The M3 MacBook Air: Two Displays, Faster Wi-Fi, and Better Performance

There’s not much to say about the M3 MacBook Airs that Apple revealed earlier this week. Last year’s M2 redesign was universally praised, and this year’s M3 version one-ups it with support for two displays, faster Wi-Fi 6E, and performance improvements, thanks to the M3 processor … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Vision Pro App Spotlight: GameTrack Updated with Built-In Cloud Streaming

Late last week, Joe Kimberlin released GameTrack 5.4, an update to the iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS versions of the app that enables new ways to access your favorite games and navigate the app’s UI. Of course, the Vision Pro version of GameTrack is completely new since the last time … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Magic Rays of Light: Napoleon and Oscars Predictions

This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon are joined by MacStories Managing Editor John Voorhees to take another look at Ridley Scott’s Napoleon upon the film’s streaming debut. They also dive into March releases on Apple Arcade and share who they think will take home t … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

FinanceKit Opens Real-Time Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Apple Savings Transaction Data to Third-Party Apps

Ivan Mehta, writing for TechCrunch: Apple’s iOS 17.4 update is primarily about adapting iOS to EU’s Digital Market Act Regulation. But the company has also released a new API called FinanceKit that lets developers fetch transactions and balance information from Apple Card, Apple … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 17.4 with Major Safari and App Store Changes in the EU, Transcripts for Podcasts, New Emoji, and More

Today, Apple released iOS and iPadOS 17.4, the fourth major updates to the operating systems that launched in September and Federico reviewed on MacStories. iOS 17.4 is a significant release, bringing major platform changes to iOS in Europe as part of Apple’s response to the Euro … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

AppStories, Episode 373 – Introducing the MacPad

This week on AppStories, Federico introduces the world to the MacPad, a hybrid Mac/iPad that he built from an M2 MacBook Air and 11” iPad Pro, and I quiz him on the build process, software involved, and what it’s like to use. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Concepts: Sket … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

MacPad: How I Created the Hybrid Mac-iPad Laptop and Tablet That Apple Won’t Make

Hello, MacPad. It all started because I wanted a better keyboard for my Vision Pro. I had no idea that, in looking for one, I’d accidentally create the hybrid Apple computer of my dreams. As I quickly discovered after working on the Vision Pro daily, you can get by without an ext … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Apple Releases New Spring Colors for iPhone Cases and Watch Bands

Source: Apple. As has become a tradition, Apple released new colors of some of its cases and Apple Watch bands today. The new Silicone Case colors are Soft Mint, Sunshine, Light Blue, and Pink and come in all iPhone 15 model sizes. No new colors are available for the Fine Woven c … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Apple Introduces New M3 MacBook Airs

Source: Apple. Apple has unveiled new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs that feature the M3 processor, Wi-Fi 6E, support for two external displays, and up to 18 hours of battery life. The M3 chipset features an 8-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB of unified memory. Apple s … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

The European Commission Fines Apple Over €1.8 Billion

In a decision issued today, the European Commission leveled a fine of over €1.8 billion against Apple for preventing developers of music streaming services from letting iOS users know about subscriptions available outside their apps. After an investigation, the Commission conclud … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Whisper Memos: Turn Your Ramblings into Paragraphed Articles, Sent Right to Your Email Inbox [Sponsor]

Ideas are precious but fleeting. One moment, inspiration strikes, but if you don’t capture that lightning in a bottle, it’s gone before you know it. With Whisper Memos, you can harness the power of artificial intelligence to turn your ideas into orderly memos. Whisper Memos combi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

MacStories Unwind: Obsessing Over Wi-Fi

This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico teases a big project he’s been working on that will be out on MacStories next week, plus both he and John obsess over their Wi-Fi setups but wish Apple would make hardware that made it all easier. [audio_player src=”https://traffic.libsyn. … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Vision Pro App Spotlight: Status Bar Builder’s Key Is Customization Combined with Simplicity

There’s an elegance in simplicity that I value. I use plenty of complex apps, but there’s a certain satisfaction in finding one that fits your needs perfectly. One such app that seems destined to claim a long-term spot on my Vision Pro is Status Bar Builder, a customizable utilit … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Magic Rays of Light: Apple Sports, Immersive Video, and Dick Turpin

This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon discuss new Apple Original comedy series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Apple’s brand new Sports app for iPhone, and the potential for immersive video across sports, music, and live performances. Show Notes Hi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Music Debuts Heavy Rotation, A New Daily Made For You Playlist

This morning I woke up to a pleasant surprise. Apple had quietly added a new Made For You playlist to the Music app called Heavy Rotation that’s updated daily. As you’d expect from a playlist called Heady Rotation, mine is comprised of 25 songs, most of which I believe I listened … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Simple Scan: A Scanning Solution for People Who Don’t Scan Often

One of my favorite kinds of apps is simple utilities that solve a common problem and are straightforward to use. That’s exactly what Greg Pierce has created with Simple Scan, a scanning app for the iPhone and iPad that simplifies the process of one-off document scans. Simple Scan … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Vision Pro Entertainment Apps

This week on AppStories, we share some of our favorite visionOS entertainment apps. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion Porkbun: Get $1 off your next domain name with the code APPDEVFOO1. AppStories+ Pre-Show The Best Way t … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Arcade’s Prestige Problem

Brendon Bigley wrote about the Apple Arcade report by mobilegamer.biz today on Wavelengths too. This part really rang true to me: I don’t agree that there is any “real” difference in prestige between mediums beyond ever-changing societal norms, all art is capable of rising to sit … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Some Game Developers Are Unhappy about Apple Arcade

According to multiple unnamed mobilegamer.biz sources, some game developers are unhappy with Apple Arcade, citing shrinking payouts and canceled games. No specifics about canceled projects are cited in the story. Nor are concrete revenue numbers shared. Moreover, the criticisms l … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Mona 6 Moves from High Visual Customization to Advanced Automation

Mona, the Mastodon client for iOS, iPadOS, and Mac from Junyu Kuang, is out today with a significant version 6 update. Mona is my choice for using Mastodon primarily due to what John referred to in his review as its ‘epic level of customization.’ Everything from how the taskbar a … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Looking Past the Smoke and Mirrors of the MGM Hack [Sponsor]

The September 2023 MGM hack quickly became one of the most notorious ransomware attacks in recent memory. Journalists and cybersecurity experts rushed to report on the broken slot machines, angry hotel guests, and the fateful phishing call to MGM’s help desk that started it all. … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

MacStories Unwind: Ripping CDs for a Living

This week on MacStories Unwind, I share my tech discoveries during a visit to a classical music radio station, Federico finally goes for a spider-style gaming Wi-Fi router, and I recommend Criminal Record on Apple TV+. This episode is sponsored by: Paste – Endless Clipboard for M … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Automation Academy: My Collection of Advanced Shortcuts for Things

Earlier today, Federico released a series of seven advanced shortcuts for the task manager Things as part of his Automation Academy column, an exclusive perk of Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Federico explains in the introduction of the story why he returned to Things a few m … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

The Fastest Way to Save RSS Articles to A Read-Later App

Skimming through the day’s tech headlines in Reeder. I follow about 180 RSS feeds, and I skim through all of my tech feeds every day, looking for interesting news, angles, opinions, and inspiration. A lot of what I see is repetitive, but I’ve gotten very good over the years at sp … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Vision Pro App Spotlight: Longplay Adds Immersive Album Listening

The music experience on the Apple Vision Pro is excellent. It starts with the device’s built-in headphones and spatial audio, which work hand-in-hand with the visual components of spatial computing. Apple has already shown off the potential for immersive experiences like Alicia K … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Looks Like Rain: Visualizing the Weather on a Color-Coded Timeline

I’m always excited when a new weather app is released, especially when it’s a weather app that looks different from most of its counterparts. Looks Like Rain by Thinkbits is beautifully designed, and it certainly looks different, to say the least. The layout of the app is clean, … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Vision Pro Accessory Roundup: Our Favorites So Far

Slowly but surely, a growing number of accessories are popping up around the Apple Vision Pro. Today, we thought we’d share our favorites so far. Battery Accessories Battery Packs The Anker Prime 27,650mAh power bank. John: Apple sells the battery pack that powers the Apple Visio … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

iMessage Is Preparing for a Post-Quantum Computing World

Yesterday, Apple’s Security Research website published a report on a cryptographic security upgrade coming to iMessage with the release of iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, and watchOS 10.4 called PQ3. It’s a forward-looking, preemptive upgrade that anticipates a future where qu … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Says a 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Film is ‘Coming Soon’ to the Vision Pro

Source: Apple. This morning, I was listening to the latest episode of Dithering, when John Gruber wondered something I’d noticed too. At WWDC and subsequent press demos of the Vision Pro, Apple showed off sports footage, including a sequence from a Boston Red Sox game, but none o … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Launches Free Sports App in the US, UK, and Canada

Today, Apple introduced a new iPhone-only app called Apple Sports. The free app is available to download from the App Store in the US, UK, and Canada, and, as Apple describes it in its press release: gives sports fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more. Designed for spee … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Magic Rays of Light: Constellation, Apple TV’s Report Card, and MLS Season Pass Returns

This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon highlight new Apple Original space adventure series Constellation, recap Criminal Record, and preview the upcoming season of Major League Soccer on MLS Season Pass. Show Notes Highlight Constellation News Apple in 2023: The Six … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Beautiful Things for Spatial Computing

I came across this fun website while browsing the Vision Pro community on Reddit: beautifulthings.xyz is a curated collection of 3D USDZ files that you can download for free on any Apple device. On the Vision Pro, these models can be freely placed anywhere in your environment alo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Is Apple Collaborating with SongShift on Migrating Users to Apple Music?

Speaking of Apple Music, Apple appears to be testing ways to migrate your music library and playlists from other streaming services to its own. Chance Miller, writing for 9to5Mac, reports on the discovery made by users of the Apple Music for Android beta on Reddit: Now, Apple app … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Music Replay Updated with Monthly Listening Statistics

Apple has updated its Replay website with monthly totals for top artists, albums, songs, and milestones, giving Apple Music listeners a reason to visit the site more than once a year. The update bears some similarities to the sort of monthly statistics available from sites like L … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

A Comprehensive Guide to Gaming on the Apple Vision Pro

The lack of any kind of port significantly limits the type of gaming you can do in the Apple Vision Pro – or does it? Sure, even one USB-C port would make a big difference to gamers looking to play titles outside the App Store, but there is a surprisingly wide array of ways to [… … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Six Colors’ ‘Apple in 2023’ Report Card

For the past nine years, Six Colors’ Jason Snell has put together an ‘Apple report card’ – a survey to assess the current state of Apple “as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple”. T … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Vision Accessibility on Apple Vision Pro

I have low vision. A kind you can’t really correct for with glasses or contacts. I also bought Apple Vision Pro at launch. Why would I do this? Well because I’m a nerd who wants to see the future, but also because I was fascinated to see how Apple would handle accessibility for t … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

AppStories, Episode 371 – Exploring visionOS

This week on AppStories, we move on from hardware to explore visionOS, where it hits, where it misses, and what we’d like to see in the future from the OS. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Paste – Endless clipboard for Mac and iOS devices Crouton – A home for your favorite … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Sharing a Vision Pro with Someone Else Is Too Hard

Adi Robertson writes for The Verge about the Vision Pro’s lackluster support for multiple users and how hard it is to share the device with someone else: The Vision Pro is $3,499 and only one person in your household can ever use it fully, which makes no sense at all. The privacy … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Paste - Endless Clipboard for Mac and iOS Devices [Sponsor]

In the dynamic digital world, efficiency is key. That’s where Paste steps in - your indispensable clipboard manager for Mac and iOS. Designed for the Apple enthusiast, Paste elevates your workflow to new heights of organization and ease. With Paste, every copied item - whether te … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

MacStories Unwind: Vision Pro Q&A with Club MacStories Members

[audio_player src=”https://traffic.libsyn.com/4a9c6b5a-ec38-4b0d-a27a-8bcc69e44dd7/MacStories_Unwind_regular_Episode_2024-02-16_Vision_Pro_QA_with_Club_MacStories_Members.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:45:15” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] This week on MacStori … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Vision Pro App Spotlight: HomeUI Enables Spatial Control over HomeKit Lights, Switches, and Outlets

The Apple Vision Pro doesn’t have a native version of the company’s Home app. You can launch the iPad version in compatibility mode, which I’m glad is available, but that means it doesn’t offer any spatial computing features beyond a window floating in your environment. Fortunate … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Welcome to Weird

Today, Chance Miller reported for 9to5Mac that the progressive web app (PWA) issues iPhone users in the EU have been seeing throughout the iOS 17.4 beta cycle are indeed intentional, breaking changes. The evidence is new developer documentation that added a Q&A section dealing wi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

It’s Time for Apple to Get Weird

Speaking of weird things: I’m on the record with saying that I’d love to see Apple get weird with some of their products, so obviously this story by Jason Snell at Macworld resonated with me: While I admire the great care Apple takes before it brings a product to market, I do som … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Vision Pro App Spotlight: My Favorite Ways to Take a Quick Note

One of the advantages of working with the Vision Pro is the flexibility of using your surroundings to spread out. Your entire room becomes your workspace, and if you’re in an Environment, your workable space expands even further. That makes it easier to keep a note-taking app ope … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Apple Spotlights 12 Spatial Computing Games Available on the Vision Pro along with More Than 250 Other Games That Can Be Played on the Device

Source: Apple. Apple announced that its Arcade game subscription service includes a dozen titles designed for spatial computing, along with over 250 total that are playable on the Apple Vision Pro. Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade, said in a press release that … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Can You Use a Headless MacBook Air with a Vision Pro?

Luke Miani (who runs a great YouTube channel I’ve been following for a while) has created the sort of beautiful monstrosity I would absolutely consider for my own workflow: he was able to remove a display from an M2 MacBook Air and use the remaining “macOS slab” as a fully functi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago

Juno 1.1 for visionOS Adds the Ability to Open YouTube.com URLs in the App

John covered Juno, Christian Selig’s new YouTube client for visionOS, on MacStories last week, and I’ve been using the app for the past few days as my default way of watching YouTube videos on my Vision Pro. Today, Selig released version 1.1 of Juno with some welcome quality-of-l … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 months ago