Tim Hardwick

Tim is a Contributing Editor at MacRumors. His writing has appeared in over 30 newsstand print and online publications covering a range of topics. Originally from Liverpool, England, Tim can sometimes be found accessing a personal wi-fi hotspot on the Yorkshire Moors.



How to Add a Bank Account to Your Apple Card

Thursday August 22, 2019 5:44 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Like all credit cards, Apple Card requires that you have a bank account for making payments. As you might expect, Apple makes it easy to select a bank account for Apple Card payments using the Wallet app on your iPhone. The first time you add a bank account, you'll be asked if you want to add the same bank account that you use with Apple Cash (assuming you've set up Apple Cash). If so, all you need to do is say yes, and you're good to go. Otherwise, you can manually add a different bank account for your Apple Card. You can add multiple bank accounts to your Apple Card, but the first one that you add becomes your default bank account for making payments. To add a bank account, you'll need your bank account number and bank routing number. With those ready to hand, simply follow these steps. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap your Apple Card. Tap the black ellipsis button (the three encircled dots) in the top-right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Bank Accounts. Tap Add a Bank Account. Follow the onscreen instructions.If you need to, you can easily delete a bank account from the Bank Accounts screen by tapping Edit and then tapping the red minus (-) button next to the bank account in question. Be aware, though, if you have scheduled payments set up, you'll need to shut those off before you can remove your bank account. Did you know you can also use any Apple Cash that you've accrued to help make immediate one-time payments to your Apple Card? Click here to learn how it works.
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How to Request a New Apple Card Number

Thursday August 22, 2019 5:39 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's physical titanium Apple Card is unique among credit cards, since it lacks the usual key account details like card number, expiration date, and CCV. (Thankfully, all of this information can be easily found on your iPhone.) Of course, not having a card number on the physical card helps from a security perspective because somebody can't just write it down and use it without your knowledge. Offloading the 16-digit number onto your iPhone also allows Apple to know that it's meant to be used with only that Apple device. So if it shows up somewhere else, the bank automatically knows it's been compromised and can kill it. Yet another advantage is that if you do suspect that your current number has been compromised in some way, Apple can quickly provide you with a new one without having to re-issue you with a new physical card. The following steps show you how to request a new Apple Card number. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap your Apple Card. Tap the black ellipsis button (the three encircled dots) in the top-right corner of the screen. Authenticate using Face ID, or on older devices, via Touch ID or a passcode. Tap Card Information. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Request New Card Number.If you ever misplace your card, check out our guide on how to lock (or unlock) your titanium Apple Card.
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'Designed by Apple in California’ Book No Longer Available on Apple's Online US Store

Thursday August 22, 2019 2:24 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple appears to have ended U.S. online sales of its 'Designed By Apple in California' book, which chronicles 20 years of Apple product designs through 450 photographs. A minisite dedicated to the book is still live on Apple's servers, but links to buy the book from Apple's online U.S. store have become dead ends. A search for the book on the online store and the Apple Store app also return no results. Stocks of the hardback book have been fluctuating since around June, suggesting Apple has been reducing print numbers for some weeks. In some other countries, the book is still available through Apple's regional online stores, but stock still appears to be dwindling. Released in 2016 in two sizes priced at $199 and $299, the publication covers product designs from the iMac in 1998 to the Apple Pencil in 2015, and "also documents the materials and techniques used by Apple’s design team over two decades of innovation." It is dedicated in the memory of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. A video starring Jony Ive accompanies the book on Apple's minisite. If that gets removed, the video should still be available on YouTube
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Powerbeats Pro in Ivory, Moss, and Navy Now Available for Pre-order

Thursday August 22, 2019 1:31 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple this morning started accepting pre-orders for its Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones in Ivory, Moss, and Navy on its online Apple Store. Apple is currently quoting shipping times of 5 to 7 business days for the Ivory and Navy headphones, which loosely corresponds with Apple's plan to make the new Powerbeats Pro colors available in retail stores from August 30. The Moss color currently ships in 1 to 2 weeks. The new colors are also available to order at the Beats By Dre website, which is quoting the same shipping times. Apple started selling Powerbeats Pro in May after introducing them in April, but the black color was the only one available at launch. Apple said that it would make the other colors available at a later date. Powerbeats Pro are a wire-free version of Apple's popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds. Like the AirPods, Powerbeats Pro feature a dedicated charging case that offers 24 hours of battery life and an H1 chip for fast connectivity to your devices, device switching, and Hey Siri support. Apple's Powerbeats Pro are priced at $249.95 in the United States. For more on the Powerbeats Pro features, make sure to check out our guide.
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How to Opt Out of Arbitration When Signing Up for Apple Card

Wednesday August 21, 2019 3:54 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Amid all the online chatter about Apple Card, you may have come across references to the "arbitration clause" in Apple's agreement, and how you should opt out of it if you intend to apply for the credit card. So what is arbitration, and why should you steer clear of it? Basically, arbitration is a way to resolve legal disputes between two parties (in this case, between you and Goldman Sachs, which backs Apple Card) without going through the courts. Arbitration is often touted as being a quicker and less expensive way to resolve disputes. The problem is that arbitration often favors the company over the consumer, because the arbitrator(s) is typically chosen by the company, handing them an unfair advantage. When you agree to Apple Card's terms and conditions, you are agreeing to forced arbitration to resolve any potential disputes between you and Goldman Sachs. In other words, you're waiving the right to individually sue the bank or be part of a class action lawsuit against the company. The key passage in the Apple Card terms and conditions is as follows: By accepting this Agreement or using your Account, unless you reject arbitration as provided below, you acknowledge that you are giving up the right to litigate claims (as defined below) and the right to initiate or participate in a class action. You hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive the right to be heard in court or have a jury trial on all Claims subject to this Agreement. The good news is that there are several ways you can request to opt out of arbitration. Customers in the U.S. can call Apple on 8
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Second Rumor Claims 2019 iPhones Will Come With USB-C Chargers

Wednesday August 21, 2019 5:30 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's 2019 iPhones will come with a USB-C charger as well as a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, according to a new rumor today. 😆The iPhone 11 will come with a USB-C charger. pic.twitter.com/FqYgAHJnqx— ChargerLAB (@chargerlab) August 20, 2019 Hong Kong website ChargerLAB claimed in a tweet that Apple will do away with its original 5-watt charger and instead include a USB-C charger that will enable twice-as-fast iPhone charging times without ditching the Lightning connector. The leak is said to have been confirmed by a "high level executive," according to the site. ChargerLAB has a mixed track record when it comes to Apple rumors. The site incorrectly claimed the USB-C charger would be coming to last year's OLED iPhones, although Apple did debut a USB-C charger in its 2018 iPad Pro models, which now feature USB-C ports instead of Lightning. ChargerLAB also claimed in January that Apple's ill-fated AirPower had entered mass production – the wireless charging mat was in fact canceled by the company in March. Despite that, its latest charging claim does at least have precedent. Japanese site Mac Otakara said in April that Apple could include an 18W USB-C power adapter with the 2019 iPhones along with a USB-C to Lightning cable. It's not clear if this is accurate, however, as a different report from Mac Otakara said Apple would continue to include a 5W charger with a USB-A to Lightning cable with the 2019 iPhone lineup. Either way, we'll know soon enough. Apple is expected to announce its new iPhone lineup at a media event next month – most
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Apple 'Aggressively Testing' OLED Displays From China's BOE for 2020 iPhone Lineup

Wednesday August 21, 2019 3:50 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is in the final stages of certifying flexible OLED panels produced by BOE Display for use in future iPhones, according to a new report out today. The Nikkei Asian Review says Apple is "aggressively testing" screens made by the Chinese company, as it considers taking on BOE as an OLED supplier to cut costs and reduce its reliance on Samsung, which is believed to be Apple's primary supplier of OLED displays. BOE is the world's top producer of large liquid crystal screens and already makes liquid crystal displays for Apple's iPads and MacBooks, but the firm has its sights set firmly on the expanding OLED panel market, which is expected to be worth more than $30 billion this year, up from $25.5 billion in 2018. At the same time, Apple is seeking to diversify its supply chain as much as possible. The company often tries to secure at least two suppliers for any given component in order to reduce its supply chain risk and improve its bargaining position. Given that Samsung's OLED panel is the most expensive component in the iPhone XS and XS Max, bringing on board another supplier would be a significant coup for Apple. According to today's report, Apple is currently testing flexible OLED displays from BOE's facility in Chengdu, Sichuan province, which is China's first site to produce the advanced displays. BOE is also building another facility in Sichuan province, which would be allocated to Apple if it places orders, Nikkei's sources said.Two sources with knowledge of the situation said BOE was likely to supply the new iPhones next year if it wins
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Apple Card Just Got an Official Twitter Account

Wednesday August 21, 2019 2:54 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has just launched an account on Twitter dedicated to its new credit card, which went live for customers in the U.S on Tuesday. The official account, which goes by the handle @AppleCard, has so far only posted one tweet that links to the company's Apple Card webpage. It's not yet clear what purpose the account will serve beyond promoting the card and future offers on social media, but Apple is advising customers seeking support-related Apple Card questions to contact @AppleSupport. Apple yesterday announced that customers will receive three percent Daily Cash when they use the Apple Card with Apple Pay for Uber and Uber Eats purchases. Apple says additional merchants and apps will begin to offer three percent Daily Cash in the coming months. Apple offers a cash back rewards system for the Apple Card, providing Daily Cash up to 3 percent. You get 1 percent cash back for all of your purchases. On purchases made with Apple Pay, you get 2 percent cash back, and for purchases made from the Apple Store (physical or online) you'll get three percent back. This also includes purchases made from the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple services. To get an Apple Card, you need to be 18 years or older and be a U.S. citizen or a lawful U.S. resident with a U.S. residential address (no P.O. Box). An iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later is required to use the Apple Card, and it will not be available if you do not have an iPhone. Two-factor authentication must be turned on, and you must be signed in to iCloud on your iPhone with your Apple ID. Check out our dedicate
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How to Find Your Apple Card Number, Expiration Date, and CVV

Tuesday August 20, 2019 1:14 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple put a lot of thought into the design of the titanium credit card that you can request when you've successfully applied for Apple Card. As such, it is of course unique among credit cards. The front of the card is laser-etched with your name, but there is no card number or expiration date shown. Likewise on the back, there's no CVV and no space for a signature. Coupled with the weightier material, this minimalist aesthetic gives the Apple Card a decidedly premium feel. It also likely leaves you wondering what your Apple Card number actually is, not to mention the expiration date and three-digit security code, especially if you need to quote these details over the phone or use them anywhere Apple Pay isn't accepted. Fortunately, Apple makes it easy to find your number right on your iPhone. The following steps show you how. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap your Apple Card. Tap the ellipsis button (the circular icon containing three dots) in the top-right corner of the screen. Authenticate using Face ID, or on older devices, via Touch ID or a passcode. Tap Card Information. You can find your Card Number, Expiration Date and three-digit Security Code (CVV) a little further down this screen.Did you notice Request New Card Number in blue at the bottom of the Card Information screen? You can use this option if you suspect your current number has been compromised – just another neat little security feature that only Apple Card
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Former Siri Chief Bill Stasior Joins Microsoft to Lead AI Team

Tuesday August 20, 2019 4:14 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Bill Stasior, Apple's former head of Siri development, has joined Microsoft as corporate VP of technology, reports The Information. Starting this month, Stasior will lead an artificial intelligence group at Microsoft and will be reporting to Microsoft's chief technology officer, Kevin Scott. A Ph.D. graduate in computer science from MIT, Stasior was head of Apple's Siri team for seven years, following the departure of Siri co-founders Adam Cheyer and Dag Kittlaus in 2012. Cheyer and Kittlaus had joined Apple when the company originally purchased Siri in 2010, but didn't stay long. Stasior stepped down from his role as leader of Apple's voice assistant group in February, as part of a restructuring effort by John Giannandrea, Apple's senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy. Giannandrea was a prominent Google executive before being hired by Apple last year. With Giannandrea taking over the Siri team, Stasior was said to be stepping away from day-to-day management of Siri, yet remaining at the company. However, according to The Information, Stasior cut all ties with Apple in May. Giannandrea's hiring came amid widespread criticism of Siri, which has shortcomings in comparison to AI offerings from the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Apple made strides to improve Siri in 2018 under Giannandrea's leadership, with features like Siri Shortcuts in iOS
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Porsche Taycan EV to Include Integrated Apple Music App

Tuesday August 20, 2019 3:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Porsche has partnered with Apple to integrate Apple Music into its forthcoming Taycan EV, the German car manufacturer revealed on Monday (via TechCrunch). The announcement means owners of the all-electric sports car will be able to access Apple's music streaming service via the car's touchscreen infotainment display without having to connect a smartphone. This is the first time Apple Music will be available as a native app in any vehicle. Previously the only way to access the service was by pairing a phone via Apple's proprietary CarPlay dash interface. Porsche says CarPlay will also be included in the Taycan EV, but customers will get direct access to Apple Music's library of songs, curated playlists, and Beats 1 radio station through the car's built-in cellular connection. All they'll need to do is link their Apple ID with their Porsche account, after which they'll be able to control Apple Music using the Taycan's voice assistant system. Porsche says users will also be able to create a custom Apple Music station from any song they hear while listening to broadcast radio. The German car manufacturer also plans to release exclusive playlists that will only be available through Apple Music. Porsche intends to give new and existing customers free access to Apple Music for six months. TechCrunch reports that it also eventually plans to add the Apple Music app to all of its new vehicles that can support the service. Apple Music costs $9.99 a month for an individual membership. The streaming service recently surpassed 60 million subscribers, and making
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Alexa Now Supports Apple Music in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain [Updated]

Tuesday August 20, 2019 2:04 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple Music will be available to stream on German Echo devices via Alexa from today, reports regional tech blog ifun.de. We've not received official confirmation, but if Germany's Alexa rollout follows a similar pattern to other countries, it should mean Apple Music subscribers who own an Echo device, Amazon Fire TV, or Alexa-enabled Sonos speaker will soon be able ask Alexa to play songs, artists, playlists, and more from Apple Music. This functionality first launched in the United States in December of last year before expanding to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Read our guide on how to set up Apple Music in the Alexa app, including how to make it the default music service so that you don't have to say "on Apple Music" each time you ask Alexa to play something. Update: Alexa has also gained support for Apple Music in France, Italy, and Spain, according to local outlets iGeneration, iPhoneItalia, and Teknófilo
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How to Filter Explicit Content on an Apple Music Family Subscription

Monday August 19, 2019 5:02 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
If you've signed up to an Apple Music family subscription and you're concerned about your children accessing explicit content on the streaming service, you can use Apple's Screen Time feature to limit what they can listen to. Here's how it works. When you sign up for an Apple Music Family subscription, Apple's Family Sharing feature is what lets other people in your family access Apple Music on their devices. As family organizer, you can also configure Screen Time settings for your child's device from your own device. This means you can remotely set content restrictions for their iPhone or iPad and prevent them from playing explicit content in Apple Music. Launch the Settings app on your iOS device. Tap Screen Time. Tap Turn On Screen Time, then tap Continue. Select This is My iPhone/iPad. Tap your child's name. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Tap the toggle beside Content & Privacy Restrictions to turn it on. Tap Content Restrictions. Tap Music, Podcasts & News. Select Clean.If you don't see your child's name listed in the main Screen Time menu (step 5 above), tap Set up Screen Time for Family and then follow the onscreen instructions. Note that you can also set content restrictions directly on your child's device. To do so, go to Settings -> Screen Time, and select This is My Child's iPhone/iPad. You'll then be asked to create a special four-digit passcode for accessing Screen Time settings on this device, ensuring no-one will be able to change them except for
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Spotify Adds Parental Control Feature to its Family Plan

Monday August 19, 2019 4:25 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Spotify is launching a new content filter feature for its Family Plan to give parents and guardians better control over what their children listen to. The owner of the family plan master account will be able to set an Explicit Content Filter on individual sub-accounts, which will prevent the user from playing anything in the Spotify library marked as explicit. The filter is accessed from a new Family Hub, where the master account holder can add and remove family members and update the family address. The ability to set the content filter will be password protected to add an extra layer of security. Apart from the new content filter, Spotify is also introducing a new Family Mix feature, which gives the whole family access to personalized playlists. The changes are rolling out today in Ireland and coming soon to other regions and territories where the family plan is offered. Spotify's $14.99 Family Plan allows up to six people to jump on board the same subscription to the streaming service, although Spotify does expect all members to live under the same roof. Apple Music also offers a family subscription for $14.99 for up to six people to use via Family Sharing. Parents can also use Apple's Screen Time feature to set content restrictions remotely for their kids' devices.
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Leaked Images Reveal Upcoming 'Sonos Move' Bluetooth Portable Speaker

Monday August 19, 2019 2:16 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
More details have emerged about the unreleased portable Bluetooth speaker from Sonos, thanks to new images shared by WinFuture (via The Verge). The German site has published several marketing images of what's apparently going to be called the Sonos Move, the first speaker of its kind by the audio electronics company. As the pictures reveal, the speaker comes with a stationary base station, while an integrated handle allows the Sonos Move to be easily undocked and used as a Bluetooth portable speaker. A Bluetooth/Wi-Fi toggle switch is located on the rear of the speaker in a recessed space, along with a power button and a pairing button. Below that is a USB Type-C port for charging the device and two pins for docking the speaker in the base station. The existence of the device was confirmed last week in an FCC filing. Shortly afterwards, The Verge learned that it's both taller and slightly wider than the Sonos One, and that it supports AirPlay 2 as well as hands-free voice commands from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. We still haven't heard any details about the battery life or possible waterproofing, but Sonos has sent out media invites for a press event on August 26, when we expect the Sonos Move will be officially
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Ulysses 17 Gains Keyword Management for iOS, New iPad Fullscreen Mode, and More

Monday August 19, 2019 1:05 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Version 17 of Ulysses was released today, bringing some much-requested features to the popular Mac and iOS app for writers. First up, the developers have brought keyword management to the iOS app, following the introduction of the feature on Mac in spring. You can now edit or delete keywords, customize colors, and merge several keywords into one, whichever device you're working on. You can also mark your most-used keywords as favorites for easy access within the app, with full keyword sync across Mac and iOS. Regular Ulysses users will be familiar with the app's ability to export their texts as a formatted PDF or DOCX document. In this latest release, four new export styles are included. Business is for laying out reports and strategy papers. Academica is for lecture notes. Review is suited for on-paper editing (the style reproduces comments and text deletions and comes with a large margin for hand-written notes). Finally, Manuscript is geared to the U.S. layout standards used for submitting literary works to publishers. In addition to the above, this version shows image captions in image previews, and for iPad users, there's a completely overhauled fullscreen mode that puts your text front and center. There are no onscreen toolbars, and sidebars slide into view for quick interactions before sliding out again to keep you focused. With an external keyboard attached, the same Mac shortcut Command-Control-F opens and closes fullscreen mode, and the shortcut bar is hidden. Elsewhere in this update, there's added support for previewing image
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New Ceramic and Titanium Apple Watch Models Uncovered in watchOS 6 Beta

Saturday August 17, 2019 6:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
New leaked assets from the watchOS 6 beta suggest Apple plans to launch new ceramic and titanium Apple Watch models as early as next month. Discovered by iHelpBR, the assets belong to the initial Apple Watch setup screen animation, which resembles the rear design of the watch including the model type and the words "Designed by Apple in California." The firmware assets clearly reference a 44mm titanium case and a 44mm ceramic case. iHelpBR has also found analogous assets for the 40mm size Apple Watch model. Back in February, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple would introduce a "new ceramic casing design" to its Apple Watch line-up, and these assets do appear to back up that claim. Apple introduced "Edition" models with the Apple Watch Series 2 that were made from ceramic. Prices started at $1,299, which it continued offering when the Series 3 Apple Watches came out, but Apple discontinued the Edition models when the Series 4 launched last year. Current Apple Watch models do have a ceramic back, but the assets indicate Apple will revisit a new high end ceramic model in 2019. And it looks like we can also expect an entirely new titanium model – a material perhaps currently in favor at Apple following work on its just-released titanium Apple Card. Apple Watch Series 2 ceramic model in white It's not clear if the titanium casing will replace stainless steel or become an additional option. Another unanswered question is whether these materials will be exclusive to a new Apple Watch Series 5, or also be offered as extra case material
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Heart Analyzer App Gains New HR Metrics and Exportable Monthly Reports

Friday August 16, 2019 3:57 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Version 7 of Heart Analyzer was released today, and the popular third-party heart-rate app for iPhone and Apple Watch has gained some additional features for users looking for even deeper insight into their HR data. In addition to the wealth of graphs, metrics and reports already available, Heart Analyzer can now also produce monthly PDF reports on a user's heart rate. This exportable metric is inspired by the Apple Watch ECG reports that can be exported in Apple's Health app. The app has also got a new Heart Home tab where users can get more personalized metrics. Details such as maximum and minimum heart rates, cardiac exercise levels and VO2Max offer greater detail on HR readings and fitness based on age and biological sex. In addition, the user interface has been simplified by the introduction of new card interfaces and natural gestures, improving ease of navigation within the app without removing the level of detail (and in some cases adding even more). The app never transmits any data from the users iPhone, and there are no third party analytics and no ads. Heart Analyzer is a free download for iPhone on the App Store, and users who wish to support development can unlock small options via in-app purchases. [Direct Link]
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How to Check Your Apple Card Payment History

Thursday August 15, 2019 6:15 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
One of the great things about Apple Card is that you don't need to log in to a credit card issuer's website to see your payment history or wait for paper statements to be mailed to you – it's all there right on your iPhone. You can view your Apple Card payment and credit history at any time, and even download monthly PDF statements at the tap of a button. The following steps show you how it's done. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap your Apple Card. Tap Total Balance. Scroll down and tap the statement you want to view. To download a PDF of the selected statement, tap Download PDF Statement.To view individual payments, instead of tapping Total Balance on the main Apple Card screen, scroll through your Latest Transactions until you see a Payment transaction. You can view the payment details by tapping the transaction and then tapping it again on the following
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How to Check Your Apple Card Balance

Thursday August 15, 2019 6:14 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Checking your Apple Card's total balance is as simple as opening the Wallet app on your iPhone and tapping your Apple Card. The Total Balance appears below your card, and includes all previous monthly balances and any interest charges you have, new spending from the current month, any payments and credits, and any pending transactions. Find Out Your Monthly Balance You can also check your monthly balance, which includes all of your spending and interest charges from the previous month, minus any payments and credits. Your monthly balance also includes any remaining balances from previous months. Here's how to view it. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap your Apple Card. Tap the circular black Pay button. Your monthly balance is displayed inside the pay dial, which shows a green checkmark.The figure you see on this screen will automatically adjust to reflect any payments you make toward your monthly balance. Don't forget that if you pay your monthly balance in full each month by the due date, you won't be charged
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