MacworldIts the last chance to get your hands on a new M4 MacBook Pro this year, and its the best time to do it because its down $200, for a total price of $1,399 over at Amazon, matching its best price so far. This is the powerful M4 model were talking about with 16GB of RAM, so its truly a geat deal.The 14-inch MacBook Pro went from meh to marvelous, we wrote in our 4.5-star review. The laptop got a near-perfect score from us, with our main praise being the bump to 16GB of unified memory (over 8GB) and the introduction of the Space Black option, which was unavailable on this model last year.The laptop runs on the blazing-fast M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU for incredible speed in tackling demanding tasks. Youll also get fantastic battery life, with our tests clocking the battery at about 20 hours of use, good for a whole days work and then some. And of course, youre getting a fantastic 14.2-inch display with ProMotion and 1,600 nits peak brightness.Like the rest of the Apple silicon machines, this laptop is also ready to run Apple Intelligence, allowing you to perform work more efficiently with features such as Writing Tools and the upcoming next-gen Siri.So youre getting it all int he MacBook Pro: a gorgeous display, superb battery life, and rocket-level speeds, all for all for an incredible $200 off.Get the M4 MacBook Pro for its best price everBuy now at Amazon

MacworldApple updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the iPhone 8 design with its Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses.The iPhone SE is in desperate need of a big upgrade, and it looks like it will get one in the spring of 2025.iPhone SE 4 release date: When will the iPhone SE 4 be released?Spring 2025 (estimated)Apples iPhone SE doesnt follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and the intervals between updates can be harder to predict, but they seem to always be released in the spring, in March or April. Heres when the three models released so far made their debut:iPhone SE (3rd gen): March 2022iPhone SE (2nd gen): April 2020iPhone SE (1st gen): March 2016Apples current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022)Dominik TomaszewskiiPhone 4 SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost?Pricing has steadily increased across the three existing generations, no doubt influenced by the global cost of components and distribution. While the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released around the same price as the model it replaced, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model. At launch the prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in Euros in September 2024. Heres how they line up:iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022):64GB: $429/429 (was 449 at launch)128GB: $479/479 (was 499 at launch)256GB: $579/579 (was 609 at launch)iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020):64GB: $399/419128GB: $449/469256GB: $549/569iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016):32GB: $399/379128GB: $499/449However, the iPhone SE needs to be inexpensive relative to other iPhones, and wed be surprised to see the price increase too much with the next generation, even with several rumored upgrades. The latest rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, still far less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells.Bloombergs Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan.iPhone 4 SE design: What will the next iPhone SE look like?Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display.That could be good or bad news, depending on your viewpoint. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button.No Home button is likely to mean a notchand thats a notch, rather than the Dynamic Island. In terms of overall appearance, the iPhone SE would likely resemble the iPhone 14.A rumor in July 2024 suggested Apple will change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16, making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup.If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. It would also make it hard to differentiate between models, pushing some users who might otherwise consider the iPhone 16 to buy the iPhone SE 4 at a lower price.iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported?The iPhones this year are all about Apple Intelligence AI features, which first arrived with iOS 18.1 in the fall and will continue to get new features in iOS 18 updates. One of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 around the same time the iPhone SE 4 would be released.Processor & RAM: To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 Pro or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. It is common for the iPhone SE to have the same processor as the latest non-Pro iPhone but skimp on other features to differentiate itself, so we expect the iPhone SE 4 to have the A18 processor.Other than the processor and RAM requirements, we may see some other internal changes including the following: Modem: The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature Apples own 5G modems (codenamed Sinope). It will offers sub-6 support but no mmWave, and lower performance than Qualcomms best 5G modems but better power efficiency. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Apple is also about to switch over to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, codenamed Proxima. The rumors say this chip will actually appear first in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV, but theres a chance it could be used in the iPhone SE 4.Storage: With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), its hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isnt enough for most users anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB (and you can add a multi-gigabyte Apple Intelligence model to that). There are no good rumors one way or the other about the minimum storage for the iPhone SE 4, but we wouldnt be surprised if it was 64GB.USB-C: We expect the iPhone SE 4 to feature a USB-C port for charging, as all new iPhones do, and IP68 water resistance. The current SE is one of the last remaining Apple devices to still have a Lightning port.Camera(s): One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. The latest rumors suggest a single 48 megapixel camera, which would at least give the iPhone SE 4 a good 2x optical zoom mode using the center 12MP of the sensor, as the iPhone 16 does.Action Button: An alleged leak of an iPhone SE 4 case shows a cutout for the mute switch rather than an Action Button, and of course there will be no Camera Control buttonif the iPhone SE 4 had these features there would be little reason for anyone to buy an iPhone 16!iPhone SE 4: Will the new iPhone SE use Touch ID or Face ID?The most recent rumors say the new iPhone SE will have Face ID with a notch (not dynamic island), similar to an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away.iPhone historyThe iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model were also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.Original iPhone (2007) reviewiPhone 3G (2008) reviewiPhone 3GS (2009) reviewiPhone 4 (2010) reviewiPhone 4s (2011) reviewiPhone 5 (2012) reviewiPhone 5c (2013) reviewiPhone 5s (2013) reviewiPhone 6 (2014) reviewiPhone 6 Plus (2014) reviewiPhone 6s (2015) reviewiPhone 6s Plus (2015) reviewiPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) reviewiPhone 7 (2016) reviewiPhone 7 Plus (2016) reviewiPhone 8 (2017) reviewiPhone 8 Plus (2017) reviewiPhone X (2017) reviewiPhone XR (2018) reviewiPhone XS (2018) reviewiPhone XS Max (2018) reviewiPhone 11 (2019) reviewiPhone 11 Pro (2019) reviewiPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) reviewiPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) reviewiPhone 12 (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Mini (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Pro (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) reviewiPhone 13 (2021) reviewiPhone 13 mini (2021) reviewiPhone 13 Pro (2021) reviewiPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) reviewiPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) reviewiPhone 14 (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Plus (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Pro (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) reviewiPhone 15 (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Plus (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Pro (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) reviewiPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review

Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg on Friday announced a shutdown of almost all services on WordPress.org, the open source project site thats the home of the software, plugins, and the WordPress community, but was unclear on when the shutdown would end.This move sharply increases the uncertainty surrounding WordPress, IDC said.My sense is that many enterprise WordPress administrators will think twice about continuing to use the software under these circumstances, said IDC Research Manager Michele Rosen. Its such a shame to watch a leader in the open source community repeatedly sabotage his own project. At this point, I have real concerns about the impact of Matt Mullenwegs words and actions on the overall image of open source software, she added. Even if he feels that WP Engines actions are unethical and the court is wrong, his actions are clearly having an impact on the WordPress ecosystem, including his own business. It seems self-destructive.To put this move into context, the shutdown only directly impacts WordPress.org, whereas most enterprises using Automattics WordPress are leveraging WordPress.com, the commercial hosting site. But given the ripple effects across all of WordPress, it is likely that enterprise users would also be impacted.The WordPress CMS is licensed under the GPL, so it is permanently available for free. However, a lot of WPs value comes from themes and plugins, Rosen said. My understanding is that in some cases, the wordpress.org URL is hardcoded into WordPress, which can make it difficult or impossible to update your themes and plugins if they havent been added to the directory. It really depends on the particular websites configuration.Hopes to restart sometime in the new yearThe Mullenweg statement started off innocuously enough, saying that the WordPress.org team will take some time off for the holidays at the end of the year. But it turned unsettling when it raised the possibility that they may not reopen at all in 2025.In order to give myself and the many tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, were going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered. New account registrations on WordPress.org clarifying so press doesnt confuse this: people can still make their own WordPress installs and accounts, the statement said, adding that service pauses will also include new plugin directory submissions, new plugin reviews, new theme directory submissions and new photo directory submissions. Were going to leave things like localization and the forums open because these dont require much moderation.But after mentioning his ongoing legal struggles with WP Engine, Mullenweg said I hope to find the time, energy, and money to reopen all of this sometime in the new year. Right now, much of the time I would spend making WordPress better is being taken up defending against WP Engines legal attacks.Shutdown may hurt WordPressPeter Zeitsev, the founder of Percona, an open source database software vendor, said that if the shutdown continues through all of 2025, this will stifle the development of WordPress no new user accounts, no new plugins published, etc. This could also spark the creation of an alternative hub to wordpress.org, one that would be truly operated in the interest of the [open source] community.Zeitsev said that he fears that there will be meaningful enterprise impacts if the shutdown continues. Many WordPress users do not really interact with WordPress.org at all, but some commercial enterprise users can also rely on WordPress.org functionality, and they can be impacted, he said.Asked how this move will help WordPress.org, Zeitsev thinks it likely wont, and that it might end up hurting them.It might be that [Mullenweg] thinks there will be public/community pressure on WP Engine and the court to take his side, but I feel it will be seen as the opposite. Matt has been a wonderful steward of the WordPress community for so long, so governance and ownership of WordPress.org were not thought about, Zeitsev said. Now things have changed, and commercial and community players in the WordPress space will be thinking about how much authority Matt personally has, and whether or not they can trust him to operate the ecosystem they invested so much in, in a way that reflects its interest.

Arm is waiting to see if it has won a battle over licensing of its microprocessor designs to Qualcomm that has cast doubt over the immediate future of some of the chip makers products.The jury in the US District Court for the District of Delaware spent the week listening to arguments in the protracted and increasingly rancorous licensing dispute between Arm and Qualcomm and all thats left is to hear their verdict.The verdict, expected on Friday, could be hugely significant, not only for the parties involved but for the maze of other companies that have built their product development around their technology.Its an extraordinary clash between companies that until as recently as 2021 seemed like firm allies.The legal case started with Qualcomms 2021 acquisition of Nuvia, designer of the Phoenix datacenter chip, which used Arms v8.7-A instruction set. Under Qualcomm, the Phoenix was reinvented as the Oryon chip, the CPU core of a more general microprocessor used inside the companys Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC).Importantly, the royalty that Qualcomm agreed to pay under its Architecture License Agreement (ALA) with Arm was lower than that of Nuvia. Qualcomm believed this more favorable deal should apply to Nuvia development going forward because most of its subsequent Snapdragon development was done after the acquisition.Arm disagreed and argued that Qualcomm should pay the rate agreed with Nuvia. According to court testimony by Arm CEO Rene Haas this week, the lower royalty would cause a drop in revenue of $50 million. Failing to reach an agreement with Qualcomm, the company decided to sue, the first time it has taken such action against a customer since its founding in 1990.This is where things became a bit muddy. Why did Arm decide to sue over a relatively small sum, and why did Qualcomm refuse to concede? This week in court a wide range of arguments and counter arguments were laid out, mostly that each company believed the other was trying to sabotage its business.Make Qualcomm great againAs it attempts to diversify away from relying on mobile chips, Qualcomms Snapdragon SoC platform is seen as critical for its future. This, it hopes, will allow it to take on Intel and AMD in the general microprocessor market while integrating the new-fangled AI capabilities important to the PC sector.In October, Arm cancelled Qualcomms license to the Nuvia ALA. It also demanded the destruction of Nuvia designs developed prior to the merger. Clearly, a verdict in favor of Arm would put Qualcomm in a tight corner, and also a whos who of tech companies Microsoft, Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung currently using Qualcomms Snapdragon designs.This week, Qualcomm put forward an alternative view to explain Arms motivations. According to Qualcomms lawyers, Arm harbors ambitions to develop competing chips of its own, making it a direct competitor to Qualcomm. Evidence for this remains circumstantial, but to back this up Qualcomm claimed that Arm at one point misled it into disbanding its development team.Stop being cheapA difficulty for outsiders is untangling exactly what is really at issue and whether theres more to this than meets the eye. According to Arm its about licensing agreements and the fees that arise from them. It believes Qualcomm used its IP in Nuvia-originated IP and should pay what Nuvia agreed and stop being cheap.Qualcomms argument seems to be that this is a shakedown. And yet there seem to be deeper currents. Perhaps they see each as competitors in the longer term, and the battle is competitive jockeying.Notably, Qualcomm was a major opponent to Nvidias proposed 2021 takeover of Arm, abandoned in the face of regulatory hurdles, and even suggested investing in the UK company. For its part, Arm upset Qualcomm by contacting dozens of its customers to inform them of the termination of the Nuvia license. Each round of conflict deepened the antipathy.Its the sort of dispute that happens all the time in the tech industry, a sector built on patents and cross-licensing of IP. But what was highly unusual about this dispute is that it wasnt resolved without going to court, a hugely risky situation for both parties should they lose.On the surface, it has never been a battle of equals: Qualcomms annual revenue is 10 to 15 times that of Arms. That said, since Arm listed on the New York Stock Exchange, its value has soared, bringing its market capitalization much closer to that of the US company.Arm is important for its size and Qualcomm is large and ambitious. Each would like the others crown. Both are angry. Whats not yet clear is whether the verdict of a Delaware courthouse, including outright victory, will deliver what either company wants.

Owners of Embodied's doomed Moxie robot may get a reprieve from the shutdown, thanks to an eleventh-hour open-source attempt to keep the robot running.Moxie the robot - Image credit: EmbodiedEarly in December, it was reported that Embodied, the company behind the child-centric Moxie robot, was shutting down, and would be taking the robot with it. Owners of the $800 robot were informed that it would stop working after the cloud servers get shut down in the future.With Moxie used by parents to help aid the social development of children, including autistic kids, this meant parents had to explain why their children couldn't play with their robotic friend anymore. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The developer of SuperDuper! says what they think is a bug in macOS Sequoia 15.2 has inadvertently broken how the app can create bootable backups however, it may not be accidental at all.SuperDuper! app icon amidst hard drives and a Mac keyboardIt's some years since Apple took steps to at least make it harder for people to start up their Macs using external drives. That was a privacy issue, a security issue, and a bit of a pain for anyone who remembers Mac drives failing.Now according to developer Dave Nanian, Apple has gone further, maybe unintentionally. Nanian is the developer of backup app SuperDuper! and says that since macOS Sequoia 15.2 has changed a feature called the Replicator, his app has been unable to create a bootable backup. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple has been formally accused by Congo of covering up war crimes by using conflict minerals in its supply chain, and criminal complaints have been filed in France and Belgium.Apple has been asked to verify that it doesn't use "conflict minerals" in the iPhoneApple and at least most Big Tech manufacturers have long been accused of sourcing tin, tungsten, and tantalum the 3T materials from regions where that means funding violent groups. And now, Apple has picked up two criminal complaints, lodged by the Congo government.The complaint alleges that conflict minerals are laundered through multiple sales and shell companies before hitting Apple suppliers. Therefore, according to the filing spotted by Reuters early Tuesday morning, Apple is directly responsible, is complicit, and should be held accountable for crimes against humanity taking place in Congo. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Months after inaugurating the new Lana Residences and hotel complex in Dubai, a new design for a neighboring plot from Foster + Partners has been announced featuring two new luxury residential towers with heights totaling 590.5 feet (or 180 meters). One apartment is allotted per floor to bring the total to 60 in both towers. Each unit is equipped with a range of wellness amenities to go along with winding interlocked terraces offering views of Dubai's high-rise architecture and the adjacent Marasi Marina.Image rendering courtesy Foster + PartnersImage rendering courtesy Foster + PartnersImage rendering courtesy Foster + Partners

Work is wrapping up on the new U.S. Embassy facility in Mexico City designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien (TWBTA) and David Brody Bond at a reported cost of around $1 billion. The LA Times recentlychecked in on its delayed progress. The project first began construction on the Paseo de la Reforma in February 2018. An opening is now expected by the last quarter of 2025.Image rendering by DBB/TWBTAImage rendering by DBB/TWBTAImage rendering by DBB/TWBTA

Construction on the new Sydney Fish Market from 3XN has topped out in Australia. The 700,000-square-foot building will become the largest fish market and have the largest glulam roof structure in the southern hemisphere once completed. Its PV-paneled roof is calibrated to withstand high wind loads while meeting the spatial demands required by the marketplace, is held in place by 594 beams, and is capable of harvesting rainwater throughout the year.The project offers a worthy follow-up to the Danish firm's award-winning work on theupcycled Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney. They are working locally with localarchitectsBVN, GXN Innovation, and the landscape architects Aspect Studios.