This portable display also acts as USB-C hub
The Plugable 15.6” USB-C Portable Display connects to MacBook or iPad to add more screen space and a two-port hub. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Waiting for iOS 18.1 to avoid bugs? Here’s what you should know
Apple just released iOS 18, bringing a ton of new features to iPhone users. But some users may be hesitant about upgrading for fear of encountering bugs and performance issues. If you’re planning on waiting until iOS 18.1 comes out before updating, here’s what you should know. more…

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Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display review: Easy on the eyes (and arms)
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsFull HD (1920×1080 at 60Hz) IPS displayLightweight  Integrated folding travel cover and stand85W pass-through charging2x downstream 10Gbps USB-C portsConsNot 4K if you need itOur VerdictThis 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display doubles most laptops’ screen space and is simple to setup and connect, and then disconnect and lightweight enough to carry away when you’re done. Price When Reviewed$199.95 Best Prices Today: Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display Retailer Price $179.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket A second screen makes your MacBook more useful and turns a laptop into a real alternative to a desktop computer. Adding one or more external displays to your MacBook is easy and recommended for a home office or indeed an old-fashioned real office setup. But you can’t—or at least shouldn’t—lug a 32-inch monitor around to meetings or the local coffee shop. Having a second screen alongside your MacBook’s built-in display gives you more space for viewing open windows at the same time—for instance, for supporting documents or apps while you’re on a video call or giving a presentation. Or if you want to watch a movie in more visual comfort than a 13-inch laptop offers, a larger second screen gives you more display flexibility. A properly portable display is a more realistic solution if you want the convenience of a laptop but more screen real estate to match your multi-app and window needs. We’ve reviewed several of these portable displays, and this latest 15.6-inch full HD portable monitor is the most straightforward we’ve tested. It works with MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. Note that it will only mirror what is on the iPhone’s screen, while it can extend the display of a Mac or iPad. The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand. The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand.Foundry The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand.Foundry Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Portability We’ve long been fans of Plugable’s docking stations and hubs and other clever accessories, and the company has now released its first screen, the Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display—or USBC-PDMON to its friends. Weighing just 1.85lb (840g) with its cover/stand or 1.35lb (615g) without, it is barely noticeable alongside your laptop in your backpack or briefcase—although you’ll need to remember to pack a USB-C cable (one is included in the box), and maybe a charger if using the screen for an extended period. It measures 14.2 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1cm). On the back of the display is a detachable PU vinyl cover that can protect the screen in transit or storage and doubles up as a foldable stand that is easy to setup. This looks and works like an iPad protective cover and feels durable. The screen cover/stand attaches to the back of the display and can be detached. The screen cover/stand attaches to the back of the display and can be detached.Foundry The screen cover/stand attaches to the back of the display and can be detached.Foundry Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Setup While some portable displays rely on old-style mini-HDMI connections, the USBC-PDMON connects via USB-C—including the MacBook’s Thunderbolt and USB4—to laptops, tablets, phones, or computers that support USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode. It will work with any Mac released since 2016. There’s no need to download software drivers, and the connection is plug and play. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Specs The Plugable Portable Display is a 15.6-inch anti-glare IPS LCD panel with a 16:9 ratio. It supports a full HD 1920-x-1080p resolution at a healthy 60Hz refresh rate.  It boasts a 178-degree viewing angle (89-degree vertical + 89-degree horizontal) and can display 16.7 million colors. The brightness range is up to an impressive 300 nits luminance. This is brighter than the popular ViewSonic VA1655 (also 15.6 inches), which maxes at 250 nits. Some portable monitors, such as the 2,560-x-1,600p LG Gram +view, have higher resolutions that give a crisper experience, but at a price—that display costs 1.5x as much. There are 4K portable displays, such as the 3,840×2,160p UPerfect True 4K, that, again, will set you back significantly more. We found the Plugable Portable Display to be fine for web browsing and productivity apps, and it’s acceptable for streaming, too—but maybe not for creative applications. There’s no Portrait Mode, so it’s maybe not for coders or readers of long documents. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Power The display itself can draw power from the connected laptop or you can connect a charger or power bank to one of the display’s USB-C ports, which keeps the MacBook charged at up to 85W. Connect another device to the display’s third USB-C port and the passthrough can deliver power to that, too. Some portable displays include a built-in battery so you can use them longer on the go, but this adds considerable weight to the monitor. Staying light and giving you flexibility to draw power from the laptop or connect to a charger via the USB-C port offers you flexibility. The Plugable Portable Display ships with a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C cable, but no charger. See our comparison reviews of the best Mac laptop chargers for options. The display includes three USB-C ports at the bottom and three controls at the top. The display includes three USB-C ports at the bottom and three controls at the top.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry The display includes three USB-C ports at the bottom and three controls at the top.Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Ports and controls Along the display’s right side are three USB-C port and three control buttons. The top buttons control brightness up and down, and quick color mode setting. The USB-C ports are upstream to the host computer, PD 3.0 power delivery to the screen and passthrough power to the laptop if required, and a downstream USB-C to connect other devices. With Plugable being a market leader in docks and hubs we’d trust this display hub to work with just about any compatible device. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Price The Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display is available in the U.S. and Canada for $199.95 / CA$275.95. You can buy cheaper portable monitors but you’ll probably sacrifice features and specs such as screen resolution and brightness. There are alternatives that we have tested such as the dual 14-inch Limink Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor and magnetic 14-inch Mobile Pixels DUEX Max, which both physically attach to the MacBook. The Plugable Portable Display stands aside and is therefore more versatile. Of course, you can add much larger displays—see our roundup of the best monitors for Mac—but few will be as portable. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Verdict Even the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s own screen is often not enough to include all the windows you need visible at the same time. This 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display doubles most laptops’ screen space and is simple to set up and connect, and is lightweight enough to carry away when you’re done.

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Deals: Apple's M3 14-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM is on sale for $1,499
A popular 14-inch MacBook Pro configuration is $300 off at B&H exclusively for AppleInsider readers. This upgraded model has a spec bump to include 16GB RAM.The $300 cash discount can be activated at B&H Photo by shopping through this special pricing link from a desktop or laptop computer. We're sorry, but the offer cannot be activated through the B&H mobile app at this time.Buy for $1,499 Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Giant screen, small price — this 12.9-inch iPad Pro is on sale for $599.99
Whether you’re a creative, a multitasking pro or a casual user who craves performance, this refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a great deal. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple Watch Series 10 review roundup: A strong annual upgrade
Reviewers are saying the Apple Watch Series 10 is thinner and better than ever, but Apple could've pushed harder to rejuvenate the popular smartwatch line.Apple Watch Series 10The initial reviews of Apple's latest wearable device have started to surface. The initial wave appears to agree that the redesign is a success, thanks to its thinner body and bigger screen.The Apple Watch Series 10 is available to preorder now, starting from $399 for the aluminum 42mm model, $429 for the 46mm. The titanium version, replacing the stainless steel variant, starts from $699. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to customize and use the all-new Control Center in iOS 18
iOS 18 brings a major update to Control Center that expands both capabilities and customization. The quick access controls go from a single page to multiple ones that you can smoothly slide through, third-party integration, and more. Here’s how to customize and use Control Center in iOS 18. more…

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How to turn off the gaps in macOS Sequoia's Window Tiling
By default, macOS Sequoia leaves a neat gap between windows when they are tiled — but if you don't like that, it's easy to change it.Tiled windows have a gap, or margin, by default, but you can change that.If you use Apple's new Window Tiling feature in macOS Sequoia to just tile one window over the side of your screen, you'll never notice this. But as soon as you tile two next to each other, you'll see a gap.It's the same kind of gap that Apple imposes when you drag widgets onto the Mac screen, the same kind of thing where it's trying to make things neat. It isn't a mistake, it's a conscious choice by Apple — but you can still change it if you like. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18 review: Good, but better with Apple Intelligence
Apple's latest update to iOS 18 brings more customization and iMessage features to the iPhone. However, it lacks the heavily publicized and all-important Apple Intelligence.iOS 18It's the fall, and that means Apple has released a new operating system for the iPhone. For 2024, the new device range is the iPhone 16 family, while iOS 18 is the software running on it.However, following the last few years of updates, we're now at a point where most of Apple's changes could be considered quality-of-life improvements. You wouldn't expect it to be groundbreaking, but there's usually something interesting for users to enjoy. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparison: Worth the upgrade?
Wondering if you should upgrade to this year's Pro phone? Read this iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparison to find out. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Eve releases Matter-enabled version of its smart home light switch
has unveiled the Matter-enabled Eve Light Switch, marking a significant step in smart home technology. This switch allows seamless lighting control without changing bulbs and is compatible with single-pole and 3-way setups.  more…

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OpenAI’s huge valuation contingent on upending corporate structure
OpenAI's upcoming funding round is likely to be structured as convertible notes, Reuters reports citing sources familiar with the matter… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered
Macworld Ever since Apple shocked the tech community with its announcement that it would support RCS, we’ve been waiting for the day when it would be available. Now that day has arrived, you can finally use it on your iPhone, here’s how it works. What is RCS? RCS stands for Rich Communications Services, and it’s meant to be a replacement for the decades-old SMS/MMS texting standard. You can kind of think of it as iMessage lite for everyone. It’s a platform-neutral standard adopted by the GSM Association to do messaging over your internet data connection rather than strictly your carrier network. It provides many of the same benefits, including typing indicators, full-resolution images and videos, proper group chats, delivery and read receipts, and better security. The standard has been pushed heavily by Google and is commonplace on Android phones. The Google Messages app provides RCS support on almost any Android phone using Google’s own RCS servers and even includes some extensions to add new features (most notably better encryption) that are not part of the core GSM standard. All you need to know as an iPhone user is that RCS will make your conversations with Android users much more pleasant. What RCS features will iOS 18 support? In iOS 18, RCS brings numerous features that were previously only available to iMessage users: Read receipts Typing indicators Tapbacks/reactions High-resolution photos and videos Voice memos Text effects (slam, loud, gentle, invisible ink, etc.) do not appear on the conversation’s Android side. The recipient will get a message saying “(sent with the Slam effect)” or the like. Inline replies also don’t work. RCS messages are not encrypted, either. When using the Google Messages app on an Android phone and Google’s own RCS servers, encryption is supported thanks to a proprietary extension to the standard that Google came up with. Apple is relying on carrier support for the RCS standard as adopted by the GSM Association, which doesn’t have encryption support. However, Apple says they want to work with the GSM to include it in a future version of the standard. Will my messages with Android users still be green? Yes! Blue bubbles are for iMessages only and are there to help you know that your messages have extremely strong encryption, among other exclusive features. So, the green bubble conversations aren’t going anywhere. But they’ll be less frustrating. How do I know if I have RCS on my iPhone? The simplest way is to open a message with someone and look at the text entry area: It will say iMessage if you’re sending an iMessage (but the blue bubbles will be an obvious indication). It will say Text Message • SMS if it’s sending a text message. It will say Text Message • RCS if it’s an RCS message. You can also check in Settings to see if RCS is enabled, which we’ll describe below. If you don’t see the iOS 18 update, check to make sure your iPhone supports iOS 18. Does my carrier need to support RCS? How do I know if mine does? Your carrier needs to provide RCS services in accordance with the GSM Association’s standard for it to work on your iPhone, and you of course need to run iOS 18. In the United States, the major carriers Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T have all enabled RCS on iPhones running iOS 18, though if you just installed iOS 18 you may have to wait a day or so for the provisioning codes to be sent to your phone. The situation is a bit more nebulous for MVNO carriers that piggyback off those major carriers, like Visible, Xfinity, Mint Mobile, Metro, or Cricket. Most of these do not have RCS support of their own—Android users on these carriers that use Google Messages get RCS support through Google’s RCS services. At the time of this writing, none of the MVNO providers have enabled RCS support in the iOS 18 beta. There is no known way to “force” RCS onto your iPhone. But if your carrier supports it and you have iOS 18 and do not see the option, it may help to power off your iPhone and power it on again. How do I enable or disable RCS in Settings? Open Settings, scroll down to the bottom and tap Apps, then scroll down to find and select Messages. Under the “Text Messaging” heading, you’ll see an RCS Messaging menu if it is supported by your carrier and iPhone. Select it and then toggle on RCS to enable it in the Messages app. You can check if your carrier supports RCS by opening Settings, selecting General, and then About. Scroll down to the “eSIM/Network” section. You’ll see a line for “Carrier.” Tap on it to switch that line to “IMS Status.” If your carrier supports RCS, the option will show Voice, SMS & RCS. If not, it will only show Voice & SMS.

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Setapp Mobile launches its EU app storefront in open beta
MacPaw has rolled out Setapp Mobile in the EU as an open beta, providing its users with an all-you-can-eat alternative App Store.Setapp MobileSetapp has provided a buffet of apps and services on macOS and iOS for quite a few years, paid for by a subscription. Now, MacPaw is attempting to make its iOS experience smoother for subscribers with the launch of its alternative App Store experience in the EU.Setapp Mobile is the latest move by the company to try and streamline the process for users to actually install iOS apps under the subscription. Previously, subscribers had to take multiple steps to install apps, which was complex compared to a typical App Store purchase. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple wants to add a flashlight to future Apple Watches
Forget the little light you get from the Apple Watch screen, Apple is researching how to get a brighter external one fitted to a Watch band.External, directional light on an Apple WatchApple Watch already comes with a flashlight, it's just not as well known as the one in the iPhone. That's because in comparison to the iPhone's flashlight, Apple rather hides that the Watch has one too.Press the side button on an Apple Watch and then swipe down the screen until you see an icon of a flashlight. Just tap it, and prepare to initially be disappointed. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Watch Series 10 reviews: Iterative update, but slim design with big display is like an Ultra Lite
The first Apple Watch Series 10 reviews are out, and those who got early access to the device seem generally impressed, despite seeing it as an iterative update. Highlighted features include the slimmer design making a bigger difference than you might expect, new gloss black finish, large display, faster charging, new speaker capabilities, and a microphone with voice isolation … more…

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This is how long Macs and MacBooks last
Macworld Macs have a high price so it’s understandable that many Mac users will want to put off replacing them for as long as they can. But just how long should you expect a Mac to last? You may also be considering buying a secondhand Mac and wondering how old is too old? For example, is that 2017 MacBook Pro for $300/£300 a good deal, or would you be better off spending a bit more on a newer model? One factor to consider is the age at which most Macs start to experience issues, such as random shutdowns and degraded batteries that no longer hold their charge. Unfortunately, at one point repairing your Mac or MacBook will no longer be a viable option and you will need to look for a replacement. Another issue with aging Macs is that the software you need may not run on it. You may also find that Apple no longer supports the operating system software that runs on that Mac – which could leave you open to malware and security vulnerabilities. In this article, we will address the above, as well as give advice about which Macs are still supported by Apple, the Macs that can still be repaired if required (Apple stops providing the required parts after a number of years), and the Macs that Apple considers obsolete and vintage. Being Vintage means Apple may have the parts available if you wanted to fix the Mac, but once Obsolete Apple will not provide parts if you want to try and fix the machine. When do I need to replace my Mac? There are a few indicators that your Mac has reached the end of its useful life: Apple no longer supports the latest version of the software it runs (which could leave you vulnerable). The apps you need to use no longer run on it. The Mac struggles to perform the tasks you need it to – especially if you can’t update the RAM or any other components. Something breaks and is too expensive to fix, or the parts aren’t available. The Mac is becoming unreliable. Unexpected shutdowns are becoming commonplace and you’ve tried everything to fix the problem to no avail. Which Macs are supported by macOS updates? Only the most recent version of macOS gets feature updates, but Apple usually maintains the last three versions of the macOS with bug fixes and important security updates, ensuring that the latest version of Safari will run, and that Apple Services, such as iCloud, are fully supported This means that Apple will currently provide support for these versions of macOS: macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma (macOS 14), and macOS Ventura (macOS 13). Prior to the arrival of Sequoia in September 2024, Monterey (macOS 12) was also supported, but now Monterey has fallen off that list and with it Mac from before 2017, and in some cases, 2018. If your Mac is running Sequoia, Sonoma, or Ventura you should be able to be confident that Apple will keep an eye on any security vulnerabilities and other problems with these operating systems. (Indeed, Apple issued a security update for Sonoma and Ventura on the day that Sequoia arrived). However, if your Mac is running an older version of the operating system, such as macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina or older, you will find yourself out in the cold when it comes to essential security updates to Apple’s software. If the software is too old you may also find that your other Apple products aren’t compatible with your Mac. Without the latest security update, you may no longer be able to use Apple Pay or other means to pay for services online, for example. And if you want to sync your iPad or iPhone with your Mac (rather than using iCloud) you will need a recent version of macOS. Since Catalina, syncing is done via the Finder, rather than iTunes. If you can’t run Catalina you will need at least iTunes 12.8.2.3 and at least Mac OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan) or your Mac will not recognize your iPhone or iPad. It’s not just a case of updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS though. Each time Apple updates the Mac operating system more Macs fall off the list of those supported. Read: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run. If your Macs isn’t in the list of supported Macs below, it won’t receive important security updates: Macs supported by macOS Sequoia 2024’s Sequoia supports the following Macs. MacBook Air from 2020 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Which Macs will run macOS Sequoia? Macs supported by macOS Sonoma 2023’s Sonoma supports the following Macs. MacBook Air from 2018 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Which Macs run Sonoma? Macs supported by macOS Ventura 2022’s macOS Ventura supports the following Macs: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Can my Mac run Ventura? This means that the oldest Macs supported right now are from 2017, and in some cases, 2018. Which Macs aren’t supported by macOS? macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates When Apple introduced Sequoia in 2023 it dropped support for macOS Monterey. These Macs will not get security updates following the removal of support for Monterey: iMac (models from 2015) MacBook Air (models from 2015 and 2017 models) MacBook Pro (2015 and 2016 models) Mac mini (2014 models)  Mac Pro (2013 model: cylinder/trash can)  MacBook (2016 model) This adds to the list of Macs that aren’t supported with security updates, which includes: the 12-inch MacBook introduced in early 2015, the mid-2013 MacBook Air and the early-2014 MacBook Air, late-2013 MacBook Pro and mid-2014 MacBook Pro, or the 2014 iMac. All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apple’s software updates. If your Mac is a decade old then you won’t get security updates for it. Does it matter if my Mac won’t run a supported macOS? Once you cannot update your Mac to run a supported version of macOS you are vulnerable to security breaches, which should obviously be a concern. You may also find that you can’t carry out transactions on the internet if you want to pay for things on your out-of-date Mac. You may also find that the software you need won’t run on your Mac. Apple and other companies stop supporting older versions of the applications they make, so there could be issues with the versions of the software you are running. If you are experiencing random shutdowns, for example, it could be due to problems with an app you are running – problems that will not be addressed by the developer because that version of the app is no longer supported. If you want to run fully supported software then you will need to update to a newer version of macOS – and that may mean that you need to update your Mac. There are workarounds to install a new version of macOS on an old Mac if you need to. Apple supports Macs with operating system updates for approximately eight to ten years, after which time Apple will not support the software and it’s probably a good time to replace your Mac. When do Macs become obsolete? But it’s not just software updates that determine the lifespan of a Mac. It’s also a question of whether it will be possible to fix your Mac should something go wrong with the hardware. Apple has two standards that indicate hardware support is waining: Obsolete or Vintage. The first stage is Vintage: you might be lucky enough to get parts for this Mac, the second is Obsolete: you are out on your own when it comes to any attempt to mend the Mac if it goes wrong. If you look at Apple’s list of Obsolete Macs – those being the Macs that Apple will no longer provide spare parts for – you will see that the company stops providing parts for Macs that it hasn’t sold for more than seven years. In fact, the company may not even provide parts for Macs that haven’t been sold for more than five years (considered Vintage by the company). This could mean that you won’t be able to get a faulty Mac fixed because the parts aren’t available. Obsolete Macs Obsolete Macs are generally Macs that Apple stopped selling more than seven years ago. Once a Mac is in Apple’s obsolete list you have little chance of getting it repaired if something does go wrong. You might be able to find spare parts yourself, but Apple won’t provide them. You’ll find more details about the exact models on Apple’s dedicated page, but the lists below will give you a general idea. Apple considers the following Macs and older Obsolete, with the 2014 iMacs (21.5-inch and 27-inch) added in the second half of 2024. 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2014 and older)  12-inch MacBook (2015) 13-inch MacBook Air (early 2014 and older) 13-inch MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older) 15-inch MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older) 27-inch iMac (late 2014 and older) – newly added 21.5-inch iMac (mid 2014 and older) – newly added Mac mini (2012 and older) Mac mini Server (2012 and older) Mac Pro (2010 and older) Anything predating the Intel switch, obviously. Vintage Macs Apple also has a list of Vintage Macs. These are Macs that Apple stopped selling between five and seven years ago. (If you live in France where a law means you can get support for spare parts for up to seven years after Apple stops selling a Mac). Apple Authorized Service Providers will repair vintage products for up to seven years, as long as parts are available. Apple lists the following products as being vintage, with the 2017 iMacs (21.5- and 27-inch), 2014 Mac mini, and the 2019 13-inch and 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro’s added in the second half of 2024. 12-inch MacBook (2016) 13-inch MacBook Air (2015) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019) 15-inch MacBook Pro (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018) 21.5-inch iMac (2013, 2015 & 2017) 27-inch iMac (2017) Mac Pro (2012) Mac mini (2014) Based on the above, we’d suggest that if your Mac is more than eight years old, it’s time to look for a new one. And, if you see a 2015 or earlier Mac on sale, it’s not sensible to buy it. Read: Why you shouldn’t buy a second hand Mac. See: Best Mac 2024: Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared Should I fix my Mac or buy a new one? If your Mac is in the Obsolete category above and something goes wrong with it then you are going to struggle to get the necessary parts if you wanted to attempt to get it fixed as Apple won’t provide the parts. You might be able to buy an old Mac on eBay or similar and scrap if for the parts, but we’d suggest that it really wouldn’t be worth the effort. If your Mac is in the Vintage list then Apple might be able to provide the required parts, but there is no guarantee. If you are lucky enough to get the part an Apple service provider might even be able to fix the Mac for you – but the cost of the work is likely to be prohibitive. You might find that the Mac was included in part of a recall due to the issue you are experiencing, in that case, it might be worth enlisting in a repair program. However, if the time period in which Apple was offering the repairs has passed (which is unfortunately likely) then you will still have to find the money for the repair, which again might be prohibitive. Apple repair programs Apple’s current Mac repair programs include: A recall for 15-inch MacBook Pro units from due to a battery fault 2015-2017 Keyboard services for some Mac laptops bought since 2016 Service programs that have now ended: A 13-inch MacBook Pro backlit service program for models from 2016-2018 A SSD service program for 13in MacBook Pro models from 2017-2018 A battery replacement program for 13in MacBook Pros from 2016-2017 We have more information about Apple’s product recalls and repair programs here. Plus, visit this page for more information on the above repair programs. Assuming your fault isn’t one of those listed above, you may be faced with a pricy repair bill. We suggest that if your Mac is older than five years then repairing it will not be worth it – unless of course there are important documents or photos on it that you want to retrieve in which case it might be worth looking at how to recover these files. Should I update my Mac or buy a new one? This is a similar question to the one above in as much as you will be weighing up whether spending money to improve your Mac might be more savvy than buying a new Mac. There are various ways you might be able to improve your existing Mac, including adding more RAM or changing from a hard drive to a SSD. If you can upgrade the components inside your Mac you may be able to speed it up and make it more capable of doing what you need. See How to upgrade a Mac. However, many Macs can’t be upgraded at all. In recent years Apple has taken to soldering RAM in place and hiding components away to make access impossible (or at least impossible if you don’t want to completely destroy your Mac attempting to get to them). With M-series Macs memory, GPU and CPU are all integrated onto the chip, so it is impossible to upgrade them. Nor can you update the SSD as it is soldered onto the motherboard. That said, there are ways to upgrade your Mac. Read: How to upgrade your M2 Mac mini for ideas. If you decide to buy a new Mac check out our round-ups of the best Mac deals you can get: Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best Mac Studio deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals Can I update the RAM in my Mac? If you have one of the following Macs you might be able to update the RAM: MacBook (2008 to 2011 models) MacBook Pro (2009-2012 13in, 2008-2012 15in, all 17-inch models) iMac: The RAM can be updated in the majority of iMacs except for the 21.5in models from Mid-2014 and Late-2015, which had their RAM soldered into place.   Mac mini: (2010-2012 and the 2018 model) Mac Pro: (all models) iMac Pro: RAM isn’t user-accessible, but can be updated at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can’t update the RAM in any MacBook Air models. We explain which Macs have accessible RAM in this article and also look at how to update the RAM. What can I update in my Mac? It may be possible to update other components, including the SSD, hard drive, battery, logic board, hard drive, but this is only possible for a few Macs and the process is only for the expert. If you’d like to try read: How to upgrade a Mac. If you are up for pulling your Mac apart and attempting to upgrade its components then by all means try, but make sure you back it up first and be prepared to admit defeat if it doesn’t go as planned. As for whether it is worth upgrading your Macs RAM or any other component – assuming you can get the parts – rather than buying a new Mac? Perhaps it will buy you a few more years of use. However, we’d be inclined to suggest that if your Mac is older than seven years it really isn’t worth it (and, you’ll notice, the MacBooks that can have their RAM upgraded tend to be older than that). How long do Macs last? So, in answer to the question: How long do Macs last? We’d say five to eight years, but beware that you may not be able to replace any faulty parts in a Mac when more than five years have passed since Apple last sold it. Before you buy a new Mac, read our article about the best time to buy a Mac or MacBook. You may also want to read our Best Mac Buying Guide for help deciding which Mac to buy. We also have a guide to the Best MacBook. Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones and iPads for? Read How long do iPhones last and how long Apple supports iPads for.

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Agentic AI Set To Revolutionize Business Operations, Decision-Making
While the technology behind AI-powered chatbots quickly captured the public imagination, an even more powerful application of generative artificial intelligence has been creating a buzz among business leaders. It's called agentic AI. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Apple Watch Series 10 review: Ultra inspired, mainstream desired, equilibrium acquired
For the last week, I’ve been testing the new Apple Watch — mostly by sleeping. That’s because Apple Watch Series 10 is capable of detecting signs of sleep apnea. I’ll need a few more weeks of sleep before possible sleep apnea can be flagged. In the meantime, there’s plenty to admire in the waking hours of the day. Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger screen and a thinner design. It also gains new tricks like always displaying seconds and speaker media playback. Of course, the new hardware includes all the Apple Watch features introduced in recent years. These include Crash Detection, the double tap gesture, and better performance just to name a few. more…

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macOS Sequoia backs five USB-C port Mac mini rumors
Rumors about the next Mac mini are continuing to flow, with another backing up previous claims that the new model will have five USB-C ports.The existing Mac mini designThe Mac mini has often been rumored to receive a design overhaul, making it an even smaller package. This calls for a rethink of what ports are included, which may ultimately offer more connectivity options for users.Examination of code changes in Apple software included a curious line, defining a specific model of Mac. The text string reads: "Apple Silicon Mac mini (5 port)." Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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