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- Sunday February 16
- 04:30 pmToday in Apple history: Pismo PowerBook is a multimedia powerhouse
On February 16, 2000, Apple unveiled the Pismo PowerBook. FireWire and expandability made it one of Apple's best laptops ever. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)03:20 pmMacBook Pro rumored to get Apple Silicon M5 before iPad Pro
When consumers will see the debut of M5-based devices from Apple is coming into focus, and the shift will likely start with Apple's MacBook Pro lineup.The next MacBook Air could be the first model to sport an M5 processor.A new report from Bloomberg suggests that Apple will start releasing Macs with the M5 processor beginning in the fall of 2025. Ahead of that, the company is expected to launch M4-based MacBook Air models as soon as March, followed by M4 updates to the Mac Studio and Mac Pro.Those latter products seem likely to be announced around the time of Apple's WWDC event in June. Following that event, the transition to the M5 chip will likely begin in the fall. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:00 pmThese accessories helped create my dream MacOS & iPadOS desk setup
Everyone has a different definition of what a perfect or dream desk setup for them would be. Some people need five external displays; some only need one. Other people need a mechanical keyboard, while others find the clickiness distracting. I have even seen people consider just a laptop on the move as their ideal setup, while others need a dedicated office space. So I wanted to share some of my ideal desk setup accessories that I have recently added that have helped create my personal perfect and M4 iPad Pro desk setup. Be sure to leave links to your favorite accessories in the comments! more…02:51 pmApple Maps paid search ads under consideration in monetization push
Apple is once again considering adding advertising to Apple Maps, a move that could help bump up its growing Services revenue even more.Apple MapsApple's advertising business already serves ads for the App Store, as well as switching to an internal team for ad sales on Apple News in November. However, it may grow the ad business more by turning its attention to Apple Maps.In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg claims Apple is now thinking about ways to monetize its Maps app. In a recent Maps group all-hands meeting, Apple management confirmed that it was exploring the possibility of monetizing the app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:30 pmLet AI turn your data into amazing visuals
With Columns AI, you can quickly and easily use your data to automatically generate bar charts, line graphs and other presentation tools. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)01:58 pmApple Studio Display update may arrive a year later than expected
Apple's rumored update to the Apple Studio Display may not arrive in 2025 after all, with a release in 2026 now expected for the premium Mac display.Apple Studio DisplayOn Thursday, a report claimed an update for the Apple Studio Display is in development, which could bring an improved miniLED backlight to the design. However, a few days later, another report states that the timeline is a bit longer than first offered.According to Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter on Sunday, the claim of a new 27-inch Apple Studio Display is repeated. The new model is said to have a similar design to the 2022 original, and "roughly" the same size of screen. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:46 pmTim Cook's tweet hints at new name for iPhone SE 4
Ahead of the expected February 19, 2025 launch of the iPhone SE 4, there are signs that previous claims of it being renamed may be true.iPhone SE 4 is rumored to resemble iPhone 14In early January 2025, a seemingly unlikely leak claimed that the iPhone SE 4 would be renamed the iPhone 16E. It was chiefly considered doubtful because of the source of the leaks, but there was also that "iPhone SE' has been a successful brand since 2016.Now Bloomberg is backing up the claim of a rebrand, and doing so chiefly because of the phrasing Tim Cook used in his teaser tweet about a February 19 launch. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:30 pmGurman: Apple ‘exploring’ search ads for Maps app
According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, Apple is once again considering monetizing its Maps app with search ads. The company already does this with its News and Stocks apps. The goal is to boost its in-house advertising business. more…01:15 pmApple reportedly launching refreshed Studio Display ‘by 2026’
According to Studio Display refresh, but it’ll apparently be a companion to the upcoming M5 MacBook Pros. more…08:00 amThis popular portable monitor just dropped its price
Macworld Once you’ve worked with a second monitor, it’s so hard to go back. The problem is that sometimes you need to work on the go, and a bulky desktop monitor isn’t exactly fun to lug around. Good thing portable monitors have been improving so quickly. The Glance 16-inch Portable Monitor is slim enough to take anywhere and only needs a USB-C or HDMI port to connect. It’s also usually $249, but you can get one of these monitors on sale for $149.99 here. These monitors are sleek and vibrant, with a 16-inch LCD display and a simple plug-and-play design. Just connect it to a DP-enabled Type-C port or an HDMI port. If you’re using HDMI, it’ll also need an additional USB connection for power. The problem with a lot of portable monitors is that they need a separate (expensive) monitor stand. This one doesn’t. The folding base doubles as an adjustable stand. It also has ports for two USB-C devices, an HDMI cable, and there’s even a 35mm audio port. There are a few $149.99 Glance Portable Monitors left, but it may not stay that way. Glance: Portable 16″ Monitor with 1080P FHD Display – $149.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amSay goodbye to PDF headaches with this handy Mac app
Macworld Free PDF readers on your Mac often come up short when you need to do more than view documents. If you’re looking for a tool to convert PDFs into formats you can work with, like Word and PowerPoint, this Mac PDF reader goes beyond reading. PDF Expert Premium is 42% off for a lifetime of making, converting, and editing PDFs easy, fast, and hassle-free. With PDF Expert, you can easily convert your PDFs into a variety of file types. Need to turn a PDF into an editable Word document? It’s done in just a few clicks. Want to extract data into Excel? PDF Expert can handle that, too. Whether converting to PowerPoint, JPG, PNG, or even text files, this app allows you to turn PDFs into whatever you need to keep your workflow moving smoothly without paywalls. No more copy-pasting or retyping from PDF documents. PDF Expert makes it easy to extract information, saving you time and frustration. Whether you’re working with invoices, reports, presentations, or any other PDF, you can quickly convert it into a format that suits your needs. With OCR (Optical Character Recognition) built in, PDF Expert takes it further by allowing you to convert scanned PDFs or image-based text into editable and searchable formats. That means even if you’re working with a scanned document, PDF Expert can still make the text usable, saving you from manual data entry. For a lifetime of hassle-free PDF conversions, get PDF Expert Premium for $79.99 (Re. $139) — no subscriptions, just seamless, powerful functionality. PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) – $79.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.05:34 amAI Bugs Could Delay Upgrades for Both Siri and Alexa
Bloomberg reports that Apple's long-promised overhaul for Siri "is facing engineering problems and software bugs, threatening to postpone or limit its release, according to people with knowledge of the matter...." Last June, Apple touted three major enhancements coming to Siri: - the ability to tap into a customer's data to better answer queries and take actions. - a new system that would let the assistant more precisely control apps. - the capability to see what's currently on a device's screen and use that context to better serve users.... The goal is to ultimately offer a more versatile Siri that can seamlessly tap into customers' information and communication. For instance, users will be able to ask for a file or song that they discussed with a friend over text. Siri would then automatically retrieve that item. Apple also has demonstrated the ability for Siri to quickly locate someone's driver's license number by reviewing their photos... Inside Apple, many employees testing the new Siri have found that these features don't yet work consistently... The control enhancements — an upgraded version of something called App Intents — are central to the operation of the company's upcoming smart home hub. That product, an AI device for controlling smart home appliances and FaceTime, is slated for release later this year. And Amazon is also struggling with an AI upgrade for its digital assistant, reports the Washington Post: The "smarter and more conversational" version of Alexa will not be available until March 31 or later, the employee said, at least a year and a half after it was initially announced in response to competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT. Internal messages seen by The Post confirmed the launch was originally scheduled for this month but was subsequently moved to the end of March... According to internal documents seen by The Post, new features of the subscriber-only, AI-powered Alexa could include the ability to adopt a personality, recall conversations, order takeout or call a taxi. Some of the new Alexa features are similar to Alexa abilities that were previously available free through partnerships with companies like Grubhub and Uber... The AI-enhanced version of Alexa in development has been repeatedly delayed due to problems with incorrect answers, the employee working on the launch told The Post. As a popular product that is a decade old, the Alexa brand is valuable, and the company is hesitant to risk customer trust by launching a product that is not reliable, the person said. Read more of this story at Slashdot.05:00 amVision Pro’s next big update will bring Apple Intelligence support
Apple's $3,500 mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro, will reportedly gain Apple Intelligence support with the upcoming visionOS 2.4 update. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)12:34 amTested: MOFT’s Magnetic Wallet Stand holds up to 3 cards and props up your iPhone for half the price of Apple’s MagSafe Wallet | 9 to 5 MacTested: MOFT’s Magnetic Wallet Stand holds up to 3 cards and props up your iPhone for half the price of Apple’s MagSafe Wallet
There’s loads of varying third party MagSafe wallets on the market, many of which offer more features than Apple’s official wallet. Apple’s MagSafe wallet comes in at $49, and is exclusively available in the less-than-ideal FineWoven material. comes in at half the price, is made of vegan leather, and has a number of unique features. more…12:34 amTested: MOFT’s Magnetic Wallet Stand holds up to 3 cards and props up your iPhone for half the price of Apple’s MagSafe Wallet | 9 to 5 MacTested: MOFT’s Magnetic Wallet Stand holds up to 3 cards and props up your iPhone for half the price of Apple’s MagSafe Wallet
There’s loads of varying third party MagSafe wallets on the market, many of which offer more features than Apple’s official wallet. Apple’s MagSafe wallet comes in at $49, and is exclusively available in the less-than-ideal FineWoven material. comes in at half the price, is made of vegan leather, and has a number of unique features. more…Saturday February 1510:46 pmRumor: Apple Intelligence coming to Apple Vision Pro along with more immersive content | AppleInsiderRumor: Apple Intelligence coming to Apple Vision Pro along with more immersive content
According to a new rumor, Apple Vision Pro will finally get Apple Intelligence in an upcoming update alongside a new spatial media app.Apple Vision Pro finally getting Apple IntelligenceApple Vision Pro launched in February 2024, and very little native content or apps have been released in the year since. Apple Intelligence was revealed later in 2024, but it hasn't come to the headset, but that may change soon.Bloomberg has said that Apple will bring Apple Intelligence features, such as including Genmoji, writing tools, and Image Playground, to the $3,500 headset, expanding the technology beyond recent Mac, iPad, and iPhone models. If true, it would help flesh out the feature set of the Apple Vision Pro. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:38 pmBenQ MA270U Review: Pairs nicely with the new Mac mini without breaking the bank
For me, one of the biggest issues with making the switch from a MacBook to a was the display aspect of it. MacBooks all have fairly great displays, especially on the MacBook Pro. However, finding a good display that pairs nicely with a Mac desktop always feels like a little bit of a challenge. You either have to go with Apple’s expensive options, or compromise significantly on the experience with a third party. Some common compromises include poor brightness, a lack of USB-C, or a lack of macOS integration. While the BenQ MA270U certainly isn’t a Studio Display replacement, it performs excellently in all of the qualities that matter to me. more…10:08 pmVideo: Chargeasap launching Flash Pro Ultra, the world’s first dual OLED 275W powerbank | 9 to 5 MacVideo: Chargeasap launching Flash Pro Ultra, the world’s first dual OLED 275W powerbank
Chargeasap is launching a Kickstarter campaign for a brand new kind of powerbank. Flash Pro Ultra is the world’s first 275W portable battery that uses an OLED screen for displaying charging status. It supports charging up to six devices simultaneously including a power-hungry MacBook Pro, and it uses the latest Qi2 wireless charging for the MagSafe experience. Read on to learn how you can be one of the first to get your hands on Flash Pro Ultra. more…09:55 pmThese are the best new MacBook deals for Presidents Day: options as low as $629
With Apple Intelligence requiring an M1 chip or newer, it’s never been a better time to buy your first MacBook, or upgrade an older MacBook you’re still holding on to. MacBooks are more affordable than ever in the Apple Silicon era, with the cheapest options starting below $700. Presidents Day deals make it a better time than ever to buy a new MacBook without blowing your bank account. more…09:23 pmApple now hiring for new store planned for downtown Detroit
Apple has now confirmed long-standing rumors that it will open an Apple Store in downtown Detroit, potentially as early as this summer.Apple is hiring for a forthcoming store in downtown Detroit. Image credit: AppleThe previous rumor from June 2024, has now been confirmed through a general recruitment notice on the store's new website.No specific job positions have been listed yet, and neither the opening date nor the exact location of the store has not been confirmed. Apple says only that the new store is "coming soon," with no address details. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums