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- Saturday February 22
- 02:32 pmLittle Snitch 6.2.1
Improves connection identification in the Network Monitor. ($59 new, free update, 40.9 MB, macOS 14+)02:30 pmToday in Apple history: Hippie-themed iMacs fuel Cupertino flashback
On February 22, 2001, Apple introduced the iMac G3 Special Edition in wildly colorful Flower Power and Blue Dalmatian patterns. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)02:30 pmThe iPhone 16e settles it: Apple is no longer a luxury company
Macworld You’ll often hear people complain that Apple’s “luxury gadgets” are too expensive for them. If they’re talking about a $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max or a $2,299 iPad Pro, then this point of view is understandable. But strictly speaking, even the most expensive of Apple’s Pro devices are premium products, not luxury. There’s a big difference. Want to see a real luxury product? How about an $8,900 Gucci jacket. Or a $10,000 Dior bag. Or a $17,000 Apple Watch. Real luxury is about exclusivity and as much about the number of people who don’t buy your product. But with more than 200 million iPhones sold per year, the luxury niche tag is simply no longer applicable to Apple. Take the new $599 iPhone 16e. It’s a solid but spartanly equipped smartphone with an older design and only one camera (which doesn’t offer a real optical zoom, no matter how often Apple claims this). The 16e is not a luxury product. It’s part of a growing group of Apple devices that are meant to appeal to a mass market looking for a good-looking product at a decent price. It’s J. Crew, not Cartier. Of all Apple’s products, only a handful—the iPad Pro, Mac Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max—can truly be described as premium. In addition to Apple’s brand image and good design, the iPhone Pro and iPad Pro offer exceptional performance and ease of use. And the video professional or app developer who spends big on a Mac Pro can be sure they will get high stability and first-class hardware in return. But it’s hard to find luxury in a product that essentially offers the same experience as one costing thousands less. The iPad Pro and Mac Pro are some of the few premium products Apple still makes.Thiago Trevisan/Foundry Is Apple still a premium manufacturer? Apple launches more and more affordable products every year. Although these are first-class products, they are aimed more at the mass market and are significantly cheaper than other Apple products. The M4 Mac mini is often available for under its $599/£599 MSRP. Even at full price, this is an excellent deal, but despite its many strengths, this is hardly a premium computer. The Apple Watch SE isn’t a luxury smartwatch, nor can it even be described as premium compared to the Apple Watch Series 10. But you can pick one up for as little as $199/£189. It’s primarily intended for younger family members who are joining the Apple world at an early age. A colorful HomePod mini is available for just $99, $250 less than the classic HomePod. This cute smart speaker has its charms even if audio quality is relatively weak at the bass end. The current Apple TV delivers a first-class home cinema experience, voice control, and intuitive remote control for $129. AirPods 4 offer AirPods Pro-level sound quality with ANC for $179. At $349 (and often on sale), the 10th-gen iPad is clearly targeted at budget buyers. It costs nearly a thousand dollars less than the 13-inch iPad Pro. Apple had to make a decision years ago. Should it remain a pure premium manufacturer, a kind of Porsche among consumer tech manufacturers, by offering only the best to people willing to pay for it? This would have been risky because it would mean the survival of the company hangs on the success of a very small number of high-priced products. (As an illustration of these risks, mistakes in product development are currently causing the aforementioned German sports car manufacturer serious difficulties.) So Apple chose a different path. The iPhone 16e is another product aimed at a mass market, not a luxury one.Foundry Less luxury, more shipments Apple has evidently decided to become a mass manufacturer offering a wide range of products catering to all income brackets. Premium devices such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max may deliver the biggest profit margin, but less profitable devices such as the iPhone 16e ensure a large number of users. This in turn leads to strong revenue through services such as iCloud+, AppleCare+, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and, last but not least, the App Store. Even growth regions such as India cannot be conquered with premium devices alone. A broad customer base brings another benefit: economies of scale. The larger the turnover, the higher the number of shipments, the more advantages you gain in areas such as development and marketing. It makes little economic sense to develop your own iPhone CPUs and operating systems for a few customers. But if you sell 230 million smartphones a year, you can negotiate completely different conditions with companies like TSMC. It’s possible that this strategic shift will have consequences: Apple could find that the premium portion of its brand diminishes in the coming years as people choose value over premium. But I would bet Apple will be just fine with that.02:27 pmApple @ Work: Looking back at how Apple built its modern device management tech stack
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. Before the iPad, Apple saw a lot of success in K-12, but it was mainly around cart-based learning with MacBooks. While several schools had 1:1 programs, the iPad (and its $499 price point) kickstarted the mobility revolution. The iPad was a hit with students and teachers alike, but managing iPads at scale was, to put it mildly, a logistical nightmare for IT teams. more…01:54 pm1Password 8.10.62
Password manager now requires a minimum of macOS 12 Monterey. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 4.8 MB, macOS 12+)01:43 pmBest iPhone 16e Cases now available for purchase: Apple silicone, MagSafe, more from $10 | 9 to 5 MacBest iPhone 16e Cases now available for purchase: Apple silicone, MagSafe, more from $10
Apple’s latest has arrived, and it’s now time to scope out the best iPhone 16e cases. Pre-orders went live this morning on the new, more affordable Apple handset and we are already starting to see plenty of case makers coming out of the woodwork with their latest solutions to ensure it remains in pristine condition. While the official new Apple Silicone Cases might be the cleanest options out there, we now know magnetic cases don’t interfere with the new C1 chip, and a load of third-party options have also landed that can effectively retrofit the new 16e with MagSafe support. Head below for a look at the best iPhone 16e cases now available for purchase. more…01:39 pmApple Disables Advanced Data Protection in the UK
The United Kingdom has secretly demanded that Apple enable backdoor access to all iCloud data stored by any user worldwide. In apparent response, Apple has disabled its higher-grade iCloud protection for UK users, although it is illegal for the company to admit that.10:03 amLightning port exits iPhone lineup
With the recent discontinuation of the iPhone 14 from the current lineup, Lightning ports have been completely phased out. All iPhone models are now equipped with USB-C, and Apple is no longer manufacturing iPhones with Lightning ports. Although the Cupertino-based company still offers refurbished models that have Lightning, it’s mostly hidden due to the official […] The post appeared first on iLounge.10:02 amiPhone 16e users will be prompted with software update
Apple will be pushing out day-one updates for iPhone 16e owners. The recently announced iPhone 16e will have iOS 18.3 out of the box, but Apple has already released the next iteration, iOS 18.3.1 on February 10. After turning the device on, users will be prompted to install iOS 18.3.1 to migrate data if they […] The post appeared first on iLounge.10:01 amiOS Google and Chrome app get Lens visual feature
The Google Lens visual feature is enhanced and accessible through the iOS and Chrome app. iOS users can now complete searches from their devices without having to open new tabs or taking screenshots. When using Chrome, the new Lens feature can be accessed via the three-dot menu by choosing ‘Search Screen with Google Lens’. The […] The post appeared first on iLounge.08:00 amMicrosoft Office that won’t keep charging you rent
Macworld Microsoft 365 isn’t the only way to get Microsoft apps onto your Mac. It’s not even the cheapest way. Instead of paying monthly for your Microsoft 365 subscription, see if a one-time payment for a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business is a better fit. It’s on sale for $79.97, down 63% from its regular price of $219 until March 30. This lifetime license comes with Word, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Excel, and Outlook, and there’s no limit to how much you can use them or how long you can have them. Unlike Microsoft 365, this is not a subscription service but a one-time purchase, allowing installation on one Mac with a lifetime license. Users gain the benefit of continuous access to these essential tools without the need for ongoing payments. Your budget gets a break, and you don’t have to learn any new apps. Pay just once for a lifetime of productivity. Through March 30, get a 2021 Microsoft Office Home and Business lifetime license for Mac for $79.97. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License – $79.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amSecret’s out: this is how you’re supposed to use ChatGPT
Macworld Consider this your VIP pass to the inner circle of ChatGPT mastery. Sure, you know how to get the chatbot to write an email for you, but how about making it your personal assistant for virtually everything else? There’s not much it can’t do—it’s all about knowing how to sweet-talk the bot. It’s an art form. Need some help? Many people are getting this e-degree that shows you how to use ChatGPT, and it’s on sale for $19.97 (reg. $790) for a limited time. You can put the certificate on your resume afterward, too, to prove you’re an AI pro. With over 25 hours of content spread across twelve lectures, you’ll learn how to master conversations with ChatGPT. Right now, you’re probably entering random words and hoping for good results, but these strategies will help you get exquisite outputs every time—and avoid those annoying bot-like tendencies the tool has. You might also discover new ways of using ChatGPT for work, including research, brainstorming, content creation, data analysis, coding, meeting prep, customer service support, and more. Unlock new ChatGPT tips with this ChatGPT e-degree, now $19.97 (reg. $790) until March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop. ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree – $19.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.05:23 amiOS 18.4 beta 1: All the new features and changes
The first iOS 18.4 beta 1 packs plenty of changes, including new Apple Intelligence features. Learn about all the changes here. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)Friday February 2111:48 pm9to5Rewards: Win Apple’s latest MacBook Pro from Chargeasap [Giveaway]
This month we’ve partnered with our friends at Chargeasap to give away Apple’s latest MacBook Pro to one lucky reader to celebrate the launch of the company’s new Flash Pro Ultra, the world’s first dual OLED 275W powerbank. You can head below now to enter the giveaway and check out the new Flash Pro Ultra by Chargeasap. more…11:09 pmPresident Trump says he’ll impose retaliatory tariffs for digital taxes, fines, practices, and policies on Apple, other American tech firms | Mac Daily NewsPresident Trump says he’ll impose retaliatory tariffs for digital taxes, fines, practices, and policies on Apple, other American tech firms
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he would issue a Presidential Memorandum imposing tariffs on nations that apply… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.11:00 pmApple to add proximity pairing setup to the Mac with macOS 15.4
iPhone and iPad users are already very familiar with something called “proximity pairing.” First introduced with iOS 11, this feature lets users transfer backup and other data from one device to a new one just by placing them close together. Now it seems that Apple is finally working on adding proximity pairing setup to the Mac. more…10:38 pmiOS 18.4 beta 1: Here’s everything new
Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4. While it’s missing some of the most impressive Apple Intelligence features, it includes a ton of other new features and changes. Head below for our full roundup of everything new in iOS 18.4… more…10:20 pmNew in iOS 18.4 developer beta 1: Apple Intelligence changes, Vision Pro app, more
The first developer beta of iOS 18.4 features an entirely new system application, along with significant changes to Apple Intelligence and Apple News+. Here's what you need to know.The iOS 18.4 developer beta features a variety of enhancements.On Friday, Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4, with build number 22E5200s. The software update comes more than a week after the iPhone maker released iOS 18.3.1 to the general public.The iOS 18.4 update was widely rumored to contain improvements for Siri, it appears as though the planned upgrades for Apple's virtual assistant have been delayed. Instead, the software update includes some useful enhancements for Apple Intelligence and its associated features, among other changes. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:26 pmApple Intelligence comes to Apple Vision Pro in April
Apple Intelligence is coming to Apple Vision Pro in April. With Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro, users will be able to proofread, rewrite… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:07 pmMurderbot sci-fi action series explodes onto Apple TV+ in May
The “Murderbot” premiere date is in mid-May, so our wait for the Apple TV+ adaptation of the brilliant sci-fi series isn’t much longer. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)