PSA: Here’s another reason not to include personal details in AI chats
Including personal details in AI chats is never a good idea, given that many of them are in part trained on the content of those conversations, but there’s now another reason not to do this … more…

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More Apple Pay installment options, and PayPal balance will be visible in Apple Wallet
More Apple Pay installment options are available from today, and additional buy now pay later providers are promised. Apple Pay users in both the US and UK now have the choice of installment loans from two different providers, with more on the way in both those and other countries … e

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Apple published a new Press Release
Apple just published a new Press Release:Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

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iPad mini's 7 fast charging may get a boost with a new adapter
The new iPad mini will fast charge at 20W for sure, although mention of a 45W charger in regulatory filings may mean it could charge faster with the right accessories.iPad miniRegulatory filings often turn up details about Apple products that Apple itself doesn't publicize. In the case of the seventh-gen iPad mini, China has revealed some details about its power capabilities.The China Compulsory Certification (3C) listing for the iPad mini was spotted by 91Mobiles on Thursday, and it offers a few power-related specifications for the tablet. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Roadside Assistance via satellite now available in the UK, with Green Flag
Apple last year launched its Roadside Assistance via satellite feature in the US, intended to provide help to those stranded by car trouble in areas without mobile coverage. That service has now been quietly extended to the UK. You’ll need an iPhone 14 or later to use the service, and you’ll need to know ahead of time how to use the feature to summon help … more…

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Apple’s iPhone 16 base model is ‘more interesting than it appears on first glance’ – The Guardian
Apple's base model iPhone 16 is built for Apple Intelligence, the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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How to create photo memories with Apple Intelligence
You can create a photo memories movie using the Apple Photos app, powered by Apple Intelligence. Just type in a prompt. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best VPN for Mac: Reviews and buying advice for Mac users
Macworld If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure, but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN. Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the web–your data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another country. This latter reason is the main reason many people use a VPN: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K or BBC iPlayer from the U.S. If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security online, and to grant you a way to access content as if you are in a different country, we are here to help. There are a lot of VPN providers vying for your business, which can make finding the best one to suit your needs difficult. To help you sort out the right provider for you, we’ve committed to extensive research and testing of VPN services that cater to Mac owners in our guide to the top VPN services for Mac. Updated: October 2024 with a review of ClearVPN. PROMOTION Black Friday Deal: Up to 74% off NordVPN + 3 extra months! Upgrade your online security and privacy with NordVPN. Shield your online traffic. Choose from 5,800+ global servers for blazing speeds. Block web trackers, annoying ads, and unsafe websites. Try NordVPN risk free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get the Deal Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Our top choice right now is NordVPN, which we feel stands out in many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Get NordVPN here Below you will find the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. Most of these will cost less than $3/£3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps, so it’s worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you could cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals. ProtonVPN has a free tier. All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guides to the best VPNs for iPhone and best VPNs for iPad. 1. NordVPN Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.59 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $12.99. Best Prices Today: $3.39 at NordVPN 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. It’s a fully featured VPN option that’s secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one that’s not overloaded. You won’t have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy ‘Quick connect’ feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, it’s only available on the ‘IKE’ version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, you’ll need to download the ‘OpenVPN’ version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan. NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. Monthly plans start at $12.99/£10.39, and you can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) for $13.99/£11.19. Then the $15.99/£13.39 Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. The two-year plan brings the basic price to (around) $3.09/£2.49 a month, while the Ultimate plan is (around) $5.99/£5.19. Prices change all the time though, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com. Read our full NordVPN review 2. ExpressVPN Pros Easy-to-use desktop program Broad device support Excellent speeds Cons ExpressVPN’s team is largely anonymous Expensive Price When Reviewed: From $8.32 a month for one year + 3 free months. Usually $12.95 a month.. Best Prices Today: $6.67 at ExpressVPN 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections If you want to circumnavigate geoblocking to get access to content not available where you live, protect your data while browsing the web from a public network, and keep your web browsing habits private, ExpressVPN, with its server locations across 105 countries, can do just about all of this with two or three clicks. ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use, but if you have any difficulties the 24-hour live chat means you can be connected to a real human to discuss issues within minutes. There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Windows. Plus you can use it on eight devices at once (the limit was five previously). Like all VPNs there is some speed loss because you are routing via a server in another country, but ExpressVPN does well to mitigate this, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. NordVPN remains faster with a 12% loss in our tests, but ExpressVPN’s 13% is still better than most. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol. Lightway, the company’s own option, is rapid. For improved compatibility you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN – things slowed down with  24% of speed loss with the latter. There’s no Malware protection with ExpressVPN, but you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so it’s free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies’ jurisdiction. While it also operates a no-log policy, it doesn’t have PureVPN’s “always-on” audit process, but it undergoes audits each year. ExpressVPN’s more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesn’t allow access from unlimited devices (just eight). But you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss, and you don’t have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here. Read our full ExpressVPN review 3. ProtonVPN Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: From $4.49 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $4.49 at Proton Technologies 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections ProtonVPN‘s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. It’s naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop – but it’s still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users.  Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics – and does so very well. The company’s “no-logs” policy confirms it doesn’t track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesn’t log data there’s very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the company’s ‘Secure’ servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, it’s only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs we’ve tested. In terms of included VPN protocols, Smart will be ideal for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Aside from the free tier, there’s a $9.99/€9.99 monthly cost that drops to $4.99/€4.99 or $4.49/€4.49 for one-year and two-year plans respectively. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. Read our full ProtonVPN review 4. Private Internet Access Pros Lots of servers Fast WireGuard speeds Split tunneling works well Unblocks BBC iPlayer Cons Clunky Mac app Based within 14-eyes Price When Reviewed: From $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.19 at Private Internet Access 35,000+ servers, 91 countries Unlimited connections Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerful VPN designed for savvy users, offering “power user” tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, split tunnelling, and more at a lower cost than many competitors. The PIA Mac app offers pretty much everything its Microsoft counterpart does.  The app can be used on any device and offers servers in 91 countries. In my testing, the “auto” setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance graphs, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for tools like Light Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections. While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA is more privacy-focused than other VPNs, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options.  Private Internet Access can’t beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% on Mac while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably– by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading.  Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. The app currently starts at $2.19/£1.69 a month (for two years) for all features, with other plans available for $7.50/£5.39 per month on a six-month deal or $12.95/£10.99 month-to-month. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included. Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. Read our full Private Internet Access review 5. Surfshark Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Unlimited devices and connections Easy to use Cons Kill switch can’t be customised Expensive to renew Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $2.19 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.19 at Surfshark 3,200 servers in 100 countries Unlimited simultaneous connections Surfshark is a great-value VPN that offers quite a lot features beyond the core VPN service for a low monthly price. SurfShark has more than 3,000 servers spread across 100 countries, making its network one of the widest and most varied of any VPN, Its apps are easy to use and it reliably unblocks streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It’s missing the specialty servers offered by rivals such as NordVPN, who shares the same parent company, though. Connection speeds are very impressive, and that’s thanks to the use of the WireGuard protocol. You really won’t notice any slowdown in your internet speed when Surfshark is running, so long as you have WireGuard selected and aren’t using servers the other side of the globe. The company has upgraded all its servers so they run entirely in RAM, just like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Running servers on RAM is better for privacy as data isn’t written to a hard drive. It’s also a member of the VPN Trust Initiative, while two-factor authentication (2FA) is a feature few VPN services offer. Being run from the Netherlands also means this is a privacy-friendly option. The other reason to consider Surfshark is because it undercuts almost all of its rivals on price, yet doesn’t place any limit on the number of devices you can use simultaneously. Unfortunately, it can be pricy to renew once your initial contract runs out. You can install and use it across many devices including your Mac, PC, Android and iOS devices, as well as browsers. It also supports multiple protocols (although OpenVPN is a little slower than we’d like) and excellent encryption, as well as a privacy-minded no-logs policy that’s regularly audited There’s a kill switch and a Multi-Hop feature that routes your connection via two VPN servers for an extra layer of protection. However, there’s no GPS spoofing or split tunneling on the Mac (the latter being very uncommon on Macs anyway).  SurfShark offers three tiers of features at varying price points. The most basic option, aptly named SurfShark Starter, offers VPN functionality as well as an ad blocker and the option to generate a proxy email address and personal details for sites you don’t feel comfortable about giving your information to. SurfShark One adds email and payment detail breach alerts, as well as personal data security reports, antivirus and other malware protection, while the One+ plan adds data removal from company databases and people search sites. In addition to the VPN there are Alert, Search or Antivirus packages, that are available for an extra cost. SurfShark offers discounted pricing if you sign up for two years, starting at around $2.39/£1.79 per month (this price changes all the time). Just beware that at the end of the period the price will increase unless you cancel. Sign up to Surfshark here. Read our full Surfshark review 6. ClearVPN Pros Nice design. Great for getting around geo-blocks. Cons Lacks some features like split tunneling. Not the fastest. Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. From $3.74 per month; $44.99 a year. $9.99 a month (cancel any time). Best Prices Today: $3.74 at MacPaw (monthly) More than 50 servers Six device limit MacPaw’s ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many more advanced features offered by its rivals, but on the other hand, it’s one of the easiest to use. With a nice UI and easy-to-use features it’s thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It really is as simple as hitting a button to connect. In the settings are options to block ads, keep ClearVPN in the dock, and a Kill Switch so that you can cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. It’s all pretty basic stuff, but it’s offered in such an easy-to-use way that it’s hard not to appreciate the simplicity. There are also handy keyboard shortcuts to move around the app. There are more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but it’s dwarfed by many rivals to the tune of thousands of servers. That means your choices are limited, but at least ClearVPN lets you filter between Optimal Location or jumping straight to something like Disney Plus US or UK. One of the more common power user features for VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. That’s not supported here. Sadly, MacPaw’s VPN speeds also need some work. We saw considerable speed drops across multiple servers – even closer ones. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. It’s still fast enough to use Netflix, but it’s slower than the majority of alternatives out there. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that they’re not recording user or session data, but ClearVPN hasn’t undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldn’t mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it can’t be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs. Look out for low monthly prices that don’t lock you in for too long. There’s a six-device limit. If you’re new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice., and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, it’s a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. See full ClearVPN pricing here. Read our full ClearVPN review 7. PureVPN Pros Easy to use Works on multiple devices, including iPhone Additional power user features Cons Obtuse pricing model. Virtual server locations feel like a worry.ureVPN caused many websites to question whether we were “human” Price When Reviewed: From $3.99 a month for one year + 4 free months. Usually $12.45 a month. A 5 year deal is available from $2.16 a month. Best Prices Today: $3.99 at PureVPN 6,500 servers, 78 countries 10 simultaneous connections If you’re looking for a flexible VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is well worth a look. The basic plan includes the VPN service and nothing more, but you can add a Password Manager and File Encryption tools in the Plus plan. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that requests your records be scrubbed by data brokers, blocks web trackers, and recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for you’ll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and you’re off. PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it operated previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing “always-on” audit process whereby an auditor can request confirmation of that policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical – you can see a small ‘v’ next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website. At the time of writing PureVPN is offering more than a whopping 80% off its plans if you sign up for 24 months. Two years is a long time in the world of VPNs, but at least means the full monthly pricing won’t kick in twelve months time. See PureVPN offers here. Read our full PureVPN review 8. CyberGhost Pros Simple to use Decent speeds Plenty of servers Cons Two-year plans are much cheaper Lacking some power user features Price When Reviewed: $2.03 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.19 at CyberGhos 11,000+ servers in 100 countries 7 simultaneous connections CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to numerous servers worldwide, making it ideal for streaming Netflix from different countries and routing traffic away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks.  It offers core features like kill switch support, split tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhost’s no-logging audit history is thorough, and there is a 45-day free trial available. CyberGhost apps can be downloaded for various platforms, including Chrome extension and game consoles (we tested on Mac and iPhone). The app offers a simple “click and go” connection process, with a list of server nations and multiple locations. Encryption is standard across servers, and split tunnelling prioritizes traffic where needed. An automated kill switch can cut connections if the VPN drops out, while ‘Block content’ blocks DNS domains for ads, trackers, and malware. The app does not offer anything like Proton VPN’s Secure Core or additional features like a Password Manager, but subscription tiers are based on adding a dedicated IP address. The VPN has over 9,000 servers located in over 100 countries, with plans to expand in South America and Asia in late 2023. CyberGhost VPN has an impressive no-logs policy, meaning no one can access records of your activity while connected to the VPN. The app does not offer the Dark Web monitor offered by NordVPN, but it does have an automated kill switch to cut connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking feature is easy to use but doesn’t allow you to choose what to block. CyberGhost offers a compelling package with just one main plan, starting from £1.78 per month for 24 months, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. It’s an excellent VPN for newcomers, with impressive audits, an array of servers, decent speeds, and easy-to-use apps. Read our full CyberGhost review 9. FastestVPN Pros Affordable pricing Good speeds 10 simultaneous connections Cons Limited compared to the Windows app Limited VPN protocol options Price When Reviewed: Lifetime special deal: $40, usually $600 Best Prices Today: $40 at FastestVPN 800+ servers in 49+ countries 10 simultaneous connections This easy-to-use, attractive, and uncomplicated app is a great option for VPN newbs. In addition to its straightforward and uncluttered design, FastestVPN also offers good speeds and a sufficiently expansive network. It’s icing on the cake that its privacy policy is easy to understand and makes all the right promises. In our tests, FastestVPN maintained about 30 percent of the base speed across five locations on multiple test days, although there were some weak spots in Asia and Australia. Despite it’s name it’s not the fastest VPN, but FastestVPN does make the right privacy promises in a way that’s easy to understand. Read our full FastestVPN review 10. Hide.me Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Dedicated streaming servers Impressive free tier Only VPN that offers Split Tunnelling in Big Sur and beyond Cons Slightly clunky UI No recent independent audit Premium plans are expensive Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for 1 years + 3 free months. Usually $9.95 a month. Best Prices Today: $3 at Hide.Me 2,600+ servers in 90 countries 10 simultaneous connections Hide.me is another VPN service that has improved considerably in recent years. As well as offering a completely free version (which none of its rivals here do), it has also added WireGuard, which is considerably faster than other encryption protocols. Other key features include a customizable kill switch and split tunneling. Hide.me is the only VPN to offer Split Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their website: “hide.me VPN for macOS supports split tunneling. You can configure it in the client’s settings.” Hide.me also offers Stealth Guard, which stops selected apps from running without the security of a VPN connection. It can unblock Netflix and allows you to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. There’s also solid device support, with up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted. Malaysia-based, in recent years it has expanded the number of servers and doubled the number of countries it covers. Unfortunately the third-party audit hasn’t been updated since 2015 However, the user interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and we’re still waiting for an update to the 2015 no-logs policy certification. Read our full hide.me VPN review 11. VyprVPN Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Very easy to use Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer Low starting price Cons Comparatively few servers Not clear which servers are virtual Patchy support experience Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for two years. Usually $10 a month. Best Prices Today: $3 at VyprVPN 70 servers 5 simultaneous connection VyprVPN offers everything most people are looking for in a VPN, without needing to spend much money. You get fast WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols focused on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. It’s also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether that’s local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter can’t be customised.  VyprVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although there’s often only one per country. It’s also not clear which of these are physical and virtual. Nonetheless, it’s still speedy, reliable and affordable – especially if you don’t mind subscribing for three years. That 36-month plan will set you back just $1.81/£1.36 per month, representing excellent value for money. See full VyprVPN pricing here Read our full VyprVPN review 12. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) Pros Easy to use and understand Supports WireGuard protocol Clear privacy policy Cons Not a lot of features Other VPNs have more anonymity features Price When Reviewed: $3.33 a month for 1 device ($39.99 a year) Best Prices Today: $3.33 at Malwarebytes More than 245 servers 32 countries Malwarebytes, probably best known for antivirus software and advice, also offers a standalone VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy. It’s an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises – as you’d expect from a respected name in security based in the U.S. In our tests Malwarebytes was a mid-tier performer in terms of speeds, but it should be good enough for most casual users. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does a good job and, starting at $3.33/£2.50 a month for one device, the price is right. See full Maywarebytes pricing here Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) review Best Free VPNs for Mac There are also a number of free VPNs available, but beware that some severely restrict which servers (and therefore countries) you can connect to and the amount of data you can download through those servers. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals. It’s also important to read the terms and conditions before using a free VPN, as in rare cases they sell your data to third parties to offset the cost of you using it without paying. It’s a bigger problem on iPhones and Android where unscrupulous companies try to cash in on the VPN ‘gold rush’ and offer up poorly put together apps. Stick with our recommendations and you’ll be safe from these, though. Do Macs need a VPN? There is a big question. Do Mac users even need a VPN? Since Apple introduced iOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered a handy private relay service. iCloud Private Relay acts a bit like a VPN because it encrypts your web-browsing traffic and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay solves part of the problem that Mac users have used VPNs for in the past–it means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. iCloud Private Relay has some disadvantages: it only works when you are using Safari, you have to be a subscriber to iCloud, and you can’t use it to pretend to be surfing from another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. Read more here: iCloud+ Private Relay explained. If you are a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, then iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. You may therefore be thinking that this means you don’t need a VPN to hide your location and identity. However, iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you won’t be able to make it look like you’re coming from another location. So you can’t watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. How we test VPNs For each VPN service we review, we conduct tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening, using Ookla Speedtest. We start by measuring the speed of our unprotected internet connection before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service. These tests are conducted to servers located in North America, the UK, Europe, Oceana, and Asia over an ethernet connection with a service provision of 100Mbps. To test upload and download speeds, we close down all background internet processes on the Mac, using TripMode. The only traffic on the system able to upload or download any data is Ookla. We use this setup to ensure that the numbers that Ookla produced were not stymied by anything else that the computer may have been doing at the time. The speeds Ookla captured were then averaged, providing us with a final numeric score. We then use those scores to calculate a percentage of difference in speeds, which is what you’ll see in our reviews. Since internet speeds change constantly based on server load, how fast your connection is, and a gazillion other factors, we feel this provides a better picture of what you can expect from a service, on the whole, than merely quoting the exact upload/download speeds we encountered during testing. Speed isn’t the only quantifiable metric that we look at. The number of countries that a VPN offers servers in, total number of servers worldwide, and how much it’ll cost you to connect to those servers on a monthly or annual basis are also taken into consideration when recommending a VPN service to you. Additionally, we conduct hours of research into the VPN providers to find out who owns them, where they’re based, what they do with subscriber information, and whether the provider has a track record of questionable business practices. What’s a VPN? VPN stands for virtual private network. If you’re not using a VPN, when your computer connects to the internet, it does so through the local gateway provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Doing this allows you to connect to all of the online services you use everyday. However, connecting this way also allows an ISP to know your physical location based on where you access the internet—be it at home, at work, in a cafe, or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot. This information is often sold to marketers and other parties interested in getting to know more about you and your browsing habits. Worse still, if you connect to the internet through an access point with weak security, such as at an airport, mall, or local library, hackers connected to the same network could intercept personal information like your social media passwords or banking credentials through what’s called a man-in-the-middle attack. A VPN service can help prevent all of that. A VPN creates an encrypted digital tunnel between your computer and the server of the VPN service you choose to use. Once this tunnel has been established, your web searches, the sites you access, and the information you submit online will be hidden from prying eyes. This means that your ISP can’t log or sell your information and hackers using the same network as you will find it difficult to initiate an attack on you. Almost no one will have any idea of what information you’re accessing. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared. VPN apps are very easy to install and use but for a step-by-step guide, read how to set up a VPN on a Mac. What a VPN can’t do A VPN can’t protect you from viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks if you choose to download an infected file, or a visit site designed to inject your computer with malignant code. It won’t keep spoofed sites from stealing your personal information, if you happen to visit one. So, you’ll want to bone up on online security best practices. You should know that while using a VPN will allow you to anonymously engage in peer-to-peer file-sharing/torrenting, some service providers may cancel your VPN subscription or turn over your information to the authorities if they catch you trading copyrighted material with others. Is it legal to use a VPN? While accessing locked content is a bit of a gray area, due to licensing agreements, we don’t blame anyone who is desperate to watch the latest season of their favorite program when it airs in the U.S. rather than waiting for it to come to their country. Paying to watch a streaming service that’s not available in your country has to be less morally wrong than actual piracy! For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for Mac? What to look for in a VPN A clear privacy policy. A good VPN should offer an easy-to-understand privacy policy that outlines what, if any, information the company collects from its users. It’s important that this policy details what they do with this information. Some VPN providers, especially those that offer their services for free, sell their user information to advertisers and other interested parties, just like an ISP does. Choose a provider that offers a level of privacy that suits you. Know where the provider is based. Many countries have no laws demanding that VPN providers maintain logs of their users’ activity. This makes maintaining your privacy more assurable than it would be if you use a VPN located in a country that requires that user-activity records be maintained. Some companies, in an effort to make their network of servers look bigger or more varied than it actually is, spoof the locations of their servers. The more servers, the merrier. Choosing a VPN provider with a ton of servers around the world is important for a couple of reasons. First, having a multitude of servers to choose from means that you won’t be forced to connect to an overpopulated server where the data flows like mud. Second, having a wealth of servers to choose from both at home and internationally means more opportunities for spoofing your location, allowing you to hide where you are or access region-locked content with ease. Multiple payment options. It’s a vicious circle. Paying for a VPN with a credit card online before you have access to a VPN could allow your financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Look for providers that offer alternative payment options such as PayPal, Bitcoin, AliPay, or via the Mac App Store. An easy-to-use interface. It takes a lot of digital wizardry to connect to a VPN. Some people want to see how their VPN operates, behind the scenes. Using an open source VPN client like Tunnelblick is great for this. Most folks, however, just want their VPN to work with minimal frustration. Look for a VPN service that offers a Mac client with an easy-to-use interface. Protection for all of your devices. A good VPN service will offer licenses for multiple devices to protect your loved ones’ computers as well as your personal smartphone and tablet. To this end, before investing in a VPN subscription, make sure that it provides software clients for all of the devices you own.

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Instagram protects teens from sextortion; working on Social Library feature
Instagram is introducing new measures to protect teens from sextortion, by making it harder for criminals to blackmail them. Separately, it appears to be working on a new Social Library feature intended to make it easier to find posts you’ve shared, liked, or been sent in chat … more…

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iPad mini 7 charging speed limited to 20W, around a 2-hour charge
A regulatory filing reveals that the iPad mini 7 charging speed is limited to 20W, the same as its predecessor. This means that the device will take around an hour to charge to 70%, and about two hours to go from empty to fully-charged – significantly slower than the speeds offered by some Android tablets … more…

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iPad mini 7 vs. iPad mini 6 comparison: Not the time to upgrade
iPad mini 7 vs iPad mini 6: Are faster internals, more base storage and faster Wi-Fi worth the upgrade? (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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New FTC rule makes canceling subscriptions as easy as signing up
The FTC's new 'click to cancel' rule will make canceling an online subscription a lot easier, forcing companies to end their shady practices. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Federal ‘click to cancel subscriptions’ rule is ratified (but weakened)
A “click to cancel” law was last month passed in California, and now the FTC has ratified a federal rule designed to achieve the same goal. The idea of both is to force companies to make it as easy to cancel an online or app subscription as it is to sign up in the first place. Both were introduced in response to sketchy practices by companies designed to make it as difficult as possible to unsubscribe … more…

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Why the new iPad mini is a problem for Apple’s other products
Macworld We marked October 22 on the calendar and canceled our appointments. We were almost certain that Apple would hold its second fall keynote on that day and unveil new Macs and iPads. But then, just when we were expecting an invitation, Cupertino sent us instead a press release with details of the 7th-gen iPad mini… and nothing else. To be clear, I think it’s good news that we’re finally getting a new 8-inch tablet three years after the last update. And Apple was clear about the key innovation in its announcement: the iPad mini 7 is made for Apple Intelligence, which is why it gets the A17 Pro processor from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro. (Admittedly, in view of the fact that we still have to wait a while for Apple Intelligence in the EU and probably even longer for Apple’s generative AI to work in German, this doesn’t knock my own personal socks off. But I welcome it for my U.S. pals.) Not much else has changed. Even the front-facing camera remains in portrait format, although this is less of a clear-cut design error on the mini than on larger iPads because it’s used more as a selfie camera. The colors are also slightly different, with pastel shades somewhere between the trendy iPad 10 and the serious iPad Pro. But color is rarely a reason to buy. Where does this leave the iPad? The new iPad mini will certainly find a market, just like its predecessors. The line has had unexpected wins in certain professions: it’s popular in aviation, for instance, saving flight crew from having to carry heavy manuals in the cockpit. In medicine, the compact tablet fits perfectly into the pocket of a lab coat and provides doctors with all the information they need during their rounds. Thanks to the iPad mini it’s no longer necessary to print out X-rays. For that matter, anyone who sets the text on their Kindle to the largest size should consider the iPad mini for reading books. Graphic novels in particular benefit enormously from the mini’s razor-sharp, high-contrast screen. The new iPad mini is also highly recommended as a notepad and drawing board for those in school, university, or professional training. But the first serious question raised by the 7th-gen iPad mini is particularly relevant to the latter target group. Where does this leave the standard iPad? Foundry Foundry Foundry Apple hasn’t updated the vanilla iPad since 2022, but it was a memorable (if divisive) launch. The Lightning connector gave way to a USB-C port, the home button disappeared in favor of a larger screen, and Touch ID was embedded in the on/off switch, following the example of the iPad Air and iPad mini. More surprisingly, Apple took the opportunity to experiment with a new camera position on the long edge. This was apparently well received by customers, despite the arrival of an annoying new adapter for the 1st-gen Apple Pencil. But last year, there was no new iPad at all, which is unusual for a device that Apple has updated every year since its comeback in 2017. So what stopped Apple from launching the 11th-gen iPad this month, alongside the new iPad mini? Of course: it’s the Apple Intelligence issue. The chip in the 10th-gen iPad was a generation older than the one in the contemporary iPad mini, even though the iPad itself was a year younger. That makes sense, given the price gap. But if Apple were to maintain that system, and launch an iPad 11 with a chip that’s a generation older than the A17 Pro in the new mini–presumably an A16–then where does that leave Apple Intelligence? It wouldn’t be supported. Apple Intelligence requires 8GB of RAM, which means it needs an A17 Pro or higher or an M-class chip. That leaves Apple with only three options for the 11th-gen iPad, none of which are attractive. Install an A16 and manage without Apple Intelligence? Surely not—Apple wants training data for its new AI platform, and that means getting as many users as possible. Use the M1 instead? Could be confusing for customers, but feasible. Wait another year to launch the 11th-gen iPad? Perhaps this is the best option, because so many of the iPad’s target markets, in schools and the public sector, simply don’t need a new model every year. What about the Mac? There’s a second important question raised by the 7th-gen iPad mini. Where does this leave the Mac? Especially the MacBook Pro M4, and the Mac mini M4 (Pro). When will they get announced? We had been expecting a detailed October keynote with news about the Mac and iPad. With the tablet seemingly covered by the new iPad mini announcement, will Apple go ahead with a Mac-only show? And if it does, surely there would have been time to mention the new iPad at the end of the event? The press release throws everything into doubt. What we do know is that a Mac event is certainly needed: the Mac mini M4 (Pro) is almost as overdue as the iPad mini 7 was, and the MacBook Pro M4 has already turned up on the Russian gray market. But with time ticking on the previously expected date, we may need to push back our expectations to October 28. Then again, maybe Apple will present the new machines on Halloween, just like last year. We’re putting it on our calendars. And we’d better cancel our appointments, just to be sure.

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M4 MacBook Pro production appears well underway, as launch expected soon
We’re expecting Apple to launch the M4 MacBook Pro by the end of the month, and supply-chain reports appear to corroborate this. Revenue and shipment reports from three Mac suppliers suggest that production is well underway, as Apple stockpiles machines ready for launch … more…

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We’re probably not getting an 11th-gen iPad this year
Macworld After a historic lull that saw more than 12 months between releases, 2024 has been a pretty good year for iPad releases. The iPad mini was just updated, iPadOS 18 shipped just last month, and Apple released the new M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, and Apple Pencil Pro this spring–and for good measure, it even threw in Final Cut for iPad 2.0 and Logic Pro for iPad 2.0 for good measure. While all these new iPad products are partying inside the house that 2024 built, there’s one product on the outside looking in: the standard 10th-gen iPad. It was originally released in 2022 and never received a 2nd-gen update, so it seems like it would be in Apple’s plans for an update soon. If you put together some recent developments, however, there’s one conclusion that can be logically reached: the standard iPad isn’t getting updated this year. Here’s why I think we’ll have to wait until next year for the 11th-generation iPad. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) goes stag to the 2024 party The fact that Apple announced the new iPad mini all by itself is a huge indicator that an iPad update isn’t coming. When the 10th-gen iPad was announced, it featured major changes, such as the front-facing camera moving to the horizontal side, a bigger display than the 10.2-inch 9th-gen model, and the removal of the Home button. We don’t expect any drastic changes to the next iPad–a chip update, maybe some new colors, and that’s about it. So that would make the 11th-gen iPad a great product to release at the same time as the new iPad mini, which also received a minor spec bump. But it didn’t happen. The 10th-gen iPad was a major overhaul for Apple’s budget tablet, so the next update isn’t expected to have much that is new. The 10th-gen iPad was a major overhaul for Apple’s budget tablet, so the next update isn’t expected to have much that is new.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry The 10th-gen iPad was a major overhaul for Apple’s budget tablet, so the next update isn’t expected to have much that is new.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Before the new iPad mini was released, speculation was that it would be revealed at the same time as the new M4 Macs that have been reported to be coming soon. So, it’s possible Apple could release the next iPad with the M4 Macs, but it seems unlikely. U.K., European changes to the 10th-gen iPad In Europe and the U.K., the new iPad mini does not include a charger. This was done to conform to European Union legislation that not only mandates the use of “a common standard port” but also that “the sale of chargers will be unbundled from the sale of electronic devices so that a new charger will not necessarily be included when buying a new device” to reduce electronic waste. We saw the same thing with the iPad Air and iPad Pro releases earlier this year. Along with the iPad mini, Apple also took the charger out of the 10th-gen iPad box in those regions, effectively changing the manufacturing process for the tablet. If it was planning on introducing a new model this year, it would be a lot simpler for Apple to just replace it with a new 11th-gen iPad without a charger, instead of reconfiguring the 10th-gen iPad’s bundle. That leads us to believe that Apple has no plans to release a new model anytime soon. Want more evidence? Apple also reduced the price of the 64GB 10th-gen iPad to £329 in the U.K., a £20 reduction over the previous price. And the E.U. price for the same model is now €399, down from €429. That’s aggressive pricing for a product heading into the holiday season—not one that will be replaced in a few weeks. In the U.S., the 10th-gen iPad still includes a charger, and the price has not changed, but Apple’s not going to launch a new model in just one region. Apple What’s in the iPad box in the U.S. (top) and the U.K. (bottom).Apple No Apple Intelligence support The main reason we expected an update to the 10th-gen iPad is because of Apple Intelligence. The new set of AI features will not run on devices with less than 8GB of unified memory, and the 10th-gen iPad’s A14 Bionic chip only has 4GB of RAM. When Apple Intelligence starts its rollout in the next few weeks, the 10th-gen iPad won’t be part of it, the only iPad that won’t support the AI features. Apple’s entry-level iPhone, the SE, also doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Rumors say it will get an upgrade to an A18 chip next spring along with a significant redesign. The 11th-gen iPad could get an update at the same time, which would give Apple Intelligence to both of Apple’s budget models. Or Apple could leave the low-end iPad as the only tablet that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence as a way to push people to the other models. Either way, one thing is clear: We’re waiting until at least 2025 for a new iPad.

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The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro 512GB Storage is $300 Off
Get a powerful M3 MacBook Pro with sufficient storage in today’s special. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro with 512GB storage is down to just $,299 from its original price of $1,600 on Amazon. The M3 MacBook Pro is ready to take on any kind of task, even those that require a lot of computing and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AirPods Pro 2 beta firmware released
A new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 is now live and available to download for developers. The latest firmware update is tagged with build number 7B5013d, while the previous beta is tagged as 7B5013c. It’s worth noting that this is only a beta version and is unavailable to the general public. Furthermore, the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New iPad Mini 7 debuts
Apple has debuted the next iPad mini, equipped with the A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Intelligence. The 7th-generation iPad mini has come, and it offers a few upgrades compared to its predecessor. Aside from the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, the model adds Apple Pencil Pro support, USB-C, an upgraded 12MP wide […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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macOS Sequoia 15.1 developer update now live
Apple has recently made its seventh developer beta for macOS Sequoia 15.1 available. Those who registered for the beta software can proceed to the Software Update section within the System Settings app. It’s worth noting that an Apple Developer account is needed to be able to download the beta version successfully. The seventh update precedes […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple releases macOS Sequoia 15.1 public beta with Apple Intelligence features
If you’re looking to play with Apple Intelligence on your Mac, now’s your chance. On Wednesday, Apple released a new macOS Sequoia 15.1 public beta, allowing non-developers to test the software before its October 28 launch. The beta has begun to include the first Apple Intelligence features. While not all AI functions have been added […] Source

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How to keep an iCloud Drive file on your Mac while optimizing storage
Macworld iCloud Drive lets you have the best of both worlds: deep storage that provides a form of backup and syncs across all your devices. If you enable optimized storage in macOS in System Settings > Account Name  > iCloud > iCloud Drive, your Mac automatically removes files in reverse order of the frequency you use them if it needs to clear out space to avoid your startup volume from becoming too full. It leaves a placeholder file in the same location that you can access as if it were downloaded, and iCloud Drive automagically retrieves it when you try to preview or edit it. Before macOS Sequoia, if a file wasn’t locally downloaded, you could navigate to it in the Finder via iCloud Drive and Control-click/right-click to select Download Now from the contextual menu. This immediately retrieves the file or a set of files. This can be helpful when an app doesn’t interact correctly with an iCloud Drive stored file or you want to copy or move the files to other storage. Keep Downloaded makes sure the file is always available on your Mac. Keep Downloaded makes sure the file is always available on your Mac.Foundry Keep Downloaded makes sure the file is always available on your Mac.Foundry Foundry Starting in Sequoia, however, Apple added an option already available in other file-sync utilities, like Dropbox. A new option in the contextual menu reads Keep Downloaded. This process of pinning ensures the file won’t be purged even when space runs low–other files will be removed if need be. (And, remember, those “purged” files remain stored in your iCloud storage at Apple’s storage.) This is particularly handy if you have a low-bandwidth Internet connection or are planning to travel and need to be sure the files you need are on the Mac you’re bringing without relying on an Internet connection. Keep Downloaded provides a middle ground between minimizing the use of your startup volume with unneeded files and constantly battling with a nearly full drive. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we don’t reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

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Anker MagGo 10K Power Bank For Apple Watch review: Excellent charging solution for all Apple devices
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Fast charging Informative display Compact Cons None Our Verdict The MagGo 10K Power Bank For Apple Watch offers fast charging, a large power capacity, a practical form factor, and a very informative display. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$79.99 Best Prices Today: Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 35W, For Apple Watch) Retailer Price $63.98 View Deal Anker $80 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Pictures don’t really show how compact the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 35W, for Apple Watch) is. It measures 3.74 by 2.01 by 1.28 inches (95 by 51 by 32.4 millimeters) and weighs 8.64 ounces (245 grams). It has an integrated USB-C charging cable and when the plug is stowed in the case’s recess, the charging cable forms a practical carrying strap. The charging cable is not only used to charge devices but also to recharge the power bank. It only took around 1 hour and 35 minutes to fully charge the MagGo Power Bank. Alternatively, it has an additional USB-C charging socket that can also be used. The maximum charging power via USB-C is 30 watts, and 5 watts for the Apple Watch charging port. The great thing about the Apple Watch charging station is that it supports fast charging; an Apple Watch Series 10 is charged by 65 percent within 30 minutes. The iPhone 15 also charged quickly; I measured a 50 percent increase in 30 minutes. The temperature of the power bank remains within reasonable limits. With an output power of 30 watts, even the MacBook Air cries out for the MagGo Power– it added 26 percent to the M3 MacBook Air. On the 11-inch iPad Pro it added 35 percent in 30 minutes. Thomas Bergbold Thomas Bergbold Thomas Bergbold Another highlight is the hidden display showing the capacity and the current charging power as well as the approximate duration. The duration of the power output is only an extrapolation, but in my test it worked quite well, at least as far as charging the MagGo Power Bank is concerned. The display also shows that the Apple Watch Series 10 charged at times at 4 watts, the iPhone 15 at 23 watts and the MacBook Air at 29 watts. Anker has also worked on the design, so the MagGo Power Bank not only has a hinged Apple Watch charging slot but also rubber feet. This protects the power bank and the table from scratches. Should you buy the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 35W, for Apple Watch)? The Anker MagGo Power Bank is clearly my favorite among the power banks with an Apple Watch charging port. From the iPhone to the Apple Watch to the MacBook Air, the compact power bank charges everything, sometimes at fast speeds.

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Macworld Podcast: New iPad mini, Apple’s new release schedule, and more
Macworld Apple released a new iPad mini this week! We talk about Apple’s new tablet and how Apple’s new approach to product releases may influence your decision to buy one or not! That’s on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 905 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola. Watch episode 905 on YouTube Listen to episode 905 on Apple Podcasts

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Apple and China’s BYD collaborated on long-range EV batteries
Apple teamed up and worked closely with China's BYD around 2017 to develop long-range and safer batteries for EVs. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best Buy urges you to upgrade to the iPad mini 7 with 6th Gen trade-in values of up to $350
Best Buy is throwing a massive Apple trade-in event, and its iPad mini deals deliver trade-in values higher than what Apple offers on several models.Trade in your iPad mini 6 at Best Buy to buy the iPad mini 7 - Image credit: AppleIf you have a last-gen iPad mini 6 and are eager to upgrade to the 7th Generation, it's worth checking out Best Buy's trade-in offer for your particular model. The sweet spot is the $350 value for the 256GB iPad mini 6 Wi-Fi, which is $120 more than Apple's $230 trade-in incentive.View the trade-in specials Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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How to toggle removable and full disk access for apps in macOS Sequoia
Apple provides security features in macOS to give apps access to files on your local storage and removable drives. Here's how to configure them.macOS file and folder security.Years ago, Apple added the ability for macOS to restrict which apps can access your files and folders stored on local volumes attached to your Mac.Some apps, such as Finder, require this access. But in the case of third-party apps, you may or may not want them to have access to your files. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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FTC 'Click to Cancel' rule makes canceling subscriptions as easy as starting them
Subscriptions are getting much easier to manage thanks to the new FTC "Click to Cancel" rule that blocks companies from deceptive or malicious tactics that keep customers from canceling.App subscriptions can be managed in the App StoreWe've all had a subscription we wanted to cancel but discovered the price of keeping it was worth avoiding the hassle. A new rule from the Federal Trade Commission will go into effect in 180 days that will make it easier for customers to cancel pesky subscriptions.According to the release from the FTC, companies essentially have to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one. If you sign up for a subscription online, for example, you must be able to cancel it online. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Car could have had Blade batteries developed with China's BYD
Before the Project Titan was scrapped, Apple reportedly worked with Chinese automaker BYD on custom batteries for Apple Car for years, but ultimately abandoned that partnership too.Apple Car is a canceled project that cost over $10 billionThe Apple Car project has been canceled since at least February 2024, but details about the decade-long $10 billion expense keep dripping out. While Apple considered many battery manufacturers, one potential partnership has been revealed.According to a report from Bloomberg, Chinese automotive company BYD worked with Apple on a custom battery destined for Apple Car. However, even after years of working with BYD, Apple decided to abandon the partnership in search of other options. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's New Feature Lets Brands Put Their Stamp On Emails, Calls To Your iPhone
Apple is enhancing its Business Connect tool, allowing companies to customize how they appear in emails, phone calls, and payment interfaces on iPhones. The Verge reports: Each registered business can confirm its info is accurate and add additional details like photos or special offers. Collecting verified, up-to-date business information could be useful for Apple if it ever launches its own search engine or inside features for Apple Intelligence instead of sending users to outside sources like Google, Yelp, or Meta. Branded Mail is a feature businesses can sign up for today before it starts rolling out to users later this year, potentially making emails easier to identify in a sea of unread messages. Additionally, if companies opt into Business Caller ID, Apple will display their name, logo, and department on an iPhone's inbound call screen. This feature should come in handy when you're trying to figure out whether the random number that's calling you is spam, or if it's a legitimate business. It will start rolling out next year. A smaller update coming to Apple's Tap to Pay service will let companies show their logo when accepting payments instead of just displaying a category icon. You can about it in Apple's press release. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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