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Tag: Apple

  • 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.

  • New iPhone 17 models to get Wi-Fi 7 Chip, Foldable MacBook-iPad mix might use macOS &18 Pro could have C2 modem

    New iPhone 17 models to get Wi-Fi 7 Chip, Foldable MacBook-iPad mix might use macOS &18 Pro could have C2 modem

    All four iPhone 17 models will come with a Wi-Fi 7 chip made by Apple, says Jeff Pu, a tech expert who tracks Apple’s suppliers. In a note shared with GF Securities, Pu explained that Apple finished designing this chip in early 2024. It’s set to appear in the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max later this year.

    The iPhone 16 already has Wi-Fi 7, so that’s not new. What’s exciting is Apple creating its own Wi-Fi chip. Last month, Apple introduced its custom C1 modem for 5G and LTE in the iPhone 16e. Now, it’s moving away from companies like Broadcom for Wi-Fi chips and Qualcomm for modems by building its own tech. This helps Apple rely less on others. Another expert, Ming-Chi Kuo, also predicted this Wi-Fi chip switch for the iPhone 17.

    Wi-Fi 7 works on three bands—2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz—at the same time with the right router. This means faster internet, less lag, and a stronger connection. Speeds can hit over 40 Gbps, four times faster than Wi-Fi 6E, if your device supports it. Expect the iPhone 17 lineup in about six months.

    Pu also shared news about Apple’s first foldable gadgets, set for mass production in late 2026. He says there’ll be a foldable iPhone with a 7.8-inch screen and a bigger 18.8-inch foldable device. This larger one might blend a MacBook and iPad, likely running macOS instead of iPadOS. That hints at a touch-screen Mac, which is a big deal! Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently said iOS 19 and macOS 16 updates could pave the way for such devices, but a touch-screen Mac this soon seems uncertain.

    Last month, Apple launched the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, part of its shift from Qualcomm. Pu says the slim iPhone 17 Air will use this C1 modem too, matching Kuo’s earlier scoop. Next year, the iPhone 18 Pro models might get a faster C2 modem with better power use and mmWave support in the U.S. Meanwhile, iPhone 17 Pro models will stick with Qualcomm modems for now. Apple’s deal with Qualcomm lasts until March 2027, giving it time to perfect its own chips.

  • Apple launches Safari test version 215 with fixes and speed boosts

    Apple launches Safari test version 215 with fixes and speed boosts

    Apple has just rolled out a fresh update for Safari Technology Preview, a special browser they first shared in March 2016. This version is like a playground for Apple to try out new ideas they might add to the regular Safari browser later on.

    What’s New in Safari Test Version 215

    The latest Safari Technology Preview 215 brings tweaks and upgrades to things like styling (CSS), pictures, coding (JavaScript), internet connections, scrolling, text handling, web tools (Web API), and add-ons (Web Extensions). It’s all about making things work better and smoother.

    This update works on devices running macOS Sonoma or the brand-new macOS Sequoia, Apple’s latest operating system. You can grab this Safari Technology Preview update through the Software Update option in System Preferences or System Settings, as long as you’ve already downloaded the browser from Apple’s site. If you want the full scoop on what’s changed, check out the release notes on the Safari Technology Preview webpage.

    Why Apple Made This Browser

    Apple created Safari Technology Preview to hear what developers and everyday users think about its progress. It’s a way to test and improve the browser before changes hit the main Safari everyone uses. The cool part? You can run it alongside the regular Safari browser.

    Plus, while it’s built with developers in mind, anyone can download it—no special account is needed. This update keeps Apple’s experimental browser moving forward, giving people a sneak peek at what’s coming while ironing out the kinks. If you’re curious about the future of Safari or just love trying new tech, this might be worth a look!

  • New macOS 15.4 Beta 4 and More: Simple updates from Apple

    New macOS 15.4 Beta 4 and More: Simple updates from Apple

    Apple just rolled out macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta 4 for developers. This update comes a week after the last one, and here’s what you need to know.

    Beta 4: Fixing Bugs Before the Big Release

    The third beta last week focused on fixing bugs and making things run smoother. Beta 4, released today, seems to follow the same path. There’s not much time left for big changes since the public version is coming soon—likely in early April, alongside iOS 18.4. That’s just a few weeks away!

    So far, macOS 15.4 brings some cool stuff like:

    • A fresh look for Apple Mail with inbox sorting
    • Seven new emoji for your keyboard
    • Easy device pairing with Proximity Pairing
    • A timer for verification codes in the Passwords app
    • A sketch style for creating drawings in Image Playground
    • Plus a few smaller tweaks

    If anything new pops up in beta 4, we’ll let you know. To get this update, go to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac. If you don’t see it, tap the ‘i’ button and check that Beta Updates are on.

    Other Apple Updates: Vision Pro, Apple TV, and More

    Apple also dropped beta 4 for visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, and HomePod 18.4. Developers can grab these now.

    Vision Pro gets the spotlight with visionOS 2.4. It’s adding Apple Intelligence features for the first time, plus a guest mode upgrade and a Spatial Gallery app. For Apple TV 4K, tvOS 18.4 spruces up the TV app with:

    • A big plus button to add shows to your Watchlist
    • Clear episode schedules
    • Updated fonts and icons

    No big news yet for watchOS 11.4 or HomePod 18.4, but they’ll likely get the usual bug fixes and speed boosts.

    What’s Next?

    With the public release nearing in early April, these beta 4 updates are mostly about making things stable. No huge surprises are expected today, but the good news is you won’t wait long to try them yourself—no developer account needed!

    iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Beta 4 Too

    Apple also shared the fourth betas of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. Look for them in Settings > General > Software Update. They bring Priority Notifications to highlight key alerts, a Food section in Apple News+, and a sketch style for Image Playground. Plus, there’s relaxing Ambient Music in Control Center and more emoji. These updates will land in early April too!

  • Hidden court case on iCloud security sparks calls for openness

    Hidden court case on iCloud security sparks calls for openness

    A private court session about iCloud encryption started on Friday, and people in the UK and US are pushing for it to be made public. The UK government wants Apple to add a secret way into iCloud, not just for UK citizens but for everyone using it worldwide. Some iCloud info uses basic protection where Apple keeps a key and can share it with governments if ordered. Other data uses stronger protection, where only the user and their devices have the key.

    Apple offers a privacy tool called Advanced Data Protection (ADP), which locks nearly all iCloud data so tightly that even Apple can’t open it. If ADP is on, Apple can’t hand over data to governments. The UK’s demand would force Apple to unlock ADP. Instead of agreeing, Apple stopped offering ADP to UK users while it fights the rule.

    The Quiet Court Battle Over a Hidden Demand

    The UK law makes these orders secret, and any challenges to them happen behind closed doors. Apple found a smart workaround to hint at the issue. It couldn’t legally say the UK told it to unlock ADP, so it simply pulled ADP from the UK without saying why. The message was obvious: “We can’t admit the UK demanded this, or that we said no.”

    Apple also couldn’t say it was fighting the order, but somehow that news slipped out too. UK reporters showed up at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday but couldn’t enter the courtroom.

    Protests in the UK and US

    Many groups are upset. UK news outlets like the BBC, Reuters, and The Guardian, along with privacy groups like Big Brother Watch, have complained to the court, saying the case should be public. Privacy International and Liberty also teamed up to argue against the secret order.

    “This secret move by the UK to weaken security for everyone is unfair and too extreme,” said Caroline Wilson Palow from Privacy International. “People everywhere need strong protection to stay safe from threats.” In the US, five lawmakers from both parties, including Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Andy Biggs, demanded the court open up the case. They say hiding it makes no sense now that the order is widely known, especially since Apple already pulled ADP from the UK last month.

  • Apple’s first bendable iPhone might cost double the iPhone 16 Pro Max

    Apple’s first bendable iPhone might cost double the iPhone 16 Pro Max

    An expert named Tim Long from Barclays, a British bank, shared some exciting news today. He believes Apple’s first bendable iPhone could start at around $2,300 in the U.S. That would make it the priciest iPhone ever, almost twice the cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which begins at $1,199.

    Long came up with this price idea after a trip to Asia, where he talked to people who make phone parts. He heard more chatter about a bendable iPhone possibly hitting stores between late 2026 and early 2027. However, he thinks the high price might mean fewer people will buy it.

    Another tech insider, Ming-Chi Kuo, who knows a lot about Apple’s suppliers, agrees the price could land between $2,000 and $2,500. Even with the big cost, Kuo thinks people might still want it if it’s top-notch. For instance, if Apple makes a bendable phone with no noticeable line on the screen, that could be a game-changer.

    Kuo also shared some cool details. He says the bendable iPhone might have a 7.8-inch screen inside and a 5.5-inch one outside. It could come with two back cameras, one front camera, and a power button that unlocks with your fingerprint instead of your face.

    The battery would be extra strong, and the phone could be super slim—about 4.5mm when opened and 9mm to 9.5mm when closed. The outside might be made of titanium, with the folding part using both titanium and steel. Kuo predicts Apple will start making lots of these phones by the end of 2026. Since that’s still over a year away, these price guesses are just smart hunches for now.

  • Mac Studio’s M3 Ultra powers huge DeepSeek R1 AI model at home

    Mac Studio’s M3 Ultra powers huge DeepSeek R1 AI model at home

    YouTuber Dave Lee, known for his Dave2D channel, recently showed off how Apple’s latest Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip can run a massive DeepSeek R1 AI model right on the device. To pull this off, you need the top-tier version with 512GB of memory.

    Mac Studio 2025 Breakdown

    Lee’s tests revealed that this giant AI model, with 671 billion parameters, works smoothly on the Mac Studio. It gobbles up 404GB of storage and needs 448GB of virtual memory, which users set up manually using Terminal commands.

    The secret sauce is the M3 Ultra’s all-in-one memory setup. It handles a slimmed-down, 4-bit version of DeepSeek R1 without breaking a sweat. This tweak lowers accuracy a tiny bit but keeps all the important bits intact, churning out about 17-18 tokens per second—plenty fast for most tasks.

    Even better, the Mac Studio does this while sipping less than 200 watts of power. If you tried this on a regular PC, you’d need several graphics cards guzzling around ten times more energy.

    Why It Matters

    Running big AI models at home is a game-changer for privacy. Think of things like medical data crunching—keeping it local avoids the risks of sending sensitive info to the cloud.

    The Price Tag

    This power comes with a hefty cost. A Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra and 512GB of RAM starts at about $10,000. Go all out with 16TB of storage and a fully loaded M3 Ultra (32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine), and you’re looking at $14,099. Still, for companies needing secure, local AI processing, it’s a solid deal compared to other options. Apple claims the M3 Ultra is its speediest chip yet, made by blending two M3 Max chips with its “UltraFusion” trick. That doubles the power, making it a beast for heavy-duty work.

  • Apple drops bigger iPhone 17 Air plan over bend worries

    Apple drops bigger iPhone 17 Air plan over bend worries

    Apple once tested a super-thin iPhone 17 Air with a big 6.9-inch screen but scrapped the idea. Why? They worried it might bend too easily, a problem they faced years ago. A new report spills the details.

    iPhone 17 Air’s Big Screen Scare

    Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg writer, shared this in his recent Power On newsletter:

    When Apple first worked on this phone, they tried a 6.9-inch screen—same size as the Pro Max. But they dropped it, fearing a slim phone with such a large display could bend. Back in 2014, Apple dealt with “Bendgate” when the iPhone 6 Plus warped in tight pockets. They didn’t want that headache again.

    A rumor from China earlier this month said the iPhone 17 Air matched the iPhone 17 Pro Max in size, just thinner. That might have come from this canceled test model.

    What’s Coming Instead

    The iPhone 17 Air hitting shelves in September will sport a 6.6-inch screen with smooth 120Hz ProMotion tech, a Dynamic Island, a speedy A19 chip, one 48-megapixel back camera, and Apple’s own C1 modem. Gurman hears it could cost around $899 in the U.S.—the same as the iPhone 16 Plus, which this slim phone seems set to replace in Apple’s lineup. Apple’s clearly playing it safe after past lessons, sticking with a size that’s big but not risky. Fans of giant screens might be bummed, but a sturdier phone could be worth it.

  • 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!

  • iPhone 17 Air looks super slim in new leaked photos

    iPhone 17 Air looks super slim in new leaked photos

    Last night, fresh pictures of iPhone 17 dummy models popped up, shared by Sonny Dickson. He’s a guy who’s been spot-on for years about leaking these fake phone versions that help case and accessory makers get ready for new iPhones. The photos match the designs we’ve seen lately, including a big camera bump stretching across the back, which Apple might add to all models except the basic iPhone 17.

    Dickson’s pictures show the dummies from every angle. The side views really stand out, showing how thin the iPhone 17 Air could be compared to the others. I never thought the current iPhones were bulky, but next to the Air, they look pretty hefty. Check it out:

    The iPhone 17 Air dummy looks sleek from the side, making other models seem thick. These dummy units seem to confirm whispers that the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.6-inch screen. That size puts it right between this year’s 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and the 6.9-inch 16 Pro Max.

    Mark Gurman from Bloomberg backed this up in his latest Power On newsletter. He says Apple thought about making it 6.9 inches but dropped the idea, worried a super-thin phone with a hugescreen might bend too easily.

    Gurman also mentions the Air will have slim edges like the 16 Pro, plus the Dynamic Island notch and a Camera Control button—details that line up with Dickson’s leaked shots. The iPhone 17 Air’s slim design is stealing the spotlight, and these photos give us a solid peek at what’s coming. It’s exciting to see how it stacks up against the rest of the lineup!