Category: Apple

Here’s a rundown of what’s new on your iPhone with iOS 18.2

Apple Intelligence is definitely the headliner when it comes toiOS 18.2, the most recent update to Apple’s iPhone software. But the list of new features doesn’t end with Image Playground, Genmoji and any of the other AI-powered tools that iOS 18.2 brings to the table.

And that’s good news for most iPhone owners who either haven’t upgraded to the latestiPhone 16 modelsor own aniPhone 15 ProoriPhone 15 Pro Max. Those are the only iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence, making additional AI capabilities irrelevant to other iPhone owners. In contrast, nearly all of the remaining iOS 18.2 improvements benefit any iPhone that supports theiOS 18update — which includes devices dating back to the iPhone XR and XS models released in 2018. (For the record, there are a few iPhone 16-specific features in iOS 18.2, which we talk about later.)

We’ve detailedall the currently available Apple Intelligence featuresbrought about the iOS 18.2 update this month as well as theiOS 18.1 releaseat the end of October. Here’s a look at the rest of the iOS 18.2 improvements and additions aimed at your iPhone.

>>>616-00417 Battery for Apple iPhone XR

iOS 18.2 Photos

Video playback in Photos in iOS 18.2 (left) vs. video playback in Photos in iOS 18.1 (right) 

Outside of Apple Intelligence, Photos probably sees the biggest batch of changes in iOS 18.2, with the most significant ones giving you expanded control over how to customize the redesigned photos app. I’ve shown youhow to use many of the new iOS 18.2 features in Photos, including deleting images from the Recently Viewed and Recently Shared folders, turning off auto-looping on video playback and re-ordering your albums so that they’re listed in alphabetical order.

But there are some other changes to be aware of, too, starting with video playback. It’s now full-screen in iOS 18.2 — previously, you had to tap on the video as it played to switch to full screen mode. You can also now scrub frame-by-frame when watching videos by pressing and holding on the slider, before dragging it back and forth.

There are a few other cosmetic changes to Photos in iOS 18.2. An album of Favorites now appears in the Utilities section. When looking at Collections, swiping right now takes you back to the previous view.

>>>616-00514 Battery for Apple iPhone XS A1920 A2097 A2098 A2100

iOS 18.2 Mail

We’ve covered the changes to Mail in iOS 18.2, but just to be thorough, iOS 18.2 introduces a new organizational layout, where your inbox is split into different categories. Besides Primary, you get a Transactions inbox that houses receipts; Updates, which features newsletters and other notifications; and Promotions, which is where various e-commerce and sales promos will appear.

I’m not necessarily a fan of the new look in iOS 18.2 Mail, primarily because it’s hard to tell when new mail has arrived in the different folders. Managing older emails from the same sender is also more difficult than it needs to be. If you feel the same way — or if you don’t like the look of iOS 18.2 Mail for any other reason, just tap the More button in the upper right corner. (It’s the one with three dots.) That summons up the option of reverting to the familiar list view featuring a single inbox.

Here’s another reason to explore the More pop-up menu: in the shipping version of iOS 18.2, it’s added an option to disable Group by Sender. Tap that option and emails from the same source are no longer bunched together, addressing my complaint that it’s too difficult to delete individual messages while keeping the ones that are still relevant to you.

iOS 18.2 Safari

Besides some security improvements — URLs are now upgraded to HTTPS wherever possible, and Apple’s browser now warns you when a website doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate for an encrypted connection —Safarimakes a few house-cleaning changes. You’ll see new options for your start page background images. (Hit Edit at the bottom of the start page to find them.) Import and Export controls let you move browsing data between Safari and other browsers.

Download a file in Safari, and you can now chart the progress of the download in the Dynamic Island area of your iPhone if your handset offers that feature. The feature appears as a circle that fills in, much like an AirDrop transfer, but if your Safari downloads are as speedy as mine, the download indicator will likely appear and disappear before you even notice it.

>>>616-00507 Battery for Apple IPhone XS MAX A1921

iOS 18.2 Apple Music, TV and Podcasts

TV app searches (left) and favorite genres in Podcasts (right) in iOS 18.2 

As part of Apple Intelligence,the Photos app supports natural language searches— a capability that’s even supported by older iPhones based on my iOS 18 testing. The same thing now goes for searches in the Music and TV apps. You can type things like “Coen Brothers movies from the 1990s” and the TV app will bring “Fargo” and “Barton Fink” to the top of your results list.

As for Apple’s Podcasts app, it now invites you to designate your favorite genres — doing so will apparently influence recommendations the app makes on podcasts you should listen to. I’m guessing it also has an impact on another change from iOS 18.2 that promises a “personalized serach page,” where Podcasts will highlight the most relevant categories and collections based on your interests.

iOS 18.2 Voice Memos

I’m told musicians like to use the Voice Memos apps as way to try out music and lyrics they might be working on, and it sounds like there’s a change in the Voice Memos app that will appeal directly to that use case. As of iOS 18.2, the app supports layered recordings, where you can add a vocal track over an existing song.iPhone 16 ProandiPhone 16 Pro Maxusers can also import any two-track projects into Logic Pro.

iOS 18.2 Apple News Plus

The array of puzzles available to Apple News Plus subscribers continues to grow. AfteriOS 17.5 brought the Quartiles word puzzleto the subscription news service earlier this year, Sudoku now joins the ranks of games.

You can try out a sample Sudoku game in the Puzzles section of the News app. But if you find yourself hooked, you’ll need to pay $12.99/month for an Apple News Plus subscription.

iOS 18.2 Find My

You have a new option aimed at giving strangers a better opportunity of finding any lost items you’ve equipped with anAirTag. Enabled the new Share Item Location feature, and you can get a link showing the last known location of the item, that you can then handle over to a trusted third party — Apple specifically mentions airlines in its iOS 18.2 documentation.

The link is live for a limited time and doesn’t recall an Apple device, widening the pool of people who can track down anything you’ve left behind.

iOS 18.2 Camera Control

Here’s an iPhone 16-specific addition to iOS 18.2 that brings three new control options to the button Apple added to this year’s models. You now have the option to lock the autofocus and auto exposure settings when you apply light pressure to theCamera Control button, releasing that lock when you lift your finger. That option can be setting in the Camera section of the Settings app: just select Camera Control and toggle on the AE/AF Lock option.

Additionally, heading to the Accessibility section in Settings will let you adjust the double-click speed of the Camera Control button. Besides the default speed, your options are Slow and Slower.

In a settings change that’s sure to ease the worries of anyone who frets about inadvertently pressing the Camera Control button when reaching for their phone, you can now set the button to only work when your iPhone’s screen is active. Go to the Display & Brightness section of Settings and select Require Screen On for the Camera Control.

iOS 18.2 Audio controls

If you’d like the ability to adjust playback volume from your lock screen, you can add a volume slider in iOS 18.2. In the Settings app, select Accessibility, followed by Audio & Visual. On the ensuing screen, there’s a Always Show Volume Control button that restores a slider to the lock screen just under the playback controls. This setting works whether you’re listening via headphones or the built-in speaker on your iPhone.

Another new audio setting lets you adjust the limit of the iPhone speaker volume — helpful if you don’t want to damage the built-in speaker or annoy other people with the audio from whatever you’re listening to. That setting can be found in the Sound & Haptics section of Settings, where you tap Volume Limit to toggle on the control and adjust the volume with a slider. Note that changes you make only seem to affect playback and not things like phone call and FaceTime volume, alerts, alarms, ringtones or system sounds.

Change the default apps

iOS 18.2 expands the number of default apps you can change to include apps for phone calls and messaging.

If you’ve been following Apple Intelligence closely, you probably got excited when Genmoji arrived with iOS 18.2. In typical Apple fashion, Mac users were left wondering, “When’s our turn?” Well, surprise—Genmoji is officially coming to macOS 15.3, so you won’t have to sit around guessing if it’ll arrive in time for the holidays.

The downside is that it’s currently limited to Developer Beta, which isn’t exactly everyone’s first choice.

Understandably, you might not want to download an unstable version for just one new feature.

To satisfy your curiosity, I’ll walk you through what Genmoji has in store.

That way, you’re ready to hit the ground running when it rolls out to Public Beta or a stable release.

>>>A1993 Charger for Apple Mac Mini A1993

How To Use Genmoji on macOS 15.3

Time needed: 10 minutes

Unlike standard emojis, Genmoji generates custom images from text-based prompts. Just type in your instructions and Apple Intelligence will respond with an appropriate output. You’ll find it in the ever-familiar emoji picker. It’s a simple, intuitive setup that makes it super easy to incorporate AI image generators into your daily conversations. Check it out here:

1. Update tomacOS 15.3. Click on theApple menu>System Settings>General>Software Update
2. Unless a stable or Public Beta version has launched, set Beta Updates to macOS Sequoia Developer Beta.
3. Click Update Now and wait for the installation to finish.
4. Next, open any app that supports text input. At the moment, Messages, Notes, and Mail support Genmoji.
5. Press Control + Command + Space to bring up the emoji picker, then select the Genmoji tab.
6. Type a description of the emoji you want (e.g. winking cat with a party hat)
7. Press Return and Apple Intelligence will generate a unique emoji based on your prompt.
8. Once the Genmoji is generated, click on it to insert it into your text.
9. The Genmoji will appear alongside regular text or emojis, ready to share in conversations or documents.

>>>A2527 Battery for Apple MacBook Pro 16″ Late 2021 A2485 A2780

Why Isn’t Genmoji Showing on macOS Sequoia

For Genmoji to appear, you’ll need an Apple Silicon Mac M1 model or above that’s runningmacOS 15.3(Public Beta, Developer Beta, or stable). You should also enable Apple Intelligence on your device.

If you still can’t access it, reach out toApple Supportbecause some features might still be unavailable in your country or region.

Genmoji is a pretty nifty AI feature, and I’m glad that it’s coming to macOS sooner that people thought. However, I don’t think it’s worth the risk of running Developer Beta. Unless you have experience testing beta OS versions, I suggest waiting for the feature to arrive in a Public Beta release first.

Please take a deep breath; it might not be so bad

We’ve all been there. That sinking feeling when you can’t find a crucial document, a precious photo, or that video project you’ve been working on for weeks. It can feel overwhelming, especially when deadlines loom, or memories are at stake. But before you panic, take a deep breath! Macs have built-in tools and features to help you recover those lost files. Even easier, there are a few things you can do in your attempt to find missing files that won’t takewon’thing more than your time to search. 

Here’s a sHere’s-step guide to finding lost files on your Mac:

1. Retrace Your Steps

Start with the simplest solution. Is the file mistakenly minimized or hidden behind another window? Sometimes, files can end up behind other open applications. By cycling through your open applications, check if your file is minimized in the dock or hidden behind other windows. If you suspect you accidentally renamed it, consider recent changes and try variations of the original name.

Take a moment to browse through your recent applications and documents. Most operating systems have a ‘Recent’ section where you can quickly access open files, which might help you locate the missing file without searching extensively.

Next, use Spotlight, the powerful search feature represented by the magnifying glass icon in your menu bar. By clicking on it or pressing Command + Space, you can begin searching for your file. You can enter the file name directly, but if you’re unsure of the exact name, try searching by content or file type—Spotlight can also display results based on keywords within documents. 

In addition, consider narrowing down your search by adding file type keywords, such as “.docx,” “.pdf,” or ” .jpg” to help refine the results. You can also use filters in the Finder application to search for files created or modified within a specific time frame. If your search is still unsuccessful, checking the Trash to see if the file was accidentally deleted might be helpful. Remember to be thorough, as sometimes files can be overlooked.

>>>A2527 Battery for Apple MacBook Pro 16″ Late 2021 A2485 A2780

2. Keep looking

Don’t forget to check the Trash! Your file might have been accidentally deleted. If you find it there, drag it back to your desktop or another folder to restore it. Remember, files in the Trash can be permanently deleted after a certain period, so it’s best to check regularly if you suspect something is missing.

Many files, especially those downloaded from the internet, automatically land in the Downloads folder. To make it easier to locate these files, you can sort them by date or type within the Downloads folder. This way, you can quickly find what you’re looking for amidst all the other downloads.

Finder is your friend! Use the sidebar to easily navigate different locations like Documents, Pictures, and Applications. The sidebar lets you quickly access external drives or cloud storage if you have those setup. You can also use Finder’s advanced search options to narrow your search. With these tools, you can filter by specific file types (likePDFsor images), set a date range to look for recently modified files, or even search by keywords within the file name. This will significantly streamline your file management process!

>>>A1993 Charger for Apple Mac Mini A1993

3. Unleash the Power of macOS

If you have Time Machine backups enabled (and you definitely should for data safety!), restoring previous versions of files or entire folders is straightforward. First, open Time Machine by clicking its icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Once it’s open, you’ll see a timeline on the right side of the display, allowing you to browse through your backups. You can use the arrows or the timeline to navigate to the date the file or folder was last present.

When you find the file, you can select it and choose the option to restore. Time Machine will replace the current version of the file with the one from the backup, and you can also choose to restore the file to a different location if you want to keep both versions.

If your file was stored oniCloud Drive, you can access it from anyAppledevice logged into the sameiCloudaccount. Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad or access iCloud Drive through Finder on your Mac. All your files, including any changes made from other devices, will be synced and available. You can also use the iCloud website to access your files from a non-Apple device, ensuring you never lose important documents. Regularly check your iCloud storage to maintain enough space for backups and files!

4. Go deeper

For tech-savvy users, the Terminal provides a robust set of commands for searching files effectively. A handy command is `mdfind`, which leverages the Spotlight index to search for files not only by their names but also by their content. This allows users to locate specific documents, images, or files quickly. For example, typing `mdfind report` will return all files containing the word “report” in their name or contents. Refining your search using additional parameters, such as limiting it to certain file types or directories is also possible.

However, while Terminal offers powerful capabilities, proceeding with caution is essential. Commands can significantly affect your system, so ensure you know the syntax and potential outcomes before executing any commands.

If traditional search methods or Terminal commands fail to yield results, you might consider using data recovery software as a next step. Several reputable third-party applications can deeply scan your hard drive for deleted files, analyzing existing data structures to find remnants of lost information. Some popular options include Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. These tools often come with user-friendly interfaces and can guide you through recovery, increasing the chances of retrieving valuable files that may have been accidentally deleted. Select a recovery tool that suits your operating system and meets your specific need.

Tips to prevent future file loss

Here’s a few helpful steps you can take so you have less of a problem finding files in the future. 

Organize your files: Create a logical folder structure and stick to it. This makes it easier to find files and reduces the risk of losing them.

Use cloud storage: Services like iCloud Drive,GoogleDrive, and Dropbox provide a backup of your files and allow you to access them from anywhere.

Regularbackupsare essential: Set up Time Machine or another backup solution to regularly back up your entire system. This is your ultimate safety net against data loss.

Following these tips can significantly increase your chances of finding those lost files and prevent future headaches. Happy hunting!

48MP for all

• The long-rumored iPhone SE 4 could launch soon, according to new rumors
• LG Innotek has reportedly began production of camera modules for the new phone, which normally occurs three months before launch
• The new SE is also tipped to borrow the display from the iPhone 13

---

The long-rumorediPhone SE 4may be right around the corner and pack a previously unexpected camera upgrade, if a new crop of rumors are to be believed.

According to Korean news outletETNEWS(viaGoogleTranslate),LGInnotek will supply both the rear single-lens camera module and front-facing selfie camera for the upcoming phone, and make use of previously used components to keep costs down.

The new SE having just one rear camera would be nothing new, but the report also suggests that this rear snapper will be a 48MP lens, in line with the main camera on theiPhone 14 Promodels and the entireiPhone 15andiPhone 16lineups. Should the report prove correct about the use of previously used components, this would likely be the exact same camera as found on these earlier phones.

We had previously expected the rumored new iPhone SE to ship with a 12MP single-lens rear camera, in line with the current third-generation model. However, the ETNEWS report suggests the new iPhone SE will feature the same 12MP selfie camera as the current model.

AsBGRnotes, a prior report from Korean news outletAju Newssuggests that LG typically supplies camera modules for phones around three months before release.

This would suggest a release date of March 2025 for the iPhone SE 4, which fits with the previous releases in the series, all of which were unveiled in March or April of their respective years.

The report also corroborates prior rumors concerning the display the iPhone SE 4 could ship with by suggesting the new phone will borrow the 6.1-inch LTPSOLEDpanel from the iPhone 13. This probably means a resolution of 1170 x 2532 and a refresh rate of 60Hz – pleasantly sharp, though most budget phones come with a 90Hz or even 120Hz refresh rate these days.

Applehas reportedly divided its orders for the new display between LG Innotek and Chinese manufacturer BOE, and the use of a previously-developed panel tracks with the component cost-cutting strategy suggested by ETNEWS.

Incidentally, the use of this display would almost definitely result in an iPhone 14-style form factor for the new phone, as has been previously suggested.

Apple has yet to reveal any official information about the iPhone SE 4, and likely won’t until the phone is ready for release.

>>>A2312 Battery for Apple iPhone SE (2020) SE2

My analysis

Hype for the iPhone SE 4 is heating up, and for good reason – if these types of rumors continue, we could be looking at one of thebest cheap phones(and more importantly best-value phones) Apple has ever produced.

Apple’s mobile camera systems are famous for their quality and point-and-shoot reliability, so fitting the cheapest phone in the lineup with a modernized 48MP camera would be a pro-consumer move by any measure.

For most people, this would offer more than enough photography capability – I mean,how many people really use their phone’s ultra-wide camera anyway?

And even I, as a notedlover of ridiculously large phone camera systems, reckon I’d be happy with a single 48MP snapper in most situations.

As well as the iPhone 13’s display, we expect to see the iPhone SE 4 ship with essentially identical specs to the iPhone 16, in order to supportApple Intelligence.

Think about it – a compact AI phone with a great camera looped into the Apple ecosystem, likely for less than $500? This coming year could see the iPhone SE become a real competitor, rather than just a blast of nostalgia.

Apple and Qualcomm have been partners for a long time, but the former appears intent on gradually moving away from Qualcomm as a chip supplier for Apple’s iPhones and iPads over the next few years, as Bloomberg reveals in detail. Three Apple modem generations will be gradually implemented from the iPhone SE 2025 onwards and ultimately also in the Pro iPhones.

Soon a Qualcomm-free zone: Apple plans to slowly replace all Qualcomm modems in iPhones and iPads starting with the iPhone SE 4. (Image source: Wekihome)

Apple has had no luck with its modem plans so far, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman describes in arecent report. The original plan was to replace Qualcomm modems with in-house developments as early as 2021, but despite a high financial investment of several billion dollars, including the purchase of Intel’s modem division, there has been one setback after another.

The tests with the Apple modem prototypes were anything but positive, with efficiency and overheating problems in particular forcing Apple to extend the contracts with Qualcomm again and again. But the outlook for 2025 is positive, after recent changes to development processes and experts acquired from Qualcomm have slowly turned the tide for the better, explains Gurman.

>>>A2312 Battery for Apple iPhone SE (2020) SE2

First move in 2025: Mid-range 5G modem

In 2025, the first guaranteed Qualcomm-free iPhones will be launched on the market, based on a modem developed by Apple itself and manufactured by TSCM in Taiwan, codenamed “Sinope”. Next year, only theiPhone SE 4(expected in the spring) and the thinneriPhone 17 Air(following in the fall) will benefit from Apple’s in-house development, and the new entry-level iPads are also expected to be launched on the market without a Qualcomm modem in 2025.

The reason why the iPhone 17 Pro models are not yet included is that Apple’s first modem will be a mid-range 5G modem without mmWave functionality and channel bundling limited to 4 carriers, which barely delivers more than 4 gigabits per second in tests. Nevertheless, the new “Sinope” based iPhones are said to offer advantages such as greater efficiency thanks to improved integration with Apple’s A-series chips, which will also be important for satellite connectivity. The Apple modem should also make the iPhones less prone to radiation. 

Second move in 2026: Catching up with Qualcomm

According to current plans, the next step will follow in 2026 in the form of “Ganymede”, which is expected to be on par with the latest Qualcomm modems and will include mmWave support, 6 Gbps download speeds and six-carrier aggregation. It will be installed for the first time in the iPhone 18 generation and the high-end iPads of 2027. 

Third move in 2027: Surpassing Qualcomm

Last but not least, Apple intends to surpass Qualcomm’s solutions in 2027 with a third modem called “Prometheus” and also offer AI features and next-gen satellite features. The current plan is for Qualcomm modems to disappear from all Apple products by the iPhone 19 generation at the latest. There are also currently efforts to integrate the modems directly into the A-series chips.

Source(s)

Bloomberg

Image:Wekihome YouTube

Another in-house phone part

For the last few years, Apple has been on a quest to end its reliance on iPhone components from other companies. The latest bit to get the ax looks to be the cellular modem chip, and a switch to an Apple-made part looks imminent.

Currently,Qualcommmakes the modems in your iPhone, but a new report fromBloomberg’s Mark Gurmanclaims that Apple’s in-house modem will debut in 2025.

The first iPhone to feature this new modem will reportedly be theiPhone SE 4, which is expected tolaunch in the springof next year. However, Gurman claims that the first version of Apple’s modem will be much weaker than the currently available Qualcomm chip.

>>>A2312 Battery for Apple iPhone SE (2020) SE2

Simply, the modem on your smartphone enables the handset to connect to cell towers so it can make calls and connect to the internet over cellular.

Apple wants to surpass Qualcomm by 2027 with increasingly “more advanced” chips, according to the Bloomberg story.

Gurman gets more in-depth in the history of Apple’s modem development but briefly, Apple has been working on this project since at least 2021, having spent billions including acquiringIntel’s modem group and hundreds of engineers.

Interestingly, the first version of the modem, codenamed Sinope, won’t be in the flagshipiPhone 17models next year. Instead, it will launch with the iPhone SE 4. The new modem also may feature in the much-rumorediPhone 17 Airand lower-end iPads. It appears the SE 4 will be a real test for Apple’s in-house modem.

Sinope won’t support mmWave, a 5G technology that can handle large download speeds. Instead, it’s supposed to feature a Sub-6Ghz standard that’s featured on the currentiPhone SE, which debuted in 2022.

Allegedly, because this new modem will be more integrated with Apple’s iPhone systems, it will be more efficient, use less power and better support network connections, despite its downgraded connectivity.

Like much of Apple’s chip components, Sinope is going to be produced by TSM, who also make the Apple-designed A-series of processors.

According to the report, Apple-built modems will feature in more products in 2026, including the iPhone 18. iPad Pros are slated to feature a third-generation modem by 2027. By then, Apple’s modem should support mmWave and bigger download speeds.

Gurman briefly noted that Apple is considering merging the modem and main processor as one component.

With advancing processors and capabilities the iPhone is a powerful device, it will be interesting to see what effect the modem switch will have on Apple’s devices.

Cook opines on legacy, Vision Pro, and Apple Intelligence

• Tim Cook sat down with Wired for a wide-ranging interview
• He confirmed that Apple hasn’t considered charging for AI features as of yet
• Cook shedded some light on Vision Pro performance, albeit indirectly

---

I likeTim Cook. The now long-timeAppleCEO is gracious, smart, and as close to a human sphinx as you can imagine. He rarely drops major news, either casually or when the media are grilling him.

Cook did not disappoint inhis latest wide-ranging interview with Wired’s Steven Levy. One of the best in the business, Levy peppered Cook with questions about everything from theiPhone’s 16’snew Camera Control button toApple Intelligence, the company, and his own legacy. Cook didn’t exactly break news, but there were areas where he revealed a bit more about himself and some of Apple’s strategic decisions relating to AI, mixed reality, and what comes next for Cook himself.

Apple Intelligence, Apple’s brand of AI that Cook insists is not a pun, has been slowly rolling out to supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with each iteration getting a bit closer to what Apple promised during its JuneWWDC 2024keynote. Cook didn’t walk through any new features, though he does have a point of view on the fine line between utility and taking over. Cook tends to believe that AI is an assistant (like a copilot, I guess) and is not straight-up doing things for you.

However, Cook’s perspective on charging for additional and maybe more powerful AI Apple Intelligence features was more interesting. It’s not a discussion they’ve been having on the Apple Campus.

“We never talked about charging for it,” Cook told Levy. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s off the table, but since Apple and Cook view Apple Intelligence as similar to multitouch on the iPhone, AI is likely a feature that adds value to all the other products and services Apple charges for. Apple could simply raise the prices on them to cover the cost of building and supporting Apple intelligence features.

>>>A2527 Battery for Apple MacBook Pro 16″ Late 2021 A2485 A2780

Vision Pro realities

Apple has been mum onVision Prosales. The powerful VR and mixed-reality headset is undoubtedly the apex of Apple’s consumer electronics capabilities and the company makes you pay dearly for it – $3,500 – which may account for consumer apathy.

Cook didn’t speak directly about sales performance, but he’s still bullish about the headset. I think, though, he may have acknowledged that the pricey wearable is not for everyone. Here’s how Cook characterized it to Levy:

“It’s an early adopter product, for people who want tomorrow’s technology today.”

Cook insisted that the ecosystem is flourishing, which may be a sign of product category health, but then he added one encouraging bit of almost news about what might come next.

Levy asked aboutMeta OrionandSnap AR glasses. These lighter and more glasses-like wearables focus on AR experiences, and I wondered if Vision Pro’s next iteration could be headed in that direction.

“Yes,” Cook told Levy, “It’s a progression over time in terms of what happens with form factors.”

I think the market cannot wait to try out those next form factors.

>>>A2043 Battery for Apple iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Generation

After Cook

Some believe that Apple Hardware lead John Ternus is thenext likely Apple CEO, but for Ternus to step in, Cook would have to step away. The current Apple CEO, however, did not paint a picture of someone running out ofsteamor one who is becoming less engaged with the brand.

The Apple-Tim Cook love affair is still very much alive. Cook is not planning his exit and told Levy that he would not “do it until the voice in my head says, ‘It’s time.”

Cook said he loves the job and can’t imagine his life without it. Put another way, Tim Cook will be steering the Apple ship and building upon his legacy, which Cook wants to be health. “We have research going on. We’re pouring all of ourselves in here, and we work on things that are years in the making,” Cook told Levy.

I think it will likely be Apple Silicon for many years to come, though.

Support is ending for your old-school iPhone

WhatsApp logo displayed on iPhone 14 screen

---

• Users on old iPhones have been sent a new alert in WhatsApp
• It says that WhatsApp will stop working unless they update iOS
• WhatsApp will end support for software older than iOS 15.1 in May 2025

---

Thebest iPhonesare known to last a long time, so it’s no surprise if you’re still happily rocking an older iPhone that’s several versions out of date. Despite that, you might find it’s not compatible withWhatsAppfor much longer, as the developer of the popular messaging app has warned users that they’ll soon need to upgrade their iPhone or stop using the service.

As detailed byWABetaInfo,WhatsApphas begun sending notifications warning users that they need to “update to the latest version of iOS to continue using WhatsApp.” These alerts are being sent out to users who are running anything older than iOS 15.1 on their iPhones.

If that sounds like you, you’ve got around five months until WhatsApp stops working on your iPhone, as the app notification says WhatsApp will end support for older versions of iOS on May 5, 2025. WhatsApp recommends you open the Settings app and go to General > Software Update to update your iPhone.

Yet it might not be so simple to do that. If you have an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus – or any earlier iPhone – your device will not be compatible with iOS 18. That means you won’t be able to update your iPhone, and consequently WhatsApp will stop working on your device next May.

>>>616-0805 Battery for Apple iPhone 6 4.7″ A1549 A1586 A1589 A1522

That’s not all.WhatsApp doesn’t have an iPad app yet (beyond a beta app that’s only available to people using Apple’s TestFlight service). That means that next year’s WhatsApp update will also end support for the first-generation iPad Air, the iPad mini 2, and the iPad mini 3, as they too only support iOS versions earlier than iOS 15.1

Time to upgrade?

WhatsApp has been steadily introducing new features to its iOS and Android apps over the past year, including the ability to send photos in ‘original quality’ (above).(Image credit: Future)

WABetaInfo states that WhatsApp could be ending support for older iPhones so that it can make use of newer features and technologies introduced in iOS 15. WhatsApp can go ahead and add these features if it doesn’t have to worry about being held back by outdated iPhones that can’t run them.

As well as that, it’s likely that there aren’t too many WhatsApp users currently on versions of iOS predating iOS 15.1, considering the iPhones in question were released years ago. WhatsApp could redirect its efforts to optimizing the app further for the larger number of users who have more modern iPhones.

>>>616-00036 Battery for Apple iPhone 6S A1633 A1688

Ultra-why bother?

The iPhone 16 (Image credit: Future)
Pick up any modern phone – be it one of the best iPhones or best Android phones – and you’re likely to find a rear panel adorned with two, three, or even four cameras. In most cases, at least one of these cameras will be an ultra-wide lens – commonly referred to as a 0.5x or 0.6x zoom, compared to the main snapper.

Apple, for example, markets the base-model iPhone 16 as having a 4x optical zoom range thanks to an inner crop on its main camera and the 0.5x “magnification” offered by the ultra-wide camera.

But beyond neat figures for marketing and pseudo-zoom trickery, can any of us actually remember if we even wanted an ultra-wide camera to begin with?

The first phone to really make an impact by having two cameras was the iPhone 7 Plus, which pushed the idea of the dual camera setup into the mainstream. It came equipped with a wide-angle main camera and a 2x telephoto camera, at a time when even decent digital zoom wasn’t a given on smartphones.

>>>>616-00249 Battery for Apple iPhone 7 Plus 7+

The iPhone 7 Plus launched in 2016 with a dual camera setup
The revolutionary iPhone X, and its follow-up the iPhone XS, kept this momentum going, and the rivals of the day followed suit, with the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus also sporting a telephoto camera.

Ever since the iPhone 11, though, it’s been seen as normal to fit premium, flagship handsets with ultra-wide secondary cameras, and the more useful telephoto lens has increasingly become a tertiary luxury. And in the budget world, telephoto lenses are a real rarity compared to the common – and presumably cheaper – ultra-wide option.

Ultra-wide cameras have their uses. The lesser focal distance of an ultra-wide camera means you can get up close to subjects, enabling macro photography. And sometimes you just need to fit more stuff in the frame.

However, for day-to-day photography – which is the majority of photography done with a smartphone – even a 2x telephoto zoom is so much more useful; it virtually extends the photographer’s reach to help them capture a wider variety of day-to-day happenings – not to mention better-looking portraits and detailed close-ups.

The ultra-wide cameras affixed to smartphones are also rarely meaningfully corrected by the phone’s image processing pipeline, meaning people and objects at the fringes of the image appear unnaturally stretched out.

>>>>616-00514 Battery for Apple iPhone XS A1920 A2097 A2098 A2100

The Xiaomi Mix Flip doesn’t have an ultra-wide camera (Image credit: Xiaomi)
Luckily, there does seem to be a course correction in motion. Xiaomi affixes telephoto cameras to several of its mid-range models, and even the new Xiaomi Mix Flip foldable has a 2x zoom as its sole backup. The Samsung Galaxy S24 family all carry an optical zoom camera of some description.

And I’m even glad of the rumors that suggest the next-generation iPhone SE will continue the single-camera tradition, as this means more investment and design resources can be allocated to things like performance and battery life instead of a camera with very limited use cases.

Hopefully, these choices begin to trickle down towards the best cheap phones over the coming years, but until then, it seems I’ll have to keep chasing the highest-performing phones for a secondary camera that I actually want to use.