↩ Accueil

Vue normale

Il y a de nouveaux articles disponibles, cliquez pour rafraîchir la page.
Aujourd’hui — 31 janvier 2025MacRumors

Apple Arcade Getting PGA Tour Pro Golf Game

Par : Juli Clover
31 janvier 2025 à 01:45
Popular game series PGA Tour is coming to Apple Arcade, with PGA Tour Pro Golf set to launch on the gaming service on February 6. This will be the first PGA Tour game on ‌Apple Arcade‌, and it will feature true-to-life PGA Tour locations.


Recreations of iconic golf courses at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Latrobe Country Club, and more will be featured. According to Apple, players can expect real-time competitive gameplay where everyone plays simultaneously, without the need to wait for turns. "It's golf like you've never played before," reads the app's description.

There will be daily and multi-day tournaments to complete, with exclusive rewards offered. Players will earn coins and cash in all game modes, and that currency will be used to purchase new clubs and equipment.

Next week, ‌Apple Arcade‌ Vision Pro game Synth Riders is set to gain a new Kendrick Lamar experience that features moody spotlights shifting to the beat. The soundscape is designed to accompany Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX.

This week, existing games like Jetpack Joyride 2, Temple Run: Legends, Wheel of Fortune Daily, and Stitch are receiving content updates.

Apple Arcade is a gaming service that's priced at $6.99 per month in the U.S., and it is also included in Apple One bundles. Games that are available through ‌Apple Arcade‌ do not include ads or in-app purchases.
This article, "Apple Arcade Getting PGA Tour Pro Golf Game" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Explains How to Keep Your Mac From Turning on When Opening Lid

Par : Juli Clover
31 janvier 2025 à 01:14
Apple designed Macs with Apple silicon chips to automatically turn on and start up when the Mac's lid is opened or when the Mac is connected to power, but there is a workaround in macOS Sequoia if you don't like this behavior.


In a new support document, Apple provided separate instructions on how to prevent an Apple silicon Mac from turning on when the lid is opened or when it's connected to power. Both processes require the Terminal app. Apple's instructions:

1. Make sure that your Mac laptop with Apple silicon is using ‌macOS Sequoia‌ or later.
2. Open the Terminal app, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
3. Type one of these commands in Terminal, then press Return:
- To prevent startup when opening the lid or connecting to power: sudo nvram BootPreference=%00
- To prevent startup only when opening the lid: sudo nvram BootPreference=%01
- To prevent startup only when connecting to power: sudo nvram BootPreference=%02
4. Type your administrator password when prompted (Terminal doesn't show the password as it's typed), then press Return.

If you use these commands to change your Mac's behavior and want to undo it, you can open up Terminal and enter sudo nvram -d BootPreference.
This article, "Apple Explains How to Keep Your Mac From Turning on When Opening Lid" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's Q1 2025 Earnings Call Takeaways

Par : Juli Clover
31 janvier 2025 à 00:14
Apple today held an earnings call to report results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 (fourth calendar quarter of 2024), with Apple CEO Tim Cook and new Apple CFO Kevan Parekh providing insight into Apple's performance, holiday quarter product sales, and more.


We've highlighted the most interesting takeaways from the Q1 2025 earnings call.

iPhone Sales and Apple Intelligence


Services revenue was up, and there was an increase in Mac and iPad sales, but iPhone sales were down. ‌iPhone‌ revenue came in at $69.1 billion, down from $69.7 billion last year. Apple Intelligence, which debuted in updates to iOS 18, does not appear to have resulted in a major upgrade cycle.

Cook said that the iPhone 16 models are, however, selling better in markets where ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is available.

On ‌Apple Intelligence‌ adoption increasing over time, Cook said that since the feature set is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and the ‌iPhone 16‌ models in the ‌iPhone‌ lineup, growth will come as people upgrade to newer devices. Cook also said he expects to see some improvement when ‌Apple Intelligence‌ becomes available in additional languages in April.

"And I think I know from my own personal experience, once you start using the features you can't imagine not using them anymore," Cook said. "I know I get hundreds of emails a day, and the summarization function is so important."

In a separate answer, Cook said that new Siri ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will be coming "over the next several months." ‌Siri‌ features were expected in iOS 18.4, and it's not yet clear if Apple's plans have changed or the "next several months" means April.

Best Quarter to Date


Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ said that Q1 2025 was Apple's best quarter to date with revenue of $124.3 billion, a four percent increase year-over-year.

Apple's installed base of active devices reached a new all-time high across all products and geographic segments, and Apple now has over 2.35 billion active devices worldwide. Sales in China were down, however. China brought in $18.5 billion, down from $20.8 billion last year.

Services Revenue


Services revenue continues to see notable growth, and the category brought in $26.3 billion, up 14 percent from $23 billion in the year-ago quarter.

All-time records were set in the Americas, Europe, and the rest of Asia-Pacific.

Paid subscriptions grew double digits, and Apple has more than a billion subscriptions across its services.

Mac Sales


Mac sales saw significant year-over-year growth, with revenue at $9 billion, up from $7.8 billion last year. Cook said Mac growth was thanks to new M4 Mac models.

There was double digit growth in both upgraders and people new to the Mac.

iPad Sales


‌iPad‌ sales grew 15 percent, and Cook said it was largely driven by the iPad Air and the low-cost ‌iPad‌ rather than the iPad Pro. Over half of sales in the December quarter went to customers who were new to ‌iPad‌.

DeepSeek


Cook was asked about DeepSeek, and the perspective that Apple will benefit from lower cost on-device compute. Cook said that he believes that "innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing."

Upcoming Products


When Cook was asked if there was "a lot of room for form factor innovation" for future ‌iPhone‌ models, Cook said that "there's a lot more to come" and that "there's a lot of innovation left on the smartphone."

Tariffs


On the potential for tariffs, Cook said that Apple is "monitoring the situation" and doesn't have anything more to say.

Next Quarter


In the March quarter, Apple expects its overall revenue to grow low to mid single digits with gross margin between 46.5 and 47.5 percent.
This article, "Apple's Q1 2025 Earnings Call Takeaways" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Hier — 30 janvier 2025MacRumors

Apple CEO Tim Cook: There's a 'Lot of Innovation' Left for Future iPhone Development

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 23:43
During today's earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about whether he felt there was room for form factor innovation in future iPhone models, with the question hinting perhaps spurred by rumors of the upcoming
"iPhone 17 Air."


Cook often declines to provide insight into future products during earnings calls, but he did give an encouraging answer. "I think there's a lot more to come," Cook said. "I could not feel more optimistic about our product pipeline."

Cook went on to say that there is indeed room for change in the ‌iPhone‌ lineup. "I think there's a lot of innovation left on the smartphone," said Cook.

Rumors suggest that Apple is designing a super thin version of the ‌iPhone‌ that will replace the "Plus" model in the series. The device is expected to be between 5mm and 6mm thick, which would make it the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date.

In a separate question, Cook was asked whether the super thin design of the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro was driving iPad revenue, but Cook said that wasn't the case. It's the iPad Air and the ‌iPad‌ that were responsible for the 15 percent revenue growth the ‌iPad‌ category saw during the holiday quarter.

That's not a surprise given the high price of the ‌iPad Pro‌. Rumors have been split on how much Apple's super thin ‌iPhone‌ will cost, but it is expected to be less expensive than the Pro models. Apple will focus on design, with the device set to use a lower powered chip than the Pro models and a single-lens camera.
This article, "Apple CEO Tim Cook: There's a 'Lot of Innovation' Left for Future iPhone Development" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Now Has More Than 2.35 Billion Active Devices Worldwide

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 23:07
There are more than 2.35 billion active iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices worldwide, Apple CEO Tim Cook said today in the earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2025.


2.35 billion active devices is a new record for Apple. Apple last shared its active install base numbers in February 2024, when the company had 2.2 billion active devices worldwide.

Apple did not provide numbers for individual devices, but Apple has long had more than a billion active iPhones worldwide.
This article, "Apple Now Has More Than 2.35 Billion Active Devices Worldwide" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Reports Best Quarter Ever in 1Q 2025 Results: $36.3B Profit on $124.3B Revenue

30 janvier 2025 à 22:39
Apple today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025, which corresponds to the fourth calendar quarter of 2024.


For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $124.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $36.3 billion, or $2.40 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $119.6 billion and net quarterly profit of $33.9 billion, or $2.18 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Apple set all-time records during the quarter for total revenue, earnings per share, and services revenue. Total revenue was up 4 percent year-over-year, while earnings per share rose by 10 percent. Services, Mac, and iPad revenue figures were all up significantly year-over-year, while iPhone and Wearables saw small declines.

Gross margin for the quarter was 46.9 percent, compared to 45.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.25 per share, payable on February 13 to shareholders of record as of February 10.
"Today Apple is reporting our best quarter ever, with revenue of $124.3 billion, up 4 percent from a year ago," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We were thrilled to bring customers our best-ever lineup of products and services during the holiday season. Through the power of Apple silicon, we're unlocking new possibilities for our users with Apple Intelligence, which makes apps and experiences even better and more personal. And we're excited that Apple Intelligence will be available in even more languages this April."
As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in March.


Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q1 2025 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

Conference call recap ahead...

1:41 pm: "Our record revenue and strong operating margins drove EPS to a new all-time record with double-digit growth and allowed us to return over $30 billion to shareholders," said Kevan Parekh, Apple's CFO. "We are also pleased that our installed base of active devices has reached a new all-time high across all products and geographic segments."

1:46 pm: Apple saw strength in several product categories, with Services revenue rising 13.9% year-over-year to $26.3 billion, while Mac revenue was up 15.5% to $9.0 billion and ‌iPad‌ revenue was up 15.2% to $8.1 billion. Those gains more than offset dips of 0.8% in ‌iPhone‌ to $69.1 billion and 1.7% in Wearables, Home and Accessories to $11.7 billion.

1:47 pm: After declining around 0.75% in regular trading today ahead of the earnings release, Apple's share price has been bouncing around a bit following the release and is currently up around 0.25%.

1:56 pm: The hold music is live ahead of the quarterly earnings call with analysts at 5 p.m. EST / 2 p.m. PST. Expected on the call is Apple CEO Tim Cook and, for the first time, the company's new CFO, Kevan Parekh, who took over from Luca Maestri on Jan. 1, 2025.

2:00 pm: The call is beginning with the standard earnings call disclosures about forward looking statements from Suhasini Chandramouli, Apple's Director of Investor Relations.

2:02 pm: Tim is on, taking a moment to acknowledge the wildfires that impacted Los Angeles earlier this month. "LA is home to many of our team members... we are contributing to the relief efforts and we are continuing to support our teams and the local community."

2:03 pm: Apple made $124.3 billion, up 4% from last year and an all-time record. Earnings per share were $2.40, up 10% from last year, with all-time records across most countries and regions, including the Americas, Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia-Pacific. It also set records in Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia.

2:03 pm: Services set an all-time revenue record and the company has made almost $100 billion in revenue from services in the last year, and it has 2.35 billion active devices.

2:05 pm: He's talking up Apple Intelligence, noting the countries that it's expanded to during the quarter since its launch in October, and upcoming language support including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and simplified Chinese as well as localized English to Singapore and India.

2:06 pm: He also cites privacy, claiming that "Apple intelligence is a breakthrough for privacy and AI with innovations like private cloud compute, which extends the industry leading security and privacy of Apple devices into the cloud."

2:06 pm: Now we're moving to results, starting with ‌iPhone‌, at $69.1 billion, reaching ‌iPhone‌ revenue records in "dozens of markets and regions."

2:07 pm: Mac revenue was $9 billion, up 16% year over year, driven by "significant excitement around the world for our latest Mac lineup."

2:07 pm: "It's a launch pad to enable users to bring their best ideas and boldest creations to life."

2:08 pm: "Every product in the Mac lineup offers something extraordinary, whether that's the super portable MacBook Air, the powerhouse MacBook Pro, the world's best all in one iMac, or the small wonder that is the Mac Mini, which is not only stunningly capable, but as our first carbon neutral, Mac. All of this is enabled by the unparalleled power of Apple silicon."

2:08 pm: ‌iPad‌ revenue was $8.1 billion, up 15% from last year.

2:08 pm: Wearables, Home and Accessories revenue was $11.7 billion, thanks in part to the new Apple Watch Series 10.

2:09 pm: "Health Innovation has long been a focus for us, and we're committed to continuing to advance this work, because we know how much it matters to our users." He mentions new hearing health features on AirPods Pro and sleep apnea notifications.

2:10 pm: Apple Vision Pro came to more countries as well! "Users are enjoying incredible immersive entertainment experiences and powerful new features and enhancements to Mac virtual display."

2:10 pm: Services set an all-time revenue record of $26.3 billion, growing 14% from last year. All-time records in the Americas, Europe, Rest of Asia-Pacific, and a December-quarter record in Japan.

2:11 pm: "Five years since launch Apple TV plus continues to be home to incredible story telling that viewers love. There's nothing quite like the anticipation that comes when a fan favorite returns, and we were thrilled to debut the second season of Severance earlier this month."

Formula One starring Brad Pitt will debut on June 27.

2:11 pm: ‌Apple TV‌+ productions have earned more than 2,500 nominations and 538 wins.

2:11 pm: Users can also share AirTag locations with various airlines to help them reunite their bags.

2:12 pm: New retail stores also opened in China, Spain and the US. A fifth store will be coming to the UAE later this year, and the online store is coming to Saudi Arabia. Flagship stores will begin opening in Saudi Arabia in 2026.

2:13 pm: "Every day I get deeply moving notes about the many ways our technology is enriching our users lives. I recently got a note from a customer who put his watch on his father's wrist with when he feared something was wrong with him. The watch alerted them that the father was in afib, and they were able to get him to the hospital for potentially lifesaving treatment."

2:13 pm: "There are so many touching notes around the profound impact of our new hearing health feature. Like a recent user who told me it had changed her life, allowing her to take part in conversations with her children and grandchildren."

2:14 pm: Kevan Parekh is taking over the call for the first time.

2:15 pm: "We are very pleased to report an all-time high for revenue. With December quarter revenue of $124.3 billion, up 4% year over year, achieved all time revenue records in the Americas, Europe, Japan and rest of Asia Pacific and grew in the vast majority of markets we track. Products revenue was $98 billion, up 2% year over year, driven by growth from ‌iPad‌ and Mac. Thanks for our incredible customer satisfaction and strong loyalty, our install base of active devices, reached an all time high across all products and geographic segments, and is now over 2.35 billion active devices."

Products gross margin was 39.3%, up 300 basis points sequentially. Services margin was 75%, up 100 basis points thanks to mix. Gross margin was 46.9 overall, up 70bp.

2:16 pm: This strong business performance resulted in all time records for both net income at $36.3 billion and diluted earnings per share of $2.40, up 10% year over year.

2:17 pm: ‌iPhone‌ "grew in the majority of markets we track and reached all time revenue records in several developed markets, including Canada, Western Europe and Japan, and in emerging markets like Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. The ‌iPhone‌ active install base grew to an all time high in total and in every geographic segment. It also set an all time record for upgraders. According to a recent survey from Kantar during the December quarter, ‌iPhone‌ was a top selling model in the US or in China as well as the UK, France, Australia and Japan. The company continues to see high levels of customer satisfaction in the US at 96% as measured by 451 Research."

2:18 pm: "Mac generated $9 billion in revenue, up 16% year over year. We saw strength across our lineup, from the new Mac Mini to the latest ‌MacBook Air‌ and ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. This incredible performance was broad based with double digit growth in every geographic segment. With our latest advances in Apple silicon and our fastest neural engine ever, customers are able to take advantage of the full capabilities of AI and Mac. The Mac install base reached an all time high, and we saw a double digit growth for both upgraders and customers new to the Mac. Additionally, customer satisfaction in the US was recently measured at 94%."

2:18 pm: "‌iPad‌ revenue was $8.1 billion, up 15% year over year, driven by the new ‌iPad‌ Mini and latest iPad Air, the ‌iPad‌ install base reached another all time high, and over half of the customers who purchased an ‌iPad‌ during the quarter were new to the product. Customer satisfaction was at 96% in the US. Based on the latest reports from 451 Research."

2:19 pm: "Wearables, home and accessories, revenue was $11.7 billion, down 2% year over year. Customers are excited about the new AirPods 4 and the latest hearing health features in ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and Watch, although we face a difficult compare against Apple Watch Ultra2 launch last year, the Apple Watch install base reached a new all time high, with over half of customers purchasing an Apple watch during the quarter being new to the product. Customer satisfaction for Watch in the US was reported at 94%."

2:20 pm: "Services revenue reached an all time high of $26.3 billion, up 14% year over year. Services continues to see strong momentum, and the growth of our install base of active devices gives us great opportunities for the future. We also see increased customer engagement with our services offerings, both transacting and paid accounts, reached new all time highs with paid accounts growing double digits year over year, paid subscriptions also grew double digits. We have well over a billion paid subscriptions across the Services."

2:21 pm: Apple has $141 billion in cash and marketable securities after repaying $1 billion in maturing debt, and decreasing commercial paper by $8 billion. $97 billion in total debt, with net cash of $45 billion after returning more than $30 billion to shareholders through $3.9 billion in dividends and $23.3 billion in open market repurchases of 100 million Apple shares.

2:22 pm: FX headwinds expected to continue to be a challenge, an impact on revenue of 2.5% year over year. March quarter revenue is expected to grow low to mid single digits year over year. Services revenue expected to grow low single digits year over year, with a year over year growth rate comparable to the December quarter except for FX challenges. Gross margin between 46.5 and 47.5, with operating expenses between $15.1 and $15.3 billion. Expected tax rate around 16%.

2:22 pm: Dividend of $0.25 per share payable on February 13.

2:24 pm: Q: In your prepared remarks, you noted iPhone 16 models were selling better in markets where ‌Apple Intelligence‌ are available. Can you help us understand that how it's impacting ‌iPhone‌ demand and what features are users using most often already?

A: We did see that the markets where we had rolled out Apple intelligence that the year over year performance on the ‌iPhone 16‌ family was stronger than those where Apple intelligence was not available. In terms of the features that people are using. They're using all of the ones that I'd referenced in my opening comments, from writing tools to image playground and Genmoji to visual intelligence and and more.

We only had two and a half weeks or so during the December quarter of the second release of 18.2, and then only had the UK and the other English language countries for the two and a half weeks. And so we've got, you know, just the early indications at the moment.

2:27 pm: Q: On China, can you talk about headwinds that Apple faces, is it shifting preferecnes for Western technology in favor of domestic ventors or is it function of not having ‌Apple Intelligence‌ or replacement cycles?

A: If you look at Greater China revenue for the quarter, we were down 11% year over year. Over half of the decline we experienced was driven by a change in channel inventory from the beginning to the end of the quarter. On the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ side we have not rolled out in China, we saw better results we rolled out in than markets we had not. It's also the most competitive market in the world.

In terms of the macro situation, there was a fiscal stimulus or subsidy announced recently in January that did not affect the December quarter. There were some provincial subsidies in December, but the national program was announced in January. It does cover products in categories we have up to a maximum price point, we do see fiscal stimulus occuring and will be glad to talk about what that's looking like on the next call.

2:28 pm: Q: Asking about the DeekSeek situation and the potential for costs to come down as Apple is a big beneficiary of lower cost compute.

A: Innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing in general and that's what you see in that model. Our tight integration of silicon and software will continue to serve us very well. We do things on the device and the private cloud which mimics, from an architectural point of view, what happens on the device. From a CapEx point of view, we've always taken a very prudent and deliberate approach and we continue to leverage a hybrid model.

2:29 pm: Q: With regard to the ‌iPhone‌ trajectory, you don't talk about new products but do you feel like there's a lot of room for form factor innovation in the future or is the current lineup showing where you're going? I'm wondering if you think, in terms of phone innovation, is there a lot more to come? Do you see the current market changing over the next few years?

A: I think there's a lot more to come and I could not feel more optimistic about our current product pipeline. There's a lot of innovation left on the smartphone.

2:31 pm: Q: Was encouraging to hear about the record for ‌iPhone‌ upgraders. What do you attribute this to? Was ‌Apple Intelligence‌ playing a role in the markets you've launched in?

A: We've never seen a higher level of upgraders before. The install base hit a new all-time high as well and if you look at the 16 compared to the 15, from launch which occurred in September, so across two quarters, the 16 outperformed the 15. I think you can conclude from that there are compelling reasons to upgrade and in the markets where we've launched ‌Apple Intelligence‌, they outperformed markets where we did not. Lots of good color there.

2:32 pm: Q: On the iPad Pro M4, can you talk about that thin form factor for the ‌iPad Pro‌? How did it help ‌iPad‌ sales overall and what did your marketing and consumer research tell you about how consumers valued that thin product form factor?

A: It's a good question. ‌iPad‌ overall grew 15% for the quarter and it was more driven by ‌iPad Air‌ and the entry-level ‌iPad‌ than the top-level ‌iPad‌. Overall, we could not be more pleased with the ‌iPad‌ category growing 15%, it's a great achievement for the quarter and probably what is most important is that more than half of the sales in the December quarter went to customers who were new to the ‌iPad‌. There's still a good amount of customers to attract there.

2:34 pm: Q: Seeing robust growth trends in emerging markets right now, do you think some of these emerging markets are starting to get big enough or growing fast enough to offset some of the China headwinds you're going through?

A: We have great results in a number of emerging markets, I'm particularly keen on India and we're opening more stores there after setting a December quarter record. The ‌iPhone‌ was the top-selling model in India for the quarter and it's the second-largest smartphone market in the world and third-largest for PCs and tablets. It's a huge market and we have very modest share in these markets and I think there's lots of upside there and that's just one of the emerging markets.

Emerging markets we're also seeing double digit growth on the install base in total and for the ‌iPhone‌.

2:35 pm: Q: On gross margins for March, you're guiding flat. Usually you go up, is it all FX?

A: We're guiding to 46.5-47.5, we're pleased with that level. There's always puts and takes, there will be FX headwinds that will affect revenue and margin, but it's offset by favorable costs and mix of services. Also, moving from Q1 to Q2, we do have a loss of leverage. We feel good about the range and it's a strong guide for gross margin.

2:37 pm: Q: You mentioned channel inventory in China. Do you feel like they're elevated or out of range in any other regions? Is this a normal progression into the March quarter?

A: On a worldwide basis we're very comfortable with channel inventory position, in China, our channel inventory reduced from the beginning to the end of the quarter, and that was more than half of the reduction in reported results. Part of the reason is that our sales were a bit higher than we forecasted them to be towards the end of the quarter, so we ended a little leaner than we expected to.

2:38 pm: Q: Servies growth has been strong but you've been navigating some pretty challenging regulatory burdens. Do you think there's a top line or margin headwind that your'e currently absorbing that could potentially reverse in a more balanced regulatory environment?

A: We set an all-time record for Services, up 14%, and we have a broad services portfolio and we have great momentum across the board. We have a billion paid subscriptions across the Services platform.

2:40 pm: Q: You had a great quarter on Macs and iPads both. And I'm just curious in terms of if you can help us think about the sustainability of this double digit growth that you saw in both the product lines?

A: Mac was up 16% and ‌iPad‌ up 15%, strong uptake on new products during the quarter. Launched M4-based ‌MacBook Pro‌, ‌iMac‌ and Mac Mini during the quarter. Apple Silicon is designed for these workloads, but I don't want to project at the category level for the future, but we're incredibly pleased with both the Mac and the ‌iPad‌ for the quarter.

2:41 pm: Q: Re India being a strong and emerging market, to ask about supply chain planning there, how much is a growth expectation to that market vs diversification of the supply chain in that country?

A: If you look at the manufacturing we do there, we do manufacturing both for the domestic market and we export, so our business needs certain economies of scale to have it make sense to manufacture in country so it means we're going to need both a use for domestic market and export market.

2:45 pm: Q: How do we square ‌iPhone‌ momentum with the gross margin profile and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ as a momentum driver for ‌iPhone‌? Where do you think Services margin could go from here being at 75%?

A: Markets where we rolled out ‌Apple Intelligence‌ performed better on a year-over-year basis than markets where we hadn't. That gives us a positive indicator that we were pleased with. The other thing I would say, if you look at it from a launch to the end of the Dec. quarter, that goes back to Sept., the 16 family is outperforming the 15 family. I think those are two good data points. Our next round of language rollouts will be in April, and so it will be in our Q3 quarter.

Re gross margin, Services margin is accretive to overall company margins, but we have a large services portfolio and they have wide gross margins. Payment services and iCloud are growing and when we add incremental users they are accretive to margins. What we expect on a company level is 46.5 to 47.5 and we think that's a strong guide.

2:46 pm: Q: How much of the Mac growth is normal replacement cycle versus ‌Apple Silicon‌ innovation?

A: I think it's a combination of these products being so compelling that it's driving both upgrades at the double-digit level and driving switchers at a double-digit level. We're seeing both come out and I think it's just because of compelling products.

2:48 pm: Q: On product gross margin, how much room do you have to improve or with AI related devices is there more room to grow or not?

A: We had pretty strong sequential improvement, 300 basis points driven by favorable mix and leverage in Q1, it's a launch quarter for many products and we get leverage from higher volume. Our gross margin for products is driven by many factors, many products have different marging profiles and mix makes a difference. Many of our mix across phone, we see people gravitating towards our Pro products. Customers get into our best products and they have favorable gross margin. That trend impacted us and we're in a favorable commodity environment from a cost standpoint and benefited in the December quarter.

We'll have a FX headwind heading into the March quarter and that's included in the guidance we gave.

2:50 pm: Q: What might accelerate the pace of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ adoption and is this time to launch more markets and languages or installed base, or is it about shifting marketing spend or R&D towards AI? Will there be a tipping point where adoption goes mainstream?

A: I think it will go mainstream. I'm getting feedback from people using different features today and this is, keep in mind that on the ‌iPhone‌ side of our business, you either have to have an iPhone 15 Pro or any ‌iPhone 16‌ to use ‌Apple Intelligence‌. As that base grows, usage will continue to grow. Once you start using the features, you can't imagin not using them anymore. I get 100s of emails a day and the summarization function is so important.

I think it's a combination of that and in April we roll out a whole series of new languages that you had mentioned and the base grows further.

2:51 pm: Q: Kevan, one of Luca's legacies was getting Apple to record margin levels and maintaining consistent pricing across the product range. What observations can you share about price sensitivity of users and if having a wider range of pricing might unlock potentially further market share or boost overall product growth?

A: I don't think we're gonna really depart from what served us pretty well until now. We always take into consideration looking at comparisons between short term and long term, I think we've had a pretty disciplined pricing strategy which was served us pretty well. And I think we're going to kind of stick with that.

2:51 pm: Q: How do you you see any potential tariff impact under Trump 2.0 after you did fine under Trump 1.0?

A: We are monitoring the situation and don't have any more than that.

2:52 pm: Q: There's a lot of discussion on agentic AI, the use of agents. Upgraded Siri is coming in April, what do you think of that?

A: I think the killer feature is different for different people and I think for most, they'll find they're going to use many of the features every day. One of those is ‌Siri‌ and that will be coming over the next several months.

2:53 pm: Q: Thinking about the average useful life of these devices in the wild, the strong results you saw in 2021, how might that support opportunity in the future?

A: It depends on different types of users. Some early adopters are quick to jump on the latest technology and upgrade very frequently and then you have people on the opposite side of that barbell. Most people are between those two points. I do think there were lots of units sold during the Covid period of time and it's a huge opportunity for us as a company for more than one of the product categories.

2:55 pm: The last analyst just asked one question, and the call ends some five minutes earlier than usual. And the call is wrapped.
This article, "Apple Reports Best Quarter Ever in 1Q 2025 Results: $36.3B Profit on $124.3B Revenue" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Might Start Buying Ads on X Again

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 21:40
Apple held discussions with X (formerly Twitter) about once again showing ads on the social media site, reports The Wall Street Journal. The talks are said to have taken place "in recent weeks."


In an attempt to maintain a relationship with X, Apple was one of the companies that did not pause ad buying when Elon Musk took over the company, but Apple did stop its ad buying in 2023 after Musk made antisemitic comments and there was evidence that Apple ads were being shown alongside pro-Hitler content.

Given that Musk just recently made a hand gesture that was widely interpreted as a Nazi salute at Donald Trump's inauguration, Apple's decision to resume purchasing ads on X could be perceived as ill-advised.

Musk is, however, a close Trump advisor and deeply involved with the Trump administration, so he could influence Trump's decisions concerning tech companies like Apple. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and also attended the event, and other tech CEOs and companies have been plying the administration with funds. Apple did not donate.

The Wall Street Journal says that several major companies are reevaluating their stance on advertising on X. Amazon plans to up its ad spending as well, and the boost in advertising could help X with some of its debt. In January, Musk said that user growth was stagnant, revenue was "unimpressive," and that the company was "barely breaking even."
This article, "Apple Might Start Buying Ads on X Again" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Eight Useful Mac Apps Worth Checking Out

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 21:14
Mac apps can often go under the radar, with apps for the iPhone and iPad receiving more attention. For that reason, we have a Mac-focused video series that highlights useful Mac apps we've come across. Our first picks of the year are largely simple, one-task apps that add utility to your Mac.



  • Ice Menu Bar Manager (Free) - Ice is a menu bar management tool that's an alternative to Bartender. Last year, Bartender was quietly acquired by a less than trustworthy company, and many no longer want to use it. Ice has a rich feature set. You can rearrange menu bar apps, change the look of the menu bar with colors, hide cruft, and more.

  • DropOver ($5.99)- DropOver is a simple macOS app that enhances the Mac's Drag and Drop functionality. You can grab multiple files and move them around without opening side-by-side windows. You activate DropOver with a shake of the cursor, add items to a "shelf" and then you can move to your destination folder and unload them.

  • Latest (Free) - Latest is a super simple app that checks to ensure that your apps are up to date. It supports apps that use the Mac App Store and those that use Sparkle for updates, which is a good deal of the Mac apps out there.

  • NotchNook ($25) - NotchNook turns your Mac's notch into a little Mac version of a Dynamic Island. You can click into it and get shortcuts like a media player, the Calendar, quick notes, and more, plus it has drag and drop functionality that makes it easy to move files and send them using AirDrop. It's $25, or $3 per month.

  • Shortwave (Free, but unlocking more features costs $7/month) - Shortwave is yet another email app, but it uses AI in a helpful way. It organizes your inbox to surface what's most important, it can create to-dos for you, add labels, archive unimportant email threads, search for content, alert you to emails that still need a response, and more. You can also use AI to summarize emails and get writing help, with the AI able to respond in your own voice based on past email correspondence. This is not a bare bones email app, so note that it can take some time to get used to. This is a subscription app and it starts at $7 per month, paid annually.

  • Local Send (Free) - If you need to share content between an iOS device or Mac and an Android device or a Windows PC, you can do so with Local Send. This is great if you're not entirely in the Apple ecosystem, because AirDrop doesn't work on non-Apple devices.

  • Hyperduck ($4) - With Hyperduck, you can share links between your Macs, iPhones, and iPads with more control than AirDrop. You can, for example, save a webpage on your ‌iPhone‌ and have it open up later on your Mac, even if your Mac isn't turned on when you first save the website.

  • Rocket (Free) - Rocket is another simple, one-function app that lets you add emojis in any app. Press on the colon key and then start typing in the emoji that you want. It's free to use, but a pro version adds options for adding GIFs and images.


Know of a great Mac app that we haven't highlighted yet? Let us know in the comments below and we might feature it in a future video. For more of our Mac app picks, check out our Mac apps archive.
This article, "Eight Useful Mac Apps Worth Checking Out" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Google's New 'Ask for Me' Search Feature Uses AI to Make Calls

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 20:46
Google today started rolling out a new experimental "Ask for Me" feature that's available as part of Search Labs. Google Search users can take advantage of AI to make calls to businesses for information like pricing and availability.


As of now, Google is testing the experimental feature with auto shops and nail salons, and it is designed to prevent users from having to place calls themselves. Businesses can opt out of the AI-based calls, and the feature does disclose that AI is being used at the beginning of a call.

To use Ask for Me, Google Search users can opt-in to Search Labs and then search for a phrase like "oil change near me" or "manicure near me" to test it out. There are capacity limits in place, so there could be a waitlist before a call can be placed.

We’re testing right now with auto shops and nail salons, to see how AI can help you connect with businesses and get things done. pic.twitter.com/inf5hhj1BS

— Rose Yao (@dozenrose) January 30, 2025

Google says that the feature uses some of the underlying technology used for making restaurant reservations through the Google Search and Google Maps apps.
Tag: Google

This article, "Google's New 'Ask for Me' Search Feature Uses AI to Make Calls" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's Back to School Sale Launches in Japan With Apple Gift Cards

Par : Eric Slivka
30 janvier 2025 à 19:04
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion has launched in Japan today after returning earlier this month in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea.


While the other countries that saw the promotion launch this month offered either free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with the purchase of any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, or a free Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) with the purchase of any new iPad Pro or iPad Air, the Japanese promotion is offering Apple Gift Cards with the purchase of select Mac and iPad models.

  • MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac: 22,000 yen Apple Gift Card

  • iPad Pro or iPad Air: 15,000 yen Apple Gift Card


This year's promotion in Japan runs from January 30 through April 9 and is available to qualified education customers who certify their eligibility through UNiDAYS at the time of order. Current and admitted students to universities, colleges, and vocational schools, as well as faculty, staff, and PTA officers at junior high, high, university, and vocational schools, are eligible.
This article, "Apple's Back to School Sale Launches in Japan With Apple Gift Cards" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Highlights Hearing Health Issues Leading Up to Super Bowl LIX

Par : Eric Slivka
30 janvier 2025 à 17:04
Apple and the University of Michigan have released new results from the Apple Hearing Study highlighting the increase in noise levels seen around recent Super Bowl games. The results come just ahead of Super Bowl LIX taking place in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9.


Based on data collected from over 115,000 users via the Noise app on Apple Watch in the Apple Hearing Study, researchers found that study partipicants were exposed to noise levels about 1.5 to 3 decibels higher over the past four Super Bowl games compared to the following Sundays.

While the study's authors note that a 3 dB increase may be "barely noticeable," given the logarithmic nature of the decibel scale it equates to up to a doubling of sound energy that can be detrimental to hearing health.


Noise levels were significantly higher for users in states where the Super Bowl was played and whose teams participated in the game each year, compared to those in other states, likely representing a higher number of users in those states gathering for the game, potentially in larger groups and louder environments.

Alongside the results, Apple has highlighted some of the hearing health features offered through the company's devices, including the Noise app on Apple Watch that can alert you to high environmental sound levels and the Hearing Protection feature of AirPods Pro 2 that can reduce your sound exposure in loud environments.
This article, "Apple Highlights Hearing Health Issues Leading Up to Super Bowl LIX" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Samsung Introduces Major Discounts on TVs, Monitors, and More Ahead of Super Bowl LIX

30 janvier 2025 à 16:19
Samsung this week introduced a new sitewide sale with big discounts on TVs, monitors, storage accessories, and home appliances. You can also still save up to $1,250 when pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup, which includes the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In terms of TVs, the highlight of this sale is up to $1,300 off The Frame TVs, with the popular 65-inch model available for $1,299.99, down from $1,999.99. Another steep TV discount is on Samsung's 85-inch Neo QLED 4K TV for $1,749.99, down from $3,999.99.

TVs



Monitors and Storage



Refrigerators



Galaxy Products




Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.



Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Samsung Introduces Major Discounts on TVs, Monitors, and More Ahead of Super Bowl LIX" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Continues to Be the World's Most Admired Company

30 janvier 2025 à 15:05
Apple has been ranked as Fortune's Most Admired Company for the 18th consecutive year.


The Fortune rankings are based on a survey of 3,380 business leaders across a range of industries, who assess companies on nine criteria, including innovation, investment value, social responsibility, and the ability to attract talent. Apple once again secured the top spot, followed by Microsoft and Amazon, both of which have consistently ranked among the top three in recent years.

The 2025 rankings highlight the continued dominance of the technology sector, most notably with Nvidia making a significant rise to fourth place for the first time, driven by its growing influence in artificial intelligence and GPU development. The company has benefited considerably from the explosive growth of AI, with its chips serving as the backbone for generative AI models developed by OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.

While technology companies continue to dominate the upper ranks, other industries remain well represented, with Berkshire Hathaway, Costco, and JPMorgan Chase rounding out the top seven. Meanwhile, ServiceNow, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Novo Nordisk made their debuts in the top 50. Another notable trend in this year's Fortune rankings is the increasing consolidation of American corporations at the top, with all ten of the most admired companies based in the U.S. for the second year in a row.
Tag: Fortune

This article, "Apple Continues to Be the World's Most Admired Company" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

50 iPhone Features Apple Added to iOS 18 Since September

Par : Tim Hardwick
30 janvier 2025 à 11:41
Since iOS 18 was released in September 2024, Apple has introduced an unprecedented number of new features and improvements across several point updates. With iOS 18.1, 18.2, and 18.3, users have seen a host of tweaks and changes designed to enhance everything from the Mail app to Camera Control on the iPhone 16.


Below, we've listed 50 of the features and changes that have been rolled out through these recent updates. Keep reading to see if you picked up on them all. You can make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS 18.3 update by going to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.

Reset Your Control Center


control center
With iOS 18, Apple made the Control Center thoroughly customizable, but there's no way to roll back your changes if things get messy. Fortunately, iOS 18.1 introduced a simple way to start fresh. In Settings ➝ Control Center, you'll find an option to reset your Control Center to its default layout. This feature is perfect if you've made too many customizations and want to return to a clean slate without manually rearranging everything.

Share AirTag Location With Trusted Friend or Airline



In iOS 18.2 and later, Find My has a new option to Share Item Location with an "airline or trusted person" that can help you locate something that you've misplaced. Choosing the Share Item Location option creates a link that lets someone view the location of a lost item when they open the link.

The link can be opened on a non-Apple device, so an iPhone or Mac is not required to provide someone with your item's location. Links expire after a week or when you're reunited with your lost item. More than 15 airlines offer the feature, which is integrated into each airline's customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed baggage, according to Apple. In addition to items equipped with an AirTag, the feature also works with third-party accessories and item trackers that support the Find My network.

Get Details About Places



On iPhone 16 models, Visual Intelligence became available as of iOS 18.2. If you're out somewhere and want to get more information about a restaurant or a retail store, click and hold Camera Control, and then click Camera Control again to take a photo or tap the name of the location at the top of the display. From there, you can see the hours when the business is open, place an oder for delivery at relevant locations, view the menu, view offered services, make a reservation, call the business, or visit the location's website.

More Control Center Buttons



Apple in iOS 18.1 introduced new individual toggles for Satellite and AirDrop in the Control Center, allowing users to add them as separate buttons to their Control Center configurations for the first time. Previously, both features were only available through the combined Connectivity control.

Require Screen On for Camera Control



On iPhone 16 models, under "Display & Brightness" in the Settings app, iOS 18.2 added a Camera Control toggle called Require Screen On. When enabled, this setting requires that your iPhone screen is illuminated before a press of the Camera Control button will open the Camera app or a compatible third-party camera app. It's a handy option if you find yourself pressing the button accidentally.

Add an Event to Calendar From a Poster or Flyer



For iPhone 16 models, iOS 18.3 added Visual Intelligence support for adding events to the Calendar app. After installing the software on an iPhone 16, long press the Camera Control button to activate ‌Visual Intelligence‌ when viewing a poster or a flyer, and you will be given the option to add an event to the Calendar app.

Take Selfies With Camera Control



Camera Control got a selfie upgrade in iOS 18.1. Now you can switch to the front-facing camera without touching your screen. Simply open the Camera app with a press of the Camera Control button, then swipe on the button to cycle through lens options. Look for the person icon at the top to activate the selfie camera, making it easier to capture that perfect self-portrait.

Lock Auto Exposure and Auto Focus



In iOS 18.2 and later, you can now lock the camera's auto focus and auto exposure settings by applying light pressure on the Camera Control button on iPhone 16 models. The lock remains active until you release your finger from the button. Enabling the feature involves navigating to Settings ➝ Camera ➝ Camera Control and toggling on the AE/AF Lock option.

Share ‌Apple Music‌ Songs on TikTok



In iOS 18.1 and later, Apple Music has an option to share ‌Apple Music‌ songs directly on TikTok. To do so, tap on Share Song and then choose TikTok from the list of apps.

Easily Identify Plants and Animals



For iPhone 16 models, Apple's iOS 18.3 update added a feature for easily identifying plants and animals with ‌Visual Intelligence‌. You may be familiar with a similar feature in the Photos app that provides insight into plants, animals, and insects when viewing additional image information. Well, with iOS 18.3 installed, you'll be able to reveal these details with Camera Control's Visual Intelligence option, but in real time.

View Video Fullscreen in Photos


photos
When iOS 18 was released in September, it brought a major redesign to the Photos app on the iPhone, but some of the updates received mixed feedback. After announcing iOS 18, Apple made adjustments to the app in its first two point updates. If you use it now, you'll see the video player has been updated to occupy more screen space, removing the thick borders seen in earlier iOS 18 versions. Now, videos display in full screen without needing a tap to expand them.

Sleep Apnea Detection



iOS 18.1 added support for sleep apnea detection and breathing disturbances readings on Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. You can enable sleep apnea alerts in the Health app by searching for Breathing Disturbances. Notifications won't be sent until the Apple Watch has gathered at least 10 days of data, with analysis occurring every 30 days. Note that data collection for sleep apnea and breathing disturbances only begins after the update is installed and alerts are activated.

iPhone Mirroring With Hotspot



With iOS 18.2, Apple changed the way iPhone Mirroring works so that you can use it even while your iPhone's hotspot connection is shared with your Mac. Previously, connecting your Mac through Personal Hotspot prevented the use of iPhone Mirroring.

Search Google for On-Camera Items



With Visual Intelligence introduced for iPhone 16 models in iOS 18.2, you can take a picture of any item that you see and tap on the "Search" option to use Google Image Search to find it on the web. Turns out it can be pretty useful for locating items that you might want to buy.

Proofread Your Text


notes
Embarrassing typos could be a thing of the past. Introduced in iOS 18.1, Apple's new Writing Tools feature includes a powerful proofreading function. It not only checks for spelling and grammar errors but also suggests improvements in word choice and sentence structure. You can accept all suggestions with a single tap or review them one by one, complete with explanations.

Track Safari Download Progress



iOS 18.2 introduced the ability to track your Safari downloads outside of the app, making the process of keeping tabs on a download more effortless and immediate. You can keep an eye on download progress right from your iPhone's Lock Screen. On iPhone 14 Pro models and newer, it also appears in the Dynamic Island.

Rewrite Your Text


notes
Need to change the tone of your message? The new Rewrite tool is capable of doing just that. Whether you want your text to sound more friendly, professional, or concise, this iOS 18.1 feature can adjust your writing style without altering the core content. It's like having a personal editor at your fingertips, helping you communicate more effectively in any situation.

Safari Website Data Options



With iOS 18.2, Apple added a new section to the Settings app for managing website data and history, with options for Clear History and Website Data. The Website Data section includes options for exporting data from Safari and importing data from another app into Safari. In iOS 18.2, Apple also added new background images for customizing the Safari start page.

Adjust Media Volume on Lock Screen



Prior to 2022, the volume slider was a familiar presence on the Lock Screen whenever media was playing. When Apple released iOS 16, however, it removed the control without explaining the reason, much to the dismay of many users.

Thankfully, Apple brought the control back as an option in iOS 18.2. You'll find a toggle in Settings ➝ Accessibility ➝ Audio & Visual, labeled "Always Show Volume Control". Enable the switch, and you'll be able to adjust volume from the Lock Screen without having to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ or use the physical volume buttons.

Summarize Long Emails


mail
If you frequently suffer from inbox overload, this should feature introduced in iOS 18.1 should be a welcome one. When you receive a lengthy email, you'll see a "Summarize" button that lets Apple Intelligence create a concise overview. Choose from options like a brief paragraph, key points, or even a bulleted list. This tool makes it easier to quickly grasp the essence of important messages without reading every word. Plus, your inbox displays a brief AI-generated summary instead of the first few lines of each email, helping you prioritize your responses more efficiently.

Reboot Security Feature Extended



With iOS 18, Apple introduced a feature that caused the iPhone to reboot every three days. "Inactivity Reboot" is designed to automatically reboot an iPhone if it remains locked and unused for a specified period, which makes it more difficult to break into with the forensic tools used by law enforcement and others, such as bad actors. A 7-day inactivity reboot functionality was initially introduced in ‌iOS 18‌, but the timer was shortened to three days with the launch of iOS 18.1.

Summarize and Read Text Aloud on Camera



With the addition of Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 models, iOS 18.2 made it possible to take a photo of text and choose a "Summarize" option to get a summary of what's written. Whenever you take a Camera Control image of text, there's also an option to hear it read aloud. To use this, just tap the "Read Aloud" button at the bottom of the display, and Siri will read it out loud in your selected ‌Siri‌ voice.

Play Daily Sudoku Puzzles



With iOS 18.2, Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. gained access to daily sudoku puzzles, offering easy, moderate, and challenging difficulty levels. A scoreboard keeps track of your sudoku statistics, including the total number of puzzles solved and your fastest completion times for each difficulty level. This addition is the fourth puzzle game available with an Apple News+ subscription, joining Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles.

Answer Apple Product Questions


siri
Your iPhone became a knowledgeable Apple expert from the moment you installed iOS 18.1. Siri can tap into a vast database of product information, helping you understand device features, locate settings, and even provide tutorials on how to complete tasks. It's like having Apple Support built right into your device, available whenever you need it.

Easily Manage Default Apps



iOS 18.2 added a new "Default Apps" section that can be found in the Settings app, which can be used to manage your default apps for the iPhone. This is a feature that Apple promised would be coming to the European Union, but later decided to make it available worldwide.

US users can access the Default App interface to choose their preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboards. EU users should have more options for choosing non-Apple apps as their default, as they are able to delete core apps like Messages, App Store, Safari, Camera, and Photos.

Offer Smart Replies to Emails and Messages



Communication got a boost with Smart Reply, introduced in iOS 18.1. When you receive an email or message, your iPhone will analyze the content and suggest contextually relevant responses. These quick-tap options make it easy to reply promptly and appropriately, saving you time and effort in your daily correspondence.

Adjust Camera Control Double-Click Speed


settings
From iOS 18.2, a new option in Settings ➝ Accessibility ➝ Camera Control allows you to adjust the double-click speed for the Camera Control button. The available options are Default, Slow, and Slower. The settings are added alongside existing options to adjust the speed of the double light press and the force of the light press.

Summarize Multiple Message Notifications


messages
In iOS 18.1, Apple debuted notification summaries. The feature summarizes multiple message notifications on your Lock Screen, giving you a quick overview without the need to open the app. The feature aims to help you stay on top of conversations without getting overwhelmed by notification overload. After controversy over misleading summarized news headlines, Apple in iOS 18.3 rolled back the feature's support for apps in the News and Entertainment category. Apple also tweaked notification summaries so that they appear in italicized text, with the aim of making them easier to differentiate visually compared to regular notifications.

Categorize Emails in Mail



In iOS 18.2, Apple introduced an updated version of the Mail app for built-in categorization. Mail Categories effectively organize your incoming emails into distinct sections for easier navigation.

Important emails are grouped in a "Primary" category, while other types are categorized into three additional sections. The "Transactions" section streamlines access to receipts, orders, and shipping information, allowing you to quickly locate your purchases. Meanwhile, the "Updates" section gathers newsletters, appointment reminders, and various subscription emails, keeping you informed. Lastly, the "Promotions" category highlights special offers and promotional messages, to make sure you don’t miss out on any deals.

Manage Notification Summaries More Easily



Apple Intelligence‌‌ notification summaries are designed to group multiple notifications from the same app together, providing a one-sentence overview of the content. In iOS 18.3, Apple made it easier to manage individual app settings for notification summaries directly from your iPhone's Lock Screen. A quick swipe leftwards across a summarized notification reveals a new option to turn off summaries for the related app. You can reinstate summaries for the app in question anytime by toggling the associated switch in Settings ➝ Notifications ➝ Summarize Notifications.

Create Memory Movies From a Short Description



Relive your favorite moments with ease using the new Memory Movie feature that Apple debuted in iOS 18.1. Simply provide a description like "My cat in 2024" or "Orlando in the summer," and your iPhone will automatically select relevant photos and choose appropriate music. You can further customize the mood and add specific scenes, turning your memories into beautiful short films with minimal effort.

Generate Images Using Prompts



Image Playground was introduced with iOS 18.2 and is a totally new app designed to help you create images based on your ideas. Similar to ChatGPT, you can generate images by providing a prompt, and Apple offers suggested categories like themes, locations, and costumes to inspire your creativity. The app specializes in stylized content, meaning the generated images won't be realistic, but can choose from Animation and Illustration styles.

Additionally, you can include likenesses of friends and family by pulling images directly from your Photos app. While Image Playground functions as a standalone app, it can also be integrated into apps like Notes and Messages and added to third-party applications.

Remove Unwanted Objects From Photos



In iOS 18.1 and later, you can perfect your photos with Apple's Clean Up tool. This feature allows you to easily remove unwanted objects from your images. Whether it's a photobomber or a distracting element in the background, you can now tap, circle, or brush over the object to make it disappear. The tool is smart enough to preserve important elements, ensuring your main subjects remain intact.

Get an iPhone Charge Time Estimate



In iOS 18.2 and later, you can get notified about how long it will take your iPhone to reach a specific charge level. This builds upon iOS 18's existing battery health capabilities, which include options to limit maximum charging to 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% to help preserve long-term battery health. iOS 18 also alerts users when their iPhone is being charged with a slower-than-optimal charger.

Summarize Your Audio Transcripts


notes
Turn long recordings into digestible content with the transcription feature added in iOS 18.1. When you record audio in apps like Notes, your iPhone can provide a transcript along with a summary. This is particularly useful for capturing and distilling information from lectures, meetings, or interviews, making it easier to review and share key points.

Create Custom Emoji Characters



Genmoji are akin to traditional emojis but offer enhanced functionality. With the feature enabled in iOS 18.2, you can create virtually any emoji you desire, freeing you from the limitations of the standard emoji set.

While they function like emojis on Apple devices, they are not encoded characters from the Unicode Consortium. Instead, Apple developed a unique API for Genmoji, ensuring they display correctly in any application that supports rich text. You can generate a Genmoji by providing a description of your desired design, and you even have the option to create Genmoji that resemble individuals from your Photos library.

Reduce Your Interruptions


notifications
Take control of your notifications with the new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode. This intelligent feature, added in iOS 18.1, filters your alerts and shows you only the most important notifications that require immediate attention. It should come in handy for when you need to concentrate but don't want to miss crucial information.

Query ChatGPT via Siri



Apple has collaborated with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into the iPhone. Introduced in iOS 18.2, the partnership allows Siri to handle complex requests by referring them to ChatGPT, such as generating images or creating text from scratch. With the Writing Tools feature, ChatGPT can produce and illustrate original content, expanding its capabilities beyond what Siri can currently offer.

For instance, you can open a lengthy PDF and ask Siri to summarize information on a specific topic; Siri can then pass this request to ChatGPT to generate a comprehensive summary. Apple envisions Siri as a facilitator for AI models and tools, optimizing available resources to provide you with answers without the need to switch between multiple apps.

Record Your Phone Calls



iOS 18.1 introduced Phone call recording. During a call, you'll see a record button in the upper left corner of the display. Tap it, and after notifying all participants, the call will be recorded. These recordings are stored in the Notes app, where you can access transcripts and AI-generated summaries, making it easy to review important conversations.

View ChatGPT Limits



As part of Apple's collab with OpenAI, iPhone users running iOS 18.2 and later can access ChatGPT for free but are limited to a small number of requests using the latest ChatGPT-4 turbo engine and a limited number of DALL-E 3 image generations. To that extent, the Apple Intelligence & Siri section in Settings displays ChatGPT limits for free users, but it also provides an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan. Once these limits are reached, access reverts to a more basic version of ChatGPT, which is less costly for OpenAI to maintain. Full access requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription, priced at $19.99 per month.

Summarize Web Articles



Getting the gist of a long article is easier with this iOS 18.1 Safari improvement. When using Reader Mode, you can tap a button to have Apple Intelligence summarize the article for you. This feature quickly distills the main points, allowing you to grasp the essence of the content without reading every word.

Generate Apple Intelligence Reports



If you're curious about how Apple Intelligence is working on your device, iOS 18.1 added transparency through the Apple Intelligence Report. Found in the Privacy & Security section of the Settings app, this feature allows you to export your Apple Intelligence data. It requires Face ID authentication, ensuring your privacy is protected while providing insight into how AI is enhancing your iPhone experience.

More Options in Writing Tools


notes
With successive point updates, Apple upgraded the Writing Tools feature to include options for more open-ended modifications. In iOS 18.1, Writing Tools can only adjust the tone to friendly, professional, or a simplified version. However, in iOS 18.2, users can specify the desired tone or content changes, such as incorporating more action words or transforming an email into a poem.

Search Apple Music and Apple TV in Natural Language



Apple in iOS 18.2 introduced a natural language search feature for Apple Music and Apple TV, making it easier to find what you're looking for. In the Apple TV app, you can use casual phrases to search for movies and shows. For example, you can type "family-friendly movies," "thrillers set in space," "movies starring Ryan Gosling," or "feel-good comedies" to get tailored results.

The Apple Music app offers similar functionality, letting you search for songs and playlists by mood, genre, or activity. Try searches like "upbeat workout songs," "romantic ballads," "90s pop hits," or "songs to dance to" to quickly discover music that fits your vibe.

Test Your Hearing With AirPods Pro



iOS 18.2 and later brought the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test feature to several more countries, including Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. This feature initially launched in the U.S. and just a few other countries with iOS 18.1.

The hearing test takes about five minutes and helps adults determine if they might have hearing loss by assessing their ability to hear various sound frequencies. Once the test is complete, users receive a classification of their hearing and suggestions for next steps. For more details, Apple provides a support document explaining the feature in depth.

Send Screen Content to ChatGPT


notes
In iOS 18.2 and later, you can ask ChatGPT a question about something on your screen, and Siri will offer to send a screenshot of it to ChatGPT or the full content as a file if it's a long document. You can use the Copy button at the top-right of the scrollable response window to copy the output to your clipboard. Alternatively, you can save useful responses by invoking Siri and saying "Save this to my notes," which gives you a searchable archive of your conversations in Notes that persists after they end. This is especially useful if you aren't logged into ChatGPT and can't refer back to your account to see your chat history.

Perform Repeating Operations in Calculator



Apple used its iOS 18.3 update as a chance to bring repeating operations back to the Calculator app. When you tap the equals sign twice, the app will now repeat the last mathematical operation. For example, if you tap in 10x10 and tap the equals sign to get a 100 result, if you hit equals again, it will multiply 100x10, and will continue multiplying by 10 every time you tap the equals symbol. It's a small but meaningful change that should make it easier to calculate compound interest.

Limit iPhone's Speaker Volume



A feature introduced in iOS 18.2 lets you cap the maximum volume of your device's built-in speaker. It should be particularly useful if you're a parent or guardian and share your device with children, but it's also handy if you frequently find yourself in situations where sudden loud audio could be disruptive. The new "Limit Maximum Volume" option can be found in the Sound & Haptics section of the Settings app, under the "Volume Limit" section.

Layer Voice Memo Recordings



iOS 18.2 added layered Voice Memos recordings to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, making it easier for musicians to flesh out song ideas and experiment with new ideas. Users can layer a vocal track on top of an existing instrumental recording, with no headphones needed. Instrumental compositions can be played through the iPhone's speaker while vocals are recorded at the same time using the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ microphones. Apple says that this feature is powered by the A18 Pro chip and uses advanced processing and machine learning to isolate the vocal recording.

Battery Health Support for Third-Party Batteries



In iOS 18.1, Apple began allowing iPhones to display battery health information for non-Apple batteries. Previously, when a third-party battery was installed, users would encounter a message indicating that the battery’s authenticity couldn't be verified, and the Battery Health feature would be disabled. But in iOS 18.1 and later, iPhones now provide battery health metrics for aftermarket batteries, accompanied by a notification stating that the data may not be entirely accurate due to the use of a non-genuine battery.
This article, "50 iPhone Features Apple Added to iOS 18 Since September" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

TSMC Founder Reveals Why Apple Chose Them Over Intel as Custom Chip Supplier

Par : Tim Hardwick
30 janvier 2025 à 10:54
TSMC founder Morris Chang has revealed that Apple CEO Tim Cook rejected Intel as an iPhone chip manufacturing partner in 2011, and told him that "Intel just does not know how to be a foundry."


In a new YouTube interview with Acquired, Chang recounts how Apple briefly paused discussions with TSMC in February 2011 when Intel's CEO approached Cook about manufacturing Apple's iPhone chips. At the time, Intel was already supplying processors for Apple's Mac lineup.

Despite the existing relationship, Cook ultimately chose TSMC over Intel after just two months of consideration. According to Chang, Cook's decisive comment about Intel's foundry capabilities came during a private meeting at Apple's headquarters in March 2011.

"I wasn't too worried," Chang said, explaining that TSMC had advantages over Intel in manufacturing capabilities and customer trust. "I knew a lot of Intel's customers in Taiwan, and none of them liked Intel. Intel always acted like they were the only guy for microprocessors."

Chang said that TSMC's success was built on its responsive approach to customer needs. "When the customer asks a lot of things, we have learned to respond to every request," he explained. "Some of them were crazy, some of them were irrational, but we respond to each request courteously. Intel has never done that."

The decision proved pivotal for both companies. TSMC went on to become Apple's exclusive chip manufacturer, producing all Apple silicon chips, including those for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Meanwhile, Intel's foundry business struggled for years to gain traction with external customers. Only recently did the company revamp its manufacturing strategy with the establishment of Intel Foundry, set up to produce integrated circuits for external clients. In September 2024, for example, Intel's foundry business secured Amazon’s AWS cloud services unit as a customer for custom AI chips.
Tags: Intel, TSMC

This article, "TSMC Founder Reveals Why Apple Chose Them Over Intel as Custom Chip Supplier" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Windows 11 Now Lets You Access Your iPhone from the Start Menu

Par : Tim Hardwick
30 janvier 2025 à 10:21
Microsoft has announced an update to Windows 11 that allows iPhone users to access their devices directly from the Start menu, bringing feature parity with its existing Android phone integration.


The new functionality lets you view your device's battery status, cellular connectivity, and recent activities without leaving the Windows environment. You can also access messages, calls, and file sharing capabilities directly from the Start menu interface.

Setting up the integration is straightforward. Just open the Start menu and select "iPhone" from the right-side pane, then follow the on-screen instructions to establish the connection between your iPhone and PC.

The feature is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in both Dev and Beta channels. To access the new functionality, you must be running Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 4805 or higher in the Beta Channel, or Build 26120.3000 or higher in the Dev Channel. Additional requirements include Phone Link version 1.24121.30.0 or higher and a PC with Bluetooth LE capability.

Note that not all Windows 11 users will have immediate access to the feature. Microsoft says the integration is not supported on PCs running Windows 11 Pro Education or Education SKUs.
This article, "Windows 11 Now Lets You Access Your iPhone from the Start Menu" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

When Will Apple Release the iOS 18.4 Beta?

Par : Juli Clover
30 janvier 2025 à 00:11
On January 27, Apple released iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, which means we're now ready for a new round of beta testing. The next betas are rumored to have important new Siri Apple Intelligence features, so when can we expect the software?


There are typically few pauses between beta updates, and Apple often seeds a new beta just a day or two after new software comes out. That's not always the case, though, and sometimes we're left waiting for a couple of weeks. With significant features coming in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.4, there's a possibility that there could be a delay before the betas are introduced.

In past years, there have also been some .4 updates with key features, and historical release cycles can give us some insight into when we might see the .4 betas this year.

  • iOS 17.3 release to iOS 17.4 beta - 3 days

  • iOS 16.3 release to iOS 16.4 beta - 24 days

  • iOS 15.3 release to iOS 15.4 beta - 1 day

  • iOS 14.3 release to iOS 14.4 beta - 2 days

  • iOS 13.3 release to iOS 13.4 beta - 57 days


Expected iOS 18.4 Features


Given that we're still waiting on some of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that Apple announced at WWDC in June, and that Apple has already mentioned that some new capabilities will be coming in April, it's not too hard to figure out what could be included in iOS 18.4.

Apple Intelligence


Apple plans to add new functionality to ‌Siri‌, which should make ‌Siri‌ more capable.

‌Siri‌ Personal Context


‌Siri‌ will be able to keep track of your emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.

  • Show me the files Eric sent me last week.

  • Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.

  • Find the books that Eric recommended to me.

  • Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?

  • What's my passport number?



‌Siri‌ Onscreen Awareness


‌Siri‌ will be able to tell what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell ‌Siri‌ to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask ‌Siri‌ to do it for you.

This is separate from the feature where you can have ‌Siri‌ capture a screenshot and send it to ChatGPT.

Deeper App Integration with ‌Siri‌


‌Siri‌ will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what ‌Siri‌ will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.

  • Moving files from one app to another.

  • Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.

  • Get directions and also sharing the ETA with someone at the same time.

  • Sending an email draft.


More Countries


Apple is planning to expand ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to additional countries, with the feature set to be available in languages that include English (India), English (Singapore), Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Emoji


Apple's .4 updates typically introduce new emoji characters. Right now, we're waiting on the Unicode 16 emoji, which includes face with bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.



Digital Markets Act Changes in EU


iPhone users in the European Union may get the option to change their default navigation and translate apps as Apple is planning to add support for this functionality in spring 2025.

iOS 18.4 Release Date


After a beta testing period that spans through March, Apple will likely release iOS 18.4 in April. Previously, the company said that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will be available in new languages in an update coming in April 2025, which aligns with the iOS 18.4 testing period and subsequent launch date.
Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

This article, "When Will Apple Release the iOS 18.4 Beta?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

À partir d’avant-hierMacRumors

Apple Pay Gains Support for Citi Monthly Payment Plans

Par : Juli Clover
29 janvier 2025 à 21:23
Apple Pay now supports Citi Flex Pay, allowing U.S. Citi credit card holders to pay for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases over time with the Flex Pay option.


Citi Flex Pay is available for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases over $75. The default payback period is three months, but there are longer payback durations available with a monthly fee. Flex Pay can be used when making purchases on websites or in apps.

To use Citi Flex Pay, an eligible Citi credit card needs to be added to ‌Apple Pay‌. When making a purchase, select the Citi credit card and then tap on "Pay Later." From there, select a Citi Flex Pay option.

Apple previously had its own buy now, pay later service called ‌Apple Pay‌ Later, but it was discontinued last year. Apple now partners with third-party providers for pay over time options. Apple's other U.S. partners include Affirm, Klarna, and Synchrony.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay

This article, "Apple Pay Gains Support for Citi Monthly Payment Plans" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple TV+ Introduces 'Sunday Night Soccer' With Weekly MLS Matches

29 janvier 2025 à 19:06
Apple and Major League Soccer today introduced Sunday Night Soccer. Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to watch a featured MLS match every Sunday evening during the upcoming 2025 season, at no additional cost. In the U.S., Apple TV+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $99 per year, and it is also included in all Apple One subscription bundles.


Apple TV+ now offers Friday Night Baseball for MLB and Sunday Night Soccer for MLS, as part of its growing professional sports portfolio.

The 2025 regular season kicks off with the MLS is Back weekend on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday February 23, with all 30 clubs set to take the field.

Sunday Night Soccer will spotlight the most compelling MLS matchups, with enhanced production and studio programming, according to Apple. The inaugural matchup will see the league's newest franchise, San Diego FC, make its debut against the reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy, on Sunday, February 23 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Sunday Night Soccer will also be included with an MLS Season Pass subscription, which is now available for the 2025 season. In the U.S., MLS Season Pass is priced at $14.99 per month, or $99 for the full season, and this subscription also lets you watch select preseason matches, all regular season matches, the MLS Cup playoffs, and more. MLS Season Pass is available in the Apple TV app on Apple devices, most smart TVs, and many other streaming devices and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com.

T-Mobile is offering qualified customers complimentary access to MLS Season Pass this season. The offer can be redeemed in the T-Life app, starting Tuesday, February 18. MLS Season Pass is also available through Comcast Xfinity and DIRECTV this season.

2025 marks the third year of a 10-year partnership between Apple and Major League Soccer.
This article, "Apple TV+ Introduces 'Sunday Night Soccer' With Weekly MLS Matches" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Netflix Brings Full-Season Download Feature to iPhone and iPad

29 janvier 2025 à 18:08
Netflix has introduced a new "Season Download" button for iPhone and iPad users, making it possible to download an entire season of a series with a single tap for offline viewing (via The Hollywood Reporter).



The feature was previously only available to Android users. To date, Netflix subscribers using iOS or iPadOS were required to download each episode individually, which could be time-consuming. Now, full seasons can be downloaded directly from a show's display page, where the option is available next to the Share button. Subscribers can continue to manage their downloaded content through the My Netflix tab.

Netflix first introduced offline viewing in 2016. Over the years, the company expanded the feature with improvements such as Smart Downloads, which automatically replaces watched episodes with the next available installment in a series.

As part of the announcement, Netflix revealed the most-downloaded series on its platform, which include "Squid Game" seasons one and two, "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story," "One Piece," and "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."

The timing of the update coincides with Netflix's latest round of price increases. The company recently increased the cost of its premium ad-free plan to $24.99 per month, while the standard ad-free plan now costs $17.99. The ad-supported tier was raised to $7.99 per month. Subscribers on ad-free plans can store up to 100 active downloads per device, while those on ad-supported plans face stricter limits, allowing only 15 total downloads per month.
Tag: Netflix

This article, "Netflix Brings Full-Season Download Feature to iPhone and iPad" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Get the 13-Inch M2 MacBook Air for the Record Low Price of $799

29 janvier 2025 à 16:14
Amazon and Best Buy are discounting Apple's 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage down to $799.00 in every color. This is a $200 discount on the M2 MacBook Air, and the sale does not require any coupon code in order to see the final deal price.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Compared to past sales, this is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the M2 MacBook Air. Although this is a previous generation device, it remains in Apple's current lineup and will work great for anyone who doesn't need the performance gains introduced with the M3 chip, especially at this discounted price.



If you're looking for a deal on the M3 MacBook Air, you can get the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage for $1,099.99 with an on-page coupon on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. There are three colors available at this record low price on Amazon.

Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Get the 13-Inch M2 MacBook Air for the Record Low Price of $799" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

OpenAI Alleges DeepSeek Used Its Models for AI Training

Par : Tim Hardwick
29 janvier 2025 à 13:28
OpenAI says it has uncovered evidence that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek used its proprietary models to train a competing open-source model, potentially violating the company's terms of service.


The discovery centers around a technique called "distillation," where developers use outputs from larger AI models to train smaller ones. The practice is common in AI development, but OpenAI claims DeepSeek crossed a line by using it to build a rival model.

"The issue is when you take it out of the platform and are doing it to create your own model for your own purposes," a source close to OpenAI told the Financial Times.

DeepSeek's R1 reasoning model has attracted widespread attention in the tech industry for achieving comparable results to leading US models at a remarkably low cost. The company claims it spent just $5.6 million on development, which is a fraction of what companies like OpenAI and Google typically invest. The app this week reached the number one position on Apple's App Store free charts in multiple countries, including the US.

Asked about OpenAI's allegations in an interview with Fox News, White House AI czar David Sacks didn't mince his words.

"There's substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled knowledge out of OpenAI models, and I don't think OpenAI is very happy about this," he said.

The controversy has already had market implications. Nvidia saw its shares drop 17% on Monday, wiping a one-day record $589 billion off its market value, as investors questioned whether expensive AI hardware investments might be unnecessary if companies can achieve similar results with fewer resources.

According to Bloomberg, OpenAI and Microsoft reportedly investigated and blocked accounts in August for suspected terms of service violations, and they now believe these accounts were associated with DeepSeek. Both companies have declined to provide specific details about their evidence.
Tags: China, OpenAI

This article, "OpenAI Alleges DeepSeek Used Its Models for AI Training" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far

Par : Tim Hardwick
29 janvier 2025 à 13:00
This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air," so-called because of its thin profile.


Below is a compilation of every rumor and leak we have registered from reputable sources thus far about Apple's new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.

iPhone 17 "Air"?

About the Name

There has been some uncertainty about Apple's strategy for the new slimmer iPhone model and its position in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "‌iPhone‌ Air." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since come out in agreement about the naming, which Apple could use to boost sales.

Replacing the iPhone "Plus," which, like the "mini" models before it, has not sold well, the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will represent a new approach in Apple's iPhone lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro.

Gurman believes that the design of the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will "just be a step toward something better" since Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design." However, he does not expect this to occur before 2027 at the earliest.

Device Thickness Rumors

Thinner Than iPhone 6

According to The Information, Apple's all-new iPhone 17 model will have a "significantly thinner" design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like Apple's Pro models.

There have been mixed rumors on just how thin Apple will be able to make it. Rumors have hovered around 6mm, however in a recent report, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects the ‌iPhone‌ to measure in at about 5.5mm at its thinnest point. At 5.5mm, the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air would be the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date – thinner than the 6.9mm ‌iPhone‌ 6 that came out in 2014. 5.5mm would be approximately 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are 8.25mm thick.

The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge. The Information also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic Island, though this specific claim has since been contested. Internally code-named D23, the device's redesign has been described as a major one equivalent to the iPhone X.

Display Size

Smaller Than Plus Model

The first details about the size of the device's display arrived courtesy of Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu's claim.

However, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, it will feature a 6.55-inch display. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Apple is still said to be testing different designs for the slimmer phone, so the display size could always change between now and the device's launch.

Always-On Display

ProMotion Support

Apple intends to expand ProMotion to the entire lineup in 2025, including the iPhone 17 "Air," allowing all iPhone 17 models to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary.

Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup have supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPhone 17 "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.

Camera Redesign

Relocated Lens

The Information claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will have cameras in locations we haven't seen before on an iPhone. According to a May report, the rear cameras could be moved to the "top center" of the device. Some Android phones like Google's Pixel 9 Pro have rear cameras in a top-center position, or in a runway-style horizontal bar, but Apple's iPhone camera system has occupied the top-left corner ever since the 2007 model.

Adding to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the device will have only one camera, as opposed to two or three.

More Durable Screen

Anti-Reflective Coating

All iPhone 17 models will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital.

The outer glass on the iPhone 17 series is said to have a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" that is "more scratch-resistant." It's not clear whether Apple is planning to adopt the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning's latest technology matches the rumor.

Improved Front Camera

Better Selfies

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the entire iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements, and the iPhone 16 lineup features the same hardware.

The upgraded resolution on the iPhone 17 will allow photos to maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, while the larger number of pixels will capture finer details. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly enhance image quality.

More RAM

Apple Intelligence

Haitong analyst Jeff Pu claims the iPhone 17 Air will feature 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. It's worth noting that all iPhone 16 models are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a hardware requirement of on-device Apple Intelligence – so it's almost a surety that the slim device will follow suit.

Next-Gen Processor

Better Performance

According to The Information and Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, the device will be equipped with Apple's A19 chip, which is likely to be based on an optimized version of TSMC's 3nm process, possibly N3P or N3X. In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to include an A19 Pro chip. Compared to earlier versions of 3nm chips, the N3P chips offer increased performance efficiency and increased transistor density.

In-House Components

Custom 5G Modem and Wi-Fi Chip

The slim device may also be one of the first iPhones to use an Apple-made 5G modem, second only to the forthcoming iPhone SE 4. Apple's new modem could bring enhancements, such as improved speed, better energy efficiency.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at least one iPhone 17 model will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, and Kuo also expects Apple's 5G modem to be used in the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 model.

eSIM Worldwide

No SIM Card Slot

The slim device will lack a physical SIM card slot, and instead rely entirely on digital eSIM technology, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. In the U.S., all iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models lack a physical SIM card tray already, but all iPhones sold in other countries still have one for now.

The lack of a SIM card slot in all forthcoming iPhone 17 models worldwide has been previously reported, but it is not clear how the devices would be sold in the Chinese market, where the use of eSIMs in smartphones is not currently authorized.

Pricing Rumors

Premium or Affordable?

The Information reported that the slimmer iPhone 17 could have a higher price tag than the Pro Max model, which currently starts at $1,199, despite suggestions that it will not be as feature-rich as Apple's top-tier Max.

However, Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu believes the device will be a mid-tier iPhone that replaces the Plus model. Additionally, a report out of China has claimed that the ultra-thin iPhone 17's price will be similar to that of the iPhone 16 Plus, which starts at $899 in the United States.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17

This article, "iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

WhatsApp Critical Privacy Bug Fixed in Latest iOS Update

Par : Tim Hardwick
29 janvier 2025 à 11:29
WhatsApp has released version 25.2.3 for iOS devices to patch a significant privacy vulnerability that affected its "View Once" feature. The bug allowed users to access photos and videos that were meant to disappear after a single viewing.


The security flaw, which only impacted iPhone users, allowed anyone to view supposedly ephemeral content by navigating to Settings ➝ Storage and Data ➝ Manage Storage and sorting media by "Newest." This completely bypassed the privacy protection that View Once was designed to provide.

Security researcher Ramshath first documented the vulnerability in a Medium post, prompting WhatsApp to acknowledge the issue and develop a fix. This isn't the first time View Once has faced security challenges – a similar bug was discovered and patched on WhatsApp Web last December.

The latest update also introduces several new features, including the ability to make calls without saving phone numbers first and enhanced group calling capabilities.

Given the privacy implications, WhatsApp users on iOS should update their app immediately through the App Store to ensure their View Once media remains ephemeral as intended. [Direct Link]
This article, "WhatsApp Critical Privacy Bug Fixed in Latest iOS Update" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

❌
❌