AllYouCanTech

New MacBook Speculation Indicates Apple is Embracing iPad-Inspired Characteristics

Apple is speculated to be unveiling a new ‘MacBook’ device later this year or in early 2026, with preliminary information indicating a strategic pivot towards a more iPad-like design for its Mac collection. This upcoming MacBook is likely to have a price range of $699 to $799, rendering it more attainable for a wider audience.

The device is expected to boast a 13-inch screen, akin to the MacBook Air, and will incorporate the A18 Pro chip, which has been utilized in the iPhone for almost a year. While this new MacBook might not cater to those in search of state-of-the-art technology, it demonstrates Apple’s progressing strategy for the Mac.

With the launch of a budget-friendly MacBook, Apple intends to broaden its Mac portfolio, providing consumers with more alternatives reminiscent of the diversity available in the iPad selection. Presently, the iPad lineup offers several models at varied price ranges, from the entry-level iPad priced at $349 to the iPad Pro at $999. This approach has yielded positive results for the iPad, particularly with the debut of the 13-inch iPad Air.

In contrast, the Mac lineup has typically been restricted, mainly featuring the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The introduction of a new MacBook could draw more users into the Mac ecosystem, potentially altering consumer inclinations towards Macs, mirroring the well-established appeal of iPads.

The expected lineup might appear as follows:
– MacBook for $699-799
– MacBook Air for $999
– MacBook Pro for $1,599

This expansion could assist Apple in competing more efficiently against PCs, which have historically been priced lower. By offering a more affordable entry option with the new MacBook, Apple aims to persuade more users to consider a Mac as their subsequent computer option.

Addigy’s Prebuilt Application Catalog: Simplifying macOS Application Management on a Large Scale

### Optimizing macOS Application Management with Addigy’s Prebuilt App Catalog

The majority of enterprise applications used on macOS platforms are not obtained from the Mac App Store, resulting in considerable difficulties for IT teams responsible for overseeing these applications. The manual tasks associated with monitoring app versions, preparing for deployment, configuring permissions, and ensuring correct installation and updates can be laborious and inefficient. This not only complicates management but also introduces security vulnerabilities when applications fall behind on essential updates. To resolve these challenges, Addigy has launched a new Prebuilt App Catalog, now accessible to all users of its device management platform.

#### Designed for Automation and Security

The Addigy Prebuilt App Catalog is crafted to streamline the deployment and updating of macOS applications throughout Apple device ecosystems. The catalog includes a continually expanding array of frequently used applications that can be deployed and updated without requiring scripting or intricate profile setups. Each application comes prepackaged with all essential device management profiles, which include system extensions and Privacy Preferences Policy Control settings.

Jason Dettbarn, Founder and CEO of Addigy, highlights the time-intensive process of managing macOS applications. He remarks, “Many IT teams devote excessive time to managing macOS applications. With apps updating on their own timelines, the requirement to locate the most recent versions, create deployment scripts, and deal with annoying pop-ups while managing user permissions can feel endless. Now, with Addigy’s prebuilt apps, internal IT and MSPs can simply ‘set and forget’ — assured that users have updated applications which comply with security and regulatory demands, without the need for manual labor or scripting.”

#### Policy Management Without the Hassle

The Prebuilt App Catalog is customized for internal IT teams and managed service providers, featuring search and filter functionalities that allow for quick access to required applications. Administrators can control the update processes, opting to deploy a specific version or activate auto-updates that search for the latest releases every 30 minutes. Furthermore, an Update Only mode permits the updating of existing applications on a device, even if they were not initially installed through Addigy.

Compliance features are built in, allowing IT teams to schedule deployments and enforce update deadlines while reducing disturbances to user productivity. For organizations overseeing multiple groups or clients, Addigy supports inheritance and overrides, enabling a global structure with room for necessary exceptions.

Tim Pearson of CreativeTechs, an early user of Addigy prebuilt apps, expressed excitement for the new system, declaring, “It’s magical. It makes me want to do a dance and jump around the yard!”

#### New Applications Added Weekly

Addigy is dedicated to growing its Prebuilt App Catalog, with new applications being introduced weekly in response to customer input and security demands. As organizations increasingly aim to streamline their Apple device management processes, this cutting-edge catalog signifies a major leap forward for Addigy’s clientele, boosting both efficiency and security in application oversight.

Senior Vision Pro Engineer Allegedly Passed Significant Volume of Secret Plans to Snap

Apple has initiated a legal action against Di Liu, a previous senior engineer for the Vision Pro, alleging that he purloined thousands of confidential documents prior to departing the company to take up a position at Snap, a competing entity. The suit asserts that Liu deceived Apple regarding his resignation, claiming he was leaving for health concerns while covertly orchestrating a transition to a similar position at Snap.

The accusations indicate that Liu retrieved a substantial amount of proprietary data merely three days ahead of his exit, utilizing his Apple credentials to move these documents into his personal cloud storage. This maneuver was reportedly enabled by Liu’s omission of his plans to join a rival, permitting him to maintain access to sensitive corporate information throughout the typical two-week notice timeframe.

Apple employs stringent internal security protocols aimed at detecting unusual access or downloading of documents, yet it appears these safeguards were ineffective in thwarting Liu’s endeavors. The company has a history of taking aggressive legal action against former staff suspected of stealing trade secrets. Past cases include lawsuits targeting former employees who transitioned to startups or competitors, with some facing harsh legal repercussions.

In this case, Apple is pursuing unspecified damages from Liu and demands the return of the appropriated information. The company is also asking for a court directive to inspect Liu’s devices to confirm compliance, as he reportedly tried to eliminate evidence of his misconduct.

At this point, Liu has not made any public statements regarding the lawsuit, and Snap has not been associated with any wrongdoing connected to the matter.

Important Announcement: Change Your Brother Printer Password Without Delay

**Security Flaws in Brother Printers: An Urgent Notification**

Recent investigations conducted by cybersecurity organization Rapid7 have uncovered that close to 700 Brother printer models, alongside numerous models from Fujifilm, Toshiba, Ricoh, and Konica Minolta, are vulnerable to significant security flaws. These weaknesses could permit attackers to gain access to other devices within the same network and jeopardize sensitive files.

### Summary of Vulnerabilities

The analysis revealed eight vulnerabilities impacting 689 Brother printers and 46 models from various manufacturers. The primary concern relates to the default password generation system, which relies on the printer’s serial number. This weakness makes it easy for attackers to figure out the default administrator password.

Among the most serious vulnerabilities discovered is the authentication bypass, assigned CVE-2024-51978. This flaw permits a remote, unauthenticated attacker to expose the serial number of the target device using different methods. After obtaining the serial number, the attacker can create the default password, providing them unauthorized access.

### Consequences of the Vulnerabilities

Brother has indicated that the default password generation flaw cannot be resolved via a firmware update, emphasizing the need for users to manually alter their printer passwords. The other vulnerabilities could be used to crash printers or, even more concerning, to access additional networked devices and services. In severe circumstances, attackers might retrieve stored passwords and confidential documents from cloud servers.

Another notable vulnerability, CVE-2024-51984, permits a remote authenticated attacker to uncover plaintext credentials for various configured external services, including LDAP or FTP. Exploiting this flaw could supply attackers with further credentials to penetrate a network, potentially resulting in the disclosure of sensitive information.

### Suggested Actions for Users

To lessen these threats, Brother recommends that users conduct firmware updates for seven of the eight identified vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, due to the nature of the default password generation flaw, users must change their printer passwords immediately if they have not yet done so.

### Final Thoughts

The security flaws uncovered in Brother printers underscore the necessity of upholding robust cybersecurity measures, particularly for devices linked to networks. Users should implement proactive steps to secure their devices, such as regular firmware updates and altering default passwords to protect against potential threats.