Can Apple innovate if iPhone remains the biggest slice of its revenues?
Every year, complaints come from the usual suspects demanding to know when Apple will innovate, and specifically when it will launch a new, even more popular form factor than iPhone. Does "innovation" require iPhone to fail as a product?Can Apple innovate?Based on criticism, it might seem that for Apple to "innovate," it must get rid of smartphones and deliver some new, arbitrarily different product to take the place of iPhone. But Apple isn't competing against iPhone.Apple is competing against the status quo that exists outside of Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Addresses Apple Intelligence: What Microsoft Missed With Copilot
Apple is offering in-store AI experiences with 15-minute sessions, allowing users and potential customers to interact with the technology and become more familiar with it. Neither Microsoft nor Google currently offers a similar effort. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Major changes are coming to the MacBook Pro–but not until 2026
Macworld Apple introduced the MacBook Pro line of laptops in 2006, which means its 20th anniversary is right around the corner. According to a new report, Apple has some plans for the laptop to commemorate the occasion. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple plans to make the 2026 MacBook Pro thinner than the current design, which is already just 0.61 inches. The other major change is that the laptop will sport an OLED display, like the one in the current iPad Pro, which has a tandem OLED. OLEDs offer better contrast and black levels than the mini-LED displays the laptop currently has. The 2026 MacBook Pro will also likely have an M6 chip following the M5 in 2025. An earlier report in October claimed that Apple is eyeing the 2nm process for the iPhone 18’s A20 chip in 2026, which could also make its way to the M6 given the similarities between the two chips. So 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the debut of 2nm chips, with an iPhone release in September, followed by the new MacBook Pros in November. But between the just released M4 MacBook Pro and the 2026 “true overhaul,” Apple will likely update the laptop in 2025 with M5 series chips, which is expected to offer a typical performance upgrade over the M4, according to Gurman.

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Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station review: Affordable dock for two displays
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 13 fast ports 2.5Gb Ethernet Two HDMI 2.1 30W USB-C port Affordable Cons Only two extended displays for Mac Upstream port at front Our Verdict While its triple-monitor potential is muted on Macs (with one of the three being mirrored), as a dual-display dock with a bunch of top-rated ports the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station is great value for money. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$199.99 Best Prices Today: Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station is a full docking station with 13 ports, including 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, available at a very affordable price. It’s a great option for owners of Thunderbolt-equipped laptops, as the ports are fast and plentiful. Even if your laptop has USB-C rather than Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) connectivity, buying the faster standard will future-proof your purchase unless you want to hang on for the very latest 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 docks—and that could be quite a long wait. Backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3, TB4 features the fast 40Gbps bandwidth plus smart device daisy-chaining and super-fast storage connectivity. It also offers Intel VT-d DMA device protection that you don’t get with all older connectivity standards. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Specs and features One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 96W) One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W) Two HDMI 2.1 video ports (4K at 60Hz) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 30W) Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W) Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4.5W) 2.5Gb Ethernet UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps) UHS-II MicroSD Card reader (312MBps) 3.5mm audio jack 160W power supply The Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking ports has one upstream Thunderbolt 4 port to connect to your computer, and just one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port to connect other devices, including external displays. Other docks, such as the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, offer up to three fast downstream TB4 ports, but this Wavlink dock makes up for the fewer TB4 ports with its own treats. The single downstream TB4 port is rated at 40Gbps and can charge devices at 15W each. The upstream port can charge a connected laptop at up to 96W, fast enough for most large laptops and a little more powerful than the Kensington dock. Wavlink has sacrificed two of the Thunderbolt ports for dedicated HDMI 2.1 ports. For Macs, the dock will support three 4K displays at 60Hz, but one of the two monitors connected via HDMI will only mirror the screen of the other while the other two will display extended screens. It’s therefore more likely to be used by Mac users for two external displays—one connected to the downstream Thunderbolt port and the other to one of the HDMI ports, leaving one of the HDMI ports spare unless you want a mirrored screen too. That limitation is down to Apple rather than Wavlink. Windows TB4 laptops support three Extended Mode 4K 60Hz displays or one monitor at 8K 60Hz. Note that Apple’s plain M1 and M2 MacBooks support only one external display—M1/2/3 Pro and Max MacBooks support multiple displays—although there are third-party software and hardware workarounds that allow M1/M2 Macs to connect to more than one external display. Plain M3 MacBooks do support multiple monitors but only if the laptop’s lid is closed. Read: How to connect two or more external displays to a MacBook. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Despite the lack of multiple downstream Thunderbolt ports, the Wavlink dock offers up five fast USB ports alongside the single TB4 port. There are four USB-A ports—two at 10Gbps and two at 5Gbps—and a front-located 10Gbps USB-C port that can output up to 30W, enough to fast-charge a phone. The external power supply can provide up to 160W of power for laptop passthrough charging (96W) and connected devices, which isn’t the most powerful TB4 dock supply we’ve tested but should easily handle the load from the USB ports and TB4 port. See our roundups of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks and best Mac docking stations for comparable products. While most docks feature standard Gigabit (1Gb) Ethernet for fast and stable wired Internet access, the Wavlink dock can support much faster 2.5Gb Ethernet networks if your network is the same. It’s also backwards compatible with Gigabit Ethernet. On the front, alongside the upstream TB4 port and fast-charge USB-C port, are fast SD and MicroSD card readers (UHS-II, 312MBps) for portable storage, and a combo 4-pole audio jack. Design and build The Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a smart aluminum build that looks classy. On the side, there’s a Kensington lock slot. We appreciate the On/Off button that will relieve strain on your connected laptop’s battery, but would have much preferred the upstream TB4 port to have been situated out of the way at the back or side of the docking station. Price At $199.99 or £169.99, the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Dock is priced a little below most Thunderbolt 4 docks and is comfortably cheaper than those docks with equivalent fast ports such as 2.5Gb Ethernet. The closest dock in terms of specs and price is the $199 Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) but it’s not recommended for Macs. The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, with standard Gigabit Ethernet, costs $219. For 2.5Gb Ethernet the CalDigit TS4 is priced much higher at $399, with the 2.5Gb Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock priced at $299. Verdict While its triple-monitor potential is muted on Macs with one of the three being mirrored, as a dual-display dock with a bunch of top-rated ports the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station is great value for money for speed and power.

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All of a sudden, Apple’s cheapest devices are fantastic value
Macworld As Apple fans (and Terry Pratchett fans) know well, there’s a difference between cheapness and value for money. The lowest price isn’t necessarily the best bang for your buck. You get what you pay for, and all that. That’s an argument in favor of Apple’s product ecosystem as a whole, which consistently delivers a better user experience than those of its lower-priced rivals, but historically offers guidance within that ecosystem too. We’ve felt for some years that Cupertino’s inbetweener devices represent the most appealing compromise point between value and power, and that’s become particularly obvious recently as the company has leaned into its upsell strategy by leaving important features out of baseline products. Until now, that is. All of a sudden, the received wisdom is in danger of being thrown out of the window. Right now, Apple’s entry-level products are looking like oddly fantastic value. Take the 10th-gen iPad, Apple’s current baseline tablet. When this came out two years ago, I praised its design, larger screen, cameras, processor, and support for 5G—but couldn’t give it a recommendation because the price had jumped from $329 to $449 and I no longer regarded it as a budget tablet. Well, that price has come almost all the way back down now, and at $349 we can enjoy its qualities without caveats. In the iPhone range, I wouldn’t go so far as to recommend the SE, which hasn’t been updated in a while and wasn’t especially dazzling even then (though next year’s update should change that in a big way). But it’s notable that this year’s non-Pro models are more appealing than they’ve been in a while. The iPhone 16 has its compromises, but these are palatable given the hundreds you’ll save by not going for the premium models. More recently, Apple has made changes to its Mac lineup that are good news for customers on a budget. The entry-level MacBook Pro got most of the headlines when it received an M4 update last week with twice the RAM and an extra Thunderbolt port, but the quieter doubling of the MacBook Air’s RAM allocation at the same price points may be more significant because it brings solid performance under the $1,000 mark. The highlight of Apple’s week of Mac announcements, however, was without doubt the M4 Mac mini. Aside from the new chipsets (which represent a double upgrade from the M2 it used to feature), the new model gets extra CPU and GPU cores, and a switch from rear USB-A ports to front-facing USB-C ones. The top tier of RAM has gone up to 64GB, and it’s easier to get support for three displays. But far more significant than these worthwhile tech upgrades is the physical redesign, which sees the mini drop from 7.7 to 5 inches square, losing more than a pound of weight in the process. At last, we get a Mac mini worthy of its name. And it starts at just $599. Are these recent examples indicative of a longer-term trend? Is Apple ready to ease off with the upselling, and accept that a big chunk of customers are interested only in the budget models and deserve to be looked after properly? Well, it’s hard to say at this point. If next spring’s new iPhone SE lives up to the more optimistic predictions, perhaps we’ll be on to something. But in the meantime, let’s just enjoy the fact that Apple’s cheapest products are good. It may not last. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories The truth behind Apple’s most unpopular decisions: It’s not about you. The Mac mini finally lives up to its name. The first Apple Intelligence features are hit-and-miss. The M4 Mac mini illustrates Apple’s unhealthy power button obsession. Apple’s week of exciting Mac announcements got off to a rocky start. M4 Mac mini is smaller, mightier, and can connect three displays. Apple’s Mac accessories finally switch from Lightning to USB-C. Podcast of the week This week is full of treats from Apple! We’ve got a new iMac, new MacBook Pros, and a new Mac mini, all sporting the new M4 chip! We talk about the new products and more on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! And we promise, no tricks! You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. The rumor mill Did the new M4 iMac just tip us to a new Mac display coming from Apple? Software updates, bugs, and problems AirPods Pro 2 firmware 7B19 enables new iOS 18.1 Hearing features. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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Apple initiates iPhone 14 Plus camera repair program, goes after image preview issue
If you’re having an issue with the camera on your iPhone 14 Plus, there’s hope on the horizon. Apple on Friday announced the launch of a new repair program for the iPhone 14 Plus camera. According to Apple, a “very small percentage” of ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus devices do not show a preview of an image […] Source

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Apple’s cheaper Vision headset could be a few years away
Apple might have shelved its plans to launch a more affordable Vision headset in 2025. Instead, the Vision Pro might get an M5 refresh. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple now selling top head strap for Apple Vision Pro’s Solo Knit band
Initially spotted by Brad Lynch on X, Apple has recently listed a new Belkin Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro, one that looks very similar (though not quite identical) to the strap that they unveiled back at WWDC23. It works in addition to the Solo Knit band. more…

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iOS 18.2 could release as soon as early December
iOS 18.2, featuring new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Genmoji, could land in the week starting December 2. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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iOS 18.2 could bring new Apple Intelligence features in early December
The release of iOS 18.2, featuring new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Genmoji, could happen in December. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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MacBook Pro line could get a major redesign in 2026 for 20th anniversary
Apple will update the current MacBook Pro again in 2025, but those waiting for a significant redesign may have to wait a little longer.The 2023 MacBook Pro was the first to offer a Space Black option.The company often tweaks the hardware of its MacBook Pro lineup from year to year. Major redesigns are more generational with roughly five years between enclosure refreshes.The lineup saw a few notable changes since its last major redesign in 2021. In a report on Sunday, Apple is said to be likely to launch an all-new look for the notebook in 2026 Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple buying Pixelmator could finally fix one of my biggest iPad complaints
On Friday, Pixelmator, the company behind many popular photo-editing apps for Apple platforms, announced that Apple will be acquiring them. While some people are rightfully skeptical of the deal, I’m optimistic that it might solve one of my biggest grips with the iPad. more…

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iPhone SE 4 to debut first 5G modem designed by Apple
Jeff Pu, analyst of Apple supply chain companies  states in a report that the iPhone SE 4 planned to release next year is anticipated to be the first to receive the company’s in-house 5G modem.  This week’s research note with an investment firm in Hong Kong, Haitong International Securities, states that Apple will star rolling […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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All iPhone 17 models may be coming with LTPO displays 
The iPhone 17 lineup may be launching with reduced-power LTPO Displays using LTPO technology, indicating that by next year, all upcoming iPhone 17 models will be featuring the ProMotion Display with a refresh rate that can reach up to 120Hz. The ProMotion has been exclusive to Pro Models since its debut with the iPhone 13 […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Stores opening in Fairfax, Virginia and Long Island
Apple posted on their website that they will be opening updated retail stores near Fairfax, Virginia and Garden City in NY. They will also be opening a store in the meantime at Long Island’s largest shopping mall, Roosevelt Field, which will be situated on the main floor, west side. No information has been let out […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Today in Apple history: Apple preps for Mac App Store’s big debut
On November 3, 2010, Apple began accepting software submissions for the Mac App Store launch. This kicked off a gold rush among developers. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Siri on your iPhone running iOS 18.1 may look different, but it still works the same
If you have an or iPhone 16 model, you can access Apple Intelligence when updating to iOS 18.1. This includes a new look for Siri, with a beautiful edge-lit animation. However, the new animation does not mean that Siri’s intelligence or capabilities have meaningfully improved. Here’s exactly what’s new .. and what you have to keep waiting for. more…

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Apple Vision Pro to get M5 in 2025, but lower cost model is delayed
Apple Vision Pro may get an M5 upgrade in 2025, but the expected lower-price headset has been delayed, and may offload processing to the iPhone to cut costs.Apple Vision Pro on display at Apple Park. Image credit: AppleMing-Chi Kuo says that production of an all-new version of the Apple Vision Pro has been pushed back to "beyond 2027." He claims that the current existing model will be replaced with an identical one upgraded to an M5 processor in 2025.As I understand it, production of the cheaper Vision Pro has been delayed beyond 2027 for a while now. This means Apple's only new head-mounted display device in 2025 will be the Vision Pro with an upgraded M5 processor. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18.2 with Image Playground and Visual Intelligence now expected in early December
A new report suggests that the actual launch date for iOS 18.2 will be the first week of December, featuring new graphics tools including Image Playground and Genmoji.iOS 18.2 will focus on graphics tools that leverage Apple Intelligence.The Bloomberg report backs up some previous claims of an early December launch. comes from Bloomberg, and is Expected in the next update to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS is the arrival of a few more marquee features of Apple Intelligence that Apple initially showcased in June 2024 at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference.Beta testing for iOS 18.2 is currently underway, though developers are having to join a waitlist for access to the forthcoming graphics features. In addition to the Image Playground image generator and Genmoji custom emoji engine, testers will also be working with Image Wand and ChatGPT integration. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The next major MacBook design refresh arrives in 2026
The next big major MacBook Pro design overhaul will reportedly arrive in 2026 alongside a new display technology. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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