iOS 18 superguide: iOS 18 features, latest update, and what’s in iOS 18.2
Macworld Even if you’re not planning to buy one of the new iPhones, your existing iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of new features following the release of iOS 18.  Among the new features in iOS 18 are a redesigned Photos app, new ways to customize your Home screen and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related features and dozens of other smaller changes. There will also be some AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence coming to some iPhones (find out if they’ll be on your iPhone below). This free software update brings interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. It is like getting a new iPhone without paying a penny. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about iOS 18, including which iPhones will be able to run iOS 18, the new features – and the new features still to come because they weren’t ready in time for the launch of iOS 18. We’ll also discuss any problems and fixes, the latest update and what’s coming in the next update to iOS 18. We also have information about the beta program including the latest version of the public and developer betas. Update November 20: Apple has issued an important update to iOS 18. iOS 18.1.1 provides important security fixes. The fourth developer beta of iOS 18.2 is also now available. iOS 18: Latest version iOS 18.1.1: November 19, 2024 iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 were also launched at the same time. The latest version is iOS 18.1.1 which includes fixes for two security vulnerabilities that have actually been used in attacks on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the update, Apple writes: “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” The fixed issues include a flaw in JavaScriptCore framework and a flaw in WebKit. iOS 18.1 arrived on October 28, and brings the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 16 models and iPhone 15 Pro and Max. There will be more Apple Intelligence features released in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you want to know more about the staggered release of Apple Intelligence features, read: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—here’s what you’ll get, and when. iOS 18.1: New features iOS 18.1 brings a selection of Apple Intelligence features to iPhones that are compatible with Apple Intelligence (that’s the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Max, and the entire iPhone 16 range). New features include: Writing Tools – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize text. Siri – New look. Type to Siri so you don’t have to speak to your iPhone. Conversational context so Siri remembers what you had already asked and maintains the context. Photos – Improvements to search. Clean Up to remove things from photos. Memory movies. Notifications – Notification summaries. Reduce interruptions Focus. Mail – Smart reply. Priority messages. Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or phone calls. Phone – Record phone calls. Camera – Camera Control button can be used to switch to TrueDepth camera. Spatial photo capture for 16 Pro and Max. AirPods – Hearing Test and Hearing Air features for AirPods Pro 2. There were also bug fixes and security updates in iOS 18.1. iOS 18.2: Release date and new features iOS 18.2 release date: December iOS 18.2 is currently in beta. There is a developer beta and a pubic beta. The main thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence features, especially those centered around images. There are updates to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 phones. You can expect the following: Writing Tools updates – more options. Genmojji – new emoji you can create. Image Playground – ability to generate images based on text prompts. Image Wand – uses Apple’s image generation tools to create an image and add as context to a note. ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri. Default Apps – new section in Settings. Visual Intelligence – get information using the Camera Control button. AE/AF Lock – new toggle to lock exposure and focus via the Camera Control button. Find My – share the location of something with a trusted person. Mail – AI-powered auto-categories to help manage your Inbox. Volume limits – set volume limits for iPhone speaker. In addition, a new framework called “BatteryIntelligence” is present in the 18.2 beta and will calculate the remaining charge time based on the amount of power the phone is receiving. See: Your iPhone may finally tell you how long it will take to charge. iOS 18: Problems and bugs Messages bug: A Messages bug that could cause crashes and may even result in the loss of valuable data was reported. It seemed to be connected to an Apple Watch feature that lets users share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Obviously, those are quite a niche set of circumstances and the best way to avoid it appears to be to not reply to watch faces in a thread. We have more information here: Link-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages can cause iPhone crashes, data loss. Apple fixed this bug in iOS 18.0.1. Unresponsive touch screen: iPhone 16 Pro owners have complained of display ‘dead spots’, with taps and swipes are being ignored. It is thought that this is related to the Camera Control button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1. Camera freezes in macro mode: This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1. There are concerns that macOS Sequoia’s iPhone mirroring feature could expose personal data at work. Servco Security has highlighted the problem to Apple who claims to be working on a fix. If you have any problems with iOS 18 you may be able to downgrade. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17. iOS 18: Should I install iOS 18 on my iPhone? As long as your iPhone can run it, we recommend updating to iOS 18. The new features–all of which we discuss below–look enticing enough, and, so far, the only problem (see above) will not affect many people. We address how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 compare separately. Also take a look at: All the little details and hidden features in iOS 18 you won’t want to miss. However, we do recommend you wait a week or more so that any issues with the early release can be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets installed on mass-market iPhones. It’s also wise not to be one of the first downloaders because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available. iOS 18: How to install Installing iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Just open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our iOS updating guide. And it’s easier still if you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen. A little work preparing your iPhone before installing the update can help avoid problems. We advise you follow these steps: Back up your iPhone: Back up before installing the new version and you will always be able to recover your iPhone with the older version of iOS running on it should things go wrong. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone. Make space on your iPhone: If your iPhone doesn’t have a lot of available space internally we recommend having a bit of a tidy-up so you can reclaim some iPhone storage. Simple ways to do this could include deleting apps you don’t use, deleting old Notes, Messages, and duplicated photos. Update your iPhone to the latest version: Don’t skip an update and go straight to iOS 18. If you haven’t installed iOS 17.6.1 yet do so now. iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18? The following iPhones get support for iOS 18, the same lineup of supported devices as iOS 17. iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, Pro Max  iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Pro, Pro Max  iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max  iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE (2nd gen or later) Read: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones support iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker Some of the new features will not be supported on the older phones, because they lack the hardware necessary (a powerful enough Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or enough RAM). This is typical of new iOS releases. In 2022, for example, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff due to their older processor. It is no surprise, therefore, that the hardware requirements are steep for the AI-related features aka ‘Apple Intelligence’—iPhone 15 Pro or later. Like iOS 17, iOS 18 does not support iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which came out in 2017, but since those phones are able to run iOS 16, they will continue to get support through security updates for at least another year. With the release of iOS 18 though, Apple will stop supporting iOS 15, which will mean that iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st generation) will no longer get support. Generally, Apple has provided software updates for the past two versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones. iOS 18: Latest beta iOS 18.2 beta 2 – developer beta released November 4. Apple’s beta testing program for developers and public testers has been running since June/July and continues beyond the launch of iOS 18 to the general public. There is also a separate iOS 18 Sequoia 15.2 beta that includes some as yet unavailable Apple Intelligence features. If you want to run the developer beta, you need to be a registered Apple software developer, which has both free and paid ($99/£79) versions. We explain How to join Apple’s beta program separately. Developer betas can be risky though, so we recommend signing up for the Public Beta instead, which should be more stable. Beware though: whether a public beta or a developer beta, any beta software is not as stable as the final version and the iOS and your apps may not work properly. Read Should you install the iOS 18 beta? for advice. Once registered, when you go to Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, you’ll see a new tab for Beta Updates, which will list the version of the beta you’re running: choose either iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta. If you need help installing the developer or public betas read our How to get the iOS beta article. If you then want to uninstall it, we have a guide for that: How to remove the iOS beta. iOS 18 features still to launch The following promised features aren’t yet in beta: ChatGPT integration Image Playground Genmoji Advanced Siri features like on-screen awareness, personal context, and actions within apps The image features were said to arrive at launch, but more recent reports say it will come later this ye iOS 18 features: What’s new in iOS 18 There were many new features in iOS 17 including a new app called Journal, Live Voicemail, and a new way to use Stickers, among dozens of other smaller changes. Rumors suggested that iOS 18 would be “one of the biggest iOS updates — if not the biggest — in the company’s history.” As expected, in iOS 28 Apple will include some major new AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, although these features will only be available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and newer iPhones. Not all the new features were available at launch. The first Apple Intelligence AI features were introduced in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Features, such as the new categories in Mail, will come “later this year”. Read: Features missing when iOS 18 launched. Customization There will be a more customizable Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center in iOS 18. Several reports had claimed that Apple would allow greater personalization of the Home screen, including allowing users to place icons anywhere on the grid, allowing spaces between them. Prior to iOS 18 icons can be reordered or put into folders, but always fill the screen from left to right and top to bottom. In iOS 18 users are able to arrange apps and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, including right above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It will even be possible to change the lock screen icons or remove them. In addition, App icons and widgets can have a dark or tinted effect to blend in. Read: iOS 18: How to change the color of the app icons on your home screen and How to put app icons, widgets, and folders anywhere you want as well as iOS 18: How to make your app icons large and label-free. This “put icons wherever you want” feature is something we’ve wanted from Apple for many years, and has been a staple of many Android phones seemingly forever. The Control Centre is getting a redesign to give easier access to a user’s most-utilized controls. Users will also be able to add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center. Is it enough? Read: Apple is finally letting you have it your way–kinda and You can finally customize your iPhone like Android–here’s everything you can do. Apple Photos New features in Photos will help users find their photos and keep big libraries organized. It’s the biggest redesign of Photos ever and is intended to help users find photos fast. It will be simplified but still familiar, according to Apple and will include a new Unified View, new Collections, and customization features. Users will be able to filter out clutter to narrow down to specific types of content. It will be possible to browse by topics, time, people, memories, trips, Recent Days and People and Pets. A new carousel view will present highlights that update each day – featuring favorite people, pets, and places. Apple Messages Messages will gain new ways to express yourself. Expect improvements to text formatting and fun new text effects. Tapbacks are getting redesigned and will let you tap back with any emoji or sticker. You’ll also be able to amplify and animate letters, word, phrases, and emoji, and add formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough. You will also be able to schedule a message to send later. Messages will also support RCS for more reliable group messaging with those who do not have an Apple device. Read about how your conversations with Android users will look in iOS 18 and RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered. Apple is also making it possible to send Messages via Satellite so you can text when off the grid from Messages app. iMessages sent over satellite are encrypted. Apple Mail Mail will help you manage incoming email better with new on-device categorization. As email arrives it will be sorted into Primary (personal and time-sensitive), Transactions (confirmations and receipts), Updates (news and social notifications), and Promotions (marketing and coupons). A new Digest will pull together all relevant emails from a business, so for example, it could bring all flight information together. The Mail Categorization features will be available later this year. Safari A new Highlights feature is designed to make it easier to discover information on the web. A redesigned Reader experience will use machine learning to surface key information on a webpage so that users can review a summary to get the gist of an article. A table of contents will be included for longer articles Apple says users will also be able to quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album. You will also be able to snap away annoying ads. Apple Wallet and Apple Pay There will be new ways to pay with Apple Pay. Users can send and receive Apple Cash by holding two iPhones together: Tap to Cash will let you share cash without exchanging email or number. Tickets in Apple Wallet including key event information like an event guide with info about the venue, and recommended Apple Music playlists Apple iPhone mirroring on the Mac iPhone Mirroring will grant users access to their iPhone via their Mac. It will be possible to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop files between the devices. Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia. Other app updates: Journal – New features to help you keep track of goals, Insights view, calendar, writing streak, and actually search Maps – New topographic maps with trails (US national parks only) Game Mode – Will minimize background activity for the best frame rates Notes app – formulas and equations entered while typing will be solved Calendar – incorporates tasks from Reminders and a new monthly view Health app – Medical ID redesigned Emergency SOS Live Video Home app – guest access Accessibility – Eye Tracking iCloud – Apple is adding a “Keep Downloaded” option that prevents the file from being moved to iCloud and keeps the file on the device. Read about the new Keep Downloaded option. Apple didn’t discuss everything at WWDC. There were a number of features that didn’t make the WWDC keynote. Also see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak lets you see the time even when your iPhone is dead. Privacy features iOS 18 will improve privacy. You will be able to control who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which accessories apps can connect to. You can also control whether others can view your apps on your iPhone by locking an app so it won’t open without Face ID or a passcode. A new locked hidden apps folder is also coming with iOS 18. Developers will have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhones without letting an app see all the other devices on a user’s network. Apple Apple Intelligence  Apple’s new artificial intelligence system is coming in a series of updates to iPhone, Mac, and iPad with iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will only be supported by iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max though. (Here’s why you’ll need to upgrade your iPhone to get Apple Intelligence, also read: Here’s why newer iPhones and Vision Pro can’t run Apple Intelligence). The hardware requirements are steep—iPhone 15 Pro or later. iPads will need at least an M1 chip or later as will Macs. Apple Intelligence features will mostly be processed on the device, which is different from other platforms where AI processing is done in the cloud. But Apple Intelligence will be able to determine if cloud processing is needed and will use it when appropriate. Apple Intelligence features include the following: Writing – Apple Intelligence will help users enhance their writing and communications. Writing Tools are built in systemwide that will offer to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in writing focused apps such as Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. Images – New image capabilities will also come to M-series Macs. In Image Playground users will be able to create images in three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Photos – A new Memories in Photos feature will create a video from photos and videos based on a description provided by the user. Apple Intelligence will pick out the photos and videos, develop a storyline based on the photos, and arrange them into a movie. In addition, a new Clean Up tool will identify and remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo. Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when you’ll get it and Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—here’s what you’ll get, and when. Siri Siri is also getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is to be integrated into Siri. Because some queries will be handled off-device Apple is introducing Private Cloud Compute so that when data is sent to server-based models for processing it is not stored or made accessible to Apple. One of the simplest changes to Siri is that it will be easier to type to Siri rather than having to speak to the on-device assistant. Apple may have finally twigged that people don’t always want to talk to their phones. The new Siri is said to be more “conversational” and natural, with features that “help users in their day-to-day lives.” A new smart responses framework will help Siri take into account your own personal details in its replies: like people, companies, calendar events, locations, dates, and more. Later this year, Siri is said to get cross-device media control. So you can talk to Siri on one of your devices to control media playback on another. In an update scheduled for early 2025, Siri is said to gain the ability to control nearly any app, with hundreds of possible commands. This feature will start off with single commands for Apple’s own apps and grow to include third-party apps and commands with multiple steps. In addition, Siri will be able to react to and take actions based on what is on your screen. This is said to go into beta for developers in January, with a rollout to users in iOS 18.4 in the spring. New accessibility features Apple is planning several new accessibility features for iOS 18, including Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, which will let users turn on or off specific accessibility features using a custom phrase, and Live Speech, which lets users type what they want to say and have it read out loud on phone calls or video meetings, will get the ability to add saved phrases to categories. Features coming after the iOS 18 release Some iOS 18 features won’t be a part of the initial release. Rather, they will be released later in 2024 or in 2025 as part of an iOS 18 point release (iOS 18.2 or iOS 18.4, for example). Here are some of the more significant features we expect to come later in an iOS 18 update: Mail app features – Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox are all features expected later in 2024. Home support for robot vacuums – The Home app won’t be able to start or stop your Roomba until later in 2024. Drag and Drop between iPhone and Mac – You’ll be able to see and control your iPhone on your Mac when iOS 18 and macOS 15 are released, but drag-and-drop support between your Mac and iPhone will come in an update. ChatGPT integration – The ability to call upon ChatGPT when using Apple’s AI tools will likely come later in 2024. Advanced Siri features – Siri features like its ability to see and react to what is on your display, semantic indexing (where Siri knows and uses information from across Messages, Mail, Contacts, and more), and advanced control over apps is all coming in 2025. Vehicle Motion Cues in iOS 18 will help reduce motion sickness. Third-party NFC transactions – Apple will allow third-party NFC transactions beginning with iOS 18.1–by request. In addition, all of the Apple Intelligence features will initially support only American English, and may be limited to only some regions. Additional languages and regions are likely to be available through 2025 and beyond. Next version of iOS We know that the next version of iOS after Apple finishes development of iOS 18 will be iOS 19. But what next in terms of software? Expect even more Apple Intelligence features to come in the late 2025 update to iOS and expect that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will be closer than ever. Over the past several years, the release of the new version of iOS has been fairly consistent, usually falling on the Monday following Apple’s iPhone launch event: iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024 iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023 iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022  iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021  iOS 14: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 iOS 13: Thursday, September 19, 2019 iOS 12: Monday, September 17, 2018

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New iPhone SE ‘confirmed’ to launch in March 2025
Macworld It now looks extremely likely that the next version of the iPhone SE will launch in March 2025, after an analyst report claimed to confirm that timeframe earlier this week. In a research note (via MacRumors), Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley and colleagues outlined the findings from a recent trip to supply chains in Asia. One takeaway, the analysts said, is that they have “confirmed” that the 4th-gen iPhone SE is currently scheduled for launch towards the end of the first quarter of next year. That almost certainly means March, which incidentally is when the 3rd-gen SE arrived back in 2022. All three SE models released so far, indeed, have come out in the spring: March 2016 for the 1st-gen SE March 2022 for the 3rd-gen model, and April 2020 for the 2nd-gen SE. A three-year wait between models is unusual but not unprecedented, as there was a four-year wait between the first and second iPhone SE releases. Aside from the launch timeframe, the note reiterated the current theory that the 4th-gen SE will be the first iPhone to feature an Apple-made 5G modem. This is obviously a key step forward for Apple, as it holds the potential for substantial cost savings; but it could also mean dramatically increased battery efficiency for customers. It might seem surprising that Apple would bestow such a potentially beneficial feature on the budget-focused SE a good six months before it lands on the flagship iPhones, but it does now look like it’s going to happen. The inclusion of the new modem, plus the 48MP main camera from the iPhone 15, 8GB of RAM, the A18 processor, and Apple Intelligence support mean this is shaping up to be an iPhone SE that’s actually special. For all the latest news and rumors, check out our regularly updated new iPhone SE superguide. If you can’t wait until next March, pick up a bargain on a current model with our roundup of the best Black Friday iPhone deals.

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Here’s everything Apple isn’t including in its Black Friday ‘sale’
Macworld With just a week to go until Black Friday, Apple has announced the details of its anticipated four-day shopping event that runs from November 29 to December 2. As always, there aren’t any actual savings during the promotion, but you can score a gift card for a future purchase when you buy certain devices. However, there are a lot that are excluded this year. After Apple surprisingly included the Apple Watch Series 9 in its offer last year, the Series 10 isn’t part of this year’s event, nor is the Apple Watch Ultra or any of the new Macs. Here’s a list of the devices that are excluded from the promotion: iPhone 16 (all models) iPad mini 14-inch MacBook Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro Mac mini iMac Mac Studio Mac Pro Studio Display Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Ultra Apple Vision Pro HomePod mini Magic Mouse/Trackpad/Keyboard Apple Pencil (USB-C) That’s a long list and includes many of the products people would want to buy. Some of the offers seem low as well, most notably $25 back for buying an iPhone SE, which is more than two years old. Back in 2022, Apple offered a $50 gift card for the same iPhone SE it sells now. It’s also surprising to see the AirPods 4 on the list, which arrived in September alongside the new iPhones and Watches. The good news is that if you’re looking for a new MacBook Pro or iPad mini, there are plenty of retailers that are offering actual discounts, some at prices lower than we’ve ever seen before. So stay tuned to Macworld throughout the next week as we track and highlight the best deals on everything Apple sells.

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This $50 off Beats Black Friday deal is music to our ears
Macworld It seems like Beats wants to make sure you have a cool new speaker to listen to music with this holiday season because it just dropped to its best price ahead of Black Friday. The Beats Pill has dropped to $100 at Amazon, a 33 percent discount from its $150 MSRP. That’s the lowest we’ve seen since Prime Day. We reviewed the Beats Pill and found it’s a good speaker with decent volume and sound for its size and fantastic battery life. We gave it a four-star rating and found that it’s probably about a firmware update from being the whole package. One of the best things about the speaker is that it comes with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. That means it’s a perfect companion for any trip you want to take, whether that’s to the beach, up the mountain, or to the nearby park. Furthermore, the Beats Pill delivers some 24 hours of playtime and is tiny enough to fit in any backpack where you could squeeze a water bottle in. The controls may take a bit to figure out, but one of the cool things you can do is double-tap the power button to trigger your go-to voice assistant, be it Siri or Google Assistant. So take the chance to get the new Beats Pill for $100 this Black Friday because we don’t think we’ll see a lower price anytime soon. Get the Beats Pill for its best priceBuy it now at Amazon

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Should we ban social media use by kids, as Australia is considering? [Poll]
The impact of social media use by kids is perhaps one of the hottest topics in tech. There’s significant evidence that social media apps like Instagram can be harmful to the mental health of children, while others argue that it can also enable social connection. Australia is currently debating a proposed law which would ban the use of social media by children under the age of 16 years of age … more…

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Apple unveils 2024 Black Friday promo: up to $200 gift card on eligible purchases
Apple has officially announced its Black Friday promotions for this year. Starting November 29, you can score an up to $200 gift card when you buy an eligible Apple product from Apple’s website, app, and retail stores. As always, you’ll save more if you keep an eye on the deals curated by our friends over at 9to5Toys… more…

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Bob Iger remarkably (and accidentally) honest about Disney+ pricing and subscriptions
Disney CEO Bob Iger accidentally revealed a key piece of commercially-sensitive data during the company’s most recent earnings call: how many Disney+ subscribers are on ad-supported tier. He quickly realized his mistake, commenting shortly afterwards that “I don’t know if I was supposed to disclose those AVOD [Ad-based Video On Demand] numbers” … more…

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Apple will now be treated like a bank, says US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The popularity of Apple Pay will now see the Cupertino company regulated by the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a watchdog whose role is normally limited to banks and financial services companies. The decision means that the bureau will have the power to monitor and regulate Apple’s policies and practices in regard to its mobile wallet services … more…

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US government steps up oversight of Apple Pay and rivals
The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it will apply rigorous oversight to Big Tech payment systems such as Apple Pay.Apple Pay on an Apple WatchThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently fined Apple and Goldman Sachs a $90 million penalty over disputed Apple Card payments. However, it has long argued that digital wallet systems such as Apple Pay should be regulated like credit cards and banks are.According to Reuters, the CFPB has now said it will step up its supervision of Big Tech companies. While CFPB did not name companies, it outlined plans for its oversight of payment apps and platforms. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Your iPhone isn’t as secure as you think (but it can be)
Macworld Your iPhone might seem like an impenetrable vault, keeping your personal information, photos, messages, and apps safe. But guess what? It might not be as tightly locked down as you think. While Apple keeps adding and improving iOS security features, some sneaky ways thieves and hackers can get in still exist. Let’s look at some common security threats iPhone users face and how you can protect yourself. From sneaky shoulder surfers to tricky phishing attacks, it’s time to uncover the hidden risks lurking in your pocket. An update is waiting We all receive notifications about software updates, but they’re easy to ignore, especially if there aren’t any new features to try. But delaying them can leave our iPhones vulnerable to serious threats. Every update contains numerous security patches that can shut down serious threats. For example, the iOS 14.7.1 update in 2021 targeted the Pegasus spyware, which was used at a high level to access messages, activate the camera and microphone, and collect location data. To steer clear of threats, install software updates promptly. Keeping iOS up to date on your iPhone is one of the simplest ways to safeguard your device. iOS updates include security updates that patch vulnerabilities that could expose your iPhone to hackers.Foundry Your PIN is showing You might think it’s safe to unlock your iPhone with a PIN in public but think again. In recent years, thieves have used a sneaky technique called “shoulder surfing” to watch people enter their passcodes and then snatch their iPhones to get full access to their device. Apple knows these threats are real, so they’ve added some features to iOS to help keep your iPhone safe. First up, they added Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3. This feature makes it a bit harder for someone to steal your iPhone or break into it. When you try to change an Apple Account password or Face ID settings, it’ll delay you. And it’ll also stop certain actions without Face ID or Touch ID authentication. Of course, people can also steal your iPhone and try to guess your PIN. Apple has a stop for that too. In iOS 18.1, Apple added an inactivity reboot feature that will automatically reboot and put it into the “Before First Unlock” state, making it harder for someone trying to guess your PIN. But above all, choose a complex PIN and be extra careful when entering it in public. Use Face ID or Touch ID whenever possible.  A malicious profile is hiding Have you ever clicked on a link that asked you to install a new configuration profile? These profiles can be useful for things like joining a work network or installing a VPN, but cybercriminals can use them to take over your device. They trick you into installing these profiles through phishing emails or fake websites. Once these profiles are installed, hackers can change your device settings, spy on you, and install unwanted apps without your knowledge. This is a sneaky way for them to gain control of your iPhone—and you might not even know it’s there. To avoid this, only install configuration profiles from trusted sources. If you’re asked to install one unexpectedly, say no and check the source. Also, regularly check your installed profiles under Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and remove any that look suspicious. Stolen Device Protection will make it more difficult for thieves to get into the most sensitive parts of your iPhone.Apple You clicked the wrong link Phishing attacks are getting smarter, targeting iPhone users with emails and messages that look like they’re from Apple. These sneaky messages often trick you into giving away your Apple ID username and password by tricking you into thinking there’s an urgent issue with your account. Once hackers have your information, they can access all your iCloud content, such as your photos, contacts, and backups. They might even lock you out of your own account or use your details to launch more scams. So, be careful of emails or messages that say they’re from Apple, even if they seem legit. Apple will rarely if ever send you a message like that, so check the sender’s address carefully, and never click on links you don’t trust. Instead, go straight to your iPhone Settings or contact support to check for anything wrong with your account. Your SIM was swapped If your iPhone uses a physical SIM card, you’re at risk of SIM swapping attacks. This is when someone tricks your mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card they control. Once they have your number, they can intercept calls and text messages, including two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, and basically clone your iPhone. With access to your 2FA codes, hackers can breach your accounts, reset passwords, and bypass security measures. This deceptive tactic can have serious consequences for your personal and financial information. And even newer iPhones with eSIMs are at risk. To prevent this from happening to you, contact your mobile carrier and set up a PIN or password that must be provided before any changes are made to your account. And as always, use app-based authentication methods, passkeys, and 2FA whenever possible. Hackers don’t need physical access to your device to hijack your SIM.Foundry You’re tempted to jailbreak Jailbreaking your iPhone might seem like a fun way to make it your own, but it’s actually a considerable risk. It removes many built-in security features that protect you from harmful software. Without those safeguards, your iPhone can get infected with malware, have your data stolen, or even be hacked. What’s more, jailbroken devices often miss out on important security updates, so they’re even more vulnerable to these threats. So, before you jailbreak your iPhone, think about it. The cool stuff you can do with it won’t make up for the security risks. Stick with the official version of iOS, and you’ll be safe and sound. And besides, with so many customization options in the latest versions, you probably don’t even need to anymore.

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Apple urges judge to dismiss the DOJ's speculative antitrust suit
Apple has argued in court that the Department of Justice's case against it is baseless, while the DOJ says prove it at trial.The Department of Justice case will hang over Apple for yearsAs expected, Apple made its case to US District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, November 21, 2024. Its lawyers are seeking a dismissal of the antitrust accusations that it has consistently decried since the Department of Justice (DOJ) brought it in March 2024.Now according to Bloomberg, both sides have presented their argument over whether the case should continue. Apple attorney Devora Allon said: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AT&T Turbo icon begins appearing on some iPhones
If you’ve begun seeing a strange icon displaying “Turbo” on your iPhone with AT&T as your character, you’re not along. According to Reddit, the icon has begun to appear as a means of marking its premium network prioritization service. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, although that […] Source

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Apple offers technical details as to zero-day bugs and quick operating system security updates to address them
Following up on yesterday’s story about how Apple pushed major macOS, iOS, and iPadOS security updates out the door to cover a pair of vulnerabilities, it appears that the vulnerabilities are already being exploited in the wild. The vulnerabilities, credited to Google’s TAG (Threat Analysis Group), are being actively exploited on Intel-based macOS systems, Apple […] Source

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Best Black Friday Amazon deals: $100 off M4 Mac mini, $250 off MacBook, $189 Apple Watch
Amazon's official Black Friday Deals Week event starts now and we have live coverage of today's best Apple deals, including new low prices on M4 Macs, the 2024 iPad mini 7, current Apple Watch models and more.Amazon's Black Friday deals on Apple start now.Black Friday is happening now at both Amazon and Best Buy, and we're monitoring the Apple space closely so you can save the most money on your holiday shopping. From M4 MacBook and Mac mini discounts to the cheapest Apple Watch Series 10 prices we've seen this season, there are a number of bargains worth considering when choosing gifts for loved ones.Shop Amazon's BF Sale Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to find the Retouch tool in Photos for macOS Sequoia 15.1
Macworld Apple has offered a Retouch tool in the macOS Photos app for several releases. This brush-like tool lets you “paint” over an area or in spots and have Photos interpolate detail, removing noise and dust. Starting in macOS 15.1 Sequoia, however, some readers who rely on Retouch noticed it disappeared. That’s because Apple added a more powerful but still in-progress replacement feature: Clean Up. Clean relies on Apple Intelligence, the company’s beta machine-learning product. You need an M1 or later Apple silicon Mac. If you’re using an M-series Mac, when you double-click an image and click Edit, and click Adjust in the button at the top of the editing window, Retouch no longer appears in the right-hand adjustment list. Instead, a new Clean Up button is available at the top of the screen. Click that, and you can adjust a Size slider and click, circle, or paint an area on a photo. Clean Up seems to work best on small areas and in removing certain kinds of distractions, like power lines, people in the background of a photo, or objects. When I drag or circle larger areas instead of painting, the results are quite poor compared to the control offered in Retouch. Retouch isn’t perfect, but it seems to smooth out dust from the top-right of an iPad mini without being too obstrusive (left). Circling an area with Clean Up removed some dust with no trace, but then made other splotches more extreme (right).Foundry The trouble is, you can’t opt to return to Retouch. Even if you disable Apple Intelligence in   > System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, Clean Up still remains in Photos, and Retouch is still missing. While Apple Intelligence remains in beta, you would think Apple would offer a switch between the two or keep both in place. Unfortunately, it’s provided a dubious “upgrade” that you’ll have to suffer through (or revert to 15.0 Sequoia). This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Martin. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we don’t reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

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Save $300 on the Apple Studio Display during Black Friday sale
If you want the Apple Studio Display, you should consider getting it now, as it's currently available at a massive $300 discount.Save $300 on the Apple Studio DisplayThe Apple Studio Display offers consumers an Apple-designed screen for their Mac, without necessarily paying the high price of the Pro Display XDR. If you're quick, that price can be even less.Buy for $1,299.99 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Macworld Podcast: What’s up with Apple’s smart home efforts
Macworld Is Apple finally going to make a real effort into the smart home market? In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we’ll examine a few recent reports on some rumored products: an iPad-like control center, smart home cameras, an Apple television set, and more! This is episode 910 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 910 on YouTube Listen to episode 910 on Apple Podcasts

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Sam’s Club’s $20 membership was too good to pass up
Macworld Between gift shopping, cooking, and hosting the family, the holidays are not cheap, but I’m hoping they’re easier to manage now that I’m doing all my shopping at Sam’s Club. I went years avoiding warehouse stores, but here’s why I’m actually glad I did:  New Sam’s Club Members can get a 1-Year Membership for only $20 (instead of $50).  Here’s how shopping at Sam’s Club is going so far.  There are 597 Sam’s Club warehouses in the US. That’s not just a fun piece of trivia. It’s something I learned because I just moved, and one of the things I’m most excited about is the Sam’s Club that’s only a 20-minute drive from my apartment.  Sure, there’s a grocery store that’s a little closer, but I can’t buy socks at my local grocery store. Or bulk energy drinks. Or a computer. At Sam’s Club, there’s a huge selection, so I might be able to get all my gifts, groceries, and bulk caffeine (it gets its own category because it is important to me) in one go.  And if I don’t feel like putting on shoes, Sam’s Club has an incredible selection online. And it’s not just shopping. There’s a whole section just for travel and entertainment. My next vacation might very well be courtesy of my Sam’s Club membership.  Don’t miss your chance to get a One-Year Sam’s Club Membership for $20.    Sam’s Club 1-Year Membership with Auto-Renew! – $20 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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How XProtect protects you from viruses on macOS
XProtect is Apple's Mac virus detection system which keeps your Mac safe. Here's how the protective macOS feature works.XProtect is macOS's malware scaning tool.Viruses and other malware are a constant threat to computers, which web surfers have to work around every time they go online.A computer virus is a small piece of code that gets silently installed onto your computer. One where it runs or embeds itself into other software and causes havoc. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Regarding — and, Well, Against — Substack
My advice to any writer looking to start a new site based on the newsletter model would be to consider Substack *last*, not first.

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