Ipad and Iphone User March 2023

REVIEWED:
HOMEPOD
(2ND GEN)
ISSUE 190
ESSENTIAL
iPAD
TIPS &
TRICKS
GET MORE
OUT OF
APPLE’S
TABLET
PLUS: BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR iPHONE

CONTENTS
16
NEWS 14
4 Apple’s mixed-reality headset
may be the iPhone 15 event’s
One More Thing
6 You can now use Google’s
awesome Magic Eraser on
your iPhone – for a price
8 Apple reportedly snatching
the entire early 3nm supply
for iPhones and Macs iPAD
10 If you kept your original 14 The iPad Pro’s overdue
iPhone, it could be worth more ŞPDMRUbUHYDPSşWLSSHGWR
than $60,000 arrive in 2024
12 Apple reportedly snatching 16 Essential iPad tips and tricks
the entire early 3nm supply you need to know
for iPhones and Macs 23 Best iPad stand
2 ISSUE 190 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

30 Best iPad keyboard
36 Best iPad productivity apps
23
iPHONE
44 L3KRQH&$'ʐOHVVKRZ
slimmer bezels, USB-C and
Dynamic Island
50 7 iPad features we want Apple
to bring to the iPhone
53 Best iPhone accessories
FEATURE
59 Apple’s machines are
OHDUQLQJbPRUHLQWHOOLJHQWO\ 53
than Bard and Bing
63 L26(YHU\QHZIHDWXUHbZH
hope to see unveiled at
WWDC 2023
HOMEPOD
69 Review: HomePod (2nd Gen)
79 The HomePod challenge:
A blind audio test of old
YHUVXVbQHZ
69
AUDIO
83 Review: B&W Pi7 S2
89 Review: Philips TAA6606
ISSUE 190 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 3

NEWS
Credit: Getty Images/mikkelwilliam

Apple’s mixed-reality
headset may be the iPhone
15 event’s One More Thing
The star of this year’s iPhone event might not be the iPhone 15.
Michael Simon reports
A
s we get closer to the release now be attached to the iPhone 15
of Apple’s AR/VR headset, event in September.
the launch date seems to be According to a tweet by Ming-
getting further and further Chi Kuo, the likelihood of a spring
away. What was once a possible announcement of the headset is
January event, then a spring event, “decreasing”, while “the probability of
then a WWDC announcement, might the headset launch alongside iPhone

15 in 3Q23 is rising”. If the headset 7. The long-rumoured headset will
is unveiled in September, Kuo says EH$SSOHşVʐUVWWUXO\QHZSURGXFW
Apple is still planning to ship the category in many years. It’s expected
headset before the end of 2023. to be an extremely high-end device
with a pair of high-resolution OLED 4K
The prediction for the mass shipment displays, advanced head- and eye-
schedule is unchanged, but the tracking technology, gesture input, an
likelihood of Apple’s 1st-gen AR/ M2 processor and a 3D interface.
MR headset release at the spring
HYHQWLVbGHFUHDVLQJ0HDQZKLOHWKH
probability of the headset launch
alongside iPhone 15 in 3Q23 is rising.
https://t.co/jqd0xtbBUs
(Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) 24
February, 2023
In a separate blog post (fave.

co/3meSa9o), Kuo shares some
information about the development
of future generations of the headset.
As reported previously, he says
the second-gen has “two high-end
and low-end models” scheduled to
ODXQFKbLQ:KLOHWKHʐUVWJHQ
headset will reportedly have an
extremely high price tag of at least
$3,000, the second-gen model is
expected to cost much less.
The iPhone event is no stranger to
major announcements. Back in 2014,
Apple used the stage to unveil the
Apple Watch alongside the iPhone
6, and in 2016, the AirPods arrived
with the headphone jack-less iPhone

NEWS
You can now use Google’s

awesome Magic Eraser on
your iPhone – for a price
7KH3L[HOH[FOXVLYHLVQRZDEHQHʐWIRU*RRJOH2QHVXEVFULEHUV
W
e’ve all seen the even iPhone users will be able to use
Google Pixel ad (fave. the feature to clean up their photos –
co/3ZsSnUV) where as long as they pay for Google One.
Giannis Antetokounmpo $VSDUWRIWKHODWHVWEHQHʐWVWR
UHPRYHVDŞJOLW]\şIURPKLVVHOʐHZLWK its storage plan, Google says it has
Simu Liu just by circling the unwanted added “Extra Google Photos editing
SKRWRERPEHUZLWKKLVʐQJHU1RZ features”, including Portrait Light,

Portrait Blur and Magic Eraser. At the
time of writing, the features were
rolling out to all subscribers.
To try out the new features, open
Google Photos, then select a photo.
Tap the edit button that looks like
a series of sliders. If Magic Eraser is
available, it will appear under the
Suggestions tab with a small ‘1’ icon
to let you know it’s a Google One
exclusive feature. Tap it, then select
the portion of the photo that you
want to remove, and it’ll be gone. The
changes will save as a new photo in
the Google Photos app and will need
to be manually added to your Apple
Photos app if you want a copy there.
Google One plans (fave.
co/3ZuHG4n) start at £1.59 a month
or £15.99 per year for 100GB of
storage. Google also says there will
be a free trial beginning in March so
people will be able to test out the
service before subscribing.

NEWS
Apple reportedly snatching

for iPhones and Macs
TSMC is catering almost exclusively to Apple’s chips needs.
W
hen Apple releases the almost certain to use a new 3nm chip-
new iPhone 15 Pro this PDNLQJSURFHVVWKDWLVVLJQLʐFDQWO\
DXWXPQLWFRXOGRʏHU IDVWHUDQGPRUHHʒFLHQWWKDQWKH
DVLJQLʐFDQWMXPSLQ current 5nm process.
SHUIRUPDQFHDQGSRZHUHʒFLHQF\ And it could be a while before any
than the past few models. That’s other chip comes close. According
because of the A17 chip, which is to DigiTimes, Apple is going all-

in on 3nm for the iPhone in 2023, $SSOHʐUVWPRYHGWRDQPSURFHVV
reportedly snatching up TSMC’s with the A14 chip in the iPhone 12.
‘entire initial 3nm supply’. Apple is a The new 3nm A17 Bionic will
priority customer for TSMC and it pays likely be exclusive to the iPhone 15
DSUHPLXPWRJHWʐUVWGLEVRQQHZ Pro, with the iPhone 15 using the
manufacturing process technology 5nm A16 Bionic, which will further
– prior reports have said that TSMC GLʏHUHQWLDWHbWKHSURDQGQRQSUR
charges $20,000 per wafer, which phones. On the Mac side, there’s a
typically yields several hundred chips. chance Apple could make the jump
It’s not unusual for Apple to grab to the 3nm M3 at an October event,
all, or nearly all, of the initial supply WKRXJKUHFHQWUHSRUWVFODLPWKHʐUVW
of a new process technology out M3 Macs wouldn’t arrive until 2024.
of TSMC. We don’t know how big We’re also expecting Apple plans to
‘initial supply’ is or how long Apple’s ship a new 15-inch MacBook Air this
order will last, but as we’ve seen spring as well as a new Mac Pro, both
in other years, Apple will almost RIZKLFKbZRXOGOLNHO\VWLFNZLWKWKH
certainly be the only company with 5nm M2-series chips.
a mass consumer product using According to reports from TSMC,
WKLVbPDQXIDFWXULQJWHFKQRORJ\IRU the gains from the 3nm chips are
several months. bigger than expected. That would
Apple’s order sets up the company be welcome news to iPhone and
for a 3nm A17 Bionic chip in the Mac fans, who were somewhat
iPhone 15 Pro as well as the Mac’s M3 disappointed by the A16 and M2.
processor that will likely arrive in late Apple isn’t the only company
2023 or early 2024. The move to 3nm moving to 3nm. Qualcomm and
is an improvement over the current MediaTek will make 3nm chips
enhanced 5nm process that increases eventually, but not in time for any
WKHWUDQVLVWRUGHQVLW\VLJQLʐFDQWO\DQG 2023 Android phones. Intel plans to
allows for more and more powerful do 3nm, too, but it will be at least
processing cores, more cache, more another year before it makes the
everything while having a lower power move, according to DigiTimes.
demand. So we could see jumps in
performance that are more than the
typical increase from year to year.

NEWS
If you kept your original

iPhone, it could be worth
more than $60,000
A sealed 8GB iPhone from 2007 sells for $63,356 at auction.
R
umours are swirling about storage options. But that’s a drop in
how the iPhone 15 Ultra could the bucket for the person who bought
be the priciest iPhone ever an original sealed iPhone from 2007
made, with a price tag that at an auction for more than $63,000
could top £2,000 for the top-tier (around £51,900).

The 8GB iPhone belonged to
cosmetic tattoo artist Karen Green,
who was gifted the new phone in
2007 by friends to celebrate starting
a new job. Since she already had a
brand-new phone at the time, she
never opened the box, and now the
iconic handset has earned her enough
to buy more than 50 iPhone 14
Pros – $63,356.40 to be exact. That
price includes a 20 percent ‘buyer’s
premium’, so the actual winning bid
was $52,797 excluding postage,
insurance and tax.
The original iPhone launched in
2007 in two sizes, 4- and 8GB, with a
3.5-inch display, no front camera, just
16 apps and no app store. Of course,
it quickly became a huge hit and one
RIWKHPRVWLQʑXHQWLDOHOHFWURQLF
devices ever made, with several
technologies that are commonplace
today, including pinch to zoom and
pull to refresh.
The winning bidder, who outbid 26
other people to win the lot, capped
RʏDʑXUU\RIDFWLYLW\RQWKHʐQDOGD\
which saw the bid price increase by
more than $30,000. Unfortunately,
they won’t be able to use it to do
much since AT&T’s 2.5G Edge network
has since been shuttered and it can’t
be updated past iOS (iPhone OS) 3.1.3.

NEWS
Apple reportedly snatching

for iPhones and Macs
Moose, donkey, peas, and more. Michael Simon reports
A
SSOHUHOHDVHGWKHʐUVWL26 update that was pulled in December,
16.4 beta last month with ZHESXVKQRWLʐFDWLRQVDQGDFKDQJH
a couple of notable new to the way betas are installed. But
features, including the most users will only care about the
UHWXUQbRIWKHQHZ+RPHDUFKLWHFWXUH new emoji that will be available

ZKHQbWKH\XSGDWH$IWHUEULQJLQJWKH
melting face, biting lip, jar, beans, and
bubbles to iPhone in iOS 15.4 last
year, Apple is bringing 21 new designs
and 31 variations with the upcoming
update. These are the new designs as
RIWKHʐUVWL26EHWD
Heart: Blue, pink, grey.

Smiley: Shaking face.
Gesture: Rightwards and leftwards
pushing hand with 5 skin tones each.
Animals: Donkey, moose, goose, wing,
MHOO\ʐVK
Nature: Hyacinth, pea pod, ginger.
Items: Folding hand fan, hair pick,
ʑXWHPDUDFDV
Symbols: Khanda, wireless.
$VWKLVLVWKHʐUVWEHWDWKHGHVLJQ
DERYHFRXOGFKDQJHEHIRUHWKHʐQDO
version is released. As Emojipedia
notes, Apple added cream cheese
to the bagel emoji and changed the
shape and angle of the peach emoji
LQbSUHYLRXV\HDUV

iPAD
The iPad Pro’s overdue

‘major revamp’ tipped to
arrive in 2024
Mark Gurman reports big changes are coming to Apple’s
professional tablet after another dull year. David Price reports
I
n a recent edition of his Power KRZHYHUZLOOEHDGLʏHUHQWPDWWHU
On newsletter (fave.co/3DhI7qd), KHbVD\VZLWKDšPDMRUUHYDPSŢRQ
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman WKHbZD\IRUWKHL3DG3UR
warns that 2023 will be a “light Spring 2024, according to Gurman,
year” for iPad releases… as in a year will bring “an updated design and
that will bring spec bumps, rather than 2/('VFUHHQVIRUWKHʐUVWWLPHŢWR
DVWURQRPLFDOOHDSVIRUZDUG1H[W\HDU the iPad Pro range. This is big (and

arguably overdue) news. Apple hasn’t 2024, which lines up with Gurman’s
VLJQLʐFDQWO\FKDQJHGWKH3URşVGHVLJQ prediction.
since 2018, when it removed the Promising news for iPad Pro
+RPHEXWWRQVTXDUHGRʏWKHHGJHV customers, then. But the coming year
and curved the screen corners. If doesn’t look like being anywhere
you’re not keeping track, that’s four near as much fun. Regarding the
generations in a row that the company standard iPad, the mini, and the
has rolled out premium tablets that iPad Air, Gurman says there are no
are largely indistinguishable. major updates coming in 2023. And
We don’t know what the new WKHL3DGb3URšIRUVXUHLVQşWJHWWLQJ
design will look like, but previous anything of note this year.”
rumours have suggested the addition We’d love Gurman to be wrong
of a glass back, which might in turn about iPads in 2023, but he has a
mean MagSafe wireless charging. solid track record of predictions. In
It’s also possible that Apple will other words, strap in for a dull year
EXPSWKHb3URşVPD[LPXPVFUHHQ and we’ll see you on the other side
size from the current 12.9 inches RIbWKHFDOHQGDU
WRVRPHWKLQJbLQWKHUHJLRQRI
RUHYHQbLQFKHV6RPHWKLQNWKDW
would be a very bad idea, but it
ZRXOGbFHUWDLQO\EHLQWHUHVWLQJ
As for the OLED screen upgrade,
that’s something that’s been expected
for a while too. Colourful, high-
contrast OLED screen tech arrived on
Apple’s smartphones with the launch
of the iPhone X way back in 2017 (and
ZDVRʏHUHGDOEHLWLQDPXFKVPDOOHU
form, on the Apple Watch two years
before that) but still hasn’t appeared
on even Apple’s most expensive
tablets. Last month, however, a well-
regarded display industry analyst
VXJJHVWHGWKLVPLJKWʐQDOO\KDSSHQLQ

iPAD
Essential iPad tips and

WULFNVb\RXQHHGWRNQRZ
Get more out of your Apple tablet with our easy-to-follow advice.
David Price reports
i
Pads are powerful and versatile owners that will prove handy advice
devices, but they can be easy for anyone trying one of Apple’s
to underestimate. Apple likes to WDEOHWVIRUWKHʐUVWWLPHŜDQGPD\EH
hide complexity under a surface even teach experienced users may a
of simplicity, and getting the most gem they weren’t aware of.
out of your iPad might not be as
straightforward as you’d think. With 1. RETURN AND REFRESH
that in mind, we’ve assembled 10 5LJKWRʏWKHEDWWKHUHDUHWZR
essential tips and tricks for iPad gestures that every iPad owner

needs to know: tap to
return to the top of
WKHbVFUHHQDQGSXOO
to refresh the current
page. Like the iPhone,
they don’t apply to
every single app, but
they crop up so often
and are so useful
when they do, that it’s
always worth giving
them a try.
If you’ve scrolled
down a web page, Everything below the volume control slider is customizable.
a list of options, or
any other long-running screen, a used toggles and controls, such as
single tap at the top of the screen screen brightness, Airplane Mode,
is likely to jump you instantly back 'R1RW'LVWXUE)RFXVPRGHVDQG
to the beginning. (This is so handy RULHQWDWLRQbORFN
that we’ve long argued it should The top toggles are set in stone,
be available on the Mac.) Dragging but you can pick and choose what
the screen downwards for a second appears below them. Go to Settings
or so, meanwhile, will cause the > Control Centre to see a list of
page to refresh – mostly on web ‘Included controls’ (tap the red ‘minus’
pages and apps with updating icon to remove any of these) and
FRQWHQWbOLNHb7ZLWWHU ‘More controls’ (tap the green ‘plus’
icon to add any).
2. THE CENTRE OF CONTROL
Swipe down from the top-right corner 3. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE
of the iPad’s screen and you’ll bring ALL AT ONCE
up the Control Centre. You’ll know it The iPad’s large display is fantastic
from he iPhone and it’s just as useful IRUbPXOWLWDVNLQJDQG$SSOHRʏHUV
here – a handy place for accessing DIHZGLʏHUHQWZD\VWRGRLWRQWKH
a bunch of the most commonly L3DGb7DSWKHWKUHHGRWVPXOWLWDVNLQJ

iPAD
you watch a video while

getting on with something
else. While using a
video-based app such as
YouTube, look for an icon
showing two overlapping
rectangles with an arrow
pointing down and to the
right; this will make the
YLGHRʑRDWDERYHRWKHU
apps. (If it’s not working,
head over to Settings, then
Drag that central divider to give more screen space to General > Picture in Picture
one of the apps. and enable the Start PiP
Automatically toggle.)
button at the top-centre of a Finally, there’s Apple’s newest and
VXSSRUWHGbDSSDQG\RXşOORSHQWKH most advanced multitasking interface,
multitasking menu, which has a three Stage Manager, that’s only for certain
options. The top option is to keep iPad Pro and iPad Air models that
your app ion full screen, the middle support the feature. Stage Manager
option is Split View, which lets you functions similarly to how it works on
open another apps alongside the macOS Ventura by resizing the current
one you have open, and the bottom DSSDVDʑRDWLQJZLQGRZDQGVKRZLQJ
one is Slide Over,
which turns the
app you have open
into a smaller
ʑRDWLQJbZLQGRZ
and lets you open a
new app behind it.
There’s a third
multitasking mode
called Picture in The Picture in Picture button (to the right of the X) is surprisingly
Picture, which lets GLǌFXOWWRGHVFULEH

the dock at the bottom of the screen This is especially useful if you’ve
and recent apps on the left. You can generously handed over an iPad to a
tap one of the app windows to switch child. Set Downtime to limit usage to
to it or drag it out to have both on a set period during the day: remember
the screen at the same time. To turn to begin this when they are supposed
Stage Manager on, open the Control WRWXUQWKHL3DGRʏDQGHQGLWZKHQ
Centre and tap the icon showing three they’re allowed to use the iPad again.
vertical dots next to a rectangle. You can also specify certain apps
– Messages, perhaps, or something
4. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS educational – that will always be
Your iPad should be at your service, allowed, block inappropriate content
not the other way around. To avoid and limit who the user can contact.
constant distractions, customize your
QRWLʐFDWLRQVE\JRLQJWR6HWWLQJV 6. LEARN TO FOCUS
!1RWLʐFDWLRQVDQGSDULQJWKLQJV There will be times when you want to
back to the essentials. Use the most use the iPad (or at least have the iPad
discreet alerts wherever possible, switched on and available) but in a
and we recommend avoiding sounds particular and limited way. There are
except for apps you genuinely need lots of options of this sort under the
to respond to immediately. Think of Settings > Focus menu.
your iPad like your Mac – you’re going 'R1RW'LVWXUELVIDLUO\VHOI
to want to keep working or playing as explanatory – it blocks messages,
long as possible without interruptions. YLGHRFDOOVDQGQRWLʐFDWLRQVH[FHSW
IRUVSHFLʐHGDSSVDQGFRQWDFWVŜEXW
5. LIMIT SCREEN TIME it’s worth noting that you can set a
While you’re in Settings, visit the schedule or automation for when it
Screen Time page to monitor your activates. Sleep is similar but will be
daily usage, and set limits on the tied to the sleep schedule on your
WLPHbZKHQWKHL3DGRUVSHFLʐF iPhone, and Driving does the same for
apps can be used without entering your iPhone’s vehicular trigger (such
DVSHFLDObFRGH7KLVFDQKHOSWR as when you connect to CarPlay).
reduce strain on your eyes, improve But it doesn’t stop there. You can
sleep patterns, and free up time for also schedule or manually trigger
activities away from a screen. Fitness, Work, and Personal modes,

iPAD
and in each case specify allowed apps 1RZDGD\VDQDSSFDQUHPDLQRQ\RXU

DQGFRQWDFWVQRWLʐFDWLRQVHWWLQJVDQG iPad without its icon appearing on
even a custom home page to display. any Home screen and you can delete
full pages of apps in an instant. You’ll
7. CLEAN UP YOUR use the App Library as you do on the
+20(b6&5((1 iPhone, but it’s even more useful on
Tap and hold anywhere on your iPad’s the iPad’s large screen. If you remove
home screen and after a couple of any apps, you can use Spotlight search
seconds, you’ll enter Edit Mode. (If (swipe down from the middle of the
you tapped and held an app icon screen) or visit the App Library that
\RXşOOʐUVWQHHGWRVHOHFWŞ(GLW+RPH sits to the right of your last Home
Screen’ from the pop-up menu.) From VFUHHQSDJHWRʐQGWKHP
here you can move around app icons,
including the ones in the dock at the 8. CUSTOMIZE YOUR
bottom of the screen, and delete or +20(b6&5((1
remove apps you don’t want anymore. While you’re in Edit mode, tap the
1RWHWKDWWKHUHşVDGLʏHUHQFH ‘plus’ symbol at the top left to open
between removing an app from the the widgets menu. From here you can
Home screen and actually deleting it. search for and select from a huge
range of mini-apps to sit
on your home screens:
WKHbZHDWKHUIRUDVHOHFWHG
area, the time in multiple
zones, recently played
albums or Apple TV shows,
a summary of Reminders
RUbXSFRPLQJ&DOHQGDU
events, and so on.
Once you’ve picked a
widget, you’re likely to get
the option of various styles
and sizes, so consider how
The App Library started on the iPhone but it’s even much info you need and
better on the iPad. how much space you’re

to. Select Camera,
for example, and
you’ll see a list of all
the apps currently
accessing it and you
can tap the green
toggle to deny this
access from now on.
Pay particular
attention to the
Tracking entry near
the top. This is for
apps that have
This version of the Music widget will take up as much space as asked to track your
eight app icons, but smaller versions are available. activity across other
apps and websites.
prepared to have it take up. They’re We routinely deny this request
a little constricted by the grid, but (and recommend having the global
widgets are still a fantastic way to get toggle for ‘Allow Apps to Request
bits of information without needing to WR7UDFNşWXUQHGRʏ EXWWKLV
constantly open apps. menu makes it easy to withdraw
SHUPLVVLRQbUHWURDFWLYHO\
9. PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
Apple’s reputation as the pro-privacy 10. LEVEL UP YOUR KEYBOARD
tech company took a knock this In landscape orientation especially,
\HDUbEXWWKHL3DGLVVWLOODQH[FHOOHQW the iPad’s keyboard takes up a lot of
choice if you want to safeguard your screen space. To shrink it down to a
data, habits, and personal details. Go more manageable size, pinch inwards
to Settings > Privacy & Security to ZLWKWZRʐQJHUV WKHVDPHJHVWXUH
ʐQHWXQH\RXUVHWXS you’d use to zoom out of an image).
The list of privacy settings here 7KHVPDOOHUʑRDWLQJNH\ERDUGFDQVLW
isn’t organized by app (a list of anywhere on the screen, just use the
ZKLFKbZRXOGEHRYHUZKHOPLQJ EXWE\ bar at the bottom to move it around.
what the apps are requesting access If you want to go back to the full-size

iPAD
about a second
and the cursor
will change shape
to indicate that
you’re now in text
selection mode.
It’s just like having a trackpad.
keyboard, do a ‘pinch out’ gesture

XVLQJWZRʐQJHUV
A third option is the split keyboard,
although bear in mind that not all
iPad models support this feature. To
turn this on, go to Keyboard Settings
(either via Settings > General >
Keyboard or by tapping and holding
the emoji key) and toggle Split
Keyboard to On.
Finally and perhaps most useful of
all, your iPad’s onscreen keyboard can
also serve as a trackpad. Tap and hold
WKHNH\ERDUGZLWKWZRʐQJHUVDQGWKH
keys will all grey out, and a cursor will
appear in the text Then move your
ʐQJHUVWRFRQWUROWKHFXUVRUDQGʐQG
the text you want to edit. Hold still for

Best iPad stand
Adding a stand makes your iPad even more convenient. Here are
some of the best stands for your tablet. Martyn Casserly reports
T
here’s nothing like having the Of course, those using their iPad
convenience of hands-free use for work may also want to pair the
of your iPad. Whether you’re iPad with a keyboard (here are some
in the kitchen, streaming a of the best ones).
ʐOPRUZRUNLQJDW\RXUGHVNDVWDQG An iPad stand will help your
becomes an essential tablet accessory. posture and viewing comfort, or make

iPAD
typing or using a stylus much easier. to prevent the screen from getting
We’ve rounded up some of the best scratched too. It works with any tablet
iPad stands out there for every budget (or phone) from 4- to 13 inches.
– from the lightweight and portable,
to the adjustable, to the ones that just 2. TWELVE SOUTH
look great, and one that will turn your &203$66b352
iPad into a desktop workstation. Price: eIURPIDYHFR<41;
If you’re looking for a stylish folding
1. LAMICALL TABLET STAND stand to hold up your iPad while you
Price: £14 from fave.co/3kveI5A work, Twelve South has you covered
The Lamicall Tablet stand is an with the easel-like Compass Pro. We
adjustable iPad holder that rotates like the way it folds up into a small
270 degrees to suit the angle that you package (and comes with a travel
need, making it ideal for use at the pouch), and can be quickly unfolded
work desk or kitchen table. It comes DQGSODFHGRQDQ\ʑDWVXUIDFH,WşV
with rubber cushions on the hooks ideal for mobile workers looking to
SURSXSDQL3DGLQDFRʏHHVKRSDQG
designers will love its arty credentials.
You can also unfold one side to prop
an iPad up on its side.
1. 2.

that extend the range of ports of your
iPad but the Kensington StudioDock
has it all, with a stand that raises the
L3DGFPRʏGHVNOHYHODQGFDQWLOW
between 0- to 120 degrees, plus adds
a row of 5Gbps USB-A, USB-C and
Gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as a
speedy UHS-II SD 4.0 Card Reader and
a combo audio jack. There’s also an
HDMI 2.0 port that lets you connect
up to a 4K external display at 60Hz.
With all this, your iPad just became
DbIXOO\ʑHGJHGGHVNWRSZRUNVWDWLRQ
3.
and one that runs iOS and works with
the Apple Pencil.
3. AMAZONBASICS $VDUHDOERQXVLWVEDVHRʏHUV
Price: £8 from fave.co/3mfkfh6 wireless charging for iPhone and
You can’t really go wrong with AirPods, and you can also add an extra
AmazonBasics – Amazon’s line of Apple Watch charging module.
cheap and cheerful line of gadgets we Make sure you buy the correct
all need. The Adjustable Tablet stand model for your iPad. The K39160WW
ʐWVDOOL3DGVXQGHULQ DQGRIFRXUVH is compatible with the 12.9-inch iPad
Kindle Fire tablets and e-readers). The
back support pivots to any angle you
need – plus, it’s collapsible, making it
ultra portable and easy to stow away.
It may not be the prettiest to look
at, but it’s a quick and inexpensive
solution to propping up your iPad.
4. KENSINGTON STUDIODOCK
iPAD DOCKING STATION
Price: £227 from fave.co/3SL7QgX
4.
You can buy portable USB-C hubs

iPAD
Pro (2018/2020/2021 and 2022 a case since none of Apple’s iPads

models); the K34031WW StudioDock support MagSafe. Like the iMac stand,
is compatible with 11-inch iPad Pro Elago’s stand has a hole to thread a
(2018/2020/2021 and 2022 models) cable through. The stand also allows
and iPad Air (2020/2022) but not with for tilt adjustment so you can get the
the latest 10.9-inch (10th generation) best viewing angle. And the iPad can
iPad. The K34030WW is compatible be rotated from portrait to landscape
with 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018/2020). positions freely. The Elago Magnetic
Stand for iPads is available in grey,
5. ELAGO MAGNETIC blue, pink, and silver.
STAND FOR iPADS
Price: £120 from fave.co/3SFrlaD 6. UGREEN TABLET STAND
If you want a stand that’s as close Price: £13 from fave.co/41C3wob
to the Apple aesthetic as possible, This universal stand from UGreen
you can’t get any closer than Elago’s works across a broad range of devices
new Premium Stand. The minimal LQFOXGLQJ1LQWHQGR6ZLWFK IURP
aluminium stand is designed to display sizes as small as 4in – and
mirror the 24-inch iMac – and you’d comes in either white or black.
be hard-pressed to tell them apart The stand folds so you can carry it
other than the size. The stand holds with you to work or to use on your
all sizes of the iPad with magnets, so FRPPXWH3OXVWKHKLQJHʑH[HVXSWR
it’s recommended to be used with 100 degrees.
5. 6.

8. LULULOOK MAGNETIC
i3$'b67$1'
Price: $80 (around £66)
from fave.co/3IB7Mvy
Lululook’s Magnetic iPad Stand (Urban
6HULHV LVDJRRGORRNLQJʑRDWLQJ
adjustable aluminium stand for iPad
Pro 12.9in (3rd/4th/5th Gen), iPad
11in (1st/2nd/3rd) and iPad Air
(4th Gen). A strong built-in magnet
automatically aligns and holds the
7.
L3DGʐUPO\LQSODFHDQGGHJUHH
VZLYHOURWDWLRQRʏHUVSRUWUDLWDQG
7. SATECHI ALUMINIUM STAND landscape viewing. The supporting
& HUB FOR iPAD PRO arm makes tilting easy for multiple
Price: £90 from fave.co/3kCXumQ viewing angles. It’s available in Space
The Satechi Aluminium Stand & Hub Grey and Silver. Lululook also has a
for iPad Pro is more than just a strand Magnetic Stand for iPad Mini.
to help raise your tablet to a more
comfortable and ergonomic level.
Cleverly, it’s also a hub boasting
six handy ports, including: HDMI for
adding an external display (4K at up to
60Hz); a USB-C port for pass-through
iPad charging (60 watts); USB-A;
3.5mm audio jack; and both SD and
microSD card readers.
Beautifully built, it weighs 280g
and folds up for portability. It
connects to the iPad Pro with its built-
LQ86%&FDEOH1RWHWKDWLWşV86%&
rather than Lightning so works with
the iPad Pro only (or some Windows
8.
tablets if you’re so inclined).

iPAD
10. TYRONE GOOSENECK

TABLET HOLDER
Price: eIURPIDYHFR(1JWOY
)OH[LEOHEXWʐUPWKLVJRRVHQHFN
iPad stand is best suited for passive
viewing or video calls where you don’t
need to use the touchscreen controls
VRPXFK,WKDVDʐUPJULSRQWKHWDEOH
9.
and the tablet, and can bend to just
about any angle you desire.
9. TWELVE SOUTH PARCSLOPE
Price: £60 from fave.co/3IHHpnR 11. BELKIN
Twelve South’s minimalist matte-black Price: £67 from fave.co/3xYiojl
ParcSlop is a stand for both MacBook If you’re standing up in front of a lot
and iPad. Place your iPad on the stand, of people and giving a presentation,
and you get an 18-degree angle then this iPad stand is a great choice.
that’s great for sketching with a stylus The Belkin Portable Tablet Stage
RUW\SLQJ,WGRHVQşWRʏHU\RXDQ\ Stand is sturdy and has an adjustable
extra height but it is super stable for platform to position your iPad right
working on. where you can see it. It comes with
10. 11.

a built in system for tidying away
cables, and you can use the Apple
HD Adapter to connect your iPad
to a projector or display. The stand
comes with an app called Stage
(available for iOS and Android) that
acts as an interactive whiteboard
DQGGRFXPHQWbFDPHUD:HWKLQNLWşV
a great stand for teachers and others
who present on a regular basis.

iPAD
Best iPad keyboard

The addition of a great keyboard can go a long way to optimising
any tablet for productivity. &OLǉ-RVHSK reports
A
pple has always marketed on-screen keyboard is great, it
the iPad as a device for undoubtedly holds you back when
productivity, but its form typing out long articles or sending
factor has often placed multiple emails. It can also be
limitations on the amount and quality frustrating to lose so much of the
of work that can be completed. screen to a virtual keyboard. Apple
This is perhaps most apparent has tried to address this in its iPad
in the lack of a physical keyboard. Pro line, but even then the keyboard
Although the versatility of an is an optional accessory. With more

1.
and more iPad models supporting The Magic Keyboard also has a
the smart connector in addition to rechargeable battery that Apple says
Bluetooth connectivity, there are a can last for a month between charges.
huge variety of keyboard options on And, of course, if you’ve already got
the market. Here are our favourites. one of these keyboards (or one of the
older Wireless Keyboards which work
1. APPLE MAGIC KEYBOARD with iPads too) then you don’t need
Price: £99 from fave.co/3IyWs34 to spend any extra money buying a
The Magic Keyboard is a Mac staple, brand-new keyboard just for your iPad.
but it can be an iPad one too. An Apple also updated the Magic
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKLVLVQRZDQRʒFLDO Keyboard when it released the new
accessory for the latest iPad Pro – we 24in iMac, but the revamped model
look at this next – but in fact this with colourful liveries and Touch ID
keyboard can work with practically are not available to buy separately
any iOS device. The advantage of at the moment. If and when it
using a standalone keyboard such as does arrive, we’re sure it will be an
this is that it has larger keys than any excellent companion for an iPad.
of the iPad keyboard-covers, and the The downside to the existing
keyboard panel is angled upwards keyboard is that it’s not really very
at a more comfortable angle, so you portable, and doesn’t act as either
FDQbJHWGRZQWRVRPHVHULRXVW\SLQJ a cover or a stand for your iPad, so
when you need to. \RXbPLJKWVWLOOQHHGWRVSHQGPRUH

iPAD
money on accessories somewhere a trackpad (cleverly supported in

along the line. iPadOS 13.4 onwards), which is
transformative.
2. APPLE MAGIC $ʑRDWLQJFDQWLOHYHUKROGVWKHL3DG
.(<%2$5'b)25biPAD PRO in position; not only does it look cool,
Price: £379 from fave.co/41uADKR it helps elegantly solve the weight
Okay, now we’re talking. Apple distribution issue while letting you
GURSSHGVRPHMDZVZKHQLWʐUVW adjust the screen angle on a hinge.
unveiled the Magic Keyboard Bear in mind, however, that you can’t
GHVLJQHGVSHFLʐFDOO\IRUWKHL3DG fold the keyboard back on itself when
3URPRGHOV7KHŞʑRDWLQJşGHVLJQZLOO not in use – you have to detach the
prove an impressive home for any keyboard completely when you want
UGbJHQHUDWLRQRUODWHU3UR to do something with just the tablet.
The keys are much more 1HYHUWKHOHVVWKLVLVXQGRXEWHGO\
comfortable to type on than the the best Apple keyboard you can get
older Smart Keyboard Folio, although for the iPad Pro.
they’re slightly cramped compared
to a full-sized laptop. And there’s 3. BRYDGE 12.9 PRO+
Price: £229 from
IDYHFR.3]162
Brydge has a long history
of building top-quality iPad
keyboards, and the 12.9
Max+ is arguably its best
HʏRUWWRGDWH7KHDOXPLQLXP
case has a weighty heft to
it, but that’s a good thing, as
the 970g help create a very
stable host for the large 12.9in
iPad Pro, even when perched
on your lap. A rubberised
lining to the lid ensures no
scratching of the tablet, with a
2.
lower lip and magnetised area

system just like you would on a
Mac, with the availability of the
WRXFKVFUHHQDWDOObWLPHV
There’s a solitary USB-C port on the
12.9 Max+, from which you can charge
the battery, which Brydge claims will
last for 40-hours when using the
backlight or much longer without. In
our tests it certainly kept going for
ages without needing a recharge.
Combining the trackpad and
keyboard into a
sturdy case makes
the 12.9 Max+ feel
3.
as close as you can
get to using a MacBook Pro
KROGLQJWKHGHYLFHʐUPO\LQSODFH when you’re actually on an iPad. It
Removing it is easy though, as there might not have the instant wow factor
are recessed areas of the lid that allow RIWKH$SSOH0DJLFb.H\ERDUGIRU
you to simply push the iPad forward iPad Pro, but at around £100cheaper
and out. Very simple, very nice. there’s plenty to make you smile.
The keyboard itself is excellent. Those with 11in iPad Pros or
Keys are large and have decent travel, the latest iPad Air also have similar
making it a joy to work on. There are versions of the product available, so
dedicated ones for the likes of media there’s no need to miss out.
control, screen brightness, volume,
keyboard backlight brightness, and to 4. APPLE MAGIC KEYBOARD
return to the Home Screen. )25biPAD PRO AND iPAD AIR
You won’t necessarily need Price: £319 from fave.co/3SBReIk
WKHPbWKRXJKDVWKHODUJHWUDFNSDG While the iPad Pro 12.9in has its
is fully compatible with iPadOS, Magic Keyboard, as outlined above,
including smooth delivery of that doesn’t mean those with 11in
multi-touch gestures. It’s very iPad Pros or the newly redesigned
enjoyable to navigate through the iPad Air get left behind.

iPAD
bigger variant, but matched

WRSHUIHFWO\ʐWWKHLQL3DG
Pro (3rd gen) and iPad Air
(4th gen).
5. LOGITECH SLIM
)2/,2b)25iPAD 9.7IN
Price: £202 from fave.
co/3SASRGl
Logitech has been the go-to
DOWHUQDWLYHWRRʒFLDO$SSOH
keyboards for a number of years
ago, and with good reason.
The Slim Folio streamlines
4.
this experience, with the
keyboard integrated into a
$SSOHDOVRRʏHUVLWVEHDXWLIXO fully functional case. The keys are
ŞʑRDWLQJşL3DGNH\ERDUGIRUWKH WDFWLOHDQGUHVSRQVLYHRʏHULQJD
VPDOOHUbVLEOLQJV<RXşOOJHWWKHVDPH good amount of travel that makes it
magnetic plate that holds the iPad comparable to many laptops.
in place, while underneath is the The case is also great if you want
excellent scissor keyboard. to forget about
Adding a trackpad remains W\SLQJRʏHULQJ
the truly breakout feature on 10- and
this generation of cases, as it 58-degree
unlocks some of the potential screen
of iPadOS, making it much angles
FORVHUWRDbODSWRSUHSODFHPHQW
Multi-gesture support is
UHOLDEOHbDQGUHVSRQVLYHVR
you can use the iPad without
QHHGLQJbWRWDNH\RXUKDQGVRʏ
WKHbNH\VLI\RXVRFKRRVH
5.
Basically it’s the same as the

depending on what you’re doing. and without the back-light.
:LWKbWKHLQL3DGQRZVXSSRUWLQJ The Arteck keyboard works with
Apple Pencil, there’s even a useful all iPads, thank to the Bluetooth
holder above the screen. connection. It is also compatible
Although it doesn’t support the ZLWKbL26$QGURLGDQG:LQGRZV
smart connector, turning Bluetooth This keyboard comes with a
on is a very small price to pay for an two-year warranty.
excellent keyboard.
6. ARTECK BACKLIT KEYBOARD

Price: eIURPIDYHFR[;1,\*
Perhaps the most vibrant option of
the lot, Arteck’s Bluetooth keyboard
RʏHUVVHYHQFRORXUVLQLWVEDFNOLJKW
gamut, which are also adjustable to
two brightness levels.
The rechargeable lithium-ion
battery should last you six months
between charges, though this is if you
use the keyboard for two hours day
6.

iPAD
Credit: Getty Images/Jay Yuno

Best iPad productivity apps
The App Store has a huge selection of productivity software, but
ZKLFKZLOOUHDOO\KHOS\RXJHWVWXʏGRQH"Dominic Preston reports
Y
our iPad isn’t only great you’ll need the right apps, so here’s
for keeping up with the our selection of the 10 best for
latest news from friends productivity and organization.
and world events, taking
incredible photographs, playing iPADOS APPS
games, and generally keeping yourself %HIRUHKHDGLQJRʏWRWKHDSSVWRUH
entertained, but it’s also a portable to download productivity apps, it’s
powerhouse that can organize your worth spending some time with those
life while allowing you to get some that Apple already includes on your
work done. To make this happen GHYLFH1RWHVKDVVHHQVRPHXSJUDGHV

in recent years, allowing you to create is still the best place to start. You can
entries with tables, lists, freehand record your thoughts in a variety of
drawing, text, scanned documents GLʏHUHQWIRUPDWV LQFOXGLQJLPDJHV
or photographs. These can then be sync them across your devices, share
stored in dedicated folders so you can them, and search within them to
RUJDQL]H\RXUQRWHVHʏHFWLYHO\ TXLFNO\ʐQGZKDW\RXşUHORRNLQJIRU
Reminders is also a useful tool 7KHELJEHQHʐW(YHUQRWHKDVRYHU
for setting alarms, having a daily list WKHbFRPSHWLWLRQLVWKDWLWLQWHJUDWHV
of your tasks, and even setting up with a whole host of other apps and
shopping lists. Any of these can be VHUYLFHVKHOSLQJLWʐWSOD\QLFHO\
location based, meaning your iPad ZLWKbWKHUHVWRI\RXUZRUNʑRZ
will remind you of them when you There are some restriction
get to work, home or to the local RQWKHb%DVLF )UHH WLHUVXFKDV
greengrocers. There’s also the handy DPRQWKO\bXSORDGOLPLWRI0%
option of your device alerting you a maximum note size of 25MB,
of that pressing issue you meant to V\QFLQJbRQO\WZRbGHYLFHVSOXV
mention when you’re exchanging DFFHVVbWRFRQWHQWbRʓLQHDYDLODEOH
PHVVDJHVZLWKVSHFLʐFSHRSOH solely on the desktop version.
Of course, no organizational So, if this is too strict for your
line-up would be complete without needs then you’ll want to upgrade
some kind of scheduling tool and to the Premium plan. Alongside
Apple Calendar is a simple but a 10GB monthly upload limit, a
HʏHFWLYHRSWLRQ,WDOORZV
colour-coding of particular
calendars, can add location
data to appointments, and
works across all your Apple
devices.
1. EVERNOTE
Price: Free (in-app purchases)
IURPbIDYHFRPMW.4
If you’re looking to up your
1.
note-taking game, Evernote

iPAD
0%PD[LPXPʐOHVL]HDQG a single budget and cash wallet, but

unlimited synced devices, this also doesn’t have a bank sync feature. For
adds features like searching and this you’ll need to move to either the
DQQRWDWLQJb3')VOLQNLQJZLWK*RRJOH Spendee Premium plan that costs
'ULYHʐOHVDQGEHLQJDEOHWRIRUZDUG £2.79 per month, then you can also
email to your Evernote account, all for create and manage multiple wallets
£5.49 per month. and budgets, including shared ones –
in case you have communal spending
2. SPENDEE ZLWK\RXUIDPLO\RUʑDWPDWHV
IURPbIDYHFR,'J, 3. TODOIST
As the name might suggest, Spendee Price: Free (in-app purchases)
is a budgeting app that can help you IURPbIDYHFR=[S
PDQDJH\RXUSHUVRQDOʐQDQFHV$OORI There are plenty of to-do list apps
your spending habits are displayed in RXWbWKHUH ZLWKDFRXSOHPRUHLQWKLV
a selection of attractive graphs and list), but Todoist is one of the classics
charts, and it can handle multiple and it’s still got plenty going for it.
currencies for when you travel abroad 7KHbDSSLVDYDLODEOHDFURVVPRUH
too. Everything is then synced across WKDQGLʏHUHQWSODWIRUPVVR\RX
devices, including a browser version can track what you need to get done
and an Apple Watch app. on just about every device you own,
The free tier allows you to create RQOLQHDQGRʓLQH
Tasks can
be broken
down into
sub-tasks,
shared with
other users for
collaborative
progress,
colour-coded
IRUGLʏHUHQW
priority levels,
2.
and set to

or £47.99 per annum
which increases both
allowances while also
introducing reminders,
FRPPHQWVʐOHXSORDGV
ODEHOVʐOWHUVDQG
trends.
4. GOOGLE DOCS
Price:)UHHIURPbIDYH
co/3Zvy49u
3.
Okay, sure, we’re not
exactly pushing the
recur, while paid add-ons include boat out by recommending Google
attachments, reminders, labels, Docs here, but there’s good reason for
DQGʐOWHUV7KURZLQWKHDWWUDFWLYH that. For one thing, Google’s online
minimalist design, and it’s easy to 2ʒFHHTXLYDOHQWVDUHDPRQJWKH
VHHbZK\7RGRLVWKDVVWXFNDURXQG most fully featured out there, and for
IRUbVRORQJ the most part you can happily shift
Basic tier is free, allowing you to all of your writing, spreadsheets,
create up to 80 projects and share and presentations onto the system
them with up to 5 people, or there’s without losing any functionality.
the Premium tier for £4.99 per month But the other big advantage is
Google itself. It
means Docs is fully
integrated into the
rest of the Google
ecosystem, ideal
if you already use
Gmail or any other
Google platforms. It
also means there’s
a good chance you
4.
already have Docs

iPAD
LQ\RXURʒFHDQGWKDWDORWRIWKH stay in Forest for a set period of time,

other productivity apps on this list the tree will grow. If you get distracted
will integrate with Docs, which should and open Facebook, it will wither and
help to keep your life a bit more die. The more successfully you work
streamlined – which is probably the and resist distractions, the bigger your
reason you’re here. virtual forest. Sure, it’s a bit silly, but
we’ve heard of worse ways to keep
5. FOREST yourself motivated and £3.99 is a
Price: £3.99 (in-app purchases) price worth paying.
IURPbIDYHFR=J(MW
In the straightforward sense, Forest 6. STREAKS
doesn’t really do anything. It doesn’t Price:eIURPbIDYHFR-9
let you take notes, plan your calendar, Streaks is another app that doesn’t
share documents, or anything like directly let you do anything that
that. But it could, in theory, help you you couldn’t do before, but should
get better at doing all of those things. help you form the habits you need
The idea is pretty simple. If you to just be a bit more productive in
want to get on with some task, you
plant a tree within the app. If you can
5. 6.

general. You choose up to twelve
tasks that you want to be regular
habits. Complete one, and you extend
your streak. Fail to and it resets. It’s
that simple. Tasks are set to daily by
default, but can instead be weekdays-
only or three days a week, or whatever
else you can come up with. It also
syncs with the iOS Health app to track
your steps, heart rate, and more for
VSHFLʐFJRDOV2KDQGLWZRUNVRQWKH
Mac and Apple Watch too, to make
things even easier. So, invest £4.99
and start on your new set of streaks
which hopefully will help establish
productive habits.
7.
7. IFTTT
Price: Free (in-app purchases) FDQDXWRPDWHbHYHQPRUHRI\RXUOLIH
IURPbIDYHFR-:<,E %HVWbRIDOOLWşVIUHH
Forgive the unpronounceable name.
It stands for ‘If This, Then That’, and 8. SHOEBOXED
it allows users to create ‘applets’ Price: Free (in-app purchases)
combining the actions of a variety of IURPbIDYHFR(1769,
apps under certain conditions. There are few elements of modern life
You could set your music to PRUHWHGLRXVWKDQʐOLQJH[SHQVHV
start playing when you get home, Thankfully, there’s an app for that.
track your work hours with Google Shoeboxed is pretty simple: it
Calendar or any number of other uses your iPhone camera to scan
combinations. IFTTT claims to work receipts and store digital copies of
with over 360 apps, including Amazon them, allowing you to get rid of all
Alexa and Google Assistant, plus those crumpled bits of fading paper
the developers regularly expand its cluttering up your ‘miscellaneous
selection of triggers and actions so it VWXʏşGUDZHU

iPAD
9. HABITICA
IURPbIDYHFRPDS(1
Habitica is another motivational,
habit-forming app – but with a
SUHWW\FUXFLDOGLʏHUHQFH7KHZKROH
app is 16-bit RPG themed, turning
chores and tasks into quests and
KRSHIXOO\bPDNLQJHYHU\GD\OLIHMXVWD
little more epic.
You can set real-world rewards (like
getting to watch TV or eat a treat),
level up, unlock new gear, and even
team up with other people to defeat
monsters by generally all being a little
8.
more productive in your day-to-day
lives. Admittedly, if you don’t know
The app can use your GPS to track your Final Fantasy from your Chrono
mileage, and receipts are actually Trigger you might not get as much out
scanned and turned into text, rather
than just left as photos, for easy use
in other software and apps, and it’ll
import email receipts from Gmail
too. You can even have them printed
out and sent in a ‘magic envelope’
to anyone who insists on receiving
physical copies.
There are various paid tiers, with
the Starter package costing £3.99
per month for 25 document scans a
month, but the 30-day free trial gives
you the chance to test out whether
Shoeboxed is for you before adding
9.
another receipt to your collection.

of it, but for those of us weaned on them every time we actually need
epic RPGs, it’s a great way to make WRbXVHWKHP
ʑRVVLQJ\RXUWHHWKHYHU\QLJKWIHHOD 1Password is intended to slice
little less mundane. through this particularly modern
A subscription costs either £4.99 Gordian knot. It stores passwords
per month, £14.49 for three months, for hundreds of websites and apps
£28.49 for six months or £45.99 for a behind one secure Master Password –
full year. RUDSLQRUʐQJHUSULQWRQ\RXUL3KRQH
LI\RXSUHIHU,WşVIUHHIRUWKHʐUVW
10. 1PASSWORD days, but costs £3.49 per month if
Price: Free (in-app purchases) you decide you’d like to keep using it
IURPbIDYHFR(1Z\+7 beyond that. If you have children or
Passwords are, frankly, bloody siblings then you should consider the
annoying. A necessary evil of the )DPLO\SDFNDJHZKLFKJLYHV\RXʐYH
modern world, we’re all stuck either accounts for £6.49 per month again
using one password everywhere, with when you pay for the year in advance.
all the obvious security risks that
LQYROYHVRUXVLQJGLʏHUHQWRQHVRQ
every site and inevitably forgetting
10.

iPHONE
L3KRQH&$'ʐOHVVKRZ
slimmer bezels, USB-C and
Dynamic Island
After a somewhat lacklustre iPhone 14 release, Apple is reportedly
planning big changes in 2023. -DVRQ&URVV reports
E
very year, Apple introduces at the heart of the company’s portfolio
a new iPhone line, and its and serve as the driver for accessories
introduction is the most like Apple Watch and AirPods.
important event in the Apple The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
calendar. As much as Mac sales haven’t been out for very long, but
are growing and Apple’s push into rumours are already heating up about
services is increasing, iPhone sales are what to expect with next year’s iPhone

15 line. Here’s what we’ve heard so iPhone 14 Pro: £1,099
far, and what we expect based on iPhone 14 Pro Max: £1,199
Apple’s recent history.
If Apple does indeed re-brand the
RELEASE DATE iPhone 15 Pro Max as the iPhone 15
Apple usually introduces the new Ultra (see below) and give it some
iPhones on a Tuesday or Wednesday exclusive new features, we think that
around the second week of will prove enough of an excuse to
September. Therefore, we suspect the raise prices on that model, perhaps
iPhone 15 will be unveiled on 12 or £100. A tweet by LeaksApplePro in
13 September, 2023. At least some 1RYHPEHUVDLGLWH[SHFWVWKH
of the models will likely go on sale iPhone 15 Ultra to “cost substantially
for preorder that Friday (September more to manufacture than iPhone 14
15) and be available in stores the Pro Max”. That doesn’t necessarily
following Friday (September 22). mean it will cost more, but it’s a good
Here’s when the past few indication that it might.
generations arrived in stores:
iPhone 15 Ultra will cost
iPhone 14: 16 September, 2022 VXEVWDQWLDOO\bPRUHWRPDQXIDFWXUH
iPhone 13: 24 September, 2021 than iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 12: 23 October, 2020 LeaksApplePro, November 10,
iPhone 11: 20 September, 2019 2022
iPhone XS: 21 September, 2018
A rumour in December claimed
PRICE that Apple is “‘seriously’ considering
With the iPhone 14 models, Apple a price cut to the iPhone 15 Plus
kept the price the same in the US, but following disappointing sales of the
WKDQNVWRH[FKDQJHUDWHVDQGLQʑDWLRQ iPhone 14 Plus this year.
had to raise prices in the UK and many
other countries. For reference, here’s ǛPHONE 15 ULTRA
the pricing on the iPhone 14 line: 1RZWKDW$SSOHKDVLQWURGXFHGWKH
Apple Watch Ultra, there are rumours
iPhone 14: £849 that the company will extend the
iPhone 14 Plus: £949 branding to the iPhone line with the

iPHONE
iPhone 15 Ultra. That’s really about will. This hypothetical iPhone 15 Ultra
all there is to those rumours so far. could otherwise be thought of as an
The assumption is that the iPhone iPhone 15 Pro Max – it is assumed to
15 Ultra would be the branding used use the same processor, display, and
for the ‘Pro Max’ variant, and there design as the iPhone 15 Pro (though
would be some sort of new features LeaksApplePro [fave.co/3y2Mrq8]
WRGLʏHUHQWLDWHLW$SSOHGLGWKLVRQFH reports that it could have a titanium
before with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, body like the Apple Watch Ultra).
ZKLFKKDGDbVOLJKWO\EHWWHUFDPHUD
than the iPhone 12 Pro. DESIGN
So most people expect that the While Apple has kept the same
camera will once again be the feature general design since the iPhone 12,
that sets apart the new Ultra phone, rumours suggest that a change may be
possibly with a better periscope in store for the iPhone 15. Here’s what
telephoto camera (see below). The we’re hearing about the look of the
rumour mill has lots of other ideas next iPhone.
for how Apple could make the Ultra
version stand out, such as faster Enclosure
charging or more storage, but most According to ShrimpApplePro on
of them aren’t substantiated by any Twitter (fave.co/3KKKCWg), the
evidence. Wish list features, if you L3KRQHbZLOOIHDWXUHšDQHZ
ERUGHUbGHVLJQŢ$VWKHOHDNHU
explains, the back edge
corners will “be rounded and
not square” like the iPhone 14.
Based on the images below,
it looks a bit like an updated
version of the iPhone X.
So the new iPhone 15

From the early information
that I have, the iPhone 15 will
The iPhone 15 Ultra may come in titanium like the feature a new border design.
Apple Watch Ultra. The back edge corner (as

pointed out in the images) will be iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra models,
rounded and not square anymore. much like the Home button on the
The material also will be titanium. iPhone SE. Kuo says Apple will add a
Still very early to take it as it is. pair of Taptic engines on either side
ShrimpApplePro 20 November, RIWKHbSKRQHWRPLPLFWKHIHHORID
2022 clickable button.
We expect to see the same four USB-C

general sizes: about 6.1- and 6.7-inch The EU is mandating that most
for both the iPhone 15 and iPhone portable electronics, including
15 Pro. 9to5Mac (fave.co/3Yajjrx) phones, have to standardize around
REWDLQHG&$'ʐOHVUHSRUWHGWR USB-C for charging ports (if any,
be from the iPhone 15 enclosure, gadgets that only charge wirelessly
which shows a very slightly larger like the Apple Watch don’t need to
LQFKGLVSOD\WKDQNVbWRDVOLPPHU add a USB-C port). Apple will have to
EH]HO7KHL3KRQHb3UR&$'ʐOHV transition several products over time,
(fave.co/3SGS1Ik) showed a similar and instead of making special USB-C
VOLPPHUbEH]HO,WşVQRW\HWNQRZQLIWKH versions for Europe, will likely just
Max variants will also have a larger change everything worldwide as we
display, or if none of these iPhones saw recently with the 10th-generation
will, but will have a slightly smaller iPad and Siri remote. It’s expected
enclosure instead. WKDWbDOOL3KRQHPRGHOVZLOOFRPH
ShrimpApplePro says the iPhone with a USB-C port.
ZLOOXVHWLWDQLXPIRUWKHʐUVW Current iPhones use USB-C power
time, a rumour that we’ve heard for adapters, so that won’t change, just
VHYHUDOb\HDUV,IWUXHWKLVWLPHDURXQG the USB-C to Lightning cable and
it’s possible that it will be exclusive WKHbSRUWRQWKHL3KRQHLWVHOI7KH
to the iPhone 15 Ultra, much like XSVLGH"3RWHQWLDOO\IDVWHUFKDUJLQJ
WKHb$SSOH:DWFK8OWUD and faster data transfer speeds for
those that plug their iPhones into
Buttons their Macs or PCs.
According to a rumour by Ming-Chi &$'ʐOHVREWDLQHGE\WR0DF
Kuo (fave.co/3STn185), Apple might (fave.co/3Yajjrx) show a USB-C
switch to solid-state buttons for the SRUWbRQbWKHL3KRQH

iPHONE
iPhone. These leaks

are sometimes wrong,
often misunderstood,
and generally miss
software innovations
that accompany the
new hardware (such as
Dynamic Island, where
we only heard about the
‘pill and hole’ cutout and
not how Apple intended
The Dynamic Island might come to all iPhone 15 models. to make use of it).
Here’s what we
Dynamic Island FXUUHQWO\H[SHFWWRʐQGLQVLGHWKH
2QHVLJQLʐFDQWFKDQJHWRWKH iPhone 15 line.
display on the non-Pro iPhones is
that the Dynamic Island – that pill- 3HULVFRSHFDPHUDOHQV
shaped camera cutout that serves Rumours have said that Apple has
as an important interface element been working on a ‘periscope lens’
on iPhone 14 Pro – will come to all WRRʏHUDPXFKORQJHUUDQJHRSWLFDO
iPhone 15 models. That means the zoom. It’s the same technology that
non-Pro iPhones will have the same allows the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
look and interface. to achieve such a long zoom range.
1RWHWKDWWKLVGRHVQşWPHDQWKDW There hasn’t been a lot of movement
the iPhone 15 will get an always-on on this rumour recently, but it was
display or ProMotion, though. Those last suggested that this might be an
features are currently rumoured to exclusive feature of the iPhone 15 Pro
remain exclusive to the Pro models. Max. It’s unclear whether this would
QHFHVVLWDWHDGLʏHUHQWFDPHUDDUUD\
SPECS AND FEATURES layout or size, though the S22 Ultra’s
Apple tests a lot of new technologies cameras are much larger than the
from a lot of suppliers, and over time other models.
little leaks can sometimes give us a Elsewhere, there are sure to be
clue as to what’s coming in the next camera upgrades in the iPhone 15 as

there are every year. Between a front 3URb7UHQGIRUFHUHSRUWVWKDWWKH
camera and three rear cameras, you iPhone 15 Pro/Ultra models will get
can bet at least one of them will get 8GB of RAM. The non-Pro models are
an improved sensor or lens. The only expected to have the same 6GB of
VSHFLʐFUXPRXUDURXQGWKHFDPHUDV RAM as this year.
right now is that the iPhone 15 Pro
Max may have a periscope telephoto $SSOHşV*PRGHP
camera, giving an optical zoom likely Apple has been working on its own
somewhere in the 5x to 10x range. cellular modem for years now, having
acquired Intel’s modem unit in 2019
$SURFHVVRU for $1 billion. While it was originally
The next major processor rumoured that Apple could have
manufacturing technology bump out a competitive 5G capable cellular
of TSMC (the company that makes modem ready in time to be part
most of Apple’s chips) wasn’t ready of the iPhone 15, recent rumours
yet for the A16. We think the A17 suggest that won’t be the case. Back
LVOLNHO\WREHRQHRIWKHʐUVWPDVV in May, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that
produced chips to use the chip the development of the modem
manufacturer’s 3nm process, which had hit a “road block”, and Mark
should allow more transistors in the *XUPDQUHSRUWHGLQ1RYHPEHU IDYH
same area, allowing Apple to cram in co/3xYVl7U) that Qualcomm is
more features and better performance. expected to provide “the majority of
With the iPhone 14 line, Apple new modems” for the iPhone 15. We
reserved its new A16 for the Pro should expect another Qualcomm
models and used the A15 again on Snapdragon modem instead, most
WKHbQRQ3URPRGHOV:HWKLQNWKDWşV likely the Snapdragon X70.
likely to continue in 2023, with the
standard iPhone 15 using the A16
processor and the iPhone 15 Pro
XVLQJbWKHQHZ$
MEMORY
After the iPhone 14 Pro kept the
same 6GB of memory as the iPhone

iPHONE
7 iPad features we want

Apple to bring to the iPhone
The iPhone is as much of a productivity tool as the iPad. Tamara
Palmer reports
I
f you own an iPad and an iPhone, ʐQGWKDW\RXFDQşWGRWKRVHWKLQJV
this has happened to you at some anymore. If you could, everyday tasks
point, maybe even all the time: You ZRXOGEHHDVLHUDQGPRUHHʒFLHQW
ʐQG\RXUVHOIXVLQJIXQFWLRQVDQG Apple brought even more new
IHDWXUHVVSHFLʐFWR\RXUWDEOHWDQG productivity tools to its tablet in
then you switch to the iPhone and iPadOS 16 that would be great to have

in our pockets. Here’s our
wish list of iPad features we’d
like to see on the iPhone one
day (soon).
1. APPLE PENCIL
It’s been seven years since
iPad users got the gift of the
nifty invention known as the
Apple Pencil, and you still
can’t use it on an iPhone. Imagine if that was an iPhone instead of an iPad
Though Steve Jobs famously under the Apple Pencil.
loathed the idea, we think
it’s past time to make the Apple ZRXOGbPDNHLWZRUWKWKHOLNHO\
Pencil work with iPhones. After all, ebSULFHWDJ
our iPhones are always within reach
for things like notes and doodling, 2. FAST DATA TRANSFERS
and features such as handwriting-to- The iPhone 15 is rumoured to be
text conversion would be fantastic. making the switch to USB-C, which
$QGbQRZWKDWWKHVFUHHQLVELJJHU ZLOObPHDQWKHL3KRQHDQGL3DGZLOO
WKDQbLQFKHVZHWKLQN6WHYH ʐQDOO\KDYHWKHVDPHFRQQHFWLRQ
ZRXOGbOLNHLWWRR %XWbZHGRQşWNQRZZKDWWKDWPHDQV
Maybe it’s just us, but ever since for speeds. On the iPad, Apple limits
$SSOHʐQDOO\FDPHRXWZLWKWKH the iPad Air’s port to 10Gb/s, which
ʑRDWLQJ0DJLF.H\ERDUGIRUWKH is still way faster than the 480Mb/s
iPad Pro, we’ve wanted a miniature we get now. But we’re really hoping
model for the iPhone. It might seem the Pro models get the Thunderbolt
like a silly idea but think about it – treatment like the M2 iPad Pro and
popping your iPhone 14 Pro Max into support 40Gb/s transfers.
a MagSafe stand that has a MagSafe
Duo-style fold-out keyboard for 3. EXTERNAL DISPLAYS
typing out long emails and projects. :LWKL3DG26$SSOHʐQDOO\RʏHUV
The potential for improving work proper external display support
possibilities during travel alone for M1 and M2 iPad Pros via Stage

iPHONE
Manager, but we’re thinking it could multitasking for years, and we think
be practical for iPhones to have it, too. Apple could do it even better.
iPhone users can already use AirPlay
to mirror content, but that’s mainly UNIVERSAL CONTROL
for video playback. The iPhone is a A helpful tool for iPad and Mac users,
powerful computer that’s somewhat Universal Control allows you to use an
limited by its small display. Still, lots iPad as a wireless screen controlled
of people use iMovie, GarageBand, by your Mac’s keyboard and mouse
and other apps to make content that and work seamlessly between them.
would be much easier to use with a Surely, it wouldn’t be that large of a
larger screen. leap to extend that feature to iPhones
For years, iPad users have been too so we wouldn’t have to reach for
able to employ Split View as an our iPads all the time.
excellent way to work between two
GLʏHUHQWDSSVDWWKHVDPHWLPH(YHQ STAGE MANAGER
though iPhones have smaller screens, Okay, we know, Stage Manager isn’t
they’re still big enough (especially exactly one of the iPad’s best features.
LQODQGVFDSHYLHZ WREHQHʐWIURP It’s still a work in progress, but while
being able to see apps side-by-side. using it over the past few months, we
Android phones have had split-screen can see how it can become a real asset
on the iPad for
working in several
apps at once.
We’re not sure if
it would work on
the iPhone – the
Stage Manager
interface would
GHʐQLWHO\QHHG
to be retooled
for the smaller
screen – but we’d
certainly like to
Universal Control with an iPhone could open up new possibilities. VHH$SSOHbWU\

Best iPhone accessories
From cases to chargers, the right accessories can take your iPhone
experience to the next level. Martyn Casserly reports
W
hether you’ve recently available to make your experience
JRWWHQ\RXUʐUVWL3KRQH even better. From MagSafe batteries
or are a veteran of that keep the device charged when
Apple’s smartphone you’re out and about to car mounts
world, you might not be aware of that make it safe and easy to iOS
how many excellent accessories are controllers from getting the most

iPHONE
FDQWDNHDIXOO\ʑDWEDWWHU\
in an iPhone up to 80
percent of charge – that’s
20 percent better than
$SSOHşVRZQRʏHULQJDQGLW
can do it quicker, too.
If you want your iPhone
to keep going, even if
the battery isn’t quite as
robust as you’d hoped,
1.
then popping one of these
in your bag means you
out of the huge selection of games should last until you get home. One
RQWKHbSODWIRUP%XWZLWKVRPXFK caveat: due to the size of the unit, you
to choose from, where do you can’t use this pack with the iPhone
VWDUW"+HUHşVRXUJXLGHWRWKHEHVW mini models.
accessories for your iPhone.
2. APPLE AIRPODS PRO
1. ANKER MAGGO 622 1'b*(1(5$7,21
MAGNETIC BATTERY Price: £249 from fave.co/3KMkiLh
Price: £50 from fave.co/3ZcFUVy These are expensive, no question. But,
The Anker MagGo 622 magnetic if you want a great pair of wireless
battery is a great way to ensure that earbuds that also feature active noise
your iPhone doesn’t run out
of power when you’re away
from a charging point. It
has some advantages over
WKHbRʒFLDO$SSOH0DJ6DIH
battery pack in that it’s
cheaper, has a larger battery
capacity, and comes in a
selection of colours. There’s
also the built-in stand that is
2.
really handy, The MagGo 622

L3KRQHVb\RXPLJKWʐQG\RXUVHOI
without one at some point. The
RʒFLDObPRGHOIURP$SSOHLVʐQH
EXWWKLVGRXEOHRʏHULQJIURP$QNHU
means you can charge your iPhone
and iPad at the same time. Buy one
of these and you’ll feel empowered.
4. OTTERBOX SYMMETRY+
CLEAR ANTIMICROBIAL CASE
3.
WITH MAGSAFE
Price: £35 from fave.co/3IH4U06
cancellation, then the AirPods Pro 7KHUHDUHDERXWDELOOLRQGLʏHUHQW
(2022) must be at the top of your iPhone cases available, from simple
list. The sound quality took a big leap silicon sleeves to hand-carved
forward from the 1st-generation Pros, decorative wooden creations. Perhaps
and the transparency mode that lets one of the most interesting to appear
you hear some of the ambient sounds in a while is the Symmetry+ Clear
in your surroundings is one of the Antimicrobial case from Otterbox.
best we’ve encountered.
If you look through our best
wireless headphones chart then you
PD\ʐQGVRPHDOWHUQDWLYHVWKDWRʏHU
more features, such as support for
LE, lossless, and Hi-Res audio. But
as a complete package that works
seamlessly with your iPhone, the
AirPods Pro is hard to beat.
3. ANKER 521 CHARGER

1$12b352
Price:eIURPIDYHFR(1;N
With Apple no longer including
4.
chargers in the box with new

iPHONE
While that brand is usually associated 5. ROTOR RIOT GAME

with chunky protector covers that are &21752//(5b)25iOS
more suitable for rugged situations, Price: £50 from fave.co/3ZqJoUg
WKLVFDVHLVGLʏHUHQW,WşVXOWUDVOLPVR Gaming has come a long way on
it doesn’t alter the dimensions of your iOS, but so many great titles can be
iPhone 14 too much, and it comes hard to play using the on-screen
with an antimicrobial coating that virtual controls. The best solution
protects against common bacteria. is a game controller that gives you
We’ve all seen how unseen germs physical controls for more precision,
FDQbFDXVHKDYRFLQWKHZRUOGVR comfort, and a clearer view of
having your case working to stop what’s happening. Rotor Riot’s Game
anything from spreading is a great Controller is one such device, and
idea. It’s a solid, slimline case, and its clip means you can have the
WKHbDQWLJHUPIHDWXUHLVQRWRQO\ iPhone sitting just above the handset,
unique but potentially one that can making it easy to use if you move
keep you healthy. around or don’t have much space
(trains, planes, buses, and so on). The
responsiveness is excellent thanks to
the wired Lightning connection
the controller
employs, and
charge-through
capabilities mean
you can keep
going even when the
battery of your iPhone
starts to drain. There’s also
the advantage that you can also plug
it into an iPad and really make use of
those larger displays.
6. TWELVE SOUTH HIRISE 3

Price: £92 from fave.co/3SGeJjz
5.
In Apple’s vision of a wireless world,

7. -%//,1.3257$%/(
Price: £75 from fave.co/3EO4fZT
A good AirPlay 2 speaker can cost
a fair bit, but the JBL Link Portable
delivers some great sound, eight-
hour battery life, and can survive
a dip in the pool, all at a very
reasonable price. The 20-watt
output might seem a bit low, but
the speaker still delivers enough
volume to be the backdrop for small
parties, not to mention the portability
means it can accompany you and
6. provide your personal soundtrack.
8. RAPIDX LIGHTNING
having a bedside that looks like an &+$5*,1*b&$%/(67$1'
explosion in a spaghetti factory isn’t Price: £27 from fave.co/3y1qxDv
quite ideal. That’s where the HiRise Lightning cables are an essential thing
3 from Twelve South comes in. With to have in your bag. If you’re ever
a single power cable, you can charge caught with a low battery, then being
your iPhone, Apple Watch, and able to plug in your iPhone and charge
AirPods at the same time. Its elegant LWXSFDQPDNHWKHGLʏHUHQFHEHWZHHQ
design looks cool, and the tidy
nature of the stand makes it
perfect for your bedside table
RURʒFHGHVN7KH0DJ6DIH
section provides 7.5 watts for
your iPhone, while the other
sections wirelessly charge
your Apple Watch at 3 watts
and AirPods at 5 watts, so it’s
ideal for recharging them all
7.
overnight.

iPHONE
it can also act as a makeshift stand so

you can watch content while the cable
does its work.
9. BELKIN SOUNDFORM
HEADPHONES WITH
/,*+71,1*b&211(&725
Price: £30 from fave.co/3ZbOtjC
Wireless headphones are all well and
good, but sometimes a simple wired
SDLUKDVLWVEHQHʐWV$SSOHREYLRXVO\
PDNHVWKLVGLʒFXOWVLQFHWKHFRPSDQ\
no longer puts a headphone jack on
8.
the iPhone, but an inexpensive pair of
Lightning-connector earphones, such
missing an important message or as these from Belkin, is well worth
having to sit bored for hours. The the money. They don’t need to be
RapidX Lightning cable is a great charged, there’s no chance of them
choice, as it not only lets you plug in accidentally pairing with the wrong
to charge the battery in your iPhone or device, and the sound quality can
iPad, but thanks to the clever angled be better than Bluetooth-equipped
housing for the Lightning connector, counterparts.
9.

Apple’s machines are
learning more intelligently
than Bard and Bing
Apple’s been doing AI in its own particular way, and it’s not about
chasing the market. Dan Moren reports
T
here’s an age-old take when it currently focusing on, it must be
comes to Apple and hot new behind. This is rarely the truth.
technologies: if the company Apple’s business is like the
hasn’t shipped whatever proverbial iceberg: we only see the tip
everybody else in the industry is of what the company’s doing, while

FEATURE
the vast majority of its

research and development
HʏRUWVDUHORRPLQJ
beneath the surface. Just
ORRNDWLWVʐQDQFHVLQ
its most recent quarter:
it spent $7.7 billion on
R&D, accounting for more
WKDQbKDOIRIDOORILWV
operating expenses.
The latest technology
to feature in this storyline Tools such as ChatGPT take advantage of machine
LVRIFRXUVHDUWLʐFLDO learning technologies.
intelligence. How can the
company compete in this burgeoning (ML), which is a critical underpinning
new market if it doesn’t come out with to a lot of Apple’s latest technologies.
a chatbot or image generator post Though machine learning may
KDVWH" 1HYHUPLQGWKDWLWVWLOOKDVQşW technically only be a subset of
shipped its virtual reality headset– DUWLʐFLDOLQWHOOLJHQFH DQGWKHUHşV
that was the last market where the some disagreement on even that)
company was clearly falling behind.) the two terms are often used
But, as is always the case with interchangeably, at least on a
this particular canard, the truth is colloquial basis. The large language
that Apple’s been doing AI in its own models behind tools like ChatGPT,
particular way, and it’s not about Google’s Bard, and Microsoft’s new
chasing the market. Bing chatbot take advantage of
machine learning technologies, as
GET YOUR LEARNING ON do image generators like DALL-E and
One reason that Apple’s AI work is 6WDEOH'LʏXVLRQ%URDGO\VSHDNLQJ
sometimes overlooked is simply one these are all technologies that
of terminology. While the company LQYROYHbDOJRULWKPVWKDWXVHGDWDWR
GRHVQşWRIWHQWDONDERXWŞDUWLʐFLDO learn and improve.
intelligence’, it does spend a lot of Apple’s investment in machine
time discussing ‘machine learning’ learning is clear: in 2018 the company

hired Google’s head of machine audio playing from your device, you’re
intelligence, John Giannandrea, as EHQHʐWLQJIURP$SSOHşVPDFKLQH
its Senior Vice President of Machine learning research.
Learning and AI Strategy, reporting The company’s also created an
directly to Tim Cook. It also runs a rare entire framework called CoreML
public-facing site where it publishes a to make it easy for developers to
large amount of its machine-learning integrate machine learning into their
research (fave.co/3Z8RVeX) and products, and if that’s not enough,
actively sponsors Ph.D. fellowships, then remember that every Apple-
UHFUXLWVLQWHUQVDQGRʏHUVUHVLGHQFLHV made processor dating back to 2017’s
And it contributes to open-source A11 Bionic has featured a dedicated
machine learning projects, for 1HXUDO(QJLQHRSWLPL]HGIRUUXQQLQJ
example, optimizing the Stable machine learning algorithms – in the
'LʏXVLRQVRIWZDUH IDYHFR.5)17 most recent iteration, which features
to run on its hardware. 16 cores, it can run an astounding
17 trillion operations per second,
THE CORES OF allowing, in typical Apple fashion,
0$&+,1(b/($51,1* machine learning models to run
You might concede that Apple privately on your device instead of
is interested in ML, but perhaps relying on a cloud service.
\RXşOObGRXEOHGRZQRQDVNLQJZKDW If Apple’s spending the money
LWbKDVDFWXDOO\SURGXFHGZLWKDOO WRGHYRWHDVLJQLʐFDQWSRUWLRQRILWV
RIbWKLVLQYHVWPHQW
Plenty. If you’re a fan of
features like Live Text – the
feature that lets you select
any text out of photos or
video – or the ability to
search your Photos library
for the word ‘dog’ and
actually see all the pictures
of dogs you’ve taken, or the
beta Live Captions feature The Live Captions beta is an example of Apple’s
that can subtitle any video or research into machine learning.

FEATURE
processors to machine learning, then are doing in the market, but neither
it is most certainly putting its money does Apple have to chase that
where its mouth is. functionality in the same way. Google
and Microsoft, for example, are using
TIP OF THE ICEBERG AI to duke it out in search, a market
Are there more opportunities for that Apple doesn’t really play in
Apple to increase its machine- (though I would hardly be opposed to
OHDUQLQJIRRWSULQW"&HUWDLQO\7KH Apple using some of the underlying
glib answer is that Siri’s often technology to improve its own on-
lacklustre performance could be device search capabilities).
enhanced by the kind of AI you see in In the end, Apple’s use of
recent chatbots – though, given the PDFKLQHbOHDUQLQJUHPDLQVGULYHQ
truly bizarre nature of some of the PRUHbE\WKHLGHDRIKRZLWFDQ
conversations with Microsoft’s recent enhance what users do, rather than
foray, it seems likely Apple isn’t going just existing for its own sake. And
to immediately jump into the deep while that may not capture the
(learning) end of the pool. imagination in the same way, it may
But the ability for those types ultimately have a bigger impact on
of systems to retain context and users’ lives. Which, to my mind, puts
FRPPXQLFDWHLQDPRUHʑXLGDQG Apple ahead in the game, not behind.
human manner does have advantages
that could and should work their way
into Apple’s virtual assistant, even if in
a more limited and controlled manner.
Likewise, the speech-to-text
capabilities of Live Captions and
Apple’s dictation systems could
be enhanced were Apple to do
some of the same optimizations it’s
GRQHZLWK6WDEOH'LʏXVLRQRQWKH
very impressive Whisper speech
recognition framework.
$JDLQWKHVHDUHQşWDVʑDVK\DV
what many of Apple’s competitors

iOS 17: Every new
IHDWXUHbZHKRSHWRVHH
unveiled at WWDC 2023
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 17 in June. This is what we’d like
WRbVHH-DVRQ&URVV reports
A
pple will almost certainly kick systems for release in the autumn: iOS
Rʏ::'&ZLWKDNH\QRWH 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10
presentation, as it does every and tvOS 17.
year. And as it does every As is also tradition, we’re going
year, it will unveil its new operating to make a wish list of some of our

FEATURE
most-desired features and changes. Fender Tune is in the Entertainment

Since this year’s release is rumoured folder where it doesn’t belong, and
to be more maintenance and smaller Fender Play is in Other. Intuitively,
LPSURYHPHQWVWKDQʑDVK\QHZ these belong in the same folder,
features, we’ve focused on things which should probably be Creativity.
we want to see improved in iOS 17 Everyone I know has numerous
ŜOLWWOHbWZHDNVWKDWZLOOPDNHDELJ examples like this.
GLʏHUHQFHLQKRZZHXVHRXUSKRQHV The folders are represented by
Apple certainly doesn’t come to four icons, three of which are actual
XVIRUDGYLFHDERXWWKLVVWXʏ DQG app icons that open the app when
it’s too late to make major changes you tap on them and the fourth is
anyway), but it’s instructive to see a group of four more tiny app icons
how well ‘what we want’ lines up that open the folder. This is an
with ‘what Apple delivers’. For what interaction and interface model that
it’s worth, Apple actually delivered doesn’t exist anywhere else in iOS
VHYHUDORIRXUbL26:LVKOLVW and iPadOS, and it’s not intuitive. Oh,
features, and if iOS 17 brings us more and all the folders and their contents
RIWKHFKDQJHVbRQWKLV\HDUşVOLVWZHşOO move around and change so you can’t
consider that a success. Here’s what develop muscle memory.
we want to see this year: We have a few simple suggestions.
Tapping the search box at the top
OVERHAUL THE APP LIBRARY of the App Library gives you an
First introduced with iOS 14, the App alphabetical list, which is a much
Library is a good fundamental idea: VLPSOHUDQGLQWXLWLYHZD\WRʐQGDQ
Let your home screen be cluttered app. It should be the default view – or
with only those apps you truly use be able to be set as the default view.
every day and hide the dozens of At the very least, make the folders
other apps on your iPhone away in the App Library work like folders
IURPbYLHZ throughout iOS. Don’t move them
It’s just a bad design! Apps are around, make them so you open the
VWXʏHGDXWRPDWLFDOO\LQWRFDWHJRU\ folder when you tap on them and
folders that don’t always match up never one of the apps within. And
with what you’d expect. I have two maybe incorporate a number showing
Fender guitar apps on my iPhone. how many apps are in the folder.

to be in compliance with
the Digital Markets Act, and
we’re probably going to be
LQbIRUDURXQGRIKHDULQJVDQG
ODZVXLWVbDQGVXFKVD\LQJWKDW
Apple isn’t in full compliance.
I still think whatever
limited additional choice
and freedom the EU iPhone
users get will be a good thing,
and would be good for users
the world over, on balance.
Moreover, it might be a smart
The App Library is a good idea but poorly executed. move by Apple. The company
is under antitrust scrutiny
END THE APP STORE in several other markets, including
021232/<bŜ)25$// WKH86,WFRXOGWDNHDORWRIKHDWRʏ
A recent report claims that Apple will LWVHOIE\RʏHULQJWKHVDPHVROXWLRQ
start to open up the iPhone in iOS WKDWVDWLVʐHG(8UHJXODWRUVSRVVLEO\
17, allowing the distribution of apps preventing even stricter remedies in
outside of Apple’s own App Store, the other regions.
XVHRI1)&IRUWRXFKOHVVSD\PHQWV It would also make iOS easier to
beyond Apple Pay, browsers that maintain and test as a single cohesive
don’t have to use Apple’s WebKit release, rather than fragmenting iOS
rendering engine, and more. It’s all into regional variants.
necessary to comply with the EU’s
new Digital Markets Act, and the IMPROVE SIRI IN
H[SHFWDWLRQLVbWKDWLWZLOORQO\DSSO\ $%,*:$< <(7$*$,1
WRbWKRVHL3KRQHVUXQQLQJL26LQ 6LULLVGHʐQLWHO\JHWWLQJEHWWHUDQG
WKHUHJLRQVbFRYHUHGE\(8ODZ got a nice set of improvements in iOS
Apple should go ahead and DQGL26,WʐQDOO\JRWRʓLQH
make the changes – whatever they processing, which speeds things up a
DUHŜJOREDO1DWXUDOO\ZHH[SHFW lot and improves privacy. It also got a
Apple to do the minimum possible bit smarter and more reliable and is a

FEATURE
lot better about understanding what is The only problem is that this only
on the screen and reacting to it. works with 2FA codes from SMS or
But Siri simply isn’t getting good Apple’s built-in Passwords feature.
HQRXJKIDVWHQRXJK1RWDGD\JRHV We don’t suggest using SMS for
by that I don’t ask my Google Assistant 2FA codes unless you have to–they’re
something to which I get a good not as secure as they should be. Using
answer, and then – just out of curiosity the built-in password manager to
– I ask Siri as well, and Siri fails. generate codes isn’t a great option
The emphasis on new large either because it really only works
language models such as ChatGPT is well on your iPhone – if you ever
moving the bar for how we expect to need to log in anywhere else, it’s a
be able to converse with AI. Siri needs real pain to jump three layers deep
more than just a ‘20 percent better in Settings to get your code. And
than last year’ update, it needs a big VRPHbEXVLQHVVHVPDQGDWHWKHXVH
forward leap that you can hear and RIbFHUWDLQ)$DSSV
feel every time you use it. It needs to We’d love for Apple to provide a
sound better, work better, do more, framework for one-time-password
and be right more often. It needs to code generation apps such as
truly feel conversational. Authy (fave.co/41CQMO2), Google
6LULNLFNHGRʏWKHʐUVWJHQHUDWLRQ
of smartphone AI and fell behind.
:RXOGQşWLWEHJUHDWLI6LULZDVWKHʐUVW
WUXHŞQH[WJHQHUDWLRQşVPDUWSKRQH$,"
MAKE IT EASIER
TO USE 2FA APPS
There’s this awesome feature in iOS
that takes 2FA authentication codes
you receive via SMS and makes them
DQDXWRʐOORSWLRQMXVWDERYHWKH
NH\ERDUG7KLVDOORZV\RXWRʐOOLQWKH
code without jumping away from the
app or website that requested it and Wouldn’t it be great if all the third-party
back again. code apps worked like this too?

Authenticator (fave.co/3m9zBn3),
Microsoft Authenticator (fave.
co/3kK4bmV), and others so they
FDQVHFXUHO\DXWRʐOOFRGHVZKHQ
requested just like Messages.
SCREEN AND RECORD CALLS

Spam calls are out of control, and
Apple should be using every tool
in its arsenal to solve one of the
biggest annoyances plaguing every
smartphone user. For some time now,
Google Assistant has been able to
screen calls from unknown callers on
Android phones. It can produce text
transcripts and recordings, too.
This seems like a thing Siri should
be able to do. In fact, Apple should go The Dynamic Island could do more,
a step further and build an iCloud call LQFOXGLQJRǉHULQJ6LULVXJJHVWLRQVEDVHG
spam service. These apps and services on your iPhone use.
already exist, but they require you
to set up a call-forwarding service– to see on all four iPhones models this
Apple, with low-level access to the year. But it can do more!
operating system, could make this 1HZQRWLʐFDWLRQVVKRXOGʑRZRXW
easy and seamless. Just like the iCloud of the Dynamic Island when they
Private Relay service, this should be come in instead of just sliding down
an obvious feature for a company that from the top of the screen, and the
bills itself as the ‘security and privacy’ option to see you how many unread
smartphone choice. QRWLʐFDWLRQV\RXKDYHZRXOGEH
useful too. Maybe Siri could suggest
MAKE THE ISLAND new Live Activities based on the
025(b'<1$0,& DSSVb\RXXVH
The Dynamic Island is a wonderful But most importantly, the Dynamic
interface convention that we expect Island should not be a place for

FEATURE
QRWLʐFDWLRQVWROLYHMXVWZKHUHWKH\ that goes with iOS 20.2, which goes

EULHʑ\DSSHDUZKHQWKH\ʐUVWFRPH with macOS 20.2, and so on.
in. The use of this area is clear: it’s for
persistent background activities and
‘here and then gone forever’ toasts
like the Face ID authentication or
AirPods connecting.
UNIFY THE VERSION NUMBERS

There’s no good reason for Apple’s
ecosystem to have fragmented
version numbers that are hard to
keep track of. More than ever before,
the software is updated in sync with
features meant to work together, so
why do we have one version number
of iOS and iPadOS and tvOS, another
IRUZDWFK26DQGDQRWKHUIRUPDF26"
This is only going to get worse
when the Reality headset is released
and has xrOS 1 or something similar.
Just jump everything ahead to 17.
2UEHWWHU\HWYHUVLRQ:K\QRW"
After all, Apple skipped the iPhone 9
entirely, jumped tvOS to version 17
out of the blue, and kept macOS at
version 10 for more than a decade.
Help make it clear for users: the
latest release for each device’s OS will
have the same version number. The
releases might not always happen on
the same day, but consumers should
be able to easily see that the latest
watchOS 20.2 update will be the one

Review: HomePod (2nd Gen)
Price: £299 from fave.co/3kFW4rF
W
ell this was a surprise. changed, and why the company thinks
Apple ditched the this time will be more successful.
HomePod back in 2021, In our in-depth review of the 2023
indicating breezily that +RPH3RGZHLQWHQGWRʐQGRXW
it intended to focus instead on the
smaller and cheaper HomePod mini. DESIGN
But now it’s come crawling back, The HomePod 2 is a handsome
SURIHVVLQJXQG\LQJDʏHFWLRQIRUWKH speaker. It’s a neat, chunky but
full-sized form factor. relatively compact cylinder with the
Or, in less dramatic terms, Apple HGJHVVPRRWKHGRʏDWWKHWRSDQG
has launched a 2nd-gen HomePod, ERWWRP$VZLWKWKHYHU\ʐUVWL3DG
and everyone is wondering what’s the inward curve at its base invites

HOMEPOD
WKHʐUVWJHQPRGHODQG,
trust this vital data helps
you make an informed
buying decision) while the
colour of the black model,
branded as Midnight, now
has more noticeable hints
of blue.
I’ll mention in passing
that it strikes me as a great
6SRWWKHGLǉHUHQFH$SSOHşVRULJLQDO+RPH3RG OHIW DQG shame that the wonderful
the new model. colours currently available
on the HomePod mini,
the hand to pick it up. This feels like LQFOXGLQJDʐQHDXWXPQDORUDQJHWKDW
a very organic design, somehow, a I bought the moment I saw it, are not
shape that’s unobtrusive, human, and RʏHUHGKHUH7KHPLQLKDGWRZDLW
vaguely marshmallowy. It still feels around a year to get options beyond
modern, too, despite being barely any the classic black and white, and that
GLʏHUHQWIURPWKHRULJLQDO may well be the case with this model
,QGHHGDWDʐUVWJODQFHLWşV too; but if so, it’s harsh on the early
GLʒFXOWbWRVSRWWKHH[WHUQDO adopters. Perhaps it’s worth waiting
GLʏHUHQFHVEHWZHHQWKHʐUVWDQG until next Christmas to see if the
second full-size HomePods. There are RUDQJHʐQLVKDSSHDUV
some – it’s a little shorter
(by 4mm, which I didn’t
notice) and lighter (by 200g,
which I did) – but the overall
look is nearly identical.
The diamond mesh
SDWWHUQLVIUDFWLRQDOO\ʐQHU
now (by my reckoning
each diamond on the main
surface is now 2.5mm wide,
compared to 3.5mm on Just look at that orange beauty.

0RUHVLJQLʐFDQWO\WKH
screen on the top has seen
some changes. The space is a
little smaller (roughly 8.2cm
across, compared to 8.9cm
on the previous model) but
the screen itself is larger
WRʐOOXSPRUHRILW:KHQ
you’re talking to the device,
WKHHQWLUHFLUFOHʐOOVZLWK
the swirling colours of the
Siri animation rather than The screen area is now better utilized, and sits slightly
just glowing in the centre. below the speaker mesh.
It still feels like the screen
is underused – I’d love to see track a set of keys on your HomePod (not
details and artwork, for example – but recommended) and the screen will
it’s at least easier to tell when Siri has still likely scratch, but with a larger
been activated from across the room. DQGʑDWWHUREMHFWWKHVRIWHUDQG
The volume indicators, meanwhile, obviously less scratch-prone speaker
are now permanently marked on the mesh will take the impact. On the
screen rather than just appearing other hand, this inset screen is harder
through a software interface, which to clean and more prone to collect
is nice: I would often try to activate dust in the recesses.
the screen of the original model There are two more external
to summon the volume keys and changes I can see, and these may both
inadvertently pause the song that was be intended to placate complaints
playing instead. from the original launch. The power
The screen is also now slightly cable is now removable, praise be,
more inset. It was the very highest which may save some speakers from
point of the original HomePod, but on premature obsolescence and makes
the more volcano-like HomePod 2, it life easier for those who want to
lies 3mm or so below the rim of the set up their HomePod in a piece of
VSHDNHUPHVKZKLFKPD\RʏHUVRPH furniture with small cable gaps.
protection from dropped objects. Drop )LQDOO\WKHEDVHLVQRZDʑDWDQG

HOMEPOD
change but it may be

related to the rings
reported when putting
white models of the
original HomePod on
GDUNRUZRRGʐQLVK
furniture. (The HomePod
mini also goes for a
disc rather than ring
base, by the way, so
Apple’s designers
The base has been changed from a ring (on the original presumably came up
HomePod, left) to a circle. with this solution a
IHZb\HDUVbEDFN
quite hard circle with only the Apple I set up new HomePods in both
logo slightly indented in the centre, white and black on scrap pieces of
whereas previously there was a chipboard for the duration of my
decent-size circle cut out of the base, testing, fearing for the surface of my
leaving the device’s weight pressing TV cabinet, but in the event neither
down on a ring of softer material. I left a mark that I could spot. Still, I’d
have no inside information on this recommend the precaution of using
a coaster or plumping for the black
model (which is less prone to
becoming grimy over time anyway),
since at least one other reviewer
claims to have still noticed rings
with the white one. He said the
problem was far less severe but
KDGQşWEHHQʐ[HGFRPSOHWHO\
SET-UP
As you’d expect from an Apple
product, ease of set-up is one of
Look ma, no rings. its strongest features. Plug in the

HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely AUDIO
in its direction and an onscreen I’ll begin this key part of the review
pop-up (on the phone) will invite you by stating for the record that I’ve
WRVHWLWXS7DSWRFRQʐUPVHOHFWD had good listening experiences
room and wait a few minutes, and it’s with all the HomePods I’ve tried:
all sorted for you. If there’s another WKHbRULJLQDObPRGHODQGWKH+RPH3RG
HomePod of the same model in the mini produced rich and powerful
selected room, you’ll be given the sound for their respective sizes
option to join them as a stereo pair. and prices, and based on past
This, too, is fast and straightforward. H[SHULHQFHVb,IHOWFRQʐGHQWDERXW
,QJHQHUDO$SSOHXVHUVZLOOʐQG Apple delivering on the audio quality
the HomePod an easy speaker to use. IURQWHYHQEHIRUH,SOD\HGWKHʐUVW
From the Music app, it’s simple to song on the new HomePod.
select one or more desired HomePods Sure enough, songs sounded great
as an output (my only complaint is through the 2nd-gen HomePod. Even
the app’s habit of lumping multiple without any major upgrades to the
HomePods together in the interface specs, Apple appears to have tinkered
once they’re playing the same thing, with the balance – again, likely in
which makes it slightly more awkward response to criticism that the original
to separate them afterward) and I’ve model was too bass-heavy – and on
found it similarly intuitive to stream to the majority of tracks that I tested it
HomePods from the AirPlay interface was preferable to the original model.
of third-party audio apps such as BBC For classical, pop, most rock, and
Sounds or TalkSport. some jazz I preferred the HomePod
Controlling the HomePod via an 2’s delivery, which was richer, better
iPhone, then, is broadly a positive and balanced, more immersive, and more
user-friendly experience. But Apple detailed at the top end. However,
clearly intends for you to mainly it’s worth pointing out that this
control it with your voice using Siri – rebalancing of the sound spectrum
one clue is the iPhone’s occasional may not be to everyone’s taste, and
tendency to ‘lose’ the connection and on certain tracks, I continued to prefer
leave a track playing independently of the heavy bass sound of the original
its control–and that’s less pleasant, as PRGHOWKHʐUVW+RPH3RGZDVEHWWHU
we’ll discuss in a later section. for dance and electronic music, and

HOMEPOD
even some jazz songs with a major 7KHVHʐQGLQJVZHUHDOLWWOH

bass component. It would be nice surprising because Apple has actually
to have some equalizer control and reduced the number of tweeters
be able to adjust the balance to suit covering the high end: there are now
individual tastes, but as ever Apple ʐYHRIWKHPFRPSDUHGWRVHYHQLQ
feels that it knows best. the previous model. My guess is that
You can read more detail about the optimizations in the internal layout
blind tests I conducted to compare and other changes, such as the switch
the two full-size HomePod models from an A8 processor to an S7 and the
in a separate article (see page 79), inclusion of an ‘all-new system sensor’
but I can summarise by saying that for real-time audio adjustments to
WKH\GHʐQLWHO\VRXQGGLʏHUHQW suit a room’s layout, have led to a
and I suspect that for the majority rebalanced and in some respects
RIWUDFNVbDQGWRWKHPDMRULW\RI improved sound.
users’ tastes, the new model will be For an audio experience that’s
preferable. But fans of the original better still (assuming you’ve got a
model’s punchy, muscular bass may large budget) consider buying two
be disappointed that this element HomePods and setting them up as a
KDVbEHHQGLDOOHGEDFN VWHUHRSDLU7KHHʏHFWRIWKLVLQP\
tests was stunning, producing a
rich, detailed, and overwhelmingly
immersive sound. This works
particularly well if you use them as
TV speakers via an Apple TV, a move
which transformed my enjoyment
of the TV+ service, particularly
when watching grandiose prestige
programming such as Foundation.
1RWHWKDWWKHQHZ+RPH3RG
cannot be set up as a stereo pair
ZLWKWKHʐUVWJHQPRGHOŜWKH
audio characteristics are evidently
The HomePod works best as a stereo pair (with WRRGLʏHUHQWWRZRUNFRUUHFWO\LQ
another model of the same generation only). stereo – and certainly not with a

HomePod mini. You can have two In my anecdotal experience, but
+RPH3RGVIURPGLʏHUHQWJHQHUDWLRQV backed by the testimony of many
set up in the same room and have other users, it seems to mishear more
them both outputting the same track, often than Alexa, for example, and is
but they will each play the full audio more prone to guessing what’s wanted
rather than knowing to separate into when it isn’t sure. This can result in
left and right channels. It isn’t as extremely frustrating situations where
good, in short. And for those who’ve it plays entirely the wrong song. On
JRWDʐUVWJHQ+RPH3RGWKHODFNRI being told “Hey Siri, play Miles Davis”,
cross-generational stereo support for example, my HomePod chose
makes the additional purchase less instead to play Monster (feat. Jay-Z,
appealing. (You could always have the 5LFN5RVV1LFNL0LQDM %RQ,YHU
two devices in separate rooms since defying me to trace the bananas logic
AirPlay supports multiroom audio… that led it to that track.
or trade in the old model if someone This would be frustrating enough,
PDNHV\RXDJRRGRʏHU but fairly often the HomePod then
carries on playing the wrong song
SMART FEATURES against my wishes because it also
Siri is the HomePod’s weak suit. It can’t understand the command “Hey
really lets down the whole experience. Siri, stop playing”. (One can only
Okay, let’s start with a positive dream of the day when Apple enables
note: the HomePod, despite having its smart speakers to understand
lost a couple of microphones (four simple but vital commands like
versus six) is nevertheless excellent at “Stop playing” on the device rather
noticing its trigger phrase. If someone than having to access an Internet
says “Hey Siri”, no matter which connection, but today is not that day.)
member of my family speaks it and It is reasonably accurate, but the
wherever they are in the room, and errors can be very annoying.
whichever direction they’re facing, In terms of smart features, too,
and even if loud music is playing Siri on the HomePod is behind the
over the top, the HomePod lights up bleeding edge of technological
and prepares to tackle a command. innovation. It’s not great at answering
Unfortunately, that’s where the trivia questions, for example. I
problems start. DVNHGš+RZORQJLVDZKDOH"ŢDQG

HOMEPOD
was told, counterintuitively, the Music quite happily. In my experience

runtime of the similarly named Apple’s speakers can be annoyingly
UHFHQWPRYLHDQGZKHQ,VSHFLʐHG and selectively fastidious about Wi-Fi
blue whale, it quoted the 1DWLRQDO signal strength; this may be related
Geographic (wildly mispronouncing to the S7 chip reportedly supporting
both words, something I’ve noticed the Wi-Fi 4 standard only, although
it does with the titles of songs I’ve had exactly the same issues with
on a regular basis) then gave a the previous model, whose A8 chip
reasonably informative but rather supported Wi-Fi 5. Perhaps matters
meandering answer. Other HomePod would be improved by the addition
XVHUVKDYHUHSRUWHGbVLPLODUO\MDQN\ of a newer iPhone chip and Wi-Fi 6,
SHUIRUPDQFHbLQWKLVDUHD which Sonos is set to support in its
It was able to tell me the next speakers but appears unlikely to
temperature easily enough, but when appear in a HomePod any time soon.
I asked the HomePod if I had anything On the plus side, the HomePod can
in my calendar for the day, and to also tell you the humidity, since this
read out my most recent iMessage, model has a sensor for that job. The
it pled an inability to connect to the HomePod mini also has a humidity
Internet. The connection in my home sensor that was activated quite
is a little spotty, but the HomePod recently. The original HomePod hasn’t
had just been streaming from Apple got that sensor, but it will scrape the
relevant information
from newer HomePods
or other accessories
on the same network
LIbDYDLODEOH
Talking of
component upgrades,
the HomePod has
also gained a U1
ultra wideband chip,
something which was
already included in the
Siri lets you know it’s listening with a swirl of colour. HomePod mini. This is

designed to help you switch music and carbon monoxide alarms, and
smoothly from iPhone to HomePod then inform the owner remotely via
and vice versa by simply bringing an iPhone alert. This isn’t enabled
them close together (sadly it wasn’t yet, but will reportedly be added in a
terribly smooth in my testing, and software update this spring.
tended to get confused and refuse
to connect; perhaps network issues INCOMPATIBILITY
again) and introduces a feature where Some perennial complaints now.
an icon for a nearby HomePod appears Apple is plainly still keen on making
in the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island the HomePod part of its walled
and lets users see the song that’s JDUGHQbHFRV\VWHPDQGPDNHVOLIH
playing and adjust the volume. harder for those who don’t pay for its
It’s not a new or unique feature, other products and services. Things
but I did as ever enjoy Intercom, run much more smoothly, for instance,
which is brilliantly useful for families if you subscribe to Apple Music,
lucky enough to live in large houses. the service for which the HomePod
Ask one HomePod to “tell the living was designed. Apple is beginning to
room that dinner is ready”, and it will open up to the idea of working with
broadcast that exact command – in other streaming services, and you
your voice – in that room. You can can now set some, including Deezer
then say “tell the kitchen I’m on my and Tidal, as the default when Siri
way” and acknowledge the message hears a command to play a song. But
LQHʒFLHQWIDVKLRQ6XUH$PD]RQ there are big gaps in the list since
smart speakers can do this perfectly Spotify, YouTube Music and Amazon
well too, but it’s a useful and nicely 0XVLFbDUHQşWRSWLRQV7KHUHşVDOVR
executed feature and it’s worth no support for straight Bluetooth
celebrating the wins when they come. playback; you can AirPlay from these
One smart feature I’m intrigued apps to the HomePod, but it removes
by, and may well end up saving the the voice assistant aspect that the
property or even lives of HomePod designers clearly intended to be
owners some way down the line, the primary control method. And as
is called Sound Recognition. This always, Android devices can’t be used
enables the device to listen out for to set up or pair with a HomePod.
and detect sounds such as smoke There is one bright spot on the

HOMEPOD
inter-compatibility front, however: Recognition. With the exception of

The 2023 HomePod gains support the bass, which is subjective, these
for the Matter standard, which are all clear improvements. But for
means that in the future it will be PHDWOHDVWWKHJUHDWHVWʑDZVRIWKH
able to control a far wider range original HomePod were Siri’s glaring
of smart-home accessories. In the incompetence, and the device’s
past HomePod owners have been frequent (but inconsistent) inability
limited to Apple’s vetted ecosystem to connect to a Wi-Fi signal that most
of HomeKit products, but the range other devices can handle without too
KDVQşWUHDOO\WDNHQRʏDVKRSHG PXFKGLʒFXOW\%DVHGRQP\WHVWLQJ
Having access to this new cross-party QHLWKHURIWKHVHKDVEHHQʐ[HGDQGLI
standard, supported by Amazon, anything Siri seems worse than ever.
*RRJOHDQGb6DPVXQJDPRQJRWKHUV 6RLWşVDTXDOLʐHGUHFRPPHQGDWLRQ
LVbDSURPLVLQJPRYH If you’re deep in the Apple
ecosystem and your Wi-Fi signal
VERDICT DQGIUXVWUDWLRQbWKUHVKROGDUHERWK
I like the new HomePod: I just can’t VWURQJbWKLVLVWKHVPDUWVSHDNHU
help it. It looks lovely, delivers a for you: It will play your music
pleasing sound (and a superb sound EHDXWLIXOO\bDQGPDNH79ZDWFKLQJD
when set up as a stereo pair), and delight if you spring for a second. Just
is a breeze to set up and use with be prepared to repeat yourself, and
my network of Apple products. The listen to a bunch of songs you never
problem is that all of those things asked for. David Price
were true back in 2018, and the most
VHULRXVʑDZVRIWKHRULJLQDOPRGHO
haven’t been addressed at all.
Sure enough, the dominant bass
has been rebalanced (as if that was
a bad thing), white rings are less of a
worry, the power cable is detachable,
the screen is used better, and
there are some handy new features
such as temperature and humidity
sensing, and the upcoming Sound

The HomePod challenge:
A blind audio test of old
versus new
It’s all about that bass. David Price reports
T
he 2nd-gen HomePod has only the old model, and it’s unclear how
been on shelves for a week, Apple expects the HomePod 2 to do
but many shoppers might any better this time around.
think it’s been out for years. With this in mind, we put the two
Even though Apple’s original full-size models head to head in a blind audio
HomePod was discontinued in 2019, test. The speakers were set up close
the new model is nearly identical to together in the same room, and the

HOMEPOD
reviewer (me) sat in

the sweet spot while
an assistant reviewer
(my wife) streamed
a playlist of assorted
tracks to each speaker.
For fairness, she mixed
the order and I wasn’t
told which speaker
was playing until I had
delivered my verdict.
After an initial test The original HomePod was criticized for its excessive bass,
that seemed very close, but it helps create a fuller, deeper sound on certain tracks.
I could generally tell the
two speakers apart quite easily. That dominant bass component, the
might seem absurd – of course, the original was preferable.
second edition of anything should be
EHWWHUWKDQWKHʐUVW\RXşUHQRGRXEW THE HOMEPOD CHALLENGE
thinking. But based on the minimal Song: Horse and I by Bat for Lashes
design and spec changes between Preferred speaker: 2nd-gen HomePod
the two models, it wasn’t clear where Observations: Rich and immersive,
any audio improvements were going putting me right there in the recording
to come from, and even Apple’s studio, the new HomePod knocked
enthusiastic write-up of the launch it out of the park on this one. I had
failed to deliver much in the way of QHYHUEHHQGLVVDWLVʐHGZLWKWKHROG
concrete upgrades. model, but by comparison with its
The results were surprising – and VXFFHVVRULWVRXQGHGVOLJKWO\ʑDWWHU
surprisingly close. The new HomePod But this was a very close test to
wasn’t always better to my ears, begin with. (Objectively speaking
WKRXJKLWGHʐQLWHO\GHOLYHUHGD WKHROG+RPH3RGLVQRWʑDWDWDOOLW
GLʏHUHQWVRXQG2QFHUWDLQJHQUHV just sounds that way next to its new
RIbWKHWUDFNV,OLVWHQHGWRWKHQHZ sibling. I’d still recommend it if you
model was clearly better, but on spot a second-hand bargain, but the
others, especially ones with a new model is better.)

Song: The Great Gig in the Sky by WKLQQHUDQGDWRXFKʑDWWHU,WWXUQHG
3LQNb)OR\G out this was another vote for the new
Preferred speaker: 2nd-gen HomePod HomePod. 3-1 to the new model.
Observations: Again, and this time
with no hesitation, I preferred the Song: Emerge by Fischerspooner
HomePod 2. (I also correctly guessed Preferred speaker: 1st-gen HomePod
which one was the HomePod 2, Observations: This song takes a
EDVHGRQWKHUHVXOWVRIWKHʐUVWWHVW moment to get going, but once the
There’s simply more to the sound: It bass kicks in there’s no comparison
surrounded me and drew me into the between the two speakers – and
music. I felt like I was hearing details having learned from the previous
,PLVVHGWKHʐUVWWLPHV,KDGKHDUG Cerrone track, I was able to correctly
the track. Thumbs up to the new model. guess which was which. Sure
enough, the original HomePod
Song: Supernature by Cerrone delivers noticeably heavier, punchier
Preferred speaker: 1st-gen HomePod bass and gets my vote as a better
Observations: On this electro track, I OLVWHQLQJbH[SHULHQFH
ʐUPO\YRWHGIRUWKHRULJLQDO+RPH3RG
The bass was hard and punchy and Preferred speaker: Locomotion by
sounded fabulous. By comparison, the John Coltrane
new HomePod plays it slightly cool Preferred speaker: 1st-gen HomePod
with the bass end, as if it’s worried Observations: This jazz track should
about overwhelming the listener. test the speakers’ abilities across
For some that will be good news, the spectrum, but the heavier bass
as the original HomePod was rated muscle of the original model proves
as very bass-heavy, but for me, that key. With more at the bottom end, the
ZDVbSDUWbRILWVFKDUP original HomePod delivers a broader
and deeper sound which I preferred.
Song: Prelude & Fugue 03 in C# by There’s a little more detail at the top
J.S. Bach, played by Glen Gould with the new speaker, however.
Preferred speaker: 2nd-gen HomePod
Observations:7KHʐUVWVSHDNHU,KHDUG VERDICT
RʏHUHGVXSHUEGHWDLODQGDSOHDVLQJ That’s a 3-3 draw, with preferences
balanced sound, while the second was varying according to the genre. On

HOMEPOD
classical, most pop and rock and some

jazz my preference is for the second-
gen HomePod with its richer and more
detailed sound; but on dance/electro
and bass-heavy jazz the original
HomePod wins out. For most of us that
will translate into a win for the new
model more often than not. Mind you,
this is a matter of personal taste; some
may prefer the new speaker’s lighter
touch at the bass end even when that
element is foregrounded.
From the announcement, it didn’t
seem like Apple had changed a great
deal in the full-size HomePod’s
external design and internal layout,
but the company has got results.
There are noticeable improvements
here, and the newer model is a worthy
(if bass-lighter) successor to what was
already an excellent speaker.

Review: B&W Pi7 S2
Price: £379 from fave.co/3jy5XXJ
B
owers & Wilkins has updated primary consideration is the quality
LWVʑDJVKLSZLUHOHVVLQHDU of an earbud’s audio reproduction,
headphone. And while this they deliver fantastic listening
isn’t a from-the-ground-up experiences. Your decision could get
redesign – the B&W Pi7 S2 use the more complicated as you consider
excellent same drivers as the model other features, such as active noise
that shipped in 2021 – improvements cancellation, EQ options, and price.
in a host of other areas result in better Bowers & Wilkins has helped
battery life and longer Bluetooth GHʐQHWKH%ULWLVKKLʐDXGLRVRXQG
range. More importantly, if your for nearly six decades with its highly

AUDIO
striking colour. Both the

EODFNDQGZKLWHbYHUVLRQV
feature a silver touch
surface. Once you have
them seated in your ear
canal, only you will know
what colour earbuds you
chose unless they get very
The B&W Pi7 S2 in-ear monitors are available in (left to close. The blue earbuds
right) Midnight Blue, Canvas White or Satin Black. have a gold metal lid on
the matching case, while
regarded loudspeakers. The company the white and black cases have a
entered the powered speaker market silver lid.
with its iPod-compatible Zeppelin These earbuds come with three
speaker in 2006 (since updated to sizes of silicone ear tips. The Pi7
support Bluetooth and AirPlay) and 6IHDWXUHʐYHKRXUVRISOD\EDFN
added wired headphones to its line (improved from four in the previous
LQ% :LQWURGXFHGLWVʐUVW generation), with an additional 16
generation of in-ear
monitors in 2021 and
the Pi7 S2 are the
ODWHVWbUHOHDVH
DESIGN
These second-
generation earbuds
come in Satin Black,
Canvas White and an
impressive Midnight
Blue. The blue earbuds
make quite a statement,
since the silicone tips, The Pi7 S2 in-ear monitors come with three sizes of ear
earbud body, and touch tips, a USB-C charging cord, and an USB-C to 3.5mm adapter
surface are all the same cable that turns the case into a Bluetooth transmitter.

hours from the case on a full charge. 7KHbHDUEXGVDOVRVXSSRUWWKH$$&
A 15-minute charge gives two hours codec favoured by Apple and the
of playback in the earbuds. The case run-of-the-mill SBC codec.
supports both wireless and wired There are three microphones in
charging via the included USB-C to each earbud that power the noise
USB-C cable. cancellation system and are supposed
B&W promises a range of 25m to provide a great experience for
IURPbWKHDXGLRVRXUFHZKLFKWKH3L SKRQHFDOOV7KH$1&LVHʏHFWLYH
S2 easily delivered outdoors. Like DQGZRUNVʐQHLQDVOLJKWO\QRLV\
most Bluetooth signals, however, you environment, but it can’t compare
won’t get nearly as much distance if to the strong noise cancellation
\RXUKRPHRURʒFHKDVWKLFNZDOOV delivered by the Apple AirPods Pro 2,
I got drop-outs when I moved a few the Sony WF-1000XM4, or the Bose
rooms away from the source. Quiet Comfort II earbuds.
Each Pi7 S2 earbud features The microphones don’t deliver
a 9.2mm driver plus a balanced a stellar call experience, either. I
armature driver, and B&W has tried them on a series of calls during
powered each drive unit with a testing and usually got complaints
VHSDUDWHDPSOLʐHU7KH3L6 from the other party about the sound.
FRQQHFWbYLD%OXHWRRWKZLWKDSW; Each one of those people said the
Adaptive technology, which also improvement was striking when I
supports aptX HD and aptX Classic. switched the call to the AirPods 2.
The B&W Music

app allows
users to control
ANC and
transparency
and manage
connections
and streaming
quality.

AUDIO
B&W MUSIC APP you’re using mobile data where you

Bowers & Wilkins relies on its Music might have a smaller data cap.
app for iOS and Android to control There’s no way to adjust the EQ
both its headphones and its wireless settings in the app, but the sound
speakers. For the Pi7 S2, users can design for these earbuds is so good
get a reading on the battery level for that I can’t think of any adjustments
both the earbuds and the case. You I’d like to make. The same goes for the
can choose between B&W’s default $1&VHWWLQJV,FRXOGQşWGLVFHUQDQ\
noise cancellation or choose Auto to improvements after making changes
adjust noise cancellation based on the from the standard setting.
amount of background noise in your
environment. When Auto is activated, CHARGING CASE
you can use the Passthrough setting The B&W Pi7 S2 has a feature
to adjust the Pi7 S2’s transparency I’ve never seen with any other
level; in other words, the amount of headphones, although I’ve since
environmental sound you want to learned it was introduced with
KHDUbPL[HGLQZLWK\RXUPXVLFWKH WKHʐUVWJHQHUDWLRQ3,8VLQJWKH
earbuds are playing. provided USB-C-to-3.5mm analogue
The app remembers all your audio cable, you can stream any
device connections, even if you made source to the case and then re-
WKRVHFRQQHFWLRQVXVLQJGLʏHUHQW transmit that audio from the case
operating systems. That
allows you to set the
earbuds to automatically
reconnect to the device
most recently used
when taking the Pi7
S2 out of the case.
You can also adjust
the streaming quality
(higher quality means
more data consumption)
when listening via Wi-Fi
separately from when The case provides an addition 16 hours of playback.

to the headphones.
The most common use
case for this feature
would when you’re
traveling by airline and
want to listen to the
LQʑLJKWHQWHUWDLQPHQW
without plugging a
wired headphone
into the armrest. The
appeal of this feature,
however, is undercut by
% :şVPLGGOLQJbDFWLYH
noise-cancellation For the best listening experience, it’s important to properly
technology – at least as set the B&W Pi7 S2 in the ear canal. The case lid comes
its implemented with with a sticker that explains how to use the earbuds.
WKH3L6,WşVʐQHIRU
ZRUNLQJLQDVOLJKWO\QRLV\RʒFHEXWLW RQWKHbV\QWKGUXPVDQGFRZEHOORQ
MXVWLVQşWXSWRWKHWDVNRIʐOWHULQJRXW Perfect Kiss that I never heard on
HQJLQHQRLVHRQDFURVVFRXQWU\ʑLJKW the early vinyl or CD pressings of
the album. The bass has more low
AUDIO end, and soundstage during the
If you value audio performance more frogs breakdown near the end is
than noise cancellation, the B&W Pi7 breathtaking.
S2 shine. You’ll need to make sure you And that description is based
JHWWKHSURSHUʐWE\LQVHUWLQJWKHP on listening via an iPhone 13 Pro
into your ear canal and giving them Max, which is limited to using the
a solid twist toward the back of your AAC Bluetooth codec. Switching to
head, but once they’re in place, the DQ$QGURLGGHYLFHŜVSHFLʐFDOO\
listening experience is magical. the OnePlus 10T – and listening to
Listening to /RZ/LIH 'HʐQLWLYH , the the aptX Adaptive codec delivered
QHZO\UHPDVWHUHGYHUVLRQRI1HZ an even more immersive listening
Order’s 1985 album, at Qobuz, the experience. If the sound on an iOS
results are striking. There’s decay device was great, the sound for

AUDIO
hi-res audio on an Android was streaming quality. B&W is looking to

JUHDWbSOXVbWHQ reach listeners who are enjoying their
Listening to a lossless Apple music in at least CD quality, but you
Music stream of Tricky’s Hell Is Round need higher-resolution source music
the Corner from his 1995 album to take advantage of the tech built
Maxinquaye, the sampled LP surface into these earbuds.
noise has a crackle that the AirPods For iPhone users, B&W can’t match
Pro 2 couldn’t match. The Pi7 S2 were the versatility of Apple’s own AirPods
equally impressive when listening to Pro 2. The Apple earbuds have much
rock, pop, jazz, and classical. If you’re EHWWHU$1&DQGWKH\KDYHDOOWKH
looking for exaggerated bass, you pairing advantages that comes with
might prefer something tuned in the the in-house engineering that is
old Beats style, but these earbuds Apple’s specialty. The Pi7 S2 best the
should satisfy most any other listener. AirPods on audio quality, and they
If you’re using to a lower- may well be worth the premium price
resolution music service, such as if that’s your primary concern.
Spotify, there are hundreds of earbud
options priced at £100 or less that VERDICT
ZLOOVRXQGMXVWʐQHZLWKWKHOHVVHU If you’re an iPhone user looking to
distinguish yourself from the
AirPods army, these earbuds
RʏHUVRPHFRPSHOOLQJFRORXU
options and audio that’s as
good as what Apple has to
RʏHU-DPHV%DUEHU
The B&W Pi7 S2 in-ear monitors deliver a stunning

audio experience with Qobuz hi-res stream from an
Android phone with aptX HD.

Review: Philips TAA6606
Price: £149 from fave.co/3kyZI6x
T
he Philips TAA6606 bone wear the Philips TAA6606 like a
conduction Bluetooth sports laurel around the back of your head,
headphone make it easy to wrapping hooks over the tops of your
listen to music while you’re ears. Rather than positioning speakers
running or engaging in other types outside or inside your ear canal, a
of exercise, but audio performance bone conduction headphone such as
takes a back seat to two other goals: this rests its speakers in front of each
Ensuring a secure but comfortable ear and transmits sound through the
ʐWHYHQZKLOH\RXşUHPRYLQJ bones in your skull.
around, and maintaining situational This design leaves your ears
DZDUHQHVVbZKLOHRXWGRRUV completely unimpeded from hearing
Unlike conventional on-ear, sounds in your environment, which
over-ear, or in-ear headphones, you is great for hearing what’s going on

AUDIO
charging port, a
power button on
the bottom, and
volume controls (‘+’
and ‘-’) on the top.
Long presses of the
volume controls
moves up and down
your playlist. LED
safety lights adorn
the backs of both the
The Philips TAA6606 wireless headphone has a pad that left- and right-hand
vibrates against your skull instead of a traditional loudspeaker. arms to help you be
seen from behind.
around you, but it doesn’t deliver These can be set to a glow steadily
great audio reproduction. or they can blink, fast or slowly. The
lights aren’t bright enough to replace
DESIGN UHʑHFWLYHJHDUEXWWKH\FDQKHOSDOHUW
The TAA6606 feature a lightweight a driver or bicyclist approaching you
titanium frame wrapped in
rubber. A weatherization
rating of IP67 means the
headphone is entirely
protected from dust and
WKDWLWFDQEHLPPHUVHGbLQ
up to 1 meter of water for
as long as 30 minutes. You
probably wouldn’t want to go
swimming with it, but sweat,
rain, and a clean-up session
under the faucet won’t
The power button to the right of the Philips TAA6606
FDXVHbSUREOHPV wireless headphone’s USB-C charging port is
The right-hand arm of H[FHSWLRQDOO\WLQ\DQGRǉHUV]HURKDSWLFIHHGEDFNWR
the TAA6606 has a USB-C let you know if you’re successfully pressing it.

from behind and they might
keep you from getting run over.
The headphone’s speakers
rest on your skull, just in front
of your ears and above your
jawbone. A multifunction
button on the left-hand speaker
controls play and pause with a
short press. This same button
answers phone calls with a short
press, rejects them with a long
press, and switches between ,WFDQEHGLǌFXOWWRǊJXUHRXWZKHWKHU\RXşUH
calls with a double press. This pressing the volume up or volume down button on
button has a satisfying click and the Philips TAA6606 wireless headphone.
is very easy to use.
The power and volume controls, on in which they enhance the wearer’s
WKHRWKHUKDQGDUHWLQ\DQGGLʒFXOW situational awareness. They don’t
to use. Even though ‘+’ and ‘–’ are block your ears, so you should be able
embossed on these buttons, the WRKHDUWUDʒFDQGUHDFWTXLFNO\WRDQ\
indicators are so small that it’s almost danger. They can be disconcerting at
LPSRVVLEOHWRIHHOWKHGLʏHUHQFH ʐUVWHVSHFLDOO\LI\RXşUHDFFXVWRPHG
between the two. to wearing earbuds. The music is
The Philips TAA6606 comes with a playing in your head, but you can also
cloth carry pouch, a USB-A-to-USB-C hear everything around you, as if the
charging cable, foam earplugs, and source of the music was a speaker
an instruction manual with pictures across the room.
but no words (a more complete user %RQHFRQGXFWLRQKHDGSKRQHVRʏHU
manual is available online). another safety feature: They won’t
damage your hearing. There’s nothing
BONE CONDUCTION aimed directly at your eardrums, and
HEADPHONES ENHANCE \RXZRQşWVXʏHUHDUIDWLJXHGXULQJ
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS long listening sessions.
The biggest advantage of a bone The Philips A6606 headphone
conduction headphone is the way rests on your face, and the more they

AUDIO
supported a higher-
resolution codec such
DVb/'$&RUDSW;+'
Let’s just say you can
hear the music when
using this headphone.
It’s tinny and not
much better than what
you’d get from a pair
of £19.99 wireless
earbuds you’d pick up
at a convenience store.
Bone conduction headphones such as the Philips TAA6606 Those go in your ears,
leave your ears completely open, which is great for of course, and don’t use
situational awareness. the bone conduction
technology that
vibrate, the more sound leaks out. GLʏHUHQWLDWHVWKHVHKHDGSKRQHV
There’s no way you could hope to That all changes if you’re
ZHDUWKHPLQDQRʒFHHQYLURQPHQW listening to audiobooks, podcasts,
and you might even annoy or streaming news radio. And since
VRPHRQHbVLWWLQJQH[WWR\RX
RQbDQDLUSODQHVXEZD\RUEXV
7KHVHDUHIRUbVRORXVHRQO\
AUDIO
This is where we have to
throw out most of the criteria
we use when evaluating
earbuds and headphones. The
Philips TAA6606 only support
the basic SBC Bluetooth
codec, but because of the
ZD\WKHLUbVSHDNHUVZRUN The Philips TAA6606 wireless headphone has built-in
it wouldn’t matter if they rear-facing LED lights for safety.

that’s my preferred
entertainment when
I’m running, I came
to appreciate the
strengths of the
Philips TAA6606
and was no longer
distracted by the
less-than-stellar
music experience.
Philips included
a pair of foam
earplugs in the box
and the experience
is vastly improved It’s easier to control the Philips TAA6606 wireless headphone if
when using them. you use the Philips Headphone app for iOS or Android.
The soundstage
ʐOOVRXWDQGWKHLQVWUXPHQWVVRXQG 7$$LVʐQHLQDSLQFK-XVWGRQşW
like themselves. The science behind plan on extended conversations, as
ERQHbFRQGXFWLRQDXGLRVWDUWVWR it’s been reported that I sounded like
really impress. How can music I was speaking from the bottom of a
VRXQGbWKLVJRRGLI\RXşUHQRWXVLQJ well while using them.
\RXUHDUGUXPV"3OXJJLQJ\RXUHDUV Philips has a mobile app (Android
however, defeats much of the safety and iOS) for its headphones. It’s very
advantage that a bone conduction basic for this model, showing the
headphone provides. If you’re trail battery level on the home screen. You
running and don’t need to worry about can pick from enhanced bass or voice
WUDʒFXVHWKHHDUSOXJVDQGHQMR\WKH LQWKH6RXQG(ʏHFWSDQHOFRQWURO
upgraded audio. the running lights, play or pause, and
7KH3KLOLSV7$$LVRXWʐWWHG adjust the volume.
with two microphones, which makes it
possible to take or make phone calls. VERDICT
Everyone needs to occasionally take Earbuds may prove to have been a
a quick call while outdoors, and the terrible invention if entire generations

AUDIO
HQGXSVXʏHULQJORQJWHUPKHDULQJ
loss from blasting music straight into
their eardrums. If you’re someone who
worries about this, a bone conduction
headphone like the Philips A6606
headphone is a way to have audio
without any direct risk to your ears.
This type of headphone also
allow you to be fully aware of your
surroundings, because they block
zero noise. If a truck rumbles by
during your walk or run, your music
will probably be drowned out and
there’s no way you’ll hear the narrator
of your audiobook. On the upside,
LWşVbH[WUHPHO\XQOLNHO\WKDW\RX
ZRQşWbKHDUWKHWUXFNEHIRUH\RXFDQ
get out of its way.
Runners love bone conduction
headphones, and there are long
threads devoted to the topic on their
message boards. What they’re not is
a good way to enjoy music if you’re
a person who cares about audio.
Personally, I’ll stick with a good pair
of earbuds in transparency mode
at an appropriate volume, but I can
see the appeal of bone conduction
headphones if you take your exercise
outdoors. -DPHV%DUEHU

INSIDE: HOW TO LOCK AND ENCRYPT YOUR DATA
ISSUE 189
iPAD PRO (M2)

VS iPAD PRO (M1)
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Ipad and Iphone User March 2023

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REVIEWED:

PLUS: BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR iPHONE

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Credit: Getty Images/mikkelwilliam

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In a separate blog post (fave.

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You can now use Google’s

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Apple reportedly snatching

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If you kept your original

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Apple reportedly snatching

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Heart: Blue, pink, grey.

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The iPad Pro’s overdue

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Essential iPad tips and

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and in each case specify allowed apps 1RZDGD\VDQDSSFDQUHPDLQRQ\RXU

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It’s just like having a trackpad.

keyboard, do a ‘pinch out’ gesture

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Pro (2018/2020/2021 and 2022 a case since none of Apple’s iPads

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10. TYRONE GOOSENECK

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Best iPad keyboard

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money on accessories somewhere a trackpad (cleverly supported in

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bigger variant, but matched

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6. ARTECK BACKLIT KEYBOARD

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