Mobile Devices - Page 45

Long before Apple launched iCloud Photo Library and later iCloud Photos, there was something called 'My Photo Stream.' It was a simple syncing service that uploaded the last 30 days of photos and videos to iCloud over a maximum of 30 days, and it was great. It meant that your photos and videos were backed up to some degree and that they would become available on multiple devices instantly. But now it's going away.

The iCloud Photos service is lightyears ahead of My Photo Stream and Apple knows it. The iCloud option automatically syncs all of your photos and videos no matter how old they are, so you're always sure that your media is with you no matter when it was created or which device you're using. Because of that, Apple's turning off My Photo Stream on July 26 but to get ready it's stopped uploading new content as of June 26. Or yesterday, if you prefer.

That of course means that My Photo Stream users are now no longer sending their photos and videos to the cloud and that means that a solution is required. We'd absolutely suggest that iCloud Photos is the way to go, but you'll only get 5GB of free data storage. From there it's a case of paying for more storage, unfortunately.

Samsung is expected to announce its next lineup of flagship phones in the first few weeks of 2024 if the previous years are any indication, and now those phones have started to leak.

We can of course expect Samsung to name the new phones under the Galaxy S24 nomenclature, with the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra likely to be announced. Those three phones will offer a version for most wallets and needs, and now a new report claims that Samsung is using the Muse codename internally while it's still developing things.

According to the Samsung watchers at SamMobile, Samsung is calling the Galaxy S24 Ultra Muse 3 internally which might suggest that the Galaxy S24 is Muse and the Galaxy S24+ is Muse 2, but that's yet to be confirmed.

Apple's iOS 17 update will roll out to the world this fall after being announced at WWDC 2023 on June 5, and it's already shaping up to be a big improvement for a number of reasons. One of those has to do with the way third-party apps can record video, giving them the same controls as the official Apple Camera app.

Those controls bring Cinematic mode to all third-party apps that want to access it, according to a new report. Developers are already able to download the beta and begin building their apps against the latest iOS 17 SDK, and it's likely that they're doing just that. As a result, we should expect to see new apps make use of Cinematic mode for the first time later this year.

Apple's Cinematic mode was announced as part of the iPhone 13 launch and only works on those phones and newer models. It's designed to mimic the rack focus technique used by videographers who manually switch focus from something in the foreground or background to create a depth-of-field effect.

Apple's iOS 17 is going to make a small change to the iPhone's Haptic Touch feature that will actually make a big difference for people who actually use it. But you're going to have to wait until this September to enjoy it.

Back in the day Apple's iPhones had something called 3D Touch, a feature that let you press firmly on the screen to interact with in-app elements. But that feature was replaced by Haptic Touch, a feature that simply has users tap and hold to interact in the same way. While there were two speed options for how long people had to hold to invoke Haptic Touch, some found them both to be too slow. Now, iOS 17 is getting ready to change that.

As noted by those who have installed the iOS 17 developer betas, there's a new 'Fast' option for those who don't want to wait around. Confusingly, the iOS 16 software has 'Fast' and 'Slow,' but iOS 17 renames the faster option to 'Default' and adds a new, even faster option. You can see the difference in the tweet above.

When Apple announced iOS 17 and the rest of its software updates during its WWDC 2023 opening keynote on June 5 it shared a number of new features that iPhone users can look forward to taking advantage of. One of those features was support for AirPlay on televisions that are used in hotel rooms, and now one company has already announced that it is ready to support exactly that.

In a press release published yesterday, LG announced that it would be the first to bring Apple AirPlay to hotel room TVs.

According to that press release LG and Apple have worked together to make it quick and easy for people to use AirPlay while in a hotel room. The press release says that people will be able to connect an iPhone or an iPad securely by simply scanning a QR code. There will be no logins or passwords required and users won't have to download any extra apps to get up and running. Once connected via AirPlay they'll be able to watch content and listen to music as usual, while screen mirroring is surely also supported although not specifically called out.

The Google Pixel Tablet is the latest attempt by Google to make an iPad competitor and it will no doubt also hope that its launch can kickstart the Android tablet world. But it doesn't currently have a first-party keyboard or stylus, something that is a surprise to some. Now, it's thought that Google might have plans to change that in the future.

We'd already seen some leaks that had suggested that Google did have designs on launching its own accessories, but now there is another leak that seems to confirm that was the case and in fact, it still might be.

A new Android Authority report cites developer Pratyush as having found an indication that the stylus and keyboard exist. That's based on a URL that leads to the latest version of the tablet's Retail Demo app which was released on May 21. According to that app and the strings found inside it, a Keyboard for Pixel Tablet and Pen for Pixel Tablet were indeed planned enough to have found their way into that app.

The Nothing Phone (2) is set to be officially unveiled properly during an event in London on July 11, and expectations are high for a phone that will signal the beginning of the company's smartphone presence in the United States. But anyone hoping for a budget option is set to be left disappointed.

That's because a new leak suggests that the Nnothing Phone (2) will sell for €729 (~$802) if you go for the base model with 256GB of storage. Upgrade that to the 512GB model and you'll pay €849 (~$934). That's according to a leak by French outlet Dealabs that was picked up by Android Authority, at least.

Interstingly, Nothing founder Carl Pei has tweeted about the leak, and he isn't happy. Asking "who leaked this?" and leaving it at that, Pei has left people in something of a quandary. Is Pei upset because the leak has outed his pricing plans a couple of weeks early? Or, just as likely, is the price nothing like the ones that we have seen today and he's simply venting his frustration at the fact that incorrect information is now being reported?

Owners of Android phones updated to Android 12 are finding themselves in hot water thanks to a new emergency SOS feature that has a habit of misfiring.

According to reports by multiple authorities in the United Kingdom, emergency services around the country are experiencing unusually high numbers of accidental calls and it's thought that Android's latest emergency feature is to blame.

The feature was introduced in 2021 and is designed to help people more quickly and easily contact emergency services when they need them. That's done by pressing the power button five times in a row. Once the fifth button press is complete, the call to emergency services is placed. And it's that lack of any confirmation action that's tripping people up. Some phones are accidentally calling after being banged around in a bag or a pocket, it seems.

A new BIOS update is available to download for ASUS ROG Ally gamers, and while the update may solve some issues, it also introduces some brand new ones, such as regression in gaming performance.

The ASUS ROG Ally was released some time ago, and since then, the portable gaming device has grown in popularity as mobile gamers look to the Ally as a potentially better option than Valve's Steam Deck. The Ally, which runs Windows 11, comes with the "fastest" AMD APU and is built on a custom 4nm process with Zen 4 and RDNA 3 architecture, 16GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 512GB M.2-2230 PCIe Gen4 SSD. All of the aforementioned specifications make the Ally twice as powerful as the Steam Deck.

While the Ally can pack a punch, reports indicate that ASUS has rolled out a new BIOS update that reduces total gaming performance. Testing from The Phawx indicates that BIOS update 319 introduces a performance regression. ASUS has recognized this and has cautioned Ally gamers from immediately updating their portable console. Suppose you have already updated your Ally and want to roll back your BIOS to regain performance. In that case, you can manually downgrade the BIOS by using the ASUS EZ Flash utility.

The iPhone SE that you can buy today for $429 is looking a little long in the tooth, to say the least. That's thanks to the Home button and huge chin and forehead, but those who had hoped for a refresh are set to wait for a long time, it seems.

That's because two analysts claim that after multiple conversations with Apple's supply chain, they don't believe that Apple will launch an updated iPhone SE in 2024. That would mean that the current iPhone SE will have to see Apple through to 2025 at the earliest, a point at which it will look even more old-fashioned.

This is all according to Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley who, in a research note seen by MacRumors, say that Apple is "unlikely to launch" a refreshed version of its budget iPhone in 2024.

Apple has today updated its Self Service Repair Program to add support for some of its most recent Mac laptops as well as the company's very latest iPhones, too.

The Self Service Repair Program allows Apple device owners to repair their own hardware at home, using genuine Apple parts and using the same tools that Apple's own technicians would use. In some cases that involves shipping some big and heavy items around the globe in order to perform repairs like replacing the display on an iPhone, but Apple seems fairly comfortable with that. In fact, it continues to say that the Self Service Repair Program is a win for the planet, likely because it ensures that devices can last for longer when they are repaired.

In this latest update, shared via a post on the Apple Newsroom, we learn that the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are now included in the list of iPhones that can be repaired using this program. There are some new Macs on the list as well including the 13-inch MacBook Air powered by M2, and MacBook Pro models powered by M2 Pro and M2 Max. The 15-inch MacBook Air isn't included, however.

Apple is expected to bring USB-C to the iPhone 15 later this year, ditching the Lightning cable for the first time. It isn't doing it by choice though, with the company being forced to make the move by a European Union directive. Now, it seems that there might be more trouble on the horizon for Apple's hardware design team.

Another new rule which was approved earlier this week will see all phones forced to have more easily removed and replaced batteries. What that will mean for phone makers including Apple remains to be seen, but it's unlikely to be good for a company that is notorious for making it difficult for people to repair their own devices.

The new rule will make it a requirement for portable batteries in appliances like phones to be made in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them, and the iPhone will obviously fall very squarely in that bracket. But it isn't just Apple, with other phone makers also expected to have to make design tweaks to abide by the new EU requirements.

If you looked at the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and thought that it was too expensive, there might be some very good news in store about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 that will replace it.

While Samsung is yet to formally announce the Galaxy Z Fold 5, that's expected to happen soon enough alongside Galaxy Z Flip 5. And when that happens there is course for optimism among those who might consider picking one up. According to a new leak, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is going to retail for less than the phone that came before it.

It's of course unusual for a new phone to sell for less than the model that it replaces, so this is particularly interesting. It's also notable that the leak by Twitter leaker @Tech_Reve also claims that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will sell for the same price as its predecessor. The fact that only one of Samsung's foldables is going to get cheaper suggests that the savings are in something bespoke to that model, possibly the displays or hinge assembly.

Apple is only a few months away from officially unveiling the iPhone 15, but analysts are already discussing what the company is reportedly planning on putting in the iPhone 16.

Ming-Chi, a supply chain analyst known for his past accurate predictions, has posted a new report that states Apple is planning on adding Wi-Fi 7 support into next year's iPhone. While a bigger number is typically better in the tech world, what does that mean for general users?

According to reports, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to be a large upgrade in the maximum data throughput speeds, or the amount of data that can be processed in any given amount of time. Reports indicate that Wi-Fi 7 will boast more than 40Gbps, and if this is true, it would mean Wi-Fi 7 is four times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and almost six times faster than Wi-Fi 5.

The Nothing Phone (2) will be officially unveiled during an event on July 11 but you don't have to wait that long to see what the cable that it'll ship with looks like. And as far as cables go, this one's gotten our attention more than most.

If you're at all familiar with Nothing you'll know that it's a company that likes to make see-through products. It's done it with accessories in the past, like its wireless earbuds, and its phones have a see-through aesthetic as well. Now, so does its cable.

The cable appears to be your standard USB-C to USB-C affair, except you can see through the part that is normally covered in plastic. There's a rather lovely NOTHING text and a collection of what appears to be six holes. It isn't clear what they actually are, although some on the internet have suggested that they might be LEDs of some sort. We're not sure that we'd subscribe to that ourselves, but we wouldn't put anything past Carl Pei and the folks at Nothing.

If you're planning on picking up a Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro you're probably going to like what you're about to read, with both phones set to get some notable improvements in the display department.

In fact, some of these display changes will be noticeable even if you're upgrading from a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, with Android Authority reporting that this year's phones will have some big improvements.

Perhaps at the top of the list of improvements will be a new flat display for the Pixel 8 Pro, removing the slight curve that the Pixel 7 Pro offered. The display is going to drop in resolution slightly, however, but there is good news - the maximum brightness is increasing from 2,000 nits to a more impressive 1,600 nits.

The iPhone 15 lineup of phones will be announced later this year, assuming the rumors and Apple's previous release schedule are to be trusted. Now, a new report suggests that there is one specific upgrade the new phones will benefit from that's designed specifically to help build an ecosystem for the Vision Pro headset.

That upgrade will be a new ultra wideband (UWB) chip, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The upgraded chip could allow for a better connection between the iPhone 15 and the Vision Pro headset, making for improved performance and a better user experience.

Kup says that the iPhone 15 will likely get an upgraded UWB chip that will see the production process move from one that was based on a 16nm format to a new more advanced 7nm one. That would allow for improved performance but also reduced power consumption when working with other, nearby devices. Those devices could include other iPhones, HomePods, Apple Watches, and of course, the Vision Pro headset.

Sure, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models aren't all that old yet and we still haven't had Apple confirm the existence of the iPhone 15 and Iphone 15 Pro, but attention is already starting to turn to what comes after that. And what comes after that is the iPhone 16.

Now, supply chain analyst and altogether well-connected guy Ming-Chi Kuo has shared more details about what the next-next big thing will have to offer, specifically in terms of the iPhone 16's connectivity. According to him, the iPhone 16 series of phones will likely feature an upgraded Wi-Fi, likely Wi-Fi 7.

The upgraded Wi-Fi will obviously allow for faster app and game downloads as well as make it quicker to deal with iCloud for photo and video storage. But beyond that Kuo suggests that there might be another motive behind the speed bump - Apple's ecosystem.

Skin conditions can be major health problems that, unfortunately, often go undiagnosed. In an effort to help people identify possible skin conditions, Google is rolling out a new update to Google Lens.

While Google's new update won't be anywhere near as accurate as an official diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner, Google is hoping its new update to Lens will be able to give users enough information to get them on their way.

So, what is the new update? Google has explained via its blog that describing an odd mole or rash can be difficult with words and that the new update to Lens will allow users to take a picture of the concerned region of skin and upload it to Lens.

Samsung already knows how to launch a great phone color and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great example of that. But rather than rest on its laurels it now looks like the company is getting ready to ship some new colors as well.

The news comes via the Samsung India Twitter account which shared details about two colors that will apparently be so impressive they'll make us "go WOOOW!" We're not sure about that, but this accompanying 10-second video does at least give us a glimpse at what's to come.

Samsung hasn't yet said what names it is giving to the two new colors, but the teaser suggests that we're looking at something blue and something close to a copper.