Hands on with iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4
Benjamin and Chance share their hands-on reviews with Apple’s latest products, from the impressive noise cancellation in AirPods 4 to the useful — if fiddly — Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Pro, and the redesigned Apple Watch Series 10. The latest iOS 18.1 beta also includes some useful enhancements to Control Center and iPhone Mirroring. And in Happy Hour Plus, Meta impresses with its Orion prototype, but shipping the AR glasses form factor is another thing entirely. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Things: The award-winning to-do app, ready for iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by Incogni: Limit public access to your private information, mitigate the risks of identity theft, and keep your data from being sold. Use code “HAPPYHOUR” at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: incogni.com/happyhour more…

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Apple releases new AirPods Pro 2 firmware
Apple has released new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 to improve the performance and stability of the wireless earbuds… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple updates AirPods Pro 2 firmware yet again as it prepares Hearing Aid feature
Macworld For the second time in as many weeks, Apple has updated the firmware for AirPods Pro 2 (both USB-C and Lightning variants). Apple has not yet posted release notes for this firmware update, but will do so at this support page. This fall, AirPods 2 are expected to get a new “clinical grade” hearing test function as well as the ability to function as over-the-counter hearing aids. Apple received the first-ever FDA authorization for hearing aid software on September 12. There has been some evidence that the latest iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 include the code for this feature, but it is not yet activated in the beta. It is quite possible that Apple will enable it with a server-side switch when it is ready, and these frequent AirPods Pro 2 firmware updates may be the result of rigorous internal testing of the feature. AirPods Pro 2 USB-C Read our review Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: $182.95 at B&H | $189.99 at Best Buy | $249 at Apple Updating your AirPods firmware There isn’t a way to force an upgrade to the new firmware; it will automatically install when the AirPods are in their case and charging. It can take hours or even days to get the latest firmware. If you haven’t used your AirPods in a long time, taking them out of their case and using them for a few minutes before putting them back in and on the charger may help speed things up. To see what firmware version your AirPods are running, you can open the Settings app, select your connected AirPods (near the top), scroll down past all the options to the About section, and look at the Version line. You can also find this information in General  > About  > [name of your AirPods].

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Rumored Apple ‘HomeAccessory’ may feature square display, A18 chip for AI, and more
For some time now, Apple has been rumored to be working on a new home accessory that combines capabilities of an iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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AirPods Pro 2 get new firmware with version 7
Apple has released a firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2 to improve the performance and stability of the wireless earbuds.AirPods Pro 2The update includes build number 7A305. Apple's release notes simply state that it is a bug fixes and other improvements update only for AirPods Pro 2 with either Lightning or USB-C.On September 18, Apple released the second firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2 in as many weeks, and Thursday's update marks a third in quick succession. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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'Balatro' deals itself into the App Store and Apple Arcade
'Balatro' and 'Balatro+' are now available on iPhone and iPad, with players able to choose between the paid edition from the App Store or the Apple Arcade Plus version.Balatro for iOSPreviously teased as arriving on iPhone and iPad late in September, Balatro from LocalThunk and Playstack is now available to download on mobile devices. The launch on Thursday brings the game to both the App Store and the Apple Arcade subscription.Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Balatro Mobile - Launch Trailer (OUT NOW!)","description":"Balatro mobile is OUT NOW on Apple Arcade, the Apple App store and Google Play","thumbnailUrl":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JbptEGMEXfQ/sddefault.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-09-26T14:48:47Z","duration":"PT39S","embedUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=JbptEGMEXfQ"} Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Here are the best reviewed movies on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ offers a wide variety of TV shows, movies, and documentaries. While the service has a strong track record for making quality TV (here are the best shows), the film library is more hit or miss. There’s still a lot to enjoy, though, especially if you know what you’re looking for. And you can look no further: here are the best reviewed movies on Apple TV+. more…

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Best virtual machine software for Mac
Macworld Even the most loyal Mac users recognize that Windows still rules the roost in the world of desktop and laptop computers, and there are many important apps that only run on Windows. For example, the Windows version of Microsoft Office includes the Access database that has never been available for the Mac, and there are many professional graphics and video tools that are Windows-only. And, of course, there are all those A-List games that have never even glanced in the direction of us poor, forgotten Mac gamers. If you need to run Windows software or games on your Macs then this article will reveal the best way to do so. We’ll run through the best virtual machines for Mac, including Parallels and VMware, as well as looking at alternative options, from emulators that let you run Windows apps on a Mac without even installing Windows, to Apple’s Boot Camp and Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. So read on to discover the best options for running Windows, and Windows apps, on your Mac. You may also like to read our guide to How to install Windows and run Windows apps on a Mac. Updated September 2024 following the Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac update. Can I run Windows on my Mac? If you are one of the millions of people using an Intel-based Mac you can use Apple’s Boot Camp to run Windows. We evaluate Boot Camp as an option for running Windows below and it has a number of pros and cons. However, in 2020 Apple started using its own processors that are based on Arm architecture rather than the x86 architecture used by Intel. Now every Mac Apple sells has an Apple-made M-series processor. Boot Camp is not available on M-series Macs. That doesn’t mean that M-series Macs can no longer run Windows, it just means they can’t use Boot Camp and they need the Arm version of Windows. Luckily, there are plenty of options if you want to run Windows on an M-series Mac. You can choose from virtualization options like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, or emulation solutions like CrossOver and Wine, and even Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. Our top choice is Parallels Desktop, but all the others have some benefits that may suit you. For example, CrossOver doesn’t actually need a copy of Windows to run Windows apps, and there are even free options like Whisky and Wine. What is a Virtual Machine? Virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion run on the macOS, but allow you to create a Virtual Machine (or VM) that mimics the hardware of a Windows PC. This makes it possible to create a VM on your Mac and then install Windows – or another operating system, such as Linux – on the VM. This is a great solution as it allows you to run the Windows apps that you need right alongside your main Mac apps as well. The only disadvantage is that you need a pretty fast Mac with plenty of memory and storage to run Windows as a VM, since it means that your Mac is effectively running two operating systems at the same time. What is emulation? Emulation is a process that allows individual Windows applications to run on a Mac without the need for the Windows operating system to be installed. This is achieved through emulation tools, such as Wine and CrossOver, which are typically used by technically proficient users. Do I need a Windows license? It depends on which of those two methods you are using. If you are running Windows in a VM then you need a license in order to create a Windows VM on Macs with Apple Silicon processors, and, unfortunately, the less expensive Home edition isn’t supported. However, it is possible to use an existing Windows license if you have one and Microsoft doesn’t differentiate between Windows On Intel and Windows On Arm, see Parallel’s website here. If you are using emulation you won’t need a copy of Windows. How to get the Arm version of Windows The good news is that an ARM version of Windows does exist. Windows On ARM, aka WoA, is Microsoft’s version of Windows is designed to run on ARM chips. The Arm version of Windows isn’t normally licensed to individual users. Fortunately, Parallels has worked closely with Microsoft to simplify the process of creating VMs that use the ARM version of Windows. With the arrival of Parallels Desktop 18 in 2022 Parallels gained the ability to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. Microsoft even endorsed Parallels for Windows on M1 and M2 Macs, effectively authorizing Parallels Desktop 18 users to run Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise. Read our full review of Parallels Desktop for more information. To download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. All you need to do is: Press the button that says Get Windows 11 From Microsoft. Parallels will download the relevant version of Windows 11 for your Mac (if your Mac has an ARM processor then it will download the ARM version of Windows 11). You can then use the Microsoft Store app within your Windows VM to purchase a license or use an existing Windows 11 license if you have one. You can also buy a license through the Download option from the Microsoft store. How to download the X86 version of Windows 11 If you are looking to run Windows on a Mac that isn’t powered by an Apple M-series chip, then you can download Windows 11 for free (as long as your Mac has the necessary specs, such as the Trusted Platform Module, to qualify for the free upgrade). Download Windows 11 from Microsoft, free upgrade as long as you qualify. You could take advantage of various deals for Windows 11 Pro including: Windows 11 Professional, $79.99 (usually $199.99). Windows 11 Price When Reviewed: Free upgrade (eligible PCs) Best Prices Today: $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store Best Virtual Machine for Mac: Best VMs to run Windows on a Mac 1. Parallels Desktop Pros Frequent updates and new features. Good performance on multi-core Apple chips. Slick, easy-to-use interface. Discounts for education users. New AI features and tools for developers Cons Most editions require a subscription. Virtual machines require a lot of memory and processor power. Windows On ARM is expensive. Price When Reviewed: Standard – £89.99 annual subscription or £104.99 perpetual license; Pro – £99.99 annual subscription; Business – £119.99 annual subscription Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Parallels (Subscription)$129.99 at Parallels (Perpetual License) Parallels Desktop allows you to create a virtual machine on your Mac. The software simulates the physical hardware of a Windows PC and lets you run Windows on your Mac.   One of the benefits is Parallels Desktop allows you to run Mac and Windows apps side by side, without having to reboot to switch between the operating systems (which is necessary with Boot Camp). With Parallels you can keep Windows and macOS completely separate or you can use Coherence mode to fully integrate your Windows apps on your Mac–you can even add them to your Dock. Parallels also offers a Rollback mode, which is useful for experimenting developers. Nothing is saved, so when you restart the computer the VM will return to it’s original state.  Parallels makes installing Windows really easy. Since Parallels Desktop version 18 it has been possible to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 within Parallels. You do need to buy a license for the ARM version of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise (unfortunately, the cheaper Home edition isn’t supported). Parallels Desktop has a regular update cycle that tends to coincide with Apple’s big macOS updates. Parallels Desktop 20 arrived in September 2024, bringing support for macOS Sequoia and it’s new features, including the AI-powered Apple Intelligence features. It will be possible to use the Apple Intelligence-powered Writing Tools feature within Windows apps once that arrives on Macs later in 2024. There are a number of new AI-specific features aimed at developers. A ‘Parallels AI Package’ allows developers to create a new virtual machine with a pre-installed set of AI tools and features, including the ability to control Parallels Desktop using plain language commands (more info here).   Version 20 is also compatible with the Windows 11 24H2 update, and Parallels claims significant performance improvements when running older Intel-based apps on 24H2 (although that’s probably due to improvements in Windows 11 On Arm itself, rather than Parallels). There are also improvements to Parallels’ file-sharing features, and Macs with Apple Silicon now gain the quick-save snapshots feature that was previously only available on older Macs with Intel processors.  There’s a new Enterprise Edition due for release later in 2024, which will provide new security features for businesses that need to install and manage multiple virtual machines and users within their organization.  Currently, Macs with Apple Silicon only have the ability to create virtual machines that run Windows 11 On Arm. However, Parallels informed us that it is working on an update that will allow Macs with Apple Silicon to run the original Intel version of Windows. Read our full Parallels Desktop for Mac review 2. VMware Fusion Pros Fusion allows you to use it for free if it’s for personal, home and student use. Cons VMware doesn’t update Fusion as regularly as Parallels is updated. Price When Reviewed: Free (personal use); $149 (commercial); $199 (pro edition) Best Prices Today: Free at VMware (Fusion Player, personal use)$149 at VMware (Fusion Player, Commercial)$199 at VMware (Fusion Player, Pro) For many years, VMware Fusion was in lock-step with Parallels Desktop, with the two rivals releasing regular updates and competing for the top spot in the Mac virtualization market. In recent years, though, VMware seems to have taken its foot off the pedal and has allowed Fusion to fall behind a bit (in fact, you actually have to dig around quite a bit simply to find Fusion on the VMware website these days). When Fusion version 13 arrived in November 2022, it brought support for ARM virtualization on Apple’s M1 and M2-series chips. As is the case with Parallels Desktop, you can only run the Arm version of Windows on M-series Macs. Unfortunately, installing the Arm version of Windows via VMware isn’t as simple as it is with Parallels, VMware told us that it’s up to the user to buy a license from Microsoft (which is a challenge due to it not being available to individual users). Version 13.5 arrived in October 2023 and with it much needed support for DirectX 11 3D graphics and an easier way to install Windows 11 on Arm via a “Get Windows” button. A year later and there is still no release date for VMware Fusion 14 though. At the same time as launching Fusion 12, VMware also announced that it would release a free version of the program – called Fusion Player – for personal use only, for home users and students. It’s now changed this strategy and is offering the Fusion Pro for free as long as it is for personal use. You’ll need to register for a VMware account, but Fusion Pro is free to download here. While Fusion hasn’t kept up to date with the latest developments in Mac hardware and software, the availability of the free version of Fusion Pro still makes it a great option for home users and students who occasionally need to run Windows apps or games on their Intel Macs. Read our full VMware Fusion review 3. CrossOver Pros 14-day trial. Doesn’t require a full version of Windows. Improved interface and ease of use. Regular updates, good technical support. Cons Some Windows apps aren’t compatible. Can be complicated to use. Requires Rosetta on Apple Silicon. Price When Reviewed: $59.95 Best Prices Today: $59.95 at CodeWeavers CrossOver is based on WINE (see below), and uses a similar compatibility layer to allow Windows apps to run on the Mac without requiring a full version of Windows to be installed as well (you need to buy a copy of Windows for use with virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion). Although WINE is a free, open-source program, it’s complicated to use, so the team at Codeweavers developed CrossOver as a user-friendly alternative. They even provide technical support. CrossOver isn’t free – a copy of CrossOver with a year of support is $74, or you can pay $494 for lifetime support. There is a 14-day free trial available. CrossOver allows you to install Windows apps into Bottles, which are self-contained files that can be launched and run on your Mac without requiring a full copy of Windows. You can create lots of different bottles for different apps, and bottles can even be configured to provide compatibility with different versions of Windows. This is useful as it allows you to create bottles that are suitable for older games and software that might require a particular version of Windows in order to run properly. Even so, CrossOver can still be quite complicated at times, so version 22 introduced a more Mac-like interface and provides more help when installing Windows apps and games. For example, when you launch CrossOver you see the main Install window, which lists popular Windows apps and games, such as Grand Theft Auto V and the Quicken accounting software for business users. There’s also a search tool that provides information on hundreds of other Windows apps, and an indication of how well they run with CrossOver. Some apps run well, others may run with problems, and some don’t work with CrossOver at all. But we were able to install and run a 20-year old copy of Microsoft Publisher from an old DVD with no trouble at all, and old favorite Icewind Dale II ran. At the moment, CrossOver is based on code written for Intel processors, so it relies on Apple’s Rosetta to run on Macs with Apple Silicon, but we found that performance was pretty good regardless. Codeweavers says that it is working on native support for Apple Silicon. Codeweavers’ focus tends to be on popular Windows games. The Game Porting Kit that Apple released last year to help game developers produce Mac versions of their games is based on open-source code from Codeweavers. CrossOver receives regular updates to improve support for individual Windows games. Version 22.1 fixed problems that were affecting games such as BioShock Infinite and Grand Theft Auto V, and version 23.0 introduced limited support for games, such as Diablo IV, that use Microsoft’s DirectX 12 graphics software (something that even Parallels Desktop is still working on). Diablo IV got a further performance boost with version 23.7, along with Counter Strike 2 and a number of other games, while the recently released version 24.0 provided compatibility with the latest version of WINE and included interface improvements. The Codeweavers team puts a lot of effort into regular updates for CrossOver and the tech support is impressive. Even so, CrossOver can still be a little daunting at times, so it’s worth downloading the trial version to see how well it works with your favorite Windows games and other Windows software. Read our full CrossOver for Mac review 4. Whisky Pros Free, open-source app Works with Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit Supports DX12 Cons Supports fewer games than CrossOver No technical support Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Free at Whisky It the main reason you want to run Windows on your Mac is so you can play Windows games on your Mac this is the solution for you. Whisky emerged following Apple’s launch of the Game Porting Toolkit in 2023 and is based on GPTK and is focused on running Windows games rather than more serious business software that the other VM solutions focus on.  Whisky isn’t an emulator or virtualization program, like Parallels Desktop or UTM. Rather than letting you run Windows on a virtual machine, it’s more like CrossOver in that it allows you to run a variety of Windows apps and software on your Mac without needing to install Windows. CrossOver and Whisky – and even Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit – are all based on the open-source WINE (see below for our review of WINE), which acts as a translation layer that converts the programming code in Windows apps and software into the Mac equivalent (a bit like Apple’s own Rosetta software, which translates software written for older Intel Macs to run on Macs with Apple Silicon processors). Whisky is a free, open-source alternative to CrossOver (CrossOver is also open-source, but has a $64 annual ‘license fee’ for technical support). Whisky allows you to create bottles, which are files that act as a container for the Windows apps you want to run. The bottles provide compatibility with various versions of Windows (right back to Windows 7 and XP for 32-bit era games). Once a bottle is created press Run to launch the installer program for the Windows game and that game then becomes part of that bottle. Whisky also allows you to install the Windows version of Steam within a bottle and install Windows games that you own on Steam in that bottle. In comparison to CrossOver Whisky isn’t quite as easy to use, lacks the step-by-step help, and doesn’t work with the same wide range of games, but Whisky still does an impressive job for a free open-source app that was developed by just one person (and a 17 year old one at that). In our tests Whisky had no trouble at all with Call Of Cthulhu from 2018 and Guild Wars 2, providing very good performance on my MacBook Pro with M2 processor. Whisky supports a number of Windows games that use Microsoft’s DX12 graphics software. However, it doesn’t currently work with games such as Diablo IV and Fortnite. There’s a list of compatible games on the Whisky website. Read our full Whisky review 5. UTM Virtual Machines Pros Affordable/free option for running Windows on Mac Runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Runs older versions of Windows and Linux Cons More complex than its rivals No tech-support Price When Reviewed: $9.99 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Mac App Store UTM Virtual Machines from Turing Software is currently sitting at no.1 on the Business section of the Mac App Store. It costs $9.99/£9.99 on the Mac App Store, but, because UTM is an open-source project, there’s also a free version–simply called UTM–available on the Turing website. UTM can run on Macs with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors (running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later). It provides two different options depending on the type of Mac you’re using–virtualization and emulation. So, if you have an Intel Mac, UTM can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs the Intel version of Windows. And, if you have a Mac with Apple Silicon you can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs Windows On Arm. But, if you want to run the older Intel version of Windows on a Mac with Apple Silicon, then UTM will use emulation in order to run Window since that version isn’t designed for the Mac processors. Virtualization provides better performance, but emulation is useful if you need to run Windows apps or software that require a specific version of Windows. Having those two options available within UTM makes it a more versatile than Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, which focus on virtualization rather than emulation. However, this adds complexity to UTM, and the app lacks the polished interface and ease of use of Parallels and VMware. You’ll need a basic understanding of Windows disk image files, such as ISO and VHDX, in order to download and install your copy of Windows. Don’t expect the level of step-by-step help available in Parallels Desktop. Performance is good, though. The one weakness is that UTM doesn’t currently support 3D graphics acceleration on its Windows virtual machines, which means that you won’t be able to play most Windows games that have 3D graphics. But if you just want to run business apps or check out the new AI features in Windows, then UTM is a good, low-cost option that will appeal to developers and technical users. Read our full UTM Virtual Machines review 6. Windows 365 Cloud PC Pros Can run Windows on your Mac and also your iPad or iPhone. Cons Needs a fast – and always on – Internet connection. Expensive. Price When Reviewed: $31 – $66 per month Best Prices Today: $31 at Microsoft Windows 365 (which launched in July 2021) has the potential to really challenge traditional virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. However, at the moment, Windows 365 is still pretty expensive and is very much aimed at large corporate users, rather than the individuals and smaller businesses that tend to use Parallels and Fusion. Microsoft describes Windows 365 as a Cloud PC, but its technical notes make it clear that Windows 365 is a form of virtual machine. The difference is that Parallels and Fusion create virtual machines that are stored locally on your Mac itself, and these virtual machines rely on your Mac’s own processor power, memory and storage to run Windows and Windows apps. In contrast, Windows 365 creates a virtual machine that is stored up in the cloud, and runs on Microsoft’s own servers. The video image for the Windows desktop on your cloud PC is then streamed to your Mac – or any other device, such as an iPad or even another Windows PC – via your broadband connection. This form of virtual machine can work well, as long as you have a fast enough – and always-on – Internet connection. But, as mentioned, Windows 365 is quite expensive, with prices ranging from $31/£26.40 to $66/£56.20 per month. That’s compared to $99.99/£89.99 for a full year for the home user version of Parallels Desktop, while Fusion even has a completely free version for home users and students. Windows 365 certainly has appeal to larger businesses that want to provide a standardized cloud PC that their staff can connect to from any location that has an Internet connection – it’s ideal for hybrid working and the ‘new normal’. However, it’s too expensive for ordinary home users, students and smaller businesses, so existing users of Parallels and Fusion will probably want to stick with those apps for the time being. Read more here: How to use Windows 365 on Mac, iPad and iPhone. 7. Wine Pros Free. Cons Not really for beginners. Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Free at Wine As we mentioned above, the third technology option – after Boot Camp and virtualization – is Wine, which allows you to run Windows apps without Windows itself. Version 8 of Wine arrived at the end of January 2023, like version 7.5 of Wine, which arrived in March 2022, Wine still runs on M1 and M2 Macs via Rosetta 2. Wine 8 includes support for the latest versions of the Vulkan graphics engine and Microsoft Direct3D. It also adds support for the OCSP networking protocol. If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands a bit dirty, then Wine is an unusual but feasible option for running Windows software on your Mac. Like VirtualBox, Wine is an open-source program that you can download for free. However, it doesn’t use conventional virtualization technology to create a virtual machine for installing Windows – in fact, Wine is the only program in this group that doesn’t even require a copy of Windows at all. Instead, Wine acts as a kind of software middleman that translates the programming routines – called APIs – in Windows apps so that they can talk directly to macOS, without needing a full copy of Windows itself. And as you don’t need a lot of extra memory or processor power in order to run Windows, you may find that Wine can actually provide better performance than using a virtual machine (especially for games and graphics apps). Wine also gets very regular updates from a team of dedicated developers who provide the software for free. The downside is that Wine can be spectacularly confusing for beginners – to the point where we can only really recommend it to hobbyists who like a bit of a challenge. CodeWeavers CrossOver for Mac is a little easier to use than Wine, despite being closely related to the software. But of course Wine is free, which is a big bonus. 8. VirtualBox 7 Pros Free for personal/educational use. Cons Won’t run on M-series Macs. VirtualBox hasn’t officially been updated to run on macOS Monterey. Price When Reviewed: Free (personal/education); $50 per user (Enterprise Edition – minimum 100 users) Best Prices Today: Free at Oracle This open-source virtualization program is free for personal use – but more at home in a corporate environment. VirtualBox, in version 7.0.6 since January 2023, is a bit of a mixed bag. Like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, it allows you to create a virtual machine that can run Windows and Windows apps from within macOS itself. If you want it for personal or educational use then VirtualBox is free – it’s actually been made available as an open-source program by Oracle (Oracle also makes Wine available as an open-source program). You might think of Oracle as a big database company, but they basically own the core code for these solutions. There are Linux and Windows versions of VirtualBox too, which allows you to use your virtual machines on many different types of computers (although you’ll still need to pay for your own Windows license to get started). The disadvantage of open-source software is that VirtualBox isn’t as polished or easy to use as Parallels or Fusion. To be fair, the version 6.0 update tidied up its interface to make the initial setup of your virtual machines a little easier. It has also improved its support for audio and 3D graphics in Windows games and apps. VirtualBox is now in version 7. It doesn’t yet support M1 or M2 Macs – unlike Parallels and VMware, Oracle has made no commitment as yet to getting the software running on an M-series Mac. But this version of VirtualBox does offer support for Windows 11, macOS Big Sur and Monterey – there isn’t support for macOS Ventura yet though, which appears to be due to changes Apple made to kernel extensions. VirtualBox throws a lot of jargon at you and if you don’t know the difference between a virtual hard disk and a virtual machine disk then you might find it a bit tricky to get started. And, as the program is free, you don’t get any technical support – although there is a busy user forum where you can ask a few questions when you need to. To be honest, Oracle is really aiming VirtualBox at large corporations that have a proper IT department to help them out. However, business users do need to pay £40/$50 for the VirtualBox Enterprise edition, and you may need to commit to buying 100 licenses at a time, which pretty much rules it out for all but the largest businesses, or educational users who are prepared to tackle the free version. 9. Apple Boot Camp Pros Windows can run at full speed because its not being run at the same time as macOS. Cons Intel only. Absent from M-series Macs. You can’t run Windows and macOS at the same time. You can’t run Windows 11. Price When Reviewed: Free; preinstalled on macOS Using dual-boot rather than virtualization technology, Boot Camp provides the best performance for Intel-based Macs that need to run Windows. (As we explained above, M1 or later Macs do not offer Boot Camp). It’s important to make a distinction between Boot Camp and the virtualization programs that we look at here, such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Instead of creating a virtual machine that allows you to run Mac and Windows apps together at the same time, Boot Camp is a dual-boot system that simply allows you to boot (start) your Mac using either the native macOS or Windows (but not both at the same time). Thanks to Boot Camp your Mac can act as a straightforward Windows PC, and devote all its processor power and memory to running Windows and your Windows apps. And, crucially, if your Mac has a decent graphics card, it can use the full power of the graphics card to help run your Windows software. That’s definitely the best option for people who need to run high-end graphics software or 3D games, as you get much better performance than when running Windows in a virtual machine. The disadvantage of using Boot Camp is that you lose access to all your Mac apps while you’re running Windows. If you use Apple Mail for your emails then you’ll need to shut down Windows and Boot Camp, and switch back to macOS every time you want to send or receive an email. And, if truth be told, the current version of BootCamp 6.1 isn’t quite as straightforward to set up as it used to be. Previous versions of Boot Camp did all the work for you – they would partition your hard drive, install Windows from a normal installer disk, and also install any driver software that you needed so that components such as your graphics card, keyboard and mouse all worked properly within Windows. Boot Camp 6.1.19 (as of August 2022) can only be used to install Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Windows 11 requires the host computer to have a TPM (trusted platform module) which Macs don’t have (some VM solutions, such as Parallels, can allow Macs with a T2 chip to run Windows 11). Since not all Macs will work with all versions of Windows, so before you even start to run the Boot Camp Assistant you’ll need to check the compatibility tables on Apple’s website to see which version of Windows will work on your Mac. You can’t install Windows from an old installer disk anymore either, so you’ll either have to download a disk image file for Windows – called an ISO file – from Microsoft’s own website, or use your Windows disk to create one. Boot Camp includes driver software for setting up Windows 8 and Windows 10, but if you’re a fan of Windows 7 (which some people prefer for gaming) then you’ll have to hunt around on Apple’s website for the drivers you need and make sure you follow the correct procedure when copying them on to your Boot Camp partition. Still, if you persevere with all that, you will eventually have Windows running at full speed on your Mac, giving you access to a wide range of Windows software and games that require more power and speed than you can get from using virtual machine technology. Just as long as you don’t have an M1 Mac… For more advice about accessories and software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks.

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AeroPress makes a killer cup of coffee, even on the road
The AeroPress coffee maker makes the best coffee I’ve ever had, while being one of the quickest and easiest ways to make this brew of the gods. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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AeroPress review: The best coffee I’ve ever had
The AeroPress coffee maker makes the best coffee I’ve ever had, while being one of the quickest and easiest ways to make this brew of the gods. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Prototype iPhone 16 features and designs that didn’t make it to mass production
Apple's iPhone 16 lineup has introduced an array of hardware improvements, but some of Apple's planned features never made it to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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If you're having problems with USB on macOS Sequoia, you're not alone
If you're experiencing issues with USB on your Mac after installing macOS Sequoia, you're not alone, with some users reporting drive connectivity issues.macOS Sequoia with iPhone MirroringFollowing the release of major operating system updates, there are often small issues that crop up that weren't picked up during the beta-testing process. As expected, this has happened to macOS 15 Sequoia, which was released on September 16.There are a few reports on Reddit and on Apple's support forum claiming that some upgraders to macOS Sequoia are having USB port trouble. Drives and chargers plugged into the USB-C ports of a MacBook aren't being detected, or take a long time to become usable, one Reddit post claims. There are other similar reports on Reddit as well. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple rolling out another new firmware update for AirPods Pro 2
Apple is rolling out another new firmware update to AirPods Pro 2 users today. This update comes just a week after the last update and two weeks after Apple released iOS 18 with new features for AirPods users. more…

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Apple’s long-awaited ‘HomeAccessory’ could have square display, A18 chip for AI, more
We’ve been hearing multiple rumors about Apple working on a new home accessory that combines capabilities of an , Apple TV, and HomePod. A few months ago, references to a “HomeAccessory” were found in Apple’s backend code. Now 9to5Mac has learned more details about this new device. more…

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The End of the iPhone Upgrade?
An anonymous reader shares a New Yorker story: Ultimately, the iPhone 16 does little to meaningfully improve on the experience I had with the 12, besides, perhaps, charging with a USB-C, as my laptop does, cutting down on the number of cords I have to keep track of. Instead, the greatest leaps in Apple's hardware are largely directed at those niche users who are already invested in using tools such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The company has announced that, within a month or so, the new phones will be able to operate its proprietary artificial-intelligence system, which means that users may soon be relying on A.I. to perform daily personal tasks, like navigating their calendars or responding to e-mails. The 15 and 16 Pros can take three-dimensional photos, designed for V.R., using the Apple Vision Pro. Thus far, I don't use A.I. tools or V.R. with any frequency and have no intention of doing so on my iPhone. The fact that I do not need an iPhone 16 is a testament not so much to the iPhone's failure as to its resounding success. A lot of the digital software we rely on has grown worse for users in recent years; the iPhone, by contrast, has become so good that it's hard to imagine anything but incremental improvements. Apple's teleological phone-design strategy may have simply reached its end point, the same way evolution in nature has repeatedly resulted in an optimized species of crab. Other tech companies, meanwhile, are embracing radical departures in phone design. Samsung offers devices that fold in half, creating a smaller screen that's useful for minor tasks, such as texting, and a larger one for watching videos; Huawei is upping the ante with three folds. The BOOX Palma has become a surprise hit as a smartphone-ish device with an e-ink screen, similar to Amazon's Kindle, which uses physical pixels in its display. Dumbphones, too, are growing more popular by intentionally doing less. Apple devices, by contrast, remain effective enough that they can afford to be somewhat static. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Balatro+, your next gaming addiction, is now on Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade added a big new title today. Balatro+ is now available for Arcade users, bringing the addictive card game to a new audience across all of Apple’s platforms. Here’s what you should know. more…

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This 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro
Macworld The 13-inch MacBook Air is on sale for $200 off right now over at Amazon, and it’s one of the best deals we’ve seen for this model, bringing down the price to $900 with an on-page coupon. This 2024 MacBook Air model comes equipped with an M3 chip, which is powerful and efficient, bringing speed and performance to this super light laptop. And at this price, it’s cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $999. We reviewed the MacBook Air and were so impressed with its performance that we gave it a near-perfect score and our Editors’ Choice award. Our expert appreciated the excellent display and the awesome battery life, to name just a few of the things on his list. “Apple’s new MacBook Air isn’t a revelation, but it’s a nice upgrade over the previous model. The larger, brighter display with thinner bezels is a nice improvement, MagSafe charging is back, and it’s got frankly incredible performance for a 2.7-pound computer that can do well over a full day of real work on a single charge.” the review reads. This particular model features 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage space, which is enough for a lot of your apps and files. Since this is an Air model, the most impressive thing about it is how light and thin it is. We have already mentioned its 2.7-pound weight, but we also have to say it’s just 0.44 inches thick, which means it will easily slip into any of your bags. All that plus it’s ready for macOS Sequoia and the Apple Intelligence update coming next month. Take advantage of this awesome discount at Amazon and get yourself the M3 Apple MacBook Air for $900 while you still can. Get the MacBook Air M3 for an awesome priceBuy it now at Amazon

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GarageBand gets the dark icon treatment for iOS 18
Apple continues to roll out dark app icons for its suite of iOS apps that live in the App Store. Today, GarageBand got a bug fix update that includes the stylish new dark theme artwork. more…

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iPhone's 80% Charge Cap Barely Boosts Battery Life, Year-Long Test Reveals
A year-long test of Apple's 80% charge limit feature on the iPhone 15 Pro Max has revealed only marginal benefits to battery health. MacRumors editor Juli Clover reported her device maintained 94% battery capacity after 299 charge cycles, compared to 87-90% capacity for iPhones without the limit. The opt-in setting, introduced with iPhone 15 models, aims to extend battery longevity by restricting maximum charge. Clover adhered strictly to the 80% limit for 12 months, noting occasional inconveniences like depleted batteries during long days. While the test showed slightly better battery health retention, Clover questioned whether the trade-off in daily usability was worthwhile. She adds: I don't have a lot of data points for comparison, but it does seem that limiting the charge to 80 percent kept my maximum battery capacity higher than what my co-workers are seeing, but there isn't a major difference. I have four percent more battery at 28 more cycles, and I'm not sure suffering through an 80 percent battery limit for 12 months was ultimately worth it. It's possible that the real gains from an 80 percent limit will come in two or three years rather than a single year, and I'll keep it limited to 80 percent to see the longer term impact. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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iPhone 16 Camera Control button — the ultimate guide
The Camera Control button, or what we presumed was going to be called the Capture Button, is a new physical control on the side of the entire iPhone 16 lineup. Here's everything you need to know, and how to get the most out of it.Use the Camera Control button to improve your photosApple's Camera Control buttin is both physical and touch sensitive. With a firm press it will click like a real button, but a light-press gives you Taptic feedback like with Apple's Mac trackpads.Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"VideoObject","name":"iPhone 16 Camera Control Button: Everything You NEED To Know!","description":"Have a new iPhone 16? Here's how you can get the most out of the new Camera Control button. This capture button is touch-sensitive to make camera changes, take photos quicker, launch third-party apps, and much more.","thumbnailUrl":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5zmrT78ch0Y/sddefault.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-09-24T17:44:24Z","duration":"PT6M31S","embedUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=5zmrT78ch0Y"} Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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