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
Use Apple Watch Backtrack to Retrace Your Steps
On Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 6 and later models running watchOS 9 and newer, you can use the Compass app's Backtrack feature to track your route and then help you retrace your steps in case you get lost.
Backtrack uses the GPS on your Apple Watch to create a virtual breadcrumb trail of your route so you don't have to worry about keeping track of where you're...
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Vivaldi 7.4 for iOS Adds Background Audio Playback and New Tab Management Features
Vivaldi has released version 7.4 of its iOS browser, introducing background audio playback that lets users continue streaming music, podcasts, and videos even when switching apps or locking their screen.
We've tested the feature, and it works seamlessly with YouTube and other streaming services, eliminating interruptions during multitasking. Combined with a new setting that prevents links...
Details Leak About Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Set for 2026 Release
Details about Jony Ive's secretive OpenAI collaboration have leaked from an internal staff call reviewed by The Wall Street Journal (paywalled), and here's what's been revealed.
The device won't be glasses or a phone – Ive apparently wasn't keen on making something you'd wear on the body, and both he and Sam Altman want to wean people off screens anyway. Instead, it's being pitched as a...
AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
AirPods Pro 3 Unlikely to Feature Built-In Cameras
Ming-Chi Kuo dropped a bit of a bombshell this week by suggesting that AirPods won't see major updates until 2026 when infrared camera-equipped models enter production. But before you panic about waiting two more years for new earbuds, there's reason for optimism.
Kuo's timeline likely refers to regular AirPods, not the AirPods Pro line. Well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has...
Jony Ive's AI Product 'Third Core Device' After MacBook and iPhone
Details have leaked about the device that OpenAI is developing with former Apple designer Jony Ive. OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, and the first product is one of a family of devices the company intends to launch.
Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed details about the project in an internal staff call reviewed by The Wall Street Journal....
Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far
Google made waves yesterday by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand.
Current Development Status
Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
Use Your iPhone as a Microphone for Your Mac
If you have macOS 13 or later installed on your Mac, you can use a nearby iPhone as your computer's microphone input. Keep reading to learn how it works.
When Apple released macOS Ventura in October 2022, it introduced a new take on its Continuity Camera feature by letting users use their iPhone's camera as a webcam for their Mac. Continuity Camera works wirelessly or wired in FaceTime,...
Epson Adds AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Support to Latest Projector Range
Epson has announced AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support for its newest projector lineup, reports HomeKitNews. The added support means users can wirelessly stream content from their Apple devices and control projector functions through the Home app or Siri.
The AirPlay 2 functionality enables streaming videos, photos, presentations, and audio from iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps including Safari, while...
How Stolen iPhones Travel From Western Streets to Chinese Markets
The Feiyang Times is an unassuming tower in Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei district, but it has earned the nickname "the stolen iPhone building" in Apple community forums. According to a Financial Times investigation (paywalled), the building has become a major hub in a global network trafficking stolen iPhones.
When London tech entrepreneur Sam Amrani had his iPhone 15 Pro snatched by two men on...
Huawei's New 18-inch Foldable Previews Apple's Rumored iPad-Mac Hybrid
Chinese tech company Huawei just unveiled its new MateBook Fold, and it looks suspiciously like what Apple is rumored to be cooking up in its labs.
The ultra-thin foldable device features a 13-inch form factor when closed but unfolds to reveal an impressive 18-inch OLED display with 3.3K resolution and 1600 nits peak brightness. At just 7.3mm unfolded (thinner than an iPhone 16 Pro Max),...
macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system.
macOS 16 Name?
Every year ...
Apple's Large-Sized Foldable Device Could Have an Amazon Rival
Amazon is developing a large-sized foldable device similar to the one Huawei unveiled on Monday, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Huawei MateBook Fold
"My research indicates that Amazon is also internally developing a similar product, which has not yet officially kicked off," said Kuo in a post on X (Twitter). Kuo added that the device is projected to enter mass production in late...
Automate iPhone Low Power Mode Based on Battery Level
If your iPhone regularly runs out of battery later in the day, Low Power Mode is one way to make it last longer. You can also make Low Power Mode automatically turn on when your battery reaches a certain custom level. Keep reading to learn how.
Most iPhone users are familiar with the way iOS throws up a prompt to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Low Power Mode can also be ...
Activate Low Power Mode With a Focus on iPhone
Introduced in iOS 15, Focus mode is 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. Apple has since expanded what Focus modes can do with new features, including the ability to activate Low Power Mode on your device when a specific Focus in enabled. Here's how it works.
The Focus options now include a ...
Chinese iPhone Shipments to US Plunge to 2011 Lows Amid Trade Tensions
Chinese shipments of iPhones and other mobile devices to the United States dropped dramatically in April, hitting their lowest levels since 2011, according to newly released customs data (via Bloomberg).
Smartphone exports from China to the US plummeted 72% to just under $700 million last month, outpacing the overall 21% decline in Chinese shipments to the United States. The sharp decline...
Set Up a Recovery Contact for Your Apple Account
Losing your Apple Account password can make your digital life a misery, as it can leave you locked out of the account that you use to manage your Apple devices, unable to access your iCloud data and manage your app and service subscriptions.
In this scenario, Apple can't just reset your password for you, especially if your have two-factor authentication enabled. Setting up a recovery key is ...
Google Releases NotebookLM App for iOS and Android
Google has launched iOS and Android apps for NotebookLM, the company's advanced AI-powered research and note-taking tool.
Commenting on the launch in a blog post, Google said:
We've received a lot of great feedback from the millions of people using NotebookLM, our tool for understanding and engaging with complex information. One of the most frequent requests has been for a mobile app —...
AirPods Max 3 Rumor Suggests Next Update Could Be a While Away
Apple is reportedly working on a lighter version of AirPods Max that won't enter mass production until 2027, according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a brief post on X (Twitter), Kuo shared the prediction without providing additional details about how much weight Apple plans to shave off its premium over-ear headphones.
If you've worn the current AirPods Max for extended...
Apple Pencil to Gain Arabic Calligraphy Tool in iPadOS 19
Apple will introduce a new calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users that will allow them to digitally write in Arabic script, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple plans to offer a "highly advanced bi-directional keyboard" for moving between Arabic and English on iPhones and iPads, alongside a "virtual reed calligraphy pen" for...
