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  • 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.

  • Apple releases early test versions of tvOS 18.4 and watchOS 11.4

    Apple releases early test versions of tvOS 18.4 and watchOS 11.4

    Today, Apple shared the first test versions, or betas, of its upcoming watchOS 11.4 and tvOS 18.4 updates. These are meant for developers to try out and test before the official release.

    Developers who are signed up with Apple can grab these early versions directly through the Settings app on their devices, like the Apple Watch or Apple TV.

    So far, Apple hasn’t spilled the beans on what’s new in these updates. We don’t have details about any fresh features or changes yet. But don’t worry—if anything exciting pops up as developers dig into these betas, we’ll make sure to add that info here and keep you posted.

    These betas are a chance for developers to explore and help Apple smooth out any bugs before the updates reach everyone. Stay tuned for more as we learn what’s in store!

  • Apple drops iCloud security feature in the UK due to government rules

    Apple drops iCloud security feature in the UK due to government rules

    Apple is taking away a special security option called Advanced Data Protection for iCloud users in the United Kingdom. This tool allowed people to keep their iCloud information super safe with a lock only they could open. But the UK government has told tech companies like Apple to add secret ways into these locks, called backdoors.

    Instead of adding these backdoors and weakening the safety of Advanced Data Protection, Apple decided to remove it completely for UK users. In a message to 9to5Mac, Apple explained that people already using this feature will soon have to turn it off to keep their iCloud accounts working.

    For those in the UK who haven’t turned on Advanced Data Protection yet, the choice is gone. When they try, they’ll see a note saying, “Apple can’t offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) to new users in the United Kingdom anymore.”

    If you’re a UK user with this feature on, Apple says you’ll need to switch it off soon to keep using iCloud. Since the safety lock is so tight, Apple can’t turn it off for you—they’ll share a guide to help you do it yourself.

    Apple isn’t happy about this change. They said, “We’re really upset that UK users won’t have this strong protection anymore, especially with more data leaks and privacy risks out there. Keeping your info safe in the cloud is more important than ever. We want to give our users the best security and hope to bring this back to the UK someday. We’ve never made a secret key to unlock our products, and we won’t.”

    Without this protection, the UK government can now ask Apple for data from any iCloud account whenever they want. The new rules even stop Apple from telling users when their info is taken.
    Some iCloud features, like passwords and health data, still have this strong lock for now. But it’s unclear how long that will last with the UK’s new demands. Apple hasn’t said much about what’s next for those parts.

    Source

  • All iPhone 17 models to get Apple’s own Wi-Fi 7 Chip

    All iPhone 17 models to get Apple’s own Wi-Fi 7 Chip

    Good news for iPhone fans! This week, Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo shared that all four iPhone 17 models will come with a brand-new Wi-Fi chip made by Apple. While he didn’t say exactly which Wi-Fi version it will use, it’s very likely to be Wi-Fi 7.

    Another analyst, Jeff Pu, who keeps an eye on companies linked to Apple, also mentioned this in a report for GF Securities earlier this month. He agrees that every iPhone 17 model will have this Apple-made Wi-Fi 7 chip.

    The iPhone 16 series already works with Wi-Fi 7, so this isn’t a huge shock. What’s exciting, though, is that Apple is creating its own chip for it. Recently, Apple introduced its custom C1 modem in the iPhone 16e for better phone signal, and now it’s set to launch its own Wi-Fi chip in the iPhone 17 later this year. By making its own parts, Apple wants to depend less on other companies, like Qualcomm for modems and Broadcom for Wi-Fi chips, and maybe stop using them altogether one day.

    Wi-Fi 7 is super fast and reliable. It uses three bands—2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz—at the same time when paired with the right router. This means quicker internet, less delay, and a stronger connection. With Wi-Fi 7, speeds can hit over 40 Gbps, which is four times faster than Wi-Fi 6E, as long as your device can handle it. Apple is expected to show off the iPhone 17 lineup in September. With these upgrades, it looks like the next iPhones will bring even better tech to your hands!

  • Apple Vision Pro’s New Adventure Video: Surfing in the arctic

    Apple Vision Pro’s New Adventure Video: Surfing in the arctic

    Apple Vision Pro fans can now enjoy a fresh six-minute video on the Apple TV app. It’s the second part of the exciting “Boundless” series, called “Arctic Surfing.” In “Arctic Surfing,” you get to join a brave group of surfers as they paddle through freezing waters. You’ll feel the thrill of catching chilly waves in Norway’s stunning winter scenery.

    Before this, the first episode, “Hot Air Balloons,” took viewers soaring over Türkiye’s famous rocky landscapes. And there’s more to come—next Friday, a new episode called “Deep Water Solo” will drop, promising another exciting experience.

    This cool new video is ready to watch on the Apple TV app in places like Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. For folks in China, it’s available on the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.

    With these videos, Apple Vision Pro brings wild adventures right to your screen, making you feel like you’re there. Whether it’s surfing icy waves or floating high in the sky, something is amazing to explore in this series!

  • Apple Store offline before iPhone 16e pre-orders begin

    Apple Store offline before iPhone 16e pre-orders begin

    Apple’s online store is currently unavailable as the company prepares for iPhone 16e pre-orders, set to start at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the U.S. For the past few years, Apple has chosen this early morning time for pre-orders, moving away from its older habit of starting at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

    Shoppers in 59 countries and areas—like Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S.—can place their pre-orders for the iPhone 16e once the store is back online.

    The iPhone 16e is Apple’s latest budget-friendly phone, priced at $599. It’s the newest version of the iPhone SE and the cheapest option in Apple’s lineup right now. This phone mixes features from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16. It has a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a notch for the TrueDepth camera, a flat-edged aluminum body, a tough Ceramic Shield front, a single back camera, and a fast A18 chip that supports Apple Intelligence.

    With the iPhone 16e, Apple is saying goodbye to some older tech. You won’t find Lightning ports, LCD screens, or 64GB storage anymore. Plus, 6.1 inches is now the smallest screen size Apple makes. In the U.S., it starts at $599 and comes in white or black, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.

    Source

  • Possible screen sizes revealed for Apple’s foldable iPhone

    Possible screen sizes revealed for Apple’s foldable iPhone

    Here’s some fresh buzz about Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone! For more than eight years, whispers about a phone that folds in half have floated around. These hints haven’t always matched up, but they show Apple’s been busy testing different designs. The toughest part? Perfecting the hinge. Apple wants the screen to stay smooth with no visible line when it’s unfolded, and they’re working hard to make that happen before selling it.

    Today’s news comes from a Weibo user called Digital Chat Station, who shared details about the screen sizes. They say the foldable iPhone has a 5.49-inch outer screen, a bit like the new Oppo Find N5, but shorter and wider. When you open it up, there’s a bigger 7.74-inch inner screen that spreads out like an iPad. Both screens supposedly have a unique shape that’s different from what we’ve seen before. The leaker claims this phone could hit stores next year or the year after, and a foldable iPad might show up around the same time.

    Should we believe this? Well, Digital Chat Station has been right before about things like the iPhone 12 mini’s screen, the iPhone 15’s better camera, and the iPhone 16 Pro’s size bump. Their guess about when this foldable might launch also lines up with what others are saying. Experts like Ming-Chi Kuo, and Jeff Pu, and reports from The Information and The Wall Street Journal point to late 2026 or early 2027 for Apple’s foldable debut. We’re excited to see if this rumor finally turns into something real! Want more details on Apple’s foldable plans? Check out our special guide for the latest updates.

  • iPhone 16e speed test, memory, and charging details unveiled

    iPhone 16e speed test, memory, and charging details unveiled

    The iPhone 16e comes with the A18 chip, but its graphics part is a bit different from the one in the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 has a 5-core GPU, while the iPhone 16e has a 4-core GPU. This small change affects how fast it handles graphics.

    A new speed test from Geekbench, spotted by MySmartPrice, shows what this means for users. The iPhone 16e scored 24,188 points in graphics testing. That’s about 13-15% lower than the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Even so, most people upgrading from older iPhones won’t feel this difference. The phone still runs much better than older models.

    The test also reveals that the iPhone 16e has 8GB of memory. This is great news because it means the phone will stay fast and work well with Apple’s smart features for years to come. Another detail comes from a filing in China. It shows the iPhone 16e can charge quickly using a USB-C cable, up to 29W. This is close to the 30W speed of the iPhone 16. We’ll need more tests to be sure it hits that 29W mark, but it looks promising. For wireless charging, it supports Qi at 7.5W. However, it doesn’t work with MagSafe.

    The iPhone 16e starts at $599, and you can pre-order it today. The first shipments will arrive on Friday, February 28. This phone uses a slightly toned-down A18 chip compared to the iPhone 16. Companies sometimes do this—taking chips with a small flaw and using them in cheaper models. Here, the GPU has one less core, but the main power (a 6-core CPU) stays the same.

    For its price, the iPhone 16e still offers strong performance. More tests will show how it handles daily tasks and games, but it’s a solid choice for the cost. Pre-orders begin today at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and it’ll be available in 59 countries by the end of February. Running on iOS 18.3.1, this phone is ready to impress budget-friendly buyers.

    Source/Via

  • Apple testing new C2 modem for upcoming iPhones, says insider

    Apple testing new C2 modem for upcoming iPhones, says insider

    Apple is working on a new C2 modem for its future iPhones, according to a trusted source. This insider, known for reliable leaks, shared the news recently.

    iPhone Technology

    The source, posting from a private X account, revealed that the C2 modem carries the code C4020 inside Apple. This suggests the modem is already in development. While no extra details were shared, the insider has a solid history of accurate predictions. They’ve asked us not to link their private account in this story.

    Apple has said before that it began designing new iPhone parts years before they hit the market. So, it’s no shock that a C2 modem is in the works. This next version is expected to bring quicker, more dependable 5G connections. Plus, it might use even less power than the current one.

    Apple claims the C1 modem, found in the iPhone 16e, is the most energy-saving modem they’ve made so far. It helps that phone achieve the best battery life ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone—better than even the pricier iPhone 16.

    Speed tests for the C1 modem are still pending. However, many believe Apple’s first modem won’t match the pace of Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon X75, which powers other iPhones. In a chat with Apple’s chip boss, Johny Srouji, he called the C1 modem just the “beginning.” That hints the C2 modem will take things to the next level. The news shows Apple keeps pushing to improve its tech, aiming for faster and longer-lasting iPhones in the years ahead.

  • iPhone 17 Air might come with a bigger 6.7-inch screen

    iPhone 17 Air might come with a bigger 6.7-inch screen

    Apple’s upcoming “iPhone 17 Air” could surprise fans with a slightly larger screen than first thought. On a recent episode of the Recycle Bin podcast, tech insider Jon Prosser shared that the iPhone 17 Air will likely have a 6.7-inch display. This is a small jump from earlier rumors pointing to a 6.6-inch screen. Last year, screen expert Ross Young predicted a 6.55-inch display, which rounds up to 6.6 inches. Now, it’s unclear whether the size will land at 6.6 or 6.7 inches—both seem possible.

    Prosser also mentioned that the iPhone 17 Air could be super slim, measuring about 5.64mm thick. That’s not counting the back camera bump, though. Another trusted source, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, had suggested it might be even thinner at 5.5mm. The two numbers are close, so either could turn out to be right.

    Jon Prosser, who runs the YouTube channel Front Page Tech, is a familiar name in the tech world. He’s had some wins and losses with Apple leaks. For example, he nailed the AirTag’s look in 2020, way before its launch, and shared spot-on details about the iPad mini 6. But he missed the mark when he said the Apple Watch Series 7 would have flat sides—something that didn’t happen, though Apple might have toyed with the idea.

    Lately, Prosser has been busy dropping hints about Apple goodies. He’s teased possible designs for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air, plus a rumor that iOS 19 might bring a fresh Camera app styled like visionOS. Fans won’t have to wait too long to find out. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 Air in September. For now, these details are just whispers, but they’re enough to get people excited about what’s next!