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  • 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 Unsigned software can’t be installed because of a server check, blocking users from loading outdated iOS on their iPhones.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 pushes to bring AirPods hearing help to Canada

    Apple pushes to bring AirPods hearing help to Canada

    Even though Health Canada gave the green light for AirPods hearing aid and hearing test tools at the national level in December, Canadians can’t use them yet. Stories from CTV News and the Toronto Star this month explain that each province has its own rules holding things up.

    Take Ontario, Canada’s biggest province, for example. There, you need a doctor or hearing specialist to sign off on hearing aids. That’s one reason the features haven’t arrived. The bright side? Apple shared with the Toronto Star that it’s teaming up with Canadian provinces to get the okay to offer these AirPods tools without a prescription. The company wants to roll them out fast but hasn’t said exactly when they’ll land.

    With the hearing aid tool, AirPods Pro 2 can boost nearby sounds. Apple says it’s built for grown-ups who notice mild to moderate trouble hearing—no extra charge to turn it on. Then there’s the quick five-minute hearing test. It checks how well adults hear different sound pitches. Once it’s done, you get a simple breakdown of any hearing loss and tips on what to do next.

    These two options first popped up in the U.S. and a few other places in late October. They’re still spreading to more spots around the world. Canada does have one AirPods hearing feature already: hearing protection. It’s ready to go for users there. All three tools—hearing aid, test, and protection—work only with AirPods Pro 2. Apple’s clearly working hard to get the full set to Canada soon. For now, folks are waiting to see when the provinces give the thumbs-up.

  • 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!

  • Apple should pause and polish its software

    Apple should pause and polish its software

    Things have been buzzing with Apple news lately. The company recently shared that the updated Siri won’t be ready anytime soon, and insiders say the cool features promised at last year’s WWDC are still far off. With all this happening, Apple could use a throwback moment—like a new Snow Leopard—to get its software back on track.

    If you’ve used a Mac for a while, say 16 years or more, you might recall Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Back then, Apple didn’t rush out a new Mac OS every year. When Snow Leopard launched, it wasn’t about flashy new tricks or looks. Instead, Apple worked hard to make the software steady and reliable. I started thinking about this after seeing an old WWDC 2009 clip where Bertrand Serlet, a big name at Apple back then, proudly said Snow Leopard had “no new features.” It’s wild to see how much Apple has shifted since those days.

    Apple’s never been quick to say “oops,” but it has owned up to slip-ups before. Think about Steve Jobs talking to the press about the iPhone 4 antenna mess or admitting MobileMe wasn’t great and promising to fix it. I miss that honesty. Today, it’s tough to picture Apple saying, “Hey, this update has nothing new,” or owning up to glitches in front of everyone.

    Fast forward to now—a Bloomberg report says Robby Walker, a Siri boss at Apple, called the delays “messy” and “awkward” in a team meeting. Last June, at WWDC 2024, Apple hyped up Apple Intelligence, but when iOS 18 and macOS 15 dropped, those features were nowhere to be found. Some trickled out later, but the new Siri—yep, the one in iPhone 16 ads—still hasn’t shown up.

    Online, people are grumbling about bugs in Apple’s latest updates, and it’s not hard to see why. Apple should hit pause. Announcing stuff that’s not ready (remember AirPower?) just sets everyone up for disappointment. Now that they’ve admitted Siri’s delay, I hope they focus on smoothing out the rough spots and delivering what they promised. We don’t need big updates every year—give the team time to fix things. A new Snow Leopard vibe could be just what Apple needs.

  • Apple’s iOS 19: A fresh look is coming, here’s what we know

    Apple’s iOS 19: A fresh look is coming, here’s what we know

    Apple seems to be cooking up something big for iOS 19, possibly the largest update since iOS 7 hit back in 2013. While the company hasn’t spilled all the details yet, little hints have been popping up in their recent work. By peeking at new iPhone apps and designs, we can guess what’s in store for iOS 19. Let’s break it down.

    New Apps Drop Big Hints

    It’s been over a decade since Apple gave iOS a major makeover with iOS 7. Since then, changes have been small and steady, keeping the system familiar. But five recent apps—and one huge redesign—offer some exciting clues about iOS 19.

    Here’s the lineup of Apple’s latest apps built from scratch:

    • Journal
    • Apple Sports
    • Image Playground
    • Apple Invites
    • Apple Vision Pro (coming in iOS 18.4)

    These apps look different from each other, but they share some key features that point to iOS 19’s direction. One big clue? They’re ditching the classic iPhone tab bar.

    Goodbye, Tab Bars

    For years, tab bars have been a staple of iPhone apps, sitting at the bottom of the screen—like in the original Phone and Clock apps. They’re still around today, mostly unchanged. But Apple’s moving away from them. New apps like Journal, Sports, and Invites hide navigation in menus near the top instead of using tab bars. Even older apps, like Photos, got a makeover last year, swapping the tab bar for a smooth, single-page layout.

    What does this mean for iOS 19? Expect more apps to drop tab bars and switch to a simpler, one-page style. Apps like Music, App Store, Health, and News still use tab bars now, but iOS 19 might freshen them up with this new look.

    More Design Clues

    There’s more to spot in Apple’s recent apps. Parker Ortolani, a design expert, noticed that apps like Apple Sports and Invites feel different—almost like they belong on visionOS or watchOS. They’ve got bright backgrounds, glassy buttons, and bold, layered shapes. Apple Invites adds big cards and a focus on content. These touches hint at a lively, modern vibe for iOS 19. Reports say iOS 19 will borrow ideas from visionOS, and these app designs—think floating elements and colorful layers—back that up. It’s looking like a bold, fresh update is on the way!

  • Apple fixes a tricky security problem

    Apple fixes a tricky security problem

    Many people believe Apple devices are super safe compared to Android ones. They think this because Apple doesn’t let you install apps from outside its store or tweak things too much. But that’s not the full story. Recently, Apple released an update for iPhones and iPads, bumping them to version 18.3.2. This isn’t about cool new tricks—it’s a fix for a sneaky security issue that could’ve let hackers target some users.

    What Was the Problem?

    Apple explained that the trouble came from harmful web stuff sneaking out of a safe zone called the Web Content sandbox. They first tackled this in iOS 17.2, but the new update adds extra protection. Apple says some clever attackers might’ve used this gap in a “super tricky attack” aimed at specific people running older iOS versions before 17.2.

    Apple usually stays quiet about these weak spots until they’re fixed. So, we don’t know how long this issue has been around or how many people it has hit. The attack seems to have been aimed at certain individuals, not everyone. Even so, it’s smart to keep your device updated, whether you think you’re a target or not.

    Get the Update Now

    The iOS 18.3.2 and iPadOS 18.3.2 fix is ready for devices like the iPhone XS and newer, plus several iPads: iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation onward), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation onward), iPad Air (3rd generation onward), iPad (7th generation onward), and iPad mini (5th generation onward).

    If you haven’t updated yet, do it soon. Hackers are always hunting for weak points to sneak in. Apple works fast to plug these holes, but updating your device is the best way to stay safe. To grab the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update and look for the latest version. You probably won’t see big changes after installing it, but this fix quietly keeps your device and info protected from harm.

  • Apple updates website with note about delayed Siri features

    Apple updates website with note about delayed Siri features

    Apple is still dealing with the news from last week that some exciting Siri updates tied to Apple Intelligence won’t arrive as soon as hoped. These features have been pushed back with no set release date. Over the weekend, Apple even removed a YouTube ad showing off one of these features—personal context—on the iPhone 16.

    Now, the company has added a short note on its website wherever these upcoming Siri tools are mentioned, especially on pages promoting the iPhone. These Siri upgrades were meant to make life easier. They’d help users dig up details from chats with friends or family—like flight info or book suggestions—by searching through Messages, Mail, and other apps. Another perk, called on-screen awareness, would let Siri act on whatever you’re looking at, like asking it to “spruce up this picture” while viewing a photo.

    Last Friday, Apple confirmed the delay with a brief statement. It said, “We need more time than expected to get these features ready, and they’ll roll out sometime next year.”

    The note now on Apple’s website is simpler but still unclear. It says:

    Siri’s ability to understand personal context, work with what’s on your screen, and handle tasks in apps is still being built. These will come in a future update.

    You’ll spot this same message on pages for the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and more—anywhere these features were hyped up before without a hint that they weren’t ready. Apple hasn’t shared an exact timeline, but we’re guessing this “future update” might tie in with iOS 19. The first test version of iOS 19 should show up at WWDC in June 2025. Still, an update to iOS 19 could land anytime between fall 2025 and summer 2026. So, don’t hold your breath waiting for it!

  • New iOS 18.4 Public Beta 3 and more updates from Apple

    New iOS 18.4 Public Beta 3 and more updates from Apple

    Apple rolled out iOS 18.4 public beta 3 today, following yesterday’s developer updates. Here’s a simple look at what’s new in this latest version for iPhone users.

    What’s New in iOS 18.4 Beta 3?

    The iOS 18.4 update is a big one coming soon for all iPhone users, expected to arrive next month. For now, beta testers get an early peek. Beta 3 doesn’t add much in terms of exciting new stuff—it’s mostly about fixing bugs and making things run smoother.

    One small change is in Apple Wallet. There’s a new option called “Preauthorized Payments” (it had a different name before). This spot shows merchants you’ve okayed to charge your Apple Pay for things like subscriptions or automatic top-ups. You can also turn notifications on or off for upcoming payments right there. Other than that, beta 3 keeps the same goodies we saw in the earlier iOS 18.4 betas.

    Highlights of iOS 18.4 So Far

    Here’s what’s been added to iOS 18.4 up to beta 3:

    • Priority Notifications to grab your attention
    • Food and recipe ideas in Apple News
    • A fresh style for Image Playground
    • More languages for AI features
    • AI support in the EU

    Visual Intelligence on extra iPhone models

    • Seven fun new emoji
    • An Apple Vision Pro app
    • More app types for default settings
    • Shortcuts for tweaking app options
    • New Control Center tools
    • Better electric vehicle routing in Apple Maps
    • A spruced-up Apple TV app design

    With so much already packed in, it’s no shock that beta 3 is quiet. Fingers crossed beta 4 brings more surprises!

    Other Beta 3 Updates

    Apple didn’t stop at iOS. Public beta 3 is also out for macOS Sequoia 15.4, iPadOS 18.4, watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, and HomePod 18.4. These updates focus on smoothing out glitches too. One cool perk in macOS 15.4 beta 3: you can grab the Sky Blue wallpaper from the M4 MacBook Air.

    iOS 18.3.2 Hits iPhones

    Apple also dropped iOS 18.3.2 today. It’s a small update with bug fixes and security patches. Check it out in Settings > General > Software Update. It’s been a month since iOS 18.3.1, and this one tackles some streaming playback issues, too. More updates like macOS 15.3.2 and iPadOS 18.3.2 are out as well, keeping your devices safe and steady.

  • Six fun games coming to Apple Arcade in April

    Six fun games coming to Apple Arcade in April

    Apple recently shared exciting news: Six new games will join its Apple Arcade service this April. Fans can look forward to popular titles like RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic and Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE, along with The Game of Life 2, Sesame Street Mecha Builders, Space Invaders Infinity Gene Evolve, and Puffies.

    RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic Hits Apple Arcade

    Starting April 3, RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic will be available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This game mixes the best parts of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2. Players get to build and manage awesome theme parks with wild rides. It’s been updated to work smoothly on Apple devices and keeps the cool look and fun gameplay from the classic PC versions. Plus, it comes with three bonus packs—Wacky Worlds, Time Twister, and Toolkit—for even more excitement.

    Katamari Rolls Back After Eight Years

    Also launching on April 3, Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE brings its quirky fun to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. It’s the first new Katamari game in almost eight years and is exclusive to Apple Arcade. In this playful adventure, you roll up random stuff on the ground to grow your Katamari and make stars for the king’s live stream. The game has a lively soundtrack and a fun twist—fans of the game leave comments as you play. The more you roll, the bigger your audience gets. Complete the king’s tasks to unlock fresh, exciting levels.

    More Games and How to Play

    Apple’s announcement has all the details about these six games. Apple Arcade, found in the App Store, lets you enjoy tons of games on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. There are no ads or extra costs—just pure fun. In the U.S., it’s $6.99 a month, or you can get it with other Apple services in an Apple One plan. Get ready for a month full of gaming joy with these awesome additions!

  • macOS 15.4 beta keeps Apple Intelligence storage a secret

    macOS 15.4 beta keeps Apple Intelligence storage a secret

    When Apple rolled out the second macOS 15.4 beta this month, it quietly tweaked something. Now, the System Settings won’t show how much space Apple Intelligence features are using on your Mac’s storage.

    In the earlier macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 version, anyone with an Apple silicon Mac could check this easily. They’d just go to System Settings, click General, then click Storage, and tap the little “i” button next to macOS to see the details. Simple, right?

    But with the macOS 15.4 beta 2 update, that’s changed. According to Aaron Perris from MacRumors, clicking the “i” button now shows nothing extra about the storage macOS is using. The details are gone.

    Here’s a twist, though—if you turn off System Integrity Protection (SIP), the info pops back up. SIP is a security feature that stops unapproved code from running, and you can only switch it off in Recovery Mode. It’s handy for app developers testing stuff, but for most people, it’s best left on.

    A developer named @b3lla_dev on iOS says Apple has locked down the Apple Intelligence files. Unless SIP is off, you can’t see them, and that’s messing with the System Settings’ ability to show their size. Apple Intelligence uses a tool called the MobileAsset framework. This system grabs and updates the bits it needs—like machine learning models—so your device stays current without big system overhauls. Apple’s support page says these files can take up to 7GB on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

    When storage is low, 7GB is a lot. It could sway people on whether to use Apple Intelligence. Did Apple hide this info on purpose? We don’t know, but users might guess. Perris told Apple about it in a feedback report. The issue’s still there in beta 3, so we’ll see if Apple fixes it. The full macOS Sequoia 15.4 update is set to drop in early April.