iPhone trade-in values get a boost from now through June 18 when you turn over your old iPhone online or in an Apple Store, the Cupertino tech giant said Friday. The monetary increases are modest, but hey, every dollar counts. So now, or anytime Apple raises iPhone trade-in values, is the time to refresh your handset with a shiny new one from the iPhone 16 lineup.
Today’s M2 Max MacBook Pro setup with dual 4K LG monitors is enviable and well-situated. I say that not just because the compact workstation is cool, but because it’s in Hawaii with a dramatic view.
And the cool dinosaur wallpaper on the two 32-inch LG UltraFine 4K displays got a plenty of love from commenters, as did the Michael Scott (The Office) poster of him quoting hockey great Wayne Gretzky (“You miss 100% of the shot you don’t take.”)
Rumors swirling ahead of WWDC25 give us a decent idea about what to expect in iOS 19. The new operating system, which Apple will showcase when its annual developer conference kicks off June 9, shapes up as one of the more significant iPhone software updates lately.
The iOS 19 overhaul promises to transform how users interact with their devices through big design changes, enhanced AI capabilities and improved cross-platform integration.
Keyboard manufacturer Cherry makes a significant push into smart switch technology with four new products debuting at Computex 2025 this week. The new switches for keyboards offer particular appeal to Apple users who prioritize wireless connectivity and battery efficiency in their peripherals.
In an OpenAI meeting Wednesday, CEO Sam Altman revealed ambitious plans to develop AI-powered devices in partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, targeting the release of 100 million “AI companion” devices that could reshape how users interact with artificial intelligence, according to a new report.
Altman described it to employees as a “chance to do the biggest thing we’ve ever done as a company.” OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s io startup is the company’s boldest hardware venture yet, potentially creating the first major alternative to smartphone and computer dominance.
And on Thursday, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo weighed in with possible details about OpenAI’s wearable device.
The new LiberNovo Omni office chair isn’t just ergonomic — it’s dynamic, responsive and built to understand how you move. With a motorized mechanism that supports your back, four positions (up to a full recline) and a built-in massage function, it’s a new way of sitting that’s actually good for you, according to its makers.
“We didn’t set out to build a chair,” says LeYan, founder and CEO of LiberNovo. “We set out to fix sitting.”
You can preorder the amazingly responsive chair at a $50 discount off the Super Early Bird Kickstarter price starting Wednesday at 7 p.m. Pacific time.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted a video and statement Wednesday teasing a mysterious AI hardware prototype that will apparently come within a year as OpenAI buys io, Ivy’s fledgling device company, for nearly $6.5 billion in an all-stock deal.
“Jony recently gave me one of the prototypes of the device for the first time to take home, and I’ve been able to live with it,” Altman says in the video. “And I think it is the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen.”
Trouble is, their video and statement are more like love-fests to each other and the San Francisco Bay Area than they are sources of information about what to expect from actual products — as in what earlier reports called “the iPhone of artificial intelligence.”
What’s almost as popular as a dual-display computer setup? A 3-display setup, of course. Today’s Mac Studio workstation has rocked the same external display configuration for more than a decade, but with newer monitors swapped in multiple times. Check it and its gear out below.
Elgato, the Corsair-owned maker of popular content creation tools, announced a major expansion of its Stream Deck ecosystem Tuesday with a new “Stream Deck Everywhere” strategy unveiled at Computex. It includes four significant innovations designed to make the customizable control interface accessible to more users and workflows beyond its traditional creator audience. And that includes a Virtual Stream Deck you can put right on your Mac’s screen.
Hoping to spur innovative software development, Apple plans a strategic move in the artificial intelligence space by allowing third-party developers to access its AI models, according to a new report.
Apple TV+ will give Peanuts fans something to sing about this summer. Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical premieres July 18, 2025, marking the first musical special featuring Charles Schulz’s beloved characters in over three decades.
Marking Peanuts‘ 75th anniversary, the new special sees Snoopy and the gang bring summer camp nostalgia to life with original songs by Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds.
★★★★★
“Budget” headphones keep getting better, and I’ve discovered a pair of over-ear wireless noise-canceling cans you can get for less than $70 that pretty much equal the excellent — and much pricier — Beats Studio Pro. In this EarFun Tune Pro headphones review, I’ll get into how they’re very nearly as good as Beats Studio Pro in every way that truly counts — sound quality, noise cancellation and comfort. And Tune Pro’s epic battery life blows away most headphones, full stop.
At launch, EarFun lists the cans for $89.99 marked down to $69.99, with a further 20% off coupon available on Amazon. That should make them about $56 at checkout before tax.
Love it or hate it, the LG DualUp and its odd 16:18 aspect ratio — nearly square — has found a lot of fans among Mac users, including the owner of today’s M4 Mac mini setup with dual Studio Displays.
WiiM, a rising star in the affordable audio streaming market, unveiled its first-ever smart speaker last week: WiiM Sound. It looks a lot like HomePod 2 and directly challenges it — and whatever version of it Apple releases next — with an impressive feature set.
WiiM Sound could appeal to audiophiles seeking high-resolution audio in a smart package — at a price that undercuts Apple’s.
The new 11-in-1 OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock promises to maximize the potential of the latest Thunderbolt 5 technology for computers like M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro, OWC said Monday.
The dock, scheduled to begin shipping in July with a price tag of $329.99, is one of the first comprehensive Thunderbolt 5 solutions available for Apple users looking to expand their connectivity options.
It’s easy to get addicted to using Touch ID whenever you need to gain password-restricted access to anything. But not everyone is a big fan of Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (not the function, the keeb itself). Today’s MacBook Pro setup user found an odd but practical solution. They use a Keychron Q1 mechanical keyboard as a daily driver and Velcro a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID to the edge of the desk so they can reach the Touch ID button.
Sony’s newest flagship over-ear headphones, WH-1000XM6, promise the “best noise cancellation” in the industry and seamless wireless connectivity, the company said Thursday. The $450 cans — not cheap but less than AirPods Max’s $549 list price — should appeal to discerning Apple fans.
And Sony enlisted Post Malone as a pitchman for the new headphones, for what that’s worth. Hardly seems necessary, as this series of cans typically sits at or near the top of many best-headphones lists every year.
Two stylish new Seenda keyboard and mouse combos offer seamless compatibility with Mac, iPad and iOS devices, the company said Thursday. The premium SKM64-3 Bluetooth combo and budget-friendly Creative SK73-3 wireless combo both deliver style and functionality for Apple users seeking alternatives to Apple’s peripherals.
After a five-month delay from its original timeline, Apple’s next-generation CarPlay experience is finally hitting the road. Dubbed “CarPlay Ultra,” the deeply integrated system that Apple first previewed in 2022 has begun rolling out to Aston Martin vehicles in the United States and Canada, with more automakers soon to follow.
★★★★★
After four solid generations before them, Soundcore Liberty 5 wireless noise-canceling earbuds are compact audio powerhouses. My Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds review finds they challenge premium noise-canceling earbuds like AirPods Pro 2 for about half the price. In fact, Liberty 5’s price ($130) went down from Liberty 4’s starting price by $20.
While Apple, Sony and Bose dominate the high-end market, Soundcore steadily refined their Liberty series to deliver impressive sound quality without the premium price tag. During my testing, the earbuds demonstrated remarkable performance in a variety of ways, along with a limitation or two.
In partnership with Universal Music Group, Apple Music on Tuesday launched Sound Therapy, a collection of specially enhanced tracks designed to help listeners achieve wellness through better focus, deeper relaxation and improved sleep.
It combines the power of your favorite music with cognitive science to improve daily well-being, the companies said in a press release.
“Given Apple’s leadership at the intersection of health and technology, the launch of Sound Therapy represents an important validation of our innovative, science-led Sollos initiative,” said Michael Nash, UMG’s executive vice president and chief digital officer. “We look forward to working closely with the team at Apple to expand the ways that music can be harnessed to improve the wellness benefits for its users.”
A tiny new silicon micro-speaker could transform future wearables — like Apple Watch and other smartwatches — by dramatically reducing thickness while improving audio quality, xMEMS Labs said Tuesday. It unveiled Sycamore-W, an ultra-thin micro speaker engineered for wrist-worn devices. It could make more room in devices as new features like AI interactions become more prevalent.
“Sycamore-W redefines audio for smart watches, combining compact design with robust performance to meet the demands of next-generation wearables,” said Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development. “As the wrist becomes a key interface for ears-free, hands-free AI interactions, Sycamore-W empowers manufacturers to deliver premium audio in smaller, lighter more durable devices.”
Logitech kicks off summer with its Buy More & Save sale on an array of peripherals for your Apple setup. You can scoop up keyboards, mice, webcams, iPad keyboard cases and more, through June 1. In this Logitech sale, some individual items get discounts, but the main deal comes on how much you spend, the company said: $150 off $450; $70 off $250; and $30 off $150.
As a person who relies on Logitech gear every day, I can vouch for it — especially when you can get a deal on a few items at once to really improve your setup.
A comprehensive suite of new Apple accessibility upgrades relying on Apple silicon and machine learning to enhance usability across products and services will launch later this year, the iPhone giant said Tuesday.
The innovations aim to make Apple devices more usable for people with various disabilities. Those include visual impairments, hearing loss, mobility challenges and cognitive differences.
“At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”
Believe it or not, today’s magnificent featured setup includes five computers — each with a job to do, even the ol’ trash-can Mac Pro — and one absolutely huge computer monitor. It’s a 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung. What, 49 inches wasn’t big enough for ya?
And the workstation includes other great features. Those include a Rode PodMic, the same great open-back Sennheiser headphones I own, and powerful Klipsch bookshelf speakers paired with a subwoofer that I wish I owned.