Welcome back!🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• How ChatGPT works on iPhone (myth busting)

• The game changing ‘Find My’ feature

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: 16GB is now the minimum RAM configuration on the Mac. Do you think this is a big deal, or was 8GB enough?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Did you purchase any of the new M4 Macs that just released this morning? Why or why not?

🗞️ The Latest

🍎 $20/month for Apple Intelligence?

When Apple launched iOS 18.2 Beta 2, it made everyone aware of ChatGPT’s rate limits and also introduced an easy way to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus subscription.

However, some publications & social media users have been spreading misinformation about how it works. Here’s what’s really going on:

• In iOS 18.2 Beta 2, there’s a new section in the ChatGPT extension settings that’ll show whether you’re under or over the daily limit.

• And beneath that, there’s a button to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus.

• When people saw this, they assumed that upgrading to ChatGPT Plus for $20/month was the ONLY way to have unlimited access to ChatGPT on their iPhone. That is not the case.

Why is Apple Adding a Limit?

• Apple is not imposing a limit here. They are simply being transparent and informing us about OpenAI’s rate limits for gpt-4o, which is nothing new.

• You can still use ChatGPT even if you exceed the limit; it will simply utilize the "basic version” (4o-mini) instead of the default model (gpt-4o).

What’s the Difference?

So, if you go over your limit, how much worse is the “basic” model?

• OpenAI clarifies the differences between GPT-4o and 4o mini above. But in real-world testing, I’ve not been able to tell a major difference between the two models, aside from the mini model being slightly faster.

• I couldn’t figure out what was considered an “advanced capability” during my regular testing. I tried using complex prompts, coding questions/conversions, etc; and everything worked perfectly, even after exceeding my daily limit (and not being signed in).

• However, I finally discovered the differences after asking ChatGPT what these “advanced capabilities” are, and to give example prompts for each of them.

• After getting the example prompts, I copy/pasted the prompts using both GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini.

• The GPT-4o result took about twice as long, but it was more detailed and complex.

• So, yes, the GPT-4o results will be more detailed and offer better refinement suggestions (in this case).

• But the end result was essentially the same.

• The reality is, most people will never input such complex prompts on a ChatGPT extension on the iPhone/Mac - they’d do that using the ChatGPT app, if anything.

• So these limits are irrelevant for the strong majority who will just be asking basic questions on a consistent basis.

Do you Need ChatGPT Plus?

• Most users will not need to purchase ChatGPT Plus for $20/month.

• It’s only worth subscribing if you:

  • Want access to Advanced Voice Mode

  • Use ChatGPT for your business/work

  • Upload attachments daily for ChatGPT to dissect

  • Ask hundreds of questions daily & need the most detailed response to advanced prompts.

My take: Hopefully this clears the confusion about ChatGPT on the iPhone and Mac. Apple is not limiting users and most people will not need the ChatGPT Plus subscription. Those who need it, likely already have it and use the ChatGPT app, not just the extension built in to iOS/macOS.

iOS 18.2 is expected to be released in December and when the next wave of users (non-Beta testers) are confused about this topic, you can share this write-up with them.

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📍 ‘Find My’ Just Got Much Better

This week, Apple released the second round of Betas for iOS 18.2, macOS 15.2, tvOS 18.2, and so on. But one of the standout features is within iOS 18.2 Beta 2 and the Find My app. Here’s why:

• You can now share the location of an AirTag or Find My-compatible device with “an airline or a trusted person.”

• Once you tap “continue” (seen in image above), you will be presented with a link that you can send to an airline, a police officer, or whoever is trying to help you locate your belongings.

• Once you send the link, the end-user will be able to locate your device on a map in Safari. It also includes additional details like the serial number.

• This map is not accessible to anonymous users, though. You need to sign in with your Apple ID to see it on the map, or you need to input your Apple Partner email (if you work for an airline).

• The link expires after 1 week and it can be disabled at any time from the Find My app.

• Now, you won’t have to physically be with an airline employee or police officer to show them the live location of your belongings. Just send them a link and they can track it down for you!

Other Major Software Adds

• visionOS 2.2 Beta includes the long-awaited Ultrawide Mode to Mac Virtual Display. This is a game changer for Vision Pro. It makes a huge difference in my daily workflow.

• With macOS Sequoia 15.2 Beta 2, there’s now a Weather widget built-in to the menu bar!

• Apple is also gearing up to launch the biggest change ever to Siri: onscreen awareness. They just launched a new API for developers so they’re prepared when the feature officially lands.

• And hidden in the code of the tvOS 18.2 Beta are references to the upcoming screensavers Apple announced back in June. These include Snoopy, TV and Movies, Music, and Soundscapes.

My take: This was a big week for Beta software updates and gets me very excited for the masses to try out all of these new features next month!

📰 Quick Bites

• Police Freak Out at iPhones Mysteriously Rebooting Themselves, Locking Cops Out

• How to fix iPhone Notes disappearing after iCloud terms & conditions update

• Apple Intelligence Servers Expected to Start Using M4 Chips Next Year

• EU to assess if Apple's iPad OS complies with bloc's tech rules

• New Vision Pro with M5 chip might come next year

• Apple Consolidating Vision Pro Demo Areas in Stores

• Apple Reportedly Working on 90Hz Studio Display, iMac, iPad Air

• Why GM is ditching Apple CarPlay, with software boss Baris Cetinok

• MacBook Pro Likely to Get OLED Display and Thinner Design in 2026

• Matter 1.4 tries to set the smart home standard back on track

• Apple Acquires Photo Editing App Maker Pixelmator

• iPhone 17 and 'iPhone 17 Air' Again Rumored to Feature 120Hz ProMotion Displays

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