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
Block Out Distractions With iOS 26's New Ambient Sounds
Apple has expanded the Background Sounds feature in iOS 26, adding eight new ambient soundscapes to help you focus, relax, or mask distracting environmental noise. Here's how to make the most of them.
Background Sounds is an accessibility feature designed to minimize distractions and help you stay focused or calm. The sounds play continuously in the background, masking unwanted environmental ...
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Hidden iOS 26 Tricks to Change How You Use Your iPhone
Apple released iOS 26 in mid-September, bringing a range of new features and changes to iPhones across the globe. But not all of the included improvements have been showcased with Apple's typical fanfare, and many are likely to have been overlooked.
Below, we've highlighted 26 lesser known additions and enhancements that could potentially change how you use your iPhone on a daily basis. Got...
Adding BlackBerry-Style Keys to Your iPhone Just Got More Affordable
Keyboard manufacturer Akko has just launched an iPhone keyboard case called MetaKey, proving that BlackBerry nostalgia is alive, well, and willing to add inches to your smartphone's length.
Like Clicks' cases, the MetaKey case connects via USB-C and adds a QWERTY keyboard to the bottom of the iPhone. However, priced at $59.99, it's half the cost of the Clicks keyboard case, which launched in ...
AI Browser Dia Launches Publicly on Mac
The Browser Company's Dia app is now open to anyone on Mac. It's the first time the AI-powered browser has been widely available since its beta launch in June.
Following on from Opera's Neon, which arrived last month, Dia is another AI-first browsing experience that's centered around tab-based chat functionality. The browser includes Skills, which are a mix of user-created and built-in...
iOS 26: Keep AirPods Connected When You Get in Your Car
If you wear AirPods during your commute but don't want your podcast or music suddenly blasting through the car speakers when you start the engine, there's a new setting in iOS 26 that can ensure it doesn't happen.
Apple has thoughtfully added a new "Keep Audio with Headphones" setting that prevents your iPhone from automatically switching audio to CarPlay or other Bluetooth speakers when...
iOS 26: Transfer eSIM From Android to iPhone
Switching from Android to iPhone is a lot easier than it used to be. With the release of iOS 26, Apple has streamlined the process of transferring your eSIM from an Android device, and in most cases you won't need to contact your carrier for a QR code.
Transferring an eSIM from iPhone to iPhone has been relatively simple since iOS 18, but Android-to-iPhone transfers have remained...
iOS 26.1 Beta Change Stops You Silencing Alarms by Accident
Apple has changed how you dismiss iPhone alarms in the latest iOS 26.1 beta, and your morning muscle memory might need tweaking as a result.
The Clock app now requires a slide gesture to stop an alarm from the Lock Screen, replacing the previous tap-to-stop button that was redesigned in iOS 26. Snoozing still works with a simple tap, but turning off an alarm entirely demands the extra swipe...
Apple Modifies In-Store MagSafe Stands to Prevent iPhone 17 Marks
Apple has quietly added a protective silicone ring to its in-store MagSafe charging stands following reports of marks appearing on some iPhone 17 series display models, according to Consomac.
The apparent move comes after Apple last month confirmed that worn MagSafe chargers in retail stores were causing what appeared to be scratches on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. There have...
WhatsApp Rolls Out Message Translation on iOS in 19 Languages
WhatsApp has announced the rollout of its new translation feature, allowing users to translate messages into their preferred language directly within the app. The feature, which is part of version 25.28.74, is launching gradually across iPhone and Android devices for one-on-one chats, group conversations, and Channel updates.
To translate a message, simply long-press on the text, select...
iOS 26: See Your Full Call History With Any iPhone Contact
Buried within iOS 26 is a hidden history that lets you see every call you've ever exchanged with a specific contact, potentially going back years. You might not know it, but you can access this detailed call history on your iPhone in seconds.
Viewing the new extended history screen can come in handy when you need to recall when you last spoke with someone. It's also pretty useful when you...
Missing iPad Multitasking Feature Makes Comeback in iPadOS 26.1
Apple has quietly reintroduced a popular multitasking feature in the second beta of iPadOS 26.1, which was released to developers on Monday.
Slide Over, which allows users to quickly access a floating app window on top of their main workspace, is back after being removed in the initial iPadOS 26 release. The feature now works alongside the new window-based multitasking system introduced in...
iOS 26: Translate Phone Calls in Real Time on iPhone
In iOS 26, Apple's Live Translation feature can turn your iPhone into a real-time interpreter during phone calls. Whether you're talking business with international clients or chatting with family abroad, the Phone app can now handle translation automatically (with a few exceptions).
As of writing, Live Translation in the Phone app works with one-to-one phone calls and supports English (UK...
iOS 26: Make Your iPhone Wait on Hold for You
If you make a call and are placed on hold, a new feature in iOS 26 will do the waiting for you so you can do other things. Hold Assist listens for hold music playing, and then alerts you when a person comes on the line so you can pick up the call.
Hold Assist is available on any iPhone that supports iOS 26 (i.e. it's not an Apple Intelligence feature). The feature works automatically...
iOS 26: See How Long Your iPhone Will Take to Fully Charge
In iOS 26, your iPhone gains a handy new charging feature that takes the guesswork out of knowing when your device will be fully powered up. Instead of waiting around or checking your battery percentage every few minutes, you can now see exactly how much time remains until your device reaches 100%.
A real-time estimate appears right in your Battery settings while your iPhone is plugged in,...
ChatGPT Now Interacts With Multiple Apps Inside Conversations
ChatGPT users can now interact with a handful of third-party apps directly within their conversations, OpenAI has announced.
The new Apps SDK allows developers to build tools that blend naturally into chats, and initial partners include Spotify, Canva, Zillow, Expedia, Booking.com, Coursera, and Figma.
Users can summon apps by name. For example, you can ask "Spotify, make a playlist for...
Apple Preps Two 'Imminent' Product Upgrades
Apple is preparing to refresh both its Vision Pro headset and iPad Pro lineup in the near future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says the Vision Pro update will bring a faster processor – likely the M5 chip – along with a redesigned strap system aimed at making the headset more comfortable during extended wear.
Meanwhile, the M5...
MacBook Air Display Upgrade in 2027 Could Bring Major Quality Boost
Apple's M5 MacBook Air is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2026 with predictable improvements, including faster CPU performance, a more capable GPU, and likely slightly better battery life. But earlier reports out of Korea suggest Apple has been working on something more interesting that could debut two years out.
According to The Elec, Apple plans to equip the MacBook Air with...
Your iPhone Can Ask Why Someone's Calling Before You Pick Up
Spam calls have become such a nuisance that many people simply don't answer their phone unless they recognize the number. In iOS 26, though, you can learn about who's calling before you respond, thanks to a clever new feature that intercepts unknown calls and asks the caller to identify themselves before your iPhone even rings.
The new "Ask Reason for Calling" feature is kind of like having...
Apple Wallet's New Boarding Passes Now Supported by United Airlines
United Airlines has become the first carrier to support Apple Wallet's enhanced boarding passes in iOS 26, reports 9to5Mac.
Example of new boarding pass features in iOS 26
Apple added several new features for boarding passes in iOS 26. Previewed at WWDC in June, the features include Live Activities for tracking flights directly from the Lock Screen, airport terminal maps, and Find My...
iOS 26: Switch Back to the Classic Phone App Layout
Apple's redesigned Phone app in iOS 26 introduces a unified view that combines recents, favorite contacts, and search on a single screen. But if you prefer the familiar tabbed interface from iOS 18, you can easily switch back to the classic layout.
The Classic Phone app layout in iOS 26
What's Different in iOS 26
The new unified design consolidates recent phone activity into one...
