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
FBI Enlists Israeli Firm Cellebrite to Unlock Shooter's iPhone
Israeli mobile software developer Cellebrite is helping the FBI in its attempt to unlock the iPhone at the center of the San Bernardino shooter investigation.
That's according to a story filed by Reuters this morning, based on a report in Wednesday's copy of Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. If the software company succeeds then the FBI will no longer need the help of Apple, the...
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iOS Users in Japan Gain Apple Maps 'Nearby' Feature
Apple has extended the 'Nearby' feature in its iOS Maps app to serve users in Japan, bringing access to local points of interest such as bars, restaurants, health services and shopping centers.
AppleInsider reports that 'Nearby' is now active across the country, despite Apple having not yet updated its Maps feature availability web page to reflect the change. Apple reportedly introduced...
Apple in 'Advanced Talks' to Acquire GPU Supplier Imagination Technologies [Update: No]
Apple is reportedly in "advanced talks" to acquire British microchip designer Imagination Technologies, according to The Verge this morning.
The information is said to come from "a source with knowledge of the discussions". When asked for comment, Imagination Technologies refused to deny the planned takeover.
The report follows the UK firm's announcement just last week that it was making...
Apple Tackles E-Waste With iPhone Recycling Robot 'Liam'
At its media event on Monday, Apple kicked off by discussing its efforts to reduce waste and improve its renewable energy infrastructure, marking a heightened focus on the company's environmental responsibilities.
As part of the presentation, the company also unveiled a robotic system it has developed that can disassemble old iPhones and recover recyclable materials.
The robot, called...
Apple Offers Lightning to USB-C Cable for Fast-Charging 12.9-inch iPad Pro
Apple has introduced a Lightning to USB-C Cable to its online accessory store that lets users connect their iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to a computer’s USB-C port for syncing and charging.
Significantly, the cable can be used with an Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter to take advantage of the fast charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but not the brand new 9.7-inch iPad...
Apple Announces New 4-Inch iPhone SE Starting at $399
Apple today announced the iPhone SE, a new 4-inch iPhone that boasts many of the same features as the company's larger iPhone 6s.
The iPhone SE features the A9 chip and the same embedded M9 motion co-processor as Apple's flagship 4.7-inch phone, for double the CPU performance of the iPhone 5s, which was Apple's last 4-inch handset. The new phone also packs the same graphics capabilities of the ...
MacBook Charger Teardown Highlights Dangers of Counterfeit Adapters
Manufacturers of counterfeit Apple products often go to great lengths to make their knock-offs look genuine, which brings the added risk of concealing potentially dangerous flaws in substituted electrical components.
In the past we've covered the efforts manufacturers go to when counterfeiting iPhone and iPad chargers, courtesy of product teardowns on Ken Shirrif's technology blog. Now, a new...
iMessage Security Flaw Allows Researchers to Decrypt Images
A flaw in Apple's encryption systems has been found that enables an attacker to decrypt photos and videos sent over its iMessage instant messenger service.
According to The Washington Post, the security hole in Apple's code was exploited by a group of Johns Hopkins University researchers, led by computer science professor Matthew D. Green.
Green reportedly alerted Apple to the problem last ...
Apple Supplier Broadcom Reportedly Phasing Out Wi-Fi Chip Business
Communications chip maker and Apple supplier Broadcom is planning to phase out its Wi-Fi chip business in order to streamline its workforce and product line, according to industry sources in Taiwan (via DigiTimes).
The move follows the company's recent acquisition by Avago Technologies and forms part of a larger strategy to allocate more resources for research and development in the...
'ProtonMail' Email App for iOS Launches With End-to-End Encryption
Swiss software developer and civil liberties outfit Proton Technologies saw its encrypted email app ProtonMail hit the App Store today.
The iOS app is a front end for the company's popular free worldwide end-to-end encrypted email service, built on the back of over half a million dollars raised in a 2014 crowdfunding campaign.
ProtonMail invisibly integrates PGP encryption into a modern...
Apple GPU Supplier Imagination Technologies Announces Cuts Amid Slowing iPhone Sales
British microchip designer and major Apple supplier Imagination Technologies announced additional cost cuts this morning, following a significant restructuring program unveiled by the UK firm only last month.
The company, which supplies the PowerVR graphics architecture in Apple's iPhones and iPads, said it would reduce its cost base by an additional £12.5 million ($18 million) by April 2017, ...
First Official Nintendo iOS Game 'Miitomo' Hits Japanese App Store
Nintendo's first official iOS game, Miitomo, made its long-awaited debut in the Japanese App Store yesterday.
As promised, the company's first foray into smartphone apps is a free-to-play social title in which players can create and customise their own avatars, known as Miis, which can communicate with other Miis on the social network.
Apart from the social angle, the main incentive to...
Apple Actively Working to 'Double Down' on iCloud Encryption
Apple is working to further harden iCloud security so that even it won't be able to access user information stored on its data servers, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
According to yesterday's report, which cites "people familiar with the matter", Apple executives are actively considering how to bolster iCloud encryption without inconveniencing users.
Currently, encrypted data kept on ...
UK Parliamentary Bill Would Require Backdoors in Electronic Devices
Technology firms operating in the UK will be forced to install backdoors in their products and services for state surveillance purposes under proposed new laws, reports The Sunday Times.
The new powers come under the controversial Investigatory Powers Bill (IPB), referred to by critics as the "Snooper's Charter", which was published by Home Secretary Theresa May on March 1 and is due to get...
App Store Algorithm Failures Reported in Several Countries
Apple came under fire over the weekend for an apparent failure of its App Store algorithm to rank app categories using any meaningful criteria.
Several users took to Twitter to voice their displeasure after subcategories in the App Store Games section were shown to be displaying multiple variations of similarly named apps spanning several pages.
More examples quickly followed, and apps...
Alleged Leaked iPhone 7 Images Reveal New Case Design
The first purported leak of the case design for the iPhone 7 appeared yesterday on French blog Nowhereelse.fr.
The alleged images from Taiwanese phone case manufacturer Catcher Technology depict a subtle chassis redesign for the iPhone 7, which is expected to be released by Apple this coming September.
Photo allegedly depicting new iPhone 7 chassis design (Image: Nowhereelse.fr)
The...
Apple Music Partner Sonos Sees its Future in Streaming, Voice Control
Wireless audio company and Apple Music partner Sonos has announced it will lay off employees as it restructures the business towards a new focus on music streaming and voice control.
The reasoning behind the move came in a blog post yesterday by Sonos CEO John MacFarlane, who called it an "investment in the future of music" that would allow the company to remain profitable, but which came with ...
Redesigned 'Wikipedia' iOS App Brings 3D Touch, Handoff Support
Wikipedia yesterday released a major update to its iOS app, offering an all-new interface and several new features designed to enhance content discovery.
Wikipedia Mobile 5.0 brings several optimizations to devices running iOS 9, featuring Spotlight Search integration, Handoff support, and 3D Touch enhancements for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 Plus users.
Previous updates to the app added...
Apple Watch Patent Turns Device into Urgent Care Alert System
An Apple patent application that could turn the Apple Watch into a fully fledged medical device was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday.
The application, titled "Care event detection and alerts", envisions a hardware system with the ability to monitor the surrounding environment for events that would require assistance from medical professionals, police, fire rescue...
Apple Watch 'Lookout' App Helps Users Find a Misplaced iPhone
Mobile security company Lookout released an app yesterday that alerts Apple Watch users if they are about to leave their iPhone behind.
The iOS and Apple Watch app uses the Bluetooth connection of an Apple Watch to keep tabs on a user's iPhone location, so that if the wearer steps out of range of their phone, the app automatically buzzes their watch.
Lookout can also make an iPhone in...
