Search results for: “mi 9t”

  • Apple’s new ‘HomePad’ gets a cooking boost in iOS 18.4

    Apple’s new ‘HomePad’ gets a cooking boost in iOS 18.4

    The iOS 18.4 beta just dropped, and it’s got a cool surprise: a Food hub and cooking guide in Apple News. But here’s the real kicker—a new gadget I’m calling the ‘HomePad’ is on the way, and this cooking feature feels like it was made just for it.

    iOS 18.4 Brings a Fun Cooking Tool

    People thought iOS 18.4 would focus on making Siri smarter. That’s not in the first beta yet—maybe it’s coming in iOS 18.5. Instead, we got a shiny new food section that’s stealing the show. If you’ve got Apple News+, the News app now has a special Food area. It’s packed with recipes, restaurant details, and a handy cooking mode—perfect for food lovers.

    Apple’s press release explains it best:

    The Food feature lets you explore tons of recipes in a Recipe Catalog that grows daily. The layout is simple and pretty, showing ingredients and steps clearly. There’s a cook mode that zooms in on each step, and you can save recipes to use offline later.

    It’s a lot like how Apple Music shows lyrics or Podcasts display transcripts—a clean, bold look that highlights the text. The step you’re on glows, while others stay faded but readable. It works great on iPhones and iPads, but it’s going to shine on the HomePad when it arrives, probably this spring. Maybe it’ll even get its own Cook app!

    HomePad: Your Kitchen Buddy

    Mark Gurman says the HomePad will be super flexible for any room. It’ll come with parts you can swap—like wall mounts for a security panel vibe or bases with speakers for the kitchen or desk. Apple sees it helping with FaceTime calls while you cook or chat in work meetings.

    I bet there’ll be a fridge magnet option too, even if Gurman didn’t mention it.

    We’ve spotted clues in iOS 18.4’s code about this Home gadget, including something called ‘CookingKit’ that fits the HomePad perfectly. Picture this: a hands-free recipe guide where you just say, “Siri, next step,” and keep cooking.

    Cooking help is only one piece of the HomePad puzzle, but it already sounds like a fresh twist on Apple’s lineup.

  • Apple’s Mac growth outpaces top PC brands, leads in AI technology

    Apple’s Mac growth outpaces top PC brands, leads in AI technology

    A recent report shows that Apple’s Macs grew faster than the top three PC brands in the last three months of 2024. Not only that, Apple is also way ahead in computers built for artificial intelligence (AI), holding a 45% share compared to just 15% for its closest Windows rival.

    Mac’s Place in the PC World

    Apple sits in fourth place overall, with a 10% slice of the PC market. It trails behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell, but it saw the biggest jump in sales during late 2024. Experts at Canalys believe Apple is set to keep growing, especially with businesses. They point to a new partner program launching soon that will make it easier for companies to use Macs. This could help Apple win over more business customers by showing how well Macs work in big workplaces—something that’s held them back before.

    Here’s how the overall PC market looks:

    Lenovo: 25%
    HP: 20%
    Dell: 15%
    Apple: 10%
    Asus: 7%
    Acer: 6%
    Huawei: 2%
    Microsoft: 0.4%
    Others: 15%

    Apple Shines in AI Computers

    When it comes to PCs with special AI chips, Apple is the clear leader. In 2024, 17% of all shipped PCs were AI-ready. Apple grabbed 45% of that market, while Lenovo and HP each took 12%. (Note: One part of the report says 54%, but most data sticks with 45%—we’re checking on that.) Experts say AI features aren’t the main reason people buy PCs yet, but they’re growing in importance. Better AI could soon mean smarter, more personal devices, which might keep customers loyal to brands like Apple.

    Trump’s Tariffs Could Slow Things Down

    The PC market is doing well overall, thanks to companies upgrading old machines after Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10. But there’s a catch: a new 10% tax on goods from China, introduced by the Trump administration, could hurt. Since most laptops come from China, this could raise prices and slow down sales, especially for everyday buyers and businesses planning upgrades.

  • New iPhone Mail trick solves a pesky problem

    New iPhone Mail trick solves a pesky problem

    For years, iPhone users have wanted Apple Mail to act differently when moving or deleting an email. Before the latest update, after you trashed or filed a message, the app would jump straight to the next email in your inbox. This was frustrating because it marked that next email as read, even if you didn’t mean to open it. People wished the app would just take them back to the inbox list instead. Good news—iOS 18.4 finally makes that happen!

    This automatic jump to another email after deleting one was odd. Most other email apps don’t do this, which is why some iPhone fans switched to options like Spark or Outlook. But Apple Mail keeps improving, especially with cool new features like email summaries and quick replies powered by Apple Intelligence. This small tweak in iOS 18.4 might just convince those users to return to Apple’s built-in app.

    In iOS 18.4, there’s a fresh setting called “Delete or Move Message Action.” By default, it’s set to “View Next Message,” keeping the old habit alive. But if you switch it to “Don’t Select a Message,” the app won’t leap to another email after you delete or move one. Instead, it takes you right back to your inbox list. From there, you can pick whichever email you want to tackle next and keep sorting through your messages your way.

    Want to try it? Open the Settings app, tap Apps, then Mail, and look for “Message List.” Under that, you’ll see “Delete or Move Message Action” to adjust how it works. This little change, which fans have been asking for, comes with iOS 18.4. It’s still being tested in developer and public betas, but it’ll roll out as a free update for all iPhone users around April. It’s a simple fix that makes a big difference in keeping your inbox under control!

  • New handy feature in Apple’s Passwords app with iOS 18.4

    New handy feature in Apple’s Passwords app with iOS 18.4

    The first iOS 18.4 beta is out now, and it’s available for public testers too. Among its updates, there’s a neat little improvement to the verification codes in Apple’s Passwords app. Here’s what you need to know.

    A Timer Shows When Codes Will Refresh

    Aaron Perris shared on X that the Passwords app has a helpful new twist in the iOS 18.4 beta. The verification codes—those short codes you use for extra security—now come with a countdown timer. This shows you exactly how much time is left before they run out and are replaced with new ones.

    When you go to the Codes section in the app, you’ll notice a small ring in the top-right corner. This ring starts empty and slowly fills up with green as time passes. It’s an easy way to see how long your current codes will last. Once the ring turns fully green, the codes expire and refresh automatically.

    You can also check this timer when looking at a specific password’s details. If that entry has a verification code, the countdown will appear right next to it. Perris pointed out that this update isn’t just for iPhones—it’s also in macOS Sequoia 15.4 and works in the Passwords Menu Bar app on Macs.

    This might seem like a tiny addition, but it’s super useful. Before, there was no clear way to tell when a code was about to stop working. Now, with this simple timer, you can stay on top of your security codes without any guesswork. It’s a small step that makes a big difference for something so important.

  • Apple solves a big CarPlay problem

    Apple solves a big CarPlay problem

    Apple rolled out the iOS 18.4 beta on Friday, bringing some fresh and exciting updates. Among them are Priority Notifications powered by Apple Intelligence, a new Food category in the Apple News app, and a few other goodies. But there’s one smaller tweak that didn’t grab much attention—a change to CarPlay, especially for cars with bigger screens.

    A user named Jace noticed on Threads that CarPlay in iOS 18.4 now shows three rows of app icons instead of just two. This update makes better use of larger car screens, giving you more apps at a glance. Not every car gets this upgrade, though. The extra row only pops up on bigger displays, but it’s not clear exactly how big the screen needs to be.

    For example, MacRumors pointed out that it works on the Toyota Tundra, which can have a screen up to 14 inches. So, if your car’s screen is on the smaller side, you might not see this change yet. This update is a big win for drivers. Car screens keep getting larger, but CarPlay hasn’t always kept up, leaving some space on the display.

    With CarPlay 2 still not here, this fix is a nice in-between solution. It makes things more convenient, especially for people with big screens, by showing more apps at once. That means less swiping through home screen pages while you’re on the road. Overall, it’s a simple but smart move by Apple. For those with the right setup, it makes using CarPlay feel smoother and less cluttered.

  • Find My feature now works in South Korea with iOS 18.4 Beta

    Find My feature now works in South Korea with iOS 18.4 Beta

    Back in July, people in South Korea started a petition begging Apple to turn on the Find My feature in their country. Many thought it wasn’t available because of strict government rules, but the petition said that wasn’t true. Apple promised to bring Find My to South Korea by spring 2025, and they’re starting to make it happen now.

    Aaron Perris shared on X that the Find My network is up and running in South Korea with the iOS 18.4 beta 1 release. This is great news for folks there—they can now track down their missing gadgets. Plus, it might stop thieves in their tracks since the activation lock, which depends on Find My, was a big point in the petition.

    We’re expecting the full iOS 18.4 update to drop for everyone in April. It comes with some cool extras like Priority Notifications, a fresh Food section in the Apple News app, and more. Want the full scoop? Check out our guide on what’s new in iOS 18.4 beta. If you’re in South Korea and don’t mind trying the beta version, you can finally use this feature that’s been missing from your iPhone for so long.

  • Apple set to release new MacBook Air with M4 Chip soon

    Apple set to release new MacBook Air with M4 Chip soon

    Apple is getting ready to roll out a fresh take on its 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops, powered by the new M4 chip. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the big reveal is expected to happen in March.

    Talk about this M4 MacBook Air has been buzzing for a while now. Hints of it popped up in the macOS 15.2 beta back in December, making it seem like the launch was close. Gurman had even hinted that the MacBook Air would hit the market before other spring releases, like the iPhone 16e and iPad Air. But while the iPhone 16e is already out, the MacBook Air has kept us waiting.

    That wait might finally be ending soon. Gurman says Apple is gearing up for a March launch and is busy getting its marketing, sales, and store teams ready. He also mentioned that the older M2 and M3 MacBook Air models are running low in stock at stores, which could be a sign the new version is on its way.

    As for what’s new with the M4 MacBook Air, the details are slim. The star of the show is the M4 chip, but there could be a few other upgrades too. Some possibilities include faster Thunderbolt 4 ports (instead of the current USB 4/Thunderbolt 3 setup), a better Center Stage camera for video calls, and maybe even a nano-texture screen option to cut down on glare.

    These features have already shown up in other Macs with the M4 chip, so they’d make sense here too. Apple fans won’t have to wait much longer to see what’s in store. With March just around the corner, the new MacBook Air could be here before we know it!

    Source

  • iPhone 16e speed test, memory, and charging details unveiled

    iPhone 16e speed test, memory, and charging details unveiled

    The iPhone 16e comes with the A18 chip, but its graphics part is a bit different from the one in the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 has a 5-core GPU, while the iPhone 16e has a 4-core GPU. This small change affects how fast it handles graphics.

    A new speed test from Geekbench, spotted by MySmartPrice, shows what this means for users. The iPhone 16e scored 24,188 points in graphics testing. That’s about 13-15% lower than the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Even so, most people upgrading from older iPhones won’t feel this difference. The phone still runs much better than older models.

    The test also reveals that the iPhone 16e has 8GB of memory. This is great news because it means the phone will stay fast and work well with Apple’s smart features for years to come. Another detail comes from a filing in China. It shows the iPhone 16e can charge quickly using a USB-C cable, up to 29W. This is close to the 30W speed of the iPhone 16. We’ll need more tests to be sure it hits that 29W mark, but it looks promising. For wireless charging, it supports Qi at 7.5W. However, it doesn’t work with MagSafe.

    The iPhone 16e starts at $599, and you can pre-order it today. The first shipments will arrive on Friday, February 28. This phone uses a slightly toned-down A18 chip compared to the iPhone 16. Companies sometimes do this—taking chips with a small flaw and using them in cheaper models. Here, the GPU has one less core, but the main power (a 6-core CPU) stays the same.

    For its price, the iPhone 16e still offers strong performance. More tests will show how it handles daily tasks and games, but it’s a solid choice for the cost. Pre-orders begin today at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and it’ll be available in 59 countries by the end of February. Running on iOS 18.3.1, this phone is ready to impress budget-friendly buyers.

    Source/Via

  • Apple’s new Wi-Fi chip set to boost iPhone 17 series

    Apple’s new Wi-Fi chip set to boost iPhone 17 series

    Apple recently unveiled its shiny new C1 modem with the iPhone 16e, just a day ago. But guess what? Another exciting Apple-made chip is on the way, and it’s expected to land in every iPhone 17 model, according to a fresh report.

    A Fresh Wi-Fi Chip for All iPhone 17 Models

    For some time now, whispers have hinted that Apple’s been busy cooking up its connection tech. This includes two big projects: the 5G modem, like the new C1 and its future upgrades, and a homemade Wi-Fi chip. Now, word is out that this Wi-Fi chip is ready to roll and will show up in the whole iPhone 17 crew next year.

    Tech expert Ming-Chi Kuo shared some details in a recent X post:

    Apple is speeding up plans to swap out Wi-Fi chips from companies like Broadcom for its design. My latest checks show all iPhone 17 models launching in late 2025 will use Apple’s own Wi-Fi chips (unlike the C1 modem, which only the slim iPhone 17 will get). This move cuts costs and promises better connections between Apple gadgets.

    Earlier rumors suggested this Wi-Fi chip would pop up in some iPhone 17 models, but no one knew which ones. Now, it’s clear—Apple’s going big, replacing Broadcom’s chips across the board in the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max.

    Kuo mentions this change will “boost connectivity across Apple devices,” which sounds cool but leaves us guessing about the details. The C1 modem already improved battery life, so I’m excited to see if this new Wi-Fi chip brings similar perks—or maybe something even better. What kind of connection upgrades can we expect? We’ll have to wait and see!

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  • Apple spots Pegasus Spyware on only half of affected iPhones

    Apple spots Pegasus Spyware on only half of affected iPhones

    Pegasus spyware, created by NSO, is a danger to iPhone users’ privacy. This sneaky program can take over your phone without you doing anything. It grabs almost all your info and some versions can even turn on your camera and microphone. Pegasus uses secret flaws in iPhones that Apple hasn’t found yet. Still, Apple has a plan to catch it.

    Apple’s Efforts to Find Pegasus

    Apple built special tools into iOS to spot when spyware sneaks into an iPhone, even if they don’t know how it got there. When they think a phone’s been hit, they warn the owner and start hunting for the weak spot Pegasus used. Last summer, for example, Apple sent alerts to users in nearly 100 countries.

    Apple has told tons of people in 98 countries that “mercenary spyware” might have attacked their phones, risking nearly all their private data. They admit they’re not always 100% sure, but they’re pretty confident and tell users to take the warning seriously.

    Here are some past cases:

    • Apple tipped off a Polish prosecutor her phone might be hacked by NSO.
    • Apple warned pro-democracy activists in Thailand about a Pegasus attack.
    • Apple alerted an Indian opposition leader about a possible iPhone hack.

    Only Half of Infected Phones Caught

    A new study says Apple is only finding about half of the phones hit by Pegasus. This info comes from iVerify, a mobile security company. They made a $1 app last year that lets you check your phone and send the results to them. You pay once and can scan monthly.

    From those scans, iVerify figured out how common Pegasus is and checked if Apple warned the infected users. After big news coverage, 18,000 more people used the app and found 11 new Pegasus cases in December alone. Now, iVerify estimates about 1.5 out of every 1,000 scanned phones have Pegasus.

    With more scans, they’re sure of this number. They also noticed that not just big shots as politicians get hit—regular folks in jobs like government, finance, logistics, and real estate do too. Some were tracked for years with different Pegasus types.  Surprisingly, Apple didn’t warn about half of these victims. Without verifying, they’d never know their phones were hacked. iVerify says they only counted phones they were sure were infected.

    Source