Latest Apple News

Macworld There are two reasons you should ditch your Microsoft 365 subscription. For starters, it’s a monthly subscription you have to keep up with. Second, Microsoft just announced a price increase for 365, meaning you’ll pay nearly $100 a month just for access to your favorite apps. Why not own Microsoft Office instead? Rather than pay recurring fees for 365, you only have to pay once for lifetime access to your favorite Office apps on your Mac or PC. For a limited time, the latest edition, Microsoft 2024 Home, is now available for only $129.97 (reg. $149.99). This Office license might just make you wonder why you opted for 365 for so long, especially since you’re getting the latest editions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Teams, all with AI enhancements and upgraded collaboration tools. Use Word’s new Smart Compose feature to complete sentences or get text suggestions that fit your project. Or, analyze data more efficiently with the help of Excel’s AI. You can also get intelligent suggestions for formatting, design elements, and accessibility improvements in PowerPoint. Take a look at the other improvements you’ll find in the latest version of Microsoft Office: View post on imgur.com Grab one of these downloads for Microsoft 2024 for your Mac or PC while it’s available for only $129.97. No coupon needed!   Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase Only $129.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Meta on Thursday announced a new feature coming to Instagram users. More specifically, this new feature should benefit those who like to watch Reels, Instagram’s short video platform that competes with TikTok. With the update, users can fast-forward Reels videos. more…

With iOS 18.2, Apple has introduced a new option that lets iPhone users set third-party apps as the default for calls and messages. Now WhatsApp has finally released an update to support this API, which means that users can choose WhatsApp to be the iPhone’s default app for calls and texts. more…

Macworld macOS Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, but the beta development continues and if you are a registered developer or registered as a public beta tester, you can continue to get the latest updates and try out new features still not available to the general public. In this article, we’ll explain what’s in the latest version of the Sequoia beta, what you need to do to get your hands on a copy, how to install it, and what you should bear in mind if you don’t want to end up in a pickle. If you would prefer to use the latest official release of macOS Sequoia here’s how to update macOS on your Mac. In the past, the developer beta was only available to developers who had paid to join Apple’s Developer Program (which costs $99/£79). However, for a couple of years now, Apple has opened up the developer beta to registered developers with free developer accounts. We explain how to get a free developer account below. Not that we recommend that you should get the beta if you aren’t a developer. Beta software tends to be buggy and a more stable public beta version is also available. If you no longer want to run the beta version of macOS read this: How to remove the macOS beta. macOS developer beta: Latest version Apple released a new macOS Sequoia 15.4 Release Candidate on March 27, 2024. This one is not labeled as a second RC replaces the RC released on March 24, 2025 Sequoia 15.4 features the Mail sorting features that were introduced in iOS 18.2. When you open an Inbox, four icons appear at the top representing the sorting methods: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. If you swipe from the right end of the icons to the left, you can activate an option for All Mail to be listed. In Mail on the Mac, these options will appear at the top of the Inbox message listing. If you have Apple Intelligence enabled on your Mac, you’ll also see a new Priority Notifications section at the top of your Inbox to show any important messages you may have missed. Another new feature is Proximity Pairing that works with iPhones running iOS 18.4, according to 9to5Mac. When setting up a new Mac, you’ll be able to pair it with an iPhone to transfer over information such as your Apple Account data. Apple Intelligence will be available in several non-English countries, including countries in the European Union, Brazil, India, and Japan. macOS public beta: Latest version macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta 4: March 17, 2025. Foundry Apple usually releases the Public beta a day or so after the developer beta arrives. macOS Sequoia beta timeline The first version of the Sequoia developer beta of macOS 15 arrived after the WWDC keynote on June 10, 2024. Beta 2 arrived on June 24. The first public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 15, 2024. Developer beta 4 was released on July 23. The second public beta also arrived on July 23, 2024. Developer beta 5 arrived on August 5 followed by the third public beta. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 developer beta 6 on August 12. The fourth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 13, 2024. Developer beta 7 and the fifth public beta of Sequoia were released on August 20. On August 28, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 beta 8 and the sixth public beta of Sequoia. The release candidate of Sequoia arrived on September 9. The full version of Sequoia arrived on compatible Macs on September 16. macOS Sequoia 15.1 There were actually two versions of the developer beta. A second beta was running consecutively with the macOS 15.0 beta development. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta included Apple Intelligence features that are only available on M-series Macs (a iOS 18.1 beta was also in development separately with Apple Intelligence features for compatible iPhones). Apple started work on the macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta on July 29. Beta 2 arrived on August 12, beta 3 was released to developers on August 28. Initially this beta was only for developers, but Apple released a macOS Sequoia 15.1 pubic beta on September 19, 2024, following the release of Sequoia to the general public. Eventually, the macOS Sequoia 15.1 release candidate was released on October 21 and a second release candidate 2 was released on October 24. The final version of macOS Sequoia 15.1 arrived on compatible Macs on October 28. macOS Sequoia 15.2 On October 23, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta 1 to developers. Version 15.2 introduced the second set of Apple Intelligence features. On November 20, Apple released the macOS Sequoia beta 4 to developers. On December 5, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 Release Candidate. On December 9, Apple released the Released Candidate 2. The official release of 15.2 was on December 11. macOS Sequoia 15.3 On December 16, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 1 to developers. This beta includes the ability to create Gemoji. On January 7, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 2 to developers. Beta 3 of 15.3 came on January 16. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 release candidate (RC) to developers on January 21. macOS Sequoia 15.4 On February 19, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta to developers. It included Mail updates and Proximity Pairing with the iPhone. On March 10, Apple released beta 3 to developers. On March 17, Apple released beta 4 to developers. On March 24, Apple released the Release Candidate 1 to developers. On March 27, Apple released a new RC that replaced the one released on March 24. macOS public beta vs developer beta Since 2023 the Developer Beta has been available to anyone who registers as a developer, even if they aren’t a paid-up member of Apple’s Developer Program. As a result, people with a basic free developer account are able to download the new macOS developer beta (we show you how to register below). Whether you should download the developer beta if you aren’t a developer is another question. We don’t recommend you install the developer beta if you aren’t a developer. Instead, our recommendation is to use the public beta (the first verison of which usually arrives in July). There are a few differences between the public and developer betas. The public beta is not the same as the beta that is released through the developer program. Developers get updates to their beta first, and possibly more frequently. But you should keep in mind that betas are by nature not stable, and because the public beta comes after the developer beta it could be a little safer to install. The most significant difference is probably the motive of the testers: Developers usually have the aim of ensuring their apps work when the updated macOS is released to the general public, while public beta testers are essentially helping Apple detect bugs and offering feedback on the features. Because of this developers may get to test new features not available in the public beta.  If you want to get the public beta the first thing you need to do, if you haven’t already, is join Apple’s beta programs read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester. Apple How to get a free developer account If you just want a free Apple Developer account so you can access the beta you can get this via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app on an iPhone: Get the Apple Developer App from the App Store.  Open the app on your iPhone.  Tap on Account.  Tap on Sign In.  Sign in using your usual Apple ID.  If you wish to actually publish applications to the App Store or receive support, you’ll need to pay $99/£79 per year for a paid account. You can compare the free and paid accounts here. How to get the macOS beta The Sequoia developer beta should show up on your Mac if you are running macOS Sonoma or macOS Sequoia, have paid $99/£79 to enroll in Apple’s Developer program (here) or if you have a free developer account (follow the instructions above). When the Public Beta becomes available it will also show up on your Mac, as long as you have signed up for the Public Beta program on Apple’s beta webpage, signed the NDA, and enrolled your Mac. Before you download a few warnings: We strongly advise that if you aren’t a developer you don’t download the developer beta. We also strongly recommend that you back up your Mac before you upgrade to the Sequoia beta. We recommend that you do not run Sequoia beta on your primary Mac; ideally, you run it in a separate volume. This should minimize any risks to you. How to download macOS beta Open Software Updates on your Mac. (System Settings > General > Software Updates.) You should see two options: Automatic Updates and Beta Updates. Click on the (i) beside Beta Updates. You can now turn on Beta Updates (if they weren’t already on). Choose the beta you want to download. If your developer account is tied to a different Apple ID to your usual one you can change that here. Click Done. Now your Mac will Check for updates and eventually show the Sequoia Developer Beta as an upgrade. Click on Upgrade Now. Foundry If you are running macOS Ventura 13.3 or earlier: Apple changed the way it delivers betas in Ventura 13.4. If you aren’t yet running that version of macOS you will need to download the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility or macOS Public Beta Access Utility. If you were already running an earlier macOS Public Beta you’ll find the new macOS beta as an upgrade via Software Update. Just click on Upgrade Now. You may have to update to the latest version of your current beta before you can do so, if not follow the steps below to get the beta access utility. If you are enrolled in the Developer Program, go to Apple’s beta download page. Click on Install Profile to download the new macOS Developer Beta Access Utility to your Mac. If you are enrolled as a public beta tester, download the macOS Public Beta Access Utility. Go to Downloads on your Mac and click on the macOS Beta Access Utility to open it. Double-click on the dmg file and the installer will run. Once the new macOS beta is installed Software Update will check to see if there are any updates. Click Update and the latest version will download. You’ll see a prompt to install the latest macOS beta, click on Continue. Agree to the Ts&Cs (more on them below). Click Install. How to update macOS beta versions Once you are running the beta the updates will come through to your Mac automatically, you just need to click to install. You will receive a notification when the next update to the beta is available. Updates will be available via Software Update (in System Settings/System Preferences) Everything else you need to know about beta testing That covers how to get the betas, but once you have them what can you do, and what should you do? We’ll cover that below. Is the macOS beta stable? By its nature, a beta has the potential to be unstable. Therefore it’s not advised that you install it on a Mac that you rely on. If you have a second Mac that isn’t mission-critical then install it there. We strongly recommend that you don’t risk all by putting the macOS beta on your primary macOS, especially not in the early days of the beta development.  If you don’t have a second Mac there are a couple of ways you could run macOS beta on your Mac without running the risk of losing data or finding your Mac stops working: We recommend installing it on a partition – which these days is really a volume (and is much easier to create than a partition was). Read about how to do that here: How to dual-boot Mac: Run two versions of macOS on a Mac. Alternatively, you could install the macOS beta on an external drive and run it on that. We discuss the safety of the macOS beta and the risks you might be taking in more detail in a separate article. If the stability of the beta worries you then you are probably better off waiting until the final version is out, or at least waiting until testing has been happening for a few months before getting the beta. How to prepare your Mac for the beta Update your software: We recommend you have the latest full version of macOS installed, although Apple says that the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility requires macOS 10.8 or later. Make space: We’d recommend at least 15GB of available space because the macOS betas tend to be very large. If you end up requiring more space read: How to free up space on Mac. Note that we always recommend that you have at least 10% space free on your Mac at any time, so if you don’t have that expect problems! Back up: Before you install a beta on your Mac you should make a backup of your data and files. You can find out how to use Time Machine to back up your Mac. We also have a round-up of suitable backup solutions. How to send feedback to Apple Should you come across an error or a bug you should use the Feedback Assistant app to provide feedback to Apple. Launch the app and follow the appropriate steps, selecting the area about which you’re providing feedback and then any specific sub-area. Then describe your issue in a single sentence, before providing a more detailed description, including any specific steps that reproduce the issue. You’ll also be able to attach other files. You’ll also have to give permission for the Feedback Assistant app to collect diagnostic information from your Mac. It won’t always be obvious whether something is a bug or just not as easy to use as you might have hoped. Either way, if your feedback is that something appears to work in an illogical way, Apple will want to know that. If you are having trouble with a third-party app you can let Apple know by reporting it through the 3rd-party Application Compatibility category in the Feedback Assistant. However, we’d suggest that you also provide feedback to the app’s developer who will no doubt be grateful. Will I be able to update from macOS beta to the final version? Beta users will be able to install the final build of the OS on release day without needing to reformat or reinstall. Can I talk about the beta publicly? According to Apple and the license agreement all beta testers must agree to, the beta is “Apple confidential information”. By accepting those terms, you agree not to discuss your use of the software with anyone who isn’t also in the Beta Software Program. That means you can’t “blog, post screenshots, tweet, or publicly post information about the public beta software.” However, you can discuss any information that Apple has publicly disclosed; the company says that information is no longer considered confidential. How to downgrade from the macOS beta You can always revert to an earlier version of macOS, though depending on how you back up, it’s not necessarily a painless process. Start by making sure the data on your drive is backed up, then erase the drive and install the latest public version of macOS. When you first startup your Mac you can use the Migration Assistant to import your data from the backup. Here’s a more detailed tutorial on downgrading from the macOS beta we also have a tutorial on downgrading to an older version of the Mac OS.

This week brought the official announcement of WWDC, and with it Apple’s first chance to tease iOS 19—the conference’s tentpole software update that’s getting a new design. Apple’s materials for the conference point to a very specific vibe that has me optimistic about iOS 19 and more. more…

Macworld With iOS 18.2, Apple added a number of new options in the Default Apps section of Settings, likely in response to antitrust scrutiny around the globe. Among them are the ability to designate default calling and messaging apps, which are already supported by some third-party apps. Now WhatsApp, which is arguably the most popular global messaging platform, supports these features. Support for default calling and messaging on iOS is listed as a feature for the WhatsApp testflight beta, but it appears to work just fine with the latest version of the iOS app in the App Store (version 25.8.74). To make WhatsApp your default app for calling or messaging, open Settings, scroll down and select Apps, then Default Apps. You’ll see WhatsApp as an option in the Messaging and Calling menus. Foundry Once this is set, WhatsApp will open whenever you hit a calling or texting interface element in iOS, such as in your Contacts or a Maps listing.

This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: iOS 19 screenshots, the Apple Watch is getting a camera, and iPhone 17 side-by-side comparisons. Here are this week’s Apple rumors. more…

Macworld Apple’s iPads are easily some of the best tablets out there and they can be amazing devices to use for fun, but they can also be great productivity and creativity tools with the right accessories. From the brand-new iPad (A16) to the affordable iPad 10th gen, the light iPad Air models or the speedy iPad Pro, all need a little bit of extra protection. To turn them into proper productivity tools, however, you need more than a regular case—you need one with an integrated keyboard and a stylus. Apple makes amazing products, but there’s no denying that they can be rather pricey. If you want the best results and the best prices, we know just what you need. Protect your iPad Listen, we know Apple products look best as they come out of the box, but we all have to admit they can be rather pricey, especially if you get the extra storage. If you’re like me and you’re likely to drop that tablet five seconds after getting it out of the box, then adding in a case and/or a screen protector will extend the tablet’s life. ESR is a reputable company that has been making iPad accessories for years, helping countless people get that little bit of extra protection for their tablets. Here are some cases you’ll love: ESR Flip Magnetic Case ESR The case can be set at multiple angles for viewing or creating content, even if you prefer holding the tablet in portrait view. It even comes with a secure pencil slot with pencil holder. For iPad (A16), iPad 11th Gen – $16.99 (was $19.99 – 15% off) For iPad Air 13″ M2/M3 – $23.79 (was $27.99 – 15% off) For iPad Air 11″ M2/M3 – $18.39 (was $22.99 – 20% off) ESR Shift Magnetic Case ESR The Shift Magnetic Case is the world’s first case to support six use modes with nine stable viewing angles – six designed for viewing and three for writing. The back of the case is also detachable, offering a two-in-one design. For iPad (A16), iPad 11th Gen – $29.99 (was $39.99 – 25% off) For iPad Air 11″ M3/M2, iPad Air 10.9″ 4th and 5th gen – $34.84 (was $45.99 – 24% off) For iPad Air 13″ M2/M3 – $43.99 (was $54.99 – 20% off) Screen protectors are essential because they’ll protect the display from bumps, scratches, and cracks should you drop the tablet, while a proper stylus can unlock potential for greater productivity. ESR UltraFit Classic Screen Protector ESR This screen protector bundle includes an UltraFit Tray that makes the two-step application a breeze. You get two tempered glass films with a 9H hardness level. For iPad (A16), iPad 11th Gen – $13.59 (was $15.99 – 15% off) For iPad Air 11″ M3/M2 – $13.59 (was $15.99 – 15% off) For iPad Air 13″ M2/M3 – $15.29 (was $18.99 – 19% off) ESR Paper-Feel Magnetic Screen Protector ESR If you love creating art on your iPad, then this is the perfect screen protector for you, turning the glossy surface into a paper-like screen and giving you the traction you need to draw or write. It has a magnetic attachment for easy use, and can be applied and re-applied up to 10,000 times. For iPad (A16), iPad 11th Gen – $11.04 (was $13.99 – 21% off) For iPad Air 11″ M3/M2 – $11.89 (was $13.99 – 15% off) For iPad Air 13″ M3/M2 – $11.99 (was $15.99 – 25% off) For iPad Pro 11″ M4 – $11.89 (was $13.99 – 15% off) For iPad Pro 12.9″ – $16.99 (was $21.99 – 23% off) For iPad Pro 13″ M4 – $13.43 (was $15.99 – 16% off) ESR Geo Digital Pencil ESR This ESR stylus isn’t just going to help you draw and write but will also work with the FindMy app, so you never lose it. It features palm rejection, tilt sensitivity, a shortcut button and a tiny battery display, and it can be charged via USB-C. For all iPad models released in 2018 and later – $25.49 (was $29.99 – 15% off) Unleash your iPad’s productivity Turning your tablet into a productivity tool can be super-easy to do if you have the right tools, such as a keyboard case. Let’s see what ESR has to offer: ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 ESR This model doesn’t just deliver an impressive keyboard to work on, but also comes with a case for your tablet. For iPad Air 11″ M3/M2, iPad Air 10.9″, iPad Pro 11 – $104.99 For iPad Air 13 M3/M2 – $104.99 (was $124.99 – 16% off) ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case ESR This one’s super easy to set up and attaches to your tablet magnetically. The keyboard features a trackpad and backlit keys. For iPad (A16), iPad 11th Gen – $79.99 (was $99.99 – 20% off) For iPad Air 11″ M3/M2, iPad Air 10.9″, iPad Pro 11 – $89.99 For iPad Air 13 M3/M2, iPad Pro 12.9″ – $99.99 Visit the ESR Amazon store

Today Apple has released a trio of noteworthy updates for its suite of Final Cut apps. Final Cut Pro for both Mac and iPad have been upgraded with a variety of powerful new features, and Final Cut Camera gets some nice changes too. more…

Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said one of his biggest priorities for the year was “to get back to some OG Facebook.” Starting today, we’re seeing the fruits of that thanks to a new Friends tab rolling out inside the Facebook app. more…