The U.K. government dropped a plan that would have allowed it to access the contents of any online message looking for illegal content. It had sought a way around the encryption that protects messaging services like iMessage and WhatsApp.

Apple threatened to disable iMessage and FaceTime in the UK rather than submit to the proposal on the grounds that it would completely compromise the privacy of all users. Other companies said the same about their apps.

The revamped Sonos Move 2 portable speaker sports stereo sound, up to 24 hours of battery life — twice that of its predecessor — and a slew of design changes since the water-resistant speaker’s initial release four years ago, the company said Wednesday.

Sonos Move 2 becomes available September 20 for $449.

Fans who miss the psychological dark dramedy Severance on Apple TV+ can now drone out to a full day of the show’s ghostly piano-based theme song with the “8 Hour Work Day Innie Mix,” which Apple released Tuesday on YouTube.

Get it, innies? You can play the eerie mix for your whole 8-hour workday. It’s like having the show’s credits roll all day in your head as you start to question your choices in life.

Apple has been caught in the middle of the high tech trade war between the United States and China. Many government employees have been ordered to not use an iPhone for work. Official government disapproval could result in lowered sales in the country, which currently contributes heavily to Apple revenue.

iPhone has not been singled out, though. The workers are not allowed to use any smartphone made outside of China.

If you’re an avid gamer or you’re shopping for one, you could do worse than to check out today’s featured Mac Studio and Studio Display setup.

The user gets seriously greedy with a peripherals lineup that others might want to emulate, including six gaming systems, four keyboards, four mice and a stellar sound system.

Nomad’s premium metal-and-glass Base One Max 2-in-1 charger got an upgrade this week to 3-in-1. It can charge iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch simultaneously, the company said.

The charger boasts official MagSafe tech, so it will goose your handset with a full 15 watts.

Now that iOS and the App Store have been labeled “gatekeepers” by the European Commission, the EU’s Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow users to install applications directly onto iPhones. And sideloading is just one of the sweeping changes resulting from the DMA. Users apparently will be able to replace Siri with one of its rivals, for example. Other services, like iMessage, might require modification later.

One thing’s clear: The iPhone won’t be the same after the Digital Markets Act goes into effect in spring 2024.

The four women who sparked the term “supermodel” in the 1980s — Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington — were a close-knit sisterhood and “the original influencers,” according to the new trailer Apple TV+ dropped Wednesday for the upcoming documentary series The Super Models.

The four-part series, which promises never-before-seen commentary from fashion and pop culture luminaries, walks the runway September 20.

If your drawers or closets are filled with DVDs, it might be time to digitize your DVD collection. And for a limited time, you can get a single lifetime license for MacX DVD Ripper Pro for only $29.99 (regularly $67).

With less than a week to go for Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, a new report revealed key details about the iPhone 15’s camera setup. It appears Apple plans big camera upgrades this year — but probably not in the way you expect.

Corroborating previous rumors, the report confirms the periscope camera will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

There certainly will not be a dearth of apps for the Vision Pro when it launches — Apple said Tuesday that every compatible iOS and iPadOS application will be automatically listed in an upcoming App Store for the AR headset.

That means there’ll be “hundreds of thousands” of apps for Vision Pro at its debut early next year, according to Apple.

Apple is reportedly working on a MacBook with a price low enough to compete with Chromebooks in the education market.

If true, then the company may well be intending to follow the same strategy for macOS notebooks that it does for the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE.

Anybody who ever owned a record collection knows those slender discs aren’t just a bygone way to deliver sound. They’re a way to connect tangibly with your music and supply an earthy sound you just can’t replicate with Apple Music and other streaming services.

The problem? Few people have the space (or the funds) for a quality record player anymore. The solution? The RokBlok 2.0, a portable record player that lets you enjoy your favorite vinyl anywhere, anytime. Right now, you can get this innovative record-playing gadget for only $89.99 (regularly $99).

Labor Day weekend is always a great time to find deals on tech gear, including Apple computers, gear and accessories. And shockingly, some of those great Labor Day deals are still available from the Cult of Mac Store, Amazon.com and Woot!

Still, we don’t know how long all of these will last, so have at it!

Kingston just took the wraps off the XS1000 External SSD. It’s about the size of pack of gum but holds up to 2 terabytes of data. And it can transfer files at high speed, too.

Or there’s the already announced XS2000, which is twice as fast. Just not for everyone.

Two new Anker Solix portable power stations give you power for camping, home-backup and other off-the-grid power needs, the company said last week at IFA 2023 in Berlin, Germany.

Anker unveiled Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station and Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station at the show.

Jabra just rolled out its new flagship wireless active noise-canceling earbuds, Jabra Elite 10, alongside its rugged Jabra Elite 8 Active buds.

Elite 10 features 10mm drivers, comfortable open-ear construction and, in a first for Jabra, Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking.

September 5, 2007: Just months after the first iPhone went on sale, Apple ditches its bottom-tier 4GB model and cuts the price of the 8GB version by $200.

A rare misstep (considering Apple’s usual mastery of the press), this tone-deaf PR move backfires immediately. Early adopters rage about shelling out premium prices for their first-generation iPhones. Fortunately, Apple makes good.

Aqara showcased its new Smart Lock U200, Camera E1, Dual Relay Module T2 and Ceiling Light T1M at IFA 2023 in Berlin, Germany, last week, the company said.

The products support the Matter home automation standard and should go on sale in the coming months, Aqara said.

Blofeld, the criminal mastermind and head of Spectre, is once again scheming to defeat James Bond in Cypher 007. The action game launches for a range of Apple devices in late September on Apple Arcade.

And there are three more games headed for Apple’s gaming subscription service in September.

The Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 is an expansive 27-inch desktop display for your Mac that offers a high degree of color accuracy and quality in a crisp 4K resolution.

As the world increasingly turns to USB-C connectivity — looking at you, imminent iPhone 15 — Ugreen is there. Its powerful new Nexode 300-watt GaN fast-charger, launched Tuesday, powers up five devices at once — four via USB-C and one via USB-A.

Ugreen calls it “the world’s first 5-Port 300W GaN desktop charger,” and the company sent me the beast to check out. You’ll want to keep this hefty brick in one place, not carry it around with you.

Sick of the subscription costs of Microsoft 365 or the limitations of Microsoft Office? Try OfficeSuite. It’s compatible with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and you can get lifetime plans for you or your family for super-low prices.

Freshly brushed teeth might make you feel more refreshed than anything. To elevate your oral hygiene, we have a limited-time opportunity. During Cult of Mac Deals’ Labor Day Sale, you can get an AquaSonic Black Series electric toothbrush with a handy travel case and eight DuPont brush heads for only $29.97 (regularly $59).

Act fast, though, because this deal ends September 4 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

Add mophie (and its parent company Zagg) to the list of accessory-makers jumping on the Qi2 bandwagon. It unveiled a collection of wireless chargers that use the new standard that’s heavily based on Apple’s MagSafe, including magnetic attachment.

Both Belkin and Anker also announced Qi2-compatible products designed to work equally well for iPhone and Android.