Apple

News, tips, software, reviews, and more for Mac OS X, iPhone, iPad

The beta testing release cycle continues, this time with iOS 18.3 beta 3, iPadOS 18.3 beta 3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 3, each being made available to users participating in the beta testing programs from Apple. No major new features are arriving in these beta versions, though macOS Sequoia 15.3 will bring Genmoji creation ... Read More

As you may know by now, Apple Intelligence includes handy writing tools and summarization features. One of the more useful ways to take advantage of the Apple Intelligence features on iPhone, Mac, and iPad is to have the AI feature write emails for you. Can’t think of what to say? Or maybe you simply don’t ... Read More

Image Playground is an artificial intelligence tool from Apple available for iPhone, Mac, and iPad, that allows you to quickly create and generate images and artwork based upon descriptions or even photos and people from your image library. It’s a fun tool to use, and also super easy. To use Image Playground on your device, ... Read More

The Type to Siri feature on Mac is super useful, particularly now that Siri has Apple Intelligence features. Using Type to Siri is perhaps even more handy for Mac users than using the voice activated Siri commands, but some Mac users may find themselves accidentally triggering Type to Siri by inadvertently pressing the initiating command ... Read More

The iPad mini is a popular iPad model for users who want a very portable table experience. The 7th generation iPad mini is particularly well suited for modern use, being the first iPad mini model to support Apple Intelligence AI features, an 8″ LCD display, and the speedy A17 processor, which is the same powerful ... Read More

Did you know that, by default, your Mac search queries entered into Spotlight, Safari, Siri, Lookup, and #images, are sent to Apple? While this information is anonymized so as not to be identifying, and Apple says it’s used to improve search results, many Mac users may not want this search information being shared with Apple ... Read More

Siri has been considerably improved in recent MacOS versions, mostly because it’s now linked to ChatGPT. One of the other recent changes to Siri in modern MacOS versions is that it’s now easier to access the “Type to Siri” feature, no longer being relegated to an Accessibility setting that has to be enabled separately like ... Read More

Some MacOS Sequoia users have discovered that the com.apple.mediaanalysisd directory in MacOS is taking up very large amounts of disk storage capacity with cache files. If you have discovered your Mac disk space has reduced since installing or updating to MacOS Sequoia, the inordinately large com.apple.mediaanalysisd cache file issue could be to blame. A variety ... Read More

You may occasionally find a situation where a question mark icon appears in the Mac Dock, sometimes it’s even several question mark icons. If you click on the question mark icon in the Dock, nothing happens. What is the question mark? Why is there a question mark icon in the Dock? How do you remove ... Read More

The second beta versions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and MacOS Sequoia 15.3, are now available for users participating in the beta testing programs for Apple system software. There are also second beta versions of watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3 and visionOS 2.3, if you’re a developer testing software for those devices and operating systems. While ... Read More

Apple has released iOS 18.2.1 for iPhone users, and iPadOS 18.2.1 for iPad users. The new software updates are said to include important bug fixes, and are therefore recommended for all users to install. No published security updates are included in the release, and it’s not entirely sure what the specific bug fixes are either. ... Read More

If you’d like to start the new year with some binge watching, you can enjoy a free weekend of all-access to Apple TV+ films and shows starting on January 3 and continuing through January 5. The free weekend is available on any device where you can stream Apple TV+, all you will need is an ... Read More

Want to start the new year off with a great fitness tracker to help motivate your workouts and track your health stats and vitals? Then don’t miss this great deal on the all new Apple Watch Series 10 is available for just $329 in select color and band options, available right now on Amazon. Maybe ... Read More

AirTags are the compact easy to use tracking devices from Apple that allow you to keep track of your personal belongings, car keys, even pets, packages, and other interesting uses. AirTags leverage the Find My network of millions of other Apple devices to help pinpoint the locations of AirTags, and you can make them play ... Read More

While you’re visiting family this holiday season, if you’re the family tech guru you might get asked some questions about iPhone. This year, why not be a little more proactive and sit down with someone less tech savvy, and with a few tweaks, improve their iPhone experience? Customize the Home Screen to Make it Easier ... Read More

More news and rumors, more help and how-tos, more app and accessory reviews, more iPhone and iPad and iPod touch. More of everything you love. iMore.

Time to power down for good.

One of the best mobile DACs I've reviewed, the iFi GO bar Kensei is a masterclass in build quality, and quality features, with audiophile-grade pricing

Have audiophile aspirations and a "beer wallet?" Fiio's KA11 delivers without breaking the bank if you have a solid pair of headphones or IEMs.

A wealth of features, a speedy pan and tilt motor, and smart security features make the Tapo TC73 the best on the market right now.

Aqara gets a lot right with their Smart Video Doorbell G4, including pricing and features. However, if your porch is tight, its aspect ratio may leave you a bit in the blind.

Smart privacy features, Wi-Fi 6, f/2.0 lens, and wallet-friendly pricing make the Aqara Camera E1 tough to beat.

This mobile Bluetooth DAC has it all! Beautiful design, highly functional features, and excellent sound quality make this my top pick right now.

Who says your indoor security camera needs to be all business to be effective? The Aqara Camera Hub G3 is long on features and fun!

This smooth DAC from iFi is a solid performer for those wanting to level up their desktop audio experience.

Paying just $60 for this high-quality DAC means you can spend your money where it counts most, high-quality headphones.

What you get for $100 with the Qudelix-5K is quite impressive, but that's just the beginning. Wait until you crack open the app! It's PEQ heaven.

Combining a great indoor PT camera, Zigbee hub, and a huge list of accessories to connect to makes the Aqara Camera Hub G2H Pro a HomeKit standout!

The former design lead at Apple has teamed up with Sam Altman’s artificial intelligence company.

Nebula's newest projector has already replaced my 4K television — but it comes with a price.

Anker has announced its updated MagGo range for 2024, which includes new power banks, stands, and more.

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is a mechanical keyboard that you can make (almost) entirely your own, even without macOS support for its Synapse customisation app.

With my iPhone 16 Pro arriving on September 20, I'm already planning to buy these accessories for it.

With macOS Sequoia now available, I've bought these three accessories to help me multitask to the next level.

Now that iOS 18 is out, we’ve rounded up the best apps for your iPhone's newest update!

visionOS 2 is the first major software update for Apple Vision Pro, and now it's available for everyone to install after months of beta updates.

The latest software update for Macs is now available. You can install macOS Sequoia (version 15) on your device for some big upgrades.

After months of beta releases, Apple is finally rolling out the watchOS 11 update to all Apple Watch users with the Series 6 or newer.

Apple is officially rolling out iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to all users, after months of beta releases. But, it launches without any Apple Intelligence features.

iOS 18 will feature a 'Repair Assistant', to help indicate what parts will work with your broken iPhone.

A plastic version of the Apple Watch SE 3 is still in development, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Netflix's app update is ending support for iOS 16, affecting older iPhones that can't run iOS 17 onward.

Apple Intelligence is now only available on iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, unless you buy a used iPhone 15 Pro.

Geekbench results for iPhone 16 Pro suggest it'll be a powerhouse that could outperform your MacBook.

Your new iPhone won't include Apple Stickers, reports suggest, but you can ask for them if you feel nostalgic.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, Johny Srouji, has confirmed all new iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.

Apple has confirmed third-party app stores will be available on the iPad from tomorrow, September 16.

You can now preorder iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro directly from Apple's site as well as select carriers!

The Apple Store is down in advance of iPhone 16 pre-orders.

Apple has received FDA clearance for its new hearing aids feature for the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple's iPhone 16 features up to 45W wired charging across the board.

With Apple allowing apps updated for iOS 18 to be submitted to the App Store, developers have noticed one less requirement.

AT&T has revealed its iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro deals ahead of next week's launch.

According to leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is waiting until 2025 to release the next generation of Apple Watch Ultra and SE.

Apple has released a new firmware update for AirPods Pro 2, bringing iOS 18 features to the wireless earbuds.

After seeing Apple roll out the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation, I might leave my AirPods Pro 2 behind.

After the iPhone 16 event, Apple quietly revealed that Beats is now making hardshell polycarbonate iPhone 16 cases in a surprising move.

In the iPhone 16 keynote, Apple said the new devices have bigger batteries, but didn't go into the specifics. Now, we can see the battery life stats offer hours of extra battery.

Apple just released the Apple Watch Series 10 and a new option for the Ultra 2, which comes with new bands. But, they'll work with older models.

Apple must pay back 13 billion euros to Ireland following a ruling in its unpaid taxes case.

While the new iPhone 16 models are eSIM only in the US, they still come with a SIM card tray everywhere else, while lacking 5G mmWave support.

After seeing Apple announce the iPhone 16, I think it's time to admit that I'm not a "Pro" user anymore.

If you missed the special event or just want to watch everything again, here's how you can re-watch Apple's "It's Glowtime" event.

Apple just released the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and more. Here are my early thoughts on Apple's impressive new devices.

Apple has launched its pre-approval process for customers who wish to purchase an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro.

While the iPhone 16 event was all about new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, it also marked the end for all of these Apple products.

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Today we're tracking a pair of deals, one on the Apple Pencil 2 and one on the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. These sales include the current best price online for the Apple Pencil 2, and an all-time low price on the MacBook Air.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple Pencil 2
Firstly, Woot has the Apple Pencil 2 for $109.99, down from $129.00. This sale isn't the lowest price we've ever tracked on this accessory, as it's been down to $99.00 in previous sales earlier this year, but it's still a solid second-best deal if you're looking to purchase an Apple Pencil 2 this week.


$19 OFFApple Pencil 2 for $109.99

The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the new iPad mini 6, but not the new 10.2-inch iPad. For that tablet, only the original Apple Pencil is supported.

MacBook Air
Amazon today has the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the 2020 MacBook Air, and it's available in Space Gray and Silver.



You'll see this sale price reflected on the checkout screen, once an automatic coupon is applied to your order. While the Gold option won't be available until around October 1, you can still purchase a Gold MacBook Air today at this discounted price ahead of the delayed shipping date.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $849.99, down from $999.00. All three colors are discounted for this model, but none are in stock today. This is still the lowest price we've ever tracked for the 256GB MacBook Air, so if you're willing to wait a few weeks, it's worth locking in this price while it's available.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Amazon today is offering the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the 2020 MacBook Air, and it's available in Gold and Silver.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You'll see this sale price reflected on the checkout screen, once an automatic coupon is applied to your order. Only the Gold color is available to ship today, while the Silver option won't be available until around September 21. You can still purchase a Silver MacBook Air today at this discounted price ahead of the delayed shipping date.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $849.99, down from $999.00. All three colors are discounted for this model, but none are in stock today. This is still the lowest price we've ever tracked for the 256GB MacBook Air, so if you're willing to wait a few weeks, it's worth locking in this price while it's available.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Takes $149 Off 2020 MacBook Air Models, Starting at $849.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today introduced new low prices on the M1 MacBook Air for both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $849.99, down from an original price of $999.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Only Silver and Gold are available at this price on Amazon. This sale marks a new all-time low price for Apple's 2020 M1 MacBook Air, providing the cheapest entry price into the lineup since it debuted last year.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $849.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's available in all colors.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Drops Price of 256GB M1 MacBook Air to New Low of $849.99 ($149 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week has the M1 MacBook Pro on sale in both 256GB and 512GB configurations, including a return to record low prices for both models. Prices start at $1,099.99 for the 256GB MacBook Pro, down from $1,299.00. You'll see the discount after an automatic coupon worth $49.01 is applied at the checkout screen on Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This price is a match of the previous all-time low price on the 256GB M1 MacBook Pro. This model of Apple's notebook line includes the same aluminum body with large Force Touch trackpad as previous generations, speakers at the side of the keyboard, and a 13.3-inch display with slim black bezels. Both colors are on sale and available to ship out today.

$199 OFF256GB M1 MacBook Pro for $1,099.99

Secondly, Amazon has the 512GB MacBook Pro for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This sale price is available in both Silver and Space Gray, and it's sold directly from Amazon.

$199 OFF512GB M1 MacBook Pro for $1,299.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
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Best Buy and Amazon are both offering great deals on numerous models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air today, including a handful of record low deals on the latest Apple notebooks.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

13-Inch M1 MacBook Air
Starting with the 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Air, you'll find the 256GB notebook for $899.00 at Amazon and $899.99 at Best Buy, down from $999.00. Amazon stock has dwindled and will "ship soon," but Best Buy has plenty of stock in all three colors.

Additionally, both retailers have the 512GB M1 MacBook Air at $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. While this is a record low price on the 512GB notebook, the 256GB model's discount is a second-best price.

• M1 MacBook Air, 256GB - $899.99, down from $999.00 at Best Buy / Amazon


• M1 MacBook Air, 512GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00 at Best Buy / Amazon

13-Inch M1 MacBook Pro
For the newest MacBook Pro models, Best Buy and Amazon have lowest ever prices on the new 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 256GB notebook for $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00, in both Silver and Space Gray.

For more storage, the 512GB M1 MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This model is also available in both Silver and Space Gray at this price.

• M1 MacBook Pro, 256GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00 at Best Buy / Amazon


• M1 MacBook Pro, 512GB - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00 at Best Buy / Amazon

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Take Up to $199 Off Apple's M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air at Best Buy and Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A record low discount has returned to Apple's 512GB M1 Mac mini today on Amazon. You can get this model for $799.00, down from its original price of $899.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale matches the previous all-time low price on the 512GB M1 Mac mini seen on Amazon, and it's available to ship out today. You'll find a matching sale over at B&H Photo, which offers free expedited shipping for orders placed in the United States.

$100 OFFM1 Mac mini (512GB) for $799.99

At this time, the 256GB M1 Mac mini is not seeing a steep discount at any retailer, with Amazon offering the lowest price at $659.00, down from $699.00. The best price on this model has been $599.00, so we recommend waiting for a better deal.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, Mac miniBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)Related Forum: Mac mini
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Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup is seeing all-time low discounts across the board today, including the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Air, and 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

13-Inch M1 MacBook Air
Starting with the 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Air, Amazon has the 256GB notebook for $899.00, down from $999.00. This price is available in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, but stock is dwindling on the latter two options.

$100 OFF13-inch MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.00

Additionally, Amazon is also selling the 512GB M1 MacBook Air at $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. Both of these discounts represent all-time low prices, and they're shipped and sold directly from Amazon.

$150 OFF13-inch MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

13-Inch M1 MacBook Pro
For the newest MacBook Pro models, Amazon has lowest ever prices on the new 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 256GB notebook for $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00, in both Silver and Space Gray.

$199 OFF13-inch MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.99

For more storage, the 512GB M1 MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This model is also available in both Silver and Space Gray at this price.

$199 OFF13-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

16-Inch MacBook Pro
Moving to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking record low prices on both storage options for this 2019 notebook. You can get the 512GB model for $1,999.99, down from $2,399.00. This sale is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options.

$399 OFF16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,999.99

The 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.99, down from $2,799.00. Like the other model, this is an all-time low price, but it's only available in Silver. Both notebooks are sold by Amazon and are ready to ship today.

$499 OFF16-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) for $2,299.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook Pro, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now), 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Shop Record Low Prices Across Apple's Full MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Lineup (Up to $499 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today we're tracking a pair of deals on the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro from late 2020, with Amazon matching previous record low prices on both storage options for this model.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Starting with the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro, you can get this model for $1,099.99 in Space Gray on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. At the time of writing, the Silver model is out of stock for this sale.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.99

You can also get the 512GB 13-inch MacBook Pro on sale today, priced at $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. Both Silver and Space Gray colors are available for this model, and they're shipped and sold by Amazon.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

Both of these discounts found today on Amazon match the previous all-time low prices on these M1 MacBook Pro models, making them the best sales online this week. You won't need any coupon code or have to wait for a discount at checkout, as both sales have been directly applied already by Amazon.

You can find the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
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Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama today are discounting the M1 MacBook Air to match previous record low prices for both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $899.00 today on Adorama, down from an original price of $999.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Only Silver and Space Gray are available at this price on Adorama. You can also find this sale on Amazon, with a $50 automatic coupon applied at checkout on the Gold and Silver colors. Gold is available to ship in one to two business days, and Silver will be in stock soon, according to Amazon.

$100 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.00

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's available in all colors. For Silver and Space Gray, you'll find an automatic coupon that will be applied to your order at the checkout screen. The same sale can be found at B&H Photo on the Gold model.

$150 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forum: MacBook Air
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Amazon today is offering the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. This is beating the previous sale price by about $50, and represents a new low price for this model of the 2020 MacBook Air.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can get the M1 MacBook Air at this price in both Gold and Silver. For the latter color option, you'll see the price reflected at the checkout screen once a $50 coupon is automatically applied.

$150 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $899.00, down from $999.00. This is a sale price that we've been tracking for most of the summer, so it remains a solid deal if you are shopping for the entry level model of the MacBook Air.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forum: MacBook Air
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Amazon this week has a sale on Apple's new 24-inch M1 iMac in two configurations. Sales start with the 7-core GPU with 256GB, priced at $1,249.99, down from $1,299.00. This sale is available in Blue and Silver.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale is a match of the previous record low price on this version of the M1 iMac. No other retailers are matching the sale as of writing, so you'll only find this deal on Amazon.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (7-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,249.99

In another new sale, Amazon is also offering $49 off the M1 iMac with the 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage, priced at $1,449.99, down from $1,499.00. These iMacs are sold directly from Amazon and both are available to ship today.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,449.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Get $49 Off Apple's New M1 iMacs, Starting at $1,249.99 for 7-Core 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In the wake of Prime Day, Amazon is still discounting the M1 MacBook Air to record low prices in both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $899.99 today on Amazon, down from an original price of $999.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

As of writing, all colors are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon. The sale has also been applied automatically so you won't need to wait until the checkout screen to see the discount price.

$99 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and you'll see this price at the checkout screen once a coupon worth $50 is applied.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Continuing to Discount M1 MacBook Air Models to All-Time Low Prices (Save Up to $149)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Air has returned to its all-time low price of $1,149.00, down from $1,249.00. This sale is available on Amazon, and only for the Gold color option. Stock appears to be low, although Amazon sometimes has more in stock than is reflected on the website.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple updated the MacBook Air in November 2020 with the new Apple M1 chip, which has an 8-core CPU, a 7- or 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning. These updates brought about improved performance, better battery life, and more. There's also a 256GB model, but we aren't seeing any notable discounts this week.

$100 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,149.00

You can find the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounts 512GB M1 MacBook Air to Match Record Low Price of $1,149 ($100 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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At Amazon today you can get Apple's 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00 on Amazon. You'll see this price at the checkout screen after an automatic coupon worth $50 is applied.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options, and it's in stock and ready to ship. At a total of $199 off the original price, this is a match of the previous low price on this model of the MacBook Pro.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

If anyone's on the hunt for the entry level version of the M1 MacBook Pro, Amazon does have the 256GB model at its typical sale price of $1,149.99, down from $1,299.00. There's no checkout coupon for this one, and it's also being discounted in both colors.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
This article, "Deals: Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Pro Hits $1,299.99 on Amazon ($199 Off, Lowest Price)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today is taking $49 off Apple's new 24-inch M1 iMac in two configurations. Sales start with the 7-core GPU with 256GB, priced at $1,249.99, down from $1,299.00. This sale is available in Blue and Silver.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Amazon previously was discounting this model down to around $1,258.99, making today's sale a new all-time low on this model of the M1 iMac. No other retailers are matching the sale as of writing, so you'll only find this deal on Amazon.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (7-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,249.99

In another new sale, Amazon is also offering $49 off the M1 iMac with the 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage, priced at $1,449.99, down from $1,499.00. These iMacs are sold directly from Amazon and both are available to ship today.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,449.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Take $49 Off Apple's M1 iMac With New All-Time Low Prices" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Record low discounts have returned to Apple's 2020 M1 Mac mini on Amazon today, in both 256GB and 512GB storage options. For the 256GB model, you won't see the sale price until you reach the checkout screen and receive an automatic coupon on your order.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Starting with the 256GB M1 Mac mini, you can get this version for $599.99, down from $699.00. This is beating the previous Amazon low price of $639.00, and it's in stock and ready to ship today.

$99 OFFM1 Mac mini (256GB) for $599.99

You can also save $100 on the 512GB M1 Mac mini, available for $799.00, down from $899.00. This is another all-time low price on the M1 Mac mini, beating the previous record low of $829.00 on Amazon and other retailers.

$100 OFFM1 Mac mini (512GB) for $799.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, Mac miniBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)Related Forum: Mac mini
This article, "Deals: Save $100 on Apple's 2020 M1 Mac Mini, Starting at $599.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today has introduced another discount on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU. We've been tracking a discount down to $1,699.99 over the past few weeks, and now you can get this 2020 model for $1,599.99, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $299.01 is applied at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This is now the best price we've ever tracked for this model of the 27-inch iMac across all retailers. The iMac is ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members.

$399 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,599.99

Additionally, the 256GB 27-inch 5K iMac is on sale for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.00. This model hasn't seen a discount in a few weeks, and now Amazon has introduced a sale alongside the 512GB model. You'll see the markdown at checkout after a $199.01 discount is automatically applied.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (256GB SSD) for $1,499.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Amazon Introduces Pair of Record Low Prices on Apple's 27-Inch iMacs (Save Up to $399)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today we're tracking an ongoing record low price on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU from 2020. You can get this model for $1,699.99 on Amazon, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $199.01 is applied at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale was introduced last month on Amazon and it remains the best discount we've ever tracked for this model of the 27-inch Intel iMac. Amazon's discount is so steep it's pricing the 512GB model down to the same level as the 256GB 27-inch iMac.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,699.99

The iMac is in stock and sold by Amazon, ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members. You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide.

There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounts 512GB 27-Inch iMac to Lowest Price of $1,699.99 ($299 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week is still hosting a record low deal on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU. You can get this 2020 model for $1,699.99, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $199.01 is applied at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale is particularly notable because it knocks down the 512GB 27-inch iMac to the same price level as the 256GB model. It's also the best price we've ever tracked across all of the major Apple resellers online. The iMac is ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,699.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Get Apple's 512GB 27-Inch iMac for Lowest Price of $1,699.99 ($299 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's M1 MacBook Air with a 256GB SSD has returned to its all-time low price of $899.99 today on Amazon, down from an original price of $999.00. This sale will be seen after an automatic coupon worth $50 is applied at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

As of writing, only the Gold color option is in stock and ready to ship from Amazon. Silver is delayed by over a month, but Space Gray will be "in stock soon" according to Amazon's stock estimation.

$99 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's only available at this price in Gold.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounting M1 MacBook Air Models By Up to $149, Starting at $899.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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AppleInsider News Feed

ChatGPT is OpenAI's extremely useful chatbot for answering questions. Here's how to use the generative AI tool in Apple's Notes app in macOS.


Use ChatGPT with Apple's Notes.
Apple Intelligence is now integrated with OpenAi's ChatGPT in macOS, ad well as iOS and iPadOS. Many features of ChatGPT are integrated with Apple apps starting in macOS Sequoia 15.1, and iOS and iPadOS 18.2.

While Apple has stated support for Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT are evolving and still in progress, some features are working and included in Apple's operating systems. Expect a further phased rollout of Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT in the near future.


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Sonnet has a new Thunderbolt 5 dock with four TB5 ports and an internal PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD slot that'll work with your existing M-series Macs and ensure future compatibility with higher speeds.


New Sonnet Echo 13 SSD Dock. Image source: Sonnet
Thunderbolt 5 is fresh to the market, and Sonnet didn't waste any time getting the Echo 13 SSD Dock to the market. It adds plenty of ports and SSD storage up to 4TB to your Mac.

Since the Echo 13 SSD Dock is Thunderbolt 5 and is equipped with four Thunderbolt 5 ports, it is future-proofed for when companies like Apple embrace the spec. The ultra-fast spec allows bi-directional data bandwidth of 80Gbps, so support for two 8K displays is enabled on products that allow it.


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Apple TV users can now download tvOS 18.2.1, which addresses an issue where data may not sync correctly across devices.


tvOS 18. Image source: Apple
Apple releases periodic updates for all of its operating systems, and they're not always significant. The tvOS 18.2.1 update showed up in Apple's update tracker earlier Thursday but began rolling out around 6 p.m. Eastern.

The original tvOS 18.2 launched the Snoopy screensavers that change periodically, similar to the Snoopy Apple Watch face. The point update addresses an issue where data may not sync correctly across devices.


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Magnetic charging stands that utilize iPad Smart Connectors are working again with the latest iPadOS 18.3 beta, proving it was just a beta bug and not a larger move from Apple.


Kuxiu charging stands work again with latest iPadOS 18.3 beta
Apple doesn't officially offer the Smart Connector through the MFi program, but manufacturers have figured out ways to use it with unofficial workarounds. So far, Apple seems like it doesn't care about the use, but a beta bug caused some concern.

After the third iPadOS 18.3 beta was released, users reported that the charging capability of their Kuxiu charging stands had returned. Kuxiu had previously confirmed that they believed it was a beta issue, and not a move from Apple, and this seems to be the case.


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The inbound Trump administration insists that TikTok will avoid a ban, but the long-term prospects of the social media app staying alive hinge on there being a deal for divestiture to a US company.


TikTok app logo
TikTok owner ByteDance has until January 19 to divest its ownership of the U.S. elements of the app, or otherwise face it being banned from the country. The situation is precarious and messy to observers, due partly to timing complications.

While the ban technically comes into force on January 19, one day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, it seems that the incoming administration wants TikTok to survive. This despite the law enforcing the ban applying just before the team can do anything about it preemptively.


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After a series of misfires caused by bad Apple Intelligence notification summaries, Apple has decided to limit the feature in specific situations.


AI summaries don't always get the details right
Apple Intelligence rolled out to the public in October 2024, and since its debut, it's been somewhat of a mixed bag. While many people enjoy features like AI writing tools, features like the notification summaries aren't as well received.

Specifically, it seems Apple Intelligence doesn't quite get nuanced language. This has resulted in many summaries of news stories being factually incorrect.


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Apple is rounding out its third batch of developer betas for the current generation, handing out new builds of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and visionOS 2.3 for testing.


Examples of Apple Intelligence at work.
The third round of betas for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and visionOS 2.2 follow after the second, which appeared on January 7. The first round arrived on December 16.

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The exclusive price drop on this 16-inch MacBook Pro delivers substantial savings on a premium spec with Apple's top-of-the-line M4 Max chip.


Save $420 on a premium M4 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch.
Units are in stock at press time on this Space Black 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Max 16-core CPU/40-core GPU chip, 48GB RAM, and 1TB of storage that's marked down to $3,579 at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama with promo code APINSIDER.

The savings are in the form of a $400 instant rebate stacked with the $20 off promo code, bringing the total discount to $420 off retail. The same coupon also takes $40 off three years of AppleCare. Activation instructions for where to find the promo code field can be found further down this page.


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Leaked images of the next iPhone SE provide an early glimpse at its updated design and reveal new details about the budget-friendly device, including some color options.


iPhone SE
Apple's budget-friendly iPhone SE lineup has always been about offering great performance at an affordable price. Now, rumors suggest the fourth-generation model will pack even more premium features, making it an exciting option for value-conscious buyers.

Here's everything we've heard so far about the iPhone SE 4.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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As the clock winds down toward TikTok's potential ban, we've compiled a list of the most realistic alternative short-form platforms for both creators and viewers.


The countdown to the TikTok ban continues
It's 2025 and TikTok's fate in the United States is still undecided. The Biden administration had told the company in April 2024 that it would need to divest its ownership within nine months, or the app would face a ban.

The deadline, set for January 19, is rapidly approaching. And, should the ban hold up, millions of TikTok creators and viewers are going to be left in the lurch.


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Game Porting Toolkit 2, the latest version of Apple's tool to help bring more Windows games to Mac, is finally out of beta.


An example of gaming on a Mac - Image Credit: Apple
The second generation Game Porting Toolkit was introduced at WWDC 2024, bringing with it enhanced tools to support game developers. Seven months later, the tool is no longer in beta.

Checking the Downloads page of Apple's Developer site reveals an update on January 15, 2025. The listing for Game Porting Toolkit is not marked with the "beta" name, meaning it is out of beta and intended to be used by all relevant developers.


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Insta360 has developed a gimbal designed specifically for iPhone users, featuring Apple DockKit integration and AI-powered tracking capabilities.


Insta360 Flow 2 Pro Gimbal
One of the most frustrating parts about smartphone gimbals is that they often require you to shoot through a third-party app, many of which aren't designed well. Insta360 has solved this problem by utilizing Apple DockKit, which enables native shooting through the iPhone's built-in Camera app.

If you're not a fan of shooting through the Camera app, the Flow 2 Pro also supports shooting on over 200 third-party apps, including Blackmagic.


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Developers using the virtualization software Docker have been plagued by an issue for a week, with users complaining that macOS is wrongly detecting it as malware.


Docker - Image Credit: Docker
Apple's security systems in macOS are designed to protect the user and their data from a massive amount of online attacks in normal use. However, those same systems can also trigger in legitimate software if a mistake is made.

That seems to be the case for Docker, a virtualization tool often used to develop apps on Mac. For over a week, users are discovering their Mac is blocking Docker from running, because of a supposed malware issue.


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Just a day after the Goldman Sachs CEO said that his company's deal to service Apple Card customers may end early, two banks are said to be in active discussions to take over.


Apple Card
Barclays and Synchrony Financial are the latest names tied to discussions about taking over Apple Card. A report published late on Wednesday by Reuters discussed the pair entering discussions with Apple and Goldman Sachs about Apple's credit card.

Sources familiar with the matter cited in the report say that the discussions are ongoing. They have been going on for months, apparently, and it's not clear where in the process the negotiations stand.


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Apple's generative AI, Apple Intelligence, also generates some usage reports. Here's how to turn off the Apple Intelligence Report in macOS.


How to turn off Apple Intelligence Reports in macOS.
Apple's much-anticipated AI features dubbed Apple Intelligence have been released for most Apple platforms on recent hardware. Public reception has been, shall we say, less than enthusiastic - with some reports claiming up to 73% of Apple users have no interest in the technology.

Others, such as BBC have complained that Apple Intelligence isn't ready for prime time - with Apple devices reporting erroneous news headlines after creating summaries.


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If you've been meaning to learn how to play chess, or if you want a fun way to practice, GoChess might just be your best bet.


GoChess Lite
Chess is having something of a renaissance at the moment, with many new players joining the fray thanks to services like Chess.com and LiChess. However, for many, chess might seem a bit daunting to step into, especially if the only chess players you know have been playing for years.

That's why Particula created GoChess. GoChess is a smart chess set packed with AI features to help you learn how to master this classic game.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook will join other big tech executives at the inauguration as they seek to avoid being targeted by incoming regulation and tariffs.


The US Capitol building. Image source: Visit the Capitol government website
Different United States presidents call for different tactics. With the incoming administration, gone are the days of sending a few hundred lobbyists to Washington.

Instead, the companies and the CEOs themselves must curry favor from the one in charge.


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After a week of high-profile releases, CES 2025 is over and there was some awful stuff on display. Here's the worst and weirdest products at the show.


I saw some weird stuff out at CES 2025
There is a lot of amazing tech at CES. This year, I was particularly surprised to see that not only were there a lot of new products, but most of what I saw was imminently shipping.

That's a huge departure from year's past where most products were purely vaporware. You can see my existing roundups of gear for Apple users and for the .


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Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon signaled the possible early end of the bank's Apple Card partnership due to financial losses and regulatory challenges.


Goldman Sachs may part ways with Apple
The collaboration between Apple and Goldman Sachs on the Apple Card may end before its 2030 contract expiration, according to Reuters. The announcement follows years of financial losses and regulatory challenges for the investment bank, raising questions about the future of Apple's first credit card.

Goldman Sachs partnered with Apple in 2019 to launch the Apple Card, which delivers seamless integration with iOS and user-friendly features like no fees and enhanced privacy. While the card gained popularity among Apple customers, it proved costly for Goldman.


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People affected by the LA wildfires who lost their Mac to the flames shouldn't use AppleCare to replace it. They'd have better luck with homeowner's insurance.


AppleCare - Image Credit: Apple
The wildfires ravaging California and Los Angeles has involved evacuations of residents out from affected areas, as well as the loss of property. Homes, businesses, and personal belongings have been destroyed by the blaze, with thousands of people affected by it.

However, when it comes time to replace their possessions, Mac owners may start to think that they will be covered by AppleCare. In the vast majority of instances, it won't be of much assistance to fire victims.


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Every Mac mini (Late 2024) is on sale, with exclusive coupon savings in effect on the high-end M4 Pro model equipped with 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage. Plus, get three years of AppleCare for $79.


Save on Apple's newest Mac mini release with coupon.
Discounted M4 Mac mini prices start at $569 this Wednesday, but we're especially pleased to see inventory begin to appear on M4 Pro models.

This particular M4 Pro configuration equipped with 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage is $100 off with promo code APINSIDER at Adorama — and at press time, it's expected to ship soon directly from Apple's distribution channel. The same APINSIDER discount code also takes $20 off optional AppleCare, dropping the 3-year extended protection plan to $79.


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Asus's Master Thunderbolt 5 Dock brings multi-display support, high-speed connectivity, and SSD storage to Mac users who want to upgrade their workspace.


Master Thunderbolt 5 Dock
Asus has introduced the Master Thunderbolt 5 Dock DC510, a versatile 13-in-1 docking station aimed at creators and professionals who need high-performance multitasking. The dock supports dual 8K or triple 4K displays.

With 80Gbps transfer speeds and 140-watt pass-through charging, it's ideal for fast file handling and efficient device support. Connectivity features include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, four USB-A ports, a 2.5G Ethernet port, dual memory card readers, and an audio combo jack.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook has given a rare personal interview in which he recounts how Apple Watch fall detection saved his father's life, and recommends where to eat in San Francisco.


While in London, Tim Cook (left) also had a pint with "Slow Horses" star Jack Lowden
During his December 2024 visit to the UK where he showed King Charles around Apple Battersea, Tim Cook also recorded an interview on the food podcast, "Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware." In it, he mostly answered familiar questions about Apple, but he was also unusually candid about his personal life.

One moment that touched on both his personal and professional life was when he was asked about Apple Watch. Specifically, the hosts wanted to know whether he had ever had a medical alert on his own Watch.


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Some M4 Mac mini owners are discovering USB-C issues with their new desktops, with peripherals disconnecting seemingly at random.


M4 Mac mini
USB is a fairly resilient technology, with the expectation that things connected using it will typically remain functional for a very long time, outside of external effects. However, it seems that in a small number of cases, USB-C connections on the M4 Mac mini are problematic.

Various Internet posts uncovered by AppleInsider reveal that users are undergoing similar problems. They generally consist of hardware connected using USB-C suddenly disconnecting and becoming unusable, or not connecting in the first place.


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A macOS vulnerability exposed Apple devices to severe security risks by bypassing System Integrity Protection, but a security patch has killed the exploit.


Update your Mac as soon as possible
On January 13, 2025, Microsoft Threat Intelligence revealed a critical vulnerability in macOS — CVE-2024-44243 — that bypasses Apple's System Integrity Protection (SIP) by exploiting third-party kernel extensions. This issue, now patched, could have allowed attackers to compromise macOS security at its core.

System Integrity Protection (SIP) is a macOS security feature designed to safeguard critical system files and processes. It restricts even users with administrative privileges from making changes that could compromise the operating system's stability and security.


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We've completed our trek across the vast halls of CES 2025 to round up the best smart home devices for Apple users. From robot vacuums to pocketable projectors, here's what we've found.


CES 2025 had lots of new smart home tech on display
After nearly a week of wandering the halls — and filling our Apple Watch rings — we've surfaced from CES with our top finds. We focused primarily on Apple Home or Matter-enabled products, but there are some others that we threw in too.

Best of all, most all of these are shipping soon.


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A lawsuit claiming that Apple and Amazon colluded to fix the price of Apple products and reduce competition, has been rejected by a UK tribunal.


Apple and Amazon have been accused of price-fixing
In one of three similar cases accusing Apple and Amazon of price fixing, the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that the case cannot continue to trial. The decision to dismiss the case is reportedly an unusual one as the tribunal more often allows claimants to pursue cases further.

In this situation, the mass lawsuit — Britain's equivalent of a class-action one — was brought by consumer law academic and professor of law, Christine Riefa. She brought the suit on behalf of potentially 36 million British consumers who bought Apple or Beats products.


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The Notes app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 makes it easy to add an audio recording to a note, and create a written transcription of it if desired. Here's how to do it.


Notes can record audio and provide transcriptions, starting with iOS and iPadOS 18.
It has long been possible to add an audio recording to a note created in the Notes app, but in earlier iOS versions it was a little more cumbersome. Users would open the Voice Memos app, record the audio, and then attach that recording to a new note in the Notes app.

As of iOS 18, that functionality is directly available in Notes — though it is still somewhat hidden until you know how to find it. The big change compared to the previous Voice Memos app is that Notes can now also provide a written transcript of what was said, if you are using an iPhone 12 or later.


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Apple TV+ show "Servant" allegedly stole key elements from a 2013 film called "The Truth About Emmanuel," and the trial is back on with a jury set to decide if Apple and M. Night Shyamalan should be fined $81 million.


Apple TV+ show 'Servant.' Image source: Apple
Director Francesca Gregorini sued in January 2020, and the case was initially thrown out. She alleges that the dark themes surrounding a reborn doll and similar shots between the properties are enough to suggest copyright infringement.

According to a report from Variety, creators of the show and M. Night Shyamalan will testify to a jury. The jurors will watch "The Truth About Emmanuel" and the first three episodes of "Servant" to help make a determination.


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If you're tired of smelly garbage, the Vego Kitchen Composter is a great way to responsibly dispose of food scraps — if you're fine with sacrificing the countertop space.


Vego Kitchen Composter
Food waste is a big deal. While the numbers vary depending on your source, it's estimated that the average American throws away anywhere between 200 and 400 pounds of food a year.

That might not seem like a big deal because that averages about 0.82 pounds of waste a day — about 2.5 apples or a little less than one russet potato.


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Always on a quest to bring readers the steepest savings, AppleInsider has partnered with B&H Photo to drop prices on two MacBook Pro configurations from Apple's M4 Pro line.


Exclusive discounts are dropping MacBook Pros by up to $300.
The first 14-inch MacBook Pro model features Apple's M4 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU. It also has 24GB of unified memory and a bump up to 1TB of storage. Normally retailing for $2,199, you can grab the laptop in Space Black for $1,949 when you shop through the pricing links in this post from a laptop or desktop computer (activation instructions can be found below).


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watchOS 11.3 has received its third developer beta, following the arrival of similar beta updates for the HomePod and Apple TV only hours earlier.


Apple has released the third developer beta of watchOS 11.3.
On Tuesday, Apple first released the third developer betas of tvOS 18.3 and HomePod OS 18.3, respectively. Now, the company has deployed a beta software release for its Apple Watch platform.

The third developer beta of watchOS 11.3 increases the build number to 2S5550a, up from the previous 22S5540e, which was released on January 7, 2025.


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Apple has moved on to its third round of developer betas, but it has started quietly with a trial of tvOS 18.3's third beta, along with HomePod OS 18.3.


Apple TV 4K
The third beta for tvOS 18.3 follows after the second, which surfaced on January 7. The first round was issued on December 16.

It's also accompanied by the third developer beta of HomePod OS 18.3, which is used by the HomePod and HomePod mini.


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The Apple Watch Series 10 has been on my wrist for three months now and it's clear that it's the best smartwatch Apple ever made. But that doesn't mean there aren't things that a future Series 11 could do better.


The Apple Watch Series 10 looks great, if a little familiar.
At this point, so early in the review, you're probably ready to scream "Apple Watch Ultra 2" at your screen. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten it, but the Apple Watch Ultra models are different and I'd argue the Series 10 is the better watch.

For most Apple Watch buyers, the Ultras are just too big, too bulky, and too expensive. They come with features they don't need like cellular connectivity and a huge, rugged design that's built to deal with the great outdoors in ways the standard models aren't.


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Apple has joined the board of directors for the Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium, giving it more of a say in how the architecture for AI server infrastructure will evolve.


UALink logo
The Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium (UALink), is an open industry standard group for the development of UALink specifications. As a potential key element used for the development of artificial intelligence models and accelerators, the development of the standards could be massively beneficial to the future of AI itself.

On Tuesday, it was announced that three more members have been elected to the consortium's board. Apple was one of the trio, alongside Alibaba and Synopsys.


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MacBook deals are heating up this Tuesday, with Apple's latest M4 14-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $1,799 when equipped with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.


Save $200 on a well-equipped M4 MacBook Pro 14-inch - Image credit: Apple
Save $200 on Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip, 24GB of unified memory and 1TB of storage. This upgraded configuration is on sale for $1,799 at Apple Authorized Resellers B&H Photo and Amazon, as the two retailers engage in a price war in an effort to earn your business. Both Space Black and Silver are eligible for the markdown.

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Adobe is giving private beta users a chance to test out a long-anticipated feature — allowing more than one person to access and edit Photoshop documents simultaneously.


Image Credit: Adobe
Adobe says the feature, dubbed Live Co-Editing, has been inspired by community input. Live Co-Editing will be implemented into both the desktop and web app versions of Photoshop, but there's no word if it will make its way to Photoshop on the iPad at this time.

The feature will be a boon for Photoshop users. Multiple designers can work together on a Photoshop document and split up tasks to finish a project more efficiently.


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As Apple tries to diversify its supply chain, China's tightened export controls are slowing things down as the country asserts its manufacturing dominance.


Foxconn
For years, Apple relied heavily on China's manufacturing ecosystem. But rising labor costs, trade tensions, and pandemic disruptions are forcing the company to rethink its strategy.

In response, Apple has started moving production to India and Vietnam, countries that offer lower costs, friendly trade policies, and proximity to emerging markets. India is now a growing hub for iPhone assembly, with Apple leveraging the country's massive workforce and government incentives.


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Widgets in the next generation of CarPlay will be very familiar to iPhone users, a leak of the user interface reveals.


Widgets in CarPlay 2.0 - Image credit: Aaronp613/X
Apple is still working on the next generation of CarPlay, despite having missed its self-imposed release deadline of 2024. Whenever it does actually ship, we now may have a good idea of what it will look like.

Images posted to X on Monday by @Aaronp613 claim to depict how widgets appear in the CarPlay 2.0 interface. The four images offer the same general appearance, with the central section dedicated to widgets and core functions.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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After four years of planning, TSMC is now finally going to make older iPhone processors in the US, but it's not and never will be a true return to American manufacturing.


TSMC's Arizona facility will soon begin shipping A16 processors for Apple
It was back in 2020 when pressure over taxes made firms look again at manufacturing in the US, and TSMC announced it would build a processor plant in Arizona. By 2022, that expanded to plans for a second plant — and Tim Cook pledged that Apple would use processors made in Arizona.

Now after reportedly starting its first production run in September 2024, TSMC USA is about to reach a key milestone. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is now in the process of officially certifying and verifying the processors.


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The ban on TikTok in the United States is happening soon, but the circus surrounding it that's kicked off in the last few days makes it anything but guaranteed.


TikTok on a smartphone
TikTok has had a troubled existence in the United States, after years of threats for it to be banned. With the latest effort's deadline on January 19, it's days away from a reality.

The latest installment in the ongoing affair is a combination of waiting for a ruling, trying to implement delays on it happening, and searching for a sale. It's anyone's guess what will actually happen to TikTok now, with everything being so uncertain.


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All the impending EU fines and rulings against Apple, Google, and Meta, are reportedly off the table as Europe awaits Trump — and reveals just how political its regulations are.


The EU has reportedly paused its probes into Big Tech issues such as Apple's App Store rules
For ten years, the European Union and especially competition chief Margrethe Vestager, has been working to control Big Tech. It's done so mostly very successfully, with the region being the first to implement a Digital Markets Act (DMA) that laid out conditions — and especially potential fines for transgressions.

Now according to the Financial Times, however, all of the regulator's plans for fines are on hold. Only what is described as technical work will continue on any of the Big Tech investigations, and for the moment there will be no fines.


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Several sources report the firewall in macOS Sequoia can sometimes leak data after an update. Here's how to test and fix it.


macOS Sequoia can sometimes leak data after an update.
The macOS firewall in System Settings allows you to protect your Mac and filter network traffic based on a set of rules.

Several sites, including mullvad.net have reported that after macOS Sequoia updates, the firewall built into macOS may leak some data, allowing it to avoid firewall rules.


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Mobile gamers rejoice, the Abxylute S9 is an affordable controller that can stretch to fit your cased iPhone or iPad mini with a powerful set of customization features.


Abxylute S9 controller review: a controller for your entire Apple ecosystem
A controller manufacturer called Abxylute has finally built the perfect mobile gaming controller for iPhone and iPad mini owners. If all it did was stretch to fit an iPad mini and cost under $100, that would be enough, but it's so much more than that.

The Abxylute S9 is a wraparound controller that connects to the iPhone or iPad mini over USB-C while gripping it from either side. The end result is a mobile gaming solution similar to a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck.


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Illinois is the latest state to claim Apple Wallet users will have access to digital IDs and driver's licenses by the end of 2025.


Illinois will implement digital IDs in the Apple Wallet app by the end of 2025.
An Illinois state law took effect on January 1, 2025 that will bring digital versions of IDs and driver's licenses to Apple Wallet. Illinois is already working with Apple to make digital IDs a reality, according to a press release from the Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, as was originally discovered by 9to5mac.

Residents will be able to access their new digital IDs via Apple Wallet on their iPhone or Apple Watch. Digital IDs will be available at no cost and will be usable alongside existing physical ID cards rather than replacing them entirely.


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Parallels Desktop 20.2 is out now, with the latest edition including 64-bit x86 emulation for Apple Silicon and more enhancements to make Apple Intelligence Writing Tools work with Windows apps.


Using x64 emulation in Parallels to run Windows - Image Credit: Parallels
January's update to the popular virtual machine tool Parallels Desktop brings the software up to version 20.2, just under three months after the update to version 20.1. The latest version adds a few more key changes to the virtualization tool.

The big addition is an early technology preview of x86 emulation for Apple Silicon Macs. Using a proprietary emulation engine, it allows Apple Silicon Macs to run x86_64 virtual machines, for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux.


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Apple is allowing emulators on the App Store. Here's what's arrived, and what's on the way to play your favorite retro games on your iPhone, updated on January 6.


iPhone emulators
The early April changes to the App Store Review Guidelines reversed a rule that practically banned emulators from the App Store. After the rule was removed, it was expected that there would be a sudden rush of emulators being submitted to Apple for inclusion in the digital storefront.

Emulators for the iPhone have existed for a while, but outside of the App Store as a side-loadable app. With Apple's changes, some of the projects are making the transition, and potentially gaining more traction from a larger user base in the process.


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We saw some great products for Apple users after a week of wearing our feet to the bone at CES! Here's what we like the most that we got the chance to check out in person at the show.


CES is a wrap for 2025
While we found a lot of future-looking tech, everything we rounded up will be shipping soon.

Specifically, we'll be looking at accessories for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. We won't cover smart home though, but we'll be talking about that soon.


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The best price we've ever seen on Apple's current iPad mini 7 has returned, with numerous storage capacities $100 off.


Apple's iPad mini 7 returns to $399 best price - Image credit: Apple
Both Amazon and Best Buy are competing for your business with fresh price drops on Apple's latest iPad mini. You can pick up the 128GB Wi-Fi capacity at Amazon for $399 when ordered in Space Gray. Or if you'd like another color, Best Buy is running the $100 discount on all four colorways.

Grab the deal at Amazon


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On this special episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, your host talks through all the smart home releases coming out of CES 2025.


HomeKit Insider Podcast
CES 2025 has wrapped and we have a ton of new smart home announcements to cover, which is what this entire episode is dedicated to. We walk through more than a dozen new smart home products.

Joining this episode, is your host's better half, Faith O'Hara. She details the pros and cons of the smart home while Andrew was away, before learning about all the new announcements and what she's excited to try.


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I’m Marco Arment, creator of Overcast, technology podcaster and writer, and coffee enthusiast.

Today, on the tenth anniversary of Overcast 1.0, I’m happy to launch a complete rewrite and redesign of most of the iOS app, built to carry Overcast into the next decade — and hopefully beyond.

Like podcasts better than blog posts? Listen to ATP #596 for more!

What’s new

• Much faster, more responsive, more reliable, and more accessible.
• Modern design, optimized for easily-reached controls on today’s phone sizes.
• Improvements throughout, such as undoing large seeks, new playlist-priority options, easier navigation, and more.

What’s not

• Most features. Overcast is still Overcast!
• The audio engine. It’s the best part of Overcast, and still leads the industry in sound quality, silence skipping, and volume normalization. (More soon!)
• The business. I’m still a one-person operation, with no funding or external ownership, serving only my customers.
• My principles. I always want to make the best podcast app, and I’ll never disrespect your time, attention, or privacy.

What’s gone

Streaming. Most big podcasts now use dynamic ad insertion, which causes bugs and problems for streaming playback.¹ Downloading episodes completely before they begin playback is much more reliable.

Tapping a non-downloaded episode will now open the playback screen, download it, then start playback. It works similarly to the way streaming did before, but playback begins after the download completes, not after a portion of it is buffered.

On today’s fast networks, this usually only takes a few extra seconds.

And in the near future, I’ll be adding smarter options and more control over selective downloading of episodes to further improve the experience for people who don’t automatically download every episode.

What’s next

• The last few missing features from the old app, such as Shortcuts support, storage management, and OPML. These are absent now, but will return soon.
• More options for downloading and deleting episodes.
• Upgrading the Apple Watch app to the new, faster sync engine. (The Watch app is currently unchanged from the previous one.)

And, of course, more features, including some of your most-requested features over the last decade.

Getting this rewrite out the door was a monumental task. Thank you for your patience as I work through this list!

Why?

Most of Overcast’s core code was 10 years old, which made it cumbersome or impossible to easily move with the times, adopt new iOS functionality, or add new features, especially as one person.

That’s why there haven’t been many new features or changes in years.

You saw it, and I saw it. I wasn’t able to serve my customers as well as I wanted.

For Overcast to have a future, it needed a modern foundation for its second decade. I’ve spent the past 18 months rebuilding most of the app with Swift, SwiftUI, Blackbird, and modern Swift concurrency.

Now, development is rapidly accelerating. I’m more responsive, iterating more quickly, and ultimately making the app much better.

Thank you all so much for the first decade of Overcast.

Here’s to the next one.

1. Dynamic ad insertion (DAI) splices ads into each download, and no two downloads are guaranteed to have the same number or duration of ads. So, for example, if the first half of an episode downloads, then the download fails, and it downloads the second half with another request, the combined audio may jump forward or back at the halfway mark, losing or repeating content. ↩︎

Overcast’s latest update (2022.2) brings the largest redesign in its nearly-eight-year history, plus many of the most frequently requested features and lots of under-the-hood improvements. I’m pretty proud of this one.

For this first and largest phase of the redesign, I focused on the home screen, playlist screen, typography, and spacing. (I plan to revamp the now-playing and individual-podcast screens in a later update.)

The home screen is radically different:

Home screen, before (left) and after (right).

• Playlists now have strong visual identities for nicer and easier navigation. Each playlist has a customizable color, and a custom icon can be selected from over 3,000 SF Symbols to match modern iOS design and the other icons within Overcast.

  And playlists can be manually reordered with drag-and-drop.

• Recently played and newly published episodes can now be displayed on the home screen for quick access, much like the widget and CarPlay experience.

• Podcasts can now be pinned to the top of the home-screen list.

  Pinned podcasts can also be manually reordered with drag-and-drop.

I’ve also rethought the old stacked “Podcasts” and “Played Podcasts” sections to better match people’s needs and expectations. Now, the toggle atop the podcast list switches between three modes: podcasts with current episodes, all followed podcasts, and inactive podcasts (those that you don’t follow and therefore won’t get any more episodes from, or haven’t posted a new episode in a long time).

The playlist screen’s structure remains mostly the same, while refining the design for the modern era:

Playlist screen, before (left) and after (right).

Here, it’s more apparent that I’ve replaced the system San Francisco font with an alternate variant, San Francisco Rounded, to increase legibility and better match the personality of the app.

I’ve also added highly demanded features:

• By far, Overcast’s most-requested feature is a Mark as Played feature. That’s now available as a checkmark button on episode rows, as well as a left-side swipe action.
• The second-most-requested feature is a way to view all starred episodes. Special playlists for Starred, Downloaded, and In Progress can now be created.

The light and dark themes now each have a customizable tint color from the modern iOS UI-color palette, including these favorites from beta testers:

And throughout the app, I’ve made tons of tweaks and bug fixes, including:

• Notifications and background downloads are now much more reliable.
• Episode downloads can now be individually deleted or re-downloaded.
• Links can now be opened in Safari. (under Nitpicky Details)
• Performance is now significantly better with very large playlists and collections.
• Fixed bugs with episode-duration detection, CarPlay lists, Mac-app sharing, and much more. So much is better in this update that I can’t even remember it all.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me beta-test this massive update.

As always, Overcast is free in the App Store. Go get it!

Losing Steve affected me more than it probably should have, given that I never met him or had any correspondence with him.

But losing him was devastating — not just to my world, but the world.

He was a sort of virtual father figure: I was always hoping that maybe Steve would notice something I did.

We all wanted his attention and approval, and that drove us to do better work — even those of us who never worked at Apple.

Nobody replaced him in this role. Nobody can.

But as an outsider who had no personal relationship with him to mourn, it has been most depressing to consider how much of his work the world missed out on.

He wasn’t taken from us after a long, complete life — he was taken in his prime.

He had so much more to offer the world.

After the dust settles from the developer class-action settlement, the South Korean law, the JFTC announcement, and the Apple v. Epic decision, I think the most likely long-term outcome isn’t very different from the status quo — and that’s a good thing.

Allowing external purchases

Here’s what I think we’ll end up with:

• Apple will still require apps to use their IAP system for any qualifying purchases that occur in the apps themselves.
• All app types will be allowed to link out to a browser for other purchase methods.

• Most apps will be required to also offer IAP side-by-side with any external methods.¹

  Only “Reader apps” will be exempt from this requirement.²

• Apple will have many rules regarding the display, descriptions, and behavior of external purchases, many of which will be unpublished and ever-changing. App Review will be extremely harsh, inconsistent, capricious, petty, and punitive with their enforcement.³
• Apple won’t require price-matching between IAP and external purchases.

These few but important corrections reduce Apple’s worst behavior and should relieve most regulatory pressure.

The result won’t look much different than the status quo:

Most big media apps (qualifying as “reader” apps) won’t offer IAP, but will finally be allowed to link to their websites from their apps and offer purchases there.

Many games will offer both IAP and external purchases, with the external choice offering a discount, bonus gems, extra loot boxes, or other manipulative tricks to optimize the profitability of casino games for children (commissions from which have been the largest portion of Apple’s “services revenue” to date).

Most importantly, many products, services, and business models will become possible that previously weren’t, leading to more apps, more competition, and more money going to more places.

External purchase methods will evolve to be almost as convenient as IAP (especially if Apple Pay is permitted in this context), and payment processors will reduce the burden of manual credit-card entry with shared credentials available across multiple apps.

The payment-fraud doomsday scenarios argued by Apple and many fans mostly won’t happen, in part because App Review will prevent most obvious cases, but also because parents don’t typically offer their credit cards to untrustworthy children; and for buyers of all ages, most credit cards themselves provide stronger fraud prevention and easier recourse from unwanted charges than the App Store ever has.

No side-loading

I don’t expect side-loading or alternative app stores to become possible, and I’m relieved, because that is not a future I want for iOS.

When evaluating such ideas, I merely ask myself:

“What would Facebook do?”

Facebook owns four of the top ten apps in the world. If side-loading became possible, Facebook could remove Instagram, WhatsApp, the Facebook app, and Messenger from Apple’s App Store, requiring customers to install these extremely popular apps directly from Facebook via side-loading.

And everyone would.

Most people use a Facebook-owned app not because it’s a good app, but because it’s a means to an important end in their life. Social pressure, family pressure, and network lock-in prevent most users from seeking meaningful alternatives. People would jump through a few hoops if they had to.

Facebook would soon have apps that bypassed App Review installed on the majority of iPhones in the world.

Technical limitations of the OS would prevent the most egregious abuses, but there’s a lot they could still do. We don’t need to do much imagining — they already have attempted multiple hacks, workarounds, privacy invasions, and other unscrupulous and technically invasive behavior with their apps over time to surveil user behavior outside of their app and stay running longer in the background than users intend or expect.

The OS could evolve over time to reduce some of these vulnerabilities, but technical measures alone cannot address all of them.

Without the threat of App Review to keep them in check, Facebook’s apps would become even more monstrous than they already are.

As a user and a fan of iOS, I don’t want any part of that.

No alternative app stores

Alternative app stores would be even worse. Rather than offering individual apps via side-loading, Facebook could offer just one:

The Facebook App Store.

Instagram, WhatsApp, the Facebook app, and Messenger could all be available exclusively there.

The majority of iOS users in the world would soon install it, and Facebook would start using leverage in other areas — apps’ social accounts, stats packages, app-install ads, ad-attribution requirements — to heavily incentivize (and likely strong-arm) a huge number of developers to offer their apps in the Facebook App Store, likely in addition to Apple’s.

Maybe I’d be required to add the Facebook SDK to my app in order to be in their store, which they would then use to surveil my users.

Maybe I’d need to buy app-install ads to show up in search there at all.

Maybe I’d need to pay Facebook to “promote” each app update to reach more than a tiny percentage of my existing customers.

And Facebook wouldn’t even be the only app store likely to become a large player on iOS.

Amazon would almost certainly bring their garbage “Appstore” to iOS, but at least that one probably wouldn’t go anywhere.

Maybe Google would bring the Play Store to iOS and offer a unified SDK to develop a single codebase for iOS and Android, effectively making every app feel like an Android app and further marginalizing native apps when they’re already hurting.

Media conglomerates that own many big-name properties, like Disney, might each have their own app stores for their high-profile apps. Running your own store means you can promote all of your own apps as much as you want. What giant corporation would resist?

Don’t forget games! Epic and Steam would come to iOS with their own game stores. Maybe Microsoft and Nintendo, too.

Maybe you’d need to install seven different app stores on your iPhone just to get the apps and games you already use — and all without App Review to keep them in check.

Most developers would probably need to start submitting our apps to multiple app stores, each with its own rules, metadata, technical requirements, capabilities, approval delays, payment processing, stats, crash reports, ads, promotion methods, and user reviews.

As a user, a multiple-app-store world sounds like an annoying mess; as a developer, it terrifies me.

Apple’s App Store is the devil we know. The most viable alternatives that would crop up would be far worse.

Course correction

The way Apple runs its business isn’t perfect, but it’s also not a democracy.

I loved this part of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ decision in Apple v. Epic, as quoted by Ben Thompson’s excellent article that you should read:

Apple has not offered any justification for the actions other than to argue entitlement. Where its actions harm competition and result in supracompetitive pricing and profits, Apple is wrong.

I interpret “entitlement” without a negative connotation here — Apple is entitled to run their platform mostly as they wish, with governmental interference only warranted to fix market-scale issues that harm large segments of commerce or society.

As a developer, I’d love to see more changes to Apple’s control over iOS. But it’s hard to make larger changes without potentially harming much of what makes iOS great for both users and developers.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers got it right: we needed a minor course correction to address the most egregiously anticompetitive behavior, but most of the way Apple runs iOS is best left to Apple.

1. If the South Korean law holds, IAP may not be required — but only in South Korea. With this exception, I expect the rest of these rules to be enforced the same way globally. ↩︎

2. Apple defines “reader” apps as “[allowing] a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video).”

   This includes many apps that Apple’s services compete with, such as Netflix, Spotify, and Kindle, that raise anticompetitive concerns among regulators and legislators when forced to give Apple 30%. ↩︎

3. App Review has higher-level queues for managerial review of controversial rules or edge cases, typically identifiable from the outside by an app stuck with “In Review” status for days or weeks, and often ending in a phone call from “Bill”.

   I’d expect any app offering external purchases to have a very high chance of being escalated to a slower, more pain-in-the-ass review process, possibly causing it not to be worthwhile for most small developers to deal with.

   I have no plans to add external purchases to Overcast for multiple reasons, including this — but mostly because, for my purposes, I’m satisfied with Apple’s IAP system. ↩︎

Apple’s leaders continue to deny developers of two obvious truths:

• That our apps provide substantial value to iOS beyond the purchase commissions collected by Apple.
• That any portion of our customers came to our apps from our own marketing or reputation, rather than the App Store.

For Apple to continue to deny these is dishonest, factually wrong, and extremely insulting — not only to our efforts, but to the intelligence of all Apple developers and customers.

This isn’t about the 30%, or the 15%, or the prohibition of other payment systems, or the rules against telling our customers about our websites, or Apple’s many other restrictions. (Not today, at least.)

It’s about what Apple’s leadership thinks of us and our work.

*     *     *

It isn’t the App Store’s responsibility to the rest of Apple to “pay its way” by leveraging hefty fees on certain types of transactions. Modern society has come to rely so heavily on mobile apps that any phone manufacturer must ensure that such a healthy ecosystem exists as table stakes for anyone to buy their phones.

Without our apps, the iPhone has little value to most of its customers today.

If Apple wishes to continue advancing bizarre corporate-accounting arguments, the massive profits from the hardware business are what therefore truly “pay the way” of the App Store, public APIs, developer tools, and other app-development resources, just as the hardware profits must fund the development of Apple’s own hardware, software, and services that make the iPhone appeal to customers.

The forced App Store commissions, annual developer fees, and App Store Search Ads income are all just gravy. The “way” is already paid by the hardware — but Apple uses their position of power to double-dip.

And that’s just business. Apple’s a lot of things, and “generous” isn’t one.

But to bully and gaslight developers into thinking that we need to be kissing Apple’s feet for permitting us to add billions of dollars of value to their platform is not only greedy, stingy, and morally reprehensible, but deeply insulting.

*     *     *

Apple further extends the value argument, and defends their justification for forced commissions, by claiming responsibility for and ownership of the customer relationship between all iOS users and each app they choose to use.

This argument only makes sense — and even then, only somewhat — when apps are installed by a customer browsing the App Store, finding an app they hadn’t previously heard of, and choosing to install it based on App Store influence alone.

But in the common case — and for most app installations, the much more common case — of searching for a specific app by name or following a link or ad based on its developer’s own marketing or reputation, Apple has served no meaningful role in the customer acquisition and “deserves” nothing more from the transaction than what a CDN and commodity credit-card processor would charge.

The idea that the App Store is responsible for most customers of any reasonably well-known app is a fantasy.

It isn’t the App Store that has enabled all of the commerce on iOS — it’s the entire world of computing and modern society, created by a symbiotic ecosystem in which Apple played one part alongside many others. The world was already moving in this direction, and had Apple not played its part, someone else would’ve. The App Store is merely one platform’s forced distribution gateway, “facilitating” the commerce no more and no less than a web browser, an ISP or cellular carrier, a server-hosting company, or a credit-card processor.

For Apple to continue to claim otherwise is beyond insulting, and borders on delusion.

*     *     *

At WWDC next week, these same people are going to try to tell us a different story.

They’re going to tell us how amazing we are, how important our work is, and how much they value us. And for thousands of Apple employees who’ve made the great products and platforms that we love, including the hundreds of engineers presenting the sessions and working the labs, it’ll be genuine and true.

But the leaders have already shown us who they really are, what they really think of us, and how much they value our work.

Please forgive some sloppiness in my metaphors or phrasing — my writing skills are pretty rusty — and I’ll return the favor to anyone who responds.

A summary of today’s changes to 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods:

Your app must use Apple’s in-app-purchase (IAP) system for all purchases made in the app.

Unless they’re purchases for goods or services that are consumed outside the app, in which case you are prohibited from using IAP.

Unless those goods or services consumed outside the app are magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video, in which case, you are required to use IAP.

But if your app only “reads” previously purchased magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video, and doesn’t mention the possibility of purchases anywhere in the app, you don’t need to use IAP.

Unless you offer account creation, in which case, you are required to use IAP.

Unless you only offer free account creation, in which case, you don’t need to use IAP.

But if you offer paid upgrades from free accounts within the app, you are required to use IAP.

Except for accounts that were created outside the app, which can offer paid account upgrades and don’t need to use IAP.

If you’re selling “experiences” between people, you don’t need to use IAP.

Unless those “experiences” include three or more people, or aren’t consumed live, in which case, you are required to use only IAP.

If your purchase is for services, features, or game items, you are required to use only IAP.

Unless you operate on multiple platforms, in which case, you can also offer purchasing outside the app. But you can’t tell anyone about it.

Unless you get their contact info somewhere else, in which case, you can tell them about it, but not in the app.

You are required to use IAP even if you sell your app or service directly to other people.

Unless you only sell it to businesses or groups for their employees or students to use, in which case, you still must use IAP, but you can include your own payment method as well.

Unless those groups are families, or unless those employees or students are somehow “consumers”, in which case, you must only use IAP.

Do I have that right?

*     *     *

How about an alternative that’s clear, fair, reasonable, and consistently enforceable?

Apps may offer other payment mechanisms in their app, as long as terms are clear and customers aren’t misled, and may or may not choose to implement in-app purchase based on its merits.

In one stroke, antitrust and regulatory pressure disappear, developer relations are significantly repaired, and Apple can go back to spending its time, resources, PR, and political capital on making their products better and customers happier.

The latest update to Overcast includes a feature that I’m especially proud of that took over a year to build.

Voice Boost 2 is an all-new audio engine that includes professional-grade, mastering-quality loudness normalization.

When I first introduced Overcast in 2014, Voice Boost was one of its headlining features:

Voice Boost is a combination of dynamic compression and equalization that can make many shows more listenable and normalize volume across all shows. This makes amateur-produced podcasts (including many of my favorites) more listenable in loud environments, like cars, where you’d otherwise need to crank the volume so loudly to hear the quiet parts that you’d blow your ears out when the loudest person spoke.

Voice Boost 2 achieves the same goal as the original Voice Boost, but with dramatically more sophisticated methods, leading to more consistent results and much better sound quality.

Goals

When I wrote the original Voice Boost with only a rudimentary understanding of audio processing, it was a single configuration of Apple’s AudioUnits that applied a fixed set of parameters to all podcasts, regardless of their audio characteristics. It was an effective but blunt tool, relying on aggressive level compression and a strong EQ to make the compression less noticeable.

Since then, I’ve edited over 500 podcasts, learned a lot more about how to master them properly, and developed a much better understanding of audio signal processing.

I set out to develop a better, smarter, and more refined Voice Boost that took advantage of everything I’d learned, with these audio goals:

• The effect should be much more subtle: mostly just consistent volume, plus slightly smoother tone.
• It should analyze the input audio and apply just enough processing to achieve a consistent volume level, modifying already-good audio as little as possible.
• It should sound good, and consistent, regardless of the volume dynamics of its input.
• Quality should be so good that I can even play high-quality music through it¹ and not notice any artifacts.

And these technical goals:

• Like Smart Speed and the original Voice Boost, it had to work as a streaming process, easily toggled on and off at will, without needing to scan the entire file first or look very far ahead.
• The code had to be pure C, with highly optimized and vectorized code, so it wouldn’t be a major power drain on older phones and could potentially run on much lower-power devices as well.
• I had to write every component from scratch, without using AudioUnits, because I wanted to understand and control everything, ensure the highest performance and sound quality, and avoid Apple’s platform-specific API limits.²
• It had to be modular and easily customizable, like a channel strip in an audio editor, so I could adjust the processing during development and testing, offer user customization down the road, and use the same engine to build myself a modular podcast-preproduction tool to save time in my weekly workflow (which I’ve been using for over a year).³

Live LUFS normalization

Since Voice Boost is mostly about high-quality volume analysis and loudness normalization, I went straight to the top, implementing the ITU BS.1770–4 standard that gives us the LUFS measurement seen in high-end audio editors.

Overcast now measures and adjusts podcast levels using this broadcast-standard perceptual loudness algorithm, at full quality, with no preprocessing.

Voice Boost 2 normalizes all podcasts to –14 LUFS — a level I chose because it closely matches the volume of Siri and most iOS turn-by-turn navigation voices, so when you’re listening to a podcast while driving, navigation interruptions are less jarring.

Most professionally produced podcasts are already mastered to similar volume levels, so Voice Boost 2 won’t overcompress them with aggressive processing — it’ll only apply as much correction as necessary to make them all the same volume.

A brief tutorial on clipping and distortion

This is about to get nerdier, but bear with me. (Yes, nerdier than ITU broadcast-loudness standards.)

Given a loudness measurement for the incoming audio, quieter podcasts need to be amplified to reach the target. But perceived loudness isn’t the peak of the incoming audio stream — it’s more of an average. Quiet-sounding audio can still have brief moments of loud peaks.

When increasing the volume of digital audio, the biggest challenge is not “clipping” during the peaks — not having any part of the signal pass above the volume ceiling of 0 dB. (It’s a negative scale. This is also why the LUFS value above, which is closely related to the decibel scale used here, is negative.)

Here’s the highest the signal should go, showing the individual audio samples (green dots) that can be processed by a podcast app before the DAC transforms them into audio (smooth green line):

It’ll sound right as long as the audio doesn’t cross above that top line (0 dB). Increase the volume even slightly too far, and some of the samples just slam into it and stay there, losing the tops of their smooth curves:

And that sounds terrible.

But I can’t just cap all the samples right below the limit and call it a day — that’s called a brickwall limiter — because then the shape of the audio line will actually represent different frequencies, telling the DAC to add noise that wasn’t really there.

Here, the bottom of each image shows the frequency breakdown:

The unclipped signal (left) shows only its original frequency of about 2100 Hz, but a basic brickwall limiter (right) results in the unwanted introduction of a bunch of extra frequencies.

That’s distortion. (If this is interesting to you, learn more about audio sampling theory here.)

Lookahead limiter

Avoiding audible distortion requires a lookahead limiter, which looks… ahead (😎) at the audio coming down the pipeline, and smoothly ramps the volume amplification down as a loud peak is approaching, then back up again afterward, just enough to avoid clipping and audible distortion, but so quickly that you don’t notice.⁴

After Voice Boost 2’s complete 32-bit audio processing pipeline, the last stage is a lookahead limiter, configured such that it can’t clip, no matter what audio comes through.

This gives vast flexibility in volume processing without sacrificing quality.

Voice Boost 2 also incorporates a dynamics compressor, but over time, I’ve kept reducing its strength as I’ve found it less necessary. Proper LUFS processing with a great lookahead limiter provides excellent volume normalization with almost no compression needed afterward.

True-peak detection

There’s one more way to introduce clipping that needs to be guarded against.

Digital audio is represented by samples that represent a point in time (green dots, again) on a sound wave (green line). But the sampled points don’t always land at the exact peaks of those waves:

The most common way to measure the peak of a waveform is to find the greatest absolute sample value. By this method, the top waveform peaks here would measure about –6 dB and –1.5 dB, respectively.

But the actual peak amplitudes of these waves is –1 dB! A simple limiter could still output clipped audio because it’s not seeing the true peaks.

Voice Boost 2’s limiter performs true-peak detection, rather than simply measuring sample peaks, to avoid this type of clipping and further reduce distortion.

Mastering-quality processing for everyone

Voice Boost 2 is a mastering-quality audio-processing pipeline that applies broadcast-standard loudness normalization, light compression and EQ, and a true-peak lookahead limiter to your podcasts, in real time, without sacrificing quality or battery life.

And it runs at less than 1% CPU usage on an iPhone SE.⁵

I intend to expose some of its customizability to customers in future updates, but I wanted to develop and ship the best default settings first to keep the app simple and usable to everyone. Now that it’s available to everyone, I may still subtly tweak the defaults in response to feedback. But as I’ve refined the settings during the beta period to be more universal, less customization has been necessary.⁶

Having achieved its goals of being more consistent and less aggressive, Voice Boost 2 is intentionally transparent. It’s not promoted more in the app or even labeled “Voice Boost 2”. It’s still Voice Boost — just better now.

If I did my job well, you’ll hardly notice it at all. You’ll have no idea that your podcasts are being remastered in your pocket.

But I’ll know. And the handful of you who really care will know. And that’s enough for me.

Voice Boost 2 is in today’s update (2020.1), along with these new features:

• AirPlay 2: Overcast can now play to HomePods and other AirPlay 2 devices much more responsively, with full-blown Smart Speed and Voice Boost, on iOS 13.1 and above.⁷
• Skip intros/outros: There’s a new per-podcast setting to skip a given number of seconds from the start and/or end of its episodes.
• Clip-sharing from private feeds. In retrospect, this restriction was unnecessary, so I lifted it.
• Restored iOS 12 compatibility. Going 13-only so soon was a mistake. Hear why on Under The Radar 181 and 183.

As usual, all of this is free for everyone in Overcast.

1. Those awesome Trey Anastasio acoustic shows are pretty quiet. ↩︎

2. Apple doesn’t make all of their audio APIs available on all platforms: some are Mac-only and never came to iOS, and watchOS has an even smaller subset than iOS. The more I can accomplish in my own code, the less I depend on Apple’s choices for which APIs they make available to developers. ↩︎

3. It’s just a command-line tool for now. You don’t want it. (But if you do… someday, maybe.) ↩︎

4. This all happens in milliseconds. ↩︎

5. At 1X, with Smart Speed enabled.

   Smart Speed was actually entirely rewritten as part of Voice Boost 2, but it’s less interesting. It performs the same job as before, but much more efficiently, and taking advantage of the measured loudness when Voice Boost is also enabled. ↩︎

6. For instance, I also built a de-esser into Voice Boost 2, but it slowly became unnecessary as I improved the other processing, so it’s not currently enabled. ↩︎

7. Smart Speed is a big deal here, I think — I’m not aware of any other podcast apps with silence-skipping over AirPlay 2.

   (Or LUFS normalization, or true-peak lookahead limiters.) ↩︎

In light of today’s rumor that a Pro Mode may be coming that seems to offer benefits in the opposite direction,¹ I wanted to re-make the case for a Low Power Mode on macOS — and explain why now is the time.

Modern hardware constantly pushes thermal and power limits, trying to strike a balance that minimizes noise and heat while maximizing performance and battery life.

Software also plays a role, trying to keep everything background-updated, content-indexed, and photo-analyzed so it’s ready for us when we want it, but not so aggressively that we notice any cost to performance or battery life.

Apple’s customers don’t usually have control over these balances, and they’re usually fixed at design time with little opportunity to adapt to changing circumstances or customer priorities.

The sole exception, Low Power Mode on iOS, seems to be a huge hit: by offering a single toggle that chooses a different balance, people are able to greatly extend their battery life when they know they’ll need it.²

Mac laptops need Low Power Mode, too. I believe so strongly in its potential because I’ve been using it on my laptops (in a way) for years, and it’s fantastic.

I’ve been disabling Intel Turbo Boost on my laptops with Turbo Boost Switcher Pro most of the time since 2015.

In 2018, I first argued for Low Power Mode on macOS with a list of possible tweaks, concluding that disabling Turbo Boost was still the best bang-for-the-buck tweak to improve battery life without a noticeable performance cost in most tasks.³

Recently, as Intel has crammed more cores and higher clocks into smaller form factors and pushed thermal limits to new extremes, the gains have become even more significant. Here’s some thermal testing from my 8-core 16-inch MacBook Pro:

16-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2019, 2.4 GHz 8-core i9)   Power Temp. Geekbench 5 single/multi xcodebuild Normal 82W 90°C 1260/7386 39 sec. No Turbo 31W−62% 65°C 669/5206−46/29% 62 sec.+59%

With Turbo Boost disabled, peak CPU power consumption drops by 62%, with a correspondingly huge reduction in temperature. This has two massive benefits:

• The fans never audibly spin up. When Turbo Boost is enabled, the fans annoyingly spin up every time the system is under a heavy sustained load. Disable it, and it’s almost impossible to get them to be audible.
• It runs significantly cooler. Turbo Boost lets laptops get too hot to comfortably hold in your lap, and so much heat radiates out that it can make hands sweaty. Disable it, and the laptop only gets moderately warm, not hot, and hands stay comfortably dry.

I haven’t done formal battery testing on the 16-inch, since it’s so difficult and time-consuming to do in a controlled way that’s actually useful to people, but anecdotally, I’m seeing similar battery gains by disabling Turbo Boost that I’ve seen with previous laptops: significantly longer battery life that I’d estimate to be between 30–50%.

This comes at a cost to performance, but:

• It’s not noticeable on most workloads.
• Parallel workloads are affected far less than single-threaded tasks, and most modern heavy workloads are parallelized.

• This is an 8-core laptop that’s competitive with my iMac Pro! It’s much faster than most people need (myself included) most of the time, so I can spare some performance to get other benefits.

  A fast laptop isn’t very useful if your hands are too sweaty to type, the battery dies in the middle of a flight, or the loud fans ruin your audio recording.

• When I really want to maximize performance, Turbo Boost Switcher Pro lets me quickly toggle it in the menu bar, so switching between modes is easy.

The vast majority of the time I’m using it, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is a much better laptop with Turbo Boost disabled.

It’s still fast enough to do everything I need (including significant development with Xcode), while remaining silent and cool, with incredible battery life.

But soon, I bet I won’t be able to do this anymore.

Turbo Boost Switcher Pro relies on a kernel extension that’s grandfathered into Apple’s latest security requirements, but it can never be updated — and when macOS Catalina loads it for the first time, it warns that it’ll be “incompatible with a future version of macOS.” I suspect that this is the last year I’ll get to run the latest OS and be able to turn off Turbo Boost at will, making all of my future laptop usage significantly worse.

Please, Apple, make this feature official: give us a Low Power Mode for macOS that disables Turbo Boost to keep our laptops cool, quiet, and long-lasting at times when those are more important to us than speed.

1. My guess is that “Pro Mode” doesn’t raise the peak performance, but instead raises the fan speeds to allow longer sustained operation at high Turbo Boost speeds. ↩︎

2. Low Power Mode has been so successful on iOS that Apple also thought it worthwhile to add a Low Data Mode to iOS 13, offering similar control over data usage. (Mac owners can get similar functionality with the excellent TripMode.) ↩︎

3. As I wrote back then, disabling discrete GPUs and Photos analysis are other obvious contributors to a good Mac Low Power Mode. ↩︎

After my first day with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, I’m very optimistic about it.

🎧  Hear more on today’s Accidental Tech Podcast!

Two years ago, I wrote a wishlist to fix the MacBook Pro, and the 16-inch doesn’t actually deliver most of it. But time and technological progress are slowly getting Apple off the hook:

• The ports are unchanged. We’ll still need dongles. But USB-C is gradually becoming more common, and dongles are slowly — very slowly — getting less shitty.
• The Touch Bar isn’t optional. But a new hardware Esc key removes one of its biggest drawbacks, and accidental input should be reduced by the increased spacing between the Touch Bar and the top row of keys.
• The power brick still lacks its previous conveniences. There’s still no cable management, safety breakaway, or charging LED. But third parties are slowly filling some of these gaps.
• The headphone jack is still on the right (wrong) side, despite most single-sided headphone cables entering the left earcup. But the need for wired headphones is decreasing over time.

Addressing those would be nice, but as I wrote then, they paled in comparison to one huge issue: the butterfly keyboard.

The MacBook Pro must return to scissor keyswitches. If Apple only changes one thing about the next MacBook Pro, it should be this. It’s far more important than anything else on this list. […]

The Magic Keyboard’s scissor switches feel similar, but with a bit more travel, and all of the reliability and resilience of previous keyboard generations. […]

The Magic Keyboard only needs one change to be perfect for the MacBook Pro: returning to the “inverted-T” arrow-key arrangement by making the left- and right-arrow keys half-height again. This arrangement is much more natural and less error-prone because we can align our fingers by feeling the “T” shape, a crucial affordance for such frequently used keys that are so far from the home row.

That’s exactly what they’ve done, and I couldn’t be happier.

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a great computer in most other ways, but so were the MacBook Pros from the last few years. They were fast, powerful, capable workstations… but the butterfly keyboard took away from it all.

Not anymore.

I’m on cloud nine. Look at this glorious keyboard! An Esc key! Inverted-T arrow keys! A millimeter of key travel! Enough spacing between the keys for our fingers to accurately orient themselves! And keystrokes will probably work, 100% of the time, for years!

Five years ago, nobody would’ve considered any of these noteworthy, and readers would’ve suspected you weren’t of sound mind if you included them in a review.

Five years ago, laptop keyboards were fine. Everyone was pretty much satisfied with the ones they had, they worked, and we never had to talk or think about them.

Today, finally, we begin heading back to that world.

The butterfly keyboard was an anomaly — it was a huge departure from everything else we’d ever used, mostly not in good ways.

The new keyboard is very similar to the recent desktop Magic Keyboard, and I expect it to have a wide appeal, just as the Magic Keyboard does. It has slightly less travel and spacing, but the overall feeling is very similar — and it’s nothing at all like the butterfly keyboard.

I absolutely love it — not because it’s the most amazing keyboard in the world, but because it’s completely forgettable in the best possible way. It just feels normal again.

There’s a lot more to love about the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The screen and battery are bigger, but the size and weight barely increased. It’s almost as fast as my iMac Pro, and the new thermals can sustain higher performance. The speakers and microphone got huge, unexpected improvements.

And I didn’t get everything I wanted. But many of my wishlist items fall outside of what Apple is likely to ever do, and all of them are much less important than making the computer’s primary input device functional, acceptable, and reliable. Now we have the luxury of being able to complain about less-urgent wishes.

The biggest change is that I finally don’t feel like it’s constantly fighting me. Its design doesn’t feel spiteful. It’s a computer that doesn’t seem to hate being a computer. I’m not afraid to use it in the world, and I’m not avoiding using it because it’s unpleasant. The butterfly keyboard was the opposite, it never got better, I never got used to it, and good riddance to it.

Following in the footsteps of the fantastic iMac Pro, updated Mac Mini, and upcoming Mac Pro, the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro ends a painful chapter of neglect and hubristic design of the Mac. Apple has finally turned the ship around.

We haven’t had long enough to fully test it yet. There may be flaws or shortcomings discovered over time — there usually are (and always have been). But frankly, it could catch fire twice a week and it would still be my favorite laptop Apple has made since 2015. Fortunately, upon initial usage, nothing bad really jumps out.

The new MacBook Pro has no massive asterisks or qualifications. It’s a great computer, period, and it feels so good to be able to say that again.

For the first time in years, without any major exceptions, we can see that Apple loves computers as much as we do.

🎧  Much more detail and discussion in the podcast!

Today’s Overcast update (2019.6) brings some great new features.

But first, I need to set low expectations for iOS 13, watchOS 6, and macOS Catalina updates this fall. Halfway through the summer, I’ve made much less progress than expected, having been overwhelmed by the required OS changes, my own technical and design debts, and unusually rough betas.

Rather than shipping a big iOS update, a standalone Watch app, and a Mac app on day one, these will probably come incrementally over the next year.

Fortunately, I haven’t stopped improving the app in the meantime.

Per-podcast customization, longer clips

You can now set download-vs.-stream and auto-delete behavior per podcast, one of the most frequently requested features over the last few years. (Sorry it took so long — it required a lot of server-side work for uninteresting reasons.)

I’ve also raised the clip-sharing length limit to 90 seconds. When I debuted this feature, I had to guess how it would be used and received, and 60 seconds seemed like a good limit. In practice, that’s sometimes a bit too short to capture a complete thought. 90 seconds should be better — most clips won’t need to be that long, but it’ll be nice to have the headroom when you need it.

“Suggestions for You” replacing Twitter

Overcast has had a Twitter-powered social-recommendations feature since version 1.0 in 2014, which made sense at the time: I didn’t have any popularity data to generate recommendations from, and social networks were nicer places to be than they are today.

But after five years, only 10% of active users have connected a Twitter account in Overcast, and only 0.2% of new podcast subscriptions have actually been added via Twitter recommendations.

Not only was the feature not providing much value to the 10% of people who enabled it, but the other 90% of Overcast’s customers haven’t been getting personalized recommendations at all.

In the meantime, I’ve accumulated five years of popularity data, so I tried writing my own recommendation engine. It worked — and it’s better.

Overcast now offers its own data-driven recommendation engine, and I’ve removed Twitter integration entirely.

Podcasts in the new “Suggestions for You” section of the Add Podcast screen are based on the shows you subscribe to, and what else their subscribers subscribe to, which gives much better recommendations without involving any social networks.

Most importantly, it works for all of Overcast’s customers.

*     *     *

As always, Overcast is free in the App Store. Give it a try.

Something big changed at Apple around the beginning of 2017.

They had encountered significant turbulence in the product line over the preceding years, especially Macs. It was a rough time to be a pro Mac user.

The “trash can” 2013 Mac Pro addressed only a fraction of the needs solved by the previous “cheese grater” towers, aged quickly without critical upgrade paths, and suffered from high GPU-failure rates from its cooling solution — all because its design prioritized size and appearance over performance and versatility in the one Mac model that should never make that tradeoff.

Over the next few years, it became clear that the Mac Pro was an embarrassing, outdated flop that Apple seemed to have little intention of ever updating, leaving its customers feeling unheard and abandoned. I think Apple learned a small lesson from it, but they learned a much bigger one a few years later.

The current MacBook Pro generation launched in late 2016, and I think Apple was truly caught completely by surprise when the new Touch Bar, sparse USB-C-only port offerings, high prices, and highly polarizing butterfly keyboard were met with harsh criticism, mixed reviews, and high failure rates. This one really hurt: while the Mac Pro is a niche machine for the highest-end and most-specialized needs, the popular MacBook Pro is the lifeblood of the Mac.

By the end of 2016, in addition to the generally buggy, neglected state macOS seemed to be perpetually stuck in, Apple had replaced its entire “pro” Mac lineup with controversial, limiting products that seemed optimized to flex Apple’s industrial-design muscles rather than actually addressing their customers’ needs.

The only company that can make computers for our OS seemed incapable of making good computers anymore. Each update threatened to remove or break things we needed or loved. Their newest designs felt punitive, rather than feeling like a celebration of computing.

Then, in April 2017, out of nowhere, Apple held a Mac Pro roundtable discussion with the press to announce that they were in the early stages of completely redesigning the Mac Pro.¹

The follow-up briefing a year later promised that the new Mac Pro would be released in 2019, and publicized the existence of a “Pro Workflow Team” of real pro users working inside Apple to inform the direction of their pro hardware and software.

It sounded like they’d gone from not listening to their customers at all to an institutionalized process of listening. And the newly designed Macs released since then have been great.²

The late-2017 iMac Pro, which I’m using to write this, is the best Mac I’ve ever owned by far. It’s versatile, incredibly powerful, beautiful, and silent. It’s so good that I’ll probably never really need a Mac Pro again,³ and if this was the only new “Mac Pro”, I’d be mostly fine with that.

The late-2018 Mac Mini replaced a pitiful, punitive, neglected relic with a practical, powerful mini-Mac-Pro. Apple could’ve let it die, or replaced it with a tiny, no-port marvel of uselessness, but instead, they made a computer so good that I started and ended a YouTube mini-career just to review it.

And the 2019 Mac Pro, finally unveiled last week, looks to be absolutely killer — it’s the first true successor to the tower Mac Pro, which saw its last real update almost a decade ago in 2010.⁴ It’s big, bulky, ludicrously fast, and almost obscenely upgradeable — exactly what a Mac Pro needs to be, and far better than any of us expected.

The new Mac Pro is, truly, a celebration of computing.

Even more importantly than any hardware releases, macOS itself has also seen massive engineering effort recently. For the first time in a decade, the Mac was a major focus of WWDC, with great new APIs poised to usher in a huge wave of fresh software.

To be fair, this story hasn’t ended yet. The Mac Pro isn’t actually out yet (and will be very expensive), they still need to resolve the problematic MacBook Pro with its next generation (rumors are promising), and the lack of standalone Apple displays under six thousand dollars really hurts the Mac Pro story.⁵

But I’m optimistic for the first time in years.

It’s hard to tell when Apple is listening. They speak concisely, infrequently, and only when they’re ready, saying absolutely nothing in the meantime, even when we’re all screaming about a product line as if it’s on fire. They make great progress, but often with courageous losses that never get reversed, so an extended silence because we’re stuck with a change forever is indistinguishable from an extended silence because the fix isn’t ready yet.

But there has clearly been a major shift in direction for the better since early 2017, and they couldn’t be more clear now:

Apple is listening again, they’ve still got it, and the Mac is back.

1. Based on what we’ve learned since, they had likely started the project a very short time before holding the roundtable. ↩︎

2. I’m excluding the 2018 MacBook Air because it feels like a stopgap that wasn’t originally planned to exist — the no-Touch-Bar 13” MacBook “Escape” seemed intended to replace it — that was rushed into the 2016-era generation mid-cycle, rather than being the first of a new design. Even so, with the large exception of the butterfly keyboard, it’s quite good. ↩︎

3. This doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t buy one. ↩︎

4. The 2010/“2012” Mac Pro was so good, and so upgradeable, that it’s still in surprisingly widespread use today for needs that weren’t possible or compelling on the “trashcan” successor. ↩︎

5. And the MacBook Pro. A very common setup for developers — Apple’s largest identified segment of pro users — is a 15” MacBook Pro connected to an external monitor, for which a good solution no longer exists. Developers would be much better served by a $1,500-ish standalone version of the iMac’s 5K display than a $6,000 XDR reference monitor for professional video colorists. ↩︎

Sharing podcasts has never been easy, but I’ve always tried to lead the way with Overcast, with publicly shareable episode links and optional recommendations from your Twitter friends since version 1.0 in 2014.

Podcast sharing has been limited to audio and links, but today’s social networks are more reliant on images and video, especially Instagram. Podcasts need video clips to be shared more easily today.

I’ve seen some video clips from tools specific to certain podcast networks or hosts, but they were never available to everyone, or for every show. So people mostly just haven’t shared podcast clips, understandably, because it has been too hard.

Not anymore.

▶️ ↩️

This remark on Unco by Stephen Hackett inspired me to finally solve this problem in a way that worked easily, for all podcasts, for both podcasters and listeners to use.

With today’s 2019.4 update¹, you can now share audio or video clips, up to a minute each, from any public podcast. Simply tap the share button in the upper-right corner.

You can generate an audio clip, or portrait, landscape, or square video, using your current Overcast theme setting.

In order to help spread podcasts further, I didn’t want to be heavy-handed in the Overcast branding — not everyone wants to advertise for one specific podcast app when promoting their shows. So the “Shared with Overcast” badge is optional, and if you’d like, you can also add an Apple Podcasts badge.

Finally, I wanted to extend the same app-agnosticism to Overcast’s share links. While this design still needs a lot of modernization, I’ve done a small refresh:

Now, for non-logged-in visitors, Overcast’s public sharing pages display badges for other podcast apps and the RSS feed for any podcast listed in Apple Podcasts.

It’s important for me to promote other apps like this, and to make it easy even for other people’s customers to benefit from Overcast’s sharing features, because there are much bigger threats than letting other open-ecosystem podcast apps get a few more users.

For podcasting to remain open and free, we must not leave major shortcomings for proprietary, locked-down services to exploit.² Conversely, the more we strengthen the open podcast ecosystem with content, functionality, and ease of use, the larger the barrier becomes that any walled garden must overcome to be compelling.

One of the most common shortcomings we hear is that podcasts are hard to share. Hopefully, Overcast’s new clip-sharing feature changes that, and other apps build similar features soon.

So go get Overcast and start sharing your favorite moments. It’ll help me, of course, but more importantly, it’ll help your favorite shows gain listeners, and it’ll strengthen the amazing, open, standards-based world of podcasting.

1. Like Slopes and Castro, I’ve changed to a date-based version-numbering scheme — 2019.4 is the fourth update released in 2019, the next version will be 2019.5, and so on — partly because version numbers don’t really matter anymore, but mostly because I no longer wanted to delay completed features until a major-version change or worry that I didn’t do enough to justify a certain number. ↩︎

2. YouTube was able to dominate video because it made everything easy in a medium that (at the time) was very hard to do elsewhere. If a proprietary service takes a very hard aspect of podcasting and makes it very easy, it may rapidly rise to prominence.

   Other major shortcomings I’m concerned about: the difficulty of getting sponsorships for small shows (“AdSense for podcasts”), and the complexity of creation and publishing (“Tumblr for podcasts”). This is probably why Spotify bought Anchor. ↩︎

▶️

The first thing someone does in a podcast app is add some podcasts, and most active Overcast users add at least two new podcasts each month.

Over 80% of podcasts are added to Overcast by searching, with the vast majority as searches for a specific podcast by name (rather than searching for generic keywords, such as “business”).

Good search is a critical, differentiating feature of any podcast app.

I’m not satisfied if the podcast you’re looking for is somewhere in the middle of a long list — I want it to be the first one, displayed quickly, after typing the fewest characters possible. I’ve been building toward this by analyzing years of popularity statistics and anonymous search data.

Instant Search is the next step in Overcast’s search evolution. It combines a small local cache with a highly optimized search service to give the most relevant results immediately as you type, even after only a single letter.¹

It’s a dramatic, delightful improvement to a critical, frequently used feature. This was a lot of fun to build, and I’m proud of it.

See for yourself! Overcast is free on the App Store.

1. If Instant Search isn’t instant right after you update, the cache hasn’t fully downloaded yet. It’s downloaded weekly, only on Wi-Fi, and is less than 5 MB. ↩︎

Watch my video review of the new iPad Pro in both sizes.

Rather than try to be comprehensive, I focused on what matters most to me: size choice between the 11” and 12.9”, the Smart Keyboard Folio from my perspective as a frequent 10.5” Smart Keyboard user, the new Pencil, and why “getting work done” isn’t important to me.

Watch the video review

I hardly ever think about my Mac Mini, but it serves a vital role for my family as our home-theater mixer, Plex server, ScanSnap server, Apple Photos backup, and Backblaze host for our NAS.¹ Almost every port on the back is in use, and it runs 24/7, reliably, in total silence.

Until last week, I thought it would be the last Mac Mini that Apple ever made.

And when rumors started swirling about an imminent Mac Mini update, I assumed the worst: if it came at all, it would be a tiny box with a slow, ultra-low-power processor and almost zero ports, optimizing for small size instead of versatility.

I don’t think this was an unreasonable fear after the 2014 Mac Mini update, which made many key aspects much worse without making anything much better. It seemed clear then, and for the following four years that it went without an update, that Apple held the Mac Mini and its customers in very low regard.

Not anymore.

The 2018 Mac Mini is real, and it’s spectacular.

It makes almost nothing worse and almost everything better, finally bringing the Mac Mini into the modern age.

Ports! Glorious ports!

Number one — and this is a big one these days, especially for this product — is that it’s not any less useful or versatile than the outgoing Mac Mini, including the generous assortment of ports. If the previous one served a role for you, the new one can probably do it just as well, and probably better and faster, with minimal donglage.²

It’s the same size as the old one, which is the right tradeoff. I know zero Mac Mini owners who really need it to get smaller, and many who don’t want it to get fewer ports or worse performance.

The point of the Mac Mini is to be as versatile as possible, addressing lots of diverse and edge-case needs that the other Macs can’t with their vastly different form factors and more opinionated designs. The Mac Mini needs to be a utility product, not a design statement. (Although, even as someone tired of space-gray everything, I have to admit that the Mini looks fantastic in its new color.)

The base price has increased to $800, and that’s not great. It’s partly justifiable because it’s much higher-end than before — the processors are much better, the architecture is higher-end and includes big advances like the T2, and all-SSD is standard — but it’s still an expensive product in absolute terms.

Apple lent me a high-end configuration for review — 6-core i7, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD — which would cost $2499 (much of which is the SSD). This would’ve sounded crazy to spend on a Mac Mini a few years ago, but when it’s specced up like this, it’s targeting a much higher-end market than the previous model could. Compared to similarly specced iMacs and MacBook Pros, the pricing is generally reasonable.

And this can truly be a pro desktop, with just one exception.

Benchmarks

The big story to me is how incredibly fast this thing is. Granted, I’m testing the fastest CPU offered, but damn.

Geekbench results are very strong. The i7 Mac Mini scored better on single-core performance than every other Mac today (!) at 5912, and its multi-core score of nearly 24,740 beats every Mac to date except the iMac Pro and the old 12-core 2013 Mac Pro.

“Performance-competitive with pro Macs” was not high on my prediction list for a Mac Mini update, but here we are.

As the rate of CPU advancement has slowed dramatically over the last few years, Apple has found other ways to improve performance. The T2 is great for lots of security reasons — I wouldn’t buy a new Mac these days without it — but what you’re seeing here is its strength as a ridiculously fast SSD controller.

This Mac Mini builds my app, Overcast, much faster than my maxed-out 13-inch MacBook Pro, and about as quickly as my 10-core iMac Pro! Obviously, to achieve this result with only 6 cores, it’s not maxing out the CPU 100% of the time — it hits it in bursts while juggling a lot between the SSD and memory — but the result is that it’s incredibly fast as a development machine.

The Blackmagick Disk Speed Test shows that the raw SSD performance is effectively identical to the other T2 Macs shipped to date, and a huge improvement over the four-year-old Mac Mini.

A lot of people use Mac Minis as media or Plex servers, so I ran an H.265 transcoding test with ffmpeg. This maxes out all CPU cores, so the results predictably scale with the core count: the 6-core Mac Mini was much faster than the 4-core MacBook Pro, but the 10-core iMac Pro beat them both.

But if an app supports the T2’s hardware HEVC encoder,³ it can go much faster. And since every T2 so far performs identically, all T2 machines — from the 2018 MacBook Air to the iMac Pro — encode HEVC this way at the same speed, and all in complete silence because they’re barely touching the CPU.

I wasn’t able to notice any quality differences between the videos encoded with x265 and the T2’s hardware acceleration.

The only spec that lets it down is the Intel GPU. It’s fast enough for common tasks, but if your workload benefits from a strong GPU, you’re better off going for an iMac or a 15-inch MacBook Pro, or considering an eGPU setup.

Many Mac lines rely on Intel’s integrated GPUs to fit their physical and thermal needs, and Intel has been incredibly inconsistent over the last few years in delivering updated CPU-GPU combinations that would be suitable for many Macs.

We often blame Intel’s CPU roadmap (or Apple’s seeming indifference) for the lack of updates to certain Mac lines, but Intel’s GPU offerings are often the bigger issue. This is Intel’s fault, but it’s Apple’s problem — and Apple passes that problem right along to its customers.

But that’s it — aside from price, that’s the only downside. The GPU sucks. Everything else is awesome.

If you don’t need a strong GPU — and honestly, most Mac Mini use-cases don’t — this is a solid pick for a general-purpose Mac, even at the base-level configuration. Spec it up, and it’s more like a mini-Mac Pro.

A few assorted notes, with apologies for stealing Gruber’s format:

• It’s silent at idle. The i7’s fan noise does become clearly audible when it’s under heavy load: it’s in the ballpark of a modern MacBook Pro, but quieter.

  Interestingly, I disabled Turbo Boost to simulate the base i3 model’s thermals, and couldn’t get the fan to spin up audibly, no matter what I did. Those who prioritize silence under heavy loads should probably stick with the i3.

• This is the first non-iMac desktop Mac that lets you plug in a 5K display, at full quality, without dual cables or other unreliable hacks. We finally have 5K Retina Mac options beyond the iMac! Unfortunately, we still don’t have any great standalone 5K displays. (The LG UltraFine isn’t.)

• You can upgrade the RAM again! I never would’ve guessed this was coming, and I believe it’s the first time in a long time that an Apple product’s direct successor became more upgradeable and serviceable.

  I still recommend getting it with the right amount of RAM from Apple if possible, since third-party RAM has historically been a mess of unreliability and finger-pointing, but if you need that, it’s back. (The security screws inside — TR6? — still need some iFixit tools to get past.)

I Can’t Believe The Mac Mini Is This Awesome, I Can’t Even Say “Again” Because It Never Was

A new Mac Mini could’ve been so much worse. At many times in its past, it has seemed unloved, neglected, and downright punitive — a similar pattern to Apple’s other headless desktop, the Mac Pro. It seemed for a while that Apple lacked any interest in making Macs anymore, especially desktops.

Last year, with the introduction of the absolutely stellar iMac Pro, Apple showed us a glimpse of a potential new direction. It was downright perfect — a love letter to the Mac and its pro desktop users, and a clear turnaround in the way the company views the Mac for the better.

We didn’t know until now whether the iMac Pro’s greatness was a fluke. But now we have another data point: the last two desktops out of Apple have been incredible. After this, I have faith that they’re going to do the new Mac Pro justice when it finally ships next year.

The new Mac Mini is a great update, out of nowhere, to a product we thought would never be updated again.

Of course, with Apple’s track record on the Mac Mini, it may never be updated after this. This is either the first in a series of regular updates with which Apple proves that they care about the Mac Mini again, or it’s the last Mac Mini that will ever exist and we’ll all be hoarding them in a few years. We can’t know yet.

But today, this is a great update, a wonderful all-arounder for lots of potential needs, and just a fantastic little computer.

1. I do this via iSCSI, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It breaks and requires a new $200+ iSCSI initiator with almost every macOS update — which is why my Mac Mini still runs Sierra. In the near future, I’ll just directly attach some giant external hard drives to the Mac Mini and stop using the NAS. ↩︎

2. Unless you used optical audio, audio input, or the SD-card reader. (Shit, I use optical in and out.) ↩︎

3. ffmpeg can do it by specifying -c:v hevc_videotoolbox instead of -c:v x265. I also needed -vtag hvc1 for the output MP4s with either codec to be playable on macOS.

   Compressor uses the T2’s HEVC acceleration when encoding 8-bit HEVC, but not 10-bit. ↩︎

Quick, what time is it?

If that took you a bit longer than usual to tell the time on the Apple Watch’s new default Infograph face, you’re not alone:

• John Gruber finds it “far too busy”
• Jason Snell finds it “pretty and packed with features”, but misses hour numerals
• Zac Hall removes almost everything to improve legibility
• David Smith wrote his own complications (!) to improve contrast

I’ve configured mine acceptably, but Utility is still far more legible for telling the time at a quick glance:

Infograph, Utility

Infograph suffers from two major issues:

• The center complications reduce the contrast between the dial and hands, often making the hands hard to locate. This is avoidable with customization, although the defaults should be much more conservative.
• It takes too much cognitive effort (and therefore time) to distinguish the current hour. This is simply a flawed design.

It’s faster and easier to read analog time with the 1–12 numerals displayed on a watch, but many people prefer the cleaner look of a watch that uses lines, dots, or other shapes as hour markers instead. (Watch people call these “indices”.)

And it’s absolutely possible to design a highly legible dial with hour indices in many different styles. Here are some classics and modern takes:¹

Across a wide variety of brands, styles, and price points, a few key design principles are clear:

• The hour markers for 12 (and often 3/6/9) are more prominent.
• The hour indices are much larger than the minute markings.
• The hour hands nearly touch the hour indices.

These all improve legibility by making it as fast and easy as possible to know which hour is being indicated (and minimize the chance of an off-by-one error), first by orienting your eyes to the current rotation with the 12 marker, then by minimizing the distance between the hour hand and the indices it’s between.

Apple Watch’s analog faces all fail to achieve these principles:²

Color, Simple, Explorer

Color, Simple, and Explorer have easily distinguished hour markers, but Explorer’s are a bit too far from its hour hand.

None of them have distinguished 12 markers to aid in orientation.

While Explorer omits minute markings altogether, Simple bafflingly uses 30-second markings in place of its minute track, making time-telling even harder. I’ve never seen another watch with sub-minute markings identical to its minute markings.

Activity Analog, Utility, and Infograph without most complications

Activity Analog’s hour markers are faint and far from its hour hand, and the central activity rings quickly eliminate the hands’ contrast against the dial as they progress.

Utility (when configured without numbers) improves legibility slightly with its bold hour indices, but they’re still too small and too far from its hour hand, and there’s no differentiation for the 12 index.

Infograph is similar, but even worse: its hour indices are more faint, it uses 30-second markings instead of minute markings, and its default Calendar display wipes out the top three indices. (At least you can tell which way is up.)

Even with almost no complications, the basic essence of the Infograph dial has poor time legibility.

When it’s being used as Apple seems to intend, time-telling at a glance is so difficult that many people have actually suggested setting the digital time as the center complication, at which point the hands are just a nuisance and we should stop pretending it’s an analog face.

It’s great for Apple to offer a wide variety of Apple Watch faces, but most of them are short-lived novelties at best. We’re three years and four generations into the Apple Watch, and almost every Watch owner I know still uses the same handful of “good” faces.

If you want digital time with a good deal of complications, Modular is your only good choice (or Infograph Modular on the Series 4).³ If you want analog time with numerals, Utility is the only good option. If you want indices instead of numerals — probably the most popular analog watch style in the world — I don’t think there is a good option.

By now, we’ve seen Apple’s design range that they’re willing to ship as Watch faces, and while it seems broad at first glance, it’s actually pretty narrow.

And we’re restricted to the handful of good watch faces that Apple makes, because other developers aren’t allowed to make custom Watch faces.

The Apple Watch is an amazing feat of technology. It’s a computer. It can display anything. With no mechanical or physical limitations to hold us back, any watch-face design from anyone could plausibly be built, enabling a range of creativity, style, and usefulness that no single company could ever design on its own.

But they won’t let us. In a time when personal expression and innovation in watch fashion should be booming, they’re instead being eroded, as everyone in the room is increasingly wearing the same watch with the same two faces.

Open this door, Apple.

1. You can even see which model the Apple Watch’s hand shape comes from, which is not a coincidence. ↩︎

2. For Apple Watch faces offering multiple hour/minute styles, I selected the best one that didn’t have hour numerals, and most complications were disabled. ↩︎

3. Special shout-out to my favorite digital face, Solar. ↩︎

I apologize for the low battery level. Busy day.

It all started with the watchOS volume widget.

You see, Overcast’s previous Apple Watch app really sucked. I did my best with the capabilities of watchOS 1–4, but I couldn’t give people what they really wanted:

1. Standalone podcast playback on the Apple Watch without an iPhone. I briefly offered it through some bad hacks, but had to remove it.
2. Volume control on the Watch, which is increasingly important with the popularity of AirPods.

That’s why I nearly jumped for joy during the watchOS 5 announcement in June, when Apple unveiled most of my list of watchOS changes needed to make good podcast apps.

After a very busy summer, standalone Apple Watch playback is back in Overcast, and it’s actually good this time!

It’s not perfect:

• No cellular. Apple hasn’t released a good way to do cellular audio streaming in watchOS, and the bad ways wouldn’t be very useful.
• Sending podcasts to the Watch is slow. Overcast shrinks them to reduce the transfer time, but when (and how quickly) podcasts transfer is tightly controlled by watchOS to preserve battery life. Transfers still sometimes wait forever or silently fail.

Programmers like me can’t accept that something is just slow, so I’ve decided to make transfer speed irrelevant. Nobody cares how slowly podcasts transfer if it happens while they’re asleep!

Auto-Sync to Watch automatically tries to send your most recent podcasts to your Apple Watch whenever it gets a chance.¹ You can still send episodes manually from the queue button on an episode (≡⁺), but in my testing, I never needed to. Just pick up your Watch and go, and it’ll already have plenty of podcasts for your outing, all without having to manually sync anything or wait for slow transfers.

The Overcast 5.0.1 update, due out in a few days, makes Watch transfers even more reliable. (Sorry. Found a better way after 5.0 was approved.)

And Watch-crown volume control! Finally, the best way to use Overcast from your Apple Watch isn’t to delete it, letting the Now Playing app show up instead.

That’s where the other half of my summer workload began.

The watchOS volume widget offers minimal customization: just the color of the circle. I couldn’t make the line width a little narrower to match the rest of Overcast’s thin-line aesthetic. But that iOS 7-era thin-line aesthetic looked dated, and I’d wanted a design refresh for a while.

I decided to start modernizing the app’s design, screen by screen. I couldn’t do it all in one summer, so I started with the screen that needed the most help: Now Playing.

The previous Now Playing screen in Overcast 4.

The biggest problem of the previous design was the center artwork area, a scrollable set of “pages” that had speed and effects controls offscreen to the left, and the episode notes offscreen to the right.

Nobody ever found them. I’ve been getting emails almost every day from people asking where the speed controls were because they set them once and couldn’t find them again, or saying how they’d really like my app more if it offered speed controls. The only indication in the interface was three “page dots” below the scrollable area, but that wasn’t enough.

The new design maintains the same scrollable pages, but now as obvious, tactile cards. In my testing, everyone figured these out immediately.

Put differently, it’s like you’re navigating this through a phone-shaped window in the middle:

This design is not only more discoverable, but it allows me to fit more controls on screen, and in more reachable areas. Unlike the previous design, I can also fit the same controls on all devices, from the iPhone SE to the iPad Pro.

Designing a good Now Playing screen for a music or podcast app that’s nice, clean, and highly discoverable is incredibly difficult. I think I’ve finally found a good balance.

I’ve given chapters (when present) their own card with durations and inline progress bars. I’ve also finally revamped the sleep timer to ditch the ugly alert sheet, give it a proper UI for fast input, and show the remaining time in more useful ways:

There are lots of other improvements throughout the app as well. Some of the highlights:

• Search your podcasts and current episodes from the main screen, or go into a podcast’s screen to search its entire archive.
• Refreshed the podcast screen a little. (More to come.)
• Siri Shortcuts support, of course.

Plus smaller fixes and improvements:

• CarPlay performance is much better, especially for people with large collections.
• Podcasts now display their estimated release frequency (daily, weekly, etc.) if it can be inferred.
• Tap-to-load on images now loads all images from the same domain at once.
• Tons of bug fixes and performance improvements.

Overcast 5 requires iOS 12 and watchOS 5, and as always, it’s free.

Update your devices, then go get Overcast!

1. Up to 20 episodes are auto-synced today. This number will change as I refine the balance of resource usage. Auto-Sync to Watch is on by default and can be turned off in Nitpicky Details. ↩︎

Laptop battery life is decreasingly relevant to me as more airplanes offer power outlets. But sometimes you lose that lottery, as I did on my latest 8-hour daytime flight.

Apple’s “Up to 10 hours” claim doesn’t apply to my work,¹ which is usually a mix of Xcode, web browsing, and social time-wasting, so I knew I’d have to seriously conserve power.

Sometimes, you just need Low Power Mode: the switch added to iOS a few years ago to conserve battery life when you need it, at the expense of full performance and background tasks.

There’s no such feature on Mac laptops, but there should be. It could:

• Disable the discrete GPU on 15-inch models unless required for hardware reasons²
• Pause Photos syncing and analysis
• Pause Spotlight indexing
• Reduce the frequency of Time Machine backups
• Don’t download or install software updates
• Don’t download new content in iTunes
• Auto-dim the screen after a shorter time
• Let third-party apps detect Low Power Mode and reduce their background operations to only essential work

And the big one:

• Reduce the processor’s maximum wattage or disable Turbo Boost

Back in 2015, I experimented with disabling Turbo Boost and discovered that it reduced performance by about a third, but also boosted battery life by almost as much. Since then, I’ve been running Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to automatically disable Turbo Boost when I’m running on battery power, and it has been wonderful: I made it through that 8-hour flight only because Turbo Boost was off.

Over the last few days, I’ve run battery tests on my 2018 13-inch MacBook Pro with the (awesome) 2.7 GHz i7 and my 2015 2.2 GHz 15-inch³ to see how far I could push the battery life using Volta, which can disable Turbo Boost and/or set wattage limits on the CPU.

My test was based on the “Heavy” script from last time, but using xcodebuild every few minutes with Overcast’s current codebase (which is larger and includes some Swift). Improvements are in green and performance reductions are in red:

15-inch 2015 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz quad-core i7)   Battery life Geekbench single/multi xcodebuild Normal 3:36 3963/13864 43.9s No Turbo 5:06+42% 2796/9917−29/28% 63.4s+44% 13-inch 2018 MacBook Pro (2.7 GHz quad-core i7)   Battery life Geekbench single/multi xcodebuild Normal 3:09 5412/18983 34.3s 28W 3:28+10% 5401/16326−0/14% 37.4s+9% 18W 4:05+29% 5248/14133−3/26% 43.5s+27% 12W 4:44+50% 4818/11835−11/38% 48.2s+41% No Turbo 5:05+61% 3624/13324−33/30% 48.9s+43% 6W 6:24+103% 4065/7596−25/60% 76.1s+121%

It’s impressive how much faster this new 13-inch model is than the best laptop ever made due to significant CPU and SSD improvements.

Dropping the wattage to 6W, the thermal limit of the fanless 12-inch MacBook, interestingly (but not surprisingly) makes it perform effectively identically to the best 12-inch MacBook in Geekbench. This is an extreme option, but one I’d occasionally take if offered. It roughly doubles compilation times, but also doubles the battery life.

This ratio holds for most other configurations: the gain in battery life is about as large as the loss in heavy-workload performance. That’s a trade-off I’d gladly make when I need to maximize runtime.

The best bang-for-the-buck option is still to just disable Turbo Boost. Single-threaded performance hurts more than with wattage-limiting, but it’s able to maintain better multi-threaded performance and more consistent thermals, and gets a larger battery gain relative to its performance loss.

And Volta, which offers both wattage limits and Turbo disabling, requires disabling System Integrity Protection to install an unsigned kernel extension, which I really don’t recommend. Turbo Boost Switcher, which doesn’t offer wattage control, works with SIP using a signed extension and its Pro version has more convenient features for automatic toggling.

For now, I’m going to continue to happily run Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to selectively give myself better battery life, and I recommend it for anyone else with the same need.

But what I ultimately want is for a true Low Power Mode built into macOS that could provide this sort of CPU throttling and software changes, which would ultimately achieve even greater gains.

1. Whose work does get 10 hours out of a MacBook Pro? None of the use-cases on the marketing page — Photography, Coding, Video Editing, 3D Graphics, and Gaming — are likely to achieve even half of that in practice. ↩︎

2. I’ve heard that 15-inch models are wired such that the discrete GPU is required when external displays are connected. Otherwise, whether it’s used or not is a software decision, and gfxCardStatus can override it in certain conditions. ↩︎

3. It’s not brand new, so it’s not a perfect comparison, but the battery only had 90 cycles before this test. ↩︎

Overcast 4.2 is out now. It enhances privacy in two major areas:

Anonymous sync by default

Overcast has offered anonymous sync accounts since 2014. They’re fully functional, but they lack email addresses or passwords, so they can’t log into the website. A login token is stored in iCloud so the account can be accessed after a restore or upgrade, or from other devices you own.

Previously, the login screen pushed email logins. But with four years of perspective, feedback, and usage data, I now think that’s the wrong move. Only a single-digit percentage of customers use the website, and the iCloud token-sync method solves cross-device logins for almost everyone.

Your personal data isn’t my business — it’s a liability. I want as little as possible. I don’t even log IP addresses anymore.

If I don’t need your email address, I really don’t want it.

68% of Overcast accounts have email addresses today. To reduce that as much as possible, I’ve made major changes to account handling:

The previous login screen (left) and the new one.

In Overcast 4.2, the login screen now prominently encourages anonymous accounts by default.

If you already have an account in iCloud, it’ll pop up a dialog box over this screen asking if you want to use it.

And the first time you launch 4.2, people with email-based accounts will be encouraged to migrate them to anonymous accounts:

The migration prompt that shows on the first run.

Finally, you can now change your account between email-based and anonymous whenever you want.

Blocking ad-tracking images

In most podcast apps, podcasts are downloaded automatically in the background. The only data sent to a podcast’s publisher about you or your behavior is your IP address and the app’s name. The IP address lets them derive your approximate region, but not much else.

They don’t know exactly who you are, whether you listened, when you listened, how far you listened, or whether you skipped certain parts.

Some large podcast producers are trying very hard to change that.

I’m not.

Big data ruined the web, and I’m not going to help bring it to podcasts. Publishers already get enough from Apple to inform ad rates and make content decisions — they don’t need more data from my customers. Podcasting has thrived, grown, and made tons of money for tons of people under the current model for over a decade. We already have all the data we need.

One of the ways publishers try to get around the limitations of the current model is by embedding remote images or invisible “tracking pixels” in each episode’s HTML show notes. When displayed in most apps, the images are automatically loaded from an analytics server, which can then record and track more information about you.

In Overcast 4.2, much like Mail (and for the same reason), remote images don’t load by default. A tappable placeholder shows you where each image will load from, and you can decide whether to load it or not.

I believe I’ve done this in the most secure way possible — I’m actually displaying the show notes using a strict Content Security Policy — and I would love to hear from anyone who finds a way to inject auto-loading remote images or execute arbitrary JavaScript in show notes.

Bug fixes

Overcast 4.2 also includes a bunch of minor fixes, and two big ones:

• Fixed the major slowdowns and high battery usage that resulted from extremely large podcast artwork.
• Password-protected episodes are now supported on password-protected feeds.

Get it now in the App Store!

Overcast 4.1 is now in the App Store with some small but nice new features.

Smart Resume is actually two features:

1. It jumps back by up to a few seconds after having been paused to help remind you of the conversation.
2. It slightly adjusts resumes and seeks to fall in the silences between spoken words when reasonably possible.

Both are subtle but noticeable benefits (my favorite kind), especially when you’re being interrupted a lot, such as while following turn-by-turn navigation directions.

Smart Resume is on by default, and can be turned off in Nitpicky Details.

Delete episodes 24 hours after completion: Before, episodes could either be auto-deleted immediately upon completion, or not at all. There’s now a third option, auto-deleting 24 hours after completion, which will soon be the default for new accounts.

The 24-hour threshold is only enforced after a successful sync, so it won’t auto-delete anything in the middle of an extended offline period, such as a long flight.

Auto-deletion, either immediate or after 24 hours, also no longer applies to Premium subscribers’ Uploads.

Password-protected podcasts: Some private podcast feeds, including many paid and members-only podcasts, require a username and password via HTTP Basic Auth. You can now add these in the Add URL screen.

Password-protected podcasts, and other private feeds such as Patreon bonus feeds and anything using the <itunes:block> tag, do not show up in search or recommendations.

Noteworthy bug fixes:

• Resuming playback after quitting in the background, especially on very long podcasts and/or when using AirPods, no longer occasionally results in glitchy noises and incorrect durations.
• Playback under certain conditions no longer stalls, requiring pausing and playing again.
• Downloads now fail less often.
• Playback controls no longer disappear occasionally.
• Smart Speed total savings now appear at the bottom of the Settings screen for locales that use commas as their decimal separator.¹
• Extremely large playlists now only show the most/least-recent 500 episodes to improve app performance for users with very high subscription counts.

There’s also one removal: rotation support on iPhone. (The iPad app still rotates.) iPhone rotation has always been disabled by default, and had been buried in Nitpicky Details for a long time, so very few people have ever used it. Meanwhile, it has become increasingly difficult to support and maintain, especially with the modern complexities of rotation and the dramatically increased workload of supporting the iPhone X in landscape.

iPhone rotation has simply proven far too costly to maintain for its extremely low usage, and it had to go to free up more of my time for more highly demanded features. I apologize to the few people who did use it, and I hope this isn’t too disruptive for you.

The rest is all good news. Go get Overcast now!

In the next update, I’ll be addressing the biggest design failure of Overcast 4: the non-discoverability of the Effects and Notes pages in the Now Playing screen. Expect the return of an ancient user-interface tool known as “buttons”.

1. This was Overcast’s oldest known bug, which had been there since 1.0: some users, mostly in central Europe, wouldn’t see Smart Speed totals. It turned out to be one of the most interesting and obscure bugs I’ve seen.

   The total-time-saved value is stored on-device as it accumulates, then gets sent to the server to be combined with any listening you do on other devices. The overall total is read back from the server, and the local total is reset, on each sync.

   I was using an NSNumberFormatter to read the total value from Overcast’s server as a double. My server always sends values with U.S.-style number formatting, using a period as the decimal separator (e.g. “1234.5”). But by default, NSNumberFormatter uses the device’s locale, so in countries that use a comma as the decimal separator (e.g. “1234,5”), it was interpreting the server’s numbers with periods as invalid and returning zero. So the Settings screen thought they hadn’t saved any time, and hid the time-saved label.

   Fortunately, it was an easy fix: setting that NSNumberFormatter locale to en_US to match what the server was sending. And since the accumulated local totals were still being sent and added properly, the correct historical data is there — it just wasn’t being displayed correctly. ↩︎

Apple today previewed Apple MixC Hefei, the first store in the dynamic city and the first in China’s Anhui province.

Apple Arcade is kicking off the new year with an exciting slate of game launches, along with big updates to existing hits.

Apple’s products and features are built from the ground up with innovative privacy protections, including Siri.

Apple Fitness+ kicks off the new year with its biggest lineup of programming, bringing users more ways to stay active and mindful in 2025.

Apple is excited to unveil the most downloaded apps and games of the year across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Arcade.

On Thursday, December 12, His Majesty King Charles III visited Apple’s Battersea office in London.

Voice Memos now offers the ability to layer a vocal on top an existing instrumental recording on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The 2024 App Store Awards recognized 17 apps and games that empowered users’ creativity, introduced a world of new adventures, and more.

The release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 introduce new Apple Intelligence features.

Apple today launched three new live global radio stations on Apple Music.

Apple today announced plans to expand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting with the launch of the Apple Store online in summer 2025.

The MLS Cup’s championship match between LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will stream for free this Saturday, December 7, on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Apple is proud to celebrate “Hysterical” with the 2024 Apple Podcasts Award.

Today, Apple revealed 45 app and game finalists for the 2024 App Store Awards.

Billie Eilish was announced today as Apple Music’s Artist of the Year, recognizing the singer-songwriter’s extraordinary impact throughout 2024.

Shazam has now officially surpassed over 100 billion song recognitions since it launched.

Today, Apple shared the most popular podcasts of 2024, with year-end charts localized for listeners in nearly 100 countries and regions.

Today, Apple and The Weeknd released a breathtaking immersive music experience celebrating “Open Hearts,” a brand-new song from Hurry Up Tomorrow.

Today, Apple unveiled Final Cut Pro 11, along with powerful updates to Final Cut Pro for iPad, Final Cut Camera, and Logic Pro.

Apple Arcade adds 15 new games to the service, including Skate City: New York, Talking Tom Blast Park, Gears & Goo, and FINAL FANTASY IV (3D REMAKE)+.

Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos

iOS 18.3 beta 3 brings several changes to Notification Summaries, including turning it off altogether for NEws and Entertainment apps.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

This 8-in-1 EDC gadget is designed for anyone who needs fast charging. Save on a keychain charging cable with USB-C and Lightning.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Need a laptop for less? This deal on a refurbished MacBook Air gets you or a family member into the Apple ecosystem for just $229.97.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Viewership percentages stay the same in Q4 2024 as a year ago. That's simultaneously a good and a bad sign for Apple TV+ market share.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With new episodes of Apple TV+'s strangely engrossing workplace series coming Friday, two new "Severance" season two promos get weird.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

As Apple Card banking partner talks unfold with Barclays and Synchrony, Goldman Sachs' time managing credit for Apple may end soon.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 16, 1986, Apple introduced the Macintosh Plus, its third Mac model and the first to be released after Steve Jobs left the company.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Keep your shots steady and follow the action with the versatile new Insta360 Flow 2 Pro handheld gimbal for iPhone. And it’s a tripod, too.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Anyone can stream the upcoming Super Bowl for free, including Apple Music's big halftime show, courtesy of Tubi and Fox Sports.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Prep for certification exams with this IT training bundle. On sale for $60, it delivers detailed lessons for beginners and advanced learners.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Samsung's super-slim Galaxy to rival the upcoming iPhone 17 Air reportedly will measure 6.4mm thin and feature triple rear cameras.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple TV+ abruptly cancels season two of “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin" after star Noel Fielding failed to appear.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

This USB-C travel hub has it all: 10 USB ports, high-power USB PD charging, memory card slots and even wireless MagSafe charging.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple TV+ marketing is working overtime this week, and not just with "Severance" PR stunts. An escapee from Silo showed up at an NBA game.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With a post on X.com, Tim Cook said Apple gives users simple ways to help LA wildfire victims through the App Store or Apple Music.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 15, 2008, Steve Jobs showed off the first MacBook Air during his keynote at the 2008 Macworld conference.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Today's featured setup figures heavily in a software engineer's MDM testing on MacBooks, so he keeps an army of powerful M-series machines.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple and Beats just made new Powerbeats Pro 2 filings with regulatory agencies that all but confirm the new buds will come out soon.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With HumanPods AI earbuds and NatureOS, a software platform that introduces "AI People," Natura Umana aims to reduce screen addiction.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller, which adds joysticks, buttons and a D-pad to an iPhone, raised over a million dollars on Kickstarter.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

You can make movie night at home and elevate game time all in one with a 2-in-1 Ultimate HD Gaming Projector for video games and movies.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple neglected these products recently, but that should change soon. Here’s what’s to expect from Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in 2025.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Built for recording, transcribing and translating conversations, the Focais Meet One AI voice recorder is perfect for meetings and calls.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Traveling is a lot easier if you can track your stuff with AirTags in your luggage. Make sure it’s with you all along your journey.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A batch of newly leaked images show CarPlay 2 widgets that look similar to familiar iPhone, iPad and Mac interfaces.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

By January 14, 2009, Apple CEO Steve Jobs' cancer had worsened to the point that he took time off to deal with health problems.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

WaterField Designs' ruggedly handsome new Shield Case jacks up M4 Mac mini's potential as a truly portable computer.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple faces new obstacles as it seeks to diversify iPhone assembly away from China amidst a growing U.S./China trade war.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

You can convert a PDF to JPG instantly and for free using Shortcuts, a versatile automation system built into iPhones and Macs.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac or PC is a powerful combination of classic applications that streamline workflow and enhance collaboration.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A massive location-data breach revealed last week highlights the simple anti-tracking advantage iOS device users have.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Save on Apple’s most portable tablet. A new sale on the recently released iPad mini 7 knocks as much as 20% off the cost.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 13, 2000, Steve Jobs' longtime frenemy Bill Gates quit his role as Microsoft CEO. It was a tech turning point.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

An alternative phone number through Surfshark VPN's Alternative ID feature helps shield you from robocalls and scammers.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

When a math genius starts to see a pattern in prime numbers that could unlock the world's computers, he becomes quite the target.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Today's M4 Pro Mac mini setup pairs the powerful little desktop machine with a 5K2K-resolution curved ultra-wide display from Dell.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The Apple Intelligence release strategy hurt iPhone sales in 2024, but people around the world still snatched up Apple handsets.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Following a disastrous app redesign that messed up product launches and mangled customer trust, Sonos' CEO steps down.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A new design and colorful chassis options will refresh the budget smartwatch. But the Apple Watch SE 3 won't launch this spring.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The cheapest AirPods cost $129. But affordable AirPods alternatives Twin Sound Ultra earbuds (with touchscreen case) go for just $29.99.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 12, 2005, Apple reported record earnings, with iPod sales helping give the company a whopping 4x increase in profits.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

I stumbled across an alternative way to use the iPhone Camera Control that makes the new feature less irritating.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple's 7-inch smart display with Apple Intelligence support may not launch as early as initial rumored suggested.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Get an AI tool that brings top AI models like ChatGPT, Mistral AI and more together in one interface. Enter 1minAI, the all-in-one AI tool.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The dystopian sci-fi mystery “Silo” season two is a top 10 hit for Apple TV+, just as it’s been since the premiere.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

This week on Cult of Mac's podcast: Erfon hits the Apple Store to peep the MacBook Pro's new nano-texture screens. Plus, CES 2025 is a wrap!

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 11, 2005, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod shuffle, a cheaper Apple music player that lacked a display and played songs at random.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The iPhone 17 Air could be slimmer than rumored, measuring just 5.5mm. But this thinness may come with some compromises.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

MagTag functions similarly to AirTag, but the wallet tracker's credit card-size design is a massive improvement for sliding into tight slots.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

You can send someone a YouTube link with a timestamp, to show them a specific part halfway through, using either the website or app.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

You can master hundreds of skateboarding tricks in real-world locations in "Skate City: New York," one of several new games on Apple Arcade.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Using a Mac-Windows KVM switch, today's M4 Pro Mac mini setup brings in a Windows laptop on the fly using the same peripherals.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On January 10, 2006, Apple unveiled the original 15-inch MacBook Pro at Macworld. The first Intel-powered Apple laptop is the thinnest yet.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Happy new year! Celebrate with deals on a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro key, Office keys and more in the CdkeySales New Year Sale.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A powerful new karaoke speaker from Soundcore, the Rave 3S, can strip vocal tracks and comes with speakers for hardcore karaoke.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

An unofficial community about Apple and all of its devices and software.

Welcome to the Daily Advice Thread for /r/Apple. This thread can be used to ask for technical advice regarding Apple software and hardware, to ask questions regarding the buying or selling of Apple products or to post other short questions. Have a question you need answered? Ask away! Please remember to adhere to our rules, which can be found in the sidebar. Join our Discord and IRC chat rooms for support: Discord IRC Note: Comments are sorted by /new for your convenience. Here is an archive of all previous Daily Advice Threads. This is best viewed on a browser. If on mobile, type in the search bar [author:"AutoModerator" title:"Daily Advice Thread" or title:"Daily Tech Support Thread"] (without the brackets, and including the quotation marks around the titles and author.) The Daily Advice Thread is posted each day at 06:00 AM EST (Click HERE for other timezones) and then the old one is archived. It is advised to wait for the new thread to post your question if this time is nearing for quickest answer time. submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Furkansimsir [link] [comments]

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submitted by /u/ControlCAD [link] [comments]

https://developer.apple.com/download/all/ submitted by /u/peterosity [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/chrisdh79 [link] [comments]

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submitted by /u/Fertility18 [link] [comments]

I’m really mad and angry…am I alone? No matter what you may say, I think Tim Cook owes it to his company and those who see so much more in Apple than just a tech company to address his actions. submitted by /u/AAPLPARKGUY [link] [comments]

🇨🇳 submitted by /u/Designer-Border-711 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ControlCAD [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ControlCAD [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Furkansimsir [link] [comments]

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submitted by /u/ControlCAD [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/FollowingFeisty5321 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/chrisdh79 [link] [comments]

Welcome to the Daily Advice Thread for /r/Apple. This thread can be used to ask for technical advice regarding Apple software and hardware, to ask questions regarding the buying or selling of Apple products or to post other short questions. Have a question you need answered? Ask away! Please remember to adhere to our rules, which can be found in the sidebar. Join our Discord and IRC chat rooms for support: Discord IRC Note: Comments are sorted by /new for your convenience. Here is an archive of all previous Daily Advice Threads. This is best viewed on a browser. If on mobile, type in the search bar [author:"AutoModerator" title:"Daily Advice Thread" or title:"Daily Tech Support Thread"] (without the brackets, and including the quotation marks around the titles and author.) The Daily Advice Thread is posted each day at 06:00 AM EST (Click HERE for other timezones) and then the old one is archived. It is advised to wait for the new thread to post your question if this time is nearing for quickest answer time. submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

Reddit’s little corner for iPhone lovers (and some people who just mildly enjoy it…)

Welcome to the weekly stickied WSIB thread. Have any questions about buying, selling, trading, or giveaways? Ask away! Please remember to adhere to our rules, which can be found in the sidebar. As usual, if you have a serious issue with the subreddit, please contact the moderators directly. This thread is also for questions about preorders and shipments of devices Note: Comments are sorted by /new for your convenience. Here is an archive of all previous "What Should I Buy" threads. This is best viewed on a browser. If on mobile, type on the searchbar [title:"What Should I Buy" author:"AutoModerator"] (without the brackets, and including the quotation marks around the title and author.) submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

General advice for those concerned about their battery from the Support FAQ Wiki: Battery health Battery health depends on usage and a variety of other factors. It is normal to see a decrease in battery health by 7-10% per year, resulting in a battery health of 80-85% after 2 years. This number can fluctuate, remain the same, or decrease quickly over a small period and should not cause undue concern. Apple recommend battery replacement when your device falls below 80% battery health if you notice reduced battery life. If it falls below 80% within the first year you may be eligable for a free battery replacement. It fails after your warranty, it's a $69-$89 USD replacement cost for a battery. Contact Apple Support here. You can find more information about battery health and performance from Apple here. You can check the cycles count with Coconut Battery for Mac or iCopyBot for Windows. Battery life Issues relating to battery life can be categorised in three ways: Normal battery life that is to be expected due to use Reduced battery life caused by a recent update, iOS indexing, an iOS bug, or a third-party application Reduced battery life, or other abnormalities such as overheating or sudden power-off, caused by device or battery aging If you experience issues with your battery: Check your battery health. If it is below 80% or you are experiencing issues you suspect are related to device or battery age, see Apple Support. If you have a new or recently updated/restored device, wait a number of days for background process to complete. If you continue to have issues, wait for a further iOS update. If you are on iOS Beta, you can expect to have a decreased battery life. Review the advice below on maximising battery life Consider restoring your device. If issues persist, contact Apple Support. Maximising battery life - the amount of time your device runs before it needs to be recharged. Use low power mode (This reduces mail fetch, turns off background app refresh and increases the auto lock timer) Remove apps from background app refresh Ensure auto lock is on Turn off auto brightness and manually reduce brightness Use dark mode if your device has an OLED display Clearing background apps from the app switcher does not improve battery life Maximising battery lifespan - the amount of time your battery lasts until it needs to be replaced. Avoid extreme temperatures If you notice that your iPhone gets hot when charging, remove it from its case Store your iPhone in a cool place, switched off, and half-charged if not using it for long periods - and charge it every 6 months when in storage submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

This would be the only acceptable change from the currect camera Bump. Love this. submitted by /u/ericabae699 [link] [comments]

💀 submitted by /u/brudahhh [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/chrisdh79 [link] [comments]

Just got the iphone 16 pro max. Missing the media and in call volume control option from my old samsung, anyone else run into this? Feels like a small thing but it's been a bit of a pain switching from android. Why isn't there option to control them smth like this: (Lemme know if there's an app or smth I could do to make this happen.) submitted by /u/silentkiller67 [link] [comments]

It seems like the most obvious convenience to me. Scan a business card directly into the Contacts address book. If it exists, I haven't found it yet. Has feature already been promised for Apple Intelligence? submitted by /u/hrg3 [link] [comments]

Anybody knows if these are micro cracks or scratches? submitted by /u/crispyporksisig [link] [comments]

Who thought this was a good idea submitted by /u/AdNational3141 [link] [comments]

So I found this windows 95 theme and just had to get it. First time using shortcuts to change app icons. I understand you won't get notifications thru shortcuts— okay, that's fine. But I reverted my iMessage app to normal and deleted the shortcut for it so I can still get notifications on iMessage only, but l'm having no luck. I made sure to go into settings and check that all notifications are on, but still no luck. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Does the setting app also need to be reverted? I'm perfectly okay with everything else not sending me notifications. I just want my phone to buzz when I get texts submitted by /u/VeryFarAwayCereal [link] [comments]

Hello long story short, my mom works at a grocery store and she thinks her coworkers are talking shit about her in Spanish. She’s looking for something that will just translate Spanish to English in her AirPods so she can know if they are talking poorly about her or not without them knowing she is listening. I’ve tried a few things but can’t seem to find anything that works for her use case submitted by /u/bwilcom [link] [comments]

My friend was playing a game and the game froze the screen onto a part of the game. They cannot turn the phone off or do anything on it. Does anyone have any idea on how to fix it? submitted by /u/Blazingkitsu [link] [comments]

Recently my phone was ruined and had to transfer everything to a new phone. It went fine and got signed into Game Center but none of my progress on any of my games was saved. Some games allowed me to restore purchases and it gave me what I previously bought. I am specifically concerned about fallout shelter because I have spent about $100 dollars on that game and it’s all been purged. Is there any way to fix this? submitted by /u/Love_Big_tits4life [link] [comments]

It’s 2025. Has anyone come up with a work around yet, that allows one to add a music file, m4a or mp3, to your iPhone music library without hooking up to a computer? submitted by /u/qtrim [link] [comments]

I got a 50 dollar gift card as a gift and I got an Apple Silicon case because here where o love they are expensive asf, I just had to pay 2 dollars of the remaining taxes.. to those who owned it, are they good? How is the grip? Or they are just normal like a regular case i found on phone stores? submitted by /u/Regular-Hat5067 [link] [comments]

I wanted to turn my old iPhone 11 back on to use as a 2nd phone but I noticed it's not in sync with the data/iCloud on my current iPhone 15. How do I solve this? I've already updated it to the newest software and it's listed as a trusted device. I'm currently backing it up on iCloud right now but it still looks like it's stuck in 2023! Do I have to erase my phone and restore backup or should I give it time to sync with my current iCloud data? TIA! submitted by /u/angelaxxlittle [link] [comments]

Four years after Apple introduced Focus in iOS, I’m curious why Messages remains the sole app on my phone that utilises it. submitted by /u/Cocooned [link] [comments]

For personal reasons I’d like to spoof my location for a few hours at a time and I was wondering if using iMoveGo in particular and other spoofing software generally is dangerous. The iMoveGo manual for Mac and iOS devices (https://www.wootechy.com/virtual-location/ios-guide/) says that it surreptitiously installs an unapproved app… does this mean it performs a jailbreak and if so, is it a one-time-only breach or leave the phone permanently free? I ask this because there’s general advice not jailbreak as it would leave users vulnerable to malware. submitted by /u/v_quixotic [link] [comments]

My girlfriend needed to borrow my mom’s iPad, and she signed into her iCloud account on it. This created a slew of problems. Mainly, all the photos on my mom’s iPad synced with my girlfriend’s photos library. So now all of my GFs photos are on the iPad (which was one goal) but they’re mixed in with all my mom’s photos that were on the iPad. This is the same on my girlfriend’s iPhone. It doesn’t seem like any of my girlfriend’s photos wound up on my mom’s devices. My girlfriend is pissed about this. This is obviously a violation of my mom’s privacy. What’s the quickest way to un-fuck this? My first plan is to wipe the iPad, to get everything off there, and then my mom’s photos can redownload from her iCloud when she takes the iPad back from my GF. But I haven’t the faintest fuck of an idea on how to get my mom’s photos out of my GFs iCloud library. I can’t use the last back up of her phone because it made one once it got all of my mom’s photos. submitted by /u/BrokeUniStudent69 [link] [comments]

Just got the IPhone 16 Pro on December 22nd, so it’s fairly new. Whenever I do the shortcut to open the camera, it shows the camera UI, but with a black screen until I go to a different mode (ex video or photo). This also happens when I try to use the flashlight shortcut, it doesn’t turn on unless I wait a while or mess around with the cone size or distance. Anyone know why this is happening? submitted by /u/NatlanHunter [link] [comments]

I've just got a new iPhone 16, and it comes with AOD on. Won't this cause burn-in on its OLED display as the aod is quite bright and don't move around much? submitted by /u/Otherwise-Rub-6266 [link] [comments]

So from all my research, it seems that the Bluetooth on the iPhone 15 is…not great. Before I go investing, would a Bluetooth transmitter that I plug directly into the phone work for BT headphones? Something like this? Ultimately, I don’t want to go running around with exchanging with Apple, cause I’ve seen some people who have just ended up with the same issues even after replacements. submitted by /u/orcabutt_ [link] [comments]

Does anyone know an item/organizer that put Apple devices (IPad, IPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch) without the chargers built on them? I don’t like how most of them already have a USB/Magsafe charging built in and I just want to use the 20watts charging block that comes with Apple products. submitted by /u/ghihnku [link] [comments]

When I go to enter someone name in text message after typing a few letters a name will show up in grey with a long number/letters any clue what this is? Person was previously deleted in the past submitted by /u/Dankie7789 [link] [comments]

My phone keeps asking if I want to share à cafe’s wifi password with my computer. I was there yesterday and am nowhere near the signal now. The router name isn’t even showing up under nearby networks. Is there a way to stop this? Or am I being scammed? submitted by /u/Fast_One_2628 [link] [comments]

How to turn on and off message notifications without having trouble with calls notification sound? I have WhatsApp installed on my iPhone, and I usually leave notifications on so I can hear message notifications, WhatsApp calls and regular phone calls. However, there’s a problem: sometimes I only want to hear calls but not message notifications ("if it is urgent, call me"), and other times I want to hear both. (Sometimes i like notifications for messages because i dont need to check my phone, "if i dont listen nothing nobody is messaging me") I use personalized WhatsApp notification sounds for specific chats, but iOS doesn’t have a simple option to mute only message notifications while keeping call sounds active. If I want to hear message notifications again, I have to go to Settings > Notifications and manually enable the sound, which is really inconvenient. If I mute the iPhone, I also stop hearing incoming calls, which messes up my and leave me anxious Is there any solution or workaround for this? Does somebody struggle with calls and messages notifications sounds to? PS: using focus mode doesn't work, because i cant see notifications im my lock screen. submitted by /u/Fantastic-Box1291 [link] [comments]

Can someone please tell me how to fix this I’m in family sharing and my dad set up Apple Pay for me in the account so I can use it since I’m a minor but Apple Cash wants my ssn and my dad dosent know how to fix it and dosent want to put my ssn in submitted by /u/Either-Newspaper-300 [link] [comments]

Meet Wei. While traveling home for Chinese New Year, he discovers his parents’ ‘90s mixtape. He’s transported to a ‘90s dream world where he falls in love with a complete stranger, rekindling his faith in love when he wakes up. The first Shot on iPhone CNY musical featuring classic hits from the ‘90s. In celebration of the Year of the Snake. Directed by Michael Gracey. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/ Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/ZU_Fre-oldg Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

The crew takes us behind the lens of “I Made a Mixtape for You” to show the making of Apple’s first Chinese New Year Shot on iPhone musical with the latest iPhone 16 Pro. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/ Audio Description: https://youtu.be/5iS-GTx0K7A Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Most people quit their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday in January. It’s actually called “Quitter’s Day.” But Apple Watch gives you the motivation to run right past Quitter’s Day, and stick to your New Year’s fitness goals. Learn More: https://apple.co/49F56dB Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/4G2iRsGk8GE “Follow Me” by Special Interest: https://apple.co/Special-Interest-Follow-Me #AppleWatchSeries10 Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Now you can create unique Genmojis, right in Messages. Just describe the Genmoji you want to create, then add it to your conversation. Learn more about iPhone 16: https://apple.co/49N0XEB Learn more about Apple Intelligence: https://apple.co/4f7hHHn Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/Weoo_jZ6bqk “Anything You Like” by The Dare https://apple.co/The-Dare #iPhone16 #AppleIntelligence #Genmoji #Emoji *Descriptions for Genmojis Featured (in order of appearance):* Note: All Genmojis are unique. *Gnome* - Yard gnome tall *Foam* - White foam with cartoon eyelashes *Pink comb* - Pink comb with handle *Skeleton* - Chrome skeleton *Dog balloon* - Balloon dog electric bright white turquoise *Tomato spy* - Tomato face emoji wearing long body trench coat hat sunglasses legs red hands _(with personalization)_ *Horse* - Handsome horse in black suit and tie with flowing mane *Buccatini* - Spaghetti with peas *Socrates* - Old man white hair white beard wearing white toga robe on skis with mountains _(with personalization)_ *Anemone* - Light blue sea anemone with arms listening to music on sand *Cheese* - Cheese disco dancing with eyes *Pig* - Pigs fly with white wings *Dice* - 12 sided dodecahedron dice with numbers on all sides *Chair* - Plastic pink chair with two legs walking wearing shoes *Clock* - Grandfather clock with microphone and face *Painting* - Framed portrait black fedora light blue polo and pants black shoes gradient background _(with personalization)_ *Cardigan* - Light pink furry cardigan with flowers *Bicep* - Yellow bicep with heart emoji tattoo in center *Gizmo* - Rainbow mousetrap toy with colorful gears and springs *Lasso* - Cowgirl with lasso full body long dark hair *Candy* - Large pile of dome square shaped gumdrops dusty sugar *Can of worms* - Lots of worms inside tin can spilling out top *Gold tooth* - Gold tooth with smile with one gold tooth in mouth *Eggman* - Fried egg with arms and legs *Jelly donut* - Jellyfish with head of jelly donut *Poodle shopper* - Pink poodle holding multicolored shopping bags sunglasses walking *Rocker hand* - Yellow rock and roll fingers with black fingernails and spiky bracelet *Parrot popsicle* - Popsicle in shape of parrot *DJ* - Man with sunglasses DJ black jacket skinny tie headphones scratching records _(with personalization)_ *Green apple* - Green apple with smiley Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

A behind the scenes look at the creation of Michael Bublé's new song "Maybe This Christmas" with vocals recorded using Voice Memos and the studio-quality microphones in the new iPhone 16 Pro. Featuring Layered Recording in Voice Memos— a groundbreaking addition for the iPhone 16 Pro available in iOS 18.2 or later. Tailored for musicians, this feature allows users to effortlessly record a high-quality vocal layer over an existing instrumental track, unlocking new possibilities for musical expression, voiceovers, and creative experimentation. With its studio-quality microphones and intuitive controls, iPhone 16 Pro with Voice Memos lets anyone capture vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones. For advanced editing and production, layered recordings can be imported into Logic Pro as a two-track project, providing a seamless workflow for high-quality music production. Learn more about Voice Memos and Layered Recordings: https://apple.co/4gbEDa4 Download the Voice Memos app: https://apple.co/3ZGUrvr iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max and iOS 18.2 required for isolating layered recordings in Voice Memos. Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/hy77vtmkaSE #VoiceMemos #iPhone16Pro #LogicPro #RecordedoniPhone #ShotoniPhone “Maybe This Christmas” performed by Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce, produced by Greg Wells http://apple.co/MBCPMTC “Maybe This Christmas” Music Video https://apple.co/3Dbbzko Michael Bublé Christmas Essentials on Apple Music https://apple.co/4iuyjMo Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

For so many of us, sound and how we hear help shape the way we connect to the world around us. Yet, people with hearing loss wait an average of 10 years before getting their hearing tested and fitted for hearing aids. Leaving millions unaware they’re living with hearing loss and without the assistance they need. Now with the world’s first end-to-end hearing health experience, you have access to a Hearing Test that provides scientifically validated results within minutes and the ability to activate a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature on your AirPods Pro 2 — right from home. Learn more about AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Health features: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/hearing-health/ Set up the hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2: https://support.apple.com/en-us/120992 The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are regulated health features that require approval and will be offered after authorization is received. Feature availability varies by region: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/feature-availability/ Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/KSDtMqvFb3g #AirPodsPro #AirPodsPro2 #Apple "Our House" originally written by Graham Nash https://apple.co/Our-House Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

iPhone 16 Pro powered by the A18 Pro chip. The most powerful iPhone ever is a go. A18 Pro enables Apple Intelligence with a faster Neural Engine, improved CPU and GPU, and a big jump in memory bandwidth. It also drives advanced video and photo features like Camera Control, and delivers enhanced graphics performance for console-level gaming. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/ Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/1ii0DqGHEI8 #iPhone16Pro Original composition by Steve Mazzaro https://apple.co/Steve-Mazzaro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

When you need to buy it fast, get it in seconds with Apple Pay. Learn more about Apple Pay: https://www.apple.com/apple-pay/ "One Track Mind" by Chromeo https://apple.co/One-Track-Mind Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/yBJ3HbvzK_I #ApplePay #PayTheAppleWay Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

With powerfully intelligent features like Magnetic Mask, Transcribe to Captions, and spatial video editing for Apple Vision Pro, Final Cut Pro 11 is the beginning of the next chapter in revolutionary storytelling. Get your free 90-day trial today https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/ Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/q1qY56rM604 #FinalCutPro #FCP #FinalCutPro11 #AppsByApple Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Coming this Thursday. ‘Open Hearts,’ the new immersive music experience from @theweeknd. See it first exclusively on Apple Vision Pro. Watch in Apple Stores where Apple Vision Pro is available, beginning November 15th. Follow the link to book a demo at an Apple Store to watch the immersive music experience: https://apple.co/3YYXuij Journey alongside The Weeknd through a surreal, haunting cityscape in this electrifying sonic voyage. Audio Description: https://youtu.be/SuBAkd0jnZk #OpenHearts #AppleImmersiveVideo #AppleVisionPro #SpatialComputing Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Apple Intelligence on Mac is here, with Writing Tools to help your words sound more friendly, professional, or more concise. Learn more about MacBook Pro: https://apple.co/4hsUcek Learn more about Apple Intelligence: https://apple.co/4fnRLb9 Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/QPOFpkD0mNs “Genius” by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko #AppleIntelligence #Mac #MacBookPro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Apple Intelligence on Mac is here. With Writing Tools to help you quickly summarize the key points of selected text. Learn more about MacBook Pro: https://apple.co/3CiRojJ Learn more about Apple Intelligence: https://apple.co/3YP15hN Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/5jjKHWwVVHY “Genius” by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko #AppleIntelligence #Mac #MacBookPro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Effortless power. The new MacBook Pro with M4 is built for Apple Intelligence. It provides blazing fast performance without sacrificing battery stamina. And thanks to the powerful Neural Engine, it handles AI heavy lifting without breaking a sweat. Learn More: https://apple.co/4fl8lIC Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/MsC6CxIjWOE “You Gotta Be” by Des'ree https://apple.co/You-Gotta-Be #AppleEvent #MacBookPro #M4 Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

MacBook Pro features the most advanced lineup of chips ever built for a pro laptop. Phenomenal single- and multithreaded CPU performance, a GPU that can run graphics-intensive workflows with a responsiveness that keeps up with your imagination, and second-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing that makes gaming feel more immersive and realistic than ever. With faster unified memory, the M4 family of chips gives you the kind of speed and capability for multitasking you’ve never thought possible. The powerful Neural Engine and enhanced machine learning accelerators make AI processes like image upscaling and video captioning fly. And with Apple Intelligence built right into MacBook Pro, a suite of personal, private, and powerful tools are at your fingertips. Learn more about MacBook Pro: https://apple.co/3C6kZNv Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/Bf-tl2I9EJ0 “SOBER” by SIPHO. https://apple.co/SOBER-SIPHO #MacBookPro #Mac #AppleIntelligence Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Watch the special Apple announcement to learn about the new MacBook Pro, now more powerful than ever with Apple Intelligence. To watch the event interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), please click here: https://youtu.be/u4pHyN8eaqg Learn more about MacBook Pro: https://apple.co/3YrxCu3 Audio Descriptions: https://apple.co/3Yq8pjp “Hey!” by Gaspard Augé https://apple.co/HEY-Gaspard-Auge “Hello” by UPSAHL https://apple.co/UPSAHL “WICKED GYAL” by BAMBII, Lady Lykez https://apple.co/WICKED-GYAL-BAMBII “You Gotta Be” by Des'ree https://apple.co/You-Gotta-Be #AppleEvent #MacBookPro #AppleIntelligence Pricing, claims, and feature availability apply to the U.S. and may vary by region. For product details specific to your area, please refer to Apple.com. Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has been out for about 3 to 4 months now, and I think that’s a perfect time to take a quick look and give it a thorough review. I’ve been using it every day since it came out, so I figured I should share my thoughts on Apple Intelligence, Camera Control, and all of the other features that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has to offer. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:17 - Durability over the last few months 01:09 - Is Desert Titanium the color to get? 01:38 - Battery life so far 02:54 - Camera control 03:53 - Apple Intelligence - useful or nah?' 06:20 - The cameras are still really good but how goood? The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

CES 2025 is coming to an end, and so I wanted to put together a little video of some of my favorite things that I saw on the showroom floors. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see everything CES has to offer, and so I have also included a couple of things that grabbed my attention that I can hopefully check out in the future. 📲 Read more: 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

CES Day 3 came and went, and I saw some truly great products like a wireless tv (for real this time, no worries) that can be suctioned to the wall for mounting in just a few seconds. Sony let me hop inside the new AFEELA EV, and there are tons of cool tech features built in. There was a tri-folding portable projector, a lock that can read your veins to unlock, and some other incredible innovations on the CES showroom floor. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - CES 2025 day 3 craziness 00:25 - Sony & Honda's AFEELA EV 04:54 - Honda's weird looking Saloon and SUV 05:23 - Displace TV. Yes, finally a truly wireless TV 09:02 - Aurzen Zip tri-folding portable projector 10:00 - TCL Smart Lock with AI Palm Vein Recognition 10:25 - Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo, Hypercell, Kanto Ren speakers The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

CES 2025 is in full swing and day 2 brought us TONS of new Apple related tech and accessories for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac with new products from top companies like Anker, Satechi, Moft, SanDisk and more! 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Anker 01:28 - Satechi 03:13 - Moft 03:49 - Aukey 04:33 - Hohem iPhone Gimbal 05:15 - SanDisk 05:39 - Flic Duo 06:19 - OWC, "World's Fastest/Smallest/First" Stuff and more The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Samsung had its First Look event to showcase its brand-new products for 2025, which include new Odyssey OLED G6 and G8 gaming monitors, improved transparent displays, Odyssey 3D, and the Neo 8K flagship TV. CES Unveiled also took place, showcasing some interesting products from Belkin, Lexar, Sharge, and more! 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Samsung First Look 04:22 - LG Showcase 06:11 - CES Unveiled 2025 (Belkin, Sharge, Lexar, Targus) The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple refreshed the Mac mini back in November, adding M4 chips and increasing the base storage. We did a hands-on impressions video at the time, but we thought we'd follow that up with a more in-depth review now that we've had more time to spend with Apple's cheapest desktop machine. Priced starting at $599, the ‌Mac mini‌ offers the most affordable way to get access to Apple's new M4 chip, plus the machine got a design overhaul with the 2024 refresh. The ‌Mac mini‌ now measures in at 5 inches by 5 inches, and it's more than two inches smaller than the prior-generation model. It takes up much less space on a desk, and while it isn't quite as small as the Apple TV, it offers impressive performance in a super compact package. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

👇🏻 Sign up for Apple TV+ free weekend and binge these incredible shows 👇🏻 * Severance * Ted Lasso * Shrinking HONORABLE MENTIONS: * Disclaimer * Silo * Bad Monkey * Presumed Innocent * Morning Show

Apple is going to have a busy year in 2025, based on the rumors that we're hearing right now. All of the rest of the Mac lineup will be updated with M4 chips, plus there's a new iPhone SE coming, and a whole new iPhone 17 "Air" that's slimmer than any iPhone to date. The ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro models might also get a major design update with a new look for the camera and the chassis, plus Apple is going to debut a whole new "Command Center" device for smart homes. New AirPods Pro 3 are on the horizon, and some iPad refreshes are coming, too. 📲 Read more: 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - New Command Center Smart Home Device 01:50 - iPhone SE 4 02:38 - M4 MacBook Air 02:52 - Mac Studio & Mac Pro (M4 Ultra) 03:26 - iPhone 17 Air 04:31 - iPhone 17 05:00 - iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max 05:58 - Apple Watch Series 11 & Ultra 3 06:28 - M5 MacBook Pro & Apple Vision Pro 06:52 - New iPads & AirPods Pro 3 The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Did you get a new iPhone 16 or 16 Pro this holiday season? Here’s a list of all the cool features you should try, like Camera Control, the new Action Button, Apple Intelligence, and more! 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Camera Control 01:29 - Visual Intelligence 02:13 - Action Button 03:12 - Dynamic Island 03:59 - Apple Intelligence 05:26 - New Siri 05:58 - New Camera Features! The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

With iOS 18, Apple overhauled the Photos app, introducing a new, unified design that did away with the navigation bar and merged everything into a single screen. It marked the single biggest change to image management since the launch of the ‌Photos‌ app, and it's been controversial with some users. There's no returning to what the ‌Photos‌ app used to be unless Apple decides to roll back the changes, but there are a few tweaks that can be made to make it easier to get used to the new layout. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is Apple's only Mac that can be purchased with an M4 chip, M4 Pro chip, or M4 Max chip, so is the M4 powerful enough or is it better to get the M4 Pro or M4 Max? That's the question we explore in our M4 MacBook Pro review. Built on a 3-nanometer process, even the base M4 chip is more than enough for everyday tasks like web browsing, checking mail, writing, and watching videos. It's also more than sufficient for video editing, 3D rendering, photo editing, and other creative tasks. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Is the base model M4 MacBook Pro enough for you? 00:58 - Nano-texture Display is FANTASTIC 02:40 - Display overall is still excellent 02:59 - Ports & IO 03:35 - Base model specs & performance 04:15 - Real world use and living with base model 05:29 - New 12MP camera test 06:00 - Should you buy M4 MacBook Pro? The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple is planning to introduce a new version of the iPhone SE this year, and alleged dummy models are starting to leak out. Sonny Dickson today shared some images of an ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 dummy model, giving us insight into what it could look like.


For those unfamiliar with dummy models, they are non-functional mockups of new devices that case makers create based on information that leaks out of Apple's partner factories. There is big money in being the first to have a case for a new device, and over the years, leaked dummy models have turned out to be accurate in most cases.

Rumors have suggested the next ‌iPhone SE‌ will look like the iPhone 14, and that seems to be accurate based on the images. There's an iPhone-14 style chassis with an aluminum band, a glass back, and a single-lens rear camera.


There have been suggestions that the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 could get an Action Button or the Camera Control button that's available on iPhone 16 models, but neither of those features is depicted on these dummy models. That doesn't mean it won't happen, but it does make it less likely because case makers would need to accommodate these features.

The upcoming ‌iPhone SE‌ has been largely referred to as the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4, but there was a recent rumor indicating that Apple might call it the iPhone 16E. Along with the visible features from the dummy model, the ‌iPhone SE‌ is expected to include a faster A17 Pro chip that supports Apple Intelligence, an Apple-designed modem chip, and 8GB RAM. While it will only have that single camera, the camera is the same 48-megapixel Wide camera in the current ‌iPhone 16‌.

We are expecting to see Apple debut the next ‌iPhone SE‌ sometime in March or April, and it will continue to be the company's lowest-cost device. It could go up in price a bit, but Apple is said to be aiming to keep it below $500.Related Roundup: iPhone SEBuyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iPhone
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The second season of hit television show Severance is set to be available to stream starting tomorrow, and Apple is continuing to promote the show. The company's main Apple.com website now has a section dedicated to Lumon Industries, the fictional business that "innies" work for in Severance.


On Tuesday, several key Severance actors attended a promotion at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The team sat at workstations modeled after the workstations they use on the show, and sat in a glass cube for several hours as part of a live-action Severance event attended by the public and members of the press.

Severance actors have also been attending talk shows. Adam Scott, one of the main characters of the show, visited The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Scott said that during the promotion at Grand Central Terminal, the actors were locked in the cube for several hours. "None of us peed at all, for three hours," he said. "Didn't leave a glass cube for three hours." Scott went on to say it was a lot of fun, though.


Members of the media have already been able to watch the second season of Severance, and it is so far receiving rave reviews.

The show is available on Apple TV+, Apple's streaming service that's priced at $9.99 per month.
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Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features.


Notification Summary Changes
Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines.

• For now, summaries for apps in the News and Entertainment category have been disabled. Apple Intelligence will no longer summarize news notifications, but this is temporary and will be reinstated in a future update when Apple has made some changes.


• In the Settings app, the Notifications Summaries section makes it clear that this is a beta feature and that errors are a possibility.


• During setup, Apple has added the following wording for Notification Summaries: "Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines. Double check important information."


• Summarized notifications are now shown with the text italicized to distinguish them from standard notifications.


• Notification Summaries can be disabled on a per-app basis directly from the Lock Screen by swiping on a notification and tapping on the "Options" button to get to an interface for turning off summaries.

All of the Notification Summary changes have been made in iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3.
Camera Control
On iPhone 16 models, the Camera Control section in the Settings has a renamed toggle. The toggle for AE/AF lock has been renamed to "Lock Focus and Exposure," which would be clearer to non-photographers who do not know what AE/AF Lock is.


Lock Focus and Exposure is an optional setting that lets you lock your settings with a light press and hold on the Camera Control button, and it is meant to work similarly to a DSLR camera.

Messages
In the Messages sidebar that's accessible by tapping on the "+" button in any conversation, there is now a Genmoji entry, and tapping it takes you to the ‌Genmoji‌ creation interface.


This is simply another way to get to the ‌Genmoji‌ creation tools, which have previously been available by tapping on the emoji keyboard button.
PDF Editing
When editing a PDF through the screenshot interface, if you crop content out, Apple now provides a warning that cropped content is not removed from the PDF.


"Content outside the cropped area won't be visible in most PDF viewers, but it can be made visible in some apps," reads the message.

More Features
Know of something new in the latest iOS 18.3 beta that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
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A minor software update for the Apple TV was released today.


tvOS 18.2.1 is now available for all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models. It can be installed on the Apple TV by opening the Settings app and selecting System → Software Updates. It is a minor update with a data syncing bug fix.

According to Apple's release notes, the tvOS 18.2.1 update "addresses an issue where data may not sync correctly across devices."

The update has a build number of 22K160.

Apple also released iOS 18.2.1 and iPadOS 18.2.1 with "important bug fixes" earlier this month.

tvOS 18.2.1 follows tvOS 18.2, which was released in December with a Snoopy screen saver option on the second-generation Apple TV 4K and newer, along with support for ultra-wide 21:9 content with a home theater projector on the third-generation Apple TV 4K.

Next up is tvOS 18.3, which is currently in beta and likely to be released in late January. The update might introduce robot vacuum support in the Home app by time it is released, but otherwise it is shaping up to be a very minor update.

Apple reportedly plans to release the next Apple TV in the later months of 2025, with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that could add Wi-Fi 6E support to the streaming device. The current Apple TV 4K was released in October 2022.Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater
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With the iOS 18.3 update, Apple made several changes to the Apple Intelligence Notification Summaries feature that aggregates incoming notifications into a single quick-access message.


For now, Notification Summaries for the News and Entertainment category have been temporarily disabled, and Apple is working on improvements. Notification Summaries for news will return in a future software update.

In the Settings app, when a user activates Notification Summaries, Apple has added a warning that this is a beta feature and that there could be errors.


For summaries that are still available through ‌Apple Intelligence‌, the text is now italicized as a way to distinguish them from traditional notifications.


There is also now an option to manage whether notifications are summarized for an app right from the Lock Screen. To turn off summaries from the Lock Screen, swipe to the left on a Notification Summary and then tap on options to get to the menu to disable it on a per-app basis.

Apple is making changes to Notification Summaries following complaints that the way ‌Apple Intelligence‌ aggregated news notifications could lead to false headlines and confused customers. Several BBC notifications, for example, were improperly summarized, providing false information to readers.

After BBC News complained, Apple said that it would update Apple Intelligence to cut down on confusion caused by inaccurate summaries. Apple said that a future software update would clarify when notifications were summarized by ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Available on compatible devices in iOS 18.1 and later, ‌‌Apple Intelligence‌‌ notification summaries are designed to group multiple notifications from the same app together, providing a one-sentence overview of the content. These short summaries can cause problems when AI pulls the wrong details from news stories.

While summaries have been disabled for news for the time being, the feature is still available for other types of apps. Notification Summaries can be turned off entirely in the Notifications section of the Settings app. Tag: Apple Intelligence
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Apple today provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.3 update, with the third beta coming a week after Apple released the second beta.


Registered developers can opt-in to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. An Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 brings Genmoji to the Mac, a feature that was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad. With ‌Genmoji‌, Mac users can create custom characters with a text-based prompt, similar to how Image Playground works.

‌Genmoji‌ characters behave just like emoji on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ 15.1 and later, but on earlier versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, ‌Genmoji‌ are sent as images. ‌Genmoji‌ can be added from the emoji interface, and image generation is done on-device.

All macs with an Apple silicon chip support ‌Genmoji‌ and other Apple Intelligence features.Related Roundup: macOS SequoiaRelated Forum: macOS Sequoia
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Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the second betas.


iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software update. Apple has also seeded a new developer beta of visionOS 2.3, which can be downloaded through the Settings app on the Vision Pro.

There are no new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, and few new features. The update is mostly focused on bug fixes, but it will likely bring support for robot vacuums in HomeKit.

Additional ‌Apple Intelligence‌ Siri updates coming in later in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates that will follow iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. We're expecting to see the new software launch toward the end of January.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
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The popular weather app CARROT Weather today was updated with two key new features: CarPlay support and automatic Live Activities.


When accessed via CarPlay, CARROT Weather becomes a navigation app like Google Maps. You can enter your destination and receive turn-by-turn directions, with the added benefit of being able to view the weather along your driving route. The weather features include live radar, severe weather warnings, wind speeds, visibility levels, and more.

CARROT Weather's turn-by-turn directions are as snarky as its weather forecasts, so prepare for remarks such as "turn left on Rodeo Drive, meatbag," or "you went the wrong way, idiot, now I have to recalculate your entire route."

With auto-starting Live Activities, CARROT Weather's next-hour precipitation chart can now start automatically when precipitation is in the area. Users will receive a notification around 15 minutes before rain or snow begins, and then a Live Activities widget will continuously appear on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island until the precipitation stops. Previously, you had to open the app to start a Live Activity each time.


Both new features require a CARROT Weather Premium subscription.

CARROT Weather version 6.2 is available in the App Store.Related Roundup: CarPlayRelated Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology
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Following a false alarm last week due to a prematurely-updated Apple support document, Synchrony as of today is actually available as a buy-now, pay-later option when checking out with Apple Pay online and in apps on iPhone and iPad. However, you need a Synchrony Mastercard in order to access these payment plans.


After adding an eligible Synchrony Mastercard to the Apple Wallet app, iPhone and iPad users running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 can select from fixed monthly payment options during the Apple Pay checkout process. Look for the "Pay Later" option when checking out with Apple Pay to access payment plans available from Synchrony.

Eligible cards include the Synchrony Preferred Mastercard, Synchrony Plus World Mastercard, and Synchrony Premier World Mastercard.

Synchrony also announced that, starting later this year, users will be able to view and redeem rewards from eligible Synchrony-issued cards when checking out with Apple Pay online and in apps on the iPhone and iPad.

Apple discontinued its own buy-now, pay-later service called Apple Pay Later last year, and started partnering with third-party providers. Apple Pay Later let qualifying customers split a purchase made with Apple Pay into four equal payments over six weeks, with no interest or fees. Affirm, Klarna, and now Synchrony offer similar financing options.Related Roundup: Apple PayRelated Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+
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Apple is in talks with Barclays and Synchrony about becoming its new financial partner for the Apple Card, according to Reuters sources.


The report today added that Apple has also been holding discussions with Chase Bank owner JPMorgan since last year, so there are at least three potential companies in the running to take over the Apple Card from current partner Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs had reportedly approached American Express about taking over the Apple Card a few years ago, as well, but nothing came of it. Apple's credit card uses the Mastercard network, and that might have prevented an American Express takeover.

Goldman Sachs is in the process of winding down its consumer lending business, which has lost billions of dollars in recent years. On a recent earnings call, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said the company is contracted to be the Apple Card's lender until 2030, but he said there is a "possibility" that the partnership will end earlier.

In 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Goldman Sachs wanted out of the Apple Card partnership, but it has yet to part ways with Apple.

Last year, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined Apple and Goldman Sachs nearly $90 million combined after finding the companies mishandled transaction disputes and misled iPhone users about interest-free payment options.

"Apple Card is one of the most consumer-friendly credit cards available, and was specifically designed to support users' financial health," said Apple, in response to the fine. "Upon learning about these inadvertent issues years ago, Apple worked closely with Goldman Sachs to quickly address them and help impacted customers."

If the Apple Card does eventually get a new financial partner, it is unclear if there would be any major changes to the card's features and policies.

Launched in 2019, Apple's credit card remains available in the U.S. only.Tags: Apple Card, Reuters
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Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats audio devices, including a return of the all-time low price on the new Beats Pill. You can get this portable Bluetooth speaker for $99.99 in Champagne Gold, down from $149.95.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale includes major discounts on products like the Beats Solo Buds, which have hit $59.99, down from $79.99. These are a solid entry-level option and feature up to 18 hours of playback, USB-C, and Spatial Audio.

UP TO 33% OFFBeats January Deals

For an upgraded model, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds for $99.99, down from $149.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $249.99, down from $349.99. Many of these deals are solid second-best prices on each pair of headphones.

• Beats Solo Buds - $59.99, down from $79.99


• Beats Studio Buds - $99.99, down from $149.95


• Beats Pill - $99.99, down from $149.95


• Beats Studio Pro - $249.99, down from $349.99

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.


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Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website.


Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50.

We have outlined some examples below:







































































Device New Value Old Value iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $630 Up to $650 iPhone 15 Up to $400 Up to $410 iPhone 14 Pro Max Up to $450 Up to $500 iPhone 14 Up to $270 Up to $300 iPad Pro Up to $520 Up to $555 iPad Air Up to $270 Up to $275 iPad mini Up to $200 Up to $215 Apple Watch Ultra 2 Up to $390 Up to $375 Apple Watch Series 8 Up to $145 Up to $140 Apple Watch Series 7 Up to $100 Up to $105 MacBook Pro Up to $915 Up to $875 MacBook Air Up to $425 Up to $445 Mac Studio Up to $1140 Up to $1170
Apple's trade-in values also changed for some Android smartphones.

Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website or at an Apple Store, and the credit can be applied towards the purchase of a new Apple product, or placed on an Apple gift card for later use. Apple's trade-in page offers a complete list of values.Tag: Apple Trade-In
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Apple today shared photos of its upcoming store at MixC Hefei in China, revealing a new design element that could expand to other locations in the future.


Specifically, the store features a combined Genius Bar and Apple Pickup station, so customers can receive support and collect their online orders in a single area.

Today at Apple creative sessions will also be offered at the store, for free.

Apple MixC Hefei opens to the public on Saturday, January 18, at 10 a.m. local time. The store features a wide, curved glass entrance.


In its press release previewing the store, Apple reminded customers that it is currently offering special-edition AirPods 4 with an engraving for the Year of the Snake in China. They will be available to purchase at the store.

Apple is also opening a new store at the Miami Worldcenter complex on Friday, January 24, and it is renovating two other stores in Florida and Texas.Tag: Apple Store
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If you've ever wondered what it's like to be the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook recently sat down for an interview with Table Manners podcast hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware when he visited London in December. Cook shared insight into his daily routine, his focus on work, and his retirement plans. He also provided some fun details about Apple and some of his favorite things.


Cook revealed that Apple collects the fruit from the trees that are around the Apple Park campus, using it to make jam. He shared spiced apple jam created from ‌Apple Park‌ trees with the podcast hosts. Apple primarily has apple trees because the land where the ‌Apple Park‌ campus is located used to be an orchard, but there are also cherry trees.

While Cook does intend to retire at some point, it won't be the "traditional definition" of retirement. He doesn't see himself "being at home doing nothing" and "not intellectually stimulated." He says he'll "always be wired in that kind of way and want to work."

Cook said that his upbringing was "centered on work." He had a newspaper route at age 11, and at age 14, he "flipped burgers" at a fast food place called Tastee-Freez. His parents "instilled hard work," and the value of it has stayed with him "for a lifetime."

As Cook has said several times before, he wakes up before 5:00 a.m. to start work. He begins his day answering emails while it's still quiet. When asked why he starts with emails, he said it's the part of the day that has no surprises. "Well, as it turns out, it's the part of the day that I can control the most," he said. "As the day starts to unfold, it becomes less predictable."

The early morning is his favorite time of the day because he can "kind of block out the world and focus on a few critical things, and just be silent for a while."

Cook said that he works from ‌Apple Park‌ four days a week, but on Fridays, he tends to work from home. He said he works at home because "nobody's in the office and it's depressing when there's nobody there." Apple has a hybrid working schedule where employees are allowed to work from home up to two days a week.

There were no real hints of new products, but Cook said that there are "so many things" in the pipeline, as he often does. "We have so many things coming up," he said.

Some other tidbits:

• Cook loves white wine, specifically Chardonnay. His favorite is Kistler.


• For breakfast, he eats a protein rich cashew cereal from Whole Foods with unsweetened almond milk.


• Cook doesn't cook, and eats most of his meals during the week at Caffé Macs. He takes dinner home.


• Ethel's Fancy in Palo Alto is one of his preferred restaurants, where he likes to get the octopus.


• He eats a lot of fish.


• Cook loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.


• Table Manners has a tradition of asking guests about their last meal. Cook said his would be an appetizer of hamachi crudo with jalapeno, a branzino for a main dish, broccolini as a side, and anything chocolate for dessert.


• When not working, Cook likes to hike, and he likes to go to national parks for vacation.


• Cook recently went caving in Slovenia.

The full Table Manners podcast with ‌Tim Cook‌ can be listened to through Apple Podcasts on the web, iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Tag: Tim Cook
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Apple CEO Tim Cook will be one of several tech CEOs in attendance at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, reports Bloomberg.


Earlier this month, Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, and when Trump won in November, Cook sent congratulations on social media site X. Cook also visited Mar-a-Lago in December, where he had dinner with Trump.

Tech CEOs and tech companies have been lavishing Trump with money and attention since November. Google, Amazon, Meta, Uber, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Coinbase, Toyota, Ford, GM, AT&T, and more made donations to Trump's inauguration fund, and as a result, Trump has raised $200 million.

Trump has made it clear that he plans to put new tariffs in place, and Cook is likely aiming to avoid them with an exemption. During Trump's first term, Apple was able to skirt tariffs on its the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, though it had to pay some tariffs for the Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod. In 2019, Trump said Cook "made a good case" that tariffs would put Apple at a disadvantage.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla's Elon Musk will also be at the inauguration.Tags: Donald Trump, Tim Cook
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Four months have passed since Apple released the iPhone 16 lineup. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using an iPhone 16 Pro Max since launch, and over on our YouTube channel, he did a multi-month review to provide his thoughts on durability, battery life, Camera Control, and other features.

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The titanium chassis has held up well, with just minor scratches and scuffs on the edges. Battery health remains at 100 percent at 101 cycles and battery life has been impressive, but this is the ‌iPhone 16‌ with the biggest battery.

Camera Control has been a hit or miss feature. It's useful for opening the camera quickly to snap photos, but digging into the extra menus with swipes and gestures is clunky and takes too long.

Apple Intelligence is about the same, and it's not always super useful. One of the better features is Clean Up, which removes unwanted images from photos. Clean Up has improved over time since it was first introduced in iOS 18.1, and it's more useful than it was initially. Genmoji is fun, but it needs improvement because a lot of simple requests just don't pan out.

Unsurprisingly, the camera has been great, especially the improved 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens that Apple added. Photographic Styles adds useful customization options, and it's easier to make quick edits that give your images a uniform look.

Have an ‌iPhone 16‌? Let us know what you think of it after using it for a few months.Related Roundup: iPhone 16 ProBuyer's Guide: iPhone 16 Pro (Neutral)
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Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that there's "some possibility" the company's Apple Card partnership with Apple could end early, reports Reuters. Goldman Sachs and Apple have a contract that is supposed to last until 2030, but the financial services company wants to get out of consumer banking and out of its deal with Apple.


Back in November 2023, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that Apple was aiming to stop working with Goldman Sachs in the next 12 to 15 months. The 12 month mark has already passed, and 15 months is coming up at the end of February, but there hasn't been recent news on the dissolving of the partnership.

Apple partnered with Goldman Sachs for the ‌Apple Card‌ and the Apple Savings account, so Apple needs to find a replacement partner for these services before it can move on from Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs initially approached American Express about taking over the deal, but the ‌Apple Card‌ needs to run on the Mastercard network until 2026 because of a prior contract. Apple held discussions with Synchrony Financial and Capital One, but those talks seem to have ended. As of September 2024, Apple was reportedly in talks with JPMorgan Chase about an ‌Apple Card‌ takeover, but establishing a deal could take months.

Goldman Sachs has faced customer service issues and customer complaints over the ‌Apple Card‌ and Apple Savings account, which ultimately led to an investigation by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Customers were unhappy with long wait times for disputed ‌Apple Card‌ transactions and issues with transferring money from the Apple Savings account, and Apple is not happy with the poor customer service reputation its financial products have as a result.Tags: Apple Card, Goldman Sachs
This article, "Goldman Sachs CEO Says Contract With Apple May End Early" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's financing partner Affirm this month started offering interest-free financing on iPhone purchases in Canada again, after stopping doing so in mid-2023. With a 0% loan from Affirm, you can pay for an iPhone over 24 months with zero interest added.


This change, first reported by the blog iPhone in Canada, could help to boost iPhone sales in Canada following the recent holiday shopping season.

Affirm is still charging interest on iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro purchases in Canada, with APRs ranging from 4.99% to 7.99%.

Many of Apple's financing options in the U.S. are not available in Canada, including the iPhone Upgrade Program and Apple Card Monthly Installments, leaving customers in the country with no other options directly from Apple beyond Affirm.

Affirm acquired Apple's former financing partner in Canada, PayBright, in 2021.
This article, "Apple Resumes Offering Interest-Free Financing on iPhones in Canada" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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There is a good chance that Apple's first product announcement of 2025 will be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip.


Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year (unsurprisingly).

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some other devices rumored to launch this spring, such as a new iPhone SE and iPad 11. He has repeatedly said the new MacBook Air models are already in production, so a release as early as January or February rather than March or April seems possible.

Below, we recap rumors about the next MacBook Air models.

The new MacBook Air models are expected to be equipped with Apple's already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.

Apple already updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with M4 chips in late October. Geekbench 6 results showed that the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance.

Apple recently increased the minimum RAM included in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB.

Following in the footsteps of the MacBook Pro, the next MacBook Air models will likely have an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you centered on video as you move around. The camera should also support Desk View, which shows both you and an overhead view of your desk.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports. And the new models will likely support up to two external displays, even when the lid is open.

The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models can be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. It is possible that Apple will extend this option to the new MacBook Air models, but it might opt to keep the option exclusive to the MacBook Pro for differentiation.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the next MacBook Air models. Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022.Related Roundup: MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 15" MacBook Air (Don't Buy), 13" MacBook Air (Don't Buy)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon and Best Buy are discounting Apple's 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage down to $799.00 in every color. This is a $200 discount on the M2 MacBook Air, and neither sale requires any coupon code in order to see the final deal price.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Compared to past sales, this is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the M2 MacBook Air. Although this is a previous generation device, it remains in Apple's current lineup and will work great for anyone who doesn't need the performance gains introduced with the M3 chip, especially at this discounted price.

$200 OFF13-inch M2 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB) for $799.00

There are a few deals on the M3 MacBook Air, and these are all located at Amazon. You can get the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage for $1,099.00 on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. Only the Space Gray color is available at this record low price.

$200 OFF13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,099.00

Finally, if you are looking for a larger model, Amazon has the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in three colors on Amazon, and it's another match of the record low price on the M3 MacBook Air.

$200 OFF15-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,299.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.



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This article, "Amazon Takes $200 Off MacBook Air, Starting at $799" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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