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Search results for: “Update”

  • Apple’s iPad App Letdown: Three misses in a row

    Apple’s iPad App Letdown: Three misses in a row

    Apple has been knocking it out of the park with new iPhone apps, but when it comes to supporting the iPad, they’ve been striking out.

    First in line was the Journal app, which only came out for iPhone users when iOS 17.2 was released. Even with the update to iOS and iPadOS 18, while the iPhone app got plenty of enhancements, iPad users were left out in the cold.

    Next up was Apple Sports, which made its debut on the iPhone a year ago. It’s improved a lot since then, but there’s still no iPad version. We’re all waiting to see if an iPad app or at least a widget will show up soon.

    Then there’s Apple’s new Invites app, which lets you send out invites to any device. However, if you’re using an iPad, you won’t find a dedicated app for it yet.

    On a brighter note, the iPhone versions of Sports and Invites do work on iPads, providing some relief for iPad users.

    The lack of a Journal app for iPad is particularly frustrating because, unlike other apps, it’s built into the system. This means iPad users can’t even use the iPhone version in a workaround like Stage Manager mode.

    Many thought Apple had moved past the days of iPhone-only apps, especially after finally bringing apps like Weather and Calculator to the iPad. But these new, exciting apps are still iPhone-exclusive.

    Apple’s pitching some great new apps, but when it comes to hitting home runs with iPad versions, they might need to call in a pinch hitter.

  • Apple Changes How You Can Buy AppleCare+: Now favors subscriptions

    Apple Changes How You Can Buy AppleCare+: Now favors subscriptions

    Apple has recently updated its AppleCare+ program, shifting the way customers can purchase protection for their devices. According to reports from tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is moving away from one-time payment options for AppleCare+ when you buy it in stores or directly from your device.

    Now, if you want AppleCare+ for your iPhone or other Apple products, you’ll mostly have to opt for a subscription plan that charges you either monthly or yearly. For instance, for an iPhone 16 Pro, a monthly subscription would cost you $13.99, while the previous option to pay $269 for two years upfront is no longer available in physical stores or through the device’s settings.

    Apple’s customer service representatives are now telling customers that this switch to subscriptions helps reduce the initial cost of protection and makes sure there’s no break in coverage. This change also pushes customers towards the more comprehensive Theft and Loss plans, where you can replace a lost device for a fee.

    From now on, the primary way to get AppleCare+ is through these subscription models. However, there’s a small exception: if you’re buying your product online from the Apple Store, you can still choose to pay for AppleCare+ in one go during the checkout process.

    For those looking at annual subscriptions, there’s a bit of a saving. For example, AppleCare+ for the Vision Pro can be $24.99 per month or $249 if you pay for the whole year.

    So, if you prefer not to deal with monthly or yearly payments, your only option is to purchase your device and AppleCare+ together online. Otherwise, in physical Apple Stores or via your device’s settings, subscriptions are the way to go.

  • New feature spotted on iCloud: Apple invites

    New feature spotted on iCloud: Apple invites

    Update: Apple has officially launched the new Apple Invites app.

    It looks like Apple is about to roll out a new feature called “Apple Invites.” This was spotted on the main iCloud website, though Apple hasn’t made an official announcement yet. The iCloud homepage now mentions that “Apple Invites” will be part of the iCloud+ package:

    Upgrade to iCloud+ to enjoy more storage, plan your events with Apple Invites, and keep your privacy safe with features like iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video. iCloud+ is what Apple calls its premium storage plans, starting at just $0.99 a month in the US.

    Besides extra storage, iCloud+ subscribers get perks like iCloud Private Relay and HomeKit Secure Video for free. Now, it seems Apple Invites is the latest benefit you can expect. You’ll be able to use Apple Invites right from iCloud.com/invites, and there’s likely going to be an app for your iPhone and other devices too.

    The feature is designed to help you plan events like birthday parties or graduations:

    Make digital invitations for parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Keep track of who’s coming, share photos, and send invites easily through email or text. If you’re an iCloud+ subscriber, you’ll have access to all of Apple Invites without any extra fees, no ads, and you can create as many events as you like.

    Apple Invites will work hand-in-hand with other Apple services like Apple Music, Apple Maps, and Photos. According to tech journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, we might hear more about Apple Invites very soon, possibly this week.

    Source

  • New feature in Outlook for Mac: Undo Your Sent Emails

    New feature in Outlook for Mac: Undo Your Sent Emails

    Microsoft is now adding a handy feature to Outlook for Mac that lets you take back emails you’ve sent, similar to a great feature Apple introduced for Mail. This update makes sure that the Mac version of Outlook matches up with what’s available on Windows and online. This new feature is called “Recall” – not to be confused with another Microsoft product of the same name. It works much like Apple’s “Undo Send” option, which was added to Mail back in 2022.

    The concept is simple: you’ve sent an email and then you spot a typo, or maybe you’ve said something you wish you hadn’t. You want to stop that email from being read. Apple’s method is pretty basic. It gives you a small window of time, a few seconds before the email leaves your outbox.

    Microsoft’s Recall, however, goes a bit further but with some restrictions. Here’s how it operates:

    • The recall only activates after you hit “Send”.
    • It only works if both you and the person you’re emailing use Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange accounts within the same company.
    • If you’re sending to or from personal email services like Hotmail, Gmail, or live.com, you won’t be able to use this feature.

    This means you can retract an email well beyond the initial send buffer, but only if everyone involved uses Microsoft professional accounts within the same organization. It’s perfect for workplace communications where you might need to correct a message. Currently, Recall for Outlook on Mac is in its testing phase but will soon be available to all users.

    Source

  • New Apple Notes feature makes switching between notes easier

    New Apple Notes feature makes switching between notes easier

    Apple Notes received some exciting updates with iOS 18 last year, including features like sections that can be folded away, highlighting in different colors, and even recording audio with text transcripts. But there’s one new feature that I’ve been wishing for, which has made a difference for those who use Notes a lot.

    Quick Note Switching in iOS 18

    I’ve got over 2,500 notes stored in Apple Notes. As someone who uses this app daily, I’ve always found one issue annoying: moving from one note to another.

    Usually, it’s not a big deal, but when I need to toggle between a couple of notes quickly, things can get a bit slow. With all those notes, my app is organized into lots of folders and sub-folders, making the task of jumping from one note to another quite a hassle.

    Thankfully, iOS 18 brought a fix for this problem, especially handy for avid Notes users.

    The Recent Notes Feature in Apple Notes

    There’s now a new option in the top-right corner of the Notes app under a three-dot menu, named ‘Recent Notes’. This menu lists the last 10 notes you’ve looked at on your device. You can simply tap on any note in this list to switch to it without having to dig through your folders. This simple addition has transformed how I move between notes, making it much faster and less frustrating.

    While I would appreciate if Apple could make this process even quicker, maybe with one less tap, the change in iOS 18 is certainly a step in the right direction. It’s made my experience with Apple Notes significantly better.

  • Apple’s new ‘Party Planner’ feature in Calendar app

    Apple’s new ‘Party Planner’ feature in Calendar app

    Apple is gearing up to introduce a new tool called ‘Party Planner’ with the upcoming iOS 18.3 update for the Calendar app. Here’s how it might stand out from other apps:

    What is ‘Party Planner’?

    This weekend, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg hinted that Apple could release ‘Party Planner’ very soon. He explained:

    The name suggests it’s a fun way to invite friends to hangouts, parties, and work meetings. Apple has wanted to freshen up its calendar app for a while, and this might just be the start of something big. Filipe Espósito, another writer, first spotted this feature in the iOS 18.3 code, hinting at an ‘Invites’ app. It seems Apple is almost ready to launch this new service, which will blend into the Calendar app and might even work with iMessage.

    Three Ways ‘Party Planner’ Could Be Better

    • No Cost, No Ads: Over the years, I’ve tried many scheduling tools, but none were both free and without ads. It makes sense because companies need to make money. For example, Fantastical has cool features, but you pay for them. Doodle is free, but has ads. Since Apple earns most of its money from selling devices, offering ‘Party Planner’ for free is a smart move.
      Easy Calendar Management: ‘Party Planner’ will work with the Calendar app’s ability to handle different calendars all in one place – like Google, Microsoft, or iCloud. This means you can use multiple calendars without switching apps, making life easier for anyone juggling various scheduling systems.
      Photo Sharing Made Simple: After events, sharing photos can be a hassle. People might use AirDrop or set up shared albums, but there’s no easy standard. ‘Party Planner’ could solve this by integrating with the Photos app, allowing event attendees to share pictures directly from the event in the calendar. Maybe there could even be reminders to share photos the day after an event.

    Wrapping Up

    Apple’s Calendar app has been pretty basic for a long time, but with ‘Party Planner’, things are looking up. This feature, combined with new looks and smart features in iOS 18, could make organizing events on your iPhone easier and more fun.

  • One Year of Apple Vision Pro: What’s coming up?

    One Year of Apple Vision Pro: What’s coming up?

    It’s been a whole year since the Apple Vision Pro, a fancy AR/VR headset that costs $3,500, was released to the public. This high-tech gadget hasn’t sold as well as expected, which isn’t surprising because of its steep price. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, called it a product for those eager to jump into future tech.

    Recent whispers suggest that Apple might stop making the current Vision Pro by the end of 2024. But don’t worry, they’ve got enough stock for now, and they’re already looking at creating a new version possibly this year.

    What’s Next for Vision Pro?

    There was talk about a second-generation Vision Pro, but those plans seem to be on hold. Instead, Apple seems more focused on bringing out a cheaper model.

    A Small Update Coming Soon?

    Instead of a major new model, we might just see a little update this year. Analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman think this update could include the new M5 chip, which would be better than the M2 in the current model. This could mean better performance, maybe even bringing the advanced Siri features from Apple’s other devices to the Vision Pro.

    However, don’t expect big changes in how it looks or other major features. Apple might just use up leftover parts from the first model. Adding 5G could be on the table, but it’s uncertain if this update will include it or if they’ll save it for a bigger release.

    A Cheaper Vision Pro?

    Apple is interested in making a less expensive version of the Vision Pro, aiming for a price closer to that of a top-end iPhone. But this won’t happen soon; the earliest we might see this is 2027. Cutting costs while keeping quality is tricky, especially with the display. They might use cheaper materials and less powerful chips, and might even skip some features like the EyeSight display.

    What About Apple Glasses?

    There was an idea for lightweight AR glasses that would work with a Mac, but that project was dropped. Apple still dreams of AR glasses that don’t need to connect to another device for power, but they’re waiting for technology to catch up before trying again.

    So, while we’ve celebrated a year with the Vision Pro, Apple is slowly steering towards making it more accessible and advanced, but patience will be key.

  • Apple no longer allows downgrading to iOS 18.2.1

    Apple no longer allows downgrading to iOS 18.2.1

    Apple has recently stopped allowing users to install iOS 18.2.1 on their iPhones. If you’ve updated to iOS 18.3, you can’t go back to the older version anymore. This change happened because Apple released iOS 18.3 last week.

    Why Can’t You Downgrade?

    When Apple brings out a new version of iOS, they usually stop supporting the old one after about one or two weeks. Once they do this, you can’t install the older version because Apple checks with its servers to make sure only the latest software can be installed. Right now, if your iPhone can use iOS 18, you’re stuck with iOS 18.3 or whatever comes next.

    Why Does Apple Do This?

    Apple does this to make sure everyone’s iPhone is as safe and secure as possible. By keeping everyone on the newest version, they can protect users from old security risks that the new updates fix.

    What’s New in iOS 18.3?

    The latest update, iOS 18.3, comes with several new features and over 20 security fixes. One important fix was for a problem that hackers might have been using to attack some iPhones. This shows why it’s good to keep your phone’s software current.

    In summary, if you’ve moved to iOS 18.3, you’re now stuck there for better security and features. Apple makes these updates to keep your information safe, so it’s wise to stay updated even if you can’t go back.

  • 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.

  • Apple Music’s Big Deal: Six months for just $2.99

    Apple Music’s Big Deal: Six months for just $2.99

    Until the end of February, new and some returning customers in the U.S. can enjoy Apple Music for six months by paying only $2.99 once.

    Apple Music

    Apple hasn’t specified who exactly counts as an “eligible” subscriber, but if you’ve used Apple Music before, it’s worth checking the offer page on their site to see if you can get this deal. You can claim this offer right from the Home screen in the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, provided you’ve got the latest software update. Once your six-month trial ends, your subscription will continue at the regular price of $10.99 each month unless you cancel it.

    Unbeatable Offer

    Apple calls this their “best offer ever” for Apple Music.

    Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl LIX

    Apple Music is also the main sponsor for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, where you’ll see Kendrick Lamar perform. The app has special sections with lots of content about Lamar’s show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Additionally, Lamar is spotlighted in Apple Fitness+ sessions, and Apple News has a special area just for Super Bowl LIX news and updates.

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