Latest news with #iOS15
Daily Mirror
27-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Fitbit smartwatch hailed 'best buy' by delighted tech fan drops to under £100
Amazon has slashed 29% off the Google Fitbit Charge 6 Activity Tracker with a free 6 month premium membership Smartwatches have become a must-have gadget for many, allowing the wearer to track fitness goals, sleeping patterns, and some even take calls and send texts. There are several options for shoppers to peruse, but the likes of Google Fitbit and Apple arguably dominate the market as a reliable and stylish choice. Amazon has just made it more affordable to get hold of the Google Fitbit Charge 6 by offering a deal that makes it almost 30% cheaper. On sale for £98.99 down from £139.99 in all three colours (orange, black and white), the smartwatch comes with complimentary 6 months premium membership. The Fitbit Charge 6 is compatible with iOS 15 or higher and Android OS 9.0 or higher, and has a battery life of seven days, as well as being water-resistant up to 50m. It boasts more than 40 exercise modes, sleep tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitor and a daily readiness score. Those looking for other features besides fitness can explore elements such as Google Wallet, Google Maps and when connected to a phone, the Fitbit shows notifications and allows calls and texts. Customers praise the battery life of the Google Fitbit Charge 6, with one person saying it is 'far better than the Apple watch', due to this. Someone else said: "The reason I bought this was the battery life. Having a device which you need to charge every day or every other day is just not practical for me and the battery on this lasts almost a week." Google Fitbit Charge 6 Activity Tracker £139.99 £98.99 Amazon Shop deal Product Description If the Fitbit isn't quite within budget, Amazon also offers the Fitpolo Smart Watch for £38.99. Shoppers say it is a 'good value smart watch' that is 'packed with features'. Garmin is another top-rated brand in the world of smartwatches and has currently slashed the price of the Venu 2S Smartwatch by £60. Meanwhile, Samsung's range of smart watches are also popular. The chic piece of tech would typically set shoppers back £349.99 but is now on sale for £199. Not only does it look good on the wrist, it has up to 10 days battery life, more than 25 preloaded sports apps, animated workout coaches, music storage and touch-free payments. Regarding the Fitbit Charge 6, there have been some glowing reviews left for the device. Someone said: "Really happy with the Fitbit Charge 6 so far. It's lightweight, looks good, and the tracking is super accurate — especially heart rate during workouts. Battery easily lasts a week, which is a big plus. The sleep and activity insights have actually helped me make small changes that stick. Premium membership is a nice bonus too. Overall, a solid upgrade and totally worth it." Another person pointed out that the subscription isn't a must, meaning after 6 months shoppers don't necessarily need to upgrade to make use of the watch. They wrote: "Highly recommend - slim design, high quality and fits great. Packed with useful features with no need for a premium subscription." While there are a number of features that score points with shoppers, the Fitbit Charge 6 does lack in one area. A less happy customer wrote: "Have received my tracker and all working well. A little disappointed that Fitbit chose not to include the ability to count stairs as my previous charge 4 used to do, however the additions of oxygen levels, skin temperature and ECG do make up for this." But, it helped someone else achieve their fitness goal, with the consumer leaving a five star review that reads: "From little movement to 10km every morning. The best buy I have made. Reduced weight by 2.5 stones and feel fitter than I have for years. The watch didn't actually achieve this but 100% contributed toward it."
CNET
14-07-2025
- CNET
Your iPhone Has a White Noise Function. Here's How to Turn It On
Listening to natural sounds can lower stress, relieve perceived pain and foster a more positive disposition, according to research from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Other studies suggest that white noise could help parents get their babies to sleep, adults learn words and improve learning in environments full of distractions. And if you're looking to buy a white noise machine for yourself or your child, your iPhone can function as one, saving you money on a new device. Read more: White Noise Versus Brown Noise: Which One Is Best for Sleep? When Apple released iOS 15 in 2021, the operating system brought a hidden feature to your iPhone called Background Sounds. It allows you to turn your iPhone into a white noise machine, and you can play these sounds by themselves or under any podcast, music or video streaming app. When Apple first introduced the feature, there were six ambient sounds to play on a loop: rain, stream, ocean, bright, balanced and dark noise, which are different pitches of white noise. When Apple released iOS 18 last September, it added two sounds to the feature: night and fire. And developer beta versions of the upcoming iOS 26 feature even more background sounds, like rain on roof and babble -- which sounds like a busy cafe. So instead of buying a white noise machine, save yourself some money and just use your iPhone. Read more: Everything You Need to Know About iOS 18 Here's how to enable Background Sounds on your iPhone. How to set up Background Sounds on your iPhone 1. Tap Settings. 2. Tap Accessibility. 3. Tap Audio & Visual. 4. Tap Background Sounds. 5. Tap the toggle next to Background Sounds near the top of the menu to enable the feature. In this menu you can also tap Sound to listen to the different noise options. If you're using the feature for the first time, the sounds have to download, so it might take a second. There are also two other toggles in this menu: Use When Media Is Playing and Stop Sounds When Locked. Tapping the toggle next to Use When Media Is Playing allows Background Sounds to keep playing while you watch a video or listen to music. And tapping the toggle next to Stop Sounds When Locked ensures Background Sounds will turn off when your device locks. If you don't have this enabled, the sounds will continue to play when your device locks. How to access Background Sounds from Control Center Instead of searching through Settings each time you want to turn Background Sounds on, here's how you can set up a toggle in the Control Center to turn the feature on to use on your iPhone. I like rain but fire and night are also pleasant. Apple/CNET 1. Open Control Center. 2. Tap the plus (+) sign in the top left of your screen. 3. Tap Add a Control near the bottom of your screen. 4. Tap Hearing control (ear icon) to add to Control Center. Once the Hearing control icon is in Control Center, tap it to see three options: Speaker, Background Sounds and Live Listen. Then tap the musical notes next to Background Sounds to turn the feature on. You can also tap on the words Background Sounds to open a menu to choose a different background sound as well as adjust the volume. Use Accessibility Shortcuts for Background Sounds You can also set up an accessibility shortcut to turn Background Sounds on or off from your home screen or within an app. Here's how to set it up. 1. Tap Settings. 2. Tap Accessibility. 3. Tap Accessibility Shortcut. 4. Tap Background Sounds. Now when you press the side button on your iPhone three times, Background Sounds will turn on. You can tap the button three times again to turn it back off. For more on iOS 18, here's what you need to know about iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4, as well as our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also check out what you should know about iOS 26 and how the upcoming OS lets us kill the alarm's 9-minute snooze.
Arabian Post
04-07-2025
- Arabian Post
Apple Boosts Message Security with Hidden Unknown-Sender Filter
Apple is introducing a fresh layer of defence in iOS 26's Messages app, giving users the option to silence and segregate texts from unrecognised senders. The update shifts spam and unknown contacts into a separate section, reducing notifications and clutter without permanently blocking messages. Built to enhance user control, the feature adds toggles in Settings under Messages → Unknown & Spam, enabling distinct screening options for unknown senders and suspected spam. When activated, messages from unfamiliar numbers remain accessible, but alerts are muted and the messages populate a dedicated Unknown Senders area within the app. A visual badge on the Filters button signals new content in that section. This method aligns with user expectations for seamless functionality. Previous iterations of 'Filter Unknown Senders' have existed since iOS 15, yet users note they fail to silence all alerts or entirely block presenters. What distinguishes the iOS 26 update is the built-in ability to screen both unknown senders and spam separately. The update ensures that authentication codes or time-sensitive messages bypass the filter, landing directly in the main inbox. ADVERTISEMENT This amplification of privacy tools comes on the heels of similar measures to prevent scam calls. The Phone app in iOS 26 introduces Call Screening, appointing an automated voice assistant to answer unknown calls and ask the caller to identify themselves before passing through to the user. Both mobile and messaging protections are positioned as fragments of a broader effort to counter increasing fraud threats, including AI-based voice cloning scams. Apple's approach prioritises user discretion. Alongside automated handling, users retain the choice to designate a number as 'known' or delete flagged messages. Official Apple guidance from March 2025 already describes message‑filtering filters as optional and reversible. The global rollout anticipates syncing behind-the-scenes machine learning across devices, without sending text content to Apple, reinforcing data privacy, notably in countries like India and Brazil. Expert voices emphasise that the real benefit lies in deleting noise, not siloing messages. 'You won't be notified when an unknown sender texts you,' one analysis explains, 'but you can view them at your discretion'. Tech commentators see this as a maturity in messaging apps: tools should not just filter unwanted content, but do so neatly—without erasing legitimate communications. User feedback on Reddit underlines the pain point: while filters have existed, users report continued spam delivery and notifications, dampening confidence in the utility of the system. The new interface, which introduces visual cues and a dedicated filter button, may finally iron out inconsistencies. By separating unknown senders and suspected spam, Apple appears to adopt a more granular model. The new Flags in Messages allow users to view sections by categories—Messages, Unknown Senders, Spam and Recently Deleted. This mirrors Mail app logic, enhancing consistency across iOS. Key players beyond Apple also factor into the equation. Carrier-level anti-spam services, and third-party message-filter apps are supported through iOS 26's framework. Apple draws attention to carrier participation in reporting forwarded SMS or MMS for analysis—but emphasises that on‑device screening ensures messages remain private. Tech regulators in markets such as the EU are pushing unsolicited content do-not-disturbs similar protections. The timeline is clear: iOS 26's public launch is due in autumn 2025, with beta access rolling out to developers and testers in July. Apple's webpage confirms support across devices compatible with iOS 26, ensuring broad adoption of its antispam ecosystem. This move reflects strategic balance: protecting users while maintaining message integrity. Significant changes include separate sections for unknown senders and spam, silent alerts, visual filters, and bypassing urgent OTPs. Group chat enhancements—polls, custom backgrounds, typing indicators—and translation assistances are also integrated, but privacy stands at the forefront. Wider reception will likely hinge on accuracy. Over-zealous filtering could hide critical messages, while lax filters allow spam to seep in. Apple asserts time-sensitive communications remain visible; industry observers will be watching for real‑world performance. Apple's messaging platform is evolving from passive contact lists to intelligent filtration. Designers of digital communication are increasingly responsible for guarding user attention. With iOS 26's update, Apple negotiates that role more assertively: placing tools in user hands, muting distractions, and elevating personal control—without compromising access to essential messaging.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Chrome for Android now lets you move the address bar to the bottom, too
Google Chrome's web browser for Android devices is finally catching up to the notable design change that Safari made with the 2021 introduction of iOS 15: it's offering a way to move the address bar to the bottom of the screen too. The company announced on Tuesday that the latest version of its Chrome for Android browser will now allow users who prefer the modernized experience, designed to be easier to use on mobile devices, to opt to set their address bar to appear at the bottom of their screen instead of the top. The feature was previously available on Chrome for iOS, following Apple's lead in the space. Having learned from Apple's prior challenges, Google is not forcing the change on all its users, however. Instead, it's adding a new feature that lets users configure the address bar's location to their liking. To move the address bar to the bottom of the screen, you'll long-press on the bar and then select the option to move it to the bottom. You can also configure the location of the address bar in Chrome's Settings menu. Users often prefer the option as it places the address bar closer to where they're holding their phone, allowing them to type more comfortably. When Apple first rolled out the update, some users rebelled against the change, complaining that the placement of the bar, which initially floated atop the page's content, was problematic as it made some websites nearly unusable. The bar would block out various elements that users needed to tap on, they said, which required them to swipe the bar down and out of the way. Others simply didn't like the change. In response to user feedback, Apple moved the bar to the bottom, below the page content, and made it an optional choice as opposed to the default. Google is approaching the design update in the same way by allowing users to make the decision. The company said the feature will begin to appear on Android devices starting today and will roll out to all users over the weeks ahead. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time Business News
05-06-2025
- Time Business News
Exploring iOS 15: New Features on the iPhone 13 Pro Max
The iPhone 13 Pro Max price in Pak has become one of the hottest search terms among tech enthusiasts and Apple fans alike. As users in Pakistan look for an advanced, all-in-one smartphone with cutting-edge performance and impressive aesthetics, the iPhone 13 Pro Max running iOS 15 delivers a powerhouse experience. With robust new software capabilities, revamped apps, and intelligent performance features, this model sets a high benchmark for premium mobile devices in 2025. iOS 15 brings a series of impactful changes that enhance productivity, privacy, communication, and overall user experience. When combined with the exceptional hardware of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, users in Pakistan are experiencing a seamless and feature-rich ecosystem tailored to modern digital lifestyles. Apple has reimagined FaceTime, offering a more lifelike interaction with spatial audio that mimics the way voices sound in real life. With SharePlay, users can watch movies, listen to music, or share their screens live during FaceTime calls, which is particularly helpful for families and professionals in Pakistan who want to stay connected more meaningfully. With notifications coming from every direction, Focus Mode in iOS 15 allows users to filter interruptions and focus on the task at hand. Whether you're working from home or studying online, this feature helps you stay in control, offering customized modes like Work, Sleep, or Personal. The redesigned Notification Summary provides a clean, prioritized list of notifications, ensuring that only the most important alerts catch your attention. It's ideal for users who want to reduce screen time while staying informed, something increasingly important in our digital-heavy lifestyles. The iPhone 13 Pro Max features a surgical-grade stainless steel frame with textured matte glass and a ceramic shield front. Its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display offers a smoother and brighter experience thanks to the 120Hz ProMotion technology. The display adjusts dynamically, making it perfect for streaming, gaming, or professional design work in Pakistan's fast-growing creative market. At the heart of the iPhone 13 Pro Max lies the A15 Bionic chip, which ensures ultra-fast processing speeds and energy efficiency. Whether you're editing 4K videos, playing high-end mobile games, or multitasking across apps, the A15 Bionic offers blazing performance without draining battery life. With 5-core GPU performance, users can enjoy stunning graphics and enhanced machine learning capabilities that elevate daily tasks and creative projects. This chipset makes the device a worthy investment, especially in Pakistan's competitive mobile landscape. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max camera system revolutionizes mobile photography. The triple-lens array features a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens, along with a LiDAR scanner for depth mapping and low-light photography. With Photographic Styles and Cinematic Mode, you can produce studio-quality content directly from your device. This makes it the top choice for photographers, vloggers, and social media influencers in Pakistan who need professional-level results on the go. The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts one of the longest battery lives in the iPhone lineup, lasting up to 2.5 hours longer than its predecessor. With the MagSafe ecosystem, users can enjoy fast, secure wireless charging and a range of magnetic accessories that enhance usability and convenience. In a market like Pakistan where mobile usage is high, long battery life combined with wireless charging ensures uninterrupted productivity and entertainment. With iCloud+, users gain additional privacy-focused services such as Private Relay and Hide My Email. These tools protect user data from trackers and spammers, giving Pakistani consumers greater control over their personal information in a digital age where privacy concerns are growing. Apple's reputation for long-term software updates adds another reason to consider the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Users in Pakistan can rely on timely security patches and new iOS versions, making it a smart and future-proof investment compared to other devices. From robust hardware to intelligent software, the iPhone 13 Pro Max running iOS 15 offers an unbeatable combination of power, elegance, and functionality. The seamless integration of features like FaceTime upgrades, Focus Mode, and camera enhancements makes it ideal for modern users. If you're looking to discover the iPhone 13 Pro Max price in Pak, explore trustworthy e-commerce platforms to ensure quality and reliability. Among them, Wise Market PK stands out as one of the best E-Commerce websites in Pakistan, offering authentic Apple devices with dependable service. For users in Lahore and beyond, it's worth exploring options from the Best online shopping website in Lahore for the latest Apple tech. The iPhone 13 Pro Max introduces ProMotion display, Cinematic Mode, improved battery life, and enhanced privacy features under iOS 15, making it a massive upgrade from its predecessors. Yes, with its powerful A15 Bionic chip, excellent camera system, and continued software support from Apple, it's a high-performance device that remains relevant in 2025. The triple-lens camera system with Photographic Styles and LiDAR offers top-tier photography and videography, ideal for both professionals and casual users. Yes, the device is fully compatible with 5G networks in Pakistan, delivering ultra-fast connectivity for streaming, gaming, and downloads. Absolutely. Wise Market PK is a leading e-commerce platform in Pakistan known for its authentic products, customer support, and competitive offerings. For the latest and most reliable information Visit timebusinessnews. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
