iOS

Music is a rather unique Apple app in that it is cross-platform (or, in other words, has an Android version). Its latest updates also make it compatible with Google's Chromecast. It has also acquired a dark mode, presumably to align with iOS' new system-wide option.

A firm that analyses user attitudes toward specific subjects (e.g. companies) on Twitter claims to have shown that recent sentiment with regard to iPhones on this platform has deteriorated compared to that in 2018. Its research may also show that user discourse about Apple TV Plus and Arcade is flagging.

Most feature phones (simple phones with physical buttons) typically run on alternative software such as KaiOS. However, a blogger has posted a video of what appears to be one of these devices running Android. This phone, linked to the brand Nokia, may be released with a ROM based on an older version of this OS: Oreo (8.1).

New findings in Apple's Xcode confirm earlier AnTuTu posts showing that the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max have 4 GB of RAM. While the iPhone XR from last year had only 3 GB of RAM, both the iPhone XS and XS Max had 4 GB, making the iPhone 11 family less tantalizing to potential upgraders.

The long-awaited iOS 13 update is coming this Thursday and the list of compatible devices starts with the iPhone 6s/6s Plus and the iPhone SE. The changes it will bring include a Dark Mode, faster Face ID, a new home screen, and more. Sadly, iPad users will have to wait at least two more weeks until their slates will get updated as well.

AnTuTu Benchmark has reported that it has completed testing of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. They have all scored well over 400,000 points each, meaning that they can probably compete well with equally new Androids. However, unlike these devices, only 4GB of RAM have been detected for all of the most recent Apple devices.

Despite its measly 4 GB of RAM, the alleged iPhone 11 Pro spotted on Geekbench still managed to crush all competing Android-based devices, mostly thanks to the superior A13 Bionic SoC, which breaks the 5,000 and 13,000-point mark in single-core tests and multi-core tests, respectively.

The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max have all finally been officially revealed by Apple. The new smartphones feature high-performance A13 Bionic chips and standout camera systems: a dual setup for the regular iPhone 11 and triple lenses for the Pro and Pro Max handsets. Prices range from US$699 to US$1,449, with iPhone trade-in discounts available as well.

Apple has now unveiled the latest addition to its iPad lineup in the shape of the seventh-generation iPad. The new tablet has increased in size from its 2018 predecessor, growing from 9.7 inches to 10.2 inches. The device is currently available to pre-order and will start shipping on September 30. The cheapest model costs US$329.

Apple and its market machine is in full spin mode following the launch of the iPhone 11 range along with the Watch Series 5 and 10.2-inch iPad. Yes, it is true these devices are new. However, I take exception to Apple labeling them as ‘all-new’ on its website. Not one of its new products is ‘all-new.’

According to a recently leaked image, the Apple iPhone 11 series will feature smartphones ranging from an entry-level US$749 device all the way up to an eye-watering US$1,299 top-end model. The picture shows that the top two SKUs will be available on September 20, and remarkably it also suggests the AirPower charging mat may have been brought back from the dead.

The JBL Pulse 4 is the latest in a series of portable Bluetooth speakers that also light up as they stream audio. This iteration also has an IPX7 rating and an estimated 12 hours of playback. Its LEDs are controlled by a proprietary app, which also allows it to sync with multiple compatible devices from the same brand.

The latest version of Android, Android 10, is now rolling out to all Pixel handsets and non-Sprint Essential Phones. The update brings some dramatic changes to the look and feel of Android; navigation is shifting to a fully gesture-based system, privacy controls have received a deep overhaul, and many more features have been introduced to make Android 10 the most robust version of Android yet.

Fitbit has launched its second-generation Versa health and fitness smartwatch. The key upgrades include support for Amazon Alexa voice recognition and the addition of enhanced sleep tracking.

Apple has issued invites to the press for its 2019 iPhone event. Dubbed “By innovation only” the new generation of iPhones will be officially unveiled on September 10 that the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino.

Despite the cards being stacked against it last quarter, Huawei managed to record an increase in smartphone sales of 16.5 percent for the quarter, while Samsung also saw a 3.8 percent bump. Apple, on the other hand, continued its downwards trend with a 13.8 percent decline in sales for the quarter.

The popular navigation aid Waze has had the ability to control the audio from several music streaming apps for some time. YouTube Music is the latest example of these. Users who subscribe to the Premium version of this service can take advantage of this new feature.

An oversight by Apple caused an old security bug to be reintroduced with iOS 12.4. While the bug had been patched in iOS 12.3, the exploit is present in the latest operating system from Apple and can be used for jailbreaking on compatible devices. On the flip side, the security hole presents new risks; the bug can be used by malicious parties to hack into an iPhone or iPad running 12.4.

A team from MIT CSAIL has developed a solution that can dramatically improve streaming video quality over Wi-Fi networks. Dubbed Minerva, it has been shown to reduce buffering by 50 percent and can even improve image fidelity in around 30 percent of cases.

Available for just US$199.99 — down from a full retail price of US$279.99 — for a limited period, the brand-new Misfit Vapor X is an excellent deal. This Wear OS-driven smart wearable is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset and features a standalone GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, advanced fitness tracking capabilities, and more.

AR-assisted navigation is one of the most interesting - and possibly useful - aspects of the Google Maps app to be unveiled in recent years. Unfortunately, it was also introduced as a Pixel exclusive. Now, however, it may be available on a wider varieity of phones soon.

The market for accessories such as screen protectors, cases and power banks in the US is now projected to attain a value of US$74.43 billion in 7 years. Headphones took the biggest piece (nearly 25%) of this space last year, and may maintain this share until 2026. However, the VR/AR headset sector is thought to be capable of the greatest growth into the next decade.

The YI Home Camera 3 is an AI-powered security camera. It notifies the user about possible intrusions - however, it solves the problem of potentially indiscriminate, unnecessary messages by using its new software to judge which ones will be important. The new YI camera also has a magnetic stand, so it can be installed anywhere.

Many people have gotten used to summoning a ride in a paid driver's car from their phone. A new analysis of this market indicates that such services (known collectively as "shared mobility") now challenge the traditional industries behind vehicle use and ownership. It also suggest that autonomous cars may be the way forward for the ride-hailing business of the future.

iOS 13 will bring a few new features to iPhones upon its release later this year, several of which are focused on protecting user privacy. One such update will block background processes from collecting user data, something that several messaging apps like WhatsApp Facebook Messenger apparently rely on for receiving VoIP calls.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 smartwatch is powered by the Exynos 9110 SoC and comes in two sizes — 40 and 44 mm — both with a Super AMOLED display with 360 x 360 pixels. Available in LTE and non-LTE versions, this new smart wearable has a wide range of features and it even allows its users to watch YouTube videos.

The market for in-app advertisements worldwide is now projected to be worth approximately US$226 billion in 6 years, according to the latest research. Of these, ads on Android are thought to be capable of the highest growth. In addition, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) sector is thought to exhibit the most growth between 2019 and 2025.

The 5G tech market is now thought to be capable of hitting US$667.9 billion by the middle of the next decade. This is particularly impressive as it is also projected to accrue only $5.54 billion by 2020. This growth may be driven by a demand for streaming and for improved connectivity among industrial buyers.

Apple has suspended a controversial Siri grading program that allowed contractors to listen to recordings of customers using the voice recognition software. The purportedly privacy focused company was caught out by a whistleblower who revealed details of the program that raised serious user privacy concerns.

Sony has invented a product called the Reon Pocket. It is a device that can change a user's personal temperature (or their perception of it, at least) while worn on the body. This unusual product is currently a part of the OEM's crowdfunded First Flight project, by which its chances of manufacture is determined by its ability to attract backers.

GoPro has announced that it will refresh the companion app for its action-cameras. The updates will integrate Quik editing features directly into said app. This will enable the user to apply filters and convert footage into stories. This upgrade should also improve the GoPro app's UI in the future.

The OPPO sub-brand Realme's volume of smartphone shipments worldwide has increased from approximately 500,000 in the 2nd quarter of 2018 (2Q2018) to about 4.7 million in 2Q2019. In other words, this has grown 8.48 times year-on-year (YoY). Its parent company also remains in the top 5 OEMs worldwide, although Samsung still remains supreme.

A new server-side update to Google Maps has been observed to allow the user to add their own notes to their items in this app's Lists facility. Users can also now re-arrange said items to their own liking, or in (for example) alphabetical order. These tweaks may make these Lists more handy and productive.

Apple’s iPhone business continues to weaken with sales down 12 percent over the same time last year. At the same time its Services business enjoyed a record quarter which combined with the decline in iPhone sales meant that for the first time since 2012 iPhone sales accounted for less than half of Apple’s total revenue.

The Librem 5's specifications have been finalized, but the hardware looks outdated. Considering the phone's $700 price tag, it's unlikely that the Librem 5 will garner any significant market share. However, the Librem 5 is focused on user privacy and "free and open" software instead of bleeding-edge specifications. In that regard, the Librem 5 is sure to be an interesting niche device.

Although previous rumors claimed otherwise, a recent report by popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals that all three iPhone models that are expected to arrive in 2020 will feature 5G connectivity. All these upcoming devices — 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7 inches in size — are expected to sport OLED displays.

Apple has been caught in a fresh privacy scandal as first reported by The Guardian. According to an Apple contractor, Apple just like Google and Amazon have been busted doing, uses contractors to analyze and assess the accuracy of its Siri voice assistant by listening into people who are unaware this is happening.

Netflix has announced a new price-tier for its subscription plans in the Indian market. It goes for just INR 199 (about US$2.88) per month. For this, the user can only use the app on 1 device, which could be either a smartphone or a tablet.

The result of a recent partnership between DeNA and The Pokemon Company, Pokemon Masters is a new strategy game that throws into 3-on-3 real battles sync pairs that consist of a Trainer and a Pokemon. Those interested can pre-register for this free-to-play mobile game on both the App Store and Google Play.

Some firm details around Apple’s iPhone 11 due this fall have emerged courtesy of 9to5Mac. The big tip is it will retain its Lightning port for the time being, while also getting some key upgrades to its Taptic Engine, a new front-facing camera and Apple’s next-gen A13 processor.

Apple’s 2020 iPhone looks to be the one to get with the latest rumor pointing to an OLED display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. Apple introduced this feature on its 2017 LCD-based iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models dubbing it Pro Motion; however, it was conspicuously silent on the subject when it subsequently launched its first iPhone with a Super AMOLED display in the form of the 2017 iPhone X.

A new study suggests that iPhone loyalty is at an all-time low. According to BankMyCell, which tracks smartphone upgrades, iPhone users are switching in record numbers and they are largely turning to Samsung for their upgrade when they do.

Internet-protocol (or IP) cameras shipments are thought to grow to over 100 million by 2025, or 20% more than there are now. These projections are part of newly-published research on the IP surveillance market. It is thought to be mainly driven by commercial buyers, although domestic products may also play a role in their growth.

The upcoming three smartphones by Apple — expected to hit the market as the iPhone 11 or iPhone XI family — have about the same size as their predecessors, but come with a triple rear camera setup with a rumored zoom factor of 3X. The main camera assembly is placed in a square area with a noticeable bump.

Google has decided to focus its efforts on the AdSense mobile web interface and discontinue the mobile apps. Those using AdSense on mobile devices were probably expecting this, since the Android app has not been updated since December 2017 and the iOS AdSense app received its latest refresh on November 2017.

Two new Eurasia Economic Commission filings by Apple show that the Cupertino giant is prepping five new iPads. Among these is thought to be the rumored 10.2-inch replacement for the ageing entry-level 9.7-inch iPad design.

The Nest Hello device is a smart doorbell with an inbuilt camera. A leak concerning a software update for this product has found that it may gain the ability to detect when a package has been delivered. This code may also allow for a follow-up feature in which it can tell when the same has been picked up again.

Facial recognition is projected to continue to grow as an industry into the next decade. Its market is estimated at being worth US$3.2 billion now. However, this value is projected to grow to $7 billion by 2024.