The second beta of iOS 18.4 expands RCS messaging support to more carriers in the United States and other countries, according to multiple reports on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and other social media sites.


After installing iOS 18.4, iPhone users with Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Ultra Mobile, Tello, and US Mobile are able to toggle on RCS messaging, and the functionality appears to be rolling out for all T-Mobile Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

‌iPhone‌ users with a T-Mobile MVNO can be enabled through the Messages section of the Settings app. It appears that ‌RCS‌ access is only available for those running the second iOS 18.4 developer beta, not the public beta.

In France, Orange and Sosh also have ‌RCS‌ available with iOS 18.4 beta 2, according to iPhoneSoft, so ‌RCS‌ may also be rolling out worldwide for other carriers.

‌RCS‌ was enabled for major carriers with the launch of iOS 18, and it stands for Rich Communication Services. ‌RCS‌ is a communication protocol that improves messaging between ‌iPhone‌ and Android users, offering support for higher resolution photos and videos, larger file sizes, audio messages, Wi-Fi messaging, real-time typing indicators, read receipts, and more.
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In the latest beta of tvOS 18.4, there are new hints of Apple's work on a smart home hub accessory that's rumored to be coming as soon as this year. MacRumors found that Apple has added ChatKit framework to the tvOS code, which is curious as there is no Messages app available on the Apple TV or the HomePod.


The ChatKit framework added to tvOS 18.4 includes reactions and notifications for tapback reactions added to iMessages, like "[person] disliked this" or [person] reacted with [emoji]," which would not be applicable to Apple's current devices that run tvOS.

Both the ‌Apple TV‌ and the ‌HomePod‌ are built on tvOS, and the upcoming smart home hub will be as well. While the ‌Apple TV‌ and ‌HomePod‌ would not work with the ChatKit code features added to tvOS 18.4, Apple's home accessory likely will.

The smart home "command center" that Apple is developing is expected to have built-in Apple apps, and it's possible that one of those apps will include Messages.

It is worth noting that there is a shared codebase for tvOS and iOS, so this addition could mean nothing, but these ChatKit features were already included in iOS and have just been added to tvOS with the tvOS 18.4 beta.

Apple's upcoming device will serve as a central hub for smart home management, but it will also support video calls, viewing photos, browsing the web, listening to music, getting news, and more. It is said to look something like an iPad with an all-display design, but it will be smaller, coming in at only six inches square.

Users will likely be able to set it on a table or mount it on a wall, and the expectation is that there would be multiples throughout the house. It will include some sensors for features like sensing the temperature or detecting nearby people.

There is no concrete word on when Apple's smart home hub will launch, but it could come in the second or third quarter of 2025.
This article, "tvOS 18.4 Beta Further Hints at Apple's Work on Smart Home Hub" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Assassins's Creed Shadows is set to be released for the Mac on Thursday, March 20, Apple announced today. The game will launch on Mac at the same time as it is released for PlayStation 5, Windows machines, and the Xbox.


Ubisoft first announced plans to bring the game to the Mac in May 2024, and at that time, it was supposed to be released in November. The game has been delayed multiple times since then, but it seems it will finally be ready to go later this year.

Set in 16th century Japan, the action roleplaying game is part of the main Assassin's Creed gaming lineup, and it is the successor to Assassin's Creed Mirage. The game focuses on the dispute between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order, and players can take on the role of Fujibayashi Naoe, a shinobi assassin, or Yasuke, a samurai.

Each character offers different controls and gameplay styles, with separate progression paths, skills, weapon options, and stats. While Naoe uses stealth skills, Yasuke excels at combat.

The game has a vast open world to explore, and players will experience a variety of landscapes with evolving weather and seasons. There are castle towns, bustling ports, pastoral landscapes, and peaceful shrines.

Ubisoft executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté said that Assassin's Creed Shadows is his team's "most ambitious" game to date.

Playing Assassin's Creed Shadows on an Apple device requires a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, with real-time ray tracing available on M3 and M4 Macs. Ubisoft also plans to bring it to iPads with M-series chips.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is priced at $70 and it can be pre-ordered from the Mac App Store ahead of its March 20 release.
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Apple today seeded the second public betas of upcoming iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 updates, allowing public beta testers to try out the new features in the software ahead of its public launch. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the beta updates to developers.


Public beta testers can download the updates from the Settings app on each device after opting into the beta through Apple's public beta testing website.

The new software for iPhone and iPad includes Priority Notifications, an Apple Intelligence feature designed to show you your most important notifications first, plus it adds a new Sketch style for Image Playground on all ‌Apple Intelligence‌ devices.

There is a new Apple News+ Food section for ‌Apple News‌+ subscribers that aggregates recipes, food stories, and tips for healthy eating, plus an Ambient Music feature for playing chill music from Control Center. On the ‌iPad‌ and Mac, the new updates introduce Mail Categorization, a feature that was previously limited to the ‌iPhone‌.

In beta 2, Apple added new emoji characters and debuted the Vision Pro app for ‌iPhone‌. The update also brings Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

An outline of all of the new features in iOS 18.4 can be found in our iOS 18.4 features guide.
This article, "Apple Seeds Second Public Betas of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today filed a legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal in an attempt to quash the UK government's demand for backdoor access to encrypted data, reports Financial Times.


Earlier this year, the UK government ordered Apple to give it secret access to encrypted user data uploaded to iCloud worldwide, through the creation of a backdoor. The UK used its Investigatory Powers Act to justify the demand, but Apple has not complied.

Instead, Apple removed Advanced Data Protection from the UK so that it would not have to provide the government with access to encrypted data. Advanced Data Protection is designed to provide end-to-end encryption to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users for data stored in ‌iCloud‌.

Apple will undoubtedly fight the UK every step of the way in order to protect user privacy, and the legal challenge that the company filed today could be heard as soon as this month. Apple is not able to discuss the order made by the UK in public due to the terms of the law, so the court case could be heard without public notice.

Apple previously made it clear that it would pull ‌iCloud‌ features from the UK rather than compromise its user security, and while that only extends to Advanced Data Protection right now, it could lead to key features like FaceTime and iMessage being removed in the country. The UK wants backdoor access to ‌iCloud‌ data to fight terrorism and investigate child sex abuse.

Apple fights vehemently against calls for backdoor access to user data, which we saw in 2016 when the U.S. government demanded that Apple unlock the ‌iPhone‌ of a shooter in San Bernardino, California. That led to a long legal battle that did not see Apple compromise its security. The U.S. has lately reversed course on encryption, and has been promoting end-to-end encryption for mobile devices to protect against foreign cyber campaigns.

The U.S. government is now looking into whether the UK's demand has violated the CLOUD act, which keeps the UK from asking for data from U.S. citizens, and vice versa.
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An updated version of the Mac Studio could launch as soon as this week, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The new machine is expected to be equipped with the M4 Max chip that we first saw in the 2024 MacBook Pro models, but Apple apparently does not have an M4 Ultra chip ready to go.


Instead, there could be a version of the ‌Mac Studio‌ that uses an M3 Ultra chip. Apple didn't release an M3 Ultra chip alongside the M3 chip lineup, so it would be a new chip even though it's not part of the current M4 family. The current ‌Mac Studio‌ has an M2 Ultra chip, as does the Mac Pro.

Apple's "Ultra" chips have historically been two of the "Max" chips linked together, but the M3 Max does not have the UltraFusion interconnect feature that allows the Max chips to be doubled up. The M3 Ultra would likely be a standalone chip that is a departure from the prior Ultra chips that Apple has come out with.

As the M3 Ultra is not likely to be a doubled up M3 Max chip, it's not entirely clear what we can expect in terms of performance, but Apple has more flexibility to tweak processor cores and add additional GPU power. Gurman suggests that Apple might opt to go with an M3 Ultra in the ‌Mac Studio‌ in order to distinguish it from a ‌Mac Pro‌ with a future M4 Ultra chip.

Gurman has faced some difficulty predicting the ‌Mac Studio‌'s launch timeline, perhaps due to Apple's shifting plans. Last year, he said the ‌Mac Studio‌ would come out in mid-2025 around WWDC. He later said that the timing would place it after the MacBook Air, a machine that he suggested would launch before the iPhone 16e and the new iPad Air.

Earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased new product launches with a "There's something in the air" graphic on social media, and Apple has so far updated the ‌iPad Air‌ and the low-cost iPad. The ‌MacBook Air‌ is also rumored to be getting a refresh this week, and now we may also get the ‌Mac Studio‌ even though it doesn't have "Air" in the name.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook teased a new product announcement this week, sharing a short video that says "there's something in the Air." Based on the "Air" wording and the timing of the launch, it sounds like we're going to get new M4 MacBook Air models.

Design

Apple will continue to offer the ‌MacBook Air‌ in two sizes, including 13 inches and 15 inches. We are not expecting notable design updates, and there have been no rumors of a new look.


The upcoming M4 ‌MacBook Air‌ models will likely look identical to the current models, as Apple does not refresh the design of the machines super often. The last ‌MacBook Air‌ design refresh came in 2022, so it's only been three years.

Display

Apple uses mini-LED display technology for the MacBook Pro, but that's likely to stay a premium feature. We're expecting the ‌MacBook Air‌ to continue to use the same Liquid Retina Display technology (aka LED) as the current model.

With the recent ‌MacBook Pro‌ refresh, Apple added a nano-texture matte display upgrade option. It's possible we could see the same option offered for the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it's no guarantee because that also might remain a premium option.

M4 Chip

We've already seen the M4 chip in multiple products, including the ‌MacBook Pro‌, iMac, iPad Pro, and Mac mini, so it won't be a surprise when it's added to the ‌MacBook Air‌.


The M4 chip has up to a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, along with a 16-core Neural Engine. It's built on TSMC's upgraded 3-nanometer process, and was designed with Apple Intelligence in mind. The M4 will outperform the M3 chip, but it won't be a shocking upgrade. We can expect modest improvements in CPU and GPU, with improvements up to 25 percent.

RAM

The ‌MacBook Air‌'s RAM now starts at 16GB instead of 8GB, a change that Apple made last year. We aren't expecting any changes here, and the new ‌MacBook Air‌ machines will also start with 16GB RAM.

Battery Life

With the efficiency improvements brought by the M4 chip, the ‌MacBook Air‌ could see battery life gains. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro, for example, lasts for up to 24 hours when streaming video or 16 hours when browsing the web.

FaceTime Camera

Apple updated the ‌MacBook Pro‌ with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, and it's possible we'll get the same update with the ‌MacBook Air‌. The camera supports Center Stage, a feature for FaceTime and other video apps that is designed to keep you centered in a video chat even as you move around the room.

The camera will also likely support Desk View, which provides an overhead view of your desk so you can do demonstrations.

Thunderbolt Ports

Current ‌MacBook Air‌ models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports, but the next-generation models could get three Thunderbolt 4 ports, which would be an upgrade for both speed and connectivity.

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models support up to two external displays when the device's lid is open, and the ‌MacBook Air‌ should have the same specifications.

Pricing

The M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ is priced starting at $1,099, and there are no pricing changes rumored.

M2 MacBook Air Discontinuation

Apple still sells a ‌MacBook Air‌ with an M2 chip, and it's priced starting at $999. It's possible the ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ will get discontinued with an M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ taking its place, though Apple could opt to keep the ‌M2‌ model around if upgrading to M3 chips would make the machine too expensive.

Other "Air" Products?

It's the M4 ‌MacBook Air‌ that's ready to launch imminently, but Apple could also surprise us. There are, after all, multiple Apple products with "Air" in the name, some of which are due for an update.

The iPad Air is set to be updated this spring, for example, and the AirTags are going to get a refresh at some point in 2025.

Apple's Announcement

Apple doesn't seem to be planning for a spring event this year, and the iPhone 16e was announced via press release and accompanying videos. We're expecting the same release procedure for the ‌MacBook Air‌, with the device set to come out as soon as tomorrow.
This article, "New MacBook Air Coming This Week: What to Expect" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iFixit today shared one of its traditional teardown videos, taking apart the new iPhone 16e to take a closer look at the internal components.


The ‌iPhone 16e‌ has the same quick release battery adhesive as the other iPhone 16 models, with the battery adhesive able to be released using a low-voltage electrical charge.

An earlier teardown revealed a 15.55 Wh battery inside the ‌iPhone 16e‌, which is bigger than the 13.83 Wh battery. iFixit says that Apple was able to place a larger battery in the ‌iPhone 16e‌ because there is additional space that's available thanks to the single-lens rear-camera.

iFixit's teardown gives us our closest look yet at Apple's new C1 modem. It's on the underside of the RF board, and has the same package structure as the Qualcomm X71M modem, with a 4nm modem and DRAM. The 7nm transceivers are not located in the same package as the modem.

iFixit was not impressed with some of the design decisions that Apple made, due to the repair difficulty. To get to the USB-C port, for example, all of the internal components of the device need to be removed. Still, iFixit said that the ‌iPhone 16e‌ makes some progress toward repairability thanks to the rollback of parts pairing in iOS and small changes like a metal bracket that protects a flex cable from being sliced when opening up the device.
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Apple released iOS 18.4 beta 2 today, and it has even more new features than the first beta of iOS 18.4. There are updated emoji characters, a new app, and a bunch of other, smaller additions.

New Emoji

There are new emoji characters in iOS 18.4, including bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.

Prioritize Notifications

In beta 1, Apple added a Prioritize Notifications feature. In beta 2, Priority Notifications can be set up on a per-app basis, and it is no longer an all on or all off setting. Priority Notifications are highlighted in a separate section on the Lock Screen, so you see them first.


Apple uses Apple Intelligence to determine which notifications are important and should be shown with the priority label, but you can still swipe up to see all of your notifications in Notification Center.

Vision Pro App

If you have a Vision Pro headset, you'll see a Vision Pro app on your iPhone after installing iOS 18.4. The Vision Pro app helps you discover and download content on the Vision Pro.


There are dedicated sections for Immersive Video, 3D movies, and more, with options to download apps directly to the Vision Pro without having to use the headset.

Apple also added a dedicated My Vision Pro section with a user guide and tips for using the device.

Control Center Apple Intelligence Section

In the Control Center, there's now an Apple Intelligence section. It includes the Type to Siri option that was in the now-removed ‌Siri‌ section, along with new options for activating ‌Siri‌ and using Visual Intelligence.

Visual Intelligence Action Button

Apple added a new Action Button option that activates ‌Visual Intelligence‌, and it can be used as an alternative to the Camera Control button for ‌Visual Intelligence‌ on the iPhone 16 models.

Visual Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pro Models

‌Visual Intelligence‌ is now available on the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, marking the first time that Apple has made the feature available on an ‌iPhone‌ that's not an ‌iPhone 16‌.



Since the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models do not have a Camera Control button, ‌Visual Intelligence‌ can be activated via the Control Center or with the Action Button.

Pause App Store Downloads

When you download an app from the App Store, you can now pause the download right from the update list in the ‌App Store‌ rather than having to do it from the Home Screen icon for the app. Before now, you could only stop and restart an installation entirely from the ‌App Store‌, with no option for stopping it entirely.


Pausing and resuming works for both new downloads and app updates.

Shortcuts Actions

There are multiple new actions for Apple apps in the Shortcuts app, most of which are for changing app settings.


In Maps, for example, there are actions for things like avoid busy roads, avoid tolls, volume level, directions on radio, and more. In Safari, you can use AutoFill information, toggle on pop-up blocking, close tabs, change search engine, and change the tab bar configuration, among other options.

There are Settings actions for Maps, Safari, Reminders, Calendar, Apple TV, Books, Notes, Voice Memos, and Weather.

Photos

The Recently Deleted section of the Photos app now has one-tap options to delete all photos and to recover all photos.

Wallet

In the Wallet app, there is a new menu that includes Orders, Settings, and Subscriptions and Payments. It can be accessed by tapping on the three dots in the upper right corner, which used to be just for package tracking.

Apple Maps EV Updates

Based on code in iOS 18.4, it looks like Apple plans to add support for using the North American Charging System (NACS) with the Apple Maps EV routing option. ‌Apple Maps‌ EV routing is only supported by a couple of Ford models and the Porsche Taycan, so it's limited.

On those vehicles, there should soon be an option to route to NACS chargers in addition to CCS charging stations. Tesla Superchargers are NACS chargers, for example, but right now the ‌Apple Maps‌ EV feature does not support them.

iPhone 16e Support

iPhone 16e users can download and install the iOS 18.4 beta starting with beta 2, as Apple has added ‌iPhone 16e‌ support.

iPhone 12 Support

With iOS 18.4 beta 1, the update was bricking some ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, so Apple pulled it. That prevented anyone with an ‌iPhone‌ 12 from installing the beta. With beta 2, Apple has fixed the issue, so iOS 18.4 is once again available on the ‌iPhone‌ 12.

There is also now an iPadOS 18.4 beta 2 update available for iPads that had the same issue, including the eighth-generation iPad, fourth-generation iPad Air, and all M2 ‌iPad Air‌ models.

Release Date

iOS 18.4 will be released to the public in early April.
This article, "Everything New in iOS 18.4 Beta 2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Belkin today announced the launch of a range of new products, including updated power banks, over-ear headphones, and a GaN Dock, which is its most interesting new device.


The Belkin 11-in-1 Pro GaN Dock has a built-in power brick inside, so there is no bulky extra power supply that you have to deal with. You'll need to plug it in, but there's just one cable from the outlet to the dock, and then another for the dock to your computer.

The Pro GaN Dock offers up to 150W of charging, though only 96W is available from one of the single ports, with the rest of the power distributed to other ports for charging accessories. 96W is enough for even the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it doesn't support the fastest charging speeds for the machine.

There are a total of 11 ports, including a 10Gb/s USB-A port, two 10Gb/s USB-C ports, a 5Gb/s USB-C port, a PD 96W USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio in/out port, an SD card slot, a micro SD card slot, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a gigabit ethernet port.

The dock supports up to three external displays at 4K 60Hz, or one display at 4K 120Hz or 8K 30Hz. There are two ports that support 7.5W charging, one port that supports 20W charging, and one port that supports 15W charging, so you can charge iPhones, iPads, and other accessories.

The dock is priced at $200, and it is available now from the Belkin website.


Belkin also announced new 10K and 20K Power Banks with a display and an included USB-C cable, along with 10K and 20K Power Banks that have integrated cables. Pricing on the power banks starts at $30, with more information available in Belkin's announcement.
This article, "Belkin Debuts New Compact Dock, Power Banks and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The second iOS 18.4 beta that Apple released today adds new Apple Intelligence features to Control Center, providing some quick access options to select ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features.


There are dedicated Control Center buttons for activating Siri so you can speak to the personal assistant and activating Visual Intelligence, with these features joining the prior option for activating Type to ‌Siri‌. Note that Type to ‌Siri‌ has been moved to the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ section instead of the ‌Siri‌ section.

The features are available on all iPhones that support ‌Apple Intelligence‌, including the iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models. ‌Visual Intelligence‌ is new to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and on the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, the Control Center option for activating it is new.

Prior to now, activating ‌Visual Intelligence‌ could only be done with a long press on the Camera Control button. There's also now a new Action Button option that can be used for Visual Control on the ‌iPhone 16‌ models and the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models.
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In the second iOS 18.4 beta that Apple released today, there are a selection of new emoji characters, including bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.


The emojis are part of the Unicode 16 Standard that was released in September 2024.

It often takes Apple several months to create artwork for new emoji characters that are approved, so it is no surprise that we're not seeing the September 2024 emoji until now.

Apple last added new emoji with the iOS 17.4 update that came out in March 2024, introducing lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), and shaking head horizontally (a "no" head shake).

Next year, we'll get the Unicode 17 emoji, and those characters include hairy creature (like Bigfoot), distorted face, fight cloud, apple core, orca, trombone, landslide, and treasure chest.
This article, "iOS 18.4 Beta Adds New Emoji: Face With Eye Bags, Splatter, Fingerprint, Shovel and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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With the visionOS 2.4 update, Apple is making some major enhancements to the Vision Pro, and that includes a new Spatial Gallery app that's available in the beta as of today.


The Spatial Gallery houses spatial photos, spatial videos, and panoramas from artists, filmmakers, and photographers.


Apple is offering a range of content featuring sports, culture, arts, lifestyle, nature, travel, and entertainment, with plans to continue offering additional content in the future. Apple says it plans to provide visual content from top artists, visionary creators, and global brands.


Right now, the Spatial Gallery has options like sea life off of the coast of Southern California, a skydiving video from Red Bull Air Force, videos from ice climbing in Alberta, Canada, and a behind the scenes video from Severance. There are also a number of shot on iPhone spatial images to view.


The Spatial Gallery is available now for Vision Pro owners who have upgraded to the visionOS 2.4 beta.


visionOS 2.4 is set to see a public launch in April, and it will also bring new Apple Intelligence features.
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Apple today released a new Vision Pro app for the iPhone, which is installed automatically for Vision Pro owners who upgrade to iOS 18.4 beta 2, the latest beta that also came out for developers this morning.


The app was announced two weeks ago, and it is designed to make it easier to find and download content to the Vision Pro when the headset is not in use.

There is a "My Vision Pro" section that has information like serial number and visionOS version, along with a user guide and tips for using the Vision Pro.

The app is straightforward and the main section is a "This Week" experience where you can scroll through different content options for the Vision Pro. There are dedicated sections for Apple Immersive content, new apps and games for the week, 3D movie suggestions, and feature highlights like the Mac Virtual Display. You can download apps and games to your Vision Pro using the app, plus add movies and TV shows to your watch list.
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With the second beta of iOS 18.4, Visual Intelligence is available for the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, two devices that did not previously support the feature. Until now, ‌Visual Intelligence‌ has been a feature limited to the iPhone 16 models, but it will now be available on all iPhones that support Apple Intelligence.


Since there is no Camera Control button on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, ‌Visual Intelligence‌ can be activated through the Action Button or through a Control Center option. There is a new Action Button setting for ‌Visual Intelligence‌, along with new Control Center buttons for activating the feature. On all ‌iPhone 16‌ models, ‌Visual Intelligence‌ can now be activated through the Action Button, so it is no longer limited to the Camera Control button on the ‌iPhone 16‌, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.

Using ‌Visual Intelligence‌ through the Action Button and Control Center is functionality that Apple implemented for the iPhone 16e, which supports ‌Visual Intelligence‌ but also does not have a Camera Control button.

After releasing the iPhone 16e with ‌Visual Intelligence‌, Apple said that it would come to the iPhone 15 Pro models as well. ‌Visual Intelligence‌ is a camera feature that is designed to let you learn more about the places and objects that are around you.

‌Visual Intelligence‌ can use the camera to summarize text, translate, read text aloud, search Google for objects, ask ChatGPT for information about an object or a place, and more.
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The iOS 18.4 beta that Apple released to developers today is available for the iPhone 12 models, which means those devices can once again be updated to iOS 18.4.


After Apple released the first betas of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the updates caused some ‌iPhone‌ 12 models and some older iPads to get stuck in a boot loop. Apple ended up pulling the iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates for these devices, preventing them from being updated to avoid bricking them.

The error has presumably been fixed, because the second betas of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 are available for affected devices. These devices were impacted:

• All ‌iPhone‌ 12 models


• iPad 8 (WiFi and Cellular)


• iPad Air 4th Gen (Wi-Fi and Cellular)


• M2 ‌iPad Air‌ models

This issue affected the watchOS 11.4 update for the Apple Watch Series 6 too, so Apple also pulled the watchOS 11.4 update for the Series 6. The second beta of watchOS 11.4 addresses the issue too.

The second iOS 18.4 beta also comes after the release of the iPhone 16e, so new ‌iPhone 16e‌ owners can upgrade to Apple's beta software. The initial iOS 18.4 beta could not be downloaded on the ‌iPhone 16e‌.
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Apple today provided developers with the second beta of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.4 update for testing purposes. The new beta is available two weeks after Apple released the first beta.


Registered developers can opt-in to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. An Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.4 brings Mail Categorization to the Mac for the first time, reorganizing the Mail app into dedicated categories like transactions, updates, promotions, and primary, a category that surfaces the most important emails first.

For Apple News+ subscribers, there is a dedicated News+ Food section with recipes, articles about restaurants, and other related content. There's a new Sketch style in Image Playground, the option to create Memory Movies in the Photos app, and Apple Intelligence is expanding to new languages.

Apple plans to release ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.4 in early April.
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Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after Apple released the first betas.


iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update.

With iOS 18.4, Apple is adding the Priority Notifications Apple Intelligence feature, which is designed to determine which of your notifications are the most important, highlighting them in an easy-to-see dedicated section on the Lock Screen.

The update includes a new Apple News+ Food section for ‌Apple News‌+ subscribers, plus it adds the Sketch style to Image Playground so you can generate images that look hand drawn. ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is also available in more languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), along with localized English for Singapore and India.

A future update is set to bring a dedicated Vision Pro app that will accompany the headset, allowing users to find and download content, manage the headset, control guest experiences, and more.

Mail Categorization has expanded to the iPad, and there's a new Ambient Music feature for playing relaxing music from Control Center. There are a number of other smaller features too, with details available in our iOS 18.4 features guide.

Apple plans to release iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in early April.
This article, "Apple Seeds Second iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Betas With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming visionOS 2.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 updates for testing purposes. The software is available two weeks after Apple seeded the first betas.


The betas are available to registered developers, and can be downloaded from the Settings app on each device.

Of the three new software betas, the visionOS 2.4 update is the most notable because it brings Apple Intelligence to the Vision Pro for the first time. ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features available in visionOS include Writing Tools, Genmoji, Memory Movie, Image Playground, Priority Notifications, and ChatGPT integration.

The update will include a dedicated Spatial Gallery app, which will offer a curated selection of spatial videos, photos, and panoramas from artists, filmmakers, and photographers. Apple is also bringing a Vision Pro app to the iPhone for Vision Pro management, and it will let users find and download apps, add content to a watch list, and more.

With visionOS 2.4 and iOS 18.4, an ‌iPhone‌ can be used to set up Guest Mode on the Vision Pro, making it much easier to let people try out the headset. When a guest puts on the Vision Pro, a prompt appears on the ‌iPhone‌, and the Vision Pro owner is able to choose what apps the guest can use and can see what the guest is doing via AirPlay.

Apple plans to release visionOS 2.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 in early April.
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iOS 18.4 was supposed to bring new Apple Intelligence Siri features, but Apple ended up needing to pull those capabilities from the update to continue testing. There are fewer new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ additions now, but there are still some new features that will make the update worth installing when it comes out in April.

Priority Notifications

Apple introduced Priority Notifications back at the June 2024 WWDC, and it's another ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature that we've been waiting on since the September iOS 18 release.


With Priority Notifications, Apple analyzes your incoming notifications and highlights the ones that are important, based on context and time. If you've ordered food and your order is approaching, Apple will highlight that notification as a priority, placing it above other notifications. The same goes for anything that has a time-based component, or something else that needs immediate attention.

Priority Notifications is opt-in in the iOS 18.4 beta, so it needs to be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications.

When turned on, Priority Notifications show up first in your list of notifications on the Lock Screen, in a separate box with an icon that stands out. You can still see all of your other notifications by swiping.

Image Playground

When the Image Playground app launched, it only had Animation and Illustration styles to choose from for the images you make, but there were always meant to be three options.


With the iOS 18.4 beta, the third "Sketch" option is available as well. Sketch is a style that looks more like a hand drawn image, and it is distinct from Animation, which is a 3D style, and Illustration, a simpler 3D image.

Apple describes Sketch as a "highly detailed and academic" style that "produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds," while the illustration style features strong outlines, bold colors, and simple shapes. Apple says the animation style has a "whimsical, 3D cartoon look."

New Languages

iOS 18.4 adds ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support for new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), plus localized English for Singapore and India.

iOS 18.4 Release Date

Apple has seeded one beta of iOS 18.4 to developers and public beta testers so far. A second beta will come next week, and it will be beta tested through the month of March.

Apple plans to release iOS 18.4 in early April.

Apple Intelligence Siri Features

There's a chance that we could still see the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features implemented in a later beta of iOS 18.4, but that's looking unlikely given that there's just a month until the update is set to come out.

Instead, Apple will likely add the ‌Siri‌ capabilities in an iOS 18.5 update. It is unusual for major new features to come in a .5 update as those updates often come out around the time when Apple transitions focus to a new version of iOS, but it's not unheard of. Apple has been releasing ‌iOS 18‌ features gradually, and we'll probably see a similar tactic with iOS 19. Rumors already suggest ‌iOS 19‌ development is being pushed back so that Apple can continue to work on ‌iOS 18‌.
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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with GRID Studio to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 128GB iPhone 16 Pro from Apple. For those unfamiliar with GRID Studio, it is a company that recycles discarded Apple products into art that celebrates Apple's history.


GRID Studio is having a special spring sale on some of its most popular products this week, plus there is a 15 percent off site wide discount available with the promo code SS15. As part of the sale, the GRID iPhone 2G, which features Apple's most iconic iPhone, is available for $299.

The ‌iPhone‌ 2G is also known as the original ‌iPhone‌, and it was the first ‌iPhone‌ that Apple made back in 2007. GRID's ‌iPhone‌ 2G piece features all of the device's internal components, labeled and artfully arrayed. The iconic original ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌ casing is positioned next to the power button, headphone socket, speaker, logic board, ear piece, and other components, and this is before the days where Apple started making its own chips so there are some unique components to see.

The GRID iPhone 3GS is half off and just $99. The ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 3GS followed the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 3G, and that "S" was meant to represent speed. It had a processor that was twice as fast as the prior model, and it was Apple's first foray into really focusing on blazing fast performance. The GRID 3GS features the classic pre-iPhone 4 design, and it looks great framed and on the wall.


You can also get the GRID 4S for $99, and it features approximately 40 internal components from the ‌iPhone‌ 4S. The ‌iPhone‌ 4S was actually the last ‌iPhone‌ that was introduced in Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' lifetime, and it was the first Apple ‌iPhone‌ that Tim Cook introduced on stage without Jobs. The "S" stood for Siri, and it was the first ‌iPhone‌ with Apple's personal assistant.


GRID Studio offers plenty of other iPhones, too, plus iPads. If you have a favorite ‌‌iPhone‌‌ generation, it's likely that GRID has taken it apart. With each art piece, GRID separates out each of the components and provides labels for the parts.

To celebrate the spring sale, GRID Studio is giving away an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.


The contest will run from today (February 28) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 7. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after March 7 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
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Today is the iPhone 16e's launch day, and Apple has shared a new ad promoting its most affordable iPhone. The short spot features an inflatable air dancer holding an ‌iPhone 16e‌.


Designed for social media and other quick ad placements, the ad features the song "Talk" from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. It's focused on showing off the design of the ‌iPhone 16e‌, including the all-display design with Face ID and the single-lens rear camera.

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is priced starting at $599, and while it is more expensive than the prior-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE 3 that it replaces, it features an A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, Apple's super efficient modem, ‌Face ID‌, 48-megapixel camera, and a range of other features that make it a solid alternative to the other iPhone 16 models.
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Facebook parent company Meta is planning to release a standalone AI app that would compete with products like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Microsoft's Copilot, reports CNBC.


The upcoming AI app will join Meta's other apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Recent news has also suggested that Meta could soon release a Reels app, breaking out the Instagram feature into its own product.

Meta plans to release a Meta AI app in the second quarter of 2025, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg aiming to become the leader in AI by the end of the year.

Meta's AI product is already built into apps like Facebook and Instagram as part of the search feature, but it has some of the same generative capabilities as other AI products. Meta believes that a standalone app could allow users to more deeply interact with its AI assistant.

While Meta AI will be free as it is now, Meta will test a paid subscription service that could have more advanced capabilities.
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Unique Apple products, vintage devices, prototypes, and documents signed by Steve Jobs often fetch thousands of dollars when sold off, and RR Auction is auctioning off a new round of rare Apple products as of today.


An operational Apple-1 Computer with is up for sale, and could fetch up to $300,000. The machine is known as the "Bayville" Apple-1, and is number 91 on the Apple-1 Registry. The Apple-1 was the first computer sold by Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and a limited number of the machines remain available.

The Apple-1 is in good condition with clear labeling and no peeling on the board. It comes with an original manual with a handwritten note by Daniel Kottke, who was Apple employees number 12.

There are two checks signed by Steve Jobs that could sell for upwards of $25,000, and a rare Apple II Computer with and Rev. 0 logic board and ventless case that could sell for $30,000.


Several EVT (Engineering Validation Test) prototype devices are up for auction as well, such as a Macintosh Portable in a clear case. The Macintosh Portable, released in 1989, was the first battery-powered Apple laptop. Because it weighed more than 16 pounds and was expensive, it wasn't a major success and there are few available, and fewer with a prototype transparent case. Given the rarity of the device, it could sell for $50,000+.


There are also EVT or PVT versions of the iPod Classic, iMac G3, Power Mac G4 Cube, Power Macintosh, and Macintosh TV, all of which could sell for thousands.

All of the Apple devices up for sale can be found on the RR Auction site.
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Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.


‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 214 includes fixes and updates for Browser, CSS, JavaScript, Media, Networking, Rendering, Web API, and Web Inspector.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia, the newest version of macOS.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
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OpenAI today introduced the next iteration of its AI models, GPT-4.5. GPT-4.5 is OpenAI's "best model yet" for chat purposes, with scaling in unsupervised learning that allows the model to better recognize patterns, draw connections, and generate creative insights.


GPT-4.5 has a more natural feel with an improved personality, and is able to better guide users through ideas and the steps that it takes to get to answers and ideas. It outperforms GPT-4o in almost every category, including everyday queries, professional queries, and creative intelligence.

Compared to GPT-4o, GPT-4.5 features a broader knowledge base, an improved ability to follow user intent, and a higher emotional quotient, which OpenAI says makes it useful for writing, programming, and solving practical problems. It could also hallucinate less.

OpenAI says that users can expect more warm and intuitive conversations more attuned to human collaboration because it is able to better understand what humans mean and it is better at interpreting subtle cues and implicit expectations.

Note that GPT-4.5 is not a reasoning model like o1 or o3-mini. It is better for general purpose use, and is built using pre-training and post-training. Reasoning models outperform GPT-4.5 at tasks like coding and math.

OpenAI is making GPT-4.5 available to Pro users starting today, with access coming to Team and Plus users next week. Education and Enterprise access will follow. Developers on all paid tiers will also get access to GPT-4.5 today.

GPT-4.5 supports file and image uploads and can work on writing and code, but it does not support Voice Mode, video, and screensharing.
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Apple today released new beta firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases. The firmware has a build number of 7E5080a, and it is only available to developers at the current time. This is the second beta firmware update Apple has tested, and the prior version that came out in January had a build number of 7E5067b.


It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find out. Non-developers continue to have 7B21 firmware on the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and 7B20 firmware on the ‌AirPods 4‌, with no change until the beta firmware sees an official launch.

Firmware updates can be installed by putting the AirPods in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi, and then plugging them in to charge. It can take up to 30 minutes for firmware to update.

You can check your firmware version by going to Settings > Bluetooth and selecting the Info button next to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ when they are connected to an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac.
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Microsoft today introduced a new Copilot app designed for Macs, letting Copilot users access the AI companion with a native macOS app.


Copilot is Microsoft's generative AI product, built on OpenAI technology. Copilot is similar to ChatGPT, and users can have questions answered, get coding help, upload images for context, generate images and text, summarize content, conduct research, launch shortcuts, and more.

Your AI companion is now available on macOS. You can upload images, generate images and text, use the shortcut launcher, dark mode, and try Think Deeper. Microsoft Copilot is the AI companion for everyday life. Talking with Copilot is an easy way to learn, grow and gain confidence, all with the help of OpenAI and Microsoft AI models.

There are no in-app purchases for Microsoft Copilot, but Copilot does have both free and paid tiers. Copilot Pro is priced at $20 per user per month for access to the latest AI models.


The Microsoft Copilot app can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free. It can run on all Macs with an Apple silicon chip that have macOS 14 or later. [Direct Link]
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Apple today said that it is implementing new features that are designed to make children safer online, including an updated age rating system, a simpler way for parents to set up child accounts, changes to what kids see on the App Store, and a new API that will let developers confirm age range to deliver age appropriate experiences to kids.


The changes are outlined in a new Helping Protect Kids Online white paper [PDF] that is available on Apple's developer site. Apple essentially wants to give parents more control over what their children see and do online in a privacy preserving way, while also heading off less tailored legislation calling for the ‌App Store‌ to be responsible for age verification.

First off, Apple is making it easier for parents and children to set up age appropriate accounts. When creating an account, Apple will ask for the age range of the person using the device, and this feature is in the iOS 18.4 beta. If the account is for a child under the age of 13, there will be a Connect to Family option. A parent will need to provide parental consent for the child to use the ‌App Store‌ and other device features, and this is the process that Apple is simplifying. Right now, Apple asks for a credit card, but going forward, parents will be able to authenticate by using their existing Apple services payment history and confirming with Face ID or Touch ID.

Children can create their own accounts and jump right into using a device if a parent is not available, with automatic age restrictions in place for web content and messages. Some experiences like app downloads will be limited until the child asks the parent to go through the parental consent process to complete account setup. Later this year, parents will be able to correct age ranges for existing child accounts if the current age is inaccurate.

Developers will be required to provide details about whether their apps include user generated content or advertising, require age verification, and/or offer parental controls, with this information to be shared on ‌App Store‌ product pages.

Apple is also updating its age range categories for content. Apple has four categories now (4+, 9+, 12+, and 17+), but is splitting up teen age ranges. The new age categories are 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+. Children will not be able to download apps that exceed the age rating that parents have set, and Apple also will not show age restricted apps where apps are advertised in the ‌App Store‌, instead highlighting age appropriate apps.

• 4+ - The app contains no objectionable content


• 9+ - The app may contain instances of content not suitable for users under 9, including infrequent or mild cartoon or fantasy violence, profanity or crude humor, or mature, suggestive, or horror- or fear-themed content.


• 13+ - The app may contain instances of content not suitable for users under 13, including infrequent or mild medical or treatment-focused content, references to alcohol, tobacco, or drug use, sexual content or nudity, realistic violence, or simulated gambling; or frequent or intense contests, profanity or crude humor, horror or fear-themed content, or cartoon or fantasy violence.


• 16+ - The app may contain instances of content not suitable for users under 16, including through unrestricted web access, frequent or intense mature or suggestive content, or medical or treatment-focused content.


• 18+ - The app may contain instances of content not suitable for users under 18, including through instances of gambling, frequent or intense simulated gambling, references to alcohol, tobacco, or drug use, sexual content or nudity, or realistic violence.

Apple will provide developers with a Declared Age Range API that gives them an age range of a user to ensure that kids don't see content in apps that is meant for adults. The age range prevents apps from having access to specific information about children, such as their date of birth, and parents can choose whether to share age range information with developers. Apple says that its aim is to collect the minimum amount of data to deliver what users need, and it does not want to collect date of birth at the ‌App Store‌ level because all users would need to hand over that information regardless of whether they want to use an age limited app.

While only a fraction of apps on the App Store may require age verification, all users would have to hand over their sensitive personally identifying information to us--regardless of whether they actually want to use one of these limited set of apps. That means giving us data like a driver's license, passport, or national identification number (such as a Social Security number), even if we don't need it. And because many kids in the U.S. don't have government-issued IDs, parents in the U.S. will have to provide even more sensitive documentation just to allow their child to access apps meant for children. That's not in the interest of user safety or privacy.

According to Apple, the approach that it is adopting puts parents in control over what is shared with developers and what children see rather than establishing an umbrella experience for all users.

The ‌App Store‌ changes that Apple is implementing come as several U.S. states are considering more rigorous child protection laws that would require app store operators to confirm user age and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to download apps. Facebook and Instagram owner Meta is also pushing for age verification at the platform level, because then Meta would not need to do it. There are some social media-related laws that require sites to get parental consent at sign up, but nothing universal. Other countries like the UK and Australia have also implemented laws that make social media companies responsible for ensuring children do not access inappropriate content.

Apple has opposed the platform-level legislation in the U.S. because of the privacy issues that are raised when sharing user age with every app, but the API and the age range information could satisfy demand for better age determination practices while also preserving user safety. Apple plans to implement all of these updates this year, but exact timing is not yet available.
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Google today announced some changes to Google Search that will make it easier to remove unwanted personal information from the web.


Clicking on the three dots next to a search result will provide an interface that lets you request its removal. There are three options to choose from, including "It shows my personal info," "I have a legal removal request," and "It's outdated and I want to request a refresh."

The first option allows users to request the removal of information like phone number, email address, home address, credit card numbers, login credentials, and more, and if selected, Google will review the request and possibly remove the result.

The second option is for content that violates Google's product policies, while the third refreshes search results if a page has been updated.

Google has a dedicated "Results about you" feature that has been refreshed as well. It scans for search results that include information like phone number or address, and provides tools for removing those results.
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ColorWare, known for its custom painted Apple devices and accessories, today added to its ColorWare Retro Collection with AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 options designed to look like classic Macs.


The AirPods are available in Light Mode, a matte cream color, or Dark Mode, a matte black shade. Both models have the colorful rainbow accents that Apple used for some of its original Macs.


ColorWare's Retro AirPods Pro 2 are priced at $499, while the AirPods 4 with ANC are priced at $439. ColorWare uses a proprietary painting process that ensures the finish holds up over time, and it makes AirPods and other custom painted devices in a wide range of colors.

Aside from the custom painting, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 are identical in performance and feature set to standard AirPods.


The new Retro AirPods join ColorWare's Mac mini Retro line that launched in January.
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With iOS 18.4, Apple made a small tweak to Safari that could be polarizing because it puts your search history front and center. When you open up a new Safari tab and then tap into the search field, Safari shows your recent search history.


In iOS 18.3.1, opening up a new tab and then tapping into search does not show your history, and the view remains on the personalized Safari home page. iOS 18.3.1 has no clear view of prior searches at all, except that a recent search will show up in your suggested results if you search for the same thing again.

As noted by 9to5Mac, having Safari search so visible may not always be desirable if you're ever in a situation where you hand your iPhone or iPad over to someone else to let them use Safari or another app.

Of course, if you don't ever let anyone use your devices, having recent search available at a tap has the potential to be useful if you're often using the same search terms multiple times. Apple also offers a Private browsing mode where searches are not saved.

There is no setting in iOS 18.4 to disable the recent search view, but Apple may opt to tweak the feature before the beta sees a public launch. Users can also opt to clear their search history at any time with the "Clear All" option.
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Amazon today announced the launch of Alexa+, a new version of Alexa that includes large language models, agentic capabilities, services, and devices at scale to redefine "the way we interact with digital assistants."


Alexa+ is smarter, more personalized, and more proactive about making suggestions to users, according to Amazon. The experience is designed to improve as users interact more with Alexa, and Alexa has been updated to have more personality.

Users can expect a smoother and more intuitive experience when speaking with Alexa, and the personal assistant will be better able to understand what a user wants regardless of phrasing. Alexa continues to have integrations with various services like Spotify and Apple Music, along with smart home devices.

Amazon says that Alexa+ uses "devices, context, and knowledge" to create a "simple" smart home experience where users can control multiple smart devices with one request, create routines with voice commands, and adjust home parameters without explicit requests. If a user says "I'm cold" or "it's too bright," Alexa will know to adjust the temperature or dim the lights without being asked.

Alexa+ essentially does everything that the current version of Alexa can do, but better. As an example, Amazon says you can use Alexa+ to play music, but also have "broad-ranging conversations" about your favorite artists. Or you can play movies and TV shows, but also ask questions about characters, episodes, soundtracks, and go to specific scenes. Alexa is able to do things that other chatbots like ChatGPT can do, such as answering complex questions. Amazon has a list of 50 recommendations to try with Alexa+, and some of the options are below:

• Explore any topic, have full conversations, and get real-time news.


• Ask Alexa to remember important details like a frequent flyer number, restaurant names, recipes, and more. Alexa can remember things about users too, such as dietary restrictions and allergies to take that into account when making recommendations.


• Ask Alexa+ for details in documents, notes, photos, and more.


• Manage calendar schedules and turn emails into events.


• Get personalized recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and more.


• Set up routines with commands like "every morning at 7 am, turn on the coffee pot, slowly turn my bedroom lights on, and play some peaceful music."


• Build grocery lists and order groceries by voice.


• Have Alexa+ look out for deals on an upcoming purchase.


• Order takeout, book rides, and make dinner reservations.


• Get food recommendations and meal plans, plus set intuitive cooking timers such as a timer for a medium-rare steak rather than a specific time.


• Send announcements to specific Amazon devices.


• Generate images.

Amazon is allowing Amazon Prime subscribers to access Alexa+ for free, and non-subscribers can use Alexa+ for $19.99 per month. Early access will be rolling out to eligible customers in late March. Households with an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 will be the first to get early access to Alexa+.
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