Category: Apple Insider

Storage capacity is a significant issue for mobile device users, with the available space on an iPhone, iPad, and even a Mac a sensitive concern for everyone. While users with expansive storage capacities have less trouble with it than most, those saving money with more modest storage may be more hard pressed.

Managing what apps are on your device by offloading or deleting them, maintaining stored videos and other files, relying on cloud storage capacity, and other techniques are usually used to tame storage usage.

Sure, deleting files and wiping the cache of apps can help, but it won’t help an occasional problem involving System Data. Sometimes, System Data can grow to a massive size, and there’s very little you can do to fix it.

Here’s what you can do to get back to a more usable amount of free storage.

By checking your iPhone’s storage usage, you will find that iOS handily sorts out its data usage into several categories, including Apps, Photos, Media, iOS, and System Data.

These are all self-explanatory, with Photos and Media consisting of images, videos, and other typical media-style files. Apps refer to apps downloaded from the App Store and caches of data for each, while iOS is the storage consumed by the operating system itself.

• Open Settings.
• Tap General, then iPhone Storage.
• The bar at the top will graphically show you what storage is being used.
• The list of apps below shows individual app storage usage. Tap each to see the app size and consumption of related files and options to offload the app and delete the data.
• At the bottom of the list are listings for iOS and System Data.

System Data, and what the Settings app refers to as “Other System Data,” includes many files not covered by other categories.

System Data doesn’t usually take tens of gigabytes of storage, but problems happen.

The definition within iOS is that System Data “includes caches, logs, and other resources currently in use by the system.” This doesn’t state what the data is, but it can consist of various logs, temporary data stores, and other elements that aren’t strictly considered part of any of the listed apps.

Then some elements are used by iOS but aren’t owned by a particular app. For example, downloading different Siri voices or installing fonts can expand this section, but they aren’t defined as being used by just one app or the operating system itself.

This data will also “fluctuate according to the system needs.” This means that temporary data can be written to the storage as System Data, removed when iOS doesn’t need it anymore.

However, the problem is that you can’t see what the types of data used in this category consist of, nor can you delete it.

Generally speaking, Other System Data can be a few gigabytes in size at first and depending on how you use the iPhone, it can grow and shrink by several gigabytes over time.

The bloating problem comes into play if that change in the size of Other System Data continues on an upward trajectory. Over time, some users may see that their iPhone’s System Data takes up a lot of space, possibly tens of gigabytes.

In the case of one AppleInsider writer, Other System Data grew to almost 85 gigabytes, consuming virtually all of the available remaining storage and causing device problems.

It is unknown exactly why this occurs, but it is likely from one or more caches or logs being continually added to over time, but crucially not deleting at a pace to keep up with writes. Left for too long, this can be all-consuming.

Since there’s no way to see what caused it directly or selectively delete problematic System Data elements, users may be left with very few options available.

You can do a few things to cut down the amount of System Data being used, and they vary in severity of what you have to do to your iPhone and its data. This guide will start with the least intensive option.

Remember that these are intended to be taken after other reasonable measures, such as deleting unwanted videos or other files to free up space.

Also, remember to back up your iPhone before continuing. The last thing you want to do is delete precious data when trying to recover space.

The first way is to try and cut down on cache usage by a select number of Apple-produced apps. This can include caches by Safari and Messages, which can sometimes take up the System Data category.

You can manage Messages and Safari’s cache to try and cut down System Data usage.

For Messages, this could be as simple as opening Settings, then tapping Messages, scrolling down to Message History, and changing how long you “Keep Messages” for from “Forever” to a lower figure such as one year or 30 days.

Clearing the Safari Cache is a little bit more involving but still useful.

• Open Settings.
• Tap Safari.
• Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
• On the warning pop-up, tap Clear History and Data to confirm.

On the off chance it is a particular app causing the problem, you could try to delete the app if you have a clue as to what app is being wasteful with space. For example, apps that use a lot of videos can potentially use such caching, but without necessarily deleting the caches afterward.

Offloading and deleting apps may wipe some errant caches.

There’s no guarantee that doing so will delete the problematic cache capacity you want to be removed, but it should still reduce how much of it is in active use. It is advisable to try offloading the app before a full delete, namely removing the app but retaining your related documents and data.

• Open Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap iPhone Storage.
• Scroll and tap the relevant app.
• Tap Offload App, then Offload App to confirm.
• Alternately, tap Delete App, then Delete App to confirm.

The nuclear option is to restore your iPhone from a backup. This entails backing up all data on the iPhone, factory resetting the iPhone, then restoring from the backup.

While you will get back all of your user data and continue to use apps, you may have issues involving two-factor authentication apps and other related problems following a device setup.

Backing up and resetting the iPhone is the last real option available.

In the AppleInsider editorial staffer’s case, restoring from a backup did solve the problem, so it is worth taking the time to do this if you can.

• To backup the data, connect the iPhone to your Mac or PC, and open either Finder or iTunes.
• Select the iPhone, then select the General tab.
• Select “Back up all the data on your iPhone to this Mac.”
• Tick “Encrypt local backup” to preserve account passwords and any Health data.
• Select Back Up Now and wait for it to complete.
• Disconnect the iPhone.
• Open Settings and select General then Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Erase All Content and Settings. Tap Continue and follow the prompts to complete.
• After it is wiped, connect the iPhone back to the Mac or PC, open Finder or iTunes, and select the iPhone.
• Under General, click Restore Backup.
• Select the most recent backup you just created, then click Restore. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Ive left Apple in 2019 to create his own independent design consultancy, LoveFrom, following nearly three decades at the company.

However, according to The New York Times, the companies decided not to renew their contract. While it’s unclear precisely what caused the split, chances are neither party was pleased with the current deal.

After all, Ive’s design firm had a habit of poaching designers from Apple.

Additionally, Apple executives were concerned over how much the company paid Ive.

And it was likely that Ive had grown tired of dealing with Apple. While working with Apple, LoveFrom wasn’t allowed to work on any projects deemed competitive to Apple.

It was learned recently that Ive had left Apple burnt out and tired in the wake of CEO Tim Cook’s numerous structural changes.

According to researchers at Gartner, Apple took fourth place in global shipments this year, holding 8.8% of the market. Apple shipped an estimated 6.37 million Macs in 2Q22 versus the 5.82 million from 2Q21.

Lenovo remained the dominant market share, at 24.8%, despite a 12.5% decline year-over-year.

HP and Dell held 18.8% and 18.5% of the global market, seeing a 27.5% and a 5.2% decline year-over-year, respectively.

Researchers at Gartner believe that Apple was the only manufacturer in the list to see growth in the past 12 months.

Apple’s largest growth was in America, where it grew 19.5% year-over-year, shipping 3.13 million units in the U.S. Its U.S. market share is now estimated to be 15.3%, versus the 10.5% it held in 2021.

IDC released its own estimates on Monday, claiming that Apple had actually declined 22.5% year-over-year, globally.

Research provided by these firms should be taken with a grain of salt, as it is difficult for researchers to deduce actual numbers. It is difficult to judge a firm’s accuracy as Apple does not provide unit sales for Mac at its quarterly investment calls.

Despite being available on the iPhone since the launch of iPhone 12, there’s still not a particularly vast swath of charging options on the market. Whether it is an accessory maker’s apprehension in committing to the standard or Apple’s lackadaisical certification process, users have limited options to choose from.

We’ve already covered those from Belkin and Mophie, but Hyper is throwing its hat in the ring with an Apple-certified option as well.

Hyper’s HyperJuice four-in-one is a compact charger tree helping you power up multiple devices in a compact space. Like most charging trees, it has a wide base and a stem in the middle with additional chargers.

The base is a matte black plastic, while the stem is made from a polished silver metal. Down the back of the metal stem is a seam where the cable gets routed.

Qi chargers

Unlike most other charging trees and MagSafe multi-chargers, Hyper offers a four-in-one solution. In practicality, that means you’re able to charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch, a set of AirPods, and a second Qi-enabled device.

There are users out there who have two phones to charge — such as a personal and a work device — or families with non-MagSafe devices that need to be charged. In those situations, this is massively helpful and is one less thing that needs to occupy your power outlets.

The MagSafe charging pad is Apple-certified and can reach faster speeds than most magnetic Qi chargers that try to emulate the MagSafe experience. The Apple Watch puck is certified as well.

Rotating our iPhone

When you place your iPhone on the MagSafe puck, it is free to rotate to any angle. This is great for portrait mode while bedside or for twisting it to landscape while watching a movie.

On the other hand, unlike the Belkin model, the MagSafe puck itself can pivot. It can angle your iPhone upwards or straight on, emphasizing the versatility of this device.

The last major feature is that the entire thing is collapsible. When you need to travel, the stem folds flat, so it can quickly slide into your bag.

Bundled with the HyperJuice charger is a 36W power adapter with a barrel connector. These are a bit cheaper to include than a USB-C brick.

HyperJuice power supply

It does have the benefit of having swappable receptacle connectors, so you can change them based on your location worldwide. It also is helpful if you should travel with the HyperJuice four-in-one.

The MagSafe charger is capable of up to 15W of power. The AirPods and Apple Watch chargers should max out at 5W each but typically will sit around 3W. Then you have the remaining Qi charging pad.

This last charger can charge at up to 15W on devices that support it. Apple users, of course, will be limited to only 7.5W though when using with an iPhone.

AirPods charging

If your AirPods and Apple Watch charge at 3W each and you max out the Qi pad and MagSafe at 15W each, that would be exactly 36W of power draw — assuming no power was lost anywhere in the system.

The most likely scenario, if you’re trying to max everything out, is that you’ll run into a power bottleneck. 36W of power won’t be enough for everything to hit max speeds simultaneously.

iPhone and Apple Watch on HyperJuice 4-in-1

In reality, especially for Apple users, this shouldn’t be an issue. Most devices won’t hit max speeds and stay there for long; if they do, it won’t necessarily be all at the same time.

Since iPhones can’t utilize the 15W on the Qi charger, it’s even more of a non-issue.

The alternative is that Hyper gives users a choice. You can choose to use the 36W barrel connector that is included or you can substitute your own USB-C charger. The back of the charger has a USB-C input for more versatility.

Hyper says you need at least a 30W USB-C power supply but we’d recommend a bit more if you want to get the most out of your device.

If you’re looking for an official, Apple-certified MagSafe charger that can deliver up to 15W, your choices are lacking. Belkin, Mophie, and Nomad are the only notable brands to launch official MagSafe chargers thus far, and now Hyper is joining in.

Charging multiple devices

Between them, Hyper is your only choice if you want one that is capable of charging up to four devices. As we mentioned, it also happens to be incredibly versatile.

It can wirelessly charge a wide array of devices, can collapse down for travel, and has multiple power inputs — something we rarely see.

This easily makes the HyperJuice 4-in-1 the most capable MagSafe charger on the market — but it carries a price tag to match.

• Extremely versatile
• Collapsable design
• Premium construction and metal body
• Apple certified MagSafe and Apple Watch modules
• USB-C or DC input

• No USB-C charger included
• Expensive

In an escalation of an ongoing patent infringement war between Apple and Ericsson, Apple has fallen victim to a court decision in Bogota. The two companies are fighting over 5G patents owned by Ericsson, which Apple is alleged to have infringed upon.

The Juzgado 042 Civil del Circuito de Bogota in Colombia’s capital declared in April that Apple’s 5G hardware infringes on claim 13 of Colombian patent NC2019/0003681. FOSS Patents reports the patent, deemed to be standards-essential to 5G and granted to Ericsson in 2019, is said by the court to remain valid until December 2037.

After April’s infringement, Ericsson posted a bond of worth $50,000 the following month, in order for enforcement to take place. The court then ordered a preliminary injunction on July 6 impacting Apple Colombia S.A.S, the Cupertino company’s subsidiary in the country.

Under the injunction, Apple is banned from importing, selling, advertising, or otherwise commercializing any products infringing the patent, which means any 5G-equipped iPhone or iPad. Apple also has to “warn and communicate” with retailers, social media platforms, mass media, and other firms to ensure compliance.

The court also orders Colombia’s customs authority, the Direccion de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, to prevent imports of the affected hardware.

Apple is appealing the ruling, but there is an unusual wrinkle to proceedings. Judge Ronald Neil Orozco Gomez decided that Apple cannot seek or enforce an “antisuit injunction” from a foreign country that can prevent or restrict the enforcement of the preliminary injunction.

The court order, a so-called “anti-antisuit injunction,” makes it hard for Apple to gain an antisuit injunction against Ericsson, as that would go against the court order.

Instead of trying to combat the Colombia order, Apple is instead trying to demand antisuit damages in the Eastern District of Texas. An emergency motion to the court on Friday had Apple claiming the injunction gives Ericsson “economic and logistical leverage” to pressure the company into giving up its litigation and paying Ericsson’s royalty demands.

The motion asks Chief Judge Rodney S. Gilstrap to rule that Ericsson must “indemnify Apple from any fines, fees, penalties, and costs it incurs as a result of the Colombian injunction.”

The logic behind the move is that Apple’s motion isn’t seeking an antisuit injunction, but instead an antisuit damages claim, which would technically appease the Colombian court’s limitations.

In a filing, Musk’s lawyers claimed that Twitter did not respond properly or fully to multiple requests for information about the quantity of fake accounts on the platform. Musk’s team asserts that the data is fundamental to the platform’s business performance.

At stake is obviously the deal, but also a $1 billion kick-out fee that Musk must pay if the deal does not conclude. The legal filing to the SEC on Friday suggests that he should not be on the hook for that, alleging that Twitter did not cooperate.

Suits and counter-suits are expected to be filed shortly. It’s not clear when any of this will lurch to a final conclusion.

In April, Twitter announced that it has accepted Elon Musk’s offer to purchase the company for $44 billion, for $54.20 a share.

According to a report by Reuters on Friday afternoon, Twitter’s shares fell 6% as a result. At time of publication, the stock is sitting at about $34.60 a share.

However, in May, Musk announced that he would temporarily halt his purchase of the social media while he sought to confirm how many accounts on the platform were spam accounts.

He then insisted that he would walk away from the deal if fake accounts comprised more than 5% of Twitter’s total user base.

Bret Taylor, chairman of the board at Twitter, has announced that the company plans to pursue legal action against Musk for trying to back out of the deal.

The Alliance for Open Media (AOM) was founded in 2015 to find a suitable video format that would adhere to W3C and HTML5 standards. It has co-developed the AV1 standard, an open video codec created as a royalty-free alternative to HEVC.

AV1 is seen as a better technical alternative to many video formats, as it offers better compression and, thus, uses less bandwidth and storage.

The 14 governing members of AOM include Google, Facebook, Intel, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Samsung, and many others including Apple, which joined in 2018. There are 41 general members including Adobe, AMD, Alibaba, the BBC, Hulu, VideoLan, Vimeo, and more.

Now, the European Union is investigating alleged anticompetitive behavior related to the license terms of AV1 by AOM and its members in Europe. The watchdog group has sent a questionnaire, seen by Reuters, to companies involved.

“The Commission has information that AOM and its members may be imposing licensing terms (mandatory royalty-free cross licensing) on innovators that were not a part of AOM at the time of the creation of the AV1 technical, but whose patents are deemed essential to (its) technical specifications,” read the questionnaire.

The group cites concerns that AOM may be restricting innovators’ ability to compete with AV1.The EU alleges that if true, it eliminates incentives for innovations.

The companies involved could be fined up to 10% of their global revenue for breaching EU rules. No timetable for the investigation has been announced.

On Wednesday, Apple released a new version of the beta software, bringing the updated build number to 5A5304a. The previous build was numbered 5A5282d.

According to Apple, the beta software contains improvements to Automatic Switching alongside more general bug and stability fixes.

Both AppleInsider and Apple strongly suggest users avoid installing betas on to “mission-critical” or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. Instead, the recommendation is to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data before making any major changes.

The firmware update, which brings the software to version 10M1103, is meant for the redesigned Siri Remote released in 2021.

As mentioned, Apple does not state what features or fixes are contained in the new software update. However, given the lack of detail, it’s likely that the update is a minor one focused on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements.

Apple also fails to specify how users can update their Siri Remote, though the process is likely similar to other accessories — like AirPods — that carry out the process automatically. In other words, the update will just happen in the background and can’t be manually installed.

Apple last updated its Siri Remote firmware in August 2021. The previous version was numbered 9M6772.

There are numerous case materials, bands, and sizes available across Apple Watch’s history, but Apple has kept the device lineup within two size classes. That may change with the “Apple Watch Series 8.”

The first three generations of Apple Watch had 38mm and 42mm case sizes, then the fourth through sixth generations had 40mm and 44mm case sizes. Apple expanded those again slightly for the Apple Watch Series 7 to 41mm and 45mm, thanks to a display that wrapped over the edge of the case.

Despite these size changes, all Apple Watches fall into large or small sizes. So, if a customer purchased bands for the 42mm Apple Watch Series 2, it would still work on a 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 since they both fall into the large category.

“Apple Watch Series 8” may change this two-size system with a new larger third size. Details are slim at the moment since the only leaked detail is the display size at 1.99 inches.

Apple Watch sizes through each generation based on Apple’s millimeter height measurement

This is a significant number because display manufacturers measure displays by a diagonal using inches, versus watch cases being measured using the distance from the top of the watch screen to the bottom. So, the Apple Watch Series 7 with a 45mm case has a display size of about 1.9 inches.

The leak didn’t specify how that increase of 0.09 inches would be applied. It could mean a larger display in a slimmer case or a proportional increase in case size to display size.

Assuming Apple goes with the same Apple Watch Series 7 design and display bezels, the case would be around 47mm. Some rumors suggest the “Apple Watch Series 8” might get a redesign with flat sides, which would provide more space for the display in the same case size.

Using proportions with flat sides and slimmer bezels yields an even larger end result

From what we could measure, the 1.99-inch display would fit in a 45mm equivalent case with flat sides, making the case size slimmer and display size larger all at once. However, that doesn’t quite fit with the rumors.

The long-rumored flat-sided Apple Watch would have a large 2.2-inch display in a 47mm case. The leaker, display supply chain analyst Ross Young, appears to be leaning towards a 47mm case with a 1.99-inch display. Or at the least, he isn’t discounting it.

Apple is expected to announce the “Apple Watch Series 8” alongside the iPhone 14 during an event in September. There could be three sizes of Apple Watch with a rugged model option, new health metrics, and better performance.