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Search results for: “change”

  • What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    Apple is set to roll out the new iOS 18.3 update next week after months of testing. Even though it’s not a huge update, it does bring some cool new features and fixes for iPhone users.

    Changes in Notifications

    Apple has decided to pause its AI-powered news summaries because they’ve been getting some details wrong. In iOS 18.3, you’ll see summarized notifications in italics so they’re easy to spot. Also, you can now tweak your notification summary settings right from your lock screen. Apple has promised to make these summaries better in future updates.

    New Visual Intelligence Features

    If you’ve got one of the iPhone 16 models, you can enjoy enhanced Visual Intelligence. This feature lets you get instant info about things around you by just holding down the Camera Control button. Now, you can add events to your calendar from posters you see in public, and it can even tell you about different animals or plants. Remember, these features are only for the latest iPhone models.

    Calculator App Gets a Boost

    A handy feature is back in the Calculator app with iOS 18.3. Now, when you hit the equals button twice, it repeats the last calculation, which is super useful for things like figuring out compound interest.

    Maybe Something for Black Unity

    There’s a hint in the tvOS update code about a possible “UNITY25” campaign, suggesting Apple might celebrate Black Unity again this year with new watch bands, faces, or iPhone wallpapers. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but we might hear something soon.

    Bug Fixes and More

    iOS 18.3 also fixes some annoying bugs. For instance, Siri won’t make your keyboard vanish when you try to type a request, and Apple Music will stop playing when you close the app, not after the song ends. There’s also talk about adding support for robot vacuums in the Home app, but that seems to be pushed to a later update.

    This update is shaping up to make your iPhone experience smoother and more useful, especially if you’ve got the latest model. Keep an eye out for the official release next week.

  • Apple’s First Laser Printer: The birth of desktop publishing

    Apple’s First Laser Printer: The birth of desktop publishing

    Forty years ago today, Apple changed the world of printing with the launch of the LaserWriter. This was not just any printer; it was the start of what we now know as desktop publishing.

    The LaserWriter was Apple’s debut into the laser printing scene, and it was one of the earliest printers to use Adobe’s PostScript technology. This technology was special because it allowed for detailed and scalable printing of text, designs, and images, moving away from the less precise dot-matrix printers of that era.

    Under the hood, the LaserWriter was powered by a Motorola 68000 microprocessor, the same as in the Macintosh computers. It had its memory, could run its programs, and its processor was faster than those in the Macs, making it the most powerful piece of hardware Apple had at that time.

    With a print quality of 300 dots per inch (dpi), the LaserWriter could produce documents that looked like they came from high-end professional printers. When it first came out, it cost $6,995, which would be about $24,000 today.

    Alongside the LaserWriter, Apple introduced the AppleTalk networking system. This was groundbreaking because it enabled multiple computers to connect to one printer, making office printing more efficient than ever before.

    When combined with the Macintosh and programs like Aldus PageMaker, the LaserWriter allowed people to create and print professional-looking materials like flyers, newsletters, and ads right from their desks. This meant that publishing tools, once only available to big companies, were now within reach for smaller businesses, schools, and individual creators.

    Over time, Apple expanded the LaserWriter line, offering everything from high-end models like the LaserWriter Pro to more budget-friendly options like the Personal LaserWriter. However, as competitors like HP and Canon entered the market with cheaper yet similar technology, and as more printers worked well with Apple’s systems, the LaserWriter’s unique position weakened. By the time Steve Jobs came back to Apple in 1997, the decision was made to stop producing the LaserWriter, as focus shifted away from peripherals like printers.

  • iPhones with TikTok app sell for big bucks on eBay

    iPhones with TikTok app sell for big bucks on eBay

    People are selling old iPhones with TikTok already on them for lots of money on eBay. Some are even asking for up to $50,000! For example, someone listed an unlocked iPhone 12 Pro Max with TikTok for $50,000.

    Even though President Trump said companies wouldn’t get in trouble for not following the TikTok ban, big companies like Apple and Google are still not allowing TikTok in their app stores in the US.

    A Quick Update

    The US Supreme Court said yes to banning TikTok last Friday, and the ban started on January 19. TikTok was taken off the app stores on Sunday. Apple had to say they would follow the law. But then, Trump posted on social media that he would stop the ban when he became president again the next day, and he said companies could ignore the law without getting into trouble. So, TikTok came back online thanks to Bytedance, with Oracle, a US company, trusting Trump’s word.

    Trump then made an official statement saying the ban wouldn’t be enforced for 75 days, but lawyers said this might not be legal, meaning companies could still face huge fines of up to $850 billion. They also said Trump could change his mind if he didn’t like a company.

    eBay Listings for TikTok iPhones

    Wired noticed that some sellers on eBay are trying to make money by selling old phones with TikTok on them for much more than they are really worth.

    If you look up “TikTok phone” on eBay, you’ll find over 9,000 listings for phones from brands like Apple and Samsung, all with TikTok installed. Some listings are asking for $50,000, while many others are between $2,000 and $5,000.

    Luckily, it seems like most people aren’t paying these crazy prices. The phones with very high prices aren’t selling, and when they do sell, it’s often because buyers can offer a lower price through eBay’s “best offer” option.

    Here’s an interesting thing about these iPhones: if one user downloads apps using their Apple ID and then another user signs in with their own ID, the apps stay on the phone. But, if you ever reset your phone using your own iCloud backup, you’ll lose those apps.

    Source

  • UK Watchdog probes iPhone App Store dominance

    UK Watchdog probes iPhone App Store dominance

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has kicked off a thorough investigation into how mobile app stores operate, focusing on iPhone and Android systems.

    The study aims to look at whether Apple has too much control over the market and if they might be using this power in unfair ways. They’re checking how apps are sold to consumers and the rules developers have to follow to get their apps on the iPhone’s App Store.

    This investigation sounds a lot like what’s happening in the European Union, where they have rules to keep big tech companies in check.

    The CMA will look into how much competition exists between Apple and Google, including how hard it is for new companies to break into the market. They’ll check if Apple and Google are using their big influence over mobile operating systems to favor their own apps or limit choices in browsers. They’re also looking at the conditions app makers must agree to for their apps to appear in these stores.

    The investigation is set to wrap up by October 22, 2025. After that, we’ll know more about what might happen next. Possible outcomes could include penalties or changes in how these companies do business.

    In Europe, Apple was made to allow other app stores, let apps be downloaded from the internet, and give users more browser options. However, Apple also changed how they charge developers, which some big companies like Epic Games and Spotify say is still not fair. While the EU case continues, it’s likely Apple might use similar tactics when dealing with the CMA in the UK.

    Source

  • How the Apple Watch helped a business leader quit drinking

    How the Apple Watch helped a business leader quit drinking

    The Apple Watch has become known for helping people in emergencies, but for one business leader, it offered life-changing insights.

    John Mackey, who started Whole Foods, decided to stop drinking three years ago after looking at the information his Apple Watch gave him. He told Business Insider that the decision was one of the best he’s made. “I wish I had stopped drinking 30 years ago,” Mackey said, reflecting on the years he could have felt better.

    Mackey found that his Apple Watch was key in this life change. He used it to keep track of his sleep. “Some nights I slept well, others not so much,” he observed. This led him to think about what he did differently on those bad sleep nights.

    With the help of his Apple Watch and the AutoSleep app, Mackey noticed patterns. More exercise and lighter dinners helped him sleep better. But the real eye-opener was his deep sleep, or the lack of it, when he drank.

    In a podcast last year, Mackey explained how the watch influenced his decision. “It changed my life. It helped me stop drinking over two years ago,” he said. He explained how even one drink would ruin his deep sleep, making his total sleep time decrease by about an hour.

    “I didn’t want to give up alcohol because I enjoyed it,” Mackey admitted. But the evidence was clear: alcohol meant no deep sleep. He had to choose between a good night’s sleep or a drink, and he chose sleep.

    For Mackey, better sleep has meant a better life. His experience underscores how useful the sleep tracking features on newer Apple Watch models can be, including the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2, which can even detect signs of sleep apnea.

    This story shows how technology, in this case, the Apple Watch, can lead to significant personal improvements by providing clear insights into our daily habits.

    Source

  • New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    The iPhone’s screen recording tool is about to get even better with three cool new features. It’s great for making quick videos of your screen, like when you’re showing someone how to do something on their phone. I talk about these updates in my latest “iPhone Secrets” episode.

    What Does Screen Recording Do Now?

    Screen recording on your iPhone lets you capture whatever is on your screen and save it in your Photos. You can also stream it live! To do more, just hold down the Screen Record button in the Control Center. This lets you turn on your microphone or choose where to send your live video, like to Zoom or Instagram.

    What’s New?

    • Stereo Sound Recording: Right now, when you record your screen, the sound is only in one channel (mono). But soon, you’ll be able to record in stereo using the iPhone’s multiple microphones for a richer sound experience.
    • HDR Screen Capture: Currently, if you record your screen while watching high-quality (HDR) video, it all goes back to standard quality (SDR). In the next update, you’ll keep the high quality, making your recordings look just as good as what you’re watching.
    • Live Camera Overlay: Imagine recording your screen and adding a live video of yourself in a small window. This is coming soon! It’s like having a mini TV of you in the corner of your screen recording, perfect for tutorials or explaining things hands-free.

    Here’s what the new screen recording menu might look like, with a camera icon next to the microphone icon, allowing you to turn your camera on while recording.

    These changes might not excite everyone, but for people who use screen recording a lot, they’re big improvements. Especially the camera overlay, which can make your videos much more engaging.

    What do you think about these updates? For more details, check out the latest “iPhone Secrets” episode where I go over these features and more coming to iOS 18.3.

  • iPhone Update: A small feature pause for better results

    iPhone Update: A small feature pause for better results

    The new iOS 18.3 update is almost here, and it brings some new stuff like better camera controls, AI tweaks, and fixes for bugs. But, there’s one feature that won’t be around for a bit.

    One of the cool things from the Apple Intelligence update, which started with iOS 18.1 last October, was notification summaries. These summaries aim to make your notifications easier to understand. But sometimes, they’ve had mistakes, which isn’t great, especially since this feature is still being tested.

    So, with iOS 18.3, Apple is making some changes:

    • They’re making AI summaries stand out by putting them in italics.
    • You can now stop summaries for specific apps straight from your notifications. Just swipe left, tap ‘Options,’ then ‘Turn Off Summaries.’
    • There’s now a reminder that this feature is still in beta, meaning it might not always get things right.

    Also, Apple has decided to turn off summaries for News & Entertainment apps for now. If you check your settings under Notifications ⇾ Summarize Notifications, you’ll see that for these apps, it says ‘Temporarily Unavailable.’

    The plan is to bring these summaries back once they’ve fixed the accuracy issues. This makes sense to me because news notifications are already summaries, and summarizing them again can lead to errors.

    Overall, Apple is doing the right thing by pausing, tweaking, and aiming for better accuracy before reintroducing this feature. This will hopefully lead to a smoother and more reliable experience for everyone using an iPhone.

    Source

  • One cool update in the new M4 MacBook Air

    One cool update in the new M4 MacBook Air

    Apple is about to release the M4 MacBook Air, which might be the first new product they launch this year. There’s one big reason why you might want to upgrade from the M2 or even the M3 models: better support for extra screens.

    Screen Limits Have Been a Problem for MacBook Airs

    In the past, MacBook Airs with M1 and M2 chips could only connect to one extra screen, which was a bit of a bummer for many users who needed more space.

    Last Year’s M3 Model Made Some Improvements

    The M3 MacBook Air from last year allowed you to use two extra screens, but you had to keep the laptop closed. This was better than before but still not ideal if you wanted to use the laptop’s keyboard and touchpad.

    The M4 MacBook Air Changes Things Up

    The upcoming M4 MacBook Air will have the same chip as the basic MacBook Pro and is expected to let you use two external screens while keeping your laptop open.

    This means you could have three screens in total: two extra ones plus the laptop’s screen. This feature is already in the M4 MacBook Pro, so it makes sense for the M4 Air to have it too.

    Why This Matters

    For many, this could be a big enough reason to upgrade. If you’re still using an M3, M2, or M1 MacBook Air, being able to work with two extra monitors without closing your laptop is a game-changer. It lets you use the laptop’s keyboard and touchpad, saving you from buying additional gear, and gives you more screen space to work with.

    This upgrade could really make the M4 MacBook Air a top choice for those looking for an efficient and versatile laptop setup.

  • When will the next iOS update come out?

    When will the next iOS update come out?

    Apple is almost done with the testing phase for iOS 18.3, which means the first beta version of iOS 18.4 might be coming very soon. Here’s when you can expect it:

    iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Should Come Out Soon After iOS 18.3’s Release

    Apple usually follows a pretty regular schedule for its software rollouts, with only small changes here and there.

    Looking back at how things have gone before:

    • In 2024, iOS 17.3 was released on a Monday, followed by iOS 17.4 beta 1 just three days later on Thursday.
    • Back in 2023, iOS 16.3 came out on a Monday, with iOS 16.4 beta 1 appearing three weeks later on a Thursday.
    • In 2022, iOS 15.3 was launched on a Wednesday, with iOS 15.4 beta 1 the very next day on Thursday.

    So, if iOS 18.3 goes public around Monday, January 27, we could see iOS 18.4 beta 1 as early as Tuesday, January 28, or later that week.

    Could There Be More Waiting for iOS 18.4?

    While it’s likely we’ll see the beta soon, there’s a chance it could be delayed. Apple has mentioned that iOS 18.4 will be available to everyone in April. Starting a beta in late January might seem a bit rushed.

    However, for major updates involving AI, like the new features for Siri in iOS 18.4, Apple often likes to have lots of testing time. So, even with the possibility of a delay, I think we’ll still see the beta sooner rather than later. The more feedback Apple gets on the new Siri, the better they can make it before the final release.

  • iOS update brings back simple math trick

    iOS update brings back simple math trick

    The latest update, iOS 18.3, has made a small but handy change to the Calculator app on your iPhone. They’ve brought back a feature where you can repeat calculations easily.

    Here’s how it works: If you do a calculation like 5 times 5 and hit equals, you get 25. Now, if you tap the equals sign again, it will do 25 times 5. Every time you press equals after that, it will keep multiplying the result by 5.

    This repeat function was available in older versions of iOS but was taken out with iOS 18. Now, with the 18.3 update, it’s back for those who missed it. It’s especially good for things like figuring out compound interest.

    Also, if you use a Mac, this feature was gone in macOS 15 too, but it’s coming back with the macOS 15.3 update. So, whether you’re on an iPhone or a Mac, you’ll find this update makes math a bit easier.

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