Category: Technologies

“Rerouting” is the last thing you want Siri to tell you when you’re lost in a no-signal zone on the road. Fortunately, with the iOS 17 update, you’ll soon be able to use your iPhone’s Maps app offline, Apple announced at its WWDC event Monday. This long-awaited feature has been available on Google Maps for years and will finally be available for iPhone users later this year.

This isn’t the only update coming with Apple’s newest software. Apple will let you turn your photos into stickers with its Messages app in iOS 17. And changes are coming to its autocorrect feature.

We’ll tell you when Apple Maps is getting the offline feature and how it works. For more announced at WWDC, MacOS Sonoma was unveiled, as well as the new 15-inch MacBook Air and Apple’s new Vision Pro VR headset.

How do offline maps work?

The iPhone is getting offline maps for its Maps app this year. That means you’ll be able to access any map you’ve downloaded, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi or a cellular signal. For instance, if you’re going on a trip, you can download the route and access it without using cellular data. This is helpful if you’re low on data or if your route takes you through an area with little to no signal that would cause the Maps app to stop navigating correctly, potentially causing you to veer off course.

What can you do with Apple Maps offline?

When iOS 17 becomes available later this year, you’ll be able to download designated areas and access turn-by-turn navigation while using Maps offline. Also, you’ll be able to see your estimated time of arrival and find places in Maps, among other things.

In addition, Maps will make it easier to find thousands of trails in parks across the US. The app will also support drivers of electric vehicles with real-time charging availability information, Apple said.

When will iPhone’s offline maps be available?

Offline maps will be available on iPhone with the launch of iOS 17, which is coming this fall (it usually arrives in late September with the new iPhone). You’ll want to make sure your iPhone is compatible with Apple’s latest software — if not, you won’t have access to this new Apple Maps feature.

For even more WWDC announcements, Apple unveiled iPadOS 17 and WatchOS 10.

Apple wants to make screening phone calls, dictating text messages and receiving audio messages easier in iOS 17. For Google Pixel fans, that should sound very familiar.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple demonstrated a bevy of new features arriving on iPhones this fall. While the new live photo stickers and stylized “posters” for contact photos may have grabbed headlines, Apple also previewed a handful of features that were reminiscent of Google’s Pixel devices. Like Google, Apple is infusing more audio transcription and speech recognition into its phone and messaging apps.

Their approaches may differ, but Apple and Google clearly have the same goal: to modernize and improve the calling and texting experience. Communication, along with personalization, has been a major theme throughout both iOS 17 and Google’s recent Pixel updates. (Remember those new cinematic wallpapers for Pixel devices Google flaunted at its I/O conference last month?)

Apple’s iOS 17 shares some other similarities with recent Google products, such as its new StandBy Mode, which essentially turns your iPhone into a smart display. Apple also added the ability to download offline maps to its navigation app, which Google Maps has had for years. (However, this functionality has technically been available on the iPhone previously through the iOS version of the Google Maps app.)

Here’s a look at some new features in iOS 17 that feel similar to what we’ve seen from Google in recent years.

Live voicemail

With iOS 17, you’ll be able to see transcriptions of voicemails in real time, enabling you to pick up if it’s important. Spam calls will be automatically declined and won’t show as transcripts. While it may not be exactly the same, it sounds a lot like Google’s Call Screen feature, which has the Google Assistant screen your calls for you before answering the phone. It’s one of many phone call-oriented features Google added to its Pixel devices over the years, including Hold For Me and Direct My Call. The former has the Google Assistant wait on hold for you when calling certain businesses, while the latter helps you navigate automated phone menus.

Watch this: Apple iOS 17: Every New Feature (Supercut)

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Audio message transcriptions

It’s not always appropriate to listen to voice messages right away. Maybe you’re in public and don’t have your headphones, or perhaps you’re in the middle of a meeting. Apple wants to address this in iOS 17 with support for audio message transcription, which displays the text in line underneath the audio file in a messaging thread. Message transcriptions was also a key feature that Google highlighted when announcing the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro last year.

Better voice dictation for texting

When Google announced the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, the first phones to run on its Tensor processor, it noted that the phones would have better speech recognition when dictating messages with the Google Assistant. Apple made a similar announcement during WWDC, saying that dictation in its Messages app should be more accurate because it now uses an improved speech recognition model.

StandBy mode

One of the more intriguing new features in iOS 17 is StandBy mode, which allows your iPhone to double as a smart display when it’s in landscape mode and charging. When in this mode, your phone can display the time, photos, widgets, notifications and Live Activities, which show real-time updates from time sensitive apps on the lock screen.

While it may sound very similar to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s always-on display, the content is stylized to make it look more like a bedside clock or a smart display. Clock faces are colorful and can occupy the whole screen, for example. It feels like a hybrid between the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display and the Apple Watch’s nightstand mode.

Google’s execution is a bit different, but it’s accomplishing the same goal with its new Pixel Tablet. Google’s tablet is designed to be a cross between a general-purpose tablet and a smart home hub. Google leans into this approach more fully by including a charging dock that doubles as a speaker in the box, enabling the interface to change automatically when docked.

Taken together, these updates suggest that phones are getting more personalized, whether that’s by transcribing calls or providing more customizations. And based on Apple’s WWDC keynote and Google’s recent Pixel updates, it seems like that will continue to be true whether you prefer the iPhone or Android.

If you’re still running Windows 10 and are looking to upgrade your current computer with Windows 11 — the latest Windows operating system — you may want to go ahead and spring for the Pro version. Downloading it directly from Microsoft will cost you $200. However, if you’re looking for a bargain you can get it — along with lifetime access to top productivity apps via Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2021 — for just $60 at StackSocial for a limited time with a bundle that saves you 85%. Theres no expiry listed for this offer, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

Windows 11 Pro offers some additional features that you won’t find on the base version including Microsoft Remote Desktop, BitLocker device encryption, Windows Sandbox, Hyper-V, Azure Active Directory and much more. You’ll receive an activation key that you can use on up to three devices. Not all computers are compatible, so if you’re considering upgrading, be sure to check out the system requirements before you purchase.

And your purchase comes with a lifetime license to Office Professional 2021 as well, which includes popular programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, OneNote and more. With a single one-time payment, you’ll retain lifetime access on the installed PC, which will save you a ton over the recurring charges you’ll accrue via a Microsoft 365 subscription and offers you more than the free online version of Microsoft Office. However, it’s worth noting that you’ll be limited to installing Office on just one computer and the “lifetime” part of the license refers to the lifetime of the machine you install it on.

Apple on Monday announced iOS 17 at WWDC, its yearly developer conference. The latest mobile software update will bring several new features to the iPhone, including live stickers in Messages, an improved autocorrect that finally lets you curse in peace and an easier way to share you contact information.

Don’t miss: You Can Download the iOS 17 Developer Beta on Your iPhone Right Now

And as long as you pay for the Apple Developer Program ($99 a year), you can download iOS 17 on your iPhone right now if you wanted to, but before you even think about doing that, there are a few things to know. Here’s everything you should do before installing iOS 17 on your device.

If want to learn more, check out everything announced at WWDC 2023, as well as what you need to know about Reality Pro, Apple’s long-awaited mixed reality headset, and all the new features that are available on iOS 17.

Watch this: WWDC 2023: Here Are All the Major iOS 17 Features

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First, is your device even compatible with iOS 17?

As long as you own an iPhone XS or later, you should be able to download the iOS 17 developer beta. Below is a full list of every iPhone compatible with Apple’s new software update. And if your current phone isn’t on the list, here are some more recent iPhone models to consider purchasing.

• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (second generation and later)
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 series, which is expected to be Apple’s next phone release, should be announced later this year and come with iOS 17 already installed.

Next, make sure your iPhone is up to date

Before you update to iOS 17, make sure you’re updated to the latest iOS 16 version so that you don’t encounter any issues if you decide to revert. Also, it’s just good to always be updated to the newest mobile software version in case there are major bugs or other issues in older iOS versions.

To update your iPhone to the latest version iOS 16, go to Settings > General > Software Update and check for any available updates.

Now, back up your iPhone before updating to iOS 17

This is important: The iOS 17 developer beta is experimental software intended for developers, which means it will have many bugs and issues that could potentially cripple your iPhone. Your phone may unexpectedly restart or get really hot — with developer betas, you never know what to expect, so it’s best to prepare beforehand so that if you face major issues you can return to iOS 16.

The best way to do that is to back up your iPhone while it’s still running iOS 16. The reason is that if you update to iOS 17 but then decide to go back to iOS 16, you have an up-to-date backup to revert to, so that you keep your most recent photos, text messages, app data and more.

Now, there are two ways too back up your iPhone: via iCloud and your computer.

Back up your iPhone with iCloud

Your iPhone should automatically back up by default once a day, as long as your device is connected to both a power source and Wi-Fi and locked.

To check if this feature is enabled, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud Backup and make sure that Back Up This iPhone is enabled. Also, if you have a compatible 5G iPhone, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models, you can enable Back Up Over Cellular to have your iPhone back up over your cellular network when you’re not connected to W-Fi.

You can also just manually back up your iPhone with iCloud. In the same iCloud Backup page, simply tap Back Up Now. Underneath that, you’ll see the last time a successful backup was created. Under All Device Backups, you can check out more information about your backups, including backup size, and customize what is backed up.

Back up your iPhone with Mac or Windows

If you don’t have storage on your iPhone or iCloud, you always have the option to back up your device via your computer.

On Mac, connect your iPhone to your computer via lightning cable, open Finder and select your iPhone. Next, check the circle next to Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac and then hit Back Up Now.

The process with Windows is pretty similarly. Again, connect your iPhone to your computer via cable, but this time open the iTunes app and click the iPhone button on the top-left of the window. In the Summary page, click Back Up Now to back up your iPhone to your Windows PC.

For more on Apple, here are the best iPhone deals right now and our ongoing review of the iPhone 14.

Whether you want to listen to music and podcasts privately or need to stay connected with voice calling while on the go, just about everyone can benefit from a pair of everyday wireless earbuds. If you’re in the market for a quality pair, check out the 20% savings being offered on both the Google Pixel Buds A-Series and Google Pixel Buds Pro right now.

Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s premium wireless earbuds featuring active noise cancelation. They’re some of our favorite earbuds, particularly for Android users. CNET’s David Carnoy reviewed these earbuds and found the design and fit make this pair a true stand out, explaining such features, “helps enhance their strong performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts.” They get up to 11 hours of battery life per charge and offer good voice-calling performance. They also sport a transparency mode. Normally $200, you can snag a pair for $160 right now.

The top pick from a budget perspective, though, is the Pixel Buds A-Series. Already an affordable option, a 20% discount sees them fall to just $79 — their best price of 2023. They offer a shorter 5-hour battery life and don’t have the noise canceling available on the Pro model, but they do offer good sound quality for the price and, according to CNET’s Pixel Buds A-Series review, can handle voice calling and do “a very good job reducing a lot of background noise during calls.”

Both are rated IPX4-rated water-resistant or splash-proof, which means they can handle a little moisture at the gym or weather while on the go. And for Android users, there is also access to Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands. Apple users can make use of either of these Pixel Buds, however they’ll lose access to a few key features, which is why we recommend pairing these earbuds with an Android device.

Looking for something a little different? Be sure to check out our roundup of headphone and earbuds deals happening now.

If you’re looking for a phone with powerful specs at a decent price, you may want to consider the OnePlus 11 5G. It earned a spot on our roundup of the best Android phones of the year, and right now Amazon is offering the flagship phone at a discount. You can grab the 256GB version of the unlocked OnePlus 11 for just $700. That’s a $100 discount, bringing the cost down to the same price as the base 128GB model and matching the lowest price we’ve seen, essentially scoring you a free storage upgrade. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

The OnePlus 11 has a lot to offer. It sports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 6.7-inch AMOLED display. It even supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, as well as Dolby Atmos, so it’s a great option for gaming or video streaming. And with 80-watt fast charging, you can fully charge your phone in under half an hour. While it doesn’t have the most powerful cameras, the quality should be good enough for day-to-day usage. Plus, the price beats out other flagship phones in terms of affordability and is guaranteed five years of security support.

Additionally, Amazon has a trade-in program through which you can get up to $401 for trading in your old device — though the savings will be applied to an Amazon gift card that you can use on a future purchase.

If you’re not sold on this model, be sure to check out all the best phone deals happening now to find discounts on other popular options.

Many of the latest phones on the market come with intimidating price tags of $800 or more, which can make shopping for a new one feel a little daunting. But there are ways to save, especially if you don’t need the absolute latest and greatest model. Shopping used, previous-gen devices is a great way to save some serious cash, and right now, you can shop a huge selection of refurbished Samsung phones at Woot, with prices starting at just $136. This sale runs until June 26, but some models have already sold out. We’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

According to Woot, all of these refurbished phones are in good condition, but may still exhibit some signs of wear and tear. The retailer notes that outside of their physical appearance, the products are all tested to be in full working condition with batteries that function at a minimum 85% capacity. All of the phones are unlocked and can work with any carrier. Prices start at just $136 for the Galaxy A32, which features a 6.5-inch display, 64GB of storage and 5G support.

Read more: Best Galaxy S23 Deals: Big Trade-In Credits, Gift Card Offers and More

Or, if you’re looking for something a little more advanced, consider grabbing the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which is on sale for $466. It’s now two generations old, but it still features some impressive specs like a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 5G support and a camera that can capture 8K video. It will also support future Android and security updates. And, if you don’t want to spend over $450 on a refurb phone, there are a few other models from the S21 series available. You can grab the base model Galaxy S21, which has a smaller 6.2-inch AMOLED display, 8GB of RAM, a 64-megapixel rear camera and starts at $240 with 128GB of storage. There’s also the in-between model — the 6.7-inch Galaxy S21 Plus — which you can grab for $276.

There are tons of other refurb models available, including tons of phones from the now-discontinued Galaxy Note series. And you can check out our full roundup of all the best phone deals for even more bargains.

Motorola is back with a bang, unveiling a duo of Razr flip phones on June 1 after skipping a Razr release in 2021. The Razr Plus launches on June 23 for $1,000, while the regular Razr is set to arrive later this year for a price that Motorola says will be significantly less than its sibling.

Of the two phones, the Razr Plus is the scene-stealer. It commands attention thanks to its front cover, which is basically all screen. It might even be the largest cover screen on any flip phone, measuring 3.6 inches. It’s certainly larger than the cover screen on its predecessor, the Razr 2022, which had a 2.6-inch panel. According to CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco, who got hands-on time with the Razr Plus, the cover screen on the Razr Plus is “meant for much more than just checking the time or reading notifications. You can interact with apps and even type using a full keyboard.”

Apart from the steadily increasing size of the cover screen, it’s worth noting how Motorola has improved its device over the years. For one thing, the price has gradually dropped, as expected. Motorola’s 2019 Razr, its comeback flip phone, cost $1,499 but did not have an IP rating, wireless charging and packed only 6GB RAM. It also had two cameras total. Fast-forward to 2023, and the Motorola Razr Plus now costs $1,000 and gains new features such as that larger front screen, an IP52 durability rating, wireless charging and an extra camera. It also boasts incremental changes including more storage, a larger battery, lighter weight and a faster processor.

Watch this: Razr Plus and Razr 2023 Hands On: First Look at Motorola’s New Foldable

04:51

For more details, check out CNET’s specs chart below. Note that the Razr 2022 never received a US release.

Whether your dad needs to stay connected at work or on the go, or he wants to relax and unwind with some of his favorite music or podcasts, it helps to have a good set of earbuds or headphones. And right now JLab is offering 15% off select devices so you can get Dad the essentials needed for work or play at a discount. There’s no end date listed for this offer, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

JLab’s Epic Air Sport true wireless headphones are down to $85 (save $15) and are rated IP66 sweat- and water-resistant, making them a good choice for working out. They also offer active noise cancellation and can get up to 11 hours of playtime per charge (or up to 50 hours of playtime with the charging case). There’s also a passthrough mode so you can stay aware of your surroundings. And with Tile compatibility, you’re able to find a misplaced earbud via the app.

If you’re looking for a cheaper pair, you can grab the second-gen JBuds Air for $59 (save $10). They have some similar features, including active noise canceling and Find With Tile. However, these buds do have a more limited battery life, offering up to 24 hours of total playtime with the case when using ANC.

However, if your dad works from home and needs an on-ear headset to take calls and stay connected, the Go Work wireless headset may be a better choice. It’s just $42 right now and has a lot of useful features for someone who makes a lot of voice or video calls. It has dual microphones and helps to block out environmental noise so you can be heard clearly. There’s a mute-indicator light on the attached microphone so you know if you can be heard at a glance, easy-to-use touch control buttons on the headset and multipoint connectivity so you can connect to more than one device — say, your computer and your phone — simultaneously, which makes it easy to switch back and forth when a call comes in. And with up to 45 hours of battery life per charge, you can use them for days before you need to recharge.

And if you’re looking for other headphone and earbuds deals, be sure to checkout our roundups to help you shop.

During its WWDC 2023 keynote on Monday, Apple unveiled a new addition to the MacBook Air lineup: a 15-inch model. It’s the first MacBook Air in that size since the lightweight laptop line was created, adding a larger laptop option for those not needing all the bells and whistles of the MacBook Pro models.

As well as a larger, 15.3-inch display, the new MacBook Air features Apple’s M2 chip, Touch ID sensor, two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe charger and 18-hour battery life. The screen supports up to 500 nits of brightness and up to a billion colors. There’s a built-in 1080p camera for FaceTime calls, too, as well as a three-mic array and six speakers for spatial audio support.