News - page 35

ESR rolled out a full range of accessories Wednesday designed for Apple’s newly released iPad models. The products offer enhanced functionality and protection for tablet users. The lineup, tailored for students, professionals and creatives, includes a new Apple Pencil alternative with Find My integration, magnetic cases, keyboard cases and screen protectors.

“With our latest lineup of iPad accessories, we’re reimagining versatility — delivering accessories that seamlessly integrate into any scenario, whether for study, work, or entertainment,” said  Tim Wu, ESR’s CEO. “Designed for a new generation of users, this new lineup enhances the iPad experience, ensuring creativity, productivity, and enjoyment without limits.”

The new Soundcore AeroClip open-ear clip-on earbuds bring lasting comfort and awareness of surroundings without sacrificing sound quality, the Anker Innovations brand said Thursday. Clipping onto the ear, the bud speakers remain just outside the ear canal.

Sonos reportedly scrapped plans to launch its streaming video device. The Apple TV rival was “deep into development,” yet the company decided to pull the plug on its release.

The streaming device was going to be Sonos’ next big hardware product.

The new Plugable USBC-E5000 5Gbps USB-C Ethernet Adapter lets you add a wired internet connection to your MacBook. Simply plug it into a USB-C port on your computer for data transfers at up to 5Gbps, or 5000Mbps.

The affordable adapter, which launched Tuesday, also works with iPad and even recent iPhone models.

With the widespread use of smartphones, laptops and other devices, concerns about privacy in apps become more important every day. Many apps, websites and streaming services demand substantial personal data from users, raising questions about the safety and security of sensitive information.

While almost every app requires some personal information, many lack transparency about their data-collection practices. Some use users’ data to influence algorithms or deliver targeted ads. Others might even sell that data to third parties.

Luckily, Apple — a company that prioritizes user privacy, especially when it comes to iOS — is blazing a trail toward greater transparency. Armed with this knowledge, users can explore external resources to do things like block emails on iPhones and directly utilize Apple’s features to request apps not to track them, limit IP address tracking and disable location services.

This article delves into Apple’s user-friendly features and how other apps and sites incorporate similar practices.

You can now purchase Apple’s 2025 MacBook Air refresh with a faster M4 chip from your nearest retail store. The upgraded Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips also hits retail stores today.

Additionally, the M3 iPad Air and iPad A16 are also up for sale starting today, March 12.

Apple’s new immersive concert video Metallica will give Vision Pro owners a unique experience of one of the band’s pulse-pounding shows. Filmed during the band’s M72 World Tour, it captures three Metallica songs in ultra-high-resolution, 180-degree video and Spatial Audio.

In a press release Tuesday, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich described the immersive video as a revolutionary twist on the standard concert film.

“Game-changing is putting it lightly,” Ulrich said. “Seeing our concert like that, along with the energy of the Mexico City fans — it’s very immersive, and it’s super-fun. We’ve always been interested in pushing the boundaries, and Metallica on Apple Vision Pro is exactly that.”

Apple intends to massively transform the user interfaces for the iPhone, Mac and iPad later this year, according to a reliable source who says iOS 19, macOS 16 and iPadOS 19 could bring the most significant changes in years.

How will those changes affect the familiar look and feel of Apple’s devices? A software developer speculates that a pair of recently released Apple apps offer a sneak peek at the design overhaul reportedly coming in iOS 19 and macOS 16.

Apple introduced on Tuesday four patches for a range of devices to deal with bugs. iOS 18.3.2, macOS 15.3.2, iPadOS 18.3.2 and visionOS 2.3.2 are all ready to download.

In addition to a bug fix related to streaming content, the patches also include a fix for a potentially serious security issue.

Enabot Ebo Air 2 Companion Robot brings enhanced features that make it an appealing addition to your home, the company said Tuesday. Launching with a price tag of $199 (minus 15% off launch discount), this compact mobile robot builds upon its predecessors with significant improvements in camera quality, interactive capabilities and personalization options.

Early reviews of the 2025 Mac Studio tout the speed boost that comes with the Apple M3 Ultra processor, and the M4 Max version is certainly no slouch. And, as reviewers point out, the new chips build on previous versions that offered an impressive set of features packed into a relatively small casing. For those interested in the latest developments in AI-powered performance, check out the latest Apple AI news.

If you’re interested in Apple’s latest laptops, the MacBook Air M3 is now available for purchase.

Considering the new desktop? This is just what you need to know:

New M4 MacBook Air reviews find it’s one of Apple’s most compelling laptop updates in recent memory — not because of revolutionary changes, but due to thoughtful refinements and a surprising price reduction. Here’s what reviewers said Tuesday about the new M4 MacBook Air.

Despite the launch of the redesigned Apple Watch Series 10, Apple’s wearable sales declined by a whopping 19% in 2024. The overall smartwatch shipments also fell by 7% in the year.

Although sales declined, Apple remained the top player in the smartwatch market in 2024, beating Samsung and Xiaomi.

The European Commission will reportedly slap Apple and Meta with “modest fines” for breaching the DMA (Digital Markets Act).

The act became a law in EU countries in May 2023, forcing Apple to open its devices to third-party app stores and be more open to competition. This ongoing regulatory pressure raises questions about Apple’s global operations, including where are iPhones made.

In a literally royal musical celebration, Apple said King Charles III hosts a special radio show and playlist on Apple Music 1 titled “The King’s Music Room.” It commemorates Commonwealth Day, March 10. See King Charles’ playlist and watch his introductory video, below. This is the first time a reigning monarch has guest hosted on Apple Music, by the way.

“Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others,” King Charles said. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places.”

“But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration,” he added. “In other words, it brings us joy.”

Update: Check out the King’s list of songs, added below.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: There’s plenty to talk about after an absolutely magical barrage of new Apple products unveiled this week. We discuss the highlights (and lowlights) of all the new Macs and iPads.

Also on The CultCast:

• What’s in the latest iOS 18.4 and visionOS 2.4 betas? Griffin gives us an overview of new features.
• Erfon struggles with yet another Apple buying decision.
• Griffin gives the iPhone 16e a surprise rave review.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

The launch of a device that will be the centerpiece of Apple’s next foray into smart home technology reportedly got put on hold. The delay in the launch of the wall-mounted iPad-like computer is a result of Apple’s problems finishing work on an AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant, according to a reliable source.

Early benchmarks for the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra processor reveal that Apple’s new top-of-the-line chip brings a 30% performance increase over its predecessor.

The speed boost is even more dramatic over the original version of the Mac Studio from 2022.

Apple confirmed Friday that the smarter Siri promised at WWDC24 isn’t coming together as quickly as anticipated. After touting the minor Siri upgrades that already rolled out, a company statement ended on a depressing note.

“We’ve also been working on a more personalized Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps,” said Apple spokeswoman Jacqueline Roy. “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”

This confirms multiple previous rumors indicating that users pining for a smarter Siri shouldn’t hold their breath.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max expected this autumn will be 5% thicker than the current version, according to a noted tipster.

But that’s not bad news. The extra bulk supposedly is to allow Apple to build a larger battery into its top-of-the-line iOS handset.

The Apple M4 chip going into the new MacBook Air version brings a considerable performance boost. Early benchmark scores show the 2025 version of the macOS notebook runs over 50% faster than the 2024 version.

Steady annual improvements in Apple’s M series chips continue to demonstrate the advantages of the switch away from Intel. If you’re considering an upgrade, checking out the MacBook Air price can help you decide if the latest model is worth the investment. If you’re looking for a breakdown of the latest Mac M4 and whether it’s worth upgrading, this guide has everything you need to know. If you’re comparing the latest models, check out this detailed M4 MacBook Pro comparison to see how it stacks up.

Apple’s recent decision to replace the iPhone SE with the more premium iPhone 16e marks a shift in the company’s approach to the budget smartphone market — and it might be a big risk, according to new research. The new iPhone 16e, priced at $599, represents a pretty big jump from the iPhone SE’s $429 price point. And that raises questions about whether Apple’s strategy will pay off. Will iPhone SE owners buy iPhone 16e?

Apple’s first foldable iPhone may sport a book-style design and a steep $2,000+ price tag. It will apparently sport a 7.8-inch inner folding display, with a 5.5-inch cover display.

Despite its high price tag, the foldable iPhone will seemingly have a strong replacement demand among loyal Apple fans.

YouTube introduced a new, cheaper paid tier in the US called YouTube Lite. While the “Lite” plan is light on perks, it also carries a lower monthly subscription fee of $7.99 per month.

YouTube Premium Lite retains the biggest advantage of paying for YouTube: an ad-free viewing experience. Well, almost.

Apple unveiled the M3 Ultra chip as an option in the new MacStudio desktop Wednesday. As the company’s most powerful silicon chip to date, it brings unprecedented performance to pro users with demanding workflows. The other option in the new desktop machine is the M4 Max chip, which is actually less powerful than the M3 Ultra.

“M3 Ultra is the pinnacle of our scalable system-on-a-chip architecture, aimed specifically at users who run the most heavily threaded and bandwidth-intensive applications,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies.