You can now get Apple TV+ for just $2.99/month
New subscribers to Apple TV+ can now enjoy a limited-time offer, paying only $2.99 per month for the first three months, available through… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

How India's emerging filmmakers use iPhone 16 Pro Max
Four Indian filmmakers in the MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone project explain how the iPhone 16 Pro Max has helped them to create their short films.MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone | Image Credit: AppleThe Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) Select: Shot on iPhone is an initiative that empowers filmmakers to "push the boundaries of technology and innovation in film." The program is in its second year.Filmmakers in the MAMI Select: Shot on iPhone program receive mentoring from industry giants Konkona Sen Sharma, Vikramaditya Motwane, Lijo Jose Pellissery, and Vetri Maaran. These mentors have taken four emerging filmmakers under their wings to encourage creativity without the normal conventions of mainstream filmmaking. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

watchOS 12 will offer Apple Intelligence with a unique twist: report
We just had the most feature-packed Apple software year I can remember. But per rumors ahead of WWDC, 2025 is shaping up to quite a banner year for upgrades too, including with watchOS 12 adding Apple Intelligence features. more…

Read more »

Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone may achieve Steve Jobs’ vision of a seamless sheet of glass
Steve Jobs envisioned the iPhone as a "seamless sheet of glass," a concept he articulated during the development of the original iPhone… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

Apple Watch Earth Day Challenge set for April 22
As is tradition, Apple’s annual earth day activity challenge for users will be taking place next week, on April 22nd. You can earn a special award in your Fitness app for completing the challenge. more…

Read more »

Apple says all Mac minis with Intel are now ‘vintage’ or ‘obsolete’
Today Apple updated its list of vintage and obsolete products, and the latest additions include the end of an era for the Intel Mac mini. more…

Read more »

iPhone Fold rumored to cost over $2000
The iPhone Fold will be an extremely expensive smartphone to purchase, with a leaker claiming it could be priced at more than $2,000 at launch.A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderThe iPhone Fold is a long-rumored smartphone that Apple has reportedly been working on for years. While it is expected to be a premium offering whenever it ships, the price to consumers could be extremely high relative to the typical iPhone releases.According to serial leaker "Instant Digital" on Weibo, the price could end up being between $2,100 and $2,300 to consumers. Though they do not disclose their actual working out of that price range, the leaker claims it's based on Apple's typical iPhone profit margin. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

iPhone Fold rumored to cost over $2000
The iPhone Fold will be an extremely expensive smartphone to purchase, with a leaker claiming it could be priced at more than $2,000 at launch.A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderThe iPhone Fold is a long-rumored smartphone that Apple has reportedly been working on for years. While it is expected to be a premium offering whenever it ships, the price to consumers could be extremely high relative to the typical iPhone releases.According to serial leaker "Instant Digital" on Weibo, the price could end up being between $2,100 and $2,300 to consumers. Though they do not disclose their actual working out of that price range, the leaker claims it's based on Apple's typical iPhone profit margin. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Apple’s foldable iPhone will cost between $2100 and $2300, leaker claims
Leaker "Instant Digital" via Weibo claims Apple’s first foldable iPhone will be priced between $2100 and $2300. Multiple sources indicate… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

Colorful Beats Cables bring durability and style to Apple device charging
Tuesday's Beats Cables launch brings a colorful array of durable cords to help keep your Apple devices charged up. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Apple releases public betas for macOS Sequoia 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, more
Apple has just debuted new public betas across its lineup of software platforms. Public betas are now available for macOS Sequoia 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, tvOS 18.5, and more. more…

Read more »

iOS 18.5 public beta 1 now available, here’s what’s new
Apple released iOS 18.4 to all users a couple weeks ago, but didn’t have a public version of the iOS 18.5 developer beta. Now, however, a new public beta cycle has officially kicked off: iOS 18.5 public beta 1 is now available. Here’s what’s new. more…

Read more »

Gemini app rolling out Veo 2 video generation for Advanced users
Following images and audio, Google is bringing video generation powered by its Veo 2 model to the Gemini app if you’re an Advanced subscriber. more…

Read more »

Leaker suggests iPhone 18 Fold may cost up to $2300, slightly higher than competitors
According to leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone will cost between $2100 and $2300, placing it slightly higher than . more…

Read more »

Notion Mail is a new AI-powered email client, complete with Mac app
Notion Mail just launched, a brand new productivity tool from the Notion team that aims to upgrade your email with AI and provide a clean, clutter-free interface. more…

Read more »

Report: OpenAI is creating a brand new social network
OpenAI may before long become much more than the ChatGPT company. Per a new report, the company is apparently working on creating its own social network. more…

Read more »

Apple airlifted iPhones worth a record $2 billion from India ahead of U.S. import tariffs
Apple's key India suppliers exported a record-breaking $2 billion in iPhones to the U.S. in March, ahead of President Trump’s… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

How to play classic arcade games on your iPhone or iPad
A new emulator app in the App Store means you can now play MAME ROMs on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here's how to get started.ArcadeMania has arrived in the App StoreApril 2025 marks a year since Apple allowed game emulators onto the App Store. But, while many emulators rushed to the App Store, one major name has been missing for quite some time.MAME, the free and open-source game emulator, wasn't allowed as an iPhone or iPad app for a long time. Tthe restrictions of the App Store prevented it from existing, even after Apple relaxed some of the rules. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Taron Egerton chases arsonists in Smoke on Apple TV+ [First-look photos]
Like "Black Bird" on Apple TV+? The same team brings us Taron Egerton chasing arsonists in "Smoke." Check out the photos. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Deals: Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, black Milanese Loop, iPhone 16 Pro up to $175 off, M4 MacBook Air, more
Alongside the launch of Arc’s new metal Pulse case for AirPods Pro 2, the ongoing Best Buy Spring Sale, and this deal on Apple gift cards, we are kicking things off with Apple Watch Ultra 2 today. Alongside some notable open-box offers with over $160 in savings, we also spotted a relatively rare chance to save on the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the matching Titanium Milanese Loop as well as a chance to score a deal on Apple’s all-black 2024 Milanese Loop on its own. From there it’s over to some of the first opportunities to save some cash on iPhone 16 Pro at up to $175 off alongside the new M4 MacBook Air at up to $99 off. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break. more…

Read more »

Apple about to launch accessory discount with in-store recycling promotion
Apple will soon encourage customers to bring their old gear in to an Apple Store that wouldn't qualify for store credit to get a discount on AirPods, AirTags, and more.Image Credit: AppleIt's spring, which means it's time to declutter our homes and discard unwanted items. Apple thinks so, too, and is planning a promotion to help you turn your old and unwanted Apple tech into credit for new Apple accessories.Starting Wednesday, Apple will offer a limited-time in-store recycling promotion, likely as part of an Earth Day incentive. The deal will only last a month, so you'll want to hurry. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

The gorgeous Apple Watch Ultra 2 in black is cheaper than ever today
Macworld If you’re going to get an Apple Watch, it may as well be the best of the best. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 easily fits that description for three reasons: It has the largest screen, the longest battery life, and an absolute ton of features. And today it’s on sale to boot: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is on sale for $839 at Amazon, a savings of $60 and the best price we’ve ever seen for this model. We gave this model a four-star rating and loved everything about it, from the gorgeous design to its fantastic performance for tracking sports and workouts. In our review, we note the Ultra 2 did a fantastic job in tracking steps, distance, calories burned and flights climbed. It also did great when hiking and cycling, but we really found it extremely useful when monitoring the heart rate and sleep quality. The watch’s battery lasted for about 36 hours and doubled that in low-power mode, which is superb news, especially if you enjoy camping trips and off-grid traveling. The model that’s on sale right now comes with a black titanium case and a gorgeous black titanium Milanese loop band, which sells separately for $199 (and is on sale for $173). If you want a cheaper version, the model with the black titanium case and a dark green alpine loop band is down to $739 (also a $60 discount). Don’t miss out on the chance to own the very best Apple Watch Ultra 2 on sale over at Amazon for $839. Save $60 on your Apple Watch Ultra 2Buy now at Amazon

Read more »

New Chipolo Pop item tracker works with iPhone and Android
Unlike rival item trackers, the Chipolo Pop doesn’t force you to choose between iPhone and Android. You can find your misplaced keys or cat with either Apple’s Find My network or Google’s Find My Device. Plus, the Bluetooth tracker tag comes in a range of colors. Find your stuff with colorful Chipolo Pop Back in […] (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

New Apple TV+ thriller reunites team from one of its best reviewed series
Apple TV+ recently started teasing its summer lineup, including new seasons on the way for some of its biggest hits. Today, Apple has also announced a brand new show coming soon—Smoke—from the creative team behind one of its best reviewed series ever. more…

Read more »

Best Mac backup software: Top backup apps compared
Macworld We all know the importance of backing up our Macs, but what is the best Mac backup software to use for the job? To many of us, backing up a Mac means using Time Machine, the free backup app included with macOS. Time Machine can make incremental backups of everything on a Mac and can be used clone an old Mac to a new Mac. Also popular is iCloud, which although not a way to back up your Mac, can be used to sync photos, music, files and more so you can access them on all your Apple devices. However, while Time Machine and iCloud are great resources, they aren’t perfect, and relying on them alone to keep your data safe is a mistake that could have disastrous consequences. In this article, we look at the best Mac backup software to use with your Mac. We also have an article where we look at cloud backup for Macs including Backblaze, Carbonite, IDrive and other options that offer the ability to combine local backups with backup to the cloud. PROMOTIONMac backup software | EaseUS Todo Backup As an ideal alternative to Time Machine and iCloud, EaseUS Todo Backup does backup tasks on Mac more simply and faster, by backup archive, disk cloning features, and file or folder sync. It can set up an automated backup schedule in stealth mode to create safe copies and protect your data proactively. Also, all backups will be compressed to save disk space and encrypted to protect privacy. Now 25% OFF by using code: MACWORLD25. Free Trial Buy and Save 25% Best backup software for Mac 2025 Of the apps and services we look at here, Time Machine from Apple is by far the simplest option. It’s also completely free and available to everyone with a Mac, so you might be wondering why you would want to consider another backup option for your Mac. Time Machine is good, but it is limited compared to some of the options out there. Aside from Time Machine our top choice right now is ChronoSync, which is easy to use, quick, reliable and reasonably priced.  Read on to find out how options such as Get Backup Pro, ChronoSync, Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper might meet your needs. Apple Time Machine – Best Mac backup for the majority Pros Reliable, easy to set up Simplifies migration to new Mac Encryption-based security Cons Local backups, not cloud-based Limited scheduling options Restore interface can be confusing Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We are starting with Apple’s Time Machine software because it is included with every Mac. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the best option for you. Time Machine is a reliable tool for local backups of Macs, providing a full-sized initial backup of every file on the Mac and incremental backups throughout the day as long as the Mac is attached to a designated Time Machine external drive. That drive can be disconnected and used as an external drive for other computers or paired with multiple Macs for backups. The first backup takes the longest while every file on the Mac is rolled into the Time Machine backup, but it gets quicker from there. Time Machine’s Restore function allows users to open and scroll through past backups to locate and restore files, which is useful if something was accidentally deleted or you made changes to a file and need to go back to an earlier version. When paired with Apple’s Migration Assistant, porting data and user profiles from an old Mac to a new one is simple. When importing a Time Machine backup to a new Mac, Time Machine inherits previous backups as well. For security, users can designate a password to encrypt their Time Machine backups and there are reminders about the number of days since the last backup that encourage you to keep it plugged in. However, Time Machine is more geared towards external hard drives, which can be lost, damaged, or stolen, and it relies on said drive being connected to your Mac (you could use a NAS drive). It is best to have both a local and secure off-site copy of your data, and the online backup market has grown over the past few years with services like iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box. Despite its limitations, Time Machine is an excellent solution for local backups of Macs. While it requires an external hard drive connected to the Mac for consistent functionality, it offers excellent protection built into the operating system. ChronoSync – Ultimate Mac backup with complete control Pros Good level of control Supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon S3 Cons Complex Price When Reviewed: Chronosync: $49.99; ChronoSync Express: $29.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Econ Technologies $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket ChronoSync for macOS, from Econ Technologies, can give those who want it tighter control over their backup options in a format that doesn’t overwhelm. The software is based on several core modules including Home Folder Backup, Data Volume, Synchronize Two Folders, Multiple Folder Backup, Bootable Backup, Backup to a Disk Image, and Folder Backup. Simply select your desired function from the ChronoSync Organizer/home screen. For example, select the task you want to create, specify your settings (e.g. folders you want to copy over, file types to copy, a schedule, etc.), and hit “Synchronize”. Synchronizations can also be set up to simulate functions. For the truly die-hard and geeky, rule-based copies and tasks can be set up.  You can readily back up to NAS and file servers, the program supporting Apple’s HFS+ and APFS file formats as well as others. ChronoSync also supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon storage. For users looking to make bootable clones, this is just as easy as what SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner have become known for. Choose a source volume, choose a target volume, hit “Synchronize,” let the process run. ChronoSync can create two types of bootable clones: standard and mirrored. The former creates a bootable system on the destination volume, leaving other files on the volume intact. Mirror replaces the entire contents of the destination volume with files from the source. A readily-accessible manual offers quick access to a guidebook that comes in handy and there’s easy access to the company’s ticketing system should you require tech support.  Where price and offerings are concerned, ChronoSync offers something valid for your money. There is also a entry-level ChronoSync Express package that is part of the SetApp bundle (reviewed here: SetApp review). The company also offers a 15-day trial without requiring a credit or debit card. Read our full ChronoSync review Carbon Copy Cloner – The go-to utility for cloning data Pros Excellent performance Great level of configuration for scheduling and scripting Frequent updates Cons Problems creating a bootable drive on M-series Macs High price point Unable to clone to Windows file formats and cloud-based platforms Price When Reviewed: Free 30-day trial, Personal and Household license: $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bombich Software $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Bombich Software’s Carbon Copy Cloner has been a popular utility for cloning data on Macs since it launched in 2002. It supports HFS+ and APFS drive formats, local volumes, and NAS-enabled networks. However, it cannot back up Windows file formats, optical media, web-based platforms, or Apple’s Time Machine platforms. Carbon Copy Cloner has a comprehensive user interface, and customizable filters and grants access to configuration options like disk encryption, task notes, and bandwidth configuration for NAS backups. Other tools, such as scheduling, can be performed without issue. The task manager allows users to save and configure multiple backup tasks. A scripting feature allows custom scripts to be loaded and activated as needed. The SafetyNet feature allows for drive formatting or stopping processes before overwriting data on a volume. However, there are some weak points, including Apple’s lack of openness and the need for bootable external volumes. Creating a bootable external volume in Carbon Copy Cloner is currently a hit-or-miss proposition, with attempts at creating a bootable external volume failing due to Apple’s protocols. Other utilities face the same issues. Carbon Copy Cloner pairs well with utilities like Time Machine, Apple’s Migration Assistant, and SuperDuper!. The company’s customer support is friendly and speedy, and the software offers quick access to help guides. A supportive community and frequent developer updates are another bonus. If Carbon Copy Cloner is not in your arsenal of handy utilities, you should download it and give it a try. There’s a full-featured 30-day trial.  Read our full Carbon Copy Cloner review SuperDuper! – One of the best Mac cloning apps  Pros Easy installation, great user interface Scripting and customization capabilities Reliable updates Cons No network volume support No FAT, exFAT, or NTFS support Price When Reviewed: $27.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Shirt Pocket $27.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket SuperDuper! (version 3.8 at the time of this review) is a popular Mac cloning and restoration app that is easy to install. It supports APFS and HFS+ file formats and can be customized to fit individual needs. In addition to cloning, the app supports scheduling and allows users to specify files to be copied over, including Unix-specific elements like user folders, shared users, shared users and applications, and backup files. SuperDuper! easily restores data from one volume to another, which is simpler than using Apple’s restoration options in macOS’s Disk Utility. The user interface displays the number of files copied, copy speed, data evaluated, time elapsed, and amount of data moved from the source volume to the target volume. Users can edit provided scripts or write their own, choose between methods such as Total Backup and Smart Backup, and set up events like permission repairs before a copy begins, scripts to execute after a copy has completed, and for the Mac to eject the target volume, shut down, go to sleep, or quit SuperDuper! once the copy is done. However, SuperDuper! has room for improvement. For example, it can’t back up to network volumes and it doesn’t support FAT, exFAT, or NTFS for Windows and Linux volumes. We hope that the network backup comes with a further update. We like the fact that SuperDuper! retails for a one-time payment rather than on a subscription plan You can use it for free, but you need to pay to unlock scheduling, smart updates, and some other features. Over the years, Shirt Pocket has consistently provided solid updates, pinned down bugs, supported new protocols introduced by Apple, and communicated well through its tech support and marketing. Overall, SuperDuper! is a reliable local cloning and restoration app for the Mac that can be readily customized and scripted, and is excellent value. Read our full SuperDuper! review IDrive – Local and web/cloud-based backups Pros Good control over scheduling and backup elements Cons Cramped interface Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; IDrive Mini: $2.95 (100GB) | $9.95 (500GB) a year; IDrive Personal: $69.65 (5TB) a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iDrive (Annually) $2.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket lDrive is a backup utility that handles both local and web/cloud-based backups (similar to Backblaze and Carbonite). It allows you to continually backup your entire drive to the cloud, while also letting you drag and drop files to the cloud to access remotely. lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives. lDrive’s user interface is very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail. Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set. To add other folders, click ‘Change’ at the bottom of the window – that’s not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrive’s interface can be complicated. Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrive’s servers. All data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key. You have the choice of restoring by having data physically shipped to you. This is free for the first restore each year, but if you are based outside the US you’ll have to pay for shipping. The subscription-based tier system offers a free Basic account with 10GB of online disk space for free with no credit or debit card required. That 10GB free tier allows for local backups and is pretty generous, but the real steal is the IDrive Mini plan, which, for less than 3 bucks a year, gives you access to 100GB of storage. lDrive’s free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, it’s expensive for a single machine. Read our full IDrive review Get Backup Pro – Excellent for the casual user Pros Flexibility Can back up to network volumes Price When Reviewed: From $29.99 for a single license; Family pack of up to 5 Macs is $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price BeLight Software $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Get Backup Pro by BeLight Software is easy to download, install into the Applications folder, and run (although we did encounter a few problems assigning full disk access). The user interface keeps things simple, scheduling full backups, cloning, and incremental backups worked like a charm, and a slate of customization options allows for specific files and folders to be chosen and app data to be added to the backup/clone process. The impressive level of customization makes it easy to set tasks up, while an excellent restoration system installed data where it needed to be without fail. Get Backup Pro to be very capable, running flawlessly under macOS Sequoia. The software is priced well and is also available through MacPaw’s SetApp subscription service. The option of a 30-day demo gives you time to play around with it, and the licensing is flexible. Get Backup Pro presents a nice array of options beyond what Apple’s free Time Machine utility offer and is excellent for the casual user and the home market. Read our full Get Backup Pro review MacBackup Guru Pros Easily customizable Scheduler 30-day full featured demo Cons Some error messages No guidance about backup space needed Price When Reviewed: $29 (on offer for $9) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacDaddy $9 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Mac Backup Guru offers what’s expected from a backup utility in terms of core backup and archival functionalities and works to take it a step further. It offers both a synchronized clone backup, which can create standard copies of folders and drives as well as incremental backups that track changes and back up the changes (like Time Machine does). The application’s easily customizable settings offer tight control over aspects such as setting the source and destination volumes, and you can pick and choose specific volumes and folders to include and exclude. The scheduler feature works like a charm. Apple’s Time Machine will create snapshots of your hard drive at different times throughout the day, but there’s way to control when these are created or when they’re deleted. Mac Backup Guru offers this feature. Additionally, the number of recent snapshots can be designated as well before older snapshots are deleted. There’s also backup/cloning feature that taps into iCloud-related tools and makes a copy of all your iCloud-based files to help complete the cloned volume. Still, there’s room for improvement. For example, the app doesn’t confirm how much space it’ll need for a copy, leaving you rolling the dice as to whether you have enough space on the destination drive for the full copy. Mac Backup Guru is an easy-to-use backup tool that keeps options and settings to a minimum while offering several useful features. It’s also good value – at the time of writing it was on offer for less than $9/£7.51, a significant discount on its usual $29/£24.15 price. Backblaze – Online, offsite backup service Pros Flexibility Can back up to network volumes Price When Reviewed: $99 a year, $9 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Backblaze (yearly) $99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Backblaze is an online, offsite backup service that allows you to back up your Mac to its servers automatically or according to a schedule you set. Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. Backblaze also excludes some file types from being backed up, such as .dmg disk images – that restriction can be switched off, however. Backups are kept for 30 days, so you can restore from any that ran during that time. As you would expect, backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Data is encrypted and you can optionally add a six-digit passcode to provide an additional layer of security. When it comes to restoring your data, you have three options: you can restore via Backblaze’s web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional fee. And there’s a 100% refund if you return the USB stick or hard drive within 30 days, though you’ll have to pay shipping and taxes. You can view individual files and choose which ones to download. And you can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app. The Locate your Computer service tracks your Mac’s location to help you find it if it’s stolen – similar to Find My. If a lost Mac is still running backups your Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data. Backblaze’s user interface comprises a menu bar item and a System Preferences pane. However, that pane is more like a fully fledged application, with options to exclude files, add folders and disks to the backup, and throttle bandwidth. It’s simple and very Mac-like. If you only need to back up one Mac, and particularly if you want to back up external disks, Backblaze’s simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive. With Backblaze your data is stored in secure data centres and two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security. Read our full Backblaze review Acronis True Image for Mac – Customizable backup utility Pros Good backup elements, functional scheduling, and fast copy speeds. Antiviral Protection module. Cons Cloud-based dashboard interface Errors creating clone archives Price When Reviewed: Essentials: $49.99 a year for local back up of one computer (currently $39.99); Advanced: $72.99 a year for local and cloud backup of 1 computer (currently $51.09) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Acronis $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Acronis True Image for Mac works as a customizable backup utility as well as an antiviral/anti-malware app. It starts at $49.99/£42.99 per year for the Essentials version that includes one computer with local backup and anti-ransomware. You can pay more for cloud based backups, which is why we also include it in our round up of cloud-based Mac backup apps. You’ll find Backup, Protection, Disk Cloning, and Archive modules. The Backup module allows you to designate source and destination volumes as well as choose which files are backed up and to where. It’s easy to create exclusion lists as to which files can by bypassed when it comes to backing up, and the scheduling feature worked well. The Backup module also leads to True Image’s Acronis Survival Kit, which allows for a bootable backup drive to be created that your Mac can boot and install a new operating system from. The Disk Cloning module works well, and makes quick copies of volumes as needed. The Archive module allows you to offload local data to Acronis’ cloud structure, which is handy for freeing up local space. The Protection module offered a good degree of antiviral protection, catching no less than 23 potential threats from a sample archive off the bat. Unfortunately, during our testing there were bugs that couldn’t be avoided and user interface elements that were either inconvenient or needed a complete overall. Read our full Acronis True Image review Why you should trust Macworld Macworld’s backup software reviewer, Chris Barylick is an Apple-Certified Macintosh Technician with experience working with clients who have lost data and decades of experience tinkering with Macs. Like the rest of the Macworld team, he has been using Mac hardware, software, and services for decades. Macworld’s review process is thorough and we have evaluated all aspects of the products included here. We discuss our testing process in more detail below. How we choose the best backup software Here at Macworld we conduct comprehensive software reviews and, on occasion, a particular application emerges as an undisputed standout. However, in certain cases, multiple contenders may emerge. The optimal choice often hinges on a specific set of requirements. For instance, one option may be the most suitable for those with a limited budget, while another may be preferable for an individual who wants more control over the software. Consequently, we provide specific recommendations for each application so you can find the one that meets your needs. The applications that we deem most worthy are included in our group tests. If an application is not featured here, it may be due to its lower rating compared to those included in this roundup. How we test Mac backup software We judge the best Mac backup software on a variety of criteria including reliability, ease of use and the features it supports. Our tests involve running each program through the various types of backups it’s capable of, restoring backup data to make sure that it can be recovered without corruption, and simulating disaster recovery scenarios. We aim to ensure that the software delivers on its promises and that it is easy to use. We run through what we recommend you look for in a backup app in more detail below. We award scores between 0 and 5, including half stars and the best apps are then considered for our Best Backup software for Mac list. How to choose the best Mac backup app We’ve selected the best Mac backup software in this group test based on the criteria mentioned above. If you are evaluating the best option for you we recommend that you consider the following: Value for money: Is the app subscription only or can you purchase a perpetual licence? In many cases buying the software outright may appeal because you won’t be charged each year. One advantage of a subscription model tends to be that the developer will keep your version of the app up to date, so there is less risk that the app won’t be supported in the future. Some apps will have multiple features, which is great if you need them all, but another app with fewer features may cost less and give you what you need. Backup options: Think about what you want to backup because there is more than one type of backup. A system backup will back up everything – the operating system, all your applications, and all your settings. This means that if your Mac fails (or you buy a new one) you can recover your Mac exactly the way it was onto a new model. This method is time consuming the first time the backup is made, but later backups are incremental, with only only backups being things that have changed. Alternatively a data only back up will allow you to keep a copy of files and data that can be restored at a later date. This method is quick, but if your Mac fails you will need to reinstall the operating system and your apps and your unique set up will be lost. Another option, though it’s not a backup as such, is syncing. You can sync your data on your Mac to the cloud and then access it on other devices you own. The main problem with this is that if you alter a file that is synced to the cloud those changes are made centrally, so you can’t easily recover an older version. So if you delete what’s in the cloud you will lose it for ever (although luckily there is an option to recover your deleted data for 30-day, at least on iCloud). Backup device: Another issue is what you will be backing up to. A SSD will be quick, but an hard drive will offer you more space for less money. Your choice of backup software should consider how much data you are backing up and what you are backing up to. Another consideration is what will happen when you run out of space for your backup. Look at the space management options of the backup app. Will older backups be deleted. Scheduling options: Of all the features offered by backup apps this is probably the most important. Look to see how often you can set your backups to happen, are they real time, continuous, hourly, daily, weekly? If your Mac is only backing up what changes then a real time backup can actually be less noticeable because you Mac only backs up a small amount of data at a time. Security: Also important is the security of your data, especially if you are carrying a hard drive around with you. Look for both encryption and/or password protection options. FAQ 1. What is the best way to backup a Mac? An ideal strategy consists of at least two separate backup schedules, one backing up your Mac to a hard drive onsite, and one backing up to a drive that’s stored offsite or in the cloud. At the very least, if you use Time Machine to back up to an external hard drive or network device, you should also have another tool running regular backups to a different drive just in case one fails. 2. How do I backup my entire Mac to an external hard drive? You can do this with Time Machine, which is the simplest and cheapest solution. The only associated cost is purchasing an external drive, but a 1TB hard drive can be purchased for less than $30/£40 these days, so that isn’t prohibitive. Here’s how to backup with Time Machine: Plug in a hard drive, SSD or NAS drive. An alert should appear on your Mac asking if you want to use the drive with Time Machine. Click Use as Backup Disk. (If you don’t see the alert, make sure the drive is formatted correctly, see: How to format a drive for Mac). If you still don’t see the alert, open System Settings > General > Time Machine and choose Backup Disk. Choose the storage device and click Use Disk. Choose how often you want to back up, this can be every hour, daily, weekly, or manually. You can also choose what to exclude from backups. Just click on the + to remove certain folders. As we mention above, you shouldn’t rely on only Time Machine, a better solution might be one that is not kept at the same location as your Mac, given that if there was a fire or flood, both Mac and backup could be destroyed. We explain How to back up your Mac with Time Machine and also How to back up a Mac using various other methods in separate articles. 3. What does a Mac backup include? Time Machine keeps a back up of everything on your Mac. It creates hourly, daily, and weekly backups, but only backs up the changes made since the last backup. It also stores multiple versions of documents, so you can go back to older versions and restore them. Other Mac backup software works in a similar way, creating copies of your data at regular intervals, which can be stored either on-site or off-site. 4. Can I backup my Mac to iCloud? You may be wondering if you can back your Mac up to iCloud? The answer is no, not exactly, but you can create a folder in iCloud and copy files to that. For more information read: Time Machine vs iCloud: Do you need to use both and can one back up to the other? 5. How many GB do I need to back up my Mac? As a rule you need about twice the storage available in your Mac. So, if your Mac has 1TB of storage you need about 2TB in an external drive. 6. Will my Mac backup in sleep mode? Intel powered Macs running Power Nap can backup in sleep mode. On modern Macs you need to go to System Settings > Battery (laptop) or Energy (desktop) > Options and set it to wake for network access. If your Mac is set to wake for network access then it will ‘wake up’ from Sleep mode to run Time Machine backups. Looking for a SSD or Hard drive to back up your Mac? See our best SSDs for Mac and best Hard drives for Mac and Best NAS drives for Mac.

Read more »

Price war: Get Apple's M4 MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD for $1,799
This deal on Apple's upgraded M4 14-inch MacBook Pro is part of an April price war as B&H and Amazon compete for your business.Save $200 on a well-equipped M4 MacBook Pro - Image credit: AppleToday's $1,799 price for the upgraded M4 14-inch MacBook Pro in Silver reflects a $200 discount off MSRP. This model is particularly enticing as it includes a bump up to 24GB of unified memory and 1TB of storage, up from the 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD that's standard in the M4 line. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Today in Apple history: Apple scrambles to fix doomed Apple III
On April 15, 1981, Apple defended the Apple III computer, which suffered from an overheating motherboard, offering a quick, unorthodox fix. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Report: Apple to launch new recycling promo, offering up to $20 discount on AirPods and other accessories
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is set to launch a new trade-in promotion at its stores this week. Gurman says Apple will offer a 10% discount (up to $20 off) on the purchase of new Apple accessories, including AirPods, AirTags, Apple Pencil and more, when the buyer recycles an item that otherwise would not be eligible for trade-in credit. He says the scheme will be officially announced tomorrow, and run for a month. It sounds like this promotion is timed to commemorate Earth Day, which is officially held on 22 April this year. more…

Read more »

9to5Mac Daily: April 15, 2025 – iPadOS 19 rumors, more on AI
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card. more…

Read more »

Apple’s Beats brand just announced its first-ever USB-C cables
As rumored, Apple’s Beats brand is making a foray into another new product category: USB-C cables. The company has announced its “first-ever collection of reinforced charging cables in an assortment of lengths and colors.” Pricing starts at $18.99 for a single cable, and they’re available to order today. more…

Read more »

Trump Revenge Tour Targets Cyber Leaders, Elections
President Trump last week revoked security clearances for Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) who was fired by Trump after declaring the 2020 election the most secure in U.S. history. The White House memo, which also suspended clearances for other security professionals at Krebs's employer SentinelOne, comes as CISA is facing huge funding and staffing cuts.

Read more »

China-based SMS Phishing Triad Pivots to Banks
China-based purveyors of SMS phishing kits are enjoying remarkable success converting phished payment card data into mobile wallets from Apple and Google. Until recently, the so-called “Smishing Triad” mainly impersonated toll road operators and shipping companies. But experts say these groups are now directly targeting customers of international financial institutions, while dramatically expanding their cybercrime infrastructure and support staff.

Read more »

Patch Tuesday, April 2025 Edition
Microsoft today released updates to plug at least 121 security holes in its Windows operating systems and software, including one vulnerability that is already being exploited in the wild. Eleven of those flaws earned Microsoft's most-dire "critical" rating, meaning malware or malcontents could exploit them with little to no interaction from Windows users.

Read more »

Cyber Forensic Expert in 2,000+ Cases Faces FBI Probe
A Minnesota cybersecurity and computer forensics expert whose testimony has featured in thousands of courtroom trials over the past 30 years is facing questions about his credentials and an inquiry from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Legal experts say the inquiry could be grounds to reopen a number of adjudicated cases in which the expert's testimony may have been pivotal.

Read more »

How Each Pillar of the 1st Amendment is Under Attack
In an address to Congress this month, President Trump claimed he had "brought free speech back to America." But barely two months into his second term, the president has waged an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment rights of journalists, students, universities, government workers, lawyers and judges. This story explores a slew of recent actions by the Trump administration that threaten to undermine all five pillars of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedoms concerning speech, religion, the media, the right to assembly, and the right to petition the government and seek redress for wrongs.

Read more »

When Getting Phished Puts You in Mortal Danger
Many successful phishing attacks result in a financial loss or malware infection. But falling for some phishing scams, like those currently targeting Russians searching online for organizations that are fighting the Kremlin war machine, can cost you your freedom or your life.

Read more »

Arrests in Tap-to-Pay Scheme Powered by Phishing
Authorities in at least two U.S. states last week independently announced arrests of Chinese nationals accused of perpetrating a novel form of tap-to-pay fraud using mobile devices. Details released by authorities so far indicate the mobile wallets being used by the scammers were created through online phishing scams, and that the accused were relying on a custom Android app to relay tap-to-pay transactions from mobile devices located in China.

Read more »

DOGE to Fired CISA Staff: Email Us Your Personal Data
A message posted on Monday to the homepage of the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the latest exhibit in the Trump administration's continued disregard for basic cybersecurity protections. The message instructed recently-fired CISA employees to get in touch so they can be rehired and then immediately placed on leave, asking employees to send their Social Security number or date of birth in a password-protected email attachment -- presumably with the password needed to view the file included in the body of the email.

Read more »