Search results for: “model”

  • GM puts a stop to custom CarPlay upgrades

    GM puts a stop to custom CarPlay upgrades

    General Motors (GM) is taking strong action against a popular way people upgrade their cars with Apple CarPlay. Many drivers love CarPlay because it lets them use their iPhone apps, like maps and music, right on their car’s screen. However, GM has decided it doesn’t want this feature added to its older vehicles through unofficial methods.

    A company called Nifty City had been selling a kit that allowed GM car owners to add CarPlay to vehicles that didn’t come with it. This kit was a hit among drivers who wanted a modern touch in their older cars. But GM wasn’t happy about it. They sent a legal notice to Nifty City, telling them to stop selling the kit right away. GM says this kind of upgrade messes with their car systems and could cause safety problems.

    Nifty City shared the news with its customers, explaining that they had to pull the product off the market because of GM’s demands. They’re disappointed, and so are the drivers who were excited about the upgrade. Some people even wonder if GM just wants to push buyers toward newer models that already have CarPlay built in.

    This isn’t the first time GM has made headlines about CarPlay. Last year, they announced plans to drop CarPlay and Android Auto from their future electric vehicles, betting on their software instead. That decision upset a lot of fans who prefer the familiar feel of Apple’s system. Now, by blocking these custom kits, GM is doubling down on controlling how its cars work.

    For drivers who still want CarPlay in their older GM cars, this news is a letdown. They’ll have to stick with what their vehicle already has or look for other options—though those might be harder to find now. GM’s move shows they’re serious about keeping their tech their way, even if it leaves some customers frustrated.

  • First iPhone 17 Air case shows off new camera bar and button spot

    First iPhone 17 Air case shows off new camera bar and button spot

    Today, well-known leaker Sonny Dickson posted a picture of what he says is an early peek at a case made for Apple’s iPhone 17 Air. “If you didn’t hear about the Air model, you’d think this was for a Google Pixel,” he joked.

    How Case Makers Get the Scoop

    Companies that make phone cases often get a head start by teaming up with Apple or checking out production sites. By watching how things are made and studying early versions, they figure out what the new designs will look like. The iPhone 17 Air is set to have a fresh look with a wide, flat “camera bar” stretching across the top of its back. This style feels a bit like Google’s Pixel phones and shakes up the usual iPhone camera setup.

    From leaked images, it looks like this camera bar will hold just one back camera on the left, with a flash way over on the right. The design is simple and clean, matching the iPhone 17 Air’s super-slim body, which is said to be about 5.5mm thick.

    What the Case RevealsEven with its simple style, the case hints at cool features like MagSafe, an Action button, and a new Camera Control button. You can see a spot for this button on the lower left side of the case in Dickson’s photo. A recent report and some fake models shared earlier by Dickson also back up this detail.

    The iPhone 17 Air is expected to come with a 6.6-inch screen that refreshes fast at 120Hz, a Dynamic Island, a regular A19 chip (not the Pro version), a sharp 48-megapixel camera, Apple’s own C1 modem, and no slot for a physical SIM card anywhere in the world. Like always, Apple will likely show off its new iPhones around mid-September.

  • Apple updates MagSafe charger software and ends support for iOS 18.3.1

    Apple updates MagSafe charger software and ends support for iOS 18.3.1

    Apple recently rolled out a software update for its 25W MagSafe Charger, which works with iPhone 12 and newer models, as well as the latest AirPods. The new software version is 2A146, an upgrade from the earlier 2A143 released this year. In the Settings app, this update shows as version 136, up from 133.

    The 2024 MagSafe Charger debuted with the iPhone 16 lineup and can power those devices at a speedy 25W. For older models, like the iPhone 12 through iPhone 15, it charges at a slower 15W.
    Apple pushes these updates wirelessly and doesn’t share detailed notes about them. So, we’re not sure what improvements or fixes this version brings. To update your MagSafe Charger, plug it in and connect it to an Apple device—there’s no manual way to start the process. Want to check your charger’s software version? Follow the steps in our MagSafe Charger guide.

    In other news, Apple has stopped supporting iOS 18.3.1 as of today. This means iPhone users who’ve moved to iOS 18.3.2 can’t switch back to the older version. Apple launched iOS 18.3.2 on March 10. This move isn’t surprising—Apple often phases out older iOS versions after a new one arrives. Unsigned software can’t be installed because of a server check, blocking users from loading outdated iOS on their iPhones. Right now, iPhones that run iOS 18 can only use iOS 18.3.2.

    By doing this, Apple makes sure devices stay up to date with the latest security upgrades. The iOS 18.3.2 update included key fixes, including one for a flaw that might have been actively targeted by attackers. Keeping your iPhone on the newest software helps protect it from potential risks.

  • Apple’s Foldable iPhone sounds real, Plus iPhone 18 Pro rumors bring exciting updates

    Apple’s Foldable iPhone sounds real, Plus iPhone 18 Pro rumors bring exciting updates

    Talk about a foldable iPhone has been around forever, but now it’s starting to feel like it might actually happen soon. Reliable sources like analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu, along with a Weibo user called Digital Chat Station, say Apple’s first foldable iPhone will have a big 7.8-inch screen when opened and a smaller 5.5-inch screen on the outside. Since these sizes keep popping up in leaks, it seems Apple has locked in some details. Kuo says it’ll open like a book, not flip like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip.

    Jeff Pu also mentioned that Foxconn, the company making it, has started early work on the foldable iPhone. Both he and Kuo think it’ll hit full production by late 2026, so we might see it in small numbers next year—though 2027 feels more realistic. Funny enough, it still feels two years away!

    Analyst Tim Long from Barclays predicts it’ll cost about $2,299 in the U.S., almost double the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s $1,199 price. Kuo adds it’ll have two back cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID button instead of Face ID, and a strong battery. It’ll be super thin—4.5mm open, 9-9.5mm folded—with a titanium body and a hinge mixing titanium and steel.

    Now, let’s peek at the iPhone 18 Pro, still over a year away. Here’s what’s buzzing so far:

    Hidden Face ID

    Analyst Ross Young says Face ID might hide under the screen in 2026, meaning the iPhone 18 Pro could get it. The Dynamic Island might shrink or turn into a tiny camera hole, like on Android phones. It’s too soon to say for sure.

    Adjustable Camera

    Ming-Chi Kuo claims the iPhone 18 Pro’s 48-megapixel main camera will let you tweak how much light it takes in. Unlike older models stuck at a wide-open setting, this could help you blur backgrounds better—though iPhones’ small sensors might limit the wow factor.

    Better Samsung Sensor

    Rumor has it Samsung’s new stacked sensor will boost the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera with clearer, more vibrant photos. This could shake things up since Sony’s been Apple’s go-to sensor maker forever. Exciting times ahead!

  • iPhone 17 Pro to bring more power and better zoom

    iPhone 17 Pro to bring more power and better zoom

    The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are set to pack some exciting upgrades, according to analyst Jeff Pu in a note shared with GF Securities this week. One big change is the rear Telephoto camera, which will jump from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 Pro to a sharp 48 megapixels.

    This upgrade means all three cameras—Fusion, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto—on these new models will boast 48 megapixels. That’s a win for anyone who loves snapping detailed shots, especially from a distance. Plus, the phones are expected to sport a fresh look with a rectangular camera bump.

    Memory is getting a boost too. The iPhone 17 Pro models will come with 12GB of RAM, compared to 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup. More RAM should make things run smoother, especially for multitasking or using Apple’s smart features like Apple Intelligence.

    Screen sizes won’t surprise anyone familiar with recent iPhones. The iPhone 17 Pro will stick with a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max keeps its larger 6.9-inch screen. Both are sizes people already know and love.

    Under the hood, these phones will run on an A19 Pro chip, built using TSMC’s latest 3nm process called N3P. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s a step up from what’s in the current models, promising better speed and efficiency.

    With these changes, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max sound like they’re shaping up to be powerful tools for photo lovers and tech fans alike. From clearer zoom shots to faster performance, there’s plenty to look forward to when these devices arrive.

  • Apple drops bigger iPhone 17 Air plan over bend worries

    Apple drops bigger iPhone 17 Air plan over bend worries

    Apple once tested a super-thin iPhone 17 Air with a big 6.9-inch screen but scrapped the idea. Why? They worried it might bend too easily, a problem they faced years ago. A new report spills the details.

    iPhone 17 Air’s Big Screen Scare

    Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg writer, shared this in his recent Power On newsletter:

    When Apple first worked on this phone, they tried a 6.9-inch screen—same size as the Pro Max. But they dropped it, fearing a slim phone with such a large display could bend. Back in 2014, Apple dealt with “Bendgate” when the iPhone 6 Plus warped in tight pockets. They didn’t want that headache again.

    A rumor from China earlier this month said the iPhone 17 Air matched the iPhone 17 Pro Max in size, just thinner. That might have come from this canceled test model.

    What’s Coming Instead

    The iPhone 17 Air hitting shelves in September will sport a 6.6-inch screen with smooth 120Hz ProMotion tech, a Dynamic Island, a speedy A19 chip, one 48-megapixel back camera, and Apple’s own C1 modem. Gurman hears it could cost around $899 in the U.S.—the same as the iPhone 16 Plus, which this slim phone seems set to replace in Apple’s lineup. Apple’s clearly playing it safe after past lessons, sticking with a size that’s big but not risky. Fans of giant screens might be bummed, but a sturdier phone could be worth it.

  • Audi’s new electric Wagon works with Apple’s Car Key, Porsche might be next

    Audi’s new electric Wagon works with Apple’s Car Key, Porsche might be next

    Audi has added a cool feature to its new A6 Avant e-tron, an electric wagon, letting it use Apple’s digital car key for the first time in Audi’s electric lineup (reported by Mac4Ever). With Apple Car Keys, you can unlock your car using an iPhone or Apple Watch that has NFC or Ultra Wideband tech. The key lives in the Wallet app on your device. To open the car, just hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the car’s NFC reader—simple as that.

    A quick tap on the door handle starts the unlock process. For safety, you can use Face ID to confirm it’s you, but there’s also an Express Mode that skips this step for a speedy unlock. The A6 e-tron is the second car built on Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a system Audi shares with Porsche. This hints that Porsche’s upcoming cars might also get this digital key feature soon.

    Last October, MacRumors spotted some updates in Apple’s Wallet app code, showing that Apple was getting ready to roll out digital car key support for certain Volvo, Polestar, and Audi models.
    Apple first launched its digital car key feature in 2022.

    Since then, a handful of car brands like BMW, BYD, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, and RAM have jumped on board. If you’re curious about which cars work with this feature, Apple keeps an updated list on its CarPlay model webpage. This move by Audi makes driving a bit more high-tech and convenient, and it’s exciting to think Porsche might follow suit with its own electric models!

  • iPhone 17 Air looks super slim in new leaked photos

    iPhone 17 Air looks super slim in new leaked photos

    Last night, fresh pictures of iPhone 17 dummy models popped up, shared by Sonny Dickson. He’s a guy who’s been spot-on for years about leaking these fake phone versions that help case and accessory makers get ready for new iPhones. The photos match the designs we’ve seen lately, including a big camera bump stretching across the back, which Apple might add to all models except the basic iPhone 17.

    Dickson’s pictures show the dummies from every angle. The side views really stand out, showing how thin the iPhone 17 Air could be compared to the others. I never thought the current iPhones were bulky, but next to the Air, they look pretty hefty. Check it out:

    The iPhone 17 Air dummy looks sleek from the side, making other models seem thick. These dummy units seem to confirm whispers that the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.6-inch screen. That size puts it right between this year’s 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and the 6.9-inch 16 Pro Max.

    Mark Gurman from Bloomberg backed this up in his latest Power On newsletter. He says Apple thought about making it 6.9 inches but dropped the idea, worried a super-thin phone with a hugescreen might bend too easily.

    Gurman also mentions the Air will have slim edges like the 16 Pro, plus the Dynamic Island notch and a Camera Control button—details that line up with Dickson’s leaked shots. The iPhone 17 Air’s slim design is stealing the spotlight, and these photos give us a solid peek at what’s coming. It’s exciting to see how it stacks up against the rest of the lineup!

  • AirPods to offer real-time language translation by late 2025

    AirPods to offer real-time language translation by late 2025

    Apple is developing an exciting feature for AirPods that will make chatting across languages much easier, according to Bloomberg. This new tool, tied to iOS 19, will roll out with an AirPods software update later this year. With this update, AirPods will help people who speak different languages talk smoothly. It’ll work alongside the iPhone’s Translate app. Imagine an English speaker wearing AirPods chatting with someone speaking Spanish.

    The iPhone will pick up the Spanish words, turn them into English, and send them to the AirPods wearer. Then, when the English speaker replies, the iPhone will translate their words into Spanish and say them out loud. The Translate app on iPhones already does this, but adding it to AirPods will make the whole process quicker and simpler.

    Apple also plans to upgrade the Translate app in iOS 19, though we don’t know the details yet. While new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are coming in 2025, it seems this translation feature might work on older AirPods models, too. In recent years, Apple has been pairing AirPods updates with iOS releases.

    For example, with iOS 18, they added hearing health tools. These let AirPods check for hearing problems and even act as a hearing aid if needed. This shows how Apple keeps making AirPods more helpful with each iOS update. This translation feature could be a game-changer for travelers, friends, or anyone connecting across languages. By late 2025, AirPods might just break down language barriers like never before!

  • iPhone 17 Pro parts leak hints at big camera changes

    iPhone 17 Pro parts leak hints at big camera changes

    Apple’s next iPhone 17 Pro models might come with a fresh look, and a leaked photo from what seems to be a factory line backs up one of the biggest rumored updates. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are said to switch to a horizontal camera strip, similar to what Google uses on its Pixel phones. This strip would stretch across the back, holding three cameras in a triangle shape on the left, plus the flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor on the right. Why Apple might go this way or what the extra space is for isn’t clear yet, but it keeps popping up in leaks.

    A picture shared on X by a leaker named Majin Bu shows metal parts—possibly aluminum or titanium—for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. These pieces, likely shaped by precise machines, match the rumored design. The big round holes in them could be for things like the MagSafe charger or battery inside. The parts look neatly stacked and freshly made, ready for the next step.

    Word is that Apple might drop titanium frames from past models like the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro and use aluminum instead. They could mix aluminum with glass for a tougher build. The glass part would keep wireless charging alive, while aluminum might make the phone less likely to break.

    There’s talk of a glass patch around the Apple logo, blended into a metal body. Those holes in the leak might tie into this—or maybe even a new feature like reverse wireless charging. Tests suggest the iPhone 17 Pro could send 7.5W of power wirelessly to gadgets like AirPods or an Apple Watch, a step up from the 4.5W it can do now via cable.

    The iPhone 17 Pro Max might also get a bit thicker—8.725mm compared to 8.25mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max—possibly to fit a larger battery. The new camera style could also appear on the iPhone 17 Air, a slim model replacing the Plus version, though it’ll have just one lens. The regular iPhone 17, however, should stick to the current camera setup from the iPhone 16. Apple’s big reveal is expected next September. What do you think of these changes? Share your thoughts below!