Category: Apple

Apple & Samsung Penalised For Intentionally Slowing Down Phones

Consumer Groups in Italy filed cases against Apple & Samsung for purposely slowing down older generation smartphones. The cases were filed in the Italian Competition Authority for which the verdict is now out. Both the companies have been found guilty. Samsung faces a fine of 5 million Euros while Apple faces a total fine of 10 million Euros for two different cases. The investigation found out that Apple & Samsung pushed firmware updates for older devices which downgrades their performance.

Performance Gate

In 2016, Samsung urged the Note 4 consumers to upgrade to the latest Marshmallow update. The Note 4 was released back in 2014. The Marshmallow update was made available after the launch of the Note 7 in 2016. Consumers complained that the new update was not optimised for the Note 4. It caused serious malfunctions, including unwanted automatic restarts, as it put too much stress on the ageing Note 4. The excessive stress caused a lot of hardware failure which had high repair costs to fix as the devices were out of warranty by then. Additionally, the report emphasised that Samsung did not provide for a viable option to downgrade the device which would bring back the phone to their original state.

Similarly Apple also persuaded their customers to upgrade their old devices to iOS 10. Various models including iPhone 6/6 Plus & 6s Plus which were launched in 2014 & 2015 were provided with the iOS 10 update. The iOS 10 update lead to shortened battery backup due to greater energy demands of the software. To limit this issue Apple released yet another update in the form of iOS 10.2.1. This reduced the device’s speed to prolong battery performance.

Moreover, Apple was found guilty in violation of Article 20 of the Italian Consumer Code. Until December 2017, Apple did not provide consumers with sufficient information regarding batteries. Such as stating their average life cycle and deterioration pattern. Along with information about their rectification measures to maintain and replace batteries in order to retain full functionality of the device.

Also Read: Samsung Teases Galaxy A8s With A Camera Cut-Out And No Notch

Both companies also need to publish an amending declaration on their Italian websites about the issues and its counter measures.

October 25, 2018
Apple Demands Bloomberg To Take Down Chinese Chip Hacking Report

A few weeks back, Blooomberg had reported that Chinese spies had compromised more than 30 US companies. This was apparently done by planting malicious chips into their servers while they were being manufactured in China. Through this chip, hackers where then able to create a backdoor into any networks running on the said server. The list of companies also includes tech giant Apple which has denied all the claims made by the report. Furthermore, Apple CEO Tim Cook had now asked Bloomberg to take down the report.

The incident took place back in 2015, and according to the report, Apple had discovered the said ‘breach’. The report also states that Apple had cut ties with the vendor, Supermicro and reported the incident to the FBI. While the tech giant not only denies the report, it also made a detailed company statement signed by the Vice President of Information Security, refuting the claims of such an incident. However, Bloomberg did not back down after this. They proceeded to publish a follow up story which further backed up the original report.

Apple’s Rebuttal

In an interview with a news agency, Tim Cook said that he was personally involved in the response to the story by the company. The CEO said that they searched through Emails, data centre records, financial records and shipment records and found nothing. He further said ,”This did not happen. There’s no truth to this”. Bloomberg on the other hand, said that this the report is the result of more than a year of research and reporting which involves more than a 100 interviews. They claim sources such as government officials and insiders at companies who confirmed the attack. They further said “We stand by our story and are confident in our reporting and sources.”

Also Read: Samsung Working On An In-Display Front Facing Camera

This is the first time Apple has asked a company to take down a report for carrying false information. Earlier reports which showed the company in a poor light and were made from fragmented tales did not bother them so much. With both sides not willing to back down from their respective claims and defending their sides, it is difficult to say as to who is actually presenting the truth.

October 20, 2018
Apple Sends Invites For October 30th Event : New iMacs & iPads Expected

Apple has sent out media invites for an October 30th event. The invites sent out to people had different versions of the Apple logo design. They only had one line stating “There’s more in the making”. We feel this would see the launch of the new iPad, Mac Mini and more. The event is for next Tuesday, October 30. It will be taking place at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music, Howard Gilman Opera House. Apple usually launches products right before the holidays since they cannot fit in all the product launches in the flashier and much more peppier iPhone launches every year.

What to expect

Apple leak experts say that one can expect new iPad models. Apple might ditch the home button on the iPad, like they did on their iPhones. A news website that follows Apple closely has also stated that the launch may involve several Mac models and the iPad Pro. If they decide to do away with the home button, one can expect the Face ID technology to be a part of the iPad. Reports also suggest that this year’s iPad Pro will switch over from Lightning to USB-C.

There might also be a new successor to the Macbook Air with slimmer bezels and a high resolution Retina display. A new Mac Mini is in the making and it might see it’s release in this event as well. The company may also share details for iOS 12.1 and the upcoming watchOS update. Speculations suggest that iPads may have been used to create the unique invite designs, which Apple often markets as devices to create and explore for artists.

We are not sure why the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park is not chosen for the event as is usual and why instead Apple is headed to Brooklyn!

October 19, 2018
iPhone XR Pre-Order In India Starts On October 19

The much awaited iPhone XR is going to be available for pre-order in India starting October 19, more than a month after it was unveiled alongside the iPhone XS and XS Max at Apple’s event in September. The iPhone XR is the cheapest of the three iPhones launched this year by Apple and is the company’s alternative for those who aren’t looking for a premium device. The device is available in attractive colours but lacks a few features when compared to the XS and XS Max. The iPhone XR will retail at a price of Rs 76,900 for its 64 GB base variant in India.

The device can be pre-ordered on Apple’s official website and can be booked via offline retail stores as well. It will be available in black, white, blue, yellow, coral and red colour variants and will be made available on October 26 in India.

iPhone XR

The iPhone XR has a aluminium frame with a 6.1 inch LCD display. It does not have an OLED panel unlike the ones on the iPhone XS And XS Max. The display has a notch and goes from edge-to-edge. The device has the new Liquid Retina display by Apple along with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

The iPhone XR runs on the latest 7nm A12 Bionic chipset from Apple. It has a Quad Core GPU and is 50% faster than the A11 Bionic chipset. The device has a single, 12 MP wide-angle rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture. The camera has a new sensor with fast auto focus and better low-light performance. The device also has an Image Signal Processor with improved algorithms for better portrait photos and bokeh effects. The front camera is a 7 MP sensor with True Depth technology for Face ID and better portrait photos with studio lighting effects.

Also Read: OnePlus 6T Price And Storage Variants Leaked

The device has a 2,942 mAh battery and runs on iOS 12. It will be available in 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB models. Pre-orders for the device start on October 19 and it will be available starting October 26.

October 18, 2018
Apple Donating 1000 Apple Watch Series 4 Devices For Scientific Research

The Apple Watch has been a favourite for scientists across the US. Apple has constantly added new health and fitness features to the Apple Watch over the few years of it’s existence. The watch finds its use in the research of everything from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease to postpartum depression. Researchers now wish to find out if the watch can help with the detection of eating disorders. The Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders conducts the research named Binge Eating Genetics Initiative (BEGIN). BEGIN aims to better understand the genetic factors that may be associated with binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. The study wishes to develop better treatments for the millions of people who suffer from these illnesses.

Also Read: Apple Watch Series 4 Now Available For Pre-Order In India

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is a disorder in which a person overeats compulsively and is unable to stop. It can occur in normal weighing men and women but more often leads to weight gain and obesity. Some people fall into depression and some resort to food as a coping mechanism. 2.8% of American adults suffer from binge eating disorder in their lifetime.

The research aims to recruit 1000 participants who suffer from binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa. Participants have to be over 18 years old and living in the United States and should have an iPhone. These participants will each reportedly receive an Apple Watch from the company itself. Researchers will monitor their eating habits using the Recovery Record app on the iPhone. They will record your mood, food, and goals for 30 days. The BEGIN page also has a Apple Watch setup flyer and a flyer that states ‘The price of this watch was a desire to recover’.

Brian Baucom and Jonathan Butner, researchers from the University of Utah will help with statistical modeling once the data collection concludes.

The Apple watch Series 4 was released in September 2018 and tracks important health functions such as heart rate, activity, sleep, mindfulness and nutrition. It also comes with fall detection and calorie tracking among other health and fitness features. Pre-bookings for the Apple Watch Series 4 are open in India.

October 15, 2018
Apple Watch Series 4 Now Available For Pre-Order In India
Apple released the Apple Watch Series 4 on 12 September in the USA. It is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with edge-to-edge display which is a 2mm bump for both variants from last generation. The new watch has 50% louder speakers, an S4 chip with a 64-bit dual core processor and a digital crown with haptic feedback. Additionally, the Series 4 has new health capabilities which can detect hard falls with the help of the new accelerometer and the gyroscope sensor.

Click here to pre-order the Apple Watch 4

The Apple Watch 4 is now available for pre-order in India on Flipkart and authorised Apple resellers starting at a price of Rs 40,900. The watch is available in multiple combinations of different metal finishes, cellular or GPS version and two different sizes.

Also read: Top Computing Deals on Amazon Great Indian Sale

Price for different variants:

Click here to pre-order the Apple Watch 4
- Apple Watch Series 4 GPS edition 40 mm with Silver, Space Grey or Gold aluminium case – Rs 40,900
- Apple Watch Series 4 GPS edition 44 mm with Silver,Space or Gold alumnium case-Rs 43,900
- Apple Watch Series 4 Cellular edition 40 mm- Rs 49,900(Silver, Space Grey or Gold aluminium case)
- Apple Watch Series 4 Cellular edition 44 mm- Rs 52,900 (Silver, Space Grey or Gold aluminium case)
- Apple Watch Series 4 Cellular edition 40 mm with sports band and stainless steel dial- Rs 67,900
- Apple Watch Series 4 Cellular edition 44 mm with sports band and stainless steel dial – Rs 71,900
- Apple Watch series 4 Cellular edition with Milanese Loop wristband 40 mm – Rs. 76,900
- Apple Watch series 4 Cellular edition with Milanese Loop wristband 44 mm – Rs. 80,900
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EiI5_-7liQ
October 15, 2018
iOS 12 Now On 50% iPhones and iPads

Apple has revealed that 50% of users are now running iOS 12 on their devices. This is a comparatively good number as opposed to the iOS 11 which had seen a slow start and lesser acceptance. Apple also adds that on only counting the devices launched in the last four years, the number shoots up to 53%.

Also Read: New Apple iPad Pro And Apple Pencil 2 Set To Launch

While iOS 12 is running on 50% of the devices, iOS 11 takes the second place with 39% share of all the devices. This is a much faster adoption rate as compared to many of the previous versions of iOS. The ribs because the latest version offers an improvement in performance for older devices, which makes them faster than before. This is seen on the iPhone 6 Plus, for example. After the update, apps launch upto 40% quicker and the keyboard appears over 50% faster on the iPhone 6 Plus. Along with this, animations are smoother and more responsive, along with scrolling in apps or entering the multitask view.

iOS 12 does bring along a few minor bugs which were a topic of discussion for many. The ‘charge gate’ and ‘beauty gate’ issue was a problem but a fix was provided by the iOS 12.1 update. However, a few issues have popped up due to the update. Apparently, devices are now sending iMessages to the wrong people, cellular reception is poor and some users are not able to receive calls. Additionally users are also complaining about the lack of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Users are also reporting increasing battery drain with the iOS 12.1 update.

However, iOS 12 is being widely accepted by all its users and is available for almost all the devices released in the past few years. The Android OS on the other hand, is not doing so well in this sphere. As per last months reports, only 0.1 percent of Android Devices are running the latest Android 9 Pie. This means that over 99% of Android devices do not run the latest version of the OS. Only 19.2 percent of the devices are running Android Oreo. The slow spread of Android maybe due to the large number of devices present in the market. Additionally, manufactures continue to launch smartphones that are not running the latest variant of Android.

October 12, 2018
New Apple iPad Pro And Apple Pencil 2 Set To Launch

While most expected to see the iPad Pro to launch along with the iPhone XS and the Apple Watch 4 at Apple’s special event, we were disappointed. However, fresh ‘evidence’ suggests that the iPad Pro will be releasing later this month and we can expect quite a few changes from it. The possibility of a new MacBook, AirPods 2 and even the AirPower charging pad are high.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A9 Launched With Five Camera Setup

Apple has reportedly registered new iPad models and a new Bluetooth device with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This tells us that we can expect not only the new iPad Pro but also the Apple Pencil along with it, which could be the bluetooth device in question. According to a website, Apple has registered A1876, A1980 and A1993 . These registration numbers are similar to those spotted earlier in a Apple file in the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Specifications

Drawing from previous leaks and renders, the iPad Pro will launch in 12.9 inch and a 10.5 inch variants. It will have LCD panels. The device looks starkly different from previous generation of iPads with thin bezels and the lack of a home button, which hints at the presence of Face ID. The images also show the lack of a headphone jack and a new placement for the Smart Connector, which is towards the bottom middle, on the back. This placement is different and could be because Face ID does not work when you place the device horizontally.

The iPad Pro runs on an unreleased ‘A12X Bionic’ chipset from Apple, according to rumours. This chipset is faster than the A12 Bionic seen in the current iPhone models. It is made using the 7 nm process which might take the battery life and performance of the device to another level. The devices have 4 GB of RAM, with storage options of upto 512 GB.

The launch of the iPad Pro could be towards the end of this month. This time frame also coincides with the launch of the iPhone XR, so it would be a convenient slot for Apple. While there is no confirmation, we hope to see the launch of a new MacBook, the AirPods 2 and AirPower which Apple has been holding back for so long.

October 12, 2018
Apple Secretly Bought Danish Visual Effects Startup

For super secretive Apple, buying a startup is not something new. According to recent reports by a news website, Apple bought image processing software company Spektral for $30 Million. Apparently, they did not disclose the purchase which was made last year. The company is developing a software that can digitally separate a subject from it’s background.

Also Read: ‘Apple Glass’ Could Be A Reality Soon As Apple Buys AR Centric Longmont

Apple had introduced ‘Portrait Lighting’ last year which separates a subject and makes the background dark. There seems to be a correlation between the two but we are not entirely sure what they have planned for the future. The unique technology of Spektral is based on state-of-the-art machine learning and computer vision techniques. It can process images as well as video. The software can cut out people from a video in real time on a smartphone. It also promises to provide high quality detail.

Spektral had created a technique called cutouts which they used in their software. The company was known by the name of CloudCutout at the time. This software negates the need for green screens and creates a mixed reality for the users. The news website also reports that the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Toke Jansen now lists Apple as his employer. The company website suggests that the software provides a flexible trade-off between quality and computation time.

Apple’s interest in augmented reality in the recent years has become extremely interesting. It has been pushing developers to create augmented reality apps for it’s iPhones and iPads with ARKit. Some Apple analysts have also hinted that some kind of augmented reality glasses might also be on its way. It can arrive as soon as 2020. Apple’s smart-glasses have the codename “T288”.

October 11, 2018
Digital Photo Professional Software From Canon Now Available In iOS

Given that most photographers use Macbooks, iPads and other Apple devices, Canon’s entry into the iOS eco-space is quite late. A large part of Canon’s DPP software has been finally ported to iOS App Store. This will allow a Canon camera to connect to Macbooks and iPads. Users can now edit CR3 and JPEG files. The images can be viewed and saved on the cloud as well. The Camera connect app, which is widely used by photographers as well, can be used to remotely control your camera. When one shoots images on the camera, it can directly be viewed on the iPad. This lets photographers to see the details in their images on a bigger screen. Apple is known for their great display and photographers can see their images live using Canon’s software.

With this software one can work on Cropping, Picture Style, White Balance, Brightness, Gamma level, Saturation, Tone Curve, Colour and more. It is also compatible with Android smartphone and tablet versions 4.4/5.0/5.1/6.0/7.0/7.1/8.0/8.1. The Camera Connect app also makes it easy to change camera settings, take pictures and video and even apply GPS data. It is however advisable to switch off user data if one is concerned about security.

Another great feature of this software is DPP express which allows you to process and edit the images on your tab or laptop. It offers multiple editing history which can help a person to retrace and delete certain steps along the way while editing. One can create upto four editing histories and mix and match certain editing steps. The software will be compatible on newer iPads running running iOS 11 or higher. DPP Express can be downloaded from the App Store.

October 10, 2018
Apple iPhone XS, XS Max Have A Charging Issue, Other iOS 12 Devices May Be Affected

The new Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are now facing charging issues. Hundreds of users have said that the devices do not respond to a charger being plugged in. The issue could be to do with the iOS 12 update as some older iPhone and iPad variants have also reported the same.

The Issue:

Users on Apple’s forum, reddit and also a YouTuber have been talking about this issue. The devices, mainly iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max variants, are not showing the ‘charging’ notification when they are plugged in. This doesn’t happen if you pick up the phone or wake the screen. This means that the device is only recognising the power source when there is user interaction. In some cases, the devices are also reportedly freezing, and not responding to screen taps or the power button as well. The users are using Apple’s very own lightning cables and not a third party adapter or wire. A video on YouTube has tested multiple devices, displaying that this problem is pretty widespread.

This led to multiple users believing it to be a hardware issue with the new iPhones or a problem with the charging port present on the devices. However, AppleInsider tested an iPhone 7 and a 12.9 inch first-ten iPad Pro to have the same issue as well. This has led to thoughts that the issue is not with the devices but the iOS 12 update.

Some reports are also saying that the issue may be related to the USB restricted mode on the devices. This is a feature from Apple to help secure data on your phone against anyone trying to download your information without unlocking your device. However, users said that the device would start charging with a slight touch or tap and without unlocking the devices on most instances. Hence, it is unlikely that this is due to a security feature.

Chargegate:

As of now, there has been no official response from Apple as to what is causing these devices to function in this way. Users have already started referring to it as ‘chargegate’ and are a bit irked by the issue.

October 1, 2018
Apple iPhone XS And XS Max Going On Sale In India Today

The Apple iPhone XS and XS Max will go on sale today. This is the first sale of the devices after their launch earlier this month. The devices will be available on Amazon, Flipkart and the offline market.

Buy the iPhone XS and XS Max on Flipkart

Both the device have a great build quality and feel very premium. The devices also have rounded edges and thin bezels on the screen along with a notch up top. On the back, they sport a dual camera setup, accompanied by a Retina flash. The devices have a lightning connector at the bottom along with the microphone and the speaker grill .

Also read: The New Apple iPhone Has A Feature Indians Will Love!

The iPhone XS has a 5.8 inch display and the iPhone XS Max has a 6.5 inch display. Both the devices have a Super Retina HD OLED display with multi-touch.

Under the hood, the devices run the Apple A12 Bionic chip with an integrated neural engine. The devices run on the latest iOS 12. The phones have 2,659 and 3,179 mAh batteries respectively. The devices have three storage variants of 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB.

The devices have a 12 MP dual rear camera setup. One is a wide-angle lens and the second is a telephoto sensor. The rear camera allows 2x optical zoom and digital zoom up to 10x. The front camera is a 7 MP camera that allows to shoot 1080P videos at 60 FPS.

The iPhone XS is available in three storage options of 64 GB , 256 GB and 512 GB and starts at $ 999. In India the phone will start at Rs. 99,900.

The iPhone XS Max will be available in the same three variants and starts at $ 1099. In India the iPhone XS Max will start at Rs. 109,900.

Buy the iPhone XS and XS iPhone Max on Flipkart

Note: Apple India has about 1 lakh units of iPhones for sale in the first lot.

September 28, 2018
The New Apple iPhone Has A Feature Indians Will Love!

The new Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have a feature that the company seems to have overlooked at the launch. This is the new dual SIM capability on the iPhone XS. The dual SIM support isn’t something new, but the way Apple has implemented the feature is impressive.

A New Type Of Dual SIM:

If you refer to our unboxing video which is linked below, you know that the devices use the eSIM technology. This means that the iPhone XS and XS Max do not use two physical SIMs (except in China). Instead, there is one physical SIM and one digital SIM which is known as eSIM. The eSIM technology isn’t new as Apple had introduced it in the Apple Watch 3 which was introduced earlier this year.

This gives you the ability to register any amount of mobile numbers onto your device. Doing away with the hassle of carrying around multiple SIM cards or mobile phones. How this works is that at any given time, only 2 connections will be active on your device. One is the physical SIM and the other is the eSIM of your choice. Whenever you want to change over to any other connection, you can just simply change the settings and voila! You’re on a new network.

This feature is immensely useful for people who need to use more than two numbers and those who travel a lot. The eSIM feature can be used while travelling overseas too. You can just switch to your preferred provider when you arrive at your destination. Another big advantage is in terms of network connectivity. We all encounter scenarios where even two mobile networks do not give us enough coverage everywhere we go. At such a point, you can just switch to your third or even fourth network using the new iPhone which might solve your problems.

Currently, Airtel, Jio and Vodafone offer eSIM support in India. Tell us what you think about this handy feature in the new iPhones, and be sure to check out our detailed unboxing and hands on video below:

September 27, 2018
Apple Buys Shazam For $400 Million, Plans To Make It Ad-Free

Apple has completed the process of acquiring Shazam, the popular music identification app. The deal closed at $400 million. With the deal, Apple also made the promise to users to make the app ad-free.

Shazam rose to popularity for its ability to identify songs playing in the background. This includes songs that may be playing on your radio, in a bar, or anywhere around you. The app only needs to listen to a fragment of the song. It can then provide you the name of the song, the artist and even the lyrics.

Also read: Apple To Increase Shipments Of iPhone XR Due To Higher Demand

Over the years, Shazam added a host of other features such as the ability to identify films and TV shows as well. It also uses AR features where branded codes can be scanned to unlock deals. Apple said that the app has always been one of the favourites and was in fact one of the first apps to be available on the App Store. It also added that Shazam has been downloaded over 1 Billion times in the app store.

It is also known that Shazam has been integrated into Siri. When a user asks Siri to identify a particular song, Siri goes to Shazam’s database to find out. It can be expected that with this move, we can see a deeper integration of the app into Siri and a higher usability.

This does not mean that Shazam will drop its support for Android. The statement by Apple says that the app will be ad-free for ‘all users’ which means that we will see continued support for Android.

September 25, 2018
Apple iPhone XS And iPhone XS Max Up For Pre-Order In India

The Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are now up for pre-order and are already selling out fast! The devices are available on Flipkart. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are two devices from Apple’s latest lineup of iPhones launched recently.

Pre-Order the devices here.

iPhone XS Specifications:

The iPhone XS has a 5.8 inch Super Retina display. It has a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 458 ppi. The device runs on the latest A12 Bionic chipset from Apple. It uses the 7nm manufacturing process. The chipset has 6 cores and a clock speed of 2.49 GHz, with 4 GB of RAM.

The device has a 12 MP + 12 MP with an aperture of f/1.8. The new A12 chipset has given the camera increased performance with a new Bokeh Mode and an Image Signal Processor. The device also has Dual SIM. The device has Face ID and is available in 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB variants and a new gold colour.

iPhone XS Max Specifications:

The iPhone XSMax has a 6.5 inch Super Retina display. It has a resolution of 2688 x 1242 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 458 ppi. The device runs on the latest A12 Bionic chipset from Apple. It uses the 7nm manufacturing process. The chipset has 6 cores and a clock speed of 2.49 GHz, with 4 GB of RAM.

The device has a 12 MP + 12 MP with an aperture of f/1.8. The new A12 chipset has given the camera increased performance with a new Bokeh Mode and an Image Signal Processor. The device also has Dual SIM. The device has Face ID and is available in 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB variants and a new gold colour. Both the devices have IP68 dust and water protection.

September 21, 2018