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
Apple Drops Mask Requirement for Corporate Workers at 'Most Locations'
Apple is dropping its mask requirements for corporate employees at "most locations," according to an internal memo obtained by The Verge.
Apple's COVID-19 Response Team on Monday told corporate employees that the company is updating current protocols "in light of current circumstances," and urged staff to continue wearing a face mask if they feel more comfortable doing so.
Apple also...
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Spotify to Separate Play and Shuffle Buttons for Premium Subscribers
Spotify is separating its play and shuffle buttons for paying subscribers, the streaming service has announced.
Currently, the Spotify interface uses a combined play and shuffle button at the top of playlists and artist pages, so the change should make things simpler for Premium customers who prefer to listen to songs in the order they are listed.
Writing in a blog post, the company said ...
Sky Go Launches on Apple TV With Over 100 Live Streaming Sky Channels
After what may have seemed like an endless wait for Sky customers in the U.K. and elsewhere across Europe, the Sky Go app is now available to download on Apple TV.
The availability of the Sky Go app means that subscribers will be able to stream live Sky's broadcast content on their Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K devices, rather than having to rely on Sky's set-top box or the equivalent app on...
Twitter Tests New 'Status' Feature for Individual Tweets
Twitter is testing a new status feature that lets users tag posts with pre-defined labels, similar to the statuses that the old LiveJournal and MySpace platforms allowed.
Several users this morning began reporting that they could post Twitter statuses with an accompanying emoji, and the company has since confirmed to TechCrunch that it is currently testing the feature with a select group in...
Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.5 Following iOS 15.6 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible
Following the launch of iOS 15.6 last Wednesday, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.5, the previously available version that came out in mid-May. Since iOS 15.5 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS after installing iOS 15.6.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers...
Firefox 103 Includes Performance Boost for Macs With 120Hz+ Displays
Mozilla has released a new version of Firefox that promises improved browsing performance on displays running at 120Hz and higher refresh rates, which should appeal to owners of 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with ProMotion displays.
Launched last October, Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with ProMotion technology...
Google Maps Gains Landmark Aerial Views, Location Sharing Notifications for Arrival and Departure, and More
Google is rolling out some new Maps features to its iOS and Android apps for the summer, including new location sharing options, cycling directions enhancements, and photorealistic aerial views of famous city landmarks.
First, location sharing. Google says it wants to make it easier to see when someone who has shared their location with you arrives or leaves a place, "so you can more easily...
iCloud Passwords for Windows Gains 2FA Code Generator
The iCloud Keychain password manager in Apple's iCloud for Windows app now supports two-factor authentication codes, according to user reports posted on Reddit.
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, acts as an additional layer of security for online accounts, by requesting a code generated by a password manager when the account owner logs in.
Apple includes support for the generation of 2FA...
Amazon to Increase Prime Membership Fee By Up to 43% for Customers in Europe
Amazon is increasing its Prime membership subscription prices across Europe in September by up to 43% a year, the company has announced just days before its Q2 earnings results.
In an email to customers, Amazon said the annual Prime subscription price will increase by 20% in the United Kingdom from £79 to £95 from September 15.
Customers in France will face a 43% increase from 49 euros...
How to Install HomePod Public Beta Software
Alongside iOS public betas, Apple often releases beta HomePod software. The HomePod software updates that are beta tested are usually limited to a select group of invite-only testers, but that changed after HomePod Software 16. This article explains how you can install it on your HomePod mini devices.
Apple doesn't always reveal new features coming to HomePod devices in a beta, but that's...
Samsung Claims Foldable Phones Are Going Mainstream
While Apple has yet to release a foldable iPhone, Samsung is about to unveil a new series of foldables for the third consecutive year at its Unpacked event on August 10. Meanwhile, Samsung's mobile president TM Roh believes that we are already seeing the mainstream acceptance of foldable smartphones play out as consumers switch to the devices in increasing numbers.
In a blog post titled "The ...
Apple Continues to Diversify Suppliers Ahead of iPhone 14 Launch
Apple has added to its list of suppliers for the iPhone 14 series in a bid to avoid potential supply chain shortages when mass production of the devices begins, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a series of tweets, Kuo said components from SG Micro have passed quality certification for the high-end iPhone 14 models, meaning the Chinese company has been greenlighted to supply components...
Apple Removes AirTag Battery Level Indicator From the Find My App
In iOS 15.6 and the latest iOS 16 beta, Apple appears to have intentionally removed the AirTag battery indicator in the Find My app.
In previous versions of iOS, a small battery icon, similar to the iPhone battery status, appears below an AirTag's name and location when the AirTag card is opened in Find My.
While not accompanied by a percentage, the icon provided an approximate...
Anyone Can Now Share Twitter Spaces Clips on iOS and Android
Twitter is rolling out a new feature on iOS and Android that lets users extract short audio clips from Twitter Spaces for easier sharing on the platform, the company has announced.
Anyone in a live audio discussion room can make a clip for sharing elsewhere on Twitter, allowing others to listen to the best parts of a livestream without them having to listen to the whole thing, and the clips...
Apple Expands Mobile Market Share in China on Strong iPhone 13 Demand
Apple has expanded its smartphone market share in China on the back of strong iPhone 13 sales, despite a slowdown in the Chinese mobile market as a whole this year.
According to Strategy Analytics, 14 million smartphones were sold during the country's annual "6.18" online shopping festival in June, down 25% year on year. Chinese brands including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo all experienced...
iOS 16: How to Switch On Dark Mode With a Focus
Apple in iOS 15 introduced Focus mode, an expansion of Do Not Disturb that allows you to set up different permissions for apps, contacts, and more depending on what you're doing. In iOS 16, Apple has expanded what Focus modes can do with new features, including the ability to activate Dark Mode on your device when a specific Focus in enabled. Here's how it works.
In iOS 16, the Focus options ...
iOS 16: How to Use Focus Filters to Hide Content in Apps
Apple in iOS 15 introduced Focus mode, an expansion of Do Not Disturb that allows you to set up different permissions for apps, contacts, and more depending on what you're doing. In iOS 16, Apple has expanded what Focus modes can do with new features, including the ability to add Focus Filters. This article explains what Focus Filters are and how to set them up.
Focus Filters are a...
iOS 16: How to Crop a Lock Screen Wallpaper
In iOS 16, Apple has added several personalization options to the Lock Screen that have not been seen before on iPhone, allowing users to build a gallery of easy-to-swap wallpapers with uniquely customized designs.
To make photographs look better on Lock Screens, Apple has also built a number of photo editing options into the gallery interface, including a quick and simple way to crop photos ...
Jailbreak for iOS 15 Close to Release, Claim Hackers
Hacker group The Odyssey Team has announced an upcoming jailbreak tool called "Cheyote" that will work with devices running iOS 15 for the first time.
Sharing the news on Reddit, one of the developers involved in the tool said the jailbreak itself is "making good progress" and should be rolled out to the jailbreaking community in the near future.
If the claims are true, that would mean...
Brazil's Prosecutor General Sides With Apple in Long-Running 'iPhone' Trademark Dispute
The Brazilian Supreme Court has issued a favorable opinion to Apple in a long-running dispute over the exclusive use of the iPhone brand in the country, local media reports.
For those unfamiliar with the case, Brazil's highest court accepted a constitutional appeal in 2020 by ISB Electronica, an electronics company that registered the iPhone trademark in Brazil in 2000.
Under the...
