Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones News - Page 6

The latest and most important Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones news - Page 6.

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Apple's first ChatGPT-like tool is already being used by some customer support agents

Oliver Haslam | Feb 23, 2024 1:30 PM CST

There has been a lot of talk of late about Apple's attempt to increase its positioning in the world of AI. That will hopefully see Siri improve greatly and rumors have big AI-focused updates coming to the iPhone in 2024 - likely with the arrival of the iOS 18 update and iPhone 16 models this September. Now, a new report claims that Apple is already using a ChatGPT-like chatbot internally, with some customer support agents employing it to help them do their work.

Apple's first ChatGPT-like tool is already being used by some customer support agents

MacRumors reports that the generative AI tool was recently launched as a pilot program that gives some AppleCare support workers access to it for testing purposes. The tool, called Ask, can automatically generate responses to technical questions that have been received from customers with Apple employees then passing the response on to customers either over the phone or via online chat systems.

The report says that Ask will automatically use Apple's in-house knowledge base to formulate its answers and employees rate the responses as either helpful or unhelpful in an attempt to better train it. Apple reportedly wants workers to use the new tool in the first instance before relying on traditional research methods like searching the knowledge base themselves.

Continue reading: Apple's first ChatGPT-like tool is already being used by some customer support agents (full post)

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is here with support for satellite comms and more

Oliver Haslam | Feb 22, 2024 1:30 PM CST

With the Mobile World Congress event set to kick off next week, there are sure to be plenty of announcements for us to sink our teeth into, but we don't have to wait that long to learn what the folks at Xiaomi have been working on. The Xiaomi 14 Pro has been unveiled already, and it has some cool features to go with it including impressive satellite caopabilities and new cameras.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is here with support for satellite comms and more

The new phone hasn't been officially unveiled for a global launch, however, so all we have to go on is the Chinese launch right now. But with the aforementioned MWC around the corner, we can expect more details of a global nature to be shared then.

We still know the board strokes, at least. They begin with a new second-gen Sony 1-inch camera sensor with a variable aperture of up to f/1.63. The 120mm periscope camera also now has a faster f/2.5 aperture when compared to the previous Xiaomi models, but there are new AI smarts that promise to bring large model computational photography improvements.

Continue reading: The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is here with support for satellite comms and more (full post)

New Google Pixel Fold 2 leak hints at a new-look camera system

Oliver Haslam | Feb 22, 2024 1:15 PM CST

When Google released the Pixel Fold last year it was the company's first entry into the foldable device market and it was one that was hotly anticipated. The phone was also largely well received as well, and now we're starting to learn more about what the phone will have to offer when it goes through its first refresh.

New Google Pixel Fold 2 leak hints at a new-look camera system

Almost sure to be called the Pixel Fold 2, the unconfirmed handset has now leaked via a set of renders by the usually-reliable leaker OnLeaks. They come via a collaboration with Spartprix and show the Pixel Fold 2 off in all its glory, albeit in a rather uninspiring black finish. Regardless of your thoughts on the color, however, there is sure to be one thing that jumps out as soon as you see these renders.

That thing is of course the new camera array on the back of the phone. Ever since the Pixel 6, Google's phones have had a camera bar on the back that has reached from one side of the phone to the other. The Pixel Fold had one of its own, but if these leaks are accurate the Pixel Fold 2 will ditch the look, instead going for something more akin to a stretched rectangle with curved edges. It's definitely a look, and we find yourselves wondering if we should expect it to also extend to the Pixel 9 series as well.

Continue reading: New Google Pixel Fold 2 leak hints at a new-look camera system (full post)

Seven of the top 10 best-selling phones in 2023 had an Apple logo on the back

Oliver Haslam | Feb 22, 2024 1:00 PM CST

New research that investigated the top 10 best-selling smartphones around the world found that the table had a very familiar look to it. Why? Because one manufacturer accounted for seven of the top 10 smartphones on the list with one other making the remaining three devices.

Seven of the top 10 best-selling phones in 2023 had an Apple logo on the back

The best-selling phone was the iPhone 14, and from there it was followed by a who's who of iPhones including the older iPhone 13. But as bad as the news is for every smartphone maker that isn't Apple, the results actually represented a slight improvement for Samsung - the company took three spots which was an increase over the two spots it accounted for in 2022.

The full rundown of the top 10 best-selling smartphones in 2023 according to Counterpoint Research reads:

Continue reading: Seven of the top 10 best-selling phones in 2023 had an Apple logo on the back (full post)

Apple's first foldable device might not be an iPhone no matter how much you want it to be

Oliver Haslam | Feb 22, 2024 12:02 PM CST

With Samsung, Google, and countless other Android manufacturers already producing new foldable phones at a rate of knots it's surely only a matter of time before Apple joins the fray with a foldable iPhone. We've been hearing rumors to that effect for a long time now, but so far, Apple has refused to actually ship anything - although we have to imagine that it has been prototyping foldable iPhones for years. Now, a new report claims that's indeed the case except they aren't foldable iPhones at all.

Apple's first foldable device might not be an iPhone no matter how much you want it to be

Instead, the report claims that the devices Apple has been working on are something entirely different. Larger than an iPhone, the new foldable devices are more likely to be something akin to a tablet or notebook computer. That's according to supply chain sources speaking as part of a paywalled DigiTimes report picked up by MacRumors.

The report goes on to claim that Apple has been developing the device for at least five years with design efforts now said to be converging ahead of plans to enter mass production. It isn't clear what the product will actually be nor how Apple will market it, however.

Continue reading: Apple's first foldable device might not be an iPhone no matter how much you want it to be (full post)

New OLED iPad Pro leak suggests the updated tablets will be incredibly thin

Oliver Haslam | Feb 21, 2024 2:15 PM CST

Apple has long been rumored to be working on new iPad Pros with OLED displays and faster chips inside, and they're now expected to debut within the next couple of months. Now, a new leak appears to have shared details about their dimensions and if accurate, these could be some super-thin tablets.

New OLED iPad Pro leak suggests the updated tablets will be incredibly thin

Apple is expected to ship 11-inch and 12,9-inch iPad Pro models as has become the norm for its high-end tablet. And while they're generally going to be around the same height and width as the models that they will replace, these newly updated versions will reportedly shrink considerably in terms of thickness. The 12,9-inch iPad Pro, for example, will be just 5,0mm thick if this leak is correct.

The full rundown of dimensions of the new OLED iPad Pros, alongside the models they will replace in the lineup, reads:

Continue reading: New OLED iPad Pro leak suggests the updated tablets will be incredibly thin (full post)

New 2024 iPad Air leak shares the tablet's vital statistics ahead of its official unveiling

Oliver Haslam | Feb 21, 2024 2:00 PM CST

Apple has long been tipped to have not one but two new iPad Air tablets ready to be released in 2024, but hard details have so far been hard to come by. We've been able to make educated guesses based on past release patterns and rumors of the two-size strategy have so far been the most interesting. Now, as Apple gets closer to the rumored April release window, a new leak appears to have shared more information.

New 2024 iPad Air leak shares the tablet's vital statistics ahead of its official unveiling

Specifically, the information relates to the physical sizes of the new tablets. We're already expecting a refreshed 11-inch iPad Air to be joined by an all-new 12.9-inch model but actual figures have so far not been shared. 9to5Mac has now changed that.

According to unnamed sources, 9to5Mac says that the new iPad Airs are codenamed J507 and J537, but so far the only dimensions it has shared are for the new 12.9-inch model. According to the report, the new model will measure 280.6 mm x 214.9 mm x 6.0 mm.

Continue reading: New 2024 iPad Air leak shares the tablet's vital statistics ahead of its official unveiling (full post)

The iOS 17.4 update will make it easier to see if your iPhone's battery is working properly

Oliver Haslam | Feb 21, 2024 1:45 PM CST

Apple's currently beta testing the iOS 17.4 software update with developers as well as those who are on the public beta program, and the latest beta release includes a new feature that will be popular among users of older iPhones.

The iOS 17.4 update will make it easier to see if your iPhone's battery is working properly

While the iPhone has long shown people the device's current battery health status, the information has been somewhat hidden within the Settings app's menus. However, the upcoming iOS 17.4 update will change things somewhat, putting the iPhone's battery health data front and center.

The change, as has been spotted by multiple people who already have the new update installed on their devices, means that the battery health status is now visible in the main battery sub-menu of the settings app. Here, the battery health is shown while tapping immediately opens a deeper view with additional information should people want to see it.

Continue reading: The iOS 17.4 update will make it easier to see if your iPhone's battery is working properly (full post)

Apple Music is making it easier to switch from Spotify and others

Oliver Haslam | Feb 21, 2024 12:43 PM CST

Apple Music might not be as big as Spotify but it's used by a ton of people all around the world. It's a popular music streaming service for a reason and it has some great apps available across just about every category of device. But there is always room for more users and Apple knows that making it easier to switch from Spotify, Tidal, and others is a key part of getting people's money. So it's working on doing just that.

Apple Music is making it easier to switch from Spotify and others

A new MacRumors report notes that references found in the latest Apple Music beta for Android show that Apple is working on a new option that will allow people to transfer their music library and playlists from one streaming service and into Apple Music. The whole thing is powered by SongShift, a service that already offers similar functionality.

The feature isn't fully baked in yet and not all users of the latest Apple Music beta appear to be able to access it which suggests that Apple is still in the middle of doing some testing. However, it's a feature that could well be just enough to tempt people to take Apple Music for a spin, and its launch makes plenty of sense.

Continue reading: Apple Music is making it easier to switch from Spotify and others (full post)

Apple Music Replay now offers a monthly recap option atop its existing annual one

Oliver Haslam | Feb 21, 2024 6:38 AM CST

You're probably already familiar with the Apple Music Replay feature because it crops up every year and is designed to give everyone a better idea of all of the music that they have been listening to over the last 12 months. Now, Apple has brought the same feature to those who don't want to have wait quite so long - Apple Music Replay is now available as a monthly collection of songs, too.

Apple Music Replay now offers a monthly recap option atop its existing annual one

As of right now, users can see their monthly listening habits for the first time, offering insights into which music and albums they've been hooked on over the last few weeks.

Finding your monthly Apple Music stats is as simple as you'd expect and all you have to do is log into the replay.music.apple.com website using the Apple ID that your account is linked to. There, you'll find information like the most-listened-to songs while total monthly listening time is also available and milestones will also be celebrated, too.

Continue reading: Apple Music Replay now offers a monthly recap option atop its existing annual one (full post)