iPhone 12 gains surprise Qi2 support with iOS 17.4 update

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In a quiet update, Apple enabled 15W Qi2 wireless charging on iPhone 12 with the recent iOS 17.4 release. This means you can now leverage the benefits of supported Qi2 chargers. Macworld first discovered this functionality and confirmed it through testing alongside Belkin. Belkin verified that their Qi2 chargers deliver 15W charging to the updated iPhone 12. Anker has also confirmed similar compatibility for their Qi2 chargers.

As the pioneer of MagSafe on iPhones, the iPhone 12 has always supported 15W magnetic charging. However, other iPhones were limited to slower 7.5W wireless charging unless they used certified MagSafe chargers. This update effectively brings all MagSafe iPhones under the Qi2 umbrella, offering greater flexibility and potentially more affordable charging options.

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Apple to allow default navigation apps on iPhone (EU only)

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Android users have long enjoyed the flexibility of setting default apps, while iOS users have faced limitations. However, Apple is making a user-centric shift. Starting next year, iPhone users in the European Union can choose their preferred navigation app, like Google Maps, instead of solely relying on Apple Maps.

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Google Drive on iOS gains user-friendly search filters

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Google announced an update to their Google Drive app for iOS, bringing intuitive search filters via dropdown menus for file type, owner, and last modified date. These filters appear before and after a search, with dynamic recommendations popping up as you type. The update caters to all Google Drive users, including individual and Workspace subscribers. While currently exclusive to iOS, Google confirms a similar update is on the way for Android users.

These new filters address the pain point of locating specific files when you're unsure of their exact name or location. For example, if you're looking for a recently saved video, you can simply select "Videos" under the file type filter, then choose a custom date range under "last modified" to pinpoint your search. 

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Apple fixes two zero-day bugs in iOS, iPadOS and macOS

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Apple released software updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS today to fix two critical security vulnerabilities. The company said the bugs were being exploited in the wild. “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1,” the company said about both flaws in its security reports. The updates are available for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) researcher Clément Lecigne discovered and reported both exploits. Bleeping Computer reported that Google TAG often finds and reveals zero-day bugs targeting high-risk people, such as politicians, journalists, and dissidents. Apple did not share any details about the attacks using the flaws.

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