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.

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Friday’s best deals are here to wrap up the work week. Through the end of the day, you can score an all-time low on Apple’s latest AirPods 3 at $140 to go alongside a collection of official iPhone 15 silicone cases from just $15. Plus, the first discount on the Sonos Move 2 portable speaker with AirPlay 2 is live at $359. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

It’s happened, Spotify has finally launched a miniplayer for desktop that supports music and video (including podcasts). As shown above, you can use a few designs including a minimal bar, or resizable square or rectangle.

After literally years of investigation, the DOJ antitrust lawsuit is finally official. Apple is accused of using a dominant market position to lock in customers, block competitors, profiteer, and stifle new technologies.

The lawsuit mirrors moves made in the EU, most notably through the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which obliges Apple and other tech giants to adopt a less aggressive approach to protecting their own financial interests against competition …

Earlier this week, news broke that Apple was in talks with Google to license its Gemini models to be used to power some generative AI features in the upcoming version of iOS, iOS 18, for the iPhone. It was also said to have spoken with OpenAI about a possible deal.

Today, the Wall Street Journal says Apple also held talks with Baidu, to license its models. This would likely be intended to serve AI requests to Apple customers in China, as Chinese law requires models to be approved by its regulator before they are allowed to be used.

University researchers have found an unpatchable security flaw in Apple Silicon Macs, which would allow an attacker to break encryption and get access to cryptographic keys.

The flaw is present in M1, M2, and M3 chips, and because the failing is part of the architecture of the chips, there’s no way for Apple to fix it in current devices …

The DOJ lawsuit is 88 pages long, and I freely confess I haven’t yet finished reading it, but it seems one tech writer has – finding a claim that CarPlay is anticompetitive.

As the piece notes, it seems clear that the Department of Justice doesn’t actually understand what CarPlay is, or how it works, as the claim simply makes no sense …

If you’ve suddenly been logged out of the Instagram and Threads apps, it’s not just you. There’s a bug affecting a number of users of Meta’s platforms on Thursday night, causing their accounts to be logged out for no reason. Read on as we share more details about the bug.

A recent report revealed that Apple is gearing up to launch Vision Pro in more countries soon. To add fuel to the fire, the company has published new job offers on its website looking for specialists to work with Apple Vision Pro in countries such as Australia, China, and Japan.

Apple last year launched its hardware diagnostic tool for anyone interested in DIY repairs as part of its Self Service Repair program. Before that, the software was limited to Apple Retail Stores and Authorized Service Providers (AASP). iFixit has now shared an in-depth analysis of Apple’s diagnostic tool and how helpful it is.

Benjamin and Chance react to the news that Apple is partnering with Google to use their Gemini models to power some AI features coming in iOS 18. Also, there’s more details about the two new AirPods models set to debut later this year. There’s also rumors about anti-reflective matte screens for iPhone and iPad, and Walmart announces that it is selling Macs for the first time, starting with the cut-price $699 M1 MacBook Air.

In Happy Hour Plus: Chance tells Mayo about his experience seeing the Rivian R2. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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It’s been a while since WhatsApp introduced the ability to pin a message to a chat, so that it is always visible in that conversation. With the latest version of the app, Meta has introduced a small change to this feature that now lets users pin multiple messages to the same chat.

The US Department of Justice filed its antitrust lawsuit against Apple today, with the supposed goal of “freeing smartphone markets from Apple’s anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct and restoring competition.”

Apple has another take, arguing that the goal of the lawsuit is to turn the iPhone into an Android phone.

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.

Sponsored by DirecTV Stream: The best way to watch every single NCAA March Madness game on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Save $30 and start watching now. 

Introducing 9to5Mac Daily Plus! Support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: 

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Apple and the MLS are running a new promotion to offer a one-month free trial of MLS Season Pass, available to new sign-ups. Interested fans can access the promotion by following the link on Lionel Messi’s Instagram page.

As part of its response to the United States DOJ lawsuit today, Apple confirmed that it at one point considered creating an Apple Watch for Android. The company tells me that it spent three years working on bringing Apple Watch to Android before ultimately scrapping the idea.

Apple has officially released iOS 17.4.1 for iPhone users today. The update comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 with major changes in the European Union.

The US Department of Justice officially filed its antitrust lawsuit against Apple today, after years of preparation. Apple has already voiced its opposition to the suit and vowed to “vigorously defend” itself against the claims.

The full PDF of the DOJ’s lawsuit is embedded below and available for download here.

If you need more than 8GB of memory, today’s 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro discounts are right up your alley. Pricing starts at $1,605 for the usually $1,999 MacBook and comes joined by AirTags from $21 each and a rare chance to save on the HomeKit-enabled Eve Cam at $130. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

Proton is out with support for passkeys today with its open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager Proton Pass. Notably, the company calls out big tech’s approach to passkey support as making their walled gardens taller, while Proton’s approach is to keep passkeys “free, universal, and open-source.”

Apple has responded to the Department of Justice lawsuit that has been expected for some time now. In the statement, Apple says the lawsuit threatens its identity and it will vigorously defend itself from it:

Apple recently released visionOS 1.1, bringing higher quality Persona avatars and enterprise support to Apple Vision Pro. The software update also introduces support for a significant advancement in immersive web experiences.

A former United Parcel Service (UPS) worker has been accused of stealing $1.3 million worth of Apple products over the course of a decade.

He has been charged with stealing the products from a UPS warehouse in Winnipeg, Canada, and reselling them on the popular classified ad site Kijiji …

A state-owned newspaper has cited Tim Cook praising China as a production hub, during the CEO’s visit to the country for a new store opening.

Cook’s remarks were made after Apple reported a 13% decline in revenue from China, with a recent market intelligence estimate suggesting that iPhone sales were down 24% in the opening weeks of this year …

The Parler app – which was removed by Apple after accusations that it was used to plan and facilitate the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 – is now back in the App Store. The Android version of the social media app has not yet been accepted back into the Google Play Store.

The company’s new CEO says that the app’s focus on completely unmoderated posts has now changed, though it’s unclear who actually owns and controls the business now …

The leaker Instant Digital has been busy on Weibo recently, with a series of claims about the upcoming iPad Pro models. One of these was that an iPad announcement would be made on March 26 – but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said that this is “not true.”

Instant Digital does have some track record, including the yellow color update to the iPhone 14, and the matte back glass design of the iPhone 15. However, the account has also been mistaken on a number of predictions, so falls into the hit-and-miss category …

We’ve heard a lot recently about how the EU commission has been cracking down on big tech companies like Apple, with the Digital Markets Act causing sweeping changes to how the iPhone works, at least in the EU.

But stateside, Apple is also facing regulatory pressure. Bloomberg reports today that the Department of Justice is readying a formal lawsuit against Apple to be filed as soon as tomorrow. The suit will claim Apple broke antitrust laws by restricting access to iPhone software and hardware features.

With the help of the Apple Support website, users can find a lot of information about the Apple devices they own. This includes things like technical specifications, guides, and support articles. However, all this information used to be spread across multiple pages – but Apple is changing that with a new “Documentation” page.

Following the release of iOS 17.4 a few weeks ago, iOS users have been noticing a discreet change when it comes to the App Store. More specifically, Apple has redesigned the App Store’s Purchase History page, which now provides more details about each purchase and also introduces new filters.

More details about the forthcoming iPad Pro refresh continue to emerge. Now, a new leak on Weibo claims that the new iPad Pros will feature noticeably thinner bezels than ever before.

ESR just recently launched its , and I’ve been using it with my Apple setup for the past week. It might not be the most premium option on the market, but it’s the most affordable way to enjoy 15W speeds with a desktop form-factor, AirPods power pad, and Apple Watch charger.

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.

Sponsored by DirecTV Stream: The best way to watch every single NCAA March Madness game on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Save $30 and start watching now. 

Introducing 9to5Mac Daily Plus! Support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: 

• Ad-free versions of every episode
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There are more developments today in the ongoing battle between Apple and some of its biggest App Store opponents. First, in a new amicus briefed filed in the United States today, Meta, Microsoft, X, and Match Group have teamed up to oppose Apple’s proposed anti-steering changes in the United States.

Meanwhile, Epic Games shared more details about its plans to launch its own app marketplace for iPhone in the European Union. The company says it will take a 12% commission from sales…

Amazon’s new Big Spring Sale is now underway, and we’re rounding up all of the best discounts. The savings start with iPad Air 5 dropping to $449 for those who are probably going to skip the spring refresh anyway, as well as iPhone 13 and 13 Pro starting at $370. Plus, a collection of Nomad Apple accessories at 20% off. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

Brian Tong was given a unique opportunity for his latest YouTube video: a golf cart ride around Apple Park with guest stars from various different Apple executives. The video focuses on the “State Of The iPhone,” with topics ranging from the iPhone’s camera to artificial intelligence and much more.

Strava, the popular app that tracks your workouts and lets you share them with your community, today expanded its Best Efforts feature to include more categories for cyclists. Keep reading below the fold to learn more.

Google has confirmed that YouTube TV is now rolling out support for Multiview on the iPhone and iPad, but the feature won’t arrive on Android for a while.

A new rumor on Weibo today claims that the new iPad Pro models will be available in both matte and glossy screen options. This would be similar to how the Apple Studio Display and Pro Display XDR are also available in glossy and Nano-texture display options.

The move comes as third-party screen protectors from the likes of Paperlike and others have become increasingly popular for iPad Pro users.

Tim Cook is in China, attending the opening of the beautiful new Jing’an Apple Store in Shanghai, and meeting with Apple suppliers, developers, and more.

Cook shared photos of his visit on Chinese social media site Weibo, thanking the new store staff and customers for a memorable visit …

A guy who describes himself as a huge Apple enthusiast and a “designer and tinkerer” has created a painstakingly accurate 3D printed Macintosh Plus.

In what has been described as “Steve Jobs-like attention to detail,” it even boots from (and ejects) a floppy disk, and the monitor remains switched off until the Mac emulator is running and displaying the smiling Mac icon …

While Microsoft pushes Office 365 subscriptions hard, it has so far retained the option of one-off purchases of new editions – and it has confirmed that this will also be available for Office 2024 for Mac.

The other good news is that we’re expecting the price to be unchanged from Office 2021 for Mac …

We’ve known for a while that Threads is joining the fediverse, and parent company Meta has now provided a preview of how things will work.

The concept of the fediverse is to network together individual social media platforms, such that you can post once on one of them, and then share your post on other services …

It was already clear that Apple’s Core Technology Fee would come in for close scrutiny by the EU, but an interview with the bloc’s antitrust chief has revealed that the company could also be headed for trouble with its security warnings about alternative app stores.

While Apple was not directly named, there was little doubt who Margrethe Vestager was referencing when she described such warnings as “unwise” …

A new supply-chain report says that new technology acquired by Apple’s display suppliers will enable the iPhone 16 bezels to be further reduced in size, in conjunction with the larger displays we’re expecting in the two Pro models.

The same report also claims that Apple could hide the Face ID module beneath the display as early as 2026, though it quickly hedges on this …

Apple’s latest star-studded drama series, Palm Royale, is now streaming on Apple TV+. Featuring Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, Ricky Martin and many more names, the series basks in 1960’s Palm Beach, as we see Maxine Simmons (Wiig’s character) attempt to break into the exclusive Palm Royale club.

Among all the rumors, there’s one hinting at updates to the front-facing camera of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. Leaker ShrimpApplePro is now corroborating these rumors with a report about the iPad Air 6 getting a landscape front-facing camera.

On Sunday night, Bloomberg reported that Apple is in talks with Google about licensing its Gemini technology to power some AI features coming to the iPhone. A new report from The New York Times today echoes those claims, citing “three people with knowledge of the discussions” between Apple and Google.

Apple is rolling out a new version of AirTag firmware today, the first update since October. Here’s how to check your AirTag firmware version.

Our friends at GRID Studio are running a spring sale this month with some impressive discounts on their iconic deconstructed wall art. The Grid 4S, for example, showcases a deconstructed iPhone 4S and is available for just $99.

Backbone is rounding out its iPhone gaming controller grips today by refreshing the Lightning side of its lineup. We first saw the USB-C version get some love last fall, and now those with an iPhone 14 or older can .