Deals: Titanium Apple Watch Series 10 and 42mm models from $369, Up to $600 off MacBook Pro, and more
The lowest prices we have tracked yet on Apple’s brand new iPhone 16 cases continue today alongside some additional price drops from other brands, but the real highlights of today’s roundup come by way of deals on Apple Watch Series 10 and MacBook Pro. Alongside the best disocunts yet on the Jet Black 46mm model, we also spotted all-time low pricing on the high-end titanium Series 10 models to sit alongside our black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers. From there, we have also spotted up to $600 off M3/Pro/Mac MacBook Pro configurations, one of the lowest totals yet on Mac mini, plenty of accessory offers, and more. Scope it all out below. more…

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Join us in supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Update September 27, 2024: Relay’s St. Jude fundraising is entering its final week! This year’s campaign is nearing $900,000 and we’d love for the 9to5Mac community to help finish strong! You can donate and learn more about corporate matching programs on the campaign webpage. We’ve also added a new reward option: donate $15 or more and get a 9to5Mac sticker! Helping children and getting a 9to5Mac sticker? That’s too good an opportunity to pass up. Donate Here more…

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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs and Jef Raskin clash over the Mac
On September 27, 1979, Steve Jobs and Mac creator Jef Raskin clashed over the direction of the project. Guess who won? (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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This 100W power bank that can fast-charge a MacBook Pro is a wild 60% off
Macworld Being able to charge your laptops and smartphones and any other gadgets on the go is just what you need, especially if the battery life of your device has dropped recently. Thankfully, the Baseus Blade Laptop Power Bank is on sale for $54 at Amazon right now, down from its usual $130, so make sure you add this one to your cart. This slim 20,000mAh battery pack is ideal for charging laptops, including your favorite MacBook, iPhones, and iPads. I personally have the second edition and wish I’d have this version instead. While this model is only a bit thicker than the second version, it has a lot more power, which is essential when charging laptops. Still, even though this is a thicker model, it’s still slim at just 0.7 inches, making it super easy to slip into your bag next to your laptop or iPad. It also weighs just a little over a pound, so you don’t make your backpack too heavy if you add this one next to all the other things you carry. The power bank features a small digital display where you’ll be able to see how much battery is still left, the voltage used to charge whatever you’ve plugged in, and the time left until the charge (or recharge) is complete. Since the Baseus Blade supports fast charging, your devices will get their batteries filled up in no time. There are 2 PD USB-C ports you can use, supporting 100W and 65W charging, and two fast-charging USB-A ports. Take advantage of this total bargain and get yourself this Baseus Blade laptop power bank for a mere $54 while you still can. The Baseus Blade comes with a serious 60% discountBuy it now at Amazon

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pdfFiller review: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Cross-platform solution with macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and web apps. Offers monthly and annual plans with a free trial through the web or Apple’s App Store. Features an integrated library of some commonly needed documents and forms. Cons The Mac app fails to deliver all advertised features. The monthly plans are objectively overpriced. The app performs poorly and its design is quite dated. Our Verdict pdfFiller can get some basic tasks done, but promised features are missing and it doesn’t always perform reliably. You can find better-optimized PDF editors with more advanced functionalities that cost significantly less. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When ReviewedBasic: $8 per month; Plus: $12 per month; Premium: $15 per month. Those prices require an annual commitment. Prices start at $20 a month with no commitment. Best Prices Today: pdfFiller Retailer Price 30-day trial Free View Deal pdfFiller monthly (on annual contract) $8 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket In an increasingly digital world, the need for PDF editors continues to grow. One of the Mac apps you may come across when hunting for a PDF editor is pdfFiller. The software offers a decent set of document manipulation tools, but is it actually any good for everyday use? The short answer is no. pdfFiller offers apps on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and the web. So, no matter what device you’re working on, you likely will be able to access your documents just fine. Notably, a single subscription works across all platforms. The company offers a 30-day free trial if you’re signing up from the web or a 7-day one if you opt for Apple’s App Store billing. Beyond the longer trial and having to set up a payment method, pdfFiller’s web billing is similar to that of Apple—including the pricing. Find out how pdfFiller compares to other PDF editors in our round up of the Best PDF editors for Mac and the Best free PDF editors for Mac. Plans and features pdfFiller’s Basic plan costs $8 a month ($96 a year) if you agree to an annual plan. Alternatively, it’s $20 a month if you opt out of the annual commitment. Only U.S. pricing is available. It offers basic PDF editing features, such as text manipulation, annotation, electronic signatures, and more. Meanwhile, the Plus plan goes for $12 a month on the annual commitment ($144 a year) or $30 when choosing to opt out of the contract. Apart from the Basic plan’s features, Plus adds support for page reorganization, template creation, publishing fillable forms online, etc. Lastly, the Premium plan raises the annual and monthly fees to $15 a month ($180 a year) and $40 if you want to be able to cancel. Beyond the previous plans’ perks, it integrates a library of over 85,000 US legal forms, supports data collection and exports, offers faster customer support, and allows users to password-protect their documents. The (subpar) experience using pdfFiller Foundry Foundry Foundry Starting with its user interface, the pdfFiller app on macOS doesn’t follow the operating system’s design language or support dark mode. Cosmetics aside, the app also didn’t function reliably on my MacBook Air M2. For example, when I tried to save a PDF to my device, a processing popup appeared for a couple of seconds, and then it kicked me out of the document without actually saving it to the local storage. Similarly, when editing text, the cursor took a few seconds to acknowledge the characters I was trying to tweak, and it replaced unsupported fonts with empty squares—which isn’t great. These annoyances significantly lengthen workflows that revolve around text editing, which is a core PDF editor functionality. Another downside to using pdfFiller on macOS is the limited feature set. While its App Store listing explicitly states that the software supports image exports, password protection, and blank document creation, the application seemingly can’t do any of that. While I was able to spot these features on the web app, those opting for the native Mac application will be misled by its inaccurate App Store description. Foundry Foundry Foundry Should you buy pdfFiller? pdfFiller can get some basic tasks done, such as manipulating PDF text and images, inserting signatures and shapes, annotating, rearranging pages, and filling forms. However, the Mac app misses out on some of the promised features and it doesn’t always perform reliably. More importantly, though, you can find better optimized PDF editors with more advanced functionalities that cost significantly less. Paying $40/month to unlock password protection only to realize it’s not offered by the native Mac app is absurd. And, frankly, beyond the integrated document library that some users may appreciate, I can’t find a single reason why anyone would pick pdfFiller over alternative solutions. I’d only recommend this macOS PDF editor if the company reconsiders its unjustified price tags. Alternatively, it could overhaul the app to boost its performance and implement worthy features that put it on par with similarly-priced, premium editors. Until then, look elsewhere.

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New M5-powered Apple Vision Pro in the works – Ming-Chi Kuo
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has announced that Apple is developing a new generation of its Vision Pro headset, scheduled to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iOS 18.1 has the first Apple Intelligence features, here’s what’s coming
iOS 18.1 is almost here. When it arrives, it will bring the first set of Apple Intelligence capabilities. Here’s the full list of AI features coming to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 18.1 and more. more…

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Apple TV+ has established itself as a creative force
with critical hits and unambiguous cultural smashes such as… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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The iPhone will finally kill Android in 2025
Macworld Like a soft-hearted boxer trying to give the crowd value for money, Apple has done its best for years to keep Google standing in the smartphone ring. If it truly exerted itself, we always felt, the Cupertino Crusher could put the Mountain View Mangler on the canvas in short order. But the company could never quite bring itself to apply the coup de grâce. The reason, of course, has nothing to do with charity—Apple simply doesn’t want to release an iPhone that’s better or more expensive to manufacture than it needs to be. It has numerous advantages over the various Android hardware vendors: it has more money to spend on R&D, it can control and optimise hardware and software together, it has better customer trust and brand recognition, and its business model isn’t based on advertising and data capture. But while an “insanely great” iPhone might kill Android as a realistic alternative, it would cut into profit margins and leave Apple with nowhere to go the following year. A better long-term strategy is to release phones just enough better than the previous generation to shift some units… and Google is welcome to stick around in the meantime. Nevertheless, you can’t keep up this sort of thing indefinitely. In fact, it looks like 2025 will be the year when the iPhone finally establishes a clear and indisputable lead over its rival. I’m not saying Android is going the way of BlackBerry and Windows Phone quite yet, but I suspect that by this time next year the writing will be on the wall and the graphs will all be going in a direction that makes Tim Cook happy. The iPhone SE from 2022 isn’t great, but the 2025 iPhone SE will be. The iPhone SE from 2022 isn’t great, but the 2025 iPhone SE will be.IDG The iPhone SE from 2022 isn’t great, but the 2025 iPhone SE will be.IDG IDG At the budget end of the market, big changes are coming to the iPhone SE, a product that’s endured a difficult couple of years but, as I wrote back in April, looks set for a comeback in the next iteration. The 3rd-gen model failed to offer any worthwhile improvements on the popular 2nd-gen SE, but reports suggest that Apple has learned its lesson: it’s finally going to move on from that antiquated chassis and give the next SE a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, an A16 processor, and superb cameras. (Incredibly, it looks like it will be based on the design of this year’s iPhone 16.) The price will surely be higher, but not by a huge amount, and $499 for that spec list is going to be difficult to resist. If Apple finally takes that section of the market seriously, it will represent a major blow to Android’s prospects and phones like the Pixel 9a and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. But more bad news is coming at the premium end in the form of the iPhone 17. If customers apparently go nuts for cautious iterative updates like the iPhone 15 and 16, what will they make of the redesigned iPhone Air? Plausible rumors point to a shake-up in 2025, with Apple ditching the 17 Plus and replacing it with a 17 Air (or Slim, or some other branding). This handset will be substantially thinner and lighter than the other models and may involve some compromises to accommodate this. In other words, it’s an iPhone X-like risk, but as my colleague Jason argues, it’s the kind that Apple needs to take. By replacing the reportedly weakest-selling model in the line with something bold, new, and stylish, the company will create buzz and appeal to customers who are tired of the same old iPhone look—as well as attract some switchers along the way. If you think the iPhone 16 Pro Max is thin, just wait until the iPhone 17 Air. If you think the iPhone 16 Pro Max is thin, just wait until the iPhone 17 Air.Foundry If you think the iPhone 16 Pro Max is thin, just wait until the iPhone 17 Air.Foundry Foundry Aside from the aesthetic and convenience implications of a slimmer design, the 17-series iPhones should also bring two brilliant and currently Pro-exclusive screen features–ProMotion, and the always-on display–and offer them across the range. This will materially increase the appeal of Apple’s base models and likely tempt even more Android users to make the jump. Apple loves an upsell, which is why it holds back features like this for years for the more expensive phones. But they drop down to the standard models in the end, and that’s when their real impact on sales is felt. In other words, it all looks promising for the iPhone in 2025, and ominous for the Android ecosystem. Apple fans are even seeing improvements in the areas where the company has historically been weak. It was late to get on the AI bandwagon, but Apple Intelligence is rolling out this year and is likely to find its feet in 2025. iOS is painted as overly restrictive when it comes to user customization, but iOS 18 is far more flexible than any of Apple’s previous software updates—we can even tint icons and put them where we want! Even recent defeats for Apple, changes imposed by political bodies such as allowing third-party app stores and (with the utmost reluctance) catering to user repairs, add to the overall appeal of its product ecosystem. A less rigid walled garden may be less profitable for Apple but it’s exactly the kind of thing that will attract curious Android users. Is there anything left that Android does better than the iPhone? Honestly, not much. I suppose you’d have to include foldables in that category, although I wonder how many people actually care. And the moment folding smartphones become a worthwhile market, you’d imagine Apple would swoop in with a folding iPhone that’s better than anything offered by the competition. So no, I don’t think there’s any coming back from this. Android’s had a decent run, and did well to stay on its feet this long. But let’s be honest: It’s time to chuck in the towel before this fight gets ugly. RIP.

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Hands on – luxe Hermes Apple Watch Series 10 in silver titanium
Apple's highest-end wearable is the Hermes version of the Apple Watch Series 10 in silver titanium. Here's what sets it apart.The Hermes Apple Watch Series 10You'd be forgiven for thinking that the Ultra 2 is the most expensive Apple Watch. Not a lot of time gets devoted to Apple's high fashion partnership with the French fashion brand, Hermes.This partnership has lasted for years. In 2024 a custom Hermes version of the latest Apple Watch was again made available, paired with various Hermes bands. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Pitt and Clooney reluctantly team up in madcap Wolfs on Apple TV+ [Updated: Now streaming]
A new action-comedy pairs Clooney and Pitt in "Wolfs," their first shared bill since 2008. And it looks like a lot of fun. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Your key to the PDF kingdom — just $60 for life
If you find yourself working with PDFs day in and day out, a PDF Reader Pro Permanent License could become your new best friend. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best speakers for iPhones and Apple Music: AirPlay speakers for Apple kit
Macworld Apple sells two speakers–the HomePod and HomePod mini–but there are lots of different types of speakers that work with iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV out there to choose from that could offer better value for money. There’s a lot of choice with the speakers in this round up offering a wide variety of features, specs, designs and price tags. But we’re here to guide you through the complexity and help you find the best speaker for optimal performance with your Mac and iOS devices. We look at a variety of speakers including multi-room speaker systems, which are more popular than ever–especially as mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad allow us to carry our entire music library from room to room, or connect to music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Prime Music with a quick tap. Apple users are best off getting a speaker with AirPlay support, and all the speakers in this test offer AirPlay 2 support. We explain what AirPlay is and the features it brings later on in this article. We’ve tested out some of the best speakers you can buy to use with your Apple products below, so read on to find out which AirPlay speakers are best. Best speakers for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV HomePod mini Price When Reviewed: $99 Best Prices Today: $99 at Adorama$99 at Apple$99.99 at Best Buy We’re putting the HomePod mini in the top spot on the basis of its low price tag, excellent sound quality and deep integration with Apple’s software ecosystem – as long as you don’t mind being tied to Siri. The HomePod mini can’t match the bass punch of the full-size HomePod, but the output is still far better than we have any right to expect at this size and price. (Just to reiterate, it’s a third of the price and a seventh of the weight of its larger sibling.) For jazz, rock and classical we were blown away by its clear, rich sound. And while it’s not quite got the welly to deafen your neighbors with house music at 3 am, it does fill a room beautifully – especially when teamed with a second model as a stereo pair. Read our full Apple HomePod mini review Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) Price When Reviewed: $299 Best Prices Today: $279 at B&H$299 at Adorama$299 at Apple If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and you appreciate quality audio, this is the smart speaker for you: it will play your music beautifully and make TV watching a delight. As with the HomePod mini, ease of setup is one of its strongest features–plug in the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its direction and an onscreen popup (on the phone) will invite you to set it up. If there’s another HomePod of the same model in the selected room, you’ll be given the option to join them as a stereo pair. It sounds great whether used as a single unit, or as a stereo pair, and it’s a great accompaniment to your Apple TV as it supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To find out more, about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini. The main disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the high price (three times that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations associated with being reliant on Siri to control it. We really want a HomePod with a screen. Read our full Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) review Roku Streambar Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $112 at Walmart$129.99 at Best Buy$129.99 at Dell Home Roku is well-known for its range of streaming media devices, which offer an affordable alternative to Apple’s own Apple TV box. However, the Roku Streambar goes a step further by combining streaming features with a compact soundbar speaker and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 – and all for a highly competitive $129.99/£129.99. The AirPlay support and built-in dual-band Wi-Fi mean that you can simply use the Streambar as a conventional AirPlay speaker, using AirPlay to stream music via Wi-Fi from any Apple device. It’s surprisingly powerful for such a compact speaker, and more than loud enough for playing music at home or watching a few Hollywood blockbusters. It even provides pretty good bass too, landing the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Big Sky with real impact (and Roku has recently announced a new range of wireless speakers that also support AirPlay 2, although we’ve not had the chance to test these yet). Going beyond basic speaker mode, you can also use the HDMI port on the back of the Streambar to connect it to a TV or computer display, and this allows you to stream video at up to 4K resolution from your Apple devices as well. You can even get rid of your Apple devices altogether, and just use the Streambar’s built-in streaming features to connect your TV or computer monitor to a wide range of video services–including Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so on. It also supports a number of music streaming services too, such as Apple Music and Spotify. Admittedly, the low cost of the Streambar means that it does lack a few advanced features, such as support for Dolby Atmos, which you can get from Apple’s HomePod and also the Apple TV 4K. But, of course, the Apple TV box doesn’t include a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost combination of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming features makes it an absolute bargain at this price. Sonos Era 100 Price When Reviewed: $249.00 Best Prices Today: $249 at Adorama$249 at B&H$249 at Best Buy When Sonos first introduced the Era 100 it was positioned as a mid-range option that sat between the entry-level Sonos One and the imposing Era 300 with Dolby Atmos at the top of the range. However, the veteran Sonos One quietly faded away a few months ago and the Era 100 has taken over as the new entry point for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with a $249/£249 price tag that makes it a good alternative to the Apple HomePod at £299/$299. At first glance, the Era 100 does look very similar to the original Sonos One, with an upright cylindrical design that is available in black or white. It’s slightly larger than the Sonos One, though, standing 182.5mm high, 120mm wide and 130mm deep. This allows the Era 100 to squeeze in an additional high-frequency tweeter, so that it now houses two tweeters that are angled out to the right and left to spread sound more widely than the Sonos One. It also includes a larger woofer than the Sonos One, to handle the mid-range and bass and add a little extra power as well. This new design works a treat and the Era 100 provides very good sound quality for a relatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Flow have a light, shimmering sound, but the compact speaker has got some muscle too, and is easily able to fill the room around me with Enya’s swirling cloud of sound. The twin tweeters provide a crisp, clear sound for the electronic loops that fly through the air, but that larger woofer can also reach down and embrace the slow bass pulse and rumbling drums that enter as Enya’s multi-tracked vocals chant – “turn it up, turn it up”. The only minor disappointment is that the Era 100 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio. If you’re a home cinema fan who really wants Atmos then you’ll need to pay a little more for alternatives such as the Apple HomePod or the high-end Era 300. But, if you’re just looking for a compact, high-quality speaker with wi-fi and support for AirPlay, then the Era 100 delivers the goods at a lower price than most of its AirPlay rivals. Sonos Roam 2 Price When Reviewed: $179 (reduced to $143) Best Prices Today: $176.99 at Walmart Electronics$179 at Adorama$179 at Amazon Sonos’ Roam has to be the smallest and most portable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen so far. Sonos’s original Roam smart speaker was released back in 2021, and it was one of the best portable speakers we’ve ever seen, providing very good sound quality in a highly compact design that also managed to squeeze in useful features such as wireless charging and even support for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple devices. The Roam 2 fine-tunes a number of features such as its set-up and tuning process, and provides more straightforward controls. Available in a variety of colors–including red, green, blue and plain old black and white–the Roam 2 looks identical to its predecessor. It is 168mm tall, 62mm wide and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, but it will fit into a backpack. It has a IP67 rating water and dust resistance, so it’s suited to the outdoors. There’s no room for a large battery in the compact design, but it should last for up to 10 hours with music at 50% volume. It needs to stand upright for wireless charging and the volume, playback and microphone controls sit on the top, but you can turn the speaker onto its side and lay it flat. A USB-C port on the back can be used for charging too.  Roam 2 supports Bluetooth 5.2 and now has separate buttons for Power and Bluetooth pairing, which are easier to use than the fiddly multi-function button on the original Roam. You can press the Bluetooth button to pair via Bluetooth, but you need to download the Sonos app for iOS in order to set the speaker up properly. We encountered problems getting the speaker connected to our Wi-Fi network and had to spend time changing the Wi-Fi settings. But, once that was done, the Roam 2 worked really well. Lucky its support for AirPlay made connecting it to additional Apple devices straightforward. The Roam 2 offers great sound quality for such a compact speaker, especially over a Wi-Fi connection. It did a good job with Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Along, laying down the grinding, fuzzy guitars that form the bedrock of the sound. On Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy it achieved a pretty respectable bass beat for such a small speaker. Switching to Bluetooth caused the sound to lose a little clarity–but that’s a limitation of Bluetooth rather than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any portable speaker of this size and weight. The Roam 2 really punches above its weight when it comes to sound quality and its sturdy and lightweight design is great for outdoor use.  Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review Sonos Era 300 Price When Reviewed: $449.00 each Best Prices Today: $449 at Adorama$449 at B&H$449 at Best Buy Apple has been banging the drum for spatial audio for a few years now, but Sonos really took a step forward with that technology when it launched the Era 300 in 2023. Appropriately enough, it also marked a new era for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with an entirely new design that was at least eye-catching even if it wasn’t perhaps as elegant as Sonos claimed. Available in black or white, the bulky, hourglass design of the Era 300 is very much designed for spatial audio, housing no less than six separate speaker drivers, with support for Dolby Atmos when watching films and video, or listening to spatial audio on Apple Music. There’s one woofer and one tweeter on each side of the unit, which provide a wide stereo soundstage, while another tweeter on the front highlights vocals and dialogue, or lead instruments. There’s one more tweeter on the top, which is designed to fire sound off the ceiling to help create a sense of height and space when listening to music or video that uses Atmos. Like most Sonos speakers, the Era 300 uses dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz) to connect to your home network, and also supports AirPlay 2 for use with Apple devices and other AirPlay-compatible speakers. But, unlike previous Sonos speakers, the Era now supports Bluetooth as well, so that it can provide a quick and easy wireless connection for mobile devices and computers when required. You can also buy an adaptor that provides a wired connection (although it’s annoying that this costs an extra $19/£19, given the speaker’s hefty $449/£449 price tag). The Era 300 can earn its keep, though. The Dolby Atmos support works really well on the opening scene of Blade Runner, creating a real sense of movement as the hovercar flies over the Los Angeles skyline, and there’s a satisfying bass rumble to the bursts of steam and flame that erupts into the air. It does a good job with spatial audio on Apple Music too, especially with Ringo’s deft percussion on the Atmos mix of Come Together by the Beatles. The bongos skip lightly through the air and the bass guitar glides forward with a swaying, sinuous rhythm. There’s real weight behind the guitar riff that leads into the chorus, but the Era 300 can still pick out gentler details such as the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of the more expensive AirPlay speakers currently available, but the powerful and atmospheric sound of the Era 300, and support for Dolby Atmos, make it a good alternative to more expensive soundbar systems for music and watching video. Audio Pro A15 Price When Reviewed: $450 Best Prices Today: $450 at Audio Pro Not Available at Amazon If you want something powerful that can also venture outdoors occasionally, then the A15 from Audio Pro is a really good option. It’s slightly more expensive than Apple’s HomePod, but its portable design and connectivity features make it a lot more versatile than the HomePod (there’s also a smaller model, called the A10 which costs just $250/£149 but isn’t portable as it lacks an internal battery). The A15 is quite large, measuring 8.1 x 11.2 x 5.3 inches (206 x 286 x 137mm), and weighing in at a fairly hefty 2.2lb (3.4kg). However, it’s still light enough to carry from room to room, or out into the garden when the summer comes along, and there’s a bass port on the back of the speaker that doubles up as a handle so that you can quickly pick it and head outdoors when you want to. The smart fabric cover is also rated IPX2 for water resistance, to ensure that it can cope with the occasional burst of rain. Battery life is good too, lasting for eight hours at full blast, or 11 hours at 50% volume. The A15 supports dual-band Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 for Apple devices, Google Cast for our Android friends, as well as Bluetooth and a 3.5mm connector for wired audio. You’ll need to download the Audio Pro app to connect the A15 to your Wi-Fi network, but after that it works just like any other AirPlay speaker, allowing you to play any music or video from your Apple devices. It sounds great too, with the large speaker providing a firm, pulsing bass on Low’s Cut. There’s an icy clarity to the haunting steel guitar, but also warmth too, on singer Alan Sparhawk’s softly spoken vocals. And, if you really want to go to town at party-time, the A15 even has a connector for hooking it up to an external sub-woofer too. Edifier S1000W Price When Reviewed: $449.99 Best Prices Today: $449.99 at Amazon$449.99 at Best Buy$449.99 at Edifier Most AirPlay speakers have a compact, all-in-one design, very similar to Apple’s HomePod. However, these compact speakers don’t provide very good stereo separation, and there are many people who may need a proper two-piece (2.0) speaker system that really shows how stereo audio is meant to sound. Edifier’s S1000W is a good stereo system for musicians who are recording their own songs, or for podcasting or video-editing that involves audio editing work. And, of course, it sounds great for just listening to your favorite music too. The two-piece S1000W costs $449.99/£399.99 – which is a lot cheaper than buying two HomePods and using them for stereo. The two speakers are solidly built, with an attractive wood finish, which also helps to reduce vibrations that might affect the sound quality. They stand 7.8 x 13.6 x 11.6 inches (345 x 198 x 295mm), so they need a fairly large desk or shelf, but we were able to stand them on either side of our office iMac’s screen without too much trouble, so they’re well suited for audio work for musicians or other content creators. All the controls are located on the right-hand speaker, which includes an impressive number of both wired and wireless input options. There are 3.5mm, RCA, optical, and coaxial connectors for devices such as CD players or turntables, and you can quickly switch between inputs using the remote control included in the box. And, for wireless audio, the S1000W also supports Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 for streaming from Apple devices. The S1000W provides a thumping 120W total output, and I was only able to set the volume level to around 50% before I started to worry about annoying the neighbors. And it’s not just loud – the sound quality is great too, with the sturdy speakers providing a firm, rhythmic bass when playing Billie Elish’s Bad Guy, combined with clear, precise vocals and higher frequencies. Denon Home 550 Price When Reviewed: $649 Best Prices Today: $399.63 at Walmart$649 at Amazon$649 at B&H Apple is very keen on getting people to buy two of the second-gen HomePods in order to use them for stereo music, or for watching films and videos that have a soundtrack that uses the Dolby Atmos surround sound format. That’s not the only option for film buffs, though, and there are plenty of soundbars that support both AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos, including the Denon Home 550. The Home 550 costs $649 in the US, which is slightly more expensive than a pair of HomePods ($598), but it’s a lot more versatile when it comes to connecting to non-Apple devices and fitting into a larger home entertainment system. And, in the UK, the price is £599 (compared to £598 for two HomePods). As mentioned, the Home 550 supports dual-band wi-fi with support for AirPlay 2, but also includes Ethernet for wired networks too, along with Bluetooth and a standard 3.5mm connector for non-Apple devices. It has two 4K HDMI ports for connecting to a TV, and an optical audio connector for older TVs that don’t support HDMI. The Denon app helps you to connect the Home 550 to your network for AirPlay streaming, or you can use the remote control that’s included in the box to quickly switch between AirPlay, Bluetooth and other audio sources. The large soundbar – 25.95 x 2.95 x 4.72 inches (650 x 120 x 75mm) – produces an equally large sound, with deep, pulsing bass on The Orb’s Prime Evil, and a nervous, manic energy on the rattling percussion. And, switching into Dolby Atmos mode, it works a treat on the opening scene of Blade Runner, with a dramatic bass rumble on the bursts of flame that leap across the Los Angeles skyline. It also creates a real sense of movement as Harrison Ford’s hover-car zooms forward out of the screen and the sound pans smoothly over to my left-hand side. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $799 at Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin was a landmark product for Mac users – and it’s great to see it back again. Originally launched in 2007, the Zeppelin was the first Hi-Fi-quality speaker system for the iPod, and really helped to boost that device’s credibility amongst audiophile music fans. A few years later an updated Zeppelin was also one of the first speakers to support Apple’s AirPlay software for streaming audio over Wi-Fi. However, the Zeppelin was left behind when Apple released AirPlay 2 – with its new support for multi-room music – so it was discontinued a few years ago. But now, with very little fanfare, B&W has launched a new version of the Zeppelin that adds support for AirPlay 2, along with a number of other new features too. Available in either Midnight Grey or a silvery Pearl Grey, the new Zeppelin initially looks very similar to its predecessors, with the eye-catching oval design that gives the speaker its name. But on the inside, the Zeppelin has been completely redesigned, with a pair of high-frequency tweeters and mid-range woofers located on each side of a central sub-woofer, while the entire unit is powered by a roof-rattling 240W amplifier. As mentioned, the new Zeppelin now supports AirPlay 2, along with Bluetooth and Apple’s AAC codec and the AptX Adaptive codec that is used on many Android devices, and Spotify Connect too. My only minor complaints are that the Zeppelin only seems to work with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and it’s completely reliant on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for streaming, with no wired inputs for connecting to devices such as a CD player, or maybe even an old iPod. The sound quality, though, is terrific, with the massed harmonies of Queen’s Somebody To Love ringing out bright and clear, and a lively, ringing tone on Roger Taylor’s shrieking falsetto and crashing cymbals. At the other end of the spectrum, the Zeppelin delivers the bouncing bass on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish with a firm, taut sound that immediately gets you tapping your foot. It easily fills the room with sound even at just 40% of maximum volume, so the Zeppelin will be great for getting the party going over Christmas and the New Year. It is a little pricey, at $799/£699, but that’s only slightly more expensive than Apple’s AirPods Max, and the Zeppelin is certainly better value for money. What’s more, its room-filling sound and AirPlay 2 support mean you can share its excellent sound quality with everyone in your home. How to choose an AirPlay speaker There’s a lot to think about when buying an AirPlay speaker so make sure you read this buying advice before splashing the cash. Music streaming & compatibility Having your favorite music follow you around your home is great, but conventional multi-room speakers often have significant limitations. Many, for example, will only work with a limited number of streaming services that are built into the apps provided by each manufacturer. As you might expect, most will work with Spotify, while Tidal and Deezer also get a lot of support. But for some reason, Sonos is one of the few manufacturers of multi-room speakers that also supports Apple Music. In fact, some speakers only provide apps for iOS or Android mobile devices, which means that you can’t even play music from a Mac. The other big problem with conventional speakers in the past was that you have generally had to buy them all from one manufacturer when assembling a multi-room setup because rival speakers were incompatible and wouldn’t work together. AirPlay vs AirPlay 2 The speaker market changed dramatically in 2018 with the release of Apple’s updated AirPlay 2 software. Released to coincide with the original HomePod launch, AirPlay 2 has also been licensed to a number of well-known manufacturers, which means there’s now a wide range of compatible speakers available. In fact, every model in our top 10 works with AirPlay 2. The first version of AirPlay, released back in 2010, was like a souped-up version of Bluetooth, allowing you to stream audio from any app on your Mac or iOS devices to any AirPlay-compatible speaker and freeing you from reliance on the manufacturer’s apps. AirPlay also uses a Wi-Fi connection, which means a higher bandwidth than Bluetooth and better sound quality – not to mention longer range. The simplicity and versatility of AirPlay is great, but – like Bluetooth – its original version was only designed to work with one speaker at a time. AirPlay 2 takes Apple into the multi-room market, with the ability to stream music to several speakers in different rooms. (Alternatively, you can create a HomePods stereo pair in the same room.) But the real game-changer with AirPlay 2 was interoperability, the ability to link together speakers from different manufacturers for the very first time. This means you can mix and match speakers around your home – picking, for instance, a HomePod as your main living-room speaker, a Sonos in the bedroom, and a portable speaker for drinks in the garden – and have them all linked up to play music simultaneously. Which version of AirPlay is supported? The important thing to remember is that there are now two types of AirPlay speaker. Some older models will use the original version of AirPlay – which is limited to streaming music to one speaker at a time – but new speakers (and certainly all the speakers in this article) focus on AirPlay 2. Some will have the AirPlay logo on the packaging, but this doesn’t specify whether it’s AirPlay or AirPlay 2. It’s therefore important to check which version is supported by any speaker before buying. Given that AirPlay 2 has been around for three years, it would be surprising to see a manufacturer release an AirPlay 1 speaker right now, but it doesn’t hurt to check. You don’t want to get caught out. It’s also worth mentioning that some older AirPlay speakers can be upgraded to work with AirPlay 2 as well. Libratone’s new Zipp 2 uses AirPlay 2, but it’s possible to download a software update for the older first-generation Zipp speakers that adds support for AirPlay 2. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with all AirPlay speakers, and some models are stuck with basic AirPlay. Sound Quality vs Price The fact that Apple licenses both AirPlay and AirPlay 2 to other manufacturers has other advantages too. Namely, the option to choose from a wide range of (often lower-cost) third-party speakers from companies like Sonos and Ikea. At the other extreme, some really expensive hi-fi systems in the pipeline offer AirPlay 2 support for audiophiles and home cinema buffs. These options give you flexibility: you can spend heavily on a really high-quality speaker for your living room, for example, while opting for a less expensive model in the kitchen. Indoors and Outdoors Some manufacturers provide more specialised speakers too, such as soundbars that you can use with your TV, or sub-woofers that can provide a bass boost for parties, or for sound effects when watching films. Some even include rechargeable batteries and lightweight, portable designs so you can pick them up and carry them from room to room – which is certainly cheaper than buying a new speaker for each room – or take them out into the garden for a barbecue. Connectivity Connectivity is another key issue. The HomePod has been criticised for relying on Wi-Fi for streaming, with no option for quick and easy Bluetooth streaming for Android and other non-Apple devices. It doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio connector either, which would allow you to use it with a CD player or other audio devices. Fortunately, many AirPlay and AirPlay 2 speakers provide a greater range of connectivity, allowing you to play music from a wider range of devices than the HomePod. Sonos has even announced it will be releasing an AirPlay 2 amplifier soon that can form the centrepiece of a serious home entertainment system. In other words, AirPlay 2 is here to stay.

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Best speakers for iPhones and Apple Music: AirPlay speakers for Apple kit
Macworld Apple sells two speakers–the HomePod and HomePod mini–but there are lots of different types of speakers that work with iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV out there to choose from that could offer better value for money. There’s a lot of choice with the speakers in this round up offering a wide variety of features, specs, designs and price tags. But we’re here to guide you through the complexity and help you find the best speaker for optimal performance with your Mac and iOS devices. We look at a variety of speakers including multi-room speaker systems, which are more popular than ever–especially as mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad allow us to carry our entire music library from room to room, or connect to music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Prime Music with a quick tap. Apple users are best off getting a speaker with AirPlay support, and all the speakers in this test offer AirPlay 2 support. We explain what AirPlay is and the features it brings later on in this article. We’ve tested out some of the best speakers you can buy to use with your Apple products below, so read on to find out which AirPlay speakers are best. Best speakers for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV HomePod mini Price When Reviewed: $99 Best Prices Today: $99 at Adorama$99 at Apple$99.99 at Best Buy We’re putting the HomePod mini in the top spot on the basis of its low price tag, excellent sound quality and deep integration with Apple’s software ecosystem – as long as you don’t mind being tied to Siri. The HomePod mini can’t match the bass punch of the full-size HomePod, but the output is still far better than we have any right to expect at this size and price. (Just to reiterate, it’s a third of the price and a seventh of the weight of its larger sibling.) For jazz, rock and classical we were blown away by its clear, rich sound. And while it’s not quite got the welly to deafen your neighbors with house music at 3 am, it does fill a room beautifully – especially when teamed with a second model as a stereo pair. Read our full Apple HomePod mini review Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) Price When Reviewed: $299 Best Prices Today: $279 at B&H$299 at Adorama$299 at Apple If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and you appreciate quality audio, this is the smart speaker for you: it will play your music beautifully and make TV watching a delight. As with the HomePod mini, ease of setup is one of its strongest features–plug in the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its direction and an onscreen popup (on the phone) will invite you to set it up. If there’s another HomePod of the same model in the selected room, you’ll be given the option to join them as a stereo pair. It sounds great whether used as a single unit, or as a stereo pair, and it’s a great accompaniment to your Apple TV as it supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To find out more, about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini. The main disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the high price (three times that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations associated with being reliant on Siri to control it. We really want a HomePod with a screen. Read our full Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) review Roku Streambar Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $112 at Walmart$129.99 at Best Buy$129.99 at Dell Home Roku is well-known for its range of streaming media devices, which offer an affordable alternative to Apple’s own Apple TV box. However, the Roku Streambar goes a step further by combining streaming features with a compact soundbar speaker and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 – and all for a highly competitive $129.99/£129.99. The AirPlay support and built-in dual-band Wi-Fi mean that you can simply use the Streambar as a conventional AirPlay speaker, using AirPlay to stream music via Wi-Fi from any Apple device. It’s surprisingly powerful for such a compact speaker, and more than loud enough for playing music at home or watching a few Hollywood blockbusters. It even provides pretty good bass too, landing the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Big Sky with real impact (and Roku has recently announced a new range of wireless speakers that also support AirPlay 2, although we’ve not had the chance to test these yet). Going beyond basic speaker mode, you can also use the HDMI port on the back of the Streambar to connect it to a TV or computer display, and this allows you to stream video at up to 4K resolution from your Apple devices as well. You can even get rid of your Apple devices altogether, and just use the Streambar’s built-in streaming features to connect your TV or computer monitor to a wide range of video services–including Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so on. It also supports a number of music streaming services too, such as Apple Music and Spotify. Admittedly, the low cost of the Streambar means that it does lack a few advanced features, such as support for Dolby Atmos, which you can get from Apple’s HomePod and also the Apple TV 4K. But, of course, the Apple TV box doesn’t include a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost combination of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming features makes it an absolute bargain at this price. Sonos Era 100 Price When Reviewed: $249.00 Best Prices Today: $249 at Adorama$249 at B&H$249 at Best Buy When Sonos first introduced the Era 100 it was positioned as a mid-range option that sat between the entry-level Sonos One and the imposing Era 300 with Dolby Atmos at the top of the range. However, the veteran Sonos One quietly faded away a few months ago and the Era 100 has taken over as the new entry point for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with a $249/£249 price tag that makes it a good alternative to the Apple HomePod at £299/$299. At first glance, the Era 100 does look very similar to the original Sonos One, with an upright cylindrical design that is available in black or white. It’s slightly larger than the Sonos One, though, standing 182.5mm high, 120mm wide and 130mm deep. This allows the Era 100 to squeeze in an additional high-frequency tweeter, so that it now houses two tweeters that are angled out to the right and left to spread sound more widely than the Sonos One. It also includes a larger woofer than the Sonos One, to handle the mid-range and bass and add a little extra power as well. This new design works a treat and the Era 100 provides very good sound quality for a relatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Flow have a light, shimmering sound, but the compact speaker has got some muscle too, and is easily able to fill the room around me with Enya’s swirling cloud of sound. The twin tweeters provide a crisp, clear sound for the electronic loops that fly through the air, but that larger woofer can also reach down and embrace the slow bass pulse and rumbling drums that enter as Enya’s multi-tracked vocals chant – “turn it up, turn it up”. The only minor disappointment is that the Era 100 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio. If you’re a home cinema fan who really wants Atmos then you’ll need to pay a little more for alternatives such as the Apple HomePod or the high-end Era 300. But, if you’re just looking for a compact, high-quality speaker with wi-fi and support for AirPlay, then the Era 100 delivers the goods at a lower price than most of its AirPlay rivals. Sonos Roam 2 Price When Reviewed: $179 (reduced to $143) Best Prices Today: $176.99 at Walmart Electronics$179 at Adorama$179 at Amazon Sonos’ Roam has to be the smallest and most portable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen so far. Sonos’s original Roam smart speaker was released back in 2021, and it was one of the best portable speakers we’ve ever seen, providing very good sound quality in a highly compact design that also managed to squeeze in useful features such as wireless charging and even support for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple devices. The Roam 2 fine-tunes a number of features such as its set-up and tuning process, and provides more straightforward controls. Available in a variety of colors–including red, green, blue and plain old black and white–the Roam 2 looks identical to its predecessor. It is 168mm tall, 62mm wide and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, but it will fit into a backpack. It has a IP67 rating water and dust resistance, so it’s suited to the outdoors. There’s no room for a large battery in the compact design, but it should last for up to 10 hours with music at 50% volume. It needs to stand upright for wireless charging and the volume, playback and microphone controls sit on the top, but you can turn the speaker onto its side and lay it flat. A USB-C port on the back can be used for charging too.  Roam 2 supports Bluetooth 5.2 and now has separate buttons for Power and Bluetooth pairing, which are easier to use than the fiddly multi-function button on the original Roam. You can press the Bluetooth button to pair via Bluetooth, but you need to download the Sonos app for iOS in order to set the speaker up properly. We encountered problems getting the speaker connected to our Wi-Fi network and had to spend time changing the Wi-Fi settings. But, once that was done, the Roam 2 worked really well. Lucky its support for AirPlay made connecting it to additional Apple devices straightforward. The Roam 2 offers great sound quality for such a compact speaker, especially over a Wi-Fi connection. It did a good job with Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Along, laying down the grinding, fuzzy guitars that form the bedrock of the sound. On Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy it achieved a pretty respectable bass beat for such a small speaker. Switching to Bluetooth caused the sound to lose a little clarity–but that’s a limitation of Bluetooth rather than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any portable speaker of this size and weight. The Roam 2 really punches above its weight when it comes to sound quality and its sturdy and lightweight design is great for outdoor use.  Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review Sonos Era 300 Price When Reviewed: $449.00 each Best Prices Today: $449 at Adorama$449 at B&H$449 at Best Buy Apple has been banging the drum for spatial audio for a few years now, but Sonos really took a step forward with that technology when it launched the Era 300 in 2023. Appropriately enough, it also marked a new era for the Sonos range of multi-room speakers, with an entirely new design that was at least eye-catching even if it wasn’t perhaps as elegant as Sonos claimed. Available in black or white, the bulky, hourglass design of the Era 300 is very much designed for spatial audio, housing no less than six separate speaker drivers, with support for Dolby Atmos when watching films and video, or listening to spatial audio on Apple Music. There’s one woofer and one tweeter on each side of the unit, which provide a wide stereo soundstage, while another tweeter on the front highlights vocals and dialogue, or lead instruments. There’s one more tweeter on the top, which is designed to fire sound off the ceiling to help create a sense of height and space when listening to music or video that uses Atmos. Like most Sonos speakers, the Era 300 uses dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz) to connect to your home network, and also supports AirPlay 2 for use with Apple devices and other AirPlay-compatible speakers. But, unlike previous Sonos speakers, the Era now supports Bluetooth as well, so that it can provide a quick and easy wireless connection for mobile devices and computers when required. You can also buy an adaptor that provides a wired connection (although it’s annoying that this costs an extra $19/£19, given the speaker’s hefty $449/£449 price tag). The Era 300 can earn its keep, though. The Dolby Atmos support works really well on the opening scene of Blade Runner, creating a real sense of movement as the hovercar flies over the Los Angeles skyline, and there’s a satisfying bass rumble to the bursts of steam and flame that erupts into the air. It does a good job with spatial audio on Apple Music too, especially with Ringo’s deft percussion on the Atmos mix of Come Together by the Beatles. The bongos skip lightly through the air and the bass guitar glides forward with a swaying, sinuous rhythm. There’s real weight behind the guitar riff that leads into the chorus, but the Era 300 can still pick out gentler details such as the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of the more expensive AirPlay speakers currently available, but the powerful and atmospheric sound of the Era 300, and support for Dolby Atmos, make it a good alternative to more expensive soundbar systems for music and watching video. Audio Pro A15 Price When Reviewed: $450 Best Prices Today: $450 at Audio Pro Not Available at Amazon If you want something powerful that can also venture outdoors occasionally, then the A15 from Audio Pro is a really good option. It’s slightly more expensive than Apple’s HomePod, but its portable design and connectivity features make it a lot more versatile than the HomePod (there’s also a smaller model, called the A10 which costs just $250/£149 but isn’t portable as it lacks an internal battery). The A15 is quite large, measuring 8.1 x 11.2 x 5.3 inches (206 x 286 x 137mm), and weighing in at a fairly hefty 2.2lb (3.4kg). However, it’s still light enough to carry from room to room, or out into the garden when the summer comes along, and there’s a bass port on the back of the speaker that doubles up as a handle so that you can quickly pick it and head outdoors when you want to. The smart fabric cover is also rated IPX2 for water resistance, to ensure that it can cope with the occasional burst of rain. Battery life is good too, lasting for eight hours at full blast, or 11 hours at 50% volume. The A15 supports dual-band Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 for Apple devices, Google Cast for our Android friends, as well as Bluetooth and a 3.5mm connector for wired audio. You’ll need to download the Audio Pro app to connect the A15 to your Wi-Fi network, but after that it works just like any other AirPlay speaker, allowing you to play any music or video from your Apple devices. It sounds great too, with the large speaker providing a firm, pulsing bass on Low’s Cut. There’s an icy clarity to the haunting steel guitar, but also warmth too, on singer Alan Sparhawk’s softly spoken vocals. And, if you really want to go to town at party-time, the A15 even has a connector for hooking it up to an external sub-woofer too. Edifier S1000W Price When Reviewed: $449.99 Best Prices Today: $449.99 at Amazon$449.99 at Best Buy$449.99 at Edifier Most AirPlay speakers have a compact, all-in-one design, very similar to Apple’s HomePod. However, these compact speakers don’t provide very good stereo separation, and there are many people who may need a proper two-piece (2.0) speaker system that really shows how stereo audio is meant to sound. Edifier’s S1000W is a good stereo system for musicians who are recording their own songs, or for podcasting or video-editing that involves audio editing work. And, of course, it sounds great for just listening to your favorite music too. The two-piece S1000W costs $449.99/£399.99 – which is a lot cheaper than buying two HomePods and using them for stereo. The two speakers are solidly built, with an attractive wood finish, which also helps to reduce vibrations that might affect the sound quality. They stand 7.8 x 13.6 x 11.6 inches (345 x 198 x 295mm), so they need a fairly large desk or shelf, but we were able to stand them on either side of our office iMac’s screen without too much trouble, so they’re well suited for audio work for musicians or other content creators. All the controls are located on the right-hand speaker, which includes an impressive number of both wired and wireless input options. There are 3.5mm, RCA, optical, and coaxial connectors for devices such as CD players or turntables, and you can quickly switch between inputs using the remote control included in the box. And, for wireless audio, the S1000W also supports Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 for streaming from Apple devices. The S1000W provides a thumping 120W total output, and I was only able to set the volume level to around 50% before I started to worry about annoying the neighbors. And it’s not just loud – the sound quality is great too, with the sturdy speakers providing a firm, rhythmic bass when playing Billie Elish’s Bad Guy, combined with clear, precise vocals and higher frequencies. Denon Home 550 Price When Reviewed: $649 Best Prices Today: $399.63 at Walmart$649 at Amazon$649 at B&H Apple is very keen on getting people to buy two of the second-gen HomePods in order to use them for stereo music, or for watching films and videos that have a soundtrack that uses the Dolby Atmos surround sound format. That’s not the only option for film buffs, though, and there are plenty of soundbars that support both AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos, including the Denon Home 550. The Home 550 costs $649 in the US, which is slightly more expensive than a pair of HomePods ($598), but it’s a lot more versatile when it comes to connecting to non-Apple devices and fitting into a larger home entertainment system. And, in the UK, the price is £599 (compared to £598 for two HomePods). As mentioned, the Home 550 supports dual-band wi-fi with support for AirPlay 2, but also includes Ethernet for wired networks too, along with Bluetooth and a standard 3.5mm connector for non-Apple devices. It has two 4K HDMI ports for connecting to a TV, and an optical audio connector for older TVs that don’t support HDMI. The Denon app helps you to connect the Home 550 to your network for AirPlay streaming, or you can use the remote control that’s included in the box to quickly switch between AirPlay, Bluetooth and other audio sources. The large soundbar – 25.95 x 2.95 x 4.72 inches (650 x 120 x 75mm) – produces an equally large sound, with deep, pulsing bass on The Orb’s Prime Evil, and a nervous, manic energy on the rattling percussion. And, switching into Dolby Atmos mode, it works a treat on the opening scene of Blade Runner, with a dramatic bass rumble on the bursts of flame that leap across the Los Angeles skyline. It also creates a real sense of movement as Harrison Ford’s hover-car zooms forward out of the screen and the sound pans smoothly over to my left-hand side. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $799 at Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin was a landmark product for Mac users – and it’s great to see it back again. Originally launched in 2007, the Zeppelin was the first Hi-Fi-quality speaker system for the iPod, and really helped to boost that device’s credibility amongst audiophile music fans. A few years later an updated Zeppelin was also one of the first speakers to support Apple’s AirPlay software for streaming audio over Wi-Fi. However, the Zeppelin was left behind when Apple released AirPlay 2 – with its new support for multi-room music – so it was discontinued a few years ago. But now, with very little fanfare, B&W has launched a new version of the Zeppelin that adds support for AirPlay 2, along with a number of other new features too. Available in either Midnight Grey or a silvery Pearl Grey, the new Zeppelin initially looks very similar to its predecessors, with the eye-catching oval design that gives the speaker its name. But on the inside, the Zeppelin has been completely redesigned, with a pair of high-frequency tweeters and mid-range woofers located on each side of a central sub-woofer, while the entire unit is powered by a roof-rattling 240W amplifier. As mentioned, the new Zeppelin now supports AirPlay 2, along with Bluetooth and Apple’s AAC codec and the AptX Adaptive codec that is used on many Android devices, and Spotify Connect too. My only minor complaints are that the Zeppelin only seems to work with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and it’s completely reliant on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for streaming, with no wired inputs for connecting to devices such as a CD player, or maybe even an old iPod. The sound quality, though, is terrific, with the massed harmonies of Queen’s Somebody To Love ringing out bright and clear, and a lively, ringing tone on Roger Taylor’s shrieking falsetto and crashing cymbals. At the other end of the spectrum, the Zeppelin delivers the bouncing bass on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish with a firm, taut sound that immediately gets you tapping your foot. It easily fills the room with sound even at just 40% of maximum volume, so the Zeppelin will be great for getting the party going over Christmas and the New Year. It is a little pricey, at $799/£699, but that’s only slightly more expensive than Apple’s AirPods Max, and the Zeppelin is certainly better value for money. What’s more, its room-filling sound and AirPlay 2 support mean you can share its excellent sound quality with everyone in your home. How to choose an AirPlay speaker There’s a lot to think about when buying an AirPlay speaker so make sure you read this buying advice before splashing the cash. Music streaming & compatibility Having your favorite music follow you around your home is great, but conventional multi-room speakers often have significant limitations. Many, for example, will only work with a limited number of streaming services that are built into the apps provided by each manufacturer. As you might expect, most will work with Spotify, while Tidal and Deezer also get a lot of support. But for some reason, Sonos is one of the few manufacturers of multi-room speakers that also supports Apple Music. In fact, some speakers only provide apps for iOS or Android mobile devices, which means that you can’t even play music from a Mac. The other big problem with conventional speakers in the past was that you have generally had to buy them all from one manufacturer when assembling a multi-room setup because rival speakers were incompatible and wouldn’t work together. AirPlay vs AirPlay 2 The speaker market changed dramatically in 2018 with the release of Apple’s updated AirPlay 2 software. Released to coincide with the original HomePod launch, AirPlay 2 has also been licensed to a number of well-known manufacturers, which means there’s now a wide range of compatible speakers available. In fact, every model in our top 10 works with AirPlay 2. The first version of AirPlay, released back in 2010, was like a souped-up version of Bluetooth, allowing you to stream audio from any app on your Mac or iOS devices to any AirPlay-compatible speaker and freeing you from reliance on the manufacturer’s apps. AirPlay also uses a Wi-Fi connection, which means a higher bandwidth than Bluetooth and better sound quality – not to mention longer range. The simplicity and versatility of AirPlay is great, but – like Bluetooth – its original version was only designed to work with one speaker at a time. AirPlay 2 takes Apple into the multi-room market, with the ability to stream music to several speakers in different rooms. (Alternatively, you can create a HomePods stereo pair in the same room.) But the real game-changer with AirPlay 2 was interoperability, the ability to link together speakers from different manufacturers for the very first time. This means you can mix and match speakers around your home – picking, for instance, a HomePod as your main living-room speaker, a Sonos in the bedroom, and a portable speaker for drinks in the garden – and have them all linked up to play music simultaneously. Which version of AirPlay is supported? The important thing to remember is that there are now two types of AirPlay speaker. Some older models will use the original version of AirPlay – which is limited to streaming music to one speaker at a time – but new speakers (and certainly all the speakers in this article) focus on AirPlay 2. Some will have the AirPlay logo on the packaging, but this doesn’t specify whether it’s AirPlay or AirPlay 2. It’s therefore important to check which version is supported by any speaker before buying. Given that AirPlay 2 has been around for three years, it would be surprising to see a manufacturer release an AirPlay 1 speaker right now, but it doesn’t hurt to check. You don’t want to get caught out. It’s also worth mentioning that some older AirPlay speakers can be upgraded to work with AirPlay 2 as well. Libratone’s new Zipp 2 uses AirPlay 2, but it’s possible to download a software update for the older first-generation Zipp speakers that adds support for AirPlay 2. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with all AirPlay speakers, and some models are stuck with basic AirPlay. Sound Quality vs Price The fact that Apple licenses both AirPlay and AirPlay 2 to other manufacturers has other advantages too. Namely, the option to choose from a wide range of (often lower-cost) third-party speakers from companies like Sonos and Ikea. At the other extreme, some really expensive hi-fi systems in the pipeline offer AirPlay 2 support for audiophiles and home cinema buffs. These options give you flexibility: you can spend heavily on a really high-quality speaker for your living room, for example, while opting for a less expensive model in the kitchen. Indoors and Outdoors Some manufacturers provide more specialised speakers too, such as soundbars that you can use with your TV, or sub-woofers that can provide a bass boost for parties, or for sound effects when watching films. Some even include rechargeable batteries and lightweight, portable designs so you can pick them up and carry them from room to room – which is certainly cheaper than buying a new speaker for each room – or take them out into the garden for a barbecue. Connectivity Connectivity is another key issue. The HomePod has been criticised for relying on Wi-Fi for streaming, with no option for quick and easy Bluetooth streaming for Android and other non-Apple devices. It doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio connector either, which would allow you to use it with a CD player or other audio devices. Fortunately, many AirPlay and AirPlay 2 speakers provide a greater range of connectivity, allowing you to play music from a wider range of devices than the HomePod. Sonos has even announced it will be releasing an AirPlay 2 amplifier soon that can form the centrepiece of a serious home entertainment system. In other words, AirPlay 2 is here to stay.

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After Click to Cancel, California law protects you when buying digital content
After Click to Cancel legislation for subscriptions, California has introduced another piece of consumer protection legislation for buying digital content. It will force companies to tell you when you won’t actually own the content you think you’re buying – something which has occasionally been true for iTunes purchases … more…

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Apple patent reveals heart disease detection using AirPods; may launch in 2025
Apple is testing using future AirPods models to measure heartbeat, with sources indicating that the feature will be implemented in… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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AirPods 4 deliver better sound and ‘ANC Lite’ [Review] ★★★★☆
AirPods 4 bring professional-grade features to Apple's non-Pro earbuds. Our hands-on review puts them through real-world testing. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple does an about-face on theatrical movie releases; ‘Wolfs’ now streaming on Apple TV+
Apple is changing up its theatrical film release strategy after the disappointing box office performance of several big-budget films… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Meta stored 600 million Facebook and Instagram passwords in plain text
Across Facebook and Instagram, Meta has been storing more than half a billion users' passwords in plain text, with some easily readable for more than a decade.One of Facebook/Meta's headquartersThe issue was first uncovered in 2019 when Facebook admitted to "hundreds of millions" of passwords being stored unencrypted. Facebook, now Meta, said that the passwords were not available outside of the company — but also admitted that around 2,000 engineers had made about 9 million queries on that user database.Now Meta's operation in Ireland has finally been fined $101.5 million after a five-year investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC). The fine is levied under Europe's stringent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple patent describes using AirPods to detect heart disease, likely next year
9to5Mac recently discovered evidence in iOS 18 that Apple is testing using future AirPods models to measure heartbeat, with our sources indicating that the feature will be implemented in both AirPods Pro 3 and the next generation of Powerbeats Pro. An Apple patent application describes how the company can use a health sensor not just to measure heart-rate, but also to detect heart disease … more…

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