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  • Apple launches Safari Technology Preview 214 with fixes and speed boosts

    Apple launches Safari Technology Preview 214 with fixes and speed boosts

    Apple rolled out a fresh update today for Safari Technology Preview, a special browser it first launched in March 2016. This version is built for people to try out new features Apple is working on for future Safari updates.

    What’s New in Safari Technology Preview 214

    The latest Safari Technology Preview 214 brings tweaks and upgrades to things like the browser itself, CSS, JavaScript, media playback, networking, how pages look, Web API, and the Web Inspector tool. This release works smoothly on devices running macOS Sonoma or the brand-new macOS Sequoia, Apple’s latest operating system.

    You can grab this update through the Software Update option in System Preferences or System Settings if you’ve already downloaded the browser from Apple’s site. Full details about what’s included are listed on the Safari Technology Preview webpage.

    Why Apple Made This Browser

    Apple created Safari Technology Preview to get input from developers and everyday users about how the browser is shaping up. It’s designed to run alongside the regular Safari browser, so you can use both at once. While it’s mainly for developers, anyone can download it—no special account needed.

  • Apple shares new test updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

    Apple shares new test updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

    Apple rolled out fresh test versions of software updates today for the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, covering both the Lightning and USB-C models. These updates carry the version number 7E5080a and are currently limited to developers. This marks the second test update Apple has tried out, following the first one from January, which was labeled 7E5067b.

    AirPods Pro Test Software

    We don’t yet know exactly what’s new or different in this update, but we’ll keep you posted if we learn more. For now, regular users still have version 7B21 on their AirPods Pro 2 and 7B20 on their AirPods 4. These won’t change until Apple officially releases the tested software to everyone.

    To get the update, place your AirPods near an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s on Wi-Fi, then plug them in to charge. The process might take up to 30 minutes to finish. Want to see which version you’re running? On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to your AirPods when they’re connected, and check the number there.

  • Apple simplifies child accounts and boosts online safety

    Apple simplifies child accounts and boosts online safety

    Apple announced new tools today to keep kids safer online. These updates include a clearer age rating system, an easier way for parents to set up accounts for their children, tweaks to what kids see on the App Store, and a new tool for app makers to check a user’s age range. This ensures kids only get content that fits their age.

    The details are in a new guide called Helping Protect Kids Online, available on Apple’s developer website. The goal is simple: give parents more say over what their kids do online while keeping things private. Apple also wants to avoid broad laws that force the App Store to handle age checks for everyone.

    First, setting up accounts for kids is getting easier. When someone makes a new account, Apple will ask for their age range. This is already in the iOS 18.4 beta. For kids under 13, there’s a “Connect to Family” option. Parents need to approve the account for things like the App Store, but Apple is making this smoother. Instead of needing a credit card, parents can now use their payment history with Apple and confirm it with Face ID or Touch ID.

    Kids can start using their device right away if a parent isn’t around. Age-based limits will kick in for web browsing and messages, but app downloads will need parental approval later. Soon, parents can also fix the age on existing kid accounts if it’s wrong.

    App makers must now share if their apps have user-made content, ads, or need age checks. This info will show up on App Store pages. Apple is also updating its age groups: from 4+, 9+, 12+, and 17+ to 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+. Each category sets rules for what’s okay—like no violence for little kids or mature themes for teens. Kids won’t see or download apps beyond their age limit, and the App Store will promote apps that match their age.

    Apple’s new tool for developers, called the Declared Age Range API, shares a user’s age range without giving exact details like birthdays. Parents decide if this info is shared, keeping privacy tight. These changes aim to balance safety and ease for families.

  • Apple Watch “Green” claims face new lawsuit

    Apple Watch “Green” claims face new lawsuit

    Apple has a big plan to make all its products eco-friendly and carbon-neutral by 2030. However, a new lawsuit says the company’s first “green” product—the Apple Watch—isn’t as environmentally friendly as promised. Here’s what’s going on with this legal challenge.

    Buyers Say Apple Tricked Them with False Green Promises

    According to Jonathan Stempel at Reuters, some Apple Watch owners are upset. They’ve filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple’s promise of a “carbon neutral” watch isn’t true. The case, brought to a federal court in San Jose, California, involves seven people who bought the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2. These customers say Apple’s green labels convinced them to buy the watches—or pay more than they would have if they’d known the real story.

    Apple rolled out these watches in September 2023, saying they were carbon neutral. The company explained it cut emissions and bought carbon offsets to balance things out. But the buyers disagree, pointing to two projects Apple used to claim its eco-friendly status:

    • Kenya’s Chyulu Hills Project
    • China’s Guinan Project

    The lawsuit argues these projects don’t help the environment as much as Apple says. The buyers claim the carbon cuts from these efforts would’ve happened anyway, even without Apple’s involvement. Because of this, they say Apple’s “carbon neutral” label is misleading and not honest.

    What the Lawsuit Wants

    The people suing are asking for money to cover their losses. They also want a court order to stop Apple from calling its products “carbon neutral” in ads or marketing. Since launching those first “green” Apple Watches in 2023, Apple has added more eco-friendly products, like the M4 Mac mini (its first carbon neutral Mac) and the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup. But this lawsuit could challenge how truthful those green claims are. For now, it’s a waiting game to see how the court rules and what it means for Apple’s big environmental goals.

  • Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    For almost two years, French officials have been looking into a privacy tool on iPhones called App Tracking Transparency. This feature lets people choose if they want apps to follow their activity for ads or not. You’ve probably noticed those “Ask App Not to Track” messages popping up. Now, according to a recent Reuters story, the investigation is almost over—and it doesn’t look good for Apple.

    France Might Stop This Privacy Feature Soon

    The two-year review of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency in France should finish within the next month. And it seems Apple might not like the result.

    Reuters reporter Foo Yun Chee explains:

    French regulators are likely to tell Apple next month to stop this practice, saying it’s unfair to competition. They’ll probably add a fine too. This would be the first time a government blocks this feature. In France, fines for such issues can reach up to 10% of a company’s yearly earnings worldwide.

    So, two big things could happen when this case ends:

    • Apple may have to turn off this feature for people in France.
    • The company could also face a penalty.

    Back in 2023, when this probe began, we noted: “Apple’s being accused of playing favorites and setting unclear, unfair rules about how user info can be used for ads.”

    Apple shared this comment with 9to5Mac during an earlier debate about the feature:

    “We at Apple think your data is yours. You should decide if it’s shared and with whom. App Tracking Transparency just lets users pick whether apps can track them or pass their info to data collectors. These rules are the same for everyone, including us, and we’ve had lots of support from privacy fans and regulators.”

    Beyond France, Germany and Italy are also checking out this feature. Usually, the worry isn’t the tool itself but how Apple uses it for its apps. In the U.S., companies like Meta have complained the most—not regulators. They say this privacy option has hurt their ad income.

  • Why Apple TV+ is going big on shows from around the world

    Why Apple TV+ is going big on shows from around the world

    Netflix recently shared its latest report on what people watched most in the last half of 2024. One standout detail from this report might clue us in on why Apple TV+ is suddenly focusing so much on shows and movies that aren’t in English.

    Netflix’s Worldwide Fans Love Variety

    Netflix is a giant compared to Apple TV+, so it’s tricky to compare their hits side by side. Still, the report revealed something eye-opening: almost a third of all Netflix viewing comes from shows and films in languages other than English. That’s a huge slice of their massive audience! Plus, three of their top 10 most-watched shows—like Squid Game season 2—weren’t in English either.

    Netflix has been pouring effort into global stories for years, and it’s clearly working as they grow fans all over the world. Apple TV+, though smaller, is starting to follow a similar path by boosting its lineup of non-English shows.

    Apple TV+ Steps Up with Global Stories

    In its early days, Apple TV+ made a few non-English shows like Pachinko and Drops of God. Critics loved them, but they were exceptions in a mostly English collection. Lately, though, things have changed fast. Since September, Apple TV+ has rolled out new titles like:

    • Berlin ER (a German hospital show)
    • Love You to Death (a Spanish rom-com)
    • You Would Do It Too (a Spanish crime story)
    • Where’s Wanda? (a German funny mystery)
    • Midnight Family (a Spanish doctor drama)
    • La Maison (a French fashion tale)

    Even with fewer releases overall, Apple TV+ is now dropping about one new non-English show each month. Netflix’s winning streak with global hits might be the push behind this shift.

    Aiming for Fans Everywhere

    While the U.S. is still Apple’s main focus, these moves show they’re dreaming bigger—hoping to win over viewers worldwide. Maybe the buzz around Severance will get more people hooked on their global gems too. Apple TV+ costs $9.99 a month and offers popular shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.

  • Apple offers discounts on refurbished M4 iMacs

    Apple offers discounts on refurbished M4 iMacs

    Apple recently started selling the M4 Mac mini and MacBook Pro at lower prices in its refurbished store. For a while, the M4 iMac, which came out at the same time, wasn’t included. Good news—Apple has now added it, so the whole M4 Mac family is available!

    Refurbished M4 iMacs Come in Many Colors and Options

    You can now grab the M4 iMac from Apple’s refurbished store in different colors and setups, all at nice savings (spotted by MacRumors).

    The regular price for the basic M4 iMac is $1,299 when brand new. But if you go refurbished, it’s only $1,099—and it still comes with all the matching accessories, like the keyboard and mouse.
    Since all M4 Macs now kick off with 16GB of memory, the starting model is a solid pick compared to older versions.

    That said, many people might want more storage space. Apple has several bigger SSD options to choose from. Just keep an eye on the discounts—they can change depending on how much storage you pick.

    Compare Prices Before You Buy

    If you’re thinking about getting an M4 iMac, don’t skip checking Amazon. They’ve got brand-new ones on sale, sometimes close to Apple’s refurbished prices.

    For instance, a new basic M4 iMac is going for $1,149 right now. That’s just $50 more than Apple’s refurbished version. So, it’s worth a look to see which deal feels right for you! Whether you go refurbished or new, the M4 iMac is a colorful, powerful choice at a better price than before.

  • Spotify boss slams Apple’s EU rules follow-up, pushes for tougher action

    Spotify boss slams Apple’s EU rules follow-up, pushes for tougher action

    Spotify’s top boss, Daniel Ek, isn’t pleased with how Apple is handling the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a chat with Bloomberg, he took a swing at Apple, urging EU officials to crack down on the tech giant soon. Ek insists it’s high time “to make sure the rules stick” against Apple. Bloomberg’s Samuel Stolton reports:

    Ek called Apple’s efforts to follow the DMA a “joke.” He accused the iPhone maker of dragging its feet and finding ways to avoid fully cooperating with the law, which puts tight controls on big tech companies.

    “Europe needs to prove it’s serious about enforcing the rules already in place,” Ek told Bloomberg on Tuesday. He also pointed out that regulators in the U.S. are starting to pay closer attention to Apple’s actions.

    The EU has already shown it’s unhappy with Apple’s first attempts to follow the DMA. Talks are likely underway about whether Apple should face bigger penalties.

    Stolton adds: “EU competition boss Teresa Ribera has promised a decision on Apple’s DMA follow-through by late March. The law lets her slap fines as high as 10% of Apple’s yearly global earnings.”

    Things have shifted a bit politically since then, though. With the U.S. President now pushing back against such moves, it’s uncertain if the EU will keep pressing Apple. Spotify and Ek have been vocal supporters of tougher rules on Apple for a while, so this latest nudge to the EU isn’t shocking. Still, Ek’s fresh complaints might stem from worries that the EU could drop the ball and let Apple off the hook.

  • Apple’s New 5G Chip: Which devices will get it?

    Apple’s New 5G Chip: Which devices will get it?

    Apple has introduced its own 5G chip, called the C1 modem, in the new iPhone 16e. This is different from other iPhone models that still use Qualcomm’s modems. Most people might not notice the switch, but it’s a big step for Apple, which has been working on this technology since at least 2018.

    We don’t have speed test results for the C1 modem yet, but it’s likely to be slower than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 modem found in the iPhone 16. Apple wants to match or beat Qualcomm someday, though that could take a few years. For now, the C1 modem shines in another way: it uses less power. This helps the iPhone 16e have the best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone, even better than the regular iPhone 16. Apple’s knack for blending hardware and software shines through here.

    Apple says the C1 is just the beginning. In a recent statement about its U.S. manufacturing plans, the company hinted at putting its custom 5G modems in more gadgets soon. The C1 took years of research and teamwork from thousands of engineers. It’s part of a bigger plan to improve modems across Apple products.

    So, what’s next? Expert Ming-Chi Kuo says the super-slim iPhone 17 Air, coming later this year, will also use the C1 modem. The iPad 11, expected in March or April, could be another fit for it, especially the versions with cellular data. Looking further ahead, reports from Mark Gurman suggest Apple might add 5G to Macs and Vision Pro devices someday.

    Apple plans years for its chips—up to four years for iPhone processors—and the same goes for modems. The company is already designing C2 and C3 modems. The C2 could bring faster mmWave 5G, while the C3 might outdo Qualcomm. All iPhone 18 models and the iPad Pro could get the C2 modem. Eventually, Apple might even blend the modem into its main iPhone chip.

    Why make its own modem? Apple wants to depend less on outside companies like Qualcomm and avoid past tensions with them. Though they settled a lawsuit and agreed to work together until 2027, Apple’s goal is to stand on its own. Years ago, it tried Intel modems, but they weren’t as good as Qualcomm’s. Now, with the C1, Apple’s dream of controlling its tech is coming true. Soon, every Apple device with cellular might run on its own modem.

  • Apple’s security update in the UK made simple

    Apple’s security update in the UK made simple

    On February 21, Apple stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK after the government quietly asked for a way to unlock private user data stored in iCloud—not just in the UK, but everywhere. This decision has left some UK Apple users wondering how safe their information is now. Let’s break it down.

    What Was Advanced Data Protection?

    Advanced Data Protection, or ADP, started in 2022 as Apple’s top security option for iCloud. It’s a setting users can turn on to lock more of their data—like backups, photos, and notes—with a special kind of protection called end-to-end encryption. This means only the user can unlock it on their own devices, and no one else, not even Apple, can peek inside. Without ADP, Apple uses regular encryption for things like email and calendars, where it keeps a spare key and can open the data if a court orders it.

    Not many people likely used ADP since Apple never shared numbers. Some might not know about it, while others have older devices that can’t handle it because they need the latest software.
    Who’s Impacted by This Change?

    This affects two groups in the UK:

    • New users: Since February 21, they can’t turn on ADP. They’ll see a message saying it’s no longer available.
    • Current ADP users: If you already had it on, you’ll need to switch it off yourself soon to keep using iCloud. Apple can’t do it for you and promises more help later.

    If you never used ADP, nothing changes—your data still has Apple’s basic protection, where Apple holds the key.

    What’s Still Safe?

    Even without ADP, some iCloud features stay super secure by default, like iMessage, FaceTime, passwords, and health info. These use end-to-end encryption no matter what.

    Why Did This Happen?

    The UK government used a law to secretly demand Apple build a hidden way into encrypted data worldwide. Apple said no, worried it would weaken security for everyone—like leaving a house key out for anyone to find. Instead, they pulled ADP from the UK, hoping to bring it back someday with better safety for users.

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