Apple pushed iOS 18.5 beta 1 to developers within days of iOS 18.4‘s public release. While the latter packed several notable new features, the first iOS 18.5 beta sports relatively few changes.
Below are all the changes we have discovered in iOS 18.5 beta 1 so far.
President Donald Trump’s new import tariffs will hit Apple hard. The president slapped all major manufacturing countries that Apple operates in with heavy import tariffs Wednesday in a bid to reshape international trade.
“It’s our declaration of economic independence,” Trump said during a speech at the White House announcing the tariffs. “Today we are standing up for the American worker and we are finally putting America first.”
This move undermines Apple’s efforts in recent years to diversify its supply chain away from China. The White House says the reciprocal tariffs will go into effect on April 9.
Apple once again released an AirPods Max firmware update that adds support for 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio to the USB-C headphones.
Apple originally said it would release the free update on Monday, but it didn’t actually become available until late Wednesday.
You can easily change the default browser on your iPhone if you prefer to use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge or any other alternative. Maybe you use a PC at home and want your bookmarks, history and passwords to sync to your iPhone. Or maybe you simply prefer something other than Apple’s Safari browser.
Whichever browser you set as your iPhone’s default will open when you tap on a link from Messages or Mail, get AirDropped a URL, scan a QR code, search the web with Siri and perform other tasks. This doesn’t mean Safari will be deleted, however. Apple’s stock app will remain installed on your iPhone if case you decide to switch back (which is super-easy).
Here’s how to change the default browser on your iPhone — and transfer your bookmarks and data, too. Keep reading or watch our quick video.
With the big Refresh sale in full swing with Logitech peripherals deals, now’s the time to jazz up your workstation with an array of great gear. After all, a setup is never really done, is it? The Swiss peripherals giant is moving keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, earbuds, USB microphones and more at great prices in the big sale. You can score up to around 30% off on some items. And surprisingly, one sale item gets reduced by $125, a staggering 56% off. See below.
April 2, 1980: Microsoft releases its first hardware product, the Z-80 SoftCard. A microprocessor card that plugs into the Apple II, it allows the computer to run programs designed for the CP/M operating system, a popular OS for business software.
Arriving several years before the first version of Windows, the Z-80 SoftCard quickly becomes a big hit for Microsoft.
Hooray for (super-) simple solutions. Today’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air user runs both laptops with Studio Display. But how does he switch between them? Sure, he could employ cabling and software fixes to run both at once, but in this case simple hardware in the form of a dual vertical laptop stand comes to the rescue.
Billing it as “the world’s first truly portable network attached storage (NAS) device,” StationPC launched PocketCloud NAS on Kickstarter this week. The compact device blew through its crowdfunding goal with more than 40 days still to go, virtually assuring it will go into production, according to a StationPC representative.
So PocketCloud, available at a steep discount to early buyers, offers Apple enthusiasts a way to manage their growing media libraries and important files without relying solely on iCloud or external hard drives.
“PocketCloud revolutionizes portable data management with a sleek, compact design that eliminates the complexities of traditional NAS systems,” StationPC said. “Its modular backup system ensures secure on-the-go storage and seamless synchronization when docked. With intuitive controls, robust durability, and high-speed transfers up to 800 MB/s, it’s ideal for photographers, content creators, and everyday users.”
Even if you’re a savvy digital citizen, your MacBook, iPhone and iPad could probably use an extra layer of security. Why? Because hackers and antiviruses become more sophisticated every day. Instead of relying solely on your Apple devices’ built-in protection, take things up a notch with a comprehensive security solution: McAfee Total Protection.
An all-in-one antivirus, text scam blocker, VPN, identity monitor and more, McAfee Total Protection provides you and your devices extra peace of mind when you’re browsing, streaming or gaming. This security solution has won numerous awards for its complete digital protection measures. And now, Cult of Mac readers can grab a two-year subscription covering up to five devices for less than $20 (regularly $149).
Apple’s smart glasses are years from launch. But Meta plans to roll out a more sophisticated version of its popular Ray-Ban Meta glasses later this year.
It will reportedly support hand gestures and feature a screen to display pictures and apps.
Visa reportedly wants to take over Mastercard’s partnership on the Apple Card. The company has allegedly offered Apple $100 million to make it happen.
Apple ended its partnership with Goldman Sachs over the Apple Card. It currently seeks a new banking partner and card issuer.
Apple Watch users can now install watchOS 11.4, an update that improves wake-up alarms and makes a few other tweaks.
Apple announced on Monday that the update was available, but didn’t actually release it until Tuesday.
Popular iOS game emulator Delta released version 1.7, bringing live online multiplayer functionality to Nintendo DS games, the app said Thursday. Delta emulator with online multiplayer makes for a significant development for retro mobile gaming enthusiasts. Anyone who loves playing classic titles like Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown and Mario Kart should be delighted.
April 1, 1976: The Apple Computer Company is founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The trio sets out to sell the $666 Apple-1 computer.
Apple will not officially become a corporation until January 3 the following year. By that time, Wayne is no longer a part of the business.
An apparent Apple Watch Series 10 prototype with a significantly different health sensor surfaced online Monday. Speculation suggests the prototype version might indicate work on advanced health monitoring capabilities like blood glucose monitoring — an Apple goal for many years.
★★★★☆
The Plugable PS-10CC 10-port USB-C charger can power up a whole family’s fleet of computers at once. That’s what 10 ports can do for you, as we found while testing the device for our hands-on review.
It can handle up to 100W, and depending on how the devices are plugged in, users can even specify which devices get the most power first.
I tested the PS-10CC in my home office. I like it enough that it’s going to stay.
If you want to boost your golf performance, don’t forget one of the most important elements: your mental game. Just a sliver of doubt or frustration over a minute detail of your golf game can throw you off. So why not prepare your mind like elite players do with Mind Caddie, a highly rated mental golf game app that gives you the psychological skills you need to unlock your best performance.
Right now, you can score this golf performance app at a big discount — just $139.99 for life (regularly $209.99). That gives you full access to audio lessons and mental exercises that can help you focus, stay in control and play well under pressure.
Apple may drop support for the iPhone XS and iPhone XR with iOS 19 this year. This contradicts previous rumors, which indicated iOS 19 may work with the same set of iPhones as iOS 18.
The iPhone XS lineup launched in September 2018, running iOS 12 out of the box.
Want a major car upgrade without buying a new vehicle? You can add a 7-inch dashboard display that works with Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto for just $64.99 (regularly $139). That’s a great deal on an after-market wireless CarPlay display with a vivid touchscreen.
Designed to put your smartphone’s features and apps front and center in any car, this wireless car display makes road trips easier, safer and more fun. It’s incredibly easy to set up and widely compatible with various automobiles.
It’s World Backup Day, a good opportunity to learn how to clear iCloud storage of old backup files made by iPhone and iPad. Are you running out of iCloud storage space? Worried about privacy? You might want to delete some old backups from the cloud.
The good news is erasing these files is easy if you know the steps to follow. Here’s how.
Apple rolled out its visionOS 2.4 update as a bit of a surprise Monday. It marks a significant spatial computing platform update, introducing Apple Intelligence features and new content discovery tools for Vision Pro users.
Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.4 for Mac users around the world Monday. The upgrade brings AI-powered automatic categorization of emails in Apple’s Mail app, among other things. Plus, it makes Apple Intelligence available in many more languages and regions.
The launch came earlier than expected — Apple previously said the next macOS version would debut in April.
iPadOS 18.4 also launched Monday with the same mail categorization. Plus, iOS 18.4 reached iPhone users, and visionOS 2.4 arrived as well.
iOS 18.4, which Apple released Monday, brings several significant new features to iPhones. It is one of the biggest updates to the operating system since the initial public release of iOS 18 in September 2024.
Among other things, the update will also introduce a key Apple Intelligence feature that Apple showcased at WWDC24. Keep reading to learn about all the new features in iOS 18.4 — or watch our video. (Apple also released iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4 and visionOS 2.4, which include similar upgrades, on Monday.)
ChatGPT and Google Gemini are quickly becoming popular tools for tasks ranging from research to brainstorming. And ChatGPT will even be baked into Apple Intelligence later this year. If you’re looking for an intro to these ever-evolving AI tools, you can catch up with the latest developments with this comprehensive artificial intelligence certification course bundle.
The 2024 Complete ChatGPT and Gemini AI Advanced E-Degree courses from Eduonix show you how AI works and get you up to speed on the state of this rapidly changing tech. Right now, you can gain lifetime access to these courses for just $19.99.
March 31, 2010: The world gets its first sense of how Apple’s tablet measures up, as the first iPad reviews hit the internet.
The consensus? That there’s no Flash, no USB, no multitasking — but Apple’s tablet offers an exciting new computing experience all the same. As USA Today writes, “The first iPad is a winner.”