Many of us have come to rely on the Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (macOS) undo shortcuts to get us out of trouble when a key tap accidentally wipes out three hours of writing or a misplaced click has suddenly turned a photo entirely green. But if you need to retrace more of your steps over a longer period of time,…
Although computer programs have long been able to read text aloud, their performances aren’t exactly known to be compelling. As AI capabilities continue to rapidly advance, however, the potential for more nuanced and “human-like” narration is more possible than ever. That possibility received a major expansion this week from Apple with its announcement of a new AI service capable of…
THE TECHNOLOGY in modern home appliances has breathed new life (and plausibility) into the old saying “If these walls could talk.” Your fridge and smart speaker may not have mouths, but they have an internet connection, and that can be more dangerous than the sharpest of tongues. Tech companies and manufacturers have made it seem like privacy is just a…
This story has been updated. It was originally published on June 22, 2019. If you’ve got access to a Netflix or Spotify account—or any other subscription streaming service—you might be using a friend or relative’s login details rather than your own. Or maybe you’re the one doing the login lending. It’s common practice, but should you be doing it? Might…
Apple’s highly-anticipated Self Service Repair program launched Wednesday, giving US customers tools, parts, and instructions to fix common iPhone issues. For now, only iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE lineups are available as part of the program. Apple lays out the process in four parts: first, iPhone users dealing with a faulty phone would try to identify the…
This story has been updated. It was originally published on February 3, 2020. You’re standing on the street when a total stranger walks up and asks if they can borrow your phone to make a call. Theirs died, you see, and they have to tell whoever they’re meeting they’ll be sitting in the back. Or you’re talking to a friend…
Attention iPhone users: You may have recently sent an iMessage and seen a brief alert in the chat that your contact has silenced notifications, along with the option to notify them anyway. If you use Focus mode to do the same, your phone may also be telling your contacts about it. Not a fan? Turn it off. How to turn…
The mundane act of changing a computer file’s name seems so simple that many of us take it for granted. But if you’re trying to rename multiple files on macOS, things get weirdly complicated—you’ll see way more options than you may think possible for such a humdrum task. How to rename multiple files on a Mac To change the identity…
Before iOS 15, Apple had strict rules about how much you could customize the text size on your iPhone. No more. OK, OK, there are still rules, but they’re less strict. Now you can fine-tune the size of text within individual apps—a move that isn’t flashy but could change the way you use your phone. At its core, the aptly…
Apple is going to start allowing everyday customers to repair their own devices, if they choose, with genuine Apple parts and tools. This new capability is available as part of Apple’s new Self Service Repair program, which the company announced on Wednesday. The move marks a striking evolution from the company’s previous attitude on the issue. The program, which is…