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  • How to Text from Your iPad with Cellular Connectivity

    I recently acquired an iPad Air with 4G cellular capabilities. I’m curious if anyone knows how to utilize the free call and text options available with this device. While I also have an iPhone equipped with 5G that I use for tethering, I can send iMessages from any of my three iPads, including the iPad Air, when they are connected via WiFi or tethered to the iPhone. However, when it comes to using the iPad Air on its own, I’m wondering if there’s a way to access the free text messaging features tied to its cellular service.

    I’ve come to the realization that making calls from the iPad, aside from using apps like Zoom or FaceTime, appears to be quite challenging. It seems that the conventional calling functionality is limited, which raises further questions on how to maximize the cellular capabilities of the iPad Air. If anyone has insights or potential solutions on how to make use of free text messaging or calling features directly from the iPad Air without relying on third-party applications, I would greatly appreciate your input. I’m eager to make the most of my device and explore its cellular options for communication.

    Thank you!

  • Discussing 16e Reporting: Are SIMs Being Categorized as E-SIMs?

    I’ve encountered some perplexing issues with my three iPhone 16e devices, all of which are experiencing connection problems. Two of them suddenly lost connectivity, and it turned out the issue was linked to deleted e-SIMs. Interestingly, I had never intentionally used an e-SIM in either phone. To my surprise, the physical SIMs in those devices were actually inactive, and there were no e-SIMs listed.

    Both devices are linked to EE. I can pinpoint the appearance of these “hidden” e-SIMs to my update to iOS 18.5, which took place on July 13th. Currently, I’m trying to restore physical SIMs, but unfortunately, I have no working connections on either of those iPhones at this time. The third iPhone has presented its own challenges, particularly with porting issues.

    Changing networks wasn’t successful until I added an e-SIM. However, I still need to figure out a way to get the physical SIM to work independently with this device, which is on the Vodafone network. This situation raises a question for me: have others experienced problems with SIMs being recognized or used as “hidden” e-SIMs? I’ve always had reservations about e-SIM technology, and these incidents have only solidified my skepticism.

  • Is Your Secondhand iPhone’s Battery Health Authentic?

    I recently bought a refurbished iPhone 13 mini from Green Gadgets, which was advertised as having a new battery. However, when I checked the parts and services history in the iOS settings, it indicated that the battery was replaced in June 2025 and labeled as “used.” According to Apple, a “used” battery typically means it was taken from another iPhone. This leads me to believe that while it may be a genuine Apple battery, it is not new.

    Furthermore, I have discovered that it is common practice for refurbishing shops to reset or spoof battery health, allowing applications like Coconut Battery to display manipulated BMS (Battery Management System) data. Currently, Coconut Battery shows that the battery was manufactured in October 2023 and has a health of 103% with 0 charge cycles. It seems improbable that a battery sourced from another device would genuinely show 0 cycles, which raises the concern that it might be a degraded battery with its BMS data reset.

    Has anyone else experienced something similar? I would consider purchasing a new iPhone mini if Apple still offered them. Additionally, I noticed discrepancies in the battery manufacturer listed by different tools: Coconut Battery reports it as Huapo Technology, while u3tools identifies it as Simplo.

    In hindsight, I wish I had opted for the less expensive version without a new battery and sent it to Apple for an official replacement. If I decide to keep this device, I wonder if Apple would replace the battery, even if I’m willing to pay, given that it has likely been replaced by a third-party repairer. Many thanks for any insights you can provide.

  • Is it time to upgrade from the iPhone 12 Pro?

    I typically follow a five-year upgrade cycle for my smartphones. My recent experience of transitioning from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 12 was wonderful, and I’m still very satisfied with my current device. However, as my upgrade window is nearing, I find myself considering the upcoming iPhone 17. I’m eager to gather some feedback regarding this new model.

    I’m especially interested in learning about any notable features, improvements, or changes from previous iterations that might make the iPhone 17 a worthy investment. Additionally, I would appreciate recommendations on the different versions available, particularly regarding whether to opt for the Pro or Max variants. Your insights and experiences would be invaluable as I contemplate this upgrade. Thank you for your help!

  • Seeking iTunes/Apple Music alternatives with iOS apps

    I have recently stopped using Apple Music due to issues with my educational subscription status after migrating my account. As a result, I’ve decided to make use of my YouTube subscription and enjoy their music streaming service instead. I maintain a small, yet well-curated library of music that I personally own. Since I’ve moved away from Apple Music, I am looking for a better application to manage my collection.

    Although YouTube Music offers the option to upload my music, I have a lot of high-quality tracks, and I believe manual syncing would be the most effective solution for me. With that in mind, I am curious about the best media players for macOS that support syncing with iOS devices. While I’ve always found iTunes to be reliable, my experience with Apple Music has been declining. Consequently, I am open to applications that resemble the user-friendly experience iTunes once provided.

    I appreciate any recommendations. Thank you!

  • Top Greeting Card Software for Sequoia Users: Recommendations from MacRumors Forums

    I have been using Hallmark Card Studio on my iMac for several years, but after upgrading to macOS 15.2 yesterday, the program completely stopped working. Whenever I click “Choose a Design,” the application crashes. Prior to the upgrade, it functioned perfectly with macOS 15.1.1.

    Since Hallmark’s website only states compatibility with macOS 14, I am unsure if there will be any updates to support newer versions of the operating system. This leaves me looking for alternative greeting card programs that are compatible with macOS 15.2. If anyone has recommendations for other software that can create greeting cards and works well with the latest macOS, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.

    Thank you in advance for your help!

  • Issue with iCloud Messages: Discussion on MacRumors Forums

    I prefer to maintain a tidy inbox, so I delete messages from my iPhone and iMac immediately after reading them. However, I noticed a discrepancy when checking my iCloud on my phone: it indicates that there are 1,763 messages, totaling 32 MB, saved in the cloud. Surprisingly, when I open the Messages app on either my phone or desktop, it shows that I have no messages at all.

    In an attempt to resolve this issue, I decided to disable Messages in iCloud. The prompt indicated that my messages would be deleted from iCloud and downloaded back to my device. After turning Messages in iCloud back on, I still see the same count of 1,763 messages stored in iCloud.

    A further exploration took me to iCloud.com, but I found no option available to access or manage messages stored in the cloud. This leaves me puzzled and frustrated, as it appears there is a bug causing this inconsistency between my devices and iCloud. I would appreciate any insights or solutions on how to remove these messages from iCloud.

    It’s clear that something is off, and I’m eager to find a way to sync everything correctly. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

  • macOS 26 Tahoe: Complete Icon Set for macOS Sequoia on MacRumors Forums

    This package includes four sets of high-definition icons, each measuring 1024 x 1024 pixels and available in .png format. The design is inspired by the macOS 26 Tahoe aesthetics.

    These icons are specifically designed for macOS Sequoia and earlier versions. Please note that they are not compatible with macOS 26 due to differences in formatting, dimensions, and framing associated with the new system.

    To install the system application icons, you will need the IconChamp application, which is available for €9.00. The latest version of IconChamp is 1.5.1, ensuring you have access to the most recent updates.

    IconChamp functions seamlessly under macOS Sequoia; however, remember to disable Rosetta when opening the application to ensure optimal performance. The system application and folder icons were captured via screenshots from a virtual machine that ran the initial beta version of Tahoe.

    For additional applications and folders, I customized and redesigned existing icons, utilizing the free Icon Composer app to finalize their appearance. We hope you enjoy using these icons and appreciate the effort put into crafting a look that resonates with the macOS aesthetic.

  • Persistent Issues Accessing a Mac on the Same Network

    My wife and I both own iMac M1 computers running on the latest version of Sequoia. We decided to grant each other access to our respective systems for convenience.

    While I have no trouble accessing her iMac, she encounters issues when trying to access mine. After a few days of normal access, she suddenly finds herself locked out of my computer.

    To resolve this recurring problem, I take the step of deactivating file sharing in my system settings. I then restart my iMac and reactivate the sharing option.

    Unfortunately, this process is not a one-time fix; I have to repeat it multiple times a week, which quickly becomes frustrating. In an effort to find a solution, I’ve explored various methods, including trying out Terminal commands that I came across.

    Despite these attempts, the issue persists. It seems that I might be overlooking a simple fix that could resolve this problem permanently.

    I’m reaching out to see if anyone has experienced a similar situation or has suggestions for troubleshooting this issue. Any tips or insights would be greatly appreciated, as this would help restore smooth access between our computers without the repeated hassle of managing the sharing settings.

    Thank you in advance for your assistance!

  • What Background Processes Does macOS Execute While You Type?

    When a key is continuously held down on a Mac, an interesting phenomenon occurs—CPU usage can increase significantly over time. I have observed that after about 20 minutes of holding a key, the CPU can utilize nearly an entire core. While I lack the patience to test how long it would take to max out all available cores, I have managed to push the CPU usage to approximately 400% simply by keeping a key pressed.

    This rise in CPU usage raises a question: What is macOS doing in the background as the key remains pressed? It seems evident that the operating system is engaged in processing the increasingly lengthy “word” generated by each keystroke. However, the specifics of this process are not immediately clear.

    As the key is held down, macOS appears to be accumulating the input over time, effectively creating a string of repeated characters. This ongoing input may lead to a series of actions that the system must handle as the word grows longer, increasing the demand on CPU resources. The sustained input requires continuous processing, including managing character encoding, updating the display, and potentially triggering additional functions or applications that rely on keyboard input.

    Overall, it’s intriguing to consider how a simple action like holding down a key can place such a load on the CPU. It highlights the complexities of how operating systems manage input and the resources needed to maintain responsiveness and functionality in user interaction scenarios.