Search results for: “issue”

  • CarPlay issues in iOS 18.4 affect many car brands

    CarPlay issues in iOS 18.4 affect many car brands

    Apple’s latest update, iOS 18.4, has brought some trouble for CarPlay users. People driving cars from brands like Toyota, Honda, Ford, and BMW are reporting problems. The issues started after they updated their iPhones to this new version, causing CarPlay to act up in their vehicles.

    For some, CarPlay won’t connect at all. Others say it disconnects randomly while they’re driving. A few users even noticed their music or navigation apps freeze, making it hard to use. These glitches are annoying and can distract drivers, which isn’t safe.

    The trouble seems tied to how iOS 18.4 works with different car systems. Each brand has its setup, and the update might not play nice with all of them. Apple hasn’t said much yet, but they’re likely looking into it. For now, no quick fix is available.

    On social media, like X, drivers are sharing their frustrations. One Toyota owner wrote, “CarPlay keeps dropping since iOS 18.4—super annoying!” A Honda driver posted, “Navigation froze mid-trip. What’s up with this update?” People aren’t happy.

    If you’re having these issues, you could try restarting your iPhone or reconnecting CarPlay. Some say it helps a little, but it’s not a full solution. Another option is to wait for Apple to release a patch. They’ve fixed CarPlay bugs before, so a small update might come soon.

    Until then, drivers might need to rely on their car’s built-in system or skip CarPlay altogether. It’s a hassle, especially for those who love its features. Hopefully, Apple sorts this out fast so everyone can get back to smooth driving.

  • A tiny issue with switching app icons to circles in iOS 19 and iOS 18.4’s cool new notification trick stands out

    A tiny issue with switching app icons to circles in iOS 19 and iOS 18.4’s cool new notification trick stands out

    There’s a small hiccup if Apple decides to change app icons from squircles (rounded squares) to circles in iOS 19. Squircles work well because they fit nicely with different app designs—like Safari’s big circle or Notes’ full-space look.

    But circles? They might not be as practical. For apps with square designs, like Reddit or Slack, shrinking them into a circle could make them harder to see quickly. This isn’t a huge deal, but it could feel less efficient.

    Plus, many apps use the squircle shape to mimic real objects (think Contacts or Apple Sports). Circles might mess that up. Sure, developers could tweak their icons, but after recent updates for dark mode in iOS 18, asking them to redo everything again seems like a stretch. Squircles just seem to balance style and function better—do you agree?

    One of the best surprises in iOS 18.4 is a smart notification feature powered by Apple Intelligence. Called Priority Notifications, it makes your lock screen way more helpful. It figures out which alerts matter most and puts them right at the top.

    You can still swipe to see everything else, but this saves time. Best part? You can turn it on or off for specific apps, so you’re in control. With too many notifications buzzing daily, this simple tool helps you focus on what’s important. It’s a small change, but it feels like a big win. Are you excited to try it?

  • Apple’s MacBook Air gets a fresh look and fixes an annoying issue

    Apple’s MacBook Air gets a fresh look and fixes an annoying issue

    Apple recently unveiled its latest MacBook Air, and it’s turning heads for the right reasons this time. Before the new sky blue M4 MacBook Air arrived, there was another color that grabbed attention—but not in a good way.

    Back in July 2022, the M2 MacBook Air debuted with a dark, almost-black shade called midnight. Its sleek aluminum finish was the closest thing to a black laptop Apple had ever made. But it came with a big downside: the surface picked up fingerprints and skin oils like a magnet.

    Even if you handled it with care, the midnight M2 MacBook Air quickly ended up covered in smudges. For many, it was a trade-off worth making for such a stylish, dark design. Fast forward nearly two years, and Apple tackled the issue. With the M3 MacBook Air, they announced a special “anodization seal” to cut down on fingerprints for the midnight color. It worked pretty well—for that model, at least.

    The catch? The fix didn’t cover every MacBook Air. Apple kept selling the older midnight M2 version for $100 less than the M3. If smudges drove you crazy, that cheaper option was still a headache. Now, things have changed. This week, Apple stopped offering any midnight MacBook Air without the fingerprint-fighting seal.

    Messy, smudge-covered laptops are mostly history. In their place, Apple rolled out the M4 MacBook Air. It comes with a cool new sky-blue shade, an improved midnight finish, and a starting price of $999. The new lineup replaces both the M2 and M3 models, giving fans a cleaner, fresher choice.

  • iOS 18.5 might fix Apple’s top AI issues

    iOS 18.5 might fix Apple’s top AI issues

    Apple is testing iOS 18.4 right now, and it’s full of cool new stuff. But according to Mark Gurman, the next update, iOS 18.5, will tackle two of Apple’s biggest AI challenges: a smarter Siri and AI features for China.

    What’s Coming in iOS 18.5, According to Gurman

    In his Power On newsletter, Gurman talked about iOS 18.4’s features before hinting at what’s next. He says iOS 18.5 will bring the exciting stuff—like a supercharged Siri that Apple showed off last summer and AI tools for users in China. Normally, a late update like this doesn’t get big changes, but iOS 18.5 is different with two major upgrades.

    A Smarter Siri

    Siri’s big makeover is finally happening. It’ll do all the fancy things Apple promised at WWDC last year—stuff people thought would already be here after seeing the ads. For example, Siri will handle tons of new tasks inside apps and even between them. That means you can ask it to do things by voice instead of tapping around.

    Another neat trick? Siri will see what’s on your screen and help based on that. Plus, it’ll know more about you—like your recent meetings, messages, or places you’ve been. Ask it anything about your life, and Siri will answer like a real helper. Apple’s been tweaking Siri bit by bit, but iOS 18.5 should make it feel brand new.

    AI Features in China

    This won’t affect everyone, but it’s huge for Apple. In China, local phone brands already have their own AI tools, putting pressure on Apple. Bringing Apple Intelligence to China with iOS 18.5 is a must to keep up. iPhone sales there have been slow lately, though Tim Cook says not to panic. He’s hopeful because where AI features are live, sales are better. So, this update could give iPhones a big lift in China.

    When Will iOS 18.5 Arrive?

    Gurman thinks iOS 18.5 will roll out around May, though it might slip to June since iOS 18.4 hits in April. Either way, Apple wants it ready before WWDC 2025 starts. These changes could be a game-changer for Siri fans and Apple’s China market!

  • Why Apple’s smart home gear needs to fix this big issue

    Why Apple’s smart home gear needs to fix this big issue

    We’ve been using smart home gadgets for a long time—over ten years. I wasn’t around for the super early stuff like X.10, but I got into HomeKit as soon as it arrived in my part of the world. Still, a recent hassle with something as basic as swapping out a dead light bulb showed me how much work is left before regular folks will embrace this tech.

    A few days ago, one of my Philips Hue bulbs stopped working. It was pretty old—maybe ten years—and had been moved between lamps a few times, so I wasn’t shocked it gave out. No big deal, I figured. I’d grab a new one, pop it in, and be back in action fast. The bulb showed up. I opened the Home app, picked the room, hit the “+” button, and chose “Add Accessory.” A window popped up asking me to scan a code.

    I sort of remembered scanning a barcode last time, but now it wanted a QR code. I aimed my phone at the tiny QR code on the bulb. The app tried hard, flashing little white boxes all over the screen, but nothing worked. I got super close—still no luck. I pulled back—nothing.

    The bulb came in a twin-pack with a quick-start guide, but it only had one QR code. I tried scanning that. Same problem. At this point, I sighed, dug out the Hue app, plugged the bulb into the lamp, and let that app find it before adding it to Home. It worked, but it hit me: I’ve never had a smooth, simple setup with smart home stuff. It’s always a struggle—like I need to bribe the tech gods to make it cooperate.

    This is the mess Apple’s HomeKit was supposed to fix but hasn’t. If Apple wants everyday people to jump into smart homes, it’s got to sort this out. They know it’s an issue, too. Years ago, a patent showed they’re thinking about devices that set themselves up—you’d just say “yes” to finish it. Imagine cameras using Apple’s smarts to map your house, spot your couch or stove, name the rooms, and hook up your gadgets automatically.

    Picture this: You plug a new bulb into your living room lamp. The system goes, “Oh, this is in the living room lamp that used to be ‘Living Room Table Lamp.’ I’ll name it that and add it to your setups.”

    Or if it’s a new lamp, it might say, “This looks like a dining room floor lamp—sound good? Want it in your other scenes?” Apple could start with its gear, but they should also share this idea with the Matter standard folks. They’ve done nice things like that before, like with MagSafe and Qi2. If they pull this off, swapping a smart bulb could finally be as easy as screwing in a regular one.

  • AI app banned in South Korea for privacy issues

    AI app banned in South Korea for privacy issues

    In a recent development, users of the AI app DeepSeek in South Korea have hit a snag. The local government has decided to ban the Chinese AI application, citing that it does not follow the country’s data protection rules. As a result, Apple and Google have been instructed to take the app off their app stores in South Korea.

    Temporary Ban on DeepSeek in South Korea

    According to news sources, South Korea’s data protection watchdog has told tech giants like Apple and Google to stop people from downloading this app. However, you can still use DeepSeek through a web browser in South Korea for the time being. The reason given for this ban is that DeepSeek doesn’t meet the requirements set by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission.

    The company behind DeepSeek has admitted they overlooked some aspects of South Korea’s data laws and has appointed lawyers in the country to deal with the situation. Additionally, a spokesperson from China’s Foreign Ministry has stated that China takes data privacy seriously and ensures it is protected by law.

    Path to Reinstatement

    DeepSeek could start working again in South Korea if it makes changes to align with the local privacy laws.

    For a bit of background, DeepSeek is a Chinese tech startup that became famous for its AI model “R1”, which is both effective and resource-efficient compared to others. The app received praise from Apple’s CEO Tim Cook but has also stirred up controversy because of where it comes from.

    Italy was the first to block DeepSeek for similar privacy concerns, and in the U.S., a senator has proposed a law to penalize the use of Chinese AI apps. Last month, DeepSeek climbed to the top of the U.S. App Store, beating out ChatGPT by OpenAI, and it currently sits at number 13 in app downloads.

    Source

  • Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    With whispers of new Apple product reveals just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what could be coming up this Friday. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is set to give the media an update on the Apple Vision Pro this Friday.

    Here are some guesses I had before:

    • New M5 Chip – No M5 products have been announced yet, but they’re apparently in production. Maybe Vision Pro will be the first to get it, like how the M4 came with the iPad Pro.
    • Apple Intelligence Support – Vision Pro has enough RAM for this, but maybe all the memory is already being used. They might increase the RAM.
    • PSVR Controller Support – Gurman says it’s happening, but it won’t shake things up much.

    Now, I’m thinking about another big change: a price cut. It would be a great piece of news to share on a Friday evening.

    Apple has always defended the $3,500 price tag by saying you’re buying into the future. But Susan Prescott’s recent statement – “for now, the price is what the price is” – hints that this might not be the final word.

    Apple doesn’t usually lower prices before new models come out, but the cost of Vision Pro has been its biggest barrier. There’s history here; they reduced the price of the first iPhone by $200 shortly after it came out.

    Would a price drop on the Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499, make a big impact? Maybe not a huge one, but any reduction helps. They could also offer more storage for the same price. However, since there’s no shortage of stock, even this seems up in the air. Still, my bet is that we’ll see some kind of price adjustment for the Apple Vision Pro this Friday. It’s speculative, but it’s something to think about.

  • Security issues in DeepSeek app for iPhones

    Security issues in DeepSeek app for iPhones

    The DeepSeek app, which quickly became one of the top downloads on the Apple App Store, has been found to have several serious security issues.

    Past Concerns with DeepSeek

    DeepSeek caught everyone’s attention when it suddenly became the most downloaded app for iPhones. AI experts were amazed because it worked well even on phones with less powerful hardware. This led to a drop in stock prices for some big AI companies in the U.S.

    However, soon after, questions about privacy and security started to come up. Privacy regulators in Italy and Ireland began to question if the app followed European privacy laws, while U.S. officials looked into possible security risks. A major slip-up was when DeepSeek left a database unprotected, spilling over a million lines of user data, including private chats and secret codes.

    New Security Flaws in DeepSeek App

    NowSecure, a company that checks mobile app security, found that DeepSeek has turned off a key security feature on iPhones. This feature, called App Transport Security (ATS), makes sure that private information is sent safely. With ATS off, the app sends data without protection, which could be seen by anyone.

    The data might not look dangerous by itself, but when you put a lot of these pieces together, you can figure out who people are. This was shown in another case with Gravy Analytics where similar data was used to identify millions of people.

    Also, the app uses an old and weak method of hiding data, known as 3DES, which isn’t good enough to keep information secret anymore.

    Espionage Risks

    The app collects lots of little bits of information which, if combined with data from other apps, can be used to pinpoint specific users. For example, if someone is using DeepSeek on an iPad connected to a special network used by emergency services, they might become a target for spying.

    The report from NowSecure strongly suggests that the DeepSeek app for iPhones isn’t safe to use, and it warns that the version for Android phones might be even worse.

  • Mac app store issues for older Mac systems

    Mac app store issues for older Mac systems

    Mac users with older macOS versions are facing problems when trying to use the Mac App Store. Specifically, those with macOS Mojave (10.14) and older are having trouble.

    Reports started coming in around January 24, 2025, suggesting that something went wrong when Apple updated how receipts work in the App Store. Users are seeing error messages like “Something went wrong while logging in” or “We couldn’t read the data because it’s not in the right format.”

    The experience varies depending on which macOS version you’re using. If you’re on Catalina (10.15) or newer, everything works fine. But if you’re still using Mojave (10.14), you can look around the store, but you can’t buy new apps or download ones you’ve already bought once your session ends. For those on High Sierra (10.13), parts of the store’s interface might not show up, and signing in can be tricky. Users on Sierra (10.12) are seeing messages that stop them from even getting into the store.

    It looks like these problems might have something to do with Apple’s new way of handling receipts, but we’re not sure yet. For those stuck with these issues, Apple offers other ways to get macOS updates. Also, many apps can still be downloaded directly from the developers’ own websites, outside of the App Store.

    This situation leaves older Mac users in a bit of a bind, hoping for a quick fix from Apple to restore full functionality to the Mac App Store on their systems.

    Source

  • WhatsApp fixes privacy issue in new iPhone update

    WhatsApp fixes privacy issue in new iPhone update

    WhatsApp has just released an update for iPhones, version 25.2.3, to fix a big privacy problem with its “View Once” option. This option lets you send photos or videos that should vanish after one view, but because of a mistake, people could see them again.

    The Problem

    This issue was only for iPhone users. It let anyone look at the photos or videos they were supposed to see just once by going into the app’s settings, checking storage details, and finding the newest files. This meant the privacy feature wasn’t working as it should.

    How It Was Found

    A security expert named Ramshath wrote about this problem on Medium, which made WhatsApp aware of it and they worked on a solution. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time; last year, they fixed a similar problem on WhatsApp Web.

    New Features

    Along with fixing this issue, the update brings some new things you can do. Now, you can make calls to numbers you haven’t saved in your contacts, and there are better ways to handle group calls.

    What to Do

    If you use WhatsApp on an iPhone, you should update the app right away from the App Store to keep your private photos and videos safe. This update makes sure that when you send something meant to be seen once, it really does disappear after one view.