Mobile Devices - Page 26

Apple has long been rumored to have some big iPad refreshes in the works for 2024 and two of the most important are likely to be OLED upgrades to the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros. Both models are set to be updated for the first time in a good long while within the next couple of months, and the OLED display is likely to be among the most vital improvements.

Now, a new report by The Elec has outlined Apple's plans for the two tablets in terms of which companies will be tasked with producing those OLED panels. The report says that Apple intends to use both Samsung Display and LG Display, two companies that it has used in the past.

According to the report LG Display is the company that has been asked to put together the 13-inch OLED panel for the biggest tablet while Samsung Display will take care of the smaller 11-inch version. Both of these new tablets are expected to launch at the same time, probably in March or April depending on which report you believe.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you're the proud owner of one of the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro models you might find that your handset's battery lasts longer than you expected. In fact, it'll last longer than Apple had expected as well. That's according to a new 9to5Mac report which says that Apple has decided to update its battery cycle lifespan estimates for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

Apple had initially said that the iPhone 15's batteries would still offer up to 80% of their original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles, just like the older iPhones in its lineup. Now, it says that the iPhone 15 models can retain 80% of their capacity at double that figure - meaning that the 1,000 charge cycle count should arrive while the batteries still manage up to 80% of their original capacity.

Apple says that the change comes about after it improved the way its batteries are built as well as the power and battery management mechanisms that are part of the latest iPhones. To that end, this new 1,000 figure only applies to its latest models which means that those who buy an iPhone of any other vintage should still expect the batteries to last around 500 charge cycles before they start to really degrade.

Apple has been beta testing the upcoming iOS 17.4 iPhone software update for a few weeks now and it today released the fourth beta to developers. The release means that developers can put the update through its paces, check it works, and ensure that their apps work with it before it is rolled out to the public. That's expected to happen within the next couple of weeks, but this specific beta release brings with it a new Apple CarPlay feature that hasn't been part of the iPhone's feature set to date.

The change was confirmed in the iOS 17.4 beta 4 release notes and was spotted by 9to5Mac. In those release notes Apple confirmed that, in supported CarPlay vehicles, Apple Maps will present a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers. The users will also be able to wap the display type between the main instrument cluster screen by tapping the map configuration button on the screen, too.

Right now there are no actual details bout how this will work no which cars are supported, but it doesn't appear that this tweak is part of the next-gen CarPlay that is coming to some Aston Martin and Porsche vehicles later this year. However, it does require dual-screen Apple Maps support which is something that won't be available on the majority of cars that have the standard CarPlay implementation.

Apple might have only had the iPhone 15 series of handsets on sale for a few months and rumors are already circulating in relation to the upcoming iPhone 16 models, but there are tons of people who are more interested in what the iPhone might be like if and when Apple finally folds it in half. The foldable iPhone has been rumored for years, and with competing companies like Google and Samsung already in the market, it's surely only a matter of time before a bendy iPhone arrives. but when?

That's the question a new report by the Korean website Alpha Economy aims to answer with all eyes turning to a future release that isn't actually all that far off - at least not in the grand scheme of things.

That report suggests that Apple has decided that September 2026 will be the release window for its first foldable iPhone, and it's given the team working on making that happen a boost by a significant number of employees from the Apple Vision Pro team onto that project. The Apple Vision Pro has now shipped which means that it doesn't require quite as much work whereas the foldable phone project is very much in the middle of a key period.

Apple's widely expected to announce a slew of new iPhones this coming fall with September the likely release window for an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four models are set to feature upgrades over the handsets that are on sale today, with a new report backing up previous claims that one particularly interesting upgrade is on the way.

While the iPhone's display and cameras are often some of its biggest features, this upgrade is related to something many of us take for granted - its microphones. According to reports Apple is set to upgrade the microphones used in these new models so as to make them more capable of hearing commands and requests made of the Siri digital assistant. This is all according to analyst Jeff Pu in a research note seen by MacRumors.

The reason for the upgrade is simple - Apple is working on some big AI-powered upgrades for Siri and it wants to ensure that the software is given the best chance possible. New microphones should make it easier for Siri to understand what has been said, giving it a leg up when it tries to use its AI technology to make sense of the spoken word.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max aren't expected to go on sale until September of this year, and the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have only been on sale for a few months. But that doesn't mean that there aren't already plenty of rumors about the upcoming iPhones to go around and the latest rumors surround which colors buyers could be choosing from come launch day this fall.

With Apple set to continue to use the titanium construction that began with the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, a new report claims that there could be two new colors added to the lineup although it's possible that some will be removed to make way.

Posting on the X social network today the leaker Majin Bu shared that they have heard of two new colors being worked on. The first, Desert Yellow (Desert Titanium), is said to be similar to the gold of the iPhone 14 Pro but with a deeper hue. The second, Cement Gray (Titanium Gray), is thought to be a shade of space gray similar to that used on iPhone 6.

There have been a ton of stories over the last few weeks that suggest the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPHone 16 Plus will feature a pretty big design change. That change relates to the way the cameras are laid out on the back of the iPhone, and as time moves on we get ever closer to finding out whether these reports are accurate or not.

But as that time rolls on we're starting to see more and more leaks adding fuel to the rumor fire and the latest comes in the form of photos of what are said to be iPHone 16 case molds. Posted on the X social network by leaker Majin Bu, the images do appear to match up with previous leaks relating to the iPhone camera situation. However, it's important to remember that this particular leaker has a mixed track record and that Apple could change its plans between now and the expected September launch - even if these images are legitimate.

The change in question is an interesting one and appears to be specifically related to the Apple Vision Pro and one of its key new features. That feature is spatial video, 3D videos that can currently only be captured by the headset itself as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple announced last year that it would be bringing RCS messaging to the iPhone in 2024 and tat's great news, but it turns out that the reason behind it might not be the reason that we had all assumed.

RCS messaging is a rich messaging format that effectively replaces SMS and allows for iMessage-like read states, rich media, and more. It's also something that Androidd devices support and it was assumed that Apple's decision to add RCS support was an attempt to appears the European Commission and impending Digital Markets Act rules that might require iMessage be opened up to competing services. However, with the EC now confirming that iMessage won't be designated as a gatekeeper for DMA purposes, it appears that there was another reason for Apple to choose to bring RCS to the iPhone.

That reason, according to Apple watcher and well-connected blogger John Gruber, is China.

If you get your iPhone wet, whether that's by dropping it in the ocean or knocking over a bottle of soda, there has long been general wisdom that one of the best things that you can do is give it a could dry down with a cloth and then throw it into a bag of rice. The theory is that the rice will suck all of the moisture out of the sealed bag - including from within your iPhone - and then you'll be able to go about your life as if nothing had happened. Except, that might not be the best course of action after all.

That's according to a source that should probably know as well. That source is Apple, and it's published a new support document that explains the situation. First spotted by Macworld, the support document explains that there are a few things that owners of wet iPhones should do - and three things in particular that they should not.

Starting with the things that people should do, Apple says that tapping the iPhone against a hand with the charging port facing down should ensure that most of the moisture falls out just fine. The iPhone should then be placed somewhere dry and left for 30 minutes before plugging it into power and crossing fingers.

Apple has reportedly stopped development of its rumored foldable iPhones, following reports of the company making two foldable iPhone prototypes with designs similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip.

This rumor of foldable development purportedly stopping at Apple comes after reports surfaced of the company working on two foldable iPhones that would come with a severe thickness reduction compared to the current-gen iPhones we know today. The report from The Information stated these devices could have an exterior screen, and engineers are struggling with implementing the batteries.

Additionally, the report stated Apple engineers are also struggling with removing the crease that's currently present in every foldable device on the market. Apple's high standards for design likely mean the company won't release a foldable device until the crease problem is completely solved. Now, a new rumor from a source that doesn't have a track record but reported by Mac Rumors states Apple has paused development on the foldable devices due to concerns regarding the durability of the devices.