AllYouCanTech

### Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break Deals Summary

The most recent offers from 9to5Toys showcase substantial price reductions on Apple devices, such as the M4 MacBook Air, M5 MacBook Pro, and M4 iPad Pro, along with a variety of accessories. As Black Friday pricing returns, shoppers have the chance to benefit from these time-sensitive deals.

#### M4 MacBook Air Price Cuts

Amazon has brought back Black Friday deals on the M4 MacBook Air series, providing $250 off on all configurations. This includes both the 13-inch and 15-inch variants offered in assorted colors. The return of these savings follows a short promotion at Best Buy that included a gift card offer. Stock levels are solid, making this an ideal moment for potential buyers to acquire their chosen model ahead of the holiday festivities.

#### M5 MacBook Pro Discounts

Alongside the MacBook Air, Amazon has replenished the M5 MacBook Pro inventory with a $250 discount. The base model, equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, is now priced at $1,349. This pricing aligns with the best deals observed during Black Friday, presenting an appealing option for those interested in Apple’s newest offerings.

#### M4 Mac Mini Discount

For individuals in search of a more robust desktop solution, Amazon has slashed the price of the 24GB M4 Mac mini by $110, reducing it to $889.99. This configuration is suitable for users needing additional RAM for resource-intensive applications, ensuring durability and performance for future requirements.

#### iPad Pro Discounts at Costco

Costco is providing significant discounts on the M4 iPad Pro models, with savings up to $699 off. The 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular version is priced at $899.99, while the 512GB model is available for $999.99. These offers represent some of the lowest prices for these devices, particularly as they are being discontinued in favor of newer models.

#### Accessory Price Reductions

The promotions also extend to accessories, which are experiencing notable price reductions. In particular, Apple’s 25W Qi2.2 MagSafe Charger is currently offered for $29.99, making it a useful addition to any Apple device collection. This charger supports the latest magnetic charging technology, ensuring compatibility with various devices.

### Conclusion

With the holiday season nearing, these promotions present a fantastic chance for consumers to buy top-quality Apple devices at lower costs. Whether in search of a laptop, desktop, tablet, or accessories, the current deals meet a range of needs and preferences.

### The Privacy Implications of Social Media Contact Access

Numerous social media applications ask for permission to access your contacts, assuring you that it will assist in connecting with friends who are already on the platform. Nonetheless, this procedure brings forth considerable privacy issues, as it entails sharing not just your data but also the personal information of your contacts without their approval.

#### Understanding the Risks

By allowing a social media application to access your contacts, you are essentially sharing an extensive database of personal details. This can create unease for users who may prefer their online presence to remain private among those in their contact list. Moreover, individuals within your contacts might be unaware that their information is being disclosed, raising ethical questions about consent.

#### Changes in Privacy Practices

To address these worries, companies like Apple have taken steps to improve privacy. For example, Apple has launched a feature that enables users to grant selective access to their contacts, transitioning from the earlier all-or-nothing method. Despite these advancements, the core issue of consent still lacks resolution.

#### Bluesky’s Privacy-First Approach

Bluesky, a social media platform, asserts its commitment to a privacy-first strategy regarding contact access. The platform recognizes that while importing contacts is a useful way to locate friends, it has frequently been mishandled or abused by other services. Bluesky strives to lessen these threats by adopting a more secure framework.

#### Key Features of Bluesky’s Approach

1. **Mutual Participation**: Users will only be matched with contacts if both individuals have opted into the “Find Friends” feature and have each other’s numbers saved. This guarantees that people cannot be discovered unless they have agreed to it.

2. **Phone Number Verification**: Prior to any matching taking place, users must confirm ownership of their phone number. This measure is essential to prevent malicious users from entering random numbers to collect information.

3. **Data Protection**: Bluesky utilizes sophisticated encryption methods, storing phone numbers as hashed pairs. This approach significantly complicates any efforts to reverse-engineer the data, thereby improving user safety.

4. **Opt-Out Option**: Users have the option to delete their uploaded contacts and disengage from the feature at any moment, granting them authority over their information.

#### Potential Downsides

A potential limitation of Bluesky’s approach is that the platform does not keep or monitor phone numbers. Consequently, users might receive text invitations from friends to join the service, even if they are existing members. While this may be regarded as a nuisance, many users might view it as a minor sacrifice for improved privacy safeguards.

### Conclusion

As social media platforms keep evolving, the equilibrium between connectivity and privacy remains a vital concern. Bluesky’s strategy underscores the significance of consent and data protection in the modern era, providing a framework that emphasizes user privacy while still enabling connections.

# Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11: Innovations in Display Technology with watchOS 26

Apple persists in advancing the smartwatch arena with the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, both featuring cutting-edge LTPO3 display technology. This advancement not only elevates the visual quality but also boosts energy efficiency, marking a notable enhancement for users.

## LTPO3 Display Technology

The LTPO3 (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) displays incorporated in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 facilitate an impressive 1Hz refresh rate. This signifies that the display can refresh every second, as opposed to every minute, in Always-On mode. This aspect is especially advantageous for users who wish to keep a continuously visible seconds hand or digital seconds display, even when their wrist is stationary.

## watchOS 26 Enhancements

With the rollout of watchOS 26, Apple has improved 26 watch faces to fully utilize the 1Hz refresh rate. This upgrade allows for a more lively and interactive interface, as users can experience a ticking seconds hand or a digital seconds display at all times.

### Supported Watch Faces

The following watch faces and applications have been fine-tuned to support the 1Hz refresh rate:

– Activity Analog
– Activity Digital
– California
– Color
– Contour
– Exactograph
– Flux
– GMT
– Hermès Faubourg Party
– Hermès Radial
– Infograph
– Meridian
– Metropolitan
– Modular Ultra
– Nike Analog
– Numerals Mono
– Prime Harmony
– Reflections
– Simple
– Solar Analog
– Stripes
– Typograph
– Utility
– Unity Rhythm
– Wayfinder
– Waypoint

Alongside the watch faces, both the Stopwatch and Timer applications can showcase real-time advancements in Always-On mode, enhancing usability for those who depend on these tools.

## Exclusive Features and Compatibility

It is critical to recognize that certain watch faces are reserved for Hermès or Ultra models. Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 10 also accommodates the 1Hz refresh rate for faces and applications. At the time of the Series 10’s introduction, merely three watch faces were capable of utilizing this feature: Flux, Reflections, and Activity Digital.

## Conclusion

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, integrated with watchOS 26, signify a remarkable progression in smartwatch technology. The sophisticated LTPO3 displays and the revamped watch faces offer users a more captivating and effective experience. As Apple continues to enhance its offerings, these advancements establish a new benchmark for user expectations from their wearable tech.

### The iPhone Air: A Retrospective and a Glimpse Ahead

The iPhone Air, launched by Apple, has been seen as one of the least successful iPhones in the brand’s history. Despite its underwhelming performance, sources reveal that Apple plans to unveil an iPhone Air 2 in 2027, aiming to rectify the flaws of its earlier version.

#### This Year’s iPhone Air

Upon its debut, the iPhone Air was recognized for its immediate availability, sharply contrasting with the backordered status of the iPhone 17 Pro. Follow-up reports confirmed a trend of insufficient demand, with manufacturing orders reportedly scaled back to nearly end-of-production levels. Ultimately, production of the iPhone Air was claimed to have halted entirely. This dip in interest was not unique, as rivals like Samsung encountered difficulties with their Galaxy S25 Edge, prompting other brands to scrap plans for comparable ultra-slim devices.

#### The Two Issues

The main factors leading to the iPhone Air’s lackluster sales were pinpointed as its steep price and restricted camera features. The device was equipped with only a single camera, which was a notable disadvantage compared to the dual and triple camera configurations offered on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, respectively. Furthermore, the iPhone Air’s price was $200 above the base iPhone 17 and merely $100 below the Pro model. This pricing approach likely caused potential buyers to rethink their choices, either leaning towards the more feature-rich Pro model or the more budget-friendly base model.

#### The iPhone Air 2: Possible Fixes

Latest reports indicate that Apple is reassessing the design of the iPhone Air in light of its initial shortcomings. The company is allegedly mulling over the addition of a second camera and lowering the retail price to boost the device’s attractiveness. While these alterations remain under consideration, if executed, they could markedly enhance the market reception of the iPhone Air 2.

#### Conclusion

As Apple gears up for the introduction of the iPhone Air 2 in 2027, tackling the issues that affected its predecessor will be vital. By potentially improving camera features and reevaluating pricing strategies, Apple could regain the interest of consumers who previously bypassed the iPhone Air. The prosperity of the forthcoming model will hinge on its ability to satisfy market demands and resolve the shortcomings of the original device.