All posts tagged: features

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Published by skeptic

While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Bookmark our iPhone 17 Pro roundup to stay up to date with more rumors. Popular Stories iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive a New Perk If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. The new perk is the ability to create invitations in the Apple Invites app for the iPhone, which launched in the App Store last month. In the Apple Invites app, iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations for any occasion, such as birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Anyone … iOS 19 Coming in June With These New Features While the first iOS 19 beta is still more than two months away, there are already plenty of rumors about the upcoming software update. Below, we recap the key iOS …

features that help finding a mate may lead to smaller brains

features that help finding a mate may lead to smaller brains

Published by skeptic

A longstanding question in evolutionary biology is how sexual selection influences how entire genomes develop. Sexual selection is where individuals with certain traits have higher reproductive success, leading to the spread of those traits throughout a species. A study by me and my colleagues at the Milner Centre for Evolution has uncovered a significant link between the difference in body size between males and females – known as sexual size dimorphism (SSD) – and genetic changes in mammals. These findings provide new insights into how sexual selection shapes the structure and function of the genome. Sexual selection is a powerful evolutionary force that influences reproductive traits. It typically acts through mate choice (intersexual selection) and competition among individuals of the same sex (intrasexual selection). Over time, these constant pressures shape genome architecture, driving rapid evolution in genes associated with reproductive success. This may affect the voice, body size, plumage or other feature of a species over time. In fact, such pressures may be behind a rise in height in male humans compared with females. Recent …

M4 MacBook Air Base: Powerful Features You Might Overlook

M4 MacBook Air Base: Powerful Features You Might Overlook

Published by skeptic

The MacBook Air M4 base version offers an impressive combination of performance, efficiency, and affordability, making it a standout choice in the lightweight laptop market. Designed with students, casual users, and light content creators in mind, it features a fanless cooling system, the powerful M4 chip, and extended battery life—all housed in a sleek, lightweight frame. While its fanless design ensures silent operation, it also necessitates careful thermal management during demanding tasks, making it most suitable for moderate workloads. The video below from HotshotTek gives us more details on the M4 MacBook Air. Performance: Silent Power with Practical Limitations The MacBook Air M4 delivers a noticeable performance improvement over its predecessors, including the M1 MacBook Pro. Equipped with the M4 chip, it handles multitasking, web browsing, and even demanding tasks like 4K video editing with ease. This makes it a capable tool for light content creation and productivity tasks. The fanless cooling system ensures silent operation, which is particularly beneficial in quiet environments such as libraries or shared workspaces. However, the absence of active cooling …

Discover the Latest Features in MacOS 15.4 Beta 3

Discover the Latest Features in MacOS 15.4 Beta 3

Published by skeptic

MacOS 15.4 Beta 3 introduces a variety of features, improvements, and fixes aimed at enhancing the overall Mac experience. From simplifying software updates to expanding hardware compatibility and refining app functionality, this update addresses key areas while setting the stage for future advancements. Below is a detailed look at what this release offers in a new video from HalfManHalfTech. Streamlined Software Updates MacOS 15.4 Beta 3 makes the software update process more efficient and user-friendly. The updated software update pane now redirects users to a dedicated website for comprehensive instructions, making sure clarity and ease of use. Additionally, many users have reported faster preparation and installation times, significantly reducing downtime during updates. These enhancements reflect Apple’s commitment to improving the efficiency and reliability of its update process, making it more intuitive for users. Enhanced Hardware Compatibility This beta version introduces support for the latest M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips, making sure seamless integration with the newest Mac Studio models. Users with these advanced processors will experience optimized performance and smoother system operations. This update …

iOS 19 Update: Features, Bug Fixes, and More

iOS 19 Update: Features, Bug Fixes, and More

Published by skeptic

Apple’s iOS 19 is shaping up to be a pivotal release, but not necessarily in the way you might expect. Instead of focusing on flashy, headline-grabbing features, Apple appears to be adopting a more deliberate and practical approach. Reports indicate that the company is prioritizing system optimization, bug fixes, and addressing gaps in functionality compared to competitors. This strategic shift could resolve long-standing issues while introducing enhancements that improve your day-to-day experience with iOS devices. The video below from Simple Alpaca gives us more details on the iOS 19 update. Refining Apple Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a major area of focus for tech companies, and Apple is no exception. However, with iOS 19, the company seems to be taking a more measured approach by refining its existing AI capabilities rather than introducing dramatic overhauls. Siri, for instance, has often been criticized for lagging behind competitors like Google Assistant in areas such as contextual understanding and multitasking. Rather than promising sweeping changes, Apple appears to be concentrating on incremental improvements to make Siri …

AirPods Pro 3 Rumors: Release Date, Features, and Price Details

AirPods Pro 3 Rumors: Release Date, Features, and Price Details

Published by skeptic

  The AirPods Pro 3, anticipated to debut alongside the iPhone 17 in September 2025, is already sparking widespread interest in the tech community. With rumored enhancements such as the advanced H3 chip, improved noise cancellation, and potential design updates, these earbuds aim to elevate the premium wireless audio experience. Priced at an expected $250, they continue Apple’s tradition of combining innovative technology with intuitive design, appealing to both tech enthusiasts and casual users alike. We get to find out more details about the new AirPods Pro in a new video from Matt Talks Tech. Key Features and Upgrades The new AirPods Pro is shaping up to deliver significant advancements, building on the strengths of its predecessors while introducing new features that cater to evolving user needs. Here’s a closer look at the rumored upgrades: H3 Chip: The inclusion of the H3 chip is expected to bring faster processing, enhanced noise cancellation, and support for lossless audio. This could result in superior sound quality and smoother performance. Noise Cancellation: Enhanced active noise cancellation is likely …

These New Apple Intelligence Features Are Coming in iOS 18.4

These New Apple Intelligence Features Are Coming in iOS 18.4

Published by skeptic

iOS 18.4 was supposed to bring new Apple Intelligence Siri features, but Apple ended up needing to pull those capabilities from the update to continue testing. There are fewer new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ additions now, but there are still some new features that will make the update worth installing when it comes out in April. Priority Notifications Apple introduced Priority Notifications back at the June 2024 WWDC, and it’s another ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature that we’ve been waiting on since the September iOS 18 release. With Priority Notifications, Apple analyzes your incoming notifications and highlights the ones that are important, based on context and time. If you’ve ordered food and your order is approaching, Apple will highlight that notification as a priority, placing it above other notifications. The same goes for anything that has a time-based component, or something else that needs immediate attention. Priority Notifications is opt-in in the iOS 18.4 beta, so it needs to be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications. When turned on, Priority Notifications show up first …

iPhone 17 Pro Max Leaks: Rumored Features, Release Date

iPhone 17 Pro Max Leaks: Rumored Features, Release Date

Published by skeptic

Recent leaks have sparked widespread discussions about the iPhone 17 Pro Max, hinting at potential design changes and innovative features. While Apple has not confirmed any details, trusted sources suggest the company may be preparing for a significant evolution of its flagship smartphone. Below is an in-depth look at the rumored updates, expected release timeline, and pricing considerations in a new video from Max Tech. Design Overhaul: A Step Toward Innovation? One of the most talked-about rumors centers on a redesigned rear layout for the iPhone 17 Pro. Leaked CAD drawings and renders suggest Apple may move away from its familiar triple-camera module. Instead, the device could feature a larger rear bar, which might house additional components. Among the most intriguing possibilities is the inclusion of a small rear display. This secondary screen could allow users to view notifications, preview camera shots, or even frame selfies. However, no definitive evidence has confirmed this feature yet. Apple has historically taken a cautious approach to design changes, favoring gradual refinements over radical overhauls. Since the iPhone 11 …

Sarah Smith, Labour MP and opportunity champion

Sarah Smith, Labour MP and opportunity champion

Published by skeptic

Academies have been “instrumental in raising standards” by delivering “brilliant results, particularly for the most disadvantaged children” Bridget Phillipson said this month. But some of the education secretary’s colleagues, sat in the House of Commons to debate the schools bill, were less glowing. One backbencher warned she had “seen academy trust after academy trust take on a failing school, with the most vulnerable children in our country, and fail to make improvements”. That MP was Sarah Smith, Labour’s opportunity mission “champion”.  The Labour government appointed five champions last year for its national “missions”: crime, energy, growth, health and opportunity. They are tasked with promoting and helping to deliver the government’s policies in each area. They will also act as ministers’ eyes and ears, providing feedback to government departments from the front line. Labour gained 211 seats at July’s election. Like Smith, most of those MPs are new to Parliament. Is the new crowd more sceptical of academies? “I think it’s not necessarily just about intake, it’s also about geography,” Smith tells me from her wood-panelled …

Is VAT on fees really to blame for private school closures?

Is VAT on fees really to blame for private school closures?

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles A deluge of media fury has blamed recent private school closures on the government’s decision to impose VAT on school fees. One commentator even claimed the move was “akin to what we have seen from Vladimir Putin”.  But a Schools Week investigation has found that fewer than a dozen schools have publicly blamed the new VAT policy for their closure.  So how accurate are the headlines? Schools Week investigates …  What Labour did  In the run-up to the general election, Labour published a manifesto proposal to remove the VAT exemption that applies to private school fees.  Once in power, the government confirmed that private school fees would be charged VAT at the standard 20 per cent rate from this month.  Labour estimated the policy would raise £460 million in 2024-25, rising to £1.5 billion the following year, to be spent on public services including state schools.  It forecast that imposing VAT on fees will result in 37,000 pupils leaving the private sector, about 6% of the current private school population.  Since the announcement, blowback …