News on the Fringe Week 21 - June 27

Apple adds the check-in feature to the Apple Watch in watchOS 11, provides the ChatGPT application for free on Mac devices, integrates iPhone applications with the Translate application on iOS 17.4, turns on night mode on the Apple Watch through Siri, and supports formatting external drives on iOS 18, the introduction of RCS technology to users of the beta version of iOS 18, and other exciting news on the sidelines...

Improved support for third-party screens and batteries on the iPhone

Apple announced plans to improve support for third-party screens and batteries in the iPhone by the end of 2024. The company will allow the True Tone feature to be activated with non-original screens, with the ability to turn it off if it does not work well. True Tone technology automatically adjusts the screen color to match the ambient light.

Apple will also display battery health information for non-original batteries such as maximum capacity in percentage, number of charging cycles, etc., while alerting users that this information may not be completely accurate. These changes are intended to improve the experience for users who choose to have their devices repaired using third-party replacement parts.

Google eliminates continuous scrolling in search results

Google plans to abandon the continuous scrolling feature of search results on computers and mobile phones, and return to the old method of dividing results into multiple pages. This feature was introduced in 2021 and 2022, but the company decided to cancel it to improve the speed of displaying results. This step was implemented on computers starting June 25, and will be implemented on mobile phones in the coming months. This step aims to provide search results faster, rather than automatically loading additional results that the user may not need.

The first alleged image of the Apple Watch 10 or

Rumors indicate that Apple is planning to launch a new version of the Apple Watch on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. According to the leaks, this watch may be called the “Apple Watch It is expected to be larger than the current 10-inch Apple Watch 2, but smaller than the 9-inch Apple Watch Ultra due to its smaller dimensions. The new watch may include new features such as blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection. This watch is likely to be launched this year or next, but the details are still uncertain at the present time.

RCS technology rolled out to iOS 18 beta users

Apple added support for the Rich Messaging Service (RCS) in the second beta of the iOS 18 update. This service allows iPhone and Android users to exchange high-quality photos and videos, voice messages, and larger files. It also provides features such as read notifications that the message has been read, and instant writing indicators that the message is being written. The RCS feature is activated automatically, but if it is turned off, you can activate it through the settings of the “Messages” application.

Currently, this technology is only available in the US to users with carriers that support it such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. It will be made available to all iOS 18 users when the system is officially launched next fall. Messages sent via RCS are specially displayed to distinguish them from regular SMS/MMS messages.

Apple was not interested in an AI partnership with Meta due to privacy concerns

Apple has rejected an offer for an artificial intelligence partnership with Meta (Facebook) due to privacy concerns. Brief discussions took place between the two companies in March, but made no progress. Instead, Apple has signed an agreement with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Apple is also in talks with Google to integrate its Gemini model. Apple aims to provide multiple options for artificial intelligence models for users, and plans to conclude agreements with several providers in this field. Users will be able to choose to use these services, with Siri able to convert some requests to more sophisticated AI models.

Apple may limit the cheaper Apple Glass to the iPhone or Mac

According to a report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple is considering the possibility of offering a cheaper version of the Vision Pro glasses by making them dependent on connection to the iPhone or Mac, to exploit the processing power and components needed on these devices, instead of making it a completely standalone product. This is primarily to save money.

This cheaper model, known internally as the N107, may come with a narrower field of view compared to the original. Apple aims to reduce the cost while maintaining the main features, and plans to launch this version at the end of 2025. At the same time, the company continues to work on the second generation of the Vision Pro (N109), which may come with a faster processor and improved cameras, with its launch expected at the end of the year. 2026 at the earliest. Apple seeks to maintain its presence in the high-quality glasses market while expanding the range of users with a cheaper version.

iOS 18 update supports formatting external drives

Apple plans to enable iPhone and iPad users to format external drives directly from their devices without the need for a Mac. This new feature was discovered in the beta versions of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. In the Files app, users will be able to choose different disk format formats such as APFS, ExFAT, and MS-DOS (FAT). This update is a major improvement, providing functionality similar to Disk Utility on Mac. This feature is expected to officially launch with the final release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 later this year.

Siri can turn on Night Mode on the Apple Watch

A Reddit user discovered a hidden feature in the Apple Watch that allows activating “Night Shift” mode, or night mode, via Siri voice command. When activated, the watch's display becomes dimmer and more yellow with less blue light. There is no button to activate this feature in the watch settings, and it appears to be only available on newer models such as the Apple Watch 9. It is unclear when this feature was added, but it may be related to the upcoming watchOS 11 update. This feature may have been introduced by mistake, and may appear in future updates to the Apple Watch operating system.

iPhone apps can integrate with the Translate app on iOS 17.4

At WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled a new application programming interface (API) that allows developers to integrate Translate app capabilities into their own apps on iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma, and later. In iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, translated text will appear directly within the app instead of in a pop-up window. Apple also added support for a bilingual keyboard in iOS 18, allowing you to write in two different languages ​​without having to manually switch between them. These updates are currently available in developer beta.

iPadOS 18 update allows apps to provide custom drawing tools for Apple Pencil

In the upcoming iPadOS 18 update, iPad apps will be able to offer dedicated drawing tools for the Apple Pencil. For example, an app could add a tool to draw cat footprints or other animal symbols. These custom widgets support features of the new Apple Pencil Pro, such as tapping and turning. iOS 18 and VisionOS 2 also support custom drawing tools in apps, although the iPhone and Vision Pro do not support the Apple Pencil. These tools can also be used by touch or other input methods. In addition, apps can change the default drawing tool set and offer multiple tools of the same type for added convenience, such as pens or markers of different colors.

Miscellaneous news

◉ The ChatGPT application is now available for free on Mac devices for all users after it was exclusive to subscribers only.

◉ Apple has released new firmware updates for several products, including the AirPods Pro 2 for Lightning and USB-C, the first generation AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max, the second and third generation AirPods, and the Beats Fit Pro. Pair these headphones with an iPhone connected to the Internet and they will be updated automatically.

◉ The macOS Sequoia system brings a feature that has been present for a long time on the iPhone to Mac devices, as there are options for improvements to headphones in the system settings application under the Accessibility section, then Sound. These settings allow you to customize the sound for all AirPods and some Beats headphones. Users can amplify weak sounds and adjust frequencies to clarify phone calls and more.

◉ Apple has released the second beta versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18 updates to developers.

◉ Apple added the “Check In” or “Check In” feature to the Apple Watch in watchOS 11. This feature allows users to notify your loved ones that you have arrived safely at your destination. This feature can be activated from the Messages app or from the Workout app. When starting a workout, a user can let someone know they started the activity, and the feature will notify them when they return. If an unexpected delay occurs, an automatic notification will be sent to the specified person with information about the location, route, phone battery status and network signal. Reminders can also be activated to use this feature when starting outdoor exercises. This feature is still in the testing phase and may change before the final release in the fall.

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