It's been a little over two weeks since the MacBook Neo launched on March 11, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using it daily to do a more thorough review.


At $599 (or $499 for students), the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is the cheapest laptop that Apple has come out with, and given the quality of the product, it's an impressive price. The A18 Pro chip isn't underpowered for a notebook machine, and the Neo is going to handle every day-to-day task that you might throw at it.

8GB RAM might sound like not enough because all of Apple's other Macs have 16GB or more, but Macs use RAM so efficiently that most people aren't going to miss having more RAM. If you're browsing the web, watching videos, managing documents, writing, scrolling through social media apps, sending emails, completing homework, and doing other light work, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ isn't going to struggle. 8GB RAM is also sufficient for all of the Apple Intelligence features that Apple has come out with so far.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ works totally fine for editing photos and videos, but it's of course not as quick as Apple's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M-series chips. You're going to see slower export times, but the actual process of editing video on the ‌MacBook Neo‌ doesn't feel overly sluggish.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ had no problems with 30 Chrome tabs open with YouTube, Google Docs, news sites, spreadsheets, Twitter, and more, even when other apps like Mail, Messages, and Spotify were running. Bumping up to 60 tabs used all of the available RAM, but everything running was usable with no freezing or beach balls. A Windows laptop probably wouldn't be able to operate like the Neo does on just 8GB RAM, but with Apple's SoC, it works.

There are some compromises with the ‌MacBook Neo‌ in addition to the RAM. You're not going to get Apple's best display, but it's not too far off the ‌MacBook Air‌ display. There's just no True Tone for adjusting the display white balance to the lighting in the room. You're limited to two USB-C ports (one limited to USB 2 speeds at 480Mb/s, which does impact how fast files transfer), and another that's USB 3 at 10Gb/s. There's no Thunderbolt, no MagSafe charger, no SD card slot, no HDMI port, and no backlighting for the keyboard. The trackpad is mechanical instead of Force Touch, but it works largely the same, and there's a 1080p camera.

Battery life is solid at up to 16 hours on a full charge, and the power draw is low enough that you can get some extra juice with a small power bank. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ only comes in 256GB and 512GB configurations, so storage is a bit limited, and we do recommend that 512GB upgrade for an extra $100 if you can swing it because it adds Touch ID to the keyboard. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is slim and lightweight at 2.7 pounds, plus it comes in fun colors like blush, citrus, silver, and indigo.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is designed for students on a budget, parents buying a first laptop for a child, and people who just need a basic machine for everyday online tasks. It may be Apple's lowest tier Mac, but it is one of the best computers you can get in its price range.

Many competing Windows PCs and Chromebooks around the $600 mark are bulkier and uglier, with dimmer displays and less powerful chips. PC makers haven't had to try in the low-end market because Apple didn't compete there, but now that's changed.

There's a reason why ASUS CFO Nick Wu said that the ‌MacBook Neo‌ was a "shock" to the entire PC industry that's being taken "very seriously." PC makers are going to need to innovate to keep Apple from dominating the affordable and education market.
This article, "MacBook Neo Review: Can Apple's Cheapest Laptop Handle Real Work?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple this week announced that it has discontinued the Mac Pro, with new configurations no longer available and no further models planned.


Below, we reflect on nearly two decades of the Mac Pro.

2006 to 2013

In August 2006, Apple introduced the original Mac Pro, which was an Intel-based follow-up to the PowerPC-based Power Mac G5 that debuted a few years earlier.

Mac Pro was the final Mac model to transition from PowerPC to Intel processors.

"Apple has successfully completed the transition to using Intel processors in just seven months—210 days to be exact," said Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs, in a press release announcing the first Mac Pro. "And what better product to complete it with than the new Mac Pro, the workstation Mac users have been dreaming about."


The original Mac Pro was powered by two dual-core Intel Xeon processors, making it up to twice as fast as the Power Mac G5, according to Apple. It could be configured with up to 2TB of storage—the most ever in a Mac at the time—and up to 16GB of RAM. The computer was equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card.

Like the Power Mac G5, the Mac Pro featured an aluminum tower with a perforated front panel, which earned it the nickname "cheese grater Mac Pro." The computer was equipped with a variety of FireWire and USB-A ports, and it had PCI Express expansion slots. In the U.S., the original Mac Pro started at $2,499.

The classic Mac Pro went on to receive faster Intel processors and other spec bumps until 2012.

2013 to 2019

"Can't innovate anymore, my ass," Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller infamously joked, when unveiling the redesigned Mac Pro in June 2013.

"The new Mac Pro is our vision for the future of the pro desktop, everything about it has been reimagined and there has never been anything like it," said Schiller, in a press release announcing the second-generation Mac Pro.


The so-called "trash can" Mac Pro featured a cylindrical design with a polished black aluminum finish and a "unified thermal core." The computer was visually striking, but Apple later admitted that it was thermally constrained, and it had poor upgradeability. Instead of internal slots, Apple pushed expansion via six Thunderbolt 2 ports.

Other specs included up to a 12-core Intel Xeon processor, dual AMD FirePro GPUs, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to a 1TB SSD. In the U.S., pricing started at $2,999.

Overall, Apple prioritized the Mac Pro's compact size, thermal efficiency, and quiet operation, when most pro users simply wanted the most performant and expandable Mac possible. Then, the Mac Pro went years without receiving upgrades, leading some to question whether Apple was still committed to the high-end Mac market.


The criticism ultimately led Apple to make the rare and surprising move of publicly apologizing to Mac users and ensuring that it remained committed to the Mac. Apple also pre-announced that it was working on a "completely rethought" Mac Pro with a modular design, along with what became the iMac Pro and Pro Display XDR.

"I think we designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner, if you will," said Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi, at the time. "We designed a system with the kind of GPUs that at the time we thought we needed, and that we thought we could well serve with a two GPU architecture. That that was the thermal limit we needed, or the thermal capacity we needed. But workloads didn't materialize to fit that as broadly as we hoped."

So, Apple went back to the drawing board.

2019 to 2023

In December 2019, the third-generation Mac Pro arrived. As promised, it fixed many of the problems that arose with the "trash can" model.

With this Mac Pro, Apple returned to a modular design with an aluminum housing that lifts off for "360-degree access" to the entire system. The computer had a "state-of-the-art thermal architecture" and eight PCI Express expansion slots.

"We designed Mac Pro for users who require a modular system with extreme performance, expansion and configurability," said Schiller, in a press release at the time. "With its powerful Xeon processors, massive memory capacity, groundbreaking GPU architecture, PCIe expansion, Afterburner accelerator card and jaw-dropping design, the new Mac Pro is a monster that will enable pros to do their life's best work."


This was the final Intel-based model, with up to a 28-core Xeon processor available alongside up to 1.5TB of RAM and up to an 8TB SSD. It could be configured with AMD's Radeon Pro Vega II Duo, which Apple said was the world's most powerful graphics card at the time. Other specs included four Thunderbolt 3 ports and an Apple Afterburner accelerator card that enabled playback of three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video simultaneously.

In the U.S., pricing started at $5,999, which was much higher than the previous models.

2023 to 2026

In June 2023, the Mac Pro entered the Apple silicon era when it received the M2 Ultra chip.

Mac Pro was the final Mac model to transition from Intel to Apple silicon.

Apple stuck with the same overall design as the previous generation, but the M2 Ultra chip with unified graphics and memory freed up a lot of internal space compared to the Intel model, resulting in a "hollow" appearance. And on the exterior, the Mac Pro gained eight Thunderbolt 4 ports, up from four Thunderbolt 3 ports previously.

Other specs included up to 192GB of unified memory and up to an 8TB SSD. In the U.S., starting pricing rose to a steep $6,999.


By the time the Mac Pro moved to Apple silicon, Apple had already released the Mac Studio, another desktop computer that is smaller than a Mac Pro but beefier than a Mac mini. It is currently powered by M4 Max or M3 Ultra chips, and configurations with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips are expected to launch later this year.

The primary reason to purchase the latest Mac Pro over the Mac Studio was PCI expansion, but the Mac Pro's starting price was thousands of dollars higher than the Mac Studio, so the writing was on the wall that the Mac Pro's days were probably numbered.

Indeed, the Mac Pro was ultimately discontinued this week, marking the end of an era.
This article, "Mac Pro Discontinued: Reflecting on 20 Years of Apple's Desktop Tower" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro and has removed the machine from its website, reports 9to5Mac. Apple said it does not plan to design a new version of the ‌Mac Pro‌, and no new model will be coming in the future.


The ‌Mac Pro‌ was last updated in 2023, which was when Apple added an M2 Ultra Apple silicon chip, but the chassis has not been refreshed since 2019. Apple redesigned the ‌Mac Pro‌ to be more modular in 2019 after failing with its "innovative" trashcan Mac Pro, but the machine has never been mainstream due to its $6,999 starting price.

Apple has largely replaced the ‌Mac Pro‌ with the Mac Studio, a device that is smaller and uses newer Apple silicon chips. The ‌Mac Studio‌ is now Apple's high-end desktop machine designed for professional use.

The current ‌Mac Studio‌ features an M3 Ultra chip, though it is expected to get an M5 Ultra refresh later this year. Apple's desktop lineup also includes the Mac mini and the iMac.

The ‌Mac Pro‌'s downfall started in 2013 when Apple introduced a radical cylindrical design that turned out to be a major mistake. The ‌Mac Pro‌'s components were mounted around a central thermal dissipation core and cooled with a single fan that pulled air from under the case, through the core, and out of the top of the machine. It was quiet, but not efficient.

When Apple announced the 2013 ‌Mac Pro‌, Phil Schiller infamously said "Can't innovate anymore, my ass," in response to critics who complained about the ‌Mac Pro‌'s lack of updates and Apple's failure to create products for pro users.

Unfortunately, the 2013 ‌Mac Pro‌'s design did not include PCIe expansion slots for graphics cards and other hardware, with expansion handled through Thunderbolt 2 ports. The design also did not account for future updates in GPU technology, leaving Apple unable to add larger graphics cards and other components to the device.

Apple ended up apologizing to its pro user base and said the 2013 design was thermally constrained in a way that made upgrades impossible. It took Apple until 2019 to unveil the current ‌Mac Pro‌, which adopted a more standard tower form factor with eight PCIe slots.

After the 2019 launch, the ‌Mac Pro‌ got an Apple silicon chip in 2023, and that's it. There have been three ‌Mac Pro‌ updates in the last 13 years, so it's not surprising to see the ‌Mac Pro‌ retired. The ‌Mac Studio‌ offers almost all of the same capabilities as the ‌Mac Pro‌, with the exception of PCIe expansion slots.
This article, "Apple Confirms Mac Pro Is Dead, No Future Models Planned" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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On a live Q&A call today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is planning to release a new full-sized HomePod alongside new HomePod mini and Apple TV models.


Gurman reiterated that updates to all three products are on hold until Apple releases its more personalized version of Siri later this year. The revamped assistant is expected to debut in iOS 27, which will be available in beta starting in June and should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.

Accordingly, new HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV models should be released this year.

In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini at a minimum have been "ready" since last year, and on the call today he explicitly said "yes" to a new full-sized HomePod coming as well.

Inventory of the Apple TV, HomePod mini, and full-sized HomePod is once again "running low" at Apple's retail stores around the world.

As spotted by Pedro Marques, some HomePod mini configurations are not available until as late as May 8 in Toronto, Canada. This is an oddly far away date, and it may suggest that Apple is no longer manufacturing the current HomePod mini.


Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is not entirely clear how that chip would be capable enough to support the revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other rumored features include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option.

The current Apple TV 4K debuted in October 2022, and the HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020, so both devices are due for upgrades.

The full-sized HomePod was last updated in January 2023. There have been no rumored upgrades for it yet beyond support for the revamped Siri.
This article, "New HomePod Expected Alongside Updated HomePod Mini and Apple TV" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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OpenProject offers both a powerful Community edition and Enterprise plans tailored to different organizational needs. This often raises the question of which option is the best choice for your team or organization. While the Community edition is fully functional on its own, some teams require professional support, specific Enterprise add-ons, or Cloud hosting.

In this article, you will learn about the differences between Community and Enterprise, and how to easily upgrade or get started with an Enterprise plan.

Quick navigation:

• Why does OpenProject offer an Enterprise edition?
• What is the difference between the Community edition and the Enterprise edition?
• What are Enterprise add-ons?
• Why does OpenProject offer different Enterprise plans?
• How can you upgrade from the Community edition to OpenProject Enterprise?
• How can you get started with OpenProject Enterprise?

Why does OpenProject offer an Enterprise edition?

Since OpenProject is free (as defined by the Free Software Foundation) and open source software, you can download and run the software on your own infrastructure. It can be used free of charge in the Community edition. This edition is a fully functional project and task management solution and is used by teams and organizations of all sizes.

At the same time, some organizations rely on personal, reliable support when running OpenProject in business-critical or complex environments. Providing this kind of professional support requires dedicated resources and clear responsibilities. The Enterprise edition exists to offer exactly that, while ensuring that OpenProject remains sustainable and fully open source for everyone.

What is the difference between the Community edition and the Enterprise edition?

The OpenProject Community edition is free to use, fully open source, and provides a comprehensive set of project and task management features. It can be used without restrictions on the number of users or projects and is suitable for many teams and organizations as it is.

The Enterprise edition builds on the Community edition. It adds professional support and optional Enterprise add-ons for organizations with higher or more specific requirements, for example when OpenProject is used in business-critical environments or when additional services are needed. The Enterprise edition does not replace the Community edition, but extends it.

In short, the difference is not about access to the software itself. Both editions are fully open source and highly functional. The key difference lies in professional support, Enterprise add-ons, and additional service options.

	Community edition	Enterprise edition
License	Open source	Open source
Costs	Free of charge	Paid plans
Core functionality	Fully available	Fully available
Enterprise add-ons	Not included	Available
Professional support	Community-based	Included
Hosting options	Self-managed	Self-managed or hosted by OpenProject
Typical use cases	Teams with basic project and task management requirements	Organizations that need professional support or have specific requirements

Important

Support is the essence of OpenProject Enterprise: It is important to know that while the OpenProject Community edition is free and fully functional, it does not include personal support. Upgrade to get reliable, high-touch support from OpenProject senior support engineers with expert knowledge about running the software in business-critical environments. We are English, German, and French speaking!

What are Enterprise add-ons?

Enterprise add-ons are optional extensions that build on top of the OpenProject Community edition. They are designed to support more advanced or specific requirements that go beyond basic project and task management needs.

All Enterprise add-ons are developed as open source software. They are not a separate product, but integrate seamlessly into OpenProject and can be enabled as part of an Enterprise plan. Importantly, the Community edition remains fully functional without these add-ons.

Enterprise add-ons are therefore best understood as complementary enhancements. They allow organizations to extend OpenProject where needed, without changing the core principles of openness, transparency, and long-term maintainability. Still, the main benefit of the OpenProject Enterprise edition is the professional support.

Watch this video to learn about our current Enterprise add-ons:

Community first

OpenProject values a balance between community spirit and financial sustainability, which is a key element in OpenProject’s high user-friendliness and, for example, its comprehensive documentation, available free of charge to all users. One example of OpenProject’s commitment to the Community is that some Enterprise add-ons are released for the community edition over time.

As an example, here’s a list of Enterprise add-ons that have been released to the Community edition in the past:

• Attribute highlighting
• Graphs on project overview page
• Multi-select custom fields
• Display custom field columns/filters in project lists
• Basic agile boards

Why does OpenProject offer different Enterprise plans?

Organizations using OpenProject vary widely in size, structure, and requirements. Some mainly need professional support to operate OpenProject reliably, while others require specific Enterprise add-ons, additional services, or long-term guarantees for complex or regulated environments.

To address these different needs, OpenProject offers multiple Enterprise plans. This makes it possible to keep entry prices low for organizations that primarily need support, while also offering plans tailored to larger organizations with more specific or demanding requirements. The goal is not to bundle everything into a single plan, but to provide appropriate options for different use cases. Enterprise plans therefore reflect a fair and flexible approach: organizations only pay for the level of support and add-ons they actually need.

The introduction of different Enterprise plans is documented in the OpenProject 16.0 release notes.

Important

All OpenProject editions are fully built on GPLv3-licensed free and open source software and OpenProject is not an open core model. Enterprise plans are paid because they include professional support and services, not because the software itself is closed or proprietary.

How can you upgrade from the Community edition to OpenProject Enterprise?

Upgrading from the OpenProject Community edition to an Enterprise plan is straightforward and does not require a migration or a new installation. Your existing data, projects, and configurations remain unchanged.

Enterprise plans can be evaluated via a trial that activates the Enterprise add-ons and professional support for a limited time. If the trial ends without a subscription, the installation automatically returns to the Community edition.

This makes it easy to explore OpenProject Enterprise at your own pace and decide whether professional support or specific Enterprise add-ons are the right fit for your organization. Learn more about upgrading to Enterprise edition.

How can you get started with OpenProject Enterprise?

If you want to explore OpenProject Enterprise in more detail, there are several ways to get started. You can review the available Enterprise plans to understand which options best fit your organization’s needs, including professional support and optional Enterprise add-ons.

If you are already using the Community edition, you can start an Enterprise trial directly from your installation to evaluate the Enterprise add-ons and support in your own environment. Organizations that are new to OpenProject can also choose an Enterprise plan from the start, including hosted options.

If you have questions or specific requirements, the OpenProject team is available to help you find the right setup and plan for your organization.

Contact us.

Apple has updated a wide range of products and accessories this month, but there is still no entry-level iPad 12 with Apple Intelligence support.


Fortunately, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said an iPad with an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence is "ready to go" and "still coming this year."

An earlier report from Macworld claimed that the iPad 12 will actually have an A19 chip.

No other major changes have been rumored so far for the iPad 12, so we expect the device to have the same overall design as the current model.

Apple Intelligence is already available on all other current-generation iPad models, including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Apple released the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025, with U.S. pricing starting at $349.


This article, "iPad 12 With A18 Chip for Apple Intelligence is 'Still Coming This Year'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has unveiled nine new products this month, but the wait continues for the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready" since last year, but he reiterated that Apple has held off on releasing them until the more personalized version of Siri and other Apple Intelligence upgrades are released later this year.

Inventory of the Apple TV, HomePod mini, and full-sized HomePod is once again "running low" at Apple's retail stores around the world, according to Gurman, but it is unclear if this means anything since the revamped Siri has yet to debut.

Gurman previously reported that Apple was aiming to release the personalized Siri features in either iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. The first developer beta of iOS 26.5 could be available in late March or early April, so at least some of the Siri upgrades might be just a week or two away, unless they are entirely held back until iOS 27 debuts in June.

Accordingly, if the new Apple TV and HomePod mini models remain tied to the Siri upgrades arriving in iOS 26.5 or iOS 27, then Apple should announce the devices at any point between late March and the end of September this year.

Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is not entirely clear how that chip would be capable enough to support the revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other rumored features include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option.

The current Apple TV 4K debuted in October 2022, and the HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020, so both devices are due for upgrades.


This article, "New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Remain 'Ready' to Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's surprise announcement of the AirPods Max 2 this week.



The ‌AirPods Max 2‌ introduce a range of improvements primarily driven by the addition of Apple's H2 chip, which replaces the H1 chip used in previous models. This new chip underpins most of the upgrades, enabling more advanced computational audio and significantly enhancing the overall listening experience.

One of the most notable improvements is Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says is up to 1.5x more effective than before, making the headphones better suited to noisy environments such as travel. Transparency mode is also refined, with more natural-sounding ambient audio and improved clarity when hearing voices and surroundings.

The H2 chip also facilitates a suite of new adaptive listening features. Adaptive Audio dynamically adjusts the balance between noise cancellation and environmental sound depending on your surroundings, while Conversation Awareness automatically lowers playback and enhances nearby voices when you begin speaking. Personalized Volume builds on this by learning your listening preferences over time and adjusting volume levels accordingly. In addition, Voice Isolation has been improved, helping to prioritize your voice during calls and reduce background noise more effectively.

Audio quality is enhanced with a new high dynamic range amplifier and updated signal processing. These changes should result in more consistent bass, clearer midrange, more natural vocals, and improved separation of instruments. Spatial Audio has also been refined, offering more accurate sound placement and a more coherent soundstage.

Wireless performance sees an upgrade with support for Bluetooth 5.3, which reduces latency compared to the previous generation. Alongside audio improvements, several new features have been added, including Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence, the ability to use the Digital Crown as a camera remote for taking photos or controlling video recording, and expanded Siri interactions, including hands-free activation without "Hey ‌Siri‌" and gesture-based responses.

Despite these updates, several core aspects remain unchanged. The design, materials, and overall form factor are identical to earlier versions, battery life remains at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled, and the headphones continue to use the same Smart Case. Pricing is also unchanged at $549.

‌AirPods Max 2‌ will be available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting Wednesday, March 25 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, and they launch on an unspecified day in early April. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's concentrated week of announcements that saw the introduction of 10 new products.


Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Surprise AirPods Max 2 Announcement" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While the MacBook Neo is not "fast-charge capable," according to Apple's tech specs, the laptop can still charge faster with certain Apple chargers.


Apple includes its 20W USB-C Power Adapter with the MacBook Neo (except in the UK and the EU, where the laptop does not ship with a charger at all), but a new charging test has revealed that Apple's 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is a better choice if you want the fastest charging speeds at the lowest additional cost from Apple.

In the video below, ChargerLAB shows that the MacBook Neo reaches a peak charging speed of 18W with the included 20W charger, but this rises to 30W with Apple's 35W adapter, which is available in two sizes for $59 on Apple's online store.


ChargerLAB did not show exactly how much time you can save by using the 35W charger over the 20W charger, but it is probably up to 20-30 minutes for a full charge.

Of course, a variety of 30W-and-higher chargers sold by Apple and other companies can charge the MacBook Neo at peak speeds of 28W to 30W, so look beyond Apple if you want to save money. If you stick with Apple, just know this: its 35W adapter is faster than the included 20W adapter, but its expensive 96W and 140W chargers do not charge the MacBook Neo any faster than the 35W adapter despite costing more.

MacBook Neo launched last Wednesday, and Apple's CEO Tim Cook today revealed that the Mac just had its best launch week ever with first-time buyers.
This article, "MacBook Neo Charging Test: Here's Which Apple Charger is the Fastest" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's CEO Tim Cook today said the Mac just had its "best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers," which suggests that the new MacBook Neo has been a hit with customers buying their first laptops or switching from Windows.


Apple released the MacBook Neo last Wednesday, March 11. In the U.S., pricing starts at just $599 for the general public and an even lower $499 for college students. The laptop is powered by a version of the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip, and it is available in colorful finishes like Citrus, Blush, and Indigo, alongside traditional Silver.

Apple also released MacBook Air models with the M5 chip and MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last week, so it was a big week for new Macs, but the affordable MacBook Neo is likely driving the record number of first-time Mac buyers.

If you want a MacBook Neo, you may have to wait. In the U.S., MacBook Neo orders placed through Apple's online store today are estimated to be delivered between April 6 and April 13. However, it may be possible to find a MacBook Neo sooner at one of Apple's retail stores, or through authorized resellers such as Amazon and Walmart.


This article, "Apple Announces New Mac Sales Record Following MacBook Neo Launch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's iPhone 19e could come with an LTPO OLED display that would bring 120Hz ProMotion technology to its most affordable iPhone for the first time, based on a new report out of Asia.


According to ZDNet Korea, the fourth-generation model in Apple's entry-level e-series – expected to arrive in early 2028 – could adopt a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel, making the display technically capable of dynamically adjusting its refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. It's the same underlying panel technology used across the current iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air.

The recently launched iPhone 17e uses a 60Hz low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panel, and the report suggests next year's iPhone 18e will use the same technology. That's despite the fact that you can find 120Hz screens on competing Android phones at similar price points.

The shift in 2028 is said to depend in part on Apple's development of a next-generation "LTPO+" display technology, which incorporates oxide semiconductors in both switching and drive transistors, and is said to use a lot less battery power.

Apple reportedly plans to reserve LTPO+ for its higher-end models in 2028, including new versions of the iPhone Air and its upcoming foldable iPhone, which would free up standard LTPO panels for the rest of the lineup. But if the new technology isn't ready in time, it could delay the trickle-down of LPTO panels to the 19e, so nothing's for certain yet.

Apple first adopted LPTO+ (also known as LPTO3) in the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024, with panels supplied by LG Display. This likely gave Apple the confidence to scale the technology to iPhone-sized displays, and the company has a track record of testing new display technologies in the Apple Watch before bringing them to the iPhone.

A previous report suggested Apple was considering adopting the new display architecture for at least one model in its 2027 iPhone lineup, but the ZDNet Korea report suggests Apple has moved away from the idea because the technology is not quite ready for mass production.
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Apple today launched its atrial fibrillation history feature for Apple Watch in mainland China.


Since 2022, Apple Watch in the U.S. has supported AFib History, which allows users diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to view an estimate of how frequently their heart is in this type of irregular rhythm.

The feature analyzes pulse rate data collected by a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to identify episodes consistent with AFib and provides the user with a retrospective estimate of AFib burden (a measure of the amount of time spent in AFib during past Apple Watch wear). Apple says the feature is intended for individuals aged 22 years or older who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation by a physician.

Capabilities like ECG and AFib tracking are typically classified as medical or quasi-medical functions, requiring approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), hence the delayed launch.

ECG, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, and AFib History are features that can be used by Apple Watch owners in over 150 countries worldwide. Apple maintains a dedicated list of Apple Watch feature availability on its website.
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Apple has now announced the AirPods Max 2, bringing the first major hardware upgrade to Apple's over-ear headphones since their debut. So how does the new model compare with both earlier versions of ‌AirPods Max‌?


In late 2020, Apple announced the AirPods Max, a whole new AirPods variant with an over-ear design. In September 2024, the company refreshed the AirPods Max's selection of color options and swapped the Lightning port for USB-C, enabling 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio over a wired connection.

Now, with the arrival of the ‌AirPods Max 2‌, Apple has introduced a far more substantial upgrade than the 2024 refresh. The new model adds the H2 chip, more powerful Active Noise Cancellation, improved Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio features such as Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume, updated Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with reduced latency, and enhancements to Spatial Audio and sound quality.


Following the announcement, the full range of differences between the original Lightning model, the USB-C refresh, and ‌AirPods Max 2‌ are outlined below:

AirPods Max (2020, Lightning)	AirPods Max (2024, USB-C)	‌AirPods Max 2‌ (2026)
H1 chip	H1 chip	H2 chip
Active Noise Cancellation	Active Noise Cancellation	Improved Active Noise Cancellation (1.5x stronger)
Transparency Mode	Transparency Mode	Improved Transparency Mode
		Adaptive Audio
		Conversation Awareness
		Voice Isolation
		Personalized Volume
		Loud Sound Reduction
		Camera Remote
		Live Translation
"Hey Siri" commands	"Hey ‌Siri‌" commands	"Hey ‌Siri‌" and "‌Siri‌" commands
		‌Siri‌ Interactions (privately respond to ‌Siri‌ announcements by simply nodding their head yes or gently shaking their head no)
		Custom high dynamic range amplifier
		New digital signal processing algorithm
Spatial Audio	Spatial Audio	Improved Spatial Audio (improved localization of instruments, more accurate and consistent bass response, and more natural-sounding mids and highs)
	Lossless Personalized Spatial Audio via USB-C to USB-C cable	Lossless Personalized Spatial Audio via USB-C to USB-C cable
Enhanced audio via Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable	"24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio" via USB-C to USB-C cable	"24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio" via USB-C to USB-C cable
Audio recording	Audio recording	"Studio-quality" audio recording
	Create and mix audio in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking via USB-C to USB-C cable	Create and mix audio in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking via USB-C to USB-C cable
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3
		Reduced wireless audio latency
Reduced latency audio via Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable	"Ultra-low" latency audio via USB-C to USB-C cable or USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable	"Ultra-low" latency audio via USB-C to USB-C cable or USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable
Lightning port	USB-C port	USB-C port
Available in Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue, Pink, and Green	Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange	Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange
Released December 2020	Released September 2024	Release in April 2026
Now discontinued	Now discontinued	$549

The original AirPods Max with Lightning are becoming increasingly difficult to find as remaining inventory has gradually dried up over the past two years. While some third-party retailers may still have limited stock or refurbished units available, the model is no longer widely sold. For buyers who can still locate a pair at a substantial discount, the Lightning version can remain an appealing option. It offers the same distinctive design, premium build quality, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Spatial Audio support that defined the product when it launched in 2020. If you primarily use AirPods Max wirelessly for casual listenin, have no interest in the newer software capabilities, or have other Lightning devices, the original model still delivers a good core experience.

The AirPods Max with USB-C, introduced in 2024, remain widely available and until today represented Apple's current version of the headphones. Aside from the switch from Lightning to USB-C and a new set of color options, the hardware is largely identical to the original model. A firmware update alongside iOS 18.4 restored wired audio input and enabled 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio over a USB-C connection when used with a USB-C to USB-C cable. This gives the USB-C model a clear advantage over the Lightning version for users who want the best possible wired audio quality. It also enables creator-focused capabilities such as Lossless Personalized Spatial Audio and the ability to create or mix content in Spatial Audio with head tracking. For most users listening wirelessly, however, the overall experience remains very similar to the original model.

The newly announced ‌AirPods Max 2‌ represent the first meaningful upgrade to the product since its debut. The new model introduces Apple's H2 chip, enabling significantly improved Active Noise Cancellation, enhanced Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio features such as Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and Voice Isolation. Apple has also improved Spatial Audio performance and added Bluetooth 5.3 with reduced wireless latency. Together, these upgrades bring the over-ear AirPods much closer to the capabilities offered by Apple's latest in-ear AirPods models.

For buyers deciding between generations, the choice largely comes down to how important the new features are. The original AirPods Max still deliver the premium design, sound quality, and wireless listening experience that made them popular. However, for those who want stronger noise cancellation, new features like Live Translation, and the most future-proof option, ‌AirPods Max 2‌ are clearly the model to choose.

Existing owners of the original AirPods Max may want to weigh the benefits of the H2 chip, improved Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio features such as Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume, and reduced wireless latency. Users with the Lightning version may be more inclined to upgrade given their device's age, while those with the newer USB-C variant may find the improvements less essential if they are satisfied with the current feature set. For frequent travelers, people who regularly listen in noisy environments, or anyone who simply wants the most advanced version of Apple's over-ear headphones, the upgrade may still be worthwhile.

AirPods frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the ‌AirPods Max 2‌ may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. The AirPods Max often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup.
This article, "AirPods Max 1 vs. AirPods Max 2 Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today acquired MotionVFX, a major developer of plugins, visual effects, and motion graphics tools for Final Cut Pro.


MotionVFX is a Polish software company founded by Szymon Masiak in 2009. It creates high-quality plugins, transitions, templates, and visual effects (VFX) for video editors, specializing in tools for Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Apple Motion. From MotionVFX's website today:

We are extremely excited to share that MotionVFX is joining the Apple team to continue to empower creators and editors to do their best work.

For over 15 years, we've been on a mission to create world-class, visually inspiring content and effects for video editors. From the very beginning, we’ve been all about quality, ease of use, and great design. These are also the values that we admire most in Apple’s products, and we’re thrilled to be able to embrace them together.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our amazing customers and supporters who have been with us through all these years. You inspired us, you challenged us, and you helped our products become what they are today. We are incredibly grateful to be part of this amazing community and excited to continue our work to serve you.

This is the beginning of something truly wonderful!

MotionVFX has long been one of the most prominent third-party developers in the Final Cut Pro ecosystem. Its plugins are widely used by YouTubers, filmmakers, and broadcast editors looking to add high-end motion graphics and stylized visual effects without building them from scratch.

Among its most popular tools are mFilmLook, which provides cinematic color grading and film emulation effects, and mO2, a powerful plugin that enables the use of 3D models directly inside Final Cut Pro and Apple Motion. MotionVFX also offers Design Studio, a panel extension that allows users to browse and install effects and templates directly within Final Cut Pro.

MotionVFX's expertise in templates, transitions, and 3D workflows could help Apple improve Final Cut Pro's built-in graphics tools, potentially reducing reliance on third-party plugins. The acquisition will likely strengthen Apple's latest push into professional video production, especially as the company continues to bolster its new Apple Creator Studio subscription service.

MotionVFX's 70 employees today joined Apple as part of the acquisition. The company was already a worldwide partner of Apple.

MotionVFX did not indicate whether its existing products will continue to be sold independently following the acquisition. For now, the company's plugin catalog remains available through its website and the MotionVFX marketplace.
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Latin America (LATAM) is currently at a pivotal point for Venture Capital (VC). The region had a hallmark year in investment in 2021, but as they say—what goes up, must come down. 

The region isn’t alone in its investment slowdown, however. Overall, global venture funding is down significantly, according to Crunchbase—mostly as a result of numbers being compared to record highs. And naturally, when records are set, a slowdown is not only predictable but is sometimes even projected. 

This past spring, the Latin American Business Associations (LABA) VC conference made this very prediction for LATAM’s regional market. Leaders forecasted this partly because LATAM still lacks a lot of the entrepreneurial infrastructure that startups need, such as more seed investors and better infrastructure. 

But not all hope is lost. 

In an interview with Bloomberg Linea, Carlos Ramos De la Vega, the VC director for LAVCA, an association for private capital in Latin America, said there is still a positive outlook for LATAM. According to the association’s data, 2022 is already the region’s second-strongest year for LATAM’s VC—meaning that the movements made by founders and investors on the ground floor will be critical for where the business sector lands at the end of 2022.

For Colombia, this slowdown could actually be an excellent opportunity to achieve certain benchmarks that need to improve in order to be more competitive in the LATAM VC landscape. 

Fostering the growth of its technological infrastructure, building strategies that help pique the interest of both local and international investors, and developing a supportive network for entrepreneurs on the ground floor will help Colombia evolve into a more mature player in the  LATAM business ecosystem.

Stage 1: Fostering Colombia’s Technological Boom

As of 2022, Colombia is one of the top economic contenders in LATAM alongside Mexico and Brazil, and the country’s economic year in 2021 blew away forecasts—growing at the fastest pace seen in more than a century. This has a lot to do with the country quickly getting on board with digital implementation, allowing modern industry to hit its stride. With much of Colombia’s economic rebound between 2021-2022 due to the technology industry, the country is experiencing a technological renaissance.

Out of the roughly 50 million Colombians, nearly 34 million started using the Internet following the onset of the pandemic, of which about 22 million then became regular online shopping users. According to the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CCCE), in 2021, eCommerce remained at levels of more than double what was registered in 2019—even when physical stores had reopened their doors.

“The e-commerce sector went from being considered as a complementary sales channel to becoming the engine for economic reactivation,” said María Fernanda Quiñones, executive president of the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CCCE).

This interest in the digital interface is good for innovation and local startups looking to lead the technological transformation. Yet, only 2% of Colombian companies carry out cross-border operations through electronic channels—making for some seriously untapped potential in the country’s online market. The CCCE is one governmental entity currently taking steps to implement infrastructure that will help get the ball rolling for companies wishing to digitize operations. 

“We recently launched eXporta.online, a free digital platform which is sponsored by Google. The platform seeks to prepare people, medium to small enterprises, and entrepreneurs for cross-border electronic commerce,” continued Quiñones. 

The platform analyzes close to 1,517 data points collected from different sources such as the World Bank, UNCTAD, and International Trade Center, among others. The data then creates an automated process that provides recommendations for the three best destination market options for companies who are looking to start utilizing eCommerce. The engine chooses these destinations based on the ideal confluence of demand, market stability, eCommerce, language, and access to that company’s product.

“Through cross-border e-commerce, businesses have the opportunity to diversify their market and not depend solely on the local economy,” said Quiñones. “In addition, strategic alliances can be created abroad that allow businesses to gain experience and become more competitive, expand opportunities, and increase their sales capacity.”

Digitizing commerce will be vital for ensuring that Colombia can remain competitive within the larger regional and international business markets. Now technologically primed and ready, the country can provide new opportunities to startups hailing from the country.

Stage 2: Transitioning Colombian VC From Seed to Series A 

Within the last decade, VCs from all over have been looking to Colombia for investments. Thanks to startups showing significant growth in both size and number, the VC sphere in the country has seen a noteworthy upward trend. 

This is backed by 2021’s numbers, as Colombia increased its overall value of funding to $1.24 billion—making for a 144% increase compared to 2020. Rappi is one example from the country that has helped to prove Colombian startups have the capacity to increase their valuations tenfold and build multi-billion USD companies. 

But this unicorn was the first of its kind, and there are many other startups in the ecosystem wondering how they can also see this kind of success.

“Startups have to show their path to profitability,” says Diego Noriega, Managing Partner at Newtopia, a venture capital firm that has made 60% of its most recent investments in Colombia. “It doesn’t always have to be immediate, but investors are preferring startups that have done their homework in making their company robust and know how to scale themselves.” 

According to the most recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), carried out by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Colombia actually presents the best conditions for entrepreneurship out of all the countries in LATAM. Investors’ confidence in the country has also grown at a global level, with Colombia now ranking at 25 as an investment destination worldwide. 

Global investors often inspire the growth of capital into emerging markets. With international investor notoriety, a ripple effect in funding occurs, leading to investment from multiple local sources and leveling up the market. This gives growing startups access to the knowledge and resources it takes to scale globally. It also means that founders and their teams must step up to the new level of play.

“At the beginning of a startup’s lifecycle, trust (from investors) is built around the problem that the company is solving, as well as their internal team. But, for Series A the game changes dramatically,” says Noriega. “Startups are not going to reach Series A unless they can show metrics that they can do so. There is no magic trick to fast-track this. Companies must achieve revenues and growth rates that show traction to get the interest from VCs who invest at this level.”

The next critical step for Colombia’s emerging businesses is to show investors that they have what it takes to climb the investment ladder from the seed stages to Series A—helping to propel the country to new entrepreneurial heights.

Stage 3: Creating a Supportive Startup Ecosystem

With digital transformation well on its way, and increasing interest from local and foreign investors, Colombia’s last step in maintaining competitiveness in LATAM commerce will be to build a supportive network for startups and enterprises alike. This is especially important in the current funding drought, and even more critical for developing startups that are just coming into their own.

According to Embroker, about 70% of startups fail during years two to five. This phase of hardship is termed “The valley of death”, and typically occurs after the company launches a product but has not yet seen any revenue. For Colombian companies navigating these growing pains, experiential insight can go a long way.

“The CCCE understands the importance of the country’s medium to small enterprises. This is why we seek to create a large community of companies, brands, and people with immense relationship potential that everyone can benefit from,” said Quiñones. “Training is still needed to develop new skills for entrepreneurs in their digital appropriation process. Understanding the importance of business models in digital commerce will make it easier to complete and foster sustainable digital transformation over time.”

The CCCE offers asynchronous courses that guide business owners and entrepreneurs in the construction of their internationalization plans. By improving the business sector’s digital literacy, and working on the articulation of state policies, they hope to promote the adoption of technology to both mature and emerging companies.

Startups also need to understand how the global marketplace works in Colombia, and this is where more seasoned players can come in to help support young startups. The insight of those who have come before them will help emerging companies understand the complexities of the business market within Colombia. 

Newtopia, a hands-on VC firm based in Argentina, is helping to connect startups from either side of the growth spectrum in the Colombian community. One of the most active venture capital firms in LATAM, Newtopia, recently arrived in Colombia to join the country’s entrepreneurs as they find the right product-market fit. Newtopia offers a hands-on mentorship model that guides startups through the more vulnerable initial stages—helping them to grow sustainably.

“Early-stage growth is vital. Without this, it’s impossible to achieve later stages. Latin America is a higher-risk market because sometimes there is no traction and in some cases, no product or revenue—a risk not many VCs are willing to take. At Newtopia we aim to help build startup-to-startup relationships to create healthier local, and thereby regional, ecosystems.”

Each semester, the VC accepts 10-15 startups for a 10-week program, filled with content and advice to help teams take their startups to the next level. The aim of the program is to share knowledge, channel smart money, and enhance experiences for early-stage startups. This week, the VC hosted a demo day in the capital city of Bogota, bringing startups together to exchange knowledge on navigating Colombia’s startup ecosystem.

This limited partner (LP) day was an opportunity for Colombian startups to pitch to Newtopia´s team, plus LPs, and investors hailing from top VCs in the US. Up-and-coming Colombian startups such as Beu, Ubanku, Lizit, Creditop, Orkid, and Alfred were all a part of the session. 

A Future for Colombia’s Entrepreneurial Community 

For Colombia to continue its consistent climb as one of the region’s most viable markets for startups, young companies must show VCs that they can achieve bigger outcomes—which will allow the ecosystem as a whole to graduate to the next level. 

“We must work together, as a society, to articulate the factors that will lead us to a digital as well as an inclusive economy,” said Quiñones. “This will help to promote the country as a business leader in the region.”

The future of Colombia’s startup community is bright, but ensuring that each one of these stages is achieved along the way will help the country commence a new wave of impacting startups for both the LATAM and global markets. 

Disclaimer: This article mentions a client of an Espacio portfolio company. 

The post Fueling The Startup Ecosystem: The Stages of VC Evolution in Colombia appeared first on The Bogotá Post.

Apple will update the MacBook Air with an OLED display for its 2028 model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman says that he expects the MacBook Air's transition from LCD to OLED to occur with the product's 2028 update, as part of a larger migration to OLED across the company's flagship iPad and MacBook models that includes the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air – and likely in that order.

Apple already uses OLED displays in the iPad Pro. There are apparently no plans to add OLED to the low-cost iPad. The ‌MacBook Pro‌ will be updated with an OLED display when it is next redesigned, perhaps as soon as later this year, and it will include touch screen functionality, according to Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple is expected to update the MacBook Air with M5 chips imminently, but that model will continue to feature an LCD display. If Apple follows an annual upgrade cycle, the first OLED MacBook Air will likely feature M7 chips. Gurman previously reported that Apple has already started early work on an OLED ‌MacBook Air‌.

When the MacBook Air moves from LCD to OLED display technology, it will gain several advantages – brighter screens, deeper blacks with higher contrast, improved power efficiency that can extend battery life, and other enhancements.


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Apple is planning to hold an "Experience" on March 4 for select members of the media, and in the days before the event, we're expecting several product refreshes. The iPad Air is one of the new devices that could get an update, so we thought we'd highlight what's coming.

Design and Display

There are no design changes rumored for the ‌iPad Air‌, so we can expect the same 11-inch and 13-inch size options.

The ‌iPad Air‌ is thicker and heavier than the iPad Pro, and it uses a standard LED display instead of OLED technology. The ‌iPad Air‌ will eventually be upgraded to OLED, but for now, the higher-end display technology will remain limited to the ‌iPad Pro‌. The ‌iPad Air‌ also doesn't support ProMotion, and there's no sign that Apple is planning to add it.

The ‌iPad Air‌ will continue to feature USB-C, a Touch ID top button, and the same front and rear cameras.

It's possible there will be a new color option, but it's not guaranteed with a minor refresh. No new accessories are rumored, and it will continue to work with the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro.

M4 Chip

Apple has been updating the ‌iPad Air‌ with an M-series chip that's a generation behind the chip in the ‌iPad Pro‌. Since the ‌iPad Pro‌ was updated in October 2025 with the M5, the ‌iPad Air‌ is set to get the M4 chip.

The M3 in the current ‌iPad Air‌ and the M4 chip are both built on a 3-nanometer process, but the M4 has an updated process that brings speed and efficiency improvements.

There are up to 10 CPU cores instead of 8, the Neural Engine is faster, and there's more memory bandwidth. The GPU is also more power efficient for potential battery gains. The M4 CPU is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 CPU, while the GPU is up to 21 percent faster.

The ‌iPad Air‌ already supports Apple Intelligence, and the next-generation model will continue to do so. Apple increased the RAM in ‌iPad Pro‌ models with higher storage tiers, but there's no word on whether that same change will come to the ‌iPad Air‌. Current models feature 8GB RAM, the minimum for ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Charging

The ‌iPad Pro‌ gained faster charging with the M5 update, and that's something that could trickle down to the ‌iPad Air‌.

N1 Networking Chip

The ‌iPad Air‌ is likely to adopt the N1 networking chip that Apple first introduced in the iPhone 17 models.

The N1 chip is an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that offers connectivity and efficiency improvements compared to the third-party chips that Apple has used in previous devices. The N1 supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 technology.

The current ‌iPad Air‌ offers Wi-Fi 6E support, so the next-generation model could see faster Wi-Fi speeds on compatible networks with Wi-Fi 7.

Apple Modem

Apple used the C1X in the M5 ‌iPad Pro‌, and the cellular versions of the ‌iPad Air‌ will get that same modem chip. The C1X is an upgraded variant of the C1, Apple's first in-house modem chip.

It offers performance on par with Qualcomm chips, though 5G connectivity is limited to sub-6GHz with no support for mmWave 5G. That's not an issue on the iPad, because the current version of the ‌iPad Air‌ doesn't support mmWave.

Apple's modem chips are much more power efficient than Qualcomm modem chips, and are able to better integrate with other ‌iPad‌ components.

Pricing

There are no rumors of a price increase, so the 11-inch model is expected to continue to start at $599, while the 13-inch model will start at $799.

Launch Date

The ‌iPad Air‌ could come out as soon as next week, ahead of Apple's March 4 Special Experience.
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Apple has announced that Foxconn will begin assembling some Mac mini computers at a factory in Houston, Texas later this year.


"Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we're proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of Mac mini starting later this year," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release.

Apple is also expanding AI server manufacturing at the Houston factory, and it is opening a new Advanced Manufacturing Center in the city later this year. The dedicated facility will "provide hands-on training in advanced manufacturing techniques to students, supplier employees, and American businesses of all sizes."

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple's operations chief Sabih Khan said U.S. assembly of some Mac mini units is part of the company's previously-announced commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S. by August 2029.

Mac mini units assembled in the U.S. will primarily serve the U.S. market, while production will continue in Asia for orders abroad, according to Khan.

As the report notes, the Mac mini is a niche product for Apple, with research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimating that the desktop computer accounted for only 5% of Apple's global Mac sales last year. In 2024, the Mac mini received its first major redesign since 2010, along with M4 and M4 Pro chips.

In the U.S., the Mac mini starts at just $599, but customers must supply their own display, keyboard, and trackpad or mouse.

Apple touted assembly of the Mac Pro desktop tower in Texas in 2019, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, but it had been assembling the computer there since 2013. Apple's plan to begin assembling some Mac mini units in the U.S. comes during Trump's second term, and this time it does involve some assembly shifting stateside.

The Wall Street Journal also explored Apple's efforts to boost its U.S. chip production.


Apple said it is on track to purchase more than 100 million chips from TSMC's Arizona factory this year, and it has directed TSMC and Texas Instruments to purchase bare silicon wafers from GlobalWafers' new factory in Sherman, Texas.
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How to choose the best open source project management software

Finding the right project management software for your organization can be a challenge — especially when you want a solution that is transparent, flexible, and gives you full control over your data.

Open source project management tools are increasingly popular in 2026, as many organizations look for alternatives to proprietary platforms, rising licensing costs, and cloud-only solutions. At the same time, requirements around data privacy, security, and compliance continue to grow — particularly for public institutions and regulated industries.

To help you make an informed decision, we have updated our overview of the top open source project management software in 2026. The tools listed below differ in focus and strengths: some are built for agile teams, others for software development workflows, and others for full-featured project planning across an organization.

When comparing project management software, make sure to consider:

• Feature set and supported methodologies (classic, agile, or hybrid)
• Hosting options (cloud vs. self-hosted)
• Data protection and privacy strategy
• Community activity and long-term maintenance
• Pricing and available support options

The tools listed in this article are widely used and well-established open source solutions, each with different strengths depending on your organization’s needs.

Here are our 5 top open source project management tools to consider in 2026:

1. OpenProject
2. Redmine
3. GitLab
4. Tuleap
5. Taiga

OpenProject

OpenProject is a widely used open source project management platform, licensed under GNU GPL v3.

Best for in 2026: organizations looking for a secure solution that supports classic, agile, and hybrid project workflows.

Free and open source software

The software code is freely available on GitHub. All changes to the source code are transparently traceable at any time. With OpenProject, there is no vendor lock-in.

OpenProject meets high data protection and security requirements. The company, based in Berlin, Germany, focuses on developing a secure and privacy-compliant European alternative for project management and team collaboration. Read more about security and privacy conditions at OpenProject.

Data sovereignty

With OpenProject, users retain full control over their data. With the self-installed version hosted on own servers, OpenProject offers a high level of data sovereignty. Alternatively, hosting is provided on demand on secure servers within Germany. OpenProject follows a strict privacy approach and does not rely on user tracking within the application. Read the OpenProject privacy policy.

Secure hosting

If you don’t have the capacity or knowledge to host OpenProject in your environment, the Enterprise cloud edition offers secure hosting in the EU.

Feature set

OpenProject maps the entire project lifecycle, from project planning and execution to project controlling and closure. The software supports classic, agile, and hybrid project management.

It includes extensive project management functions such as project and milestone planning (Gantt charts), task management, agile boards, meetings, project wiki, forums, time and cost tracking, budgets, and more. See OpenProject collaboration features.

Configuration

The software is flexibly configurable and can be adapted to individual requirements. With a powerful API, additional systems can be connected if required.

Part of openDesk

OpenProject is part of openDesk, an open source office and collaboration suite for the German public sector. Learn more about openDesk.

Active maintenance and development

OpenProject is continuously developed and maintained by an active developer Community. New features, improvements, and updates are released regularly. To learn more, take a look at the OpenProject roadmap.

Professional support and training

Building on extensive documentation, OpenProject offers professional support and training for organizations that require additional guidance.

Pricing

The OpenProject Community edition is free of charge and self-hosted. All essential project and task management features are included in this free version.

The Enterprise cloud and on-premises editions offer professional support as well as additional premium and security add-ons. Pricing starts from €5.95 per month per user.

OpenProject also offers a 14 days free trial to explore the Enterprise edition in practice — no credit card required, and you won’t receive unwanted marketing emails.

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Redmine

Redmine is a long-established open source project management and issue tracking tool, licensed under GNU GPL v2.

Best for in 2026: teams looking for a lightweight, self-hosted solution focused on issue tracking and extensibility through plugins.

Feature set

Redmine combines project management with strong issue tracking capabilities. It is particularly popular among technical teams who want a flexible tool for managing tasks, bugs, and workflows.

Key features include:

• Issue and task tracking
• Project and role-based access management
• Custom fields and workflows
• Wiki and documentation features
• Plugin ecosystem for extending functionality

Redmine is often chosen for its simplicity and adaptability. However, compared to more modern platforms, it may require additional configuration and plugins to cover advanced project planning features such as Gantt-based scheduling or portfolio management.

See a comparison between Redmine and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.

Hosting

Redmine is primarily designed for self-hosting, giving organizations full control over where their data is stored. This makes it a common choice for teams with strict infrastructure or compliance requirements.

Pricing

Redmine is free to use as open source software. Costs typically depend on hosting, maintenance, and whether professional support is provided by third-party vendors.

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GitLab

GitLab is a source code management and DevOps platform that can also be used for project planning and collaboration. It is licensed under an MIT open source license and has a clear focus on software development teams.

Best for in 2026: software development teams looking to manage code, CI/CD, and project planning in one integrated platform.

https://about.gitlab.com

Feature set

GitLab offers a broad feature set to support the entire software delivery lifecycle. In addition to version control and DevOps functionality, it includes project management features such as issue tracking, agile boards, workflows, and timelines.

GitLab is especially strong for teams that want to connect project work directly to development processes. However, features such as budgeting, cost tracking, or more advanced project portfolio management are not a core part of GitLab’s offering.

Tip

If you are not entirely convinced by the GitLab offering in terms of project management, but like its feature set, you can use OpenProject with its GitLab integration.

See a comparison between GitLab and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source tools.

Hosting

GitLab is available both in the cloud and as a self-hosted on-premises solution. The self-managed version provides full control over your data and infrastructure.

GitLab.com, the hosted cloud offering, is primarily operated on Google Cloud infrastructure in the United States. For organizations with strict compliance requirements, hosting location and applicable regulations should be reviewed carefully.

Pricing

GitLab offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans provide additional functionality and support, with pricing depending on the selected edition and team size. GitLab also offers a free trial for its paid plans.

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Tuleap

Tuleap is an open source project management and application lifecycle management (ALM) platform, licensed under GNU GPL.

Best for in 2026: agile software development teams that need structured planning and lifecycle management in one open source platform.

https://www.tuleap.org/

Feature set

Tuleap provides a comprehensive set of agile project management features, including task boards, backlogs, Kanban boards, burnup and burndown charts, and dashboards.

In addition to agile planning, Tuleap supports software development workflows such as test management and project tracking, making it particularly relevant for teams working in regulated or complex development environments.

For organizations looking for a broader project management approach, Tuleap’s focus on agile and ALM may feel more specialized. Traditional project management features such as Gantt-based scheduling, budgeting, or cost tracking are not as central as in other tools.

See a comparison between Tuleap and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.

Hosting

Tuleap is available both as a cloud solution and as a self-hosted on-premises edition.

For the premium cloud version, hosting providers are available in several regions, including France, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, Korea, and others. Organizations with specific compliance requirements should review the hosting setup carefully depending on the chosen plan.

Pricing

Tuleap does not offer a fully free cloud version. Pricing depends on the selected edition and hosting model, and a free trial is available upon request.

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Taiga

Taiga is an open source project management software whose beginnings date back to a Kaleidos hackathon in 2013. It is licensed under MPL 2.0.

Best for in 2026: agile teams looking for a simple and visually intuitive tool focused on Scrum and Kanban workflows.

https://www.taiga.io

Feature set

Taiga was created with the goal of providing an accessible and user-friendly agile project management tool for developers and designers.

It offers a comprehensive feature set for agile methodologies, including:

• Kanban boards
• Product and sprint backlogs
• Issue tracking
• Estimation tools
• Dashboards and reporting features

Taiga is well suited for teams working primarily with Scrum or Kanban. However, classic project management features such as Gantt charts, budget tracking, or broader portfolio planning are not part of its core focus.

See a comparison between Taiga and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.

Hosting

Taiga is available both as a cloud solution and as a self-hosted on-premises edition.

The cloud version is hosted in the European Union via AWS, which can be relevant for organizations that require GDPR-aligned hosting.

Pricing

Taiga offers free cloud and self-hosted options. Paid plans provide additional services such as premium support, with pricing depending on the selected edition.

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Compare the top 5 open source project management software in 2026

Choosing the best project management software for your organization depends on a variety of criteria, including the features and workflows you need, the size of your team, and your hosting and data privacy requirements.

All listed open source project management tools have their own strengths and are suited for different use cases — from lightweight issue tracking to full-featured hybrid project planning.

If you are looking for an open source project management software in 2026, we recommend taking a closer look at OpenProject, Redmine, GitLab, Tuleap, and Taiga.

To give you a quick summary:

Tool	Best for in 2026	Hosting options
OpenProject	Hybrid project management across teams	Cloud + self-hosted
Redmine	Lightweight issue tracking and plugins	Mainly self-hosted
GitLab	DevOps teams managing code + planning	Cloud + self-hosted
Tuleap	Agile planning + lifecycle management	Cloud + self-hosted
Taiga	Scrum and Kanban teams	Cloud + self-hosted

• OpenProject supports classic, agile, and hybrid project management in one platform. It offers features such as Gantt charts, agile boards, time and cost tracking, and a strong focus on data sovereignty through self-hosting or secure EU-based cloud hosting.

• Redmine is a long-established open source tool focused on issue tracking and extensibility through plugins. It is primarily self-hosted and often used by technical teams looking for a lightweight and customizable solution.

• GitLab combines project planning with source code management and DevOps workflows. It is especially relevant for software development teams that want to manage code and project work in one integrated environment.

• Tuleap focuses on agile project management and application lifecycle management (ALM). It is well suited for teams working in structured software development environments that require agile planning and lifecycle tracking.

• Taiga provides an intuitive and visually appealing agile project management experience, focused on Scrum and Kanban workflows. It is a strong option for teams looking for simplicity in agile execution.

Regarding pricing and hosting details, we recommend visiting the individual websites, as costs and available plans may vary depending on team size, deployment model, and support requirements.

You can also take a look at more detailed comparisons of OpenProject to other alternatives here. Every organization is different, make a choice that’s best for your needs. We are here if you have more questions.

The 31st Major League Soccer season is set to begin on Saturday, February 21, with games set to be available through the Apple TV subscription service. ‌Apple TV‌ subscribers in more than 100 countries can access MLS matches with no blackouts and no additional fees.


Apple used to charge $14.99 per month or $99 for the MLS Season Pass, but the Season Pass was removed for the 2026 season to give all ‌Apple TV‌ subscribers access for free. MLS is aiming to expand its fanbase and make content easier to access through its partnership with Apple.

Apple says that MLS on ‌Apple TV‌ will include Walmart Saturday Showdown, which spotlights a featured matchup during the Saturday slate of matches throughout the regular season. It will include enhanced production that's designed to "help viewers feel more connected to the match," with Shot on iPhone moments captured with dynamic angles. This week's Saturday Showdown will feature LAFC vs Miami at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The game is set to begin at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

All 30 MLS teams will take the pitch on February 21 and February 22 for MLS is Back Weekend. 13 of 15 season openers are scheduled for Saturday, with two games on Sunday. The season will begin with St. Louis facing off against Charlotte at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A full schedule can be found on the MLS website.

Soccer fans can keep up to date with scores, stats, and standings throughout the MLS season with the Apple Sports app. The app offers Live Activities for all MLS matches, with live scores and play-by-play information. Apple will also have special curated playlists on Apple Music, dedicated Matchday Guides in Apple Maps, an MLS hub in the Apple Podcasts app, and MLS info in Apple News.
This article, "MLS 2026 Season Begins February 21 on Apple TV With Free Access for Subscribers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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