Popular Ubisoft game Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is available for download from the Mac App Store as of today, allowing Mac users to play the title for the first time since its January 2024 launch.


Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an action adventure game that joins a long list of other Prince of Persia titles that are based on Persian mythology. Players take on the role of Sargon, a warrior journeying to Mount Qaf to free a captured prince. Gameplay consists of fighting enemies, solving puzzles, seeking out treasure, and completing quests.

The game has been available on Windows machines, the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation consoles, and Xbox consoles, and it received largely positive reviews.

The Mac version of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown uses Metal3 for a smooth gameplay experience on Mac machines, with a Mac that has an M1 chip or later required.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown can be downloaded from the App Store for $19.99. [Direct Link]
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Apple recently aired an emotional new holiday season ad promoting the hearing aid features of the . Now, Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s global head of accessibility, has shared more thoughts on the company’s efforts to create health features in an interview.

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This Black Friday, discover Dreame Technologies’ innovative family of smart home cleaning solutions—designed to revolutionize your cleaning routine! Don’t miss out on groundbreaking deals, plus enjoy an extra 5% off with code DM9to55off at checkout. Experience the future of cleaning today!

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What do you get the iPhone user who has everything? CarPlay solutions and accessories are a great place to start! These are the best CarPlay related gifts for the holiday season.

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I’ve written countless times about GM’s shortsighted move to ditch CarPlay on all its EVs going forward. Meanwhile, other automakers like Ford have doubled down on supporting CarPlay and giving users as many options as possible.

In a new interview this week, Hyundai executive Olabisi Boyle said the automaker is still “maintaining Android Auto and CarPlay” … at least for now.

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2024 is almost over, and Apple Books is ready to celebrate the year in publishing. Last year’s new ‘Year in Review’ feature is back again for Books users, launching today. You’ll also find editorial lists in the Books app for best books and audiobooks of 2024, author debuts, and more.

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Apple has recently started emailing its users about terms and conditions changes now in effect for Apple Pay and Wallet. Curiously though, the changes actually went into effect nearly three months ago in September. Here’s what you should know.

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Apple today released a firmware update for the Beats Solo Buds, marking the first new software the earbuds have received since their June 2024 launch. The firmware has a build number of 3A130, up from the 3A112 firmware the Solo Buds shipped with.


We don't know what's included in the new firmware, and Apple does not typically provide information about Beats firmware updates.

The Beats Solo Buds are priced at $80 and are Apple's smallest and most affordable Beats-branded earbuds. While the earbuds offer a custom-built acoustic architecture and ergonomic design, active noise cancellation is not available.

Firmware updates for Beats headphones are delivered over-the-air. Firmware will be installed while the Beats headphones are charging and are in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. On Android devices, users need to download the Beats app for Android and connect the Android device to a power outlet to initiate a firmware update.
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Next year’s iPhone 17 Air will get a lot of attention for its ultra-thin form factor. But there’s another strong contender for what could ultimately become the device’s best feature: the 17 Air’s unique display.

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Apple uses custom Trainium and Graviton artificial intelligence chips from Amazon Web Services for search services, Apple machine learning and AI director Benoit Dupin said today at the AWS re:Invent conference (via CNBC).


Dupin said that Amazon's AI chips are "reliable, definite, and able to serve [Apple] customers worldwide." AWS and Amazon have a "strong relationship," and Apple plans to test whether Amazon's Trainium2 chip can be used for pre-training Apple Intelligence and other AI models. Amazon announced rental opportunities for the Trainium2 chip today.

Apple has used AWS for more than 10 years for Siri, Apple Maps, and Apple Music. With Amazon's Trainium and Graviton chips, Apple has seen a 40 percent efficiency gain, and with Trainium2, Dupin said Apple expects up to a 50 percent improvement in efficiency with pre-training.

Nvidia is the market leader when it comes to GPUs for AI training, but companies like Amazon are aiming to compete with lower-cost options.
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As reported by CNBC, Apple’s senior director of machine learning and artificial intelligence, Benoit Dupin, made a surprise appearance at Amazon’s AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas today.

Dupin used the opportunity to explain that Apple uses custom artificial intelligence chips from Amazon Web Services for many of its cloud services. Apple is also evaluating using Amazon’s newest AI chip to pre-train its Apple Intelligence models.

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Simply Piano has long been a hit app in my household. My daughter never really showed interest in learning to play our keyboard until she came across Simply Piano on her iPad. I think it’s the first annual subscription I ever bought for her based on how much she was getting from it.

Now Simply Piano has brought the experience from the iPhone and iPad to augmented reality on Apple Vision Pro. The best part? You can play using Simply Piano with a virtual piano in your real environment without a for the first time.

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have disappeared for many products, but you can still find multiple Beats headphones and speakers at up to 52 percent off on Amazon. You'll find many of the same prices at other retailers like Best Buy as well.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This sale includes major discounts on products like the Beats Solo Buds, which have hit $49.99, down from $79.99. These are a solid entry-level option and feature up to 18 hours of playback, USB-C, and Spatial Audio.



For an upgraded model, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds for $79.99, down from $149.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

For speakers, there's also $50 off the 2024 model of the Beats Pill, now down to $99.95 in multiple colors. You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $199.99, down from $349.99.

• Beats Solo Buds - $49.99, down from $79.99


• Beats Studio Buds - $79.99, down from $149.95


• Beats Pill - $99.95, down from $149.95


• Beats Solo 4 - $99.99, down from $199.95


• Beats Studio Buds + - $149.99, down from $169.95


• Beats Studio Pro - $199.99, down from $349.99

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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This article, "Beats Cyber Week Sale Includes Big Savings on Earbuds, Headphones, and Speakers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Large language model AI has been a leap forward for me in how I use technology. So naturally, ChatGPT is something that my 7 and 11 year old kids are already familiar with, but there isn’t an AI that they interact with regularly. Enter , a fun and affordable AI bot that’s designed to create a safe and engaging environment for kids. The AI component is LLM powered so the bot is naturally conversational, and Miko has a host of content partners including Disney, Nickelodeon, and iHeartRadio. Read on for our impressions.

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Apple has released visionOS 2.2 beta 4 for developers. The new software version brings us closer to the expected RC and wide launch soon. Here’s what to expect from the latest beta.

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Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming visionOS 2.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the third visionOS 2.2 beta.


visionOS 2.2 can be installed by going to the Software Update section of the Settings app on the Vision Pro and opting into Beta Updates.

The visionOS 2.2 update adds a new feature for the Mac Virtual Display option, allowing it to be set to Wide and Ultrawide. The Ultrawide setting is equivalent to two 4K displays side-by-side, and it is a notable improvement over the current Mac Virtual Display that's available in visionOS 2.1.

The Mac Virtual Display allows the Vision Pro to be connected to a Mac with the Vision Pro serving as the display for the machine. The virtual Mac desktop works just like a standard desktop with an external display, but Vision Pro does not support multiple displays. As a solution, Apple has added the option for a wider display to maximize space.
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The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have all but completely disappeared, but there are still a couple notable hangover offers joining some fresh price drops we spotted this morning. Apple Watch Series 10 is starting at the $329 all-time low with $80 in savings across the lineup while AirPods 4 remain at the best price we have tracked on Amazon. We also spotted the OG Apple Watch Ultra at $429 off the original price, some deals on Apple Watch Milanese Loops, Anker’s latest Find My card, and even some handy discounted Uber gift cards you can use to score on deal on your holiday trips and food deliveries. Everything else awaits below. 

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The Touch Bar was a controversial Apple creation, to say the least. But the now-discontinued MacBook Pro feature is being revised, in a way, through a new Kickstarter campaign for a more versatile standalone product: the Flexbar.

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Samsung kicked off its Cyber Week sale a few days ago, offering discounts across smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, computers, and home appliances. Many of the deals in this sale are the same prices we tracked during Samsung's Black Friday sale, making Samsung one of the few retailers to keep these best-ever prices around all week.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Right now, Amazon has the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Display at an all-time low price, beating Samsung's Cyber Week deal. You can get this monitor for $767.99 ($832 off). Another notable Samsung monitor deal is on the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8, available for $399.99 on Samsung's own website ($300 off).



During this sale, if you purchase a select Samsung gaming monitor, you'll also get the 27-inch Odyssey G3 Gaming Monitor for free ($229.99 value). One of the best monitors to purchase with this offer is the 57-inch Odssey Neo G9 Curved Gaming Monitor for $1,599.99 ($1,129.99 off).

Other than monitors and TVs, we're also now tracking quite a few deals on refrigerators, tablets, and computers below. These sale prices will be live for this week only, so be sure to check out Samsung's event before the best prices of the year disappear.

Monitors and Storage

• 990 EVO 5.0 NVMe SSD 2TB - $119.99, down from $239.99


• 2TB Portable SSD - $149.99, down from $284.99


• Smart Monitor M80D - $399.99, down from $699.99


• 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 Curved Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,199.99


• 32-inch Odyssey Quantum Gaming Monitor - $599.99, down from $1,099.99


• 27-inch ViewFinity S9 Smart Monitor - $767.99 at Amazon, down from $1,599.99


• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,078.99, down from $1,799.99


• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,799.99, down from $2,999.99

Refrigerators

• Large Capacity Side-by-Side Fridge - $1,099.00, down from $1,666.00


• 4-Door French Door Fridge - $1,499.00, down from $2,899.00


• Mega Capacity 3-Door French Door Fridge - $2,399.00, down from $3,499.00


• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $2,599.00, down from $4,099.00


• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $3,299.00, down from $4,999.00

TVs

• 85-inch Crystal UHD TV - $899.99, down from $1,099.99


• 55-inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV - $1,199.99, down from $1,499.99


• 65-inch QLED 4K TV - $1,399.99, down from $1,599.99


• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,599.99


• 65-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99


• 85-inch QLED 4K TV - $1,679.99, down from $2,799.99


• 85-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $2,299.99, down from $3,699.99

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy Z Fold6 - Save up to $1,575 with trade-in credit


• Galaxy Z Flip6 - Save up to $945 with trade-in credit


• Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $460


• Galaxy Buds3 Pro - Save up to $190

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Samsung Cyber Week Sale Has Year's Best Prices on Monitors, TVs, Fridges, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's third-generation iPhone SE, introduced on March 8, 2022, has now reached the milestone of being over 1,000 days old.


The ‌iPhone SE‌ debuted in 2016 as Apple's answer to customers who wanted a more affordable iPhone without sacrificing key features. The first SE model was based on the design of the ‌iPhone‌ 5s but packed the then-flagship A9 chip and latest camera technology. Subsequent iterations followed a similar formula: the second-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ in 2020 adopted the ‌iPhone‌ 8's design and added the A13 Bionic chip, while the third generation launched in 2022 with another leap in processing power thanks to the A15 Bionic chip. Over the years, the SE line has become synonymous with classic design paired with modern internals.

When the third-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ was unveiled, it brought significant upgrades over its predecessor, including the A15 Bionic chip—the same processor used in the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup—longer battery life, and 5G connectivity, which extended high-speed wireless access to Apple's budget-conscious customers. However, the exterior design was starting to show its age even upon the device's unveiling in 2022. The third-generation SE retained the 4.7-inch Retina HD display and thick bezels of the ‌iPhone‌ 8, a design that effectively first debuted in 2014 on the ‌iPhone‌ 6. Likewise, its LCD screen felt out of step with Apple's more modern OLED displays. Face ID was also noticeably absent.


As the ‌iPhone SE‌ 3 crosses the 1,000-day threshold, there are a vast array of corroborated rumors about its successor. Expected to launch in the spring of 2025, the fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is shaping up to be a significant upgrade. Unlike its two predecessors, the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 is rumored to abandon the ‌iPhone‌ 8's design entirely in favor of a modern aesthetic inspired by the iPhone 14.

The new model is expected to feature a larger 6.1-inch OLED display to provide deeper blacks, better contrast, and improved energy efficiency. ‌Face ID‌ is also set to replace Touch ID, marking the end of the physical Home button on the ‌iPhone‌ and embracing the all-screen design that has become a hallmark of contemporary iPhones.

Under the hood, the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 is anticipated to be powered by the A18 Bionic chip, the same processor from the iPhone 16 lineup, along with 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. Another major change will be the adoption of USB-C, following Apple's broader transition away from the Lightning connector. Camera upgrades are also on the horizon, with the SE 4 likely to feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a dramatic improvement over the 12-megapixel sensor in the SE 3. Despite these substantial upgrades, Apple is reportedly committed to keeping the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 priced below $500, maintaining its appeal as an affordable entry point into the Apple ecosystem.

For those considering the ‌iPhone SE‌ 3 today, the advice is clear: wait. While the ‌iPhone SE‌ 3 remains a capable device, it is difficult to justify its purchase when a redesigned, feature-packed successor is on the horizon. The dated design and hardware limitations of the current model make it markedly less future-proof compared to Apple's other offerings. With the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 expected to deliver a more modern design with a larger display, OLED technology, ‌Face ID‌, faster performance, and other improved features at a similar price point, holding out for its release in 2025 is by far the smartest choice.
This article, "iPhone SE Now Over 1,000 Days Old as New Model Edges Closer" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple TV+ has announced a new show in the works for future release—it’s called Lucky, and it has some big names behind it including Anya Taylor-Joy.

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Apple Podcasts has just named its Show of the Year for 2024, and it’s a limited-run series called Hysterical that tells a fascinating story. Here are the full details.

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