Slow Horses season 5 trailer hides in plain sight [Apple TV+ trailer]
You can't just watch "Slow Horses" season 5 trailer on YouTube (yet), but we found it. Find out more about the spy thriller's next season. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Parallels Desktop 20.1
Adds support for macOS 15 Sequoia's Writing Tools in Windows apps like Microsoft Word. ($99.99 Standard Edition, free update for subscribers, macOS 10.14.6+)

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MacBook Pro rig rocks cool NuPhy mechanical keyboard [Setups]
A very cool NuPhy Air96 V2 mechanical keyboard serves as an external input device in this dual-display MacBook setup. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Mellel 6.0.7
Restores QuickLook and thumbnail previews for Mellel files when running macOS 15 Sequoia. ($69.99 new, free update, 97.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

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Apple again cuts interest rate for Apple Card Savings Account
Apple and Goldman Sachs have announced another interest rate cut for the Apple Card Savings Account. This follows a previous rate… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Slash prices on Microsoft Windows, Office in CdkeySales’ Autumn Sale
THe CdkeySales Autumn Sale on Microsoft products gets you up to 91% off crucial titles like Windows 11 Pro and Office 2019. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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New 'Made on iPad' ad showcases how artists make NHL goalie masks
Artists use the iPad to create great things every day, and a new video shared by Apple shows how it's left its mark on the NHL.Image Credit: AppleOn Friday, the Apple Canada YouTube channel shared a short video showing off how NHL mask artists use the iPad Pad, Apple Pencil Pro, and apps like Procreate to design bespoke gear for athletes. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank review: thin yet powerful iPhone magnetic battery pack
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros High battery capacity Super slim and lightweight 15W Qi2 wireless or 30W wired Colors Cons Our Verdict We rate the Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank magnetic power bank for its slim profile, mega recharging power and 15W Qi2 wireless or 30W wired speeds. Owners of the iPhone 15 and 16 might prefer its less slim sibling MagGo 10K power bank for its flashy LED display or the Baseus 10K Power Bank for its integrated USB-C cable, but the Anker MagGo Slim is more svelte and pocketable and beats them both on power and speed. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$69.99 Best Prices Today: Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal Anker $69.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket At just 0.58 inches (less than 1.5cm) thick, this 10000mAh magnetic power bank rivals even some of the 5000mAh magnetic battery packs for slimness. It’s also lighter in weight than any other 10K wireless power bank that we have tested, performed best for recharging power, and can wired-charge an iPhone at 30W. The Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank uses fast Qi2 magnetic tech, so can wirelessly charge at an impressive 15W. Only Apple’s wired MagSafe Charger can charge faster wirelessly at 25W, and using that you’ll need a separate power bank to carry with you on the go. If you have a spare cable with you, the Anker power bank can charge even faster at 30W via its USB-C port. This makes it a faster wireless charger than the Baseus Magnetic Power Bank that heads our list of the best MagSafe power banks. The Anker MagGo Slim is a serious contender for that crown and is my personal choice to carry in my backpack. The Anker MagGo 10K Slim can charge at 30W when using a separate USB-C to USB-C cable (iPhones 15 and 16), or at 20W for Lightning-era iPhones. The Anker MagGo 10K Slim can charge at 30W when using a separate USB-C to USB-C cable (iPhones 15 and 16), or at 20W for Lightning-era iPhones.Simon Jary / Foundry The Anker MagGo 10K Slim can charge at 30W when using a separate USB-C to USB-C cable (iPhones 15 and 16), or at 20W for Lightning-era iPhones.Simon Jary / Foundry Simon Jary / Foundry Anker MagGo Slim 10K vs Baseus 10K Power Bank Our two favorite magnetic power banks are now this slim Anker 10K MagGo model and one from Baseus that cleverly includes a built-in USB-C cable. The Baseus 10K Power Bank is more convenient with its cable as you can charge your iPhone 15 or 16 at 30W while it is clamped to the back of the battery pack. With the built-in cable you don’t even need to resort to the wireless charging, although you could wirelessly charge an iPhone 12/13/14/15/16 and use the USB-C to charge another compatible device. It mostly benefits owners of those more recent iPhones that feature an onboard USB-C charging port rather than the old-style Lightning port found on earlier iPhones. With the Anker MagGo 10K Slim, iPhone 15 and 16 owners can still charge faster (30W) by adding their own USB-C cable, but that means remembering to always carry one with you. So far, victory to the Baseus power bank. However, charging wirelessly, the Anker MagGo is much faster—15W compared to the Baseus’s 7.5W wireless charging. And both are matched at 30W USB-C wired charging. Three strong 10K magnetic power banks: Baseus 10K, Anker MagGo 10K Slim, and Anker MagGo 10K with kickstand. Three strong 10K magnetic power banks: Baseus 10K, Anker MagGo 10K Slim, and Anker MagGo 10K with kickstand.Simon Jary / Foundry Three strong 10K magnetic power banks: Baseus 10K, Anker MagGo 10K Slim, and Anker MagGo 10K with kickstand.Simon Jary / Foundry Simon Jary / Foundry Owners of iPhones 12/13/14 might appreciate the ability to add a Lightning cable to the Anker’s USB-C port and charge that way. Wired charging via Lightning is limited to 20W—a limitation set by Apple to ensure device safety and performance, not by the cable or the power bank. While the Anker power bank has a maximum output of 30W via the USB-C port when not using wireless charging, when using USB-C and wireless charging at the same time the USB-C port’s output will decrease to 12W maximum and the wireless charging output will be reduced to 5W. The same three power banks showing off their depth: Baseus, Anker Slim, and Anker with kickstand. The same three power banks showing off their depth: Baseus, Anker Slim, and Anker with kickstand.Simon Jary / Foundry The same three power banks showing off their depth: Baseus, Anker Slim, and Anker with kickstand.Simon Jary / Foundry Simon Jary / Foundry Slimmer by design For sheer convenience, then, the Baseus Power Bank with its built-in USB-C cable wins for owners of the iPhone 15 and 16, but if 15W wireless charging is fast enough for you, the Anker MagGo Slim is easier to pocket and carry around at just 0.58 inches thickness compared to the 0.8-inch Baseus. The Anker MagGo is also lighter:  7.05oz (200g) vs 7.3oz (206g). While beating it in raw numbers, that’s not a hugely noticeable difference when thrown into a bag with your keys, a water bottle and your MacBook. Anker has another 10K MagGo that is less slim but boasts a flashy LED battery level display and a built-in kickstand. Read or Anker 10K MagGo Power Bank review for more details. Recharging performance In our recharging tests, we drain an iPhone 15 Pro to 0% and then power up to 100% using the power bank. Then we drain it again and start the process all over again until the power bank is fully spent. On average, 10000mAh power banks can recharge the iPhone 15 Pro by around 160%. The two standout magnetic power banks in our tests have already been mentioned in this review. The Baseus Power Bank recharged up to 187% and the Anker MagGo 10K Slim to 188%—close enough to call out as a draw. Price The Anker MagGo Slim 10K costs $74.99 or £69.99. At $45.99 the Baseus Power Bank is cheaper, but if you value slimness the Anker MagGo can’t be beaten for size, battery capacity and speed. The Baseus is not on sale outside the U.S., while the Anker is on sale in many international markets including the U.K. The MagGo is available in up to four colors depending on your country and where you buy it—the pink and teal versions are available only direct from Anker. For more options read our comprehensive roundup of the best MagSafe and magnetic power banks. Verdict We love this magnetic power bank for its slim profile, mega recharging power and 15W wireless or 30W wired speeds. Owners of the iPhone 15 and 16 might prefer the Baseus 10K Power Bank for its integrated USB-C cable, but the Anker MagGo 10K Slim is more svelte and pocketable, and wirelessly charges at twice the speed.

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iPhone 16 faces sales block in Indonesia over investment issues
The iPhone 16 faces a ban on sales in Indonesia, with ministers insisting Apple renews a content requirements certification and makes further investments in the country before the newest model can be allowed to be purchased locally.Jakarta [Tom Fisk/Pexels]Like any other multinational, Apple follows local laws so it can conduct business in different territories. In Indonesia, it appears that certification and investment commitments may end up blocking sales of the iPhone 16 in the region.Industry minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasamita said on Tuesday that the iPhone 16 won't be sold in the country, unless certain conditions are met. These conditions, reports Channel News Asia, include maintaining investment commitments and a certification renewal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple opens massive research lab in China amid stiff iPhone competition
Apple has opened a huge new research lab in Shenzhen, China. The lab was first announced back in March, but the South China Morning Post reports that it became operational this week. Here’s what Apple has planned for the facility, and how it relates to struggling iPhone sales. more…

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Apple opens extensive research lab in Shenzhen, China; expected to employ over 1,000 people
Apple has established a new applied research laboratory in Shenzhen, China, reflecting its commitment to the world's largest… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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This USB-C travel hub is your new vacation bestie
This USB-C travel hub has it all: 10 USB ports, high-power USB PD charging, memory card slots and even wireless MagSafe. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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New Apple TV+ documentary ‘The Last of the Sea Women’ poised to be the sleeper hit of the fall
In “The Last of the Sea Women,” an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Indonesia asks Apple, Google to block China’s Temu to protect small merchants
Indonesia has called upon Alphabet's Google and Apple to remove the Chinese fast-fashion e-commerce platform Temu from their… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Russian MacBook Pro Leaks, Apple Ring, and Apple Intelligence on the AppleInsider Podcast
As analysts insist the Apple Ring is either cancelled or on track, as Russian YouTubers keep claiming to have an unreleased M4 MacBook Pro, the AppleInsider Podcast looks at who and what to believe plus what's happening with Apple Intelligence.This render may be your only chance to see what an Apple Ring could look likeThe iPhone 16 range is still new — and we're all still getting used to its Camera Control — but so much of the news this week has been about products Apple has yet to announce. For instance, the Apple Ring is unquestionably over, or it's undeniably going to launch in 2026.It's somewhat clearer that there will be an M4 MacBook Pro, that's certain. But various groups in Russia claim to already have several of them, which they appear to be keen to sell, except you can't buy any. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Indonesia requests Apple block Temu from the App Store
Apple has been asked by the Indonesian government to block the Chinese retailer Temu from the App Store, to try and protect small businesses in the country.TemuTemu has become a major force in online shopping in a short space of time, thanks to its low-priced inventory. However, in one country's case, it is trying to take action by making it harder to shop through it.The government of Indonesia has requested Apple and Google block access to Temu's app, so that citizens can't download it, reports Reuters. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Easy battery removal tech coming to iPhone 17 Pro, report claims
Macworld Apple’s 16-series iPhones launched as recently as last month, but the rumor mill never stops spinning. We’re already getting plenty of leaks and tips about the updates and new features coming to the next generation of iPhone in 2025—or in this case, existing features coming to a wider range of handsets. This fall, Apple introduced a new space-age battery adhesive on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus… but not the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. The adhesive “debonds” when an electrical current is applied, which makes it easy to remove the handsets’ batteries when you want to, but also means they’re held securely in place when you don’t. (We explain the tech in a separate article.) This is obviously helpful because the battery is one of the most likely to wear out and need to be replaced and easy removal helps make the repair simpler. Given how appealing that sounds, it makes sense that Apple would want to offer it on as many phones as possible–and particularly the premium models. And sure enough, the leaker Majin Bu yesterday claimed, based on “the information I have been able to get,” that the entire iPhone 17 lineup will get the new adhesive tech. https://twitter.com/MajinBuOfficial/status/1844367395844128940 It might seem odd that Apple would limit a new feature to the cheaper versions of the iPhone 16, when it very clearly wants to upsell customers to the Pro models. But this isn’t entirely unprecedented for new features which the company views as experimental. The budget 10th-gen iPad got a landscape-orientation FaceTime camera years before its more expensive siblings, but while we now view that as unquestionably an improvement, Apple may not have been so sure it would be positively received at the time. Similarly, there are rumors that next spring’s low-priced new iPhone SE will get the benefits of an in-house 5G modem before any other iPhone. It sounds like an odd strategy, but it minimizes the risk of a high-priced premium model running into unexpected problems. For all the latest news and rumors about next fall’s launch, check out our regularly updated iPhone 17 superguide. And if you’d rather not wait that long, make sure you get the best possible price on the current range with our in-depth guide to the best iPhone deals.

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Alcatraz AI Biometrics Bolsters Workplace Security
Managing any facility or organizational team now involves greater responsibility for safety, whether in workplaces, campuses, hospitals, or other settings. These challenges are driving demand for safer, opt-in hardware solutions. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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How to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet
Macworld Apple added the capability to add digital state IDs or driver’s licenses to Apple Wallet years ago, with the very first supporting states announced back in 2021. It’s a standards-based approach (ISO 18013-5) that is meant to be more secure and private than physical identification, as well as finally closing one of the last loopholes that make people unable to leave the house without their wallet. There are currently seven states/territories in the U.S. that support this capability, with another 11 having announced support in the future. Here’s how you add your ID to Wallet, and why you might want to. How to add your state ID or driver’s license to Wallet Adding your ID to Apple Wallet is simple. Open Wallet Tap the “Add” (+) button in the upper-right corner. Tap Driver’s License or State ID and select your state. Follow the on-screen instructions. You’ll be asked if you want to add your ID to just your iPhone or your Apple Watch as well if you have a paired Apple Watch. You will be asked to take photos of your current ID, likely the front and back, and also take some matching images of yourself. The phone will direct you to be in a well-lit area with a plain dark background and put your head in the frame. Then you’ll turn your head or make facial expressions (closing your eyes, opening your mouth) as directed by your phone. This information will be used to help match your appearance with your photo on record with the state. Think of it like a human making sure you look like the photo on your ID. Foundry Foundry Foundry List of supporting states/territories The seven states that currently support digital IDs in Apple Wallet are: Arizona California Colorado Georgia Hawaii Maryland Ohio The states and territories that have promised future support are: Connecticut Iowa Kentucky Mississippi Montana New Mexico Oklahoma Puerto Rico Utah Virginia West Virginia Where you can use it and why you might want to Your ID in Apple Wallet is more secure than carrying around a physical card that could be lost or could reveal personal information to someone you may not wish to have it. Digital IDs in Apple Wallet do not display any personal information other than your name. If you tap the (i) button to get more info, and then tap Driver’s License Info, your iPhone requires a Face ID or Touch ID login to see things like your address, date of birth, height, eye color, ID number, and so on. Information is ONLY ever transferred via NFC (which begins a secure Bluetooth LE data connection), not via barcode or anything else that can be easily copied. So, you never have to hand your phone over to a police officer, TSA agent, or anyone else, and even if you do, they can’t get your personal info without your authentication. Using your digital ID works a lot like Apple Pay. You hold your iPhone near the reader (which may be another iPhone), and a screen will pop up saying exactly which information you’re going to share. Double-tap the side button to approve it, just like approving a payment. Currently, police agencies do not accept digital IDs as driver’s licenses, so you’ll have to carry your physical card with you when you drive. But the TSA has implemented readers at checkpoints in some airports (see a map here), and some age-restricted venues have implemented readers, too. What’s more, apps that require age identification (like renting a car or ordering alcohol) can use the info stored in Wallet to provide proof of age. What’s nice about digital IDs is that they can transfer only the information needed, and nothing more. A bouncer who wants to check ID at the entrance to a venue would have a reader that shows your ID photo and simply confirms if you’re over 21, for example—they wouldn’t get your actual date of birth, ID number, address, or any other info they don’t need. The same goes for apps that need age verification. With the Apple Wallet implementation, nothing is transferred without your authentication, so not only do you not have to hand your phone over to anyone else, it wouldn’t even help to do so.

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AirPods fourth-generation review: AirPods Pro power for everybody
The new fourth generation AirPods have incorporated many of Apple's pro-level features into a compact, open-ear design that sounds great.AirPods 4th-generation review: AirPods 4 are Apple's most feature-packed budget set yetTechnically, there are two version of AirPods 4th-generation. There is a $129 version (on sale) that replaces the AirPods 2 and a $179 model (also on sale) that adds ANC, a speaker, and wireless charging.We've been trying them out the last few weeks alongside our AirPods Pro 2 — our go-to buds. But the open-ear design is quite comfy and is great for extended wear. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's largest research lab outside the US opens in China
Apple has opened a new testing and development lab for the iPhone and Apple Vision Pro in Shenzhen, China, with plans for 1,000 staff.Buildings in Shenzhen, China [Source: Pexels/Lywin]As first revealed when under construction in July 2024, the new research center is part of the company's expanding R&D efforts in China. According to the South China Morning Post, the new lab opened on Thursday, October 10, 2024.Situated in Shenzhen Park in Hetao, around seven miles from the Apple Holiday Plaza Shenzhen store, the lab currently spans 215,000 square feet. Expected to expand later, the lab is part of the region's Greater Bay Area economic development hub. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Asahi Linux Brings Support For AAA Gaming To Apple Silicon Macs
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Liliputing: The Fedora Asahi Remix GNU/Linux distribution is now shipping with alpha versions of OpenGL, OpenCL, and Vulkan graphics drivers that allow you to play some games on Macs with M1 or M2 series processors. But there are a few things to keep in mind. One is that most of the PC games you're likely going to want to play are designed to run on Windows PCs with DirectX drivers and x86 processors. So there's some emulation required to get them to run on Macs with ARM-based processors, a Linux-based operating system, and Vulkan drivers. Some of the work was also made possible by the folks at Valve, who developed the Proton software that allows many PC games to run on Linux. And during a live demo at XDC 2024, developer Alyssa Rosenzweig demonstrated the Steam game client loading and running on an Apple Silicon Mac running Asahi Linux. For that reason, it takes a lot of RAM -- according to the Asahi team, "most games require 16GB of memory due to emulation overhead." So you're probably not going to be able to do much entry-level gaming on an entry-level Mac with just 8GB of RAM. Some of the titles that have been confirmed to be playable include Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Control, Portal 2, and Ghostrunner. But there's a difference between playable and smooth. Developers say performance improvements will be required before "newer AAA titles" can run at 60 frames per second or higher. But less demanding games like Hollow Knight should run at full speed. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Maryland Apple Store staff file for union election
The Communication Workers of America says that over 70% of Maryland's Apple Bethesda retail and repair staff have filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.Apple Bethesda, Maryland. (Source: Apple)Following the Communication Workers of America (CWA) achieving its first collective-bargained contract with Apple for the Apple Oklahoma City store, it is now working with Apple Bethesda. According to the CWA, over 70% of the store's 59 workers have signed union authorization cards."We're honored to welcome the workers at the Bethesda Row Apple store in Maryland as members of CWA," said Johnny Brown, President of CWA Local 2108. "Increasingly more and more workers... are exercising their right to organize, bringing greater protections to union members in the tech and video game industry." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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I upgraded to the iPhone 16 Plus–and I have thoughts
Macworld Every fall Apple releases four new iPhones, but until last year I only had eyes for the Pro. Not the standard, not the mini or the Plus (depending on the year), and not the Pro Max. Just the Pro—a wonderful combination of high-end features and a compact body. But in 2023 that changed, mainly because my colleagues already had access to Pro and Pro Max review samples and it just made more sense editorially for me to ask for the Plus. I made this decision with bad grace and low expectations, thinking the phone would be the worst of both worlds: too chunky to slip in a pocket comfortably while lacking in specs and features. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed using the 15 Plus, and volunteered to try the 16 Plus this year—particularly as my colleague reckoned this was the best choice. But what is it like upgrading from an iPhone 15 Plus to a 16 Plus? Here’s what I learned from the process. The 16 Plus looks nicer. It just does That sounds odd, right? Considering that Apple has largely kept the same design this year. But I far prefer my new phone’s looks because of a few minor aesthetic tweaks. The colors, for one thing, are much more vibrant. I plumped for pink both times, but where the 2023 pink was a washed-out rose blush that looks almost white in photos, the 2024 pink is incredible. I discuss my thoughts on the importance of a good pink in a separate article. The pink iPhone 16 Plus (right) is a lot pinker. The pink iPhone 16 Plus (right) is a lot pinker.David Price / Foundry The pink iPhone 16 Plus (right) is a lot pinker.David Price / Foundry David Price / Foundry I also prefer the camera module on the rear, which thanks to the vertical configuration is less obtrusive, and the fact that the Action button means the case has no cutout on the lefthand edge. It’s just a cleaner, more satisfying look. The Action button is better, but not by much Here’s one of the downsides of using the 15 Plus last year: I’m out of touch when it comes to the Action button, one of 2023’s flagship Pro features. I’m using it for the first time now. Apologies if the following hot take has gone cold. Here’s my view. Having an Action button instead of a mute switch is clearly better, because it looks nicer (see above), is easier to use, doesn’t get clogged with dust, is presumably less prone to failure, and can be programmed to perform functions other than mute/unmute if you’d prefer. But the last one is the main benefit even though I don’t really see why you’d want to use any of the other core functions. Having easy access to a mute control is useful, and while using the 16 Plus I’ve never been willing to sacrifice that for a different control. I need the flashlight less often, and it’s already easily accessible via the Lock Screen; the latter point also applies double to the camera, which is accessible via the Lock Screen or the new Camera Control. Shazam is a proper niche function I can imagine myself using, what, a couple of times a year? For Magnifier, that figure probably rises to five or six times. And let’s face it, most people aren’t diving into Shortcuts to create their own actions. The only alternative use I can see for the Action button is Translate. If I go on holiday somewhere where I don’t speak the language, I will switch the button to that function and use my iPhone as a handy sci-fi translator. But for the rest of the year, it’s staying as a glorified mute switch. The camera is much better for close-ups, but that’s about it The camera is a crucial element of a smartphone’s armory, so I’ve been intensively testing out the 16 Plus’s photographic chops… and to be honest, 90 percent of the time, it’s not noticeably different. The main camera has been rebranded as “Fusion” which, you know, sounds good, the Ultra Wide aperture has improved from f/2.4 to f/2.2, and Photographic Styles have been updated. But none of that resulted, at least in my subjective experience, in better photos. Except for the new macro photography feature. Close-ups are much better and it’s not even close (no pun intended). If you spend a lot of your time taking photos of tiny painted models to post on the internet, this could be a huge benefit to upgrading. I really don’t like Camera Control. Not now, and probably not ever So the camera itself isn’t all that different, but the way you access it is. There’s a new button called Camera Control on the righthand edge and this lets you open the Camera app with one click, and take a photo with a second click. My problem with this is twofold. First, as mentioned previously, it isn’t especially needed: the Camera app is already easy to open by swiping right from the Lock Screen. Second, the button is placed in an awkward part of the chassis where my ring finger presses it unintentionally when I pick up the phone in my left hand, and where my right index finger can’t easily reach it when holding it two-handed in landscape orientation. It’s just a bit too far along the edge to be comfortable. (This may be an issue exclusive to the Plus model with its longer edges. I haven’t tried out the standard iPhone 16.) It needs to be, like, an inch further to the right. It needs to be, like, an inch further to the right.David Price / Foundry It needs to be, like, an inch further to the right.David Price / Foundry David Price / Foundry That’s before we get to the advanced controls. If you do a “light press” on the Camera Control, it lets you adjust the exposure, depth of field effect, zoom, style, and so on. Doing two light presses lets you switch between these. But these actions are so counterintuitive, so fiddly to get right, that I have no interest in using them… which means I’m unlikely to ever get better. The good news is you can turn it off. Wind noise reduction doesn’t seem to do much All four of the 16-series phones have a new feature Apple calls wind noise reduction, “which uses powerful machine learning algorithms to reduce unwanted noise for better audio quality.” I recorded myself talking into my phone like an idiot on a windy, rainy day with both the 15 Plus and the 16 Plus, but when I watched back the videos I didn’t notice any difference: in both cases, the wind was barely noticeable but the noise from passing cars very much was. You don’t notice the extra processing power. Like, at all Take a look at the specs sheet and you’ll notice that (at least in theory) we’re jumping forward two generations of processors this year: from the A16 Bionic on the 15 Plus to the A18 on the 16 Plus. Apple is cagey about the precise specs of its proprietary chips, but my speed benchmarking backed up the idea that this is a major step forward. The 16 Plus was about 25 percent faster than the 15 Plus across the Geekbench 5 and Geekbench 6 CPU tests, and an astonishing 45 percent faster in the GB5 Compute test. While that’s an impressive improvement on paper, however, the real-world effect is scarcely noticeable. There simply aren’t any iPhone tasks right now that need that much theoretical speed, and you are likely to find, as I do, that the 16 Plus does not feel any faster in practice. It does give you an extra year or two of future-proofing, however. Apps will grow more demanding to take advantage of the greater processing power appearing on the market. And of course, there’s Apple Intelligence. Speaking of… The iPhone 16’s pink color looks good all the way around. The iPhone 16’s pink color looks good all the way around.Connor Jewiss / Foundry The iPhone 16’s pink color looks good all the way around.Connor Jewiss / Foundry Connor Jewiss / Foundry And we’re still waiting for Apple Intelligence It feels odd to be coming to this last because Apple Intelligence is the tentpole feature, the upgrade around which Apple built the entire iPhone 16 launch. But it’s not here yet, and probably won’t be for several more weeks. It’s hard to know what to make of this. Most obviously, you can hardly expect customers to be as keen to upgrade if the main feature doesn’t arrive until almost two months after launch. But more insidiously, you’re asking people to buy their iPhone on the strength of a feature that nobody outside Apple Park has tested, and which may not (perhaps we should say “almost certainly won’t”) immediately live up to the hype. Apple has had to build its own AI platform largely from scratch and we cannot expect it to function as well as ChatGPT and other established rivals from day one. AI needs time and training data, and Apple hasn’t had much of either; it could take years for Apple Intelligence to hit its stride. Apple’s hardcore fans are sometimes accused–not entirely without reason–of buying the latest iPhone on launch day whether or not it’s a worthwhile upgrade. But at least, in the past, those fans had a rough idea of what to expect. This time Apple is getting them to crack open their wallets before anyone has sighted the main feature, and this seems risky for everyone. Conclusion: Worth an upgrade? If you’ve got an iPhone 15 Plus, I wouldn’t recommend that you upgrade to the iPhone 16 Plus. It doesn’t feel any faster, the camera is only better in one specific use case, and I don’t rate Camera Control at all. The colors are nicer, but that doesn’t justify spending this much money. If you must upgrade, at least wait until Apple Intelligence launches at the end of October. Then we can see if the main event is worth the price of admission.

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∞ The Dalrymple Report: Pinball Wizard, MacBook Pro leak, new Apple products
Who knew that Dave was an actual pinball wizard? Maybe not the one The Who wrote the song about, but who knows! Apple is dealing with what could be the worst product leak since the iPhone 4 when that device was found in a bar. There appears to be two M4 MacBook Pros that Russian Youtubers got their hands on. There are a bunch of new products rumored to be released over the next few months—Dave and I take a look at what's coming. Follow this podcast Show Notes: PSA: Install iOS 18 with Messages via satellite for your Hurricane Milton prep Apple Potentially Facing Worst Leak Since iPhone 4 Was Left in a Bar Apple eyes Nov. 1 as date for its next product release Here's Why You Shouldn't Use iPhone Mirroring on a Corporate Mac Apple Hosted a ‘Cozy’ Mini WWDC for VisionOS Could there come a day when Apple licensed iOS or iPadOS and we got 3rd party iPhones? 'Ted Lasso' to Return to Apple TV+ as Season Four Allegedly 'Confirmed' Shows and movies we're watching Music by John Williams, Disney+

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StopTheMadness Pro 10.0 released, adds significant changes to popular web browser extension
One of the coolest and most useful web browser extensions just got a nifty update, and it’s worth checking out. Jeffrey Johnson’s StopTheMadness Pro just hit version 10.0 and is currently available in the App Store. The update adds a number of fixes and improvements, including the following: StopTheMadness Pro helps prevent annoying web browser […] Source

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How to use two iPhones with one iCloud account
Macworld Years ago, a tech executive mentioned having a “day” iPhone and a “night” iPhone. The poor fellow was ribbed for months about it when he was more accurately describing an iPhone paid by work that had corporate restrictions on it and was subject to financial industry regulations and a personal iPhone that he didn’t conduct business on. Phrasing is everything. If you’re in a position where you need two iPhones, such as your company issuing you one for regulatory or other reasons for work, you can rely on a single Apple ID account to give you access to the same synced data, subscriptions, and digital purchases on both phones. (I have two iPhones: I have a current day-to-day one and a model a few years out of date that can run the latest iOS updates for testing betas and intra-device testing.) However, take care that you aren’t syncing information that should remain strictly on one phone. If that’s a severe concern–again, potentially for medical, financial, or government privacy reasons–you shouldn’t log into iCloud using the same Apple ID on both iPhones. Pay attention to Messages settings around phone numbers and iCloud email addresses you use (left) and syncing via iCloud (right). Pay attention to Messages settings around phone numbers and iCloud email addresses you use (left) and syncing via iCloud (right).Foundry Pay attention to Messages settings around phone numbers and iCloud email addresses you use (left) and syncing via iCloud (right).Foundry Foundry The main issue people run into is with Messages. In Settings > Apps > Messages (iOS 18/iPadOS 18) or Settings > Messages (iOS 17/iPadOS 17 and earlier) and Messages > Settings > iMessage (macOS), Apple lets you pick items in two groups: “You can receive iMessages to and reply from” (iOS/iPadOS)/”You can be reached for messages at”: All phone numbers and email addresses associated with an iCloud account appear here. You can deselect the phone number for the other iPhone on each iPhone. “Start new conversations from”: When you start a new conversation in Messages, the app doesn’t show you which account the person receiving it sees it coming from. However, you can select a phone number or email address from this menu. On each iPhone, you want to select a phone number associated with that iPhone if you don’t want messages to cross paths. Also with Messages, if you enable Messages in iCloud, all messages across all the devices with that switch turned on will sync—including across phones. Consider if that’s something you want. The option is found in iOS/iPadOS in Settings > Account Name  > Messages as “Use on this iPhone/iPad” and in macOS in Messages > Settings > iMessage as “Enable Messages in iCloud.” This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader John. 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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iOS 18.0.1 changelog updated, released
Following last week’s releases of iOS 18.01, some additional details have been discovered as to what the update provided in terms of bug and security fixes. The bug fixes are as follows: The security patches are as follows: Media SessionAvailable for: iPhone 16 (all models) Impact: Audio messages in Messages may be able to capture […] Source

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How to use the Show Library Folder option in macOS Sequoia's Finder
Apple has added a new option to Finder's Show View Options window, titled Show Library Folder items. Here's how to find it in macOS Sequoia.The macOS Finder iconThe Finder's View- >Show View Options window has long held a range of controls for changing the way the macOS Finder Desktop displays items and windows.You can use Show View Options on the Desktop itself, or in Finder windows. You can also set the selection of settings as the default. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Asahi Linux enables AAA gaming on M-series Macs via a pile of workarounds
If you're running Asahi Linux and want to game on your M-series Mac, then there's good news, but you'll probably want to play games literally in any other way until it is more streamlined — if then.Asahi Linux runs on M-series MacsThe Asahi Linux project continues to press forward with new features. It was able to become OpenGL 4.6 and OpenGL ES 3.2 conformant on Macs with Apple Silicon in February, and now there's a gaming push.An update from the Alyssa Rosenzweig blog says that Asahi Linux ships conformant OpenGL, OpenCL, and Vulkan drivers that can run games via the Asahi game playing toolkit. These tools integrate Vulkan 1.3 drivers with x86 emulation and Windows compatibility to run games — well, some of them in the existing alpha. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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