Mobile Devices - Page 25

Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to the public earlier this week and you've likely already seen plenty of news about what they have to offer. In particular, the new updates bring support for third-party app stores for the first time - but only if you happen to be in the European Union. But while that's a vital feature and a big addition for those in an EU member country, there's something arguably more important - and it's something that is applicable to owners of iPhones and iPads everywhere.

We're of course talking about a pair of vital security improvements that are designed to deal with vulnerabilities that could have allowed someone to gain access to a user's device without their permission. Notably, Apple says that it is also aware of the possibility that the bugs have been actively exploited by bad actors.

The issues, which are related to RTKit and kernel vulnerabilities, are notable because of the potential for someone to gain control of a device not to mention Apple's admittance that they might have been exploited. Apple has now fixed the memory corruption issues and improved validation to patch things up with the release of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 however, and for that reason, we would suggest that people download and install these updates now rather than wait.

Apple's new iOS 17.4 software update brings with it a number of new features, but if you're in the European Union there's one that undoubtedly stands out more than the rest - support for third-party app stores. We're still learning more about how they work but it's now been confirmed that parents who are worried that their kids could install third-party app stores without their knowledge can prevent that from happening.

Apple has long offered parental controls that allow parents to be required to approve the downloading of apps from the App Store, but with the addition of third-party app marketplaces, there were concerns that kids might be able to bypass the need to get approval. However, 9to5Mac notes that Apple has added a feature that will give parents more control.

9to5Mac reports that parents will be able to choose to prevent the installation of third-party apps and app stores using the Screen Time protections that they're familiar with. Parents can also set an age rating rather than blocking all third-party app stores if they prefer, with Apple still requiring that apps installed via third-party marketplaces have age ratings attached to them.

When Apple released the iOS 17.4 software update to the public this week it added support for third-party app stores, a first for the iPhone. But the new feature is only available to those in the European Union thanks to the new Digital Markets Act and the requirements it places on companies like Apple. However, Apple has added complications to its support for third-party app stores, and they're starting to become clear.

They're becoming clear after MacRumors spotted a new support document on Apple's website that details a so-called grace period after which such app stores will become unavailable should users leave the EU for a length of time. Unfortunately, we don't know what that length of time actually is.

The support document warns users that, should they leave the European Union for short-term travel, they'll continue to have access to third-party app stores for a grace period. If they're gone for too long, Apple warns, they'll lose access to some features including the new alternative app marketplaces. Apps installed via those app marketplaces will continue to work, but users won't be able to update them or download new marketplaces.

Samsung has informed PetaPixel that it strapped four Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones to a balloon that was then sent to space to capture photographs of Earth using the smartphone cameras.

This very well could be one of the most epic camera demonstrations a smartphone company has attempted, as Samsung has informed the publication that four carbon fiber skeletons, each designed around a flight computer and a Galaxy S24 Ultra, were floated into space using a stratospheric balloon canopy filled with hydrogen. Each of these balloons reached heights of more than 120,000 feet, and in total, Samsung was able to capture more than 150 images of Earth from space.

As the balloons reached the desired height, each of the smartphones began periodically snapping high-resolution images of Earth, and the results were truly impressive, especially considering the images came from a smartphone. It should be noted that technically speaking, the stratosphere isn't space, but it is 23 miles (121,440 feet) above the surface of Earth, which is far higher than the flying height of commercial airplanes (31,000 feet to 42,000 feet).

There have been intermittent rumors of Apple potentially getting ready to launch a new Apple Pencil in recent months, and now a new report claims that the company is almost set. If the report is accurate, Apple will release a new Apple Pencil this month.

The report comes via Weibo user Instant Digital, a user who has a relatively strong track record with these things. The report was spotted by MacRumors and notes that Apple is ready to refresh the second-generation Apple Pencil specifically and that it will happen this month. This follows a similar report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman which suggested that a new Apple Pencil could debut within the next few weeks.

Solid information about what the new Apple Pencil might have to offer is hard to come by right now, but there have been rumors that the stylus will feature a shorter design that uses interchangeable tips to allow for more precise work where needed. Those tips could attech to the Apple Pencil body using magnets, while there is also a suggestion of color-detection technology that could sense a color and then replicate it.

Apple has today released the iOS 17.4 software update to the public, bringing with it support for a number of new features. The update is available for download via the usual Software Update mechanism and is free for all compatible iPhones.

The new update's list of features starts with changes specific to those who use an iPhone in the European Union. There, the new software update allows people to install apps from third-party app stores while web browsers can also use their own browsing engines rather than WebKit for the first time. There is also support for alternative payment options, allowing developers to use different payment methods for in-app purchases rather than the App Store's. Apple is also adding support for allowing third-party wallet apps to access the iPhone's NFC chip to make payments in a similar manner to Apple Pay.

For those using iOS 17.4 globally, there are a number of changes for them to enjoy including a number of new emojis including a mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads. 18 people and mody emoji have also been given the option to face in either direction, Apple's release notes say.

The iPhone SE is very much overdue right now and there have long been rumors of the iPhone SE 4 being in development. That iPhone is thought to be based on the iPhone 14 shape but so far Apple is yet to confirm its existence. Now, newly-shared CAD renders appear to have corroborated previous reports and show a device that will be very familiar indeed.

The renders show a 6.1-inch display with Face ID and a notch which will look very similar to the iPhone 14 that was released in 2022. There are flat sides while the bottom of the device shows a USB-C port, replacing the Lightning that previous iPhone SE models used for charging and data transfer.

Previous iPhone SE models had smaller 4.7-inch displays and a Home button with Touch ID, so the new model is clearly a much more modern design and one that will be a big upgrade for those who buy iPhone SE models. The leaked dimensions of 147mm tall, 71.5mm wide, and 7.7mm thick are almost identical to those of the iPhone 14 which measures 146.7mm tall, 71.5mm wide, and 7.8mm thick. It's possible that iPhone 14 cases will fit without too many problems, depending on which case it is and how snug it was on the older iPhone.

A new report has claimed Apple is preparing to implement its latest display technology called ProMotion, which enables a 120Hz refresh rate, in its non-Pro iPhone lineup.

ProMotion display technology was introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro series in 2022. Since then, it has been exclusive to the Apple Pro lineup of smartphones. Still, now, according to a new report from The Elec, the company is planning on rolling out the technology across its non-Pro iPhone lineup, beginning with 2025's iPhone 17. So, why is this important? ProMotion technology enables the display to change the refresh rate of the screen dynamically from 1Hz all the way up to 120Hz.

Not only does the display refresh faster for a much smoother user experience, but the dynamic nature of the technology means better battery life as the screen isn't constantly running at a flat refresh rate. At the moment, Apple has reserved this technology for its higher-end product offerings as the company needs to push buyers toward devices that Apple makes more profit on.

While we don't know an awful lot about what the upcoming iOS 18 software update will bring in terms of new features or redesigned interface, we do know that there is a lot of noise surrounding Apple's ongoing work in the world of AI. The company is thought to be leaning heavily on AI for its upcoming software updates, including iOS 18, but it isn't clear what that will actually mean. The smart money is in improvements to the ailing Siri digital assistant, and a new report claims that AI features could well be enough to get Chinese buyers excited about the iPhone once again.

A paywalled DigiTimes report, picked up by MacRumors, says that even though the Chinese smartphone market has started to lean in on high-end models with price tags to match, sales of iPhones have struggled so far this year. Local Chinese brands have started to offer new AI-powered features and that has been enough to cause people to choose not to buy Apple's phones, but iOS 18 could arrest that.

It's reported that Apple's iPhone sales declined 13% in December 2023 alone and it's thought that things have only gotten worse as 2024 has rolled in. But with AI claims being made, people could choose to give the iPhone another try - assuming those AI improvements do come to the iPhone.

Apple has long been rumored to have plans to announce new iPad tablets and portable Mac laptops within the next few weeks and even though the company has yet to confirm that, it has taken steps to get ready. According to a new report, Apple has updated an internal document about "unannounced or unreleased products". The move comes amid the new product rumors, although it's also important to note that there is no guarantee that the two things are related.

The document, reported by MacRumors, is designed to tell Apple support teams how to respond when customers have questions about future devices that have yet to be announced. According to the report, apple has today restructured and optimized the document although it isn't yet clear what that actually means - this si simply what the changelog says so it isn't known which changes were made specifically although the timing does seem suspect.

Apple is rumored to be readying updated tablets and laptops for a launch in the final weeks of March or early April.

There are many advantages to buying an iPhone but one of those is regular software updates that continue for years after the device was bought new, and with iOS 18 set to be announced within the next few months it appears that pattern is set to continue. While Apple is yet to officially confirm when the software will be announced or when it will arrive, a new report claims to know which iPhones will be supported when iOS 18 ships.

The report, which came via a post on X by a protected account that has since deleted it, claims that Apple's iOS 18 update will be compatible with the iPhone XR which means that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will also be included by way of using the same A12 Bionic chip. This account has a good track record of sharing details about upcoming Apple software updates and the post was reported on by MacRumors after it was deleted.

While the account did delete the post, it has done that with posts in the past and it has also proven to be accurate in the past which suggests the deletion shouldn't color our expectations. If the post is indeed accurate, the iOS 18 software update will support all of the same models that were supported by the iOS 17 update that arrived last year.

Apple's iPadOS 18 software update is currently in development and we expect that Apple will announce it during the WWDC event that is likely to be announced in June. If Apple follows its usual release cadence we then expect the company to make the software update available for download in September, but a new report suggests that we should expect some iPads to be dropped in terms of support.

According to a private X account that has now deleted its post, Apple will not support the first-gen 10.5-inch iPad Pro or second-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro when the iPadOS 18 software update arrives. That's according to the source who has a solid track record when it comes to sharing details about future software updates before they are officially announced by Apple.

The post was spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris and shared on the outfit's website after it was deleted, and it appears to suggest that Apple will stop supporting devices with the A10X Fusion chip inside. If that's the case, it also likely means that the standard A10 Fusion chip will also be removed from support which will mean the sixth-generation and seventh-generation iPads will also not be supported.

The Apple Arcade game subscription service has been around since 2019 and it gives gamers the chance to play games on their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV without any additional fees. That means that all of the games are free to download while there are also no ads or in-app purchases to contend with, either. However, while that's a pretty good deal for users it seems that those who have to actually make the games are starting to lose faith.

According to a new report by MobileGamer, developers are growing increasingly unsure about the Apple Arcade subscription and their place within it with a number of reasons cited as issues they have to deal with.

According to the report, the lack of transparency is a key issue, specifically about how much developers are paid. It's said that payouts have been falling for years with several developers saying that payments started to decline around October 2020 and have been doing so ever since. Getting payments isn't always easy either, with Apple paying bonuses based on something it calls a "qualifying session," but developers don't know exactly what that is although it's thought to be how long people play a game for after it was launched or how often they choose to return to it.

Apple has been testing the iOS 17.4 iPhone software update for a long time, and we're expecting it to release the new devices pretty soon. Now, a new report suggests that the final beta is just around the corner and, in fact, it could be released to developer testers today.

Apple's iOS 17.4 update will bring with it a number of notable changes, especially for those who live in EU countries, and it's one that has been tested in beta form for weeks. Apple rarely confirms when we should expect updates to ship but we do know that it has to make iOS 17.4 available for download before March 6 - the date that new EU Digital Markets Act rules come into force. With that in mind, the final beta arriving today makes plenty of sense.

The impending iOS 17.4 Release Candidate was first shared by X user @aaronp613, a developer who has built something of a reputation for sharing details about what Apple is working on based on clues he finds in its software. Now, he says that Apple is already starting to roll out some changes to the App Store's servers that will enable support for third-party app stores, dubbed App Marketplaces.

The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus aren't expected to be announced until 2025 and we still have the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models to arrive before that. Now, a new report appears to have detailed what displays the new models will sport including new features that have previously only been available to those who bought the best models each year.

The report, via the supply chain watchers at The Elec, claims that Apple is set to bring LPTO OLED display technology to the non-Pro models for the first time in 2025. That move would mean that all four iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro devices would use the same display technology, a first for Apple. Previously, the non-Pro models used different LPTS OLED displays as a means of differentiating between the lineups, but that now seems unlikely to be the case starting from 2025.

According to the report, Apple is already lining up display outfit BOE as the source of its new iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus displays, and samples produced by the company have already been sent for inspection. However, should BOE fail to pass the quality tests required of it Apple will instead likely turn to other companies like LG Display and Samsung Display instead.

When Apple releases the iOS 17.4 software update to the public within the next couple of weeks it will bring with it a number of changes aimed squarely at the EU. Support for third-party app stores and third-party browser engines are at the top of the list of changes, but it will also see Apple ditch support for progressive web apps, or PWAs, in the territory as well. And that's a move that could see the company get into trouble.

PWAs are websites that, when added to the iPhone's Home Screen, act as if they were real apps and launch in a window rather than within a web browser. However, iOS 17.4's beta has already removed support for PWAs in the EU with Apple warning that it has to do that to prevent security and privacy issues arising from the use of web apps that aren't locked within WebKit's walled garden. However, the move will prevent some web apps from working and break others in ways that we might not even know about yet, and it could be enough to get Apple another fine from the European Commission.

According to a new Financial Times report Apple is already being looked at by the EC with the commission having reached out to developers to try and figure out the impact the change will have on them and users alike.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max back in September of 2023 both of the cameras got updates, but it was only the bigger of the two models that were unveiled with new 5x zoom capabilities. That was made possible thanks to the use of a new tetraprism camera lens that folded light in a way that allows for increased zoom without moving the camera lens and sensor further away from each other. Apple wasn't able to fit the fancy lens into the smaller iPhone 15 Pro. That looks set to change with the launch of this year's models.

We've been hearing that there are plans for the iPhone 16 Pro to sport the same 5x camera for a little while now and a new report now backs that up even further. If accurate, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will offer 5x optical zoom thanks to a tetraprism lens.

This latest report comes via Taiwanese research firm TrendForce and was shared in a press release that added fuel to the zoom lens fire.

Apple is widely expected to announce the new iOS 18 iPhone software as soon as this June, with that likely to be the month that the company's annual WWDC event will take place. That event will also likely see Apple unveil new software for the iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro but none of those software updates are expected to ship until much later in the year.

Now, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that while the iOS 18 software update will bring plenty of changes and improvements for iPhone owners to look forward to, those expecting visionOS-powered changes will be left disappointed.

According to the paywalled version of the Power On newsletter, reported by 9to5Mac, the iOS 18 update will feature plenty of improvements but there will not be a total overhaul that takes cues from visionOS. There had been rumors that Apple would take the visionOS software that powers the Apple Vision Pro and then use that as a basis for what iOS would look like moving forward. That would include more transparency than is currently seen on the iPhone, alongside other changes.

When Apple announced the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max back in September of 2022 there was one big change that captured the attention. The Dynamic Island had been leaked to some extent, so its arrival wasn't entirely unexpected. But we didn't know quite what it would do or what it would look like. That's ancient history today and while the iPhone 14 missed out on the Dynamic Island, it was present in the following year's iPhone 15. But according to one new report, the Dynamic Island could have been very different indeed.

That report comes via MacRumors and is reportedly based on information gleaned from unspecified sources. According to the report, Apple was very much undecided on how the Dynamic Island would work and in one example, it wasn't even part of the area that hides the selfie camera and Face ID mechanics, either. The Dynamic Island that shipped dynamically adjusts its size and shape to both hide the holes in the display for various cameras and sensors as well as give Apple somewhere to place notifications and information. But one example put all of that down the side of the phone.

That ditched Dynamic Island idea moved the time, cellular signal strength, Wi-Fi, and more to the side of the phone via a software-based notch that protruded from the side of the device. When not visible, the area would disappear leaving users without anywhere to see such information at a glance - including the time.

Apple's latest iPhones have been on sale for six months at this point, but some people continue to struggle to deal with a particularly niggling bug. Owners of iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max handsets are reporting issues that cause some Bluetooth devices to refuse to stay connected to the latest that Apple has to offer.

People have been reporting similar issues since not that long after the iPhones first went on sale in September 2023 and it was assumed that a subsequent software update would rectify whatever was going on. However, as we edge closer to March 2023 a new MacRumors report says things haven't improved. Citing reports from its own forums, MacRumors says that older Bluetooth devices like some in-car systems keep disconnecting from iPhones.

The reports include people running various versions of iOS including the very latest iOS 17.3.1 release which makes it clear that this isn't a bug that Apple has squashed just yet. However, the report does note that some iPhone owners had been told that a future iOS 17 update would resolve the problem but so far, that hasn't happened.