Apple’s controversial list of the top 100 albums of all time is now a $450 book
Macworld If you’re an Apple Music fan, love lists, and like reading short blurbs about all-time great records, your new favorite book has arrived. If you have $450 to burn that is. Apple Music has announced that it has partnered with luxury lifestyle bookmaker Assouline to turn its list of the 100 Best Albums into an ornate coffee table book. Though at a price tag nearly as high as a new iPad mini, you probably want to make sure a cup of coffee never gets anywhere near it. According to Assouline’s description, “Every book comes in a custom-designed translucent acrylic slipcase etched with the Apple Music logo, while the linen hardcover is debossed with the same logo to perfectly line up behind the etching. The back of the case is engraved with the edition number, and inside the book there is a hand-numbered ex libris to further highlight the limited nature of this release. The edges of the book’s pages are gilded with a sparkling gold that mirrors the title on the spine.” Bad Bunny’s album, Un Verano Sin Ti, is ranked 76 on Apple’s list.Assouline/Apple Inside all that is Apple Music’s controversial list of the top 100 albums, which was released earlier this year. The top 10, which was heavily debated at the top of its release, includes the following records: 1. Lauryn Hill — The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 2. Michael Jackson — Thriller 3. The Beatles — Abbey Road 4. Prince & The Revolution — Purple Rain 5. Frank Ocean — Blonde 6. Stevie Wonder — Songs in the Key of Life 7. Kendrick Lamar — good kid, m.A.A.d city 8. Amy Winehouse — Back to Black 9. Nirvana — Nevermind 10. Beyoncé — Lemonade Apple says the list was “assembled with the help of artists and experts, it’s a modern love letter to the records that have shaped the world we live and listen in today.” Each entry includes a photo of the album cover as well as “Apple Music’s beloved liner notes, in-depth analysis that brilliantly captures the significance of the album, both to the artists and to the art of music itself.” There is also a foreword by DJ and Apple Music 1 Creative Director Zane Lowe. You can preorder the 208-page book on Assouline’s website for delivery on or around November 25. All orders receive free shipping and a complimentary Assouline signature tote bag and white handling gloves.

Read more »

OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub offers high-speed port expansion for Apple's newest Macs
OWC's new Thunderbolt 5 Hub aims to provide even more access to the fastest ports, by splitting one off into three more.OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub - Image credit: OWCIn 2021, OWC introduced the Thunderbolt Hub, a dock that provided three additional Thunderbolt 4 ports when it was plugged into a Mac's Thunderbolt 4 connections. Three years later, it's doing it again, but for the newest Mac models.The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is the same concept as before, with one Thunderbolt 5 cable connecting to the host Mac while providing three more Thunderbolt 5 ports to plug devices into. The hub also adds a single USB-A port to the equation too. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

How to know if your Mac has been hacked
Macworld It’s a long-held belief of Mac users that their computers are immune to the kind of malware and viruses that plague Windows PCs. While there is some credibility in this idea, we shouldn’t get over-confident when it comes to Mac security, as there are exploits that criminals can use to hack your Mac and leave it like a wide-open door through which they can steal your data or worse. In this article, we take a look at whether Macs can be hacked, how to tell if your Mac has been hacked or if someone is spying on your Mac, and what you can do if your Mac is being remotely accessed. Here’s what you need to know – and what you need to do. Can Macs get hacked? Apple has gone to great lengths to make it difficult for hackers to gain access to Macs. With the protections offered by Gatekeeper, the Secure Enclave features of the M1, M2, M3 and M4-series of chips, and the T1 or T2 chip in some Intel-powered Macs, plus Apple’s built-in antivirus XProtect, targeting Macs may well be considered too much effort by hackers. We discuss this in more detail here: How secure is a Mac? and in Do Macs need antivirus software? PROMOTIONAntivirus Deal: Intego Mac Premium Bundle Get Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 with antivirus, firewall, backup and system performance tools for just $29.99 (down from $84.99) for the first year. Get Deal However, from time to time security vulnerabilities are detected that could be used by hackers to exploit Macs. These vulnerabilities are sometimes referred to as back doors or as a zero-day vulnerability. When these are identified by security researchers (or friendly hackers) they usually alert Apple to them in the hope that the company will quickly close the vulnerability, quickly – or within zero days – before it is exploited.  Such vulnerabilities, though rare, could allow an attacker root access to your Mac. Apple is usually quick to fix, but there have been cases where Apple has been criticized for being slow to respond to the threat once it’s been identified. For example, in August 2023 a software developer released details about a flaw in App Management, a security feature introduced in macOS Ventura designed to prevent malicious software modifications and alerting the user in such an instance. The developer had discovered the issue before the release of Ventura in October 2022, but a fix was not immediately issued, so, in August 2023, the developer went public with details of the flaw which meant that apps could bypass the check by App Management. More here. In another example, researcher Filippo Cavallarin found a Gatekeeper vulnerability in 2019 that he alerted Apple to. Having had no response from Apple within 90 days he went public with details of the vulnerability. In December 2023, a group of university researchers alerted Apple to a vulnerability in Apple’s M-series chips that can be exploited to gain access to cryptographic keys. Dubbed “GoFetch,” the vulnerability could be used by an attacker to access a user’s encrypted files. As of June 2024, Apple is yet to issue a fix, perhaps because of its effect on performance. Those pointing out vulnerabilities aren’t always ignored by Apple. In 2021, Apple paid a student $100,000 after he discovered a dangerous vulnerability relating to Macs and reported it to Apple. The vulnerability, which could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, was identified by Ryan Pickren in July 2021 and fixed by Apple in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 on October 25, 2021. More information here: Hacker ‘could take over any Apple webcam’. It’s not always a flaw in Apple’s software that can leave Macs vulnerable. In August 2023 a serious vulnerability that affected Intel processors was highlighted. Affected devices included Intel-powered Macs from 2015 onwards (M-series Macs were all ok). According to researcher Daniel Moghimi: “Downfall attacks target a critical weakness found in billions of modern processors used in personal and cloud computers.” Intel released a patch, but it’s not the first time this has happened. Back in 2018, in a similar case, Meltdown and Spectre attacked vulnerabilities in Intel and ARM processors. That risk was mitigated by updates to the operating system which closed off the areas that were exposed. Do Macs get hacked? It may be rare when compared to Windows, but yes, there have been cases where Macs have been accessed by hackers. This can take various forms and there are various types of Mac malware that have been discovered ‘in the wild’ on Macs as you can see from our run-through of the various threats affecting macOS: List of Mac viruses, malware and security flaws. Soon after launch, Malware targeted the M1 Mac – read about Silver Sparrow and the first cases of malware for M1 Macs. And in April 2024 Apple alerted some users via an email, suggesting that they may have been the target of spyware. “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-,” read the email, as detailed here: Apple warns users in 92 countries of spyware attack. This kind of attack isn’t likely to affect the general public though, so if you aren’t protecting state secrets or heavily invested in cryptocurrency you are unlikely to fall fowl of such an attack. How Apple protects Macs from hackers Apple is kept busy patching these security flaws as and when they arise, but it used to be reliant on users to install them. Before Apple launched macOS Ventura in 2022 an update to the operating system was required to get the important security component on a Mac. Since some people delay installing operating system updates this was problematic so Apple changed the way security updates are applied to Macs. These important security updates can now be delivered as background updates that can be automatically installed on a Mac without the user having to do anything–although we recommend you check the following to ensure it is set up on your Mac: Open System Settings. Choose General. Click on the i beside Automatic Updates. Make sure that the option to Install Security Responses and system files is selected, even if you choose not to select the others (although we recommend you do). If you aren’t running Ventura or later then when Apple issues a macOS update with a security component it is important to install it as soon as possible. You can still set your Mac to automatically download and update the operating system – just follow these steps: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update. Click on Advanced. Make sure that the option to Install system data files and security updates is selected. Now your Mac will check for updates, download the update, and install the update without you needing to do anything. Can a Mac camera be hacked? Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Once a hacker has access to your Mac there are various ways in which they might try to gain information about you or use the processing power of your Mac for their own purposes. As we mentioned above, in the case of spyware the hacker might attempt to install a keylogger so that it can record what you are typing and look out for your password. The hacker could also attempt to hijack your mic or video camera. Theoretically, this shouldn’t be possible: since macOS Catalina launched in 2019 Apple has protected Mac users from these types of exploits by ensuring that you have to give your permission before the mic or video camera is used, or before a screen recording can take place. And if your video camera is being used you will always see a green light next to it. However, the example we mentioned above, where Ryan Pickren alerted Apple to a vulnerability that could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, suggests that Apple’s alert wasn’t enough to stop the camera from being accessed. There was also a camera-related vulnerability that affected Mac users of the video conferencing service Zoom. In this case, hackers could add users to video calls without them knowing and then activate their webcams but keep the light turned off. This would enable any potential hackers (or law enforcement bodies) to monitor your activities and you wouldn’t have any idea that the camera was watching you. Zoom patched the vulnerability, but only after it became public knowledge when the person who found it reported that the flaw had been left in place for three months after the company had been privately informed of the risk. For more information read: How to stop your Mac webcam being hacked. Wondering about whether FaceTime is secure? Read Is Apple FaceTime safe? How to tell if your Mac has been hacked If you think your Mac has been hacked there are a few ways to find out. First, look for the signs: Has your Mac slowed down? Is your web connection painfully slow? Do the ads you are seeing look a bit more dodgy than usual? Have you noticed anything strange on your bank statements?  If you think an account might have been hacked then check the website haveibeenpwned.com and pop in your email address to see if it’s featured in a data breach. If it has been then change your password! This doesn’t mean you have been hacked, but it’s certainly possible that if this information is out there you could be. Another way to tell if there is some strange activity going on would be to check Activity Monitor and look specifically at network activity. You could also go to System Settings > General > Sharing (or System Preferences > Sharing pre Ventura) and check if anyone suspicious has access to anything such as Screen Sharing or Remote Management. Your best bet is to run a sweep of your system with some kind of security software that can check for any viruses or malware that may have made it onto your system. We have a round-up of the best Mac antivirus apps, where we recommend Intego as our top choice. You may also like to read our guide on how to remove a virus from a Mac. How to protect your Mac from hackers macOS is a very secure system, so there’s no need to panic, but if you want to reduce the chances of being compromised then there are a few things to do. The first is to only download software from either the Mac App Store or the official websites of manufacturers. You should also avoid clicking on links in emails in case they lead you to spoof websites and malware. Don’t use USB cables, other cables, or memory sticks, that if you can’t be sure that they are safe. When you are browsing the web surf in private or incognito mode. If you ever receive a ransomware request or a phishing email do not respond as all this does is confirm that you exist. Another is to make sure you download updates to macOS as soon as they become available as they usually include security patches. In fact, you can set up your Mac to automatically download such updates. Turn on Automatic Updates in System Settings > Software Update, click on the i beside Automatic Updates and select all the options. Pre-Ventura, go to System Preferences > Software Update and click beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date pre-Ventura. Finally, consider using a dedicated security software package. You’ll find our pick of the current offerings in best Mac antivirus. Right now our top choices are Intego Mac Internet Security X9, but we also like McAfee Total Protection 2021, and Norton 360 Deluxe. You should also consider using a password manager, as this will allow you to have multiple, complicated login details across all your accounts without having to remember them. Here our recommendations are LastPass, 1Password, and NordPass. Take a look at our recommendations of the best Antivirus for Mac and the best Mac Antivirus deals and free options Glossary of terms We’ll run through the types of hacks that are more pertinent to the hacking of Macs below: Cryptojacking: This is where someone uses your Mac’s processor and RAM to mine cryptocurrency. If your Mac has slowed right down this could be the culprit. Spyware: Here hackers attempt to gather sensitive data about you, such as your log in details. They might use key loggers to record what you type and eventually have the information they need to log in to your accounts. In one example, the OSX/OpinionSpy spyware was stealing data from infected Macs and selling it on the dark web. Ransomware: Some criminals use Ransomware to try and extort money from you. In cases like KeRanger hackers could have encrypted files on Macs and then demand money to unencrypt them. Luckily Security researchers identified KeRanger before it started infecting Macs so it was addressed before it became a serious threat. In April 2023 security researchers warned that a collective known as LockBit was working on ransomware encryptors that work on both Macs using Apple M-series chips and Intel processors. Botnet: In this case, your computer becomes a remotely operated spam machine. In the case of the Trojan Horse botnet OSX.FlashBack over 600,000 Mac computers. Proof-of-concept: Sometimes the threat isn’t actually seen in the wild, but is a proof of concept based on a loophole or vulnerability in Apple’s code. While this is less of a threat the concern is that if Apple isn’t quick enough to close the vulnerability it could be utilized by criminals. In one example Google’s Project Zero team designed a proof-of-concept known as Buggy Cos which was able to gain access to parts of macOS thanks to a bug in macOS’ memory manager. Port exploits: It’s not always the case that the hack is made possible by some sort of malware downloaded onto the Mac. In some cases, Macs have been hacked after something is plugged into a port. It is possible that Macs could be hacked via the USB and by the Thunderbolt port – which is a good reason to always be careful about what you plug into your Mac or leave your Mac unattended. For example, in the checkm8 exploit it could have been possible for hackers to gain access to the T2 chip by plugging in a modified USB-C cable. Similarly, in the case of Thunderspy a serious vulnerability with the Thunderbolt port could have granted a hacker access to a Mac. Feeling more secure now? Learn even more by reading the helpful tips in How to keep your Mac secure.

Read more »

OWC announces its first Thunderbolt 5 dock, compatible with latest M4 Macs
The new and new M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro feature Thunderbolt 5 ports for the first time. Thunderbolt 5 offers bi-directional transfer speeds up to 80Gb/s, or 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4. It can also drive high-resolution displays using a 120Gb/s bandwidth mode. However, the universe of Thunderbolt 5 accessories is still nascent. OWC announced its first Thunderbolt 5 dock today, priced at $189. more…

Read more »

North Korean hackers use infected crypto apps to target Macs
North Korean hackers have disguised malware in seemingly harmless macOS apps using sophisticated code to bypass security checks and target unsuspecting users.Malware apps continue to target Mac usersIn a recent discovery, researchers at Jamf Threat Labs uncovered malware embedded in macOS apps that look harmless on the surface. Using the popular app-building tool Flutter, cybercriminals made apps that slipped through typical security measures.Flutter, developed by Google, has become a favorite tool for creating apps that work seamlessly across macOS, iOS, and Android. Its codebase allows developers to build an app once and have it look consistent across all platforms. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

AI Search Threatens Digital Economy, Warns Researcher
Benjamin Brooks, a researcher at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center, urged the AI industry to address the content compensation problem before others step in to do it. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Read more »

Best Mac Cleaner software: Boost performance and disk space with a Mac cleaner app
Macworld If your Mac is slowing down, frequently freezing, regularly running out of RAM or just not behaving like it used to. Are you short of space on your Mac? Have you spotted the immense amount of room taken up by System Data and are now looking for a safe way to delete some of that data. What you need is a Mac cleaner app that will delete the clutter and digital debris from your system and free your RAM from memory hogs. Thankfully, there are a wealth of tools available to rectify that can clean up your Mac and get it working properly again. We’ve picked some of the best Mac cleaning software below so you can find one that suits you. The apps included in the list below all offer free trial versions. Some of these trials will merely show you how much space you can free up, but several are essentially free Mac Cleaners that will allow you to clean your Mac for free, albeit for a limited period. These include the trials for CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, Parallels ToolBox and MacCleaner Pro featured below.  Updated: November 2024 with Intego Washing Machine review. PROMOTIONBrand New CleanMyMac | Boost your Mac performance Get the latest version of CleanMyMac, freshly released in 2024. Featuring six keymodules, a smart assistant, and over 25 powerful tools, this brand-new cleanerefficiently removes junk files, boosts your Mac performance, and basically replacesmultiple utility tools. Make sure to use CleanMyMac’s intelligent Smart Care moduleweekly to keep your Mac productive all year round. Download New Version For more information about why a Mac cleaner app could be useful read: Why your Mac needs a cleaner app. We also discuss Tips for cleaning up your Mac. For more ways to squeeze the most out of your system read our How to speed up a slow Mac guide and How to delete Other on a Mac. We also look at How to delete System storage and How to clear cache on a Mac. Best Mac Cleaner 1. MacCleaner Pro Pros Impressive set of tools Good tutorials Good configuration Cons Occasionally awkward user interface Price When Reviewed: $29.95/a year for 1 Mac, or $74.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase) Best Prices Today: $29.95 at Nektony (1 year, 1 Mac)$74.95 at Nektony (one time purchase, 1 Mac) MacCleaner Pro from Nektony is divided into a core app and several module apps, namely App Cleaner & Uninstaller, Disk Space Analyzer, Duplicate File Finder, Memory Cleaner, and Funter. The core app can perform an overall disk cleaning and help free up storage space by eliminating extraneous files.  The App Cleaner & Uninstaller module works well, and allows you to see the app you’re removing as well as its support files. This module has been improved compared to version 3, and now offers you easier access to startup programs and extension files, allowing you to enable, disable, or remove them. A Remaining Files feature allows you to chase down loose files, while an Open With feature lets you assign applications to open certain file types. With Duplicate File Finder it’s easy to specify file types to look for, such as audio and photo files, with an impressive level of precise control. Memory Cleaner module offers an easy interface to show which applications and processes are consuming the most RAM. Funter module finds hidden files within your operating system.  The Fast Cleanup option was able to clear up 11.4GB of drive space, most of these being application cache files, while the Deep Cleanup feature helped reclaim 65.4GB of drive space.  We did have some peculiar instances in which a reminder poped up advising us to clear disk space for a macOS Sonoma (which was already installed). On another occasion when we paused scanning after half an hour we saw a request for full access to the hard drive.  MacCleaner Pro is easy to install, runs well and has a good feature base. You can buy it on an annual or monthly subscription or as a one-time purchase. The free trial version is fully functioning for two days and will actually perform some of the tasks you need to do, rather than ask you to buy the full version. You can get MacCleaner Pro here. Read our full Nektony MacCleaner Pro review 2. MacPaw CleanMyMac X Pros Excellent cleaning tools for Mac storage Large toolset Easy to use Cons Updater missed some app updates Malware Removal produced mixed results Price When Reviewed: $39.95/a year for 1 Mac, $119.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase) Best Prices Today: $39.95 at MacPaw (1 year, 1 Mac)$117.95 at MacPaw (one time purchase) CleanMyMac X is a catch-all utility designed to identify and clean out gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused system garbage. It grants you easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware. The modules include Smart Scan, System Junk, Mail Attachments, Trash Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large & Old Files, and Shredder. Among these you will find tools for file cleanup, malware removal, privacy cleanup, easy access to system extensions, the app uninstaller, and the ability to down multi-GB files you forgot to delete and a quick means of deleting them. Smart Scan is the overarching umbrella feature, hunting down extraneous files that can be deleted to clear drive space, performing a quick malware scan, and executing a speed test to look into optimization functions, such as freeing up RAM or quickly clearing system caches. The Disk Lens and Uninstaller offered a clear view as to which folders were consuming the most drive space and a quick means of removing applications.  I was able to recover more than 30GB of drive space as the program found unused files and disk images galore.  Unfortunately, some features aren’t as good as others – particularly the Malware removal module and the Updater function, neither of which work as well as we hoped, even with the antivirus being updated to take advantage of the Moonlock Engine.  CleanMyMac X is easy to download and install, and features a bright, friendly user interface and it’s exceptionally easy to see what’s gobbling up the most space on your Mac’s hard drive. The features are well-integrated. The software costs can be purchased on an annual subscription or a one-time purchase for a 1 Mac license. There’s a free version available to download and a free trial version available on the Mac App Store and from MacPaw’s website, but it restricts the app to only remove files up to a maximum of 500MB – and in the middle of deleting files it will demand you pay the license fee for the app. You can download that limited version and scan your Mac to see just now much space you can save before committing to buying the app. MacPaw is currently running a 30% discount for students – submit your university email address and receive a download code here.  You can get CleanMyMac X here. Read our full CleanMyMac X review 3. Cleaner One Pro for Mac Pros Quick, stable performance Handles duplicate files and cleanup well Good value Cons Subscription only Certain features require subscription version Price When Reviewed: $19.99 a year for 1 device (usually $24.99) Best Prices Today: $19.99 at Trend Micro (1 year, 1 Mac) Cleaner One Pro for Mac is easy to download and install. The software requires is available in both free and paid subscription-based tiers. For the free tier, the software offers basic scanning and no user limits while requiring no credit or debit card to be stored with Trend Micro. The Basic tier, requires a payment method to be stored with Trend Micro, offers support for one device, access to additional tools, and easy uninstallation if desired. The Advanced tier requires a payment method to be stored with Trend Micro, and offers support for five devices, macOS and Windows support, quick uninstallation, and access to additional tools.  Cleaner One Pro is designed around an assortment of modules including Smart Scan, which looks over your storage, diagnostics, and applications, Junk Files, Big Files, Disk Map, Startup Manager, Duplicate Files, Similar Photos, App Manager, and File Shredder. The modules performed well during testing, and were able to locate large files and duplicates to be disposed of. The Junk Files module found a variety of unused disk images and installers. An interface along the Menu Bar tracked memory usage, CPU usage, network usage, and hooked into Dropbox to help put files up on the cloud. There are some elements that require some attention. One annoyance was that you can’t navigate through module windows using the page up and page down keys, only a mouse will suffice. And we encountered a lack of communication from Trend Micro itself for product and technical questions, which was a concern.  Cleaner One Pro is useful, lives up to its description, and offers an elegant and easy to navigate user interface that lets you prune your Mac down effectively. This useful set of Mac cleaning tools comes at a good price, and if you’re looking for something reliable in this field, it’s worth your consideration. You can purchase from Trend Micro, or via the Mac App Store and an iOS version on the iOS App Store.  You can get Cleaner One Pro here. Read our full Cleaner One Pro for Mac review 4. Daisy Disk Pros Quickly scans storage and finds large files Graphical representation File name previews Can check cloud storage Cons Some user-interface quirks Price When Reviewed: $9.99 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Software Ambience (One time purchase) DaisyDisk incorporates a clean, fun, interesting user interface via which it sets out to help you visualize the data on your Mac and its local, network, and cloud-based volumes, map it out, see which files are taking up the most space, and help you free up gigabytes of drive space. DaisyDisk supports a number of file formats and file systems, as well as network volumes, virtual elements and disk images, and can mount and scan just about anything as long as the volume itself is operational.  DaisyDisk can also mount cloud-based services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box. It was simple to add my Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box accounts, and then connect and sift through them to see which ancient files could be readily put out to pasture to clear up space as needed. See our round-up of the best cloud backups for Mac. I was able to clear up dozens of gigabytes of space in the process. We did have some difficulties with Google Drive, which refused to allow DaisyDisk access, stating that the app was blocked and “This app tried to access sensitive info in your Google Account. To keep your account safe, Google blocked this access.” This appears to be a conflict between DaisyDisk’s developers and Google that has yet to be sorted out, and while some workarounds have been proposed online, there seems to be no quick solution to the conflict. DaisyDisk users are also currently unable to add and sort through Apple’s iCloud Drive accounts given Apple’s sandboxing of the environment. You can scan a local copy of your iCloud Drive contents using the “Scan Folder…” button but not the Web-based data, which is frustrating. In addition to being able to scan entire volumes at once, you can click the “Select Folder…” button and navigate to a custom folder.  With DaisyDisk it’s entirely up to your own discretion as to which files and folders to delete, with nothing more than a five-second countdown clock and time period in which to cancel the decision. Apple’s Disk Utility app can be accessed from the Menu bar to perform disk repairs on the fly.  Unlike so many apps you don’t have to sign up for a subscription package: the app retails for a one off fee of $9.99/£9.99, which is excellent value.  You can get Daisy Disk here. Read our full Daisy Disk review 5. MacPaw Gemini Pros Capable of finding multiple duplicate types Excellent search customization Handy preferences and options Cons Lack of additional filters makes sorting located duplicates tedious Needs a scheduling feature Price When Reviewed: From $19.95 for 1 Mac, annually Best Prices Today: $19.95 at MacPaw (1 year, 1 Mac)$44.95 at MacPaw (one time purchase, 1 Mac) Though not strictly a Mac cleaner, like other apps in this round-up, MacPaw’s Gemini 2 can certainly help you get back some disc space. It is a duplicate removal tool that focuses specifically on reducing the thousands of duplicate photos in your Photos library. It also hunts down duplicate files within Apple Music and across the macOS operating system. The app is available through Apple’s App Store and MacPaw’s SetApp application, which grants access to Gemini and other apps for $9.99 (£7.60) a month. It is easy to install and offers a seven-day free trial in exchange for either your credit or debit card information. The app includes scripts for easy scanning of the Photos library and your Music library, as well as custom folders and external volumes that can be chosen from a menu or dragged, dropped, and quickly scanned. Other features include Menu Bar elements, whitelists that can be created that are exempt from being scanned, and a Duplicate Monitor feature that helps compare files and heads off duplicates before they begin to pile up. In testing, Gemini 2 quickly sought out duplicates, offered the option to remove them, and eradicated them from our hard drive. This also applies to music files and other document types, and the Duplicate Monitor warns you about possible duplicates that have been carried over to your hard drive. However, there are some caveats, such as confusion about account registration and permissions after downloading and installing Gemini 2 from the App Store. MacPaw is urging its clients towards SetApp subscriptions, which offer full access to the company’s apps for a given rate per month. While Gemini 2 runs well, a scheduling feature for folder or volume scans would not go amiss. An improved filter for locating duplicate items would be more helpful. Despite some minor hurdles, Gemini 2 is well-written, sharp, helpful, fast, works well with all kinds of duplicates, and lends a good feature set to the macOS operating system without being overbearing. It hones in on its tasks and performs them well enough to earn the trust of users. You can get MacPaw Gemini 2 from the Mac App Store or from MacPaw here. Read our full MacPaw Gemini review 6. Intego Washing Machine Pros Reclaim drive space and remove duplicate files Good customization, filters, and settings Cons Annoying pop-ups Installation difficult Price When Reviewed: $19.99 for one Mac for first year (usually $49.99) Best Prices Today: $19.99 at Intego (1 year, 1 Mac, 60% off) Intego’s Washing Machine X9 is a handy cleaning utility for the Mac that focuses on reclaiming disk space via the Reclaim tool, removing duplicate files on your Mac’s hard drive with the Duplicates tool, and organizing folders using the Organize tool. As is standard, the software (compatible with macOS 13 High Sierra or later) requires that you grant it full access to your hard drive though your Mac’s Privacy and Security settings. Less standard was that we had to locate the Intego Washing Machine X9 app in the Applications folder and drag it into Full Disk Access in Privacy and Security settings to get it to function. It is more common that an installer will add an easy icon that can be dragged into the macOS Full Disk Access pane to complete the installation. There’s a good level of customization. Like similar applications, the Reclaim tool can chase after caches, downloads, language files, logs, and trash files to help clean up disk space. The initial run cleared approximately 24GB of drive space from my M2 MacBook Pro’s SSD. The Duplicates tool took about five hours to create an initial index for my 1TB SSD. It offered control over duplicates that can be selected and specific options and naming filters. The Organize feature can help organize messy folders into a Snapshot folder for reorganization later. This tool can work with specific folders such as the ever-messy Desktop folder, your Home folder, and macOS’ Smart Folders, and help pull things into order. This Organize feature does feel like slapping a band-aid on the larger problem of a folder’s disorganization though.The Scheduling option only allows for a specific week or month to be chosen, and it would have been nice to be able to schedule a process for a few minutes from now, as is common with similar software. While it’s nice to be able to reclaim a few dozen gigabytes of drive space and have control over the duplicate files on your Mac, Washing Machine offers nothing groundbreaking. With the current discounts and its attractive user interface it’s worth a look though. Alternatively, Intego’s Washing Machine X9 is bundled with Intego’s larger security suite so you could take advantage of that and get a Mac Cleaner with Intego’s Antivirus solution. The Mac Premium Bundle costs from $84.99/£84.99 (currently discounted to $39.99/£33.99) and includes VirusBarrier, NetBarrier, Content Barrier, and Personal Backup solutions. You can get Washing Machine here. Read our full Intego Washing Machine X9 review 7. Parallels Toolbox Pros Full suite of Mac tools Fully featured free trial Cons May be more than you require Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year Best Prices Today: Free at Parallels Toolbox Free 14-day Trial $24.99 at Parallels (1 year, 1 Mac) Parallels Toolbox is a bunch of tools that can be used to perform various actions on your Mac – such as Download Video, Record Audio, Hide Desktop Files, Resize Image, Clipboard History, Find Duplicates, Free Memory, and even the ability to set alarms. Among all these tools is one that can be used to clean your Mac. Mac cleaning tools provided in Parallels Toolbox that could also be useful when cleaning a Mac include Clean Drive, Uninstall Apps, Find Duplicates, and Free Memory. The Clean Drive tool scans your drive and then lets you choose what to delete. You can delete applications by dragging them to the trash, but this doesn’t always completely delete them. Often files and folders can be left scattered around your system that were related to that now gone app. Parallels’s Uninstall Apps tool will remove apps and their associated files from your Mac. Similarly, you can run Find Duplicates to dig out any identical files – even ones that have different file names. Parallel’s Toolbox costs $24.99/£20.99 a year, but the free 14-day trial will actually delete files, free memory and do all those other useful things without you buying the app! You can get an overview of Toolbox’s various features, and download the seven-day trial, from the company’s website. You can get Parallels Toolbox here. Read our full Parallels Toolbox review 8. Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller Pros Simple user interface Free (with Pro upgrade) Cons Not as full-featured as alternatives Price When Reviewed: $14.95 a year for 1 Mac Best Prices Today: $14.95 at Nektony (1 year, 1 Mac) Also from Nektony, is the simple and easy to use App Cleaner & Installer. This lightweight app is actually bundled with MacCleaner Pro (above), but this version focuses on clearing out the broken links, files, and other gubbins that get left behind when apps are uninstalled. It also, as the name suggests, allows you to uninstall apps cleanly from the get-go, and set which ones launch at start up.   There is a free version that does most of these tasks, but if you pay $9.99/£9.99 for the Pro upgrade you’ll also be able to remove system extensions, executable parts of files, and uninstall apps, plus the ads that adorn the free version disappear. Easy to recommend due to both its price and quality. You can get App Cleaner & Uninstaller here. 9. Onyx Pros Powerful toolset Versions for older Mac systems readily available Cons UI needs some time to learn Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Free at Titanium Software (Donationware) There’s a reason Onyx from Titanium Software has been among the tools of choice for Mac techies for such a long time. It offers a great set of tools and an incredible level of customization. It’s also freeware, so you don’t have to pay a penny, although the developer Titanium Software appreciates donations. Onyx also combines a unique, bare-bones approach to its user interface while offering an incredible level of customization as to what files are affected during a repair. Onyx can repair permissions, rebuild databases, reorganize file structures, check hard disk structures, and restore indexes. It can even repaire Unix-level functions that would otherwise only be accessed through Terminal. The main downside is that it’s not all that simple to use and it’s easy to make errors. Luckily there are handy FAQ links on the Titanium Software website for common issues. There are versions of Onyx for each version of the macOS. You can get Onyx here. Read our full Onyx review You may also like to consider: Cleanup Premium for Mac. $29.88/£24.99 a year.Disk Doctor, $2.99/£2.99 a year.Gemini 2, $19.95/£15.95 a year.Cleaner One Pro,$19.99 a year.Tuneup for Mac, $65.99/£54.99 a year. We have also looked at MacBooster, find out why we don’t recommend it here: MacBooster Review: it’s no surprise people think it’s malware.

Read more »

Orka macOS virtualization is now available on-prem with Orka Engine
MacStadium, a leader in macOS virtualization and cloud services, has just announced Orka Engine, the latest addition to its Orka lineup. Unveiled today as part of KubeCon, this product is designed to streamline DevOps and IT workflows by harnessing existing Mac infrastructure, either on-premises or in the cloud. more…

Read more »

App Store faces Epic Games-style antitrust lawsuit from Chinese developer
The developer of an app dropped from the App Store in China has filed a lawsuit that challenges Apple's overall practices, as well as damages of $420,000.China and the App StoreApple has consistently been bowing to pressures from China and dropping apps from the App Store in the region. In this case, it's claimed an app called Bodyreader was pulled by Apple over reasons the developer believes are inconsistent.According to Bloomberg Beijing's intellectual property court has accepted a complaint from Bodyreader's developer. The publication describes this as an Epic Games-style lawsuit on account of its scope concerning Apple's overall practices on the App Store. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Apple is doomed because no one wants to wait for anything
Macworld Slow and steady wins the race. At least that’s what the Vision Pro team seems to be banking on. And, hey, it’s worked out for Apple on any number of occasions. It’s hard to think back that far now when history seems to be on some sort of speed run–look, history, the Macalope watched the guy who finished the “Breath of the Wild” in 34 minutes and while it was impressive it’s really not the best way to enjoy the game, okay?–but the rollout of the iPod was not exactly blazingly fast. iTunes for Windows didn’t come out until two years after the original iPod. The Apple Watch was also not an instant hit. In fact, the Macalope is old enough to remember when it was a “flop”, by which he is old enough to have had object permanence for at least 10 years. Well, most of those 10 years anyway. The Apple Watch Series 0 was announced in 2014, released in 2015, and updated the following year, but it was several years before it was a verifiable hit. So, when you read the following headlines about Apple’s Vision lineup, don’t panic. (God knows there are enough other things to panic about.) Now, let us review the carnage! “Kuo: Cheaper ‘Apple Vision’ headset delayed beyond 2027” A cheaper Vision product would do a lot to increase the install base which, in turn, would do a lot to increase the content for the device. Sadly, it seems this virtuous cycle has some flat tires. It seems even that Apple isn’t quite sure either what it wants the next device to be or what it can be. “Apple is ‘seriously considering’ Vision device that offloads compute to your iPhone” We’re thinking about it! We’re also thinking about a steampunk version that runs on a coal-fired backpack! We’ve all kinds of wacky ideas! DON’T TOUCH ME! The company also apparently saw that same Meta demo we and the entire tech press saw and was wowed by because it’s mumbling to itself “Should we do that?” “Apple’s Internal Survey About Smart Glasses Hints at Future Product Plans” As for the updated Vision Pro, that also may be delayed. “Apple Vision Pro 2 With M5 Chip May Not Launch Until 2026” Hey, by 2026 the idea of strapping a device on our heads and disappearing into a fabricated reality might be something everyone would be willing to throw $3,500 at. Apple Store employee: But, sir, that’s the last of your savings! You’ll starve! Customer: GIVE ME THE HEADSET! IDG Apart from rumors, other signs indicate the company is retrenching on the Vision Pro a bit. “Apple Consolidating Vision Pro Demo Areas in Stores Amid Rumors of Slowing Sales and Reduced Production” “Go to the back of the Store. There’s a guy in a trench coat. Tell him Randy sent you.” The Macalope is ribbing the company a little bit for its current seeming uncertainty of what to make and when to deliver it but, then, who doesn’t have some uncertainty in these uncertain times? I know I do. I think. I dunno. Anyway, the good news is that Apple has all the pieces to be a major contender here. Say what you will about the Vision Pro… “It’s too expensive.” “The eyeballs are goofy.” “It’s yet another isolating device in an increasingly isolating world.” “It smells like-“ Okay, okay, okay. That was rhetorical. How did you even get in here? Anyway, the Vision Pro may not be perfect, but it is without a doubt a genuine display of Apple’s technical capabilities. The only thing the company is trying to figure out is what the market actually wants. Everyone ooh-ed and ahhh-ed over Meta’s smart glasses, but recall that people also thought they wanted netbooks. Amongst other things that they got that they might come to regret. Still, the company certainly hasn’t given up on the Vision Pro. Here it is plugging away at making more content available for the device. “Apple releasing Vision Pro immersive music experience from The Weeknd this Thursday” Content, after all, is the grease that makes the ecosystem work. (Ecosystems need grease, right?) Apple’s track record tells us the company has time to figure out the right mix here. And the device it’s released already tells us it can make whatever that is.

Read more »

If you’re upset about the M4 Mac mini, you’re just using it wrong
Macworld Whenever Apple drops a new product, certain netizens rush to online corners like Reddit, Threads, and X to complain about the latest design choices. The case with the new Mac mini is no different. Despite the device featuring a competitively miniature, sleek build, many loud critics have fixated on the repositioned power button that now lives on its bottom side. It’s classic Apple—design something gorgeous and impressive but all everyone wants to talk about is one head-scratching decision. I’m here to tell you that these complaints are completely baseless. Let me explain. Hidden by design Believe it or not, the power button is mostly useless on modern Macs. Yes, you do need it to power it on when you first unbox it. However, if you’re operating your computer correctly, you’ll rarely have to rely on it beyond that point. Unlike older PCs or machines from other brands, you’re supposed to keep your Mac powered on at all times. Newer versions of macOS running on Apple’s M-series chipsets are extremely efficient, and they aren’t designed to be shut down daily or even regularly. No matter what you do with your Mac mini, you don’t need to turn it off very often.Apple I keep my MacBook Air M2 powered on overnight, and its battery percentage pretty much never drops in hibernation. macOS automatically puts all unnecessary tasks to sleep, ensuring that no intensive background activities drain its energy when not in use, and Apple silicon is extremely efficient. So, leaving your Mac on all night won’t meaningfully increase your electricity bill or make your Mac wear down any faster. If your Mac mini M4 acts up or lags for whatever reason, then that’s what the (software) restart option in the top-left Apple menu is for. Unless your computer completely freezes—and this shouldn’t occur routinely on M4 Macs—you won’t need to push the bottom button. Beyond the loud critics, a group of creative minds has risen to solve this mind-boggling issue. Because reaching underneath your Mac mini once in a while is obviously a horribly inconvenient task, they’ve engineered an ingenious accessory that clicks it on your behalf. The 3D-printed add-on acts as an extension to the power button, allowing you to push it by applying pressure on your Mac’s top surface. It would’ve been great if one needed to push that button on a daily basis, but that’s not the case. So, the end result is a cheap-looking piece of junk resting on a premium, aesthetically pleasing box of smarts—in an almost insulting manner. While I understand that a majority of those users are doing it as a joke, I’m confident there are a few folks out there who will be tarnishing their beautiful Mac minis with a 3D-printed accessory unironically. The power button on the Mac mini M4 serves a similar purpose to the hidden reset buttons found on countless gadgets—typically concealed behind a tiny pinhole. Fortunately, on your Mac, you won’t need a paper clip to press it, just a mild inconvenient lift. Leave the Magic Mouse alone too Ever since Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2 in 2015, people have similarly been attacking its bottom-positioned charging port. And since the iPhone maker didn’t overhaul its design with the latest USB-C upgrade, the tired memes have resurfaced. Well, I’m here to courageously declare that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with how the Magic Mouse charges. It’s time to stop the Magic Mouse charging port hate.Apple While, yes, you obviously can’t use the Magic Mouse while it’s charging, most people don’t seem to be aware of how rapidly it tops up its battery. Plugging it in for just a few minutes can get you 8-9 hours of use. So, even if you somehow miss the low battery alerts, it can get you through a workday while you prepare your coffee. Meanwhile, a full charge—which only takes around two hours—can get you around a month of use. No matter how hardworking you are, I’m pretty sure you can spare a couple of hours every couple of weeks. The Apple Watch is similarly useless when it’s charging, yet we don’t hear anyone complain about that. Not all gadgets are designed for continuous use. The Magic Mouse follows Apple’s modern, elegant design language and isn’t marketed or meant to be the most practical or ergonomic option. Fortunately, macOS supports thousands of third-party mice with distinct designs and functionalities that cater to all expectations and needs. So, you won’t ever have to witness a Magic Mouse charging with an exposed belly if it bothers you so much. These quibbles are wearing thin In an interview posted this week to Chinese video-sharing site Bilibili, Apple VPs Greg Joswiak and John Ternus blamed the power button fiasco on the Mac mini’s size and defended the placement as being in the most convenient position. It’s not just corporate speak—the Magic Mouse and M4 Mac mini criticisms are mostly coming from either ignorant users or those who have never laid their hands on them. Had they known how these devices operate, their entire arguments would crumble before their eyes. The Mac mini should be celebrated, not picked apart.Apple Yes, the Mac mini’s power button is placed in an unintuitive spot. But once you realize that you don’t actually need to press it every day, its placement starts to make sense. Similarly, the Magic Mouse may look meme-able while it charges on its back. However, taking its long battery life and swift charging into consideration justifies this design choice. And of course, both products look cleaner because they hide these “imperfections” on their concealed sides. Apple is far from perfect. But instead of obsessing over trivial details, let’s focus our collective feedback on more impactful flaws that we think the company should address—like why doesn’t the Mac mini come in Space Black? Apple Mac mini (M4) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $579.99 at Amazon | $599 at Apple | $599 at B&H

Read more »

Apple @ Work Podcast: Apple’s role in telemedicine
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with Dev Rangarajan, the Co-Founder and CMO of MD Exam and creator of Agrarian Design, about Apple’s role in telemedicine. more…

Read more »

Apple executives defend location of the power button on the 2024 Mac mini
There are times when Apple’s product design makes perfect sense, is lauded by all, and a great new product rolls out the gates ready to go. And there are times wherein the company makes such a weird decision that its entire customer base wonders what they were thinking. Apple’s decision to place the 2024 Mac […] Source

Read more »

Apple could launch a smart home IP camera in 2026
Apple could launch a smart home IP camera featuring deep integration with its other products in 2026, foraying into a new product category. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Read more »

Rumor: Second-generation Vision Pro headset to debut in late 2025/early 2026, feature an M5 chip
Apple’s second-generation Vision Pro headset may be pushed back a bit to 2026, but also feature an M5 chip at its core. Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the headset could see an upgrade to the as-yet-unannounced M5 chip. The unit it reportedly in active development, which Gurman has stated could be expected to arrive “between the […] Source

Read more »

Plugable Thunderbolt Docking Station with DisplayLink (TBT-6950PD) review
Macworld At a glance Pros 11 fast ports Up to four 4K at 60Hz displays 6K at 60Hz display 180W power supply Cons M1/M2 limited to three displays North America only Our Verdict DisplayLink software opens up impressive external display potential. Not many of us need four screens but those who do will find this fast, 11-port Plugable Thunderbolt 4 dock strong in features and reasonable in price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$299.95 Best Prices Today: Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station for 4K Quad Monitors Retailer Price $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Plugable Thunderbolt Docking Station with DisplayLink (TBT-6950PD) is a full 11-port docking station that beats nearly all other Thunderbolt docks by boasting not just four Thunderbolt 4 ports (one upstream to the host computer) but two HDMI 2.0 ports as well. That’s a lot of video connection options, and, with some software installed, it can support up to four external 4K displays at 60Hz. If you want to hook up three or more monitors to your Mac, this dock is a solution that will keep with Mac’s other ports free for other duties while adding a bunch more for extensive flexibility. There are two other Thunderbolt docks that match this setup. The ridiculously endowed 21-port iVanky Fusion Dock Max dock—which is super-powered with not one but two Thunderbolt chips inside—is a titan, but costs $500. The closest match to the Plugable TBT-6950PD is the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station (with DisplayLink). Indeed, these two Thunderbolt docks are almost identical in both features and looks. This could be the result of following the same Intel Reference Design plus sharing supply chain partners. Either way, we can’t separate the two in material terms. Later, we’ll look at this direct comparison to help you choose the best multi-display dock for your needs. The single-chip Plugable and Satechi docks must rely on third-party DisplayLink software to reach a four-display setup. DisplayLink enables even plain non-Pro/Max M1/M2 Macs to connect to up to three displays (one at 6K and two at 4K), and plain M3/M4 and Pro/Max M1/M2/M3/M4 chip Macs to handle four 4K displays. Plugable Specs and features Eleven ports is a generous offering, and there are no duffers making up the numbers—unless you really must have Ethernet faster than 1,000Mbps. One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W)
 Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
 Two HDMI 2.0 ports Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
 Gigabit Ethernet 
 UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps)
 3.5mm audio jack
 180W power supply Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) features the fastest available 40Gbps bandwidth plus smart device daisy-chaining and turbo-charged storage connectivity. It also offers Intel VT-d DMA device protection that works against drive-by Direct Memory Access (DMA) attacks using PCI hot plug devices. If you don’t understand what that means, just be reassured that Thunderbolt 4 has your back. Thunderbolt 4 is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, so you can use it with older devices, but we assume your MacBook will be equipped with Thunderbolt 4 as it’s been the default on the Pro models since 2021 and even the MacBook Air has the USB4 variant. Apple has now begun equipping its latest Macs—starting with those with at least an M4 Pro chip—with 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5, which is backwards compatible with TB4 and USB-C. However, there are few devices or docks that are yet ready for this standard so buying Thunderbolt 4 can still be recommended for probably at least a year until the new standard becomes common enough not to be super expensive. The Plugable TBT-6950PD dock requires you to use one of the Thunderbolt ports to connect to your computer—this is known as the “upstream” port and is handily placed on one side of the dock. We prefer this placement as it keeps the cable out of view compared to docks that stick it at the front of the dock. Plugable includes three “downstream” Thunderbolt 4 ports that can be used to connect to external displays and/or other gadgets such as storage devices. Most docks with three downstream Thunderbolt ports don’t have dedicated video ports included too, but the TBT-6950PD features two HDMI ports. To use these HDMI ports as well as the TB ports you need to install DisplayLink software, which gets around the limitations in Mac software that don’t allow the MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology that allows Windows PCs to run up to four displays with ease. Apple usually warns you off installing third-party system software, but we are confident that you can trust DisplayLink software, which is well established and used by many trusted accessory makers. Installing DisplayLink on your Mac is reasonably simple, and we have more detailed instructions on installing DisplayLink software on a Mac if those supplied by Plugable are not enough for you. Plugable has instructions and links to the latest DisplayLink version on its website. Later in this review, we’ll dig deeper into the Plugable TBT-6950PD’s video configuration options. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Back to the dock’s ports, there are no USB-C ports because the three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports are USB-C compatible and anyway offer much faster 40Gbps data-transfer rates and 15W of power output to connected devices. Using the dock, you could power the laptop at 96W (via the upstream Thunderbolt connection) and use two of the downstream TB ports to simultaneously charge your phone and iPad, for example. 15W is not enough power to fast-charge these devices but standard charging will still be speedy at that rate. The dock’s external power supply can handle 180W, which is a decent amount for a dock of this type. If you need more grunt from your dock, look at the CalDigit TS4 that has an impressive 230W power brick. Located upfront, there are two old-school USB-A ports, at their fastest-possible 10Gbps data-transfer speed. These ports can only output a puny 4.5W of power but it’s enough for low-power devices such as memory sticks. Instead, use the Thunderbolt ports to attach non-powered storage drives. You can add inexpensive portable storage using the SD Card reader, which is rated at a fast 4.0 UHS-II 312MBps. With an adapter, this card reader can also be used with even smaller and more capable MicroSD cards. It’s a great way of adding fast and affordable storage to your laptop setup. You can pick up a fast (UHS-II) 512GB card for under $100, and cheaper at a compatible but slower UHS-I. At the back there’s a Gigabit Ethernet port for stable and speedy wired Internet access. A growing number of new Thunderbolt docks feature faster 2.5Gb Ethernet that outpace 1Gb Ethernet by two and a half times if the network you are plugged into supports such speeds. Gigabit Ethernet is fast enough for most wired networks. A 3.5mm audio in/out port is placed sensibly at the front of the dock for your speakers, headphones or microphone. The power button the front of the dock gives you the option of turning off the dock and therefore power to the connected laptop when you are done for the day. Most docks lack an on/off button forcing you to disconnect the cable at night to stop the laptop’s battery constantly being powered up, which can harm the battery’s life expectancy over time. Plugable Multiple monitor support Any MacBook Pro with Max variants of the M1, M2, M3 and M4 processors can support up to four external 4K displays at 60Hz, even without a dock: three displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over its built-in HDMI. However, that will use up all the MacBook’s own built-in ports. Using a docking station uses up just one of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports for the upstream connection to the dock. We’re guessing that a four-display user is going to want to connect other devices and use a fast wired network, and so definitely needs a dock for this expansion. If you just need more Thunderbolt 4 and USB ports, the basic but port-bristling CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub should be all you need. But a dock is nearly always a more supportive solution. MacBook Pros with Pro variants of the M1, M2, M3 or M4 processors are limited to two external displays. The same is now true for Macs with the plain M4 chip. DisplayLink therefore opens the chance to add three or four external displays, making the Plugable dock a wise choice. MacBooks with the standard M1, M2 or M3 processors (neither Pro nor Max) natively support just one display. This is where DisplayLink docks such as the Plugable TBT-6950PD are especially useful. Even using DisplayLink, these plain M-series Macs are limited to three external displays. If you must have four monitors to goggle at you need a Pro or Max-equipped Mac, and we suspect it’s only power users who need so much screen space. There are DisplayLink docks with more USB ports than this Plugable dock or the similar Satechi Thunderbolt dock, but these are the perfect options for multiple-monitor powers—particularly as many as four external displays. When installing DisplayLink software be prepared for some fiddling around in your Mac’s System Settings, allowing the software to permit “Screen Recording” for DisplayLink devices to work properly. Other than that, once installed you shouldn’t need to worry about it again. Supporting four displays means Plugable’s dock is great for the higher-powered Pro and Max MacBooks. The only real competition is the much more expensive iVanky FusionDock Max 1. Only using the FusionDock gets you four 6K displays at 60Hz (using all four of its downstream TB4 ports). With the Plugable, your best four displays will be 4K at 60Hz. While the dock supports two Apple Studio Displays, connecting two displays via Thunderbolt would require the resolution to be limited to 4K at 60Hz using a DisplayLink dock. It is also possible to drive one display at 6K at 60Hz via one of the dock’s downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports while also driving three additional displays at up to 4K at 60Hz (one via a second downstream Thunderbolt 4 port and two via the HDMI ports).  Base model M1/M2 chips support a triple display configuration: single 6K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and dual 4K at 60Hz via HDMI. Windows PCs can support an even more impressive 8K at 60Hz. When connecting three displays, if you want one 6K monitor, it is required for the other two monitors to be connected via HDMI and using DisplayLink, while the 6K monitor is connected to one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports. The highest resolution on the HDMI ports will be 4K/60Hz. We’ve rounded up the best DisplayLink docks for M1, M2, M3 and M4 MacBooks, and the Plugable TBT-6950PD dock is, alongside the similar Satechi Thunderbolt DisplayLink dock, our recommended Thunderbolt 4 option due to Thunderbolt’s faster data transfer. Using this dock and DisplayPort, the M3 MacBook Air can support four external displays connected to the Thunderbolt dock, but only with its lid closed (Clamshell Mode). You’ll need to use a keyboard and mouse in this mode. Check out options for the best Mac keyboard and best Mac mouse. You can connect displays directly to the Thunderbolt ports if your monitors have a USB-C connection. If not, you’ll require either a USB-C-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-DisplayPort adapter (not included) depending on the display’s ports. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Price and alternatives The Plugable Thunderbolt Docking Station with DisplayLink (TBT-6950PD) costs $299.95, which is about in the middle of the Thunderbolt 4 dock market but represents value for money of multiple monitors is your goal. Remember that the super iVanky FusionDock Max 1 costs $500. While it doesn’t support four 6K displays, the Plugable does offer four 4K displays. If 4K at 60Hz is enough for you, this is going to save you a lot of money. As mentioned at the start of this review, there is a near-identical Satechi Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink dock that is priced the same—read our Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station (with DisplayLink) review. There are a few small differences where Plugable wins out: the Plugable’s included TB4 cable measures 1m compared to the 0.8m Satechi cable; the Satechi lacks the Plugable’s security lock slot; and the Plugable beats the Satechi when it comes to Windows, with support for 60Hz 8K compared to 30Hz 8K. Other than that, to separate these two Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink docks we recommend you compare the prices at the time of purchase. See the latest Plugable TBT-6950PD prices in this review and see the competing prices in our Satechi TB4 DisplayLink Dock review linked to above. U.K.-based customers can’t yet buy the Plugable TBT-6950PD, but can purchase the Satechi dock, which is available internationally direct. Note that Satechi customers outside of the U.S. will have to pay some shipping costs–£22 for delivery to the U.K.—until it becomes available via Amazon in other regions. U.K. buyers will need to add their own C5 power cable as it ships with either a North American or E.U. plug. If you want a mere three external displays, another option is the Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station. It’s 10Gbps USB-C rather than Thunderbolt but it does support three 4K displays at 60Hz. At the time of writing, it’s discounted at Amazon but at full $299 retail price is not as fine an option as the Plugable or Satechi. Should you buy Plugable Thunderbolt Docking Station with DisplayLink (TBT-6950PD) There are Thunderbolt 4 docks with more ports, but you will be buying the Plugable TBT-6950PD dock for its multiple monitor support, not a handful more USB-A ports. If it’s more ports you’re after, look through our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks for Mac. If you are comfortable installing the third-party DisplayLink software (and it’s not overly complex), this opens up impressive external display potential. Not many of us need four screens but those who do will find this fast, 11-port Plugable Thunderbolt 4 dock strong in features and reasonable in price.

Read more »

Kuo: Apple to release its own smart home camera in 2026, with AI features
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported today that Apple will enter the smart home camera market in 2026, with the company seemingly set to compete against third-party HomeKit cameras like the for the first time. The IP camera is targeted to hit annual shipments in the tens of millions, indicating Apple hopes this will become a major accessory in its product lineup. Kuo says the appeal of Apple’s camera will be rich integration with Siri and Apple Intelligence features. more…

Read more »

Channel 4 launches Vision Pro streaming app with a Taskmaster environment
Vision Pro users in the UK have a new TV streaming app starting today. Channel 4 is launching a dedicated Vision Pro app, the first UK broadcasters to do so. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Chrome for iOS adds Shopping Insights, enhanced Google Lens, and more
Macworld Google on Tuesday revealed four new features for the Chrome browser on iOS and iPadOS. These features are currently available on Chrome for Android, but they’re making their iPhone debut. Here are the new features Google Lens: image and text search at the same time Chrome on iOS can do a Google search using an image from your photo library. Google has enhanced this feature so users can add words to the visual query in order to perform specific searches. In an example provided by Google, the user can pick a picture of a snowboard to search, but then can refine the search by adding text, such as a color like “purple” and get results of purple snowboards. Google Lens can be accessed by tapping on the camera icon in the Google Search bar. Save files to Google Drive and Google Photos Chrome for iOS now has the option to save files to Google Drive.Google Web content can now be saved to a Google Drive or Google Photos account–you must be signed into a Google account for this to work. When saving a file from Chrome, users can tap a Google Drive option and a new “Saved from Chrome” folder is created, housing your saved files. To save images, press and hold on the image, and a pop-up menu appears with the option to “Save in Google Photos.” Tap to see a mini-map of an address “Starting soon,” users will be able to tap an address and view a mini-map of the location, directly in Chrome. Goggle states that this feature is in an experimental phase and will be rolled out gradually to other regions. Shopping Insight deals Shopping Insights in Chrome for iOS.Google When shopping using Chrome, if a Shopping Insight deal is available, a “Good Deal Now” notification appears and users can tap it to get details. This feature requires users to be signed into Chrome and the “Make Searches and Browsing Better” setting enabled. Shopping Inisghts is available in the U.S., with more regions added “in the coming months.”

Read more »

Supply chain hints at two potential Apple product releases set for 2026
An Apple supplier may have been tapped to build an Apple-designed smart home camera and future health-focused AirPods, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.Tapo smart cameras compatible with Apple HomeKitAfter Apple abandoned the decade-long Apple Car project, rumors suggested Apple would increase investments in the smart home and AI. While Apple Intelligence has been released to the public, there has been little evidence of Apple's new commitment to the smart home beyond rumors of a smart monitor.A new supply chain-based rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests an Apple supplier named Goertek has been tapped with orders for two products due in 2026. The first is a smart home camera, and the second is a set of AirPods with more health-focused features. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »