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AirPods Max USB-C Gets Lossless Audio, But Is Apple Overhyping It?

2025-03-26

AirPods Max USB-C Gets Lossless Audio, But Is Apple Overhyping It?

Apple announced that AirPods Max (USB-C) will gain support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio via a firmware update next month, alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. However, Apple's own support documents claim that AAC audio is already virtually indistinguishable from original studio recordings, contradicting marketing chief Greg Joswiak's claim of an "ultimate" audio upgrade. While the improvement from lossless audio alone is minimal, the combination with ultra-low latency will make AirPods Max the only headphones allowing musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware Lossless Audio Ultra-Low Latency Audio

Generative AI Runs on a 20-Year-Old PowerBook G4?!

2025-03-25

Generative AI Runs on a 20-Year-Old PowerBook G4?!

A software engineer successfully ran Meta's Llama 2 large language model on a 2005 PowerBook G4. This vintage laptop, equipped with only a 1.5GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 1GB of RAM, achieved AI inference by porting the open-source llama2.c project and leveraging AltiVec vector extensions. It's a testament to ingenuity and the boundless possibilities of technology.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech

Plex Raises Prices After a Decade, Introduces Paid Remote Streaming

2025-03-20

Streaming platform Plex announced its first price increase in a decade for its Plex Pass subscription service, effective April 29th. Monthly subscriptions will jump from $4.99 to $6.99, annual subscriptions from $39.99 to $69.99, and lifetime subscriptions from $120 to $249.99. Concurrently, remote playback of personal media is becoming a paid feature. Users can access remote streaming via a Plex Pass or a new Remote Watch Pass ($1.99/month or $19.99/year). Plex cites rising costs and the need for continued development as reasons for the changes.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Price Increase

Apple Considered Portless iPhone 17 Air: A Glimpse into the Future?

2025-03-17

Apple Considered Portless iPhone 17 Air: A Glimpse into the Future?

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple considered releasing the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port. While ultimately scrapped, the idea remains on the table for future models. The iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports." Apple executives see this as a potential sea change; if successful, they intend to pursue portless iPhones more broadly. This represents a significant design shift, potentially ushering in a new era of portless smartphones.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Portless iPhone

A Decade Later: Reflecting on Apple's Controversial 12-inch Retina MacBook

2025-03-13

A Decade Later: Reflecting on Apple's Controversial 12-inch Retina MacBook

A decade ago, Apple launched the infamous 12-inch Retina MacBook, a revolutionary yet controversial device. Its minimalist design, featuring a single USB-C port and butterfly keyboard, made it a talking point. While criticized for performance and battery life, it pioneered features like USB-C, the butterfly keyboard, and a haptic trackpad, shaping the future of Mac design. Discontinued in 2019, its design legacy lives on in the current MacBook Air.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware

Apple Pulls iPhone 16 Ad Featuring Delayed Siri Features

2025-03-10

Apple Pulls iPhone 16 Ad Featuring Delayed Siri Features

Apple has pulled an iPhone 16 ad showcasing a "more personal Siri" after admitting to delaying some key Siri features slated for iOS 18. The ad, starring Isabella Ramsey, demonstrated Siri's ability to recall meeting details. Apple now says the rollout of these personalized Siri features will extend into next year, with concerns internally that fixes might require more powerful hardware, forcing either feature reduction or slower performance on current devices. Some within Apple's AI division even suggest the features could be scrapped and rebuilt.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech

Qualcomm's X85 Modem: A 'Huge Delta' in Performance vs. Apple?

2025-03-08

Qualcomm's X85 Modem: A 'Huge Delta' in Performance vs. Apple?

Qualcomm unveiled its X85 5G modem at MWC2025, boasting AI-powered features that it claims will create a "huge delta" in performance between high-end Android and Apple devices. The X85 supports mmWave 5G, offering peak download speeds of up to 12.5Gbps and upload speeds of 3.7Gbps. Its AI Data Traffic Engine promises reduced latency and improved efficiency. However, Apple's new C1 modem, while lacking mmWave support, is touted as the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever, a claim backed by third-party testing. This modem battle will continue until Qualcomm's agreement with Apple expires in 2026.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech 5G Modem

ChatGPT Becomes Default Safari Search Engine via New Extension

2025-02-25

ChatGPT Becomes Default Safari Search Engine via New Extension

OpenAI updated its ChatGPT app with a new Safari extension, enabling users to set ChatGPT Search as their default search engine in Safari. After updating the app, users can enable the extension in Safari settings. All searches typed into the Safari search bar will then be directed to ChatGPT Search instead of Google or their current default. While there's no option to directly set ChatGPT as a preferred search engine, the extension offers a workaround.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Safari Extension Default Search Engine

Apple Pulls Advanced iCloud Data Protection from UK After Government Backdoor Demand

2025-02-21

Apple Pulls Advanced iCloud Data Protection from UK After Government Backdoor Demand

Apple has withdrawn its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) iCloud feature from the UK following a government mandate for backdoor access to encrypted user data. The UK government, via a technical capability notice under the Investigatory Powers Act, demanded unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud content globally. Apple, prioritizing user security over compliance, chose to remove ADP rather than create a backdoor, citing the risk of malicious actors exploiting such access. While this affects iCloud data backups, other Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime remain end-to-end encrypted. The decision highlights the ongoing tension between government surveillance and user privacy in the digital age.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech

Apple Maps Could Soon Show Search Ads

2025-02-16

Apple Maps Could Soon Show Search Ads

Apple is reportedly exploring the possibility of adding search ads to its Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. While Apple considered this previously, it's now revisiting the idea. No engineering work has begun yet, so any implementation is still some time away. These ads wouldn't be banner ads, but rather paid search results. For example, a fast food chain could pay for top placement when users search for "burgers." This model is already used by Google Maps, Waze, and Yelp. Adding ads to Apple Maps would further boost Apple's services revenue.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Apple Maps Search Ads Apple Services Revenue

Apple Returns to Advertising on X

2025-02-13

Apple Returns to Advertising on X

Apple has resumed advertising on X this month, marking its return after a hiatus of over a year. The company had paused ads in November 2023 following controversial statements by owner Elon Musk. Ads promoting Safari's privacy features and the Apple TV+ show *Severance* have been spotted. This follows a report last month suggesting Apple's return, a decision mirrored by other major brands who paused and then cautiously resumed advertising on the platform after Musk's acquisition and subsequent changes to content moderation.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Advertising

First Native Porn App for iPhone Launches in EU Thanks to DMA

2025-02-11

First Native Porn App for iPhone Launches in EU Thanks to DMA

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) allows developers to distribute iOS apps through alternative app stores. This has led to the launch of "Hot Tub," the first native pornography app for iPhone, available in the EU via AltStore PAL. While Apple scans for malware, alternative stores have fewer content restrictions than the App Store, resulting in a less controlled environment. Hot Tub offers private and secure adult content browsing without ads or tracking. However, this also raises concerns about increased exposure to objectionable content, sparking debate around content moderation and user protection.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech alternative app stores pornography app

UK Secretly Demands Apple iCloud Backdoor Access

2025-02-07

UK Secretly Demands Apple iCloud Backdoor Access

The UK government secretly demanded Apple provide backdoor access to all encrypted user data on iCloud, according to The Washington Post. This unprecedented demand, delivered via a technical capability notice, requires Apple to bypass its own encryption, granting UK security officials unfettered access globally. Apple may choose to cease offering encrypted iCloud storage in the UK rather than comply, a move consistent with CEO Tim Cook's long-held stance against backdoors. The revelation highlights the ongoing tension between government surveillance and user privacy.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech UK government

Disney+ Loses Subscribers After Price Hike

2025-02-06

Disney+ Loses Subscribers After Price Hike

Disney's Q1 2025 earnings report revealed a loss of 700,000 Disney+ subscribers globally in recent months, attributed to price increases implemented in the fall. The ad-supported version rose from $7.99 to $9.99, while the ad-free tier jumped from $13.99 to $15.99. Simultaneously, Disney's crackdown on password sharing, introducing a paid sharing plan in select regions, likely contributed to the decline. Despite the loss, CEO Bob Iger stated the churn was less severe than anticipated. Conversely, Hulu gained 1.6 million subscribers, reaching 53.6 million. Disney's overall revenue saw a 4.8% increase, largely driven by the box office success of Moana 2, exceeding $1 billion in revenue.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech subscriber loss

Apple Q1 Earnings: Record Revenue, AI-Powered Future

2025-01-31

Apple announced its financial results for fiscal Q1 2025 (calendar Q4 2024), reporting record revenue of $124.3 billion, a 4% year-over-year increase. Earnings per share rose 10% to $2.40. Services, Mac, and iPad revenues saw significant growth, while iPhone and Wearables experienced slight declines. CEO Tim Cook highlighted this as Apple's best quarter ever, emphasizing the role of Apple Intelligence in enhancing user experience and driving future growth. Apple Intelligence will support more languages in April. The earnings call also provided guidance for the next quarter, projecting low-to-mid single-digit revenue growth.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Apple Earnings Revenue Growth

Bird Buddy Unveils 'Wonder' Insect-Watching Camera

2025-01-10

Bird Buddy Unveils 'Wonder' Insect-Watching Camera

The creators of Bird Buddy, a camera-equipped bird feeder, have launched a new line of products under the 'Wonder' brand, designed for observing insects, birds, and other wildlife. The Petal camera captures photos and videos, using AI-powered 'Nature Intelligence' to identify various natural events. Paired with Wonder Blocks, which create habitats for wildlife, the system aims to bring nature closer. Both will be available via Kickstarter in Spring 2025.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech smart camera nature observation

Apple Vision Pro Production Reportedly Halted Amidst Weak Demand

2025-01-01

Apple Vision Pro Production Reportedly Halted Amidst Weak Demand

Reports suggest Apple's first-generation Vision Pro headset may have ceased production. This follows earlier reports of reduced demand and production cuts. Apple appears to have sufficient inventory to meet future demand, mirroring its approach with low-demand products like the iPhone 12 mini. The Vision Pro's high price tag ($3,499) and insufficient content ecosystem are cited as primary reasons for weak sales. Apple is pivoting to a lower-cost headset with a planned production run of 4 million units, significantly lower than the Vision Pro's target. However, Apple retains the option to resume Vision Pro production and may release an iterative update with limited changes, such as a chip upgrade.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Production Halt

Blackmagic Unveils $30K 3D Camera for Apple Vision Pro Video Capture

2024-12-19

Blackmagic Unveils $30K 3D Camera for Apple Vision Pro Video Capture

Blackmagic has announced its URSA Cine Immersive camera, priced at $30,000, available for pre-order with deliveries starting late in the first quarter of 2025. This is the world's first commercial camera system designed for capturing 3D content specifically for Apple's Vision Pro headset. Featuring a custom stereoscopic 3D lens system with dual 8K sensors, it captures 180-degree field of view video with spatial audio at up to 90fps. Each eye boasts 8160 x 7200 resolution and 16 stops of dynamic range.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware

Apple Accuses Meta of Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under EU's DMA

2024-12-19

Apple Accuses Meta of Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under EU's DMA

Apple has accused Meta of making 15 interoperability requests under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), more than any other company. Apple claims Meta's requests, which could compromise user security and privacy, seek access to extensive user data including messages, emails, call logs, app usage, photos, files, calendar events, and passwords. Apple argues these requests are unreasonable, emphasizing the importance of iOS and iPadOS integrity and the potential infeasibility of creating effective interoperability solutions. The European Commission is consulting on the matter and may adjust measures based on feedback.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Digital Markets Act

Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

2024-12-13

Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

Microsoft has discontinued its Surface Studio 2+, ending its only direct competitor to Apple's iMac. The high-end all-in-one PC, aimed at creative professionals, featured a unique tilting touchscreen display. However, its high price and lagging specs hampered its success. This leaves a gap in the Windows ecosystem for premium all-in-one devices and cements Apple's dominance in this market segment.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware All-in-one PC