Tag: feature

News

iOS 18 May Feature All-New ‘Safari Browsing Assistant’

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 10, 2024
No Comments on iOS 18 May Feature All-New ‘Safari Browsing Assistant’

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It appears that iOS 18 will feature a new Safari browsing assistant, according to backend code on Apple’s servers discovered by Nicolás Álvarez. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris confirmed that the code exists, but not many details are known at this time.

iOS 18 WWDC 24 Feature 2
Álvarez said it seems like the browsing assistant will use iCloud Private Relay’s infrastructure to send relevant data to Apple in a privacy-focused manner.

A browsing assistant in Safari could be one of the new generative AI features that are rumored to be coming to the iPhone with iOS 18. Some other iPhone web browsers already offer AI tools, such as Arc Search, which can summarize web pages to provide concise information.

Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10.

More details to follow…

Next Apple Watch Could Feature More Power Efficient OLED Display

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 9, 2024
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Apple plans to use new low-energy OLED panel technology in the next Apple Watch to further reduce the power consumption of its always-on display, claims a new report out of Korea.

apple watch series 9 display
According to The Elec, Apple will adopt new low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technology for its upcoming Apple Watch, which is scheduled to be released in the second half of this year.

LPTO TFT is a method of applying oxide on the driving TFT and the switching transistors behind each pixel. Switching transistors control the voltage applied to the liquid crystal cells, allowing precise control of the amount of light that passes through each pixel.

Existing Apple Watch OLED displays use LPTO TFT in only a few switching transistors, and rely on low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) technology for the majority of transistors as well as the driving TFT.

Using oxide instead of LTPS for the driving TFT and more of the switching transistors means that oxide alone is responsible for the current running through the majority of transistors that connect directly to the OLED pixel. In the new LTPO OLED application, increased use of oxide means lower leakage current and more stable operation at low refresh rates, resulting in overall power savings.

The downside is that the technique means more complication in the manufacturing of the TFT substrates. According to the report, LG Display is expected to take the lead in the development of the new LPTO OLED technology. Meanwhile, Samsung is participating in a development project that should see it join Apple’s LPTO OLED supply chain in time for next year’s Apple Watch.

This has led to industry speculation that Apple is planning to expand the use of LPTO OLED technology to other products such as the iPhone. The current iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus use LTPS panels, while Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models use the more advanced LTPO panels, which support variable refresh rates.

Apple is expected to retain the use of the less advanced LTPS panels in this year’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus to maintain differentiation between its standard and Pro models. However, next year’s iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus are expected to adopt the same technology, which would mean Apple’s 2025 iPhone series will be the first of its kind to feature ProMotion and always-on displays across the lineup.

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Tags Apple, display, Efficient, feature, OLED, Power, Watch

Featured

New Android 15 feature could turn your smartphone into a desktop computer

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 5, 2024
No Comments on New Android 15 feature could turn your smartphone into a desktop computer

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Did you know that Android OS has had a desktop mode similar to Samsung Dex for the past five years or so? It’s true. The mode first came out back in 2019 on Android 10. It allowed you to connect your smartphone to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard setup turning it into a mini-desktop. No one can blame you for not knowing it existed in the first place. It was primarily meant for developers to use as a testing ground for their apps. It was as barebones as a system can be. However, recent evidence suggests Google is expanding the feature to be more friendly for the everyday user.

News site Android Authority dove into the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1 update and with some technical know-how, activated desktop mode “to see how the… system has evolved.” As it turns out, it’s advanced quite a bit since 2019.

Their demo video shows windows can now be dragged around and resized on the screen. Resizing causes the page to go blank save for the app’s logo in the center.

Moving a window over to either side causes it to snap into place. They then opened another app, clicking into place on the other side letting them have two pages side-by-side similar to Windows 11. Grabbing a full-screened page by dragging the top handle causes it to shrink, letting users make quick adjustments.

At the top of every full-screen is a small menu. Android Authority states it “contains the app’s name, icon, and three buttons to switch between full-screen, split-screen, and freeform mode. That last option lets you drag the window around. While the app is in freeform, apps gain a URL bar, a dropdown menu for altering the viewing mode, plus maximize and close buttons.

Basic, yet important

This may seem like basic functionalities that all web browsers come with. Well, that’s because they are. Earlier when we said desktop mode is as barebones as a system can be, we meant it. The thing to keep in mind is this update signifies a continued effort to improve this feature. We could see where Android smartphones can turn into capable computers that are more portable than laptops. Technically, they already are, but they’re missing the necessary support.

There is still a lot of work to be done, as the publication points out. Most apps, for instance, “don’t support drag-and-drop”. A few keyboard shortcuts are apparently present, but the report doesn’t go into detail.

No word on when the revamped mode will launch. Considering it’s part of a late beta, we could see the feature arrive on Android 15 which is scheduled to come out somewhere between August and October.

Take this information with a grain of salt. After all, Google could suddenly change its mind and kill the project. Something similar happened recently with the WSA (Windows Subsystem for Android) app on Windows 11. It gives users a way to run Android software natively on the Windows operating system, however, starting on March 5, 2025, support is going cut off.

While we have you, be sure to check out TechRadar’s roundup of the best Android phones for 2024.

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Tags Android, computer, desktop, feature, smartphone, turn

News

iPhone 16 Rumored to Feature Even Thinner Bezels

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 4, 2024
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Some iPhone 16 models will feature thinner bezels thanks to Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, The Elec reports.

BRS technology allows for a more compact and efficient layout of the screen’s underlying circuitry, enabling slimmer bezels without compromising on the display’s performance or the device’s overall form factor. This requires precise and advanced manufacturing techniques, given the complexity of tighter circuit placement and the need for bending some wiring downwards beneath the bezel.

Display Driver ICs (DDIs), the components at the center of this manufacturing challenge, control the activation and illumination of pixels on the OLED panel. To meet Apple’s requirements, LG Display is apparently diversifying its DDI supply chain, bringing on board Novatech from Taiwan alongside its existing supplier, LX Semicon. This move is designed to increase quality control while reducing costs.

It is not clear whether the slimmer bezel technology is destined for the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models, the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max, or both. It may be more likely to appear singularly in the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models since these devices are expected to see display size increases from 6.1- to 6.3-inches and 6.7- to 6.9-inches, without a substantial increase in overall size. It is also worth noting that Apple reduced the bezels of the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max last year significantly more than the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus. Last month, a report coming out of Korea suggested that BIS technology will come to the entire ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be thinner and lighter, feature sharper displays

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 3, 2024
No Comments on Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be thinner and lighter, feature sharper displays

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The Galaxy Z Fold series has arguably been the best overall book-style foldable phone lineup in the market so far, at least for day-to-day usage. However, there are a few things where Galaxy Z Fold phones fall short: weight and thickness. The Galaxy Z Fold phones usually weigh more and are thicker than rival foldable devices.

Take the Galaxy Z Fold 5 for example. It tips the scale at 253g and is 13.4mm thick. In comparison, the OnePlus Open and the Huawei Mate X5 weigh 239g and 243g, respectively. They are 11.7mm thin and 11.1mm thin, respectively. Well, Samsung seems to have taken criticism seriously and is working on making substantial improvements to the weight and thickness of its next foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be thinner and lighter

According to two posts from tipster Ice Universe (1,2) on X/Twitter, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will weigh 239g and have a thickness of 12.1mm when folded (5.6mm when unfolded). That means the upcoming foldable phone will be 14 grams lighter and 1.3mm thinner than its predecessor. That’s a decent improvement in our books.

With that, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be in line with the likes of the OnePlus Open and the OPPO Find N3 in terms of weight and thickness. More importantly, this change will solve one of the major complaints people have with Galaxy Z Fold phones and offer a better in-hand feel. That’s not all though. The tipster also revealed some details about the phone’s internal and external displays.

Inner and outer displays will be sharper

He claimed the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a 7.6-inch inner display with a 7:6 ratio and a 6.3-inch outer display with a 22:9 ratio. For your reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 7.6-inch inner display with a 5:6 ratio and a 6.2-inch outer display with a 23.1:9 ratio. That means the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s inner screen will be the same size as that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 but with a shorter and wider aspect ratio. Its cover screen will be 0.1-inch larger and have a wider aspect ratio than the one on its predecessor.

Furthermore, the tipster says “The resolution of both the internal and external screens has been improved.” So, expect the inner and outer displays of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to have a higher resolution than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Almost all Galaxy Z Fold 5 competitors, including the OnePlus Open, Huawei Mate X5, and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, offer screens with higher pixel densities. So, that was another area where Samsung was behind the curve. The company seems to be fixing that as well.

The information is great news for Galaxy Z Fold fans and people waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

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Tags Displays, feature, Fold, Galaxy, lighter, sharper, Thinner

News

New Beats Solo 4 to Feature Improved Sound, USB-C

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on New Beats Solo 4 to Feature Improved Sound, USB-C

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Apple is planning to release a new version of the Beats Solo 4 headphones, and hints of the refresh have been seen in both iOS updates and FCC filings in recent weeks. We’ve already seen the design and some of the features, with rumors pointing to support for Spatial Audio, but the headphones’ full specs were today shared by 9to5Mac ahead of launch.

new beats solo 4
The Beats Solo 4 will feature longer battery life, USB-C, and better audio, with the full range of expected updates listed below.

Custom-built 40mm transducers with better clarity and range.
USB-C port for charging and high-resolution lossless audio.
3.5mm port will still be available for lossless audio.
50 hours of playback time, up 10 hours from the Beats Solo 3.
Fast Fuel charging for five hours of playback with a 10 minute charge.
Find My support for iOS devices.
One-touch pairing with Android devices.
UltraPlush ear cushions for improved comfort.
Bluetooth 5.3 support.
Beamforming mics with new voice algorithms for improved clarity.

Apple plans to sell the Beats Solo 4 for $200, which is the same price as the Beats Solo 3. There is no official word yet on when the headphones will be released, but rumors suggest they could come on May 2.

Google broke this great camera feature with the Pixel 8 Pro, and it probably won’t ever fix it

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 31, 2024
No Comments on Google broke this great camera feature with the Pixel 8 Pro, and it probably won’t ever fix it

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I’ve been a long-time fan of Pixel phones, but Google made a major change to the camera experience on the latest Pixel 8 Pro that effectively broke one of its most convenient features; and while I’ve patiently waited for a fix, it looks like Google has committed to leaving users in the lurch, rather than undoing its mistake.

I’ve reviewed at least one entry of every generation of the best Pixel phones since Google debuted the series back in 2016, and the camera is what keeps me coming back; so much so that I’ve mainlined one of Google’s smartphones since the Pixel 4 XL. My experience with the Pixel 8 Pro, however, is soured every time a simple camera UI tweak that Google has made stops me from getting the shot I want.

The Pixel 7 Pro has proven to be one of the company’s most capable phones yet, and while the jump to the Pixel 8 Pro brought better performance, an aesthetic refinement, more AI functionality and more impressive imaging hardware, I wasn’t enamored with the camera experience compared to that of its predecessor right out the gate.

If it ain’t broke… break it?

This is partly down to the revised image processing pipeline, which produces distinctly different images compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. This may be a result of the Pixel imaging team having to adjust to the 8 Pro’s new sensor hardware – but that doesn’t absolve them of the newest model’s added ‘Pro Controls’, which consolidate management over ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance, shadows, and brightness.

Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro camera UI

The Pixel 7 Pro’s manual control layout (left) and the Pixel 8 Pro’s Pro Controls (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

While bringing this functionality under a single menu might seem like a refinement between generations, the move actually results in more steps being required when it comes to the critical moment of capture. With the Pixel 7 Pro, a tap on your subject while framing up was all it took to bring up sliders for white balance, shadows, and brightness; you could then adjust each value on the fly from within the viewfinder, instantly.

By incorporating these adjustments into the Pro Controls along the bottom of the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera UI, the new layout requires more taps and swipes, not to mention the need to switch in and out of each slider individually. If all you’re trying to shoot is a static landscape this change doesn’t really matter all that much, but for those occasions when you have only a few fleeting moments to grab your shot – most likely of a moving subject – forget it.

Google bills the Pixel 8 Pro’s Pro Controls as a premium upgrade, but those who were familiar with the Pixel 7 Pro’s interface will likely consider the change anything but that. To add to the sting, in the pursuit of consistency across generations the subsequent Android 14 update to the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera app has hidden those white balance, shadows, and brightness sliders under a similar UI change (ISO, focus and shutter speed controls aren’t available on the 7 Pro), meaning that now nobody can enjoy what was one of the best features of the recent Pixel camera experience.

More unhappy customers

While it might seem like I’m blowing this seemingly small change out of proportion, a quick scout around online brings up numerous testimonies that echo my sentiment; change for change’s sake is the wrong way to implement an upgrade, especially if it’s at the user’s expense.

Android Authority‘s Rita El Khoury appears to have similar feelings, while numerous users on the r/GooglePixel subreddit have also noted Google’s bad call here. Original poster andrewhahalee said, “now you need 4 taps to turn on manual mode, scroll the bottom, tap the option and then adjust,” while user 465468 said, “Major step in the wrong direction…I think it’s a damn shame and really can’t understand how they would come up with that change.”

As such, while both the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro remain among some of the best camera phones available right now, it would appear that it’s not competitors Pixel photography fans need to be aware of – it’s Google.

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Tags broke, camera, feature, fix, Google, great, Pixel, Pro, Wont

News

iPhone 16 Pro Models Could Feature New Polished Titanium Finish

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 29, 2024
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Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models will use an improved process for finishing and coloring titanium, claims a new rumor out of Korea.

iPhone 15 Pro Cameras
According to news aggregator account “yeux1122” on the Naver blog, the new process will make the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max look more polished than the iPhone 15 Pro models, which have a brushed finish.

The improved manufacturing process will allegedly result in a glossy appearance that is more akin to the heavily polished stainless steel material used in previous Pro iPhones. However, the new titanium finish will be less prone to scratches compared to stainless steel.

The ‌‌brushed finish on ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models‌‌ is considerably less reflective than the finish of previous Pro iPhones. It is less prone to fingerprints and also reduces scratch visibility. Apart from looks though, Apple’s use of a titanium frame for its ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ devices also cut down the weight of the devices. The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max are approximately nine percent lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max.

In addition, the titanium frame and aluminum substructure also provides better heat dissipation than any previous-generation Pro models with stainless steel frames, according to Apple.

A rumor earlier this week claimed that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will come in new “space black” and “rose” titanium colors. The “rose” is a gold shade, while “space black” could replace the black titanium option. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 16 series in the fall.

Tidal’s game-changing feature lets your friends open shared songs in Spotify

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 28, 2024
No Comments on Tidal’s game-changing feature lets your friends open shared songs in Spotify

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Music streaming service Tidal is introducing a great new feature to its desktop app, one we hope other platforms implement: universal links. Now, whenever a Tidal user shares a song with a friend, the recipient will be able to listen to the track “on their preferred streaming service.” They won’t be forced to install the app on their compute. As the company put it, your friends can enjoy “your latest musical obsession, regardless of where they listen.”

The platform itself didn’t make an official announcement. This update appears to have been discovered by a Reddit user on the Tidal subreddit who posted screenshots of the patch notes and the feature in action. We can confirm Tidal Version 2024.03.27 of the desktop app is indeed live and rolling out, as we received the patch on our computer.

Sharing music across platforms doesn’t require any extra steps on behalf of the sender. To begin, click the three dots next to a song’s title, then hover over Share. Select Copy Track Link and send your friend said link.

Here’s where things get different.

Tidal's universal links

(Image credit: Future)

When the recipient opens the link, they will be taken to a special Tidal web page where they select how they want to listen to the track. Four other streaming services are currently supported at the time of this writing: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. You won’t be able to listen right away as you’ll have to wait a few seconds for the Tidal to connect to the third-party app.

Tidal's new multi-platform menu

(Image credit: Future)

Once it’s done, pick whatever you want and it’ll open your choice on a web browser. It won’t open their respective desktop app. The patch notes state there are plans to expand support to other services – presumably Deezer is one those. But it’s unknown when that’ll happen.

Leading the charge

This tech isn’t anything new, as similar tools have existed for years now. Deezer, for example, has Shaker, which is an all-in-one playlist feature that allows people to grab songs from their preferred app and pool songs together seamlessly. Songlink is another option, but again you have to make a full playlist.

What’s exciting about the Tidal update is that this is the first time a major music streaming service is incorporating universal links. It’s a level of flexibility rarely seen anywhere else. You don’t have to create a playlist. You’re free to share one song and just the one song. On top of all this, Tidal is bucking industry trends by becoming cheaper, too. We would love to see Spotify, Apple Music, and the like follow in its footsteps.

As much as we gush over universal links, we have several questions. Will the mobile app receive the same upgrade? The Reddit post specifically mentions receiving Version 2024.03.27 on their Mac and we got it on our PC. However, there’s no mention of Android or iOS anywhere. Same goes for its availability; it’s unknown if this is rolling out globally or not.

Until then, why not check out TechRadar’s list of the best headphones for 2024.

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Tags feature, friends, GameChanging, lets, open, shared, songs, Spotify, Tidals

Featured

Canva won’t scrap Affinity’s best feature – but subscriptions may be coming

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 28, 2024
No Comments on Canva won’t scrap Affinity’s best feature – but subscriptions may be coming

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It’s official – Canva won’t scrap Affinity software’s best feature: the perpetual license, a one-off fee, no endless subscriptions.

A commitment to the “perpetual model” is one of four pledges made in a joint statement from the Canva and Affinity teams designed to allay fears after the former acquired the latter.

Of course, users may also soon be able to subscribe to Affinity’s creative apps, too – but to the relief of many, both teams confirmed, “if we do offer a subscription, it will only ever be as an option alongside the perpetual model, for those who prefer it.” Champagne all round.

A pledge to users

When news broke that Canva had acquired the company behind some of the best graphic design software and the best DTP software we’ve ever used, like many, we wondered what this meant for the always welcome one-off fee.

You can’t open Canva without a Canva Pro ad popping up every time (an admittedly small price to pay). Affinity’s closest competitor, Adobe, offers three different subscription plans for its Creative Cloud suite – and that’s just for one person.

So, Affinity’s refreshing one-off charge for Designer, Photo, and Publisher – and the Universal License that bundles all three apps together – made them some of the best alternatives to Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. In that environment, would the perpetual license last?

Canva and Affinity's four pledges as laid out in their statement

Canva and Affinity’s four pledges as laid out in their statement (Image credit: Canva / Affinity)

The answer is a resounding yes. The Affinity and Canva Pledge commits both companies to fair pricing, saying, “we know this model has been a key part of the Affinity offering and we are committed to continue to offer perpetual licenses in the future.”

Pledges also vow to continue “accelerating” support for Affinity as a standalone product, free availability for schools and registered nonprofits, and “listening and being led by the design community at every step in this journey.”

As if to prove this, the firm is already preparing to rollout user-requested features. Look out for variable font support, blend and width tools, auto object selection, multi-page spreads, and ePub export as free updates coming to the design suite in 2024.

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