Apple could run iOS 18’s AI features on-device on the iPhone. Concept: Kevin Kall
Apple’s large language model (LLM) that will power iOS 18’s AI features could entirely run locally. This would prioritize user privacy and offer faster response times.
However, running AI features on-device will have downsides as they might not be as powerful as on some Android phones.
iOS 18’s AI features might value privacy and experience
Android phones with generative AI features offload all the processing and heavy lifting to the cloud. This makes them powerful and ensures the phone’s AI processing capabilities do not limit them.
The catch is the privacy risk involved, as your data might be shared and uploaded to the cloud. Plus, the high response times lead to a poor user experience.
Apple aims to bypass these problems with on-device processing. So, the phone will process the AI commands locally instead of offloading them to the cloud. This is a more privacy-friendly approach, though Apple might have to limit its AI features based on the chip’s AI processing capabilities.
Apple is behind Google and Microsoft in the generative AI features race. Running its LLM locally could give Apple’s AI features a unique advantage over its competition. Plus, the company can tout the privacy benefits of its approach.
A previous report claims that the iPhone 16 will ship with a more powerful Neural Engine to power some of iOS 18’s Generative AI features. This purportedly means that some demanding AI features might not come to existing iPhones.
Apple’s marketing strategy could help its AI features stand out
Additionally, in the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman claims Apple will adopt a different marketing strategy for iOS 18’s AI features. Instead of highlighting the generative AI tools, the company will show how the AI features will benefit users in daily use.
Apple’s marketing prowess could help its generative AI features stand out even if it’s less powerful.
Apple is developing its own large language model (LLM) that runs on-device to prioritize speed and privacy, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports.
Writing in his “Power On” newsletter, Gurman said that Apple’s LLM underpins upcoming generative AI features. “All indications” apparently suggests that it will run entirely on-device, rather than via the cloud like most existing AI services.
Since they will run on-device, Apple’s AI tools may be less capable in certain instances than its direct cloud-based rivals, but Gurman suggested that the company could “fill in the gaps” by licensing technology from Google and other AI service providers. Last month, Gurman reported that Apple was in discussions with Google to integrate its Gemini AI engine into the iPhone as part of iOS 18. The main advantages of on-device processing will be quicker response times and superior privacy compared to cloud-based solutions.
Apple’s marketing strategy for its AI technology will apparently be based around how it can be useful to users’ daily lives, rather than its power. Apple’s broader AI strategy is expected to be revealed alongside previews of its major software updates at WWDC in June.
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, GameCube, Wii,…
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of…
Last September, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch …
The rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that is expected to be announced in May will be equipped with a mini-LED display like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for…
It was a big week for retro gaming fans, as iPhone users are starting to reap the rewards of Apple’s recent change to allow retro game emulators on the App Store.
This week also saw a new iOS 17.5 beta that will support web-based app distribution in the EU, the debut of the first hotels to allow for direct AirPlay streaming to room TVs, a fresh rumor about the impending iPad Air update, and more details on the sequence of Apple’s M4-based Mac updates starting later this year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone
To be eligible for this new Web Distribution feature, Apple says a developer must meet several requirements, including having an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.
iOS 17’s New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out
At hotels that offer the feature, guests can scan a unique QR code on their room’s TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing them to wirelessly stream content from their iPhone or iPad. For example, they could stream Apple TV+ or Netflix shows, listen to music on Apple Music or Spotify, play games on Apple Arcade, or work out with Apple Fitness+.
iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared
While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months away from being announced, there are already many rumors about the four devices that have been circulating for months.
The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more.
M4 Macs Are Expected to Launch in This Order Starting Later This Year
Gurman said the entire Mac lineup will be updated with the M4 chip or higher-end variants, starting with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini between late 2024 and early 2025, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro between the spring and end of 2025.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
iOS 18 will add a few new features to the Notes app related to voice memos and mathematics, according to information obtained by AppleInsider.
First, the report claims that iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to record voice memos directly within the Notes app, and these recordings could then be embedded in notes. Audio recordings can already be copy and pasted from the Voice Memos app into the Notes app for playback, but this step would no longer be necessary starting with iOS 18.
Second, the report claims that the Notes app will likely gain support for displaying mathematical notation on iOS 18, meaning that users would be able to add more types of mathematical equations to notes. This feature will allegedly have some kind of integration with the Calculator app, but the exact implementation is unclear.
The report also says macOS 15 will feature a redesigned Calculator app.
Apple will unveil iOS 18 at its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 10 through June 14, and the update should be widely released in September. We recently recapped other new features and changes expected with iOS 18, including a more customizable Home Screen, Siri enhancements, and more.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that…
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut’s open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,…
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple’s rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/”homebrew” games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any…
Apple’s first set of new AI features planned for iOS 18 will not rely on cloud servers at all, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on device,” said Gurman, in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today. “That means there’s no cloud processing component to the…
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including new all-time low prices on the M3 MacBook Air, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Pro, iPad, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get free 2-day shipping, an…
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that the first Macs with M4 series chips will be released later this year, with more models to follow next year. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman shared a more specific roadmap for these Macs. Here is the order in which Gurman expects the Macs to launch:1. A low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4, coming around the end of 2024. 2. A 24-inch …
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year. We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things …
A revolutionary new memory device that combines the features of DRAM and NAND flash memory is being developed by a group of researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Led by Professor Shinhyun Choi of the School of Electrical Engineering, the team’s breakthrough promises cheaper, power-efficient solutions that could potentially replace existing memory solutions or be used to implement neuromorphic computing for the next-generation of AI hardware.
According to KAIST, the new device utilizes next-generation phase change memory with ultra-low power consumption, capable of replacing both DRAM and NAND flash memory.
Taking a novel approach
Typically, DRAM offers high-speed performance but is volatile, resulting in data loss when power is shut down. NAND flash memory offers a solution by preserving data even when the power is off, but it does not match the speed of DRAM. This new phase change memory provides a non-volatile, high-speed solution combining the best of both worlds.
Previous versions of phase change memory have had a problem – high power consumption. Despite attempts to reduce consumption by decreasing the physical size of such devices using state-of-the-art lithography technologies, the reductions were minimal, while costs soared.
To overcome this, Professor Choi’s team have established a way to electrically form phase change materials in an extremely small area, successfully developing an ultra-low-power phase change memory device. Notably, this consumes 15 times less power than previous phase change memory models which used expensive lithography tools, a significant breakthrough in the quest for cost and energy efficient memory development.
“The phase change memory device we have developed is significant as it offers a novel approach to solve the lingering problems in producing a memory device at a greatly improved manufacturing cost and energy efficiency, “ said Professor Choi. He went onto to say that he expects this new research to become the basis for future electronic engineering, paving the path for high-density three-dimensional vertical memory and neuromorphic computing systems.
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This isn’t the only neuromorphic computing solution being worked on at KAIST. Last month scientists there unveiled an AI chip that they claimed can match the speed of Nvidia‘s A100 GPU but with a smaller size and significantly lower power consumption.
“As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on device,” said Gurman, in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today. “That means there’s no cloud processing component to the company’s large language model, the software that powers the new capabilities.”
Apple will probably still offer some cloud-based AI features powered by Google’s Gemini or another provider, according to Gurman. Apple has reportedly held discussions with companies such as Google, OpenAI, and China’s Baidu about potential generative AI partnerships. iOS 18 is not expected to include Apple’s own ChatGPT-like chatbot, but it is unclear if Gemini or other chatbot will be directly integrated into iOS 18.
It is possible that Apple could offer some of its own cloud-based generative AI features in the future, as Apple supply chain analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu have said that the company is actively purchasing AI servers.
iOS 18 is rumored to have new generative AI features for the iPhone’s Spotlight search tool, Siri, Safari, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more. Gurman previously reported that generative AI will improve Siri’s ability to answer more complex questions, and allow the Messages app to auto-complete sentences.
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 18 and other software updates at its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 10 through June 14.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus may come in seven colors that either build upon the existing five colors in the standard iPhone 15 lineup or recast them in a new finish, based on a new rumor out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed focus digital, Apple’s upcoming larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model will come in the following colors, compared to the colors currently available for the…
Apple will begin updating its Mac lineup with M4 chips in late 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The M4 chip will be focused on improving performance for artificial intelligence capabilities. Last year, Apple introduced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all at once in October, so it’s possible we could see the M4 lineup come during the same time frame. Gurman says that the entire…
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year. We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including new all-time low prices on the M3 MacBook Air, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Pro, iPad, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get free 2-day shipping, an…
Here’s a quandary… Say you’ve enjoyed driving an EV for a few years and your lease is ending, or you own an EV and it’s time for an upgrade. You’re already familiar and comfortable living with a battery EV and you’re not going back to internal combustion – not even a hybrid. Alternatively, you’re new to EVs, but you’ve done your homework, and you’re ready to take the plunge and get a battery EV.
What are the must-have features to future-proof your next EV purchase? It’s 2024. There are more battery EV choices than ever before, and access to fast and reliable public charging networks is improving rapidly. This is a particularly difficult question to answer if, like me, you’re driving a Tesla. You love your car and the ecosystem, but you can’t stand Elon and don’t want to support him by giving Tesla your money.
As a two-time Tesla owner, I know I’m biased. But regardless of Elon’s antics, I think that Tesla still delivers the best EV experience on the market today – especially in North America – and the company still makes some of the best EVs when it comes to technology, efficiency, packaging, and value. The Model Y’s popularity worldwide can attest to that. So I asked myself, how close can I get to driving a Tesla without driving a Tesla?
A real-world range of more than 275 miles
Mini Cooper SE (Image credit: TechRadar / Myriam Joire)
The average American drives fewer than 40 miles a day – I know. So, assuming you can charge at home every night, a small, light, and affordable battery EV with a range of about 100 miles makes perfect sense. Look no further than the Mini Cooper SE, upcoming Mini Cooper EV, or new Fiat 500e. Even a Nissan Leaf would get the job done. Problem is, if you live in an apartment like me, you might not be able to charge at home.
Also, the US (and Canada) are big countries. It’s not unusual for folks in North America to travel long distances, be it a few times a year or several times a month. Your EV should be able to replace your internal combustion vehicle without limitations, and that’s why range matters. And I’m not talking about EPA range here, but range measured in real-world conditions taking weather, topology, and driving style into account.
I’ve been doing EV road trips all over the West Coast of the US for six years now with the two Model 3s I’ve owned back-to-back, and in my experience, a real-world range of 275-350 miles is the sweet spot – and something you should consider for your next EV. But range isn’t the only ingredient for worry-free long-distance travel in a battery EV. Charging infrastructure is also critical, which brings us to the next requirement.
Supercharger access and charging rates above 200kW
(Image credit: Tesla)
In the US right now, Tesla’s Supercharger network counts more than 21,800 DC fast chargers. Of those, over 15,000 support charging at up to 250kW (400V), and are open to non-Tesla cars – currently Ford and Rivian EVs via an adapter, with support for more manufacturers to come. The second largest DC fast charging network in the US is Electrify America with over 4,000 chargers, some capable of charging at 350kW (800V).
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But there’s more to charging on the road than the number of compatible DC fast chargers available for your EV. Up-time is another issue. Based on multiple surveys, the Supercharger network is about 99% reliable, while 23% of chargers from other DC fast charging networks are down at any given time. Worse yet, these chargers are often out of commission for multiple days but are still listed as functional by charging networks.
Obviously, charger reliability is important, but so are charging rates. EVs don’t charge at a constant rate. Assuming the batteries are pre-conditioned (pre-heated for the fastest charging performance), EVs tend to charge faster below 80% charge, and fastest between 30-60% charge. As such, the Chevy Bolt, which supports 55kW charging, will charge much slower than the Hyundai IONIQ 5 which peaks at 230kW.
How much of a difference does this make? The Chevy Bolt will take 70 minutes to charge from 20-80%, while the IONIQ 5 (AWD) will take 20 minutes to charge from 20-80%, and both offer a similar range (about 260 miles EPA). Also, the IONIQ 5 will only charge this fast using a 350kW (800V) charger. So, basically, your next EV should have access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and support 200kW or faster charging.
A software defined vehicle
Rivian (Image credit: Rivian)
Another thing to consider for your next EV is whether it’s a full SDV (software defined vehicle) or not. I’ve written about this before, but basically, SDVs are cars with functions and features that are primarily enabled through software and can improve over time via OTA (over-the-air) software updates. Tesla was the first to popularize SDVs, followed by other EV startups (Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar) and Chinese manufacturers.
While most EVs support OTA software updates, not all are full SDVs. This means that not all hardware components in these cars can be updated OTA. EVs from legacy car manufacturers mostly fall into this category, although things are improving rapidly. It’s one thing for your infotainment system to receive updates OTA, it’s another thing for your BMS (battery management system) to be updated OTA.
Why should you care? Because with SDVs, the manufacturer controls the hardware and software directly. A vehicle that’s designed to function as one cohesive system is more likely to deliver a good user experience. In other words, the reason so many cars don’t provide a good user experience today is because they’re basically a random assortment of hardware and software designed by various suppliers.
Level 2+ ADAS
Polestar 3 interior (Image credit: Polestar)
One essential feature your next EV should include is a proper Level 2+ ADAS (advanced driver assistance system). The good news is that basic Level 2 functionality is pretty much standard on most EVs these days. Level 2 ADAS is defined by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) as partial driving automation (including automatic steering, acceleration, and braking) that requires the driver’s full attention at all times.
Ideally, you’ll want an EV equipped with Level 2+ ADAS, where the car mostly drives itself – like changing lanes and taking exits by itself based on the current navigation route – but requires the driver to regularly touch the steering wheel and look at the road. Some of these systems – like GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise – are even hands-off (but still eye-on) on certain sections of road, conditions permitting.
Direct-to-consumer sales
This is not tthe experience you’re going for (Image credit: Getty Images)
Ask around, and it’s pretty clear that most of the time, buying or leasing a car from a dealership is a major PITA. What if you could purchase or lease your EV directly from the manufacturer – like you buy an iPhone from Apple – online or in a store, with a set price? That’s exactly what Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid offer, and having experienced it myself, it’s something you should seek for your next EV purchase.
So there you have it – five must-have features to future-proof your next EV purchase. If, like me, you’re someone who prefers cars over crossovers, the EVs closest to meeting these five conditions are the Rivian R3/R3x, Lucid Air Pure, and Polestar 4. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E GT, VW’s ID.Buzz, Kia’s EV6, Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and 6, and Volvo’s EX30 are also in the running if you’re willing to compromise a little.
Facebook Messenger gets HD image and video-sharing capabilities
Facebook Messenger now lets you share images and videos in HD quality. Here, HD means 4K resolution for still images and HD resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) for videos. This is exactly similar to WhatsApp, and you can enable the HD tag while choosing images or videos from your phone’s gallery. When you receive HD images, you can see the HD tag on the top right corner of that image.
Facebook Messenger also lets you create Shared Albums with family and friends. In a group chat, when you select multiple images and videos from your phone’s gallery, an option labelled ‘Create Album’ appears. You can also long press an image in the chat to create a shared album with it. To add images and videos to an existing album, tap ‘Add To Album.’ Everyone in th group chat can rename and edit existing shared albums. They can add, delete, download, or view images and videos in the album.
Facebook Messenger gets profile QR codes and enhanced document and file sharing features
You can start chatting with people by adding them to Facebook Messenger using their QR code. Every Facebook Messenger user gets a unique QR code, which can be used to instantly start a chat with that person. You can share your QR code with others, making it easier to initiate chats. You can see an example in the image below.
Meta has also made it easier to share large documents and files using Facebook Messenger. The messaging app now supports sending and receiving documents and files that are as big as 100MB in size. Most major document formats, including Excel, PDF, Word, and ZIP are supported. You can send files by clicking the + shaped button and choosing the ‘Share A File’ option.
Watch our in-depth video below to understand all the AI-powered features that Samsung debuted with One UI 6.1. Those features are available on the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Tab S9 series, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 5.
I’ve been a Windows user for a very long time, since my very first IT class way back in primary school. It’s the system I’ve used the most, so I was excited – though a little intimidated – when I switched over to using a Mac mini as my regular computer a year ago.
It may have taken a while to get used to, but the amazing features packed into macOS have converted me into a superfan – so here are my three favorite features that’ll keep me on macOS forever.
Universal Control
(Image credit: Apple)
This is perhaps the most useful feature on macOS for people like me who have more than one Apple device. Universal Control allows a single mouse and keyboard to work across your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac, without having to individually set up your peripherals for each device. Alongside the Mac mini I use for work, I often have my iPad set up on my desk to play music or listen to podcasts while I work, and whenever I want to change a song, skip an episode, or just quickly Google something I can just swipe my mouse over to the left side and use my tablet as a second display.
Should I want to do something quickly without having to boot up my entire system and log into all my accounts, I can set the iPad back on my desk and use the keyboard to write quick notes, brainstorm story ideas, or just respond to a particularly lengthy email. I love being able to use all my devices with the same two peripherals.
If you’d like to give it a go, make sure your two devices are linked to the same iCloud account, and then head over to the menu bar on your Mac and click the Control Center option. You should then see an option to ‘Link keyboard and mouse to [device]’. With that enabled, you should be able to move your pointer over to the edge of your Mac screen until it appears on your iPad or MacBook.
Airplay to Mac
(Image credit: Future)
Airplay is a feature that allows you to share content from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, or from Mac to Mac if you have say an iMac and a MacBook. Not unlike Universal Control, you can effortlessly extend or mirror your display and use your other screen as an external display.
I love this feature because I could be watching a video or a movie on my iPad or my iPhone and just throw it over to my iMac if I want a bigger screen, which has been super helpful for me as I haven’t had a TV for years. So, if I’m snuggled up in bed and want to throw my comfort show up on the big screen on my bedroom desk, I can do it straight from bed as long as my iMac is on.
You can turn on Airplay by making sure your AirDrop and Handoff setting is enabled, and you’ll be prompted to select which devices to allow Airplay content to stream to. Keep in mind that you’ll again need to be signed into the same iCloud account on your devices.
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AirDrop
(Image credit: Apple / Future)
Possibly one of the most helpful features across all Apple devices, Airdrop is a timesaver and incredibly useful in almost every situation. With Airdrop you can wirelessly and painlessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to other nearby devices and Mac computers. So, if I want to send over a file on my phone to my Mac to email to someone I can quickly select the file on my phone and Airdrop it to my Mac with a few taps on the screen.
I’ve used AirDrop almost every day since I got my Mac mini, and I don’t know what I’d do without it. It’s not just helpful for sending myself files, but quickly AirDropping something to a friend from my computer to their phone works the same way with AirDrop, so you’ll be able to use the feature with other people’s Apple devices as well. It’s such a good feature that I’m amazed it took Android so long to receive it.
You can turn on AirDrop on any of your Apple devices straight from the control center, so on your iPhone or iPad you just need to swipe down from the top of your screen and enable AirDrop, and the same with your Mac device. You’ll find the setting on the top right of your Mac screen, and you can decide whether to enable the feature for your contacts only or for anyone.
I love my Nintendo Switch so naturally I’m very excited for any official details about its successor that’s tentatively being referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2. And, if rumors of it being a souped-up version of what we already have do turn out to be accurate, that’s cause enough for celebration in my book. Well, aside from one thing.
The Nintendo Switch’s biggest problem (you know, aside from its subpar specs, awkward online features, and sluggish eShop) is that it’s severely lacking in sauce. Unlike Nintendo consoles of old, there’s no fanfare when you boot up the Switch. No pleasant background music, no welcoming splash screens, and more pointedly, no customizable menu themes.
Above all else, this is the one thing I want to see the Nintendo Switch 2 address. As a 3DS enjoyer (and a staunch Wii U defender), I’d love for Nintendo to bring back these aesthetically charming elements to really set itself apart from the cold, overly-clean dashboard of the PS5 or Xbox’s miserable implementation of Windows 11.
Variety’s the spice of life
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Wachiwit)
If you owned a Nintendo 3DS, chances are you downloaded at least one or two menu themes from its eShop. These were easily among the two-screened handheld’s best features, and what really set them apart was that they weren’t just static images.
Well, they did have a larger image on the top screen to tie the theme together, but each individual theme offered much more. They had music relevant to the theme installed (one of my personal favorites being the Ace Attorney Trilogy’s use of the first game’s iconic ‘Objection!’ track) and entirely unique menu icons based on the theme you’d selected.
The Nintendo Switch, by comparison, lacks all of this. Sure, there’s a dedicated ‘Themes’ menu in its settings, but for what? Your choices are, quite literally, black or white. There’s absolutely nothing joyous here; no pleasant backing track, no Miis aimlessly traipsing around a plaza – just a cold digital void where your massive backlog goes to die.
I hear you; handheld or docked, the Switch only has the one screen. Its themes can’t possibly be as dynamic or creative as they were on the 3DS. But to that I say, both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 would like a word. Sony’s previous-gen consoles absolutely excelled here, offering tons of dynamic (and often animated) themes accompanied by music. And on both, it was common to find themes with unique menu icons and sound effects. It’s all becoming something of a lost art, I fear.
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Now to play devil’s advocate, there’s a very likely reason as to why the Nintendo Switch is bereft of any kind of creative menu themes, and it all comes down to the system’s outdated processor. The Switch’s user interface (UI) may inspire nihility, but its sparseness does mean it’s at the very least easy to navigate. The 3DS’s themes, while lovely, did often cause a notable hitch in performance, with boot times suffering in particular. It’s possible Nintendo wanted to avoid this.
However, as mentioned, the most prominent rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 revolve around the console being something of a ‘Super’ Nintendo Switch. With improved specs, it should be possible for Nintendo to avoid performance bottlenecks brought about by more active menu themes.
Could Platinum Coin usage then be extended to menu themes on Nintendo Switch 2? Assuming Nintendo keeps its current online ecosystem intact with the next console, I think this would be an excellent way to incentivize folks to sign up to Nintendo Switch Online in addition to existing benefits like cloud storage, its retro game library, and DLC offerings.
This would be a fantastic opportunity to grow Nintendo Switch Online’s benefits while reintroducing some of the more charming features of past Nintendo consoles. I’ve little doubt that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be a winner; I just want to see the company once again embrace features like menu themes that genuinely set them apart from the competition.
