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
Change iPhone's Default Notification Sound
In iOS 17.2 and later, Apple lets you customize the alert tone used by your iPhone for default notifications. This is good news for anyone who does not like the "Rebound" tone that Apple introduced in iOS 17.
In previous versions of iOS, Apple allowed users to choose a ring tone and a text tone, as well as custom alert sounds for email, calendar, and reminder alerts. Anything else that threw ...
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Clear Safari Browsing History and Cache
Whenever you browse the web in Safari, the browser stores website data so that it doesn't have to download it again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
There are a couple of situations where you...
Apple's First Bezel-Free iPhone Unlikely to Be Ready for 2026 Launch
Apple's plans to create an iPhone with a completely bezel-free display are reportedly facing significant technical challenges, with a new report suggesting that the technology may not be ready by 2026 as previously hoped.
Xiaomi's 2021 Quad-Curved Waterfall Display concept phone
Apple has seemingly been on a years-long quest to slim down the bezels on its iPhone models until they vanish out...
Track Santa's Journey From the North Pole Using Google's Santa Tracker
Have you been good this year? If so, you may be interested to know that Google has launched its annual Santa tracking feature, allowing Santa to be tracked in real time on his journey to the North Pole as he prepares to deliver presents to children around the world.
Google's Santa Tracker continues a two-decade tradition for the company, allowing excited children (and grown-ups!) to keep up...
Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging standard Apple adopted in iOS 18 that is significantly enhancing the messaging experience between iPhone and Android devices. Think of it as SMS 2.0 – a major upgrade to the traditional text messaging we've been using for years.
Key Features of RCS
Apple's decision to embrace RCS came last year after persistent persuasion from Google, which...
iPhone Sizes Change Next Year: What to Know
This year, Apple tweaked iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes to make them bigger than 2023's iPhone 15 Pro models, and next year we are also expecting a change in the size of the displays in the iPhone 17 lineup. Here's what we know.
Standard iPhone 17
Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches,...
Do More Single-Handedly With Double Tap on Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models include a multi-functional Double Tap gesture that you might not know about or haven't yet got around to trying. Here's everything Double Tap can do, and how you can make the most of it on your Apple Watch.
Double Tap is a gesture-based feature for Apple Watch models that lets you control watch functions by tapping your thumb...
22 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...
Stop Live Activities Taking Over Your Apple Watch Face
In watchOS, the Smart Stack for your Apple Watch is pretty clever. The collection of widgets can be pulled up with a scroll of the Digital Crown, and shows you relevant information throughout your day. But sometimes, its eagerness to help can be a bit much, especially when it comes to Live Activities.
You're probably familiar with this scenario: You raise your wrist expecting to see your...
How to Turn Off Mail Categories in iOS 18.2
In iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a major change to the Mail app with its new Categories feature. Categories automatically sorts your emails into four distinct sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. However, while this organizational system aims to help manage email overload, not everyone is going to prefer the new layout.
Mail Categories attempts to intelligently organize...
AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for.
Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
X Announces Major Price Increases for Ad-Free Premium Plus Tier
X (Twitter) has announced a big jump in pricing for its Premium Plus subscription tier, with monthly rates in the US jumping from $16 to $22, representing a 37.5% increase. The annual subscription cost will also rise from $168 to $229.
The price changes took effect on December 21, 2024, with new subscribers paying the higher rates immediately. Existing Premium Plus subscribers will maintain...
New iPad Expected to Ship With iPadOS 18.3 in Spring 2025
Apple plans to release an entry-level iPad 11 in the spring and iPadOS 18.3 will be pre-installed on the shipped devices, according to a source with a proven track record for upcoming Apple software updates.
Several reports in the last few months have suggested Apple is developing an 11th-generation iPad that is scheduled to be released around the same time as a new iPhone SE 4 and iPad Air ...
iOS 18.1: How to Type to Siri
With the introduction of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, communicating with Siri has become more flexible since you can easily type your requests instead of speaking them. It's a subtle but powerful change that's perfect for those moments when you need to be quiet or discreet.
Enabling Type to Siri is straightforward. Head to Settings -> Apple Intelligence & Siri, tap Talk & Type to Siri,...
Set Up Out-of-Office Replies in iCloud Mail
Apple's native Mail app for macOS does not offer an automatic reply or out-of-office option for standard email accounts. However, if you use an iCloud email address, you can set up automatic replies via the iCloud website. Keep reading to learn how it works.
Surprisingly, Apple's Mail app still doesn't feature an auto-reply option. The only exception to this state of affairs is if you have...
iOS 18.2: Limit Your iPhone's Speaker Volume
Ever been startled by unexpectedly loud audio blasting from your iPhone? A new feature in iOS 18.2 lets you cap the maximum volume of your device's built-in speaker, allowing you to avoid awkward moments in quiet spaces.
The new Volume Limit feature in iOS 18.2 is particularly useful if you're a parent or guardian and share your device with children, but it's also handy if you frequently...
ChatGPT for Mac Can Now Read Your Apple Notes – Here's How
OpenAI has expanded the capabilities of its ChatGPT app for macOS, adding support for Apple Notes and a range of popular third-party apps. The update builds on last month's release that introduced the ability to read on-screen content from select Mac apps.
This expansion should broaden ChatGPT's utility for both casual users and developers using macOS, as the AI assistant can now interact...
Apple Teams Up With NVIDIA to Speed Up AI Language Models
Apple has shared details on a collaboration with NVIDIA to greatly improve the performance of large language models (LLMs) by implementing a new text generation technique that offers substantial speed improvements for AI applications.
Apple earlier this year published and open-sourced Recurrent Drafter (ReDrafter), an approach that combines beam search and dynamic tree attention methods to...
Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.1.1, Downgrading No Longer an Option
Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.1.1, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.2 from downgrading to that version of iOS. Apple released iOS 18.2 a week ago on December 11.
Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. When an update is no longer signed, it can't be installed on an iPhone due to a server-side ...
6 iPhone Camera Tips Every User Should Know
Apple's latest iPhones include several headline camera features that are worth using, such as Portrait Mode and Photographic Styles. But if all you want to use is the standard photo mode, there are still several tools and settings that can improve the composition of your pictures and help you capture the perfect shot using more traditional techniques.
Whether you are the owner of a new...
