Search results for: “widget”

  • What the iPhone 17 Pro Max might look like

    What the iPhone 17 Pro Max might look like

    Now that the iPhone 16e has been revealed, everyone’s excited about what’s next—the iPhone 17 family. A fresh leak has given us the clearest peek so far at what the iPhone 17 Pro Max could look like. This sneak peek comes from Sonny Dickson, a well-known Apple insider. He recently posted a picture on social media showing what he claims is a model of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with a MagSafe case made to match its shape.

    The biggest change you’ll notice is the new camera setup. Instead of the usual cluster of lenses tucked in the top left corner, the design spreads things out. The flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor are now separate from the three main lenses. This fresh look is being called a “camera bar” style.

    This new camera design isn’t just for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s also expected to show up on the iPhone 17 Pro and a brand-new super-slim model called the iPhone 17 Air. However, the regular iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus are likely to keep their current camera look without any big updates.

    The leaked image has sparked a lot of buzz, and if it’s real, it shows Apple is shaking things up with a bold new style for its top-tier phones. We’ll have to wait for the official reveal to know for sure, but this glimpse has fans talking already!

  • What’s fresh in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

    What’s fresh in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

    Apple just dropped the first iOS 18.4 beta for developers to try out. It doesn’t have all the Apple Intelligence goodies we were expecting, but there are still some cool updates worth checking out.

    Priority Notifications

    There’s a new feature called Priority Notifications that puts your most urgent alerts at the top. It’s off by default, but you can switch it on in Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications. Once it’s active, Apple Intelligence will highlight key notifications on your Lock Screen.

    Image Playground Gets Sketchy

    Image Playground now has a Sketch style, adding to Animation and Illustration. It used to be just for Image Wand, but now you can pick it as a third option. Switch styles by hitting the “+” button in the app. Plus, the “Winter Holidays” theme is gone, replaced with a fresh “Spring” vibe.

    More Languages for Apple Intelligence

    New languages include French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese. There’s also local English for Singapore and India.

    Apple News+ Food Section

    For Apple News+ users, iOS 18.4 brings a Food section packed with recipes, restaurant stories, healthy eating tips, and kitchen must-haves. Big names like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, and Serious Eats contribute content. You’ll find a Recipe Catalog that updates often, a cook mode with step-by-step help, and an option to save recipes offline.

    Chill with Ambient Music

    A new Ambient Music feature lets you add soothing sounds to Control Center. Choose from Sleep, Chill, Productivity, or Wellbeing. Tap one, and it plays random tunes from that vibe. Skip tracks or see what’s playing via Dynamic Island or the Now Playing widget.

    Mail Gets Organized on iPad

    iPadOS 18.4 upgrades the Mail app with categories. Important emails land in the Primary section, while others sort into deals, newsletters, orders, or social updates. This was already on iPhone with iOS 18.2.

    Privacy Dots Stand Out

    Those tiny dots showing camera or microphone use? They’re now on the left of the menu bar with a bold black background, making them easier to spot.

    Siri’s New Accents

    Siri gets two fresh Australian voices to mix things up.

    Genmoji Gets Clearer

    The Genmoji icon on the Emoji keyboard now says “Genmoji” instead of just a colorful smiley, so it’s simpler to find and use.

  • iOS 18.4 brings a cool background music tool

    iOS 18.4 brings a cool background music tool

    The latest iOS 18.4 update introduces a neat feature called Ambient Music, which you can add to your Control Center. It comes with four fun sound options: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

    Each option can be placed in the Control Center on its own. When you tap one, it starts playing a mix of sounds or tunes from that group randomly.

    You can’t pick the exact sound or song right from the Control Center. But if you start playing one of these categories, you can tap the Dynamic Island at the top of your screen or check the Now Playing widget. From there, you can skip to the next track and see what’s playing.

    There isn’t a special app just for this feature. However, Apple has tucked away a hidden tool that lets you skip tracks and manage the music a bit more. This Ambient Music feature works on both iPhones and iPads running iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4. It’s a simple way to enjoy some background vibes, whether you’re relaxing, working, or winding down for the night.

  • Apple Vision Pro’s New Adventure Video: Surfing in the arctic

    Apple Vision Pro’s New Adventure Video: Surfing in the arctic

    Apple Vision Pro fans can now enjoy a fresh six-minute video on the Apple TV app. It’s the second part of the exciting “Boundless” series, called “Arctic Surfing.” In “Arctic Surfing,” you get to join a brave group of surfers as they paddle through freezing waters. You’ll feel the thrill of catching chilly waves in Norway’s stunning winter scenery.

    Before this, the first episode, “Hot Air Balloons,” took viewers soaring over Türkiye’s famous rocky landscapes. And there’s more to come—next Friday, a new episode called “Deep Water Solo” will drop, promising another exciting experience.

    This cool new video is ready to watch on the Apple TV app in places like Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. For folks in China, it’s available on the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.

    With these videos, Apple Vision Pro brings wild adventures right to your screen, making you feel like you’re there. Whether it’s surfing icy waves or floating high in the sky, something is amazing to explore in this series!

  • No camera bar for basic iPhone 17, unlike Pro models

    No camera bar for basic iPhone 17, unlike Pro models

    The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are set to feature a new look for their back cameras, with a design that includes a rectangular bar with rounded edges. This stylish change is also expected for the iPhone 17 Air, but the basic iPhone 17 won’t get this upgrade.

    According to tech insider Jon Prosser from the Front Page Tech YouTube channel, the basic iPhone 17 will look very much like its predecessor, the iPhone 16.

    The basic model will continue to sport two cameras arranged vertically in a pill-shaped bump on the back. This makes the basic iPhone 17 the least altered in terms of appearance among this year’s new releases. For those who prefer the classic look, this could be good news, as it suggests Apple is keeping the traditional design for at least another year.

    Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 17 series in September, giving us a clearer picture of what each model will bring to the table.

  • New iPhone 17 Pro: What it might look like

    New iPhone 17 Pro: What it might look like

    Could this be the design of the new iPhone 17 Pro? A 3D artist named Asher from Front Page Tech shared an image on Tuesday, showing what might be Apple’s next big phone in the iPhone 17 series. The picture gives us one of the clearest views yet of what the iPhone 17 Pro could look like.

    The image shows a big, long camera bump that stretches across the top of the phone’s back. This design looks a bit like what we’ve seen on the Google Pixel 9 Pro. The camera bump is much larger than what we’ve seen in other guesses online. The cameras are arranged in a triangle on the left side, with the flash, microphone, and LiDAR scanner lined up on the right.

    Jon Prosser from Front Page Tech, who says he’s seen the phone, describes it as having two different colors on the back, with the camera part being darker than the rest. However, there are doubts about how true this design is. Normally, the flash and LiDAR scanners are close to the cameras for them to work best.

    It’s unclear if this new look is just for style or changes in how the phone works. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg thinks these images might come from a fake design, but other sources, including some from China with links to Apple’s suppliers, have talked about a bigger camera bump.

    We’re not sure yet if the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have the same look, but it usually does match the Pro model. The new iPhone 17 Air, which is taking over from the Plus model, is expected to have a slimmer camera bump with just one camera on the left and the flash and microphone on the right. We don’t know if the regular iPhone 17 will have this camera style too. Apple usually shows off new iPhones around mid-September, so we might not have to wait long to see if these designs are spot on.

  • Apple Event coming up next week

    Apple Event coming up next week

    Next Wednesday, on February 19, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a hint on social media about an exciting “launch.”

    “Get ready to welcome a new addition to our lineup,” he posted, accompanied by the hashtag #AppleLaunch.

    While Tim didn’t specify when exactly this launch would happen or give any concrete details, the post has sparked curiosity. Tech journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg thinks this could be the reveal of a new iPhone SE. He had earlier mentioned that we might see this phone by next week, boasting features like an A18 chip, a bigger 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, a USB-C port, and support for Apple Intelligence.

    Apart from the iPhone, there’s buzz about other gadgets. People are talking about new MacBook Air, iPad Air, and basic iPad models coming out soon. There’s also chatter about new products like an updated AirTag and a fresh smart home hub expected later this year.

    Since Cook’s message feels more like a teaser than an event announcement, any new product news will likely come through press releases on the Apple Newsroom site. But, we might also see announcement videos on YouTube, similar to how Apple introduced new iMacs, Mac minis, and MacBook Pros with M4 chips last October.

    We’ll know more in just six days!

  • Easier bike route planning with Apple Maps in the UK and Ireland

    Easier bike route planning with Apple Maps in the UK and Ireland

    Apple Maps has just made it easier for bike riders in the UK and Ireland to find their way around. A recent update spotted by a user on Reddit means that now, you can plan a bike trip from one end of the country to the other, like from the southern tip of England to the northernmost part of Scotland, if you feel like it.

    Before this update, the bike route feature wasn’t available everywhere in these countries. Now, Apple Maps gives you specific paths for cyclists, showing you where the bike lanes are, which paths are good for bikes, and warning you about steep hills, stairs, or other things that might get in your way.

    This feature has been part of Apple Maps since the iOS 14 update, and it’s not just in the UK and Ireland. Cyclists in the United States, Australia, China, France, Germany, and Japan, along with big cities like London, Barcelona, and Toronto, can also use it. Apple keeps an updated list on their website of all the places where this cycling feature works.

    This expansion is great news for anyone who loves to bike or just needs to get around on two wheels, making your journey safer and more enjoyable.

    Cycling Directions Released in Remainder of UK and Ireland
    byu/cmmncw inapplemaps

  • When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    Apple is working on new types of robots for homes, according to an expert who studies Apple’s supply chain, Ming-Chi Kuo. These robots include both human-shaped and non-human-shaped designs. However, Kuo suggests we might have to wait a while for these robots to actually be made in large numbers, if they ever are.

    Right now, Apple’s robot projects are just at the early stages where they test if ideas can work. If Apple decides to go ahead, Kuo thinks they might not start making these robots in big amounts until 2028 or even later.

    This news follows after a group of Apple’s robotics experts created a robot that looks like a lamp but moves like a living thing. Last year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared that Apple was also working on a smaller robot with a screen like an iPad on a movable arm. He thought this robot might be announced in 2026 or 2027, but Kuo now believes it could be 2028 or beyond.

    Gurman explains that this smaller robot would be controlled by Siri and Apple’s smart tech. It could move its screen to look at you if you say “look at me,” especially handy during video calls. It would also know who’s talking to it by recognizing different voices.

    This robot might be a premium version of Apple’s upcoming smart home controller, which is expected to come out this year. Gurman guesses it might cost around $1,000, but this could change as plans develop.

  • Apple doesn’t have a Graveyard of apps

    Apple doesn’t have a Graveyard of apps

    A week ago, Apple surprised everyone by launching a new app and service named “Invites.” However, this launch has led to some unfair criticism about Apple’s approach to apps, suggesting they operate like Google does with its apps.

    Google is well-known for starting new apps and services but then either shutting them down or merging them into something else. A good example is Google Podcasts, which didn’t last long. There’s practically a “graveyard” of Google apps that didn’t make it.

    After the launch of Invites, some people started to think Apple does the same thing with its apps. But is that really true?

    Not Dead Yet

    Take the Apple Sports app, for example. It’s been around for a year now, and it keeps getting better. People love it so much they’re asking for a widget for their phones. It’s clear this app isn’t just left to die; it’s growing in popularity.

    Then there’s the Journal app, which first appeared with iOS 17.2 in December 2023. By the time iOS 18 rolled out, the app had a significant update to version 2.0, bringing new features like search, sort options, audio transcripts, and more. The only thing missing is an iPad version, not updates.

    Apple Music Classical, initially iPhone-only, expanded to include an iPad app and added features like album booklets. It even got a CarPlay app and Siri support.

    Music Memos’ Legacy

    Music Memos was an app for musicians to record their tunes. It lasted for five years before Apple decided to enhance the built-in Voice Memos app instead. Now, Voice Memos can record two tracks at once, which is great for songwriters who use voice and guitar.

    Clips in the Classroom

    Apple Clips isn’t dead either. It’s thriving in educational settings with features like royalty-free music and templates that teachers can use in their lessons. Instead of abandoning it, maybe Apple should focus on making a simpler video editing app like CapCut, but without the ByteDance connection.

    Looking Ahead for Invites

    The future of the Invites app might include tight integration with the Calendar app and could come pre-installed on new iPhones. Its success will depend on turning users into iCloud+ subscribers and having a strong advocate within Apple, similar to how Apple Sports has been championed.

    In summary, Apple’s so-called “hobby apps” aren’t just side projects; they’re part of a broader strategy where apps are nurtured, updated, and sometimes transformed to better serve users.