Michael Potuck

Apple has launched new firmware for eight of its products today. That includes all of its AirPods models (except gen 1), Beats Fit Pro, PowerBeats Pro, and its official MagSafe charger. Here’s what to look out for to know if you’ve running the latest updates.

Amazon is joining in on the latest smart home protocol with support for Thread coming to its fourth-gen Echo smart speaker, bringing it in-line with Apple’s HomePod mini and more. The latest update also debuts iOS setup compatibility and Matter support for older Echo devices. And in more smart home news, the previously HomeKit-focused company Eve has made a big deal with Amazon.

Snowman first teased its major new mobile game in March and we got a closer look with the official trailer last week. Now the creator of the hit Alto’s Adventure/Odyssey series (and more) has officially released Laya’s Horizon for iOS and Android. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been playing the game over the last few weeks, here’s why I think you’re going to love it.

Apple’s latest Mac mini with the M2 or M2 Pro chip means more powerful CPUs and GPUs, up to 32GB RAM, up to 3 external displays, 8K output via HDMI, WiFi 6E, and the base models are even more affordable. The standalone desktop sits below the more powerful Mac Studio, making the lineup more diverse. But is the Mac Studio overkill for most people with the Mac mini to consider? Here’s an in-depth Mac mini vs Mac Studio comparison for how everything shakes out.

At the beginning of the year, Apple hit a high point with 201 drivers registered for its autonomous vehicle testing. Now data from the California DMV shows that Apple has made a significant staffing change by eliminating 56 drivers from the pilot program.

In January, T-Mobile revealed it was hit by a data breach that impacted 37 million customers. Now the company has shared that it has seen another incident. The good(ish) news is this time it’s believed to only have affected 836 users but the bad news is the malicious party was able to steal sensitive info like social security numbers, full names, birth dates, contact information, T-Mobile account PINs, and more.

Ahead of World Password Day on May 4, NordPass has released a report showing that “password habits die hard” with a list of the most used passwords in the US and 29 other countries. For the US, many of the usual suspects are on the list, however, this time around “123456” is no longer the most popular password. The study also found 83% of these passwords can be cracked in “less than a second.”

After opening its very first Apple Store location outside of Washington DC over two decades ago, Apple has announced that the Tysons Center store is not only getting a modern renovation but also a new location.

The Mac lineup has seen impressive improvements with Apple Silicon over the last couple of years when it comes to power, efficiency, and more. Now it looks like Microsoft is working to catch up with Apple by working on its own custom silicon and preparing Windows 12 to be optimized for the new ARM chips.

In the latest chapter of Twitter strangeness, it’s surfaced that a tiny tweak to the profile description of legacy verified accounts will bring back the blue checkmark. Here’s how it works and what to expect if you give it a shot.

As the follow-up to Apple’s hit earphones with active noise cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 come with a number of thoughtful upgrades. That includes features like 2x more noise cancellation, adaptive transparency, an upgraded charging case with Find My tracking, speaker, lanyard loop, and much more. Read along for our in-depth comparison of AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro, AirPods 3, and 2.

Back in March, we saw a piece of malware surface for macOS called MacStealer that’s able to compromise iCloud Keychain passwords, credit card information, files, and more. Now a new malware called Atomic macOS Stealer is being sold as a service to malicious parties that may be more threatening.

The latest Android tablet is here with the OnePlus Pad pre-orders now open. With strong iPad Pro clone vibes at an entry-level iPad 10 price, it’s clear the company knows it not only needs to win against Android competitors but also get iPad users to switch. Here’s what the device includes to try and make that happen.

Following the launch of Apple Music Classical at the end of March, the company is set to hold a special concert this weekend at its beautiful Tower Theater store in LA. The performance by Candlelight concerts/Orchid Quartet will celebrate Apple Music Classical with an intimate experience including a range of iconic works.

So far this year we’ve seen a few reports about malware that’s affecting Macs. Now Elastic Security Labs has released its spring 2023 Global Threat Report. It offers a big-picture look at the state of malware including how often it’s impacting Mac vs Windows and Linux, the most common malware overall, the most common malware on Mac, and more.

Readdle is out with a major update for its Calendars app on Apple Watch. The release comes with what the company calls an “intuitive and functional” new UI, half a dozen watch faces optimized with its Calendars app complications, a tasks list view, the ability to accept and decline meetings, and more.

Astropad Studio has received a valuable update today. The two major improvements are tilt and azimuth support with Apple Pencil Hover and the ability to directly connect your iPad and Mac wirelessly for a faster-than-ever and more stable experience.

We first heard about Snowman’s upcoming major new game in March. Now Snowman, the creator of the hit Alto’s Adventure/Odyssey series has shared the official game trailer for Laya’s Horizon along with the launch date. Check out the first look below along with more details on this phenomenal new game.