Search results for: “apple”

  • EU App Store removes non-compliant ‘Trader’ apps

    EU App Store removes non-compliant ‘Trader’ apps

    Apple has started removing apps from the App Store in the European Union that do not provide trader contact information. Developers were notified that apps missing this crucial data would be taken down by February 17, 2025, and that deadline has now passed.

    Under the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA), apps must list trader details like an address, phone number, and email for customers to see. This is to ensure transparency and accountability from app developers who earn money from sales or in-app purchases.

    Apple has been emphasizing this rule for some time, requiring all new apps and updates to include this trader information. This data needs to be verified by Apple before apps can return to the App Store. The process to add trader information is straightforward, done through App Store Connect.

    However, this requirement has caused some friction, especially among smaller developers or solo app creators who might not have formal business contact details. They argue that this could expose them to unwanted spam or complicate their operations.

    Despite the pushback, the DSA mandates that Apple must display these contact details on the app’s product page within the EU’s 27 member countries. This ensures that users can reach out with any concerns or issues they might have with the app or its developer.

    For more detailed guidance on how to comply with these new regulations, developers can visit Apple’s official website. This move signifies a growing trend towards more transparency in digital markets, although it does present new challenges for some in the development community.

  • No camera bar for basic iPhone 17, unlike Pro models

    No camera bar for basic iPhone 17, unlike Pro models

    The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are set to feature a new look for their back cameras, with a design that includes a rectangular bar with rounded edges. This stylish change is also expected for the iPhone 17 Air, but the basic iPhone 17 won’t get this upgrade.

    According to tech insider Jon Prosser from the Front Page Tech YouTube channel, the basic iPhone 17 will look very much like its predecessor, the iPhone 16.

    The basic model will continue to sport two cameras arranged vertically in a pill-shaped bump on the back. This makes the basic iPhone 17 the least altered in terms of appearance among this year’s new releases. For those who prefer the classic look, this could be good news, as it suggests Apple is keeping the traditional design for at least another year.

    Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 17 series in September, giving us a clearer picture of what each model will bring to the table.

  • iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air to use top-notch screens

    iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air to use top-notch screens

    The upcoming iPhone 17 series from Apple will all feature Samsung’s high-quality “M14” OLED screen, says a tech insider on Weibo. Samsung’s “M” series screens are known for being in top smartphones, and the “14” means they use a lot of good materials to make them. This “M14” screen was first seen in last year’s iPhone 16 Pro models. It’s brighter by 30% and lasts longer because they made the blue light part work better.

    Interestingly, Samsung’s newest Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a slightly older screen, the M13, which might mean that the regular iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air might have better screens in some ways. Apple choosing the M14 screen for all its new phones makes sense because it wants to add ProMotion to all models. ProMotion means the screen can change how fast it refreshes, up to 120 times per second for smooth scrolling and videos. Before, only the “Pro” iPhones had this.

    With ProMotion, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air screens can also slow down to just 1 refresh per second to save power, showing the time, notifications, and background even when the phone is off. Last year, the iPhone 16 Pro models got bigger screens, increasing from 6.12 inches to 6.27 inches for the Pro, and from 6.69 inches to 6.86 inches for the Pro Max.

    In 2025, Apple plans to give the regular iPhone 17 a larger 6.27-inch screen too. The new iPhone 17 Air, which takes over from the Plus model, is expected to have a 6.6-inch screen, making it larger than the iPhone 17 but smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

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  • New iPhone 17 Pro: What it might look like

    New iPhone 17 Pro: What it might look like

    Could this be the design of the new iPhone 17 Pro? A 3D artist named Asher from Front Page Tech shared an image on Tuesday, showing what might be Apple’s next big phone in the iPhone 17 series. The picture gives us one of the clearest views yet of what the iPhone 17 Pro could look like.

    The image shows a big, long camera bump that stretches across the top of the phone’s back. This design looks a bit like what we’ve seen on the Google Pixel 9 Pro. The camera bump is much larger than what we’ve seen in other guesses online. The cameras are arranged in a triangle on the left side, with the flash, microphone, and LiDAR scanner lined up on the right.

    Jon Prosser from Front Page Tech, who says he’s seen the phone, describes it as having two different colors on the back, with the camera part being darker than the rest. However, there are doubts about how true this design is. Normally, the flash and LiDAR scanners are close to the cameras for them to work best.

    It’s unclear if this new look is just for style or changes in how the phone works. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg thinks these images might come from a fake design, but other sources, including some from China with links to Apple’s suppliers, have talked about a bigger camera bump.

    We’re not sure yet if the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have the same look, but it usually does match the Pro model. The new iPhone 17 Air, which is taking over from the Plus model, is expected to have a slimmer camera bump with just one camera on the left and the flash and microphone on the right. We don’t know if the regular iPhone 17 will have this camera style too. Apple usually shows off new iPhones around mid-September, so we might not have to wait long to see if these designs are spot on.

  • Does low power mode make your iPhone slower?

    Does low power mode make your iPhone slower?

    Low Power Mode isn’t a new thing for iPhone users. It was first introduced with iOS 9 back in 2015. Now and then, I come across complaints online about new iPhones running slowly, and often, Low Power Mode is turned on. Let’s explore how this feature impacts your iPhone’s performance.

    How Does Low Power Mode Work?

    Low Power Mode is designed to help your iPhone last longer when you’re away from a charger. When you turn it on, it cuts down on power use by turning off or limiting various features.
    iOS will suggest turning on Low Power Mode when your battery hits 20%, but you can switch it on anytime you want.

    Here’s what Apple says about it:

    Low Power Mode helps your iPhone or iPad when the battery is low. It makes the battery last longer before you need to charge it, but some things might work slower or not update as quickly. Some tasks might not work until you turn off Low Power Mode or charge to 80% or more.

    You can see if Low Power Mode is active by checking if the battery icon in your Status Bar is yellow.

    What Changes When Low Power Mode is On?

    Apple has a list on its site detailing what changes:

    • Turns off or limits 5G use
    • Sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds
    • Reduces screen brightness and limits refresh rate to 60Hz on ProMotion devices
    • Turns off Always-On Display for supported iPhones
    • Reduces visual effects
    • Stops background activities like downloads, iCloud syncing, backups, and email fetching

    Does It Slow Down Your iPhone?

    Yes, it does. Although not officially stated by Apple, Low Power Mode also reduces your iPhone’s speed. Your iPhone’s chip has performance and efficiency cores. Normally, it uses all cores, favoring performance cores for heavy tasks. But in Low Power Mode, it mostly uses the slower efficiency cores to save energy.

    For example, in a benchmark test with Low Power Mode off, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s A18 Pro chip scored:

    • Single-core: 3341
    • Multi-core: 8270

    With Low Power Mode on, the scores drop significantly:

    • Single-core: 1384
    • Multi-core: 4093

    This shows that your iPhone might run at about half speed with this mode active.

    Conclusion

    While Low Power Mode can extend your battery life, especially when your phone is idle, it’s less effective during active use. It’s best to use Low Power Mode only when necessary. Remember, this feature is also available on iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

  • AI app banned in South Korea for privacy issues

    AI app banned in South Korea for privacy issues

    In a recent development, users of the AI app DeepSeek in South Korea have hit a snag. The local government has decided to ban the Chinese AI application, citing that it does not follow the country’s data protection rules. As a result, Apple and Google have been instructed to take the app off their app stores in South Korea.

    Temporary Ban on DeepSeek in South Korea

    According to news sources, South Korea’s data protection watchdog has told tech giants like Apple and Google to stop people from downloading this app. However, you can still use DeepSeek through a web browser in South Korea for the time being. The reason given for this ban is that DeepSeek doesn’t meet the requirements set by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission.

    The company behind DeepSeek has admitted they overlooked some aspects of South Korea’s data laws and has appointed lawyers in the country to deal with the situation. Additionally, a spokesperson from China’s Foreign Ministry has stated that China takes data privacy seriously and ensures it is protected by law.

    Path to Reinstatement

    DeepSeek could start working again in South Korea if it makes changes to align with the local privacy laws.

    For a bit of background, DeepSeek is a Chinese tech startup that became famous for its AI model “R1”, which is both effective and resource-efficient compared to others. The app received praise from Apple’s CEO Tim Cook but has also stirred up controversy because of where it comes from.

    Italy was the first to block DeepSeek for similar privacy concerns, and in the U.S., a senator has proposed a law to penalize the use of Chinese AI apps. Last month, DeepSeek climbed to the top of the U.S. App Store, beating out ChatGPT by OpenAI, and it currently sits at number 13 in app downloads.

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  • Big changes coming to iPhone design this year

    Big changes coming to iPhone design this year

    Apple is planning some big changes to how the iPhone looks this year, according to leaks from a popular Weibo account.

    A user known as “Digital Chat Station” mentioned that the iPhone’s design is going to change a lot in 2023. The “iPhone 17 Air” is said to have a new look with a long, bar-shaped camera setup on the back. Meanwhile, the Pro versions are expected to sport a wide, horizontal grid-like design.

    Recently, another leaker, Jon Prosser, showed off a picture of what the iPhone 17 Pro might look like. It shows the three back cameras in a triangle, but inside a new, wide bar that stretches across the phone’s back. The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to have this same kind of camera bar.

    Back in November, Wayne Ma from The Information hinted that the iPhone 17 Pro models would have a back made partly of aluminum and partly of glass. The upper part would be aluminum, housing a larger rectangular camera bump, while the lower part would still be glass for wireless charging.

    In addition to these design shifts, there’s talk of a new, big foldable iPhone coming soon, which could shake up the market. Digital Chat Station has a track record of being right about things like the iPhone 12 mini’s screen, the iPhone 15’s camera upgrades, and the size of the iPhone 16 Pro.

    We can expect to see these new iPhone 17 models hit the market in the fall, as usual.

  • Will the new iPhone SE have more space?

    Will the new iPhone SE have more space?

    The iPhone SE 4 is set to hit the market this week, bringing with it a new look, a powerful A18 chip, and complete support for Apple Intelligence. But there’s one thing many are wondering: will it finally have more storage than the 64GB we’ve seen before?

    Will the iPhone SE 4 Still Start at 64GB?

    When the iPhone SE 2 came out in 2020, it started with 64GB of storage for $399. You could pay more for 128GB or 256GB if you needed extra space. The current iPhone SE 3 from the same year has the same starting storage but at a slightly higher price of $429.

    There’s been talk around, including a not-so-reliable leak from a Chinese store, suggesting the new model might stick with 64GB (as reported by MacRumors). But I wouldn’t trust this information too much since it might just be a guess while we wait for Apple’s official word.

    The Case for More Storage

    Apple Intelligence, a new feature, needs about 7GB of storage on your phone. That’s quite a lot, especially if you only have 64GB to start with. Given this, it seems reasonable to expect that Apple might bump up the base storage to 128GB for the iPhone SE 4. Apple has adjusted hardware for new features before, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they do it again.

    While I might be wrong, I’m betting on a larger base storage for the new iPhone SE.

    Looking at Other iPhones

    It’s worth noting that Apple moved away from offering 64GB as the lowest storage option on its top-tier iPhones starting with the iPhone 13 in 2021, which suggests a trend towards providing more storage out of the box.

    In conclusion, the iPhone SE 4 could be the model where Apple decides it’s time to offer more than just 64GB right from the start, aligning with the needs of modern smartphone users and its own technological advancements.

  • 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 chip for MacBook Pro before iPad Pro

    New chip for MacBook Pro before iPad Pro

    Apple plans to put its latest M5 chip into the MacBook Pro in the fall, with the iPad Pro following in early 2026, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This is a change from what was expected before, based on how they rolled out the M4 chips last year.

    Before we see the M5 MacBook Pro, Apple will update the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with the current M4 chips. These updates might come out around the big developer conference in June 2025.

    The M5 chip will have a new kind of ARM design and will be made using a very tiny 3-nanometer technology from TSMC. Instead of going for an even smaller 2-nanometer tech, which would be pricier, Apple chose this for cost reasons. But the top models of the M5 will still be a big step up from the M4, thanks to a special 3D stacking method that makes the chips cooler and more efficient.

    This 3D stacking or SoIC technology stacks the chips one on top of the other, which helps with heat and power use. Apple has been working closely with TSMC on this new tech, which also uses some cool new materials for the chip’s package.

    There’s already talk in Apple’s code about the M5 chip. One report says that Apple will use this chip not just in new devices but also in their servers to make AI features better, both on your device and online.

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