iOS

The Life360 has announced that it will acquire Tile, buying the company out for just over $205 million. The acquisition has the potential to expand and streamline the location-tracking features involved in the services offered by both companies. For example, it might expand the current Tile network by about 10x.

Want to know if your WhatsApp message has attracted one of the platform's new Discord-esque reactions? Unfortunately, if you're on your Android device, you can't. However, the Facebook-owned service is now working on this, and is releasing it to its beta-channel users.

Apple has released a small update for iOS 15, building on iOS 15.1 that it issued last month. iOS 15.1.1 fixes a specific bug, but only for recent iPhones. iOS 15.1.1 likely arrives a week or two before iOS 15.2 debuts.

Developers participating in the iOS 15.2 beta program are now able to download beta 3, featuring incremental upgrades and minor bugfixes.

Carl Pei's new start-up Nothing has but one product to its name so far: the ear (1) TWS earbuds. The active noise-cancelling (ANC)-enabled wearables have had only one SKU since their launch. Now, however, they are slated to release again in the form of a second option that may or may not go on sale soon.

In a rather silent move, Google introduced Chrome 96 on all platforms. However, it looks like this new piece of code is all about under-the-hood changes. The update will roll out to all devices in the coming weeks and — at least for now — there is no information regarding security updates that come with it.

In an attempt to combat "doomscrolling," Instagram is set to launch a new feature called "Take a Break," which encourages users to periodically take breaks from the app after a set amount of time.

PUBG: New State, the hotly anticipated successor to the original PUBG, has launched officially on Android and iOS in over 200 countries and territories. New State sports significantly enhanced graphics, larger maps, and a futuristic setting, along with features like weapon customization and drone combat.

The HiRes certified FC5 USB DAC/headphone amp by HiBy supports MQA and features a 4.4 mm balanced output with 125 mW output power. The hardware inside the sleek metal body of the FC5 includes the ES9281 Pro DAC, dual ES9603Q headphone amps, hardware volume controls, as well as RGB lights.

Apple has decided to issue an update that will make iPhone 13 screen replacements a lot easier. Currently, iPhone 13 screen replacements break Face ID if the microcontroller attached to the old screen isn’t transferred to the new screen. After the update, screen replacements won’t require transferring the microcontroller.

Niantic, famous for developing games like Pokemon GO, has released an Augmented Reality Developer Kit (ARDK) for people who want to build AR games. The ARDK is available for free and allows developers to build upon Niantic's core technologies.

By joining forces with the fastest blockchain in the world, Brave Browser is planning to provide the best-in-class wallet features to its desktop and mobile browsers starting in the first half of 2022. However, the company will continue to support Ethereum and aims to integrate additional blockchains over time.

Netflix has started to offer games as well as conventional content on Android. It is now also projected to do the same on iOS - however, there is an obstacle in the way of these alleged plans, and it is, of course, Apple's policy on mobile apps. On the other hand, this barrier may not be as immovable or implacable as it once was.

Today, Mozilla unleashed Firefox 94.0 for desktop users across all relevant platforms, but also for Android devices. The list of new features and noticeable enhancements includes Colorways, site isolation enabled by default, as well as multiple performance and security improvements across all platforms.

Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy that requires apps to ask for users' permission before collecting their data has cost social media companies US$9.85 billion. Social media sites including Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and YouTube were all affected. Snapchat suffered the biggest blow to its business as it lost the most percentage revenue.

In many aspects, the iPhone 13 mini features the same hardware as the larger model, and its performance is similar as well. However, the 5.4-inch screen turns out to be a tad too small at times.

A Geekbench comparison between a Google Pixel 6 Pro and an Apple iPhone XS Max has been grabbing attention due to the apparent failure of the Tensor chip against the three-year-old Apple A12 Bionic. In fairer terms, the Pixel 6 Pro does fall behind the A13-powered iPhone 11’s average results but Google has focused on machine learning and AI more than raw performance.

Walmart now has new listings for Amazfit smartwatches; however, they are not for the latest GTR/GTS 3 series, but for the popular health and fitness tech brand's latest "performance" wearables, the Bip U Pro included. They start at US$40 through the physical and online retailer from now.

A "white hat" has reportedly jailbroken an iPhone 13-series unit in what might be record time and to the highest level of access. Furthermore, this exploit was apparently done remotely, and allowed the hacker in question to access and delete photos and other files on the phone. This allegedly involved entry points found in numerous aspects of iOS 15.

miHoYo has announced a new chapter for its flagship game Genshin Impact, coming to iOS via a new update. This 2.2 iteration adds a number of new assets and stories - not to mention 120fps support for "some devices". Meanwhile, the same feature remains missing from the title's PC and console versions.

Tipster @WABetaInfo indicated that WhatsApp could soon feature a major quality-of-life improvement: users may soon be able to pause voice notes while recording them, instead of having to delete and start from scratch every time there’s a disturbance.

Halide has updated its popular camera app for the iPhone with a new macro mode. The functionality is similar to one of the marquee camera features on the new iPhone 13 Pro models giving owners of older iPhones an opportunity to snap their own close-ups.

Apple’s new iPad mini 6 has garnered a lot of positive reviews on launch. However, some users have noted a potential new issue emerging with their displays in addition to the previously reported ‘jelly scrolling’ problem.

Apple’s new iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max smartphones are the first from the company to feature a 120 Hz refresh rate that it markets as ‘ProMotion’. Like competing displays from Samsung (which also supplies the iPhone 13 Pro panels), Apple’s ProMotion panels can refresh variably but with an important twist.

Mobile app and game downloads combined declined slightly year-on-year in the third quarter of 2021 (3Q2021), as the pandemic-era boom in this area recedes. Nevertheless, the amount of money coming in on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store is still going up. The latest research indicates that TikTok is still #1 in terms of revenue.

2020's iPhone 12 had been found to be very independent repair-unfriendly by a prominent Australia-based vlogger. Now, a follow-up video asserts that this situation has gotten even worse in 2021. Replacing some components apparently causes more iPhone functions to break, some of the 13 series' newest features included.

Some Android games can now be played on any device capable of running a modern web browser. BlueStacks X, a cloud-focused variant of the popular Android emulator, can play compatible Android titles without the need for installing any software. The service runs entirely in a web browser, making it usable on PCs, Linux machines, and even iPhones and iPads.

Apple touts the cameras in both the vanilla and Pro variants of the latest iPhone 13 series as better than ever before, thanks to new features such as Cinematic Mode. The notorious mobile-device testing group DxOMark has now revealed its test results for both camera systems in question. Are they in agreement with the Cupertino giant?

Although a security researcher apparently notified the iPhone maker of several security issues, Apple has recently released its iOS 15 update without fixing these vulnerabilities, which is why the anonymous tipster is now publicly criticizing the company.

We’ve got our hands on the new iPhone 13 Max Pro and the iPad mini 6. Both feature Apple’s 15 Bionic with 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU configuration, but we have confirmed the performance of the chip in the iPad mini is indeed slower on the CPU side, but also on the GPU side too.

Smart glasses is a category that includes pairs that incorporate a mic and speakers. The prospect might sound attractive, but might involve a pricey pair that could involve a prescription on top of that in some cases. Now, JLab Audio has developed a product slated to bring the same functions to any pre-existing glasses at a fraction of the typical price.

Reolink's latest home security camera has go-to specs such as spotlights, two-way audio, microSD card support and the option of truly-wireless battery power. However, it also has something new to this brand: dual lenses. They enable the device to guard a wide-angle field of view in up to 2K or color night vision.

Do you know how much time you spend on your phone every day? A new study suggests that users spend significantly more time on their smartphones than they think. The study also claims that smartphone use is a notable cause of relationship strain in over a third of the population.

The property-tracking tech-maker Tile must have taken a knock on the launch of Apple AirTags. However, the OEM still insists it is going strong, with robust revenue growth in 2021 and hundreds of thousands of paid subscriptions sold. Now, Tile has also announced that it has attained a major round of funding from an investment group.

Now that the iPad Mini has moved on to USB type-C in its latest form, OWC strongly hints that one of its latest accessories is an ideal companion for the tablet, considering its new prospects. They include a hub that can expand a connected device's port count by 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Dizo is Realme's latest sub-brand for 'ecosystem' devices, mostly lifestyle wearables thus far. To this end, a Watch 2 and Watch Pro under this new name have been unveiled. They offer large displays and health-tracking tech such as SpO2 monitors, although the Pro has more sports modes and a larger battery. They will sell in India via Flipkart from late September 2021.

Apple has refreshed its iPhone Pro lineup this year with the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Both the iPhone 13 Pro models feature identical specs save for the display and offer new, improved cameras with OIS, 4K 60 ProRes video, Cinematic Mode, 120 Hz ProMotion display, A15 Bionic SoC, and up to 1 TB storage.

Apple's entry-level iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are finally official. Both phones bring some QoL upgrades to the cameras and battery life. The former will cost US$699 and the latter US$799. Pre-orders are live now, and the devices will be available for purchase starting on September 24.

Epic Games has failed to convince a US court that Apple has broken the country's anti-competition laws. Nevertheless, the Cupertino giant has now officially lost its monopoly on purchases made within apps that run on its operating systems and are bought through its App Store. Therefore, Fortnite may indeed return to iOS soon.

The popular online video platform Vimeo has announced that content created, shared and viewed through its medium now has the option of Dolby Vision integration. This may unleash the potential for enhanced detail with improved brightness for many creators. However, there is a catch: the upgrade is available for certain Apple devices only.

Not only has Facebook made its first ever pair of smart glasses official, it has also made them Ray-Bans thanks to a collaboration with this iconic brand. The new wearable device is equipped with speakers for calls and audio, not to mention the cameras necessary for point-of-view video or photos at will. The Stories spectacles are available in certain markets from now.

Apple will release the iPad Mini 6 at its event in California next week, and a new leak has now put paid to some fan hopes for the smaller Apple tablet. Apparently, the iPad Mini 6 will sport an LCD, and not a mini-LED as some reports have claimed.

It is now possible to transfer WhatsApp chat history from iOS to Android. However, this is still not a straightforward process as it involves connecting the phones physically and initiating the transfer. Currently, this feature is only supported on Samsung Android phones with support for other Android phones coming later.

Apple has backflipped on its controversial CSAM initiative for its iCloud Photos service. The company says it is planning to take additional time to make unspecified improvements to its system before deploying it in the coming months.

Jabra has added not one but three new pairs to its Elite-series of TWS earbuds. Their new flagship, the 7 Pros, feature the OEM's MultiSensor Voice tech for "best-in-class call performance". The buds are joined by the 7 Actives and the 3s, geared towards steadfast fit during workouts and cost-effective audio quality respectively.