Tech Talk

This weekend, we're tracking a new sale at Samsung with savings on the company's best smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and laptops. These discounts are part of Samsung's larger Discover Samsung Spring Sale , which we started covering last week with deals on monitors, storage, audio, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The best monitor deal from our original post is still live today: you can get the ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $899.99 , down from $1,599.99. At $700 off this a very solid second-best price on the 2023 display, which has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4. Additionally, when you sign up to learn more about Samsung's upcoming TV and audio product lineup, you can get $100 off your purchase. The new slate of Samsung TVs and audio equipment is set to be

iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also rumored to have some design changes, but details remain slim. iOS 18 is expected to be announced at Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June, and widely released in September. Smarter Siri and Generative AI iOS 18 is rumored to have new generative AI features for Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more, according to sources such as Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman and The Information 's Wayne Ma. Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly teased that the company is working on generative AI, and plans to share details "l

Apple's M3 MacBook Air models are in stores as of today, so we picked one up to test it out, see what's new, answer reader questions, and determine whether it's worth buying or upgrading to. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The ‌MacBook Air‌ is available in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch sizes, just like the prior-generation versions. Apple did not introduce notable design changes this time around, so most of what's new is on the inside. An M3 chip is the main upgrade, and this is the same chip that Apple already used in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. When we benchmarked our test unit with an 8-core GPU and 10-core GPU, we got a Geekbench single-core score of 3106 and a multi-core score of 11690. For comparison's sake, the M1 ‌MacBook Air‌ scored 2335/8314 and the M2 ‌MacBook Air‌ scored 2595/9745, so that's a decent boost in CPU performance. Compared to the ‌M1‌, single-core M3 performance is up 28 percent, and multi-core performance i

Apple's MacBook Air has undergone some major changes in recent years, including the switch to Apple silicon, a complete redesign, and the introduction of a 15-inch model, making it all the more important to consider if now is a good time to upgrade or if an older model will suffice for your needs. Following its latest refresh, Apple discontinued the M1 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ from 2020 and the M2 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ from 2023. Now, customers can choose between the ‌M2‌ 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ from 2022 for $999, and the M3 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs that were just introduced for $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. See the breakdown below for each new feature, change, and improvement that was added with each ‌MacBook Air‌ model since 2018 compared to its direct predecessor: MacBook Air (M3, 2024) M3 Chip 15% faster Neural Engine Support for AV1 decode New GPU architecture Dynamic Caching Hardware-accelerated ray tracing Hardware-accelerated mesh shading Suppo

Like iPhones, iPads, Macs, the Apple Watch, and the Apple TV , the HomePod and HomePod mini are updated with new software on a regular basis. The most recent update was released on March 7 , and enables Siri to learn what your preferred media service is. By default, updates are installed on your ‌HomePod‌ devices automatically, but there's also a way to force an update if new software is released. However, Apple's auto-update function isn't typically immediate, so it can sometimes be handy to have a way to manually install software when you know an update has become available. Locating ‌HomePod‌ updates and checking on the software version you have installed is pretty simple, but it's not entirely intuitive because the update function is buried in the Home app. The following steps show you how to update your ‌HomePod‌ on devices running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 and later. Open the Home app. Tap on the icon that looks like three dots in the upper right corner

In addition to releasing the latest macOS Sonoma 14.4 update on Thursday, Apple also released a new version of its Windows Migration Assistant software for PCs to include compatibility with macOS Sonoma. Version 3.0.0.0 of the utility provides support for users looking to migrate their data from a PC running Windows 10 or later to Apple's latest Mac operating system. The assistant transfers users' contacts, calendars, email accounts, and more from a Windows machine and migrates the data to the appropriate places in macOS. Version 2.4.5.0 remains available for users whose Mac is running macOS Ventura or macOS Monterey, or a version of macOS Sonoma earlier than 14.4, as do earlier versions of Windows Migration Assistant for macOS Big Sur and earlier. The macOS version of Migration Assistant lives in the Applications/Utilities folder. Apple advises users to turn off any antivirus, firewall, or VPN software until the transfer of information is complete. For more informati

Like iPhones, iPads, Macs, the Apple Watch, and the Apple TV , the HomePod and HomePod mini are updated with new software on a regular basis. The most recent update was released on March 7 , and enables Siri to learn what your preferred media service is. By default, updates are installed on your ‌HomePod‌ devices automatically, but there's also a way to force an update if new software is released. However, Apple's auto-update function isn't typically immediate, so it can sometimes be handy to have a way to manually install software when you know an update has become available. Locating ‌HomePod‌ updates and checking on the software version you have installed is pretty simple, but it's not entirely intuitive because the update function is buried in the Home app. The following steps show you how to update your ‌HomePod‌ on devices running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 and later. Open the Home app. Tap on the icon that looks like three dots in the upper right corner

Starting today, Apple's refreshed MacBook Air models with M3 chips are available for same-day or next-day pickup at Apple Stores, with no pre-order required. Online orders are also beginning to arrive to customers today. Customers across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and other regions can now place an order on Apple's website or in the Apple Store app and arrange for in-store pickup at a local retail location. To order a product with ‌Apple Store‌ pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP code, choose an available ‌Apple Store‌ location, and select a pickup date. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup. In addition to the M3 chip, the new 13-inch and 15-inch ‌‌MacBook Air‌ models‌ offer Wi-Fi 6E, Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes, enhanced voice clarity in audio and video

It is Friday, March 8 in New Zealand and Australia, which means customers who pre-ordered one of the new machines in those two countries are receiving their MacBook Air models. Introduced on Monday of this week , the updated 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ models are equipped with the same M3 chip that was introduced in the MacBook Pro late last year. M2 vs. M3 MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared There are no external changes to the ‌MacBook Air‌, with Apple instead focusing on internal updates. The M3 chip is up to 30 percent faster than the M2 chip in terms of CPU performance, and there are notable GPU improvements with Apple adding support for Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and support for AV1 decode. Other improvements to the ‌MacBook Air‌ include support for two external displays when the machine is used in clamshell mode, support for Wi-Fi 6E, enhanced voice clarity for audio and video ca

The European Commission has requested "further explanations" from Apple over its decision yesterday to terminate the developer account of Epic Games, the Financial Times reports. The EC said it was investigating under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a new law aimed at curbing the power of the biggest online platforms. Tech companies faced a March 7 deadline to comply with the legislation. The Commission added that it was also evaluating whether Apple's actions might have breached other EU laws. Apple on Wednesday announced the termination of Epic Games Sweden's developer account on a global scale, citing the game developer's recurrent untrustworthy actions. Apple said courts had previously granted Apple the authority to end the accounts of any of Epic's subsidiaries due to contractual infractions. The move thwarted Epic's plan to launch an Epic Games Store on iOS in the EU and bring its Fortnite game back to the iPhone, which it claimed was in li

Apple is planning to release a 20-inch MacBook with a foldable screen in around three years, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. "Apple's only foldable product with a clear development schedule is the 20.3-inch MacBook, expected to enter mass production in 2027," said Kuo, in a post on X today . He did not provide any additional details about the device. Kuo is the third source to mention the possibility of a 20-inch MacBook, alongside display industry analyst Ross Young and Korean website The Elec . The largest laptop that Apple currently sells is the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The company also once offered a 17-inch MacBook Pro, which was discontinued in 2012 . The new foldable MacBook would have a screen that measures around 20 inches diagonally when fully expanded, but Kuo did not provide any details about the device's exact design. Kuo said the 20-inch MacBook is Apple's only foldable product with a clear development schedule, suggesting that a folda

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview , the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 190 includes fixes and updates for CSS, History, HTML, JavaScript, Media, Networking, SVG, URLs, Web API, and Web Inspector. The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma , the latest version of macOS that Apple released in September 2023. The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser . Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website . Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process

Apple retail stores now stock a configuration of the entry-level, M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB of unified memory. The configuration, spotted by French website Consomac , is now highlighted as a standard option on Apple's website for $1,999. While the configuration itself is not new, since customers can upgrade from 8GB to 16GB of memory with a $200 build-to-order upgrade, the presence of a new default option offering this configuration allows customers to purchase an M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB of memory without any hardware upgrades. Most notably, it also means that the 16GB machine will be stocked by Apple retail stores and third-party retailers for the first time. Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16" Buyer's Guide: 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: MacBook Pro This article, " Apple Stores Now Stock 14-Inch M3 MacBook Pro With 16GB of RAM " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums Source: TechRad

With the release of iOS 17.4 , iPhone users in the European Union can access third-party app stores, but Apple warns that EU users traveling outside of the bloc will only have a "grace period" before some features stop working altogether when they're away. From Apple's support document detailing alternative app marketplaces: If you leave the European Union for short-term travel, you'll continue to have access to alternative app marketplaces for a grace period. If you're gone for too long, you'll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app marketplaces. Apps you installed from alternative app marketplaces will continue to function, but they can't be updated by the marketplace you downloaded them from. We've contacted Apple for clarification on the duration of this "grace period" and are waiting to hear back. Apple is allowing iPhone users in the EU access to alternative app stores in order to comply with

Apple today released the iOS 17.4 update that brings some major changes to the iPhone (and the iPad ) in Europe. Many of the biggest changes in iOS 17.4 are limited to people in the European Union, but there new additions in the update that are available worldwide. In this article, we've rounded up everything new in iOS 17.4. EU Changes Apple is changing the way the App Store and apps operate in the European Union in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act. These changes are included in iOS 17.4, but are limited to countries that are in the European Union. Alternative App Stores and New App Store Terms (EU) App developers in the EU can opt to offer alternative app stores or install their apps through alternative stores, and Apple has a whole new fee structure that goes along with this change. There's a new business structure that developers can opt in to, which applies to both apps distributed in the ‌App Store‌ and apps that are distributed through alternat

We're tracking a pair of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deals today at B&H Photo and Best Buy, respectively. You'll find the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air for $100 off at B&H Photo and the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro for up to $500 off (with a membership) at Best Buy. Note: Macrumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Starting with the Best Buy deals, you can get the 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro for $899.00 with a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, down from $1,299.00. The 512GB model is at $999.00 with this extra discount, down from $1,499.00. Note: Only My Best Buy Plus/Total members can see these final deal prices. $400 OFF 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro (256GB) for $899.00 $500 OFF 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $999.00 Both of these represent all-time low prices on the 2022 MacBook Pro, which has the Touch Bar. Even without the exc

Apple was today fined €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for anti-competitive conduct against rival streaming music services in the European Union, and following the ruling, Spotify has praised the European Commission for its decision. For context, the European Commission's investigation into Apple's practices started due to a 2019 complaint from Spotify over App Store policies. Spotify has long railed against Apple's 30 percent fee, and has complained that it is unfairly disadvantaged compared to Apple Music . In a blog post, Spotify says that the European Commission has sent a clear message that "Apple's behavior limiting communications to consumers is unlawful." Apple's rules muzzled Spotify and other music streaming services from sharing with our users directly in our app about various benefits--denying us the ability to communicate with them about how to upgrade and the price of subscriptions, promotions, discounts, or numerous other perks. Of cou

Apple will soon release the first major software update for the Vision Pro, and the new version of visionOS will bring improvements not only to Personas, but also to the EyeSight feature. Personas and EyeSight are Vision Pro additions that many people have poked fun at since the headset's release. Personas are a digital representation of the user that's shown in video calls, while EyeSight uses an external display to show the Vision Pro wearer's eyes if there are other people in the room. Personas and EyeSight are aimed at making the Vision Pro less of an isolating experience, but neither has been particularly well-received. As we've previously shared , the visionOS 1.1 beta makes Personas look more realistic, and Apple's release notes provided with the ‌visionOS‌ 1.1 release candidate offer more insight. Specific improvements have been made to hair and makeup appearance and neck and mouth representation, and these tweaks make a big difference. Subscribe to

Alongside iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and tvOS 17.4, Apple plans to release a HomePod 17.4 software update that adds a small but meaningful change to Siri . ‌Siri‌ will be able to learn what a user's preferred media service is, which means that there won't be a need to include an app name when asking ‌Siri‌ to play content or go through the process to set a default third-party app. ‌HomePod‌ users have been able to play songs, podcasts, audiobooks, and other media using supported third-party apps through a ‌Siri‌ request for quite some time now, but this needed to be set up in the Settings section of the Home app. The option was fairly hidden, so some ‌HomePod‌ users might have forgotten the feature was even available. From Apple's release notes: This update enables Siri to learn your preferred media service, so you no longer need to include the name of the media app in your request. With ‌HomePod‌ 17.4, ‌Siri‌ will learn preferences and use those preferences to select ap

Apple today announced the newest models of the MacBook Air, which include the M3 chip and come in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. Just a few hours later, Best Buy now has the first notable discounts on these computers exclusively for My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total members . Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. If you're a Plus/Total member, you can get $50 off both the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total begins at $49.99/year, so these new MacBook Air discounts will only make sense for people who already have paid for the service. Note: Discounts available only to My Best Buy Plus/Total members. $50 OFF 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (256GB) for $1,049.00 $50 OFF 15-inch M3 MacBook Air (256GB) for $1,249.00 With these discounts, the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is available from $1,049.00 and the 2