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Qualcomm: Apple's next iPhones won't use our wireless chips
You might see the practical impact of the Apple-Qualcomm royalty feud in the very near future. As part of an earnings call, Qualcomm financial chief George Davis told investors that his company believed Apple would "solely use our competitor's modems" (read: Intel's) in the next iPhones. Given that Qualcomm would know whether or not Apple was a customer this close to an iPhone launch (new models usually appear in September), it's safe to say that the chip maker has been shut out this time around.
The best mobile devices for students
There's no negotiating on this: You need a smartphone at college. Powerful flagships like the iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy S9 promise speedy performance, but even more affordable options like the Xperia XZ2 Compact and OnePlus 6 offer an impressive amount of bang for your buck. Though not necessary, you might also want a tablet for book-reading, or a smartwatch that double as a fitness tracker. While the Apple Watch is the most obvious choice for an iPhone user, other brands have offerings that are just as stylish -- stuff you won't be ashamed of wearing around campus. As for tablets, Apple's 9.7-inch iPad doesn't break the bank (at least before you add on accessories) and is now compatible with the Apple Pencil -- a tool once reserved for the higher-end iPad Pro line. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Pro offers laptop-grade power, though we recommend paying extra for the accompanying keyboard. Lastly, you'll also find a Kindle on our list, mainly because its e-paper screen can be much easier on the eyes than a phone or a tablet. Find all our picks in our 2018 back-to-school guide and while you're there, check out the other 13 categories we covered.
Leaked Apple repair videos offer a peek behind the curtain
Apple products aren't necessarily made for you to repair them at home; you generally need to take your ailing iPhone or Macbook Pro into an Apple retail store for any significant fixes or part replacement. Now, however, a YouTube account has apparently leaked eleven official-looking internal training videos that show how repairs are made on iPhone X, iMac Pro and MacBook Pro.
Apple may introduce blue, red and orange iPhones this fall
Apple may be releasing its next iPhone in a few more colors than usual. In addition to the usual gray and white, according to 9to5Mac, Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the entry-level 6.1-inch iPhone will be available in blue, red and orange. (It is unclear if the red version is a PRODUCT(RED) phone, as seen in the image above). Also, the 6.5-inch iPhone will come in gold, as well as black and white.
Apple's next AirPods case may also charge your iPhone
Apple is reportedly about to give you a new way to wirelessly charge your iPhone: by using your AirPods case. The plan, if it comes to fruition, will let you top up your phone (as long as it's an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X) using the case for your earbuds while you're on the go. Apple could make the feature available by the end of the year, but that's likely dependent on the company releasing the long-awaited wireless charging version of the cases by then.
iOS 12 public beta is available right now
Did Apple's teases of grouped notifications and digital wellness efforts at WWDC last month make you swoon? Well the beta for iOS 12 -- the software those features and countless others will run on -- is available to the public starting today. The Cupertino company has promised that the software's finished version will significantly speed up older phones in addition to adding fun new features like Memoji for iPhone X owners and FaceTime group chat for up to 32 people.
Apple's AirPower wireless charger could launch around September
Apple's iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are the company's first devices to include wireless charging support. Back when they announced last September, Apple also said it would be releasing its own wireless charging mat, called AirPower. This wasn't like every other mat out there, though, in that it could charge multiple devices at once -- an iPhone X, Apple Watch Series 3 and a set of AirPods, for example. The AirPower was given a vague 2018 release date, but according to sources speaking to Bloomberg, development of the mat has been marred with issues. Apparently it was expected to be on sale by this month, but is now likely to hit shelves around September, probably with the AirPods wireless charging case in tow.
‘Elder Scrolls: Blades’ is an RPG you can play anywhere
Have you ever wanted to play an Elder Scrolls game on your phone, for free? Bethesda thinks you have and has you covered with Elder Scrolls: Blades, what the company's Todd Howard described as "a pure Elder Scrolls game." It'll run on every platform imaginable, Howard said, and all the versions will connect to one another, so, for instance, someone on an iPhone X can play against someone who's running through it on a PC-based VR system or standard console. It'll be out this fall. You use finger-swipes for melee attacks and casting spells against various beasts (and other players) in procedurally generated dungeons, and beautiful forests.
iOS 12 will support Face ID for two people
Ever since the iPhone X arrived, Face ID has only ever supported one person -- unlike Touch ID, there was no way to register someone else you trust with your device. That won't be a problem with iOS 12. While Apple didn't discuss the feature during its WWDC keynote, iOS 12 lets you add an "alternative appearance" for Face ID. It's ostensibly meant for people who have problems with Face ID (say, people with glasses that significantly alter their look), but it can be used for a second person. A partner or child could have access to your phone without having to type in a passcode.
iOS 12 makes closing apps on your iPhone X a lot simpler
WWDC is in full swing and Apple has already announced a number of new updates for both iOS and macOS. On the iPhone, iOS 12 will make notifications easier to ignore and attempt to curtail phone addiction, but it'll also make closing apps on the iPhone X so much simpler.
Global smartphone sales recover from a months-long slump
Smartphone sales shrank year-over-year in the fall, leading some to wonder whether the category's halcyon days were finally over. Well, not quite. Gartner has determined that smartphone sales bounced back ever so slightly in the first quarter of 2018, growing 1.3 percent over the same period a year earlier. Don't credit that to hot flagship phones like the Galaxy S9 or iPhone X, though -- if anything, it came in spite of those high-priced devices.
Apple's new iPhones may have the first 7-nanometer chips
Apple's new chip for the next-gen iPhones is smaller than its predecessors -- it's also already in production, according to a new report by Bloomberg. Cupertino's manufacturing partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., has reportedly started mass producing the 7-nanometer chip that was created to be faster and more efficient than the 10-nanometer design (used for the iPhone 8 and X) it's replacing. It will enable faster app loading times and longer battery life, which are qualities that can convince buyers to get an iPhone instead of a Galaxy S or any other device from its competitors.
iPhone X is the latest device to stream YouTube HDR video
YouTube's high-dynamic range (HDR) video has already been available on select Android phones for a while now, including the Galaxy S8, Pixel, LG V30 and Xperia XZ Premium. Now Apple users can check out HDR videos on their iPhone X devices, too. We've also confirmed that the feature exists on our own iPhone X.
Android P introduces iPhone X-like navigation swipes and gestures
First it was the notch, but now Google is taking a more functional cue from Apple's iPhone X: a swipe-based navigation system. (Which, naturally, has its roots elsewhere, long before last year.) As rumored, the Android home 'dot' has morphed into something a little longer and a little more useful. Google says the change is a response to phones growing taller and the issues that creates for one-handed smartphone steering.
Apple faces camera patent lawsuit over iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X
Back in November, the Israel-based startup Corephotonics filed a lawsuit against Apple for infringing on its patents. Their case stated that the company approached Apple about joining forces on dual lens technology, which Apple rebuffed. Corephotonics alleges that Apple then infringed on its patents with the dual-camera system on the iPhone 7 Plus. Now, Apple Insider reports that Corephotonics has filed a second patent infringement claim to cover the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.
Samsung shows record profits despite weak demand for mobile OLED
With its latest earnings report, Samsung notched its fourth straight quarter showing record operating profits of $14.4 billion. As predicted, that's mostly due to the memory chips it makes that go inside its phones as well as many other devices, but the most notable element of the report might be its warning of slow OLED sales. Samsung makes the OLED screen fronting Apple's iPhone X, and like other iPhone suppliers, its results imply that shipments and demand have been lower than anticipated. Still, Samsung appears to be expecting a follow-up version in the second half of this year when "OLED panels in the smartphone industry are expected to see a rebound in demand." Apple will report its earnings May 1st, although it doesn't usually provide information on sales of specific iPhone models. As far as its own devices, sales of the Galaxy S9 family were strong along with unexpectedly high numbers for the outgoing Galaxy S8. That's all while Samsung prepares for its next flagship phone later this year, which should be a new Galaxy Note. In TVs, sales were slightly down, but we're keeping an eye on updates about the stunning 8K and MicroLED Wall displays shown off at CES. According to the report, those are both still in the works for a launch in the second half of this year.
Android P might include iPhone X-style navigation gestures
It's well-established that Android P will support notched displays when it arrives later in the year. However, that might not be the only iPhone X-like feature in the finished release. The 9to5Google team has noticed that a Google developer blog post briefly included an Android P screenshot (below) with a very different set of navigation buttons. Instead of the usual three buttons (back, home and multitasking) that have been present for years, the OS includes just a back button and an iPhone X-style strip.
The FCC leaked pictures of a gold iPhone X
On the same day that an Apple memo urging employees to stop leaking company info leaked, the company is now dealing with another, well, leak. But, this time it wasn't anyone from inside Apple who spilled the goods; it was the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As spotted by 9to5Mac, a gold iPhone X appears to have arrived at the FCC offices, which is surprising considering Apple hasn't made an official announcement about the new color on its flagship smartphone. The tones on this iPhone X are quite shiny and, at a glance, look like a darker version of those on the gold iPhone 8. One of the main differences with the gold iPhone X is that it has black bezels, whereas the gold iPhone 8 comes with white ones. Apple just tried a similar formula with the Product RED iPhone 8 Plus we checked out yesterday.
Leaked Apple memo reveals 12 people were arrested for leaking last year
Bloomberg got its hands on a leaked Apple memo today regarding, funnily enough, leaks. The company is well-known for liking to keep things under wraps, but its leadership isn't pleased with how often Apple employees are leaking information to the press. According to the memo, Apple caught 29 individuals -- employees, contractors and supply chain partners -- who leaked information last year and 12 of them were arrested. "Leakers do not simply lose their jobs at Apple. In some cases, they face jail time and massive fines for network intrusion and theft of trade secrets both classified as federal crimes," it reads.
iMovie gets some attention with an iPhone X-ready update
After a few months without updates, Apple has shown some attention to the mobile version of its free iMovie video editor with a new update. It's now fully compatible with the iPhone X's Super Retina Display (and that notch), and according to the notes, finally takes advantage of the Metal API for direct access to your iPhone GPU. Unfortunately, judging by a few early reports, that doesn't seem to do much for video rendering time, but maybe there are benefits that just haven't been uncovered yet.
