Apple Intelligence servers could use M4 chips from 2025
Apple reportedly wants Foxconn to build its next-gen M4-powered AI servers in Taiwan for Apple Intelligence. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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$200 Off On M2 MacBook Air On Amazon
Amazon has the 13-inch liquid retina display M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale, slashing $200 or 20% off from $999.00, bringing the price down to $799.00. With macOS and the M2 chip, the MacBook Air delivers a powerful performance and can run multiple apps all at once . […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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visionOS 2.2 first beta seeded to developers
The first beta for the visionOS 2.2 has been rolled out to developers and delivers the wide and ultrawide modes for the Mac Virtual display as promised. This feature lets the Apple Vision Pro headset act as an external display for the Mac, something that’s been an option since the release of the visionOS, but […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Bluetti AC500 & B300S review: upgraded portable power station to get you through disasters
The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are an evolution of its powerhouse portable power station with a 5,000W inverter and 3,072Wh battery, ready to keep your lights on when the grid can't.Bluetti AC500 & B300S portable power stationIf you've been paying close attention, you might notice the AC500 and B300S look very similar to the AC300 and B300 I reviewed in 2023. Well, like Apple and iPhones, companies like Bluetti never rest and constantly iterate to ensure the product line never goes stale.The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are an excellent step up with more power, expansion opportunities, and high-powered outlets. While you're losing out on the number of standard AC outlets, you get more options for high-power connections and an additional 100W USB-C port. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple ceases signing iOS 18.0.1 for iOS 18.1
Apple launched the iOS 18.1 on October 28th and has now ceased signing iOS 18.0.1, thus stopping users who got the iOS 18.1 update from rolling back to the iOS 18. This is a familiar thing that Apple does- ceasing to sign older iOS versions once an updated version of the iOS is rolled out. […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple promotes writing tools In ad for Apple Intelligence
Last week, Apple launched the iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and iOS 18.1 along with Apple Intelligence features for the Mac, iPad, and iPhones. The first set introduces Writing Tools, giving users the option to change text tones to professional, concise, or friendly, and tlets them summarize texts by turning them into key points. Apple […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iOS 18.2 lets iPhone and iPad users trust a new computer with Face ID
As we’ve seen, iOS 18.2 adds a lot of new features, and there are more with the second beta released this week. Although most of them are related to Apple Intelligence, there are some other interesting changes too. One of them is the ability to trust a new computer with the and iPad using Face ID. more…

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Mercury Weather can now provide notifications for rain and snow
Mercury Weather is a cool indie app that works as an alternative to Apple’s Weather app. Following an update in August that added new features to the app, there’s now another update available – and this one provides notifications about weather conditions. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: November 6, 2024 – Apple smart glasses rumors, more
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 CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. Save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card today.  more…

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Touching up paint is tough, but not with a (cheap) RGB color sensor
Save time on your next paint job with the Nix Mini 3 RGB color sensor. This compact color sensor can identify colors on most surfaces. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best iPad for seniors 2024
Macworld If you’re an older user looking to pick up an iPad or someone wanting to gift an Apple tablet to Grandad or Grandma, which is the best iPad to choose? There’s a fair selection in the current Apple catalog, from the diminutive iPad mini all the way up to the incredibly powerful (not to mention very expensive) iPad Pro. It can be intimidating, especially as different users have different needs. To help you make sense of it all, here’s our guide to finding the best iPad for seniors. What makes an iPad good for older users? iPad owners don’t magically transform into timid technophobes on their 70th birthdays, and there isn’t one right answer to this question. Any iPad model might turn out to be the right choice for a specific older user, depending on that user’s precise requirements. But there are a few criteria that tend to become more of a factor when our bodies begin to age. Screen size is one element, with eyes not being as strong as they once were. Weight/portability can also become more important; some older users have arthritis, while others find they tire more easily than they used to when using a tablet for extended periods of time. We will also want to think carefully about price versus power and features, since you don’t want to spend lots of money on a device with capabilities you’ll never really use. But, as we say, these can be true for any user, so it’s always best to talk to the person in question about their particular needs if you want to pick the perfect tablet. If you were to put us on the spot, however, we do have some thoughts about the iPads that are most likely to suit an older user. Here’s our selection. Best affordable option: iPad (2022, 10th generation) Pros Affordable A14 Bionic processor Support for Apple Pencil (USB and 1st Gen) Solid performance Cons No Home button Base 64GB storage is quite low Price When Reviewed: From $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) (was $449 and $599) Best Prices Today: $299 at Amazon$299 at Best Buy$299.99 at Target At $349, the 10th-gen iPad may well be the cheapest iPad model in Apple’s current lineup, but that doesn’t mean it’s a truly ‘budget’ device in the pejorative sense. For many (perhaps most) people, this iPad will deliver everything you want from a tablet and not cost you a small fortune in the process. Apple’s A14 Bionic chip powers the iPad and it’s ideal for surfing the web, watching streaming services, and shopping online. It’s an older processor–Apple is using more-recent M-series chips in the more-expensive iPad Air and iPad Pro, but it’s a chip that should be supported by Apple for a few more years. For FaceTime calls there’s a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera that offers advanced features such as Center Stage (which allows you to move around on video calls while the iPad tracks you so you don’t disappear out of view) and 1080p video. This iPad was the first to place the camera on the longer side of the iPad, so when you use it, the iPad should be in landscape mode. Why are these features particularly good for seniors? Well, having an excellent video-call experience will allow them to keep in touch with the grandkids, friends or family around the world, without looking grainy or like they’re calling from the early 2000s. The 10.9-inch display is also large enough for eyes that might be starting to diminish, while the touch targets on the screen will be easy to hit with unsteady hands. Of course, many seniors are full of more life and vigor than their grandchildren, and the ability to connect an Apple Smart keyboard and first-gen Apple Pencil makes this a perfect companion for traveling while writing memoirs or creating art. It’s also the only remaining iPad to feature a headphone jack, which could be very useful if the intended recipient hasn’t yet embraced the wireless charms of the AirPods or AirPod Pros. Another major change Apple made with the 10th-gen iPad (in addition to moving the front-facing camera) is that it no longer has a Home button. iPadOS features many great swipe gestures for navigating through apps and menus, and to get to the Home screen, you swipe up from the bottom center of the display. Touch ID is now located on the power button. The 10th-gen iPad comes in these storage options, priced as follows: 64GB: $349/£349 256GB: $499/£499 If you want to add cellular capabilities then those are also available: 64GB (cellular): $499/£499 256GB (cellular): $649/£649 It isn’t just the best choice for older users, but probably for most users. If you prefer an iPad with a Home button, you can probably find a 9th-generation iPad, which is the last one with a Home button, You may be able to find stock at a third-party retailer. Apple sells refurbished iPads in its Certified Refurbished Store (U.S. or U.K.) but the inventory availability fluctuates a lot, so it may not be in stock when you check. Be sure to check back at a later time. Read our full 10th-gen 10.9-inch iPad (2022) review Best lightweight option: iPad mini (A17 Pro) Pros Lightweight Modern design A17 Pro processor Cons Smaller screen size 128GB storage on base model Price When Reviewed: $499 (128GB; Wi-Fi only) | $599 (256GB; Wi-Fi only) | $799 (512GB; Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $478 at Amazon$499 at Apple$499 at Apple United States It’s a sad fact that as we age our bodies can lose some of their strength or gain some conditions that we avoided when younger. If you’re looking for a lightweight iPad, and therefore easier to hold for longer periods, then the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the one to choose. At around 0.65lbs/293g it’s roughly half the weight of the 10th gen iPad discussed above. This is made possible, as the name suggests, by the smaller display. But the 8.3-inch panel is still an excellent size for the web, not to mention better as an e-reader thanks to being easier to hold. Under the hood, the iPad mini is a powerhouse, with an A17 Pro chip (as seen in the iPhone 15 Pro), 5G capabilities on the LTE models, and powerful cameras with the same Ultra Wide front-facing module as on the 10th-gen iPad. It’s compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro and various Bluetooth keyboards, so you can use it like a small laptop if you want to get stuff done. It’s a lovely package that offers the most portable solution for those who want to take their iPad with them. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is available in these configurations: iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 128GB: $499/£499 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 256GB: $599/£599 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 512GB: $799/£799 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 128GB: $649/£649 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 256GB: $749/£749 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 512GB: $949/£949 Check our guide to the best iPad mini deals to see if you can get one for a lower price.  Read our full Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review Best all-rounder: iPad (2022, 10th generation) Pros 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display Modern design Landscape camera Various colors USB-C port Cons Higher price than previous generations 64GB of storage on base modell Price When Reviewed: From $449 Best Prices Today: $449 at Apple The newest device on this list is the 10th generation iPad, which arrived in October 2022 without the Home button design of its forebears and follows the aesthetic established by iPad mini and iPad Air. Although the Home button is gone, this iPad still features Touch ID, it’s just that the sensor is now part of the power button that resides on the top edge of the device. This allows Apple to fit a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display into a chassis that’s almost the same size as the 9th generation iPad, which has a 10.2-inch screen. This increased screen real estate will be attractive to those who prefer larger fonts and should make tapping on-screen buttons a little easier for unsteady hands. One of the main new features, aside from the overall design, is that Apple has finally moved the front-facing camera from the traditional top bezel to the longer side one. This essentially turns it from portrait to landscape, hence the name Landscape Ultra Wide camera. The upside of this is that you can sit the iPad on its longer side when making FaceTime calls, which will have you looking into the middle of the camera rather than it being off to the side. There’s also support for Centre-Stage, so if you move around, the software will keep you in the center of the shot. This makes it the best iPad for FaceTime calls with family. The included A14 Bionic chip, which previously powered the iPhone 12 range (including the Pro models), means there’s plenty of performance available for most. You can use the 1st generation Apple Pencil on this device, and the new USB-C port opens up a world of peripherals you can plug into the iPad. These include keyboards, external storage, and even monitors if you want a pseudo-desktop PC. One drawback of this switch is that owners of a 1st generation Apple Pencil will need to buy an adaptor to be able to charge it from the iPad. If you buy a new Pencil from Apple, the adapter is now included in the box. The iPad comes in four attractive colors (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver). These are the available configurations: 64GB: $349/£349 256GB: $499/£499 64GB (cellular): $499/£499 256GB (cellular): $649/£649 As with the other iPads on this list, you might want to consider opting for the 256GB storage variant, as 64GB can fill up pretty quickly if you like to store photos and videos on the device itself. Apple also offers a new keyboard case called the Magic Keyboard Folio, which is nice but costs an eye-watering $249/£279, so we’d advise looking for cheaper (and often just as good) third-party products instead. See our iPad keyboard roundup. Like the iPad mini the iPad may also get an update in 2024. For more information, take a look at our Everything you need to know about the iPad 10.9-inch (10th Generation) guide. Best performance option: 11-inch iPad Air (2024) Pros M2 processor USB-C port Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) support Smart connector Cons Getting expensive Price When Reviewed: $599 (128GB, Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $551 at Amazon$599 at Apple$599 at Apple United States While it’s true that the iPad Pro models are the most powerful iPads available, for most people they are simply overkill. Also, they come with Pro-level prices, which isn’t great if you’re only going to use them to watch videos and FaceTime the grandkids. For the more discerning user who requires plenty of power but at a reasonable price, the iPad Air is an excellent solution. There’s not much to differentiate the 10th-gen iPad and the 11-inch iPad Air. but, when you look closely, you can see from where the extra expense comes. The two devices are around the same size, and both sport a Liquid Retina display, but the one on the Air is fully-laminated, so there’s no air-gap between the glass and digitizer, which makes it feel like you’re touching the actual pixels and makes using the compatible Apple Pencil (2nd gen) that much smoother. They feature the same 12MP cameras on the back and front on the longer side of the device. But, under the hood the Air has the incredibly powerful M2 processor, which was previously found in the last generation of iPad Pros, not to mention several recent Macs. This takes things to another level. If someone wants to play games, use graphically intensive apps or just wants a really fast user experience, then the M2 delivers that in spades. The iPad Air has often been called the iPad Pro for normal people, and that’s exactly what it is. The USB-C port allows you to connect various external devices, such as storage or monitors, so it can easily transform into a laptop with a processor that’s desktop-class. Apple offers the sleek Magic Keyboard folio case, but at $299/£319 it’s way overpriced, so we’d suggest a third-party Bluetooth keyboard and case as a more frugal option. The iPad Air base configuration has 128GB of storage, twice that of the base 10th-gen iPad. That should be plenty for most people; you can rely on iCloud storage if you’re worried that you’ll run out of space. You can also go with the more expensive 256GB configuration.   You can pick up the 11-inch iPad Air in the following configurations:  iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 128GB: $599/£599 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 256GB: $699/£699 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 512GB: $899/£899 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 1TB: $1,099/£1,099 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 128GB: $749/£749 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 256GB: $849/£849 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 512GB: $1,049/£1,049 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 1TB: $1,249/£1,249 Also read our roundup of the best iPad Air deals too, so you don’t miss out on any great offers.  Read our full Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024) review Best luxury option: iPad Pro (2024) Pros Insanely powerful Best iPads money can buy ProMotion displays Cons Very expensive Too much power for most people Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple$1099 at Best Buy$1,154.49 at Amazon For those to whom money is no object or require the highest-end performance an iPad can deliver, the iPad Pro is the only choice. Recently upgraded to the latest M4 processor, these are devices that absolutely fly. Every appointment is top-notch, from the Ultra Retina XDR display with super-smooth ProMotion technology to the USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 4. These are Pro devices. With that is the caveat that most people won’t necessarily see these benefits unless they are using pro-level apps that push the device hard. The Pro comes in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, with the latter being an absolute whopper. If you need a large screen then this is as big as it gets. Apple offers a 13-inch iPAd Air that’s cheaper, but its screen isn’t as nice as the Pro, and the Air is actually heavier than the Pro. (Go figure.) To anyone other than a professional designer, animator, or digital specialist who can harness the power of the iPad Pros, these are simply too much and your money would be better spent on the iPad Air. But, if that’s you or you just want a luxury iPad to enjoy, then this is the premium end of the street. The iPad Pro 11-inch (2024) is available in the following configurations: 256GB: $999/£999 512GB: $1,199/£1,199 1TB: $1,599/£1,599 2TB: $1,999/£1,999 If you want 5G cellular capabilities, then these are the options: 256GB (Cellular): $1,199/£1,199 512GB (Cellular): $1,399/£1,399 1TB (Cellular): $1,799/£1,799 2TB (Cellular): $2,199/£2,199 The iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) is available in these configurations: 256GB: $1,299/£1,299 512GB: $1,499/£1,499 1TB: $1,899/£1,899 2TB: $2,299/£2,299 Here are the prices for the cellular-equipped models: 256GB (Cellular): $1,499/£1,499 512GB (Cellular): $1,699/£1,699 1TB (Cellular): $2,099/£2,099 2TB (Cellular): $2,499/£2,499 Check out our roundup of the best iPad Pro deals to see if you can get a good bargain on these flagship devices. For more about how the iPad Pro and iPad Air compare read iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4). Read our full Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024) review

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Apple's numerous internal projects led to the upcoming API-powered Siri with AI
Siri could soon be able to view and process on-screen content thanks to new developer APIs based on technologies leaked by AppleInsider prior to WWDC.Share content found on screen within apps with Apple Intelligence thanks to upcoming APIsOn Monday, Apple released new documentation to help developers prepare for the arrival of upcoming Siri and Apple Intelligence features. The company's latest developer API reveals that Siri will gain significant contextual awareness and that the virtual assistant will, at some point, be able to use information from the content currently on screen.Siri will undoubtedly become much more useful due to Apple's changes. The company provided a list of examples, which offer some insight as to exactly what the new-and-improved, AI-infused Siri will be able to do in the future. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple rumored to upgrade its AI cloud computers with the M4 chip starting next year
Apple has developed special computers to process certain Apple Intelligence requests privately in the cloud, and these computers currently run on the M2 Ultra chip. However, it seems that the company already has plans to upgrade its cloud computers with the M4 chip starting next year. more…

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Apple less vulnerable to President Trump’s tariffs than ‘many might believe’ – Bernstein
Apple is less vulnerable to increased trade tariffs from President Donald Trump, Bernstein analysts said Wednesday. Bernstein estimated… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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New 5K monitor comes with Studio Display specs at half the price
Asus just made waves with its new ProArt Display PA27JCV, launching the 5K monitor at an eye-catching $799 price point. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Thunderbolt 5: Only Necessary for the Most Demanding Uses
With the introduction of the first Macs that support Thunderbolt 5, you might wonder what has changed from Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. The answer? Not much—it’s a case of evolution, not revolution. However, Thunderbolt 5 will make a difference for those with video-intensive or high-performance data transfer needs.

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How to use iPad in portrait with Sidecar with macOS Sequoia
Apple has finally updated Sidecar to allow you to extend your Mac screen onto an iPad when it's in portrait, not just landscape. For now, though, it's fiddly, but here's how to do it.We've only waited five years for Sidecar to recognise an iPad in portraitFive years after Apple introduced Sidecar with macOS Catalina, it has given it a much-wanted update. Previously Sidecar would only extend a Mac's display onto an iPad in landscape, regardless of what way around the device was being held or mounted.There was a fairly contorted workaround that would make it happen with the use of a third-party app. But now with macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iPadOS 18.1, you can just turn on Sidecar and then physically rotate your iPad. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Hidden Mac keyboard shortcuts you might not know
Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to speed things up when you’re using a Mac. Here's a Mac keyboard shortcut guide to help you out. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple stock to trade ex-dividend on November 8th
Apple on October 31st announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on November 14, 2024, to shareholders of record as of… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook congratulates Trump on his second election win
Apple CEO Tim Cook has congratulated Donald Trump after winning the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as he re-lays the groundwork for a close working relationship with the returning president.Tim Cook and Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House in 2018Following Tuesday's elections, vote counts have resulted in a win for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris at the ballot box. As President-elect for the second time, Trump is now receiving words of congratulation from world leaders as well as CEOs.In his own message on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X and congratulated Trump on his victory. "We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity," wrote Cook. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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