Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem.
We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety.
Apple's statement references the first native iOS pornography app that is available through AltStore, an alternative app marketplace in the European Union. Apple is required to allow app marketplaces in the EU by the Digital Markets Act, and Apple has little control over the kinds of apps that are offered.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Rhys Ifans cast in ‘Star City,’ spinoff of Apple TV+ hit series ‘For All Mankind’ Rhys Ifans has been selected as the first cast member for the new Apple TV+ series "Star City," which is a spinoff of "For All Mankind."
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Suggestions for inviting friends in my app (there is no global feed or a way to discover others) So as the title says, there is no global way to discover other users like in X or Instagram but I would still like to give users the ability to add other friends (obviously whomever they may know in real life). My current implementation is that I have a button that shares their user UUID […]
Skip Tools – Build Native iOS and Android Apps Using Swift & SwiftUI Skip framework allows you to create native iOS and Android applications in Swift & SwiftUI. Here are few resources to get you started. – What is Skip Tools? https://youtu.be/ts0SuKiA5fo – Installing and Running Your First Step App https://youtu.be/o6KYZ5ABIgQ – Displaying Maps Using Skip https://youtu.be/Cq17ZlKdz0w#iosdev submitted by /u/Select_Bicycle4711 [link] [comments]
How to get your 2025 Apple Music Replay playlist It's not just Spotify that has a year-end wrap-up feature — Apple Music does too, and it's year round! Here's how to get your Apple Music Replay playlist, today.Apple Music Replay 2025Spotify has a unique feature called Spotify Wrapped that shows off your top artists, songs, and genres of the year. It is a trendy function that gets shared all over social media at the end of each year, but Apple Music fans need not miss out. In fact, the 2025 Replay playlist has already been released.The Apple Music Replay function isn't as in-depth as Spotify Wrapped, but it does offer some interesting stats and specialized playlists. Stats include the number of hours of music listened to for the entire year, the number of artists listened to, and top artists with the number of hours listened to each. Continue Reading on AppleInsider
This AirTag 2 feature could have the biggest impact for Apple and you Four years after the first AirTag debuted, Apple is planning to ship its successor later this year. When AirTag 2 arrives, it will include one feature in particular that could have the biggest impact—for both Apple and users.
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Judge Again Denies Apple's Attempt to Intervene in Google Search Engine Lawsuit Apple is fighting to defend its multi-billion dollar search engine deal with Google as Google is prosecuted for antitrust violations, and so far, the court isn't making it easy. Last week, Apple filed a motion for an emergency stay that would give the Cupertino company time to intervene in the lawsuit, but the judge overseeing the case denied Apple's motion [PDF] and won't hold off on moving forward.
In November, Apple asked the court to allow it to be more involved in the case as the court decides what steps to take to prevent Google from continuing to violate antitrust law. The court said no, so Apple appealed the ruling, but it will take time for the appeals process to play out. While it waits on an appeal, Apple wanted the court to pause the proceedings, but the judge isn't inclined to do so.
According to the court, Apple did not demonstrate that it will suffer "certain and great" harm that would justify a stay, nor has it adequately explained why it needs a bigger role in the lawsuit or what new evidence it has to present. The court also does not feel that Apple has proven that a mistake was made when its initial motion for intervention was denied. Further, the judge feels that moving forward is important to prevent Google from continuing with its antitrust violations.
As the court stated in its order denying intervention, this case has been pending for over four years, and the delay from postponing the evidentiary hearing would be months, not weeks.
What's more, the court has concluded that Google violated federal antitrust law by entering into exclusive search distribution agreements with various companies (including Apple) to achieve and maintain a monopoly in both the general search services market and the general text advertising market.
Preserving the status quo by granting a stay, as Apple urges, would only perpetuate this unlawful activity and is therefore contrary to the public interest.
Last year, Google was found guilty of violating antitrust law, and its search engine deal with Apple was a main focus of the case. Google pays Apple billions each year to be the default search engine for Safari, and the court decided that deal and other Google practices violate antitrust law.
The U.S. government has asked the court to prevent Google from entering into search contracts with Apple and other companies, and Apple does not want that to happen. Apple will be losing upward of $20 billion annually if Google is barred from continuing on with the search engine deal, and Apple would still have to offer Google Search as an option to users.
Google is also facing more extreme remedies, and it could be forced to sell the Chrome browser or uncouple Android from products like Google Search and the Google Play Store. Apple feels that Google will prioritize defending Chrome and its other properties over its search deal with Apple, which is why Apple wants to step in.
"If Apple's appeal is not resolved until during or after the remedies trial, Apple may well be forced to stand mute at trial, as a mere spectator, while the government pursues an extreme remedy that targets Apple by name and would prohibit any commercial arrangement between Apple and Google for a decade," Apple wrote in the filing asking for a stay.
Apple now plans to file a motion to expedite its appeal of the initial ruling barring it from further participating in the Google lawsuit. The remedies portion of the antitrust lawsuit against Google is set to begin in April, so the appeals process may have time to play out before then if Apple can get the case expedited.Tags: Apple Antitrust, DOJ, GoogleThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
BofA ups Apple target to $265, sees minimal tariff impact on earnings On Monday, BofA Securities reaffirmed its "Buy" recommendation for Apple stock, increasing its price target from $253 to $265…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Average iPhone selling price tops a whopping $900 The average selling price of iPhones has been on the rise as the popularity of Apple's higher-priced models increases.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Apple forced to approve porn app on EU iPhones due to DMA Apple has been legally required to approve a pornography app for iPhone users in EU markets due to regulatory actions put in place by Europe’s Digital Markets Act. Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple’s policy has been to prevent apps explicitly for distributing pornography from being listed in the App Store.
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Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.2.1, Preventing Downgrading Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.2.1, which means that iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.3 can no longer downgrade to the prior version of iOS 18. Apple released iOS 18.3 a week ago.
When new versions of iOS are released, Apple stops signing the prior version after a week or two. An update that is not signed is not able to be installed on an iPhone because there is a server-side software verification check. As of right now, iPhone models compatible with iOS 18 are only eligible to download and run iOS 18.3.
By preventing customers from downgrading to older versions of iOS, Apple ensures that devices are kept up to date with the newest security improvements.
Apple's iOS 18.3 update included a handful of Apple Intelligence updates and more than 20 security updates. One of those fixes addressed a vulnerability that may have been actively exploited on some devices, demonstrating why it is important to keep iOS software up to date.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Fitness+ adds hours of Kendrick Lamar themed workouts to celebrate Super Bowl LIX Apple announced a few months ago that Kendrick Lamar would be headlining the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show on February 6th. Last night at the Grammys, Kendrick Lamar was able to add an additional five Grammys to his now total of 22! Given his current popularity, Apple has added a few Kendrick Lamar-themed workouts for its Fitness+ subscribers.
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Apple just rolled out iOS 18.3 — for just the iPhone 11 family Apple has rereleased iOS 18.3, but this time it's specifically for an iPhone lineup that is more than five years old.The iPhone 11 familyNo, you aren't experiencing deja vu — Apple has released iOS 18.3 again. But this time, the update arrives solely for the iPhone 11 family.While iOS 18.3 build 22D63 was released for other iPhone models last week, a new build, build 22D64, has been rolled out to address issues that seemingly only affect the older model. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
SMS Delivery Failures to AT&T Network in the US for a Subset of Long codes Feb 3, 11:32 PSTResolved - Twilio SMS was degraded for 86 minutes between 03:44 and 05:17 Pacific Time on 02/03/2024. During this period of time customers may have experienced failures to ATT network. The issue has now been resolved.
Apple kicks off Super Bowl LIX with 6 months of Music for just $3 Macworld
Apple on Monday announced a special deal for the Apple Music streaming service. New and eligible customers can get six months of Apple Music for $2.99/£2.99. That’s $8 off the regular price of $10.99 per month, which kicks in at the end of the six-month trial.
To sign up for Apple Music, launch the Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and go to the Home section. This offer is available in the U.S., U.K., and Canada until February 27, 2025. Apple’s press release doesn’t explain what “eligible” means, however.
The Apple Music deal is part of Apple’s promotion tied to Super Bowl LIX and its sponsorship of the halftime show starring Kendrick Lamar (who won multiple Grammy awards on Sunday night). The company offers several related promotions, including a section of Apple Music for “Kendrick Lamar’s Road to Halftime,” an interview on Thursday, February 6 at 10 a.m. Central with Lamar on Apple Music, Super bowl-related Apple Music Radio programming, and more.
Apple Music subscriptions are also part of Apple One, a bundle of six iCloud services for one monthly price. Plans range from $19.95/£19.95 for an Individual plan to $37.95/£37.95 for a Premier plan. Learn more about Apple One.
How to delete unused iCloud containers? Created a couple for testing in Xcode. Wanted to clean up but couldn't find the delete button anywhere. Only has the + icon. Looks like what we should do is to simply ignore unused ones and create new containers?? submitted by /u/LifeIsGood008 [link] [comments]
EU's AltStore Gets Apple-Approved Pornography App In the European Union, app developers can launch apps through alternate app stores. While Apple checks apps for malware and other malicious content, there are few restrictions on subject matter, unlike Apple's own App Store. As a result, EU users can now download the first dedicated native pornography app created for the iPhone.
Called Hot Tub, the app is available through the AltStore PAL, an Apple-approved EU app marketplace from developer Riley Testut. The app promises a private and secure way to browse adult content, without ads or tracking. "An elegant, native porn app. Thoughtfully designed, ethically made, and free to use," reads the app's description. As noted by TechCrunch, the app lets users search and play videos from a number of other sites like Pornhub and Xvideos.
The App Store in the European Union, U.S., and other countries has clear rules against sexual or pornographic material, which means Hot Tub is not an app that could exist without the option for alternative app distribution. Outside of the European Union, adult content is limited to web browsers.
For apps distributed through marketplaces like AltStore, Apple uses a Notarization process to check for malware, security threats, and fraud. Apple also ensures that apps are functioning as promised, but sideloaded apps don't have to adhere to App Store content rules and can distribute pornography, or feature other prohibited content like hate speech, weapons, tobacco, vaping, alcohol, and legal drug consumption.
AltStore was one of the first alternative app marketplaces to launch in the European Union after Apple implemented changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act last year. Alternative app marketplaces are required to pay a Core Technology Fee for each install, and while the AltStore initially charged €1.50 plus tax per user per year, Epic Games gave it a "MegaGrant," which means AltStore is now free to download.
Hot Tub may also need to pay an Apple fee at some point, but that will depend on number of downloads and revenue earned. The app is free, but there is a pro subscription available. Apple charges apps a Core Technology Fee (CTF) for each install after their first one million installs, but the fees don't kick in right away for small developers.
As of Apple's latest rule change in May 2024, apps that earn under 10 million euros per year do not have to pay the CTF for a three-year period. Apps that earn over 10 million euros but under 50 million euros will only pay a maximum of one million euros for three years.
Hot Tub is available as a beta right now, and it is available to all users in the European Union. U.S. users are not able to download the app because sideloading apps is not permitted.Tag: European UnionThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple released a new iOS Firmware Apple just released iOS 18.3 (Build 22D64) for:iPhone 11 (iPhone12,1) — DownloadiPhone 11 Pro (iPhone12,3) — DownloadiPhone 11 Pro Max (iPhone12,5) — Download
Apple set to launch ‘Confetti,’ a new iCloud-based e-vite service Apple is preparing to launch “Confetti,” a new iCloud-based events and invite service, as early as this coming week…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
MagSafe Monday: Lisen’s ultra-slim 0.3’’ MagSafe battery is the product Apple should have launched alongside the iPhone 16 Apple released a single version of its MagSafe battery a few years ago but was never upgraded or replaced. It eventually was removed for sale. It was a great product, and I wish it had stayed around. It was never designed to be the biggest battery, but it was great for getting through a heavy-use day. That’s exactly what the offers. It’s what I envision a modern Apple MagSafe battery would look like.
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MagSafe Monday: Lisen’s ultra-slim 0.3’’ MagSafe battery is the product Apple should have launched alongside the iPhone 16 Apple released a single version of its MagSafe battery a few years ago but was never upgraded or replaced. It eventually was removed for sale. It was a great product, and I wish it had stayed around. It was never designed to be the biggest battery, but it was great for getting through a heavy-use day. That’s exactly what the offers. It’s what I envision a modern Apple MagSafe battery would look like.
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Price drop: Add 128GB of storage to your iPhone (or other device) with 4-way flash drive With four connectors (USB-C, Lightning, USB 3.0 and micro-USB), 4-in-1 Smart Flash Drive lets you add 128GB of storage to almost any device.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
On Call Engineers are Investigating an issue Feb 3, 10:49 PSTResolved - We have fully investigated the filtering issue triggered by our automated alert, and it was determined that there is no noticeable customer impact. All systems are operational.Feb 3, 10:28 PSTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue with AT&T filtering, Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.
Apple has re-released iOS 18.3 for an older iPhone model Have an iPhone 11? Apple just released a new build of last week’s iOS 18.3 software update just for you.
iOS 18.3 build 22D64 is now available for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The five-year-old model received the same update to iOS 18.3 last week as other iPhone models. The new build suggests something specific to the iPhone 11 line needed resolved with a new build.
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Apple has officially launched the 2025 Swift Student Challenge Apple's Swift Student Challenge is officially open, with participants vying for the top prize — an all-inclusive three-day trip to Apple Park.Swift Student Challenge 2025 is now openJust as it did in 2024, Apple will select 350 winners in total and, recognize 50 of them as Distinguished Winners for their "outstanding submissions." Distinguished Winners will need to demonstrate "excellence in innovation creativity, social impact, or inclusivity."All 350 Challenge winners will receive a year of membership in the Apple Developer Program, a complimentary voucher to take the App Development with Swift certification exam, and a special gift from Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Is Your PIN Easy to Guess? In the latest installment of “People Are Bad at Security,” reporters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation use a heatmap to illustrate the prevalence of 29 million PINs from the Have I Been Pwned? database.Read original article
Apple Releases New Version of iOS 18.3 for iPhone 11 Apple today released an updated version of iOS 18.3 that's designed specifically for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The update has a build number of 22D64.
iPhone 11 users can download the new software by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Apple first released iOS 18.3 last Monday, and it is likely that this new version has a fix for a bug that was impacting iPhone 11 models.
The main features in iOS 18.3 were Apple Intelligence related and included Visual Intelligence and changes to Notification summaries. As the iPhone 11 line does not support Apple Intelligence, there are few features in iOS 18.3 for the devices.
The update adds a new Calculator feature that causes the last mathematical operation to repeat when pressing the equals sign, and it fixes an issue where Apple Music playback could continue until a song ends even after the app was closed.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
How to clear Safari’s cache and cookies on Mac Macworld
There are a handful of situations when clearing Safari’s cookies or cache–one of the places where Safari stores website data to avoid having to download it afresh each time you access a site–can help improve your browsing experience.
The first is when websites simply stop working when you access them on Safari. Perhaps Facebook stops updating with new posts, for example, or the images on a site don’t appear as they should. If this happens, it’s likely the cache has become corrupted.
Alternatively, if you find that personal info automatically completed on sites isn’t correct, deleting cookies can help. These are small files sites use to save data about you and what you do on the site.
Even if none of these problems affect you, periodically cleaning browser data can help protect your privacy from snoops who want to discover what you’ve been up to online. Therefore, this article explains how to clear Safari’s cache and cookies on Mac.
We also have an article that explains How to clear cache on a Mac.
How to clear Safari cookies and cache for websites
Cleaning cookies and the cache data for individual sites can be done via Safari’s Settings/Preferences.
Open Safari
Click on Safari in the menu at the top of the screen.
Click on Settings or Preferences (depending on the version of macOS you are running).
Go to the Privacy tab.
Click on Manage Website Data.
Choose Remove All or select websites individually to remove.
Foundry
After the data is loaded you’ll probably see a long list of websites. You can choose to Remove All or just select individual websites you want to remove from this list. If you want to select several different sites, you can click on one and then press and hold the Command key to select a second, third, fourth, and so on. We recommend that you don’t select hundreds this way; it’s better to delete in batches just in case you have to start over.
If you would prefer to select all and then deselect the ones you want to keep you can do so. Use Command+A to select all, then press and hold Command while clicking on any website you are happy to keep in this list. Just click Remove afterwards, not Done, as that will just undo all your hard work. There’s also a search field you can use to track down individual sites.
Bear in mind that deleting cookies might remove autocompleted login usernames and passwords for sites, and will almost certainly log you out of that site if you’ve configured it to automatically log in each time you visit.
How to clear Safari cache
The hidden Safari Developer menu can be used to clear just the cache, leaving cookies and the browser history in place. This is a very useful diagnostic step to take before removing those two items if a website behaves badly.
If you just want to clear all your cache you can do so by following these steps:
Open Safari.
Click on Safari in menu bar at top of screen and select Settings/Preferences (depending on the version of macOS you are running).
Click on the Advanced tab.
Check the box beside Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar or Show features for web developers.
Now there will be a new Develop tab in the menu at the top of your screen. Click on this.
Click on Empty Caches.
Alternatively click on Option+Command + E.
Close any open Safari windows and select Empty Caches on the Develop menu. Then click File > New Window to start Safari with a clean cache.Foundry
How to remove autocomplete data from AutoFill
Safari’s AutoFill tool can fill in username and password details on websites as well as credit card details and other elements like your address and email details. This can be really useful, but it can also be annoying if the data it fills in is incorrect or out of context. It’s also a problem when AutoFill enters old or incorrect passwords or emails and addresses.
You can change this data, or delete it by following these steps:
Open Safari.
Click on the Safari menu.
Click on Settings/Preferences.
Choose the AutoFill tab.
Here you can edit contact information, usernames and passwords, credit cards and other data. Click on Edit beside the category you want access to.
You’ll need to enter your password or use Touch ID to gain access.
Foundry
Delete incorrect data: If you are finding that Safari is autofilling incorrect data about you (your address, for example), click Edit beside “Using information from my contacts.” This will open up your Contacts app. Your card will be at the top or under My Card. You can add and amend data about yourself here.
Delete incorrect passwords and site logins: In versions of Safari before 18.2, you can manage site passwords within Safari. If you want to delete incorrect passwords, you can click on the Passwords tab. If you know which password you want to remove search for the website or service and then find the older password option (if there is more than one) and select it and then click on the “-” below the column to remove it. You can then select Delete Password. If that means there is no password saved for that website, you can then recreate the entry for the site by clicking the Add button. You’ll first need to provide the URL of the site (that is, something like https://facebook.com), and then type the username and password alongside (hit the Tab key to move from field to field).
If you are using macOS Sequoia or later, website passwords are now managed in the new Passwords app. You need to open this app to delete incorrect passwords. Learn more about the Passwords app (the linked review is about the iPhone version, but it is the same as macOS). We’ll also cover the Passwords app in the section below.
See: How to autofill passwords, bank cards, names and addresses for more.
Delete logins and passwords system-wide
If you are using a version of macOS before Sequoia, site logins can also be accessed via the Keychain Access app, which you’ll find in the Utilities folder of the Applications list in Finder, although you should be very careful using this app because it pretty much controls the entire security operation of your Mac! However, by removing errant username and password entries here you’ll stop virtually all of your Mac apps using them, and not just Safari.
Just type the name of the site into the Search field, and look in the list of results for entries of the kind Web Form Password. Right-click the entry and select Delete.
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For macOS Sequoia or later, Apple introduced a new Passwords app. You can find it in the Applications folder. (The Keychain Access app still exists, but it is hidden. You can find it by doing a Spotlight search for “Keychain Access” but when you open it, you’ll get a notification stating that Passwords is the preferred way to manage passwords.)
Type the name of the site in the search field, and look at the list of sites that appear. Click on the one you want to modify and click Edit in the upper right to modify the password, or Control-click the website and select Delete in the pop-up menu to delete it.
Foundry
If you want to delete your Chrome or Firefox cache, cookies or browsing history read: How to delete your Mac browsing history. For alternative web browsers take a look at: Best web browser for Mac.
Apple Calendar’s ‘Confetti’ could offer three advantages over competitors Apple is reportedly about to launch a new iCloud-based service, codenamed Confetti, that’s tied to the iOS 18.3 Calendar app. Here are three advantages Apple’s offering could provide over its competition.
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The History of Screen Savers At Tedium, Ernie Smith explores the origins of screen savers, revealing a history that stretches back further than most might think. Although Apple seems focused on its high-resolution Aerial video screen savers, screen saver design seems to be returning to just darkening the screen.Read original article
Sophie tangles with evil British aristocracy in Surface season 2 [Apple TV+ trailer] When is British aristocracy ever at fault? Well, in "Surface" season 2's trailer, Sophie's search for lost memory leads her to a big scandal.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Judge swiftly tells Apple it can't delay the Google trial Apple's motion for a stay on the forthcoming Google remedy trial has been quickly denied, meaning Apple will have little say in the potential end of its annual $20 billion iPhone search deal with the search giant.Google faces a remedy trail over its monopolistic practicesAt the conclusion of the Department of Justice's case against the company, Google was legally declared to be a search and advertising monopoly in August 2024. A remedy trial is planned to determine what steps Google can take to address this, and Apple has been trying to be a major part of the process.According to MLex, however, Judge Amit Mehta has now denied Apple's motion to obtain what's called an emergency stay of the trial. The ruling came 24 hours after Apple filed its motion in response to Judge Mehta's previous refusal to allow it any significant participation. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple Relaunched the HomePod Two Years Ago Today Apple relaunched the HomePod two years ago today, debuting a second-generation model almost five years after the original model's introduction.
The original HomePod was announced at WWDC in 2017 and launched in 2018 after a heavily delayed release. The device was met with mixed reviews; critics praised its outstanding sound quality but pointed out its high price, missing features, and limited functionality compared to rivals.
Apple dropped its price from $349 to $299 in April 2019 and, in March 2021, the company announced that it was discontinuing the first-generation HomePod, instead shifting its focus to the HomePod mini, which launched the previous year. The decision left a gap in Apple's product lineup for a full-sized smart speaker until the company introduced the second-generation model via a press release on January 18, 2023.
The second-generation HomePod looks virtually identical to the original, although it is 0.2 inches shorter and has a larger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on top. It also boasts a range of upgrades and changes compared to its 2018 predecessor, including the S7 chip, a U1 ultra wideband chip, a removable power cable, a temperature and humidity sensor, and sound recognition. However, it features two fewer microphones and horn-loaded tweeters.
While Apple's potential plans for a third-generation HomePod are unclear two years after the current model was introduced, there are a multitude of rumors surrounding a smart home "command center" product with an LCD touchscreen display arriving this year as Apple looks to rethink its smart home lineup.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple TV+ debuts trailer for ‘Surface’ season two On Monday, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the upcoming second season of “Surface.” Starring and executive produced by…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
How to get Microsoft Word for free on Mac Macworld
Microsoft Word remains the standard way to create and share text documents, whether you’re in a corporate or educational organisation. In recent years, it’s definitely had its iron-clad grip loosened by the likes of Google Docs, but in many instances Word is the preferred or expected software to use. There’s only one problem with that: it’s not free. So, if you don’t want to add another monthly bill to your account, how can you still use the software without shelling out? Here’s how to get Microsoft Word on your Mac for free, plus the various paid versions and some useful alternatives.
How to use Microsoft Word for free on the web
Microsoft offers completely free versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, all of which you access online at its Microsoft 365 hub. You’ll need a Microsoft account, but these are free and you may find that you already have a Hotmail or Outlook account that you created a while back. If you don’t, they only take a few minutes to create.
Once this is done, you’re free to access the various apps and use them in your browser. This used to be called Office.com but Microsoft now calls it Microsoft 365 to keep it in line with its other productivity software.
Read our review of Microsoft Word 2024 for Mac, plus everything you need to know about Microsoft Office for Mac vs Microsoft 365.
It’s true that you don’t get the full suite of tools that the paid versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint possess, and you have to save documents to OneDrive, but if you just need a word processor that can accurately create and handle .docx file types, this is a handy way to get it for free.
Get Microsoft Word for free for one month
You can run Word, Excel, PowerPoint and all the apps Microsoft offers in the Microsoft 365 bundle for one month for free thanks to Microsoft’s 30-day free trial.
When you set up the trial you will need to add your payment information, so If you don’t want to pay anything you could set a reminder for yourself to cancel before your subscription starts. If you miss that date your subscription can be canceled by turning off recurring billing.
Best deals right now!
U.S.
The Digital License shop is offering Microsoft Office 2024 with lifetime licenses for Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint for $49 for Mac users (it’s cheaper on the PC).
Get the deal from Digital License for £49
U.K.
Groupon has a deal where you can get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Standard 2024 Mac for £29 – that’s 85% off and includes lifetime licenses for Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
Get the deal from Groupon for £29
Wowcher has the same deal. Get Office Standard 2024 for £29. It includes lifetime licenses for Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
Get the deal from Wowcher for £29
How to get the paid version of Microsoft Word for less
If you need the full range of tools that Word has to offer, not to mention the ability to work offline and save files into other folders or online storage services, then you’ll need to pay. There are two routes open to you: one-off payment, or a subscription.
We already pay for plenty of things each month, so the idea of adding another bill to the list might not appeal. Thankfully, you don’t have to, as Microsoft still offers a one-and-done approach to buying Word. It’s not cheap, though, as buying the app outright will set you back $179.99 / £159.99, although there are no more payments afterwards.
But there’s an even cheaper way to get Microsoft Word for one payment and you actually get Excel and PowerPoint too! You can get a lifetime license for Office Home 2024 that includes all three apps for $149.99 / £119.99.
Microsoft Word for Mac
Read our review
Price When Reviewed:
Lifetime license, Office Home 2024, one device: $149.99; Lifetime license Word, one device: $179.99; Microsoft 265 Personal, one device: $99.99 a year ($9.99 a month)
Best Prices Today:
$99.99 at Microsoft (one device, one year) |
$119.99 at Microsoft Office Home 2024 |
$179.99 at Microsoft (lifetime license)
However, the best option, especially if you really want to save money and only need Word temporarily, is to sign up for the Microsoft 365 subscription for a month or so and then cancel. Microsoft 365 costs $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month / £84.99 a year or £8.49 a month – sign up for the monthly deal if you want the flexibility to cancel in a few months time.
Microsoft 365 Personal
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99 a year ($9.99 a month)
Best Prices Today:
$99.99 at Amazon |
$99.99 at Microsoft (one license, one year)
With Microsoft 365 you not only get Word, but also Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and 1TB of OneDrive storage. Microsoft keeps you on the latest version of the apps at all times, so you never need to deal with outdated software or miss out on new features. Another benefit is that you can use the Office apps on up to five devices, including an iPhone and iPad (if you buy the lifetime licenses its only for use on one Mac).
If you want more accounts, there’s the Microsoft 365 Family tier which allows 2-6 people to use the service and boosts the storage up to 6TB. This costs $129.99 / £104.99 per annum or $12.99/£10.49 per month.
Microsoft 365 Family
Price When Reviewed:
$129.99 a year (or $12.99 per month)
Best Prices Today:
$129.99 at Amazon |
$129.99 at Microsoft (six licenses, one year)
To see how the subscription version compares to the bought one, take a look at our Microsoft 365 vs Office 2024 buying guide.
Should you get Office 2021?
We’ve noticed a few stockists still selling Microsoft Office for Mac 2021, so you might find this on sale for less than Office 2024.
Do bear in mind when buying this older version of Office that Microsoft has said it will no longer support it after October 2026.
Office for Mac 2021: Home & Student
Price When Reviewed:
Was $149.99
Best Prices Today:
$149.99 at Microsoft
Watch out for scams and hacks
Microsoft
It takes about 30 seconds to find videos on YouTube that will show you how to download, install and get Word (plus all the other MS Office software) up and running on your Mac for nothing. If the instructions are similar to the ones in this article, then you should be fine, but many of the ones we’ve seen require some sort of serial code-cracking program to be bought and downloaded to your machine. While this might seem like a victimless crime to some–Microsoft is a multi-billion-dollar company while the user is just a single person with no money–the real victim is most likely to be you.
It’s true that some hackers are benevolent, wanting only to free the information so that anyone can use it, but sadly others are most definitely not. Downloading and installing things like this on your Mac is one of the easiest ways to contract malware or spyware software that can cause havoc with your data. That’s aside from the fact that you’re contravening copyright, which is rather naughty.
Our advice would be to keep well away from these ‘free’ routes to Word.
Free alternatives to Microsoft Word
Unless you specifically need Microsoft Word, you’ll find that there are plenty of great word processors out there that won’t cost you a penny. Any new Mac will come with a free copy of Apple’s Pages software, which is a hugely powerful tool for creating and editing documents, and also works well with its iOS/iPadOS counterpart app.
Google Docs is a perennial favourite as the web-based software is free and easy to use. You won’t find incredibly advanced features like those on the full-blown Microsoft Word, but for most people it’s all they’ll ever need.
LibreOffice Writer is another one that’s always worth checking out. The open-source software is completely free and yet offers a complete solution for those who want the functionality of MS Word. Yes, it’s not quite the smooth and aesthetically pleasing experience of its inspiration, but you can get so much done on Writer that you won’t care.
For a roundup of other options, check out our Best Mac word processor roundup.
Don’t miss your chance to get AirPods Pro 2 at a huge discount Take advantage of AirPods sales and save on the best wireless earbuds for Apple devices. There are discounts on the full range.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Don’t miss your chance to get AirPods Pro 2 at a huge discount Take advantage of AirPods sales and save on the best wireless earbuds for Apple devices. There are discounts on the full range.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Apple's WWDC 2025 Swift Student Challenge Now Live Apple's 2025 Swift Student Challenge kicked off today, which means that students from around the world can showcase their coding skills and creativity by developing app concepts using Swift Playground or Xcode.
Students have had time to prepare because Apple announced that the challenge would be held in February 2025 way back in October 2024, plus Apple gave an exact date in January. Apple also hosted an online session to provide students with info on participating in the challenge, with tips from former Challenge winners and Apple engineers.
Apple holds the Swift Student Challenge each year. In past years, it has been timed with the Worldwide Developers Conference, but in 2024, Apple began holding it earlier in the year. Students are tasked with creating an app concept, with Apple providing Develop in Swift tutorials to help students learn the foundations of coding.
Apple plans to select 350 winners based on "innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity." 50 of the winners will be invited to spend three days at Apple Park in Cupertino, California this summer. The trip is expected to coincide with the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference.
Submissions are open as of today, and will remain open for a three-week period before judging begins. Students can learn more through Apple's developer website.Tag: Swift PlaygroundThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple’s newest AirPods 4 have dropped below $100 for the first time Macworld
Our favorite new AirPods are cheaper than they’ve ever been as the price drops just below $100. That’s a 22 percent discount from its usual $129 for the version without Active Noise Cancelation. These are Apple’s new AirPods that haven’t been around for a very long time, and it’s the first deal where we see them drop this low.
We reviewed the ANC version of these AirPods, which are otherwise identical to this model. We gave them a 4.5-star rating, appreciating the great overall audio quality and the wireless charging case. (If you’re interested in the version of AIrPdos 4 with ANC, you should know you can get it for $30 off as well, although the discount isn’t nearly as enticing.)
“I was also impressed with the clarity and volume of voice recordings in podcasts and during phone calls. I didn’t think voices would be as good as with the AirPods Pro with their ear tips–it’s not, but it’s close, and I can say the AirPods 4 produced excellent voice quality,” we noted about using the AirPods 4 for calls. They also have Hey Siri support, long battery life, and a new design for better ear fit.
We really like the AirPods 4 at $129 but love them at under $100. So go ahead and get your own AirPods 4 without ANC for $100 at Amazon because we can’t know for sure how long this deal will be around.
Buy now at Amazon
As breaches rise, Surfshark Alert with free Data Leak Checker can help With big data breaches on the rise, your personal information is a greater risk than ever. Get Surfshark Alert with Data Leak Checker.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Built an Esports Prediction Game with AI in 3 Months – Here’s What I Learned We recently launched PickR, our esports match prediction game built with the help of AI, and I wanted to share some of my biggest takeaways from building a project from scratch with AI’s help. I have many years of experience with iOS development, but this was my first time relying so heavily on AI throughout […]
Apple Music kicks off Kendrick Lamar’s Road to Halftime ahead of Super Bowl LIX Apple on Monday announced Apple Music is celebrating Kendrick Lamar’s Road to Halftime with a spotlight on the era-defining artist who…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Deals: AirPods 4 $100 all-time low, AirPods Pro 2 $170, MacBook Pro $210 off, Apple Studio Displays, more After a steady string of iPad mini, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro deals to kick the year off, we are now seeing our first chances to save big on the latest AirPods releases. Amazon has now dropped the AirPods 4 down to a new $100 all-time low there while the lauded AirPods Pro 2 have now dropped from the $249 regular list price to $170 shipped. Those offers join a $210 price drop on a couple different M4/Pro MacBook Pro configs as well as up to $299 off the gorgeous Apple 5K Studio Display lineup. You’ll also find a $100 price drop on Sonos Ace headphones, Beats deals, Anker Apple Watch power banks, and more.
more…
Today in Apple history: iPhone comes to Verizon at last On February 3, 2011, the iPhone arrived on the largest U.S. carrier. Bringing iPhone to Verizon Wireless ended four years of AT&T exclusivity.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
YouTube removing ‘Guest’ profile from TV apps, but the mode is still there YouTube appears to be removing the “Guest” profile from its TV apps, starting on Apple TV and Roku.
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The AirPods 4 is $29 Off Now’s your chance to get an upgraded AirPods at a discounted price. Today, the AirPods 4 is down to just $99.99 from its original price of $130 on Amazon. The Apple AirPods 4 is improved in every way, including the charging case, battery life, Personalized Spatial Audio, and call quality. It’s been rebuilt from the […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Apple reveals 2025 Black Unity collection Apple recently showed off its Black Unity collection for this year’s Black History Month. The collection, said to be ‘inspired by the rhythm of humanity’, includes iPad and iPhone wallpapers, a Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch, matching watch faces, and more. In line with this, Apple will support global organizations such as […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Powerbeats Pro 2 might debut on February 11 The next Beats wireless earbuds might be announced on February 11, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. Last year, Apple teased the launch of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and said that the wireless earbuds will be unveiled in 2025. Gurman said the device will be priced at $250 and serve as a fitness-centric product to […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Software sharpens text on MacBook Pro rig’s external 4K display [Setups] M2 Pro MacBook Pro setup user with 32-inch 4K BenQ Thunderbolt display finds software sharpens up text nicely.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Software sharpens text on MacBook Pro rig’s external 4K display [Setups] MacBook Pro setup user with 32-inch 4K BenQ monitor finds BetterDisplay software sharpens text on the external display.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
Apple TV to start showing MLS season pass again The regular season for the Major League Soccer has begun, with games kicking off on February 22. MLS games will be broadcast in 100-plus regions and countries via the MLS Season Pass in its 30th season. Apple TV users can watch them without any blackouts. The regular content is supplemented with exclusive ones, analysis, and […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
SMS Delivery Delays to Orange Network In Congo Feb 3, 08:26 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Orange Network In Congo. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.
Valentine's Day Deals: Get All-Time Low Prices on AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and More We're just over one week away from Valentine's Day, which falls on Friday, February 14, this year. Similar to years past, many third-party Apple resellers and accessory companies have opened up notable discounts on Apple products and accessories to coincide with the holiday.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Additionally, there are a few solid discounts on Apple products like AirPods, Apple Watch, iMac, and iPad. In this article you'll find deals from third-party retailers collected first, including special Valentine's Day themed sales from AT&T, ZAGG, Casely, and more.
Valentine's Accessory Sales
Best Buy - Purchase $100 Apple gift card, get a $10 Best Buy e-gift card
Anker - Save on Anker's newest chargers and more
Sonos - Get up to 25% off soundbars, speakers, and subwoofers
AT&T - iPhone 16 Pro at no cost with eligible trade-in
Samsung - Save up to $1,250 when purchasing the new Galaxy S25 smartphones
Twelve South - Get $30 off HiRise 3 Deluxe
ZAGG - Save 30% off your entire cart when you purchase two or more products
Casely - Get 15% off sitewide with code LOVE15
OtterBox - Buy one, get one 30% offAirPods
Amazon this week has major discounts on a few AirPods models, including a new all-time low price on the AirPods 4. You can get the base AirPods 4 for $99.99 on Amazon, down from $129.00.
$29 OFFAirPods 4 for $99.99
Amazon also has the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $148.99, down from $179.00. We did track these at a lower price during the 2024 holiday season, but that deal never returned and today's is the best we've seen so far in 2025.
$29 OFFAirPods 4 (ANC) for $148.99
Additionally, you can get the AirPods Pro 2 for $169.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is the lowest price we've tracked so far in 2025 on the AirPods Pro 2, and it's an overall solid second-best price.
$80 OFFAirPods Pro 2 for $169.00Apple Watch
Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.00 today, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight, Silver, and Midnight Aluminum color options.
$80 OFFApple Watch SE (40mm GPS) for $169.00
Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE at an all-time low price of $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is also available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.
$80 OFFApple Watch SE (44mm GPS) for $199.00
For Series 10 models, Amazon also has all-time low prices on these devices. You'll find $70 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 in multiple case and band colors. Prices start at $329.00 for the 42mm GPS model and increase to $359.00 for the 46mm GPS model.
$70 OFFApple Watch Series 10 (42mm GPS) for $329.00
$70 OFFApple Watch Series 10 (46mm GPS) for $359.00iPad
There are numerous iPads on sale in early February, and we're starting with a $70 discount on the 10th generation model at Amazon. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $279.00, down from $349.00, which is the best price we've tracked in 2025 so far and an overall second-best price.
$70 OFFiPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $279.00
$70 OFFiPad (256GB Wi-Fi) for $429.00
Amazon has nearly every model of Apple's M2 iPad Air on sale this week at $100 off, all of which are matching the record low prices for each tablet. The cheapest model is the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Air for $499.00, down from $599.00.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
$100 OFF128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Air for $499.00
$100 OFF128GB Wi-Fi 13-inch iPad Air for $699.00iMac
Amazon has up to $175 off a collection of Apple's M4 iMac computers this week, and it's matching a few all-time low prices on the higher-end models. The cheapest M4 iMac available is the 8-core/16GB RAM/256GB 24-inch iMac at $1,149.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $1,299.00.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
$149 OFF24-inch M4 iMac (8-core/16GB RAM/256GB) for $1,149.99
You'll also find the 512GB models on sale, and each configuration has multiple colors available at these discounts. For the steepest markdown, Amazon has the 10-core/24GB RAM/512GB 24-inch iMac for $1,724.00 in two colors, down from $1,899.00.
Apple Accessories
We're tracking a few notable discounts on Apple accessories on Amazon below, as well as a great deal on the MagSafe Duo Charger at Woot.
AirTag 1 Pack - $22.99, down from $29.00
AirTag 4 Pack - $69.99, down from $99.00
Apple Pencil USB-C - $69.99, down from $79.00
Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) - $1,299.99, down from $1,599.00
Apple Studio Display (Nano-texture Glass) - $1,599.99, down from $1,899.00
Magic Keyboard Folio (10th Gen iPad) - $199.00, down from $249.00
Magic Keyboard for 13-inch iPad Pro - $303.99, down from $349.00 Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Today's top 24-inch iMac deals deliver prices as low as $599 Apple's 24-inch iMac is on sale today, with limited-time discounts driving prices down to as low as $599.99.Grab a 24-inch iMac from $599.99 today - Image credit: AppleThe lowest price across closeout models can be found at Amazon-owned Woot, where the closeout M1 spec with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is marked down to $599.99. This is a refurbished model that comes with a 90-day Woot limited warranty. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
New iPhone buyers actually do care about Apple Intelligence Apple positioned the iPhone 16 as the first model “built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence.” But until the company shared iPhone sales numbers, we didn’t know whether customers would care or not. Now, the answer seems clear.
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Get to know Kendrick Lamar before his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Apple's Kendrick Lamar Road to Halftime events ahead of the rapper's Super Bowl show include playlists and a press conference.
(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)
AirTag 2 rumors, Matter ice maker, & Logitech's presence sensor on HomeKit Insider On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, your host covers the latest news for the week including the release of iOS 18.3, AirTag 2 rumors, and a Matter update for the Govee ice maker.HomeKit Insider PodcastLast week, Apple released iOS 18.3 to the masses. While this was expected to include support for robots vacuum cleaners, it ultimately did not.Perhaps it will arrive in the upcoming iOS 18.4 beta. That's likely to have its first beta released this week. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Pinterest Clone SwiftUI Excited to launch my new SwiftUI Pinterest Clone tutorial series! I'll be building a Pinterest-style app using SwiftUI, Firebase & Cloudinary! 🔥 ✅ Basic & advanced UI implementations ✅ Google & Facebook Sign-In ✅ Email/Password Authentication ✅ iOS 17's Observation framework for state management ✅ Multi-language support with String Catalogs ✅ …and a lot more! […]
Apple celebrates Kendrick Lamar's 'Road to Halftime' with bonus content, special offers, and more Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show for Apple Music, so Apple has packed its services with special features related to Kendrick and the Super Bowl.Image Credit: AppleLast September, Apple announced that Kendrick Lamar would be heading up the 2025 Super Bowl Half-Time show. In preparation, Apple Music has a week's worth of exclusive interviews, new playlists, and even a new Apple Music offer for new subscribers ahead of the February 9 event."Throughout his career, Kendrick Lamar hasn't met the cultural moment so much as he's defined it," Rachel Newman, Apple Music's global head of content and editorial, said in the press release. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
iPhone 15 leads 2024 sales & boosts global smartphone revenue Apple's iPhone 15 led global sales in 2024, with Pro models close behind, as premium device demand drove a revenue rebound.iPhone 15 modelsAccording to Counterpoint Research, global smartphone revenue grew 5% year-over-year, with the average selling price (ASP) reaching an all-time high of $356. Despite economic challenges in previous years, improved consumer sentiment and demand for premium smartphones fueled the turnaround.Global smartphone shipments also rose by 4%, marking the first annual increase since 2021. Analysts attribute this to expanding 5G adoption, better cameras, and faster processors, making upgrades more appealing. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
This canceled Apple TV+ series is getting new life on the stage Apple TV+ is over five years old now, and in its early days series were rarely canceled—but that’s started to change. The cancellation I’ve been most disappointed by is Schmigadoon!, but now it seems the show is getting new life thanks to a stage adaptation.
more…
Apple Music Offering Six-Month Trial for Just $2.99 Through February Now through February 27, new and "eligible" subscribers in the U.S. can try out Apple Music for six months for just a single $2.99 payment.
Beyond first-time subscribers, Apple does not explain who is "eligible" for this offer. If you have subscribed to Apple Music in the past, we recommend heading to the offer page on Apple's website to see if you qualify.
Apple says the offer can be redeemed from the Home tab of the Apple Music app, on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running the latest software.
After the six-month trial, the subscription will automatically renew at Apple Music's standard price of $10.99 per month until cancelled.
This is the "best offer ever" for Apple Music, according to Apple.
Apple Music is the official sponsor of the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, featuring hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar. In the Apple Music app, there is a variety of content related to Lamar's upcoming performance at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Lamar is also a featured artist in Apple Fitness+ right now, and Apple News has launched a dedicated hub for Super Bowl LIX coverage.Tag: Apple MusicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple to drop prepaid multi-year AppleCare+; move to subscription-only model Apple products will still include one year of AppleCare with purchase, but the company is reportedly planning to shift its extended…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apply for the Swift Student Challenge now through February 23 Submissions for the Swift Student Challenge 2025 are now open through February 23. You have three more weeks to design, test, refine, and submit your app playground for consideration to be named one of 350 winners.What to know:
The Challenge is free to enter — you just need access to an iPad or Mac with Swift Playground or Xcode.
The best app ideas are personal — let your passion shine through your work.
No formal coding experience required — the Challenge is open to students of all levels.
Your app playground doesn’t need to be intricate — it should be experienced within 3 minutes or less.
Where to start:
Explore tools and tutorials to build an incredible app playground.
Get inspired by last year’s Distinguished Winners, learn about their winning apps, and read about their experiences at Apple Park.
Apply now
Apple explains why it requires New Orleans music students to learn coding New Orleans music students attending the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music (EMCM) are required to learn coding as part of their curriculum, due to a collaboration with Apple.
Another mandatory course at the music school – no matter which primary instrument students have chosen to learn – is piano …
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Apple fixes bug that stopped utilities making bootable backups Mac utility app SuperDuper! will no longer always fail to make a bootable backup because of a bug in macOS Sequoia — but Apple's fix doesn't remove all problems.SuperDuper! app icon amidst hard drives and a Mac keyboardThe newly-released macOS Sequoia 15.3 has corrected a problem that saw the SuperDuper! backup utility fail at particular step in making a bootable copy of a drive. Developer Dave Nanian reported in December 2024 that the then-new macOS 15.2 had changed a feature called the Replicator.Nanian thought the change might have been accidental, but whatever the cause, it was causing his app — and presumably other backup utilities — to fail. "Towards the end of replicating the Data volume," he wrote at the time, "seemingly when it's about to copy either Preboot or Recovery, it fails with a Resource Busy error." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple’s new ‘Invites’ service could launch as soon as this week Macworld
At the start of the year, eagle-eyed reporters spotted references in iOS code to a new Apple app (or possibly a feature within another app). Referred to as “Apple Invites,” it appeared to be a way to manage and invite people to parties and other events while offering integration with iCloud and Calendar.
Based on the app’s basic feature set and the fact that it disappeared and then reappeared during the progression from iOS 18.2 beta and iOS 18.2 final release to iOS 18.3 beta, the prospects of an imminent launch seemed remote if it was going to happen at all. Apple Invites, we thought, could be part of iOS 19 when it was unveiled in the summer, or it might turn out to be an experiment that went nowhere. But a new report claims it will launch, and considerably sooner than initially expected.
In the latest installment of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reveals firstly that Apple Invites has been dubbed “Confetti” within the company, and secondly that it’s tied to iOS 18.3, not iOS 19. Given that iOS 18.3 is already out, we can expect the app/feature to launch sooner rather than later; Gurman says it could be as early as this week.
Notably, Gurman refers to Invites not as an app, but as a service and an initiative; he implies it may lie within Calendar. It’s not clear whether the service is free or whether it ties into Apple intelligence at all. “For years, Apple has been seeking to revamp its calendar app,” he writes, “and this new initiative could be the beginning of a broader effort.”
What that broader effort will entail remains a mystery for now, but the launch of Invites means we should get an idea pretty soon.
Apple Music announces special promo for new subscribers: get six months for $2.99 Apple Music has today officially announced a special promotional offer for new subscribers. For a limited time, new subscribers can get six months of Apple Music for just $2.99. That’s a big saving compared to the regular price of $10.99 per month.
Apple says the offer is available to new and eligible subscribers only. It’s unclear if it is exclusive to the United States, or also available in other regions.
more…
The iPad Mini 7 128GB is $100 Off Apple’s iPad Mini 7 is marked 20% off on Amazon, featuring the A17 Pro Chip to provide you with a fast and powerful performance, combined with Apple Intelligence to keep your data safe and get your work done fast, with 128GB of memory to store your documents, videos, photos, and games library. The 8.3-inch Liquid […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Apple gets tax break in India, a boost to iPhone production Apple is benefiting from a new tax break in India, which will make it cheaper to assemble iPhones in the country. The change was announced by the government on Saturday.
We first learned about the plans last month, which are expected to be worth at least $2.7B in benefits to companies like Apple and Samsung …
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iOS 18.3 enables support for Starlink on T-Mobile People subscribed to T-mobile can now access Starlink satellites through the Starlink beta, according to Bloomberg. Apple has collaborated with T-Mobile and SpaceX to implement Starlink support for their iPhone models, and this has been confirmed on T-Mobile’s site. To access the beta, you must have an eligible iPhone with iOS 18.3. The collaboration of […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Apple Music 'Replay 2025' Playlist Now Available Apple Music subscribers can now listen to their "Replay 2025" playlist as of today. As in previous years, this playlist ranks all of the music you've been listening to on Apple Music from 1 to 100, updating weekly so you can keep track of your most-streamed songs of the year as 2025 progresses.
"Replay 2025" will update every Sunday with the newest order of your favorite music on Apple Music. By the time December rolls around, you'll have an overall list of your 100 favorite songs on Apple Music saved in the playlist.
Once you've listened to enough music to generate the playlist, you'll find it at the bottom of the Home tab in Apple Music on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There's also a more detailed version of the data tracking feature on Apple Music for the web, including most streamed artists and albums, and statistics for detailed play counts and hours listened.
Apple has been making its yearly Replay playlists available since 2019. In addition to Replay playlists, in 2022 Apple introduced a "Highlight Reel" feature with more statistics about each users' listening history at the end of the year.
Head to the Apple Music app or Apple Music on the web to add the Replay 2025 playlist to your library. If you haven't listened to enough music yet in 2025, the playlist may not appear in your Apple Music app. Once you do listen to more music, you should see your Replay 2025 playlist appear as usual in the Home tab.Tag: Apple MusicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple teams up with T-Mobile and SpaceX to support Elon Musk’s Starlink on iPhones In 2022, Apple made its initial venture into satellite technology with the introduction of Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
iPhone SE 4 will be featuring a notch Ross Young, display analyst, reported that the new iPhone SE 4 will come with a notch instead of a Dynamic Island, which goes against a prior leak that stated that it will be the other way around. Evan Blass, a leaker, supplied images showing the new iPhone featuring the Dynamic Island instead of the notch, […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
WhatsApp update for iOS addresses privacy issue Version 25.2.3 was launched by the WhatsApp messaging platform. They released this patch for iOS in order to address the huge vulnerability in privacy that was targeted to the View Once feature the app has, where videos and photos that were supposed to disappear after viewing once could still be accessed and seen. The issue […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Notification when user gives rating/feedback Is there a way to configure the App Store Connect app to send out a push notification when someone gives a rating or feedback to an app I own on the App Store? How about email? submitted by /u/LifeIsGood008 [link] [comments]
Apple published a new Press Release Apple just published a new Press Release:Apple Music kicks off Kendrick Lamar’s Road to Halftime ahead of Super Bowl LIX
Zero-click WhatsApp spyware targeted 90 journalists, says Meta A zero-click WhatsApp spyware attack was made against 90 journalists and other “civil society members,” said Meta, which managed to detect the incident.
A zero-click attack means that victims don’t need to tap on a link or take any action in order for their devices to be compromised – simply receiving the message is enough …
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Just got banking jobs. What should i learn? Hello i just recently got ios job in banking mobile apps. What do i meed to learn in this time gap before the job started? Lets say i know basic security like OWASP (ofc implementing is different matter). Anyway what topic that is heavily used in banking? Something like scalability, security or anything? submitted […]
Get rid of the “Missing compliance” warning forever I learnt this recently and thought I'd share this with you all. If you upload builds to Test Flight, you might be getting the "Missing Compliance" warning. https://preview.redd.it/jmypbeshhxge1.png?width=432&format=png&auto=webp&s=6dda62bec7f7ccd0c526a6354e2860cfd3254023 To not get this, just add this to you info.plist (This is if your app doesn't use encryption) https://preview.redd.it/jo3xa65lhxge1.png?width=948&format=png&auto=webp&s=6c5c34ffce1e99cfaa1163c73075b167836ed8be submitted by /u/killMontag [link] [comments]
SMS Delivery Delays to Syriatel Network in Syrian Arab Republic Feb 3, 05:45 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Syriatel network in Syrian Arab Republic. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.
Apple and Sony Still Working to Bring VR Gaming Controller Support to Vision Pro Apple and Sony are still collaborating to bring support for PlayStation VR2 hand controllers to the Vision Pro headset, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
Sony PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller
In December, Gurman said that the partnership has been in development for several months and would introduce Sony's VR controllers as an optional accessory for Vision Pro users. He noted that PS5 and Xbox controllers are already supported by Vision Pro, but they aren't optimized for virtual reality experiences, lacking the six degrees of freedom (6DOF) needed for precise VR gaming controls.
Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman reaffirmed that the feature is still in development. He now expects a visionOS software update later this year to introduce the feature.
Gurman claims that beyond gaming, the controllers could be used to controlling the operating system with more precision. While it likely won't "do anything to turn around the Vision Pro's sluggish sales," Gurman said "it would be a nice step for Apple to show that it still cares about gamers."Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple Music Replay 2025 playlist now available The new Replay playlist is now available on Apple Music. Users are noticing today that the Replay 2025 playlist is now showing up in their libraries.
Apple Music Replay continuously aggregates your top songs, albums, and artists. The playlist updates throughout the year, culminating in a full-year-in-review feature in December.
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Microsoft Defender VPN on Mac and iPhone will stop working on Feb 28 If you’re using the Microsoft Defender VPN on Mac or iPhone as part of your Microsoft 365 subscription, there’s bad news. The company has revealed in a support document that the privacy feature will cease to work at the end of this month …
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Our Engineers are Investigating an Issue with Flex Insights Feb 3, 05:05 PSTMonitoring - Our engineers are currently investigating the customer impact of a retroactive issue with Flex Insights. We will follow up and provide customer impact details within 2 hours.
Ultra Wideband smart door locks are coming – here’s why you’ll want one If you own an iPhone 11 or later, it includes some tech which does very little right now but is set to quickly become an extremely useful feature: Ultra Wideband (UWB).
Smart door locks incorporating UWB tech are now starting to hit the market, and these will offer the most convenient and secure unlocking experiences of all …
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DeepSeek and the High-Stakes Global AI Race With the launch of DeepSeek, the AI-wars have kicked off, but this is just the opening salvo. It’s an impressive opening move that gives the world a heads up that Chinese companies are more than willing to compete. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.
25 years of Apple's innovation with iPod To celebrate 2025, I compiled Apple's top ten major areas of innovation over the past 25 years. Let's look at the decisions that led to this blockbuster success of the iPod and implications for new products today.The first segment discussed Apple's 2000 release of Mac OS X Public Beta, its most important innovation in the last 25 years. The second segment focused on Apple's reinvented retail operations. The third segment looks at iPod.If the "Apple Computer" of the new millennium had only focused on retrofitting the Macintosh to sell as its principal money maker, it is unlikely it would have survived a decade. At the time, Apple was selling about 3 million Macs annually. Apple was beleaguered. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Internal error for entitlement OSStatus error:[-34018] Internal error when a required entitlement isn't present, client has neither application-identifier nor keychain-access-groups entitlements. Internal error when a required entitlement isn't present, client has neither application-identifier nor keychain-access-groups entitlements. I'm trying to run a macOS app and find this in the Xcode console after clicking some button in the app. I checked […]
DeepSeek will help you make a bomb and hack government databases Tests by security researchers revealed that DeepSeek failed literally every single safeguard requirement for a generative AI system, being fooled by even the most basic of jailbreak techniques.
This means that it can trivially be tricked into answering queries that should be blocked, from bomb recipes to guidance on hacking government databases …
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India prepares for Trump trade disruption by cutting import taxes for Apple & others Certain iPhone components including iPhone circuit boards will no longer face import taxes in India as the country positions itself to weather changes in global trade.Mumbai, IndiaIn 2024, the Indian government reduced its import taxes on chargers, printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and smartphones themselves, from 20% to 15%. That 5% cut was estimated to mean Apple would earn between $35 million and $50 million more annually.According to Reuters, though, India has now entirely dropped import taxes on certain components and accessories, although not on smartphones. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the removal of the tax during her annual budget speech and the government has prepared a list of affected components. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Clicks for iPhone 16 review – clever iPhone keyboard case (not) for everyone Macworld
At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
Pleasant typing feel
Many clever shortcuts
Backlit keyboard
More space on the screen
Cons
Very unwieldy on the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Lengthy setup
Considerable battery Consumption
Our Verdict
The Clicks for iPhone is one of the most interesting accessory products for the iPhone in recent years. The combination of iPhone case and keyboard brings physical buttons to the Apple mobile phone and creates more space on the screen for content, as the on-screen keyboard is no longer needed, and being able to assign shortcuts to certain key combinations is an incredibly clever trick.
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Clicks is the only keyboard case for the iPhone on the market. It is one of those accessories that will inevitably divide opinion. The concept itself isn’t stupid, it’s just a bit out of date, because the era of smartphones with keyboards came to an end with the demise of Blackberry at the latest.
Maybe I’m just susceptible to such concepts, after all I belong to the (probably relatively small) group of people who spent quite a while with keyboard smartphones and look back longingly in moments of weakness.
The small company has launched a revised version of the keyboard case that works with the iPhone 16. Not only was the fit adapted to the two new devices, but changes were also made to both the keyboard and the workmanship.
Eugen Wegmann
Design & finish
Three colors
Good workmanship
Apart from the keyboard at the bottom, Clicks is a standard iPhone case that comes in three colours: Surf, Spice and Onyx (aka blue, ochre and black). Clicks is not explicitly marketed as a protective case, but its design offers a certain degree of protection for your iPhone.
The frame is made of a relatively rigid silicone, and the back is made of a piece of hard plastic in which magnets for MagSafe are embedded in a circle. On the inside, they are covered with a microfiber fabric, similar to the original Apple covers. The buttons are made of aluminum and therefore have a very high-quality feel, while the designers have opted for a simple cut-out for the camera control. So far, so normal.
But then there’s the USB-C port on the lower edge of the inside, which you use to connect the Clicks to your iPhone and which is extended through the keyboard to the lower end so that you can also charge your iPhone and connect it to Carplay.
Eugen Wegmann
The eye-catcher and main function is of course the keyboard with its 37 black, optionally illuminated keys. In the interests of ergonomics, these are slightly dented and tilted slightly to the left on the left-hand side and slightly to the right on the right-hand side. All main keys are double and sometimes triple-keyed, with the most important special characters printed on the respective key.
There are also three additional buttons in the bottom line: one for voice input (or for the backlight), one to switch the virtual iPhone keyboard on and off as required and a third click button for special shortcuts such as shortcuts.
This cover conceals all the technology, but also weights.Eugen Wegmann
On the back of the keyboard is a cover covered with a piece of artificial leather, behind which the technology is housed. If you want to know what it looks like inside, you can take a look at the last quarter of the video on the Jerryrigeverything YouTube channel, where the device is taken apart.
See more options in our roundup of the best case for iPhone 16.
The recommended handling: two-handed.Eugen Wegmann
Ergonomics & haptics
Great haptic feedback
Pro-Max version unwieldy
Requires two-handed operation
Key fetishists get their money’s worth with Clicks. The pressure point is pleasant, as is the clicking noise. The key size and spacing are large enough, unless you have really big fingers.
Even with the best will in the world, your thumb will not reach the opposite side, and if you want to press a button and still hold the iPhone securely in your hand, it will be very tight.Eugen Wegmann
Due to its size, however, it brings with it two not insignificant problems. The lesser of these is that it makes one-handed operation of your iPhone practically impossible and forces you to hold the iPhone in two hands.
This is actually very necessary, because the much bigger problem, at least with the Clicks variant for the iPhone Pro Max (and probably also for the Plus), is the weight distribution. With the Clicks, the already long iPhone models become even longer and their leverage increases when you hold them at a typical angle of 20 to 70 degrees to the ground. Even the best typing feel can’t change the fact that your wrists start to hurt after a while.
Size comparison: Clicks for iPhone 16 Pro Max next to an iPhone 16 Pro Max.Eugen Wegmann
The developers of the Clicks have already done a lot to bring the center of gravity as close as possible to the hands: In addition to the buttons and all the technology, there are also a few weights behind the artificial leather flap on the back. It is possible that the Clicks is more comfortable for the normal iPhone or the Pro iPhone without Max, but I can only speculate due to my lack of such a variant to test.
Functions & software
Keyboard shortcuts for shortcuts
Clicks app for customizations and updates
USB-C passthrough
In addition to the actual physical keyboard, the secret superpower of Clicks is the ability to assign shortcuts to every single key. However, this requires a relatively high level of effort, as everything has to be set up. Clicks uses a function in the accessibility options to assign shortcuts, which makes it possible to control the iPhone with an external keyboard. The setup is not complicated, but lengthy. There is also a video (in English) that explains everything step by step (step by step).
Fortunately, Clicks has now expanded the associated app so that some basic shortcuts can be set up easily. Beyond that, however, you will have to search for the corresponding shortcuts elsewhere or create them yourself. Unfortunately, this is not entirely trivial, because although the shortcut app is versatile, it is also confusing and for non-experts. One shortcut that I had to set up myself opens the Control Center, which has only been possible on the system side since iOS 18.1.
The shortcuts that Clicks suggests in the app include starting Instagram, calling a specific contact, activating a focus mode, calculating a tip in the calculator and many more.
In the app, you can also configure the behavior of some other buttons—such as whether the Enter key sends a message or inserts a line break—whether and when the Clicks goes into standby mode and whether and how strong the button illumination is.
If you use your iPhone via cable in the car for Carplay, you have to switch from keyboard mode to data mode either in the app or via a key combination (123 space bar), as USB-C on the iPhone cannot do both at the same time. Nevertheless, the iPhone can also be charged with a case.
Battery life
As the Clicks connects to the iPhone via USB-C, it does not need its own battery but is powered by the iPhone. This has consequences for the iPhone’s battery life, although the manufacturer assures us that the effects are negligible.
In my tests, Clicks consumed between 20 and 25 per cent of the battery throughout the day according to the iOS battery consumption. On one of my test days, only “Slay the Spire” came close to this consumption, but in a much shorter time.
There are two settings in the Clicks app to reduce the case’s power consumption: the key illumination and the power-saving mode.
It makes the most sense to switch the keyboard backlight off completely and only switch it on when needed, as it is usually the biggest power guzzler. Even in the dark, the screen glows brightly enough for the white letters on the keyboard to still be recognizable.
Power-saving mode, on the other hand, is a double-edged sword. The clicks are simply switched off after a certain period of time, which initially seems to make perfect sense. However, this has the disadvantage that it always takes a really strangely long moment for Clicks to switch on again and connect to the iPhone. This is particularly annoying if you pick up the iPhone after a while, want to quickly execute a short command and press the button combination three or four times before anything happens at all.
So you’re trading a slightly longer battery life for an annoying inconvenience. Which one you choose is up to you. (I recommend switching off the power-saving mode)
Price & availability
The Clicks for iPhone is only available for the entire iPhone 15 series and iPhone 16 series. For the iPhone 14, Clicks only supports the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. The price depends on the size of your iPhone: $139/£109 if you have a standard or iPhone Pro, $159/£129 if Plus or Pro Max.
Buy Clicks for iPhone
Eugen Wegmann
Who should buy the Clicks keyboard case?
I’ll be completely honest: For the average person’s everyday use, the Clicks keyboard case won’t appeal. The keyboard case is an absolute niche product and is aimed at productivity junkies who write a lot of long texts on their iPhone, execute a handful of shortcuts at the touch of a button and, ideally, also want to attract a little attention with their accessories in public. Clicks is also aimed at people who have never really got over the fact that smartphones with keyboards no longer exist. If you belong to either group, the Clicks is the perfect accessory for you.
Clicks is one of the more interesting accessories to hit the market for the iPhone in recent years, and the ability to assign shortcuts to all the buttons has incredible potential if you have the leisure to spend a few hours with it and set it up.
Apple makes Swift Build open source; Swift Playgrounds slightly renamed Over the weekend, Apple announced that it is making Swift Build open source. This is the build engine used by both Xcode and for the company’s internal projects.
Apple has also made a tiny name change to Swift Playgrounds, the app that helps people learn to code in Swift on iPad and Mac …
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Where to find native iOS freelance jobs. Upwork looks dead. Is there any other sites I’m trying to find freelance works in native iOS. I have 2 years of experience and have a full time job as an ios developer. I want to earn some additional income. Where can I find freelance ios jobs. All of them I see on upwork is either Flutter or a developer who can lend […]
Here’s everything we expect from Apple in February 2025 Macworld
February tends to be a pretty slow month for official Apple releases. The big fourth quarter is over, and any new “Spring” hardware usually launches in March or April.
There’s an outside chance that Apple “direct to the website” launches the M4 MacBook Air this month, ahead of other springtime products we’re not expecting until March or April, but other than that, the new iOS/macOS betas and scrutiny on Siri is going to be what February is all about.
New hardware releases
We’ve heard for some time now that the new M4MacBook Air is in production and should ship “soon.” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested Apple could launch the new laptop as a standalone release in February, but might hold it for a bigger event in March to go along with other expected spring products like the iPhone SE 4, new iPads, and maybe that mysterious new “HomePad” thing we keep hearing about.
This is expected to be a relatively minor update, just upgrading the processor to an M4 and probably the camera to the 12MP Ultra Wide Center Stage FaceTime camera like you find in the M4 MacBook Pro.
Apps and software updates
Apple just released iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3 (and related updates), but as January closed out, Apple hasn’t yet released the first iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4 betas. We expect them soon (possibly this week) because they will need lots of testing. There will probably be a few minor tweaks, but the big component is the big Siri update.
When Apple announced Apple Intelligence at WWDC last June, it showed a “coming in a later update” Siri that would build a personal profile of you based on the information on your phone, so it can understand your requests and perform actions while understanding your own individual personal context. It also could take actions within apps, thanks to a huge increase in developer hooks called App Intents.
Getting this in the hands of developers so they can update their apps to use these new App Intents is critical, so this is probably going to be a long beta test that goes into wide release in April (Apple has already announced that additional language support for Apple Intelligence is coming in April. Just as importantly, it will be our first look at a new smarter Siri, and let’s face it, Siri needs big improvements.
Apple is also rumored to release an update to the Calendar app that lets you keep track of event invites. It was hidden in the iOS 18.3 beta and could be released this month.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Love You to Death (A muerte): Tells the story of the cautious Raúl, who reconnects with free-spirited and newly pregnant Marta following his heart cancer diagnosis. They resume a friendship that began in childhood, and in a relationship brought together by fate, begin to test their beliefs about love. February 5
The Gorge: Two highly-trained operatives are appointed to posts in guard towers on opposite sides of a vast and highly classified gorge, protecting the world from an undisclosed, mysterious evil that lurks within. February 14
Surface (season 2): Sophie is a woman who has suffered a traumatic head injury that has left her with extreme memory loss, believed to be a result of a suicide attempt. As Sophie embarks on a quest to put the pieces of her life back together with the help of her husband and friends, she begins to question whether or not the truth she is told is in fact the truth she has lived. February 21
Berlin ER: A German-language drama about managing a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin. February 26
Apple Arcade
Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section.
Doodle Jump 2+: The classic “endless jumper” returns. February 6
My Dear Farm+: A youth-oriented cute garden farming game. February 6
PGA Tour Pro Golf: A high-end, realistic golf sim with PGA licensing. February 6
Apple’s post-iPhone plan is working… so far Macworld
How long can Apple keep relying on the iPhone? Nobody knows, because there’s never been another product quite like it. But the plumpest golden goose in history isn’t going to keep laying eggs forever.
Apple, to its credit, is fully aware of this. With its enthusiastic hyping of the latest cautious iPhone update, the company might occasionally sound faintly deluded: a little like the man in the old joke who falls out of a building and says to the people on each floor as he passes, “Everything’s fine so far!” But Apple is doing its best to find a cushion to land on.
In the company’s latest financial results, we got an idea of how the cushion hunt is going, and the answer is “pretty well.” Tim Cook named Q1 2025 as Apple’s best quarter ever, with record revenue of $124.3 billion despite a small year-on-year dip in the iPhone’s fortunes. Who needs the iPhone when you have consistent growth in services to make up for any shortfalls?
It’s certainly gratifying for the company to record its highest-ever quarterly revenue after launching one of its most boring iPhones (which didn’t even have its flagship feature at launch). But there are concerns we should discuss before we break out the champagne.
One is that regardless of growth in other areas, the iPhone remains Apple’s most important product by an unhealthy margin. That burgeoning Services division, a portmanteau category combining various tenuously related revenue streams, brought in a total of $26.3 billion, compared to the iPhone’s $69.1 billion. Wearables, Home, and Accessories brought in a combined $11.7 billion, the iPad just $8.1 billion, and Macs $7.8 billion. In first place, there’s the iPhone. In second place is daylight. And only then do we get to the other products.
In that light, it becomes a little clearer that simply growing services isn’t the straightforward solution to the iPhone’s eventual decline that it might sound like. This quarter, solid growth in services and iPads was just about enough to make up for a tiny drop for the iPhone. We’re still at a point where if the iPhone sneezes, Apple catches a cold. This wasn’t a sneeze. It was barely the first “Aaahh…”
At some point, the iPhone will suffer a real setback, and we don’t yet know how Apple will handle that. Last week, research found that buyers of premium iPhones are becoming less inclined to pay extra for more storage, which could become a headache if it turns into a long-term trend. Apple has historically made a lot of money from iPhone storage upgrades, but with the rise of music streaming and cloud photo storage, there doesn’t seem to be quite the same demand.
For a company of Apple’s size, it isn’t easy to pivot, and it should be applauded for trying its best to do so. By building a mixed-reality headset and an AI platform Apple has positioned itself for two possible post-smartphone futures, and by growing Apple TV+ and its other subscription services it has shored up revenues in the short to medium term. These are all positive steps. But the pivot hasn’t yet been tested. Dip or not, this was another epic quarter from the iPhone, and we don’t yet know what will happen when the good times finally come to an end.
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.
Trending: Top stories
DeepSeek is making everyone look silly except Apple, reckons the Macalope.
Have you restarted your MacBook this week? You should, pleads Michael Simon.
Stephan Wiesend explains why your VPN isn’t as secure as you think.
Your next iPhone and Mac might cost a whole lot more thanks to political factors.
Apple’s push into the smart home is a decade late but right on time.
Apple should smarten up the HomePod mini 2 with these 5 upgrades.
This MacBook Pro was too busted for even AppleCare+ to repair!
Apple honors Black History Month with color-morphing Apple Watch band.
Podcast of the week
Apple released an update to iOS, so what should you expect? In the latest episode of the Macworld podcast we take a look at what’s in iOS 18.3, plus talk about the latest Apple news.
You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.
Reviews corner
Mullvad review: A VPN that’s all about privacy.
Mac Backup Guru review: A utility worth looking into.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 review: Blazing back-up performance.
The rumor mill
New leak gives us a clear look at the iPhone SE 4–with a notch. It seems rumors of a Dynamic Island were mistaken.
Software updates, bugs, and problems
SLAP and FLOP browser vulnerabilities threaten nearly every Apple device since 2021.
Whoops! Apple accidentally breaks watchOS updates on older devices.
The latest iPhone update patches a security flaw exploited since 2023.
We round up 5 small (but still kinda big) changes coming to your iPhone in iOS 18.3.
On which subject, some iPhone users will soon get a ‘secret addition’ after upgrading to iOS 18.3.
The latest iPhone update patches a security flaw exploited since 2023.
And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.
Apple releases Q4 2024 financial results, cites $124.3 in revenues and $36.3 billion profit It was a great quarter for Apple, even if there are a few warning signs that might be worth paying attention to. Apple on Thursday released its Q4 2024 financial results for its holiday quarter, citing its “best quarter ever” with revenues of $124.3 billion and a profit of $36.3 billion, up four percent year […]
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