Mobile Devices - Page 36

Apple released iOS 17 to the public a few weeks ago and you don't need to buy a new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro to get it. The update can be installed on a wide variety of models starting with the iPhone XS, and it seems that some people who have put it on their phones are now experiencing some strange Wi-Fi issues. What's more, the problem isn't limited to iPhones - some people with iPads are also reporting similar issues with iPadOS 17.

The problem, which doesn't appear to affect everyone, appears to cause a couple of main issues. Both of them can be highly irritating and problematic for those who are affected and, to date, there doesn't appear to be a proper fix.

The main issue is that some people find that their iPhone or iPad simply stops working on Wi-Fi. It will remain connected, but no data is transferred as if the connection to the internet has failed. However, users report that other devices connected to the same network continue to work as normal - and connectivity is often restored of its own accord, too.

When Apple announced that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus would get last year's A16 Bionic chip rather than the A17 Pro that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max boast, some wondered what other parts would be used. Now, we know one that definitely hasn't been repurposed - the modem.

As confirmed by one iFixit teardown expert, the Iphone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus both have the same modem as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, despite having different chips. That means that Apple didn't just use leftover iPhone 14 Pro logic boards to build its new non-Pro iPhones.

This is all according to iFixit's Shahram Mokhtari who posted the news on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. According to them, Apple's new entry-level 2023 iPhones both have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem as the high-end option. The iPhone 14 Pro had the X65.

Following the continued rumors that Apple will use new OLED displays in the 2024 iPad Pro refresh, a new report now claims that the high-end 11- and 12.9-inch tablets won't be the only ones to make the move to the new display technology.

While the iPad Pros are set to get OLED next year, however, these other tablets are going to have to wait a little longer before they get their own upgrades. Details on timeframes are hard to come by, but they aren't likely to make the move next year.

This is all according to a new report by the technology research firm Omdia that was first reported by MacRumors. According to that report, Apple continues to discuss the idea of wider OLED adoption that will move beyond the iPad Pro to also include the iPad mini and iPad Air lineups. It's thought that LG Display and Samsung are going to be the main suppliers, although it's also said that Apple will likely look to bring other companies online as well.

If you're buying a new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra next year you might get the same chip inside, no matter where you buy it. Choose the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24+ and things will get a bit more complicated, however.

That's according to a new report which claims that Samsung will use a single chip in its range-topping smartphone, but it will offer two different types in the rest of its lineup. If true, buyers of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will get a different chip depending on where they happen to buy the device itself.

This is according to The Elec which says that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip no matter where it is sold, making for a consistent offering. However, it's thought that the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ models sold in Europe and South Korea will be equipped with Samsung's in-house silicon under the Exynos brand name.

If you wanted to get the iPhone 15 Pro Max's fancy new tetraprism camera but didn't want to go with the huge iPhone it's attached to, you're in luck. You're going to be able to get that same camera in next year's iPhone 16 Pro instead.

That's according to a new report by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who had previously hinted that such a decision was in the cards for next year's top-line iPhones.

Right now, the tetraprism lens allows the iPhone 15 Pro Max to offer an improved 5x optical zoom capability, an improvement over the 3x that the iPhone 15 Pro can manage. It's thought that the sheer size of the iPhone 15 Pro Max was what gave Apple the chance to use the new lens there first, but it appears it will be able to shrink it down enough to squeeze it into the iPhone 16 Pro's diminutive frame.

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro has now been around for a couple of weeks and people continue to report that they are experiencing a device that gets too hot during use. Apple agreed, so it released a new iOS 17.0.3 update to try and fix it. That update has now been installed on a ton of iPhones around the world, so how are things looking? Did the iPhone 15 Pro get cooler after installing iOS 17.0.3?

According to a ZDNET report, the news is good. The outlet used a thermometer to check how hot their iPhone 15 Pro was getting before installing the new software update and then ran through the same process again afterward to see how things panned out. According to the report, Apple nailed it and sure enough, the new iPhones are now cooler than they were thanks to the software update.

According to that report, the iPhone 15 Pro was reaching a temperature of more than 100F during fast charging, which is warm, to say the least. At one point it was 107.1F.

Apple's iPad Air is getting ready for an update according to a new report, but that isn't the most interesting part - that comes when we're told that there are two extra models being developed.

Apple is reportedly developing Wi-Fi and Cellular versions of the iPad Air 6 under the codenames J507 and J508 with 9to5Mac citing unnamed sources when making that assertion. However, there are reportedly two more iPad Airs that are being tested under the J537 and J538 codenames and it isn't yet clear what those devices are.

The report notes that the only other device in Apple's tablet lineup that follows a similar pattern is the iPad Pro thanks to its two screen sizes. That means that there are always four iPad Pros in development thanks to each screen size also needing a Wi-Fi and Cellular option. Is that the case with the iPad Air that's currently in testing? Could we see the iPad Air ship in two screen sizes?

If you bought a new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro last month and noticed that you can't find messages that you know are there, you aren't alone. There's a bug that causes the search feature in the Messages app to only display messages that were received after transferring content to a new iPhone. No messages received on the old iPhone would be found.

That's the bad news. The good news is that Apple now appears to be in the process of fixing all of that with a new report noting that the iOS 17.1 beta 2 release has fixed the issue for those who were previously impacted.

The news comes after MacRumors reported that the older messages have started to appear in search results for some people, although there are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. One of those is that the iPhone might take a day or two for the bug fix to start working, likely due to the amount of indexing of old messages that is needed in the background. Some people also noted that they had to go into the Settings app and disable search settings for Messages before restarting their iPhones. Only after restarting and then re-enabling search did the messages start to appear as expected.

When Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro it also announced that the two new phones would get a whopping seven years of software updates which is a long time to keep a phone ticking along. Now, the company has also confirmed that the same seven-year timeframe applies to hardware, too.

The seven-year software updates are a huge deal for people who like to keep their phones around for a long time or hand them down to their kids. Years upon years of updates is something that is normally offered by Apple, but Google's move to do the same is positive indeed. It includes OS updates, security fixes, and new features, too. But if you're going to keep your Pixel 8 around for longer thanks to new software updates, what if you break it?

Now, Google confirmed to Android Authority that it will also offer repairs for the new phones for the same seven-year time period, ensuring that if you break it in six years you can safely assume that Google will be able to source the parts required to fix it. You'll be able to buy Pixel 8 parts from iFixit as well, the website reports.

Apple released iOS 17 last month and that's now the only version of its software that you can install on your iPhone - unless you have an old iPhone that doesn't support it, of course.

That's after Apple stopped signing iOS 16.6.1 alongside iOS 17 and IOS 17.0.1, a move which means that iOS 17.0.2 and iOS 17.0.3 are now the only version of its software that can be installed on iPhones all around the world. By stopping signing those specific releases Apple prevents people from installing them on their devices.

Apple often stops signing older versions of iOS in an attempt to prevent people from exploiting the security holes that have been patched in newer releases so this move isn't new in that regard. Apple's iOS 17.0.2 does involve some important security fixes, too.

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro has been around for a couple of weeks at this point and while it's been largely well-received, there is one specific issue that people seem to have come across. That issue is that their new iPhones can get a bit warm during use, often when downloading updates or using certain apps. Now, Apple has released iOS 17.0.3 with a tweak that is designed to fix that - but how did it do it and will it make your new iPhone slower?

With Apple's iPhone 15 Pro coming with a new A17 Pro chip for improved performance and gaming experiences, some had assumed that it was the silicon causing the heat issues. With that in mind, it stood to reason that Apple would slow the chip down to try and keep the heat to a minimum. However, that doesn't seem to have been the case.

New Geekbench tests run by 9to5Mac suggest that Apple hasn't sought to fix its heat issue by slowing down the A17 Pro performance, although it does appear that benchmark scores for the chip are highly variable, as is often the case.

Apple's future MacBook Pros might not have OLED displays - at least, not yet. That's according to a new report which suggests that Apple could be about to hang fire on plans to use OLED in its best laptops, choosing instead to stick with ever-improving miniLED technology for the time being.

That's according to the supply chain outlet DigiTimes via a paid-for post seen by MacRumors. In that report, it's said that Apple will choose to avoid OLED for use in MacBook Pro models over concerns that the technology induces screen burn-in on devices that are left powered on for an extended period of time.

In contrast, it's expected that the iPad Pro will start to use OLED displays starting as soon as next year, producing better color reproduction and improved contrast as a result. However, it's thought that Apple is less concerned about using OLED in tablets because they tend not to be left powered on with static images for as long as a laptop might be. That despite Apple trying to convince everyone that iPad Pros are indeed viable laptop replacements.

The conventional wisdom has been for some time that Apple's best MacBook Pros wouldn't be updated until next year, but that's now been thrown into doubt. That's after a new report by supply chain watchers at DigiTimes claimed that a release in the final quarter of 2023 is still in the cards.

The new report, which is paywalled but picked up by MacRumors, claims that the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2023 which is counter to reports prior to this. The new machines are expected to sport M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, but we don't yet have any M3-based Macs available. Apple is already expected to launch M3-powered 24-inch iMac and Mac mini updates next month, while an updated 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro are also possibilities. The true makeup of that announcement isn't yet clear and is a bone of contention among analysts and well-connected pundits, however. That being said, the one thing that everyone seemed to agree on was that the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros wouldn't be updated until next year.

This new DigiTimes report goes against all of that, saying that the new machines will have improved miniLED backlighting technology that will allow them to run at brighter levels. However, it's thought that the displays won't be made to appear brighter but that Apple will instead use the new headroom to allow the panels to display the same brightness as older models while using less power.

Apple made a big Titanium-sized splash with the recent release of the iPhone 15, so it's now Google's turn with the company lifting the lid on its latest generation of smartphone hardware. The big announcement includes pricing and details for the new Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Buds Pro. That's a lot of Pixels, so let's break it down.

The new Tensor G3 chip will power the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro, Google's in-house hardware supporting advanced security options, including Face Unlock, improved photo editing, and more. On the security side, Google notes that it will provide seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 8, a massive increase over the Pixel 7's three.

Google's flagship Pixel 8 Pro is the one that will go head-to-head with Apple's new iPhone 15 lineup as it will feature the company's new Super Actua Display that is the company's brightest to date - it's legible and clear in direct sunlight and designed for Ultra HDR images.

Apple recently recognized the complaints coming from many iPhone 15 Pro users about their devices heating up to extreme temperatures during strange times of use.

Some buyers of Apple's latest generation of iPhone took to social media platforms to report that their smartphone temperatures were reaching uncomfortable levels. Some users even tested the temperatures, which were reported to reach as high as 48C (118F). These extreme temperatures presented themselves when the phone was charging, during general use, updating, during setup, and in specific apps.

Speculation initially attributed these irregular temperatures to Apple's new A17 Pro SoC, as well as the new design. However, Apple stated recently that it identified a bug within iOS 17 that causes some third-party apps to overload the system, as well as another bug that "is impacting some users". Furthermore, Apple recognized a "few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected".

It might not be quite as exciting as a new iPhone or Apple Watch but there are increasing rumors that Apple might be hard at work getting ready to launch an updated Apple Pencil. Now a new leak might have confirmed just that, although it still isn't clear what it will offer above and beyond the current Apple Pencil 2.

We recently saw a leak claim that the new Apple Pencil will feature interchangeable tips that will be more suited to specific tasks like writing, drawing, and painting. Now, another report claims that Apple could be about to launch a new USB-C Apple Pencil, with the two devices likely to be the same.

This latest news comes via developer and researcher Steve Moser on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. According to them, new code found in iOS 17.1 beta 2 shows that there is a USB-C Apple Pencil in the works.

You don't need to have been following along too closely to know that the iPhone 15 Pro is in the middle of an overheating storm, with people at different points blaming the new A17 Pro chip and the titanium construction for causing heat to build up instead of dissipating. But Apple now believes that the issue is all software-based and that things can be fixed via a new iOS update. Now, that update might be a step closer to release.

That's after MacRumors reported that Apple is now internally testing the iOS 17.0.3 update ahead of a likely release to the public. It isn't yet clear when that release will happen, but it's likely that it will arrive within the next week or two. Apple is sure to want to get this update into the hands of as many iPhone 15 Pro owners, and as soon, as possible.

Apple has previously said that the overheating issues are being caused by bugs in iOS 17 as well as specific apps that aren't behaving the way that they should on some iPhones. Those apps are going to need to be updated independently, with Meta's Instagram one that has already been released. Uber and Asphalt 9: Legends are two others that are thought to be problematic on Apple's most recent and best iPhones.

Apple's iOS 17.1 update is now available to beta testers and it's starting to look like it'll bring with it a few notable improvements once it arrives, likely next month. One of the changes that hadn't been highlighted until today is a tweak that will change the way that the Reachability looks on some iPhones.

The Reachability feature is designed to make it easier for people to reach interface elements that are at the top of the screen, especially on larger devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The feature moves everything down temporarily and currently uses the iPhone's wallpaper to fill the void. Except that can look pretty bad on devices with the Dynamci Island because it draws attention to it - and that's all changing with iOS 17.1.

As reported by MacRumors and based on a post to Reddit, the Reachability feature will gain a new solid black background when it's invoked on a device that has the Dynamic Island. That includes the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. On devices that don't have a Dynamic Island, Apple still shows the blurred version of the wallpaper.

You've probably already seen the stories of people's new iPhone 15 Pro handsets getting warm, but have you heard the one about iPhones getting so hot that they break their Apple Pay feature? That's a thing, believe it or not. But at least it doesn't sound like this one is being based by Apple or its new iPhones.

The problem, it seems, crops up whenever people charge their iPhones using their in-car wireless charger and then go to use Apple Pay only to find that the payment feature no longer works. The problem? It seems that some wireless chargers are getting so hot that they're damaging the iPhone itself, specifically the NFC chip that makes Apple Pay work.

The original reports about this were specifically for Apple's iPhone 15 lineup, but it's since become clear that it's a problem that affects all iPhones. It was also said that it was specific to BMW but, again, it now seems that people with other cars from Ford, Audi, and others are also having similar problems.

Apple has started to apply new Chinese laws that require apps to be licensed before they can be made available to people in the country. That applies to all apps available in the App Store, something that means Apple will now have to also require licenses be granted before apps can be made available for download.

This move is one that has been in the works for some time and Apple was the notable dissenter as it tried to make the Chinese government aware of the impact it would have on its users. However, it's now had to comply just as others already had and now requires that developers receive a license if they want their apps to be available for download from the Chinese App Store.

Reuters reports that the new move kicked in last Friday, with Apple now requiring developers to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" when publishing their app to the App Store. Without it, apps will not be made available. However, while the Reuters report mentions new apps the law also applies to apps that are already available, so it's likely that some will need to be removed.