MacBreak Weekly (Audio)

It's a rumor-filled edition of MacBreak Weekly! Is an updated Apple TV coming soon? New connectivity features are reportedly coming to the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple is dropping the 'available now' tagline from its Apple Intelligence page. And Apple is celebrating Earth Day!

• Tim Cook honors Pope Francis on X.
• One of Pope Francis's last prayer intentions urged people to 'look less at screens'.
• New Apple TV 4K is coming: Four features expected later this year.
• Apple's new Siri chief enlists Vision Pro talent to start comeback bid.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 will go all-in on reducing your iPhone use.
• Sell Apple stock before it sinks another 30%, analyst says.
• Apple drops 'available now' from Apple Intelligence page.
• iPhone 17 Pro could be available in Sky Blue, leaker claims.
• Images of Apple 'Vision Air' power cable emerge online.
• Cupertino: City pays Apple $12.1 million following sales tax settlement.
• Von der Leyen warns X, Meta, TikTok to play by the rules in Europe no matter who's CEO.
• Apple celebrating Earth Day in these five ways.
• Meta removes use of Apple Intelligence in Its Apps on iPhone.
• Apple uses bug report data for AI training in iOS 18.5 beta.
• Indie App Spotlight: 'Ping Pong Club' brings realistic table tennis to Apple Vision Pro.
• No escape, no control: A 'Severance' keyboard is coming soon.
• Brett Goldstein Compares 'Ted Lasso' Season 4 To Dead Cat: "We Buried It".
• Teen coder shuts down open source Mac app Whisky, citing harm to paid apps.
• M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules.

Picks of the Week:

• Alex's Pick: Domke Wrap
• Andy's Pick: Mixerology for iOS
• Jason's Pick: Bird Buddy

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Apple gets a break from the Trump tariffs. What's going on with Apple? France is planning country-wide digital IDs on iPhones. Could Instagram be finally coming to the iPad after 15 years? And could Apple be working on two versions of the next Vision Pro headset?

• Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions.
• Trump touts how he 'helped' Tim Cook with US tariff pivots.
• Trump signals semiconductor tariffs are coming 'very soon'.
• What's wrong with Apple?
• On-device Apple Intelligence training seems to be based on controversial technology.
• France plans country-wide digital identity cards on iPhone by the summer.
• Indonesians can again buy the iPhone 16 as ban is finally lifted.
• Instagram may finally be coming to iPad after 15 years.
• Apple Maps on the web leaves beta, now works on mobile devices.
• Apple rebrands its advertising business as 'Apple Ads'.
• Apple is reportedly working on two new versions of the Vision Pro.
• Tim Cook really wants Apple Glass to become a reality.
• Apple to launch new recycling promo, offering up to $20 discount on AirPods and other accessories.
• Apple's Beats brand just announced its first-ever USB-C cables.

Picks of the Week:

• Alex's Pick: Mix Effect Pro
• Doc's Pick: OBSBot Tail 2
• Andy's Picks: GoComics & Comics Kingdom
  

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, and Andy Ihnatko

Guest: Doc Rock

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Sales of Apple devices spike heavily as tariffs and potential price hikes drive customers to a shopping frenzy for Apple goods. Apple, alongside Google, is given permission to keep TikTok in its App Store until the US deal is finalized. Could the iPhone's auto-suggested contact be to blame for the Signal scandal? And even though Severance is a big hit, it isn't enough to give Apple TV+ a boost in subscribers.

• Apple stock bloodbath continues after China applies retaliatory tariffs.
• How Apple 'flew' 5 flights full of iPhones from India and China in 3 days to beat Trump tariffs.
• Apple customers dash to stores to buy iPhones ahead of tariffs.
• Tarriff-related iPhone price increases estimated to be lower than feared.
• From Kuo: Apple can reduce impact of Trump's massive tariffs in five ways.
• Secret court rules against Yvette Cooper over Apple encryption.
• White House reportedly blames auto-suggested iPhone contact for Signal scandal.
• EU to issue Apple's Digital Markets Act antitrust ruling within weeks.
• Visa offers Apple roughly $100 million to take over credit card from Mastercard.
• Apple launches new Mac and Vision Pro app for managing Immersive content.
• Apple's canceled Federation Square store lives on in Apple Vision Pro.
• New "Immersive VIP Yankee Stadium" immersive video.
• Apple TV+ brings Lumon Industries to life.
• Even Severance isn't enough to give Apple TV+ a big boost in subscribers.
• Z-Wave, popular among smart home enthusiasts, becomes an open-source protocol with a new long-range technology as it seeks Matter support to avoid obsolescence.
• CalDigit's new Thunderbolt 5 docks bring plenty of ports.

Picks of the Week:

• Leo's Pick: icloudpd 1.27.2
• Jason's Picks: Insta360 2-in-1 Invisible Selfie Stick + Tripod & Neewer Mini Desk tripod.
• Andy's Pick: Kindle Comic Converter
• Mikah's Pick: puffies.

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

Guest: Mikah Sargent

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iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4 are out. Is Apple going to make a huge push into health with AI? France fines Apple over App Tracking transparency. And could the NFL exit its current media rights deals in 2029? What could this mean for the league?

• iPadOS 18.4 released with Apple Intelligence & Mail tweaks.
• The best HomeKit robot vacuums for iOS 18.4.
• Computing would be totally different had Apple not been formed 49 years ago, today.
• Apple readies its biggest push into health yet with new AI doctor.
• This alert must die.
• France fines Apple over App Tracking Transparency, but doesn't order changes.
• Utah governor signs online child safety law requiring Apple, Google to verify user ages.
• 2026 Porsches still won't have next-gen CarPlay.
• NFL a 'virtual lock' to exit media rights deals in 2029, per report.
• NaNoWriMo shut down after AI, content moderation scandals.

Picks of the Week:

• Jason's Pick: Calibre
• Andy's Pick: USB power meter / tester
• Alex's Pick: DPA 5100

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Apple is reportedly losing $1 billion a year on Apple TV+. WWDC 2025 has officially been announced. New features are coming to macOS 15.4 soon. Leo gets excited about a quiet update to the HomePod mini... the boxes that the devices come in that is. And would you buy an Apple-branded USB-C to 3.5mm cable for your AirPods Max?

• Apple is apparently losing $1 billion a year on its TV+ streaming service.
• Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 9.
• Tim, don't kill my vibe.
• Apple Music Classical gets three new features to aid discovery & learning.
• Construction begins on delayed Apple TV+ studios.
• macOS 15.4: Four new features are coming to your Mac soon.
• Apple has quietly updated the HomePod mini with a new box.
• All iPhone 18 models rumored to get speed boost from 2nm chips.
• PSA: This is one of the most sophisticated phishing attacks ever made against Mac users.
• Netflix will stream shows and movies in HDR10+ on supported devices.
• Apple's rumored plastic Apple Watch SE has reportedly hit a serious snag.
• Apple now sells USB-C to 3.5 mm cable for wired AirPods Max playback.
• Porch pirate criminal network stole thousands of iPhones in the U.S.
• EU orders Apple to open up access to iOS notifications, allow alternatives to AirDrop and AirPlay on the iPhone.
• Season 3 of "Severance" is a go, via Tim Cook's cute Twitter convo with Ben Stiller.
• Jason Bourne franchise shopped as rights leave Universal.
• Professional DJs can now use Apple Music tracks directly.

Picks of the Week:

• Jason's Pick: Insta360 Link 1
• Andy's Pick: Adafruit Fruit Jam and Pico-Mac emulator (in development)
• Alex's Pick: Playlisty

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly.

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