iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls
The iOS 16.4 update that is set to be released to the public in the near future includes voice isolation for cellular calls, according to notes that Apple shared today.
Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you're chatting with and vice versa.
Voice Isolation has been available for VoIP calls that use FaceTime, WhatsApp, and other apps on devices running iOS 15 or macOS Monterey or later, and it is designed to significantly improve microphone quality when on calls by cutting down on background noise. Until now, it was not available for cellular conversations, with Apple offering no way to improve call quality.
On a FaceTime call, Voice Isolation can be enabled by activating the control center, tapping on the Mic Mode option, and choosing the Voice Isolation option, so the feature may be able to be activated in a similar way for voice calls.
Other iOS 16.4 features include new emojis, Push Notifications for web apps, bug fixes for HomeKit, Crash Detection optimizations, and more.
Apple Working on Beats Studio Buds+ Earphones
Apple is developing a new version of the Beats Studio Buds called the Beats Studio Buds+, signs of which were discovered in the iOS 16.4 release candidate today by 9to5Mac.
The Beats Studio Buds+ look similar to the Beats Studio Buds that were initially introduced in 2021. 9to5Mac has suggested that the earbuds will be upgraded to an H1 or W1 chip, but MacRumors has learned that the Beats Studio Buds will continue to feature a Beats chip rather than the H1/W1.
New Beats Studio Buds coming soon. To be called "Buds+" per @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/NGV6TmrkmO — iSoftware Updates (@iSWUpdates) March 21, 2023
Apple is planning to add improved Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency to the Beats Studio Buds+, which still have some time to go before they see a public launch.
The original Beats Studio Buds were introduced in 2021 and were positioned as a cheaper alternative to the AirPods. The Beats Studio Buds are priced at $150, and the new model is likely to have a similar price tag.
Google Opens Up Access to Bard AI Chatbot
Google today began allowing users to sign up to use Bard, its AI-powered chatbot that rivals Microsoft's Bing chatbot. First announced back in February, Bard is an experimental conversational AI service for Google Search.
Those interested in Bard can join Google's waitlist to get access, and some users have reported getting invitation emails just hours after signing up. There is a long list of sample functions that Google says Bard can perform:
- Explain why lightning might strike in the same place twice
- Help you write your first novel
- Draft a packing list for your weekend trip
- Outline a blog post about your summer mocktail recipes
- Explain why large language models might make mistakes
- Generate an art studio tagline
- Suggest high-protein options to add to a vegan diet
Bard beta access is limited to the United States and the UK at the current time, and there is an unknown wait time. Google does not allow Google Workspace accounts to request an invitation.
According to Google, Bard is using a "lightweight and optimized version of LaMDA," so the chatbot will offer a different experience than the OpenAI-powered Bing chat interface.
Bard is not designed to replace Google Search, and Google instead says it is "complementary." Google warns that Bard learns from a wide range of information that includes real-world biases and stereotypes, so the chatbot can provide inaccurate, misleading, or false information. It will improve over time based on feedback, and Google plans to add capabilities like coding and more languages in the future.
iPhone 12 Pro vs. 15 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always groundbreaking, new features can begin to stack up over multiple generations. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro.
If you are still using an iPhone 12 Pro and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro when it launches later this year, we have put together a list of features to expect below. The list includes major changes introduced with the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro, as well as new features rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro.
- A17 chip vs. A14 chip: The 5nm-based A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro is already up to 36% faster than the A14 chip in the iPhone 12 Pro, according to the Geekbench 6 benchmark. The iPhone 15 Pro will be equipped with the A17 chip, which is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's latest 3nm process for even faster performance and improved power efficiency over the previous generation.
- USB-C port: With the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple is finally expected to switch from Lightning to a USB-C port. This change will provide a more universal charging standard and allow for faster-wired data transfer speeds.
- Titanium frame: Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have a titanium frame instead of stainless steel. The back glass and display bezels are also expected to have slightly curved edges.
- Solid-state buttons: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to feature solid-state volume, power, and mute buttons. Two additional Taptic Engines would provide haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of the buttons being pressed, similar to the Home button on the iPhone 7 or the trackpad on newer MacBooks.
- Dynamic Island: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area surrounding the Face ID sensors and front camera. Dynamic Island displays system alerts and integrates with iOS 16's Live Activities feature to show live NBA scores, the status of an Uber ride, and more.
- Always On display option: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple introduced an always-on display option that dims the entire Lock Screen, but still shows the time and date, widgets, wallpaper, and notifications. Once you raise the iPhone, tap the screen, or press the side button, the display returns to normal brightness.
- Brighter display: The iPhone 14 Pro's display is up to 200 nits brighter indoors compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, and offers up to 2,000 nits of brightness outdoors. The increased brightness should carry over to the iPhone 15 Pro.
- Promotion: Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother appearing content and scrolling.
- Thinner bezels: Similar to the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have even thinner bezels around the display.
- Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 14 Pro lasts up to 23 hours for offline video playback, compared to 17 hours for the iPhone 12 Pro. With components like the A17 chip and the LiDAR Scanner expected to be more power efficient this year, the iPhone 15 Pro could have even longer battery life.
- Numerous camera improvements: iPhone 12 Pro users upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro will get access to a wide range of camera upgrades, including a 48-megapixel Wide lens, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, increased optical zoom, sensor-shift image stabilization, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, Action mode, ProRes video recording, Photographic Styles, and more.
- eSIM only in the U.S.: Apple removed the physical SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models sold in the U.S., meaning the devices work with eSIMs only. The devices are still compatible with physical SIM cards in other countries.
- Increased RAM: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with an increased 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB for the iPhone 12 Pro. Increased RAM can benefit multitasking on the iPhone by allowing more apps to be open in the background simultaneously without reloading.
- Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz band for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference compared to standard Wi-Fi 6.
- Emergency SOS via Satellite: iPhone 14 models can connect to Globalstar satellites, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. The service is free for two years after activation, and is currently available in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K., with more countries to follow later this month.
- Crash Detection: New for the iPhone 14 series, Crash Detection is designed to detect severe car crashes and contact emergency services via Emergency SOS if the user does not respond. The feature is enabled by default.
- 5G improvements: iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem for improved 5G performance.
- 1TB option: Starting with the iPhone 13 Pro, Apple introduced a 1TB storage option.
Apple will likely unveil the iPhone 15 series in September as usual, and the devices could have additional features that have yet to be rumored.
Factory-Sealed Original iPhone Sells for $55,000 at Auction
A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction, which is more than $54,000 over the original $599 price tag of the device when it was released in 2007.
The original iPhone was put up for sale by RR Auction on behalf of a former Apple employee who purchased it back when it first came out. Back in February, an original, sealed iPhone sold for over $63,000, which actually marked a sales record for a first-generation iPhone.
Unopened first generation original Apple iPhone, Model A1203, Order MA712LL/A (8GB). The box features a life-size image of the iPhone with twelve icons on the screen, indicating that it is from the earliest production (2007); a 13th icon, for iTunes, came later in the year. In brand new, factory-sealed condition. Accompanied by an AT&T bag and leaflet regarding rate plans and iPhone activation. The consignor notes that he purchased this phone upon its release in 2007, but also received one through work as an Apple employee; this spare was therefore never opened.
Other unopened original iPhones sold for $35,000 and $39,000 in 2022, so prices have been trending upward.
RR Auction also sold an "undiscovered" Apple-1 computer for an unspecified sum, with other Apple devices and memorabilia also fetching high prices. A Macintosh Plus from Del Yocam sold for $26,590, while a Macintosh 128K prototype sold for $16,500 and an Apple Lisa sold for $81,251.
An iPhone 11 signed by Apple CEO Tim Cook sold for nearly $4,000, technical instructions annotated by Steve Jobs went for $12,500, and a Steve Jobs business card sold for $6,188.
5 Things You May Not Know About the M2 Chip
If you've been following apple's world in recent weeks, you've definitely noticed the introduction of new laptops. Specifically, we've seen a completely redesigned MacBook Air and a new 13" MacBook Pro. Both of these machines hide in the bowels of the currently latest Apple Silicon chip with the designation M2. It is a direct successor to the original M1 chip, and in this article, we are going to talk about 5 things about it that you may not have known.
 |
| Photo by Yu Kato on Unsplash |
Number of transistors
Each chip has transistors that can be used to determine how complex the chip is. About 55 years ago, Moore's Law was even created on the subject of transistors. Specifically, it states that "the number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit doubles roughly every 18 months while maintaining the same price." In any case, the truth is that recently this law is no longer valid, as increasing the number of transistors on chips is becoming more and more difficult. In any case, the M2 chip has 20 billion transistors, while the M1 chip had "only" 16 billion transistors.
Manufacturing process
The production process is also related to the number of transistors. This figure has recently been given in nanometers and specifically indicates the distance (free area) between two elements on the chip – most often these are electrodes in transistors. Simply put, this means that the smaller the manufacturing process, the better, as the space on the chip itself is better used and smaller free areas are created. As for the M2 chip, it is manufactured, like the original M1, by a 5 nm manufacturing process. However, the manufacturer of these chips, TSMC, uses a second-generation 5nm manufacturing process for the M2 chip, which is slightly more advanced than the first generation. Other M2 chips (Pro, Max, and Ultra) should already use the 3nm manufacturing process.
Memory throughput
An important value for chips is also the throughput of their memory. Specifically, it is a figure that indicates how much data can be "driven" through the memory in a single second. Of course, in this case, the higher the memory throughput, the better, as it can process a larger volume of data. Specifically, the M2 chip offers a memory throughput of 100 GB/s, which is much more than the M1 – this chip can handle a throughput of "only" about 70 GB/s. Interestingly, the M1 Pro chip has a memory throughput of 200 GB/s, the M1 Max has 400 GB/s and the M1 Ultra has 800 GB/s.
Media engine
One of the main things that distinguish the M2 chip from the M1 is the presence of a media engine. This is a special component of the chip, thanks to which it is possible to work with video much faster. This is especially appreciated by professional editors and individuals who work with video, both in video editing and rendering. Specifically, the media engine supports hardware acceleration of H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW codecs.
All-in-one
Have you ever seen the bowels of a classic laptop or computer? If so, you definitely know that it consists of several basic parts. These are the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), operating memory (RAM), and storage, with all these parts being connected to the motherboard. All Apple Silicon chips, they are so-called SoCs (System-on-Chip). This means that the CPU, GPU, and memory, along with some other components, are directly integrated on a single chip that is located on the motherboard. Of the main components, only the disk is outside the chip, in our case an SSD.
The 7 worst iPhone apps for your privacy
Apple has written data protection in big letters on its flags. Every operating system tries to protect your data as best as possible, but some apps circumvent this in a tricky way. We would like to introduce you to some "bad" apps.
The popular messenger has been under criticism not just since the new privacy policies, which at this point have been put on hold until further notice. The Facebook subsidiary has long been considered our apps that sometimes know your most personal information. Check out alternatives like Signal or Threema.
In late 2020, Facebook rebelled when Apple announced the app tracking feature to allow users: ins to choose whether or not to be tracked across multiple apps. The company felt its advertising revenue was in jeopardy. That's because every time you open the app, it learns the latest news about you and can thus shower you with even more targeted advertising. By the way, the Facebook app also collects data when you are not actively using it.
Flashlight apps
Hand on heart, what do you need a flashlight app for on your iPhone? Apple has built the feature right into the system, and it can be activated both on the lock screen and from the control panel. As the website Wired reports, many of these apps have the purpose of fishing for your data.
Weather apps
Of course, Apple's weather app isn't perfect, but it's getting better with the gradual integration of Dark Sky. Nevertheless, there are many weather apps in the App Store that want to inform you about the current situation and collect your data at the same time. This includes names, ages as well as locations. In the meantime, the precise location can be replaced by a piece of approximate information, but your data is still not much safer.
Google Maps
It's hard to say, but Google Maps is also a real data octopus, which is also the best map app on the market. As the name suggests, the app comes from Google. This means that the company not only knows what you're doing and searching on the internet but also when you're moving where. If you are logged in, Google can link your data in the best possible way and create an even better advertising profile for you.
Free-to-play games
Free-to-play games are tempting. With their mechanics, they not only want to extract money from your pocket for in-game content, but they also like to go after your data to turn it into money with partners. To put it briefly, nothing is really free. In most free-to-play titles, you pay unnoticed with your data.
Delivery services
During the pandemic, delivery services experienced a particular boom, as restaurants were closed and many people spent time in quarantine. So ordering food quickly was a natural choice. However, the apps also learn a lot about you. In addition to addresses, location, phone number, email address, and payment data, some providers also collect usage data by tracking you across apps. They also help to show you targeted advertising.
There are people who voluntarily share their lunch, their clothes, their vacations, and much more with the whole world on social media. This makes people more and more transparent and traceable. Many others, therefore, stay away from such portals in the hope that third parties will have little insight into personal areas. Apple supports this approach by equipping iOS and the other operating systems with protective measures. With almost every update, new intelligent solutions are added to prevent unwanted tracking. Apple writes about this:
Privacy is a fundamental right. And privacy is one of Apple's core values. Your devices are important to you in so many ways. Which of your experiences you share, and with whom, should be entirely up to you.
Data in the wrong hands
Your data is not only valuable to you, but also to third parties. It can be used to create a comprehensive profile of you and then present you with ads for products that are likely to interest you. Advertisers thus increase the sales potential. It also allows social networks to make better suggestions based on your preferences, hobbies, or regular locations, for example. Of course, this has the advantage that you see personalized content, but at the same time, advertisers are rubbing their hands in the background because they can contact you specifically.
With features like intelligent tracking protection, Apple wants to cover your footprints or make them anonymous. Meanwhile, the new privacy report should show you how many trackers are active on the websites you visit, so you can actively avoid them in the future. Since iOS 14.5, app tracking can also be prevented, as otherwise certain apps can track you through other apps to websites and thus know your activities. So you can see that Apple has its hands full to prevent dangers. You can help by avoiding certain apps.
Apple's Craig Federighi explains why Stage Manager only appears for M1 iPads
It is probably the biggest feature of iPadOS 16: Stage Manager. The new feature takes multitasking to a new level, catching up with the Mac as macOS Ventura also introduces Stage Manager. You can use multiple apps at the same time in customizable windows and even set up workstations for different tasks, so you can group apps directly.
It's also supposed to allow for quick switching. However, there is a big catch: The function for the release of the new software will only be available to a few users. It requires Apple's M1 chip, which is currently only installed in the iPad Pro (2021) and the iPad Air (5th generation, 2022). Thus, not only the iPad (9th generation) as well as the iPad mini (6th generation) are left out, but all iPad models without the M1.
That's why Stage Manager only runs on the M1 iPads.
Last week, industry expert René Ritchie had already asked Apple why only the latest models support Stage Manager. Apple replied:
"Delivering this experience at the speed users expect from the iPad's touch-first experience requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage capacity, and flexible external display output, all of which are provided by iPads with the M1 chip."
Now Apple's software chief Craig Federighi also spoke about the limitations with TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino. To this, Federighi said:
"It's only the M1 iPads that have combined the high DRAM capacity with very high capacity and high-performance NAND that allows our virtual memory replacement to be super fast. (...) Now that we give you up to four apps on one level, plus another four (and) up to eight apps that are instant, responsive, and have lots of memory, we just don't have that capability on the other systems."
He goes on to say that Stage Manager is designed to take full advantage of the M1 chip. This should be especially noticeable in animations, which bring smooth transitions and shadows. Meanwhile, the feature is also said to support multiple and especially large screens, necessitating the chip's graphical power. Because the performance of the old chips is not nearly enough for the overall experience, Apple decided against the implementation of older systems. After all, Apple claims that the M1 chip has a 40 percent higher graphics performance compared to the predecessor's A12Z, while the RAM has increased from 6 GB to 8 GB to 16 GB (depending on the model).
Read on：iPads will no longer be HomeKit centers as of iPadOS 16
According to Federighi, the team would like to make the feature available to everyone, but the performance requirements, unfortunately, don't allow it. However, there will be more and more devices supporting it in the future. For now, the feature is limited to the iPad Air (5th generation,2022), the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation, 2021), and the 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation, 2021).
65 new iOS 16 features. All innovations and changes
Presented at WWDC 2022, the mobile operating system for the iPhone caused a lot of questions and complaints.
Some users did not appreciate the updated lock screen, attributing it to a feature of Android. Others praise the changes presented.
In July, a public test version of the system will be available, anyone can install it. In the meantime, we, in turn, study the system in detail and look for all the smallest changes and chips.
The article will be updated until the release of iOS 16 in the fall
Lock Screen and Control Center
1. Widgets. Perhaps the most notable innovation in the operating system. Dynamic widgets appeared on the lock screen.
They can be installed both from regular applications (Weather, Fitness, and so on) and from a third-party (support will appear later).
2. Customizable fonts. Now you can change the watch face visually. There are 6 different fonts available for three writing formats (Arabic, Indo-Arabic, and Devanagari).
In addition, you can change the color of the inscriptions, the entire digital palette is available.
3. Animated wallpaper. Now on the lock screen, you can set full-fledged animated wallpapers that work on their own.
For example, the Earth or the Moon, the weather, and so on. The animation continues on the desktop screen. It looks extremely impressive.
4. Quickly change the lock screen. With your finger on the center of the screen, the Quick-Lock Screen Selection menu opens. Just like on the Apple Watch.
There you can also configure a new screen.
5. Lock screen by Focus. In iOS 16, you can link a specific lock screen to a customized focus mode.
For example, you play sports, set focus to fitness apps, and the lock screen displays the weather and data from the Fitness app.
6. Notices. Now they are shown from the bottom for quick access to them.
7. Notification format. You can customize how notifications are displayed on the lock screen, and there are three formats available: quantity, stack, and list.
▪️ Quantity: shows the total number of notifications grouped by chats, messages, and so on
▪️ Stack: grouping notifications by
▪️ application List: the continuous display of all notifications
You can configure it in the Settings -> Notifications -> Display As menu.
8. What apps used. At the top of Control Center, you can now see a list of recent apps that used location, camera, or microphone.
Desktop
9. Updated Spotlight search. Now you can access it not only by swiping down but also by clicking on the Search icon at the bottom of the screen.
It appears after flipping through desktop screens instead of dots.
Safari
10. Select the Subject function. In the Safari app, you can now not only save a picture but also select a specific object on it.
How it works: Click Select Subject, and the cut large element of the image is saved to the Clipboard. You can then insert it with a transparent background into any app.
11. Updated tabs. The tabs interface has been slightly redrawn:
12. General tab groups. Share a set of tabs with your friends. Anyone can add their own tabs and instantly see a group of tabs updated while collaborating.
13. Pinned tabs in tab groups. Set up your tab groups with pinned tabs for each group.
14. Choose the format for sending the page. Some pages on the Internet can be sent to a person in the form of a PDF or web archive, or the system can make a choice on its own.
15. Translation of web page images. Added support for translating text into images using Live Text.
How it works: select the desired text in the picture, and click Translate. The browser shows a translation of the selected text.
Settings
16. Wi-Fi password. Now in the settings of the selected "Wi-Fi", you can see the saved password from it.
17. The Battery section shows the reason for disabling charging. For example, if the iPhone overheats, it will be indicated that the iPhone has stopped charging above 80% due to overheating of the case.
18. Vibration alert of the keyboard. In the Sounds, Tactile Signals -> Keyboard Response menu, you can turn on the vibration for each keyboard press.
Cool feature, try
Live Text
19. Live Text for videos. Text is completely interactive in paused video frames, so you can use features like copy and paste, search, and translate. Live Text works in Photos, Quick View, Safari, and more.
20. Quick actions. Data detected in photos and videos is available with a single tap. Track flights or departures, translate foreign languages, convert currencies, and much more.
21. Languages for Live Text. Added support for Ukrainian, Russian, Japanese, and Korean languages.
22. Currency converter. Highlight the currency in the text or in the photo, the system shows the converted currency in the desired one at the current rate.
Siri
23. Reset calls. Now the voice assistant can be asked to end the call. The corresponding toggle switch is activated in the Settings menu -> Siri and search -> End calls with Siri.
24. Emoji in messages. Insert an emoji when sending messages using Siri (doesn't work in Russia).
25. Auto-sending messages. From the Settings -> Siri and Search menu, you can activate this feature. It allows you to send a message immediately without the need for additional confirmation from the user.
House
26. Completely new interface. The Home app has a brand new design that makes it easy to navigate, organize, browse, and manage all your accessories.
Rooms and favorite accessories are integrated into the app's main tab, making it easy to access the accessories you use most often.
27. Categories. The categories for Lighting, Climate, Security, Speakers, and TVs & Water allow you to quickly access all relevant accessories organized by room, as well as more detailed information about the status of the devices.
28. Cameras on the home screen. Directly on the main page, you can see images from installed video surveillance cameras (4 types of the display).
29. Lock screen widgets. New iPhone lock screen widgets let you see the status of your home and quickly access your favorite accessories right from the lock screen.
Accessibility
30. Mirror your Apple Watch. Now you can fully control your Apple Watch from your iPhone and use Switch Control, Voice Control, or any other assistive features on your iPhone.
31. Siri ads in hearing aids. Now the voice assistant can read out notifications, as in AirPods.
32. Time Siri was suspended. In Accessibility, you can now configure the interval at which Siri waits for your requests to be answered.
33. Import audiograms into Health.
Photo
34. Duplicates in the Photos app. iOS 16 scans your entire library of photos and suggests merging duplicate photos, choosing the best option.
35. Recommended photos. iOS intelligently offers photos from your library that look great on the lock screen according to the operating system.
36. General library of photographs. You can now share a separate library of iCloud photos with up to five other people in the family.
37. Smart photo sharing offers. iOS 16 has smart features that let you make sharing seamless: switching in the camera, automatically sharing with Bluetooth devices nearby, and sharing suggestions in the For You section.
38. Share your photo collection. Each family member can add, edit, sign, highlight, and delete pictures.
Messages
39. Edit and cancel iMessage messages. Within 15 minutes after the message is sent, you can edit or cancel it.
40. Mark as unread. Mark messages as unread when you don't have time to reply, but you want to reply to the sender later.
41. Recover deleted messages. In the new OS, you can return deleted messages within 30 days from the date of deletion.
42. SharePlay through messaging. Share synced activities like movies, music, workouts, games, and more with friends while chatting in Messages.
43. Collaboration Invitations. In iOS 16, you can send a project collaboration invitation in Messages, and everything on the topic is automatically added to a document, spreadsheet, or project. Compatible with Files, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Notes, Reminders, and Safari, as well as third-party applications.
44. Scrolling through voice messages. You can now rewind and rewind voice messages sent to iMessage.
45. "Smart" fixes in the search. Smart search improves your results on its own by correcting typos and using synonyms for search queries. Advanced search query options are also available, the system itself suggests words and phrases.
46. Cancel sending a message. In the Mail app, you can now stop sending messages that haven't reached the user yet.
47. Delayed sending. Now the service allows you to send messages at a specific time, which will be convenient for you personally.
48. Reminders. The app will remind you of an incomplete draft or an unsent email.
Apple Music
49. Full-screen cover. It will appear later - the track being played will be shown on the full lock screen while playing music.
50. Add an artist to your favorites. In the upper right corner, an asterisk appeared on the screen with the artist - so you can subscribe to updates on this artist.
Security
51. New Security Check feature. It is located in the Privacy section.
Allows you to reset all your data to people and apps in the event of an emergency, as well as quickly change your Apple ID password, people will not receive a notification that you have blocked their access to your information.
Health & Sports
52. Medicines. Now you can specify the medications that you take: names, frequency of use, reminders, compatibility with others, and so on. The iPhone itself will monitor the correctness of the application.
53. The Fitness app is immediately available on iPhone. It no longer requires a clock.
And on the little things
54. "Configure eSIM". Now, in iOS 16, Add eSIM has changed the name. But that's not all. You can transfer the eSIM from one device to another, for this you will be prompted. In Russia, it does not work yet.
55. Personalized Spatial Audio. Now you can customize the 3D sound for yourself, works with AirPods 3, Pro, and Max.
The iPhone camera scans your face and ears from all sides to subtly adjust the surround sound of your headphones.
56. New audio and video player. In the audio player, the circles on the playback bar disappeared, and the interface of the video player was completely redrawn: it became fatter and richer.
57. Support for "joy-cons" from Nintendo Switch.
58. Face ID on iPhone now unlocks the smartphone horizontally. You no longer need to turn your head if you accidentally block the screen.
59. Duplicates in Contacts. Identical iOS 16 numbers will be combined into one contact. To do this, a special notification will pop up.
60. New toggle switch in the Software Update section. Now you can disable the loading of system files and data.
61. Complete redesign of the Tips app. It has become more convenient and informative. Lots of dynamic hints.
62. In Settings, the connected AirPods are now displayed on the home screen. The headphone menu has not changed much, but there is a section with improved spatial sound.
63. In the Photos app, the Hidden section is now actually hidden. It can now be accessed via Face ID or a password. The same goes for recently deleted ones.
64. Short Notes appeared. They are available in the Control Center: click, a small window pops out, and write. The saved note will then be in the Notes -> Short Notes app.
65. The camera in iOS 16 now translates text from any object into Russian.
Works in two modes:
▪️ Instant translation of small texts or phrases, as in Google Translate. That is, in the viewfinder, you will see the modified image.
▪️ For large texts, you must first open the scan by tapping on a special button, and then click Translate. The adapted version will appear in a separate window.
Why does an iPhone with Touch ID sometimes ask for an unlock code?
To improve the security of user data, Apple has developed a special protocol to store Touch ID fingerprints. These data are not transmitted to Apple's servers and are stored only on the user's device.
Of course, they are "hidden" in encrypted form and the decryption key is stored only in the iPhone's RAM. To prevent saved fingerprints or encryption keys from being read when you turn off your device, the system wipes them when you turn off your iPhone.
With a new open, the smartphone generates a new key to access the fingerprint, for which it needs an unlock code.
The decryption key is also deleted if the device is left unlocked for a long time or if several consecutive unlock attempts fail. In these cases, you also need to enter the passcode.
It is not possible to disable such checks and it is in the interest of the user to enable it. On the one hand, you turn off and restart your iPhone infrequently, and on the other hand, regular reminders do not make you forget your passcode.
iPads will no longer be HomeKit centers as of iPadOS 16
Apple has unveiled iPadOS 16 and already presented the first beta for developers. The final version will be released in the fall. But those who want to install it should think carefully beforehand: Although Apple has completely revamped the Home app, the iPad will no longer be able to perform one important function: It will no longer be able to serve as a HomeKit control center.
Until now, Apple has made it possible for HomePods, the Apple TV, and iPads to serve as home hubs. However, with the release of iOS and iPadOS 16 this year, iPads will no longer be supported as Home Hubs.
This means that users will need an Apple TV or a HomePod if they want to use HomeKit and perform automation or use the system on the go.
Why Apple is pruning the iPad of this feature is unknown. There are definitely users who attached an old iPad to the wall with a mount and used it as a control center for the smart home. The Home app still runs on iPadOS, so at least the interface is preserved.
Of course, using an Apple TV or HomePod as a HomeKit hub is much more reliable than an iPad that isn't constantly plugged in and taken away once in a while.
HomeKit will get a major overhaul this year. Support for the Matter standard will make it possible to connect devices from all sorts of manufacturers. Apple has also changed the Home app, which now looks cleaner and offers a new view that displays rooms and accessories on a single page.
iPadOS 16 does away with iPads as a HomeKit hub. Have you used it for that?
iPadOS 16 preview: Rumored features could bring Mac-like capabilities to the tablet
If there’s one announcement during Monday’s WWDC keynote address that everyone is anticipating, it’s iPadOS 16. After Apple added a Thunderbolt port and M1 processor to the iPad Pro and upgraded the iPad Air and mini with 5G and Center Stage, all eyes are on iPadOS to finally bring Apple’s vision of the tablet to fruition.
Here’s everything we know about iPadOS 16 ahead of the keynote at 10 am PT on Monday.
iPadOS 16: Rumored features
According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to make “significant changes” to the way we interact with our iPads. Gurman says the new iPad interface will be “one of the biggest upgrades” at WWDC.
Among the rumored changes are several interface tweaks that are long overdue. Gurman reports that Apple will revamp the iPad’s multitasking and app interface, and add features that will make the tablet “more like a laptop and less like a phone.” Among the expected new features are:
- A redesigned multitasking interface that makes it easier to see what apps are open and switch between tasks
- Resizable app windows
- New ways for users to handle multiple apps at once
Of note, Gurman reports that Apple will “expand” on the current multitasking interface, which cobbles together several methods for viewing two or three apps at once. There’s Split Screen for viewing apps side by side, Slide Over for viewing smaller app windows, and Picture in Picture for videos. Apple also introduced Quick Notes in iPadOS 15 which adds a floating window for taking notes.
iPadOS 16: iOS features
Among the features specific to iPadOS, Apple also brings iOS features to its tablet. In iOS 15, for example, the iPad gained the App Library, desktop widgets, and a redesigned Safari, along with Messages, FaceTime, and Spotlight changes. Here are the features rumored for iOS that could also come to the iPad:
- Lock screen widgets.
- Notification improvements.
- Updates to existing apps, including Messages.
Apple is also rumored to bring improvements to the Health app on iOS, which could mean that it is finally coming to the iPad.
iPadOS 16: Compatability
iPadOS 15 supports the iPad mini 4 and later, 5th-gen iPad and later, iPad Air 2 and later, and all iPad Pro models. It’s possible that Apple drops support for one or more of these models with the launch of iPadOS 16.
iPadOS 16: Release
Apple will release a beta of iPadOS 16 for developers immediately following the keynote, with a public beta several weeks later. The general release of iPad OS 16 will likely be in September.
Apple ad leak seemingly confirms major iPhone 14 Pro design change
We’re still several months away from the iPhone 14 launches, but the iPhone 14 Pro’s new screen design appears to have been confirmed by artwork in a leaked Apple Pay advert.
The video, uploaded to YouTube by the channel Apple Archive Thai, lasts for just 15 seconds and demonstrates the basic process of using Apple Pay in a shop. But the stylized image of the handset quite clearly has a pair of smaller screen apertures in place of the notch, following the hole + pill configuration widely expected to feature on the iPhone 14 Pro in September. Leakers have suggested that the Face ID sensors will sit in the more elongated lozenge on the left, while the front-facing camera will occupy the pinhole on the right and the video suggests Apple will use it as an identifying characteristic like the notch.
It’s hard to say for sure if the video is legitimate, especially as Apple Archive Thai is a little-known channel with relatively few subscribers and not much track record to speak of. But it certainly looks legit, and if it’s a fake, the fakers have done an excellent job in capturing Apple’s visual and musical aesthetic.
It also makes sense for the video to exist. The company will want a full portfolio of marketing materials ready to go the second the 14 Pro is revealed, so as to familiarize customers with the new design, and updating everything to show the 14 Pro instead of the 13 Pro is an enormous job. With less than four months until the launch, plenty of finished or nearly finished videos like this will be in circulation at Apple Park, and we know the company has not completely solved its leaking problem.
Keep up with the latest news about Apple’s upcoming phone launch with our iPhone 14 rumor roundup. If you don’t want to wait until September, check out the lowest prices for the current handsets with our guide to the best iPhone deals.
Apple’s iPhone 14 Lineup Is Getting All-New, ‘High-End’ Front Camera Systems
This year’s iPhone lineup may finally include a nice upgrade to the selfie camera. A new report revealing that Apple has stepped up to a higher quality supplier adds weight to last month’s rumors of upcoming front camera improvements.
In April, the venerable Ming-Chi Kuo predicted the coming of autofocus and a wider aperture to the iPhone 14 TrueDepth camera system. Today, a report from Korea IT News seemingly corroborates this with news that Apple has stepped up to a better class of camera supplier, reclassifying the front cameras as “high-end” components.
For years, the iPhone front camera modules have been supplied by an unnamed Chinese manufacturer and Japan’s Sharp. At roughly one-third of the cost of the rear camera, the Chinese and Japanese-made components had been considered low-cost parts.
However, this year Apple is going with LG Innotek to supply the front camera. This South Korean company has been providing high-end rear-facing cameras to Apple for a while but has recently increased its supply of front camera modules.
- These are said to be comparable in quality to the rear-facing versions.
- This also means Apple is now paying about three times more for the front camera system.
LG Innotek will supply about half of these modules, while Sharp in Japan will make up the other half. LG is expected to make trillions in sales from the iPhone 14 front camera modules alone.
According to the report, LG Innotek wasn’t expected to supply the new camera modules until next year’s “iPhone 15” lineup. However, Apple was unhappy with the quality of the components coming from its previous Chinese manufacturers, so it accelerated the timeline to move over to using LG’s components this year.
What’s Coming to the iPhone 14 Front Camera?
Korea IT News corroborates Kuo’s claim that the iPhone 14 TrueDepth camera will gain autofocus. This is one of the main features driving the price of the components up.
Kuo has also mentioned that the new camera would gain a wider f/1.9 aperture for better low-light performance and that the new camera will come to all four new iPhone 14 models, pro and non-pro alike.
If this comes to fruition, it will be the first time the iPhone’s front camera has gotten any upgrades since 2019 and the first time Apple has increased the front camera’s aperture in eight years.
Over the years, the iPhone’s selfie cameras haven’t even nearly kept pace with the rear cameras. As the primary cameras received year-over-year improvements, the front cameras generally went 2–3 years with few to no significant changes.
Although the TrueDepth camera delivered improvements like Portrait Mode and Animoji, the 2017 iPhone X still featured the same 7-megapixel (MP) sensor introduced with the iPhone 7 the year before. It wasn’t until the release of the iPhone 11 in 2019 that this was bumped to the current 12MP resolution.
However, even more significantly, the last time the front camera aperture was increased was in 2014, when the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus bumped that to f/2.2 — the same aperture used on today’s iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 5s and first-generation iPhone SE had an f/2.4 aperture. Apple has used at least an f/1.8 aperture on the primary rear camera since the iPhone 7 was released in 2016.
Of course, the iPhone 14 lineup is also expected to feature some pretty significant rear camera improvements this year too, with a 48MP sensor that’s rumored to be doing to at least iPhone 14 Pro models; it’s not yet clear whether the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will gain that larger sensor also, as Apple has started increase the camera gap between the pro and non-pro iPhones. However, it’s fair to say that the standard models will still see at least some camera improvements, even if they’re not as impressive as what the iPhone 14 Pro gets.