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Rajesh Pandey - page 15

YouTube Premium gains several new features at no extra cost

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you.tube.logo.4
Your YouTube Premium experience is about to get better.
Photo: YouTube

YouTube is improving the experience for its Premium subscribers by adding more perks for them. Going forward, YouTube Premium users can enjoy faster playback speeds on mobile and stream high-quality audio.

On iPhone, you can now play YouTube Shorts in picture-in-picture. Smart Downloads is also expanding to include support for Shorts.

Meta AR glasses could launch in 2027 to take on Apple

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Meta Ray-Bans
Meta could launch high-end smart glasses this year with a built-in display.
Photo: Meta/Ray-Ban

Meta is reportedly exploring the development of AI-powered smartwatches and earbuds with built-in cameras. The social media giant is also working on AR glasses that could launch around 2027.

Before that, Meta will launch high-end smart glasses with a built-in display as soon as this year.

Netflix hikes prices yet again

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netflix.logo
Netflix keeps getting more expensive.
Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac

Netflix is getting more expensive in the US and several neighboring countries again. The streaming service will hike its prices despite a healthy addition of 18.9 million new subscribers in Q4 2024.

The streaming service last hiked its prices in October 2023. However, since the pandemic, Netflix has increased its subscription prices several times.

iOS 18.3 will nuke bogus notification summaries for news stories

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Apple pressured to drop AI news summaries
The inaccurate notification summary that sparked the criticism.
Photo: BBC News

Following major criticism from major media outlets, Apple is making changes to how its AI-powered notifications summaries work with iOS 18.3 beta 3.

The newest iOS 18.3 beta disables notification summaries for apps in the news and entertainment categories. It also makes several other changes to highlight the feature being in beta and potentially generating summaries with errors.

Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air rival could be just 6.4mm thin

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim leaked renders
This is Samsung's super-slim Galaxy that will take on the iPhone 17 Air.
Photo: SmartPrix

Apple is not the only company reportedly working on a slim flagship phone for 2025. Samsung is also working on one, and a new leak indicates the company’s iPhone 17 Air rival will have a 6.4mm thick waistline.

Despite the slim profile, Samsung’s super-slim Galaxy reportedly will pack impressive specs, including a 200MP rear camera.

Apple Watch SE 3 revamp reportedly coming in second half of 2025

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Apple Watch SE 3 might sport a kid-friendly design.
Apple Watch SE 3 will only arrive later in 2025.
Concept graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Like Apple’s rumored smart home hub, the refreshed Apple Watch SE might not launch as soon as initially expected. A new report says the Apple Watch SE 3 will debut in the second half of 2025.

Apple supposedly will give its cheapest smartwatch a big redesign this year, launching it with a totally new look.

Apple’s first smart display might arrive later than expected

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AI-generated image of wall-mounted screen for home automation with the words
Apple's smart home display will certainly look better than this render.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 7-inch smart home hub may not arrive this quarter as initially rumored. A new report indicates the device will launch later in 2025 due to a key iOS 18 feature not being ready for release. For the latest apple homepod news and updates on Apple’s smart home ecosystem, stay tuned.

iPhone 17 Air may be nearly as slim as M4 iPad Pro

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All 2025 iPhone 17 models might have ProMotion, always-on screens
iPhone 17 Air may rival the iPad Pro's slimness.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air might be slimmer than initially rumored. All reports suggested the phone could have a 6mm thin waistline.

However, a reputed Apple analyst believes the iPhone 17 Air will measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point.

iPhone 17 Pro could go all-in with 48MP rear cameras

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iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro could ditch all its 12MP cameras for good.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple might not make meaningful camera hardware improvements to its Pro iPhones this year. The iPhone 17 Pro will supposedly stick to the same 48MP primary shooter as the current flagship iPhone.

The only notable camera improvement on this year’s iPhone would be the switch to a 48MP sensor for the 5x tetraprism shooter.

Apple Card lets users affected by LA wildfires delay payments

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Apple Card after five years
Don't worry about incurring any interest charges for missing the payment.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Card is notifying customers impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires that they can delay their payments without incurring interest.

Apple is contacting Apple Card users living at an address declared a natural disaster zone. Affected users must enroll in the Disaster Relief Program to be eligible.

Your Mac is mistakenly flagging Docker as malware

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Docker logo
False alarm! The Docker app for Mac is not a malware.
Photo: Docker

Getting a “Malware Blocked” warning on booting your Mac or when starting Docker? You are not alone. Hundreds of Mac users worldwide report seeing a similar message on their machine over the last few days.

The error is due to an issue with Docker, a popular platform designed to build and run apps using containers.

Apple emphasizes Siri’s privacy-first approach after settling lawsuit

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Siri
Apple is highlighting Siri's privacy-first approach to protect its reputation.
Photo: Apple

Apple recently agreed to pay $95 million to settle a Siri class action lawsuit alleging privacy violations. The company is now restating the voice assistant’s commitment to user privacy through an article on its newsroom.

Apple reassures users that it never used Siri data to build marketing profiles or sold it to anyone. Instead, it is always developing new ways to make Siri more privacy-friendly.

iPhone SE 4 and iPad 11 to launch ‘by April’

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iPhone SE in Red
No, the iPhone SE 4 won't launch in January.
Photo: Filipe Alves

Apple is hard at work on iOS 18.3, iPhone SE 4 and iPad 11, but the company won’t launch the new devices alongside the operating system update, which should drop later this month or in early February.

Instead, the new budget iPhone and iPad reportedly will land in April.

Chrome vs. Safari on Mac: Why Google’s browser wins for me

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Chrome vs Safari on Mac
Safari is great, but Chrome is my browser of choice on a Mac.
Graphics: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Safari on the Mac feels a lot faster to use than Google Chrome. It is also more battery efficient and takes fewer resources. Yet, I prefer using Google Chrome on my MacBook.

Despite its faults, Google Chrome trumps Safari in many key aspects. There’s a reason why Google’s browser is the most popular choice worldwide.

Apple updates notification summaries to clearly indicate AI use

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Apple pressured to drop AI news summaries
The incorrect notification summary from Apple Intelligence that put Apple in trouble.
Photo: BBC News

After facing pressure to remove its AI news summaries after multiple reports of false headlines, Apple plans to tweak how the feature works.

Apple will update notification summaries to highlight when they are generated using Apple Intelligence.

Apple adds new warning labels to AirTag

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How do I stop AirTag from making noise?
AirTag units now comply with the Reese's Law.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple silently changed the AirTag‘s retail box to comply with Reese’s Law’s warning label requirements.

The law requires devices with coin-cell batteries to show a warning label about keeping them out of reach of children.

Apple in 2025: 5 things that could wow us

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Cartoon image of happy shopper in front of a wall of new Apple products. Copy overlay says,
These five Apple products could make you go wow this year.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Imagine a Siri capable of opening your preferred email client on your iPhone and sending an important email seamlessly. Picture an Apple-branded smart home hub, elegantly wall-mounted in your kitchen, equipped with Apple Intelligence for instant access to smart home controls and a conversational voice assistant. Envision an iPhone just 6mm thin, standing out for its ultra-sleek, stylish design.

All of this could turn into a reality in 2025, with Apple already working on these devices and services for launch next year.

Apple discounts iPhone in China amid intense competition

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Apple discounting iPhone in China from Jan 4-7
Buy from Apple's online store in China to save on iPhone, iPad and Mac
Photo: Apple

In a rare move, Apple is offering discounts of up to RMB 500 ($68.5) on iPhones in China. The promo runs from January 4 through 7 and only applies to selected payment methods.

Apple rarely provides direct discounts on its products, especially on newer models. However, it seems to be making an exception in China.

What to expect from Apple Watch in 2025

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Product shot of Apple Watch Ultra 2 with blue background and the words
Apple Watch could have an Ultra-good year in 2025.
Image: Cult of Mac

 2025 should be an Ultra year for the Apple Watch. In an unusual move, Apple only launched the Apple Watch Series 10 this year. It kept the Ultra 2 around, only releasing a new black titanium colorway. If you’re curious about the latest Apple Watch rumors, there’s plenty of speculation about what’s coming next.

But next year won’t be all about Apple’s most expensive smartwatch. For more budget-conscious customers, the third-gen Apple Watch SE should arrive in 2025.

How to set up your new AirTag the right way

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AirTag
Stick an AirTag in your car in case it's stolen.
Photo: Mark Chan/Unsplash

The Apple AirTag is arguably among the company’s most useful product releases in recent years. Once you set up an AirTag, it gives you powerful options for locating it (and whatever you attach it to). Put one of Apple’s tracking tags on an item like a keychain or luggage, and you can easily track its location from your iPhone, Mac, or iPad. If you’re wondering, do AirTags make noise, the answer is yes, but only in specific circumstances.

Since AirTag’s launch, numerous reports have detailed how the tracking tag helped owners find lost items. If you recently acquired an AirTag, here’s how you can set it up the right way and use it properly.

2026 iPhone 18 Pro may feature a game-changing variable aperture camera

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iPhone 15 Pro Max with no case, held aloft defiantly
The iPhone 18 Pro may introduce a groundbreaking feature inspired by professional-grade cameras.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple could adopt a variable aperture system for the iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera that would enable the device to adjust the aperture size and light intake depending on surroundings.

DLSRs typically use a variable aperture lens system. Samsung and some Chinese Android manufacturers have also used the technology on their phones, albeit on a limited scale.

Next-gen AirPods Pro might track your heart rate

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AirPods Pro 2 in their charging case
AirPods Pro 3 may feature heart-rate tracking.
Photo: Unsplash

Apple’s next AirPods Pro refresh could feature heart rate monitoring. But they are in “early development” and might not launch soon.

Engineers inside Apple are also working on several health-focused features for future models of the earbuds.

Apple’s next big smart home move could bring Face ID to your doorbell

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Apple security lock logo
A smart home doorbell from Apple with Face ID could become a reality.
Photo: Apple

Apple is reportedly working on a smart doorbell with Face ID-like facial recognition.

The device, still in its early development stages, seems unlikely to reach the market before late 2025 at the earliest. This timeline presumes Apple encounters no significant obstacles during development.

iOS 19 might not cut off any older iPhones

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iOS 19 render logo
iOS 19 will supposedly work with iPhones launched in 2018.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple might not drop support for any of its older iPhones with iOS 19. The next big iOS update reportedly will support the same devices as iOS 18.

However, iPadOS 19 supposedly will not be compatible with the seventh-gen iPad.