Samsung introduced many new features with One UI 6.1, which debuted earlier this year with the Galaxy S24 series. One such feature was Photo Ambient, which adds weather effects to the lock screen wallpaper. Samsung is improving the performance of those effects with a new update.
Samsung Vision Core update brings more realistic weather effects to lock screen wallpaper
Samsung has released a huge update to its Vision Core app. The version 1.0.14.0 of the app comes with a huge download size of around 1.2GB and is available via the Galaxy Store. While the changelog just says bug fixes, people have noticed that it improves the realism of weather effects on the lock screen wallpaper. For example, raindrops now have a splash effect on the objects and persons in the image. Similarly, snowflakes fall in front and rear of persons appearing in the wallpaper.
This feature is only available on the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. It will likely not be released to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Tab S9 series, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 5 with the upcoming One UI 6.1 update. Samsung is expected to release the One UI 6.1 update to those devices starting tomorrow.
How to activate lock screen wallpaper weather effects on Galaxy S24?
You can access the Photo Ambient feature on your Galaxy S24 series phone by opening the Settings app, navigating to Advanced Features » Labs » Photo Ambient Wallpaper, and then enabling the toggle there. Since this is a Labs feature, weather effects might not work reliably all the time. However, we did not notice any major issues with the feature.
You can watch all the other wallpaper-related features that are available on One UI 6.1 in our detailed video below.
If your iPhone won’t install a software update, it’s more than just annoying. You must install the latest updates to get security patches, as well as the latest features.
You install software updates by opening Settings > General > Software Update. It should be a pretty smooth process, but occasionally, things go wrong. The error messages can be inscrutable and infuriatingly vague.
But there are a few things you can try. Here’s a step-by-step guide that will show you what to do.
What to do if your iPhone won’t update
It’s possible you don’t have a software update available because your phone is too old for the current update. Apple usually updates devices for about six years. So if your iPhone is older than that, it may not be supported by the latest software.
If your device still appears on that list but you can’t update your software, there are a few things you can try.
Make sure you’re not installing a beta update
Turn Beta Updates off to get back on the normal software update track. Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The first thing to do is check to see if you’re running an iOS beta. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you see an option for Beta Updates, tap on that and make sure it’s set to Off.
If it was set to anything else, go back to see if there’s still a software update available. And, if so, try to install the update again.
If you own a newer iPhone, hold the side button and the volume up button together for a few seconds. Slide the “power off” slider and wait for your phone to turn off. Then, hold the side button until you see the Apple logo. Enter your passcode, then go to Settings > General > Software Update and try again.
Check that you have enough free space
If your iPhone still won’t update, it’s possible you don’t have enough free space for the iOS upgrade. To check, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Wait a few moments as it updates how much space the files on your iPhone currently take up
If you don’t have much available space, you should clear some. If you don’t have Offload Unused Apps turned on, tap Enable to free up some storage quickly. This won’t remove any of your personal data, and you can always turn it back off after you update.
You also can tap Review Large Attachments to clear out some big media files you may have received over iMessage.
After clearing up some storage space, try once again in Settings > General > Software Update to see if you can install the iOS update.
Delete the update and try again
Delete it and try it again. Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Sometimes, an iOS update can go wrong. If none of the fixes so far have worked, you should try deleting the software update you downloaded. To do so, go back to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll through the list and find the update. Then tap it and tap Delete Update.
Go back to Settings > General > Software Update to download the update from scratch to see if that helps.
Try using a Mac or PC if your iPhone won’t update
Your iPhone (probably) has a different name in the sidebar. Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If none of the above works, you should try updating your phone using a computer. Plug in your iPhone, ideally using an official Apple cable if you own one.
Click on your iPhone in the sidebar and click Check for Update. After it checks, click Update. You’ll need to enter your phone passcode when prompted.
If you still have problems with this step, update your computer:
On your Mac, go to System Settings > Software Update. (It may also be called System Preferences.)
On your PC, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update. Once you’ve updated Windows, go to Start > Microsoft Store and click Get Updates to see if there’s an update available for the Apple Devices app.
Go to the Apple Store if your iPhone still won’t update
If all of these steps fail, your last recourse should be to go to an Apple Store. They will be able to fix whatever problems you are having for free.
iPhones are available for in-store service for up to seven years after they’re discontinued. So as of March 2024, you can still get free service on an iPhone 7 or newer.
Earlier today, Samsung released the April 2024 security update to the Galaxy S24 series in South Korea. This update improved several camera-related issues and the update is now rolling out in European countries as well. Other regions could get this update in the next few days.
Galaxy S24 gets camera improvements with April 2024 update in Europe
The new software update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available in European countries. It comes with firmware version S92xBXXU1AXCA and has a download size of almost 1GB (920.97MB), so you should prefer downloading it via a Wi-Fi network. It also brings the April 2024 security patch to fix some vulnerabilities.
According to Samsung, the new Galaxy S24 update brings the following improvements to its camera:
The camera’s white balance accuracy and exposure.
Low-light image quality.
Color accuracy in the ExpertRAW camera app.
Text clarity in high-zoom shots.
Support for videos with 480×480 pixels resolution in the Instant Slow Mo feature.
If you have a Galaxy S24 series phone and live in Europe, you can now check for this update. To do that, open the Settings app, navigate to Software update, and tap Download and install. You can also find the new firmware file in our firmware database shortly. You can download it once it is available and flash it manually using a Windows PC and the Odin tool.
Earlier today, Samsung released the April 2024 software update to the Galaxy S24 series in South Korea and Europe. It brings several camera quality improvements to all Galaxy S24 series phones. Now, the same update is rolling out in India as well.
Galaxy S24’s camera fixing April 2024 update available in India
The new software update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available in India. The update comes bearing firmware version S92xBXXU1AXCA and has a download size of around 666.09MB. It includes camera quality improvements and the April 2024 security patch. Samsung hasn’t detailed its new security patch yet, so we don’t know which vulnerabilities have been fixed with the latest patch.
The new update improves the following aspects of the camera quality of the Galaxy S24 series:
The camera’s white balance accuracy and exposure.
Low-light image quality.
Color accuracy in the ExpertRAW camera app.
Text clarity in high-zoom shots.
Support for videos with 480×480 pixels resolution in the Instant Slow Mo feature.
To install the new update, you have to open the Settings app on your phone, navigate to Software update, and tap Download and install. Once the new firmware is available in our firmware database, you can download it and flash it manually using a computer running Windows OS and the Odin tool installed.
You can watch all the camera improvements that Samsung brought with the February 2024 update in our in-depth video below.
Samsung has started rolling out the April 2024 security update to the Galaxy S24 series. The update is currently rolling out in South Korea and could be released in other countries within a matter of days. It is surprising to see the April 2024 update arrive even before March has ended.
April 2024 security update for Galaxy S24 fixes remaining camera issues
The new software update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in South Korea with firmware version S92xNKSU1AXCA. The update has a download size of around 797.83MB, which is decently big, and you should consider downloading it via a Wi-Fi network. It includes the April 2024 security patch, but Samsung hasn’t revealed which security vulnerabilities it has fixed with the new patch.
If you have a Galaxy S24 series phone and live in South Korea, you can now check for the new update on your phone. You can do that by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping Download and install. The new firmware files will be available in our firmware database shortly.
In a support document, Apple said the updates patch an image-related security vulnerability that “may lead to arbitrary code execution.”
The full details:
CoreMedia
Available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing an image may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved input validation.
CVE-2024-1580: Nick Galloway of Google Project Zero
WebRTC
Available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing an image may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved input validation.
CVE-2024-1580: Nick Galloway of Google Project Zero
To update your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap General → Software Update.
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce…
Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…
Apple today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems. The new software comes a couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 with app changes in the European Union, new emoji, and more. iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software…
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple’s rumored plan to refresh the entire AirPods lineup with a series of new models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The fourth-generation AirPods will reportedly feature a new design with a better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. For the first time ever,…
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Apple is set to roll out a new system that allows retail store staff to wirelessly update the software on iPhones prior to sale, without having to take them out of their packaging.
Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said the new proprietary system, called “Presto,” relies on MagSafe and other wireless technologies, and “looks a bit like a metal cubby for shoes.” It will begin rolling out widely across the U.S. in April, with Apple’s intention to have the technology in all U.S. retail stores by early summer, he added.
Gurman first reported on the wireless system in October, describing it as a “proprietary pad-like device” on which retail store staff can place a sealed iPhone box. The system wirelessly turns on the iPhone inside, updates its software to the latest version available, and then powers it off.
Apple developed “Presto” as a way to avoid selling iPhones in retail stores with outdated software. For example, the iPhone 15 series shipped with iOS 17, but Apple subsequently released iOS 17.0.1 before the devices launched. The point update was required to fix an issue that prevented the transfer of data directly from another iPhone during the initial setup process.
That meant new iPhone 15 owners had to update the devices themselves as part of the setup process, or manually via the Settings app under General → Software Update if they opted to set up the device as new and transfer data later. Following the rollout of “Presto,” such a scenario will be avoidable, making the setup process more straightforward for end users.
Apple today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems. The new software comes a couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 with app changes in the European Union, new emoji, and more. iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software…
Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. Home Screen on iOS 17 While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the…
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple’s rumored plan to refresh the entire AirPods lineup with a series of new models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The fourth-generation AirPods will reportedly feature a new design with a better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. For the first time ever,…
An unpatchable vulnerability has been discovered in Apple’s M-series chips that allows attackers to extract secret encryption keys from Macs under certain conditions, according to a newly published academic research paper (via ArsTechnica). Named “GoFetch,” the type of cyber attack described involves Data Memory-Dependent Prefetchers (DMPs), which try to predict what data the computer will…
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We’re getting closer to the launch of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, while rumors about iOS 18 are continuing to ramp up with this week’s surprise revelation that Apple has been talking to Google and others about potentially helping power the generative AI features expected to be a major part of this year’s update. Other news this week saw the release of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1…
Samsung announced last month that the One UI 6.1 update would be made available to 2023 Galaxy flagships in March, and to stay true to its word, the company will have to move quickly as there’s less than a week left before we enter the month of April.
Last week, Samsung Korea revealed that the update would be released for the Galaxy S23 series on March 28. But we weren’t convinced because of how long it is taking for Samsung to bring One UI 6.1 to the masses compared to previous .1 updates.
However, March 28 may indeed be the day Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, and S23 FE owners have been waiting for, as over the weekend, Samsung China sent a notification to its users that mentions the same date for the rollout.
Samsung Korea also reiterated the date in a response to users on the Samsung community forums, and it also suggested that the Galaxy S23 FE would get the update on March 28 as well. The Fan Edition models don’t usually get updates at the same time as the non-FE models, but the One UI 6.1 update could be an exception.
Samsung will hopefully release the update for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9 on March 28 as well, though as we reminded our readers last week, One UI 6.1 may not go live in every country before the end of the Month. It could take all of April for the update to become available to users in every corner of the world.
Samsung has done an excellent job avoiding feature creep when it comes to Samsung Internet, its in-house browser for Android devices. The company doesn’t add new features very often, and the ones it does add go to the beta version of the app before coming to the stable version.
Samsung tests both major and minor features in the beta version, and the latest feature falls in the latter camp. The Samsung Internet beta app has received an update that adds a new option that, when enabled, prevents the menu bars from disappearing when you scroll through a website.
Latest Samsung Internet beta update adds option for persistent menu bars
Most browsers for smartphones hide all of their menus, including the address bar, when the user is scrolling. It’s something most people don’t notice or care about, but those who do, and perhaps find it irritating, can disable that behavior in the newest version of Samsung Internet beta.
The option, which is called Show menu bars while scrolling can be accessed from the app’s Settings » Layout and menus section. Once it’s enabled, menu bars at both the top and bottom will remain visible at all times.
The latest version, 25.0.0.31, of Samsung Internet beta also fixes bugs and improves general stability. It can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store. The app is also available on the Play Store, but the Galaxy Store is recommended as it receives updates faster. If you wish to manually install it without using any app store, you can download the latest APK file from APKMirror.
The popular farming sim and ultimate cozy game, Stardew Valley, dropped a major update on Tuesday after months of anticipation. Stardew’s 1.6 update has an insane amount of new content that touches every area of the game, from new menus and DIYs, to a new farm layout, new crops, and the ability to have multiple pets and play with seven friends at once. It’s enough updates to make the game feel fresh, but isn’t so new that you can’t ease back into a beloved farm and toil away.
It’s important to note here that the free update is currently only available for PC players. The update will come to mobile and consoles like the Nintendo Switch later on. If you’re not a PC player, the 1.6 news has not changed gameplay, and you’ll be able to play normally while you wait for it to show up. If you don’t have the game yet on PC, you can purchase it on Steam for $15, and it works on PC, Linus, and Mac computers.
As soon as the PC update arrived, I opened up Stardew Valley and started a file with the brand-new farm layout (which has me very broke) to dive right in. The update also works on your existing Stardew files, and I’ve been bouncing back and forth between my brand-new file and a later-game file to see what’s new in different seasons. Everywhere I look, I see something new. Moss to forage off trees! New reactionary dialog from NPCs! A prize machine in the mayor’s house!
If you hate spoilers, I’m honestly not sure why you read this far, but you should definitely stop reading. I’m about to tell you about some of the biggest changes I’ve spotted since playing the updated game.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Ranch Mode
The biggest change to see right away is the new farm layout. Stardew’s 1.6 update adds the Meadowlands Farm, a grass- and animal-focused design for my fellow animal ranchers. This farm grows a special blue grass that game creator Eric Barone says animals will love. It can raise animal’s hearts faster, improving the eggs and milk they give you. There’s less farming land available, and a few changes to initial quests. I’m enjoying the Meadowlands Farm so far—I immediately created one when the game dropped–even though starting with two chickens and no parsnip seeds is definitely a slower path to the infinite wealth I’m seeking. But even though I’m broke, it’s still been fun to have such a different start to the game.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Fresh Crops
The first question my sister asked me when I started playing: “Are there new crops?” At first, I told her no. I didn’t see anything new to purchase in the shop. But there are new crops with the update–you just won’t find them in any stores.
Instead, you find four new crops (one for each season!) in a few different ways—mainly, digging them up from the ground in the game’s well-known Artifact Spots, although spots with these new crops have a slightly different style you’ll be able to spot. You can also win them in the brand-new Prize Machine in the mayor’s house, once you get your hand on a prize ticket. The new crops are carrots for spring, summer squash for (shocker) summer, broccoli for fall, and powdermelon in winter. These new crops can be used in the game’s main quest, too. Just choose Remixed Bundles for the Community Center in your starting settings.
