Apple Intelligence Upgrades
Priority Notifications: Apple Intelligence now prioritizes important notifications so they appear at the top of your stack. It’s designed to surface what matters most when it matters. Expanded Language Support: Apple Intelligence expands support to more languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. There are also localized versions of English for Singapore and India.

Photos App Improvements
New Filters: You can now filter your library to show photos shared by others or those not in any album—perfect for cleaning up clutter.
Key Photo View: Albums now display with key photos, making it easier to visually browse and organize.

Control Center: Ambient Music
New Soundscapes: A new “Ambient Music” section has been added with modes like Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each plays relaxing or focus-friendly sounds designed to suit your mood or task.

Emoji Additions

iOS 18.4 introduces several new emoji, including: bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter. These give users more expressive and specific ways to communicate.

Apple News+ Food Section

Dedicated Food Hub: Apple News+ now includes a Food section featuring thousands of recipes, kitchen tips, healthy eating guides, and more. A new “Cook Mode” offers step-by-step recipe instructions in a hands-free format.

Vision Pro Integration

Vision Pro App: A new companion app for Vision Pro makes it easier to discover and download immersive experiences, including 3D movies and interactive content, right from your iPhone.

More iOS 18.4 Features

Image Playground – Sketch Style: Adds a new sketch filter in Image Playground for creative sketch-style images. Mail Categorization on iPad: iPads now support email categorization into Primary, Orders, Newsletters, Deals, and Social, helping users stay organized. Camera & Mic Indicators: Privacy indicators showing camera/mic usage have been moved to the left side of the menu bar and made more prominent.

Editorial Opinion:

iOS 18.4 is a polished update that strikes a great balance between innovation and refinement. With smarter notification handling, a more global AI rollout, and thoughtful touches like ambient music and better photo management, Apple continues to focus on real-world usability. It’s not just about adding flashy features—it’s about making the iPhone more helpful, more personal, and more enjoyable. This update is a solid step forward, especially for users invested in the Apple ecosystem.

The post What’s New in iOS 18.4: All the Key Features You Need to Know appeared first on iPhonehelp.

Last December, the primary chipmaker of Apple, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), reported Q4 sales amounting to $4.2 billion. While this was due to many factors, a large part of the revenue was generated in Japan. True enough, an impressive 4000% increase in the shipments of iPhone models (specifically the 5G-supported ones) was due to the demand in the Japanese market.

As a result, the chip manufacturing company has expressed its interest to include the country in their operations. The company has recently announced that they will expand their “global manufacturing footprint” by building a chip production plant in Kumamoto, Japan.

TSMC in Japan

The project will start with the construction of research facilities at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba, near Tokyo. Reuter’s report on Japanese manufacturing updates notes that aside from the government’s pledge to pay half of the $337 million needed for the facility, TSMC will also spend about $178 million for the cause. The project is expected to fully kick off in 2022. 

However, TSMC company chairman Liu emphasized that they are still in the “due diligence” phase.

“It is still early to disclose the decision, because it will be based on our customer needs, operating efficiency evaluation and cost economics,” added Mark Liu, TSMC’s Chairman. “The potential fab in Japan is [also] not included in TSMC’s three-year, $100 billion capital expenditure plan.”

Chip shortage

This development came immediately after TSMC’s announcement that they will be working with 20+ Japanese tech companies, including electronic component maker Ibiden Co., chemical firm Asahi Kasei, and Sumitomo Chemical to develop cutting-edge chip manufacturing technology in the country. It is a very timely move for them as well, since Gartner analysts have reported that industries will still be in the midst of global semiconductor shortage until the 2nd quarter of 2022.

Plus, it is an opportunity for these group of companies to slowly make up for lost revenues last year. 

Manufacturing in Japan

Even before the unexpected sales boom in the Japanese market, however, the decision of TSMC to expand into the country came as a surprise to no one. After all, Japan has always been one of the global leaders in the machinery and automotive manufacturing industries — something that Expat Bets’ guide to Japan points out has been its strength since feudal times. Manufacturing has powered its economy throughout the years, bolstered by strong buyer-supplier relationships and generous funding in science and research.

In fact, manufactured products from Japan have a reputation for their quality, durability, and sophistication. In today’s age of fierce market competition, the manufacturing industry of Japan remains steadfast, as it has implemented a strategy different from other global manufacturers. Instead of expanding their businesses to cover the entire industrial chain, local manufacturers focus on the production of high-quality components, making them indispensable to both the local and international market.

TSMC’s decision to build a chip factory in Japan implies that they, too, will adopt similar practices — and this will only help them expand their business in the long-term. 

In fact, the company plans to expand their services not just in mobile manufacturing but in infrastructure and automobile, too. They’re building a $12 billion facility in Arizona because of this.

The post iPhone Chip Supplier to Work with Japanese Manufacturers, Eyes First Plant in Japan appeared first on iPhonehelp.

Also Read: Apple launches iPad Pro 2021 with M1 SoC, Liquid Retina XDR displays in India: price, specifications

Let’s take a look at the device below. 

Apple TV 4K specifications and features

The Apple TV 4K is the same as the original model with a square-shaped box design and curved edges. It has the Apple logo on the front. 

The Apple TV 4K is powered by the brand’s A12 Bionic processor that is found in the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. It consists of four power-efficient CPU cores and a quad-core GPU. This allows the device to support 4K HDR video playback in 60fps. Apple has also introduced a smart colour calibration feature that takes advantage of the iPhone’s sensors. iPhones running on iOS 14.5 can use Face ID to calibrate the colour output of the TV. 

Apple has also redesigned the Apple TV 4K remote. It now comes with better design and ergonomics. The device is thicker and made up of aluminium. The remote has a circular pad with five-way controls. The circular pad is also touch-sensitive that lets the user swipe on it to navigate the UI. The remote also features a Siri button on the right side. 

Apple TV 4K price in India

The Apple TV 4K carries a starting price tag of Rs 18,990. The Siri remote is offered separately for Rs 5,800. The device will be up for pre-orders from April 30th with sales commencing from second half of May.

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Let’s take a look at the technical specifications as well as the pricing and availability below. 

iPad Pro 2021 specifications and features

The iPad Pro 2021 is offered in 11-inch and 12.9-inch display variants. The former features an IPS LED-backlit Liquid Retina panel with a resolution of 2,388 x 1,668 pixels. The latter comes with an IPS mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display that offers 2,732 x 2,048-pixel resolution and full-array local dimming. Both iPad Pro models offer 1,600 nits peak brightness, True Tone, DCI-P3 wide colour gamut as well as Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10 and HLG support. The iPad Pros 2021 also feature ProMotion aka adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. 

Under the hood, both the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro are equipped with Apple M1 chipsets. The latest offerings pack 8GB RAM paired with either 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options. The tablets are also offered in 1TB and 2TB storage variants coupled with 16GB onboard RAM. The 11 and 12.9-inch variants are powered by 28.65Wh and 40.88Wh batteries respectively. They run on iPadOS 14.

In the camera department, the iPad Pro sports a 12MP main lens accompanied by a 10MP ultra-wide sensor. On the front, the tablets feature a 12MP ultra-wide unit. The iPad Pro also comes with a LiDar scanner, 2x optical zoom, and 4K video recording. 

iPad Pro 2021 price in India

The 11-inch iPad Pro variants i.e. 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB are priced at Rs 71,900, Rs 80,900, Rs 98,900, Rs 1,34,900, and Rs 1,70,900 respectively. On the other hand, the 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB editions of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro cost Rs 99,900, Rs 1,08,900, Rs 1,26,900, Rs 1,62,900, and Rs 1,98,900, respectively

The post Apple launches iPad Pro 2021 with M1 SoC, Liquid Retina XDR displays in India: price, specifications appeared first on iPhonehelp.

The AirPods Max is Apple’s first over-ear headphones although Apple previously offered over-ear headphones via Beats which it had acquired back in 2014. The AirPods Max pack advanced features and a hefty price tag. Let’s take a look below.

Apple AirPods Max specifications and features

The AirPods Max feature a foldable design with stainless steel frame and telescopic arms. The canopy headband is made of knit mesh for comfort. The headphones come with anodised aluminium ear cups with a mesh textile for pillow-like softness. The right ear cup houses a digital crown that is similar to Apple Watch for controlling volume, music playback, answer/end calls and activate Siri. There’s also a button that lets users switch between ANC and transparency mode. 

The AirPods Max is equipped with 40mm dynamic drivers along with four microphones on each ear cup. The on-ear headphone is powered by Apple’s H1 chipset that is also found in the AirPods Pro. The processor offers features like Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio. The former adjusts the sound based on sit and seal of the headphones while the later tracks the motion of the user’s head and anchors sound to the device giving a theatre-like experience. 

The AirPods Max feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode. The latter allows users to hear surrounding sound along with the music. The headphones are equipped with various sensors that automatically pauses and resumes playback when the user takes them off or if one ear cup is removed. 

The AirPods Max is claimed to offer up to 20 hours of battery life. Apple is bundling a smart case with the headphones that put it in ultra-low power state but doesn’t charge. The audio device is compatible with devices running on iOS 14.3 and above, iPadOS 14.3 or above, macOS Big Sur 11.1+, watchOS 7.2 or later and tvOS 14.3 or above. 

Apple AirPods Max price in India

The AirPods Max carries a price tag of Rs 59,900. It is offered in Space Grey, Silver, Sky Blue, Green and Pink colour options. The device is available for purchase and will start shipping from December 15th. 

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At Apple’s ‘One More Thing’ event, the company took off the wraps of its first ARM-powered MacBooks. Alongside the laptops, the brand also announced Mac Mini. Apple had first detailed its plans of transitioning from Intel to its own silicon chipsets at WWDC. Let’s take a look at the newly launched devices below. 

Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro specifications and features

Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are offered in 13.3-inch Retina display. The machines retain the same design as its Intel counterpart. The former comes with an updated FaceTime camera with noise reduction while the latter features a TouchID.

Apple’s first custom chipset is called as Apple M1 and are based on 5nm architecture. It has four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. Apple claims that the M1 is designed to excel at machine learning with a 16-core neural engine. Both the MacBook Air and Pro are said to offer 3.5x more performance. Apple also highlighted the macOS Big Sur that is designed for the M1 chip. It is expected to have a similar design as the iPadOS and iOS and also support existing apps as well as universal apps.

Unlike the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro is equipped with a fan for heat dissipation. Both the machines pack up to 16GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage. The MacBook Air is claimed to offer 18 hours of battery life compared to 12 hours on the existing model. 

Apple Mac Mini specifications and features

Apple has equipped the Mac mini with its custom M1 processor as well. Compared to the previous quad-core mini, the latest offering is claimed to offer 3x performance and a 6 fold increase in graphics performance. Apple also says that the device is capable of offering 5x performance compared to a top-selling desktop PC in its price range. 

The Mac mini is offered in 8GB or 16GB RAM option and comes in four SSD storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. 

Apple MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini price in India

The MacBook Air base configuration starts at Rs 92,900 and goes up to Rs 1,92,900. The MacBook Pro is priced at Rs 1,22,900 for the base variant and costs a whopping Rs 2,22,900 for the top-end model. The Mac mini will retail from Rs 64,900 to Rs 1,64,900 

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This year’s iPhone 12 series comprises of four models including the iPhone 12 Mini, standard iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The latest offerings share most of the same specifications with each other apart from a few differences. Let’s take a look at what the devices offer out of the box. 

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini specifications and features

The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini sport a 6.1 and 5.4-inch displays respectively with OLED Super Retina XDR panels. It is layered with ‘Ceramic Shield’ glass on the top for protection against accidental damages and scratches. Apple has went back to the iPhone 4 series with a boxy design on the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. There is still a wide-notch on the top of the screen. The smartphones are IP68 water-resistant up to 6 meters. 

Internally, the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chipset based on 5nm architecture. The devices run on iOS 14 and offer connectivity options like WiFi 6, 5G, Gigabit LTE and dual-SIM with e-SIM support. The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini come with MagSafe magnetic system that allows chargers, cases and other accessories attach to the back panel magnetically. The feature is also compatible with Qi wireless charging standards with supported charging speeds up to 15W.

In terms of imaging, the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini come with dual-camera setup of 12MP wide-angle lens paired with 12MP ultra-wide secondary sensor. There are various camera-related features like Smart HDR, night mode, night mode timelapse etc. 

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max specifications and features

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max also retain the boxy form factor with metal and glass design. On the display front, the former offers a 6.1-inch screen while the latter measures 6.7-inches. Both devices come with OLED Super Retina XDR panels protected by Ceramic Shield glass. The back panel houses a square-shaped camera module. 

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max come with advanced triple cameras compared to the standard iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. The Pro and Pro Max variants feature a 12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultra-wide sensor and a 12MP telephoto camera. However, the later comes with a 47 percent larger primary sensor claimed to offer 87 percent improvement in low-light conditions. The telephoto lens now supports 65mm focal length and 5x optical zoom.

There is also a fourth sensor fitted inside the camera module but it’s actually the LiDAR scanner that improves autofocus in low light and enhanced depth perception. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max come with Dolby Vision HDR video recording and Apple ProRAW support. 

As for the core specifications, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are driven by A14 Bionic chipset. Rest of the features on the smartphones are the same as the standard and iPhone 12 Mini including MagSafe, iOS 14 and connectivity options.  

iPhone 12 series price in India

In India, the iPhone 12 Mini starts at Rs 69,900 while the standard variant will start retailing at Rs 79,900. Both variants will be offered in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage configurations. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro will carry a starting price of Rs 1,19,900 while the Pro Max will be available from Rs 1,29,900 for the 128GB base storage option.

As for availability, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro will go on sale from October 30th. The iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max will hit the markets from November 13th. 

The post Apple iPhone 12 series with 5G support launched: specifications, price and availability appeared first on iPhonehelp.

Now Apple has started local assembly of the iPhone SE 2020 that was launched in April this year. The smartphone is manufactured at the company’s Wistron facility in Karnataka which also produced the original SE model. The iPhone SE 2020 is the sixth device in Apple’s portfolio to be made in India. 

Locally producing the iPhone helps Apple avoid 20 percent tax on imports. It also enables the brand to avail of benefits under the government’s PLI schemes. Apple is looking to move its manufacturing out of China and ramp up the same in India. It is expected to export the Made in India iPhones globally. According to reports, the company’s supplier Foxconn is set to invest $1 billion in India while its third manufacturer Pegatron is expected to set up its plant in the country. It’s worth noting that Apple hasn’t slashed prices of its iPhone models that are being made in India, however, it is quite possible in the near future. 

A report by Business Standard revealed that Apple is also planning to manufacture its upcoming iPhone 12 by mid-2021. It will be produced at Wistron’s new facility which is said to be near Bengaluru. Currently, there are 1,000 workers at the unit and Wistron plans to hire 10,000 more workers. Local assembly of the iPhones will also give a boost to PM Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.  

Apart from manufacturing iPhones in India, the Cupertino based giant is also set to launch its official online store in the country next month. Bloomberg Quint reports that Apple’s online store will go live ahead of Dussehra-Diwali festive season. The company currently sells its products through franchise partners in India. Having its own official store will give Apple more control over its pricing. The report also adds that Apple plans to open its brick and mortar stores in Mumbai (Bandra Kurla complex) next year followed by Bengaluru. 

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According to the report, Apple plans to step up the production of iPhone 11 in phases and also export the Made in India models. Locally manufacturing iPhone 11 would help the company to save 22 percent tax on imports. It’s unlikely that Apple would slash the prices of the device but industry experts hint at the possibility in the near future. It will allow the brand to take advantage of the benefits under the government’s production linked incentive (PIL) scheme. The move to produce iPhone 11 in India will also help Apple reduce its manufacturing dependency on China. 

India is becoming an important smartphone market for manufacturers and Apple is reportedly keen on expanding its facilities in the country. Foxconn is set to invest $1 billion in India to move iPhone production out of China. Apple’s other manufacturer Pegatron is reported to set up its plant and has registered a subsidiary in the country. 

Apple currently makes iPhone XR at Foxconn and iPhone 7 at Wistron facility. The Cupertino brand plans to assemble its 2020 iPhone SE at Wistron factory where the original iPhone SE was produced as well. 

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Apple announced a slew of new features and interface changes for its upcoming iOS 14, iPad OS and macOS Big Sur. Let’s take a look at all the announcements from WWDC 2020. 

iOS 14:

Apple’s next operating system i.e. the iOS 14 comes with a ton of new features and interface changes. Here are some of them below:

• iOS 14 comes with an app drawer called ‘App Library’ that categorizes all the apps and highlights the most used ones. The feature shows up when the user swipes past the available home screens. 
• Widgets can now be pinned on the home screen alongside the app icons instead of ‘Today’s View’ section. 
• The upcoming software version will bring Picture-in-picture feature allowing users to continue video playback in a small window while using other apps. 
• Apple has introduced a new translation app called Translate much like Google Translate. 
• The Siri interface has been revamped and it no longer takes fullscreen when using the voice assistant. It will only appear at the bottom of the screen with an animated icon. 
• Apple has upgraded its Messages app with new Memojis, mention feature (similar to WhatsApp) and interface for group texts. 
• With iOS 14, Apple has added the ability to turn your iPhone into a car key via CarPlay. The new feature allows NFC based keys to be stored on your phone enabling users to unlock the car. The 2021 BMW-5 series releasing next month will be the first car to support Apple’s digital car key feature. 
• Lastly, Apple has added a new App Clips feature allowing users to try an app before actually downloading it. Clips can be triggered by NFC, QR codes or Safari/messages. 

Apple’s iOS 14 will be available for devices launched as early as 2015 starting with the iPhone 6s. This means that current devices running on iOS 13 will support iOS 14. The list of compatible devices that will receive the upcoming software version include iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone SE (2nd generation), and iPod touch (7th generation)

Apple says that developers will get access to the iOS 14 from today. It will be available for public beta from next month and released later this fall. 

iPadOS 14, watchOS and AirPods:

Beginning with the iPadOS, the next version also gets most of the major updates in iOS 14 like groups in Messages, additional Memojis, quick-to-download App Clips, cycling directions in Maps and a condensed Siri interface. The iPadOS 14 brings sidebars and toolbars to Apple’s first-party apps like Photos, Music and Notes. It introduces a universal Search feature that can now dig deeper into the apps and web. Apple has made improvements to Apple Pencil that lets users to write in any text field and it will automatically be converted to a typed text. Users can also draw shapes that will be made geometrically perfect with Shape recognition feature. 

As for watchOS, Apple has introduced sleep tracking feature. Users can also share their watch face setup with others. The watchOS 7 also comes with handwashing detection using the accelerometer that detects for relevant motions and audio from the running water. 

Apple has updated its AirPods that can now automatically switch between multiple devices. The AirPods Pro get Spatial Audio feature that introduce 3D surround sound-like experience. 

macOS Big Sur:

Apple is moving from macOS X (or macOS 10) to macOS 11 after nearly two decades. The next software version of Apple’s computing devices is named ‘Big Sur’. The macOS Big Sur will come with design tweaks to its UI. Big Sur borrows the Control Center and Notification Center from iOS. There is also a new version of Maps on macOS with support for in-door maps, guides, favourite locations etc. 

New processors for future Macs:

As previously rumoured, Apple’s next-generation Macs will be powered by the company’s custom ARM-based chipsets developed in-house. The Cupertino-based brand already makes the processors for its iPhones, iPads and Watch. Until now, Apple has used Intel’s chipsets in its Mac notebooks and iMacs. The transition from Intel to custom SoC is aimed at delivering more performance while using less power. It will also create a seamless ecosystem with macOS supporting native iOS and iPadOS apps. 

Apple didn’t announce the specifics of its custom chipset. The company said that it will take two years to fully transition all Mac desktops and laptops to the new architecture. Apple added that Intel-based Macs are not outdated and they are still in pipeline. The company has already made its Final Cut Pro software compatible with the new Apple chips and macOS Big Sur while Microsoft and Adobe are working on updating their products. Apple said that it will make it easy for developers to port their apps. 

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