From 9to5Mac · 40 stories
Turn any iPhone into a dumb phone using Assistive Access feature
Apple's Assistive Access feature allows parents to restrict app access on iPhones, creating a 'dumb phone' experience for kids. This method offers an alternative to waiting for iOS 27's parental controls update, providing control over allowed apps and communication features.
SANDISK Phone Drive for iPhone addresses storage limitations
SANDISK launched the Phone Drive for iPhone, providing an external storage solution to expand iPhone storage. It supports direct video saving and fast file transfers, enhancing user flexibility and accessibility.
NOCO XGrid XDS3 Premium MagSafe Charger Offers High-Quality Design and Functionality
The NOCO XGrid XDS3 is a premium 3-in-1 MagSafe charger, designed for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. It features a die-cast metal chassis, Qi2 certification, fast charging, and includes a USB-C wall charger with international plugs, making it a versatile charging station for Apple devices.
Troubleshooting common Apple Wallet issues
This guide outlines common problems users encounter with Apple Wallet, such as cards not working or payments being declined. It provides steps to resolve these issues, including re-adding cards, updating software, and checking regional settings. The information helps users maintain the functionality of their digital wallet for payments and other stored items.
MVNOs offer lower-cost mobile service by leasing network access from major carriers
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) provide cheaper phone plans by leasing network infrastructure from major carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. These services typically operate without physical stores and offer prepaid plans, resulting in lower costs for consumers compared to traditional postpaid options.
Troubleshooting Apple CarPlay: Addressing Common Connection Issues and Radio Interference
Apple CarPlay users experiencing connection problems may find solutions through basic troubleshooting steps, such as checking cables, restarting devices, and ensuring Siri is enabled. Additionally, radio interference, particularly in the 2.4GHz band, can cause CarPlay and Android Auto connections to drop in specific locations, leading to navigation failures.
Roborock offers discounts up to $1600 on robot cleaners for 12th anniversary
Roborock is holding an anniversary sale with discounts on its robot cleaners and other products, including the Saros 20 and the new Qrevo 2 Pro. The promotion offers savings up to $1600 on various models until September 6.
Safari's Notify Me feature in macOS 27 needs higher frequency options for time-sensitive events
Safari's new Notify Me feature in macOS 27, which uses Apple Intelligence to monitor web pages for updates, currently has a minimum check frequency of hourly. This limitation prevents its effective use for time-sensitive events like ticket sales, where updates are needed much more frequently.
Apple reportedly exploring new home security service and increased App Store revenue
Apple is reportedly considering two strategies to increase its Services revenue: a new home security and monitoring service, and methods to extract more revenue from the App Store. The latter approach is viewed negatively due to existing antitrust scrutiny and potential developer backlash.
iPadOS 27 Multitasking Still Needs Simpler Options Beyond Windowing
iPadOS 27 continues to integrate Split View and Slide Over within its windowing system, which was introduced in iPadOS 26. This approach complicates simpler multitasking functions, making them less intuitive than before the iPadOS 26 update. The current implementation forces users to engage with a more complex windowing interface even for basic split-screen tasks.
iPhone Cinematic Mode shows limitations in video experiment, despite hardware advancements
An experiment with iPhone Cinematic mode on an iPhone 16 Pro Max revealed visual artifacts and focus issues, particularly with background elements. This highlights that the feature has not significantly improved since its iPhone 13 launch, despite increased processing power in newer models.
iOS 27 introduces new extra-large Home Screen widgets, including two for Apple Calendar
iOS 27 adds extra-large Home Screen widgets for several Apple applications, with Apple Calendar receiving two new options: 'List' and 'Up Next'. These larger widgets allow users to view more information directly from their Home Screen or Today view without opening the app.
iPhone app settings location causes user frustration due to inconsistent access methods
iPhone users experience frustration due to the inconsistent placement of app settings, requiring them to guess whether to find controls within the app or in the separate iOS Settings app. This design choice complicates basic tasks like adjusting camera focal lengths, leading to a clunky user experience.
Apple's Cinematic Mode for iPhone 13 appears neglected, unlike improved Portrait Mode
Apple introduced Cinematic Mode with the iPhone 13 in 2021, a video feature simulating shallow depth of field, but has not significantly improved it since its release. This contrasts with Portrait Mode, which has seen continuous enhancements and now offers realistic computational photography effects. The lack of development for Cinematic Mode is seen as a missed opportunity, as its initial implementation was considered a beta version despite being a headline feature.
iOS 27 introduces Call Context feature for Phone app
iOS 27 includes a new Call Context feature within the Phone app, which automatically displays relevant information when a user calls a business. This feature, powered by Apple Intelligence, aims to provide immediate access to data like confirmation codes from other apps during calls, improving user convenience.
Apple Announces 2026 Sales Tax Holidays for Select Products in 10 U.S. States
Apple shared its 2026 sales tax holiday schedule, allowing tax-free purchases of specific products in 10 U.S. states between July and August. The initiative will include popular devices such as Macs and iPads, with varying dates and price limits depending on the state. This move provides financial relief for consumers amidst rising product prices.
Netflix Subscription Includes Over 80 Ad-Free iPhone and iPad Games
Netflix subscriptions now include access to a catalog of over 80 ad-free iPhone and iPad games, available without in-app purchases or additional fees. This feature is included across all subscription tiers, including the "Standard with ads" plan.
iPad app "Dashboard for your home" turns HomeKit into a wall-mountable command center
The iPad app "Dashboard for your home" integrates HomeKit devices, cameras, weather, and calendars into a single interface for smart home management. It allows users to control lights, thermostats, and view live camera feeds, including a recently added 3D floor plan feature. This provides a dedicated control panel solution for Apple HomeKit users.
DIY iPhone Camera Mod Improves Outdoor Photography Experience
A user created a DIY camera modification for their iPhone to improve outdoor photography by adding a viewfinder. This modification addresses challenges like bright sunlight and reflections on the screen, making the iPhone more practical for certain shooting conditions.
Review of Mothca matte screen protector and Spigen Thin Fit case for iPhone 17 Pro
A user recommends the Mothca matte glass screen protector and the Spigen Thin Fit case for the iPhone 17 Pro. The screen protector offers a matte display experience, while the case provides MagSafe compatibility and camera protection.
macOS allows setting different default languages for individual applications
macOS includes a feature that enables users to set different default languages for individual applications, which can be useful for bilingual users or those who switch between language variations. This functionality is located within the System Settings under Language & Region, specifically in the Applications section. The feature only works with applications that support macOS's localization APIs.
Customizing Apple Watch Sleep Score Notifications for Specific Ranges
Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature, introduced in watchOS 26, includes a sleep score that can notify users about their sleep quality. Users can now customize these notifications to only receive alerts for "OK," "Low," or "Very Low" sleep scores, rather than all scores, to focus on actionable insights.
Banking App Setting for Recurring Card Payments May Not Notify Users by Default
A user discovered that their banking app did not provide immediate notifications for recurring card payments, unlike other transactions. This was due to a default setting that needed to be manually enabled to receive alerts for these types of payments. This highlights a potential blind spot in financial oversight for users relying on real-time notifications.
Ways to Discreetly Attach AirTags to Cameras
Different methods to discreetly attach AirTags to cameras include camera strap mounts, quick-release plates, tripod adapters, and cages. These options help prevent easy detection by thieves, maximizing tracking efficiency before alerts are triggered.
Apple Watch Enhances Sleep Score Notifications with New Features
The Apple Watch now offers customizable notifications for its sleep score feature, allowing users to adjust alerts based on their sleep quality. This setting enhances user engagement and awareness of sleep health without the need for external apps.
PITAKA Releases New iPhone 18 Pro Cases with Aramid Fiber and Enhanced Protection
PITAKA has launched new cases for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone 18 Duo, featuring updated materials and designs. The cases offer varying levels of protection, including a slim Edge Case and a rugged Cairn Case with reinforced corners, and incorporate new features like Mammoth Resin for improved drop protection.
Lexar Muse SSD announced with 3.8mm thickness and PogoPin connection for iPhones
Lexar announced the Muse SSD, featuring a 3.8mm thickness and a proprietary PogoPin connection for direct attachment to iPhones. This SSD supports ProRes 4K recording at up to 120 fps and will be available in 512GB and 1TB capacities starting October 2026.
Discounts on Apple Products Ahead of Holiday Season
Apple products, including the iPhone 17 Pro/Max, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and various accessories, are significantly discounted across major online retailers such as Amazon. Price reductions reach up to $449 on select models, making high-demand products more accessible to consumers before the holiday shopping season.
Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock reviewed for new M6 Mac mini
Satechi released the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock, a new docking station designed to complement the recently updated M6 Mac mini. The dock offers 8 additional ports, an M.2 NVMe SSD bay, and supports up to 140W host charging, leveraging Thunderbolt 5's 120Gbps throughput for display and data capabilities.
GasPulse App Tracks Gas Price Trends and Historical Data on iOS
The GasPulse app, available for iOS 18 and later, provides users with gas price trends, historical data, and future outlooks based on Energy Information Administration weekly averages. It offers features like state-by-state comparisons, price alerts, and iOS widgets, aiming to help users monitor gas price fluctuations.
iMazing offers 20% discount ahead of upcoming major release with Android support
iMazing, a data and device management tool for iOS, is offering a 20% discount. This promotion precedes a major update that will introduce Android device support and further enhancements to its existing features.
Wokyis Releases G5 & G7 Retro Docks for Mac mini and Mac Studio with Thunderbolt 5 and Storage
Wokyis has launched its G5 and G7 retro-style docks for Mac mini and Mac Studio, featuring a flip-up display, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, and up to 8TB of NVMe storage. These docks expand port options and storage capabilities for Mac users, offering a design reminiscent of the original Macintosh.
Apple offers three-month Apple One trial with new iPhone 18 Pro purchases
Apple is providing a three-month free trial of its Apple One bundle with the purchase of new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo devices. This promotion aims to encourage adoption of Apple's subscription services by new hardware owners.
ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Smart Lock Offers Apple Home Integration, Lacks Home Key
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint smart lock integrates with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home, offering multiple unlock methods including fingerprint ID and PINs. While it provides extensive smart home compatibility and features, it does not support Apple Home Key.
Sharge Launches Shargeek 300 Power Bank with 300W Output and Metal Unibody Design
Sharge has released the Shargeek 300 Power Bank, featuring a 24,000mAh capacity, 300W total output, and a CNC aluminum unibody design with a 1.9-inch display. This device offers high power delivery and rapid recharging, distinguishing it from power banks with plastic housings.
Tello Mobile Offers Plans Up to $25/Month on America's Largest 5G Network
Tello Mobile is promoting its mobile phone plans, which start at $5 per month and offer an unlimited plan for $25 per month, utilizing America's largest 5G network. The company highlights its flexible plans, lack of hidden charges, and ease of switching for consumers looking for lower-cost mobile service.
Notepad.exe is a new lightweight code editor for Mac with multi-language support
Notepad.exe, a new code editor for Mac, offers a lightweight interface for writing code in Swift, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Go. It aims to simplify the initial coding process by starting with a blank file and includes features like a Notes library, an agentic coding assistant, and simulator integration for iOS developers.
Apple Extends 2026 Back to School Promotion for Macs and iPads Until September 24
Apple has extended its 2026 Back to School promotion for eligible Macs and iPads in the United States until September 24. This offer provides education discounts and an Apple Gift Card up to $150 with qualifying purchases, benefiting students, parents, and educators.
Elevation Lab accessory extends AirTag 2 battery life to 10 years
An accessory from Elevation Lab allows AirTag 1 and 2 models to operate for 10 years or more on two AA batteries, significantly extending the device's standard one-year battery life. This provides a solution for users who want to reduce the frequency of battery replacements, despite adding bulk to the AirTag.
TESSAN AERO 5000 MagSafe battery features titanium finish and new SolidSafe technology
TESSAN introduced the AERO 5000, a new MagSafe compatible portable battery with a titanium alloy finish and a thin design. The device uses SolidSafe battery technology, which is designed to reduce heat buildup and prevent thermal runaway.