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- Friday February 07
- 04:01 pmGrab great Sonos Ace headphones for $100 off
Right now you can get AirPods Max rival Sonos Ace headphones for $100 off on Amazon. That's a great deal on great cans! (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:00 pmCdkeySales Valentine’s Day Sale: Make Windows 11 Pro your cheap date ($22)
Admit it, you have feelings for your productivity software. Embrace this Valentines Day deal on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)03:45 pmGameSir Cyclone 2 controller review: My new go-to Mac and iPad gaming companion
If you want to play games on your iPhone or iPad, you're going to need a game controller, and the same is obvious for the Mac. GameSir's Cyclone 2 might be my favorite, thanks to a familiar feel and some notable features.The GameSir Cyclone 2 controller comes in a stealthy black color or a vibrant white.Sure, you can play iOS and iPadOS games using on-screen controls, and for some, that works like a charm. But for others, a controller is where it's at.For me, a controller is a must for a couple of reasons. The first is muscle memory. I've been playing games using some sort of controller since the late 1980s, and stabbing at a screen just doesn't have the feedback I need. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:40 pmApple’s newest iPhone feature will likely fly under the radar next week
Apple is expected to announce its new iPhone SE next week, and the feature list looks compelling. But like previous SE models, almost all of the new iPhone’s tech has been seen before. Except for one new feature—and it’s likely to fly under the radar. Here’s why. more…03:18 pmSonos' scrapped MagSafe speaker would have had trouble finding a target market
Sonos allegedly toyed around with making a speaker that would use MagSafe to attach to the back of an iPhone, but couldn't seem to nail down a target audience.An AI-generated image of a speaker attached to an iPhoneIf you're in the business of making products, chances are you'll come up with ideas that sound good at the time, but reveal themselves to be impractical, if not outright impossible, at some point in the design process.Apple knows this, as the company was rumored to scrap the Apple Car after the project lacked direction. And, even if it wasn't, Apple likely realized that it would never be able to sell vehicles at its expected margins. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:01 pmApple’s App Store pulls apps with hidden screen reading malware
Kaspersky revealed details about the new "SparkCat" malware affecting a handful of iOS apps on Wednesday, leading to Apple promptly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:40 pmApple Invites, Doom on a cable, and M5 is coming, on the AppleInsider Podcast
Apple Invites debuts and needs a lot more work, the M5 processor is in production, and you can now hack even a cable to run Doom, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.Using Apple InvitesFollowing the rumors that it would be doing an internal beta test of an event planning app, Apple instead released Apple Invites publicly — and so we all learned why beta tests are needed. There's a good app at the heart of this, and it's a clever use of multiple Apple Services, but there are so many reasons why you should wait until Apple Invites 2.0.But then there are also good reasons why you shouldn't try to use a cable to play a game, chiefly because the whole idea is insane. And yet it's been done — it is now possible to play "Doom" on just a piece of wire. Admittedly it's a very specific piece of wire, but still. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:22 pmLondon police crackdown on phone snatching sees 230 arrests in one week
A Metropolitan Police crackdown on phone snatching in London has seen 230 people arrested and more than 1,000 phones recovered in the space of just one week. The police service also reported that a gang found guilty of handling more than 5,000 stolen phones have been sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison … more…02:02 pmApple to unveil iPhone SE 4 as early as next week
Apple is set to reveal a significant update to the iPhone SE in the coming days, aiming to modernize its budget-friendly model to boost sales… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:00 pmHow to transcribe audio to text for free in Notes
Audio to text transcriptions are free in iOS 18. Add a voice memo to a note, and your phone will automatically transcribe it. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)02:00 pmUK Orders Apple To Let It Spy on Users' Encrypted Accounts
The UK government has ordered Apple to create a backdoor allowing access to encrypted cloud backups of users worldwide, Washington Post reported Friday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter. The unprecedented demand, issued last month through a technical capability notice under the UK Investigatory Powers Act, requires Apple to provide blanket access to fully encrypted material rather than assistance with specific accounts. Apple is likely to discontinue its encrypted storage service in the UK rather than compromise user security globally, the report said. The company would still face pressure to provide backdoor access for users in other countries, including the United States. The order was issued under Britain's 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, which makes it illegal to disclose such government demands, according to the report. While Apple can appeal to a secret technical panel and judge, the law requires compliance during any appeal process. The company told Parliament in March that the UK government should not have authority to decide whether global users can access end-to-end encryption. Read more of this story at Slashdot.01:58 pmApple breaks the Mac App Store for macOS Sierra users
A back end change to the Mac App Store appears to have shut out users of macOS Sierra and older versions, blocking not just purchases, but also downloads of software already bought.Apple's macOS Sierra came out in 2016While users of the current macOS Sequoia have recently benefited from Mac App Store changes, it's being reported that users on 2016's macOS Sierra are no longer able to use the store at all.As first spotted by blogger Michael Tsai, macOS 10.12.6 Sierra users are now just getting an error message when the attempt to sign in. It's not certain whether it is affecting all or only some macOS Sierra users, but reports are spreading on Apple support forums and social media. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:57 pmThe new iPhone SE launch might be just days away
Macworld The 4th-gen iPhone SE was widely expected to launch at a dedicated press event in spring 2025, but the latest report claims it will be here quite a bit earlier than that. In an article for Bloomberg published Thursday, the respected leaker-analyst Mark Gurman predicted that the next version of Apple’s budget smartphone would be unveiled “in the coming days” before clarifying that the company expects this to happen “as early as next week.” That means some time between February 10 and 14, as opposed to the March or early April timing that a spring event normally means. These claims are largely based on the usual anonymous sources “with knowledge of the matter,” but Gurman tends to be right more often than he’s wrong. And he does offer the corroborating evidence that stocks of the 3rd-gen iPhone SE appear to be dwindling, at least in his neck of the woods; U.S. retail employees have been turning away potential SE customers, he reports, while online buyers face shipping delays until March. This sort of thing is frequently indicative that Apple has started winding up production ahead of a new launch. (I’m based in the U.K. and stocks here, by contrast, seem to be holding up. I tried ordering each model and in every case was offered delivery the very next day, and most were available for pickup from a local retail store the same day. Make of this what you will.) If the iPhone SE 4 is coming early, that wouldn’t be a total surprise. The 3rd-gen model may still be available in the U.S. and the U.K., but it had to be withdrawn from sale across the EU at the start of this year because it doesn’t comply with new regulations mandating USB-C ports on smartphones. The same fate befell the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, leaving Apple with no remotely budget-focused smartphones across a major market for more than a month now… almost as if it didn’t have years to prepare. Once you add in the fact that Apple needs a cheap device with Apple Intelligence, it becomes clear that the sooner the new SE arrives, the better. To keep up with all the latest news and rumors, check out our regularly updated iPhone SE 4 superguide.01:46 pmForget flowers, this right-priced Apple charger is just what your Valentine wants
Macworld Valentine’s Day is coming and if you’re tired of giving your sweetie chocolate and flowers, this deal is just what you’re looking for—Apple’s 35W dual USB-C power adapter is on sale for $39 right now, a savings of $20 on its $59 MSRP and within pennies of its all-time low. With a sleek design and a pair of USB-C ports, this power adapter will fit right in with the rest of your Apple gear. It’s also travel-ready, thanks to the foldable prongs, which means it won’t snag onto fabrics inside your backpack or luggage, and it won’t scratch the screens of your gadgets. It has 35W of power, which is more than enough power to fast charge most of your Apple devices, from iPhones to iPads and even Apple Watches. It can even charge a MacBook Air (though not a MacBook Pro). Go ahead and save 35% on this Apple power adapter while it’s still on sale for $39 and get your Valentine something they’ll really love. Save $20 on this dual-port Apple chargerBuy now at Amazon01:30 pmIrving B. takes a brutal stand in the icy Severance wilderness [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆ | Cult of MacIrving B. takes a brutal stand in the icy Severance wilderness [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆
Our "Severance" season 2 episode 4 recap finds the team lost in a winter waste. Two get busy in a tent and one makes the ultimate sacrifice. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)01:30 pmIrving B. takes a brutal stand in the icy Severance wilderness [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆ | Cult of MacIrving B. takes a brutal stand in the icy Severance wilderness [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆
Our "Severance" season 2 episode 4 recap finds the team lost in a winter waste. Two get busy in a tent and one makes the ultimate sacrifice. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)01:25 pmMultiple security flaws found in DeepSeek iOS app, including sending unencrypted data
Multiple security flaws have been found in the DeepSeek iOS app, which is still one of the most popular downloads in the App Store after topping the charts when it first launched. The latest findings are far worse than the previous security failure which exposed chat history and other sensitive information in a database requiring no authentication … more…01:18 pmReport: iPhone SE could shed its 10-year-old design “as early as next week”
New budget phone may include bigger screen, USB-C, Face ID, Apple Intelligence.12:59 pmDeepSeek's iOS app sends unencrypted data to Chinese servers
Chart-topping AI iPhone app DeepSeek has been found to be sending data to Chinese-owned services, as well as collecting extensive user data that is held and sent unencrypted.DeepSeek logoDeepSeek is a generative AI app, similar to ChatGPT, which launched in January 2025 and practically immediately went to the top of the US App Store charts. That was despite the DeepSeek Chinese AI startup company being found to have a major security lapse."[DeepSeek is] not equipped or willing to provide basic security protections of your data and identity," said Andrew Hoog, co-founder of security firm NowSecure told Ars Techica in a statement. "There are fundamental security practices that are not being observed, either intentionally or unintentionally. In the end, it puts your and your company's data and identity at risk." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:17 pmBritish government secretly ordered Apple to create a worldwide iCloud backdoor
It’s being reported that the British government secretly ordered Apple to create a security backdoor into all content uploaded by iCloud users anywhere in the world. Apple is certain to refuse the demand, leading to the possibility of a similar privacy stand-off to the one seen between the iPhone maker and the FBI back in the San Bernardino shooter case … more…