RPRNA

Tag: Apple

  • Apple rolls out new test updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more

    Apple rolls out new test updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more

    Today, Apple shared the third test versions of its upcoming software updates: iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 for iPhones and iPads, macOS Sequoia 15.4 for Macs, and visionOS 2.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 for Vision Pro, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. These updates come a week after the second test versions were released.

    iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4: What’s New

    You can grab these updates on your iPhone or iPad by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. One cool addition is Priority Notifications, a smart feature that figures out which alerts matter most and puts them front and center on your Lock Screen. There’s also a new Food section in Apple News+ for subscribers, packed with tasty content.

    Plus, Image Playground now has a Sketch option to create drawings that look hand-drawn. The update supports more languages like French, Spanish, and Japanese for Apple’s smart tools. New emojis are here too, along with a Vision Pro app for managing your headset right from your phone. iPads now get Mail Categorization, and there’s a relaxing Ambient Music feature in the Control Center. Apple plans to launch these in early April.

    macOS Sequoia 15.4: Fresh Features for Macs

    Mac users can join the test by going to System Settings > Software Update with a developer Apple ID. This update brings Mail Categorization to Macs, sorting emails into handy groups like deals, updates, and important messages. You’ll also find new emojis, a Food section in Apple News+, and a Sketch tool in Image Playground. Plus, you can now make Memory Movies in Photos. It’ll roll out in early April too.

    Vision Pro, Apple TV, and Apple Watch Updates

    The third test versions of visionOS 2.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 are out for developers too. VisionOS 2.4 stands out, adding smart features like Writing Tools and Priority Notifications to Vision Pro. It also includes a Spatial Gallery app with cool 3D photos and videos and a handy iPhone app to manage your headset. With iOS 18.4, you can even set up Guest Mode for others to try your Vision Pro easily. These updates are set for early April as well.

  • A small fix coming to your iPhone: iOS 18.3.2

    A small fix coming to your iPhone: iOS 18.3.2

    It looks like Apple is getting ready to send out a small update for iPhones called iOS 18.3.2. We know this because people working at Apple are trying it out on their phones already. This kind of testing usually means the update will be available to everyone soon, probably in the next couple of weeks.

    What This Update Does

    This update won’t bring any big, new things to your phone. Instead, it’s designed to fix small problems and make your phone safer. Think of it as a little tune-up to keep things running smoothly.

    Why This Update Now?

    Apple is also working on a bigger update, iOS 18.4, which is still being tested. That bigger update will have some new things, like better ways to see important messages and a new section in the Apple News app for food lovers. But it’s not quite ready yet. So, iOS 18.3.2 is like a quick fix while we wait for the bigger one.

    When Will You Get It?

    We expect iOS 18.3.2 to be released sometime in March. The bigger update, iOS 18.4, should be available to everyone in early April. Just last month, Apple released another small update, iOS 18.3.1, which also fixed some bugs. So, Apple is working hard to keep our iPhones working well. This new update, while small, will help make your iPhone experience a bit better.

  • Apple thinks about simple Smart Glasses, like Meta’s

    Apple thinks about simple Smart Glasses, like Meta’s

    It looks like Apple is still thinking about making smart glasses, similar to the ones Meta sells with Ray-Ban. According to tech expert Mark Gurman, Apple is exploring this idea.

    These glasses wouldn’t be like the Apple Vision Pro, which shows you digital things in your real world. Instead, they’d be simpler. Think of them as regular glasses with AI, microphones, and cameras built-in. This could give users a pretty good experience, Gurman says.

    “If Apple can make these glasses look good, sound great like AirPods, and work perfectly with iPhones, they could be a big hit,” Gurman believes. “It’s surprising they haven’t made them yet.”

    Apple first wanted to make smart glasses that looked normal but showed augmented reality, like adding digital images to your view. However, they stopped working on that earlier this year. The original plan was to use the iPhone as the power source, but the iPhone wasn’t strong enough or had enough battery. Then, they tried using a Mac, but Apple leaders didn’t think that was a good idea, so they stopped that project too.

    Gurman also shared that Apple is testing these glasses with people in their offices. They want to see what features people like and how they use them. They’re also working on a special software, called visionOS, for these glasses. These tests are being done by Apple’s team that checks the quality of their products.

    Apple seems to think that making these simpler smart glasses could help them learn how to make real AR glasses in the future. Apple has been talking about AR glasses for a long time, and the Vision Pro is what they made because the technology for the AR glasses they really want isn’t ready yet.

    Also, Apple is still working on a product that combines AirPods with cameras, Gurman says. The cameras would help AI features by seeing what’s around you, just like how iPhones use cameras to understand your environment.

  • Apple removes iPhone 16 ad about a smarter Siri

    Apple removes iPhone 16 ad about a smarter Siri

    Apple recently took down an advertisement for the iPhone 16 that highlighted a “smarter Siri.” This decision came after the company announced last week that some of the new Siri features, part of Apple Intelligence, won’t be ready as soon as they had hoped for iOS 18.

    The Smarter Siri Ad

    The ad starred English actor Isabella Ramsey and was posted on YouTube in September, just before iPhone 16 pre-orders began. In the video, Ramsey asks Siri to recall the name of someone they met at a restaurant a month earlier. The clip, now private on YouTube, was also shared on Instagram by fans, and you can still find it there.

    Apple described the ad like this:

    With a better understanding of your personal details, the ability to work across apps, and improved language skills, Siri will help you in exciting new ways.

    Apple now says these advanced Siri upgrades will take more time and will arrive sometime next year.

    What’s Happening with Siri?

    The smarter Siri features were first shown off at WWDC when Apple introduced iOS 18. They were supposed to launch in an iOS 18 update and include things like knowing more about your life, understanding what’s on your screen, and working better with apps.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, these updates might not come until next year—or possibly later. Some folks in Apple’s AI team even worry that the features might need a complete redo or could be dropped entirely.

    Challenges Ahead

    Inside Apple, there’s talk that making Siri better might need stronger hardware. This could mean cutting back on some features or slowing them down on today’s devices. For now, Apple is working through these issues, and fans will have to wait a bit longer for the Siri they saw in the ad.

  • New iPhone 17 models revealed in video based on secret plans

    New iPhone 17 models revealed in video based on secret plans

    On Friday, YouTuber iDeviceHelp shared a video showing early models of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, said to be based on private company papers. We’re highlighting this video because it was created with input from leaker Majin Bu, whose iPhone 17 designs from last month were backed up by other sources tied to Apple’s supply chain in China.

    Apple is planning a big change for the iPhone 17 Pro models’ camera setup. Instead of the usual square bump, these phones will feature a wide aluminum camera bar stretching across the back, according to recent news. The makeover also includes the new iPhone 17 Air, which will take over from the Plus model. The video shows the buttons staying in the same spots as on the iPhone 16. It even offers a hands-on look at how the iPhone 17 Air stacks up against other models.

    Most reports agree the iPhone 17 Air will sport a 6.6-inch screen—bigger than the standard iPhone 17 but smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Expert Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the Air will be just 5.5mm thick in some areas, though the camera bump might stick out a bit more. Unlike its siblings, the basic iPhone 17 will likely keep the camera style of the iPhone 16, making it easier to tell Apple’s regular and fancy models apart.

    Last month, analyst Jeff Pu shared that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have aluminum frames. However, he thinks the iPhone 17 Air will stand out with a titanium frame. Apple first used titanium for Pro models in 2023, but Pu says they’ll switch to aluminum for eco-friendly reasons.

    There’s also talk of a new feature for the iPhone 17 Pro models: wireless reverse charging. This would let the phone power up other Apple gadgets. Still, iDeviceHelp wonders if the super-thin iPhone 17 Air can fit MagSafe magnets. We won’t know for sure how spot-on these models are until Apple launches the iPhone 17 series next September.

  • Apple’s new Foldable iPad Pro may have hidden Face ID

    Apple’s new Foldable iPad Pro may have hidden Face ID

    There’s exciting news about Apple working on a foldable iPad Pro! A fresh rumor says one of their test models has a special Face ID feature tucked under the screen. According to a tip from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, this test version boasts an 18.8-inch foldable display. It uses a “metal frame lens” to hide the Face ID parts, letting it unlock with facial recognition without needing a visible sensor. No extra details were shared, but it’s a cool hint at what’s coming.

    For a while, people have whispered about Apple creating a foldable gadget—maybe an iPad or even a MacBook. It’s still unclear which one it’ll be, but it depends on the software Apple chooses.
    Under-screen Face ID has been talked about for iPhones for years, but it hasn’t happened yet. This is the first time we’ve heard it tied to Apple’s foldable ideas.

    Experts at Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) predict that Apple will release an 18.8-inch foldable iPad Pro with a bright OLED screen in 2027. Meanwhile, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says LG might start making screens for a foldable MacBook—either 20.2 or 18.8 inches—by late 2025.

    A December story from The Wall Street Journal also mentioned Apple designing a bigger foldable device meant to work like a laptop, unfolding to around 19 inches. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman adds that a giant foldable iPad is in the works, possibly launching in 2028. He says Apple wants it to look smooth, like one solid piece of glass with no fold line.

    On another note, Apple is reportedly building a book-shaped foldable iPhone for next year. Instead of Face ID, it might use Touch ID on a side button—like the latest iPad Air and mini—because of limited space inside.

  • What we know about the iPhone Air’s new look

    What we know about the iPhone Air’s new look

    Apple is gearing up to launch its slimmest phone ever, the iPhone 17 Air, sometime later this year. People have been buzzing about how thin it might be compared to the 6.9mm iPhone 6. Now, fresh leaks are giving us a clearer picture of what’s coming.

    For months, guesses about the iPhone 17 Air’s size have bounced around. A recent tip from leaker Ice Universe says it could be just 5.5mm thick—a number analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also mentioned back in January. Another expert, Jeff Pu, thought it’d be closer to 6mm. Screen size rumors vary, too. Kuo suggested a 6.6-inch display, but Ice Universe claims it’ll match the 6.9-inch screen of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, sharing the same shape and edges as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. They even shared a video showing a possible sneak peek of the phone.

    Last Friday, YouTuber iDeviceHelp teamed up with leaker Majin Bu—who’d shown similar designs earlier—to drop a video. They say their mockups of the standard, Pro Max, and Air models come from secret Apple papers. Watching it, I couldn’t help but notice how the Air’s super-thin edge reminded me of the 5.1mm M4 iPad Pro—the thinnest Apple gadget so far.

    One cool detail stands out: the mockups show a camera bar running across the back, kind of like a Google Pixel. It’s unclear if it’s just for looks or does something special, but I like it. My iPhone 15 Pro wobbles on my desk, and this bar—shown on the 17 Pro Max mockup—seems to fix that a bit. The cameras still poke out, though, so it’s not a total win.

    The rest of the design looks familiar—buttons in the usual spots (except for the iPhone 16E, missing its Camera Control button), plus a USB-C port and speakers on the bottom. Up front, expect the Dynamic Island and Face ID. We’ll have to wait until September—Apple’s big reveal time—to see how close these guesses are.

  • 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.

  • Fresh details on iOS 19 and visionOS 3 unveiled

    Fresh details on iOS 19 and visionOS 3 unveiled

    Apple’s big software updates are still about three months off, but some early hints about iOS 19 and visionOS 3 are popping up. First off, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg shared that iOS 19 will probably bring more of Apple’s smart features, called Apple Intelligence, to a wider range of apps. It’s a small but exciting tease for what’s ahead.

    Next, he heard that visionOS 3 will come loaded with new goodies. While he didn’t spill any exact details, he called it a “feature-packed” update, which sounds promising. Meanwhile, visionOS 2.4 is already in testing and shaping up to be a solid upgrade. It brings Apple Intelligence to the Vision Pro, adds a cool Spatial Gallery app with 3D content, and throws in a few other surprises. Everyone will get to try it out in April.

    As for the Vision Pro hardware, there’s chatter about a possible upgrade to an M5 chip by late 2025. But 2026 seems more realistic. Gurman thinks the Vision Pro, which he called a “sales dud,” won’t see a refresh this year. On the iOS 19 side, we’re also expecting a fresh look for the Camera app and a chattier Siri. That Siri upgrade was pushed back a bit, though. These updates show Apple’s still hard at work, even if the big reveals are a little ways off. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to the launch!

  • Why Apple might skip the M4 Ultra chip for Macs

    Why Apple might skip the M4 Ultra chip for Macs

    The latest Mac Studio comes with a mix of M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. But will Apple ever launch an M4 Ultra chip? It doesn’t seem likely. Here’s why.

    M4 Max and M3 Ultra

    Let’s break it down into three simple reasons why an M4 Ultra chip might never happen. First, Apple’s top-tier Ultra chips are usually made by joining two Max chips together using a special trick called UltraFusion. For example, the M1 Ultra is just two M1 Max chips stuck together, and the M2 Ultra follows the same idea with two M2 Max chips. But here’s the catch: Apple says the M4 Max chip doesn’t have an UltraFusion connector. Without it, they can’t just double up the M4 Max to make an M4 Ultra like before.

    Second, Apple has dropped hints to reporters and YouTubers that not every chip family will get an Ultra version. The timing of this news makes it feel like the M4 Ultra might be off the table for good. The third point comes from Mark Gurman, a writer at Bloomberg. In his recent Power On newsletter, he shared that Apple isn’t keen on building an M4 Ultra chip from the ground up.

    Why? It’s tricky to make, costs a lot, and not many people buy desktop Macs like the Mac Studio. So, this pretty much closes the door on another way Apple could’ve created an M4 Ultra. Looking ahead, maybe the M5 Max chip will bring back UltraFusion. If it does, that could open the door for an M5 Ultra chip down the road. For now, though, the M4 Ultra seems like a long shot.