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Six New Features iOS 18 Brings to the AirPods Pro

iOS 18 is an update designed for the iPhone , but it adds several new features to the AirPods Pro 2, Apple's latest earbuds. The new capabilities require ‌iOS 18‌, iPadOS 18 , or macOS Sequoia and a firmware update that will be released when Apple releases its new software this fall. This guide highlights all of the changes that are coming to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2. Head Gestures If you've ever been in a situation where you needed to confirm a Siri request or decline a call without using a voice command or your hands, there's a solution coming. Head gestures are a new form of ‌AirPods Pro‌ control that will let you nod your head up and down or shake it back and forth to decline a call or interact with ‌Siri‌. When you get a call, you can essentially shake your head no to decline it or nod yes to accept it. When you're responding to ‌Siri‌ for controlling notifications and incoming or outgoing messages, you can use the same gestures for yes and no without hav

T-Mobile Sued for Breaking Lifetime Price Guarantees

T-Mobile customers have filed a lawsuit [ PDF ] against the carrier, alleging that it failed to honor a guarantee not to raise the prices of select cellular plans. The lawsuit, first spotted by Wired , claims that back in 2017, T-Mobile advertised several of its plans with a price lock , but then went on to increase prices starting in May 2024. "T-Mobile ONE customers keep their price until THEY decide to change it. T-Mobile will never change the price you pay for your T-Mobile ONE plan," T-Mobile said in a press release in January 2017. T-Mobile ONE was priced at $40 per line for a family of four with AutoPay enabled, and T-Mobile made similar pricing promises for other plans, including the Simple Choice Plan, Magenta, Magenta Max, Magenta 55+, and Magenta Amplified options. T-Mobile raised prices by $2 to $5 per line for the legacy plans, and while there was a price promise, fine print did give the company an out. T-Mobile released an FAQ that said if prices did inc

Apple Agrees to Follow President Biden's AI Safety Guidelines

Apple has committed to a set of voluntary AI safeguards established by President Joe Biden's administration, joining other tech giants in a move to ensure responsible AI development (via Bloomberg ). Apple is now part of the a group of influential technology companies agreeing to the Biden administration's voluntary safeguards for artificial intelligence. The safeguards, announced by the White House last year as part of an Executive Order, aim to guide the development of AI systems, ensuring they are tested for discriminatory tendencies, security vulnerabilities, and potential national security risks. The principles outlined in the guidelines call for companies to share the results of AI system tests with governments, civil society, and academia. This level of transparency is intended to foster an environment of accountability and peer review, promoting the development of safer and more reliable AI technologies. The safeguards Apple and other tech companies have agreed to

iOS 18: What's New With the Calculator App

Apple doesn't typically focus much on the Calculator app, but with iOS 18 , it's getting a notable overhaul and some surprising integration with the Notes app. This guide walks through everything that's new with the Calculator in ‌iOS 18‌ (and iPadOS 18 ). Math Notes The biggest change to the Calculator app is the addition of Math Notes, a feature that's basically an integration between the Calculator and the Notes app. Math Notes lets you type equations in the Notes app and have them solved automatically when you put in an equals sign. So you can do things like calculate how much everyone owes for a group trip, or split up a dinner bill. You can do more complex equations too, defining variables and then using those definitions for your calculations. If you write dinner = $57 and movies = $24 in a note, for example, you can then type in "dinner + movies" and add an equals sign and get the total, with the Math Notes feature understanding what you

Fortnite Coming to AltStore on iOS in European Union

Apple rival Epic Games today announced plans to bring Fortnite to alternative app store AltStore in the European Union, which will mean the popular game will soon be available to download on iPhones and iPads. Created by developer Riley Testut, AltStore PAL was one of the first alternative app stores on iOS when it launched back in April . AltStore PAL is available in the European Union, where Apple supports sideloading to comply with Digital Markets Act. AltStore is an open-source app that distributes Testut's popular Delta game emulator as well as apps from other independent developers. Distributing apps through AltStore is free of charge, so ‌Epic Games‌ will not need to pay a fee to Testut, but Apple will collect an 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee (CTF) from ‌Epic Games‌ after Fortnite receives more than one million annual first installs. Customers who install AltStore must also pay 1.50 euros per year, a fee that is required because of Apple's CTF. Apple charges Tes

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page . Apple says that the ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all ‌iCloud‌ users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay off, while others are seeing slow loading times. We'll update this article when the outage has been resolved. This article, " iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums Source: TechRadar

Auto-Populate iPhone Home Screen With Your Most Used Apps

Do you find yourself frequently scrolling through multiple Home Screen pages on your iPhone to get to the apps you access most often? If so, chances are you've already filled up the first page with some of your favorite apps. But what if you could automatically make all of your most-used apps appear on page one? With the Siri Suggestions widget, you can. The Siri Suggestions widget intelligently recommends apps based on your usage patterns. By populating your Home Screen with multiple instances of this widget, you can ensure that the apps you need most are always just a tap away. Read on to learn how it's done. With your iPhone unlocked, swipe to a Home Screen page with at least two free rows available. Press and hold the empty space on the Home Screen until the apps start to jiggle. Tap the " + " button in the top-left corner of the screen to access the widget gallery. Search for "Siri Suggestions" in the widget gallery or scroll through the list to

NCAA College Football Teams to Start Using iPads for Video Replay

A trio of NCAA college football conferences, including the SEC , ACC , and Big Ten , recently announced that coaches and players will use iPads on the sidelines of games for video replay purposes starting in the upcoming 2024 season. "We're thrilled the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten are utilizing iPad, as its unique capabilities and versatility make it the ideal solution to support coaches and student-athletes," said Scott Brodrick, an iPad product marketing employee at Apple. "With an unrivaled combination of advanced displays, powerful performance, portability, fast connectivity, all-day battery life and versatile accessories, iPad will let coaches and players make in-game adjustments and empower athletes to compete at the highest level." The introduction of iPads is a result of upcoming NCAA rule changes that allow for video replay technology to be used on the sidelines of college football games, for the first time. The 2024 season begins on Saturday, August 24.

Kuo: iPhone SE 4 and Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Use Apple's Own 5G Chip

Apple is rumored to have been working on its own 5G modem for iPhones since 2018, but the project has reportedly faced numerous challenges and delays . At last, however, the project may be finally getting closer to completion. In a short article posted on social media platform X today, well-known Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said two iPhone models with an Apple-designed 5G modem will be released in 2025, including a fourth-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of the year and an all-new, ultra-thin iPhone 17 model in the third quarter. All existing iPhones that are currently sold by Apple are equipped with Qualcomm modems for cellular connectivity. Earlier this year, Apple extended its 5G modem supply agreement with Qualcomm for iPhone launches through 2026, so Apple's transition to its own in-house 5G chips will likely be gradual over multiple years. Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019, as part of its efforts to de

Kuo: 2026 iPhone to Use New Advanced Camera Sensor From Samsung

Apple's iPhone will adopt a new 1/2.6-inch 48MP Ultra Wide CMOS image sensor (CIS) made by Samsung as early as 2026, breaking Sony's years-long monopoly as Apple's CIS supplier, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in a brief report published on X (formerly Twitter), Kuo said Samsung has already established a dedicated team within its ranks to work on the camera components with a view to specifically supplying Apple. For years now, Apple has exclusively sourced CIS for its iPhones from Sony. However, recent developments suggest a strategic shift away from the Japanese supplier due to concerns about reliability and Apple's need to integrate new technologies into its camera system. If the 2026 production roadmap goes to plan, Apple could be using Samsung-made image sensors in the camera system that features on its iPhone 18 series. Tags: Samsung , Ming-Chi Kuo This article, " Kuo: 2026 iPhone to Use New Advanced Camera Sensor From Samsung "

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report speculates that the device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems quite possible too. Rumored features for the fourth-generation iPhone SE include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, an Action button, and a USB-C port. The device is expected to be similar to the base iPhone 14, although reports said it would have only a single rear camera, and it might share the iPhone 16's rear-panel manufacturing process. We recently published an iPhone SE 4 rumor recap wi

New Meta Patent Blatantly Mimics Apple's EyeSight Feature

Meta has filed a patent for a feature that closely resembles Apple Vision Pro 's EyeSight, Patently Apple reports. EyeSight is designed to reduce social isolation in VR by making the user's eyes visible to others on an external display. Meta's patent, titled "Embedded Sensors in Immersive Reality Headset to Enable Social Presence," suggests that the company is considering this kind of functionality for its own devices. EyeSight uses a scan of the user's face to create a virtual image of their eyes on an external display, thereby maintaining a semblance of eye contact and interaction with others in the real world. Apple says that EyeSight "reveals your eyes on the front of your ‌Apple Vision Pro‌, and lets those nearby know when you're using apps or are fully immersed in an experience." Meta's approach involves a method for updating a user's avatar in real-time using facial expressions detected by sensors embedded in the headset. T

Rivian CEO Explains Why Apple CarPlay Won't Come to Its Vehicles

Electric automaker Rivian has no plans to introduce support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says. The company's stance was explained in a recent interview with The Verge 's Nilay Patel on the "Decoder" podcast . Scaringe emphasized that Rivian's desire to create a seamless and well-integrated digital experience is the primary reason for not adopting ‌CarPlay‌. He likened the decision to Apple choosing to develop iOS and macOS instead of using Microsoft's Windows operating system, stating, "There is a reason that ironically is very consistent with Apple ethos for us to want to control the ecosystem." Apple ‌CarPlay‌ was introduced in 2014 and allows iPhone users to mirror some of their phone's features on a car's infotainment system, providing access to Siri , navigation, and some apps in a familiar interface. It has become a popular feature in many vehicles, with a significant number of consumers consider

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo , which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup . As previously rumored, the fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous models that have all featured a Touch ID Home button and a Lightning port. The device's display will apparently grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches and feature an OLED panel for the first time. The new ‌iPhone SE‌ is also expected to tout an A18 chip like the iPhone 16 lineup, 6GB to 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, an aluminum chassis, and a single rear 48-megapixel camera. The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ will apparently launch between March and May of 2025 with a price point of $499 to $549. The current model launched in March 2022 for $429. Related Roundup: iPhone SE T

AirPods Max Drop to New All-Time Low Price of $382.70 on Amazon

Apple's high-end AirPods Max headphones have dropped to a new record low price today on Amazon, available for $382.70 in Pink, down from $549.00. This deal is only available in the Pink colorway right now, and it beats the Prime Day price by about $12. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Prime members can get the AirPods Max delivered as soon as July 24, while most other customers can expect a delivery by this Sunday, July 28. AirPods deals were very popular last week during Prime Day, but now the AirPods Max is the only model with a deal that beats those prices, although you can find some solid second-best prices on AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro 2 on Amazon this week. $166 OFF AirPods Max for $382.70 Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week. Rela

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting above the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max in the lineup. The latest information from Ice Universe, shared on Weibo , corroborates this and claims that the alleged display sizes and price points will be follows: iPhone 17 : 6.27-inch LTPO display ($799) iPhone 17 Pro : 6.27-inch LTPO display ($1,099) iPhone 17 Pro Max : 6.86-inch LTPO display ($1,199) iPhone 17 "Slim" : 6.65-inch LTPO display ($1,299) Notably, all four ‌iPhone 17‌ models will apparently feature LTPO displays for the first time, enabling ProMotion for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.

Get OWC's 14-Port Mac Thunderbolt Dock for Best-Ever $99.99 Price ($180 Off)

OWC this week knocked the price of the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock down to $99.99, from its original price of $279.99, and this deal is still around this weekend. This is a match of the all-time low price on the accessory, which we last tracked way back in April. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Besides this dock, you'll find a large collection of accessories on sale at this time on OWC, including USB-C hubs, external drives and enclosures, and internal memory upgrade kits for Mac. $180 OFF OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $99.99 In regards to the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock, this accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port. There are also two memory car

Top Stories: iOS 18 Public Beta, HomePod Mini in New Midnight Color, and More

The public betas of iOS 18 and other upcoming major operating system updates are finally here! Apple has spent the past month refining the betas through developer testing, and it's now time to open them up for broader access ahead of a full public launch several months from now. We also got a surprise hardware update this week, but it was one of the most minor updates imaginable – swapping out the Space Gray color of the HomePod mini for a new version in an extremely similar Midnight color. This week also saw us taking a look ahead at the upcoming iPhone 16 and Apple Watch lineups that should now be less than two months way, while we went hands-on with Samsung's new earbuds that have some striking similarities to Apple's AirPods Pro, so read on below for all the details! Apple Releases First iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Public Betas The first public beta of iOS 18 is now available for the iPhone , allowing anyone to test the update for free. We recommend installing the beta

Eve Launches Matter-Enabled Eve Weather Smart Station

Smart home company Eve Systems today announced the launch of a new version of the Eve Weather that offers Matter support. With Matter, the new Eve Weather can be added to HomeKit or smart home setups from other companies. Eve Weather is a small cube-shaped accessory that is designed to provide outdoor weather temperature, humidity, and the local 12-hour weather trend. A display at the front allows you to see temperature and humidity at a glance, but the data also syncs to the Eve app. With ‌HomeKit‌ integration, Siri can be used to provide details on the outdoor weather conditions, and the data can be used to trigger ‌HomeKit‌ automations. Eve Weather offers IPX4 water resistance so it can be kept outdoors year-round and displayed anywhere. Eve Weather can be purchased from the Eve website or from Amazon.com for $80. Eve is continuing to sell the ‌HomeKit‌ version of the device as well for those who do not have a Matter-enabled hub, which includes the HomePod and latest App

Bird Buddy is a Fun iPhone-Connected Smart Bird Feeder

Most iPhone-connected smart home products are more for convenience than fun, but Bird Buddy, a bird feeder that sends pictures to your iPhone , is definitely in the latter category. When I first came across the Bird Buddy, I thought it would be an interesting novelty product to give as a gift, but it turned out to be one of my all-time favorite smart devices. Design and Components Made from a sturdy plastic material, the Bird Buddy comes in either blue or yellow. The housing is designed around a camera, which is placed front and center to capture images of birds that come by to eat from the feeder. A tray holds the seed, and there's a small perch for birds to stand on to eat. There's a seed reservoir at the back to replenish what's in the tray as it's consumed, and a roof protects the seed from the elements. There are two versions of the Bird Buddy, one with a solar roof for charging the camera and one with a standard plastic roof. If you have a semi-sunny spot