Tag: app-subdomain-redirection:ios-16

This week, Apple has been busy introducing the new generation of iPhones to the world. Specifically, we’re talking about the iPhone 15 and all the models arriving later this year. Here is all the information about the new phones.

Well, during the presentation, Apple mentioned that they had opted for the same configuration of three cameras on the back. However, this time the company presented it in a different way, a way that seemed to imply something else.

Instead of just talking about how the 48-megapixel camera on the iPhone 15 Pro can shoot at different focal lengths, Apple discussed how the phone has a total of seven cameras.

How Apple fooled us into thinking they had 7 cameras

This is because the 48-megapixel main sensor can shoot at 48mm, 35mm, 28mm, and 24mm. Meanwhile, the telephoto lens can go up to 120mm, and the third lens can do macro or 13mm, in this case.

Now, all of this sounds great, but it’s just a marketing tactic because it’s not really the case.

Now, the iPhone 15 Pro is equipped with a 48-megapixel camera that has a fixed focal length of 24mm. From there, all focal lengths are digital, not optical.

The seven camera modes of iphone 15 pro max #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/bBDPy7qhn6

— AstroLexicon (@AstroLexicon) September 12, 2023

This means that 28mm, 35mm, and 48mm are all digital since the lens itself is not mechanically capable of moving. Even the 12-megapixel telephoto lens is actually 77mm instead of the marketed 120mm by Apple.

Now, we’re not going to take away all credit from Apple. If the new iPhone can prove that its digital zoom is nearly as good as optical zoom, then we’ll be in for some exciting technology.

Fortunately, the iPhone 15 Pro is equipped with a good 48-megapixel sensor, so customers will be able to take very good photos with their new phone, which will likely rank high in the list of best phones of the year. But is it much better than the iPhone 14?

While all eyes were on the new iPhone 15 yesterday, the truth is that Apple announced another new generation of smartwatches: the Apple Watch Series 9 family, expected by some and desired by others.

This announcement makes many people wonder whether it is worth changing smartwatch, moving from generation 8 to generation 9. And the battery is one of the most crucial points when making the decision. So, does the Watch Series 9 have better battery life than its 2023 sibling? The answer will disappoint you.

The Apple Watch Series 9 still has a battery life of up to 18 hours (up to 36 hours when in low power mode). In other words, we stay where we were, there is no improvement.

What you should know about the battery of the Apple Watch Series 9

According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 9 should have a big enough battery to last all day, up to 18 hours, which was the same number it gave the Watch Series 8.

This will be with normal use, meaning tasks like checking the time, getting your notifications and doing a one-hour workout. This has been tested against Apple’s own metrics using pre-production models with GPS and cellular from 2022, although we expect this to be the same as the 2023 models.

Other tests show that you can get up to 7 hours of outdoor exercise with GPS enabled and up to 11 hours of audio playback. You’ll also get up to 80% charge in 45 minutes and 100% in 75 minutes.

Today we announced Apple’s first carbon neutral products with models of Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2, and SE. By 2030, all of our products will be carbon neutral! pic.twitter.com/wIFSv219M9

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 12, 2023

If you want, you can extend the battery life of your Apple Watch Series 9 by using the low power mode. Introduced in watchOS 9, this feature will help you preserve battery life by turning off certain unnecessary functions, such as WiFi, always-on display, heart rate notifications, etc.

Note that this means certain functions won’t work as well (for example, making a call might take longer), but if preserving your battery is the priority, this can be a big help.

We won’t have exact figures on battery life until we test the watch, but for now, you can expect the Series 9 to last as long on a charge as the Series 8. If you want more battery, you might be interested in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with up to 36 hours of battery life. But of course, it’s worth 900 euros.

It was an open secret. The iPhone 15 was going to bring the USB-C we’ve talked about so much here. It was up to the European Union, not Apple. But the reality is that in this 2023 we all embrace the USB standard. This is also a business opportunity for Tim Cook’s people.

Apple has just suddenly dispensed with many people’s Lightning cables and accessories by introducing the new iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Four phones, not a Lightning port in sight: Apple is betting on USB-C.

To ease the transition, Apple is selling a bunch of predictably expensive new cables and dongles. Starting with the one you’re almost certainly going to have to buy: the USB-C to Lightning adapter, a €29.99 dongle that you plug your Lightning device or cable into and then plug the dongle into your new phone.

If you’re ready to live the USB-C life to the fullest, you can buy Apple’s one-meter charging cable, which costs $19 and will charge up to 60W. Or, for €29, you can get your hands on a two-meter cable that supports up to 240W of charging power.

Both transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds and should be sufficient for most of your everyday needs. If you want to live the “one cable for everything” life, though, opt for the longer, more powerful one that will charge even your MacBook Pro.

And if you want to get the full juice out of your new iPhone, especially if you’re buying a 15 Pro or Pro Max, you’ll need the €69 Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable. Yes, a cable without a charger or anything else costing almost 70 euros.

This one is one meter long and supports up to 40 Gbps data transfer, which is about 20 times faster than USB 2. It also supports fast charging, but only up to 100 watts.

Mainly, what you have to understand is that USB-C actually means a thousand different things, and the cable you want depends on your specific device you’re going to buy. Even on this, they didn’t want to give us a hand. If you’re European, it’s a bit like the UK with the metric system, you know what I mean.

For the first time in its 16-year history, Apple will release an iPhone without a proprietary connector. Apple announced yesterday that the new iPhone 15 will come with USB-C, ending the 11-year reign of its Lightning port. As you know, this change is due to requirements imposed by the European Union.

In recent years, Android phones, laptops, and various accessories have adopted USB-C as the standard port, while Apple stuck with its Lightning port. This allowed them to sell millions of dollars worth of official adapters and cables.

The shift of the iPhone 15 to USB-C comes a year after the European Union ruled that, starting from late 2024, new mobile devices must use the ubiquitous USB-C port.

The standard models come with USB 2.0

Apple could have avoided the requirement by completely removing a physical port in favor of wireless charging, but it seems they made a sensible choice by not going for that option.

However, where they have not shown common sense is in the decision to include in their new smartphone an outdated and absurdly slow USB standard that is 23 years old.

While Apple was talking about the iPhone 15 Pro, they explained that an exclusive USB controller in the Pro chip would allow USB transfers at 10 Gbps, which is a big red flag for what they are offering in the basic model of the phone.

And indeed, the complete specifications on the Apple website confirm some bad news about this USB-C update.

Apple’s site indicates that it will offer a 20W USB-C charger (sold separately, of course), slower than the common 25W charging used in Android phones.

But the bad news is that the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 is still limited to USB 2.0, which means its maximum transfer speed is 480 Mbps. That’s ridiculous for a €900 smartphone in 2023.

Let’s be honest, Apple is really cutting corners here by limiting the iPhone 15 to the old USB 2.0 protocol and only including the much faster USB 3 standard in the Pro model. If you want USB 3, be prepared to pay another €200.

It’s an open secret: the iPhone 15 will have a USB-C connector for charging and transmitting files. It’s not Apple’s doing, but that of the European Union, who are forcing all manufacturers to use this standard on any phone or laptop.

Well, it seems that this feature of the new iPhone has been confirmed a few hours ago by a Chinese brand of accessories for smartphones (mainly dedicated to Apple phones).

Anker unveiled a slew of Qi2 MagGo wireless charging stations and Power Banks at IFA 2023, along with new Nano chargers. And, without explicitly saying so, the brand seems pretty sure that USB-C iPhones are imminent.

A lot of chargers and not a single Lightning

The absence of Lightning-based products in Anker’s new range is notable, but first let’s examine the new Qi2 MagGo offerings which take a step up from previous MagGo products, which were MagSafe compatible and limited to 7.5W charging.

The new MagSafe branded devices are now capable of 15W wireless charging.

As The Verge has discovered, the new Qi2 MagGo hardware includes a 10,000 mAh portable battery with stand, battery level and charge time indicator (LCD), and a USB-C port for charging devices at up to 27W power. This battery is complemented by another 6,600 mAh battery that folds out to become a phone stand.

As for charging stations, Anker has introduced three new MagGo models compatible with three devices, allowing Apple fans to charge their iPhone (at 15W), Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time.

Unwittingly, Anker seems to have leaked that the next iPhone 15 will only have USB-C port. Or, at least, it shows that the company is not confident that Apple will dare to launch an iPhone with Lightning.

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.

When Apple’s virtual reality glasses were introduced a few months ago, many of us were taken aback. First, by how impressive they were—cutting-edge technology—and second, by the price: 3,499 euros.

Despite reports that Apple is charging around the same amount or nearly the same as the cost of manufacturing the device, it remains a substantial sum for most people.

However, there might be some relief in the future, as Apple is exploring ways to lower the price, either with a “Vision Pro 2” model or a more affordable version that omits some of the pricier features.

Reducing the quality of the components to lower the price

According to The Information, Apple is actively seeking new suppliers for the Micro-OLED displays of the Vision Pro, and companies like BOE and SeeYA are being considered. If approved, this move could contribute to reducing the component costs of the Vision Pro, resulting in a more affordable device for consumers.

Currently, Sony is the sole manufacturer of the Vision Pro’s displays. We’ve previously reported that the company can produce fewer than a million screens per year for Apple.

El Apple Vision Pro se ve y se siente increíble (ya lo probé) pero no es el producto en sí lo interesante. Esto es una nueva generación de cómputo, lo interesante será verlo desarrollarse con los años como las "computadoras antiguas".

Bienvenidos a la era del cómputo espacial? pic.twitter.com/WpXcafCgZu

— Adrián Santos (@techsantos) August 23, 2023

Since each Vision Pro comes with two displays, Apple estimates that the number of glasses it could sell is around 400,000 units.

If Apple can secure more display suppliers, it would enable the company to lower the price of the Vision Pro. After all, if more suppliers can produce the necessary components, Apple will have more room to negotiate the price.

Finally used developer kit for vision pro, It’s amazing ?#visionpro #apple pic.twitter.com/GLrw5vAY4J

— Anjali Shah (@anjalijs13) August 21, 2023

The significant cost of the displays

Display industry expert Ross Young has suggested that the manufacturing cost of the Vision Pro’s displays accounts for over 10% of Apple’s $3,499 selling price, while another analyst claims that figure could go as high as 35%, or $1,542.

If Apple manages to reduce this cost, it could have a significant impact on the final price. Interestingly, The Information’s report suggests that at least some of Apple’s efforts are directed not only towards a second generation of the Vision Pro, but also towards a cheaper model that will cut down on some features.

The article mentions that this more affordable version is internally referred to as “N109.”

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.

Apple has rolled out a series of essential software updates for its vast ecosystem of devices. iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, macOS Ventura 13.5, watchOS 9.6, and tvOS 16.6 have received crucial security enhancements, and it is highly recommended to install them as soon as possible.

Continue reading “Upgrade Alert: iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5 Arrive with 16 Irresistible Features!”

With the release of the new 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple has solidified its most comprehensive range of Macs in recent times.

There is a MacBook for almost every budget and imaginable use case, from the 999-euro MacBook Air M1 to the 16-inch MacBook Pro that can easily reach 3,000 euros.

However, there’s one MacBook hidden in the lineup that Apple has continued to sell without any reason. I’m referring to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, of course.

The 13″ MacBook with 2016 chassis

The industry noticed this black sheep of the MacBook Pro lineup since last year when Apple made the surprising decision to keep it in the range while announcing the M2 chip.

Despite launching a new and redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air with M2, the 13-inch MacBook Pro still featured the same old chassis that has been in use since 2016. Yes, you read that right: 2016, which means it has been seven years. That means no updated webcam, thick bezels, no MagSafe, and the much-criticized Touch Bar.

So, yes, Apple should immediately discontinue the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

It had a great opportunity to quietly cancel it with the introduction of the 15-inch MacBook Air and the price drop of the 13-inch Air. At the very least, they could have reduced the price. But they didn’t.

So, come on, Apple. Now that we have the 15-inch MacBook Air, there is no reason to buy the 13-inch MacBook Pro. They are identical in price and performance, even though the 15-inch MacBook Air is better in every imaginable aspect.

If people want to buy it at a discounted price from third-party sellers, they are more than welcome to do so. But it is misleading for Apple to continue selling it. If the company wants to protect its “Pro” brand and support its premium options, Apple needs to cancel this laptop now.

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.

Apple, Samsung, and other phone manufacturers, regardless of whether their devices have a higher price than others, come with non-removable batteries.

Yes, if users wanted to replace the battery themselves in case the original cells lost their full capacity, they would need highly specialized tools to complete the process.

The EU aims to simplify this challenging task and is pressuring companies to make batteries easily removable. The only problem is that the law will come into effect several years from now.

Nothing until 2027, hopefully sooner

As pleased as the advocates of the “right to repair” may be, the new EU law will not come into effect until 2027.

587 Members of the European Parliament voted in favor of requiring all devices to be sold with easily replaceable batteries. The term “easily” can be ambiguous for some, and what may be exceptionally difficult for someone performing a battery replacement procedure on a smartphone for the first time may seem like child’s play to someone who has completed this process multiple times.

Fortunately, the EU has addressed this concern by stating that battery replacement should not require tools to perform the task, suggesting that removable back panels could make a comeback.

However, it’s important to note that this law will not come into effect before 2027, and it will only impact regions that belong to the EU. It remains to be seen whether companies like Apple and Samsung will modify the designs of their smartphones in accordance with the new law. While Europe is a significant market, Asia and the Americas are also major markets for these companies.

It should be considered that the incorporation of easily removable back panels may cause these phones to lose their water resistance unless a well-thought-out design is implemented.

Nevertheless, these companies have plenty of time since the law will not take effect before 2027, giving Apple and Samsung three and a half years to begin redesigning their products for EU countries.

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.