Throughout the ongoing wildfires, California officials have relied on emergency alerts to communicate with citizens. This system is an important way for officials to communicate with citizens instantly across iPhone and Android devices.

On Thursday evening, however, a wildfire evacuation alert went out to everyone in Los Angeles – even though it was only meant for a subset of residents.

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Apple’s popular “Back to School” campaign is officially returning for customers in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, offering free accessories for students and educators purchasing new Apple products in these countries.

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Many streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and even Apple TV+ already provide support for the HDR10+ standard. Soon, Disney+ will also join this list of platforms offering content in this high dynamic range format.

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If you've been hearing a chiming sound from your AirPods Pro 2 case when the AirPods are charging, it's a feature that Apple added with the launch of Hearing Health last year.


In a support guide, Apple says that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ may play a sound every so often while in the case to ensure the microphones and speakers are working as intended. From Apple:

To help ensure that your AirPods microphones and speakers are operating at their best (for example, to help provide high-quality hearing test results), your AirPods may periodically play a quiet chime when they're in their charging case.

Information on the mysterious chime was highlighted on Mastodon after Apple's unclear AirPods sounds were discussed on today's ATP podcast.

As noted on the podcast, Apple does not have an established guide that provides insight into the different sounds that the AirPods make, so it can be confusing.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ will play a sound when battery is low or when the charging case is placed on a charger or plugged in. Some sounds can be disabled by connecting the AirPods to an Apple device, going to Settings, tapping on the AirPods icon, and turning off Enable Charging Case Sounds.
This article, "Hearing a Mysterious Chime From Your AirPods Pro Case? It's a Feature" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After Tim Cook announced that Apple is donating to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the company has just confirmed that Apple Card users living in the impacted regions will also get some relief. These people can temporarily postpone their Apple Card payments without interest.

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Apple and Goldman Sachs are allowing Apple Card customers who have been impacted by the fires in Los Angeles to temporarily postpone their payments if necessary. Details about Apple's Disaster Relief Program for ‌Apple Card‌ users were shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Payment delays are being offered to ‌Apple Card‌ users who live in an area that has been declared a national disaster zone by FEMA, with Apple sending out notices to impacted customers.

Those who are affected by the fires can skip the payment that's due in the month that they enroll in the Relief Program, and no interest will accumulate for that month. An account in good standing will remain current while enrolled in the program, but standard purchase APR applies for the next month.

Customers in Los Angeles who need assistance can contact ‌Apple Card‌ Support via the Messages app to be enrolled.


Apple has offered similar Disaster Relief Program options for those impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters, and it is a benefit that has been available since the ‌Apple Card‌ launched.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said yesterday that Apple plans to donate to support the victims and recovery efforts on the ground in Los Angeles.
This article, "Apple Card Users Impacted By LA Fires Able to Delay Payments" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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AirTag 2 is launching this year, about four years after AirTag first debuted. There are some nice upgrades coming to AirTag 2, but what I really want is for the company to expand the lineup: it’s time for an AirTag Max.

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Accessory maker ESR this week introduced the Geo Digital Pencil, a low-cost Apple Pencil alternative that has support for Apple's Find My functionality.


Priced at $30, the Geo Digital Pencil connects to an iPad with Bluetooth, and it supports writing, drawing, sketching, and more much like the ‌Apple Pencil‌. The Geo Digital Pencil connects to an ‌iPad‌ using a magnetic attachment to keep it from being lost, but charging is done using a USB-C charger.

Supported features include tilt sensitivity and shortcuts, but pressure sensitivity, ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover, and other ‌Apple Pencil‌ exclusive features are not available.

‌Find My‌ integration allows the Geo Digital Pencil to be located using the Items tab in the ‌Find My‌ app on any Apple device, with options for playing a sound, marking an item as lost, and seeing the last known location of the pencil when Bluetooth is unavailable.

ESR says the Geo Digital Pencil is compatible with all 11-inch iPad Pro models, the third-generation iPad Air and later, the third-generation 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and later, the iPad mini 5 and later, and the ‌iPad‌ 6 and later. It is available for purchase from Amazon, and it is priced at $30.


ESR has also introduced a case designed for the iPhone 16 models with Camera Control button and the MagMouse, a mouse with a built-in USB-C cable that can attach magnetically to an ‌iPad‌ or Mac for storage purposes.
This article, "ESR Launches $30 Apple Pencil Alternative With Find My" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: new iPads are on the way, plus a curious iOS Invites app, and more. Here are this week’s Apple rumors.

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OhSnap, a company behind many cases and MagSafe accessories, just unveiled MCON at CES 2025. It’s a new slim accessory that slaps on the back of your iPhone, then folds out to unveil a fully featured game controller, making it incredibly easy to play games on the go.

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Apple’s best-selling Mac, the MacBook Air, is getting upgraded soon—possibly as the first Apple product launch of 2025. Here are four new features coming to the M4 MacBook Air when it arrives.

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Benjamin and Chance talk about the current ongoing controversies with Apple Intelligence notification summaries and the reaction to the settlement of the Siri privacy lawsuit, and how Apple is managing the negative PR. LG announces a new 6K display, but does it actually exist? And Benjamin is thrilled to hear that Apple News+ Puzzles may finally be coming to the UK.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we appreciate the seamless integration of iPhone, AirPods and Watch in the current cold winter months. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

• Sponsored by Oracle: Learn how to cut your cloud bill in half at oracle.com/HAPPYHOUR.

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Streaming service Disney+ is set to gain support for HDR10+ in the near future, according to an announcement made at CES by HDR10+ Technologies (via MediaPlayNews). HDR10+ offers improved brightness and contrast compared to HDR10, and unlike Dolby Vision, there are no licensing fees.


Disney+ already supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, but HDR10+ titles will be coming to the service in 2025. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are similar, but some TV sets don't support Dolby Vision due to the licensing fees. Samsung TVs, for example, don't offer Dolby Vision content, so Samsung TV owners can look forward to better quality when streaming HDR10+ Disney+ content.

The latest Apple TV 4K supports HDR10+, as do Apple's newer iPhone and iPad models. Many streaming services also already offer HDR10+ content, including ‌Apple TV‌+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
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In a promotional push to boost interest for the upcoming second season, Apple has added all of Severance season one to the Roku Channel, for users to watch for free. The Roku Channel boasts more than 90 million users, making it one of the largest destinations of free streaming video content.

This marks the first time TV+ content has been made available on a free third-party streaming platform. The move shows just how committed Apple is to trying to expand engagement and viewership of its original content.

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Ever wish you could rearrange or delete apps from CarPlay? It turns out you can, although it works differently than rearranging your iPhone Home screen.

The trick is in the Settings app on iPhone. Just don’t try to do this while driving. You don’t even need to be connected to CarPlay for it to work.

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All of the best and most interesting to new gear from CES 2025 is being collected for you right here. The latest in smart home advancements and display tech to the suite of AI features seemingly getting injected into just about all of it, and everything in between, we will be rounding up the most intriguing new reveals and prototypes as well as products you’ll actually be able to get your hands-on this year down below.

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Samsung has kicked off a new sitewide sale, which includes savings on monitors, TVs, Galaxy products, and more. This sale also features a few early discount credits on Samsung's line of upcoming products, like the next Galaxy S series smartphones, Galaxy Book notebooks, and Samsung TVs.

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.

If you have any interest in the next generation of Galaxy smartphones expected to be revealed on January 22, Samsung is offering a $50 credit just for entering your name and email on this landing page. Doing this does not require you to purchase a Galaxy phone when it launches, but if you do you'll get $50 off an eligible device at launch.



Similarly, you can get $50 in Samsung credit to put toward the upcoming Galaxy Book5 Pro and $100 in Samsung credit to put toward upcoming TVs and audio devices. In terms of the smartphones, Samsung is expected to reveal the next Galaxy devices on January 22 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

In regards to the rest of the sale, the best monitor deals include the popular 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $999.99, down from $1,599.99. At $600 off this is a solid second-best price on the 2023 display, which has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.

• 27-inch Odyssey HDR10 Gaming Monitor - $229.99, down from $349.99


• 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 Gaming Monitor - $599.99, down from $799.99


• 32-inch Odyssey Neo G8 Curved Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,299.99


• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $849.99, down from $1,299.99


• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $999.99, down from $1,299.99

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

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Tim Cook says that he uses his Vision Pro every day. And in multiple interviews this past year, he’s mentioned a specific habit with the product that’s a big part of his use: lying down. After following his lead, I can now report that this method can (almost) fix the Vision Pro’s biggest problem.

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Apple this month received approval to launch the Apple Watch's sleep apnea notifications feature in Malaysia, as noted by local resident Xavier Naxa. It is unclear when the feature will actually become available in the country.


This development comes less than a month after the feature became available in Brazil, as part of Apple's efforts to roll it out globally. As of September, the notifications were already available in more than 150 countries and territories.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts while they sleep. The built-in accelerometer on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS 11 can "monitor small movements at the wrist" that may be associated with breathing disturbances, and notify you if you show consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Apple says the feature was developed using "advanced machine learning" and an "extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests," and then validated in a clinical study. It is designed for use by adults without a prior sleep apnea diagnosis.

A log of nightly breathing disturbances can be viewed in the Health app on the iPhone, with each disturbance classified as "elevated" or "not elevated."
This article, "Apple Watch's Sleep Apnea Feature Continues to Roll Out Around World" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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When will the iPhone get under-screen Face ID?


In April 2023, display industry analyst Ross Young shared a roadmap showing that iPhone 17 Pro models would feature under-display Face ID. In May 2024, however, Young said he heard this change had been delayed until 2026. If so, that means that under-screen Face ID could debut on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next year.

iPhone 18 Pro models with under-screen Face ID would still have a pinhole at the top of the display for the front camera, similar to newer Android smartphones like Google's Pixel 9 and Samsung's Galaxy S24. It is unclear if the devices would have a Dynamic Island, a feature that helps to hide the Face ID sensors on current iPhones.

In the past, Young has said that he expects iPhones to eventually have both under-screen Face ID and an under-screen front camera.

With these changes, the iPhone could eventually have a true all-screen design.
This article, "iPhone With Under-Screen Face ID: What the Latest Rumors Say" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While most iOS 18 updates have been focused on Apple Intelligence, some additional new features and capabilities are coming soon.


Below, we outline three upcoming iOS 18 features that Apple has announced that should arrive in updates such as iOS 18.3 and iOS 18.4.

Default Map and Translation Apps in EU

In an October 2024 document related to the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple revealed that it will allow iPhone and iPad users in the EU to set default navigation and translation apps starting in "spring 2025." That timeframe suggests these options will be added in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, which are expected to be released in April.

For example, users should be able to choose Google Maps, Waze, or other options as their default navigation app, instead of Apple Maps. Likewise, they should be able to choose Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, or other options as their default translation app, instead of Apple's Translate app. These options will be added to the new "Default Apps" section in the Settings app on iPhones that was implemented in iOS 18.2.

PayPal Balance in Apple Wallet

Apple previously announced that iPhone users in the U.S. will be able to see their PayPal balance when using their PayPal debit card in the Wallet app. Apple said this feature would launch in 2025, so it could arrive in a future iOS 18 update.

Robot Vacuum Support in Home App

Apple's website continues to state that robot vacuum support will be added to the Home app in an unspecified iOS 18 update. When available, this feature will allow you to control key functions of your robot vacuum in the Home app, and with Siri voice commands.

Here is how Apple describes the feature:

The Home app now supports the core functionality of robot vacuum cleaners, such as power control, cleaning mode, vacuum, mop, and charge status. They can also participate in automations and scenes, and respond to Siri requests. So you can add them to your cleaning routines — or tell Siri to do some spot cleaning in the living room.

There are references to the feature in iOS 18.3 code, but the functionality is not yet live as of the second beta. iOS 18.3 will likely be released in late January.
This article, "Three iOS 18 Features Coming Soon Aside From Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Joining AirTag 4-packs and select Apple Watch Ultra configs back at the holiday pricing, today’s deals are headlined by just about every configuration of M3 MacBook Air at $200 off the going rate and $400 under the price they fetched before Apple upgraded to 16GB of RAM – pricing starts from $899. We also have open-box Apple Watch Series 10 models at up to $112 off to deliver some of the lowest prices all-time low alongside nearly 40% off one of the nicest leather bands in the game, Apple Watch chargers, and much more in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break. 

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At CES 2025, announced a vast array of new products, including new Thunderbolt 5 docking stations, and a new 6-port 500W desktop charging hub. All of these products will be available in the coming months.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by FastMinder: Simple, easy to use fasting tracker for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Get started today for free. 

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Apple occasionally updates the App Store’s layout to make it easier to navigate, or emphasize one content section or another. But new changes recently rolled out that are especially prominent, and make new app discovery easier than ever on iPhone and more.

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What do ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini all have in common? Dedicated apps on iPhone. Meanwhile, Grok has been shoehorned into the social media app before now. Starting today, the standalone Grok AI app is available on the iPhone and iPad for US users for the first time. More regions will be added as the rollout scales.

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This spring, Apple is planning to launch a major iPhone SE 4 upgrade, and that new model will introduce a glaring problem for the iPhone lineup. Apple will likely sell two iPhones—15 and 14—at higher prices than the new SE, despite them being worse products in almost every way.

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From 4GB storage to 1024GB, the iPhone has had an incredible run that isn’t slowing down, and it all started on this day in 2007. Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone to the world for the first time 18 years ago today.

Apple also opened pre-orders for the original Apple TV after Jobs revealed what was originally called iTV in September 2006. See both keynotes and press releases below:

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Apple's annual "Back to School" or "Back to Uni" promotion has returned this week in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea.


From January 8 through March 13, qualifying higher-education students and staff in these countries can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with the purchase of any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, or a free Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) with the purchase of any new iPad Pro or iPad Air.

Alternatively, you can receive a discount equivalent to the price of the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Max.

In each country, the offer is available on Apple's online store, in the Apple Store app, and in person at Apple's retail stores. The offer can be combined with Apple's educational discounts on products, and AppleCare+ plans are 20% off for students.

Apple's Back to School promotion typically launches in the U.S. in June each year, often with Apple gift cards instead of free AirPods or Apple Pencils.
This article, "Apple's Student Offer With Free AirPods Returns in These Four Countries" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple CEO Tim Cook has described the Los Angeles wildfires as “heartbreaking,” and said that the company will be making a donation to assist the recovery effort.

Multiple fires across parts of LA have so far led to at least five deaths, and forced more than 130,000 people to abandon their homes, and it’s feared there is more to come …

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In response to devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles, California area this week, Apple said it will be donating towards recovery efforts on the ground.


"The devastation caused by the fires in Los Angeles is heartbreaking," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a social media post on Wednesday. "Thank you to the incredible firefighters, first responders, and all those assisting for your heroic efforts. Apple will be donating to support the victims and recovery efforts on the ground."

Apple frequently donates towards recovery efforts following natural disasters around the world, but it typically does not disclose the donation amount or recipient. In the past, Apple has donated to the American Red Cross for these purposes.
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I’m a great fan of robot cleaners, and they’ve grown more capable over the years. They started with vacuuming, then added mopping, then auto-emptying.

But this year’s CES announcements go further, and I can’t help feeling like companies are now just adding capabilities purely to have something to talk about …

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The original AirTag was announced during an Apple Event in April 2021, alongside the iMac with the M1 chip, an updated Apple TV 4K, and more. Following a four-year wait, Apple reportedly plans to release an AirTag 2 this year.


A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June.

Below, we recap what to expect from the AirTag 2:

• With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the AirTag 2 is expected to have up to 3× longer range compared to the current AirTag. The chip debuted in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. On the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, there is a Precision Finding for People feature that can help you to find your friends in crowded places, and it offers a range of up to 200 feet/60 meters.


• The new AirTag's built-in speaker is expected to be more difficult to remove, as a stalking-related safety measure.


• The new AirTag is rumored to have improved integration with the Apple Vision Pro, but there are no specific details about this.


• No major design changes or rechargeable battery are expected.

In the U.S., a single AirTag costs $29, while a pack of four AirTags costs $99. However, the AirTag is frequently on sale on Amazon. It is unclear if the AirTag 2 will cost more, but it should remain one of Apple's more affordable products.
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At CES 2025, Satechi has unveiled the SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard, a sleek, low-profile mechanical keyboard built with Mac users in mind. It’s Satechi’s first full-size mechanical keyboard, and it’s designed to balance style, functionality, and comfort — perfect for those who want the mechanical typing experience without the bulk.

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While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.


Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025:

• More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a stainless steel frame. The back of the devices will supposedly have a new "part-aluminum, part-glass" design. The frame could end up using a combination of both aluminimum and titanium.


• Rectangular camera bump: On a related note, the devices are expected to have a "larger rectangular camera bump" made of aluminum. There are conflicting rumors about the camera lenses sticking with a triangular arrangement or being repositioned horizontally or vertically.


• A19 Pro chip: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use Apple's next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process. Like usual, expect modest year-over-year performance gains and power efficiency improvements compared to the current iPhones.


• Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip: At least one iPhone 17 model is rumored to get a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed by Apple rather than Broadcom. However, another report said the chip will support Wi-Fi 6E like iPhone 16 models.


• 24-megapixel front camera: All four iPhone 17 models are said to feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas all iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.


• 48-megapixel rear Telephoto camera: An upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera is rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, up from the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera on iPhone 16 Pro models.


• 12GB of RAM: An increased 12GB of RAM was initially rumored exclusively for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but later the iPhone 17 Pro as well. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.


• A smaller Dynamic Island for iPhone 17 Pro Max: A change rumored exclusively for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a "much narrowed Dynamic Island," as a result of Apple adopting a "metalens" for the Face ID system.

Bookmark our iPhone 17 roundup to stay up to date with more rumors over the coming months.
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 8 New Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It says a lot about Apple’s design that the MacBook Air is seen as the ultimate standard targeted by PC laptop brands. Just matching the aesthetics and performance of the machine is seen as a tough goal, but ASUS may have gone one better with its new Zenbook A14.

The new machine not only succeeds in emulating the look of the MacBook Air, but exceeds its specs in no fewer than five different ways – including being even lighter …

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Smart home accessory maker Ecobee has announced the Smart Thermostat Essential, a more affordable alternative to the Smart Thermostat Premium and Enhanced models in its lineup.


Priced at $129.99, the Smart Thermostat Essential includes a full-colour touchscreen, and features Ecobee's standard scheduling and comfort settings that adapt to household routines, optimizing energy use when nobody's home. With the device, Ecobee claims customers can save up to 23% on annual heating and cooling costs, covering the cost of the device in just six months.

The unit integrates with the Ecobee mobile app to allow remote control of heating and cooling. Users can receive automatic alerts when potential issues are detected, as well as Home Energy Reports that provide insights into energy use. The thermostat can also be paired with optional Ecobee SmartSensors to further optimize household comfort in the rooms that are used most.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is compatible with most major smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, and will be available from major retailers and at ecobee.com from March 2025.
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You have to feel sorry for Intel at this point. Not only has Apple left its CPUs in the dust, but AMD’s new Ryzan AI Max chips claim to do the same to Intel’s flagship Core Ultra 9 288V.

The new chips take the same approach as Apple Silicon in combining CPU, GPU, and unified memory. AMD doesn’t credit Apple with the idea, but does admit the chip wouldn’t exist without the Cupertino company …

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Today marks 18 years since Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone and Apple TV at Macworld Expo 2007.


Standing on stage, Jobs introduced the ‌iPhone‌ as a product that combined three revolutionary functions: "an iPod with touch controls, a phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device." He emphasized that these were not three separate devices, but one, and said, "Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone."

This vision materialized as a device that broke away from industry conventions, featuring a sleek aluminum and plastic body, a 3.5-inch multi-touch display that precluded the need for a physical keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera, and ‌iPhone‌ OS—a mobile operating system that provided unprecedented functionality compared to the feature phones of its time. The ‌iPhone‌ consolidated multiple devices into one and laid the groundwork for future innovation.


While the ‌iPhone‌ dominated headlines, Apple also formally introduced the ‌Apple TV‌, a product that had initially been previewed as "iTV" during a previous event in September 2006. ‌Apple TV‌ was presented as a set-top box designed to bring iTunes content to the television. The device allowed users to wirelessly stream movies, TV shows, music, and photos from their Mac or PC directly to their TV. It featured a 40GB hard drive for local content storage and supported 720p HD resolution, offering both HDMI and component video output, and was priced at $299.

Another notable announcement was Apple's decision to change its corporate name from "Apple Computer, Inc." to simply "Apple Inc." Jobs said that Apple was no longer just a computer company, signaling its intention to dominate multiple sectors.
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Grok, the AI chatbot built into the X (Twitter) social network, is now available as a standalone app in the United States. X owner Elon Musk rolled out Grok in 2023 after developing it under his xAI company, and it has been described as a chatbot that's more casual and "funny" than other chatbots like ChatGPT.


The Grok app description says that Grok is "designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious."

xAI has been beta testing Grok as a standalone iOS app in Australia since December, and the app is now expanding to additional countries. Grok will also be available as a web app.

The Grok app features Grok 2, the latest version of the Grok chatbot. App capabilities include image generation and up-to-date information for queries using current X and web data, with xAI suggesting that it is useful for creating images, improving writing, and studying. Grok can be downloaded from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
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