A major cyber attack on a top U.S. hospital chain wasn’t just another hack — it was a wake-up call. Apple has just unveiled its latest line of iPads, packed with new features that are sure to impress. Plus, OpenAI’s new model and the best alternative to going to see a movie.
Apple's new gear: An $800 watch and $1,200 phone
Set a reminder for Monday, Sept. 18. That’s when iOS 17 is dropping — and it’s the one thing Apple just announced at its big Wonderlust fall release event that won’t cost you anything.
I’ve been on the beta version for months and wrote up my favorite new features for the Daily Mail. Today, let’s take a closer look at the latest hardware dropping this fall.
The phones
The 15 and 15 Plus are essentially the iPhone 14 Pro, with bigger batteries, screens and fun new colors. Yes, I like the pink one.
The star of the show is the iPhone Pro Max, with a 6.7″ display (soon we won’t be able to fit these things in our pockets), titanium case and processor Apple says can challenge some high-end PCs. Yes, Apple sometimes overstates performance, but there’s no doubt this thing is fast.
Apple watches
The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a big screen that is bright enough to see in full sunlight, with 72 hours of battery life and a titanium case. Say what you want about Apple, but it’s the best smartwatch out there.
That model and the $399 Series 9 both get “double tap,” a new gesture where you tap together your pointer finger and thumb to do things like answer calls. Pretty sweet.
RIP, Apple lightning connector
All four of the new iPhones and the Apple Watches charge with a USB-C cable. Rejoice, now you can plug in at a friend’s house if they have an Android. I’m all for getting every device in my house charging on the same kind of cord.
Bummer: No more details on the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, aside from it’s on track to launch in 2024.
Bottom line if you need a new phone
Try iOS 17 before its official release
Itching to try out iOS 17 before it officially debuts this fall? You’re in luck! Apple just released the first public beta version.
Is it worth the update? Once an operating system (OS) goes to public beta, it’s pretty stable, but there might still be some bumps along the way. I found the most hyped features so you can decide if it’s worth it.
🆕 Bluetooth 6.0 is incredible: One of the coolest new features is channel sounding, which calculates distance with crazy precision — think tracking devices with centimeter-level accuracy. Imagine finding your lost TV remote or some other gadget in an instant. Give it about a year till this tech is ready for you and me to use.
That's embarrassing! New tools to keep you from making silly grammar mistakes
Nobody’s perfect, and mistakes happen despite all the time we spend typing emails, text messages, posting on social media and writing in word processors. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t work on improving your writing habits.
Airbnb just got a big makeover – Here’s how to use the best new features
Americans are making summer vacation plans and searching for places to stay. One of the most prominent websites to use is Airbnb, with about 70 million searches a month. But even with tons of homes available, it can be challenging to find the right place.
Amazon Prime is about to cost more - Here's how much you'll be paying
There are a ton of perks to being an Amazon Prime member. You can access a treasure trove of shows, movies, magazines, audiobooks and more. Tap or click here for 11 Amazon Prime perks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
That’s a lot of value for membership — but now Amazon is holding its hand out for even more money. On Thursday, the company announced a price hike on its monthly and annual membership fees. You’ll see these changes in the coming weeks.
If you're still using iOS 14, you need to update right now
The best way to protect your data from hackers is to keep your devices updated. With every operating system iteration, new features are added together with security patches. Need further proof? Here’s how 26 million PC logins were stolen.
Now your iPhone can check your heart and breathing without a smartwatch - Here's how
If you thought you needed a fancy smartwatch to check your heart rate on an iPhone, think again. Already available on Android, Google Fit is finally adding a new feature that lets Apple users see how fast their hearts are pumping and respiratory rates — no wearables required.
If you use these older phones, you'll lose access to WhatsApp in two days
Updated Oct. 30, 2021 – Access to WhatsApp will be gone for certain devices starting Nov. 1, 2021, so you must act fast. Read on for all the details.
There are plenty of ways to keep in touch with friends and family. But there probably isn’t another platform as popular as WhatsApp. An estimate from June this year pegged the global userbase of service at around 2 billion.
Android 12: 5 things you can do now that you couldn't before
The new version of Android OS was released this week, and it comes packed with new features. It’s initially released for Google’s own Pixel 3 or more recent phones, with other devices to follow soon. Tap or click here to speed up your Android with a handy app.
Windows 11: 5 best tips, tricks and features to try now
Windows 11 is out and like any updated operating system, it packs some new features and capabilities. It also sports a new look, and like Windows 10, it’s free to upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 11 launched for newer eligible PCs first. Others may have to wait to get it sometime between now and mid-2022. If you have a Windows 10 PC, you’ll get a notification of when you can upgrade. Want to skip the line? Tap or click here for instructions on how to get Microsoft’s newest OS right now.
It's not just you: 2 major problems with Apple's iOS 15 update
Hot on the heels of the iPhone 13 release announcement, Apple device owners got the new iOS 15 operating system. After much hype and a 2.3GB download, the software adds extra functions and tweaks others.
You can now easily share images from one place to a chat app by simply holding down and dragging the picture. A new focus mode also helps you filter notifications and apps, and an App Privacy Report lets you see how apps use permissions. Tap or click here for the best new features.
Update your iPhone! iOS 15 here - These are the best new features
It’s that time of year again. No, it’s not the leaves changing color. It’s Apple’s annual iPhone launch. The device that made Apple one of the biggest companies in the world usually arrives sometime in September, though there have been exceptions in past years.
All the new features coming to Chrome, Edge and Firefox
Cybercriminals can attack your web browser and find ways to steal your personal information and rip you off. That’s why it’s important to take security precautions before it’s too late. Tap or click here to lock down your browser for maximum security.
Windows 10: 5 new features to try right now
Few things in life are predictable. Sadly, one is buggy Windows updates. After every major update, you’ll see a slew of reports of broken drivers, features on the fritz and the Blue Screen of Death.
Those updates also bring vital security patches, so skipping them entirely isn’t your best move. Updates can speed things up, too, though you might some extra help if your PC slogs through every task. Tap or click here for smart, simple ways to speed up your machine.
iOS 14.2 update: 100+ new emoji, bug fixes and security updates
Apple’s iOS 14 had a bit of a rough start since it debuted back in September, thanks to several annoying bugs. New settings, like the ability to choose a different default browser instead of Safari, wouldn’t stick if you made them. Meanwhile, battery problems caused users to drop from 100% to 40% after only an hour.
All the new iPhone models are now available - We'll help you choose the right one
The wait is finally over. The iPhone 12 is here, and there are four unique models available for users to order. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have already gone on sale, and you can now pre-order the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini.
How to use widgets on iPhone to customize your home screen
The latest iOS update gave iPhone users tons of new features. That’s probably why there was so much hype around the rollout of the updated operating system.
After all, who doesn’t want access to things like new privacy features and more customization options that come with iOS 14? Unfortunately, those new features weren’t all that Apple rolled out with iOS 14. There were plenty of bugs that came with iOS 14, too.
This Google Maps alternative might be your new favorite travel app
Many of us have never even considered switching our navigation app from the default pick, Google Maps. Or if you’re on an Apple device, Apple Maps. However, this is a change worth considering because another popular navigation app just got a huge update, making it better and more competitive than ever.