Latest news with #Apples


The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Millions of drivers due free TV upgrade in car that lets you watch telly – and it'll work even on old motors
A CLEVER upgrade to cars across the world will let you watch video on your motor's built-in screen. It's all thanks to a new update to Apple CarPlay, which is in millions of cars globally – and unsurprisingly, there's a big catch. 7 Apple CarPlay is getting a major update this year Credit: Apple 7 CarPlay will be upgraded as part of the iOS 26 update for iPhones – which we're expecting in September Credit: Apple The feature will only work if you're parked. That's to prevent drivers from catching up on Love Island on the M25 – a dangerous combination. With CarPlay, your And with the iOS 26 update for iPhone later this year, you'll be able to beam video from your mobile to your car's display. Read more on Apple This works through the same AirPlay feature that lets you stream iPhone video to your telly. So you could play a video that was saved to your Photos app. Or you could use one of the many TV apps that support AirPlay to easily stream content to your Apple CarPlay monitor in your car. That includes Apple TV+ and YouTube – or any other app that offers CarPlay. Most read in Tech "AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favourite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren't driving," Apple explains. The other catch is that your carmaker will need to switch the feature on. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own CarPlay is managed by Apple, but your car provider still needs to activate the new ability to watch TV. And it won't go live until at least September, when we're expecting models as a free update. But plenty of cars support CarPlay. CarPlay launched back in 2014, and more than 800 models of motor across 40 brands now support it. 7 CarPlay gets a brand new Liquid Glass look Credit: Apple 7 You'll be able to quickly respond to messages with Tapbacks Credit: Apple Apple recently revealed that it's used more than 600 million times a day. So there's a good chance that the new feature will come to your car in the near future . DRIVE ON That wasn't the only car upgrade from Apple. This week, the company held its IOS 26 SUPPORTED DEVICES – THE FULL LIST Here are the iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) Picture Credit: Apple For a start, Apple CarPlay is getting the new Liquid Glass look that other Apple gadgets are getting later this year. That gives the apps a glassy new aesthetic with a translucent design. And you'll be able to send Tapbacks to texts – they're the quick emoji reactions that are already available in the Messages app on iPhone. There's support for widgets on screen, as well as Live Activities (which could show sports scores, for instance). 7 The new CarPlay will also let you watch telly while parked Credit: Apple And Apple has also finally debuted CarPlay Ultra, which is the supercharged version of CarPlay only currently available with one car brand. Instead of just replacing your infotainment screen, CarPlay Ultra also serves as a customisable instrument panel (showing your speed and fuel and so on), as well as allowing you to control car functions like heating. During next generation of CarPlay, which we just brought out for the first time about a month ago." Joz continued: 'CarPlay is this beautiful ability to use the features of your phone. 7 CarPlay Ultra is an even more advanced version of CarPlay that lets you view and control core car functions Credit: Apple 'We wanted to have an experience with CarPlay Ultra that allows you – through that same interface that you can control your phone – to also control the aspects of your car 'Whether it's the seat heaters or the heating system in general, or even the car radio. 'Things that are outside of normal iPhone capabilities. To control these with CarPlay Ultra. 'We're very happy with the initial rollout of that. Some of the first vehicles started coming out last month. There's plenty more brands working on it.' 7 The new CarPlay Ultra offers a customisable instrument panel Credit: Apple CarPlay Ultra is currently available in new models from British motoring giant Aston Martin, but it's expected to arrive in other vehicles in the future too.


The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Secret zero-effort iPhone hack helped me lose nearly 4 stone – it'll make your weight drop faster too
WITH constantly buzzing smartphones and gadgets around the house it's harder than ever to get a moment's peace from tech these days. And little do many people realise they have an impact on your weight too - unless you make some easy changes like I have. Advertisement 11 The Sun's Sean Keach before and after his impressive weight loss Credit: Sean Keach 11 Sean swears by an iPhone sleep hack that only takes three 'clicks' to switch on Credit: Sean Keach 11 Background Sounds is the best iPhone feature you've never heard of Credit: Apple / The Sun It's well-known that sleep and weight Any scientist will tell you a good night's kip is essential because it regulates the hormones affecting hunger and appetite. Advertisement Using a number of gadgets, I've been able to shed almost four stone. But to get that all important sleep, I tap my iPhone three times and I nod straight off, all thanks to a feature that almost no one knows about. Even if you've had an Gadgets are just too complicated these days to truly master. It's literally my job as The Sun's tech editor, and even I struggle to keep up. However, one feature you should be taking full advantage of is Background Sounds. Advertisement It's a special iPhone feature tucked deep inside your Accessibility settings. Unless you have a specific Accessibility need, there's a good chance you've never even looked in there. Background Sounds is meant to deliver soothing noises to you. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own This can be while you're sleeping, but also while you're working, listening to a podcast, or doing almost anything. Apple explains: 'Play background sounds to mask unwanted environmental noise. Advertisement 'These sounds can minimise distractions and help you to focus, be calm, or rest.' There's a selection of different sounds on there, depending on your needs, and some clever ways to quickly activate the feature. The good news is that you don't need to go into Accessibility settings every single time. HOW TO SET UP First, go into Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. Now tap on Sound and choose one. I like Rain, but some people swear by Stream, or Fire, or the ominous but effective 'Dark Noise'. Advertisement The full list right now is: Balanced Noise Bright Noise Dark Noise Ocean Rain Stream Night Fire I don't know why I love rain so much. Maybe it's just in my nature as a Brit. There's probably a horrified Aussie out there who can only use Ocean and finds rain sounds terrifying. Now go back and select a volume for your background sound. You can also set it up to play when media is playing. 11 You'll find Background Sounds deep within your iPhone's Accessibility settings Credit: Apple / The Sun Advertisement This is great if you're trying to listen to a podcast in headphones somewhere noisy. It can help dim the din. You can have it so that the volume is lower with media, so it doesn't drown out what you're actually trying to listen to. Tap on Play Sample if you want to test the volume before committing. And finally, there's an option to Stop Sounds When Locked. 11 You can customise Background Sounds to work exactly as you'd like it Credit: Apple / The Sun Advertisement I keep that switched off, as I like using it for sleep. But it's your choice. HOW TO USE Once that's done, you can then choose how you want to activate your Background Sounds. My favourite way is with a triple-click of the Side Button (the one for locking your phone) to turn Background Sounds on or off. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and then choose Background Sounds. 11 You can set up a quick shortcut for Background Sounds that activates the feature with a triple-click of your iPhone's Side Button Credit: Apple / The Sun Advertisement Then you're good to go. Another option is to add it to your Control Centre. That's the panel of quick-access icons that appears when you swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone (or from the bottom on older models with a Home Button). Tap on the plus symbol in the corner, add Background Sounds, and then you can tap the new icon whenever you need it. 11 I prefer Rain for Background Sounds, but you can try them all and see which one helps you get to the land of nod Credit: Apple / The Sun Advertisement I turn it on just before I go to bed if I'm feeling stressed, and it helps send me to the land of nod. But it's also a lifesaver in the office when it's noisy and I really need to finish writing a story about an iPhone feature called Background Sounds. Maybe you work from home and the neighbour's dog won't stop barking, or you want a bit of peace from colleagues on your lunch break. Just slap some Rain on and away you go. You're in the rainforest, a world apart from stress. ANOTHER SECRET BUTTON TO TRY... If you like the iPhone 'triple click' trick, wait until you try this... You can actually turn the Yes, that Apple logo on the rear isn't just for good looks. Go into Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Then you can set functions to So you could set Double Tap to Screenshot, allowing you to quickly snap a screengrab. And you could set Triple Tap to Shazam so you can work out what song is playing nearby with minimal faff. There are dozens of combinations to choose from, so pick what you like from the list. You can launch the camera, activate the torch, lock your phone's screen rotation, or even link it to your own custom "Shortcut". And if you decide you hate it, you can just turn it off again and your iPhone's rear will go back to normal. Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun Of course if you're trying to sleep, you don't need to wear headphones. You can have Background Sounds come straight out of your phone speaker. Advertisement But if you're at work, it's probably best to use headphones – or you risk having everyone reaching for their umbrellas on a sunny day. BONUS IPHONE SLEEP TRICKS If you're struggling to sleep, there are two other tricks I'd recommend. The first is called Sleep Focus, which is a variant of Do Not Disturb. 11 You can turn on Sleep Focus and get a good night's rest Credit: Apple / The Sun You can find your iPhone's Focus modes by going into Settings > Focus. Advertisement Now tap on Sleep and you'll find a whole selection of different options. They're all designed to help you sleep in peace – minus the distractions. So, for a start, you can set it to block all notifications. You won't be buzzed, and they'll remain hidden until you pop out of Sleep Focus in the morning – so they're not there right away. As well as that, you can add exceptions. Advertisement So I've set mine to allow notifications from my wife, brother, mum and dad to break through. That way I won't miss something important if there's an emergency. 11 Sleep Focus can be customised to block or allow notifications from specific people or apps Credit: Apple / The Sun When you're in Sleep Focus, you can set your iMessage up to show an alert to anyone texting you that you have notifications silenced. That way, they'll be put off from bothering you in the night – or at least know that you're not intentionally ignoring you. Advertisement You can set up a Sleep Focus schedule so that it kicks in automatically. And you can choose a zen colour for your Lock Screen background while in Sleep Focus – like a nighttime blue. It'll work across all of your Apple devices (if you have an To turn it on or off (if you don't want a schedule), just swipe into the Control Centre from the top-right of your screen, tap on the Do Not Disturb icon, and then choose Sleep Focus. My second trick is called StandBy Mode. Advertisement This one is easily missed, though there's a chance you've accidentally stumbled across it and not realised what's going on. 11 Your iPhone can function as a bedside table clock Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun If you place your iPhone on charge (plugged in or on a floating MagSafe magnetic charger) and turn it so it's horizontal (landscape orientation), StandBy Mode will kick in. This effectively turns your iPhone into a desk clock. It'll show the time and date, but you can customise it to include a calendar, or photos, or whatever else takes your fancy. Advertisement Then when your room gets dark, StandBy Mode 11 StandBy will shift to red when your iPhone is in the dark Credit: Apple That way, it doesn't strain your eyes in the night. It'll shut off and then wake up if it notices you moving, like if you're looking across to check the time. So it means your iPhone can double up as a bedside clock that doesn't strain your eyes, isn't constantly running, and won't take up extra space on the nightstand. Advertisement I use it every night, but loads of people have no idea this secret iPhone mode exists – all because the method of activating it isn't that obvious. Now you know, it'll be sweet dreams tonight. WEIGHT A IS GREAT! STAYING motivated is hard, The Sun's Sean Keach writes, even with the help of gadgets… The problem with gaining unwanted weight is that it usually doesn't happen all at once. It's a slow thickening over months and years – until one day you realise you're now very thick indeed, and have a lot of work to do. That's daunting. I remember the sinking feeling. I was 210lbs at 6ft, giving me a BMI of 28.5 – firmly in the "overweight" category. And if it took months to gain, it was probably going to take months to lose, I thought. But I had to remind myself that it wouldn't just be six or seven months of pure misery. There would be wins along the way. Thankfully I was right. I felt stairs become easier to climb and brisk walks could be brisker still. Jumpers and shirts that were just a little too tight suddenly looked how I'd hoped they would. Once-tight jeans were now loose, giving me a nice excuse to buy a fresh pair. They were knackered anyway. All of this – plus taking regular progress pictures and tracking the pounds – was fantastic motivation. So whether you've got weeks, months, or years ahead, just remember that there's plenty of joy to be had on the journey – long before you hit your goal.


Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Millions of mobiles can unlock cars using ‘virtual key' and even open boot as 13 major brands reveal big change
The bombshell announcement means 33 car brands now support the feature CAR-AZY! Millions of mobiles can unlock cars using 'virtual key' and even open boot as 13 major brands reveal big change MILLIONS of drivers won't need to carry their keys around anymore - as mobile phones are set to replace them. Apple has announced that the Wallet app will soon update a handy feature which lets their devices act as car keys. 2 Millions of drivers will be able to open their vehicles using just their phones Credit: Apple 2 13 new brands are coming to Apple's Car Key Wallet feature Credit: Getty The smartphone giant made several exciting car-related announcements at WWDC on Monday. One of these was the revelation that 13 brands will be added to Apple's Car Keys feature in their Wallet app. This groundbreaking feature was launched in 2020. The concept allowed users to open their cars using their phone or smartwatch. Each version of the key varied by manufacturer, and some have more special features than others. For example, some boast an incredible proximity ability. This means that the car can be locked and opened and even started just by holding the phone close to the vehicle's doorhandle. Passive entry is also available with the Car Keys feature. This means the car can lock automatically when you walk away, and can then open as you come near it. On top of these extraordinary features, the car can be opened remotely and without the need for physical keys. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own Now, 13 car brands are set to gain Car Key support. These include Acura, Cadillac, Chery, Chevrolet, GMC, Hongqi, Lucid, Porsche, Rivian, Smart, Tata, Voyah and WEY. There was no specific timeline given for when these brands would be adopting car key support. But having made the announcement at WWDC during the iOS 26 presentation, they may all launch by the end of this year. This list may include more brands in the future. With the addition of these 13, the total list of vehicles with Car Key support on Apple devices now includes 33 brands. The rest of the list already includes car giants such as Mercedes, Audi, Volvo and Mini.


The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Millions of mobiles can unlock cars using ‘virtual key' and even open boot as 13 major brands reveal big change
MILLIONS of drivers won't need to carry their keys around anymore - as mobile phones are set to replace them. Apple has announced that the Wallet app will soon update a handy feature which lets their 2 Millions of drivers will be able to open their vehicles using just their phones Credit: Apple 2 13 new brands are coming to Apple's Car Key Wallet feature Credit: Getty The smartphone giant made several exciting car-related announcements at WWDC on Monday. One of these was the revelation that 13 brands will be added to Apple's Car Keys feature in their Wallet app. This The concept allowed users to open their cars using their phone or smartwatch. READ MORE TECH NEWS Each version of the key varied by manufacturer, and some have more special features than others. For example, some boast an incredible This means that the car can be locked and opened and even started just by holding the phone close to the vehicle's doorhandle. Passive entry is also available with the Car Keys feature. Most read in Tech This means the car can lock automatically when you walk away, and can then open as you come near it. On top of these extraordinary features, the car can be opened remotely and without the need for physical keys. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own Now, 13 car brands are set to gain Car Key support. These include Acura, Cadillac, Chery, Chevrolet, GMC, Hongqi, Lucid, Porsche, Rivian, Smart, Tata, Voyah and WEY. There was no specific timeline given for when these brands would be adopting car key support. But having made the announcement at WWDC during the iOS 26 presentation, they may all launch by the end of this year. This list may include more brands in the future . With the addition of these 13, the total list of vehicles with Car Key support on Apple devices now includes 33 brands. The rest of the list already includes car giants such as Mercedes, Audi, Volvo and Mini.


Buzz Feed
29-05-2025
- Business
- Buzz Feed
Steve Madden's Super Sharp Tariffs Takedown Goes Viral
It seems like the news about Donald Trump's tariffs is never-ending, and so are the stories of real-life Americans whose wallets are hurting because of them. One of the retail sectors being hit the hardest is the fashion industry because of how much it relies on overseas materials sourcing, manufacturing, and importing. So, perhaps no one is better poised to speak on the actual impact of Trump's tariffs than shoe designer and eponymous company founder Steve Madden. Madden recently appeared as a guest on the fashion podcast The Cutting Room Floor, hosted by designer Recho Omondi. A now-viral clip from their conversation has garnered 4.5+ million views and over 5,000 comments, largely praising his expert criticism of Trump's tariffs. At the beginning of the clip, Madden is finishing up a phone call. After he hangs up, the host asks, "But what's the drama, though?" He responds, "The tariffs." Omondi replies, "Oh, so the shoes are getting pricier." Madden says, "Shoes are going up. You can thank your government for that." After some light-hearted banter placing the blame on each other for Trump's election ("I didn't vote for him!" Omondi says), Madden says, "They fundamentally do not understand what they're doing." He then dives into the reality of US commerce with China in a way we don't hear explained often. "The notion is we've lost jobs to China, and we have. But we've picked up other jobs that we would not have had — better jobs, many better jobs — as a result of our relationship with China," he says. "Many more than we would have if they were in a factory making socks." "The iPhone being made in China — the success that that has created — there's probably hundreds of thousands of people working for Apple today in America as a result of them making those phones in China," he continues. "That they would not have had, they'd be in a fucking factory and it would be a third of the workforce." Madden goes on to tie the tariff conversation into another area of timely political discourse. "And at the same time, they're deporting the people that would fucking do it anyway." He also explains that some of the Americans supporting Trump's economic policies are "rich people that made money that didn't build anything, but they made money trading stocks and bonds and buildings. OK. Not hating," he says. "And we are the people that create commerce. The Apples, the Steve Maddens, the Uggs, the Ralph Laurens. We create the economy, and they're destroying it," he concludes. People were so for this level-headed read on how tariffs will actually hurt business. "You know what, Steve Madden shoes are not THAT uncomfortable," this person joked. Other people were laughing about Madden's seemingly obvious political leanings. "This is the best PR steve madden has ever done for his brand," someone wrote. Actually, that was basically the consensus. And this person summed it all up pretty perfectly. What do you think? Sound off in the comments.