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Hallie Lawson

Hallie Lawson is a tech reporter at TechDeskWeekly covering consumer technology, industry trends, and the products shaping everyday digital life.

Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to Take Over

Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to Take Over

Apple has announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become executive chairman, with longtime hardware chief John Ternus set to take over as chief executive officer on September 1, 2026. Apple has confirmed that Tim Cook will transition from CEO to executive chairman of the company’s

Tech Desk Weekly X Account Suspended After Early Growth Surge - 🔴 Updated Coverage

Tech Desk Weekly X Account Suspended After Early Growth Surge - 🔴 Updated Coverage

Tech Desk Weekly’s official X account was suspended without explanation on April 19, 2026, just as the publication began seeing early growth and audience engagement on the platform. At approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026, the official Tech Desk Weekly account on X (formerly Twitter) was

Astropad Launches Workbench, a New Remote Desktop App for Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Astropad Launches Workbench, a New Remote Desktop App for Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Astropad has launched Workbench, a new remote desktop app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, designed to provide responsive, native-feeling remote access for modern workflows including headless Mac systems and AI tasks. Astropad has introduced Workbench, a remote desktop app that allows users to access and control a Mac from an

From Shoes to AI: Allbirds’ Stock Surged as Much as 600% After Its Pivot

From Shoes to AI: Allbirds’ Stock Surged as Much as 600% After Its Pivot

Allbirds says it plans to become NewBird AI after selling off its footwear business, marking a dramatic shift from consumer apparel to AI compute infrastructure and GPU-based cloud services. Allbirds, the company best known for its wool sneakers, has announced plans to move into AI infrastructure after agreeing to sell

How Researchers Stole $10,000 From MKBHD’s Locked iPhone

How Researchers Stole $10,000 From MKBHD’s Locked iPhone

A previously documented Apple Pay and Visa exploit has resurfaced after a high-profile demonstration showed it could still be used to trigger a large unauthorized payment on a locked iPhone. A newly resurfaced payment exploit is drawing attention after researchers demonstrated how $10,000 could be charged from Marques Brownlee’

Artemis II Completes NASA’s First Crewed Lunar Flyby in More Than 50 Years

Artemis II Completes NASA’s First Crewed Lunar Flyby in More Than 50 Years

NASA’s Artemis II mission has officially concluded with a Pacific Ocean splashdown, completing the agency’s first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years and marking a major milestone in modern deep-space exploration. The Artemis II mission ended on April 10, 2026, as the Orion spacecraft splashed

Google Chrome Adds Vertical Tabs and a New Full-Page Reading Mode

Google Chrome Adds Vertical Tabs and a New Full-Page Reading Mode

Google has begun rolling out Chrome 147 for desktop, introducing vertical tabs and a redesigned Reading mode aimed at improving organization and reducing on-screen clutter. The update is now available across Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a gradual rollout expected over the coming weeks. Vertical Tabs Arrive on

Apple Updates Logic Pro With Step Reflex Pack and New Spatial Audio Export Options

Apple Updates Logic Pro With Step Reflex Pack and New Spatial Audio Export Options

Apple has released Logic Pro 12.2 for Mac and Logic Pro for iPad 3.2, introducing new Dolby Atmos export tools, a fresh UK garage-inspired sound pack, and performance improvements across both platforms. Apple has updated its professional music production software with new features and content on both Mac

Mockup MacBook, with generic photo editing software

Apple Updates Pixelmator Pro With New iPhone 17 Mockups, Expanded RAW Support, and Workflow Tweaks

Apple has released a new update for Pixelmator Pro, adding expanded RAW support, new iPhone 17 mockups, and a range of workflow and shortcut improvements across both its Creator Studio version and standalone Mac app. On April 9, Apple updated Pixelmator Pro, issuing new releases for both the Apple Creator

Sunday Recap: Apple’s 50th Anniversary and iPhones in Space

Sunday Recap: Apple’s 50th Anniversary and iPhones in Space

This week highlighted two very different milestones that share a common thread, from Apple celebrating 50 years of innovation to the iPhone 17 Pro Max making its way into deep space aboard Artemis II. From a global anniversary celebration to a modern smartphone orbiting the Moon, here’s a quick

iPhone 17 Pro Max Reaches Space on Artemis II Moon Mission

iPhone 17 Pro Max Reaches Space on Artemis II Moon Mission

Apple’s iPhone has officially made its way into deep space, with iPhone 17 Pro Max devices spotted aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission as it travels around the Moon. As of April 1–2, 2026, the Artemis II mission is underway and unexpectedly, modern iPhones are on board. Photos

Apple Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Apple Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Apple is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a global series of live events, performances, and store experiences, marking the milestone with a more community-focused approach instead of a traditional keynote. As Apple reaches its official 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026, the company has been hosting in-person events across the

Apple Discontinues The Mac Pro "Cheese Greater", Ending Its Long-Running Desktop Line

Apple Discontinues The Mac Pro "Cheese Greater", Ending Its Long-Running Desktop Line

Apple appears to be quietly phasing out the Mac Pro, ending one of its longest-running and most iconic product lines. With the rise of Apple silicon and the growing dominance of the Mac Studio, the need for a large, modular desktop has steadily declined. The Mac Pro has long stood

The MacBook Neo Isn’t “Just an iPad With a Keyboard” — Critics Are Missing the Point

The MacBook Neo Isn’t “Just an iPad With a Keyboard” — Critics Are Missing the Point

Apple’s MacBook Neo has quickly drawn criticism for being “just an iPad with a keyboard,” but that comparison overlooks what the device actually is. With full macOS, integrated laptop hardware, and performance that rivals older MacBook Air models, the Neo represents a new entry point into Apple’s ecosystem

Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip, Advanced ANC, and New Smart Features

Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip, Advanced ANC, and New Smart Features

Apple has introduced the AirPods Max 2, the first major refresh of its premium over-ear headphones since the original model launched in 2020. The new version adds the H2 chip, improved active noise cancellation, and a range of intelligent audio features designed to enhance both sound quality and everyday usability.

Apple May Be Building a New “Ultra” Product Line

Apple May Be Building a New “Ultra” Product Line

Apple’s use of the “Ultra” name has been expanding in recent years, appearing on everything from rugged smartwatches to the company’s most powerful silicon chips. New industry reports now suggest Apple may be preparing to expand the Ultra branding even further, potentially turning it into the company’s

Apple’s March 2026 Announcements Recap: MacBook Neo, M5 MacBooks, iPhone 17e & More

Apple’s March 2026 Announcements Recap: MacBook Neo, M5 MacBooks, iPhone 17e & More

Apple revealed a wave of new hardware this week, including updated MacBooks, a new iPhone model, refreshed iPads, and upgraded Studio Displays. The announcements cover everything from affordable laptops to high-end creator hardware. Here’s a full breakdown of everything Apple unveiled. Apple had a busy week of announcements, introducing

X Money Enters Beta Testing on X With William Shatner Among First Testers

X Money Enters Beta Testing on X With William Shatner Among First Testers

X has begun limited beta testing of X Money, a new payments platform designed to bring financial services directly into the social network. The feature is part of Elon Musk’s long-running plan to transform X into an “everything app” that combines communication, content, and payments in one platform. X

X Overhauls Creator Subscriptions With Exclusive Threads, Shareable Cards, and New Monetization Tools

X Overhauls Creator Subscriptions With Exclusive Threads, Shareable Cards, and New Monetization Tools

X has announced a major overhaul to its Creator Subscriptions feature, introducing new tools designed to help creators monetize content, grow their audiences, and improve engagement directly on the platform. The update, called Creator Subscriptions 2.0, adds premium thread features, improved analytics, and simplified onboarding for new creators. X

Oura Acquires Doublepoint to Bring Gesture Recognition Tech to Smart Rings

Oura Acquires Doublepoint to Bring Gesture Recognition Tech to Smart Rings

Smart ring maker Oura has acquired gesture-recognition startup Doublepoint Technologies, signaling a push toward more natural ways of interacting with wearable devices. The move could bring screen-free gesture controls to future Oura products, combining health tracking with AI-driven interaction. Oura, best known for its health and fitness smart rings, has

Elgato Rolls Out Wave XLR Pro A Professional‑Grade Dual XLR Audio Matrix for Creators

Elgato Rolls Out Wave XLR Pro A Professional‑Grade Dual XLR Audio Matrix for Creators

Elgato has announced the Wave XLR Pro, a new high-end audio interface designed for creators who need more flexibility than a standard USB microphone setup. The device expands the company’s Wave audio ecosystem with dual XLR inputs, hardware-level mixing, and onboard DSP processing aimed at streamers, podcasters, and multi-host

Elgato Unveils Wave:3 MK.2 A Major Upgrade to Its USB Microphone Line

Elgato Unveils Wave:3 MK.2 A Major Upgrade to Its USB Microphone Line

Elgato has officially announced the Wave:3 MK.2, the second generation of its award-winning USB condenser microphone designed for streamers, podcasters, content creators, and professionals seeking broadcast-quality sound with plug-and-play simplicity. Building on the success of the original Wave:3, the MK.2 model introduces significant upgrades to audio

Elgato Stream Deck Studio + XL Released?

Elgato Stream Deck Studio + XL Released?

Elgato has officially introduced the Stream Deck + XL, a significantly expanded version of its popular creator control surface designed for streamers, video editors, and production studios. The new controller builds on the design of the original Stream Deck + but dramatically increases both its size and the number of available controls,

Amazon Is Down — Massive Outage

Amazon Is Down — Massive Outage

Last Updated: 4:47 pm PST Previously Live Coverage Amazon experiences a major outage as tens of thousands report problems. Amazon is currently facing a widespread outage affecting users across the United States, with thousands reporting issues accessing the site and completing purchases. Around 11:00 AM PST on March

Apple MacBook Neo, Specs, Price & Performance

Apple MacBook Neo, Specs, Price & Performance

Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level laptop designed to bring the Mac experience to more users at a significantly lower price. Starting at $599 ($499 for education), it’s now Apple’s most affordable laptop, combining a premium aluminum design with capable performance and long battery life.