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
Apple Wins Patent for Texture and Temperature Simulating Touch Surface
Apple has been granted a patent today for an invention that enables a touchpad or touch surface to simulate textures like cool metal and hot cement.
The patent, originally filed in 2013 and called "Touch Surface for Simulating Materials" (via Patently Apple), appears in a series of 62 others published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and includes details on the mechanisms that...
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Apple Reportedly Running Secret Car Lab in German Capital
Apple is operating a secret vehicle research and development lab in the heart of Berlin, claims a report published in a German news outlet this morning.
According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (also known as F.A.Z.), Apple's clandestine facility employs between 15 and 20 "top class" men and women from the German automotive industry, with backgrounds in engineering, software, hardware, and...
Amazon Prime Video Now Offered as Standalone $8.99 Monthly Service
Amazon has repositioned its Prime Video service as a standalone $8.99 monthly subscription deal with the option to cancel at any time.
Prior to Sunday night, Amazon's video streaming service was only available to U.S. customers as part of the annual $99 Amazon Prime bundle, which qualified subscribers for free shipping from the company's online retail store, unlimited music streaming, and...
Best Buy, Staples Offering Up to $150 Off 12.9-inch iPad Pro Stock
For today only, Best Buy is offering $125 off its entire selection of 12.9-inch iPad Pros, including the 256GB WiFi + Cellular version in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray.
Apple's latest top tier cellular-equipped 12.9-inch iPad Pro is currently priced at $1,104.99, rather than the recommended retail price of $1,229, while the 128GB cellular version is tagged at $954.99, compared to Apple's RRP of ...
Apple's Recycling Initiatives Recover $40 Million in Gold
Apple released its latest annual environmental report yesterday, and some of the numbers included reveal just how much the company is able to recover from old devices.
Business Insider notes that Apple was able to recover over 61 million pounds of steel, aluminum, glass, and other materials from its computers and iPhones. Included in that total is 2,204 pounds of gold, which is well over a...
FBI Can't Reveal Exploit Used to Unlock San Bernardino Shooter's iPhone
The unidentified group that assisted the FBI in unlocking the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone has sole legal ownership of the exploit, making it highly unlikely to be shared with Apple, U.S. administration sources have revealed.
According to a report published by Reuters yesterday, the White House routinely reviews technology security flaws as part of its Vulnerabilities Equities Process to...
Starbucks iOS App Puts Loyalty First With New Rewards Features
Starbucks yesterday announced a new version of its iOS app, featuring an overhauled design that aims to offer a more personalized experience for its customers and highlight the benefits of its loyalty program.
A new homepage for the app puts the company's Stars rewards front and center, enabling users to keep track of how many stars they've accrued and redeem them more easily.
Collected...
Google Calendar Celebrates 10th Anniversary With iOS 'Goal' Events
Google is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Calendar service with the addition of a new feature in its iOS app that aims to help users meet personal goals.
The new feature uses machine learning in an effort to help users stick to projected goals by sending reminders and rescheduling around other events in their calendar if necessary.
Tapping on the new Goal option in the Add menu...
Immersive VR and 360 Video Editing Tools Coming to Adobe CC for Mac This Summer
Adobe has announced major updates to Premiere Pro CC and its other video apps, with VR workflows spearheading a new focus on immersive VR and 360 video experiences.
Set for an "early summer" release, the CC platform updates bring new VR capabilities to Adobe's flagship video editor, in the form of a "field of view" mode that allows editors to work with imported spherical stitched video and see ...
Siri Responds to Most Burning Question Asked by 'Game of Thrones' Fans
The first episode of the long-awaited season six of HBO series Game of Thrones premiered in Los Angeles over the weekend, and Siri is now giving cheeky responses to users who ask the personal assistant whether one of its principal characters, Jon Snow, has truly left this mortal coil.
Asking Siri, 'Is Jon Snow dead?' returns a number of possible responses, including:
Well, you know what...
BBC Announces Family-Friendly iPlayer Kids App for iOS
The BBC today unveiled the iPlayer Kids app for iOS, which allows children to safely access CBeebies and CBBC shows directly.
The family-friendly app offers access to over 10,000 shows and enables up to four profiles to be created on one device for the delivery of specialized content to each child.
Parents and guardians can create a profile for children by selecting an age and a...
iOS 9.3.2 Beta Reportedly Fixes 'White Screen of Death' Game Center Bug
A long-standing bug in Game Center that renders many games unplayable has reportedly been resolved in the latest public beta of iOS 9.3.2.
Game Center for iOS is a necessary component of many turn-based multiplayer App Store titles, which rely on Apple's social gaming network to enable gamers to invite friends, start multiplayer matches, and compete for high scores.
The bug, which first...
Facebook Messenger for iOS Gains Native Dropbox Support
Facebook Messenger for iOS is gaining native Dropbox integration for the first time, allowing users to share any file stored in their Dropbox account without having to leave the app.
Tapping the More button in the popular messenger app now displays Dropbox as an available source. So long as the Dropbox app is installed on the device and an account is linked to it, users can share photos,...
Apple Reportedly Using Chinese Server Supplier to Migrate iCloud Service
Apple is reportedly working with China-based server vendor Inspur to help transfer its iCloud data services in-house, according to sources out of the China supply chain (via DigiTimes).
Currently Apple is thought to rely heavily on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host many of its cloud server requirements, but the company’s data center plans suggest it is looking to scale back the money it...
Apple Complied With First iPhone Unlock Court Order in 2008, Says Report
A review of Apple's track record of handling government data requests claims that the company received and complied with its first court order to unlock an iPhone in 2008.
According to a Wall Street Journal piece published yesterday, the first court order came from investigators involved in the prosecution of child sex offenders Amanda and Christopher Jansen, a married couple from Watertown,...
Apple Watch Hermès Bands to be Sold Separately, New Colors Coming April 19
Apple revealed an expansion to its collection of Hermès Apple Watch bands today, with four additional colors becoming available to buy separately later this month.
Apple's refreshed collaboration with the French fashion house brings sapphire blue, peacock blue, white and orange to the existing collection of Fauve (deer brown), Etain, Capucine, and Bleu Jean.
In the past, Hermès...
HP Claims Innovation Over Apple With 'World's Thinnest Laptop'
Amid rumors that Apple is working on ultra-thin 13 and 15-inch "MacBooks", HP yesterday announced the "world's thinnest laptop" in the form of the Core-i powered 13.3-inch Spectre, with a design that the company said offered proof that it is driving innovation faster than Apple.
Created with a focus on "luxury and artisanal craftsmanship", the HP Spectre is 10.4mm thick and weighs in at...
WhatsApp Messenger Implements Full End-to-End Encryption
WhatsApp has enabled full end-to-end encryption for all users of the mobile instant messenger app.
The Facebook-owned service started implementing end-to-end encryption to standard chat messages in 2014, but has now completed rollout to all forms of communication within the app, such as photos, videos and calls.
WhatsApp co-founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton officially announced the rollout ...
Bot Rush Continues Apace as Kik for iOS Launches Dedicated 'Bot Shop'
Kik Messenger for iOS officially opened a dedicated bot store yesterday that allows anyone to create chat bots for use within the app.
Chat bots are automated chat accounts that are programmed to deliver specific content or services when users interact with them, sidestepping the need to download a separate app to access the service or content in question.
The popular teen messaging app...
Pebble Brings iOS Text Replies to Verizon, Custom Vibrations and More
Pebble owners that link the smartwatch to an iPhone on the Verizon network can now use the iOS app's Text Reply feature to respond to text messages that show up on their wrist.
Previously the feature was only available to users on AT&T, but the newly released version 3.11 update to the Pebble app brings the same functionality to Verizon users as well. After enabling the option via the updated...
