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
Spotify App Could Include Music Video Player in Future Version
Spotify appears to be exploring the possibility of adding music videos to the streaming service's "Now Playing" app interface.
Serial app de-coder Jane Wong discovered and enabled the feature, which currently consists of a tabbed interface for the Now Playing screen that offers different options for showing content while listening to tracks.
The new tabs include standard album art, the new...
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New Safari iOS 14 Features Could Include Voice Search, Improved Tabs, and Guest Mode
Apple has several new features for its iOS Safari browser in the works, including voice search, translation integration, improved tabs, a "guest mode" option, and new iCloud Keychain functionality.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman rounded up the new features in development in a tweet, while making it clear that there was no guarantee that they would be revealed at this week's WWDC.
Rumors...

Webcam Software for Fujifilm Cameras Coming to macOS
Fujifilm is developing software for Mac that will enable its cameras to be used as high-quality webcams, the company announced today (via The Verge).
Fujifilm, Canon and Panasonic all offer software that brings webcam functionality to their cameras. The cameras are connected via a USB cable and provide a sharper picture for video calls, but most apps are PC only.
Fujifilm says it is...

Disney+ No Longer Offering Free Trials Ahead of 'Hamilton' Premiere
Disney+ is no longer offering seven-day free trials of the streaming service to new subscribers, reports French news site Numerama.
A Disney spokesperson suggested the ending of the free trial formed part of an initial investigation into different offers and promotions to best expand the service's user base.
"We continue to test and evaluate different marketing, offers and promotions to...
Pixelmator Photo 1.3 Brings Batch Editing, Shortcut Menus, and More
Pixelmator Photo for iPad was updated today to version 1.3, bringing new shortcut menus, customizable accent colors, and batch photo editing improvements to the app.
The new shortcut menus are activated using the touch and hold gesture, and add several functions that aim to make Pixelmator Photo more powerful.
When touching and holding a photo in the Photos library browser, for example, ...

Bloomberg: Apple's AR/VR Gaming Headset Plans Altered By Internal Divisions
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this morning filed a story detailing the internal divisions at Apple that led it to change the course of its AR and VR headset development.
Specifically, the report covers disagreements between former Apple design chief Jony Ive and Mike Rockwell, the executive heading up Apple's secretive 1,000-strong group devoted to VR and AR, regarding fundamental aspects of the...

Zoom Now Says End-to-End Encryption Will Be Available for All Users
In a U-turn by the popular videoconferencing platform, Zoom this week announced it will make end-to-end encryption available to all users, both paid and unpaid.
...we have identified a path forward that balances the legitimate right of all users to privacy and the safety of users on our platform. This will enable us to offer E2EE as an advanced add-on feature for all of our users around the...

Russia Ends Ineffective Ban on Telegram Encrypted Messaging App
Russia this week lifted a nearly two-year ban on messenger app Telegram after it failed to prevent the encrypted platform from being widely used, reports Reuters.
Some Russian media portrayed the move as a capitulation, but the country's media regulator Roskomnadzor said the company had shown "willingness" to help with counterterrorism efforts.
"Roskomnadzor is dropping its demands to...

How to Watch Apple's WWDC 2020 Keynote on June 22
Apple's 31st Worldwide Developers Conference will be a digital-only event in 2020, with no physical gathering planned due to the ongoing global health crisis.
The virtual event starts a little later in the month than usual, on June 22, and is free for anyone. As with previous years, Apple is kicking off WWDC with a keynote on the first day, offering a look at some upcoming products and...

Korea FTC Allows Apple to Draw Up Measures to Correct Anti-Competitive Practices
South Korea's antitrust regulator has decided to allow Apple to map out a set of measure to address its anti-competitive business practices in the country, reports the Korea Herald.
The Fair Trade Commission investigated Apple Korea for requiring SK Telecom, KT Corp, and LG Uplus Corp to pay the cost of television advertisements and warranty service for its iPhones.
The investigation...

Apple Launches In-Store Mac Trade-In Program in the U.S. and Canada
Apple has officially launched its Mac trade-in program across retail stores in the United States and Canada.
The new program, which was reported last week, allows customers to exchange a Mac for credit that can be put on a gift card or used to cut the cost of a new computer.
Apple has long allowed Mac trade-ins on its website, but previously has not accepted Mac trade-ins in its retail...

Twitch Studio Streaming Software Arrives on Mac in Beta
Twitch has launched a beta version of its all-in-one streaming software, Twitch Studio, for macOS. The original version of the software only supported Windows PCs, so now Mac users can also get involved.
If you're a Mac user who has been eager to give streaming a try but didn't know how to start, Twitch Studio is our all-in-one streaming software designed from the ground up with new creators...
Leaker: 'iPhone 12' to Feature Same Notch Size, LiDAR Limited to 6.7-inch Model
YouTube channel creator EverythingApplePro caused a minor Twitter storm this morning by claiming a CAD image of the so-called "iPhone 12" suggests some rumors floated by leakers about Apple's upcoming lineup are off base.
iPhone 12 design will likely not be what we thought. Recent iPhone 12 CADs paint a completely different picture. Did Apple pull a fast one on the leak community? pic.twitter.c ...
How to Assign a Custom Text Alert Tone to a Specific Contact on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, Apple allows you to set a custom alert tone for text messages received from a specific person in your contacts.
Setting a special message alert tone for someone in your Contacts app enables you to recognize when that particular person has sent you a text, without you even having to look at your iPhone or iPad screen.
To know instantly when someone specific has sent you...

Set a Ringtone for a Specific Contact on iPhone
On iPhone, Apple allows you to set custom ringtones for specific contacts, so if you assign one to a person you know, you'll be able to identify them straight away the next time they call you.
Setting a special ringtone for someone in your Contacts app enables you to recognize when that particular person is calling you, without you even having to look at your iPhone's screen.
To know...
How to Customize Alert Tone for Individual WhatsApp Contacts
In WhatsApp, you can set a custom alert tone for messages and calls from a specific person in your contacts, just like you can in the Contacts app on iPhone.
Setting a special alert tone for a WhatsApp contact enables you to recognize when that particular person is calling you or has sent you a message, without you even having to look at your phone's screen.
To know instantly when someone...
New Facebook and Instagram Options Let US Users Turn Off Political Ads
Facebook is adding the option for users to turn off all political advertising in the Facebook and Instagram apps from today, the company has announced in a blog post.
The option will pop up for users directly on any political ad that appears on the two Facebook-owned platforms. Users will also be able to hide ads by clicking on the advertisement or by accessing a new menu option in either of...

Google Meet Videoconferencing Coming to Gmail iOS App
Google made its premium Meet videoconferencing service free to use last month, and now the company has announced that it's bringing Meet to the Gmail app for iOS and Android.
Google Meet offers many of the features that have made Zoom so popular in recent weeks, including video conferencing for up to 100 participants, the option to schedule meetings, and screen-sharing capabilities.
In...

Apple's Diversity Chief Christie Smith Leaves the Company
Apple's head of diversity and inclusion Christie Smith is leaving the company, according to a Bloomberg report today. Unlike her predecessor, who reported directly to CEO Tim Cook, Smith reported to Apple's senior VP of retail and people, Deirdre O'Brien.
"Inclusion and diversity are core Apple values and we deeply believe the most diverse teams are the most innovative teams," Apple said in...

EU Announces Investigations into App Store In-App Purchase Rules and Apple Pay
The European Commission today said it has opened two formal antitrust investigations into Apple's App Store and Apple Pay mobile payment system.
The first investigation will assess whether Apple's rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the App Store violate EU competition rules.
It will focus in particular on the mandatory use of Apple's own in-app purchases system and...















