In November 2023, Apple announced that it would bring Rich Communications Service (RCS) to iPhones “later next year,” suggesting that the new messaging standard would arrive in iOS with iOS 18. However, the company hasn’t offered any update on the matter since then, and as such, there was no information available on the exact timeframe for the arrival of the new feature to iOS. Fortunately, that’s changing today.
While Apple hasn’t offered an update on the arrival of RCS in iOS, surprisingly, Google has. According to the landing page of Google Messages on the Android website, RCS is coming to iOS in the fall of 2024 (via 9To5Google). The website says “Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone.”
That means we are only 6-9 months away from seeing RCS on the iPhone. Once that happens, Android users will be able to chat with iPhone users using Google Messages or Samsung Messages and enjoy many features, including typing indicators, quote replies, and message reactions, without using a third-party application, which is currently available only between iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android chats.
A $3 third-party app can now record spatial video on iPhone 15 Pro models in a higher resolution than Apple’s very own Camera app.
Thanks to an update first spotted by UploadVR, Spatialify can now record spatial videos with HDR in 1080p at 60fps or in 4K at 30fps. In comparison, Apple’s native Camera app is limited to recording spatial video in 1080p at 30fps.
Shortly after Apple’s Vision Pro headset launched in February in the United States, Apple released iOS 17.2, which brought the new spatial video recording format to iPhone 15 Pro models.
When viewed on iPhone, spatial video appear as normal videos, but viewed on Vision Pro they provide an immersive viewing experience on Vision Pro that is almost three-dimensional.
Combined with advanced computational videography techniques and HEVC compression, spatial videos filmed at 30fps in 1080p take up around 130MB of storage space for one minute of video, so bear that in mind when shooting using Spatialify’s higher resolution options, which will take up substantially more storage.
Spatialify first made headlines back in November, before Apple Vision Pro had been launched, when a TestFlight version of the app became available. This allowed iPhone 15 Pro users running the iOS 17.2 beta to record spatial video in a format that could be played back on Meta Quest 3 and other 3D headsets and TVs.
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple’s password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they’ll respond favorably to social engineering. An…
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will…
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. “The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone’s software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade,” wrote Gurman, in a r…
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new…
Apple may be planning to add support for “custom routes” in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple’s pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled “CustomRouteCreation.” While not much is revealed…
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS…
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to “Apple Fellow” in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working…
Apple this month sued its former employee Andrew Aude in California state court, alleging that he breached the company’s confidentiality agreement and violated labor laws by leaking sensitive information to the media and employees at other tech companies. Apple has demanded a jury trial, and it is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.
Aude joined Apple as an iOS software engineer in 2016, shortly after graduating college. He worked on optimizing battery performance, making him “privy to information regarding dozens of Apple’s most sensitive projects,” according to the complaint.
Leaks
The lawsuit alleges that over a five-year period, Aude used his Apple-issued work iPhone to leak information about more than a half-dozen Apple products and policies, including its then-unannounced Journal app and Vision Pro headset, product development policies, strategies for regulatory compliance, employee headcounts, and more.
In April 2023, for example, Apple alleges that Aude leaked a list of finalized features for the iPhone’s Journal app to a journalist at The Wall Street Journal on a phone call. That same month, The Wall Street Journal‘s Aaron Tilley published a report titled “Apple Plans iPhone Journaling App in Expansion of Health Initiatives.”
Using the encrypted messaging app Signal, Aude is said to have sent “over 1,400” messages to the same journalist, who Aude referred to as “Homeboy.” He is also accused of sending “over 10,000 text messages” to another journalist at the website The Information, and he allegedly traveled “across the continent” to meet with her.
A screenshot included in the lawsuit
Other leaks relate to the Vision Pro and other hardware:
As another example, an October 2020 screenshot on Mr. Aude’s Apple-issued work iPhone shows that he disclosed Apple’s development of products within the spatial computing space to a non-Apple employee. Mr. Aude made this disclosure even though Apple’s development efforts were confidential and not known to the public. Over the following months, Mr. Aude disclosed additional Apple confidential information—including information concerning unannounced products, and hardware information.
Apple believes that Aude’s actions were “extensive and purposeful,” with Aude allegedly admitting that he leaked information so he could “kill” products and features with which he took issue. The company alleges that his wrongful disclosures resulted in at least five news articles discussing the company’s confidential and proprietary information. Apple says these public revelations impeded its ability to “surprise and delight” with its latest products.
Apple Finds Out
Apple said it learned of Aude’s wrongful disclosures in late 2023, and the company fired him for his alleged misconduct in December of that year.
In a November 2023 interview, Apple alleges that Aude denied leaking confidential information to anyone. However, during that interview, Apple alleges that Aude went to the bathroom and deleted “significant amounts of evidence” from his work iPhone, including the Signal app that he used to communicate with “Homeboy.”
During a follow-up interview in December 2023, Apple alleges that Aude admitted to some of his wrongful disclosures, but claims he only provided “narrow admissions limited to the information he had not been able to destroy.”
Apple attempted to resolve this matter out of court, but it said Aude was uncooperative:
Apple does not bring suit against its former employees lightly. As a result of Mr. Aude’s willful destruction of evidence, however, Apple cannot know the universe of what he disclosed to whom and when. Before filing this lawsuit, Apple reached out to Mr. Aude to potentially resolve this matter. Over a month ago, Apple contacted Mr. Aude to understand the full scope of his leaks and ask for his full cooperation in resolving this matter without litigation. Mr. Aude, however, did not commit to cooperating.
Aude has also allegedly refused to divest of the restricted Apple stock units that he received as part of his compensation package.
Apple said that Aude poses an “ongoing threat” to the company due to his “long and extensive history of disclosing it to third parties intentionally and without authorization, his continued relationships with individuals at other technology companies, and journalists, and his attempts to conceal his misconduct.”
Apple is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and it is also seeking other legal remedies.
The compact and slim Torras Ostand Power Bank is a second battery for your iPhone, providing 15-watt fast charging whenever and wherever you need it. It also serves as an iPhone stand and can charge other devices, like iPad, too.
Torras sent me a 5000mAh Ostand Power Bank to try. And it did not disappoint. Doing exactly what it claims to do, the device offers good value — especially while it’s discounted for the Amazon Big Spring Sale (see below).
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Torras Ostand Power Bank (5000mAh)
Torras Ostand Power Bank is a wireless magnetic charger designed primarily for iPhones, although it can also be used with other devices. Its high capacity, sleek design and solid features make it a good choice for anyone who needs some extra juice whenever and wherever you can’t find a power outlet.
The bank sports a clean, functional design. Torras sent me a white one, though it appears to be available on the company’s website and at Amazon in black.
As always, the first thing I did was charge the device via its USB-C cable. LED indicator lights clearly showed it was about half full out of the box, so I simply waited for all four lights to shine, indicating full capacity at 5000 milliamp hours (mAh). The device comes in 5000mAh and 10000mAh versions.
Small but potent power bank
The power bank is small and light enough to slip in a pocket. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Despite its solid power capacity, the Ostand Power Bank is surprisingly compact and lightweight, and only 11mm thick and 4.6 ounces in weight. It is slightly wider than an iPhone but not as heavy, making it easy to carry around.
You can even slip it in a pocket. However, when it’s magnetically attached to my iPhone, I find the pair a little thick for a pants pocket (but fine for a coat pocket or a knapsack’s small pocket).
And yet the device’s compact design does not compromise its capacity. At 5000mAh, it can provide multiple charges to devices like my iPhone 13 Pro, and it does so at a fast-charging MagSafe rate of 15W (not the 7.5W many third-party chargers provide).
Useful kickstand
Charging on the power bank in landscape orientation, iPhone goes into Standby Mode. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
One of the standout features of the Ostand Power Bank is its built-in, 360-degree rotatable kickstand. You can use it to turn the power bank into a stand for iPhone, which helps for watching videos or making FaceTime calls.
The adjustable kickstand held my iPhone 13 Pro at any angle I wanted. The ring-shaped kickstand can also act as a grip when attached magnetically to an iPhone. The way it rotates all the way around makes it more adjustable, helping when I needed just the right angle with my handset in either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) mode.
In landscape mode, iPhone switches to Standby Mode and whatever widgets, photos and clock settings you’ve set for it.
Magnetic charging means no cables (but it also does wired charging)
Another highlight of the Ostand Power Bank is its magnetic charging capability. Neodymium magnets firmly attach the device to the back of my iPhone in its leather MagSafe case. As soon as the handset snaps in place, charging commences. Ostand took my iPhone from 33% capacity to 50% in 20 minutes and up to 80% in one hour. Had it been running on empty with no charger in site, the power bank would have been a godsend.
And at no time did I think the power bank might pop off the back of my iPhone. Torras said the Halbacy magnets’ 12N force is rated to hold a weight of 1.2kg (about 2.65 pounds, heavier than any iPhone).
Using a USB-C cable, I used the power bank to charge my iPad Air 5. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
In addition to magnetic charging for iPhone and other smartphones, I found I could plug my iPad Air (5th generation) into the power bank’s USB-C port for charging via cable. It took my tablet from 30% capacity to 52% capacity in 20 minutes, but that seemed to take about half the bank’s power reserve. And it warmed up, but it didn’t become hot to the touch.
You can plug in any device that charges via USB-C to the Ostand bank, though of course bigger devices will drain its battery faster.
Safety features
Torras said it goes to great lengths to ensure Ostand Power Bank is safe to use. Its premium battery pack and a high-quality chip extend its lifespan. It also includes a temperature control system and protection against overcharges and short circuits. Graphene provides heat dissipation.
Considering its high capacity, advanced features and sleek design, the Ostand Power Bank offers excellent value. I’ve seen plenty of chunkier, heavier 5000mAh power banks. I’d rather have this one.
Get a discount on Torras Ostand Power Bank
Note that the Torras Ostand Power Bank nets a 4.4 star rating on Amazon, with 86% of reviews giving it either 4 or 5 stars. And right now it’s part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, priced at $59.99 $49.99 (17% off).
This slim and compact 5000mAh power bank and MagSafe portable charger features a 360-degree rotating stand for iPhone 15/15 Pro/15 Pro Max/14/13/12, Samsung smartphones and more.
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone.
“The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone’s software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade,” wrote Gurman, in a report focused on WWDC 2024. Apple recently said that its annual developers conference will run from June 10 through June 14, and iOS 18 will be a key announcement.
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 customizable Home Screen and other user interface design changes, new features in apps like Apple Maps and Freeform, additional accessibility features, and more.
Smarter Siri and Generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to have new generative AI features for Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more, according to sources such as Gurman and The Information‘s Wayne Ma.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly teased that the company is working on generative AI, and plans to share details “later this year,” and Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak also hinted at AI this week in a social media post about WWDC 2024.
Generative AI surged in popularity in late 2022, when OpenAI released ChatGPT, a chatbot that can respond to questions and other text prompts. The company has also expanded into generative AI tools for images and videos. Other companies like Google and Microsoft have also pushed into the generative AI space, and the technology is quickly evolving.
MacRumors exclusively reported that iOS 18 will finally allow users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid. This means that users will be able to create blank spaces, columns, and rows between app icons. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones, and now Apple is bringing it to the iPhone.
iPhone users can already customize the Home Screen with apps such as Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, which can be used to create “blank” app icons and widgets, but Apple’s official solution will be much more convenient.
We expect iOS 18 to include additional customization options beyond icon arrangement, as part of the biggest Home Screen revamp in years.
New Apple Maps Features
MacRumors recently revealed two potential new Apple Maps features coming with iOS 18: custom routes and topographic maps.
With the custom routes feature, Apple Maps users would be able to choose specific roads to travel on while navigating, for reasons such as familiarity or scenic views. This feature is expected to be available in the U.S. only at launch. Google Maps already allows users to create custom routes on the web, and then view them on an iPhone.
Topographic maps first debuted on the Apple Watch last year with watchOS 10, and code suggests that the feature will be expanded to the iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. These maps include details such as trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest for hiking and other outdoor uses.
RCS Support in Messages App
In November, Apple announced that it would support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting “later” in 2024, so it will likely be an iOS 18 feature based on that timeframe.
RCS support should result in the following improvements to the default messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices:
Higher-resolution photos and videos
Audio messages
Typing indicators
Read receipts
Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android devices
Improved group chats, including the ability for iPhone users to leave a conversation that includes Android users
These modern features are already available for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations with blue bubbles, via iMessage, and many of the features are also available in third-party messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram. RCS support on the iPhone will extend the features to green bubbles in the Messages app.
Apple retail stores are now receiving information about the company’s new system for wirelessly updating iPhone software prior to sale, iGen reports.
Last week, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurmanreported that the new proprietary system, called “Presto,” will begin operation across the U.S. in April. Gurman first reported on the wireless system in October, describing it as a “proprietary pad-like device” upon which retail store staff can place a sealed iPhone box. The system wirelessly turns on the iPhone inside, updates its software to the latest available version, and then powers it off.
Presto features small lockers that can accommodate six iPhone boxes simultaneously. There are markings to ensure that boxes are correctly positioned for NFC depending on their size. Once correctly positioned, the iPhone will update within 15 to 30 minutes. iGen has now shared a still from a video showing two of the machines stacked one on top of the other:
Presto was developed by Apple’s Backstage Operations team, which designs tools for technicians and retail store employees. The company developed “Presto” as a way to avoid selling iPhones in retail stores with outdated software. For example, the iPhone 15 series shipped with iOS 17, but Apple subsequently released iOS 17.0.1 before the devices launched. The update was required to fix an issue that prevented the transfer of data directly from another iPhone during the initial setup process.
Apple apparently intends to have the technology in all U.S. retail stores by early summer. Retail locations outside the U.S. are also now receiving information about how Presto works.
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce…
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple’s password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they’ll respond favorably to social engineering. An…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There’s also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who…
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as “Instant Digital.” Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will…
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18….
Apple today added a “Why Upgrade” section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model. The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older…
Apple has previously announced three new iOS features that it said are coming to the iPhone later this year, as outlined below. The new features include the ability to install iPhone apps on the web in the EU, RCS support in the Messages app, and next-generation CarPlay. Web Distribution Apple recently announced that eligible developers will soon be able to distribute their iOS apps to …
The iPhone and iOS are not messy. Throughout their nearly 20-year life they’ve embodied precision and consistency, with no design element left to chance. There’s never a detail unexplained or unaccounted for; and one thing you absolutely will not find, on either the phone itself or in its operating system, is wasted space.
According to fresh rumors from Apple soothsayer Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the anticipated update to iOS, which we expect Apple to unveil in June at WWDC 2024, will remove the shackles of rigid conformity and allow iPhone owners to move app icons wherever they like – and even introduce blank spaces.
This is not the first time that Apple has messed with one of the core living spaces on your best iPhone. Two years ago, Apple redesigned the lock screen, calling it an “Act of love.” It was a good update because it introduced information, innovation, and flexibility to the first thing you see when you pick up your iPhone, but without breaking the mold that makes the iPhone display special.
Apple’s fantastic lift subject from background adds a sense of drama to even the most mundane family portrait by allowing you to pop a head or two on top of the iPhone’s clock readout. I also appreciated the introduction of customizable widgets, a feature found on the best Android phones, and which took far too long to arrive on iOS.
Intentional sloppiness
These rumored iOS 18 changes don’t appear to offer any of those benefits. They’re more or less about choice, though I’d argue that with customizable widgets on your iOS 17 home screen you already have more than enough customization options.
If you’d rather not look at a gridded wall of icons, or even some kind of calming organization, you could with the rumored iOS 18 introduce vast swaths of blank space. Maybe you’ll place just a few apps at the bottom of the screen (just above the dock), a few at the top, and one random floater in the middle. It’s something you can do right now with, say, the Samsung Galaxy S24. I just tried it on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but I don’t really like the look of it.
All the customization I need (Image credit: Future)
You know who else might not like it? Jony Ive. That’s right, the genius industrial designer responsible for most of Apple’s iconic product designs (iPod, iPhone, iMac, iPad, original Apple Pencil – okay, they can’t all be winners), might not have much use for Apple all but discarding the iconic iPhone grid.
Ive might have been a little obsessed with grids. Back in 2013. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber noticed that you could overlay Apple’s then-new Ive-designed iOS 7 app icons on top of some Apple hardware products, including the Apple TV, the trashcan Mac Pro, and the bottom of the Mac mini. The visuals he provided were uncanny. Ive never admitted as much, but considering his affinity for uniformity and clean design, such an approach wouldn’t be surprising. Even if it was coincidental (it wasn’t), Apple’s secret sauce was, for decades, Ive’s eye.
No space is good space
There’s little doubt that the reason why the iPhone’s apps are not tossed about willy-nilly on the home screen (nor any other page on the device) is because of Ive’s strict adherence to the grid aesthetic. It’s not just about elements living on a grid; it’s about them filling dead space. If you grab one app icon from an app page and move it to another screen, it never leaves space behind. Instead, the surrounding apps snap to attention, and march in to fill the gap. The iPhone is the king of cleaning up after itself, at least when it comes to app placement.
Ives’ obsession with eliminating dead space might have been informed by the late Steve Job’s take on unnecessary space or air in any Apple product. Apple’s cofounder and former CEO reportedly once threw an iPod prototype into an aquarium to show his designers that there was still too much space, and too much air, in the device; while the music player didn’t float, it did release telltale air bubbles.
Unnecessary space was technology’s enemy, and Jobs and Ive worked in tandem to eliminate it, along with any disorganization that might have resulted from it.
Is it just me? (Image credit: Future)
Ive left Apple in 2019, and reportedly ended his consulting relationship with the company in 2022. Since then, whatever influence Ive has had on the Apple aesthetic is likely diminishing. If I had to find one example, it would be the MacBook Air M3 Midnight’s lovely woven grey MagSafe power cord, which somehow terminates in plastic white on the side where it plugs into a white power adapter. That, to me, is messy, and very un-Ive-like.
To be fair, there’s no confirmation from Apple that it plans to offer iPhone owners almost unlimited home-screen control in iOS 18, but I could see it happening.
Customization is not a bad thing; but for everyone who’s cheering that Apple is catching up to where Android has been for years, I’d suggest that this is a retrograde change that, while possibly bringing the iPhone more into alignment with its Android competitors, will make it somewhat less than what we expect from the best of iOS and Apple.
The first iPhone was launched in 2007, while the first Galaxy smartphone was unveiled in 2009. Ever since their launch, Android and iOS have copied features from each other, but Android has always been better at UI customization. While Apple has made several improvements in the past few years, it still lacks a basic feature that has been present on Galaxy (and other Android phones) for 14 years.
iOS 18 could bring blank space support to the iPhone’s home screen
MacRumors is reporting that iOS 18 will bring more home screen customization support to iPhones. While app icons on the home screen will still be locked to an invisible grid structure, iPhone users could have black spaces, columns, and rows between app icons. The information about a more customizable UI was first reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
It is already possible to create custom icons for apps on iOS, it requires a lot of effort and using the Shortcuts app. In comparison, Galaxy users can easily do so by installing a third-party app launcher and an icon pack. One UI lets users customize the colors of app icons using the Color Palette feature. One UI also lets users change the app icon grid size for the home screen, app drawer, and folders. They can also change the colors of the folders.
Other features expected with iOS 18 include support for RCS (for better messaging between Android and iOS), Generative AI support for Siri, and AI features for many stock apps.
Your iPhone has a text-to-speech feature built-in. You don’t need to download an app. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
In iOS 17, the iPhone got a built-in text-to-speech feature called Live Speech. You can even use Live Speech with a digital version of your own voice called Personal Voice.
Apple devised Personal Voice for users “at risk of losing their ability to speak — such as those with a recent diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or other conditions that can progressively impact speaking ability.” It was the subject of a touching and heartfelt video Apple made called “The Lost Voice.”
Here’s how to set up and use it.
How to use the iPhone’s new text-to-speech feature
How to set up Live Speech and create your Personal Voice
Update to iOS 17
Live Speech and Personal Voice are both included in iOS 17, released in September 2023. If you haven’t updated your phone in a long time, go to Settings > General > Software Update to make sure you have it.
Turn on Live Speech in Accessibility settings
Go to Settings > Accessiblity > Live Speech (toward the bottom of the page). Enable “Live Speech” on top to turn it on.
Triple-click the iPhone side button for text-to-speech
To use Live Speech, triple-click the side button of your iPhone. (On an older iPhone, triple-click the Home button). If a menu of options appears, select Live Speech. A keyboard will appear. Type whatever you want to say and hit Send. Your iPhone will play what you entered over the speakers. It’ll highlight word-by-word as it speaks it out.
Add favorite phrases for easy access
In Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech, tap Favorite Phrases. Tap the + icon in the top to add a new one. The phrases you add here will be easier to select; you won’t have to type them out every time. For example, if you have a pet, it might be convenient to add phrases like “Scout, home here,” “Indy, lay down” or “Wookiee, stop eating my salad” for instant access. To access your favorite phrases, activate Live Speech and tap Phrases in the popup menu. Tap any one of these to play it.
Record your Personal Voice
In Live Speech settings, you can choose a voice from any of the Siri (or classic Mac OS) voices. But the real killer feature is creating a Personal Voice. This lets you digitize your voice so that iPhone text-to-speech sounds like it’s really coming from you. Go back and tap Personal Voice > Create a Personal Voice. You should find a small, quiet room where you can speak uninterrupted for around 15 – 60 minutes. Just follow the prompts on screen and read them aloud.
Wait
Plug in your iPhone and let it process. It needs to turn all your recordings into a dynamic digital model of your voice. It could take an hour or more.
Set Live Speech to use your Personal Voice
Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Live Speech and you should see a new option to use your Personal Voice instead of the other canned voices. Tap the Play button to hear a quick preview; tap the name to set it.
More accessibility features
Once you’ve set up text-to-speech on your iPhone, be sure to check out more how-tos we’ve written on other great accessibility features:
For less than $40, you can get a portable wireless charger that works with iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at the same time. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If an iPhone, some AirPods and an Apple Watch all make it into your everyday carry, you need a three-way power bank that can charge them all at once.
For a limited time, you can score major savings on a multidevice wireless charger that can do it all. Normally sold for $119, this versatile (and very portable) power bank is discounted to just $39.99.
Get a 3-in-1 power bank that can charge iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watch
With 66% savings on this product, it’s the right time to streamline your charging needs. This gadget is primed to provide simultaneous power to your favorite Apple devices — including an Apple Watch, which is somewhat rare for a power bank. Plus, its magnetic wireless charger can handle any Qi-compatible device. And it sports a USB-C port for all sorts of additional charging possibilities. (Note: It will not charge Macs or iPads.)
This power bank packs a 5,000mAh capacity, weighs less than half a pound, and fits easily into any pocket or travel bag. It will ensure you’re never left without some juice, no matter where the day takes you.
This purchase includes a charging cable and a user manual. And the three-way power bank for Apple Watch, iPhone and more carries a perfect five-star rating in our store.
“I love this charger because it is thin enough to fit in my back pocket along with my phone, so I can still charge my phone while I’m moving around,” wrote one verified buyer. “I also like that it will charge my phone at least twice with power left over.”
Upgrade your portable charging game with a three-way power bank
Upgrade to a more efficient way of powering up your most important devices. Pick up this Multi-Device Wireless Charger for only $39.99 (regularly $119) while this deal lasts.
