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MacRumorsOct 5

Prime Day Is Not Just Amazon: See the Biggest Competing Deals From Sony, Best Buy, and Walmart

Best Buy, Walmart, and Sony have launched their own sales to compete with Amazon's Prime Day. Best Buy's 'Techtober' sale offers discounts on home appliances, computers, and TVs, while Walmart's sale features deals on TVs, computers, and home appliances. Sony's fall sale offers up to 50% off on various products, including headphones and TVs.

Why it matters: These sales offer consumers alternative options to Amazon's Prime Day deals and can provide access to discounts on a range of products.

9to5MacOct 5

Deals: AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2 $120 off, M6 Mac mini $150 off, Series 12, Ultra 4, more

Amazon is offering discounts on various Apple products, including AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, M6 Mac mini, M5 MacBook Air, and Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. The discounts include up to $120 off AirPods Max 2, up to $150 off M6 Mac mini, and up to $200 off M5 MacBook Air. The deals are part of the early start to the fall Prime Day sales.

Why it matters: These discounts provide significant savings for customers looking to purchase these Apple products.

9to5MacOct 5

New Apple TV 4K launches next week with two major upgrades

Apple is reportedly launching a new Apple TV 4K on October 13 with two major upgrades: the addition of Siri AI and a new A19 or A19 Pro chip. The new Siri will support asking world knowledge questions and provide improved content recommendations. The new Apple TV 4K will replace the 2022 model with an A15 chip.

Why it matters: The new Apple TV 4K will offer improved functionality and performance for users.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Apple's smart home plans & Xthings Security with Raj Sundar on Smart Home Insider

Apple's upcoming smart home display will have a photo face setup, with four color options, and will use facial recognition instead of Face ID. The device will also have two smart home faces, one showing up to nine camera feeds and the other showing home accessories. Apple's J450 security camera will have low-resolution video recording and use Apple Intelligence for analysis.

Why it matters: This information provides insight into Apple's plans for its smart home ecosystem and the features of its upcoming devices.

9to5MacOct 5

macOS 27 just fixed the most annoying problem for third-party HDR displays

macOS 27 has fixed a problem that prevented third-party HDR displays from working with scaled resolutions, allowing users to enable HDR on displays like the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q at resolutions like 2560 x 1440.

Why it matters: This update is significant for users who want to use HDR-capable third-party displays with their Macs and run them at scaled resolutions.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Apple Watch Prime Day deals drive Series 12 down to $349, $100 off Ultra 4

Amazon is offering discounts on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, with prices starting at $349.99 and up to $100 off. The discounts are available ahead of Prime Big Deal Days on October 6. Quantities are limited for the Ultra 4, which is selling out quickly.

Why it matters: These discounts provide an opportunity for consumers to purchase Apple Watch models at lower prices than usual.

Six ColorsOct 5

Secretive helps you keep your SSH keys secret, keep them safe

Secretive is an open-source tool that stores SSH keys in a Mac's Secure Enclave, protecting them with the same level of security as sensitive system data. It supports ECDSA-256 keys and post-quantum keys using MLDSA-65 and MLDSA-87 algorithms. The tool is mainly targeted at developer tools and secure file transfer clients, but can be used with other apps if they have built-in support.

Why it matters: This tool provides an alternative for users who want to manage SSH keys securely on their Macs, especially those who cannot use Apple's Passwords app.

MacRumorsOct 5

Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are on sale with new all-time low prices, with discounts of $49 on the Series 12 and $99 on the Ultra 4. The 42mm GPS Series 12 model is available for $349.99 and the 46mm GPS model for $399.99. The Ultra 4 Natural model with a Translucent Gray Ocean Band is available for $699.99.

Why it matters: These discounts offer readers the opportunity to purchase Apple Watches at lower prices than usual.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Ternus and Cook commemorate Steve Jobs on the 15th anniversary of his death

Apple CEO John Ternus and former CEO Tim Cook posted tributes to Steve Jobs on the 15th anniversary of his death, describing his impact on their work and the world. Ternus highlighted the importance of attention to detail, while Cook emphasized Jobs' lasting legacy. Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, at his Palo Alto home.

Why it matters: The tributes provide insight into the lasting influence of Steve Jobs on Apple's leadership and culture.

9to5MacOct 5

Apple event is reportedly happening next week, per Mark Gurman

Apple is reportedly planning to hold an event on October 13 to unveil new products, including a smart home hub with a screen, an updated Apple TV, and a new HomePod mini. The event will feature hands-on demos and a keynote video. The products will have Siri AI at their core.

Why it matters: The event will provide the first public look at Apple's new smart home devices and their features.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Amazon slashes up to $200 off 2026 Mac mini, Mac Studio

Amazon is offering discounts on the 2026 Mac mini and Mac Studio, with the M6 Mac mini available for $779.99 and the M5 Pro Mac mini and M5 Max Mac Studio discounted by $150 and $200 respectively. The deals are part of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days. The discounts are available on various configurations of the devices.

Why it matters: These discounts provide an opportunity for customers to purchase the devices at a lower price than their original MSRP.

9to5MacOct 5

Full Disk Access on Mac: Here’s what Apple must, and must not, do

Meta's Muse app has been found to analyze user communication with everyone in their life on an hourly basis, prompting Apple to introduce additional controls for the Full Disk Access feature. The app's instructions include extracting information to create a map of all user relationships, including data on family, friends, and colleagues. Apple intends to introduce explicit user action requirements for granting full disk access to apps.

Why it matters: This change aims to prevent users from inadvertently granting excessive permissions to apps, which can compromise their personal data and relationships.

MacRumorsOct 5

Apple's Newest Macs Just Got Their Biggest Price Cuts Yet on Amazon

Amazon is offering discounts on Apple's new Mac mini and Mac Studio computers as part of Prime Big Deal Days sales. The M5 Max Mac Studio with 36GB RAM and a 512GB SSD is available for $2,299.99, down from $2,499.00. The Mac mini is also discounted, with the 16GB RAM/256GB SSD model available for $779.99 and the 24GB RAM/512GB SSD model available for $1,549.99.

Why it matters: These discounts provide an opportunity for customers to purchase Apple's latest Mac devices at a lower price.

Six ColorsOct 5

Apple is changing Full Disk Access in macOS

Apple is updating the Full Disk Access permissions in macOS to require explicit user action for granting apps access to sensitive data. The change aims to address growing risks associated with AI agents' increasing capabilities. The exact nature of the additional controls is unknown.

Why it matters: This change may impact developers who rely on Full Disk Access for their apps, and users who rely on these apps for specific functions.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Old Macs could run Tahoe soon, with this great hack

The OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) project has released a release candidate for version 3.0.0, which includes support for macOS Tahoe on older Macs. This allows users to run a more modern version of macOS on their older hardware. The project's website provides compatibility information for users to check before attempting the upgrade.

Why it matters: This hack can potentially breathe new life into older Macs, extending their usability and functionality.

9to5MacOct 5

John Ternus writes post celebrating Steve Jobs on anniversary of passing

Apple CEO John Ternus and former CEO Tim Cook shared posts on the 15th anniversary of Steve Jobs' passing, reflecting on his impact on their lives and Apple. The posts were published on X. The anniversary marks the 15th year since Jobs' death from pancreatic cancer.

Why it matters: The posts provide insight into the lasting influence of Steve Jobs on Apple's current leadership.

MacRumorsOct 5

Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update

Apple has released a firmware update for the MagSafe 3 charging cable, updating it from version 3.1.12 to 3.2.0. The update will be installed automatically when the cable is connected to a Mac and a power adapter. The contents of the update are not publicly disclosed.

Why it matters: This update may improve the performance or stability of the MagSafe 3 charging cable.

9to5MacOct 5

15 years after his passing, nobody is ‘The Next Steve Jobs’

Today marks 15 years since Steve Jobs passed away, and the author reflects on his legacy, highlighting his focus on making great products for others and his emphasis on learning from people. The author notes that Steve Jobs' approach was driven by love and care for his customers, rather than just business metrics. The article also mentions Ron Johnson's new book 'Shop Different' and its portrayal of Steve Jobs' personality and approach to innovation.

Why it matters: Understanding Steve Jobs' approach to innovation and customer-centric design can inspire product developers to prioritize user experience and create more meaningful technology.

MacRumorsOct 5

AirPods Max 2 Drop to $429 in All Colors for Prime Day

Amazon is selling AirPods Max 2 in all colors for $429, down from $549, marking one of the lowest prices seen on the product. The sale is available in Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight colors. The sale is part of early Prime Day deals.

Why it matters: This sale offers a significant discount on a high-end wireless headphone product.

9to5MacOct 5

Apple TV doc All of Us shows how iPads enable inclusive learning in a unique school

A documentary on Apple TV, All of Us, showcases Ruby Bridges Elementary School's inclusive learning approach, where students with and without disabilities learn together in the same classroom. The school uses iPads and iPhones with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software to support students with communication challenges. The approach has been successful, with the school's principal and kindergarten teacher being named Principal and Teacher of the Year in 2025.

Why it matters: This approach can be a model for other schools looking to create more inclusive learning environments.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Dumb down your Mac: Save 12GB by removing Apple Intelligence

A new command-line tool called RemoveMacAI allows Mac users to delete Apple Intelligence models, freeing up 12GB of storage space. The tool, released on GitHub, disables Apple Intelligence features and removes associated models. This is useful for users with small drives and constrained spare capacity.

Why it matters: This tool can help Mac users with limited storage space reclaim valuable capacity for other uses.

9to5MacOct 5

Prime Day Mac deals start early: New Mac mini $150 off, MacBook Air $200 off, much more

Amazon has started offering deals on various Mac products, including the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio, with discounts of up to $149 off and $200 off. The deals also include discounts on Apple's Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard. The prices are the lowest offered since the products' releases.

Why it matters: These deals provide an opportunity for customers to purchase Mac products at discounted prices, potentially saving hundreds of dollars.

MacRumorsOct 5

Apple Quietly Triples iCloud Mail Alias Limit to Nine

Apple has increased the number of iCloud Mail aliases users can create from three to nine, a change that was not publicly announced by the company.

Why it matters: This change may be useful for users who need to manage multiple email addresses or separate personal and professional communications.

AppleInsiderOct 5

iPhone Duo's small outer screen prompts minimalist Focus Mode update

The iPhone Duo's lock screen will feature a redesigned Focus Mode button, with a smaller size and a more minimalist look. The button will be a one-tap on/off control, and the Focus Mode icon will be displayed above the clock when the phone is unlocked. These changes are due to the iPhone Duo's smaller outer screen.

Why it matters: This redesign may improve the user experience for iPhone Duo users by making it easier to access and toggle Focus Mode.

9to5MacOct 5

John Ternus and Tim Cook took opposite approaches to design, and both were right

John Ternus, Apple's CEO, is taking a more hands-on approach to design, similar to Steve Jobs, while Tim Cook took a more hands-off approach. This approach is seen as a deliberate choice, with Ternus prioritizing usability over sleek design. Ternus' background as a hardware engineer has allowed him to effectively oversee design decisions.

Why it matters: This shift in approach may result in more user-friendly and functional Apple products.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Mac mini M5 Pro review: Mini gets serious, with one caveat

The Mac mini M5 Pro has a more powerful processor, faster memory, and Thunderbolt 5, but its price starts at $1,699, making it comparable to the Mac Studio. The computer has a compact design and a 15-core CPU, with options for up to 18 cores and 20 GPU cores. The M5 Pro's performance is impressive, but its Neural Engine is not the latest version.

Why it matters: The Mac mini M5 Pro is a powerful option for those who need a compact, high-performance computer, but its high price and limited Neural Engine may make it less appealing to some users.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Are you an elite barista? Apple is hiring!

Apple is hiring for its iCup team, a role that involves maintaining and managing coffee machines for employees at its Cupertino headquarters. The iCup program was launched in 2012 and made public in 2014. The job posting is only open to locals, with no relocation assistance provided.

Why it matters: This hiring announcement provides insight into the company's focus on employee experience and perks.

MacRumorsOct 5

Mac Users Reclaim Storage With New Apple Intelligence Removal Tool

A new open-source tool called RemoveMacAI helps Mac users reclaim storage space by disabling Apple Intelligence and removing its downloaded models. The tool works by using a configuration profile to switch off Apple's asset management service and prevent the models from being re-downloaded. The tool can free up around 10GB-12GB of storage space, depending on the models present on the Mac.

Why it matters: This tool is significant for Mac users with limited storage space, particularly those with non-upgradeable Macs, who can now reclaim valuable storage space.

AppleInsiderOct 5

Remembering Steve Jobs, 15 years after his death

Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple, died on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56, due to a metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor. He had been treated for the rare form of pancreatic cancer since 2009. Jobs' death was announced on the same day, with his wife releasing a statement.

Why it matters: This anniversary serves as a reminder of Jobs' impact on the tech industry and the company he co-founded, Apple.

9to5MacOct 5

Focus Modes are another way Apple has adapted iOS 27 for the iPhone Duo

Developer pdfu discovered a new feature in the iPhone Duo, a toggle for Focus modes on the lock screen, allowing users to turn Focus on and off without unlocking the device. The toggle appears above the camera and flashlight icons. This feature is only available when a Focus mode is enabled.

Why it matters: This feature could be convenient for users who need to quickly turn Focus modes on and off, such as when leaving a meeting.