Technology
How to use iPhone's mic mode for crystal-clear, noise-free calls
For years, iPhone users have relied on Voice Isolation to block out background sounds during calls, a handy feature for noisy environments or busy homes. However, with the iOS 18 update, things have shifted a bit.
Here’s a question from Debbie in Half Moon Bay that sums up the experience of many users: “Since I updated Apple software to iOS 18.0.1, I can no longer remove background noise while on the phone. This used to be in the Control Center. Have you figured out how to do this?”
That’s from Debbie, a fan of the Voice Isolation feature that used to let her chat on the phone with her dog barking in the background without her callers hearing the noise.
Good news, Debbie. With iOS 18, Apple introduced a smart new feature called Automatic Mic Mode, which adapts to your surroundings to automatically enhance call quality. Voice Isolation is still available, but now it’s part of a more intelligent, hands-free experience.
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Introducing Automatic Mic Mode
Automatic Mic Mode builds on the Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum features that Apple introduced in iOS 15. Now, the mode can intelligently sense your environment and select the best microphone setting for clearer, more natural communication.
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Who gets Automatic Mic Mode?
This feature isn’t limited to the newest iPhones. If your device supports iOS 18, you can experience the flexibility of Automatic Mic Mode, from iPhone XR to the latest models. Not sure if you’re running the latest iOS? No worries. Here are some quick steps to update your iPhone:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Select Software Update
- If available, tap Update Now and begin downloading and installing iOS 18.1
Here’s what it looks like in action
In a Noisy Place? If you’re on a work call in a bustling coffee shop, Automatic Mic Mode will default to Voice Isolation, blocking out background noise so that the other person hears only your voice.
On Speakerphone for a Group Chat? Switch to speakerphone for a group chat, and Automatic Mic Mode may shift to Standard Mode, creating a more open, natural sound that’s perfect for group conversations.
With Automatic Mic Mode, you no longer need to go into settings for most calls; your iPhone now makes those decisions for you. But don’t worry, Debbie, Voice Isolation is still available for manual selection if you prefer.
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How to enable Voice Isolation manually on iOS 18
For those who want to choose Voice Isolation themselves, here’s how to access it in iOS 18.0.1.
1) During a call: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center.
2) Access Mic Mode: Tap on the app controls for your current call near the name of the app (like Phone or FaceTime).
3) Select Voice Isolation: Under Audio & Video, you’ll see options like Automatic, Standard, Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum. Tap Voice Isolation to reduce background noise. Here’s a breakdown of those options:
- Automatic: Automatically uses the Mic Mode that’s best for your call type
- Standard: Uses standard voice processing
- Voice Isolation: Prioritizes your voice and blocks ambient noises
- Wide Spectrum: Leaves ambient noises unfiltered
Your selection will only affect the app you’re using to make the call. Mic Modes will remain active for that app until you choose a different one.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
With the shift to Automatic Mic Mode, Apple is keeping up with our fast-paced, mobile lives. From noisy environments to quiet settings, your iPhone now ensures crystal-clear calls automatically. And for users like Debbie, who often multitask during calls, it’s a game-changer. Debbie, give it a try! Whether you’re handling household tasks or taking a call on a crowded street, your iPhone will adapt so you can focus on the conversation.
What features would you like to see added to future iOS updates to enhance your calling experience further? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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Technology
L’Oréal claims its new skincare gadget can tell which ingredients work best for you
L’Oréal is hoping its latest beauty gadget can demystify skincare. At CES 2025, the company announced Cell BioPrint, a device that’s designed to analyze your skin and give personalized advice on how to slow down signs of aging.
The device is the result of a partnership with NanoEntek — a Korean startup that specializes in chips that can read biofluids. A person essentially takes a facial tape strip, sticks it on their cheek, and then puts the strip in a buffer solution. That solution is then inserted into a cartridge for the Cell BioPrint to analyze. Once that sample is processed, the device takes images of your face as you answer a few short questions about skin concerns and aging.
From there, L’Oreal says it uses proteomics, or the analysis of protein structure and function from a biological sample. In this case, the Cell BioPrint is designed to determine how well your skin is aging. It’ll then give personalized advice on how to improve your skin’s appearance, as well as predictions of how responsive your skin may be to certain skincare ingredients.
It’s an attractive claim, but as with most beauty tech, it’s difficult to properly evaluate L’Oréal’s methods without peer-reviewed studies or experts weighing in. L’Oréal also claims the device can help predict future cosmetic issues before they manifest. For example, it may be able to determine if your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation or enlarged pores.
Skincare became massively popular during covid-19 lockdowns, sparking a shift in beauty trends toward self-care and the rise of “skinfluencers.” On the flip side, that virality has since turned skincare buying into an extreme sport. Hop onto TikTok, and you’ll find dozens of skinfluencers egging you into dropping $80 on a vial of vitamin C serum, debating the moisturizing properties of glycerin versus hyaluronic acid, or wagging a finger about this or that retinol cream. (Some, may even convince you to buy a wand that zaps your face to increase the efficacy of said ingredients.) It’s confusing, expensive, and maddeningly, what works for one person may not for another. The most the average consumer can do is cross their fingers and hope that the latest potion they bought will actually work.
The Cell BioPrint’s appeal is it claims to use science to cut through that noise. Maybe every skinfluencer says you need to start using retinol when you turn 30, but this device will purportedly tell you based on your own biology whether retinol will actually work for you. Personalization has always been a major theme with CES beauty tech, but it’s particularly compelling with skincare, which is highly dependent on your individual biology. But again, right now there’s no way to know how reliable the Cell BioPrint’s science and recommendations are.
L’Oréal says the Cell BioPrint will be easy to use, with the process taking only five minutes. It also says people will be able to repeat tests, enabling them to monitor changes and progress over time. That said, it might be a while before something like Cell BioPrint is available for consumers. L’Oréal says the device will first be piloted in Asia later this year but otherwise didn’t have a concrete launch timeline or price.
Technology
Can I outsmart thieves with a hidden AirTag in RFID wallet?
Apple AirTags can be a great way to outsmart car thieves, but there are some drawbacks to consider. A key limitation is that thieves who also have iPhones can usually detect a hidden AirTag in vehicles they are trying to steal. This makes hiding an AirTag tricky.
That’s why we were intrigued by Brian’s inquiry about using other ways to make Apple AirTags undetectable to car thieves or outsmarting them twice.
“If an AirTag is put in an RFID wallet and hidden in a car, can the AirTag be located by a thief using a locator? I know the AirTag will function in the wallet, but will it be undetectable by the thief?“ — Brian, LaSalle, Illinois
Below are reasons why using an RFID wallet might end up leaving you outsmarted instead.
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Why RFID wallets might not outsmart car thieves?
Some thieves use RFID readers, which use radio waves, to scan and read data such as credit cards in wallets. The function of RFID wallets and bags is to protect items or devices from these radio waves by blocking them.
Apple AirTags use different technology, so even if it was placed in an RFID-blocking wallet or bag, it could still be detected by a thief with an iPhone or locator. Unlike the radio waves used to scan for credit cards and other data, Apple AirTags use Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Neither technology can be shielded by RFID-blocking material because those materials cannot block Bluetooth and UWB signals.
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What can block AirTag technology?
Faraday bags, on the other hand, use electromagnetic shielding and can successfully block Apple AirTag signals, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals, from being detected by thieves. The only issue with putting an Apple AirTag in a Faraday bag to hide in your car is that if the car thief cannot read or locate the signal it emits, you cannot either.
While the Apple AirTag may go undetected when in a Faraday bag, you will likely not be able to use FindMy or any other tracking methods to locate it either, because those methods require signals pinged from the AirTag to other iPhones and Apple Devices to track location.
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Alternatives to AirTags for car security
While Apple AirTags offer some benefits, there are other technologies and methods to consider for enhancing car security. For example, GPS trackers provide real-time location data without the risk of being detected by a nearby iPhone. Additionally, physical deterrents like steering wheel locks and alarm systems can act as effective safeguards. Combining multiple layers of security can better protect your vehicle against theft. Check out how to prevent your car from being stolen.
HOW TO OUTSMART CAR THIEVES WITH THESE SMART AIRTAG TACTICS
Kurt’s key takeaways
While Apple AirTags can be a useful device to help you keep track of your vehicle, whether it is lost or stolen, it does not replace the reliability of a GPS system installed in your vehicle if you are trying to outsmart car thieves. Because car thieves might be able to locate an Apple AirTag hidden in your vehicle, it may not provide the layer of protection you hope for. Though the technology in RFID wallets will not block signals from an Apple AirTag, which will make them detectable to locators and scanners, Faraday bags will. Unfortunately, you will end up outsmarting yourself in trying to outsmart car thieves if you use a Faraday bag because you will then not be able to track the Apple AirTags either. If you are looking for the optimal way to outsmart car thieves, the Apple AirTags might not be the answer you are looking for.
What personal experiences have you had with technology aiding in theft prevention? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
This pixel light grid can show you the weather (and the price of Bitcoin)
Govee is launching a new pixel light grid that can display art, animations, and live data. The Gaming Pixel Light lets you upload your own images and GIFs to display or choose from 150 different data sources, letting it provide live updates on the weather, Bitcoin prices, NBA scores, and more.
You can also sync the display to games you’re playing by hooking it up to Govee’s HDMI sync box or play 8-bit tunes that sync to the pixel grid using the built-in speaker. Naturally, there’s an AI component as well — an accompanying app can generate new pixel art for you using Govee’s “AI Lighting Bot.”
The Gaming Pixel Light is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can wall-mount the screen or place it atop a table or desk, making it seem like a neat little addition to a gaming room or office.
Along with this pixel light, Govee is announcing the Table Lamp 2 Pro — an LED-packed tabletop lamp with a 2.5-inch JBL speaker that syncs up lighting with your music. The portable device has 210 independently controlled LED beads and 600 lumens of brightness. When it’s not synced with your music, you can customize the lighting yourself or choose from 100 preset scenes.
The lamp works with Matter, Google Assistant, and Alexa and comes with a rechargeable battery. You can also link two lamps together for a “full stereo surround experience.” Govee says it will release the Gaming Pixel Light and the Table Lamp 2 Pro in the second quarter of 2025, but it didn’t provide any pricing information.
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