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Apple execs spotted in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl

If you urgently need to get ahold of Apple CEO Tim Cook or one of the other senior Apple executives this weekend, you'll need to head to New Orleans and the Caesars Superdome.

Colorful Super Bowl logo with a silver Vince Lombardi Trophy between stylized letters L and X, featuring vivid red, green, and yellow patterns, NFL shield, and bold text below.
Logo for the 2025 Super Bowl

Super Bowl LIX will be played in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9, and several of Apple's top brass have been spotted in the city ahead of the big event. CEO Tim Cook, retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, and Apple Services head Eddy Cue are among the execs seen so far.

Cook and O'Brien also dropped by the Apple Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, surprising employees there. Cue, Cook, and O'Brien were sighted at Domilise's Po-Boys & Bar on Annunciation Street in the downtown area.


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How to use Starlink with iPhone & how to disable it if you don't want it

Starlink satellites now work with iPhone, but the change has caused confusion and concern. Here's what the feature means, how it works, and how you can disable it if you so choose.

Person holding a smartphone displaying a satellite connection demo with Earth at night visible on the screen.
Starlink satellites are now supported on iPhone

The recent iOS 18.3 update contained a number of new features for iPhone users. We saw new Unity wallpapers, improvements to Visual Intelligence to recognize plants and animals, and plenty of bug fixes.

But there was one change in this update that got a fair bit of attention — support for Starlink satellites.


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iPhone SE 4 -- All the rumors about Apple's next budget-friendly device

The fourth-generation iPhone SE is set to bring about a multitude of visual and functional changes taken from earlier iPhone models. Here's what to expect from Apple, as soon as next week.

A smartphone with a silver logo on a wooden table, featuring a rear camera.
Apple's iPhone SE 4 could debut in February 2025.

For the past two iterations, Apple's iPhone SE has maintained a dated look, with thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button that make it virtually indistinguishable from an iPhone 8. All of that is set to change quite soon, as the budget-friendly iPhone SE is going to receive its first major redesign in years.

Alongside its new design, the iPhone SE 4 will gain a variety of new hardware features, many of which are carry-overs from more recent iPhone models. With every iPhone release, however, it becomes difficult for the average person to know what to expect with the fourth-generation iPhone SE.


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iOS 18.4 Beta 1 is imminent, set to bring improvements to Siri

It now seems likely that Apple is gearing up to roll out its next beta, this time designed to offer significant improvements for its voice assistant.

A multicolored, glowing, overlapping ribbon forms an abstract flower shape with a luminous orb in the center, set against a dark background.
iOS 18.4 will primarily focus on Siri

Apple continues to slowly roll out Apple Intelligence, with the first features appearing in iOS 18.1. These included Writing Tools, system wide summaries, and Photos cleanup.

With this next beta, Apple will begin testing a handful of new features centered around Siri. This includes an app intent system that will let Siri have on-screen context for commands. Apple has already asked developers to begin work on the new feature in iOS 18.2.


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Foldable iPhones, iPads, & Macs: Everything you need to know about Apple's future

Given the market and a decade of patents, it's no surprise that Apple is experimenting with foldable displays that would be used in a future iPhone Fold, iPad, or Mac. Here's what the rumor mill says is coming.

Folding phone with three rear cameras on one half, hinge in the center, sleek silver design against a dark background.
Apple could introduce a foldable by 2027

Apple Vision Pro appears to be Apple's answer to customers' ever-increasing need for display real estate. However, wearable face computers may not fit every person or use case, so the next best thing may be foldables.

Folding phones and tablets aren't new, as consumers have been able to buy some form of the technology for nearly a decade. Rumors and patents have circulated suggesting Apple would introduce a folding iPhone, iPad, or even MacBook at some point in the future.


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Ex-Apple engineer admits 'expensive mistake' after leak lawsuit is dismissed

A former engineer who was sued by Apple for leaking details about Apple Vision Pro, the Journal app, and more may have been forced to issue a public apology after the case was dismissed.

A wooden judge's gavel with a gold band rests on a circular sound block on a dark wood table.
Gavel in a courtroom.

Andrew Aude, once an iOS software engineer at Apple, was accused of repeatedly sharing internal company secrets with journalists. And now he's apologized for the leaks, perhaps being forced to do so by the terms of the settlement.

In a statement posted on X, he called his leaks a "profound and expensive mistake," saying they cost him his career and the professional relationships he spent years building.


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Save $100 on Apple's iPad Air 6 at Amazon this weekend

Amazon has shaved $100 off Apple's iPad Air 6 with the M2 chip thanks to an instant discount stacked with an on-page coupon.

Apple iPad Air 6 displaying colorful apps and widgets on screen, placed on a table. Red 'Daily Deal' badge in the top left corner. Background features horizontal beige blinds.
Save triple digits on Apple's iPad Air.

Amazon's weekend deal on the current iPad Air has dropped the price to $499.99 when you pick up the 128GB 11-inch Wi-Fi model in the Space Gray colorway. You can also grab the larger 13-inch iPad Air for $689, a $110 discount off MSRP.

Buy from $499.99


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GameSir Cyclone 2 controller review: My new go-to Mac and iPad gaming companion

If you want to play games on your iPhone or iPad, you're going to need a game controller, and the same is obvious for the Mac. GameSir's Cyclone 2 might be my favorite, thanks to a familiar feel and some notable features.

GameSir Cyclone 2 controller in black
The GameSir Cyclone 2 controller comes in a stealthy black color or a vibrant white.

Sure, you can play iOS and iPadOS games using on-screen controls, and for some, that works like a charm. But for others, a controller is where it's at.

For me, a controller is a must for a couple of reasons. The first is muscle memory. I've been playing games using some sort of controller since the late 1980s, and stabbing at a screen just doesn't have the feedback I need.


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Sonos' scrapped MagSafe speaker would have had trouble finding a target market

Sonos allegedly toyed around with making a speaker that would use MagSafe to attach to the back of an iPhone, but couldn't seem to nail down a target audience.

A dark sleek smartphone with three camera lenses and a large round speaker on its back, against a dimly lit background.
An AI-generated image of a speaker attached to an iPhone

If you're in the business of making products, chances are you'll come up with ideas that sound good at the time, but reveal themselves to be impractical, if not outright impossible, at some point in the design process.

Apple knows this, as the company was rumored to scrap the Apple Car after the project lacked direction. And, even if it wasn't, Apple likely realized that it would never be able to sell vehicles at its expected margins.


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Apple Invites, Doom on a cable, and M5 is coming, on the AppleInsider Podcast

Apple Invites debuts and needs a lot more work, the M5 processor is in production, and you can now hack even a cable to run Doom, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.

Three smartphone screens showing an event invitation for a birthday party, options for sharing via public link, and Apple Music playlist setup prompt.
Using Apple Invites

Following the rumors that it would be doing an internal beta test of an event planning app, Apple instead released Apple Invites publicly — and so we all learned why beta tests are needed. There's a good app at the heart of this, and it's a clever use of multiple Apple Services, but there are so many reasons why you should wait until Apple Invites 2.0.

But then there are also good reasons why you shouldn't try to use a cable to play a game, chiefly because the whole idea is insane. And yet it's been done — it is now possible to play "Doom" on just a piece of wire. Admittedly it's a very specific piece of wire, but still.


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Apple breaks the Mac App Store for macOS Sierra users

A back end change to the Mac App Store appears to have shut out users of macOS Sierra and older versions, blocking not just purchases, but also downloads of software already bought.

Circular logo with sunlit mountain range and purple sky, labeled 'macOS Sierra' against a light background.
Apple's macOS Sierra came out in 2016

While users of the current macOS Sequoia have recently benefited from Mac App Store changes, it's being reported that users on 2016's macOS Sierra are no longer able to use the store at all.

As first spotted by blogger Michael Tsai, macOS 10.12.6 Sierra users are now just getting an error message when the attempt to sign in. It's not certain whether it is affecting all or only some macOS Sierra users, but reports are spreading on Apple support forums and social media.


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DeepSeek's iOS app sends unencrypted data to Chinese servers

Chart-topping AI iPhone app DeepSeek has been found to be sending data to Chinese-owned services, as well as collecting extensive user data that is held and sent unencrypted.

Blue whale logo with the word 'deepseek' in blue text, set against a light background.
DeepSeek logo

DeepSeek is a generative AI app, similar to ChatGPT, which launched in January 2025 and practically immediately went to the top of the US App Store charts. That was despite the DeepSeek Chinese AI startup company being found to have a major security lapse.

"[DeepSeek is] not equipped or willing to provide basic security protections of your data and identity," said Andrew Hoog, co-founder of security firm NowSecure told Ars Techica in a statement. "There are fundamental security practices that are not being observed, either intentionally or unintentionally. In the end, it puts your and your company's data and identity at risk."


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UK secretly orders Apple to let it spy on iPhone users worldwide

The UK government has issued an order to Apple telling it to allow officials full access to any iCloud content belonging to any user across the globe.

UK Parliament
UK Parliament

During Conservative Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister, the UK government claimed to be in discussions with Apple about creating a backdoor into iOS that would allow it access to all user data. If there really ever were such discussions, they will have been short because US company Apple has refused the FBI the same thing.

Now the new Labour government in the UK is demanding that Apple create this backdoor, according to The Washington Post. Under UK law, it is a criminal offense for Apple to even reveal that such a demand has been made, and so consequently the company has refused to comment.


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How to create your own Memories movies in Photos on iOS or iPadOS 18

There are now two ways to create Memories movies in Photos as of iOS 18.1 or later: one method is the same way you have done it in previous iOS versions, and the new one leverages Apple Intelligence if it's available on your device.

Two square photo thumbnails labeled Lancaster and On the Trail show children outdoors. Lancaster has yellow flowers and On the Trail shows a child embracing another in a scenic landscape.
You can create Memories movies in Photos using both pictures and video.

To use the latter method, you'll need to have an iPhone that is capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. This means an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model.

Making Memories without Apple Intelligence


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iPhone SE 4 could be revealed by Valentine's Day

A report suggests Apple could reveal the iPhone SE 4 by February 14, which is in line with previous rumors around the budget phone.

Smartphone with a blue back, single camera, and silver apple logo on a wooden surface.
iPhone SE 4 arriving within a week

Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could be the next to run Apple Intelligence, but at a much lower price. It is expected to look similar to the iPhone 14 but with a single camera on the rear.



Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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Dubious leak details the exact specifications of Apple's foldable iPhone

Rumors of an alleged iPhone Fold have been floating around for years, but now a suspicious report claims to have revealed the exact specifications of the device.

Foldable smartphone partially open, displaying the date Wednesday, 7 June and time 19:32, with colorful background, against an orange and blue backdrop.
The specifications of Apple's foldable iPhone were allegedly posted online.

The purported specs were shared via social media by leaker Jukanlosreve, formerly known as TechReve. Though the tipster has a history of accurate leaks, the details surrounding Apple's alleged foldable iPhone were attributed to "zwz" in the post, and were only highlighted by Jukanlosreve.

Given that the information did not come from the leaker directly, it should be treated with a grain of salt, as this purported "zwz" has no verifiable track record. MacRumors, who originally reported on the information, has noted that they are also unfamiliar with the source.


Rumor Score: 🙄 Unlikely


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Apple details App Store tax changes in multiple markets, including Japan

Apple has announced updates to its App Store pricing and taxes for developers across different regions, with some changes being already in effect as of February 6.

Blue square with a white stylized letter A composed of a pencil, paintbrush, and ruler forming a triangle shape.
Apple has announced updates to taxes and pricing in multiple markets.

According to the Apple Developer website, the company periodically adjusts prices or developer proceeds as a result of tax-related regulatory changes, or due to foreign exchange rates.

The updates revealed by Apple on Thursday will directly impact developers in multiple countries across Europe, Asia, and South America.


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Apple is working on a 'lifelike' robot lamp, and it's just as cute as you'd expect

Apple Machine Learning Research has released a short video and a twelve-page accompanying paper showcasing the importance of human-like movement in its prototyped robot.

Robotic arm resembling a Pixar lamp pointing towards stacked wooden blocks with letters.
Image Credit: Apple Machine Learning Research

This isn't the first time we've heard Apple may be gearing up to release an Apple robot. In April 2024, rumors of Apple's secretive robotics work surfaced, with the company alleged to be designing two different robots.

Now, it seems as though Apple's hardware engineering division and AI group have produced something worth showing off. And frankly, the design is a little too familiar.


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B&H's fresh Mac Studio price drop discounts desktop to $1,749

B&H's February Mac Studio deal for $1,749 delivers the lowest price available across leading Apple resellers.

A Mac Studio setup with the desktop attached to a colorful display with various app icons and 'Deal of the Week' badge on a patterned black background.
Get a Mac Studio for just $1,749.

Apple deals are plentiful at B&H this week, but we're tracking a fresh price drop on the current Mac Studio that's now on sale for $1,749, reflecting the lowest price available per our Mac Studio Price Guide.

View $1,749 deal


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How using a VPN can help you see location restricted content

One of the best VPNs for Mac will not only protect your data, but it also helps you avoid location-based restrictions. Here's how you can watch more TV shows and sports events.

Phone displaying a BBC show titled 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' with several people against a yellow background.
Use a VPN for Mac to use the BBC iPlayer on an iPhone

The average consumer is pretty well catered to, when it comes to content consumption. With a wide selection of streaming services, broadcasters, and social media outlets at their fingertips, there's a lot to consume.

However, you can't always get what you want. Sometimes, the content you want to watch is offered through a streaming service you don't have any desire in using, or it's blocked off so it's only usable in certain countries.


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Apple Vision Pro game controller doesn't look like it will break new ground

A new patent filing shows that Apple has been working on a fairly standard external game controller device for Apple Vision Pro, backing up recent rumors of it hoping to partner with Sony.

Hand gripping a segmented handle with a strap around the wrist, depicted in a simple line drawing.
Tell us that's not a game controller — image credit: Apple

In December 2024, it was rumored that Apple had approached Sony in a move to get a handheld game controller for the Apple Vision Pro headset. Now it appears that Apple has at least attempted to create such a controller itself, even if it seems to be much the same as existing ones.

An Apple patent application called "Handheld Input Devices," has now been made public, after being filed in August 2023. It describes in detail a system that can realistically only be a game controller.


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Apple getting serious about MacBook Pro with integrated graphics tablet and iPhone charger

One patent doesn't prove Apple is making a device, but a whole series of them repeatedly applied for does suggest that we really could see a MacBook Pro you can wirelessly charge your iPhone on, while you sketch with your finger.


Apple does apply for countless patents every year, and a very great number get granted. Often it just means that Apple is exploring an idea and does not mean that there will ever be a product.

That's still the case with the "Device having integrated interface system," which was granted in June 2022 but Apple has now applied again for a patent. There's no immediately obvious difference since the granted version, but companies can re-apply for many reasons, including correcting errors, however small they may be.

Then in this case, it isn't just that Apple has once more reapplied for a patent it already has, it's that this particular one has history. It's got form.


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Leica Lux Grip is a $330 MagSafe iPhone camera grip

Leica has just announced the Leica Lux Grip, a MagSafe-compatible phone grip designed to work with its app — and it has the pricing you'd expect from Leica.

Person holding an iPhone with grip, capturing a modern, yellow building with angular windows, against a blurred background.
Image Credit: Leica

When it comes to digital cameras, Leica is known for being a premium, if not outright luxury, brand. That's why it shouldn't be terribly surprising that the company has released a luxury Mag-Safe phone grip that costs more than the average person spends on a point-and-shoot camera.

The Lux Grip is designed primarily for the iPhone photographers and photography enthusiasts with money to burn. It adds a mechanical two-stage shutter button, a precise setting dial, and two individually assignable FN buttons.


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Apple Silicon & Intel Macs can play classic games with the help of Mac Source Ports

If you're looking to play classic games on a modern Apple Silicon Mac, then Mac Source Ports can likely make it happen. Here's what the website offers and why it's worth checking out.

Website for Mac Source Ports with navigation bar, filter, sorting, and a featured game section detailing 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat' with a small game screenshot.
Mac Source Ports makes it possible to play a variety of old games on your Mac. Image Credit: Mac Source Ports.

Mac Source Ports is a website launched in 2022 to make older games playable on 64-bit Intel Macs, and machines equipped with M1 or newer Apple Silicon chips. The site does this by offering so-called "source ports" of games and distributing them as signed and notarized macOS application bundles.

In doing so, Mac Source Ports makes it possible to run a wide variety of older PC games on modern-day Apple laptops and desktop computers. The list of available game ports includes some truly archaic titles, such as those belonging to the iconic Doom and Quake franchises of the 1990s, as well as the original Tomb Raider and Half-Life, among others.


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How to use or disable iOS Apple Mail's new categories feature

As of iOS 18.2, Apple's Mail app features categories to help users sort through their mail. Here's what it does, how to fine-tune it, and how to turn it off if you prefer.

Email inbox interface showing sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions, each with descriptive text. Colors are blue, green, purple, and red. Text describes email organization and alerts.
The four pre-set categories in Mail starting with iOS 18.2.

After updating to iOS 18.2 or later, the Mail app now categorizes incoming email into four broad categories. These are Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions.

The idea to automatically categorize incoming emails has been kicking around Apple for years. The feature was originally intended to debut in iOS 13, but awaited further development of Apple's machine learning and Apple Intelligence features in order to ensure the work was all done on-device.


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'Ted Lasso' season 4 to focus on the formation of AFC Richmond's women's team

The popular Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso is expected to return for a fourth season that primarily revolves around the creation of AFC Richmond's women's team.

Man in blue jacket holding teacup with Union Jack design, blue background, large text reads Ted Lasso.
'Ted Lasso' will reportedly return for a fourth season.

Rumors surrounding the alleged fourth season of Apple's hit sports comedy continue to emerge. Following claims that filming entered pre-production in January 2025, we now have even more details about the show's fourth season, from the same source.

According to a social media post by Sigmund Judge, the fourth season of Ted Lasso will focus on the formation of AFC Richmond's women's team rather than the men's team featured in previous seasons. Judge also explains that filming for the fourth season will begin in May or June 2025 in London.


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How to watch Super Bowl LIX from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Watch the Big Game your way with our comprehensive list of ways to watch Super Bowl LIX from your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and even the Apple Vision Pro.

A brown American football rests on vibrant green grass, showing white laces and printed logo under bright sunlight.
Image credit: Oliver Cardall on Pixabay

Super Bowl Sunday is rapidly approaching, and that means you're probably figuring out how and where to watch the Big Game. While cable subscribers can still tune in on FOX, cord-cutters might need alternatives.

We've compiled a list of places you can watch Super Bowl LIX for all your favorite Apple devices — including Mac and Apple Vision Pro. We even offer an alternative for those who can't watch the game for one reason or another.


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Apple's M4 Pro MacBook Pro falls to $1,749 in online price war

Pick up an M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro at a $250 discount and enjoy the comfort of it delivered to your doorstep.

MacBook Pro 14-inch in silver displaying abstract shapes with the number 1749 in large white text, set against a gradient background from purple to blue.
Save $250 on this M4 Pro MacBook Pro - Image credit: Apple

Both Amazon and B&H are competing for your business this week by discounting the M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro to $1,749 when ordered in the silver finish.




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Apple now offers parts and self-repair manuals for M4 Mac lineup

If you're the type who prefers to take their repairs into their own hands, Apple now offers the parts and manuals required to repair the M4 MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini.

Small silver Apple computer with rounded edges, featuring two USB-C ports and a circular power indicator on the front panel, logo on top, against a dark background.
Self-repair enthusiasts can now order parts for M4 Macs, like the Mac mini

In April 2022, Apple launched its self-repair program, after years of encouraging customers to seek out professional, authorized repairs. While the program wasn't well received by right-to-repair advocates at launch, it still gives owners the option to try their hand at repairs.

This week, Apple has added the M4 Mac lineup to its repair page, spotted by MacRumors. Apple includes an exploded view and a list of part numbers in the repair page manual for each device.


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Crypto wallets at risk as malware sneaks into the App Store

A newly discovered malware campaign is stealing cryptocurrency from iOS by exploiting vulnerabilities in apps available on the App Store.

Close-up of an iPhone 16 Pro Max triple-lens camera with a colorful, blurred background.
iPhone 16 Pro Max

Kaspersky researchers have discovered a malicious software development kit (SDK) called SparkCat hidden inside multiple apps on both iOS and Android. SparkCat is designed to steal cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases using optical character recognition (OCR), allowing attackers to access and drain funds remotely.

Kaspersky has shared a list of MD5 hashes linked to the malicious SparkCat SDK, as well as BundleIDs for iOS apps. However, the company hasn't revealed the full list of infected apps, leaving users in the dark about whether they've installed one.


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Everything you need to know about Surfshark One VPN bundle for Apple devices

If you're looking for a private and fast VPN for Mac, along with an antivirus and leak notification tool, Surfshark One has it bundled together to help reduce your digital footprint online.

Number one surrounded by icons: magnifying glass, bug with cross, shield, and alarm, connected by circles on a blue gradient background.
Surfshark One - Image credit: Surfshark

The internet is a hazardous place these days. Users have to go out of their way to avoid unnecessary tracking, keep malware off their systems, and learn about potentially harmful data breaches.

Thankfully there's a single service that does it all called Surfshark One. You might have heard of Surfshark VPN, one AppleInsider has rated the best VPN for iPhone in 2025, and it is bundled with other industry-leading products.


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Apple Invites has Sherlocked party organizing app Partiful

Add another one to Apple's list of third-party apps that it has endangered, as Apple Invites threatens the livelihood of event planning app Partiful.

Two smartphone screens displaying app store pages for invitation apps called Partiful and Apple Invites. Apps show ratings, age requirements, and download buttons.
Partiful (rear) and Apple Invites on the App Store

It happens so often that there is a name for it, based on one of the earliest examples of Apple releasing an app or a feature to compete with a third-party rival. Developers know it as Sherlocking, and they know very well that it can be the end of their business.

With a glass half-full kind of view, though, there is a way to argue that Apple producing an app to rival yours will actually grow the market. There is even some logic to that, in two ways.


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Lufthansa now embraces AirTags, since it couldn't ban them

Despite the airline previously banning AirTags for reasons understood only by itself, Lufthansa has now support for them in its app and is celebrating the integration.

AirTag on a bag.
AirTag on a bag.

Officially, AirTags were somehow dangerous and somehow in contravention of some laws somewhere, said Lufthansa in 2022 as it tried to find any excuse to ban them. This was not in any way a response to how all airlines were being caught out with luggage going missing or, say, baggage handlers stealing from passengers.

Lufthansa's ban lasted a whole three days before the airline said enough already, AirTags are fine. This was less from some technical testing and less from some actual reading of FCC regulations, though the airline tried to safe face by rustling up someone to say the words "risk assessment."


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Apple Silicon M5 chips are probably in mass production now

South Korean media claims that Apple Silicon M5 chips are in mass production, which makes a lot of sense considering that the first devices that will use them are expected ship before the end of 2025.

Close-up of a red three-dimensional sign with stylized letters, partially obstructed view, against a grid background.
TSMC logo

A report on Wednesday morning by South Korean venue ETnews says that TSMC is in the process of packaging early M5 chip production. Packaging is the last step before a new chip can be put in devices, meaning that the M5 chip is now officially in mass production.

Rumors have already laid out the timetable for the M5 chip, and appearance in Apple products. The M5 iPad Pro is expected in late 2025, Macs will get M5 late in the year, and another rumor places it in a second-generation Apple Vision Pro product before the end of the year.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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China threatens App Store probe in retaliation for trade tensions

Following the introduction of trade tariffs by the US, China is said to be considering an antitrust investigation into Apple's App Store practices.

Two men sit at a table in conversation, one gesturing, with microphones and glasses of water in front.
Tim Cook (left) and Trump (right)

The new US trade tariffs ostensibly imposed on China will be paid by US businesses and consumers, not China or any other foreign country. But they mean higher prices for Americans, which will mean a decrease in sales, so China has been announcing retaliatory measures.

According to Bloomberg, those measures may now also include China launching an investigation into Apple's App Store fees and practices. This is despite the country having already investigated the App Store and concluding in May 2024 that Apple was not abusing its market position.


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How to install and use the beta VirtualBox for Apple Silicon Macs

VirtualBox is now available for Apple Silicon-based Macs, although with spotty x86 support. Here's how to use it.

VirtualBox for Apple Silicon Macs is now available,.
Oracle's VirtualBox emulator now runs on Apple Silicon Macs.

Oracle's VirtualBox emulator is a free app which allows you to run other OS'es on your Mac, PC, or Linux computer. Until this past August VirtualBox only ran on Intel x86-based Macs.

Now a "work in progress" Apple Silicon version of VirtualBox is available for download from the VirtualBox website.


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'Doom' can even be played on Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter

Developers and enthusiasts continue to find new ways of running Doom on increasingly unusual hardware, the latest of which is an Apple HDMI adapter cable.

Computer setup with a large monitor displaying 'The Ultimate Doom' game art, a laptop with code on screen, keyboard, mouse, and various cables on a desk.
Doom can run on an Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter.

In a video uploaded on February 2, first shared by MacRumors, developer nyan_satan showed off a port of the classic video game Doom running on Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter. The YouTuber is known for their work in creating tools and dual-booting different versions of iOS.

This is only possible because the Lightning to HDMI adapter features a dedicated system-on-chip with a processor inside. It also runs a basic version of iOS, stripped down to only the most basic of features, allowing the dongle to process video signals but not much else.


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New macOS malware disguises itself as Chrome & Zoom installers

North Korean hackers are using fake job offers and disguised app updates to sneak malware onto Macs, and while Apple's latest XProtect update blocks some threats, others are still slipping through.

MacBook Pro with a vibrant gradient screen rests on a gray sofa, displaying app icons along the bottom.
MacBook Pro

Security researchers from SentinelLabs have identified fresh variants of a North Korean malware family, dubbed "FlexibleFerret," which is actively exploiting macOS users. The malware is part of a broader campaign known as "Contagious Interview," where attackers pose as recruiters to trick job seekers into installing malicious software.

Apple responded with an XProtect signature update to counter these threats, blocking several variants, including FROSTYFERRET_UI, FRIENDLYFERRET_SECD, and MULTI_FROSTYFERRET_CMDCODES.


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AppleCare+ moves to subscription-only model

Just days after it was rumored to happen, Apple has officially killed off prepaid multi-year AppleCare+ plans — at retail locations, at least.

Red Apple logo above the text AppleCare+ on a gray and blue gradient background.
AppleCare+ drops prepaid options | Logo Credit: Apple

On Sunday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman announced on X that Apple would be shifting its AppleCare+ extended warranty program to a subscription model. Gurman postulated that the change would take place sooner, rather than later.

And, as anticipated, Apple has done just that.


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How the new Apple Invites app works, and when you want to use it

While the new Apple Invites app and service sounds easy to use, it joins together so many Apple Services that it takes several steps — and can confuse your invitees. Here's how to use it.

Smartphone screen displaying 'Apple Invites' app with text about creating invitations and a 'Create an Event' button, placed on lined paper.
How to use Apple Invites

Apple Invites has been launched, though at time of writing it's still not rolled out worldwide. If an App Store search does not turn it up for you, try this direct link.

The app is so new that there is no Apple support documentation for it, which means there are certain points that are not yet clear. Specifically, it's not sure what Android users will or will not see when they have accepted an invitation from Apple Invites.


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