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A fter iOS 15.3 was mainly bug fixes and security updates, iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 is Apple’s biggest iOS 15 update so far, with a slew of new features and updates for your iPhone and iPad. Here’s everything that’s in the update and how to install it on your device. NEW FEATURES Universal Control The only feature specific to iPadOS 15.4, you can finally try out Universal Control. It was supposed to release last autumn, but was delayed until spring 2022. The feature, which lets you drag and drop files between an iPad and Mac running macOS 12.3, as well as share keyboard and mouse wirelessly between them, can be found in the AirPlay & Handoff tab in the General Settings. There, you’ll see a new Cursor and Keyboard…

Every time there’s a big iOS update – either a major yearly release or a particularly feature-packed point release like iOS 15.4 – you’ll find users complaining that their battery doesn’t last as long as it used to. On social media, users will complain of significant battery drops just hours after the update. Those who follow this closely have maintained that this is to be expected. The operating system is performing background operations, optimizing all sorts of data and sometimes doing stuff like rescanning your photos with new machine learning algorithms, which increases battery drain. Not to mention that battery management is handled by sophisticated algorithms that may need several charge-and-drain cycles to adapt. In a rare official comment on the matter, the Apple Support Twitter account confirmed this to…

Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ event was loaded with new stuff – a new iPhone SE and iPad Air, even a new iPhone 13 colour – but not everything can fit into a condensed keynote. As always, there were a few little things that we noticed while digging around after the event. Here are 10 details that caught our eye. 1. THE iPHONE SE AND iPAD AIR DON’T HAVE THE FASTEST 5G Along with a new chip and camera improvements, Apple updated the iPhone SE and iPad Air with 5G, but not ‘full 5G’ as some had reported. Like the iPad mini last year, the iPhone SE and iPad Air are missing support for the mmWave bands that give you the superfast 5G that the iPhone 13 has. Don’t worry, mmWave has…

If you want an iPad, you have three basic choices: the basic 10.2in iPad, the more expensive iPad Air, or the even more expensive iPad Pro. The standard 10.2in iPad is the budget option, with an aging design (big bezels, home button, Lightning port) and older processor, and the 12.9in iPad Pro starts at a whopping £999 and is geared toward only the most demanding of users. So if you want the most tablet without breaking the bank on a £999 12.9in iPad Pro, you have just two options: the £569 iPad Air and the £749 11in iPad Pro. The iPad Air was just upgraded with an M1 processor, making it as powerful as the iPad Pro. But a tablet is more than its processor, and the Pro model does…

While most of the phones you see on store shelves are six inches and above, Apple hasn’t forgotten about people who like small phones. It sells two different phones with small displays: The iPhone SE, which received a massive redesign in 2020 and an update in March 2022, and two models of the iPhone mini, iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, which are about the same size as the SE. After the iPhone 13 launched in 2021, Apple dropped the price of the iPhone 12 mini by $100, bringing it to $629 ($599 through carriers) and moving it ever closer to the price of the iPhone SE. But now that the new iPhone SE is here, which small phone should you spend your money on? FEATURES AND SPECS Here…

Price: £119 from fave.co/3DpOciL Sitting between the entry level CX (£99) and the top of the line Momentum True Wireless 2 (£279), Sennheiser’s £119 CX Plus True Wireless is the proverbial ‘middle child’ of the manufacturer’s wireless earbud line-up. But while Sennheiser has clearly cut some corners in terms of sonics and design, the CX Plus still packs plenty of value thanks to a bevy of high-tech features, solid active noise cancellation, and competent overall audio performance. FIT AND FINISH One of the first things you’ll notice when you unbox the Sennheiser CX Plus is its size. The included USB-C charging case dwarfs the cases of Apple’s AirPods Pro and B&O’s Beoplay EQ. And while the charging case may shorter than the Bowers and Wilkins’ PI7, it is stockier, making…

If you’ve been using an iPhone or iPad for a while, you’re used to frequent updates to iOS or iPadOS. Some users update immediately, but many people take an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach and wait months to hit that Download and Install button. The release of iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 is one of those occasions where you shouldn’t wait. This is the most significant update to iOS 15 yet and comes with a number of bug fixes, new features, and welcome improvements. There are new emojis, a new Siri voice, additional web page translation options, and lots more. But these are the four biggest reasons that are going to make you want to rush to Settings right now. 1. FACE ID WITH A MASK Maybe…

The iPhone comes with a number of ringtones you can use, but it’s your iPhone, why not use a custom ringtone for specific contacts? That way, when a certain someone calls you, you can immediately know who it is. For example, you can set a song that’s special to you and your spouse, so when your spouse calls, you’ll hear the song and know immediately who it is. You can make a custom ringtone right on your iPhone with GarageBand as long as you know the steps. Here’s how it works. MAKE A RINGTONE WITH GARAGEBAND FOR iPHONE If you want to make your own unique ringtone, you can use GarageBand on the iPhone. You can start from scratch (we’re not going to show you how to make a song…

If you subscribe to Apple One or Apple TV+, Apple may soon have a new iPhone to sell you. According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a new subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products that will let customers subscribe to Apple hardware with a monthly recurring payment. According to Gurman’s sources, Apple has been working on the subscription programme for several months and is expected to launch it at the end of 2022. Unfortunately, that’s all the detail we have right now. We don’t know anything about pricing, bundles, which Apple hardware would be offered (other than the iPhone), or terms for trade-ins and upgrades. Apple already offers the iPhone Upgrade Programme in the UK, US and China, which lets users pay for…

No sooner does the iPad Air get the super-fast M1 processor than talk begins of its iPad Pro sibling getting an even faster chip. The latest report claims Apple will release an iPad Pro with an M2 in the autumn of this year. The usually reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman makes the prediction in his Power On newsletter (fave.co/3IT7COh). The analyst claims the next iPad Pro will appear between September and November 2022, roughly a year and a half after the last one, and represent its most significant update since the all-screen redesign in 2018. Aside from the M2, Gurman has pointed to MagSafe wireless charging coming to the Pro along with a new glass back, although one or both of these changes may have been abandoned since he originally…

At its ‘Peek Performance’ event, Apple unveiled a new 5th-generation iPad Air that leapfrogs the iPad mini and brings it closer than ever to the iPad Pro. While the new iPad Air looks identical to the previous version, there are some meaningful differences. Most notably, it now has a much faster processor, the M1 found in the iPad Pro and 24in iMac. The new iPad Air also has 5G cellular support for the first time. The faster connectivity comes with a slight £20 price hike for the Wi-Fi + Cellular models (£150 versus £130), which is in line with the other 5G tablets Apple sells. The entry level iPad is now the only LTE tablet Apple makes. Also new is the iPad Air’s front camera, which gets the same 12Mp…

The iPhone SE is one of Apple’s most popular models. It’s easy to see why: it’s by far the least expensive, but it’s still ‘new’. With the first two iPhone SE models, introduced in 2016 and 2020, Apple took a somewhat old iPhone body and simply swapped out the internal components for its latest-and-greatest system-on-chip. The concept is a hit: many don’t feel the need for all the latest features, they just want an affordable, fast iPhone that will be supported and updated for years. It is no surprise, then, that the third-generation iPhone SE follows the same pattern. In fact, if anything is odd about it, it’s that Apple still hasn’t updated the design, sticking with the same large bezels, home button, and Touch ID of the iPhone 8…

MacOS 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 have been released and at long last Apple added Universal Control, the much-anticipated feature that was revealed at WWDC 2021. Late last year, Apple announced that the release of Universal Control would be delayed to this spring, and now it’s finally here. For the uninitiated, Universal Control allows you to use an iPad as a companion display for a Mac that can be controlled with the same keyboard and mouse. During the demo in the WWDC keynote, Apple VP Craig Federighi merely placed the iPad next to his Mac, and it worked. No cables to connect, no restarting, no need to click anything or say “please”. After some brief set-up, it really does work like magic. CONNECTING THE iPAD AND MAC Before you can get…

Price: £299 from fave.co/3Dn4vNi JVC has produced a worthy entry in the crowded noise-cancelling headphone category with its £299 model HA-S100N. It features a Bluetooth 5.1 radio, hybrid noise cancellation, and one of the better touch-control mechanisms I’ve seen on a wireless headphone. JVC’s cans are priced lower than the most popular headphones in this category, and they have some definite pluses. Even if JVC hasn’t quite delivered a pair destined to take the crown, the HA-S100N is a worthy alternative to the market leaders. The HA-S100N have a novel means of powering on and off that should extend their battery life. While in its case with its earcups turned perpendicular to the headband, they’re off. When you put them on your head, they automatically turn on and connect. Take…

There’s no reason to let your iPhone keep secrets from you, especially when those secrets could be so helpful in your everyday life. For instance, you may not be aware that any iPhone with a relatively modern version of iOS installed has hidden apps that you might actually want to use. Here’s how to surface the ones that aren’t so easy to find. 1. CODE SCANNER You can scan a QR code by opening your Camera, but there’s also a Code Scanner app in iOS 14 and later that doesn’t come up when you search your iPhone apps. From Settings, tap Control Centre, scroll down to find Code Scanner and then hit the plus sign to move it into the Included Controls section. When you’re ready to use Code Scanner,…

Negotiators in the European Union have agreed to sweeping new rules that could change the very fabric of Apple’s iMessage service. In a recent press release (fave. co/3qMkm37), the European Parliament announced that there is a provisional agreement between Parliament and Council negotiators on the Digital Markets Act that seeks to “ensure fair competition and more choice for users”. During a close to eight-hour long trilogue (three-way talks between Parliament, Council and Commission), EU lawmakers agreed that the largest messaging services (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or iMessage) will have to open up and interoperate with smaller messaging platforms, if they so request. Users of small or big platforms would then be able to exchange messages, send files or make video calls across messaging apps, thus giving them more choice.…

With the tag line ‘Peek Performance’, Apple’s first event of 2022 contained a surprisingly robust array of new stuff. The thirdgeneration iPhone SE was expected, but we also were introduced to a new iPad Air and green iPhones. Here’s a brief look at everything Apple announced at its spring event. APPLE TV+ FILMS AND FRIDAY NIGHT BASEBALL Apple began the event by highlighting the critical success it has had with Apple TV+, particularly its original acclaimed movies CODA and The Tragedy of MacBeth. Then it previewed some new films such as Spirited and Lucky. We maintain a list of all the upcoming shows, series and movies on Apple TV+. But the big announcement was a new Friday Night Baseball feature. In partnership with the MLB, Apple TV+ subscribers (and for…

Price: £569 from fave.co/3iLsht2 Oh iPad Air, how we have missed you. Ignored for the whole of 2021, the Air went from best in class – we called the previous model “the best iPad for most people” in our 2020 review – to runt of the litter, superseded by up-to-date versions of the 10.2in iPad, iPad mini and iPad Pro. The Air needed an update. Thankfully Apple announced precisely that at its ‘Peek Performance’ spring event earlier this month, the Air roaring back to relevancy with a 2022 upgrade that adds a Pro-level M1 processor, 5G support and a muchimproved front‑facing camera. But is that enough to restore its status as the best iPad in Apple’s range? Short answer: Yes. For the long answer, read on. DESIGN We’ll get to…

Price: £419 from fave.co/3qLFnuB The iPhone SE is sort of a brilliant concept. Recognizing that there’s a huge market for people who can’t afford the typical price of a new iPhone (or just don’t want to spend that much), Apple takes a somewhat outdated model, replaces the processor with the latest one, and sells it at a greatly reduced price. In 2016, the original iPhone SE put the latest processor (A9) in the body of a two-generations-old iPhone 5S for just £379. It took four years for Apple to release a second-generation iPhone SE, which once again put the latest processor (A13) in a two-generation-sold iPhone 8, still for just £399. Now two years later, Apple has abandoned this winning iPhone SE formula. It’s still the latest processor (A15), but…

Sidecar and Universal Control are two important tools that can help improve your workflow. Their core premise – the ability to easily connect devices to each other – is similar, but Sidecar and Universal Control provide very different functions. WHAT DEVICES CAN USE UNIVERSAL CONTROL? Universal Control is currently available in iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3. Here are the Macs and iPads that can run Universal Control. Universal Control: Macs • MacBook 2016 or later • MacBook Air 2018 or later • MacBook Pro 2016 or later • Mac mini 2018 or later • 21.5in iMac 2017 or later • 24in iMac 2021 or later • 27in iMac late 2015 or later • iMac Pro 2019 or later • Mac Pro 2019 and later Universal Control: iPads • iPad 6th…

Price: £249 from fave.co/3NzZNk1 A stell&Kern has a sterling reputation in the audiophile world, so you have to think they carefully considered the decision before they put the A&K name on a pair of wireless in-ear headphones priced for a broader market. The AK UW100 utilize technology originally developed for the company’s hi-fi gear and certainly qualify as a product that deserves the Astell&Kern name. Building high-quality in-ear headphones is quite the challenge. Sure, there are plenty of inexpensive earbuds that will keep a Bluetooth connection and there are also plenty of listeners who can’t tell the difference or don’t care. When a manufacturer aspires to something better, they’re usually tripped up at the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) stage. Most choose low power consumption DACs to maximize battery life, but that…

As we’ve already seen, Apple has released iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 and there are a load of new features to sift through: Face ID with a Mask, Tap to Pay, new emoji and Universal Control on the iPad. But there’s a smaller change that’s just as meaningful: a new Siri voice. Released as part of the fourth iOS 15.4 beta, the new voice is simply labelled America (Voice 5). But when you listen to it, you’ll notice that it’s somewhat androgynous and difficult to pin down as explicitly male or female. As part of its continued push for diversity, Apple told Axios that it had hired “a member of the LGBTQ+ community” to record the new Siri voice. It’s not clear whether the new American voice will come to…