With the premiere of Severance season two in January, Apple revealed an increase in Apple TV+ subscriptions compared to previous months. But was that enough to make Apple TV+ overtake its competitors? New data from JustWatch seen by 9to5Mac shows details about the market share of streaming platforms in the US during Q1 2025.According to JustWatchs latest research, Apple TV+s market share in the US went from 7% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 8% in the first quarter of 2025, which covers the months of January to March. Although Apple was right to say that more people subscribed to Apple TV+ during this period, the increase wasnt exactly huge.Overall, the figures for the first quarter remain pretty much the same when compared to the last quarter of 2024. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are still fighting for first and second place, while Max and Disney+ are trailing behind with a significant difference.Another highlight of the Q1 2025 report is that both Peacock and Starz reached 2% market share each. You can take a look at the full market share ranking provided by JustWatch below:Amazon Prime Video: 21%Netflix: 20%Max: 13%Disney+: 12%Hulu: 10%Apple TV+: 8%Paramount +: 7%Peacock: 2%Starz: 2%Others: 5%Apple TV+ was launched in 2019 and has more than 300 titles available, which is less than its competitors have since Apple focuses exclusively on original content. Although Apple TV+ movies and shows have won important awards, a recent report revealed that the platform still results in money losses for the company. Its estimated that Apple loses $1 billion a year on Apple TV+. The report also claims that the platform has around 45 million subscribers worldwide.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple last week officially announced that WWDC 2025 will take place from June 9 to 13, and although most of the event will take place online, the company will hold an in-person opening keynote at Apple Park. Developers who have applied for a ticket are now being notified of their status.Apple invites developers to WWDC 2025 event at Apple ParkCongratulations! Youve been selected to join us at the special event at Apple Park on Monday, June 9 and were thrilled to invite you to additional activities before and after as well, Apple says in an email to invited developers.The special WWDC 2025 event includes the opening keynote, in which the company will announce iOS 19 and its other new software, and the Platforms State of the Union. Invited developers will also be able to meet with Apple experts.According to Apple, the invited developers were chosen by random selection and the ticket is not transferable. Although the winners dont have to pay anything for the ticket, all travel and accommodation costs must be covered by the person.In addition, Apple also invited distinguished winners of the Swift Student Challenge 2025 to a three-day experience in Cupertino that also includes the special event at Apple Park.Be there for the reveal of the latest Apple tools, frameworks, and features.Learn to elevateyour apps and games through video sessions hosted by Appleengineers and designers. Engage with Appleexperts in labs and connect with the worldwide developer community. All online and at no cost.What are you most excited to see at WWDC 2025? Let us know in the comments.Alleged iOS 19 leaked screenshot shows what the new interface will look likeGadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As we have reported in recent months, Apple has been facing scrutiny in Brazil over accusations of anti-competitive practices with the App Store. Although the company has been given more time to discuss the case, the Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade is now investigating Apple over the App Tracking Transparency feature.According to a report in the Brazilian newspaper O Globo (via MacMagazine), Cade on Thursday began investigating Apple after Meta complained about the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature in iOS. More specifically, Meta claims that only third-party apps need to ask users for permission to collect their data, while Apple apps have a free pass to collect and share data with the company.The Brazilian regulator argues that there is evidence that Apple collects and processes information from its users under more favorable conditions than those offered to third parties.The App Tracking Transparency feature was introduced in 2021. With ATT, third-party apps must now show a popup asking iOS users if they allow that specific app to track them across other apps and websites. Unsurprisingly, most people opt out of being tracked.Companies like Meta, whose revenue comes mainly from online advertising, have been heavily affected by ATT, since user information is crucial for fingerprinting the process of creating a profile about a person based on their online activities. This data is usually sold to advertisers so that they can better target their audience.Since the feature was introduced, Meta has publicly criticized Apple many times, calling ATT a harmful policy.Back to the case in Brazil, Apple wont face a trial for now, since Cade is still examining the companys terms and conditions for ATT in third-party apps. Of course, if the regulator considers ATTs terms to be unfair, the company could face penalties in Brazil in the future. A few days ago, France fined Apple $132 million for a similar reason.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Back in February, Amazon announced an interesting new test that would show you products from other retailers sites. Now, the company is taking things even further: Amazons new Buy for me feature can use agentic AI to actually make purchases elsewhere on your behalfso you never have to leave Amazon.Agentic AI lets Amazon make purchases on your behalf from other retailersAs first spotted by The Verge, Amazons website now outlines a new Buy for me feature thats currently being tested.Heres how it works:When you tap Buy for me, youll see an estimated total that includes item price, shipping, and taxes. We get product information including price, directly from brand sites to display in the Amazon Shopping app and refresh it regularly.Behind the scenes, Amazon is using agentic AI to navigate to the retailer in question and make the purchase using all of your default contact, payment, and shipping information.But from the users standpoint, youre still operating entirely within the Amazon app and enjoying the convenience that provides.Amazons explainer highlights how these purchases at other retailers are technically not Amazon transactions, even if the experience makes them feel like they are. As a result, Amazons own policies regarding returns and other terms & conditions dont apply.Overall, this is a fascinating potential use of AI that could lead Amazon to become even more of a one-stop shopping app for users.What do you think of Amazons new AI Buy for me feature? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple released iOS 18.4 for iPhone users on with Priority Notifications, new emoji, several changes to CarPlay, and more. According to a growing number of users, however, the iOS 18.4 update has rendered CarPlay unusable in their cars.In a thread on Reddit and elsewhere, iPhone users say they are experiencing a wide range of bugs with CarPlay since updating to iOS 18.4 this week. Multiple users say Now Playing information from CarPlay no longer shows up on their cars gear cluster display.Perhaps more importantly, however, some users are experiencing major connectivity problems with CarPlay in iOS 18.4. One user says their iPhone is connecting and disconnecting over and over again when using wireless CarPlay. Another user also says that iOS 18.4 broke their wireless CarPlay and made the connection unstable. One Honda driver says it takes plugging and unplugging 5+ times or restarting the car to get CarPlay to connect since updating to iOS 18.4.Another user:I got this same problem in my 2025 Mazda CX-30 this morning too after updating to the latest iOS, as did my partner, he only got it to work after disconnecting and reconnecting the device to the vehicle FIVE times! Ive only tried it 3 and it still hasnt reconnected properly, so Ive just gone back to the old usb connection until Apple has a patch or somethingThe issues appear to span multiple different automakers, including Honda, Mazda, Audi, and Ford. Users say theyve tried a variety of different things to fix the problems, including re-pairing their phones to their cars, rebooting their phones and their cars, and more.You can delete your car from CarPlay by following these steps:Open the Settings app on your iPhone.Tap GeneralTap CarPlaySwipe left on your cars name and deleteYoull then have to go through the process of re-pairing your iPhone with your car to enable CarPlay again.One user on Reddit says that Volkswagen customer service has acknowledged the iOS 18.4 problems, but said that its up to Apple to fix the issues. Apple has not publicly acknowledged the problems. iOS 18.5 is currently in beta testing with developers and is expected to be released next month. (via Autoevolution)My favorite iPhone accessories:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Benjamin and Chance start with a catch-up on changes to Friday Night Baseball, before diving into the software updates of the week, with the launch of iOS 18.4 and the first iOS 18.5 beta launching. Also, thoughts on Apples rumored AI Health service plans, and the latest on finding a new partner for the Apple Card.And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin embarks on a mission to convert baby videos from old camcorder tapes, to digital files. Subscribe at9to5mac.com/join.Sponsored by DREAME: Get up to $600 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacs inDREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale now.HostsChance Miller Benjamin MayoSubscribe, Rate, and Review9to5Mac Happy Hour PlusSubscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:Ad-free versions of every episodePre- and post-show contentBonus episodesJoin for $5 per month or $50 a year at9to5mac.com/join.Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or ThreadsEmail us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com LinksAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple Podcasts isnt the dominant force in podcasting that it once was. But if you still get your podcasts from Apple rather than YouTube or another third-party app, there are some nice Podcasts app additions in iOS 18.4including a new widget that solves a key shortcoming.Up Next queue has long felt like a regression in Apple PodcastsIve used Apple Podcasts for years, but a while back my customer satisfaction went way down when Apple implemented its new Up Next queue.Up Next, in theory, is meant to be your one-stop destination for what to listen to next.But the feature represented a big change from Podcasts previous interface, which showed a list of the most recent episodes published.You can still access a Latest Episodes view, but it requires a couple extra taps to get there.I wont go into detail on why Up Next doesnt work well for me, as Ive already done that elsewhere.But I am happy to report that iOS 18.4 adds a new Podcasts widget that makes viewing your Latest Episodes list much easier than before.iOS 18.4 actually adds two new widget types for Apple Podcasts:Library, which features episodes from a list in your libraryand Shows, which does the same for a single show of your choosingEach is available in various sizes to suit your needs, and there are even XL versions on iPad.The Library widget is the one Ive quickly grown to love, because you can configure it to display either Saved Episodes, Downloaded Episodes, or your Latest Episodes.That latter option is what I went with.Now, right from my iPhones Home Screen I can view and play any of the four most recently published episodes from shows I follow.Essentially, its like the apps old default setup, but without needing to open the app at all.I continue to find Up Next a sub-par feature, but at least now in iOS 18.4, I can avoid it entirely without needing to jump around Podcasts various tabs and sections every time Im ready to listen.Have you used any of Apple Podcasts new widgets in iOS 18.4? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple is updating its iWork suite of productivity apps with new features that require iOS 18.4. This includes version 14.4 of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for iPhone and iPad.iWork 14.4 for iOS and iPadOSPages for iPhone and iPad, version 14.4:Screen View on iPad displays text, images, and other elements in a continuous flow optimized to fit your screenMake text edits using Writing Tools directly in your document (requires Apple Intelligence and iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Add additional pages into a word-processing document more easilyExport documents into other formats using Shortcuts (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Keynote for iPhone and iPad, version 14.4:Make text edits using Writing Tools directly in your presentation (requires Apple Intelligence and iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Export presentations into other formats using Shortcuts (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Numbers for iPhone and iPad, version 14.4:Use over 30 new advanced functions including LET, LAMBDA, FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUESee results from a single formula across multiple cells using spilling arraysMake text edits using Writing Tools directly in your spreadsheet (requires Apple Intelligence and iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Export spreadsheets into other formats using Shortcuts (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires iOS or iPadOS 18.4)Improved compatibility when importing or exporting Microsoft Excel spreadsheetsiWork 14.4 for macOSPages for Mac, version 14.4:Make text edits using Writing Tools directly in your document (requires Apple Intelligence and macOS 15.4)Add additional pages into a word-processing document more easilyExport documents into other formats using Shortcuts (requires macOS 15.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires macOS 15.4)Keynote for Mac, version 14.4:Make text edits using Writing Tools directly in your presentation (requires Apple Intelligence and macOS 15.4)Export presentations into other formats using Shortcuts (requires macOS 15.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires macOS 15.4)Numbers for Mac, version 14.4:Use over 30 new advanced functions including LET, LAMBDA, FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUESee results from a single formula across multiple cells using spilling arraysMake text edits using Writing Tools directly in your spreadsheet (requires Apple Intelligence and macOS 15.4)Export spreadsheets into other formats using Shortcuts (requires macOS 15.4)Improved copy and paste with Freeform (requires macOS 15.4)Improved compatibility when importing or exporting Microsoft Excel spreadsheetsFind the latest versions of each app in the iWork suite on the App Store today.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, Threads, Instagram, and Mastodon.Watch or listen to the Runtime podcast with co-host Sophia Tung on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Hyperspace, the new utility from Macintosh veteran John Siracusa, has been updated a handful of times since we covered its launch in February. If you havent tried Hyperspace since it first launched, there are new capabilities that could reveal even more space to reclaim.First, a primer on how Hyperspace came to be according to the blog post on Hypercritical:Today, most Mac users dont even notice that using the Duplicate command in the Finder to make a copy of a file doesnt actually copy the files contents. []There are plenty of Mac apps that will save disk space by finding duplicate files and thendeletingthe duplicates. Using APFS clones, my app could reclaim disk spacewithout removing any files!As a digital pack rat, this appealed to me immensely.By the end of that week, Id written a barebones Mac app to do the same thing my Perl script was doing. In the months that followed, I polished and tested the app, and christened itHyperspace. Im happy to announce that Hyperspace is now available on the Mac App Store.The latest version of the space-saving Mac app introduces support for reclaiming storage without deleting files from cloud services like Apples iCloud Drive, Microsofts OneDrive, and more.Hyperspace cautiously launched without touching more complex file storage locations. Now the app is capable of working its magic on cloud storage including iCloud Drive. An earlier version added support for scanning package directories including Apple Photos and iMovie libraries, Logic Pro projects, and more.These features are disabled by default. as a precaution. You can enable each in the apps settings from the Advanced tab.As ever, ensure you have a redundant backup strategy. especially before performing tasks that shouldnt result in data loss but, you know, could. iCloud on its own is not a backup since deleting files in one place deletes that file in all the places.Hyperspace is free to download and run on your Mac. After scanning to reveal space-saving potential, you can purchase the app to perform the task of reclaiming storage without deleting files.Hyperspace supports unlimited scans without having to pay. The app includes three one-time purchase options and two subscription options.Hyperspace works with your Mac storage as well as attached storage that uses Apple File System (APFS). Hyperspace is available on the Mac App Store.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, Threads, Instagram, and Mastodon.Watch or listen to the Runtime podcast with co-host Sophia Tung on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

After nearly a decade, Nintendo finally returned with a true successor to the original Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2, unveiled at Nintendos Direct event, brings long-awaited upgrades across the board from display and performance to multiplayer features and accessories. I spent some hands-on time with the device at press-only Nintendo event yesterday, and as someone who has owned every Switch variant from the OG Switch to the Switch OLED, here are my thoughts.Nearly 6 hours of hands-on time with the new Switch 2The best part of the new Switch 2 is that it looks and feels like an upgrade in every way but is still familiar enough that you can learn the new nuances very easily. Nintendo struck a great happy medium between making it feel new but not foreign.Be sure to check the video below to see an in-depth, hands-on look at all things Switch 2 and a an inside peak at yesterdays private Switch 2 event in NYC!Nintendo Switch 2 SpecsLarger 7.9 display: Compared to the originals 6.2, the new screen is brighter and sharper.1080p LCD display with HDR: While it doesnt use OLED, it still supports HDR and looks great.120FPS: Gameplay feels more fluid when supported (not all games support 120FPS)Joy-Cons 2: These snap on with strong magnets and feel secure, eliminating the old rail system.Bigger SL/SR Buttons: A small change that makes a big difference in comfort, especially in single Joy-Con modeDual USB-C Ports: One on the top and one on the bottom for flexible charging and accessories.256GB Internal Storage: A huge leap from the 32GB on the original Switch.Improved Audio: Louder and clearer speakers, plus a built-in mic with active noise cancellation.New stand: Wider and more stable with adjustable angles.4K when docked: The new dock also includes a built-in fan for thermal management.Backward compatibility: Not every Switch 1 game will work, but most should work with a list coming soon. Hands-on experienceAs you might have assumed, the new Switch 2 is better in every single way compared to the original. The spec list alone shows you that every piece of hardware was updated to 2025 standards. But does that translate to real world improvements? Yes, yes it does.But I want to highlight a few things that really stood out. First off, the display looks fantastic in person crisp, vibrant, and fluid. Playing the new Mario Kart World felt like a generational leap, with rich environments and fast, smooth performance. It also helps that the game itself is just an overall better experience.The new Joy-Con controllers are surprisingly impressive. The magnetic attachment is strong and satisfying, with no risk of slipping off. I tested the strength with a few shake tests, and they held firmly in place. Each Joy-Con now also functions as amouse, which opens up new gameplay possibilities. I tested this in Drag & Drive, which mimics wheelchair movement with mouse-like precision super intuitive and surprisingly immersive. I also tested the mouse function in some Mario Party mini-games. While this feature is a cool demo, I cant see myself using this feature past just the Mario Party mini-games. But again, surprisingly great!Other tidbitsOne other small thing that I noticed that was worth sharing is the new material of the Switch 2. It has this nice, soft touch, rubbery feel that really helps mitigate fingerprints and greasy smudging. I think the new material will hold up great over time. You also might notice that there is a new button that does have the right Joy-Con with the letter C. This is the new Chat button that instantly puts you into a chat mode with other friends who are online. You will be able to have audio calls, video calls, screen share games, talk with multiple people, and play with people while video chatting, all enabled by the new Nintendo Camera. This was a big emphasis with the Switch 2. Nintendo has always preached community, and this new feature will continue to do so.Accessories and New FeaturesNintendo also introduced a few first party accessories that I wanted to touch on. There were two that really stood out to me:Nintendo Camera:$50 webcam with ultra-wide lens and a physical privacy shutterIntegrates directly into Nintendos new chat feature with a dedicated controller buttonReal-time face feeds during games like Mario Party, with screen sharing supportWorks across all play modes: handheld, tabletop, or dockedOne camera gives you four live video feeds with head trackingThe most impressive part for me was the fact that it can simultaneously track up to four people in the room with just the one camera. Felt like magic. New Pro ControllerImproved ergonomics and heftUSB-C chargingNew programmable back paddle buttonsGreat haptics and fingerprint-resistant finishSells for $80, a bit pricey for my liking but still a very well made controller that deserves the Pro namePricing & availabilityThe Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, with pre-orders starting on April 9th. Alongside that release, the Switch 2 will be sold in two variants. One has just the console, and the other is bundled with the new Mario Kart World game. Nintendo will also be releasing a slew of first-party accessories, which are listed below.Nintendo Switch 2: $449Switch 2 Bundle with Mario Kart World: $499Webcam Accessory: $49.99New Joy-Cons: $89.99Pro Controller: $79.99Final thoughtsAfter nearly six hours of hands-on time with the new Switch 2, Ive concluded that this is a meaningful and well-rounded upgrade that addresses many of the original Switchs shortcomings. From the better display and faster performance to the improved build and multiplayer features, it feels like Nintendo has thoughtfully refined the console without reinventing the wheel. They have added some fun new features, included some new updated games that I am excited to try, and kept the form factor extremely portable.If youre a longtime Switch owner or someone whos been holding out, this feels like a worthy step forward and one thats clearly built with both solo and social gamers in mind.FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

Joining some ongoing $100 price drops on iPad mini 7 and the new M4 MacBook Air, today we are turning our attention back to AirPods. Amazon has now brought back its best price of the year on the latest AirPods 4 with ANC down at $149 shipped, which is now joined by a solid $250 price drop on Apples 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro. From there we move over to a 20% clearance price drop on the official blue Apple Ocean Band alongside a new all-time low Belkins 15W MagSafe Wireless Car Charger mount, a 25% price drop on Eves latest Energy (Matter) smart plug, Bose earbuds, and this 140W USB-C to MagSafe 3 nylon braided cable at just $20.All of that and more awaits below in todays 9to5Toys Lunch Break.Apples latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation return to Amazon 2025 low at $149 todayUpdate: After jumping back up to full price, this deal we spotted during the Big Spring Sale has now returned again this morning.Amazon now has the elevated AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation back down at the Big Spring Sale price we featured last month. Regularly $179, Amazon is now offering Apples latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation down back down at $148.99 shipped this is matching our previous mention and the lowest price we have tracked this year there.While we did catch a short-lived offer on the ANC AirPods 4 ahead of Christmas last year at the $139 Amazon all-time low, todays deal is otherwise on par with the best we have seen otherwise. There have also been some extremely fleeting, almost spammy, offers from less than desirable online retailers for less, but just about no one had a chance to scoop them up and Im not sure you would have even wanted too anyway I didnt.Apples AirPods Pro 2 remain the gold standard in Apple in-ear listening experiences if you ask me (and million of others) they were after all one of the most popular products among 9to5Toys readers last year despite the newer AirPods 4 hitting the market last fall, and were featured in our 9to5Toys Favorite Things of 2024 feature for this reason.That said, the AirPods 4 are a less pricey endeavor and one that we came away quite impressed with after getting hands-on last year Hands-on with AirPods 4: better in every way.Joining the active noise cancelation, Siri hands- and voice-free interactions, Voice Isolation, and Personalized Spatial Audio tech, they land with a redesigned earbud form-factor featuring a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls alongside a case that is the smallest in the industry with wireless chargingDREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale up to $700 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacsDREAME is offering hundreds on savings on its range of intelligent robotic vacuum and mop combos as well as its wet/dry and stick vacuum models. Delivering as much as $700 in savings on X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop, youll find some of the best prices of the year on a collection of models across the brands to meet just about anyones needs.DREAME X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$900(Reg. $1 600)DREAME L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$500(Reg. $1,500)DREAME L10s Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop:$400(Reg. $900)DREAME H12 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$255(Reg. $450)DREAME H14 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$400(Reg. $700)DREAME H14 Wet & Dry Vac:$300(Reg. $500)DREAME Z30 Stick Vac:$350(Reg. $700)DREAME R10 Stick Vac:$190(Reg. $300)While pricing on the more affordable end of the lineup has jumped up recently, we are tracking another chance to score the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro back down at $1,649 shipped thats $250 off and matching our previous mention. Head below for more details and a chance to save even more on an open-box listing with a full Apple warranty in tow.This configuration dropped down at $1,699 for Presidents Day earlier this year, but Amazon is now offering another opportunity to land it at $50 less than that to match the best price of the year this is $250 off the full price youll find at Best Buy.Just keep in mind you can score an excellent condition open-box unit at Best Buy right now with a full 1-year Apple warranty down at $1,586.99 shipped. This is $312 off the list price at Apple and the lowest price we can find on a comparable open-box unit from a reputable dealer.The 13-inch 1TB model certainly isnt the most universally appealing it isnt exactly the most affordable tablet out there. But if youre looking to land a serious workhorse of a tablet that can offer complete workstation potential, the up to $312 in savings we are tracking here today should be on your radar.That said, if theres another configuration you have your eye on, scope out the list of discounted pricing below just note the most affordable 11-inch models have been $150 more than a few times since release:Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 256GB $919 (Reg. $999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,199)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 1TB $1,449 (Reg. $1,599)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,869 (Reg. $1,999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,299)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 1TB $1,649 (Reg. $1,899)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $1,999 (Reg. $2,299)Official blue Apple Ocean Band sees clearance pricing today at 20% offWhile much of the official Apple Watch band deals we featured lates last month at Amazon have now jumped back up in price, Best Buy is offering a clearance offer on the official Blue Apple Ocean Band for Apple Watch Ultra 1/2 at $79.99 shipped. This is an originally $99 model, that is now seeing a solid 20% price drop to deliver the lowest price we can find from a reputable dealer there are a ton of Apple lookalike rip-off bands out there, but this is the real thing.We have featured loads of deals on the Trail and Alpine Loops this year, but they are almost never a full 20% off and discounts on Ocean Bands are much harder to come by in general. While the shade of blue we are featuring here today is from the previous-generation offerings, it is otherwise identical to the latest models.This model is seeing clearance pricing today, but this is a brand new unit in the official Apple box and with the standard warranty.The Ocean Band, for those not already familiar, is made from a high performance elastomer with what Apple refers to as tubular geometry allowing it to stretch for a perfect fit, even over a wetsuit. The model we are featuring on sale here right now features a Natural Titanium buckle and the usual adjustable loop for a secure, and snug fit one size fits just about everyone on the Ocean Band.Prefer you some leather? Burton Goods Pilot strap for Apple Watch is now nearly 50% offand be sure to dive into the ongoing Nomad sitewide sale for deals on its wonderful straps before you check out our hands-on review of Spigens new $20 Trail Loop-style Apple Watch band.Belkins 15W MagSafe Wireless Car Charger mount just hit the $58 Amazon all-time low (Nearly 30% off)Eves latest Energy (Matter) smart plug is now 25% off once again down at $30 Prime shippedBose 48-hour Flash Sale: Diamond 60th Anniversary Edition QuietComfort Ultra Buds now $70 off, moreTodays accessories and charging deals:Apples new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is now sitting at the $1,139 Amazon all-time low, more from $949While you can still score the most affordable 128GB iPad mini 7 down at $399 via Amazon, the mid-range 256GB configs quickly jumped back up to full price right in the middle of the Amazon Big Spring Sale last week. However, the deals are now back on all four colors at $499 shipped, down from the regular $599. Details below.I certainly wouldnt blame anyone for just jumping on the now $399 entry-model and calling it a day I have spent more than enough time talking about how I tend to try and save as much cash as possible when it comes to Apple storage upgrades. That said, the mini 7 starts at 128GB, as opposed to the 256GB entry point on the M4 iPad Pro for example this configuration is starting to show its age if you ask me.While it wasnt all that long ago when more than just entry-level iPads started at 64GB, the 128GB models need to go the way of the old 8GB Mac configs if you ask me. The 128GB is likely more than enough for some folks, but it is really starting to feel a bit tight for me, even on a less pricey iPad, and nows your chance to score a good mid-range compromise on one of the more affordable current-generation iPads in the lineup.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) If youre looking for a case or sleeve to safeguard your new mini, here are our favorite options from $8.50.Score Apple Pencil Pro at one of its best prices ever, now $80 (Reg. $129, New Open Box), USB-C model at $50You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offTwelve Souths PlugBug USB-C Wall Charger with Apple Find My back to Amazon all-time low at $43 (Reg. $70)Nomads gorgeous latest-gen metal and glass 15W 3-in-1 MagSafe charger sees rare 15% price dropYou can once again score a giant 49% off Belkins 15W MagSafe Duo-style Travel Pad charger at $61Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. 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Apple is a US-based company that relies heavily on a global supply chain to manufacture its products. As a result, the tech firms stock seems to be getting hit especially hard by the new tariffs just announced yesterday, with AAPL down almost 10% upon the markets open todaya big hit to Apple.AAPL stock is down significantly as tariff fears loomApple has grown revenue from its services business consistently for years, but at its core, the company is still very much financially dependent on hardware.The iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and the companys other highly successful products are designed by Apple in California, but by and large manufactured overseas.Now, with President Trumps sweeping tariffs on imports worldwide, Apples core business could take a huge hit.The tariffs are especially high in places where Apple keeps much of its supply chain, including China, India, Vietnam, and more.Last night in after-market trading, Apples stock fell 7%. As my colleague Ben wrote:fears have seen investors ditch Apple stock, with a sell-off in after hours trading of more than 7%. In absolute terms, $AAPL closed at $223 today, and is currently sitting at about $207 in the volatile after-hours market.Today as the market opened, AAPL was initially down 8% but is currently trading around $203an even further dip thats getting close to 10%.Theres still a lot of uncertainty around whether Trump might grant exemptions for Apple like happened during his first term, when the company was spared the worst tariffs so that foreign competitors like Samsung wouldnt gain an edge over the US-based Apple.But so far at least, Wall Street seems to believe Apple could have a hard time ahead.Do you think Apple will raise its product prices if the tariffs go into effect? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In the aftermath of Severances season ending, Apple TV+ has been able to debut two strong new shows to keep subscribers engaged: The Studio and Dope Thief. But next week, yet another prestige new series is coming to the streamer. Its called Your Friends & Neighbors.Your Friends & Neighbors reviews point to another Apple TV+ hitApple TV+ has been on a hot streak for a while now, dating all the way back to late last summer when it began debuting several top-tier shows all at once.Now, the streamers success looks set to continue with a new show debuting next week.Your Friends & Neighbors arrives on Friday, April 11 with its first two episodes, with weekly releases through May 30.Here are some quotes from early reviews:Collider: With many twists and turns, the Apple TV+ show that Hamm has always longed to star in is as clever as it is addictive.The Hollywood Reporter: This show think Break In? Bad! feels like a Peak TV throwback.CBR: Your Friends & Neighbors is audaciously funny and not for the faint of heart.Currently, the series has an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but thats expected to fluctuate as more reviews come in.The general consensus? Even with some flaws, this prestige series is an especially fun watch.One critic called it, your must-see weekly binge of the spring. Multiple reviews have made comparisons to both Big Little Lies and Breaking Bad.Heres Apples summary of the show:After being fired in disgrace, a hedge fund manager still grappling with his recent divorce, resorts to stealing from his neighbors homes in the exceedingly affluent Westmont Village, only to discover that the secrets and affairs hidden behind those wealthy facades might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.The streaming era has brought an abundance of new TV. But Apple TV+ especially seems to have found the formulaat least for nowof creating compelling prestige shows, one after another.Do you plan to watch Your Friends & Neighbors? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has turned up the dial to 11 on his anti-Apple rhetoric, calling the iPhone maker a gangster-style business which has concluded that crime pays.He said that both Apple and Google are guilty of the same practices, including using scare tactics to make iPhone and Android users afraid to install the Epic Games Store Sweeney not an Apple fanIt would be fair to say that Sweeney isnt Apples biggest fan. Back in 2021, Epic mostly lost a lawsuit against Apple. It scored one victory, the judge ruling that developers are allowed to direct users to alternative ways to pay for in-app purchases that would avoid the App Stores 30% cut, but lost on all other issues.To cite just a handful of examples, he has previously accused Apple of buying off politicians by making political donations; described its App Store policies as illegal; and said the company acts in bad faith and lies.Apple and Google gangster companiesIn remarks reported by TechCrunch, Sweeney has gone even further while speaking at a tech conference.The sad truth is that Apple and Google are no longer good-faith, law-abiding companies, Sweeney said. Theyre run, in many ways, as gangster-style businesses that will do anything they think they can get away with. If they think that the fine is going to be cheaper than the lost revenue from an illegal practice, they always continue the illegal practice and pay the fine []Crime pays for big tech companies, he said. Obviously, we shouldnt expect that to change until enforcement becomes much, much more vigorous, he told the audience.He accused both Apple and Google of using scare tactics to dissuade smartphone owners from installing the Epic Games App Store, which would allow the company to sell apps and in-app content without the 30% cut taking by the two tech giants.In Europe, the Epic Games Store is allowed thanks to new regulations, but Apple displays a warning to users who try to install it [and] this leads to drop-off rates of 50-60%, Sweeney said.9to5Macs TakeApplying heat rather than light to a dispute rarely helps.Leaving aside the inflammatory language, however, it does appear likely that Apple will be found guilty of bad-faith compliance with the judges ruling in the case by effectively continuing to charge the same commission even for sales not made though its own store. Both judges involved in the case have strongly implied that Apple lied about how and why it reached this decision.As Ive argued previously, Apple is making exactly the same mistake Epic did when it baited Apple.What Epic Games did was dumb. It baited Apple, Apple responded, and Epic Games got hurt. FAFO. But Apple is making the exact same mistake here. Its baiting lawmakers, lawmakers will respond, and Apple will get hurt.Highlighted accessoriesImage: Epic GamesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Prototypes of an OLED iPad mini display are currently being evaluated by Apple, according to a leaker with a decent track record.It seems pretty clear by this point that the next model will have an OLED screen, and it will definitely be worth waiting for if you currently have an older model Apple is gradually rolling out OLED screens across all its devices. That process began with the Apple Watch, moved onto the iPhone, and continued with the iPad Pro. Future MacBooks are also in line to get OLED screens.The iPad Air and iPad mini will be no exception, with previous reports suggesting that the new models will enter production late this year, but not go on sale until 2026. An OLED MacBook Pro is expected to launch the same year.While Apple uses advanced tandem OLED panels for the iPad Pro models, the iPad Air and iPad mini are expected to get cheaper conventional ones.Display prototypes being evaluatedIn a brief Weibo post, leaker Digital Chat Station says that Apple is currently evaluating a Samsung-made display for the iPad mini. As usual, the machine translation is awkward, but the meaning is clear.This years mainstream brands have 3 small tablets of about 8.8 inches, two LCDs, one OLED, and three flagship chips with different platforms. In addition, iPad is also evaluating small-sized OLEDs.Asked whether the display supports ProMotion, aka 120Hz refresh rates, they say they dont yet know.Worth waiting forAnyone currently looking to upgrade from an older iPad mini would be well advised to wait. The most recent refresh, in October of last year, was a relatively minor one.We noted at the time better Apple Pencil support, connectivity upgrades, support for Apple Intelligence, and a doubling of the base storage to 128GB but said it was mostly unchanged from its predecessor.The form factor is the same, bar a new (very muted) color, so its not smaller or lighter, nor does it have any design enhancements. Battery life is unchanged. The camera is the same, other than a tiny upgrade from Smart HDR 3 to 4. Its also still on the short edge, though this is perhaps more understandable on a device which is most typically used in portrait orientation. The display is completely unchanged: its the exact same 8.3-inch 2266 x 1488 pixel panel, with the same maximum brightness of 500 nits.The next model will be a much better buy. Highlighted accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The full extent of the U.S. governments impeding tariffs were revealed by the Trump administration today in a press conference. The hefty tariffs threaten economic trade on a massive scale with implications on almost all big US companies, including Apple.The Apple supply chain relies on manufacturing and assembly of its devices in countries like China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. All of these regions are now facing huge tariffs, which ultimately increases the cost of production and undermines Apples margins and potential profitability.Trump announced a base rate of 10 percent tariffs on all imports to the United States, a move that will have significant economic impact on its own. The 10% levy goes into effect on Saturday, April 5.However, the story only gets bleaker as the Trump administration is also instating what it calls reciprocal tariffs on select nations where the prices of US exports are said to be inflated by international government measures. These higher rates are set to go into effect next week, April 9.Some of the heftiest reciprocal tariffs announced today directly target major geographic regions of the Apple supply chain. Most iPhones sold today are made in China, and those imports now face a tariff rate of up to 54 percent, a combination of the 34 percent reciprocal tariff announced today on top of the 20 percent levy the President launched in January.Following the 2018 trade war and COVID disruptions, Apple has accelerated the diversification of its supply chain away from China as much as it can. But these other regions are also now facing the ire of Trump. For instance, Vietnam is a big manufacturer of AirPods, Apple Watch and MacBook models. These imports are now facing a 46 percent tariff rate. Similarly, Apple suppliers in India will be hit with 26 percent tariffs, and Malaysia operations will also tariffs as high as 24 percent. Other parts of the Apple supply chain in other countries are now subject to at least a 10% tariff they never had to contend with before. Trump believes these measures will bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.But if everything goes ahead as announced today, this will have a devastating impact on Apples business. The increased cost of production will either see Apples margins curbed substantially, or the company will be forced to increase the price of its products to compensate, likely lowering demand as customers are turned away by the resultant sticker shock.These fears have seen investors ditch Apple stock, with a sell-off in after hours trading of more than 7%. In absolute terms, $AAPL closed at $223 today, and is currently sitting at about $207 in the volatile after-hours market. Many other big tech names are also significantly down, amid a market-wide selloff.Some believe this is all bluster, and Trump will carve out exceptions and pull back on some of these measures in short order. Indeed, during the China-US trade war of 2018, Apple secured tariff exemptions on many of its products, notably avoiding any impact on the iPhone, its biggest business segment. However, so far, Apple has been unsuccessful at securing exemptions from Trump, since he began his second term in office this January.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As we reported this morning, Apple has released a firmware update for the USB-C AirPods Max that enables lossless audio. However, due to a bug in iOS 18.4, the headphones were unable to download the update. Now the company has re-released the firmware that brings the new feature to AirPods Max.AirPods Max update with lossless audio now availableApples support webpage for AirPods firmware now lists a new build 7E101 available for USB-C AirPods Max. The build released on Tuesday along with iOS 18.4 was 7E99.For some unknown reason, the AirPods Max failed when trying to download and install the latest firmware. As a result, users were unable to try out the new feature that enables lossless audio over USB-C. The update also brings ultra-low latency audio when using a USB-C cable, as well as enabling wired playback for the first time usingApples new USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable.You can check which firmware version your AirPods are running by going to Settings in iOS and looking for the AirPods menu at the top of the screen. Of course, you need to connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad first.Unfortunately, theres no easy way to install AirPods firmware updates. Apple recommends that users who want to update the new firmware as soon as possible follow these steps:Update to the latest version of iOS (lossless audio on USB-C AirPods Max requires iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4).Connect your AirPods via Bluetooth to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Make sure your Apple device is connected to Wi-Fi.Plug your AirPods into the charger.Keep your AirPods in the case and keep them near your device for at least 30 minutes.Put on your AirPods and check the firmware version again.One thing to keep in mind is that the firmware update with lossless audio is exclusive to theUSB-C version of the AirPods Maxthat was launched last year. The Lightning version wont get this feature.H/T: Aaron Zollo!Apple teases new short film with Pedro Pascal to promote AirPods 4Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has big plans for the iPhone 17 lineup. In addition to the rumored iPhone 17 Air, the Pro models are also expected to receive significant hardware upgrades, especially when it comes to cameras. And in addition to everything thats been leaked so far, it looks like the iPhone 17 Pro will have another camera surprise.iPhone 17 Pro rumored to have new telephoto cameraAccording to Majin Bu, Apple plans to adopt a new telephoto lens with a 48-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 17 Pro. While this isnt exactly news since other sources have already corroborated the change, Majin Bus report reveals some other interesting details.Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are equipped with a telephoto lens with a 12-megapixel sensor that enables 5x optical zoom. But if the report is right, the 17 Pro models will have a new telephoto camera with a 3.5x optical zoom yes, less than the current zoom camera. According to the leaker, the higher resolution sensor will allow Apple to offer zoom greater than 5x with a digital crop.The idea is essentially the same as the main lens on the latest iPhones. Although the iPhone 16 has a 48-megapixel sensor, Apple offers a 2x digital zoom (which the company calls a telephoto zoom) that crops the full image into a 12-megapixel photo, resulting in a decent zoomed-in photo. Thats why Apple says the iPhone 16e has two cameras in one, for example.Majin Bu suggests that the change in the iPhone 17 Pro will benefit users, as the current 5x lens requires users to move away from the subject to take portrait photos. With a 3.5x lens, taking portrait photos would be easier while the iPhone would still be able to take photos with up to 7x digital zoom.Personally, Id prefer Apple to keep the 5x lens with a combined 10x digital zoom, just like Samsung does with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung phones used to have a true 10x zoom lens, but the company switched to a 5x zoom lens with a 50-megapixel sensor. Its also worth noting that Majin Bu has a mixed track record, so take his report with a grain of salt.According to other sources, all iPhone 17 models will also have a new 24-megapixel selfie camera, while the Pro models will have 8K video for the first time. Apple is expected to announce iPhone 17 Pro in September.Gadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

I started using OS X full-time when I was 18 and the Mac was 25. Booting up my first Apple computer, a 2009 MacBook Pro running OS X 10.5 Leopard, was like getting behind the wheel of a Porsche for the first time after being raised on pedestrian PCs.Now its the iPhone and its software that are 18. In Macintosh terms, the iPhone and iOS are in the iMac G4 iLamp running OS X 10.2 Jaguar era maturing products and platforms that still have room to grow up.For this reason, I am still one to welcome changes to the way things look with open arms. It looks different is a great feature if the way it looks is cool. Does it look cooler is a different question than does it look better. The former has more to do with trends while the latter is a matter of longevity.If a change can be both stylish and practical such that it can last for years, then thats a design change success. iOS 7 was too polarizing and required too many iterations before reaching stability to really hit that mark. iOS 19 has the potential to meet both metrics. It could also be a bigger deal than iOS 7 for three reasons.Apples iOS 7 design reset in 2013 was largely fueled by a personnel change. Steve Jobs had a larger-than-life presence that balanced differences between Scott Forstall and Jony Ive. After Jobs died, Tim Cook recognized an imbalance that caused the new CEO to fire Forstall, elevate Craig Federighi, and give software design to Jony.The staff change that led to an redesign played out in a matter of months. Before 9to5Mac revealed the breadth of change in iOS 7, people reasonably predicted that we wouldnt see much of a departure from iOS 6. Apple published its press release titled Apple Announces Changes to Increase Collaboration Across Hardware, Software & Services on October 29, 2012. In just 224 days, iOS 7 was unveiled.In the years since, Apple has gradually built upon the wireframe design foundation set by iOS 7. The original iPhone software through iOS 6 looks like a video game today while some parts of iOS 18 are virtually unchanged from iOS 7 icons included.First, the circumstances of the iOS 19 redesign are quite different. There is no major personnel change between polar personalities to expedite a new design. Instead, the principal designers of iOS 19 have been in place for years, considering the future direction of Apples software design. This should result in a more thoughtful look that doesnt need as much correction as early iOS 7 builds.Second, the redesign could go deeper than how things look. This Slate piece from Farhad Manjoo argued at the time that as different as iOS 7 looked, the iPhone software basically worked the same. That was a feature, not a bug. Four years later, the way things worked changed with the software running on the iPhone X. If iOS 19 is both a software design and interaction model change, it will arguably be bigger than iOS 7.Third, iOS 19 will run on upgraded hardware that also looks new. iOS 7 looked dramatically different, but it was tied to the iPhone 5s that looked nearly identical to the iPhone 5 (which was re-cased as the iPhone 5c). iOS 19 will be tied in part to the rumored iPhone 17 Air. The ultra thin design would look futuristic even if it ran iOS 18.iOS 19 is also a redesign that should make considerations for a new form factor: a foldable iPhone. The iOS 7 design was more adaptable and less pixel perfect, helping developers adapt apps for larger displays the following year. iOS is already resizable at this point, but iOS 19 and iOS 20 may need to prepare the way for a version of the OS that adapts to changing form factors.Whatever Apple has in store for us, well soon learn as WWDC is officially set for June 9, 2025.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

With the release of iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence now supports eight additional languages besides English. However, a small number of users have been complaining that they dont see Apple Intelligence in the settings even after updating an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest software and this may be related to having a device purchased in China.Apple Intelligence not available on Chinese devicesWhen Apple released iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence was only available in US English. While most users could try out the new features just by changing the devices language and region settings, there were two regions where the AI features were unavailable: the EU and China.In these two regions, Apple has restricted the availability of Apple Intelligence due to local legislation. While iOS 18.4 enables Apple Intelligence for users in the EU with support for some of the local languages, the features remain unavailable in China.Why is this important? Because users who bought an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in China cant enable Apple Intelligence even if they change the settings or use their device in another country. One of our readers bought a new iPhone in China while visiting the country. The person is no longer in China, but theres still no sign of Apple Intelligence in the iOS settings.Apple Intelligence will not currently work for supported devices purchased in China mainland. For supported devices purchased outside China mainland, Apple Intelligence will not currently work if you are in China mainland and if yourApple Account Country/Regionis also in China mainland, Apple says on its website.Theres a way to check if you have a device bought in China. On iPhone and iPad, follow the steps below:Open the Settings app.Tap General.Tap About.Look for Model Number.On the Mac:Go to the Apple menu.Click About this Mac.Click More Info.Scroll down and open System Report.Look for Model Number in the Hardware tab.If the Model Number ends with CH/A, the device is a version made specifically for the Chinese market so Apple Intelligence wont be available.So what now?Apple has officially partnered with Alibaba to enable Apple Intelligence for iPhone users in China. According to a Bloomberg report, the company has been working on a new system to ensure that its AI complies with local legislation.Presumably, users with Chinese devices will be allowed to enable Apple Intelligence around the world once Apple officially launches the feature there. But for now, theres nothing these customers can do.Report reveals details of how Apple Intelligence will work in ChinaGadgets I recommend:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.5 beta 1 was released today for developers, and so far its been particularly light on noticeable changes. However, one key update makes it easier than before to get the old Apple Mail design back in iOS 18.5.Apple Mail got a big redesign in iOS 18.2, bringing inbox categorization, digest view, contact photos, and more.But even back then, Apple knew that not everyone would appreciate the apps changes.From the start, you could disable categorization by tapping the three-dot icon in the upper right corner.That menu offered options to switch from Categories View to the classic List View for your inbox.It also let you disable the Apple Intelligence-powered Priority messages feature, which surfaces more important emails to the top of your inbox.Now, some new menu options have been added: you can disable contact photos and the Group by Sender digest view.When the Mail app was first redesigned, it added contact photos to your inbox. The look was very clearly inspired by Apples Messages app, where contact photos are similarly prominent.In previous iOS updates, you could disable Mails contact photos, but it took some digging. You needed to go to Settings Apps Mail and toggle off the Show Contact Photos option.But in iOS 18.5, you can make the change right inside the Mail app, inside the same menu that lets you disable or enable Apples other Mail changes. Disabling digest view from this same menu is another solid addition.These are small tweaks, but ultimately nice ones for anyone whos still not loving Apple Mails new look and feel.What do you think of the Apple Mail redesign? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

TikTok was temporarily saved from a US ban earlier this year, but a key deadline is coming up that could see the ban reinstated. According to a new report, President Trumps plan to stop that from happening is a new company called TikTok America.New TikTok America company would have split ownership, but likely wouldnt impact user experienceKaya Yurieff writes at The Information:President Donald Trump plans to announce later on Wednesday his plan for a new company called TikTok America, part of his eorts to broker a deal to keep TikTok alive in the U.S., according to a person close to the discussions. Its unclear whether the Trump administration has approval for the proposed structure from the Chinese government. Under Trumps proposal, TikTok America would be roughly 50% owned by new U.S. investors and license TikToks algorithm from ByteDance, the person said. Existing investors in ByteDance would have a roughly one-third stake in the new company, while ByteDance would retain a 19.9% stake.The beginning of that second paragraph is especially key. Although it sounds like Trump intends to announce his plan very soon, its unknown whether ByteDance and/or the Chinese government are actually on board or not.If they are, then TikTok America could prove a lasting solution to the seemingly never-ending drama around TikTok and the US.Hopefully this change would come with zero impact to users, since presumably the same TikTok app would continue being available with the same algorithm. To comply with the law, however, it would just be primarily owned by US stakeholders.It will be interesting to see how the details shake out over the next few days, but for now, it seems things are happening in an attempt to secure TikToks ongoing presence in the US.What do you think is going to happen with TikTok? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Hot off the heels of releasing iOS 18.4 to everyone, Apple has pushed out the first developer beta version of its next big point update. iOS 18.5 beta 1 is now available to developer beta testers. Well dig in to learn whats new and report back so stay tuned.Whats new in iOS 18.5?iOS 18.5 isnt expected to include any major new features. Thats because iOS 19 development is well underway internally, and Apple has shipped nearly all of its promised features for the iOS 18 cycle.However, last years iOS 17.5 software update did include a few surprises with News+ game additions and cross-platform tracking detection for AirTag-like products.Spot anything new in iOS 18.5 beta 1? Send tips to tips@9to5mac.com. Well also post a roundup of everything new in iOS 18.5 beta 1 assuming the software release has any new features or changes.For a recap at whats new in the recently released iOS 18.4 update, read our coverage here.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Its an exciting day for beta software releases, as Apple has just shipped developer beta 1 for tvOS 18.5, visionOS 2.5, HomePod 18.5, and more.New batch of betas rolling out, including tvOS 18.5 and moreIts been a big week for Apple software. Not long after shipping major new updates like iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, visionOS 2.4, and more, Apple now has a new slate of beta releases available.Were officially in the x.5 beta territory, with new developer versions of visionOS 2.5, tvOS 18.5, HomePod 18.5, and more.Currently, new features and changes across these betas are completely unknown.Sometimes rumors help inform what we should expect from new software releases. But this time, theres been nothing on that front. There arent big previously announced features for these platforms that could potentially be included either.Apple did announce a special Apple TV+ screensaver for tvOS 18, but references to that were later removed from the companys website around the time the Snoopy screensaver debuted.Since were starting to get relatively close to WWDC and its big unveiling of iOS 19 and more, its possible this beta cycle will be light on new additions.In any case, well install the new betas and report back on any changes and features we discover.Have you installed beta 1 of tvOS 18.5 or any of the other updates? Let us know of changes you find via the comments.Best accessories for Vision Pro, Apple TV 4K, WatchAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Ever since Apple TV+ first launched, many have wondered why the maker of the iPhone would be interested in running its own Hollywood studio and major streaming services. Even Netflixs CEO is stumped. But a new chart outlining Apple TV+ subscribers product ownership may have some clues.Survey shows Apple TV+ subscribers own more Apple productsMichael Levin and Josh Lowitz write at CIRP:It appears Apple TV+ subscribers are more likely to own more Apple products. Based on data for the twelve months ending December 2024, one-third of customers that purchased a new device from Apple in the three months preceding our surveys have Apple TV+. Those Apple TV+ users own more Apple devices. We look at the three principal products, iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Half of Apple TV+ users own all three, compared to about one-third of Apple customers that dont use Apple TV+.Even better (for Apple), only 13% of Apple TV+ subscribers own just one of the three key products, compared to almost one-quarter of customers that dont subscribe to Apple TV+.The chart below shows the breakdown of Apple TV+ subscribers and non-subscribers, and how many Apple devices each group owns.Deciphering the dataThe big question about this chart, of course, is Why? Why are Apple TV+ subscribers more likely to own more Apple products?Is it because someone who owns more products can likely afford more streaming services?Is it a halo effect of loving Apple products translating to viewing its TV efforts positively?Do owners of more devices simply have greater awareness that TV+ exists?Or is Apple TV+ in some way leading users to buy more Apple products?Its impossible to answer these questions without more data. That said, no matter what the answers turn out to be, this report seems to point to positive trends for Apple regardless. Whatever mix of cause and effect that Apples products and its services like TV+ have on each other, Apple is ultimately the winner.Do you have any big takeaways from this Apple TV+ subscriber chart? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best Apple TV 4K accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Joining a series of ongoing deals on iPad mini 7 configurations at $100 off, as well as new lows on the new iPad (A16), today we are turning our attention to the best cash deal on select M3 iPad Air models. We also spotted the new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air at its best Amazon price yet alongside a rare deal on Nomads gorgeous latest-gen metal and glass 15W 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. All of that and more awaits down below.Apple unleashed the next-generation of mid-range iPads just under a month ago with the new M3-equipped iPad Air lineup, and we just spotted a new all-time low. While youll still find $50 price drops across a number of configurations over at Amazon right now (waiting down below), it now has the 11-inch 256GB model starting from a new $644 shipped low. Regularly $699, this is $55 off the going rate and the best cash deal we have tracked on this model to date.While you can still score the $50 price drop on the base model 11-inch 128GB configuration at $549, todays deal marks the lowest price we have tracked to date on the 256GB upgrade.As avid 9to5Toys readers will all already know, while todays deal is the lowest cash deal yet, we uncovered some serious opportunities to save on trade-ins back during the pre-order phase and you can still take advantage of them right now. In fact, you can score one with a massive $650 in savings when you trade-in a previous-generation M2 iPad Air right now and there are also plenty of savings with just about any previous iPad. All of the details you need on that are waiting right here.That said, and including the all-time low still live on the most affordable 13-inch variant, you can browse through the straight up cash deals across the lineup down below all but the 11-inch 512GB variant are still marked down to the best we have tracked.11-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $549 (Reg. $599)11-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $644 (Reg. $699)11-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $849 (Reg. $899) OOS11-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $738 (Reg. $799)13-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $849 (Reg. $899)13-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,229 (Reg. $1,299)Head over to our launch coverage for more details on the M3 Air and the new Magic Keyboard.DREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale up to $700 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacsDREAME is offering hundreds on savings on its range of intelligent robotic vacuum and mop combos as well as its wet/dry and stick vacuum models. Delivering as much as $700 in savings on X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop, youll find some of the best prices of the year on a collection of models across the brands to meet just about anyones needs.DREAME X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$900(Reg. $1 600)DREAME L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$500(Reg. $1,500)DREAME L10s Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop:$400(Reg. $900)DREAME H12 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$255(Reg. $450)DREAME H14 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$400(Reg. $700)DREAME H14 Wet & Dry Vac:$300(Reg. $500)DREAME Z30 Stick Vac:$350(Reg. $700)DREAME R10 Stick Vac:$190(Reg. $300)Apples new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is now sitting at the $1,139 Amazon all-time low, more from $949Amazon is now delivering a new all-time low on the Sky Blue 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and the 256GB SSD at $1,139 shipped. This is the most affordable 15-inch configuration of Apples new M4 MacBook Air and in the all-new Sky Blue colorway with the best straight up cash deal we have tracked to date.Youre looking at a regularly $1,199 setup here after Apple lowered the MSRP on the M4 machines, delivering a new all-time low with $60 in savings. We did recently catch one colorway of the 512GB 13-inch M4 model at $100 off, but that deal didnt last for more than a few hours at best over last weekend.As we have detailed on just about all of the cash deals we have been tracking on Apples latest 2025 releases, there are some serious trade-in options here for folks with a previous-generation machine to flip. This will obviously yield a much lower price than the offer highlighted above and all of the details you need on this are waiting right here score your new M4 MacBook Air pre-order from just $449 with an M3 trade-in ($550 off), or $499 with an M2.The 15-incher might not be for everyone, but if you are looking towards Apples latest mid-range M4 laptop with the additional screen real estate and without an older device to trade-in, todays deal is the best we have tracked yet. That said there are some cash deals across just about every configuration in the lineup and you can scope those out down below:13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $949 (Reg. $999)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,169 (Reg. $1,199)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,359 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,139 (Reg. $1,199)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,352 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,549 (Reg. $1,599While you can still score the most affordable 128GB iPad mini 7 down at $399 via Amazon, the mid-range 256GB configs quickly jumped back up to full price right in the middle of the Amazon Big Spring Sale last week. However, the deals are now back on all four colors at $499 shipped, down from the regular $599. Details below.I certainly wouldnt blame anyone for just jumping on the now $399 entry-model and calling it a day I have spent more than enough time talking about how I tend to try and save as much cash as possible when it comes to Apple storage upgrades. That said, the mini 7 starts at 128GB, as opposed to the 256GB entry point on the M4 iPad Pro for example this configuration is starting to show its age if you ask me.While it wasnt all that long ago when more than just entry-level iPads started at 64GB, the 128GB models need to go the way of the old 8GB Mac configs if you ask me. The 128GB is likely more than enough for some folks, but it is really starting to feel a bit tight for me, even on a less pricey iPad, and nows your chance to score a good mid-range compromise on one of the more affordable current-generation iPads in the lineup.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) Apples new iPad (A16) hits new lows at up to $50 off, or nearly 50% off with iPad 10 tradesTwelve Souths PlugBug USB-C Wall Charger with Apple Find My back to Amazon all-time low at $43 (Reg. $70)Nomad launched a very serious April Fools sale yesterday, delivering 15% off sitewide, excluding only backordered and third-party items. It is a notable sale for sure, and one we already detailed right here, but we wanted to point out the offer it delivers on the brands latest Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen). This one debuted for the first time last summer as one of the best 3-in-1 magnetic charging stands we have ever tested out it is seriously gorgeous and well-made and has rarely ever been on sale since. Use code FOOLS15 at checkout right now to knock 15% off the price tag. Details below.You can now score the Nomad Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen) down at $126.65 shipped. Thats 15% off the regular $149 price tag, the lowest price we have tracked this year on this model, and the lowest around.The $126 deal price is still not the most affordable 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand out there, not by a long shot, but this is no ordinary charging station. Forget all of those plastic, mass produced solutions for a second at least, youre looking at a premium product that screams high-quality the second you unsheathe it from its packaging.Yes, this is a 3-in-1 charging hub for iPhone, with an Apple Watch Fast Charger, and third pad for AirPods, and yes, it delivers the max 15W of power we have seen thus far on these sorts of stands from any brand, but it also features a seriously high-end build and, if you ask me, a simply gorgeous design that stands out in the sea of tree- and pad-style plastic chargers out there.The heavily weighted base is not just trimmed with a matching metal treatment, the whole thing is made of solid metal with hits of glass accents surrounding the main iPhone MagSafe pad.Features at a glance:3-in-1 charging hub15W charging for MagSafeApple Watch Fast ChargerSupports iPhone StandBy modeAirPods Qi charging spotSolid metal & glass design2.0m USB-C to USB-C cable includedRequires 30W USB-C Power Adapter (not included)You can get a complete rundown of the build, feature set, and user experience in our hands-on impressions feature post right here.Nomad now offering 15% off sitewide: Leather iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, moreScore $437 off an unlocked 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max today (Amazon Renewed Premium, 1-year warranty)Todays accessories and charging deals:You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offAs part of the ongoing Amazon Big Spring Sale, the deals on Apples M4 series MacBook Pro models have been flying with pricing still kicking off from $1,399, or $200 off, on the base model. But we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight a couple of the 24GB models that are now sitting at $220 off the going rates to match the lowest prices of the year. This includes an upgraded 1TB M4 model, but youll want to head below for more details as you can also score an M4 Pro variant at the same price right now.Deciding between the M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro model largely comes down to price for most folks. Its really a matter of deciding whether or not you really need the extra M4 Pro horsepower and if youre really willing to spend the cash on one. Everyone wants the extra M4 Pro power cause why not? but if you dont really need it you really dont need to spend the cash on it.Then it comes down to deciding your configuration do you need 24GB of RAM? An upgraded SSD? There a couple of notable deals to scope out today if you do.Firstly, Amazon is offering the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro upgraded with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB internal SSD down at $1,779 shipped. Thats $220 off the regular $1,999 list price and on par with the lowest price we have tracked this year.But how much do you value that 1TB of storage here?Amazon is also offering the more powerful 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD down at the same $1,779 shipped list price right now.Now theres nothing particular new about this decision as both of these models carry the same $1,999 list price from Apple. But it certainly begs the question how much do you need the double storage action?For me its an easy answer go for the horsepower on the M4 Pro all the way and stick a portable SSD in there, no questions asked. For some it might not be so easy. I do know folks that seriously value the upgraded storage I often times tell them they are wrong and dont, but hey, to each their own.Either way we are looking at a match of the lowest prices we have tracked this year on these models and a great chance to score $220 off the list price on a shiny new M4 series MacBook Pro.Latest Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 wireless buds deliver impeccable sound, onboard retransmission down at $319Nintendo officially announces $450 price for Switch 2, $500 Mario Kart bundle, pre-orders start next week!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In a somewhat surreal event, the National Labor Relations Board has frozen two cases against Apple after Trump nominated one of the iPhone makers defence lawyers to head up the watchdog.The NLRB was due to hear cases alleging that Apple illegally fired two organizers of the #AppleToo movement, but both cases have been postponed indefinitely just days after Crystal Carey was nominated to head up the body The NLRB cases against AppleBack in 2021, around 2,000 Apple employees took part in an unofficial salary survey, the results of which showed evidence of a wage gap between men and women. The survey kicked off an #AppleToo movement, in which Janneke Parrish and Cher Scarlett were two key figures.The findings led to some 12,000 current and former female employees filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that there is a reasonable possibility thatAppledid indeed illegally pay women less than men, allowing the case to proceed. Both Parrish and Scarlett subsequently left the company, and filed claims with the NLRB that Apple had illegally fired them for organizing. These first of these cases was due to be heard this month.The NLRB has also pursued separate complaints against Apple for illegal union-busting activities. Cases frozen after former defence lawyer nominatedThe Financial Times reports that Trump nominated Crystal Carey to head up the NLRB, and that two of the cases against Apple were frozen just days later.The National Labor Relations Board filed multiple complaints against the iPhone maker last year alleging it intervened against employee attempts to organise, but abruptly pulled back from two of the cases late last week, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.Trump last week nominated Crystal Carey, a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, to be the NLRBs general counsel. She is listed in the agencys records as an attorney acting in Apples defence in both cases against the Silicon Valley tech group.The two frozen cases relate to Parrish and Scarlett.Hearings before an administrative law judge had been scheduled for April and June in Parrish and Scarletts cases, respectively. But the NLRB late last week informed them the trials had to be postponed indefinitely pending a legal review by the agencys head office.The FT reports that Apple didnt offer any comment on the latest development. Careys appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.Highlighted accessoriesLogo: Public domain. Background:Avinash KumaronUnsplash.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak with prestige shows, and its starting to find real success with movies too. The next Apple TV+ film, Fountain of Youth, looks set to continue that trend with its big stars and heavy Indiana Jones vibes. Heres the trailer.Fountain of Youth is a new action-adventure film coming next monthFountain of Youth hails from director Guy Ritchie and stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman in an Indiana Jones-style action-adventure.The movie will be released directly on streaming, debuting Friday, May 23 on Apple TV+.Per the films official summary, Krasinski and Portman play siblings who partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth.The first trailer just arrived, and it looks like a ton of fun.Apple TV+ movies hitting a winning streakApples last couple movies, The Gorge and Wolfs, proved very successful for the streamer. They also represent a big shift Apple has taken with its film strategy. While the company used to give its films wide theatrical releases, those are now the exception rather than the norm.The Brad Pitt-starring F1 this summer will be Apples one big theatrical swing for the foreseeable future, while films like Fountain of Youththat look very much theater-worthywill go straight to Apple TV+.What do you think of the Fountain of Youth trailer? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Includes 5G Ultrawideband, which can be super-fast but is only available in very limited areasVerizon-owned Visible seems to be offering a much better unlimited mobile data deal than its parent company. The new Visible+ Pro plan includes 5G Ultrawideband, unlimited hotspot usage, 4K video streaming, cellular service for one Apple Watch and claims to have no throttling.The cost of the plan is $45 per month, which is $20 cheaper than Verizons own Unlimited Welcome Heres what Visible says about the new plan:Unlimited talk, text & dataNever worry about overages or hidden fees with all the minutes, messages and gigabytes you need. Includes unlimited calls & texting from the US to Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan.With unlimited 5G, get reliable 5G performance. All plans include 5G and 4G LTE network access and unlimited data, talk, text and hotspot.5G Ultra WidebandVisible+ Pro gives you unlimited premium data on Verizons 5G Ultra Wideband network, the fastest 5G network access we offer.UHD VideoStream all your favorite media with up to 4K UHD quality video.Smartwatch service includedGet Apple Watch service included in your plan at no additional cost (normally $10/mo)3x faster unlimited mobile hotspotYour smartphone becomes a Wi-Fi connection for devices like tablets, laptops, and more. Visible+ Pro includes mobile hotspot with unlimited data at speeds up to 15 Mbps (3x faster than our Visible plan).There are also a number of international features, including unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, as well as up to 24 days a year of overseas use.The Verge notes that the plan is a significantly better deal than you can get direct from Verizon, yet seems to equal or better the quality of coverage.Its common for carriers to claim unlimited data in the headline and then include data throttling for high-usage customers in the small-print, but this doesnt seem to be the case here, so itll be interesting to see whether any catches emerge.Highlighted accessoriesPhoto byFrederik LipfertonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iPhone farms banks of phones equipped with rotating temporary Apple IDs are being used to send more 100,000 scam iMessages per day, found security researchers.By using iMessages rather than texts, scammers can bypass spam and scam filters implemented by mobile carriers. Fraudsters dont even need any technical skills to carry out their attacks, as there are companies offering phishing-as-a-service (PhAAS) Unpaid toll fees, shipping fees, and more scamsCommon scams doing the rounds at present include fake demands for unpaid road toll fees; claims that shipping fees are needed to release valuable packages from Customs; and fictitious warnings about unpaid taxes.These scams are commonly carried out via email and text message, and theres a constant cat-and-mouse game between criminals and ISPs and mobile carriers seeking to detect suspicious text and links in order to block them.iPhone farms sending scam iMessagesHowever, researchers at cybersecurity firm Catalyst have found that scammers are now turning to iMessage. Because these messages are encrypted, with networks unable to see the contents, they cannot be detected and blocked.What makes things worse is they found a Chinese platform offering the use of their iPhone farms to anyone willing to pay.Lucid is a sophisticated Phishing-as-a-Service (PhAAS) platform operated by Chinese-speaking threat actors, targeting 169 entities across 88 countries globally []Its scalable, subscription-based model enables cybercriminals to conduct large-scale phishing campaigns to harvest credit card details for financial fraud [] To enhance effectiveness, Lucid leverages Apple iMessage and Androids RCS technology, bypassing traditional SMS spam filters and significantly increasing delivery and success rates.The group behind Lucid even includes templates scammers can use to create convincing-looking replicas of websites for companies like courier services. The XinXin group, known for developing Lucid and other PhAAS platforms, has been observed selling phishing templates designed to impersonate postal services, courier companies, road toll systems, and tax refund agencies.Catalyst includes a low-quality photo (above) of one of these iPhone farms in use.A Telegram group used to sell these PhAAS attacks has more than 2,000 members.How to protect yourselfThe main safeguard against phishing attacks is toneverclick on links sent in emails. Always use your own bookmarks, or type in a known URL.Its easy to make an email or message look like it originated from a legitimate company, so dont trust apparently-known senders. Be especially suspicious of messages urging you to act quickly to avoid fines or see packages returned to their senders.Highlighted accessoriesVia Macworld. Photo via Catalyst on background by Uriel SConUnsplash.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel