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
Amazon's Alexa App Gains 'Hands-Free' Voice Activation Feature
Amazon is making it possible to use Alexa "hands free" from within its Alexa mobile app for iOS, reports TechCrunch.
Up until now, you had to tap the blue Alexa button at the bottom of the screen before you could issue a voice command.
After updating the app, users will be able to simply speak to Alexa to make lists, control smart home devices, and more, without having to touch their...
Read Full Article • 42 comments
Apple Stores in Victoria, Australia to Reclose Following Return of Lockdown
Four Apple stores in Victoria, Australia are set to reclose for up to six weeks from July 9, following a spike in coronavirus infections in the state.
As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple Highpoint in Melbourne was the first store to reclose on July 2 as the deteriorating health situation prompted a reintroduction of stage three lockdown measures across the state capital.
Apple's other retail...
Some iPhone Users Report Significant Battery Drain Due to Music App Background Activity in iOS 13.5.1
A significant minority of iPhone users have taken to Apple's Support Communities and Reddit to report battery drain issues largely related to the Music app and high levels of background activity.
Hundreds of users, many running iOS 13.5.1 on devices both new and old, are experiencing rapid battery drain when the Music app is not in use. In some cases, the background activity occurs over...
Developer's Visual Comparison of macOS Catalina and Big Sur Offers Closer Look at Apple's UI Redesign for Macs
macOS 11 Big Sur is the next major release of Apple's operating system for Mac, and following its preview at WWDC, one of the biggest discussions has revolved around the all-new user interface redesign.
Developers are still learning what the impact the new UI will have on their apps, and with that in mind, app designer Andrew Denty has compiled an extensive visual comparison of the user...
Apple Music Real-Time Lyrics Now Available on Samsung Smart TVs
Apple and Samsung partnered to launch an Apple Music app for Samsung smart TVs in April, and from today the app also supports real-time lyrics (via Macerkopf.de).
Real-time lyrics lets Apple Music listeners view song lyrics in a karaoke-style while songs are playing, allowing them to sing along to the music. Apple Music synchronous lyrics are available for Samsung Smart TV models from...
Gmail iPad App Update Adds Support for Split View Multitasking
Google has updated its Gmail app for iPad to add long-awaited Split View support, meaning the app can now be used in Apple's multitasking split screen mode alongside another app.
Google announced the introduction of Split View support in a blog post, saying the feature is available now to all users.
When using an iPad, you're now able to multitask with Gmail and other iOS applications. You ...
Kuo: 'AirPods 3' Expected to Use Similar System-in-Package Technology as AirPods Pro
Apple's third-generation AirPods will adopt a compact system-in-package (SiP) solution similar to AirPods Pro, according to the latest research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.
Apple is expected to launch new entry-level AirPods with a form factor design similar to AirPods Pro in the first half of 2021, and Kuo's latest note advances his earli...
iOS 14: How to Download New Apps to the App Library on iPhone
When you download an app from the App Store, the app usually appears either on your Home screen or a subsequent screen of apps. In iOS 14 and later, new downloads also show up in the Recently Added section of the App Library.
When you download a new app on your iPhone, you can actually have it moved straight to the App Library and the relevant app category, instead of it appearing on the...
iOS 14: How to Use the App Library on iPhone
In iOS 14, Apple introduced some big changes to the Home Screen, including new widgets and an App Library. The latter feature is designed to organize large collections of apps and make them easier to access. Keep reading to learn how it works.
The App Library offers a new way to manage your apps by using automatically generated app categories and a new searchable alphabetical list view. It...
How to Hide Home Screen App Pages on iPhone in iOS 14
With so many apps available for iPhone on the App Store, it doesn't take long before you download so many that managing them can start to get a bit tiresome and unwieldy. Having multiple pages of apps extending off the initial Home Screen can be a burden, especially if you like to organize what you can see on the screen into any sort of meaningful order.
Fortunately, in iOS 14 and later,...
WhatsApp Stops Processing Requests for User Data From Hong Kong Authorities
WhatsApp has suspended its processing of requests for user data from Hong Kong law enforcement agencies, in response to China's imposition of a new national security law on the city, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The company is "pausing" such reviews "pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with...
Reddit to Release Fix for iOS App to Remove Clipboard Copying Behavior
The Reddit app has become the latest iOS app to be caught clipboard snooping, or accessing the contents of devices' clipboards without user permission.
"We tracked this down to a codepath in the post composer that checks for URLs in the pasteboard and then suggests a post title based on the text contents of the URL," a Reddit spokesperson told The Verge. "We do not store or send the...
How to Add a Shortcut From the iOS Shortcuts App to Your Home Screen
The Shortcuts app, introduced in iOS 12, is designed to allow iOS users to create multi-step shortcuts and automations using both first and third-party apps, with the shortcuts able to be activated using Siri commands.
Siri isn't the only way to launch shortcuts outside of the Shortcuts app. In addition, Apple provides a Shortcuts widget for quickly launching actions, but you can also put them ...
iOS 14: How to Search for Emoji on iPhone
In iOS 14 and iPadOS, Apple introduced many new headline features, but it also made several small improvements that make a big impact to the way you do things on iPhone. One of those improvements is to the way emoji works: Apple added a much-requested search feature.
Users have been able to search emoji on Mac for years now, so it's good to see Apple listen to feedback and finally bring...
EU Advertisers Criticize New App Tracking Privacy Controls in iOS 14
A Google-backed group of European digital advertising associations has criticized Apple for requiring apps in iOS 14 to seek additional permission from users before tracking them across other apps and websites, reports Reuters.
Sixteen marketing associations, some of which are backed by Facebook and Alphabet's Google, faulted Apple for not adhering to an ad-industry system for seeking user...
Apple Maps Transit Directions Go Live in Iceland
Apple appears to have updated its Maps coverage to add transit directions in Iceland, with a focus on bus routes in and around the capital, Reykjavik.
Apple Maps users in the region can now select public transportation routes when getting directions between two locations.
Transit directions were first added to Apple Maps in 2015 with the launch of iOS 9. Maps initially only offered...
Kuo: Largan to Ship 'High-End' Camera Lenses for 'iPhone 12' From Mid-July
Apple's upcoming "iPhone 12" will feature "high-end" lens arrays in the rear camera to improve image quality, according to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new research note seen by MacRumors, Kuo says Largan will supply the premium camera lenses to Apple for the phones from mid-July, although Apple has received the same components slightly earlier in the last couple of years....
How to Mute Conversations in Messages on iPhone and iPad in iOS 14
Messages don't always arrive on your iPhone or iPad at the most convenient time. Fortunately, iOS allows you to mute conversations conducted over the stock Messages app, so you don't have to silence your device or turn it off completely to press pause on those constant message alerts.
Using the mute feature in Apple's Messages app, you can silence group conversations and conversations with...
How to Set a Photo and Name for a Group Chat in the iOS 14 Messages App
In iOS 14, Apple has added several new features to its native Messages app, including the ability to set a group photo for a multi-person chat.
Setting a photo for a group conversation brings a neat bit of customization to the Messages app and it lets you identify the chat in your conversations list more easily.
You can also give group chats a custom name, which combined with a group...
How to Use Mentions in the iOS 14 Messages App
In iOS 14, Apple has added several new features to its native Messages app, including the ability to mention people in a group conversation. When that person is mentioned, their name gets highlighted in the message text, and they'll be notified that someone mentioned them.
The neat thing about Mentions is that you can get alerted to them even if they appear in a group chat that you’ve...
