) May 21, 2026 In Codex’s settings, there is an option for Locked use, which does exactly what it says when you turn it on. An Apple authorization plug-in installs, and then Codex will keep running. According to OpenAI’s Codex documentation, “Locked use is intentionally narrow. It’s not a general-purpose remote-unlock path for your Mac, and it doesn’t let other apps or local processes unlock the computer.” Foundry OpenAI notes that this feature has some safeguards, including a short-lived authorization window, availability only to Codex, and coverage for every connected display. It also won’t work when you shut your MacBook’s display, which triggers a different sleep mode. But if you don’t want a dongle or an app, this is a handy feature for OpenAI developers.04:00 pmHow to stop menu bar items being hidden behind the MacBook Pro notch
I am sometimes astonished that a company built on the notion of prioritizing the user experience is still capable of allowing some absurd UI oversights to remain unfixed through countless macOS generations. One of the most absurd examples to me is the fact that menu bar items can end up being hidden behind the MacBook Pro notch … more…04:00 pmHow to watch the F1 Canadian Grand Prix
After a three-week break, Formula 1 racing is back this weekend with the peak of motorsport landing in Montreal, Canada. In the United States, Apple has exclusive streaming rights for all of F1 so you normally need an Apple TV subscription to watch. However, this weekend is an outlier, as Apple made a special deal with Netflix which will see the race also broadcast on the rival streamer. more…03:55 pmThis powerful Ugreen NAS made me forget about Synology [Review] ★★★★★
Hands-on review: The Ugreen DXP4800 Pro NAS strikes a great balance between performance, ease of use and value. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:39 pmSonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock review: 20 ports and upgradeable 8TB SSD storage
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 20 ports, inc 3x Thunderbolt 5 M.2 NVMe SSD Slot (Echo 21) 10Gb Ethernet Dedicated video output DisplayPort and HDMI ports 140W Power Delivery RCA line out jacks Cons USB power output max 15W Our Verdict While we’d have preferred a bit more power output from the USB-C ports, the Sonnet Echo Thunderbolt 5 docks come with the latest and greatest connectivity standards, and will turn any pro MacBook into a powerful and flexible multi-screen workstation. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$499.99 Best Prices Today: Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock Retailer Price Sonnet $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Sonnet Echo 21 is a high-end 20-port Thunderbolt 5 docking station that’s ideal for creative professionals and MacBook Pro users needing expandable high-speed storage, multi-display support, and extensive connectivity. Its built-in M.2 SSD slot supports up to 8TB, making it a smarter long-term investment than the cheaper Echo 20. The main compromise is limited 15W downstream USB/TB charging. Best for: Creative professionals, multi-monitor MacBook Pro setups, users needing expandable high-speed storage. Skip if: You don’t need extra SSD storage or want faster downstream device charging than 15W. At the top of the docking station market are docks built on the latest Thunderbolt 5 connectivity standard. We’ve reviewed the best Thunderbolt 5 docks, and were big fans of the Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock, so have been looking forward to testing these docks from Sonnet. We tested the Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock, a high-end 20-port Thunderbolt 5 docking station designed to turn a MacBook into a fully featured desktop workstation, but there are two models for you to consider: the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock is identical except for the omission of the SSD enclosure that Sonnet believes is worthy of adding the bold title SuperDock to the Echo 21 that does boast the SSD slot. Echo 21: Same dock + expandable internal SSD storage. Echo 20: Same dock without the SSD expansion option, making it the cheaper choice for users who don’t need extra storage. Simon Jary Specs and features Echo 21 One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W) Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) One DisplayPort 2.0 One HDMI port 2.0 Ethernet (10Gb) M.2 SSD slot UHS-II SD card reader (320MBps) UHS-II microSD card reader (320MBps) 3.5mm combo In/Out audio jack (front) 3.5mm microphone jack (back) Stereo RCA Jacks (R&L, back) 240W power supply Echo 20 One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W) Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) One DisplayPort 2.0 One HDMI port 2.0 Ethernet (10Gb) UHS-II SD card reader (320MBps) UHS-II microSD card reader (320MBps) 3.5mm combo In/Out audio jack (front) 3.5mm microphone jack (back) Stereo RCA Jacks (R&L, back) 240W power supply The only difference between the Echo 20 SecureDock and Echo 21 SuperDock is the M.2 SSD slot located at the base of the Echo 21. The Echo 20 shares the same Thunderbolt 5 architecture and overall port set, but without the internal SSD slot. We think it’s worth paying the extra $50 for the Echo 21 over the Echo 20, as it builds in another level of future proofing. Aside from this each has 20 ports if you include the right and left stereo RCA jacks as one. That’s a lot of ports. It’s not as many as the iVanky FusionDock Ultra that boasts 26 but the same as the CalDigit TS5 Plus dock. The Echo 20/21 has the same number of Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) ports as the CalDigit: one upstream, capable of 140W power output, and two downstream TB5 ports. Simon Jary Thunderbolt 5 is a major jump in performance on Thunderbolt 4—unlike the shift from Thunderbolt 3 to 4. Bandwidth increases from 40Gbps to 80Gbps, with a unidirectional 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost for high-end video needs. Both have five handy USB-C ports and four legacy USB-A ports, which seems over-generous these days, but the old rectangular USB persists still in many older devices. Sonnet includes both HDMI or DisplayPort for dedicated video ports (on top of the TB display-connecting option), which adds a level of flexibility missing from the DP or TB TS5+. Both offer a top-end Ethernet (10Gb) connection for wired network access. This is backwards compatible to 1GbE, 2.5GbE and 5GbE for older, slower networks. Connect to 10GbE infrastructure using Cat 6 or Cat 6A copper cabling (up to 55 or 100 meters, respectively). You might not be lucky enough to have a 10Gb network but with the Echo 20 and 21 you’ll be ready for it when the time comes to upgrade, eliminating a later need for a separate adapter. The two docks are also matched with fast UHS-II SD and microSD card readers at 320MBps. Simon Jary Both docks offer a 3.5mm combo audio jack at the front, but the Sonnet goes a step further by including right and left RCA jacks (shown above) that reduce crosstalk by using separate right and left audio cables, are more durabile with a larger contact area, and offer better connection stability than 3.5mm audio jacks. The Echo docks also have a separate microphone jack at the back. Aside from digital audio—only the Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock has a TOSLINK audio port—the Echo docks are ably sorted on the audio front. Both docks are fanless, and the silent design marks this dock out as attractive to high-end audio and podcast creators. Simon Jary Design Unlike the compact but solid CalDigit TS5 or iVanky FusionDocks, the Sonnet Echo 20 and Echo 21 are shelled in a slim and long low-profile case. The ports are well placed, with all the TB5 ports tidied away at the back. The nine 10Gbps USB ports are well-placed, with two USB-C and two USB-A on the front and back, with the 15W USB-C charging port also close to hand at the front. Also at the front are the two card readers and the combo audio jack. I’d have preferred a power switch to keep my mind at rest that the connected laptop isn’t forever drawing power and causing possible battery wear, but Apple’s smart battery power system should take care of that worry. Although only the Echo 20 is called a SecureDock, with the Echo 21 top dog as SuperDock, both feature Kensington security slots, and include ThunderLok connector lock to help prevent accidental disconnections. The physical dimensions are 9.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches (243 x 106 x 330mm) with a weight of 2.9lbs (1.3kg). Simon Jary Storage The Echo 21 becomes a SuperDock through its SSD enclosure. It doesn’t come-prepopulated with an SSD. The card for the integrated M.2 NVMe SSD socket must be user-installed. That’s different from Sonnet’s Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock that has the internal SSD installed at purchase and isn’t user upgradeable. Turn the Echo 21 dock over and unscrew the panel to locate the SSD slot that supports high-speed NVMe SSD storage cards up to 8TB and able to transfer data at up to 3300MBps. Apple charges a fortune to add even 2TB (an extra $400) or 4TB (add $1,000) of internal storage to a MacBook when you purchase it, and after that you can’t upgrade it. Adding your own choice of external fast storage is ideal for large media libraries and Time Machine backups, and will appeal especially to professional content creators. At the time of writing, you could pick up a 2TB NVMe SSD for around $200—although storage prices are notoriously volatile, which to be charitable to its accountants is maybe why Apple charges so much. 4TB costs around $500 and 8TB $1,300. Simon Jary The dock also offers fast UHS-II SD and microSD card readers that at 320MBps are faster than the 250MBps card reader Apple offers on its MacBook Pro models. This ultra-portable storage is also a flexible way to add decent capacities at affordable prices. The older TB4 Echo dock lacked the microSD slot. Displays: How many displays can it run? Of course, one of the key functions of a docking station is to run one or more external displays via the single connection from dock to laptop. Depending on the power of the processor in your Mac, the dock can drive 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to 8K Displays via its downstream Thunderbolt ports, but also packs both DisplayPort and HDMI ports for monitor flexibility. Using one of these frees up the TB5 ports for other data-demanding devices. While the Echo docks have both DisplayPort and HDMI ports, you have to choose between them as they can’t be used at the same time.Sonnettech These video ports aren’t equal in their capabilities, though. You can connect up to an 8K monitor at a 60Hz refresh rate via the HDMI port but only up to a 4K display at 144Hz using DisplayPort. You can’t use both at the same time, so for multiple monitors you will need to use at least one of the TB5 ports. Owners of a SuperDock are unlikely to be hooking it up to a MacBook Neo or base M1/M2 MacBook—all of which are limited to a single external display, unless you install special software and a DisplayLink dock. Any MacBook with a Pro or Max M-series chip can run two 6K displays at 60Hz. M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max and base M4/M5 Macs have the option to swap that for dual 4K/144Hz monitors. The M4 Max can run a triple 6K/60Hz setup, and the M5 Max supports up to four 6K/60Hz displays. In testing, the Echo 21 successfully supported three 4K 144Hz displays using two TB5 downstream ports and the DP port. As the dock has only three working video-ready ports—two TB5 and either HDMI or DisplayPort—the M5 Max’sfourth will have to daisy-chain off the third. Only the iVanky FusionDock Ultra has enough video ports to run all four directly from an M5 Max. See the full Mac monitor matrix below. Sonnettech Power Each of the CalDigit TS5 Plus’s downstream ports can output 36W of power, which is enough to fast-charge an iPhone or iPad or even keep a MacBook ticking over. One of its USB-C ports is also a 36W charger. The downstream TB5 ports of the Sonnet Echo docks are rated at the usual 15W output, which will charge an iPhone or iPad but not at the fastest-possible rate. As with most top-end docks, the upstream TB5 ports of both docks output to 140W (PD 3.1) that’s enough to fast-charge the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Thunderbolt 4 Echo 20 maxed out at 100W passthrough power. Simon Jary The front-mounted USB-C port is also capable of 15W output, with all the other USB ports at 7.5W. The TB4 Echo lacked the 15W USB-C port. The USB-C ports support device charging even when the computer is off, asleep, or disconnected. It would have been preferable for one of the downstream TB5 or USB-C ports to output at least 20W for fast iPhone/iPad charging, but Sonnet is certainly not alone among dock makers to stick to the standard 15W. The Echo’s maximum power output among all its charging ports is 240W, compared to 330W for the TS5+. To be fair, the most power output the Echo is capable of is 245W: 140W + (15W x 3) + (7.5W x 8). The 240W power supply should cope with bursts of heavy power requirements. The handy three 36W ports of the TS5+ are the reason why it has an unmatched power supply. Sonnettech Price: Is the Echo 21 worth paying extra for? The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock is priced at $499.99 / £582 / €690. The Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock is $50 cheaper at $449.99 / £525 / €620. If you value expandable high-speed storage and long-term flexibility, the Echo 21’s integrated SSD slot easily justifies the extra $50 over the Echo 20. U.K. and E.U. customers will rankle at those high prices, but you get a lot for your dollar with the Echo 21 and its SSD slot. Unless your files live entirely in the Cloud, we particularly like the option to increase your MacBook’s storage when you want and with how much you need. Remember, though, that the dock doesn’t come with an SSD pre-installed so you’ll need to factor that into your overall cost. If you want a simpler, pre-installed solution look to the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock with the 1TB model costing $479, 2TB at $649, and 4TB at $999. The Sonnet Ech0 20 and Echo 21 (top of picture) is slimmer and longer than the iVanky FusionDock Ultra (middle) and CalDigit TS5+ (bottom).Simon Jary In comparison, the 26-port iVanky FusionDock Ultra costs $749 and 20-port CalDigit TS5 Plus costs $499, and neither has the Echo 21’s SSD slot. Read all our best Thunderbolt 5 dock reviews for the full range of options. Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock Read our review Price When Reviewed: $499.99 Best Prices Today: $499.99 at Sonnet Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock Read our review Price When Reviewed: $499.99 Best Prices Today: $499.99 at Sonnet Should you buy the Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock? While the Echo 20 and Echo 21 are identical except for the SSD enclosure, we rate the Echo 21 as our choice because of its extra storage flexibility. While we’d have preferred a bit more power output from the USB-C ports, the Sonnet Echo Thunderbolt 5 docks come with the latest and greatest connectivity standards, and will turn any pro MacBook into a powerful and flexible multi-screen workstation.03:31 pmDeals: AirPods Pro 3 Memorial Day deal back at $199, M5 MacBook Air Amazon low $199 off, iPad Air $400 off, Series 11, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: AirPods Pro 3 Memorial Day deal back at $199, M5 MacBook Air Amazon low $199 off, iPad Air $400 off, Series 11, more
The AirPods Pro 3 at one of the best prices yet. Equally as notable, we also have the base 16GB/512GB 15-inch M5 MacBook Air hitting the Amazon all-time low at nearly $200 off, just after the 13-inch models returned to all-time lows at $150 off. The 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 Cell model is back at its best price ever ($130 off) and Amazon’s clearance price on the 13-inch 1TB M3 iPad Air just dropped again to new all-time low at a giant $400 off. Head below for a closer look. more…03:21 pmApple TV’s new Matthew McConaughey comedy series coming this fall
Apple TV has its best summer lineup ever kicking off soon, but now we know of a notable fall premiere too: a new Matthew McConaughey comedy series called Brothers. more…03:01 pmThe 15-inch M5 MacBook Air just got its first-ever $200 discount
Macworld Apple MacBook Air M5 View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); The 15-inch MacBook Air has the perfect balance of screen size, portability, and power, and now it’s got the perfect price too: Amazon is selling the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air M5 for the best discount it’s ever had, bringing the price down to just $1,1100. a savings of $200 and the best price we’ve ever seen. Now that’s a deal! This MacBook Air setup is the perfect pick for remote workers, creatives, and pretty much anyone who needs a seamless multitasking experience. The gorgeous 15.2-inch display and exceptional all-day battery life make it possible to leave the charger behind while working on the go, and that’s quite important. This particular model runs on the super-fast M5 chip, and it’s equipped with a generous 512GB of storage and 16GB of unified memory right out of the box. If you need more internal storage, the 1TB model is also on sale right now for $150 off, but with Thunderbolt 4 on board, you’ll be able to hook up a speedy external drive. Don’t miss out on this $200 discount for one of the best laptops out there.02:56 pmAnother iPhone leak points to a groundbreaking ‘Liquid Glass’ redesign in 2027
Macworld Hype is building ahead of this fall’s iPhone launches, which are expected to include both the straightforward quality of the iPhone 18 Pro and the more radical breakthroughs of the iPhone Ultra. But as ever the rumor mill refuses to limit itself to the immediate future, and we’ve heard a fascinating tidbit about next year’s iPhone 19 Pro. According to a Weibo post and subsequent comments by the leaker Digital Chat Station this week (via MacRumors), the iPhone 19 Pro series is already undergoing evaluation testing and is rumored in the supply chain to “feature a quad-curved screen design.” The latter phrase also contains an emoji of a person eating melon seeds, and your guess is as good as ours. (We’ll add in passing that the leaker also says in a reply to a comment that the 19 Pro “is in mass production,” which seems extremely far-fetched 16 months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17e, for example, is believed to have entered mass production in January, before launching in March. The comment may be a mistranslation, but it’s another reminder that we should take Weibo reports with a grain of salt.) The leaker offers little further detail, but a quad-curved design generally means a screen that curves over on all four edges, effectively removing bezels from the design and giving the impression of a phone that’s all screen. In this case, that impression will be assisted by the replacement of the Dynamic Island by an even smaller hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen for the front-facing camera, with the Face ID sensor array moved under the display–something which users have wanted for years but which has always presented technical and cost difficulties. There have been multiple rumors before now that Apple will go for a curved design on the 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027. Last month the leaker Ice Universe speculated that this could be branded as a Liquid Glass display, emphasising that the curvature would be “extremely subtle” and describing a handset in which “the bezel nearly disappears from sight, while edge viewing remains natural and undisturbed.” But the idea goes back much further than that, with several reports in spring 2025 also asserting that the design would arrive in 2027 (even if the specific branding was unclear at that point). It remains to be seen how Apple decides to mark the 20th anniversary of its most successful product, and it’s worth adding that plans change, particularly when they’re made this far in advance. The reception accorded to the iPhone Ultra this fall is also sure to influence the design of subsequent generations. We’ll see you in 2027.02:32 pmApple iPhone 17 series sweeps Top 3 Global Smartphone Sales in Q1 2026
The top 10 best-selling smartphone models accounted for a record 25% of the global market in the March quarter — the highest concentration… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:30 pmWWDC invites, iOS 27 accessibility features, new Siri will be a ‘beta’
Benjamin and Chance return for another week in Apple news and rumors. As is tradition, the company unveiled a slate of new accessibility-focused features designed for iOS 27, with a strong theme of Apple Intelligence this year. Also, the WWDC keynote is official with invites going out to press, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman brings us even more details about the upcoming Siri revamp. And in Happy Hour Plus, the two discuss a new rumor that says Apple might switch back to titanium on future iPhones. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Bartender: Bartender Pro is a new option for users who want to take things up a notch. Visit macbartender.com to check it out. Sponsored by Shopify: See less carts go abandoned and more sales. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by IM8: Go to IM8HEALTH.com/happyhour and use code happyhour to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order. more…02:19 pmiOS 26.5 added new features to three popular iPhone apps
iOS 26.5 launched earlier this month with a variety of brand new features for users. Here are the new iOS 26.5 features that were added to three popular iPhone apps. more…02:15 pmBest ultrawide monitor Mac setups: One screen to rule them all
Ahoy, vast screen real estate! We found the best ultrawide monitor Mac setups from years of Cult of Mac coverage. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:49 pmApple Intelligence 2.0 promises many new features I’m very excited for
Apple Intelligence debuted almost two years ago, and for some iPhone users it’s been underwhelming. But rumors about what’s coming in iOS 27 sound like a true Apple Intelligence 2.0, with many features I’m already very excited for. more…01:35 pmApple’s next iPhone redesign could be all about the curved display
The iPhone 19 Pro could debut Apple’s biggest redesign since the iPhone X. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:26 pmEmployees at Apple's first unionized store to protest closing
The union representing staff at Apple Towson Town Center has announced a public rally for May 27, 2026, protesting against Apple's treatment of its workers.Apple Towson Town Center, MarylandApple Towson is not the only store that Apple has decided to close, but it is the only unionized one. It was the first Apple Store to unionize, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union claims that its members are being discriminated against because of this.Known as the Machinists' Union for short, it has now announced a public protest. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:20 pmApple won’t let you downgrade from iOS 26.5 anymore — here’s why
iPhone users hoping to roll back from iOS 26.5 are now out of luck. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)