iOS 18 beta 5 is now available to enrolled developers, featuring a new Distraction Control option in Safari. Through this fresh addition, users can hide static web elements, such as cookie popups, newsletter banners, and more. While you can technically use Distraction Control on iOS to block web ads, there’s a major limitation barring it from becoming a practical solution.

When hitting the new Hide Distracting Items button in Safari, an alert reads: “Hiding distracting items will not permanently remove ads and other content that update frequently.” This highlights that the feature isn’t designed to block ads on websites. Instead, it’s meant for static banners that don’t continuously refresh.

Apple Intelligence is arguably iOS 18’s most significant highlight, baking native AI features into the OS. While the technology likely won’t debut publicly until October, the company has already given iOS 18.1 beta testers an early look. One of its perks is AI summaries in the Mail app. Through this handy Apple Intelligence feature, users can save time, determine emails’ importance at a glance, get locked out of their accounts, and possibly lose considerable sums of money.

Yes, you’ve read that right. Apple Intelligence, indeed, can’t differentiate between phishing and legitimate emails. According to multiple Reddit users, the AI-powered filter in the Mail app is marking scam emails as a priority. This suggests that the technology categorizes emails based only on their texts, disregarding the senders’ addresses and other relevant signals.

In recent years, smartphone hardware upgrades have been incremental — for the most part, at least. This has pushed some manufacturers to develop exclusive software features for their latest products, enticing customers to upgrade more frequently. The iPhone’s case is no different. Apple Intelligence is only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, which will likely make it an iPhone 16 key selling point. Though, given that the highly anticipated AI features have been delayed till October, will Apple still launch the iPhone 16 in September? Here’s what the rumors indicate.

According to Bloomberg, Apple will stick to its tradition and launch the iPhone 16 in September. Since the company typically introduces its flagship smartphones on a Tuesday towards the middle of the month, the publication suggests that the announcement could take place on September 10. The report states:

At Android Authority, we are huge fans of Android phones. However, since we cover the entire mobile landscape, you might be surprised to learn that some of the people who work here don’t use Android phones as their daily drivers. Yes, we have a few traitors iPhone users in our midst, and they help us get a broader look at the Android versus iOS competition.

You might be surprised, though, to learn that many of our readers also use iPhones. In fact, after Android, iOS is the operating system most used to visit our site, even more so than Windows! Don’t believe me? Check out the chart below, which represents a typical month of Android Authority visits:

With all this in mind, it would make sense that some of our iOS-based readers used to be Android fans but have since made the switch to the iPhone but are still keeping an eye on Google’s mobile adventures. That got us curious, and in an effort to dig deeper, we ran a poll asking if people had jumped ship from Android to iOS and why.

We ran this poll here at Android Authority but also on our X and YouTube profiles. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most interesting answers. We think this is a really cool and interesting look into what might need some work within Android. After all, if Google and/or Android OEMs addressed some of these complaints, maybe these people would still be Android users.

Let’s dive in!

Why our readers made the switch to the iPhone

Overall, there were a few recurring themes for the answers we saw. We’re going to organize the comments by those themes and give you some examples. Let’s start with one of the most significant differentiators between Android and iOS: privacy.

Privacy

On X, user Shafty023 summarized their reason for switching very succinctly:

Privacy is a huge one. Done with having Google see and know everything about me via my phone.

It is true that iPhones approach data privacy a bit differently than Android phones. The main difference is money: Although both companies are collecting user data, Apple’s revenue doesn’t rely on that data, while Google’s primary source of income is selling that data. That being said, Android phones have come a long way for privacy, and there are ways to “de-Google” an Android phone, such as by flashing Graphene OS. But it’s still true that if privacy is your main area of concern, you’re probably going to be happier on an iPhone.

Another X user, DarkLordWaffles, agrees:

Google is primarily an ad agency. They approach all business decisions from that perspective. Apple primarily a hardware company. Different design philosophies

And BaritoneGuy even claims to have read the fine print:

Privacy. Plain and simple. I actually spent the time to read all the squinty print before I switched. I went from Blackberry to Windows phone to Samsung and then Apple. If I could get an Android phone without the Google stuff I would like that, but if you want the phone to be functional then that is not possible.

iMessage and apps in general

In the United States, one of the most significant aspects of the iPhone keeping users from switching is iMessage. For reasons I won’t get into here, people in the US have not adopted platform-agnostic chat apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) nearly as much as the rest of the world has. This leaves iPhone users dependent on iMessage. It’s only logical that this allure would tempt Android users to make the switch to an iPhone.

On YouTube, here’s what Nathan1Sixteen had to say on that:

Because I got tired of my friends complaining about my text message bubble color

This references so-called “green bubble hate,” a US phenomenon in which people get angry at Android users for “ruining” group chats within iMessage. Considering we primarily use our phones as communication machines, can you really blame someone for using the operating system that is best for communicating with friends and family?

X user ERosener had similar sentiments:

I love android. But until RCS is widely available on iOS I have had to move back to my iPhone to be more compatible with family and friends. Pathetic, I know.

This user is referencing Rich Communications Services (RCS), which is how many US-based Android users communicate with one another. It’s essentially iMessage, but for Android. Thankfully, Apple is going to incorporate RCS into iOS 18 this year, which will allow iPhone users to better communicate with Android users. However, those green bubbles aren’t going anywhere, and iPhone-to-iPhone communication will still be superior to iPhone-to-Android communication.

On a related note, another X user, ArtoriasAkai, doesn’t mention iMessage but does talk about how apps on iOS tend to be better and more polished:

I switched because of the apps. Standard and downloaded apps are just better on iOS. Both in polish and function. I got tired of hunting for the good apps on Android. Often the better/best apps cost money on Android.

This is because app development for iOS is more streamlined than for Android. For example, developers only need to worry about one hardware company instead of dozens and also only need to work with a fairly limited set of screen sizes and hardware specs, at least when compared to the thousands of Android phones out there.

Broader ecosystem

Since Apple tightly controls its hardware, it shouldn’t be surprising that its broader ecosystem consists of devices that all work very well with one another. While most of the integrations Apple offers can be replicated with Android phones, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, etc., Apple’s “it just works” ethos is undeniably alluring.

X user DigiDynamo000 elaborates on this:

The reason was more towards the ecosystem itself and how it worked well with my workflow. Though I recognize that on a 1:1 comparison, Android is the superior of the platforms.

Apple also dominates certain categories, such as tablets and smartwatches. Simply put, the Android tablet industry is dwarfed by the iPad and very few Android-compatible smartwatches can truly meet the level of the Apple Watch. X user ThatTim5 is keenly aware of that last point:

The Apple Watch. All the other smartwatches wasn’t [sic] that good.

While Google’s Wear OS (which is based on Android) has made big strides in the past few years, the company wasted too much time before taking smartwatches seriously. Because of this, Google is the David in a traditional David vs Goliath story when it comes to the Apple Watch — and if you want an Apple Watch, you must own an iPhone.

Hardware

The aesthetic appeal of a smartphone is subjective, for sure, but some differences are objectively more useful. One example is ease of use: a phone that is really big is going to be difficult for a person with smaller hands to use. This has been a significant problem in the Android world because buying a compact Android phone has generally forced you to make significant compromises on performance and features. Meanwhile, the sizing of iPhones allows you to get big and small phones without losing out on many features.

Android Authority reader Phil Scadden sums it up like this:

It is possible to buy a quality phone that still fits in your pocket with iOS. Hard to buy an android less than 6.4 inches

Obviously, there are plenty of Android phones out there with sub-6.4-inch displays. But how many of them are just as good as their 6.8-inch counterparts? Not many. Hopefully, the Pixel 9 series will help fix this problem in the Android world since the Pixel 9 Pro is poised to be smaller but still offer all the same features as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Outside of sizing, the physical features of a phone can also come into play. Android Authority reader Warden mentioned the Action Button on iPhones, a feature that doesn’t have much representation in the Android world:

Action button has been very convenient.

Granted, there are phones out there with buttons similar to the Action Button, but they are not as widespread, nor are they as easily customizable.

Convenience

Speaking of the convenience of the Action Button, it turns out that that word — convenience — came up quite a bit in some of these comments. For some people, it wasn’t a question of wanting to leave Android as much as a need to do so.

X user Kozjegyzo is a good example of this:

Because everything is Apple first with our company. Both hardware and software. So I had to. It’s not as bad as I thought but I kinda wanna go back to Android as a daily driver…

X user Danield011 has similar sentiments:

Just conveniences as all my family has iPhones

Finally, on YouTube, TechnoLawyer is in the same boat:

Because of my kids having iPhones. So mainly for iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Cash, and my oldest daughter’s use of Apple Notes to make lists and the sharing of said notes. If it weren’t for my kids, I think I’d have a Nothing Phone.

Keep this all in mind next time you wonder why someone would ever use an iPhone over Android. It might be that they simply have no choice.

Those are a lot of the reasons why some Android Authority fans have jumped ship to the iPhone. What do you think? What should Android do to address some of these concerns? Let us know in the comments below!

At Android Authority, we are huge fans of Android phones. However, since we cover the entire mobile landscape, you might be surprised to learn that some of the people who work here don’t use Android phones as their daily drivers. Yes, we have a few traitors iPhone users in our midst, and they help us get a broader look at the Android versus iOS competition.

You might be surprised, though, to learn that many of our readers also use iPhones. In fact, after Android, iOS is the operating system most used to visit our site, even more so than Windows! Don’t believe me? Check out the chart below, which represents a typical month of Android Authority visits:

With all this in mind, it would make sense that some of our iOS-based readers used to be Android fans but have since made the switch to the iPhone but are still keeping an eye on Google’s mobile adventures. That got us curious, and in an effort to dig deeper, we ran a poll asking if people had jumped ship from Android to iOS and why.

We ran this poll here at Android Authority but also on our X and YouTube profiles. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most interesting answers. We think this is a really cool and interesting look into what might need some work within Android. After all, if Google and/or Android OEMs addressed some of these complaints, maybe these people would still be Android users.

Let’s dive in!

Why our readers made the switch to the iPhone

Overall, there were a few recurring themes for the answers we saw. We’re going to organize the comments by those themes and give you some examples. Let’s start with one of the most significant differentiators between Android and iOS: privacy.

Privacy

On X, user Shafty023 summarized their reason for switching very succinctly:

Privacy is a huge one. Done with having Google see and know everything about me via my phone.

It is true that iPhones approach data privacy a bit differently than Android phones. The main difference is money: Although both companies are collecting user data, Apple’s revenue doesn’t rely on that data, while Google’s primary source of income is selling that data. That being said, Android phones have come a long way for privacy, and there are ways to “de-Google” an Android phone, such as by flashing Graphene OS. But it’s still true that if privacy is your main area of concern, you’re probably going to be happier on an iPhone.

Another X user, DarkLordWaffles, agrees:

Google is primarily an ad agency. They approach all business decisions from that perspective. Apple primarily a hardware company. Different design philosophies

And BaritoneGuy even claims to have read the fine print:

Privacy. Plain and simple. I actually spent the time to read all the squinty print before I switched. I went from Blackberry to Windows phone to Samsung and then Apple. If I could get an Android phone without the Google stuff I would like that, but if you want the phone to be functional then that is not possible.

iMessage and apps in general

In the United States, one of the most significant aspects of the iPhone keeping users from switching is iMessage. For reasons I won’t get into here, people in the US have not adopted platform-agnostic chat apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) nearly as much as the rest of the world has. This leaves iPhone users dependent on iMessage. It’s only logical that this allure would tempt Android users to make the switch to an iPhone.

On YouTube, here’s what Nathan1Sixteen had to say on that:

Because I got tired of my friends complaining about my text message bubble color

This references so-called “green bubble hate,” a US phenomenon in which people get angry at Android users for “ruining” group chats within iMessage. Considering we primarily use our phones as communication machines, can you really blame someone for using the operating system that is best for communicating with friends and family?

X user ERosener had similar sentiments:

I love android. But until RCS is widely available on iOS I have had to move back to my iPhone to be more compatible with family and friends. Pathetic, I know.

This user is referencing Rich Communications Services (RCS), which is how many US-based Android users communicate with one another. It’s essentially iMessage, but for Android. Thankfully, Apple is going to incorporate RCS into iOS 18 this year, which will allow iPhone users to better communicate with Android users. However, those green bubbles aren’t going anywhere, and iPhone-to-iPhone communication will still be superior to iPhone-to-Android communication.

On a related note, another X user, ArtoriasAkai, doesn’t mention iMessage but does talk about how apps on iOS tend to be better and more polished:

I switched because of the apps. Standard and downloaded apps are just better on iOS. Both in polish and function. I got tired of hunting for the good apps on Android. Often the better/best apps cost money on Android.

This is because app development for iOS is more streamlined than for Android. For example, developers only need to worry about one hardware company instead of dozens and also only need to work with a fairly limited set of screen sizes and hardware specs, at least when compared to the thousands of Android phones out there.

Broader ecosystem

Since Apple tightly controls its hardware, it shouldn’t be surprising that its broader ecosystem consists of devices that all work very well with one another. While most of the integrations Apple offers can be replicated with Android phones, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, etc., Apple’s “it just works” ethos is undeniably alluring.

X user DigiDynamo000 elaborates on this:

The reason was more towards the ecosystem itself and how it worked well with my workflow. Though I recognize that on a 1:1 comparison, Android is the superior of the platforms.

Apple also dominates certain categories, such as tablets and smartwatches. Simply put, the Android tablet industry is dwarfed by the iPad and very few Android-compatible smartwatches can truly meet the level of the Apple Watch. X user ThatTim5 is keenly aware of that last point:

The Apple Watch. All the other smartwatches wasn’t [sic] that good.

While Google’s Wear OS (which is based on Android) has made big strides in the past few years, the company wasted too much time before taking smartwatches seriously. Because of this, Google is the David in a traditional David vs Goliath story when it comes to the Apple Watch — and if you want an Apple Watch, you must own an iPhone.

Hardware

The aesthetic appeal of a smartphone is subjective, for sure, but some differences are objectively more useful. One example is ease of use: a phone that is really big is going to be difficult for a person with smaller hands to use. This has been a significant problem in the Android world because buying a compact Android phone has generally forced you to make significant compromises on performance and features. Meanwhile, the sizing of iPhones allows you to get big and small phones without losing out on many features.

Android Authority reader Phil Scadden sums it up like this:

It is possible to buy a quality phone that still fits in your pocket with iOS. Hard to buy an android less than 6.4 inches

Obviously, there are plenty of Android phones out there with sub-6.4-inch displays. But how many of them are just as good as their 6.8-inch counterparts? Not many. Hopefully, the Pixel 9 series will help fix this problem in the Android world since the Pixel 9 Pro is poised to be smaller but still offer all the same features as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Outside of sizing, the physical features of a phone can also come into play. Android Authority reader Warden mentioned the Action Button on iPhones, a feature that doesn’t have much representation in the Android world:

Action button has been very convenient.

Granted, there are phones out there with buttons similar to the Action Button, but they are not as widespread, nor are they as easily customizable.

Convenience

Speaking of the convenience of the Action Button, it turns out that that word — convenience — came up quite a bit in some of these comments. For some people, it wasn’t a question of wanting to leave Android as much as a need to do so.

X user Kozjegyzo is a good example of this:

Because everything is Apple first with our company. Both hardware and software. So I had to. It’s not as bad as I thought but I kinda wanna go back to Android as a daily driver…

X user Danield011 has similar sentiments:

Just conveniences as all my family has iPhones

Finally, on YouTube, TechnoLawyer is in the same boat:

Because of my kids having iPhones. So mainly for iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Cash, and my oldest daughter’s use of Apple Notes to make lists and the sharing of said notes. If it weren’t for my kids, I think I’d have a Nothing Phone.

Keep this all in mind next time you wonder why someone would ever use an iPhone over Android. It might be that they simply have no choice.

Those are a lot of the reasons why some Android Authority fans have jumped ship to the iPhone. What do you think? What should Android do to address some of these concerns? Let us know in the comments below!

With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple is integrating ChatGPT into its latest devices. While the company has developed its own Apple Intelligence features, users will get to rely on OpenAI’s smarts when the first-party ones are insufficient. However, Apple won’t stop there; it’s reportedly considering more AI partnerships with companies like Meta, Perplexity, and Anthropic.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has been discussing potential AI partnerships with Meta, Perplexity, and Anthropic. Additionally, the firm is trying to find an OpenAI alternative for its China-based users, as ChatGPT is banned there. If any of these potential partnerships materialize, iOS 18 users could have more AI provider options — beyond ChatGPT and Apple’s own model.

Earlier this year, Apple rolled out an iOS update with EU-exclusive features to comply with the DMA. These include support for third-party app stores and allowing developers to reference in-app digital services that users can buy from external websites. Now that the EU Commission has investigated some of Apple’s changes, its preliminary findings indicate that the iPhone maker has breached the DMA.

The EU Commission announced today that Apple’s new iPhone rules continue to prevent developers from steering users to external websites, which violates its DMA. For reference, Apple now allows app developers to link to digital purchases beyond its own IAP system. However, the company still restricts how developers implement the links in their apps, such as prohibiting them from listing their pricing.

Apple has been gradually boosting its latest iPhones and iPads by introducing fresh power-user features with every annual OS update, and this year is no different. The first betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 pack a new functionality that allows testers to reformat external drives when erasing them.

The ability to erase connected external drives using the Files app on iPhones and iPads has existed for a while. As Kaleb Cadle discovered, though, iOS and iPadOS 18 upgrade this feature by allowing users to pick between three formats instead of being limited to a default one.

Apple announced a variety of new AI tricks for its iPhones earlier this month, dubbed Apple Intelligence. Unfortunately, most iPhone owners are left in the lurch as only the iPhone 15 Pro series will get these features.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are arguably the best wireless earbuds for iPhone users, offering a seamless integration with iOS and many neat features. These include an Adaptive Audio option that blends the Transparency and Noise Cancellation modes. So, those using it can hear human voices but not unwanted, loud noises. With iOS 18, Apple is giving the Adaptive Audio mode a welcome upgrade, allowing users to control how much noise it cancels.

As highlighted by MacRumors, the AirPods Pro 2’s Adaptive Audio mode has become more customizable on iOS 18. Those running the latest beta firmware versions on their iPhones and AirPods will find a new option in the Settings app. Through a dedicated slider, users can allow more or less noise to pass through when using the Adaptive Audio mode.

While the upgraded Adaptive Audio mode is certainly handy, we advise you not to install the beta firmware on your AirPods Pro 2. After all, AirPods, unlike iPhones, can’t easily be downgraded to the stable version. So, if you encounter serious bugs or battery drain while running the beta, you may have to deal with it until the final release launches this fall.

It’s worth noting that the new Adaptive Audio mode is also supported on iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. So, if you’re using your AirPods Pro 2 with a different Apple device, you’ll still be able to customize the aforementioned feature.

Arguably, macOS Sequoia’s most significant feature is iPhone Mirroring. Through this upcoming Apple ecosystem integration, users will be able to control their iOS devices directly from their Macs. While macOS Sequoia beta 1 doesn’t officially offer this feature, a user has managed to enable it forcibly. Based on the brief screen recording they shared, Apple’s iPhone Mirroring appears to be much more polished than the Phone Link feature tying Android and Windows.

Region lock my ass.
iOS 18 seems to have turned a few of us into full-time reverse engineers pic.twitter.com/ZcfIxWx5DX

— xezrunner (@XeZrunner) June 20, 2024

As shown in the video embedded above, Twitter user Xezrunner has managed to enable and use iPhone Mirroring on iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. The mirroring in the demo seems to be instantaneous, with virtually no lag or glitches. The user swiftly launched, navigated through, and exited a mirrored iOS app — reflecting a natural, intuitive user experience.

User Albacore, who helped enable the feature, states that there’s currently no easy way to activate iPhone Mirroring on macOS Sequoia beta 1. Consequently, users may have to wait until Apple officially enables it in a future beta build. Nevertheless, the fact that an unreleased feature on a first developer beta seems to be working seamlessly only highlights how well-developed it is. The second OS betas, which could potentially enable this feature for all testers, are expected next week.

At WWDC24 today, Apple took the wraps off Apple Intelligence, the company’s new umbrella name for the various generative AI tools that will soon come to iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. To make at least some of these AI features a reality, Apple is relying on a partnership with OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT.

However, weeks before the WWDC24 keynote, we heard rumors that Apple was also in talks with Google about bringing that company’s Gemini to iPhones. That didn’t appear to pan out, but that doesn’t mean the deal is off the table.

Xiaomi might be the only company with official Leica branding, but iPhone users will soon be able to at least somewhat emulate this experience. Leica’s new LUX app is designed to mimic the experience you’d get from Leica lenses.

The app does this through a combination of software trickery and AI. There are 11 different color profiles designed to match current Leica cameras as well as classic cameras from the past. There’s a fully automatic camera mod that works similarly to the Apple camera, but there’s also an Aperture mode that uses AI to mimic the style, bokeh, and aperture you’d get from lenses like the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH.

Apple’s highly-anticipated WWDC keynote delivered on its promise of AI announcements, unveiling a suite of features set to land on iPhones with iOS 18 later this year. One of the prevailing themes among the announcements was the sense of déjà vu, with many of the new features mirroring similar existing functionalities on Android devices.

From the ability to personalize your home screen layout to AI-powered image editing in the Photos app, it seemed like Apple was playing catch-up with many old Android features. One such new ‘old’ feature is coming to Apple’s built-in voice recorder app, Voice Memos.

At its WWDC 2024, Apple announced macOS Sequoia and a significant expansion to Continuity, dubbed iPhone Mirroring. As the label suggests, the feature will let you remotely control your smartphone directly from a Mac. To access this feature, Apple is adding a new iPhone Mirroring icon that will permanently live in the Mac dock. Clicking on it will launch a new window with the iPhone’s home screen streamed wirelessly.

You can launch and interact with any iPhone app using the Mac’s trackpad and keyboard and the phone will even pass along audio to the computer. Moreover, since this feature is part of Apple’s broader Continuity suite, it extends beyond screen mirroring. For starters, iPhone notifications will now show up alongside your Mac notifications and you can simply click on one to launch screen mirroring.

As expected, Apple’s WWDC kickoff keynote focused on the Apple Intelligence features coming to all Apple products. Apple announced a slew of exciting updates for iOS 18, and notification management has also improved slightly.

Traditionally, iOS users have grappled with a horrible notification management system that is objectively subpar compared to Android’s more intuitive approach. With iOS 18, Apple is addressing these concerns (or at least trying to) by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence.

After months of anticipation and leaks, Apple has finally announced that it’s teaming up with AI startup OpenAI. The partnership is set to bring ChatGPT-esque smarts to Siri on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Notably, this ChatGPT integration was only one of several new AI features launched under the banner of Apple Intelligence at the company’s WWDC event today.

When iOS 18 launches later in 2024, you’ll be able to converse with Siri via natural language prompts similar to Google’s Gemini chatbot on Android. This marks a major leap forward for Siri, transforming it from a rigidly structured assistant into a conversational AI chatbot. However, Siri will not rely on OpenAI’s models for most of its responses. Instead, Apple says that it will only pass on select questions to ChatGPT.

Today, at WWDC 2024, Apple finally took a big step into the world of artificial intelligence, or AI. The company announced a slew of new iPhone, iPad, and Mac features under the umbrella of “Apple Intelligence.” This is similar to how Samsung puts all its AI features under Galaxy AI, and Google does the same under Gemini.

Unfortunately, not every iPhone owner will be able to access Apple Intelligence. Due to hardware limitations, only two existing iPhones will support it: the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Thanks to the A17 Pro chipset inside these phones, they are the only ones capable of supporting the on-device AI features launched with Apple Intelligence.

At WWDC 2024, Apple announced Game Mode for iPhone, a feature that it says will improve the gaming experience in iOS 18. This follows the introduction of Game Mode for Macs in macOS Sonoma in 2023.

According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, this Game Mode on iOS 18 will enhance performance by maximizing frame rates and reducing background activity when playing games on iPhone. This should free up some resources so that higher-end games can better utilize them. Game Mode should also improve the response time with AirPods and gaming controllers, reducing lag and giving you those milliseconds you need.

Apple’s big WWDC event is underway with plenty of software announcements to be made. One announcement of note came near the beginning of the event where the company revealed that users will soon be able to customize their home screens and app icons.

For decades, Apple has restricted what users can do to customize the appearance of their phone’s screens outside of changing the background. The software always had to match the clean lines and simplicity of the hardware. However, the tech giant is giving users a little more freedom to choose how they want their screen to look.

This new functionality will allow users to lock individual apps, including the built-in Apple apps and third-party apps. A good use case would be when you hand your phone to someone, locked apps will remain secure and locked, even if your phone itself is unlocked.

Apple’s app lock feature differs from Android’s longstanding App Lock mode. Android’s version locks the phone to the current running app, allowing the user to access only that app unless biometrics or a PIN is used to exit. In contrast, Apple’s app lock secures specific apps that you have previously selected.

To combat the awful green bubble stigma, Google has been pushing Apple to #GetTheMessage, i.e., add support for RCS messaging in the iOS Messages app. In a surprise announcement late last year, Apple confirmed it planned to add support for RCS in the Messages app. RCS in Apple Messages will roll out sometime this year, and Apple confirmed it’ll be based on the RCS Universal Profile standard published by the GSM Association. However, Apple didn’t confirm which version of the RCS Universal Profile it would implement, but thanks to Google, we now know.

Today, Apple will finally take the wraps off iOS 18 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This latest version of iOS — the software powering iPhones — promises some big changes. You might be wondering, though, which iPhones will actually get it? Well, we have good news and bad news about that.

Let’s start with the good news. The good news is that very old iPhones will almost certainly get iOS 18. According to a trusted source witnessed by MacRumors, iPhones from as far back as six years ago will still get iOS 18. Check out the complete list below:

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 kicks off in just a few days. From June 10 to June 14, the Cupertino firm will make developer-centric announcements and reveal its upcoming operating system versions, like iOS 18 and macOS 15. If you’re wondering what exactly Apple will announce during WWDC 2024 and how to watch the main keynote live, you’ve come to the right place.

Apple WWDC 2024 at a glance:

Through a recent iOS update, Apple unlocked third-party app stores in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This has enabled developers to upload apps that don’t necessarily comply with Apple’s strict App Store guidelines to these third-party digital storefronts. Apple, however, still needs to notarize submitted apps to ensure that they pose no risk to iOS or its users. Shockingly, Apple has blocked harmless PC emulator apps from reaching its storefront and won’t notarize them for third-party app store distribution, either.

pic.twitter.com/SNux03qjJh

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil iOS 18, the next major version of the operating system powering the company’s most important product, the iPhone. We’ve already seen a ton of leaks for this, so we know we should expect many AI-powered features, more customization tools, and redesigns of Control Center and Settings, which haven’t seen refreshes in years.

Today, though, we have two last-minute leaks of iOS 18 information. Thanks to MacRumors in both cases, we hear that a new app locking system and dark home screen icon tool could be announced tomorrow.

We’ve heard plenty of rumors about Apple’s alleged plans to super-power its digital assistant Siri at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Today, via Apple Insider, we have the most comprehensive leak yet. Sourced from “people familiar with Apple’s AI initiative,” the leak contains pretty much everything Siri will be able to do across over a dozen first-party iPhone apps.

The full leak is worth a look, especially if you’re an iPhone user. However, we’ll give you the general gist of Apple’s goals with the “new” Siri and share some highlights that we think will most affect iPhone users’ day-to-day lives.

It’s no secret that Apple sometimes disadvantages third-party developers by giving itself special privileges — or taking away some of their existing ones. Following a recent iOS update, likely iOS 17.4, users casting media to other devices can no longer control the volume using their iPhone’s physical buttons. This has sparked outrage on Reddit and the Spotify Community forums, as many users actively relied on the now-removed option.

According to a Spotify Community moderator, a recent iOS change has stopped the music streaming app from using the iPhone’s volume buttons to control Spotify Connect devices. They stated: “Due to updates on iOS, Spotify users no longer can use their iPhone’s volume controls to change the volume on connected speakers. Instead, please use the volume slider in the device menu.”

Today, I learned that on this planet, not in a parallel universe, a mythical creature roams among us. From afar (and even upon closer inspection), it looks just like any pair of wired Lightning earbuds for iPhones. However, concealed deeply within it is a dark secret that only remote villagers know of. It appears that some companies have been selling knockoff wired iPhone earbuds that need Bluetooth to function. You’ve read that right.

A crazy experience — I lost my earbuds in a remote town in Chile, so tried buying a new pair at the airport before flying out. But the new wired, iPhone, lightning-cable headphones didn’t work. Strange.

Whenever Apple releases a new iPhone, a bunch of YouTubers rush to buy a few and then proceed with torturing them on camera. While they claim that these videos are meant to demonstrate the iPhones’ durability, their tests are often conducted unscientifically. A series of short videos now gives us a look inside Apple’s own durability testing facility, where the real studies occur.

I recently got to visit some Apple labs where they durability test new iPhones before they come out, and learned a few things (THREAD)

WWDC24 kicks off in just ten days, and Apple is expected to reveal the AI features coming to iOS 18 during its opening keynote. While some of these additions may be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and work offline, the more advanced offerings may rely on Apple’s cloud solutions. According to a recent report, the Cupertino firm has managed to secure its cloud processing mechanism, and user data may always remain encrypted.

As per a report from The Information, Apple’s data centers may keep users’ data confidential even when processing it. Typically, servers have to decrypt user information to process it for AI functionality. By relying on the Secure Enclave in the M2 Ultra and M4 chips, Apple may have found a way to avoid decrypting the data altogether.

We’re nearly halfway through the year now, which means we’re that much closer to the launch of the iPhone 16. Everything seems to be on schedule as display production will reportedly start soon.

In a tweet limited to subscribers, display analyst Ross Young claimed that Apple will start screen production for the iPhone 16 series in June. Young added that the base model and the iPhone 16 Pro are projected to have the highest volume of production among the four incoming models.

iOS 17.5 launched earlier this week, bringing a slew of exciting new features to the latest iPhones. These include a fresh puzzle game, offline Apple News access, and a bug that could end your relationship. Indeed, multiple iPhone users have complained about photos they deleted years ago reappearing in their libraries after installing the update. So, what’s going on?

The issue was first highlighted on Reddit when user Specialist-Fix8528 shared that NSFW photos they took and deleted years ago reappeared after updating their iPhone to iOS 17.5. The user also faced a similar issue on their iPad, stating that deleted artwork from years earlier resurfaced, too.

The Reddit thread gained traction, with hundreds of commenters sharing similar experiences — indicating that the bug is relatively widespread. Based on these various reports, we were able to derive some plausible conclusions:

• The bug seemingly affects the local storage, as some impacted users don’t use iCloud at all.
• Photos from previous iPhones you’ve owned may still appear on your current one if you’ve restored full-device backups when upgrading your hardware.
• Photo deletion typically breaks the link between stored data and the accessible user interface. As long as you’re not out of storage, the data could remain there in an unreadable state. So, the bug may be reestablishing these broken links and reindexing deleted photos on the user-facing side.

Right now, there’s seemingly no way to avoid this bug. After updating your iPhone to iOS 17.5, you will have to manually check your Photos app to see if any deleted content has reemerged. Do note, though, that not all users are impacted by this issue, as I personally didn’t encounter it on any of my updated devices.

Are you affected by this serious iOS 17.5 bug? Let us know in the comments.

On multiple occasions, Apple has indirectly confirmed that iOS 18 will be an AI-centric release. While the operating system’s official preview won’t be revealed until next month, rumors have given us an idea of what to expect. The latest report suggests that iOS 18 will bake AI into the Apple Notes and Voice Memos apps, allowing iPhone users to transcribe and summarize their audio recordings automatically.

AppleInsider has learned that iOS 18 could finally bring automatic audio transcription and summarization to the iPhone. If this feature makes it to the public release, users will be able to read a transcript of the audio they’re recording in real time. The AI-powered addition — just like Google’s Recorder app on the Pixel 8 Pro — should also be able to generate a summary that highlights the recording’s key points.

Android phone users have been able to use Google’s handy Circle to Search feature for months now. This allows them to look up images, text, and other elements visible on their devices’ screens. While Google will never be able to bake this feature natively into iOS, a new shortcut bridges the gap and gives iPhone users a taste of Circle to Search.

As highlighted by 9to5Google, the official Google app on iOS now offers a shortcut to scan an inputted image using the company’s Lens feature. While Google Lens isn’t identical to Circle to Search, the company has stated that both features are powered by the same optical character recognition (OCR) technology. To set up the shortcut, follow the steps below:

Android phone users have been able to use Google’s handy Circle to Search feature for months now. This allows them to look up images, text, and other elements visible on their devices’ screens. While Google will never be able to bake this feature natively into iOS, a new shortcut bridges the gap and gives iPhone users a taste of Circle to Search.

As highlighted by 9to5Google, the official Google app on iOS now offers a shortcut to scan an inputted image using the company’s Lens feature. While Google Lens isn’t identical to Circle to Search, the company has stated that both features are powered by the same optical character recognition (OCR) technology. To set up the shortcut, follow the steps below:

Android phone users have been able to use Google’s handy Circle to Search feature for months now. This allows them to look up images, text, and other elements visible on their devices’ screens. While Google will never be able to bake this feature natively into iOS, a new shortcut bridges the gap and gives iPhone users a taste of Circle to Search.

As highlighted by 9to5Google, the official Google app on iOS now offers a shortcut to scan an inputted image using the company’s Lens feature. While Google Lens isn’t identical to Circle to Search, the company has stated that both features are powered by the same optical character recognition (OCR) technology. To set up the shortcut, follow the steps below:

For a long time, Apple has required users to turn off Find My before sending in their iPhones for repairs. That’s to ensure that the device isn’t stolen and that the customer is its legitimate owner. However, that practice poses a serious risk, as sometimes these iPhones get stolen in transit. To address users’ concerns, Apple is developing a new Repair State feature for the latest iPhone.

As per a 9to5Mac report, iOS 17.5 beta 4 includes a new Repair State feature in the iPhone’s Find My app. This addition is currently exclusive to iOS, so those on the latest iPadOS and macOS betas won’t be able to utilize it. Through Repair State, a user can verify that they’re the owner of the iPhone without disabling Find My. In essence, you’re just proving that the iPhone is yours without disabling Find My tracking features and the Activation Lock, so you can continue monitoring your iPhone’s location during the repair.

If you’ve actively used Apple’s productivity suite on an iPhone, then you’re probably familiar with how disconnected the Calendar and Reminders apps are. The two applications pretty much don’t communicate at all, making it tough for users to view their full day-to-day plans without opting for third-party solutions. Fortunately, that could all change with iOS 18, as the update will reportedly integrate Reminders into Calendar.

According to information obtained by AppleInsider, iOS 18 may allow users to create and view reminders using the Apple Calendar app. This would enable users to browse a more comprehensive hub that bundles Calendar events and Reminders tasks in a single spot.

iOS 17.5 developer beta 4 is now available to install on the latest iPhone models. Those enrolled in Apple’s developer program can proceed to download the OTA update using the Settings app. Otherwise, iPhone users on the stable channel can expect the final version to launch on Monday, May 13 — assuming Apple sticks to its usual schedules.

What’s new in iOS 17.5 beta

Apple’s iPhones have accrued a huge following, particularly in the US thanks to the popularity of iMessage. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear Apple fans criticize Android phones for a variety of reasons.

There are many myths that some iPhone users have been parroting about Android, though. So we’re setting the record straight by debunking some of the more enduring claims.

With the launch of the iPhone 15 series last September, Apple discontinued its leather-made accessories in favor of a new FineWoven material. While the two iPhone case variants share the same $59 price tag, their look, feel, and longevity don’t quite match. As a result, customers and reviewers have been voicing their frustrations on online platforms for months, and Apple may have finally listened.

According to leaker Kosutami, Apple has stopped and removed the production line for its FineWoven accessories. The company is reportedly shifting to a new material due to FineWoven’s bad durability.

For a long time, Apple had refrained from releasing lower-end iPhones that cater to those on more limited budgets. While we now have an SE line with a lower price tag, it’s still relatively expensive compared to cheap Android phones. Despite that, Apple reportedly has no plans to release an even cheaper iPhone anytime soon, as that would dilute its premium brand.

According to Bloomberg, Apple may need to release a more affordable iPhone to appeal to customers in emerging markets. However, the company is reportedly unwilling to do so, as that could impact its high-end status. Consequently, those on lower budgets will have to seek a low-end Android phone or opt for a used iPhone.

If you’ve got an Apple device like an iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll probably want (or even need) Siri, the company’s voice assistant. Here’s how to set up Siri for the first time and activate Siri on any Apple product.

Read more: The best Siri commands for productivity and more

In recent years, Apple has been particularly loud about its environmental efforts and sustainability. As its 2030 deadline to become carbon neutral approaches, the company has been dedicating segments in its media events to share its progress and relevant updates. A new report, however, sheds light on some lesser-known procedures that contradict what the tech overlord publicly preaches.

The consumer-facing practices

To unsuspecting customers, Apple seems to care deeply about our planet. After all, the Cupertino firm stopped shipping charging bricks with new iPhones and reduced the packaging’s size noticeably. Furthermore, it discontinued its leather-made accessories in favor of the more eco-friendly FineWoven line (which deteriorates at a much faster rate, by the way). That’s not to mention its focus on utilizing cleaner energy sources for its operations to reduce the pollution it causes.

The company has also boasted about its robots — Liam and Daisy — which were designed to disassemble traded-in iPhones. Through them, Apple gets to reclaim some of the functional components, recycle them, and, consequently, minimize the e-waste it produces.

From afar, this all seems responsible and eco-conscious; but what if we were to take a closer look?

Behind Apple’s green-washed mask

According to Bloomberg, Liam and its successor, Daisy, aren’t exactly reliable in getting their job done efficiently. The former robot would malfunction if the inserted iPhone’s screws were corroded. Furthermore, without human assistance, Liam wouldn’t run for more than ten minutes.

Meanwhile, Daisy is a more foolproof version, but still, it can only dismantle around 200 units per hour. That’s almost 1.2 million recycled iPhones per year, which Apple sells every 48 hours.

So, what happens to the rest of the traded-in iPhones? They get shredded.

When a used product doesn’t meet Apple’s high standards to be refurbished and resold, it gets shredded by a third-party company. The valuable metals are then extracted from the elemental soup and incorporated into new devices. Shredding, however, wastes more components than Daisy’s procedure.

One of the main issues associated with shredding is that many of the devices sent are functional and could easily be repurposed. Those getting them shredded reportedly found it challenging at times, as the devices weren’t always damaged significantly. Despite that, they had to break them down to meet contractual obligations.

In just a couple of years, Apple shipped GEEP (a shredding company) more than 530,000 iPhones, 25,000 iPads, and 19,000 Watches for shredding. If Apple is truly concerned about the environment, it would’ve repurposed the functional electronics instead of destroying them en masse. There’s scope to introduce an additional tier of “refurbished” products that are a bit lower in quality, which could provide a second home to these less-than-perfect iPhones at an even cheaper rate.

The new Activation Lock is a double-edged carbon emitter

According to the same report, Apple claimed that around 100,000 items sent to GEEP for shredding were actually stolen. The Cupertino tech giant detected a number of flagged iPhones being activated in China, as employees would smuggle them out of the shredding facility and sell them elsewhere as used phones or spare parts.

That process, however, is about to get a lot trickier, as Apple’s Activation Lock now applies to spare parts, too.

For those unfamiliar, the Activation Lock feature disables lost or stolen iPhones, making them useless beyond extracting their spare parts. With this feature expanding to individual iPhone internals, devices obtained through unofficial means will also be useless as spare parts.

While the spare parts’ Activation Lock will make iPhones less appealing targets for thieves, it will certainly increase the e-waste. Ultimately, iPhones will continue to get stolen or lost anyway, and no one will be able to utilize them meaningfully.

To be clear, this isn’t to defend thieves in any way. However, it has become apparent that Apple is purposefully wasting resources by forcing functional devices to be shredded. If smugglers can manage to give these devices a new lifeline, the trillion-dollar company surely can devise a proper procedure that similarly spares usable iPhones. But that wouldn’t make business sense, so here we are.

It’s only taken Apple well over a decade, but the company finally allowed video game emulators on the App Store this month. This means the iPhone maker is catching up to Android by offering easy access to emulators.

It didn’t take long for developers to bring the first emulators to the App Store, and arguably the most high-profile (and legitimate) addition so far is the Delta app. The brainchild of the popular GBA4iOS app, Delta emulates NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and the Nintendo DS. The app was first released roughly five years ago and required users to sideload it, but the App Store availability means it’s finally available for all.

Setting things up

The new app has relatively lax requirements, only requiring an iOS device running iOS 14 or later. That means all iPhone SE models and the iPhone 6s series or later can run the emulator. It’s also worth noting that the emulator has no egregious permissions (only requiring access to Siri and Search and the ability to store data on the phone or in iCloud). According to the listing, the emulator doesn’t collect your data either, and there are no in-app ads here.

Setting up Delta is pretty simple once downloaded from the App Store. You’ll need to transfer your game ROMs via iTunes or the Files app. I transferred a few ROMs to the emulator by first uploading them to Google Drive and then downloading them to the Files app.

The transfer process isn’t nearly as simple or fast as on Android phones, where you can just transfer your files by plugging your phone into a PC, but this method gets the job done just fine. At least newer iPhones come with USB-C, allowing you to copy over ROMs from a flash drive or external drive. 

You’ll also need Nintendo DS firmware files to run the DS emulator (which uses the MelonDS core). You’ll need to grab them from your own DS and transfer them to Delta via the Files app. But the other emulated consoles don’t require extra firmware files, allowing you to play games from the get-go.

Games get added to the app’s main screens, and there is a screen for each console’s games rather than one screen for all ROMs regardless of console.

What about actually playing games?

Getting started is easy: Tap the desired game to get up and running. Delta defaults to touchscreen controls (with different skins on offer), but you can also use a Bluetooth controller if that tickles your fancy. We’d definitely recommend this option for the N64 titles or any games requiring precise/fast inputs.

The app specifically supports Nintendo Switch controllers, the Nintendo Switch retro controllers, PS4/PS5 gamepads, Xbox One S and Series controllers, MFi controllers, and Bluetooth/wired keyboards. And I found that my Xbox One S gamepad worked just fine, with no need to remap buttons out of the gate (although the option is there anyway).

I only tried about half a dozen Nintendo 64 and GBA games so far, and performance in compatible games seemed smooth enough. Just don’t expect games that ran poorly on the N64, like Perfect Dark, to run at a much smoother pace here. I also noticed some visual glitches in a couple of games, namely Conker’s Bad Fur Day and F1 World Grand Prix. World Driver Championship failed to actually run too, although this likely is a game-specific issue as it’s demanding on other emulators too.

There isn’t an FPS (frames-per-second) counter, though, and those expecting a resolution scaler for sharper visuals will be disappointed too. There’s no filter for GBA or NES/SNES titles, either. So, you might want to wait for console-specific emulators if you want to tinker with settings. But there are a few extras worth knowing, such as Delta Sync to import your save data from other devices, local multiplayer support, save states (both manual and automatic), and AirPlay support.

Is Delta worth a shot?

It’s clear that we’re still in the very early days of emulators on the Apple App Store, but Delta is definitely as close as we’ve got to a RetroArch-style experience on the platform. That is, an (almost) all-in-one app capable of running games from multiple consoles.

Delta is a winner by default, really, owing to it being the first Nintendo emulator on the App Store. But it still compares favorably to emulators on Android.

The app only supports Nintendo games up to and including the N64 for now, though. However, the developer noted that more consoles are coming. Furthermore, a reference in the app points to Sega Mega Drive support. So fans of classic Sega games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, and Golden Axe should keep an eye on this development.

It’s also worth reiterating the somewhat barebones nature of this emulator compared to rival emulators that give you loads of options. However, the major features that actually matter are present and accounted for, such as controller support and save states, making it well worth a look.

In the meantime, you can download Delta for free from the App Store by clicking the button below. The one downside is that EU users will have to download it via the AltStore alternative app market.

iOS 18 is just a couple of months away, and, at this point, we may have an idea or two as to what to expect from this release. Apart from the AI goods we expect to see in Apple’s next-gen operating systems, a fresh iOS 18 rumor reveals potential upgrades that may be coming to the built-in Notes app on the iPhone.

According to information obtained by AppleInsider, iOS 18 may enhance the Apple Notes app by integrating some power-user features. These potential additions could include a native audio recorder and support for mathematical notations. The same features are also expected to become available on the latest iPads and Macs through iPadOS 18 and macOS 15, respectively.

For reference, Apple Notes already supports importing audio recordings from the Voice Memos app. However, adding a dedicated recorder in the Notes app itself could encourage more casual users to rely on the feature and simplify the overall process. That’s not to mention the rumored integration with the Calculator app, which would help Apple Notes compete with the more advanced third-party solutions.

Speaking of the Calculator app, the rumor also suggests that iPadOS 18 may finally introduce this highly anticipated application on the iPad. The iPhone, Mac, and even Apple Watch have had native Calculator apps for eons. Bringing this app to the iPad would address the endless user complaints found across the web and further streamline Apple’s app suite across its different operating systems.

We expect Apple to reveal iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 during the main WWDC24 keynote on June 10. Based on the company’s history, it’s safe to assume that the first developer betas of these operating systems will also be released later that day.

AltStore PAL is finally available to iOS users in the EU (via The Verge), enabling them to download apps that don’t necessarily comply with Apple’s App Store guidelines. Those running iOS 17.4 or a later OS version can access the third-party app store by paying €1.50 (plus tax) per year. The original AltStore — which requires a desktop computer and a hackier setup — is still available worldwide for free.

AltStore has been a prominent iOS third-party app store for years. Developed by Riley Testut, the marketplace hosts a wide range of apps that Apple may not allow on its own storefront. Now that the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to authorize third-party app stores on iOS, Testut has released AltStore PAL as a standalone version.

Considering Apple still charges a Core Technology Fee (CTF), Testut had to make AltStore PAL a paid offering to fund these payments. Interestingly, developers wishing to feature their work on AltStore PAL will have to host their apps on their own servers. Consequently, AltStore PAL users downloading apps from different developers will have to add and authorize the different “sources” individually.

Expectedly, iOS will display multiple warnings when a user attempts to install a third-party app store to discourage them from proceeding. Furthermore, iPad users in the EU are still limited to Apple’s App Store, as the DMA hasn’t pushed the tech overlord to do otherwise.

In recent guideline changes, Apple has also started allowing game emulators on its App Store. As a result, the famous Delta emulator — built by the same developer — has also made its way to Apple’s App Store. Through it, iPhone users around the world can play NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS games without needing to jailbreak their devices or resort to complex app sideloading methods.

The iPhone 16 series is still a few months away, but we might already be getting our first hints about Apple’s plans for the 2025 iPhones. According to industry insider Ross Young, the iPhone 17 Plus could sport a smaller display size compared to its predecessors.

Currently, the iPhone 15 series has the iPhone 15 with a 6.1-inch display, the iPhone 15 Plus at 6.7 inches, and both Pro models at 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively. Young’s prediction, though vague on exact measurements, implies the screen size on the iPhone 17 Plus might fall somewhere between the standard iPhone 17 / iPhone 17 Pro and the top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max.

This isn’t the only display change coming to the iPhone 17 series. Previous reports have claimed that Apple may equip all iPhone 17 models with LTPO OLED panels. This would potentially allow the standard and Plus iPhones to finally incorporate “ProMotion,” Apple’s name for its 120Hz refresh rate technology, a feature currently exclusive to Pro models.

While the iPhone 17 series is still far away, the iPhone 16 series is right around the corner and expected to feature a display size reshuffle of its own. The iPhone 16 Pro will likely grow up to a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature the largest display on an iPhone yet, with a 6.9-inch canvas.

If you’ve got an Apple device like an iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll probably want (or even need) Siri, the company’s voice assistant. Here’s how to set up Siri for the first time and activate Siri on any Apple product.

Read more: The best Siri commands for productivity and more