Apple today updated its TestFlight app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS to version 4.4.0, adding support for features introduced in the latest software updates and products.


TestFlight for iPhone supports landscape orientation ahead of the iPhone Duo's October launch, though the option is available on all iPhones. TestFlight can now be resized when using iPhone Mirroring on a Mac running macOS 27 with an iPhone running iOS 27.

Apple says the update also includes unspecified stability improvements and bug fixes.

This article, "TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today shared a video promoting the new parental control features it added in iOS 27.


Apple says Child Accounts are easier to set up in ‌iOS 27‌ and more intuitive to use. Improved controls allow parents to choose the types of apps children have access to, while Ask to Buy lets kids request new apps and games.

Ask to Browse gives parents a way to block or allow the websites children visit in Safari, plus parents can decide who kids can call and message. Communication Safety in Messages and FaceTime detects and blocks both violence and nudity in images and videos.

Time Allowances and Schedules let parents customize what children can access by the day, hour, and activity, with options to limit apps during school hours. There are one-tap controls to pause access entirely during family events like dinnertime or allow unlimited screen time.

Apple's updated parental controls come as the company deals with regulatory pressure over child safety in countries like the UK, U.S., and Australia. The UK has called for device-level controls that keep kids from viewing and sharing inappropriate images, while the U.S. Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act is now in the Senate. Australia has already prohibited children under 16 from creating accounts on certain social media apps.

Apple's new child safety features became available on September 14 with the launch of ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. Every device in a Family Sharing group needs to be running the latest software for the Screen Time update to work.
This article, "Apple Shares New Video Promoting iOS 27 Parental Controls" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo that it plans to release a software update early next week with a fix for a Face ID issue affecting some iPhone 18 Pro users.

Yesterday, we reported that Apple is testing iOS 27.0.1, which is likely to be the update with the fix.
This article, "Apple Confirms iPhone 18 Pro Bug Fix Update is Coming Next Week" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple in iOS 27 introduced iPhone Handoff, a new eSIM feature that allows you to use the same number on two iPhones and seamlessly swap between them. The number is only active on one iPhone at a time, so it's not like having two independently active lines.


It's also different from Apple's existing Handoff feature for continuing an app task on another Apple device. Here's what you need to know about the new iPhone Handoff feature.

What Moves Between the Two iPhones?

When you switch phones with iPhone Handoff, your calls, voicemail, messages (including iMessage, RCS, SMS, and MMS) and Find My location move to the active iPhone. You'll see a "Switched to this iPhone" message on the screen to confirm the change.

Other data synced with iCloud will automatically update across your devices, and third-party apps work across both devices, though some third-party apps may require a separate sign-in or take time to sync. Any banking apps you use may also ask you to approve access on the other device.

What Do You Need for iPhone Handoff?

Both iPhones must be running iOS 27 or later. They'll also need to be:

• Connected to Wi-Fi


• Sharing the same Apple Account


• Using Messages in iCloud for messages sync


• Signed into FaceTime and iMessage with the same Apple Account

iPhone Handoff works with Dual SIM as long as both eSIMs are from carriers that support iPhone Handoff. Both eSIMs must be set up for iPhone Handoff separately, one at a time. Once set up, both eSIMs switch together simultaneously when you unlock your iPhone.

Which Carriers Support iPhone Handoff?

iPhone Handoff is available through T-Mobile in the United States and Telekom in Germany. Verizon (U.S.) and EE (U.K.) will support iPhone Handoff later this year.

AT&T has so far not committed to supporting iPhone Handoff, with a company spokesperson recently pointing to the carrier's existing eSIM activation and transfer options instead.

How Much Does iPhone Handoff Cost?

T-Mobile is charging customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff.

In Germany, Deutsche Telekom is charging €6.95 per month for iPhone Handoff, but only on plans that do not already include multi-SIM functionality. An added multi-SIM costs €6.95 per month (one is included with the current MagentaMobil L plan and two with XL).

No other carriers have announced pricing yet.

How Do You Set It Up?

iPhone Handoff can be enabled when setting up a new iPhone. At the "Set Up Cellular" screen, choose "Use Number on This iPhone and Another," then follow the prompts on both phones.

If both iPhones are already set up, open Settings ➝ Cellular on the phone you want to add. Tap Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM, choose Use Number on This iPhone and Another, and follow the prompts. You then get to choose which device is your main iPhone (ideally, the one you use most often) and which is your secondary iPhone.


After setup, unlock either phone to make your number active on it.

What Should You Know Before Switching?

If you have an Apple Watch, it won't switch its pairing to the other device when your phone number moves, so make sure you pair it with the iPhone you expect to use most. Also, some Wallet items, including certain transit passes and IDs, may only work on one device at a time.

Carrier account management and some services like Call Forwarding and Caller ID will remain tied to your main iPhone.

Can I Replace an iPhone That Uses iPhone Handoff?

Yes, but you need to transfer the eSIM from either iPhone to the replacement device. The below steps should be followed while your new iPhone is placed next to your existing devices that use iPhone Handoff.

1. On your new iPhone (replacement), open the Settings app.


2. Tap Cellular and then tap Set up Cellular or Add eSIM.


3. Select an iPhone and tap Continue.


4. Tap Transfer. (If your carrier doesn't support eSIM transfer from a companion iPhone, you must enroll in iPhone Handoff again: On your iPhone that you are transferring the eSIM from, tap Continue, and follow the onscreen prompts.)


5. Tap Continue.


6. Follow the onscreen prompts on both devices.

The eSIM will deactivate on the old iPhone you transferred from.

What If I Want to Stop Using iPhone Handoff?

If you want to stop using iPhone Handoff at any time, you need to contact your carrier. Simply deleting an eSIM from your iPhone may not stop the carrier from charging you for the service.
This article, "iPhone Handoff in iOS 27: How It Works, Pricing, and Carrier Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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➝ YouTube

Mein Live-Unboxing, hier noch einmal hochauflösend fürs Archiv.

Das 18 Pro ist inzwischen frisch eingerichtet; zwei Stunden hat es diesmal gedauert. Es sind Kleinigkeiten wie das Setup der Wallet-Kreditkarten, die ausbremsen.

Den Prozess habe ich für mich über die Jahre allerdings weitgehend gestrafft – Bankkonten mit verkopften Anmeldeprozeduren sind abgestoßen. Meine Passwort- und Lizenz-Datenbanken sind aufgeräumt. „Passkeys all the way“ – zumindest überall dort, wo sie angeboten werden.

Und ja: Einmalcodes, die per Mail kommen, nerven – sogar ungemein. Allerdings hat der Anbieter dann nie ein Kennwort, das er verdödeln kann.

Was wirklich ärgert: Apples vorinstallierte iOS-Software. Diese Apps einzeln runterzuwerfen, fühlt sich wie eine kleine Ewigkeit an. Aber andersherum: Apps zum Download lassen sich flotter über Spotlight finden als im App Store.

Die meiste Zeit geht für persönliche Einstellungen drauf, die ich unbedingt ändere. Etwa die 4K-Videoaufnahmemodi, alle Anpassungen ans Teilenmenü oder dass etwa iMessages nach 30 Tagen automatisch gelöscht werden.

Allerdings sind es genau diese Einstellungen, durch die sich ein neues Telefon neu anfühlt. Welches alternative App-Icon? Wo platziert?

All das fühlt sich wie ein Umzug an, bei dem man seine Wohnung neu einrichtet – Wände streicht und Möbel rückt. Wie ein Herbstputz ist das anstrengend, aber auch sehr befriedigend.

Vier Monate später trugen sich mehr Kleinigkeiten zusammen; iOS 27 ist ein Trog mit vielen kleinen „Quality of Life“-Verbesserungen.

Die Zusammenstellung dieser unscheinbaren Änderungen in jedem Sommer führt regelmäßig zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsvideos.

Hier das Intro der Episode:

Weiterlesen

Ohne Spracheingabe bestand am iPhone nie die Möglichkeit, Spotlight außerhalb des Home- und Sperrbildschirms aufzurufen. Mit Siri AI geht das jetzt – nur nicht bei uns.

Wenn wir über fehlende Funktionen für iOS 27 in der EU sprechen, fehlt mir insbesondere diese Interaktion.

Spotlight, as you know it, is gone in iOS 27. Swiping down from the middle of the Home Screen now opens Search or Ask, where you can type or speak to Siri. Apple rebuilt the underlying search index at the same time, so returned results are more current.

via MacRumors

Für iPadOS existiert ein solcher Hack; fürs iPhone nicht. Apples Telefon benutzt sich signifikant besser, wenn man Spotlight auch aus geöffneten Apps heraus aufrufen kann.

Mit einem US-App-Store-Account zeigt sich Siri AI auch auf iPhones in der EU. So eingeloggt, lassen sich trotzdem noch App-Updates aus dem DE-Store einspielen. Es fehlen jedoch diverse Abo- und Einmalkäufe – wirklich praktikabel ist das also nicht.

Oder direkter: Für mich ist das nicht dauerhaft benutzbar und deshalb lediglich ein glorifizierter Testlauf. Am Vorabend von iOS 27 bin ich mit einem externen KI-Abo sowie einer Voice-zu-Text-Tastatur schlicht besser beraten.

Allerdings ist Apples Chatbot derzeit „designed for the masses“ und ich habe keine Zweifel daran, dass er sie so erreicht. Mit den Integrationen in unsere täglich verwendete Software hat der leuchtende Orb größere Ambitionen.

Und ehrlich gesagt: Für Apple ist das genau der richtige Hebel – nur halt noch nicht in der EU.

Mac and Apple Vision Pro users in the EU will be able to access Siri AI when set to a supported language. Siri AI will not be available initially in the EU in iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Apple is working hard to find a path forward that preserves its users’ privacy and security.

Apple.com/Newsroom

Dauerhaft tragbar erscheint mir dieser Fork für Europa allerdings nicht: Siri AI strickt iOS grundsätzlich neu – mit fragwürdigen Opt-ins.

Apples integrierte KI ist nicht einfach nur ein Feature, das man nach Belieben an- und wieder ausknipst. Sie stellt iOS fundamental anders auf; auch wenn das heute noch nicht deutlich erkennbar ist.

Ich empfinde es als untragbar, dass der Digital Markets Act konkurrierenden KI-Assistenten einen Zugriff auf dieselben tiefen OS-Funktionen ermöglichen will – insbesondere wenn man ohnehin nur die Wahl zwischen den KI-Modellen anderer Tech-Riesen hat.

Und trotzdem scheint mir Apple derzeit in einer Situation, die Suppe auslöffeln zu müssen – allein schon deshalb, weil die eigene Weiterentwicklung von iOS es erfordert.

➝ YouTube