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iPhone 18 Pro rumored to gain a variable aperture wide-angle lens

In a major update to the camera system, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro's wide angle lens will be upgraded to have a variable aperture.


Apple may update the iPhone's wide-angle lens to give it a variable aperture

Rumors concerning the cameras in the forthcoming iPhone 17 range and later have previously varied from saying they will get better bokeh, to how the front camera's resolution will double to 24MP. Now analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims to have specific information that the iPhone 18 Pro will gain this variable aperture update.

In a blog post that he says is based on his own industry sources, Kuo says that this update will "significantly improve the user's photography experience."


Rumor Score: ???? Possible


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New Mac mini has a slotted & removable SSD -- but don't expect upgrades

Apple isn't soldering the SSD to the logic board in the M4 Mac mini, but given the company's history with Apple Silicon, don't expect upgrades.


A Mac mini and a disassembled Mac mini - Image credit: KianWee Lim/iFixit and Apple

Older Intel-based Mac minis provided intrepid users with the ability to disassemble the computer and to upgrade a few components. The 2018 model had upgradeable RAM, but easily replaceable internal storage on the Mac mini has been a thing of the past for a decade.

A question posed to the iFixit forums innocently asks if the SSD in the 2024 Mac mini is soldered in place. Soldered storage is practice that Apple has performed throughout the Apple Silicon age, for the most part, making it extremely difficult for anyone to replace.


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New Macs with Apple Intelligence, the next Apple Vision Pro on the AppleInsider Podcast

The first reviews of the New Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro, are in — and surprisingly range from delight to strange cynicism. Plus there are yet more rumors of the next Apple Vision Pro, but you need not hold your breath.


A Mac mini seen on an iMac screen

Typical. You wait ages for a new Mac and three of them turn up — to mixed reviews. That's not mixed as in some reviews are critical while others are not, it's that some are fulsome while others are begrudging.



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How to start using Image Playground in iOS 18.2 to create funny selfies

Transform your iPhone 16 into a digital art studio with iOS 18.2's Image Playground, the latest tool for creating custom visuals with a few taps.


Ninja the cat moves through the house unseen

With the release of iOS 18.2, Apple's Image Playground app offers users an accessible way to create custom digital images, sparking creative possibilities for iPhone owners. Part of Apple's expanding Apple Intelligence suite, Image Playground debuted in developer betas in late 2024.

With each update, Apple has strived to make Image Playground more responsive and intuitive, aiming to provide a smoother user experience as the feature matures. In the second developer beta of iOS 18.2, notable improvements are already evident, particularly in rendering speed and the alignment between user prompts and generated images.


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iPhones on iOS 18.1 will automatically reboot and lock down after being idle for a while

A hidden feature in iOS 18.1 will automatically reboot a locked iPhone when it is asleep but hasn't been unlocked for a while, presumably as a security measure.


The feature has been identified as an "inactivity reboot," and is similar to a feature found on Macs. The Mac version, known as "hibernation mode," saves the state of the device to disk when put to sleep, in case the power fails or the battery runs out before the user can return to the machine.

By flushing the last state of the device, iPhone users are better protected from forensic searches by law enforcement or other entities. The change also makes it more difficult for anyone to break into the device using brute-force or other methods.

The reboot timer is not reliant on charging or network functions, and is only tied to inactivity since the last unlock. This means the reboot will take place after a period of time, even if network connections are not maintained.


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Apple starts supplying replacement parts for iPhone 16 repairs

Repair parts for the iPhone 16 lineup are now available to order in the US and other countries, including for those wanting to fix their iPhone for themselves.


DIY repairs are well-suited to some, but can be labor-intensive and expensive.

Following the release of the repair manuals for the iPhone 16 in September, it's now possible to acquire replacement parts for repairs from Apple directly. This is a continuation of a move starting in 2022 towards more user repairability of its products.

Batteries, one of the most common replacement parts, sell for $99 for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, or $119 for the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. Likewise, replacement camera assemblies cost $169 or $249, depending on the model.


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Amazon drops early Black Friday deals on M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, MacBook Air 16GB

Apple's 1TB M4 MacBook Pro 14-inch is eligible for a material early Black Friday discount at Amazon, along with savings on the 2024 Mac mini M4 and a record low price on the 13-inch MacBook Air 16GB.


Amazon slashed prices on Apple's current Macs - Image credit: Apple

In what is the steepest price drop we've seen on the 14-inch M4 / 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD spec, Amazon has shaved $145 off MSRP when you order the laptop in the Silver colorway.


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Matter 1.4 is released, new Apple betas, & more news on HomeKit Insider

On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast we talk about Apple's new betas, discuss the major Matter 1.4 release which adds new categories and other improvements, and more!


HomeKit Insider Podcast

Before jumping into Matter, we got several new beta updates from Apple. For example, tvOS 18.2 added behind the scenes code to soon enable the new slate of wallpapers.

On Vision Pro, visionOS 2.2 added new ultra-wide mirroring options for the Mac. Finally, macOS Sequoia 15.2 adds new control for mirroring where the user can display a single window/app, extend the display, or duplicate your whole display.


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Find My's Share Item Location will help airlines find your luggage

Apple's update for Find My in iOS 18.2 will let users share the location of AirTags with other people, which could help airlines track down your lost luggage faster.


Find My Share Item Location - Image credit: Apple

AirTags have been extremely useful for keeping track of important items, especially luggage. However, as they are linked to an account, you can't easily share the location of the item with others.

On Monday, Apple said it will be adding a feature called Share Item Location, usable with its Find My network. The feature, simply put, will let users share the position of an AirTag or a Find My network accessory with someone else.


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Third developer beta round adds new Find My feature

The third round of developer betas for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 have arrived, alongside the second round builds of tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2.


Examples of Apple Intelligence at work.

The third round of developer betas follows after the second, which for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, arrived on November 4, while the first was on October 23. For tvOS 18.2 and watchOS 11.2, this is the second beta round.

The third builds of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 are build number 22C5131e, replacing 22C5125e. The third macOS Sequoia 15.2 build is 24C5079e, up from 24C5073e.


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Apple execs address Mac mini's hidden power button in 2024 redesign

Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a bold move that executives say aligns with user habits, even if it's left some fans scratching their heads.


The new 2024 Mac mini. Image credit: Apple

The company's latest Mac mini is significantly downsized — about half the size of its predecessor. The overhaul makes it more compact and gave Apple's designers challenges in laying out external features.

Apple's Vice Presidents, Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, and John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, explained to IThome. They emphasized that the compact form factor still makes it easy to access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it.


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Apple updates the firmware again for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4

Apple has released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, another software update for its personal audio devices.


Apple's fourth-generation AirPods

Apple has been uncharacteristically frequent with its firmware updates for its AirPods product lines. The relatively high tempo of updates has continued with yet another AirPods firmware update.

Rolled out on Monday, the latest firmware updates are for the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases, as well as both of the AirPods 4 models.


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New in iOS 18.2 developer beta 3: Changes to Apple Intelligence, video playback, and more

The third developer beta of iOS 18.2 is now available for all compatible iPhone models, as Apple Intelligence testing continues. Here's everything you need to know about the update.


iOS 18.2 developer beta 3 introduces enhancements to existing features.

On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.2 developer beta 3, with build number 22C5131e, up from the previous 22C5125e. While the update is compatible with devices as old as the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, the software includes a variety of Apple Intelligence features that only work on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 range.

The iOS 18.2 update introduces support for Image Playground, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, and ChatGPT integration via Siri. There's also a new FindMy feature that helps users locate lost luggage or AirTags.


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iPhone 14 Pro prototype reveals the humble beginnings of Apple's haptic button project

A newly-discovered iPhone 14 Pro prototype features one of the earliest known incarnations of Apple's scrapped haptic button project.


An iPhone 14 Pro featuring Apple's Bongo design was recently discovered.

Back in July of 2024, AppleInsider published exclusive imagery of a prototype iPhone 15 Pro Max equipped with Apple's long-rumored haptic buttons. Developed under the codename Project Bongo, the haptic buttons were supposed to make their debut in 2023 but never ended up on mass-production units.




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Supply chain leak hints at two potential Apple home automation releases set for 2026

An Apple supplier may have been tapped to build an Apple-designed smart home camera and future health-focused AirPods, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


Tapo smart cameras compatible with Apple HomeKit

After Apple abandoned the decade-long Apple Car project, rumors suggested Apple would increase investments in the smart home and AI. While Apple Intelligence has been released to the public, there has been little evidence of Apple's new commitment to the smart home beyond rumors of a smart monitor.

A new supply chain-based rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests an Apple supplier named Goertek has been tapped with orders for two products due in 2026. The first is a smart home camera, and the second is a set of AirPods with more health-focused features.


Rumor Score: ???? Possible


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App Store faces Epic Games-style antitrust lawsuit from Chinese developer

The developer of an app dropped from the App Store in China has filed a lawsuit that challenges Apple's overall practices, as well as damages of $420,000.


China and the App Store

Apple has consistently been bowing to pressures from China and dropping apps from the App Store in the region. In this case, it's claimed an app called Bodyreader was pulled by Apple over reasons the developer believes are inconsistent.

According to Bloomberg Beijing's intellectual property court has accepted a complaint from Bodyreader's developer. The publication describes this as an Epic Games-style lawsuit on account of its scope concerning Apple's overall practices on the App Store.


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North Korean hackers use infected crypto apps to target Macs

North Korean hackers have disguised malware in seemingly harmless macOS apps using sophisticated code to bypass security checks and target unsuspecting users.


Malware apps continue to target Mac users

In a recent discovery, researchers at Jamf Threat Labs uncovered malware embedded in macOS apps that look harmless on the surface. Using the popular app-building tool Flutter, cybercriminals made apps that slipped through typical security measures.

Flutter, developed by Google, has become a favorite tool for creating apps that work seamlessly across macOS, iOS, and Android. Its codebase allows developers to build an app once and have it look consistent across all platforms.


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EU's latest demand on Apple about geolocking is unforgivably naive

The European Union has told Apple to stop geo-locking, where apps and services vary in different countries — entirely ignoring decades of laws and practices by other industries that have nothing to do with the App Store.


EU wants the impossible with Apple's App Store

Give the EU credit, it has implemented the kind of laws regarding Big Tech that other countries, including the US, are still only talking about. But in this case, its assumption that it can simply mandate how the rest of the entire world works is an excoriating overreach.

The new demand is that Apple stop geo-locking, and specifically that EU users must be able to:


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Apple Music Classical is now available in CarPlay

Apple Music Classical users will now find it easier to listen to their choice of music while driving, with it now being added to CarPlay.


Apple Music Classical

Classical music listeners can use both Apple Music and Apple Music Classical to discover and listen to compositions. However, only Apple Music has been enabled in CarPlay, so users have been forced to use the main app to access classical music behind the wheel.

In a Tuesday update, Apple has made Apple Music Classical available to use in CarPlay. The integration means users can access their library, playlists, and other recommendations from the Apple Music Classical app itself in the CarPlay interface.


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Ultimate guide on how to use an external SSD as a working drive on macOS Sequoia

It is easily possible to double the cost of a new M4 Mac mini by buying Apple storage — but if you know what you're doing, you can buy external drives, and save hundreds of dollars by working off those. Here's how.


External drives are vastly cheaper than Apple's storage upgrade prices

Apple's New Mac mini is a stunning bargain for its price and its performance — but maybe only in its base configuration. Once you start adding anything like more storage, you hit Apple's excessive upgrade charges and the bargain diminishes, or even goes away entirely.

It is true that Apple has made things better, both by increasing the amount of RAM that base model gets, and also by making 256GB the smallest amount of storage you can buy.


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Second developer beta of visionOS 2.2 finally arrives

One day after most of the other developer betas get new builds, visionOS 2.2 turns up for testers using the Apple Vision Pro.


The Apple Vision Pro runs visionOS

On Monday, Apple introduced the third round of developer betas for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS SZequoia 15.2, it also brought out the second builds of tvOS 18.2 and watchOS 11.2 for testing.

Missing from the group was visionOS 2.2, but it arrived one day later, on Tuesday.


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Power press: Fixes for Apple's oddly-placed Mac mini button

Apple's decision to place the power button of the M4 Mac mini underneath has been questioned by users. In some cases, they've come up with their own "solutions" to the problem.


Mac mini power button

The introduction of the M4 Mac mini was welcomed by critics, with the already small Mac made to be even smaller. Getting to that size meant there had to be a compromise, and that took the form of an awkward power button placement.

Rather than at the rear, the button is instead underneath the corner of the Mac mini's enclosure. It's in a position that you have to lift or tilt the Mac mini to access it, which can be awkward for people with larger digits.


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Bluetti's new Elite 200 portable power station provides 17 years of charging

Check out the latest from Bluetti with an exclusive discount on the Elite 200 V2 portable power station capable of generating reliable 2 kWh power for 17 years.


Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is rated for 17-years of use - Image credit: Bluetti

Bluetti is an innovator in the home battery backup space that's been pushing the limits of consumer backup power solutions. The company offers some of the best portable power station units that serve you everywhere from the campground to your home during a power outage.

Tuesday, Bluetti has unveiled the latest in its lineup — the Elite 200 V2. It is a 2 kWh portable power station that is rated for 6,000 life cycles, which equates to over 17 years.


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How advanced content caching settings on the Mac works

Advanced configuration parameters control how your Mac stores cached content. Here's how to change the settings.


Content cache settings in macOS Sequoia.

Content caching controls what internet content gets stored locally in macOS when you visit websites and other online servers.

When you visit a site, some of the data (content) gets downloaded and stored locally on your Mac. This is so that if you access that content later, it can be loaded more quickly from the cache - instead of having to make more trips to the internet to fetch it again.


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Dance points to God

An OM DanceLink team shares the gospel with crowds during impromptu dance performances on city streets in Portugal.




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Dancers impact community in Portugal

A team of OM Dancelink dancers in Portugal impact the community through workshops, shows and street performances.




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Portugal Dancelink team clears way for Transit team harvest

A Transform 2012 Dancelink team in Mondim, Portugal, clears the way for a Transform Transit team to see the Gospel bear fruit four months later.




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OM Portugal begins outreach to Fátima

OM Portugal sends a Portuguese pastor and his family to begin outreach in the Catholic town of Fátima.




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Transform 2016: Surfing and dancing in Portugal

Surfing on the beach or providing a dance workshop were new ways to share the gospel in Portugal.




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Road-tripping through Portugal

Writer Nicole spent five days driving around Portugal this summer, hanging out with three Transform teams and listening to their stories.




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1 million seeking answers

Portugal Field Leader Givas shares about the May 2017 outreach to religious pilgrims in Fatima.




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Going the distance for the gospel

A Malagasy girl exemplifies dedication to spreading the gospel.




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A king encounters the King of Kings

The king of a small village in Madagascar welcomes the OM team to plant a church amongst his people.




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Listen to Me, Sainte Marie

God touches many lives on Sainte Marie Island during OM Madagascar's annual outreach, "Listen to Me, Islands".




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God provides for Hanta to join an OM outreach

Hanta, a committed young Christian from a rural village in Madagascar, learns that if she’s willing to obey God, He provides a way.




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Sports ministry changes lives in Antananarivo

OM Madagascar uses sport as tool for reaching youth with the gospel and relationship building.




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Project Namana: reaching out a hand of friendship

Starting a Christian micro-finance programme has been a long-time dream for OM Madagascar. In partnership with OM Hong Kong, this will soon become a reality.




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Perline of great price

Since joining OM’s Namana Project, one couple has developed a successful business, built their own home and can give their children an education.




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Reading and Writing with Jesus

OM Madagascar responded to the declining literacy rate in the Androy region by starting a literacy course in Ambovombe. Last month the first class graduated, and the second class began.




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Sewing Seeds

Perle, meaning 'pearl' in Malagasy, is a Freedom Climb project in Madagascar that teaches women skills to provide for themselves and their families.




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Trusting Him for the future

Perla, meaning “pearl” in Malagasy, raises awareness about human trafficking and provides skills training, coupled with discipleship, to at-risk women and girls.




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Finding the answers

In a university Discovery Bible Study run by OM Madagascar, a student finds the answers he is looking for in the Bible.




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Transforming communities

Despite knowing very little about the Androy region, OMers Fara and Herimanina went willingly and have seen God at work.




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Media in missions

“Before Media Trek I thought: media--cool hobby, but not necessarily missional,” admitted Kotie-Alet from South Africa.




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Spreading the gospel

Siniore desires for her family and friends to know Christ’s love as she does. After a training, she took what she learnt and put it into practice.




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Working together

Fourteen young people participated in a month-long outreach within in their country. The result: unity.




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Making Easter a real treat!

OM Europe's Bus4Life assisted the local Baptist Church in the small village of Torda reach out to their local community.




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The spiteful hedgehog brings Easter joy

With the help of puppets, Corrie, a short-term worker from the UK was able to share the message of Christ in schools and kindergartens across Hungary this Easter.




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Bringing love to a refugee camp at Christmas

OM Hungary team members put on a special Christmas programme a local refugee camp.




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Baseball brings the Gospel to local schools

OM Hungary's Sports Team brings baseball and the Gospel to local schools in their now-annual visit to sports classes.