Introducing Neffos N1: The affordable flagship

379

TP-Link had just launched the Neffos N1 earlier today, and it looks like a promising flagship for the networking solutions provider. By nurturing the branding of affordability, reliability and continuous innovation, they’ve also launched the N1 alongside two other budget smartphones, the Neffos C5A and the selfie-phone Neffos C7.

The Neffos N1 sports a striking and carefully crafted metal design, and houses a 12-megapixel dual-camera setup at the back of the device, making it the first ever Neffos phone to achieve this technology. What powers up the N1 is the efficient MediaTek Helio P25 chipset with eight CPU cores, running up to 2.6GHz and 4GB of RAM. The N1 is priced at 1,099.

While the C7 comes with 10-level Real-Time Beautify mode that allows for a live preview of many beautification choices, its crisp 8MP front camera front camera is also good for video conferencing. It hits two birds with a stone as it’s also coming in at an affordable price of RM599.

Last but not least, the Neffos C5A features a large and vivid 5-inch LCD display to go along with a clear 5MP camera, all with a simple and refined design. It’s worth noting that the phone also has dual-SIM functionality and dual-standby mode, allowing you to rely on two different carriers at the same time. What’s more, the C5A offers users an impressive all-day battery life with a very affordable price, at RM299.

Should you require more information, you may check their official FB page
here
.

affordable
flagship
neffos
neffos c5a
neffos c7
neffos n1
smartphone


Introducing OPPO Air Glass: the mini projector lens designed to make life easier

1.2K

OPPO has unveiled its assisted Reality (aR) device that snaps onto your glasses and projects 2D information right in front of you — the OPPO Air Glass. The device has multiple functions and can act as a teleprompter, a real-time translator, and it even has a navigation tool.

Design & Components

The OPPO Air Glass has a sleek and minimalist look and weighs approximately 30g so you won’t have you worry about your glasses constantly leaning off to one side. The line on the side is actually the touch bar that you can interact with to scroll through different apps like the Weather and Calendar app, or just your usual notifications.

The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor and OPPO’s self-developed Spark Micro Projector which is roughly around the size of a coffee bean. This mini projector uses advanced Micro-LED that is in-charge of displaying what you see on the monocular waveguide lens and has a brightness of up to 3 million nits (1400 nits in average brightness).

You can control the OPPO Air Glass by using the Smart Glass App on the OPPO Watch 2 and any OPPO smartphone with ColorOS11 and above. There are four ways of interacting with this device — touch, voice, head movement, and hand gestures (only when paired with OPPO Watch 2).

Features

Teleprompter

If you have trouble memorising scripts for presentations, this device could be for you because it can act as a teleprompter and other people wouldn’t even be able to see your script because it’s for your eyes only.

Translator

The built-in real-time translator could really bring communication to the next level. For now, it only supports two-way Mandarin Chinese-English translations, but will soon be followed by Mandarin Chinese-Japanese and Mandarin Chinese-Korean in the future.

Navigation

As for the navigation tool, we can finally focus on what’s in front of us as we walk or cycle to our destination without having to constantly look down on our phones. OPPO is currently working closely with Baidu to improve users’ navigation experience; the Baidu Walk & Bike Navigation would allow for users to get instructions when travelling by foot or bike whereas the Baidu Explore Nearby displays information about nearby stores and attractions.

Availability

The OPPO Air Glass will launch in China during Q1 2022 and will be available in White and Black. You can also choose from two different frame designs — full-frame black or half-frame silver. Although its pricing and availability in other regions are not known yet, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on any changes.

The device was unveiled during
OPPO INNO DAY 2021
 and if you’re interested in checking it out, you may visit the website
here
.

oppo
OPPO Air Glass
OPPO INNO DAY


Introducing the first Nougat powered Android One device

315

Finally! Some proof that Google still pays attention to consumers from developing countries. This year, Google went straight into the premium spectrum with its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, both carrying pretty hefty price tags. This resulted in many speculating that Google will not be focusing on its Android One initiative anymore, but this new Android device has proved critics wrong yet again.

The Android One initiative, mainly aimed towards consumers from developing countries to provide them the stock Android experience in more affordable means. The last known Android One device turned out to be Japan’s first – the Sharp Aquos 507H which ran on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Now we have a brand new Android One device from Turkish manufacturer General One, and it is the first to run the latest Nougat OS.

GM 5 is the name of this new handset. The mid ranger sports a 5-inch 720p display on the front with Gorilla Glass 4 protection. Underneath the hood is a Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB of RAM with 16GB of expandable storage. The GM 5 is available in both single SIM and dual SIM variants, both with micro SD card slots. The phone features a 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash, coupled with a 5MP selfie shooter on the front.

In order to maintain its affordability, the GM 5 appears to not have a fingerprint sensor. It packs a 2,500mAh battery which should be fairly sufficient for a phone of its stature. As mentioned earlier, the GM 5 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. Its price tag is expected to remain below the $100 (RM420.00) mark. What do you think?

Source:
General Mobile

5
70
android
general
gm
google
mobile
nougat
one


IOC prohibits press covering the Rio 2016 Olympics from releasing GIFs and Vines of the event

581

GIFs and short videos of sporting events are pretty par for the course as it serves as a sort of mini-highlight for those who browse various forums or news sites. However, the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics may have very little GIFs, or indeed short videos, as the International Olympic Committee has forbidden any media that covers the event to publish GIFs of the event online.

The rules that the press must abide by for the coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympics have been published, and it comes with quite a number of eye-opening clauses that the press must follow. For those concerning GIFs, the rules state that “the use of Olympic Material transformed into graphic animated formats such as animated GIFS (i.e. GIFV), GFY, WebM, or short video formats such as Vines and others, is expressly prohibited.”

Apart from the barring of GIFs, the rules also state that “Olympic Material must not be broadcast on interactive services.” The reasoning behind this clause is that it could “allow the viewer to make a viewing choice within a channel and thereby view Olympic Material at times and programs other than when broadcast as part of a News Program.” Basically, this clause is meant to protect the channel that has broadcasting rights to the Olympics.

While the press may no longer create GIFs of their own without risking lawsuits, it’ll be interesting to see if the IOC would go after viewers who make their own GIFs. It’ll be interesting to see if the IOC can actually enforce this rule to those who aren’t part of the press covering the event.

Source:
Mashable
,
Olympic Games

copyright
gifs
olympicgames
press
rio2016


iOS 11.3 will add a Battery Health menu, this is how it works

310

Apple has revealed the new Battery Health menu that will allow users to disable speed throttling that was implemented by Apple to preserve the battery health of the phone. The company also shared how the new functions will work, and they have also mentioned that the iPhone 8 and X will not be slowed down when the battery performance degrades.

iOS will start slowing down when the battery capacity drops below 80% which will usually take roughly, 2 years or after 500 charge cycle. The new menu will be able to show the battery capacity and if the phone shuts down on its own a message will be displayed in the menu saying “This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. Performance management has been applied to help prevent this from happening again. Disable…”

Once this happens you will have the option to disable the throttling but you will not be able to turn it back on unless the phone shuts down on its on again. Once it goes below 80% a new message will pop-up and indicate that a battery replacement is required.

Lastly, if you have acquired a pre-used iPhone and the menu cant detect the battery capacity, that could mean that there is an issue with the iPhone or the previous owner has installed a third-party battery which is not supported by Apple.

battery
feature
iphone
menu
throttling


iOS 11.4 update brings AirPlay 2 and HomePod stereo pairing

372

Apple has finally released the iOS 11.4 update which brings about the long-awaited AirPlay 2 feature. Other than that, it also brings HomePod stereo pairs. It also adds the feature to use Siri to control AirPlay 2 and HomePod connectivity from your iPhone or iPad.

Users were fairly disappointed when they were told the HomePod will not get stereo pairing when it releases, and that it will come in a later software update. The update changelog also mentioned that the speakers will be able to detect each other and the room they are in, to adjust the sound it produces. It also comes with an advance beamforming that provides a wider soundstage.

As for AirPlay 2, you will now have the ability to play content on all AirPlay 2 supported devices in sync, and it gives you more options to cast it to a supported device in locations such as the Control Center, lock screen and within apps that support AirPlay 2. Lastly, and probably the best update yet, is that it will allow you to take a call or play games on your iPhone or iPad without interrupting playback on AirPlay 2 supported speakers.

The update is 307MB in size and can be downloaded on all iOS devices that support iOS 11. If you have a HomePod or speakers that support AirPlay 2, this update will definitely bring you more freedom and flexibility with your devices.

11.4
2
airplay
homepod
ios
pairing
stereo
update


iOS 11 beta breakdown shows a varity of new Workouts that might be coming to Apple Watch

364

With the new iPhone 8 about to be unveiled really soon, it looks like Apple is not only focused on that as they are planning to update their Watch with some new Workouts. This information comes from from the latest iOS 11 beta which seems to consist of a variety of icons that is for the Apple Watch companion app.

Some of the Workouts that were found in the iOS 11 beta are American football, baseball, bowling, dancing, skiing and other snow activities, skipping rope, a variety of fighting arts and surfing. The current watchOS 4 beta does not include any of these workouts but this is what that we might expect when the final version of the OS comes out. Even better news for current Apple Watch owners is that these new additions will not require new hardware as this is all under a software update that you will need to download.

Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple Watch model in the next few weeks which features an LTE connection. It is most likely Apple will be releasing the watch during the launch of the iPhone 8 next month.

11
apple
beta
ios
watch
workout


iOS 12.1 includes over 70 new emojis and Group FaceTime

694

iOS 12.1 is finally here and if you’re an Apple product user, you should totally consider updating your phone to the latest iOS update as there are a lot of new features that you won’t want to miss out on.

iOS 12.1 allows user to express themselves in conversations with much relatable emoji as there are more than 70 new emojis being added into the keyboard including new characters with red hair, grey hair, and curly hair. There is also emojis for bald people, more emotive smiley faces and additional emoji representing animals, sports, and food.

iOS 12.1 have made FaceTime more flexible as you can now add up to 32 people in one conversation simply by adding in another person into an active FaceTime Call. Additional features include “Automatic Detection of active speakers”, which means while the user is on call, FaceTime uses on-device intelligence to display the most prominent speakers on the call, automatically highlighting the current speaker by bringing them to the forefront. FaceTime will automatically adjust the size of the person’s image in the conversation based on how active they are in the conversation, duration of speech, volume, and even motion. Participants who are not active will appear at the bottom until they speak up.

Other than that, FaceTime also features “Ringless notification” whereby when calling more than one person, FaceTime displays a notification that lets you join a call instantly without being disruptive or causing any disturbance. Group FaceTime have also integrated into the Messages app, making it easy to start a Group FaceTime right from a group iMessage chat. All FaceTime conversations are encrypted end to end so they remain private and only could be viewed by participants. For Group FaceTime, you can choose to join using audio or video from iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Besides adding more emojis and being able to start a conversation with your friends and family via Group FaceTime, there is also an update for your camera. With iOS 12.1, users are able to adjust the depth of field in real time preview, enabling more control to create portraits with a beautiful background blur. Portrait mode with Depth Control is also available on the TrueDepth camera for selfies, which includes Memoji and faster face tracking support for third-party ARKit apps.

Apart from all these new features, iOS 12.1 should also fix the infamous ‘chargegate’ and ‘beautygate’ on the iPhone XS, hence it is recommended that you update your phone right away.

apple
Apple iOS 12.1
apple watch
emoji
Group FaceTime
ios 12.1
ipad
iphone
mac


iOS 12.1 Public Beta introduces new emojis

376

If you are on Apple’s iOS Public Beta program, your iOS device should probably received iOS 12.1 by now, and apart from some usual bug fixes and performance enhancements, Apple has introduced over 70 new Emojis on this update, notable ones include the Moon Cake, Red Gift Envelope (Angpow) and Nazar Amulet, which is quite in conjunction with the recent Mid Autumn Festival and the next Chinese New Year.

Other new emojis include softball, frisbee and lacrosse for sports fans, there’s also new characters for luggage, compass, and a hiking boot to accompany the existing climbing emoji, and new animal characters such as the llama, mosquito, swan and raccoon, kangaroo, lobster, parrot and peacock as previewed on World Emoji Day.

Apple will make these emojis available on upcoming software updates for macOS and watchOS in time to come, if you can’t wait for that official software update to arrive, simply sign up for Apple’s Public Beta program
here
.

apple
ios 12.1
iphone xr
iphone xs


iOS 12.1 will fix the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max charging problems

356

The most recent issue faced by iPhone XS and XS Max users is that their phones will not charge. This happens when the phones are plugged into the lightning cables with the screens turned off. Many can only charge their phones when their screens are awake, whereas some had to unlock their phones for it to start charging. Others stated that only in its awake state will the iPhones charge and when the display switches off, the charging stops. Majority believes that it is caused by the Apple’s software iOS 12.0 as there were also complaints from users with older iPhone models.

Apple, however has the solution to the problem, which is the iOS 12.1. The second beta was just released and has proven to be able to fix the issue. Those who are anxious for the fix could download the beta version. Although, it is advisable to wait for the stabilized version if you are not in a rush. However, it is likely that the stabilized version of iOS 12.1 will release earliest by the end of October.

Putting the charging issues aside, there were also complains on iPhone XS and XS Max’s poor cellular and WiFi reception. In regards of that, Apple has yet to address this issue.

apple
ChargeGate
iphone xs
iphone xs max


iOS 12.1 will slow down the iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X

372

It was recently that Apple was fined 5 million euros by Italian authorities for slowing down their older iPhone models with software updates, and now iOS 12.1 will be slowing down the iPhone 8 models and also the iPhone X.

According to the Apple’s support page, the iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X model will also be having the same performance throttling that was once only applicable to previous iPhone models which prevents the iPhones from working too fast causing unexpected shutdowns. Apple believes this is a solution to preserve the lifespan of older batteries and also stated that the performance management, as Apple calls it, will be less obvious on the 2017 iPhones due to the advanced hardware and software design. On the other hand, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are already in progress of slowing down.

Despite that, iPhone users are allowed to turn off the performance management feature if they want to by disabling it at the Peak Performance Capability’s subheading. The downside is that once it has been disabled, users will be unable to manually activate it again unless their iPhones experience and unexpected shutdown leading their devices to automatically reactivate.

The iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X are only about a year old yet they’re already receiving the performance management feature, which means that if this is a continuous trend, the iPhone Xs models and the iPhone XR might just receive similar feature by next year.

Another options will be to replace your battery before the end of this year, as Apple is reducing the price of out-of-warranty battery replacement for RM 121 for those who have iPhone models from iPhone 6 onwards. You can check your battery health by going to Settings>Battery>Battery Health and look at the percentage of your battery’s Maximum Capacity to determine whether or not you want to change your battery.

apple
battery
iphone
performance throttling


iPhones with iOS 12.1 can be hacked through phone calls

410

iOS 12.1 supposedly brings new features such as Group FaceTime, over 70 new emojis, Depth Control in real-time preview and dual-sim support to the new iPhone models, but it may have overlooked the security in FaceTime, allowing hackers to gain information on locked iPhones.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojigFgwrtKs]

First of all, the hacker need to use an iPhone to call your iPhone because it requires the FaceTime feature. Then, when the hacker uses your locked iPhone to answer the call, he/she will first need to tap the FaceTime option and then the ellipsis (•••) icon. Then, by tapping on “Add Person” followed by the (+) icon, he/she will have access to all your contacts on your iPhone which includes whatever data you have filled for your contacts.

The flaw is of significance because it allows people to get contacts data without needing the iPhone owner’s Face ID or Touch ID which is a clear breach of privacy. Also, this hack is only achievable with 3D Touch, which is a relief for the iPhone XR, iPhone SE and iPhone 6 users.

Apple should be well aware of the issue by now and should come up with the bug fix soon, not to mention that the company has already released a beta version of 12.1.1.

3D Touch
apple
facetime
hack
iphone


You can now customise your daily Downtime with iOS 12.2 beta

393

We’re hating how iOS 12.1.3 is wrecking our cellular data and WiFi connection but Apple might just come up with a solution soon as the company has just released iOS 12.2 beta version last week.

According to 9to5Mac, iOS 12.2 will grant users with more control towards the Screen Time feature. The Screen Time feature was first introduced in iOS 12, and it has been a rather useful feature to track users’ app usage. With Screen Time, you get reports on the time you spent on each app and whether your usage increased compared to the previous week. You can also track the number of times you picked up your phone and the amount of notifications received.

@9to5mac
 12.2 allows you to custom screen time days
pic.twitter.com/pJIEplP3Fj

— Sam Spencer (@Mr_SamSpencer)
26 January 2019

However, we’re discussing the Downtime feature under Screen Time, which is a feature that lets you set a specific period of time where you can only use specific apps and answer phone calls. This is helpful as it can prevent you from spending too much time on your phone, and in the new iOS update you’ll be able to customise your Downtime to fit your daily schedule instead of only being stuck to one time.

What I’m trying to say is with iOS 12.2, you are offered the options to customise your days for Downtime, so you can set your Downtime to be a little different on weekends, or you can even set each day to get a different Downtime period.

This might feel like a rather minor update, but it is indeed a useful update to those who utilise the Downtime feature. With that being said, let’s just hope that iOS 12.2 can also resolve the major problem we’re facing (cellular data and WiFi connection) once and for all.

apple
ios
iOS 12.2
iOS beta


iOS 12.4 brings back bug that lets you jailbreak and hack iPhones and iPads

327

Apple is known for prioritising user’s privacy and concern, but the tech giant has recently messed it up with its iOS 12.4 software update that threatens iPad and iPhone users.

iOS 12.4 is the latest software update that can be downloaded on your iPads and iPhones, but it was discovered that a bug — previously removed in iOS 12.3 — is back in the latest update. It allows iPhones and iPads to run unsigned codes and users to jailbreak their phones.

What’s alarming is that others can hack into your iPhones and iPads if they want to. Fortunately, Forbes reported that the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max will not be affected because they’re running on the A12 SoC. Another good news is Apple is probably developing iOS 12.4.1 as we speak so that this bug can be eradicated for good.

Now’s the time to be more cautious of what we’re doing with our iPhones/iPads while jailbreakers take advantage of this situation and jailbreak their devices.

apple
ios
iOS 12.4
ipad
iphone


iOS 12 to focus on performance and reliability

368

Apple has never had a good time with iOS in recent times, despite still being a great mobile operating system, iOS 11 has faced numerous problems since its release, such as bricking older iPhones with new software updates, slowing down iPhones for a degrading battery and more. Therefore, a reliable report from Axios states that Apple will be looking to improve performance and reliability on the next major iOS update, though there will still be new features on AR and health features.

Things such as a redesigned home screen and updates to pre-installed apps are being pushed back to next year’s software development, but if we were to look forward some groundbreaking release from Apple this year, it would be the work of integrating both Mac and iOS apps together into a unified app, which Bloomberg reports that it is on track for this year’s iOS release, it should be exciting to see how Apple could pull this off as it has been a failed attempt for Microsoft on Windows 10 Mobile.

It is common for companies to take a break from introducing too much features into its major OS release, just like how Google has done it in Android Oreo, and Apple seriously needs to take a break from fixing its software flaws, including improving app compatibility to fit the iPhone X’s screen, which until today there are still a number of apps that aren’t optimized for the phone. June 2018 is the month to look forward to for the next WWDC event.

ios 12
iphone
iphone x
mac os


iOS 12 introduces improved performance with nice feature refinements

399

Apple has unveiled iOS 12 in its annual WWDC 2018 conference, and as already reported earlier this year, iOS 12 focuses more on the refinements of the user experience, as it’s predecessor has come under fire with reliability issues on older iOS devices, therefore the company is making it available as a free upgrade for devices as old as the iPhone 5s, as Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, claims that an iPhone 6 Plus is 70% faster when swiping left on the lock screen to activate the camera, and two times faster when showing sharing options in the Photos app.

For developers, the biggest improvement to iOS 12 is the introduction of ARKit 2, which now allow multiple devices to have shared AR experience that allows a collaborative interaction on games and AR apps, the introduction of the universal USDZ file type also allows developers to work on AR objects across multiple platforms, Adobe is one of the partners that has fully supported the file format and will enable in the next update of Creative Cloud.

iOS 12 brings many improvements to certain user experiences as well, including a timed Do Not Disturb mode that automatically silences notification when it detects you have a meeting on your calendar and can automatically turn off when you leave a location.

Notification management is also now better on your lock screen, where it groups notifications from the same app, and hides away all of them when DnD is enabled, so that you won’t be pestered with full of notifications when you face your lock screen.

FaceTime is now better with Group FaceTime and can support up to 32 participants, you can also apply camera effects to your FaceTime call with Animojis as well. Lastly, Apple’s CarPlay is now getting support for third party navigation apps, notably Waze and Google Maps, which is a long overdue update to compete with Android Auto.

In terms of updates to stock iOS apps, Apple has finally ported over the Stocks and Voice Memo app over to the iPad with optimizations for the huge display. A new Shortcuts app is featured to work together with Siri to perform certain instructions when calling out a voice command, it works similarly to IFTT, which you can for instance make a call to your wife, navigate home, and play music with a single command.

For those who want to spend lesser time or their iOS devices, Screen Time lets you monitor your usage behavior on apps and shows how frequently you access them in a day, it syncs across iOS devices and can tell if you have been doing an activity for too long, which is a great parental control feature.

iOS 12 is available as a developer beta to developers starting today, a public beta will be available later this month, expect the final release of the software update to be available by fall, presumably around September or October in conjunction with the launch of Apple’s new iPhones.

apple
ios 12
wwdc 2018


iOS 12 restricts police from unlocking iPhones

294

Apple is pretty tight on security especially when it comes to their devices and protecting users’ data. This is why Apple’s security has been improving over the years from passcodes to Touch ID and now Face ID, in addition to the two-factor authentication. Apple is also strongly against weakening its encryption system to law enforcement agencies to unlock the iOS devices.

However, there is one security company that has been able to counter Apple’s strong security and that is Grayshift, a company that sells a device known as GrayKey. The GrayKey could unlock any iPhone and many law enforcement agencies are using it to break down Apple devices’ security, unlocking iPhones without permission from their owners.

With the release of iOS 12, Apple managed to fix the issue, making the GrayKey useless against the security. It is now impossible for the GrayKey to guess the password of the iOS devices and so far there are no information on how Apple did it, though Grayshift will probably start working on a GrayKey that can surpass the iOS 12. At the meantime, iOS users should definitely update their devices to protect their data.

apple
GrayKey
ios 12
iphone


iOS 12 will allow you to use the iPhone’s NFC feature even when the phone is dead

289

NFC is a feature that is rarely used in Malaysia, the most we use it for is for transfer of contacts or establish a quick Bluetooth transfer. But in the future, we might see more usage of the NFC like how it is being used in the US. iPhone users can store their Studen ID or even their public transport passes. However, the biggest issue with this is when your phone has run out of battery the feature will not work. Not anymore with iOS 12.

In iOS 12 there is a feature that will keep the NFC feature running even when the battery has run out. You can use the feature for up to 5 hours after the phone is dead. This feature is not limited to the iPhone XS and XR but it will also support iPhone 8 and 7 as long as you are on iOS 12. When your iPhone is dead, it will still display a message stating that Express Cards are still available, it will provide a haptic feedback but it won’t show notifications. Sadly, this feature is not supported by Apple Pay as you will still need to give it some form of authentication which won’t work when the phone is turned off.

It is odd that this feature that was not shared during the iPhone XS launch event which is quite surprising. Again, we might not use this feature much in Malaysia but in due time, we should be seeing more NFC payment and uses.

12
ios
iphone
max
nfc
xr
xs


iOS 13.1 is now available for download

451

As Apple is about to start selling the new iPhone 11 and 11 Pro in Malaysia this week, it has pushed out the iOS 13.1 to existing iOS users that squashes the bugs and instability found on iOS 13 while introducing some new features exclusive for the new iPhones.

iOS 13.1 features a new way to AirDrop content by pointing from the new iPhone 11(s) to one another by using the new U1 chip for spatial awareness, it also optimizes battery charging to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged. If you happen to use Apple Maps, you will now be able to share ETA to your friends.

This isn’t the first time Apple has had to push software updates shortly after a major update release, however its track record of being able to address the buggy issues on iOS 13 and got them resolve in weeks is certainly commendable. We doubt the new iPhones will ship with iOS 13.1 so its best that you hit the software update section after you activate your iPhone.

apple
iOS 13
ios 13.1
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 pro max


Apple got the Malaysia flag emoji wrong in iOS 13.1

386

While Apple has attempted to fix bugs and emojis in iOS 13.1, it seems like one sharp eyed Malaysian has spotted an error on the Malaysian flag emoji.

I hope you can rectify this emoji
@tim_cook

CC
@chedetofficial

pic.twitter.com/OylUbnDZqO

— Hafifi Hafidz  (@h_hafidzz)
September 26, 2019

Reported by Amanz, Twitter user @h_hafidzz has found out that the 5th red stripe of the Malaysian flag isn’t show in full and has been covered by the blue square area of the flag, this error isn’t present on earlier versions of iOS.

In fact, a further investigation reveals that Twitter and WhatsApp also made the same error on the Malaysian flag.

We believe Apple would’ve already been notified of this error and is fixing this as soon as they could, as the company has no intentions of desecrating a flag.

So, are we seeing an iOS 13.1.1 update soon?

ios
ios 13.1
malaysia flag


iOS 13.5 beta brings in contact tracing API and solves Face ID issue

328

Apple announced a partnership with Google just a while back, revealing that they will be developing a contact tracing technology. Now, the tech giant has included contact tracing API in its beta version of iOS 13.5.

With the addition of contact tracing API, developers will be able to create apps to help track COVID-19. As Apple and Google have previously mentioned, this is an optional function and PhoneArena reported that it can be toggled on/off by going to Settings > Privacy > COVID-19 Exposure Tracking.

If you choose to opt-in to this program, you’ll be notified when you’ve been in contact with someone who has been tested positive for COVID-19 — provided that they’re also in the program.

Image credit: The Hindu

Apart from the API, the new software update will also (kind of) solve the issue where users can’t use Face ID to unlock their phones when they’re wearing face masks. The current version of iOS will require Face ID when users swipe up from the bottom of their screen, but in the new beta update, it will direct users to the passcode screen immediately. It still doesn’t let you unlock your phone using Face ID with your mask on — because that will mean less security — but at least it’ll be easier for you to unlock your iPhone now.

iOS 13.5 beta will also make a minor change in FaceTime group calls. In group calls, you’ll be able to decide who you want to focus on by enlarging the window of that individual.

apple
contact tracing API
face id
facetime
google
ios
iOS 13.5 beta


New iOS 13.5 released; introducing Exposure Notification API and faster Face ID

357

Apple just released iOS 13.5 and this software update is particularly important because it will be useful to combat the COVID-19 situation.

Exposure Notification
iOS 13.5 brings in
 Exposure Notification API
 which allows
contact tracing apps
 to notify users when they’re exposed to individuals who are tested positive for COVID-19. It’s also optional for you to opt-in to the program, but if you’re interested in doing so, here’s how:

Go to Settings.

Select the Privacy tab then go to Health.

Turn on COVID-19 Exposure Logging — it can only be enabled when you’ve installed an authorized app that is built with the API provided by Apple and Google.

You can also delete your Exposure Log and check who has requested to check your Exposure Log when public health agencies release their apps. Since the API is just released, users will have to wait for a little longer before apps that are build based on this API are released.

Face ID

iOS 13.5 also improved the Face ID to make it easier for users who have been having trouble unlocking their phones when their masks are on. When the phone detects that users are wearing their masks, the unlock process will skip the Face ID authentication and jump straight to passcode when swiping up from the bottom of the Lock Screen — this prevents users from having to fail their face authentication before they are directed to the passcode screen.

The new Face ID process will also work with other authentications apart from unlocking your screen. This includes signing in to App Store, Apple Books and more, or granting permission to purchase or download something from App Store.

FaceTime, Emergency Services
Group FaceTime call also gains a new control in its Settings. Previously, the tile of the speaker will automatically enlarge during FaceTime calls, but now users can turn that off. The U.S. iPhone owners can also automatically share their health information with emergency services during emergency calls.

Exposure Notification
face id
facetime
ios 13.5


iOS 13 will notify you when you’re deleting an app with an active subscription

319

When iOS users get to try out the upcoming iOS 13, they’ll definitely take some time to get accustomed to it thanks to its numerous new features and upgrades. Recently, it was discovered that users will be notified before they delete an app with an active subscription.

Founder of MacStories Federico Viticci recently got notified when he tried deleting one of his app with an active subscription. His device was running on iOS 13 beta 2 and since we have never gotten any notifications when a similar situation occur, it is believed that this is one of the newer features that iOS 13 has to offer.

Never seen this alert before – Apple now tells you if an app you’re deleting has a subscription still active. Good move.

(Taken on iOS 13 beta 2.)
pic.twitter.com/WU57nS8Ziv

— Federico Viticci (@viticci)
June 18, 2019

The alert reminds users that they still have an active subscription and it provides two options — Manage Subscription and Keep. The former allows users to cancel the subscription if they no longer wish to use the app while the latter will stop them deleting the app.

That aside, even if users choose to delete the app on one device, they can still use the app on other devices since they still have an active subscription.

apple
ios
iOS 13
iOS beta
iphone


Latest iOS 13.3.1 fixes numerous bugs while hinting on new Bluetooth headphones

282

Apple has just released its latest iOS update — version 13.3.1. In this update, Apple fixes a few bugs that were present in the previous version while also hinting on the new Bluetooth headphones.

One of the fixes is regarding the Communication Limits that is supposed to prevent kids from adding unknown contacts without their parents’ permission. Apple also added a control setting for the U1 chip that requested location data even when the user has disabled location tracking in their settings.

Apart from that, Mail will also stop loading remote images even after users disabled the “Load Remote Images”, FaceTime is back to using the wide camera instead of the ultra-wide camera, and delivery of push notifications will run smoothly over Wi-Fi. HomePod will also come with support for Indian English Siri voices.

According to
MacRumors
, there are also a few icons in the software release that hints toward an upcoming pair of earbuds — suspected to be the Powerbeats 4. The Powerbeats 4 is said to fit in between the Powerbeats 3 and the Powerbeats Pro, but will lean towards the Powerbeats Pro design-wise.

apple
ios
iOS 13.3.1
ipad
iphone


Possible iOS 13 feature makes you look like you’re making eye contact when you FaceTime

551

If there was any doubt that AI is the future, have a look at what Apple has supposedly done. One of the upcoming iOS 13’s rumoured features is called FaceTime Attention Correction.

Guys – “FaceTime Attention Correction” in iOS 13 beta 3 is wild.

Here are some comparison photos featuring
@flyosity
:
https://t.co/HxHhVONsi1

pic.twitter.com/jKK41L5ucI

— Will Sigmon (@WSig)
July 2, 2019

It essentially makes it appear like you’re looking at your call partner straight in the eye when you’r engaged in a video call. People tend to look at the other person’s face during a video call, because staring right at the webcam would be painfully boring. But this comes at the cost of no one party making eye contact.

So Attention Correction uses “advanced image manipulation” to make it look like your eyes are glued to the webcam effectively establishing digital eye contact. Folks have tested it out and it seems to work like a charm; however it seems like it’s currently only available on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max; but we’re sure once it’s fool-proof, we’ll see the feature roll out to all iOS devices.

For those who rely on FaceTime to communicate with loved ones, this could make video calls that much more profound.

facetime
iOS 13
iphone xs
iphone xs max
video call


iOS 13 Dark Mode proves highly effective at power efficiency, tests show

309

As we embrace iOS 13 for the year to come, we will expect all the devices getting the update to see a jump up in overall experience in the department of usability and performance.

One of the features introduced with the new OS includes Dark Mode. For the longest time, dark modes and themes on any device are lauded for its ability to improve power consumption – OLED displays, such as the ones on newer iPhones, simply turn off individual pixels to output the blacks in a content, saving power consumption in return.

Image credit: 9to5 Mac

We’ve known this for some time, but the folks at PhoneBuff decided to put iOS 13’s Dark Mode to the test to see exactly how much power it saves. They compared it to a phone with light mode and the results are as you’d expect.

After using an iPhone with apps such as Google Maps, YouTube, Messages and more, the results show that the Dark Mode-enabled phone had 30% battery left at the time its light mode counterpart hit zero battery life.

A chart shows how significant the drop in battery life is throughout the phones’ seven-and-a-half-hour use – it starts off fairly neck-and-neck, but while the Dark Mode device was at 72%, we see its counterpart drop to 57%; it further drops down to 20% while Dark Mode still has 43% left. Dark Mode essentially could save you half the battery consumption during certain moments during your use.

With Dark Mode, you still get the same amount of work done while having more than enough juice to get you home with navigation at the end of your day. This is bolstered by the fact that more apps are starting to implement their own dark mode features.

Besides looking cool, you should start using Dark Mode to save yourself charging time and perhaps get you out of a bind eventually.

apple
dark mode
iOS 13
iphone


These are the top iOS 13 features I love

291

One of the very reasons I use an iPhone as my daily driver over an Android device is its software support over time, while I still proudly carry a Pixel 3 XL with me, there are times where my iPhone XS Max can potentially perform better than my Android sidekick, and that is when I started using the iOS 13 Public Beta, which brought a couple of changes to the table that made using the iPhone more enjoyable, and here are three of the most useful upgrades that I have had the pleasure to use everyday.

CarPlay – Cleaner and More Intuitive

CarPlay is the feature that I enjoyed the most after updating to iOS 13, it has a much cleaner user interface that makes it easy on the eyes, album art now shows correctly instead of a blurred full screen background, and there’s even a new dashboard that shows me information such as my next appointment, current playing track and Apple Maps.

Though one can say that this is something that Google’s Android Auto has already achieved, you definitely can’t match the convenience of being able to switch to other apps conveniently on the side, while you get big app buttons to punch on if you want to launch an app while driving.

Also, the new CarPlay runs apps independently on the screen, hence you no longer need the app to stay on the phone should you need to perform other tasks while parked.

Dark Mode – Soothing Eyes Day and Night

After enabling Dark Mode on my MacBook Pro, I never wanted to go back to the Light skin, and I absolutely love it to be the same on my iPhone.

To start off, there are a number of built-in wallpapers that will work well with Dark Mode, some apps will automatically switch their UI color scheme to black or grey if you enable it. What’s even better, is that Dark Mode can be scheduled according to the time of sunset based on the location you are at.

Best of all, enabling Dark Mode means that the screen glare won’t embarrass me in a dark cinema, perfect for some social media scrolling before the movie starts or when it gets too scary.

Upgraded Photos App – You no longer need a PC to quick edit photos and 4K videos

The Photos app is probably the most upgraded feature of all other iOS 13 features and it is now more than just a gallery app that sorts your photos into albums and timeline.

For instance, I can now easily transform my photos to different aspect ratios with a few taps, auto cropping and straightening photos taken from sideways, adjust exposure and colors with a few swipes and taps.

What’s even more powerful is that I can actually edit my 4K60p videos directly on the Photos app, I can actually do some simple color correction work, rotate the video to the orientation that I wanted, and even crop into a selected part of the frame that I wanted, and things are probably even smoother than it is on my MacBook Pro, which is all thanks to the powerful A12 Bionic chip on the iPhone XS Max.

Other Features

Even though I’ve mentioned the above features being my top favorite upgrades on iOS 13, there’s in fact more things to look forward, such as improved privacy control, faster performances, smaller app updates and better AR capabilities. For now, you may sign up to try out the public beta of iOS 13
here
.

iOS 13 will be available starting September 2019 and will support devices from as early as iPhone 6s, what are your favourite iOS 13 features? Let us know in the comments.

apple
iOS 13
iphone 8
iphone xs max


iOS 14.2 public beta previews over 100 new emojis

1.2K

Apple already revealed the new emojis that will come in
iOS 14
, but those excited to try it out can do so in the latest developer and public beta of iOS 14.2.

Apple adds new emojis and expands skin tone options

iOS 14.2 beta previews over 100 new emojis that included an anatomical heart, lungs, ninja, transgender symbol and even a dodo bird. In addition to that, Apple also added new skin tone variations and gender-inclusive options.

Memojis are even more expressive and customisable

Apple also revealed
upcoming Memojis
 during World Emoji Day which consists of different Memoji expressions, hairstyles and even face coverings. It can be accessed under Messages when you edit or create Memojis.

The latest iOS 14.2 Public Beta 2 will require 4.43GB so make sure your phone has enough space for it if you’d like to try out the new emojis.

apple
iOS 14.2
iOS beta


iOS 14 exposes Instagram unauthorised access to user’s camera

566

If you’re using an iPhone with iOS 14 installed, then you may have realised Instagram’s recent bug that uses your camera even when you’re just scrolling through your feed.

iOS 14 light indicator turns on even when camera is not in use

Casually browsing Instagram when suddenly the new iOS 14 camera/microphone indicator comes on. Then control panel ratted out the app behind it. This is going to change things.
#iOS14

pic.twitter.com/EnTIRsqq3R

— KevDoy (@KevDoy)
July 17, 2020

 One of iOS 14’s features is the light indicator that turns green when your camera is activated. Users have found the light indicator to be turned on even when they’re not using the app’s camera to take a photo/video.

Instagram promises a fix soon

Instagram has also acknowledged the problem and said a fix is on its way. An Instagram spokesperson told
The Verge
, “We only access your camera when you tell us to — for example, when you swipe from Feed to Camera. We found and are fixing a bug in iOS 14 Beta that mistakenly indicates that some people are using the camera when they aren’t.” They also stated that the camera isn’t actually activated and nothing is recorded, so users don’t have to worry about being spied on.

iOS 14 security features expose apps’ flaws

iOS 14’s features have been
exposing several apps
 since its beta launch. Previously, it also revealed the fact that LinkedIn, Reddit and TikTok have been copying and pasting texts from users’ clipboards.

instagram
iOS 14
security


iOS 14 keeps user login data even after apps are deleted

400

A Reddit user recently discovered that user data gathered on apps are kept within an iOS 14 device even after deleting the app.

The user
u/
blackmolecule

took to the r/privacy subreddit to detail his experience with the issue – apps that collect login credentials – 9GAG in his case – would automatically log you back into the app after re-installation.

That data stays on the local Keychain, so even if iCloud Keychain is not synced, you are possibly still compromised should your device fall into malicious hands. The only way to get rid of stored data is to do a factory reset.

But, of course, as the Redditor and reports suggest, there’s no way of telling if the stored data is being used to track you in any way – but the general idea of an app-specific credential still lingering when the app isn’t is disturbing.

We’d also like to see more privacy measures taken in place of
convenience
, especially when dealing with personal login credentials.

apple
iOS 14
ios14
iphone
privacy
user data


iOS 14 public beta released: How to download it

384

The public beta for iOS 14 is finally out, giving Apple users the chance to try out the new software update for free.

iOS 14 features

One of the biggest updates in iOS 14 is the Home Screen that now has App Library and widget support. Supported apps now have widgets in various sizes which can be placed anywhere on your Home Screen. On the other hand, App Library is located at the last page of your Home Screen and all apps are categorised accordingly.

Another thing you’ll notice is the new Translate app which provides text and voice translations for 11 languages. By turning on the automatic detection feature, this app can detect which of the two languages you’ve set and translate it to the other language immediately. There are more new features — read all about them
here
.

How-to

Those who’d like to update their iPhones with the public beta can do so by enrolling their devices in the beta program, but it’s best to perform a backup before you install the beta profile.
 Be warned that there might be bugs and app crashes since it’s a software update.

Once you’ve backed up your data, just launch
this link
 from your iPhone and download the configuration. After that, go to your General menu in Settings, click on the Profile tab and install the downloaded beta profile.

apple
iOS 14
iphone
public beta


iOS 14 reveals mouse cursor support and two new Smart Keyboards

328

Many have requested Apple to bring mouse cursor support for years and technically, the company did deliver that feature last year. However, iOS 14 now suggests that even the iPhones might get mouse cursor support.

If your iPad is currently running on iOS 13, you’ll be able to use the mouse cursor by turning it on in the accessibility menu. However, it only offers basic functions, so you can’t really use it like a normal mouse yet.

But that’s about to change with the iOS 14 as the 9to5Mac discovered that there will rich system-wide support when the new software is released. In addition to that, Apple is said to be bringing in two new Smart Keyboards that will come with a trackpad.

The new system-wide support should be quite useful when it comes to using the iPad; as for the iPhones, it’s really just an extra feature.

apple
iOS 14
ipad
iPadOS 14
iphone


iOS 14.5 beta: Apple users can unlock Face ID with Apple Watch

398

Using Face ID to unlock your iPhone has been a hassle for the past year, but that will soon change with iOS 14.5 as its beta version offered a solution recently.

Sounds great, but here’s the catch.

Sure, it’s great to finally be able to unlock your iPhone easily even when you’re wearing mask, but you’ll need an additional device — the Apple Watch. The only way you can unlock your iPhone with your mask is to actually unlock it with your
Apple Watch
 instead.

Get the latest iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4

If you’re still reading, chances are you own both the iPhone and the
Apple Watch
. The next thing you need to do is wait or Apple to release the public versions of iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 — these are currently only available for those who are in the Apple Developer Program.

You also need to set a passcode for your Apple Watch, turn on the “Unlock with Apple Watch” feature on your iPhone and turn on “Wrist Detection”.

ios 14.5


iOS 15.4 will finally let you unlock your iPhone with a mask

605

Unlocking your iPhone is going to be easier when the iOS 15.4 update hits your device, as the upcoming update will finally allow you to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask, a thing that has been extremely frustrating for iPhone users although Apple has made it convenient for those who wears an Apple Watch.

However, not all iPhones with Face ID will support this feature, according to
Macrumors
, this feature will only be supported on the iPhone 12 and later, that’s a rather odd decision since the array of Face ID sensors should technically be able to detect objects, however we can also assume that Apple might have taken advantage the neural processing engine and better camera sensor to make this feature work properly.

Apart from this big update, iOS 15.4 also brings Universal Control, a long anticipated feature that was announced months ago which lets you extract content to and from a Mac and iPad, there are also a handful of new emojis such as heart hands, biting lip, pregnant person and pregnant man and more, users can also now capture text on objects with their camera while in the Notes or Reminders app.

iOS 15.4 is currently still in a public beta, which you can sign up for your iOS device
here
, but do take note that there will still be bugs and you should always back up your data in case you want to revert it.

face id
face id mask
ios 15.4
mac os
universal control


iOS 15.4 will let you restore your Apple Watch firmware

971

The Apple Watch isn’t prone to bricks, but if somehow your Apple Watch ran into firmware issues, you will be happy to know that you no longer need to spend a trip to the service center to get it fixed, as iPhones with iOS 15.4 and Apple Watches on watchOS 8.5 will allow you to restore an Apple Watch wirelessly.

iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5 have been made available since yesterday, while the main update highlight of the former includes Face ID unlock with a mask for iPhone 12 and newer and new emojis, the Apple Watch firmware restore feature is spotted by 9to5Mac on Apple’s
support article
, you will of course need to have your phone’s WiFi and Bluetooth enabled to perform the restore.

However, Apple has noted that this firmware restore method might not work in every case and if your Apple Watch happens to show a red exclamation mark icon, you will still need to take it to an authorized service center to get it fixed.

apple watch
ios 15.4
iphone
watchos 8.5


iOS 15 released: Here are 5 new features you should try out!

1.8K

iOS 15
 has been released today; the update should be around 3.12GB and take less than half an hour to download and install. If you’ve installed the new update, here are some new and interesting features to try out!

FaceTime

Android users can finally FaceTime with iOS users; you can now video call those who doesn’t own an iPad/iPhone through a FaceTime link.

Just launch FaceTime and create a link, then share it to whoever you want to have a video call with.

Those who receive the link will be able to join your calls, and if you’ve added them as contact, your iPhone will be able to detect their names.

During the call, you may silence join request to prevent disruptions; you can also delete the link when you’re done with the video call so others won’t be able to join anymore.

Focus

Another major feature that is finally in iOS 15 is Focus – a mode similar to Do Not Disturb but with more customisation.

You can choose to allow notifications only from certain people and apps, hide your notification badges on Home Screen apps and select which Home Screen page you want to show when your Focus mode is switched on.

You can also choose when to turn the mode on. For example. You can automate it to turn on when you arrive at your workplace or whenever you launch a specific app.

You can also set it to turn on and off in a specific duration.

Notifications

Notifications are redesigned; app icons are larger and when your contact messages you, you’ll get to see their contact photos in your notifications.

Better yet, iOS 15 introduces notification summary that compiles all your notifications to be delivered at a scheduled time.

You’ll no longer get spammed by notifications throughout the day, plus the notification summary will intelligently organise your notifications so the relevant ones come out on top.

However, you’ll still get time-sensitive notifications such as your direct messages or reminders delivered on time.

Safari

Safari also sports a new design; the old single bar outlook is now replaced with tab bar, so you can easily switch between tabs by swiping left/right.

You can also edit your start page to show/hide page categories like Frequently Listed, Shared With You, Favourites and more.

You can even set a background wallpaper from the ones already provided by Apple, or your own photos.

If you’re someone who keep multiple tabs open, you can also organise them with Safari’s new Tab Group.

Divide your tabs into different topics and categories, or start a new empty tab group before you start doing your research on a certain topic.

Live Text

Your iPhone’s camera is finally fancier than before; just aim the lens at any text you see — it can be handwritten — and you’ll be able to copy and paste the text into your Notes, Messages, Safari search bar and more.

You can also translate the text you highlighted or use lookup to get more information.

iOS 15 will have more features in the near future

There are still several features that we
have not seen
 in iOS 15, including the much-anticipated SharePlay.

But it’s not just the new features; iOS 15 also brought in several updates that
fixes
 Face ID vulnerabilities, Apple’s Neural Engine and more.

facetime
iOS 15


iOS 15 bug permanently deletes your photos without you knowing

618

If you’ve recently updated your iPhone with the latest iOS 15 software, be weary of deleting your deleting your message threads on the Messages app, because you may lose some of your precious photos in the process.

15.1 beta 2 is still deleting photos from my library when I delete the iMessage thread I saved them from 😰😰 FB9658241

— Ezekiel (@superezfe)
September 29, 2021

A bug has been found by Twitter user @superezfe and reported by
MacRumors

that happens when your iCloud performs a backup – that action triggers the bug that deletes any photo in your cloud storage should you delete the message thread you saved it from.

MacRumors have detailed the steps to replicate the bug to show you what not to do:

Save a photo from Messages conversation to your Camera Roll.

Check to see that the photo has been saved.

Delete the thread from which you saved the photo – however, the item will still be in you iCloud Photo Library.

Perform an iCloud Backup or wait for it to happen automatically, and the photo will disappear.

The only way to circumvent this issue for now is to disable automatic iCloud backups and make copies of your photos onto a separate storage platform. You can also refrain from deleting any of your Messages threads until Apple fixes the issue.
 Read up on the other bugs that iOS 15 have been causing
here
.

icloud
iOS 15
messages


iOS 15’s Find My feature makes it easier to track your lost AirPods Pro and AirPods Max

761

Apple’s Find My feature for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max has been teased back in WWDC 2021, but it’s finally available in the latest firmware update.

With the new firmware update, those who misplace their AirPods Pro or AirPods Max will have an easier time finding them thanks to Lost Mode.

Find My app’s Lost Mode helps locate AirPods Pro and AirPods Max using other Apple devices

Image credit: 9to5Mac

Lost Mode will make use of every other iPhone, iPad and Mac to search for your lost wireless earbuds; if your audio devices are within the Bluetooth range of other Apple devices, you will receive an alert of their location.

In addition to that, your AirPods Pro and AirPods Max also come with a new feature called “Notify When Left Behind” — you’ll be notified on your Apple devices whenever you accidentally leave your AirPods behind.

Even though users will get the proximate location of their missing AirPods, they still won’t get the AirTags’s directional arrow feature because of the missing U1 chip.

If someone else picks up your missing AirPods and tries to pair it with their iOS devices, Lost Mode will show them a message to help them return the AirPods to you.

Source

AirPods Max
airpods pro
Find My
iOS 15


iOS 16.2 introduces Apple Music Sing, FreeForm and turns on 5G for Malaysia networks

8.1K

With (almost) all telcos enabling 5G on their networks in Malaysia, iPhone users in Malaysia are finally given the 5G treatment after updating to iOS 16.2, which you will find the option to enable it in the Mobile Data settings within the Settings app.

iPhones that support 5G

iPhones that support 5G connectivity include all iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models, iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models, iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models, and the entry iPhone SE (2022). At this time of writing, only Celcom, Digi and U Mobile’s 5G network will work on iPhones, while Maxis has yet to offer 5G commercially, Unifi Mobile and Yes’ 5G network isn’t supported on iPhones, as these two aren’t Apple’s telco partners.

Other iOS 16.2 features include Apple Music Sing, which is a karaoke mode within the lyrics feature in Apple Music that reduces the vocals of the singer and lets you sing your heart out, and FreeForm, a collaborative whiteboard app that allows Apple users to write and doodle in real-time and even over a FaceTime call.

So, time to hit that update button again and as usual, make sure you do a proper backup in case anything goes wrong.

5g iphone malaysia
apple music sing
freeform
ios 16.2
iphone 14 pro 5g


iOS 16 introduces big UX changes and exciting features to iPhone

2.6K

Apple has officially kicked off WWDC 2022 and the very first announcement is none other than iOS 16, which comes with several significant UI and UX changes that breathes new life into your iPhone.

Starting with the new lock screen, users can now add widgets, change clock styles and have multiple lock screens saved. More impressively, the new lock screen can be customized according to the Focus mode that you are on, so that you can have relevant widgets and app notifications shown on your lock screen.

In addition, notifications on the lock screen has also been enhanced to show at the bottom, where similar notifications will sort of roll-in and not pile up your entire lock screen that’s usually obtrusive to your favorite wallpaper, a ‘Live Activities’ notification is also a new feature that shows literally live activities from your apps, such as the progress of your workout or the progress of your Uber ride.

Other impressive new features of iOS 16 include the new improved Live Text feature, which can now extract text from a video and perform actions such as currency conversion and text translation, it extends to a Visual Lookup feature where you can easily extract objects such as a pet out of a photo to be used in other apps, which Apple attributes this to machine learning capabilities on iPhone.

CarPlay is getting a big UI revamp on iOS 16 with improved visuals and now integrates with instrument panels in cars while fitting on a variety of infotainment systems instead of limiting to the current widescreen and 4:3 aspect ratio, the Wallet app now lets you share Home Keys more easily to friends over the Messages app, and if you use iMessage as your main messaging app, you can finally avoid embarassing moments as you can quickly fix typos on your messages instead of unsending and retyping your message.

iOS 16 is one big exciting update that will debut alongside the iPhone 14, which we reported previously that might come with an always-on display feature and should take advantage of the new lock screen, we definitely can’t wait to try out the public beta when it becomes available.

Source:
Apple

apple
ios 16
wwdc 2022


iOS 16 is now available for iPhone 8 and later

4.3K

Start hitting that software update button on your iPhone today, because iOS 16 has officially landed to bring a whole new experience to the iPhone, and just when you are updating your iPhone, here’s all the new features that you will need to know.

The most notable change to your iPhone’s user experience would be the new lock screen, which can now be customized with a different clock font and various widgets, a depth effect can also be applied on the lock screen’s wallpaper if the picture has been taken with portrait mode, while multiple lock screens can be applied automatically based on the Focus mode you are on, and notifications now roll into your home screen at the bottom so your best wallpaper won’t be blocked by notifications in a busy day.

iOS 16 also introduces improvements to Live Text and Visual Look Up, which you can now extract a text from videos to get them translated or copy it into messages or notes, or even perform a currency conversion; Visual Look Up now recognizes birds, insects, spiders and statues which you can easily type and search in the Photos app, then easily crop the particular subject to be used in apps such as Messages.

The Fitness app has been updated in iOS 16 to support basic fitness tracking so even if you don’t have an Apple Watch, your iPhone can still track steps, distance, and flights climbed to estimate active calories burned with its motion sensors, while the updated Health app now adds medications to help users track their medication list, including schedules and reminders.

iOS 16 can be installed from iPhone 8 onwards, head here to learn the full features of iOS 16 and as usual, make sure you perform a backup of your iPhone before hitting that update button.

apple
ios 16
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Pro


iOS 17 breathes new life into iPhones with major upgrades

3.9K

Apple has launched iOS 17, an exciting new version of its mobile operating system, aimed at revolutionizing the communication and sharing experiences across key applications such as Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and AirDrop. With the inclusion of innovative features in Journal and StandBy, Apple has revamped the user experience to unprecedented levels.

iOS 17 introduces personalised Contact Posters, a feature that allows users to customize their appearance on incoming calls with artistic photo treatments or Memoji, making calls more visually engaging. This feature will also extend to third-party calling apps. The upgrade also includes Live Voicemail, enabling real-time transcriptions of voicemails, with spam calls being automatically declined.

In addition to adding audio and video messages to FaceTime, Apple introduces expressive Reactions that enhance the interactive experience. iOS 17 also extends FaceTime to Apple TV 4K, with users now able to initiate video calls directly from their Apple TV or transfer calls from their iPhones.

Significant updates in Messages include new emoji stickers, creation of Live Stickers, and a more intuitive UI. Search functionalities have been made more powerful and precise, making conversations smoother and more engaging. New features also include Check In, an end-to-end encrypted safety feature that keeps family and friends informed about the user’s location and device status.

iOS 17 also enhances the AirDrop experience with NameDrop, facilitating easier contact sharing by simply bringing two iPhones or an iPhone and Apple Watch together.

For those who often makes typos on their iPhones, you will be glad to know that iOS 17 boasts a more intelligent Autocorrect feature that offers sentence-level corrections and inline predictive text recommendations.

Dictation also uses a new speech recognition model for better accuracy.

Taking a page from Google’s Pixel phones, iOS 17 introduces StandBy, a feature that shows glanceable information when your iPhone is charging, which can be personalised to show a range of beautiful clock styles, favorite photos or widgets, there’s also support for Live Activities, Siri, incoming calls and larger notifications, which makes the iPhone great as a nightstand.

Finally, for those who loves journalling, iOS 17 introduces the new Journal app that lets you write down your thoughts, which Apple believes that will improve one’s wellbeing, and a feature that many will appreciate as we have seen people writing their thoughts with the Notes app.

If you don’t know how to start with a journal entry, the app makes it easy with its intelligent suggestion feature to curate journal entries from recent activity, including photos, people, places, workouts and more.

Users can lock the app from unauthorised access and it uses on-device processing, and end-to-end encryption to secure the app, which even Apple themselves can’t access what you have stored within the app.

Additional enhancements include advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections in Safari, secure password sharing through iCloud Keychain, mental health features in the Health app, offline maps in Maps, collaborative playlists in Apple Music, and powerful features for AirPods.

Privacy updates and accessibility features have also been included, making iOS 17 a highly inclusive and user-friendly version of Apple’s mobile operating system.

The developer beta of iOS 17 is now available to Apple Developer Program members, with a public beta to be released next month, it will only support iPhone Xs and later, while older iPhones running on iOS 16 will still continue to receive security updates thereafter.

apple
ios 17
iphone
wwdc 2023


iOS 7.1 code reveals Apple working on Siri for Apple TV

304

The Apple TV is seriously outdated and is begging for a hardware update, and we believe Apple has something up its sleeve on the next generation of the its entertainment box. According to findings from 9to5Mac, codings of having Siri on Apple TV has been found on the SDK of iOS 7.1, and continues to exists in the most recent iOS 7.1.1 update.

If you’re an iOS developer, you will clearly know on the string field UIDeviceFamily of com.Apple.assisstant.Assistant screenshot above that ‘1’ belongs to iPhone/iPod Touch, ‘2’ belongs to
iPad
 and ‘3’ for the Apple TV. This suggests that Siri will be available on the next generation of Apple TV as the current model doesn’t have a built-in Microphone. In our guesses, we think Apple might even implement a new remote with a microphone to support current generation Apple TVs, or even control the Apple TV through current iOS devices that support Siri.


iOS 8 is here for your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

281

Finally, the long wait is over, iOS 8 has officially landed on iOS devices through an OTA update with a size of 1.4GB. iOS 8 brings significant improvements to Apple devices such as HealthKit, the awesome QuickType keyboard and many other more features which you should check out in the image down below.

One thing to note though, you’ll need to have at least 5.7GB on the iPhone and 6.9GB on
the iPad
 to be able to store the update so you’ll need to remove some videos or huge apps that you have on your devices, if you want to be safe, be sure to create a backup on
iTunes
 or iCloud before proceeding with the update, because you never know, accidents might happen. And oh, make sure you have more than 50% of battery on your device. Enjoy iOS 8 and watch out for our feature video after we get our devices here updated to iOS 8.

PS…iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4th Gen users, bad luck for you guys.


iOS 9 allows App Auto Delete/Reinstall for new software update

391

For those developers who are installing the second beta of iOS 9 will discover a highly useful iOS 9 space management feature, which can help users to actually have more space in their devices to install major operating system updates. When users attempt to install the new operating system update from Apple – iOS 9 and the device found out there is insufficient space, there’s a popup that offers to temporarily delete some apps in order to make room for the update and smartly the device will reinstall the applications that it deletes early on after the operating system update is completed.

Due to a lot of feedback coming from Apple users, the company has significantly reduced the installation size of the operating system to just 1.3GB to make it easier for people to find the space for an update, and with this latest features it will ensure that almost everyone can upgrade their devices with little hassle. So now any iPhone or
iPad

users that have a 16GB variant can relax and let the new features help you update to the latest version of iOS.

free
ios
ipad
iphone
operating
space
system
update


iOS 9 has cellular Continuity feature that lets you accept phone calls anywhere

396

Continuity was introduced back on iOS 8, the feature allows you to accept phone calls on your Mac or
iPad

if you ever leave your iPhone some where in the house or office while its connected to the network, Apple has improved the functionality in iOS 9, despite not being made as a major announcement in WWDC 2015, Continuity now works remotely over Cellular networks, which means you don’t need to have your iPhone with you and still able to receive phone calls with your Mac or
iPad

wherever you go.

As reported by 9to5Mac, this feature was found in the first beta of iOS 9 and U.S carrier
T
–
Mobile
 is the first to work closely together with Apple to make this feature happen. In order to make this feature work, you’ll need to ensure that all of your Apple devices are linked to the same Apple ID, and all devices are connected to an internet enabled WiFi network. The difference between the current feature is that you don’t need to be connected to the same WiFi network in order to enjoy cellular Continuity, and we certainly believe that you will be able to use cellular data to transmit voice remotely to other devices in the near future, FaceTime video calls did went through the similar approach last time.

Should your cellular network support it in the near future, the feature can be found in Phone settings in which Apple will allow you to choose receiving phone calls from a list of devices that is connected to the same Apple ID, this is going to be useful for forgetful folks who usually leave their phones at home.

apple
continuity
ios
ipad
iphone
mac


iOS 9.3 will inform users if their iPhone is being monitored

308

iOS 9.3 is currently in beta testing stages, and one of its newest features is that it would inform its users if they are being monitored.

First reported by a Reddit user
, the latest iOS 9.3 beta would display a message telling users that their iPhone is being managed by their organization. This message would be displayed both on the iPhone’s lock screen and in the About screen where it would inform you that the iPhone’s supervisor can monitor your internet traffic and locate your device.

Currently, this message would be displayed on supervised devices set up through Apple’s Device Enrollment Program. In the program, one of the features is called Mobile Device Management (MDM), which lets the employer upgrade, manage and supervise various aspects of the device’s software.

While the new update will inform you that your iPhone is being monitor, it would not allow you to disable the supervision mode. Still, it is a great way to inform an employee if their iPhones are being monitored.

Source:
Reddit
,
Mashable

apple
beta
ios
iphone


iOS and iPadOS 13.4.1 fixes FaceTime and Bluetooth issues

488

Apple recently released iOS 13.4.1 to fix several bugs found in the previous software version. This includes the one affecting users’ FaceTime calls.

Devices with iOS 13.4 are currently unable to join FaceTime calls if the other end runs on iOS 9.3.6 and earlier or OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 and earlier. The new software update should be able to fix that so you can finally reconnect with your friends and family via FaceTime.

In addition to that, Apple is also fixing a Bluetooth issue in which it failed to function when users access from the quick menu. As for iPad users, some may have experienced an issue with turning on their Flashlight button at their Lock screen — these issues are all addressed in iOS and iPad 13.4.1.

The new update will be available for iPhone 6s and later models, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 and their newer models and the iPod touch 7th generation.

apple
ios
iOS 13.4.1
ipad
ipados
iPadOS 13.4.1
iphone


iOS Beta 2 users reportedly locked out of Apple ID with two-factor authentication switched on

346

If you’ve yet to download the iOS 10 Beta from Apple, you might want to hold off on that for now as reports are coming in that iOS 10 Beta users who have two-factor authentication active on their accounts are being locked out of their Appld IDs.

First reported on a
reddit thread
, this issue seems to have two parts. The first part occurs appears to be a bug with app-specific passwords that can force a password reset, regardless of the iOS version that your device is currently running on.

While this first part may be relatively harmless to those running on stable builds of iOS, users who are participating in the iOS 10 Beta with two-factor authentication active on their accounts may run into problems with Apple’s iForgot password reset page. Upon entering the required details, the page would flash a message that says “server error” and “your request could not be completed at this time,” effectively looking users out of their Apple ID.

Apple engineers have since been notified of this bug, but as of the time of writing, very little can be done to those who have been affected by this bug. Therefore, if you’re looking to try out the iOS 10 Beta, you may want to disable your two-factor authentication for the time being. Alternatively, you can wait for the issue to be address before participating in the iOS 10 Beta.

Source:
Reddit
,
9to5Mac

apple
beta
iforgot
ios10
iphone


iOS developer runs Game Boy Color game on Apple Watch

295

Smartwatches are probably the top of the list for people who experiment various operating systems on different sized screens. We’ve came across a couple of experiments with daredevils attempting to run older versions of Microsoft Windows on smartwatches. This guy’s attempt has a different twist, possibly a little more practical than the rest too. Gabriel O’Flaherty-Chan, an iOS developer has successfully ran Game Boy Color games on the Apple Watch Series 2.

Gabriel made a Game Boy emulator from the core of the already existent Gambatte emulator and calls it Giovanni, which is apparently named after the Team Rocket leader in Pokemon of the same name. As seen on the image, Gabriel somehow managed to squeeze in some button space for the Game Boy emulator, considering how tiny the display of the Apple Watch was to begin with. The “A”, “B”, “Start”, “Select” buttons are placed at the bottom of the display. The left part of the screen has been mapped to use as a control pad. On top of that, the digital crown on the side can be used to simulate the “Up” and “Down” buttons as well.

Admittedly, Gabriel faced some complications when porting the emulator since the watch did not support the Metal and Open GL graphics API’s. After numerous trial and error processes, the iOS developer was proud to announce his success of being able to run Pokemon Yellow, a popular Game Boy Color title on a smart wearable. Would you like your smartwatch to run Game Boy Color as well? Catch Gabriel’s more detailed journey to success at the source link below!

Source:
Gabriel

2
apple
boy
color
emulator
game
go
pokemon
series
watch
yellow


iOS and iPadOS 13.4 are officially out; offer trackpad support and new Memoji stickers

473

Apple released iOS and iPadOS 13.4 today, offering few improvements and bug fixes — including the long-awaited trackpad support in iPadOS.

When Apple launched the new iPad Pro recently, they also introduced the Magic Keyboard that comes with a trackpad. While the accessory will only be launched in May, there’s no doubt that Apple has to offer the software update first, hence the release of the new software update. However, iOS 13.4 will offer trackpad support to all iPads, not just the iPad Pro. This will help users achieve a more laptop-like experience.

Apart from that, both iOS and iPadOS 13.4 share similar updates. Users will be getting new Memoji stickers — nine new expressions, to be exact — and they’ll finally get to share their iCloud Drive folder with their friends and family.

Apple also announced the availability for developers to offer their app in a singular universal purchase; with iOS 13.4, Apple users can purchase one app and use it across all platforms if the app is supported on those platforms.

apple
ios
ios 13.4
ipad
ipados
iPadOS 13.4
iphone
memoji
trackpad


iOS Periscope users can now broadcast using GoPro's

306

GoPro has announced that iOS Periscope users can now go more immersive with the option to broadcast directly from their GoPro HERO4 Silver or Black camera.

The brand new integration between Periscope and GoPro allows Periscopers to toggle broadcasting between their iPhone camera and their GoPro from the phone’s app screen. Apart from being able to switch between angles, users can also opt for a two-camera broadcast for a more dynamic approach. One thing to note that your GoPro will still record videos and save them locally on the micro SD card while you’re broadcasting on Periscope.

The collaboration between two big names, has created an innovative which does not require users to purchase extra accessories. Instead, just having to pair both the devices and the user is able to integrate between both wirelessly. But remember, Periscoping on the GoPro requires your iPhone by your side.

This feature is currently only available on iOS but we’re hoping to see it on Android real soon. So keep your eyes peeled!

Source:
GoPro
  Via:
TechnoBuffalo

gopro
ios
periscope


iOS and tvOS 11.3 update comes without AirPlay 2 due to unresolved bugs

364

It looks like Apple users will not be getting access to Apple’s AirPlay 2, as the feature seemed to be removed from the update for both iOS and tvOS. This means that the HomePod will not be getting the multi-room stereo parring and it will not be available on the Apple TV as well.

It was believed that AirPlay 2 will come with the new update and users were keen on trying out the updated version of AirPlay which can interact with the HomePod. As of now, users can use third-party software like Airfoil to cast content over to the HomePod. The update to AirPlay is the first major update it has received since its debut seven years ago which came with promises of reduced latency and casting to multiple devices separately.

We were teased that AirPlay 2 will come to the 11.3 update from sources and developers that took apart the update to observe future features and other optimizations, but it seems that Apple pulled the update due to issues that are still unresolved with AirPlay 2.

11.3
2
airplay
apple
ios
tvos
update


iOS users are finally getting Google Lens in Google app.

431

While Google app has been on iOS for a long time now, Google finally brought in Google Lens, the feature that was introduced last year when the Google Pixel 2 was released.

Google Lens is a feature that helps its users to learn about the things they see through the phone camera. By pointing your camera towards objects, landscapes or even texts, the Google Lens is able to provide information regarding the matter such as what it could be, the history, or even translation.

You’ve always wanted to know what type of 🐶 that is. With Google Lens in the Google app on iOS, now you can →
https://t.co/xGQysOoSug

pic.twitter.com/JG4ydIo1h3
— Google (@Google)
December 10, 2018

Few months after its launch, Google Lens was not only available in Google Photos and Google Assistant, but it was also supported by selected Android devices where it can provide real-time information. Now, Google finally brought the feature to the Google app for iOS users, so now even iPhone and iPad owners can try out the feature.

Now iPhone and iPad users can click on the Lens icon on the right of the search bar, and it’ll automatically switch to the device’s camera, where Google will identify the subject or landscape and provide further information. This will be more convenient especially if you’ve been capturing image and using the Lens vis Google Photos.

Despite that Google announced the Google Lens on the search app, it is still rolling out hence there might be many users who still haven’t get the new update. Either way, iOS users will finally get to catch up with Pixel users once the feature arrives in their Google app.

Google app
google lens
ios


iOS users might be getting Face ID and Touch ID support in WhatsApp

328

WhatsApp continuously brings more features to their users, and this includes the introduction of Touch ID and Face ID support.

According to WABetaInfo, the Touch ID support feature is already under development and is still in a high alpha stage, which means it’ll be long before we get to try out this feature. When it is finally available though, users will see the option to enable their Touch IDs by going to Settings tab, then clicking on Account followed by Privacy.

Image credit : WABetaInfo

As mentioned, there is also the Face ID support if the user’s device supports it and users will also be able to use passcode unlock when the Face ID or Touch ID are not working, just like how it works with users’ iPhones.

With the new feature enabled, users will need to enter their passcodes or use their Touch IDs or Face IDs to open WhatsApp. Despite that, the data will not be stored by WhatsApp because the authentication will still be under iOS. WABetaInfo also revealed that the feature is already a success but due to the slow response time, the feature will be undergoing some improvements to better the feature.

Apparently, the feature will also be available in WhatsApp Business for iOS which will be showing up in the future. There are still no news as to whether the Android devices will get the app authentication feature, though Android users can definitely expect the feature to come to Android devices because all WhatsApp’s features have been available to both iOS and Android devices from the very beginning.

face id
ios
Touch ID
whatsapp


iOS users can now transfer WhatsApp chats to Telegram

509

Telegram’s recent update allows users to move their WhatsApp chat history to its own platform; this is introduced after WhatsApp’s
new privacy policy
 that “forces” its users to share their data with Facebook-owned companies.

WhatsApp users have no choice but to share personal data

Starting from February 2021, Facebook-owned companies will have access to WhatsApp user data such as their phone numbers and transaction data to be used in ad-targeting. This made many WhatsApp users uncomfortable, causing many to migrate from WhatsApp to
Telegram
 and
Signal
.

Telegram & Signal adds feature to import WhatsApp chats

However, some users may be reluctant to stop using WhatsApp as their chat history remains in the app and cannot be exported to other messaging apps; to solve this issue, both Signal and Telegram recently introduced a feature that allows users to transfer their chats from WhatsApp to the other apps. On Telegram, users can also transfer their chat history from apps like Line and KakaoTalk.

How to do it

Here’s how you can move your chat history from WhatsApp to Telegram:

Swipe left on the WhatsApp chat that you want to transfer and select ‘More’.

Select ‘Export Chat’.

You can choose to export your chat with or without media.

Select Telegram, then choose the preferred Telegram chat to move your WhatsApp chat into.

Keep the window open while the chat is transferred over.

telegram
whatsapp


iPad Air 3 case leak: four speakers, LED flash, Smart Connector

333

An iPad Air 3 case design has been leaked on Chinese site 1688.com, showing us a few differences as an upgrade from 2014’s iPad Air 2, with additional speakers, an LED flash and what seems like a Smart Connector.

The case designs appear to have cut outs for four speakers, two grilles each on the top and the bottom of the alleged tablet by Apple and another cut out to make space for the device’s LED flash below its rear facing camera.

The case design also appears to have another cut out on the left side which is most likely dedicated for am Smart Connector, a port newly introduced together with the iPad Pro last year. The Smart Connector is used as a docking port to power accessories like the keyboard for the iPad Pro as demonstrated by Apple.

Other cut outs in the case design appear to be no different than that of the iPad Air 2, with the volume rocker buttons and power button cut outs at the same postions. This also includes the rest of the cut outs, namely the lighting port, the microphone beside the rear facing camera and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The iPad Air 3 is tipped to make an appearance this year after Apple decided not to update its Air line last year.

Source:
1688.com
  Via:
MacRumors

case
ipadair3
smartconnector
speakers


iPad Air 3 may have four speakers

264

Instead of renewing its iPad Air 2 last year, Apple has decided to add on a larger tablet, the iPad Pro. However, Apple is rumored to continue its iPad Air line coming spring this year.

Early alleged blueprints of the new tablet have been surfacing online.

If the images are trusted, the iPad Air 3 will be sporting four speakers, adopting a similar setup to that of the iPad Pro. This may be due to the good reception received from the four speaker-adoption on the iPad Pro last year.

The images also suggest that the iPad Air 3 will include a rear camera flash, which is an unnecessary feature for any tablet. Maybe photo snapping with tablets will soon be a trend but don’t fully trust these rumors just yet.

If Apple is poised to release the iPad Air 3 this March, we should be getting more juicy rumors and leaks real soon. So let’s wait on!

Source:
TechnoBuffalo

apple
ipadair3
ipadpro
keynote
speakers


iPad Air vs iPad Mini: Which New Apple iPad Should You Get?

365

Earlier this week, Apple
introduced
 the all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air and a refreshed 7.9-inch iPad mini. In most areas, the two new iPads are surprisingly similar to one another, which may make it difficult for some of you to choose between the two models. Which is why we will try to highlight the key differences between the 10.5-inch iPad Air and 7.9-inch iPad mini in this article to help you make the right choice.

Design and Display

Unlike the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models released last year, the new iPad Air and iPad mini do not come with an all-new design. For the most part, they look very similar to their predecessors and retain the Touch ID button on the front. Both the models come in Silver, Space Grey, and Gold color options.

The new iPad Air has a 10.5-inch Retina display with 2224 x 1668 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. Apple claims the display panel has a low 1.8% reflectivity and a high 500 nits brightness. Additionally, it comes with Apple’s True Tone technology and DCI-P3 color space coverage.

Apple’s new iPad mini has a 7.9-inch Retina display with 2048 x 1536 resolution, which gives it a higher 326 pixels per inch density. Apart from the smaller size and higher pixel density, the display is identical in other aspects to the one on the iPad Air. Both the models come with Apple Pencil support as well.

Thanks to its smaller display, the iPad mini is both more compact and lighter than the iPad Air. It measures 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1mm and weighs just 300.5 grams. In comparison, the iPad Air measures 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1mm and weighs 456 grams.

Performance and Battery Life

Apple’s new 10.5-inch iPad Air and 7.9-inch iPad mini both pack a powerful 7nm A12 Bionic chip with Apple’s Neural Engine and an embedded M12 coprocessor. It is the same chipset that powers Apple’s iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. When it comes to storage, both the new iPads are offered in 64GB and 256GB storage variants. The rest of the hardware is more or less identical as well. The iPad Air and iPad mini both feature an 8MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.4 aperture, 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Full HD video recording, stereo speakers, and dual microphones.

Surprisingly, the iPad Air does not actually offer better battery life compared to the iPad mini. Apple claims both models deliver up to 10 hours of web surfing time on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours when using a mobile data network.

Price

The new iPad Air starts at RM2,199 in Malaysia for the base 64GB storage variant with Wi-Fi connectivity. You will need to shell out RM2,749 if you wish to have cellular connectivity as well. The 256GB Wi-Fi and 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular variants are priced at RM2,849 and RM3,399, respectively.

The smaller iPad mini starts at RM1,699 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only variant. Apple has priced the 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular variant of the device at RM2,249, while the 256GB Wi-Fi variant costs RM2,349. The top-end 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular variant of the iPad mini has been priced at RM2,899 in the country.

Quite clearly, the iPad mini is more affordable than the iPad Air by a decent margin. This means if value for money is important to you, the iPad mini is the clear winner here.

Verdict

If you are tied in to the Apple ecosystem and are looking for a new tablet, both the new iPad Air and iPad mini are excellent choices. When it comes to performance and battery life, both models are nearly identical, which means it finally boils down to the display size. If multimedia consumption is your main priority, it is certainly worth it to go for the iPad Air with its 10.5-inch Retina display. On the other hand, if you are looking for a tablet that is very compact yet packs quite a punch when it comes to performance, you will be happier with the new iPad mini.

apple
ipad
iPad Air
iPad mini


iPad mini 6 to come with relocated volume buttons to make space for the Apple Pencil

660

A recent
tweet
 by user @MajinBuOfficial has revealed the upcoming iPad mini 6 and several of its specs. According to the images he shared, users will finally be able to attach the Apple Pencil magnetically to the side of the iPad.

Many leaks have pointed towards a
redesigned iPad mini 6
; it’s supposed to resemble the newer iPad Air and iPad Pro that have flat edges and no home button. Like the former, the iPad mini will still come with Touch ID on the power button.

Why the relocated buttons?

Clearly, the iPad mini is smaller compared to other iPad models. If Apple were to include magnetic charging for the Apple Pencil on the side of the iPad mini, it would be hindered by the side buttons. Previous rumours suggested that there will be a smaller Apple Pencil just for the iPad mini 6, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The tweet by Majin Bu instead proposes that the iPad mini will work with Apple Pencil 2 which seems more plausible, and will launch in November. This means that we’ll probably see the iPad mini during the October Apple event — not the one that is happening tonight.

iPad mini 6 will start at RM1,699

The iPad mini 6 is expected to be powered by the A14 Bionic chip and sport an 8.6-inch display. It will be available in Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green and Sky Blue. You can get it in Wi-Fi only variants (64GB and 256GB) or Wi-Fi + Cellular variants with the same storage configurations that are mentioned. It’s expected to start at $399 which is RM1,699 when we convert it to our local currency.

Apple pencil
iPad mini 6


iPad mini 6 to look more like the iPad Pro, but without the M1 chip

1.5K

It’s about time Apple launch the next iPad mini — the iPad mini 6. The new iPad mini is expected to come with the newer design that we’ve seen on the iPad Pro and
iPhone 12
.

Design-wise, the iPad mini 6 is literally a mini iPad Pro

Apart from having a flatter, squarish design, the iPad mini 6 is also expected to ditch the Touch ID/Home button. Instead, it’ll sport the same equal bezels on all four sides, making it look like a mini version of the iPad Pro.

No, no, still no M1 here

However, just like the previous
iPad mini
, this upcoming iPad mini will not be using the M1 chip just yet; we’re still expecting one of the A-series Bionic chip which is supposedly not as powerful as the M1 performance-wise.

Goodbye Home button and Lightning port

Another feature the iPad mini will be taking from the iPad Pro is the charging port. The iPad mini is expected to switch to a USB-C port, and its Touch ID will be relocated to the power button.

The iPad mini should be launching alongside a bigger iMac this fall, so it should be around the same time as the iPhone 13 lineup.

Source

apple
iPad mini
iPad mini 6


New iPad mini’s “jelly scroll” is not a problem, says Apple

917

Apple recently told
ArsTechnica
 that the “jelly scroll” issue that iPad mini users have been experiencing isn’t a problem and will not be fixed.

“Jelly scroll” issue only obvious on the iPad mini

This is apparently an issue that occurs for LCD screens, but it wasn’t noticeable on other iPads except for the new
 iPad mini
.

The Verge’s executive editor Dieter Bohn
 recently tweeted about the “jelly scroll” issue, demonstrating how the right side of the screen moves up faster than the left.

Here is is slow-mo video of scrolling on the iPad Min i slowed down EVEN MORE in a frame-by-frame step through. Notice how the right moves up faster than the left.

In normal usage you barely see it, but every now and then it become noticeable. In landscape it goes away entirely
pic.twitter.com/iq9LGJzsDI

— Dieter Bohn (@backlon)
September 22, 2021

 However, this issue doesn’t show up when users are using the iPad mini in landscape orientation.

Image credit: SlashGear

According to
ArsTechnica
, Apple doesn’t think that there’s anything to fix since the screen is supposed to be the way it is.

However, Apple is not entirely wrong because “jelly scroll” happens to many LCD displays — this can be tested out if you visit websites that specifically offers such tests.

iPad mini