Apple Delays AR/VR Headset Reveal to WWDC, Report Says

The rumored mixed-reality headset could be unveiled in June.

Apple’s mixed-reality headset was rumored to come out in early 2023, but it appears the new hardware might not make its debut until June, according to a report Wednesday from Bloomberg.

Apple is planning to unveil the AR/VR headset is at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference, reported Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter.” The iPhone maker typically hosts WWDC in early June.

Apple reportedly had planned to introduce the headset in April, but decided to delay the launch after “product testing showed that both hardware and software issues still needed to be ironed out,” according to Bloomberg.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Little is known for sure about Apple’s AR/VR headset, although there’s speculation it will have features similar to Meta’s Quest Pro. Its price is rumored to be in the $3,000 range, and it could be the first of several headsets from Apple.

You Don’t Need to Delete Anything to Free Up Space on Your iPhone

Running low on storage? Instead of getting rid of photos, videos and apps, take advantage of these two iOS features.

Oh no. Your iPhone storage is nearly full. You can no longer update to the latest iOS software, download any more apps or take a single more photo or video. Now, you do have a few obvious options to clear up your storage, but they require you to delete things or spend money.

You can remove large files, like movies, TV shows and music albums, but maybe you’re not ready to give those up. There are also various cloud alternatives to beef up your existing storage, but that requires shifting files around, and you may have to pay for it. You could also just buy a new phone with more storage — but that’s an expensive option.

That’s why, if these options aren’t appealing to you, you can and should take advantage of certain iOS features to free up storage on your iPhone without having to delete anything or spend any money.

There are two built-in iOS settings that can help you clean up a significant amount of storage on your iPhone — one permanent and the other temporary — so that you can install the latest software updates, take more photos and videos and download more apps. Here’s what you need to know.

If you want more tips on getting more iPhone storage, check out how to free up space on your iPhone with these easy tricks and the best cloud storage options in 2023.

Optimize your iPhone photos and videos
It’s not always easy to just delete what’s in your camera roll, so if you want to keep your precious memories, or even just your meme screenshots, but still want to free up device storage, the easiest way to do that is by optimizing the photos and videos already stored on your device.

By default, every time you take a photo or video, it is saved in full resolution on your device. If you’re capturing photos and videos in the highest resolution possible, they can take up quite a bit of space. A minute of video shot in 4K at 60fps takes up approximately 400MB — nearly half a GB. That’s pretty significant.

To optimize your photos and videos, go to Settings > Photos and toggle on Optimize iPhone Storage (for this to work, you’ll need to have the iCloud Photos setting above it enabled). Depending on how many photos and videos you have on your iPhone, this can take up quite a bit of time, but once it’s finished, you should see significantly more space on your device storage.

All of your full-resolution photos and videos are then transferred over to your iCloud, while smaller, lower-resolution versions are kept on your device, to take up less space. If you want to access your higher-resolution photos and videos, you can go into the Photos app and download any file that’s being optimized, but this requires a decent internet connection. Your more recently taken photos and videos may exist in full-resolution, so you won’t need to download every photo or video.

If you don’t have enough iCloud storage, it’s easier to upgrade your cloud than get a new phone. In the US, you can upgrade to 50GB for only a dollar a month, or you can go bigger: 200GB for $3 a month or 2TB for $10 a month. Prices range depending on your country or region.

To upgrade your iCloud on your iPhone, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Buy More Storage. Choose a plan and then follow the instructions. If you upgrade to any paid iCloud subscription, you’ll get access to iCloud+, which also offers the iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email features.

Offload your biggest apps
You don’t use every application stored on your iPhone. Many of them just sit there, like apps for your favorite airlines, third-party cameras and music production. And even if you use them only every once in a while, you probably don’t need consistent, daily access to most apps, which is why you should consider offloading apps in case you desperately need storage.

Say for example you want to download and install the latest iOS update. If it’s a major update, like iOS 16, you may need a little over 5GB to successfully install the software. If it’s a point update, like iOS 16.1, you’re looking at around 1GB. And if you don’t have enough storage space to update, you can quickly offload apps, which is a middle ground between keeping and deleting your apps.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and check which apps are taking up the most storage. Certain built-in apps like Photos and Messages cannot be offloaded, so be warned. If you find a sizable app you want to offload, tap on it and hit Offload App. Wait a little bit and the app should then be removed offline, while your documents and data will stay saved on your device.

If you need temporary storage, for a software download, just go through the list and offload every app you can. The amount that’s offloaded for each app will vary, but you should see the number next to App Size. Discard the number next to Documents & Data, because that will stay on your device. The only way to get rid of that is to actually delete the app.

Offload as many apps as you need until you have enough storage. Obviously you can’t use an app that’s offloaded, but if you want to get an offloaded app back, go to your App Library and tap on the iCloud button to redownload it. If the offloaded app is on your home screen, simply tap on it to download it. You won’t have to re-sign in or anything — you’ll have access to the app as if it was never deleted.

Apple Releases Updates for Watch, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and HomePod

Safari also received an update Monday.

Apple rolled out iOS 16.3.1 for iPhones on Monday as well as a slew of updates for the tech giant’s other devices.

Devices receiving an update include Apple Watch Series 4 and later, Macs with MacOS Ventura, Apple TV 4K/Apple TV HD and iPad Air third generation, iPad fifth generation and iPad Mini fifth generation or later, according to the Apple security update page. Apple’s browser, Safari, also received an update for MacOS Big Sur and MacOS Monterey.

The updates contain mostly minor changes and some bug fixes. There are also security updates, including one for iOS and MacOS that Apple says “may have been actively exploited.”

Other Apple devices that received an update Monday were the HomePod and HomePod Mini. The release of HomePod OS 16.3.2 fixed an issue where Siri wouldn’t complete a smart home request the first time it was asked, according to 9to5Mac.

Want Unreleased iOS Features? Join Apple’s Beta Software Program

Just know that some iOS beta features might be buggy.

With each iOS software update Apple releases, iPhone users can usually expect new features to come to their iPhone. Apple usually pushes out new updates once every month or two, but if you don’t want to wait that long, you can sign up to be a part of Apple’s Beta Software Program.

This program allows you to test beta versions of iOS software before wider release. New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend only downloading a beta on something other than your primary phone just in case the new software causes issues. Apple also provides beta testers with an app called Feedback. Testers can notify Apple of any issues in the new software with the app, that way the problem can be addressed before general release.

If you want to beta test the latest iOS software and help push it across the finish line, here’s how to sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program.

Joining Apple’s Beta Software Program on iPhone
Signing up for the program takes a few steps. Here’s how to sign up on your iPhone.

  1. Back up whatever iPhone you plan to use beta software on. Again, we recommend using an iPhone that isn’t your main device.
  2. Go to the Apple Beta Software Program page on that iPhone.
  3. Tap Sign Up.
  4. Sign into your Apple ID.
  5. You should already be in the iOS section, but if not, tap iOS under Guide for Public Betas.
  6. Tap enroll your iOS device under the Get Started section.
  7. Tap Download profile and Allow.
  8. Go back to your home screen and tap Settings.
  9. Tap Profile Downloaded.
  10. Tap Install in the top-right corner of your screen.
  11. Enter your passcode and tap Install again on the consent form.
  12. Tap Install for the third time.
  13. Restart your iPhone.
  14. Once your phone has restarted, go to Settings and tap General.
  15. Tap Software Update and if one is available, download it as you normally would.

For more on iOS, check out the latest iOS 16.3 features and features you might have missed in iOS 16.2 and iOS 16.1.

Best iPhone Deals 2023: Cheapest Ways to Get an Apple Phone

Find the best iPhone deals available right now. Save on your new iPhone with trade-in promotions, gift cards and other offers.

While Apple’s iPhones remain some of the most popular models on the market, one of their biggest drawbacks is that they’re pricey, with some high-end models starting north of $1,000. However, there are deals and bargains out there. And with a little digging, you can get one of these sleek phones in your hand for less.

The CNET team scours the web to bring you the very best carrier and retailer offers on all of Apple’s current iPhone models, whether you want the latest and greatest iPhone 14, the budget-friendly 2022 iPhone SE or an older model like the iPhone 13 or 12. We’ll continue to update this page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best prices available.

Best iPhone deals available now
Find the best deals for models across iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone SE 2022 and older iPhone models below grouped by generation.

iPhone 14 deals
The iPhone 14 series is Apple’s current flagship line of phones and includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and top-spec iPhone 14 Pro Max. Being Apple’s latest and greatest, these phones don’t come cheap, though there are iPhone deals out there to reduce the sticker shock.

Which iPhone deal is the best?
While it appears a simple question at first, the best iPhone deal for you might be different from the best iPhone deal for someone else. Apple currently sells eight different iPhone models, so choosing the right one for you means assessing your needs and preferences when it comes to things like design, features, cameras and price.

The current iPhone 14 is going to be the best iPhone for most people as it balances top-tier features with a relatively affordable price (especially with the above deals). It has a bright and clear OLED display, 5G support and cameras that are more than good enough for day-to-day use, and the A15 Bionic chip powering it is a portable powerhouse.

Take the step up to the iPhone 14 Pro line and you’ll get an additional camera lens for macro photography, a more powerful A16 Bionic chip, a brighter display with the new Dynamic Island feature plus a heftier feeling stainless steel construction. It’s the best iPhone for those that want the latest and greatest technology from Apple.

The outgoing iPhone 13 models are still stellar phones, though, and you can pick up the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini from Apple for a while longer. If value is your main decision driver, the iPhone 12 is also still available from Apple and from carriers with some significant markdowns. Just because these are previous-gen devices, that doesn’t mean they might not be the best iPhone for you with their great displays, cameras and speedy performance making them great value for money. Plus, Apple is great at supporting its older devices with software updates for many years after they are released.

If you want the most affordable iPhone, you’re going to be looking at the iPhone SE (at least when it comes to brand new phones, that is). Updated in 2022, the third-generation iPhone SE maintains the overall design of the iPhone 8 which will be familiar to a lot of iPhone buyers. Don’t be fooled by its classic appearance, though, as inside it is powered by the beefy A15 Bionic chip found in the current flagship iPhone models. It also offers 5G connectivity and a 12-megapixel camera. For $429, it’s a lot of iPhone for not a lot of money.

What is the cheapest iPhone deal?
To buy outright in new condition, the iPhone SE is going to offer the cheapest iPhone deal. It starts at $429 contract-free and you can find carriers offering iPhone SE deals from as little as $11 per month making it a super affordable choice.

Apple also still sells the iPhone 12 from $600 meaning you can get a more modern-looking device with an edge-to-edge display and dual camera system for not much more, though it’s powered by the slower and older A14 Bionic chip.

When is the best time to snag an iPhone deal?
There are a few points in the year that make the most sense to buy an iPhone. The first is when a new model launches, usually in September each year. If you’re an early adopter that wants the best device as soon as possible, that’s when you’ll get it. It’s also a great time of year to buy if you’re looking for an iPhone deal as prices on older models drop to make room for the new devices.

Other times of year that make the most sense are during major sale seasons, including annual events like Labor Day sales, Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Apple tends not to participate in these events, at least not directly, but you can bet third-party retailers and carriers will be offering some of their best iPhone deals of the year at these times.

7 Siri Voice Commands You Probably Didn’t Know About on Your iPhone

Siri does a lot more than just tell you the weather.

Siri makes it easy to get more done on your iPhone, using only your voice. A simple command allows you to do something like quickly send a text message while you’re driving or convert liters to cups as you cook in the kitchen — all without your hands. But Siri is capable of so much more.

Apple doesn’t flaunt all the things Siri can do for you, and every year Apple adds more voice commands that sometimes fly under the radar. For example, did you know that with iOS 16, you can now restart your iPhone with just your voice? And that’s just the start.

If you want to learn more about what you can do with your voice, check out these seven hidden Siri voice commands you should be using.

Want to know more about the hidden features on your iPhone? Read about these iOS 16 hidden features that make your iPhone better and how to find all those saved Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone.

Quickly find saved passwords for websites and apps
You can save your usernames and passwords across all your Apple devices, including your iPhone, through the iCloud Keychain. On iOS, you can go to Settings > Passwords to view your saved passwords for your Apple ID, websites and applications — but you can access them quicker with Siri.

All you need to do is ask Siri “Show me the password for (app/website)” and you’ll be automatically redirected to that specific password page in your settings. Before you can view the password, you’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to gain access. From there, you can copy the username or password to your clipboard.

Restart your iPhone
If you’re experiencing a software issue, like an application continuously force-closing or a laggy operating system, you can often fix the problem with a quick restart of your iPhone. All you need to do is press down the home button plus either volume button for about a second and then slide to power off your device — but there’s an easier way to reboot.

Don’t miss: Your iPhone Has a New Siri Voice Command You’ll Want to Know About

As long as you’re running iOS 16, you can tell Siri “Restart my phone” and then say “Yes” when prompted to restart your device, without using your hands.

Turn off an annoying alarm
Your alarm is going off, but you’re either not near your iPhone or maybe you just can’t find it because it’s underneath your sheets or lost in your couch cushions. An iPhone alarm will persist for 15 minutes if you don’t cancel or snooze it, but there is a way to stop it with just your voice.

Even if your alarm is blaring loudly, you can tell Siri “Turn off my alarm” to silence it. In fact, you can even just say “Hey Siri” and that will also stop your alarm from ringing. Unlike the snooze feature, using either Siri command will permanently turn off the alarm.

Find family or friend using Find My
The Find My feature allows you track not only your Apple devices but also your friends, family and loved ones. If you’re tracking someone’s location via Find My, like your significant other or your sibling, you can use Siri to quickly check where they are at.

Ask Siri “Where is (contact name)?” and a small Find My window will appear at the top of the screen, showing you exactly where the person is. Siri will also announce how far they are and the approximate address of their location. If you tap the Find My window, you’ll be redirected to the Find My app, where you can contact the person, get directions to their location and more.

Translate a word or sentence
Besides the stand-alone app, Apple’s Translate feature is built into your iPhone, allowing you to quickly translate languages from pretty much anywhere on your device, including within your text messages, in your web browser and with Siri.

You can ask Siri to translate a single word or entire sentences with just your voice. For example, you can say “Translate ‘My head hurts. I think I’m going to sleep’ in Spanish” and Siri will then read out your sentence in the original language and then in the translated language. If you want to hear the translation again, you can hit the play button in the Translate window.

Currently, 17 languages, including Spanish and Chinese, are supported with Translate, but not all of them can be used with Siri.

Set a reminder based on your location
The Reminders app on your iPhone is a powerful productivity tool to help you remember what you need to do throughout the day, like make a phone call, send an email or make a purchase online. But you don’t need to be reminded of everything on your to-do list at all times, which is why you can use Siri to create a reminder notification based on your location.

For example, if you want to be reminded that you need to pay your internet bill when you get home, tell Siri “Remind me to pay my internet bill when I get home” and a reminder will be created. The next time you arrive home (which you can set in Contacts or Maps), the reminder should pop up on your phone. Besides work and home, you can set your location to somewhere like Target or a local park, but Siri will need you to verify the exact address.

Get directions back to your car
Parked at an airport and lost track of your car? It can be difficult to find your way back to your parked car, especially if you didn’t make a mental note and you’re in a large parking lot or garage with hundreds of other cars. Fortunately, your iPhone usually knows where you parked your car — all you need to do is ask Siri.

Say “Get my directions to my car” and Siri will open the Maps application and get you walking directions to where it thinks your car is parked. Your iPhone tracks which other devices your iPhone is connected to, like your car stereo, as well as your traveling speed, to estimate where your car is parked.

While you’re here, check out how to blur your home on Google Maps and how to find all those hidden Wi-Fi passwords on your Mac or Windows.

First Android 14 Developer Preview Is Now Available

The developer preview will be open for feedback until the end of March.

The first Android 14 developer preview has been released, Google announced on Wednesday. It offers hints on a slew of changes coming to the next version of Android, as well as a renewed focus on high-quality tablet apps.

Notable changes seen in this week’s release are smarter 200% font scaling for better accessibility (different sized text on the same page will now scale proportionally), passkey authentication support and the ability set different languages on different apps. The developer preview also includes changes to increase security, improve device battery life and make it easier for apps to download files over Wi-Fi only.

“With every release, our goal is to make it easier for you to optimize your app across all Android surfaces,” Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android, said in a statement. “Multi-device experiences are a big part of the future of Android.”

Google’s Android 14 release timeline indicates that the developer preview will remain open for feedback until the end of March, and its beta program should roll out in April. The developer preview is currently open to Pixel phones, but later previews will likely be available to more Android phones.

Consumers will have to wait a little bit longer for the final release, which is expected later this summer or fall, closely following the timeline for Android 13 for Pixel phones, which was released in August 2022.

People can expect to learn more about the coming updates for Android 14 at Google I/O in May.

Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

Microsoft has announced a new version of its search engine Bing, which incorporates the latest in artificial intelligence.

The overhaul deploys OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology, which has taken the world by storm since its launch last year.

The move is by far the biggest threat Google has seen to its dominance in web search – and marks the beginning of an AI arms race between the companies.

“The race starts today,” Microsoft boss Satya Nadella said.

Developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, ChatGPT uses deep learning techniques to generate human-like responses to search requests.

Mr Nadella said he thought it was poised to change the nature of online search – and interactions with many other software.

“This technology will reshape pretty much every software category that we know,” he said.

Bing will now respond to search queries with more detailed answers – not just links to websites.

Users are also able to chat with the bot to better tailor their queries. More contextual answers will be added on the right hand side of a search page.

The new Bing search engine will be live right away – with a limited number of searches for each person.

The announcement comes a day after Google revealed details of its own new chatbot, Bard.

Both companies are scrambling to get their products to market.

In a note to investors after the announcement, analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said he thought that Microsoft’s investment would “massively boost” the firm’s ability to compete.

“This is just the first step on the AI front … as [the] AI arms race takes place among Big Tech,” he said.

Microsoft, an early backer of San Francisco-based OpenAI, has been investing billions in artificial intelligence.

Last month it announced it was extending its collaboration with OpenAI in a “multiyear, multibillion dollar investment”.

It has since announced a new premium tier of Microsoft Teams – its messaging software – that will feature ChatGPT, including a feature that automatically generates notes and highlights of meetings.

Microsoft said Bing will use OpenAI technology that is even more advanced than the ChatGPT technology unveiled last year. The powers will also be incorporated into its Edge web browser.

Analysts say ChatGPT – which has been used by students to pass exams and tests – has the potential to be incredibly disruptive to multiple professions, including journalism.

But it has been criticised for confidently giving answers that are wrong. It also works on datasets that are generally scraped from 2021 or earlier – so many of its answers can feel outdated.

Microsoft’s ChatGPT Plans for Bing Could Surface on Tuesday

CEO Satya Nadella is hosting an event that will detail some “exciting projects.”

Microsoft is hosting an event Tuesday that’s expected to reveal the fusion of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT and Microsoft’s search engine Bing.

Invites to the event were sent last week, and attendees were told there will be news of “progress on a few exciting projects” from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The event starts at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET Tuesday at Microsoft’s Campus in Redmond, Washington.

Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, hinted strongly at such an announcement in a tweet Monday, saying that he’ll attend the event.

Microsoft hasn’t provided details on a possible integration of ChatGPT and Bing, but information about a new search experience appeared to leak last week. Images and details posted on social media documented a new interface, which may include a larger search box for chatting instead of for submitting search queries. A new Bing could potentially do research and handle tasks for people, according to leaked details. CNET has not confirmed the leaks.

Bing has long lived in the massive shadow of Google’s search engine. According to Statista, Google accounted for 84% of global desktop search in December, with Bing coming in second at 9%. But integration with ChatGPT could be a game changer.

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since artificial intelligence developer OpenAI released it in late November. Tens of millions of people have raced to sign up and test its chops. The AI doesn’t know anything per se but can recognize patterns in text harvested from the internet, allowing it to fully answer questions from people. It can create bedtime stories, write poems, make diet plans, help you lower bills, get you out of tickets — and complete homework assignments such as essays, a feature that has struck fear in the hearts of teachers.

Microsoft, which had already invested in the OpenAI and created a partnership years ago, pledged to invest billions of more dollars into the company in January in order to build new features.

Microsoft’s announcement of the event came shortly after Google revealed on Monday its own AI chatbot called Bard. Google said its chatbot will integrate with its search engine and use the AI to break down complex information for users.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.

iOS 16.3: Try These New iPhone Features Now

Additional security options, new ways to use emergency SOS via satellite and more just landed on your iPhone.

Apple released iOS 16.3 in January, and the update includes some bug fixes and security updates to make your iPhone run smoother. The update also brings some useful new features to your iPhone, like security keys and an update to emergency SOS via satellite.

The iOS 16.3 update was released alongside updates for other Apple software, too, like iPadOS, Safari and previous versions of iOS. The latest iOS update arrived about a month after the release of iOS 16.2.

Here are the new features landing on your iPhone with iOS 16.3.

Security keys come to Apple ID
Users can now use third-party security keys instead of two-factor authentication for their Apple ID.

Security keys are a lot like keys to your home. You still use passwords, but this extra layer of security can help protect you against phishing scams and hackers.

Security Keys screen in iOS 16.3 beta
Security keys add more protection to your device.

Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
“Hardware security keys are very, very secure,” Diya Jolly, chief product officer of authentication service company Okta, told CNET’s Stephen Shankland.

Apple’s security keys feature only works with FIDO Alliance-certified security keys.

Support for the second-gen HomePod
Apple’s iOS 16.3 software will support the second-generation HomePod, which is set to be released on Feb. 3 for $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple announced the release of the new HomePod four days before the latest iOS software was made available.

New Unity wallpaper for Black History Month
A green, black and red wallpaper
Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
The latest iOS update includes a new iPhone wallpaper as part of Apple’s Black Unity Collection. The collection celebrates Black History Month with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic watch face and the new iPhone wallpaper. Apple also plans to release a selection of Black History Month content for Apple TV, Fitness Plus, Music, Maps, Books, Podcasts and the App Store as part of the collection.

New ways to use Emergency SOS via satellite
Emergency SOS via satellite was introduced at Apple’s event in September. In iOS 16.3, the Call with Hold option has been replaced with Call with Hold and Release. If you enable Call with Hold and Release, you can hold the side button and a volume button to initiate a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you release the buttons and your iPhone will call emergency services on its own. Before with Call with Hold, pressing the side button and a volume button would first bring up the Emergency SOS call slider. If you continued to hold the buttons, a countdown started and an alarm would go off. After the countdown ended, your phone would make an emergency call.

There’s also an option to Call Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this option, when you try to make an emergency SOS call, your phone won’t start flashing or making an alarm sound.

Here is the list of new features and changes included in iOS 16.3.

New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month.
Security Keys for Apple ID allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process on new devices.
Support for HomePod (second generation).
Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls.
Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards.
Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen.
Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status.
Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests
Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly.