RPRNA

Search results for: “quick share”

  • Apple improves iWork apps with fresh features for iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4

    Apple improves iWork apps with fresh features for iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4

    Apple has recently upgraded its iWork apps—Keynote, Numbers, and Pages—bringing some exciting new tools that work with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or macOS 15.4. These updates make it easier and more fun to use these apps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

    One cool addition is the ability to edit text right inside your presentations, spreadsheets, or documents using Writing Tools. This feature needs Apple Intelligence, which works on devices like the iPhone 15 Pro, all iPhone 16 models, or any Mac or iPad with an M1 chip or newer. It’s perfect for fixing mistakes or polishing your work quickly.

    Another handy update lets you save your projects in different formats using the Shortcuts app. This means you can easily switch your file type—like from a Pages document to something else—without extra hassle. It’s a small change that saves time, especially if you share files a lot.

    Plus, the apps now play nicer with Freeform. Copying and pasting between them is smoother, making it simpler to move ideas or pictures from one app to another. This teamwork boost is great for anyone juggling creative projects.

    Each app also got a few extra tweaks that don’t need the latest software, though Apple didn’t spill all the details. The updates rolled out this week after weeks of testing, and you can grab them from the App Store for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

    These changes show Apple’s effort to keep iWork useful and fresh. Whether you’re making slides, tracking numbers, or writing, these tools aim to make your work easier and better. Check them out and see how they fit into your daily tasks!

  • YouTube explains why videos look fuzzy for iPhone users and promises a solution

    YouTube explains why videos look fuzzy for iPhone users and promises a solution

    YouTube recently shared some news about a problem iPhone and iPad users have noticed—videos looking blurry or not as sharp as they should. This issue popped up after the latest iOS update, version 18.4.1, came out. People started complaining that their favorite clips didn’t look clear, even though they were set to high quality. YouTube says they’ve figured out what’s going on and are working to fix it soon.

    The company explained that the trouble comes from how the iOS update handles video playback. The new system messes with the way YouTube’s app shows videos, making them lose some crispness. It’s not about your internet speed or the video itself—it’s a tech glitch between Apple’s update and YouTube’s software. They’ve promised users that a solution is on the way, and things should get back to normal with sharp, clear visuals soon.

    For now, iPhone and iPad fans might notice this fuzziness mostly on high-definition videos, like 1080p or 4K. YouTube suggests sticking with the app since watching videos in a browser like Safari might not help much either. Some users have tried tweaking settings, but that hasn’t solved it yet. The good news? YouTube is already testing a fix, so you won’t have to wait too long.

    This isn’t the first time tech updates have caused little hiccups. When big changes roll out, apps sometimes need a moment to catch up. YouTube’s team is moving fast to smooth things out, and they’ve asked users to hang tight. If you’re seeing blurry videos, don’t worry—it’s not your device or connection.

    Just give it a bit of time, and your movie nights or quick clip sessions will look great again. Until the fix arrives, YouTube says to keep using the app as usual and watch for updates. They’re committed to making sure iOS users get the best experience, with crystal-clear videos back in no time.

  • 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.

  • Apple boosts iPhone Tap to Pay with big global rollout

    Apple boosts iPhone Tap to Pay with big global rollout

    Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone is a super handy way for small businesses to take contactless payments from mobile wallets or cards. Now, it’s popping up in nine more countries, making life easier for shop owners. This feature lets stores take payments right on their iPhones—no extra gadgets needed. No separate card machine or device, just the phone you already have!

    Tap to Pay on iPhone Explained

    Apple first shared this idea in 2022, starting slowly in the US. It’s like the fourth big step for small business payment tools:

    • Old-school wired card machines that you had to rent.
    • Wireless ones are still rented though.
    • Standalone gadgets that link to your iPhone via Bluetooth, with a one-time price.
    • Now, Tap to Pay on your iPhone—no extra stuff is required!

    Here’s how it works: a customer taps their card, iPhone, or Apple Watch on the shop’s iPhone. Simple! But it’s only for contactless payments, which have limits that might not work for every business. Apple’s been spreading this feature to more places bit by bit since it started.

    Nine New Countries Get It Today

    This is one of the biggest updates yet! As of today, these nine spots can use Tap to Pay on iPhone:

    • Bulgaria: Works with Adyen, myPOS, Revolut, and Viva; SumUp soon.
    • Finland: Adyen, Mollie, Nets, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva; Surfboard Payments soon.
    • Hungary: Adyen, Global Payments, myPOS, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, Worldline.
    • Liechtenstein: Adyen.
    • Poland: Adyen, eService with PKO Bank, Mollie, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, Worldline; more soon.
    • Portugal: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva.
    • Slovakia: Adyen, Global Payments Slovenská Sporitel’ňa, Revolut, Worldline; SumUp soon.
    • Slovenia: Adyen, Revolut, Worldline; SumUp, hobex soon.
    • Switzerland: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Nexi, Stripe, SumUp, Worldline; hobex soon.

    In the US, Intuit just added a cool trick last week: linking Tap to Pay with QuickBooks. This lets payments flow straight into the accounting app, no hassle.

  • Apple makes storage info clear again in macOS 15.4 and fixes iCloud Mail trouble with iOS 18.3.2

    Apple makes storage info clear again in macOS 15.4 and fixes iCloud Mail trouble with iOS 18.3.2

    Apple recently updated macOS 15.4, and in its second beta version released this month, they hid how much space Apple Intelligence uses on a Mac. This change happened in the System Settings, making it tough for users to see the details.

    After some people thought Apple was trying to keep the storage size of Apple Intelligence a secret, the company quickly fixed it. With the fourth beta of macOS 15.4 out now, Apple brought back an easy way to check this info. You can find it by going to System Settings > General > Storage, then clicking the info button next to the macOS entry. A little window pops up showing the macOS version and how much space Apple Intelligence takes. This is the same setup as in the current macOS Sequoia 15.3.2.

    Some think the missing storage info in the earlier beta was just a mistake. Users who turned off System Integrity Protection (SIP)—a security feature that stops unsafe code from running—could still see the details. SIP is usually on for most people and can only be switched off in Recovery Mode, something developers do more often. Since Apple brought the info back for everyone, it might’ve been an accident, but we’re not sure.

    Apple says Apple Intelligence can use up to 7GB of space on a Mac, though some users notice it takes even more in macOS Sequoia 15.4. It needs this space to store special files that let it work on your device without always needing the internet. If you don’t want it using space, you can turn off Apple Intelligence.

    Meanwhile, the iOS 18.3.2 update from last week has caused problems for some iCloud Mail users. People on Reddit and forums like MacRumors say new emails aren’t showing up on their iPhones automatically after the update. Even with the right settings, they have to refresh the Mail app manually to see new messages. One Reddit user shared, “Since updating to iOS 18.3.2, my iCloud emails don’t come through on their own. I have to refresh, even though it worked fine before on 18.3.1.”

    Normally, iCloud Mail uses Push to send emails to your phone instantly. If that’s not working, it should switch to Fetch, checking for new mail every so often. But for some, neither option is doing the job. Other email services like Microsoft seem fine, so this glitch is just with iCloud Mail. Apple likely knows about it, and a fix should come soon.

  • 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.

  • Four cool updates to Apple’s Photos app in iOS 18.4 and a key security fix in iOS 18.3.2

    Four cool updates to Apple’s Photos app in iOS 18.4 and a key security fix in iOS 18.3.2

    Apple’s iOS 18.4 is in testing mode right now, and it brings some neat updates to the Photos app that you might not notice at first. These changes make it easier to use and give you more control. Plus, there’s a small but important security update in iOS 18.3.2. Here’s what’s new!

    #1: Better Ways to Filter Your Photos

    When you’re looking at your pictures or videos, check the bottom-left corner. There’s an icon with two arrows pointing up and down. Tap it, and you’ll see options to sort or filter your stuff. In iOS 18.4, two new filters join the list:

    • Shared With You – Shows only things others sent you.
    • Not in an Album – Find photos or videos you haven’t organized yet.

    Also, if you go to the Albums tab and tap the three-dot button at the top-right, you can now filter to see just Albums or just Folders. It’s a simple way to tidy up what you’re looking at.

    #2: A Fresh Way to Sort Albums

    On the Albums screen, iOS 18.4 adds a new sorting trick. Besides sorting by name or your custom order, you can now pick:

    • Sort by Date Modified – This puts albums you’ve recently tweaked at the top.
    • There’s also a small tweak: “Grid” and “List” views are now called “List View” and “Key Photo.” It doesn’t change how things work, but the new names might feel a bit odd at first.

    #3: Hide Albums for Privacy

    The Photos app has some default albums like Recently Viewed and Recently Shared, which track what you’ve looked at or sent lately. If you’d rather keep those private, iOS 18.4 lets you turn them off. Just go to Settings > Apps > Photos, scroll down, and switch off “Show Recently Viewed & Shared.” Easy!

    #4: Clean Up Deleted Photos Fast

    Want to wipe out all your deleted photos for good? Or maybe bring them all back? In iOS 18.4, the Recently Deleted album has two new buttons: a trash can to erase everything forever and a “Recover All” option to restore them. Super handy!

    Quick Security Update in iOS 18.3.2

    Apple also rolled out iOS 18.3.2 with a fix for a WebKit issue. This bug could let sneaky web content escape its safe zone, but Apple patched it with better checks. It’s an old problem they fixed before in iOS 17.2, and this update just makes it even safer. No recent attacks are known, so you’re good!

  • Apple to pay small fine for breaking EU rules

    Apple to pay small fine for breaking EU rules

    The European Union (EU) is set to charge Apple a small fine for not following the Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to Reuters. This law helps keep big tech companies in check, and Apple seems to have slipped up.

    Last year, the EU found that Apple wasn’t playing fair with its App Store rules. Specifically, it didn’t let app makers tell users about cheaper options outside the store. In June, EU competition boss Margrethe Vestager called out Apple for some “pretty big” problems with following the DMA. She wasn’t impressed with the changes Apple made, saying they didn’t meet expectations for a company of its size.

    To fix this, Apple updated its App Store rules in Europe last year. It allowed apps to be sold outside the store and added new payment options. After feedback from the EU, Apple also tweaked its rules in August to make it clearer that developers could share outside deals. These quick updates can be tricky to follow, so developers in the EU can check Apple’s website for the latest rules.

    The DMA lets the EU fine companies up to 10% of their yearly global sales, but Reuters sources say the focus is on getting companies to follow the rules, not hitting them with huge penalties. Things might also shift because U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries fining American firms like Apple. Plus, with nthe ew EU leadership, the fine might not be as tough as it could’ve been last year. The EU hasn’t set the fine amount yet, but a decision is expected soon.

    Meanwhile, in Brazil, Apple’s facing similar heat. The government there is pushing Apple to allow sideloading—installing apps from outside the App Store. Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, plans to bring the game back to iOS in Brazil by July after these changes. Apple has until June to follow Brazil’s rules or face daily fines. Though Apple’s appealing the decision, it may have to adapt, just like it did in Europe, where sideloading is already allowed.

  • How Apple can improve its smart summary feature

    How Apple can improve its smart summary feature

    At WWDC24 last summer, Apple introduced a bunch of Apple Intelligence features, and one that’s been stirring up some debate is notification summaries. People have spotted mistakes in these summaries, which led Apple to tweak their look and even turn them off for news updates. While these summaries won’t ever be flawless, there’s a simple way Apple could make them better. I’d love to see this idea show up in iOS 19.

    What Notification Summaries Do

    The goal of notification summaries is to help you skim your alerts. The feature scans all the notifications in a group, sums them up, and does it all right on your device. Sounds handy, right? But there’s a big catch: Apple Intelligence can only work with what’s in the notification itself.

    This might seem obvious, but here’s the issue: Notifications are already super short. They’re designed to fit in a tiny bubble for quick reading. Plus, the system has to be small enough to run on a chip like the A17 Pro, so it doesn’t have much wiggle room to figure things out.

    Why Summaries Miss the Mark

    Take group chats in iMessage, for example. People often reply to different things at once in busy threads. That’s fun, but Apple Intelligence doesn’t get the full picture. It ends up mixing everything into one messy, wrong summary.

    Right now, it just sums up short notifications in the order they come in. That doesn’t always work well. Here’s my fix: let app makers give Apple’s system some extra info to work with. For iMessage, Apple could tell the system what a new message is replying to.

    My Hope for Apple’s Next Step

    If apps could share a bit more background info—stuff users wouldn’t see—it’d help Apple’s system make smarter summaries. Back in December, Apple Intelligence botched a BBC News summary about Luigi Mangione. It was way off, and Apple ended up turning off news summaries altogether.

    But imagine if the BBC could share the story’s opening paragraph as extra info. That’d give Apple Intelligence more to chew on, leading to better summaries. Big language models will always have quirks, especially ones tiny enough to run on a phone with just 8GB of RAM. Still, Apple can’t keep news summaries off forever. Adding background information from apps could be the answer they need.

More posts