Image: Will Joel We found a wide range of gifts that’ll help graduates as they embark upon their next adventure, whether that’s college or a career. I’m not going to lie: I don’t envy the class of 2023. Can you imagine having to start high school or college during some of the most unprecedented times in modern history? As if the pandemic didn’t make life hard enough, this year’s grads had to submit college and job applications while facing a string of “once in a lifetime” events, including a major financial crisis. Yet despite grappling with a mind-boggling level of uncertainty, the class of 2023 still somehow pushed through. I think it’s safe to say these students deserve some sort…

At WWDC 2023, on June 5th, Apple is expected to unveil what is perhaps the most experimental, unconventional product in its history: a mixed-reality (AR/VR) headset that resembles a pair of ski goggles and comes with an external, tethered battery pack. Designer Marcus Kane’s conception Apple’s mixed reality headset (via Yanko Design) Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie for The Wall Street Journal: Apple’s launch plans break many of its traditions and rules about new products that have become the industry gold standard. Unlike other Apple products, the device is debuting in a still-experimental mode. Apple predicts slower adoption for the headset compared with the Apple Watch or the iPhone, both of which quickly became consumer must-haves. Taking seven years in…

Although Apple’s official status page is currently mum on the issue, many users right now are facing errors trying to log in to services that depend on the Apple ID system. On social media, Apple users report being unable to sign in, verify their device or process payments. 9to5Mac has experienced the account login issue. Despite providing a valid email and password, the Apple ID backend simply reports an error that it cannot process the request at this time. more… The post Apple ID services currently down for many, users unable to login or make payments appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple is facing increasing antitrust pushback in the European Union over its tap-to-pay Apple Pay platform. A new report from Bloomberg details that European Union antitrust investigators are ramping up their probe into Apple Pay after soliciting more information from retailers on the usage of and availability of mobile payment platforms. more… The post EU regulators still investigating Apple Pay antitrust concerns, now examining Bluetooth and QR code alternatives appeared first on 9to5Mac.

2023 marks eleventh consecutive year of Apple increasing its dividend to shareholders. Though AAPL’s dividend yield is low, its dividend payment will likely continue to grow annually for the foreseeable future. Daniel Sparks for The Motley Fool: While Apple’s financial performance for the period was impressive (particularly considering the macroeconomic headwinds the company is facing) there’s another facet of the update worth exploring: Yet another dividend increase from the tech giant. The dividend hike meant Apple added to its growing streak of increasing its dividend every year. Apple will increase its quarterly dividend by 4%, management revealed in its earnings report on May 4. This new quarterly dividend comes out to $0.24, which equals $0.96 of dividends on an annual…

Beats could release multiple new products in the coming weeks. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Beats seems on the cusp of having a fairly busy spring. We already know that Studio Buds Plus earbuds are on the way (and likely soon), thanks to a premature Amazon listing. And now 9to5Mac is reporting that a refreshed set of Studio Pro noise-canceling headphones are also in the works after being spotted in the release candidate build of iOS 16.5 that went out to developers yesterday. Citing sources familiar with the headphones, 9to5Mac says we can expect more powerful noise cancellation and an improved transparency mode. The $350 Studio 3 headphones — still being sold by Apple as of now…