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Apple will update iPhones in China due to Qualcomm's patent claim
Now that a Chinese court has granted Qualcomm an injunction against Apple that could block the sales of several older iPhone models (6S through X), Apple says it can fix things with a software update. When the ruling came down Apple said only devices running pre-iOS 12 software were in violation. All of the phones listed are capable of updating further, however Apple China told Reuters that "Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case." We'll see if that update is enough to keep its older phones available for sale in the country, and if it holds up on newer XR and XS models that Qualcomm is also trying to ban. One thing is for sure -- the struggle over technology, licensing fees and lawsuits between the two giants isn't over yet.
Don't be afraid to upgrade your old iPhone to iOS 12
Apple was still selling 2015's iPhone 6s until last week. Then it announced three new phones and made the iPhone 7 its entry-level mobile device. There are likely tens of millions of iPhone 6s devices out there still, but last year's buggy iOS 11 update made the device, as well as other older iPhones, start showing their age. Fortunately, relief is here in the form of iOS 12. In years past, software updates on older devices were something to be wary of. But at WWDC this year, Apple said iOS 12 would deliver improved performance on devices as old as 2013's iPhone 5s. After spending the last day or so playing with iOS 12 on my iPhone 6s, I can say that Apple has definitely breathed new life into the device.
Apple just killed the iPhone's headphone jack for good
Whenever Apple announces new iPhones, it inevitably drops some older models from the lineup. But there's a bigger sea change than usual this time around, because Apple is no longer selling any phones with 3.5mm headphone jacks.
Latest iOS beta shows how battery health settings will work
In a letter to Senator John Thune, Apple confirmed that it would bring transparency to the way its iPhones handle CPU slowdowns due to aging lithium-ion batteries. If you have an Apple Developer account, you can check out the solution the company has baked right into its upcoming iOS 11.3 release. As first noticed by 9to5Mac, the iOS 11.3 beta has a new "Battery Health" system preference screen, with a "Performance Management" section.
Apple may offer rebates on full-price battery replacements
In early January, Senator John Thune's office sent Apple a letter regarding the company's practice of slowing down iPhones when batteries start showing their age. The letter asked if Apple had thought about replacing batteries for free (instead of the company's plan to offer reduced-price $29 replacements). The senator also asked if Apple had notified customers of the slowdown "feature," and if older iPhones had seen similar strategies. Apple has responded to Thune with its own letter, thanking him for his inquiry.
Apple will replace your iPhone battery even if it passes tests
Apple now has $29/£25 iPhone battery replacements available as an apology for its approach to handset slowdowns. But do you need to wait until your iPhone actually slows down before paying for a fresh power pack? Apparently not. MacRumors has confirmed an iGeneration report that Apple will replace the batteries on iPhone 6 or newer models whether or not they pass the usual diagnostic test (which recommends a replacement if the battery falls below 80 percent of its original capacity). In other words, you can go ahead if your phone just isn't lasting as long as it used to.
Apple's $29 iPhone battery replacements are available a month early
Apple was only poised to offer discounted iPhone battery replacements in late January, but they're already here. The company has issued a statement announcing that the $29/£25 replacements are available today (December 30th) in the US, UK and elsewhere for affected users with an iPhone 6 or later, whether or not they have an active AppleCare warranty. It didn't explain the move beyond saying that it "expected to need more time to be ready," but it was "happy" to provide the lower prices "right away." It warned that there might be initial shortages of batteries for some models.
The iPhone 8’s glass back costs way more to repair than the front
Over the last couple of weeks, the price of AppleCare+ has gone up for Plus model iPhones and screen repair for the 6s and newer models has gotten $20 more expensive. However, while screen replacements for phones under AppleCare+ warranty are still $29, that's not the case for replacing the back glass of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, according to AppleInsider.
Hobbyist gives iPhone 7 the headphone jack we've always wanted
For those of you who miss the iPhone headphone jack, you're definitely not alone. But Strange Parts creator Scotty Allen missed it so much that he decided to add one to his iPhone 7. He just posted a video of the project's entire saga, with all of its many ups and downs, and in the end he holds what he set out to create - a current generation iPhone with a fully functional headphone jack. It turns out, real courage is adding the headphone jack back to the iPhone.
Russia finds Apple guilty of fixing iPhone prices
Google isn't the only American company facing regulatory trouble in Russia. The country's antitrust body has ruled that Apple is guilty of fixing prices for iPhone 5 and 6 variants at 16 local retailers. Reportedly, the company tracked prices at these stores and would ask them to raise the price if it was ever deemed "unsuitable." If they didn't comply, Apple supposedly had the authority to terminate their reseller deals without so much as an explanation.
Latest version of iOS solves iPhone 6's shutdown issues
Some iPhone 6 and 6s devices have been randomly shutting down over the past several months. iOS 10.2.1 was designed to fix the issue, and Apple says it has successfully solved the problem for most people who've already installed it. Cupertino told TechCrunch that 10.2.1, which has already been downloaded by roughly half of all iOS users, has led to an 80 percent reduction of unexpected shutdowns in iPhone 6s and 70 percent reduction in iPhone 6. TC says the affected phones unexpectedly shut down due to sudden spikes of activity in older iOS versions that cause older batteries to malfunction.
Apple replacing a small number of iPhone 6s batteries
Apple has let a cat out of its bag, the cat in this case being that there's a problem with some iPhone 6s models. According to the company, a fault with the battery is causing a "very small number" of handsets to randomly shut down. If you're rocking a device that was manufactured between September and October 2015, then you're eligible for a replacement. Simply head down to your local Apple Store or authorized service provider to have your serial number checked and, if you qualify, you'll get a replacement battery.
Apple starts selling refurb iPhones through its online store
If you've ever wanted to buy an iPhone straight from Apple but thought that brand new unlocked models were out of your reach, you're in luck. Apple has started selling refurbished iPhones in its US online store, with hefty discounts depending on what you want to buy. An unlocked 16GB iPhone 6s is selling for $449, or $80 off the usual price; splurge on a 64GB iPhone 6s Plus and you'll shell out $589, or $110 less than usual. The iPhone SE and iPhone 7 are absent, but that's not surprising given that owners have only had them for several months at best.
Prisma can turn Facebook Live broadcasts into artistic affairs
Prisma's latest update gives you the power to air artistic videos on Facebook Live. When you switch from Photos to Videos, you'll now see a "Live Stream" button that broadcasts whatever it is you're capturing on cam. You'll be able to apply any of the eight available art filters onto your broadcasts, which means you can transform any ordinary event into a moving painting on the fly. Unfortunately, this feature has a pretty limited reach: you'll only get Facebook Live integration if you have an iPhone 7 or a 6s. Prisma says it's because videos are processed locally on the device -- the update also improves overall video quality -- and requires the phones' power.
Apple's iOS 10 is bricking iPhones
Apple's iOS 10 just dropped this morning and, less than an hour after launch, the landings haven't been smooth for everyone. From the get-go, Twitter has lit up with reports of people's phones (including your humble Engadget contributor) getting bricked or otherwise stuck in the update-restore process.
Adobe Lightroom gives the latest iPhones RAW support
Adobe has launched Lightroom 2.5 for iOS 10 with a big new feature -- support for capture and editing of RAW files in the "DNG" format. Using the app, you can take a photo with the iPhone's built-in camera(s) and save all the image data with no loss or compression. The feature is limited to models with the 12-megapixel iSight camera, meaning it'll work with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, the iPhone SE and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch model. It'll also support the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus once they arrive, of course
Facebook Messenger offers 3D Touch previews on your iPhone 6s
Add one more to the list of Facebook apps belatedly making use of recent iPhone features. Facebook has introduced 3D Touch support to Messenger on iOS, making your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus that much more useful when you're chatting up a storm. The update adds pressure-sensitive previews to seemingly everything -- you can peek at chats, contacts, locations, media, web links and even stickers. If you want to find out whether or not that conversation or photo is worth viewing, you'll want to get the new version right away.
ForcePhone software makes any mobile device pressure sensitive
A team from the University of Michigan have developed a novel means of giving any mobile device the same sort of force-sensitive capabilities found on Apple's flagship iPhone 6s. Dubbed ForcePhone, the software leverages two features that literally every smartphone has -- a microphone and a speaker -- do to what very few OEM device manufacturers have managed.
Sprint knows some iPhone users in SoCal can't connect to LTE
iOS 9.3 didn't only make it tough for a lot of users to open web links, it also rendered some Sprint subscribers unable to connect to the carrier's LTE network. According to the social media posts by some of the carrier's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users in Southern California, they started grappling with the technical issue after updating their mobile OS. While Sprint hasn't issued a fix yet, it says its "network team is aggressively working to resolve the issue." The company adds that it "expects to have a solution in place as quickly as possible."
How does the SE stack up to the rest of the iPhone line?
The iPhone SE is the newest member of Apple's smartphone line, with a smaller size that makes it more pocket-friendly than either the 6s or 6s Plus. But, while the SE boasts a diminutive frame and familiar design, is that enough to make you choose it over its bigger siblings? Though you'll have to wait for our review for the ultimate verdict, we can at least compare the specs side by side to see how the SE stacks up on paper.
