Deals: M2 iPad Air $100 off, M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard all-time lows, Beats Solo 4 $100 off, more
Joining today’s worldwide debut of the new M4 iMac, we have a host of fresh price drops on a series of other 2024 Apple releases. Alongside ongoing offers on the new iPad mini 7, Amazon has now launched a wide-ranging sale event on the M2 iPad Air featuring straight up $100 price drops across the most accessible configurations in the lineup. Those offers sit alongside new all-time lows on the M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, huge $100 price drops on the 2024 Beats Solo 4 headphones, black Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals from $682, charging gear, and more. Head below for a closer look in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.  more…

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MacBook Pro rig relies on very unusual charger [Setups]
This MacBook Pro user keeps an Anker Prime Charging Station front and center in his minimal but productive computer setup. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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AVG Internet Security for Mac review
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Catches an impressive amount of questionable software and acts as a good warning of phishing websites. Handy 60-day trial period gives you a good amount of time to test the software. Quick performance, good configuration, easy to schedule a scan or check an external volume. Cons Questionable price point for a one-device subscription plan makes one wonder if a VPN client couldn’t be included in the subscription. Allowed an older copy of a fake Adobe Flash Player to be installed (albeit this was quickly removed via the macOS Gatekeeper feature). Scheduled scans occur almost entirely as a background function, could use higher priority that they’re occurring to the user. Our Verdict AVG Internet Security for Mac has a friendly user interface that’s easy to navigate and catches an impressive amount of viral, phishing, and malware activity. Our main complaint is the subscription pricing and packages on offer. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$3.89 a month for 1 Mac ($46.68 for the first year, then $77.99 a year), or $4.99 a month for 10 devices ($59.88 for the first year, then $99.99 a year). Best Prices Today: AVG Internet Security for Mac Retailer Price AVG (first year) $46.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Sometimes a software package is as good as its reputation. In the case of AVG Internet Security for Mac, what has long been a heavily marketed package proves to be worth its salt, albeit at a somewhat steep price for what’s on the table. AVG Internet Security is easy enough to download from the AVG website, and the software is available as a free download once an AVG account has been set up and a credit or debit card has been saved on file. AVG Internet Security is currently available at a 57% discounted subscription rate as of this writing, and is available as a 60-day free trial with $0 due at checkout for the free tier, $3.89/£2.79 a month for 1 Mac ($46.68/£33.49 for the first year, then $77.99/£59.99 a year), or $4.99/£4.17 a month for 10 devices ($59.88/£49.99 for the first year, then $99.99/£84.99 a year renewal price). The software, which requires macOS 13 (High Sierra) or later to install and run, is available as a 60-day trial period before billing begins, downloads and installs easily, and once permissions have been assigned to your entire hard drive, you’re good to go. Find out how AVG Internet Security compares to other Mac Antivirus options in our round-up of the best. AVG Internet Security features AVG Internet Security wraps itself around several tools and focuses on four directives (Computer Protection, Web & Email Protection, Hacks Attacks, and Payment Protection), and the overall Smart Scan feature checks your virus definitions to make sure they’re up to date, scans for viruses and malware, then the Ransomware Shield, Network Inspector, and Fake Website Shield features look things over to see where you stand in terms of your overall online presence and security. A handy set of whitelists and exceptions can be customized to hone in on files you want to scan and leave out areas you want to leave alone, and a quick antiviral scan took a few minutes while a full scan of an entire NVME drive with 821 GB of data on it took just over 5.5 hours to complete. Screenshot Foundry AVG Internet Security performance Once installed, AVG’s antiviral protection is impressive, but not perfect. The software, combined with macOS’s Gatekeeper functionality, headed off the vast majority of sample malware installations off at the pass, quarantining them quickly and preventing installation. Scans on external drives and specific folders are easy to set up and execute, the scheduling feature works well, the software can set up location configurations as you travel, and there are enough customization options for network security, albeit you’ll find more in a dedicated package. Locating and removing malware on an external drive.Foundry Tests with malware and phishing-based websites went well. The software prevented questionable external code from being loaded on suspect websites and blocked phishing sites from loading. It provides warnings when you’re about to click into a website that offers access to a package delivery you don’t remember ordering that somehow got lost, for which the sender needs your personal information to get it along… There are a few places for improvement with AVG Internet Security for Mac, but not many. During testing, the software was able to route out and quarantine an impressive array of software, but still allowed a fake version of Adobe Flash Player to be installed. This software was eventually removed via macOS about 20 minutes later after a menu to uninstall it appeared. You can still override the macOS Gatekeeper and AVG security features and install malware such as Genio if you’re determined to do so, albeit AVG Internet Security does a good job of removing these following later scans. Foundry If there’s one thing I might change about the software, it’s the fact that while the scheduled scan feature is reliable, it doesn’t activate a main window to readily display that the scan is taking place, and there are both pros and cons to this approach. Should you buy AVG Internet Security for Mac Some small fixes aside, AVG Internet Security for Mac stands on its own, catches an impressive amount of viral, phishing, and malware activity for a consumer package, and does its job well, all while wrapped in a bright, friendly user interface that’s easy to navigate. Granted, given the subscription pricing and packages, a VPN client wouldn’t be out of the question, and the price point for a single device moves into questionable territory, but the software still performs well, travels well with its location settings, and this is appreciated. A little more for the money is never a bad idea, but AVG Internet Security straddles this line and is worth your consideration as a consumer package. Have a look at its 60-day trial to see what works, what doesn’t, and what might be right for you.

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Apple published a new Press Release
Apple just published a new Press Release:How Apple developed the world’s first end-to-end hearing health experience

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Apple details all the security updates added in iOS 18.1 and more
Today Apple released big new software updates for all its platforms, including iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and more. Now, the company has released full details on all of the security updates added in those releases. Here’s what you should know. more…

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Edifier’s sleek new bookshelf speakers go hi-res on sound, low on price
The new Edifier MR3 2.0 Monitor Speaker System gives you bookshelf boxes with Hi-Res Audio-certified sound -- for just $120! (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple posts new M4 iMac announcement video, confirms more products coming
A new iMac announcement video ushers in Apple's newest desktop computer— but also confirms that two more products will drop this week.Image Credit: AppleThe video clocks in at just over 10 minutes long and features all the polish of a full-featured Apple Event. However, this time, the video is headed up by Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, rather than CEO Tim Cook. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple releases iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 with Apple Intelligence
The first set of Apple Intelligence features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users is now available with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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The M4 iMac has 16GB RAM and a 12MP Center Stage camera standard
Macworld Apple on Monday unveiled the new iMac. The design of the iMac hasn’t changed, but the company has upgraded the chip, added more unified memory, updated the colors, and changed the input devices to USB-C. At the heart of the new iMac is an M4 chip, which was introduced this past spring in the iPad Pro and replaces the M3 that was introduced in the iMac a year ago. Apple has increased the base standard configuration of unified memory from 8GB to 16GB. Another change is that in the $1,499 and $1,699 models, Apple now includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports; the M3 model at the same prices came with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-C ports. The $1,299 model still includes two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. Here are the specifications for the standard configurations of the M4 iMac: $1,299/£1,299: 8-core M4 chip (four performance cores, four efficiency cores), 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, Magic Keyboard $1,499/£1,499: 10-core M4 chip (four performance cores, six efficiency cores), 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, gigabit ethernet, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID $1,699/£1,699: 10-core M4 chip (four performance cores, six efficiency cores), 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, gigabit ethernet, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID $1,899/£1,899: 10-core M4 chip (four performance cores, six efficiency cores), 8-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, gigabit ethernet, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID Screenshot Apple Apple offers the M4 iMac in blue, green, orange, pink, purple, silver, and yellow, and all colors are available on all models; previously, the M1 and M3 iMacs offered expanded color choices for the $1,499 and $1,699 models. The M4 iMacs include a color-matching Magic Keyboard and the choice of a Magic Mouse (free) or a Magic Trackpad ($50 extra). As expected, the Magic devices now come with USB-C ports instead of Lightning but otherwise, they’re the same as before. Apple ditched the 1080p FaceTime camera in the previous iMac and upgraded it to a 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View. The camera also supports 1080p HD video recording. A new option for the M4 iMac is a nano-texture glass for the display, which offers a matte-like finish instead of the standard glossy glass. The nano-texture glass is a $200 option. The display is the same 24-inch, 4.5K retina display with 500 nits of brightness and support for the P3 color gamut and True Tone. The M4 iMac is available for pre-order with shipments starting on November 8. M4 iMac Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1299 at Apple

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Apple Updates the iMac With M4 Chip
Apple has updated the iMac lineup with an M4 chip. The new iMac, announced this morning, includes an M4 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. The entry-level model costs $1,299 with two Thunderbolt USB-C 4 ports, while the higher-end models start at $1,499 and have four ports. The Verge: It's also bundled with accessories that now use USB-C charging ports instead of Lightning. Like the prior model, the new iMac has a 24-inch, 4.5K display. However, Apple is offering a new "nano-texture glass option" for $200 extra, which is supposed to help reduce reflections and glare. Additionally, the iMac's base RAM has been doubled to 16GB over the prior model, with the ability to configure the higher-end option with up to 32GB. Apple's new iMac also comes with a 12MP webcam, along with new Apple Intelligence features that are starting to roll out today, such as AI-powered writing and editing features and a redesigned Siri. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Apple confirms expanded language support for Apple Intelligence coming in April 2025
Apple has just released iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 with the first set of Apple Intelligence tools. However, they are only available in English for now. Although the company had previously said it will add more languages in 2025, Apple has just confirmed when exactly they will be added. more…

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Grab JBL Tune 520BT headphones for less than $37
Sit back and relax with this pair of JBL Tune 520BT headphones because it has a comfortable build, quality sound and a long-lasting battery. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple unveils the new M4-powered iMac
Apple on Monday announced the new iMac, featuring the powerful M4 chip and Apple Intelligence, in its stunning, ultra-thin design. With M4… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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visionOS 2.1 brings stability & bug fixes to Apple Vision Pro
Apple's visionOS 2.1 update brings crucial bug fixes and stability improvements to Apple Vision Pro, laying the groundwork for even more immersive spatial computing experiences.visionOS 2.1 brings stability & bug fixes to Apple Vision ProThe company officially rolled out visionOS 2.1 on October 28, 2024. The update is the latest effort to refine the device's capabilities and improve user experience.While it doesn't introduce groundbreaking new features, it delivers essential bug fixes and performance enhancements, making it a recommended update for all Vision Pro users. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence is here—here’s how to get it on your iPhone
Macworld With new iOS releases, Apple typically starts testing the x.1 version right after the main release. We expected the iOS 18 beta to continue through the summer until its release in September, followed immediately by the iOS 18.1 beta. Then, iOS 18.1 would be released in October, and 18.2 beta testing would begin, and so on. This year is very different. More than a month ahead of the expected iOS 18 release, Apple began an iOS 18.1 beta test. It was made available for developers way back on July 29, and is now finally available for all iPhones, bringing the first Apple Intelligence features for compatible models—the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max You can find out everything you need to know about iOS 18 in our superguide. Updated October 28: iOS 18.1 has arrived for all iPhones. iOS 18.1: New features Apple’s biggest iOS 18 feature is Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools and Siri enhancements that will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, as well as later iPhones. Apple Intelligence is coming to Macs with Apple Silicon as well. Here are Apple’s full release notes for the iOS 18.1 release: Apple Intelligence Writing Tools Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text right in the app you’re working in Rewrite suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which combination of flow and wording you like best Proofread lets you view suggested improvements to what you’re writing, like grammar fixes and language refinements Summarize allows you to select text wherever you’re writing and generate a high-quality summary Siri A new look and feel includes a glowing light that wraps around the edge of your screen, animates responsively to the sound of your voice, and lets you keep scrolling or typing while you talk to Siri Type to Siri when you don’t want to speak a request out loud by double tapping at the bottom of the screen Richer language understanding enables Siri to follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind mid-sentence Conversational context is maintained over the course of a session, so you can refer more naturally to something you said in a recent request or something Siri mentioned in a recent response Product knowledge helps you get answers to thousands of questions about the features and settings on your Apple products Voice enhancements make Siri sound more natural, expressive, and clear Photos Photos search lets you find photos and videos simply by describing what you’re looking for Clean Up removes distractions in your photos Memory movies can be created by describing the story you want to see Notifications Notification summaries make it easy to catch up on your notifications with a glanceable summary of the most important information Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that ensures the most urgent notifications get through to you while silencing potential distractions Smart Reply in Mail and Messages help you quickly respond to messages with suggested responses Priority messages in Mail understands the content of your messages and prioritizes those that require your attention, displaying them at the top of your inbox Transcription summaries in Notes give you an intelligently created summary of the transcript from your audio recording or call recording Phone Call recordings and transcriptions let you record live calls and transcribe them in the Notes app, with an automatic announcement that the call is being recorded Camera Camera Control can quickly switch to the front TrueDepth Camera (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Spatial photo capture, along with spatial video capture, is available in a new Spatial camera mode (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) AirPods Hearing Test feature provides scientifically-validated hearing test results from the comfort of home (intended for users 18 years or older) Hearing Aid feature provides personalized, clinical-grade assistance that is automatically applied to sounds in your environment as well as music, videos, and calls (intended for users 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss) Hearing Protection feature helps users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise across listening modes (available in the United States and Canada) Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later. All features may not be available for all countries or regions, for more information visit: https://apple.com/airpods-pro/feature-availability/ iOS 18.1: Bug fixes According to Apple, the iOS 18.1 update also the following improvements and bug fixes: Control Center has new options to add connectivity controls individually and reset your configuration RCS Business Messaging lets you connect with businesses over RCS (requires carrier support) App Store search lets you use natural language to find what you’re looking for more easily Game Center friend invites can be sent directly from the Contacts app and Friend Suggestions, and receivers can see the invites in the inbox in Settings Fixes an issue in Podcasts where unplayed episodes are marked as played Fixes an issue where videos recorded at 4K 60 while the device is warm could experience stutter while scrubbing the video playback in Photos Fixes an issue where digital car keys may not unlock or start a vehicle with passive entry after restoring from a backup or transferring directly from another iPhone Fixes an issue where iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro models may unexpectedly restart iOS 18.1: Security updates As with all updates, iOS 18.1 will include numerous security patches and fixes that are crucial to compatible iPhones. More information can be found on Apple’s security releases support page. iOS 18.1: How to install To get the latest version of iOS 18 on your phone, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update. Then follow the prompts to restart and install the update. iOS 18.2: How to install the iOS beta The iOS 18.2 beta beings many more Apple Intelligence features and will likely arrive in December. But you can try it out now even though it’s only for developers. Beginning with iOS 17, you don’t need to be in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app: Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store. Open the app. Tap on Account. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. Registered developers can choose to get the iOS 18.2 beta instead by going to the Settings app, then General > Software Update, and selecting iOS Developer Beta in the Beta Updates tab. When you return to the main Software Update screen, you’ll Upgrade to iOS 18 at the bottom of the screen under the Also Available heading. Tap that and it’ll take you to the iOS 18.2 beta. As always, remember to back up your iPhone before you install the beta. If you want to wait for the public beta, you’ll follow these steps when it arrives: Head to beta.apple.com and register your Apple ID for the beta. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select the beta you wish to install. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the beta.

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macOS 15.1 Sequoia review: Apple Intelligence is on the Mac but you have to look for it
Maybe it's early in the game, maybe we just have to get used to it, but Apple Intelligence is not yet as big a part of the Mac as it is the iPhone.Apple Intelligence is now available on the MacReally, it seems that Apple Intelligence is made for the iPhone and the iPad. It's there on the Mac, too, and the writing tools ought to be a perfect fit for macOS Sequoia, but in practice Apple Intelligence is making little impact on the Mac. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple updates 'Magic' accessories to USB-C, included with M4 iMac
Apple has updated its Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad to feature USB-C — and that includes the new color-matched accessories shipping with the M4 iMac.Apple's updated Magic Keyboard - Image Credit: AppleOn Monday, Apple opened preorders for the brand-new M4 iMac, which is set to ship out on November 8. Like the M1 and M3 iMacs before it, it will come in an array of fun colors — seven to be exact.And, like its predecessors, the new iMac will ship with color-matched accessories. Buyers can choose between a standard Magic Keyboard or a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a numeric keypad for $80 more. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple posts event video for new M4 iMac, confirms first of three Mac announcements this week
Apple today launched the new M4 iMac in a press release, while simultaneously posting an announcement video to YouTube that looks like it could have been cut straight out of a streamed event video. John Ternus introduces the new iMac as the first of “three exciting new product announcements” coming this week, all but confirming the imminent unveiling of the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro with M4 lineup coming Tuesday and Wednesday. Watch the video after the break … more…

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iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and more usher in Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence arrives! Find out what's in iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iPadOS 18.1: new AI-powered features plus more. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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AirPods Pro 2 just got these powerful new features with iOS 18.1
Apple released a ton of new software updates today, with the highlight being the launch of the first Apple Intelligence features. But AirPods Pro 2 users are also getting some powerful additions in iOS 18.1. Here’s what’s new. more…

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