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.

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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.

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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…

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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

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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.

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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

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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…

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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

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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)

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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

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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.

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