Author: defaultwptest_0plels

Apple’s Freeform app levels up with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, offering you new features to enhance creativity, collaboration, and organization. While some updates, like the new Scenes feature, are prominent, others are more subtle but just as powerful. This incredible app’s versatile features work equally well on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you haven’t updated to iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 yet, it’s definitely worth it for Freeform’s upgraded capabilities. Many of these features also work on macOS Sequoia 15. The updates cater to a wide range of users, from casual planners to professional teams working on large projects. Freeform’s improvements also beautifully integrate with other Apple ecosystem features, including iCloud, Siri, and Apple Intelligence. If you enjoyed the app’s earlier ability to create freehand sketches and collaborative boards, this update expands on those strengths with new tools designed to make your workflow smoother and your projects more polished. Don’t Miss: Unlock the…more

Apple is gearing up to release iOS 18.3, its latest software update for iPhone, and it could hit devices as early as the last week of January. While it’s not as feature-packed as the previous updates for iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.1 were, there are still a few important changes you’ll want to know about. Aside from the return of a critical Calculator feature, most of the changes in iOS 18.3 apply to iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. Those would be the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. The new emoji from Unicode 16 are also missing from this update but are expected to arrive with iOS 18.4. Note: Many of these features and changes also apply to iPads running iPadOS 18.3 and Macs running macOS Sequoia 15.3. Apple Intelligence Enabled by DefaultAccording to Apple’s release notes for developers, you’ll automatically be opted into Apple Intelligence after upgrading a supported device to iOS 18.3. That way, you have immediate access to all of Apple…more

Apple Maps keeps getting better and better for all the hikers in the world. With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia 15, you can access thousands of detailed trail maps within U.S. national parks and topographic views, but you can also create your own walking and hiking routes. Custom walking and hiking routes, available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac since Sept. 16, work anywhere you want. It could be for hikes in state or local parks, walks around town, or any path you’d like to remember. You can give your routes custom names, add notes, label them one-way, out-and-back, or closed-loop hikes, and more. On an iPhone or iPad, you can also download custom routes for offline use when you don’t have cellular and Wi-Fi connections. Don’t Miss: 13 New Weather Features and Changes iOS 18 Gives Your iPhone Step 1: Start a Custom RouteThere are multiple ways to get started. First, you can mark a location on the map for the start of the route, hit the More (•••) button on the place card, and choose…more

With so many useful native and third-party apps available on iPhone, the Compass app is under the radar for many users. It may not be as essential as Messages, Photos, or Mail, but you can still get plenty of use out of it, especially if you’re a hiker, camper, or someone who enjoys outdoor adventures. One of the best features of the Compass app is that it works offline, relying on your device’s GPS and magnetometer rather than cellular service. This means it’s just as effective in remote areas as it is in urban settings. For added security, download offline maps in Apple Maps before heading out. Here’s the breakdown of all the features you can find in the simplistic Compass app that has everything you need on a single screen. 1. N/S/E/W Direction in DegreesThe Compass displays your current direction along with a precise degree reading. This is perfect for staying oriented on trails or in open spaces with few landmarks. For example, if your trail map says to follow a heading of 215°,…more

Today is the 10-year anniversary of the death of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. To commemorate the occasion, Apple has posted a message and a mini-documentary on its website. But beyond Jobs’ visionary accomplishments, this anniversary is also an opportunity to peer into the possible future of what Apple has in store in the first decade after the passing of its passionate, trailblazing leader. • Don’t Miss: Facebook’s Big Smartglasses Mistake—Not Pairing Ray-Ban with Instagram Instead In this area, there’s really only one direction in which to look: augmented reality… more

On Monday, the social media giant Facebook suffered a massive outage that, as of this writing, is still in effect. The company’s flagship services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are all currently inaccessible. But one unexpected development is that this outage is also hurting Facebook’s “metaverse” products, including Oculus Quest users and Ray-Ban Stories smartglasses users. • Don’t Miss: What Is the Difference Between Facebook Ray-Ban Stories, Snap Spectacles, & Amazon Echo Frames Smartglasses? Currently, if you turn on your Oculus Quest 2 headset, after the device powers on… more

The beginning of autumn has delivered a number of new augmented reality developments, and we’re on top of it. This week, NASA launched several major new initiatives that involve AR as an essential piece of the puzzle. Also, Magic Leap’s history turned a major new corner, while one mainstream retailer move could hint at an early advantage in the growing smartglasses wars. Speaking of smartglasses, this week we offered a comprehensive breakdown of the leading players, how they stack up against each other, and which ones are right for certain users. Finally, the folks at Vuzix gave the world a… more

Although the enterprise use cases for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 continue to impress, the arts community just can’t stay away from the best augmented reality headset on the market. The latest example comes from a new exhibit that highlights one of Earth’s most powerful but vulnerable sea creatures: orca whales. • Don’t Miss: Microsoft’s HoloLens Morphs Paris Museum Model of Mont-Saint-Michel into Masterpiece of AR The exhibit, which is called “Critical Distance,” is being hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The team behind the new immersive… more

The emergence of Facebook’s collaboration with Ray-Ban to launch Stories smartglasses has finally put an exclamation point on a new category of smartglasses: the pre-augmented reality wearable segment. And while the Facebook device isn’t particularly groundbreaking in terms of features already explored by other wearables, it does distinguish itself in a few important ways. But how, with an array of smartglasses options now available to mainstream consumers, can you choose the right pair of smartglasses? Glad you asked. • Don’t Miss: Snap Unveils Gucci Edition of Spectacles 3, Film Shot via… more

The team at NASA is in full mission preparation mode as they prepare to send a new team to the moon for the first time in decades via the Artemis program in 2024. But one of the key points of interest in that upcoming mission is the fact that NASA will also be sending the first woman to the moon. In conjunction with that mission, the space agency has launched an augmented reality experience to build interest and understanding around the historic event. • Don’t Miss: You Can Land & Drive NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover in AR with the Smithsonian Channel’s New App The main platform NASA is… more