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- Tuesday April 28
- 01:48 pmThe OpenAI smartphone will fail, but it’ll be good for iPhone users
The past few days have seen conflicting views from AI companies about the future of smartphones. Perplexity thinks AI will only benefit iPhones, while OpenAI reportedly thinks its own smartphone can render them obsolete. I would bet very heavily that the OpenAI smartphone will either never materialize or will be a commercial failure, but I still think the attempt is good news for iPhone users … more…01:48 pmThe OpenAI smartphone will fail, but it’ll be good for iPhone users
The past few days have seen conflicting views from AI companies about the future of smartphones. Perplexity thinks AI will only benefit iPhones, while OpenAI reportedly thinks its own smartphone can render them obsolete. I would bet very heavily that the OpenAI smartphone will either never materialize or will be a commercial failure, but I still think the attempt is good news for iPhone users … more…01:30 pmThis nutrition and fitness app makes meal planning and workout tracking simple
The NutriAI nutrition and workout app generates daily meal plans tailored to your goals, with grocery lists so you know exactly what to buy. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:20 pmApple kills App Store bill with ‘tidal wave lobbying effort’
Macworld Apple has avoided an inconvenient constraint on the way it runs the App Store, thanks to what a political opponent has described as “a tidal wave lobbying effort.” The Cupertino company, along with other owners of very large software storefronts, can now carry on promoting its own apps and giving them preferential treatment, leaving smaller developers to struggle for exposure. Last month, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) proposed the BASED Act, the name standing for Blocking Anticompetitive Self-preferencing by Entrenched Dominant platforms. The idea of this legislation was to prohibit owners of platforms with a market cap above $1 trillion and at least 100 million monthly users in the U.S. from pushing those users towards their own offerings, which is clearly aimed at Apple. “Anticompetitive behavior is everywhere on the internet,” argued Wiener. “From rigged search results, to manipulative nudges boosting the ‘house’ product, to anti-discount policies that raise prices, to the dreaded green bubble that ‘breaks’ the group chat. When the world’s largest digital platforms rig the game to favor their own products and services, we all lose. By prohibiting these anticompetitive practices, the BASED Act will protect competition online, empower consumers and startups, and promote innovations to improve all our lives.” This sounded promising for smaller app makers, many of whom formed an alliance to support the bill. But they were unable to defeat the far greater resources brought to bear by Apple and Google, which would also have been affected because of the size of its Play store, and the measure was “buried in little more than a month,” Bloomberg reported this week. The trade group Chamber of Progress, of which both Apple and Google are partners, reportedly identified defeating the BASED Act as its top priority for this year. Lobbyists against the bill also included the California Chamber of Commerce. “They absolutely flooded the Capitol with lobbyists to trash the bill and to spread misinformation,” complained Wiener. “It was a tidal wave lobbying effort, and we were at a real disadvantage.” Apple has never been shy about dabbling in politics and is fairly open about its lobbying activities. On the company’s site, it describes this process as working to “help policy makers at every level of government understand our products, our innovations, and our business.” You can scrutinise these activities using the dropdown state-selection tool. As well as the Chamber of Progress, Apple belongs to the App Association, which works “to promote a policy environment that rewards and inspires innovation”; the Digital Media Association, which “advocates for music streaming services by championing policies and public conversations that encourage innovation”; NetChoice, which is very keen on “light-touch regulation”; and more than 40 other groups and trade associations. At the start of this decade, a report found that Apple spent $1.56m on political lobbying in three months, and that number is likely to have risen significantly in recent years. Tim Cook, meanwhile, has given time and money to develop a fruitful relationship with President Trump, an occupation that will likely dominate his duties as chairman of the board from this fall. Any further attempts to curb the company’s power through political means will face an uphill struggle.01:15 pmHighly adaptable Edifier M90 speakers earn a spot in any Apple setup [Review] ★★★★☆
Our hands-on Edifier M90 speaker review finds the compact boxes can power great sound in a variety of settings. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:15 pmUAG is running the craziest sale we’ve ever seen: 60% off for 6 minutes each day
Macworld Urban Armor Gear (UAG) is known for its stylish yet ultra-protective tech accessories, such as iPhone, iPad, and MacBook cases and sleeves, Apple Watch bands, backpacks, power banks and chargers, stands, and tracker cards. But if you’re really fast, today you can get anything they sell for a whopping 60 percent off—but you need to act fast. UAG is hosting a “Mega Sale” with a twist: To get the discount, you need to shop this week during a specific 6-minute window each day. Today’s sale runs between 5:30 pm and 5:36 pm PST with the code SAVE60. You can get future codes on the UAG website or sign up to receive the codes by email and text. UAG makes a ton of accessories we love, such as the Monarch, Pathfinder, Civilian, and Pylo iPhone cases, heat-molded soft neoprene sleeves for the MacBook Air or Pro, the clear impact-resistant armor shell for MacBook Neo, Active and Scout Apple Watch bands, and SRGE Rugged magnetic power banks. And there’s much more on the UAG website, so go pick out what you want now because the sale doesn’t leave much time for browsing. Also check these accessories out in our Best Cases for iPhone 17, Best MacBook Bags, Best FindMy Tracker Cards and Best Magnetic Power Banks features. Get your daily Mega Sale codes here 60% off everything but be quick, it's time-limited each day GET CODE (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; }); })();01:13 pm15 years ago, Apple ‘finally’ released the white iPhone 4 after a 300+ day delay
The white iPhone 4 release day is always a fun Apple anniversary for me to think about. It comes one week before I bought my first iPhone (the iPhone 4 in white, of course) and 308 days after the black iPhone 4 arrived in stores. more…01:00 pm5 best Apple products of the Tim Cook era
We give outgoing CEO Tim Cook credit where credit is due for the best Apple products released while he ran the show in Cupertino. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:00 pmAdobe Photoshop gets AI object rotation, as Lightroom adds new presets, better search, more | 9 to 5 MacAdobe Photoshop gets AI object rotation, as Lightroom adds new presets, better search, more
Adobe is rolling out updates to Photoshop and Lightroom today, with new AI-powered tools, workflow improvements, and performance upgrades across both apps. Here are the details. more…12:58 pmThis 20th Anniversary iPhone rumor is speculative but persuasive
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive famously prioritized sleek aesthetics over almost everything else, and there was widespread agreement that he sometimes took this a little too far. However, his long-term vision of the future of the iPhone as a single slab of glass has persisted beyond his tenure, and a new post does seem to present a persuasive view of what we might expect from a 20th Anniversary iPhone next year … more…12:57 pmApple’s gripping new space-race drama ‘Star City’ premieres at CANNESERIES
at the Cannes International Series Festival (CANNESERIES), Apple TV celebrated the global premiere of “Star City” with creators and… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.12:14 pmAdobe Firefly AI Assistant is in open beta. It's not great.
Adobe's shift towards agentic creativity is terrible so far, and might end up being a win for someone, somewhere. It won't be artists.Adobe Firefly AI | Image credit: AdobeAllow me to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of AppleInsider, just a peek, so that you may understand how the sausage gets made.I show up, five days a week, to a digital office of sorts: the fabled "Work Slack." And, on many of those days, my compatriots have taken to showing me, specifically, "some AI bullshit." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:06 pm'Liquid Glass Display' may kill iPhone bezel with optical trickery
The next generation of iPhone screen is rumored to be called the "Liquid Glass Display," with an all-glass design that bends light to minimize the bezel.Apple's next iPhone screen overhaul could use a lot more curved glass.The iPhone display has been the topic of rumors for a while, with most attention on the flexible version in the iPhone Fold. However, Apple is always looking to create screens that take advantage of new technologies, shaking up the aesthetics of its premier models.According to a Monday tweet by leaker Ice Universe, Apple's next generation of screen will be called a "Liquid Glass Display." The leaker insists it's not a traditional quad curved display, nor will it be like the curved displays seen on Android devices. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:03 pmHere’s why the Apple Ultra rumors make sense to me
A report yesterday suggested that we may be seeing a succession of Apple Ultra products, including the upcoming folding iPhone and an M6-powered MacBook. So far, of course, we’ve only seen the branding used for an Apple Watch. It may potentially be pointing to a new tier of Apple products across almost the company’s entire range of devices, and to me that would make sense for both the company and its customers … more…12:00 pmOpenAI Eyes AI Agent Phone, Kuo Says
OpenAI may be exploring an AI agent smartphone, signaling a potential move beyond apps toward a more integrated, assistant-driven mobile experience. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.12:00 pmOpenAI Eyes AI Agent Phone, Kuo Says
OpenAI may be exploring an AI agent smartphone, signaling a potential move beyond apps toward a more integrated, assistant-driven mobile experience. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.12:00 pmOpenAI Eyes AI Agent Phone, Kuo Says
OpenAI may be exploring an AI agent smartphone, signaling a potential move beyond apps toward a more integrated, assistant-driven mobile experience. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.11:50 amBest laptop stands for Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2026
Macworld Apple’s MacBooks are great, but—as with all laptops—using one isn’t that great for your back or neck. Continual bowing of the head to see a screen can lead to a stiff neck and what doctors scarily call spinal stenosis, which can compress blood vessels and displace nerves—cutting off blood supply to the brain. That’s not a good thing. Your screen should be at a comfortable height that doesn’t make you bend your neck down to see it. Try to make sure your eyes are in line with the screen while sitting with a straight back. This also helps when making video calls, so the other people aren’t staring up your nostrils. Using a laptop stand also makes using a separate keyboard and mouse much easier. See our roundups of the best Mac keyboards and best Mac mouse. And, after use, you can hide away your keyboard under the raised stand on certain models. Some stands raise the laptop to eye level, and others—known as “vertical” or “closed” stands—just keep the MacBook closed for minimal desk disruption if you have connected external displays to increase your screen size—learn how to set up a second screen for a Mac. The eye-level, open laptop stands are more ergonomic, raising the MacBook screen so that you are not straining your neck muscles, shoulders and back. It should also reduce screen glare, which means less eye strain and fewer headaches. On such a stand, the MacBook’s webcam will also be at a more natural level with your head, meaning less video calls with people looking up your nose or down on your head. Buy a vertical/closed laptop stand to keep your desk tidy and free up space for other stuff—be that a charger for your iPhone, backup hard disk, or a cup of coffee. Both types of stand should also raise the laptop, raising it off the desk and keeping it cooler. If a laptop gets too hot, its performance is likely to suffer. A laptop stand also works nicely with a MacBook docking station, which can multiply the number of ports and slots available to you and allow for multiple larger displays. Some stands even have their own integrated USB-C hub, which is a very clever addition. We’ve rounded up the best laptop stands for MacBook that we can find, each with its own special features. Most mimic the clean metal lines of the MacBook range, while others think differently. Twelve South Curve Flex – Most stylish flexible MacBook stand Pros Stylish Multiple height and tilt settings Portable Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check on Amazon Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Many laptop stands are rigid and offers little flexibility. The Cuve Flex, from premium accessory maker Twelve South, remedies this limitation with both height and tilt adjustability. It can elevate your MacBook screen and camera up to 22 inches (56cm) so it can be close to eye level and aligned with an external screen if you have one. This flexibility is better for your neck, back and eyes. You can angle the MacBook’s keyboard from 0 to 45 degrees. The Curve Flex is not just flexible; it’s portable, too. It weighs 28oz (795g), folds flat and comes with a padded neoprene travel sleeve. While it costs more than the original fixed-position Curve and even cheaper Curve SE (reviewed below), and indeed many of the MacBook stands tested here, the flexibility and portability justify the extra expense. The Curve Flex is available in matte black or white. Twelve South also has a companion stand for the external display you might connect to your MacBook. The Curve Riser will put your second screen at a similar height to the laptop, and includes a handy shelf for a docking station or other device.11:24 amApple makes expensive app subscriptions easier to pay
You can soon pay annual app subscriptions monthly with a 12-month commitment, making expensive apps more affordable. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)11:00 amPlease, John Ternus, bring back the Mac event
Macworld Here’s something that my editor pointed out to me the other day: The last time Apple held a Mac-specific event was in October 2023. At first, I was like, nah, that’s not right. But when I checked, it turns out that Apple hasn’t made any Mac announcements at a keynote since that Scary Fast event. At most, a recap of recent Mac releases was briefly mentioned, and that’s it. As a Mac guy, I accepted that the Mac became a lower priority for Apple, for a good reason: The iPhone is so prominent, it just has to be that way. And the Mac is into its fourth decade as a platform. It’s mature, it’s stable, it will always be here. It kind of takes care of itself. But, again, I’m a Mac guy, so I’d like to see Mac marketing events for the general public again. It doesn’t have to be every year, but we should not go nearly three years without one. And no, the Apple Experience event for the MacBook Neo doesn’t count. That was an invite-only event. There was no presentation to the general public, except for a press release and YouTube videos. And if there’s any Mac release in the last two years that called for a keynote, it’s the Neo. If you’re rolling your eyes, exasperated at what you think is a trivial request, I can see that. But you probably never watched Steve Jobs introduce the first Mac, or you never watched the introduction of the first iMac. These are iconic keynotes not just for the products they unveiled, but because they did more than introduce new computers to buy. Mac events, even the Scary Fast event from 2023, are a love letter to die-hard users. (Side note: Who was the last presenter at that event? New CEO John Ternus.) The Scary Fast October 2023 event was a Mac showcase–the last one Apple has done.Apple For a lot of us, the Mac has nostalgic value. The Mac says something about how we prefer to work, how we get things done. The Mac has a greater sense of community than any other Apple product, including the iPhone. A Mac event that celebrates that community and its users reminds everyone that the Mac is where it all started, and it’s the basis of everything that has come since. Just take a look at the reaction to the MacBook Neo. The amazement about the combination of price and quality has led to an infusion of excitement in the Mac community. But more importantly, it has led to those curious about the Mac to reach out, and what they are finding is a community that is happy to engage, willing to teach, and enthusiastic about sharing. Apple’s new CEO, who just so happens to be a Mac guy. I, like many others, am very optimistic about John Ternus’ ability to lead Apple. His decisions over the next few years, more so than any other time in recent history, are critical to Apple. We’re in a time in technology where companies need to move in certain directions to thrive, much less stay relevant. While Ternus has a lot of hard work ahead of him, reviving Mac presentation events is low-hanging fruit that would accomplish a lot. It would convey that the Mac is a top priority with Apple, and it would reinforce the bonds that make the Mac community. If the MacBook Neo tells us anything, that community is growing. Nurture that growth with Mac showcases.