JetBlue Now Offers AirTag’s Newest Feature: Impact on Travelers

### JetBlue Now Provides Process for Sharing AirTag Location When Luggage is Misplaced

AirTags have been a popular solution for monitoring luggage during travels. A newly added feature has improved this functionality, and now JetBlue endorses the update.

Just before the conclusion of the previous year, Apple released a significant new feature for AirTag. iOS 18.2 unveiled a capability known as ‘Share Item Location.’ This feature enables users to temporarily share tracking data for a misplaced AirTag or other Find My-compatible devices with another individual.

Apple’s collaboration with airlines has rendered this feature especially advantageous. The partnership allows airlines to incorporate lost luggage tracking directly into their customer service systems, providing a seamless way to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with an airline, thus speeding up the recovery of lost luggage.

Several airlines joined at launch, with additional ones included over time. The latest notable addition is JetBlue, which has recently informed that support for AirTag’s newest feature is now being implemented.

#### How It Operates

To share an item’s location, customers can create a Share Item Location link in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This link can be shared with JetBlue by scanning a QR code at the baggage claim area or by collaborating with a crew member at the airport’s Baggage Service Office. JetBlue crew members will utilize the temporary link to assist in locating and retrieving bags that are found within JetBlue stations or other contracted locations.

#### Steps to Create the Link

1. Open the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Navigate to the Items tab.
3. Choose the AirTag or another lost item.
4. Scroll down until ‘Share Item Location’ appears.
5. Follow the prompts to enable sharing.

Have you utilized AirTag’s location sharing feature with JetBlue or any other airline? How effective has it been? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Apple Research Uncovers and Utilizes a Revived AI Method for Image Creation

**Generative Image Models: The Emergence of Normalizing Flows**

In the present day, generative image models predominantly categorize into two types: diffusion models, such as Stable Diffusion, and autoregressive models, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o. Nonetheless, recent findings from Apple indicate a renewed interest in a third method: Normalizing Flows (NFs). By incorporating Transformers, these models may demonstrate abilities that were previously underappreciated.

### What are Normalizing Flows?

Normalizing Flows are AI frameworks that convert real-world data, including images, into structured noise and subsequently reverse the process to produce new samples. One considerable advantage of NFs is their capability to compute the precise likelihood of generated images, a trait that diffusion models do not possess. This characteristic renders NFs especially useful for tasks where grasping the probability of outcomes is vital. Despite this potential, initial flow-based models frequently yielded blurred images, lacking the intricacy and diversity found in diffusion and transformer-based systems.

### Study #1: TarFlow

In the publication “Normalizing Flows are Capable Generative Models,” Apple unveils TarFlow, or Transformer AutoRegressive Flow. TarFlow substitutes conventional handcrafted layers in flow models with Transformer blocks, creating images in small segments and predicting each segment based on prior ones. This autoregressive technique parallels the method utilized by OpenAI for image generation.

A major difference is that whereas OpenAI generates discrete tokens, aproaching images as sequences of text, TarFlow produces pixel values directly. This method circumvents the quality decline linked with encoding images into a fixed vocabulary of tokens. However, TarFlow encountered difficulties in scaling to larger, high-resolution images.

### Study #2: STARFlow

Building upon TarFlow, Apple introduces STARFlow (Scalable Transformer AutoRegressive Flow) in the paper “STARFlow: Scaling Latent Normalizing Flows for High-resolution Image Synthesis.” The main innovation of STARFlow is its functionality in latent space instead of pixel space, enabling it to emphasize broader image structures before fine-tuning details via a decoder.

Moreover, STARFlow improves text prompt management by incorporating pre-existing language models, such as Google’s Gemma, to understand user prompts. This configuration keeps image generation concentrated on visual specifics while utilizing advanced language comprehension.

### Comparing STARFlow with OpenAI’s GPT-4o

While Apple investigates Normalizing Flows, OpenAI has progressed its GPT-4o model beyond diffusion. GPT-4o regards images as sequences of discrete tokens, predicting one token at a time, allowing for versatility across text, images, and audio. However, this token-by-token generation can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly for high-resolution images.

Conversely, Apple’s methodology with STARFlow emphasizes efficiency and portability, indicating an emphasis on mobile applications. Both companies are innovating beyond diffusion models, but their approaches reflect differing priorities—OpenAI for cloud capabilities and Apple for on-device performance.

Mosyle Unveils Beta Support for Apple’s Autumn Device Management Enhancements

**Getting Ready for Apple’s Fall Software Releases: A Handbook for IT Teams**

As Apple prepares to introduce its newest software updates this autumn, which include iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26, it’s imperative for IT teams overseeing Apple devices to start testing workflows and onboarding processes for devices. With the rollout of new management functionalities via Mosyle’s Universal Early Access Beta Program, IT professionals have a valuable chance to get ready for these updates.

### Significance of Early Testing

Early beta releases play a crucial role in recognizing and rectifying bugs that could impact device management. By conducting tests now, IT teams can confirm workflows, evaluate app compatibility, and ensure that any modifications in setup operate as intended. Delaying until later in the summer may lead to unresolved problems that could disrupt operations when the updates are officially launched.

### Mosyle’s Universal Early Access Beta Program

Mosyle has initiated its Universal Early Access Beta Program, which gives IT teams early access to upcoming features linked to Apple’s fall software updates. This initiative aims to improve the management of Apple devices by introducing new setup skip options, profile support, and adjustments to device supervision.

### Features Available for Testing

At present, the following features are accessible for testing across different platforms:

– **macOS Tahoe 26**
– Bypass the Additional Privacy Settings pane.

– **iOS 26 and iPadOS 26**
– Bypass the OS Showcase pane.
– Management settings for audio accessories.

– **visionOS 2**
– Support for Safari extensions.
– Software update profile.
– Return to Service options.
– Bypass Apple Account setup.
– Bypass biometric setup.
– Bypass App Analytics pane.
– Bypass Apple Intelligence setup pane.
– Turn off Location Services.
– Bypass the passcode pane.
– Bypass Apple Pay setup.
– Bypass Privacy pane.
– Bypass Screen Time pane.
– Disable Siri.
– Bypass automatic update configuration.
– Bypass Terms and Conditions.
– Bypass Tips.
– Bypass Get Started pane.

Mosyle is consistently enhancing its offerings, so users are advised to visit the Help Center for the most current features and updates.

### How to Activate Early Access

To join the Universal Early Access Beta Program, adhere to these instructions:

1. Sign in to your Mosyle dashboard.
2. Go to Organization > Preferences > Mosyle Beta.
3. Enable the Universal Early Access Beta Program.

After activation, new options will be accessible in device configuration settings for testing across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and beyond.

### The Argument for Immediate Testing

Testing early enables IT teams to identify bugs and shape the functionality of the final release. With Apple’s fall updates for 2025 expected to bring substantial enhancements in device management, acclimatizing to these adjustments is crucial. Once the updates are publicly available, organizations have a 90-day period to postpone their deployment, emphasizing the necessity of early preparation to ensure seamless operations.

In summary, as Apple readies to launch its newest software updates, IT teams need to take proactive measures to guarantee their workflows and device management processes are primed. Engaging with Mosyle’s Universal Early Access Beta Program is an efficient way to stay ahead of potential challenges and streamline device management strategies.

Significant Improvements Arriving for CarPlay in iOS 16: Essential Features and Upgrades

Over the past few years, the introduction of new features for CarPlay has been sparse. However, with the debut of CarPlay Ultra and the upcoming updates in iOS 26 for the standard CarPlay, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Here’s what to expect this autumn with iOS 26, marking CarPlay’s most significant update in years.

## New ‘Liquid Glass’ Aesthetic

As part of Apple’s design overhaul across platforms this year, the new ‘Liquid Glass’ aesthetic of iOS 26 is making its way into vehicles as well. This upgrade means that app icons and various UI components have been redesigned, and you’ll have the option to tailor the appearance using different icon styles, choosing from Default, Dark, and Clear—with the latter featuring several unique variants.

## Widgets in CarPlay

A few years back, CarPlay widgets were revealed as an element of Apple’s “next generation of CarPlay” project. This newer version ultimately became CarPlay Ultra, yet luckily, Apple is also introducing widgets to the standard CarPlay interface. In iOS 26, your car can showcase any widgets from the apps installed on your iPhone. Therefore, apps won’t require specific CarPlay compatibility for you to access their widgets while on the move.

## Video in the Car via AirPlay

Have you ever found yourself in the car needing to pass the time? CarPlay in iOS 26 enhances that experience by supporting video playback in the car. When your vehicle is parked, CarPlay allows you to view videos on your car’s display. This feature utilizes AirPlay technology, and third-party apps can implement bespoke support. So the next time you’re charging your electric vehicle, waiting to pick someone up, or in a similar scenario, CarPlay will be there to entertain you.

## Live Activities

This year is monumental for Live Activities, a feature previously exclusive to the iPhone and Apple Watch. Alongside its introduction on the Mac and iPad in macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26, CarPlay now includes support for Live Activities. Essentially, any Live Activity occurring on your iPhone will also be displayed in CarPlay—ideal for monitoring flights, sports scores, food deliveries, and more.

## Messages, Phone, Maps Enhancements

Apple has a multitude of new functionalities slated for system apps in iOS 26 that will enhance CarPlay as well. Here are a few particular improvements I want to emphasize for Messages, Phone, and Maps. Messages will finally incorporate tapback support in your vehicle. This widely used feature will allow you to swiftly and easily add a thumbs up, heart, or any other tapback to your friends’ messages. Pinned conversations are now accessible in the car too.

The Phone app receives a significant UI update in iOS 26: incoming calls will no longer occupy your entire screen; instead, they’ll present in a compact view, allowing you to access important navigation information seamlessly. Additionally, if your vehicle is equipped with a multitouch display, Apple Maps will let you engage with the map using multitouch for the first time.

CarPlay introduces a distinctive ‘Smart Display Zoom’ feature in iOS 26, providing enhanced flexibility in utilizing your limited screen space. Smart Display Zoom enables you to fit notably more content on the screen simultaneously. Naturally, as things become smaller, they may be trickier to tap while driving. Nevertheless, depending on your setup, you might find CarPlay’s new iOS 26 layout options to be an attractive alternative. Likewise, CarPlay will allow you to adjust text size according to your preference, making it larger and easier to read should that be your choice.

## iOS 26’s New CarPlay Features: Summary

This year is shaping up to be a monumental one for CarPlay, setting the stage for a robust ‘next generation’ for this long-time favorite among users. With all of the new features headed to CarPlay, iOS 26 will deliver significantly more than just enhancements for your iPhone—it will represent a major transformation for your vehicle as well.

iPadOS 26: Constraints in Relation to Key Mac Functionalities

# iPadOS 26: Constraints That Prevent It from Serving as a MacBook Alternative

iPadOS 26 has shown notable progress in improving the iPad experience, yet it still lacks in various aspects that hinder its ability to serve as a genuine substitute for a MacBook. Here are five key limitations that users should keep in mind when considering an iPad Pro versus a MacBook.

## 1. Absence of Terminal Access

A major drawback for developers and software engineers is the lack of Terminal access on iPadOS 26. While applications like Textastic and Swift Playground facilitate basic coding, they do not offer the complete array of development tools found on macOS. The inability to utilize Xcode or develop apps directly on the iPad can discourage those who depend on command-line interfaces for their tasks. For users seeking comprehensive development features, the iPad simply falls short.

## 2. No Multi-User Functionality

Another notable limitation is the absence of multi-user functionality on iPads. Unlike Macs, which permit multiple user accounts with distinct apps and data, iPads are intended as personal devices linked to a single Apple ID. This limitation can be quite significant for families that share devices. While there are alternatives such as custom focus modes, they do not afford the same degree of privacy and separation that multiple accounts provide on macOS.

## 3. Restricted External Display Capabilities

Even though iPadOS 26 has enhanced external display support, it still does not permit a genuine multi-monitor setup. Users can connect an external monitor, but the interaction is restricted to one additional display. Moreover, the lack of a clamshell mode means that closing the iPad will also deactivate the external monitor, which can interrupt workflows for users who favor a streamlined setup.

## 4. Limited Peripheral Customization Options

The options for customizing peripherals on the iPad are considerably constrained compared to macOS. Although some peripherals can connect and function, the absence of dedicated software for customization means users forfeit features that enhance productivity. For example, Logitech’s software for adjusting mouse settings is not available on iPadOS, which can impede the user experience for those who depend on specific settings for their devices.

## 5. Restrictions in Audio Management

Audio management on iPadOS is yet another domain where the system falls short. Unlike macOS, which enables users to play audio from multiple sources at once, iPadOS limits audio playback to one source at a time. This constraint can be exasperating for users who wish to mix audio from different applications, such as editing videos while enjoying background music.

## Final Thoughts

Despite these shortcomings, iPadOS 26 has implemented substantial enhancements that have blurred the lines between tablets and conventional computers. For many users, the iPad Pro can act as a primary device. However, those with specific requirements—particularly in development, shared environments, and peripheral customization—might discover that a MacBook remains the superior choice.

As discussions about what defines a computer persist, prospective buyers should evaluate these limitations against their individual needs. The cost disparity between iPads and MacBooks also plays a significant role in this choice, with Mac models frequently being more budget-friendly.

What are your opinions? Are there additional limitations of iPadOS that influence your choice between an iPad and a MacBook?