★★★★☆
The Samsung T9 solid-state drive is small enough and tough enough to go almost anywhere. And it’s available in capacities up to 4 terabytes.
I put the recently launched SSD to the test with a range of Apple devices and came away pleased with the design and performance. That said, Mac users can’t take advantage of one of its best features.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to allow unregulated devices to use the 6 GHz band to wirelessly communicate over short ranges. Apple could use this to enable fast communication between its Vision AR headsets and other computers, like an iPhone.
Apple is one of several companies that asked the FCC to make the change back in 2019.
Netflix raised the price of two tiers of its streaming video service by up to $3 a month. This comes a week after subscription fees for Disney+ and Hulu went up.
The changes make Apple TV+ one of the lowest-priced streaming services.
Thunderbolt cables cost far more than standard USB-C ones, and a series of X-ray scans of various options reveals why. The virtual teardown shows that the Apple Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro cable has far more features than one might expect for such a simple accessory. Cheaper ones are as bare-bones as could be expected.
The scans are both beautiful and informative.
It seems the wait for Apple’s second-generation tracker tag will be longer than previously thought. A trusted Apple tipster predicted Wednesday that AirTag 2 won’t be out until 2025.
That’s somewhat surprising considering the original model has been very successful.
Apple’s first computer with a foldable display will reportedly be an iPad. And the folding tablet could be on the market as early as 2024.
This is just the latest in a long series of reports about the device, so it might really be happening.
The much-anticipated 32-inch iMac is a couple of years way, according to an industry analyst who’s a reliable source of Apple predictions.
And a refresh to the current 24-inch version won’t be out before the end of 2023, according to the same analyst.
The mophie snap+ juice pack mini with stand is more than a MagSafe-compatible power bank. Its built-in kickstand means it can also prop up your iPhone while it’s charging for FaceTime calls or watching videos.
It’s the latest addition to a sizable collection of chargers and stands from mophie.
Apple gave developers access to the release candidates of iOS 17.1 and macOS 14.1 on Tuesday. This is the last round of testing before introducing them to the public.
Release candidates for iPadOS 17.1, watchOS 10.1 and tvOS 17.1 also went out.
Hallowe’en is right around the corner, and to celebrate Casetify launched a collection of iPhone cases
featuring Disney villains. And there are accessories for AirPods and Apple Watch, too.
More of a Rick and Morty fan? Casetify has an array of iPhone, MacBook, etc. options for you, too.
Apple just took the wraps off a lower-price version of its iPad stylus. The new Apple Pencil uses a USB-C port for charging so it’s a better fit for use with the budget iPad.
“Apple Pencil has revolutionized note taking, sketching, and illustrating, unleashing endless possibilities for productivity and creativity,” said Bob Borchers, Apple VP of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Combined with the versatility of iPad, the new Apple Pencil unlocks another great option to experience the magic of digital handwriting, annotation, marking up documents, and more.”
The new version is $50 less than Apple Pencil 2, the premium model. But it lacks some of the features of the top-of-the-line version.
The cost of the components that go into the iPhone 15 Pro Max is up significantly when compared to its predecessor, according to an analysis of the various parts that make up Apple’s latest smartphone.
The change helps justify the jump in price for this model.
The Apple TV+ series The Afterparty has reportedly been cancelled after two seasons. The genre-mixing comedy starring Tiffany Haddish won’t get a third season.
Fans can still hope the show will move to another streaming service, though.
Being the bank backing the Apple Card isn’t going well for Goldman Sachs, and it’s proposed a change that’s it thinks would make the job easier: stop billing every customer at the beginning of the month.
But some bank executives say the whole deal with Apple is untenable. “We should have never done this f—ing thing,” a Goldman partner is quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal.
Cut the Rope 3 is a new iteration of a beloved early iPhone game. It’s a physics-based puzzler staring Om Nom and cute little Nibble Nom.
The game is the latest addition to the Apple Arcade subscription service.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premieres in November, and Apple TV+ released the full trailer for the series set in the MonsterVerse that contains Godzilla and other classic kaiju.
It’s a must-see for anyone who enjoyed the series of hit movies also set in the same universe.
We now know the last possible day Apple will release iOS 17.1: Wednesday, October 24.
That is the date by which the iPhone-maker committed to introducing an update that reduces the amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the iPhone 12, as required by a French regulatory agency. And that update is part of iOS 17.1.
Apple TV+ now has 7% of the U.S. streaming market, according to a company that follows the industry. That’s more than double the measly 3% the service had two years ago.
At the top of streaming market are Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
The California Institute of Technology got what it wanted out of a years-long patent-infringement lawsuit against Broadcom and (peripherally) Apple. Caltech filed paperwork in a California court dismissing its case.
It’s not clear at this point whether or how much Broadcom and Apple paid the university as part of a settlement. It could be hundreds of millions, though.
The Qualcomm X75 modem unveiled in February will be part of the iPhone 16 Pro models when they launch in 2024, according to an industry analyst. It’s the first from the modem-maker to support the speedy 5G Advanced standard.
But the cutting-edge chip supposedly won’t be included in Apple’s more affordable non-Pro handsets.
No-screen pen tablets are traditional for artists, and the just-announced Astropad Slate recreates that experience with an iPad and Apple Pencil.
The software, currently in beta, supports Apple’s stylus, including support for hover.
Anyone planning on purchasing a used iPhone should take a look at new support document from Apple with tips on a successful buying process.
This includes a very useful inspection checklist to go through before handing over any money.
★★★★☆
Feeling jealous that iPhone 15 users can plug a thumb drive directly into their phone? Then you need the PNY Duo Link iOS USB 3.2 Dual Flash Drive. It has both a Lightning connector and USB-A connector, which makes it compatible with iPhone, iPad and Mac. Windows, too.
With it, you can copy images or other files between devices. Or backup your iPhone when you’re on the go.
I put PNY’s drive through its paces. Here’s what I found out.
In a pinch, your iPhone 15 can recharge your Apple Watch or AirPods, and even juice up another iPhone It’s a new feature that’s very convenient if you know how to use it.
Here’s how to take advantage of this feature.
An authority on display technology said Wednesday that Apple will be unable to introduce a MacBook with an OLED screen for at least three years.
But iPads with OLED are expected much sooner.
