'Ted Lasso' season 4 rumored to start filming in London in early 2025
The rumored fourth season of the Apple TV+ sports comedy "Ted Lasso" will allegedly start production in early 2025, but it's still unclear if the star of the show will be involved.Ted Lasso [Apple TV+]Rumors about the supposed fourth season of the Apple TV+ hit show Ted Lasso have previously given hope to fans about its existence. It now appears that the show will start pre-production within months.According to sources of Sigmund Judge, the fourth season will begin pre-production in January. Shoots for the show will start in London from early 2025, the X post continues. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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New Oura Ring 4 enhances comfort and dynamic health sensing
Shipping of the new health-tracking Oura Ring 4 -- sure to spark new speculation on when Apple will launch its own -- begins October 15. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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India’s Tata partially resumes production at iPhone factory hit by fire
Tata Electronics has it has partially restart operations at its fire-damaged plant in Tamil Nadu, India. The plant manufactures components… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Best over-ear headphones: AirPods Max vs the competition
Macworld Large over-ear headphones have taken a bit of a backseat in recent years, overshadowed by the success of Apple’s AirPods and other pocket-size earbuds (sometimes referred to as true wireless stereo headphones, or TWS). Larger over-ear headphones do still have some important advantages, though, and they’re starting to make a bit of a comeback. There are a lot of low-cost over-ear headphones that only use Bluetooth to provide wireless audio, but the best over-ear models also tend to provide one or more wired connections via a USB-C interface or a 3.5mm audio connector (or both). Apple has always focused purely on Bluetooth for wireless audio, ignoring the fact that you really need a wired connection to play the high-quality lossless and high-res audio formats that are now available on Apple Music and other streaming services. That is a weakness with the expensive AirPods Max, which rely on Bluetooth alone, and can’t even play the best audio formats provided by Apple’s own streaming service. Apple has plenty of competition in this space, including traditional hi-fi manufacturers, such as Bowers & Wilkins, who have decades of expertise producing over-ear headphones that can meet the demanding standards of audiophiles and hi-fi buffs. Apple also has competition from within its walls in the shape of Beats, an Apple subsidiary, which has been known to produce superior and less expensive headphones than Apple. On that note, compared to the Beats Studio Pro (at just $349.99/£349.99) the AirPods Max is left looking very overpriced at $499/£499. The AirPods Max had a minor update in September 2024 when Apple added USB-C and refreshed the colors on offer. You can now get the AirPods Max in blue, purple, Midnight, Starlight or orange. The price didn’t change. These larger headphones have other advantages too, most obviously starting with the fact that they can use larger drivers–the mechanism inside the earpiece that produces the sound you listen to–providing a more powerful and detailed sound. Larger earpieces can also provide longer battery life, with many of Apple’s rivals providing far more than the 20-24 hours of the Beats and AirPods range. So here’s our guide to some of the best over-ear headphones currently available for use with your Mac, iPhone or iPad. Here we are concerned with over-ear headphones, also known as on-ear, cans or full-sized headphones. We cover the different styles of headphones separately, see: Best earbuds and Best wired and USB-C headphones. Updated October 2024 to add details about the refreshed AirPods Max. Best Over-Ear Headphones for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 1. Beats Studio Pro Pros Lightweight Good compatibility with Apple and other devices 3.5mm and USB-C audio input Excellent battery life Clean and balanced audio Cons Headband is a little stiff No ear detection Price When Reviewed: $349.99 Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Target $249.95 at Walmart$349 at Adorama While Apple’s AirPods Max are now more than nearly four years old (albeit with a minor September 2024 update), Apple’s subsidiary, Beats, has launched a set of over-ear headphones that cost less, deliver better sound and offer most of the AirPods features, including one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing (although not instant switching!), Handoff to Apple Watch, hands-free “Hey Siri” support, and Find My support. They even support personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking. You’ll find all the necessary controls built natively into iOS, as you would expect from of a product from an Apple-owned company. There are a few missing Apple features, such as ear detection (which would stop them playing when you took them off) and they don’t feature Apple’s H-series headphone chips (even though some Beats products do). Instead, they offer a proprietary Beats processor which allows them to more easily support Android features. The Beats Studio Pro sound really good. The low end has the clarity and punch of AirPods Max, but the high frequencies are noticeably crisper. The built-in DAC supports hi-res and lossless audio up to 24-bit/48KHz. Adaptive noise canceling quality is excellent, though perhaps not as good as the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro. Noise canceling is not supported in USB-C wired mode. The headphone’s mic can be used as mic input on your Mac or PC (though the quality is not up to the standard of a good dedicated headset). They are less comfortable to wear than the AirPods Max. The ear cushions don’t have the soft velvety feel of AirPods Max, and the headband is much stiffer, but they are lighter (260 grams compared to 384 grams). They fold up to easily fit in a bag and come with a real carrying case. On the left cup, you’ll find integrated controls concealed by the b. These are standard play/pause/advance/back control buttons. You’ll also find a standard headphone jack with audio input fully supported without any dongles or adapters. On the right cup you’ll find the power button which is also used to enter pairing mode, or you can double-click it to change noise canceling modes between Signature, Entertainment and Conversation. There is also a USB-C port for charging that can also be plugged any supported audio source for audio input. We got around 4 hours of playback time from a 10-minute charge. A full charge takes around 2 hours. Beats claims 40 hours of battery life with ANC off and 24 hours with ANC on. That’s about 20 percent better than AirPods Max. Even if they weren’t $200 cheaper, we’d recommend these over the AirPods Max. The lack of ear detection is a bummer, but Beats Studio Pro delivers betters sound, battery life, controls, and compatibility, and they weigh a lot less too.-Jason Cross Read our full Beats Studio Pro review 2. Sonos Ace Pros Comfortable Stylish and premium feel Transfer sound from Sonos soundbars Top-notch noise cancelling and transparency Cons Sonos App upon release is in rough shape Pricey Price When Reviewed: $449 Best Prices Today: $439 at Amazon$449 at Adorama$449 at B&H Sonos has waited almost 20 years to make a pair of headphones, and its first wearable sound product is worthy of the brand. It’s expensive, but delivers excellent quality in an effortless way. Audio quality is roughly on par with AirPods Max—you’ll want to bump up the treble just a touch in the Sonos app’s EQ settings—and noise cancelling holds its own against contemporaries from Bose, Sony, et al. Of note, the transparency mode (Sonos calls it “Aware Mode”) on the Ace is the only one I’ve ever heard that’s as good as Apple’s. Battery life is fantastic, rated at 30 hours with ANC enabled, and you get some nice features like full USB-C audio mode (with support for lossless audio) and a standard 3.5mm plug for analog sources. If you also sometimes use Android products, you’ll be happy to know you give up none of its features, and in fact with some Android headsets (those that use AptX Lossless) you can even do lossless audio over Bluetooth. One downside is that it slightly defies expectations for those who are used to Sonos products; unlike all the Sonos speakers, this is not a Wi-Fi connected product that directly streams audio. Rather, it’s Bluetooth only and streams audio from your phone or other Bluetooth device. If you have a Sonos soundbar, a long-press of the main “content key” will instantly swap the audio from your soundbar to your Ace headphones and back again. This feature only works with the Sonos Arc soundbar now, but others are coming in a software update later in 2024. One word of caution: The Sonos Ace launch was accompanied by a forced update to the Sonos app that the community has not been happy with. It’s prettier and more streamlined, sure, but it’s quite buggy and lacks important features the old app had. Sonos has already pushed out a couple updates to rectify some issues and more are on the way, but you might want to check on the app situation before you buy. Read more of our impressions of the Sonos Ace here. -Jason Cross 3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Pros High-grade audio reproduction Bose’s best-ever active noise cancellation All day wearability Immersive Audio Cons While improved, battery life isn’t state of the art Immersive Audio can be gimmicky Price When Reviewed: $429.00 Best Prices Today: $429 at Amazon$429 at B&H$429 at Best Buy The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are pricy, at $429/£449.95 which is more than the $399/£319 Sony WH-1000XM5, but they are still cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max at $499/£499. They do offer excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation, though, which goes a long way to justify the price. They also support aptX streaming, and feature Bose’s CustomTune technology for personalizing the headphones’ audio to your unique ears. There’s also a spatial audio option. Operational controls are minimalist. On the right-hand cup, there are two buttons and a thin thermal volume strip. Sliding a finger up or down the strip adjusts the volume. Tapping and holding the strip activates one of several shortcuts. A second button performs several functions such as play and pause the music, answer or decline a call. A long press lets you cycle through audio listening modes including Quiet, Aware and Immersion. There’s also a Wind Noise Suppression feature. Immersive Audio feature is particularly impressive, but doesn’t suit every music type. On-Head Detection circuitry senses when you put them on and take them off, so there is no need for the power button. The manufacturer says they will auto-shut off after 24 hours of idle time. Run time is quoted as up to 24 hours and they achieve a full charge in less than three hours The headband is soft-touch pleather and the memory foam in the ear cups feels premium grade. It seals and cushions reasonably without being bulky and resided comfortably on my head almost all day long. –Jonathan Takiff 4. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Pros Hi-fi sound quality Luxurious design Bluetooth with AAC, aptX USB-C and 3.5mm wired connections Cons Expensive A little heavy (320g) Price When Reviewed: $699.00 Best Prices Today: $499.99 at Amazon$699 at B&H$699 at Best Buy Apple surprised a lot of us when it (finally) added USB-C and 3.5mm wired inputs to the Beats Studio Pro. However, hi-fi specialists Bowers & Wilkins have been using USB-C to provide lossless and high-res audio with their PX range of headphones since 2017. It’s a little pricey – at $699/£599 it’s even more expensive than the AirPods Max – but the design and sound quality are impeccable. Available in black or tan, the padded headband and earpieces feel absolutely luxurious (although the leather covering might not suit everyone). The adjustable cast-aluminum armatures look very smart and are sturdy enough to cope with life on the road when you’re traveling, and there’s a hard-shell carrying case included as well. The 40mm drivers support Bluetooth with support for both Apple’s AAC and aptX Adaptive for Android users. As mentioned, there’s a USB-C interface for wired connections and lossless audio, and a 3.5mm adaptor is included for good old-fashioned analog audio as well. The sound quality is as good as you’d expect from a company with B&W’s hi-fi heritage. There’s an icy clarity to the steel guitar on You Can’t Trust Violence by Low, and the band’s harmonies are smooth as silk, even as they repeat the chilling chorus of “no, you can’t trust violence…”. There’s a nice bass sound too, bouncing along with a firm, infectious rhythm on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, and contrasting well with the sharp, precise finger snaps that set the pace and drive the track forward. The noise-cancellation features work very well too, and with 30 hours of battery life when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation the Px8 is a great option for frequent fliers or commuting on a train. The luxurious design and sound quality of the Px8 are worth every penny, but if you’re on a tight budget then you can still find the previous Px7 S2 model available online with a recent price cut to £299, which makes it a real bargain. –Cliff Joseph Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 review 5. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Pros Competitive price Impressive battery life Supports AAC, aptX Adaptive Good carrying case and accessories Cons  2.5mm line-in connector  Some users may require a USB-C adaptor Price When Reviewed: $379.95 Best Prices Today: $249.95 at Amazon$299.95 at Adorama$379.95 at B&H The first set of headphones that I ever bought in my student days was made by Sennheiser, but the company isn’t trading on nostalgia with its Momentum 4 Wireless, which provides excellent sound quality and features at a competitive price. This fourth-generation Momentum is a bit more compact and streamlined than its predecessors, with the weight now reduced to just 293g in order to ensure that it’s light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Even so, Sennheiser has still managed to squeeze an impressive range of features into the headphones, starting with 42mm drivers that are larger than those used by most of its rivals. These also provide an impressive frequency response of 6Hz – 22KHz, which again beats most rival headphones in this price range. Unsurprisingly, the Momentum 4 provides excellent sound quality. It digs deep and delivers a taut, menacing bass pulse on You Should See Me In A Crown by Billie Eilish. The higher frequencies work well too, capturing Billie’s whispered vocals with great clarity, and picking out the edgy ticking of percussion that gives the song its manic energy. The digital features are right up to date as well, with Bluetooth 5.2, and support for both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android. The USB-C port on the right earpiece can be used for charging, but also supports USB audio for wired connections, and there’s a 2.5mm analog line-in connector too (with cable provided). However, the USB cable provided by Sennheiser is USB-A-to-USB-C, so you’ll need to provide your own USB-C adaptor for Macs and iPads that only have USB-C. The noise-cancellation features work very well, and Sennheiser’s Smart Control app lets you adjust the level of noise-cancellation manually, by using a slider control, or you can just select the ‘adaptive’ option which allows the Momentum to monitor background noise and adjust the noise-cancellation automatically. But, even with all those features, the really outstanding feature of the Momentum 4 Wireless is its battery life – lasting for around 60 hours even when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together. There’s a good set of accessories too, with a hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor provided for when you’re traveling. And, with a competitive $379.95/£309.99 price, the Momentum 4 Wireless even manages to undercut the price of the new Beats Studio Pro as well.-Cliff Joseph 6. Beats Solo 4 Pros Excellent Apple & Android support Great battery life USB-C and 3.5mm audio support Cons No ANC Design is dated No on-ear detection Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Target $199 at Amazon$199.95 at Adorama It’s been a while since Apple-subsidiary Beats updated its more affordable on-ear Solo headphones. More than seven years, to be exact. As you would expect, a lot has changed. The Apple W1 chip has been replaced with a proprietary technology platform that supports features in both Apple and Android devices. Apple users get personalized spatial audio with head tracking and hands-free “Hey Siri” support in addition to all the older stuff (one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, and Find My support). For non-Apple users there’s support for Google Fast Pair, cloud pairing with your Google account, Find My Device and multi-point pairing for seamless audio switching. Sound quality is improved compared to the previous generation, as it should be. There is support for USB-C audio output and input, and it is possible to charge and play USB-C audio at the same time. Over USB-C or 3.5mm you can listen to lossless audio (unfortunately the sound reproduction of these headphones is not good enough to notice). Sound is going to be limited by the fact that these are on-ear headphones, lacking the larger diaphragms of over-the-ear models or the tight in-ear fit of earbuds. There’s a power button on the bottom of the right earpiece. You need to use this because there is no on-ear detection to automate things. The left earpiece has a big button for play/pause/forward/reverse and to trigger the voice assistant. Pressing above or below that button changes the volume. Beats claims 50 hours of battery life, likely a result of the lack of active noise cancellation, which is probably the biggest strain on battery life. The lack of ANC, which is expected on all but the cheapest earbuds and headphones, could be seen as a disadvantage. The earpads are soft, but the spring tension makes the pressure a little uncomfortable after long listening periods when I wear my glasses. This is a common problem with on-ear headphones and a reason why over-the-ear cans may be more comfortable. The new models replace the old micro-USB plug with USB-C. – Jason Cross Read our full Beats Solo 4 review 7. Master & Dynamic MW75 Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Master & Dynamic Master & Dynamic is a relatively young company, having been founded in New York barely a decade ago, but it quickly developed a reputation for the impressive craftsmanship and sound quality of headphones such as the MW75. Priced at $599/£549, and available in a variety of colors, the MW75 oozes quality, constructed out of lightweight aluminum and tempered glass, and with a padded headband and earpieces wrapped in soft leather (although, of course, the choice of leather may not be to everyone’s taste). The earpieces are relatively small for an ‘over-ear’ headphone, though, and some people might find the fit a bit snug. The little control buttons on the earpieces are also rather small as well. It’s got a classy design on the inside too, with 40mm drivers that are constructed out of Beryllium – a very rigid material used in many high-end hi-fi systems in order to reduce vibration and distortion that might affect the sound quality. The MW75 supports Bluetooth with both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android, and there’s a USB-C port for wired connections with support for lossless and high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz. There’s also a USB-A adaptor included for older computers, a 3.5mm adaptor for analog input, and a 6.3mm adaptor for use with high-end hi-fi equipment. Travelers will also appreciate the smart, fabric-covered hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor, as well as healthy battery life that lasts for 28 hours when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together (or 32 hours without noise-cancellation). The noise-cancellation features are very effective and, like most headphones these days, the MW75 includes an ambient mode that lets in some of the background noise when required. However, there’s also an additional ‘voice’ mode that helps to pick out people’s voices if you’re in an office or perhaps waiting for a flight announcement in an airport. But, as always, the sound quality is key, and the MW75 provides excellent clarity and detail right across the spectrum. It provides a deep, ominous rumble for the electronic bass on Max Richter’s Shadow Journal, but it doesn’t allow the bass to overwhelm the piercing clarity of the violin, or the gentle ambient sound-cloud of electronic loops that swirl lightly through the air.-Cliff Joseph 8. Yamaha YH-E700B Pros Strong sound quality Bluetooth with AAC and aptX Adaptive 3.5mm audio connector Good app for customizing sound Cons No USB audio A little heavy (335g) Price When Reviewed: $350 Best Prices Today: $291.72 at Amazon$349.95 at B&H$350 at Yamaha Yamaha has decades of experience producing musical instruments and audio equipment for professional musicians, and it brings that audio expertise to its YH-E700B headphone. Yamaha gets all the basics right, with large 40mm drivers that are designed to reduce distortion and provide an impressive 8Hz – 20KHz frequency response. The YH-E700B uses Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless audio, with support for both AAC for Apple devices and the latest aptX Adaptive for our Android-toting friends. There’s also a 3.5mm connector to provide a wired connection, although it’s disappointing that the USB-C connector on the headphone is only used for charging, and doesn’t provide USB audio input too. And, since the YH-E700B is an update for Yamaha’s older YH-E700A headphone, it also provides improved noise-cancellation features – which are very effective – and an ambient mode that lets you listen out for background sounds when you need to (but watch out, as the original YH-E700A is still on sale online, so make sure you buy the correct model). The internal mics used for noise-cancellation also work with Yamaha’s Listening Optimiser technology to scan the inside of your ear canal to create a personalized sound ‘profile’. And, if you want to fine-tune the sound even further, then Yamaha’s Headphone app includes a five-band equalizer with a variety of presets and the ability to create two custom presets as well. That set of features ensures that the YH-E700B provides excellent sound quality. The headphone’s 8Hz low-end digs really deep for the slinky bass guitar riff on Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker, and Cohen’s own voice has a terrifically deep and world-weary tone. But the YH-E700B handles higher frequencies well too, with a crisp, sharp stab on the percussion that sets the pace, and a smooth velvet tone on the choir that joins in on the chorus. And, with an impressive battery life of 30 hours when using noise-cancellation – or 32 hours if you switch it off – you can enjoy that high-quality music even on the longest journeys.-Cliff Joseph 9. Logitech Zone Vibe Pros Affordable Bluetooth headset Adjustable boom mic with mute Supports AAC for Apple devices Cons No noise-cancellation for music No spatial audio No wired inputs Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Amazon$79.99 at Best Buy$79.99 at Logitech US Canada and Mexico Most headphones just focus on the music side of things, with features such as spatial audio or noise-cancellation to enhance the listening experience, but Logitech takes a different approach with its Zone Vibe range of headphones. It’s more affordable than many of its rivals and focuses mainly on office use, for people who may work in call centers or customer support, or perhaps need a headset for video calls when working from home. There are currently two versions of the Zone Vibe available from Logitech, with the Vibe 100 being a basic Bluetooth headset that costs $99.99/£109.99. There’s also the Vibe 125, priced at $129.99/£129.99, which uses the same headset but also includes a USB wireless adaptor for use in busy offices that may have a lot of Bluetooth devices that could potentially cause interference and affect call quality (there’s a third model as well, although this is designed for large corporate users and is only available from specialist business suppliers). The headset weighs just 185g, which is very light for a large over-ear headset such as this, as it’s designed for people who may have to wear it all day long while they’re at work. It also has a boom mic for voice calls, which can be folded up out of the way in order to quickly mute the mic as well. There are no fancy audio features – there’s a noise-canceling filter on the microphone to keep your voice clear for calls, but the earpieces don’t provide active noise-cancellation (ANC) for listening to music. However, the headset supports Apple’s AAC codec for Bluetooth audio and provides good sound quality for both calls and music. It delivers a clear, detailed sound for the dense production on Kate Bush’s The Big Sky, and manages to balance the song’s huge avalanche of drums and percussion very well, without overlooking more delicate details such as the gentle tambourine that shimmers away in the background. Battery life is good too, with 20 hours of listening time, or 18 hours of talk time for voice calls. And, paying good attention to detail, Logitech’s Tune app is available for Macs and Windows, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices, so you can easily get the Zone Vibe set up when you’re preparing to take voice or video calls at work.-Cliff Joseph 10. Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT Price When Reviewed: $179 Best Prices Today: $179 at AmazonNot Available at Adorama Austrian Audio makes high-end headphones and microphones for musicians and audiophiles, and they also make more affordable headphones, such as the Hi-X25BT, which provides impressive sound quality for a very affordable $179/£135. As the name suggests, the Hi-X25BT does include Bluetooth to provide a wireless option when required, with an impressive 30 hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode. It’s not at its best with Bluetooth, though, as it doesn’t support either Apple’s AAC or AptX for Android, relying on the more basic SBC codec for wireless audio.  The emphasis, therefore, is more on using the Hi-X25BT as a set of wired headphones via its USB-C connector. Austrian includes two cables with the headphones, with a USB-C-to-3.5mm connector that provides standard analog audio, or a straightforward USB-C cable that provides digital audio from an iPad, Mac or other devices that have USB-C. There’s also a USB-A adaptor included too, and I had no trouble using the Hi-X25BT with both USB-A and 3.5mm connections on my aging office iMac. I also found a Lightning audio adaptor from Belkin in my desk draw, which allowed me to use the Hi-X25BT with a Lightning connection on my iPhone as well – although, of course, this isn’t included with the headphones, so you’d need to provide your own adaptor for an iPhone. And, as you’d expect from a company with Austrian’s Hi-Fi background, the sound quality is great, thanks to 40mm drivers with impressive 12Hz – 24KHz frequency response. The cymbal crash that starts Blondie’s Rapture rings out crisp and clear, with a loose relaxed feel on the jangling rhythm guitar. The song’s bouncing bass line works a treat too, and never gets lost in the mix as can sometimes happen with less precise headphones.–Cliff Joseph 11. Apple AirPods Max (2024) Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $449.99 at Walmart$538.99 at Amazon$545 at B&H The AirPods Max are quite comfortable, despite their heavy weight of 384 grams. They look good, thanks to their smooth matte finish on the aluminum closed-back earpieces, the stainless steel rods in the band, the fine mesh of the ear pads and canopy headband. The headband and soft, deep, breathable ear pads are comfortable enough to wear that the weight isn’t too much of a bother (although if you run with them on you’ll feel the bulk). The controls are simple, intuitive, and unobtrusive. There’s a digital crown like that on the Apple Watch along and a single button on top of the right earpiece. The crown controls volume and playback (skip forwards and backward, press and hold for Siri, etc). The button toggles between noise-canceling and transparency mode and turns noise-canceling on. Audio reproduction matches other high-end premium wireless Bluetooth headphones. Apple has tuned the AirPods Max to boost bass and mid-high frequencies a bit, which most listeners will probably find quite pleasing. The bass has kick when it’s called for, and it’s clean with no distortion. The active noise canceling excels at clearing away irregular sounds like traffic, general office disturbances, or background talking. Apple’s transparency mode, which allows you to have a conversation while still listening to the music, sounds clear, natural, and normal. Since the September 2024 update, the AirPods Max charge with USB-C, but prior to that used the Lightning connector. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack. To listen to lossless audio, or if you’re editing video and want to eliminate the latency of Bluetooth, you can at least now plug them in via USB-C. If you have an older iPhone then you may still be able to buy the older Lightning-equipped version. We aren’t keen on the Smart Case that the AirPods Max ship with. It’s a case that hardly covers the headphones and doesn’t do anything to protect them. The case does evoke a low-power mode to save battery, but that’s about it. Apple promises a battery life of 20 hours of listening time with noise canceling enabled, which isn’t quite as good as the competition. Charging is fast: just 15 minutes on a basic 5-watt power adapter took us from 20 to 44 percent But, the biggest problem is the price. At $549/£499 it’s difficult to recommend AirPods Max when the competition costs $200/£200 less. At least the price has come down in the U.K. in recent years. You do get what you pay for though: build quality is unmatched and there are some clever design flourishes. But there are all the compromises we’ve mentioned above. The main reason to get AirPods over other headphones is their seamless integration with your Apple ecosystem. They pair just by holding them near your iPhone, switch easily to your Mac or iPad, and you can change settings and get firmware updates within Settings instead of requiring a separate app. One of the coolest features of the AirPods Max (and AirPods Pro) is Spatial Audio, whereby Dolby surround is massaged into a sort of faux-3D sound stage. Initially only available on the iPhone and iPad, Spacial Audio now works on Apple TV and (Apple silicon) Macs too. See Best AirPods deals.–Jason Cross Buying advice Full-size headphones fall into two categories: closed and open. Closed models block out some degree of external noise (and also keep your music from disturbing others), while open models, which some people prefer sonically, let more noise in and out. Note that to reach their potential, many full-size models (open or closed) require more juice than others. For the most part, the main differences between models relate to comfort and sound quality, but not all full-sized headphones are equal and there are some other features that may interest you. To help you find the perfect set of over-ear headphones, here’s what to look (and listen) for. Noise-Canceling: If you’re not a fan of in-ear-canal ‘phones, but you want something that can filter out external noise such as airplane engines, train rumblings, or the hum of a crowd or noisy office, consider investing in a good set of noise-canceling headphones. These headphones sample outside sound and then pipe in an inverse audio signal to “cancel out” a good deal of monotonous noise. (For more on the technology and its limitations, see my review of noise-canceling models from a while back.) Although they don’t usually sound as good as comparably priced in-ear-canal headphones, noise-canceling models are easier to put on and take off, and they let you hear what’s going on around you. Noise-canceling headphones are available in canalbud, lightweight, and full-size models, but full-size models tend to provide the best noise isolation and audio quality. Wireless/Bluetooth: If you think being tethered to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod is a drag—or, for the gym rats, an equipment-snagging hazard—consider going wireless. You can stream audio to stereo Bluetooth headphones from Macs; iPad; and iPhones. Most Bluetooth headphones also double as headsets, letting you seamlessly switch between music and voice features. Specs and sound quality: As I noted in our speakers buying guide, you should generally ignore manufacturers’ specifications—especially frequency-response numbers. There’s no standard testing methodology for headphone frequency response, and many vendors exaggerate their specs for marketing reasons. Even if specs were accurate, they wouldn’t tell you much about how a particular set of headphones actually sounds. Instead of reading specs, use your ears. (If you can’t audition a product in person, read reviews from a source you trust.) As with speakers, a quality set of headphones reproduces audio with good balance between the treble (upper), midrange, and bass (lower) frequencies, producing full, rich sound while preserving detail. However, because of their especially small drivers (speakers), headphones present a unique challenge when it comes to bass response: Unlike huge speaker woofers that you can not only hear, but feel, the drivers in most headphones can’t reproduce the visceral impact of low bass—you may be able to hear the lowest frequencies, but you probably won’t be able to feel them. We point out this bass issue because some vendors address it by emphasizing certain bass and upper-bass frequencies to give their headphones more “kick.” This helps the headphones stand out from other headphones in the store, and some people—especially those who use their headphones when exercising or for beat matching—really want that visceral impact. But such headphones often become fatiguing to listen to over time. If you’re interested in accurate audio reproduction, be careful not to be wowed by emphasized bass. (The same goes for exaggerated treble detail.) The best approach is to audition a set of headphones for several hours—or, even better, several days—with a variety of music. If the headphones still sound great at the end, there’s a good chance they’ll satisfy you over the long run. Headset functionality and inline control modules: Many current headphone models include, right on the cable, an inline module with a microphone and one or more remote-control buttons. At the minimum, the remote features a single multi-function button for controlling media playback; making, taking, and ending phone calls; and taking advantage of iOS’s Siri and Voice Control features. You may also find dedicated volume-up and -down buttons, as well. The module’s microphone can be used to talk on the phone, make voice recordings, and give Siri and Voice Control commands. Fit/comfort: Unlike most consumer-electronics devices, you actually wear headphones. So how well a set of over-ear headphones fits your head plays a significant role in your long-term satisfaction (or lack thereof). We include a few comfort-related tips below when describing the different headphones, but reading about a particular style is no substitute for actually giving a product a test drive (or a test run, as the case may be).

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Apple TV+ has three of the best shows on air right now
Did you recently watch Wolfs and need more recommendations for Apple TV+? Or are you just always on the hunt for good TV, whichever service might have it? Let me recommend three excellent shows currently airing on Apple TV+. more…

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Deals: Silver Apple Watch Series 10 all-time low, iPad Smart Folio, up to 30% off leather and metal bands, and more
Joining ongoing all-time low prices on the new black Titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2, today’s deals are headlined by the best offer yet on the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 with the silver aluminum case alongside a host of brand new metal and leather band options with exclusive discounts and deep launch deals. From there we move over to some of the very first price drops on the official 11-inch M2 iPad Apple Smart Folio covers, new lows on M4 iPad Pro configurations, and a host of accessories for Macs, iPads, iPhone 16, and more.  more…

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NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition hits the basketball court
Get in on the action with “NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition”, the latest edition of the definitive basketball game for Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Standalone Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac (no subscriptions) now available
Microsoft has released a new standalone version of Office 2024 for macOS, offering users an alternative to a Microsoft 365 subscription… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Today in Apple history: CEO Michael Spindler denies Apple is a ‘lame duck’
On October 3, 1994, BusinessWeek published a profile of Apple as it struggled under the leadership of CEO Michael Spindler. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Rare Macintosh prototype with proprietary Apple drive set for record-breaking sale
An extremely rare early prototype of the first Macintosh is coming up for auction later this month. Here’s what makes it so special. more…

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Pair faces 20 years in jail over iPhone fraud scheme [Updated]
A fake iPhone fraud scheme tried to get Apple to replace 5,000 bogus iPhones with real ones worth about $3 million. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best iPhone chargers: How to pick the right USB-C power adapter
Macworld If you’ve ordered a new iPhone recently, you’ll notice that the box is a whole lot slimmer than in previous years. That’s because the bulkiest accessory is gone: the power charger. Apple has removed the power adapter from all iPhones it sells, so you need to bring your own. If you’ve been using Apple’s feeble old 5W adapter, it’s a perfect time to upgrade. Apple now supplies a cable in all iPhone boxes to allow for fast charging, so all you need is the right charger. Here we list our favorite trusted iPhone chargers—many of which do more than the plain Apple-branded charger, and nearly all of which are much smaller. Lightning or USB-C for iPhone? When we talk here about USB-C chargers, we mean the port on the charger, not on the iPhone. Starting with the iPhone 15 family, Apple has switched the port on its iPhone from Lightning to USB-C. But iPhones older than the 15 with the Lightning port should still hunt out a charger with a USB-C port as only these offer fast iPhone charging. Older phones will use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, while the iPhone 15 series will have USB-C at both ends. Which wattage charger for iPhone? It’s important to consider the amount of wattage a charger will provide to your device. For years, Apple supplied “good-enough” 5-watt chargers in the iPhone box, which take about 2.5 hours to fill up your iPhone. The newest iPhone models require a charger that can handle 20 watts or greater for fast charging—30W will charge recent iPhones even faster. You can fill up about 50 percent of an iPhone 15 or 16’s battery in about 30 minutes with the right adapter. The latest iPhones can take in around 30W of power, so aim for that as a minimum for your iPhone charger. Higher wattages mean you could use the charger for your MacBook, too. Wired and wireless iPhone charging? From the iPhone 8 on, iPhones have the ability to be charged wirelessly. The iPhone 12 and later also feature Apple’s superior MagSafe wireless charging technology that uses magnets to make the connection with the wireless charging pad more efficient; check out our roundup of the best MagSafe chargers, most of which require one of the USB-C wall chargers tested here. Magnetic wireless chargers come in different charging speeds: 7.5W for MagSafe compatible, 15W for certified MagSafe and Qi2, and 25W on Apple’s newest MagSafe Charger. However, charging with a cable plugged into the iPhone will always be faster than wireless as less power is lost than in a wireless connection. Below our chart of the best iPhone chargers we recommend our favored charging cables. Count the ports Many adapters offer multiple ports on a single wall charger. If you’re going to be regularly charging more than one device at a time, buy an adapter with at least two ports—some have as many as four ports. You can even get a mix of USB-C and USB-A, depending on your needs. Plugs: To fold or not to fold Some chargers have folding pins to protect the adapter as well as other items if you toss it in a bag, but Apple’s 20W charger and a few others have less flexible protruding prongs. It’s a small thing, but it could make a big difference in your travel bag. As any traveler knows, plugs come in all shapes and sizes around the globe. We’ve tried to cover the most used types here. Some USB-C power adapters even come with different prong sets so you can leave the multi-holed travel adapter at home when you travel. Best iPhone chargers reviewed Official Apple iPhone charger: Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter Pros Official Apple charger Foldable prongs on U.K. model Cons No foldable prongs on U.S./AU models One port Price When Reviewed: $19 Best Prices Today: $14 at Walmart Electronics$14.99 at Amazon$14.99 at Best Buy Why we love it: Apple’s 20W USB-C power adapter is as basic as it gets. It’s one of the bulkiest chargers on this list as well as one of the heaviest, It won’t charge a laptop, and you can’t charge more than one device at a time. However, if you want to keep your chargers in the Apple family, it’s a solid option for $19/£19. In our testing, it won’t charge your phone noticeably faster than the old Apple 18W plug, but it is noticeably cheaper than the model it replaces. We’d like it better if Apple offered a half-price option for iPhone buyers, but even at full price, it’s not a terrible value at all. The U.S. and Australian models don’t feature a folding plug, but the more cube-like U.K. model does, despite the larger plug type, and is a much cleaner design as a result. While 20W is the minimum for fast charging, we recommend a 30W charger for newer iPhones. Best single-port iPhone charger: Anker 30W Nano Charger 511 Pros Smallest, lightest 30W charger 30W Foldable plug Multiple color options Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $16.99 at Walmart Electronics$18.99 at Amazon$19.99 at Anker Why we love it: Measuring just 1.12 × 1.12 × 1.39 inches (U.S. model), the 30W Anker USB-C Nano 3 Charger 511 is the smallest 30W USB-C charger we’ve had in our labs for testing. It weighs just 1.3oz (36g). We recommend you buy a 30W charger over 20W as it will charge newer iPhones even faster. The iPhone 15 Pro models will probably fare better with 35W for the fastest iPhone charging, so owners of the very latest iPhones should look at the two-port 40W Anker Nano Pro charger reviewed lower down. Earlier iPhones should be fine with 30W chargers such as this one. It’s available in a range of pastel colors, including Misty Blue, Lilac Purple, Phantom Black, Aurora White and Natural Green. The U.K. Anker Nano 3 (511) model is larger and doesn’t feature foldable prongs—so for U.K. buyers, we recommend the equally incredibly light and powerful Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W), pictured above, that does have foldable prongs. Ugreen Nexode 30W USB-C GaN Charger Pros Small size 30W Foldable plug Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Walmart$16.99 at Amazon$19.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: At 1.26 x 1.26 x 1.57 inches and 48g (U.S. model), the tiny Ugreen Nexode 30W GaN Charger is slightly larger than the similar Anker Nano (reviewed above). To make it even more portable both U.S. and U.K models feature foldable prongs. That extra power won’t make much difference with many iPhones as 20W is enough for fast charging. But if you have an iPhone Pro or Max, a 30W charger will allow it to charge a little faster (27W), and it certainly won’t hurt to have the added power on other models. At 30W, It could even recharge a 13-inch MacBook Air! While the 2-Port Nexode 45W Charger, also by Ugreen and reviewed below, gives you two ports, the single port of this charger pumps out a few more watts than either of the two on the 45W dual charger—so if you only have one device to charge, this is the better (and cheaper choice). Plugable 30W USB-C GaN Charger Pros Small 30W Foldable plug Available in white or black Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $15.95 at Walmart$19.95 at Amazon$19.95 at B&H Why we love it: This is another new-generation USB-C charger that measures just 1.22 × 1.26 × 1.37 inches—only marginally larger than the 30W Anker Nano and about the same as the Ugreen Nexode. It weighs just 45g—although you’ll likely not notice the difference with the 36g Anker Nano or 50g Ugreen Nexode. Available in either white or black, it’s not available outside of North America. Budget iPhone charger: Anker PowerPort III 20W Cube Fast Charger Pros Small size Foldable plug on U.S. model Available in white or black Cons No foldable plug on U.K. model One port Price When Reviewed: $14.99 Best Prices Today: $12.99 at Amazon$14.99 at Anker Why we love it: At 1.23 x 1.25 x 1.3 inches, the compact GaN-tech Anker PowerPort III is also pretty tiny and may be found cheaper than the 30W USB-C chargers as it is rated at the lower 20W. The U.K. model is less flexible due to the size of the U.K. plug and doesn’t allow for foldable prongs, so we prefer the Anker Nano or the even finer Apple 20W Charger in that country only. However, if you can afford it we recommend you go for a 30W charger if your iPhone is a version 13 or later. Fastest two-port iPhone charger: Ugreen 2-Port Nexode 45W Charger Pros Two ports 45W Foldable plug (U.S. and U.K.) Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon$39.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: The Ugreen Nexode 45W GaN Wall Charger 2-Ports Charger has more ports and power than the Anker 511 Nano Pro, but at 1.57 x 1.57 x 1.93 inches isn’t much larger. Each USB-C port is rated at 45W, although note that 45W is the maximum total output—you can choose either port to supply it. Using both ports, one will give 25W and the other 20W. It’s a great compact choice for homes with a couple of iPhones in need of a power boost. Slimmest two-port iPhone charger: Plugable 40W Dual USB C Charger Pros Two ports 40W Foldable plug Slimline Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $34.95 Best Prices Today: $34.95 at Amazon Why we love it: Measuring 1.7 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches (4.4 x 4.8 x 2.3cm), the Plugable 40W Dual USB C Charger is a dual-port charger that is a little larger in volume than the Ugreen 2-Port Nexode 45W Charger reviewed above, but has a slimmer profile when plugged into a power socket. It’s wider but sticks out of the wall half as far as most chargers. It’s also lighter than the two-port Ugreen charger: 2.5oz vs 3.46oz (70g vs 98g). Each USB-C port is rated at 40W (maximum total output is 40W). Using both ports, that 40W is intelligently shared by priority. A 9V or higher device will charge faster than a 5V device, and you can see which devices is charging the fastest with the LED indicating the charge speed: blue for fastest, and green for slow. The Ugreen beats it on charging speed, but that which means more for 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 Samsung users than max 30W iPhone users. If you want to use it to charge a MacBook, that extra 5W might be more useful. Best four-port charger: Minix NEO P3 100W Turbo Pros Four ports Up to 100W U.S./U.K./EU pins Foldable plug Cons May be overkill for just a phone Price When Reviewed: $65.99 Best Prices Today: $53.90 at Amazon Why we love it: The Minix NEO P3 100W Turbo packs a lot of power and has four ports: three USB-C and one old-school USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports can charge at 100W, although obviously not at the same time. That means you can use this power adapter to charge a laptop as large as the 16-inch MacBook Pro as well as tablets and phones. The third USB-C is perfect for fast iPhone charging at 20W, as is the 18W USB-A port if you have an older charging cable. Using two ports at the same time it supports one 65W and one 30W feed. Using three supports 45W, 30W, and 20W charges. With all four, it supports, 45W, 30W, and two 7.5W feeds. Like Apple’s dual-port charger, this adapter features intelligent power allocation, automatically adjusting the power output of each port depending on the devices connected to it. The U.S. plug folds, making it a tidy package for carrying around, and the U.K. and EU pin converters simply slide onto the U.S. pins to make this a great home charger in those territories and a useful international travel companion. Best travel adapter charger: OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 Pros Five ports Travel plug adapter 65W PD Cons Total output limited to 5 ports Price When Reviewed: $74.99 Best Prices Today: $74.99 at OneAdaptr Why we love it: The OneWorld 65 is an international adapter that also boasts a built-in 65W PD Charger that can charge up to six devices simultaneously. It features one 65W USB-C PD port, one 20W USB-C PD port, another USB-C charging port, and two USB-A charging ports—the non-PD USB-C port and two USB-A ports share 15W of power. Note that the maximum power output is 65W so if you are charging a mid-sized laptop in full use, there won’t be much spare juice for fas-charging your iPhone. But the real benefit of the OneWorld 65 is that as well as all the USB ports you can also use this as a travel adapter. Sliding connectors will fit into U.S., European, Australian/Chinese, and British wall sockets so covering over 200 countries, and you can plug a similar range of plugs into the OneWorld 65 from the other side. OneAdaptr has a few versions of this handy travel adapter—all with the sliding international prongs and an AC socket. The $39 entry-level OneWorld30 features one 20W USB-C PD port, 2x 15W USB-C and 2x 15W USB-A ports; the $69 OneWorld65 reviewed here; the $89 OneWorld100 features two 60W USB-C PD ports and 2x 15W USB-A ports; and the $109 OneWorld135 features two 100W USB-C PD ports, 1x 20W USB-C and 1x 18W USB-A port. Colorful two-port iPhone charger: Casetify 33W Fast Charger Pros Small size Two ports Foldable plug on U.S. model International plug heads Cute Pink/Blue model Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $42 Best Prices Today: $42 at Casetify Why we love it: The biggest selling point of the Casetify Fast Charger is its cute pink/blue color, although it is also available in plain white. Its 33W beats standard 30W chargers—enough for an iPhone fast charge and AirPods or Apple Watch at the same time. This two-port charger (USB-C and USB-A) is not as tiny as some other chargers but at 1.3 x 1.9 x 1.5 inches it isn’t much larger. It comes with U.K. and E.U. plug heads that slip over the foldable U.S. prongs, so makes a great travel charger, too. Apple 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter Pros Two ports U.S. models have a foldable plug Cons Non-U.S. models don’t have a foldable plug Expensive Price When Reviewed: $59 Best Prices Today: $29 at Walmart Electronics$35.99 at Best Buy$59 at B&H Why we love it: Apple offers its own dual-port USB-C charger in two models. As far as we can tell they are identical in everything except shape and size. As an Apple product, it’s reassuringly expensive but also a little smarter than most power adapters. The neat 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is aimed at iPhone users, and the larger non-compact model is called the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter, which is the one built for the newer MacBook Air models. Both U.S. chargers feature foldable plugs. The larger version is maybe only preferable if you prefer the ports pointing straight on rather than below the plug itself. As it was designed to work with an iPhone and also something as energy-hungry as an M2/M3 MacBook Air, it needs to be able to distinguish which device needs what. When you connect two devices, power is automatically distributed between them based on their power requirements. In most cases, it will give each device 17.5W, but if you connect a MacBook or iPhone and an Apple Watch or AirPods, it will receive up to 27.5W and the Watch/AirPods gets up to 7.5W. Apple doesn’t say so, but we expect that it uses GaN technology to keep its size to a minimum. Plugable Wall Outlet Extender Pros Adds two ports, keeps AC socket 30W Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $24.95 at Amazon$24.95 at B&H Why we love it: If you are short on power sockets, adding a wall charger leaves you with one less place to connect a plug for another device. You could add an extension strip—such as the Ugreen GaN Power Strip reviewed below—but the Plugable Wall Outlet Extender is smaller and neater, giving you two USB ports and a passthrough power socket. The USB-C socket can power an iPhone at up to 30W, and there’s another USB-A port that can handle 12W. Note, though, that the combined USB power output is 32W, so if you use both, that USB-C port might get pegged back to just 20W. UGreen 100W USB-C GaN Power Strip Pros 4 USB ports and 3 AC power sockets 100W Cons Bulky Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon$99.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: This power strip is both a desktop charger and AC extender with three power sockets, and includes four USB ports (3x USB-C, 1x USB-A), two of which are PD compatible at 100W so powerful enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro or super-fast-charge the latest iPhones. This is great for adding all sorts of device-charging on or underneath your desk. The other USB-C port and the USB-A port can each fast-charge an iPhone at 22.5W. Maximum output on the USB ports is 100W, and for the three power plugs (one on the top, and two behind) 1,870W. Amazon Amazon Amazon FAQ 1. What’s the best iPhone Lightning charging cable? Apple still includes a cable in the box with all new iPhones whether they have Lightning or USB-C. But you can never have enough charging cables, right? Older iPhones (before iPhone 15) require a Lightning port on one end. If you need a spare, make sure you buy a USB-C to Lightning cable that’s certified Made for iPhone (MFI). Anker makes several of our recommended iPhone chargers, and its MFI-certified USB-C to Lightning cable is a little cheaper than Apple’s own cable and is twice as long. Anker has a bunch of USB-C to Lightning cables in various lengths and colors on its U.S. Amazon Store and at Amazon UK. We also rate UGreen’s USB-C to Lightning iPhone charge cables. For more detail, read our roundup of the best Lightning cables. 2. What about USB-C to USB-C cables? From the iPhone 15 onwards—or until Apple offers only wireless charging—Apple has replaced the iPhone’s Lightning port with a standard USB-C port so you need a USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cable. The new iPhones ship with the correct cable so you don’t need to go looking for a new one unless you require a spare—and, let’s face it, most of us need several. Check out PCWorld’s list of the best USB-C cables. For more advice on charging your iPhone read: iPhone Clean Energy Charging: How it works and why you want to keep it on, How to charge an iPhone properly and What’s the fastest way to charge an iPhone.

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Capture Control video zoom isn’t usable yet, but I expect a software update to fix it
Back in February, I talked about the difficulty of smoothly zooming video footage using the on-screen controls, and said I’d really love a hardware control. The iPhone 16 looked like it might give me what I wanted, with the Capture Control video zoom feature. Unfortunately, right now, it doesn’t. Using the Camera Control slider to zoom in or out during video shooting is currently so bad it’s unusable … more…

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Aqara Smart Lock U300 unlocks with Apple Home Key
Aqara's Smart Lock U300 supports Thread and Apple Home Keys, allowing homeowners access using their iPhone or Apple Watch.Aqara Smart Lock U300 [Aqara]Aqara is known for its smart locks, and has already released items such as the U50, U100, and U200. Now, with the Smart Lock U300, the company has extended into creating lever locks.Its first lever lock, it can replace traditional non-deadbolt locks on single-bore doors. While covering different mechanisms than the rest of Aqara's range, it still offers a lot of smart features. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple CEO Tim Cook sells over $50 million worth of Apple stock
Apple CEO Tim Cook and several other Apple executives have sold some Apple stock, as disclosed in a late Wednesday filing with the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Price drop: this iPad Pro is only $399.99
Want a large iPad Pro with a small price? Get this grade-A refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third generation) for just $399.99. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Cool charging case controls new noise-canceling Liberty 4 Pro earbuds
The new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds boast boosted noise cancellation and a charging case that shows and helps control earbuds settings. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple requires users join a waitlist for Apple Intelligence access on Mac, iPad, and iPhone
Once you've installed the necessary software update for Apple Intelligence, there's an additional step: joining Apple's waitlist. The company… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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How to use and customize the iPhone’s Action button
The iPhone Action button replaces the former ring/mute switch, and while it fulfills the same purpose, there’s much more you can do with it. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Aqara Smart Lock U300 is now available with Apple Home Key, Matter, and Thread support
Aqara has officially announced the release of its latest innovation in home security: the Smart Lock U300. This new smart lever lock is the third in Aqara’s lineup to support Apple Home Key. It also includes support for Thread and Matter, so it works perfectly across all smart home ecosystems. Read on to learn more about the and how to save 20% off. more…

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iPhone contact privacy change is good for developers, not bad
Some developers yesterday argued that a change to iPhone contact privacy in iOS 18 made it harder for new social media apps to compete. But I think they’re wrong, and that the more granular privacy control offered in iOS 18 actually makes it more likely that we’ll be willing to grant contacts access to apps … more…

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Original Macintosh prototype with 'Twiggy' drive may hit $120,000 at auction
A prototype of a vintage Apple Macintosh from 1983 is up for grabs at auction, with the "Twiggy" drive model expected to exceed $100,000 when it goes under the hammer.Apple 'Twiggy' Macintosh [Bonhams]Apple hardware is often a feature of tech-focused auctions, and sometimes you'll find prototypes that weren't sold to the public. One October auction offers the opportunity to pick up one such prototype, if you have deep enough pockets.The auction at Bonhams in New York is listing an extremely rare Apple Macintosh prototype for sale. The #M0001 prototype, dating back to 1983, is the lesser-spotted "Twiggy" model, due to its use of 5.25-inch Twiggy disk drives, instead of the 400K 3.5-inch drives used for the Mac 128. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 16 designers share the thinking behind the Camera Control button
Two of the iPhone 16 designers have spoken on the Cool Hunting Design Tangents podcast, sharing some of the thinking behind the development of the new Camera Control button. Senior product designer Rich Dinh said that he’s worked on the iPhone since the original model, but they still approach each generation afresh … more…

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Multimillion dollar fraudsters jailed over fake iPhone scam
Two individuals who conned Apple into replacing fake faulty iPhones with real ones, have been sentenced to years in prison.Apple Georgetown was one of the stores targeted by the scamAlmost five years after they were arrested in December 2019, Maryland residents Haotian Sun and Pengfei Xue, have been sentenced to 57 months and 54 months jail time respectively. The sentence follows their grand jury conviction in February 2024, where their scheme was detailed over more than three days of testimony.According to Justice.gov, between May 2017 and September 2019, the pair and other unnamed conspirators repeatedly defrauded Apple. In each of more than 6,000 cases, fake iPhones would be received from Hong Kong, and then sent on to various UPS mailboxes in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Oura Ring 4 makes the smart ring slimmer, comfier, and more accurate
A new version of Oura’s smart ring has been announced, the Oura Ring 4. The new model is slimmer, has recessed sensors for greater comfort, and uses new algorithms to provide more complete and accurate measurements. The 4th-gen smart ring is also now available in a greater range of sizes, and with a new black finish described as combining a deeper color and improved durability … more…

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$2.5M iPhone fraudsters imprisoned and ordered to pay restitution
Two Maryland-based iPhone fraudsters who cheated Apple out of $2.5M were handed prison sentences yesterday, and ordered to pay restitution. One was sentenced to 57 months, the other to 54 months, with the pair ordered to repay a total of a little under $1.5M … more…

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iPhone 16 review: Bold colors, new buttons, promises for the future
The 2024 iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus bring plenty of upgrades and a promise of more to come, and strongly make the case that it's okay not to go for the pro models.iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus reviewYou can tell it's a different kind of year when the non-pro phones are more interesting than the pro ones.We're not saying this to disparage the iPhone 16 Pro, as we've already said in our review, they're quite impressive. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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These surprises could be in store for Apple’s October Mac announcements
Macworld According to reports, Apple will release new Macs at an event sometime this month. The rumors about these new Macs have been consistent: Apple will likely release M4 MacBook Pros, an M4 iMac, and a redesigned M4 Mac mini. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is the main source reporting about the upcoming event, and he has a reliable track record–it’s so good that he has historically been spot-on with what is eventually released, down to the specifications of the products. Which can set up Apple followers for a bit of a letdown once the event comes and goes–we already know what will be revealed. But there’s always a chance that the rumors miss out on something and that always ends up being the surprise and delight of the event. What surprises could happen at the upcoming Mac event? Here are a few ideas. (Or, considering the context of what I just wrote, here are some “spoilers.”) A bigger iMac Several reports indicate that a 32-inch iMac is in the works, but Gurman reported in August that it is “unclear if that will be an M4 product or something that comes the following year or later.” Mac hardware rumors catch on because of reports about parts that can be tracked in the supply chain, so in the case of a big iMac, you’d think we’d heard a lot about Apple buying a ton of 32-inch panels. But we haven’t heard much. Apple could revive the iMac Pro as a bigger, faster companion to the current iMac. Apple could revive the iMac Pro as a bigger, faster companion to the current iMac.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Apple could revive the iMac Pro as a bigger, faster companion to the current iMac.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry That doesn’t mean it can’t happen, though. A 32-inch iMac with an M4 or M4 Pro (following the model of the Mac mini) would complement the 24-inch iMac Apple currently offers and inject some excitement into the lineup again.  A new Apple display Since Apple is going to release a new Mac mini, this is a good opportunity to release a new display, too. The Studio Display is over two years old, which isn’t outdated in terms of how Apple handles its display lineup; Apple has historically kept displays in the lineup for two or three years before replacing them with something new. But Apple could update the Studio Display and promote it as an ideal display for the new Mac mini. The Pro Display XDR, however, is almost five years old and for a display that costs $5,999, you’re paying a severely high price for outdated tech. An upgrade with ProMotion and proper HDR is a no-brainer, but this doesn’t seem like the event to release a new pro display, though. It’s a better fit for a new Mac Studio, which is expected to be released at WWDC next year. Lightning strikes on the Magic Mouse, Trackpad, Keyboard Much was made when Apple transitioned the AirPods, iPhone, and iPad from Lightning to USB-C. Apple has switched those products successfully, but Apple still uses Lightning in the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard. Gurman reported before last year’s “Scary Fast” event that these devices would be outfitted with USB-C, but that didn’t happen. Apple sticking with Lightning on its Magic devices would be more surprising than switching to USB-C. Apple sticking with Lightning on its Magic devices would be more surprising than switching to USB-C.Foundry Apple sticking with Lightning on its Magic devices would be more surprising than switching to USB-C.Foundry Foundry But the surprise here isn’t that Apple replaces the Lightning port on these devices with USB-C, but that Apple doesn’t update these accessories, and Lightning sticks around for a while longer. After all, the switch to USB-C seems inevitable, so Apple deciding to keep using Lighting would be out of line with the current trend and an unexpected move. MacBook Pro with a display update Apple is using displays based on OLED technology in its iPad Pro and iPhones, and it’s been rumored that it will replace the mini LED display in the MacBook Pro. The iPad Pro 4 uses a Tandem OLED (which it refers to as “Ultra Retina XDR”) and it looks great. Some reports say that the MacBook Pro switch to OLED isn’t scheduled to happen for a while, but Apple has been known to surprise us before with new tech we weren’t expecting. Event? What event? What would be a huge surprise is if Apple didn’t hold an M4 Mac event and simply posted press releases in its Newsroom to announce the releases. It’s not totally out of the realm of possibility, since the M4 upgrade isn’t especially remarkable over the M3, and a demo of the Mac mini’s new design won’t take much time. However, in case you haven’t heard, AI is all the rage in the tech world and Apple puts considerable effort into promoting its Apple Intelligence feature set. It’s not as though the M4 does anything special with Apple Intelligence, which runs on any M-series Mac (as well as Intel Macs with a T2 chip). But Apple will use this event to promote Apple Intelligence, and it will be a big part of the show.

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iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next budget phone
Macworld Apple updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses, with many looking forward to the next generation and reviewers hoping Apple was planning a more radical overhaul of the device. Rumors are now starting to appear about what that might look like. In this article we’ve gathered together everything we know so far, and what we can reasonably speculate, about the iPhone SE 4. For information about the iPhone 16 series – read our separate article about the iPhone 16 and our separate article about rumors about the iPhone 17. iPhone SE 4 release date: When will the iPhone SE 4 be released? Spring 2025 (estimated) Apple’s iPhone SE doesn’t follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and the intervals between updates can be harder to predict. The timing of the next launch points to a biennial routine, but that followed a far longer gap between the first and second phones. Here’s when the three models released so far made their debut: iPhone SE (3rd gen): March 2022 iPhone SE (2nd gen): April 2020 iPhone SE (1st gen): March 2016 Analyst Jeff Pu thinks that the iPhone SE will arrive in 2025. Since the SE models typically launch in the spring, it seems obvious that we’re looking at a spring 2025 release date (or later). Furthermore, Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that Apple was using a prototype iPhone SE to test its 5G modem, which will arrive in the iPhone SE before the flagship iPhone models. Kuo states that “there are no plans for mass production and sales” of this prototype iPhone SE and has reported that the next iPhone SE isn’t expected until 2025. Apple’s current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022) Apple’s current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022)Dominik Tomaszewski Apple’s current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022)Dominik Tomaszewski Dominik Tomaszewski iPhone 4 SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost? Pricing has steadily increased across the three existing generations, no doubt influenced by the global cost of components and distribution. While the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released around the same price as the model it replaced, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model. At launch the prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in Euros in September 2024. Here’s how they line up: iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022): 64GB: $429/£429 (was £449 at launch) 128GB: $479/£479 (was £499 at launch) 256GB: $579/£579 (was £609 at launch) iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020):  64GB: $399/£419 128GB: $449/£469 256GB: $549/£569 iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016):  32GB: $399/£379 128GB: $499/£449 However, the iPhone SE needs to be inexpensive, and we’d be surprised to see the price increase too much with the next generation, even with several rumored upgrades. The latest rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, still far less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan. iPhone 4 SE design: What will the next iPhone SE look like? Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like the iPhone 14, or even the iPhone 16. The big difference will be good or bad news depending on your viewpoint. It seems likely that the Home button will be no more. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button. If the iPhone SE has an action button this could take on the role of the Home button for those who require it. No Home button is likely to mean a notch – and that’s a notch, rather than the Dynamic Island. So perhaps the iPhone 14 will lend its shell to the new iPhone SE. Over the years there has been a lot of speculation as to which older iPhone could lend its chassis to the next-generation iPhone SE. Apple can lower production costs by not straying too far from an existing chassis. iPhone 13 mini? As the iPhone SE has always traditionally been one of the smallest devices Apple offers, it seems logical that the discounted iPhone 13 mini format might make its way down to replace the iPhone 6 chassis on the SE. iPhone XR? On an August 2022 episode of the Geared Up podcast, tech tipster Jon Prosser said the “iPhone SE 4… is just the iPhone XR,” meaning it has an “all-screen” design and a 6.1-inch display. However, a report by Ross Young in late October 2022 claimed that Apple is mulling a 5.7-inch display, which would be a new size for an iPhone. The iPhone 13 mini is 5.4 inches and the iPhone X and XS were 5.8 inches. Young also says that Apple is deciding whether to use LCD or OLED for the display. iPhone 14? In February 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is moving forward with a 6.1-inch OLED display for the iPhone SE 4 with an overall design and features similar to the iPhone 14. Another rumor in April 2024, suggest that the body will resemble an iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED and notch. The rumored dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 state that it could be about the same size as the iPhone 15 but a smidge taller. iPhone 16? Finally, a rumor in July 2024 suggested Apple will change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16, making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup. If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported? Now that iOS 18 is here, Apple is preparing its devices for Apple Intelligence AI features which will arrive with iOS 18.1 in the fall. Not all devices currently sold are compatible. The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are the only iPhones that currently support those features. That means that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus do not support Apple Intelligence. Processor & RAM: To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. But that would be a strange choice on Apple’s part as it would make both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 redundant. But it would be strange to launch a new product that didn’t support Apple Intelligence at this point in time. Alternatively, the iPhone SE 4 could take the place of the iPhone 14 in the lineup with the same A15 chip. It all depends on where Apple sees the iPhone SE in the range and what its purpose is. Other than the processor and RAM requirements, we may see some other internal changes including the following: Modem: The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature one of Apple’s own 5G modems. In February 2023 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expected it to be and claimed the baseband chip will be manufactured with a 4nm process and support only sub-6GHz bands. In April 2023, MacRumors reported that analyst Jeff Pu believes that Apple will release a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem in 2025. TSMC will manufacture the modem chip. However, Pu doesn’t have a track record for accuracy like other analysts. In April 2023, Kuo tweeted that the iPhone SE 4 is dead (again) and that Apple is using an engineering prototype iPhone SE to test its 5G modem. Storage: With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), it’s hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isn’t enough for most people anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB. But we’re not terribly hopeful—the iPhone SE (3rd gen) launched after the iPhone 13 range and still started with the same 64GB of storage, and the redesigned 10th-generation iPad also starts at 64GB. We explain more about this in why you shouldn’t buy the 64GB iPhone SE. USB C: We expect the iPhone SE 4 to feature a USB-C port for charging, as all new iPhones do, and IP68 water resistance. The current SE is one of the last remaining Apple devices to still have a Lightning port. Camera(s): One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. Regardless, we expect a similar 12MP wide-angle lens, despite the move to 48MP main camera on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. The selfie camera is also expected to be 12MP. iPhone SE 4: Will the new iPhone SE use Touch ID or Face ID? The most recent rumors say the new iPhone SE will have Face ID with a notch (not dynamic island), similar to an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model we’re also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today. Original iPhone (2007) review iPhone 3G (2008) review iPhone 3GS (2009) review iPhone 4 (2010) review iPhone 4s (2011) review iPhone 5 (2012) review iPhone 5c (2013) review iPhone 5s (2013) review iPhone 6 (2014) review iPhone 6 Plus (2014) review iPhone 6s (2015) review iPhone 6s Plus (2015) review iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review iPhone 7 (2016) review iPhone 7 Plus (2016) review iPhone 8 (2017) review iPhone 8 Plus (2017) review iPhone X (2017) review iPhone XR (2018) review iPhone XS (2018) review iPhone XS Max (2018) review iPhone 11 (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review iPhone 12 (2020) review iPhone 12 Mini (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review iPhone 13 (2021) review iPhone 13 mini (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review iPhone 14 (2022) review iPhone 14 Plus (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review iPhone 15 (2023) review iPhone 15 Plus (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) review iPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review

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Tim Cook sells $50M worth of AAPL shares, but the timing is coincidental
Apple CEO Tim Cook has sold AAPL shares worth more than $50M at a time when the stock is close to an all-time high – but the timing is coincidental. The stock value broke $200 per share back in June, hitting a record $236 in July. There’s been a little up-and-down since then, with Cook selling his shares at an average value of $227 … more…

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