O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: iPad mini

  • Apple receives clearance to activate Apple Watch hypertension detection/notification feature in Australia

    Apple receives clearance to activate Apple Watch hypertension detection/notification feature in Australia

    This could come in handy if you’re in Australia.

    Australia has granted approval for Apple to enable its Apple Watch hypertension notification feature within the country.

    According to Information Age, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s medical device regulator, has approved Apple’s hypertension notification feature for use on Apple Watch. The software was formally listed as a medical device on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods earlier this month.

    Apple announced the hypertension detection feature in December. The feature is designed to identify patterns associated with elevated blood pressure, rather than directly measuring blood pressure itself. It stores and uses data collected by the Apple Watch’s optical heart sensors to analyze how blood vessels respond to heartbeats over rolling 30-day periods. Should the system detect consistent indicators associated with possible hypertension, the user will receive a notification advising follow-up using conventional blood pressure measurement methods.

    The feature is intended for adults aged 22 and older who are not pregnant and who have not been previously diagnosed with hypertension. The feature also requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or later or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later running watchOS 26 that’s been paired with an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.2 or later.

    Apple can now legally activate the feature for Australian users, although it has yet to confirm when the feature itself will become available. In the past, Apple has activated some new health features via a software update or by remotely activating the feature once regulatory clearance has been obtained.

    Hypertension notifications have already rolled out in more than 150 countries.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Information Age

  • Flyover city tours feature quietly excised from Apple Maps

    Flyover city tours feature quietly excised from Apple Maps

    One of the cooler features in Apple Maps has apparently been quietly dismissed from the app.

    The Apple Maps application no longer offers a Flyover feature that provided users with automated tours of notable landmarks in major cities. The feature seems to have disappeared with the launch of iOS 26.

    Flyover city tours were introduced in 2014 with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, using Flyover imagery to generate an aerial tour. Most cities with Flyover imagery supported the tour feature, but it may not have been used often since Apple was able to quietly discontinue it.

    In better news, Flyover imagery remains, complete with over 350 cities offering the feature, which offers imagery of landmarks, parks, important buildings, and more from a bird’s-eye view. The images themselves are gathered via small military-grade planes which create detailed maps of buildings from above for the feature. The feature is not available in some areas due to privacy and security concerns.

    Flyover city tours used to be accessible by tapping on the Flyover icon when searching for a city, but that option has now been removed.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • ChatGPT to gain Apple Music integration, allow for quick creation of playlists

    ChatGPT to gain Apple Music integration, allow for quick creation of playlists

    You may love or hate ChatGPT, but you can’t deny that it’s adding some interesting features pretty quickly.

    Per an OpenAI Substack post by Fidji Simo, the company’s CEO of applications, users will soon be able to ask ChatGPT to create Apple Music playlists.

    Last October, OpenAI introduced apps in ChatGPT, with the first round of partnerships and integrations including Spotify, Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, and Zillow. Back then, OpenAI also released a preview of the Apps SDK, which would soon let developers integrate their own apps into ChatGPT.

    Simo stated that “even more apps will be available in a new directory, including Adobe, Airtable, Apple Music, Clay, Lovable, OpenTable, Replit, and Salesforce, and other developers will be able to submit their apps for review.”

    It’s thought that the Apps SDK (Software Development Kit) is about to exit the preview stage and that OpenAI will begin integrating the aforementioned new features and partnerships.

    The app will most likely work similarly to how Spotify works within ChatGPT, wherein you can say “Spotify, make a playlist for my party this Friday,” and ChatGPT can automatically surface the app in your chat and use relevant context to help.

    Apple Music requires an active subscription. You can sign up for $10.99 per month, with one month free.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Substack

  • Rumor: Toyota to include car key support via Apple Wallet for some of its lineup

    Rumor: Toyota to include car key support via Apple Wallet for some of its lineup

    Because it’s difficult to go wrong with keyless entry for your car via your iPhone.

    Toyota is apparently preparing support for Apple’s car key platform. Per a post by Aaron Perris, while there’s no official word as to a launch date for this feature or a list of which specific Toyota vehicles will support it (including current models), the company is apparently adding car key support via Apple Wallet for some of its lineup.

    Apple first announced car key support in Apple Wallet at WWDC in 2020. This feature allows users to add their car key to the Wallet app, then use the app to lock, unlock, and start their car.

    While specific implementations can vary by automaker, but there are three basic ways the feature works:

    Passive entry: Approach your car with your device, it unlocks, start your car when inside, and walk away from your car with your device, it locks.

    Proximity: Lock, unlock, and start the car by holding your device close to the door handle or key reader.

    Remotely: You can use your device to remotely lock and unlock your car, and use other features.

    There’s also support for Express Mode, so you can use your car key without unlocking your device with its passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and @aaronp613

  • Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.2, iOS 26.2, and iPadOS 26.2 updates

    Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.2, iOS 26.2, and iPadOS 26.2 updates

    Late Friday proved to be an update-o-rama as Apple released both its macOS Tahoe 26.2 operating system update as well as its iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates for its iPhone and iPad.

    The macOS Tahoe 26.2 update includes the following fixes, changes, and new features:

    Edge Light:

    • Edge Light video effect uses the Mac display to illuminate your face like a virtual ring light when you’re on a video call in low light
    • Customizable light width and temperature give you control over how you’re lit
    • Mouse awareness ensures that the light recedes when you need to access content underneath
    • Option to have the light turn on automatically in low light situations on Mac computers introduced in 2024 and later

    Podcasts:

    • Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate more episodes
    • Links to mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

    Games:

    • Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
    • In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead
    • Connected controller support

    This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

    • AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
    • Apple News Section links in the sidebar of the News app offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
    • Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
    • Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks in Apple Music
    • Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the library were not immediately playable at their release time

    The update can be installed via the following steps:

    • Open System Settings.
    • Tap General.
    • Tap Software Update.

    Where the mobile devices are concerned, Apple released its iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates on Friday. While not a huge update, and instead focused more on polish, tweaking, and adding quality-of-life enhancements, the update offers the following fixes and changes:

    Apple Music:

    • Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks on the home tab
    • Offline lyrics for downloaded songs, so you can view them without an internet connection

    Podcasts:

    • Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate episodes
    • Links to the mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

    Games:

    • Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
    • In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead
    • Improved support for connected controllers such as Backbone and Razer

    This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

    • Additional Lock Screen time customization option lets you further adjust its appearance, giving the Liquid Glass material more or less opacity
    • Enhanced Safety Alerts can inform you about imminent threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies, with rich information like a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance (available in the U.S.)
    • Alarms for Reminders help you stay on top of urgent tasks, and provide snooze and Live Activity support if you’re not ready to check the reminder off
    • AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
    • Apple News Section links at the top of the Today feed offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
    • Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app lets you use the same setup code to easily enroll multiple accessories when sold together
    • Flash for alerts in Accessibility Settings offers the additional option to have the device screen flash when you receive a notification
    • Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
    • Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the Apple Music library were not immediately playable at their release time
    • Fixes an issue where a Privacy and Security setting may incorrectly be marked as managed by an enterprise organization

    The update can be installed via the following steps:

    • Open Settings.
    • Tap General.
    • Tap Software Update.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the updates, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors and Macworld