Apple rebrands its advertising business as 'Apple Ads'
As Apple expands its advertising business, the company has renamed its former "Apple Search Ads" to "Apple Ads," reflecting the expansion of ad placement.Apple Search Ads is now just Apple AdsPreviously, when a business bought ads on the App Store, they would be suggested at the top of the search screen. In 2022, Apple began expanding its advertising practices adding slots in the Today tab and in the "You Might Also Like" slot below individual app listings.The name change now more accurately reflects the services it offers. Apple told participating developers about the name change in a message spotted by 9to5Mac. It reads: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple preps two new Vision Pro headsets
Apple is reportedly prepping two new Vision Pro headsets. The unit’s first device, a $3,500 headset, has been commercially unsuccessful… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Trump touts how he ‘helped’ Tim Cook with US tariff pivots
President Trump met today with the El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and as part of the press coverage he answered questions related to US tariffs, including a mention of speaking to Apple CEO Tim Cook and helping him out recently. more…

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MagSafe Monday: AMEGAT’s MagFusion feels like a modern-day iSight disguised as a charger
Off-topic to begin the article, but Apple’s iSight camera was peak design. I wish it still existed. I think Apple could sell a lot of them today if it were extremely high quality. With that being said, when I unboxed , I immediately thought of the iSight. more…

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A tweet asked for a simple finance app: Two hours later, it existed
Every day, it seems like hundreds of finance-related apps hit the App Store. Some focus on budgeting, others on credit card points, investing, or even trying to do it all. While scrolling through X, I came across a tweet from someone who said they just wanted a finance app that tracked three things: what they spent today, this week, and this month. The idea was so simple, yet so valuable. A few hours later, I saw that developer Steven Zhang had actually built it. In just two hours. Here it is. more…

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iOS 18.5 beta 2 arrives, but we don’t see any major new features
Macworld Two days after the release of iOS 18.4, Apple has begun the iOS 18.5 beta testing cycle. The first developer release landed on April 2, and we expect a wide release in May (or possibly late April). The last few iOS versions had their x.5 releases in May, with only minor features and changes, and we expect the same this year, especially now that the anticipated new Siri has been delayed. Updated April 14: Apple has released the second beta of iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, but we still don’t see any major new features. iOS 18.5: New features With the big Siri enhancements pushed back out of the iOS 18 update cycle and the iOS 19 beta starting at WWDC in June, we don’t expect much in the way of major new features—just a few touch-ups, bug fixes, and security enhancements. Contact Photos in Mail – In the three-dot menu (…) you can quickly enable or disable contact photos in Mail. AppleCare Info – In Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty you’ll see a new AppleCare banner you can tap to learn about your coverage. iOS 18.5: How to install the public beta If you want to be among the first to test iOS 18.5, you can sign up for the public beta test. The process for installing a beta has changed in iOS 16.4. Here’s how the new process works now: Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID. Log in to the Beta Software Program. Click Enroll your iOS device. Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update. In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta. It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update. iOS 18.5: How to install the developer beta You’ll need to be registered as an Apple developer. Beginning with iOS 18.5, you don’t need to be in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app: Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store. Open the app. Tap on Account. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. Registered developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. It may take a little time after registering as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates. Find out everything you need to know about iOS 18 in our iOS 18 superguide.

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Trump confirms he reduced tariffs to help Tim Cook
While denying he ever changes his mind, Trump has now said he helped out Apple with tariffs because of conversations with Tim Cook.Trump (right) at the 2019 meeting when he praised "Tim Apple" — image credit: AppleIt's up there with night follows day, but Trump has now effectively confirmed that it was after speaking with Tim Cook that he changed his tariffs. His statement has to be defined as effectively, because he was typically unclear and attempting to sound as if he were sticking flawlessly to his original tariff plan."Look, I'm a very flexible person. I don't change my mind, but I'm flexible," he said to reporters while officially meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. "And you have to be." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Watch Activity badges: 10th anniversary Global Close Your Rings award on April 24
Macworld Achievement badges are a funny thing. You know they’re just a simple little bit of visual flair, they don’t even do anything, and yet for some reason you just have to collect them. Gamification can be a great motivator, and the achievement badges for the activity tracking on the Apple Watch have inspired many users to get more exercise. If you want to maximize your badge count, you’re going to want to chase down as many activity achievements as you can. Most are available year-round, but there are also some time-limited special events to grab, too. Here’s a list of all the activity achievements for the Apple Watch and how to unlock them. Updated April 14, 2025: Apple has announced a special Global Close Your Rings award on April 24 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Apple Watch. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $399 Best Prices Today: $329 at Walmart | $389 at Amazon | $399 at Adorama Standard achievements Most of the achievements can be earned year-round. If you open the Activity app on your iPhone, then head over to the Achievements tab, you’ll see some of them listed even before you earn them (in which case they will be represented by a grey outline). However, there are some achievements that are not shown until you earn them. Past and future monthly challenges, for example, won’t show up, nor do all the various individual exercise workouts. Here is a list of all the standard badges you can get. First [exercise] Workout The first time you perform a new exercise for at least 5 minutes, you’ll get a achievement badge. Every workout type that does not fall under the “Other” category is eligible for this badge: from walking to yoga to HIIT to hiking and more. Activities with both indoor and outdoor variants, like Cycling and Walking, are bundled together; you can do either activity to get the badge, and can only get it once. [exercise] Workout Record Every time you beat your previous best record for calories burned in any of the exercises listed above, you get this badge. There is one caveat: You must complete five workouts of that type first. If you want to game the system, make sure your first four workouts of each type are short and easy, so it won’t take much effort to beat them. You get a badge the first time you do each major exercise type, and when you break a record. 7-Workout Week Simply complete any workout of at least 15 minutes every day of the week. Note that the week is Monday-Sunday, and you have to do a workout on each of those days (you can’t simply do any seven days in a row). If you start a walking workout whenever you walk outside, you can achieve this easily. New Move Record Any day that your Move ring goes further than ever before (meaning you burned more calories in a day), you’ll earn this award. There’s one catch: you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days before you can complete this. New Exercise Record This is just like the Move Record achievement, only for the green ring. This one is based on minutes of exercise, not calories burned, so it’s really easy to get. Just like the Move Record achievement, you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days first. Move Goal 200%, 300%, 400% You earn this when you exceed your calorie target (the red Move ring) by 2x, 3x, or 4x, respectively. In other words, it’s given for making the red activity ring go around two, three, or four times in a day. It’s easy to get if you just set your Move goal very low. Double, triple, and quadruple your Move ring goal. Reduce your goal if you’re having trouble. New Move Goal Every time you change your daily Move goal, and then exceed that new goal, you get this achievement. You can change your Move goal by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch and force-pressing the screen. Longest Move Streak When you hit your Move goal (close the red ring) several days in a row, that’s a “streak.” You get this award when your streak finally ends, if it’s longer than your previous best streak. Perfect Week This is given out for four categories: Move, Exercise, Stand, and All Activity. For the first three, simply close the rings (red, green, or blue) every day of the week. To get the Perfect Week (All Activity) badge, close all three rings every day for an entire week. You can earn this multiple times, though it only shows one badge. Remember, one week in the Activity app is from Monday-Sunday! Close those rings every day from Monday to Sunday to earn a handful of badges. Perfect Month Unlike Perfect Week, there are not multiple different Perfect Month badges for the different color rings. The lone Perfect Month achievement is for closing the red Move ring every day of the month. There’s a separate Perfect Month badge for every month and every year, though. So you can earn this in February and again in March, and again in February in the next year. Monthly Challenge Each month has its own unique fitness challenge. If you have notifications set for the Activity app on our Apple Watch, you’ll see the goal presented at the beginning of the month, but you’ll also see the current month’s challenge in the Achievements tab of the Activity app on your iPhone. It will be a grey outline before it’s completed, but you can tap on it to see what the challenge entails. The monthly challenge may task you with burning a specific number of calories, working out a number of times, or traveling a certain distance. There’s no telling what each new month will bring, you just have to look! There’s a different challenge every month, so check your Activity app. 100, 365, 500, 1,000 Move Goals When you hit your daily Move goal (close the red ring) 100 times, you get an achievement badge. You get another for hitting it 365 times, 500 times, and 1,000 times. These do not need to be in a row; it’s just the total number of times you’ve ever hit the goal. Close the Move ring often to unlock a series of badges. Set the Move goal low if you want to make it easier. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 (base) Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple | Not Available at Adorama Limited Achievements Apple offers multiple one-off challenges per year that are only available for a limited time. Often, they’re only around for one day or one weekend. Some are limited to the U.S. because they’re based on U.S. holidays. You’ll get a notification on your Apple Watch when one of them is coming up (make sure you have notifications enabled for the Activity app, using the Watch app on your iPhone). Global Close Your Rings Day (April 24, 2025) Apple To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Apple Watch. Users who close all three Activity rings will earn a limited-edition award, plus 10 animated stickers and an animated badge for Messages. Heart Month challenge (February 14, 2025) Apple Show your heart some love! Close your Exercise ring this Valentine’s Day, February 14, to earn this award. New Year’s 2025 challenge (January 2025) Apple Let’s start 2025 off right. Earn this award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January. Mental Health Day challenge (October 10) Apple Let’s bring awareness to all the ways we can take care of our mental health. On October 10, record 10 mindful minutes with any app that adds to Health to get this award. National Parks challenge (August 25) Apple In the U.S., the National Parks Service was founded on August 25, 1916. Apple has a National Parks challenge around that time each year to celebrate National Parks all over the world. To get this badge, just record a workout of 20 minutes or more on August 25 with any app that adds workouts to the Health app. Global Running Day (June 5) Apple Hit the road, trail, track, or tread for Global Running Day! Record a running workout and go at least 5 km on June 5 to earn this special badge. World Meditation Day (May 21) Apple To complete this new challenge, you’ll need to record five or more mindful minutes using the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health app on May 21, 2024. Earth Day (April 22) Foundry Let’s get moving for the planet. On April 22, do any workout for 30 minutes or more to earn this award. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds to Health. Heart Month (February 14) Apple This Valentine’s day, it’s all about heart. Close your Exercise ring on February 14 to get this award. Veteran’s Day (November 11) Foundry Earn this special award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.

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macOS 15 Sequoia superguide: Everything you need to know
Macworld macOS Sequoia has been available for compatible Macs since September 2024, but further updates to Sequoia are expected over the next few months, with the latest major update being macOS 15.4, which arrived on Monday, March 31. If you want to know what the new features are, whether you will be able to enjoy all of them, and if your Mac is even compatible with Sequoia, read on. We are also tracking any problems, the latest updates, and what’s new in the beta. The latest version of macOS is called Sequoia, named after the California National Park and, more specifically, the world’s largest trees. Among the new features coming to Macs in Sequoia are iPhone mirroring, which puts your iPhone screen on your Mac’s display and lets you interact with it via your mouse and keyboard, a new Video conferencing presenter preview, and changes to Safari. In addition, developers will be easily able to port games between iPhone, Mac, and iPad. The free software update brings a raft of interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about macOS 15 Sequoia including how to download it. We also link to various tutorials about how to use the new features. Some features will only work on Macs with an M-series chip, including several Apple Intelligence features that will offer help with writing, creating images, editing photos, and more. Some people have been running Sequoia for some time, thanks to Apple’s beta testing program, which is continuing as Apple develops more new features for Sequoia. In this article, we also discuss what’s new in the developer and public beta as Apple continues work on the development of the operating system. Update April 14: macOS 15.5 beta 2 is now available to developers macOS Sequoia: Latest version macOS 15.4: March 31, 2025 Apple released macOS 15.4 on March 31, 2025. The new features include Mail sorting features, Proximity Pairing, support for new languages with Apple Intelligence, and more. On March 11 Apple issued an update to Sequoia. macOS 15.3.2 brought bug fixes and one major security patch for a 2023 flaw that affects iOS 17.2. Apple released the macOS 15.3.1 update on February 10. The update does not include any detailed release notes and the Apple security release webpage states that “this update has no published CVE entries,” which means that it does not address any security issues filed with the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database. However, the update’s description states that it “provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.” iOS 18.3.1 was issued on the same day and addressed an “extremely sophisticated” security flaw relating to “A physical attack [that] may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device”, according to Apple. Apple revealed that this attack may have been used against targeted individuals. On January 27, Apple released macOS 15.3. It offers Gemoji support, updates to the Calculator and Image Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It also includes bus fixes and security patches. This update also enables Apple Intelligence by default. Apple released macOS 15.2 on December 11. It has a slew of Apple Intelligence updates including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, advanced Writing Tools, and more. Additionally, there are a few tweaks and bug fixes, and various performance improvements and security updates. Version 15.2 also brought Apple Intelligence features to the U.K. and some other locations, although those features still aren’t available in the E.U. The update also included a fix for a System Integrity Protection vulnerability. macOS 15.1.1 arrived in early December as an ’emergency update’ necessary to patch flaws in JavaScript and WebKit that Apple says “may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” There is no release for Macs running macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or Ventura 13.7.1, yet, but that update is likely to come soon. macOS 15.1 arrived on October 28. This major update brings the first raft of Apple Intelligence features to Macs with the M-series chip. Initially Apple Intelligence features were only available in the U.S. but they arrived in some other locations with macOS 15.2. macOS 15.0.1 was released on October 3, 2024. It did not contain new features, but it did include two important bug fixes. One bug fix corrected the error that led Messages to quit when replying to a message that shared an Apple Watch face. The other fix was for compatibility with third-party security software. When was macOS Sequoia released? Monday, September 16, 2024 Apple released macOS Sequoia to the public earlier than usual, alongside iOS 18 on Monday, September 16. iOS 18, watchOS and iPadOS 18 were released at the same time. For information about what is coming in the next version look at the latest version of the Sequoia beta section below. Next update: When will the next macOS Sequoia update be released? Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.4 on March 31, 2025. A new beta cycle for the 15.5 update is now available. What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.4? Release date: March 31, 2025 Apple released macOS 15.4 on March 31, 2025. It includes the following: Mail sorting features: These were introduced in iOS 18.2 and are now coming to the Mac. Your Mail Inbox will feature four icons: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions (swipe from the right end of the icons to the left to activate an option for All Mail to be listed). If you have Apple Intelligence enabled, you’ll also see a new Priority Notifications section at the top of your Inbox to display important messages you may have missed. Proximity Pairing: As long as your iPhone is running iOS 18.4, when you set up a new Mac you’ll be able to pair it with an iPhone to transfer over Apple Account data. New Apple Intelligence languages: Expect Simplified Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish—as well as localized English for Singapore and India. What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.3? Release date: January 27, 2025 On January 27, Apple released macOS 15.3. It offers Gemoji support, updates to the Calculator and Image Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It also includes bus fixes and security patches. Apple Intelligence – Apple’s Apple Intelligence features, which until now have required the user to turn them on in System Settings, will be on by default in iOS 18.3. Gemoji – Ability to create Gemoji using Apple Intelligence. Calculator app – The return of “repeat operation” capability when you keep pressing the equals (=) key (a feature that was lost in the iOS 18 update). Notification summaries – Enable or disable summaries for an app, notification summaries get italicized text. Notification summaries disabled for News & Entertainment apps for now. Bug fixes and security updates. Additional Apple Intelligence regions: Users in the EU will gain access to Apple Intelligence features for the first time. Mail categories: The Mail app will get the categories including Primary, Transactions, Updates and Promotions. What’s new in macOS Sequoia 15.2 Release date: December 11, 2024 On December 11, 2024 Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2. This update brought the second round of Apple Intelligence features including improvements to Writing Tools, generative AI Image Playground, ChatGPT integration for Siri and Writing Tools, including: Writing Tools updates – more options. Genmojji – new emoji you can create. Image Playground – ability to generate images based on text prompts. Image Wand – uses Apple’s image generation tools to create an image and add as context to a note. ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri. Mail – AI-powered auto-categories to help manage your Inbox. macOS Sequoia 15.2 brought Apple Intelligence features to the U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Apple Intelligence still isn’t available in the E.U. due to regulatory problems. What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.1 Screenshot Foundry macOS Sequoia 15.1 includes a number of new AI features that work on M-series Macs, although only to those in U.S., or with their system set to U.S. Outside the U.S. it was necessary to wait for Sequoia 15.2 for Apple Intelligence features to arrive (and even then only in certain locations). Writing Tools – offering spelling and grammar support and helping you edit or summarize text. These features can be used around the operating system. Siri – new design and Type To Siri. (Type to Siri isn’t a new feature, but Apple’s making it more obvious for those of us who hate talking to Siri). Siri will be better at maintaining context while you ask related questions. Reduce Interruptions – a new AI Focus Mode that will filter out unimportant notifications. Smart Reply – you’ll be able to use these in Messages and Mail. Photos – Memory Movie will create slideshows based on a text description. You can also use a Clean Up tool to remove unwanted elements of a photo. Improvements to photo search. Summaries – Safari will be able to summarize articles. iPhone Mirroring – Drag files from iPhone to Mac and back. Audio transcriptions – You can get audio transcriptions of your audio recordings in Notes. macOS Sequoia: Problems & bugs Several third-party security tools have reported issues with the new version of the Mac operating system. Read more here: Hold off on updating to macOS Sequoia if you’re using cybersecurity tools. CrowdStrike referenced “changes in the network stack” in an alert sent to its customers and has held off on support for the new OS. ESET indicated that there is a problem is with ESET Cyber Security version 6, an older version that “will be End of Life soon.” Firefox apparently had firewall-related issues with Sequoia. Messages could quit if a message including an Apple Watch face was replied to (fixed in macOS 15.0.1) Compatibility with third-party security software was addressed in macOS 15.0. Resizing windows is a new feature in macOS Sequoia but it can get a little annoying. Read: How to stop macOS Sequoia from resizing windows to fill your screen. Having problems with Sequoia? Read: How to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma macOS Sequoia Beta: Latest developer and public betas Apple released the Sequoia 15.5 beta 2 on April 14, 2025. Apple’s beta testing program for developers and public testers has been running since June/July 2024 and will continue into 2025 as Apple adds more new features to macOS Sequoia. If you want to install the beta on your Mac, check out our guide to how to install the Mac beta. Sequoia beta 15.2.Foundry If you want to run the developer beta, you need to be a registered Apple software developer, which has both free and paid ($99/£79) versions. Since June 2023 Apple has opened the beta to all registered developers–so now everyone can get the earliest possible access to the macOS beta without paying a penny. Anyone can sign up for the Public Beta, which should be more stable than the developer beta, but it may still be unstable. By nature, beta software is not as stable as the final version–features may be implemented and then withdrawn, or they may not work properly, UI can change, and third-party app compatibility isn’t guaranteed. Once registered, when you go to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, you’ll see a new tab for Beta Updates, which will list the version of the beta you’re running. For example, if you want to install the developer beta select macOS 15 Public Beta, alternatively, if it’s the public beta you want, select macOS 15 Public Beta. We explain How to join Apple’s beta program separately, including details of how to get a free developer account. If you want to install the beta, follow our macOS beta installation guide. If you then want to uninstall it, we have a guide for that: How to remove macOS beta. The beta testing will continue even after Apple releases macOS Sequoia to the general public as Apple develops new features unavailable at launch. Read How to join Apple’s beta program for more advice. macOS Sequoia compatibility: Which Macs can run macOS 15? Screenshot Foundry The following Macs get support for macOS 15. iMac from 2019 and later Mac Pro from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Studio from 2022 and later MacBook Air from 2020 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later There are two 13-inch MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019 running Sonoma that won’t be able to install Sequoia. So if your MacBook Air was purchased before 2020 you are out of luck. The compatibility list is becoming a pressing concern for users of Intel Macs. After Apple introduced its M-series Macs, the company said it would continue to support Intel Macs for several years, but it did not offer specifics. The clock is ticking on Intel Macs, but the last generation of Intel Macs remains on the macOS 15 compatibility list with a few Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia. However, only Macs with an M1, M2, or M3-series chip will support the new AI features referred to as “Apple Intelligence.” That includes the following: iMac from 2021 and later Mac Pro from 2023 Mac Studio from 2022 and later MacBook Air from late 2020 and later Mac mini from late 2020 and later MacBook Pro from late 2020 and later If your Mac can’t be updated to Sequoia that doesn’t mean you are completely abandoned by Apple. Apple will provide security updates for some Macs that don’t run macOS 15. Generally, Apple provides software updates for the past two versions of macOS. See: How long does Apple support Macs? On average, Macs get 6.6 years of macOS updates. To find out which version of macOS and older Mac can run take a look at our macOS compatibility list. macOS Sequoia: Should I install Sequoia? As long as your Mac can run it, we recommend updating to Sequoia. The new features–all of which we discuss below–look enticing enough. We address how macOS Sequoia compares to Sonoma? in a separate article. We also run through 6 reasons why you need to upgrade to macOS Sequoia. However, it’s wise to wait a week or so for the inevitable issues with the early release to be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets out into the wide Mac world. It’s also wise to wait because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available. Refer to the problems and bugs section above to see if any of the identified issues might affect you. macOS Sequoia: How to install Installing macOS Sequoia is a breeze. Open System Settings and go to General > Software Update; macOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our macOS updating guide. And it’s easier still if you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen. However, if you do encounter problems the following may be useful: How to install macOS Sequoia on your Mac How to get your Mac ready for macOS Sequoia How to fix macOS installation problems macOS Sequoia: All the features in macOS Sequoia Many new features arrived in macOS 14 Sonoma in 2023 including changes to Widgets, a new Game Mode, the ability to easily turn web pages into web apps, and fun additions to video conferencing apps. Rumors suggested that there wouldn’t be many new features in macOS 15, with AI-related improvements in iOS 18 taking most of the development focus. However, some AI improvements are coming alongside iPhone mirroring on your Mac display, a new Presenter Preview for video conferencing apps, and Game Porting Toolkit 2 for porting games between Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Apple has announced numerous new features for the update which we will describe below. Not all the new features will be available at launch though. Some new features will come “later this year” in a subsequent software update. iPhone mirroring iPhone mirroring is a new development of Continuity. Continuity is a feature that has existed on Macs for a number of years that means you can use your Mac together with other devices in a seamless way, making cut and paste, screen sharing and mouse and keyboard sharing possible across devices. With the new ability to mirror an iPhone on a Mac’s display, it will be possible for a Mac to connect to an iPhone and display the iPhone screen on the Mac’s display. This way a user will be able to control their iPhone from their Mac, using the keyboard and mouse to interact. Drag and drop between the Mac and iPhone will also be possible. Users can also mirror the iPhone in a window on the Mac. It will also be possible to launch their iPhone apps via their Mac. Any audio from the iPhone will play through the Mac’s speakers. During any manipulation of the iPhone via the Mac, the iPhone will remain locked so nobody can see what is being done. It will also be possible to use the phone normally while it is connected to the Mac. Users will also be able to receive iPhone notifications on a Mac. They will appear alongside Mac notifications. These can be interacted with even when the iPhone isn’t nearby. Click on a notification and be taken into the app on your iPhone via the Mac’s display. Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia Apple Window Tiling macOS Sequoia will bring a new, neater, way to arrange windows. When a user drags a window to the edge of the screen it will show a place on the desktop that you can slot that window into. This will make it easy to quickly arrange tiles side-by-side so that more apps are in view. There will be new keyboard and menu shortcuts to help users organize tiles even faster. Read: Why you don’t want to ditch your tiling window manager just yet and How to stop macOS Sequoia from resizing windows to fill your screen for when you get frustrated because macOS keeps changing the window size and you don’t know why! Apple Video conferencing A new presenter preview will show users what they’re about to share before they share it. This feature will work with Zoom and other apps, as well as FaceTime. It will also be possible to apply built-in backgrounds with color gradients and wallpapers. Users will also be able to upload their photos. These Background replacements can be applied in various video calling apps, even mid-call. Apple Safari 18 Safari 18 will include several new features including a new Highlights feature which will help users discover information. The Reader feature is also getting a redesign to minimize distractions when you are reading an article. Joining the more streamlined version of the article that can already be accessed, users will see a summary and a table of contents for longer articles. If there is a video on the page it will be placed front and center and the user will have access to playback controls and picture-in-picture playback will also be possible. Other rumored features included a “Web Eraser,” and a new page controls menu. An update in 2025 is also said to be bringing an AI enhancement to Visual Lookup not just in Safari, but throughout the OS, although we are awaiting confirmation. Read: How to use Distraction Control to remove ads and This new Safari feature lets you snap away annoying ads. Apple New Passwords app Apple is bringing the iCloud Keychain into the 21st century. Apple says the new Passwords app will make it even easier to access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other credentials all in one place. It will seamlessly syncs between both Apple devices and Windows with the iCloud for Windows app. Apple Calculator It had been rumored that Apple is working on a new Calculator app. It may be redesigned to resemble the iOS version, with new features including a history tape, revamped conversions, and a resizable window. Apple did reveal that it will be possible to see previous calculations with a history feature. Calendar and Reminders The Calendar app will allow users to manage Reminders. Users will be able to view events and tasks from Reminders in the Calendar. An updated Month View will also be available and both apps will see UI changes. Other new features iCloud – Apple is adding a “Keep Downloaded” option that prevents the file from being moved to iCloud and keeps the file on the device. Read about the new Keep Downloaded option. Installing apps – Apple is removing the double free space requirement to download and install an app. Read: macOS Sequoia makes it easier to install large apps. Security & Privacy – The beta indicates that macOS Sequoia will require regular permission checks when using certain apps. Gaming improvements In 2023 Apple introduced the Game Porting Toolkit to help developers bring their games to Apple devices faster than ever. Now Game Porting Toolkit 2 adds the most-requested capabilities from game developers. In addition, improvements to Game Mode on the Mac will unlock smoother frame rates, and advanced power management features boost performance across the Mac lineup. Apple proudly shared details of several gaming titles that will be coming to the Mac, including: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Control Ultimate Edition Frostpunk 2 Palworld RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard RESIDENT EVIL 2 RoboCop: Rogue City Sniper Elite 4, Ubisoft Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown World of Warcraft: The War Within (coming later this year). Wuthering Waves Apple noted that they are “leveraging powerful software technologies like MetalFX Upscaling to accelerate performance and deliver high-quality visuals across the Mac lineup” and that they are “taking advantage of the latest M3 family of chips to deliver breathtaking visuals with ray tracing.” Personalized Spatial Audio will result in significantly reduced audio latency with AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Apple Intelligence features Several reports over the past few months have indicated that Apple is doing a lot of work towards AI, and that generative AI (using AI to create content) will have a big role in macOS. Those reports weren’t wrong. Apple’s new personal intelligence system is coming to Mac, iPhone, and iPad with macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will only be supported by Macs with an M-series chip though, so Intel Macs will not offer these new features. Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when you’ll get it Writing Apple Intelligence will help users enhance their writing and communications. Writing Tools are built in systemwide that will offer to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in writing-focused apps such as Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. Apple Images New image capabilities will also come to M-series Macs. In Image Playground, users will be able to create images in three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Photos A new Memories in Photos feature will create a video from photos and videos based on a description provided by the user. Apple Intelligence will pick out the photos and videos, develop a storyline based on the photos, and arrange them into a movie. In addition, a new Clean Up tool will identify and remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo. Siri Siri is also getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is integrated into Siri. Because some queries will be handled off-device Apple is introducing Private Cloud Compute so that when data is sent to server-based models for processing it is not stored or made accessible to Apple One of the simplest changes to Siri is that it will be easier to type to Siri rather than having to speak to the on-device assistant. Apple may have finally twigged that people don’t always want to talk to their phones. Next version of macOS Since Apple stopped using the names of jungle cats with macOS 10.9 Mavericks, it’s used California places to identify its annual OS updates. The last several years have been Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina. Apple has trademarked several other place names, including Condor, Mammoth, Redwood, and Sequoia. But it’s anyone guess which Californian location macOS 16 will be named after. But what next in terms of software? Expect even more Apple Intelligence features to come in the late 2025 update to macOS and expect that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will be closer than ever. In the recent past, the release has come several weeks after the new version of iOS ships. Here are the release dates for the previous five versions of macOS: macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 12, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018

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Apple seeds second iOS 18.5, macOS 15.5 developer beta round
Apple is now on its second round of developer betas for iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, and visionOS 2.5.Examples of Apple Intelligence at work. The first round of iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, and visionOS 2.5 arrived on March 17, following the release of the updates from the preceding beta-testing cycle.The second iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 developer betas share build number 22F5053f, replacing 22F5042g. The second macOS Sequoia 15.5 build uses number 24F5053f, up from 24F5042g. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Get Apple’s newest iPad for $20 off at Amazon
Macworld The new iPad A16 has barely been out a month and we’re already seeing a pretty good price cut. Over at Amazon, you can now get the newest iPad for $328, which means you’re saving $21, one of the best discounts we’ve seen so far. This offer is only good on the yellow color, so if you want pink, blue, or silver, it’ll cost you a little more. Even though it’s not all that different than the previous model, we gave this new tablet a four-star rating in our review, loving how affordable it is, as well as the excellent display and the overall strong performance. You’re also definitely not going to complain about battery life because this tablet will keep you going for hours and hours of work and play even with the brightness up. Since this tablet has the A16 chip, it’s Apple’s only tablet that can’t run Apple Intelligence, which requires a minimum of an A17 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM. However, given how limited the Apple Intelligence experience is these days, you’re not missing much. So, if you want a new iPad, this one’s a great deal at $328, so make sure to add it to your cart sooner rather than later over before the price goes back up. Snag the newest iPad for $30 offBuy now at B&H Photo

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China escalates US tariff war by halting rare earth mineral exports
The U.S.-China tariff battle is heating up again, with China stopping exports of rare earth minerals and magnets. This will badly hit the manufacture of the iPhone and other Apple products outside of China.Apple Watch environmental statementsThe war of wills between President Donald Trump and the Chinese government over tariffs was seemingly put on pause after Trump granted a set of exceptions for select tech and semiconductor produce. However, China is continuing to bite back against the U.S., without raising tariffs further.China has placed a series of rare earth minerals and magnets on an export control list since April 4, reports Reuters. The move stops the export of the materials out of the country and into others, where they would be used to produce parts and components for various products. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple releases beta 2 for watchOS 11.5, visionOS 2.5, and more
Apple has new betas ready for developers: beta 2 for watchOS 11.5, visionOS 2.5, tvOS 18.5, and more is now available for download. more…

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macOS 15.5 beta 2 now available for developers
Apple kicked off a new beta cycle back in early April with macOS Sequoia 15.5 developer beta 1. Though there’s still no public beta in sight, the company just released beta 2 for developers. more…

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Apple rebrands Search Ads business as ‘Apple Ads’
Apple today announced that it has officially rebranded Search Ads as ‘Apple Ads’, reflecting the expanding scope of Apple’s advertising business. When Apple first launched ads in the App Store, they were only shown as promoted search results, hence the name ‘Search Ads’. But the company now offers advertising placements in many more places beyond just the Search tab, so the old name had become a bit anachronistic. more…

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Apple releases iOS 18.5 beta 2
Apple has released the second iPadOS and iOS 18.5 developer beta. The first beta was a big nothing burger for iPhone and iPad users. Hopefully iOS 18.5 beta 2 brings more interesting changes. more…

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Nvidia to produce AI servers worth up to $500 billion in America
Nvidia announced plans to invest up to $500 billion over four years in U.S.-based AI server production, aligning with the Trump admin… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Tim Cook needs Vision Pro to succeed, and that couldn’t be better news
Apple’s Vision Pro launched last year as a cutting-edge technological feat, yet it’s been plagued by issues like its high price and being too heavy for some. But the Vision Pro has one very big advantage in its favor that could make all the difference in the world: Tim Cook’s AR glasses goal. more…

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Apple Preparing Major iPadOS 19 Overhaul with Mac-like Features
Apple is readying a substantial overhaul for iPadOS 19 that will transform the tablet experience to function more like macOS, according to Bloomberg. The update will focus on productivity features, multitasking capabilities, and app window management - areas where iPad power users have long requested improvements. The software revamp comes approximately a year after Apple introduced the M4 chip to the iPad Pro lineup and coincides with the expected arrival of new iPad Pro models featuring M5 processors. According to Bloomberg, many users have expressed frustration that iPad hardware capabilities have consistently outpaced software functionality. While the company won't fully port macOS to iPad as some users have wished, the changes will reportedly be substantial enough to satisfy much of the professional user base that has been pushing for more desktop-like functionality. The upcoming changes are expected to be highlighted at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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KeyCue 11.1.1
Short list of improvements and bug fixes for the keyboard shortcut and emoji cheat sheet utility. ($39.99 new, free update, 4.0 MB, macOS 12+)

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Fantastical 4.0.8
Maintenance update with a handful of improvements and bug fixes for the calendar app. ($56.99 annual subscription, free update, 67.6 MB, macOS 12+)

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Bill Gates on Microsoft’s Original Source Code
Commemorating Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, Bill Gates provides a first-hand account of the company’s origin story. The post gains extra charm from an interactive design that transforms the text into ASCII art evocative of the era.Read original article

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The iPad update of our dreams is finally coming (we hope)
Macworld The iPad is an excellent platform, so good that many of us prefer using it over a MacBook. But it has user interface issues that hinder productivity, issues that, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, are going to be addressed in iPadOS 19. In his later Power On newsletter, Gurman states that with iPadOS 19, the goal is to make the iPad “more like a Mac” with updates that address “productivity, multitasking and app window management.” How Apple will implement those changes is not detailed by Gurman, who notes that while Apple won’t be putting macOS on the iPad, the update will bring the software up to the level of the hardware. Windows management is the biggest problem with iPadOS. When used for production, users need to switch between apps constantly, which is difficult on the iPad. With iPadOS 16, Apple introduced Stage Manager as a window management tool several years ago, but it restricts window sizes and layouts uncomfortably. Split View, which was in place before Stage Manager, limits the user to two open app windows. So, when Gurman states that iPadOS 19 will be more like a Mac, it doesn’t seem likely that Apple will implement a macOS-like Desktop, but rather window management like that of macOS, where the user can freely resize windows and move them around the screen. That would make it easier to work with multiple apps at the same time. That will be especially beneficial for iPad Pro users who have devices with larger displays and are using professional-level production apps. Gurman specifically mentions the M4 iPad Pro and the upcoming M5 iPad Pro, which could mean that Apple will taylor some features specifically for the higher-end hardware. Apple will unveil iPadOS 19 at the WWDC keynote on Monday, June 9, at 10 am PT, alongside iOS 19 and macOS 16, among other updates.

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Deals: Best Buy spring Apple sale, M4 iPad Pro up to $465 off, Apple Pencil from $66, gift card offer, more
Monday’s best Apple deals are kicking off with the now live, weeklong Best Buy Spring sale featuring deals on iPad Pros, MacBooks, AirPods, and more. These offers join the return of nearly 25% in savings on Apple Pencil Pro alongside the USB-C model from $66 as well as a massive open-box discount on Apple’s 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro at $465 off with a full Apple warranty. We also have discounts on black Apple Watch Ultra models, Apple gift cards, the new ecobee 2025 Smart HomeKit Thermostat Essential, and more waiting down below.  more…

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Apple, big tech lead stocks relief rally after President Trump’s weekend tariff pause
U.S. stocks gained as investors parsed the Trump administration's latest actions on reciprocal tariff exemptions for Apple iPhones, other… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Old Thunderbolt displays keep up with new Studio Display [Setups]
Apple's old Thunderbolt displays sport 2K resolution and Studio Display brings 5K, yet this Mac mini user loves the old screens in his setup. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple's first Bristol store is about to close permanently
Bristol in the UK is shortly to be down to a single Apple Store, as its first one built in the area is closing down because of retail redevelopment.Apple Bristol — image credit: AppleFirst opened in 2008 as Apple Cabot Circus, the store was renamed Apple Bristol in 2021. It was then robbed in 2022, though presumably not in protest.Apple Bristol is an old-style small store, the sort that Apple has been radically redeveloping. But this time, as spotted by MacRumors, redevelopment is causing its permanent closure on August 9, 2025, because the whole shopping center is to be reworked. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This custom Apple Pencil Pro looks like a crayon and costs $215
Macworld If there’s one criticism we have of the Apple Pencil–other than the confusing nature of the lineup–it’s that it only comes in one color, white. Now modification company ColorWare has a solution to that problem, but it’s going to cost you. Thanks to ColorWare’s clever customization, you can get an Apple Pencil Pro in one of seven Crayola crayon-inspired colors: black, mint (green), pink, purple, red, yellow, and white. In addition to the colors, the Pencils look exactly like Crayola crayons with a matte-painted wrapper adorned with the trademark black oval. In a nod to its inspiration, ColorWare cheekily warns, “Do not sharpen.”  However, the unique paint job will cost you. Specifically, it’ll cost you $86 more than the Apple Pencil Pro MSRP. ColorWare charges $215 for one of the new Crayon Pencils, which is something of a bargain over the non-Pro Number 2 Pencil, which also sells for $215 but is a mod of the cheaper 2nd-gen Pencil. The $215 MSRP doesn’t include shipping, which varies by location. ColorWare also sells a variety of modified Apple products, including a Mac mini Retro in Light and Dark, starting at $899, a premium of $300 over the standard Mac mini. It’s worth noting that the customization voids the standard Apple warranty, though ColorWare offers its own 1-year parts and labor warranty. If you’re interested, the Apple Crayon Pros are expected to ship at the end of April.

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Apple hit a big iPhone sales achievement for the first time
Amid all the back-and-forth turmoil surrounding tariffs, and ongoing sales struggles in China, Apple and the iPhone have at times appeared “doomed.” But new data from Counterpoint reveals the iPhone actually just hit a big sales achievement for the first time ever. more…

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Today in Apple history: Macintosh 512Ke further enhances the Mac
On April 14, 1986, Apple released the "low-cost" Macintosh 512Ke, bringing hardware upgrades to address complaints about the original Mac. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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