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
How to Create a HomePod or HomePod Mini Stereo Pair
Adding a second HomePod to your setup enables stereo sound to create a wider soundstage for richer, more enveloping sound. Each HomePod is able to play its own audio channel — left or right — while separating out both the ambient and direct energy. This provides a wide, almost three dimensional soundstage for a more immersive listening experience anywhere in the room. A HomePod...
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How to Set Up Home Theater Audio with HomePod and Apple TV 4K
If you have an Apple TV 4K and own a HomePod or a stereo pair, you can create a theater experience with Dolby Atmos or surround sound right in your home. Note that this feature is reliant on the directional and spatially aware capabilities of the original HomePod, so it is not available on the HomePod mini. Here's what you need. Home Theater Audio: What You'll Need An Apple TV 4K...
Google Maps Gains Real-Time 'Crowdedness' Transit Data, Live Food Delivery Status, and More
Google Maps gained three new features today to help users stay safe amid the coronavirus pandemic, including an expansion of its live transit "crowdedness" status information. Crowdedness data shows the real-time state of transit lines when users look up directions. The information is crowdsourced and relies on in-app feedback from users. Before today, Google Maps only showed the data for...
Apple Celebrates 40 Years of Community At Its Cork Campus in Ireland
Apple has published an article on its website celebrating 40 years of community at its Cork campus in Ireland. The story of Apple in Ireland began in 1980 with a single manufacturing facility and 60 employees. Fast-forward to today, and Ireland is home to more than 6,000 Apple employees and a sprawling campus in the city of Cork. As Apple celebrates its 40th anniversary in Ireland, the...
First M1 Apple Silicon Macs Now Available for In-Store Pickup
Today is the official launch day of Apple's new M1-powered Macs, and as customers who pre-ordered await their devices, Apple has also started in-store sales for the new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. Customers across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions can now place an order on Apple's website or in the Apple Store app and arrange for...
Apple Has Sent Folding iPhones to Foxconn for Testing, According to Chinese Report
Apple has begun sending foldable iPhones to assembly partner Foxconn for testing purposes, with a projected release set for September 2022, claims a new Chinese report out today. Citing supply chain sources, Economic Daily News says the testing involves evaluating the use of OLED or Micro-LED display technology, because the choice of either screen will affect the subsequent assembly methods. ...
iFixit's iPhone 12 Mini Teardown Reveals Apple's Miniaturized Components
Following its iPhone 12 and 12 Pro teardowns, iFixit has shared its teardown of the iPhone 12 mini, providing a look at the similarities and differences between the small form factor smartphone and its larger siblings in Apple's iPhone 12 series. iPhone 12 mini (left) compared to iPhone 12 on the right The first thing that's evident from the iPhone 12 mini teardown is the smaller 8.57 Wh...
Privacy Group Files Legal Complaints in Europe Targeting Apple's Device Identifier Service for Advertisers
Apple's device identifier service for advertisers is being targeted by privacy advocates in two complaints to Spanish and German authorities, reports Bloomberg. A Vienna-based group called NOYB ("None Of Your Business") has filed complaints with data protection authorities in the two countries, calling for them to outlaw Apple's "Identifier for Advertisers" (IDFA) service. Each...
iPhone 12 Mini Users Report Lock Screen Touch Sensitivity Issues
A significant number of new iPhone 12 mini owners are reporting Lock Screen sensitivity issues since receiving their phones. The MacRumors forum has a post running several pages describing the issue, and the thread has been shared on Reddit, where more users are reporting similar problems. Specifically, the problem manifests for most users when swiping up from the bottom of the Lock Screen...
iPhone 12 Upgrade Program Now Available in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Reservations for Apple's iPhone 12 Upgrade Program are once again available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The program has been unavailable in the United Kingdom since November 5 due to lockdown restrictions in England. Unfortunately, because of the way Apple's retail system operates, this meant the program was also temporarily unavailable in the UK's other three constituent...
New 'Vanish Mode' in Messenger and Instagram Enables Disappearing Chats
Facebook's Messenger and Instagram apps are getting a new "vanish mode" feature that gives users a new way to chat using disappearing messages. Disappearing messages can already be used in Messenger's "secret conversation" feature, but they require several steps and users have to set a timer to make the messages disappear. However, the new "vanish mode" is enabled by simply swiping up in ...
Kuo: Mini-LED iPad and AirPods 3 Coming First Half of 2021
Apple intends to launch an iPad with a mini-LED display and AirPods 3 with a design signature similar to AirPods Pro in the first half of next year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo's latest predictions relate to the fortunes of Taiwanese manufacturer Career Technology, which is expected to be a key partner in the...
Menu Bar Controller App for Sonos Speakers Updated for macOS 11
German developer Alexander Heinrich today updated his popular Menu Bar Controller app for Sonos speakers connected to Mac, with a new design that mimics Apple's Control Center aesthetic in macOS 11 Big Sur. The updated app retains all the features of the previous versions within the new layout, which shows the current playing song, its album cover, and larger buttons to interact with the...
macOS Big Sur: Quick Start Video Plus 50 Tips and Tricks
macOS Big Sur is finally here. Version 11 of Apple's operating system for Mac features a completely overhauled look that's designed to be both fresh and familiar, but it's not just the design that's new. Apple has also rethought and retooled many features of macOS to improve the user experience, so whether you're running on Intel or Apple Silicon, there's plenty that's new to explore. In...
Philips Hue Adds Support for HomeKit Adaptive Lighting to Ambiance Lights
Philips Hue, known for its line of HomeKit-connected lights, has begun rolling out a new firmware update for the Hue Bridge that brings HomeKit Adaptive Lighting support to the Hue range of Ambiance lights (via iCulture). The rollout follows a month of beta testing with select Hue users. Adaptive Lighting is an iOS 14 feature that's designed to allow HomeKit-connected lights to adjust their...
Microsoft Releases Office for Mac With Apple Silicon Compatibility, Universal Build Still in Beta [Updated]
Following Apple's unveiling this week of M1-powered Macs, Microsoft has released a new version of its Mac Office 2019 for Mac that includes support for macOS Big Sur and compatibility with Apple Silicon machines. This means the latest release of apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive can be installed and run on Apple's latest 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch...
Things 3.13.2 Update Brings Support for macOS Big Sur, Including New Widgets and Rich Notifications
Popular to-do app Things was updated to version 3.13.2 today, bringing new widgets, rich notifications, and support for macOS 11 Big Sur. First up, the Things interface has been tweaked throughout to align with the fresh new look of Apple's latest Mac operating system, and includes a remolded app icon to fit in your Dock. However, the two big changes in this version revolve around the new ...
Apple TV App Now Available to Download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
As expected, the Apple TV app is now available for download on PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5. Image credit: Sigmund Judge The Apple TV app lives within the PS5's dedicated media space, and offers users access to the $4.99-per-month Apple TV+ subscription service, which offers original TV shows, movies, documentaries, and premium Apple TV Channels. The TV app also features access to...
Federal Judge Tosses Apple's Theft Claims in Ongoing Epic Games Legal Fight
A California federal judge on Tuesday dismissed some of Apple's counterclaims against Epic Games in its ongoing antitrust battle over Apple's App Store fees (via Bloomberg). Apple and Epic have been in a legal fight since August, when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games introduced a direct payment option in the app, defying the App Store rules. Epic Games promptly...
Apple Watch Cellular Models Now Available in Belgium, Telenet Exclusive Provider
Apple has begun selling the Apple Watch models with cellular connectivity in Belgium for the first time, reports iCulture. Only the aluminum and stainless steel versions are available in cellular variants on Apple's regional online store – the titanium model currently remains unavailable. Belgian provider Telenet will be the first provider to support 4G connectivity on Apple Watch...
