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
Steam Client to Require macOS 12+ Starting October 15
Steam will stop supporting macOS 11 Big Sur on October 15, 2025, according to Valve, requiring Mac users to upgrade to macOS Monterey or later to continue accessing the gaming platform.
The reason Steam will soon stop working on Big Sur is due to the client's reliance on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older macOS versions. Future Steam updates will also...
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iOS 26: Get a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call
Keeping track of missed calls can be challenging if you're juggling several tasks during the day. Thankfully, iOS 26 introduces a streamlined way to set callback reminders directly from the Phone app, making it less likely that you'll forget to return important calls.
Set a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call
When iOS 26 launches this fall (or if you're already on the beta), you'll be able...
iOS 26: Make Your Favorite Podcasts Easier to Hear
Apple has finally caught up with rival podcast apps like Overcast by adding an Enhance Dialogue feature to the Podcasts app in iOS 26 (currently in beta).
The new audio processing option isolates voices and makes them sound clearer, which should prove ideal for any mumbled true crime episodes or echo-heavy interview shows you listen to.
How to Enable Enhance Dialogue
The setting is...
iPhone 17 Launch Date May Have Just Leaked
German mobile carriers have apparently spilled the beans on Apple's iPhone 17 announcement date, and if history repeats itself, we now know when the devices will hit stores, too.
According to sources from German phone providers cited by iphone-ticker.de, Apple's iPhone 17 event is set for Tuesday, September 9. Following Apple's predictable pattern, this would put the actual launch date at...
No WhatsApp? No Problem – Guest Chats Are Coming
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows people to communicate with users over the platform even if they don't have an account.
According to WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android contains references to so-called "guest chats," which lets users send a link to an online chat, where the "guest" doesn't have to have an app on their device or even need to be in possession of a...
Apple iPhone 17 Event Set for September 9, German Carrier Sources Claim
Apple's iPhone 17 event this year appears to be scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, according to internal information from German mobile phone providers, as reported by iphone-ticker.de.
The timing lines up with a recent prediction by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple would hold its iPhone 17 announcement during the week of September 8. Gurman identified September 9 or 10 as the mo...
iOS 26: Add Web App or Bookmark to iPhone Home Screen
iOS 26 gives you two distinct ways to add websites to your iPhone's Home screen – as web apps or traditional bookmarks. They might look similar at first glance, but choosing the right option can dramatically improve how you access your favorite sites.
Understanding the Difference
When you add a website to your Home screen using the "Add to Home Screen" option, iOS 26 allows the website to...
iPhone 17 Launch Is Just Weeks Away: Everything We Know
Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely dates. Like the iPhone 16 series, this year's lineup is expected to include four models – but with a twist. The Plus device is being replaced with an all-new ultra-thin model, while the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are set to...
Future iPhones Could Adopt Superior Tandem OLED Display Tech
Apple is planning to bring tandem-structure OLED panels to its iPhone lineup in the coming years, which would bring over some of the display improvements currently exclusive to Apple's M4 iPad Pro models.
The Elec reports that Apple has set a two-year production plan for the superior OLED technology to be adapted for iPhone models. However, Apple has yet to decide whether to develop the...
iPhone 17 Air Battery Allegedly 2.49mm – Half the Thickness of 17 Pro's
The iPhone 17 Air internal battery pack is just 2.49mm thick and appears to be about half as thin as the iPhone 17 Pro battery, based on new information and images coming out of Korea.
Image allegedly showing iPhone 17 Air battery (left) vs. iPhone 17 Pro battery
Posted by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, an image allegedly shows the iPhone 17 Air battery next to ...
Apple's 18.8-Inch Foldable Device Could Miss 2026 Production Target
Along with the iPhone 18 Fold expected to launch in late 2026, Apple is working on a larger-screened foldable device that could be a MacBook-iPad hybrid of some sort. According to one analyst, both devices were set to enter mass production towards the end of next year, but a new report now suggests the larger model is further away than originally thought.
In a research note reflecting on...
iOS 26: Customize iPhone Alarm Snooze Duration (Finally!)
iOS 26 finally breaks free from the tyranny of the 9-minute snooze. Apple's latest update (currently in beta) lets you customize your iPhone's alarm snooze duration anywhere from 1 to 15 minutes, which may well put an end to years of morning routine frustration.
Whether you only need a quick 2-minute buffer before rising from your slumber, or prefer a longer window to properly wake up, iOS...
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve).
The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
iOS 26: Set a Custom iPhone Ringtone in Seconds
Setting custom ringtones on your iPhone is dramatically easier in iOS 26. Apple has eliminated the need for the cumbersome process of exporting a track from the GarageBand app, and now provides a simple four-step process that works directly from the Files app.
The new streamlined approach means you can transform any MP3 or M4A audio file that's less than 30 seconds into a personalized...
iOS 26 Finally Fixes This Annoying Messages Problem
In iOS 26, Apple is introducing several new features for its Messages app, and this one in particular is likely to make interacting with message bubbles way less frustrating.
When you tap and hold on any message bubble, a new "Select" option now appears alongside the familiar copy and reaction choices, finally solving one of Messages' most persistent frustrations.
The Select feature...
Charge AirPods (or Even an iPhone) With Your iPhone
If you own an iPhone or iPad with a USB-C port, the port can be used to charge AirPods, an Apple Watch, or even another iPhone, which is handy for times when you don't have a spare charger or power outlet available. Here's how it works.
If your AirPods or Apple Watch run out of battery while you don't have access to a charger, you can use the battery in your iPhone or iPad for a little extra ...
tvOS 26 Brings New Aerial Screen Saver Controls, India Footage
Apple's upcoming tvOS 26 update brings some neat new features to Apple TV, including a redesigned TV app, a new profile selector on wake, and a design overhaul matching Apple's new multi-platform spanning Liquid Glass aesthetic. However, another of its less talked-about enhancements has to do with Apple TV's visually impressive Aerial screen savers.
With tvOS 26, you can now manually select...
Top 5 Free VPN Services for iPhone
Online privacy is a perennial hot topic, but so is having to pay for yet another digital subscription. There are many subscription-based virtual private network (VPN) services on the market, but if you want to protect your iPhone and iPad from prying eyes for free, there are a handful that actually deliver decent protection without the monthly fees. Just be ready for a few trade-offs.
Free...
All the Gestures to Trigger Reaction Effects in FaceTime
Since iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple has included Messages-like reactions in FaceTime that lighten up your video with visual effects. But rather than triggering them with words, you can trigger them using physical hand gestures.
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When you're on a FaceTime video call on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, or an iPad running iPadOS 17 or...
Proton Releases Free Two-Factor Authentication App
Proton today launched Proton Authenticator, a free two-factor authentication app available across all major platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The open-source app generates time-based one-time passwords as an additional security layer beyond regular login credentials. Unlike competitors such as Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator, Proton Authenticator...
