These three pieces of old Apple tech have overstayed their welcome
Macworld Apple has a reputation as an uncompromising driver of new technology. Look no further than the classic example of shipping the original iMac without a floppy drive or legacy ports, or designing the iPhone without a hardware keyboard, or even killing off the iPod mini to make way for the iPod nano. The company certainly puts forth an image of pushing technology forward without dwelling on the past. While those examples might get a lot of attention, the Apple of these days is a bigger, more ponderous organization, a battleship that can’t simply turn on a dime. As a result, the move to any new technology takes time, and often what came before isn’t excised in months, or sometimes even years. As much as Apple might like to see itself as an unstoppable force barreling ever forward, you don’t have to look too far through its lineup to see plenty of places where it’s still clinging to the past, even if it’s out of sheer practicality. You can’t go Home button again One of the original trademarks of the iPhone was its single front-facing button. The Home button evolved, gaining a Touch ID sensor and eventually transforming from a physical button into a capacitive sensor with haptics. But its demise was heralded by the introduction of the iPhone X design with its edge-to-edge display and Face ID. The iPhone SE is the last iPhone with a Home button. The iPhone SE is the last iPhone with a Home button.Jason Cross/IDG The iPhone SE is the last iPhone with a Home button.Jason Cross/IDG Jason Cross/IDG But that design debuted in November 2017, almost seven years ago now. And while the Home button has been gradually removed from both the iPhone and iPad lines, it lives on even to this day. The third-generation iPhone SE, which came out in 2022, remains a product in Apple’s lineup, proudly sporting the classic design ushered in by 2016’s iPhone 7. That said, the Home button’s days seem to be numbered. Rumor has it that a fourth-generation of the low-cost phone will show up next spring, finally bringing it into line with the modern iPhone design. The Home button will shuffle off this mortal coil after almost eighteen years. There’s a curve describing the practicalities of this kind of design: as Apple produces more of a certain design, doing so gets cheaper—but eventually as it scales up its new models, that old design becomes the outlier, meaning it’s now more expensive to keep around, especially for just a single model. So in the end, Apple saves money and effort by shifting the SE’s design to look like the rest of the phones and bidding adieu to the iconic Home button. Lightning bolts When Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012, the response would have had you thinking they’d methodically kicked every single one of their customer’s dogs. Its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector had originated on the iPod back in 2003, but that nine-year tenure had seen an explosion of accessories that relied on it–to think, people who’ve only started using an iPhone in the last decade may have never even seen the once-ubiquitous alarm clock/speaker with a dock-connector built in. Lightning lives with the Mac’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad. Lightning lives with the Mac’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad.Foundry Lightning lives with the Mac’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad.Foundry Foundry So last year, when Apple first dropped the Lightning port for USB-C on the iPhone, you might have expected a similar outcry. But perhaps the fact that USB-C had already been on Macs since 2015 and was introduced into the iPad lineup in 2018 helped soften the blow. Plus, in the intervening years the prevalence of wireless technologies, including Bluetooth speakers and Qi charging, made switching out the physical connector less of an issue. Still, Lightning has not yet been excised from Apple’s products either. In addition to the older iPhones that Apple still sells (the iPhone 14 line, the aforementioned iPhone SE), the Lightning port is still used for charging by Apple’s wireless Mac input accessories: the Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse. (Name a more iconic trio, I’ll wait.) And in case that’s not enough for you, it’s also still sneaks in one last place: the first-generation Apple Pencil, which has stuck around for compatibility with all those older iPads out there. Many of those are surely not long for the world. The iPhone SE’s rumored refresh will undoubtedly switch to USB-C and Apple will probably (hopefully?) update its Mac accessories in the not too distant future—perhaps when a new Mac mini shows up? But that Apple Pencil, well, it may be a few years yet before it’s finally erased. Quid pro status quo Stand back, because I’m going to dish the hottest of takes and add to this list of legacy technology hanging on by a thread an entire Apple product: the Mac Pro. Apple update the Mac Pro with an M-series chip in 2023, but the overall design is over five years old. Apple update the Mac Pro with an M-series chip in 2023, but the overall design is over five years old.Foundry Apple update the Mac Pro with an M-series chip in 2023, but the overall design is over five years old.Foundry Foundry Look, the Mac Pro might be important for Apple from a psychological perspective, signaling that the company is just at home in a professional environment as it is on the average person’s desk or lap. But even many of the people who today might want a Mac Pro frankly don’t stand to get a lot out of it–or not appreciably more than they could get from a similar specced Mac Studio. Though the Mac Pro might still be the most expandable in Apple’s lineup, that’s in large part due to the incorporation of internal PCI slots that some users might need. But they may be of limited use based on a dearth of available compatible hardware. I say all of this not to argue that the Mac Pro should disappear, but simply to point out that it is the longest of long tails, a category of product that dates back decades and may never fully disappear, but still fundamentally represents the way computers used to be. For a company that prides itself on relentlessly pushing forward, Apple still can’t quite seem to let go of the past.

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Apple pulls watchOS 11.1 beta for locking up Apple Watches
Yet another Apple update has been pulled after release, this time the Apple Watch developer beta watchOS 11.1, after issues including devices freezing.watchOS 11 introduces better cycle tracking, more customizable Activity Rings, and more personalization. First it was iPadOS 18 bricking some models of the M4 iPad Pro, then it was HomePod 18.1 beta 2 bricking the HomePod mini. Now amongst other problems, the developer beta of watchOS 11.1 has been bricking some Apple Watches.The beta was released on October 1, 2024, and reports of problems appear to have begun immediately. Multiple users on Reddit found issues with Messages notifications, while one found Wallet cards were disappearing. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Microsoft Office 2024 released, includes a one-time purchase option
If you were looking to buy the new version of Microsoft Office outright and not have to deal with Microsoft’s subscription plan, you’re going to like this. Microsoft has released Office 2024, the latest version of its productivity suite, which includes Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. In addition, subscribers to the Microsoft 365 subscription […] Source

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A mistaken Best Buy product listing could indicate iPad mini 7 arrival shortly
Sometimes it’s the mistakes that indicate whether a nifty product is en route. A recent Best Buy listing noting an unspecified iPad mini model on clearance “soon,” per the company’s website, could hint at an upcoming iPad mini model in the near future. The placeholder listing is for an Apple product with a “MINI WIFI” […] Source

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How to share an album in Photos and let other contribute
Macworld The Photos app lets you create shared albums that other people can contribute to. The process involves a few steps, but it’s not difficult. You can start by figuring out which images and videos you want to share, or you can create the album and then add to it. With a selection of media, click or tap the Share icon. Choose Shared Album (macOS) or Add to Shared Album (iOS/iPadOS). Click New Shared Album (macOS) or tap Shared Album > New Shared Album. Name the album, click or tap the plus (+) icon to invite people, and optionally leave a comment explaining the album. You can bypass inviting people; you can always modify members later. Click Create or tap Done. You name and invite people to a shared album (left). After it’s created, you can modify who has access (right). You name and invite people to a shared album (left). After it’s created, you can modify who has access (right).Foundry You name and invite people to a shared album (left). After it’s created, you can modify who has access (right).Foundry Foundry Invitees receive alerts on their devices and email to their iCloud account. Invitees receive alerts on their devices and email to their iCloud account.Foundry Invitees receive alerts on their devices and email to their iCloud account.Foundry Foundry With no items selected, you create an empty shared album: in macOS, hover over the Shared Albums label in the sidebar and click the plus sign; in iOS/iPadOS, tap the Shared Albums view and tap Create. In all versions of Photos, follow steps 4 and 5 above. Once a shared album is created, you can add media to it: Add media in macOS and iOS/iPadOS by selecting one or more items, clicking or tapping the Share icon, and choosing Add to Shared Album. You can add a comment. Then choose the album to add it to. In macOS, you can add media by selecting it in any view in Photos and dragging it onto the shared album in the sidebar. While viewing the shared album, you can click “Add photos and videos” (macOS) or tap the More (…) icon and choose Add Photos (which includes videos). Remove media from a shared album by first viewing the album, following one of the options below, and confirming the deletion: In macOS, select one or more items to remove, and either Control-click/right-click on one of the selected items or choose the Image menu, and then choose Delete from Shared Album. For a single item in iOS/iPadOS, touch and hold the item and choose Delete from Shared Album. For one or more items in iOS/iPadOS, tap Select, choose the items to delete, tap the Share icon, and tap the Trash Can icon. Change what’s shared by removing media. Change what’s shared by removing media.Foundry Change what’s shared by removing media.Foundry Foundry To change who has access to the album, first view the album, and then click the Shared Album Details icon in macOS (a person’s outline in a circle at the upper-right of the toolbar) or tap the More (…) icon in iOS/iPadOS and choose Shared Album Details. From here, you can change options for who can add photos, add and remove people, change notifications, and make the shared album available publicly on the internet. In macOS, changes take effect as you make them; in iOS/iPadOS, tap Done when complete. You can delete the entire shared album by choosing Delete Shared Album (macOS) or Delete Album in the same locations as modifying details. However, be warned! You cannot restore a deleted shared album: all the media shared by others will be removed from your devices, and all the media you shared will be deleted from all the devices of people with whom the album was shared. The original media you and others shared from Photos remains intact on your and other people’s libraries—it’s just no longer copied to other people’s. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Lynn. 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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Macworld Podcast: Your hot takes on the iPhone 16, iOS 18’s Photos, and more
Macworld On this week’s episode of the Macworld Podcast it’s all about your hot takes! You have thoughts and we’re going to share and respond to what you wrote. This episode we’re focusing on comments about the newest Apple products. This is episode 903 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 903 on YouTube Listen to episode 903 on Apple Podcasts

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Apple Search Ads expands to Turkey and 20 additional countries
Apple Search Ads is continuing its expansion into new geographic segments, following a successful rollout to Brazil earlier this year. Starting today, developers can start buying Apple Search Ads for placement in Turkey, and 20 additional countries. more…

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Google Home for iPhone adding Favorites homescreen widget
After coming to Android earlier this year, Google Home now offers widgets that let you quickly control smart devices from your homescreen on iPhone and iPad. more…

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The Anker MagGo Power Bank is $20 Off
Anker’s portable power bank is discounted to an attractive price, perfect for those who need a reliable power refill throughout the day. Today, the MagGo is down to just $69.99 from its original price of $90 on Amazon for Prime members. The MagGo Power Bank boasts a 10,000 mAh capacity, enough to fully charge the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset discontinued
Microsoft will be discontinuing its HoloLens 2 headset once stock runs out, according to UploadVR. The mixed reality headset HoloLens 2 debuted in 2019, three years after its predecessor, the HoloLens, launched. Due to its hefty price tag, the product is mostly marketed towards businesses and enterprises. Production is grinding to a halt, and security […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Juno for YouTube app exits App Store
The Juno for YouTube app has been removed from the Vision Pro App Store following a complaint by YouTube. The Juno app for the Apple Vision Pro is designed to let users watch YouTube on the headset. However, Juno developer Christian Selig recently announced that the app was taken off the App Store due to […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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M4 chip Macs has a 2024 launch
The new Macbook models equipped with the M4 chip is set to arrive this year, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. Rumors of a new Mac lineup with the latest M4 chip have been circulating around for some time now, and recently, Mark Gurman confirmed that everything is on track. The Mac mini, iMac, and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple pulls watchOS 11.1 beta 3 after users report frozen devices
As spotted by Aaron Perris on X, Apple has pulled the watchOS 11 beta 3 update. It was initially released to developers yesterday. more…

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Apple TV+ greenlights season 2 of Colin Farrell’s gritty detective series Sugar
The dark mystery that unfolded in the Apple TV+ series “Sugar” will continue in season two, with Colin Farrell returning to star. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Tim Cook sells Apple stock worth in excess of $50 million
Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, has sold over 220,000 shares of Apple stock, which are valued at more than $50 million.Tim Cook has sold Apple stock worth over $50 million.Apple stock has always been one to hold long-term, but executives tend to sell off some stock from time to time. The practice is all above board, given delays on sales required to prevent insider trading practices.According to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Cook sold 223,986 shares for a total amount of $50,276,076. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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‘Tripsy’ trip planner updated with new customizable overview and more
Tripsy is an advanced trip planner app available for Apple platforms, and it helps users organize itineraries, activities, and necessary documents. With its update to version 3.0, the app has gained a lot of new features, including a new customizable overview and more. more…

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Apple Podcasts auto-generated transcripts now available in more languages
Apple this year introduced auto-generated transcripts to its Podcasts app, so that users could follow real-time transcripts of shows available on Apple Podcasts. Now the company is expanding auto-generated transcripts to more languages. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: October 2, 2024 – New iPad Air and iPhone SE rumors
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by SUPCASE and I-Blason: Protect your brand new iPhone 16 in style with rugged cases. more…

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The Feds Still Can't Get Into Eric Adams' Phone
The Verge's Gaby Del Valle reports: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted last week on charges including fraud, bribery, and soliciting donations from foreign nationals, told federal investigators he forgot his phone password before handing it over, according to charging documents. That was almost a year ago, and investigators still can't get into the phone, prosecutors said Wednesday. During a federal court hearing, prosecutor Hagan Scotten said the FBI's inability to get into Adams' phone is a "significant wild card," according to a report from the New York Post. The FBI issued a search warrant for Adams' devices in November 2023. Adams initially handed over two phones but didn't have his personal device on him. The indictment does not mention what type of device Adams uses. When Adams turned in his personal cellphone the following day, charging documents say, he said he had changed the password a day prior -- after learning about the investigation -- and couldn't remember it. Adams told investigators he changed the password "to prevent members of his staff from inadvertently or intentionally deleting the contents of his phone," the indictment alleges. The FBI just needs the right tools. When investigators failed to break into the Trump rally shooter's phone in July, they sent the device to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, where agents used an unreleased tool from the Israeli company Cellebrite to crack it in less than an hour. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Grab Apple's 1TB Mac Studio for just $1,999 ($200 off)
The current Apple Mac Studio with an upgrade to 1TB of storage is $200 off, bringing the price down to $1,999. Plus, snag three years of AppleCare for just $139.Apple's Mac Studio is eligible for a coupon discount.This Mac Studio has a bump up in storage to 1TB, making it a versatile configuration that is great for a wide selection of users. Priced at $1,999 with exclusive promo code APINSIDER at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama, the deal reflects a $200 discount off retail.Buy for $1,999 Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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OpenAI secures $6.6 billion funding round, Microsoft and Nvidia invest
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has secured $6.6 billion in new funding from investors, potentially valuing the company at $157 billion… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Price drop: Cement your ChatGPT and AI knowledge with this $25 course bundle
Master the buzziest tech around with this AI training bundle. Get the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree bundle for just $24.97. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple releases third public betas of tvOS 18.1 and HomePod Software 18.1
Apple has released the third public betas of tvOS 18.1 and HomePod Software 18.1, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iPhone 17 Air could force Pro users to give up these five things
Next year’s iPhone 17 Air has a better chance than ever to draw users away from the Pro models. The strong iPhone 16 base model has done that for some this year. But the ultra-thin, futuristic 17 Air could spark a fresh wave of users abandoning the Pro line. Here are the five things Pro users may have to give up to switch to the iPhone 17 Air. more…

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The best iPhone for kids 2024
Macworld Let’s face it: Kids want iPhones. Their favorite celebrities use them, their parents use them, and some of their friends have them, too. But which iPhone is best for your kid? There are lots of factors to consider, not the least of which is the age of the child in question. When should a child be given their own iPhone? We’ll discuss that in a section below. For toddlers who need a simple device for watching parent-approved videos and playing some games or educational apps, we recommend avoiding iPhones altogether and getting a basic iPad. It’s affordable, you don’t have to worry about cellular connectivity, and the large size is easy for toddlers still working on their fine motor skills. You can check out our best iPad for kids guide to see if this would be a better fit for your child, and we recommend a look at our best iPad deals roundup so you can get the best prices. But, once a child gets old enough for phone connectivity to be useful (for mobile internet, texting friends, tracking and being contactable by you), it’s time to step up to a proper iPhone. Apple has just updated the iPhone for 2024, introducing the iPhone 16 series and reducing the prices of the current handsets. How does that change the landscape for the best iPhone for kids? Read on to find out and see our recommendations. Whatever iPhone you get, you should consider using Screen Time to manage their use. Built into iOS, Screen Time lets you set limits on how long your kid can use their phone, what apps they can download and use, and when they need to put it down for the night. It’s a great way for busy parents to keep tabs on what their kids are doing when they’re not within eyeshot, and ought to be the first thing you set up. Best iPhone for kids Below you will find our top choices for iPhones for children. We aren’t recommending the ultimate iPhones because we think that unless you have a money tree in the garden you won’t want to be spending a whole lot of money on a phone for a child who is just as likely to leave it on a bus or drop it. But if you’d like a wider range of iPhones to choose from read our iPhone buying guide and our iPhone comparison. Apple iPhone 14: Best iPhone for older kids Pros Price Display size Good battery life Decent camera Cons Older processor Price When Reviewed: £599 (was £699) Best Prices Today: $629 at Apple$829 at Visible Older kids (young teens and high school students) have demanding standards. An iPhone SE may serve them well, but that smaller screen is a little archaic and they’re going to want to look cool in front of their friends. More importantly, photo-taking and social media have started to become an important part of their social life. So if you’re willing to spend more on an iPhone with a more capable camera, Face ID, and a full-screen display, we recommend looking no further than the iPhone 14. With a 6.1-inch display, it’s considerably bigger than the iPhone SE, which older kids will appreciate, and it has a more modern design and features. The iPhone 14 will deliver, with battery life that will easily last a full day. You might be wondering why we picked the iPhone 14 over the iPhones 15 and 16. It’s cheaper, which is a good enough reason. But we also think that the iPhone 14 compares very favorably with the iPhone 15. Sure, you’re giving up some of the newer features, such as improvements to the camera, or the iPhone 15’s USB-C port instead of Lightning. The iPhone 14 still has a faster chips and excellent battery life. The iPhone 14 starts at $599/£599 for 128GB, you pay another $100/£100 for the iPhone 15 and yet another $100/£100 for the iPhone 16. Since your 9th grader is probably going to fill up the memory quickly making TikTok videos and taking selfies and pics for social media and texting with friends, we’d suggest that if you do have a bigger budget that the extra money is spent on increasing the storage in the iPhone 14 rather than the bells and whistles of the newer models. Read our full Apple iPhone 14 review Apple iPhone SE (2022): Best iPhone for younger kids Pros Price Small size Durability Cons No Face ID Older, less modern, design Price When Reviewed: $429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $429 at Amazon$429 at Apple$429 at Apple United States If you have a kid at grade school/elementary/primary school who’s mature enough to handle their own phone, you should look no further than the iPhone SE. It’s got the same A15 processor used in the iPhone 13 range, so you know it’s going to perform well and get software updates for years. With a 4.7-inch screen, it’s also pretty small, which is good for younger kids’ hands and pockets. It’s a more than serviceable iPhone, and there’s really nothing your kid may want to do that they won’t be able to, outside of using features like Memoji or Animoji, which require the TrueDepth camera found in the Face ID-equipped higher-end iPhones. The best part is that it’s inexpensive (for an iPhone) at $429/£449, although that is for the 64GB version, which could fill up quickly if the child in question wants to download plenty of games and content to watch. Stepping up to the 128GB version ($479/£499) can alleviate this, but the price does start to creep up. Still, cutting back on features like the all-screen Liquid Retina display and dual cameras, and sporting Touch ID instead of Face ID saves a lot of cost, so the SE will still be cheaper than all the other iPhones. And since young kids tend to be rough on stuff, even with a good case and screen protector (which are highly recommended), you’re not going to want to risk putting a $700 phone in their hands. In truth, we don’t really recommend the iPhone SE (2022) for adults (although it can be ideal for the elderly), as in modern terms it seems a bit dated and limited, but for a kid’s first step into the Apple world it would be a great choice. Read our full Apple iPhone SE (2022) review Apple iPhone 16 (128GB): For kids who want everything Pros Latest iPhone Huge improvement in battery life Supports macro and spatial photography and video recording Cons Pricey Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple$829.99 at Best Buy There is of course a certain status that you can only get from having the latest iPhone, and kids certainly aren’t immune to that. There are a lot more reasons to buy the iPhone 16 than there were for the iPhone 15 in 2023, including the new Camera Control button and an improved camera that’s capable of taking macro and spatial photos. That might be handy if your child is often working on projects and wants to expand their artistic eye for the pictures they take. Perhaps the biggest change for 2024 though, is the huge improvement in battery life. In our tests, we saw a four-hour boost in battery life for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 15. That’s a drastic improvement. Kids are never aware of the amount of battery their phone uses, so the iPhone 16’s battery life gives them even less to think about. We also recommend getting a case, see Best iPhone 16 cases. Read our full Apple iPhone 16 review iPhone 15: Best iPhone for kids who want higher-quality photos and video Pros 48MP sensor in the camera Cons iPhone 16 offers much better battery life Price When Reviewed: From $699 (Was $799) Best Prices Today: $729 at Apple$729.99 at Best Buy While the iPhone 16 is a better overall phone, the iPhone 15 is no slouch. It has a better camera than the iPhone 14, shooting at higher resolution to provide better quality. It also records excellent video that kids can use in presentations or social media. The main drawback to the iPhone 15 is its battery life–it’s actually very good but the iPhone 16 offers a dramatic improvement. But otherwise, the iPhone 15 is a top performer and can handle anything you child wants to do on it, including streaming videos, games, and a lot more. Read our full Apple iPhone 15 review iPhone 13 mini – Best value iPhone for kids Pros Fantastic size Lightweight Great cameras Cons Discontinued by Apple so harder to find Battery life isn’t amazing Price When Reviewed: Was $599 Best Prices Today: $643.07 at Walmart$729 at Amazon Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 mini, but if you can get hold of one it is an excellent choice for youngsters with a small frame that is perfect for small hands. The device shares most of the attributes of its bigger brother the iPhone 13, including the processor and twin rear cameras. Somehow the engineers at Apple still managed to fit a 5.4-inch display into a device that’s smaller than the iPhone SE. One thing to bear in mind is that the smaller nature of the mini means that battery life can be a little lacking. So, if you’re expecting your kid to be on it all the time, especially when out and about, we’d suggest maybe picking up a portable power bank to top up the battery if things get low. As the iPhone 13 mini supports MagSage, you can choose one from our roundup of the best MagSafe portable battery packs and power banks. Read our full Apple iPhone 13 mini review Buy a refurbished iPhone Before you buy one of the phones mentioned above our advice is to explore the second-hand and refurbished market. Buying a second-hand or refurbished iPhone can save you a lot of money. Your first port of call should be Apple’s Refurbished store where Apple sells iPhones that have either been returned as faulty or unwanted. These iPhones (and other products) are fixed up so they are good as new and sold at around 15% off their normal price. There are various benefits to buying from Apple’s Refurbished Store in the U.S. or U.K., including the fact that all products in the Refurbished Store come with a one-year warranty. You may even be able to find an older iPhone model that Apple doesn’t sell anymore, such as the iPhone 12 mini or an iPhone 13 Pro in Apple’s refurbished store. But Apple’s not the only place that sells refurbished iPhones though; there are plenty of companies that make a living from refurbishing and selling iPhones. Check out our where to buy second-hand and refurbished iPhones guide for more details. musicMagpie musicMagpie musicMagpie There is a growing marketplace for older devices that are fixed up and sold on. Before you buy from one of these do check their policies regarding refurbishment and returns, and also we’d advise buying recent models of iPhones – some of these outlets have much older models. Consult How long does Apple support iPhones for more information about the handsets to avoid. Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.S. Decluttr: A popular destination for refurbished devices, often with sales that slash even more money off. You can also trade in any of your old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) to get steeper discounts. The iOutlet on eBay: Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles.  Amazon Renewed Store: This site’s greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy and its “Renewed Guarantee” lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product. Best Buy: Best Buy doesn’t offer a great deal of information on pre-owned iPhones’ condition, but you can return within 14 days if the item is “unopened or defective in any way.” Walmart: Walmart doesn’t sell refurbished iPhones directly; rather, they are sourced from other sellers. Return policies vary from seller to seller, but there are minimum requirements that apply universally. Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.K. Music Magpie: The UK version of Decluttr and a good place to start looking for refurbished iPhones. You may find that sales reduce the price still further. The iOutlet or The iOutlet on eBay: Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles.  Amazon Renewed Store: While you can’t really sell on Amazon Renewed unless you’re a business, those looking to buy a refurbished iPhone Amazon Renewed have plenty of options to choose from. Its greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy and its “Renewed Guarantee” lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product. Envirofone: Also allows you to trade in your old phone for cash towards purchasing a refurbished phone. However, it mostly specializes in phones so you won’t be able to trade in your DVDs or books for cash. 4Gadgets: Offers a 12-month warranty for all online orders. Reboxed: Pledges that devices “are fully tested and in perfect working order.” All come with a 12-month no quibble warranty. Smartfone Store: Look out for the additional 10 percent discount for students and young people. Refurb-Phone: Like most refurb sellers, this site offers a 12-month warranty. Less commonplace is its policy of allowing returns within 14 days if you simply change your mind. The Big Phone Store: Says it ensures refurb phones “are thoroughly tested, repaired, and cleaned before being sent out.” Backs this with a 12-month warranty. Laptops Direct: You get a 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Watch out for slightly confusing grading system: “A3,” for example, means “Average condition.” Back Market: You get 30 days to change your mind and a 12-month warranty… or occasionally more. Companies like musicMagpie (UK), Decluttr (US), Amazon and eBay are all now providing this service, along with one-year warranties and money-back guarantees if you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase. Of course, investing in older tech is also better for the environment, as it stops the iPhones from being thrown into landfills even though they are capable of providing years more service to a happy kid. So, they come with guarantees, save you money, and protect the planet. What’s not to love? Pass on an old iPhone to them Another route to explore is handing over your current iPhone and buying yourself a new one! If you’ve had yours for a while, then it may be out of its contract period, but if you bought it outright then all you need to do is get a new SIM card for your youngster, give them your handset, then head off to the Apple store to give yourself a present for being such a magnanimous parent. If you’re unsure what to treat yourself to, our best iPhone roundup should prove a helpful guide. Before you hand over your old iPhone make sure you set it up correctly for your child. Have a look at 5 things to do before giving an old iPhone or iPad to your kid, how to prepare an iPhone for sale, how to reset an iPhone and how to set up parental controls on iPad & iPhone. Should kids have iPhones? This is a huge question and a topic fraught with pros and cons. Everyone is different. There are still parents who don’t allow their kids to watch TV, let alone play computer games. Other parents don’t see any harm in letting their kids be familiar with technology. And others just need a few minutes of peace while they push a toddler around a supermarket, or something to stop the tweens fighting in the back of the car on a long journey. Surely allowing the kids a few minutes here and there with a mobile phone won’t damage their development. You could give them your own iPhone of course, but that depends on how prepared you are for the risk of them sending their favorite YouTube video to your manager at work. A better solution may be to give them an old iPhone or iPad: it can still be linked to your account so there is no need to pay for the apps you’ve already downloaded for them. Older kids will no doubt want a handset with a bit of credibility. It’s also at this age that the risks associated with mobile phone ownership become more prominent as concerns about their use of, and influence of, social media become apparent. You will want to familiarise yourself with Parental Controls and ensure that they are really mature enough to handle all that comes with this connection with the world and that they are able to avoid becoming addicted to their handsets. Apple founder Steve Jobs famously limited his kid’s use of technology, so maybe we should take a leaf out of his book. Or maybe we should accept that our kids are growing up in a world so immersed in technology that it is going to be a part of their lives whether we like it or not. We just need to control their access to it, rather than stop it altogether.

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Acclaimed Apple TV+ drama ‘Sugar,’ starring Colin Farrell, lands season two renewal
Apple TV+ on Wednesday announced that its acclaimed drama series “Sugar” has been renewed for a second season, with Colin Farrell set… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Did Apple Just Kill Social Apps?
Apple's iOS 18 update has introduced changes to contact sharing that could significantly impact social app developers. The new feature allows users to selectively share contacts with apps, rather than granting access to their entire address book. While Apple touts this as a privacy enhancement, developers warn it may hinder the growth of new social platforms. Nikita Bier, a start-up founder, called it "the end of the world" for friend-based social apps. Critics argue the change doesn't apply to Apple's own services, potentially giving the tech giant an unfair advantage. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Watch this teardown utterly destroy AirPods 4
When an iFixit teardown destroys AirPods 4 -- just annihilates them -- you know the repairability score will be dismally low. Zero, actually. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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The iPad Pro with M4 Chip and Nano Texture Glass is $106 Off
Experience all the new features the iPad Pro with the M4 chip has to offer. Today, the 11-inch wi-fi model with Nano-Texture Glass and 1TB storage is down to just $1,593 from its original price of $1,700 on Amazon. The inclusion of the M4 chip catapults the latest iPad Pro to the cream of the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Epic Games files lawsuits against Google and Samsung
Game developer Epic Games recently filed a lawsuit targeting Google and Samsung for their anticompetitive behavior. Epic Games’ legal action claims that Google and Samsung both have features on their devices that prevent users from sideloading apps and games. Sideloading is the act of downloading apps and games without using the Play Store. A security […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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