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  • iOS 18.5 might fix Apple’s top AI issues

    iOS 18.5 might fix Apple’s top AI issues

    Apple is testing iOS 18.4 right now, and it’s full of cool new stuff. But according to Mark Gurman, the next update, iOS 18.5, will tackle two of Apple’s biggest AI challenges: a smarter Siri and AI features for China.

    What’s Coming in iOS 18.5, According to Gurman

    In his Power On newsletter, Gurman talked about iOS 18.4’s features before hinting at what’s next. He says iOS 18.5 will bring the exciting stuff—like a supercharged Siri that Apple showed off last summer and AI tools for users in China. Normally, a late update like this doesn’t get big changes, but iOS 18.5 is different with two major upgrades.

    A Smarter Siri

    Siri’s big makeover is finally happening. It’ll do all the fancy things Apple promised at WWDC last year—stuff people thought would already be here after seeing the ads. For example, Siri will handle tons of new tasks inside apps and even between them. That means you can ask it to do things by voice instead of tapping around.

    Another neat trick? Siri will see what’s on your screen and help based on that. Plus, it’ll know more about you—like your recent meetings, messages, or places you’ve been. Ask it anything about your life, and Siri will answer like a real helper. Apple’s been tweaking Siri bit by bit, but iOS 18.5 should make it feel brand new.

    AI Features in China

    This won’t affect everyone, but it’s huge for Apple. In China, local phone brands already have their own AI tools, putting pressure on Apple. Bringing Apple Intelligence to China with iOS 18.5 is a must to keep up. iPhone sales there have been slow lately, though Tim Cook says not to panic. He’s hopeful because where AI features are live, sales are better. So, this update could give iPhones a big lift in China.

    When Will iOS 18.5 Arrive?

    Gurman thinks iOS 18.5 will roll out around May, though it might slip to June since iOS 18.4 hits in April. Either way, Apple wants it ready before WWDC 2025 starts. These changes could be a game-changer for Siri fans and Apple’s China market!

  • Apple park’s colorful arches are coming back stronger

    Apple park’s colorful arches are coming back stronger

    The bright rainbow arches that once framed the Apple Park Stage are no longer there, as shown in recent Google Maps satellite photos. These arches were a familiar sight in Apple’s keynote videos, so their removal caught many by surprise. However, word is they’re not gone for good—Apple is reportedly planning to rebuild them, this time to last forever.

    Back in May 2019, Jony Ive, a key figure at Apple, shared the vision for these arches in a message to employees. He wrote that the goal was to design a stage that screamed “Apple” the moment you saw it. The rainbow idea clicked right away for a few reasons. It tied back to the classic rainbow logo that’s been part of Apple’s story for years. Plus, it’s a cheerful symbol of the company’s belief in bringing people together. Ive also loved how the arches’ curved shape echoed the circular design of Apple Park itself. He said it’s tough to find anyone who doesn’t smile at a rainbow.

    The stage itself was always meant to be temporary—set up and taken down for big events—while the arches stayed put. Now, Gabriel Iglesias from Ibsix has a hunch they’ll return soon. His take? The original arches weren’t built to last forever and were made with temporary use. But they’ve grown into such a beloved landmark that Apple might want them to stick around for good. The plan seems to be crafting a tougher, sturdier version.

    So, while the rainbow arches are missing for now, it looks like they’re gearing up for a big comeback—ready to shine as a permanent part of Apple Park’s landscape. Fans of the colorful design can likely look forward to seeing them again, bolder and better than before.

  • Could an Apple camera lens boost your iPhone photos?

    Could an Apple camera lens boost your iPhone photos?

    Xiaomi has built its name by mimicking Apple’s ideas, but recently, it’s come up with a few tricks I’d love to see Apple borrow. First, it wowed us with the sleek look of its 15 Ultra phone. Now, it’s teasing a cool concept that could inspire an awesome Apple Camera Lens add-on for iPhones.

    My iPhone is my go-to camera. Why? It’s always in my pocket. A few years back, it even became my main camera for trips. Sure, I still grab a standalone camera for special photo outings or unique destinations worth the extra gear. But Xiaomi’s latest idea might just bridge the gap perfectly.

    Smartphone cameras have tiny sensors and small plastic lenses, which limit their quality. Xiaomi’s fix? A real camera lens with a big sensor that snaps onto your phone magnetically. You’d still use the built-in lenses for quick shots, but for top-notch photos, this add-on turns your phone into something like a lightweight mirrorless camera—smaller and easier to carry than a separate one.

    Simon Hill from Wired tested a working version and loved it. He tried a Xiaomi 35-mm f/1.4 lens paired with a 100-megapixel sensor—way bigger than anything in phones today. It has a flexible aperture, perfect for dim lighting. Hill said it attached like a MagSafe wallet and felt like using a real camera, with sharp results to match.

    It comes with an autofocus motor—just tap the screen to pick your focus. Plus, there’s a physical ring for hands-on adjustments. In Pro mode, it worked as smoothly as the phone’s regular camera, letting Hill focus on objects near and far for a soft, natural background blur. We don’t know if Xiaomi will sell this lens, but I’m sold on the idea. Imagine Apple teaming up with Nikon, Canon, or Sony to make one for iPhones. It’d be a game-changer for phone photography!

  • Fresh Apple gadgets could arrive soon

    Fresh Apple gadgets could arrive soon

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is gearing up to reveal new products, maybe as soon as next week. Among them are a shiny new M4 MacBook Air, plus updated iPad Air and basic iPad models. The MacBook Air news is super close, while the iPads might take a bit longer.

    What’s Coming This Spring?

    After the iPhone 16e hit the scene, everyone’s buzzing about what Apple’s got next. Rumors point to a spruced-up iPad Air, a new iPad 11, and an M4 MacBook Air—all due for a fresh look soon.
    Gurman notes that stores are running low on the current basic iPad and M2 iPad Air. That’s a big hint that new versions are on the way. We saw the same thing with the iPhone SE 3 stock before the iPhone 16e dropped.

    Here’s a quick recap: The iPad 11 should get a boost with the A17 Pro chip, making it Apple’s budget-friendly option with Apple Intelligence. The iPad Air might see some inside upgrades, like an M3 chip and a new Magic Keyboard.

    When Will We See Them?

    All these goodies are set to roll out this spring, though some will pop up sooner. Gurman predicts a Mac announcement could hit as early as next week—probably the M4 MacBook Air. The iPad updates are coming too, but don’t expect them in the next few days, per his latest scoop.

  • Apple pushes back big Siri reveal for iOS 19

    Apple pushes back big Siri reveal for iOS 19

    Last year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared that Apple was working on a friendlier, chattier Siri for iOS 19.4, powered by smarter tech called “large language models.” But in his latest Power On newsletter, he says this upgrade, meant to rival ChatGPT, is falling behind inside Apple.

    What’s Happening with iOS 19?

    Gurman explained that Apple won’t show off this talkative Siri at WWDC 2025 in June as planned. It also won’t be ready for iOS 19.4, expected around March or April next year. Instead, some engineers at Apple now think this big Siri update might not come until iOS 20.

    • This delay hints that Apple is still playing catch-up to companies like OpenAI in the AI race.
    • Even so, Gurman believes iOS 19 will bring small tweaks to Siri’s core setup, helping it tackle trickier questions.

    What’s Coming Soon?

    While waiting, iOS 18.2 has already added a ChatGPT boost to Siri. Later updates should bring Google Gemini into the mix too. Meanwhile, iOS 18.5, due in May, will give Siri new tricks—like noticing what’s on your screen, understanding you better, and controlling apps more deeply. These were supposed to hit with iOS 18.4, but the shift shows Apple’s ongoing struggles to keep up its timeline.

  • Could Apple bring back its old Wi-Fi routers in a new way?

    Could Apple bring back its old Wi-Fi routers in a new way?

    For years in the 2000s and 2010s, Apple sold Wi-Fi routers called AirPort base stations. They came in three types: the basic AirPort Express, the fancier AirPort Extreme with extra networking tricks, and the AirPort Time Capsule, which also worked as a backup drive for Macs using Time Machine. Apple stopped making these routers in 2018, but there’s a chance they might come back in a surprising form.

    In December, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared that Apple is working on a new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. This chip will show up in updated Apple TV and HomePod mini devices later this year. He says it’s so powerful that it could turn these gadgets into Wi-Fi hotspots. But don’t get too excited yet—it’s not certain Apple will go that route.

    Apple seems eager to grow in the smart home world. Rumors suggest they’re building a brand-new smart home hub for release this year. There’s also talk of a HomeKit smart camera that pairs with the hub, creating a simple home security setup. If future Apple TVs or HomePods could act as Wi-Fi routers, too, that’d be another win for Apple in the smart home game.

    Gurman says this new chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, a step up from the Wi-Fi 5 in the last AirPort models. However, analyst Jeff Pu thinks it might even handle Wi-Fi 7, which is even faster. For now, it’s unclear if Apple TV and HomePod will turn into routers. Still, Apple is cooking up tech that could make it happen. Whether they bring back the AirPort idea in this fresh way, only time will tell.

  • A strange iMessage problem Apple needs to solve

    A strange iMessage problem Apple needs to solve

    For the last couple of years, I’ve noticed something odd with Apple’s Messages app, especially when it comes to pictures. I keep hoping Apple will fix it, but so far, they haven’t done anything about it. Here’s the issue: if you send an AVIF picture through iMessage, it doesn’t show up right. AVIF is a type of image that’s getting more popular, so this glitch is kind of frustrating.

    But that’s not the whole story. It’d be fine if Apple just didn’t work with AVIF files at all. Instead, for some strange reason, the image pops up in a tiny box on your screen. There’s no way to make it bigger, so you’re stuck squinting at a super small picture you can’t see.

    This happens on both iPhones and Macs. The funny thing is, before you send the AVIF picture, it looks perfectly fine in the preview. You’d never guess there’d be a problem until after you hit send. It’s not like Apple doesn’t know how to handle AVIF. They added support for it in Safari with iOS 16, which was over two years ago. So, they’re halfway there—they just haven’t updated iMessage to keep up. The files show up, but you can’t view them properly.

    This whole thing feels off. Since AVIF works in Safari and the Photos app, people naturally send these images through iMessage. But when they don’t display correctly, it’s a letdown. You’re left with a useless picture.

    I hope Apple tackles this soon. It’s a small but annoying issue that messes up the experience. With AVIF becoming more common, it’s time for iMessage to catch up and let us see those images the way they’re meant to be seen.

  • Apple’s plan to build its own tech: What’s Coming Next

    Apple’s plan to build its own tech: What’s Coming Next

    Back in 2020, Apple decided to switch from Intel chips to its own Apple Silicon for Macs. This big change worked out well. In less than three years, Apple created chips that were quicker and used less power than Intel’s, making their devices better. Now, Apple is taking on Qualcomm. They’ve started with the C1 modem in the new iPhone 16e. It’s the first step toward controlling all their networking tech themselves.

    What’s Next for Modems: C2 and C3

    The C1 modem, launched with the iPhone 16e, focuses on saving battery life. It doesn’t handle super-fast 5G mmWave or match Qualcomm’s full range yet. Still, it’s solid and works well. Apple calls it the “most energy-saving modem ever in an iPhone,” offering fast and steady 5G.

    The C1 won’t be in most iPhone 17 models but might show up in the iPhone 17 Air, where saving power matters for its slim design. Meanwhile, Apple is already planning to build better modems. The C2, nicknamed Ganymede, is set for the iPhone 18 in 2026 and iPads in 2027.

    It’ll match Qualcomm with faster downloads and stronger connections. Then, in 2027, the C3 (Prometheus) will roll out with the iPhone 19, aiming to beat Qualcomm with smarter features and satellite support. Apple’s also thinking about adding cellular to MacBooks by 2026, thanks to these homegrown modems.

    New Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Chip

    Apple isn’t stopping with modems. They’re also replacing Broadcom’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. A new chip, called Proxima, could launch this year in updated HomePod minis and Apple TVs. It’ll support speedy Wi-Fi 6E and might even act as a mini router. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts it’ll hit the whole iPhone 17 lineup, boosting how Apple devices connect and cutting costs. It’ll reach iPads and Macs by 2026, too.

    Combining Chips for the Future

    Down the road, Apple wants to blend its modems into the main Apple Silicon chip. Instead of separate pieces like the A18 and C1, it’d all be one unit. This could save money and power, but it’s not happening until at least 2028. Apple’s pushing hard to build more of its own tech, and these changes show they’re just getting started.

  • How quick is Apple’s first 5G Modem? the answers might surprise you

    How quick is Apple’s first 5G Modem? the answers might surprise you

    The iPhone 16e reviews are out, and Apple’s new C1 modem is stealing the spotlight. People thought it might lag behind Qualcomm modems, but the early results tell a different story—its speed is holding up pretty well! The C1 modem skips the super-fast mmWave 5G used in the U.S., but it still matches the 5G performance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 modem, which powers the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here’s what some tech reviewers found.

    Allison Johnson from The Verge said she barely noticed a difference between the C1 and X71. She tested the iPhone 16e for FaceTime calls, uploading big video files in busy spots, and streaming YouTube on a bus. She compared it to a regular iPhone 16 with a Qualcomm modem on Verizon, and both worked about the same.

    John Velasco from Tom’s Guide agreed. He tested the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 in New York City and found no big speed gaps. Only one test showed the 16e pulling ahead slightly. What about hard numbers? Andru Edwards, in a video review, clocked the iPhone 16e at 673 Mbps download speed in his suburban New York yard on AT&T. The iPhone 16 Pro Max hit 667 Mbps in the same spot—pretty close! In busy New York City, the 16e reached 127 Mbps, beating the Pro Max’s 75 Mbps, though the Pro Max uploaded faster (50 Mbps vs. 30 Mbps).

    YouTuber Dave Lee from Dave2D tested in Toronto on the Bell network. His iPhone 16e was 30-40 Mbps faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the Chinese channel Geekerwan ran lab tests with an artificial 5G network. The iPhone 16e matched the iPhone 16 and other phones in speed and reliability.

    Apple claims the C1 is their most energy-saving modem yet—up to 25% more efficient than Qualcomm’s. Geekerwan’s tests back this up, showing the 16e using 0.67W compared to 0.88W for the iPhone 16. Overall, the C1 modem surprises everyone by keeping up with the best, while sipping less power, in both real life and lab settings.

  • Exciting updates coming to iOS 18.4 with Apple Intelligence

    Exciting updates coming to iOS 18.4 with Apple Intelligence

    The iOS 18.4 update was meant to include new Siri features powered by Apple Intelligence, but Apple decided to hold off on those for more testing. Even so, this update still brings some cool additions that’ll make it worth downloading when it arrives in April.

    Important Alerts First

    Apple shared the idea of Priority Notifications at WWDC in June 2024, and now it’s finally here. This handy feature has been eagerly awaited since iOS 18 launched in September.

    With Priority Notifications, your phone figures out which alerts matter most by looking at the timing and details. For example, if you’re waiting for a food delivery, that alert jumps to the top when it’s almost time. It works the same for anything urgent or tied to a schedule.

    You’ll need to switch it on manually in the iOS 18.4 beta by going to Settings > Notifications > Turn On Priority Alerts. Once it’s active, these key alerts appear at the top of your Lock Screen in a special box with a clear icon. Swipe down to see the rest of your notifications as usual.

    Fun with Image Playground

    When Image Playground first came out, it let you create pictures in two styles: Animation and Illustration. A third option was always planned, and now it’s here with the iOS 18.4 beta—Sketch. Sketch gives your images a hand-drawn look, different from the 3D Animation style or the bold, simple Illustration vibe. Apple calls Sketch “detailed and scholarly,” with beautiful drawings on plain backgrounds. Animation has a playful, 3D cartoon feel, while Illustration uses strong lines and bright colors.

    More Languages Supported

    With iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence will work in new languages like French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese. It’ll also support English tailored for India and Singapore.

    When’s It Coming?

    Apple has released one beta of iOS 18.4 to developers and testers so far. Another beta is expected next week, with testing running through March. The full release is set for early April.

    What About Siri?

    There’s still hope the delayed Siri features might sneak into a later iOS 18.4 beta, but with just a month left, it’s doubtful. Instead, they’ll likely land in iOS 18.5. Normally, big updates don’t hit in a .5 release, but Apple’s been rolling out iOS 18 features bit by bit—and iOS 19 might even be delayed to focus on perfecting iOS 18.

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