August foreign-branded smartphone sales in China drop 12.7% YoY
Sales of foreign-branded smartphones, including Apple's iPhone, experienced a 12.7% year-over-year decline in China during August… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Torras Ostand 360 Spin Case returns with two great options for iPhone 16 lineup
Torras has an innovative duo of iPhone 16 cases with an embedded ring stand that's MagSafe compatible while staying sleek and flat when closed.Torras Ostand 360 Spin Case for iPhone 16 Pro MaxNew iPhones mean new cases, and Torras is out of the gate with updates to its handy Ostand 360 Spin Case lineup. The iPhone 15 series version of Ostand 360 Spin proved to be a durable and versatile option, and now there are two models.The Torras 360 Spin Case for the iPhone 16 lineup brings back the signature kickstand with rounder curves and two-tone layered designs. Customers can choose between the classic transparent cases and the new flagship Ostand Spin cases for the entire iPhone 16 lineup. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Kandji unveils Kai: an AI-powered device management assistant for Apple fleets
Kandji, a popular Apple device manufacturer, has introduced Kai, an AI-powered device management assistant designed to streamline the management of Apple devices within corporate environments. It’s touted as the first of its kind, and Kai aims to provide IT teams with instant reporting insights through natural language queries, accelerating workflows and enabling more strategic use of time. more…

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Entire town could have kids go smartphone-free until age 14
A group of parents are trying to get the agreement of an entire town to have their kids go without smartphones until they are 14 years old. The hope is that if enough parents sign up to the initiative, it will remove the danger of isolating children from friends who do have phones … more…

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Non-Pro Apple Vision likely to have half the resolution
Display samples requested by Apple suggest that a future non-Pro Apple Vision headset is likely to have around half the resolution of the existing model. Apple has reportedly requested samples of potential displays from both JDI and Samsung, with the Japanese company said to have recently provided this … more…

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Apple focusing on lower resolution screens to make a more affordable Apple Vision Pro
A new report says that Apple's plans for a budget Apple Vision Pro are now expected to see it using lower-resolution displays than it previously planned.Inside the Apple Vision ProThe new report follows a previous one claiming that Japan Display Inc (JDI) had delivered a test sample of a lower-resolution display to Apple. Now Digitimes says that it's believed Apple is sampling displays at even lower resolution than that.Specifically, Apple had requested bids for displays of 1,700ppi, and for those screens to be OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) ones, which are brighter than the white OLED plus color filters in the current headset. Apple had previously been reported to be considering OLEDoS screens for a second-generation Apple Vision Pro in 2027. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s October Event: Likely date and product launches
Macworld Apple holds events at certain intervals in the year at which it announces new products. The company tends to hold a March or April spring event, the WWDC keynote in June, an event to celebrate the new iPhone launch in September, and a late fall event in October at which it has been known to release new iPads and Macs. The company has even held an event as late as November 10 (in 2020 when it unveiled the first batch of M1 Macs). Apple introduced the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 at an event on September 12. Has the company finished releasing new products for 2024? No! We think there are more new products to come and we could see new Macs and iPads at an Apple event in October 2024. When is Apple’s October event 2024? Tuesday 22 October – estimate Last year Apple held an event on 30 October. Dubbed Scary Fast, probably due to its proximity to Halloween (in fact if you aren’t in North or South America this event will start after midnight on 31 October.) This was quite late for an Apple event (late in the month and late in the day – especially if you weren’t in the U.S. Over the years Apple has held many second fall events in October (and once in November). It has launched new Macs, iPads, and AirPods at these events. For example, at the 2021 Unleashed event we got the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the third-gen AirPods, while the previous year brought the M1 versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini on Tuesday, November 10. However, as you can see from the list of October event dates below, Apple does not always hold an October event. Over the past 12 years, Apple has held eight October events, so it’s not unprecedented to skip it. 2023: Monday, October 30 2022: No event 2021: Monday, October 18 2020: Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 10 2019: No event 2018: Tuesday, October 30 2017: No event 2016: Thursday, October 27 2015: No event 2014: Thursday, October 16 2013: Tuesday, October 22 2012: Tuesday, October 23 2011: Tuesday, October 4 What time will Apple’s October event start? Apple’s Scary Fast October event in October 2023 started at a different time to the usual 10 a.m. PT. Instead, Apple kicked off the event at 5 p.m. PT. This was a much later time than usual – past midnight in Europe – so we hope for a more appropriate time in 2024. Usually, Apple events kick off at 10 a.m. in California, which is: U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India: at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) If Apple sticks with the ‘scary’ timings of 2023, here’s what that translates to around the world. U.S.: 5 p.m. (PDT), 6 p.m. (MDT), 7 p.m. (CDT), 8 p.m. (EDT) U.K.: Next day at 12 a.m. (GMT) Europe: Next day at 1 a.m. (CET) Canada: 5 p.m. (PDT), 6 p.m. (MDT), 7 p.m. (CDT), 8 p.m. (EDT), 9 p.m. (ADT) India: Next day at 5.30 a.m. Singapore and China: Next day at 8 a.m. Australia: Next day at 8 a.m. (AWST), 10.30 a.m. (ACDT), 11 a.m. (AEDT), 10 a.m (AEST) New Zealand: Next day at 1 p.m. (NZDT) Apple’s special events usually last between one and two hours. How to watch the Apple event If you want to watch an Apple event live, Apple will stream the keynote on its website and YouTube channel. We will also embed the video above so you can also watch it here. What will Apple launch at the October event? Whether there’s an event or not, it is possible that Apple could unveil new Macs and iPads in October. In fact, there are a number of reports predicting that it will do so before the end of the year. Mac mini with M4 & M4 Pro The Mac mini may get an update to M4 and M4 Pro, missing a generation and replacing the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini introduced in January 2023. Some big changes are expected: the Mac mini could be even smaller, but this may mean fewer ports. More here: M4 Mac mini rumors MacBook Pro with M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max It’s been a year since Apple updated the MacBook Pro with M3-series chips, so M4 MacBook Pro models are possible this fall. More here: M4 MacBook Pro rumors Mac Studio with M4 Max and M4 Ultra It’s been more than a year since the M2-series Mac Studio was introduced at WWDC 2023, so we are hoping for a new model in October. However, there are suggestions that the wait could be even longer, with a spring or WWDC 2025 launch predicted. More here: M4 Mac Studio rumors Mac Pro with M4 Max and M4 Ultra Like the M2 Mac Studio, the Mac Pro is overdue an update. But this is another Mac that we could be waiting even longer for. Is Apple back to neglecting the creative pro market? We hope not. iPad mini with A17 Apple Apple Apple We could see a new iPad mini launch at the October event. Long neglected by Apple and overdue an update. Apple will surely update the iPad mini to run on an Apple Intelligence supporting chip, perhaps the A17 Pro? Read the latest news about the iPad mini 7th gen. iPad with A17 It’s also time for an update to the standard iPad. This is another iPad that is due an update to the Apple Intelligence-ready A17 chip. Read the latest about the iPad 11th-gen. What did Apple launch at the last October event? In October 2023 Apple launched the M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max processors. Receiving the new processors were the MacBook Pro, which got all three, and the iMac, which gained an M3 chip. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued in favor of a M3 variant of the 14-inch model. Read about that event here: Everything Apple announced at the ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event. Apple didn’t hold an October event in 2022. In October 2021, Apple launched redesigned models of the high-end MacBook Pro, with a 14-inch and 16-inch models making their debut. Powering the new MacBooks were the high-end M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that built on the already impressive M1 chips that arrived in November 2020. The laptops received new designs with slim bezels and extra ports, including MagSafe, HDMI, and an SD card slot.That event also saw Apple unveil the third-generation AirPods, new HomePod mini colors, and a cheaper, Siri-powered Apple Music subscription, Apple Music Voice.

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Apple Oklahoma City union secures new contract with pay hikes, better working conditions
A union representing Apple Store employees in Oklahoma City are celebrating after achieving its first collectively-bargained contract with Apple, the second in the U.S. to do so.Apple Store workers picketing in August [Central OK Labor Federation (@OKCOLF on X)]The Apple Retail Union-CWA Local 6016 has been working on a new collectively-bargained contract with Apple for some time. The agreement, which will last for three years, will grant workers with various terms to improve their employment situation.With the members voting to ratify the contract on September 24, the union covering the Penn Square Mall Apple Store is only the second to secure such an agreement. The first was the Towson Town Square store in Maryland in August. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Got an iPhone with an Action button? Here’s how to make it smarter
Macworld Last year, Apple introduced the Action Button to the iPhone 15 Pro and leaned hard into its use as a button to take pictures. This year, though, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro both have a new dedicated Camera Control button. So what’s an Action button–also now on the iPhone 16–to do? While the Action button can be assigned numerous tasks (including setting a Focus mode and toggling the flashlight on and off) I can see Apple struggling with ways of making the Action button seem less than an afterthought, overshadowed by the new Camera Control. For example, Apple has suggested on a few occasions that the Action Button is a bit of a chameleon. It can turn on the flashlight at night, but toggle Do Not Disturb during the day, for example. Or it can turn on the flashlight when your iPhone is held horizontally, but launch an app when held vertically! This all sounds clever, but unfortunately, Apple hasn’t actually added any functionality that lets users easily assign different tasks based on time or orientation. If you want to know how to do that sort of thing, you’ll need to use Apple’s Shortcuts app to get it done. I know Shortcuts is intimidating to a lot of people, so here’s a very simple guide to creating a basic Action Button shortcut with behavior that varies based on some specific parameters. (For more, much more on this concept, check out Federico Viticci’s MultiButton project.) Limitless potential Shortcuts lets you create sequences of events that trigger from top to bottom when you run them. It’s like a computer program, but every event or command is a rectangular block that you can drag up and down to rearrange them. For the purposes of this example, we’re going to create a shortcut that detects the orientation of your phone and performs a different action depending on if you’re in portrait (vertical) mode or not. To begin, open Shortcuts (which is installed on every iPhone) and tap the “+” icon in the upper right corner to create your first shortcut. On the iPhone, the Shortcuts window has two panes: at the top, you’ll see the series of Actions in the workflow (currently none) while at the bottom you’ll see a library of all the Actions available on your device. A bunch are baked into iOS, and individual apps can add their own Actions too. For this example, we need to check for device orientation. In the Actions pane, you can use the Search box to search for Orientation or you can tap the category filter marked Device just below the search box, to limit the list of actions to just those intended to control or report back about your device. The action you want to tap is called Get Orientation. When you tap it, it’ll be added to the list of Actions in your workflow. Now that we’ve added Get Orientation, we need to do something with it–or really, we need to do two things with it. We need to perform one task if the phone is in Portrait orientation, and a different task if it isn’t. To do this, we need to add the If action. Tap in the Search Actions box and search for If, and then tap to add it to your workflow. It’ll automatically be added–along with two other actions, Otherwise and End If–at the bottom of the workflow. If you’ve never done any programming before, this is the bare bones of an If-Then statement. Below the If statement will go actions that happen if the If statement turns out to be true, and below Otherwise will go actions that happen if the If statement isn’t true. Everything below the End If action happens regardless of the results of the rest of the If statement. Now we need to define what the If statement is going to measure. Since If was added immediately following our addition of Get Orientation, it’s been placed right below that action–and has automatically been assigned the result of Get Orientation as the item that it’s going to test. This is reflected in how the If block is displayed, as “If Get Orientation is [Choose].” We could tap on that Get Orientation to change the If action to evaluate something else, and we could tap on the is statement to change it to something like “is not”, but for now, let’s leave it as is. Now tap on Choose, to choose what we’re evaluating about the device orientation. In this case, we’ll be prompted with a list of seven different possible iPhone orientations. Since the Flashlight only really makes sense when it’s in portrait mode, tap Portrait. Now the If action reads, “If Get Orientation is Portrait”. (If we wanted to add some other orientations, such as “face up,” we could tap the plus icon to the right of Portrait and convert the If action into a more complex series of logical questions–but let’s not. This is your first Shortcut.) Now we need to add a new action that does what we want when the iPhone is in Portrait mode, namely using the flashlight. To do this, tap in Search Actions at the bottom of the screen and type Flashlight, then tap on the Set Flashlight action. It will be added at the bottom of the stack of actions, below End If. This is too far down! If we leave it there, it’ll turn the flashlight on every single time we run the shortcut. Instead, tap and hold on Turn Flashlight On (being sure not to tap right on the blue tappable parts of the action) and drag it up until it nestles right under the If block. This tells Shortcuts that if Get Orientation is Portrait, then turn the Flashlight on. But is that what we really want? Sometimes you want to turn the Flashlight off. So let’s tap that word Turn and instead set it to Toggle. Now when the Shortcut is run and the device is in Portrait orientation, the flashlight will toggle to the opposite of its current state. Now to add the other action, which runs if the orientation is not Portrait. It can be anything we want, but for this example let’s have it toggle the Do Not Disturb focus mode. Tap on Search Actions, type Focus, and tap on Set Focus. This will add a Focus action–it’ll be marked as “Turn Do Not Disturb Off” by default–at the very bottom of the stack. Tap on Turn to change it to Toggle, which is better. Then tap and drag the entire action up to below Otherwise in the list. That indicates that this action should occur if the If statement (that the orientation is Portrait) fails. At this point, you should have a functional shortcut. Try it out by holding your phone up and tapping the play button in the lower right corner. If you’ve done it correctly, your flashlight will turn on. Do it again to turn it off. Before we assign this Shortcuts action to the Action Button, let’s give it a name. Tap on the carat icon just below the Dynamic Island, then tap Rename, and call it something like Action Toggle. Then tap Done. To assign your Shortcut to the Action Button, open Settings, tap Action Button, and then swipe to Shortcut. Tap Choose a Shortcut and choose the item you just created. That’s it! Try it out and see how it works. Once you’ve done this, you can create other shortcuts that use different information–like the time of day, for example–to run different actions at different times. And of course, you can combine If statements, so that the flashlight only fires when you’re in Portrait orientation at night. The sky’s the limit. If you’re curious about Shortcuts, Apple provides lots of examples in the Gallery tab of the app. The great thing about Shortcuts workflows is that they’re all viewable and editable in the Shortcuts app itself, so if you’re curious about how a particular workflow does what it does, you can open it and scroll through its actions. Now, should Apple add some of this basic if-then functionality to the Action Button settings app itself? Oh, probably. But it didn’t get around to it this fall–and it turns out it didn’t have to, since Shortcuts is always there to make our lives a little bit easier, as long as we know how to use it. Learn more about iOS 18 and the iPhone 16.

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US Mac shipments flat, ahead of expected M4 Mac launch
A new market intelligence report suggests that US Mac shipments were flat in the previous quarter, with Apple’s market share slightly declining. Mac was up just half a percent year-on-year, against an overall average of 3.7%, but it’s likely that many are waiting for the M4 Macs we expect to see announced next month … more…

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Fix the iPhone 16’s finicky Camera Control button with these hidden settings
Macworld New to all iPhone 16 models is a button dedicated to controlling the camera, called Camera Control of all things. It’s not just a single-use button, it’s a Camera app launcher, multi-purpose shutter, and feature control with touch sensitivity and haptics. Those who are new to iPhone 16 have expressed some frustrating with it, though. While launching the Camera app and taking pictures works well, reliably light-pressing on the button to open controls is a little tricky. Swiping to adjust the controls is a little awkward sometimes, and doing a double-tap to select controls without accidentally taking a photo seems like a dexterity test. Fortunately, there are some very useful settings you can use to adjust how the Camera Control works—if you know where to find them. In what feels like an Apple running joke, these useful-for-everyone features are stuffed in Accessibility options for some reason. Two sets of Camera Control options Open Settings and tap Camera, then Camera Control. Here you can disable the “Clean Preview” that removes interface when you press the Camera Control button, set the Camera app launch feature to a double- or single-click, and choose which app you wish to launch. Foundry Foundry Foundry But those aren’t all the Camera Control settings; there are several other useful tweaks you can make in another menu. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Camera Control. These are the features you really want! You’ll find a variety of options here, including independently enabling light-press or a full swipe to bring up controls, adjusting the force necessary for a light press with three sensitivity levels, and choosing the speed to register a double-tap. You can also turn the whole thing off if it’s getting in the way. We’re not sure why Apple chose to hide these settings in Accessibility, but we suspect it won’t be long before they end up in the Camera settings. But until then, you’ll know where to find them. Foundry Foundry Foundry

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Qi2 is here: Is the new iPhone wireless charging better than MagSafe?
Macworld Not having to find the right cable or carry one around with you makes wireless charging a convenient way of charging your mobile devices—iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and many third-party gadgets. There are multiple wireless charging standards and technologies. Here we will explain the major ones—Qi, MagSafe and the latest Qi2. Knowing which is which will help you to make your charging life more efficient. Qi2, supported by the iPhone 15 and 16 families at launch and the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 as of iOS 17.2, promises to speed up wireless charging and make chargers cheaper as well as more efficient. It is very like MagSafe, which is unsurprising as Apple allowed the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to use MagSafe as the basis of Qi2. In short, Qi2 should bring the magnetic benefits of MagSafe to Android, but also make third-party iPhone chargers faster and potentially cheaper. Manufacturers are more likely to create new products when the market is larger (iPhone and Android) and costs should come down, too. We have tested Qi2 chargers vs chargers certified as MagSafe by Apple, and can confirm that 15W Qi2 charges supporting devices at an equivalent speed to 15W MagSafe, and much faster than merely MagSafe-compatible 7.5W chargers. More details of our wireless charging speed tests below. Apple has since upgraded it own MagSafe Charger to support 25W when charging any of the iPhone 16 models. Older iPhones can use this charger but at a 15W maximum as before. Belkin announced two Qi2 charging devices in September 2023, with launch dates expected in early 2024. Belkin announced two Qi2 charging devices in September 2023, with launch dates expected in early 2024.Belkin Belkin announced two Qi2 charging devices in September 2023, with launch dates expected in early 2024.Belkin Belkin How does wireless charging work? Wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction to power your devices. The charging pad and your phone both include copper wire coils. Plug the pad into a power source and the charger’s coil generates a magnetic field. When you place your phone onto the charging pad, the phone’s coil converts that magnetic field into an electric current, thus charging the phone. First, let’s look at the original Qi, which all iPhones post iPhone 8 support. Foundry Foundry Foundry What is Qi wireless charging? Qi is a Chinese word that means “energy flow”. Pronounced “chee”, Qi is the basic and most popular wireless charging standard, launched in 2008 but not seen on an iPhone until 2017’s iPhone 8. Apple continues to support the Qi wireless charging standard with its most recent iPhones—and the iPhone 13/14/15 models are compatible with Qi2, more on which later. This means that iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards can be placed on a Qi-compatible charger to start charging without a cable. (Of course, the Qi charging pad or stand itself has to be connected via a cable to a power charger.) While wireless charging means less wear and tear to your devices, it is not as efficient as charging via a cable (wired charging) as some of the energy is lost between the charging pad and the device placed on it. Qi users will know that you have to ensure your device is placed in exactly the right alignment for fast wireless charging to take place. Place the iPhone on the pad incorrectly and you end up either charging much more slowly or not at all. Many of us have dropped a phone on a Qi charger only to find out later that it wasn’t in the right place and so annoyingly never started charging—a problem largely solved by Apple’s MagSafe. While Qi’s maximum wireless charge is 15W, Apple’s iPhone supports only 7.5W via Qi. Which iPhones use Qi? Qi charging is built into the iPhone 8, X, XR, XS, SE, 11, 12, 13, and 14 families. The iPhone 15 and 16 work with Qi but are rated as Qi2; see later. Foundry Foundry Foundry What is MagSafe wireless charging? Apple’s magnetic MagSafe iPhones contain a ring of magnets built around its Qi charging coil. As a result, you can magnetically clamp charging accessories onto the iPhone. In fact, you can magnetically attach non-charging accessories, such as wallets and mounts, too. MagSafe—from 2020’s iPhone 12 on—makes missing the charging pad’s coils much less likely with its ring of magnets quickly finding the charging alignment sweet spot—on a compatible charger—so you will always connect and less energy is wasted. Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) technology uses magnets to perfectly align the coils of the wireless charging transmitter and receiver before transferring power. iPhones can work with wireless chargers that are either MagSafe certified by Apple (“made for MagSafe”) or are compatible with MagSafe—plus less sophisticated Qi chargers. Certified MagSafe chargers can supply up to 25W to the iPhone, while merely MagSafe compatible chargers are limited to 7.5W, but compatible chargers are usually cheaper. That 25W charging speed is currently limited to the most recent iPhone 16 range and Apple’s own MagSafe Charger. iPhones 12/13/14/15 max out at 15W using MagSafe. (Note that the iPhone 12 mini only charges at 12W with MagSafe.) We have tested the best MagSafe chargers for iPhones and the best MagSafe power banks for iPhones. This reviews roundup now also includes Qi2 chargers as they arrive to market. Some thicker cases get in the way of MagSafe wireless charging so make sure your iPhone’s case is MagSafe compatible—see our roundup of the best iPhone 15 Cases and best iPhone 16 cases. Wireless charging is great, but it’s not as fast as wired charging. For truly fast iPhone charging, use a cable connected to at least a 20W USB-C charger. For the iPhone 15 and 16, that means a USB-C to USB-C cable; for older iPhones you’ll need a USB-C to Lightning cable. A USB-A to Lightning cable won’t offer iPhone fast charging. Click here for more iPhone fast-charging tips. Somewhat confusingly, MagSafe is also the name for Apple’s wired-charging standard for its MacBooks—connecting the charging cable to the MacBook’s MagSafe port via magnets, meaning it is not only easy to connect but, if accidentally disconnected, it pops out rather than dragging your laptop to the floor. This version of MagSafe is magnetic and safe and has a charging connection for MacBooks but is not wireless. We explain the difference between MagSafe on Mac and MagSafe on iPhones in our Complete guide to Apple MagSafe: What is MagSafe? Which iPhones use MagSafe? MagSafe wireless charging is built into the iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 families. Foundry Foundry Foundry What is Qi2 wireless charging? Qi2 (“chee too”) is the latest version of the Qi “energy flow” wireless charging standard. Famed for its “Not Invented Here” strategy, Apple can be quite precious about adopting other technical standards. It has a long history of rejecting any idea that didn’t originate within Apple itself. However, thankfully Apple has cooperated with the creation of Qi2 to the extent that in effect it gave the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) MagSafe to use as the basis for Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile that defines how the new generation Qi works. Apple is a WPC “steering member” and chair of the board of directors. So what is Qi2 and why is it so great? Think of Qi2 as not just MagSafe for Android, but MagSafe benefits for all compatible wireless charging products. Qi2 will mean chargers won’t have to be certified by Apple to support 15W charging. They should, however, meet the technical demands of the WPC. In short, a Qi2 charger will deliver twice as fast charging as MagSafe-compatible chargers. As MagSafe certification costs manufacturers a fee to Apple, removing this should result in cheaper chargers that match Apple-certified chargers in terms of speed. Qi2 could eventually overtake MagSafe in terms of charging speed, exceeding its 15W maximum. Which iPhones use Qi2? Qi2 wireless charging is built into the iPhone 15 and 16 family. As of iOS 17.2, Apple brought the technology to all iPhone 13 and 14 models as well. While Apple hasn’t stated that Qi2 support will reach the iPhone 12, the first iPhone to support MagSafe, Macworld readers have contacted us to say that Qi2 does indeed work with the iPhone 12 following the release of iOS 17.4. Tested with the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2, an iPhone 12 charged up to 15W with the on-screen animation also displayed. We will verify this development and update as soon as we have proved the same. Foundry Foundry Foundry Which is best MagSafe or Qi2? First, both MagSafe and Qi2 are better than plain Qi. Owing in large part to their magnetic connection, they are more efficient and definitely offer faster wireless charging than Qi. For all extents and purposes, Qi2 looks pretty identical to MagSafe so iPhone 13/14/15 users can choose between MagSafe or Qi2 without fear. iPhone 16 owners, however, should look to MagSafe, as Apple’s own MagSafe Charger can reach charging speeds of 25W when paired with the latest range of iPhones. The fact that the iPhone 12 isn’t certified as Qi2 compatible demonstrates that Qi2 and MagSafe are not identical. Accessory maker and close partner with Apple, Belkin has stated that its upcoming BoostCharge Qi2 chargers “will be able to charge MagSafe iPhones at 15W”. Anker claims that its MagGo Qi2 charging devices will be “compatible with all Apple MagSafe iPhone products”. Both should clamp chargers magnetically to the iPhone in the same way and allow for 15W wireless charging. Will Qi2 chargers work with MagSafe? Although technically very similar, Apple is likely to still require MagSafe certification for non-Qi2 products to reach 15W wireless charging. Both the charger and the device must be certified for Qi2 for it to work at 15W, in the same way as MagSafe. However, it is likely that future MagSafe-certified products will also be certified for Qi2, and post iOS 17.2 all iPhones 13/14/15/16 will work natively with Qi2 chargers. For consumers it’s a win-win as Qi2 means faster wireless charging will be brought to more devices and people. For product marketers it may be a bit of a labelling nightmare until all the chargeable devices catch up with the technology. Is Qi2 as fast at wireless charging as MagSafe? As the Wireless Power Consortium used Apple technology to build the Qi2 specification, it should be true that Qi2 matches MagSafe for speed. Both can charge at up to 15W and use the largely same magnetic attachment tech. Note the 25W charging potential of the Apple MagSafe Charger and iPhone 16. The first Qi2 charger we have tested and reviewed at Macworld is the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. We tested its Qi2 wireless charging speed by charging an iPhone 15 Pro all the way to a 100% full charge, and taking timings at 30%, 50% and 80%. We did the same using a Apple’s own MagSafe Charger and also via a straight wired USB-C connection. The fastest way to charge an iPhone is via a wired connection: USB-C to Lightning for iPhones older than the iPhone 15, and USB-C to USB-C for the iPhone 15 family. The average wired-charging time in our tests was 25 minutes to 50%, 55 minutes to 80% and 70 minutes to 100%. Our wireless charging tests for officially Apple-certified MagSafe chargers (using Apple’s own Wireless Charger) and for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging (using the Anker MagGo) had remarkably similar timings. There was some variance either way but also small differences using the same charger so we are confident that using these two magentic wireless charging technologies came up with the same basic results on average: 45 minutes to 50%, 90 minutes to 80% and 115 minutes to 100%. In summary, then, MagSafe and Qi2 charging at 15W results in the same times and so can be considered equal—except for the 25W MagSafe potential of the iPhone 16. And, again as expected, MagSafe-compatible chargers took twice as long as the 15W chargers: 45 minutes to 30%, and 90 minutes to 50%. Why does phone charging speed slow down as the battery gets fuller? Batteries charge slower the fuller they get, especially in the last 10–20% of charging. The fuller the battery is, the slower it absorbs energy. To start with, a Lithium-Ion battery accepts whatever current it can, but as the battery gets closer to being full it accepts less current, and so the power being transferred tapers off. Imagine you were filling up a glass with water. You can start with the faucet or tap at full blast, but as the glass gets fuller, you have to slow the flow down to avoid the water spilling over, until eventually just a trickle of water goes in as you try to get it right up to the brim. If the battery didn’t charge this way and instead filled up at full blast till reaching 100%, it would get very hot and you’d risk damaging it to the point it might explode! Slowing down the charge when the battery is getting closer to full also increases the number of charge cycles a battery can go through before it permanently loses capacity. Taking advantage of this, if you need to charge quickly, stop at 80%, use the device for a while and then top back up to 80% before the charging speed starts to slow. When will Qi2 chargers be released? Qi2 was officially announced at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show in January 2023. The specifications for Qi2 are now completed and Qi2-certified chargers are now entering the market. Anker’s new MagGo range includes a Qi2 charger, Qi2 power banks and multi-device Qi2 chargers. ESR has also released Qi2 wireless chargers, including a car charger.

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Apple agrees contract with second unionized store, in Oklahoma City
Apple last month reached agreement with employees at the first Apple Store to unionize, and has now done the same, with a store in Oklahoma City. The three-year contract covers much of the same ground as the contract in Maryland, though with higher pay rises agreed … more…

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Apple Card Savings cuts interest rate again
Originally marketed as a high-yield account, Apple Card Savings has once more had its interest rate reduced.Apple Card Savings has cut its interest rate againFollowing its first cut from 4.5% to 4.4% in April 2024, the annual percentage yield (APY) for Apple Card Savings is now to be 4.25%. That's still higher than the savings account's original 4.15% in 2023, however.When the account first launched, that rate was not the best but was considered high yield. Subsequently, though, many other banks have increased their APY. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Why you need a better AirPods case
Macworld Why you need to protect your AirPods What’s the best feature of the new 4th-gen AirPods? Is it their audio quality, active noise cancellation, or that iconic minimalist design? No. It’s the charging case. Combining storage, protection, and on-the-go charging within a streamlined ultra-portable shell, the standard AirPods case is a masterpiece of design and convenience. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. Most obviously, the standard AirPods case provides only the bare minimum of protection; it won’t stand up to serious impacts. The smooth, frictionless exterior means it’s easy to drop on a hard floor. And if you do, the best-case scenario is that it bursts open and sends the earbuds scattering under the sofa or down a drain. And the worst case is that it shatters and can’t be used again. If you’re confident you’ll never drop your AirPods, don’t bother to read any more. But if you’d like to prepare for the inevitable, it’s time to think about buying an additional layer of protection. A better approach to magnetic locking ESR, a reputable company with a user base of more than 100 million people worldwide, has for years been making AirPods cases that can protect your headphones while simultaneously delivering great features. These slip over the top of the standard case, vastly improving resistance to drops and scratches without significantly increasing the size and weight. And you can fast-charge using a MagSafe setup (or cable) without separating the two components: even MagSafe’s magnetic attachment still works through the extra layer. It’s incredibly convenient. Best of all, ESR has announced a new range of cases that are better than ever. And the key to these great accessories is an ingenious locking feature named FlickLock™. FlickLock uses a system of seven powerful magnets: four in the upper cover, and three in the lower. When the durable latch is in the ‘unlocked’ position, north faces north and south faces south, which means the case opens smoothly and easily with one hand. But when the latch is slid across to the ‘locked’ position, north and south magnets align together, and the case is doubly secured with all the power of a 1,480 g magnetic connection. If you carry your AirPods while hiking, cycling, or enjoying any number of intense activities, this feature is a godsend. No longer do you need to worry about the case flopping open and the earbuds falling out. ESR ESR ESR AirPods cases that are right for you Whatever your budget, ESR has a great AirPods case to suit your needs. ESR Cyber FlickLock Case: Ultimate drop protection, thanks to the durable TPU+PC casing and Air Guard protective corners. Also features an ultra-strong MagSafe attachment and an internal latch to securely close the lid. This starts at $18.99 and is available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro. ESR Pulse FlickLock Case: All the advantages of FlickLock within a strong, colorful shell. This starts at $18.99 and is available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro. ESR Orbit Hybrid Case: Hybrid drop protection combining an ultra-hard shell and shock-absorbing core. This starts at $11.99 and is available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro. ESR Cyber Tough Case: Powerful drop protection thanks to the TPU+PC case and Air Guard corners. This starts at $9.99 and is available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro. ESR Cloud Soft Case: Super-slim and lightweight design. This starts at $6.99 and is available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro. At these low prices, there’s no reason not to pick up an AirPods case today. Best do it now, before something happens that you’ll regret…

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Apple releases a list of devices that will support Apple Intelligence upon its launch
Apple has published its list of current devices that support the Apple Intelligence beta, which will be released publicly as a beta in October as part of iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and iPadOS 18.1. The following devices will support Apple Intelligence at launch. iPhones: Macs: iPads: The first wave of AI features includes language […] Source

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Despite Ceramic Shield upgrade, iPhone 16 Pro models remain vulnerable to certain drops
Despite the new model number and the second-generation Ceramic Shield material, Apple’s new iPhone may be just as vulnerable to certain kinds of drops and damage as its previous iterations. Device insurer Allstate Protection Plans on Tuesday published the results of its annual device drop. Throughout the study, Allstate tested the new iPhone 16 Pro […] Source

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How to make the most of Apple's Calendar, and when to opt for an alternative
A calendar app is practically an essential tool of the modern world. As great of a default option as Apple Calendar already is, you can actually kick things up a notch with a few features and tricks in mind.Apple's default Calendar app is more than meets the eye.And it's not just because it's the easy option to keep your default Mac's Calendar app. Just beneath the surface, there is genuinely untapped potential for users looking to maximize productivity or better organize their time. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple cuts interest rate for Apple Card Savings Account
Apple and Goldman Sachs are cutting the interest rate offered by Apple Card Savings Account from 4.4% to 4.25%. The move was announced in push notifications sent to Apple Card users on Tuesday evening. more…

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Logitech launches new MX Creative Console with controls for Photoshop and more
Logitech on Tuesday announced , its solution to compete with the popular Stream Deck. The accessory provides smart buttons that adapt to different apps, and the MX Creative Console integrates with the entire Adobe Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop and Illustrator. more…

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