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  • Easy guide to using the new Apple Events App

    Easy guide to using the new Apple Events App

    Apple just launched a new app called “Party Planner” for iPhone users. It’s all about making event planning fun and easy, but some cool features are only for specific users. Here’s who can enjoy what in this new app.

    Installing Party Planner

    Who can do it? iPhone users with the latest iOS update
    To use Party Planner, you need to have iOS 18 on your iPhone. This means if you’re still using an older version like iOS 17, you won’t be able to join the fun. Also, there’s no version for Android users.

    Making Your Own Event Invites

    Who can do it? iCloud+ or Apple One subscribers
    If you want to create your own event invites, you must subscribe to iCloud+. This service gives you extra storage space and some privacy features. Even the basic $0.99/month plan lets you make and send invites. Remember, if you’re on an Apple One plan, you already have access to both iCloud+ and Party Planner.

    Accepting Event Invites

    Who can do it? Anyone with an email address
    The good news is, you don’t need an Apple account or even an iPhone to accept an invite. All you need is an email address. You can easily accept or decline invites sent your way.

    Music Collaboration

    Who can do it? Apple Music subscribers
    With Party Planner, you can set up a shared playlist for your event where guests can add their favorite songs. But, both the event creator and the guests need to be subscribed to Apple Music to play around with the playlist.

    Sharing Photos in an Event Album

    Who can do it? Apple Account users
    One of the best parts of Party Planner is the shared photo album for events. It’s a place where everyone can upload and share photos from the event. You just need a free Apple Account to contribute, and you don’t even need an iPhone – you can upload photos right from the web at iCloud.com/party-planner.

    This app is designed to make your events more interactive and memorable, but remember, some of its features do require you to be part of the Apple ecosystem or subscribe to their services.

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  • Good News for Old iPhone 7 Users: You might get some money back

    Good News for Old iPhone 7 Users: You might get some money back

    If you owned an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus back in 2016 or 2017, you might be in for a treat. These phones were pretty great, but some had a problem called “Loop Disease.” This issue led to a class action lawsuit a few years back, which got the green light last year. Now, in 2025, those former owners are starting to see some cash.

    The payments are around $200 for each claim, which isn’t too shabby. This money comes from a $35 million settlement, with the lawyers who pushed the lawsuit getting the largest slice of the pie.

    The time to join the lawsuit was up last summer, so if you missed it, you’re out of luck. Apple didn’t admit they did anything wrong but agreed to settle anyway.

    “Loop Disease” supposedly came from pressing on a specific part of the phone, leading to bad sound during calls, especially on FaceTime. How much money you get depends if you had to pay for fixing the phone due to this issue. Those who didn’t pay for repairs will likely get less, with the highest possible payment being $350.

    This isn’t the first time Apple has settled over hardware issues. Last fall, MacBook users with problematic butterfly keyboards also started getting their share from a separate settlement.

    So, if you were one of those affected iPhone 7 users, check your mail or bank account; you might find a pleasant surprise waiting for you.

  • Apple starts making its new M5 Chip

    Apple starts making its new M5 Chip

    Apple has kicked off the production of its latest M5 chip, according to reports from South Korean sources. This new chip could show up in devices as early as this year.

    The process of putting together the M5 chip began last month, as noted by ET News. This final step, called packaging, comes after the chip is made and involves protecting it and connecting it to other parts of a device.

    Apple works with a company called TSMC to make the chips on special silicon discs. After that, other companies, like Taiwan’s ASE Group, America’s Amkor, and China’s JCET, handle the packaging. Reports say ASE started first, with the others set to follow one by one.

    Right now, the focus is on making the basic M5 chip, not the more powerful versions like the M5 Pro, M5 Max, or M5 Ultra. The companies involved are also building new facilities to help produce these higher-end models later.

    The M5 chip is expected to have a better design based on ARM technology and is being made using TSMC’s advanced 3-nanometer method. Apple chose not to use an even newer 2-nanometer process, likely to keep costs down. However, the more advanced M5 versions will still be a big step up from the current M4 chips, thanks to a special stacking technique called System on Integrated Chip (SoIC).

    This stacking method layers the chips on top of each other, which helps manage heat better and reduces power loss compared to flat designs. Apple is also teaming up with TSMC on a new version of this stacking that uses a mix of materials, including carbon fiber, for even better results.

    The first device to get the M5 chip is likely to be a new iPad Pro, expected to start production in the second half of next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Here’s when other devices might get the M5:

    • iPad Pro: Late 2025 or early to mid-2026
    • MacBook Pro: Late 2025
    • MacBook Air: Early 2026
    • Apple Vision Pro: Fall 2025 to Spring 2026

    Hints of the M5 chip have already been found in Apple’s official code. Reports also suggest the chip’s design will help power both regular devices and Apple’s AI servers, boosting performance for both everyday users and cloud services.

    Source

  • Discover ‘Weave’: Your new app for social media, blogs, and more on iPhone

    Discover ‘Weave’: Your new app for social media, blogs, and more on iPhone

    The team behind the beloved Twitterrific app has just released ‘Weave’, a new app designed to blend your social media, blogs, and other online content into one easy-to-use timeline.

    Weave Brings Together Your Online World on iPhone and iPad

    A while back, we shared news about ‘Project Tapestry’, which has now evolved into ‘Weave’ and is available on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. The app’s main goal? To create a single, flowing timeline where you can enjoy your favorite blogs, social networks, and more.

    Here’s what you can expect from Weave:

    • Your Internet, Your Rules: Weave mixes posts from platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, Tumblr, alongside RSS feeds, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Everything appears in the order it happens, so you see what’s new first, without any algorithmic interference.
    • Easy Browsing: With Weave, you can look through content from many sources effortlessly. Set up your timelines, sync where you left off on different devices, and enjoy your feeds in a clear, colorful layout.
    • No Spoilers Here: Set up rules to filter out content you don’t want to see, keeping your feed spoiler-free and tailored to your interests.
    • Find What You Need: Search across all your feeds at once. Whether it’s a blog post, video, or podcast, Weave helps you find it quickly and save it for later.
    • Privacy First: Weave keeps your data on your device, ensuring your privacy. There’s no selling or sharing of your information.
    • Expand Your Weave: With custom connectors, you can add even more types of content. If there’s an open data feed out there, you can connect it to Weave.

    Weave offers the kind of user-friendly customization you’d expect from Twitterrific creators, including options for icons, layouts, and fonts, plus support for both light and dark modes. You can save articles for later, too.

    Weave is free to download from the App Store, but you can opt for a subscription to enjoy features like ad removal, custom timelines, and more. Subscription options include $1.99 per month, $19.99 per year, or a one-time payment of $79.99.

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  • Apple’s request to join Google lawsuit denied again

    Apple’s request to join Google lawsuit denied again

    Apple is trying hard to protect its big money deal with Google as Google faces legal action for breaking antitrust rules, but the court isn’t helping. Recently, Apple asked for an urgent pause in the case to join in, but the judge said no and decided to keep the case moving forward.

    Google Logo Feature Slack

    Back in November, Apple wanted a bigger say in how the case would proceed, arguing that Google shouldn’t keep breaking the law. The court turned them down, so Apple appealed, but appeals take time. While waiting, Apple asked for the case to stop, but the judge didn’t agree.

    The court believes Apple hasn’t shown it would be badly hurt without this pause, nor has it clearly stated why it needs to be more involved or what new information it could add. The judge also feels that there’s no clear error in the first decision to keep Apple out of the lawsuit. Plus, it’s important to keep moving to stop Google from continuing these illegal actions.

    The court’s ruling pointed out that this case has been going on for over four years now, and any delay would be significant. Moreover, the court found that Google broke the law by making deals with companies like Apple to keep its monopoly in search and ad markets. Allowing Apple’s request for a pause would just let this illegal activity go on, which isn’t good for the public.

    Last year, Google was found guilty of these antitrust violations, with its deal with Apple being a key issue. Google gives Apple billions yearly to be the default search in Safari, and this was deemed illegal. The U.S. government wants to stop Google from making such deals with Apple and others. If Google can’t continue these agreements, Apple could lose billions, yet would still need to offer Google as a search option.

    Google might also face tougher penalties like selling Chrome or separating Android from services like Google Search and the Google Play Store. Apple worries that Google will focus on protecting these assets over their search deal, which is why Apple wants to intervene.

    In their filing for a pause, Apple argued, “If we can’t resolve our appeal before or during the remedies trial, we might just have to watch as the government pushes for harsh changes that could stop us from working with Google for ten years.”

    Apple is now pushing to speed up its appeal to join the lawsuit against Google, with the next phase of the case due to start in April. If they can speed things up, their appeal might be heard before then.

    Source

  • Why new iPhone owners love Apple’s AI

    Why new iPhone owners love Apple’s AI

    Apple announced the iPhone 16 as the first model designed specifically for Apple’s AI features. But until they shared how many phones they sold, we weren’t sure if people would care. Now, it’s pretty clear they do.

    iPhone 16 is Doing Great with AI

    Last week, Apple reported their biggest earnings ever, with revenues hitting $124.3 billion. When you look closer, you see that their main products – iPhone, iPad, and Mac – are selling well. iPads and Macs did particularly well, maybe because of AI, or maybe not. The iPhone 16 didn’t sell as much as last year’s model but still did quite well.

    Here’s why it’s good news:

    Tim Cook said that the iPhone 16 is selling better than the iPhone 15. This is a big deal. What’s even more telling is that the iPhone 16 sells better in places where Apple’s AI features are available. Right now, these features aren’t available in Europe or China. And China is where the iPhone isn’t doing as well, showing that AI might be a key factor.

    What Does This All Mean?

    It looks like Apple’s AI story is hitting the mark, at least for now. Apple can celebrate the iPhone’s success, but making their AI even better is the next big challenge.

    Is Apple Intelligence Really That Good?

    Even if you’re not sure if Apple’s AI features are impressive, people are paying more to get the AI-focused iPhone 16 than they did for previous models. The places where AI isn’t available are facing temporary sales issues, which could mean big opportunities for Apple in the future. So, it’s a win for Apple’s AI, a win for iPhone sales, but the next big question is: will people keep loving the AI once they start using it?

    How will customers feel about it?

    We’ll get some answers with the updates coming in iOS 18.4, but the real test will be with the launch of iOS 19 in June.

  • India gives Apple a tax break to boost iPhone manufacturing

    India gives Apple a tax break to boost iPhone manufacturing

    Apple is now enjoying a significant tax benefit in India, making it less expensive to put together iPhones right there in the country. This news came from the government just this past weekend.

    India, a Growing Hub for Apple

    India has become the second biggest place where Apple makes its iPhones, only behind China. There have been big plans talked about, suggesting that by 2027, half of all iPhones might be made in India. However, things haven’t moved as quickly as hoped.

    Last year marked a big change, though. According to Bloomberg, one out of every seven iPhones was made in India by April. The production of newer, high-end models was slower because they needed very specialized equipment. But with the iPhone 16, things got better as production in India started not long after the phone was first introduced.

    New Tax Benefits

    The Indian government has been slowly lowering the taxes on importing parts needed to make electronics in India. They’ve now made this even better by announcing more reductions. Reuters mentions that one of these changes is setting the tax rate to zero for printed circuit boards, which are crucial for phones like the iPhone.

    During the annual budget presentation on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared that they’ve removed taxes on several parts needed for making mobile phones. This includes the assembly of printed circuit boards, parts for camera modules, and USB cables, which used to have a 2.5% tax.

    This tax cut is expected to reduce the cost of making iPhones in India, hoping that Apple will choose to do more of its manufacturing there.

    Source

  • Discover your 2025 music journey with Apple Music replay

    Discover your 2025 music journey with Apple Music replay

    The latest Apple Music Replay playlist for 2025 is now ready for you to check out. Many users have noticed that this year’s Replay playlist has appeared in their music collections today.

    Apple Music Replay keeps track of your favorite songs, albums, and artists all year long. This playlist isn’t static; it changes throughout the year, giving you a glimpse of your music tastes up to the current month. By December, you’ll have a complete summary of your year in music.

    This feature is great for Apple Music fans because it lets you keep tabs on your music habits as the year goes by. Currently, the Replay ’25 playlist shows your listening trends from January 2025, and it will keep updating as the year moves forward.

    To find your Replay playlist, just go to the bottom of the Home screen in your Apple Music app. Once you see the playlist card, you can tap it and save it to your Library for quick access later. It will refresh itself with your most recent listening activities.

    For more insights, you can visit the Apple Music Replay website. There, you can see stats like how many minutes you’ve listened, who your top artists and albums are, and if you’ve hit any listening milestones. These details will grow with each passing month, starting from January 2025.

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  • A Simple Guide to Apple One: Why a student plan could work

    A Simple Guide to Apple One: Why a student plan could work

    Apple One, which came out in 2020, makes it easy for Apple lovers to sign up for several services at once with a good discount. Right now, there are three levels: Individual, Family, and Premier.

    Current Apple One Levels

    • Individual: For $19.95 each month, you get Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and 50GB of iCloud+ storage.
    • Family: At $26.95 a month, you get 200GB of iCloud+ storage, and you can share everything with your family.
    • Premier: For $37.95 monthly, this gives you Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and a big 2TB of iCloud+ storage.

    These options work well, but I think there’s a chance to do something even better by adding a tier for students.

    Why Students?

    Apple already offers a student discount for Apple Music, which is usually $10.99 but drops to $5.99 for students. Plus, students get Apple TV+ for free as long as they keep the student subscription. This shows Apple knows how to attract students with deals.

    The Idea: Apple One for Students

    We could imagine an Apple One Student plan. It would be like the Individual plan but cheaper. Students could enjoy iCloud+ for their files and photos, and Apple Arcade for some fun gaming, in addition to the music and TV they already get with their student perks.

    If we look at the 45% discount on Apple Music for students, an Apple One Student plan might be around $10.95 a month. This would be a great way for Apple to get more young users interested in their services.

    After students finish school or after five years (whichever comes first), they might keep using Apple One because they’re already used to the benefits. This could be a win-win situation for both Apple and the students.

    In summary, while Apple One is already a solid choice for many, adding a student tier could make it even better, helping Apple grow its user base among younger people while giving students great value for money.

  • Apple seeks to protect its big money deal with Google

    Apple seeks to protect its big money deal with Google

    Apple is fighting to save its huge money-making deal with Google, which is under threat because Google was found to break competition laws. Apple has asked the court dealing with Google’s legal battle with the U.S. government for some extra time, so they can argue their case before any final decisions are made.

    The U.S. Department of Justice took Google to court over unfair competition in the search market back in 2020. After a long fight, the DOJ won. A big part of this lawsuit was Google’s agreement with Apple, where Google pays billions each year to be the first choice search engine on Apple’s Safari browser. The judge ruled that this deal was against competition laws and helped Google keep its top spot in the search engine world.

    The U.S. government wants to stop Google from making such deals with Apple and other companies, which would hit Apple’s earnings hard. For instance, in 2022, Google paid Apple around $20 billion. Apple already tried to get more involved in the case as the solutions were being discussed, but the court said no because of timing issues. Apple is now appealing that decision and wants a pause while the appeal is considered.

    Apple argues that since its deal with Google is on the line, it should have the right to join the discussion, warning that without this pause, they could be seriously harmed.

    If Apple can’t join in the legal proceedings, they won’t be able to present their own evidence or arguments. If the appeal drags on until or after the trial for solutions starts, Apple might just have to watch, unable to speak or defend itself, while the government pushes for changes that directly affect Apple, like banning any business deals with Google for ten years.

    Besides stopping deals like this one, the U.S. Department of Justice also wants to go further, suggesting Google should sell its Chrome browser and separate Android from services like Google Search and the Google Play Store. Google has a lot to lose and might focus more on saving Chrome than its deal with Apple.

    When Apple first wanted a bigger say in the case, they argued that Google can’t properly look after Apple’s interests anymore because the case covers so much ground. The DOJ, predictably, doesn’t want Apple in the part of the trial where solutions are decided, which is due to start in April.

    If the court rules against Google paying Apple to be the default search on Safari, Apple would still have to offer Google Search as an option, but they wouldn’t get paid for it anymore.

    Source

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