M3 MacBook Air, TikTok, and a gem of a gift from Apple, on the AppleInsider Podcast

On this week's episode of the AppleInsider Podcast, the M3 MacBook Air is now in buyers' hands and we've reviewed it, TikTok's fate in the US is being debated in the halls of power, and Apple has launched a peculiar gift card bonus.

It's been both a strange and regular week in Apple News, as Epic Games won't shut up and the EU is just getting started. But then people who were against TikTok are now for it, there's that left-field gems offer, and it looks like Apple ditched two suppliers, leaving them millions out of pocket.

But in the midst of all this, new research shows that a startling number of people buying Macs are switching to it from PCs and Chromebooks. Perhaps even more surprisingly, even buyers of higher-end Android devices are turning to the iPhone.

Then there is also the M3 MacBook Air which has now arrived in people's hands — and some of those people have been testing it under review conditions. It remains as excellent a buy for some people as it first appeared, but now we're seeing that the difference between it and the MacBook Pro is still significant.

Plus Apple is again reported to be using AI much more than people believe. This time it's in its advertisement targeting and perhaps only a finely-tuned AI marketing tool can explain why you can get 500 Clash of Clans gems for buying certain Apple gift cards.

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Links from the show

• M3 MacBook Air review: The ideal Mac laptop for Intel hold-outs
• Apple looks beyond health for a large array of future Apple Watch sensors
• Apple refutes criticism of its carbon neutral plans by showcasing its rainforest efforts
• Half of recent Mac buyers are switchers from rival platforms
• Most apps with subscriptions fail to make more than $1,000 per month
• Get free Clash of Clans gems when buying an Apple gift card at select retailers
• Apple caves, EU developers will be able to sell apps directly from their websites
• Epic wants Apple held in contempt of court for not following through on removing anti-steering measures
• What is Roblox
• Another Apple supplier hit by cancellation of a massive micro LED delivery project
• EU antitrust chief remarks about $2 billion Apple Music fine ignores Spotify dominance
• The potential TikTok ban is being decided on by the wrong people
• Former Oculus chief: Apple Vision Pro is the VR industry's new Northstar
• Apple Vision Pro keyboard language code could hint at imminent global launch
• Denver to pay $3.76M to grandmother due to "Find My" error
• Apple walks away empty handed at the Oscars
• M3 MacBook Air is easy to take apart, but parts pairing is still a pain
• Neil Young tries excusing his return to Spotify by saying Apple Music is now as bad
• Bitcoin app accused of stealing $120,000 in another App Store failure [u]

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