❌

Normal view

Happy Birthday, iPad: Apple's Tablet Turns 16

Today marks the 16th anniversary of when Apple released the first-generation iPad. After Steve Jobs announced the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ on January 27, 2010, it launched a few months later on April 3, 2010.


Apple's original β€ŒiPadβ€Œ looked like a larger version of the iPhone, featuring thick bezels, a 9.7-inch multitouch display with a 1,024 x 768 resolution, a Home Button, and a 30-pin dock connector. The β€ŒiPadβ€Œ was the first device that Apple released with a custom-designed chip, the Apple A4.

The concept of a tablet device like the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ actually predated the iPhone, and Apple had a prototype project in the works in 2004. Then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs wanted to prioritize the iPhone, so the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ was put on hold until after the iPhone was established.

Apple priced the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ at $499, and Jobs called it a "magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price." Like the iPhone, the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ dominated the tablet space, and it still continues to do so today. Apple sold a million iPads in the first month, and while competitors like Microsoft and Samsung quickly came out with competing tablets of their own, the β€ŒiPadβ€Œ has no match.

Apple has led the global tablet market for over a decade and no competitor comes close to matching its tablet market share. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, Apple's market share was 44.9 percent, with Samsung the next closest at 14.7 percent.

Apple has expanded its β€ŒiPadβ€Œ lineup over the years, and we now have multiple sizes at multiple price points. The 11-inch β€ŒiPadβ€Œ is available for those who want a low-cost option, while the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air are mid-range products with a Mac chip. The 8.3-inch iPad mini is available for those who want a smaller-sized tablet, and for those who want top-of-the-line performance with Apple's latest Mac chip, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are available.
This article, "Happy Birthday, iPad: Apple's Tablet Turns 16" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

April Fools: Turn Your MacBook Into a Theremin

1 April 2026 at 17:15
If you have ever looked at your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Neo, and thought to yourself β€œI wish this Mac was a theremin. I wish that when I moved the lid at any angle, to open or close, it played sounds like a theremin” then gosh all golly you just rubbed a magic ... Read More

How to Downgrade from MacOS Tahoe to MacOS Sequoia

30 March 2026 at 17:35
macOS Tahoe 26 has been a controversial release of MacOS system software, mostly due to it’s completely redesigned interface built around what Apple calls Liquid Glass, which has a new look, but includes some major usability and legibility issues. Tahoe is also just buggier and less refined than other Mac operating systems like Sequoia. Accordingly, ... Read More

X Moves X Pro Behind $40/Month Premium+ Paywall With No Notice to Users

Social network X is now limiting X Pro access to customers who subscribe to the X Premium+ plan, which is priced at $40 per month (or $33/month when paid annually). X Pro is a multi-column web interface for managing multiple feeds and lists.


X Pro was known as TweetDeck before Elon Musk bought Twitter, and it was free to use. Before March 26, X subscribers with the standard $8/month Premium plan were able to use X Pro, and now X is requiring a plan that's 5x more expensive.

No notice was provided to X Pro users about the change and access was suddenly cut off, leading to multiple complaints on the social network. On its website, X says features included in Premium "are subject to change at any time as we continue to improve the service." The X Help center clearly states that access to X Pro is now limited to the Premium+ tier.

X has three subscription tiers: Basic for $3/month or $32/year, Premium for $8/month or $84/year, and Premium+ for $40/month or $395/year. Basic still includes ads, Premium has half the number of ads, and Premium+ has no ads except for sponsored content. Paid plans provide vanity blue checkmarks that used to serve as an actual account verification method prior to Musk's takeover.

Other premium features include expanded post reach, post editing, longer post length, and longer video uploads.
This article, "X Moves X Pro Behind $40/Month Premium+ Paywall With No Notice to Users" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

MacOS Tahoe 26.4 Update Released with New Emoji, Bug Fixes, Security Patches

24 March 2026 at 23:46
MacOS Tahoe 26.4 has been released as a software update for all Mac users running the Tahoe operating system. The update includes a few mission critical new Emoji icons like the cryptid Bigfoot, and some unspecified bug fixes, along with security updates, and is therefore recommended for all macOS Tahoe users to install. There are ... Read More

Apple Has Released More Than 10 Products and Accessories This Month

It has been a busy March for Apple, which has unveiled more than 10 products and accessories this month. However, aside from the all-new MacBook Neo and Studio Display XDR, the devices received faster chips or new colors and little else.


The new products include an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. The new accessories include iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the iPhone's Crossbody Strap in a range of fresh color options like Bright Guava, Vanilla, Soft Pink, Clementine, and/or Electric Lavender.

iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did.

The new iPad Air's key upgrades include Apple's M4 chip, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and the C1X modem in cellular models.

The MacBook Air received a faster M5 chip, and a doubled 512GB of base storage, but the starting price increased from $999 to $1,099 as a result of a 256GB configuration being dropped. With the N1 chip, the MacBook Air now has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and it now comes with Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.

The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models finally received M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus up to twice as fast SSD speeds and a doubled 1TB of base storage. Battery life has increased slightly across all of the models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro line now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.

The regular Studio Display gained Thunderbolt 5 support and improved speakers, and the camera now supports Desk View. There is also an all-new, higher-end Studio Display XDR that gained all of those benefits, plus bigger improvements such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and more.

The colorful new MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the United States, and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM.

AirPods Max 2 have a handful of upgrades over the previous AirPods Max, including Apple's H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. Plus, the Digital Crown has a new Camera Remote function.

The special-edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 are the same as the regular Powerbeats Pro 2, except they have a two-tone design consisting of black and Nike's signature Volt neon green-yellow color. The earbuds have both Nike and Beats logos.

To learn more, read our coverage:All of the products and accessories listed above have been released, except for the AirPods Max 2, which are available to pre-order starting Wednesday, March 25.
This article, "Apple Has Released More Than 10 Products and Accessories This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

How to Set the Primary Display on macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, or Sonoma

17 March 2026 at 15:45
Using multiple displays with a Mac is a very common setup, whether that’s using a larger external monitor with a laptop, or running a multi-display desktop setup. It’s well known that large screens and external displays can really boost some peoples productivity, and one way to further improve your multi-screen Mac setup is by choosing ... Read More

How to Clean Install MacOS Sequoia

16 March 2026 at 16:24
A clean install of macOS Sequoia installs the operating system onto a freshly erased Mac, removing all existing data, settings, and even the previous MacOS versions from the Mac. This approach is sometimes preferred by advanced users who want a completely fresh start, are troubleshooting persistent system issues, or simply want to run MacOS Sequoia ... Read More

Apple Acquires Final Cut Pro Plugin Company MotionVFX

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.
This article, "Apple Acquires Final Cut Pro Plugin Company MotionVFX" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple to Host 50th Anniversary Celebrations Around the World

Apple today announced that it will be celebrating its upcoming 50th anniversary by hosting gatherings "around the world" throughout the month of March.


Apple's 50th anniversary is on April 1, 2026. The company has yet to reveal exactly where and when it will be hosting additional celebrations, but possibilities include major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tokyo.

"Each gathering highlights human creativity and ingenuity in action, and showcases the remarkable things people can do when they have the right Apple products in their hands," said Apple, in a press release.

"Stay tuned for more updates," said Apple.

17-time Grammy Award-winning music artist and producer Alicia Keys kicked off the celebrations today with a surprise performance at Apple's Grand Central store in New York. Apple invited selected content creators to the impromptu concert, which was also open to the public for anyone who happened to be in the area at the time.


Apple's CEO Tim Cook, hardware engineering chief John Ternus, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, and others were in attendance at Grand Central.

"Thinking different has always been at the heart of Apple," said Cook. "It's what has driven us to create products that empower people to express themselves, to connect, and to create something wonderful. As we celebrate 50 years, we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey and who continues to inspire what comes next."


Cook previously shared a "50 Years of Thinking Different" letter.

The letter touches on the upcoming 50th anniversary and says that "the world is moved forward by people who think different." For those unaware, "Think Different" was a famous advertising slogan used by Apple in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

"At Apple, we're more focused on building tomorrow than remembering yesterday," said Cook, in the letter. "But we couldn't let this milestone pass without thanking the millions of people who make Apple what it is today."
This article, "Apple to Host 50th Anniversary Celebrations Around the World" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Kicks Off 50th Anniversary With Surprise Alicia Keys Concert in New York

Apple mysteriously shut down its Grand Central Terminal store in New York City today, and it turns out it was for an impromptu Alicia Keys concert to celebrate Apple's upcoming 50th anniversary.


Apple quietly invited select YouTubers and members of the media (including MacRumors) to the store location, but kept the performer secret until Alicia Keys took the stage. Preparations for the concert started yesterday, with Apple setting up a stage, audio equipment, and lights, complete with Keys' signature pink piano.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, retail head Deirdre O'Brien, and hardware engineering boss John Ternus were at the Grand Central Terminal location for the concert. Members of the public that are in the area are also able to watch the performance.


Alicia Keys has a history with Apple, and has performed at Apple events several times in the past. In September 2016, she was at the Apple Music Festival 10 in London, and she sang at the NYC Holiday Masquerade Ball in December 2022 as part of Apple's live concert series. Keys also was one of the first artists to have an immersive video experience on Apple Vision Pro with the 3D Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room experience.


Earlier this week, Cook said that Apple planned to celebrate Apple's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, recognizing the "creativity, innovation, and impact that people around the world have made possible with Apple technology."

It appears that the private concert is the first of Apple's celebrations that are set to take place over the next two and a half weeks. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company's actual 50th anniversary is on April 1, 2026.
This article, "Apple Kicks Off 50th Anniversary With Surprise Alicia Keys Concert in New York" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Fix Bluetooth Mouse or Keyboard Disconnecting in MacOS Tahoe

12 March 2026 at 11:21
Some Mac users have noticed an annoying issue with recent MacOS updates (including both MacOS Tahoe and Sequoia) where Bluetooth accessories like a mouse or keyboard randomly disconnect, briefly stop responding, or disconnect for 10-30 seconds and then reconnect leading to lengthy lags in using the cursor or keyboard. Some users even report that some ... Read More

MacOS Tahoe 26.3.2 Released for MacBook Neo

10 March 2026 at 23:31
Apple has released MacOS Tahoe 26.3.2 as a software update specifically and only for the all-new MacBook Neo. This makes the MacOS 26.3.2 update a day-one update for the Mac, and should therefore be installed right away for any new MacBook Neo owner. This update is not available for any other Mac. The update apparently ... Read More

How to Make a MacOS Sequoia USB Boot Installer Drive

10 March 2026 at 09:33
If you’re a Mac user planning on performing a clean install MacOS Sequoia, or you’d like to have a MacOS Sequoia boot drive for troubleshooting reasons, then you’ll find that creating a bootable installer drive for macOS Sequoia is useful to have on hand. Making bootable install disks is a little technical in that it ... Read More

β€œDevice Added to Your Account” Message on iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Here’s What To Do

7 March 2026 at 00:47
Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac users may have noticed a message that appears suddenly on their device that reads something like this; β€œDevice Added to Your Account – An iPhone/Mac/iPad now has access to FaceTime. If you don’t recognize this device you can remove it in System Settings.” Getting this notification out of the blue ... Read More

macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 Update Released with Support for New Studio Displays

4 March 2026 at 23:55
Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 with support for the newly updated Apple Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. The update also apparently includes bug fixes, though none are specified in release notes. No security patches are included in this update. Unless you plan on getting one of the new Apple Studio Displays for your ... Read More

Colorful MacBook Neo Released by Apple, Starts at $599

4 March 2026 at 22:59
Apple has introduced the much-anticipated MacBook Neo, a colorful light and affordable 13β€³ Mac laptop, that starts at $599 retail, or just $499 for students. The MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro chip, which is the same chip the iPhone 16 Pro runs on, which is apparently faster than the M1 chip. Base models ... Read More

Apple Releases iOS 18.7.6 to Address Australia Emergency Call Issue

Apple today released iOS 18.7.6 for older devices, addressing an issue that caused some older iPhones in Australia to be unable to connect to emergency services.


According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue that was preventing the iPhone XS and β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ XR from properly connecting to emergency networks in Australia.

  • This update addresses a mobile network issue for β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ XS models and β€ŒiPhoneβ€Œ XR when establishing a connection to emergency services in Australia.


Australian mobile network operators have been improving support for emergency calling on their networks, which has led to a host of problems with older iPhones connecting to emergency situations in some situations. Apple has released several updates to address the problem, including iOS 16.7.4 and iOS 26.2.1.

Some of Apple's updates exacerbated the issue, and Apple ended up temporarily pulling iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 back in December. Since then, additional updates have been released to further fix the emergency calling bugs, including the new iOS 18.7.6. update.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18.7.6 to Address Australia Emergency Call Issue" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 Betas

Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the second betas.


The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

watchOS 26.4 adds a new Average Bedtime metric to the sleep features that sync to the health app, so you can better keep an eye on how bedtime impacts overall sleep quality.

tvOS 26.4 eliminates the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps on the Apple TV. These apps haven't worked for some time and have directed users to the β€ŒApple TVβ€Œ app for purchases, but Apple is finally phasing them out entirely. Apple also added a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output.

visionOS 26.4 includes support for foveated streaming for apps and games. Foveated streaming allows video to be streamed to the precise area where a user is looking, and peripheral areas are compressed. It allows for higher visual quality and lower latency.

This article, "Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

How to Fix Error Code 1109 When Restoring or Updating iPhone

27 February 2026 at 22:04
A frustrating error message may appear for some iPhone users when they’re using a computer to restore an iPhone or install an update. The error code in question here is β€œError Code (1109)” which is cryptic and vague, and if you experience this error it typically comes with a failure to update or restore the ... Read More
❌