Scanners
- Wednesday September 04
- 09:55 pmDelaware Customs seized over $100k in Apple products destined for China
A box of Apple products marked "iPhone return for repair" actually contained over $100,000 in iPads, Apple Watch Ultras, and AirPods meant to be smuggled to China, but Customs seized the shipment.iPad AirSmuggling goods past Customs isn't a new practice and is usually done to avoid import bans or taxes. People have tried everything from taping devices to their body to drones, but they inevitably get caught.The latest seizure reported by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol was a little more mundane. A package containing $103,016 worth of Apple products was labeled as $3,000 in iPhones shipping for repair. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:46 pmMicrosoft’s new ‘Copilot’ PCs can’t handle hundreds of popular PC games
Microsoft and its partners launched Copilot+ PCs this spring, featuring AI-powered capabilities like generating images and videos… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:25 pmSave 91% on this elite, AI-powered cheap airfare finder
Whether you pick a specific destination or just want to see your options, AI-powered OneAir will hunt down cheap flights for you. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)08:18 pmBluetooth 6 was just announced. Here’s what it does and when you can expect it on iPhone
Macworld Sometimes it feels like Bluetooth 5 is still a fairly new technology, but it was first introduced in 2016. Now, after multiple point releases, the Bluetooth special interest group has released a major new version of the spec: Bluetooth 6. There are six major new features in Bluetooth 6, most of which are very technical, but here’s a brief summary: Bluetooth Channel Sounding: lets you determine the direction and range between two Bluetooth devices. In other words, Bluetooth can act a lot like Ultra Wideband does with regard to determining the location of Bluetooth devices. Decision-Based Advertising Filtering: this should make it faster to scan and find certain Bluetooth devices because your device can find a device on the primary channel and use that info to determine what to look for on a secondary channel. Monitoring Advertisers: this can improve the efficiency of Bluetooth host devices by making it so they don’t send out multiple “here I am!” packets to connected devices. ISOAL Enhancement: improves latency and reliability specifically for devices that use the Isochronous Adaptation Layer. LL Extended Feature Set: devices are currently able to exchange information that says which link layer features they each support. Now that Bluetooth LE has grown, it has become necessary to extend the list to support even more features. Frame Space Update: lets connection events have variable frame spacing instead of a fixed 150 microseconds. Shorter frame spacing can improve throughput for things like LE Audio devices, fitness trackers, downloading firmware updates, etc. Channel Sounding is the big new feature Most of the new features are updates to core Bluetooth functions that should smooth out headaches for engineers working on the low-level connection details of advanced Bluetooth devices, but they’re not going to make a big difference to you or me other than “can sometimes make things a little faster or more reliable in specific situations.” The first item on that list that is a real user-facing improvement–Bluetooth Channel Sounding basically adds a layer on top of the Bluetooth LE broadcasting stuff that lets devices determine their effective range. Bluetooth LE already lets devices determine the angle of departure and angle of arrival for signals, so you can know what direction another device is in. With Channel Sounding, you can know its distance as well. In other words, it lets you do what Apple does with Ultra Wideband using its U1 and U2 chips, only in a standards-based way built into Bluetooth without the need for extra hardware. This will obviously benefit services like Find My–in a few years, most item trackers and Bluetooth devices will have the sort of “precision finding” that Apple’s devices with U1/U2 chips have. But it’s also a big potential benefit for things like smartphones as car keys or home keys. Your car or front door may be more secure by only unlocking for the correct Bluetooth device that is also within a few feet of range, so drive-by Bluetooth broadcasters with captured keys can’t unlock them from a distance. When will you see Bluetooth 6 on your iPhone? Bluetooth 5 was released by the Bluetooth SIG in December 2016, and the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were released with Bluetooth 5 support in September 2017. Since Apple relies on Bluetooth radios from outside companies (some of which are already shipping preliminary Bluetooth 6 chips), it’s not out of the question to expect the iPhone 17 to feature this technology. If it doesn’t come next year, we will certainly have it in the iPhone 18 in 2026. While support in host devices like iPhone, iPad, and Macs is a good thing (especially since we are expected to keep these devices for years), Bluetooth 6 will only be useful when device makers start selling Bluetooth 6 devices as well. That can sometimes take a while.08:07 pm9to5Mac Overtime 029: The story of LumaFusion w/ co-founder Terri Morgan
Luma Touch co-founder Terri Morgan joins us to discuss creating LumaFusion, early struggles to gain traction, thoughts on AI and creativity, opinions on in-app subscriptions, and what’s new in LumaFusion 5.0. 9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts. You can also watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more. more…08:01 pmApple TV+ lands ‘Widow’s Bay,’ new series from Katie Dippold and Hiro Murai
Apple TV+ on Wednesday announced “Widow’s Bay,” a new 10-episode series from creator Katie Dippold, with Emmy Award-winner Hiro Murai… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.07:28 pmFour advantages the iPhone 16 Pro will have over the iPhone 16
Apple will unveil its all-new flagship iPhone lineup next week, including the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. If you’re thinking ahead about which to buy, here are a few different advantages the iPhone 16 Pro will have over the iPhone 16 – even though there are more similarities than ever expected this year. more…06:15 pmWindows ARM PCs struggle to run games, and Apple may now have an advantage
Just like Apple did in 2020, many other PC makers are also trying to switch from Intel processors to ARM chips in order to improve performance and energy efficiency. However, while this transition has been smooth on Apple’s side, things are complicated for Windows users. Those who have given ARM PCs a try have been complaining about incompatibility issues with popular games. more…06:11 pmApple Music debuts five new ‘Find Your Mood’ stations
Get ready to dive into a world of personalized music with Apple Music's five brand-new mood stations! These stations, designed to cater to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:10 pmI added a ratgdo to my garage door, and I don’t know why I waited so long
Dumping proprietary garbage for a FOSS solution that just works.06:01 pmNew features aren’t driving iPhone sales, here’s what is
Ahead of the iPhone 16 event next week, CIRP is out with a new report to answer the question, “what compels new iPhone purchases?” Interestingly, only 18% of respondents said new features were a reason to buy a new iPhone, here’s what matters most in convincing customers to upgrade. more…05:58 pmAudio transcription compared — Cloud-based vs. on-device
In iOS 18, Apple's Notes and Voice Memos apps get a new audio transcription feature. Here's everything you need to know about the different types of audio transcription, how they compare, and what Apple's implementation brings to the table.You can transcribe audio on Apple hardareApple's latest assortment of operating systems lets users transcribe audio directly within Notes and Voice Memos, in real-time and without an internet connection.iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 also introduce support for Apple Intelligence, meaning that users will be able to summarize and edit transcriptions through AI, though only on more recent devices. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:57 pmWall Street subdued after weaker-than-expected U.S. job openings report
Wall Street's major indexes experienced a volatile trading session on Wednesday, fluctuating between minor gains and losses. The… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:45 pm6 secret features in Apple Mail to help you achieve Inbox Zero
Some people maintain zero unread emails thanks to masterful inbox management. These six Apple Mail app tips will help you manage your email. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)05:42 pmApple’s iPhone 16 cases might not have a cutout for the new Capture button
Macworld Perhaps the biggest new feature of the iPhone 16 line this year will be the inclusion of a Camera button. If the rumors and leaks are correct, this capacitive, haptics-enabled button will be located on the right side of the phone and a little further down so that it will rest under your index finger when you hold your iPhone in landscape orientation to take a photo or video. This button will have multiple functions and be available on both iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, according to rumors. Several third-party case leaks have shown a long cutout on the side for reaching the button and its many functions. However, according to a new leak from DuanRui (a known Chinese leaker), Apple’s official silicone cases will not have a cutout for this button. He shared an image of a third-party, unofficial case on X to show the difference. https://twitter.com/duanrui1205/status/1831245321222984112 The image shows iPhone 16 (non-Pro) cases with a cutout where the Camera button is expected to be. The interesting part is the text, which Google Translate tells us says: “It is said that the official protective case of Apple iPhone 16 series does not have this opening and will be made into an integrated design, which will not affect the normal use of this capacitive button.” We have seen this with other iPhone buttons in the past. Some official Apple cases have covered side buttons, for instance (just as the pictured third-party case does). But more than even the Action button, this button is a bit more high-tech with more capabilities that go beyond merely pressing. A thinner silicone membrane can give the area over a button enough flexibility to easily depress it, and a capacitive material can make sure that touch and pressure sensitivity works properly. Apple will unveil the iPhone 16 at its Glowtime event on Monday, September 10 at 10am PT.05:32 pmApple Music adds five new personalized ‘Mood’ stations
Apple Music is expanding its collection of personalized mood radio stations for subscribers. These first debuted back in February with “Love” and “Heartbreak” stations, and now Apple is adding five new options that Apple Music subscribers can find on their “Home” page in the app. more…05:29 pmWhy ‘AirPods SE’ could debut next week as Apple’s new entry model
Apple’s September 9 event is almost here, and we’re expecting a lot of new product announcements. These include the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, Ultra 3, and SE, and new AirPods 4 and likely AirPods Max 2. But Apple may have a surprise up its sleeve: AirPods SE. Here’s why the entry-level AirPods 4 could be the first ever AirPods SE model. more…05:21 pmLock in the best trade-in value for your used iPhone, Apple Watch ahead of the iPhone 16 | AppleInsiderLock in the best trade-in value for your used iPhone, Apple Watch ahead of the iPhone 16
In anticipation of Monday's Apple Event, iPhone and Apple Watch users who are looking to upgrade to the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 can lock in an exclusive cash bonus on pre-owned devices.Lock in the best trade-in value for your iPhone.Popular buyback retailers BuyBackWorld.com and Decluttr.com are each offering an exclusive cash bonus to AppleInsider readers when you trade in a used iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or MacBook upon the release of the iPhone 16.A rundown of each offer can be found below, and you can also check out our roundup of the best iPhone trade-in deals for the September 9 "It's Glowtime" Apple event. Continue Reading on AppleInsider05:20 pmBeats pitches upcoming Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds
A new video featuring baseball star Shohei Ohtani wearing the buds shows Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 coming in 2025 for your workouts. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)05:05 pmBluetooth 6.0 aims to make Find My more accurate
The standout in the Bluetooth 6.0 spec is "true distance awareness," which should improve Apple AirTag and rival tracker tags. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)