Wednesday’s best deals are all about MacBooks. The just-released 13-inch M3 MacBook Air headlines the savings at $999 to go alongside the previous-generation M2 MacBook Air at $849. Or you could step up to the 16-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro at $500 off. Regardless, all three are new all-time lows. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

more…

Apple last week released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 to iPhone and iPad users. Although the updates don’t add any new features, they do bring two important security patches. For some unknown reason, Apple has now quietly released a revised build of iOS 17.4.1.

more…

The Grok AI chatbot, which was previously going to be exclusive to X’s top-tier Premium+ subscribers, will instead be coming to all premium subscribers this week.

The move is likely geared to boosting revenue in the face of falling usage and an exodus of advertisers, but it’s leading some Premium+ subscribers to question what they are now getting for their money …

more…

A new supply-chain report says that Samsung declined to make displays for the iPhone SE 4, expected to debut in 2025 with a major upgrade.

The Korean report says that Samsung was unable to reach agreement with Apple on the price of the displays, and so they will instead be made by China’s BOE …

more…

An iPad and iPhone fraudster who is estimated to have cost Apple more than $6M in replacement devices has been sentenced to 51 months in prison.

His two co-defendants were sentenced to 41 months each back in 2023. The trio also had property and cash seized to the value of more than $4M …

more…

A new report highlights what probably amounts the most most absurd stretch in the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit. A section notes that Apple last year spent half as much on research and development (R&D) as it did on AAPL share buybacks, presenting this as ‘evidence’ of the lack of competition faced by the company.

It contrasts this with Google, whose R&D spend matched that of its share buybacks, suggesting this means the search giant faces greater competition …

more…

The Affinity suite of apps, which includes Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher, has become known as an excellent alternative to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. But there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, as Serif – the company behind the Affinity apps – has now been acquired by Canva in a multi-million dollar deal.

more…

Apple last month opened applications for the 2024 Swift Student Challenge. The annual competition encourages developers to show off their coding skills by creating playground projects. This year, Swift Student Challenge winners will be invited to attend the WWDC 2024 kick-off event at Apple Park.

more…

Apple today confirmed that WWDC 2024 will kick off on June 10, where we expect iOS 18 and major new AI features. In a new report today, Bloomberg reiterates that iOS 18 will be “the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone’s software in its history.”

One thing we shouldn’t expect at WWDC, however, is Apple’s own generative AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

more…

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts...

Alongside the WWDC 2024 announcement, Apple has refreshed the apple.com homepage. The updated look features a minor design change with the use of rounded rectangle shapes for the ‘learn more’ and ‘buy’ buttons on the various product tiles.

More significantly, there’s an entirely new row at the bottom of the featured products grid. Below the carousel for TV+ originals, there’s a new slider featuring content from Apple’s other content services: Apple Music, Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+.

more…

Apple on Tuesday announced WWDC 2024, the next edition of its annual conference for developers, which will take place from June 10 to 14. Ahead of the special event, the company has now unveiled a new YouTube channel where developers can find all the WWDC sessions to watch.

more…

Apple officially set the dates for WWDC 2024 today, revealing that the event will take place from June 10 through June 14. As if there were any doubts that artificial intelligence will be a key part of WWDC this year, Apple’s marketing boss Greg Joswiak says the event will be “Absolutely Incredible.”

Get it? (A)bsolutely (I)ncredible…

more…

Apple has officially announced WWDC24 with the developer week kicking off on June 10. Like it’s done in recent years, the company is holding a special, invite-only in-person event to watch the keynote at Apple headquarters and more. Here’s how to apply for a spot.

more…

Apple has officially confirmed WWDC 2024, where iOS 18 for iPhone users will be officially announced. The company says that this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference will take place from June 10 through June 14. The festivities will get started with a special keynote on Monday, June 10.

“Entire conference available online for all developers, with a special event at Apple Park on June 10,” Apple says.

more…