According to MacRumors, Apple is preparing the release of iOS 18.2.1. We don’t have a known build number at the moment, but we’ll likely see this software update released in the near future.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

one sec aims to help people reduce mindless scrolling on social media, requiring users to make a conscious decision on whether or not they want to actually open that app every time. It’s very configurable, so you can customize one sec to meet your needs.

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Flashier features like camera upgrades, faster performance, and bigger screens usually take the spotlight when it comes to iPhone. However, Apple’s smartphone has evolved with powerful safety tools over the years. Here’s a look at 6 safety features that offer real peace of mind with iPhone 16 and how you test them out or make sure thye’re enabled.

With iOS 18, Apple introduced support for RCS messaging, a new protocol that enhances the texting experience between iPhone and Android users. Unlike SMS, you can see read/delivered receipts, send larger files, and have typing indicators, features that were previously missing. At first, only the big three carriers supported RCS messaging. Since then, a lot more have joined in on the fun.

In recent years, iOS and macOS have been closer than ever to having feature parity. Nowadays, macOS releases mostly bring features first introduced on the iPhone and iPad, occasionally adding a new twist. However, despite this feature parity, there are some gaps, mostly to do with customization.

Earlier this week, T-Mobile announced that you can now register to beta test Starlink connectivity on your mobile phone, with actual testing expected to begin early next year – roughly two years after the initial announcement.

Thanks to a usually-reliable tip off from iPhoneSoft, we may already know device compatibility for Apple’s next major operating system updates coming next year.

The report says that every iPhone model that currently supports iOS 18 will also support iOS 19, although like every year, some features may be limited to newer phones. Nevertheless, that means another year of support for iPhones as old as the iPhone XS and XR, first released in 2018.

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The SAP D-Zone team has announced the release of Privileges 2, a clever macOS application that gives users greater control over their administrative privileges. With over 1 million downloads, Privileges has become a trusted solution for organizations looking to enhance security while maintaining user productivity. This latest update brings new features to make the application even more versatile, secure, and user-friendly.

As we reported in August, Meta has confirmed that it will discontinue Spark, Instagram’s AR filters, in January 2025. At the time, the company didn’t give many details except to say that it would prioritize its efforts on other products. Now we know what’s coming next: realistic AI-based filters.

Over the past few months, two big waves of Apple Intelligence features have debuted via iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. While some have speculated Apple is planning paid AI services in the future, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook recently said that charging has never even been discussed. Here’s why.

As part of iOS 18, Apple unveiled the biggest-ever redesign to the Photos app. With a single-pane interface, the new Photos app highlights collections and curation while being fully customizable to your liking.

The rollout of the Photos app, however, proved to be polarizing. While I’ve been a fan of it since it first debuted, Apple has made several tweaks in subsequent iOS 18 updates to address some of the most common complaints. It has also added several notable new features.

Next year is set to be big for the iPhone, with a compelling new iPhone SE 4 in the spring and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air in the fall. But what about Apple’s flagship Pro models? Here are seven new features coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in 2025.

As expected, Apple is starting to wind down sales of the Lightning-equipped iPhone SE and iPhone 14 lineups from the European Union. This comes as the EU’s common charger mandate is set to go into effect on December 28, requiring smartphones to feature USB-C for charging.

Smart home products have come a long way, but one area often overlooked is water management. Aqara’s newly launched is changing that by turning your existing water valves into smart components of your home. Originally announced at IFA 2024, this retrofit device pairs with water leak sensors and integrates seamlessly into HomeKit

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Holiday breaks are starting to kick off, when Apple and other companies tend to not make many new announcements. But there’s one big update we’re still expecting, according to Apple’s website: the arrival of the first next-gen CarPlay models.

Are you still racing to finish your holiday shopping? Don’t worry, me too. Here are some last-minute ideas for the Apple and tech fans in your life – all of which should arrive in time for Christmas gift-giving next week.

We are ready to cap off the work week with a fresh batch of discounts alongside ongoing lows at up to $250 off on Apple’s most affordable M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro configurations. The last round of Doorbuster deals from Best Buy before the holidays is now live for everyone with a notable $80 price drop on Apple Watch Ultra 2 alongside the return of Black Friday pricing on Apple’s 4-pack of AirTags at $70 – both of these deals are also matched at Amazon. These highlights join a host of deals on LG OLED smart TVs, charging gear, action cams, and more. Scope it all out down below. 

Last week we received word that the MacBook Pro would be getting OLED and lose its notch starting in 2026. That same report also detailed the OLED timeline for Apple’s other products, and it doesn’t look great for the MacBook Air in two key ways.

Did you know that Apple, for years, has had a system and process for sending ‘threat notifications’ to users of suspected spyware attacks? Here’s what that means, and new details on the guidance Apple gives users with a compromised device.