iOS 15 isn't as famous as older iOS versions, it seems.
The post iOS 15 adoption somewhat slower than iOS 14 last year appeared first on Pocketnow.
First 10 things to do on your new iPhone 12
This guide lists ten tips and tricks you should do first on your new iPhone so that you can be comfortable using it from the get-go.
The post First 10 things to do on your new iPhone 12 appeared first on Pocketnow.
Over 90 percent iPhones now run iOS 14
It's only fair to share...
iOS 14 was released last year, and within seven months of public introduction, the OS is running on over 90 percent of the iPhone models. The number comes from the latest analysis by a business analytics service company. Ahead of the iOS 15 release at WWDC 2021 event, iOS 14 is running on the majority of the devices. To recall, 81 percent of all iPhone models released in the previous four years were already running iOS 14 back in December. The number increased to 86 percent by late February, and now, in April, it is over 90 percent.
Mixpanel, a business analytics service company shared data that says that iOS 14 is now running on 90.44 percent of iPhones. The adoption rate is respectable, especially when the OS was released to the public in September last year. Further, the data shows that 5.07 percent of users are on iOS 13 while 4.49 percent of users are still on older operating systems. The numbers have been measured till April 5.
In December 2020, the Apple Developer website stated that 81 percent of all iPhone models and 75 percent of all iPad models released in the previous four years were running iOS 14 and iPadOS, respectively. Apple also said that iOS 14 adoption has increased to 86 percent and iPadOS adoption has increased to 84 percent as measured on February 24, 2021. Hence, the latest percentages are not surprising, despite them not coming straight from Apple.
As of now, Apple is rolling out iOS 14.5, which was said to allow users to select a default music service for Siri requests, other than Apple Music. Later, Apple issued a clarification that it is false since iOS 14.5 doesn’t have a dedicated option to pick a default music service, unlike email and browser apps. As it was reported back then, the non-availability of this feature is likely to add a layer of friction that might keep users hooked to its Apple Music service.
The post Over 90 percent iPhones now run iOS 14 appeared first on Pocketnow.
It's only fair to share...
Leak suggests Google is drawing inspiration for Android 12 from iOS 14’s privacy tools
The first developer beta of Google’s next major upgrade for its mobile operating system – Android 12 – is only a few weeks away. While the company hasn’t shared an official release timeline yet, a few leaked screenshots have surfaced online, giving us our first glimpse of Android 12’s fresh UI, and some apparent aesthetic as well as functional inspirations from iOS 14.
Tapping on the privacy indicator will let users enable/disable the access to mic or camera
As per XDA-Developers, the Android 12 screenshots come from documentation and source code that is shared by Google with partners to make them aware of the upcoming changes. A couple of screenshots show a small notification dot at the top to tell users that an app is using their phone’s camera or mic. Tapping on it opens a small window at the top that tells the specifics about the app’s hardware access.
From there users can access the relevant settings page where they can choose to disable the camera or mic access via dedicated toggles. These toggles appear on a dedicated Privacy page, which appears to have been overhauled for the upcoming Android iteration. Now, this privacy indicator is not a unique addition for Android 12, as iOS 14 already takes a similar approach by showing a circular icon at the top when an app is using the camera or mic.
Now, iOS 14 doesn’t have the same toggles as shown in the leaked Android 12 screenshots, but there are similarities. Apple’s operating system allows users to enable/disable mic or camera access on a per-app basis, something that was spotted by PC World. But do keep in mind that these UI elements might be changed or even nixed during the development phase and might never be released widely via the stable channel.
Android 12 might introduce a fresh take on widgets as well
Another aesthetic aspect worth noticing is a widget redesign that looks similar to their implementation on iOS 14. “We can see an alleged new “Conversations” widget in Android 12 that may highlight recent messages, missed calls, or activity statuses,” notes the XDA-Developers reports. Interestingly, it appears that Google will make these new conversational widgets mandatory for all devices running Android 12.
The post Leak suggests Google is drawing inspiration for Android 12 from iOS 14’s privacy tools appeared first on Pocketnow.
Pocketnow Daily: Apple’s NEW AirPods Pro & More: Sooner Than Expected? (video)
It's only fair to share...
The Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 8 and more devices are on sale today
Apple Watch Series 6, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 and more are on sale
More Apple deals feature Apple’s latest 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro and more
And you know the way it goes, the official news begin with deals but you better hurry. You pretty much have just one day left to enjoy some of these. Yes, the Galaxy S21, S21+, the Ultra and every product we got at Unpacked is still available for pre-orders with huge savings but you have to move quick. So, if you get the Galaxy S21, it is available for just $99 and the S21+ for $299, if you have an eligible device for trade-in and you also get $100 or $150 respectively in instant credit for accessories and 6 months of Spotify Premium. The S21 Ultra, is still available for just $499, with up to $200 in instant credit, a smart tag, and yes, the 4 months of YouTube Premium are still there. Also, don’t forget that we have deals on the Award Winning UB Pro rouged case from SUPCASE. Use promo code 10POCKETNOW on Amazon to get 10% off, or use promo code POCKETNOW15 on SUPCASE.com to get your cases . Now the deals that I’m shocked are still here since Black Friday are for every other great Samsung device. The Galaxy Z Flip is available for just $299, while the Z Fold 2 is still available for $1000 if you have an eligible device for trade-in. Moving on to some Apple deals, the Apple Watch Series 6 is available for $40 off on Amazon, leaving the 44mm, GPS variant for $409. The Series 5 is also on sale, with the Gold variant being a crazy $300 basically leaving at the regular price for the other variants at $449. Finally, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is still $40 off, leaving the entry level variant for $459 shipped. We have more deals on headphones, Samsung smartwatches and more.
iOS 14.4 arrives with a fix for security bugs that may have been actively exploited
Now let’s continue with official news, but let’s switch gears into Apple, as I don’t know about you but my Apple Watch was acting funky in calorie counting, so I was waiting for an update. Yesterday, the company released iOS 14.4, iPadOS 14.4 and watchOS 7.3, which I highly recommend you download. See, iOS 14.4 includes improvements like, smaller QR codes being recognized by the camera, the option to classify your Bluetooth devices in Settings for the phone to correctly identify headphones or another devices. Apple is also now warning you, that with iOS 14.4 your iPhone can recognize if the camera on it had a third party repair for the iPhone 12 Series, which is handy if you buy second hand I guess. iOS 14.4 also brings a ton of bug fixes, like the artifacts that appear in HDR photos in the 12 Pro, some widgets that wouldn’t show your activity data, and delayed typing in the keyboard. Probably one of the biggest changes is with the HomePod mini as Apple is now introducing the functionality of the U1 Ultra Wideband chip for the iPhone 11 and 12 Series. This improves the handoff feature, as well as visual, audible and haptic effects while doing so. watchOS 7.3 that brings some new Unity faces, ECG support for more countries, enhancements to Fitness+, but what I really cared about was the bug fixes. So yeah, make sure to download it if you’re having issues with some bugs, not so much if you have a third party camera. And we also have a full list of the updates in the links below.
Carl Pei is now the CEO and co-founder of Nothing
Now let’s move on to Nothing, and no this is not one of Diego’s bad jokes. I guess Carl Pei decided that the best way to name his new company is to call it Nothing. A few months ago he made headlines after leaving OnePlus to start his own venture and now, he’s announcing his new company, “Nothing”. This comes shortly after the $7M he got in financing was announced back in December with funding from his friends like Kevin Lin and even Casey Neistat. Carl issued out a statement saying, “it’s been a while since anything interesting has happened in tech. It’s time for a breeze of fresh change”. He claims that Nothing’s mission is to “remove barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future. He believes that the best technology is beautiful and intuitive to use, and once it is sufficiently advanced, it should fade into the background, and feel like “nothing”. The company will be releasing their first products in the first half of this year but, we have no information on what kind of products or how many we should expect. We don’t even know what field they’re going into but, we really do hope this is not another “Essential” case as, we all know how that went down. Let us know if you like the name Nothing, cause I understand the idea, but I debate the negative nature of the name, though hey, he’s someone I admire as a marketing genius so I’m excited.
More OnePlus 9 images surface online
And yes, we’re getting closer to the OnePlus 9 Series as 2021 is kind of the year of earlier releases like we saw with the S21. A couple of weeks ago we got some high definition renders of the phone from Ben Geskin and now we get to see the real deal. This is apparently the OnePlus 9 Pro and these pictures were taken somewhere in the Chinese subway. From the back we get to see the new camera module which brings 2 large sensors for the 48MP primary, the wide angle and of course, a smaller lens for the macro. This looks like a silver color variant with the OnePlus Logo in the center as you could expect. From the front, remember this is the Pro so it is rocking a curved display with very small bezels and that punch hole looks so small it kind of looks photoshopped. On the display you also get to see the specs, like the Snapdragon 888, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. We’re also expecting this phone to bring a 32MP selfie shooter, a 4500 mAh battery with 40W wireless charging. We’re expecting this phone along with the OnePlus 9 and the 9 Lite some time in March, along with maybe the OnePlus Watch which was recently certified.
Story of the day:
AirPods Pro 2 rumor again points to 1H 2021 launch
iPhone 13 series could support faster Wi-Fi 6E
Spigen’s AirTags case listed online, hints at imminent debut of Apple’s object tracker
And finally, for the hottest news today, let’s move back on to Apple but for 3 different reports of things we should expect this year, so bear with me. Let’s start with the next generation AirPods Pro which should be launched very soon. According to a new report from DigiTimes, a company called Winbond is expected to be one of the suppliers for the next generation AirPods Pro which are “slated for a launch later in the first half of the year”. And actually, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this as a previous report claimed that we should get these in April with the iPhone SE+… I know, you heard that right, SE+. Moving on to another unreleased wearable, let’s talk AirTags. We have some new, high resolution images of another leather keychain carrier for the AirTags from a company called Cyrill which is actually a sub-brand for Spigen. The keychain is listed at $20 along with its features like being wireless charging compatible. The thing about is, this keychain is listed for “Late October” but these have been delayed so much, this could probably be late October for 2020 so, we’ll see. Finally, let’s talk iPhone 13 as, a new report from a Barclays Analyst claims that the iPhone 13 Series will bring Wi-Fi 6E amplifiers with suppliers like Broadcom benefiting from Apple and Samsung adopting the technology. Wi-Fi 6E is the new technology which offers higher performance, lower latency and faster data rates at up to 6GHz.. You know, stuff the Galaxy S21 Ultra has. We’ll see what else we get as, is it just me or are the iPhone leaks getting kinda slow?
Subscribe:
http://bit.ly/pocketnowsub
http://pocketnow.com
Follow us:
http://flipboard.com/@Pocketnow
http://facebook.com/pocketnow
http://twitter.com/pocketnow
The post Pocketnow Daily: Apple’s NEW AirPods Pro & More: Sooner Than Expected? (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.
It's only fair to share...
iOS 14 App Library: How does the new home screen on the iPhone 12 work?
With iOS 14, Apple brought several major functional upgrades. Aside from the home screen widgets, another feature that stood out on iOS 14 was App Library. As the name suggests, the new feature automatically categorizes apps into groups such as social, creativity, etc. It makes the task of finding ‘that one app’ in a sea of apps fairly easy.
What is App Library on iOS 14?
The iOS 14 App Library is essentially a new space that automatically organizes your apps in a simple way to navigate. It resides at the end of your last iPhone app page. It organizes your apps in auto-generated categories, giving you the option to hide app pages and a new way to manage downloads.
How to use App Library?
To access the App Library on iOS 14, you need to:
- Go to the last page of apps
- Swipe from the right edge again
- You’ve now entered the App Library that contains auto-generated app categories
Using the iOS 14 App Library, you can:
- Tap an individual app to open it
- Tap on the group of apps (the four apps bundle) inside the category to open the folder and see all the apps present in it
- Use the search bar at the top of the page to find apps
- Long press on the folder or category name or in the empty space in App Library to go into jiggle mode and delete apps. You can also add an individual app back to your home screen
Moreover, there is a new option to view apps alphabetically. All you need to do is pull down from the top of the App Library, and it will display all the apps in alphabetical order.
There’s more…
Having the App Library on iOS 14 also means you don’t need all the app pages. Hence, Apple has introduced a way to hide the app pages you don’t need to view.
To hide app pages on iPhone 12:
Bird’s-eye view of app pages 
Uncheck the ones you don’t want to view
- Long press on the blank area of the screen to go into jiggle mode
- Tap the app page dot icons in the bottom-middle of the screen
- Now, you have a bird’s-eye view of all the app pages present
- Uncheck the pages that you want to hide
- Tap on ‘Done’ present at the top right corner
The iOS 14 App Library on iPhone 12 (review) also gives you an option to disable new app downloads to show up on your home screen/app page.
To have new app downloads only show up in App Library:
- Go to Settings
- Find and go to ‘Home Screen’
- You’ll be greeted by two options under ‘Newly Downloaded Apps’
- Select ‘App Library Only’
Now, the newly downloaded apps will not show up on the app page, but will only appear in the App Library.
The post iOS 14 App Library: How does the new home screen on the iPhone 12 work? appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple iPhone 12 review rebuttal: from an Android user’s perspective
Our initial iPhone 12 review was published on our website and YouTube channel. This review rebuttal is a different perspective on the same device.
I’ve been an Android user for my whole life since I got my first smartphone in 2012. Later, I purchased the iPhone 6s in 2016, but there wasn’t much to like apart from the cameras, so I switched to the OnePlus 3T. At that point in time, you needed to spend almost double the amount on an iPhone for the features that you could get on an affordable Android (read OnePlus) smartphone. It’s 2020, and while Android is more flexible, it is no more objectively better than the Apple offerings, and here’s why in our iPhone 12 review rebuttal.
Unlike previous years, the iPhone 12, which is the least expensive 6-inch+ iPhone of 2020, provides almost the same experience as the Pro variant. You no longer need to compromise on display and camera quality to purchase the latest iPhone on a budget. In my 11-day usage, I never once had the urge to switch back to Android. Here’s why I think Apple has released an iPhone that could sway many Android users like me to the Apple ecosystem with the iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 review: Design and Display
Right out of the box, you’ll notice how compact the iPhone 12 actually is. I never thought I’ll be calling a 6.1-inch display clad phone “compact” but with time, the perspective for the term has changed. In a world of 6.7-inch+ Android smartphones, the iPhone 12 is a breath of fresh air. It fits well in one hand, and the thumb can reach the top of the display without doing any acrobatics. Despite the same display size, the iPhone 12 is smaller than the iPhone 11 and lighter than any of the Android flagship that I’ve used in 2020. It weighs just 162 grams.
The phone sports flat edges with aluminum railings on all four sides. There’s no fancy curved glass and your palm won’t touch the display. It will mostly rest on the edges. When I hold my phone, my pinky finger sits at the bottom of the device, and if you are anything like me, you won’t have troubles reaching the top of the display.
The volume rockers, speakers, power button all reside at their usual position, while the back is made of glass. It attracts smudges, but I like using the phone without a case for its size. Coming to the front, there’s a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display that comes with a resolution of 2,532 x 1,170 pixels. The display itself looks gorgeous, the blacks are deep and the colors are bright. It is easily visible under direct sunlight and goes down to a level where it’s easy for the eyes to read books on the Kindle app before sleeping.
In my opinion, the display is a huge leap forward from the LCD display of the iPhone 11. However, when you compare it with the latest Android smartphones, it doesn’t look like much of a leap. It still comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. By 2020 standards, 60Hz might look like an outdated number on paper, but it’s a different story when you experience the device. I’m not saying you won’t notice the absence of 120Hz but the iPhone 12’s 60Hz display feels smoother than the 60Hz display on any other Android smartphone. Hence, it is not a deal-breaker.
There is still a notch at the top that houses the selfie shooter and the tech for Face ID. It’s obtrusive while watching videos, to say the least. Meanwhile, it is quite useless in 2020 since everybody’s wearing a mask, which means FaceID doesn’t work when you are out of your house. I’d prefer Touch ID any day over it. But credit where it’s due, FaceID works very well even in low light conditions when you are without a mask.
Apple has put on a ‘Ceramic Shield’ over the iPhone 12’s display. The company says that it makes the screen four times harder and less likely to break. I couldn’t put those claims to test for obvious reasons, but glass is glass. That said, I didn’t manage to scratch the panel.
iPhone 12 review: Performance and Battery
The iPhone 12 is powered by the in-house A14 Bionic chipset, which is built on the 5nm process. We at Pocketnow don’t care about the benchmark numbers but report the day-to-day usage. And, I had absolutely no problems while using the device. The apps launch instantly. They don’t get cleared in the memory. Switching between apps is a breeze. Plus, it is one of the best phones you can game on. The speakers are loud, but they are average at high volume in terms of clarity. Further, the phone calls sounded clear as well.
The iPhone 12 comes with 5G but there is no 5G in India yet so I couldn’t test the feature. My usage mostly included me connected to the WiFi or at times LTE. My unit gave me a screen on time of around 7 hours consistently, where the usage includes jumping between WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Twitter, using the camera for 20 minutes, and streaming two episodes of The Office on Amazon Prime.
I’m amazed how well the iPhone 12 is optimized
The iPhone 12 easily lasted me a day, and at times, there was 40% battery left at the end of it. I’m very happy with the battery life I’m getting on this device. I’m amazed how well the iPhone 12 is optimized since it comes with a battery that is almost half the size of Android flagships but still doesn’t fail to impress.
You can charge your iPhone 12 via the Lightning cable or the MagSafe charger, wirelessly. Notably, you don’t get a power adapter in the box. Frankly, I don’t get the “it’s for the environment” argument since the adapter ships in its separate box with its own booklets! The iPhone 12 supports 20W fast charging with the cable and 15W fast charging with the MagSafe charger. If you compare it with any Android flagship from OnePlus, OPPO, or Xiaomi, it might feel like a big let down. It did to me. But again, the on-paper numbers don’t justify the experience.
I used the MagSafe charger, and it charged my iPhone 12 in almost 110 minutes from 10% to 100%, while wired charging takes about 90 minutes. This is a respectable number, but it still lags behind what Chinese OEMs are doing with their fast charge tech. For instance, my OnePlus 8T charges from zero to full under 70 minutes. I wish the iPhone 12 had better fast charging capabilities. I only used the cable twice as I used the MagSafe charger more so I’m fine with my iPhone not having a USB-C port. However, if you are traveling it’s always better to carry just one USB-C charger for all your devices, but that isn’t the way it is for now at least.
iPhone 12 review: Camera
The iPhone 12 sports a dual rear camera setup of 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. These are the same as the ones used on the iPhone 12 Pro. Hence, blurring the gap between the two devices. These two cameras explain that the Android ecosystem is just playing the number game and quality is better than quantity. Moreover, the main camera has an f/1.6 aperture that gives it the ability to take in more light. This results in better low-light photos. Still, there is one thing I’d like Apple to fix.
In broad daylight, the difference between a Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S and Note series, and the latest iPhones, is blurring. The iPhone 12 captures sharp, and detailed images in broad daylight. It’s the night and indoor lighting conditions where the difference with the competition is noticeable.
As for portrait shots, the iPhone 12’s edge detection is very good, and it gives a natural-looking depth-of-field.
Wide 
Ultra-wide
Wide 
Ultra-wide
As for the ultra-wide-angle camera, the distortion is lesser than its Android competitors. Plus, the iPhone 12 now supports Night Mode in the secondary camera, which gives more use-case scenarios to the already-versatile camera setup. However, the images aren’t as detailed as the primary sensor, and sometimes they aren’t color accurate either. I’ll still prefer this ultra-wide camera since it exposes the subject better and there is less noise.
The one issue I faced on the rear camera at night was lens flare. As you can see from the images above, it seems as if the lens has some dirt on it, but it is in fact glare from multiple sources of light. The flare is visible in images as well as the videos captured at night.
The iPhone 12 doesn’t pack a telephoto lens, which means zoom shots rely on digital zoom. It is usable till 2x but anything over that, and you’ll start noticing significant loss of detail. However, I’m happy with the inclusion of an ultra-wide angle lens over the telephoto camera as I use the former more than the latter.
When it comes to videos, the iPhone 12 hits it out of the park. I have never noticed such stabilization on an Android phone. Plus, Apple has now given you the ability to shoot in Dolby Vision. However, the videos shot in this format will only be viewed as they are meant to be viewed on other iPhone 12 displays as they aren’t compatible with every screen. But I expect software applications to adapt to the new standard sooner than later. That said, if you’ve been wanting to start a YouTube channel, and all you’ve got is your phone, make sure it is this one.
Shot on iPhone 12 
Shot on OnePlus 8T
The Android-domination story continues to the selfie shooter. Above is a sample shot on the iPhone 12 and the OnePlus 8T. As you can see, the iPhone 12 not only exposed the subject better but it captured more details. It doesn’t smoothen the skin with any beauty effect, which is found on most Android phones.
iPhone 12 review: Software
I like Android because it gives me the freedom to customize my phone the way I like it. In contrast, iOS is a restricted territory. However, it has improved over the years. You can now place widgets on the homescreen. This is mainly useful because I like to have the calendar widget tell me the date and events for the day. Just one look at the screen and you know the info you were looking for. It is on top of my main screen.
The bad
However, I don’t feel like iOS is designed to be used single-handedly. Firstly, you can’t place apps at the bottom of the screen. You have to arrange the apps the way Apple wants you to and not the way you want, that is, in a top-down, left-to-right grid. Secondly, despite having one of the best haptics engines on a phone, Apple decides to not provide haptic feedback on the inbuilt keyboard. I switched to Swiftkey for this very reason.
The good
I noticed that several apps I use daily are designed better for iOS than for Android. Heck, even Google’s own apps feel better on iOS. Twitter and Instagram are the other two apps that I use a lot, which are better designed on iOS. Plus, the seamless connectivity Apple ecosystem offers is a godsend. I mean, I can access photos I clicked on my iPhone 12 directly on my Mac within seconds! My first reaction was: “Whaaaat?” And, one of the best parts about iOS is the longevity you get. The iPhone 12 is likely to get at least five years of major iOS updates, which is easily much more than any Android manufacturer.
iPhone 12 review: Verdict
The iPhone 12 is one of the most powerful compact devices I’ve ever used. It features a great display, an excellent set of cameras, offers exceptional performance, and robust battery life. It ticks all the right boxes, and in my opinion, this is the best phone you can buy for under $850. Even for Indian readers, this is the best phone under INR 85,000 (128GB variant).
But who should upgrade? If you are using iPhone Xs or anything below it, you’ll be very happy with the new iPhone 12. This is the phone to buy if you are looking to upgrade since there is not much of a difference between the vanilla and Pro variant this year. If you are an Android user who has a Mac and have been contemplating making the shift to iOS like me, I’d say, “do it!” The seamless experience with the Mac feels so rewarding.
iPhone 12 photo gallery
-
Right out of the box, you’ll notice how compact the iPhone 12 actually is. I never thought I’ll be calling a 6.1-inch display clad phone “compact” but with time, the perspective for the term has changed. In a world of 6.7-inch+ Android smartphones, the iPhone 12 is a breath of fresh air.
Pros: |
Cons: |
The post Apple iPhone 12 review rebuttal: from an Android user’s perspective appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video)
This is the iPhone 12, what Apple Calls Blast Past Fast, whatever that means, and yet what I’m gonna call the iPhone most people should buy, even if a couple of the reasons that made its predecessor so popular took a back seat.
That more affordable price strategy that we praised which separated the XR from the 11 went down the drain; an odd move considering that the price drop happened even with the iPhone 11 being superior. 2020, being as tough as it’s been, would’ve made that strategy even more ideal, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture. In Apple’s defense, you can still buy the XR and 11 for less money, and it’s important to clarify that the iPhone 12 is NOT an iterative update. This is an entirely different animal that’s so much better than its predecessor, that for the first time ever, I’m seriously questioning if you need to go Pro.
I’ve always been fascinated by the purpose of the non-pro iPhones. In the past, the slogan was the right amount of everything, and that held true for the most part. It wasn’t the best looking phone but it resembled the Pro in many ways. The display wasn’t the best, but it nailed color accuracy like few at its price, and even if it didn’t have all the cameras, it had the most popular ones in tow.
Hardware
By contrast, the iPhone 12 doesn’t really follow on any of that. It’s actually more similar to the 12 Pro than you think. If you were to stack them both side by side from the front, you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference. They share the exact same design language, the same size, and for the first time, some of the differences are kind of welcome. The aluminum build is not just lighter to hold, but also provides this matte finish on the sides that is gorgeous and not prone to fingerprints. And sure, the back glass is not exempt from smudges or looks as red as experts wish it did, but I don’t care, Product Red continues to be my favorite finish.
Seriously, a comparison with the iPhone 11 would be more to show the new vs the old, but not to measure similarities. This new flatter finish makes the old curves seem dated, and also contribute to durability in the process. It’s dramatically smaller than what we had before, but looks can be deceiving.
See, this is a way more efficient display than what we had on its predecessor. It’s the same 6.1-inch diagonal, but since the technology jumped from LCD to OLED, the bezels were trimmed. Rumors pointed to this also being an OLED made by a different manufacturer, but if Apple also dubs this as a Pro Display XDR, who are we to argue? We have the same color accuracy and contrast ratio, the same viewing angles, and even the same loud dual firing speakers to enhance content consumption. I know, odd move in offering their Pro display on a non-pro smartphone.
If only that efficiency extended to the entire display and that right antenna band were a fingerprint scanner during this pandemic. Many rumors surfaced over improvements to Face ID, or the reduction of the module, but nope. The same exact obstructive notch that’s been pretty useless all year while wearing a mask.
It’s also sort of Pro if you look at the internals. Same 5nm A14 Bionic chip that powers Apple’s next-generation products, but with a few things trimmed down. There’s a bit less RAM, and Storage tiers were cut in half, though upgrading to more storage is actually less expensive. Everything else, from the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to the IP rating, heck even the support for all flavors of 5G is the same.
I’d give the hardware a solid A. The smaller footprint makes this an ideal one-handed phone, though keep in mind that even if the ceramic shield on the glass is harder to break, it’s still just as easy to scratch. Get a case, and if you want to enhance the flat design of this phone, channel sponsor SUPCASE has got the coolest case EVER. Here’s the perfect iPhone 4 bumper throwback with the new UB Edge. It’s a matte and scratch-resistant metal bumper with elevated bezels to protect the screen and the back along with cut-outs to make all features accessible. It’s also modular with a detachable clear back panel in case you want added protection, all for just $19 on Amazon. If you wanna go fancier and with full-screen protection, there’s the new UB Royal made of a shock absorbing TPU, faux leather, and a hand strap. Simply search iPhone 12 Case by SUPCASE on Amazon to find all their options. We’ve partnered with SUPCASE to give away an iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max, so follow the link in the description to participate and enter promo code POCKETNOWMAX to enhance your chances to win.
Performance
Now, back to internals and performance, let’s be real, Apple knows its market and cares so little about most of the numbers that they rarely provide detailed specs. All people want is for the thing to work as advertised, and hey, I just reviewed the most affordable iPad a few weeks ago and realized it made no sense to go Pro. The experience using it was nearly identical to using an iPad Pro, and that’s kind of the same story here.
Can you really name an App that’s exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro? None, right. That’s the beauty of iOS. All apps run, from the cheapest iPhone SE to the most expensive 12 Pro Max. Maybe they’ll launch a second faster on one than the other, but it’s not as if you’ll feel short-changed by any iPhone that’s still being sold.
The iPhone 12 may be shorter on RAM, but I bet you won’t be able to tell. Apps launch quick, games play just the same, and every single element of iOS 14 is here. From the picture in picture to the more compact Siri that has evolved a bit, to the new automated AirPod Switching and spacial audio, to widgets on the homes screen, it’s all here.
And since we began talking about it, you really gotta hand it to Apple for how good they are at locking you into their ecosystem. The Apple Watch continues to be my favorite Smart Watch, I edit videos on a Mac so AirDrop is crazy convenient, I handle my scripts with the new iPad Air, and now that Apple One came to town, it’s making it harder and harder to switch away.
iOS 14
That said, let’s talk about the state of iOS 14. It is a bit buggy, I know. I’m willing to forgive it for now given the much-needed changes in visuals. What I battle with is the state of widgets. I have more than 90 apps on my phone, at most 10% of these support the new feature. I wonder what’s the holdback?
Also, if you come from an iPhone 11 or XR, the other change to notice is endurance. You may complain about LCDs all you want, but those two phones were all-day battery champs thanks to how efficient the technology became, plus the larger power packs. I’d call the iPhone 12 a decent one day phone like the Pro. I’m sure the A14 is helping, but the smaller battery is not.
Phone calls are just as good as with every iPhone, and to not be bothered about which flavor of 5G to get is awesome. I’ve tested this phone on multiple carriers, and even if Ultra Wide Band is currently hard to find, at least I know my phone will support it down the line.
Camera
Now if there is one reason why you’ll debate going Pro, even more, is the cameras. Yes, you only get a primary and ultra-wide at the back, losing the added kick of the telephoto, but then the specifications between the existing ones are the same, and once you dig into the results, the dilemma only gets more complicated.
Apple’s new image processing proves major improvements to an already great phone. You’ll actually notice when you take a still that processing continues even after the fact. The result is a fantastic detail, crazy good dynamic range, and colors that are so balanced that you’ll have an easy time editing in postprocessing to your preferred tone if need be. I’m not a fan of Apple not making it easy to switch focal lengths on this phone, nor would I recommend that you push it to 5X digital, but if you stick to the ultra-wide, primary and then fumble to 2X, I have photos where you won’t be able to tell if they were taken with the Pro or the regular. I’d even say that 2X digital is good enough for social media if you’re not too picky.
Night Mode now makes it to all cameras and what I’d call fairly usable from the primary or selfie, with the Ultra Wide being ok, but I do wish we had the option to select the mode, and not depend on the camera app determining that you need it or not.
I do like selfies and portraits from this phone a lot. The lens is wide enough to not bloat your face, it handles depth really well, and about the only thing to debate is how it handles skin tones. I’m sure most of you won’t complain, but yeah there is a tad of beautification going on here.
Seriously the reason I drift most to iPhones is for video, but first, go to Settings, Camera, Record Video, switch off HDR Video. Like sure this phone can do Dolby Vision HDR, but unless you’re a pro, you’ll wanna disable this. It’ll make your Instagram stories look blown up, and if you plan to edit these videos, apps like Final Cut still don’t support it.
Stick to regular video for now, which is the best from a phone in my opinion, with great stabilization and color, great dynamic range, no warping as you walk, and a very smooth operation to switch between focal lengths. At night I will recommend you get a gimbal to reduce the warping, I won’t recommend the ultra-wide, and yeah, Apple needs to do something about how it’s lenses handle flares with all these greens pots.
The thing is the selfie video on this phone, and the way it captures audio is so good, that if any of you are considering starting a YouTube channel, this should be your primary vlogging camera. Just spare yourself the complexity.
Conclusion
To conclude, I think it’s important to consider a few things. This is not the iPhone it used to be, and Apple has made it clear. If you’re on a budget and don’t care yet about 5G, you have the iPhone SE, XR, and even the 11 for a lot less money. You could even wait for the iPhone 12 mini and pay less money for that same 5G experience.
The iPhone 12 kind of reminds me of the “grow with your vehicle” mentality we’ve seen from car makers, where those who bought a Honda Accord as teenagers saw the later generations grow and evolve along with them. I actually think this phone is a very good deal even with the bump and price.
Think about it, you have the same aluminum and glass, the same display, the same complete 5G, and most of the camera experiences that will cost you four figures if you bought a Samsung Galaxy. It lags behind on 2020 essentials like high refresh rates, but we know a lot of services still don’t take advantage of it.
I think the iPhone 12 is not just all you need, but honestly, a dramatic leap forward when compared to its predecessor. It’s definitely not what I’d call as affordable, but the technologies used and its capabilities aren’t cheap either. The combination does so well in blurring the lines with the Pro, that I think it’s honestly the better buy, but expect that other review coming very soon.
The post Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video)
This is the iPhone 12, what Apple Calls Blast Past Fast, whatever that means, and yet what I’m gonna call the iPhone most people should buy, even if a couple of the reasons that made its predecessor so popular took a back seat.
That more affordable price strategy that we praised which separated the XR from the 11 went down the drain; an odd move considering that the price drop happened even with the iPhone 11 being superior. 2020, being as tough as it’s been, would’ve made that strategy even more ideal, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture. In Apple’s defense, you can still buy the XR and 11 for less money, and it’s important to clarify that the iPhone 12 is NOT an iterative update. This is an entirely different animal that’s so much better than its predecessor, that for the first time ever, I’m seriously questioning if you need to go Pro.
I’ve always been fascinated by the purpose of the non-pro iPhones. In the past, the slogan was the right amount of everything, and that held true for the most part. It wasn’t the best looking phone but it resembled the Pro in many ways. The display wasn’t the best, but it nailed color accuracy like few at its price, and even if it didn’t have all the cameras, it had the most popular ones in tow.
Hardware
By contrast, the iPhone 12 doesn’t really follow on any of that. It’s actually more similar to the 12 Pro than you think. If you were to stack them both side by side from the front, you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference. They share the exact same design language, the same size, and for the first time, some of the differences are kind of welcome. The aluminum build is not just lighter to hold, but also provides this matte finish on the sides that is gorgeous and not prone to fingerprints. And sure, the back glass is not exempt from smudges or looks as red as experts wish it did, but I don’t care, Product Red continues to be my favorite finish.
Seriously, a comparison with the iPhone 11 would be more to show the new vs the old, but not to measure similarities. This new flatter finish makes the old curves seem dated, and also contribute to durability in the process. It’s dramatically smaller than what we had before, but looks can be deceiving.
See, this is a way more efficient display than what we had on its predecessor. It’s the same 6.1-inch diagonal, but since the technology jumped from LCD to OLED, the bezels were trimmed. Rumors pointed to this also being an OLED made by a different manufacturer, but if Apple also dubs this as a Pro Display XDR, who are we to argue? We have the same color accuracy and contrast ratio, the same viewing angles, and even the same loud dual firing speakers to enhance content consumption. I know, odd move in offering their Pro display on a non-pro smartphone.
If only that efficiency extended to the entire display and that right antenna band were a fingerprint scanner during this pandemic. Many rumors surfaced over improvements to Face ID, or the reduction of the module, but nope. The same exact obstructive notch that’s been pretty useless all year while wearing a mask.
It’s also sort of Pro if you look at the internals. Same 5nm A14 Bionic chip that powers Apple’s next-generation products, but with a few things trimmed down. There’s a bit less RAM, and Storage tiers were cut in half, though upgrading to more storage is actually less expensive. Everything else, from the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to the IP rating, heck even the support for all flavors of 5G is the same.
I’d give the hardware a solid A. The smaller footprint makes this an ideal one-handed phone, though keep in mind that even if the ceramic shield on the glass is harder to break, it’s still just as easy to scratch. Get a case, and if you want to enhance the flat design of this phone, channel sponsor SUPCASE has got the coolest case EVER. Here’s the perfect iPhone 4 bumper throwback with the new UB Edge. It’s a matte and scratch-resistant metal bumper with elevated bezels to protect the screen and the back along with cut-outs to make all features accessible. It’s also modular with a detachable clear back panel in case you want added protection, all for just $19 on Amazon. If you wanna go fancier and with full-screen protection, there’s the new UB Royal made of a shock absorbing TPU, faux leather, and a hand strap. Simply search iPhone 12 Case by SUPCASE on Amazon to find all their options. We’ve partnered with SUPCASE to give away an iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max, so follow the link in the description to participate and enter promo code POCKETNOWMAX to enhance your chances to win.
Performance
Now, back to internals and performance, let’s be real, Apple knows its market and cares so little about most of the numbers that they rarely provide detailed specs. All people want is for the thing to work as advertised, and hey, I just reviewed the most affordable iPad a few weeks ago and realized it made no sense to go Pro. The experience using it was nearly identical to using an iPad Pro, and that’s kind of the same story here.
Can you really name an App that’s exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro? None, right. That’s the beauty of iOS. All apps run, from the cheapest iPhone SE to the most expensive 12 Pro Max. Maybe they’ll launch a second faster on one than the other, but it’s not as if you’ll feel short-changed by any iPhone that’s still being sold.
The iPhone 12 may be shorter on RAM, but I bet you won’t be able to tell. Apps launch quick, games play just the same, and every single element of iOS 14 is here. From the picture in picture to the more compact Siri that has evolved a bit, to the new automated AirPod Switching and spacial audio, to widgets on the homes screen, it’s all here.
And since we began talking about it, you really gotta hand it to Apple for how good they are at locking you into their ecosystem. The Apple Watch continues to be my favorite Smart Watch, I edit videos on a Mac so AirDrop is crazy convenient, I handle my scripts with the new iPad Air, and now that Apple One came to town, it’s making it harder and harder to switch away.
iOS 14
That said, let’s talk about the state of iOS 14. It is a bit buggy, I know. I’m willing to forgive it for now given the much-needed changes in visuals. What I battle with is the state of widgets. I have more than 90 apps on my phone, at most 10% of these support the new feature. I wonder what’s the holdback?
Also, if you come from an iPhone 11 or XR, the other change to notice is endurance. You may complain about LCDs all you want, but those two phones were all-day battery champs thanks to how efficient the technology became, plus the larger power packs. I’d call the iPhone 12 a decent one day phone like the Pro. I’m sure the A14 is helping, but the smaller battery is not.
Phone calls are just as good as with every iPhone, and to not be bothered about which flavor of 5G to get is awesome. I’ve tested this phone on multiple carriers, and even if Ultra Wide Band is currently hard to find, at least I know my phone will support it down the line.
Camera
Now if there is one reason why you’ll debate going Pro, even more, is the cameras. Yes, you only get a primary and ultra-wide at the back, losing the added kick of the telephoto, but then the specifications between the existing ones are the same, and once you dig into the results, the dilemma only gets more complicated.
Apple’s new image processing proves major improvements to an already great phone. You’ll actually notice when you take a still that processing continues even after the fact. The result is a fantastic detail, crazy good dynamic range, and colors that are so balanced that you’ll have an easy time editing in postprocessing to your preferred tone if need be. I’m not a fan of Apple not making it easy to switch focal lengths on this phone, nor would I recommend that you push it to 5X digital, but if you stick to the ultra-wide, primary and then fumble to 2X, I have photos where you won’t be able to tell if they were taken with the Pro or the regular. I’d even say that 2X digital is good enough for social media if you’re not too picky.
Night Mode now makes it to all cameras and what I’d call fairly usable from the primary or selfie, with the Ultra Wide being ok, but I do wish we had the option to select the mode, and not depend on the camera app determining that you need it or not.
I do like selfies and portraits from this phone a lot. The lens is wide enough to not bloat your face, it handles depth really well, and about the only thing to debate is how it handles skin tones. I’m sure most of you won’t complain, but yeah there is a tad of beautification going on here.
Seriously the reason I drift most to iPhones is for video, but first, go to Settings, Camera, Record Video, switch off HDR Video. Like sure this phone can do Dolby Vision HDR, but unless you’re a pro, you’ll wanna disable this. It’ll make your Instagram stories look blown up, and if you plan to edit these videos, apps like Final Cut still don’t support it.
Stick to regular video for now, which is the best from a phone in my opinion, with great stabilization and color, great dynamic range, no warping as you walk, and a very smooth operation to switch between focal lengths. At night I will recommend you get a gimbal to reduce the warping, I won’t recommend the ultra-wide, and yeah, Apple needs to do something about how it’s lenses handle flares with all these greens pots.
The thing is the selfie video on this phone, and the way it captures audio is so good, that if any of you are considering starting a YouTube channel, this should be your primary vlogging camera. Just spare yourself the complexity.
Conclusion
To conclude, I think it’s important to consider a few things. This is not the iPhone it used to be, and Apple has made it clear. If you’re on a budget and don’t care yet about 5G, you have the iPhone SE, XR, and even the 11 for a lot less money. You could even wait for the iPhone 12 mini and pay less money for that same 5G experience.
The iPhone 12 kind of reminds me of the “grow with your vehicle” mentality we’ve seen from car makers, where those who bought a Honda Accord as teenagers saw the later generations grow and evolve along with them. I actually think this phone is a very good deal even with the bump and price.
Think about it, you have the same aluminum and glass, the same display, the same complete 5G, and most of the camera experiences that will cost you four figures if you bought a Samsung Galaxy. It lags behind on 2020 essentials like high refresh rates, but we know a lot of services still don’t take advantage of it.
I think the iPhone 12 is not just all you need, but honestly, a dramatic leap forward when compared to its predecessor. It’s definitely not what I’d call as affordable, but the technologies used and its capabilities aren’t cheap either. The combination does so well in blurring the lines with the Pro, that I think it’s honestly the better buy, but expect that other review coming very soon.
The post Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.
Pocketnow Daily: Want an iPhone with 120Hz? Wait for it.. (video)
The Google Pixel 4, JBL products and more on sale today
The official news today, as always, begin with deals, and it all begins with the departing Pixels which are actually still good phones. Let’s start it off with the Google Pixel 4 line which is still on sale at Amazon. The entry level variant for the 4 is currently $249 off, leaving it for $551 shipped. The 4 XL is $120 off, leaving it at $779 shipped. The Surface Go 2 is also $80 off, leaving the Intel Core m3, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage variant for $550. B&H is also offering that same discount and just as a heads up, this is the Wi-Fi only variant. Finally, the regular AirPods are $48 off, leaving them at $151 shipped with the wireless charging case. We have more deals on JBL headphones, the Samsung Galaxy Watch and more, in the links in the description.
Selling icons for iOS 14 has made a designer $100K in just six days
You wanna know something funny.. I’ve never known a case where the least tech savy people were more interested in an iOS update, than with iOS 14. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that widgets and icon packs are becoming a huge thing again thanks to the Siri Shortcuts app. Basically what you do is create a shortcut for every app you want on the home screen and use a picture for the icon and it also works on the new widgets. Well, there’s a designer called Traf which has been selling a pretty minimalistic icon pack and has sold a crazy $101k in just 6 days. He says that he used to sell skins back in 2013 for jailbroken iPhones, but he never made any profit out of it. His current pack costs $28 and it’s actually pretty cool looking. The main reason why we covered this is to see how you guys are feeling about that whole decorating your home screen movement, let us know, we’ll have a poll on the community tab.Google might produce as little as 800,000 Pixel 5 units in 2020 as it trims sales target: Report
Let’s talk about the Pixel 5 and Google’s strategy with it. I seriously feel that this is finally the Pixel’s time to shine, but it could just be that Google is playing it safe. According to a new report from Nikkei Asia, Google has a way lower sales target and they will only produce 1M units of the Pixel 5 but this number could fall to 800K, depending on the reception it gets. According to IDC data, Google sold 7.2M units in 2019 when they had a goal of selling 8-10M. We also know that the pandemic is still going on but going from 7.2M to 1M units is a drastic change. So far, the Pixel 4a is having some positive reception as the Pixel 3a was Google’s Hit last year and it’s apparently performing well in Europe so, again, we hope that the Pixel sells as good as they do in the news because, the price tag isn’t too bad this year.Microsoft Surface Pro X gets SQ 2 chip upgrade and a new Platinum colorway
Now let’s cover a bit more about Microsoft. Yesterday we covered how the company unveiled the new Surface Laptop Go to compete against Chromebooks but, that wasn’t the only thing we got. Microsoft just launched a new updated version of the Surface Pro X, as well as a new Platinum paintjob. It brings the same 13in Pixel Sense display with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD, running Windows 10. According to Microsoft it brings a slight boost of up to 15hrs of battery life on a single charge and it brings two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port and a nano SIM slot. Now, what’s interesting about this update is that it brings a new SQ 2 chip which is a customized version of Qualcomm’s Second Gen Snapdragon 8cx chip which was released this year. Sadly, this laptop doesn’t offer 5G compatibility nut, it should account for the battery boost we mentioned earlier. This new updated variant will start at $1499 for 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, and it is currently available for pre-orders, it will be on stores on October 13th. What I’m curious is if Microsoft will start working on getting Windows to work natively on ARM, cause that’s what this platform needs to get amazing.OnePlus 8T leak suggests it will be bigger than its predecessor on all sides
Let’s move on to OnePlus as, we’re getting closer and closer to the official event, and you know how it goes with leaks. Yesterday, OnLeaks posted the dimensions of the device, comparing it to the 8 and the 8 Pro. Apparently it will be wider than both of these and slightly shorter than the 8 Pro. It’ll also be 0.1mm thinner than the 8 Pro, putting it in the middle of both devices, Moving on to official territory, the company also posted a picture of the red box for this phone, and even a picture of it open. And sadly they didn’t show the phone, only the red wire for the 65W charger hanging out of it. We’re expecting this phone to bring a 6.5in display running at 120Hz, the Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It’ll also pack a 4500 mAh battery and it’ll run on Android 11, the launch date is on the 14th. I’m just wondering how it’ll go for the company as this would be the first time they don’t go for the latest specs on a T update, which kind of defeats its purpose.Story of the day:
120Hz ProMotion displays may arrive with iPhone 13 lineup
And finally, the most interesting news today have to do with iPhones and 120hz. Even if we don’t have the 12 line just yet, we have some new information on next year’s line up from the DSSC’s Ross Young, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture for 2020. According to Young, this information comes from Mizuho securities and it gives us details on what we’re likely to get from Apple’s roadmap. The list shows all 4 new models for next year and an iPhone SE 3 won’t be a part of it.. That’ll happen until 2022. Apparently, we’ll get a similar line up to this year’s with the regular 13s bringing a 5.42in and 6.06in OLED display, provided by Samsung, LG and BOE. The regular 13s will bring sub 6 5G, Dual cameras at the back, with the same modules as the ones we’ll get on the iPhone 12. Moving on to the Pros, the regular one will bring a 6.06in display, provided by LG and BOE, while the Pro Max will bring a 6.67in display from Samsung. These will support both mmWave and sub6GHz 5G, while rocking triple cameras at the back and a ToF sensor. All of these will bring Face ID, expect for the SE3 which will still rock a fingerprint sensor. This report doesn’t mention 120Hz displays but, Young added that ProMotion with variable refresh rates and LTPO will be coming, at least to the Pro models. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/pocketnowsub http://pocketnow.com Follow us: http://flipboard.com/@Pocketnow http://facebook.com/pocketnow http://twitter.com/pocketnowThe post Pocketnow Daily: Want an iPhone with 120Hz? Wait for it.. (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.
Selling icons for iOS 14 has made a designer $100K in just six days
It seems that there are people who aren’t that uncomfortable with the way Apple manages its App Store. A recent post shows that the platform is great for making money if you have a bit of creativity and some luck since a designer has recently told the world how he made more than $100,000 by selling icons for iOS 14.
Current iOS 14 home screen setup. pic.twitter.com/gtFjRnMkq7
— Traf (@traf) September 20, 2020
Designer and Twitter user Traf posted some iOS 14 setup images on his iPhone, and they received immediate attention. He then collected the set of icons he had designed for his iOS 14 home screen, packaged them, and uploaded them for sale. This tweet was posted on September 20, and just six days later, he had managed to get a total profit of $101,528, which has probably increased by now.
“The right content, posted at the right time, can create unimaginable results. Although there’s likely plenty of other variables that went into making this work, there are a few key insights that I think increased my odds.”
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Traf had made a profit out of creating new icons, as he also explained how he made $17 for selling iOS icons online, back in 2013, when jailbreaking was trendy. This first experience taught him the value of creativity, and he now enjoys the results of putting some effort into new creations, while still keeping an appealing price tag. The icon package is still available, and you can get it for just $28, just in case you want to change the way iOS 14 your iPhone looks.
“In 2013, the jailbreaking days of iOS were in full effect. Inspired, I created and sold an icon set titled ‘Greyish HD’ on the Cydia store for $0.99. It was the first few dollars I ever made on the internet. I think I made a total of $17, and it was magical.”
Source Apple Insider
The post Selling icons for iOS 14 has made a designer $100K in just six days appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple fixes iOS 14 bug that reset default app preferences after a reboot
One of the most useful features introduced by iOS 14 is the ability to finally set third-party apps as your default email and browser client. What this means is you no longer have to stick with Mail or Safari, and can set Gmail or Outlook as your default email app, while the likes of Chrome or Edge can now be your go-to browsers for opening links. However, an iOS 14 bug that was discovered earlier this month reverted back the default email and browser setting every time your iPhone rebooted. Apple took notice of the issue and has finally fixed it with the iOS 14.0.1 update that has just started rolling out.
Be gone, weird iOS 14 bug. For here comes the iOS 14.0.1 update!
“Fixes an issue that could cause default browser and mail settings to reset after restarting your iPhone,” says the iOS 14.0.1 update changelog. The iOS 14 bug apparently irked iPad users as well, but Apple has solved it on its tablet platform too with the iPadOS 14.0.1 update. Here’s the entire changelog of iOS 14.0.1 update:
- Fixes an issue that could cause default browser and mail settings to reset after restarting your iPhone
- Addresses an issue that could prevent camera previews from displaying on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- Fixes an issue that could prevent your iPhone from connecting to Wi-Fi networks
- Resolves an issue that could prevent sending email with some mail providers
- Addresses an issue that could prevent images from appearing in the News widget
iOS 14 introduces one of the biggest redesigns for Apple’s mobile operating system. It adds customizable widgets that can be placed on the home screen. The new App Gallery feature automatically organizes apps into categories depending on their utility, while Siri and incoming call notifications now have a smaller, less intrusive interface. Users can also pin important conversations at the top, while Search and Maps have also received some meaningful upgrades.
The post Apple fixes iOS 14 bug that reset default app preferences after a reboot appeared first on Pocketnow.
iOS 14 bug reverts the default app choice to Safari and Mail if your iPhone reboots
Apple has released the latest version of its smartphone operation system – iOS 14 – for all compatible iPhones via the stable channel. It brings a ton of new features such as customizable widgets, a new App Library that automatically sorts and categorizes apps, a compact and less-intrusive UI for calls, picture-in-picture support for video calls, the ability to pin conversations, and a lot more. But one of the most notable features was the ability to set third-party apps as your default web browser and email app.
This means you no longer have to stick with Apple’s own Mail and Browser app for opening a web link or an email. Instead, you can set Microsoft’s Edge or Google’s Chrome as the default browser, and Microsoft’s Outlook or Google’s Gmail as your go-to email app. Apple has already made the change on its end, but developers have to update their respective apps to take advantage of this new functionality. However, it appears that an iOS 14 bug automatically reverts back the default app choice to Mail and Safari when the device reboots. First spotted by the folks over at 9to5Google, I also noticed the issue on my iPhone XR after updating it to iOS 14 last night
So, if you had set Chrome as your default browser and for some reason, your iPhone had to reboot (due to a dead battery or you need to reset it for any other reason), your iPhone will revert back to using Safari as the default browser. And the same will happen if you had picked up Gmail or Outlook as your default email app. Needless to say, it is a hassle to change the default app settings every time your iPhone reboots. The issue will most likely be solved via an update, but it surely is disappointing for users who have been waiting a long time for it to materialize.
The post iOS 14 bug reverts the default app choice to Safari and Mail if your iPhone reboots appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple rolls out iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 via the stable channel
As promised during its Time Flies event yesterday, Apple has today started the rollout of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 for compatible devices. iOS 14 comes with a host of major changes such as a redesigned Home Screen with support for customizable widgets, an app library, a compact user interface for tasks such as incoming calls, App Clips and the ability to pin conversations to the top of the messages list to name a few. Talking about iPadOS 14, it also adds customizable widgets, redesigned sidebars, Smart Stack, improved on-device search, Scribble with advanced handwriting detection and a smarter note-taking experience among others.
iOS 14 compatibility list
Wondering if your phone can run iOS 14? Here’s the full list of iPhones that are eligible to run iOS 14:
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 7 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 7 Plus |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 6s |
| iPhone Xs | iPhone 6s Plus |
| iPhone Xs Max | iPhone SE 1st gen |
| iPhone X | iPhone SE 2nd gen |
| iPhone 8 | iPod Touch 7th gen |
| iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone XR |
iPadOS 14 compatibility list
And if you already own an iPad and are curious to know whether the iPadOS 14 update will be released for your device, check the list below:
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) | iPad (7th generation) | ||
| iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) | iPad (6th generation) | ||
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) | iPad (5th generation) | ||
| iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) | iPad mini (5th generation) | ||
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) | iPad mini 4 | ||
| iPad ro 12.9-inch (1st generation) | iPad Air (3rd generation) | ||
| iPad Pro 10.5-inch | iPad Air 2 | ||
| iPad Pro 9.7-inch | |||
| iPad 8th Gen | iPad Air 4th Gen |
How to get iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates?
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on General and then tap Software Update.
- If the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 update is available for your iPhone or iPad respectively, you’ll see the update screen with the changelog as shown in the image below:
- Hit the Download and Install button
The post Apple rolls out iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 via the stable channel appeared first on Pocketnow.
Facebook warns publishers and developers that iOS 14 might severely impact ad revenue
Facebook has today warned developers and publishers that changes made to iOS 14 will severely impact their ad revenue. The social media giant mentions in its notice that iOS 14 won’t allow Facebook to collect the device identifier – also called IDFA – which is what paves the way for showing targeted ads to users.
Facebook claims that the changes “may render Audience Network so ineffective on iOS 14 that it may not make sense to offer it on iOS 14 in the future.” The company has promised to release a new Facebook SDK that will limit the data available to businesses for handling ad campaigns.
Facebook says the changes will negatively impact publishers’ ability to monetize on the Audience Network, but the company’s own advertising business will suffer to a smaller extent. The social media titan notes that the Audience Network revenue might go down by more than 50%, and to minimize the revenue loss, the company is working on short-and long-term strategies to support publishers.
Source: Facebook
The post Facebook warns publishers and developers that iOS 14 might severely impact ad revenue appeared first on Pocketnow.