With a move on the horizon, I’ve been figuring out just what combination of chargers and power strips were going to help me streamine the family room setup. UGREEN’s recent DigiNest Pro has tapped in just in time to save the day, delivering seven ports for topping off everything from my own personal everyday carry to friend’s smartphones and more. Below, I see how the in this latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys.

more…

The post Review: UGREEN’s 100W DigiNest Pro GaN II power station conveniently solves charging woes appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Benjamin and Zac discuss a change to Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch, Apple’s newest TV+ ad, and reviewers have gotten a chance to go hands-on with the new M2 MacBook Pro and Mac mini. Plus, there’s new rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro chassis redesign and insights into exactly how Apple’s upcoming AR headset will work from a software perspective.

Sponsored by Factor: Factor has everything I need for a week of flavorful, nutritious eats. Head to GO.FACTOR75.com/happyhour60 and use code happyhour60 to get 60% off your first box.

Sponsored by Private Internet Access: Right now, go to PIAVPN.com/happyhour to get a whopping 82% off your VPN service… PLUS, four free months with a two-year plan!

Sponsored by Pillow: Pillow is an all-in-one sleep tracking solution to help you get a better night’s sleep. Download it from the App Store today.

more…

The post 9to5Mac Happy Hour 418: M2 MacBook Pro reviews, iPhone 15 design, Apple AR headset software details appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Nintendo Switch companion app SwitchBuddy has been a handy way to transfer screenshots/videos and keep up with Switch news on iPhone. Now the app has received a major update with a new Games section to track upcoming releases complete with countdown widgets.

more…

The post SwitchBuddy for iOS updated with upcoming games and release countdown widgets appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Update: Spotify has said: “Something’s not quite right, and we’re looking into it. Thanks for your reports!”

It’s not just you: Spotify is facing an ongoing outage that is affecting many of its users around the world. According to posts on social media, the outage began shortly after 10 a.m. PT and is still ongoing. Spotify has not yet acknowledged the outage or given any indication of when the service will come back online.

more…

The post Spotify currently down for many users; second outage in two weeks appeared first on 9to5Mac.

As the adoption of electric vehicles has grown, so has the availability of EV-specific apps for CarPlay. There are a number of excellent CarPlay apps that help take your EV experience to the next level, including planning trips, finding chargers, and more. Read on for the growing list of CarPlay apps that every EV owner should check out.

Award-winning productivity app Things is out with a valuable update today for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The latest release sees an Apple Shortcuts upgrade that brings a lot more power and efficiency to the app.

more…

The post Things for iPhone, iPad, Mac gets Apple Shortcuts boost with 9 new actions appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple is halting the development of its own custom Wi-Fi chip in an effort to direct more attention to Apple Silicon processors. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the “slowdown of processor upgrades” is a concern for Apple. Therefore, it wants to devote more resources to the development of 3-nanometer chips for Apple Silicon products.

more…

The post Kuo: Apple halts work on its custom Wi-Fi chip to prioritize 3nm Apple Silicon engineering appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Enjoy the podcast? Shop to support 9to5Mac Daily!

more…

The post 9to5Mac Daily: January 26, 2023 – Bad news for the new MacBook Pro appeared first on 9to5Mac.

It’s Thursday, and we have a fresh batch of discounts now live across the Apple sphere. Kicking things off is a new all-time low on the Apple Studio Display, which lands at $1,300 following a $299 discount. That’s alongside a chance to save $49 on Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which rounds out the discounts today on top of these rare 24-inch M1 iMac price cuts. Hit the jump for all of the best deals and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

more…

The post Deals: Apple Studio Display $299 off, 12.9-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard $300, M1 iMac, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

In 2018, Apple redesigned the iPad Pro, and customers, including myself, were in awe of this beautiful piece of hardware. It was the first time Apple left the classic, Steve Jobs envisioned-designed, and gave us something completely different. A near-bezel-less design, with FaceID, a 120Hz ProMotion display, rear pin connectors for accessories, a new magnetically attaching Apple Pencil, and just amazing power for such a slim and clean device.

more…

The post Poll: What is the best front-facing camera solution for the iPad? appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Pegasus spyware – a zero-click way of remotely hacking an iPhone, and gaining access to all the personal data stored on it – has been defended by the company’s CEO. NSO chief exec said that the company had made “mistakes” in selling it to repressive governments, but claimed that it now sells Pegasus only to countries to whom the US sells weapons.

A security researcher said that the comparison was bogus, stating that a more reasonable comparison would be selling long-range nuclear missiles …

more…

The post Pegasus spyware defended by NSO’s CEO, as researcher compares it to a nuclear weapon appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The Mac Pro has effectively been defined as two things. First, the most powerful Mac in Apple’s line-up. Second, the most expandable machine, but it’s looking increasingly like neither will apply to the 2023 Mac Pro.

And if you take away both of the unique selling points of the Mac Pro, isn’t it dead on arrival … ?

more…

The post Is the 2023 Mac Pro dead on arrival? [Opinion] appeared first on 9to5Mac.

An analyst report points to likely iPhone 15 Wi-Fi 6E support this year – giving at least some of this year’s iPhones access to a whole new frequency band.

If accurate, that would mean increased capacity, reduced interference, and better video streaming performance …

more…

The post iPhone 15 Wi-Fi 6E support would mean more capacity, less interference, better video streaming appeared first on 9to5Mac.

2022 iPhone shipments fell 14.9% year-on-year during the holiday quarter, and shipments for the calendar year were also down by 4%, according to the latest IDC data.

However, while that doesn’t look like great news, Apple actually fared better than any other brand in both the quarter, and across the year as a whole …

more…

The post 2022 iPhone shipments fell 14.9% in holiday quarter, but all other brands did even worse appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Following all the mess happening to Twitter after the company was acquired by Elon Musk, Apple Fellow and former Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has deleted his account on the platform. However, those who still want updates from Schiller can now follow him on Mastodon.

more…

The post Apple Fellow Phil Schiller confirms he’s now on Mastodon after deleting Twitter account appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple’s high-end AirPods Max headphones were introduced in 2020 for the high price of $549. While they impress for their sound quality, there are a lot of controversies about the product. At the same time, Apple has never released a new version of the headphone since then. With rumors of a new-generation AirPods Max in the works, we want to know what features you are most looking forward to.

more…

The post Poll: Which feature are you most looking forward to in a new-generation AirPods Max? appeared first on 9to5Mac.

iOS 16.3 was released to everyone on Monday, with headlining features including Security Key support for Apple IDs and support for the second-generation HomePod. The update also included a handful of bug fixes and improvements, including a fix for a pesky CarPlay bug.

more…

The post iOS 16.3 fixes pesky CarPlay bug that broke Find My support in Siri appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Earlier this week Apple officially released iOS 16.3 updates for iOS, iPadOS, and HomePod. The update brings several noteworthy changes and enhancements to these devices, headlined by support for hardware security keys for Apple IDs and the global rollout of Advanced Data Protection.

iOS 16.3 also paves the way for the new second-generation HomePod, which is scheduled to be released on February 3. But even if you don’t plan on dropping $299 for Apple’s newest smart speaker, you’ll be pleased to learn that iOS 16.3 includes enhancements for the first-generation HomePod and the HomePod mini. Watch my hands-on video walkthroughs for a visual breakdown of what’s new.

more…

The post iOS 16.3 change review: Hardware security keys, HomePod feature updates, and more [Video]  appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple has once again adjusted the trade-in prices for many of its devices. The company does this every so often in response to market values and the release of new products. This time, Apple has adjusted trade-in prices for the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch, while iPad trade-in values have remained the same.

more…

The post Apple adjusts trade-in values: Mac values go up, iPhone values go down appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a lot of companies around the world to change the way they work, and that includes Apple. However, as the situation is now more under control, Apple is changing its policies for employees again, who will no longer need to test for COVID-19 before going to the office.

more…

The post Apple drops COVID-19 test requirement, could WWDC expand in 2023? appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Enjoy the podcast? Shop to support 9to5Mac Daily!

more…

The post 9to5Mac Daily: January 25, 2023 – AirPods Max delays, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple Watch collects a number of biometric data points on its own, but you can also combine Apple Watch data with data from other wearables and accessories. The Oura Ring is one of the more popular options on the market, and a new update this week brings deep integration with Apple Watch.

more…

The post Oura Ring now offers Apple Watch integration with new app, complications, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple’s latest Mac mini with the M2 or M2 Pro chip means more powerful CPUs and GPUs, up to 32GB RAM, up to 3 external displays, 8K output via HDMI, WiFi 6E, and the base models are even more affordable. The standalone desktop sits below the more powerful Mac Studio, making the lineup more diverse. But is the Mac Studio overkill for most people with the Mac mini to consider? Here’s an in-depth Mac mini vs Mac Studio comparison for how everything shakes out.

more…

The post Battle of the Blocks: Here’s how the Mac mini stacks up against the Mac Studio appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Halfway through the work week, and all of the best discounts are now going live on the Apple front. Today’s highlights start off with at $23, which is joined by much of the same style updates on Apple Watch with markdowns on in-house Sport Loop bands from $39. Plus, Satechi is taking 20% off new releases revealed back at CES to deliver some all-time lows. Hit the jump for all of the best deals and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

more…

The post Deals: Official iPhone 13 MagSafe case $23, Apple Watch Sport Loops from $39, Satechi gear, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple has given the Apple Support website a nice overhaul this week. The new design is much more modern with large images, new icons, and easy access to some of the most common Apple Support issues. Head below for a closer look.

more…

The post Apple Support website gets a much-needed facelift with new design appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The number of data breaches in 2022 was slightly down on the previous year, but the number of people whose personal data was exposed by the security failures was significantly higher …

more…

The post Data breaches hit 42% more Americans last year, creating a “scamdemic” of identity theft appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple has begun hiring for a new Apple Store in Malaysia, which would potentially be the first time the company has added a new country to its retail store network since 2018. Potentially, because it’s as yet unclear whether the first Indian store might open beforehand.

Oddly, the job listings don’t specify where in the country the store will be opening, but the capital, Kuala Lumpur (shown above), would be the obvious choice …

more…

The post Apple Store Malaysia hiring underway, potentially first new country since 2018 appeared first on 9to5Mac.

There have been suggestions for years now that the iPhone maker is quietly working on an Apple Search service, to compete with Google. That idea is back in the news today, in a report suggesting that it could be one element of a three-part “silent war” on Google.

Recent developments do support the idea that the Cupertino company is gearing up to take on Google in a much more direct fashion than it has so far …

more…

The post Apple Search could be part of a ‘silent war’ on Google; could threaten Google’s ad business appeared first on 9to5Mac.

A widescale Microsoft outage had many users unable to access Outlook, Teams, Azure, and more. The company says it is rolling back a network change it believes to be responsible for the problem …

more…

The post Microsoft outage appears to be largely resolved, restoring Outlook, Teams, Azure appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Over the last few years, Meta has been shifting the focus of Instagram – which was born as a photo app – to compete with short video apps like TikTok. However, this has left many users upset. And after Instagram reversed design changes that made its app more similar to TikTok, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has now admitted that the platform has been pushing “too many videos” on its users.

more…

The post Instagram CEO admits the platform is pushing ‘too many videos’ on users appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Earlier this year, a group of developers created a tool that lets users install macOS Ventura on unsupported Macs, such as the “trash can” Mac Pro. While this tool was previously a beta software, the official release of OpenCore 6.0 is now available for any user who wants to try it.

more…

The post ‘OpenCore’ tool that lets users run macOS Ventura on unsupported Macs is now available appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The popular game Fortnite was banned from the App Store in 2020 after violating some of Apple’s guidelines, which require third-party apps to sell in-app items using the App Store’s own system. Despite the ban, those who have the game installed can still play it, but doing so will now become even more complicated. That’s because Epic Games detailed this week that some features of this outdated version will no longer work.

more…

The post Fortnite on iOS will no longer let players spend their V-Bucks as the game is now outdated appeared first on 9to5Mac.

A quick look inside the base-level M2 Pro MacBook Pro revealed something I hadn’t expected to see – or, rather, that something I HAD expected to see was missing. Like the base level M2 MacBook Air, the base level of the latest 14″ MacBook Pro seems to feature fewer NAND chips – at a higher capacity – than the last generation. This results in SSD read and write performance that’s dramatically lower than the previous generation.

more…

The post 2023 MacBook Pro SSD has performance drop similar to M2 MacBook Air appeared first on 9to5Mac.

macOS includes a few different options for customizing the Dock, such as changing the positioning, adjusting the size, and choosing between showing and hiding it. These settings, however, can’t be linked to different display configurations.

HiDock is a new app from developer Rafa Conde that aims to solve this problem…

more…

The post This Mac app lets you link different Dock settings to different display setups appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple’s MacBook lineup was overhauled with the M3 MacBook Air models arriving in March 2024 and the latest MacBook Pro laptops coming with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips at the end of 2023. Join along for our in-depth look at MacBook Pro vs Air to see what’s similar and different and a buyer’s guide to help you make the best choice.

With today’s availability of the 2023 Mac mini and MacBook Pro, two machines with the ability to drive 8K displays, Apple has published guidance on how to use these high-resolution displays with your Mac. In addition, these new Macs support higher 4K refresh rates up to 240Hz and expanded support for variable refresh rates (VRR).

more…

The post Apple explains how M2 Pro Macs are ready for 8K displays appeared first on 9to5Mac.

A number of new features are rolling out today to HomePod and HomePod mini users. With HomePod software version iOS 16.3, Apple is activating the temperature and humidity sensor in the HomePod mini, adding new features to Siri and more. Head below for the full release notes.

more…

The post HomePod software update 16.3 now rolling out, here’s everything new appeared first on 9to5Mac.

As Mastodon continues to gain traction, Tapbots has officially released the first version of its highly-anticipated “Ivory” client on the App Store. Ivory will be familiar to long-time Tweetbot users, but with a number of features and enhancements specific to the Mastodon experience. 

Head below for an in-depth look at what Ivory has to offer, as well as what’s still to come… and download it on the App Store now.

more…

The post Hands-on: Tapbots officially launches ‘Ivory for Mastodon’ with Tweetbot foundation appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Nomad has launched a sharp new color for its popular Apple Watch Sport Band. The limited edition fluorescent “High Volta” offers a vibrant pop, particularly during the middle of winter. Read on for a hands-on look at this new Apple Watch band.

more…

The post Hands-on: Nomad’s ‘High Volta’ Sport Band gives your Apple Watch the spark it needs appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Tuesday has arrived, and you know what that means! A fresh batch of the best Apple discounts are hitting shelves and we have a handful of offers on tap. First up, Apple’s 11-inch M2 iPad Pro sees a $200 discount to the best discount yet to join Woot’s latest Apple refurb sale, which has iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 at some of the lowest prices yet. Then go check out either of LG’s unique new Libero or DualUp monitors, which are on sale from $397. Hit the jump for all of the best deals and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

more…

The post Tuesday’s best deals: 11-inch M2 iPad Pro $200 off, iPhone 13 $580, Apple Watch Series 7, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The Brydge ProDock is effectively a modern take on a product Apple launched way back in the mists of time (well, 1992): The Macintosh Duo Dock. The idea is to be able to instantly switch between using a Mac laptop as a mobile and desktop device.

There have been a number of third-party takes on this idea. The Brydge ProDock is arguably the best of these – but also the most expensive …

more…

The post Tested: Brydge ProDock offers instant connectivity for desktop setups, at a price appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Enjoy the podcast? Shop to support 9to5Mac Daily!

more…

The post 9to5Mac Daily: January 24, 2023 – New ‘Reality Pro’ headset details appeared first on 9to5Mac.

In honor of Data Privacy Day, Apple has announced a handful of new resources “designed to help users take control of their data.” This year, those initiatives include dedicated privacy-focused “Today at Apple” sessions, a new short film with Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed (Nate the Great), and more.

more…

The post Apple enlists ‘Ted Lasso’ star power and Today at Apple sessions for ‘Data Privacy Day’  appeared first on 9to5Mac.

If you’re anything like me, then you might have gone through your fair share of task management or to-do list apps. I have tried them all, from simple to-do list managers in my notes app all the way to the big hitters like Monday, Todist, Asana, ClickUp & Notion. They all did what I needed them to do, but there was always something that made me stop using them, whether it was just offering too much or not enough.

more…

The post Hands-on: Sunsama is a new daily planner app that claims it’s ‘not a productivity app’ appeared first on 9to5Mac.

A GoTo hack related to the LastPass security breach was far worse than initially disclosed. The company, formerly known as LogMeIn, has revealed that attackers obtained not only encrypted backups of customer data, but also an encryption key for at least some of that data.

It’s a similar tale to the LastPass hack, which followed a similar path from low-key initial announcement to revelations that it was significantly worse than initially feared …

more…

The post GoTo hack sees attackers get encrypted customer backups, and encryption key appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Last year saw a record Apple lobbying spend, as the company sought to fight the threat of antitrust legislation, according to public disclosures.

Apple’s spend was part of an “incredible onslaught of money” which derailed proposed antitrust legislation in the Senate, according to its leading sponsor …

more…

The post Apple lobbying spend hit new record last year, as it fought antitrust legislation appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Twitter GodMode – an internal tool that hackers used to tweet from high-profile accounts, including Apple, back in 2020 – remains available to all of the company’s engineers, according to a new report today.

Twitter had previously said that the security hole had been fixed, but a whistleblower said that aside from changing the name of the tool from GodMode to PrivilegedMode, the company had made only one change – and that still allowed any Twitter engineer to trivially gain uncontrolled access to it …

more…

The post Twitter GodMode still available to all engineers, following hack of Apple and other accounts appeared first on 9to5Mac.

A beta of a Catalyst-based WhatsApp Mac app was made available back in June last year, but only to a limited number of users via TestFlight. The app is now available to all Mac users, though is still officially considered a beta version …

more…

The post WhatsApp Mac app: Catalyst beta now available to all appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The new M2 Macs are available from today, with pre-order customers taking delivery of their shiny new machines.

Apple last week announced the new Mac mini with a choice of M2 and M2 Pro chips, as well as the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro models …

more…

The post New M2 Macs available from today, as first customers take delivery appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley chats with Gary Orenstein from Bitwarden about self hosting, FIDO, open standards, the acquisition of Passwordless.dev, and the role of healthy password management in the enterprise.

more…

The post Apple @ Work Podcast: Building a healthy password management ecosystem appeared first on 9to5Mac.