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- Wednesday October 29
- 02:01 pmThe next iPad mini may get a water-resistant redesign
Macworld Apple’s iPhones have long boasted impressive water-resistance capabilities. Every handset since 2018’s XS generation has been IP68 rated, the highest you’ll see on a consumer product, and specifically credited with the ability to survive submersion in at least 2m of water (or more, in later generations) for up to 30 minutes. Most of us still dread the idea of dropping our iPhone in the bath or the toilet, but the reality is that it would probably be fine. The iPad, however, is a different matter entirely. For whatever reason, Apple doesn’t publish water-resistance specs for any of its iPads. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get them wet, but it probably means Apple doesn’t think they’d do very well, which is a worry for holidaymakers who like to read eBooks by the swimming pool. This could be set to change. A new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, which focuses principally on upcoming OLED screen upgrades, briefly alludes to another change: the iPad mini is getting a redesigned case that’s better able to withstand liquid intrusions. The interesting part is that Apple isn’t simply copying what it does on the iPhone and using that on the larger device. Instead, the company is working on a whole new vibration-based speaker system, which would enable it to get rid of the speaker holes which are such a weak spot for water entry. “That’s a different approach than the iPhone’s water-resistant design,” Gurman explains, “which retains holes but adds gaskets and adhesives to prevent damage.” At this stage, the idea remains quite vague, both on when this mini could arrive and how effective the water resistance will be—there’s no word on what IP rating this would result in, or whether Apple would choose to publicize a feature that would appear to give the iPad mini a selling point over its mostly more expensive siblings. The 7th-gen iPad mini came out in fall 2024, and based on past behavior (a 30-month gap between the 5th and 6th iPad minis; a three-year gap between the 6th and 7th), it could be a long wait for the next model, apparently code-named J510. That’s assuming Apple even completes the project in time for the next mini, and as Gurman points out, it could yet change its mind and move in a different direction. One detail Gurman is prepared to comment on is the price of the upgraded mini: it could cost as much as $100 more than the current model, he says, which means up to $599. That price bump is mainly caused by the OLED screen, but having a bit of water resistance for the first time may help justify the cost if you’re planning to take the tablet with you on holiday.01:51 pmApple spent more than ever lobbying politicians in the EU in 2025
Apple has always used the tools it has at its disposal to influence EU politics, and it was not afraid to spend a record amount of its cash for lobbying officials in 2025 — but it is not the leader amongst big tech in that regard.EU flags - Image Credit: European UnionApple faces a lot of criticism and regulations around the world. Like other companies, it wants to have rules to either work on its behalf or be at least tolerable.Also like other major organizations, it lobbies lawmakers and officials, all in a bid to massage upcoming laws and regulations more to its liking. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:45 pmBuild and deploy unlimited websites for just $34 a year
Host unlimited sites with redundant storage, daily backups, Wildcard SSL and more with a three-year plan from web hosting provider Ionos. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:34 pmApple Watch SE Marked $60 Off On Amazon
Amazon has the Apple Watch SE marked $60 off, which is a great deal for a smartwatch that serves as a versatile fitness partner and comes with useful health and safety features. The Apple Watch SE can show you advanced metrics of your workout such as the intensity, so you can view your performance and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.01:32 pmSupport for Full 5G Internet over Satellite Reportedly Coming To Future iPhone Models
Upcoming iPhone devices that will be released next year could potentially support satellite internet in 5G. The company is planning to add support for the new iPhones, potentially as early as next yea,r for 5G networks not tethered to Earth, such as satellites. If Apple meets the 2026 timeframe, this suggests that the long anticipated […] The post appeared first on iLounge.01:30 pmiPhone 18 Could Have 50% More RAM Than Its Predecessor
Next year’s iPhone 18 could have 50% more memory than the iPhone 17. The most recent iPhone models- the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air are equipped with 12GB RAM, and that’s higher by 4GB compared to the past model. The base iPhone 17 is the only device that remains to […] The post appeared first on iLounge.01:29 pmiOS 26’s Shortcuts app adds 25+ new actions, here’s everything new
When iOS 26 launched, it brought a variety of upgrades and expansions to the Shortcuts app, including 25+ brand new actions. Here’s everything new. more…01:28 pmProduction of AirPods to Increase in India
Production of monthly AirPods will be increasing in the facility of Foxconn in Hyderabad. The output will be raised to 200,000 units monthly, up from 100,000 at the plant in Kongara Kalan. Employee count may also rise from 2,000 to 5,000 in a span of 6-8 months. Manufacturing of AirPods began back in April after […] The post appeared first on iLounge.01:27 pmGrammarly is becoming Superhuman as it gains new powers at no extra cost for now
The AI writing aid Grammarly is changing its name to Superhuman (not to be confused with SimpleHuman) as it gains additional capabilities. The company says existing subscribers will get the extra features at no extra cost, but only until the beginning of February … more…01:15 pmWavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock blazes through data transfers and brings big laptop power [Review] ★★★★☆ | Cult of MacWavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock blazes through data transfers and brings big laptop power [Review] ★★★★☆
Our hands-on Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock review finds impressively powerful and speedy connectivity for Mac workstations. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:00 pmWeird AirPods Pro 3 glitch proves unbearable at 30,000 feet
Some users of AirPods Pro 3 are plagued by a whistle noise when using the earbuds on a flight. Here’s how to be ready if it happens to you. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)12:58 pmNvidia set to make history as it nears $5 trillion in valuation
Nvidia is poised to etch its name in history on Wednesday, becoming the first company to hit a $5 trillion market valuation and prolonging… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.12:28 pmApple spent $8M lobbying the EU last year and had 76 meetings
A new report by a corporate watchdog says that Apple spent €7M ($8.1M) lobbying the EU in the past year, making it the joint second-largest spender in the tech sector. It says tech giants now spend more on EU lobbying than Big Pharma and the automotive industries combined. It also reveals that Apple held a total of 76 meetings with Members of the European Parliament and high-level European Commission staff … more…12:00 pmRising Identity Crime Losses Take a Growing Emotional Toll
Identity crime victims are losing more money and facing deeper emotional distress, according to new findings from the Identity Theft Resource Center. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.11:59 amMother describes the dark side of Apple’s Family Sharing when a relationship ends
A mother with court-ordered custody of her children has described how Apple’s Family Sharing feature can be weaponized by a former partner. Apple support staff were unable to assist her when she reported her former partner using the service in controlling and coercive ways … more…11:43 amApple could bring iPhone-style water resistance to iPad mini
Apple has reportedly tested a water-resistant iPad mini case, hinting that future iPads could eventually get this feature. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)11:42 amApple wants to improve everybody's AI image editors with new training dataset
A new Apple research paper argues that AI imaging editors are currently trained on inadequate image sets — so Apple Intelligence researchers have released an improved one.Apple Intelligence is just fine for what it isDespite the continual presumption that Apple is behind the industry in AI, it keeps publishing comprehensive research papers on the subject. In 2025 alone, it's most significant studies have covered how AI cannot reason, but can uncover bugs in code.Now the researchers have published "Pico-Banana-400K: A Large-Scale Dataset for Text-Guided Image Editing." It's explicitly concerned with how to better train AI systems to edit images following text prompts. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:15 amiPhone 18: Everything we know so far about the 2026 models
Macworld 2026 iPhone 18 series: Summary iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026 iPhone 18 and 18e might not arrive until spring 2027 Folding iPhone also said to launch in September 2026 Smaller dynamic island, camera aperture enhancements, C2 5G modem Another year, another iPhone, right? Not so fast. As Apple demonstrated with the iPhone Air in 2025 and the surprisingly full-featured regular iPhone 17, sometimes the company can surprise us with something new. In addition to the ultra-premium folding iPhone, Apple is said to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the fall of 2026, and then in a new scheduling shakeup, the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027. Here’s a quick summary of what all the rumors and leaks say to expect from the iPhone 18 models. iPhone 18/18 Pro: Latest rumors October 27: Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a variable aperture lens for the first time. iPhone 18/18 Pro design: Three models, similar designs Currently, the rumors suggest we’ll see a base iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Pro, and an iPhone 18 Pro Max. That is in addition to any not-iPhone 18-models like the rumored folding iPhone and second-generation Air. The designs are said to resemble the current iPhone 17 line. The base iPhone 18 will have just the smaller camera bump found on the iPhone 17, while the Pro and Pro Max will have the wider raised “plateau” with three cameras. Screen sizes should be consistent with the 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays on the current models. One possible design change, according to a Weibo leaker, is with the charging area on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models. Reportedly, the ceramic shield section will be “slightly transparent,” but it’s not fully clear what that means. iPhone 18/18 Pro camera: Aperture upgrades Apple just upgraded the iPhone 17 camera system with 48MP sensors, so it’s unlikely there will be any significant changes to the hardware. One significant rumor we’ve heard about the iPhone 18 camera system comes from leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max (and only that model) will get a camera with a mechanically-adjustable aperture like DSLR cameras. This would give users great control over background blurring, but primarily with the ability to keep the foreground and background sharp. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s telephoto lenses are also expected to have a larger overall aperture for sharper pictures in low-light situations. Expect changes to the aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro.Britta O’Boyle iPhone 18/18 Pro: Dynamic Island Apple hasn’t changed the size or shape of the Dynamic Island since its introduction on the iPhone 14 Pro, but some reports suggest there may be changes coming to the iPhone 18’s camera cutout. Some have claimed there will just be a pinhole cutout for the camera, with the whole Face ID assembly under the display, but most reports suggest those changes will be limited to the folding iPhone or arrive on the 20th anniversary model. However, it still may look different. The ever-reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has claimed that Apple will “shrink” the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models, which suggests that some of the several sensors and emitters required for Face ID will be under the display or combined. iPhone 18/18 Pro specs: A20 chip The iPhone 18 line will feature a new A20 processor, likely made using TSMC’s new 2nm fabrication process (which can allow for more complex chips in the same area, and could potentially allow for better power efficiency). The A20 is rumored to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging to incorporate the RAM into the SoC’s package. It’s not clear what the benefit will be, but more tightly integrated RAM can mean more memory bandwidth and lower RAM latency, or better power efficiency. iPhone 18/18 Pro: Wireless connectivity While the iPhone Air features a more advanced version of Apple’s C1 modem, dubbed the C1X, the other iPhone 17 models still use Qualcomm wireless modems. That’s likely to change in the iPhone 18 line. We’re told to expect a new C2 modem in the iPhone 18 phones, including the Pro and Pro Max. It’s not yet clear what features it will offer, but of course should deliver better performance and energy efficiency than the C1X and likely support high-speed mmWave networks in addition to the standard sub-6 networks. Apple debuted its local networking chip in the iPhone 17 line as well; the N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking. We haven’t heard anything about an N2 on the way, and honestly, one probably isn’t needed so soon. Could Apple have an “N1X” surprise in store the way it did with the C1X? It’s possible, but so far the rumor mill expects Apple to build the iPhone 18 line with the same N1 chip as found in the iPhone 17. However, a report from The Information says that Apple is gearing up to support 5G networks that are served from satellites, namely Starlink satellites. While the iPhone has offered satellite connectivity for emergency situations for years, this would allow the iPhone 18 models to have full internet access via satellite, not just emergency services. iPhone 18/18 Pro release date: Split launch There have been consistent reports for some time that Apple will change up its release schedule. In September 2026, Apple will reportedly only release the high-end models: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the new folding iPhone, and perhaps an updated iPhone Air. That means the base model iPhone 18 will wait until spring 2027, when it will reportedly arrive alongside the iPhone 18e. This is a big departure for Apple, and it means that the new iPhones next year will all have price tags of $999 or more. iPhone 18/18 Pro pricing: A wide range We haven’t seen any reports about changes in pricing to the existing iPhone lineup in 2026. As it stands, the iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone Air is $999, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. However, the arrival of the folding iPhone could dramatically change the pricing structure, as it will reportedly have a starting price of $1,999 or more.11:05 amProposed law to ban teens from using AI chatbots may pose problems for Siri
A bipartisan bill could lead to teams being banned from using AI chatbots, in response to parents expressing concerns about inappropriate content ranging from sexual conversations to assistance with suicide planning. If the proposed GUARD Act becomes law, then it could impact Apple in three different ways – including the company’s plans for the new Siri … more…10:40 amiPhone says Slow Charger: what does it mean and how to fix it
If you have an iPhone running iOS 26, you may have noticed that it now reports the estimated time to finish charging to 80% on the lock screen. If you are not using a fast charger, though, it will not do that and say ‘Slow Charger’ instead. This probably means you are using an underpowered power brick or older cable. To fast charge with a wire, get a new charging brick that is rated for 30 watts or more, and a USB-C cable … more…