Search results for: “background”

  • macOS Tahoe beta 2 brings back menu bar background and classic finder look

    macOS Tahoe beta 2 brings back menu bar background and classic finder look

    Apple’s macOS Tahoe Beta 2, released on June 23, 2025, introduces simple yet welcome changes based on user feedback. The update adds a new option to restore a solid background to the menu bar, which was transparent in the first beta as part of the Liquid Glass design.

    This see-through style blended the menu bar with the desktop wallpaper, making icons and text hard to read for some users. Now, you can turn on the background in System Settings > Menu Bar > Show Menu Bar Background. When activated, it brings back a frosted look similar to macOS Sequoia, improving visibility without changing the placement of menu items.

    The update also fixes the Finder icon’s colors. In the first beta, Apple flipped the traditional design, placing the darker blue on the right side, which upset many longtime Mac users. Beta 2 restores the classic look, with blue on the left and a lighter gradient on the right, while keeping the modern Liquid Glass style.

    This tweak respects the Finder’s nearly 30-year history. These changes show Apple is listening to its community. The menu bar toggle lets users choose between a sleek, transparent look or a clearer, solid one, depending on their wallpaper. The macOS Tahoe public beta is expected in July, with a full release in fall 2025.

  • iOS 18.4 brings a cool background music tool

    iOS 18.4 brings a cool background music tool

    The latest iOS 18.4 update introduces a neat feature called Ambient Music, which you can add to your Control Center. It comes with four fun sound options: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

    Each option can be placed in the Control Center on its own. When you tap one, it starts playing a mix of sounds or tunes from that group randomly.

    You can’t pick the exact sound or song right from the Control Center. But if you start playing one of these categories, you can tap the Dynamic Island at the top of your screen or check the Now Playing widget. From there, you can skip to the next track and see what’s playing.

    There isn’t a special app just for this feature. However, Apple has tucked away a hidden tool that lets you skip tracks and manage the music a bit more. This Ambient Music feature works on both iPhones and iPads running iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4. It’s a simple way to enjoy some background vibes, whether you’re relaxing, working, or winding down for the night.

  • New features in iOS 26 and AirTag 2 clues

    New features in iOS 26 and AirTag 2 clues

    Apple’s iOS 26 brings exciting updates, especially for its Image Playground app and hints of a new AirTag. The Image Playground app, first launched with iOS 18, now creates more lifelike cartoon-style images. Faces look more natural, with better eyes and hair that flows realistically.

    You can type simple phrases to make images in three styles: Animation, Sketch, or Illustration. iOS 26 improves details like facial expressions, hair variety, and backgrounds, making images feel more real. You can also add friends or family from your Photos app or use new styles like anime, powered by ChatGPT, for fun, creative results.

    When sharing, images are marked as AI-generated for clarity. Meanwhile, iOS 18.6 code reveals Apple is preparing for AirTag 2. The new tracker will work with iOS 18.6, not requiring iOS 26, which is great for users. It’s expected to have a tamper-proof speaker to prevent misuse, like stalking, and a stronger Ultra Wideband chip for tracking up to three times farther.

    There’s also talk of better battery alerts, possibly hinting at a rechargeable battery instead of the current coin cell. Apple might announce AirTag 2 in September 2025, likely alongside the iPhone event. These updates show Apple’s focus on creativity and safety, keeping users excited for what’s next.

  • Apple’s iCloud hiccup and Invites App update

    Apple’s iCloud hiccup and Invites App update

    Apple faced a hiccup with its iCloud services, causing trouble for some users. According to Apple’s System Status page, services like iCloud Mail, Photos, iWork, and account sign-ins were affected, starting around 2:36 p.m. Eastern Time. Users reported issues like being unable to access files or photos or facing slow syncing.

    The Find My service was briefly down but fixed by 6:41 p.m. Eastern Time. However, other services continued to have problems, leaving some users frustrated as they couldn’t access their data smoothly. Apple is working to resolve these issues, but no clear reason for the outage has been shared yet.

    In brighter news, Apple updated its Invites app to version 1.3, adding a bunch of new background options for event planning. The app, launched earlier in 2025, helps users organize events like pool parties or game nights with custom invitations.

    The new backgrounds make invites more fun and fitting for different occasions, from casual hangouts to big celebrations. While the app supports creating AI-generated backgrounds with Image Playground, these new built-in options are especially helpful for users with older iPhones that don’t support Apple Intelligence.

    You need an iCloud+ subscription, starting at $0.99 per month, to create events, but anyone can RSVP, even without an iPhone, using a web browser. The update makes event planning more colorful and user-friendly.

  • Apple Music executive says music is art, not something to be given away for free

    Apple Music executive says music is art, not something to be given away for free

    Apple Music’s vice president recently spoke out about how music should be valued. He explained that music is a form of art, and artists put a lot of time, effort, and creativity into making it. Because of this, he believes music should not be treated as something that’s just given away for free.

    He pointed out that when people get music without paying, it can hurt the artists who made it. Musicians depend on money from their songs to keep making more music. If music is always free, it becomes harder for artists to earn a living from their work.

    The Apple Music executive also talked about how streaming services like Apple Music help support artists. By charging a fair price for subscriptions, these platforms make sure that artists get paid for their music. This helps create a healthy music industry where artists can continue to make new songs and share them with the world.

    He finished by saying that everyone should remember the value of music. It’s not just something to listen to in the background—it’s a real art form that deserves respect and support. By paying for music, listeners help keep the industry strong and encourage artists to keep creating.

  • Apple Music gets a fresh lock screen look in iOS 26

    Apple Music gets a fresh lock screen look in iOS 26

    Apple Music is getting a big update with iOS 26, making your iPhone’s lock screen more lively and fun when you play music. Now, when you listen to a song, the lock screen will show a colorful, moving background that matches the album art. This new look makes listening to music feel more exciting and personal.

    The update brings smooth animations and bright colors that change depending on what you’re listening to. If you pause the music, the animation stops, and when you play it again, the motion returns. You can also swipe up to see more controls, like shuffle, repeat, and lyrics, without unlocking your phone.

    Apple is making sure this new design works well with other lock screen features, like notifications and widgets. The music player stays easy to use, and you can still check your messages or see the time while enjoying the new visuals.

    This update is part of Apple’s plan to make the iPhone experience more enjoyable and modern. The new Apple Music lock screen will be available to everyone when iOS 26 comes out later this year. If you love music, this change will make your daily listening even better.

  • iOS 26 brings exciting new features for iPhone users

    iOS 26 brings exciting new features for iPhone users

    Apple’s iOS 26 update, announced at WWDC 2025, introduces a fresh look and smart tools to make your iPhone experience better. The new “Clear Look” display option joins Light and Dark modes, giving your screen a sleek, glass-like style that works across apps and widgets. It adapts to different lighting, making everything look sharp and modern.

    Battery life gets a boost with Adaptive Power, a new setting that tweaks performance to save energy, alongside Low Power Mode. You’ll also see how long it takes to fully charge your iPhone right on the lock screen, plus detailed battery usage info to manage power-hungry apps.

    CarPlay gets a major upgrade with a “Liquid Glass” design, making it easier to use with smoother menus, Live Activities support, and better app integration. For travelers, Apple Wallet now enhances boarding passes with real-time updates via Live Activities, plus handy info like airport directions and baggage tracking.

    Apple News+ adds a fun emoji-based game to keep you entertained, while new Background Sounds, like rain or white noise, help you relax or focus. These updates, part of the Liquid Glass design across Apple’s platforms, will roll out in a public beta in July and launch fully in September 2025 alongside new iPhones.

  • Apple’s new software updates: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and more

    Apple’s new software updates: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and more

    Apple just kicked off WWDC 2025 with exciting news about its latest software updates: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. These updates bring a fresh look and cool new features to Apple devices, and developers can try the first beta versions now.

    The updates introduce a sleek “Liquid Glass” design, with see-through menus and glossy buttons, inspired by visionOS. This makes navigating your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Vision Pro feel smoother and more connected across devices. Apple also changed its naming system, using “26” to mark the 2025-2026 release season, like how car models are named.

    For iPadOS 26, multitasking gets a big upgrade, acting more like a Mac with better window controls. iOS 26 adds fun tweaks to the Messages app, like polls and custom backgrounds. macOS Tahoe 26 offers a new Phone app and smarter search tools. watchOS 26 brings the Notes app to your wrist, while tvOS 26 improves Apple Music Sing. visionOS 26 enhances the Vision Pro experience with sharper visuals.

    These beta versions are for developers to test, but public betas will arrive in July, with the full release in September. Be cautious with betas, as they may have bugs. Stay tuned for more details as Apple refines these updates!

  • Apple’s iOS 26 brings exciting communication and Music updates

    Apple’s iOS 26 brings exciting communication and Music updates

    At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced iOS 26, packed with fresh features to make communication and music more enjoyable. The Messages app now lets users add polls to group chats, making it easy to decide things like where to eat or plan events. You can also set custom background images for chats, which sync across all your Apple devices for a personal touch.

    The Phone and FaceTime apps get a big upgrade with Live Translation, which breaks down language barriers. It translates text in Messages, adds live captions to FaceTime calls, and even speaks translations during phone calls, all processed on-device for privacy. This makes talking to people worldwide seamless, like planning a trip with friends abroad.

    Apple Music now offers “Music Pins,” letting you pin favorite playlists, albums, or artists to the top of your library for quick access. A new AutoMix feature acts like a DJ, smoothly blending songs. Plus, lyrics translation and pronunciation guides help you enjoy music from different cultures, perfect for karaoke fans.

    CarPlay gets a sleek “Liquid Glass” design, matching iOS 26’s look. It includes a compact call view, so you can see who’s calling without losing directions. Widgets, Live Activities, and quick Tapbacks for Messages make driving smoother and safer.

    Finally, a new Games app replaces Game Center, offering a hub for Apple Arcade and third-party games. It includes leaderboards, achievements, and editorial content to boost gaming on your iPhone. These updates, launching this fall, make iOS 26 a game-changer for communication, music, and more.

  • New Apple Updates: iOS, macOS, and a big push into gaming

    New Apple Updates: iOS, macOS, and a big push into gaming

    There are big changes coming from Apple in 2023. Both iPhones and Macs are getting new features from the company, and gaming appears to be taking a bigger role.

    Before long, iOS 26 for iPhones will let you have smart backgrounds thanks to artificial intelligence. They will be different depending on your activities or how you’re feeling. Mixmoji, another new feature, enables you to put together different emoji pieces and form your own personal emoji. Because of this, texting and chatting are now more entertaining and personal.

    The new macOS 26 release will have four distinct new features for Mac users. Even though the details are missing, the changes should make using your computer a more pleasant experience. Apple intends to show that iPhone and Mac users can look forward to getting some exciting new features.

    One of the biggest surprises could be that Apple is now interested in the world of gaming. Many people are surprised that the company is planning more efforts to create games for its devices. As a result, more exclusive Apple games might appear, developers could get extra help, and there could be innovative ways for playing games on iOS and Mac.

    Basically, Apple is designing its phones and computers to be smarter, easier to manage, and more engaging for those who love playing games. The updates are on their way, which means that Apple fans are right to be excited.