Macworld I recently wrote about the M4 Macs compelling lineup and its a great time to buy a Mac. However, one type of user will want to hold off on a purchase. According to Howard Oakley of The Eclectic Light Company , the new M4 Macs will not allow virtual machine software to run properly. Users who want to run macOS versions older than Ventura 13.4 through virtualization will find that the virtual machine will not boot and users end up with a blank screen. Since the virtual machine (VM) wont b

Macworld Whether you have an old Mac or a new one, adding extra storage in the form of an external SSD or hard drive is a great way to speed up your Mac by freeing up space in the internal drive. Its also a good idea to regularly back up your Mac and to do so you need a decent hard drive or SSD to back up to. With Black Friday approaching, now is a great time to look for a great deal on storage for your Mac. Black Friday is November 29 this year, but you dont have to wait until then for the deal

Macworld The big day is nearly here: Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year and if you are looking for a deal on a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro you have come to the right place. We check all the best resellers in the U.S. and the U.K. all year long, so we always have our fingers on the pulse of the best deals which means we know exactly what are the best MacBook deals . In this article, you will also find shopping tips to help you get the best deals available on Black Friday (

Macworld It looks like the long wait for a new AirTag is almost over. After sparse and tentative rumors earlier this year that Apple was working on a 2nd-gen model, a new report indicates that the project has made firm progress and is on track for a launch in mid-2025. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman writes that Apple has been running manufacturing tests on the device (codenamed B589) and that thanks to progress in these tests, Apple is getting re

Macworld For several years back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, there were persistent rumors that Apple was making its own TV set (mostly stemming from analyst Gene Munster ). It made sense after allat the time, flat-screen TVs were attainable luxury items that fit well into Apples media-focused products, including the relatively new Apple TV streaming box. Obviously, those rumors never came to pass and as the years went by without a release, we assumed the project was dead. But a new report

Macworld Buying for the Apple fan who has everything Were entering 2024s holiday shopping season, which runs from Black Friday until Christmas. This means two things: great prices on superb tech products, and lots of difficult buying decisions. Its hard enough knowing what to buy for yourself, but how do you choose gifts for your friends and loved ones? In this article, we offer our advice on great gifts to buy for the Apple fans in your life. What you shouldnt buy First things first. Should you

Macworld A big tech company, assuming its managers are sensible, is always looking for new places to make money. Smartphones and laptops might be paying the bills right now, but that wont remain the case forever. Like sharks, tech giants must keep moving, or perish. And these movements can be alarming for the smaller fish. If youre a plucky young startup with a lightly profitable niche in some technological backwater, rumors of a big launch must be as terrifying in their way as the sight of a Vi

Macworld Whether you are updating your old MacBook laptop or planning to buy your first Mac part of the decision of which model to buy should be based on timing. Before you part with your money you should check that the model you are buying isnt about to be upgraded by Apple. There is nothing worse than buying a new MacBook Air only to see Apple update the models a month later. Luckily you are here reading this article so the chance of you making a mistake like that is slim (although you should

Macworld While Black Friday doesnt officially arrive until Friday, November 29 (with Cyber Monday following on Monday, December 2), the shopping season has already begun and its a great time to pick up a deal on a new monitor for your Mac. If youre unsure of which to buy, check out our best monitors for Macs roundup to read more about our favorite picks. Well be updating this page all throughout the Black Friday weekend, but in the meantime, you should also check out our round-up of the best App

Macworld I recently mused about how the Mac lineup has been the most compelling for a while , and one of the reasons is that Apple introduced worthwhile features besides the chip upgrade to the M4. For the M4 MacBook Pro, theres one more feature that Apple hasnt mentioned at all. According to display expert Ross Young , Apple now uses a quantum dot film in the MacBook Pros LiquidRetina XDR display. This QD film replaces a KSF phosphor film (also known as a narrow-band red phosphor) placed betwee

Macworld Theres no bad time to buy an Apple Watch, but there are better and worse times. Apple releases new Apple Watch models (called series) on a yearly cadence, and the price rarely changes by all that much. So to avoid buying an Apple Watch that is outdated after just a few weeks, you want to time it right. Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 10 in September 2024, so now is a good time to buy. If youre in the market for a new Apple Watch, see our Apple Watch buying guide , and our round-u

Macworld In this article, we answer all of your questions about when you should and shouldnt buy a new iPhone including advice on when Apple is likely to discount the price of older iPhone handsets. There are certain times of the year when buying a new iPhone is a bad idea, and there are certain times of the year when you can get a bargain on a new handset. The trick is knowing when you should buy a new iPhone. Luckily we are here to help. Looking for a Black Friday deal: See Best Black Friday

Macworld I have been using Apple Vision Pro on and off for the last nine months. When it was released in February, I described it as a device with a ton of potential but with huge challenges to overcome . Now, with its first major operating system update available and plenty of time for developers to get on board, Im left with a more pessimistic view. For spatial computing to be a hit, its going to need more than the Vision Pro can deliver. The first major update fixed some issues and added welc

Macworld As someone who has reviewed Macs for a long time, Im often asked for shopping advice and whether now is a good time to buy a Mac. Its an excellent question since Apple has been fairly sporadic with its Mac releases. Macs are expensive and people want reassurance that theyre making a timely investment. No one wants to buy something, start using it, and realize they just couldve stuck with what they already had. Nor does anyone want to make a purchase only to have something better come al

Macworld Its nearly that time of year again Black Friday , the yearly shopping event where everyone hunts for the biggest deals. Apples AirPods are famously popular gifts and travel companions, and various models are often on sale throughout the year. So keep your eyes peeled for great deals on AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max as the Black Friday sales take off. With the AirPods 4 released this year, older models are being phased out, and were not seeing as many deals there. Even if you fin

Macworld Apples new M4 Macs started shipping last Friday, and we have the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro in-house. Why are these some of the more exciting Macs to hit the market? Find out on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 909 with Jason Cross , Michael Simon , and Roman Loyola . Watch episode 909 on YouTube Listen to episode 909 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 909 on Spotify Get info For more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links b

Macworld The AI wars are nothing if not persistent. Apple, Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are all charging ahead, doing their best to make their new AI tools an indispensable part of our daily lives. Googles latest multi-modal AI is called Gemini and it has been available for some time now, easily selectable with a single tap at the top of the Google app on iPhone. Now, in an effort to better promote it, the company has released a stand-alone Gemini iPhone app . The accompanying blog post d

Macworld If youve been waiting to get some AirTags, nows the time to do so because they just dropped to a brand-new low price. You can snatch a four-pack of AirTags for $70 right now , a 29 percent discount on its $99 MSRP and bringing the price down to just $17.50 per AirTag. If youd rather just get one, it will only cost you $19 , but you get an even better value from the larger pack. These AirTags are extremely useful because theyre affordable and can help you keep track of your keys, wallet,

Macworld If youre looking for a deal on anything Apple sellsan iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, MacBook, or anything else, theres no better time to get one than Black Friday . No matter what youre looking to buy, youre going to find a great pricepossibly the lowest ever. The sales start earlier every year, but the best deals are usually seen between Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2). However, were already seeing fantastic deals, so you might not want to wait. Well be updating t

Macworld A class-action lawsuit filed this month accuses Apple of misleading AirPods Pro customers and failing adequately to address an audio defect reported shortly after the products launch in 2019. The suit (via ClassAction.org ) focuses on two seemingly widespread problems with the 1st-gen AirPods Pro: unwanted crackling sounds, and the failure of Active Noise Cancellation to work correctly. These issues were publicized within months of release, but it took Apple almost a year to address the

Macworld Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, and its often the best time to get a good deal on a new iPhone, accessories, or other Apple gear. While Black Friday is really just the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, it has grown into an entire season unto itself, with sales extending several days after and well into December. Officially, Black Friday is Friday, November 29, and extends through Cyber Monday on Monday, December 2. But youll find deals that start earlier a

Macworld iFixit has posted its video teardown of the new M4 Mac mini, and as usual, its a fascinating study of how design, engineering, and technology come togetheror in this case, taken apart While a lot of people are interested in the inner workings of Apples products, the Mac mini might draw more interest than any other product. Theres a widespread belief that users should be able to perform a certain amount of customization and upgrades with desktop computers, even with Macs. And the Mac min

Macworld Apples brand-new MacBook Pro only just went on sale last week and it already has its first discount: Amazon has dropped the price to $1,474 , a savings of $125 off its $1,599 MSRP and a surprising price cut for such a new model. Running on a powerful M4 chip, the MacBook Pro will easily tackle any task you throw its way with extreme ease. And dont forget, it now comes with 16GB of RAM standard, double the previous model, and essentially a $200 price cut. The MacBook Pro already had a go

Macworld If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure , but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN. Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the webyour data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another coun

Macworld Apple just wrapped up its slate of 2024 devices, but its never too early to look ahead. And according to a new report, big things are on the way. As reported by Bloombergs Mark Gurman , Apple is looking to launch a new wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing and use AI to navigate apps. The device, which Gurman says could arrive as early as March, is a priority for Tim Cook, who is pushing to get it to market after more than three years of development.

Macworld According to security researchers, Apple has quietly added a new feature in iOS 18.1 that makes your iPhone harder to crack. 404 Media reported that iPhones stored by police in evidence were rebooting themselves, and it turns out its all due to a new Inactivity Reboot feature shipping in iOS 18.1. First reported by security researcher Jiska Classen , this new feature reboots your iPhone if it has gone unused for at least four days. This puts your iPhone into its Before First Unlock stat

Macworld After a year in which Apple launched the Vision Pro and updated nearly every device in its catalog, you might think Apple is going to rest for a while. According to a new rumor, thats very much not the case. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple will make its first foray into the smart home IP camera market with a new device launching in 2026. It would represent Apples first standalone camera since 2003s iSight camera and its first smart home device. Its not clear whether the camera i

Macworld Easily the hottest feature of iOS 18 , iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 is Apple Intelligence , the brand Apple has chosen for its own particular suite of mostly-on-device, privacy-protected, personal AI features. But when you update your devices this September, youll probably be left scratching your head as to where all the AI features are. First, because Apple Intelligence is only going to run on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or iPhone 16) and M-series Macs and iPads, but also because many of the

Macworld Some deals just keep getting sweeter, it seems, as the Baseus PicoGo W2 wireless charger for your iPhone and laptop is available to buy for $48 at Amazon , a 31 percent discount from its $70 MSRP. This one was already available with a 14 percent discount, but an extra 20 percent off is available via an on-page coupon, so dont forget to check that box. The PicoGo charger is tiny and portable, and it opens up, allowing you to attach your phone to it and charge it while also keeping it at

Macworld Slow and steady wins the race. At least thats what the Vision Pro team seems to be banking on. And, hey, its worked out for Apple on any number of occasions. Its hard to think back that far now when history seems to be on some sort of speed runlook, history, the Macalope watched the guy who finished the Breath of the Wild in 34 minutes and while it was impressive its really not the best way to enjoy the game, okay?but the rollout of the iPod was not exactly blazingly fast. iTunes for Wi

Macworld Whenever Apple drops a new product, certain netizens rush to online corners like Reddit, Threads, and X to complain about the latest design choices. The case with the new Mac mini is no different. Despite the device featuring a competitively miniature, sleek build, many loud critics have fixated on the repositioned power button that now lives on its bottom side. Its classic Appledesign something gorgeous and impressive but all everyone wants to talk about is one head-scratching decision

Macworld Google on Tuesday revealed four new features for the Chrome browser on iOS and iPadOS. These features are currently available on Chrome for Android, but theyre making their iPhone debut. Here are the new features Google Lens: image and text search at the same time Chrome on iOS can do a Google search using an image from your photo library. Google has enhanced this feature so users can add words to the visual query in order to perform specific searches. In an example provided by Google,

Macworld With Apple already including built-in antivirus protection for Macs you might be wondering Do Macs need antivirus software? especially when confronted by pricy monthly subscriptions for services. In this article well explain why you need an extra layer of protection and how to get the best Mac antivirus software deals. Mac security software adds another layer of protection to what Apple already provides, with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords, and financial de

Macworld With Vision Pro failing to set the market alight-and being officially labeled as not a mass-market product the big question is how Apple plans to build a commercially viable product in the VR/AR space, if thats even possible. Ultimately, the most appealing option for a mainstream audience would probably be a slimline pair of glasses with smart tech built in, but the state of technology and Apples own developments mean this isnt likely to appear for some years yet. There are signs of pro

Macworld Thirty years ago, if you asked a member of the public about the future of technology, theres a fair chance youd hear the word miniaturization. Thats the way things seemed to be headed in the 90s, and you could hardly move for observational comedians doing tight fives about funny little camcorders and funny little music players and funny slightly less massive mobile phones. By 2024, we all assumed, a households entire collection of tech products would fit into a matchbox. In any event, i

Macworld Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon the prior year, be thankful for what we have, gorge ourselves until were near bursting, and then settle into our favorite chairs and watch the first half of a TV show before the tryptophan kicks in. If you usually spend your post-meal time falling asleep to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving , you wont find it on the usual broadcast or cable channelsits exclusively on Apple TV+. Before you wave that turkey drumstick in the air and curse the state of tele

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros 2 or 4 USB-C ports Built-in Find My locator Slim charger International Travel Set available Cons Our Verdict Twelve South PlugBug With Find Me is a great travel charger with a built-in locator to give you peace of mind that you should never lose your trusty charger again. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed From $69.99 Best Prices Today: Twelve South PlugBug wit

Macworld With the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro , Apple offers standard configurations to make it easy to pick a laptop. They seem straightforward, but if you start to think about all the things you do on a Macwhether youre a student or a professionalyou can start to wonder about which model to choose and maybe even find it difficult to decide. Its a decision you dont want to take lightly. Youre investing a considerable amount of money, and you dont want to end up with a Mac that isnt up to the ta

Macworld Todays the first day you can freely buy the new Mac mini without a pre-order, and its also the first time were seeing a real discount on Apples tiny PC. Amazon is selling the base model with 256GB of storage for $550 or the model with 512GB for $749 , a savings of $50 off either model. Both now come with 16GB of RAM too. We already reviewed the new Mac mini and found its super tiny and quite, delivers a decent selection of ports, and offers an excellent performance with the speedy M4 ch

Macworld Wondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Want to know what the next version of macOS will be called? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here well fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. Well also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macO

Macworld A year after Apple updated the iMac with an M3 chip Apple has switched in an M4 chip and doubled the memory. The 2024 iMac was announced in October 2024 and went on sale on November 8. Read about the 2024 iMac and read our review: M4 iMac review . With the arrival of the M4 iMac the M3 iMac will no longer be sold by Apple, but you may find those older models available at a discount from resellers while they try to sell off old stock. Note that outside the U.S. the prices have dropped on

Macworld Apple announced the M4 iMac on October 28 and ships to customers on November 8. The updated iMac will have 16GB RAM as standard and features a selection of new colors including new shades of purple, pink, green, orange, and a brand new yellow, joining the silver seen on the previous generation. While this was the first Mac Apple announced would get an M4 chip, it wasnt the first Apple product to ship with the M4. That chip made its debut in the iPad Pro earlier in 2024. The update comes

Macworld Apples 10th-generation iPad was introduced in October 2022. It gained a new colorful design with no Home button, USB-C instead of Lightning, a better camera, and a larger screen (10.9 inches up from 10.2 inches). The iPad mini was updated in October 2024. It costs $150/150 more and offers a better processor and a slightly better display, and comes in a smaller package (which will either be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your preference). In this guide, we will assess wheth

Macworld Changing your Apple Watch band can make an old watch feel brand new again, but it can also get pretty pricey, especially if you buy one of Apples official bands. Well, not anymore, because Amazons Woot is selling a variety of normally-$99 Solo Loop models in all sorts of colors and sizes for up to 70 percent off. Numerous colors are available, from black and white to blues, reds, yellows, green, and purple, and the gorgeous Pride edition in both regular ($30) and braided versions ($20).

Macworld If youre anxious to get your hands on a new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus,iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can buy from Apple directly , either in-store or online, but there are some great deals and promotions offered by popular retailers and carriers. Heres a summary of some of the best deals and promotions offered by retailers and carriers in the U.S. to help you get the best deal on your new iPhone.If youre looking for other models, check out our Best iPhone deals . If you arent

Macworld If youre looking for an iPhone but dont want to spend a fortune, the third-gen iPhone SE , Apples cheapest current handset, is the phone for you. It features a powerful processor (the A15, which also appeared in the flagship iPhone 13 Pro from 2021) at an affordable price, starting at $429 in the U.S. or 429 in the U.K. For a phone thats even cheaper, however, you may want to consider the second-gen iPhone SE from 2020. Apple no longer sells this device itself, but other vendors may sti

Macworld This weeks episode of the Macworld Podcast features a discussion with the MacinTech MUGMUG stands for Mac Users Group, and this one is located in the Denver area of Colorado in the United States. Theyve been together for decades and we take this opportunity to talk about MUGs, how they got started, what MUGs meant to the early days of the Mac, and what has happened to MUGs. MacinTech meets monthly and I joined them during their September meeting, which occurred the day after the Apple G

Macworld Widely used PDF files capture text and images nearly exactly as they display in the application that created them. The format is designed to store text and both bitmapped and vector images, with the text available for searching, copying, and even editing in the proper app. That copying part can lead to oceans of trouble when people try to remove details from a PDF before distributionredacting details from a court case, government documents, or even inter-company communicationsby drawing

Macworld Keep your phone in your pocket or backpack and dust and dirt will certainly enter your phones most vulnerable point of entrythe charging port. Once enough fluff is in there you will find it difficult to properly insert the charging cable and you will have to rely on wireless charging. Dirt transferred from your pocket or bag into the charging port is simply inevitableor is it? After too many trips to the Apple Store, Ive taken to plugging that port with a little stopper. There are sever

Macworld Apple has finally updated the iPad mini! The new (7th-gen) iPad mini launched on October 15, 2024 and went on sale on October 18, three years after the previous generation arrived. The new model is ready for Apple Intelligence (coming with iPadOS 18 ), comes in a new selection of colors, and works with the Apple Pencil Pro. Best of all, Apple has upped the storage, so you now get twice as much for your money. With the arrival of a new iPad mini, Apple has stopped selling the older model