MacworldAmazons Big Spring Sale event is dropping prices left and right, including one of our favorite MacBook Pro configurations. Amazon is selling the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 512GB of storage and 24GB of RAM for $2,199, a savings of $300 and the best price weve ever seen.The laptop comes with an excellent M4 Pro chip, 512GB of storage, and 24GB of memory. Even though its the entry-level option for the 16-inch model, its still a fantastic machine with an excellent set of specs perfect for anyone. When we reviewed the M4 Pro MacBook Pro, we gave it a 4.5-star rating and loved just about everything about it, from its excellent performance to the Thunderbolt 5 ports and the 12MP CenterStage FaceTime camera. Even though our unit had a bit more juice with the 48GB memory, our opinion stands: Its an incredible machine with a gorgeous screen and tremendous power.Whether youre a high-end video creator, a professional coder, or just want a high-end laptop thatll last for years, this MacBook Pro is a fantastic machine at a great price, the very best price weve seen for this laptop. So go grab one before Amazons Big Spring Sale bounces away.The 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro is $300 offBuy now at Amazon

MacworldThe iPhones and Macs we use today arent mere smartphones and desktop computerstheyre the fruit of decades worth of research and testing behind the scenes at Apple HQ. Like most corporations in this field, Apple spends large sums of money trialing all sorts of wild and innovative prototypes. Naturally, many of these experiments never make it to the consumer market and instead act as lessons or even foundations for future devices. While there are numerous unreleased products concealed in Apples secret basement, here are six notable products Apple developed that never saw the light of dayand one that might top the list soon.1. Apple CarThe most recent instance of a product that failed to get out the door is Apples self-driving car project. For many years, the company was rumored to be working on a self-driving vehicle dubbed Project Titan that integrates seamlessly with its ecosystem. The electric automobile couldve potentially featured a CarPlay-like dashboard interface and relied on advanced sensors utilizing the power of four M2 Ultra chipsets to detect surrounding objects. Apple reportedly poured more than a billion dollars into researching it over the span of a decade, and thousands of employees were involved in its development.A year ago, Apple reportedly killed the car project and decided to reallocate its resources to develop artificial intelligence technology. Given the intense competition in AI right nowand presumably due to the challenging, complex nature of releasing an autonomous vehicle that matches Apples high standardspivoting away from a car makes more sense for the company. Additionally, Apple never referenced the car publicly or made any relevant promises it couldnt keep. As a result, the firm didnt face any significant user backlash for discontinuing it.2. AirPowerWhile most unreleased Apple products were never officially unveiled to the public, Apples Airpower charging mat was one instance where a promised device was teased during a keynote only to be axed before its launch.First previewed during the iPhone launch event in 2017, AirPower was supposed to act as a multipurpose wireless charging mat capable of charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods case simultaneously. This futuristic vision, however, was riddled with technological obstacles that made executing it unfeasible.AirPower was hailed as the next big thing in charging but Apple quietly killed it before it hit shelves.AppleFor starters, Apple had to internally distribute coils all over the mat, as Qi wireless charging requires precise coil alignment to work. This wouldve allowed users to place their iPhones anywhere on AirPower rather than positioning them in a very specific spot. Another hurdle was the Apple Watchs proprietary wireless charging standard, which, for reasons unknown, is incompatible with Qi. Consequently, the company had to stack two layers of charging tech in a thin matreportedly causing unmanageable overheating issues.While Apple officially declared it wont release the AirPower in 2019, its vision lived on. In 2020, the company launched the foldable MagSafe Duo Charger, bundling a MagSafe pad and an Apple Watch charging puck. However, that was discontinued in 2023 due to its high price, dubious hinge, and lack of support for fast Apple Watch charging and the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max.3. Magic ChargerAnother official charging accessory that never saw the light of day is the Magic Charger. Unlike AirPower, Apple never unveiled this gadget publicly, but a collector who came across a prototype shed light on the accessory in 2022.The Magic Charger basically integrated a flexible MagSafe pad into a metallic stand. Like the MagSafe Duo Charger, users wouldve been able to attach an iPhone to a flat surface or stand it vertically by folding it. Its unclear why Apple never released the accessory, especially given its practicality and the lack of major engineering obstacles. It wouldve complemented the StandBy feature introduced with iOS 17.Apples Magic Charger is the portable MagSage stand we always wanted.@TheBlueMister4. PaladinWay back in 1995, Apple was reportedly working on an all-in-one device for small businesses. The Paladin was designed to function as a computer, fax machine, scanner, and phone. The device wouldve let business owners do all of their productivity tasks with a single device.The Paladin could have done for offices what the iMac did for boxy PCs.Jim Abeles/FlickrApple Paladin reportedly ran software dubbed Complete Office, letting users switch between its various modes with the click of a button. This would cause the interface to change depending on whether the fax or computing functions were in use. While Paladin had a basic monochrome LCD, it reportedly supported external, full-color displays through a dedicated port. It would have been revolutionary back in the 90s but alas it never saw the light of day.5. PowerBook G5During the early 2000s, Apple was heavily rumored to be working on a PowerBook G5 laptop to succeed the popular G4 model. That never came to fruition, though. Instead, Apple released its first MacBook Pro in 2006 withIntel Core 2Duo processors, marking a shift in its laptop branding and design. Two years later, the iconic MacBook Air followed, offering users balanced power in a competitively sleek and timeless design.The PowerBook G5 was the rumored successor to the PowerBook G4 (left) but Apple released the MacBook Pro instead.Foundry6. iPod phoneBefore releasing the original iPhone, Apple seemingly explored an iPod phone. Building on the success of its portable music player, the company is rumored to have considered adding a cellular modem to the iPod design. However, the Click Wheel input made dialing phone numbers unintuitive, and as a result, it never made it out of the R&D stage. Interestingly, during the unveiling of the first-generation iPhone, Steve Jobs humorously previewed a mockup of a click-wheel-equipped phone, portraying its ridiculousness and impracticalitywith a wink to the rumors that were circulating at the time.The iPod phone make an appearance in the keynote to announce the original iPhone.AppleWill Siri 2.0 join the list?Of all the items on this list, only one, the AirPower charging mat, was actually announced. Apple doesnt typically unveil new products until theyre ready to ship, a policy that gives Apple the time and space it needs to perfect them while also maintaining its credibility and users trust.During last years WWDC, Apple promised that iOS 18 would bring a massive Siri update, giving it awareness of on-screen content, work within third-party apps, and fetch personal data from various parts of the systemsuch as emails and messages. There was even an ad campaign, but earlier this month, Apple delayed the upgraded Siri until the coming year, suggesting it might not arrive until iOS 19 in 2026.It gets worse: A recent report even suggested the new Siri is so far behind, that Apple might have to rebuild the project from scratch. Given the sensitivity of user data and how unpredictable AI can be, Apple is evidently struggling to build an assistant that can reliably and securely perform the promised tasks. If Siri 2.0 is back to square one, what guarantees that things will be any different a year from now?The delays are bad enough, but failing to deliver Siri 2.0 will be a much bigger hit on Apples reputation than AirPower, especially when considering Googles and other rivals advances in AI. Siri is already lagging behind its peers, and a failure to deliver on its promises for a smarter and more aware assistant could be Apples biggest failure ever.

WWDC event marketing intensifies, and as we head toward that event in a little over two months, it looks as if were being told to expect a new paint job (aka user interface change)s for iOS.But will those tweaks really be enough to move the needle on flatlining iPhone sales? Is Apple concerned in case these changes dont impress? Is there any reason the big names in Apple rumor all jumped into this freshwater pool of speculation at more or less the same time, like synchronized swimmers?Somewhere in the Apple Universe there must now be a place where all rumors go to die. There must also be at least one place where they all get created in the first place.Across the universeIf youve been watching Apple over the last few years, you will have seen that the vast majority of its news announcements all seem to get leaked in advance, with a tiny minority of tales that never get officially teased but could still happen. Ive not added it up, but I now think that the number of times any given Apple speculations are shown to be false can probably be measured on one hand. Even the rumors that dont happen in one time frame turn true later.The connection between speculation and fact seems so strong its hard not to think Apple is planting at least some of these rumors to seed speculation. Well, its that, or at some high-level point within Apple there is a civil war going on and rumor has become a weapon to undermine company leadership. Apple is made up of some of the most talented and competitive people on the planet.Perhaps controlling click bait is just another string to the company bow? It is also quite amusing that Apple has managed to carve out a global reputation for secrecy at the same time as leaking just about every step it takes. Can both things be true?Words like rainSpeculation is such fun; however, this is what were currently beingtold to expect in iOS 19 and, no, its not about AI.Changes across the interface might include:A more rounded aesthetic (no, I dont know what that really means, either).Glassy reflective surfaces.An interface similar to visionOS for apps, buttons, and more.A new interface for the Camera app again, more in tune with visionOS.A sense of what it looks like in existing tools, including the new Apple Sports and Invites apps.BloombergsMark Gurman has previously promised iOS 19 will be the most significant upgrade in years, and now says the latest crop of speculation misses key details and Applehas even more planned.I certainly hope so. I imagine one surprise might be the addition of more Accessibility options, potentially including gesture and movement-based controls bought over to iOS from visionOS. We know these work on Apples headsets; can some also logically work on iPhones? Accessibility isnt just about doing the right thing at Apple; again and again, the tools Apple provides there end up feeding into its products, too.Change my worldIt is also interesting how much of the work Apple did on visionOS is now feeding outwards across the company Apple Intelligence is, after all, now run by the former leaders of Vision Pro development, and if the ideas they had around user interfaces are now to be deployed across the rest of the companys products then this reflects the importance of spatial computing to Apples future.However, if all Apple is promising does turn out to be some slight user interface changes, then 2025 may yet go down as a slightly fallow year. Thats going to hurt Apple financially, though its big enough to take a little headwind; it may still benefit it in the long term with more time to bring Apple Intelligence up to speed. A few months in calmer waters could also give Apples teams a little breathing space as they prepare the biggest iPhone redesign yet.But no doubt well know all about all of these announcements well before they are officially announced, thanks to the Apple speculation machine.You can follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky, LinkedIn, andMastodon.

When the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeff Goldberg, was accidentally added to a Signal conversation, things took a surprising turn. The journalist could not initially believe the authenticity of the invitation, but the chat apparently involving high-ranking US politicians and government officials discussed specific targets for attacking Huti forces in Yemen and a few hours later, airstrikes did indeed take place.Due to the nature of the information exchanged, his doubts were raised both by the fact that top-secret plans were discussed using an app that is not designed to transmit classified data, and by the free-form statements of the politicians, including Vice President J.D. Vance. The messages even included emoticons, symbolizing the celebration of the operation carried out.The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic reactedGoldberg refrained from publishing details about specific targets and weaponry in his article about the chat, fearing that the safety of those involved would be compromised. His description of the leaked news shows that Vice President JD Vance, one of the participants in the conversation, was critical of President Donald Trumps decision to carry out the attacks, stressing that their effects could benefit Europe more than the United States.The event instantly sparked a wave of discussion about security rules and possible violations of laws protecting classified information. Legal experts pointed out that transmitting secret data in this way could violate at least the Espionage Act, especially if the apps configuration provides for automatic deletion of messages.Trump, however, defended the use of Signal, explaining that access to secure devices and premises is not always possible at short notice.Meredith Whittaker defends Signal appSignals CEO, Meredith Whittaker, defended the app in an interview with Polish media, stressing that Signal maintains full end-to-end encryption and prioritizes user privacy.She pointed out that while WhatsApp also uses encryption technologies designed by Signal, it does not protect metadata to the same extent and does not guarantee such a strict policy against collecting or sharing user information.Whittaker at the same time pointed out that no application can eliminate human error. The accidental invitation of a journalist to a government chat room is precisely one example of a risk that cannot be excluded by technological measures alone.(This story was originally published by Computerworld Poland.)

How Geoff Richman, lead editor on the Apple Original, Severance, created the frenetic world of the hit shows season two finale.

Apple's iPad lineup clearly follows a "good, better, best" pricing strategy, but consumers consistently reach for either the cheapest or the priciest iPad option, leaving the middle tier behind.iPad AirApple doesn't need to play the pricing game the way other companies do. While most brands steer shoppers toward a middle-tier "better" option, Apple customers routinely gravitate to the top.A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) tries to frame this as a fresh insight using iPad sales, but it mostly confirms what anyone paying attention already knows Apple's best products sell best. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Weeks after Indonesia's government agreed to lift its ban on the iPhone 16 range, Apple has at last received all of the regulatory permissions to resume selling the model.iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus will go back on sale in Indonesia in AprilIndonesia agreed to end the ban on March 7, 2025, but Apple was still required to apply for specific certificates from the country's trade ministry, plus the communications and digital ministry. Those have now been received, and Apple has announced that it will resume selling the iPhone 16 range from Friday, April 11, 2025.The range had briefly been available after its launch in September 2024, but Indonesia banned it from sale in October 2024. Lifting the ban now also means that Apple will be able to sell the iPhone 16e in Indonesia for the first time. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Tadao Andos 12-year-old Malibu home is up for grabs once again after the buyer of Kanye West and Kim Kardashians former post-nuptial digs, Steven Belmont, listed the property for $39 million via his Orange County-based brokerage. The Wall Street Journal says, "With [a] renovation in full swing, Belmont is putting the beachfront property back on the market for $39 million. If he doesnt find an appealing offer, hell list the property for between $55 million and $65 million closer to completion [] Belmont is continuing with construction, and expects the project to be done in early 2026."The disgraced musician, last seen selling swastika t-shirts after the Super Bowl, gutted the formerly $57.3 million mansionover the course of a year before himself re-listing the property in December 2023 and then reducing its asking price last April to the same amount.

With the April 18 release date for Lunar Remastered Collection coming up, writer for Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue, Kei Shigema, has expressed his excitement about the classic RPGs being remastered. Speaking to GamesRadar, Shigema also showed some apprehension about Lunar Remastered Collections success, since both of the games in the collection are quite old and may not suit the tastes of modern audiences.When I saw Grandia being remastered first, I thought, Thats so nice. Im jealous!' said Shigema. For some context, Shigema also worked on the classic Grandia series, which was released back in 2019.I had been hoping for a Lunar remaster as well, so I was thrilled when it was announced, said Shigema. At the same time, I cant help but wonder will todays players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?Shigema also spoke about how simply watching a playthrough of classic games like Lunar: Silver Star Story wouldnt quite be the same as actually playing them. While watching videos of someone else playing games can help a person understand some aspects of the title, to actually experience the game properly, they would have to play the game.Movies, novels, and manga can be enjoyed in their original form, but games require the hardware they were originally released on, making them far less accessible, he explained. While watching old playthrough videos can give you a general idea of what a game is like, as the question suggests, games are ultimately media that must be experienced.Nothing compares to picking up a controller and playing for yourself. Thats why this remaster is so exciting it brings that experience back for a new generation. I hope that after playing Lunar, players will look up at the moon and think, Ah so thats where my adventure took place.'Lunar Remastered Collection is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch in April. The title will be available digitally, as well as physically. Physical copies are only available in North America, however.The game was announced all the way back in September 2024, and will include modern features like support for widescreen displays, HD animated cutscenes, and new English voice acting.While there will be plenty of quality-of-life features in Lunar Remastered Collection, GungHo Online Entertainment has revealed through an FAQ that it there will be no option for players to change the difficulty of the classic RPGs. On the other hand, the games will allow players to play through the RPGs in Classic Mode, allowing them to experience the games with their original visuals. Players can also disable the blur effect that is otherwise present on the top and bottom edges of the screen.The story of Lunar: Silver Star Story revolves around a young boy, Alex, who sets of on an adventure. Things quickly take a turn, however, when the Magic Emperor arrives. Lunar 2: Eternal Blue is a follow-up that takes place 1,000 years after its predecessor, and features a new protagonist named Hiro.

Konami has announced a partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) to develop a new mobile sports game. Dubbed eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit, the game will feature officially-licensed players and teams from MLB, including Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.MLB will also be taking a big step in marketing eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit, complete with logos for the game being promoted on its official website, as well as the upcoming MLB Tokyo Series shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit will feature a realistic take on the sport of baseball, and will be coming to iOS and Android. The game will feature the Star Watch system, which allows eBaseball players to vote for a ballplayer depending on the theme of any given month. Baseball players voted through the system will then show up in the game, complete with power-ups based on their real-world baseball performance.We are pleased to announce this strategic partnership with MLB, said Konami president Hideki Hayakawa in a statement on the press release. For over 30 years, we have provided entertaining and immersive baseball video game experiences in Japan and are happy to partner with the league to share those experiences with a greater audience.Konami has been innovating video games for nearly half a century and entertaining sports fans with their unique offerings for decades, but with this highly integrated partnership we can help take eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit to another level and deliver a truly outstanding experience for fans, said MLBs deputy commissioner of Business and Media Noah Garden. Konamis focus on evolving their consumers experience through technology and innovation aligns with our priorities at MLB, making them an ideal partner. We look forward to collaborating throughout the season to promote this fun, new game and highlight our many talented players around the world.While eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit is currently under development for smartphones, no release date for the title has been announced so far. Considering Konamis and MLBs plans on how it will handle ongoing baseball seasons, however, we expect the title to hit iOS and Android devices relatively soon.eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit will join Konamis other sports game that primarily targets iOS and Android devices eFootball. As its name might imply, eFootball focuses on the sport of soccer, and has been under continuous development since its original release all the way back in 2021. This largely stemmed from the game facing plenty of criticism at the time, which ultimately led to Konami issuing an official apology for the state of the game. Originally released on PC and consoles, eFootball is currently also available on iOS and Android.