Your Samsung Galaxy S23 will soon get a ‘super update’ with big camera boosts

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series were released back in February 2023, but that doesn't mean Samsung isn't looking to refine its flagship smartphones – with a so-called 'super update' apparently rolling out now with some big camera improvements.

As spotted by SamMobile and @theonecid on Twitter, some Galaxy S23 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have now installed the long-awaited June update, and noted the camera improvements that the large 2.2GB file has delivered. While there isn't yet an official changelog for these updates, the boosts seem to be in four areas.

Firstly, there is reportedly now a 2x zoom option in the camera app’s Portrait mode. This feature was rumored back in May by leaker Ice Universe and takes a crop from the main 50MP camera to give you a handy extra option for shooting portraits from a comfortable distance.

Another improvement is that the S23's autofocus issues have apparently been solved. This could be referring to the "banana-shaped blur" that has affected some users when shooting subjects up close. Thirdly, there should also be a much-needed fix for the phone's HDR issues, which can produce a halo around objects shot in low-light situations.

And lastly, it seems that the S23's Night mode processing has been tweaked, hopefully for the better. Some S23 owners have reported that these night images can be a little soft and also add artifacts and aberrations in bright light, so that could be what the update is addressing.

This 'super update' doesn't just address camera features either – some other noted improvements from those who've installed it include smoother transitions for One UI animations and some small boosts to the haptic feedback.

The rollout begins

A Samsung phone on an orange background showing a software update being installed

(Image credit: Future)

What isn't yet clear is when this June update will be rolling out to the rest of the world. So far, it appears to have only landed in South East Asia, but it should theoretically hit other countries (including the US and Europe) over the coming days.

You can check for the update on your Galaxy S23 by gong to Settings > Software update, and hitting 'Download and install' when it appears. Given the size of the update, you may just have to clear some storage space in preparation.

None of the S23's reported camera niggles have dented the range's reputation as being among the best camera phones around – and we still consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra to be top of that pile. But the fixes collectively fine-tune the experience and should make your S23 less susceptible to photo-ruining aberrations.

This June update follows one in March that boosted the stability of video recordings among other bug fixes, so it's fair to say the S23 line is starting to reach real maturity – with that 2x zoom looking particularly handy for shooting portrait photos without having to move and recompose.

Posted in Uncategorised

Your Samsung Galaxy S23 will soon get a ‘super update’ with big camera boosts

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series were released back in February 2023, but that doesn't mean Samsung isn't looking to refine its flagship smartphones – with a so-called 'super update' apparently rolling out now with some big camera improvements.

As spotted by SamMobile and @theonecid on Twitter, some Galaxy S23 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have now installed the long-awaited June update, and noted the camera improvements that the large 2.2GB file has delivered. While there isn't yet an official changelog for these updates, the boosts seem to be in four areas.

Firstly, there is reportedly now a 2x zoom option in the camera app’s Portrait mode. This feature was rumored back in May by leaker Ice Universe and takes a crop from the main 50MP camera to give you a handy extra option for shooting portraits from a comfortable distance.

Another improvement is that the S23's autofocus issues have apparently been solved. This could be referring to the "banana-shaped blur" that has affected some users when shooting subjects up close. Thirdly, there should also be a much-needed fix for the phone's HDR issues, which can produce a halo around objects shot in low-light situations.

And lastly, it seems that the S23's Night mode processing has been tweaked, hopefully for the better. Some S23 owners have reported that these night images can be a little soft and also add artifacts and aberrations in bright light, so that could be what the update is addressing.

This 'super update' doesn't just address camera features either – some other noted improvements from those who've installed it include smoother transitions for One UI animations and some small boosts to the haptic feedback.

The rollout begins

A Samsung phone on an orange background showing a software update being installed

(Image credit: Future)

What isn't yet clear is when this June update will be rolling out to the rest of the world. So far, it appears to have only landed in South East Asia, but it should theoretically hit other countries (including the US and Europe) over the coming days.

You can check for the update on your Galaxy S23 by gong to Settings > Software update, and hitting 'Download and install' when it appears. Given the size of the update, you may just have to clear some storage space in preparation.

None of the S23's reported camera niggles have dented the range's reputation as being among the best camera phones around – and we still consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra to be top of that pile. But the fixes collectively fine-tune the experience and should make your S23 less susceptible to photo-ruining aberrations.

This June update follows one in March that boosted the stability of video recordings among other bug fixes, so it's fair to say the S23 line is starting to reach real maturity – with that 2x zoom looking particularly handy for shooting portrait photos without having to move and recompose.

Posted in Uncategorised

The iPhone’s next big camera trick could be 3D photos and video – here’s why

3D photography has never taken off in the same way as the two-dimensional art form, but the Apple Vision Pro and iPhone are aiming to change that. If they succeed, it could change the way we capture and experience memories.

That lofty goal is far from guaranteed. After all, Apple's introduction of the Vision Pro (its "first 3D camera") was simultaneously the most interesting and creepy part of a launch that often felt like a Black Mirror outtake.

The long list of meme-worthy Vision Pro launch moments means it's easy to forget that Apple announced a device that captures "spatial photos and videos in 3D". Considering the company's last camera (outside the iPhone) was the Apple QuickTake in 1994, that's a pretty big deal.

A man wearing the Apple Vision Pro headset and pressing its shutter button to take a photo

The general reaction to this camera portion of the Apple Vision Pro demo was..."just no, Apple". (Image credit: Apple)

On the other hand, the Vision Pro is a camera you have to wear on your face – and Apple's almost comical demo led to widespread mockery, even from those who helped create it. This doesn't mean 3D photos and video are again doomed to being fringe novelties. It just means the Apple Vision Pro needs a device that can capture those 'spatial' memories, while it focuses on the playback experience.

Those 3D cameras will almost certainly be the iPhone and iPad. And while this will all likely come too soon for the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 – or perhaps next year's iPad Pro – could add the necessary sensors and software to Apple's existing Lidar scanner to become the spatial cameras that the Apple Vision Pro desperately needs. If they do, then 3D photos and video could well become the next big smartphone camera feature.

Memory palace

Apple is far from the only company that's been exploring the possibilities of capturing memories in three dimensions. The idea itself goes all the way back to the first stereoscopes in the 1830s, but more recently we've seen the invite-only Wist (below) promise to let you shoot "immersive memories" on your phone that can then be re-lived on headsets like the Meta Quest 2

An adjacent trend is the rise of apps like Polycam, which is the most popular 3D scanning app for iOS and Android. Polycam's founder, Chris Heinrich, told us that the Apple Vision Pro's spatial photos are an exciting moment and that current phone cameras will need to evolve to shoot them.

"Regular images and photos appear very flat in 3D, and do not live up to the potential of the hardware compared to 3D or stereoscopic content,' Heinrich says. But the Vision Pro's three-dimensional snaps are also different from full 3D scans. "The spatial photos and videos that they [Apple] announced are not proper 3D models, but rather stereoscopic photos which produce a 3D effect, and perhaps allow for some small head movement," he adds.

Still, while spatial photos and 3D scanning apps are different beasts, Polycam thinks the two will likely co-exist in many apps. "We anticipate that Apple will let third-party developers import spatial photos and videos from the Photos app like they do regular photos and videos," Heinrich adds. "And if this is the case, we will likely support importing, viewing, and editing spatial photos and videos with Polycam", he adds.

Future gazing

For many, the idea of capturing 3D memories will sound like a gimmick. After all, 3D TVs – which the Apple Vision Pro is arguably the natural successor to – were one of tech's biggest flops. And ten years ago, stereo cameras like the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 similarly failed to leave a cultural mark.

But even before the arrival of the Vision Pro, a growing number of experts were hailing 3D snapping as the next biggest thing since the arrival of digital photography. And now that Apple has entered the game, the question is how quickly might it finally take off?

The obvious conclusion from the Vision Pro launch was that the iPhone 15, tipped to land in September, would surely be able to shoot spatial photos and video for Apple's headset. But it might not be quite that simple, according to Polycam's Chris Heinrich.

A Lidar laser beaming out from the back of an iPhone 12 Pro

Some iPhones have had Lidar scanners since the iPhone 12 Pro (above), but future iPhones will need more than that to shoot spatial photos and videos. (Image credit: Apple)

He says that spatial photos "may require adding yet another camera to the iPhone that is spaced further (about the distance between our eyes) from the other cameras" and that this "would have cost and design tradeoffs that probably won't justify adding it just yet". Instead, it looks more likely that 2024 will be the year for spatial memories to take off. "My guess is that they [Apple] will release the headset first, and if spatial photos and videos are a hit, they will consider adding it on the iPhone 16 or later", he adds.

What isn't in question is that the iPhone and iPad are far more suited to shooting spatial photos and videos than the Vision Pro itself. "I think it makes sense for Apple to support capturing spatial photos and videos on the iPhone because, firstly, capturing photos from a hand-held device is much more natural than capturing from a headset and, secondly, it plays into their strengths of owning a multi-device platform", he concludes.

Minority Report

Polycam isn't the only app that's excited about the potential for 3D photos and videos, following the arrival of the Vision Pro. The team behind Halide, still widely considered to be the best camera app around, said on Twitter after WWDC 2023 that "it's a great time for us to be a camera app on iPhone", but they also agree that the iPhone 15 is likely too soon for phone-based spatial photos.

"Current iPhones can't create proper spatial captures the way the headset [Apple Vision Pro] can," Halide said in a separate Tweet. "We'll need a significant improvement in terms of processing power and sensor fidelity and quality to make that work" they added.

A man sitting in a living room wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset and watching back family memories

(Image credit: Apple)

Given the rate of change on phone cameras – and the relative plateauing of 2D camera features – the iPhone 16 seems like a decent bet to be Apple's first phone with stereoscopic lenses for capturing 3D photos and video.

But alongside the technical challenge of making that happen, Apple will also need to work hard on getting the average person as excited about 'spatial' memories as iOS developers are. As our hands-on Apple Vision Pro review concluded following a demo of the feature, "it was alike a postcard from Minority Report but instead of pre-cogs, we have a past-cog Vision Pro letting us relive moments like never before".

That definitely sounds like a fun sci-fi experience – but as the last decade of VR headsets has taught us, there's a big difference between making science fiction a reality and turning that into mainstream success.

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Your Google Pixel phone could soon double as a very basic dash cam

Google Pixel phones could soon get a built-in mode that helps them compete the best dash cams, albeit with some practical limitations.

A new report from 9to5Google has discovered a hidden feature called 'Dashcam' in the Personal Safety app that's on Google Pixel phones and some other Android phones, including the Nothing Phone 1.

The site managed to take the new feature for a spin, finding that it records video (and also audio) while you're on the road. Like dash cams, the idea is that your phone could capture footage or evidence that might prove helpful if you're involved in an accident.

The feature sounds pretty practical, as your phone is apparently still fully usable while the 'Dashcam' recording is enabled. This means you can still use apps like Google Maps in full-screen mode for navigation, or just lock your phone to preserve battery life while it's recording.

Just like many dash cams, your Pixel phone will also apparently be able to automatically record your journeys. During setup, there's an option to have recordings start automatically when you connect to a particular Bluetooth device (for example, your car stereo or Android Auto system) and finish when you disconnect.

Naturally, you'd need to have a dashboard mount to take full advantage of the new feature. The most popular spots for dash cams tend to be just under the rear-view mirror, or lower down near where the windscreen meets the dashboard. Either way, it needs to avoid obstructing your view in order to remain road legal.

Two phones showing Google's incoming Dashcam mode

These screens from 9to5Google show how the Dashcam mode could look like in Android's Personal Safety app. (Image credit: 9to5Google)

Overall, the dash cam feature sounds potentially very handy for Pixel owners who are regular drivers. Not only do Pixel phones rank among the best camera phones, the latest versions of Android have also delivered features like HDR video, which could help them match high-end dash cams for image quality.

But there are also some potential limitations. One is overheating – Google recently had to rush out a fix for overheating Pixel 7 and 6 phones, and the prospect of simultaneously recording even low-res video alongside other apps on a hot dashboard could be too much for some phones.

The other is storage, with continuous video recording likely to quickly eat up gigabytes of space that you may need for apps, photos, games or offline music. The 9to5Google report says that recordings are auto-deleted after three days and that videos are compressed to 30MB per minute, but that could still be highly demanding for older Android phones.


Analysis: There's still a place for dedicated dash cams

A dash cam mounted inside a car windscreen

We rate the Nexar Pro (above) as one of the best dedicated dash cams you can buy right now. (Image credit: Nexar)

Using a phone as a dash cam isn't a completely new concept – there are already several Android apps, including Nexar AI and Smart Dash Cam, that let you achieve something similar to this rumored new 'Dashcam' mode in Android. But the bigger question is whether the overall idea is a good one in practice.

Despite the incredible power and versatility of the best phones, there is still definitely a place for dedicated devices in some situations. One of those is action cameras, which can be handy stunt doubles for your main phone when you need to shoot video, and the other is dash cams.

This new Android 'dashcam' feature could well negate the need for many people to buy a basic dash cam, but more premium models – like the Nextbase 622GW and Nexar Pro – do still bring advantages. 

One is that they come with road-specific features like polarizing filters and twin cameras, which give you the ability to record what's happening behind your car. Some also bring extra security features like break-in alerts.

But the other is that they also allow you to keep your phone's battery life and storage preserved, while permanently sitting on your car dashboard as a potential deterrent for thieves who don't want to be recorded. If you go for a professional installation, they can also take their power directly from your car's battery without needing to be recharged.

Still, we're certainly looking forward to Google's built-in dash cam mode for Android phones, which looks to be in its advanced stages and could perhaps land as part of Android 14.

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Android’s huge Find My Device upgrade is as controversial as it is useful

Google has announced a big update to Android's 'Find My Device' feature, which will soon help you track valuables using third-party Bluetooth trackers – and also warn you about unwanted nearby Apple AirTags.

Like Apple's 'Find My' network, Google's "major update" to its existing Find My Device feature will anonymously use billions of Android devices around the world to help you track down lost or stolen items, even when they're offline.

Google used the example of accidentally leaving your headphones at the gym – when the 'Find My Device' update rolls out "later this summer", you'll theoretically be able to use other nearby Android devices to find them.

Because Find My Device will soon work with third-party Bluetooth trackers from the likes of Tile and Chipolo, you'll also be able to use those to keep track of other valuables like your bicycle or suitcase.

Two Android phones on a beige background showing the Find My Device feature tracking an object

(Image credit: Google)

Naturally, a tracking network built on billions of Android devices raises some privacy concerns. Google was keen to stress that it's "taken some time to get this right," which is something of an understatement – Google's current 'Find My Device' app arrived six years ago at Google I/O 2017 and we've heard rumors of a big update for the last two years. 

Like Apple's Find My network, Google says location information is encrypted on the new Find My Device network, which means no one (including Google) can tell where your devices are located. But the bigger headline, which Google teased by announcing its partnership with Apple earlier this month, is the introduction of 'Unknown tracker alerts' on Android.

This means your Android phone will tell you if an unrecognized tracking tag is moving with you, and will also help you find it. Thanks to that new standard that Google agreed with Apple, these alerts will work across all phones – including iPhones.

Google says that this new Find My Device experience and 'Unknown tracker alerts' will be launching "later this summer".


Analysis: Android becomes the world's biggest tracking network

Two Android phones on a beige background showing the Find My Device feature tracking an object

(Image credit: Google)

Android has long had a very limited 'Find My Device' feature that's been based on your device's most recent known location. 

But this update takes it to a whole new level, effectively turning over three billion Android devices into the world's biggest object-tracking network – and for all the benefits, the feature will likely prove controversial when it fully launches later this year.

Google was keen to stress two features that should help calm fears that this kind of tracking could be exploited by bad actors – the full encryption of location information, and those 'Unknown tracker alerts' that are based on the new standard it's created with Apple.

But despite Apple's attempts to reduce the growing number of headlines about AirTag stalking, it hasn't managed to fully convince everyone that Bluetooth trackers aren't open to misuse. And these controversies could be taken to the next level when the upgraded 'Find My Device' feature rolls out.

While the belated creation of a cross-platform standard for 'Unknown tracker alerts' is a good move, we'll have to see how well it works in practice before filling our lives with Bluetooth trackers.

Posted in Uncategorised

The iPhone 15 Pro could finally get the Pro Camera Mode it badly needs

The iPhone 14 Pro might be 'Pro' by name, but it still lacks a built-in camera mode for professional creators. However, a new mode in Apple's version of Final Cut Pro for iPad gives us a strong hint that this could finally change on the iPhone 15 Pro.

Buried in that new subscription-only version of Final Cut Pro is a new Pro Camera Mode, which Apple says "brings even greater control to the creation process on iPad". 

Given that this mode's features include manual camera controls, it's an odd feature to reveal on the iPad first – which leads us to suspect that a similar setup could finally be baked into the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra's default Camera app as an optional mode.

An iPad on a blue background running Final Cut Pro

The Pro Camera Mode in the new Final Cut Pro app for iPads (Image credit: Apple)

In the iPad's Pro Camera Mode in Final Cut Pro, you can manually control focus, exposure and white balance, while also monitoring audio and the available recording time you have left when shooting video. This is all a big step up from Apple's current default Camera app, which offers very limited manual exposure controls.

Right now, this huge hole is filled by the best camera apps, like Halide Mk II, which offer granular camera controls like custom white balance, alongside useful tools like Histograms, Color Zebras and Waveforms to guide you towards good focus and exposure. 

But now Apple has brought its own pro camera controls to the iPad (albeit with a Final Cut Pro subscription), it seems likely that the next flagship iPhones will also finally get some of the same features, perhaps as part of iOS 17

An iPad on a blue background running Final Cut Pro

The iPad version of Final Cut Pro also contains a Multicam Video Editing mode (above) (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's new version of Final Cut Pro for iPad also has some tantalizing hints of other possible iPhone 15 Pro features. On iPads that have an M2 chip, like the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), the app is also capable of Multicam Video Editing, which automatically synchronizes clips taken from different cameras and lets you switch angles with a tap of the screen.

It's possible that future iPhones could, like Filmic Pro's 'DoubleTake' mode, let you choose from different shots that have all been taken on a single iPhone in the editing process. These shots could either come from different lenses or, like the Sony ZV-E1's Auto Framing mode, from a crop taken from the main camera that intelligently tracks a subject as they move around the frame.

Apple made no mention of bringing these features to the iPhone in its Final Cut Pro announcement, but with WWDC 2023 just around the corner on June 5, it's possible that we'll hear more about them as part of iOS 17 – or if not, during the iPhone 15 Pro's expected launch in September.


Analysis: a glimpse of some genuinely Pro cameras

The iPhone 14 Pro Max (front) and iPhone 14 Pro (back) in black on a blue background

(Image credit: Apple)

A lack of professional camera controls on Apple's supposedly 'Pro' iPhone models has long been a strange omission from their feature set, despite the existence of some excellent third-party apps. 

But this new Pro Camera Mode in the iPad's version of Final Cut Pro suggests that Apple finally has the will, and processing power, to bring some genuinely professional shooting and editing tricks to its flagship phones.

Many of the best Android phones already offer these kinds of manual controls by default, but by combining the power of Apple silicon with some of the software tricks seen in apps like Final Cut Pro, Apple could push its iPhone Pro models further –particularly for video shooting.

It's possible that some of these features could be reserved for the iPhone 15 Ultra, which has been tipped to be this year's answer to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and may have exclusive features like a periscope zoom camera.

But at the very least, a Pro Camera Mode that includes features like manual white balance and some useful visualization tools like Waveforms should be possible on all of this year's Pro models. A jump to 8K resolution, which we had expected to see on the iPhone 14 Pro, could also give them the resolution needed for some smart video tricks like Multi Cam shooting.

Posted in Uncategorised

The iPhone 15 Pro could finally get the Pro Camera Mode it badly needs

The iPhone 14 Pro might be 'Pro' by name, but it still lacks a built-in camera mode for professional creators. However, a new mode in Apple's version of Final Cut Pro for iPad gives us a strong hint that this could finally change on the iPhone 15 Pro.

Buried in that new subscription-only version of Final Cut Pro is a new Pro Camera Mode, which Apple says "brings even greater control to the creation process on iPad". 

Given that this mode's features include manual camera controls, it's an odd feature to reveal on the iPad first – which leads us to suspect that a similar setup could finally be baked into the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra's default Camera app as an optional mode.

An iPad on a blue background running Final Cut Pro

The Pro Camera Mode in the new Final Cut Pro app for iPads (Image credit: Apple)

In the iPad's Pro Camera Mode in Final Cut Pro, you can manually control focus, exposure and white balance, while also monitoring audio and the available recording time you have left when shooting video. This is all a big step up from Apple's current default Camera app, which offers very limited manual exposure controls.

Right now, this huge hole is filled by the best camera apps, like Halide Mk II, which offer granular camera controls like custom white balance, alongside useful tools like Histograms, Color Zebras and Waveforms to guide you towards good focus and exposure. 

But now Apple has brought its own pro camera controls to the iPad (albeit with a Final Cut Pro subscription), it seems likely that the next flagship iPhones will also finally get some of the same features, perhaps as part of iOS 17

An iPad on a blue background running Final Cut Pro

The iPad version of Final Cut Pro also contains a Multicam Video Editing mode (above) (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's new version of Final Cut Pro for iPad also has some tantalizing hints of other possible iPhone 15 Pro features. On iPads that have an M2 chip, like the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), the app is also capable of Multicam Video Editing, which automatically synchronizes clips taken from different cameras and lets you switch angles with a tap of the screen.

It's possible that future iPhones could, like Filmic Pro's 'DoubleTake' mode, let you choose from different shots that have all been taken on a single iPhone in the editing process. These shots could either come from different lenses or, like the Sony ZV-E1's Auto Framing mode, from a crop taken from the main camera that intelligently tracks a subject as they move around the frame.

Apple made no mention of bringing these features to the iPhone in its Final Cut Pro announcement, but with WWDC 2023 just around the corner on June 5, it's possible that we'll hear more about them as part of iOS 17 – or if not, during the iPhone 15 Pro's expected launch in September.


Analysis: a glimpse of some genuinely Pro cameras

The iPhone 14 Pro Max (front) and iPhone 14 Pro (back) in black on a blue background

(Image credit: Apple)

A lack of professional camera controls on Apple's supposedly 'Pro' iPhone models has long been a strange omission from their feature set, despite the existence of some excellent third-party apps. 

But this new Pro Camera Mode in the iPad's version of Final Cut Pro suggests that Apple finally has the will, and processing power, to bring some genuinely professional shooting and editing tricks to its flagship phones.

Many of the best Android phones already offer these kinds of manual controls by default, but by combining the power of Apple silicon with some of the software tricks seen in apps like Final Cut Pro, Apple could push its iPhone Pro models further –particularly for video shooting.

It's possible that some of these features could be reserved for the iPhone 15 Ultra, which has been tipped to be this year's answer to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and may have exclusive features like a periscope zoom camera.

But at the very least, a Pro Camera Mode that includes features like manual white balance and some useful visualization tools like Waveforms should be possible on all of this year's Pro models. A jump to 8K resolution, which we had expected to see on the iPhone 14 Pro, could also give them the resolution needed for some smart video tricks like Multi Cam shooting.

Posted in Uncategorised

Google’s rumored Bluetooth tracker could trump Apple’s AirTags – here’s why

It's looking increasingly likely that Google will launch its answer to Apple AirTags and the Find My network at Google IO 2023 – and new rumors suggest Google's system will support not just its own Bluetooth tracker, but third-party ones, too.

Like Apple's network, Google's rumored equivalent – expected to be called the Finder Network – will help you track down lost or stolen items, even when they're offline. And according to 9to5Google, the network will support Bluetooth trackers from Pebblebee, Eufy, and Chipolo, alongside the incoming Google AirTag rival (rumored to be called the Nest tile tracker).

This is all big news for Android fans who've been waiting years for an equivalent of Apple's AirTags. Firstly, it means Android users will likely get a wide range of Bluetooth trackers to choose from, which should all work nicely with the operating system's Fast Pair standard for quickly connecting to nearby Bluetooth devices.

Also, the sheer number of Android devices around the world – three billion and counting, according to Google's keynote at Google IO 2022 – means the potential for its Finder Network is vast. 

Apple's 'Find My' network anonymously piggybacks on the Bluetooth connections of other Apple users, letting you track down lost items that are offline or out of Bluetooth range. If Google's rumored Finder Network works in the same way, it could instantly become a major rival to Apple's AirTags and Find My system.

The only potential limitation might be that you'll likely need a relatively recent Android device with Ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity (like the Google Pixel 7 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) to take full advantage of these new Android-based trackers.

This is because UWB is a short-range wireless protocol that lets phones pinpoint the exact location of connected devices with far greater accuracy than Bluetooth. So while phones without UWB could still work with these new Android trackers, they wouldn't be able to take full advantage of their tracking accuracy.

This long-awaited launch could be one of the big stories of Google IO 2023, which kicks off on May 10 and should be a must-watch for Android fans. To find out how to do just that, check out our guide on how to watch Google IO 2023.


Analysis: tracking dream or privacy nightmare?

A phone and set of keys connected to a Tile Pro tracker on an orange background

The Tile Pro (above) is an existing Android-based Bluetooth tracker (Image credit: Tile)

Apple and Google recently announced that they're working together on an "industry specification" to tackle Bluetooth location-tracker stalking – and that's another big hint that Google's Tracker Network is coming soon.

It also shows the major privacy obstacles Google will need to overcome when revealing its Nest tile tracker to the world. The issue of AirTag stalking hasn't gone away, despite Apple introducing alerts to tell you when an unknown AirTag is following you. 

The arrival of Google equivalents to Apple's AirTags and Find My network could take those issues to a whole new level, hence the rare joint initiative from Apple and Google. This should theoretically reduce stalking concerns by bringing automatic tracker detection to more phones, but according to Apple the new industry standard is only expected by "the end of 2023".

Still, if Google can overcome those concerns, its so-called Nest tile tracker and Finder Network have massive potential. The existence of billions of Android devices gives it a huge foundation to create the biggest anonymous network for finding lost objects that we've seen so far – eclipsing even Apple's AirTags and Find My network.

What isn't yet clear is whether Samsung's Galaxy SmartTags or the Tile Pro will be invited along for the ride, but this will all likely be revealed at Google IO 2023.

Posted in Uncategorised

Apple’s Trade In site has a new look, but you should take your old iPhone elsewhere

Apple has launched a redesigned version of its Trade In website to help you swap your current Apple device for a new one, but the same old prices mean you may be better off looking elsewhere.

The refreshed Apple Trade In site is now easier to use, with its top navigation bar allowing you to choose an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Android phone or Other Product to trade in. 

The big change is a new section showing you the difference between trading in your device online or in store, with the latter giving you an exact value (rather than an estimate) on the spot. Interestingly, Apple has removed mentions of its Daisy robot, which disassembles iPhones into recyclable parts, although this is still mentioned on Apple's environment page.

But beyond the site's new sheen, there is unfortunately no great improvement to Apple's actual trade-in prices. In general, these prices aren't particularly good compared to the many alternatives, which include phone carrier trade-in offers, comparison sites such as Flipsy (in the US) or simply selling privately on the likes of eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

That said, the Apple Trade In site is the most hassle-free option if you're looking to swap your old Apple device for a new one, and you can also be sure that it'll go to one of the tech giant's approved recycling partners. 

But there's also no guarantee that Apple will recycle your old device. Instead, Apple says it will be "thoroughly inspected and assessed for reuse for recycling". This process, which can include reselling your old tech, is all factored into its prices. 

Still, using a trade-in service like Apple's a better option than letting your old device gather dust in a drawer, and according to a recent report from the analysts at Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), iPhone owners are far more likely to trade in their old phones than Android fans. According to the report, 43% of iPhone owners trade in their old phones, compared to only 14% of Android users.


Analysis: The price of convenience

A laptop on a blue background showing the Apple Trade In website

(Image credit: Future)

Apple's trade-in prices do tend to fluctuate throughout the year – and we still highly recommend trading in your old iPhone in August rather than waiting for the iPhone 15 to launch in September, when prices for older Apple phones will likely drop.

But despite some small variations over the year, the prices on Apple's Trade In site are nearly always below the ones you can get from the alternatives. For example, in the table below you can see the extra value it's possible to get on an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 by checking comparison sites, retailers or private sales.

Still, there are certainly benefits to going the Apple Trade In route, namely the convenience of having one place to both trade in and buy a new Apple device –particularly if you do this in-store, rather than waiting the estimated "two to three weeks" for the online trade-in process.

And the small improvements to Apple's Trade In site do at least fit into a broader environmental policy that recently saw the tech giant committing to using 100% recycled cobalt in all Apple-made batteries by 2025.

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Your Android phone will soon get the iPhone’s best storage-saving feature

If you regularly run out of storage space on your Android phone, some help is on the way – Google has just announced a new auto-archive feature for Android apps.

The new feature, announced on the Android Developers Blog, promises to let you free up nearly 60% of an app's storage space, without deleting the app or your user data. Developers will need to add the feature to their apps, but once that's done you'll start to see auto-archiving appear as a new option.

This will mostly come in the form of a pop-up window, which will show up when you try to install a new app on an Android device that's out of storage. If you opt in, any unused apps will be auto-archived to free up space for the new app.

You'll be able to tell which apps have been auto-archived thanks to a cloud icon with a downward-facing arrow (below), which will appear over the app's original icon. Google says Android will start by archiving your most infrequently used apps, which should limit the number of occasions that you'll find yourself without an important app.

An Android phone on an orange background showing the auto-archive apps feature

The image above shows how app icons will look when they've been auto-archived. (Image credit: Google)

But if you want to start using an archived app again, you'll be able to simply tap to re-download it – assuming you have enough storage space and the app's still available on Google Play.

Not all apps will be able to allow auto-archiving, as Google says it'll be limited to apps that are published using Android's App Bundle format. But given that format has been mandatory for Android apps since August 2021, it should be a handy new option for the vast majority of your apps.


Analysis: Useful for some, annoying for others

An iPhone on an orange background showing the Offload Unused Apps feature

iPhones (above) have had an 'Offload Unused Apps' feature for several years now. (Image credit: Future)

Android is lagging behind iOS when it comes to offering an auto-archiving feature for apps. An 'Offload Unused Apps' feature has been on the iPhone for almost six years, having arrived in iOS 11 – and it remains one of the best ways to free up space on your iPhone.

That said, it isn't necessarily an ideal feature for everyone. As on Android, the iOS equivalent is an opt-in mode rather than a default, and that's because it can potentially leave you stranded without a favorite app.

For example, while 'Offload Unused Apps' is helpful in the short term when you're trying to install a new app, it's also easy to forget that you have it enabled. And if you're somewhere without network coverage or Wi-Fi, that can leave you fruitlessly tapping an app that you thought was installed but has since been offloaded.

Still, having the option is certainly a bonus overall, and on iOS it's easy to switch it off by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and tapping 'disable' next to the Offload Unused Apps option. It's likely that Android will soon offer something similar, perhaps as part of Android 14, but that's something that should become clearer soon.

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Google AirTags: why the incoming Apple rivals could take over the world

Apple's AirTags might be the world's most famous Bluetooth trackers, but they could soon have some Google rivals that connect to a huge Android equivalent of Apple's 'Find My' network. If that does materialize, it could be an incredibly powerful new way for Android fans to find lost possessions.

Google's rumored AirTag rival – apparently codenamed Grogu, in a nod to fans of The Mandalorian – has been tipped for an announcement at Google I/O 2023, which kicks off on May 10. While the trackers may not arrive on shelves until later, it means Android users could soon see some rivals to the Tile Pro and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag Plus, along with a global object-finding network.

But does the world really need more location trackers? After all, these little key fob-sized gadgets have courted as much controversy as they have praise. The Apple AirTag continues to hit the headlines despite anti-stalking firmware updates, while Tile also recently rolled out a controversial Anti-Theft Mode of its own.

A phone and set of keys connected to a Tile Pro tracker on an orange background

The Tile Pro (above) is an existing Android-compatible Bluetooth tracker. (Image credit: Tile)

Despite these issues, there is evidence that Google has been laying the groundwork for both its own AirTag rival and an equivalent of Apple's 'Find My' system. The benefit of these systems (and the main source of their controversy) is that they can detect lost objects by using nearby phones, even when your misplaced valuable is offline. If that does come to billions of Android devices, potentially as part of Android 14, it could be a huge feature that takes Bluetooth trackers to a new level.

If this network is opened up to third-party manufacturers, as the rumors suggest, then Android-compatible Bluetooth trackers could become a must-have accessory for the absent-minded. But Google would also have to deal with the understandable privacy concerns that might come along for the ride.

Like the sound of a global object-finding network that could save you from losing prized possessions, wherever you are? Here's everything we know so far about the rumored Google AirTag rivals.

Google AirTags rival release date and price

Google hasn't made any official announcements about its AirTag rivals yet, but some credible rumors from reliable leaker Kuba Wojciechowski on January 16 suggested that the concept could be announced at Google I/O 2023.

The developer conference keynote, which is where Google typically announces new products and software, is on May 10. In a detailed breakdown of the AirTag-style tracker, codenamed 'grogu', Wojciechowski suggested that it could then eventually launch at Google's Pixel event, which we're expecting to be in October.

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These rumors are currently based on guesswork rather than leaks, so the timeframes could change. But Google has historically made early hardware announcements at its I/O conference – last year, we saw the Google Pixel 6a, Google Pixel Tablet and Google Pixel Watch all make their first public appearances.

The bad news is that, a year on, we're still waiting for the Pixel Tablet to appear in stores, so a Google I/O announcement doesn't guarantee a swift release. But this recent history does show why Google's developer conference is a good bet for an early preview of its answer to both Apple's AirTag trackers and its 'Find My' network.

As for pricing, there have been no leaks to give us a hint of how much a Google Bluetooth tracker might cost yet. But we can get an idea from today's options. An Apple AirTag costs $29 / £35 / AU$49, while a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag goes for $29 / £29 (roughly AU$40). 

Tile's most premium option, meanwhile, costs $34.99/ £29.99 / AU$49.95, though it does also sell the cheaper Tile Mate for $24.99 / £19.99 / AU$34.95. A Google rival to these trackers would likely be in this ballpark, though a burgeoning Android 'Finder Network' could boost competition and drive down prices. 

How might Google's Airtag rival work?

There are two components to the recent Google AirTag rumors. One is that Google is  making its own first-party tracker, but the more interesting evidence is that it could be part of an Android equivalent to Apple's 'Find My' network that's open to third-party manufacturers.

The technology in Google's AirTag-style device (codenamed 'Grogu') is expected to be similar to Apple's. On January 16, the reliable leaker Kuba Wojciechowski unearthed evidence that the tracker is apparently "in development by the Nest team", even if it may not carry that branding.

Like the AirTags, it appears Google's version will pack both UWB (Ultra-wideband) and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, along with an onboard speaker for emitting cries of help from lost gadgets.

That UWB connectivity is the key one for location trackers. The short-range wireless protocol allows phones to pinpoint the whereabouts of connected objects with a much higher degree of accuracy than Bluetooth. Apple calls this 'Precision Finding' on AirTags. The same tech also allows your phone to do things like act as a digital car key on vehicles with supported locks.

A mockup of a Google location tracker device next to an Android phone

This mockup from designer Obi Fidler shows how a Google AirTag rival could quickly pair to an Android phone using Fast Pair. We're not sure about the product name, though. (Image credit: Obi Fidler / Yanko Design)

The Google Pixel 6 Pro was the first of Google's phones to support Ultra-wideband, and it's also on the Google Pixel 7 Pro. This means you'll likely need one of the best Pixel phones (or Android phones) to use Google's incoming AirTag equivalent. Because the latter rely on UWB, AirTags are only compatible with phones from the iPhone 11 onwards.

Okay, but we've seen lots of Bluetooth trackers that support Ultra-wideband before, right? Well, Google's system could have two important twists. Firstly, as spotted by Android journalist Mishaal Rahman, Google recently added support for 'locator tags' to its Fast Pair standard. Fast Pair is an existing Android feature that helps you quickly connect to nearby Bluetooth devices using a pop-up menu (like in the mockup above) and is open to third-party devices.

This means the speedy pairing system underpinning Google's tracker network could be open to all compatible trackers, not just Google's AirTag rival. But there's more. Those earlier leaks also revealed that Google is working on its equivalent of Apple's 'Find My' network, potentially called the 'Finder Network'.

A concept render of a hand holding a phone for a Google tracking device

Another concept render from designer Obi Fidler (spotted by Yanko Design) showing how an unfortunately-named AirTag equivalent could plug into Google Maps' Live View. (Image credit: Obi Fidler / Yanko Design)

It's this 'Finder Network' that could be Google's key to making something more than just another AirTag clone. Apple's 'Find My' network anonymously uses the Bluetooth connections of fellow Apple users to look for AirTags (or compatible third-party device) if they're offline or out of Bluetooth range. That's a powerful, invisible trick that's fortunately also end-to-end encrypted.

Apple calls this a "crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices". But Google potentially has a bigger army of helpers to track down your lost gadget. At last year's Google I/O 2022 conference, the company revealed that there are now over three billion active Android devices in the world. That's a lot of potential help when it comes to finding your lost suitcase or camera.

Android already has a limited 'Find My Device' feature, but until recently it's based on your device's most recent known location. Back in December 2022, though, an update meant that it "now supports encrypted last-known-location reports for Android devices, using a new privacy centric framework". We haven't seen any more updates to 'Find My Device' since then, but it does look suspiciously like the fingermarks of Google's rumored 'Finder Network'.

Put all of those pieces together and you potentially have the world's most powerful system for finding lost items or possessions, for Android fans at least. Google's own AirTag-style tracker might not be a technological leap over its Apple rival, but the system it's based on could be both more open and bigger than 'Find My'. Who knows, maybe it'll be powerful enough to compel Apple to release that long-rumored AirTag 2.

Early thoughts: why could Google's AirTags be better?

We've previously argued that Google's rumored AirTag rival could be an Android moment for Bluetooth trackers, and the evidence suggests it has the potential to be just that. What's less clear is when the tracker and new 'Finder Network' might be announced – and that rumored Google I/O 2023 debut is currently just guesswork.

Still, Google does have a history of making similar announcements at its developer conference and it feels like an AirTag rival would need to arrive this year. Google's current 'Find My Device' app arrived six years ago at Google I/O 2017 and evidence that it could be making a full-blown equivalent of Apple's 'Find My' network was first spotted by XDA Developers back in June 2021.

An Android phone on an orange background showing the FInd My Device function

(Image credit: Google)

With the arrival of Ultra-wideband connectivity on recent Google Pixel phones, the pieces are coming together for a launch soon. The delays could be as much privacy-related as they are technological – Apple had to issue an update on AirTag and unwanted tracking in February 2022 and AirTags continue to hit the headlines for both good and bad reasons.

What isn't in doubt is the globe-spanning potential of a Google AirTag with a tracking network that anonymously piggybacks on billions of Android devices. Bluetooth trackers are currently in a fragmented state, with Samsung’s SmartThings Find service only compatible with Galaxy phones and Apple's AirTags being iPhone-only.

Both could be dwarfed by an Android-powered 'Finder Network', particularly if it's open to third-party manufacturers and connects to other tracking networks in the same way that Tile does with the Amazon Sidewalk. Whether all of this is indeed the case is something we're potentially looking forward to hearing about at Google I/O 2023.

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iOS 16.4 is rolling out now – here are 7 ways it’ll boost your iPhone

It looks like iOS 17 is going to be a bigger iPhone update than we first thought, but before that lands we have iOS 16.4 to look forward to – and that update has just started rolling out.

Naturally, iOS 16.4's changes are a little more incremental than the bigger ones we saw in iOS 16, which arrived back in September 2022 and delivered an overhauled Home app, new lock screen features, and some fresh fonts and themes.

But there are some notable improvements in iOS 16.4, particularly if you're a fan of Apple's Podcasts or Shortcuts apps, new emojis, or keeping up with the latest news. The update also brings the promise of clearer phone calls and some HomeKit tweaks that should make it more reliable when controlling your compatible smart home tech.

Combine all of these upgrades with the recent announcement of Apple Music Classical, which lands on March 28, and iPhone fans will see some pretty tasty upgrades over the coming days. Here are the seven biggest upgrades in iOS 16.4 to look out for when it lands this week.

iOS 16.4 release date: when will it be available?

We knew iOS 16.4 would be rolling out this week, as a release candidate version was given to beta testers on March 21. And sure enough, the software update has just started rolling out.

An iPhone on an orange background showing the iOS 16.4 update screen

(Image credit: Future)

With Apple Music Classical also now appearing on some iPhones as we head into its March 28 release, Apple fans have some new treats to test out. 

If you like the sound of the latter and aren't seeing the iOS 16.4 update yet, fear not it only needs iOS 15.4 or later to run.

7 new features coming to your iPhone in iOS 16.4

1. Push notifications from web apps

An iPhone on an orange background showing a web app push notification

(Image credit: Apple)

If you like to keep up with the latest news from your favorite web apps – which live in your browser, rather than the home screen – then iOS 16.4 could be a handy update for you.

You can already add web app shortcuts to your homescreen (when on the website, just tap the arrow button in the top right, then choose 'Add to Home Screen'). But unlike native apps, these shortcuts haven't been able to send your push notifications – this will change in iOS 16.4.

If you choose to allow notifications, they'll appear just like the ones for apps you've installed, including on your lock screen, in notification center and on a paired Apple Watch, if you have one. Interestingly, you'll also be able to add web apps to your home screen from third-party browsers (rather than just Safari).

It's a feature that could get overwhelming if you grant too many permissions, but you'll be able to manage them in them in the Notifications settings menu.

2. A ton of new emojis

Four emojis from iOS 16.4

(Image credit: Apple)

You can never have too many emojis to choose from – and fortunately iOS 16.4 is adding 21 new options to our messaging arsenals.

Fittingly for our troubled times, we're getting a shaking face emoji, which looks handy for expressing shock or confusion at troubling news. Fans of animal emojis are also well catered for in iOS 16.4, with a donkey, moose, goose and jellyfish all joining the fray.

A slightly antagonistic 'pushing hand' emoji will also arrive to help you swiftly reject suggestions, while an array of new hearts (including pink, grey and light blue) will be on hand to help you patch up any offense you've just caused.

3. Clearer cellular phone calls

An iPhone on an orange background showing FaceTime audio options

(Image credit: Apple)

Perhaps the biggest quality-of-life upgrade coming with iOS 16.4 is Voice Isolation for cellular calls, which will help reduce ambient noise during your phone calls.

This feature is already available on apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, which you've probably noticed tend to sound better than cellular calls. But now it's finally coming to cellular calls – to access it, you'll just need to swipe down the top-right of the screen (to access the Control Center), tapping Mic Mode, then Voice Isolation.

Apple has also confirmed that Voice Isolation will be compatible with every iPhone model released alongside or after the iPhone SE (2020), which means most of the best iPhones will benefit, too.

4. An improved Podcasts app

Two iPhone showing the new Podcasts app in iOS 16.4

(Image credit: Apple)

If you mainly feed your podcast habit in Apple's default Podcasts app rather than third-party ones, you'll see several small improvements to the overall experience in iOS 16.4.

Firstly, it'll become easier to find shows that are part of wider channels or networks. When you follow a show that's part of a channel (for example, a network that produces multiple shows, like Bloomberg or the BBC), you'll be able to see it in a new dedicated Channels section in your podcast Library.

This is handy, given that many podcasts are now part of wider networks that produce several shows around similar themes. When you tap on a channel, you'll see the shows you follow at the top, plus any subscription options that are available for that network.

An in-car screen showing Podcasts on Apple CarPlay

(Image credit: Apple)

Elsewhere, the app's 'Up Next' queue will include more options to help you manage it. These will include the option of rejecting an episode from Up Next, or touching and holding to show its artwork.

If you listen to the Podcasts app while commuting in your car, you'll also finally be able to access your Up Next and Recently Played queues in the CarPlay's 'Listen Now' section. An overhauled Browse tab will also show you hand-picked podcast recommendations to help you find your next podcast addiction.

5. A boost for Apple HomeKit

Two iPhones showing Apple HomeKit settings

(Image credit: Apple)

If you've found Apple HomeKit to be a little buggy and consistent with certain devices, iOS 16.4 could deliver some improved performance.

According to MacRumors, the software includes a HomeKit architecture update that was removed from iOS 16.2 due to some additional bugs that it unfortunately introduced. 

But the HomeKit update, which apple first announced during the launch of iOS 16, will seemingly return in iOS 16.4, and promises to bring more reliable communication between your Apple devices and your smart home kit.

The release also includes both manual and automatic software update support for Matter accessories, which are starting to arrive from the likes of IKEA. This means you should be able to update these accessories from within Apple's Home app.

6. New options for Shortcuts

Two iPhones showing new options in Apple's Shortcuts app

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple's Shortcuts app lets you combine multiple actions from different apps with one tap. For example, you could make one that turns on your iPhone's 'Do Not Disturb' function, then automatically switches it off when you leave a particular location.

In iOS 16.4, Apple is adding a lot more options to these Shortcuts to help you cook up some new automation recipes. Some of the new 'actions' include locking your device's screen, shutting it down, setting a VPN, silencing unknown callers or automatically triggering Night Shift, which automatically pushes the colors of your screen to the warmer end of the spectrum to make it easier on your eyes.

These features can also be useful if your favorite app lacks a particular option in its settings menu, as it lets you automate an action (for example, 'set True Tone') when opening the app.

7. Apple Books animations

An iPhone on an orange background showing the Apple Books app

(Image credit: Apple)

This one's strictly for fans of the Apple Books app, so a little niche. But if that's you, Apple is bringing back a strangely satisfying animation to the app with iOS 16.4 – the 'curl' page-turn effect.

For some reason, this animation – which mimics a page being turned over – was removed in iOS 16. But if you've missed seeing your digital pages turning in the Books app, you'll be happy to see that effect return when you upgrade to iOS 16.4.

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TikTok ban: will the app be banned in the US and how would that work?

TikTok's infinite stream of lip-sync videos, illusions, and air fryer recipes might seem innocent enough, but the app is now facing the very serious threat of a US ban.

Over the past few months, TikTok has been in the eye of a political storm that has seen it banned from government devices in the US, the EU, and now the UK. But it's the very real prospect of an outright TikTok ban in the US that's worrying the app's millions of users.

The US government, including the current Biden administration, has been investigating TikTok and its relationship to its China-based parent company for several years now.

The app has responded to allegations that it collects and stores the data of American users by making several changes, including moving all of its US data to Oracle's servers. But none of this has sated US concerns that the app poses a national security threat and the TikTok CEO will soon appear before Congress to defend the app.

So what does this all mean for TikTok's hundreds of millions of global users, and in particular the 150 million who live in the US? Here's everything you need to know about the prospect of a TIkTok ban in the US.

Why is the TikTok ban potentially happening?

The main accusation behind the potential TikTok ban in the US is that the app poses a threat to national security. But wait, aren't most TikTok videos just frivolous video game walkthroughs and TV show clips?

Yes, but the problem is less the content and more what TikTok might allegedly be doing with the underlying data it gathers – about your likes and comments, and also where you are in the world and who you interact with.

For example, in February FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed "extreme" concern about the potential for China to "weaponize" data gathered from TikTok's US-based fans. 

This stems from the fact that TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance – and Chinese law allows its government to force any company to hand over data they're holding on their servers.

TikTok and YouTube apps side-by-side on an iPhone

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Koshiro K)

Another accusation made by Wray was that the Chinese government could strong-arm TikTok in a way that would allow it to "control the recommendation algorithm", therefore giving it huge potential influence given that more people than ever get their news from TikTok and YouTube.

While there's currently no hard evidence of either practice being widespread TikTok, it does (like Facebook and Instagram) collect a lot of user data. Last year, four employees were also fired from TikTok's parent company ByteDance for allegedly gathering usage data of US journalists.

List of data collected by TikTok

A list of data that TikTok collects about you from The Washington Post. (Image credit: The Washington Post)

Whether or not this all poses enough of a security risk for the US government to take the unprecedented step of a complete TikTok ban remains to be seen. On March 7, a new bill made it easier for the US government to ban apps that pose a national security risk. 

But on March 22 the TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew argued that the app has "never shared US users data" and has a "responsibility to protect" its 150 million US users.

How would a TikTok ban work?

We've actually already seen the most likely way that a TikTok ban would work in practice. Back in September 2020, the US Department of Commerce issued a ban that ordered both Apple and Google to remove TikTok and WeChat from their US app stores.

This ban was ultimately blocked by a federal judge and eventually revoked by President Biden last year, but the incident gives us a taste of what could happen if TikTok's owners refuse to divest their stakes in the app. 

A girl with the dark side tiktok promoting social network with a smartphone in hand.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Ti Vla)

If US users can't download TikTok from the iOS or Android app stores, that would cut them off from future updates. And after a while, this would likely result in the app no longer working on their smartphones.

It may also be possible for the US government to prevent TikTok access by identifying your IP address and preventing access to the web version of the app. But it isn't yet clear if that's on the cards, and there would be potential ways around this...

Is there a way around a potential TikTok Ban?

While a ban on TikTok appearing in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store would be a major roadblock to using the app in the US, there could be potential workarounds if that happened.

The most obvious way would be to use one of the best mobile VPNs to change your location (at least in the eyes of your ISP). While this would come at a monthly cost, the method could work as long as you choose a server that's based in a country where TikTok isn't banned.

TikTok

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Our top mobile VPN right now is ExpressVPN, though NordVPN and Surfshark are also good choices. That said, there is a chance that even these VPNs may not be able to circumvent a TikTok ban in the US.

TikTok says that it "collects your approximate location information based on your device or network information, such as SIM card and IP address". In theory, this means that your device could still use that rough location data to ban you from using the service. 

If that's the case, your best hope may be the emergence of spin-off TikTok apps, which is what happened in India when the country banned the app in 2020.

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iPhone 15 Pro leak suggests it could make a controversial button change

A new iPhone 15 Pro leak suggests the incoming smartphone could jettison a design feature that's been ever-present on iPhones: the mute switch.

As spotted by Mac Rumors, the leaker ShrimpApplePro has posted a video that was leaked on China's equivalent of TikTok, which shows some new CAD (Computer-Aided Design) images of the iPhone 15 Pro series. And this video suggests the 'Pro' models in the iPhone 15 series could make some significant button tweaks.

The images support earlier rumors that the next-gen phones will replace the traditional dual volume buttons with one single button. And more controversially, it seems the 'mute switch', which has been around since the original iPhone in 2007, will now be turned into a button instead.

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While that might not sound like an earth-shattering design change, it would likely divide opinion – particularly among those who are used to the mute switch and volume buttons having a very different feel and action, for 'no look' tweaking.

The rumors also suggest that both the volume and mute buttons will use haptic feedback, rather than mechanical movement, to provide the sensation of a button press. That's something we're increasingly seeing across both smartphones and laptops, with Apple possibly hell-bent on making everything a haptic experience.

If you don't like the sound of these button changes, you'll be pleased to hear that they seemingly won't be coming to every new iPhone this year. The rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models will continue to have two separate volume buttons and a mute switch if you want to rely on your usual iPhone muscle memory.

A sound decision?

The front and side of the iPhone 3G on a blue background

Even the earliest iPhones like the original model and the iPhone 3G (above) had the dedicated mute switch. (Image credit: Apple)

Removing the mute switch on the new iPhone 15 Pro series might be seen as a retrograde design step – after all, generations of iPhone users are familiar with the switch's distinctly different feel from the volume buttons.

But there could also be a method to Apple's apparent meddling. An additional button on the side of the iPhone 15 Pro series could open the door to some software customization that could see it become a little more versatile.

If the mute function was simply toggled on or off in software instead, that button could morph into, for example, a very distinct camera shutter button, which is currently the role played by the 'volume up' button. Because the latter feels similar to its 'volume down' counterpart, it's easy to press the wrong button when taking snaps.

Of course, this is all speculation right now, but if Apple is indeed changing a design feature that's been present on the iPhone for 15 years, then it likely has a good functional reason for doing so, beyond the simple need for a design refresh.

There's still lots of time for further leaks to emerge in the run-up to the iPhone 15 series' expected launch in the first half of September, so expect to see more design hints – including the prospect of the iPhone 15 Pro Max having the thinnest bezels ever – in the coming months.

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Samsung denies that its Space Zoom moon photos are fake

The photos produced by Samsung's Space Zoom feature on Galaxy phones have come under the microscope again this week, after a Reddit post claimed that the software process involves the fabrication of additional detail. Samsung has now responded to the allegations, and disputed the claims.

We asked Samsung if moon photos taken using phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra involve the overlaying of additional detail or texture that isn't present in the original photos. In an official statement, Samsung said: "When a user takes a photo of the Moon, the AI-based scene optimization technology recognizes the Moon as the main object and takes multiple shots for multi-frame composition, after which AI enhances the details of the image quality and colors. It does not apply any image overlaying to the photo".

Samsung added that this process isn't compulsory, stating that "users can deactivate the AI-based Scene Optimizer, which will disable automatic detail enhancements to any photos taken." However, doing this will make it impossible to achieve the kind of results that are possible when Scene Optimization is turned on, as the feature goes way beyond adjusting exposure.

These comments echo what Samsung has previously said about its Space Zoom moon shots, both on a Samsung Community board and in a response to Input magazine last year. Back then, it said that "no image overlaying or texture effects are applied when taking a photo", and it's sticking to that explanation. So where does this leave us?

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The boring answer is that all photography is on a sliding scale between the so-called 'real' kind – photons hitting a camera sensor and being converted into an electrical signal – and the 'fake' kind that Samsung has again been accused of in this latest controversy. 

AI-powered modes like Samsung's latest Scene Optimizer, which has been producing moon shots like the one below since the Samsung Galaxy S21, undoubtedly push the photography towards the more artificial end of that scale. That's because it uses multi-frame synthesis, deep learning and what Samsung calls a "detail improvement engine" to produce the impressive final results.

We still don't know exactly what is happening in that engine, and it's fair to say that extra moon detail in conjured from the very limited information captured by your Galaxy's camera. But Samsung still disputes that this detail is simply applied to or overlayed on Space Zoom moon photos.


Analysis: a debate with blurry edges

A photo of the moon shot on a Samsung Galaxy S23 phone

A photo of the moon taken by TechRadar's US Mobiles Editor Philip Berne with the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Samsung's response isn't detailed enough to settle the debate about whether or not its Space Zoom photos are 'fake', as that's really a matter of opinion. But it does counter the suggestion that it's simply slapping extra detail and texture over your shots en masse.

The issue with the debate is that every digital photo – even a raw file – is a fabrication of some kind. During the demosaicing process, when the red, green and blue values of a sensor's pixels are created, a process called interpolation simply guesses the most likely value of neighboring pixels.

Once you add multi-frame processing and AI sharpening into the mix, it's clear that every photo is artificial (and based on processing guesswork) to a large extent. But the question raised by this debate is whether Samsung's phones have moved to the point where some of its photos – in particular, its moon shots – have become completely detached from the act of capturing of photons.  

That's a debate that will likely never be settled. AI algorithms fill in details based on patterns they see when trained on a vast dataset of similar photos, but Samsung says that what it isn't doing is retrieving a previous image of the moon to overlay on top of your blurry shot. Whether or not that process is acceptable to you is something for you to decide when you next see a glorious full moon and only have your Galaxy smartphone to hand.

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