Soundcore Space One Pro headphones score with cush comfort, epic battery life [Review] ★★★★☆
Our Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review found the great-sounding cans bring big-time comfort, noise cancellation and battery life. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Google Gemini e-mail searches arrive ahead of Apple Intelligence
After initially adding Gemini AI-based searches to Google Workspace Gmail on Android, it's now being brought to iOS, as Google continues to build its lead on Apple Intelligence.In August, Google added a feature that allowed Google Workspace accounts to take advantage of the tech giant's Gemini AI services in Gmail. Now, that functionality is being made available on devices like the iPhone and iPad.Available on Google Workspace accounts, Gmail Q&A will let users make queries about the contents of their inbox, with Gemini answering prompts. The Google Workspace blog explains this can include things like viewing all unread emails or messages from a specific sender.Gemini can also summarize emails about topics brought up in the inbox, along with other more complex queries. Users could also use Gemini to answer other more general queries, without needing to navigate to their browser. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 16 reviews, photography, and battery life on the AppleInsider Podcast
Now we have the iPhone 16 range in our hands, opinion is split over whether this is a boring or a useful upgrade, but at least it's certain that the cameras are better and so is battery life.It's true that the new iPhone 16 range has improved battery lifeThis does seem to be a year when the most marked changes to the iPhone range have been in the regular iPhones instead of the iPhone 16 Pro. But host Wesley Hilliard disagrees vehemently with the "boring" criticism and William Gallagher is finding enough changes to be happy that he spent all that money.Key to both of your hosts, in rather different ways, is how the new iPhones work with still and video photography. Again, the regular iPhones have seen some long-awaited updates in this area, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is still the best. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Lionel Messi’s playoff debut will stream free on Apple TV, plus giant Times Square screen
Apple’s partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) is about to have a landmark moment. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami team just clinched a postseason spot, and Apple has plans to make the first Messi playoff match available to as big an audience as possible, on as big a screen as possible. more…

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∞ The Dalrymple Report: iPhone SE, AI generated podcasts, and Action button
There are rumors Apple is getting set to release a new iPhone SE with the new model giving up TouchID. Dave and I were stunned to hear what an AI generated podcast sounded like. It was very life like listening to the banter of the two hosts. Dave talks about his likes of the iPhone Action button. Follow this podcast Show Notes: Happy 100 to Jimmy Carter Pete Rose died Verizon Experiences Major Outage Across the U.S. Rumored new iPhone SE AI generated podcasts Next up for Apple Intelligence: Visual Intelligence iPhone Action Button Uptake Best Ways to Use the iPhone 16 Action Button Best thing about the Camera Control Shows and movies we're watching Under the Banner of Heaven, Disney+ Lupin, Netflix Our top shows

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Switching to a sit-stand desk was a game-changer for me
I’m very late to the sit-stand desk party, I know. My colleague Jeff Benjamin first made the switch way back in 2016, and Apple did the same for all its Apple Park employees in 2018. I’d so far been using a large custom-made desk, but there are two reasons that now seemed a good time to make a switch … more…

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Today in Apple history: Siri debuts on iPhone 4s
On October 4, 2011, Apple introduced the world to its intelligent voice assistant. The Siri launch marked the culmination of a long-term goal. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best earbuds for iPhone
Macworld Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles ‘know’). The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds we’ve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired headphones and a comparison of over-ear headphones read our comparison of AirPods Max vs other over-ear headphones. Updated October 2024 with Apple’s new AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. Best headphones and earbuds for iPhone 1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Pros Excellent sound quality Impressive noise-cancellation Useful app Cons Expensive Wireless case costs extra Spatial audio could be improved Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: $249.99 at Target $299 at Amazon$299 at B&H They’re not the cheapest earbuds around, but Bose’s QuietComfort range has long been a market leader thanks to its combination of high-quality sound and impressively effective noise cancellation. The recently released QC Ultra continues that trend, but introduces an improved design as well as a new immersive mode for spatial audio. The design of the Ultra is a little sleeker and more streamlined than previous models, with a smart metallic finish that is available in black or Smoke White. Bose has also modified the way that its rubber stability bands fit into each earpiece, helping them to sit inside your ear more securely. You get three sets of stability bands, and three sets of rubber eartips in different sizes, so the combination of the different bands and eartips should allow most people to get a good fit. The Bose app also includes a Seal Test option that can check the way that the earbuds are fitted and provide tips on getting a good fit. Sound quality is as good as ever, with the Ultra catching the sharp, shimmering sound of the cymbal crash that kicks off Blondie’s Rapture. The bass guitar riff bounces along like a playful puppy, and there’s a bright jangling sound to the lead rhythm guitar, but the Ultra has a keen ear and also picks out the quiet chugging guitar riff that hides further back in the mix. The immersive audio isn’t entirely convincing, but it does add a little extra reverb and spacey ambiance to more atmospheric tracks such as Cut by Low. And, of course, Bose’s noise cancelation is still ahead of the pack. It stamps down on the deep rumble of aircraft engine noise so effectively that I have to check the settings on my office iMac to make sure the audio file is still playing. The higher frequencies in our airport noise test are more challenging for most headphones, but the Ultra works well here too, leaving only a slight murmur of sound lingering way off in the background. Battery life is around six hours when using noise-cancellation, but spatial audio reduces that to just four hours. The charging case does provide three additional charges, though, and our only real complaint is that the standard USB-C case doesn’t provide wireless charging as well, so you’ll have to pay $49/£49.95 extra for the optional wireless case. 2. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Pros Excellent sound quality Supports Bluetooth 5.4 Very good noise cancellation IP54 rating for outdoor use Cons Higher price Slightly chunky design Apple users don’t need aptX Price When Reviewed: $299.95 Best Prices Today: $199.95 at Amazon$216.99 at Best Buy$219.95 at B&H I’ve always been a fan of Sennheiser’s headphones, so I was a bit worried when the company was taken over a couple of years ago by Sonova – a medical company that makes hearing aids. I needn’t have worried, though, as Sennheiser has been on a roll lately, launching new products on an almost monthly basis. Its latest update is the Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds, which, as the name suggests, is the fourth-gen version of this popular range of Bluetooth earbuds (and not to be confused with the larger Momentum 4 over-ear headphones). The TW4 is quite a big update too – as it should be, given that the price has increased from $249.99/£219.99. It’s one of the first sets of headphones we’ve seen that supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4, which includes new features such as Auracast, which is a kind of public announcement system based on Bluetooth. Auracast isn’t widely used yet – most Apple devices are still on Bluetooth 5.3 – but it can be used in public places such as airports or gyms to transmit music or audio announcements to lots of people all at once, so it will be an important accessibility feature in the future. Additional Bluetooth features include support for the latest high-quality aptX Lossless, and the new LC3 codec. Sadly, Apple still doesn’t support aptX, but – like previous models – the TW4 also includes the AAC codec for Apple devices too. Other improvements include a sturdy IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. And, along with four sets of ear-tips in different sizes, the TW4 also includes three sets of rubber fins, which fit into the outer ear and help to hold the earpieces in place, so the TW4 will be a good option for outdoor use and exercise. Battery life gets a small boost too, now lasting for seven hours when using noise-cancellation, and you can use the wireless charging case to fully recharge three more times as well. And, as always, the Momentum earbuds sound really great. They handle the sonic mash-up of Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Along with ease, finding room to pick out the taut, ticking percussion, fuzz-laden guitars and fizzing electronic keyboards so that you can hear each set of instruments clearly. You can hear the country drawl in Simpson’s voice as he snarls – “carve my name in the barstool baby – I’m gonna be here a while” – and the swooping bass drop that follows is guaranteed to get you dancing. Even the noise-cancellation seems to have improved on this model, and comes close to matching noise-cancellation leaders such as the AirPods Pro and Bose QC Ultra. 3. Apple AirPods Pro 2nd-generation (2023) Pros Fantastic audio quality Excellent noise canceling Best-in-class transparency mode New charging case features Better battery life Cons You can still buy better-sounding wireless earbuds No LE Audio, lossless, or hi-res audio Controls on the stems is still a bad idea Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: $157.95 at B&H$249 at Apple$297.50 at Amazon In September 2024 Apple announced that the AirPods Pro 2 will soon get the new hearing aid support. There are a few minor external changes for the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro, but most of the changes are on the inside. The 2022 model comes with four sets of eartips adding extra small (XS) to the mix – the original AirPods Pro only came with three tips. We found the extra small tips more comfortable, your experience may differ. The charging case now comes with a small metal lanyard loop – although Apple doesn’t actually sell a lanyard. There are speaker holes a the base of the case that can make a sound if you lose the AirPods while they are in their case. The original AirPods Pro lacked an easy way to control volume, so the fact that the second-gen model adds the ability to detect up and down swipes on the little flat area of the stem is useful. A swipe up or down changes the volume. As for what’s inside, the H2 chip in the 2022 AirPods Pro enables Adaptive Transparency, which is an enhancement of the Transparency mode on the original model. As a result of this mode you can choose to hear things that you might need be able to hear in your vicinity, but you won’t be deafened by them. In our tests the AirPods Pro 2 blocked more outside sound than the originals. We were impressed by how much better the new second-generation AirPods Pro sound compared to the first generation. Clarity and sharpness is improved and bass response is vastly improved. The bridge of the Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic” at 2:30 was just way too much for the old AirPods Pro to handle, but the new model had no trouble keeping up. The battery life is longer than it was for the original AirPods Pro and you can now use your Apple Watch charger in addition to charging via Lightning and other wireless charging methods. As with the iPhone 14-series and the 2022 Apple Watches, Bluetooth 5.3 is supported, however, it doesn’t appear that it’s being used for anything in particular right now. Perhaps a software update will bring new features in the future. Like the originals the AirPods Pro 2 offer Spatial Audio with head tracking, Conversation Boost to amplify speech in the direction you’re facing, one-tap pairing, audio sharing with another pair of AirPods (or Beats), quick switching to other Apple devices your Apple ID is logged into, and hands-free Siri. Read our full AirPods Pro 2 USB-C review 4. Beats Studio Buds+ Pros Fun transparent design (other colors are available) Improved ANC and sound quality Good battery life Priced well Cons Don’t sound as good as AirPods Pro Missing a few Apple ecosystem features No wireless charging Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: $129.95 at Walmart$129.99 at Target $169.95 at Adorama We felt that the original Beats Studio Buds outclassed AirPods Pro in several ways but lacked some Apple-specific features. 2023’s new Beats Studio Buds + improve on the originals. The Beats Studio Buds + beats Apple in terms of color choices with its retro frosted transparent plastic for both the buds and case. They are available in black and ivory too. The charging case is a bit larger than that of AirPods or AirPods Pro. There’s a USB-C charge port, but no wireless charging. The buds are average in size and fit and come with four sizes of eartips, so it’s easy to get a good seal, although in our testing we did lose the seal a couple of times while working out at the gym. There are actual physical buttons on the side of each earbud, which we found to be easier to use than Apple’s “squeeze the stem” AirPods control system. Beats says that these earbuds offer 1.6x better noise canceling and 2x better transparency than their predecessors. They still don’t match the AirPods Pro, but they are priced closer to the standard AirPods, which don’t even offer those features. The transparency feature isn’t adaptive. These second-gen earbuds offer improved ventilation and bigger batteries than the predecessors (battery life is rated at six hours with ANC, or nine without). Sound quality is also better than that of the previous generation thanks to new microphones and transducers. They sound better than 3rd-gen AirPods, but the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro deliver an overall superior audio experience all around. Some Beats products use Apple’s own headphone chips, but the Beats Studio Buds + do not. Because they lack Apple’s H1 or H2 chip, they miss out on many of the features of Apple’s ecosystem. Hands-free “Hey Siri” is there, as is instant pairing with your iPhone and support for the Find My app. But you don’t get instant switching between Apple devices, support for spatial audio with video, personalized spatial audio, Conversation Boost, or the in-ear detection that pauses playback if you take an earbud out. Instead, these buds support some Android features including Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch, and Find My Device. Surprising from a company owned by Apple. I enjoyed the design and usability of these Beats earbuds, and I’d take them over the AirPods any day, but I still find the latest AirPods Pro easier to recommend. Read our full Beats Studio Buds+ review 5. Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless Pros Great value for money Supports AAC and aptX Light, comfortable design IP54 water and dust resistance Cons Average battery life Noise-cancellation could be better Price When Reviewed: $199.95 Best Prices Today: $129.95 at Amazon$129.95 at B&H$129.99 at Best Buy Designed as a more affordable alternative to its Momentum earbuds, Sennheiser’s Accentum True Wireless is excellent value for money, providing good sound quality and noise-cancellation at a much lower price than Apple’s AirPods Pro. The Accentum also introduces a new design that is lighter and more streamlined than the rather chunky Momentum. The earbuds feel very light and comfortable to wear, and Sennheiser includes four different sizes of ear-tips to help you get a good fit. They’re sturdy too, with an IP54 rating for water and dust-resistance, so they can cope with life outdoors in this rather wet and windy summer that we seem to be having. The earbuds support AAC for Apple devices and aptX for Android, and the Sennheiser app includes some useful features, such as a five-band equalizer for fine-tuning the sound, and an adjustable ‘transparency’ control that lets in just as much sound as you need. Despite the lower price, the Accentum earbuds use the same 7mm drivers as the Momentum, which provide a healthy frequency response of 5Hz – 21kHz, and produce very good sound quality. The Accentum shows a delicate touch on the slow strings that open Madonna’s Frozen, allowing them to rise slowly and elegantly through the air. There’s a warm, silky tone to Madonna’s voice, but the Accentum can turn around suddenly and land the sharp drum beats with dramatic impact. Switching to something less ethereal, the deep electronic bass on Prime Evil by The Orb glides along with a firm, sinuous rhythm that gets the shoulders moving, while the jangling percussion adds an eerie, nervous energy to the track. The noise-cancellation features work well too – they don’t stamp out background noise quite as effectively as some of the Accentum’s more expensive rivals, but they’ll be fine for daily use when you’re out and about. Battery life is similar to the AirPods Pro, lasting for six hours when using noise-cancellation, while the wireless charging case gives you 2.5 additional charges. So while it might not be the best choice for long-distance travellers, the Accentum is a really good, affordable option for general day-to-day use when you’re wandering around town. 6. B&W Pi7 S2 Pros Excellent sound quality  Supports AAC and aptX Adaptive  Charging case supports wired audio Cons Expensive Modest battery life Noise cancelation could be better Price When Reviewed: £399 Best Prices Today: $252 at Amazon$268.99 at Best Buy$399 at B&W Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi5 was previously on our list of best earbuds, and the new Pi7 S2 is even better, boasting improved sound quality and noise-cancellation and an innovative smart charging case that does more than just top-up the battery. Available in black, white or dark blue, the Pi7 S2 earbuds are a little more compact than their predecessors, providing a more comfortable fit, along with three sets of ear-tips in different sizes. They’re sturdy too, with an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance, so they’ll be a good option for exercise as well as traveling. The earbuds support both Apple’s AAC and the aptX Adaptive codec for Bluetooth audio, so they’ll work with a variety of computers and mobile devices. However, B&W has come up with an ingenious smart charging case that makes the Pi7 S2 even more versatile. The charging case has a USB-C port for charging – and also supports Qi wireless charging too – but the USB-C port can also accept a wired audio input as well. There are USB-C and 3.5mm audio cables included, so you can connect the charging case to a wired music system, such as the music system in a gym, or the in-flight entertainment system on a plane, and the case can then act as a Bluetooth transmitter that streams the audio to the earbuds. This is a great idea, as it combines the convenience of Bluetooth wireless audio with the ability to connect to wired audio systems when you need to. The noise-cancellation features also work well when you’re in noisy environments such as a gym or on a plane – although they’re not quite as effective as the latest AirPods Pro. However, the Pi7 S2 wins hands-down when it comes to sound quality, with a wonderfully clear and balanced sound that works well for a variety of different musical styles. The bouncing bass on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish combines a relaxed, infectious rhythm with a firm, taut bass beat, but it copes equally well with the delicate violins and soprano vocal on Max Richter’s The Waves. The only real disappointment – especially at this price – is that the battery life is a modest five hours on a single charge. Fortunately, the charging case lets you recharge the earbuds three more times, so it should still be able to cope with some long plane flights when it needs to. 7. Creative Zen Air Pro Pros Great price Supports AAC Respectable noise-cancellation Wireless charging case Cons Lightweight plastic design Noise-cancellation can’t match the best Price When Reviewed: $69.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon$49.99 at Lenovo USA$69.99 at Creative Active noise-cancellation (ANC) is a standard feature with many modern earbuds and headphones, but it’s still an expensive feature that adds quite a lot to the overall price. For instance, Apple’s AirPods start at $129/£129, but you have pay $179/£179 to get ANC in the AirPods 4 with ANC, or $249/£229 to get ANC from the AirPods Pro, so we were impressed when Creative launched its new Zen Air Pro earbuds, which offer ANC for a very competitive $69.99/£59.99. And, unlike many more expensive models, the Air Pro even manages to include a wireless charging case as well. As you might guess from the name, the Air Pro bears more than a passing resemblance to Apple’s AirPods Pro, with rubber eartips and a small stalk that hangs down from your ears. Admittedly, the plastic earpieces and charging case don’t feel quite as sturdy as their Apple rivals, but the earpieces are rated IPX5 for water resistance, so they can cope with life outdoors when they need to. Battery life is also quite respectable, lasting for nine hours on a single charge, although using ANC does reduce that to six hours. The charging case brings the total battery life to 33 hours, or 22 hours with ANC. We were pleased to find that the Air Pro supports Apple’s AAC codec for Bluetooth audio (although the low cost means that there’s no aptX for Android users). It does a good job of handling the grinding, fuzz-drenched guitars on Supermassive Black Hole by Muse, but also shows a light touch on the fast percussion that skips through the chorus. It’s not fazed when I jump ahead a couple of tracks on the Black Holes album for the gentle Soldier’s Poem, catching the smooth, warm tone and all the details in Muse’s Queen-esque harmonies as they intone – “there’s no justice in the world…” The noise-cancellation feature also proves surprisingly effective for such a low-cost set of earbuds. It’s not quite as effective as some of its more expensive rivals, but the Air Pro still does a good job of reducing the low rumble of an aircraft engine during our listening tests. It does let in some of the more varied sounds in our test of airport background noise, but that’s also the case with many other headphones and earbuds, and the Air Pro’s noise-cancellation features represent excellent value at this price. 8. Apple AirPods 4 with ANC Pros Great overall audio quality Effective active noise cancelation Case with wireless charging support and Find My speaker Cons Fit is highly dependent on your personal ear shape Price compared to AirPods Pro Price When Reviewed: $179 with Active Noice Cancelation Best Prices Today: $178 at Amazon$179 at Adorama$179 at Apple The AirPods 4 with ANC offer many of the features found in the AirPods Pro 2, have a better fit than their predecessor, the AirPods 3, and have the same $179/£179 price tag. With each generation, Apple promises a better fit and Apple says these are “the most comfortable AirPods ever.” We did find them closer to being a proper fit than the AirPods 3, but every ear is different and your experience may vary. We find the AirPods Pro with silicon ear tips fit a lot better and securely, but they cost a lot more and some prefer the more open design of the AirPods. Apple offers the AirPods 4 in two variations: the $179/£179 model with active noise cancelation, and a cheaper $129/£129 model without that feature (below). The active noise cancellation feature includes two sound isolation modes: Adaptive Audio and Transparency. You also get Conversation Awareness, which was previously only available on the AirPods Pro. You’ll have to decide whether the extra features are worth the extra $50/£50. We think they are.  The effectiveness of the AirPods 4’s active noise cancelation is heavily affected by the open design, though. The AirPods 4 don’t absolutely cancel the noise around you. If you want “full” noise cancellation and you’re comfortable with silicon ear tips inside your ear canal, the AirPods Pro (above) are a better choice. We love the Conversation Awareness feature, where the volume automatically lowers when the AirPods 4 detects you are talking. It works better with one-on-one conversations rather than groups of people.  Sound quality is delightful for general-purpose, open earphones. The AirPods 4 handle loaded tracks like 311’s “Need Somebody” with ease; the bass in Real Boston Richey’s “Help Me” is clean, heavy, and lacks distortion. The guitars in acoustic tracks like Fog Swamp’s “Split the Sky” are crisp and clear. We were impressed with the clarity and volume of voice recordings in podcasts and during phone calls. They weren’t quite as good as with the AirPods Pro, but it was close.  The AirPods 4 USB-C case that comes with the $179/£179 model has a speaker to play alerts through Find My. It also supports USB-C or wireless charging and works with the Apple Watch charger as well as Qi chargers. (It doesn’t support MagSafe like the AirPods Pro case, but a MagSafe charger will work if placed correctly.) The cheaper model’s case only offers wired USB-C charging. If you use active noise cancelation, it shortens the AirPods 4’s battery life. When fully charged, Apple states a 4-hour listening time with the earbuds and 20 hours of charge with the case. Turn off ANC, and fully charged earbuds can last 5 hours, and the case adds 30 total hours. We got a bit better than that. The earbuds lasted 4 hours and 16 minutes. In the fully-charged case, their battery life was at 27 percent after five minutes–Apple says a five-minute charge provides an hour of life. The AirPods 4 with ANC offer numerous pro-level features, sound great, fit better than previous AirPods and offer extremely useful active noise cancelation. In short, the AirPods 4 are a great, all-around set of earphones. As long as they can stay in your ears. Read our full Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) review 9. Logitech Zone True Wireless Pros Connects via Bluetooth or USB wireless adaptor Weather-resistant design, and two carrying cases Certified for use with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet Active noise cancellation with ambient mode Cons Expensive Large earbuds may not suit everyone Price When Reviewed: 299 Best Prices Today: $224.99 at B&H$224.99 at Lenovo USA$299 at Logitech Logitech’s Zone True Wireless earbuds are even more expensive than Apple’s AirPods Pro, but they’re absolutely loaded with useful features, and there’s a particular emphasis on remote working as well as simply listening to music. Available in black or pink, the Zone earbuds make a great impression straight out of the box, as they arrive in a sturdy charging case that includes a little lanyard to help keep them safe. The earbuds are also rated IP68 for resistance to water and dust, so they’ll be ideal for running in the park or working out at the gym, and the outer section of the earbuds is covered with a mesh fabric to reduce wind noise during voice calls. Logitech even includes an additional padded carrying case, with room to hold the charging case and cables, so you can keep the entire kit safe when you’re traveling. I often have trouble getting earbuds to stay in place, and I was initially a little worried about the rather chunky design of the Zone earbuds, but they did fit more firmly than I expected and Logitech provides three sets of ear-tips in different sizes to help get a comfortable fit. The size of the earbuds also means that each earbud is able to house a 12mm driver, as well as three microphones to help with active noise-cancellation (ANC). Even the Logi Tune app impresses with its extensive range of features – starting with the fact that it’s available for Mac and Windows as well as iOS and Android, so you can use it to set up the earbuds when you’re preparing for a video call at work. The noise-cancellation features include an ambient mode that lets you hear some of the background noise around you if required. You can pair the earbuds with two devices at the same time and then quickly switch between devices as required, and there’s a five-band equalizer for fine-tuning the sound quality. The Zone is also certified for use with Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet for video calls. But, of course, none of those features would matter if the Zone didn’t deliver on sound quality. You’ve actually got two options here, as the Zone can be used as a conventional set of Bluetooth earbuds with your mobile devices, but also includes a USB wireless transmitter that can be used with Macs and PCs to provide greater range and reliability than Bluetooth. The sound quality is very good in both modes, and the Zone does well to dig right down to the gravelly rumble of Leonard Cohen’s voice on You Want It Darker. There’s a taut, rhythmic sound to the song’s slinky bass guitar too, but it still keeps an eye on lighter details, such as the crisp tap on the snares. Battery life is good too, providing 10 hours when listening to music with noise-cancellation turned off, or six hours when using noise-cancellation. The battery life is a bit lower for talk-time on video and voice calls, but still lasts for six hours without noise cancellation or five hours with noise cancellation, which should be more than enough for most work-related calls. The charging case also lets you fully charge the earbuds two more times, and there’s a QuickCharge feature that gives you one hour of battery life after just five minutes of charging time. There’s a USB-C connector on the case for charging, but it also supports Qi wireless charging too. Alternatively, if you’re a die-hard lover of wired headphones, then Logitech is planning to release a wired version of the Zone soon as well. 10. Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) Pros Improved design and fit Great price Cons No ANC No wireless charging Price When Reviewed: $129 without Active Noise Cancelation Best Prices Today: $119 at Amazon$129 at Apple$129 at B&H The AirPods 4 gain all the same design improvements as the AirPods 4 with ANC included above. They have a better fit than their predecessor, so should stay in your ears. They replace the $129/£129 3rd generation AirPods that used a Lightning port to charge, at the same price. Like the AirPods they replace these AirPods don’t offer wireless charging, but they do offer one hour more battery life than the AirPods 4 with ANC do. If you want Active Noise Cancelation you need to pay $50/£50 more to purchase the AirPods 4 with ANC, or look at one of the other options in this round up, many of which offer ANC for less. As well as missing out on Active Noise Cancelation, the standard AirPods 4 don’t offer Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, or a speaker on the case for Find My alerts. As mentioned they are not capable of wireless charging either. Otherwise, they’re the same though. The AirPods 4 have an H2 chip like the ANC model as well as the same audio quality, fit, and features. . 11. Sony WF-1000XM5 Pros The best-sounding earbuds ever Incredible noise canceling Clever smart features Hi-Res support Cons Fiddly on-bud volume controls Occasionally come loose Some connection issues Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: $298 at Adorama$298 at Amazon$298 at B&H Sony’s XM5 have better design, fit, battery life, and sound than their predecessor (the WF-1000XM4, which you can find below). We were glad to find a fourth ‘SS’ size of extra small eartips, and every size is polyurethane foam rather than silicone, which creates an airtight seal in the ear. The buds are a glossy plastic, but the touch-sensitive outer part is matt, as is the compact charging case. The buds are IPX4 splashproof (the case isn’t). That touch area allows for taps or holds to do things such as pause or play audio, toggle noise canceling, or change volume. Unfortunately, you can’t swipe to change volume, instead tapping four times on left for down and four on right for up – which isn’t the most intuitive. The WF-1000XM5 produce incredibly full, clear, detailed and balanced sound. They deliver exceptionally good audio range. ‘Speed of Plight’ by Loyle Carner is well rounded with humming bass and the crackle of vinyl record at the beginning crystal clear. I’d never noticed the light reverb on the drums on Violent Femmes’s ‘Blister in the Sun’ before I listened on the WF-1000XM5. The XM5 play audio using the common SDC or AAC codecs, but you’ll get the best sound quality if you are using an Android phone – iPhones do not support Sony’s LDAC Hi-Res codec, which is why these don’t rank higher in our chart. The XM5 are so good that I still enjoyed the audio quality when using an iPhone with bog standard bitrate Spotify streams. Sony says the XM5 have 20% better noise cancellation chops than predecessors, the XM4. They are very good indeed. The XM5 have three mics on each bud, up from two, to better help capture ambient noise. These mics also grant improved call quality. Wind reduction is also decent. You can connect two devices (iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac) at once, but you still need to manually connect each device if you are cycling between more than two. Unfortunately they aren’t clever enough to switch from iPhone to iPad if you start using that, even if they are already a paired device. The XM5 have great battery life and fulfilled Sony’s promise of eight hours on a full charge. The case can provide another 24 hours of total listening time. Those times are with ANC on, turn it off and the battery will last even longer. A three-minute charge gives an hour playback. Henry Burrell. Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review 12. Soundcore AeroFit Pro Pros Open-ear design for sport Large drivers, with strong bass Firm fit, with detachable neckband Supports AAC, LDAC codecs Cons Hooked earpieces may not suit everyone No noise cancellation Sound quality requires a good fit Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: $169.99 at Amazon$169.99 at B&H$169.99 at Best Buy Most earbuds include several sets of rubber eartips that are designed to fit firmly inside your ear canal, in order to provide good sound quality and block out background noise (and also to stop them falling out every five minutes). But, just recently, we’ve seen the introduction of a new type of ‘open ear’ earbuds, which tend to sit quite loosely in the outer ear instead (rather like Apple’s basic AirPods, whereas the AirPods Pro opt for a ‘closed’ design that does use rubber eartips). These open-ear earbuds tend to be designed with sport in mind, so that you can hear what’s going on around you while you’re jogging through the park, or working out in a crowded gym. That’s very much the case with the AeroFit Pro earbuds from Soundcore (which is a division of Anker, well-known for its docks and other accessories). Priced at $169.99/£149.99, and available in a variety of colours, the AeroFit Pro also has the hooked design that is common with many sports earbuds, and wraps around the back of the ear to hold them in place. And, just to be extra safe, the AeroFit Pro also includes a detachable neckband as well. I didn’t really need the neckband, though, as the hooks on the earpieces held them in place pretty well. However, I did find that the earpieces sat quite high in my ears, which felt a little odd, so it might be worth trying the AeroFit Pro in a store or a showroom to see how they fit you before buying. These open-ear designs can sometimes sacrifice a little sound quality in order to ensure that you remain aware of your surroundings, but Soundcore has made a good effort to provide the best possible sound quality. The AeroFit Pro houses 16.2mm drivers, which are far larger than most rival earbuds in this price range. It doesn’t quite provide the ‘thumping bass’ that Soundcore boasts about, but the electronic bass on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish did have a taut, firm beat to it. The bass didn’t overpower the sound either, with the AeroFit Pro lending a sharp snap to the finger-clicking on the chorus, and catching the breathy tone in Billie’s vocal. And, without noise-cancellation features to drain the battery you’ll get around 14 hours on a single charge, while the charging case lets you recharge three more times. Our only minor complaint is that the case doesn’t support Qi for wireless charging as well. How to choose earbud headphones There are a few factors to consider before you hit that buy button. Type Earbuds, or in-ear headphones, typically fall into three main categories: Earbuds – the type of headphones included with every iPhone and iPod and sit loosely in your outer ears. Although earbuds don’t produce outstanding sound, they’re compact and relatively inexpensive. Apple’s stock ‘buds are actually decent as earbuds go; you’re not going to get a huge upgrade in sound quality by simply replacing them with a different model. Still, there are a few alternatives out there that provide modest improvements if you’re looking for a new set. Recommendations: In-Ear-Canal Headphones: These headphones, also known as canalphones, use silicone or foam eartips that fit snugly—and fairly deep—in your ear canals. Like earplugs, they block most external noise, so they’re great for travel and noisy environments. They’re also capable of producing stunning audio quality. On the other hand, some people find canalphones to be uncomfortable, and the best ones come with an equally stunning price tag. If you decide to spend the big bucks on a set of high-end canalphones, we enthusiastically recommend going all-in and getting custom eartips—tips custom-made for your particular ears. The process requires an audiologist visit to get impressions taken of your ears, but the benefits include substantially better comfort. (On some models, you may gain better noise isolation and better sound quality, as well.) A step above custom eartips are custom in-ear monitors, which place the actual headphone circuitry in larger, custom-made earpieces. Canalbuds: Canalbuds, which occupy a middle ground between earbuds and in-ear-canal models, have become quite popular. Compared to canalphones, canalbuds generally use smaller eartips that sit just inside the ends of your ear canals instead of deep inside them. Good canalbuds easily best earbuds in terms of audio performance and noise isolation, but fall short of good canalphones in those areas. On the other hand, canalbuds tend to be more comfortable than true canalphones because they don’t sit so deep and don’t fit so tightly; they’re also usually less expensive. (See our in-ear-canal-headphone primer, linked above, for more information on canalbuds.) Battery life This is crucial as many in-ear headphones have tiny batteries that help to keep the weight down but may only last for a few hours. That might be fine if you just want to listen to some music while you’re working out, but won’t be much use on a long journey by train or plane. However, some in-ear headphones, such as Apple’s AirPods, also include a charging case that can top up the battery, so that’s something you should check on before buying any in-ear headphones. Noise canceling Some headphones are specifically designed for people who travel a lot or use headphones in noisy conditions and provide active noise-canceling (ANC) option that helps to block out background noise on trains and planes – although this can add quite a lot to the overall price of the headphones. Note this isn’t to be confused with passive noise isolation (or often referred to as canceling), which is just the way physically having headphones in/on blocks sound – like putting earplugs or ear defenders on. Sound quality We’d always recommend trying out any new headphones in a store or showroom whenever possible, but that’s not always practical with so many new headphones competing for your attention. Compatibility All the headphones here will work excellently with the latest iPhone models. It’s typical for them to support Apple’s preferred AAC codec, although some will have others too like aptX which is handy if you want to also use them with other devices like Android phones. It’s also worth noting that all Bluetooth headphones mentioned in this article are compatible with the Apple Watch – perfect when going for a run.

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iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 13 comparison: Upgrade if you can
Own an iPhone 13 and wondering if you should upgrade to the iPhone 13? Read this comparison to make the right decision. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 fix microphone and Passwords app security issues
Apple’s newly released iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 updates also include a pair of important security fixes. Apple says that the updates… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Best iPad Air deals this month
Macworld If you want a new iPad Air at a discounted sale price, you’ve come to the right place. We’re looking at all the best deals and prices for the iPad Air right now–including contract plans. The Air remains incredibly popular and is an excellent halfway house between the entry-level iPad and high-end iPad Pro–ideal for those who need some extra power but don’t want to spend hundreds on a device that may not replace their laptop.  In May 2024 Apple introduced a new iPad Air, equipped with the M2 processor and available in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch. Read about Apple’s iPad Air M2 and find out how it compares to the 2024 iPad Pro in our iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) comparison. PROMOTIONiPad Pro 13 Inch Case M4(2024) with rotating case and adjustable stand Level up and transform your iPad Pro with a double protect dual front and back case, an ultra-stable stand with a raised screen view, allowing you to enjoy a raised view of your iPad Pro closer to your natural eye. buy now Have a look at our iPad buying guide if you aren’t sure which model you want. You may also like to read: best iPad for kids, best iPad for students and best iPad for seniors. Best M2 iPad Air deals right now U.S: Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $559 ($40 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $729 ($70 off, MSRP $799) U.K: Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2): £559.97 (£39.03 off, RRP £599) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2): £749.97 (£49.03 off, RRP £799) Best M2 iPad Air deals The M2 iPad Air models launched in May 2024 and you can already get a deal on one of the new models. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Air. For even bigger savings, the previous generation of iPad Air models can be found in the section below this one. 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $599/£599 Retailer Price $549 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $699/£699 Retailer Price $653 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/£899 Retailer Price $832.88 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/£1,099 Retailer Price $1,020.63 View Deal $1079 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $799/£799 Retailer Price $748 View Deal $769.99 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/£899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $829 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB – Blue – (WiFi) $629 View Deal iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB – Space Gray – (WiFi) $655.75 View Deal iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB – Purple – (WiFi) $679 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/£1,099 Retailer Price $1,016 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,299/£1,299 Retailer Price $1,197 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best M1 iPad Air deals Below are the best iPad Air prices we have seen for the previous generation iPad Air, which will probably remain on sale for some time at resellers, despite being discontinued by Apple. Browse to find the model you want at the best price. Just beware that some prices may be for used iPads, so pay attention to the details. iPad Air (2022, 64GB, Wi-Fi) MSRP: $599/£669 (WAS £569) New Refurbished Retailer Price $399.99 View Deal $559 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Air (2014) 64GB – Silver – (WiFi) $100.84 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB – Purple – (WiFi) $387.02 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB – Blue – (WiFi) $398.96 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB – Starlight – (WiFi) $409.49 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB – Pink – (WiFi) $412.75 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB – Space Gray – (WiFi) $421.58 View Deal iPad Air (2020) 256GB – Green – (WiFi) $461.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices iPad Air (2022, 256GB, Wi-Fi) MSRP: $749/£849 (WAS £719) New Refurbished Retailer Price $499.99 View Deal $679 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $749.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air (2022) 256GB – Space Gray – (WiFi) $537.99 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB – Blue – (WiFi) $537.99 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB – Purple – (WiFi) $559.03 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB – Starlight – (WiFi) $589 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy the new iPad Air If you want to buy the iPad Air directly from Apple, you can order on the Apple US or Apple UK site. There won’t be any discounts available, though Apple does offer occasional carrier deals and trade-ins. Of course, Apple isn’t the only place you can buy an iPad Air, the usual resellers around the world will also be stocking the new model including the following. You can see the best prices at these resellers in live price comparison boxes below. US retailers Amazon Best Buy Target Walmart Adorama BH Photo Video Looking for other ways to save money. Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country. UK retailers Amazon AO Apple Argos – check stock by post code EE/BT Shop Box Currys eBuyer John Lewis Laptops Direct Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services, try the following: KRCS often is the first to discount new products iStore Select Western Computer iPad Air education discounts Apple offers students and staff in higher education discounts on the iPad Air in its Education Store. Apple isn’t the only retailer that offers student discounts, however. In the U.K., KRCS offers up to 10 percent off for qualifying students. University students and teachers can also save on the iPad Air with Apple’s Education pricing. See our full guide on to how to get an education discount. Or head directly to Apple UK or Apple US to get the educational discount. iPad Air carrier deals If you’re after the cellular model and want to buy it on contract, here’s where to look: U.S. carrier deals Verizon: Save $100 with an Unlimited plan and up to $200 when you buy with an iPhone. U.K. carrier deals O2: Get up to 6 months of Disney Plus (or another streaming service); plans start at £28.56 per month, £20 upfront for 1GB data Vodafone: Starting from £27 per month, £30 upfront for 1GB data (but check the details carefully; that’s a 48-month tablet contract and prices will go up) EE: Get 5GB data for £45 per month, with nothing to pay upfront Sky: Get 3GB of data for £28 per month and £12 upfront iPad Air refurbished deals The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself; the company rarely reduces prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you can grab a bargain that way. The iPads in Apple’s refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full year’s warranty. It’s not like buying secondhand. The U.S. refurbished store has a selection that includes: Standard iPad (8th and 9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th and 5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) Compared to the original price, you can save as much as $320 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Get a refurbished iPad at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) In the U.K. you’ll find a similar selection of iPads available from Apple’s refurbished store. You’ll find the following: Standard iPad (9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) There are savings of £480 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, compared to the original price. There is a large refurbished market for the iPad Air. We’d recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers for iPad Air offers: Amazon AWD Big Phone Store eBay Envirofone Affordable Mac Tech Trade 4Gadgets Handtec Laptops Direct Music Magpie Preloved Smartfone Store See our full guide to buying a refurbished iPad. If you’re interested in one of the other iPads, or just want the best deal, we’re also tracking the best iPad deals if you want to see other top offers. Also, check out our best Apple deals.

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How to fix an iPhone that won’t connect to Wi-Fi at a gym, hotel, or coffee shop
Macworld We’ve all been there. You connect to the guest Wi-Fi at a hotel, gym, coffee shop, or airport—someplace where a web page is supposed to pop up for you to log in or agree to some terms of use before they let you connect to the internet. This is called a “Captive Portal” and it can be a big source of frustration with public or Wi-Fi. If you find your iPhone or iPad will connect to the Wi-Fi but never opens the Captive Portal and doesn’t let you access the internet, try these four tips. Most of these apply to Mac as well. The main thing is to just be patient–it can sometimes take longer than you would expect for the portal to pop up. If it doesn’t open after 30 seconds, or it opens and is blank, try these steps. For more help with your iPhone Wi-Fi read: How to stop an iPhone dropping Wi-Fi connection and Wi-Fi or 4G not working: How to fix internet problems on iPhone. Disable extensions The web is a mess, and it’s not uncommon to run an ad blocker, script blocker, privacy protector, or other add-on for Safari that can block or modify content. But these can prevent Captive Portals from popping up, so you’ll want to disable them for the time being. Before you connect to the guest Wi-Fi, open Safari and tap the Reader button at the left side of the address bar. Then choose Manage Extensions and make sure your plugins are disabled. On a Mac, you’ll find an Extensions tab in Safari’s Settings menu. Then try connecting to the Wi-Fi again. Manual override If it’s not working even with your Safari extensions disabled, you can force the Captive Portal to open manually. When connected to the Wi-Fi, open Safari and go to captive.apple.com/hotspot-detect.html. Foundry Foundry Foundry This often redirects to the Captive Portal for the Wi-Fi you’re connected to and you’re good to go. Sometimes it will show what looks like a blank page with the word “Success” in very small type in the upper left. If you see that, you may have connected to this portal before and you’re authorized and reconnected—just try going to another site to see if it works now. Forget and reconnect Sometimes you get stuck in a sort of purgatory where your iPhone thinks you’re authorized and the Wi-Fi system thinks you’re not. One of the best ways to deal with this is to forget the Wi-Fi network and join it again. If your device says you’ve joined the Wi-Fi network (but don’t have internet access), open Settings, Wi-Fi, and tap on the name of the Wi-Fi hotspot you’re connected to. Then tap Forget This Network at the top of the screen, and then Forget on the confirmation pop-up. Foundry Foundry Foundry You can then try reconnecting to that hotspot again. Try NeverSSL As a last-ditch effort, you can try the NeverSSL page. SSL (secure sockets layer) is prominent on the web these days. Browsers go to great lengths to use encryption, strong authentication, etc. That’s a very good thing! But sometimes if a Wi-Fi management system is not behaving well or conflicting with the security features of your browser, it can prevent the Captive Portal authorization page from popping up. Connect to the Wi-Fi, then type http://neverssl.com into Safari’s address bar. You’ll be taken to a page that doesn’t use SSL, HTTP 2.0, HSTS, or anything else. Just an old, antiquated, insecure HTTP 1.0 page. Sometimes this ancient insecure HTTP request will be just the thing to cause the Captive Portal login page to display.

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AAPL earnings call on October 31 will include early iPhone 16 sales
The AAPL earnings call for Q4 2024 has been scheduled for October 31, and will give our first official hint about early iPhone 16 sales. The fiscal quarter covers July to September. Pre-orders for the new iPhone models opened on September 13, with the phones available in Apple Stores from September 20, so launch orders will be included in the iPhone revenue … more…

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Cupertino wins and loses millions over California's Apple tax ruling
Apple's home city of Cupertino has been granted a win in a dispute with California over its tax dealings with the iPhone maker, but it's only for the short term.Apple Park in Cupertino (Source: Apple)In 2023, California state argued that Cupertino was profiting unfairly from how Apple paid tax there. Specifically, any sale of any kind in California was attributed to Cupertino, entirely leaving out other counties and jurisdictions.As well as the clear benefit to Cupertino of getting the value of state-wide taxation, there was an advantage to Apple. Apple would pay 7.25% state sales tax, of which 1% would go to Cupertino — and then Cupertino would pass over a third of that income right back to Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Do Apple’s iOS charging limits actually do anything for battery health?
Macworld With the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, Apple added a new battery management feature where users can charge those phones to a maximum of 80 percent instead of 100. It’s also possible to view the charging cycles in the battery settings. These features have carried over the the recently released iPhone 16 lineup. Why stop charging at 80 percent? It has to do with battery chemistry and the effects of charging over the long haul. A lower percentage results in fewer full charging cycles, which helps extend the viability of the battery. But charging to 80 percent means you effectively have less charge on your phone for your daily use. So the daily sacrifice worth the long-term effect? We wanted to find out. Macwelt (Macworld’s sister site in Germany) held a survey on Facebook Germany, asking readers to post screenshots of their battery settings and enter their charging behavior–whether they always or almost always charge to 100 or only to 80 percent. In less than 24 hours, we received more than 100 usable responses. To visually assess the influence of charging behavior on battery health, we have presented the responses in a combined box and Beeswarm plot.

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Apple releases macOS Sequoia 15.0.1, iOS 18.0.1, and iPadOS 18.0.1 updates, focus on bug fixes
If you were waiting for the bug fix release before updating to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia 15, now’s the time to find the “Software Update” button on your device. Apple has released iOS 18.0.1, iPadOS 18.0.1, watchOS 11.0.1, visionOS 2.0.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.0.1 intending to address iPhone touchscreen issues and other […] Source

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Rumor: Next-gen Apple Pencil could detect colors and textures
It’s the patent applications that sometimes show when something really interesting is around the corner. Apple may be planning a version of the Apple Pencil that features a real-world equivalent of the eye-dropped/sample tool found in image applications. Per an Apple patent application in 2019, Apple created a document concerning an Apple Pencil that could […] Source

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How to use new Messages text effects and formatting in macOS Sequoia and iOS 18
Macworld Apple added a new kind of effect in Messages in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 18 that let you apply basic styling to selections, like bold or underline, and animate text with effects. These text effects and formatting are completely separate from the message effects Apple added a few releases ago that apply to the whole of a message sent. To access text effects, type a message or part of one in a conversation in Messages that uses iMessage. (These effects can’t be sent as part of SMS/MMS or RCS messages.) Then, select anything from a single letter to the entire message. Apple provides multiple ways to access effects and formatting. In iOS/iPadOS: Tap the Text Effects button that appears at the far right of the Quick Type bar. With selected text, choose Text Effects from the pop-over menu. Type a word with a repeated letter, like “Whoooooo” and the Quick Type bar suggests the Bloom effect for that word. (I haven’t yet found other suggestions.) Apple’s blooming suggestion appears when you type a letter three times or more in a row. Apple’s blooming suggestion appears when you type a letter three times or more in a row.Foundry Apple’s blooming suggestion appears when you type a letter three times or more in a row.Foundry Foundry In macOS: Control-click/right-click and select a format from the contextual menu or choose Text Effects to pick an effect. Choose a format or effect from the Format menu. The latest version of Messages lets you format and add effects to text selections. The latest version of Messages lets you format and add effects to text selections.Foundry The latest version of Messages lets you format and add effects to text selections.Foundry Foundry On any device with a keyboard: Use Command-B, -I, or -U for bold, italic, or underline. Strikethrough lacks a keystroke. Recipients can see effects and formatting only if they are running the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS. Otherwise, the text in an iMessage appears plain as always. Apple has limited formatting to bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough. The eight effects are big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, jitter. A little emphasis goes a long way. A little emphasis goes a long way.Foundry A little emphasis goes a long way.Foundry Foundry Formatting is relatively easy to apply on a Mac, but more awkward without a keyboard on an iPhone or iPad. I’ve already started using formatting because it helps clarify intent (or highlight book titles in italics). Some people have already come up with primitive animations using text effects and emoji, but I wonder how often text effects will be used on a regular basis because of the steps required. 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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OWC Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure review: Top performance, doubles as a hub
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Nearly 600MBps with HDDS, 900MBps with SSDs Hardware RAID Accepts 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives USB, HDMI, SD Card, and Ethernet ports Cons Pricey Our Verdict Though a bit pricey for pure storage purposes, the fast Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure also offers SD Card, USB, HDMI, and ethernet ports to function as a peripheral hub. Additionally, the RAID is hardware-, not software-based, making it operating system-independent. Nice. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price OWC 3 View Deal $299.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When Reviewed$329 unpopulated Best Prices Today: OWC Gemini Thunderbolt 3 dual-bay HDD enclosure Retailer Price OWC 3 View Deal $299.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket OWC’s Gemini, dual-bay Thunderbolt 3 HDD/SSD enclosure trounced the G-RAID Mirror in our testing, making it the fastest HDD RAID enclosure we’ve tested. While the Gemini will accept 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, its hefty size best suits 3.5-inch hard drives. Why would you consider hard drives in this age of super-fast SSDs? Massive capacity (currently topping out at 32TB per drive!) and the ability to stream even 8K video just fine. OWC Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure: Features The most important features of the Gemini are its two 3.5-inch, SATA 6Gbps drive bays. These allow for up to 64TB of capacity (using two of the previously linked Seagate 32TB Exos) running in striped RAID 0, or 32TB in a safer mirrored RAID 1 array. That’s a lot of space for stuff, either way. The Gemini is stylishly rendered in black metal (not plastic!) with a faceplate featuring fine mesh panels surrounding a solid center panel that houses the activity lights and a full-sized SD card slot. The enclosure measures approximately 9.5 by 5.5 by 3.25 inches (23.8 by 14.7 by 8.5 centimeters) and weighs about 6 ounces shy of 4 pounds (1.6 kilograms). With that weight pressing non-skid rubber feet onto your desk, this puppy isn’t going anywhere. Especially after you install hard drives that add well over a pound apiece. My first instinct was to pooh-pooh the need for Thunderbolt 3 with hard drives, which generally can’t use all its bandwidth. But darned if the Gemini didn’t outstrip (marginally) what’s possible with plain USB 10Gbps, which is the norm with less expensive RAID boxes. The hind quarters of the Gemini is where the ports are. The hind quarters of the Gemini is where the ports are. The hind quarters of the Gemini is where the ports are. The choice of Thunderbolt also allows the Gemini to serve as a hub; it has two USB 10Gbps ports, a full-sized HDMI display port, and a 2.5Gbps ethernet port in addition to the two Thunderbolt 3 ports and the front SD card slot. The 2.5Gbps ethernet is a nice perk–my home network is 2.5Gbps, as I’ve found it’s fast enough and doesn’t produce nearly as much heat or use as much energy as 10Gbps. Also on the back of the Gemini is the RAID mode switch (RAID 0, RAID 1, independent, and span), the reset button, a Kensington lock port, and the DC power jack. Speaking of which, the Gemini’s AC adapter is 12 volts and 10 amps which should handle any HDDs you add, as well as the power needs of any attached peripherals Our Gemini arrived unpopulated, but adding drives is easy. Just remove two screws from the back plate, and you can slide the chassis out for easy access to the side-by-side bays. As noted, both 3.5-inch HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs are accepted. Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure: Price Alas, the Gemini ain’t cheap. Even unpopulated it sets you back $330. From there, it’s available in a variety of capacities using either HDDs or SATA SSDs. HDD flavors are 4TB/$470, 8TB/$600, 12TB/$700, 16TB/$800, 24TB/$980, and 40TB/$1030. SSD models will run you $480 for 1TB, $595 for 2TB, $830 for 4TB, and $1350 for 8TB. Those aren’t outrageously priced like Apple’s upgrades, but you’re still likely to save some money if you buy the Gemini unpopulated and add your own drives. You can of course also leverage anything you have lying around. Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure: Performance The Gemini proved surprisingly fast with hard drives in RAID 0. Almost 100MBps quicker than the SanDisk G-RAID Mirror using the same 24GB WD UltraStar DC HC580 HDDs. Admittedly, these are very fast HDDs. Your performance will vary according to what HDD you use, and I can’t vouch for what OWC ships inside the Gemini. However, most modern, high-capacity HDDs transfer data at 250MBps or better. As you may also use SATA SSDs, we tested with a pair of them as well. They proved faster. Duh. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD AmorphousDiskMark results. We’re not sure about why the slow write rate in the RAID 0 HDD test. No other benchmark agreed. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD AmorphousDiskMark results. We’re not sure about why the slow write rate in the RAID 0 HDD test. No other benchmark agreed. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD AmorphousDiskMark results. We’re not sure about why the slow write rate in the RAID 0 HDD test. No other benchmark agreed. Though OWC offers its SoftRAID software that the company claims will deliver better performance, we opted for the Gemini’s hardware variety as that’s part of what you pay for. And if you use a common file format such as exFAT, you can use hardware RAID cross-platform, including on Linux, which SoftRAID does not support. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD Disk Speed Test results. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD Disk Speed Test results. The RAID 0 HDD, RAID 1 HDD, and RAID 0 SSD Disk Speed Test results. We also ran the HDD configurations through sister publication PCWorld’s test suite. As you can see below, the Gemini summarily trounced the G-RAID Mirror. We’re not sure why, as the SanDisk (WD) product is also hardware RAID and Thunderbolt 3. The Gemini was clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in CrystalDisKMark 8’s sequential throughput tests. The Gemini was clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in CrystalDisKMark 8’s sequential throughput tests. The Gemini was clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in CrystalDisKMark 8’s sequential throughput tests. Again, the Gemini cleaned the G-RAID Mirror’s clock performance-wise in both our 48GB transfers and 450GB write. The Gemini was again, clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in our 48GB transfers. The Gemini was again, clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in our 48GB transfers. The Gemini was again, clearly faster than the G-RAID mirror in our 48GB transfers. The Gemini was nearly twice as fast in RAID 0 writing a 450GB single file as the G-RAID Mirror (sorry to keep mentioning this SanDisk), which bodes very well for the unit’s performance streaming video. Again, the type of hard drive you use can impact performance significantly. To the tune of several hundred megabytes per second if you go really cheap. The Gemini ruled once more in writing the 450GB single file. The Gemini ruled once more in writing the 450GB single file. The Gemini ruled once more in writing the 450GB single file. Though the G-RAID Mirror offers the unique Pro-Blade modular NVMe SSD port, which we like quit a bit, the Gemini is otherwise a significantly faster box. Should you buy the Gemini Thunderbolt 3 RAID enclosure? If you want very fast, operating system-independent RAID storage, then yes, the Gemini is a great box. It’s pricey, but doubles as a Thunderbolt 3 dock. A most worthy product from OWC.

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