Science/Tech / Macworld
Macworld Designer Marcin Wichary has posted a comprehensive and detailed look at the design of the Mac operating system settings interface. In Frame of preference , Wichary examines the design details of the original Macintosh System Software 1.0, all the way to Mac OS X 10.3 Panther. But Wichary doesnt just offer his commentary; Wichary worked with Mihai Parparita of Infinite Mac to offer emulators of the system software that you can actually use. For example, the entry for the original Mac is
Macworld Apple has released the third beta of iOS 18.6. With all the new features and attention on iOS 26, this release is likely to be simply a bugfix and compatibility update. But while there arent any visible changes in iOS 18.6, it may be required to support new hardware Apple could release in the fall, such as AirPods Pro 3 or the upcoming home hub device. As such, 9to5Mac noticed the following string in the code: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ProgressUI.framework/apple-logo-1088@2x~hom
Macworld Prime Day may have passed, but the Apple Watch Series 10 is still on sale for the same all-time-low price. Amazon is selling the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 for $309 , a massive $120 discount from its $429 MSRP. The Apple Watch Series 10 is simply gorgeous, no matter which color you choose to buy. The aluminum case makes it suitable for any environment, while the silicone band will do just fine even if you go swimming, diving, hiking, or just a night on the town. When we reviewed the App
Macworld Students, teachers, and those who work for an educational institution can save money on a new Mac, MacBook, or iPad by shopping at the Apple Education Store, which offers discounts all year round. In this article, we will explain how much the Apple education discount is and who qualifies for an Apple student discount, before explaining how to get an Apple student discount at the Apple Education Store. Click the link below to go to Apples education storefront in your country: Apples U.S.
Macworld Apple doesnt participate in big industry-wide events such as CES or E3. The most valuable company in the world holds itsown events, thank you very much. Several times a year, Apple invites the press and industry professionals to Apple Park to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these events, andstreams them live online to millions of watchers. So far in 2025 Apple has held one event: its Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ) which kicked off on June 9 with a
Macworld With last months WWDC safely behind us, the next big date in Apples calendar , indeed the biggest date in its entire year, is the launch of the new iPhones this fall. It doesnt take a genius to guess the month when theyll arriveits almost always been Septemberbut a new report goes one better by predicting the week and even specifying two days that are most likely. Near the end of his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman briefly discusses the timing of the iPhone 17
Macworld This time of year can be a little dull if your job is writing about Apple (or, presumably, working for Apple). Theres WWDC at the start of June, which like as not wont see the launch of any hardware products, and then the rest of summer tends to pass with only the most perfunctory of announcements from Cupertinos PR machine. Just as newspapers fill the warmer months with silly-season frivolity, Apples Newsroom page finds itself focusing on baseball schedules and executive retirements .
Macworld Apple holds a Back to School promotion every year (now referred to by Apple as the College Student Offer or Higher Education Offer to avoid confusion because its only open to students once they enter higher education, and the institutions and teachers, not school-age children). As part of the deal, Apple offers an incentive with purchases of qualifying Apple products. Apples Back to School deal runs in various locations around the world during the summer months. The deal usually ends ab
Macworld If youre stocking up for summer BBQs, road trip snacks, or just trying to cut down on weekly grocery bills, Sams Club can be a lifesaver. And right now, your first year of Club membership could be just $20 if you act fast. Its the lowest price weve ever seen, but you only have through tomorrow, July 13, to grab this deal before it disappears. Think about it: Who wouldnt want to buy mountains of snacks, enough toilet paper to build a fort (okay, maybe not), and TVs bigger than your avera
Macworld We get it, were sick of Amazon deals too. But there are still a few hours left of Prime Day, and the deals arent letting up. In fact, were still seeing some of the best prices ever on many of our favorite Apple devicesprices so low that they probably wont be any lower until Black Friday, if ever. So, act fast if you want one of these incredible deals: AirPods Pro 2: $149 Apples AirPods Pro 2 might be nearly three years old, but theyre still among the best noise-cancelling earbuds you ca
Macworld If the Prime Day MacBook deals are still a little rich for your wallet, weve got a great deal for you. B&H is selling the M3 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for $899 , a savings of $400 on the original MSRP and $300 on a similarly specced M4 model. Thats a great savings for a machine that will last for years to come. This MacBook features a gorgeous 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 28801864 resolution. Anything you watch on this thing is going to look fantastic a
Macworld Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+ , its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies. This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. Theres also a ton of new content in the works for Apples $9.99-a-month service. If you want to know whats on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple
Macworld At a glance Pros Powerful, precise mid-range Good battery life Bluetooth and wired connections Rugged and water-proof design Cons Expensive No Wi-Fi or AirPlay A little weak on extreme highs and lows No carrying case Our Verdict The A1 is no bass-boombox, but its clear and powerful mid-range works well for rock, pop and dance music, while its 60W output will really get things moving at a BBQ or beach party. Its more expensive than most of its portable rivals, but the rugged design and s
Macworld Its no secret that Apple tends to experiment with prototypes privately, while many of their rivals use their customers as guinea pigs. The iPhone maker, for the most part, has historically refrained from putting out unfinished products, while Samsung, Google, and others prefer to iterate in public with products that could use some more time in the lab. Nowhere is that clearer than with folding phones. Samsung has been launching new foldable phones for half a decade with varying success,
Macworld A new report from Bloombergs Mark Gurman details Apples current release plans for the first half of 2026. Much of it was already expected, but the biggest scoop is that Apple is considering delaying the new M5 MacBook Prosoriginally slated to be released this falluntil early next year. This fall still looks pretty full. Well have the new iPhone 17 lineup , including a new super-thin iPhone 17 Air, updated Apple Watches, new iPad Pro models, and perhaps an updated version of the Vision P
Macworld Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles know). The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds weve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired h
Macworld Its beautiful, its tiny, its loud, its wireless, and its at an all-time-low price for Prime Day. Apples Beats Pill speaker is down to $98 right now , the best price weve ever seen for this Bluetooth speaker. Its not the first one the Beats Pill has been around, but this new model is a lot better than the old one, louder, and with better battery. With up to 24H battery life, this tiny thing will keep the party going the whole day. It has an IP67 rating, so you can even take it with you t
Macworld We get it, were sick of Amazon deals too. But theres still another 48 hours of Prime Day and the deals arent letting up. In fact, were still seeing some of the best prices ever on many of our favorite Apple devicesprices so low that they probably wont be any lower until Black Friday, if ever. So, act fast if you want one of these incredible deals: AirPods Pro 2: $149 Apples AirPods Pro 2 might be nearly three years old, but theyre still among the best noise-cancelling earbuds you can bu
Macworld Apples best Macs already have a lot going for them, whether thats the muscle of a Mac Studio or the portability of a MacBook Air . But you can take them even further with a few judiciously picked peripherals and accessories designed to galvanize your Mac with a bunch of new superpowers. And youre spoiled for choice here. One benefit of the Macs popularity is the thriving ecosystem of third-party accessories that are available to augment, expand, and otherwise improve your experience of
Macworld Its been about 18 months since Apple Vision Pro arrived, and it hasnt exactly set the world on fire. After the initial and very brief hype died down, Apple has struggled to generate much interest in the high-priced headset, and any presence of it has all but disappeared from Apple Stores. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman , theres a new model coming next year, but it doesnt sound like its going to do much to boost sales. The report claims the refresh will bring small improvements, inc
Macworld Its a pretty common experience to have to download and install a big operating system update as the very first thing when you unbox your brand new device. Its not great, especially when the setup and restore process is already a lengthy one and you just want to use your new Mac already. Apple has a solution for that with iPhones. A system called Presto in Apple stores can wirelessly update an iPhone and apply the latest software update while its still sealed in the box and hasnt gone th
Macworld What happens if you have to charge two devices but only have one cable? Well, if you get one of these uber-fast split Anker cables you wont have to decide which charges first. These cool and clever 4-foot Anker 2-in-1 cables are usually available for $26, but you can get them for $18 on Prime Day . This super interesting cable splits into two Type-C sections so you can charge two devices simultaneously. The cable can hit 140W speed split between the two sections, so you can charge a lap
Macworld We all have spare USB-C chargers hanging around, but they arent all created equally. Most are junky 5W chargers that take forever to fill up our devices and cant be used for laptops. You can now solve both of those problems with this 140W Apple USB-C power adapter thats half off at Woot right now, bringing the price down to just $50 instead of its usual $99. The great thing about this Apple power adapter is that it wont just work with your iPhone and iPads, but also with your MacBook, e
Macworld In just a couple of months, Apple will unveil the iPhone 17. But you dont need to wait to find out what its all about. Rumors, leaks, and info started to circulate months before the iPhone 16 was even formally announced, and there isnt much we dont know by now. Heres everything we know about Apples new iPhones so farand be sure to check back until the big event in September. Updated July 9: There might be a new blue color coming to the iPhone 17 Air, per a Weibo leak. iPhone 17 software
Macworld Even if you dont need a new Mac this Prime Day, you can still power up your existing one with a new monitor or dock. Like this one: the awesome Anker Prime charger is a fantastic $60 off right now , bringing the price to $110, a savings of 35 percent on its $170 MSRP. Thats an absolute bargain considering how powerful, compact, and gorgeous this dock is. It features six fast charging ports that will help you charge all your gear. In our review of the Anker Prime Charger , we gave the de
Macworld Refusing to allow continued failures in the AI arena to dampen its enthusiasm for the topic, Apple appears to be working on an AI-powered chatbot for customer support. Aaron Perris, a contributor for MacRumors , spotted code indicating work on a Support Assistant for the Apple Support app. The assistant isnt live yet, but MacRumors has been able to deduce from the code roughly how it will work. Essentially it looks like Support Assistant will introduce a new layer of chat that customers
Macworld Amazons Prime Day is in full swing, and Apple deals are everywhere. But this one might be the best: Apples newest A16 iPad is down to its lowest price ever as Amazon is now selling Apples entry-level iPad for $279 , a savings of $70 and $20 lower than its previous best price. But while this tablet has a low price, its certainly not cheaply made, with a fantastic 11-inch display, gorgeous design with a variety of bold colors, and a speedy processor (though it doesnt have Apple Intelligen
Macworld Apple doesnt just make Macs, iPhones, iPads, AirPods and so on. The company also makes excellent accessories, including the Apple Pencil (a stylus for the iPad ), Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, various keyboard cases for iPad , and much more. If you want to buy a new Apple keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or any other peripheral, there are plenty of deals to be had all year round. With Prime Day upon us, well be updating this article with details of all the best accessory deals
Macworld Twenty years ago, Mac OS X Tiger introduced us to a search feature that would stand the test of time: Spotlight. And while at the time I found myself ambivalent about its many quirks, some of which were maddening , with the benefit of hindsight, its hard not to be impressed by how far Spotlight has come. Almost every year, Apple has made Spotlight a little better, and macOS Tahoe is its biggest and most impressive upgrade ever. So lets celebrate Spotlight for what it was, what it is, an
Macworld Apple has announced a coming transition to its senior leadership team. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams will retire late this year. His duties as COO will transition later this month to Sabih Khan, who is currently senior vice president of Operations. Khan has been with Apple since 1995, joining the company three years before Williams. When Jony Ive left Apple in 2019, the design team transitioned to report directly to Williams. It will continue to do soas will the Apple Watch and
Macworld According to prolific leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo , Apples super-slim iPhone 17 Air will debut with a new custom color Apple has never used before. Similar to Sierra Blue from the iPhone 13 Pro (above), it is said to be a very light pale blue. In the right lighting, the report claims it might look almost white, which sounds like the pale shades from the iPhone 15 era . However, the post claims, It is different from all the blue colors Apple has released before. And that makes se
Macworld A few months ago, I wrote about how an inexpensive pair of memory foam eartips (typically around $25 on sale) totally changed my relationship with my AirPods Pro 2. Comply foam tips made my AirPods Pro more comfortable and kept them from falling out of my ears. They also block out more outside sound, improving the noise-cancelling performance. Its one of the best inexpensive accessories Ive ever bought, and I wont use AirPods Pro without them. This is an inexpensive accessory to begin w
Macworld Prime Day runs this Tuesday to Friday, but the very best Apple deals wont hang around for long, and new deals will pop up throughout the event. Macworld editors are keeping tabs on the best picks at Amazon and alternative retailers, making sure you dont miss the top bargains, or inadvertently purchase a dud. Stay tuned to our live blog for real-time updates on the Prime Day deals you need to know about on Apple products and accessories. Do note that you must be an Amazon Prime day membe
Macworld Prime Day has landed and were seeing record-low prices on all sorts of Apple gearand iPads werent left out. The iPad Air is on sale for $479 right now, the very best discount weve ever seen for the tablet. The M3 iPad Air is a gorgeous tablet that we adore. With a four-star rating and our Editors Choice award , we found the iPad Air had an outstanding performance, gorgeous display, and excellent battery life. Its ready for iPadOS 26 , coming this fall, and you can pair it with the Apple
Macworld Even at full price, we really like the AirPods 4 with ANC as an affordable alternative to AirPods Pro, but at this price, theyre impossible to pass up. Amazon has slashed the price of the AirPods 4 to $119 , a savings of $60, and by far the very best price weve seen for these buds. This discount is that much more impressive considering the previous best price was just under $150, so being able to get them for $30 under that is just crazy. How crazy? Theyre actually cheaper than Apples r
Macworld Summer is nearly here, and that means beaches, baseball, and everyones favorite sale, Prime Day! Amazons annual Prime Day will be held from July 8-11, and there may be no better time to get your hands on Apple gear. Read on for all the details. When is Prime Day 2025? Amazon has announced that Prime Day will run between July 8 and July 11, which is similar to the time frame to Amazons usual summer sale event. However, this is the first time Prime Day will last four days, meaning there w
Macworld With Prime Day savings offering gobs of money off some of the best Macs, now is a great time to buy a new Apple computer. One of the biggest decisions youll have to make when buying a new Mac is whether you should buy a desktop model or opt for a laptop instead. Apples laptops might seem like the best choice, with a combination of portability and price, but Apple also offers a great selection of desktops, from the teeny-tiny M4 Mac mini to the all-in-one iMac. So the next time youre sho
Macworld If youre in the market for a new Mac, the good news is Amazon Prime Day is coming soon! It runs from today through to July 11, and youre going to find some of the best Mac discounts over the 4-day sale. The Amazon Prime Day sale is a great way to save some money when buying a new Mac. We see some of the best Mac deals during Prime Day, plus, the sale comes at a time when you might be thinking about back-to-school shopping, making its July timing ideal. Below you will find links to the d
Macworld If you are wondering if MacBooks are on sale for Prime Day, you will be glad to learn that yes, you can find savings on MacBooks at Amazon. Huge savings, in fact! Sales on MacBooks are normal for most of the year, but the best deals tend to happen during Amazons big sales events. With Amazons Prime Day running for four days from Tuesday, July 8, and continuing until it all ends on July 11, this could be a great time to save money on a new Mac laptop. And we are already seeing big saving
Macworld Apples ongoing fight with regulators over App Store rules can get pretty confusing at times. Sometimes its hard to know whether regulators are being over-zealous in their required changes, or when Apples rules are simply patently unfair. But this week we have good news! At least one issue is a lot simpler because we now have the perfect example of why Apples anti-steering policy and the companys subsequent ham-fisted efforts to Wait, is it a mixed metaphor to say hamstring here or is it
Macworld Amazons annual Prime Day sale is longer than ever this year, lasting until Friday, July 11, which means youll have even more time to grab a great deal on a new iPad. All of Apples tablets, from the iPad Air and Pro to the mini and 11th-gen iPad, are already seeing some of their best prices ever. The Prime Day iPad deals picked here are all chosen by our editors, who have decades of experience with Apple devices. Weve reviewed everything we recommend, and we wont tell you to buy somethin
Macworld Amazons annual Prime Day sales event is a fantastic opportunity to find a good deal on the Apple Watch, and this year, youll get even more time to save. Amazons Prime Day sale runs a whopping four days this year, from today to Friday, July 11, and were already seeing some great Prime Day Apple Watch deals. The Apple Watch models picked here are all chosen by our editors, who have decades of experience with Apple devices. Weve reviewed everything we recommend, and we wont recommend buyin
Macworld If youre in the market for a new iPhone, Amazons Prime Day sales might be a good time to find a dealwith a few caveats. In the U.K., you can find the latest iPhones at Amazon and at other resellers. With Prime Day upon us we are seeing discounts on the iPhone 16 series and on the older iPhone 15 models. If you arent sure which iPhone to buy take a look at our iPhone buying guide and our comparison of every iPhone . If you are in the U.S., you wont see deals on new iPhones (only renewed/
Macworld If youre looking for a new pair of AirPods, Amazons twice-yearly Prime Day sales are a great time to look for a discount. Amazon often has AirPods on sale for well below Apples MSRP, but when big sales events like this come around, you can often get a pair for an all-time-low price. The AirPods picked here are all chosen by our editors, who have decades of experience with Apple devices. Weve reviewed everything we recommend and we wont tell you to buy something thats not actually worth
Macworld If youre shopping for AirPods this Prime Day , you can stop now. Apples AirPods Pro 2 are down to their lowest price ever $149, a whopping $100 off and a ridiculously low price for a fantastic set of earbuds. Even at $249, AirPods Pro 2 get our full recommendation, with incredible noise cancellation, excellent battery life, and fantastic sound. Youll also get a slew of software features, including Hearing Health that provides a clinical-grade hearing test and the worlds first software-e
Macworld Apple released only one new Apple Watch in 2024: the Apple Watch Series 10. It offers a refined design and a few modest upgrades over the Series 9. Apple did not update the Ultra 2, and instead just added a new color option. You can also still buy the Apple Watch SE from 2022. In this guide, we will help you decide which Apple Watch is best for you. Well compare the features, specs and price as well as offer advice on choosing cases, colors, and straps in our Apple Watch comparison char
Macworld Apple changed its AirPods lineup by introducing the AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation. The update makes it a little easier than before to decide whether you get the standard AirPods or step up to the AirPods Pro 2. Lets look at the differences between the three earbudstheres a lot more than just the shape and fit. This guide will help you make the proper buying decision for yourself or the person youre shopping for. AirPods and AirPods Pro features compared Heres
Macworld Every year, Apple updates the Mac operating system. The current version of macOS is macOS 15.5, but development of macOS 26 (not macOS 16) is well underway. Apple runs a beta program, which means developers and registered public testers can try out new features before they are released to the general public later in the year. The beta process doesnt stop with the full release of macOS in the fall. After macOS 15 Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, development continued with new f
Macworld Prime Day came early for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as this gorgeous smartwatch has dropped to a brand-new low price of $649 . Thats $150 off one of the best wearables you can get right now. There are so many things to love about the Ultra 2 , starting with its huge display and rugged black titanium design. Theres a built-in GPS and cellular connectivity, as well as the customizable Action button. Its also got an array of sensors so its great at tracking workouts, hiking trips, and just ab
Macworld When Apple launched its first smartwatch in 2015, there was a sense that the company didnt exactly know what the device was for. But within a few years, it carved out an identity focusing mainly on health and fitness, with millions of owners using their Apple Watches to track metrics such as steps taken, minutes of exercise each day, and how often they stand. Nearly every other smartwatch soon followed Apples lead, and they all promise to help you get fit and stay healthy. A new report,