Latest

9to5Mac Daily: May 15, 2024 – Apple previews iOS 18 accessibility features

9to5mac daily podcast

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts appStitcherTuneInGoogle Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:

  • Ad-free versions of every episode
  • Bonus content
Expand Expanding Close

Images show how much bigger iPhone 16 Pro Max will be

iPhone 16 Pro rumors

According to the latest rumors, Apple will increase the screen size of both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively. We’ve already seen some dummy units of the new iPhones, but now we can get a better idea of how much bigger the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be based on these photos of a dummy unit side by side with an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Expand Expanding Close

New Magic Keyboard is a surprisingly compelling reason to upgrade to an M4 iPad Pro

M4 iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard

The M4 iPad Pro has a lot going for it to tempt prospective buyers. Whether you’re coming from a 2018 iPad Pro like me, or a newer M-class iPad, there are plenty of great reasons to upgrade to the new iPad Pro. The OLED display can’t be beat; the M4 chip is unmatched in Apple’s lineup; and on a lesser note, there’s even a color-matched USB-C cable with the space black model.

The upgrade incentive I didn’t really expect, but that’s hitting me hardest today, is just how much better the new Magic Keyboard is than its predecessor.

And yes, sadly the new keyboard is exclusive to the M4 iPad Pro.

Expand Expanding Close

M4 iPad Pro comes with a color-matched USB-C cable, so go for space black

M4 iPad Pro with space black USB-C cable

Today is M4 iPad Pro launch day, so users are starting to get their hands on the new iPad and experience it in the flesh.

We know that the new iPad Pro has Apple’s most advanced chip, a remarkable Ultra Retina XDR display, and other key improvements. The 13-inch Pro is also the thinnest Apple product ever made, and lighter than before. But beyond the physical changes of thinness and lightness, did you know that it also comes with a color-matched USB-C cable?

Expand Expanding Close

Is this removable iPad matte display option better than the $100 nano-texture upgrade?

Astropad launched its Rock Paper Pencil v2 kit earlier this year which delivers a removable and reusable matte screen protector and pen-on-paper upgrade for iPad with ball-point style Apple Pencil tips. Now it’s available for the new iPad Pro and Air and begs the question, at 60% less, is this a better matte display solution than Apple’s $100 nano-texture upgrade?

Expand Expanding Close

iOS 18 will let you set custom voice phrases to trigger actions, no ‘Siri’ necessary

Vocal Shortcuts in iOS 18

Today amid a wealth of accessibility announcements, including hands-free CarPlay and the futuristic Live Captions on Vision Pro, Apple announced that iOS 18 would be introducing a powerful new voice feature. Vocal Shortcuts will enable system-wide action triggers based on custom phrases you set, with no need to say “Siri.”

Expand Expanding Close

Spotify hit with cease and desist from music publishers alleging ‘direct infringement’

spotify logo

Spotify is being accused of engaging in “direct infringement by hosting unlicensed musical works in its lyrics, videos and podcasts” by the National Music Publishers Association. In a new letter sent to the music streaming service this week, the NMPA alleges that Spotify “distributes music videos and podcasts using musical works without the consent of or compensation.”

Expand Expanding Close
M3 Pro MacBook Pro deals

Apple’s 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro now $250 off, upgraded iPad mini 6 $110 off, and more in today’s best deals

Happy iPad launch day folks! While much of the early pre-order deals we have tracked on the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air have faded (some are still live though!), today’s deals focus on Apple’s latest MacBooks and the venerable iPad mini 6. The 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro with 18GB of memory is nearly $250 off, the mid-range 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is $100 off, and you’ll find some solid deals on upgraded iPad mini 6 configurations too. Head below for a closer look at today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

Expand Expanding Close

Vision Pro will soon be able to show live captions of everything being spoken around you

Today in advance of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple outlined a variety of exciting new accessibility updates coming to its platforms later this year. From bringing the Vision Pro’s eye tracking tech to the iPad and iPhone, to music haptics, and more.

One new accessibility feature coming to Vision Pro users is Live Captions. Built especially for the deaf or hard of hearing, Live Captions will—as the name implies—take everything being spoken around you and present it in written form, all in real-time.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple previews iOS 18 accessibility features including eye tracking and music haptics

Apple today announced new accessibility features that will debut later this year in iOS 18 and its other operating systems (although as usual, Apple does not specifically refer to ‘iOS 18’ prematurely).

The headline addition is Eye Tracking, which will allow iPhone and iPad users with physical disabilities to control their devices just by looking at it with their eyes, with a new iOS gaze system somewhat similar to Vision Pro. Other new features include music haptics, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more …

Expand Expanding Close

As M4 iPad Pro arrives, Joz sets the record straight: ‘tablets suck, and iPads don’t’

Happy M4 iPad Pro launch day! Whether you’re picking one up for yourself or dreaming about which configuration you’d order, there’s plenty of M4 iPad Pro material to go around this week.

The latest insight into Apple’s vision for the iPad is included in an Apple exec interview by Harry McCracken for Fast Company. John Ternus and Greg Joswiak, or “Joz,” talk M4, AI, OLED, and what makes the iPad a “Pro” machine.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple is upping its magnet game for a best-ever Smart Folio on the new iPads

Smart Folio for M4 iPad Pro and iPad Air 6

Today is launch day for the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, so more users are starting to get their hands on the devices and making new discoveries about them.

One such find came from MKBHD, who discovered how Apple is upping its magnet game with the new iPad Pro and Air to make its Smart Folio better and more versatile than ever.

Expand Expanding Close

Dual-boot iPad would be nuts, says former Microsoft president

Dual-boot iPad would be nuts | M4 iPad Pro models shown

A number of commenters have made the point that iPad reviews haven’t really changed in years. Each generation, the hardware gets better, and the software gets left behind. That has led some to suggest a dual-boot iPad, which can switch between iPadOS and macOS as desired.

However, former Microsoft exec Steven Sinofsky – who was President of the Windows division for several years – says this idea “is just nuts” …

Expand Expanding Close