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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

Wearables users are most concerned about their health-monitoring functions. (Source: Needpics)

Fitness tracker users are found to worry that their devices may not be accurate enough

A new study into user attitudes towards wearables found that health tracking is the most popular use of this electronics category. 36% of those polled reported concerns that these functions may not live up to reality, however. 10% of the respondents also said they worried about data security on these devices.

Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Oct 2019 23:10

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

The 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 could be unveiled in October. (Image source: MacGeneration)

Placeholders or products: Newly discovered icons for the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro fall flat at first sight

Icons of what could be the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 have been found in the beta code for macOS Catalina. Those hoping for a complete exterior redesign of the MBP might be disappointed by the images though, as the laptop featuring on the icons looks very similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. But some differences between the supposed iterations have been spotted.

Daniel R Deakin, 19 Oct 2019 04:51

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

Pharrell has helped with the some of the colors on the new Beats Solo Pro. (Source: Beats)

Apple drops new Beats Solo Pro with active noise cancelling

Apple’s wholly-owned subsidiary Beats has launched an all-new Beats Solo Pro range. Effectively the Beats Solo 4, the all-new design also brings improved audio performance as well as active noise cancelling to the Solo line for the first time.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 16 Oct 2019 08:59

The iPhone SE 2, a US$399 handset the size of an iPhone 8? (Image source: Apple)

iPhone SE 2: A US$399 and A13 Bionic-powered iPhone SE successor, but the size of an iPhone 8?

Are you in the market for a new iPhone, but do not like the size of the iPhone 11 series? Well, rumor has it that Apple is planning to bring an iPhone SE 2 to market in Q1 next year, and an A13 Bionic at that. However, the iPhone SE successor may not be as small as some people have perhaps hoped.

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 12:42

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

The subscription service trends over the last few years. (Source: Parks Associates)

46% of US households with broadband have multiple streaming subscriptions now

New research has found that nearly 50% of all US households with broadband subscribe to 2 or more subscription-based services in 2019, whereas this figure was 33% in 2017 and only 20% in 2014. The apparent demand has driven the number of individual services to match in the country. It has grown by 1.4 times since 2014.

Deirdre O Donnell, 08 Oct 2019 20:22

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

Some wireless chargers may be restricted under iOS 13.1. (Source: ChargerLab)

Researchers claim Apple restricts wireless charger speeds in iOS 13.1

The blog ChargerLab claims to have found that some wireless chargers are being restricted to 5 watts (W) of power while iPhones are placed on them with the new iOS update, whereas the same devices could deliver 7.5W under the older software version. However, this apparently does not affect those brands that are sold in the Cupertino giant's stores.

Deirdre O Donnell, 05 Oct 2019 22:07

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

The Apple MacBook Pro 13 doesn't offer any innovations, but it's still a very good subnotebook with a lot of power

The Apple MacBook Pro 13 continues to impress as a great subnotebook in 2019, even if it's just a cautious model update. Nevertheless, it's likely to be the optimal mobile companion for many users.

Andreas Osthoff, 04 Oct 2019 02:30

Samsung's last Chinese phone factory has closed its doors. (Source: Cash Tech News)

Samsung closes the last of its Chinese smartphone manufacturing facilities

Although it plans to keep selling mobile devices in China, Samsung no longer intends to make them in the same country. This move is thought to have been taken in order to cut costs, and also due to overwhelming competition from other OEMs such as Huawei. The South Korean company will transfer production to other nations such as Vietnam in the future.

Deirdre O Donnell, 03 Oct 2019 19:56

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

The legal disputes between the two foundries could affect a considerable portion of the global semiconductor supply. (Source: WCCFTech)

TSMC countersues GlobalFoundries

TSMC strikes back with a "retaliatory litigation", claiming that GlobalFoundries infringed on 25 of its patents that include FinFET designs for the 40 through 12 nm nodes. Unlike GlobalFoundries who sued TSMC's fab-less companies like Apple and Nvidia, TSMC is looking to halt all GlobalFoundries production and sale processes for the infringed nodes.

Bogdan Solca, 02 Oct 2019 16:09

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

Fitbit was the most familiar name in a new study of wearables awareness. (Source: Wired)

Fitbit is the best-known name in wearables, even though Apple owns the market

The Manifest has conducted a study to find out which name was most familiar in the wearables sphere. 77% of those polled were able to name Fitbit in this context, compared to 73% for the next most recognized name ("Apple Watch"). Ironically, the latter sold a million more units in the second quarter of 2019 (2Q2019) than the former.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Sep 2019 18:58

Fingerprint sensors will continue to do well in the future. (Source: Nextgov)

The fingerprint scanner market's value is set to double over the next 5 years

The market for fingerprint readers (from capacitive to thermal, and consumer- to government-grade) is estimated to be worth about US$3.5 billion at present. This worth is thought to grow to as much as $7.1 billion by 2024, however. The scanner type we have become most familiar with is thought to represent the largest sector over these next 5 years.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Sep 2019 18:23

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

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

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

Vivaldi 2.8 update notification (Source: Own)

Vivaldi 2.8 drops earlier than expected, but without any major changes

Vivaldi 2.8.1664.35 arrives less than three weeks since the release of the 2.7 update, but it only features various tweaks and fixes that aim to provide "a smoother browsing experience" alongside images toggle via keyboard and a few new bookmark customization options. Those who missed the news should know that a beta for Android handsets is also available.

Codrut Nistor, 19 Sep 2019 18:04

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

The new PRT-B50 PRO TREK watch. (Source: Casio)

The CASIO PRT-B50 is the first PRO TREK analog watch to have Smartphone Link and 4 environmental sensors

The PRT-B50 is a new PRO TREK model that can connect to a smartphone app via Bluetooth. Unlike some other Casio watches with this ability, however, this new product has a non-digital watchface. Its physical hands can be used to do things such as point to a saved location.

Deirdre O Donnell, 16 Sep 2019 20:43

iOS 13 coming this Thursday (Source: Wccftech)

iOS 13 is finally launching this week

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.

Codrut Nistor, 16 Sep 2019 13:17

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

A wall outlet for the future. (Source: Leviton)

A new power socket with USB type C Power Delivery ports has modern devices in mind

Leviton's new duplex wall socket also has in-built USB outputs. These welcome and increasingly welcome upgrades to electrical fittings are type-C ports with the Power Delivery (USB-PD) standard. This means they are rated to charge compatible devices at up to 30 watts.

Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Sep 2019 17:44

The Apple A13 Bionic's GPU is 2.9x faster than that of the A12 Bionic. (Source: The Verge)

Apple offers an in-depth look at the A13 Bionic GPU's Metal Engine enhancements

Following the launch of the latest iPhones at its September 2019 event, Apple has detailed some of the improvements to Metal Engine on the A13 Bionic and how developers can implement them in their apps. These improvements result in a faster overall GPU performance with reduced power consumption.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 14 Sep 2019 09:37

The non-offending side of the iPhone 11 Pro. (Image source: Apple)

Trypophobia rears its unholy head once more thanks to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro and its rear triple camera system

People suffering from trypophobia have been posting negative comments on social media about the new iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max due to their rear main camera arrangements. It wasn’t that long ago that another flagship smartphone was causing unease in the trypophobia community, with HMD Global thoroughly upsetting sufferers due to its Nokia 9 PureView’s penta-lens pattern.

Daniel R Deakin, 13 Sep 2019 19:36

Despite its fast A13 Bionic SoC, the iPhone 11 pro still packs only 4 GB of RAM. (Source: Apple)

iPhone 11 Pro allegedly pops up on Geekbench, A13 Bionic destroys Android-based SoCs

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.

Bogdan Solca, 12 Sep 2019 15:33

Time to celebrate the arrival of the new Apple iPhones. (Image source: Apple)

The Apple iPhone family welcomes the new additions of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

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.

Daniel R Deakin, 12 Sep 2019 03:03

Apple

85% Apple iPad 7 2019 Tablet Review: Small changes with a big impact?

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

Fitness tracker users are found to worry that their devices may not be accurate enough

iOS 13.1.3 update damaging some iPhone 11 handsets

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

Placeholders or products: Newly discovered icons for the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro fall flat at first sight

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

Apple drops new Beats Solo Pro with active noise cancelling

iPhone SE 2: A US$399 and A13 Bionic-powered iPhone SE successor, but the size of an iPhone 8?

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

46% of US households with broadband have multiple streaming subscriptions now

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

Researchers claim Apple restricts wireless charger speeds in iOS 13.1

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

The Apple MacBook Pro 13 doesn't offer any innovations, but it's still a very good subnotebook with a lot of power

Samsung closes the last of its Chinese smartphone manufacturing facilities

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

91% Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 laptop review: Good performance, but no real innovation

TSMC countersues GlobalFoundries

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

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

Fitbit is the best-known name in wearables, even though Apple owns the market

The fingerprint scanner market's value is set to double over the next 5 years

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

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

Apple Music upgrades to a dark theme and Chromecast support

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

Vivaldi 2.8 drops earlier than expected, but without any major changes

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

The CASIO PRT-B50 is the first PRO TREK analog watch to have Smartphone Link and 4 environmental sensors

iOS 13 is finally launching this week

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

A new power socket with USB type C Power Delivery ports has modern devices in mind

Apple offers an in-depth look at the A13 Bionic GPU's Metal Engine enhancements

Trypophobia rears its unholy head once more thanks to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro and its rear triple camera system

iPhone 11 Pro allegedly pops up on Geekbench, A13 Bionic destroys Android-based SoCs

The Apple iPhone family welcomes the new additions of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

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