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Trump plan to kill CHIPS Act threatens US-made iPhone processors

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TSMC chip production
The future of TSMC plants in Arizona and US chip production hangs in the balance.
Photo: TSMC

President Donald Trump’s recent threat to cancel the CHIPS and Science Act, which offers tax credits to companies that produce processors in the United States, could throw a monkey wrench into plans to boost U.S. chip production. Trump argues that tariffs would do the job better.

That raises questions about the future of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company plants being built in Arizona thanks to the CHIPS Act. TSMC’s Arizona chip fabs already make processors for iPhone and Apple Watch.

Apple closes iPhone security hole with fresh software update

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iOS 18.3.1
Install iOS 18.3.1 if you have any concern your iPhone might get hacked. Or if you just don’t want bugs.
Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 18.3.1 and more updates went out Monday. These bring bug fixes, while a security update makes them highly recommended for anyone with a compatible iPhone or iPad.

In addition, you can download macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, watchOS 11.3.1 and visionOS 2.3.1 — each with their own fixes — now as well.

Use Vehicle Motion Cues to eliminate iPhone motion sickness in cars, trains and planes

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No Motion Sickness In The Car
As a passenger, of course.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Vehicle Motion Cues feature will help you use your iPhone in the car by reducing feelings of motion sickness. With the feature turned on, dots along the edge of your iPhone screen will animate in sync with the motion of the plane, train or automobile you’re riding in.

According to Apple, “Motion sickness is commonly caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel.” Apple says these animations “reduce sensory conflict.”

It may sound weird, but the feature evidently works really well. Here’s how you can enable it.

Everything to expect from the redesigned iPhone SE 4

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iPhone SE 4 rumors
There’s no reason to wait to find out all about the iPhone SE 4.
Image: Majin Bu/CCult of Mac

The iPhone SE 4 could launch this week, bringing a significant redesign to Apple’s budget handset. It’ll reportedly mean the end of features that were iPhone hallmarks for many years, like the Home button. Plus, it’ll support Cupertino’s new collection of AI-powered features. Stay updated with the latest iOS news and what this means for iPhone SE owners by checking out this article.

Read on to learn everything that already leaked out describing the revamped fourth-generation SE.

First foldable iPhone might arrive in 2026

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Folding phone
Apple’s first foldable iPhone may sport a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold-like design.
Photo: Mika Baumeister/Unsplash CC

Apple could launch its first foldable iPhone as early as 2026. With iPhone sales slowing down and smartphone competition increasing, Apple “intends” to launch the foldable iPhone next year, according to a new report.

Android foldables have yet to go mainstream, but they have improved leaps and bounds in the last few years. Apple risks falling behind its competitors if it does not launch a foldable device soon. Given the premium pricing of Apple’s devices, many are curious about the mac cost, especially for this first-generation foldable model.

How to use the new Apple Invites app for your party planning

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All-In-One Party Planning
This (kind of) free app can handle it all for you.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

To tackle your party planning, the new Apple Invites app can help you get organized with RSVPs and keep everybody up to date. It can even handle a shared music playlist and photo album that anyone can contribute to.

And yes, you can invite people who don’t have the app installed yet, don’t have an Apple Account or don’t have an Apple device at all. You can invite people via email; they can RSVP on the web and get follow-up notifications in their inbox.

Keep reading or watch our video guide — and download the app here.

How to make iCloud more secure with Advanced Data Protection

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You now have the option to have more of your iCloud files encrypted, including images. Here's how.
Apple's operating systems give you the option to encrypt much of the data stored on iCloud.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple offers end-to-end encryption for many more types of iCloud data than it once did. Advanced Data Protection encrypts iCloud Photos, Notes, iCloud Backup and more. But you have to activate the feature to take advantage of the data protection. It is easy … once you find the switch buried in Settings.

We can save you some time. Here’s how and why you should activate it.

How to transcribe audio to text for free in Notes

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Transcribe audio to text free on iPhone
The Notes app on your iPhone transcribes audio to text for free..
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In the updated Notes app in iOS 18, you can transcribe audio to text for free: Your iPhone will automatically transcribe voice notes for later.

This is a great feature to use in a college class, if you want to record audio of a lecture alongside your notes. You can use it in meetings — the irritating in-person kind — for recording what people actually said alongside your notes. It’s also great for generating podcast transcripts or any kind of writing. It’s a quick and easy way to get a first draft.

Read more or watch our video guide.

How to remove ads and other distractions on iPhone in Safari

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Banish Those Banner Ads
Simplify the web, one annoyance at a time.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Safari’s Hide Distracting Items feature lets you remove ads from your iPhone, along with other elements on the page that irritate you. It doesn’t require an ad blocker or a paid extension — Apple built it right into the browser in iOS 18.

Hide Distracting Items is not an ad blocker per se, but if you are pestered by pop-ups and other items with no obvious close button, Hide Distracting Items can come to the rescue. Here’s how to use it — keep reading or watch our video.

Today in Apple history: Original iPhone goes large with 16GB of storage

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The original iPhone
The O.G. iPhone was a thing of beauty.
Photo: Traci Dauphin/Cult of Mac

February 5: Today in Apple history: Original iPhone goes large with 16GB of storage February 5, 2008: Six months after the first-gen iPhone goes on sale, Apple releases a new version with a whopping 16GB of storage.

For some users, there’s never enough memory,” says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPod and iPhone product marketing, in a statement. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”

Average iPhone selling price tops a whopping $900

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iPhone Series 16 day in photos
Shoppers bought heaps of iPhone Pro models in 2024.
Photo: Apple

 If you paid $900 for your iPhone, then you paid less than the global average, according to a new analysts’ report. That’s because the average selling price for iOS devices grew 25% over the last four years, even as the number of handsets Apple sold also increased.

There’s been a trend for several years of greater demand for Apple’s more expensive iPhone Pro models, and that’s driving up ASP. Apple continues to push innovation, including features like Adaptive Audio AirPods, which were recently highlighted in this Spike Jonze short film.

How to find your lost iPhone using Find My (and Apple Watch)

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Find My iPhone
One of the best iPhone features.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Find My iPhone, a feature available in Apple’s Find My app, will help you locate your lost phone. You can find it using any other Apple device you own or by borrowing a friend’s device. You can even ping your iPhone from your Apple Watch.

From Find My, you can also remotely lock down your lost iPhone, put the device into a special Lost Mode, or even wipe its contents. You should take a peek at this incredibly useful app before you have to.

Keep reading or watch our video.

Control your Apple TV from your iPhone or Apple Watch

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You won’t lose this remote
The Apple TV remote is easy to lose, but it’s harder to lose your phone — much less the Apple Watch strapped to your arm.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can use your iPhone (or even your Apple Watch!) as a remote for your Apple TV. It’s a convenient feature when you’ve lost the remote in the couch cushions. (You can use your iPhone to help find it as well.)

Even if your remote’s not gone missing, sometimes it’s sitting on the table way over there and you don’t want to interrupt a show by asking for someone to pass it to you. Or maybe, someone is intentionally hogging the remote and you want to pause the video yourself. Either way, it’s really easy to do from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.

Mind-melting stats from Apple’s profitable earnings call

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AI-generated image of Apple logo apparently made of silver-colored liquid metal, with the words
Some of Apple's impressive numbers are so large, it's hard to wrap your head around them.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

We went through Apple CEO Tim Cook’s earnings call with investors on Thursday, and found some genuine surprises during the discussion of the financial results of the holiday 2024 quarter. We also turned up impressive figures showing just how well the company is doing.

Financial details don’t have to be boring. Here are the high points from the call as quickly and as interesting as we can make them.

Charge Apple gear on the go with this beast of a power bank

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CukTech 30 Power Bank released
With a 40,000mAh battery and 300 watts of total charging power, CukTech 30 dominates.
Photo: CukTech

For Apple users seeking a high-capacity portable power solution for all their gear, the new CukTech 30 Power Bank packs a massive 40,000mAh battery, combined charging power of up to 300 watts for up to five devices at once and some useful features, the company said Wednesday.

Track your medications on iPhone in the Health app

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Don’t Skip Your Meds
Your iPhone and Apple Watch can help you track your meds.
Image: MorgueFile/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Apple Health app on your iPhone will help you track your medications. It has a lot of advanced options for all kinds of medicine — you can set up schedules, log your activity and even get advice on drug interactions. If you can connect with your health care provider through the Health app, setting it up is incredibly simple. Otherwise, you can just scan the label on the bottle using the camera to import it.

Let me show you how to get started.

Dynamic new Black Unity Collection celebrates Black History Month

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2025 Black Unity Collection
The new Black Unity Collection honors Black History Month, and celebrates Black culture and community.
Photo: Apple

Apple unveiled its latest Black Unity Collection Monday to celebrate Black culture and community. It features an innovative Apple Watch Sport Loop and watch face that bring the Pan-African flag colors to life through groundbreaking design technology, the iPhone giant said.

And as usual, the annual release for Black History Month in February includes iPhone and iPad wallpapers in addition to the Apple Watch features.

Today in Apple history: iPhone sales hit first speed bump

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iPhone 7
Some feared we officially hit "peak iPhone" in 2016.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

January 26: Today in Apple history: iPhone sales hit first speed bump as sales flatline for first time January 26, 2016: After nine years of spectacular growth, iPhone sales flatline for the first time. Some call the sales plateau means “peak iPhone” has finally arrived.

Numbers posted by Apple show that during the final three months of 2015, iPhone sales grew by only 0.4%. The crucial holiday season sales compare quite unfavorably with the 46% jump recorded during the same period a year earlier.

Everything you need to know about iPhone Mirroring on the Mac

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Control Your iPhone From Your MacBook
Save yourself the pain of getting your phone out of your pocket.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iPhone Mirroring on the Mac lets you control your phone using your computer — a handy convenience when your iPhone is in your pocket, purse or backpack. All your iPhone notifications can be mirrored onto your Mac as well, letting you triage them and take care of business without touching your phone and interrupting your workflow.

This feature also could come in handy if you shatter your iPhone screen. You can mirror an otherwise unusable iPhone to your Mac to make sure it’s backed up. You could even factory-reset your broken phone before sending it in for repair or replacement.

Here’s how iPhone mirroring works. Keep reading or watch our video.

Prepare for emergencies by setting up Medical ID on your iPhone

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This may save your life.
It probably won’t, but it may.
Image: Helitak430/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

It’s very important to set up your iPhone Medical ID so it’s ready in case you find yourself in an emergency situation. First responders can check your iPhone to get critical information about any allergies or preexisting conditions that could make a huge difference in their ability to help you.

It might be unpleasant to think about, but providing this vital information could prove lifesaving if an accident leaves you unconscious.

If you haven’t yet done so you’ll be happy to know it only takes a couple of minutes to update your medical records in the Health app on your iPhone. Here’s how to do it.

Apple seems determined we use its new artificial intelligence features

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Apple Intelligence at WWDC24
Apple Intelligence will soon be on by default on compatible handsets.
Screenshot: Apple

iPhone users who install iOS 18.3 after the upgrade launches next week will find that Apple Intelligence is now on by default for those who use a compatible handset.

Previously, using the suite of AI-powered functions required opting in, but no longer. It’s a seemingly subtle but important change.

Quickly hide notifications from that one noisy group chat

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Keep It Quiet In There
The quickest way to hide those pesky notifications.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Is a group chat blowing up at an inopportune time and distracting the hell out of you? There’s an easy fix. You can hide alerts on your iPhone from a particularly noisy group chat in Messages. It’s like switching on Do Not Disturb — but for a single person or conversation. You can hide alerts permanently or temporarily.

With the Hide Alerts feature, you can silence alerts from a specific app in a similar manner, silencing it while letting all other notifications through. Better yet, you can hide alerts directly from your iPhone’s Lock Screen, which makes it easy to switch them on and off at a moment’s notice.

Watch our video or read on to see how.

iPhone SE 4 might avoid Apple’s screen notch

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iPhone SE 4 rumors
Rumors point to the iPhone SE 4 being surprisingly advanced.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE 4, expected soon, makes the Dynamic Island universal on current Apple handsets, according to a generally reliable tipster. If true, it means the iPhone SE 4 will skip the screen notch previously expected.

It’s already virtually certain that Apple’s upcoming lower-cost model will drop another bit of obsolete tech: the Lightning port. And the Home button is on the way out, too.

RCS on iPhone: New ways to chat with Android friends

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RCS Messaging on iPhone
This guide tells you everything you need to know about RCS.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Rich Communication Services messaging is new to iPhone, and it makes chatting with Android users much more fun. RCS messaging makes features like read receipts, video and file attachments and named group chats — previously exclusive to iMessage (and some apps) — possible between iPhone and Android.

What RCS features can you take advantage of? Keep reading or watch our video guide.

China hinders moving iPhone assembly to other countries

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Foxconn
China doesn’t want these workers at a Foxconn plant to lose their jobs making Apple computers.
Photo: Foxconn

Apple’s efforts to move iPhone assembly to India and Vietnam are reportedly being hampered by the Chinese government.

The iPhone-maker wants to increase the number of countries in which its products are assembled amidst a worsening U.S./China trade war.