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
Track Santa's Journey From the North Pole Using Google's Santa Tracker
Have you been good this year? If so, you may be interested to know that Google has launched its annual Santa tracking feature, allowing Santa to be tracked in real time on his journey to the North Pole as he prepares to deliver presents to children around the world.
Google's Santa Tracker continues a two-decade tradition for the company, allowing excited children (and grown-ups!) to keep up...
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Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging standard Apple adopted in iOS 18 that is significantly enhancing the messaging experience between iPhone and Android devices. Think of it as SMS 2.0 – a major upgrade to the traditional text messaging we've been using for years.
Key Features of RCS
Apple's decision to embrace RCS came last year after persistent persuasion from Google, which...
Do More Single-Handedly With Double Tap on Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models include a multi-functional Double Tap gesture that you might not know about or haven't yet got around to trying. Here's everything Double Tap can do, and how you can make the most of it on your Apple Watch.
Double Tap is a gesture-based feature for Apple Watch models that lets you control watch functions by tapping your thumb...
22 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...
Stop Live Activities Taking Over Your Apple Watch Face
In watchOS, the Smart Stack for your Apple Watch is pretty clever. The collection of widgets can be pulled up with a scroll of the Digital Crown, and shows you relevant information throughout your day. But sometimes, its eagerness to help can be a bit much, especially when it comes to Live Activities.
You're probably familiar with this scenario: You raise your wrist expecting to see your...
X Announces Major Price Increases for Ad-Free Premium Plus Tier
X (Twitter) has announced a big jump in pricing for its Premium Plus subscription tier, with monthly rates in the US jumping from $16 to $22, representing a 37.5% increase. The annual subscription cost will also rise from $168 to $229.
The price changes took effect on December 21, 2024, with new subscribers paying the higher rates immediately. Existing Premium Plus subscribers will maintain...
New iPad Expected to Ship With iPadOS 18.3 in Spring 2025
Apple plans to release an entry-level iPad 11 in the spring and iPadOS 18.3 will be pre-installed on the shipped devices, according to a source with a proven track record for upcoming Apple software updates.
Several reports in the last few months have suggested Apple is developing an 11th-generation iPad that is scheduled to be released around the same time as a new iPhone SE 4 and iPad Air ...
iOS 18.1: How to Type to Siri
With the introduction of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, communicating with Siri has become more flexible since you can easily type your requests instead of speaking them. It's a subtle but powerful change that's perfect for those moments when you need to be quiet or discreet.
Enabling Type to Siri is straightforward. Head to Settings -> Apple Intelligence & Siri, tap Talk & Type to Siri,...
Set Up Out-of-Office Replies in iCloud Mail
Apple's native Mail app for macOS does not offer an automatic reply or out-of-office option for standard email accounts. However, if you use an iCloud email address, you can set up automatic replies via the iCloud website. Keep reading to learn how it works.
Surprisingly, Apple's Mail app still doesn't feature an auto-reply option. The only exception to this state of affairs is if you have...
iOS 18.2: Limit Your iPhone's Speaker Volume
Ever been startled by unexpectedly loud audio blasting from your iPhone? A new feature in iOS 18.2 lets you cap the maximum volume of your device's built-in speaker, allowing you to avoid awkward moments in quiet spaces.
The new Volume Limit feature in iOS 18.2 is particularly useful if you're a parent or guardian and share your device with children, but it's also handy if you frequently...
ChatGPT for Mac Can Now Read Your Apple Notes – Here's How
OpenAI has expanded the capabilities of its ChatGPT app for macOS, adding support for Apple Notes and a range of popular third-party apps. The update builds on last month's release that introduced the ability to read on-screen content from select Mac apps.
This expansion should broaden ChatGPT's utility for both casual users and developers using macOS, as the AI assistant can now interact...
Apple Teams Up With NVIDIA to Speed Up AI Language Models
Apple has shared details on a collaboration with NVIDIA to greatly improve the performance of large language models (LLMs) by implementing a new text generation technique that offers substantial speed improvements for AI applications.
Apple earlier this year published and open-sourced Recurrent Drafter (ReDrafter), an approach that combines beam search and dynamic tree attention methods to...
Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.1.1, Downgrading No Longer an Option
Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.1.1, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.2 from downgrading to that version of iOS. Apple released iOS 18.2 a week ago on December 11.
Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. When an update is no longer signed, it can't be installed on an iPhone due to a server-side ...
6 iPhone Camera Tips Every User Should Know
Apple's latest iPhones include several headline camera features that are worth using, such as Portrait Mode and Photographic Styles. But if all you want to use is the standard photo mode, there are still several tools and settings that can improve the composition of your pictures and help you capture the perfect shot using more traditional techniques.
Whether you are the owner of a new...
macOS Sequoia Finally Fixes This Annoying Notification Behavior
Apple has addressed a longstanding user frustration in macOS Sequoia by fixing how App Store update notifications function. As spotted by TidBits' Adam Engst, the improvement allows you to directly access the Updates screen by clicking anywhere on the notification, streamlining the software update process.
Previously, clicking on App Store update notifications in macOS 12 Monterey and later...
Apple Faces Criticism Over AI-Generated News Headline Summaries
Apple is facing calls to remove its AI-powered notification summaries feature after it generated false headlines about a high-profile murder case, drawing criticism from a major journalism organization.
Updated to iOS 18.2? Then you may have received this notification (image credit: BBC News)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged Apple to disable the Apple Intelligence notification...
Report: Apple in Talks with Tencent, ByteDance for Chinese iPhone AI
Apple is reportedly negotiating with China's ByteDance and Tencent to bring their artificial intelligence models to iPhones sold in China, as the company adapts its AI strategy for the Chinese market.
Apple began integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into its devices globally earlier this month with the release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, but ChatGPT is not accessible in China...
Apple's $1 Billion Investment May Soon End Indonesian iPhone Ban
Apple is close to reaching an agreement with Indonesia to lift the ban on iPhone 16 sales in the country after securing preliminary approval for a $1 billion investment proposal, according to Bloomberg.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is said to have given his support for the government to accept Apple's investment plan following a weekend briefing. The proposal includes establishing...
Apple Warns of Privacy Risks in EU's DMA Interoperability Requirements
Apple has released a report highlighting its concerns about how some companies could "weaponize" the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements to access sensitive user data. The report came on the same day that the European Commission began consulting on the proposed measures for requesting interoperability with Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems.
The DMA, which came ...
When Is Apple Intelligence Launching in the European Union?
Apple continues to roll out its Apple Intelligence features to Mac users in the European Union who are using macOS Sequoia 15.2 with supported settings and languages. However, the broader launch for iPhone and iPad users has been delayed due to regulatory considerations.
The company has confirmed that Apple Intelligence will arrive for EU iPhone and iPad users in April 2025. The rollout will ...
