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January 2025
Apple’s Latest iOS Beta Quietly Kills AI News Notifications
As someone who is inundated with emails and messages throughout the day, one of the Apple Intelligence features I was most cautiously optimistic about was Notification Summaries. The feature aims to make sorting through the pings on your Lock Screen a neater, faster experience, by grouping multiple notifications from the same app together and quickly summarizing the lot. Unfortunately, it seems the feature isn’t quite ready yet, seeing as the BBC complained to Apple that Notification Summaries made up false headlines for its news stories. Now, with iOS 18.3 beta 3, Apple is rolling back how involved the feature is, and is making it easier to opt out of entirely.
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
No AI summaries for news apps
Perhaps it’s a response to reporting like the BBC’s, or perhaps it’s a coincidence, but the biggest change to Notification Summaries in the latest iOS 18.3 beta is that they’re being paused for news and entertainment apps. If you try to enable notification summaries for a news app, iOS will tell you the setting is “temporarily unavailable,” although you can still turn it on to start receiving summaries when they’re re-enabled.
Given that Notification Summaries had previously sent users what looked like an official BBC alert that United Healthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione had shot himself when the paper only mentioned an “angry outburst,” that’s probably for the best.
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
More direct warnings about hallucinations
The Notification Summaries settings page also now blatantly tells users that “Summaries may contain errors,” where it had previously only said “summary accuracy may vary based on content.” Both are technically true, although the former’s a bit more direct.
To that end, when you’re setting up Notification Summaries for the first time, Apple will also now tell you, “This beta feature will occasionally make mistakes that could misrepresent the meaning of the original content.” Yes, even the version of Notification Summaries present in the current public iOS build is considered a beta.
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
AI-written notifications will look different
This really should have been there at launch. In order to indicate when a notification is an AI-written summary rather than an original, Notification Summaries will now be written in italics. Previously, the only real indication when a notification was a summary was a small icon to the left of the summary showing that multiple notifications were being summarized and grouped together.
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
You can disable any app’s Notification Summaries from the notification banner
Previously, the only way to disable Notification Summaries once you had set it up was to dive into the Settings app, where you could either disable the feature altogether or on an app-by-app basis. In the beta, you can now instead turn off Notification Summaries by swiping down from the top of your Home Screen and looking at your notification banners, but only on a per-app basis.
To do this, swipe left on any app’s notification banner, tap Options, then select Turn off [app name] Summaries. You can also rate a summary’s accuracy from this menu, by giving it either a thumbs up or thumbs down.
On the off chance that you do want to try Notification Summaries but didn’t enable them when first setting up Apple Intelligence, you can do so under Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications.
How to Install iOS 18.3 beta 3
While the updated Notification Summaries feature will make its way to all compatible iPhones with iOS 18.3’s final release, you can try it out right now. To install the current iOS 18.3 beta, first ensure you have a compatible phone, then double-check that you’ve enrolled your iPhone into Apple’s beta program at beta.apple.com. From here, simply open your iPhone and navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. If you’re also enrolled in the developer beta program (you don’t need to be in this instance), you’ll be able to choose between iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta here, but either will work if you only see one. Make your selection, then tap Back and download iOS 18.3 Beta 3 when it pops up on your screen.
Note that beta releases tend to be buggier than final builds, so download this update to your main device at your own risk.
Four Ways to Turn a Hallway Into a Useful Room
On the day you moved into your home, you may have wondered how you’d ever fill all that space. Flash forward a few years and suddenly you’re wracking your brain trying to carve out an extra storage area, or contemplating a major remodel to add more square footage.
If this sounds like you and you’re all out of ideas, there’s a “hidden” resource lurking in your house: the hallways. Depending on how wide yours are (the minimum width, according to the International Residential Code, is 36 inches, but most residential hallways are 42-48 inches wide, and some homes even have 60- or 72-inch hallways!), you could be putting them to better use than as a mere conduit from one room to another.
If your hallways are a cramped three feet wide, it will be difficult to make them pull double duty. But if your hallways are at least four feet wide, you have options to turn them into surprisingly useful rooms.
Use a hallways as a dining room
If you have a relatively wide hallway off the kitchen and you need a place to eat that isn’t standing over the sink or balancing plates on your knees, you can turn that space into a quasi-dining room with a little creativity. With four feet of space to work with, a narrow dining table like this one, pushed up against one wall, can work—at just under 16 inches wide, it leaves plenty of space for people to sit, and the chairs slide underneath when not in use. Hang some lighting over the table and install some shelving for storage and you’ve got yourself a small but usable dining room. If you’re tighter on space, you could even consider a drop-leaf table that would fold flat against the wall when not in use.
Set up a hallway library
One of the easiest ways to make a hallway function as a room is to turn it into a library or other shelf-focused storage area. Shallow bookcases like these (less than 10 inches deep) can make even a three foot hallway a viable library option. Adding narrow seating (like this entryway bench) against the wall between two of the bookcases, plus some wall-mounted lighting, can make that hallway feel like a cozy reading spot.
Use a hallway as a conversation area
Hallways are usually hurried through, but if you lack a space in your house to sit with a friend and chat, your hallway might offer an opportunity. If your hallway is at least four feet wide, a shallow bench with a back along with a narrow side table carves a spot to sit with a cup of tea and chat with a neighbor, or to hang out and think without the distraction of a TV mounted directly in front of you.
A hallways can even be a “bedroom”
No, your hallway will never be a real bedroom, even if it’s a ludicrous six feet wide. But if it’s at least four feet wide, it can be a place where surprise and overflow guests can sleep when needed. One or two narrow twin bed frames or daybeds can turn a wide hallway into a sleepover spot, and the daybed option doubles as seating for a conversation area or reading nook when not otherwise in use.
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The New Apple AirPods Max Just Dropped to a Record Low Price
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Apple’s AirPods Max are some of the best headphones money can buy—but they are also among the most expensive, normally at half a grand. An updated AirPods Max model was released in September, causing the older AirPods Max to drop significantly in price, currently with a $150 discount. But the newer version is also discounted now, down to $449.99 (originally $549.99). That’s a record-low price, according to price-tracking tools. If you’re coming from the older AirPods Max, be aware that there are some minor but key differences.
USB-C Charging, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio.
(New) Apple AirPods Max
$449.99
at Amazon
$549.00
Save $99.01
Save $99.01
$449.99
at Amazon
$549.00
Save $99.01
Save $99.01
Lightning Charging, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio.
(Older) Apple AirPods Max
$399.99
at Best Buy
$549.99
Save $150.00
Save $150.00
$399.99
at Best Buy
$549.99
Save $150.00
Save $150.00
When the AirPods Max came out in 2020, there wasn’t as much competition for headphones that could achieve active noise-cancelling (ANC), ambient awareness features, and provide top-tier audio as well. These days, there’s stiff competition in all of those categories, especially at this price point. However, buying AirPods Max is a statement. Even though they don’t have the Apple logo, you’re paying a premium price for the recognition. If that’s what you’re after, these headphones are it.
When it comes to features, the AirPods Max aren’t jam-packed—but the few they do have are very good quality, which is on-brand for Apple’s minimalist vibe. They are some of the best ANC headphones you can buy (they don’t give you that weird pressure sensation when you turn them on), have very good ambient awareness to hear your surroundings well, have adaptive EQ and spatial audio, which adjusts the audio automatically to you and your environment, and hands-free Siri, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review.
Some of the downsides are that they are heavier than regular headphones at 13.6 ounces. This comes from the choice to use metal for the ear pieces. You also can’t manually adjust the EQ to your liking, so if you don’t like the sound signature, you’re out of luck. Finally, the smart case it comes with is, well, ugly and doesn’t protect the mesh that rests on your head (a delicate part of the headphones). You also need that smart case to put your headphones in “sleep” mode so your 20 hours of battery aren’t drained.
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What’s Next Now That the Supreme Court Has Upheld the TikTok Ban
If you’ve been on TikTok over the past few days, you’ve no doubt witnessed your favorite creators saying their goodbyes and telling you where you can find them next. With Congress’ impending ban on the social media app set to take effect in the U.S. on Sunday, it seems like there’s little the platform’s users can do. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that it is upholding the ban, citing Congress’ concerns over Chinese access to American user data—but that might not be the end of the story.
The Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban
In a per curiam opinion posted Friday morning, the Supreme Court decided to uphold the TikTok ban that’s set to remove the platform from app stores starting Sunday, Jan. 19. The move marks the heaviest blow yet to the hope that the app could continue operating as usual, but despite acknowledging that “TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression” for “more than 170 million Americans,” the Court ultimately decided to stand by Congress’ “well-supported national security concerns.”
However, the opinion did offer one silver lining for users as they flee to other apps. While acknowledging that TikTok represents “new technologies with transformative capabilities,” the court cautioned that its ruling should be “understood to be narrowly focused,” rather than serving as precedent for future cases. The justices also argued that their reasoning is “content neutral,” attempting to ease concerns that the real reason behind the TikTok ban might be what users are seeing rather than how their data is being handled.
Will TikTok shut down?
Technically, the terms of TikTok’s ban don’t require the site to shut down operation in the U.S., but rather keeps its app from being distributed by app stores. In this state, new users couldn’t download the app, while it would slowly become unusable over time for everyone else. Overall, then, the loss of the platform would be a more gradual transition. However, reports say that TikTok is willing to go a step further, threatening to shut down altogether as a sort of nuclear option to protest the ban now that it’s been upheld. (It’s also been pumping up its alternative video app Lemon8, although the TikTok ban would presumably affect this platform as well.)
The idea, it seems, is to play chicken with the government. American users have already shown their willingness to use similar Chinese app Xiaohongshu (or RedNote) as a replacement-for-TikTok-slash-act-of-protest, and TikTok users in particular have been quick to shut down the possibility of moving to Instagram reels or other American alternatives. In taking the app away from these users entirely, TikTok might be able to spur them into political action (don’t be surprised if opening the TikTok app on Sunday prompts you to call your representatives).
Essentially, TikTok parent company Bytedance seemingly doesn’t seem willing to sell to an American company, which is the only way the current ban would allow TikTok to keep operating. Overcoming the Supreme Court is a tough job, but in swaying public opinion towards its side, the company seems to be looking to do just that.
In fact, it’s already seen some success, as key government officials across both aisles have already expressed desire to backpedal on Congress’ legislation.
Biden leaving enforcing the ban up to a TikTok-friendly Trump
Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, reports were split on whether Biden would take any steps to circumvent the ban. Now, the White House has issued an official statement that it is leaving responsibility for enforcing the ban to incoming President Donald Trump.
“Given the sheer fact of timing,” the statement reads, acknowledging the unusual position the ban’s implementation places on Biden’s White House a day before he leaves office, “this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration.”
The statement also reiterated Biden’s opinion that TikTok should remain available but under American ownership. However, in leaving responsibility for enforcing the ban up to President Trump, it does seem to give the incoming administration free reign to decide how the law is actually implemented—it’s possible (though unlikely) that TikTok could even continue to be distributed on Sunday without retribution.
It’s perhaps good news for TikTok users, then, that President Trump has already vocally expressed his opposition to the ban, and reports indicate he’s ready to act to stop it. The Washington Post says Trump is considering penning an executive order that would delay the ban’s enforcement by 60 to 90 days. Even with Biden’s blessing to decide what to do next, such an extreme measure would perhaps be Trump’s only play here, as the ban is still legally set to go into effect one day before he takes office. Trump’s stance marks a similar change in attitude to President Biden’s: during his first term, Trump signed an executive order that attempted to force TikTok to shut down operations in the U.S., something the company avoided by partnering with U.S.-based company Oracle to protect the data of American users.
A last ditch bill to save TikTok (for now)
Realistically, the most stable way to get the ban struck down would be for the members of Congress who voted for it to change their minds. The biggest governmental backpedal we’ve seen on the TikTok ban so far—or at least the biggest one that doesn’t rely on hearsay and anonymous sources—would be a new bill from Democratic Senator Ed Markey. Introduced this week, Markey’s bill would have extended the deadline for the ban by 270 days, giving TikTok more time to find a buyer or provide lawmakers an opportunity to reevaluate the situation. Unfortunately, it was quickly struck down by Republican lawmakers, but the reasoning behind it does show that at least parts of Congress are beginning to waver.
“In four days, TikTok goes dark,” Markey said while introducing the legislation. “My bill just says, we need more time.”
As part of his justification for the bill, Markey argued that TikTok has been “central to our economy and the way in which we communicate,” arguing that the communities its creators and small businesses have established there “cannot be replicated on another app.”
“We need time to have a deeper conversation about how to address the national security risks caused by Bytedance’s ownership of TikTok.” Markey continued. “We need time to understand the ban’s implication on TikTok’s creators and users. We need time to consider alternative ideas.”
This bill also marked something of a change in attitude from Markey, who originally spoke out against banning the platform but nonetheless voted for the current ban—although it should be noted that the ban was included in a bill also providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.
For his part, in a post on X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to continue “working to keep TikTok alive,” even in the face of Republican opposition.
Support for the ban remains
While politicians across both aisles and two branches of government have now spoken about reversing or delaying the ban, some in government are sticking to their original decision.
“They had all the time in the world,” Republican Senator Rick Scott said. “They’ve had an opportunity to sell it to make sure the Chinese government doesn’t control it and they decided not to do that.”
Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who led the charge on blocking Markey’s bill, said, “We didn’t pull the rug out from under TikTok, and we didn’t ban it. Instead, Congress simply demanded that the app could no longer be owned and controlled by our nation’s worst enemy, communist China.”
For now, all eyes are on Trump, who takes office on Monday. Hopeful viewers include even TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who will be present at Trump’s inauguration and has already posted a video preemptively thanking Trump “for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States.” This kind of signaling could just be wishful thinking, or it could indicate that while there’s little Trump can do to keep the ban from going into effect on Sunday, we could see some quick action just one day later. As Trump told CNN shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision went through, “It ultimately goes up to me, so you’re going to see what I’m going to do.”
But even if legal pressure from the highest office in the land fails to bring back your favorite influencers, there’s also the question of public opinion. Depending on how TikTok responds to the Supreme Court’s decision, Americans could have a very different response to the ban. With enough public fervor, it’s possible we’ll see more attempts from either Congress or the presidency to keep this saga from being finished quite yet.
Update 4:30 PM ET: Updated this post with a video from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
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