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  • CVS Trials new way to open locked cabinets with your phone

    CVS Trials new way to open locked cabinets with your phone

    CVS is trying out a cool new way to make shopping easier. Instead of calling a store worker to open locked cabinets, CVS customers can now use their smartphones to unlock them. This idea comes from a report by The Wall Street Journal, shared by The Verge.

    In many stores, items that are often stolen are kept in locked cases. This is good for stopping theft but not so good for shoppers who have to wait for help to get their items. Tilak Mandadi, who oversees technology at CVS Health, mentioned to The Wall Street Journal that customers don’t like these locked cabinets. That’s why CVS is testing this new method.

    If you have the CVS app, a CVS account, and your Bluetooth turned on, you can connect to the store’s Wi-Fi and unlock these cabinets with your iPhone or Android phone.

    Currently, this trial is happening in just three CVS locations, but they plan to grow this to between 10 to 15 stores. If it goes well, CVS wants to bring this feature to all its stores. This could make shopping much quicker and more enjoyable for everyone.

    Source

  • Truecaller now blocks spam calls on iPhones with iOS 18.2 update

    Truecaller now blocks spam calls on iPhones with iOS 18.2 update

    Truecaller has always been good at spotting spam and scam calls on Android phones, but it didn’t work as well on iPhones because of privacy rules. Now, with the new iOS 18.2 update, iPhones can do what Androids have been doing for a while.

    The old problem with Truecaller on iPhones:

    On Android, Truecaller would look at the caller’s number and match it with a list of known spam numbers. If it found a match, it would warn you or even block the call. But on iPhones, Apple’s privacy rules meant Truecaller couldn’t send the number to its servers like on Android. Instead, it used a local database which wasn’t as good.

    How iOS 18.2 fixes this:

    Apple introduced a new feature called Live Caller ID Lookup API in iOS 18.2. This makes your phone number safe by encrypting it before sending it to Truecaller’s server. The server sends back an encrypted reply which your iPhone then decodes. This method keeps your privacy safe but allows Truecaller to use its big, real-time database to spot spam calls.

    This update also lets Truecaller on iPhones do something users have wanted for ages – automatically block spam calls. Plus, you can now find out who called you from up to 2,000 past numbers in your call history.

    What you need to do:

    • Make sure you have Truecaller version 14.0 or newer on your iPhone.
    • Go to your iPhone’s Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
    • Turn on all the Truecaller options and restart the app.

    Truecaller’s CEO, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, shared that they’re thrilled to bring these features to iPhones, matching what Android users get while still keeping calls private.

    The basic app can identify business calls for free, but to use all these new features, you’ll need a paid subscription. It costs $9.99 a month or $74.99 a year, or you can get a family plan for $14.99 a month or $99 a year which covers up to five people. This update is starting to roll out around the world now.

  • Apple’s Siri struggles and a new Home system on the way

    Apple’s Siri struggles and a new Home system on the way

    Apple fans have been talking a lot about Siri lately, and not in a good way. Even after years of updates, Siri still has trouble keeping up with other smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. A recent report points out that Siri often messes up simple tasks—like setting reminders or answering basic questions. People say it feels slow and clumsy compared to its rivals.

    Apple has been working on making Siri better, but the changes haven’t impressed users yet. Many hope a big upgrade is coming soon, maybe with smarter features powered by artificial intelligence. For now, though, Siri’s flaws are hard to ignore, and it’s leaving some Apple fans frustrated.

    On a brighter note, Apple has exciting plans for something new—a system called “HomeOS.” Rumors suggest it’s launching this year, and it could shake things up for Apple’s smart home gadgets. HomeOS might be a fresh way to control devices like the HomePod, Apple TV, and even smart lights or locks.

    Think of it as a central hub that ties everything together, making your home tech easier to use. Reports hint that it’ll work smoothly with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so you can manage your home from anywhere. There’s also talk of a new touchscreen device to go with it—something like a smart display to show info or play music.

    While Siri’s struggles are a letdown, HomeOS could be a game-changer. Apple wants to catch up in the smart home world, where companies like Amazon and Google are already big players. If HomeOS delivers, it might give Apple fans something to cheer about. For now, everyone’s waiting to see if it lives up to the hype—and if Siri can finally step up its game too. With these updates, 2025 could be a big year for Apple’s tech lineup!

  • Apple’s iOS 19: A fresh look is coming, here’s what we know

    Apple’s iOS 19: A fresh look is coming, here’s what we know

    Apple seems to be cooking up something big for iOS 19, possibly the largest update since iOS 7 hit back in 2013. While the company hasn’t spilled all the details yet, little hints have been popping up in their recent work. By peeking at new iPhone apps and designs, we can guess what’s in store for iOS 19. Let’s break it down.

    New Apps Drop Big Hints

    It’s been over a decade since Apple gave iOS a major makeover with iOS 7. Since then, changes have been small and steady, keeping the system familiar. But five recent apps—and one huge redesign—offer some exciting clues about iOS 19.

    Here’s the lineup of Apple’s latest apps built from scratch:

    • Journal
    • Apple Sports
    • Image Playground
    • Apple Invites
    • Apple Vision Pro (coming in iOS 18.4)

    These apps look different from each other, but they share some key features that point to iOS 19’s direction. One big clue? They’re ditching the classic iPhone tab bar.

    Goodbye, Tab Bars

    For years, tab bars have been a staple of iPhone apps, sitting at the bottom of the screen—like in the original Phone and Clock apps. They’re still around today, mostly unchanged. But Apple’s moving away from them. New apps like Journal, Sports, and Invites hide navigation in menus near the top instead of using tab bars. Even older apps, like Photos, got a makeover last year, swapping the tab bar for a smooth, single-page layout.

    What does this mean for iOS 19? Expect more apps to drop tab bars and switch to a simpler, one-page style. Apps like Music, App Store, Health, and News still use tab bars now, but iOS 19 might freshen them up with this new look.

    More Design Clues

    There’s more to spot in Apple’s recent apps. Parker Ortolani, a design expert, noticed that apps like Apple Sports and Invites feel different—almost like they belong on visionOS or watchOS. They’ve got bright backgrounds, glassy buttons, and bold, layered shapes. Apple Invites adds big cards and a focus on content. These touches hint at a lively, modern vibe for iOS 19. Reports say iOS 19 will borrow ideas from visionOS, and these app designs—think floating elements and colorful layers—back that up. It’s looking like a bold, fresh update is on the way!

  • AirPods Pro 3 coming soon: What to expect

    AirPods Pro 3 coming soon: What to expect

    Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 hit the market over two years ago and still lead the pack in wireless earbuds. But with the AirPods Pro 3 set to drop in 2025, many wonder if waiting for the next version is the smart move. The AirPods Pro 2 shine with great sound and noise-blocking skills for their tiny size. Apple keeps them fresh with updates, too.

    When iOS 17 came out in 2023, they got cool tricks like Adaptive Audio, mute buttons, and quick device switching. Then, iOS 18, launched last year, added head-shake controls for Siri, better voice clarity by cutting background noise, and a gaming-focused sound feature. Late last year, iOS 18.1 and 18.2 brought a big win: hearing aid support for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, approved by the FDA.

    What’s New for AirPods Pro 3 in 2025?

    The AirPods Pro 3 will likely keep all these goodies and add more. Rumors point to a new look for the earbuds and their case—different from the style we’ve seen since the first AirPods Pro. Inside, Apple might boost the sound with a faster chip, a trend with every new model. Word is they’ll also improve noise cancellation, making it even better than the AirPods Pro 2.

    Health features are a big deal too. Reports say Apple’s working on heart rate tracking, like what’s in the Powerbeats Pro 2, which syncs with gym gear to show your pulse on your iPhone. The AirPods Pro 3 could do this too, maybe even while playing tunes. There’s talk of a body temperature sensor in the ear canal, but it might not be ready for 2025.

    Looking ahead, some predict cameras in AirPods by 2026 for better sound with Apple’s Vision Pro headset or future AI tricks. That’s probably not happening this year, though.

    Release Clues

    In February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the AirPods Pro 3 are coming in 2025, still months off. One tipster guessed May or June, but their last “soon” prediction flopped, so take it lightly.

    Should You Wait?

    With the AirPods Pro 3 possibly arriving by late 2025, it’s a tough call. The new AirPods 4 offer some Pro perks for $179, but if you want the latest tech—like better hearing aid features—and don’t mind waiting, the AirPods Pro 3 at $249 could be your pick. For now, they sound like the top choice for Apple fans craving next-level earbuds.

  • Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    For almost two years, French officials have been looking into a privacy tool on iPhones called App Tracking Transparency. This feature lets people choose if they want apps to follow their activity for ads or not. You’ve probably noticed those “Ask App Not to Track” messages popping up. Now, according to a recent Reuters story, the investigation is almost over—and it doesn’t look good for Apple.

    France Might Stop This Privacy Feature Soon

    The two-year review of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency in France should finish within the next month. And it seems Apple might not like the result.

    Reuters reporter Foo Yun Chee explains:

    French regulators are likely to tell Apple next month to stop this practice, saying it’s unfair to competition. They’ll probably add a fine too. This would be the first time a government blocks this feature. In France, fines for such issues can reach up to 10% of a company’s yearly earnings worldwide.

    So, two big things could happen when this case ends:

    • Apple may have to turn off this feature for people in France.
    • The company could also face a penalty.

    Back in 2023, when this probe began, we noted: “Apple’s being accused of playing favorites and setting unclear, unfair rules about how user info can be used for ads.”

    Apple shared this comment with 9to5Mac during an earlier debate about the feature:

    “We at Apple think your data is yours. You should decide if it’s shared and with whom. App Tracking Transparency just lets users pick whether apps can track them or pass their info to data collectors. These rules are the same for everyone, including us, and we’ve had lots of support from privacy fans and regulators.”

    Beyond France, Germany and Italy are also checking out this feature. Usually, the worry isn’t the tool itself but how Apple uses it for its apps. In the U.S., companies like Meta have complained the most—not regulators. They say this privacy option has hurt their ad income.

  • Apple announces iOS 18.4 launch in April with exciting updates

    Apple announces iOS 18.4 launch in April with exciting updates

    Apple recently shared that iOS 18.4 will roll out in April, bringing fresh features for iPhone users.

    What’s New in iOS 18.4

    Apple News+ Food Section

    Starting with iOS 18.4, Apple News+ subscribers will enjoy a brand-new Food section. It’s packed with thousands of recipes, plus articles on restaurants, healthy eating tips, and kitchen must-haves. Top food magazines like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, and Serious Eats will contribute content. The first test version of iOS 18.4 is already out for developers and curious users to try. While some expected Siri upgrades—like understanding personal details or screen info—aren’t in this beta, there are still plenty of cool additions to explore.

    Key Features Available Now

    Priority Notifications

    A handy new tool sorts your most urgent alerts and puts them front and center on your Lock Screen. You can switch this on in Settings under Notifications. Note: This works only on iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, or any iPhone 16.

    Apple News+ Food

    The Food section in the News app offers subscribers tons of recipes and food stories at no extra charge. You can browse daily updates, save favorites for later, and even use a step-by-step cooking mode—all beautifully laid out.

    Ambient Music

    A new Control Center option lets you play relaxing tunes sorted into four moods: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

    More Goodies

    This update expands Apple Intelligence to languages like French, Spanish, Japanese, and more. There’s also a “Sketch” style for creating images from text in Image Playground. In some cars with big screens, CarPlay now shows extra app icons. Plus, EU users can pick a default maps app, and everyone can choose a translation app.

    Coming Soon

    Vision Pro App

    Later, iOS 18.4 will add an app for Vision Pro owners to manage downloads, explore TV content, and get tips—available once the update hits.

    New Emoji

    Fresh emojis—like a tired face, fingerprint, or shovel—will join the lineup, continuing Apple’s tradition of fun updates.

    With iOS 18.4, Apple keeps making your iPhone experience better and more personal!

  • All the cool Apple Intelligence features you can use now

    All the cool Apple Intelligence features you can use now

    Apple Intelligence is the name for a bunch of smart, AI-driven tools that work on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and soon Vision Pro. These features have popped up in updates like iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, making your devices work in fresh, exciting ways. Here’s a simple rundown of what’s available now, plus a peek at what’s on the way.

    First Up: iOS 18.1 Brings Writing Help, Photo Tricks, and More

    • Writing Help: Fix mistakes, rephrase sentences, or tweak your text anywhere on your device.
    • Photo Clean-Up: Easily erase stuff you don’t want in your pictures.
    • Memory Movie Maker: Tell it what you want, and it’ll whip up a video from your photos.
    • Smart Photo Search: Find the exact pics or videos you need with better search.
    • Notification Highlights: Get short, useful summaries of your alerts.
    • Siri Boost: Siri’s smarter now—better answers, a fresh look, a smoother voice, and you can even type to it.
    • Top Emails First: Your most urgent emails jump to the top.
    • Quick Replies: Get handy reply suggestions in Mail and Messages.
    • Email and Chat Summaries: See short recaps of conversations instead of scrolling forever.
    • Focus Mode Upgrade: Block distractions but let big stuff through with smarter alerts.

    Next: iOS 18.2 Adds Fun Stuff Like Genmoji and Image Tools

    • Genmoji: Create your own emojis for any app.
    • ChatGPT with Siri: Siri teams up with ChatGPT for extra smarts, or you can ask ChatGPT directly.
    • Image Playground: Make cool AI pictures in cartoon or drawing styles.
    • Visual Smarts: Point your camera at something and get info about it.
    • Image Wand: Turn doodles into pretty artwork in Notes.
    • ChatGPT Writing: Let it write fresh text for you in any app.

    Coming in iOS 18.3: Smarter Visual Tools

    • Poster to Calendar: Snap a flyer and add the event to your schedule.
    • Nature ID: Figure out what plants or animals you’re looking at.

    Soon in iOS 18.4 and Beyond

    The iOS 18.4 beta (out in April) might tweak these, but here’s what’s testing now:

    • Key Alerts: Important notifications stand out on your Lock Screen.
    • More Image Styles: Add a sketch look to your AI-made pics.
    • Vision Pro Joins In: Apple Intelligence hits Vision Pro with visionOS 2.4.

    Final Thoughts

    Apple’s just warming up with these AI goodies. Expect more surprises at WWDC in June for iOS 19. Love it or not, these tools will keep changing how you use your gadgets as they grow smarter and blend into your daily life.

  • iPhone 16e solves a cost confusion in Apple’s lineup

    iPhone 16e solves a cost confusion in Apple’s lineup

    When 5G arrived with the iPhone 12, Apple started a tricky pricing game. They’d advertise iPhones as “starting at $799,” but that deal only worked if you signed up with a big US carrier right away. Want one without a carrier lock? The real price jumped to $829. The iPhone 16e finally puts an end to this extra fee hassle.

    No More Activation Tricks

    Since the iPhone 12, every basic iPhone model has followed this pricing twist—yes, even the iPhone 16. The good news? The fancier Pro models never had this issue.

    It’s always bugged me when people call the iPhone 16 a “$799 phone.” That’s not the full story. If you activate it with a major carrier through Apple, sure, you get that price. But for everyone else, it’s $829. Many folks buy straight from their carrier, and even then, they’re stuck with the higher $829 cost. Some say $30 isn’t much, but it still feels sneaky.

    Apple’s C1 Modem Changes Things

    Back with the iPhone 12, Apple added 5G mmWave to all models. Big carriers like Verizon probably pushed for it. This speedy tech isn’t cheap and usually skips budget phones. The catch? It only shines in crowded spots like stadiums. In busy places like New York, you might lose the signal just by walking around a corner.

    Thankfully, the iPhone 16e uses Apple’s C1 modem, which skips mmWave. Without that costly feature, there’s no need for carrier discounts to balance things out. So, no matter your carrier, you can grab an iPhone 16e for the advertised $599. That’s a first for a regular iPhone since 2020!

    Looking ahead, Apple’s next C2 modem might bring mmWave back. But since Apple often leaves it out for iPhones sold outside the US, we’ll probably see a version without it too. For now, the iPhone 16e keeps things simple and fair.

  • What’s fresh in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

    What’s fresh in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

    Apple just dropped the first iOS 18.4 beta for developers to try out. It doesn’t have all the Apple Intelligence goodies we were expecting, but there are still some cool updates worth checking out.

    Priority Notifications

    There’s a new feature called Priority Notifications that puts your most urgent alerts at the top. It’s off by default, but you can switch it on in Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications. Once it’s active, Apple Intelligence will highlight key notifications on your Lock Screen.

    Image Playground Gets Sketchy

    Image Playground now has a Sketch style, adding to Animation and Illustration. It used to be just for Image Wand, but now you can pick it as a third option. Switch styles by hitting the “+” button in the app. Plus, the “Winter Holidays” theme is gone, replaced with a fresh “Spring” vibe.

    More Languages for Apple Intelligence

    New languages include French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese. There’s also local English for Singapore and India.

    Apple News+ Food Section

    For Apple News+ users, iOS 18.4 brings a Food section packed with recipes, restaurant stories, healthy eating tips, and kitchen must-haves. Big names like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, and Serious Eats contribute content. You’ll find a Recipe Catalog that updates often, a cook mode with step-by-step help, and an option to save recipes offline.

    Chill with Ambient Music

    A new Ambient Music feature lets you add soothing sounds to Control Center. Choose from Sleep, Chill, Productivity, or Wellbeing. Tap one, and it plays random tunes from that vibe. Skip tracks or see what’s playing via Dynamic Island or the Now Playing widget.

    Mail Gets Organized on iPad

    iPadOS 18.4 upgrades the Mail app with categories. Important emails land in the Primary section, while others sort into deals, newsletters, orders, or social updates. This was already on iPhone with iOS 18.2.

    Privacy Dots Stand Out

    Those tiny dots showing camera or microphone use? They’re now on the left of the menu bar with a bold black background, making them easier to spot.

    Siri’s New Accents

    Siri gets two fresh Australian voices to mix things up.

    Genmoji Gets Clearer

    The Genmoji icon on the Emoji keyboard now says “Genmoji” instead of just a colorful smiley, so it’s simpler to find and use.

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