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
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...
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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...
M5 MacBook Air: Release Date, Features, and Performance Predictions
The MacBook Air is Apple's most popular laptop – a thin, fanless machine that wields quiet power thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon. While the M4 model isn't exactly old, attention is already turning to its successor.
Apple doesn't telegraph new product launches ahead of time, but we can draw a surprisingly clear picture of what to expect by looking at Apple's silicon roadmap,...
iOS 26: Turn Off Preferred Routes in Apple Maps
In iOS 26, Apple Maps quietly learns your daily driving patterns to help you beat traffic, but you might not want it tracking your regular routes. Here's how to disable the feature.
Using on-device Apple intelligence, Maps learns the routes you prefer to use to get to locations you visit frequently, such as work, home, and school. The app tracks when you typically visit these places and...
Apple Maps May Be Logging Places You Visit – How to Disable
In iOS 26, Apple Maps has a feature called Visited Places that when enabled automatically logs where you've been, with the aim of making it easier to revisit your favorite spots or to share locations with friends.
While it can be useful for tracking your travels, you might prefer to keep your location history private. Here's how to disable the feature and clear your history.
What Is...
5 Reasons to Skip the iPhone 17 Pro (and Wait for iPhone 18 Pro)
Apple unveiled its new iPhone 17 series in September, and the iPhone 17 Pro models feature a new-look design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive.
If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to the...
iOS 26: Turn Photos Into 3D Spatial Scenes
In iOS 26, Apple's Spatial Scenes feature can transform ordinary photos into dynamic, three-dimensional pictures that respond to your movements. By adding depth and subtle motion to flat images, this clever AI-powered feature can bring to life photos in your iPhone's library – and your iPhone doesn't need Apple Intelligence to make use of it.
Spatial Scenes in the Photos App
Spatial Scenes...
iPhone 17e: All the Rumors So Far
Earlier this year, Apple released the $599 iPhone 16e – a budget-friendly late addition to its iPhone 16 series and a replacement for its long-running entry-level iPhone SE line. Given the iPhone 17 lineup has now launched, can we expect an iPhone 17e anytime soon?
If you're holding out for a more affordable device with the 17 moniker attached, here's everything we know so far about the...
Here Are All the New iPhone Ringtones in iOS 26
In iOS 26, Apple has quietly included seven new ringtones to alert you to calls, messages, and other audible notifications. Keep reading to learn what's new and how to hear the new sounds.
The iconic "Reflection" ringtone – introduced in 2017 alongside the iPhone X – now has multiple alternate versions in iOS 26. While the original tone retains its familiar pellucid xylophone melody, the ...
iPhone 17 Models Come With These New Features
Apple launched its new iPhone 17 lineup and ultra-thin iPhone Air in September 2025. The iPhone 17 is Apple's most affordable flagship iPhone, sold alongside the higher-end iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 series brings a host of new features and enhancements. Here's a rundown of the biggest upgrades and changes:
iPhone 17
Display Changes
The iPhone...
Epic: Apple's Updated App Marketplace Install Process Proves 'Scare Screens' Deterred Users
Epic Games has claimed that Apple's revised installation process for third-party app marketplaces in the EU demonstrates that the company was deliberately undermining competition through "deceptive design."
In a blog post published Wednesday, the Fortnite developer revealed that user drop-offs during Epic Games Store installations plummeted from 65% to 25% after Apple streamlined the process ...
Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
Apple Files Motion to Dismiss xAI Lawsuit Over ChatGPT Deal
Apple has filed a court motion to dismiss Elon Musk's lawsuit alleging the company conspired with OpenAI to stifle competition in the AI market, arguing the antitrust claims are based on "speculation on top of speculation."
In a Texas filing Tuesday, Apple's lawyers defended the company's decision to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, claiming it did nothing wrong in selecting OpenAI as its initial ...
iOS 26: Reduce Loud iPhone Sounds With This New Toggle
Apple has added a new audio control in iOS 26 that lets you dampen overly loud sounds coming from your iPhone speaker without sacrificing audio quality. The "Reduce Loud Sounds" toggle compresses your iPhone's volume range, making loud sounds softer while preserving quieter details.
If you frequently switch between apps with wildly different volume levels, watch videos with inconsistent...
AirPods Pro 3: How to Pair With Non-Apple Devices
AirPods Pro 3 are designed to connect instantly with Apple devices, but they still work as standard Bluetooth earbuds. That means you can pair them with virtually any device that supports Bluetooth audio – from Samsung Galaxy phones to gaming consoles. Here's how to set up the connection in seconds.
Note that this manual pairing method also comes in handy if your AirPods Pro 3 don't show...
Logitech's New MX Master 4 Mouse Features Haptic Feedback
Logitech today announced an updated version of its MX Master series mouse, the MX Master 4, which features haptic feedback and introduces a few other changes while remaining largely faithful to the original design.
Apart from cleaner-looking frosted buttons and a more minimalist bottom, the MX Master 4 looks very similar to the S3. The feel is, however, slightly different – the new model...
Opera's Agentic AI Browser Neon Launches With Subscription Model
Opera today launched its subscription-based, AI-focused Neon browser, which joins a growing field of companies touting agentic browsing capabilities.
Opera first previewed Neon in May and is now gradually rolling out invites to waitlist members. Available to early access users at $19.99 per month, Neon aims to go beyond traditional browsing by using AI to execute tasks directly within the...
Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Notifications Now Available in Korea
Apple has expanded its sleep apnea notification feature to Apple Watch users in South Korea, the company announced today.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often leading to poor rest. The Apple Watch detects signs of the disorder by using its accelerometer to track subtle wrist movements associated with irregular breathing patterns. When...
WhatsApp for iOS Now Supports Live Photos Sharing
WhatsApp has confirmed the introduction of Live Photos support on iPhones running its encrypted chat platform, allowing users to send and receive images captured in the format.
Introduced in 2015, Apple's Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds of video and audio before and after you take a picture, with the aim of adding a little bit of life and movement to still images.
In a blog post on Monday ...
iOS 26: Send Photos Faster With This Hidden Toggle
In iOS 26, Apple quietly added a neat new option that lets you send smaller-sized previews of images over Messages so that recipients get them right away, before the full-resolution images arrive.
Thanks to the new setting, your recipient will receive a lower-quality preview almost instantly, followed by the full-resolution image. And if you're traveling with limited cellular data or using...
