If you miss the early internet dialup days of AOL (America OnLine), you can dial back the tech clock and enjoy some retro computing nostalgia by checking out the fantastic Dialtone project. Dialtone lets you sign in to a fully functional reverse engineered AOL experience with an original AOL 3.0 client, running inside a web-based virtual machine with Classic Mac OS System 7.1, Classic Mac OS System 7.6.1, Windows 98, or Windows 3.11. You can even use chat and instant messaging!

And to add to the coolness, there’s even a modern twist to Dialtone; despite being a retro AOL 3.0 client, once you sign-in to the reverse engineered AOL server, you can use the AOL client to engage with Grok, the modern AI chatbot and LLM.

• Launch Dialtone in a Mac VM in your browser here
• Check out the Dialtone project page here

You will need to create a screen name by using your Discord account, email address, or an X account, and then you’re ready to go and sign-in with your AOL 3.0 client, which runs entirely in the browser.

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Apple has issued an important software for iOS 18 users who are holding out and avoiding iOS 26 for whatever reason. Specifically, iOS 18.7.7 for all iPhone models running iOS 18 (not running iOS 26 or newer), along with iPadOS 18.7.7 for all iPad users with iOS 18 (also not running iPadOS 26 or newer), are both available as security updates. The iOS 18.7.7 update includes important security updates and is therefore recommended for all users to install, because some of the security issues addressed by the update are known to be actively exploited. No new features or changes are included otherwise.

Again, the iOS 18.7.7 update is aimed specifically at iPhone and iPad devices that are still running iOS 18, but are otherwise compatible with but not yet installing the iOS 26 updates. There are a fair amount of people who are strategically avoiding iOS 26 for any number of reasons, and this update is able to provide them with some essential security updates, without having to jump onto the 26+ versions.

Even aside from the release of iOS/iPadOS 18.7.7, Apple has been on an aggressive software update push lately, releasing myriad updates for many devices, including iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, MacOS Tahoe 26.4, MacOS Sequoia 15.7.5, MacOS Sonoma 14.8.5, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, watchOS 8.8.2, and watchOS 5.3.10, iOS 16.7.15, iOS 15.8.7, amongst various other updates to basically every Apple device that is still supported. Check your devices software update mechanisms for more.

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If you have ever looked at your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Neo, and thought to yourself “I 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 lamp and your genie has arrived to grant your wish, because a very amusing Mac app called LidAngleSensor can transform your MacBook into a theremin.

Yes a theremin, that weird touchless instrument that creates bizarre “wooooooo wooooo” sounds as you move your hands around the antennas. That’s your Mac now, if you’d like.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apple Inc being born, which was officially founded on April 1, 1976, with a nice note and dedicated page on the Apple.com site: “50 Years of Thinking Different”.

The anniversary post discusses Apple’s humble origins in a garage, to the first Apple computer, the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and beyond, and ends with a shoutout to the “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” poem (which used to be buried on the Mac as an Easter Egg in Pages.app and the original TextEdit icon, le sigh). The full text of the note from Tim Cook has been repeated further below for posterity.

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Apple has issued the first beta versions of iOS 26.5, MacOS Tahoe 26.5, and iPadOS 26.5, for users who are participating in the developer beta programs for Apple system software.

The new versions of beta system software don’t include any major new features thus far, except for laying the groundwork for including advertisements in Apple Maps (is that a feature?), and more work on the RCS messaging feature that was beta tested in the prior releases but did not arrive in the public versions.

The most recent versions of stable system software are the recently released iOS 26.4 update, iPadOS 26.4 update, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 update.

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Amazon has a great Spring Day Deal discount on AirPods Pro, bringing them down to just $199 from the $249 MSRP:

• AirPods Pro 3 for $199 (down from $249)

Apple Watch Series 11 is discounted $100, bringing the price down to just $299 in select band and color combinations:

• Get Apple Watch Series 11 for $299 ($100 off from $399)

Misc Apple Deals

• 13″ M4 iPad Air for $749 ($50 off)
• 13″ MacBook Neo – 512GB for $689 ($10 off)
• 13″ M5 MacBook Air – 24GB – 1TB – $1449 ($50 off)
• 13″ M5 MacBook Air – 16GB – 1TB – $1249 ($50 off)
• 13″ M5 MacBook Air – 16GB – 512GB – $1049 ($50 off)
• 15″ M5 MacBook Air – 24GB – 1TB – $1649 ($50 off)
• 15″ M5 MacBook Air – 16GB – 1TB – $1449 ($50 off)
• 15″ M5 MacBook Air – 16GB – 512GB – $1249 ($50 off)
• 16″ M5 Pro MacBook Pro – 24GB – 1TB for $2549 ($150 off, down from $2699)

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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, some Mac users have considered the rather dramatic decision of downgrading from MacOS Tahoe 26, and reverting their Mac back to MacOS Sequoia 15.

The simplest and most direct way to downgrade from MacOS Tahoe and back to Sequoia involves a series of steps including creating a Sequoia installer drive, erasing the Mac, installing Sequoia on the Mac, then restoring your files from a backup if you have a Sequoia compatible backup. If you do not have a Sequoia compatible backup, then you will end up with basically a clean install of Sequoia instead.

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If you’ve been a longtime web user or web developer, then long ago you probably wouldn’t have imagined how complex the modern web would become, nor how capable just HTML and CSS would evolve to be. Likewise, if you’re a lifelong Nintendo fan, could you have imagined you would one day play a Mario game in your web browser with just HTML and CSS? And here we are, in the year 2026, and an enterprising developer has built a Mario game entirely in CSS and HTML, that you can play in your web browser with keyboard controls.

Mini CSS Mario is a fascinating functional proof of concept, demonstrating just what someone can accomplish with CSS and HTML alone. Don’t expect perfection or a full game experience, but again as a proof of concept this is pretty amazing for developers, general geeks, and the retro Mario fans out there.

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The MacBook Neo is wildly popular, and while it’s already priced quite aggressively, you can save a little cash on the top end model from both Amazon online store, and from some Costco locations if you’re a member. That brings the MacBook Neo 512GB model with Touch ID to $689, taking $10 off the $699 MSRP, in select colors, and with delivery in about a week.

• MacBook Neo – 512GB w/ Touch ID – Indigo – $689
• MacBook Neo – 512GB w/ Touch ID – Silver – $689

If you don’t need the larger storage or Touch ID, the Neo 256GB model is also available at the standard $599 price in all color options.

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Amazon is offering a ridiculously huge discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in select models and band sizes, taking the price down to just $499, from $799. That’s a whopping 38% off the retail price for Apple’s high end premium rugged watch model, which is rarely discounted in general.

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 – $499 (down 39% from $799)

This deal is part of Amazons “Spring Deals” collection and will likely sell out quick, so if you’ve been in the market for an Apple Watch Ultra 2, this is about as good as it gets.

You can also still get the Apple Watch Series 11 for $299, a $100 discount, if you prefer that model or don’t need the rugged Ultra 2.

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If you’re an iPhone user in the UK, you might want to hold off on the latest iOS 26.4 update for a bit, as many UK users are reporting problems with the new mandatory online Age Verification system that is included in the latest versions of iOS.

Failures and issues with the age verification system cause users to be stuck with a restricted Apple ID and Apple device that can not access certain content, apps, or websites, and because the age verification fails, they can not override those limits after installing the 26.4 update.

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Apple has released software updates for various older Apple devices, some of which are simple security patches that include important fixes to potential exploits, while others allow continued usage of core features like iCloud, iMessages, and FaceTime. These updates arrive as iOS 18.7.7, iPadOS 18.7.7, iOS 18.7.7, watchOS 8.8.2, and watchOS 5.3.10.

Specifically, older Apple Watch models, including Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, get watchOS 5.3.10, which enables them to continue to use iCloud services like Messages and FaceTime. Similarly, Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and SE get access to watchOS 8.8.2, which also grants continued use and access of Messages and FaceTime on those devices.

Additionally, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad 7th generation all have access to iOS 18.7.7, and iPadOS 18.7.7.

While most of the recent update attention has been on MacOS Tahoe 26.4, iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and even the lesser updates like MacOS Sequoia 15.7.5, and MacOS Sonoma 14.8.5, these aren’t the only new OS versions that are out, and it’s important to keep all of your devices up to date with the latest available security patches.

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If you’re the type of Mac, iPhone, or iPad user who likes to update their operating systems manually, you will want to pay attention to your devices after you have installed the latest iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and MacOS Tahoe 26.4 software updates, because installing those updates will enable automatic updates for system software.

If you’re just breezing through the post-update screens as many users do, this is easy to overlook, and while there is a discrete option to choose “Only Download Automatically” as you go through the setup screens, it’s small font and out of the way, making it likely that many users will miss the option entirely.

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Apple has released MacOS Sequoia 15.7.5 and MacOS Sonoma 14.8.5 as software updates for Mac users running the Sequoia or Sonoma operating systems. These updates focus entirely on security patches, and do not include new features or changes.

Mac users who are running Tahoe can grab the macOS Tahoe 26.4 update instead.

Separately, Apple released updates for basically every other Apple device as well, including iOS 26.4 for iPhone, iPadOS 26.4 for iPad, watchOS 26.4 for Apple Watch, tvOS 26.4 for Apple TV, visionOS 26.4 for Apple Vision Pro, and an updates to HomePod and AirPods as well.

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iOS 26.4 for iPhone and iPadOS 26.4 for iPad have been released by Apple as software updates. The new versions of system software include a few minor new features and changes, a handful of new Emoji icons like Bigfoot, along with various bug fixes and security enhancements. One specific bug that is mentioned in the release notes, which are included in full below, aims to address some of the iOS 26 keyboard complaints that have been raised by users.

Additionally, Apple has also released software updates for basically every other Apple device including MacOS Tahoe 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, tvOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, iOS 18.7.7, iPadOS 18.7.7, and updates to older Apple Watch models as well.

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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 a few minor new features and changes too, including the return of a compact Safari tab bar option for Mac users, and some battery charging options, though neither of these are mentioned in the Tahoe 26.4 release notes which are included in full further below.

For Mac users not running Tahoe, you will instead find MacOS Sequoia 15.7.5 or macOS Sonoma 14.8.5 as an update available.

Separately, Apple has also released iOS 26.4 for iPhone, iPadOS 26.4 for iPad, watchOS 26.4 for Apple Watch, and tvOS 26.4 for Apple TV, along with some updates for other Apple devices as well.

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Apple has announced their annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) for 2026 will begin on June 8, and extend through the 12th of that week.

The keynote is set for June 8, which will give developers and users a look at what’s coming next from the software side of Apple.

Historically, WWDC is where Apple introduces their upcoming operating systems, and it is likely that we will get a glimpse of iOS 27, ipadOS 27, MacOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and more. Developers are also likely to gain access to the beta versions of those operating systems during this time, as the developer beta and then public beta programs launch for users to update their apps and experiment with.

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Amazon is blowing out first-get AirTags as a 4-pack for just $60. AirTag personal trackers are incredibly useful for all sorts of things, whether you’re tagging your car keys, luggage, briefcase, purse, dog, cat, chinchilla, goat, your pet armadillo, car, bike, backpack, or just about anything else you can imagine. At just $15 an AirTag you’re sure to find plenty of use with these, so check them out.

• AirTags 1st gen – 4-pack – $65 (down from $99)

There are also 2nd gen AirTags available at full price if you want a bit more precision.

Apple Watch Series 11 for $299

If you’re looking for an Apple Watch, the Series 11 is discounted $100 off from Amazon on many color and band combinations. Why pay full price when you don’t need to?

• Get Apple Watch Series 11 for $299 ($100 off)

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