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
APFS Bug in macOS 10.15.5 Catalina Impacts the Creation of Bootable Backups
An Apple File System bug has been discovered in macOS 10.15.5 Catalina that can prevent users from making a bootable clone of their system drive, according to the creator of Carbon Copy Cloner.
In a blog post on Wednesday, software developer Mike Bombich explained that the CCC team had uncovered the issue in the Apple File System, or APFS, when attempting to create a bootable backup in a...
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Heart Analyzer App Gains New Dashboard, Revamped Interface, Dark Mode, and More
Version 8 of Heart Analyzer has been released, bringing a new dashboard, a revamped interface, a dark mode, and more data to iOS users.
Following version 7's big update last year, the developer has spent seven months rewriting much of the app using Apple's SwiftUI framework, and it now has new interfaces throughout, including a refined Apple Watch experience with more precise Infograph...
Apple Acquires Machine Learning Startup Inductiv to Improve Siri
Apple has bought Inductiv Inc., a Canada-based machine learning startup, to work on Siri, machine learning and data science, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The engineering team from Waterloo, Ontario-based Inductiv joined Apple in recent weeks to work on Siri, machine learning and data science. Apple confirmed the deal, saying it "buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we...
Facebook Launches 'Catchup' Audio Calling App
Facebook is testing a new app that's designed to help friends and families in the U.S. to coordinate phone calls or set up group calls with up to eight people.
"Catchup," built by Facebook's internal R&D group, differs from other group chat apps, in that the calls are audio-only, not video, and displays users' status to indicate they're available to talk.
Catching up has never been this...
HBO Max Now Available on Apple TV and iOS Devices
HBO Max launched today, and is now available on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. WarnerMedia's new streaming service, which replaces HBO Now, combines HBO content with shows and films from Warner Bros and Turner TV.
The service is available as a native app on the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K, but second and third-generation Apple TV owners will need to AirPlay HBO Max content...
Quibi for iPhone Gains AirPlay Support for Streaming to the Big Screen
Quibi has added AirPlay support, allowing iPhone users to stream content from the short-form mobile video service to Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible smart TVs.
Quibi features "movie quality" original shows that are framed to fit phone screens and come in episodes of 10 minutes or less to cater for on-the-go lifestyles. The service first announced it would offer support for streaming...
How to Group Together Lists in Reminders on macOS
Following Apple's revamp to its stock Reminders mobile app in macOS Catalina, you can now group together separate reminders lists under a single heading to keep the My Lists section more compact and tidy.
Not only do reminder groups keep the app neat, they also make it easier for you to organize related lists. For example, if you have several lists for different work projects, you can...
How to Create a Reminders List in macOS
In macOS 10.15 Catalina and later, Apple's Reminders app allows you to create a reminder for just about anything.
As with the previous version of Reminders, you can make as many reminders as you need in the Reminders app, and you can add them to dedicated reminder lists for specific projects. Keep reading to learn how to create your first Reminders list.
The redesigned interface also...
IDC: Huawei Toppled Apple From China's Tablet Market Top Spot in First Quarter
Apple lost its top spot to Huawei in the Chinese tablet market in the first quarter of 2020 as the health crisis battered local sales, according to a new report today (via South China Morning Post).
China's tablet shipments plunged 30 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, based on data from research firm IDC. Huawei was the only brand to see positive...
Leaker: Apple to Stick With Lightning Over USB-C for 'iPhone 12' Before Going Port-Less Next Year
Apple will use a Lightning port instead of USB-C in the upcoming "iPhone 12," but it will be the last major series of Apple's flagship phones to do so, with models set to combine wireless charging and a port-less Smart Connector system for data transfer and syncing in the iPhone "13 series" next year.
The above claim comes from occasional Apple leaker and Twitter user "Fudge" (@choco_bit),...
Apollo for Reddit 1.8 Improves Media Viewing, Sharing Options, and More
Former Apple intern Christian Selig has released version 1.8 of Apollo, the popular Reddit client developed with Apple's iOS design guidelines in mind.
The latest update focuses on improving the viewing of media. For example GIFs can now be paused and videos play inline with the feed, so users no longer have to tap them in order to see what's going on at a glance.
Users can also save and...
Apple to Start Reopening Stores in Japan This Week
Apple is set to start reopening its retail stores in Japan this week after having been closed for months because of the global health crisis.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes that Apple's website says stores in Fukuoka and Nagoya Sakae will reopen on May 27. Reopening dates for the country's eight other Apple stores have not yet been posted.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has lifted the...
Future AirPods to Include 'Ambient Light Sensors' Possibly Related to Rumored Health Features
Apple is reportedly looking to integrate light sensors in a new model of AirPods in the next couple of years, according to a new report today, suggesting their use could be part of rumored upcoming health monitoring features in the true wireless earbuds. In a paywalled article, DigiTimes reports that ASE Technology could be involved in manufacturing the sensors:
Apple is expected to...
How to Use the Activity Monitor App on Mac
With the Activity Monitor app in macOS, you can force quit misbehaving apps, find out how much energy your Mac is using, and see which apps or processes are eating the most processor cycles. If you're on a portable Mac and you have suspicions that an app is sapping your battery, Activity Monitor can help you identify it. This article explains how to use it.
You can find the Activity Monitor...
'Task Manager' on Mac: How to Find and Use the Activity Monitor
On Windows PCs, the Task Manager is typically used as a last resort to kill an app or process when it has become unresponsive.
Users on Mac can sometimes face similar issues, and in such cases will usually click the Apple () symbol in the menu bar and select Force Quit... to kill an app from there.
Alternately, they'll fire up the Activity Monitor. Amongst other things, Activity Monitor ...
Judge Rules FBI Cannot View a Phone Lock Screen Without a Warrant
The FBI broke the law when it powered on a suspect's smartphone to take a photo of his lock screen without a warrant, a U.S. District Court Judge has ruled (via Ars Technica).
In a Seattle court, Judge John Coughenour determined that gathering evidence from a lock screen constitutes a search, therefore doing so without first obtaining a warrant violates the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits...
WhatsApp Tests Using QR Codes to More Easily Share Contacts
WhatsApp is testing the use of QR codes to let users add contacts to the messaging platform, reports WABetaInfo.
The feature appears in beta versions for both iOS and Android, and can be found in the app's settings menu, which includes options to display your own QR code and scan the codes of other users. QR codes can also be revoked if users decide they'd rather not share their number with...
Former iOS Chief Scott Forstall Shares Intriguing Story of His Interview With Steve Jobs at NeXT
Former Apple executive and iOS chief Scott Forstall made a rare public appearance this week at Code.org's virtual Code Break event, and in between classes, Forstall shared the intriguing story of how he was hired by Steve Jobs.
Forstall revealed that he had been considering working at Microsoft when he went to interview at NexT, the company started by Jobs after he had left Apple. Forstall...
Google Maps Increases Visibility of Wheelchair-Friendly Locations
Google is currently rolling out an update for Google Maps that aims to make it easier for wheelchair users to get information about the accessibility of locations.
By enabling the app's Accessible Places feature, users can benefit from increased visibility of businesses and places of interest on the map that are marked as wheelchair-accessible, including whether a location has accessible...
How to Group Video Call on Instagram With Up to 8 People
Instagram allows users to create group video calls with up to eight people on the social platform. This article explains how to use it in the Instagram mobile app.
The following steps walk you through the process of starting a video call with someone and then adding other people to the call.
Launch Instagram and tap the paper airplane icon in the top-right corner to go to the Direct screen....
