All articles tagged with #mac
As WWDC 2026 nears, the piece outlines OS 27 wish-list items: bring Health to the Mac, enable iPhone mirroring across iPad and Mac, improve the Journal app on Mac, expand Wallet to a full app on iPad/Mac, enhance iPad windowing, and offer more configurable visuals like Liquid Glass on Apple Watch, all ahead of the June 8 keynote.
OpenAI's Codex can now run on a Mac while the screen is locked via a new Locked use feature and an Apple authorization plug-in. Codex can be controlled from a phone to operate Mac apps even when the display is off, but it isn’t a general unlock path; safeguards include a short‑lived authorization window, Codex-only access, and coverage across all connected displays, plus it won’t work if the MacBook lid is closed.
Apple is rumored to unveil at least 15 new products later this year, including a foldable iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max, iOS 27 tailored for foldables, a redesigned MacBook Ultra with OLED, upgraded Macs (Mac Studio, Mac mini, iMac) with new M-series chips, a new HomePod/Apple TV/Home Hub lineup with enhanced Siri and Wi-Fi 7, AirPods Ultra, and updated iPad models; some releases may be delayed due to RAM chip shortages, with WWDC 2026 as a key milestone.
OpenAI's Codex for Mac gains Appshots, which attaches a window to a Codex thread to capture a screenshot and text for instant chat context, plus faster in-app browsing, upgraded goal mode, and shared plugins with analytics enhancements.
A Cult of Mac roundup of seven AI-powered Mac apps the author actually uses, including Cotypist for offline writing suggestions, Superwhisper for local transcription, Substage for AI-powered Finder tasks, Granola for local meeting notes, and native AI suites (Codex, Claude, Gemini), with notes on privacy, pricing, offline support, and practical limitations.
Installer No. 128 spotlights Mole, a $9 Mac cleanup app that locates large files, unused apps, and memory hogs without aggressive upselling, followed by a curated mix of Mac utilities (Bartender Pro, The Twelve South PowerClip), gadgets (Subnautica 2, Indigo, Snapseed 4.0), and cultural picks. It includes a feature with Joanna Stern on AI-driven workflows and BookBots, reader-submitted recommendations (Mars First Logistics, Trash Truck, NotebookLM, Devil May Cry 5, Blento, etc.), and tech-news notes like Xbox’s rebrand to XBOX and YouTube expanding its deepfake detection. The newsletter also shares personal desk upgrades (Anker power strip and long USB-C cables) and signs off until next week.
A cat walking across keyboards accidentally triggers a range of Mac and Windows shortcuts—hiding windows, switching virtual desktops, taking area screenshots, toggling the Dock—and even hints at accessibility features like Sticky Keys and FilterKeys, turning a pet moment into a quick lesson on how computers work.
Ars Technica reports that the so‑called “Notepad++ for Mac” is not an official Notepad++ release; creator Don Ho says the Mac port by Andrey Letov uses the Notepad++ trademark without permission, prompting branding changes to NextPad++ and ongoing trademark dispute concerns. The project, described as an independent, AI-assisted port, is not officially supported by the original Notepad++ team and raises questions about ongoing updates and potential malware risks in unvetted ports.
Tom’s Guide tester Lloyd Coombes tries Cotypist, a Mac-native, on-device LLM typing assistant that suggests the next word and can autofill with a Tab press. It runs locally (starting with the Gemma 4 model, 3.2GB, with options up to 15.7GB), works across apps, doesn’t send data off the device, and boosts typing speed; the beta tool is currently free, with pricing on the horizon, and he strongly recommends it for productivity and maintaining his writing style.
Apple plans to sunset 14 legacy devices in 2026, ending production or official repair and software support for models from first-gen AirTag to iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, including the M4 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro M4 Pro/Max, iPad Air (M4), Studio Display 2022, Pro Display XDR, Mac Pro, iPad mini 4, Apple TV HD (32GB), iPhone 4/5, and AirPods Max 1, plus rumored replacements like the iPad 11th gen and iPad mini 7; used units and third-party repairs will persist, but expect updates to wind down and feature updates to cease on older hardware.
A Mosyle Security finding describes two Mac-focused malware families, Phoenix Worm and ShadeStager, that steal developers’ keys and cloud credentials to sign malicious software as Apple‑verified. With these keys, attackers can bypass Gatekeeper and slip hidden malware onto Macs, potentially affecting over 100 million users. The risk highlights the need for caution with apps outside the Mac App Store, vigilance against phishing that targets developers, and attention to macOS warnings; developers should also protect credentials to prevent sign‑signing attacks.
Microsoft says Windows 11 will add an AI agent API for the Taskbar and Search Box next month, enabling developers to build AI-powered experiences that integrate natively with Windows while not forcing AI on users. The move aims to attract AI developers as AI popularity surges on Mac, while Microsoft emphasizes improving OS fundamentals and quality before broader AI features.
Google releases a native Gemini app for macOS (requires macOS 15+) with global access via Option+Space and a dedicated full-chat window via Option+Shift+Space. The app sits in the Dock/Menu Bar, can share any window for context, and requires Accessibility permission to read pages. It includes image and video tools (Nano Banana and Veo) and offers free access with paid tiers (AI Plus $7.99/mo, AI Pro $19.99/mo, AI Ultra $249.99/mo). This marks Gemini’s first major desktop app as Google expands its AI presence on the Mac.
Google has rolled out a Gemini app for macOS that lets you summon a floating AI chat bubble from anywhere on your desktop (via Option+Space), grant it permission to access screen data, and have Gemini respond using what you’re viewing. The app can generate images, videos, and music, supports uploading files from Google Drive, and lets you revisit previous conversations, all aiming to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity on the desktop. It’s free to download and supports macOS 15.0 and up, with a Windows version released a day earlier.
MacRumors’ rumor roundup predicts Apple will roll out 15+ new products later this year across iPhone, iPad, Mac, wearables, and home devices. Highlights reportedly include a foldable iPhone and iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max with upgraded chips, a major OLED MacBook Pro (potentially called MacBook Ultra), redesigned iPad lines (including an OLED iPad mini), refreshed Macs (Mac Studio, Mac mini, iMac) with M5-era chips, and a revamped Home ecosystem featuring a more personalized Siri, a new Home Hub, updated Apple TV and HomePod lineup, plus related accessories. All items are rumors and not officially confirmed.