MacRumors

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.

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]

Apple today released a firmware update for the Beats Solo Buds, marking the first new software the earbuds have received since their June 2024 launch. The firmware has a build number of 3A130, up from the 3A112 firmware the Solo Buds shipped with.

We don't know what's included in the new firmware, and Apple does not typically provide information about Beats firmware updates.

The Beats Solo Buds are priced at $80 and are Apple's smallest and most affordable Beats-branded earbuds. While the earbuds offer a custom-built acoustic architecture and ergonomic design, active noise cancellation is not available.

Firmware updates for Beats headphones are delivered over-the-air. Firmware will be installed while the Beats headphones are charging and are in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. On Android devices, users need to download the Beats app for Android and connect the Android device to a power outlet to initiate a firmware update.

Apple uses custom Inferentia and Graviton artificial intelligence chips from Amazon Web Services for search services, Apple machine learning and AI director Benoit Dupin said today at the AWS re:Invent conference (via CNBC).

Dupin said that Amazon's AI chips are "reliable, definite, and able to serve [Apple] customers worldwide." AWS and Amazon have a "strong relationship," and Apple plans to test whether Amazon's Trainium2 chip can be used for pre-training Apple Intelligence and other AI models. Amazon announced rental opportunities for the Trainium2 chip today.

Apple has used AWS for more than 10 years for Siri, Apple Maps, and Apple Music. With Amazon's Inferentia and Graviton chips, Apple has seen a 40 percent efficiency gain, and with Trainium2, Dupin said Apple expects up to a 50 percent improvement in efficiency with pre-training.

Nvidia is the market leader when it comes to GPUs for AI training, but companies like Amazon are aiming to compete with lower-cost options.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have disappeared for many products, but you can still find multiple Beats headphones and speakers at up to 52 percent off on Amazon. You'll find many of the same prices at other retailers like Best Buy as well.

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 sale includes major discounts on products like the Beats Solo Buds, which have hit $49.99, down from $79.99. These are a solid entry-level option and feature up to 18 hours of playback, USB-C, and Spatial Audio.

For an upgraded model, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds for $79.99, down from $149.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

For speakers, there's also $50 off the 2024 model of the Beats Pill, now down to $99.95 in multiple colors. You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $199.99, down from $349.99.

• Beats Solo Buds - $49.99, down from $79.99
• Beats Studio Buds - $79.99, down from $149.95
• Beats Pill - $99.95, down from $149.95
• Beats Solo 4 - $99.99, down from $199.95
• Beats Studio Buds + - $149.99, down from $169.95
• Beats Studio Pro - $199.99, down from $349.99

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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