Search results for: “note 10”

  • 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.

  • iPhone 17 Pro might get 12GB of memory for better AI features

    iPhone 17 Pro might get 12GB of memory for better AI features

    Apple’s smart system, called Apple Intelligence, needs a lot of memory to work well—at least 8GB. Since Apple wants to make this system even smarter, people are saying the iPhone 17 Pro models could come with 12GB of memory.

    iPhone 17 Pro Set for a Memory Boost

    Talk about the iPhone 17 Pro having 12GB of memory isn’t new. Last August, expert Ming-Chi Kuo said this might happen after Apple showed off Apple Intelligence at its big 2024 event. Now, it’s looking more likely that these new iPhones will get a memory upgrade this year.

    Jeff Pu, another expert from GFHK Tech Research, told investors (in a note shared with 9to5Mac) that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will jump to 12GB of memory from the 8GB in today’s models. He says the growing need for AI tricks is pushing phone and computer makers to add more memory. “The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will switch to 12GB of fast LPDDR5 memory, which could bump up smartphone memory use by 3.5% across about 100 million new iPhones,” Pu explained.

    Last year, only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max had 8GB of memory, while the regular models got 6GB. In 2024, Apple gave 8GB to the basic iPhone 16 and 16 Plus too. That’s why Apple Intelligence only works on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer phones. The just-released iPhone 16e also has 8GB and runs Apple Intelligence.

    More memory in the iPhone 17 Pro will help it stay ready for the future. It also suggests Apple might add new AI features that need extra power—features only these models could handle. For example, Apple recently upgraded all its Macs, even the older M2 MacBook Air, to 16GB of memory.

    What Else Is Coming with the iPhone 17?

    Rumors say the whole iPhone 17 family will look different. Expect a fresh camera setup and video tools perfect for vloggers. There’s also talk of a super-thin iPhone model that could sit between the regular iPhone 17 and the Pro, maybe replacing the Plus version. These new iPhones should arrive in September.

  • What’s happening with WWDC 2025? here’s the scoop

    What’s happening with WWDC 2025? here’s the scoop

    Apple fans, get ready—one of the biggest events of the year is coming soon! WWDC happens every June, and it’s when Apple shows off what’s new for its software, like iOS, watchOS, and macOS. In 2025, we’ll see iOS 19, watchOS 12, macOS 16, and more.

    When Will Apple Share WWDC 2025 Plans?

    Apple usually tells us about WWDC in March. Looking back, here’s when they’ve done it before:

    • 2017: February 16
    • 2018: March 13
    • 2019: March 14
    • 2020: March 13
    • 2021: March 30
    • 2022: April 5
    • 2023: March 29
    • 2024: March 26

    Since the timing has been pretty steady lately, I’d guess WWDC 2025 will be announced in late March.

    When Is WWDC 2025 Happening?

    WWDC usually takes place in early June. Here are some past dates:

    • 2017: June 5-9
    • 2018: June 4-8
    • 2019: June 3-7
    • 2020: June 22-26
    • 2021: June 7-11
    • 2022: June 6-10
    • 2023: June 5-9
    • 2024: June 10-14

    One thing to note: Apple’s been slow with some iOS 18 features from last year. Big Siri upgrades might not come until May or June 2025 with iOS 18.5. Could that push WWDC a bit later? It’s possible!

    What’s Coming at WWDC 2025?

    This year, Apple Intelligence will steal the show. Reports say iOS 19 will bring a smarter Siri that acts more human, powered by fancy tech like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. There’s also talk that iOS 19 might borrow some cool design ideas from visionOS, like a major update to the Camera app. Some iOS 18 features got delayed to spring 2026, so WWDC 2025 might tease a bunch of iOS 19 goodies that won’t arrive right away. Want more? Check our iOS 19 guide! Apple will also reveal:

    • iPadOS 19
    • visionOS 3
    • tvOS 19
    • macOS 16
    • watchOS 12

    Any New Gear?

    Hardware’s a maybe. The M4 MacBook Air could drop before WWDC, but the M4 Mac Studio and Mac Pro might show up at the event. Stay tuned!

  • iPhone 16e’s battery size uncovered in everyday use tests

    iPhone 16e’s battery size uncovered in everyday use tests

    When Apple introduced the iPhone 16e, they highlighted a fresh design inside that made room for a bigger battery. While Apple doesn’t share exact battery sizes, a popular YouTuber, Dave Lee from Dave2D, spilled the details in his latest review. He revealed the iPhone 16e has a 3,961 mAh battery—a solid jump of over 10% compared to the 3,561 mAh in the standard iPhone 16.

    Here’s how it stacks up:

    • iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685 mAh
    • iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh
    • iPhone 16 Plus: 4,674 mAh
    • iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh
    • iPhone 16e: 3,961 mAh

    Apple claims the iPhone 16e delivers the best battery life ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone, thanks partly to their new energy-saving C1 modem.

    How Does the iPhone 16e Hold Up in Real Life?

    Dave Lee tested the iPhone 16e by keeping the Reddit website running non-stop over Wi-Fi. The phone lasted an impressive 12 hours and 54 minutes. By comparison, the iPhone 16 managed 11 hours and 17 minutes in the same setup, making the 16e the champ here.

    Tom’s Guide ran their own test, mimicking regular web browsing on a cellular network. The iPhone 16e averaged 12 hours and 41 minutes—super close to the iPhone 16’s 12 hours and 43 minutes. The top scores? The 16e hit 12 hours and 49 minutes, while the iPhone 16 reached 13 hours and 19 minutes.

    CNET’s Patrick Holland shared his hands-on experience: “After six days with the 16e, I’ve charged it just three times. Using a 30-watt charger, it went from zero to 59% in half an hour. I’ve been pushing it hard—testing cameras, playing heavy games, and using smart features. It easily lasts a full day, and with lighter use, it can stretch to a day and a half.”

    In CNET’s video streaming test, the iPhone 16e stayed at 100% after an hour, while the iPhone 16 and 15 dipped to 97%. Holland noted more tests are coming, but the early signs are promising.
    Get Yours Soon Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e are open now, with the official launch this Friday. Curious for more? Check out our full iPhone 16e review summary!

  • 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.

  • Apple tackles funny iPhone voice typing glitch

    Apple tackles funny iPhone voice typing glitch

    Many iPhone users spotted a strange problem today with the phone’s voice typing feature. When they say “racist” to send a message, the word “Trump” pops up for a second before fixing itself to “racist.”

    This quirky glitch happens when people use the iPhone’s dictation tool. Sometimes, as they speak “racist,” the phone types “Trump” in the Messages app. Then, it quickly changes to the right word after figuring out what was said.

    In our tests, saying “racist” didn’t always turn into “Trump” first, but it happened more often than other mix-ups. We also noticed “Rhett” or “Rouch” showing up briefly before the phone corrected it to “racist.”

    A video showing this odd bug has been making rounds on TikTok and other social media. An Apple spokesperson explained to The New York Times that the mix-up comes from the words sounding a bit alike. It’s unclear if this has been an issue for a while and only got noticed now, or if something changed recently to cause it. Apple assured us they’re working on a solution.

    John Burkey, who used to work on Apple’s Siri team, told The New York Times that there might be something in Apple’s system accidentally turning “racist” into “Trump.” He jokingly called it a “big prank” but wasn’t sure if it was added on purpose or slipped into the data Apple uses for its smart features.

    Note: Since this topic touches on political or social stuff, the chat about it is in our Political News forum. Everyone can read it, but only forum members with 100+ posts can join the conversation.

  • Apple unveils $500 Billion plan to boost U.S. jobs and growth

    Apple unveils $500 Billion plan to boost U.S. jobs and growth

    Apple recently shared exciting news about pouring $500 billion into the United States over the next four years. This massive investment will bring 20,000 new jobs and grow the company’s work in manufacturing and research, as reported by Bloomberg. The announcement follows a meeting between Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and President Donald Trump.

    The company has big plans, including building a new server-making plant in Houston. This 250,000-square-foot facility, set to open next year, will team up with Foxconn to create servers for Apple’s Private Cloud computing system. Apple is also launching a supplier training center in Michigan to prepare the next wave of American manufacturers. Plus, they’re expanding data centers in states like Arizona, Oregon, Iowa, Nevada, and North Carolina. Chip-making for some Apple Watch and iPad models has already kicked off at TSMC’s Arizona site.

    The 20,000 new jobs will focus on research, chip design, and artificial intelligence. This follows Apple’s earlier push, which added 20,000 research roles in the past five years. In Detroit, Apple will open a special academy to help smaller businesses learn manufacturing skills. The company is also boosting its U.S. manufacturing fund to $10 billion.

    “We believe in America’s bright future and are thrilled to add $500 billion to support it,” Cook said. “We’ll keep partnering with people and businesses nationwide to shape an amazing new story for American innovation.”

    This news might be timed cleverly, as Trump has talked about adding a 10% tax on imports from China. In his first term, Cook convinced Trump to skip tariffs on iPhones, warning they’d help rivals like Samsung instead.

    Apple’s bold move shows its confidence in America and could spark more growth and jobs ahead. Note: Since this topic touches on political and social themes, the discussion is in our Political News forum. Everyone can read it, but only members with 100+ posts can comment.

  • TikTok back on Apple’s App Store

    TikTok back on Apple’s App Store

    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.

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  • Try free Starlink service on your iPhone until summer

    Try free Starlink service on your iPhone until summer

    T-Mobile has launched a public beta for its Starlink satellite service, inviting everyone in the U.S. with a compatible iPhone or Android phone to join. This is great news even if you’re not with T-Mobile, as you can test this new way to stay connected without traditional cell service.

    How to Get Involved:

    • Free Beta Access: You can sign up to use Starlink for free until July, but there are only a few spots.

    Pricing After July:

    • T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan users and those with other eligible plans will keep using it for free.
    • If you have another T-Mobile plan, you can add Starlink for $15 a month, per phone line.
    • Users on other carriers will pay $20 a month, per line.
    • Early Bird Discount: Sign up before February ends, and you’ll get the service for just $10 per month starting in July.

    Where It Works:

    • In areas outside the usual cell service range in the U.S., your phone will link up with one of Starlink’s many satellites to send and receive texts when you’re off the grid.

    Future Features:

    • While it currently supports messaging, T-Mobile plans to add voice calls and internet data soon.

    iPhone Users, Take Note:

    • Your iPhone will show “SAT” when using this satellite service.
    • To stop using it, go to Settings, find Cellular, select your carrier, and switch off Satellite.

    What You Need:

    • An iPhone 14, 15, or 16 model.
    • The newest iOS update.
    • A compatible carrier plan.

    This isn’t the first time iPhones have used satellites; Apple already has a deal with Globalstar for emergency messaging. However, Starlink’s network is much bigger, offering smoother, automatic connections without aiming your phone.

    Remember:

    • Apple’s satellite features are currently free, but this might change.
    • The service is available in the U.S., with varying availability elsewhere.

    Starlink’s wide reach could change how we think about staying connected, making it an exciting time for smartphone users looking to stay in touch no matter where they are.

  • Apple might get checked by China over App Store rules

    Apple might get checked by China over App Store rules

    Apple could soon face an investigation in China about how it runs its App Store, according to Bloomberg. A black and white image of the Chinese flag with the Apple logo in the background. China’s market watchdogs have been looking into Apple’s practices since last year. They’re concerned about the 30% fee Apple charges for in-app purchases and how the company doesn’t allow other payment options, sources told Bloomberg.

    The focus is on whether these high fees are fair to Chinese app makers. There’s also worry that by not letting other app stores or payment methods in, Apple might be hurting competition and not giving Chinese users the best deal. If Apple doesn’t change its ways, China might officially look into it, the sources added.

    This all started because of ongoing disagreements with big Chinese companies like Tencent and ByteDance. There was a report in August saying Apple was pushing these companies to change how their apps work in China to stop them from dodging that 30% fee.

    The timing is tricky because things are tense between the US and China. Just this week, China started looking into Google’s business practices right after new US taxes on Chinese products began. Apple has a lot at stake in China. It’s where most iPhones are made, and it’s a huge market for Apple outside the US. But local companies like Huawei are getting stronger, and Apple’s sales in China dropped by 11% over the holiday season. Apple has faced similar issues in other places too. They’ve had to change how they do business in places like Europe to follow new laws and avoid penalties.

    Note: Discussions about this topic can be found in our Politics section on the forum. You can read the thread, but you need to have made at least 100 posts to join the conversation.

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