‘It’s been a minute’ since we felt that Severance vertigo [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★★
In our "Severance" season 2, episode 1 recap, we return to creepy Lumon Industries only to find it somehow even stranger than before. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple Watch saves man after crash plunges car into pool
Brent Hill survived a crash which ended with him trapped upside-down, submerged in his car in a pool, and he’s crediting his Apple Watch… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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There’s a ray of hope for Apple silicon Mac users who want to run Windows
Macworld For a large number of Mac users who are still on Intel-based Macs, there’s one very good reason why they’re not switching over to Apple silicon. They do a good amount of work that requires them to switch over to Windows, and Intel Macs are best suited for that. But a major breakthrough is in the works: the folks at Parallels have revealed a new proprietary emulation engine that allows for Intel-based virtual machines in Parallels Desktop 20.2. Using Parallels, users can run x86 versions of Windows 10 or 11, Windows Server 2019 or 2022, or Linux on an M-series Mac. The new feature is provided as a “technology preview” in Parallels Desktop 20.2, which means it’s very much a work in progress and has limitations. For example, it only works with 64-bit versions of the Windows operating system, though you can run 32-bit apps within those OSes. The company also says the “performance is slow–really slow,” with boot times ranging between two and seven minutes. USB devices aren’t supported yet, there’s no sound, and Windows updates may fail to install. Parallels has an article that details what you need to know about using x86 Windows emulation. Even with the limitations, Parallels’ emulation is a huge deal. The introduction of the M1 Mac in 2020 came with the inability to run x86 versions of Windows–it couldn’t be done through virtual machine software like Parallels, and Apple killed the Boot Camp feature that allows users to boot into Windows and run the OS natively on Mac hardware. Eventually, virtual machines were able to support Windows on ARM, but that’s not ideal in many situations for people who need to work in real Windows. The Standard Edition of Parallels Desktop for Mac is available as a $100/£100 per-year subscription, or as a one-time fee of $129.99/£129.99. The Pro Edition and Business Editions are subscription-only for $120/120 and $150/£150 per year, respectively. Student pricing is also available.

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Apple’s best chips won’t be US-manufactured per TSMC, here’s why
Apple has recently ramped up its US chip production in Arizona, but TSMC’s CEO says you shouldn’t expect the latest and greatest chips to be US-made any time soon. Here’s why. more…

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Say goodbye to outlet battles with this compact 200W charger
Keep your MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone topped off with the powerful and portable Chargeasap Omega 200w high-speed GaN charger. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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FTC bans General Motors from selling driving data without permission, adding to case for CarPlay 2
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against General Motors and OnStar for selling location and driving data from millions of GM car owners, allegedly without informed consent. This data was collected as frequently as every three seconds. Both companies have been banned from selling location and driving behavior data for a period of five years, and will need to ensure they disclose any future sharing plans, and obtain proper consent for it … more…

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iPhone 17 rumored to get much more powerful cooling system
Apple could add vapor chamber heat sinks to the iPhone 17 to help it run cooler and faster for longer.iPhone 16 Pro doesn't have vapor chambers. iPhone 17 might. A limiting factor for mobile devices is thermal management, as cooling the heat-generating chips is difficult in such a small volume. It's now claimed that Apple will be doing something about it in the next iPhone generation, using a technology already in use by rivals.According to a Fast Technology industry rumor picked up by MyDrivers on January 16, Apple is going to be using vapor chamber cooling on its iPhone 17 series. This will apparently be for both non-Pro and Pro models. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Parallels Desktop for Mac review: Parallels Desktop 20 bring AI features
Macworld At a GlanceExpert's Rating Pros Frequent updates and new features Good performance on multi-core Apple chips Slick, easy-to-use interface Powerful new AI features and tools for developers Cons Most editions require a subscription AI features not available in all editions Virtual machines require a lot of memory and processor power Windows On ARM is expensive Our Verdict Parallels Desktop is one of the best options for Mac users who need to run Windows, Linux – and even macOS – as a virtual machine on their Mac. Parallels Desktop 20 is an impressive upgrade, and a strong focus on developers and AI means it is now a powerful tool for developers on all platforms. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price Parallels (1 year) $99.99 View Deal Parallels (Perpetual License) $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When ReviewedStandard – £89.99 annual subscription or £104.99 perpetual license; Pro – £99.99 annual subscription; Business – £119.99 annual subscription Best Prices Today: Parallels Desktop for Mac Retailer Price Parallels (1 year) $99.99 View Deal Parallels (Perpetual License) $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Mac is no longer dismissed as an insignificant niche market that struggles to compete with Microsoft Windows. But, even so, there are still times when many Mac users need to run apps and software that are only available for Windows PCs. Perhaps your employer uses particular business software that’s only available for Windows, or you may need to use a website that relies on some Windows-only technologies. Many developers need to test their apps and services on both Macs and PCs and, of course, there are all those A-List games that only run on Windows as well. It used to be easy to install Windows on Macs, thanks to Apple’s Boot Camp software and the fact that from 2006 to 2020 all Macs used the same Intel processors as Windows PCs. However, with the advent of M-series Macs, Boot Camp is no more, so if you want to run Windows on a Mac you need to consider one of the various virtualization options that we feature in our round-up of the Best Virtual Machine software for Mac. The advent of Apple’s own chips, aka Apple Silicon, also means that the standard version of Windows, designed for X-86 chips, won’t run on Arm-based chips like Apple’s M-series. If you want to run Windows on an M-series Mac you need the Arm version of Windows.  Our top solution for running Windows on a Mac is Parallels Desktop. Read on to find out why.  What is Parallels Desktop for Mac  Parallels Desktop is referred to as a virtualization program, because it allows you to create a virtual machine on your Mac – sometimes known as a VM – which is essentially a piece of software that simulates the physical hardware of a Windows PC (process also known as emulation) and lets you run Windows on your Mac.   One of the benefits of a solution like Parallels Desktop is it allows you to run Mac and Windows apps side by side, without having to reboot your Mac to switch between the macOS and Windows (which you had to do with Boot Camp). Screenshot Foundry Parallels gives you a lot of control over how you integrate Windows on your Mac. You could choose to keep Windows and macOS completely separate, with a full Windows desktop window floating on the Mac desktop, or the Windows VM can be expanded to full-screen size to hide the Mac desktop. But you can also use Coherence mode to run your Windows apps on your Mac so that they integrate fully with your Mac apps–you can even add them to your Dock. You can run more than Windows as a VM on your Mac with Parallels Desktop. You can create a VM that runs Linux, or even a VM that runs a different version of macOS itself. This can be useful for developers who need to test a website or an app on different versions of the macOS, although it’s currently only possible to create VMs that run Monterey (macOS 12.0) or later on Macs with Apple Silicon. However, Intel-based Macs can go right back to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion–we have the details of how to find old version of macOS here. Another useful feature of Parallels is Rollback mode, which lets you run Windows (or Linux, or macOS) like a kiosk. What this means is that nothing is saved and after you have finished working and restart the computer the VM will return return to it’s original state, this is perfect for developers who can experiment and then return to a clean slate. Parallels also makes installing Windows really easy. Since Parallels Desktop version 18 it has been possible to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels. You do need to buy a license for the ARM version of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise in order to create a Windows VM on Macs with Apple Silicon processors – unfortunately, the less expensive Home edition isn’t supported – although it’s also possible to use an existing license if you have one available. Microsoft doesn’t differentiate between Windows On Intel and Windows On Arm, so a Windows 11 license can be used for either version. This is a big deal because the Arm version of Windows isn’t normally licensed to individual users. Fortunately, Parallels has worked closely with Microsoft to simplify the process of creating VMs that use the ARM version of Windows. Just select the File/New command to create a new VM (or press the ‘+’ button in the program’s main Control Centre window) and it will present you with a big button labeled: Get Windows 11 From Microsoft.  Windows 11 On ARM allows you to run most older software and apps that were originally written for the Intel version of Windows, so you shouldn’t have any compatibility problems when running virtual machines that use Windows On ARM. Older Intel-based Macs can still run Windows 10 via Parallels, although older versions of Windows are no longer supported. Read our guide to How to use Parallels Desktop to run Windows on a Mac for more information.  Parallels Desktop system requirements  Since your Mac is effectively running two operating systems at the same time–the macOS and Windows–so you’ll need a reasonably fast Mac with plenty of memory, disk space and – above all – processor power in order to run your virtual machines efficiently.  Fortunately, modern multi-core processors like Apple’s M-series of chips can run routine apps such as the Windows versions of Microsoft Word or Excel using virtualization with no trouble at all, and faster Mac models can do a pretty good job running 3D games or high-end tools for design and graphics work. You do need plenty of memory to run the macOS and Windows alongside each other though. Parallels Desktop generally recommends a minimum of 1-2GB for each VM, but that really is the absolute minimum, and it’s in addition to the memory that your Mac needs just to run the macOS, so if you’ve got a Mac with just 8GB of memory then you’re not going to get the best possible performance when running Windows in a VM. Juggling memory and processor cores can be confusing for less experienced users, but Parallels Desktop can help by recommending settings that will be suitable for running different types of Windows apps and software. On high-end Macs, such as the Mac Studio, you can configure your virtual machines to use up to 62GB of memory and 18 CPU cores for improved performance. Unfortunately, Parallels informed us that the multiple GPU cores on Apple Silicon chips are controlled solely by the macOS itself, so Parallels doesn’t currently allow you to also specify the number of GPU cores used by your virtual machines. Parallels Desktop update: What’s in Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac? One other benefit is that Parallels Desktop has a regular update cycle of annual updates that generally coincide with Apple’s big updates to the macOS itself. Parallels also keeps up with the rapid development of Apple’s M-series processors. Speaking of regular updates, Parallels Desktop 20 arrived in September 2024, bringing support for macOS Sequoia and new features in that version of macOS.  Parallels 20 includes a number of new features that are only available to Mac’s running Sequoia. With Sequoia as your Mac’s main operating system – rather than just a guest running in a virtual machine – you now have the ability to sign into a Mac virtual machine (VM) using your Apple ID, which will allow you to use your Apple email and other Apple services. And it will be possible to use the Apple Intelligence-powered Writing Tools feature within Windows apps once that arrives on Macs later in 2024. See: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when you’ll get it. Screenshot Foundry There are performance improvements when using Parallels’ file-sharing features to exchange files between your main Mac and your virtual machines. Macs with Apple Silicon also gain the ability to quickly save and restore ‘snapshots’ of your VMs so that you can make or discard changes to your VMs for testing purposes (although the snapshots feature was already available when running Parallels on Macs with Intel processors in the past). Parallels Desktop 20 is also compatible with the latest Windows 11 On Arm update – known as 24H2 – which has an improved Prism emulator that provides as much as 80% performance improvement when running some older Windows apps that were written for Intel processors. Prism is similar to Apple’s Rosetta, which allows old Mac apps that were written for Intel processors to run on modern Macs with Apple Silicon – and, strictly speaking, this is an improvement provided by Microsoft within Windows 11 24H2, but it still benefits Parallels users by speeding up older Windows apps running within your virtual machines.  Currently, Macs with Apple Silicon only have the ability to create virtual machines that run Windows 11 On Arm – a special version of Windows developed specifically for computers that use ARM processors (including Apple Silicon). However, Parallels informed us that it is working on an update for Parallels Desktop 20 that will also allow Macs with Apple Silicon to run the original Intel version of Windows. That will be useful for developers who want to work on both ARM and Intel platforms, and Parallels says that there will be a preview of this feature available for developers soon. Parallels Desktop version history Parallels Desktop 19 arrived in August 2023 and introduced a redesigned interface with windows and dialogue boxes that adopted the curved lines and candy colors of macOS. More serious eye candy also arrived with support for 3D graphics in Windows using OpenGL 4.1, improving compatibility and performance for some important graphics and design programs, such as ArcGIS Pro, VectorWorks and VariCAD. The 2023 update also brought Touch ID to Windows virtual machines, allowing users to sign in to a Windows VM using both Touch ID and a personal Microsoft account. Apple changed the printing system used in Sonoma, so Parallels Desktop 19 also introduced a new Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) to allow users to print documents from a virtual machine using their normal printer. Parallels Desktop 19.2 brought a faster option for cloning VMs. That’s useful for developers and professional users who may need to create multiple VMs based on an existing template. It also improved the ability to use Sign In With Apple to sign in to a Parallels account using hardware security keys that users may have created on their Mac. The introduction of Sonoma changed the way the macOS handles Windows disk formats, causing some VMs to become unstable when running from an external hard drive or SSD, so version 19.2 also fixed this problem to improve the stability of VMs on external drives. And, in March 2024, the program was updated to version 19.3. This fixed graphics problems that had affected a number of well-known Windows games, such as Dark Souls II and Genshin Impact. Gamers should be aware, though, that (at the time of writing) Parallels is still working on support for Microsoft’s DirectX 12 graphics software, and Parallels Desktop is still limited to games that use DirectX 11. Parallels Desktop Pro vs Standard, Business vs Enterprise Parallels Desktop has traditionally been available in three separate versions, with the Standard Edition designed for home users and education, the Pro Edition for developers, and the Business Edition for corporate users. However, 2024 sees the arrival of a new Enterprise Edition, which is due for release ‘later this fall’ (with pricing available on request).  Features for developers Parallels states that it is seeing more and more Mac users running the macOS as a guest operating system on a VM, especially developers who need to test their apps with different versions of the macOS.  Parallels therefore supplies configuration options when creating VMs that run the macOS, providing greater freedom to configure the number of processors and the amount of memory used. Developers get a command-line interface to speed up testing, advanced networking features, and the ability to share folders and volumes between different versions of the macOS. There’s even some TLC for Linux users, with improved handling of Mac trackpads, and faster installation for the popular Ubuntu version of Linux. The version 20 update to Parallels Desktop Pro brings an assortment of new features for developers including the Parallels AI Package (available in all editions, apart from Standard). This will allow developers to create a ready-made virtual machine that includes 14 different sets of AI tools, along with code samples and instructions. It’s even possible to use ordinary language commands – such as “Parallels, start my Windows 11 VM”. These tools are designed to help all developers, including students and smaller teams, so that they can start experimenting with AI quickly and easily. There is also improved support for Microsoft’s Visual Studio development tools, which now includes the use of Microsoft’s CoPilot AI features within Windows. (www.parallels.com/products/desktop/ai/) Version 19 brought several new features specifically aimed at developers including an extension for using Visual Studio code that makes it easier to organize and use multiple VMs, and improved support for creating VMs that run different versions of macOS. As we mentioned above, Parallels has confirmed it is working on a feature that will also allow Macs with Apple Silicon to run the original Intel version of Windows. This will be a breakthrough for developers who want to work on both ARM and Intel platforms.  Features for businesses  Foundry The Business Edition of Parallels Desktop includes several features to help IT departments in large organizations quickly roll out Parallels virtual machines to multiple users. There are improved security features, and, since version 19, those with the Business edition of Parallels Desktop can use their VMs with corporate management systems such as Hashicorp Packer and Microsoft’s InTune. The Enterprise Edition, coming later in 2024, will include a Management Portal that makes it easier to install and manage virtual machines for large numbers of users within an organisation. This Edition will also provide SOC Type 2 reports, which are used to maintain security standards within large organisations. Features for gamers Foundry Gamers who want to run Windows games on a Mac can do so via Parallels Desktop, and are able to use game controllers with those games.  There has been support for DirectX 11 since Parallels Desktop 15. There is no DirectX 12 support yet.  Version 4.1 of OpenGL is also supposed.  Parallels Desktop for Mac pricing  Parallels Desktop is available in three different editions: Standard, Pro and Business. The Standard edition is mainly aimed at home and educational users and costs $99.99/£89.99 per year, with additional discounts also available for students and education users. That annual subscription fee includes any new versions and updates that may be released in the future. It’s also possible to buy the standard edition with a perpetual license for a one-time fee of $129.99/£104.99 (although you’ll have to pay extra for future upgrades). The Pro edition, which is mainly aimed at developers, is only available as a subscription, costing $119.99/£99.99 (currently reduced to $/£74.99) annually, while the Business edition for larger organizations also requires a subscription and costs $149.99/£119.99 per year (currently reduced to $/£89.99).  Pricing for the forthcoming Enterprise Edition is available from Parallels on request. It’s worth mentioning that there’s also a version of Parallels Desktop that is sold on the Mac App Store–however, Apple imposes some serious technical limitations on this version so it’s probably best to buy Parallels Desktop directly from Parallels itself. Parallels Desktop for Mac Read our review Price When Reviewed: Standard – £89.99 annual subscription or £104.99 perpetual license; Pro – £99.99 annual subscription; Business – £119.99 annual subscription Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Parallels (1 year) | $129.99 at Parallels (Perpetual License) Can you use Parallels for Mac for free? The Parallels website offers a 14-day free trial so that you can see how Parallels Desktop works before buying the full version. Just remember that you do still need to buy a license for Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, which starts at a rather hefty $199.99/£219.99. Can you use Parallels Desktop on more than one Mac?  To use Parallels desktop on two or more Macs you will need to buy additional licenses. If you are just moving to a new Mac you can uninstall the software on the first Mac and install it on the new Mac.  Should You Buy Parallels Desktop? Parallels isn’t the only option available for running Windows on a Mac, but its constant cycle of regular updates has ensured that it continues to outpace rival virtualization programs, such as VMWare Fusion. It’s also more straightforward to use than alternative technologies, such as CrossOver from Codeweavers.  Parallels keeps up with the latest developments on Macs with Apple Silicon to ensure that it remains one of the best options currently available for running Windows and Windows software on a Mac. Should you update to Parallels Desktop 20?  The strong focus on developers in this version means that Parallels Desktop 20 may not be an essential upgrade for ordinary home users and small businesses. However, it remains the best virtualization option for any Mac user who needs to run Windows – or Linux – apps on their Mac.

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TSMC says Arizona plant unlikely to get latest chip tech before Taiwan due to red tape
The CEO of major Apple supplier TSMC says that complex compliance issues, local construction regulations, and extensive permitting red tape… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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EarFun OpenJump earbuds: Your budget-friendly fitness pal [Review] ★★★★☆
Our EarFun OpenJump earbuds review finds they aren't fancy, but they bring lasting comfort, solid sound and good value to your workouts. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Verizon price raises of up to $15 per month hit some plans
Some smartphone users are being welcomed into the new year with Verizon price raises of up to $15 per month on multi-line plans … more…

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Apple to stream FireAid Benefit Concert in support of LA wildfire relief
Later this month, a FireAid Benefit Concert is being held in support of the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Headlined by the likes of Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Dave Matthews, and Katy Perry, the concert aims to raise donations for wildfire relief efforts. Bloomberg now reports that the FireAid Benefit Concert will be streamed on all major streaming services, including Apple TV+. more…

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Tim Cook vs Meta, 'Servant' vs a lawsuit, and Home Hub may be delayed, on the AppleInsider Podcast
Just as Meta's Mark Zuckerberg makes another criticism of Apple, Tim Cook gives a very rare candid interview, while Apple TV+ is promoting "Severance" but defending "Servant," and the Home Hub could be held up.Tim Cook — image credit: AppleWhile the shadow of an impending ban of TikTok took over the news cycle, this week also saw Apple CEO Tim Cook give actual answers about his personal life — and love of chocolate — to a food podcast. It was remarkable how much this topic of food drew the man out, and you definitely saw a new side of him.Whereas you saw exactly the same old side to Mark Zuckerberg as he slammed Apple for failing to do anything new in 20 years — otherwise known as just about the same time since he did either. Pot, meet kettle. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Watch saves man after upside down car crash into pool
The Apple Watch has been credited with saving another life, with a man crediting the device for summoning help after his car crashed, leaving him submerged upside down in a pool.A car crashed into a pool - Image Credit: WesternMassNewsOn December 16, Brent Hill of Easthampton, MA was driving his car home but felt nauseous behind the wheel. While he doesn't remember what happened next due to blacking out, his Apple Watch stepped in to help in the following moments.Camera footage from a neighbor shows Hill's car accelerating into their garage and into the neighbor's swimming pool, landing upside down, reports WesternMassNews. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18 superguide: iOS 18 features, latest update, and what’s new 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 are also be some AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence available on 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, what’s new in 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 January 16: Apple issued the third beta of iOS 18.3. One of the new features will address complaints about incorrect news notifications being generated by Apple’s AI. More below. Latest version and what’s new… iOS 18: Latest version iOS 18.2.1: January 6, 2025 iOS 18.2: December 11, 2024 iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 launched at the same time. The latest version is iOS 18.2.1 which is a small update that includes “important bug fixes,” according to Apple’s release notes. Apple doesn’t share any details of the bugs in question and there are no known widespread bugs in iOS 18.2. iOS 18.2 arrived on December 11 and includes a number of Apple Intelligence features but that’s not all. Read about Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if your phone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, and How to get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone. Prior to iOS 18.2, iOS 18.1.1 included 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. What’s new in iOS 18.2? 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. Genmoji – new emoji you can create. See: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji. 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. See: How to use ChatGPT on the iPhone. 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 – New auto-categories (primary, transactions, updates and promotions) to help manage your Inbox. Volume limits – set volume limits for iPhone speaker. Camera Control – Improvements. News+ – Sudoku puzzles. AirTag – Item location sharing For more information about the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.2 read: How Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2. What’s new in iOS 18.1? 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. Phone – Record phone calls. Notes – Transcriptions of audio recordings or phone calls. Read: How to record and transcribe voice calls on your iPhone 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. What’s coming… iOS 18.3: Release date and new features iOS 18.3 – expected late January/February Apple has started to beta test iOS 18.3. The first developer beta of iOS 18.3 arrived on December 16. The public beta followed on December 18. Support for robot vacuum cleaners: The Home app gains support robot vacuum cleaners in the iOS 18.3 beta. Battery intelligence: A new framework called “BatteryIntelligence” was discovered hidden in the 18.2 beta, suggesting it will be a feature in iOS 18.3. The feature 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. Repeating operations for Calculator: The calculator app will allow for repeating operations when you keep pressing the equals button, a feature lost with the arrival of iOS 18. AI Notification Summaries: After complaints about the inaccuracy of Apple Intelligence notification summaries’, Apple is making it more obvious if AI is generating the summaries. Other new features in iOS 18.3 are likely to include: Siri on-device context awareness: The ability for Siri to give sensible answers based on data found in Messages, Mail, Contacts, and other on-device information. Siri on-screen awareness: Siri will be able to see what is on your screen when you ask it to perform a task and take that information into account. Siri application control: A big expansion of App Intents, which lets Siri perform actions in your apps. Currently limited to things like playing music or getting directions, there will be hundreds of actions Siri can take in apps. This will start with Apple’s own apps and expand to third-party apps over time. iOS 18: Latest beta iOS 18.3 developer beta 1, December 16. iOS 18.3 public beta 1, December 18. 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: Advanced Siri features like on-screen awareness, personal context, and actions within apps Should you install iOS 18?… 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: 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. Photos redesign: Probably the most hated feature of iOS 18 is the redesigned Photos app. So we’ve written this: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying. Inaccurate news notifications: There have been some fake news notifications generated by Apple’s AI. Read: Apple vows to ‘clarify’ AI summaries after spate of fake news alerts. 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: 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 guide 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. Not everyone likes these changes. If you don’t look at: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying. 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, and the iPhone 16 range 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 (as of iOS 18.2). 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 that arrived or are arriving later 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 coming in later iOS 18 updates: Mail app features – Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox. (Arrived in iOS 18.2) Home support for robot vacuums – The Home app won’t be able to start or stop your Roomba until 2025. (Coming in iOS 18.3). 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 arrived in iOS 18.2. 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. (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 coming later, the U.K., Australia and Canada gained supposed at the end of 2024, other regions will gain support 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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Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue
Apple’s incoming CFO didn’t get much time to settle in before he found himself in court defending the company against a class action lawsuit. Kevan Parekh yesterday claimed that the company that it has no clue about its App Store profit margin. This is a stance the company has taken before. Indeed, Apple Fellow Phil Schiller even went as far as to claim he didn’t even know whether the App Store made a profit at all … more…

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Security Bite: Put these books and security resources on your 2025 reading list
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. Between the rapid news cycle around the TikTok ban, the vulnerability found in the iPhone’s USB-C port controller, and the overruling of net neutrality protections (again), it’s felt like a rollercoaster of a month so far. But this week, I want to step back and share what’s on my growing reading list for this year, as well as some other resources that I recommend for those just starting their Apple security journey in 2025. Security Bite is a weekly security-focused column on 9to5Mac. Each week, I share insights on data privacy, discuss the latest vulnerabilities, and shed light on emerging threats within Apple’s vast ecosystem of over 2 billion active devices. more…

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2025 iPad and iPad Air — what to expect, and when to expect it
It's the start of a new year, and expectations are high for a rumored iPad and iPad Air refresh in Apple's first batch of product updates. Here's what has been rumored so far.iPad AirFollowing after the end of 2024, the attention on Apple turns to its next product launches. Strong candidates among the group due to be updated are the iPad and the iPad Air, representing the budget and mid-range tablets in Apple's catalog.Apple last updated the iPad to the current tenth-generation model in October 2022, making it over two years since it was most recently refreshed. That makes the model prime to be updated soon. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Display supplier for long-rumored HomePod with screen may have been selected
A report claims that a supplier has been picked for the display for a new HomePod with screen — perhaps fulfilling a prediction made almost two years ago.An artist's rendition of a HomePod with a displayHomePod with touch screen displays have been running for a long time, with a release date always seemingly six months or more away. However, if a report on Friday morning by DigiTimes is to be believed, Apple has picked a supplier for the screen.Tianma, a Chinese screen manufacturer, has reportedly been picked to supply the OLED screen for the long-rumored device. And, a company also said to be attached to the project, BYD, is said to be the only assembler of the product. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple continues high-profile Severance promos with fun homepage panels
Apple is clearly really proud of Severance season 2, as the company continues its high-profile promos for the Apple TV+ show. After setting up a transparent Severance cube at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, complete with Lumon employees working at their desks, the company has now added some fun panels to its hompage … more…

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