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- Wednesday February 05
- 12:55 amAppleCare+ for iPhone just got a little more expensive
Macworld Apple is making its AppleCare+ extended warranty plan a little more expensive for some users. For all current models in the United States, Apple is raising the monthly subscription price by 50 cents. That means the monthly cost of standard AppleCare+ for an iPhone 16 is now $8.49 instead of $7.99. The price increase applies to all current iPhone models and to both AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. AppleCare+ provides repairs for up to 2 incidents of theft or loss coverage every 12 months for a deductible (Screen or back glass damage, $29; other accidental damage, $99). What’s more, Apple seems to be encouraging consumers to pay this monthly fee more often. While you can still buy the standard full up-front 2 years of AppleCare+ coverage at the point of purchase if you buy online, the same is not true of retail purchases. As reported by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the company will no longer allow the up-front 2-year purchase option at retail or in the AppleCare menu option on the iPhone itself. Gurman says Apple Store employees have been instructed to tell customers the change is “designed to lower upfront costs and prevent future gaps in coverage.” What’s more, they are instructed to push the pricier Theft & Loss version of AppleCare+, which provides a replacement iPhone for $149 and costs as much as $13.99 a month depending on the iPhone model. Note that the price increase for AppleCare+ appears to only apply to iPhones, and not yet to other Apple products. The monthly cost of AppleCare+ for the Mac ranges from $6.49 to $17.99 a month, while the iPad costs between $3.49 and $8.49 depending on the model.12:10 amApple Announces 'Invites' App, Raises AppleCare+ Subscription Prices For iPhone
Apple has announced Apple Invites, a new iPhone app designed to help you manage your social life. Engadget reports: The idea behind Apple Invites is that you can create and share custom invitations for any event or occasion. You can use your own photos or backgrounds in the app as an image for the invite. Image Playground is built into Invites and you can use that to generate an images for the invitation instead. Other Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools are baked in as well, in case you need a hand to craft the right message for your invitation. The tech giant also said it was increasing AppleCare+ subscription prices for the iPhone, "raising the cost by 50 cents for all models in the United States," according to MacRumors. From the report: Standard AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 models is now priced at $10.49 per month, for example, up from the prior $9.99 per month price. The 50 cent price increase applies to all available AppleCare+ plans for Apple's current iPhone lineup, and it includes both the standard plan and the Theft and Loss plan. The two-year AppleCare+ subscription prices have not changed, nor have the service fees and deductibles. The increased prices are only applicable when paying for AppleCare+ on a monthly basis. Apple has not raised the prices of AppleCare+ subscription plans for the iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. Read more of this story at Slashdot.Tuesday February 0411:37 pm'Doom' can even be played on Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter
Developers and enthusiasts continue to find new ways of running Doom on increasingly unusual hardware, the latest of which is an Apple HDMI adapter cable.Doom can run on an Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter.In a video uploaded on February 2, first shared by MacRumors, developer nyan_satan showed off a port of the classic video game Doom running on Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter. The YouTuber is known for their work in creating tools and dual-booting different versions of iOS.This is only possible because the Lightning to HDMI adapter features a dedicated system-on-chip with a processor inside. It also runs a basic version of iOS, stripped down to only the most basic of features, allowing the dongle to process video signals but not much else. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:55 pmNew macOS malware disguises itself as Chrome & Zoom installers
North Korean hackers are using fake job offers and disguised app updates to sneak malware onto Macs, and while Apple's latest XProtect update blocks some threats, others are still slipping through.MacBook ProSecurity researchers from SentinelLabs have identified fresh variants of a North Korean malware family, dubbed "FlexibleFerret," which is actively exploiting macOS users. The malware is part of a broader campaign known as "Contagious Interview," where attackers pose as recruiters to trick job seekers into installing malicious software.Apple responded with an XProtect signature update to counter these threats, blocking several variants, including FROSTYFERRET_UI, FRIENDLYFERRET_SECD, and MULTI_FROSTYFERRET_CMDCODES. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:49 pmThreads now lets users share their custom feeds with others
Meta last year introduced significant enhancements to the Threads timeline, as users gained the option to create custom feeds and choose which feed they want to see by default. Now Meta is announcing another new feature for Threads: the ability to share custom feeds with others. more…10:29 pmSeverance stars face hot ‘Wings of Death’ [Video]
Ready to see if "Severance" stars on "Hot Ones Versus" can take the heat? Watch Adam Scott vs. Patricia Arquette in a hot-wing contest. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)10:05 pmPresident Trump’s new tariffs on China could push up iPhone prices
President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he would be implementing 10% tariffs on China - which could affect Apple - and… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.10:05 pmAdd wireless CarPlay to your vehicle for less than $75
Affordable CarPlay display with touchscreen lets you enjoy features like navigating, calling and listening to tunes while driving. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)10:01 pmThis could explain why Apple isn’t making AR glasses yet
Last week, Mark Gurman reported that Apple had canceled development of its AR glasses project following some unimpressive demos for executives. With Vision Pro struggling to build its own sales momentum, on the surface AR glasses seemed like the the best path forward for Vision products. But here’s why that may not be the case—at least not yet. more…09:52 pmOpera Air is a new web browser with built-in mindfulness features
You may be familiar with Opera, a well-known cross-platform web browser. The company is now introducing Opera Air, a new version of the web browser with multiple mindfulness features aimed at helping users relax while they browse the web. more…09:27 pmIt’s not just you, Discord is down [U]
You’re not alone, Discord is down globally. more…09:00 pmThis one cable charges Apple Watch plus your other gear
Cut the clutter with the Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch. Charge your Mac and Apple Watch with one convenient cable. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)08:50 pmApple’s new Invites app is a showcase for iPhone ecosystem strengths
Apple just launched a new app today: Apple Invites. It’s available now on the App Store, and one of its best features is deep integration with Apple’s iOS app ecosystem. Here’s what that means. more…08:41 pmNew Opera Air browser offers calm in online storm
In a cacophonous online world, the new Opera Air browser brings wellness tools like break reminders and calming audio. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)08:11 pmStreamline Event Planning with New Apple Invites Service
Adam Engst explores the new Apple Invites app that lets iCloud+ subscribers create and manage events in iOS 18 or on iCloud.com. Non-Apple users can easily RSVP and access event details through any Web browser.08:05 pmApple AirTags 4-Pack back down to lowest price ever
Looking to keep track of your backpack, luggage, or pet? Amazon is offering a fantastic deal on Apple AirTags. Get a four-pack for… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:00 pmHot Ones pits Apple TV+ stars against each other in fun Severance face-off
Hot Ones, the popular YouTube series, just released a new episode where two Apple TV+ stars from Severance compete in a test of heat. Here are the details. more…07:59 pmDwellspring Review: More Than Just a White Noise App
Popular, high-profile apps usually have something that sets them apart from the rest, with Dwellspring being no exception. On the surface, it’s a white and brown noise machine app to help you relax and sleep better. But a deep dive reveals interesting features, such as the ability to mix sounds and offline listening. What is […] The post appeared first on iLounge.07:39 pmThese Beats Pro headphones are better than AirPods Max and nearly half-off right now
Macworld If you want headphones that are better and (a lot) more affordable than the AirPods Max, the fantastic Beats Studio Pro are 49% off at Amazon. That means you can get them for $180 rather than their regular $350. In our 4.5-star review of the Studio Pro, we gave the headphones our Editor’s Choice award, appreciating how lightweight they are, the excellent battery life, and the clean audio. “Even if they weren’t $200 cheaper, we’d recommend these over the AirPods Max,” reads the review. These headphones were built to deliver rich audio with a deep bass. They also come with Adaptive Noise Cancellation so you can block out the world around you and focus on work reading, or whatever it is you’re doing. You can also switch to Transparency mode to hear your surroundings, which is useful when you’re in public, crossing the street, or you have to mind your safety. The Beats Studio Pro can keep you company for up to 40 hours of play time, which means you won’t have to charge them up very often. If you have a portable power bank on you, you can even charge them on the go if need be. A 10-minute charge will give you another four hours of playback. Don’t miss out on the chance to get yourself one of the best headphones out there, especially when they’re as low as $180 at Amazon. Jam out with BeatsGet it at Amazon07:33 pmSonos is launching an Apple TV 4K competitor soon that might cost $400: report
Sonos has had a very bad past year. But under a new interim CEO, the company is reportedly planning to launch a major new hardware product soon: an Apple TV 4K competitor that could cost between $200 and $400. Its codename: ‘Pinewood.’ more…