Mobile Devices - Page 37

The Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro are both set to be announced at an event that will take place tomorrow, October 4. Now the latter phone has appeared in a new leak with the Tensor G3 chip getting an outing in new photos.

Those photos show the Tensor G3 having its information displayed on-screen and were shared by M. Brandon Lee on X, the social network previously known to the world as Twitter. They give us a better indication of what the new chip will be set up like including the speeds of the cores that are being used.

Based on the leak we're seeing here, and assuming it's legitimate, the Tensor G3 will have a 1+4+4 layout which is different from the 1+2+4 layout of the previous two generations of Google chip, as noted by 9to5Google. The new Cortex-X3 chip will be the big core used this time out, with a 2.91GHz clock speed and a 4nm fabrication process being the key features.

Getting hold of Apple just got a bit harder than it used to be after Apple stopped providing human support via direct messages on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. The company has also stopped offering support via its YouTube channel's comments, too.

The move was first spotted by MacRumors which reports that as of October 1, sending a direct message to the AppleSupport account on X will result in an automated reply with links to support avenues available via Apple's own website. Something similar will happen if you send a reply to AappleSupport, although you might get a link to Apple's support articles depending on the request.

This comes after a previous report that claimed Apple was ready to eliminate paid social media support roles across YouTube, X, and even Apple's own support forums. Instead, the company now wants people to get their help via the phone with support members being transitioned to those teams to help bolster their numbers.

If you're a big Apple Pencil user you might be in for a treat when the next iteration is finally announced. It's long overdue - the last Apple Pencil release was in 2018 - and if a new leak is accurate the Apple Pencil 3 will come with something we haven't seen on an Apple stylus to date.

That leak comes via the X leaker Majin Bu and appears to claim that Apple will ship the new Apple Pencil with support for interchangeable tips that will be connected to the main body of the device via magnets. Apple uses magnets in a variety of its products and in all kinds of different ways, so this wouldn't be at all surprising.

The leaker claims that the new tips offered by Apple would be specifically designed for different things with tasks like drawing, writing, and painting all likely to get their own versions. The change would offer tips of different sizes and widths to suit their purpose, with the iPad also likely recognizing which tip is in use and then having apps change their behavior to match.

The iPhone 15 has been out for a few weeks now, and it seems many users are reporting overheating problems at odd times of use.

Some buyers who were quick to pick up the iPhone 15 took to social media platforms to report that the smartphone temperatures were reaching levels that caused pain upon touch. These issues presented themselves when the phone was charging, during general use, updating, and even during setup. According to some reports online, some users saw their iPhone 15 reach temperatures as high as 48C (118F).

These extreme temperatures at odd times were attributed to the new SoC (A17 Pro) inside the iPhone 15, as well as its new design. However, hardware may not be the problem, as Apple has told Forbes that its identified a few problems with iOS 17 that are causing the phone to "run warmer than expected" and that these issues will be ironed out in a coming update. Additionally, Apple said that this update will not impact the performance of the iPhone 15.

With Apple releasing iOS 17.1 to developers earlier in the week we got our first look at a new Wallet feature that puts bank balances and transactions with into the app. The kicker was that the feature was only available in the UK thanks to its Open Banking API, but it now appears the same feature could be on the way to the United States as well.

The news comes after one software researcher noticed that the fine print of the setup process in the UK includes mention of Apple Payments Services Ltd (UK). But there was also a mention of the new Apple Processing LLC (US) as well, suggesting that the feature will appear on Apple's home turf as well.

Then, MacRumors took that information and found a reference to the same legal entity on Apple's website in relation to Connected Cards, the new feature that makes this Wallet magic happen. The document found on Apple's website again points to Apple Processing LLC being the entity through which the US banking system will funnel data into Wallet.

If you're a user of Apple CarPlay and either have a new iPhone 15 or have one on the way, you might want to start thinking about how you're going to plug it into your vehicle. Because it seems some people are finding that to be more problematic than you might think.

MacRumors reports that there are a surprisingly large number of people experiencing issues when connecting their USB-C iPhone to their car, most notably whenever they have a car that doesn't have a USB-C port. That means that they have to use a USB-A to USB-C cable and that, it appears, is where things start to go awry.

The MacRumors piece linked below includes a number of examples of people finding that they can't get USB-A to USB-C cables to work when they try to use Apple CarPlay. It would appear that the cable will charge the iPhone as expected, but the CarPlay connection isn't being initiated.

If the latest rumors are true we can expect Samsung to unveil the entire Galaxy S24 lineup at an event in January of 2024, which is only a few months away. that lineup will of course include the range-topping Galaxy S24 Ultra, and a new leak appears to have shown us exactly what that phone will look like.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be the best Android phone you can buy in a lot of ways, and now we can see what the new flagship offering will look like. Unfortunately, this leak shows the phone in a rather dull black color, but we can expect more interesting options once the phone is official.

As for what the new renders show, there isn't an awful lot changing beyond some tweaks here and there. Those tweaks begin with the Galaxy S24 Ultra's new, smaller bezels which will make for an overall more appealing look. The display will be a 6.8-inch WQHD+ affair, the Smartprix leak claims, while around the back we will find a quad camera setup. There will also be a place for the S Pen to live, too.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups both come with new USB-C ports as had been rumored for months, but while it's great to be able to charge everything with a single cable, the switch hasn't been without its issues. Including reports that some battery packs simply can't charge the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro models.

The issue has been pointed out by a number of people on social media and then picked up by MacRumors, with the situation appearing to be related to the way the iPhone's USB-C port handles reverse charging. The iPhones can charge other devices that are plugged into its USB-C port, but in some instances that appears to be confusing some battery packs - including ones made by Anker.

As MacRumors notes, one customer contacted Anker about its PowerCode Slim 10K PD battery pack after they were unable to charge their new iPhone using the USB-C port on the battery itself. In a response, Anker reportedly told the owner to use the USB-A port for now, while Anker continues to investigate if the issue is being caused by its battery packs or the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro went on sale last week in some lucky countries, but there are 20 new ones getting the handsets today. Apple's iPhones have proven popular in the countries where they have already gone on sale, and they're sure to follow suit in these new ones, too.

The new countries that receive the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro today, September 29 include Brazil, Georgia, Macao, Malaysia, Turkey, and Vietnam but Apple hasn't yet confirmed a full list of all the countries involved. Pricing will also vary in different locations based on local exchange rates and inflation, too.

Alongside the new iPhones Apple is also releasing the much-maligned FineWoven iPhone cases and MagSafe Wallets, although we'd perhaps suggest that buyers should consider going with the silicone options or a third-party solution. Apple might not be making leather iPhone cases anymore but there are plenty of third-party companies that are, with tons available already.

The iOS 17 update has only been around for a little while but Apple is already working on what comes next. The iOS 17.1 update is now available to developers and it'll likely go through a few weeks of beta before it rolls out to everyone who wants it. And they will indeed want it after it was discovered that the first iOS 17.1 beta includes a specific feature that is making the move from the iPhone 15 Pro.

Why this specific feature is currently only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max isn't clear, but it's coming to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro when iOS 17.1 arrives on public devices. The feature in question? A new icon which appears in the Dynamic Island when the flashlight is being used.

Seeing an icon in the Dynamic Island whenever you turn the flashlight on doesn't immediately seem like something that might be useful. But, how many times have you noticed that your flashlight is turned on without you realizing? Or you turn it on and then forget to turn it off, for example? It happens more often than we might realize so this new feature could well be something that we wind up using more than new realize.

The iPhone SE is Apple's budget model for people who don't want to spend a fortune but still want to be able to message their blue bubble friends. But it looks tired and aged alongside more modern handsets. Now, it would seem that Apple is ready to fix that with an updated model that will make the iPhone SE much more modern while giving it two features that are present on the new iPhone 15 Pro.

Those new features will not only make the new iPhones look and feel much more modern than the current Home button-laden model but also add improved functionality for buyers of what is sure to be an inexpensive handset.

The latest report comes via MacRumors which says that the new iPhone SE 4 will be based on the current iPhone 14 chassis and is being developed under the Ghost codename.

It's been almost two weeks since the release of the iPhone 15 Pro, and with many of the new devices now making their way out into the public, there seems to be a portion of users reporting overheating problems.

One example is sourced from a Chinese video platform that showed an iPhone 15 Pro Max downloading a game called Genshin Impact on a 5G network, and during the download, the phone reached 122ºF. Additionally, the phone remained at a similar temperature when it was running the game in its high-resolution mode. Another example can be found on TheRelaxingEnd YouTube channel, where an iPhone 15 Pro can be seen freezing and dropping its framerate.

These examples, combined with plenty of others posted on various social media platforms, suggest there is at least a small group of iPhone 15 Pro users suffering from overheating problems. So, why is this happening?

Apple's 2024 lineup of new iPads and Macs will all use improved chips according to one well-connected supply chain analyst. But that might not be enough to make people actually buy them, they say.

Speaking in a larger Medium post about Apple's plans for next year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will use 3nm chips for its new models next year. That matches expectations that the new machines will all get upgraded M3 chips to replace the M2 family that is currently on sale. But the analyst also warns that a "lack of growth drivers" could mean that there will be a lack of growth for Apple's new products.

Growth drivers like the COVID pandemic and the initial switch away from Intel chips caused plenty of people to buy new Macs, especially of the laptop kind. But Kuo says that the lack of similar drivers could mean that the new Macs and iPads won't be as attractive.

When Apple announced the iPhone 16 Pro during the September 12 event it also announced that it would come with a new A17 Pro chip. The fastest chip it's ever put in an iPhone, the new silicon would power only Apple's best iPhones. The iPhone 15 would get the A16 Bionic of last year's iPhone 14 Pro, and things are set to continue in the same way next year - although with a slight twist.

Writing in a research note seen by MacRumors, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu believes that Apple will give the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro new chips next year. They'll reportedly be called the A18 and A18 Pro, with the lineup split between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The analyst believes that both of the new chips will be based on the N3E fabrication process. That's chipmaker TSMC's new, second-generation 3nm process which is expected to be less expensive with improved yields compared to the current first-generation one. That first-generation 3nm fabrication process was behind the A17 Pro that powers the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

If you own an iPhone and live in the UK you could soon be able to see your bank balance in the Wallet app, according to a new report. While the feature is indeed coming, you'll need to be the proud owner of an account at one of a handful of banks to make use of the new feature.

The bank balance feature will be available to people who bank with HSBC, Lloyds, RBS, Monzo, and Starling, a 9to5Mac report says. What makes that interesting is that it's a mix of new fintech companies and traditional banks, with all of them using the UK's Open Banking API.

The use of the special API means that Apple never sees any of the data that is collected from the banks themselves, and all of it is stored on the iPhone in question. That means that it never touches Apple's servers either, something that will be a big positive for people who value their privacy.

Apple's new FineWoven material was supposed to be a high-quality alternative to the leather options that it is no longer making. Instead, they're turning into something of a laughing stock with early buyers reporting that they stain and mark easily while also feeling low quality given their premium $59 price. Now, Apple appears to be trying to coach retail employees with any blowback that they might receive from disgruntled case buyers.

in a new memo sent to retail employees, Apple tells them that they might get questions about the appearance of the new FineWoven material. Those questions might include how it will wear over time, the memo says, while also touching on how the material should be maintained.

The memo, which was reported by 9to5Mac, explains that employees should tell customers that the FineWoven material is made from a "luxurious microtwill" and that it has a soft yet durable suede-like texture.

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have both been on sale for less than a week but some people are already reporting an issue that only affects those two specific models - the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus aren't affected.

That issue is that the new best iPhones are reportedly getting a bit warm during use, although not everyone appears to be experiencing the issue. The fact that it's only impacting the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max has led some people to point the finger at the new A17 Pro chip that powers them, especially considering the iPhones heat up when placed under heavy load. However, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the issue isn't specifically the chip or its 3nm fabrication by TSMC.

Instead, Kuo believes that the real issue is that Apple made compromises when designing the new titanium iPhones to make them as light as possible. With that in mind, Kuo believes that these changes will have negatively impacted the thermal properties of the device itself, making it get too warm during heavy usage like playing games.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro might only have been on sale for a few days but the rumors mill has already turned its attention to what comes next. And what comes next is the iPhone 16.

While the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max both have the new Action button in place of the familiar mute switch, it seems that Apple isn't yet done with the idea of moving buttons around. In fact, it's going to add an entirely new button and move another component to the other side of the iPhone to make space according to a new report.

That report comes out of MacRumors which claims that the iPhone 16 will include a new capacitive 'Capture Button," something that is currently being developed under the codename Project Nova. The report goes on to say that it is likely that the new Capture Button will be a main selling point of the new iPhone, although it then goes on to say that it isn't currently known what the button will actually be used for.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max earlier this month it was confirmed that only the latter model would feature the new tetraprism lens that allows for an improved 5x optical zoom feature. But that will all change in 2024 with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

That's according to a new report by the well-connected supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who says that the next Pro iPhone will benefit from the same tetraprism lens despite the fact that it wasn't part of the iPhone 15 Pro setup this year.

Writing in a lengthy Medium post discussing Apple and its supplier plans moving forward, Kup said that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will both feature a tetraprism telephoto camera lens. He expects the current specifications to remain to ensure camera performance, with the number of tetraprism-enabled iPhone shipments expected to increase by around 100% as a result.

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro it made a very big deal about the fact that it intended to ditch leather for good, making the move to a more environmentally friendly material instead. The new FineWoven cases are joined by Apple Watch bands, but it's the cases that are capturing the most attention right now. And none of that attention is positive.

If there's one complaint that has so far been repeatedly leveled at the micro twill FineWoven iPhone cases, it's that they easily mark and scratch. And a new photo of an iPhone 15 case display in an Apple Store just drives the point home. And it makes for poor viewing if you're planning on picking one of these new cases up.

The photo shows a number of FineWoven cases on display, many of which have what appear to be permanent scratches caused by fingernails. People have have already taken delivery of such cases have said that they easily mark and cannot be repaired or buffed to make them look better. Apple Stores have only had their cases on display for a limited time and they're already starting to look pretty grim indeed.