Apple and other device makers should learn a crucial lesson from the failure of the canceled Humane Ai Pin: While voice control can play a role in new devices, it needs to be very limited. It’s simply not practical for people to talk to their computers except in special circumstances.
I hope the developers at Apple working on Siri and future versions of the HomePod took notes while Humane cratered.
Apple’s M4-powered MacBook Air lineup will reportedly debut in March. The company is gearing up with the necessary marketing and sales preparations for the launch.
Stocks of the current M3 models are already dwindling, with limited inventory at most stores. If you’re planning to upgrade, now is a great time to also consider the best monitor for MacBook Air—check out our M4 MacBook Air review for recommendations.
Tired of retracing your steps to find your lost wallet? This Folding MagSafe wallet with Find My can stop your endless searching. Snag one, and you can use real-time tracking and audio alerts to quickly locate it, whether it’s nearby or across town.
Designed to work seamlessly with iPhone 12 through iPhone 16, it offers secure storage for up to eight cards while doubling as a versatile accessory. For a limited time, you can save 25% and get one for $29.99. (Note: This MagSafe wallet is not compatible with iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini, or with iPhone 16e.)
The Apple TV+ adaptation of the brilliant Murderbot novels by Martha Wells got a premiere date for the sci-fi action series: May 16. And a first glimpse at Alexander Skarsgård as the lead character came out, too.
Plus, fans of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning books can take hope from Apple’s synopsis of its show, as it closely follows the written version.
You can get Apple Intelligence right now on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. All you have to do is update to the latest developer beta release. You’ll get access to Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, Genmoji and more.
The developer beta of iOS 18.4 enables Apple Intelligence in the European Union for the first time. visionOS 2.4 brings the featureset to the Vision Pro.
Apple Intelligence is compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and the new iPhone 16 lineup. Unfortunately, older devices (or even the iPhone 15) don’t have enough RAM to support Apple’s Foundation models. Luckily, you can also try it out if you have an iPad or Mac with an M-series or A17 Pro chip.
Here’s how to get it all.
iPhone and iPad users will soon get a major upgrade to their digital cooking experience with the launch of Apple News+ Food, Apple said Friday. It’s a comprehensive culinary platform that transforms the devices into interactive kitchen companions.
Launching in April with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, Apple News+ Food promises to help home cooks discover, save and follow recipes and more from world-renowned food publications.
Got an older car, or a newer one that lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? We found a huge deal on “Amazon’s choice” of a portable screen for CarPlay and Android Auto that you can use in just about any car. The mega retailer’s deal is 37% off plus a $20 coupon, for massive combined savings of 57% off ($42.99 instead of $99.99). That ought to rev your engine.
In the world of computer setups, I see lots of people with two displays, loads of people with one ultra-wide display and tons of people arguing over which is best. Today’s M4 Mac mini user loves his Samsung ultra-wide monitor, which is one I haven’t seen often. But it looks like a keeper for both Mac and PC setups. And it’s deeply discounted right now.
Apple moved toward deactivating its Advanced Data Protection iCloud privacy-protection feature for iCloud in the United Kingdom. The move is a stopgap measure instead of giving the UK government what it demanded: a “backdoor” way to break the encryption offered by the feature so it could secretly surveil its citizens. This decision also raises concerns about iCloud deals and the implications for user privacy. Read more about the issue here.
The problem is, this move won’t fully satisfy the UK government, who wants to be able to spy on the iCloud accounts of any Apple user in any country.
The new Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Electric Cooler gives iPhone users a sophisticated way to manage their outdoor adventures, Anker said Friday. The smart cooler combines advanced cooling technology with iOS app integration, offering Apple users unprecedented control over their outdoor food and beverage storage, complete with Apple device charging.
★★★★☆
In our Severance season 2 episode 6 recap of the episode titled “Attila,” we see strange liaisons inside and outside of Lumon Industries. Mark S. and Helly R. get busy in an unused Lumon office. Outie Irving attends a tense but ultimately rewarding dinner with Burt and his husband, Fields. Before the end, Mark S. takes a reckless risk that could be life-threatening.
Last week’s episode 5 brought us back inside Lumon Industries hallways in the aftermath of the ORTBO team-building event out in the wintry woods — and a few steps closer to solving the sinister company’s mysteries.
Apple is now accepting preorders for the iPhone 16e. Prices for the newest member of the iPhone 16 family start from $599.
Shipping for the iPhone 16e start a week later, on February 28.
Apple reportedly will switch to an in-house Wi-Fi chip with the upcoming iPhone 17 series, while the rumored slim iPhone 17 model will be the only device with both Apple’s Wi-Fi chip and the company’s own C1 modem for cellular, GPS and satellite connectivity.
No Apple TV+ movie ever had a bigger opening weekend than The Gorge, according to the streaming service. It seems viewers were drawn to the romantic action thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller. The overwhelming response has cemented The Gorge film as one of the platform’s most talked-about releases. For those who enjoy premium sound quality, the debate between AirPods Beats continues, as showcased in this Spike Jonze short film.
With its record-breaking success, the film is already being discussed among the best Apple TV movies worth watching.
And this wasn’t the only thing Apple TV+ had to crow about — it revealed on Wednesday that Severance had just become its most popular series ever.
Apple Pencil Pro is the best iPad stylus on the market, and a deal knocks a whopping $30 off the regular cost. For a limited time, you can get an Apple Pencil Pro from Amazon for just $99. That’s over 20% off.
Or consider a Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with deals making them cost even less than the premium model than they usually do.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16 — it’s decision time for anyone considering an affordable iPhone. The iPhone 16e, Apple’s newest addition to its iPhone 16 family, costs $599. It iPhone replaces the iPhone SE 3 to become the cheapest Apple smartphone with an A18 chip.
At first glance, the iPhone 16e seems quite similar to the iPhone 16, despite a $200 lower price. So, how does the iPhone 16e compare to the iPhone 16? Should you save your money and get Apple’s newest iPhone? Or pay extra and go for the iPhone 16? If you’re wondering which device best suits your needs, our iPhone for life guide breaks it down in detail.
You can radically customize the Lock Screen of your iPhone with a bunch of widgets, aesthetics and styles. If you liked the themed custom Home Screens people were putting together using Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, you’ll love the level of creativity you can express with customized Lock Screens.
Read on to see all the features or watch our video.
★★★☆☆
Released earlier this month, the Alogic Ark Pro power bank is a beast of a charger with a big 27,600mAh battery, up to 140 watts of charging power for MacBooks and other devices, an attached cable and a color display. IATA-compliant, it’s the biggest battery you can take on a plane, according to Alogic. The only question is, would you? It’s pretty hefty.
Visual Intelligence, which previously was reserved for the iPhone 16 models, will reportedly reach the two iPhone 15 Pro variants in the near future.
Realistically, there was no reason why the artificial intelligence feature shouldn’t have been added to Apple’s 2023 models with the debut of iOS 18. In fact, with the growing demand for AI-powered productivity tools, many users are looking for ways to AI take notes efficiently to enhance their workflow.
There’s never been an Apple TV+ show with more viewers than Severance. The deeply weird workplace drama even surpassed the beloved Ted Lasso in viewers, Apple itself revealed on Wednesday.
And ratings charts concur — Severance is extremely popular.
There’s one feature missing from the new iPhone 16e that makes it a big “no” for me, dog — MagSafe. Apple’s failure to include a few cheap magnets, which could have enabled a wonderful array of iPhone accessories, seems like the ultimate cost-cutting fail. If you’re comparing it with the iPhone 16, you’ll notice that Apple’s flagship model retains full MagSafe compatibility. For those looking for a long iPhone experience with the latest features, MagSafe might be a key deciding factor. If you frequently use MagSafe accessories like the MagSafe wallet, make sure to check out our list of the best iPhone 16e cases to find a case that fits your needs.
If you’re comparing it with the iPhone 16, you’ll notice that Apple’s flagship model retains full MagSafe compatibility.
Today, Apple introduced the iPhone 16e. It features many top features from the iPhone 16 series, but at a lower $599 price point. The iPhone 16e replaces the former iPhone SE in the lineup.
If you don’t have twelve minutes to spare, you can watch the introduction in just 30 seconds.
To absolutely nobody’s surprise, the newly launched iPhone 16e is missing features found in higher-end models. But what exactly did Apple exclude from this stripped-down version of the iPhone 16? The two models have quite a lot in common — the same size screen, general design, A18 chip and more. But many secondary features don’t appear in the cheaper model.
Check this list of all the missing features in the iPhone 16e before deciding to buy Apple’s budget handset. You might not be able to live without some of them.
The iPhone 16e Apple rolled out Wednesday is a huge upgrade over its previous budget SE handsets. But the new handset only comes in black and white colors. So along with it the iPhone giant launched iPhone 16e silicone cases in five colors — including three that aren’t black or white. Those would be fuschia, blue and green.
And you can already find third-party cases for the new handset, as well, but many more are sure to come soon. Check out some options below.
Today’s Mac mini setup really pumps up the clear audio with Yamaha studio monitor speakers, suitable for the user’s music production. They mount the speakers on stands, which is great. But they mount them sideways, which is … odd. And despite having those, they love their HomePod mini for most uses.