Pro Display XDR 2: All of the latest rumors
Apple introduced the in 2019 with its $4999 price tag, no included stand, and an optional Pro Stand for $999. Since then, despite all of the advancements in display technology, Apple has left it untouched. While there isn’t a ton to go off of, there are a couple of smaller details that give us an idea on what Apple is working on. more…

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How Apple Music stands firm amidst Spotify's Premium plan hikes
A new report about Spotify's plans for a more expensive premium tier claims that Apple is considering doing the same, but Apple Music has no reason to ever copy its streaming rival.Apple MusicThe days of Spotify being the most popular streaming music service in the world and yet constantly losing money, may be over. The days of Spotify trying to get the EU to force Apple into giving it an unreasonably better deal, may never change.But a new report says that amongst Spotify's plans for the near future, there is the likelihood that it will introduce a new and more expensive subscription tier. Bloomberg says the new tier would, for a start, offer better quality audio — which Apple Music already does as standard. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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When is the best time to buy an iPhone?
Macworld In this article, we answer all of your questions about when you should and shouldn’t buy a new iPhone – including advice on when Apple is likely to discount the price of older iPhone handsets. There are certain times of the year when buying a new iPhone is a bad idea, and there are certain times of the year when you can get a bargain on a new handset. The trick is knowing when you should buy a new iPhone. Luckily we are here to help. Looking for to buy a new iPhone? Apple is about to launch a replacement for the iPhone SE. Normally we would say hold off until the new iPhone launch but that depends on which phone you want to buy. Read on for more information. Should I buy a new iPhone right now? If you want to buy an iPhone 16 series handset our advice is to buy now. If you want to buy an iPhone 15 you may find that the replacement for the iPhone SE could be a better choice as it is likely to support Apple Intelligence, which the iPhone 15 doesn’t support. However, prices for some or all iPhones could increase, at least outside the U.S. following this iPhone SE update. There are certain times of the year when you can get the best deals on a new iPhone, these are during the Amazon Prime Sales in July and October, and Black Friday. Those in the market for a new handset are probably wondering whether now is a good time to buy a new iPhone. Is there any danger that a new model will be released in the near future? Will prices drop or increase? To answer that question, a replacement for the iPhone SE is expected on Wednesday, February 19. If you want to buy a new iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, but is cheaper than the iPhone 16, this will be the iPhone to buy. If you don’t want to buy the soon-to-launch iPhone SE, you may think that there isn’t a bad time to buy one of the older iPhones. Normally, when a new iPhone launches Apple reduces prices of the predecessors and discontinues some models. So it can be best to wait until after a new iPhone launches to get the best price for the previous generation. However, in the case of the iPhone SE replacement we expect Apple to shake up the iPhone lineup somewhat. The iPhone 14 and current iPhone SE are already off-sale in Europe where Apple isn’t allowed to sell iPhones with a lightning port. As a result, you can expect that the $599 iPhone 14 will no longer be sold. If the new iPhone SE costs $599 that would already be a higher price than the current iPhone SE that costs $429. With the $699 iPhone 15 not supporting Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI features it has been making a lot of noise about, it is also possible that the company could discontinue that handset. Should Apple do so the line up may well start with a $599 iPhone SE (which may be known as the iPhone 16E). Or the iPhone 15 price could fall and the iPhone 16E may slot in above it. So, waiting may mean spending more to buy your iPhone and it may mean you have less choice. Although just because Apple doesn’t sell an iPhone doesn’t mean you can’t buy it. Check out our round up of the Best iPhone deals that includes all iPhones. After that the next new iPhone launch will probably be in September. The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro and Pro Max were launched at an Apple Event in September 2024. In September 2025 you can expect the iPhone 17 line up to be revealed. Apple Should I buy an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus? Apple iPhone 16 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $829 at Apple | $829.99 at Best Buy The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were Apple’s new standard iPhones for 2024. They went on sale on September 20, 2024. We have reviewed both handsets and recommend them. If you want an Apple iPhone capable of supporting Apple Intelligence these were the only iPhones currently on sale that could – although that will change with the launch of the new iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E if that is what Apple calls it). There are already deals on that handset. If you want to get the best price or find the best contract deal, we track the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K. these include both carrier deals and discounts on unlocked iPhones. Should I buy an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max? Apple iPhone 16 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple | $999 at Apple | $999.99 at Best Buy The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max were Apple’s new pro iPhones for 2024. They also went on sale on September 20, 2024. They are good, but so are the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so this year you don’t have to opt for Pro to get a great iPhone. Should I buy a iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus? Apple iPhone 15 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $699 (Was $799) Best Prices Today: $729 at Apple | $729.99 at Best Buy When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 it dropped the price of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which were introduced in September 2023. If you want to save some money and don’t mind not having the latest iPhone it is a good time to get the 2023 model. However, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do not support Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI features. You may find that in time this is a real disadvantage. Should I buy a iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max? Apple iPhone 15 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: Was $999 (Discontinued) Best Prices Today: $899.99 at Best Buy When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max it discontinued these models. You may still be able to find the 2023 Pro models on sale though, and if you find them at a good price then they will still be a good purchase. Should I buy an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus? Apple iPhone 14 Read our review Price When Reviewed: £599 (was £699) Best Prices Today: $629 at Apple | $829 at Visible You might be considering buying the cheaper iPhone 14 or 14 Plus which also saw a price drop in September 2024. These are two year old iPhones, so whether you consider it a good purchase will depend on how much money you are prepared to spend on a new iPhone. With Apple set to launch a new iPhone that will support Apple Intelligence, at what may be a lower price than the iPhone 14 is currently, we wouldn’t recommend buying an iPhone 14 now. It is likely that Apple will stop selling these handsets after February 19, and it has already stopped selling the iPhone 14 in Europe. Should I buy an iPhone SE? Apple iPhone SE (2022) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $429 at Amazon | $429 at Apple | $429 at Apple United States The iPhone SE is Apple’s smallest phone and the only iPhone with a Home button. If you want small and a home button you need to buy one now because Apple is about to replace this handset with a brand new iPhone on February 19. Read about Apple’s plans for the iPhone SE 4. It is always worth waiting for the big sales if you can, we often find some good deals on older iPhone handsets, though not usually the newest models. There are two Amazon Prime Day sales – one in July and one in October every year – at which we may see some savings on iPhones, and at the end of November even more stores cutting the prices of iPhones for Black Friday. Apple doesn’t drop the price of iPhones, but over Black Friday it offers vouchers alongside qualifying purchases in an Black Friday offer. Sometimes Amazon does a spring sale as well. We do see good deals all year round though, so take a look at our round-up of the best iPhone deals this month. We have also collected the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K., as well as the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.K. and the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.S. in separate articles. Also read: iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro deals and Best iPhone SE deals. Before you buy a new iPhone find out if Apple’s due to hold an event.Foundry It’s easier to say when the worst time to buy a new iPhone is. That is without a doubt in the months leading up to September. So don’t buy a new iPhone in August, unless you want to be kicking yourself a month later when the price of that model drops and a new model arrives. The only reason to buy an iPhone in the run-up to an Apple Event is if it is likely to be discontinued. Apple tends to discontinue the Pro and Pro Max models of the previous generation when it introduces the next generation, so if you want to buy one of those models you may want to buy one while you still can. However, we’d suggest that it would be wise to wait for the next-gen version which is likely to present you with more for your money. Or take advantage of discounts as vendors sell off old stock after the new models arrive. The best time to buy an iPhone isn’t necessarily when a new model launches either – unless you’re desperate to have the very latest hardware. You might be happy to wait a month or two after the launch and wait for supply to catch up with demand, and for any problems with the new phones to be identified and (hopefully) fixed. The other advantage of buying around the October/November time frame is that is when shopping events, like Black Friday, take place, but as we said above, we don’t tend to see the newest iPhone models discounted much, or at all, at these events. We’d say that it’s fine to buy a new iPhone at any time within nine months of it launching, but if you are hoping to save some money on your purchase we’d recommend waiting a few more months. When does Apple update the iPhone? Chris Martin / Foundry Knowing when the latest iPhones came out should help when making a judgment on whether there will be an update soon. See when is the next Apple event to find out if an Apple event is imminent. Apple usually updates the iPhone range at an Apple Event in September. The iPhone 16 will be followed in 2025 by the iPhone 17. However, the iPhone SE is on a different schedule, with Apple introducing the iPhone SE models during the spring months. Read our iPhone buying guide and comparison of every iPhone available to buy today. When do iPhone prices drop? We know based on past experience that Apple is very unlikely to drop the price of an iPhone in the first year of sales. However, Apple does tend to reduce the price of the previous year’s iPhone when it introduces the new model – so expect Apple to discount its handsets in September (and potentially in the spring if it introduces a new iPhone SE handset at that time). How much do prices drop when a new iPhone comes out? Foundry When Apple introduces new iPhones it usually keeps the prices the same, at least in the U.S. Prices for the iPhone 16 range are the same in the U.S. and U.K as the previous generation, but the price in Euros is less. In 2023 Apple dropped prices for the iPhone 15 range compared to the previous year in the U.K. In 2025 we may see prices rise due to higher component prices and global economic headwinds. At the same time as Apple introduces a new iPhone, it also reduces the price of existing models. Apple reduced the price of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus by $100/£100 in September 2024 when the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were introduced. The price of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus dropped in September 2023 and again in September 2024. Apple’s not the only place you can buy an iPhone and it certainly isn’t the only one to discount the handsets. From time to time you will see deals from other resellers. We track these in our Best iPhone Deals round-up, so check that page regularly. Will there be Black Friday iPhone discounts? The earliest you could expect to get a discount on the newest iPhones is around Black Friday at the end of November, so you might be planning to hold out until then. However, the deals we tend to see, if any, are usually for older handsets so if you are hoping for a discounted iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro following their launch you will probably be disappointed. Nor should you expect to get a discount in an Apple Black Friday sale. Apple’s Black Friday sale usually only takes the form of vouchers with select product purchases, rather than a discount, and it is unlikely that the newest iPhone would qualify as in previous year’s new iPhones haven’t been included. See our round-up of Best Black Friday iPhone deals to see what could be in store. Note that while shopping events like Black Friday gets all the attention, that’s not the only time you can get discounts on Apple products: we see discounts all the time. Another event where we see good iPhone deals is Prime Day, which happens in July and October every year. So take a look at the iPhone deals for Amazon Prime Day sale to see what you might be able to save. In our experience, we don’t tend to see discounts on the newest handset until the spring–and these are always from third-party resellers, never from Apple. In fact, we don’t tend to see the iPhone discounted in the U.S. very often, most of the discounts we see are in the U.K. where unlocked iPhones are often sold off-contract at a good discount. Conclusion: Is now a good time to buy a new iPhone? The worst time to buy is usually between July or August, mainly because with new iPhones on the horizon the price of the older handsets are likely to drop very soon. In 2025 an additional new iPhone is expected in February, so we would also avoid shopping at that time, unless you want to buy an iPhone before it is discontinued, or to spend your money before any possible price hikes. If you want the newest iPhones then the best deals don’t tend to come before the spring and summer months. If you are happy to buy an older iPhone then you will probably see decent deals around Prime Day and Black Friday – but deals happen all year round.  We hope this article has proved helpful in reaching an informed buying decision. Remember that good prices can be found all year round, if a retailer is feeling generous and you know where to look: read our guide to the best iPhone deals for more on that. Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones for? Read How long do iPhones last.

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Hardware Mod Showcases an iPhone SE 3 in the Body of a Windows Phone
A tech enthusiast has successfully transplanted the internal components of an iPhone SE 3 into the body of a Nokia Lumia 1020 Windows Phone, according to a post on Reddit's r/hackintosh forum. The modification preserves all key functions of the iPhone SE 3, including its 12-megapixel camera, 5G capabilities, and Touch ID sensor, which has been relocated to the back of the device. The project retains the Lumia 1020's distinctive design while upgrading its outdated microUSB port to Apple's Lightning connector. The creator adapted the Lumia's original camera shutter button to work as a secondary volume control that can trigger photos in the iPhone's camera app. The only significant feature lost in the conversion was the headphone jack. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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We bought the first iPhone SE 4 case. Here’s what we learned
Macworld The 4th-gen iPhone SE 4 is almost certainly going to be unveiled on February 19. That’s not baseless speculation: the clues come directly from Apple, with Tim Cook himself promising that the newest member of the family will arrive on Wednesday. We should acknowledge, however, that pundits were saying something similar last week, and obviously the new phone didn’t appear. In fact, likely prompted by those optimistic rumors, third-party vendors have already started offering cases for the iPhone SE 4… or the iPhone 16e, depending on which manufacturer you ask. We bought one of these cases from a German firm while researching the iPhone SE 4 and have since received it. We’re happy to share this case and its secrets with you now, but please note that all information should be taken with a grain of salt, as the manufacturer explains: We currently use the designation “iPhone 16e” based on information provided to us by our suppliers and various sources. These designations are not officially confirmed and are based on industry speculation and preliminary information. With the designs, as with the names, we are dependent on information and speculation from our suppliers and sources. This information is therefore not always reliable or definitive and is always subject to change or adjustment. DeinDesign (translated automatically from German) With that caveat out of the way, let’s take a look at the case and see what it has to tell us. First, there’s a horizontal cut-out for the camera. If that makes you think we’re getting two camera lenses on the rear, think again: this is just to accommodate a single lens and a flash next to it, as is the case on the 2022 iPhone SE. It’s been widely rumored that the 16e will be based on the chassis of the iPhone 14, but if Apple was going to use the design of that device’s camera module and diagonally arranged twin lenses it would be necessary to include a much larger square cutout. Most pundits agree that regardless of the chassis design, the new SE will have only one camera lens on the rear. Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – horizontal camera cut-out Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – speaker and USB-C connector Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – side button Your design case for iPhone 16e or SE 4 – Mute switch and volume buttons. Otherwise, the case sticks to the standard and familiar iPhone design elements: there are cut-outs for speakers and connectors on the bottom edge and for the mute switch and volume buttons on the left. There’s an area for the side button on the righthand side, but the case gives no reason to expect the 16e to feature the Camera Control from the iPhone 16. The clear silicone case from DeinDesign is a few millimeters narrower and shorter than an iPhone 14 case, which goes against the general consensus that Apple would use the iPhone 14 chassis for the upcoming iPhone SE. A few millimeters may not sound significant, but for smartphones, a difference of just one millimeter can mean that a case doesn’t fit. Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – narrower than a case for the iPhone 14 Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – shorter than a case for the iPhone 14 Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 is about 70 mm wide Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 is 145 mm long. In fact, the discrepancies in size make us skeptical as to whether the case we’ve purchased will fit the upcoming iPhone at all. Apple uses elements from previous generations for its entry-level models for cost reasons: the production lines are tried and tested after years of manufacture, and it will cost money to make even small changes. An iPhone 14 chassis could be manufactured at zero cost in terms of research, development and quality assurance; a slightly different chassis is another matter. What’s more, iPhone dimensions have barely changed in years. The iPhone 12, 13 and 14 were all 146.7 mm long and 71.5 mm wide; the iPhone 15 and 16 were the same length and just 0.1mm wider. Significant change now feels unlikely. Our alleged iPhone 16e case measures approximately 148 mm by 75 mm, a good deal smaller than a comparable OtterBox clear case for the iPhone 16, which measures 151.7 mm by 77.2 mm. Based on these measurements, we’re worried that we might have to send the case back to the manufacturer. Or maybe Apple is in the mood for radical change after all. We’ll find out for sure on Wednesday. For all the latest news and rumors, keep an eye on our regularly updated iPhone SE 4 superguide.

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Keep Any iOS App Private with Biometric Authentication
If you want to ensure that someone using your iPhone can’t peek into private apps, read on to learn about a new feature in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that lets you require Face ID or Touch ID authentication before the app opens.

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Price drop: Go from song idea to full track in seconds with this AI music generator
Got great song ideas or lyrics? AI-powered music generator Supermusic can transform them into fully realized tracks in an instant. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple may be planning a premium upgrade for its best subscription service
Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reports that Spotify is still working on a pricier version of its streaming music subscription, and Apple may not be too far behind it. more…

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How to use the Dvorak keyboard on iPhone
The Dvorak layout is a different way of arranging the 26 letters on the keyboard, with all of the most common letters on the center row. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Presidents’ Day Apple deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro $249 off, iPad mini 7 $399, AirPods, Series 10, much more
The Presidents’ Day 2025 deals are upon us and, while not necessarily considered a major deal holiday, there are loads of price drops up for grabs today across the spectrum of current-gen Apple gear. First up is the most affordable M4/Pro MacBook Pro models at up to $249 off. Then it’s over to the iPads with as much as $200 in savings on the Pros, Airs, and minis, not to mention Apple Watch Series 10 starting from $329 and plenty of accessories to go with them all – AirTags, Apple Pencil, cables, and more. Everything awaits below.  more…

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Presidents’ Day Apple deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro $249 off, iPad mini 7 $399, AirPods, Series 10, much more
The Presidents’ Day 2025 deals are upon us and, while not necessarily considered a major deal holiday, there are loads of price drops up for grabs today across the spectrum of current-gen Apple gear. First up is the most affordable M4/Pro MacBook Pro models at up to $249 off. Then it’s over to the iPads with as much as $200 in savings on the Pros, Airs, and minis, not to mention Apple Watch Series 10 starting from $329 and plenty of accessories to go with them all – AirTags, Apple Pencil, cables, and more. Everything awaits below.  more…

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Presidents’ Day Apple deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro $249 off, iPad mini 7 $399, AirPods, Series 10, much more
The Presidents’ Day 2025 deals are upon us and, while not necessarily considered a major deal holiday, there are loads of price drops up for grabs today across the spectrum of current-gen Apple gear. First up is the most affordable M4/Pro MacBook Pro models at up to $249 off. Then it’s over to the iPads with as much as $200 in savings on the Pros, Airs, and minis, not to mention Apple Watch Series 10 starting from $329 and plenty of accessories to go with them all – AirTags, Apple Pencil, cables, and more. Everything awaits below.  more…

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Presidents’ Day Apple deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro $249 off, iPad mini 7 $399, AirPods, Series 10, much more
The Presidents’ Day 2025 deals are upon us and, while not necessarily considered a major deal holiday, there are loads of price drops up for grabs today across the spectrum of current-gen Apple gear. First up is the most affordable M4/Pro MacBook Pro models at up to $249 off. Then it’s over to the iPads with as much as $200 in savings on the Pros, Airs, and minis, not to mention Apple Watch Series 10 starting from $329 and plenty of accessories to go with them all – AirTags, Apple Pencil, cables, and more. Everything awaits below.  more…

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Presidents’ Day Apple deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro $249 off, iPad mini 7 $399, AirPods, Series 10, much more
The Presidents’ Day 2025 deals are upon us and, while not necessarily considered a major deal holiday, there are loads of price drops up for grabs today across the spectrum of current-gen Apple gear. First up is the most affordable M4/Pro MacBook Pro models at up to $249 off. Then it’s over to the iPads with as much as $200 in savings on the Pros, Airs, and minis, not to mention Apple Watch Series 10 starting from $329 and plenty of accessories to go with them all – AirTags, Apple Pencil, cables, and more. Everything awaits below.  more…

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Apple smart display update, Netflix in the Apple TV app, and more on HomeKit Insider
On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we break down the latest in smart home news such as more rumors on Apple's smart display, new devices, and smart robots.HomeKit Insider PodcastWe have even more rumors on Apple's smart home display this past week. One report reiterated a possible timeline, putting a launch at April at the earliest.Ming Chi Kuo also gave his analysis on the robot lamp that was demoed from Apple's machine learning group. Based on supply chain, the personal robot is still in the proof of concept stage and won't start production until 2028 at the earliest. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Why Surfshark Alternative Number can protect you from scammers
A lot of damage can be done with a person's phone number, from endless spam calls to fraud and scams. Surfshark Alternative Number can protect you.Alternative ID can protect you from scammers - Image credit: SurfsharkPhone numbers may not seem like a potential attack vector since users can just hang up on spam, but it's not as simple as that. Companies have begun relying on phone numbers to verify identity, send temporary passwords, and other aspects of account security that scammers seek to exploit.If you're using your personal phone number on online accounts, it can be trivial for bad actors to exploit it and gain access to that account. Whether they use SIM swapping, phishing, or other techniques, access to a phone number can lead to data loss, bank account hacks, and identity theft. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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iPhone 17 design will be dramatically different, says leaker
The latest in a series of leaks about the physical chassis design of the iPhone 17 range says that it will be a significant departure from previous models.A render of the front of the iPhone 17, which isn't expected to change so dramaticallyWith Apple rumors, there is quite often smoke without any fire, but a new leak backs up sporadic previous claims about the design of the iPhone 17 range. Previous rumors have said, for instance, that at least the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a new camera bar layout.Now according to leaker "Digital Chat Station" on Chinese social media site Weibo, the design changes will be significant. Depending on which machine translation is used, the poster describes the change as varying from greatly, to significant, and even dramatic. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Today in Apple history: Apple introduces ‘world’s fastest’ PowerBook
On February 17, 1997, Apple introduced the PowerBook 3400, a laptop the company labeled the most powerful portable computer on the market. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Will Apple’s new iPhone fix this big limitation?
The iPhone SE 4 will pack many changes when it launches this week, including a dramatic redesign, an A18 chip, and full Apple Intelligence support. However, one lingering question in my mind is whether Apple will finally upgrade the iPhone SE’s base storage from the current measly 64GB. more…

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Reddit paywall plans now confirmed by Huffman
Plans for a Reddit paywall of some kind have now been confirmed by CEO Steve Huffman, after hints about it last summer. Huffman confirmed the plan for paid subreddits during a pre-recorded Ask Me Anything video shown during the company’s earnings call … more…

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