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


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

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

• iOS 17.3 release to iOS 17.4 beta - 3 days


• iOS 16.3 release to iOS 16.4 beta - 24 days


• iOS 15.3 release to iOS 15.4 beta - 1 day


• iOS 14.3 release to iOS 14.4 beta - 2 days


• iOS 13.3 release to iOS 13.4 beta - 57 days

Expected iOS 18.4 Features

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

Apple Intelligence

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

‌Siri‌ Personal Context

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

• Show me the files Eric sent me last week.


• Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.


• Find the books that Eric recommended to me.


• Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?


• What's my passport number?

‌Siri‌ Onscreen Awareness

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

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

Deeper App Integration with ‌Siri‌

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

• Moving files from one app to another.


• Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.


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


• Sending an email draft.

More Countries

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

Emoji

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

Digital Markets Act Changes in EU

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

iOS 18.4 Release Date

After a beta testing period that spans through March, Apple will likely release iOS 18.4 in April. Previously, the company said that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will be available in new languages in an update coming in April 2025, which aligns with the iOS 18.4 testing period and subsequent launch date.
This article, "When Will Apple Release the iOS 18.4 Beta?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Après de multiples polémiques sur l’utilisation obligatoire d’un compte PlayStation Network sur PC, Sony a décidé de faire machine arrière et ce dernier est désormais optionnel pour les dernières productions. Mais le constructeur japonais compte tout de même insister sur l’intérêt de ce compte en offrant désormais du contenu in-game conséquent.

Pour les joueurs PC, l’obligation de disposer d’un compte PSN était une aberration, mais dans certains pays c’était même bloquant. En effet, il n’était pas possible de disposer d’un compte PlayStation Network dans certains pays empêchant ainsi de jouer à certains titres pourtant bien acquis… Ainsi, Sony a décidé de stopper l’hémorragie pour ces dernières et futures productions.

Toutefois, PlayStation ne lâche pas son compte PSN sur PC et tente de convaincre les joueurs de l’utiliser, avec notamment la gestion possible des amis ou encore le déblocage des trophées. L’éditeur japonais passe désormais la seconde en proposant désormais des avantages in-game pour récompenser les joueurs d’utiliser le compte PSN.

Voici les premiers bonus qui seront prochainement offerts sur les récentes et prochains portages sur PC :

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

• Débloquez les tenues suivantes en avance : Tenue Spider-Man 2099 noire et Tenue Miles Morales 2099.

God of War Ragnarok

• Débloquez l’accès à l’Armure de l’Ours Noir dans le premier coffre d’objet perdu dans le Royaume entre les Royaumes (précédemment uniquement disponible dans une Nouvelle Partie +) et un lot de ressources (500 Hacksilver et 250 XP).

The Last of Us Part II Remastered

• +50 points pour activer des fonctionnalités bonus et débloquer des extras.
• La veste de Jordan d’Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet comme skin pour Ellie.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

• Débloquez l’accès à la tenue Nora Valiant.

Reste à voir si cela suffira à convaincre les joueurs d’utiliser un compte PlayStation Network sur PC.

Cet article Désormais optionnel, Sony offre désormais du contenu in-game pour convaincre les joueurs d’utiliser un compte PlayStation Network sur PC est apparu en premier sur JVFrance.

Après de multiples polémiques sur l’utilisation obligatoire d’un compte PlayStation Network sur PC, Sony a décidé de faire machine arrière et ce dernier est désormais optionnel pour les dernières productions. Mais le constructeur japonais compte tout de même insister sur l’intérêt de ce compte en offrant désormais du contenu in-game conséquent.

Pour les joueurs PC, l’obligation de disposer d’un compte PSN était une aberration, mais dans certains pays c’était même bloquant. En effet, il n’était pas possible de disposer d’un compte PlayStation Network dans certains pays empêchant ainsi de jouer à certains titres pourtant bien acquis… Ainsi, Sony a décidé de stopper l’hémorragie pour ces dernières et futures productions.

Toutefois, PlayStation ne lâche pas son compte PSN sur PC et tente de convaincre les joueurs de l’utiliser, avec notamment la gestion possible des amis ou encore le déblocage des trophées. L’éditeur japonais passe désormais la seconde en proposant désormais des avantages in-game pour récompenser les joueurs d’utiliser le compte PSN.

Voici les premiers bonus qui seront prochainement offerts sur les récentes et prochains portages sur PC :

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

• Débloquez les tenues suivantes en avance : Tenue Spider-Man 2099 noire et Tenue Miles Morales 2099.

God of War Ragnarok

• Débloquez l’accès à l’Armure de l’Ours Noir dans le premier coffre d’objet perdu dans le Royaume entre les Royaumes (précédemment uniquement disponible dans une Nouvelle Partie +) et un lot de ressources (500 Hacksilver et 250 XP).

The Last of Us Part II Remastered

• +50 points pour activer des fonctionnalités bonus et débloquer des extras.
• La veste de Jordan d’Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet comme skin pour Ellie.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

• Débloquez l’accès à la tenue Nora Valiant.

Reste à voir si cela suffira à convaincre les joueurs d’utiliser un compte PlayStation Network sur PC.

Cet article Désormais optionnel, Sony offre désormais du contenu in-game pour convaincre les joueurs d’utiliser un compte PlayStation Network sur PC est apparu en premier sur JVFrance.

• Asia’s richest family, the Ambanis, in three-way battle
• New names, bigger budgets and star players on horizon

The ECB has been accused of “selling the family silver and cricket’s soul” rather than taking “strategic decisions” by one of the bidders in the Hundred auction, which begins on Thursday.

The Oval Invincibles is the first franchise up for grabs when the final round of bidding starts with a live online auction at 1.30pm, with Birmingham Phoenix to be sold via sealed bids later in the day.

Continue reading...

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© Photograph: Alex Davidson/ECB/Getty Images

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© Photograph: Alex Davidson/ECB/Getty Images

Tales of Graces est le douzième épisode principal de la série Tales of. Il est sorti sur Wii en 2009 (au Japon uniquement). Une édition améliorée, enrichie d'un nouvel arc scénaristique servant d'épilogue -intitulé Lignée et Héritage- est ensuite sortie sur PlayStation 3 (chez nous en 2012). C'est une version remasterisée de cette édition qui ressort aujourd'hui sur les supports modernes (PlayStation 4 et 5, Switch, puis ce printemps sur Steam.)

Tales of Graces est le douzième épisode principal de la série Tales of. Il est sorti sur Wii en 2009 (au Japon uniquement). Une édition améliorée, enrichie d'un nouvel arc scénaristique servant d'épilogue -intitulé Lignée et Héritage- est ensuite sortie sur PlayStation 3 (chez nous en 2012). C'est une version remasterisée de cette édition qui ressort aujourd'hui sur les supports modernes (PlayStation 4 et 5, Switch, puis ce printemps sur Steam.)

It's been two years since NVIDIA introduced its Ada Lovelace GPUs, kicking things off with the RTX 4090 and finishing up the initial lineup with the SUPER family At CES, the company unveiled its new RTX 50 "Blackwell" family which features a brand new architecture and several changes such as new cores, AI accelerators, new memory standards, and the latest video/display capabilities. Today, NVIDIA is releasing the second fastest card within its "RTX 50" portfolio, the GeForce RTX 5080. The GeForce RTX 5080 is a top-of-the-line graphics card, designed for enthusiast gamers, and features a price point of $999 US […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/galax-geforce-rtx-5080-1-click-oc-white-16-gb-gpu-review-advanced-gaming-gpu-for-enthusiasts/

This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air," so-called because of its thin profile.


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

iPhone 17 "Air"?

About the Name

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

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

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

Device Thickness Rumors

Thinner Than iPhone 6

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

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

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

Display Size

Smaller Than Plus Model

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

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

Always-On Display

ProMotion Support

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

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

Camera Redesign

Relocated Lens

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

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

More Durable Screen

Anti-Reflective Coating

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

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

Improved Front Camera

Better Selfies

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

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

More RAM

Apple Intelligence

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

Next-Gen Processor

Better Performance

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

In-House Components

Custom 5G Modem and Wi-Fi Chip

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

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

eSIM Worldwide

No SIM Card Slot

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

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

Pricing Rumors

Premium or Affordable?

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

However, Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu believes the device will be a mid-tier iPhone that replaces the Plus model. Additionally, a report out of China has claimed that the ultra-thin iPhone 17's price will be similar to that of the iPhone 16 Plus, which starts at $899 in the United States.
This article, "iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The upcoming iPhone SE 4 will feature a notch instead of the Dynamic Island, respected display analyst Ross Young said today. The device will have a "notch like the iPhone 14," according to Young, which contradicts a recent leak that depicted a ‌Dynamic Island‌.


Earlier this month, leaker Evan Blass shared images said to feature the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4's design, but those images featured an iPhone with a ‌Dynamic Island‌ rather than the notch that had been previously rumored for new low-cost ‌iPhone‌. A sketchy leak from February 2024 also suggested that the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 would get the ‌Dynamic Island‌, but most other information has suggested that Apple will go with the notch design.

Multiple rumors have indicated that the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 is modeled after the ‌iPhone 14‌, and will therefore have an ‌iPhone‌ 14-style design. The ‌iPhone 14‌ had a notch and not a ‌Dynamic Island‌, so the notch makes more sense if Apple is using an ‌iPhone 14‌ body for the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4. Alleged screen protectors for the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 also appear to have a design for a notch rather than the ‌Dynamic Island‌.

Image via Sonny Dickson

With the launch of the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4, Apple will sunset Touch ID in the ‌iPhone‌ lineup, and all iPhones will have Face ID. The ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 is also expected to feature a 6.1-inch display, a single-lens rear camera, 8GB RAM, and an A17 Pro chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence.

Current rumors suggest that the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 will be introduced in the spring, likely in April.
This article, "iPhone SE 4 to Have Notch Instead of Dynamic Island" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Samsung just recently announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra, its latest flagship smartphone that's designed to compete with the iPhone. We did a hands-on video last week, but this week we're back with an in-depth camera comparison.


In this article and our accompanying video, we've included blind photos from the S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max so you can judge for yourself which smartphone camera you prefer, but we'll let you know which is which at the very end of the video.


The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max has a 50-megapixel Main lens (which is wide angle), a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and a 12-megapixel Telephoto lens. In sheer specs, Samsung wins because the S25 Ultra has a quad camera setup with a 200-megapixel wide lens, a 50-megapixel ultra wide lens, a 50 megapixel telephoto lens, and an extra 10-megapixel telephoto lens. The extra telephoto lens allows for more versatility with different optical zoom options.


Adding more megapixels lets you crop in more and it can preserve detail when doing so, but smartphone cameras these days are advanced enough that you're going to get fantastic pictures regardless of whether you have an ‌iPhone‌ or a Samsung device.


That said, there are notable differences in under-the-hood processing techniques, plus some areas where Apple has an edge and some areas where Samsung excels.


The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max simply cannot compete with the Galaxy S25 on optical and software-enhanced digital zoom. The Galaxy S25 has 5x optical zoom like the ‌iPhone‌, but 10x "optical quality" zoom that uses AI, and it works well.


Further, Samsung has a 100x zoom feature that's been getting better every year. Apple's digital zoom is limited to 25x, and there's so much noise that 25x images are unusable, but Samsung's comparable 30x images look decent.


Comparing zoomed in photos is where you'll see the biggest difference between the S25 Ultra and the 16 Pro Max.


When it comes to everyday photos, there are some areas where the S25 Ultra struggled. Low-light and night photos in particular showed some significant light flare and blur, and the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max performed better in these scenarios. Apple's image processing tends to be high contrast with vivid color, and that's clear here. Shots from the S25 Ultra tend to be a little more washed out, but which you like better is a matter of preference.


Portraits were similar with both smartphones, and both did a good job separating the subject from the background and applying attractive blur.


To match the ‌iPhone‌'s video recording capabilities, Samsung added a new LOG video recording mode for pros, along with an Expert RAW mode that lets you adjust aperture before capturing a shot. Apple still has an edge when it comes to video, including stabilization.


Make sure to watch the video to see which smartphone is which, and let us know in the comments below whether you prefer the images from the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max.
This article, "Camera Comparison: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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 [Lire la suite]

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Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including the new iPad mini 7, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season in many cases.

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

iPad Mini 7

Amazon this week is providing record low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. Best Buy is also matching every one of these deals, and in some cases it has better delivery estimates.

M2 iPad Air

Amazon has nearly every model of Apple's M2 iPad Air on sale this week at $100 off, all of which are matching the record low prices for each tablet. You'll also find Best Buy matching these discounts, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus/Total member to get the deals.

11-inch iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $499.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $599.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $799.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $999.00 ($100 off) [only at Best Buy]

13-inch iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $699.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $799.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $999.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,199.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]

M4 iPad Pro

Similar to the iPad Air tablets, both Amazon and Best Buy are providing record low prices on Apple's M4 iPad Pro this week. For the 11-inch models, on Amazon you'll need to clip an on-page coupon to see the final sale price, and on Best Buy you'll need to be a My Best Buy Plus/Total member.

The same stipulations don't apply to 13-inch models, which are available without coupons or the need of a membership. Every price listed below is the match of an all-time low price on each iPad Pro model.

11-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off) [matched at Best Buy for members]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [matched at Best Buy for members]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off) [matched at Best Buy for members]


• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($300 off)


• 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($300 off)

13-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]

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

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This article, "Amazon's New iPad Sale Has Up to $300 Off M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, and iPad Mini 7" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple this week released iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, software updates that enable Apple Intelligence on supported devices by default. Whether you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac – or indeed all three – regardless of what you think about Apple Intelligence, there's one reason why you may want to disable Apple's AI features at the earliest opportunity: To reclaim storage.


Apple's marketing machine has made much of Apple Intelligence since its announcement at WWDC in June 2024. Apple brought the first features to compatible iPhones, iPads and Macs in October with a point update to iOS 18/iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, followed by a further update in December that brought a more fleshed-out set of AI-powered features, with the most recent update adding some much-needed refinements.

Despite the raft of updates, Apple Intelligence remains in beta, and in terms of the AI suite's current usefulness, opinions remain decidedly mixed. For some, however, when considering the relative worth of these features, the deciding factor will be their local storage overhead. According to Apple's support page, Apple Intelligence now requires 7GB of storage space. This number applies whether you're using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.


That might sound like a lot, but it's one way that Apple is able to tout the privacy credentials of Apple Intelligence. Many of these features run locally, and in order to do so, they must download AI models to your device(s), which currently requires 7GB of storage. This means if you have an iPhone, iPad, and a Mac, it effectively equates to 21GB of storage across your devices that is being taken up by AI models that you may never even use.

But don't assume that 7GB is any sort of hard cap. In April, Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 featuring some broad enhancements to Siri's AI capabilities, which will likely hike the storage requirement further. And that's not even taking into consideration the storage demands that iOS 19 will bring later this year...

AI or No AI? Time to Decide

Here's the deal. After updating to iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or macOS Sequoia 15.3, Apple Intelligence is an opt-out feature, not an opt-in feature. In other words, if you have updated – or plan to update – your devices to the new software, Apple Intelligence will be automatically enabled upon doing so.


Note that this still applies if you already disabled it in the previous point updates but then allowed the latest update welcome screens to steer you towards enabling Apple Intelligence again. If however you chose "Set Up Later" at the on-screen prompt, you have no action to take – these features will respect your prior decision and remain disabled. For everyone else, it's time to decide: Is Apple Intelligence really worth all those precious gigabytes?

Why Disabling Apple Intelligence Reclaims Storage

Apple Intelligence utilizes something called the MobileAsset framework to manage and deliver its machine learning models and related assets to your devices. This framework dynamically downloads and updates the necessary components, ensuring that your devices have access to the latest capabilities without requiring comprehensive system updates.

• 20+ Ways to Free Up iPhone Storage

Thankfully, when you disable Apple Intelligence, the system identifies that the associated assets are no longer in use. The MobileAsset framework then purges these unused assets when additional space is required – optimizing and freeing up your local storage in the process. Here are the steps you need to take to ensure that happens.

How to Disable Apple Intelligence

Disabling Apple Intelligence completely is simply a matter of flipping the associated switch on each supported device running the latest software. Compatible devices include any iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later, and any Mac with M1 or later.

Disable Apple Intelligence on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, you can find it in Settings ➝ Apple Intelligence & Siri. Toggle off the switch next to Apple Intelligence.

Disable Apple Intelligence on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri in the sidebar, then click the switch next to Apple Intelligence at the top of the menu window to toggle it off.

What You Lose by Disabling Apple Intelligence

In iOS 18.2 or later, iPadOS 18.2 or later, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later, turning off Apple Intelligence will knock out the following features:

• Genmoji


• Image Playground


• Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool palette


• Writing Tools


• Clean Up in Photos


• Create a Memory movie in Photos (not available in macOS)


• Natural language search in Photos


• Notification summaries


• Reduce Interruptions Focus


• Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing in Focus


• Priority messages in Mail


• Smart Reply in Mail and Messages


• Summaries in Mail and Messages


• Siri enhancements, including product knowledge, more resilient request handling, new look and feel, more natural voice, the ability to type to Siri, and more


• ChatGPT integration within Siri and Writing Tools

If you don't see any of the features listed above on your device, your specific model likely doesn't support Apple Intelligence, so you don't have anything to worry about.
This article, "Save 7GB Storage Per Device by Disabling Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Square Enix has just released Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, it’s time to benchmark it and examine its performance on the PC platform. For our benchmarks, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz, AMD’s Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, as well as NVIDIA’s RTX … Continue reading Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis →

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iOS 18.3 is the third major update to the iOS 18 operating system, and while it isn't as feature rich as iOS 18.1 or iOS 18.2, there are some Apple Intelligence changes worth knowing about, as well as as some other tweaks, bug fixes, and security updates.


This guide covers everything new in iOS 18.3.

Apple Intelligence

After updating to iOS 18.3, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is an opt-out feature, not an opt-in feature. If you didn't have ‌Apple Intelligence‌ turned on, it's now turned on automatically, and you will need to go to the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ section of the Settings app to turn it off.


‌Apple Intelligence‌ will also be automatically enabled on devices running iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ is available on the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPhone 16 Pro models, the iPad mini 7, and all Macs and iPads with an M-series chip. On these devices, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is now turned on automatically when iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 is installed. In prior updates, you had to explicitly turn ‌Apple Intelligence‌ on to be able to use the feature set.

Visual Intelligence

For iPhone 16 models, there are new Visual Intelligence features that are accessible with Camera Control.


You can now use ‌Visual Intelligence‌ to add an event to the Calendar app, or to identify plants and animals.

Apple Intelligence Notification Summaries

iOS 18.3 makes several changes to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ Notification summaries to address complaints over notifications that have false news headlines.

Notification summaries for the News and Entertainment category have been temporarily disabled, and Apple is working on improvements. The feature will return in a future software update, but for now, these types of notifications will not be aggregated and summarized.


In the Settings app, when a user activates Notification summaries, Apple has added a warning that this is a beta feature, and that errors are a possibility.


For summaries that are still available through ‌‌Apple Intelligence‌‌, the text is italicized as a way to distinguish them from standard notifications.


Apple also added an option to manage whether notifications are summarized for an app right from the Lock Screen. To turn off summaries from the Lock Screen, swipe to the left on a Notification summary and then tap on options to get to the menu to disable it on a per-app basis.

Calculator

Apple made a change to the Calculator app, returning a feature that was removed with ‌iOS 18‌. You can once again tap the equals sign twice to repeat the last mathematical operation.


Apple removed repeating operations in ‌iOS 18‌, but it's back. Some iPhone owners who used the Calculator app for things like calculating compound interest will now be able to do so again.

Black Unity Wallpaper

The update adds a new wallpaper to go along with a new watch face and new Apple Watch band that were announced today.

Bug Fixes

There are fixes for a couple of notable bugs.

• Siri Keyboard - The update addresses a bug that could cause the keyboard to disappear after you typed in a Siri request with the Type to ‌Siri‌ feature.


• Apple Music - iOS 18.3 fixes a bug that could cause audio playback to continue even after the Apple Music app is closed.

Security Updates

iOS 18.3 fixes 25 security vulnerabilities, including one that was actively exploited. A CoreMedia vulnerability could be used to elevate privileges, and Apple is aware of reports that it may have been used on devices running iOS 17.1 or earlier.

A Photos vulnerability could allow an attacker with physical access to an unlocked device to access the ‌Photos‌ app even when the ‌iPhone‌ is locked, and Apple fixed several issues with AirPlay that could allow attackers to execute code or crash apps.

Two kernel vulnerabilities that could let malicious apps gain kernel privileges were addressed, and there are a handful of WebKit fixes for Safari. Given the number of security holes that were patched, it's a good idea to install the software to get the latest fixes.
This article, "iOS 18.3 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple regularly releases new firmware for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, but the company has historically provided limited information on how to initiate an update. That changed today, and Apple updated its AirPods firmware support page with more specific instructions.


Prior to today, here's what Apple said on the subject:

Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi . You can also use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to check that your AirPods have the latest version.

Apple still has that same information, but now it's accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to force an update, including troubleshooting steps if your AirPods won't update.

1. Make sure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi.


2. Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.


3. Plug the charging cable into your charging case, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.


4. Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.


5. Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.


6. Check the firmware version again.

If you still can't update your firmware, reset your AirPods, then try to update your firmware again.

This process was generally already known, but the specific steps for charging via a cable and the 30 minute+ wait time remove any ambiguity on how to get new firmware installed.
This article, "Apple Finally Explains How to Install New Firmware on Your AirPods" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Along with new features, the iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3 updates that Apple released today include multiple security fixes, including a fix for vulnerability that may have been actively exploited on some devices.


According to Apple's security support document, there was a CoreMedia bug that could be used to elevate privileges. Apple says that it is aware of a report that the bug could have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 17.2. Apple fixed the issue with improved memory management.

Apple also addressed over 20 other vulnerabilities. One could allow an attacker with physical access to an unlocked device to access the Photos app even when an iPhone is locked, and there were several issues with AirPlay that could allow attackers to execute code or crash apps.

Two kernel vulnerabilities could let malicious apps gain kernel privileges, and there were a handful of WebKit fixes for Safari.

Because of the number of security issues fixed in the update, it is a good idea to update to the new software right away.

watchOS 11.3 and tvOS 18.3 also have a number of security fixes, so those updates should be installed as well. If you have macOS Sonoma or Ventura, Apple has released macOS 14.7.3 and macOS Ventura 13.7.3 with security improvements.
This article, "Update Now: iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3 Include 20+ Security Updates" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, the third major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software that came out last year. iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 come six weeks after Apple released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2.


The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.4 for iPads that aren't able to run ‌iPadOS 18‌.

For iPhone 16 models, iOS 18.3 adds Visual Intelligence support for adding events to the Calendar app and identifying plants and animals. The update removes Apple Intelligence Notification summaries for news and entertainment apps in an effort to prevent misleading alerts, plus it italicizes all summaries done by ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

There are also several bug fixes, and a change to the Calculator app. Apple's release notes are below.

Visual intelligence with Camera Control (All iPhone 16 models)
- Add an event to Calendar from a poster or flyer
- Easily identify plants and animals

Notification summaries (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock Screen
- Updated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyph
- Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes available

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: - Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you tap the equals sign again
- Fixes an issue where the keyboard might disappear when initiating a typed Siri request
- Resolves an issue where audio playback continues until the song ends even after closing Apple Music

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

We are expecting iOS 18.3 to be followed with an iOS 18.4 beta that includes new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features for Siri.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18.3 With Visual Intelligence and Notification Summary Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3, the third major update to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ operating system that launched in September. ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 comes six weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.2.


Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. Apple has also released macOS 14.7.3 and macOS 13.7.3 with security fixes for older Macs.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ brings Genmoji to Macs that support Apple Intelligence, which means it's now possible to create custom emoji characters using the Messages app.

The update also removes Notification summaries for news and entertainment apps to prevent misleading ‌Apple Intelligence‌ headline summaries. Apple's release notes for the update are below.

This update introduces Genmoji, powered by Apple Intelligence, and also includes other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.
- Genmoji creation in Messages and other apps
- Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you click the equals sign again
- Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock Screen (Mac with Apple silicon)
- Updated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyph (Mac with Apple silicon)
- Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes available (Mac with Apple silicon)
Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100

More information on what's new in ‌macOS Sequoia‌ can be found in our macOS Sequoia roundup.
This article, "Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3 With Genmoji" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For ‌iPhone 16‌ models, Apple's iOS 18.3 software update adds new Visual Intelligence features to the Camera Control button. Keep reading to learn what you can do with the new capabilities and how to use them.

New Visual Intelligence Features

In iOS 18.2, Apple's previous point update, the company added Visual Intelligence functionality to its latest iPhone 16 models, allowing device owners to point the camera at the world around them and get details about places, summarize and translate text, go to website links, call phone numbers, and more.

In iOS 18.3, Apple adds new capabilities to Visual Intelligence, including an option to create a calendar event when viewing a poster or flyer, as well as the ability to easily identify plants, animals, and insects.


Bear in mind that ‌Visual Intelligence‌ is an Apple Intelligence feature that is exclusive to the ‌iPhone 16‌ models – if you have an older model, you won't have a Camera Control button below the Side button on the right-hand side of your device.

Activating Visual Intelligence

To activate Visual Intelligence, press and hold the Camera Control button for a few seconds. A regular press simply opens the camera with Camera Control, so the press-and-hold gesture is necessary. Ensure the Camera app isn't already active, as Visual Intelligence won't work if the camera is already in use.

The Visual Intelligence interface includes a camera view, a capture button, and "Ask" and "Search" options. The "Ask" button interacts with ChatGPT, while "Search" sends the captured image to Google Search.


To use Visual Intelligence, you must take a photo of the object or scene you're observing. Use the Camera Control button to snap a picture, then select your desired option. It doesn't support live camera views or previously saved photos.

Create a Calendar Event From a Poster

Using ‌Visual Intelligence‌ to add an event to Calendar was a promised function that Apple showed off when introducing Camera Control, and it will be usable in iOS 18.3.


To add an event, view a document such as a poster with a date, and then tap on the date when the feature pops up in the ‌Visual Intelligence‌ interface.

Identify Pets, Animals, and Insects

The Photos app is already able to provide insight into plants, animals, and insects when opting to view additional information in the editing interface, but Camera Control will now show these details in real-time.


When viewing an animal or a plant with ‌Visual Intelligence‌, you may see a tappable bubble at the top of the viewfinder that lets you know what you're looking at. Simply tap it to view more information. If the output is incorrect, you can use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons below the card to submit feedback to Apple.
This article, "iOS 18.3: Use New Visual Intelligence Features on iPhone 16" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Despite having been only a one-off, few games have managed to leave a lasting impact on video games as much as Shadow of the Colossus did. Its unique atmosphere and storytelling and the tense battles against the gigantic colossi have etched themselves in the hearts of any who had the pleasure of experiencing them, turning the game into something truly special that has yet to be replicated, and understandably so, as the game by Fumito Ueda is really one of a kind. The challenges coming with trying to attempt something unprecedented, however, did not stop Canada-based development studio Yellow Brick […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/eternal-strands-the-world-is-your-playground/

Amazon is kicking off the week with numerous all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 10, focusing mainly on GPS models. You'll find $70 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 10 models in multiple case colors and band styles, and this time the deals do not require any coupon codes.

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

Every price listed below is a match of the record low prices on the Apple Watch Series 10, and in some cases delivery is slipping into mid-February. If you've been eyeing an Apple Watch Series 10 as a way to help keep up with your New Year's resolutions, now is the time to purchase one at these best-ever prices.

42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (S/M) - $329.00, down from $399.00


• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Ink Sport Loop - $329.00, down from $399.00


• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (M/L) - $329.00, down from $399.00


• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Plum Sport Loop - $329.00, down from $399.00


• Silver Aluminum Case with Blue Cloud Sport Loop - $329.00, down from $399.00


• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (S/M) - $329.00, down from $399.00

46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (M/L) - $359.00, down from $429.00


• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Ink Sport Loop - $359.00, down from $429.00


• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (M/L) - $359.00, down from $429.00


• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (S/M) - $359.00, down from $429.00


• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (M/L) - $359.00, down from $429.00

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

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Over the years, the Sniper Elite series emerged as one of the top stealth game series, and for good reason. With each new entry, developer Rebellion further refined the series' formula, providing players with more tools to sneak past enemies, who, in turn, have become smarter and more resourceful themselves, culminating with Sniper Elite 5, which introduced, besides more gameplay improvements, a new Invasion mode in the vein of the Souls series that allows players to "invade" another player's world. This mode considerably spiced up the experience, adding an element of unpredictability for those who enabled the optional invasion. With […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/sniper-elite-resistance-sniping-never-changes/

So when I got my hands on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, I was curious to see whether it would be able to handle games at 8K. Overall, the NVIDIA RTX 5090 is around 33% faster than the RTX 4090. So, is 8K gaming now possible with this new GPU and DLSS 4? Let’s find … Continue reading Is 8K Gaming Possible With NVIDIA RTX 5090 & DLSS 4? →

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