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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Multiple iPhone owners today noticed a pronunciation processing issue that causes the word "Trump" to momentarily show up when using dictation to send a message with the word "racist."


In some cases, when speaking the word racist through the ‌iPhone‌'s built-in dictation feature, the ‌iPhone‌ briefly interprets the spoken word as "Trump" and "Trump" text shows up in the Messages app before being corrected to the actual word (racist) as Apple's processing interprets what was said.

Speaking the word racist with dictation doesn't always show "Trump" first, though it did show up more often than other words in our testing. We also saw "Rhett" and "Rouch" appear before the ‌iPhone‌ corrects to racist.

A video depicting the bug has been circulating on TikTok and other social networks. An Apple spokesperson told The New York Times that the issue was due to a phonetic overlap between the two words. It is not clear if this dictation issue existed prior to today and was just now noticed, or if there was some internal change that caused it. Apple said that it is working on a fix.

Former Apple Siri team member John Burkey told The New York Times that there is "probably" code in Apple's systems that is causing the ‌iPhone‌ to write Trump when someone speaks the word racist. "This smells like a serious prank," he said, though he also claimed that it is not clear if it was added into Apple's code or seeded into data that Apple uses for its AI features.
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LG TV owners can now install the Philips Hue Sync TV app to synchronize their lights with content on the TV without the need for an additional set-top box.


Hue parent company Signify said in January that the app would expand to LG TVs in early 2025, and it is now available from the LG TV app store. Previously, the app was limited to Samsung TVs.

The app is priced at $130 without a subscription, or $3 per month, and it works with 2024 LG Smart TVs that run webOS 24. The app is expensive, but it is more affordable than the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box that costs $350.

The Philips Hue Sync app works like the Sync Box, and it changes the color and brightness of Hue lights to match games, TV shows, and movies. There are dedicated movie and game modes to choose from. Using the Hue Sync app requires a Philips Hue Bridge, at least one color-capable Philips Hue light, and an internet connection.
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Apple today released a new firmware update for the Lightning version of the AirPods Max headphones. The new firmware is version 6F25, up from the prior 6F21 firmware the device was previously running.


Apple does not often provide much insight into what's new with firmware updates, but as this is a firmware update for an older model, it likely includes bug fixes and other minor improvements.

Firmware can be installed by putting the ‌AirPods Max‌ 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 Max‌ when they are connected to an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac.
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Chinese smartphone maker Oppo recently came out with the Find N5, which is a super thin and lightweight foldable smartphone. It's thinner and lighter than Samsung's foldable devices, and Apple's non-foldable ones.


The Find N5 has a 6.62-inch display when closed, and an 8.12-inch display when open, so when unfolded, it's just a bit smaller than the iPad mini. It's 8.93mm thick when closed, and just 4.21mm when open. The thinnest device Apple has made is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and that's 5.1mm thick, so the Find N5 is an impressive design feat. It's 229 grams, which is about the weight of Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max. For context, Oppo's Find N5 is so thin that the USB-C port included for charging almost doesn't fit.

Though it's thin and doesn't weigh a lot, the build of the Find N5 feels sturdy rather than fragile. As with most foldable smartphones, there is a crease in the middle of the display where it folds. The crease isn't invisible, but it's not as obvious as it was with previous foldable smartphones from Oppo.

Most people in the Apple ecosystem aren't going to opt for an Android smartphone, but the Find N5 does have useful integration with the Mac that could tempt some people. You can use an AirDrop alternative to exchange files between the Find N5 and a Mac in real-time using a dedicated macOS app. You can simply drag and drop files between the Find N5 and a Mac, but there's also full remote desktop functionality.

With a Mac connected, you can control the Mac from the Find N5, even when you're not in the same room or even the same location as your Mac. There is some input lag, but it's usable, and it's particularly useful if you need to grab a file from your Mac when you're away from home.

Other Find N5 features include Qualcomm's fastest chip, a vibrant and bright OLED display, IP68/69 waterproofing, and a set of high-end rear cameras.

Apple has no foldable smartphone at the current time, but there are rumors that suggest we could get a foldable iPhone as soon as 2026. Would you want an ‌iPhone‌ that's similar to the Find N5, or would you swap to Android for this design and feature set? Let us know in the comments below.
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Smart home company Eve today announced the launch of the Eve Dimmer Switch, the company's first smart light switch replacement with dimming functionality. The Dimmer Switch replaces a traditional light switch and it can be used with standard bulbs and lights that have dimming functionality.


The Dimmer Switch has a rocker for turning lights on or off, along with touch support for incremental dimming control. It connects to HomeKit using Matter-over-Thread, and it can be controlled with the Eve app, the Apple Home app, or with Siri voice commands.

As with all ‌HomeKit‌ devices, automations are supported, and the Dimmer Switch can be paired with other smart home products. Remote control is available, and with Matter support, people in your home that use Android can also control the switch. You will need a hub for whichever platform you connect to, so for Apple ‌HomeKit‌, the HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV are Matter hubs.

Eve recommends that only electricians install the Eve Dimmer Switch because knowledge of electrical wiring is required. The switch needs a neutral wire and can replace a single-pole or 3-way switch. With a 3-way switch setup, only one switch in the circuit needs to be replaced.

The Dimmer Switch can be purchased from the Eve website for $50, and it will ship to customers in the United States and Canada in mid-March.
This article, "Eve Launches New HomeKit-Compatible Dimmer Switch" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Adobe today announced the launch of a new Photoshop app for the iPhone, which is designed to allow creators to edit and make content while on the go. The app includes core Photoshop tools that have been tweaked for mobile devices.


The ‌iPhone‌ app supports layering, masking, and blending for creating unique designs, with AI tools also built in. The Tap Select tool allows for quick removal, recoloring, or replacement of parts of an image, and the Spot Healing Brush can eliminate distractions from images.

Adobe Firefly-powered capabilities include Generative Fill and Generative Expand to add new elements to designs and photo edits, plus there is integration with Adobe Stock assets, Adobe Lightroom, and other Adobe apps and services.

Along with the Photoshop app for ‌iPhone‌, Adobe is expanding its web-based Photoshop experience for a new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan. Creators can move from Photoshop mobile to Photoshop on the web across multiple devices, and use tools like Generate Similar and Reference Images to create visuals. Photoshop on the web also supports selection tools like Magic Wand, a Remove Tool for eliminating unwanted objects, and much more.

The Photoshop Mobile and Web plan offers combined ‌iPhone‌, iPad, and web features for $7.99 per month or $69.99 per year, but there is a free version of the app as well. All paid Photoshop plans already include access to Photoshop on the web, and will also include access to Photoshop on mobile devices. Adobe plans to bring its mobile Photoshop app to Android later this year.
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OpenAI today updated the ChatGPT app to add a new Safari Extension that allows ChatGPT to be used as the default search engine for searches made through the Safari search bar.


After updating to the latest version of the ChatGPT app, the ChatGPT Search Extension can be enabled in the Safari section of the Settings app. Turning it on directs all queries typed in to the Safari search bar to ChatGPT Search instead of Google or whatever your default search engine is set to.

Turning on this extension will direct queries you type into the Safari search bar to ChatGPT Search, making ChatGPT Search your default search engine in Safari. The same policies that govern your use of ChatGPT apply.

The extension needs permission to access Google.com or the site for your default search engine, but when granted, any search you type in is redirected to ChatGPT's search feature rather than going through the default in your Safari settings.


There is no option to set ChatGPT as a preferred search engine, but the extension serves as a workaround.
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Apple is beta testing iOS 18.4 at the current time, and while the update doesn't have the Apple Intelligence Siri features we were hoping for, there are a number of new additions that are worth knowing about.

Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence

There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most important notifications first. Priority Notifications is disabled by default, but it can be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications and tapping the toggle.


With the feature enabled, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will show notifications that may be important in a dedicated section of the Lock Screen.

Image Playground Sketch Style

Image Playground now includes a Sketch style that joins the Animation and Illustration styles. Sketch was previously available for Image Wand, but now it is a third style that can be used in ‌Image Playground‌.


Swap styles by tapping on the "+" button in the ‌Image Playground‌ app.

Apple also replaced the "Winter Holidays" theme with a new "Spring" theme.

New Apple Intelligence Languages

French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), along with localized English for Singapore and India.

Apple News+ Food

iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 include a new Apple News Food section for ‌Apple News‌+ subscribers. The Food section features tens of thousands of recipes, stories about restaurants, tips for healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more.


Content will come from top food publishers such as Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats.‌Apple News‌ editors will curate food-related stories, and there will be a dedicated Recipe Catalog section where new recipes are added regularly. An included cook mode provides step-by-step instructions, and users can save favorite recipes for offline access.

Ambient Music

iOS 18.4 includes a new Ambient Music option that can be added to Control Center. There are four different sound categories, including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.


Each category can be added to Control Center separately, and tapping one plays a random selection of sounds or music from that particular category.

You can't choose what's playing from Control Center, but if you play a category and then tap into the Dynamic Island at the top or access the Now Playing widget, you can skip songs and see the name of what's currently playing.

Mail Categorization for iPadOS 18.4

With iPadOS 18.4, an updated Mail app is available with categorization. The new Mail app organizes incoming emails into different sections. Important emails are displayed in the Primary category, with other emails organized into sections highlighting product orders, newsletters, deals, and social notifications.

Mail categorization was previously introduced for the iPhone in iOS 18.2.

Privacy Indication Dots

The small dots that show up on the ‌iPhone‌'s menu bar when the camera or microphone is in use have been moved to the left and are now more apparent thanks to a black background.

Siri Voices

There are two new Australian voices for ‌Siri‌.

Genmoji

The Genmoji icon for the Emoji keyboard now says "‌Genmoji‌" instead of just featuring a multi-colored smiley face. The change should make it more obvious where users go to create a ‌Genmoji‌ character.

Photos

In the Photos app, there are now options to filter your library by images that were shared with you by others or by those that are not included in an album, which is useful for separating out content that you've organized into albums.


Apple also added an option to view your album list by key photo.

In the ‌Photos‌ Settings, there is a new Show Recently Viewed & Shared toggle that will show or hide the Recently Viewed and Recently Shared albums from the Utilities list.

Type to Siri

When you use Type to ‌Siri‌ to ask ‌Siri‌ a question, the keyboard is now collapsed down when ‌Siri‌ answers. To type another request, you need to tap on the ‌Siri‌ bar to bring it back up. There is also a toggle to activate Type to ‌Siri‌ with the side button, which would normally cause ‌Siri‌ to listen for a voice command. This feature is not working as intended in beta 1.

Back Tap

If you have the Back Tap Accessibility option turned on, there is now a notification when a double tap or triple tap action is performed.

Apple Maps

In the Apple Maps Settings, there is a new option to set a Preferred Language.

Passwords

In the Passwords app, verification codes for two-factor authentication have a countdown circle so you can tell when a new code is going to be generated.

Podcasts Widget

There are new Library and Shows widgets that can be added to the Home Screen on an ‌iPhone‌ or iPad. The Library widget features saved content, while the Shows option displays shows that you are subscribed to.


In the Podcasts app, if you tap on your profile picture, there are new options for Podcasts Settings and Notification Settings.

Mac Setup

There is a new feature that allows a nearby ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to be used to sign into a Mac with an Apple Account for setting up a new Mac. macOS Sequoia 15.4 is also required.

Control Center Toggles

The Cellular toggle and the Wi-Fi toggle in the Control Center now show your cellular or Wi-Fi signal strength represented in bars.


The Brightness and Sound toggles in Control Center have been tweaked slightly and will now change color when the sliders are lowered below the position of the icons.


The Focus option in Control Center now has two small arrows that serve as a visual indicator that there are more options that can be accessed.

Shortcuts Actions

Apple added a new Shortcuts action to open a specific conversation in the Messages app.

CarPlay

Some CarPlay users are seeing a third row of ‌CarPlay‌ icons on the ‌Home Screen‌ rather than just two rows.

Default Apps

There is a new option to set a different Translation app as the default in the Default Apps section of the Settings app. In the EU, there is also an option to choose a different Navigation app.

Notification Center

The animation when swiping out of the Notification Center is now smoother.

Camera Control

Additional camera apps that can be selected for the Camera Control feature on iPhone 16 models are now listed in a Camera App section rather than directly in the main Camera Control menu.

Safari Connection Security

In Safari, you can tap into the details on a website to see the certificate through a new Connection Security Details interface to ensure the site is secure.

Wi-Fi Calling Issue

Apple's developer notes for the update say that Wi-Fi Calling might not work for US Cellular customers in iOS 18.4. Apple says that users should revert to iOS 18.3 to enable Wi-Fi Calling. Note that this is applicable to those who have US Cellular as their carrier, it does not mean all cellular users in the United States.

Robot Vacuum HomeKit Support

In iOS 18.4, HomeKit supports robot vacuums, a feature that Apple promised would come in iOS 18. Adding a vacuum to the Home app requires a vacuum with Matter support, and that requires robot vacuum manufacturers to implement Matter. Not all Matter-enabled robot vacuums will be able to be added to ‌HomeKit‌ right away.

Japan 'My Number Card' Support in Wallet

The iOS 18.4 beta appears to include integration for Japanese "My Number Card" Digital IDs in the Wallet app. Apple said last year that it would be adding support for the ID cards in spring 2025.

More than 100 million Japanese residents have My Number Card IDs.

MDM Changes

For enterprise and education users, Apple made some updates to Mobile Device Management. MDM can disable ‌Apple Intelligence‌ reports, Mail smart replies, Safari summarize content, and the Idle Reboot feature that causes iPhones to restart after inactivity. There are also options for preventing the modification of default calling and messaging apps.

Vision Pro App and Guest Setup

For Vision Pro owners, Apple has designed a Vision Pro app for managing the headset. It's designed to help users find content and learn about new features, so it includes tools for downloading apps and visionOS content, a tips page, and a My Vision Pro section for setting up Personalized Spatial Audio and getting information like headset serial number.


Guest setup can now be managed on an ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ linked to a Vision Pro, making it easier for Vision Pro owners to let others test their headset. There are controls for limiting what apps a guest is able to use, and an AirPlay mode for guiding the guest through Vision Pro experiences. When a guest user puts on the Vision Pro, a prompt to enable Guest Mode will appear on the headset owner's device.

The Vision Pro app isn't in this beta, but it will be coming in a later iOS 18.4 beta.

New Emojis

There are no new emoji in the current beta, but iOS 18.4 code confirms a future beta will add new characters. New emoji will include bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.

Find My

Find My support has been added in South Korea.

iPhone 12

The iOS 18.4 beta is not currently available for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models due to an issue that was causing boot loops. It will likely be available for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 series with the second beta launch.

Release Date

iOS 18.4 will be released in early April alongside iPadOS 18.4 and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.4.
This article, "All of the New Features in iOS 18.4 So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the first public betas of upcoming iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, watchOS 11.4, and tvOS 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 few days 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, iPad, and Mac 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.

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.

iOS 18.4 will include a Vision Pro app that will allow Vision Pro owners to manage the headset. It will support content discovery and acquisition, letting new apps, games, and TV content to be downloaded on the Vision Pro with the ‌iPhone‌. The ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ will also support managing Vision Pro Guest Mode, making it easier for people to try out someone's headset.

On the ‌iPad‌ and Mac, the new updates introduce Mail Categorization, a feature that was previously limited to the ‌iPhone‌.

More on the new features in the updates can be found in our iOS 18.4 beta post.
This article, "Apple Seeds First Public Betas of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's chip factory planned for Houston, Texas will manufacture AI servers that are equipped with high-end M5 chips, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.


Apple is working with Foxconn to open a 250,000 square foot server manufacturing facility in Houston in 2026, with the hardware produced at the location set to be used for AI. While Apple did not provide any insight into the servers that it will be making, Kuo says that the servers will be equipped with TSMC's high-end M5 chips, which are set to enter mass production as soon as the second half of 2025.

Foxconn already has a facility in Houston, and it bought additional land for new projects last year. Servers will be produced at existing facilities starting in the second half of 2025, with assembly expanding to the new facility when it launches in 2026.

Back in December, Kuo said that Apple would accelerate its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure for Apple Intelligence when the mass production of M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra chips started. Kuo expects the M5 Pro and M5 Max to enter mass production this year, with M5 Ultra chips to be mass produced starting in 2026.
This article, "Apple's New U.S. Chip Factory to Produce AI Servers With High-End M5 Chips" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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