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
Customizing the Action Button on iPhone
Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 and 17 series feature a programmable Action button that replaces the traditional Ring/Silent switch above the volume buttons. Keep reading to learn what the Action button is capable of, and how you can customize it.
The Action button on iPhone replaces the traditional iPhone switch that activates Ring and Silent. By default the new button still...
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iPhone 15: How to Take Portrait Mode Photos
On iPhone 15 models, Apple has added a new way to take portrait photos. This article explains what's changed.
Apple's Portrait Mode has become a popular way of taking impressive shots using a depth-of-field effect known as bokeh, allowing iPhone users to shoot a photo that keeps the subject sharp with a blurred background.
With the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple has upped its portrait...
iPhone 15: How to Turn Photos into Portraits After Shooting
On iPhone 15, if you take a photo of a person, cat, or dog, the camera detects them in the frame and captures rich depth information automatically — allowing you to turn it into a stunning portrait right away or later on in the Photos app. Here's how it's done.
Apple's Portrait Mode has become a popular way of taking impressive shots using a depth-of-field effect known as bokeh, allowing...
'Categorically Terrible,' and Other Early Reactions to Apple's New FineWoven Accessories
Apple has stopped selling leather accessories, and the company claims its "FineWoven" range of iPhone cases and accessories are overall more environmentally friendly. But in the court of public opinion, early reactions to Apple's alternative material choice appear to be trending towards the negative end of the spectrum.
Image credit: Nilay Patel of The Verge
Apple calls the new fabric option...
Apple Launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in Brazil
Apple has announced the launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone in Brazil, allowing independent sellers, small merchants, and large retailers in the country to use iPhones as a payment terminal.
Introduced in February 2022, the feature allows compatible iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, using only an iPhone...
WSJ: Apple's 5G Modem Prototypes 'Three Years Behind Qualcomm's Best Chip'
In the last few years, Apple has spent billions of dollars attempting to develop its own modem chip to replace the Qualcomm modem chips that it uses in iPhones, but a new paywalled Wall Street Journal report suggests Apple's approach to the project has been dogged by unrealistic goals, a poor understanding of the challenges involved, and completely unusable prototypes.
Apple's plan to design ...
How to Share Passwords With Friends and Family on iPhone and iPad
In iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple has added the ability to securely share passwords and passkeys with friends and family members using a new shared password function. Here's how to use it.
Family Passwords allows you to create a group of trusted contacts that you can share passwords and passkeys with across devices. (Passkeys let users sign in to apps and sites the same way they unlock their...
Philips Hue Bridge Matter Support Update Now Available
Matter support is now being rolled out to Philips Hue Bridge owners via a software update, according to the company, enabling the smart home system's interoperability with third-party lights.
Matter is a connectivity standard that enables smart home accessories to work together seamlessly across multiple platforms, including Apple's HomeKit, Amazon's Alexa, Google's Home, and others. For...
Latest WhatsApp Beta Features Native iPad Support
WhatsApp for iPad finally appears to be nearing a release. In the latest version of WhatsApp Beta for TestFlight, Meta has introduced an option to use WhatsApp on an iPad independently of an iPhone, thanks to an update to its Link a Device feature.
WhatsApp currently allows users of the encrypted messaging platform to link up to four devices to their account even when their main smartphone...
iPhone 15 Camera: Apple Explains UI Design Decisions, Limitations, and Hidden Features
Apple's new iPhone 15 series includes several new camera features, but not all of them will be visible to casual photographers, and Apple says it is relying on third-party developers to make these extra controls accessible to enthusiasts and filmmakers.
In an interview with PetaPixel, Jon McCormack, Apple's vice president of camera software engineering, explained the company's rationale...
iOS 17: How to Use iPhone as a FaceTime Camera on Apple TV
With iOS 17 and tvOS 17, you can make FaceTime calls on Apple TV and use your iPhone or iPad as the front-facing camera. Here's how it works and how to use it.
In tvOS 17, there's a new FaceTime app for Apple TV, but to use it you need an iPhone running iOS 17 or an iPad running iPadOS 17. That's because the Apple TV doesn't have a camera or microphone, so the iPhone or...
iOS 17: How to Set and Label Multiple Timers
It's taken this long, but in iOS 17, Apple has added support for multiple timers, and has also made it easy to manage several timers on iPhone with the introduction of labels.
That's right. Believe it or not, iPhones have not included the ability to set multiple ongoing timers until now. In iOS 17, the Clock app finally enables several timers to be set that will run down at the same time,...
Tim Cook Watched Entire Third Season of 'Ted Lasso' on Apple Vision Pro, Which Remains on Track for Early 2024
Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning's John Dickerson that the company's Vision Pro headset remains on schedule for release in early 2024, and revealed that he's already using it on a regular basis.
When asked how he uses the upcoming headset, Cook said he watched "the entire third season of 'Ted Lasso' on the Vision Pro," and admitted there are "some things...
iPhone 15 Pro Cameras to Support Spatial Video Later This Year, But Key Questions Remain
During Apple's "Wonderlust" event earlier this week, Apple claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro camera system "pushes the limits of what you can capture with a smartphone." It was a reference to the device's support for "spatial computing video," but the mention was brief and lacking detail.
For those who missed it, spatial video is Apple's name for what is essentially 3D video. The iPhone...
iOS 17: How to Name Your Pets in Photos With Pet Recognition
With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple has added pet recognition to its stock Photos app for iPhone and iPad. Keep reading to learn how to set it up.
Regular users of Apple's Photos app will be undoubtedly familiar with the People album, which tries to identify faces in your pictures so that you can label people with their proper names and use that label as an organizing element in your library or ...
iPhone 15 Battery Capacities Revealed in Regulatory Database
Apple does not advertise battery capacities for its new iPhone 15 lineup, but MySmartPrice has obtained this information from a Chinese regulatory database.
The Chinese regulatory listing reveals that the iPhone 15 has a 3,349mAh battery (rated capacity) and a wattage of 12.981Wh, while the iPhone 15 Pro has a 3,274mAh battery and a wattage of 12.70Wh.
Battery capacities for the full...
Apple to Issue iPhone 12 Software Update in France to Address Radiation Concerns
Apple said on Friday it would issue a software update for iPhone 12 users in France to address radiation concerns raised by the country's regulators (via Reuters).
"We will issue a software update for users in France to accommodate the protocol used by French regulators. We look forward to iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France," Apple said in a statement.
"This is related to a...
Apple Showcases iPhone 15 Pro's Titanium Chassis in New Ad
Apple today shared an ad for the iPhone 15 Pro, exclusively highlighting the new titanium finish of the devices.
The 38-second spot depicts a titanium fragment exploding into view and torpedoing through the Solar System towards the surface of the Earth. "From the edge of the universe... to the palm of your hand," reads the ad's tagline.
Might meets light. Introducing the new titanium iPhone ...
Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone 15 Pre-Orders
Apple's online store is down ahead of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro pre-orders, which are expected to be available at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.
"We can't wait either," reads the Apple Store's message when visiting the U.S. website. "Pre-order begins at 5:00 a.m. PDT. See you then." Apple has been doing 5:00 a.m. pre-orders for the last several years instead of the 12:01 a.m. ...
iOS 17: How to Send Files and Photos With AirDrop Proximity Sharing
In iOS 17, Apple has made sharing files and media easier than ever, thanks to a cool new AirDrop proximity feature that does most of the work for you.
In prior versions of iOS, transferring a file or photo between Apple devices involves opening the file in question, tapping the Share button, selecting AirDrop, then choosing the nearby device you want to send the file to.
With iOS 17,...
