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- Thursday February 27
- 06:01 pmPSA: Your Mac will eventually install that macOS update whether you want it or not
Macworld We here at Macworld encourage users to install OS updates sooner rather than later, less because of the new features (if there are any) and mostly because of the important security and bug fixes. However, there are plenty of good reasons to turn off automatic update installs in System Settings and skip the occasional OS update. But, as it turns out, that update may install even if you don’t want it to. Developer Howard Oakley has documented on his blog how macOS installs updates even when you have the setting to install updates turned off. In Oakley’s instance, he decided to stop updating his iMac Pro after a “slightly traumatic” experience with Sequoia 15.1.1. Oakley continued to get notifications for Sequoia 15.2, 15.3, and 15.3.1 which he subsequently declined. But he eventually received a notification to install the 15.3.1 update now or later, without any option to decline. A background activity was added to his Mac that scheduled the update to install in the middle of the night. Oakley posted the logs of the activity to show the process at work. The logs even show how some processes that typically appear to the user during an installation are not shown and local authentication (a.k.a. asking for user input) is disabled. However, if the user sets macOS to do an update in the middle of the night, macOS skips those items (such as the license agreement) because the system asks the user to click a button to proceed. There’s a presumption that the user isn’t available to click those buttons. Oakley didn’t offer a solution because he doesn’t know of one. If you get one of those notifications without a decline option, you could presumably select Install later, turn off Wi-Fi, and shut down your Mac, but the notification will eventually re-appear until the update installs. This behavior doesn’t sound like a bug, as Apple has a history of “encouraging” users to install the latest versions of its OSes and it appears that Apple is forcing the updates after a set period of time between updates. Be sure to check out Oakley’s blog, which is a terrific mix of Mac technical articles and posts about painting. Oakley is a longtime Mac developer who has written several great Mac utilities.06:00 pmNew Apple age assurance features help parents and developers protect children
Apple is launching a series of protections for children regarding the use of age-appropriate apps in the App Store, including providing verification through a developer API.Detail from Apple's child protection white paper — image credit: AppleWhile Apple has previously announced Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) protections and then dropped them, the company says that it is now strengthening how the App Store prevents children seeing age-inappropriate content.The new extra protections are rolling out in stages, with the first starting now, and the rest following at an as-yet unspecified time in 2025. Apple has published a white paper detail its plans, and the initial launch introduces: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:00 pmApple reveals new child safety features and its approach to age assurance
In a new whitepaper published today, Apple outlined several tools it already offers to parents and developers to “help enhance child safety while safeguarding privacy. This includes Screen Time, Find My, Communication Saftey, Communication Limits, and more. Over this year, Apple is introducing new features to build on its commitment to user privacy, security, and safety for children: Make it even easier for parents to set up Child Accounts that underlie many of our parental controls. Put parents in control by allowing them to share information about the age range of their kids with apps to enable developers to provide only age-appropriate content, all without needing to share their birthdate or other sensitive information. And further enhance parents’ insight and control over their kids’ experiences by updating our age ratings, adding more useful information on product pages, and making browsing safer on the App Store. more…05:42 pmMicrosoft brings its Copilot AI app to the Mac
Apple does say the Mac is the best AI PC, and Microsoft is here for it. Starting today, Microsoft’s AI app called Copilot is now available on the Mac App Store. Copilot, which includes OpenAI and Microsoft models, was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad for Apple device users. more…05:36 pmWhy Texas Is the Ideal Home for Apple’s AI Data Center
A key reason Apple chose Texas for its AI data centers is the state's energy infrastructure. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, and Texas offers some of the most affordable energy rates in the U.S. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.05:30 pmApple’s C1 modem in iPhone 16e seems to work just fine – The Verge
iPhone 16e delivers breakthrough battery life, thanks to the industry-leading efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:29 pmFOX is launching a streaming service led by former Apple TV+ veteran
Among major TV networks in the US, FOX is the only player that doesn’t yet offer a direct-to-consumer streaming service along the lines of Paramount+ (CBS), Peacock (NBC), and Disney+ (ABC). But that’s changing later this year, and the company has just announced its new streamer’s leader. more…05:00 pmToday in Apple history: Apple bids farewell to the Newton
On February 27, 1998, Apple announced that it would discontinue work on the Newton MessagePad product line and Newton OS. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)05:00 pmApple faces a big antitrust fine in France over App Tracking Transparency
France is probably going to issue an antitrust fine against Apple in March, as the country's consumer watchdog gears up to rule on whether Apple abused its position over App Tracking Transparency.An example of an App Tracking Transparency promptIn July 2023, the French Competition Authority, the Authorite de la Concurrence, said it would open an antitrust investigation into Apple and App Tracking Transparency. Over a year and a half later, the regulator may be concluding its probe.Two people with knowledge of the regulator's plans told Reuters on Thursday that a ruling will be arriving in March. "The decision is expected in the spring," the regulator confirmed, but declined to comment further. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:59 pmResearchers hack Apple’s Find My network to track any Bluetooth device
Macworld Researchers at George Mason University have discovered a way to track just about any Bluetooth device using Apple’s Find My network. The hack, dubbed nRootTag, can be used by hackers to make any Bluetooth device into “unwitting homing beacons.” The researchers figured out a way around how an Apple AirTag changes its Bluetooth address using a cryptographic key, which protects the AirTag from being hacked. The researchers developed key search methods to create a compatible Bluetooth address that the key adapts to, bypassing the secure key. The researchers claim 90 percent success with their nRootTag hack, which can be performed remotely without administrator access to a device. It also doesn’t matter what platform the device is on; devices running Android, Windows, and Linux have been hacked, as well as smart TVs and VR headsets. The hack, however, requires intense processing power to create a compatible nRootTag quickly. The researchers used “hundreds of graphics processing units (GPUs)” by using GPU rental services, which are usually used by AI developers and Bitcoin miners. To help cut down on processing, hackers can save the list of failed nRootTags for reference. The hack was reported to Apple in June 2024 and the company has yet to release a patch to fix it. Apple has officially acknowledged the vulnerability, according to George Mason University’s report. How to protect yourself Because of the immense amount of processing power to execute the nRootTag hack successfully, it’s unlikely that a user will see this attack in the wild. Users can take precautions by being aware of Bluetooth notifications by apps asking for unwarranted and unexpected permission to connect. Users can check what Bluetooth devices are connected to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac in the Bluetooth System Settings. Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. It’s also important to update the apps on your Mac, which you can do through the App Store or an app’s settings. Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software, a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans, and a comparison of Mac security software.04:47 pmApple faces fresh legal attack over its carbon neutral Apple Watch claim
Seven Apple Watch buyers are suing Apple over how it allegedly made false and misleading claims that certain models are carbon neutral.Apple Watch Series 9 was the first model to be described as carbon neutralApple first made a claim about carbon neutrality with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 9 in 2023, and immediately faced criticism. First a Chinese environment research organization called it "climate-washing," and then European consumer groups agreed.Now according to Reuters, a case has been filed by seven users of the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. They claim they would not have bought the watches, or would have paid less, if they had not been misled. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:45 pmNab M4 iPad Pro models at up to $250 off
Right now a hot M4 iPad Pro deal at Amazon can get you up to $250 off on various models with the specs you need. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:45 pmNab M4 iPad Pro models at up to $250 off
Right now a hot M4 iPad Pro deal at Amazon can get you up to $250 off on various models with the specs you need. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:45 pmNab M4 iPad Pro models at up to $250 off
Right now a hot M4 iPad Pro deal at Amazon can get you up to $250 off on various models with the specs you need. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:41 pmDeals: 16GB M3 MacBook Air now up to $420 off original price, 48GB MacBook Pro $308 off, Magic Keyboards up to $114 off, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: 16GB M3 MacBook Air now up to $420 off original price, 48GB MacBook Pro $308 off, Magic Keyboards up to $114 off, more
Today’s Apple deal highlights start off with prices dropping even lower on select MacBook configs. Firstly, the 15-inch M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM is now $420 off the original price before the RAM upgrade alongside models from $899. Then it’s the M4 Pro MacBook Pro – the 16-inch model with 48GB of RAM is now $308 off – alongside M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboards at up to $114 off. Apple Pencil Pro, AirTags, and official Apple Watch bands also join the fray today alongside everything else you’ll find below. more…04:37 pmNew lawsuit alleges Apple Watch carbon neutral claims are ‘false and misleading’
Apple has a big goal of making all its products carbon neutral by 2030. But the company is now being sued over claims that its first such product to hit that goal—Apple Watch—isn’t actually as carbon neutral as Apple says. Here’s what you should know about the new Apple Watch carbon neutral lawsuit. more…04:30 pmiPhone 16e review roundup: Bare bones but capable, with long battery life
Early iPhone 16e reviews tout the performance and impressive battery life of Apple’s lower-cost handset, despite limited features. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:00 pmApple sued over ‘carbon neutral’ claim for Apple Watches
Consumers have filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that its assertion that three Apple Watch models are "carbon neutral" is deceptive… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:00 pmSave space with a wall charger that’s also a USB/HDMI hub [Review] ★★★★☆
We tested the AVerMedia Elite Go GC313Pro: a versatile charger and hub for your Mac and iPad with impressive capabilities. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)03:46 pmApple might be forced to disable a key iPhone privacy feature in France
Apple has been under investigation by authorities in France for nearly two years over App Tracking Transparency, a privacy feature that lets iPhone users decide whether their activity can be tracked by advertisers or not. You’ve likely seen many of the ‘Ask App Not to Track’ pop-ups. Now, per a new Reuters report, the case is about to wrap up and looks set to end unfavorably for Apple. more…