Latest News - Page 836

People who use Google Chrome on their iPhones can now use the web browser to add web apps to their Home Screen for the first time. The new web app support comes after Google updated the company's Chrome app to add support for adding web apps.

Those who already have Google Chrome installed on their iPhones can now download the update. It's a free download and those who have automatic updates enabled might already have the new version of Chrome installed.

Adding web apps to your Home Screen is something that is made possible thanks to an iOS 16.4 update that adds support for this new feature. That means that Chrome users will need to have updated their iPhones to iOS 16.4 or later in order to be able to take advantage of this feature.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup isn't expected to debut until the first couple of months of 2024 but that apparently isn't stopping someone from putting a Galaxy S24+ through its paces. They've been doing that using Geekbench and, for some reason, uploaded the results. And those results tell us a lot.

It's still early days for this phone and it's important to remember that all of this information is liable to change before the phone goes on sale. But for now, here's what we have to hand.

According to the specs shared via Geekbench we can expect the Galaxy S24+ to carry the US model number SM-S926U and be powered by Qualcomm's next flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. That chip will be paired with 8GB of RAM, too.

If you own a Tesla you're probably already very aware that you can't plug your iPhone in and use CarPlay like owners of cars from most other manufacturers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk hasn't given anyone hope that will change at any point soon, but a new report suggests that there might be something different in the works instead.

If that report is correct, Tesla appears to be getting ready to add a new AirPlay option to its cars that will allow drivers to wirelessly stream audio, and perhaps video, to their vehicles. That would work with more than iPhones as well, with iPads and Macs also supporting AirPlay.

The report comes courtesy of the @Tesla_iOS_App Twitter account that reports on changes to the Twitter for iPhone app. Based on references found in the latest Tesla app, that account believes that AirPlay support is on the way or at the very least being worked on. A string that references allowsAirPlayForMediaPlayback appears to suggest that there will be AriPlay support in the future.

Owners of iPhones and iPads can control how their children use such devices using a feature called Screen Time. The feature gives parents control over when kids access apps and which apps they can actually use. But things haven't been right for a while and the settings parents configure don't always work. Now, Apple has admitted that something is amiss and that it is working on a fix.

In a Wall Street Journal report, Apple says that it is aware that Screen Time settings can sometimes be unexpectedly reset, while users sometimes report that the settings become completely useless and kids are given unfettered access to their devices regardless of the Screen Time settings in place.

Apple was thought to have fixed the issue in its iOS 16.5 software update but that doesn't appear to have been the case. What's more, testers have already confirmed that the issue remains in place even when using the latest iOS 17 betas which suggests that no fix will arrive any time soon.

Future iPads and iPhones could be about to get super-thin bezels thanks to the display technology used in the Apple Watch. That technology is called low-injection pressure over-molding, or "LIPO" and Apple is already getting ready to use it on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

According to Bloomgerg's Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will benefit from 1.5mm display bezels, down from the 2.2mm of previous models. The LIPO technology was first used in the Apple Watch Series 7 and that produced a notable change in the appearance of the wearable when compared to previous models. It's thought that we can expect a similar change going from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro series of devices.

Moving forward, we can apparently look forward to something similar taking place with iPads. Gurman didn't explain which iPads we should be looking at first, but it seems likely that the iPad Pro or iPad Air will be the first to benefit from more svelte bezels.

Apple finally announced the 15-inch MacBook Air earlier this year after months of rumors and many had expected it to quickly become the company's most popular laptop. However, new reports suggest that the laptop might not be as popular as had previously been expected.

That report, citing industry sources inside Apple's supply chain, claims that the 15-inch MacBook Air didn't meet the demand expectations that were previously in place. As if that revelation wasn't bad enough, it's now been said that there are already calls within the supply chain for shipments to be put on hold to try and prevent a surplus of devices from being left without a home.

Just how bad are things? Some sources are claiming that the supply chain volume is 50% less than was originally estimated. Demand is also said to already be on the decline, suggesting that things could get even worse.

Apple's 2023 is far from over and there are big things expected in the final few months of the year. Alongside the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, there's ongoing talk of new wearables as well. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 seem like a given at this point, but anyone hoping for the arrival of a new Apple Watch SE looks set to be left very disappointed indeed.

While we saw Apple release an updated Apple Watch SE alongside the Apple Watch Series 8 in 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that we won't see a repeat performance when the Apple Watch Series 9 arrives this fall. Writing in the weekly Power on newsletter Gurman said that Apple is settling into a two-year release pattern for the budget wearable, leaving 2023 out in the cold. If you want to buy a new Apple Watch SE, you're going to have to make do with the current model or wait another year to fall 2024.

That is of course bad news for those who wanted to pick up a refreshed $249 Apple Watch SE this September, and it means that the watch will be even more out of date by the time a new model arrives. The current Apple Watch SE is already missing multiple features that are available on high-end models. Those features include ECG support, an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor, and wrist temperature monitoring. The display is also less impressive, featuring thicker bezels and smaller cases than the best Apple Watches.

Diablo 4 devs are finally going to give some buffs to the recently nerfed sorcerer class, as well as the barbarian.

The news came via a campfire chat streamed at the weekend, as PC Gamer spotted, and it'll doubtless be very welcome from sorcerers who have been pretty miffed at the curtailing of their powers in the recent pre-season patch.

The next patch for Diablo 4, which will be version 1.1.1, will bring in the buffs and should arrive on August 8, a week tomorrow. The idea is to improve not just the effectiveness of sorcerers in battle, but also the fun factor of playing the class.

If you're planning on picking up a brand-new Apple iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus this fall there's a good chance that you're going to have to pay a bit more than you did for your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus. And it might well depend on what part of the world you happen to be in at the time.

While we'd been hearing rumors of a price increase for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, a new report suggests that buyers of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might not be safe, either. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, there's a chance that the non-Pro iPhones are going to experience a price hike this year as well. But, only if you're buying outside of the United States.

Gurman says that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are likely to see their prices increase by as much as $100 no matter where you buy them, but those picking up non-Pro models internationally can expect all four of the 2023 iPhone models to also cost more than the devices that they will replace.

If you like the look of the Apple Watch Ultra but that silver finish just isn't going to work for you, we have good news. It appears that there might be a new color arriving with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 this year and it's going to be a more moody option for those who prefer a darker color.

The new color would be a dark titanium look which is no surprise given the fact that the watch is made from titanium. But the darker look could be closer to the Space Gray Apple Watch that we're all so familiar with, and that's absolutely something that we can get behind.

In fact, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writing in the weekly Power On newsletter says that Apple had originally looked at the darker color option back in 2022. It was designed ahead of the original Apple Watch Ultra release but was ultimately canned because Apple's designers didn't like the appearance. It isn't clear yet whether that has now changed since that opinion, but Gurman says that the dark titanium look could pop up again in 2023.

If you plan on picking up a new Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Apple Watch Series 9 when they arrive later this year you're going to be in for a good time, it seems. Because for the first time in years, these new watches are going to have an upgraded chip that should make them much faster to use.

That speed improvement will hopefully ensure that apps load more quickly and data refreshes with fewer hiccups than can be the case on other Apple Watches. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, reports that both new Apple Watches announced this year will use a new S9 chip, and it'll actually be new this time.

While Apple has increased the number of its S-series Apple Watch chips every year, the last time there was a notable speed increase was right back in 2020 with the S6 inside the Apple Watch Series 6. Since then Apple has made minor changes to the chip without improving performance noticeably. Gurman says that will change this year and that we should look forward to a sizable performance bump thanks to the upgraded S9.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion might be getting a remake or a remaster in Unreal Engine 5.

New leaks say that Oblivion might get remade in a new modern-day games engine with Virtuos at the helm. The report was posted to the Gaming Leaks and Rumors subreddit, but was promptly deleted shortly thereafter. Apparently there is no backup to the post on the Internet Archive.

Like any place that spreads rumors, the subreddit is a mix of authenticity and fabrication. The Oblivion remake news was seen as iffy until Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson published a report indicating that he spoke directly with a mod that vouched for the source's credibility. In this case, the source was reportedly a former Virtuous employee.

Windows 11 has an 'update and shut down' option, as you're doubtless aware, but apparently this isn't working as it should - and the same is true on Windows 10.

Windows Latest stumbled on this rather odd problem, and explains that instead of downloading and installing the update, then shutting down the PC, as this option should do - completing the upgrade the next time you turn on the machine - it's rebooting immediately instead.

Of course, the reason you select 'update and shut down' is because you're leaving your PC (most likely), and while you're happy to exit the room and let the system perform the installation, you want it to turn off afterwards, as you're not coming back.

The iPhone 15, along with next-generation Apple Watches, are right around the corner as Apple prepares for its September event, where it will announce both.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15, which will come with a range of upgrades compared to last year's iPhone 14. At first glance, Apple's newest iPhone will have a much smaller border size, expanding the display right out to the very corners of the device.

The reduction in border size is thanks to low-injection pressure over-molding, or LIPO, a technology first tested in the Apple Watch 7, according to Gurman. The border size will shrink from 2.2 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters, which may not sound like much, but it will be noticeable. Other features to expect a shift from a Lightning port to a USB-C port, which follows the recent ruling by EU regulators that forces Apple into USB-C adoption.

World of Warcraft actually performs better in certain ways than Call of Duty, a new report from the European Commission has found.

Blizzard's World of Warcraft MMORPG is one of the most popular games on the planet. It has millions of recurring subscribers, and according to the European Commission's findings, it's the only game of its type "able to extract a monthly fee."

The latest report from the EC outlines the Commission's thoughts, reasoning, and rationale behind its decision to approve the Microsoft-Activision merger. The document thoroughly outlines the different phases that were involved in its assessment, and nestled in the report is an interesting mention about how Activision's franchises compare to one another.

Kanye West's former Twitter account, now X account, has been reinstated after being banned for seven months for "incitement to violence".

The banning of West came after the rapper posted several tweets that were deemed antisemitic by many as they contained depictions of a Nazi swastika blended with the Star of David. Additionally, at the time Kanye West, now called Ye, recently appeared on the Alex Jones' InfoWars and said "I see good things about Hitler, also. Every human being has value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler." Elon Musk, which at the time just recently took over what was Twitter said he tried to tell Ye not to break the platforms terms of service by violating the "incitement to violence" rule.

Musk said, "I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended." Ye tweeted an image of Musk being watered, which many attributed to being the reason why Ye's account was banned. However, Musk replied, "Just clarifying that his account is being suspended for incitement to violence, no an unflattering pick of me being hosed by Ari. Frankly, I found those pics to be helpful motivation to lose weight."

Nintendo's next gaming hardware may release in the second half of 2024, sources have told VideoGameChronicle.

According to new reports, Nintendo's upcoming next-gen gaming system could release in the latter half of 2024, possibly indicating a holiday 2024 release. Sources tell VGC that major studios now have devkits for the new system, echoing reports from Bloomberg made in 2021.

Nothing has been confirmed so far, but by all accounts Nintendo's new hardware will likely be an upgraded Switch model. Our assessment finds that Nintendo could choose NVIDIA's new Orin Tegra chip in an effort to deliver higher gaming performance at a low power profile while also leveraging NVIDIA's powerful DLSS technology to deliver upscaled 4K gaming experiences.

Space X has successfully conducted yet another launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket, with the spacefaring company posting to its dedicated X account stunning footage of the rocket lift off and landing.

The Elon Musk-led company took to its account to share video footage of the rocket carrying what is now considered the largest commercial communications satellite ever built, Jupiter 3. The satellite is nine metric tonnes and will expand the reach of the HughesNet satellite internet service to nearly 80% of the Americas, with its 300 spot beams and 500 Gbps of total capacity.

As for the Falcon Heavy, the successful launch marked the seventh mission for the workhorse rocket and the third time it's flown this year. SpaceX shared images of the launch to its X account along with an epic video of both of Falcon Heavy's side boosters returning back to Earth and announcing their entry with sonic booms.

An engineer at an Air Force base has gained access to 17 Pentagon facilities by stealing nearly $100,000 worth of radio equipment.

A new report from Forbes has revealed that a contractor from the Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee tipped off the government that a 48-year-old engineer had stolen $90,000 worth of radio equipment, which was then used to penetrate 17 military bases.

The tipster alleged that the engineer was taking this stolen equipment home, which was later confirmed by law enforcement that raided the individual's house and discovered "unauthorized administrator access" to the "communications infrastructure."

Earthquakes are typically caused by subtle movements of tectonic plates that sometimes result in powerful tremors across regions.

Residents in the United States' Pacific Northwest are no strangers to these small tremors, and on July 22 and July 23, seismologists detected one, but it wasn't traced back to tectonic activity. According to Western Washington University's Dr. Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, this 2.3 magnitude quake was a result of Taylor Swift fans, or Swifties, jumping up and down to the singer's music during her Eras tour concert at the Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

This isn't the first time that an entertainment event has resulted in seismologists picking up seismic activity. Notably, researchers compared the recent Swiftquake to the Beastquake of 2011, which was caused by Seahawks fans when they celebrated Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. According to Caplan-Auerbach, "The shaking was twice as strong as 'Beast Quake'. It absolutely doubled it."