Topics

These icons are few and far between for some Pokémon GO players. (Source: Bulbapedia)

Niantic is addressing its current Pokéstop deficiency in Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO remains one of the world's most popular augmented-reality (AR) mobile games. However, it has a persistent discrepancy as a title in this ecosystem, which is a lack of Pokéstops, particularly in more isolated regions. Therefore, its maker Niantic is about to launch a more global method of taking user suggestions for additional such item-sources in the future.

Deirdre O Donnell, 08 Nov 2019 19:35

Google sold over 15 million Cardboard viewers, but has called time on official support. (Source: Google)

Google Cardboard open-sourced as a lifeline for mobile VR

VR on smartphones is all but dead following the end of Samsung’s Galaxy VR ambitions and Google’s recent announcement that it has ceased development for its Daydream VR platform. However, in an inkling of hope for those who were sold on the idea, Google has open-sourced its Google Cardboard VR headset design so that it might have a second life.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 07 Nov 2019 11:42

The Apple iPhone 12 could be released in September 2020. (Image source: PhoneArena)

Fetching iPhone 12 concept renders highlight Apple's design strengths and weaknesses

Artistic concept renders for the Apple iPhone 12 have offered fans an idea of what the Cupertino company could be planning for the next generation of its popular smartphone range. The notch is still present but slightly more modest, and the rear of the device sports a quad-camera setup. The conceptual iPhone 12 also features straighter edges than its most recent predecessors.

Daniel R Deakin, 07 Nov 2019 05:19

Pokemon GO to get live AR multiplayer feature, called Buddy Adventure

Pokémon GO will be getting a live AR multiplayer feature sometime soon. Currently called "Buddy Adventure," the feature will allow two players to interact with each other's Buddy Pokémon in real-time through their smartphone cameras. The feature is based on developer Niantic's real-time AR networking technology.

Sam Medley, 06 Nov 2019 18:47

Apple seeds first developer beta of iOS 13.3

Apple released the first developer beta for iOS 13.3 yesterday. While the update seems to fix the RAM management issues discovered in iOS 13.2, it offers little else. In fact, a new bug in the iOS 13.3 beta disallows the use of Beats Solo Pro headphones; an iPhone running iOS 13.3 Beta 1 will not recognize the headphones at all.

Sam Medley, 06 Nov 2019 17:12

The new House of Marley Exodus headphones. (Source: House of Marley)

House of Marley updates its Exodus headphones with ANC

House of Marley's Exodus is a pair of premium over-ear headphones with 50-millimeter (mm) drivers and a sustainable provenance. Their latest refresh has active noise cancellation (ANC). They are also rated for a 28-hour battery life with this feature on, and up to 80 hours without.

Deirdre O Donnell, 05 Nov 2019 23:09

A new leak points to an impending successor for the low-cost Nokia 2.2

Some new leaks may be evidence that Nokia is preparing a smartphone called the 2.3 for release soon. It may have up to 3 variants, at least 1 of which could be single- and dual-SIM respectively. Not much else is known about this potential new device, besides its possible Bluetooth 5 status.

Deirdre O Donnell, 03 Nov 2019 17:00

The new Aukey Omni-Power range. (Source: Aukey)

Aukey gets up to date with the GaN- and graphene-enhanced Omni-Power fast-charger range

Aukey has unveiled its new Omni-Power series of accessories. The company claims that it integrates various state-of-the-art charging technologies, including a graphene skin, GaN and USB Power Delivery. This line includes new adapters, car chargers and power banks.

Deirdre O Donnell, 01 Nov 2019 23:46

Orbita believes AI assistants can do a lot for healthcare. (Source: Orbita)

New research asserts many adults want smart assistants to help look after their health

Orbita, a company that makes a personal assistant-like AI platform focused on healthcare, has published the results of a study that shows this is what the US adults recruited to it want from their voice-controlled searches. It apparently concludes that 7.5% of this group has used services such as Alexa for this purpose, whereas over 50% would like to.

Deirdre O Donnell, 31 Oct 2019 18:53

SiriusXM content will become playable on Google Nest products soon. (Source: SiriusXM)

The Google Assistant will start integrating SiriusXM soon

Google and SiriusXM have partnered in order to enable streaming of the latter on smart speakers from the former. In addition, the content provider's subscribers will be able to activate and control their channels by asking the Assistant on their phones to do so. This update will start rolling out shortly in the US and Canada.

Deirdre O Donnell, 31 Oct 2019 15:33

Mario Kart Tour finishes first month with 123.9 million downloads

Super Mario Kart is off to a phenomenal start. The mobile racing game hit 123.9 million downloads in its first month on the market, making it the most downloaded Nintendo smartphone game in its first month. However, total revenue pales in comparison to Fire Emblem Heroes, possibly because of Mario Kart Tour's controversial subscription system.

Sam Medley, 30 Oct 2019 16:08

The CCMI may finally get RCS on phones in the US. (Source: Pixabay)

The US' "big 4" carriers announce a joint initiative to finally get RCS on more phones

The Rich Communications Service (RCS) standard has been touted as the ultimate messaging platform for some time. Unfortunately, its implementation and adoption worldwide could be described as sluggish at best. Therefore, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile have collaborated on the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI), which aims to bring it to their customers by 2020.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Oct 2019 17:24

The Apple iPhone SE utilized the A9 SoC. (Image source: NDTV Gadgets)

iPhone SE 2 could be launched by Apple in March 2020 and will sell in the millions

A report from noted market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has detailed when Apple could set the long-awaited iPhone SE 2 into production. Apparently, the diminutive smartphone will start being mass manufactured in January 2020, with March set as the potential launch period. Rumored hardware specifications for the iPhone SE 2 include the presence of a fast A13 Bionic chip.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Oct 2019 06:40

UPDATE: DO NOT INSTALL | iOS 13.2 released, bringing Deep Fusion, new emoji, and more

Apple launched iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 today. The update brings 60 new emoji, the ability to opt-out of sharing Siri interactions with Apple, and Apple's Deep Fusion image processing technology for the iPhone 11 family of smartphones. However, given prior iOS 13 updates, it may be wise to wait on this one.

Sam Medley, 29 Oct 2019 05:20

An AirPods Pro render based on their leaks. (Source: EverythingApplePro)

AirPods Pro: The latest rumors point to new colors and water resistance

Apple's AirPods are currently projected to gain a Pro version soon, thanks to a recent slew of leaks and rumors. The latest of these may indicate that they will finally launch in colors besides white for a change. Furthermore, it is even vaguely possible that they will match those of the iPhone 11 Pros.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Oct 2019 00:09

The new Apollo Max power bank. (Source: ELECJET)

ELECJET claims that its new graphene-enhanced power bank can charge to full capacity in just 19 minutes

The Apollo Max is a new 10000mAh power bank that, according to its maker ELECJET, integrates the emerging graphene standard as a battery material. This, it is claimed, gives it an "unbeatable charging efficiency of 96%". This new product is currently available as a reward on its Indiegogo campaign page.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Oct 2019 20:46

Novelty cases are the least of a phone's worries at Halloween. (Source: Indie Crafts)

Halloween is one of the scariest times for your phone, new research finds

A recent study by the analyst group Asurion has concluded that being brought along to celebrate Halloween is one of the biggest potential nightmares a smartphone can go through. The risks of damage and other adversity these devices may face go up by as much as 42% on the date in question. The study indicates this is linked to phone use at night during these festivities.

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Oct 2019 22:24

If any of these app icons are on your iPhone or iPad, uninstall them immediately. (Image via Wandera)

Trojan malware found in 17 apps on Apple App Store

Wandera, a security research firm, has found malware in 17 apps on the Apple App Store. The apps use a clicker trojan module to generate fraudulent web traffic in the background, likely to pump up ad revenue for specific websites. The apps passed through Apple's stringent review process because they connected to a remote server to execute the fraudulent activity rather than having malware embedded directly in their code.

Sam Medley, 25 Oct 2019 20:24

If Apple wants to make the jump to 5 nm with the upcoming A14 SoC, iPhone production costs would potentially increase, leading to higher prices. (Source: TechIncidents)

TSMC already sampling Apple's 5 nm A14 Bionic SoCs for 2020 iPhones

TSMC started sampling the A14 Bionic SoCs earlier than usual, as a recent Chinese report claims Apple already received the first engineering samples in late September. Apparently, there is also a downside to making the jump from 7 nm to 5 nm: the net die per wafer ratio gets reduced and 2020 iPhone prices could end up being even higher than the current gen.

Bogdan Solca, 22 Oct 2019 17:31

iOS 13.1.3 update damaging some iPhone 11 handsets

Multiple users are reporting a failure of the Ultra WideBand U1 chip in their iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max after updating to iOS 13.1.3. While restoring an affected iPhone's firmware has solved the problem for some, others have received replacement devices.

Sam Medley, 21 Oct 2019 17:05

Apple of my eye: Apple to release AR headset in 2020

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is planning on releasing its rumored AR glasses sometime in 2020. The glasses, while still in development, may eventually become a replacement product of the iPhone. However, a lot of work remains to be done, including the development of a "killer application."

Sam Medley, 21 Oct 2019 16:21

Half of all iPhones upgraded to iOS 13 in first 26 days

Just 26 days after its release, Apple has reported that 50% of all iPhones are running iOS 13. Compared to the abysmal history of Android OEMs' software updates, the high adoption rates for the newer versions iOS continue to be a strong feature of the iPhone brand.

Sam Medley, 18 Oct 2019 05:39

Apple Arcade adds 5 more games to iOS, now boasts 80 titles

Apple's Arcade game subscription service welcomed 5 new titles to iOS and tvOS and 2 new titles to macOS this week. The new games bring the total number of games available in Apple Arcade to 80 for iOS and tvOS and 61 for macOS, steadily fulfilling Apple's promise of 100 games available in the service.

Sam Medley, 12 Oct 2019 00:45

Apple may be rushing to develop its own 5G modem by 2022

A source familiar with the matter claims that Apple is developing an in-house 5G modem for release in 2022, according to a report from Fast Company earlier today. The source says that a 2022 release date is "really pushing it," but it is likely that Apple plans to design and manufacture its own custom 5G modem.

Sam Medley, 12 Oct 2019 00:22

Call of Duty Mobile hits 100 million downloads in its first week, shattering record

Call of Duty Mobile recently claimed the award for most downloads in the first week after launch for any mobile game in history, surpassing 100 million unique installs after its first week. Sensor Tower estimates peg total downloads at 102.2 million as of October 8th. Total revenue or the free to play title is estimated at just over US $17.7 million.

Sam Medley, 10 Oct 2019 17:59

Apple is now selling Microsoft's Xbox Wireless Controller

Apple now sells the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller through its online store. The move is likely due to Apple's recent push into the gaming market. Considering the latest OS updates for all Apple devices (e.g., iOS 13, iPadOS, and macOS Catalina) include native support for the Xbox Wireless Controller and Sony's DualShock 4 controller, it makes sense for Apple to offer the controller directly to its user base.

Sam Medley, 10 Oct 2019 17:31

Computational photography: we take it for granted now. (Source: Engadget)

The computational photography market may be worth nearly US$30 billion by 2024

Computational photography - or imaging that depends at least as much on software as on hardware - was worth US$7.9 billion as a market in 2018. However, the latest analysis indicates that this valuation will grow to $29 billion over the next 5 years. This market is led by companies such as Qualcomm, NVIDIA, Alphabet and Apple.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Oct 2019 21:01

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. (Source: Apple)

Some iPhone 6s or 6s Plus units may fail to power on, but Apple is fixing it

Apple has initiated a recall for certain iPhones of the 6S series, saying that it has found that the relevant units may become unable to start under certain circumstances. The Cupertino-based OEM will not disclose which aspects of the phones causes these potential failures, but has announced that it will rectify it if those who own these device send them for servicing.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Oct 2019 19:25

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4. (Source: PhoneArena)

Xiaomi may add NFC to the international-variant Mi Band 5

The Mi Band is a popular fitness wearable series worldwide, albeit with one potential drawback: many units sold outside China come without NFC. Its maker, Xiaomi, will reportedly address this deficiency in its next generation. This device is also now said to be more durable and sophisticated that its predecessor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Oct 2019 16:17

The iPhones 11 may be the most popular of their series so far. (Source: Apple)

The iPhone 11 may prove more popular than its Pro or Pro Max siblings already

A new report from Taiwan indicates that Apple needs new stocks of its iPhone 11, but not of the Pro or Pro Max variants. Sources who claim to be close to the suppliers in question have noted that this is a surprising uptick in orders from the Cupertino giant compared to last year. This behavior may be related to economic forces driving sales of the most 'budget' 2019 iPhone.

Deirdre O Donnell, 04 Oct 2019 18:08

Is this how the iPhone SE line will evolve? (Source: MacRumors)

The cut-price iPhone SE2 will arrive in 2020: Ming-Chi Kuo

The latest leaked research note allegedly sent to TF International Securities by the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicates that Apple does have a second-gen SE in the works. It will apparently be released in the first quarter of 2020 and be "more affordable". It is also now said to assume a form-factor similar to the iPhone 8.

Deirdre O Donnell, 03 Oct 2019 18:39

Call of Duty: Mobile brings something new to the mobile battle royale scene.

PUBG Mobile faces stiff competition as Activision's Call of Duty: Mobile launches in full

After months of beta testing, Activision and Tencent Games' latest offering, Call of Duty: Mobile is now live and available worldwide. While not quite as feature-packed as its biggest competitor, PUBG Mobile, it does seem to be a more refined game.

Ricci Rox, 01 Oct 2019 11:21

A new vulnerability may open a way for a jailbreak for almost every iPhone ever made. (Image via Hindustan Times)

New exploit, dubbed checkm8, might lead to permanent jailbreak for multiple iPhone models

A new vulnerability found in the bootrom of iPhones ranging from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X may pave a new path for a permanent jailbreak method. While no jailbreak method that exploits the vulnerability yet exists, the iPhone hacking community has hailed the discovery as a rebirth of the jailbreak.

Sam Medley, 28 Sep 2019 23:47

Could the 2020 iPhone finally eliminate the dreaded notch? (Source: @BenGeskin)

First plausible 2020 iPhone render based on rumored protoype hits the mark

The first plausible iPhone rumor for 2020 has emerged and it looks like it could solve one of the biggest design issues with the current iPhone design. Based on a rumored prototype design doing the rounds at Cupertino, the 2020 iPhone could go truly all-screen with the True Depth camera system embedded into the top bezel.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 27 Sep 2019 13:30

Mario Kart Tour launches, hits top spot in iOS App Store

Nintendo's latest title to hit the smartphone market exploded out of the gates yesterday. Mario Kart Tour launched on iOS yesterday and quickly hit the top spot in the App Store for 58 countries. However, the game's freemium pricing model has drawn the ire of critics and users alike, throwing the long term success of the kart racer into question.

Sam Medley, 26 Sep 2019 17:02

Canon tackles smartphones that encroach on photography with the new EOS M200

Canon has released a new mirrorless camera that can record 4K vertical videos and then share them directly to social media. The EOS M200 has a 24.1MP APS-C sensor and CMOS auto-focus. It can also record in 60fps FHD and has a lightweight, convenient build.

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Sep 2019 23:12

Apple Music is getting new features. (Source: Apple)

Apple Music upgrades to a dark theme and Chromecast support

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.

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Sep 2019 20:14

The Google Assistant may get harder to activate in the future. (Source: XDA)

Google plans to make the Assistant's attention more selective in the future

Google has announced that future updates will make it more difficult to activate the Assistant by mistake. The company has also taken pains to reassure users that their audio data will not be collected by default in the same release. A specific opt-in determines whether the same will be analysed by humans or not.

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Sep 2019 19:13

An analysis of Twitter sentiment directed at iPhones. (Source: Eagle Alpha)

Apple's social media stock may be down in the wake of the new iPhones

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.

Deirdre O Donnell, 23 Sep 2019 22:58

Kiosks such as these are one of the easiest routes to cash for an old phone. (Source: YouTube)

Need money for an old phone? Local stores and kiosks are the safest bet, but not necessarily the most profitable

The online device valuer Flipsy.com has released the results of a new study on the best way to sell a phone in 2019. Marketplaces - both in a user's vicinity and online - emerged as those associated with the greatest payouts, albeit with some caveats. However, other "buyback" options such as online stores were found to be the most convenient, although the seller might sacrifice the best deal this way.

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Sep 2019 18:15

Evidently, bokeh on the iPhone 11 Pro still needs some work. (Source: MKBHD)

Apparently, portrait shots on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro phones are as bad as ever

Apple's iPhones have consistently been some of the best camera phones on the market. There seems to be a recurring issue over the past few generations, though: messy portraits. The new iPhones still manage to have that niggling fault, with portrait shots taken by the phones showing poor edge detection.

Ricci Rox, 22 Sep 2019 15:19

The iPhone 11 series has already been covered extensively, despite only being announced a few days ago. (Image source: Apple)

Apple iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max: A summary of initial reviews

The first reviews of the new iPhone 11 series have gone live, so before we have finished with ours, we thought it would be apt to summarise the prevailing views of Apple's new babies. Camera innovations like the new ultra-wide sensor and night mode feature heavily, as do Apple's new comically named "Slofies".

Alex Alderson, 19 Sep 2019 18:44

The iPhone 11 smartphones feature two or three camera sensors inside square-shaped housings. (Image source: Apple)

If you hate the square camera design for the Apple iPhone 11 then you're going to loathe the next-gen iPad Pro

An image of an apparent final design mockup of the next-generation Apple iPad Pro has found its way online, and if you are not a fan of Apple’s choice for the main camera design on the iPhone 11 series then there’s a good chance you’re not going to be keen on the decision made for the high-end tablet, either.

Daniel R Deakin, 18 Sep 2019 23:33

Xcode finding quashes iPhone RAM rumors, confirms all 2019 models have 4 GB

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.

Sam Medley, 18 Sep 2019 22:56

The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 25% larger battery than its predecessor. (Image source: Apple)

The Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max looks set to be a battery life champ

The rumours were true, Apple has finally equipped an iPhone with a large battery. Early teardowns show that the company's latest flagship of flagships includes a sizable upgrade over the iPhone XS Max, which should help give it stellar battery life.

Alex Alderson, 18 Sep 2019 19:58

The JAM Audio Live Free truly wireless earbuds. (Source: JAM Audio)

JAM Audio claims that its new true wireless earbuds can last over 54 hours per charge

The Live Free truly wireless earbuds are the latest products from the company JAM Audio. It is claimed that they are smaller and more comfortable than their predecessors. They also come in a handy case that is rated for a battery life of 54 hours or more.

Deirdre O Donnell, 17 Sep 2019 20:48

AnTuTu scores for what are allegedly the iPhone 11 series. (Source: GizmoChina)

AnTuTu appears to confirm 4GB of RAM for all 3 new iPhones

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.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Sep 2019 19:33

iPhone

Niantic is addressing its current Pokéstop deficiency in Pokémon GO

Google Cardboard open-sourced as a lifeline for mobile VR

Fetching iPhone 12 concept renders highlight Apple's design strengths and weaknesses

Pokemon GO to get live AR multiplayer feature, called Buddy Adventure

Apple seeds first developer beta of iOS 13.3

House of Marley updates its Exodus headphones with ANC

A new leak points to an impending successor for the low-cost Nokia 2.2

Aukey gets up to date with the GaN- and graphene-enhanced Omni-Power fast-charger range

New research asserts many adults want smart assistants to help look after their health

The Google Assistant will start integrating SiriusXM soon

Mario Kart Tour finishes first month with 123.9 million downloads

The US' "big 4" carriers announce a joint initiative to finally get RCS on more phones

iPhone SE 2 could be launched by Apple in March 2020 and will sell in the millions

UPDATE: DO NOT INSTALL | iOS 13.2 released, bringing Deep Fusion, new emoji, and more

AirPods Pro: The latest rumors point to new colors and water resistance

ELECJET claims that its new graphene-enhanced power bank can charge to full capacity in just 19 minutes

Halloween is one of the scariest times for your phone, new research finds

Trojan malware found in 17 apps on Apple App Store

TSMC already sampling Apple's 5 nm A14 Bionic SoCs for 2020 iPhones

iOS 13.1.3 update damaging some iPhone 11 handsets

Apple of my eye: Apple to release AR headset in 2020

Half of all iPhones upgraded to iOS 13 in first 26 days

Apple Arcade adds 5 more games to iOS, now boasts 80 titles

Apple may be rushing to develop its own 5G modem by 2022

87% Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Smartphone Review: A leap forwards or more of the same?

Call of Duty Mobile hits 100 million downloads in its first week, shattering record

Apple is now selling Microsoft's Xbox Wireless Controller

The computational photography market may be worth nearly US$30 billion by 2024

Some iPhone 6s or 6s Plus units may fail to power on, but Apple is fixing it

Xiaomi may add NFC to the international-variant Mi Band 5

The iPhone 11 may prove more popular than its Pro or Pro Max siblings already

The cut-price iPhone SE2 will arrive in 2020: Ming-Chi Kuo

87% Apple iPhone 11 Smartphone Review: More than just an affordable Apple smartphone

88% Apple iPhone 11 Pro Smartphone Review: Triple rear-facing cameras and more power than you could shake a stick at

PUBG Mobile faces stiff competition as Activision's Call of Duty: Mobile launches in full

New exploit, dubbed checkm8, might lead to permanent jailbreak for multiple iPhone models

First plausible 2020 iPhone render based on rumored protoype hits the mark

Mario Kart Tour launches, hits top spot in iOS App Store

Canon tackles smartphones that encroach on photography with the new EOS M200

Apple Music upgrades to a dark theme and Chromecast support

Google plans to make the Assistant's attention more selective in the future

Apple's social media stock may be down in the wake of the new iPhones

Need money for an old phone? Local stores and kiosks are the safest bet, but not necessarily the most profitable

Apparently, portrait shots on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro phones are as bad as ever

Apple iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max: A summary of initial reviews

If you hate the square camera design for the Apple iPhone 11 then you're going to loathe the next-gen iPad Pro

Xcode finding quashes iPhone RAM rumors, confirms all 2019 models have 4 GB

The Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max looks set to be a battery life champ

JAM Audio claims that its new true wireless earbuds can last over 54 hours per charge

AnTuTu appears to confirm 4GB of RAM for all 3 new iPhones

Tags