Tag: Mac

In the world of laptops and 2-in-1 devices, many manufacturers now offer cellular connectivity as a standard feature. For users who need to stay connected at all times, an integrated 5G modem, complementing traditional Wi-Fi, is a critical capability. However, MacBook Pro users are left out of this trend.

Apple’s Modem Expansion Plans

Apple has consistently avoided adding cellular connectivity to its MacBook lineup, even as it becomes a premium feature in many Windows laptops. Instead, Apple relies on the seamless ability of macOS devices to tether via an iPhone hotspot. While this approach works well for users already in the Apple ecosystem, it does not address the demand for built-in 5G—a feature valued by professionals and frequent travelers.

This gap in Apple’s offerings may soon change. The company’s $1 billion acquisition of Intel’s modem division in 2019 appears to be bearing fruit, starting with the upcoming iPhone SE. Expected to be the first Apple product featuring an in-house modem, the iPhone SE will compete in the mid-range smartphone market, albeit with specifications slightly below Qualcomm’s equivalents.

Apple’s plans for its modem technology don’t stop at the iPhone SE. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, Apple intends to expand the modem’s use to other product lines. Lower-end iPads are expected to follow, serving as a testbed for the new technology.

Interestingly, Apple is strategically introducing its modem in lower-priced, consumer-focused devices, rather than its flagship products. This cautious approach allows Apple to fine-tune its technology before rolling it out to its premium hardware.

When Will the MacBook Pro Finally Get 5G?

Once the iPhone and iPad adoption proves successful, Apple is expected to bring its home-grown modem to the Mac lineup. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are likely candidates to receive this feature, finally bringing Apple’s laptops in line with the 5G-equipped devices offered by Windows manufacturers.

When this happens, Apple will address a long-standing demand for a fully connected MacBook, positioning its laptops as viable options for professionals who require always-on connectivity. Until then, Windows laptops continue to hold a key advantage in this area.

The debate over whether Macs are immune to viruses or whether they need antivirus software has been a longstanding one, and the rise of AI-driven malware has only added fuel to the fire. 

The Myth: Macs Don’t Get Viruses

Many Apple fans and users have long subscribed to the idea that Macs are immune to viruses, bolstered by macOS’s built-in security features like Gatekeeper, XProtect, and its Unix-based architecture. These features certainly make Macs more secure compared to Windows PCs, and indeed, Macs are less likely to be targeted by malware overall. But this doesn’t mean Macs are completely immune to threats.

Over the years, malware specifically designed for Macs has been on the rise. Mac users are still susceptible to phishing attacks, adware, spyware, trojans, and more, even if the incidence of traditional viruses is lower. The truth is, Macs can get viruses, and this is becoming increasingly clear as hackers target this growing user base.

The Reality: AI-Powered Malware and the Changing Threat Landscape

The introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT has added a new dimension to the cybersecurity landscape. Hackers, even those with minimal technical skills, are finding that AI can help them write malware more efficiently. This is where the Moonlock report comes in—highlighting the potential for AI-powered malware creation.

The report highlights examples of inexperienced hackers using ChatGPT to generate working malware. For instance, the hacker “barboris” posted examples of malware code generated through ChatGPT on a forum, noting how they had no prior experience in malware development but were able to leverage AI to create malicious code.

However, the effectiveness of AI-generated malware is not a foregone conclusion. While it’s true that AI tools like ChatGPT can help generate code quickly, the result often requires troubleshooting, debugging, and fine-tuning—tasks that would likely trip up an inexperienced hacker. In other words, ChatGPT is far from a foolproof malware creation tool, especially for someone with no background in cybersecurity.

That said, the ability for novice hackers to leverage AI to create malware represents a significant shift. As AI tools improve and become more accessible, the barriers to entry for malware creation are lower than ever before, which may lead to an increase in targeted attacks on Macs—and indeed, other platforms as well.

Should You Worry?

While it’s true that the threat of AI-driven malware is real, it’s also important not to panic. macOS has strong built-in security features, and Apple has made improvements over the years to protect users. Plus, even if novice hackers are creating malware with the help of AI, the actual risk to individual users is still relatively low—at least for now.

However, it’s important to remain vigilant. Even Macs are vulnerable to more sophisticated attacks, such as zero-day exploits (where hackers take advantage of security flaws not yet patched by Apple). Relying solely on macOS’s built-in defenses may not be enough if you engage in risky online behaviors, like downloading software from untrusted sources or visiting sketchy websites.

Antivirus Software: Worth It?

This is where the debate becomes more nuanced. Antivirus software on Macs is often seen as unnecessary by many users, especially since macOS’s built-in tools are generally effective at detecting and blocking threats. However, there’s no harm in adding an extra layer of protection—especially for those who might be less tech-savvy or are particularly concerned about the rise in AI-driven attacks.

Popular antivirus programs for Macs, such as Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, or Norton, can offer additional protections, particularly for adware, spyware, and more sophisticated threats that might bypass macOS’s built-in tools.

But the decision of whether or not to install antivirus software on your Mac comes down to personal preference and how much risk you’re willing to take. For most users, safe browsing habits and relying on macOS’s built-in security features are enough. However, for those who are particularly concerned about emerging threats or engage in riskier online behaviors, installing antivirus software can provide peace of mind.

Apple launched the new MacBook Pro with M4 chips at the end of last month, and it looks like these have a previously not spoken about upgrade.

The M4 MacBook Pro models feature quantum dot display technology, according to display analyst Ross Young. Apple used a quantum dot film instead of a red KSF phosphor film.

Young says that Apple has opted for KSF for prior MacBook Pro models because it doesn’t use toxic element cadmium (typical for quantum dot) and is more efficient (and thus less expensive). Way back in 2015, when Apple introduced support for P3 wide color on the iMac, Apple executives said that quantum dot technology had been considered for its LED displays, but rejected because of the cadmium requirement.

The QD film delivers better color gamut and better motion performance compared to the red KSF phosphor film, and is now cadmium-free too. It didn’t use to be, and that apparently is the reason why Apple has stuck with the KSF solution until now.

Apple didn’t highlight specific color improvements with the ‌M4 MacBook Pro‌ models, but max SDR brightness increased to 1,000 nits, up from 600 nits in the prior model.

This improvement applies to all new MacBook Pros, with or without nano texture. Keep in mind that the new laptops still have LCD screens, and this QD film won’t make them perform as well as QD-OLED displays do.

Apple recently unveiled a new lineup of Macs, all powered by the next-generation M4 chips that deliver enhanced performance and efficiency. These models come equipped with either the M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max chips. While the M4 powers the base models, the M4 Pro and M4 Max provide additional horsepower and incorporate advanced technologies like Thunderbolt 5, a high-speed data transfer protocol co-developed by Intel and Apple.

This’ the first major bandwidth increase since Thunderbolt 3 debuted in 2015. 

What is Thunderbolt 5?

Thunderbolt 5 represents a significant leap in data transfer capabilities, supporting speeds up to 80 Gbps and up to 120 Gbps with the Bandwidth Boost feature, making it up to thrice as fast as Thunderbolt 4, which peaks at 40 Gbps. This allows for connections to high-resolution (up to 8K) high-refresh-rate monitors using a single USB-C port, though a Thunderbolt 5-compliant data cable is necessary.

Introduced in September 2023, Thunderbolt 5 is now available in Apple’s latest Macs, making them among the first commercial devices to support this technology.

With Thunderbolt 5, a device like the Mac Mini M4 can achieve up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer, meaning it can send and receive data at that speed simultaneously. This feature is perfect for high-resolution displays and enables rapid transfer of large files, such as 4K and 8K video footage.

A single Thunderbolt 5 port can power up to three 4K monitors at 144Hz or two 8K monitors, while also supporting connectivity to a wide array of accessories like monitors, external GPUs, storage drives, and more through a single connection. However, Apple Silicon currently does not support external graphics, limiting this feature to Intel-powered Thunderbolt 5 PCs.

Thunderbolt 5’s USB-C compatibility

A major benefit of Thunderbolt 5 is that it utilizes a standard USB-C port. To maximize the potential of Thunderbolt 5, you’ll need a certified Thunderbolt 5 USB-C cable, which is priced slightly higher than a regular USB-C cable.

Thunderbolt 5 is also backwards-compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 v2, so you can continue using existing accessories, albeit at Thunderbolt 4 speeds of 40 Gbps.

Do I Need Thunderbolt 5?

For most users performing everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, or even photo editing, Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps bandwidth remains more than adequate. Even 4K video editing and working with large file sizes works smoothly with Thunderbolt 4 connections, as many professionals will attest. The new Mac mini and base 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 chip includes Thunderbolt 4 ports that should serve most of these users.

It’s worth considering Thunderbolt 5 if you work with 8K video, require multiple high-resolution displays, or regularly transfer extremely large files. The technology will be particularly beneficial if you work with virtual reality, 3D rendering, or high-end video production where every bit of bandwidth matters. However, remember that taking full advantage of Thunderbolt 5 requires compatible peripherals, which are just beginning to enter the market and typically command premium prices.

For most users, the presence of Thunderbolt 5 shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing between M4 and M4 Pro/Max Macs. The standard M4 models with Thunderbolt 4 will continue to serve the majority of users well, making Thunderbolt 5 a “nice-to-have” rather than a necessity for typical Mac buyers. The technology’s true benefits will likely become more apparent as compatible peripherals become more available and affordable over time.

Apple has unleashed new beta software on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, with many cool features centered around Apple Intelligence.  While AI will undoubtedly be the focus for most people jumping into the developer beta of macOS Sequoia 15.2, a new option to add the weather in your current location to the menu bar of the Mac. 

The new widget consists of a small weather icon and the temperature displayed next to the time, Wi-Fi status, and battery icons. Clicking on the widget shows you the weather for the next few hours where your Mac is located. If you’re curious, you can also use the widget to see temperatures in other parts of the world.The pop-out widget also features a link to the weather app.

As always, the features could change regarding developer betas, so the weather widget’s presence in this version doesn’t mean it’ll make its way to the final release. Still, the fact that Apple is even working on such a widget is exciting. 

If you try the 15.2 beta, you can enable the weather widget by going to System Settings and Control Center.Opening up the Mac’s Settings app, going to Control Center, and scrolling down to the “Menu Bar Only” section. Weather joins other options that include Clock, Spotlight, Siri, and Time Machine.

The ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2 beta is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple may release a public beta in the not too distant future. ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2 will be released in early December.