MacRumors

French company Polysoft has successfully reverse-engineered Apple's proprietary storage modules for the Mac Studio and plans to offer more affordable upgrade options starting in January 2025, following a successful Kickstarter campaign.

The company's "Studio Drive" modules will be available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, with pricing starting at €399 ($420) for 2TB, €799 ($843) for 4TB, and €1,099 ($1,158) for 8TB – roughly half of what Apple charges for comparable storage upgrades at the time of purchase. Unlike traditional SSDs used in PCs, Apple's storage modules require specialized engineering because the actual storage controller is built into the M1 and M2 chips rather than being part of the removable module.

To develop compatible modules, Polysoft conducted extensive reverse engineering, sacrificing an original Apple module for detailed analysis. The company removed all its small components one by one using a laser station, inventoried them and measured their characteristics, then scanned every layer with a flatbed scanner. From this work, the company then made its own schematics and designed different boards, using the same Kioxia and Hynix TLC NAND chips as Apple's original modules to ensure compatibility and performance.

Polysoft has also added what it calls "RIROP" (Rossmann Is Right Overvoltage Protection), a safety feature designed to prevent data loss from potential voltage regulator failures – an issue the company says it has encountered when repairing certain MacBook Pro models.

As noted by The Verge, this development may have exciting implications beyond the Mac Studio. Recent teardowns have revealed that Apple's new M4 Mac mini also uses removable storage modules – potentially opening the door for similar upgrade solutions in the future. While the Mac mini's modules use a different design than the Mac Studio's, Polysoft's breakthrough in reverse-engineering Apple's storage architecture suggests that affordable storage upgrades might eventually become possible for Mac mini users too.

Just like with the Mac Studio, Apple's security system in the Mac mini encrypts storage using a unique identifier tied to each Mac's chip, meaning any storage upgrade requires a complete system reset using Apple's Configurator software to re-encrypt the drive for use with the new machine. Polysoft says it will provide detailed installation instructions for hardware enthusiasts and professionals wanting to upgrade their Mac Studio, including the necessary steps for properly initializing new storage modules with Apple's security system. For further details, see Polygon's Kickstarter campaign page.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the merger between Vodafone and Three UK, clearing the way for the creation of Britain's largest mobile operator. The approval comes with legally binding commitments requiring both companies to invest billions in rolling out their combined 5G network across the country.

The CMA's decision appears to be something of a turnaround from its initial concerns in September, when it warned the merger could lead to higher prices for customers. The regulatory body now says it's satisfied that the proposed network commitment, along with consumer protections, will address competition concerns.

Under the terms of the approval, the merged company must fulfill several key obligations over the next eight years. These include implementing a comprehensive network upgrade plan and adhering to price controls for the first three years. The agreement also requires the company to offer preset contractual terms to mobile virtual network operators that rely on their infrastructure.

The combined entity will serve approximately 27 million mobile subscriptions, surpassing current market leaders Virgin Media O2 and EE. Vodafone will initially hold a 51 percent stake in the venture, with plans to acquire the remaining 49 percent after three years.

In a press release statement, Stuart McIntosh, chair of the CMA's independent inquiry group, said: "Having carefully considered the evidence, as well as the extensive feedback we have received, we believe the merger is likely to boost competition in the UK mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed."

The merger's implementation will be jointly overseen by the CMA and Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. The combined company will be required to publish annual reports detailing its progress on the network plan, with the CMA specifically monitoring consumer tariffs and wholesale terms.

The £16.5 billion ($20.9 billion) deal is expected to complete in the first half of 2025, pending the companies' formal acceptance of the CMA's conditions. Notably, the same competition watchdog last year initially blocked UK approval for Microsoft's proposed $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, before later clearing it under a new deal in which Microsoft would not acquire Activision's cloud streaming rights outside the EEA.

The Apple Card's high-yield savings account received an interest rate cut overnight, the fourth time it has done so this year.

The ‌Apple Card‌ savings account's annual percentage yield (APY) dropped from 4.1% to 3.9%. Push notifications regarding the cut were sent to ‌Apple Card‌ users on Tuesday evening. Savings account interest rates fluctuate with changes made by the Federal Reserve, and when rates are lowered, banks cut their APYs.

When the ‌Apple Card‌'s savings account first became available, it offered an APY of 4.15%. The rate then increased three times, first to 4.25%, then to 4.35%, and finally to 4.5%, before being lowered to 4.4% in April 2024. This was followed by two more cuts, one in September to 4.25%, and another in early October to 4.10%.

Apple introduced its savings account in April 2023, partnering with Goldman Sachs. Designed for ‌Apple Card‌ holders, the account is exclusively available to U.S. residents aged 18 and above. It can be managed through the iPhone's Wallet app, offering a user-friendly experience with no fees, minimum deposits, or balance requirements.

The account allows users to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, as well as on funds transferred from linked bank accounts or Apple Cash balances. Initially capped at $250,000, the maximum balance has since been increased to $1,000,000, providing more flexibility for high-value savers.

Opening an account is straightforward. Users simply need to access their ‌Apple Card‌ in the Wallet app, tap the three-dot menu at the top of the screen, select Daily Cash, and then choose the option to set up savings. This process integrates seamlessly with the existing ‌Apple Card‌ interface.

• Apple Card Savings Account's Lowered Rate Compared to Other Options

It's worth noting that Goldman Sachs has reportedly indicated plans to end its consumer lending partnership with Apple. However, the potential impact of this change on ‌Apple Card‌ holders remains uncertain at this time. JPMorgan, owner of Chase Bank, reportedly could take over as Apple's financial partner.

It's been just over a month since Apple released the refreshed M4 iMac, so we've finally been able to spend enough time with it to provide MacRumors readers with a comprehensive review ahead of the holiday season.

Apple didn't make external design changes to the M4 ‌iMac‌ except for tweaking the colors, but it does have the latest M4 chip. You can't get the ‌iMac‌ with the M4 Pro or the M4 Max, as those higher-end chips are limited to the Mac mini and the MacBook Pro, but the M4 in the ‌iMac‌ is more than powerful enough for most people.

It can be used for simple tasks like web browsing and watching videos, but it's also powerful enough for photo editing, video editing, graphics work, 3D work, and gaming. Some of the latest console games can be played on the M4 ‌iMac‌ thanks to support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading.

This year, all M4 Macs come with 16GB RAM minimum with no increase in base cost, which is great. Depending on what you're going to do with your ‌iMac‌, you might want to upgrade the RAM to 24GB or 32GB, but 16GB will get you by for most tasks. You can also get up to 2TB of SSD storage depending on which ‌iMac‌ you pick.

The base ‌iMac‌ has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while higher-end models have four Thunderbolt 4 ports, another nice upgrade compared to the prior-generation ‌iMac‌ that had two Thunderbolt ports and two USB-C ports. Nano-texture, the feature that Apple first brought to the Pro Display XDR, is an option for the ‌iMac‌ this time, so you can get a super matte display that's ideal if you need to work in the sun or in bright lights.

If you have an M1 ‌iMac‌ or an ‌iMac‌ with an Intel chip, the M4 ‌iMac‌ is going to be a huge update that's worth it. If you have a newer ‌iMac‌, there's no real reason to update.

Make sure to watch our video for a deeper overview of the ‌iMac‌, and let us know if you have plans to get one in the comments below.

Update December 5, 8:37 pm: Amazon has dropped the price of AirPods 4 with ANC even further to $139.00, by far the best pricing we've ever seen on this model. Original article follows below.

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Amazon has Apple's AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $164.99, down from $179.00. This is one of the rare Black Friday deals that has stuck around this week, and right now we're only tracking the sale on Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This is also an all-time low price on the new AirPods 4 with ANC. The AirPods 4 also feature a redesigned earbud for increased comfort, the H2 chip for improved audio performance, up to 30 hours of battery life, and an IP54 rating for dust, water, and sweat resistance.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple now has a dedicated iCloud Passwords add-on designed for the Firefox browser, which means Firefox users can access passwords and logins stored in the Passwords app or iCloud Keychain when using Firefox on a Mac.

The extension is being distributed by Apple, but it appears that it was originally created by a third-party developer and later taken over and updated by Apple.

With the ‌iCloud‌ Passwords extension, passwords stored in ‌iCloud‌ Keychain can be securely filled in automatically when signing into websites in Firefox. New passwords created in Firefox are also saved to ‌iCloud‌ Keychain, which makes them available across Apple devices, plus there is an option to generate verification codes.

Alongside iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15, Apple introduced a dedicated Passwords app that houses all passwords and logins, making them easier to access and manage. The extension works with the Passwords app in macOS Sequoia, but it is also compatible with macOS Sonoma. In macOS Sonoma, passwords and login information are stored in the Passwords section of the Settings app.

SmartRent today announced the launch of the Alloy Deadbolt+, a smart lock designed for the rental housing industry that integrates with Apple Wallet to enable access for residents using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

The Alloy Deadbolt+ allows residents to add their keys to Apple Wallet, facilitating door access through a simple tap of their iPhone or Apple Watch. Express Mode enables this functionality without the need to unlock the device, and Power Reserve ensures access for up to five hours after the device's battery is depleted. Apple does not monitor the usage of resident keys, and misplaced devices can be managed via the Find My app.

For property managers, the Alloy Deadbolt+ is said to streamline operations by reducing expenses related to rekeying and key management. It also facilitates granting temporary access to guests and service providers and integrates with platforms supporting self-guided tours and mobile maintenance.

The device complies with essential fire safety regulations, offering a 90-minute fire rating, making it suitable for various residential and mixed-use properties. The new smart lock debuted at a Starwood Capital Group property, highlighting its potential for adoption across high-end rental communities. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

Black Friday deals have dried up for the most part, but Amazon today has brought back a few all-time low prices on numerous Apple Watch Series 10 models. You'll find $69 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 10 models in multiple case colors and band styles, all requiring an on-page coupon in order to see the discount at checkout.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Every price listed below is a match of the record low prices we saw last week for Black Friday, and in some cases shipping has started slipping closer to the Christmas holiday. If you've been eyeing an Apple Watch Series 10 as a present, now will be the time to purchase one at these best-ever prices.

42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (S/M) - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (S/M) - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Blue Cloud Sport Loop - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (S/M) - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00

46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (S/M) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Ink Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Plum Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Blue Cloud Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (S/M) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today again said that Apple plans to release its own HomeKit-enabled wireless smart home camera in 2026.

In a blog post about Apple's smart home plans, Kuo said the camera will have tight integration with the rumored HomePod with a display. It is likely that the camera would be sold as an optional accessory alongside the new HomePod hub, providing customers with a home security solution entirely designed by Apple for the first time ever.

Apple would almost certainly tout the privacy and security benefits of its own smart home camera compared to competitors. The company already offers HomeKit Secure Video, which leverages iCloud to securely stream and store video clips from compatible HomeKit cameras, with end-to-end encryption. HomeKit Secure Video cameras can be managed through the Home app on Apple devices, just like other HomeKit accessories. Examples of HomeKit Secure Video cameras include the Logitech Circle View and the Eve Cam.

Apple's smart home camera could also have some additional features not available on third-party HomeKit cameras, but no specifics are known yet.

Kuo expects Apple to begin mass production of the HomePod with a display in the second half of 2025, but he did not provide a release timeframe. He expects the device to feature a 6-7 inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support.

It is not entirely clear if Kuo is referring to the same Apple smart home hub that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects to launch as early as March 2025. Gurman said the hub will have around a six-inch display and support Apple Intelligence, so some of the rumored specifications sound the same at the very least. Gurman said the hub can be mounted on a wall, or attached to an optional HomePod-like speaker base. If these rumored devices are one and the same, then a launch might be a little further away than previously expected.

Apple is struggling to work with Chinese tech company Baidu to bring Apple Intelligence to China next year, The Information reports.

While it is now available in the United States and several other regions, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is not available in China due to the country's restrictive security, privacy, and content obligations, which demands that any public AI technology obtains regulatory approval. This led Apple to partner directly with Baidu, a Chinese company, to deliver ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in the country expediently.

Citing two individuals said to be familiar with the situation, the report claims that Apple and Baidu are racing to adapt the latter's most advanced large language model, Ernie 4.0, to work well for iPhone users both via the cloud and on-device. Apparently, the models have had difficulty understanding prompts and providing accurate responses to common scenarios.

While Baidu wants results to be driven by data used to train its model, Apple wants it to provide a more personalized answer based on a user's iPhone usage. Likewise, the two companies have clashed over the use of iPhone user data to train and improve the AI models. Baidu reportedly wants to save and analyze data from iPhone users, but this is forbidden under Apple's privacy commitments.

The issues are particularly notable since Apple hopes to use ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to rejuvenate iPhone sales in China, where revenue has declined for three consecutive years due to heightened competition from local smartphone brands such as Huawei that tout a wide array of AI features.

Unlike its collaboration with OpenAI, which reportedly comes at no cost to either company, Apple is actively paying Baidu a fee to use its AI models and has agreed to cover computing costs. Apple already uses Baidu for default search results in Safari and Siri.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Spotify has made its annual recap feature "Spotify Wrapped" available to users on the iOS and Android app. This feature tracks your top artists, genres, songs, podcasts, and minutes listened, and generates graphics for sharing on social media.

This year's Spotify Wrapped has a distinctly AI-driven twist: The company has partnered with Google to leverage its note-taking assistant NotebookLM, which can generate a podcast featuring two artificial hosts that discuss the user's research. In Spotify, the hosts wax lyrical on your top songs, artists, and genre choices for the year.

"Your Wrapped AI Podcast" is available to both free and Premium users in the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and Sweden.

Spotify Wrapped also now includes a feature to chart how your musical preferences evolved over the year. For each month it assigns up to three descriptive musical themes, such as "heatwave" or "beach." Additionally, the app creates a personalized “music evolution” playlist, blending your favorite tracks from the year with new songs curated to match your tastes.

Meanwhile, if you're a Premium subscriber, you can create playlists based on your listening habits by prompting Spotify's AI DJ. Other additions this year include the longest listening streak for your top five artists, and an update to the share button that shows whether the audio being shared is in your top 100 songs, top 20 artists, or top five podcasts.

Apple Music's equivalent annual recap, Apple Music Replay, was launched on Tuesday for subscribers to the streaming service.

WIRED today shared in an in-depth interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook, asking questions about AI, Vision Pro sales, pre-recorded keynotes, and more.

The wide-ranging interview covers Apple's pivot toward AI technology, including what Apple Intelligence features Cook finds most useful, Apple's partnership with OpenAI, and the environmental impact of AI. For example, WIRED asked Cook about OpenAI's aim to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI), full human-level AI software that would be able to learn, understand, and apply knowledge across many domains, and perform tasks they weren't specifically trained for.

Right now the technology is good enough where we can deliver it to people and change their lives, and that's what we're focused on. We'll keep pulling the string and see where it takes us.

[...]

[AGI is] a discussion that we'll continue to have.

[...]

There's so much extraordinary benefit for humanity. Are there some things you have to have guardrails on? Of course. We're very deeply considerate about things that we do and don't do. I hope that others are as well. AGI itself is a ways away, at a minimum. We'll sort out along the way what the guardrails need to be in such an environment.

Cook added that Apple has never considered charging a fee for ‌Apple Intelligence‌, viewing it as a fundamental feature like multitouch. He said Apple sees "the smartphone lasting a very long time," despite the emergence of AI-driven devices. Asked if he was concerned about the amount of time users spend using smartphones, Cook responded:

I worry about people endlessly scrolling. That's the reason we do things like Screen Time, to try to guide people. We support people putting limits on themselves, like the number of notifications you get. We do a lot of things in the parental controls area as well. My fundamental belief is, if you're looking at your phone more than you’re looking in somebody's eyes, that's a problem.

Addressing reports that the Apple Vision Pro has not met sales expectations, Cook said:

It's an early adopter product, for people who want tomorrow's technology today. Those people are buying it, and the ecosystem is flourishing. The ultimate test for us is the ecosystem. I don't know if you’re using it very much, but I'm on there all the time. I see new apps all the time.

WIRED also asked Cook if the Vision Pro is ultimately headed toward mixed-reality glasses like Meta and Snap:

Yes, it's a progression over time in terms of what happens with form factors. AR is a huge deal. With Vision Pro, we've progressed to what is clearly the most advanced technology we've ever done, and I think the most advanced technology in the world in terms of electronics problems. We'll see where it goes.

Cook answered questions about Apple's move into consumer tools for medical technology on the Apple Watch and AirPods, and alluded to how the the company is researching AI to analyze biometric data in real time:

I'm not going to announce anything today. But we have research going on. We're pouring all of ourselves in here, and we work on things that are years in the making. We were working on hearing a long time before we got it dialed in to where we felt comfortable shipping it.

In addition, WIRED queried if Apple will ever return to live presentations:

During Covid we learned the audience is primarily online. Very few people can fit in the theater, and we wanted to have more people engaged in the announcement itself. You can do that a lot more productively on tape than you can live because of the transitions on stage and so forth.

However, Cook admitted "I do miss it. I do miss it." He said that he gets asked about how long he sees himself remaining Apple's CEO "now more than I used to," explaining:

...I'll do it until the voice in my head says, "It's time," and then I'll go and focus on what the next chapter looks like. But it's hard to imagine life without Apple, because my life has been wrapped up in this company since 1998. It's the overwhelming majority of my adult life. And so I love it.

Cook also answered questions about Apple's decision to add the Camera Control to the iPhone 16, working at Apple Park, the growing regulatory scrutiny the company faces, and Apple's legacy. See WIRED's full interview for more of Cook's responses.

Privacy-focused Aloha Browser has announced a new Cookie Consent Management feature that aims to eliminate repetitive cookie permission pop-ups while maintaining user privacy controls.

Released today for its iOS app, the new feature allows people to set their cookie preferences once at the browser level rather than responding to prompts on every website.

The new system is designed to address the common frustration with cookie consent banners, which studies show approximately 70% of users either ignore or dismiss without reading. But instead of simply blocking pop-ups, Aloha says its solution actively communicates user preferences to websites through a standardized API.

"How the industry manages cookie consent is backward and has actually backfired," said Andrew Frost Moroz, Founder of Aloha Browser. "It's time to give users the ability to manage their privacy preferences across the web without being constantly interrupted by cookie pop-ups."

The feature offers several preference options, including allowing or rejecting all cookies, creating custom settings for different cookie categories, or setting specific preferences for individual websites. Aloha says these choices are stored securely in the browser and automatically applied across all sites visited. The new feature can be found in Aloha's settings menu under AdBlock ➝ GDPR Consent.

The company presented its new approach to cookie management at the W3C's TPAC 2024 conference, where it reportedly received industry support. Aloha Browser can be found on the App Store [Direct Link], and includes a built-in VPN, ad blocker, privacy reporting, background audio playing support, advanced file management options, and more.

An iPad Pro equipped with Apple's next-generation M5 processor is expected to enter mass production in the second half of next year, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Writing in a Medium post, Kuo said the primary assembler of the M5 iPad Pro will be China's BYD Electronics, which will also be the exclusive assembler of Apple's upcoming display-equipped HomePod, set to be released in late 2025. Apple released the current iPad Pro with OLED display in May 2024, marking the debut of its M4 chip.

Apple has already ordered M5 chips from TSMC as the company begins production development of its next-generation processor, according to one report. The M5 series is expected to feature an enhanced ARM architecture and will reportedly be manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process technology.

Apple's decision to forgo TSMC's more advanced 2nm process for the M5 chip is believed to be due to cost considerations. However, the M5 will still feature significant advancements over the M4, notably through the adoption of TSMC's System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology.

Beyond the processor upgrade, there are currently no other rumors about new features in the M5 iPad Pro, though Apple has said it is considering changing the rear Apple logo orientation to landscape on future iPads.

Apple's long-rumored HomePod with a display has been delayed again and is now expected to launch after WWDC 2025, likely in the third quarter of the year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This timeline is a shift from Kuo's earlier prediction of a 2024 release.

The new smart speaker is expected to feature Apple's A18 processor and a 6-7 inch display, with support for Apple Intelligence, says the analyst. According to Kuo, the delay is primarily attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.

There have been rumors about a ‌HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several products in the works. Kuo's latest report harks back to previous predictions from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple was developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm. Gurman had indicated these devices were unlikely to launch before 2025.

The new HomePod will reportedly emphasize smart home functionality more than current models, suggesting a strategic repositioning of the product line. The idea that Apple is targeting the smart home market follows a recent report by Gurman about Apple developing an all-in-one home management hub with a square-shaped display, thick bezels, and a hemispherical base similar to the iMac G4.

Tianma Microelectronics will be the exclusive panel supplier for the display-equipped HomePod, while BYD Electronics will be the exclusive assembler, according to Kuo. Initial shipment expectations for the new HomePod are relatively modest, with analyst forecasting approximately 500,000 units in the second half of 2025. He also maintains his previous prediction that Apple will launch a compatible smart home IP camera in 2026 that is designed to work wirelessly with the display-equipped HomePod.

With the 2016 MacBook Pro models, Apple introduced the Touch Bar, a small multi-touch display available above the keyboard. The Touch Bar replaced the function row of keys and added dynamic buttons that changed for each app, but it was a polarizing feature that many Mac users disliked.

Apple started phasing out the Touch Bar with the launch of the 2021 MacBook Pro models, and the last Mac with a Touch Bar was discontinued in 2023. If you're one of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ users who misses the Touch Bar, you'll want to take a look at the Flexbar, which is designed to be a Touch Bar replacement.

The Flexbar is a standalone touch-based hardware device that attaches to a Mac, iPad, iPhone, or PC over USB-C. It has a customizable, adaptive interface that's modeled after the Touch Bar, and in terms of functionality, it's similar to multi-button PC and Mac add-ons like the Stream Deck.

Flexbar features a 10-inch 2K OLED display and it comes equipped with preloaded shortcut combinations and controls tailored for popular apps. It supports third-party APIs and can allegedly offer "advanced, native-like controls" for YouTube, Microsoft apps, Adobe apps, AutoCAD, and more. Flexbar's creators say that a plugin system and marketplace are in development and slated to launch in the second quarter of 2025.

Like the Touch Bar, the Flexbar is designed to automatically switch controls based on your current task window, but users can create their preferred layouts using a "Workspace" recording function. While the Touch Bar was limited to more basic controls, the Flexbar supports multi-step macros and sequences for repetitive tasks.

The Flexbar is a Kickstarter project from a Hong Kong-based company called ENIAC, so first and foremost, MacRumors readers should know that ENIAC has not previously created a hardware product. Taking hardware from prototyping to mass production is a difficult task that can lead to delays and even insurmountable issues, plus there are also software integration requirements, so we recommend waiting until the product launches to make a purchase.

It is $120 to back the Flexbar now (shipping not included), and the product has been funded. The Kickstarter page lists an estimated delivery date of February 2025.

Popular Ubisoft game Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is available for download from the Mac App Store as of today, allowing Mac users to play the title for the first time since its January 2024 launch.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an action adventure game that joins a long list of other Prince of Persia titles that are based on Persian mythology. Players take on the role of Sargon, a warrior journeying to Mount Qaf to free a captured prince. Gameplay consists of fighting enemies, solving puzzles, seeking out treasure, and completing quests.

The game has been available on Windows machines, the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation consoles, and Xbox consoles, and it received largely positive reviews.

The Mac version of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown uses Metal3 for a smooth gameplay experience on Mac machines, with a Mac that has an M1 chip or later required.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown can be downloaded from the App Store for $19.99. [Direct Link]