Apple is thinking about adding advertisements to its Maps application, according to Mark Gurman in his newsletter, Power On. This move would be similar to what they’ve already done with their News and Stocks apps, aiming to grow their own advertising business.
This isn’t a new idea for Apple. A few years back, Apple’s team looked into putting ads into Maps. The plan was that businesses could pay to have their places, like restaurants or shops, show up higher when someone searches for something in the app, much like how Google Maps works.
Recently, in a meeting, this idea of making money from Maps through ads came up again. Gurman suggests that some places might even appear more noticeable on the map if they pay for it.
There’s no set date for when we might see these ads in Apple Maps. They haven’t even started working on the tech for it yet. But, Apple is thinking about how they could do this in the future.
Apple is facing some challenges with the new and improved version of Siri, which includes smart features from Apple Intelligence. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, these updates might not come out on time because of technical issues and software glitches.
Apple Intelligence Overview
There was talk that these new Siri features would be part of the iOS 18.4 update. However, with the first beta of iOS 18.4 expected next week, it looks like Siri isn’t quite ready yet.
Apple has already announced that Apple Intelligence would support more languages in April, hinting that’s when iOS 18.4 might roll out. This leaves Apple with little time to fix Siri’s problems. Some of these new features might get delayed until May, possibly appearing in an iOS 18.5 update.
The new Siri is supposed to bring three key enhancements: understanding the personal context for better interaction, performing more actions within and across apps, and recognizing what’s on the screen to respond accordingly. However, testers have noted that these features aren’t working smoothly yet.
Big updates like this usually don’t arrive as late as May since Apple starts focusing on the next iOS version around WWDC in June.
Gurman suggests that Apple might release these features in iOS 18.4 but keep them off by default for further testing, until they’re fully ready in iOS 18.5. We should see the first iOS 18.4 beta soon, but don’t expect to see the new Siri features right away.
Recently, some Netflix viewers in the U.S. noticed something unusual. They saw Netflix shows and movies appearing in the “Continue Watching” list on the Apple TV app. This led to rumors that Netflix might finally be working with Apple TV.
However, it turned out to be just a mistake. Netflix confirmed to a news site that the appearance of their content in the Apple TV app was not intentional. They quickly fixed the error, pulling their shows and movies back from the Apple TV’s queue.
Netflix has long chosen to keep its service separate from the Apple TV app. This means if you’re using an Apple TV, you won’t find your Netflix watch list mixed in with other services like Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, Max, or Amazon Prime Video. Instead, Netflix wants its users to use its own app to keep track of what they’re watching and find new things to watch.
This approach by Netflix means that fans of the service have to switch between apps if they want to manage their viewing across different platforms on Apple devices. While other streaming services have embraced integration with Apple’s system for a smoother experience, Netflix continues to stand alone. This decision might be based on keeping control over their user experience or other strategic business reasons not fully public.
So, if you were excited about potentially seeing all your streaming in one place with Apple TV, you’ll have to wait a bit longer or manage your Netflix watching separately.
This week, Apple made many of its long-time App Store users happy by introducing a tool that finally allows you to transfer purchases from one Apple account to another. However, there are quite a few rules you have to follow before you can do this.
Here’s what you need to know:
Account Type: Neither account involved can be a child account linked through Family Sharing.
Previous Migrations: You can’t use an account that’s already had purchases moved from it. If you’ve undone a migration, you’ll have to wait a year before trying again.
Music Library: If both accounts have music in their libraries, you can’t proceed with the migration.
Apple One Subscriptions: If your Apple One plan shares iCloud storage with another account, you’re out of luck.
New Accounts: If your primary account has never made a purchase or download, you can’t migrate purchases to it.
Deleted or Disabled Accounts: You can’t migrate from an account that’s been deleted or is not active.
Locked Accounts: An account that’s locked or disabled won’t allow migration.
Special Access: Accounts with special app access, like through an employer’s VPP program, can’t migrate either.
There’s also an issue with TestFlight. If your secondary account has been used to test apps, you need to stop testing each app in TestFlight before you can move your purchases.
Apple has also clarified some regional rules:
15-Day Rule: In South Korea and China, you might need to wait up to 15 days for purchases made with Apple account balance to process.
Regarding Family Sharing, you can still migrate if your secondary account was used to share purchases with your primary account.
I tried this migration myself but hit a snag because I didn’t meet some requirements. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t tell you which one. As of now, the migration option has vanished from my account, even after I stopped testing all my TestFlight apps.
Have you managed to navigate through this process successfully?
TikTok is once again available for download on iPhones from the App Store. This update comes after a brief absence, allowing users to reinstall the app and keep it updated. According to Bloomberg, the return of TikTok was prompted by a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, though the details of this letter remain undisclosed.
Apple had previously taken TikTok off the U.S. App Store on January 18, right before a new law banning the app took effect on January 19.
This law, known as the Act to Protect Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries, was passed in April 2024. It gave TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, nine months to sell the app to a company outside of China. ByteDance argued that the law was against the U.S. Constitution and free speech rights, but the courts, including the Supreme Court, disagreed.
President Donald Trump briefly paused the enforcement of this law for 90 days, but Apple didn’t bring TikTok back to the App Store during this period. Apple explained in a notice that they must comply with the laws of the countries they operate in.
Even though the Department of Justice (DoJ) wasn’t actively enforcing the law, it was still in effect, and Apple likely worried about potential legal issues. However, recent assurances from the DoJ that Apple wouldn’t face repercussions for allowing TikTok downloads seem to have changed their stance.
Despite being off the App Store for a month, TikTok continued to work for users who already had it installed.
The Trump administration is now looking to arrange a sale of TikTok to an American company, with Vice President J.D. Vance leading the charge. However, the Chinese government has stated they will not permit the sale, adding complexity to the negotiations, especially with new tariffs on Chinese goods recently announced by Trump.
Note: Given the political context of this topic, the discussion is hosted in our Political News forum. Everyone can read the thread, but only members with over 100 posts can contribute.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 were introduced by Apple earlier this week, and now they’re available for you to pick up directly from Apple’s retail outlets. These earbuds also started reaching customers who ordered them online.
Powerbeats Pro 2 Orange
The Powerbeats Pro 2 come equipped with the same H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2, which brings features like Active Noise Cancellation, something the first Powerbeats Pro didn’t have. Another exciting addition is the heart rate monitor built into each earbud. They use LED optical sensors that flash more than 100 times a second to check your heart rate through blood flow. This can connect with apps like Peloton and Nike Run Club, enhancing your workout experience.
You can find the Powerbeats Pro 2 in various colors like Electric Orange, Hyper Purple, Jet Black, and Quick Sand on Apple’s website. They’re priced at $249 in the U.S., matching the cost of both the AirPods Pro 2 and the original Powerbeats Pro.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your workout gear or just want excellent sound quality with noise cancellation, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are now easily accessible at Apple stores.
Apple has been under scrutiny in Germany for three years because of its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature. This feature lets iPhone users choose not to have their activities tracked across different apps.
The German competition authority, Bundeskartellamt, has now shared its initial thoughts, suggesting that Apple’s ATT rules might not be fair. They say that while third-party apps must follow these strict rules, Apple’s own apps do not have to.
In their latest statement, the Bundeskartellamt pointed out that since ATT was introduced in April 2021, app makers in the iOS App Store need special permission from users to use their data for ads. However, these same strict rules don’t apply to Apple’s apps.
According to the Bundeskartellamt, this could be against German competition laws for big tech companies and even broader European Union competition rules. They argue that Apple is applying different privacy standards to itself compared to other app developers.
Apple has now been allowed to reply to these concerns raised by the German authority.
Interestingly, while ATT was initially seen as a headache for big advertising apps like those from Meta (formerly known as Facebook), it has turned out to be beneficial. Meta has managed to enhance its advertising strategies, using AI to target users more accurately without relying on broad third-party data tracking.
This situation in Germany highlights ongoing debates about how tech giants manage user data and privacy, setting a precedent for how privacy policies might be enforced in the future.
In a recent speed test by PhoneBuff, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has shown it’s faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max when opening apps. This test looked at how quickly each phone could handle tasks across different programs, from social media to games.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and equipped with 12GB of RAM, took the lead right from the start. It was quicker in opening work apps and even faster in processing photos in Snapseed, an editing app. When it came to video editing with LumaFusion, the Samsung phone was 25% faster than the iPhone, which is surprising since Apple phones usually do well in this area.
Even in games, where iPhones have often led, the S25 Ultra kept ahead. It did better or just as well as the iPhone in games like Subway Surfers and Flip Diving. The iPhone only slightly won in some games, but overall, Samsung was ahead.
The first round of app openings took the Galaxy S25 Ultra just 2 minutes and 18 seconds, beating the iPhone by 15 seconds. In the second round, which checks how well the phones keep apps running in the background, the iPhone narrowed the gap a bit, but Samsung still won by a clear margin, which PhoneBuff described as one of the biggest victories in recent speed tests.
Samsung’s advantage seems to come from its powerful chip, more RAM, and a larger cooling system. This setup, along with Android 15 and One UI 7, gives the Galaxy a performance boost. Although Apple has had time to fine-tune iOS 18 for its hardware, Samsung has seemingly taken the lead in speed.
Looking ahead, Apple might catch up with the iPhone 17 series expected in September. The new models could feature an A19 Pro chip made with an advanced manufacturing process, potentially offering better speed and efficiency. Also, all iPhone 17 models are rumored to have better cooling to manage heat during heavy use.
This speed test shows that while both phones are top performers, Samsung currently holds the lead in how quickly apps can be loaded and processed.
If you’ve got digital content spread across two Apple accounts, there’s good news! Apple has introduced a feature allowing you to move all your digital purchases from one account to another, making it simpler to manage your collection.
Apple recently updated its support page with easy-to-follow steps on how to transfer apps, music, books, TV shows, and movies from a secondary Apple account to your main one. This can be particularly handy if you’ve been juggling separate accounts for iCloud storage and media purchases.
Here’s how you can do it:
Preparation: You’ll need the email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords for both accounts. Both must have two-factor authentication enabled, and neither should be shared with others. The account you use for iCloud will become your primary account, and the one for media purchases will be your secondary account.
Setup: On your iPhone or iPad, sign into one account for iCloud and another for purchases. Ensure both accounts are registered in the same country and check that the secondary account doesn’t have any remaining balance that needs to be used.
Migration Process: Navigate to the Settings app, go to ‘Media & Purchases’, click on ‘View Account’, and then select ‘Migrate Purchases’. This process will transfer all your content from the secondary to the primary account.
After migration, you won’t be able to make purchases with the secondary account anymore; you’ll need to use your primary account on all your Apple devices. All payment methods and subscriptions from the secondary account will move over to the primary one, and any saved queues in Apple TV or podcast libraries will also switch over, potentially replacing existing content.
Please note, this account migration feature isn’t available in the European Union, the United Kingdom, or India at this time.
Before you start, it’s wise to review Apple’s guidelines on what happens during the migration and how to reverse it if needed. This way, you can ensure you’re making the best choice for managing your digital content.
It’s been over two years since Apple last updated its most affordable iPad, back in October 2022, when they introduced the 10th generation model. Now, after a significant wait, the 11th generation iPad is on its way, but don’t hold your breath for big changes.
The Main Upgrade: A New Chip
Just like the iPad mini 7 that came out last autumn, the new iPad 11 is expected to be more of a performance boost than a redesign. The big news is the upgrade from the A14 Bionic chip, which was introduced with the iPhone 12 in 2020, to the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023. This change should offer around a 40% increase in CPU speed.
Also, the memory is set to double from 4GB to 8GB, which should make handling several apps at once smoother.
New AI Features
The iPad 11 is expected to include Apple Intelligence, bringing AI-driven features like Genmoji, Image Playground, support for ChatGPT, and an updated Siri to the cheapest iPad for the first time.
Possible Small Changes
Unfortunately, there aren’t many exciting new features rumored. There might be minor color updates, and possibly some improvements in connectivity like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. There’s also a whisper about introducing Stage Manager, a feature from iPadOS 16 that’s currently limited to iPads with more advanced chips. Given the new iPad’s specs, it might finally support this multitasking tool.
Conclusion
Despite the long wait, this update to the iPad lineup is shaping up to be pretty modest. One of the more significant changes in recent iPad models was moving the camera to a landscape position, but that’s already in place for this model since 2022.
Here’s hoping Apple might at least bump the storage from 64GB to 128GB. We should see this new model hit the market this spring.
