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  • How the Apple Watch helps NHL referees

    How the Apple Watch helps NHL referees

    The Apple Watch is making a big difference for referees in NHL hockey games. A special app called NHL Watch Comms was created just for NHL officials who work on the ice. This app will get its first outdoor test at tomorrow’s Stadium Series game in Ohio.

    The NHL announced this exciting update in a blog post recently. They said:

    For the first time in an outdoor match, referees will use the NHL Watch Comms App on their Apple Watches. This app, built by Presidio, sends live updates during the game to help officials stay on top of everything happening. Referees will feel small taps on their wrists to alert them about important moments, like how much time is left on the game clock, penalty timers, and even the jersey numbers of players sitting in the penalty box.

    This handy tool has been tested and improved over the past few seasons at indoor rinks. Now, it’s ready for its outdoor debut this Saturday. That’s when the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, a famous football spot tied to The Ohio State University. Hockey games are loud and fast, which makes it tricky for referees to talk to each other. An outdoor game adds even more challenges, like wind or weather. That’s where the Apple Watch steps in to help.

    The app uses those wrist taps to keep referees in sync with the game clock—kind of like how fans might follow a live sports update on their own Apple Watches. But for refs, it’s all about doing their job better. Pretty neat, right?

    Here’s a peek at the NHL Watch Comms app, designed by Presidio for the NHL referees:

    This simple yet smart tool shows how tech can make a tough job a little easier, even in the middle of a thrilling hockey game.

  • Apple’s purchase transfer tool now available in the EU and UK

    Apple’s purchase transfer tool now available in the EU and UK

    Apple recently made changes to its support page for a new tool that lets users move purchases between Apple Accounts. The EU and UK are no longer left out, meaning people there can now use it. The only place still missing out is India, where the tool isn’t available yet.

    This purchase transfer tool came out earlier this month. It helps shift purchases, like apps or iTunes goodies, from one Apple Account to another. To use it, you need an iPhone or iPad signed into two accounts at once—one for iCloud and another for the App Store.

    For some folks, this tool has worked like a charm. They’ve successfully moved their App Store and iTunes buys to the account they like better. Sadly, I’m not one of them. Still, I’ve managed with two accounts for 15 years—what’s a few more, right?

    Anyway, if you’re in the EU or UK, you can now give this a shot. The support page lays out all the steps and rules you need to follow to make it work. It’s got a bunch of details, so check it out if you’re thinking of switching things over. The tool’s a handy option for anyone wanting to tidy up their accounts or bring everything under one roof. Just be ready to jump through a few hoops to get it done!

  • Apple Watch “Green” claims face new lawsuit

    Apple Watch “Green” claims face new lawsuit

    Apple has a big plan to make all its products eco-friendly and carbon-neutral by 2030. However, a new lawsuit says the company’s first “green” product—the Apple Watch—isn’t as environmentally friendly as promised. Here’s what’s going on with this legal challenge.

    Buyers Say Apple Tricked Them with False Green Promises

    According to Jonathan Stempel at Reuters, some Apple Watch owners are upset. They’ve filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple’s promise of a “carbon neutral” watch isn’t true. The case, brought to a federal court in San Jose, California, involves seven people who bought the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2. These customers say Apple’s green labels convinced them to buy the watches—or pay more than they would have if they’d known the real story.

    Apple rolled out these watches in September 2023, saying they were carbon neutral. The company explained it cut emissions and bought carbon offsets to balance things out. But the buyers disagree, pointing to two projects Apple used to claim its eco-friendly status:

    • Kenya’s Chyulu Hills Project
    • China’s Guinan Project

    The lawsuit argues these projects don’t help the environment as much as Apple says. The buyers claim the carbon cuts from these efforts would’ve happened anyway, even without Apple’s involvement. Because of this, they say Apple’s “carbon neutral” label is misleading and not honest.

    What the Lawsuit Wants

    The people suing are asking for money to cover their losses. They also want a court order to stop Apple from calling its products “carbon neutral” in ads or marketing. Since launching those first “green” Apple Watches in 2023, Apple has added more eco-friendly products, like the M4 Mac mini (its first carbon neutral Mac) and the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup. But this lawsuit could challenge how truthful those green claims are. For now, it’s a waiting game to see how the court rules and what it means for Apple’s big environmental goals.

  • Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    Could Apple lose an important iPhone privacy tool in France?

    For almost two years, French officials have been looking into a privacy tool on iPhones called App Tracking Transparency. This feature lets people choose if they want apps to follow their activity for ads or not. You’ve probably noticed those “Ask App Not to Track” messages popping up. Now, according to a recent Reuters story, the investigation is almost over—and it doesn’t look good for Apple.

    France Might Stop This Privacy Feature Soon

    The two-year review of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency in France should finish within the next month. And it seems Apple might not like the result.

    Reuters reporter Foo Yun Chee explains:

    French regulators are likely to tell Apple next month to stop this practice, saying it’s unfair to competition. They’ll probably add a fine too. This would be the first time a government blocks this feature. In France, fines for such issues can reach up to 10% of a company’s yearly earnings worldwide.

    So, two big things could happen when this case ends:

    • Apple may have to turn off this feature for people in France.
    • The company could also face a penalty.

    Back in 2023, when this probe began, we noted: “Apple’s being accused of playing favorites and setting unclear, unfair rules about how user info can be used for ads.”

    Apple shared this comment with 9to5Mac during an earlier debate about the feature:

    “We at Apple think your data is yours. You should decide if it’s shared and with whom. App Tracking Transparency just lets users pick whether apps can track them or pass their info to data collectors. These rules are the same for everyone, including us, and we’ve had lots of support from privacy fans and regulators.”

    Beyond France, Germany and Italy are also checking out this feature. Usually, the worry isn’t the tool itself but how Apple uses it for its apps. In the U.S., companies like Meta have complained the most—not regulators. They say this privacy option has hurt their ad income.

  • A cool secret in the iPhone 16 wallpapers

    A cool secret in the iPhone 16 wallpapers

    Every new iPhone comes with its own special wallpaper, and the iPhone 16 has a neat little surprise baked into its design. At first glance, it’s not super clear when you look at just one phone. But when you check out three of them together on Apple’s comparison tool online, the secret pops right out.

    Here’s the fun part: the wallpaper actually shows off how many camera lenses each iPhone 16 model has. John Gruber, a tech writer, pointed this out. He said Apple cleverly uses the default wallpapers to hint at the number of lenses on each phone. It’s a playful detail the company loves to sneak in every now and then. They’ve done similar things before, often called “easter eggs”—little surprises that show up in special moments. Think of stuff like typing “let it snow” in the Apple Store app for a snowy treat or Siri playing a silly true-or-false game on April Fools’ Day.

    This time, though, the secret isn’t buried too deep—it’s right there if you know where to look. Speaking of cameras, Gruber also checked the thickness of the three iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 16e stands out because it doesn’t have a raised camera bump (what he calls a “mesa,” like a flat-topped hill). Not only is there no bump, but the whole camera area—from the lens to the screen—is thinner than the other models, even at their thickest spots.

    This gives the iPhone 16e a clean, simple look on the back, which feels fresh. So, it’s a bit surprising that rumors suggest Apple won’t keep this style for the iPhone 17 Air. Instead, we might see a raised bar across the back. For now, though, the iPhone 16 wallpapers are a fun way to celebrate the cameras—and a cool nod to Apple’s love for little surprises.

  • iPhone 16e modem performs well and saves power, early tests show

    iPhone 16e modem performs well and saves power, early tests show

    Early tests of the iPhone 16e’s cell signal strength reveal some exciting news. A Chinese tech site, Geekerwan, ran several 5G checks on the iPhone 16e using a fake cell tower set up in their lab. Overall, the iPhone 16e worked just as well as the iPhone 16 for staying connected, with similar speeds and dependability. Plus, Apple’s promise of better power use seems spot on. Geekerwan found that the new C1 modem in the iPhone 16e used much less energy than the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16.

    The best part? The iPhone 16e didn’t show any big surprises—it matched the iPhone 16’s performance nicely (though it doesn’t have mmWave support). They also tested both phones on a subway ride. Speeds went up and down, but all iPhone 16 models had about the same number of signal drops and connection quality.

    Looking at power use, the difference was clear. Apple says the C1 modem saves up to 25% more energy, and the numbers back that up. In strong signal areas, the iPhone 16 used 0.88 watts on 5G, while the 16e only needed 0.67 watts—that’s about 24% less. In weak signal spots, the 16 averaged 0.81 watts, and the 16e stayed at 0.67 watts, a 17% drop.

    For real-life battery tests, the iPhone 16e lasted 7 hours and 53 minutes streaming video on 5G. The iPhone 16 managed 7 hours, and the 16 Pro hit 6 hours and 54 minutes. So, the 16e outlasted them by nearly an hour. The bigger Plus and Pro Max models, with larger batteries, reached about 8.5 hours.

    Still, it’s tricky to know if the longer battery life comes from the C1 modem alone or the 16e’s bigger 3961mAH battery, which is 12% larger than the 16 Pro’s. It looks like Apple boosted the iPhone 16e’s staying power with both a smarter modem and a roomier battery.

  • Why Apple TV+ is going big on shows from around the world

    Why Apple TV+ is going big on shows from around the world

    Netflix recently shared its latest report on what people watched most in the last half of 2024. One standout detail from this report might clue us in on why Apple TV+ is suddenly focusing so much on shows and movies that aren’t in English.

    Netflix’s Worldwide Fans Love Variety

    Netflix is a giant compared to Apple TV+, so it’s tricky to compare their hits side by side. Still, the report revealed something eye-opening: almost a third of all Netflix viewing comes from shows and films in languages other than English. That’s a huge slice of their massive audience! Plus, three of their top 10 most-watched shows—like Squid Game season 2—weren’t in English either.

    Netflix has been pouring effort into global stories for years, and it’s clearly working as they grow fans all over the world. Apple TV+, though smaller, is starting to follow a similar path by boosting its lineup of non-English shows.

    Apple TV+ Steps Up with Global Stories

    In its early days, Apple TV+ made a few non-English shows like Pachinko and Drops of God. Critics loved them, but they were exceptions in a mostly English collection. Lately, though, things have changed fast. Since September, Apple TV+ has rolled out new titles like:

    • Berlin ER (a German hospital show)
    • Love You to Death (a Spanish rom-com)
    • You Would Do It Too (a Spanish crime story)
    • Where’s Wanda? (a German funny mystery)
    • Midnight Family (a Spanish doctor drama)
    • La Maison (a French fashion tale)

    Even with fewer releases overall, Apple TV+ is now dropping about one new non-English show each month. Netflix’s winning streak with global hits might be the push behind this shift.

    Aiming for Fans Everywhere

    While the U.S. is still Apple’s main focus, these moves show they’re dreaming bigger—hoping to win over viewers worldwide. Maybe the buzz around Severance will get more people hooked on their global gems too. Apple TV+ costs $9.99 a month and offers popular shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.

  • Apple offers discounts on refurbished M4 iMacs

    Apple offers discounts on refurbished M4 iMacs

    Apple recently started selling the M4 Mac mini and MacBook Pro at lower prices in its refurbished store. For a while, the M4 iMac, which came out at the same time, wasn’t included. Good news—Apple has now added it, so the whole M4 Mac family is available!

    Refurbished M4 iMacs Come in Many Colors and Options

    You can now grab the M4 iMac from Apple’s refurbished store in different colors and setups, all at nice savings (spotted by MacRumors).

    The regular price for the basic M4 iMac is $1,299 when brand new. But if you go refurbished, it’s only $1,099—and it still comes with all the matching accessories, like the keyboard and mouse.
    Since all M4 Macs now kick off with 16GB of memory, the starting model is a solid pick compared to older versions.

    That said, many people might want more storage space. Apple has several bigger SSD options to choose from. Just keep an eye on the discounts—they can change depending on how much storage you pick.

    Compare Prices Before You Buy

    If you’re thinking about getting an M4 iMac, don’t skip checking Amazon. They’ve got brand-new ones on sale, sometimes close to Apple’s refurbished prices.

    For instance, a new basic M4 iMac is going for $1,149 right now. That’s just $50 more than Apple’s refurbished version. So, it’s worth a look to see which deal feels right for you! Whether you go refurbished or new, the M4 iMac is a colorful, powerful choice at a better price than before.

  • Spotify boss slams Apple’s EU rules follow-up, pushes for tougher action

    Spotify boss slams Apple’s EU rules follow-up, pushes for tougher action

    Spotify’s top boss, Daniel Ek, isn’t pleased with how Apple is handling the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a chat with Bloomberg, he took a swing at Apple, urging EU officials to crack down on the tech giant soon. Ek insists it’s high time “to make sure the rules stick” against Apple. Bloomberg’s Samuel Stolton reports:

    Ek called Apple’s efforts to follow the DMA a “joke.” He accused the iPhone maker of dragging its feet and finding ways to avoid fully cooperating with the law, which puts tight controls on big tech companies.

    “Europe needs to prove it’s serious about enforcing the rules already in place,” Ek told Bloomberg on Tuesday. He also pointed out that regulators in the U.S. are starting to pay closer attention to Apple’s actions.

    The EU has already shown it’s unhappy with Apple’s first attempts to follow the DMA. Talks are likely underway about whether Apple should face bigger penalties.

    Stolton adds: “EU competition boss Teresa Ribera has promised a decision on Apple’s DMA follow-through by late March. The law lets her slap fines as high as 10% of Apple’s yearly global earnings.”

    Things have shifted a bit politically since then, though. With the U.S. President now pushing back against such moves, it’s uncertain if the EU will keep pressing Apple. Spotify and Ek have been vocal supporters of tougher rules on Apple for a while, so this latest nudge to the EU isn’t shocking. Still, Ek’s fresh complaints might stem from worries that the EU could drop the ball and let Apple off the hook.

  • Your Safari searches now pop Up in iOS 18.4

    Your Safari searches now pop Up in iOS 18.4

    With the iOS 18.4 update, Apple added a little change to Safari that might catch your eye. Now, when you open a new tab and tap the search bar, your recent searches show up right away. It’s a simple shift, but it could spark some mixed feelings.

    In the earlier version, iOS 18.3.1, things worked differently. Opening a new tab and tapping search kept your history hidden, leaving you on the usual Safari start page. You wouldn’t see past searches unless you started typing something similar, and even then, it only popped up as a suggestion.

    According to 9to5Mac, this new setup in iOS 18.4 could feel a bit awkward. Imagine handing your iPhone or iPad to a friend or family member to use Safari or another app—your recent searches would be right there for them to see. Not everyone might love that kind of openness.

    On the flip side, if you’re someone who never shares your device, this could be handy. Seeing your latest searches with one tap might save time, especially if you look up the same things often. Plus, Apple still has Private Browsing mode, which keeps your searches off the record entirely.

    Right now, iOS 18.4 doesn’t let you turn off this search history display. That said, Apple might tweak it before the update goes live for everyone, since it’s still in beta. If you want to wipe the slate clean, there’s always the “Clear All” button to erase your search history whenever you like. This small update shows how even tiny changes can make a difference—whether you find it helpful or a little too revealing depends on how you use your device!

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