Search results for: “apple iphone”

  • AirTag 2 set to arrive in May or June with cool upgrades

    AirTag 2 set to arrive in May or June with cool upgrades

    Apple is gearing up to release a new version of the AirTag around May or June this year, according to a tip from a leaker called Kosutami. This matches what Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman hinted at earlier, saying a fresh AirTag would drop sometime in mid-2025.

    Here’s a quick look at three exciting updates rumored for the AirTag 2:

    First, it’s said to come with a new Ultra Wideband chip, giving it a tracking range up to three times better than the current AirTag. This tech-first showed up in the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. On newer iPhones like the 15 and 16, there’s a handy feature called Precision Finding for People, which helps you spot friends in busy places from as far as 200 feet (about 60 meters) away.

    Next, the AirTag 2’s speaker might be tougher to mess with or take out, making it harder for anyone to misuse it and boosting safety. Finally, the word is it’ll work even better with the Apple Vision Pro, though details on that are still fuzzy. The first AirTag hit the scene at an Apple Event in April 2021. In the U.S., one costs $29, or you can grab four for $99.

    Kosutami is mostly known for collecting early Apple prototypes, but they’ve been right about some big reveals before. For instance, they nailed it when they said the iPhone 16 Pro would have a metal-wrapped battery way ahead of its launch.

    That said, their guess last August about the new AirPods Pro coming “soon” didn’t happen—AirPods Pro 3 is still a no-show. In a fresh update today, Kosutami hinted again at new AirPods Pro and some smart home goodies from Apple. The company’s expected to roll out a brand-new smart home hub this year, plus there’s talk of a Face ID doorbell and a home camera possibly coming in 2026 or beyond.

  • AirPods Pro 2 now helps with Hearing in the UK

    AirPods Pro 2 now helps with Hearing in the UK

    Apple has shared exciting news: the AirPods Pro 2 now comes with a special hearing aid feature that’s easy to use and available in the United Kingdom.

    AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Support

    Sumbul Desai, a top expert at Apple, said, “We’re thrilled to use technology to improve lives. Bringing this hearing aid option to the UK gives AirPods Pro 2 users a full hearing care experience.” She’s Apple’s vice president of Health.

    This new feature makes everyday sounds clearer for adults who feel they have mild to moderate hearing trouble. Apple says it’s free in countries where it’s offered, and it comes through simple software updates.

    The hearing aid works by using a personal hearing profile. This profile comes from a quick five-minute Hearing Test that checks how well someone hears different sound levels. After the test, users get a result showing their hearing ability and tips on what to do next. The profile also adjusts sound for music, movies, games, and calls on all connected devices.

    Apple first rolled out these hearing tools in the US and a few other places in late October with iOS 18.1. Then, in December, iOS 18.2 brought the Hearing Test to more countries like France, Italy, Spain, and the UK, plus the hearing aid feature to the United Arab Emirates. Now, UK users can enjoy both the test and the hearing aid feature.

    To use these hearing tools, AirPods Pro 2 need firmware version 7B19 or higher. The update happens on its own when the AirPods are charging and near an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Wi-Fi. This update shows Apple’s focus on making life better with smart, simple tech. UK users can now hear the world around them more clearly, all thanks to their AirPods Pro 2.

  • 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’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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Testing begins for iOS 18.5 as Siri’s new features might face delays

    Testing begins for iOS 18.5 as Siri’s new features might face delays

    Apple has started testing iOS 18.5 internally since early February, according to visitor logs from MacRumors. This news comes as a surprise because of recent reports about possible delays in Apple’s plans for Siri’s new smart features.

    Normally, spotting iOS 18.5 in testing wouldn’t stand out. However, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg recently shared that Apple might push back or limit some of Siri’s upcoming Apple Intelligence upgrades until iOS 18.5. The reason? Bugs and other technical challenges are slowing things down.

    These new Siri features were first expected to launch with iOS 18.4. They include things like understanding what’s on your screen, knowing more about your details, and giving better control within apps. For instance, at WWDC 2024, Apple showed how Siri could check a user’s mom’s flight details or lunch plans by pulling info from emails and texts.

    The first iOS 18.4 beta should come out this week. Gurman says some of Siri’s smart features might still make it into iOS 18.4, but they could be off by default. There’s also a chance Apple will add them in later beta versions to give developers more time to fix issues.

    Apple’s website hints that iOS 18.4 will be available in April after beta testing. However, with the reported bugs and possible delays in Siri’s upgrades, this timeline might change. Looking ahead, the first iOS 18.5 beta is expected in April, with a full release likely in May, following Apple’s usual update pattern. To use Apple Intelligence, you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model.

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  • New MacBook Air with M4 chip coming soon

    New MacBook Air with M4 chip coming soon

    Apple is gearing up to release new MacBook Air models equipped with the latest M4 chip by March, at the very latest, according to insights from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This timeline aligns with last year’s launch of the M3 MacBook Air.

    MacBook Air in Blue

    Gurman shared these details in his recent Power On newsletter, although he hasn’t pinned down the precise launch date for the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs. Just a week ago, he hinted that the new models would hit the market “within weeks.”

    There’s been buzz about these new MacBook Airs for some time. Initially, they were expected to be Apple’s first big reveal of the new year. However, the spotlight might now go to the iPhone SE 4, which is set to be unveiled this Wednesday.

    Apple actually gave us a sneak peek of these upcoming M4 MacBook Airs back in December. When they released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 update, it included references to new machines listed as “Mac16,12” and “Mac16,13.” These codes hinted at the “MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025)” and “MacBook Air (15-inch, M4, 2025).”

    Since that discovery, everyone’s been waiting for these new MacBook Airs to drop. Gurman also noted last week that supplies of the current M3 MacBook Airs are running low, which usually means new models are on their way.

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  • New AirPods Pro 3: Exciting updates coming soon

    New AirPods Pro 3: Exciting updates coming soon

    The wait is almost over for the next generation of Apple’s popular earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, expected to hit the market this September with the iPhone 17. Here’s what we’re excited about.

    A Fresh H3 Chip

    The AirPods Pro 3 will feature a new H3 chip, which promises significant enhancements over its predecessor. The H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 brought notable improvements in sound quality and noise cancellation. With the H3, we can expect even better audio performance, possibly with longer battery life. The H2 chip’s success in providing rich bass and clear sound suggests the H3 could take these aspects to new heights.

    A New Look

    Rumors suggest that the AirPods Pro 3 will sport a new design, although details are sparse. The current design has been well-received, so any changes might be subtle, perhaps involving smaller stems or a better fit for comfort. These tweaks could make the earbuds even more appealing to users who prioritize style and comfort.

    Better Noise Cancellation

    The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in the AirPods Pro 2 was a game-changer, and the upcoming model aims to improve this even further. Powered by the new H3 chip, the ANC in AirPods Pro 3 is expected to be significantly better, offering a quieter listening experience in noisy environments.

    Health Features Might Be Included

    While not confirmed, there’s buzz about new health features possibly coming with the AirPods Pro 3. Heart rate monitoring, similar to that in the Apple Watch, could be one of them. There’s also talk about temperature sensors and other health metrics, which would turn these earbuds into a wellness tool as well as an audio device.

    In summary, the AirPods Pro 3 are shaping up to be an exciting update with potentially better sound, a refined design, superior noise cancellation, and new health functionalities. Even if you’re happy with your current AirPods Pro 2, the advancements in the next generation might make them an irresistible upgrade.

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  • iOS game closes down due to strange purchase problem

    iOS game closes down due to strange purchase problem

    Square Enix has decided to close down the iOS version of “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles” because of a tricky bug linked to in-app buying changes.

    Game No Longer on iPhones

    “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles” is no longer on the App Store for iPhone users, as reported by The Verge.

    Here’s what Square Enix had to say:

    From January 24, 2025, we’ve noticed that players can’t use the extra content they’ve paid for in the iOS version of “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.” This problem also affects the full version of the game, which lets you explore all the dungeons.

    This trouble comes from some new changes in how in-app purchases work. After looking into it, we found out that we can’t fix this bug completely or apply the new changes. Sadly, this means we have to stop supporting the iOS version of “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.”

    If you’ve bought things in the game since January, you can get your money back by talking to Apple Support.

    This issue only affects the game on iPhones; you can still play it on other devices.

    Source