Latest

Microsoft’s hallmark AI feature dubbed a security disaster just days away from Apple’s privacy-focused AI launch at WWDC

Microsoft Surface Laptop

Microsoft has a target on Apple’s back with its AI-centric Copilot Plus PC models. When the computers were announced, the company repeatedly claimed that they outperformed the latest M3 MacBook Airs. Today a new ad campaign sought to further entice switchers away from the Mac.

It turns out, not every aspect of the Copilot Plus PCs is ready for prime time. The hallmark AI feature Microsoft formerly demoed, Recall, has been exposed by an expert as being a security disaster.

Expand Expanding Close
Apple Watch Series 9 deals

Apple Watch Series 9 $100 off, 13-inch M2 iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cell $65 off, Apple Pencil 2 $79, cables, chargers, and more

Monday morning was an eventful one in the Apple deal space. Joining $100 price drops on 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 models (including the Silver, Midnight, and Starlight colors), we also spotted a new all-time low on the Wi-Fi + Cellular 13-inch M2 iPad Air alongside ongoing deals on several other configurations. From there, Apple Pencil 2nd Gen is now once again 40% off to return to Amazon low pricing, while official Apple woven USB-C cables drop to $12 a pop alongside the latest in Belkin 15W Qi2 MagSafe charging gear deals. Head below for a look at today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals.

Expand Expanding Close

The M4 iPad Pro has a new privacy feature Apple hasn’t told anyone about

Apple M4 chip AI

Over the last few years, Apple has built a reputation for being strong on user privacy. Its marketing likes to emphasize this point often as a way of distinguishing the company from its competitors.

Interestingly though, a new discovery reveals that the just-released M4 iPad Pro includes a new security feature that Apple hasn’t told anyone about.

Expand Expanding Close

For the first time since 2021, there won’t be any new hardware at WWDC this year

WWDC 2024

WWDC 2024 is just one week away. We’re expecting major changes from iOS 18, especially AI-centric features, as well as the first major software update for Vision Pro, and new OS versions for all of Apple’s other platforms.

In what’s expected to be a jam-packed software event, is there room for Apple to debut new hardware too? According to one report, the answer is no.

Expand Expanding Close

Review: Sonos Ace sets the new standard for prosumer headphones [Video]

Sonos announced its new Sonos Ace Headphones in early May and, after much anticipation, are finally set to release on June 5th. I have been lucky enough to live with them for the last 10 days. I have used them in every scenario possible to see if these headphones are truly the new ‘Best in class’ and if I could recommend them at the $449 price point. In short, these headphones are awesome but there are some things you need to know. Let’s get into my full review!

Expand Expanding Close

Epic Games judge tells Apple she wants all of its decision-making documents

Epic Games judge tells Apple she wants all of its decision-making documents | Thick piles of paperwork

The judge in the Apple versus Epic Games case has told the Cupertino company that she wants to see all of the company’s documents relating to its revised App Store policies – and she has strongly emphasised that she means all of them.

It follows earlier remarks in which she strongly implied that Apple was guilty of bad-faith compliance with the antitrust ruling she made back in 2021 …

Expand Expanding Close

Qualcomm uses ‘I’m a Mac’ actor Justin Long to promote ARM PC

I'm a Mac Qualcomm ad – still showing notifications

It’s now 15 years since the last of Apple’s award-winning “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” ads, but rival companies still believe it’s clever to use the Mac actor to try to sell rival products.

After Huawei and Intel, Qualcomm is the latest company to make the attempt, with an incredibly cringeworthy ad in which the Mac guy – played by Justin Long – decides it’s time to get a PC …

Expand Expanding Close

Spotify raising prices again, Family plan now $3/mo more expensive than Apple Music

Spotify

Spotify is once again raising the price of Spotify Premium in the United States. Although the ad-supported free tier remains available, the price of Spotify’s Premium tier is now more expensive than Apple Music. Spotify customers will be notified of the increases over the next month.

Spotify Premium Individual is now priced at $11.99 per month, compared to $10.99 per month for Apple Music. The Family plan price is also up and now costs $19.99, compared to $16.99 for Apple Music Family …

Expand Expanding Close

Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to feature world’s thinnest smartphone bezel

Although the iPhone 16 Pro will mostly resemble the design of the iPhone 15 Pro, we are expecting some small changes. The screen sizes of both the Pro and Pro Max are increasingly slightly, and we may also see a dramatic further reduction in the black border that is visible around the screen.

That’s according to IceUniverse, who says that the iPhone 16 Pro may in fact feature the world’s thinnest smartphone bezels.

Expand Expanding Close

Security Bite: Why your inbox is still so bad at blocking malware and spam

Security Bite 9to5mac

Many people are not aware that there’s a clever buffer that exists before emails land in an inbox. It’s here that each piece of mail is scanned, ideally blocking anything malicious before it arrives. However, over the years, email providers (mainly Gmail) have instead put more focus on adding “warning labels” to mail containing links or attachments they suspect are up to no good. Akin to putting lipstick on a pig. Despite these efforts, a stagering 91% of all cyberattacks still originate from an inbox.

If you think Google, Apple, and Microsoft could be doing more, you’re right. So, why haven’t they?


9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.


Expand Expanding Close

iOS 18 Control Center reportedly features redesigned music widget and HomeKit controls

iOS Control Center

iOS 18 is expected to be a pretty significant release in terms of the number of changes and new features. While artificial intelligence capabilities will be the big theme of the update, we are also expecting other enhancements.

Today, Mark Gurman writes in his Power On newsletter that Apple is preparing to overhaul the iPhone Control Center as part of iOS 18. The new design will include updates to the ‘now playing’ music widget and the HomeKit smart home controls.

Expand Expanding Close

There’s no Threads app for iPad, but this simple trick will unlock an app-like experience today

Threads on iPad

Instagram as a company seems to have never heard of this little niche product called the iPad. There may never be an Instagram iPad app, which doesn’t bode well for Threads’ own chances of native iPad support either.

But did you know that you can get an app-like Threads experience on the iPad right now? Here’s how to unlock the best iPad experience for Threads.

Expand Expanding Close

How to make iPhone notes without bold headings

By default, when you make a new note in the Notes app on your iPhone, you have to be bold. Well, the first line of the note is in bold as it begins writing in a heading style. The second line and beyond uses standard body font size.

Often, this is undesirable and you just want to jot stuff down without the formality of a page title. Here’s how to change your notes settings to do just that.

Expand Expanding Close

Fake iPhone return scam cost Apple $12 million in losses, five people charged of fraud

We have seen these kind of scams before, but this particularly case is on a ginormous industry-like scale. Five people have been charged on counts of fraud for their involvement in a fake iPhone return scheme.

Essentially, people would take near-worthless fake lookalike iPhone models into the Apple Store, claiming they are faulty and asking for a replacement device. Apple would exchange the unit for a valuable replacement phone, which can then be sold. This procedure was allegedly carried out 16,000 times.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple @ Work: AirCove Go delivers the perfect router for your work travel bag

AirCove Go

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

I’ve never been the type to want to travel with a portable router in my bag. Dealing with the complexity of connecting to various networks along with the fact that many hotels have moved away from ethernet to a Wi-Fi-only experience. That is until I started using the AirCove Go. It’s now a permanent fixture in my travel bag.

Expand Expanding Close

PSA: MagSafe probably isn’t charging your iPhone when using Continuity Camera

Belkin Continuity Camera iPhone Mount

iPhones are powerful pocket computers with advanced chips, price tags largely exceeding $1,000, and they’re at the center of much of our lives. They also, since Apple debuted Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura, serve as pretty great alternatives to a dedicated webcam.

Unfortunately, as one writer discovered, the dream of keeping an iPhone charged while it serves as your webcam is just that: a dream only. Likely due to heat management features, iPhones tend not to charge when using Continuity Camera—and especially not if you’re using MagSafe.

Expand Expanding Close

HomeKit Weekly: Hands-on with the new Aqara P2 motion sensor

Aqara P2

A few weeks ago, Aqara was in the news with the release of its new P2 motion sensor. I am a big fan of motion sensors for smart homes as they allow for some pretty rad automations based on who’s in a certain room and when. They’re generally low-cost enough that you can put them in multiple rooms without breaking the budget. Let’s dive into the new motion sensor and see how it works.

Expand Expanding Close