Charles Martin

Weekend editor

Charles Martin is a Contributing Editor for AppleInsider, and former editor for the late, lamented MacNN. He is a writer, performer, podcaster, and broadcaster, specializing in smart tech and bad jokes. He lives in Victoria, BC.

Latest Articles from Charles Martin

Apple's AI catch-up ends at WWDC and with the iPhone 16, says Kuo

Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will roll out big AI improvements during its WWDC keynote that will need the iPhone 16, and the bigger features may take some time fully roll out.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

Apple has drawn a fuzzy line about what counts as console emulation on iPhone

Apple's App Store app review team has rejected PC emulator UTM SE, spawning questions about what might be allowed, and from whom.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

'Apple Intelligence' at the core of next-gen Apple hardware, services

Apple's forthcoming "Apple Intelligence" features will be the key to both future software and future hardware, including all-new device launches.

Charles Martin and Malcolm Owen | 6 months ago

iOS 18 is getting the ability to lock apps with Face ID & a dark mode expansion

New options in iOS 18 are rumored to include the ability to lock individual apps away from prying eyes, as well as taking the existing Dark Mode setting to new levels.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

Why AI gadgets and wearables won't replace smartphones anytime soon

Dedicated AI hardware devices like the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin have so far failed to gain market traction because they are few-trick ponies in a world used to versatile workhorses like the iPhone.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

How to optimize your MacBook battery life

Features in your MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, along with good user practices, can help optimize your battery's lifespan and health - whether you leave it plugged in all the time or not.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

WWDC unlikely to see debuts of any new hardware at all

A new report doubles-down on the improbability of new hardware debuts at WWDC — and pushes back the rumored arrival of an Apple TV set-top box update.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

Hit-and-run driver busted by AirPod lost after cyclist crashed through window

A bicyclist's fortuitous AirPod bounce after a terrible crash helped police track down a hit-and-run driver.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

Apple's new M2 iPad Air has a nine-core GPU, despite original claims to the contrary

Apple has quietly changed the M2 iPad Air's listed GPU core count from 10 cores to nine cores, and Metal benchmark testing suggests that the nine-core spec is accurate.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

Five indicted in $12M fake Apple devices fraud case in southern California

A scam involving "returning" some 16,000 counterfeit iPhones and iPads to Apple stores has resulted in five arrests that could lead to decades behind bars.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

How to set up and manage a guest user on your Mac

On occasion, you may want to allow other people in your home to access your Mac, but not your personal account. We'll show you how to set up and manage temporary guest users.

Charles Martin | 2 months ago

How to fill out and sign PDF forms on iPhone and iPad

Sometimes you need to sign or fill out PDF forms while you're away from your Mac. Here's how to get that paperwork done on your iPhone or iPad.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

App icon customization, new emoji creation coming to iOS 18

A new report suggests that further enhancements to both the Home Screen and various Apple apps are coming in iOS 18, arriving in fall 2024.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

ICQ 1996-2024: The first universal messenger had a good run, and is leaving us soon

While you probably haven't thought about it in years, the first mainstream universal messenger app for the Mac and just about every other platform will finally be completely retired in June 2024.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

The best educational apps on iPad for kids and young students

The iPad can be an important tool in a parent's playbook for instilling a love of learning early on. These are some of the best educational apps for younger learners.

Charles Martin | 6 months ago

How to answer and end phone and FaceTime calls using Siri

In addition to initiating phone calls, you can use Siri to answer incoming phone and FaceTime calls. When the call is over, you can also use Siri to end the call as well — with an important caveat.

Charles Martin | 7 months ago

How to look up your App Store purchase history

Being able to look up your past purchases on Apple's App Store can help you recover an app you accidentally deleted, or spot a problem with a subscription.

Charles Martin | 3 weeks ago

If you want an iPad Pro Magic Keyboard that matches the Siri Remote, it'll cost you

Podcaster and Apple TV enthusiast Sigmund Judge has spent $600 and "a stressful afternoon" replacing the keycaps on his new 11-inch iPad Pro's white Magic Keyboard.

Charles Martin | 7 months ago

Kuo: iPhone 16 Pro replacing blue with rose titanium color

TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has laid out his predictions for the color options for the iPhone 16 lineup, coming in the fall of 2024.

Charles Martin | 7 months ago

Updated and enhanced AirTag expected in 2025

Apple is working on a new version of the popular AirTag item tracker, said to replace the current model at some point in 2025.

Charles Martin | 7 months ago

Schiller fails to convince skeptical judge over Apple's App Store fees

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers remains unconvinced of Apple's rationale for claiming it is complying with her original order, following testimony from Apple Fellow Phil Schiller.

Charles Martin | 7 months ago