iPhone 18 Pro Problems: Face ID Freezes, AT&T Signal Drops, and Fading Paint — What's Fixed and What's Not

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have some issues that need to be talked about. This includes the face ID freeze bug and cellular problems on AT&T. Keep reading for more details.

credit: Apple

First, a quick clarification: there is no standard iPhone 18 on store shelves right now, and there is no "iPhone 18 Plus" either. Apple split up this year's launch. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale September 18, 2026, while the regular iPhone 18 is not expected until around March 2027.

That means every one of the iPhone 18 problems owners are talking about right now comes from the Pro models, and there have been plenty. Multiple outlets are calling this Apple's most troubled launch in years. Here are the most prevalent issues, which ones are fixed, and what to do if your phone is affected.

The Face ID Freeze Bug (Fixed)

The most widely confirmed problem was a freeze-and-restart bug tied to Face ID. When a Face ID scan failed, particularly while opening Face ID-protected apps, some iPhone 18 Pro units would lock up completely, stop responding to touch, and force a restart.

The culprit appears to be the redesigned under-display Face ID system. Apple shrank the Dynamic Island and moved the infrared camera beneath the display, an engineering first for this generation, and the software handling failed scans had a bug that could wedge the whole phone.

The good news: Apple acknowledged the problem quickly and shipped a fix. The iOS 27.0.1 update, released September 28, specifically addressed restarts triggered by failed Face ID authentication. If you are still seeing this behavior, the first step is to check for the update in Settings, then General, then Software Update. Some owners who assumed their hardware was defective swapped phones at Apple Stores unnecessarily; for this bug, the software patch was the real fix.

The AT&T Cellular Problem (Ongoing and Serious)

The most alarming unresolved issue affects iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T. Affected phones cannot reliably make or receive calls, texts arrive extremely slowly, and the phone randomly drops service and falls into SOS mode, even while showing full bars of 5G.

This one escalated fast. AT&T sent text messages directly to customers warning that some phones "may be unable to complete calls/text/data, including to 911," and strongly advised updating to iOS 27.0.1 immediately. Apple itself has now acknowledged the issue.

Here is the troubling part: Apple's release notes for iOS 27.0.1 do not mention this problem, and many affected users report that installing the update does not fix it. The US version of the iPhone 18 Pro is reportedly the only model using a Qualcomm modem this generation, making the modem a prime suspect. If your Pro Max is dropping to SOS on AT&T, contact the carrier or Apple directly, since the software update alone may not resolve it.

Paint Fading and Camera Ring Discoloration

The most visible complaint is cosmetic but hard to ignore on a $1,199 phone. Owners report that the finish is fading or peeling, especially on burgundy models, and a lighter, pinkish ring is appearing around the rear camera lenses.

The discoloration reports started on Reddit and spread quickly. Burgundy and Black models show the ring around the camera housing; Silver and Glacier owners have not reported it so far. The marks do not wipe off, and at least one owner noted that Apple Store display units show the same ring, suggesting it is not limited to a bad batch.

Apple has not commented publicly on the finish problems. Some owners say Apple offered replacements when they asked, while others have returned their phones for refunds. The likely culprit is the colored coating on the phone's aluminum body; the iPhone 18 Pro uses the same aluminum alloy as the iPhone 17 Pro, which had similar chipping and fading complaints. If your phone's finish is degrading within weeks, document it with photos and contact Apple support, since other owners have already received replacements.

Speaker Crackling and Other Early Reports

A smaller but persistent group of owners reports a strange crackling sound from the speaker. What makes this one notable is that some customers who exchanged their phones found the same crackling on the replacement units, which points away from a one-off defect.

Other scattered reports include green or pink lines appearing on the display, though the legitimacy of those reports has been questioned, and a touchscreen freeze triggered by opening Notification Center and Control Center together. That last one was also fixed in iOS 27.0.1, and it affected other iPhone models too, which suggests a broader iOS 27 software issue rather than iPhone 18 Pro hardware.

What To Do If Your iPhone 18 Pro Has These Problems

If you own one of the new Pro models, here is the practical checklist. First, install iOS 27.0.1 if you have not already; it resolves the Face ID freezes and the Notification Center touchscreen lockup. Second, if you are on AT&T and your Pro Max is dropping calls or showing SOS, do not assume the update fixed it, contact AT&T or Apple, since this issue appears to need more than a software patch.

Third, for paint fading or the camera ring discoloration, photograph the problem and reach out to Apple support sooner rather than later. Owners are getting replacements and refunds, but inventory has been tight, with some buyers told to wait until mid-October. And if you are still deciding whether to buy, it may be worth waiting to see whether Apple publicly addresses the finish issues before spending four figures on a phone that could fade within weeks.

Early-adopter glitches are normal for any new smartphone issues cycle, and most get ironed out within a month or two. But between an acknowledged cellular defect, a cosmetic problem Apple will not discuss, and a launch some outlets are calling the most problematic in years, the iPhone 18 Pro generation is off to a rockier start than Apple would like.

Apple Just Raised Mac and iPad Prices — Found Out the Reason Why

Photo via Wikimedia Commons
    
October 2026 just got expensive for Apple shoppers. If you have been holding out for a new MacBook or iPad, your procrastination just cost you real money — because this month Apple quietly pushed through a sweeping Mac price increase, lifting the cost of Macs and iPads around the world.

The reason is not tariffs, inflation, or a fancier chip inside the box — it is artificial intelligence. AI data centers are consuming memory and storage chips at a pace the industry has never seen, and the shockwave has finally reached your shopping cart. What makes this moment remarkable is not just the size of the increase, but Apple's own admission about it — and what it hints is still coming.

Apple Mac Price Increase 2026: The New Prices, Model by Model

Let us start with the numbers, because they are stark. Apple's new MacBook Neo — the company's budget laptop — jumps from $599 to $699. The MacBook Air, long the default recommendation for students and everyday users, climbs from $1,099 to $1,299. The 14-inch MacBook Pro rises from $1,699 to $1,999.

That is a $100 increase on the entry-level machine, a $200 jump on the Air, and a $300 leap on the Pro. Across the lineup, some models are now 20 to 42 percent more expensive than they were a week ago. For a company that usually nudges prices by fifty dollars here and there, these are seismic moves.

iPad Price Hike: iPad Pro and iPad Air Cost More Too

The iPad price hike reached tablets as well. The 11-inch iPad Pro now starts at $1,199, up from $999 — a $200 increase on Apple's flagship tablet. The iPad Air moves from $599 to $749, a $150 climb that makes the midrange tablet a noticeably tougher sell.

Notably absent from this round: the iPhone. Apple's most important product kept its pricing this time, but analysts widely expect iPhone price increases to follow, with Pro models the most likely candidates. If you were planning an upgrade cycle that includes a new phone, the clock may already be ticking.

Memory Chip Shortage: Why AI Is Swallowing the World's Memory

So why is this happening? In short, a memory chip shortage unlike anything the industry has faced. The memory inside your MacBook and iPad — DRAM and NAND flash — is suddenly far more expensive to buy, because someone else is buying it first: AI data centers.

Apple blamed the increases on an unprecedented surge in memory and storage chip costs, saying it had "never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly." The company said it had shielded customers from rising costs until now — but had finally reached the point where raising prices was unavoidable.

AI Data Center Chip Demand Is Reshaping the Whole Supply Chain

Here is the chain reaction. AI data centers are buying up memory chips at extraordinary rates to feed the servers training and running large AI models. The AI chips at the heart of those servers need enormous amounts of high-bandwidth memory, and chipmakers like Micron are prioritizing those AI customers — think Nvidia and the giant cloud builders — because that is where demand, and profit margins, are exploding.

That leaves less supply for consumer electronics, and basic economics takes over. By some accounts, DRAM prices have nearly doubled — up almost 100 percent — as data center orders crowd out everyone else. When the memory inside a MacBook costs far more than it did a year ago, Apple either eats the difference or passes it on. With the new prices taking effect on October 1, 2026, it chose the latter.

Micron Chip Shortage 2028: Don't Expect Relief Anytime Soon

Now for the part Apple would probably rather you not dwell on: this may be just the beginning. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has said supply will not catch up with demand until 2028 — and he expects conditions to be even tighter in 2027 and 2028 than they are today.

Read that again: tighter, not looser. If memory costs keep climbing, more price hikes are likely coming — not just from Apple, but across the whole industry. The increase you see today could look like a bargain compared with what is on the horizon. Keep scrolling, because what this means for your own buying plans matters more than the sticker shock.

The Fine Print: 
AppleCare Now Costs a Bit More Too

Buried in the announcements was one more increase: AppleCare. AppleCare+ for Mac and iPad went up by $0.50 per month — about $5 per year. Existing subscriptions are unaffected, so if you are already covered, your rate is locked in. New buyers, though, will pay slightly more for peace of mind.

Should You Buy a Mac or iPad Now? Smart Moves Before Prices Climb Again

So what should you actually do? If you are in the market for a Mac or iPad, buying sooner rather than later may save you real money — especially with 2027 and 2028 expected to bring even tighter supply. Prices are unlikely to drift back down while memory costs keep rising.

Still, do not panic-buy. Ask yourself whether you genuinely need the upgrade now. If your current machine still does the job, waiting is a legitimate strategy. And take a hard look at refurbished or older models, which are unaffected by the hike and can be hundreds of dollars cheaper for nearly the same experience.

One more thought for the tech news watchers: this story is bigger than Apple. When the world's most supply-chain-savvy company can no longer absorb component costs, every other manufacturer is feeling the same squeeze. Expect more announcements, more increases — and one more reason to buy before the next one lands.

Find Out if You are Entitled to Settlement Money From Apple Class Action Lawsuit Involving Siri 'Recording Without Consent'

Per U.S. District Court case Lopez v. Apple Inc., if you owned or purchased a Siri enabled device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, you should read this notice as it may impact your legal rights.

Class Action Lawsuit against Apple Inc. related to Siri

Have you ever noticed a smart device activate without you saying the wake word?

It happens. One person filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. after discovering that Siri recorded their private conversations without consent.

Apple Agrees to Pay Settlement in U.S. District Court Case

Here's what happened:

Apple agreed to pay out a class action settlement on Dec. 31, 2024, due to a lawsuit filed by California resident Funiko Lopez, who claimed in the lawsuit that "Siri conducted unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals' confidential communications with their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications."

The court case Lopez v. Apple Inc. states:

"Apple intentionally, willfully, and knowingly violated consumers' privacy rights, including within the sanctity of consumers' own homes where they have the greatest expectation of privacy...Plaintiffs and Class Members would not have bought their Siri Devices or would have paid less for them, if they had known Apple was intercepting, recording, disclosing, and otherwise misusing their conversations without consent or authorization."

Apple agreed to the settlement on Dec. 31, 2024, but "denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that [they] did anything improper or unlawful."

Who is Eligible to File a Claim in the Class Action Lawsuit?

Anyone in the U.S. who owned or purchased an Apple device between September 17, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and enabled Siri during that time period is eligible to file a claim before July 2, 2025.

You would receive a notice in the mail or by email with a Claimant ID Code and Confirmation Code. You would take this information from your notice and go to this page online to submit your information.

Below is a screenshot of the Submit Claim page.

Lopez v. Apple Inc. Submit Claim page

Additional Details from Lopez v. Apple Inc. Class Action Lawsuit

The official website of the class action lawsuit states:

• A settlement has been reached with Apple Inc. (“Apple”) in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV (“Siri Device/Devices”) whose confidential or private communications were allegedly obtained by Apple and/or shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation.  Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful.
• The Settlement provides for a $95 million fund for payments to Settlement Class Members who are individual current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri Device, who reside in the United States or its territories, and whose confidential communications were obtained by Apple and/or were shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation.  The Settlement Class excludes Apple; any entity in which Apple has a controlling interest; Apple’s directors, officers, and employees; Apple’s legal representatives, successors, and assigns.  Also excluded from the Settlement Class are all judicial officers assigned to this case as well as their staff and immediate families.  The Class Period is September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024. 
• If you believe you are a Settlement Class Member, you must submit a valid Claim Form to get a payment from the Settlement. Settlement Class Members may submit claims for up to five Siri Devices on which they claim to have experienced an unintended Siri activation during a conversation intended to be confidential or private.  Settlement Class Members who submit valid claims shall receive a pro rata portion of the Net Settlement Amount for a Class Payment of up to a cap of $20 per Siri Device. The amount available to Settlement Class Members will increase or decrease pro rata depending on the total number of valid claims submitted, and Siri Devices claimed.   Depending on the total number of valid claims, this Plan of Allocation is subject to modification by agreement of the Parties without further notice to Settlement Class Members, provided any such modification is approved by the Court. The final amount will not be known until all claims are evaluated.  Please see the information in the Notice concerning payments.
• If you received an email or postcard with a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code notifying you about the Settlement, use these codes when making a claim.   If you did not receive an email or postcard about the Settlement and don’t have these codes but believe you are a member of the Settlement Class, you may still make a claim by going to the Submit a Claim page to make a claim and following the instruction on how to submit a Claim Form.
• You can also opt out of or object to the Settlement.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Lag Issues Run Deep Down to the Core of Apple Intelligence

People that have bought the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are experiencing issues with the performance of Siri and the iOS 16 operating system, saying that it is "lagging." Some users have weighed in on the Apple Community forum about problems they are experiencing.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Siri Becomes 'Deeply Integrated' into Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple shared from its website how integrated Siri is with its latest models on its website that with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max:

"Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience and gets a brand-new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when active. With richer language-understanding capabilities, communicating with Siri is more natural and flexible. Siri follows along when users stumble over their words, and maintains context from one request to the next. Users can type to Siri at any time, and switch fluidly between text and voice as they accelerate everyday tasks. Siri also now has extensive product knowledge to answer thousands of questions about features on iPhone and other Apple devices."

Is Apple Intelligence Slowing Down the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

Apple promotes Apple Intelligence on the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max as being something fancy that delivers speed based on their description below.

 Apple shared from its website the following about Apple Intelligence:

"Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 lineup harnesses the power of Apple silicon and Apple-built generative models to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. Apple Intelligence maintains the privacy and security of user data with Private Cloud Compute. This groundbreaking approach provides the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers — an extraordinary step forward for privacy in artificial intelligence. Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update, with the first set of features rolling out next month in U.S. English for most regions around the world."

Apple Intelligence on the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max may not deliver the speed until some of the bugs are worked out of the software. Some iPhone owners are experiencing the opposite of what Apple is describing. Keep reading to see what some people are experiencing lag with slow processing speed.

Why is Apple Intelligence Lagging for iPhone 16 Pro Max? 

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max users have been disappointed with the performance of their new phones.

Antoni_k posted a message on the Apple Community website about issues he is having with his new iPhone 16 Pro Max.

He wrote: 

"I recently bought an iPhone 16 Pro Max and it is almost impossible to use. When I want to take a picture the phone constantly goes back to lock or appears a circle of death. In addition, when I want to search for something that starts with the letter "s" in "Siri suggestion" my iPhone but not only because my iPad also starts to lag. IOS 16 is currently impossible to use smoothly and effectively. Should I do something about my iPhone cameras or wait for the next update?"

Another iPhone 16 Pro Max user 'chrisbettura' posted on the community forum how disappointed he is with the iPhone 16 Pro Max with this response:

"AMEN! My iPhone 14 Pro was way faster, Siri dictation is so dang slow. I’m losing my mind. I feel like I’ve been warped back to the iPhone 3G.!! All that money for a phone that’s slower and lags worse than models that came out 15 years ago, are you kidding me? This is what I was waiting for. Shame on you, Apple., also not cool to play tricks on everybody regarding Apple Intelligence, knowing that it was not available, but to to the phone as the key reason to go out and buy one.

I have owned every single iPhone since the very first one and have been a loyal Apple owner for all products since it’s inception, if that age is me, oh well, but I’m very disappointed in the performance of this phone!!!"

What do you think? Do you own an iPhone 16 Max Pro? Are you experiencing any of these issues?

If so, please share your experience in the comments.

Google and Apple Have a 'Secret Deal' That Keeps Google Search as the Default Search Engine: How to Change this on Your iPhone

Google and Apple have a secret deal that affects iPhone users. Google pays Apple billions of dollars every year to be the default search engine on the iPhone. This secret agreement helps Google dominate the online search market and make more money from advertising. The money Google pays helps Apple fund its product development and innovation.

iPhone users: Have you ever wondered why Google Search is the default search engine on the iPhone?

That's because they have a secret deal.

Google pays Apple billions each year to keep it the default search engine.

Business Insider reported that Google paid Apple up to $15 billion in their secret deal, which is also why Apple walked away from meetings to potentially make DuckDuckGo a default search engine on Apple products. This amount would account for about one-fifth of Apple's annual income worldwide.

CNBC reported that Google paid multiple companies $26.3 billion in 2021 to keep Google Search as the default search engine on mobile phones and web browsers. This number includes the amount it paid to Apple.

Not everyone wants Google to be their default search engine.

It is public knowledge that Google tracks online behavior, uses personal data, and influences search results. Other search engines offer more privacy, security, and even social good.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020. The lawsuit claims Google has unlawfully maintained its monopoly in the online search market by entering into exclusive agreements with Apple and other device makers to prevent them from using other search engines. The lawsuit claims Apple received between $8 to $15 billion.

The DOJ complaint stated:

“Google pays billions of dollars each year to distributors—including popular-device manufacturers such as Apple, LG, Motorola, and Samsung; major U.S. wireless carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon; and browser developers such as Mozilla, Opera, and UCWeb—to secure default status for its general search engine and, in many cases, to specifically prohibit Google’s counterparties from dealing with Google’s competitors.”

How to Change the Default Search Engine on Your iPhone

Here’s how you can change Google Search from your default on your iPhone it in a few steps:

• Go to Settings on your iPhone and tap Safari
• Tap Search Engine
• Choose the search engine you want to use from the list. You can choose to stick with Google or go with Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia
• Close the Settings app and open Safari. You will see that your new search engine is now the default

Sources:

Feiner, Lauren. "Google paid $26 billion in 2021 to become the default search engine on browsers and phones." CNBC. 27 October 2023.

Apple iPhone 13 Issues and Problems Reported

iPhone 13 issues and problems

iPhone 13 Users are reporting Touchscreen issues

Many iPhone 13 users have reported intermittent touch issues on their brand new device, where it is unresponsive to touch, after the latest iOS 15 update that arrived in late September, resulting in some parts of the touchscreen not responding at all. Most reports of this issue are directly affecting the iPhone 13.

Source: News.com.au

Apple iPhone ProMotion fast refresh rates not working

Problem: The ProMotion displays on both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max were designed to increase their refresh rate up to 120 Hz when the experience calls for a smoother frame rate. But many iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max users have reported that some third-party apps are not utilizing the 120 Hz faster refresh rate. One app, in particular, is the Apollo Reddit app (9to5Mac report). It is important to know that some apps use a combination of 60 Hz refresh rate for animations and 120 Hz for scrolling and full-screen transitions.

Solution: App makers need to flag their software with a declaration that they can support 120 Hz. Apple plans to make this a requirement to app developers. Apple then plans to fix a bug related to their Core Animation tools, which will resolve an issue with animations. Apple plans to fix this with a software update.

Did you know?

The company TechInsights disassembled an iPhone 13 Pro and estimated that it costs around $570 USD to manufacture the iPhone 13 Pro based on the hardware inside.

iPhone X Error: iPhone Activation Server Temporarily Unavailable

iPhone X 10th Anniversary Edition

Users Cannot Activate the iPhone X: Server Temporarily Unavailable

Numerous reports indicate that customers that purchased the new iPhone X are having trouble activating their phones. MSN reports that this is affecting AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon users.

The error message that they are receiving is: "The activation server is temporarily unavailable."

There is an Apple discussion board for this issue. On there it states there a user that reported getting this message:

"Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a couple of minutes. If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at: apple.com/support."

See the following message from @dasmart on Twitter:

Next is what Apple suggests if you are experiencing this issue on your iPhone X. Keep in mind this is a standard type of troubleshoot message, much like "rebooting your PC" or "power cycling your modem"

More importantly, the true solution to this problem (other than contacting Apple Support) is to wait. Once Apple is aware of the issue, they work hard to resolve the issue, and will eventually get the server up and running again. They do not want dissatisfied customers leaving bad feedback on social media.

Let's see what the other blogs are saying.

iGeeksBlog suggests doing the following:
1. Wait
2. Restart
3. Lock/Unlock SIM Status
4. Wifi/Network Issues
5. iTunes
6. Restore
7. Talk to your Carrier/Apple Care
Source: iGeeksblog

Same Message Received on Older iPhones 

Apple Stack Exchange revealed a similar message to a user, that reported a problem 4 years ago. They state:

"My iPhone 5 that has been running iOS 7 since beta 1 suddenly wants to be activated. When locked, it shows me my wallpaper. After sliding to unlock, it asks for my passcode. When I enter it, it takes me straight to the 'Activate iPhone' page - like it wants to be set up."

The message that this user received was the following:
"Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a couple of minutes."

Apple Stack Exchange Identifies the Problem for the iPhone 5

The two major causes of this are:
1. Network related - change the network used to connect
2. iOS related - something is amiss with the code signing / provisioning

The most likely cause of software is a beta. Apple disables the iOS betas soon after the release happens. If you never manually installed the official release, this can happen. If not, consider backing up your device after checking a couple networks and reinstalling.

iPhone 5 will stop working on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 if you don't update the Software

Digital Trends reports that the iPhone 5 will stop working on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 if you do not update its software with the latest iOS update.

Other older models, such as the iPhone 4, iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPad 3rd generation devices will also be affected and will need to be updated also.

Google Chrome crash, Safari Glitch

Google Chrome is cracked

Solutions to Google Chrome Crashing

Google Chrome looks cracked above, doesn't it? Well it is.

If you are experiencing Google Chrome crashes, you are not alone. The truth is out there.

The three most common fixes for when Google Chrome crashes is:

1. Restart Google Chrome
2. Restart your device
3. Close the other tabs
4. Disable problematic plugins (see screenshot on right)
5. If all else fails, reset the settings (see screenshot below)

Apple iOS Safari browser Glitch Crash Boom!

On January 27, 2016 Safari browser, by Apple, kept crashing. It was even unavailable for some worldwide users on Wednesday. Everyone was wondering: "Why?"

There is a perfect good explanation for this, isn't there?

No. Apple has declined to comment as to the details of why their beloved browser has crashed. They will not even provide any hints as to why the Safari browser has failed millions of people worldwide.

Apple calls Safari problems a minor Glitch

This "glitch" - as Apple called it, lasted approximately 7 hours. Apple claimed that the problem was fixed about 10:45 p.m. Eastern standard time, but they did not say why the Safari glitch caused such an issue for users worldwide.

People in Apple's support forums believe that the Safari glitch was caused by the Safari's search suggestions box. They surmised that typing anything into the box caused the app to crash on the Apple iPhone. They temporary disabled this feature in the settings, but had to shut down the servers to do so.

Some people wonder if this Safari glitch had anything to do with the latest upgrade of the iOS system that took place earlier in the week.

How to Solve your Browser Problems

There is one way to solve your Google Chrome and Apple Safari problems: Don't use either.

There are other browsers that you can use, instead of Google Chrome and Apple Safari.

You could use Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, as an alternative. Although one should point out that Mozilla Firefox uses more of your computer's resources to run than most other browsers. That doesn't mean that it isn't good, it just means, be mindful of your CPU working overtime to run your online browser.

Microsoft Edge Not Really Letting you Browse inPrivate

In 2010, Stanford analysts found that private perusing modes in Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer were powerless against neighborhood aggressors through various hacker attackers.

When you use inPrivate browsing, Internet Edge browser still creates data on the hard drive disk connected to your browsing activities. The cached files are still stored in the Temporary Internet files sub-directories.

The only thing it really does as advertised, is conceal a user's browser history from the user interface, and from the common tools.

Mozilla Firefox taking a bite out of Internet Explorer

Apple Pay and iPhone 6 Utilizes Near Field Communication (NFC)

iPhone 6 has near field communication feature

Apple CEO Tim Cook made the iPhone 6 announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014

The Apple iPhone 6 uses near field communication, or NFC, allowing iPhone users to use the proprietary Apple Pay to buy things with their phone, rather than have to pull out a real wallet. The actual NFC sensor is located at the top of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, if you keep reading, it is suggested that the Apple Watch may also contain a near field communication sensor, which allows all versions of the iPhone 5 to be NFC capable. So don't throw out your iPhone 5 just yet. Just do the smart thing, and read a review on the iPhone 6.

Major Credit Card Companies are on Board with Apple Pay NFC

The four biggest American credit cards are all on board to work with Apple Pay for near field communication payments. These are: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. These credit cards can be added to one's iPhone Passbook app, as easily as taking a picture of the front. After you do this, your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus is NFC ready.

Review: If the iPhone 6 Plus is Lost or Stolen...

If you lose your iPhone, there is no need for concern. By using the Find My iPhone service, you can easily deactivate your NFC payments feature. A good iPhone 6 review pointed this out.

How does Apple Pay on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus work?

When you check out with Apple Pay, your iPhone sends a one-time payment authorization number, plus a security code.

Is Apple Pay a secure form of near field communication payment?

Yes. With Apple Pay, the user must press their finger onto the iPhone 6 or Apple Watch fingerprint sensor to authorize a transaction.

Apple Users with Previous iPhone Models Concerned about Apple Pay 

Are you worried that your iPhone won't be able to do Apple Pay?

Apple says that the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, and iPhone 5C will be able to use Apple Pay, with one caveat - you must first buy an Apple Watch. (Source: 9TO5Mac review article)

So, either way, Apple is going to get you to buy a product if you want to pay with NFC. You can buy an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or an Apple Watch. It's your choice.

Apple iPhone 11 Error Messages

iPhone 11 Error: "Important Display Message"

Please be aware, the iPhone 11 will display an error message that says, "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display" if the screen has been replace with non-genuine parts.

Apple says: "Only technician who have completed Apple service training and who use Apple genuine parts should replace iPhone displays."

Repairs are becoming increasingly difficult by third-party repair shops.

iPhone 11 error message

"This accessory may not be supported" iPhone error

Have you received the following error message when charging your iPhone:

“This accessory may not be supported.”

This message has been seen by millions of iPhone owners that buy a third-party phone charger. This could include car kits for charging iPhones that are not official Apple products.

Third-party iPhone charging cords could trigger the error message in your iPhone: “This accessory may not be supported.”

iPhone USB charger

Keep in mind that it has been reported that even after receiving this error message, a person can still charge their iPhone successfully.

Troubleshooting with a Third-Party iPhone Power Cord

It has also been reported that an iPhone charger saying the error message “This accessory may not be supported” may not charge your iPhone properly. In fact, it may show the lightning bolt next to your battery on your iPhone screen, but you could be losing battery life despite it showing that it is charging.

In this case, you would need to unplug the third-party iPhone charger and attempt to plug it in to actually get it to charge. This has happened as well. Simply unplugging the USB from the computer, and replugging it in can get the iPhone to start charging properly.

Should I Buy an official Apple Power Cord or a Third-party charger?

It is always best to buy brand-sponsored accessories because your success rate will be much higher. However, it is understandable that one doesn’t want to pay a lot of money for Apple accessories. Hence, the third-party iPhone USB cord.

If you buy an iPhone USB cord from a third-party, it is recommended that you do some research, and read customer reviews to see if there are any compatibility flaws with the product.

Image credit: Flickr Creative Commons; by IntelFreePress

Why iPhone Apps Request Access to Use Microphone in iOS 7

Adobe AIR would like access to your iPhone microphone

In the new iOS 7, Apple added a permission request for apps that want to use the microphone.

Why do apps need to use the microphone?
Why do apps want to use the microphone?
Why do apps need to access my iPhone microphone?
Why do apps invade on my privacy by accessing the microphone?

Those are excellent questions.

Some Apple iPhone Apps That Request to Use the Microphone:

1. Adobe AIR
2. Google Maps
3. Waze
4. Blitz Brigade 
5. Shazam
6. Skype
7. Snapchat
8. YouTube
9. Discovery
10. Songpop
11. Square (credit card reader)

Is There a Logical Reason for Requesting Microphone Access?

Some Apple apps would seem more logical to need microphone access than others. If you need sound input in order to execute commands, it would seem logical. For other apps that have no sound input built into the functionality, granting access to the iPhone microphone seems rather invasive to one's privacy.

If the app does not deal with sound input for executing a command within the app, there is a possibility that it requests microphone access because the developer was leaving the microphone access open on purpose for future functionality. If that isn't the case, it could be asking because the developer did not turn off this feature in error, or lastly, because an app really wants to collect sound data from you.

One app developer, Color (in a 2011 article), stated that it used the microphone to find out when several poeple were in a room to gather "social" data. 

Are you okay with that?

Apple iOS 7 now asks your permission before granting apps access to your microphone. Thank you iOS 7, for respecting our privacy.

How to Manually Disable iPhone Apps From Using Your Microphone

Go to Settings -> Privacy -> Microphone. In this settings screen, you can go through each app and turn off the microphone access to any app that should not need to access your iPhone microphone.

Paranoid People Beware

If you are a paranoid person, then the only way to be sure that your iPhone (or smartphone) isn't spying on you is to turn it off completely when you are not using it. This may seem a little extreme, but it is really the only way you can be guaranteed that your privacy is respected.

Read more about the iPhone in the following blog post:

iPhone error message: This accessory may not be supported.

 

Get Adobe Flash on iPhone Without Jailbreak

iPhone with Adobe Flash: Don't Jailbreak Me

Everybody wants to know how to get Adobe Flash for their Apple iPhone.

I tried playing a Facebook game on my iPhone, but received a message that I first needed to download Adobe Flash before I could play it. What a bummer!

Can my Apple iPhone Run Flash Without a Jailbreak?

Unfortunately, the main methods to get flash on your iPhone described online involve jailbreaking your iPhone. On top of that, it is not Adobe Flash, but a custom version called Frash, (which is Flash 10.1) by Comex.

Frash can be downloaded here, but again, your phone must be jailbroken first.

Disclaimer: Z.Love's Entertainment Blog does not endorse jailbreaking iPhones.

Is there a way to download Adobe Flash without jailbreaking your iPhone?

Answer: Yes. There is a way to run flash on the iPhone via two apps. One of them works well.

Photon Flash Player icon

Photon Flash Player for the iPhone costs $3.99 in the App Store. This app has an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars for satisfied users.

Z.Love's Blog Recommends Photon Flash Player [and was not paid to say this].

Skyfire Web Browser also claims to run flash. It costs $2.99 in the App Store, but has many bad reviews from people that say "do not waste your money on this."

The Apple iPhone in a World Without Adobe Flash

Apparently, Apple predicted that they would rule the future -- a future without Adobe Flash. Until Adobe Flash is willing to fork over big bucks, they will have to stick with other smart phones. I would argue that the iPhone needs to be smarter.

Many blogs and websites on this very subject argue that flash is mainly used in banner ads, and perhaps our online experience (via an iPhone) is better without having to see all the flash-based ads in cyberspace.

Is Apple justified in not allowing Adobe Flash on their precious iPhone?

I think it was just a power play. "Let's Keep This Thing Proprietary and Make Tons of Money" sort of thing.

Image credit: Flickr Creative Commons; by William Hook

Announcement: Samsung's New TV to Compete with Apple in 2013

Samsung's new portrait transparent TV (not yet released)

Samsung is attempting to pre-empt Apple by releasing a portrait-style TV that boasts a transparent background.

Our world continues to move the way of Ray Bradbury’s book, “Fahrenheit 451,” where TV’s become such an important part of the lifestyle, that they take up entire walls (and people cannot unglue themselves from it long enough to do anything).

Samsung posted the above picture on their blog, Samsung Tomorrow. People are speculating what the picture is actually insinuating. I’ll leave it up to you to decide for yourself.

Will Samsung become the next Apple in terms of high-tech electronics?

Some could say that Samsung is already doing a good job competing.

You may already know that Samsung Galaxy III smartphones outsold the iPhone in Q3 sales in 2012.

Samsung is trying to make waves before Apple releases the Apple TV that is supposed to shake up the television industry. According to the Mac Observer, Tim Cook went on record about seriously moving Apple into the television market.

If Apple does release TV’s in 2013, they will have to go head-to-head with Samsung in a battle of technology between two electronic giants.

You may already know that Samsung Galaxy III smartphones outsold the iPhone in Q3 sales in 2012.

Are you ready to upgrade to a portrait–shaped transparent TV?

The world has not yet fully embraced the 3D TV yet. What makes Samsung think that their new TV will be successful?

There are too many questions, and Samsung has yet to make an official announcement (in words) what their latest TV will do, and why it is far superior to an Apple TV.

It sounds like Mac vs. PC all over again, but this time in the TV market. 2013 is going to be a big year.

The Immortality App: Not Found in the iStore



Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, holding an iPad.

 Looking for the immortality app?  You might have trouble finding it in the iStore...because it isn't sold there.

Apple CEO, Steve Jobs (above), temporarily overcame pancreatic cancer in recent years, but since passed away on October 5th, 2011. He will be missed as the visionary for Apple.
Have you ever searched for something that was unachievable, but thought that if attained, it would be that one "thing" that your life is currently lacking?  Thinking that the newest gadget of technology surely is the must-have item to make my life better.  If you have the money, why not buy it, right?  It's very easy to shrug off purchases of gizmos because they are justified for something or other.  I'm quite sure I'm guilty of it.  And I know I've looked back and regretted wasting my money after blowing an incredible amount of time with my new object, rather than spending it with loved ones and developing relationships.  Even history tells a story of a man who sought out riches and immortality, but instead only found Florida.

History of the Search for the Fountain of Youth

According to history, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon discovered (present-day) Florida, while searching for the Fountain of Youth.  Juan Ponce de Leon heard the story of this fabled legend from the natives of Puerto Rico. The natives called this land "Bemini", meaning land to the north, which was geographically in the location of the Bahamas islands.  Hearing of this legend only confirmed what he had read by past medieval writers, and Alexander the Great had also searched for the life extending waters in east Asia.  The natives of Polynesia also told the story of youth inducing waters, in the general area of present-day Hawai'i.  The story of Bemini - told by the natives of Puerto Rico - also included gold and riches that accompanied this gift of immortality.  In this search for riches, Juan Ponce de Leon set foot on the east coast which had flowers, so he called it La Florida. 
(Source: Stimpson, George. A Book About American History)

Juan Ponce de Leon did not find the Fountain of Youth that he sought after so diligently, but he was credited for discovering Florida.  Do you think he was satisfied with this discovery?  Compared to riches and eternal life?  Probably not!

So why do you think that man (humanity in general) seeks out the Fountain of Youth?  Patrick Morley thinks it is because, "A man's ultimate desire is for immortality."  He refers to Ecclesiates 3:11 in the Bible, which says: "He [God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men." (Source: Morley, Patrick. The Man in the Mirror)

Trump Tower, NYC

Some people attempt to become immortal by contributing large sums of money  to a local university, to have a building named after them.  The Trump Tower (seen above in NY), is an prime example of a man with wealth who has built himself an empire, and has several skyscrapers to prove it.




Patrick Swayze (2009)

Do you think you could find someone who has a lot of wealth, who would trade it all in for an extension on his/her life? I bet I can. Patrick Swayze (pictured above) passed on after a battle with pancreatic cancer in 2009. I bet he would've paid any amount of money to have an extension on his life.

A pawn broker ready to make a deal with you.

So would you pawn all of your most valuable possessions in for another month added onto your life?  For one more year with the one you love?  For one more minute to say "I love you" to your kids?

Jesus talking to the woman at the well

However, one woman who was not actively seeking out immortality, was told how she could find eternal life, by Jesus.  Story as follows:

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”  (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

(Source: NIV Bible - John 4:7-14)

 
The final question I have to ask you is this:  Have you sought out eternal life in the right place?  If you haven't, that might be why you haven't found it, because you won't be able to find it in the iStore.