Apple CEO Tim Cook donates $1M to Trump’s inauguration fund
Apple CEO Tim Cook has joined a chorus of Big Tech executives making sizeable donations to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The news comes via a scoop from Axios as we approach Trump’s inauguration on January 20. more…

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Apple TV+ is free for all this weekend—here’s what to watch
Macworld On January 17, “Severance,” Apple’s most popular show not named “Ted Lasso,” will begin its long-awaited second season. And Apple is so excited to mark the occasion, it wants to make sure everyone is caught up on the first season. This weekend, Apple is making Apple TV+ free for everyone. That means you can watch as many shows and movies as you can handle in a 48-hour period, beginning at midnight on Saturday and continuing until 11:59 pm on Sunday. You can access Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app on all Apple devices, Roku, Google TV Streamer, and most smart TVs, including Samsung and LG. Apple has already received several Golden Globe nominations, including Best Drama for “Slow Horses” and Best Limited Series for “Disclaimer.” Other critically acclaimed shows airing in 2024 are “Shrinking” starring Harrison Ford and “Presumed Innocent” led by Jake Gyllenhaal. But of course, you can’t watch everything. Here are our picks for what to check out in the allotted time: Severence: Apple’s delightfully strange and gripping drama is one of the best shows you’ll find on any platform. There are a total of nine episodes inthe first season, about an hour each. Total time: About 9 hours Shrinking: Shorter and lighter than “Severence” but just as entertaining, “Shrinking” centers on a therapist (Jason Segel) who becomes very involved in his patients’ lives. Hilarity and emotion ensue in this fast watch with just 10 half-hour episodes in the first season. Total time: About 5 hours The Morning Show: The show that started it all. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the show is about, you guessed it, the trials and tribulations of a morning news show. There are three seasons, but check out the first, with 10 episodes at about an hour each, and you’ll be hooked. Total time: About 10 hours Fly Me to the Moon: Even if you’re not a moon landing conspiracist, this brisk comedy starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum will make you a believer. Total time: About 2 hours, 11 minutes Ted Lasso: If you haven’t seen the show everyone was talking about in 2021, it’s still worth a watch. A heartwarming and hilarious fish-out-of-water tale, “Ted Lasso” is as good as everyone says it is. Season 1 is 10 half-hour episodes. Total time: About 6 hours Apple TV+ normally costs $9.99 a month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Additionally, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac get three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information about all the trials on offer, read about how to get Apple TV+ for free.

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Apple Intelligence errors with news alerts keep piling up, here’s the latest
Apple Intelligence notification summaries are, in my view, one of the early killer AI features. But they’re not without their flaws, as the BBC has continued highlighting via several new examples today. Here are the latest Apple Intelligence errors with news alerts. more…

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Smart speaker support coming to Matter, but there’s a key limitation for Apple’s HomePod
Matter, a smart home standard designed to improve compatibility between different ecosystems like those of Apple, Google, and Amazon… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple lays out plans for Fitness+ in 2025
Macworld As we head into a new year, Apple has outlined some of its plans for its Fitness+ service. The new content will kick off on Monday, January 6, and includes the following new and updated workouts: Progressive strength training: A three-week program that starts with Progressive Overload (Week One), Time Under Tension (Week Two), and finally Dynamic Power (Week Three). It’s designed to be repeated with higher weights as you build strength. Strength, Endurance, and Agility for Pickleball: For some reason, pickleball is the country’s fastest-growing sport. And this program, featuring professional pickleball champion Catherine Parenteau, is designed to up your game. Yoga Peak Poses: Similar to a one-on-one instructional session, with each highlighting a single peak pose. Introduction to Breath Meditation: Five different 10-minute meditations guiding you through different breath meditation techniques. New Time to Walk episodes: The Apple Watch Time to Walk feature gets eight new episodes, kicking off with Adam Scott on January 13 as a tie-in to the second season of Severance. Apple Fitness+ will also continue its rotating lineup of Artist Spotlight music tie-ins and special guest instructors, including choreographer Alex Wong’s dance workout. Additionally, Apple has announced a collaboration with running, cycling, and hiking app Strava. Enhanced integration means that when you share a Fitness+ workout with Strava, you’ll see rich details about it in Strava and can share it with the Strava community. Existing Strava subscribers will be able to get three months of Fitness+ for free, and Strava athletes will appear as guest trainers on Fitness+ throughout the year.

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This massive power bank is $60 off and ready for your 2025 adventures
Macworld If you’re always ready to go on adventures off the beaten path, then this Anker Solix C200 power bank station should be on your shopping list, especially now that it’s only $110, a $60 discount from its usual MSRP. What makes the Anker Solix C200 so awesome? Well, first of all, it has an absolutely massive capacity of 60,000mAh—that’s about what you need to recharge your phone at least ten times over. The high capacity makes it ideal for powering devices for longer periods of time, such as camping trips. There are multiple ports available to handle charging your devices, including a 140W USB-C port that is ideal to use to charge high-power devices, including laptops, quickly. The power bank features three USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. As far as recharging the Anker power bank goes, you have three options. You can pick between the 140W PD USB-C port, use 100W solar panels, or use the car socket. All of these will get you back to 100 percent in a couple of hours. So, go and save $60 on the Anker Solix C200 and be prepared for all sorts of adventures without worrying about your phone battery—or anything else that might need a charge. Recharge phones and laptops on the goBuy now at Amazon

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Apple Intelligence summaries are still screwing up headlines
The UK's BBC is continuing to complain about the notification summaries created by Apple Intelligence, with iPhone users being misinformed by misinterpreted headlines.Examples of notification summaries on an iPhoneIn December, the BBC complained to Apple about the summarization features of Apple Intelligence. While meant to save time for users, the summaries sometimes get things quite wrong, as it did with news headlines from the UK broadcaster.In its new complaint on January 3, the BBC has been informed of summaries appearing on iPhones that were very inaccurate. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The Mac can finally begin again in 2025
Macworld Over four years ago, Apple announced that it was going to stop using Intel processors in its Macs and start using its own silicon. At the time, it sounded like a daunting task, but feasible thanks to the years of success using its own chips in the iPhone and iPad. The fourth generation of M-series chips in the Mac was released in November. While on the surface, that doesn’t sound like a big deal, it actually has a deeper significance. The transition from Intel chips to Apple silicon is finally complete–there aren’t any major hangups anymore that could make customers second-guess an investment. For the first time since the Apple silicon transition began, the Mac lineup now feels like it is whole as we head into 2025. Production rhythm Apple released its very first Apple silicon Macs, the M1 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini in November 2020 during the height of the pandemic. The pandemic affected production, which in turn affected Apple’s chip release cycle. Once the pandemic ended, Apple and its chipmaker, TSMC, worked to get back on track and yeah later we’re finally starting to see a regular cycle with the M chips. Implementation of new production techniques affects that cycle, but it’s not as disruptive. We now have a better sense of when a new generation of chips will arrive, which makes for shoppers who can make informed buying decisions. The M4 comes at the right time When the M1 was released, it offered incredible performance boosts over the Intel chips it replaced. But Mac users tend to hold on to their Macs for as long as possible—there’s a strong desire to get the most out of the sizable investment. If someone had bought a new Intel Mac a year or two before the M1’s release, convincing them to upgrade so soon wasn’t easy, especially when Intel apps ran perfectly fine thanks to Rosetta 2 (see below). Even the new design and performance gains of the M2 or M3 may not have been convincing enough. But with the release of the M4, the time and performance gap between it and the last set of Intel CPUs used in Macs is so vast now that it can’t be ignored any longer. Below are benchmarks for the M4, M1, and the Intel 3.8GHz Core i7, which was one of the last Intel chips (and one of the fastest in a Mac) in the 2020 27-inch iMac.

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AirPods Pro 3: Three new features are coming this year
AirPods Pro 3 are coming later this year. Despite Apple continuing to make AirPods Pro 2 better with new software features, there’s still a hardware successor on the way soon. AirPods Pro 3 are expected to arrive in September alongside the iPhone 17 line, here are three new features we’re looking forward to. more…

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Apple TV+ free weekend is here, and these 13 shows are binge-worthy
Apple TV+ is kicking off a free ‘preview’ weekend. From Friday evening, January 3 through Sunday, January 5, the entire catalog of streaming shows and movies is available free. Friday’s start time depends on region, but in the UK the free weekend started at 5 PM, so that should prove true in the US too. All you need is an Apple Account, and you can watch free from any device with an Apple TV app (including many smart TVs) or via the web. Here are 13 binge-worthy Apple TV+ shows to stream during this free weekend. more…

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HomeKit Weekly: Meross launches new Matter enabled smart thermostat
Smart thermostats are one of the best ways to elevate your home’s energy efficiency while staying comfortable year-round and gaining access to some great automations. Meross has just released a Matter-enabled smart thermostat that promises broad compatibility across major smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit. Here’s why the new Meross thermostat is a great option for HomeKit fans. more…

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iPhone 17: Everything we know so far about the 2025 iPhone
Macworld It doesn’t take long for iPhone rumors to circulate. It’s one of the most iconic and influential tech gadgets of all time, and everyone wants to know what’s coming next. That Apple is so secretive only heightens the appeal of iPhone rumors and leaks. So it should come as little surprise that iPhone 17 rumors, leaks, and info started to circulate months before the iPhone 16 was even formally announced. Here’s everything we know so far, but don’t take any of it as solid info: even when early rumors are accurate, plans can change, and nothing is ever certain until Apple announces it. Updated January 3: A report from Sisa Journal in Korea claims the ‘iPhone 17 Air’ will be 6.25mm thick and priced around the same and the iPhone 17 Plus would be (around $899 U.S.). iPhone 17: Release date Here’s something we do know: The new iPhone lineup is almost always announced in September—usually on a Tuesday in the second week of September, to be specific. So we would expect the iPhone 17 line to be announced on or around September 9, 2025. Here’s when the most recent models were released: iPhone 15: September 12, 2023 iPhone 14: Sepember 7, 2022 iPhone 13: Sepember 14, 2021 iPhone 12: October 13, 2020 (delayed due to Covid) Historically, preorders for the iPhone begin on the Friday after the announcement, and the phones ship a week later. On occasion, some specific models may ship a couple of weeks later than the others due to production issues. iPhone 17: Price We haven’t yet heard if the iPhone 17 line will cost the same as the iPhone 16 line, which at this time hasn’t even been announced yet. One rumor from a popular leaker on Weibo contends that the “Plus” model will be replaced by the new “Slim” model that costs more than the Pro Max, though it won’t have the same processor and RAM and the Pro models. The supposed pricing would be: iPhone 17: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($799) iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,099) iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,199) iPhone 17 Slim: 6.65-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($1,299) This would mean a significant upward shift in overall iPhone pricing, with the Pro model jumping up $100 and a new model replacing the Plus with a price of $100 more than the Pro Max. iPhone 17: Colors We haven’t yet heard anything about what colors to expect from the iPhone 17 line. The iPhone 16 comes in five colors including Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White and Black. While the iPhone 16 Pro comes in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium and Black Titanium, which are reminiscent of the classic gold and space gray options. There were rumors that the iPhone 16 would also come in purple, so perhaps that’s in the pipeline for 2025. iPhone 17: New slimmer ‘Air’ model The iPhone 17 is expected to have an ultra-thin model like the M4 iPad Pro.Petter Ahrnstedt It’s been rumored for years that Apple is planning to launch a new model with higher-end features above the Pro Max. It looks like it may finally arrive in 2025. Several analysts have reported that the existing Plus model will be replaced by a new “Slim” model with a larger screen size and a much thinner body. Analyst Jeff Pu was the first to report this change (in May 2024), and in the same month, The Information reported on the Slim model, stating that it would be a new even-higher-end model that sits above “Pro Max” in the lineup and would have a centered rear camera and a smaller Dynamic Island. In October 2024 Pu said he expects the phone to have an A19 chip (not A19 Pro), 8GB of RAM, around a 6.6-inch display, an aluminum body, and a single 48MP rear camera. A video by Jon Prosser in August 2024 surmises that the slim iPhone will be called the iPhone Air (we agree that makes sense) and will not be the most expensive in the lineup, but rather be a mid-priced model that prioritizes form and design over specs, much like the MacBook Air. Additionally, a report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in August 2024 claimed the new model will fit between the standard iPhone and the Pro: ” If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhone–but don’t really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of a Pro model–you can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone.” Another report (in July) suggested that Apple won’t use resin-coated copper components on the mainboard due to quality issues with the supplier. This was one of the ways Apple planned to reduce internal space requirements, so it’s unclear if it will have an impact on the iPhone 17 slim model’s overall thickness or not. Apple jumped back on the thin train with the launch of the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024. Another report from Jeff Pu in November 2024 claims that the iPhone 17 Air/Slim will be around 6mm thick. That’s thinner than any iPhone so far. The iPhone 16, for context, is 7.8mm thick. The thinnest new iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick. In a report from The Information, we learn that the iPhone 17 Air will be less than 6mm thick, have only the one earpiece speaker, a single centered rear camera, and no mmWave support. It also doesn’t currently have a SIM tray, which may prohibit it from being sold in China. According to Korea’s Sisa Journal, the so-called iPhone 17 Air will be 6.25mm thick and cost in the same price range as the iPhone 16 Plus (starting at $899 U.S.). iPhone 17: Rumored new features All iPhone 17 models have been rumored to feature a 24MP front-facing camera and the always-on display is supposed to finally be available on the non-Pro models. Some believe that ProMotion will come to the non-Pro models too, since the same LPTO technology that enables the always-on display is what makes ProMotion possible, in Apple’s iPhone implementation. If true, it would be the first time Apple has offered ProMotion on a non-Pro device. Some iPhone 17 models (maybe even all of them) will have a new camera bump, a wide rectangular raised area that stretches across the phone similar in style to Google’s Pixel line. According to a leaked image of one iPhone 17 aluminum frame (we don’t know from which model), it will be substantial in size. Apple is also said to be working with Corning on a new anti-glare and scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone 17 lineup. All iPhone 17 models are expected to have aluminum frames and bodies (with glass), rather than steel frames or titanium bodies in the Pro models today. A report from The Information in July 2024 claims that “at least one” model will feature a mechanical aperture, which would be new for iPhones but has been seen in a handful of Android phones so far. We don’t know much about what chips will power the iPhone 17 line, but we expect the high-end models (Pro and possibly Slim) will get an A19 Pro, while the non-Pro models may get a standard or cut-back version of the A19, or perhaps a more souped up variant of the A18. Since Apple bumped every iPhone 16 model to 8GB of RAM due to the demands of Apple Intelligence, rumors have suggested Apple will increase the memory in the iPhone 17 Pro models to 12GB. An October research note from analyst Jeff Pu corroborated these claims, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a 48MP telephoto camera along with a new 24MP front camera. When it comes to wireless, the cellular modem is likely to still be supplied by Qualcomm; Apple’s own efforts to produce a top-tier 5G modem seem to be stalled and likely won’t be ready in time for next year’s iPhone 17 line. Wi-Fi 7 support seems likely, too. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model we’re also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today. Original iPhone (2007) review iPhone 3G (2008) review iPhone 3GS (2009) review iPhone 4 (2010) review iPhone 4s (2011) review iPhone 5 (2012) review iPhone 5c (2013) review iPhone 5s (2013) review iPhone 6 (2014) review iPhone 6 Plus (2014) review iPhone 6s (2015) review iPhone 6s Plus (2015) review iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review iPhone 7 (2016) review iPhone 7 Plus (2016) review iPhone 8 (2017) review iPhone 8 Plus (2017) review iPhone X (2017) review iPhone XR (2018) review iPhone XS (2018) review iPhone XS Max (2018) review iPhone 11 (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review iPhone 12 (2020) review iPhone 12 Mini (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review iPhone 13 (2021) review iPhone 13 mini (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review iPhone 14 (2022) review iPhone 14 Plus (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review iPhone 15 (2023) review iPhone 15 Plus (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) review iPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review

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9to5Mac Daily: January 3, 2025 – Apple’s Siri settlement, Fitness+ expansion
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by 9to5Mac Daily Plus: Get ad-free versions of every episode by visiting 9to5mac.com/join.  more…

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Apple Fitness+ unveils new collaboration with Strava
Apple Fitness+ kicks off the new year with its biggest lineup of programming, bringing users more ways to stay active… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple sells limited-edition Year of the Snake AirPods 4 in China
Apple is selling a special limited edition version of AirPods 4 to mark the Year of the Snake, with a specially engraved charging case available in China and select regions.Year of the Snake edition AirPods 4 Apple often marks the Chinese New Year with customized regional accessories, such as the Year of the Dragon AirPods Pro sold at the start of 2024. For 2025, Apple's doing it again.This year's special edition release is the AirPods 4, which are customized for the Year of the Snake. They're functionally the same as the usual AirPods 4, except the charging case has an engraving of two snakes and fireworks. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The best shows on Apple TV+
Some of the world's best actors, directors and writers are making shows for Apple TV+. These are the best Apple TV shows. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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The best shows on Apple TV+
Some of the world's best actors, directors and writers are making shows for Apple TV+. These are the best Apple TV shows. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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The best shows on Apple TV+
Some of the world's best actors, directors and writers are making shows for Apple TV+. These are the best Apple TV shows. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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The best shows on Apple TV+
Some of the world's best actors, directors and writers are making shows for Apple TV+. These are the best Apple TV shows. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple Intelligence now requires almost double the iPhone storage it needed before
Apple Intelligence arrived on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs via a staggered rollout. There were new features launched in both iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. Now, we know exactly how much those additional features are costing in terms of iPhone storage space. more…

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