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iOS 18 Siri: Three clues about what it may be able to do
People have been complaining about Siri for years now, arguing that it’s fallen behind the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant. With clear evidence that 2024 is going to see dramatic improvements in Apple’s AI features, will iOS 18 Siri finally turn things around?
I’m very much hoping the answer is yes, and think there are three clues which provide some reason for optimism …
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Sony brings booming bass, ANC, and wear detection to new ULT Wear headphones
Sony is taking the wraps off its latest pair of headphones today with the reveal of the new ULT collection. The new ULT Wear headphones do far more than just simplify the naming scheme, with some booming bass, reliable ANC, and other frills like wear detection and Spatial Audio – all at $199.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Apple Watch data shows the average person takes 334 days to walk/run a marathon
I can’t run a marathon (and I don’t plan on trying), but new data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study offers some insight into the training habits of people who do.
Published by Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Friday, the data reveals that more than 1,500 participants of the Apple Heart and Movement Study ran an estimated 2,623 marathons over the course of the study period (November 2019 – January 2024).
Expand Expanding CloseBillion dollar developer lawsuit will proceed, after Apple’s objection was rejected
A UK court has ruled that a near billion dollar developer lawsuit against Apple will be allowed to proceed, after the iPhone maker attempted to get it dismissed.
The £785M ($979M) antitrust lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 1,500 British developers, and alleges that Apple’s monopolistic control of the market for iPhone apps allowed the company to charge ‘abusive’ levels of commission on app sales …
Expand Expanding CloseTaylor Swift songs back on TikTok after Universal row; AI influencers coming
Taylor Swift songs have returned to TikTok, after a ten-week gap resulting from a dispute between the short video app and Universal Music. That dispute hasn’t ended, but it appears that Swift has reached an individual agreement with TikTok.
Separately, TikTok has announced plans to use AI to create virtual influencers who will compete with real ones for brand deals …
Expand Expanding CloseNo longer possible to hide the blue badge of shame on X [U]
Ah, the saga of X’s blue checkmarks! Originally a sign that someone was who they claimed to be, and later sold so that cryptocurrency scammers could see their posts boosted, the company is now coming full circle with some journalists.
Update: After a number of journalist accounts got unwanted blue checkmarks, Twitter has now made it impossible to hide it – see update at end …
Expand Expanding CloseSpy thriller movie Argylle streaming now on Apple TV+
From director Matthew Vaughn, the new spy thriller movie Argylle is now streaming on Apple TV+, Apple’s streaming service for original TV shows and movies.
The film features a star-studded cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa and more. It’s a twisty action spy narrative which sees author Elly Conway (played by Howard) wrapped up in espionage plot of her own design.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat’s next for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro?
In a new report today, Bloomberg offered information on what’s next for the Mac with the advent of M4 processors. The details about Apple’s plans for the future of the Mac Pro and Mac Studio specifically stood out to me. Here are the takeaways.
Expand Expanding CloseFacebook Messenger now lets users upload HD photos and larger files
Meta’s Facebook Messenger received an important update this week with a great addition for its users. From now on, users can upload HD photos, as well as other larger files. Read on as we detail what’s new in Facebook Messenger.
Expand Expanding ClosePixelmator Pro update adds PDF text editing and new ‘bento’ templates
The popular image editing software Pixelmator Pro has just received another update with new features. This time, users are getting the ability to edit text in PDF files, as well as better support for Apple PDF files and new “bento” templates.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Mac Daily: April 11, 2024 – Apple News+ puzzles, Safari speed upgrades
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 Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Learn more and get started today for free. Expand Expanding CloseApple’s John Ternus defends iPhone parts pairing as ‘not evil’
Apple announced big changes to its repair policy today, saying that select iPhone repairs can be completed with used genuine parts for the first time. One controversial repair practice that remains in place, however, is parts pairing.
In a new interview with TechCrunch today, John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, defended the practice as something that “is not evil.”
Expand Expanding CloseiOS 18 rumors, game emulators in the App Store, Vision Pro camera access
Benjamin and Chance delve into the latest rounds of iOS 18 rumors, including a curious discovery of a new ‘Safari browser assistant’ in development. Apple has also changed the rules surrounding game emulators in the App Store, with somewhat unclear implications. Apple News+ adds a new Quartile word puzzle, and the wait for the new iPad Pro continues.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance considers his smart home strategy ahead of the move to his new house. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
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Apple aiming to release first M4-powered Macs this year with a focus on AI
Apple is planning a major overhaul to its Mac lineup with the advent of the M4 family of chips. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning a “new family of in-house processors designed to highlight artificial intelligence.”
Expand Expanding CloseDo’s and don’ts for cleaning your dirty AirPods Pro and charging case
With an in-ear design, AirPods Pro can become dirty more quickly than AirPods. But cleaning them is easy enough when you know what to avoid and what tools are best. Read on for how to clean AirPods Pro and the charging case with step-by-step do’s and don’ts.
Expand Expanding Close14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro $550 off, 10.9-inch iPad from $349, Satechi gear, more
Through the end of the day, you can save $550 on 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro to headline today’s best Apple deals. The latest 10.9-inch iPad starts from $349 ahead of a potential refresh this fall, and Satechi’s Dock5 charging station powers your entire Apple everyday carry with a rare discount to $49. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
Expand Expanding CloseOfficial Spotify song remixing coming, so artists get paid (kinda)
It’s not uncommon for younger music fans to create their own song mixes for social media posts, especially on TikTok. The problem is that artists don’t get paid for these unofficial mixes, and that’s something an upcoming Spotify song remixing feature aims to (kinda) change …
Expand Expanding CloseApple will relax repair policy to allow used genuine parts with select iPhones
Here’s an early Earth Day victory for the planet we all inhabit. Apple is relaxing the rules for its repair policies to allow used genuine parts for the first time. The change will apply to select iPhones and go into effect this fall.
Expand Expanding CloseDuckDuckGo PrivacyPro bundles VPN into its first paid subscription
DuckDuckGo started life as a privacy-first search engine before adding a web browser, email protection and more, and the company has now announced its first ever paid subscription: DuckDuckGo PrivacyPro.
This bundles an open-source VPN service with personal information removal and identify theft restoration for $9.99 per month …
Expand Expanding CloseMeta protecting teens by blurring nude photos in Instagram DMs, with warnings [U]
Instagram is rolling out a new safety feature, designed to protect teens from being exposed to unwanted nude photos in Instagram direct messages. The system will blur nude photos in Instagram DMs when the recipient is believed to be a teenager.
The safety measure is designed to protect against three problems, including the growing problem of ‘sextortion’ on the platform …
Expand Expanding CloseJudge in Apple antitrust case steps down, due to apparent conflict of interest
The judge due to hear the Apple antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice has recused himself, meaning that he will no longer preside over the case.
Judge Michael E. Farbiarz yesterday filed paperwork stating that his recusal is “necessary” under Code of Conduct rules …
Expand Expanding CloseApple alerts some iPhone users that they were targets of ‘mercenary spyware attack’
Apple is alerting users to a new instance of an identified mercenary spyware attack on the iPhone. Possible victims have been sent an email from Apple describing how the attack could “remotely compromise the iPhone”. Victims are being notified in India and 91 additional countries, via Reuters.
Mercenary attacks of this nature typically cost millions of dollars, and are often useless once discovered by security researchers and patched by iOS security updates. They are often believed to be state-sponsored, due to the high cost of development to craft such complex and sophisticated attacks. However, in a notable change of language, Apple no longer says this explicitly in its threat notifications.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Watch ‘ghost touch’ problem continues to haunt users as Apple investigates
Apple has once again acknowledged an ongoing “false touch” problem affecting Apple Watch users. Oftentimes referred to as “ghost touches,” this issue causes the Apple Watch to act as if the display is being tapped, even when it isn’t.
Expand Expanding CloseApple touts major 60% leap in Safari and WebKit performance
Apple’s WebKit team has published a new blog post this week detailing how they’ve made significant upgrades to Safari’s performance over the last several months. The improvements come following the debut of Speedometer 3.0 in March, described as a “major step forward in making the web faster for all.”
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