Spotify had its first ever profitable year; may have been assisted by Apple U-turn
Spotify achieved its first full year of profitability since launching in 2008. The company has previously had occasional profitable quarters, but consistently lost money each year. Apple may have played a role in the company’s turnaround, thanks to a change introduced last year … more…

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Bots Now Dominate the Web, and That’s a Problem
Nearly half the traffic on the internet is generated by automated entities called bots, and a large portion of them pose threats to consumers and businesses on the web. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?
Macworld There have been ten generations of Apple Watch, each available in multiple screen sizes, connectivity options, case materials, and straps, ranging from a couple of hundred dollars to literally thousands. Anyone else remember the original $10k Apple Watch Edition? While not all are available to buy directly from Apple–right now the company sells only the Ultra 2, the Series 10, and the 2nd-gen SE released in 2022–it’s easy to buy older models from third-party retailers or, if you’d like to save a decent chunk of cash, consider a refurbished model. And refurbished is an option you really shouldn’t ignore. While you might scoff at the prospect of buying what is technically a second-hand watch, Apple’s refurbishing process is admirably rigorous. In fact, apart from the packaging, we don’t think you’d be able to tell the difference between an Apple Watch that the company is selling refurbished and one that’s brand new. Other retailers have their own refurbishment processes, which vary in rigor and reliability, but when you take the potential savings into consideration, buying a refurbished Apple Watch becomes a highly tempting option. In this article we break down everything you need to know about buying a refurbished Apple Watch from the Apple Refurbished Store or elsewhere to save some serious money. If you want to save some money on an Apple Watch, it’s also worth keeping an eye on our roundup of the best Apple Watch deals. You may also be able to find a deal that bundles an Apple Watch for free. Read How to get an Apple Watch for free for more information. Where to buy a refurbished Apple Watch Here are some of the leading resellers of refurbished Apple products, including the Apple Watch, in the U.S. Apple Refurb Store: Apple itself offers a range of refurbished Apple Watches, and in typical Apple fashion, the refurb is of the highest quality. Walmart: US shoppers can also find refurbished Apple Watches from Walmart. Keep in mind, it’s not directly from the retailer but from other sellers. The beauty is that if you run into trouble you can return the device at any Walmart location, and we’ve seen some very competitive prices from this retailer. eBay: An obvious choice, but be cautious. Check the vendor’s rating and feedback as well as the device’s condition. Amazon Renewed Store: We’ve seen some excellent deals on here, but stock of refurb Apple Watches seems to be running low lately. And check carefully for the condition: these details can sometimes be difficult to spot on the product page. U.K. readers should try the following refurbished sellers: Apple Refurb Store: Buyers in the past have remarked on the near-new quality of Apple Refurb products, albeit in plain white packaging. These may not be as cheap as the refurb units on offer elsewhere but the quality is exemplary and you can buy with peace of mind. musicMagpie: musicMagpie is one of the most reputable refurbished sellers. It often has sales that reduce prices further. Plus, it also accepts old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) which you can trade in for more money off. eBay: Check the vendor’s rating and feedback, and use the Condition dropdown tool to distinguish between new and various grades of refurbished. The iOutlet: The iOutlet is another reseller with great prices on refurbished devices, including several generations of the Apple Watch. You can also trade in other gadgets such as iPhones, iPads, and gaming consoles to earn cashback. Amazon Renewed Store: Another solid option for refurbished Apple Watch deals. Purchases are not only backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy, but the “Renewed Guarantee” as well, which lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product. Envirofone: Known for its smartphone offers, this site has in the past offered a solid selection of older Apple Watches too. Stock seems to be running low lately, however, and it’s never been good for more recent units. Refurb-Phone: Has deals available on some surprisingly recent Apple Watch models. Laptops Direct: Despite the name, Laptops Direct also sells smartwatches. Select Condition > Refurbished in the lefthand filters column to see refurb offers only. What’s the difference between a new Apple Watch and a refurbished one? Technically speaking, Refurbished Apple products (by which we mean specifically products refurbished by Apple itself) are pre-owned, but with such a meticulous refurbishing process undertaken by the company, it’s unlikely you’ll even notice. It’s not necessarily the case that the product has been used for years on end: it could have been used by a journalist relatively briefly for review purposes, or it could have been returned by a customer who quickly decided on a different make or model. Even if it was returned for being faulty after a period of use, Apple rectifies any issues before selling the unit on, providing a product that’s essentially ‘as new.’ When you buy a refurbished Apple Watch directly from Apple, you’ll also get the same one-year warranty that you’d get when buying a brand-new Apple Watch, along with all the manuals and accessories that come with the smartwatch. The only noticeable difference is the packaging; refurbished Apple products come in a plain white box with no branding or imagery. We imagine this is something to do with stopping untrustworthy customers from buying a refurbished product and trying to resell it as new, but only Apple knows the real reasons why. Perhaps it’s just cheaper. Apple replaces the battery and case for every refurbished unit as standard, but it goes further than that. The company promises that all refurbished Apple Watches are in full working order, and each unit is thoroughly tested to guarantee this. Any parts that were defective when the Apple Watch was originally returned will have been replaced, and the Watch will have been thoroughly cleaned and inspected to make sure it holds up to Apple’s high standards. These don’t just apply to brand-new products. As with new Apple products, you’ve got the option of extending the warranty from one to two years by taking out AppleCare+ for your refurbished Watch. This provides two years’ worth of technical support, 24/7 access to Apple experts and hardware coverage for two accidents, although there’s an additional $69/£49 fee for repairs (or $79/£55 for Ultra models). Note once again, however, that the comments above refer to Apple’s refurbished store. Other sellers will deliver varying standards of quality and reliability, although most of the big names provide a similar standard to Apple. We think it’s certainly worth considering, as top-quality refurbished products can look as good as new and, packaging aside, your experience will be identical to that of a first-time buyer. It also offers better value for money than simply buying used or second-hand for one key reason: the battery will have been replaced. Battery replacements cost $99 from Apple U.S., or £95 from Apple U.K. That’s money you might as well put towards a good-quality refurbished model. Which refurbished Apple Watch should I buy? If you’re on the hunt for the latest Apple Watch Series 10, you likely won’t find any at the Apple Refurbished Store just yet, so you’ll have to go elsewhere. You’ll easily be able to find a refurbished Series 8 or 9, however, and we’ve started seeing refurb stock of the Ultra 2. If you can find the Apple Watch Series 7 from 2021 (right now it’s out of stock) the price should be excellent… but we wouldn’t go any older than that. You may be able to find a tempting-looking deal on the Series 6 or 5, but these models are quite a long way behind the current range in terms of features, screen size and so on. More importantly, the latter is no longer supported by Apple itself: you won’t be able to install new versions of watchOS. And the Series 6 is likely to meet the same fate in the next year or two. If you’re struggling to decide on which Apple Watch is best for your needs, we recommend taking a look at our Apple Watch buying guide, although that deals primarily with the current range. For comparisons with the older models, check out our extensive library of Apple Watch reviews, or go to Apple’s website and use the watch comparison tool. (Click Watch in the top bar, then Compare.) The Apple Watch Series 5 no longer receives new watchOS updates.Foundry Which Apple Watch models are available from Apple’s Refurbished Store? With an ever-evolving stock, it should come as no surprise that products available in Apple’s Refurbished Store change quite frequently. You’ll want to check back regularly if a particular model of Apple Watch isn’t available when you first look. At time of writing, the U.S. store has refurbished Apple Watch Series 9, 2nd-gen SE, and Ultra 2 models. (The store has a slot for the first-gen Ultra too, but it’s currently out of stock.) This may all change in the future as stock waxes and wanes. Those browsing the U.K. store can choose from the Apple Watch Series 8, Series 9, 2nd-gen SE, 1st-gen Ultra, and Ultra 2, and there’s a currently unused slot for the Series 7. As we say, don’t lose heart if the configuration you want isn’t there right now. You might get lucky in the future. How to choose a refurbished Apple Watch If the Apple Refurbished Store doesn’t have the model you’re after, you can try a third-party reseller. There are a few things to note before you hand over your cash, however. Unlike the situation with Apple’s refurbished devices, which will be virtually indistinguishable from new, third-party refurbished sellers tend to offer Apple Watches in a range of conditions. Some will use descriptive terms such as “pristine” and “good.” Others will go for Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C, like grades on a report card. A Grade A refurbished Apple Watch will be as close to new as possible. Any sign of wear will be so minimal, you probably won’t be able to tell. Unsurprisingly, Grade A refurbished devices will be more expensive. Grade B may show some signs of wear but these will be mostly minor. Finally, a Grade C refurbished Apple Watch will show obvious signs of wear like scratches or scuffs. Keep in mind, however, that these grades are only a rough indication of what to expect. There isn’t a standards body that oversees these grades–which means a Grade A (or pristine) from one reseller may be closer to a Grade B or good elsewhere. This is why it’s also important to look at all the individual return/warranty policies of the reseller before you part with your money. Most trusted refurbished sellers offer a one-year warranty on purchases, which means you can get a refund or free repair should you run into any trouble. Many retailers such as musicMagpie and 4Gadgets also offer 14-day money-back guarantees so you can return the device if you’re not totally happy. Best refurbished Apple Watch deals right now In this final section you can browse our automated price-comparison widgets for each model of Apple Watch. These check prices across thousands of retailers to bring you the best possible deal right now, and they include both new and, where available, refurbished options. When refurbished devices are on offer in your area, they will appear in a second tab in the table; if there’s no second tab, there are no refurbished deals. Needless to say, you’re far more likely to find refurb units when you’re looking at the older models, which you’ll find further down. Apple Watch Ultra 2, from $799/£799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $479.99 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band Blue $503.97 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Alpine loop Blue $567 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band White $570.61 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Alpine loop Starlight $599 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 10, 42mm, from $399/£399 Retailer Price $329 View Deal $329 View Deal $329 View Deal $399 View Deal 399 View Deal $399 View Deal $399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 10, 46mm, from $429/£429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $359 View Deal $359 View Deal $359 View Deal $429 View Deal $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series 10 (2024) GPS + Cellular 46 mm – Aluminium Rose Gold – Sport band Starlight $429 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch SE (2022), 40mm, from $249/£219 New Refurbished Retailer Price $169 View Deal $169 View Deal $199 View Deal $249 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $159.03 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band White $159.95 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $178 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $189 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $199 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $209 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport loop Starlight $310.66 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch SE (2022), 44mm, from $279/£249 New Refurbished Retailer Price $199 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $279.99 View Deal $289 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $154.16 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 44 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $173 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $189 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $229 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm, was $399/£399 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $158.99 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal $399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $267.72 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $269 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Pink – Sport band Pink $271.31 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $273 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $273.74 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $275.71 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $279.11 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $297.74 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $308.37 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm, was $429/£429 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $398.99 View Deal $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $267.72 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $273 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $279 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $283.61 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $283.81 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $285.31 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $285.69 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $295.87 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $297.24 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $297.74 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Ultra 1, was $799/£849 (now discontinued) • review New Refurbished Retailer Price $479.99 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band White $424.99 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band Black $448.93 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Alpine loop Green $479 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band Blue $503.97 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Alpine loop White $525 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band Yellow $547 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Trail loop Blue $550.54 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Alpine loop Starlight $599 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Trail loop Black $609 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm – Titanium Natural Titanium – Trail loop Yellow $798 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 8, was $399/£419 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $239.99 View Deal $379.99 View Deal $389 View Deal $399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $215.13 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $215.13 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $215.14 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Sport band Black $218.85 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Silver – Sport band White $229.21 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $245.68 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Gold – Sport band Starlight $383.58 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 8, 45mm, was $x/£x (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $201.74 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $203.42 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $210.24 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $215.14 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $215.14 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $229.21 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $229.21 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Silver – Sport band White $238 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Black $285 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Sport band Black $384.64 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Milanese loop Black $399 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Gold – Sport band Starlight $463.89 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 7, 41mm, was $399/£369 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $239.99 View Deal Apple Refurbished $299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Blue $140.07 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Green $145 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $146.88 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band White $146.96 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $148.99 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $151.72 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $151.72 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $153.22 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $159.95 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Green – Solo loop Green $162.99 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Black $171.73 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $177.75 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Black $180.99 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Black $190.79 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Solo loop Black $193.01 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 41 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Starlight $238.47 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Silver – Sport band Starlight $259 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Green $345 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Milanese loop Black $347.65 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 41 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Sport band Blue $424 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 7, 45mm, was $429/£399 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $479.99 View Deal $699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $128.92 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Green $146.88 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Black $151 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $160.49 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Green $163.56 View Deal Smart Watch Apple Watch Series 7 HR GPS – Gold $170.13 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Nike Sport band Black $171.19 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Starlight $184.14 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Nike Sport band White/Black $188.57 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $189 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Sport band Blue $196.53 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Green – Sport band Black $209.77 View Deal Smart Watch Apple Watch Series 7 HR GPS – Gray $210.02 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Blue $211.92 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Milanese loop Black $218.66 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Nike Sport band White/Black $224.69 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Stainless steel Graphite – Sport band Black $249.19 View Deal Apple Watch Series 7 (2021) GPS + Cellular 45 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Black $266 View Deal Smart Watch Apple Watch Series 7 HR GPS – Gold $299.95 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 6, 40mm, was $399/£379 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $239.99 View Deal $399 View Deal $439 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Space Gray – Sport band Black $121.40 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Red – Sport band Red $128.39 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS + Cellular 44 mm – Aluminium Space Gray – Sport band Black $128.39 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $128.39 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $128.39 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS + Cellular 40 mm – Aluminium Space Gray – Sport band Black $131.03 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Gold – Sport band Pink $149.68 View Deal Apple Watch Series 6 (2020) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Black $162.04 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch SE (2020), 40mm, was $279/£249 (now discontinued) New Refurbished Retailer Price $140 View Deal $279 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series SE 1 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Gold – Sport band Pink $110.95 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 1 (2020) GPS + Cellular 44 mm – Aluminium Gold – Sport band Pink $121.52 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 1 (2020) GPS 44 mm – Aluminium Gold – Sport band Pink $240 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 1 (2020) GPS 40 mm – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $399 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket

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Meta says its future AI models could have ‘catastrophic outcomes’
A Meta policy document describes the company’s fears that it could accidentally develop an AI model which would lead to “catastrophic outcomes.” It describes its plans to prevent the release of such models, but admits that it may not be able to do so. Among the capabilities the company most fears are an AI system that could break through the security of even the best-protected corporate or government computer network without human assistance … more…

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How China saved Apple from bankruptcy but now holds the company hostage
An upcoming book Apple in China promises to tell the story of how a seemingly smart idea back in 1996 now leaves the company hostage to the whims of an authoritarian regime. Subtitled “the capture of the world’s greatest company,” the book features interviews with more than 200 former Apple execs and engineers, and says it acts as both a historical account and a cautionary tale … more…

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Apple killed the wrong Vision Pro project
Macworld After Apple kickstarted the spatial computing era with the high-priced Vision Pro mixed-reality headset last year, it seemed to be a first step toward a future all-day wearable device. However, it turns out that might not be the case. A report by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claims that Apple is moving in the other direction after canceling its most promising augmented reality glasses project after hitting several roadblocks and focusing instead on the next-gen Vision Pro headset. Apple’s got it completely backward: Apple should kill Vision Pro 2 and pour more resources into its smart glasses project. More is less I’m not undermining the Vision Pro’s advanced technology and capabilities. It’s objectively one of the highest-end consumer headsets on the market, featuring sharp displays, a dozen sensors, a slew of well-designed apps, and seamless integrations with the Apple ecosystem. Its $3,499 price tag, however, acts as the first hurdle barring mass adoption. Beyond its outrageous price tag, the Vision Pro is the first in its product line, and, naturally, it’s filled with imperfections and limitations. Reviewers almost unanimously agree that it is too heavy and causes neck discomfort with extended use. That’s not to mention its relatively short battery life and lack of outdoor use. visionOS is essentially an immersive iPadOS/macOS hybrid that runs in users’ fields of view. But, what if we don’t want all of these overpriced complexities? A pair of smart glasses would be a fantastic addition to the Apple ecosystem.Foundry Ray of light While Meta has long catered to gamers and VR enthusiasts with its Quest headset (that costs one-tenth of a Vision Pro), its $299 Ray-Ban glasses are a different animal. For one, they’re not much more expensive than a Meta-less pair of Ray-Bans, but more importantly, they’re not catered to a niche tech-first category of customers. First, to make its device appealing to wear, Meta collaborated with Ray-Ban—one of the most popular sunglasses brands. Sometimes people are embarrassed to wear nerdy accessories in public. So, having the Ray-Ban branding instantly takes away that stigma. Also Meta didn’t shoot for the moon like Apple did. Instead, Meta built in just a few useful perks to keep its glasses simple and cheap. The temple tips house discreet open-ear speakers for music streaming on the go, so you don’t need a separate pair of earbuds. It has a set of AirPods-like controls built right into the arms.  But most importantly, the glasses feature a forward-facing camera instead of a screen, which offers a window into the world for Meta’s AI bot to analyze what it sees and report back. And it also lets wearers take quick photos and videos for direct posting to Instagram Stories. Unlike the Vision Pro, the IPX4-certified Ray-Ban Meta are meant to be used away from home. So, users can put them on like any regular pair of sunglasses, which is great for family picnics, concerts, and influencers. Help wanted It’s clear that Apple is currently focused on the flagship headset line, as the Vision Pro’s successor could launch as soon as next year. In my opinion, Apple shouldn’t kill the glasses project but should leverage its own ecosystem advantage to create lightweight spectacles that rely on other devices to do the heavy lifting. A pair of Apple smart glasses could take some cues from the AirPods.Foundry The AirPods, for example, can announce notifications. Similarly, the Apple Watch packs exclusive perks unavailable to rivaling smartwatch brands, such as auto Mac unlock. So, Apple is in a position to create the best smart glasses for iOS users, as no other manufacturer has access to the underlying ecosystem infrastructure. Plus there are plenty of people who just don’t trust Meta. A pair of Apple glasses doesn’t need to have a Vision Pro-like interface. Like the early Apple Watches, they could piggyback on a paired iPhone’s processor and internet connection to offer some handy shortcuts. Like the AirPods, they could handle Siri requests, announce notifications, and accept calls. And with an embedded camera, Apple’s new Visual Intelligence feature could come alive. The smart glasses would transmit what they see to the connected iPhone, which would then analyze the content with ChatGPT and send the response back to the shades. Other potential features could include snapping quick shots and clips that users can view in the iPhone’s Photos app. It could also integrate with FaceTime, letting the caller enjoy the scenic route you’re taking while you talk. The possibilities are endless even without incorporating any of the current Vision Pro features. Vision Pro is too advanced to shrink down to a pair of glasses.Thiago Trevisan/Foundry Short-sighted Vision By putting the Apple Glasses on the back burner, the company is missing the smart glasses train. Meta is actively developing more advanced iterations of the Ray-Bans, while Apple seemingly has no plans to announce a competitor anytime soon. By the time the Apple glasses potentially debut, they’re going to have tremendous competition, and with Apple insisting on high-end features, it could be years before anything comes to market. Even if the Vision Pro 2 addresses most of its predecessor’s shortcomings, which is unlikely, it’s clear that the general public isn’t interested in this form factor. So, maybe Apple should study what’s actually working instead of trying to repair what’s inherently broken.

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Apple rolls out mysterious iOS 18.3 update for iPhone 11 only
Macworld While iOS 18.3 was not as momentous as some of Apple’s previous x.3 iPhone updates, it brought a number of significant changes, mostly affecting Apple Intelligence. Now, however, the company has released another version of iOS 18.3 focused on a group of devices that don’t support its AI platform. As reported by MacRumors, an update with build number 22D64–as distinct from 22D63, which rolled out last week–has been released for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max only. Those aren’t the oldest devices that can run iOS 18 (that title is held by the iPhone XS and XR) but they’re close to the bottom of the list and could miss out when iOS 19 is announced this summer. With their A13 chips they aren’t remotely close to meeting Apple Intelligence’s hardware requirements: an A17 or later found in the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and the iPhone 16 range. Apple hasn’t released a special version of iOS 18.3 for iPhone 12, 13, 14, or 15 handsets, or for that matter the XS and XR, suggesting that this update is addressing specific flaws in the iPhone 11. It seems counterintuitive that the iPhone 11 would need iOS 18.3 at all, but the update does contain some new features that aren’t related to Apple Intelligence. Of the five features we picked out as noteworthy, for example, there is one for the Calculator app, restoring a pre-iOS 18 ability to continually tap the equals sign in order to repeat the last operation. And the Home app gains support for HomeKit- and Matter-compatible robot vacuums. The focus of the update, however, is more likely to be bug fixes. We already know of two fixes in the general iOS 18.3 release: one tackles an Apple Music problem that caused songs to complete playback even if you closed the app, while another deals with the keyboard disappearing when typing a Siri request. But 22D64 is likely to contain a patch for a bug specific to the late-2019 handsets. To install the update, which we would recommend, you should open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update and follow the instructions. Read our iOS 18 superguide for more information about the latest iPhone software.

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Apple is doomed because it can’t see the future
Macworld More bad news for people who get attached to rumored Apple products as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the company has canceled one of its headset projects: Apple Scraps Work on Mac-Connected Augmented Reality Glasses. Quick side note: if you do find yourself becoming attached to a rumored Apple product, that’s probably a good time to close the laptop and go outside and stare at a tree or something for a while. Pet a dog. Do whatever it is people do with cats. Getting attached to rumored Apple product lines is not healthy. This now dead as a doornail one is, of course, not the Vision Pro but a potential new type of glasses that Gurman reported on last year. This project apparently went from “Maybe if we offload the processing to an iPhone.” to “Oof. That’s not gonna work. How about offloading it to a Mac?” to “AR glasses you can wear while sitting at a desk? Why are we doing this again?” to canceled. Hey, it happens. Just the other day the Macalope was thinking of going out for a nice lunch. Then time got away from him and he thought maybe he’d make a nice lunch at home. Then he ended up eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups at his desk. That’s pretty much the same thing. The Macalope will not be taking questions. Gizmodo’s take on this turn of events is the most pointing and LOL-ing the Macalope’s seen. Here’s their subhead: Apple is lacking vision for where to go following the Vision Pro tanking. Gizmodo, January 31, 2025 Get it? Because Vision. Yeah, you got it. Copy editors are such scamps. The first part seems fairly true, based on the available rumors at least. Apple’s current status with its Vision efforts seems positively Titan-esque, which ain’t great. But did the Vision Pro “tank”? Apple certainly didn’t sell a lot of them, that’s for sure, but it’s questionable whether or not it sold fewer than it really expected. And if you’re comparing it to other Apple product lines, it’s worth remembering that you’re comparing it to some of the most successful consumer electronics products ever. By ditching the augmented reality glasses, Apple is tacitly admitting that it just cannot crack the VR/AR space. Gizmodo, January 31, 2025 That, however, is not exactly what Mark Gurman’s piece said. Despite the project being shuttered, Apple is still working on underlying technologies that could be used in AR glasses down the road, including custom microLED-type screens, Bloomberg News reported this week. Bloomberg, January 31, 2025 So much of Apple’s analysis relies on reporting done by Mark Gurman. It seems to the Macalope that if you’re going to use Gurman’s work as the basis for your views, you should use all of it instead of just the parts that support your thesis. He knows it’s less fun that way. Also, while Apple is ditching the offloading glasses, it has not ditched the Vision Pro itself. It’s still in there swinging. Maybe not connecting a lot, but still swinging. IDG To Gizmodo’s point, it really isn’t at all clear that Apple has a viable development path for the Vision line. While you could probably have said that about the Apple Watch back in 2015, too, those two products aren’t exactly comparable. One is priced at a consumer level and the other is priced more at an “I have a backup yacht” level. Of course, you’re gonna wanna keep the Vision Pro on the main yacht, just in case you want to show it to another of your yacht friends. Who probably also have their own Vision Pros. So maybe do keep it on your backup yacht? Honestly, the Macalope doesn’t really know how yacht provisioning works. The Macalope’s been wrong before but he doesn’t believe for a minute that Apple is done with AR/VR headsets. While the Vision Pro isn’t a sales hit, there is definitely enough neat technology there that can be steered into a product that might one day be a hit. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be real soon, however.

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Apple makes Swift Build available as open-source, posts developer files to GitHub
If you’re a Swift Playgrounds fan as well as an open-source aficionado, you’re going to like this. Over the weekend, Apple announced that the company is making Swift Build open-source. Swift Build functions as the engine used by both Xcode as well as Apple’s internal projects. Apple offered the following comment on Saturday: “As Swift […] Source

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Apple releases iPhone 11-specific iOS 18.3 build
If you have an iPhone 11 model, a specialized version of Apple’s iOS 18.3 was just released. The build, designated build number 22D64, was designed specifically for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models, and is thought to work around a bug that was impacting iOS 18.3 on the iPhone […] Source

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Test your Mac’s performance using one of these benchmark and speed-test tools
Macworld Is your Mac’s performance not as good as it once was? Wondering if there might be a problem with your software or if one of the components has failed? Or perhaps it’s your web connection that’s bothering you, but you aren’t sure if it’s just that your broadband connection is really poor, or if there’s something else going on with your Mac. We share plenty of advice on how to update your Mac, and speed up a slow Mac, but how do you tell if there is really a problem with your Mac rather than you just being inpatient with it? One way to get an idea of how well your Mac is working is to run benchmarks and a set of performance tests on your MacBook or Mac desktop. Several benchmarking apps will help you find out how fast your Mac is, you can test your GPU and your CPU as well as your Wi-Fi internet speed and even ethernet speed. In this article we’ll run through the best Mac performance test apps, including some free options you can find online. If you are thinking of buying a new Mac, running benchmarks on your current machine and then comparing them to our benchmarks of the newer models we’ve reviewed will give you an idea of the kind of boost you can expect. (Check our Mac reviews section for the latest Mac benchmarks.) In this article, we’ll recommend the variety of (usually free) apps we use to evaluate a Mac’s performance (and more specifically, the performance of its components) in a range of scenarios. Carry on reading to find out how to benchmark the CPU, GPU, hard drive, and more, of your Mac desktop or laptop. How to run Mac speed tests Want to find out how fast your Mac is (and confirm your belief that it’s been slowing down)? You can run various tests to find out your processor speed, which would give you an insight into how powerful your Mac is. We also recommend checking the speed of your SSD–or hard drive, if you Mac is older. Before running any of the tests below, we recommend closing any apps on your Mac as they might affect how well the machine performs. Restarting to make sure that any RAM is freed up is also advisable. How to benchmark your Mac’s CPU To check your processor speed we recommend Geekbench from Primate Labs. Geekbench is free to use and you can get it on the Mac App Store here. You can also download it from Primate Labs website here.  Geekbench 6 (updated from Geekbench 5 in February 2023) is the most popular tool for gauging how powerful the latest processors are, and because it works for Macs and PCs, as well as iOS and Android you can get a good idea of how your processor compares to another. It is our go-to benchmark tool when reviewing the latest Macs, iPhones and iPads here at Macworld. Geekbench’s CPU test runs through various tests to stress the CPU and then calculates an overall score–the higher the better. Tests include file compression, rendering web pages and PDFs, running developer scripts, and doing machine-learning tasks like object detection and background blur. Running these tests could be useful if you think something is wrong with your Mac; you can compare the score to similar Macs and processors. You can view recent Geekbench scores for various Mac processors here. Foundry How to benchmark your CPU with Geekbench The main draw of Geekbench is that it’s incredibly easy to use and requires little technical knowledge. Here’s how to use it: Download the app from the Mac App Store here or Primate Labs website here.  We recommend that you restart your Mac before running the test. Close any other apps that are running on your Mac. Open Geekbench. You’ll see a Welcome to Geekbench message and a request to Upgrade or Enter License. You don’t need to do either of these things. Just click on Later. Click Run CPU benchmark. Foundry Geekbench will then measure the performance of your CPU when performing “everyday tasks designed to simulate real-world applications” and can take 10 minutes or more to complete, depending on the speed of your CPU. Once it’s done, the results will be displayed. You might initially be overwhelmed by all the information on offer, from the Processor ID to the Motherboard hardware, but the only two numbers you need to concentrate on are at the top: single-core score and multi-core score. The single-core score helps give a sense of how fast the Mac performs under certain situations when only a single processing core is handling everything. Many applications have their performance limited by a single main thread, so single-core CPU performance will determine how fast they run. Other applications are designed to be multi-threaded so that lots of processes can run at the same time. The multi-core results show you how well your Mac can perform when pushed to its absolute limits, as it’ll use multiple processing cores at once to handle the strain. Think of it as your Mac’s top-end performance. You can take these results and compare them to other benchmark tests on the Geekbench Browser, allowing you to see how your Mac compares to the latest generation of Macs, and even its competitors from other manufacturers. It should give you an idea of how well your computer is performing at the moment, and whether the upgrade you’re considering is worth it in terms of raw processing power. Foundry How to check your Mac’s disk speed One way we used to check how fast the storage inside our Mac was used to be to copy and paste a 4GB folder and then time how long it took to duplicate. That is no longer an effective measure because, since Apple introduced APFS (Apple File System) the folder is no longer duplicated, all you are really doing is creating an alias to the original file. Therefore the only way to really make a judgment about the speed of the storage inside your Mac is to use a tool such as the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test (free from the Mac App Store here), or the AJA System Test Lite (free from the Mac App Store here) to measure the read/write speeds of your hard drive or SSD. How to benchmark your SSD with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test The free Blackmagic Disk Speed Test was designed for video editors to help determine whether their hard drives can handle large files. If you’re not a video editor, don’t fret. the data is still very helpful to gauge performance. Download Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. We recommend that you restart your Mac before running the test. Open the app. For improved accuracy, and as with all other benchmark tests, it’s best to make sure that no other apps are running. Select your target drive if your Mac has more than one hard drive (this is done by clicking the gear cog) and click start to begin the benchmark. While there’s a bunch of data showcased in the Will it Work? and How Fast? charts, that’s mainly for video editors. The numbers you want to focus on are displayed in the big gauges at the top. The write speed is on the left and the read speed on the right, giving you an idea of how fast things will be written to the drive and how fast apps and files will load respectively. Blackmagic Disk Speed works by running a write test and the Write gauge will eventually stop with a result. Then, it will do the same with a Read test. Then, it starts the process over again with a test of a different file size and will continue to go back and forth between tests until you click the Stop button. You can record any results you see while the gauge is stopped. You’ll find that the results between test iterations are similar. How to check GPU performance on Mac Finally, let’s talk about graphical performance. For this, we usually opt for two main benchmark tools: Geekbench’s Compute tests and Maxon’s Cinebench. How to use Cinebench to benchmark your Mac’s GPU Cinebench 2024, which you can download here, is another free piece of software that, in addition to testing your Mac’s CPU (much like Geekbench without the ability to compare with other results online), will use an OpenGL and Metal test to benchmark your graphics card. Cinebench tests the CPU and/or GPU by creating a 3D engine with Maxon’s Redshift render engine. On M3 and later MAcs, Cinebench supports the GPU-accelerated Metal RT hardware ray tracing. After the tests have run you’ll see the frames per second (fps) result and a score, with the higher the result the better. You’ll see some of the best results following the test, but Maxon doesn’t have an easy-to-search database for different models like Geekbench does. Maxon To perform the test, install the app (It’s called Cinebench R24), open it, and click Start next to the GPU test in the top-left corner of the app. It’ll take you through the test, and your final result will be displayed next to the Start button. A test can take 10 minutes or longer. How to use Geekbench to benchmark your Mac’s GPU Geekbench doesn’t measure 3D graphics rendering performance like the Cinebench test above. Instead, it uses the GPU to handle computational tasks like edge detection on images, applying a gaussian blur to a 24-megapixel photo, or detecting faces in photos. That is how it measures GPU Compute tasks. For that reason we would suggest that if you want to measure 3D graphics performance you are better off using Cinebench (above). Geeknech Compute is a good general-purpose GPU benchmark. To measure the GPU using Geekbench download the app from the Mac App Store here or Primate Labs website here.  We recommend that you restart your Mac before running the test. Close any other apps that are running on your Mac. Open Geekbench. You’ll see a Welcome to Geekbench message and a request to Upgrade or Enter License. You don’t need to do either of these things. Just click on Later. Click on Compute in the sidebar on the left. Choose between OpenCL or Metal in the GPU API section. On a Mac, Metal is the most important score; on iPhones and iPads, the only supported API is Metal. Click Run GPU Benchmark. Having benchmarked your Mac you will have a better idea of whether it is performing as well as should be expected, or if there might be something wrong. Our first suggestion would be to update your software, but if your Mac is just suffering from old age and you decide to look for a new Mac, take a look at our Mac buying guide and be sure to check out the best prices for a new Mac in our various Mac deals round ups: Best Mac mini deals this month Best MacBook Air deals this month Best Mac Studio deals available now Best MacBook Pro deals this month Best iMac deals this month

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Burned through all the content on Apple TV? This documentary streamer is here to fill the void
Macworld Why does the ever-flowing content stream make us feel like we live in a desert? If you’ve watched everything on Max, Hulu, or whatever new streaming service popped up last week, MagellanTV is an established alternative to mindless binge-watching. And this week, a lifetime subscription is 30% off with code SAVE30. Not your average streaming service This award-winning documentary streamer offers thousands of hours of ad-free content across history, science, crime, nature, and more. Whether you’re looking for something more profound or need something interesting playing in the background, MagellanTV has you covered. Unlike traditional streaming services, MagellanTV offers a rich library of growing content that keeps you hooked. Explore shows like “Diving with Sharks”, “The Last Secrets of the Titanic”, and “JFK: Making of a President.” Or, dive into exclusive playlists like “Wild Weather,” “The Stay-at-Home Travel Guide,” and “Mysteries of the Universe,” Whether exploring ancient civilizations, unsolved crimes, or the wonders of the natural world, you’ll always find something new and fascinating. MagellanTV isn’t just for solo watching — stream across up to five devices and share your subscription with family and friends with no additional fees. Get your lifetime access to MagellanTV for just $139.97 (Reg. $199) and save 30% with code SAVE30 at checkout.   MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription – $199.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Get six months of Apple Music for just under $3
Apple Music is running its "biggest offer ever," providing six months of subscription to new users for less than $3. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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How to create reminders in Calendar in iOS 18
A significant enhancement in the iOS 18 Calendar app is its integration with Reminders, allowing you to manage everything in one app. Here's how to get started.How to add reminders to the iOS 18 Calendar appManaging schedules and tasks can quickly become overwhelming when juggling apps. Apple's iOS 18 update addresses this issue by allowing you to create reminders directly within the Calendar app, streamlining the process and ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.With this new feature, there's no need to constantly switch between apps to keep track of tasks. It's worth noting that this functionality isn't entirely new — similar integration has long been available when using third-party apps like Fantastical. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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WhatsApp will soon let users schedule events right from private chats
WhatsApp currently offers a feature that helps users plan events from group chats. Soon, this feature will be expanded to private chats as well, giving WhatsApp users more flexibility to create and manage their appointments. more…

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AltStore brings first porn app to iPhones in the EU, Apple doesn't 'approve'
The first native porn app for iPhone called "Hot Tub" may have passed notarization checks, but Apple wants everyone to know it certainly doesn't "approve" of such dangerous things on its devices.Hot Tub arrives on AltStoreApple's App Store Review Guidelines have almost always explicitly stated that apps featuring "overtly sexual or pornographic material" are not allowed, period. However, alternate app stores in the EU can publish anything that passes a notarization check, and that's happened with the first-ever native porn app for iPhone.When AltStore promoted the app, named Hot Tub, it used the phrase "the first Apple-approved porn app" in marketing. Apple was quick to deny that it "approved" of the app, and released a statement to MacRumors. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Last call: pick up Apple's M4 Pro Mac mini for $1,279
Time is running out to pick up Apple's M4 Pro Mac mini at the discounted price of $1,279.Get exclusive pricing on Apple's M4 Pro Mac mini.This Mac mini is a top seller due to its blend of affordability with the performance of the M4 Pro chip. Featuring a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, this retail model also has 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of storage. Normally $1,399, B&H is knocking $120 off the upgraded configuration (MCX44LL/A) exclusively for AppleInsider readers.Get the exclusive deal Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Judge Denies Apple's Attempt To Intervene In Google Search Antitrust Trial
A US District Court judge denied Apple's emergency request to halt the Google Search monopoly trial, ruling that Apple failed to show sufficient grounds for a stay. The Verge reports: Apple said last week that it needs to be involved in the Google trial because it does not want to lose "the ability to defend its right to reach other arrangements with Google that could benefit millions of users and Apple's entitlement to compensation for distributing Google search to its users." The remedies phase of the trial is set for April, and lawyers for the Department of Justice have argued that Google should be forced to sell Chrome, with a possibility of spinning off Android if necessary. While Google will still appeal the decision, the company's proposed remedies focus on undoing its licensing deals that bundle apps and services together. "Because Apple has not satisfied the 'stringent requirements' for obtaining the 'extraordinary relief' of a stay pending appeal, its motion is denied," states Judge Mehta's order. Mehta explains that Apple "has not established a likelihood of success on the merits" for the stay. That includes a lack of clear evidence on how Apple will suffer "certain and great" harm. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Apple stops signing iOS 18.2.1, blocking downgrade from iOS 18.3
A week after releasing iOS 18.3 to the public, Apple has now stopped signing iOS 18.2.1. For users, this means that they can no longer downgrade to this version of the operating system if their iPhone or iPad is already running a newer version. more…

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Apple explains how to stop your MacBook from booting up every time you open it
Ever wish your MacBook wouldn’t boot up every time you open the lid or connect to power? Apple has published an official support document detailing how to disable the feature. more…

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