All posts by mactips

Indonesia rejects Apple’s $100 million bid to lift the iPhone 16 ban

By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) Indonesia’s government has considered Apple’s increased offer of $100 million of investment in the country, but reportedly wants more before it will lift its ban on the iPhone 16 range.Jakarta – Image credit: Tom Fisk/Pexels”Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita held an internal meeting to discuss the proposal,” government spokesperson, Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, told local news agency Antara News. “From the government’s perspective, of course, we want this investment to be larger.”The issue concerns Indonesia’s law that smartphones must contain at least 40% of locally manufactured components. This Domestic Content Level law can be assuaged by various methods including innovation development schemes, which Apple has previously preferred. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Apple’s M4 Mac mini plunges to record low $499 during Amazon’s Black Friday Sale

By news@appleinsider.com (Christine McKee) The M4 Mac mini features an all-new design and 16GB of RAM in the standard model. And right now it’s $100 off at Amazon thanks to cash savings stacked with an on-page coupon.Pick up Apple’s 2024 Mac mini M4 for just $499.99.The $499.99 promo at Amazon provides holiday shoppers with the lowest M4 Mac mini price on record thanks to an instant rebate stacked with an on-page coupon. Equipped with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the compact desktop now measures only five inches by five inches so it takes up less space on your desk.Buy for $499.99 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Save up to $2,000 with exclusive Bluetti portable power station Black Friday deals

By news@appleinsider.com (Sponsored Content) Bluetti is offering incredible discounts up to 57% off of essential portable power station models and exclusive coupons during its Black Friday sales event. Don’t miss out.Bluetti Black FridayWhether you’re looking to upgrade an older home battery backup system or want to check out a new model for the first time, Bluetti has you covered. These giant batteries and inverters can keep your devices powered through any storm, on the road, or at the campsite, letting users go off grid.Bluetti specializes in whole home power backup systems and a range of portable power stations. They are a very compelling solution and utilize the latest features and technologies you’d expect from a premium portable power station brand. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Siri chatbot may be coming in 2026 as part of iOS 19

By news@appleinsider.com (Wesley Hilliard) A new rumor suggests Apple wants to make Siri more conversational by making it use a large language model backend similar to ChatGPT and AI rivals, but it won’t be ready until 2026.Siri could get an LLM backend in 2026When Apple was first rumored to be tackling artificial intelligence, one thing that was repeated often — Apple would not release a chatbot. The idea that users would converse with Siri in the same way they did with ChatGPT was seemingly off the table for the launch.Since then, a lot has changed, and according to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has begun work on an LLM-based Siri that might debut in iOS 19 in early 2026. This report lines up with AppleInsider’s earlier exclusive on Apple AI testing tools that point to Siri becoming more tied to Apple’s AI features. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Grab Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 at record low $2,199 price

By news@appleinsider.com (AppleInsider Staff) Apple’s M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,199, that’s $300 off the price of a brand new notebook with its latest generation of Apple Silicon.Save $300 on this M4 MacBook ProIt’s only been available a matter of weeks, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is already being discounted as part of the pre-Black Friday sales. In offers from Amazon and Best Buy, you can secure the portable powerhouse for hundreds of dollars less than the launch price.Buy for $2,199 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Apple Music celebrates Billie Eilish’s record-breaking year

By news@appleinsider.com (Andrew Orr) Billie Eilish has been named the Apple Music Artist of the Year for 2024, celebrating a year defined by chart-topping music, award-winning film soundtracks, and record-breaking performances.Apple Music named Billie Eilish its 2024 Artist of the YearApple Music has named Billie Eilish its 2024 Artist of the Year, highlighting a year of achievements for the singer-songwriter. Her third album, Hit Me Hard And Soft, earned widespread acclaim. The album topped Apple Music’s all-genre chart in 138 countries.Eilish’s influence in 2024 went beyond her music. Her song What Was I Made For? from the Barbie movie soundtrack earned her an Academy Award and two additional Grammys. She also performed Birds of a Feather at the summer games’ closing ceremony, making headlines and driving record Shazam activity. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Satechi redesigns its hub to fit the new, smaller M4 Mac mini

By news@appleinsider.com (Amber Neely) Satechi has announced its new Mac mini Stand & Hub, a pint-sized hub with a card reader, a NVMe Enclosure — and which brings back USB-A ports.Satechi’s new Mac mini M4 Stand & HubApple introduced the new M4 Mac mini in October. The diminutive desktop has shrunk even further, now with a five-by-five-inch footprint.To welcome the new Mac mini to the lineup, Satechi has created a hub that pairs perfectly with it — the Mac mini M4 Stand & Hub. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Apple brings hearing tests to AirPods Pro 2 in France but holds back key feature

By news@appleinsider.com (Andrew Orr) Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 now let users in France test their hearing and reduce loud noises, but the hearing aid feature is stuck in regulatory limbo.AirPods ProApple has introduced new health-focused capabilities for the AirPods Pro 2, including a hearing test and loud sound reduction. However, a critical feature — hearing aid functionality — remains unavailable in France due to regulatory restrictions.In September 2024, the company introduced new auditory features for its AirPods Pro series, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16. These updates aim to enhance hearing protection and provide corrective support for users with varying auditory needs. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

Apple announces its Black Friday promotions, but there are far better deals

By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) Just ahead of its Black Friday promotion that begins on November 29, 2024, Apple has revealed that it will yet again be offering bundled gift cards — even as other firms offer actual discounts.Apple’s Black Friday promotion starts on November 29 — image credit: AppleOnce more, Apple’s Black Friday offering sees no discounts on any items. Instead, buyers of certain products get an Apple Gift Card ranging between $25 and $200 toward their next Apple purchase.It has to be that the card is used against some future Apple purchase, so there are time when this can be useful. If you already know, for instance, that you are going to buy two items, you can get the gift card and use it as a discount on the second item. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider

      

US government steps up oversight of Apple Pay and rivals

By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it will apply rigorous oversight to Big Tech payment systems such as Apple Pay.Apple Pay on an Apple WatchThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently fined Apple and Goldman Sachs a $90 million penalty over disputed Apple Card payments. However, it has long argued that digital wallet systems such as Apple Pay should be regulated like credit cards and banks are.According to Reuters, the CFPB has now said it will step up its supervision of Big Tech companies. While CFPB did not name companies, it outlined plans for its oversight of payment apps and platforms. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Source:: Apple Insider