Apple’s rack-mounted Mac Pro The secret behind the Mac Pro’s immense power and legendary upgradability was the freedom to install whichever CPUs and GPUs you wanted, along with as much RAM, storage (HDDs or SSDs), or expansion cards as you needed. With the switch to clearly superior Apple Silicon, however, the CPU, GPU, and RAM are now permanently fused onto a single system-on-chip (SoC) package that is soldered to the logic board. As a result, the Mac Pro has lost basically all of the user-upgradable components that once justified its existence. Ben Lovejoy for 9to5Mac: ‎ Doubts about the need for the Mac Pro were further strengthened by the launch of the Mac Studio back in 2022. An M2 Ultra…

Rhea Seehorn in “Pluribus,” now streaming on Apple TV. By SteveJack In an era where dystopian tales flood our screens — zombies shambling through The Walking Dead, surveillance states choking Black Mirror — Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus arrives like a sly whisper in the dark. Premiering on Apple TV just days ago, this sci-fi psychological thriller, starring Rhea Seehorn as the perpetually scowling Carol Sturka, doesn’t bombard us with overt horrors. Instead, it lures us into a world of enforced happiness, where a mysterious extraterrestrial RNA formula, transmitted from deep space, infects humanity through water supplies and petri dishes, transforming billions into a monolithic hive of unrelenting cheer. Carol, one of a handful of those immune — a grieving, cynical writer…

Apple Music stands alone in the major music streaming landscape by offering no free, ad-supported tier, requiring users to subscribe from the start at $10.99 per month for individuals (or via family and student plans) to access its full catalog of over 100 million songs, spatial audio, and lossless quality. In contrast, rivals like Spotify provide a robust free option funded by advertisements, allowing non-paying users to stream music with occasional interruptions, shuffle-only playback on mobile, and limited skips—features designed to hook listeners before upselling to Premium. This ad-free mandate gives Apple Music a premium, uninterrupted experience but limits its reach among budget-conscious or casual users, while Spotify’s freemium model has fueled its dominance with over 600 million monthly active…

Apple CarPlay Apple’s CarPlay gives you the ability to safely use what you love about your iPhone while you drive, but it’s not long for this world, according to Patrick George. Patrick George for The Atlantic: ‎ Last month, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced that new cars made by the auto giant won’t support CarPlay and its counterpart, Android Auto… Because GM’s software isn’t tied to a phone like CarPlay is, access to the full suite of software requires its own data plan—through GM, of course. (The cheapest plan costs $10 a month.) Get used to these kinds of subscriptions, regardless of what kind of car you drive. In recent years, automakers have realized how much money they can…

“Apple Glasses” concept designed by Martin Hajek for iDrop News Veteran Apple analyst Gene Munster predicts Apple will lead the smart glasses market but questions whether glasses can achieve mainstream success, surpassing 500 million units annually. Unlike headphones or watches, glasses face unique adoption hurdles, such as fashion, comfort, prescription challenges, and privacy concerns. Wearing something on the face is a significant ask. Munster’s view is that even if Apple excels, the smart glasses market will likely peak at a few hundred million units yearly, falling short of the potential of phones or pocket-sized devices. Gene Munster for GemeMunster.com: ‎ I’ve been researching and investing in Apple for a long time, and don’t remember a more memorable seven months when…

In a recent discussion on CNBC’s Fast Money, Deepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster made a bold prediction: Apple will rank among the top two performers of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants over the next 12 months. This forecast underscores Apple’s robust positioning in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and consumer hardware. Munster highlighted Apple’s strategic advancements in generative AI as a key driver. Unlike competitors, Apple is integrating AI directly into its ecosystem, enhancing user experiences across its iPhone, iPad, and Mac product lines. The upcoming iPhone 17 family, expected to launch in September 2025, will feature Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools designed to boost functionality, currently rolling out slowly. Munster emphasized that…