Macworld Apple on Thursday announced the winners of its annual App Store Awards. From the 45 finalists that the company announced in November, 17 developers were recognized for “their technical ingenuity and lasting cultural impact. ...   Mac Central

Macworld The original iPhone SE from 2016, one of Apple’s most popular handsets of all time, has finally been declared obsolete. This is bad news for anyone who still uses the phone because it is no longer eligible to receive repairs and battery replacements from Apple Stores and authorised service partners. ...   Mac Central

Macworld Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that a key Apple executive is leaving the company (no, it’s not Tim Cook). Alan Dye, who leads Apple’s user interface design team, is leaving Apple Park in Cupertino for the Ravenswood Slough in Menlo Park and the headquarters of Meta, where he will lead “a new design studio,” said Gurman, and will be “in charge of design for hardware, ...   Mac Central

Macworld The latest version of the ChatGPT iPhone app contains within its code an unused (as of yet) image that seems to indicate upcoming Apple Health integration. The image shows the main Health icons, surrounded by several health category images: steps, activity, respiratory, hearing, sleep…and a carrot, for some reason (there is no carrot icon in the Health app). ...   Mac Central

Macworld There’s been a long-held belief that Macs are more secure than Windows PCs. Whether that’s true or not is up for debate, but it is a key marketing point used by Apple. But Apple’s latest move with macOS security is a bit of a concern. According to Csaba Fitzl, a macOS security researcher at Iru (spotted by 9to5Mac), Apple has reduced the security bounties it offers for macOS. ...   Mac Central

Macworld Surprising no one, Apple has indicated that it will not comply with a new order from the Indian government requiring it to pre-install a state-run cybersecurity app on all iPhones sold in the country. ...   Mac Central

Macworld Apple has formally announced that John Giannandrea, its Senior VP of Machine Learning and AI, is stepping down from his position. He will serve as an advisor to the company before retiring in the spring of 2026. Giannandrea will not be directly replaced by a Senior VP role, but by a Vice President: Amar Subramanya. ...   Mac Central

Macworld One of the most significant Apple announcements of recent years was the news, back in 2020, that the entire Mac lineup would transition from Intel processors to ARM-based chips of Apple’s own design. The result of this potentially risky move was a second lease of life for the Mac, and a moderate dip in Intel’s fortunes. ...   Mac Central

The Bob Moog Foundation has announced its winter fundraising raffle featuring a custom-built Eurorack modular synthesizer valued at $24,000. The system is housed in a handcrafted 15U (126 hp) walnut cabinet by Asheville woodcraftsman Chris Perryman (Gold Splinter) and includes 50 Eurorack modules and 11 controllers, all donated from 52 companies. ...   KVR Audio

Muse Group has announced the release of MuseScore Studio version 4.6.4, which introduces the new Online Sounds feature. This update integrates Cantai's AI vocal library to provide real-time sung playback of typed lyrics, allowing composers to audition and refine vocal lines during the notation process. ...   KVR Audio

Vienna Symphonic Library has announced the release of Synchron Duality Strings (ostinato), the sixth installment in their Duality Strings series. The collection is designed for creating string ostinatos and features two string ensembles recorded simultaneously in separate rooms at Vienna Synchron Stage. ...   KVR Audio

Electro-Harmonix has announced the release of the ABRAMS100 100-Watt Solid State Amplifier. The unit utilizes 100 Watts of Class D power and is designed for portability, weighing approximately 2.5 lbs. {PRODUCT-BOX-33881-abrams100100wattsolidstateam}. The ABRAMS100 features a high-headroom preamp section with an integrated 3-band EQ and a presence switch for tone shaping. ...   KVR Audio

Imaginando has released Shattered Illusions, a brand-new visual expansion for VS, created by visual artist Perplex On, along with a new update to VS 2.0.4 packed with much-requested features. Shattered Illusions Expansion Pack Step into glitch, texture, and raw emotion with 65 presets designed to break the mould in style. ...   KVR Audio

Eftilo has released version 1.1.0 of Cratere, a Dynamic Stage-Mixing Phaser plugin for macOS and Windows. This update introduces QOL and performance improvements, and unifies Cratere with the rest of Eftilo's lineup. What's new in v1.1.0: Minor UI adjustments. DC offset removal. Bug fixes and improvements. This, and all other Eftilo's plugin updates, are and always will be free. ...   KVR Audio

Ayaic has released two new plugins, MLP - Monolith Level-Planes and MD/E Monolith Duck/Expand, as part of its M3 Breakouts Series. Whether you are a Producer, Mix/Mastering Engineer, Musician or Singer/Songwriter, MLP and MD/E will have you creating professional sounding mixes at an unbelievable speed. ...   KVR Audio

Woodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio has released WoodPecker v2.0, a MIDI (V2 and V1) 4 layer sequencer with 64 steps and 4 variations per layer, both on macOS and iOS. New features in v2.0: Vertical dragging on the note button now updates the note/semitone. It will only select the notes in a scale (when set). Added Mute and Solo buttons in Run view. ...   KVR Audio

Carve Audio has announced the release of Smashburger Compressor, a dynamics processor that combines punch, control, and analog-style warmth in one simple tool. The Smashburger Compressor isn't just another dynamics plugin — it's a flavor boost for your tracks. ...   KVR Audio

Acon Digital has announced the release of Extract:Dialogue 2, the next generation of its dialogue cleaning plugin designed for film, TV, streaming, and post-production workflows. ...   KVR Audio

A new minor version of JUCE is out now. Here are the highlights. New MIDI 2.0 UMP Demo JUCE now supports communication with MIDI 2.0 devices via UMP. Universal MIDI Packet is the new backwards-compatible MIDI 2.0 data format. The JUCE team has added a new demo that lets you inspect MIDI 2.0 endpoints and inspect incoming and outgoing messages. JUCE 8.0. ...   KVR Audio

Igor Vasiliev has released ExoSphere, a generator of continuous ambient and meditative compositions, for iOS and macOS, built on five independent sound layers that blend into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments. ...   KVR Audio

Kush Audio has released Clariphonic Mk3, a new version of the parallel mastering EQ plugin for macOS and Windows. The sound of high-end analog EQ in plugin form, which tailors the brightness for every sound that needs it, exactly the way it needs it. The sound of Mk3 comes from the very cozy marriage of Magpha EQ's buttery algorithms with Clariphonic's uniquely gain-dependent shelving corners. ...   KVR Audio

UJAM has announced the release of UFX Lofi and UFX Distort as the latest additions to the UFX series, joining Reverb, Delay, and Filter. UFX Lofi focuses on degraded, character-rich textures inspired by tape wear and early digital artifacts, while UFX Distort ranges from subtle saturation to aggressive clipping and foldback. ...   KVR Audio

Psylus Audio has released Hard Kick, a kick builder plugin that features everything you need for your harder kick drums. Features: Timestretching, pitching, layering and editing to perfection. Always play in key and in sync with your track BPM. Six different sound sources: kick, attack, crunch, rumble, bass, SFX. ...   KVR Audio

Goodhertz has released a new mastering compressor, VCME, along with VCME Soft Clip, and updated their whole plugin line to v3.13.2. Version 3.13 is a free update for all existing Goodhertz users on the download page. VCME (Vulf Compressor Mastering Edition) VCME is the mastering version of Goodhertz' original Vulf Compressor and is built for precise control, versatility, and analog coloration. ...   KVR Audio

HOFA-Plugins has announced the release of Colour Saturator, a versatile saturation and distortion plugin designed to bring the full character of analog hardware into the digital studio. From silky harmonics and subtle warmth to aggressive distortion and extreme fuzz, Colour Saturator delivers all the colours of analog saturation with modern precision and control. ...   KVR Audio

Cotorro Audio has announced the release of RIPUL-1 Analog Saturator, a stand-alone distortion tool for Windows that offers tons of analog character as well as a soft-knee limiter. Transform and enhance your drum mixes, vocals, and bass tracks with this fiery addition to your mixing arsenal. You can also create sheer sonic mayhem with this tool. ...   KVR Audio

Psytrance Plugins has released Psytecher Machines, three new plugins that can be acquired individually. They are: Melt: Acid Synth with 7 mini-synths that create various types of acid sounds; Revolver: bass generator that creates instant bass by just clicking a button; A-Drums: full synthesized drum machine with special random controls; Price: $15 each at psytranceplugins. ...   KVR Audio

Aurally Sound has released Prism, describing it as 'a next-generation audio-to-MIDI engine designed for producers, musicians, and transcribers who demand accuracy and detail'. Built using advanced machine-learning techniques, Prism converts audio into MIDI with exceptional note recognition—capturing chords, single-note lines, and dynamic phrasing with clarity. ...   KVR Audio

Sinevibes has released Cache, a MIDI-controlled effect plugin for real-time audio manipulation, available for Mac, Windows and Linux. Cache's unique sound engine constantly records all incoming audio and processes it live through multiple included buffer-based algorithms – such as repeat, robotize, time stretch, stop, reverse, rewind, scratch – and much more. ...   KVR Audio

Universal Audio has announced the release of Paradise Guitar Studio, a new native UAD plug-in designed to provide a complete guitar recording signal chain. Available for Mac and PC, the software combines emulations of classic amplifiers, cabinets, and microphones with stompbox and studio effects. The plug-in is designed to offer an 'end-to-end' virtual workflow. ...   KVR Audio