Tim Hardwick
Tim is a Senior Editor at MacRumors and has been writing for the site since 2016. Formerly a magazine journalist, his work has appeared in over 30 newsstand print publications and online brands covering a range of topics, from the latest trends in technology to the mysteries of ancient history.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Tim Hardwick's Articles
Why Apple Just Updated an iPhone From 2013
Apple this week released iOS 12.5.8, a surprise update for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 – devices that launched in 2013 and 2014, respectively. It's the first software these aging devices have received in three years. So why did Apple bother?
It has to do with something called certificate expiration.
According to Apple's release notes, the update extends a security certificate required...
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WhatsApp Launches Strict Account Settings for High-Risk Users
WhatsApp is rolling out a new optional security feature called Strict account settings, which is designed to protect users who may be targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks.
Similar in spirit to Apple's Lockdown Mode for iPhone, the feature is aimed primarily at journalists, activists, and public-facing figures. Once enabled, the setting locks various account options to their most...
Search Your Apple Account Purchase History on iPhone
In an age of digital ubiquity, knowing how to easily keep track of your online transactions is crucial, especially as an Apple user who frequently downloads apps, music, movies, and more from various Apple services.
Your Apple Account purchase history is a comprehensive log of all the content you've bought using your account, not just on your iPhone, but across all your Apple devices....
Apple Stops Signing Newly Released iOS Updates for Older iPhones [Updated]
Apple has stopped signing several iOS updates released earlier this week, preventing users from installing them even if they still appear in Software Update. The affected versions include iOS 12, iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 18.
On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhone models, along with iPadOS 15.8.6, iPadOS 16.7.3, and iPadOS 18.7.4 for iPad ...
iPhone 18 Pro Could Feature Teleconverter Alongside Variable Aperture
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker.
Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro...
Generate Apple Music Playlists With ChatGPT
Apple Music is now available as an extension within ChatGPT, meaning you can search for songs, create playlists, and discover new music through OpenAI's chatbot. Here's how to set it up and what makes it worth using.
What You Can Do With Apple Music in ChatGPT
ChatGPT's integration with Apple Music has the potential to change how you discover new music by letting you describe what you're...
iPhone Fold Rumored Display Size Has Samsung Preparing a Direct Rival
Samsung aims to produce around 1 million units of its upcoming "Wide Fold" device, in an attempt to directly rival Apple's rumored foldable iPhone expected later this year.
Samsung Wide Fold mockup (Image credit: UniverseIce)
According to Korea's ETNews, the Wide Fold will see Samsung's largest initial production run for a special model in the past three years. The device is said to feature a ...
Claude AI Now Lets You Use Slack, Figma, and Canva Within the Chat
Anthropic has announced new interactive tools in Claude that let users open and interact with other services and apps directly within the AI chat interface via the web and Mac app.
The update offers real-time collaboration with third-party apps like Asana, Slack, Figma, Canva, and more without requiring users to switch between tabs or apps.
The feature is powered by MCP Apps, a new...
ChatGPT's Apple Health Integration Flaws Exposed in New Report
A reporter for The Washington Post has put ChatGPT's new optional Apple Health integration feature to the test by feeding it ten years of their Apple Watch data. The results were not encouraging, to say the least.
Earlier this month, OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated section of ChatGPT where users can ask health-related questions completely separated from their main...
Premium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
Meta plans to test premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, the company has told TechCrunch.
The subscriptions will reportedly include exclusive features to aid creativity, productivity, and expanded AI capabilities.
Meta says each app will have its own distinct set of premium features, giving users "more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the...
Apple Developing Thinner Face ID for iPhone Air 2, Report Suggests
Apple is developing a much thinner Face ID hardware module in an effort to reduce the space its facial authentication system takes up in the iPhone Air, a known leaker on China's Weibo social media platform today suggested.
According to Instant Digital, Apple has requested an "ultra-thin" Face ID component from suppliers that will allow the device to accommodate an ultra wide-angle lens in...
Strava Apple Watch App Gains Route Navigation in Beta
Strava appears to be rolling out full route navigation and mapping to its watchOS app, bringing the long-awaited functionality to runners, hikers, and cyclists with Apple Watch for the first time.
The feature, which remains in beta, allows users to select a pre-loaded route, view elevation details, and follow directions directly from their wrist without having to look at their iPhone. Strava ...
TikTok Avoids US Ban as Joint Venture Deal Officially Closes
TikTok has announced that it has finalized a deal to establish a majority American-owned joint venture, allowing the app to continue operating in the United States indefinitely.
First agreed in December, the deal creates "TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC," which will be 80.1 percent owned by U.S. and global investors, with ByteDance retaining a 19.9 percent stake. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu...
Turn Several Live Photos into a Single Video on iPhone
Did you know it's possible to take multiple Live Photos from your iPhone's photo library and turn them into a single continuous video? Keep reading to learn how it's done.
On iPhone and iPad, Live Photos bring your pictures to life by adding a few seconds of video before and after the shot, creating a living memory rather than a static image.
While Live Photos are great on their own,...
Apple Hosting LA Event for Creators on January 27-29 That Could Coincide With MacBook Pro Announcement
Apple has sent out invites to select creators for an "Apple Experience" in Los Angeles, California, scheduled for January 27 to 29. The event has sparked speculation that Apple will also announce new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Creator Petr Mara shared an image of his invite on Instagram on January 7, but it appears to have only now gained significant traction on social...
Enable Smoother 120Hz Browsing in Safari
Any iPhone, iPad, or Mac with a ProMotion display is capable of rendering buttery smooth 120Hz animations. However, Apple's Safari browser is locked to 60fps page rendering by default, making scrolling feel noticeably choppier for some users than in Chrome or Firefox. Thankfully, recent versions of Safari include a hidden setting that lets you unlock 120Hz rendering.
At 60Hz, your screen...
20th Anniversary iPhone May Not Have All-Screen Design After All
Apple has long been rumored to be planning a dramatic redesign for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, ever since Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported last May that the company is aiming for an all-glass device "without any cutouts in the display." But new comments from respected display industry analyst Ross Young appear to throw cold water on these claims.
In a post on X (Twitter)...
Apple Responds to Slowing China Sales With Lunar New Year Discounts
Apple is offering discounts of up to 1,000 yuan ($144) on some products in China in anticipation of a holiday shopping rush and competitive pricing from local vendors, reports the South China Morning Post.
Ahead of February's Lunar New Year, Apple's mainland China website and official stores are offering limited-time discounts on products including the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, as well...
ChatGPT Atlas Gains Tab Groups, Auto Google/AI Search Switching
OpenAI is rolling out another noteworthy update to ChatGPT Atlas, its AI-powered browser for Mac.
As per the release notes, the latest build introduces tab groups, allowing users to organize their browsing sessions more efficiently. The update also brings fixes for vertical tab "mini mode" and a simplified right-click context menu for tabs.
On the search front, Atlas now features an...
Claude AI iPhone App Can Now Connect to Apple Health in the US
Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot is gaining Apple Health integration, allowing the assistant to access users' health and fitness data directly from their iPhone.
The feature is rolling out in beta this week via the Claude iOS app, Anthropic announced as part of a broader healthcare push. U.S. subscribers on Claude Pro and Max plans can opt in to share their data, including movement, sleep, and...
