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Apple finallybrought Apple Maps to web browsersback in June, allowing people without iPhones or Macs to access its navigation system for the very first time. That version ofApple Mapswas a bit limited since it was still in beta, but now it’s received a usefulGoogle Maps-inspired upgrade.
Apple has added the Look Around feature to Apple Maps on the web. For those that aren’t familiar with Apple Maps, it’s basically Apple’s take onGoogle Street View— letting you view different locations from street level. Of course, it’s not available in every location, and the system isn’t quite as intuitive as what Street View has to offer.
While Google Maps lets you click specific areas, or drag the yellow Pin man onto the map to load up Street View, Apple’s system is different. So long as you’re looking at a city with Look Around support, you have to keep an eye out for a set of binoculars in the bottom left. Clicking that starts Look Around’s pop-up window that superimposes the street view onto the map.
It works much the same way as Google’s Street View, letting you spin around 360 degrees and click locations in the distance to travel there. Alternatively, you can move the large map around if you want a little more control over where you end up.
I managed to get Look Around up and running in GoogleChromeon Windows, and it seems to be working pretty well. However, it did take me a hot minute to figure out how I was supposed to get started since Apple just expects you to know what to do. The only real downside is that Look Around is a lot more limited than Street View, which has almost the entire world covered in some shape or form.
Only select cities in the U.S., Canada, EU, U.K. and New Zealand are supported, and Apple has afull liston its website. But this won’t stop you from wandering those virtual streets in Look Around when you live elsewhere.
Whether Apple will expand Look Around in the future isn’t clear, but it has promised to improve the beta version of Apple Maps Web. Support for more features, platforms and languages will apparently happen, which hopefully means that Apple Maps will finally come to Android in some form in the near future. While loyal Android users may be appalled at the idea, it’s always better to have options beyond thetwo big Google-owned navigation apps.
Apple introduced its first object tracker all the way back in 2021. In typical Apple fashion, the company hasn’t said a word about an upgrade, but as per reliable reports, theAirTag 2 has moved to the “manufacturing tests” stagewith an added focus on privacy measures.
Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has shed more light on the biggest hardware upgrade destined for the second-generation AirTag. In the latest edition of hisPowerOnnewsletter, Gurman writes that the object tracker will get a more powerful UWB chip.
UWB, short for Ultra Wideband, is a short-range radio technology that enables spatial awareness. In the Apple ecosystem’s context, this tech stack allows Precision Finding to facilitate accurate distance and direction guidance for object tracking.
The purpose of Precision Finding is to offer more precise location and navigation instructions to users as they attempt to find their misplaced gadgets. In its current iteration, users get visual cues on the screen in the form of large arrows and distance estimation, alongside sound and haptic cues.
So, how good is this new UWB chip fitted inside the AirTag 2? As per Bloomberg, it will be “on par with the one introduced in the iPhone 15.” To recall, Apple equipped theiPhone 15andiPhone 16series with its second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.
The UWB fitted inside the current-genAirTag offers a range of 10 metersor roughly 30 feet. The second-gen UWB chip will reportedly triple those numbers, which means the minimum location-finding range will climb up to 30 meters.
The UWB-powered Precision Finding feature is available for the iPhone 11 and all its mainline successors to date. On the iPhone 15 and 16 series, thanks to the second-gen UWB chip, Precision Finding also allows users to find a friend nearby using the Find My app.
In addition to an improved UWB chip, Apple has reportedly tweaked the internal design and made it more difficult to tamper with the speaker assembly. That’s a thoughtful change and would dissuade bad actors from illicit activities like stalking and theft.
Back in 2022, “silent AirTags” with their speaker kit removed popped up on online platforms like Etsy and eBay. Such object trackers are much harder to find without the beeping sound produced by the onboard speaker, especially if the device is hidden well or concealed tightly.
As great as modern technology is, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Smartphones today are capable of virtually endless tasks and are light-years better than mobile gadgets from a decade or two ago. Still, it’s hard not to have some nostalgia for “retro” devices like the Palm Pilot, the first Motorola Razr, or your trusty old iPod.
While doomscrolling X the other night, I saw that Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs hadposted a short videoabout an iPhone app called “My Classic – Retro Console” that promises to turn your iPhone into an iPod Classic. It’s a very silly idea, but at a one-time price of $3, it was cheap enough that I decided to try it for myself. After living with myiPhone 16transformed into an old-school iPod for about a day, I’m absolutely obsessed with it.
Using my iPhone like an iPod in 2024
So, what’s it like having an app turn your iPhone into an iPod? Honestly, it’s kind of amazing. The interface is almost identical to what you would see on an iPod Classic or an iPod Nano. The home screen shows options for shuffling your songs, browsing your music, seeing what’s currently playing, and a few app settings (plus an option to tip the developer).
You navigate the menu by using the virtual scroll wheel, which vibrates and clicks to mimic the feel of an actual iPod scroll wheel shockingly well. It feels fantastic for browsing artists and albums, but the real magic happens when you open the Cover Flow view, which looks just as incredible in 2024 as it did in 2007.
All of the music content in the app is pulled from your Apple Music library, including your saved albums and playlists. If you select the Shuffle Songs option, it starts playing a shuffle playlist from all the songs saved in your Apple Music library.
Objectively, this is nothing more than another interface for the Apple Music app. If you play a song from the My Classic app and switch to Apple Music, you’ll see it playing there, too. It’s not adding any new features. If anything, it’s a more limited way of interacting with Apple Music. You can’t search for songs or find music not already saved in your library.
However, that’s also why the app is so charming. Not only is the interface and iPod Classic UI executed so perfectly, but being forced to interact with my music in a simpler way has been so refreshing.
It makes me focus more on my music library without being distracted by new releases or other recommended playlists. I’ve found myself listening to saved albums I’ve not played in months because, in the regular Apple Music app, I typically listen to recommended playlists or new albums. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but my music selections using My Classic have been different.
Want to use this app to turn your iPhone into an old-school iPod? Thankfully, it’s easy to do and only costs $3. TheMy Classic appinitially presents itself as a Game Boy simulator, but it takes just a couple of taps to activate the iPod interface. Here’s what you need to do:
Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for My Classic – Retro Console.
Pay for the app and wait for it to download.
Select theSettingbutton.
SelectDevice.
SelectMy Classic.
A wonderful blast of tech nostalgia
In addition to the incredible execution of the My Classic app and the way it makes you listen to music, there’s also an undeniable nostalgia factor at play here.
I grew up with a 3rd-generation iPod Nano. I received it as a Christmas gift one year from my parents, and for many years later (until I lost it), that iPod Nano was a gadget I used nearly every single day. The interface of the My Classic app is exactly like the one used on my old Nano, so using the application has felt like teleporting back in time. It has brought back memories of me sitting at the computer with my cousin and syncing songs from our iTunes accounts to our respective iPods. Or playingThe Sims Bowling on car rides to school. Not to mention discovering artists like Green Day and Switchfoot for the first time.
My iPod Nano went through a lot with me, and being able to bring back that experience to my iPhone is really something special. Maybe I’m feeling particularly nostalgic because of the holiday season, but this is one of the coolest mobile apps I’ve used this year — and one I think I’ll keep on my iPhone for a while to come.
Tesla has launched a new app for Apple Watch with digital key functionality. The app was just announced yesterday, alongside Tesla’s 2024 Holiday Update. Use your Apple Watch as your phone key You can also view battery charge, open frunk & turn on climate control What’s New In This Version: ● Pair your watch as a key and use your favorite Tesla App functions on Apple Watch ● Watch and save Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips at Security > Dashcam Viewer
The Tesla app for iPhone allows users to directly communicate with their vehicles and energy products. Features include: ● Check charging progress in real time and start or stop charging ● Heat or cool your car before driving – even if it’s in a garage ● Lock or unlock from afar ● Locate your vehicle with directions or track its movement ● Send an address from your favorite apps to start navigation in your car ● Allow your passengers to quickly control media ● Flash lights or honk the horn to find your vehicle when parked ● Vent or close the panoramic roof ● Summon your vehicle out of your garage or a tight parking space (for vehicles with Autopilot) ● Update your vehicle software from wherever you are ● Engage with Powerwall: monitor how much energy is stored from solar, used by your home, or exported to the grid ● Download your solar production and battery usage data
Here’s how it looks:
（Image from: 9to5Mac）
Tesla for Apple Watch requires watchOS 11. That means these models are supported:
With a slightly smaller design, improved sound and Apple’s powerful H2 chip features, the Apple AirPods 4 are a worthy upgrade. But what really makes them special is the noise canceling in the step-up ANC model.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Pros
Same H2 chip found in AirPods Pro 2
More compact design
Active noise canceling that works
Improved sound
Excellent voice-calling performance
Personalized spatial audio
Case has wireless charging and speaker for Find My
The AirPods 4 are, unsurprisingly, the fourth generation of Apple’s original true-wireless earbuds that feature an open design, which means they don’t have silicone ear tips like the AirPods Pro 2. A lot of people still don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears and find open earbuds more comfortable, and the AirPods 4 are made for those folks. Not only do they feature a slightly smaller design and better sound than their predecessor, but they’re equipped with Apple’s H2 chip that improves overall performance and powers new features.
In a first for Apple, the AirPods 4 comes in two versions: a $129 entry-level model and a $179 step-up model with active noise canceling. ANC is a rare feature for open earbuds because it typically doesn’t work with an open design — at least not with the few noise-canceling open earbuds I’ve tried, including Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3.
The AirPods 4 replace both the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 in the lineup that also includes the AirPods Pro 2 and the updated AirPods Max with USB-C. And in terms of their design, the AirPods 4 are sort of a cross between the AirPods 2 and 3; they’re slightly smaller than the AirPods 3 but also slightly larger than the AirPods 2. That said, at 4.3 grams per bud, they weigh the same as the AirPods 3.
AirPods 4 design improvements
Apple is hoping the new design is a better fit for a wider range of ears. They did fit my ears slightly better than the AirPods 3, though I sometimes had to adjust the angle of the buds to get a really secure fit. Like a lot of people, one of my ears is slightly different than the other, and I got a marginally better fit with my right ear than my left.
I never got a great fit from the AirPods 2 or AirPods 3 (I had trouble keeping them in my ears when I ran with them), but these do fit my ears the best of the three, and I did find them very comfortable to wear. However, I get a slightly more secure fit from the AirPods Pro 2.
From left to right: the AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 buds with their corresponding cases above them.
Everybody’s ears are different, of course, so I asked some of my colleagues, including some who had small ears, how they felt about the new design compared to the AirPods 3’s design (you can see some of their reactions in my companion review video). They all preferred the design of the AirPods 4 and most of them got a secure fit. Basically, the design does seem to be an improvement, but like with any earbuds, I can’t guarantee they’ll fit everybody’s ears equally well.
AirPods 4’s upgraded sound quality
To be clear, both new AirPods 4 have the same design, same sound quality and same voice-calling performance. And they both have Apple’s H2 chip with Bluetooth 5.3. That’s the same chip found in the AirPods Pro 2.
Apple has upgraded both buds with a new acoustic architecture and amp. Also, it’s slightly changed the angle of how the drivers are pointed into your ears, which is supposed to improve sound quality. The combo of the new drivers and the upgraded H2 chip’s processing power for Apple’s Adaptive EQ — a feature that optimizes audio quality on the fly as the position of the buds changes ever so slightly in your ears — gives the AirPods 4 better sound than the AirPods 3. And needless to say, because these are open earbuds, the sound does have an open quality to it.
The AirPods 4 feature a new acoustic architecture.
Overall, the sound is a little cleaner (improved treble), and you get a bit more bass, so there’s a touch more depth and fullness to whatever you’re listening to. They’re still a notch below the AirPods Pro 2’s, but they’re close, and these are easily among the best-sounding open earbuds out there. You’re still not going to get as much bass as you do with the AirPods Pro 2, but the gap has narrowed. I didn’t feel as if I was making much of a sound quality sacrifice compared with the AirPods Pro 2, at least when I was listening in a quiet room.
Like the AirPods Pro 2, both AirPods 4 models are equipped with 5GHz radios (as opposed to 2.4GHz). That not only helps improve the Bluetooth connection reliability with Apple devices but allows for lossless audio withApple’s Vision Pro headset, as well as low-latency gaming audio with recent iPhones, iPads and Macs running the latest versions of their respective operating systems. Wireless streaming of lossless audio over Bluetooth is available only for the Vision Pro because the buds have to be right next to your audio source device for a glitch-free listening experience (the headset sits on your head right next to the buds).
Of course, if you’re in a noisy environment, these buds do still let sound into your ears, which impacts sound quality. But things get interesting with the addition of noise canceling, so let’s get into that key difference between the two models and what you get with entry-level AirPods 4 versus the AirPods 4 ANC.
The AirPods 4 are rated for up to 5 hours of battery life with noise canceling off.
AirPods 4 ANC’s added features
The ANC version of the AirPods 4 is $50 more than the regular model, but you also get more than just noise-canceling for the money. For instance, while the charging cases are the same size and look nearly identical, the step-up ANC model’s case is equipped with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) chip and has a speaker integrated into it like the case for the AirPods Pro 2. The entry-level model’s case has neither of these features (the entry-level AirPods 4 use a less sophisticated version of FindMy that can track the buds but not the case and play a sound through the buds).
That speaker emits a sonar-like noise when you use the Find My feature with proximity finding, making it easier to locate the case if it gets hidden behind something or stuck in your couch cushions. Also, the entry-level model’s case doesn’t have wireless charging, while the ANC model’s case does. Note that neither model has the more advanced Precision Finding of the AirPods Pro 2, which have a U1 chip in their case.
The AirPods 4 charging case is a little bit smaller than the AirPods 3’s charging case, but there’s one other difference: There’s no longer a physical button on the AirPods 4’s charging case for activating Bluetooth and pairing it with non-Apple devices. Instead, you now double-tap on the front of the case near the LED to initiate pairing and double-tap three times to initiate a reset. Both the buds themselves and case have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash-proof and dust- and sweat-resistant.
Surprisingly effective noise canceling
I was really impressed with the noise canceling. The reality is that it’s not that great compared with what you get with the AirPods Pro 2 and top noise-canceling earbuds like theBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbudsor theSony WF-1000XM5. But that it works at all and is reasonably effective is kind of wild because, as I said, noise canceling and open earbuds usually aren’t a good mix.
For instance, Samsung says its Galaxy Buds 3 have noise canceling, but I couldn’t really hear a difference when I turned the noise canceling on. But with the new AirPods, you really hear the difference. You feel it kick on and muffle the ambient sound around to a certain degree — enough to enable you to hear your music better in noisy environments.
The AirPods 4’s noise canceling is more adept at tamping down low frequencies and was able to cut down the engine noise level by about 40% when I wore them on a plane. And they were also somewhat effective when I wore them on the streets of Wellington and on the subway. I’d say the noise canceling is a little less than half as good as what you get with the AirPods Pro, which also provide some passive noise isolation with their ear tips. But again, that the noise canceling worked as well as it did seems like a major technological feat. Not even Bose, a leader in noise-canceling technology, tried it with itsUltra Open Earbuds.
Entry-level AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 4 with ANC feature comparison
I want to clarify what features the entry-level model has — and doesn’t have — because Apple’s introduced some new features with iOS 18 and there’s a bit of confusion about which model does what.
Both models have personalized spatial audio (with head tracking) for music, movies and now games that have been updated by the developer to support it. There’s also quick pairing and auto switching for Apple devices, as well as always-on Siri, so you just have to say the wake word to issue voice commands.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation have a few extra features, including Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio.
Also, both models have new force sensors in the stems with pinch controls to control playback, though apparently noswipe controls for volumethat are available with the AirPods Pro 2. And last but not least, the H2 chip allows for Siri Interactions, which are gesture controls that give you the option to nod or shake your head to dismiss or answer calls or engage with or dismiss notifications and messages. You nod your head for yes and shake your head for no.
The two features you get with the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio because those features require noise canceling and transparency modes.
The AirPods 4 with ANC have the AirPods 2 Pro’s extra microphones to enable those modes. When Conversation Awareness is activated (if you talk to yourself a lot, it’s probably best to turn it off), as soon as you speak, your music pauses and transparency mode kicks in so you can have a conservation. Sony pioneered the feature with its Speak-To-Chat option, and now Apple’s Airpods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 ANC have it.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling have a speaker in their case and wireless charging, two features missing from the entry-level model. Both AirPods 4 models have USB-C charging.
AirPods 4 voice-calling performance and battery life
Apple is also touting a new Voice Isolation feature that’s part of iOS 18 and helps with call quality. Both buds have the feature and so do the Airpods Pro 2. It basically helps callers hear your voice better while reducing background noise.
I did some test calls and callers said they could hear my voice well with almost no background noise, which is impressive. The AirPods have always delivered one of the best voice-calling experiences and the AirPods 4 don’t disappoint. It’s right up there with my voice-calling experience with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 andBuds 3 Pro, which also deliver top voice-calling performance.
One thing that’s a tad disappointing, though, is that Apple wasn’t able to improve on battery life, and it’s actually slightly worse than the AirPods 3’s battery life. You can get up to 5 hours of battery life with noise-canceling off and 4 hours with it on. The case gives you an additional 25 hours with ANC off and 16 hours with it on.
AirPods 4 final analysis
In the end, the way to look at these two earbuds is that the standard AirPods 4 are slightly smaller versions of the AirPods 3 with better sound quality and the benefits of the more powerful H2 chip going forward. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are essentially the AirPods Pro 2 with an open earbud design. However, only the AirPods Pro 2 — and not the AirPods 4 — are getting Apple’s new hearing-aid feature, so take that into account before buying these if that’s something you’re interested in.
If you’re looking for basic AirPods, the standard AirPods 4 certainly have their appeal and should cost closer to $100 during flash sales, especially around the holidays. They may not be quite as cheap or as small as the AirPods 2, but they sound a lot better and have a lot more features.
Ultimately, however, the AirPods 4 ANC are simply more special. As I said, they’re the first open buds I’ve tried to have active noise canceling that actually works. That makes them the first noise-canceling earbuds for people who don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. That’s pretty cool and worth the extra $50 if you can afford it.
Can you take your iPhone swimming? Here’s what those IP67, IP68 and IPX8 water-resistance ratings really mean.
If you’ve ever spilled a drink on your phone, or accidentally dropped it in the toilet, you’ll know that water resistance can mean the difference between a quick wipe with a towel or an expensive trip to buy a new phone. While waterproofing used to be something found only on beefy, rubber-sealed phones designed for construction workers or downhill mountain bikers, water resistance has become pretty much the norm in all today’s phones, including theiPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro andGalaxy S24 Ultra. Even Google’saffordable Pixel 8Ais water resistant.
Not all phones can withstand a dunk in water though, and some shouldn’t be near liquid at all. Almost no phones should be taken swimming in a pool, and ocean swimming is still out of the question, unless you’re using a water-tight case of some kind. If you’ve shopped for a phone recently, you’ll have come across terms like “water resistant,” as well as the now common IP67, IP68 and IPX8 ratings. But what do those ratings really mean and, crucially, how waterproof is your expensive new phone?
Let’s break down the jargon and find out.
What do IP67, IP68 and IPX8 mean?
Ingress protection ratings (also known as international protection ratings) are a standard set forth by theInternational Electrotechnical Commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed as a “system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.”
The first number in the rating code represents the amount of protection provided against the entry of foreign solid objects, such as sand or dust. These protection levels range from a low of 0 to a high of 6.
The second number represents the degree of protection against the entry of moisture or liquid, with protection levels ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 8.
Nothing’s earbuds are IPX4 rated, which is enough to keep them safe from sweat during your workouts.
Sometimes you’ll see an IP rating with a number replaced with an X, such as IPX8. In this instance, a company hasn’t provided testing details so the rating number is replaced with an X. An IPX8-rated device can survive being submerged in water then, but it hasn’t officially been rated for any protection from dust or other particles.
For an 8 on the IP rating, the IEC demands a device can withstand being submerged inat least1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Beyond that, it’s up to the manufacturer. The S24 Ultra can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, while Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro is safe in up to6meters of water for up to 30 minutes. So while any phone with an IP68 rating will have had to hit that 1 meter-30 minute minimum threshold, it’s important to check the fine print and see exactly what your phone offers.
For further details on all the IP ratings, you can see charts at the end of this article outlining the protection levels set by the IEC.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max can be submerged in water up to 6 meters deep for up to 30 minutes at a time.
While the iPhone 16 Pro’s advertised 6 meters of water-resistance might make it seem like you can slip one into your swim shorts and hit the pool, you’d be well advised to leave it out of the water. The IP rating is tested in controlled conditions — in water with no movement. Moving your phone in the water will add more water pressure, making it more likely that water could find its way inside and do irreparable damage to your phone.
The IP tests are also done usingfreshwater; most pools will have additional chemicals such as chlorine, which could make a difference to your phone’s resistance. And you should absolutely keep your phone out of the sea: Salt water could cause a lot of trouble, including degrading the metal parts in your charging port.
Even if your phone has the top IP68 resistance rating, it’s good practice to treat the feature as a backup in case of emergencies. Your phone is not designed to go snorkeling, so don’t try using the camera to snag pictures of starfish or whatever. Nor should you try to recordTikTokvideos of yourself jumping off the high dive into the deep end. It’s there for accidents like spilling a drink or emergencies like making a call in the pouring rain.
The OnePlus Nord 2 does not have any stated resistance to water — keep phones like this extra safe when you’re around liquids.
My phone doesn’t have an IP rating. Can it get wet?
In order for a company to advertise that their product has an IP rating at all, it needs to have undergone strict tests to ensure it meets the requirements. These tests can be timely and costly, so it’s understandable that some companies simply don’t want to spend the cash, particularly when it comes to budget-focused models.
Some phones instead use terms like “water-repellent” or “water-resistant” without an official IP rating. These handsets may make use of methods like rubberized seals or water-repellent nano coating to keep moisture at bay. While these phones may well survive an accidental dunking, it’s worth keeping them safe from being fully submerged in water. But you shouldn’t need to worry too much about taking calls in the rain.
If your phone makes no mention of water resistance, then it’s best to assume that it has none and you should take as much care as you can around liquids.
Solid protection
IP Code
Protection
Object size
0
No protection
N/A
1
Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand. but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part, such as a finger
Less than 50mm
2
Protection from fingers or similar objects
Less than 12.5mm
3
Protection from tools, thick wires or similar objects
Less than 2.5mm
4
Protection from most wires, screws or similar objects
Less than 1mm
5
Partial protection from contact with harmful dust
N/A
6
Protection from contact with harmful dust
N/A
Moisture protection
IP code
Protection
Test duration
Usage
0
No protection
N/A
N/A
1
Protection against vertically dripping water
10 mins
Light rain
2
Protection against vertically dripping water when device is tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees
10 mins
Light rain
3
Protection against direct sprays of water when device is tilted at an angle up to 60 degrees
5 mins
Rain and spraying
4
Protection from sprays and splashing of water in all directions
5 mins
Rain, spraying and splashing
5
Protection from low-pressure water projected from a nozzle with a 6.3mm diameter opening in any direction
3 mins from a distance of 3 meters
Rain, splashing and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets
6
Protection from water projected in powerful jets from a nozzle with a 12.5mm diameter opening in any direction
3 mins from a distance of 3 meters
Rain, splashing, direct contact with kitchen and bathroom faucets, outdoor use in rough sea conditions
7
Protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins
30 mins
Rain, splashing and accidental submersion
8
Protected from immersion in water with a depth of more than 1 meter (manufacturer must specify exact depth)
In a move that bridges luxury automotive engineering with wearable technology, Mercedes-Benz has just transformed the Apple Watch into a sophisticated car key. The prestigious automaker today unveiled its highly anticipated Apple Watch app, marking a significant shift in how owners interact with their vehicles.
Smart Features for the Modern Driver
The app’s capabilities extend far beyond basic remote control. Owners can now monitor their vehicle’s vital statistics, including real-time fuel or battery levels and remaining range, with just a glance at their wrist. Perhaps most impressively, the app includes an intelligent vehicle locator that not only pinpoints your parked Mercedes but also provides turn-by-turn walking directions to reach it.
For those adventures off the beaten path, Mercedes has implemented a clever solution: when traditional mapping isn’t available, the app switches to a virtual compass mode, ensuring you can always find your way back to your vehicle.
While the future of car control may be here, there are some requirements to note. The app works with Apple Watch models running watchOS 9 or later and requires the Mercedes-Benz mobile app on a paired iPhone. Additionally, these smart features are limited to Mercedes-Benz vehicles from 2019 onwards, with specific capabilities varying based on model and trim level.
The app’s launch responds directly to customer demand for more seamless vehicle interaction. “This new integration allows owners to interact with their vehicles seamlessly, without needing to access their smartphone,” Mercedes-Benz stated in today’s announcement.
With this release, Mercedes-Benz isn’t just launching an app – they’re redefining the relationship between luxury cars and personal technology, making vehicle management as simple as checking the time. The app is available for download now through theApple Watch App Store, marking another step forward in the integration of automotive luxury and wearable tech.
If you were among those who purchased a new iPhone in 2022, your device might now feel a little less helpful, at least in emergency situations.
That’s because the two-year free trial of Apple’s Emergency SOS Satellite feature, a groundbreaking technology introduced with theiPhone 14 series, has officially expired.
While Apple has granted users an additional year of free access, the clock is ticking, and the long-term cost of the service remains a mystery.
Apple’s Emergency SOS Satellite feature debuted in November 2022, positioning the company as a leader in integrating satellite telecommunications into flagship phones.
Powered by a partnership with Globalstar, the technology enables users to connect with emergency services or share their location via theFind My appin areas without cellular or WiFi coverage.
When theiPhone 14,iPhone 14 Plus,iPhone 14 ProandiPhone 14 Pro Maxlaunched, Apple promised a free two-year trial of the Emergency SOS Satellite feature. That period has now come to an end.
Despite the nearly seven-year delay between the release of the first commercial foldable phone and now, Apple is expected to release its own folding iPhone eventually.
We’ve seen rumors about a supposed iPhone Flip for years now, but the latest rumor suggests that the phone is actually getting closer to becoming a tangible product.
According to Korean tipster Yeux1122 (via Jukanlosreve on X), the iPhone Flip is entering the “formal development process” with display manufacturers like LG Display or Samsung Display. The leaker alleges this information came from a “supply chain source.”
We understand that that means that Apple is working with display makers to turn a conceptual product into a real one. It means that prototypes will be created, testing and refinement will take place and towards the latter half of the phase, prepping the device for release on the production line and marketing.
Simply, Apple wants to make a folding phone with the leaker saying (machine translated) that Apple was “previously responding piecemeal to technology and key requirements.”
If Apple is only just entering a developmental phase for the foldable iPhone, the earliest we expect to see a new device is two to three years. This aligns with previous leaks suggesting that we might see aniPhone Flip in 2026 or 2027.
Interestingly, Yeux1122 claims that this development will make Samsung respond by fast-tracking the development of its own future foldables, including introducing a “heterogeneous fold, the FE lineup and design changes after the Fold SE.”
This hints at previously leaked Samsung foldables like theSamsung tri-fold phone, which is expected to launch next year. It may debut alongside a cheaperSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE,finally bringing an entry-level (read: cheaper) foldable to the market — somethingthe world needs.
Samsung would perhaps have more insight into when Apple will release a foldable phone via its Display subdivision. So, it’s plausible that the company would push development forward on the mentioned devices to get ahead of Apple’s future handset.
While the Apple Watch Series 10 has many eye-catching features, older models still have one clear advantage.
Some new features make the new Apple Watch Series 10 an attractive prospect, but my old Apple Watch Series 7 has one notable thing that Apple’s new smartwatches lack: blood oxygen tracking. This is enough to keep me happy with my older model.
The blood oxygen monitoring feature is only available in the Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, and the Ultra released in 2022. Notably, Apple is now releasing the Apple Watch Series 10 without the feature in the US.
Apple removed the blood oxygen capability in the US in January 2024, just a few months after the release of the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 a year ago.
My old Apple Watch Series 7 still tracks my oxygen.
A patent lawsuit with Masimo brought about the removal. The highly publicized dispute resulted in the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling in October 2023 that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 infringe Masimo’s patents for pulse oximeters. The ITC banned the sale of new models with this feature in the US — the rest of the world still has access to it.
Apple disabled the blood oxygen monitor in the new smartwatch models, which allowed the tech giant to continue selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 without pulse oximetry.
Blood oxygen tracking measures oxygen saturation in the wearer’s blood by using light sensors and shining red and infrared lights, then assessing how light is absorbed through the blood. The oximeter analyzes light absorption to estimate the amount of oxygen in the blood, as oxygen-rich blood absorbs more infrared light and reflects more red light. Masimo alleges that Apple used its patented methods for measuring oxygen levels through light-based sensors and algorithms to analyze light absorption in the blood. Masimo had designed and patented this technology for medical-grade blood oxygen sensors but claimed Apple used them in its consumer products without proper licensing.
When it came time to announce a new lineup of Apple Watch models during the “It’s Glowtime” event, Apple focused on other health-tracking features in the new Apple Watch Series 10, now available for pre-order, avoiding the blood oxygen subject altogether.
Instead, Apple touted its new sleep apnea monitoring feature, which uses sleep data captured by the watch and combines it with a new measure that employs the accelerometer to detect breathing disruptions, a telltale sign of sleep apnea.
The Apple Watch Series 10 offers Sleep Apnea Detection.
The blood oxygen feature was very popular on the Apple Watch. While the pulse oximetry in the Apple Watch isn’t as accurate as that of medical-grade devices, some medical studies have found it tends to be within acceptable limits, considering it’s not meant as a diagnostic tool.
As an Apple Watch Series 7 user, I am lucky to still have access to the pulse oximetry feature. I like checking my blood oxygen and seeing how it trends over time and with different life changes, like adopting a new exercise regimen. Plus, since I am at high risk for lung disease due to an autoimmune illness, the SpO2 measurements serve a double purpose in my life. To be clear, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 still ship with the oximetry sensor as will the Apple Watch Series 10. The feature is only banned for Apple Watches sold in the US, so the rest of the world can still access blood oxygen monitoring on the Series 9, 10, and Ultra 2. Apple is expected to continue working towards bringing back the pulse oximetry feature, which is partly why it was only half surprising not to see it reintroduced during the latest iPhone event.
Apple is also reportedly working on adding blood pressure monitoring to its smartwatches, though that’ll likely come in the Apple Watch Series 11 or later. Blood pressure tracking works differently on a smartwatch than oxygen tracking, though both use similar photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor technology. Blood pressure requires PPG and ECG to measure pulse transit time or heart activity.
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