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
AOL Dial-Up Internet Service to End After 34 Years
AOL will officially discontinue its dial-up internet service on September 30, pulling the plug on an era that defined early internet access for millions of Americans.
Image credit: Retrohead
The Yahoo-owned company announced the shutdown on its support website, stating: "AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet." The termination...
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iOS 26: Use Folders to Manage Playlists in Apple Music
In iOS 26, Apple Music introduces playlist folders, bringing the same organizational power that's long been available for photos and notes to your music collection. Whether you're juggling workout mixes, seasonal soundtracks, or genre-specific selections, folders should be a welcome management tool for your most favored collections.
The feature works exactly as you'd expect – simply create ...
Apple's Base 128GB iPhone Storage Tier Needs to Go
Remember when 16GB felt like an ocean of storage on the original iPhone? Those were simpler times. Apple initially offered the OG device in storage capacities of 4GB and 8GB, but just months after launching, Apple nixed the 4GB model, eventually replacing it with a 16GB option. Fast forward to 2025, and Apple offers 128GB as the base storage tier for most iPhone 16 models. That might sound like a ...
iOS 26 to Bring ChatGPT-5 Integration to Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence will integrate OpenAI's newly launched ChatGPT-5 model when iOS 26 arrives next month, Apple has confirmed (via 9to5Mac).
The integration means Siri will tap into the latest AI model when Apple's own systems can't handle specific requests. ChatGPT-5, which OpenAI announced Thursday, offers enhanced reasoning capabilities and coding tools, and better voice interaction and...
OLED MacBook Pro Could Replace Notch With Dynamic Island Design
Apple's highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro could ditch the notch for a display cutout potentially similar to the iPhone's Dynamic Island, according to a recent Omdia report (via DigiTimes).
The research firm claims Apple will switch to OLED displays for MacBooks in 2026, with Samsung Display supplying the panels. The report does not name MacBook Pro per se, but Apple's high-end MacBook...
Apple's Real AI Crisis Isn't Siri, But the Talent It's Losing to Rivals
Apple has hemorrhaged around a dozen artificial intelligence staff to rivals since January, making it one of the prime victims in Silicon Valley's fierce AI talent war, reports the Financial Times.
The exodus of staff from Apple's AI team over the last seven months has seen senior researchers leave variously for Meta, OpenAI, xAI, Cohere, and others. The most notable recent departure was...
Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expand to Taiwan and Hong Kong
Apple Maps has expanded the availability of cycling routes in East Asia by adding support for Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Apple first added cycling directions to Apple Maps in iOS 14, providing specific directions for bike riders with bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly routes that highlight steep inclines, stairs, and other obstacles.
Prior to this expansion, cycling...
Report: MacBook Pro With OLED Display to Launch Late Next Year
Apple will launch its first MacBook Pro models with OLED displays in late 2026, according to a new report out of Korea discussing the supply of OLED panels.
Dealsite.co.kr reports that Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of OLED panels for the new MacBook Pro models, thanks to its heavy investment in Gen 8.6 OLED production lines.
Gen 8.6 lines use larger glass substrates conducive ...
iOS 26: Add New Reminders Faster Than Ever
In iOS 26, currently in beta, creating a new task for Apple's Reminders app is now a much faster process, thanks to the introduction of a "New Reminder" control that lets you create tasks without ever opening the app.
Whether you assign it to Control Center, your Lock Screen, or the Action button (on iPhone 15 Pro models and newer), this simple addition should make it a lot easier to record ...
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Is Getting an Even Bigger Display
The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 will boast a slightly larger screen, based on imagery discovered in the latest iOS 26 beta.
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found Apple Watch assets with a 422 x 514 resolution that doesn't match any current models. The existing Ultra 2 runs at 410 x 502, suggesting the third-generation Ultra will squeeze more pixels into what appears to be the same case...
Apple Still Investigating Cellular MacBook as Microsoft Ships Surface 5G
Recent reports have suggested Apple is actively considering bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup as early as next year, but arch rival Microsoft isn't waiting around to find out – the company is launching its first 5G-enabled Surface laptop this month.
The Surface Laptop 5G is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC lineup aimed at business customers, featuring a 13.8-inch display and ...
Steam Client to Require macOS 12+ Starting October 15
Steam will stop supporting macOS 11 Big Sur on October 15, 2025, according to Valve, requiring Mac users to upgrade to macOS Monterey or later to continue accessing the gaming platform.
The reason Steam will soon stop working on Big Sur is due to the client's reliance on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older macOS versions. Future Steam updates will also...
iOS 26: Get a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call
Keeping track of missed calls can be challenging if you're juggling several tasks during the day. Thankfully, iOS 26 introduces a streamlined way to set callback reminders directly from the Phone app, making it less likely that you'll forget to return important calls.
Set a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call
When iOS 26 launches this fall (or if you're already on the beta), you'll be able...
iOS 26: Make Your Favorite Podcasts Easier to Hear
Apple has finally caught up with rival podcast apps like Overcast by adding an Enhance Dialogue feature to the Podcasts app in iOS 26 (currently in beta).
The new audio processing option isolates voices and makes them sound clearer, which should prove ideal for any mumbled true crime episodes or echo-heavy interview shows you listen to.
How to Enable Enhance Dialogue
The setting is...
iPhone 17 Launch Date May Have Just Leaked
German mobile carriers have apparently spilled the beans on Apple's iPhone 17 announcement date, and if history repeats itself, we now know when the devices will hit stores, too.
According to sources from German phone providers cited by iphone-ticker.de, Apple's iPhone 17 event is set for Tuesday, September 9. Following Apple's predictable pattern, this would put the actual launch date at...
No WhatsApp? No Problem – Guest Chats Are Coming
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows people to communicate with users over the platform even if they don't have an account.
According to WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android contains references to so-called "guest chats," which lets users send a link to an online chat, where the "guest" doesn't have to have an app on their device or even need to be in possession of a...
Apple iPhone 17 Event Set for September 9, German Carrier Sources Claim
Apple's iPhone 17 event this year appears to be scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, according to internal information from German mobile phone providers, as reported by iphone-ticker.de.
The timing lines up with a recent prediction by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple would hold its iPhone 17 announcement during the week of September 8. Gurman identified September 9 or 10 as the mo...
iOS 26: Add Web App or Bookmark to iPhone Home Screen
iOS 26 gives you two distinct ways to add websites to your iPhone's Home screen – as web apps or traditional bookmarks. They might look similar at first glance, but choosing the right option can dramatically improve how you access your favorite sites.
Understanding the Difference
When you add a website to your Home screen using the "Add to Home Screen" option, iOS 26 allows the website to...
iPhone 17 Launch Is Just Weeks Away: Everything We Know
Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely dates. Like the iPhone 16 series, this year's lineup is expected to include four models – but with a twist. The Plus device is being replaced with an all-new ultra-thin model, while the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are set to...
Future iPhones Could Adopt Superior Tandem OLED Display Tech
Apple is planning to bring tandem-structure OLED panels to its iPhone lineup in the coming years, which would bring over some of the display improvements currently exclusive to Apple's M4 iPad Pro models.
The Elec reports that Apple has set a two-year production plan for the superior OLED technology to be adapted for iPhone models. However, Apple has yet to decide whether to develop the...
