Macworld

Macworld iFixit has posted its video teardown of the new M4 Mac mini, and as usual, it’s a fascinating study of how design, engineering, and technology come together–or in this case, taken apart While a lot of people are interested in the inner workings of Apple’s products, the Mac mini might draw more interest than any other product. There’s 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 mini has been used in unique situations and projects. Teardowns like iFixit’s don’t just satisfy curiosity, they provide useful information. Watch iFixit’s video, and after that, here are a few takeaways from the teardown. It’s packed to the gills The M1 and M2 Mac minis used an old design and left a lot of space inside. With the new design, the Mac mini is immensely packed. It’s an incredible feat of design and engineering, but it also provides a serious hurdle to do-it-yourselfers. Which leads us to… It’s user upgradeable…but is it, really? Apple clearly has an idea of what components should be accessible, and it’s obvious in the Mac mini. For example, the CMOS battery is designed for access without diving deeper into the machine. In fact, it’s the only component that’s readily accessible. We heard early reports about the Mac mini’s SSD being upgradeable and the iFixit video provides more info. The M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis use modules of different sizes and iFixit couldn’t get its Mac mini to work when they tried swapping the SSDs. iFixit often refers to the Mac mini as being upgradeable, but being “upgradeable” involves the ability to remove a part and replace it with an available part. At this point, there’s no available part for the Mac mini. Apple uses a proprietary SSD module that is nothing like the NVMe SSDs used in Windows PCs and is made by third parties such as Crucial. You can’t buy a NVMe and pop it into the Mac mini. Could a company make a Mac mini-compatible SSD module? Maybe, but would it be worth the investment for them? It’s hard to say. The Mac mini’s SSD is similar to that of the Mac Studio, and a Kickstarter project to make a third-party Mac Studio SSD upgrade has exceeded its funding goal, but it has only 142 backers. Granted, the Mac Studio is more of a niche than the Mac mini, but it still seems like a low-volume endeavor. In case you’re wondering, the RAM is incorporated in the M4 chip, as it has since the M1. There is no way to upgrade RAM after purchase. The fan is big The ring of vents at the bottom of the Mac mini leads to a fan that takes up a considerable amount of space (and even more space in the M4 Pro model). I can’t help but wonder if smaller cooling units can be used, which could make the Mac mini even more tiny. For example, Frore System makes “solid-state active cooling chips” that are super thin and effective. Last year, I covered how they modified a MacBook Air with its cooling chips, which allowed it to stop throttling to maintain a proper operating temperature. I don’t know what a system like Frore’s would cost to implement, but I imagine it’s not as cheap as a fan, so it may be too pricey for consideration.

Macworld Apple’s 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 don’t 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 good battery, but they’ve improved on that too. In our test, the laptop ran for about 20 hours before finally shutting down. That’s more than enough for you to leave home without a charger. In our review of the MacBook Pro M4, we gave it a near-perfect score, praising its performance, the powerful Center Stage camera, and the nano-texture glass display. The 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR display offers stunning colors, high brightness, and sharp details: “The changes that Apple made to the $1,599/£1,599 M4 MacBook Pro not only made it a clear pro laptop (finally), but it also created a package bursting with value.” So there you have it—skip Black Friday and get yourself the MacBook Pro M4 because we don’t know how long this sale will last. Snatch the MacBook Pro M4 at its cheapest price everBuy it now at Amazon

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 web–your data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another country. This latter reason is the main reason many people use a VPN: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K or BBC iPlayer from the U.S. If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security online, and to grant you a way to access content as if you are in a different country, we are here to help. There are a lot of VPN providers vying for your business, which can make finding the best one to suit your needs difficult. To help you sort out the right provider for you, we’ve committed to extensive research and testing of VPN services that cater to Mac owners in our guide to the top VPN services for Mac. Updated: November 2024 with a review of Norton’s Ultra VPN. PROMOTION Black Friday Deal: Up to 74% off NordVPN + 3 extra months! Upgrade your online security and privacy with NordVPN. Shield your online traffic. Choose from 5,800+ global servers for blazing speeds. Block web trackers, annoying ads, and unsafe websites. Try NordVPN risk free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get the Deal Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Our top choice right now is NordVPN, which we feel stands out in many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Get NordVPN here Below you will find the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. Most of these will cost less than $3/£3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps, so it’s worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you could cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals. ProtonVPN has a free tier. All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guides to the best VPNs for iPhone and best VPNs for iPad. 1. NordVPN Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. It’s a fully featured VPN option that’s secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one that’s not overloaded. You won’t have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy ‘Quick connect’ feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, it’s only available on the ‘IKE’ version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, you’ll need to download the ‘OpenVPN’ version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan. NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. You can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) or the Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. Prices change all the time, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com. Read our full NordVPN review 2. ExpressVPN Pros Easy-to-use desktop program Broad device support Excellent speeds Cons ExpressVPN’s team is largely anonymous Expensive 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections If you want to circumnavigate geoblocking to get access to content not available where you live, protect your data while browsing the web from a public network, and keep your web browsing habits private, ExpressVPN, with its server locations across 105 countries, can do just about all of this with two or three clicks. ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use, but if you have any difficulties the 24-hour live chat means you can be connected to a real human to discuss issues within minutes. There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Windows. Plus you can use it on eight devices at once (the limit was five previously). Like all VPNs there is some speed loss because you are routing via a server in another country, but ExpressVPN does well to mitigate this, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. NordVPN remains faster with a 12% loss in our tests, but ExpressVPN’s 13% is still better than most. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol. Lightway, the company’s own option, is rapid. For improved compatibility you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN – things slowed down with  24% of speed loss with the latter. There’s no Malware protection with ExpressVPN, but you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so it’s free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies’ jurisdiction. While it also operates a no-log policy, it doesn’t have PureVPN’s “always-on” audit process, but it undergoes audits each year. ExpressVPN’s more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesn’t allow access from unlimited devices (just eight). But you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss, and you don’t have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here. Read our full ExpressVPN review 3. ProtonVPN Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections ProtonVPN‘s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. It’s naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop – but it’s still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users.  Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics – and does so very well. The company’s “no-logs” policy confirms it doesn’t track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesn’t log data there’s very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the company’s ‘Secure’ servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, it’s only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs we’ve test

Macworld The all-important iOS 18.2 software update for iPhone is set to launch on December 9, based on an apparent gaffe by a U.K. carrier. Officially, Apple has announced only that iOS 18.2 will roll out in the month of December. But an additional clue was provided earlier this month when EE sent a notice to customers that its shared number service would no longer be available on MacBooks and iPads from December 9. As MacRumors notes, that’s a change expected to take effect with the launch of iOS 18.2, because the second developer beta of the update contains a new EE carrier settings version which removes the toggle related to that feature. This in itself might not seem entirely conclusive, but the date makes sense in other respects too. It’s a Monday, which is when iOS updates are often released, and it gets the update out ahead of the holiday season. And the previous Monday is Cyber Monday, which is unlikely to feature such a major release. So, unless Apple reacts to the “leak” by altering its plans, the chances are that this is the correct date. And the launch of iOS 18.2 is a reasonably big deal. One of the criticisms of Apple’s fall 2024 launch cycle has been that important features weren’t available when the new iPhones went on sale. Apple Intelligence didn’t appear at all until iOS 18.1, while many of its features have been held back until iOS 18.2. The update is expected to add Visual Intelligence, Genmoji and other AI-based image generation, ChatGPT integration, support for localized English in the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and much more. Read our guide to the Apple Intelligence rollout for more details of the imminent new features.

Macworld Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, and it’s 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, while Cyber Monday is Monday, December 2. But you’ll find deals that start earlier and end later. We check prices on iPhone models all year round, so at any point you can check out our best iPhone deals article for up-to-date info on the top deals. If you want one of the latest iPhone 16 models, we have separate advice for readers in the U.S. and the U.K., and don’t forget our round-up of the best Apple deals that we also update all year round. That said, Black Friday is generally expected to bring the best deals of the year. You can find early deals below as well as some advice on what will be on sale based on what we saw last year. We’ll be updating this page imminently, as the discounts start to come in and as Apple announces its own Black Friday 2024 sale. Black Friday 2024: Apple’s shopping event Every year Apple holds a shopping event from Black Friday (November 29) to Cyber Monday (December 2). However, since Apple rarely discounts its products, the event consists of gift card offers rather than actual savings. In 2023 you could get gift cards for the following amounts with the following iPhones purchased from Apple.com. This year, the deals will likely apply to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, but not the iPhone 16. iPhone 14$75£60iPhone 13$50£40 iPhone deals: What to get Apple’s newest iPhones are the iPhone 16 ($799), 16 Plus ($899), 16 Pro ($999), and 16 Max ($1,199). The iPhone 14 ($599) and 14 Plus ($699), and 15 ($699) and 15 Plus ($799) are also still offered for sale, as well as the iPhone SE ($429). You can save some money by buying an older iPhone, but you’ll be giving up some newer features, most notably Apple Intelligence. We don’t recommend buying an iPhone SE even if it’s free through a carrier as it’s several years old and is due to get an update in early 2025. iPhone deals from U.S. carriers for Black Friday 2024 These are the deals that are available from the three major U.S. carriers. Conditions always apply here–you may need to have a specific plan, open a new line, or trade in a device. Most U.S. carrier deals require you to buy the phone on an installment plan, and then you get the discount as bill credits toward your monthly payment. In the U.S., the only big iPhone deals you can find come from carriers, and have a lot of strings attached. Typically, you have to buy a phone on a multi-year installment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. AT&T: Get up to $1,000 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile: Get up to $830 in bill credits toward the purchase of any iPhone 16 model when you trade in your old phone and join the Go5G plan. Verizon: Get up to $100 in bill credits toward any iPhone 16 Pro model with a trade-in and the activation of a new line on the Ultimate Unlimited plan. Amazon: Amazon has partnered with Boost Infinite, a new carrier owned by Dish that primarily uses T-Mobile and AT&T towers for now. $65/mo gets you a free iPhone 16 Pro and unlimited talk, text, and data. Restrictions apply. iPhone deals in the U.K. This is our pick of the best U.K. iPhone deals in November 2024. For the latest deals on specific models, check the automated price comparison tables below. John Lewis, iPhone 15 (128GB): £681 (£18 off, RRP £699) plus two-year guarantee John Lewis, iPhone 15 Plus (128GB): £793.61 (£5.39 off, RRP £799) Argos, iPhone 15 Pro (128GB): £899 (RRP was £999, DISCONTINUED) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB): £1,099 (RRP was £1,199, DISCONTINUED) Amazon, iPhone 14: £499 (£100 off, RRP £599) KRCS, iPhone SE (64GB): £375.21 (£53.79 off, RRP £429) KRCS, iPhone SE (128GB): £424.71 (£54.29 off, RRP £479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB): £449 (RRP was £499, DISCONTINUED) Argos, iPhone 13 mini (128GB): £499 (£150 off, RRP was £649, DISCONTINUED) iPhone accessories are on sale this Black Friday Many of the best deals are going to be on iPhone accessories–cases, chargers, cables, and the like. There are way too many such products to keep track of, and many small discounts come and go throughout the Black Friday sale. We highlight only the most interesting bargains; products that are rarely discounted or exceptionally good prices on accessories we recommend. U.S. Amazon, MagSafe charger (2M): $34 ($15 off, MSRP $49) Amazon, AirTag: $19 ($10 off, MSRP $29) Amazon, AirTag (4-pack): $69 ($30 off, MSRP $99) Amazon, Belkin BoostCharge Wireless Power Bank: $49 ($10 off) Amazon, UGreen 2-in-1 magnetic charging station: $29 ($10 off) U.K. Amazon U.K., Apple MagSafe Charger: £39 (£6 off) Amazon U.K., AirTag 4-pack: £95 (£24 off) Currys, single AirTag for £28.99 (£6.01 off) You can also find more Apple accessory Black Friday deals. iPhone 15 deals MSRP: $799/£799 Retailer Price $729 View Deal $729.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Plus deals MSRP: $899/£899 Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Pro deals MSRP: $999/£999 Retailer Price $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Pro Max deals MSRP: $1,199/£1,199 Retailer Price $1099.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 14 Pro Max deals MSRP was: $1,099/£1,149 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $597.68 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 14 Pro deals MSRP was: $999/£1049 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $492.48 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $498.20 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $500.92 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Gold – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $536.91 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $594.90 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $597.68 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $604.04

Macworld Analysts speculated earlier this year that the iPhone 16 and its AI capabilities would trigger a new upgrade super cycle. Fired up by the innovative functions of Apple Intelligence, customers were expected to buy new handsets in record numbers, even if their current iPhone was still in perfect working order. A few weeks after the launch, however, much of that enthusiasm appeared to have fizzled out. In Germany, for example, we found it easy to get hold of the new phones, either from an Apple Store or on Amazon, with the latter able to deliver the device as early as the following week. In the U.K. right now, the cheapest configuration of the iPhone 16 Pro is available for next-day delivery. This is all a far cry from the stock shortages we usually encounter when an iPhone is a spectacular success. One possible reason why the iPhone 16 has not triggered a super cycle is the slow introduction of Apple Intelligence. The first features weren’t available until several weeks after launch in the U.S. and Canada, while European users may have to wait as much as a year. If AI was the key to success, delaying AI could have been a critical error. A cycle of innovation Another issue could be the psychology of consumerism: to a lot of buyers it’s not what’s inside that counts, but the external design. An abstract upgrade such as a 40 percent increase in performance is less appealing than new colors, shapes, and materials. And this is confirmed by sales data: the biggest leaps were made by the iPhone generations that brought noticeable changes in shape or dimensions. We’ve put Apple’s iPhone sales in a diagram (bars) and also calculated how big the percentage difference was compared to the same quarter of the previous year (line). Because Apple has been releasing iPhones in the fall since the iPhone 4s in 2011, the new models make a big contribution to sales in the first quarter of each fiscal year: that’s where you’ll see the biggest bars. But in terms of percentage differences, the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone X, and iPhone 12 have delivered the biggest jump compared to previous generations. Why were these models the big winners? Because of design. The iPhone 6 Plus, for example, was the first time Apple introduced a larger model alongside the standard-size model; that’s a very noticeable change. (Two years earlier, the iPhone 5 had already increased the screen diagonally from 3.5 to 4 inches, but that’s a little more subtle.) For the iPhone X, an anniversary model, Apple switched to a borderless design, replacing the Home button and Touch ID with Face ID facial recognition for biometric authentication. The notch provided for this purpose quickly became a recognizable, perhaps even iconic feature. And the iPhone 12 was the first square-edged smartphone since the iPhone 5S was discontinued, six years previously. Although the iPhone 13 is the most successful iPhone model to date in terms of pure sales, the 12 sold 17 percent better than its predecessor, whereas the 13 was up by just 9 percent. The iPhone 12 was a bigger step forward for the company. The iPhone 16 Pro is a great phone, but it’s not the revolutionary change we were hoping for.Anyron Copeman / Foundry Looking down the road So where does this leave the iPhone 16? It offers Apple Intelligence, it’s true. But that wasn’t available at launch, many features have yet to arrive, and for a large proportion of potential buyers who live outside the U.S., it’s not available at all. In terms of design change, meanwhile, the iPhone 16 offers very little that’s new. Compare this to the launches planned for 2025. If the rumors about the iPhone 17 Air are true–and they’ve been swirling for more than half a year now–then it will be the first model in five years to feature a radically new design, similar to the extremely thin iPad Pro M4 models. Add to that a striking color, like the Product Red that was discontinued with the iPhone 14, and it’s sure to be a bestseller. Our interest and optimism is further piqued by the latest developments at Apple. John Ternus’ hardware team has seen some important promotions in recent days: Richard Dinh, for example, became Vice President of iPhone Product Design. Ternus himself has promised radical innovations in iPhone design in an internal memo, calling the roadmap the “most ambitious in the product’s history.” So things are looking up. Just not until next year.

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 Mac–whether you’re a student or a professional–you can start to wonder if you might need more RAM or a bigger SSD, or if extra GPU cores might be useful. Choosing the right model isn’t as straightforward as choosing a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air–you also need to decide just how much MacBook you really need. It’s a decision you don’t want to take lightly. You’re investing a considerable amount of money, and you don’t want to end up with a Mac that isn’t up to the task or a Mac that has more than you need. This guide was created to help shoppers figure out what to look for when buying a MacBook. We’ll cover the main components you need to consider: the CPU, the GPU, the amount of unified memory (RAM), the SSD, the display, the battery, and the ports. We’ll go over what your use case may be, and which component configurations would work best to help you get the most bang for your buck. In this article we are considering the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, but the advice will also apply if you are buying a Mac desktop. For more help read our Which Mac buying guide. What is the Apple M chip? Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Best Prices Today: $899 at Amazon Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Best Prices Today: $1,099 at Amazon Let’s start with a brief overview of the heart of every Mac: the M System on a Chip. It’s called a System on a Chip (SoC, or just “chip”) because, unlike past chips, it includes more than just a CPU that does the main job of processing work. It also houses the graphics processors (GPUs), the unified memory (a combination of CPU and GPU RAM), and the SSD for file storage. In the past, these were all separate components. A benefit of having all these components under one unified part is that it helps with performance and power efficiency. A drawback is that the user cannot upgrade the components after purchase. So, it’s even more important than before to carefully consider the specifications you need for what you do. Also read: How to check the specs of your Mac: find out processor and RAM, our Mac Processor Comparison and our comparison of every Apple processor. CPU: How many processing cores do I need? The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main data processing component and is divided into processing cores. There are two types of cores, which Apple divides into performance and efficiency cores. Generally, the more cores in a CPU, the faster the processing speed. Apple currently offers five CPU models in its MacBooks: the M2, M3, M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. The M2 and M3 has the lowest CPU core count, while the M4 Max has the highest. Which one is right for you? Let’s break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores): a good chip for everyday usage and can handle tasks in media editing apps. M3 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores): you do the usual everyday tasks and work, which includes web browsing, light productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Microsoft Office), media streaming, light gaming, easy media production (iMovie, GarageBand). M4 (10-core CPU with 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores): a lot like the M3, but a bit faster. M4 Pro (12- or 14-core CPU with 8 or 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you are regularly performing work that’s a bit more in-depth, such as complex Excel spreadsheets, multi-layer image editing, and creation in Photoshop or other graphics apps, production of video and audio shorts, databases, serious gaming. M4 Max (14- or 16-core CPU with 10 or 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you make a living as a media producer (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Autodesk Maya, etc.), software developer, or any other work that requires multitasking and long hours with heavy work. Keep in mind that the base M4 is robust enough to handle the tasks that the M4 Max is designed for–it just takes longer to finish. If you only occasionally need to do those high-end jobs or you’re learning how to do them, you can live with the M4. The M3 and M4 chips offer different CPU, GPU, memory, and SSD configurations.Macworld.se GPU: How many graphics cores do I need? The GPU (graphics processing unit) is primarily used for rendering graphics and video on the screen. However, because GPUs offer parallel processing, a GPU can be used for other jobs, including AI, though the NPU (which is the same across all MacBooks) handles much of that workload. As with the CPU, the GPU has processing cores, and the more cores, the better the performance. Apple partners the increase of CPU cores along with the increase of GPU cores, so you don’t have to worry about, say, getting a M3 Pro chip with not enough CPU cores. Which one is right for you? Let’s break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU): capable of everyday tasks and casual games. M3 (8- or 10-core GPU): general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 (10-core GPU): like the M3, general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 Pro (16- or 20-core GPU): moderate to serious media production and gaming. M4 Max (32- or 40-core GPU): professional-level media production and hard-core gaming. RAM: How much unified memory do I need in a Mac? Apple’s M chips use unified memory, which is where the chip reads and writes the data it is working on. It’s called “unified memory” because it’s used by both the CPU and GPU. It’s often referred to as RAM (random access memory). (Traditionally, “RAM” referred to the memory used by the CPU only, and the GPU used video RAM or VRAM). Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Best Prices Today: $1,839 at Amazon Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Best Prices Today: $3,101.89 at Amazon When Apple originally introduced the MacBook Air in March 2024, the standard configurations came with 8GB of RAM. When Apple introduced the M4 series of MacBook Pro in October 2024, it increased the base standard configuration fro 8GB to 16GB unified memory. At the same time, the MacBook Air M3 and M2 got the boost to 16GB RAM without a price increase. So, now all MacBooks sold by Apple have a minimum of 16GB of RAM, and some standard configurations have more. Each M-series chip comes with a standard configuration of unified memory. Here are the standard memory configurations Apple offers and where you may want to upgrade. 16GB: Good enough if you’re doing general productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 24GB or 32GB: Nice amount for moderate media production, graphic work, podcasting, and gaming. Even for people who don’t do processor-intensive work, this is a better fit. Above 32GB: Professional-level graphics and media production, software development, hardcore gaming.  Remember, you can’t add RAM later, so make sure you consider spending a little more to customize your Mac at purchase. For example, the M4’s standard configuration is 16GB, but an option for 24GB is available for $200. It’s not cheap, but we recommend getting as much memory as you can afford. You can’t go wrong with opting for more memory than the standard configuration–it helps with performance. Also read: How much RAM is in my Mac and do I need more? and How to clear RAM on a Mac: tips to free up memory. SSD: How much space for file storage do I need? The Mac uses a solid-state drive (SSD) to store your files, apps, and other data. But in addition to data storage, the SSD can play a role in a Mac’s performance. The larger the capacity, the better the performance, mostly in instances that involve very large files. The higher the SSD capacity, the more NAND chips Apple uses. The more chips in use, the faster the performance, because the data can be accessed in parallel. For example, a 10GB file saved over four SSD chips is faster than the same file saved over two SSD chips. For smaller files used by most people, the difference is still there but isn’t noticeable. So there are two considerations for the SSD size: How much room you need, and how big are the files you create. With that in mind, here are some recommendations. 256GB: General productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 512GB: Frequent work in iMovie, GarageBand, and other consumer-level media production apps. 1TB or more: Professional media production in apps such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Compressor, etc., software development, graphics. These considerations don’t involve

Macworld Plug your MacBook in and out of a multi-port docking station to swiftly add devices and external displays to your laptop. We tested a bunch to find the best Thunderbolt and USB-C docks available to owners of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Below we help you choose the best dock for you by explaining the different features on offer. You want to jump straight to the full Best Dock recommendation chart or click below for our top three choices. Note that one of the other options among our reviews might be a closer fit to your needs. Best Thunderbolt 4 dock for Macs: Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – check at Amazon Best USB-C dock for Macs: Satechi Dual Dock Stand – check at Amazon Most powerful Thunderbolt 4 dock: CalDigit TS4 – check at Amazon Thunderbolt 3, 4, USB4 or USB-C The connectors all look the same (technically known as a “Type-C connector”), but there are significant differences, particularly on data-transfer speed—with USB-C maxing out at 10Gbps (usually 5Gbps) compared to the 40Gbps of Thunderbolt 3 and 4. More like Thunderbolt than USB-C, USB4 can be either 20Gbps or 40Gbps. That extra bandwidth allows not just for faster data transfer but higher frame rates to external displays, plus some other smart benefits. Of Apple’s recent laptop ranges, the M1/M2/M3 MacBook Air and 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro feature two ports that Apple specifies as “Thunderbolt / USB 4” ports, while the 14in and 16in M1/M2/M3 Pro, plain M4 MacBook Pro, and M1/M2/M3 Max MacBook Pro models come with three Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) ports. Ignore Apple’s dual designation of non-4 Thunderbolt and USB4—it just means that the ports don’t certify as pure Thunderbolt 4, and that shouldn’t worry most users except for the number of external displays each supports. Apple’s latest M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro models feature three of the latest Thunderbolt 5 ports, which are backwards compatible with TB4, TB3 and USB-C. Thunderbolt devices and docks are extremely rare right now but promise 80Gbps data transfer and 120Gbps video rates. Until the technology finds its way into more devices and the Thunderbolt 5 dock market matures, you are still going to do very well with a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 dock. Apple’s older 12in MacBook features one 5Gbps Gen 1 USB-C port, while the later Intel MacBook Air (2018 and later) and MacBook Pro (from 2016) boast either two or four 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports. If your MacBook is equipped with Thunderbolt 4, then you really should buy a TB4 dock if you need more ports than those 14/16in laptops already possess. USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 docks will work as Thunderbolt 4 is backwards compatible. Indeed, buying a Thunderbolt 4 dock is a wise decision for everyone, based on future-proofing even for owners of Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) Macs. That said, there are still some great—and often more affordable—TB3 and USB-C docks available, and most Apple users won’t see much difference between TB3 and TB4—the Thunderbolt 4 standard was mainly about getting Windows laptops up to speed, although there are technical benefits for MacBook Pro users, such as smarter daisy-chaining and faster PCI hard-drive connections. For more detail, read our Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 3 vs USB4 explainer. We have included some cheaper (non-Thunderbolt) USB-C docks. If you don’t require the ultimate bandwidth for the fastest data transfer and best screen frame rates or resolutions, a USB-C dock might suit your purposes and save you money.  Add external displays to your MacBook If you use your laptop as your principal computer, you would do well to consider attaching at least one larger display to create a hybrid desktop/laptop setup (with a keyboard, mouse and printer all available via a single connection to your MacBook). You can turn that 13in laptop’s screen real-estate into an iMac-sized 27in or even larger monitor by adding an extra display—or connect two or even four large screens to extend your screen across your whole desk. Take a look at our recommended best monitors and displays for Mac. If you want to connect more than one external display to your MacBook without adding third-party software you’ll need a Thunderbolt dock, rather than a USB-C dock—unless you install third-party DisplayLink software. Natively over USB-C, Macs can only connect to one external display in Extended mode (where the screen extends beyond what you can see on the laptop screen, as opposed to Mirrored mode that replicates exactly what you get on the laptop screen) but you’ll get two Extended mode screens over a Thunderbolt connection. While Apple’s MacBooks featuring the company’s own M-series Silicon chips are super speedy compared to the models sporting Intel processors, models with plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1 and M2 chips come with an incredible limitation: they don’t support more than one external display in Extended Mode even via their Thunderbolt ports. Plain M3 MacBooks can support two displays but only with their lids closed. This limitation means that when using any docking station, M1 and M2 MacBook users cannot extend their desktop over two or more displays, and will be limited to either dual Mirrored displays or one external display—although adding third-party DisplayLink or InstantView software to the Mac and connecting to a dedicated USB-C dock will allow you to add more than one external monitor to an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. Follow that link for our roundup of the best USB-C DisplayLink docks, and we’ve included our favorite in our roundup below. Thankfully, the superior M1/M2/M3 “Pro” and M1/M2/M3 “Max” MacBook Pro models—plus the plain M4—can support multiple displays. Below our list of the best MacBook docking stations, we’ve listed the native external display options for each MacBook. One dock supports up to four 6K displays if you own a Max MacBook Pro. While some docking stations promise support for 8K displays, Macs are limited to 6K support via the dock. Macs with an M2/M3/M4 Pro or Max chip can support an 8K display at 60Hz but only when it is connected via the Mac’s own HDMI port and not any port on the dock. Do I need a docking station? All the latest MacBook Pro models boast a wider range of built-in ports, so lighter users might not need a docking station at all. Below the list of our recommended Mac docks is a detailed look at the ports that each recent MacBook includes as standard. With three TB4 and an HDMI port, a MacBook with a Max chip could connect to up to four external displays without the need for a dock, although such a power user would likely require extra Thunderbolt ports for other devices to make up for using all the laptop ports for multiple monitors. See below our list of recommended docking stations for more detail on the external display options with each recent MacBook. All docks come with a bunch of USB ports: some old-school USB-A and newer, more capable USB-C. MacBook Pros also have an SD card reader. Although this is rated as UHS-II (312MBps), Apple has pegged it back at 250MBps, so for the fastest speeds (and a microSD slot if you need one), a dock will likely be a better choice for memory-card use if it is rated at UHS-II rather than UHS-I (104MBps). MacBooks also lack wired Internet access via a Gigabit Ethernet port, so if you want to escape flaky Wi-Fi, buy a dock with at least Gigabit Ethernet, although you could add a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter if you have a spare TB port. Some later docks include faster 2.5Gb Ethernet but you’ll need a 2.5GbE router or other device to get the benefit. As Gigabit Ethernet’s speed is 1Gbps, a cheaper 5Gbps USB-C to Ethernet adapter will work just as well. Dock or hub? If you just need a few extra ports, a USB-C hub or Thunderbolt 4 hub might be your best choice—see our roundup of the best USB-C and Thunderbolt hubs for Mac. However, if you require a bunch of fast ports including Gigabit (or faster) Ethernet and multiple video ports plus more powerful charging capability, then look for a full dock that fulfills your needs, and you are in exactly the right place to discover which dock is best for your and you MacBook. USB-C and Thunderbolt speeds Foundry Thunderbolt vs USB-C dock compatibility Plain USB-C runs at either 5Gbps or 10Gbps, while Thunderbolt (TB3 and TB4) hits speeds of 40Gbps. You can hook up a Thunderbolt laptop to a USB-C dock but you won’t access the faster speeds unless you buy a true Thunderbolt dock. Thunderbolt 5, offering 80Gbps, has now joined the party with the M4 Max MacBooks, but actual TB5 devices and docks are very rare. • USB and Thunderbolt speeds explained USB PD: Power Delivery for your laptop Look out for a dock with USB PD. The PD stands for Power Delivery.  Charging the laptop: The M1/M2/M3 MacBook Air requires a PD charger with at least 30W power, but you can fast-charge an M2 Air with a charger rated at over 70W. You’ll need 67W for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 14-inch MBP (with 8-, 10- or 11-core CPU), 96W for 14-inch MBP (with 12-core CPU), and 96W (preferably 140W) for the 16-inch MBP. The older 15in MacBook Pro requires a 87W PD charger. An 85W/96W MacBook Pro can be charged by a 30W or 60W charger, but slower than it would be with its native charger. A larger MacBook with a heavy workload might start fading even while being charges on a lower wattage. If you own a larger MacBook Pro, buy a dock with a PD (Power Delivery) potential of at least 85W if you can. Portable hubs are usually rated at a lower power such as 60W. USB PD 3.0 maxes at 100W, while USB PD 3.1 can support up to 240W of power. The 16-inch MacBook Pro requires 140W to fast-charge via its MagSafe 3 cable, so owners of that laptop should look for a PD 3.1 charger. If you just need a spare charger, we’ve tested the best MacBook chargers for you. Dock, hub or dongle: Whole lotta ports You need one (“upstream”) Thunde

Macworld Apple just wrapped up its slate of 2024 devices, but it’s never too early to look ahead. And according to a new report, big things are on the way. As reported by Bloomberg’s 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. Gurman describes the device as a square iPad with a 6-inch screen, “about the size of two iPhones side by side, with a thick edge around the display.” He says it has a camera at the top front, a rechargeable built-in battery, and internal speakers. It will reportedly be available in silver and black. Gurman doesn’t venture to guess what the device will be called. Of note, the new device won’t run iPadOS or tvOS. Instead, it has “a touch interface that looks like a blend of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhone’s recently launched StandBy mode.” It will also be powered by Siri, which is expected to be the preferred method of interaction, like the Echo Show or Nest Hub. The OS is reportedly built around Apple’s App Intents, the upcoming Apple Intelligence framework that “provides functionality to deeply integrate your app’s actions and content with system experiences across platforms, including Siri, Spotlight, widgets, controls and more.” Furthermore, the device will interact with Apple’s existing apps and services, including FaceTime, Safari, Apple Music, News+, Notes, Calendar, and Photos. Apple is also reportedly working on a higher-end version with a robotic arm that can spin 360 degrees and tilt up and down. Also this week, it was reported by Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is working on a smart home camera that could be released in 2026. It’s likely that the iPad described by Gurman will function as a home hub for cameras and other smart home gadgets and will likely be the start of a push into that category. As it stands, HomePods and Apple TV can work as a home hub, but this new device would be part of a renewed effort to define the Apple smart home.

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 it’s 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” state. This is the state your iPhone is in after being restarted, which requires you to enter your PIN or password before you can use Face ID or Touch ID. The devices used by law enforcement and bad actors alike to crack their way into locked iPhones have a much harder time penetrating the device when in this state. The “After First Unlock” state, in which Face ID or Touch ID is active, is easier to crack. This means that if your iPhone is either stolen or confiscated, it can’t simply be kept plugged in for weeks or months until it can be broken into. Or at least, that doing so will be much harder. While this may be frustrating for law enforcement storing iPhones in evidence, it also seriously raises the bar for thieves and criminals, which is the whole point. If you haven’t used your iPhone in four days, typing in your passcode is hardly a big inconvenience, but entering the state in which you have to do so is a big annoyance for anyone looking to break into your device.

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, that’s 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 Apple’s first standalone camera since 2003’s iSight camera and its first smart home device. It’s not clear whether the camera is meant to be used indoors or outdoors, but Kuo says it “is designed to integrate seamlessly with other Apple hardware products via wireless connectivity.” Kuo says the move “demonstrates Apple’s continued exploration of growth opportunities in the home market” and believes “the user experience will be significantly enhanced by Apple’s great ecosystem and deep integration with Apple Intelligence and Siri.” Apple is in the process of rolling out Apple Intelligence features, so a 2026 release makes sense. Apple is also expected to launch a HomePod with a screen, which will likely be closely tied to this new device, perhaps even releasing simultaneously. Apple already offers HomeKit Secure Video, which brings end-to-end encryption for HomeKit-enabled cameras, but users have reported issues with certain manufacturers. An Apple-branded camera will presumably fix these issues.

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, you’ll 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 cool features you’ve heard about just aren’t there. The best parts of Apple Intelligence aren’t coming at launch. Some will come later in 2024 through some software updates, and others will come in 2025. It’s sort of a slow rollout of AI features through the lifespan of iOS 18, and we’ll probably be downloading updates with new AI features until it’s nearly time for next year’s WWDC. Here’s a breakdown of which features are coming, and when. Updated November 12: Apple seems to have quietly removed the “sketch” style option from its image generation tools. It’s not in the iOS 18.2 beta and has been scrubbed from the website. November 13: Apple may launch iOS 18.2 on December 9 if an advisory from U.K. carrier EE is linked to the availability of the new software. Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 Released October 28 None of the Apple Intelligence features arrived with iOS 18 on September 16. The first features rolled out with iOS 18.1 on October 28. Siri’s new interface: A glowing edge around the whole screen, and the ability to type requests to Siri. Siri natural conversation: Siri’s ability to understand you better, even when you mess up what you’re saying, and remember context from previous requests. Clean-up tool: Remove unwanted background items in Photos. Writing support: Re-write passages and create summaries or lists. Call recording and transcription: Record a call, see a transcript of it, and generate a summary. Some Mail features: Summaries of emails in notifications and the inbox, priority emails on top, and the ability to create a summary of emails and email threads. Safari summaries: From within reading mode, summarize a web page. Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18.2 Coming in December, possibly December 9 iOS 18.2 is expected to arrive in December. The new update could be made available on December 9, based on a notice from EE indicating to its customers that from December 9 “Wi-Fi calling on other supported iCloud-connected devices” will be discontinued. The following features are expected in iOS 18.2: Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners, press and hold the Camera Control button to get AI help with whatever you’re pointing the camera at. Get business details, recognize phone numbers and addresses, translate text, or ask ChatGPT for more info or perform a Google image search. Additional English languages: AI features will support localized English for UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Image generation: Genmoji and other image generation, including the Image Playground app and Image Wand. Advanced Mail app features: Automatic categorization of emails and the creation of digests for groups of similar emails. Swift Assist programming companion: An AI coding tool in Xcode that helps you write code or answer coding questions (Mac only). ChatGPT integration: Get more advanced general knowledge questions answered by ChatGPT, or use the tool to general more elaborate text. There are some other general iOS 18 features, not related to AI, that are coming after the initial launch. You can read all about the features that didn’t arrive with iOS 18 here. Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18.3 or 18.4 Coming around March 2025 The first half 2025 is when Apple Intelligence is really going to shine, with the addition of some core Siri features that will take it to the next level. This big update will likely be released around March, with a beta more than a month earlier. Apple has announced that this is when Apple Intelligence features will first become available in the European Union. Siri on-device context awareness: The ability for Siri to give sensible answers based on data found in Messages, Mail, Contacts, and other on-device information. Siri on-screen awareness: Siri will be able to see what is on your screen when you ask it to perform a task and take that information into account. Siri application control: A big expansion of App Intents, which lets Siri perform actions in your apps. Currently limited to things like playing music or getting directions, there will be hundreds of actions Siri can take in apps. This will start with Apple’s own apps and expand to third-party apps over time. Other Apple Intelligence features coming later in 2025 Additional languages: Apple’s AI features will expand to support German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, “and others” throughout 2025, according to Apple. Apple has still not committed to a date for when Apple Intelligence will be available in the EU, or which features will be supported. Of course, all of this is subject to change depending on how smoothly Apple’s AI development goes, and how beta testing progresses. These features and dates are subject to change, and we will update this article as we learn more.

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 don’t 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 an angle so it’s easy to check. The magnetic charger delivers a maximum of 15W power. The built-in retractable cable can be plugged into a laptop, providing 67W charging, eliminating the need for an extra cable, and helping you actually keep a tidy desk. Of course, instead of a laptop, you can plug in another phone, earbuds, or even your keyboard when it needs some juice. The Baseus charging stand is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry anywhere you need to go. So snatch the Baseus PicoGO W2 charger for $48 at Amazon while you still can. Charge your iPhone and your laptop in one goBuy it now at Amazon

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 they’re 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, the user can pick a picture of a snowboard to search, but then can refine the search by adding text, such as a color like “purple” and get results of purple snowboards. Google Lens can be accessed by tapping on the camera icon in the Google Search bar. Save files to Google Drive and Google Photos Chrome for iOS now has the option to save files to Google Drive.Google Web content can now be saved to a Google Drive or Google Photos account–you must be signed into a Google account for this to work. When saving a file from Chrome, users can tap a Google Drive option and a new “Saved from Chrome” folder is created, housing your saved files. To save images, press and hold on the image, and a pop-up menu appears with the option to “Save in Google Photos.” Tap to see a mini-map of an address “Starting soon,” users will be able to tap an address and view a mini-map of the location, directly in Chrome. Goggle states that this feature is in an experimental phase and will be rolled out gradually to other regions. Shopping Insight deals Shopping Insights in Chrome for iOS.Google When shopping using Chrome, if a Shopping Insight deal is available, a “Good Deal Now” notification appears and users can tap it to get details. This feature requires users to be signed into Chrome and the “Make Searches and Browsing Better” setting enabled. Shopping Inisghts is available in the U.S., with more regions added “in the coming months.”

Macworld Ever since Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, the company has been actively developing the music recognition service and baking its features into its operating systems. At this point, users can identify songs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS without installing the Shazam app—thanks to Siri and the dedicated Control Center toggle. With iOS 18.2 beta, Apple is further elevating the built-in Music Recognition utility. As discovered by Macworld, iOS 18.2 lets the Music Recognition applet geotag songs based on where users discover them. When a user taps and holds on the dedicated Music Recognition Control Center toggle, and then clicks History for the first time, a new splash screen appears. The page highlights existing features, such as song history and support for iCloud sync, and adds a new feature called Musical Memories. Once you allow location access, it will automatically enable a geotagging feature that will tag songs with location data. So, going forward, when you discover songs through the Music Recognition tool, it’ll attach your location to the song history so you’ll be able to place the song in a specific place to remember where you were when you heard it. For the time being, the feature is limited to individual songs, and there’s seemingly no way to access a universal map with pins highlighting all of the songs you’ve Shazamed. So, you can only view the location of each song separately by tapping on it in the history log. Tapping the place’s name in the discovered song’s details redirects users to the respective street in the Apple Maps app. It’s worth noting that this feature, like Music Recognition, works without having the Shazam app installed. In fact, at the time of writing, Shazam still doesn’t offer the same geotagging perk. Apple, however, could bring the option to the full app once iOS 18.2 launches to the public later this year.

Macworld If you’re an Apple Music fan, love lists, and like reading short blurbs about all-time great records, your new favorite book has arrived. If you have $450 to burn that is. Apple Music has announced that it has partnered with nice lifestyle bookmaker Assouline to turn its list of the 100 Best Albums into an ornate coffee table book. Though at a price tag nearly as high as a new iPad mini, you probably want to make sure a cup of coffee never gets anywhere near it. According to Assouline’s description, “Every book comes in a custom-designed translucent acrylic slipcase etched with the Apple Music logo, while the linen hardcover is debossed with the same logo to perfectly line up behind the etching. The back of the case is engraved with the edition number, and inside the book there is a hand-numbered ex libris to further highlight the limited nature of this release. The edges of the book’s pages are gilded with a sparkling gold that mirrors the title on the spine.” Bad Bunny’s album, Un Verano Sin Ti, is ranked 76 on Apple’s list.Assouline/Apple Inside all that is Apple Music’s controversial list of the top 100 albums, which was released earlier this year. The top 10, which was heavily debated at the top of its release, includes the following records: Lauryn Hill — The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Michael Jackson — Thriller The Beatles — Abbey Road Prince & The Revolution — Purple Rain Frank Ocean — Blonde Stevie Wonder — Songs in the Key of Life Kendrick Lamar — good kid, m.A.A.d city Amy Winehouse — Back to Black Nirvana — Nevermind Beyoncé — Lemonade Apple says the list was “assembled with the help of artists and experts, it’s a modern love letter to the records that have shaped the world we live and listen in today.” Each entry includes a photo of the album cover as well as “Apple Music’s beloved liner notes, in-depth analysis that brilliantly captures the significance of the album, both to the artists and to the art of music itself.” There is also a foreword by DJ and Apple Music 1 Creative Director Zane Lowe. You can preorder the 208-page book on Assouline’s website for delivery on or around November 25. All orders receive free shipping and a complimentary Assouline signature tote bag and white handling gloves.

Macworld It’s a long-held belief of Mac users that their computers are immune to the kind of malware and viruses that plague Windows PCs. While there is some credibility in this idea, we shouldn’t get over-confident when it comes to Mac security, as there are exploits that criminals can use to hack your Mac and leave it like a wide-open door through which they can steal your data or worse. In this article, we take a look at whether Macs can be hacked, how to tell if your Mac has been hacked or if someone is spying on your Mac, and what you can do if your Mac is being remotely accessed. Here’s what you need to know – and what you need to do. Can Macs get hacked? Apple has gone to great lengths to make it difficult for hackers to gain access to Macs. With the protections offered by Gatekeeper, the Secure Enclave features of the M1, M2, M3 and M4-series of chips, and the T1 or T2 chip in some Intel-powered Macs, plus Apple’s built-in antivirus XProtect, targeting Macs may well be considered too much effort by hackers. We discuss this in more detail here: How secure is a Mac? and in Do Macs need antivirus software? PROMOTIONAntivirus Deal: Intego Mac Premium Bundle Get Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 with antivirus, firewall, backup and system performance tools for just $29.99 (down from $84.99) for the first year. Get Deal However, from time to time security vulnerabilities are detected that could be used by hackers to exploit Macs. These vulnerabilities are sometimes referred to as back doors or as a zero-day vulnerability. When these are identified by security researchers (or friendly hackers) they usually alert Apple to them in the hope that the company will quickly close the vulnerability, quickly – or within zero days – before it is exploited.  Such vulnerabilities, though rare, could allow an attacker root access to your Mac. Apple is usually quick to fix, but there have been cases where Apple has been criticized for being slow to respond to the threat once it’s been identified. For example, in August 2023 a software developer released details about a flaw in App Management, a security feature introduced in macOS Ventura designed to prevent malicious software modifications and alerting the user in such an instance. The developer had discovered the issue before the release of Ventura in October 2022, but a fix was not immediately issued, so, in August 2023, the developer went public with details of the flaw which meant that apps could bypass the check by App Management. More here. In another example, researcher Filippo Cavallarin found a Gatekeeper vulnerability in 2019 that he alerted Apple to. Having had no response from Apple within 90 days he went public with details of the vulnerability. In December 2023, a group of university researchers alerted Apple to a vulnerability in Apple’s M-series chips that can be exploited to gain access to cryptographic keys. Dubbed “GoFetch,” the vulnerability could be used by an attacker to access a user’s encrypted files. As of June 2024, Apple is yet to issue a fix, perhaps because of its effect on performance. Those pointing out vulnerabilities aren’t always ignored by Apple. In 2021, Apple paid a student $100,000 after he discovered a dangerous vulnerability relating to Macs and reported it to Apple. The vulnerability, which could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, was identified by Ryan Pickren in July 2021 and fixed by Apple in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 on October 25, 2021. More information here: Hacker ‘could take over any Apple webcam’. It’s not always a flaw in Apple’s software that can leave Macs vulnerable. In August 2023 a serious vulnerability that affected Intel processors was highlighted. Affected devices included Intel-powered Macs from 2015 onwards (M-series Macs were all ok). According to researcher Daniel Moghimi: “Downfall attacks target a critical weakness found in billions of modern processors used in personal and cloud computers.” Intel released a patch, but it’s not the first time this has happened. Back in 2018, in a similar case, Meltdown and Spectre attacked vulnerabilities in Intel and ARM processors. That risk was mitigated by updates to the operating system which closed off the areas that were exposed. Do Macs get hacked? It may be rare when compared to Windows, but yes, there have been cases where Macs have been accessed by hackers. This can take various forms and there are various types of Mac malware that have been discovered ‘in the wild’ on Macs as you can see from our run-through of the various threats affecting macOS: List of Mac viruses, malware and security flaws. Soon after launch, Malware targeted the M1 Mac – read about Silver Sparrow and the first cases of malware for M1 Macs. And in April 2024 Apple alerted some users via an email, suggesting that they may have been the target of spyware. “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-,” read the email, as detailed here: Apple warns users in 92 countries of spyware attack. This kind of attack isn’t likely to affect the general public though, so if you aren’t protecting state secrets or heavily invested in cryptocurrency you are unlikely to fall fowl of such an attack. How Apple protects Macs from hackers Apple is kept busy patching these security flaws as and when they arise, but it used to be reliant on users to install them. Before Apple launched macOS Ventura in 2022 an update to the operating system was required to get the important security component on a Mac. Since some people delay installing operating system updates this was problematic so Apple changed the way security updates are applied to Macs. These important security updates can now be delivered as background updates that can be automatically installed on a Mac without the user having to do anything–although we recommend you check the following to ensure it is set up on your Mac: Open System Settings. Choose General. Click on the i beside Automatic Updates. Make sure that the option to Install Security Responses and system files is selected, even if you choose not to select the others (although we recommend you do). If you aren’t running Ventura or later then when Apple issues a macOS update with a security component it is important to install it as soon as possible. You can still set your Mac to automatically download and update the operating system – just follow these steps: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update. Click on Advanced. Make sure that the option to Install system data files and security updates is selected. Now your Mac will check for updates, download the update, and install the update without you needing to do anything. Can a Mac camera be hacked? Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Once a hacker has access to your Mac there are various ways in which they might try to gain information about you or use the processing power of your Mac for their own purposes. As we mentioned above, in the case of spyware the hacker might attempt to install a keylogger so that it can record what you are typing and look out for your password. The hacker could also attempt to hijack your mic or video camera. Theoretically, this shouldn’t be possible: since macOS Catalina launched in 2019 Apple has protected Mac users from these types of exploits by ensuring that you have to give your permission before the mic or video camera is used, or before a screen recording can take place. And if your video camera is being used you will always see a green light next to it. However, the example we mentioned above, where Ryan Pickren alerted Apple to a vulnerability that could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, suggests that Apple’s alert wasn’t enough to stop the camera from being accessed. There was also a camera-related vulnerability that affected Mac users of the video conferencing service Zoom. In this case, hackers could add users to video calls without them knowing and then activate their webcams but keep the light turned off. This would enable any potential hackers (or law enforcement bodies) to monitor your activities and you wouldn’t have any idea that the camera was watching you. Zoom patched the vulnerability, but only after it became public knowledge when the person who found it reported that the flaw had been left in place for three months after the company had been privately informed of the risk. For more information read: How to stop your Mac webcam being hacked. Wondering about whether FaceTime is secure? Read Is Apple FaceTime safe? How to tell if your Mac has been hacked If you think your Mac has been hacked there are a few ways to find out. First, look for the signs: Has your Mac slowed down? Is your web connection painfully slow? Do the ads you are seeing look a bit more dodgy than usual? Have you noticed anything strange on your bank statements?  If you think an account might have been hacked then check the website haveibeenpwned.com and pop in your email address to see if it’s featured in a data breach. If it has been then change your password! This doesn’t mean you have been hacked, but it’s certainly possible that if this information is out there you could be. Another way to tell if there is some strange activity going on would be to check Activity Monitor and look specifically at network activity. You could also go to System Settings > General > Sharing (or System Preferences > Sharing pre Ventura) and check if anyone suspicious has access to anything such as Screen Sharing or Remote Management. Your best bet is to run a sweep of your system with some kind of security software that can check for any viruses or malware that may have made it onto your system. We have a round-up

Macworld If your Mac is slowing down, frequently freezing, regularly running out of RAM or just not behaving like it used to. Are you short of space on your Mac? Have you spotted the immense amount of room taken up by System Data and are now looking for a safe way to delete some of that data. What you need is a Mac cleaner app that will delete the clutter and digital debris from your system and free your RAM from memory hogs. Thankfully, there are a wealth of tools available to rectify that can clean up your Mac and get it working properly again. We’ve picked some of the best Mac cleaning software below so you can find one that suits you. The apps included in the list below all offer free trial versions. Some of these trials will merely show you how much space you can free up, but several are essentially free Mac Cleaners that will allow you to clean your Mac for free, albeit for a limited period. These include the trials for CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, Parallels ToolBox and MacCleaner Pro featured below.  Updated: November 2024 with Intego Washing Machine review. PROMOTIONBrand New CleanMyMac | Boost your Mac performance Get the latest version of CleanMyMac, freshly released in 2024. Featuring six keymodules, a smart assistant, and over 25 powerful tools, this brand-new cleanerefficiently removes junk files, boosts your Mac performance, and basically replacesmultiple utility tools. Make sure to use CleanMyMac’s intelligent Smart Care moduleweekly to keep your Mac productive all year round. Download New Version For more information about why a Mac cleaner app could be useful read: Why your Mac needs a cleaner app. We also discuss Tips for cleaning up your Mac. For more ways to squeeze the most out of your system read our How to speed up a slow Mac guide and How to delete Other on a Mac. We also look at How to delete System storage and How to clear cache on a Mac. Best Mac Cleaner 1. MacCleaner Pro Pros Impressive set of tools Good tutorials Good configuration Cons Occasionally awkward user interface MacCleaner Pro from Nektony is divided into a core app and several module apps, namely App Cleaner & Uninstaller, Disk Space Analyzer, Duplicate File Finder, Memory Cleaner, and Funter. The core app can perform an overall disk cleaning and help free up storage space by eliminating extraneous files.  The App Cleaner & Uninstaller module works well, and allows you to see the app you’re removing as well as its support files. This module has been improved compared to version 3, and now offers you easier access to startup programs and extension files, allowing you to enable, disable, or remove them. A Remaining Files feature allows you to chase down loose files, while an Open With feature lets you assign applications to open certain file types. With Duplicate File Finder it’s easy to specify file types to look for, such as audio and photo files, with an impressive level of precise control. Memory Cleaner module offers an easy interface to show which applications and processes are consuming the most RAM. Funter module finds hidden files within your operating system.  The Fast Cleanup option was able to clear up 11.4GB of drive space, most of these being application cache files, while the Deep Cleanup feature helped reclaim 65.4GB of drive space.  We did have some peculiar instances in which a reminder poped up advising us to clear disk space for a macOS Sonoma (which was already installed). On another occasion when we paused scanning after half an hour we saw a request for full access to the hard drive.  MacCleaner Pro is easy to install, runs well and has a good feature base. You can buy it on an annual or monthly subscription or as a one-time purchase. The free trial version is fully functioning for two days and will actually perform some of the tasks you need to do, rather than ask you to buy the full version. You can get MacCleaner Pro here. Read our full Nektony MacCleaner Pro review 2. MacPaw CleanMyMac X Pros Excellent cleaning tools for Mac storage Large toolset Easy to use Cons Updater missed some app updates Malware Removal produced mixed results CleanMyMac X is a catch-all utility designed to identify and clean out gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused system garbage. It grants you easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware. The modules include Smart Scan, System Junk, Mail Attachments, Trash Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large & Old Files, and Shredder. Among these you will find tools for file cleanup, malware removal, privacy cleanup, easy access to system extensions, the app uninstaller, and the ability to down multi-GB files you forgot to delete and a quick means of deleting them. Smart Scan is the overarching umbrella feature, hunting down extraneous files that can be deleted to clear drive space, performing a quick malware scan, and executing a speed test to look into optimization functions, such as freeing up RAM or quickly clearing system caches. The Disk Lens and Uninstaller offered a clear view as to which folders were consuming the most drive space and a quick means of removing applications.  I was able to recover more than 30GB of drive space as the program found unused files and disk images galore.  Unfortunately, some features aren’t as good as others – particularly the Malware removal module and the Updater function, neither of which work as well as we hoped, even with the antivirus being updated to take advantage of the Moonlock Engine.  CleanMyMac X is easy to download and install, and features a bright, friendly user interface and it’s exceptionally easy to see what’s gobbling up the most space on your Mac’s hard drive. The features are well-integrated. The software costs can be purchased on an annual subscription or a one-time purchase for a 1 Mac license. There’s a free version available to download and a free trial version available on the Mac App Store and from MacPaw’s website, but it restricts the app to only remove files up to a maximum of 500MB – and in the middle of deleting files it will demand you pay the license fee for the app. You can download that limited version and scan your Mac to see just now much space you can save before committing to buying the app. MacPaw is currently running a 30% discount for students – submit your university email address and receive a download code here.  You can get CleanMyMac X here. Read our full CleanMyMac X review 3. Cleaner One Pro for Mac Pros Quick, stable performance Handles duplicate files and cleanup well Good value Cons Subscription only Certain features require subscription version Cleaner One Pro for Mac is easy to download and install. The software requires is available in both free and paid subscription-based tiers. For the free tier, the software offers basic scanning and no user limits while requiring no credit or debit card to be stored with Trend Micro. The Basic tier, requires a payment method to be stored with Trend Micro, offers support for one device, access to additional tools, and easy uninstallation if desired. The Advanced tier requires a payment method to be stored with Trend Micro, and offers support for five devices, macOS and Windows support, quick uninstallation, and access to additional tools.  Cleaner One Pro is designed around an assortment of modules including Smart Scan, which looks over your storage, diagnostics, and applications, Junk Files, Big Files, Disk Map, Startup Manager, Duplicate Files, Similar Photos, App Manager, and File Shredder. The modules performed well during testing, and were able to locate large files and duplicates to be disposed of. The Junk Files module found a variety of unused disk images and installers. An interface along the Menu Bar tracked memory usage, CPU usage, network usage, and hooked into Dropbox to help put files up on the cloud. There are some elements that require some attention. One annoyance was that you can’t navigate through module windows using the page up and page down keys, only a mouse will suffice. And we encountered a lack of communication from Trend Micro itself for product and technical questions, which was a concern.  Cleaner One Pro is useful, lives up to its description, and offers an elegant and easy to navigate user interface that lets you prune your Mac down effectively. This useful set of Mac cleaning tools comes at a good price

Macworld Slow and steady wins the race. At least that’s what the Vision Pro team seems to be banking on. And, hey, it’s worked out for Apple on any number of occasions. It’s hard to think back that far now when history seems to be on some sort of speed run–look, history, the Macalope watched the guy who finished the “Breath of the Wild” in 34 minutes and while it was impressive it’s really not the best way to enjoy the game, okay?–but the rollout of the iPod was not exactly blazingly fast. iTunes for Windows didn’t come out until two years after the original iPod. The Apple Watch was also not an instant hit. In fact, the Macalope is old enough to remember when it was a “flop”, by which he is old enough to have had object permanence for at least 10 years. Well, most of those 10 years anyway. The Apple Watch Series 0 was announced in 2014, released in 2015, and updated the following year, but it was several years before it was a verifiable hit. So, when you read the following headlines about Apple’s Vision lineup, don’t panic. (God knows there are enough other things to panic about.) Now, let us review the carnage! “Kuo: Cheaper ‘Apple Vision’ headset delayed beyond 2027” A cheaper Vision product would do a lot to increase the install base which, in turn, would do a lot to increase the content for the device. Sadly, it seems this virtuous cycle has some flat tires. It seems even that Apple isn’t quite sure either what it wants the next device to be or what it can be. “Apple is ‘seriously considering’ Vision device that offloads compute to your iPhone” We’re thinking about it! We’re also thinking about a steampunk version that runs on a coal-fired backpack! We’ve all kinds of wacky ideas! DON’T TOUCH ME! The company also apparently saw that same Meta demo we and the entire tech press saw and was wowed by because it’s mumbling to itself “Should we do that?” “Apple’s Internal Survey About Smart Glasses Hints at Future Product Plans” As for the updated Vision Pro, that also may be delayed. “Apple Vision Pro 2 With M5 Chip May Not Launch Until 2026” Hey, by 2026 the idea of strapping a device on our heads and disappearing into a fabricated reality might be something everyone would be willing to throw $3,500 at. Apple Store employee: But, sir, that’s the last of your savings! You’ll starve! Customer: GIVE ME THE HEADSET! IDG Apart from rumors, other signs indicate the company is retrenching on the Vision Pro a bit. “Apple Consolidating Vision Pro Demo Areas in Stores Amid Rumors of Slowing Sales and Reduced Production” “Go to the back of the Store. There’s a guy in a trench coat. Tell him Randy sent you.” The Macalope is ribbing the company a little bit for its current seeming uncertainty of what to make and when to deliver it but, then, who doesn’t have some uncertainty in these uncertain times? I know I do. I think. I dunno. Anyway, the good news is that Apple has all the pieces to be a major contender here. Say what you will about the Vision Pro… “It’s too expensive.” “The eyeballs are goofy.” “It’s yet another isolating device in an increasingly isolating world.” “It smells like-“ Okay, okay, okay. That was rhetorical. How did you even get in here? Anyway, the Vision Pro may not be perfect, but it is without a doubt a genuine display of Apple’s technical capabilities. The only thing the company is trying to figure out is what the market actually wants. Everyone ooh-ed and ahhh-ed over Meta’s smart glasses, but recall that people also thought they wanted netbooks. Amongst other things that they got that they might come to regret. Still, the company certainly hasn’t given up on the Vision Pro. Here it is plugging away at making more content available for the device. “Apple releasing Vision Pro immersive music experience from The Weeknd this Thursday” Content, after all, is the grease that makes the ecosystem work. (Ecosystems need grease, right?) Apple’s track record tells us the company has time to figure out the right mix here. And the device it’s released already tells us it can make whatever that is.

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. It’s classic Apple—design something gorgeous and impressive but all everyone wants to talk about is one head-scratching decision. I’m here to tell you that these complaints are completely baseless. Let me explain. Hidden by design Believe it or not, the power button is mostly useless on modern Macs. Yes, you do need it to power it on when you first unbox it. However, if you’re operating your computer correctly, you’ll rarely have to rely on it beyond that point. Unlike older PCs or machines from other brands, you’re supposed to keep your Mac powered on at all times. Newer versions of macOS running on Apple’s M-series chipsets are extremely efficient, and they aren’t designed to be shut down daily or even regularly. No matter what you do with your Mac mini, you don’t need to turn it off very often.Apple I keep my MacBook Air M2 powered on overnight, and its battery percentage pretty much never drops in hibernation. macOS automatically puts all unnecessary tasks to sleep, ensuring that no intensive background activities drain its energy when not in use, and Apple silicon is extremely efficient. So, leaving your Mac on all night won’t meaningfully increase your electricity bill or make your Mac wear down any faster. If your Mac mini M4 acts up or lags for whatever reason, then that’s what the (software) restart option in the top-left Apple menu is for. Unless your computer completely freezes—and this shouldn’t occur routinely on M4 Macs—you won’t need to push the bottom button. Beyond the loud critics, a group of creative minds has risen to solve this mind-boggling issue. Because reaching underneath your Mac mini once in a while is obviously a horribly inconvenient task, they’ve engineered an ingenious accessory that clicks it on your behalf. The 3D-printed add-on acts as an extension to the power button, allowing you to push it by applying pressure on your Mac’s top surface. It would’ve been great if one needed to push that button on a daily basis, but that’s not the case. So, the end result is a cheap-looking piece of junk resting on a premium, aesthetically pleasing box of smarts—in an almost insulting manner. While I understand that a majority of those users are doing it as a joke, I’m confident there are a few folks out there who will be tarnishing their beautiful Mac minis with a 3D-printed accessory unironically. The power button on the Mac mini M4 serves a similar purpose to the hidden reset buttons found on countless gadgets—typically concealed behind a tiny pinhole. Fortunately, on your Mac, you won’t need a paper clip to press it, just a mild inconvenient lift. Leave the Magic Mouse alone too Ever since Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2 in 2015, people have similarly been attacking its bottom-positioned charging port. And since the iPhone maker didn’t overhaul its design with the latest USB-C upgrade, the tired memes have resurfaced. Well, I’m here to courageously declare that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with how the Magic Mouse charges. It’s time to stop the Magic Mouse charging port hate.Apple While, yes, you obviously can’t use the Magic Mouse while it’s charging, most people don’t seem to be aware of how rapidly it tops up its battery. Plugging it in for just a few minutes can get you 8-9 hours of use. So, even if you somehow miss the low battery alerts, it can get you through a workday while you prepare your coffee. Meanwhile, a full charge—which only takes around two hours—can get you around a month of use. No matter how hardworking you are, I’m pretty sure you can spare a couple of hours every couple of weeks. The Apple Watch is similarly useless when it’s charging, yet we don’t hear anyone complain about that. Not all gadgets are designed for continuous use. The Magic Mouse follows Apple’s modern, elegant design language and isn’t marketed or meant to be the most practical or ergonomic option. Fortunately, macOS supports thousands of third-party mice with distinct designs and functionalities that cater to all expectations and needs. So, you won’t ever have to witness a Magic Mouse charging with an exposed belly if it bothers you so much. These quibbles are wearing thin In an interview posted this week to Chinese video-sharing site Bilibili, Apple VPs Greg Joswiak and John Ternus blamed the power button fiasco on the Mac mini’s size and defended the placement as being in the most convenient position. It’s not just corporate speak—the Magic Mouse and M4 Mac mini criticisms are mostly coming from either ignorant users or those who have never laid their hands on them. Had they known how these devices operate, their entire arguments would crumble before their eyes. The Mac mini should be celebrated, not picked apart.Apple Yes, the Mac mini’s power button is placed in an unintuitive spot. But once you realize that you don’t actually need to press it every day, its placement starts to make sense. Similarly, the Magic Mouse may look meme-able while it charges on its back. However, taking its long battery life and swift charging into consideration justifies this design choice. And of course, both products look cleaner because they hide these “imperfections” on their concealed sides. Apple is far from perfect. But instead of obsessing over trivial details, let’s focus our collective feedback on more impactful flaws that we think the company should address—like why doesn’t the Mac mini come in Space Black? Apple Mac mini (M4) Best Prices Today: Not Available at Amazon