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Tag: Update

  • Simple guide to iOS 18.3 update

    Simple guide to iOS 18.3 update

    Apple has announced that the new iOS 18.3 update will be available very soon, possibly even today. They made this known while introducing a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch.

    Changes in Notification Summaries

    iOS 18.3 has changed how notification summaries look and work. Now, you’ll see summaries in italic text, making them easier to spot. However, Apple has turned off news summary features for now because they weren’t always getting the stories right. They’ve promised to fix this in the next update. Also, you can now tweak your notification summary settings right from your phone’s lock screen.

    Visual Intelligence Gets Better

    If you have an iPhone 16, you’re in for a treat with iOS 18.3. It upgrades the Visual Intelligence feature which you activate with the Camera Control button. Now, you can use your camera to learn more about things around you, like adding events to your calendar from posters or identifying plants and animals. This cool feature isn’t available on older iPhones though.

    Calculator App Update

    A handy little feature has returned to the Calculator app in iOS 18.3. If you hit the equals button again, it’ll repeat the last calculation, which is great for figuring out things like compound interest without retyping everything.

    Celebrating Black History Month

    To celebrate Black History Month, Apple has released a special Black Unity Sport Loop band for the Apple Watch, along with a new Unity Rhythm watch face and matching wallpapers for your iPhone and iPad. These will come with the iOS 18.3 update.

    Bug Fixes

    iOS 18.3 also tackles some bugs. It fixes a problem where the keyboard might vanish when you’re typing to Siri, and another where music keeps playing even after you’ve closed the Apple Music app.

    Future Home App Feature

    Although not active yet, iOS 18.3’s code hints at upcoming support for robot vacuums in the Home app. Apple says this feature will be available in a future update, possibly iOS 18.4.

    So, keep an eye out for this update, which promises to make your iPhone experience smoother and more enjoyable.

  • New Apple Sports App Update: Easier navigation and game broadcast details

    New Apple Sports App Update: Easier navigation and game broadcast details

    Apple has just updated its Sports app for iPhone, introducing some cool new features that make it even better for sports fans. First off, the update makes it easier to move around the app. Now, you can simply swipe left or right to check out all your favorite leagues and teams, making it quicker to get to the sports you love.

    Next up, if you’re into soccer, you’ll be happy to know that the app now supports more soccer events, including the FA Cup, EFL Championship, and League Cup. This means you get to stay updated with more soccer action right at your fingertips.

    One of the biggest updates is the addition of broadcast information for national games. Now, you won’t have to guess where to watch the big games; the app tells you right where to tune in.

    Here’s what’s new in Apple Sports version 2.4:

    • The soccer section has grown, now covering the FA Cup, EFL Championship, and League Cup.
    • Easy navigation – just swipe to move between your followed leagues and teams.
    • Game pages now show you where to watch national sports events.

    You can grab this update from the App Store today.

    Also, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the exciting Super Bowl rematch between the Eagles and Chiefs, happening in New Orleans on February 9. The best part? You can stream the game in 4K for free this year, making it easier than ever to enjoy the big game.

  • WhatsApp update allows iPhone users to use multiple accounts

    WhatsApp update allows iPhone users to use multiple accounts

    WhatsApp is now developing a feature where iPhone users can use more than one account on the same phone. According to WABetaInfo, this update is aimed at making it easier for people who have both personal and work accounts.

    WhatsApp Feature Update
    Before this, only Android users in the beta program could use multiple accounts. Now, iPhone users testing the app through TestFlight can try this out too. This means you won’t need another app like WhatsApp Business to handle a different account; you can do it all in the main WhatsApp app.

    With the latest beta version, 25.2.10.70, you can choose to make your phone the main account or connect another account by scanning a QR code to use it as a “companion” account. This way, each account keeps its own notifications, chats, backups, and settings. You can switch between accounts easily, without needing another phone.

    Instagram, which is also run by Meta, already allows switching between accounts in its app. Adding this to WhatsApp makes the apps more similar. We don’t know when everyone will get this feature, but since it’s in the testing phase, it might not be too long. There’s still no word on a WhatsApp app for iPads.

    In other news, Meta has recently linked WhatsApp with its Accounts Center, where you manage your privacy and settings across all Meta platforms. Now, you can tweak your settings all in one spot and share your status from WhatsApp to Instagram and Facebook.

  • Why Apple avoids big iOS redesigns now

    Why Apple avoids big iOS redesigns now

    Remember when iOS updates used to bring huge changes? Think back to iOS 7. Those times seem to be fading away, and a recent app fiasco explains why.

    The Sonos App Mess as a Warning

    Sonos, if you’ve missed it, has been having a rough time. They changed their CEO after a disastrous app redesign in 2024. This new version of the Sonos app, launched in April, led to a year-long stream of customer complaints and negative publicity.

    This situation with the Sonos app is a clear lesson for why Apple might steer clear of massive iOS overhauls. If this had happened when Sonos had fewer, more tech-savvy users, perhaps the impact wouldn’t have been so severe. They could have fixed issues quickly, or users would have just adapted.

    The Risk of Overhauling iOS

    In the iPhone’s early days, Apple could manage big changes because fewer people used their devices. Now, with millions of users of all tech levels relying on iPhones, major changes are risky. Even if many like the new look, the sheer number of users means there’s bound to be significant opposition.

    Apple knows that iOS can’t stay the same forever, though. Instead of a whole system redesign, they’ve chosen to update parts of iOS one at a time. For instance, the Photos app in iOS 18 stirred up some trouble, but it was only one app, so the blowback was contained. Redesigning all of iOS at once would be a much bigger gamble.

    User Feedback and Iterative Updates

    A top comment on an article about this issue pointed out that comparing the Sonos app rebuild to an iOS redesign isn’t quite fair. Redesigning something like iOS 7 is just giving it a new look, not rebuilding it from the ground up like Sonos did. Apple’s approach would be more like painting over the existing structure, not rebuilding the house.

    For many iPhone users, the idea of another major redesign might sound daunting rather than exciting. The lesson from Sonos is clear: for companies with a huge user base, big changes can lead to big problems. Maybe we should all get used to seeing iOS evolve through smaller, less disruptive updates.

  • New test software for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 released by Apple

    New test software for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 released by Apple

    Apple has just introduced new test versions of software updates for the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, including both types with Lightning and USB-C charging cases. This update, tagged with the number 7E5067b, is currently available only for developers.

    AirPods Pro Test Software

    It’s not yet known what new features or changes this test software brings, but we’ll keep you posted as soon as we learn more. For now, if you’re not a developer, your AirPods Pro 2 will stay on the current software version 7B21, and your AirPods 4 on version 7B20, until this test version goes public.

    How Updates Work

    You can’t manually start these software updates on your AirPods; they happen automatically. When your AirPods are in their charging case and connected to an iPhone or Mac, the update can install itself wirelessly.

  • What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    Apple is set to roll out the new iOS 18.3 update next week after months of testing. Even though it’s not a huge update, it does bring some cool new features and fixes for iPhone users.

    Changes in Notifications

    Apple has decided to pause its AI-powered news summaries because they’ve been getting some details wrong. In iOS 18.3, you’ll see summarized notifications in italics so they’re easy to spot. Also, you can now tweak your notification summary settings right from your lock screen. Apple has promised to make these summaries better in future updates.

    New Visual Intelligence Features

    If you’ve got one of the iPhone 16 models, you can enjoy enhanced Visual Intelligence. This feature lets you get instant info about things around you by just holding down the Camera Control button. Now, you can add events to your calendar from posters you see in public, and it can even tell you about different animals or plants. Remember, these features are only for the latest iPhone models.

    Calculator App Gets a Boost

    A handy feature is back in the Calculator app with iOS 18.3. Now, when you hit the equals button twice, it repeats the last calculation, which is super useful for things like figuring out compound interest.

    Maybe Something for Black Unity

    There’s a hint in the tvOS update code about a possible “UNITY25” campaign, suggesting Apple might celebrate Black Unity again this year with new watch bands, faces, or iPhone wallpapers. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but we might hear something soon.

    Bug Fixes and More

    iOS 18.3 also fixes some annoying bugs. For instance, Siri won’t make your keyboard vanish when you try to type a request, and Apple Music will stop playing when you close the app, not after the song ends. There’s also talk about adding support for robot vacuums in the Home app, but that seems to be pushed to a later update.

    This update is shaping up to make your iPhone experience smoother and more useful, especially if you’ve got the latest model. Keep an eye out for the official release next week.

  • New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    The iPhone’s screen recording tool is about to get even better with three cool new features. It’s great for making quick videos of your screen, like when you’re showing someone how to do something on their phone. I talk about these updates in my latest “iPhone Secrets” episode.

    What Does Screen Recording Do Now?

    Screen recording on your iPhone lets you capture whatever is on your screen and save it in your Photos. You can also stream it live! To do more, just hold down the Screen Record button in the Control Center. This lets you turn on your microphone or choose where to send your live video, like to Zoom or Instagram.

    What’s New?

    • Stereo Sound Recording: Right now, when you record your screen, the sound is only in one channel (mono). But soon, you’ll be able to record in stereo using the iPhone’s multiple microphones for a richer sound experience.
    • HDR Screen Capture: Currently, if you record your screen while watching high-quality (HDR) video, it all goes back to standard quality (SDR). In the next update, you’ll keep the high quality, making your recordings look just as good as what you’re watching.
    • Live Camera Overlay: Imagine recording your screen and adding a live video of yourself in a small window. This is coming soon! It’s like having a mini TV of you in the corner of your screen recording, perfect for tutorials or explaining things hands-free.

    Here’s what the new screen recording menu might look like, with a camera icon next to the microphone icon, allowing you to turn your camera on while recording.

    These changes might not excite everyone, but for people who use screen recording a lot, they’re big improvements. Especially the camera overlay, which can make your videos much more engaging.

    What do you think about these updates? For more details, check out the latest “iPhone Secrets” episode where I go over these features and more coming to iOS 18.3.

  • iPhone Update: A small feature pause for better results

    iPhone Update: A small feature pause for better results

    The new iOS 18.3 update is almost here, and it brings some new stuff like better camera controls, AI tweaks, and fixes for bugs. But, there’s one feature that won’t be around for a bit.

    One of the cool things from the Apple Intelligence update, which started with iOS 18.1 last October, was notification summaries. These summaries aim to make your notifications easier to understand. But sometimes, they’ve had mistakes, which isn’t great, especially since this feature is still being tested.

    So, with iOS 18.3, Apple is making some changes:

    • They’re making AI summaries stand out by putting them in italics.
    • You can now stop summaries for specific apps straight from your notifications. Just swipe left, tap ‘Options,’ then ‘Turn Off Summaries.’
    • There’s now a reminder that this feature is still in beta, meaning it might not always get things right.

    Also, Apple has decided to turn off summaries for News & Entertainment apps for now. If you check your settings under Notifications ⇾ Summarize Notifications, you’ll see that for these apps, it says ‘Temporarily Unavailable.’

    The plan is to bring these summaries back once they’ve fixed the accuracy issues. This makes sense to me because news notifications are already summaries, and summarizing them again can lead to errors.

    Overall, Apple is doing the right thing by pausing, tweaking, and aiming for better accuracy before reintroducing this feature. This will hopefully lead to a smoother and more reliable experience for everyone using an iPhone.

    Source

  • When will the next iOS update come out?

    When will the next iOS update come out?

    Apple is almost done with the testing phase for iOS 18.3, which means the first beta version of iOS 18.4 might be coming very soon. Here’s when you can expect it:

    iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Should Come Out Soon After iOS 18.3’s Release

    Apple usually follows a pretty regular schedule for its software rollouts, with only small changes here and there.

    Looking back at how things have gone before:

    • In 2024, iOS 17.3 was released on a Monday, followed by iOS 17.4 beta 1 just three days later on Thursday.
    • Back in 2023, iOS 16.3 came out on a Monday, with iOS 16.4 beta 1 appearing three weeks later on a Thursday.
    • In 2022, iOS 15.3 was launched on a Wednesday, with iOS 15.4 beta 1 the very next day on Thursday.

    So, if iOS 18.3 goes public around Monday, January 27, we could see iOS 18.4 beta 1 as early as Tuesday, January 28, or later that week.

    Could There Be More Waiting for iOS 18.4?

    While it’s likely we’ll see the beta soon, there’s a chance it could be delayed. Apple has mentioned that iOS 18.4 will be available to everyone in April. Starting a beta in late January might seem a bit rushed.

    However, for major updates involving AI, like the new features for Siri in iOS 18.4, Apple often likes to have lots of testing time. So, even with the possibility of a delay, I think we’ll still see the beta sooner rather than later. The more feedback Apple gets on the new Siri, the better they can make it before the final release.

  • iOS update brings back simple math trick

    iOS update brings back simple math trick

    The latest update, iOS 18.3, has made a small but handy change to the Calculator app on your iPhone. They’ve brought back a feature where you can repeat calculations easily.

    Here’s how it works: If you do a calculation like 5 times 5 and hit equals, you get 25. Now, if you tap the equals sign again, it will do 25 times 5. Every time you press equals after that, it will keep multiplying the result by 5.

    This repeat function was available in older versions of iOS but was taken out with iOS 18. Now, with the 18.3 update, it’s back for those who missed it. It’s especially good for things like figuring out compound interest.

    Also, if you use a Mac, this feature was gone in macOS 15 too, but it’s coming back with the macOS 15.3 update. So, whether you’re on an iPhone or a Mac, you’ll find this update makes math a bit easier.