Get a pair of AirTag-style tracking tags for just $35
Tired of hunting down lost keys? Find them with an Ethos Smart Tracker, an affordable AirTag alternative that works with Apple's Find My app. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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UK carrier O2 creates AI grandmother Daisy to waste scammers’ time [Video]
UK mobile carrier O2 has created Daisy, an AI grandmother designed to waste the time of phone scammers by keeping them on the line as long as possible. Anyone can report a scam call or message by texting their number to 7722, where it will be checked and then added to the list of targets … more…

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Why Apple should bring out Mac mini SSD storage upgrades
The option to buy high-capacity replacement storage SSDs would be a win for M4 Mac mini users and Apple itself. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple defends removing Musi from the App Store, as fans boycott new iPhones
The legal battle over the free music streaming app Musi continues, with Apple defending its decision to remove it from the App Store ahead of a court case set to determine its fate … more…

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Apple to urge judge to end U.S. smartphone monopoly case
Apple will argue for the dismissal of the U.S. DOJ's antitrust lawsuit on Wednesday. The lawsuit accuses Apple of abusing its so-called… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple heads to court to try to get massive & vague DOJ antitrust suit dismissed
Apple will today present its case for why the Department of Justice's mammoth lawsuit against the iPhone maker is entirely without merit — and prosecutors will repeat their accusations.The Department of Justice case will hang over Apple for yearsThe Department of Justice (DOJ), together with multiple states, is accusing Apple of monopolistic practices, over the iPhone, the App Store, and most of the company's business. Following the start of that case in March 2024, Apple filed a motion to dismiss in August.Now according to Reuters, Apple will today ask US District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, to dismiss the case. Central to Apple's case is its claim that being forced to share its technology with rivals would end innovation. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Control Ultimate Edition Mac version will be available on February 12, 2025
A Mac version of the popular console game Control Ultimate Edition will launch on February 12 next year, says developer Remedy. We don’t yet know the specs required to run it, but we can be certain that it will be limited to M-Series Macs … more…

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Apple will today ask a judge to dismiss the DOJ antitrust case
Lawyers acting for Apple are today expected to ask a federal judge to dismiss the DOJ antitrust case against the company in its entirety. The Department of Justice has for years been investigating whether Apple broke antitrust law by abusing its dominant position in the US smartphone market, before deciding that it did, and filing charges in March of this year … more…

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Graykey iPhone hacking tool can ‘partially’ access iPhone 16 – but betas protect
Leaked documents reveal that the Graykey iPhone hacking tool is able to “partially” access iPhone 16 models – but not if they are running any of the iOS 18 betas. Graykey is a competitor to Cellebrite, and is intended for use by law enforcement agencies. We’ve seen similar leaked documents from Cellebrite before, but this is the first time we’ve discovered which devices Graykey can access … more…

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Supply chain report says iPhone SE 4 will launch in March 2025
Analysts from Barclays bank claim to have confirmed that the iPhone SE 4 will in March 2025 as previously expected.An iPhone 14, the design of which the iPhone SE 4 could be based on. The prediction of a March date is far from new. However, this time Barclays is claiming that it has the date from the supply chain. The analysts even use the word "confirmed".There does not, though, appear to be any specific basis for the claim other than that others have previously reported the same date. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Once again, the only way forward is the Mac
Macworld Personal computers started out simple. So simple that you could just type in programs and run them, save them, and even give them to your friends. But over time, things got more complicated. A lot more complicated. To a kid growing up in the 1980s, the idea that the maker of your computer would actively stop you from using software it didn’t approve of would have seemed beyond the pale. It certainly would’ve been a deal-breaker. And yet so many of today’s computing devices are locked down–for some good reasons, but also a lot of bad ones. What do we want the world to look like in the future? Is the destiny of the most important invention of the last half-century, the computer, to become a series of locked-down devices controlled by the giant companies that designed them? Should the iPhone be the model for all future devices? If Apple’s locked-down approach in the App Store era is our future, it’s a bleak one indeed. But there’s good news: Apple has also built a system that provides security, flexibility, and responsibility while letting device owners run the software they want to run. It’s called the Mac. When we consider the future of computing devices, the Mac is the model we should aspire to, not the iPhone. Original sin When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, it was completely locked down. The only apps on it were the ones that came with the operating system, and while everyone immediately assumed that someday third-party software would come to the device, in the interim, Steve Jobs extolled the virtue of the open web as a “sweet solution” for people who wanted their phones to do a bit more. But Apple didn’t make this decision out of some sort of strategy. The iPhone came together quickly and was still being put together in the months leading up to its ship date. Apple was still struggling internally with building apps that would work and had no time to build any sort of infrastructure to allow other parties to write software for the device. (That didn’t stop people from doing it anyway.) A year later, Apple announced the App Store. And there’s a lot to commend the App Store for: It got regular people used to buying and downloading software in a way that had never happened before. Despite Apple’s frequent claims to the contrary, there was plenty of software for sale on the internet before the App Store, but you couldn’t buy and run it with the ease of buying a single from iTunes. When Steve Jobs introduced the App Store in 2008, he said it would be”the exclusive way to distribute iPhone applications,” which is true today but perhaps it shouldn’t be.Apple (Yes, the App Store was a hastily rewritten version of the system Apple used for iTunes, a decision that sealed the fate of Apple’s software platform as a hit-driven marketplace backed by systems designed for record companies to upload music.) The App Store was brilliant. It created an entire app economy and allowed software developers to build sustainable businesses. The problem with the App Store is that Apple decided it would be the only way anyone could distribute software for the iPhone. There’s absolutely nothing fundamental in the App Store concept that requires it to be the only pathway for software on the iPhone. But limiting things to the App Store gave Apple complete control of its new software platform, which in those early days was very much still under construction. I understand why Apple had that impulse, why it wanted to protect what it was building, and why it didn’t want the iPhone to be defined by software in any way that Apple didn’t agree with. But over time, the inevitable happened: Apple used the exclusivity of the App Store and its total control over the platform to extract money through rent-seeking and to bar businesses from admitting that the web existed outside their apps. Perhaps worst of all, the App Store’s exclusivity allowed Apple to essentially treat app developers as Apple employees, forcing them to follow Apple’s guidelines and please Apple’s approval apparatus before their apps would be allowed to be seen by the public. Whole classes of apps were banned entirely, some publicly, some silently. The problem of the Mac A few years later, Apple began planning how to bring the Mac into the App Store universe. However, macOS was designed in a much earlier era and didn’t offer the level of lockdown that Apple built into iOS. Rather than attempting to lock down the Mac and make it more like iOS, the company wisely chose a different path. Today’s macOS is a reflection of that decision, and it’s undeniably the right one–not just for the Mac but for every computing device we own. Here’s how Apple did it: They launched the Mac App Store, yes. It’s a curated library of apps that follow Apple’s specific security and privacy rules. Those rules are so strict that lots of apps just can’t be in the App Store, despite occasional attempts by Apple to expand the rules in order to get back in the store. (Those rules sometimes contract again after expanding, driving existing App Store apps back into the wilderness.) But this is the beauty of software on the Mac: If your app doesn’t fit in the App Store, you just… don’t put it there and sell it yourself. You lose the showcase of Apple’s curated library, but you can still make a business on the outside. On the Mac, developers can sell through the App Store or not. That’s the ideal situation.Foundry Today’s computing world is also more dangerous than the one in which macOS was originally devised, so Apple cleverly built a multi-tiered approach to running software on macOS. (Never let anyone tell you that there’s no way Apple could open up iOS to software beyond the App Store. The very smart people at Apple have already solved the problem, and they did it for the Mac.) Here’s how it works: At the center of the circle of trust are App Store apps. These are the most blessed of Mac apps because they conform to Apple’s specific App Store standards and have been individually reviewed by App Store staff members. A Mac can be set to only run apps from the App Store, though it’s not the default. One level out is what are called notarized apps. These apps live outside the App Store–you can just download ’em from the internet!–but they’ve gone through an automated validation process by Apple. Developers have to be registered with Apple, and then they send their app through an Apple server, which scans it for malware and other irregularities, and then cryptographically signs (or “notarizes”) the app. Notarized apps are not as safe as App Store apps, but they’re guaranteed to be from app developers known to Apple, have passed some basic scans, and are guaranteed not to have been tampered with after leaving the developer, because any changes would break Apple’s cryptographic signature. macOS is happy to open these apps by default, without any warning beyond a notification on first launch that the software was downloaded from the Internet. Most Mac apps you download outside the App Store these days are notarized. In the early days of notarization, the fear was that Apple might use the process to create another App Store approval process. You can see how that might happen: Apple could decide to reject apps because they aren’t in a category that Apple likes or because they use private Apple APIs that the company would prefer third-party developers not access. But in practice, Apple has kept to its promise to limit how it processes these apps. Apple also keeps a “kill switch” in reserve, by which it can stop particular apps from launching, or even remove all apps from a single developer if they’re found to be dangerous. It’s another pathway that’s ripe with potential for abuse, but Apple has kept its promises and limited its use of these pathways to stomp out malware. However, the danger does exist that Apple could tighten the screws at any time. I’m troubled by its initial refusal to notarize emulators on iOS in the EU, because–while Apple seems to have backed off–it’s a move that points out that notarization of apps is only benign because Apple allows it to be so. Still, even if Apple were to tighten those screws, macOS continues to offer alternatives for software distribution. At the edge of the circle are non-notarized apps, apps that don’t need to be from registered developers and that Apple has never processed and signed. Some of these apps are from open-source projects that refuse to pay for an Apple developer account; others are operating in gray legal areas. A few years ago, an Apple representative stood on stage and said that Apple will never stop users from running code they want to run on their Macs, and we all need to hold them to that. The important thing is that you can still run these apps. A few years ago, at one of the last in-person WWDC events, an Apple representative stood on stage and said that Apple will never stop users from running code they want to run on their Macs, and we all need to hold them to that. Unfortunately, running these apps is getting harder. While I understand that Apple sees them as a vector for malware, spyware, and other nefarious things, it’s also gone too far in making them hard to run. As of macOS Sequoia, launching one of these apps requires you to attempt to launch them and fail, then visit the Gatekeeper section of System Settings to lower your security level, click through a stern warning, and enter in an administrator password. There’s no setting for users to opt out of this dance–you have to do it for every non-notarized app you install. Still, Apple hasn’t broken that promise: If you want to run a non-notarized app, you can do it. Apple won’t stop you. It may scare you, cajole you, and hide the button that allows you to run that app in the basement in a disused lavatory behind a door with a sign on it that says “Beware of the Leopard,” but it will let you run it. The Mac is open and upgradeable in all the ways the iPhone isn’t.IDG The Mac is the model In the European Union, iPhone and iPad users can now use apps that bypass the App Store. Unfortunately, the options are limited and require a third-party app store, which seems to miss the point. In building these systems mandated by EU regulations, Apple has used its work on macOS as the foundation. Non-App Store apps come from recognized developers and are notarized by Apple. This is an important moment. Apple has built two separate models for running software on our devices. In one, there’s a gradient of trustworthiness that strongly encourages users to stick to the safe, well-lit paths–but allows competitors to go their own way and users to make different decisions than Apple would prefer they make. And, yes, at the extremes, users can behave in ways that might open them up to danger, but only after many warnings. It’s a very good system. Apple built it that way because it cares about the Mac, the Mac ecosystem, and Mac users. Of course, the other model is the one we’re familiar with from iOS: There’s only one layer and Apple entirely controls it. Even though we’re spending thousands of dollars to own devices that can run software developed by clever people from all over the world, Apple believes that only it should be able to determine what kinds of apps are allowed, that it should always be cut in on the revenue of every financial transaction inside those apps, and that if it doesn’t like anything about a developer’s app, it can demand it be changed or the app made to disappear into oblivion. That both of these approaches come from the same company is… kind of staggering, to be honest. One path provides security, safety, curation, and a reasonable opportunity for Apple to define its platform and work with partners, but tempered with the prospect of competition. The other approach has evolved from a simple way to get software onto a new platform using a mechanism used to sell pop music singles into a way to exert total control, including deciding what apps we’re allowed to use and forcing Apple into every financial transaction on its platform. I know which Apple-built approach should be the model for the future of software on computing devices. The good news is that Apple has already built it. The era of top-down control of our devices needs to end. The Mac is the model.

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Apple’s most controversial dongle might be gone for good
Macworld Back in 2016, the most hated accessory in the Apple ecosystem was a small dongle that came free with the iPhone 7 and cost $9 to replace. And now it looks like it might be gone forever. Of course, we’re talking about the much-maligned Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter. When Apple launched the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, it removed the headphone jack, leaving the Lightning port as the only way to plug in wired headphones. And since most people didn’t have a pair of Lightning headphones, Apple supplied a free dongle in the boxes. Based on Apple’s store listing, the accessory may be gone forever. It’s currently sold out online and isn’t available at any nearby stores. Apple still sells a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter for newer iPhones, however. Apple still sells the iPhone SE and iPhone 14, both of which have Lightning ports, but this legacy port is on the way out. If you still want a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, you can grab one on sale at Walmart for $7.

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Price cuts fail to prevent iPhone sales drop in China's Singles Day
China's annual Singles Day shopping festival has again seen Apple's iPhone sales decline year over year.iPhone 16 ProSingles dDay used to regularly see record-breaking sales for the iPhone, with one vendor selling 156 million of the iPhone 13 in the first two seconds of its sale in 2021. With increased competition from local brands, Apple had a disappointing 2023 with a 4% decline in sales year over year.Now according to Counterpoint Research, it's fared even worse for the 2024 Singles Day festival. While not listing a specific figure, Counterpoint claims that Apple "declined YoY by double-digit percentages." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Bug surfaces in M4-based Macs preventing older versions of macOS from booting under virtual machine architectures
As nifty as Apple’s M4 chip is, sometimes there’s still a kink or two to work out. Owners of Apple’s newest M4-equipped Macs have noticed that they are unable to run older versions of macOS in a virtual machine given a strange booting issue. Running a virtual machine with older generations of macOS can have […] Source

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The everything gift guide for iPhone users
Macworld When they already have the best phone on the planet, what do you buy an iPhone user? We’re here to help you select the best iPhone gifts available—perfect gifts for Christmas, birthdays, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, anniversaries, and when you are just feeling generous. If not a brand new iPhone (check out our iPhone Buying Guide if your budget stretches that far), then how about one of the many available iPhone accessories? Throughout the year we have tested and reviewed the best iPhone accessories from Apple and trusted companies, and we can recommend the best ones for the people on your list. We’d be delighted to receive any of these iPhone accessories as a gift. If you want to splash out on another Apple product, take a look at our guides for best Apple Watch, best iPad and best Mac. Here we recommend some of our favorite iPhone cases, power banks, chargers, cables and tech organizers, plus a roundup of some super stocking stuffers for the iPhone user in your thoughts. iPhone Gift Guide: Cases If your loved one doesn’t own a case for their iPhone then this may be the best gift you can get them as it will share a bit of personality while protecting their precious phone from knocks, drops, and everyday scrapes. If they already have a case, then buy them a new or better one. Just slipping on a new case can transform an old iPhone into something that feels brand new again. It’s even more satisfying than an iOS update! We have tested the best cases for iPhone 15 and best cases for iPhone 16 and most of these are available for older models from the iPhone 11 up. Run through those lists to see the widest range of cases you can select as a gift, and get one for yourself while you’re at it. If you’re shopping for someone who has an iPhone 12 or later, look for a MagSafe-compatible case as it won’t interfere with wireless charging. 1. Casely iPhone Classic and Bold Cases – Colorful and arty cases for all iPhones Pros Optional protection levels Design options Price When Reviewed: From $25 Best Prices Today: $25 at Amazon Casely has an enormous range of designer and colorful iPhone cases available for the iPhone XR, 11, and later—right up to the iPhone 16 family. Most are available in either a flexible glossy Classic version or a more rigid and protective Bold version. Art lovers will appreciate the range of impressionist paintings that can now adorn their iPhone. There is even a range of festive winter and Christmas cases available. Shipping for direct domestic orders under $30 is a flat rate of $5 and international orders below $100 will be charged a flat rate of $10 USD (Canada) and $15 USD (everywhere else). Or follow our Amazon links for possible free shipping. 2. Casetify iPhone Cases – Wide design choice range of iPhone cases Pros Optional protection levels Design options Price When Reviewed: From $56 Best Prices Today: $60 at Amazon Casetify is another maker of colorful iPhone cases and these can be customized with personalized text, colors, designs, and protection levels. There are hundreds of case designs to choose from, and you can choose the level of protection that suits you best. The camera case is very retro, and you can buy non-slip cases with physical ripples that make your phone grip firmer. 3. OtterBox iPhone cases – Wide choice of colors and protection Pros Unique edge-to-edge designs Price When Reviewed: From $45 Best Prices Today: $45 at Amazon$45 at OtterBox The super-slim Figura Case (above) for iPhone 16 from OtterBox features psychedelic patterns that are hydro-dipped by hand. The graphics envelop the case from edge to edge. The material is flexible with a soft touch. OtterBox has a wide range of cases for many older iPhone versions, too—including its robust Defender range. 4. ESR iPhone Cases Pros High protection level Built-in kickstand Price When Reviewed: From $38 Best Prices Today: $38 at Amazon$38 at ESR Unlike most macho protective cases, the ESR Cyber Tough cases are available in a range of colors depending on the model of iPhone, including one in a fetching pink. ESR has a huge range of iPhone cases, many with hidden ring stands and other features. Leather iPhone cases: If you fancy a premium leather iPhone case look at the selection at Dutch design firm Mujjo and Woolnut for iPhone 11 and later. Wallet iPhone cases: Check out the Vena and Decoded ranges of iPhone cases with built-in and detachable wallets. Wood/pearl/fabric-effect iPhone cases: Seek out the range at Mous for iPhone 14 and later. iPhone Gift Guide: iPhone power banks Hands up if your iPhone has never run out of juice during the day when you are far from a convenient power socket. Yeah, right. Apple used to make a special Smart Battery Case for the iPhone but stopped selling these when it added MagSafe magnetic wireless charging to the iPhone 12 and later. It then sold its own MagSafe Battery Case but stopped making these when it launched the iPhone 15. But fear not, as there are some great MagSafe power banks out there that clamp onto the back of your iPhone (12/13/14/15) and can recharge the phone for long enough that you can reach a power source. Of course, Macworld has tested many of them and picked the best MagSafe power banks, but here are a few of our favorites. 1. Anker Zolo and MagGo Power Banks Pros Huge 10000mAh battery capacity Built-in USB-C cable 7.5W wireless or 30W wired charging Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon The Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank is available in four colors—black, blue, pink or white—and uses MagSafe to magnetically stick to the back of your iPhone when you need a power boost. In our tests, it recharged an iPhone twice over with its 10000mAh battery capacity. Better still, it features its own built-in USB-C cable for charging up the battery pack or wired-charging the iPhone 15 and 16 families that have a USB-C port rather than Lightning. Using the cable rather than MagSafe will charge an iPhone 15/16 at an impressive 30W. MagSafe wireless charging is slower at 7.5W but it will still rescue a fading iPhone 12 or later—or you can supply your own Lightning cable (or USB-C for iPhone 15 users) and connect with a wire. It also features a handy kickstand. Anker If you have an older (pre-15) iPhone, then you need a Lightning cable but the non-magnetic Anker Zolo Power Bank has both, meaning it will still be relevant when you upgrade to a USB-C iPhone. And of course you can use the USB-C cable to charge the power bank itself. If you have a family with both USB-C (15 and 16) and Lightning (14 and earlier) iPhones this will suit all models. There’s a handy digital battery-level display, too. This version of the Zolo doesn’t feature wireless charging. Anker With no built-in cable but a fast 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless charging pad, a third option is the Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank (above), which is the slimmest 10K high-capacity wireless power bank we have tested—perfect for carrying with you in a bag for emergencies when your iPhone starts to fade and you are miles from a power socket or have forgotten your charger and cable. Read our full Anker Zolo 10K Magnetic Power Bank review 2. Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 5K + Stand Pros Slim Built-in stand Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: $39.99 at Amazon$49.99 at Walmart Electronics$59.99 at Belkin If you are willing to sacrifice some recharging power for pocketable portability consider a 5K magnetic power bank like the Belkin BoostCharge. It’s dinky and boasts a kickstand, and will get you to your next charging point if it’s just a few hours of constant phone use away as in our tests it charged our nearly drained iPhone to close on a full extra power refill. 3. OneAdaptr OneGo – 3-in-1 travel charger and power bank Pros Compact iPhone, Watch, AirPods charging stand 10K power bank Foldable for travel Price When Reviewed: $89 Best Prices Today: $89 at OneAdaptr This compact OneGo power bank has it all: it can charge four devices at the same time—including iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, plus another via its side USB-C port—and then folding up into a lightweight form that can slip into your pocket or overnight bag. iPhone Gift Guide: USB-C iPhone chargers A simple charger sounds like a boring present but we think any iPhone users would be delighted to receive one of these beauties now that Apple no longer includes one in the box with new iPhones. And which iPhone users couldn’t do with at least one more spare charger at home or in the office—or a special one for travel? An iPhone charger should be rated at least 20W, and we’d recommend 30W or better as newer iPhones can accept higher wattages than even Apple admits. A 30W charger can handle an iPad Pro and has just enough to power up even a 13-inch MacBook Air. For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best iPhone chargers. Further down we recommend some multi-device chargers that might make more of an impact come unwrapping day. 1. Ugreen Nexode RG 30W USB C GaN Charger – cute robot-shaped charger Pros Cute robot-shaped charger Two color options Price When Reviewed: $25.99 Best Prices Today: $25.99 at Amazon$25.99 at Ugreen The latest GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers are tiny so we’re used them them being labeled “cute” but this small phone charger really is cute, shaped like a friendly robot. Take off its boots and you’ll find the plug prongs that connect straight into a wall power socket. The boots are even magnetic. Why? We don’t know but you can store the plug protector on most metal surfaces when the charger is in use. When plugged in, the LED screen shows different expressions that refer to the charging states. Its 30W power is enough to fast charge even the biggest iPhone. You’ll need a USB-C to USB-C cable to charge an iPhone 15 and USB-C to Lightning cable for older iPhones. It’s even powerful enough to keep a small MacBook charged. 2. Anker 30W Nano Charger – tiny and powerful charger Pros Smallest, lightest 30W charger Foldable plug Multiple color options Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $14.99 at Walmart Electronics$18.99 at Amazon$19.99 at Anker Measuring just 1.12 × 1.12 × 1.39 inches (U.S. model), the 30W Anker USB-C Nano Charger is the smallest 30W USB-C charger we’ve had in our labs for testing, and it weighs just 1.3oz (36g). The U.K. model is larger but also features foldable prongs and is equally incredibly light. It’s available in a range of pastel colors, including Misty Blue, Lilac Purple, Phantom Black, Aurora White, and Natural Green. 3. Ugreen Nexode 45W USB-C Wall Charger – Charge two devices at the same time Pros Small, light 45W charger 2 ports Foldable plug Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon$39.99 at Ugreen This two-port wall charger from Ugreen is great if your household or office has two phones—one doesn’t even need to be an iPhone! Indeed you could charge your iPhone plus Apple Watch or AirPods, too. Each USB-C port is rated at 45W so one could charge a mid-sized laptop. Using both ports, one will give 25W and the other 20W—enough for a reasonably fast charge. It’s a great compact choice for homes with a couple of devices in need of a power boost. 4. Casetify 33W Fast Charger Pros Small Two ports International plug heads Price When Reviewed: $42 Best Prices Today: $42 at Casetify A cuter option as an iPhone gift is the Casetify 33W Fast Charger, available in a fetching pink and blue combination. It features a USB-C port for fast charging and an old-school USB-A port for older charging cables. Take it on your travels as it has interchangeable prongs for U.S., U.K., and E.U power sockets. iPhone Gift Guide: MagSafe chargers While charging using a USB-C cable (USB-C to Lightning for older iPhones, and USB-C to USB-C for the iPhone 15 family) from your charger is the fastest way to charge an iPhone, more convenient is wireless charging. Since the iPhone 12, wireless charging has become more efficient and therefore faster with Apple’s MagSafe technology that magnetically clamps the iPhone more securely to the wireless charger. You can buy a simple USB-C to MagSafe charging pad, like Apple’s $39/£39 MagSafe Charger or a third-party alternative, or a multi-device charger that includes a MagSafe charger for iPhone plus a charger for AirPods or Apple Watch. For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best MagSafe wireless chargers. 1. Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand – Superb travel or desk-bound wireless MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging Fast 15W for iPhone Folds for travel Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Satechi We love that once static MagSafe chargers are now folding up into highly portable devices, and that’s certainly true of the Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Stand. It uses Qi2 magnetic wireless charging tech so can power an attached iPhone at 15W. The 5W Apple Watch Charger is all set for Watch fast charging, and you can place your AirPods case at he front for three-at-a-time charging. 2. Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe – 3-in-1 wireless MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W (MagSafe) Fast charge Watch Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Apple$149.99 at Twelve South If the person you are buying for owns an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, then a 3-in-1 charging station will tidy a desk or bedside table of cable clutter and keep everything nicely in place. The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe is the best of the static desk chargers, with a small footprint, certified fast iPhone and Watch charging plus a Qi charger for AirPods. The MagSafe charging pad is adjustable unlike most of its rivals. Read our full Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe review 3. Anker PowerWave Magnetic 2-in-1 Stand – Simple and affordable 2-in-1 wireless charger Pros Charges iPhone and AirPods Adjustable charging pad Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: $43.99 at Amazon This is a great budget option for a stand that will charge both your iPhone and AirPods. At 7.5W, Anker’s stand is not quite as fast at charging as the 15W models reviewed above, but it will be fast enough for most of us. If speed is your only priority, charge using a cable! Like those pricier charger options, this charger features an adjustable charging pad, so can be angled to your own requirements. 4. Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger – Super-compact iPhone & Watch charger Pros Charges Watch and iPhone (swap Watch for AirPods) 15W Qi2 for iPhone Compact and portable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon$99.99 at Twelve South The ButterFly charger from Twelve South is a beautiful piece of design and works exactly as it should. You can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, or switch the iPhone for your AirPods case if that is your greater need. It’s a great travel charging companion that easily slips into a pocket. There’s the original metal MagSafe ButterFly model or the more affordable ButterFly SE that uses Qi2 but matches MagSafe for 15W iPhone charging speed. The ButterFly comes in five different color options, two exclusive to Twelve South. Read our full Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger review 5. Native Union Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger – Super-compact iPhone & Watch charger Pros Charges Watch and iPhone (swap Watch for AirPods) 15W Qi2 for iPhone Compact and portable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Native Union A similar option to the ButterFly is Native Union’s cool and compact Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch. It comes with a color-matching USB-C cable and pouch to protect the charger when you travel with it. iPhone Gift Guide: Lightning and USB-C cables If you thought that chargers might be a boring gift, I hope we’ve persuaded you otherwise. But how would you feel unwrapping a charging cable? Me? I’d be delighted as you can’t own enough charging cables, can you? They are always handy. Sure, it’s not a pony or a new TV but it’s easier to wrap. Older iPhones will need a USB-C to Lightning cable; check out our roundup of the best Lightning cables. Pair one of these with a USB-C charger, see above, for the fastest charging. An older USB-A to Lightning cable doesn’t support iPhone fast charging. The iPhone 15 and 16 families now has a USB-C rather than Lightning port so you can use the same cable as you have for your MacBook. We have tested the best USB-C cables for iPhones and can recommend these as great little gifts. 1. Casetify PowerThru USB-C to USB-C Cable – Fun USB-C cable Pros Color options Robust braided design with rounded head Price When Reviewed: From $28 Best Prices Today: $24 at Amazon$28 at Casetify No wrapping paper is going to look as good as this gift when unwrapped. It’s cute, it’s tough, and it is available in a range of super colors. The PowerThru by Casetify can charge up to 60W, which is more than enough for iPhone charging so could also be used for your USB-C iPad or MacBook. 2. Baseus Free2Draw Mini Retractable USB-C Cable 100W – neat USB-C cable Pros Tidily retractable Takes up little space No knots Price When Reviewed: $21.99 Best Prices Today: $13.99 at Amazon$21.99 at Baseus Cables are by definition awkward things to carry around. They get tied up in knots all by themselves, are a unsightly nuisance, and are tricky to store. This thin 3.3-foot (1m) or 5.5ft (2m) USB-C cable is retractable so will slip into a drawer or pocket without dangling around getting in the way. You can buy it in black, white, purple or blue and is rated to support 100W so it can be used to charge your MacBook, too. An affordable alternative is the Cable Matters Short Retractable USB C Cable available in a two-pack. Its 60W rating is more than enough for an iPhone or iPad (but not a newer MacBook Pro). 3. Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable – Colorful USB-C cables Pros Color options Tough but flexible silicone Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $14.22 at Walmart$15.99 at Amazon$15.99 at Walmart Electronics Another range of colorful USB-C cables is available from Anker. These are also tough and ready to charge anything from an iPhone 15 to a MacBook Pro. iPhone Gift Guide: Stocking stuffers Aside from the gift ideas listed above, there are some great stocking stuffers available for smaller budgets—and products we couldn’t squeeze into any of the groups above. 1. MOFT Snap Phone Tripod Wallet MOVAS – Brilliant foldable iPhone stand Pros Flexible iPhone stand Folds away to tiny form Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon$49.99 at MOFT How often do you carry a tripod around with you in case you need to take a group shot or selfie from a distance further than your arm? Or you simply want to flip your phone into a more comfortable viewing position? Inspired by origami, the Moft Snap Wallet Tripod could be several solutions you are looking for. It folds up into a credit-card-sized device that’s just 0.36 inches thick and weighs 4.7oz, so you hardly notice in your pocket even though unfolded it can raise your iPhone by up to 8 inches. It’s clever and you’ll be surprised just how useful it can be. It uses Apple’s MagSafe tech to firmly grasp the iPhone, and then it’s up to you to decide which of the three shapes—floating, stand or vlogging—you want to fold it into. Plus you can store two credit or travel cards in it even when it’s connected to you phone. 2. inChargeXS 4-in-1 Keyring Charger – Never be without the right cable again Pros USB-C, USB-A and Lightning cables Device to device charging Price When Reviewed: $29.90 Best Prices Today: $29.90 at Rolling Square Despite the increasing ubiquity of USB-C as the cable connector for all devices, you are sure to have a Lightning device among your Apple goodies—say your AirPods case or Magic Mouse—or something that requires the older rectangular USB-A. The keyring-sized inCharge XS includes swappable connectors that will solve all your charging challenges. It can handle USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, plus USB-C to Lightning and USB-A to Lightning options. It supports charging up to 240W so can be used for your laptop, and will also handle data transfers. It also includes a clever proprietary chip that allows for charging laptops, tablets, and Bluetooth speakers using a USB-C device as a power source when you are away from a power socket, so you could take power from one device to another. A tied protective cap keeps the cables protected when not is use. 3. Elevation Lab GoStand Adjustable Stand for iPhone Pros Multiple angles Foldable Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $19.95 at Apple You could you this nifty stand for anything—video watching, gaming, travel and video calls to name a few activities enhanced by a phone stand—but Apple would like you to take it with your yoga mat to ensure you are hands-free when exercising to its Fitness+ service. The GoStand is built with a composite and silicone construction and steel hinge and features precision indexable back support adjusts with a low-profile button. 4. Pureport Multi-Tool Phone Cleaning Kit Pros Cleans fluff from iPhone charging port Cleans cable connectors Price When Reviewed: $24.99 Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Amazon If your iPhone stops charging via its cable, it’s understandable to think it’s old and broken and you’ll have to rely on wireless charging or just buy a new one. What is more likely the reason that your wired charging isn’t working is a dirty charging port or duff cable (see above). Stick your iPhone in your pocket and it inevitably attracts dust, fluff, and lint. Clear out the port (very gently!) and cable-based wired charging should return. This iPhone cleaning kit has more than you need to keep your iPhone and cables clean, and is available for iPhones with Lightning ports (any iPhone before the 15) and for iPhones (from 15) and iPads with a USB-C port. Quick tip: if you need to clear out the accumulated fluff from your iPhone’s port you can use a small wooden cocktail stick with utmost gentleness. But a cocktail stick does not make much of a gift, does it? And this cleaning kit offers a whole lot more. 5. Belkin AirPods Cleaning Kit Pros Removes dirt and earwax Price When Reviewed: $14.99 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Amazon$10.49 at B&H$14.99 at Belkin Belkin’s AirPods Cleaning Kit is a safer way to clean your AirPods than soap and a cotton bud. There’s no nice way of saying it but AirPods can get messy—that is yellow and waxy after spending time in your ears for a few hours. Follow the gentle cleaning process to safely remove dirt and earwax from your AirPods. 6. Apple AirTag – Bluetooth tracker Pros Easy to set up and track with Find My. Replaceable battery Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: $25.99 at B&H$27 at Walmart$29 at Apple Apple’s AirTag is a great Bluetooth tracker that is easy to use and syncs wonderfully with the iPhone’s Find My app. You can buy just one or a pack of four. You can add it to a keyring or other accessory: check our Best AirTag Accessories roundup, so there are lots more gift ideas there too. If you want a tracker for your wallet or something that requires a flatter tracker, we like the Chipolo Card Spot. Read our full Apple AirTag review 7. Joby GorillaPod 1K GripTight Mount PRO Kit Pros Keeps iPhone stable for photos and videos Hold it or wrap it Price When Reviewed: $59.95 Best Prices Today: $59.95 at Amazon As good as image stabilization gets, you can’t beat resting your camera in a stable place for taking the best photos and videos. The GorillaPod phone tripod’s articulated legs wrap around to bars, rails, branches and many static objects. It rotates to portrait or landscape for photos or vertical video and with 90° of rotation and 150° of tilt. Alternatives include the more traditional $50 IK Multimedia iKlip Grip Pro Smartphone Stand tripod, which includes an integrated/detachable Bluetooth shutter controller. 8. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 – Bluetooth speaker with great sound and cool looks Pros Powerful, well-rounded sound ‘Outdoor’ and ‘Podcast’ modes IP67 dust and waterproof Long battery life Color options Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Amazon$79.99 at Lenovo USA$99.99 at B&H The Wonderboom 4 is an excellent budget-friendly speaker that’s extremely portable, easy to use, fully waterproof (it even floats!), sounds great and lasts a long time. That might be enough for most people but it is also built with eco-friendly materials, which is always welcome in our book.  iPhone Gift Guide: Tech organizer bags Where do you keep all these accessories when not in use? Over at sister site Tech Advisor, we have tested the best tech organizer bags and there should be one that’s a perfect gift, whether as a desk tidy or for travels. 1. Tripped Tech Traveler Pros Multiple compartments Color choices Price When Reviewed: $44.95 Best Prices Today: $39.95 at Amazon$55.99 at Walmart Electronics Available in a range of colors, the Tripped Tech Traveller is a premium, medium-sized tech bag that’s as happy next to your desk or in your tent as it is in your suitcase or backpack. It boasts multiple compartments and is tough enough for travel—made from tough 900D Polyester with weatherproof YKK zippers, soft protective padding, and a leather handle and zipper pulls. There are two internal pockets (one mesh so you can see what’s inside) for extra security for your most valuable kit, such as SD cards or a mini SSD. One external side pocket is big enough for your phone or whatever else you need fast access to. In the center, there are nine different-sized, divided, tight pockets for cables and small devices. 2. Bellroy Tech Kit Pros Color choices Tough shell Price When Reviewed: $59 Best Prices Today: $59 at Amazon$89.58 at Walmart$150 at Bloomingdales We also love this Bellroy tech case that is very well organized and will open flat so you can easily see all your cables and gadgets at a glance. If you know a friend who carries a lot of gear with their iPhone, there’s no better gift.

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Apple releases iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates, focuses on security fixes
You might want to snag these updates. Apple on Tuesday released its iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates. The patches address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit […] Source

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How many languages would you learn if you had a lifetime to do it?
Macworld How many times have you started Duolingo only to end up guiltily ignoring the constant notifications a few days later? I must have given up German nein times.  If Duolingo felt more like a game you were losing than a language you were learning, maybe it’s time to switch things up. Rosetta Stone might be the ticket to finally nailing that French accent or figuring out how to order tapas in Spanish without accidentally offending someone, and it’s only $148.97 (reg. $399) for a lifetime subscription (but only during this super limited-time sale).  Rosetta Stone’s low-pressure approach isn’t about memorizing random vocab lists or cramming to make your subscription worth the money this month.  Instead, you’ll actually learn by doing, with tools like speech recognition that help you nail your pronunciation and practical lessons that prep you for real-life conversations. Want to sound like a local on your next trip? Or just impress your friends by ordering sushi in flawless Japanese? Go at your own pace—no annoying streaks to maintain or guilt trips for missing a day. Lifetime access means you can start (and stop) as many languages as you like. Just don’t wait too long: your chance to get a Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription for $148.97 ends on December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT.    Rosetta Stone: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) – $148.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Developers behind F1 app ‘Lapz’ for Vision Pro forced to remove it from TestFlight
Compared to the iPhone and iPad, Apple Vision Pro has a limited number of apps available in the App Store. Even so, developers have been exploring the device’s capabilities with different projects, one of which is the Formula 1 app “Lapz.” Unfortunately, the app may not even make it to the App Store. more…

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Dr. Oz
I met ten years ago.

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Dr. Oz
I met ten years ago.

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