The latest development in wizarding technology has arrived, as a recent update to the Siri function now allows Harry Potter fans to use their iPhones to cast spells.
Apple's Siri function now includes three familiar built-in spells, according to Gadget Hacks. Specifically, saying "Lumos" turns on the iPhone flashlight and saying "Nox" turns it off. Meanwhile, uttering "Accio," followed by the name of a specific app, will launch that app. One of the most popular examples of the third command would be, "Accio Instagram!"
To get started, Hey Siri must be enabled. Users can do this by locating "Siri & Search" under Settings and selecting "Listen for 'Hey Siri.'" This is reportedly the only way to perform the built-in Harry Potter spells and charms, with Gadget Hacks noting, "If you try to use Siri by long-pressing the Side or Home button or using Type to Siri, they won't work." Some other helpful tips include toggling on "Allow Siri When Locked," which will allow users to cast spells from their lock screen, and enabling "Always listen for 'Hey Siri'" to ensure that the spells will work even when the iPhone is lying face down.
Beyond the three default spells, users can create custom spells with the Shortcuts function, making the possibilities endless. Examples of additional spells include "Lumos Maxima" to turn your flashlight to maximum brightness, "Silencio" to turn on "Do Not Disturb," "Sonorus" to turn the volume up to 100% and "Quietus" to turn the volume all the way down.
To set this up, users must navigate to the Shortcuts app, tap the "plus" symbol in the upper-right corner, and select Add Action. From here, users can search for the function they want. After tapping Next and entering the Shortcut name (in other words, the spell), users can start casting their custom charms. For example, to enable Airplane Mode, a user could title the action "Wingardium Leviosa."
As the new spells feature indicates, the Harry Potter books and film franchise continues to occupy the limelight. Most recently, the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special arrived on HBO Max on Jan. 1 and featured exclusive interviews with franchise stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, and more.
In less positive Potter news, the six-time Tony-winning Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child recently made waves for firing its star James Snyder following allegations of misconduct. Additionally, author J.K. Rowling's incendiary statements on transgender rights have alienated many fans in the past year, and Jon Stewart made headlines for alleging anti-Semitic tropes in the Harry Potter films, though he later clarified that his comments were made in jest.
Both the Return to Hogwarts special and all eight Harry Potter films are streaming now on HBO Max. The third Fantastic Beasts installment, The Secrets of Dumbledore, is also set to arrive in theaters on April 15.
Source: Gadget Hacks