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2024 Apple hardware: year in review

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Benjamin and Chance reflect on Apple’s 2024 products, focused on all the product announcements from the past twelve months. From the lows of AirPods Max to the highs of M4 iPad Pro, and the mixed reception to Apple Vision Pro. We break it all down in our last episode of the year.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we talk about what we are most excited for in 2025 as rumors swirl for the iPhone 17 lineup and Apple’s deeper foray into the smart home. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Apple deals-M4 Pro Macbook Pro-AirTag-AirPods Max

Last-minute deals: M4 Pro MacBook Pro hits best price ever, AirPods Max $169 off, AirTags, MacBook stand, more

While we are coming down to the wire now for holiday shipping, Best Buy has launched a surprise 48-hour flash sale with deals still arriving by tomorrow. And one of them is the best deal ever on the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM at $300 off the list price. That offer joins up to $169 in savings on AirPods Max, ongoing 2024 lows on AirTags, a 50% price drop on Twelve South’s metal Curve SE MacBook stand, Bose and Sony headphones, plus even more. Scope it all out down below. 

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Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses could get a display next year

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses could get a display next year | Existing model shown

Ray-Ban Meta have been the most successful smart glasses to date, offering an appealing mix of features in a form factor which is visually indistinguishable from normal sunglasses.

So far, all of the AI functionality, notifications, and messaging features have relied on the glasses reading things to you through integrated speakers, but a new report says a future model will get a display, and that it could launch as early as next year …

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M5 Pro chip could separate CPU and GPU in ‘server grade’ chips

M5 Pro chip could separate CPU and GPU in 'server grade' chips | Illustration of M5 chip graphic

One of the key elements of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips is the System-on-a-Chip (SoC) design which tightly integrates all the components within a single package. This includes both CPU and GPU.

But a new report suggests that the M5 Pro chip may take a different approach of having more separated CPU and GPU in order to improve performance and boost production yields …

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Kuo reiterates variable aperture lens coming to iPhone 18, not 17

Kuo reiterates variable aperture lens coming to iPhone 18, not 17 | Example of shallow depth of field

There have been consistent reports that we can expect a future iPhone to offer a variable aperture lens within a year or two, but there’s been disagreement about whether the new feature will launch in the iPhone 17 or iPhone 18.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the major camera upgrade was coming to the iPhone 18, while The Information pointed instead to the iPhone 17. Kuo has now doubled-down on his earlier prediction …

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An Apple smart doorbell would be a sure-fire winner – for all of us

An Apple smart doorbell would be a sure-fire winner | Nest doorbell shown

A report over the weekend suggested an Apple smart home doorbell with support for Face ID is in development. It follows an earlier report of an Apple smart home camera next year.

While it could be argued that both are commodity products, and that Apple’s most important contribution is the HomeKit platform rather than the hardware, there seems little doubt about the opportunity here …

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AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro: Apple wireless earbuds compared

AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2

Update: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation currently reduced to $169 on Amazon.

So, Apple just updated its base model AirPods for the first time in years. There’s now two new models, one with Active Noise Cancellation, and one without – starting at $129.

ANC was the hero exclusive feature of AirPods Pro … until today. So how do the new AirPods (not Pro) stack up? Here’s all the differences.

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App Store has hundreds of ‘risky’ apps rated as appropriate for kids [U: Apple responds]

App Store has hundreds of 'risky' apps rated as appropriate for kids | Young child unlocking an iPhone

Even a brief review of the App Store revealed more than 200 “risky or inappropriate” apps rated as ok for children, according to a new report. They had collectively notched up more than 550 million downloads.

Two child safety groups say that more than 25% of the child-rated apps they reviewed gave cause for concern, suggesting that the total number of problematic apps is very much higher …

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Indie App Spotlight: ‘one sec’ helps you reduce screen time on your iPhone

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.


one sec aims to help people reduce mindless scrolling on social media, requiring users to make a conscious decision on whether or not they want to actually open that app every time. It’s very configurable, so you can customize one sec to meet your needs.

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iPhone 16: These 6 safety features deliver priceless peace of mind

iPhone 16 6 safety features peace of mind

Brought to you by Uniq: The Lyden Collection features iPhone cases, AirPods cases, and magnetic cardholders, all crafted from premium vegan leatherette. Designed with both style and sustainability in mind, this collection adds a sophisticated touch while embodying our dedication to eco-conscious living. Check out the collection.

Flashier features like camera upgrades, faster performance, and bigger screens usually take the spotlight when it comes to iPhone. However, Apple’s smartphone has evolved with powerful safety tools over the years. Here’s a look at 6 safety features that offer real peace of mind with iPhone 16 and how you test them out or make sure thye’re enabled.

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RCS messaging on iPhone has expanded, here are all of the supported US carriers

RCS iOS 18 iPhone

With iOS 18, Apple introduced support for RCS messaging, a new protocol that enhances the texting experience between iPhone and Android users. Unlike SMS, you can see read/delivered receipts, send larger files, and have typing indicators, features that were previously missing. At first, only the big three carriers supported RCS messaging. Since then, a lot more have joined in on the fun.

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Five last minute Apple gift ideas for your iPhone friends and family

iPhone Gift Ideas

With Christmas now just days away, it’s about time to ‘wrap up’ the holiday shopping season. Everyone is in the midst of hurrying to get their last minute gifts sorted. If you haven’t found something for someone special quite yet, here’s some iPhone-centric accessories and Apple gift ideas.

My recommendations are the Mujjo iPhone 16 leather case, SwitchBot Wallet Finder card, Belkin portable phone charger, a Continuity Camera mount, and the Apple TV 4K. More details about these picks after the break …

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Report: Every iPhone model will be able to update to iOS 19, but some iPads left behind

Thanks to a usually-reliable tip off from iPhoneSoft, we may already know device compatibility for Apple’s next major operating system updates coming next year.

The report says that every iPhone model that currently supports iOS 18 will also support iOS 19, although like every year, some features may be limited to newer phones. Nevertheless, that means another year of support for iPhones as old as the iPhone XS and XR, first released in 2018.

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Apple @ Work: SAP releases Privileges 2 to simplify admin access on macOS

 

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The SAP D-Zone team has announced the release of Privileges 2, a clever macOS application that gives users greater control over their administrative privileges. With over 1 million downloads, Privileges has become a trusted solution for organizations looking to enhance security while maintaining user productivity. This latest update brings new features to make the application even more versatile, secure, and user-friendly.

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