Table of contents for 199 in iPad & iPhone User

Apple has posted its fourth consecutive quarterly decline with revenue of $89.5 billion in its fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, down 1 percent over the same quarter last year. Mac sales were once again hammered, down about 35 percent year on year. iPhone sales, which were up slightly, and Services, which gained about 16 percent, were the lone bright spots. Apple was widely expected to post a year-over-year decline in the quarter. The company continues to struggle in a difficult economy for higher-priced goods and pressure from Huawei in China. Apple’s Greater China sales were flat year-over-year. Apple is heading into the holiday shopping season with an armful of new products, including the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and M3 MacBook Pro, but will face lots of uncertainty. Here’s how…

Next year Apple will roll out its biggest product launch since the iPhone: Vision Pro, the company’s long-awaited entry to the mixed-reality hardware space. But even though the product has been officially unveiled, and we even know the launch price, Apple has yet to say when it will be released. During the announcement at WWDC 2023, Apple told US customers to expect Vision Pro “early next year”, which many pundits took to mean the spring; the company has often made major announcements at a dedicated event in March or April. (This would somewhat echo the launch of the very first Apple Watch, which was announced in September 2014 and then released in April the following year.) But five months on from WWDC, we still don’t have a clearer idea of…

The Green Bubble Drama is dumb. Granted, like so many other stupid culture wars, it’s a decidedly American thing (that bleeds into a few other markets). In most of the world, the first thing everyone does with an iPhone or Android phone is download WhatsApp, which is creeping up on three billion users. But in the incredibly valuable US market, which leans heavily toward ‘premium’ smartphones and their highly monetizable users, everyone just ‘texts’. Maybe that’s a byproduct of most smartphone sales here being made with big lock-in carrier deals, maybe we’re just too lazy to use anything other than the default app that comes with our phones. Or it could just be because iMessage is so great. Back in 2011, it solved the biggest problems with texting: terrible file…

The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro have plenty of great new features, but some are not quite as obvious as 5X zoom lens and Action button. If you just picked up one of the latest iPhones, you have more options, settings, and functions than you realize, many of which you have to know where to find. You could be missing out on something that will totally change the way you use your knew iPhone. Here, we’ll reveal several of our favourite ‘hidden’ features. Some only apply to the Pro models, some apply to both, but all of them are worth knowing about. 1. SET AN 80 PERCENT CHARGE LIMIT All modern iPhones have an ‘Optimized Charging’ feature, but the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro allow you to take it…

It’s probably fair to say that the Apple Watch is not prone to radical change. In the eight years and nine standard generations since the first model launched in 2015, the fundamental design has barely altered, and it’s often difficult to differentiate one generation from another. One day, perhaps, this will change. But not today. The Apple Watch Series 9, launched in autumn 2023, doesn’t mess with the formula that has seen Apple effortlessly dominate the smartwatch market for the best part of a decade, and differs from last year’s Series 8 in only a few respects. But does that mean it’s a bad watch? Of course not! Aside from the Apple Watch Ultra line, which is aimed at a different audience, this is the best smartwatch Apple has ever…

When you’re in the market for headphones, you’ll see that noise-cancelling headphones are becoming the most popular variety. There’s a good reason for that: They block out ambient noise that can distract from you enjoying your favorite tunes. While they’re particularly useful for air travel and daily commutes – especially via mass transit – they’re also great at isolating you from at-home noise pollution, whether that be the whoosh of your HVAC system, the whir of your computer’s cooling fans, or your neighbour’s lawn mower. Many people, on the other hand, don’t like active noise cancellation, believing that it compromises audio reproduction. Indeed, that was a much bigger problem a few years ago, and we’d encourage you to check out a modern set. GETTING STARTED Headphones with active noise cancellation…

Apple has released major updates of Logic Pro for Mac and iPad. The updates to Apple’s music authoring software bring the Mac version to 10.8, and the iPad version to 1.1. Apple also updated MainStage, its Mac app that acts as a live rig with Logic Pro. GarageBand, Apple’s audio editing app for consumers, was also updated. Both received bug fixes. Here’s what’s new: • Instantly audition samples, loops or instruments in the Browser by sliding your finger up or down. • Deliver a release-ready mix with Mastering Assistant and its professional palette of intuitive sound-shaping tools. • Record live into Quick Sampler to create instruments and drum kits using the built-in microphone or any connected audio device. • Interact seamlessly between apps like Voice Memos with added support for…

A ccording to a report on the Korean-language site ET News, Apple is developing a longer-lasting “next-gen battery” for use in its mobile products. The tech has already been in development for several years, in fact, but has yet to be officially revealed. The site’s anonymous industry sources claim the project is slated to bear fruit in 2025, from which time it is hoped new products will be able to have the new-design batteries installed and enjoy their upgraded performance. “Apple is directly participating in the development of the materials that make up the battery, such as the anode and cathode materials,” ET News writes (as interpreted by Google Chrome’s translation tool). “It is aiming to develop a completely new battery with significantly improved performance compared to the existing one.”…

Apple’s latest iPhone Pro is faster, has a better camera, and has a few nice conveniences. There’s not a lot of innovation here, just some minor but noticeable improvements along mostly predictable lines. The titanium frame makes the phone significantly lighter, USB-C brings Apple up to the standards of five years ago, and the new Action Button is a simple, sensible replacement for the age-old mute switch. The camera hardware appears to be entirely unchanged from last year’s iPhone 14 Pro, though the processing has improved, with a new 24Mp default, three ‘1x’ crop options, and some nice ‘pro’ video options like Log colour. For a complete picture of the iPhone 15 Pro, check out our review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (iPad & iPhone User 198), where we…

Deciding which iPhone to buy has always been tricky. Which screen size is best for you, and how much storage do you need? Should you save money by selecting an older model or should you splash out on the latest iPhone? Which iPhone is the best compromise between specs and value for money? In this article we talk you through each of the phones currently available from Apple, to help you decide which is best for you. We discuss iPhone prices, specs and features, paying particular attention to the cameras, screens and durability, so you should leave feeling much more confident about which iPhone you should get. CURRENT MODELS iPhone 15 The standard iPhone 15 doesn’t get all the bells and whistles of the Pro models, though it does offer…

While I was testing the EarFun Free Pro 3, I thought I was testing earbuds that retail for £180 and thought they were a good buy at that price, even if I had a couple of minor complaints. Turns out I misread the press release; I was off by a full £100. How did EarFun cram so many features into earbuds that sell for much less than £100? Even my quibbles seem unimportant after I realized what a bargain these are. Ignore the tortured syntax of EarFun’s naming scheme and seriously consider the EarFun Free Pro 3. HOW THEY’RE MADE The EarFun Free Pro 3 earbuds are available in your choice of Brown Black, Navy Blue and Silver White. I tested the Brown Black version and thought of them as…

If you own not just an Apple iPhone but AirPods and Apple Watch too, a 3-in-1 multi-device charger will keep your desk free of snaking cables and three different chargers requiring power. One charging station means one power supply, ridding your workspace or bedside table of too many cables and chargers looking for power sockets. Journey makes some of our favourite Apple accessories, and its SWIV 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station is a great solution for not just multi-device charging but also what you take on your travels. PERFORMANCE The SWIV 3-in-1 is certified for Apple Watch, so can fast-charge any Apple Watch (Series 7 or later) at 3 watts. It’s MagSafe-compatible for the iPhone side, which means it can charge at 7.5 watts rather than the certified Made for MagSafe…

On the heels of a major update to Logic Pro (see page 6), Apple announced new features for Final Cut Pro, its professional non-linear video editing app. At the time of writing, the update was due to come to the iPad version in November and is free. Here’s a list of new features. • Voiceover capabilities: Record directly into the timeline. • Pro camera mode stabilization: can be turned on or off by the user. • New keyboard shortcuts for voiceover and grouping clips. • Combine a selected group of overlapping connected clips into a single connected storyline. • New colour-grading presets, titles, and generators. • The ability to import iMovie for iOS projects. Final Cut for iPad projects can be imported into the new version of Final Cut for…

In a shocking turn, Apple has confirmed in a statement that it will bring RCS to iPhone, greatly improving the experience of sending messages between iPhones and most Android phones. The announcement comes at a time when Apple is under unprecedented regulatory and legal pressure to interoperate better with non-Apple products and services and increased public outcry from users to do the same. The statement, sent to several media outlets, reads: Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users. RCS…

The new iPhone 15 Pro models have arrived, with some cool new video features and a brand new chipset. So, which one should you buy? The smaller but nearly identically equipped iPhone 15 Pro or the big beast itself, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We compare the two to make it easier to choose the one that’s right for you. SPECIFICATIONS iPhone 15 Pro See page 25. iPhone 15 Pro Max • 6.7-inch (2,796x1,290; 461ppi) LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision display• iOS 17• Apple A17 Pro (3nm) processor• Hexa-core CPU• Apple (6-core graphics) GPU• 8GB RAM• 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB storage• Three rear-facing cameras: 48Mp, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28-inch, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS; 12Mp, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical…

Whether you’re an experienced iPhone user or just got your first iPhone, it can be hard to know which model you have. Apple updates the iPhone every year, but it doesn’t always change the design – sometimes the significant changes are on the inside, such as faster new components. There are various reasons why you might be wondering what iPhone I have. Not everyone walks into an Apple shop to buy the latest model. You might have been handed down an iPhone by a family member who was unclear about which model it is, in which case you might be wondering if it would be a good idea to update the iOS on it. This can be an issue because only certain models can run the latest version of iOS.…

Given Edifier W820NB Plus headphones’ £80 street price, I had assumed I’d experience just middling audio performance. The hollow-sounding female voice informing me they were powered on did nothing to alter that perception, but my scepticism was misplaced. The W820NB Plus’s voice cues were the only aural aspect that wasn’t spot on. Indeed, these headphones sound like they might cost much, much more. We’re not talking best-in-category performance, but certainly the best I’ve heard for the price. They’re also very comfortable, they look good, they deliver long battery life, and their active noise cancellation doesn’t colour the sound to any noticeable degree. FEATURES The closed-back, over-ear Edifier W820NB Plus are available in black, two-tone dark grey, and two-tone cream/tan (the variation reviewed here). They’re outfitted with 40mm titanium-coated diaphragm drivers.…

Not having to find the right cable or carry one around with you makes wireless charging a convenient way of charging your mobile devices – iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and many third-party gadgets. There are multiple wireless charging standards and technologies. Here we will explain the major ones – Qi, MagSafe and the latest Qi2. Knowing which is which will help you to make your charging life more efficient. Qi2, supported by the iPhone 15 family, promises to speed up wireless charging and make chargers cheaper as well as more efficient. It is very like MagSafe, which is unsurprising as Apple allowed the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to use MagSafe as the basis of Qi2. In short, Qi2 should bring the magnetic benefits of MagSafe to Android, but also make…