O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: iPhone SE

  • Apple releases iOS 15.2.1, iPadOS 15.2.1 updates

    Apple releases iOS 15.2.1, iPadOS 15.2.1 updates

    Apple on Wednesday released both iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1, the software arriving one month after the company’s release of iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2.

    Per the patch notes, the updates address an issue causing Messages sent through an iCloud Link not to load and it fixes bug with third-party CarPlay apps not responding to input. 

    The iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 update can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

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

    Via MacRumors

  • T-Mobile states iOS 15.2 bug led to iCloud Private Relay feature being disabled for some users

    T-Mobile states iOS 15.2 bug led to iCloud Private Relay feature being disabled for some users

    Following the recent revelation that Apple’s iCloud Private Relay appears to have been disabled by wireless carriers Sprint and T-Mobile, T-Mobile offered the following statement to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, in which it stated that iOS 15.2 device settings that default to the feature being toggled off, and that Apple has been contacted. T-Mobile explicitly says that ‌iCloud‌ relay has not been blocked:

    Overnight our team identified that in the 15.2 iOS release, some device settings default to the feature being toggled off. We have shared this with Apple. This is not specific to T-Mobile. Again though, we have not broadly blocked iCloud Private

    T-Mobile has stated that some subscribers who are using plans and features with content filtering are not able to access ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay, though 9to5Mac claims that some of the users unable to access ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay do not have content filtering enabled:

    Customers who chose plans and features with content filtering (e.g. parent controls) do not have access to the iCloud Private Relay to allow these services to work as designed. All other customers have no restrictions.

    Given T-Mobile’s comments, it seems that the issue stems from certain features being disabled by default, and that the iCloud Private Relay is not being explicitly blocked for T-Mobile customers.

    Apple has in turn updated its iCloud Private Relay support document to clarify how users can make sure that ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay is enabled for a cellular network in iOS 15.2 by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and ensuring that “Limit IP Address Tracking” is turned on.

    In the U.S., AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have not spoken out against ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay nor have they suggested U.S. networks won’t support the feature.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, @markgurman, and support.apple.com

  • T-Mobile/Sprint begin blocking iCloud Private Relay feature for iPhone users

    T-Mobile/Sprint begin blocking iCloud Private Relay feature for iPhone users

    On Monday, a report indicated that some European wireless carriers had begun blocking the Private Relay feature introduced by iOS 15. This feature is designed to give users an additional layer of privacy by ensuring that no one can view the websites that they visit. 

    In addition to the European carriers, it seems that T-Mobile/Sprint in the United States has begun blocking iCloud Private Relay access when connected to cellular data. 

    Apple had initially shipped the iCloud Private Relay feature as a “public beta,” which means that it’s disabled by default under iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. Users can enable it by going to Settings on your iPhone, tapping your name at the top, choosing iCloud, and choosing “Private Relay.” 

    T-Mobile was among the carriers in Europe that signed an open letter expressing concern about the impact of Private Relay. The carriers wrote that the feature cuts off networks and servers from accessing “vital network data and metadata and could impact “operator’s ability to efficiently manage telecommunication networks.” 

    Via an error message one user had received via the Settings app

    Your cellular plan doesn’t support iCloud Private Relay. With Private Relay turned off, this network can monitor your internet activity, and your IP address is not hidden from known trackers or websites. 

    Apple has yet to offer a public comment as to this situation.

    Please let us know if you’ve seen this issue on your end in the comments.

    Via 9to5Mac and @guidryjd

  • Rumor: Apple to announce new iPhone SE, other products at its spring media event

    Rumor: Apple to announce new iPhone SE, other products at its spring media event

    Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his “Power On” newsletter, Apple is likely to announce a new iPhone SE with support for 5G and a faster chip is likely to be among the announcements at its April media event.

    “Apple’s first virtual event of 2022 is coming up in just a few short months and is likely to take place in either March or April, I’m told,” wrote Gurman.

    For its April 20 media event in 2021, Apple unveiled its AirTag item tracker, new iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac models powered by the M1 chip, the second-generation Apple TV 4K, and a new purple color option for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

    In 2020, given the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple did not hold a spring event. The company still announced several new products with press releases on its website that spring, including updated MacBook Air and iPad Pro models on March 18 and the second-generation iPhone SE on April 15.

    In addition to a new iPhone SE, it’s thought that Apple might announce a new 27-inch iMac as well as high-end Mac mini desktops with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips at is spring media event.

    Gurman also said that he is near certain that WWDC will remain a fully virtual event this year, shortly after it was announced that the E3 video game conference normally held in person in June will be an online-only event again this year.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Rumor: Apple could remove physical SIM card slot for some iPhones for second quarter of 2022

    Rumor: Apple could remove physical SIM card slot for some iPhones for second quarter of 2022

    The rumor mill now has it that Apple could start offering iPhone models without a SIM card in the box in the second quarter of 2022.

    Earlier this week, a Brazilian website stated that Apple’s iPhone 15 might not have a physical SIM card slot in some countries and regions. The change could take place even sooner, as an anonymous tipster has stated that Apple has advised major U.S. carriers to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only smartphones by September 2022. The tipster shared a seemingly legitimate document outlining the timeframe for this initiative, although the document does not specifically mention Apple or the iPhone.

    As part of the transition, some U.S. carriers will allegedly start offering select iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM card in the box in the second quarter of 2022. iPhone 13 models sold at Apple Store locations or via apple.com already lack a nano-SIM card in the box, with users typically able to activate a cellular plan via eSIM by turning on the iPhone, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and following the on-screen instructions.

    Given the supposed September 2022 deadline, it’s feasible that Apple could begin removing the physical SIM card slot with the iPhone 14 models.

    An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a nano-SIM card. It’s worth noting that eSIM service is not available in all countries, so iPhones with a SIM card slot may remain available in some markets. Adoption is expanding rapidly, though, with over 100 carriers offering eSIM service worldwide and more planning to roll out support in 2022, including Three in the UK and Vodafone in New Zealand.

    The iPhone 13 models already support multiple eSIM profiles, which allow users to subscribe to several cellular plans and switch between them as needed. This functionality could pave the way for the SIM card slot’s departure in certain countries.

    Albeit a significant change, the SIM card slot’s removal would be another step towards a seamless design and improve water resistance in the process. Taking out the slot would also free up some valuable internal space in the iPhone.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, Blog do iPhone, iFixit, and @dylandkt