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  • 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!

  • Updated Mail app with simple sorting hits Mac and iPad

    Updated Mail app with simple sorting hits Mac and iPad

    Apple rolled out the first iPadOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4 betas today, bringing the refreshed Mail app to iPad and Mac users for developers to try.

    What’s New in the Mail App on Mac

    The updated Mail app now sorts your emails automatically into neat groups. The most urgent messages land in the Primary category. Other emails get split into sections like shopping orders, newsletters, special offers, and social updates.

    There’s a handy “Transactions” area that gathers receipts, order details, and delivery updates. This makes it super simple to track purchases and shipping info. Then, there’s an “Updates” section for things like newsletters, doctor appointment reminders, and subscription messages. Plus, a “Promotions” category holds emails about sales and deals.

    When you open the app after the update, this grouped view is what you’ll see first. But if you prefer the old-school style, just tap the top-right corner to switch to a basic list of all emails in order by date—no categories. If your device supports Apple Intelligence, the Primary inbox will highlight key emails so you can focus on what matters most. Time-sensitive messages from Transactions, Updates, or Promotions will also pop up in Primary.

    Apple already added this email-sorting feature to the iPhone with iOS 18.2. Now, it’s available on Mac and iPad too, making it easier to stay on top of your inbox across all your devices.

  • New food features coming to Apple News+ with iOS 18.4

    New food features coming to Apple News+ with iOS 18.4

    Apple is bringing exciting updates to its Apple News+ service with the release of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. Soon, subscribers will enjoy a fresh section called Apple News+ Food, packed with thousands of recipes, restaurant tales, healthy eating advice, kitchen must-haves, and more.

    The content will be sourced from popular food magazines and websites like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats. These well-known names will fill the section with tasty ideas and helpful tips.

    Apple News editors will handpick the best food stories to share with readers. Plus, there’ll be a special Recipe Catalog area where new dishes are added often. A handy cook mode will guide users through each step of a recipe, making it easy to follow along. Subscribers can also save their favorite recipes to use even without an internet connection.

    This delicious upgrade, Apple News+ Food, will roll out to all Apple News+ users when iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 launch in April. It’s a great way to explore new meals, get cooking inspiration, and learn more about food—all in one place!

  • 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!

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