MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

Since the launch of Apple's Retina MacBook last April, users have been looking for ways to expand the functionality of the single port included on the machine, a USB-C that can support a multitude of functions including power and data. Many third-party companies have begun shipping single-use dongles and small hubs for MacBook fans to be able to get full use out of their ultra-thin 12-inch...

An upcoming musical comedy that highlights the rivalry between Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to debut on Broadway on March 31, 2016. Called Nerds, the musical will chronicle the rise of Jobs and Gates and the competition between their two companies. According to Variety, the musical will feature "an array of tech" like onstage holograms, projection...

Ahead of the official ceremony for the 88th Academy Awards on February 28, this morning the nominations for all 24 categories at the Oscars were announced at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs managed to net a few nominations of its own during the event, including: Kate Winslet for Best Support Actress and Michael Fassbender for Best Actor. Notably,...

A bill that is working its way through the New York state assembly would require Apple and other smartphone manufacturers and mobile operating system providers to decrypt and unlock devices to aid law enforcement. The bill was first spotted by On The Wire (via The Next Web). Any smartphone sold or leased in New York after January 1, 2016 would have to be capable of being decrypted or...

Microsoft has released an update for its Office 2016 for Mac suite that addresses multiple security vulnerabilities, fixes bugs and adds select new features across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. Version 15.8.0 allows Outlook to be used in full-screen mode for viewing multiple messages or invitations side by side. The update also makes it easier to find available Outlook...

Last Friday, Tim Cook and representatives from other Silicon Valley companies met with White House officials to discuss how to counter the use of social media by terrorist groups to recruit new members. In that meeting, Cook criticized the White House for its stance on encryption, reports The Intercept. Apple CEO Tim Cook lashed out at the high-level delegation of Obama administration...

AgileBits today announced a new Mac version of 1Password, its popular cross-platform password management app. 1Password version 6.0 for Mac includes several new features like an All Vaults view, a new password generator, and iCloud sync for all versions of the Mac app. 1Password's new "All Vaults" view allows users to see all of their passwords and password vaults at a glance, both in the main ...

Apple is planning to open a retail store on the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, reports French site MacGeneration [Google Translate] citing information shared by French newspaper Le Figaro. Rumors about a store on Champs-Élysées have been circulating since 2012, but it appears Apple has finally secured a lease for a storefront on the famous avenue. Google Maps view of ...

Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs film racked up two wins at last night's 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, getting half of the awards for which it was nominated. In total, Aaron Sorkin won for Best Screenplay and Kate Winslet won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. Notably, Michael Fassbender lost to Leonardo DiCaprio's win in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - ...

Apple has announced that its 31st and 32nd retail stores in China will open in Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu, and Guangzhou on Saturday, January 16 and Thursday, January 28 respectively. Both stores will open at 10:00 a.m. local time. The first store will be located in the IST shopping mall at 100 Zhongshan Road in Nanjing's Xuanwu District, while the Guangzhou store will open at the...

Facebook may be developing an official Messenger desktop app for Mac, according to TechCrunch. The technology website obtained a blurry photo that allegedly shows a Facebook employee using the Messenger client on Mac, which would be easily accessible from the OS X dock as opposed to a tab in a web browser. Leaked photo of claimed Facebook Messenger for Mac app (Image: TechCrunch) Messenger...

Representatives from Apple and other Silicon Valley companies will meet with White House officials and U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials tomorrow to discuss how to counter the use of social media to recruit new members by terrorist groups like ISIS, reports Reuters. Invited participants include White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, presidential counterterrorism adviser Lisa...

Apple has announced that its 30th retail store in China opens in Xiamen, a major port city along the Taiwan Strait, on Thursday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. local time. The store will be located in the SM Lifestyle Center shopping mall at 399 Jiahe Road in the city's southeastern Siming District. SM Lifestyle Center in Xiamen, China (Image: What's On Xiamen) The new store will be open Monday to ...

Today at CES accessory manufacturer Satechi announced a newly updated Type-C Hub for Apple's Retina MacBook lineup, which replaces one of the traditional USB 3.0 ports with a new USB-C alternative to allow users to charge the MacBook while using the dongle. Otherwise, the hub still includes an SD card slot and Micro SD card slot in addition to two USB 3.0 ports. In terms of new products, the ...

Apple is planning to further expand at its Reno, Nevada data center site, reports the Reno Gazette-Journal, citing a recent permit Apple filed with Washoe County. Apple has requested permission to build a new data center adjacent to its exiting data center. Over the past several years, Apple has expanded at the site of its original data center several times to add on new buildings, but its...

Ahead of the kickoff of the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, Seagate has unveiled its newest product, the Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim hard drive. According to Seagate, the Backup Plus Ultra Slim, which is the successor to the Backup Plus Slim Drive, is the "world's thinnest" 2TB mobile hard drive. The Backup Plus Ultra Slim features an all-new design with an enclosure that's just 9.6mm...

Under its premium LaCie brand, Seagate has debuted its latest design-focused product, the LaCie Chromé desktop solid state drive. The Chromé is LaCie's first product that takes advantage of USB 3.1 and USB-C connectivity, offering transfer speeds of up to 940MB/s. As a designer product, the Chromé features a mirrored exterior that was designed by Neil Poulton. The Chromé follows past...

Belkin today announced an expansion of its USB-C product lineup, debuting a 4-Port Mini Hub, charging cables, home and car chargers, and a USB-C to HDMI adapter, all of which are compatible with Apple's 12-inch Retina MacBook. The Retina MacBook is Apple's first device to use the universal USB-C port."Belkin is dedicated to creating quality products that support the current standard and make the...