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  • Apple solves a big CarPlay problem

    Apple solves a big CarPlay problem

    Apple rolled out the iOS 18.4 beta on Friday, bringing some fresh and exciting updates. Among them are Priority Notifications powered by Apple Intelligence, a new Food category in the Apple News app, and a few other goodies. But there’s one smaller tweak that didn’t grab much attention—a change to CarPlay, especially for cars with bigger screens.

    A user named Jace noticed on Threads that CarPlay in iOS 18.4 now shows three rows of app icons instead of just two. This update makes better use of larger car screens, giving you more apps at a glance. Not every car gets this upgrade, though. The extra row only pops up on bigger displays, but it’s not clear exactly how big the screen needs to be.

    For example, MacRumors pointed out that it works on the Toyota Tundra, which can have a screen up to 14 inches. So, if your car’s screen is on the smaller side, you might not see this change yet. This update is a big win for drivers. Car screens keep getting larger, but CarPlay hasn’t always kept up, leaving some space on the display.

    With CarPlay 2 still not here, this fix is a nice in-between solution. It makes things more convenient, especially for people with big screens, by showing more apps at once. That means less swiping through home screen pages while you’re on the road. Overall, it’s a simple but smart move by Apple. For those with the right setup, it makes using CarPlay feel smoother and less cluttered.

  • Find My feature now works in South Korea with iOS 18.4 Beta

    Find My feature now works in South Korea with iOS 18.4 Beta

    Back in July, people in South Korea started a petition begging Apple to turn on the Find My feature in their country. Many thought it wasn’t available because of strict government rules, but the petition said that wasn’t true. Apple promised to bring Find My to South Korea by spring 2025, and they’re starting to make it happen now.

    Aaron Perris shared on X that the Find My network is up and running in South Korea with the iOS 18.4 beta 1 release. This is great news for folks there—they can now track down their missing gadgets. Plus, it might stop thieves in their tracks since the activation lock, which depends on Find My, was a big point in the petition.

    We’re expecting the full iOS 18.4 update to drop for everyone in April. It comes with some cool extras like Priority Notifications, a fresh Food section in the Apple News app, and more. Want the full scoop? Check out our guide on what’s new in iOS 18.4 beta. If you’re in South Korea and don’t mind trying the beta version, you can finally use this feature that’s been missing from your iPhone for so long.

  • What the iPhone 17 Pro Max might look like

    What the iPhone 17 Pro Max might look like

    Now that the iPhone 16e has been revealed, everyone’s excited about what’s next—the iPhone 17 family. A fresh leak has given us the clearest peek so far at what the iPhone 17 Pro Max could look like. This sneak peek comes from Sonny Dickson, a well-known Apple insider. He recently posted a picture on social media showing what he claims is a model of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with a MagSafe case made to match its shape.

    The biggest change you’ll notice is the new camera setup. Instead of the usual cluster of lenses tucked in the top left corner, the design spreads things out. The flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor are now separate from the three main lenses. This fresh look is being called a “camera bar” style.

    This new camera design isn’t just for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s also expected to show up on the iPhone 17 Pro and a brand-new super-slim model called the iPhone 17 Air. However, the regular iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus are likely to keep their current camera look without any big updates.

    The leaked image has sparked a lot of buzz, and if it’s real, it shows Apple is shaking things up with a bold new style for its top-tier phones. We’ll have to wait for the official reveal to know for sure, but this glimpse has fans talking already!

  • iPhone 17 Pro set to be your go-to video recorder

    iPhone 17 Pro set to be your go-to video recorder

    A recent report from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter reveals that Apple is gearing up to make the iPhone 17 Pro a game-changer for video recording. While the company has long focused on perfecting photos, it’s exciting to know that video is finally getting some serious attention.

    Apple has been working hard to make the iPhone the ultimate camera replacement. For years, they’ve aimed to build the best camera system you can carry in your pocket. Now, they’re ready to take it up a level by improving video features. iPhones have always done a decent job with video, but Apple wants to make them even better.

    According to Gurman, Apple’s big plan for the 2025 iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, is to win over vloggers and video creators. They want these folks to ditch their separate cameras and rely on iPhones instead:

    A key aim for the 2025 models is to convince vloggers and other video makers to switch from traditional cameras to iPhones for more of their projects. Expect Apple to highlight these upgraded video skills big time when the new phones launch in September.

    The report doesn’t spill the beans on exactly how Apple will boost the iPhone 17 Pro’s video game, but more details should pop up soon. This shift sounds pretty cool to me, and I’m curious to see what’s coming next!

    Source

  • Apple set to release new MacBook Air with M4 Chip soon

    Apple set to release new MacBook Air with M4 Chip soon

    Apple is getting ready to roll out a fresh take on its 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops, powered by the new M4 chip. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the big reveal is expected to happen in March.

    Talk about this M4 MacBook Air has been buzzing for a while now. Hints of it popped up in the macOS 15.2 beta back in December, making it seem like the launch was close. Gurman had even hinted that the MacBook Air would hit the market before other spring releases, like the iPhone 16e and iPad Air. But while the iPhone 16e is already out, the MacBook Air has kept us waiting.

    That wait might finally be ending soon. Gurman says Apple is gearing up for a March launch and is busy getting its marketing, sales, and store teams ready. He also mentioned that the older M2 and M3 MacBook Air models are running low in stock at stores, which could be a sign the new version is on its way.

    As for what’s new with the M4 MacBook Air, the details are slim. The star of the show is the M4 chip, but there could be a few other upgrades too. Some possibilities include faster Thunderbolt 4 ports (instead of the current USB 4/Thunderbolt 3 setup), a better Center Stage camera for video calls, and maybe even a nano-texture screen option to cut down on glare.

    These features have already shown up in other Macs with the M4 chip, so they’d make sense here too. Apple fans won’t have to wait much longer to see what’s in store. With March just around the corner, the new MacBook Air could be here before we know it!

    Source

  • Apple plans to add Google Gemini to Apple Intelligence

    Apple plans to add Google Gemini to Apple Intelligence

    Right now, Apple Intelligence lets Siri pass some questions to ChatGPT for smarter, more detailed answers than Siri can give on its own. During WWDC24, Apple’s software leader, Craig Federighi, hinted in a chat that they’re open to teaming up with other AI systems, like Google Gemini. A fresh leak suggests this teamwork might happen soon.

    A recent update tied to the iOS 18.4 beta shows “Google” and “OpenAI” listed as outside options for Apple Intelligence. This clue comes from code explorer Aaron Perris, who shared it onX. This doesn’t promise Gemini will pop up in iOS 18.4—especially since Apple Intelligence has faced some slowdowns already—but it strongly hints it’s coming eventually. It could land in a later iOS 18 tweak or roll out with iOS 19. Word is, Apple’s also cooking up its own chatty Siri upgrade for iOS 19.

    Google just dropped some shiny new Gemini 2.0 models, including one built for better reasoning. These might soon show up on iPhones, at least if you’ve got an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or 16 Pro, or the upcoming iPhone 16e. In short, Apple’s gearing up to mix Google’s brainpower into its tech, giving users more ways to get sharp answers straight from their phones. Stay tuned—big things could be on the way!

  • Apple stops new iOS 18.4 and watchOS 11.4 test updates for some devices

    Apple stops new iOS 18.4 and watchOS 11.4 test updates for some devices

    Today, Apple halted the watchOS 11.4 beta 1 update for all Apple Watch Series 6 users, meaning they can’t try out this early version anymore. This info comes from Aaron Perris on X. Apple also paused iOS and iPadOS 18.4 beta 1 for certain iPhones and iPads.

    watchOS 11.4 Beta Removed

    Apple rolled out the watchOS 11.4 beta just yesterday, along with iOS 18.4 beta, visionOS 2.4 beta, and others. While those updates brought some cool new stuff, it’s not clear what was different about watchOS 11.4 beta.

    Two people on the r/watchOSbeta subreddit said their Apple Watches stopped working after installing it. One mentioned they had a Series 6, but the other didn’t say which model. Because of this, Apple likely decided to pull the update. Aaron says this affects all Series 6 versions: GPS (40mm and 44mm) and GPS + Cellular (40mm and 44mm).

    iOS and iPadOS 18.4 Beta Stopped Too

    Apple also blocked iOS 18.4 beta 1 for several devices, like most iPhone 12 models, some 2020 iPads, and the cellular versions of the latest iPad Air. People noticed their devices kept restarting after the update, though the exact problem isn’t clear. Here’s the list of affected devices:

    • iPhone 12 Pro
    • iPhone 12 Pro Max
    • iPhone 12 mini
    • iPad 8 (Cellular)
    • iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi)
    • iPad Air 4 (Cellular)
    • iPad Air 11-inch (M2) (Cellular)
    • iPad Air 13-inch (M2) (Cellular)

    Hopefully, Apple will fix these issues and bring the betas back soon. It’s funny how most of the devices having trouble came out in 2020. For now, users with these gadgets will have to wait a bit longer for the next test versions.

  • 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.

  • iOS 18.4 brings a smart way to sort notifications

    iOS 18.4 brings a smart way to sort notifications

    In the latest iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta updates, Apple has added a handy new tool called Priority Notifications. This feature helps you see your most important alerts right away by putting them at the top.

    Apple first talked about Priority Notifications back in June when they introduced Apple Intelligence, but it’s only now showing up in these updates. By default, the feature is turned off. If you want to use it, just head to Settings, tap Notifications, find the Prioritize Notifications option, and switch it on with a quick tap.

    Once it’s active, Apple Intelligence steps in to figure out which notifications matter most to you. These could be urgent messages, reminders, or updates you wouldn’t want to miss. The system then places them in a special spot on your Lock Screen, so you don’t have to dig through everything else to find what’s important.

    This simple addition makes it easier to stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed by a flood of alerts. Whether it’s a text from a loved one or a work email that needs attention, Priority Notifications aims to save you time and keep you focused. It’s a small but smart change that shows how Apple is using its tech to make everyday tasks smoother.

    The feature is still in beta, so it might get even better by the time the full update rolls out. For now, it’s a promising step toward a less cluttered and more helpful notification system. If you’re testing the beta, give it a try and see how it works for you!