iPhone - page 2

Apple’s Edge Light feature may soon make the jump from Mac to iPhone. Code in the iOS 27 release candidate suggests the glowing screen-border effect could be coming to the iPhone Duo. It could eventually make its way to other iPhone models, too.

The discovery comes from an analysis of Apple’s latest software beta. The code points to the Mac feature being adapted for iPhone, creating a soft ring of light around the edge of the display. The catch is that it’s still an early build, and some key settings aren’t finished yet.

September 11, 2009: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer snatches an iPhone from an employee during a meeting and pretends to destroy it.

The iPhone freakout isn’t the first time Ballmer behaves in a wacky way and incurs negative publicity as a result. However, it’s an embarrassing moment for a man who ranks among the tech world’s most powerful people.

So you’re eyeing the iPhone Duo. Before you preorder, know this: The iPhone Duo versus iPhone 18 Pro fight is closer than you might think, but the folding phone loses by more than a few rounds.

Apple’s latest flagships launched together during Wednesday’s Surprise and Shine event. But to achieve its cutting-edge design, the Duo trades some camera and other features that the two iPhone 18 Pro models keep. Here’s what you’d give up if you buy the first folding iPhone.

Judging by social media, the iPhone Duo looks like it will be a big hit, not least because the first folding iPhone appears to have no visible screen crease when opened to full size.

That’s a big drawback for other foldable devices. Here are some other revealing tidbits about the iPhone Duo.

The just announced iPhone Duo is an iPad that fits in your pocket. The 7.6-inch screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but folds up to be easily pocketable.

iPad users are well accustomed to side-by-side multitasking, and the Duo offers that too. And the dual-display design enables some camera tricks no other iPhone can pull off.  

“With the largest display ever on iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket, combined with the power of A20 Pro, iPhone Duo helps you stay more immersed and productive wherever you go, whether you’re enjoying content, multitasking across apps, or gaming,” said John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO.

Apple kicked off its Surprise and Shine event Wednesday with a cinematic passing of the torch as former CEO Tim Cook introduced his successor, John Ternus.

Ternus then praised the company’s crown jewel — the iPhone, which he called an “intelligent personal hub” superpowered by artificial intelligence — before unveiling a slew of new products, including the first folding iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo.

Other new and upgraded products included the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. Plus, various Apple execs also showcased new software features coming soon in iOS 27 and the company’s other software platforms.

“iPhone sits at the center of an amazing ecosystem of intelligent features and experiences that work seamlessly across the products you use every day,” Ternus said, before name-checking the new AI-powered Siri and advanced features in the new Apple Watch and AirPods.

“Simply put, iPhone brings powerful AI capabilities together with your personal context on the device you have with you all the time,” Ternus continued. “So today, we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone.”

• See also: This is when iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate arrive

September 9, 2009: Apple CEO Steve Jobs makes his public return to the company after a successful liver-transplant surgery. Appearing onstage at Apple’s fall event, Jobs receives a standing ovation that lasts nearly a minute. He then opens the keynote on an unusually personal note by discussing his health.

“I wouldn’t be here without such generosity,” Jobs tells the audience, referring to the organ donor whose liver he received. “I hope all of us can be as generous and elect to become organ donors.”

Before revealing Apple’s new iPad nano line, Jobs says, “I’m vertical, I’m back at Apple, and I’m loving every day of it.”

When Apple released the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro last year, it did the unthinkable: It made the color orange both cool and commonplace.

Since then, a growing number of tech companies have embraced orange, producing a wide range of iPhone accessories and other gear in the surprisingly bold color. Now, the only question is, can Apple do it again … this time with dark cherry?

Even before Apple’s expected unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup during tomorrow’s Surprise and Shine event, it looks like the company might have another hit color on its hands.

The launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is about a month away. Should you be saving up? Or maybe jump on an iPhone 17 model before the price rise instead? What you need is early info on Apple’s next flagship handsets to help you decide.

The biggest changes are reportedly happening inside the phones, but Apple may also shrink the Dynamic Island, add a major camera upgrade and give the Pro Max a much bigger battery. And there might be a new color option!

Here’s everything the rumor mill is saying about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max as Apple’s September launch approaches.

When will you be able to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on your iPhone? In the United States, it varies by where you live. It’s not up to Apple: Each state and territory maintains a completely independent registry of drivers and identification cards, so each one must independently pass legislation and implement digital IDs.

If you live in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico or West Virginia, you can do it today. (Our guide will show you how to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet.) Otherwise, check our map and lists below to see how likely your state is to let you add your ID to Apple Wallet, and when it might happen.

In several states, Apple’s state ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watches to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets. And across the United States, you can create an Apple Digital ID based on your passport that can get you through some airport security checks. 

The day when an iPhone can completely take the place of an old-fashioned wallet remains years away, but it’s a goal Apple is working toward. Apple Pay is making progress on replacing credit cards, you can put airline tickets in the Wallet app, and the same goes for loyalty cards.

But no wallet is complete unless it can hold an ID. And that’s where Apple’s digital ID initiative comes in. Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license, state ID or federal passport to your Apple Wallet.

iOS 27 will let one phone number work across two iPhones. A new iPhone Handoff feature will soon allow you to swap your cellular line between a main and a companion device, with no SIM swap required.

The feature got the barest mention at WWDC 2026 in June, with zero explanation from Apple. Now, a leaked demo video finally shows how the setup could actually work.

Want an iPhone for less? You can … and we mean for way less. For a limited time, you can pick up a refurbished second-gen iPhone SE on sale for just $89.99.

What’s that, like two and a half sandwiches these days?

Yes, this budget iPhone is a few years old, so it obviously doesn’t have all the latest features. However, it also doesn’t come with the hefty price tag of recent high-end models.

If Apple Translate doesn’t offer the languages you need, you can set Google Translate as your iPhone or iPad’s default translation app. Google’s translation app supports 249 languages, whereas Apple Translate currently can handle only 19.

Google’s broad scope comes in handy if you regularly read materials written in languages that Apple Translate doesn’t cover. And Google Translate is not the only alternative translation app for iPhone.

Apple Maps ads finally started showing up for iPhone and iPad owners in the United States and Canada this week, and some users are angry — and even threatening to switch to Google Maps.

Sponsored listings now appear inside the Maps app’s search experience, front and center, tagged with a discreet label. But some iPhone owners feel disappointed and even betrayed, saying Apple is prioritizing ad dollars over a pristine user experience. 

Jailbreak developers have found a way to run macOS on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But it works as a virtual machine, not a full swap of iOS. The trick piggybacks on an existing iPad project that was never built with phones in mind.

The update comes from Virtual Mac, an open-source tool that lets some iPads run full macOS. Version 1.2.1 of the project extends the package to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. And, as expected, support is thin, and the trade-offs are real.

Apple could be preparing an iPhone price increase for this fall. The move would follow Google and Samsung, both of which raised prices on their flagship phones this year.

The iPhone faces the same memory and chip shortages that pushed Apple to jack up Mac and iPad prices back in June. And while an iPhone price increase now looks all but certain, Apple appears to be trying to keep the hike modest.

Conventional wisdom says that an iPhone that’s been dropped in water should immediately go into a bowl of dry rice to absorb the excess moisture. Turns out that’s rubbish advice for dealing with a wet iPhone.

Worse yet: It’s actively bad for your device. Here’s what to do instead.

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The Apple leaks are getting out of hand! Code in the macOS 26.7 release candidate spills the beans on tons of unreleased Apple products, and that’s just the start.

Tim Cook must be fuming — unless it’s the world’s craziest marketing campaign!

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

• How the AirPods with cameras will work (and when to expect them).
• Apple’s rumored home hub will wow us with widgets.
• One more reason not to buy the iPhone 18 Pro: a lack of feature parity with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Boo! Hiss!
• And finally, Graham gives us an update on the race to get Reps & Sets, his strength-training app, pumped up for iOS 27. Developers face this unwelcome task every year, but AI’s making it easier.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below and also available on our YouTube channel.

Norton Mobile Security protects iOS and Android devices from many of the modern world’s most insidious tech problems. With AI scam detection, real-time malware defense and Wi-Fi security, it can keep your iPhone from falling prey to bad actors.

For a limited time, you can secure 15 months of Norton Mobile Security for just $19.99 (regularly $37.48).

Apple’s AirPods with cameras just got a lot less mysterious. Buried in the macOS 26.7 release candidate’s code is a hidden framework that reveals exactly how the earbuds will perceive and process the world around you.

The discovery goes far beyond the recently leaked demo video spotted in the same code. It details resolution numbers, capture modes, calibration systems and a built-in privacy light. This gives us the clearest picture yet of the long-rumored AirPods upgrade.

Your iPhone can become a remote control for your iPad. It’s a convenient way to control a film or TV show playing on the tablet without having to get up off the couch.

And this doesn’t require a third-party application. All you need is Control Nearby Devices, a feature built into iOS and iPadOS.

Here’s how to do it.

A new leak says the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored variable-aperture camera won’t make it to the smaller iPhone 18 Pro.

The claim comes from a Weibo leaker with a strong track record on Apple hardware. The leaker also suggests Apple might limit a rumored upgrade to the Pro Max’s telephoto lens to the bigger phone, further widening the gap between this year’s Pro models.

Apple’s A20 Pro chip is shaping up to be a big leap forward. A new leak points to a significant jump in speed with a considerable cut in power use. This is the best look yet at the performance of a processor that will be critical to the success of Apple new flagship smartphones.

Built on TSMC’s 2-nm process, the chip is expected to make its debut in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall. The upgrade should mean serious performance and battery gains, but it likely won’t come cheap.

August 18, 2007: A video goes viral on YouTube when 23-year-old internet personality Justine Ezarik, aka iJustine, posts a 300-page iPhone bill mailed to her in a box by AT&T.

The video of her reaction to the outrageous bill — which lists every single action that consumed cellular data on Ezarik’s brand-new iPhone — quickly racks up 3 million views and receives extensive media coverage. (You can watch it below.)