AirPods Pro 3 aren’t here yet, nor are a proper AirPods Max 2, but this was a solid year for AirPods anyways thanks to and some strong software updates. One of my favorite new features this year, however, should have its biggest impact in the months ahead when iOS 18.4 launches.

The Meta Quest line of AR and VR headsets appear to be popular Christmas gifts this year, as the Meta Horizon companion soars to the top of the iPhone App Store in the US region, and around the world. The uplift in demand is likely driven by the release of the , a cheap-but-capable $299 model.

The Amazon Alexa app also rose in the Top Free app charts, as Echo speakers continue to be popular gift ideas. AirPods and were also likely to be one of the most unwrapped gifts this Christmas, but the App Store does not give us any insights into the popularity of Apple’s own products …

If you just unwrapped a new Apple Watch this holiday season, there are a variety of tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your new wearable. Read on for some guidance on our favorite Apple Watch features for health, activity, customization, and more.

We’re huge fans of the Ottocast suite of connected car accessories, and 9to5Mac readers can upgrade the car entertainment system while saving 20% for the holidays! From the wireless CarPlay AI box to the newly launched CloudSIM solution, Ottocast has the best solutions for enhancing your trip.

Apple and Google’s $20 billion deal, which sees Google serve as the default search engine on the iPhone, is under scrutiny. As we reported this morning, the United States DOJ is continuing its case against Google’s dominance in the search industry – and that lucrative Apple agreement is a focal point.

In a new court filing this week spotted by Reuters, Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, outlined why Apple itself would never develop its own search engine.

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I’ve been a CleanMyMac subscriber for nearly a decade, and I’ve been truly impressed by the app’s recent focus on providing Mac users with simple yet effective malware detection and prevention features. So, when MacPaw offered to fly me out to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet and interview the folks leading Moonlock, its cybersecurity division, I jumped at the opportunity.

This interview is divided into three parts: About Moonlock, the technology behind the Moonlock Engine, and what’s planned for the future.

Disclosure: Ukraine is a country at war. Many members of the Moonlock team also aid in the defense of their country, so false names may be used below to protect their identity. Some parts of the transcript were edited for clarity.

Apple has yet to complete its transition from LCD to OLED, but will at some point move beyond this to microLED screens. Key supplier Foxconn has announced that it expects to begin mass production of the advanced display tech late next year.

Foxconn made the announcement as it revealed a partnership with Porotech for microLED to be used in future AR headsets …

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has responded to a series of massive Marriott and Starwood data breaches, ordering the companies to make no fewer than 13 changes to ensure it can’t happen again.

More than 344 million customers were impacted by three separate security breaches, which revealed personal data that included credit card details and passport information …

All American Airline flights are currently grounded on Christmas Eve due to an unspecified ‘technical issue.’ AA subsidiaries are also unable to fly, and the company says it can’t say when the problem will be fixed …

Update: It was later revealed the problem was a software outage preventing weight and balance calculations. Flights are now resuming …

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive had long seen the holy grail of iPhone design to be “a single slab of glass” without any bezels. A new supply-chain report says Apple had hoped that the iPhone 18 would see it achieve that objective, but it now looks unlikely.

The goal, says the report, is to have the entirety of the front of the device be display, with the screen flowing seamlessly into the sides of the phone …

The iPhone and iPad could have different default search engines, argues a Google court filing, as the company attempts to protect its $20B a year deal with Apple.

Google’s annual payment to Apple to be the default search engine in Safari looks certain to be banned in an antitrust case, but the search giant is hitting back with a number of counterproposals …

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In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with the team from CleanMyMac X about keeping your fleet healthy with a sneak peek at a 2025 business tool from MacPaw

The year is almost over, but the team behind the popular fitness and wellness app Gentler Streak still had a few cards up their sleeve for 2024. The latest update to the app adds improvements to health metrics, as well as the long-awaited Activity Recap 2024.

Watching movies, shows, and all kinds of video is easily one of the top two best experiences Apple Vision Pro. visionOS-exclusive apps like Television and Theater exist for that reason. The latter app premiered in June with a live Apple exec interview in 3D to mark the occasion. Today Theater 2 has landed, and with it comes the best new thing I’ve experienced on Apple Vision Pro.

Every year just before the holidays just about all of the App Store’s top publishers put many of their best and most popular titles on sale for folks to enjoy at a discount over the Christmas break. Needless to say, with so many titles going on sale, some likely not worth your time, we like to gather all of the highlights we have rounded up over the past week or more into one handy list you can peruse at your leisure. Whether you’re looking to scoop up some new experiences to enjoy while you’re traveling to see family, waiting for the turkey, or just to stay occupied during your time off, head below for a closer look at some of our favorite iOS games and apps on sale for the holidays.

Lux, the makers of pro camera apps Halide and Kino, have today outlined their plans for the next big update for Halide. Here are three new features in the works for Halide 3.0.

Next year’s iPhone purchase decision will be especially tough for a lot of users. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max both have a lot going for them, but so too will the new iPhone 17 Air. Here are four advantages the iPhone 17 Air will have over the iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple has updated almost the entire iPad lineup this year, except for the entry-level model – which hasn’t been updated since 2022. However, it seems that the company is finally working on an updated version of the entry-level iPad as a source believes that the iPad 11 will be launched in early 2025.

Finding the perfect travel charger can be challenging, but I may have one of the best. Enter the r, a 3-in-1 charging station that can fit in your back pocket. Designed with Apple users in mind, this charger is a game-changer for powering up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

iOS 18.2 came packed with a lot of big and small changes. One smaller update that’s flown under the radar is a faster way to message Siri or ChatGPT. Here’s how it works.