Samsung Galaxy S22 availability might be massively delayed

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If you were hoping to be able to get a Samsung Galaxy S22 in your hands shortly after the February 9 announcement then you might be out of luck, as according to the latest leak the phone might not ship until over a month later.

That’s according to Jon Prosser, a leaker with a mixed track record, but who has often been right in recent months.

Prosser claims that the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus won’t hit stores until March 11, with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra being available from February 25. So the Ultra could land a lot sooner, but still more than two weeks after the announcement.

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You apparently won’t have to wait to put your order in though, with pre-orders for all models said to be opening on the day of the announcement.

This delay is supposedly due to supply chain issues, which somewhat lines up with another recent leak, and is believable in any case, since we know there’s an ongoing chipset shortage.

If you’re certain you want one of these handsets, it will probably be worth putting your order in straight away. Otherwise we wouldn’t be surprised if you end up waiting even longer for the phone than Prosser says, as you’ll be further along in the queue for a handset.

On the other hand, if you don’t mind that risk then you might be better off waiting until we at TechRadar have put each handset through a full review, in case they have any big issues.


Analysis: the S22 Ultra conundrum

We note above that this latest news somewhat matches another recent leak, in so much as that supply constraints will reportedly hamper the availability of the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, but that earlier leak specifically highlighted the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as likely to suffer from this.

According to that leak, the Galaxy S22 Ultra could face delivery delays of up to three months as a result of expected high demand.

The other S22 models aren’t mentioned, suggesting that the Galaxy S22 Ultra could be the hardest model to get hold of, which is odd if – as this latest leak suggests – it will hit stores earlier than the other models.

You’d think Samsung would start stocking the S22 Ultra later than the others in order to build up a large supply if there was really likely to be big delays.

Either way though, it’s becoming clear that the Samsung Galaxy S22 range as a whole could prove hard to get hold of for a while.

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Apple will let businesses host secret apps on the App Store

Apple's App Store is simultaneously the source of a huge amount of power for the company and annoyance for anyone trying to do anything outside of downloading pre-approved apps.  Businesses, for example, have long been able to host internal apps using developer accounts but, as Facebook found, Apple often works in mysterious and sudden ways. 

That all could be about to change after MacRumors found an Apple Support document that details the process for companies, developers, and anyone else who applies to distributed unlisted apps using only a link. 

Developers can submit a request to Apple for an unlisted app that won't appear in the App Store's search recommendations, categories, charts, and elsewhere. Unlisted apps can be accessed via the Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager services. 

Centralisation, centralisation, centralisation 

Apple says unlisted apps are intended for special events, organisations, research studies, and tools for employees (eg, for sales). The apps will be available in all regions that support the App Store. 

While adding unlisted apps as an option for developers is good news, especially for organisations looking for a legitimate way to distributed properly-made apps, there are a some drawbacks, as developer Steve Troughton-Smith has highlighted. 

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Unlisted apps must be ready for distribution, excluding beta and pre-release versions, and anything outside of these rules will be declined, according to Apple. 

The company already operates TestFlight, a developer-specific service for testing iOS and iPadOS apps, and presumably the company doesn't want too much crossover between the services. 

All of this perhaps play into the overarching narrative about the App Store, as presented by various competitors, the EU, the UK, and some American lawmakers: Apple has too much power over what users can do on their iPhones. 

While unlisted apps are intended to be useful – and they truly will be for many companies and developers – it does further highlight Apple's singular control over apps on its platforms. 

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Closing tabs in Chrome is getting much better on Android

In a future release of Google's web browser on Android, you'll be able to avoid the mistake of closing all your tabs at once, thanks to an additional message box to confirm if you want to go ahead with it.

Google Chrome is the most widely-used web browser app on Android, mainly due to it being pre-installed on the majority of Android smartphones. But there may be an occasion when you've got multiple tabs open at once.

Some could be related to shopping, birthday ideas, or brainstorms for holidays in the summer for example. You may want to close all of these at once when you're finished.

In Chrome Canary, the test version of Google's web browser, you can enable a flag that will display a message box to confirm if you want to close all your tabs at once. This will help prevent occasions where you accidently close all the browser tabs when you didn't mean to.

How do you enable the message box confirmation?

By going to chrome://flags when running Google Chrome Canary 100 on Android, there will be a 'Close all tabs modal dialog' option.

Switching this on will make the message box appear when you're about to close all your tabs.

This can be useful if you've found yourself having mistakenly closed all your open tabs, and having to go through your history to open the links again.

This may sound like a very obvious feature, but if you mainly use Google Chrome on your phone as you're sharing links on social media and messaging apps, having all your tabs closed can be a huge annoyance.

Sometimes the little things like this can make a big difference, so it's encouraging that Google has this ready to go in its development releases for now.

Via XDA Developer

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One of the PS5’s best features is being tested for iPhone and iPad

iPhone and iPad users might be about to get a gaming upgrade, courtesy of one of the PS5’s most interesting features.

As part of the iOS 15.4 beta, MacRumors has uncovered an upgrade that will see the PS5 DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers become compatible with iPhone and iPad apps. On the PS5, this feature allows differing levels of tension to be applied to the triggers, making them slightly more difficult to press in at certain points during a game for a more immersive experience. Think of the tension of a taut bowstring, for instance, and you get the effect that’s being generated.

Though you can already pair a PS5 DualSense controller with an iPhone or iPad, the iOS devices don’t have support for the pad’s more advanced features, such as those adaptive triggers and the subtle details of the haptic feedback rumble functionality built into the controller. Apple also sells Sony's controller direct, so it's clear the company likes the PS5 pad. 

On top of that, the update will introduce a slew of new emoji, from salutes to kidney beans, as well as improvements to the Face ID facial recognition unlock system that will make it work better for glasses wearers and those wearing face masks as the Covid-19 pandemic rolls on.

Pads primed for streaming

Though its App Store has now long been a popular destination for casual gamers, recent years have seen Apple finally recognizing the so-called hardcore gamer with its courting of top-tier development talent for the Apple Arcade subscription service, and increased third-party controller peripheral support from the likes of Sony.

But the inclusion of adaptive trigger support is an interesting one here. Who does it really serve at the moment? With the DualSense controller being an option rather than a must-have peripheral for iPad and iPhone games designed natively for iOS devices are unlikely to feature adaptive trigger control – there’s little point investing development resources into a feature that you can’t guarantee many people will have, for instance.

So the suggestion here then is that there is recognition from Apple that streaming is going to be an incredibly major part of on-the-go play on its devices in the future, and that on the PS5’s Remote Play front, at the very least, those triggers will be an important, perhaps even necessary, part of the experience.

Is this beta feature a precursor to the full gamut of DualSense features coming to the PS Remote Play app for iOS? That’s hard to say – even beta features have the possibility to be dropped before a full official release iOS release. But it’s recognition at least of the growing number of PS5 owners, and their desire to have an analogous experience between home-console and mobile play.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 case leak hints at a divisive screen feature

While Samsung Galaxy S22 leaks have totally laid bare the upcoming Android phones, it's easy to miss the small details when given big leaks, and it sometimes takes otherwise-unimportant leaks to get us to notice the little things.

Case in point, hands-on pictures of cases for the entire Samsung Galaxy S22 range have leaked, via SamMobile. These wouldn't otherwise be noteworthy, as they look almost identical to phone renders we've already seen (and the Galaxy S21 cases for that matter), but the design of them shows a Galaxy S22 screen feature that not everyone will be happy with.

This feature is a flat-edge display. Previous flagship Samsung phones used curved-edge screens for a few generations up until the design element was dropped on the Galaxy S21, and it seems Samsung is sticking with its choice for the S22 and S22 Plus.

The leaked cases show edges that go all the way to the front, whereas cases for curved-side screens typically only cover part of the phone's frame.

Note we're talking about the standard and Plus models - the Ultra devices have always had curved-edge displays, and if the case leak is anything to go by, that's not changing.

So it seems likely that the Galaxy S22 series is sticking with the design of its predecessors, with screens that are totally flat even up to the sides, and Samsung hasn't decided to revert back to the curvy mode of design.


Analysis: good or bad?

Curved-edge displays typically prove rather divisive for flagship phones.

On one hand, mobiles with the feature are comfortable to hold, and the curving glass adds a level of premium elegance that you just don't get with a 'standard' smartphone.

On the other hand, curved-edge displays are very easy to press with your palm, so it's easy to accidentally select things you don't mean to when holding the phone. They make the mobile more fragile too, especially since cases cover less of the phone as a result.

So some people like the feature and others don't, and it makes sense for Samsung to cater to both audiences.

However, we typically see curvy screens saved for premium phones, and it sounds like the Xiaomi 12 and OnePlus 10 families, two contemporary rivals for the Galaxy S22, could go all-in on the rounded-glass design. 

Since Samsung's only premium phone with a curved-edge screen could well be the Ultra model, which we're expecting to have a high price, people who want a phone with top-end specs and a premium design, but not a huge price tag, will find Samsung doesn't offer them what they need.

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Sony Xperia 1 IV rumors cover camera and other specs of the upcoming flagship

It looks likely that we'll be seeing the Sony Xperia 1 IV at some point this year – perhaps as early as next month – and we've got some new rumors to report that cover the camera configuration and other specs that could be in the pipeline for this flagship phone.

These rumors come via the usually reliable Zackbuks on Chinese social media site Weibo (via Notebookcheck). First up is the processor: like a lot of top-end Android phones scheduled for 2022, the Xperia 1 IV is being tipped to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset from Qualcomm.

The RAM options will apparently be 12GB and 16GB – which is a lot – and the storage choices are tipped to be 256GB and 512GB. On top of that, the same source says the phone will have upgrades to the main lens and telephoto lens this time around.

More info

Another tidbit revealed here is the battery capacity: 5,000mAh and a 45W charging rate. There's also talk of improved brightness for the screen, and perhaps a design overhaul, although this seems less certain from the information posted online.

We described the Xperia 1 III as "Sony's best phone for quite some time". It had a triple-lens 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera, and Sony will probably keep the same megapixel ratings while upgrading the lens technology. The internal specs were a Snapdragon 888 CPU and up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

The Xperia 1 III came with a 4,500mAh battery and 30W charging, so if this leak is true then we're looking at substantial upgrades here. We'll have to wait and see whether or not that translates into a major improvement in the phone's battery life.


Analysis: another big year for Sony phones

As we've said, we were impressed by what the Sony Xperia 1 III had to offer – but down the years, positive reviews haven't really led to bumper sales for Sony's smartphone division, and that's the challenge that the Sony Xperia 1 IV is going to be up against.

We know that Sony can do cameras very well – it sells its sensors to many other smartphone manufacturers – and of course it has plenty of experience in displays thanks to its television business. That's two key areas of a smartphone where you know that a Sony handset is going to excel.

Typically it's been high prices that have made it difficult for the Sony Xperia series to get a foothold, and these phones aren't quite as high profile as those made by Google, Samsung or Apple either – even if they deserve to attract more fans through their combination of hardware and software.

We'll have to wait and see what the Xperia 1 IV brings with it. If it follows the schedule of its predecessor then it's going to appear in April, but we also know that Sony likes announcing products at MWC – so it might show up in February at MWC 2022.

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It’s hard to get excited for the Google Pixel 6a while the Pixel 6 still has problems

In the three months since the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro launched, the narrative around them has soured: we started by praising all the new features and Google's successful reinvention after a few years of dull phones. That tune has since changed, and with the Pixel 6a on the horizon, we're struggling to muster up the enthusiasm we had at the launch of the original Pixel 6 models.

You see, it turns out there are a lot of Pixel 6 problems, and these bugs have been cropping up since launch. We've seen issues with Bluetooth, emergency calls, camera stability, audio playback, Wi-Fi connection, display aberrations and more.

How has Google responded? To their credit, they've been diligently issuing patches targeting these problems. Unfortunately, some of their solutions have actually introduced new problems, inevitably doing more harm than good.

None of this spells good news for the Pixel 6a - neither for the phone itself, nor for its pre-launch hype.

Problems with the Pixel

Despite top hardware, we're a little hesitant to wholeheartedly recommend the Pixel 6 family because of the ongoing software issues.

The problem isn't just the bugs, as not everyone is affected by them - it's the uncertainty surrounding them. We don't know when new problems could pop up, or what they could be and how they could affect the phone.

On multiple occasions, this writer has had to warn friends and family members who were considering buying a Pixel 6 about the issues the series has faced. 

The issues have been going on for a few months now, despite Google's repeated attempts to fix them, which makes buying a new Pixel a bit of a risky investment.

Google Pixel 5a

Google Pixel 5a (Image credit: Future)

Now is a pivotal time for the Pixel 6a

We're not expecting the Google Pixel 6a for a few months - so why are we writing this article now?

Well, the phone has just entered the first phase of its existence because we're starting to see the rumor-mill warm up. A recent leak pointed to a May release date for the phone. We suspect that in the coming months, more information about the device will be leaked.

More writers and tech fans are going to join the Pixel 6a discussion, and the tone of those conversations could dictate how enthused prospective buyers will by the time the phone is actually available.

So if the Pixel 6a leak stories are punctuated by tales of the Pixel 6 series breaking in new and annoying ways, people are going to associate the company's phones with bugs (and perhaps rightly so).

There's also the additional concern that the Pixel 6a, which should be a budget version of the Pixel 6 in terms of hardware, will have the same software as the 6, meaning any issues still present in Google's software will inevitably make their way over to the newer handsets.

A ticking clock

If Google can fix the Pixel 6 issues soon - and for good - it could stop the Pixel 6 problem news stories from bleeding into the Pixel 6a hype in any major way.

But if the Pixel 6a launch rolls around and we're still having trouble getting our Pixel 6 phones to work as intended, our vocal gripes could affect interest in, and sales of, the newer models.

This far ahead of the expected launch window, it's natural not to get too excited for the devices - especially since we've also got many major launches between now and then. But unless Google steps up in a major way, we're never going to be able to get beyond the disinterest we're feeling now.

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iOS 15.4: here’s everything we know so far

After the truly tiny update that was iOS 15.3, we're now learning about iOS 15.4, and thankfully this already looks to be a much, much bigger update for Apple's operating system.

The first four betas are out now for developers, and with them comes news of several big included features, such as the long-awaited Universal Control, Face ID functionality with a mask, and more.

With rumors of a March event by Apple, it was finally confirmed, with a March 8 date with the title 'Peak Performance', perhaps hinting to new Macs, but it wouldn't be a stretch to consider 15.4 releasing on the same day as the event.

Below we've detailed everything we know about iOS 15.4, including when it's likely to launch, and we'll be updating this article when we hear more, so check back soon.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The latest iOS release
  • When is it out? The beta is out now, we expect the finished version on March 8
  • How much will it cost? It's free

iOS 15.4 release date and compatibility

iOS 15.4 is already available, but only in beta form, and only for developers. While you don't technically have to be a developer to grab this version, we'd recommend at least waiting for the public beta, and if you want it to be bug-free then you should wait for the finished release.

We're generally seeing roughly a four to six-week gap between new iOS versions, which means that given iOS 15.3 landed on January 26, we'll probably see the finished version of iOS 15.4 sometime around the confirmed March 8 event.

As for compatibility, it's exactly the same as every other version of iOS 15, meaning that if you're on iOS 15 or above you'll be able to get iOS 15.4 as well. Specifically, that's all handsets from the iPhone 6S onwards, including the iPhone SE (2020) and the original iPhone SE, plus the iPod touch (7th gen).

A selection of iOS 15 screenshots showing how the software works

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 15.4 features

Thanks to the betas we know many of the features that will probably arrive in iOS 15.4. However, it's possible that there might be other features too, or that some of these won't ultimately make the cut.

Face ID with a mask

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The Covid-19 pandemic presented a problem for iPhones, as with the whole world suddenly wearing masks, Face ID wasn't always viable. Apple addressed this problem a while back by allowing your iPhone to unlock if you were wearing an Apple Watch, but with iOS 15.4 it seems to have properly fixed the issue.

The iOS 15.4 beta allows you to set Face ID to work even when you're wearing a mask, by having it just scan the visible parts of your face, such as your eyes. The second beta has also improved this feature slightly, by instructing users how to position their eyes when unlocking the phone.

Apple warns that this is less accurate, and we'd assume also less secure, but it's a way to properly use Face ID with a mask on. It's also optional, so if you'd rather keep doing things the current way, you can disable this feature.

Universal Control

WWDC 2021 screenshot

(Image credit: Apple)

Universal Control is technically more of an iPadOS 15.4 feature than an iPhone one, as it allows users to connect an iPad to a Mac and use a single mouse and keyboard across both devices, with the iPad’s display being like an extension of the Mac’s.

This feature has been a long time coming, as we first heard about it back at WWDC 2021, but it's finally arrived in the iPadOS 15.4 beta.

New emoji

A selection of the new emoji added with iOS 15.4

(Image credit: Emojipedia / Apple)

If, somehow, you feel that there just aren't enough emoji yet, then iOS 15.4 could help, as the beta includes 37 new ones, along with 75 skin tone variations for better inclusivity.

New emoji, some of which you can see above, include a biting lip, a melting face, heart hands, and many more.

Anti-stalking measures for AirTag

Apple AirTags

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Apple has a whole range of measures planned to prevent unwanted AirTag tracking, and the first of those have arrived in an iOS 15.4 beta. These include a warning when setting up AirTag that using one to track someone unknowingly is illegal, and that AirTag is designed to be detectable and for law enforcement to be able to link it to the owner.

It also includes clearer identification of devices, so you shouldn't get any ‘Unknown Accessory Alerts’.

A new Siri voice

One of the iOS 15.4 betas includes a new voice for Siri. This is a fifth option under the 'American' category. So it's an English language voice, and specifically in a US accent. This is a female voice, and you can hear a sample of it below.

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Tap to Pay

Apple recently announced plans for a Tap to Pay feature, which would turn your iPhone into a contactless payments terminal, and the second iOS 15.4 beta adds frameworks for developers to enable this service in their apps.

Notes in iCloud Keychain

If you use iCloud Keychain then you'll now be able to add notes alongside any password. This is a fairly standard feature of password managers, so it's been a long time coming and is good to see.

Apple Card widget

If you use Apple Card, then with iOS 15.4 you'll be able to add a widget for it to the Today view. This will display your balance, your available funds, and your daily spending across various categories.

Digital IDs in the Wallet app

Apple Wallet state ID

(Image credit: Apple)

Before we move on to smaller features, here's a big feature that there’s not actually any sign of in iOS 15.4 yet, but which might be included, since we know it’s being worked on.

This feature would allow US users to add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app, and it would then be accepted at TSA checkpoints in select airports, with retailers, events and venues eventually expected to add support for these digital IDs too.

However, even once this feature is added, the roll out looks likely to be slow. It’s going to land on a state-by-state basis in the US (with Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah looking to be first in line), and there’s no word on exactly if or when the feature will expand to other countries.

Other features

Beyond the features above, all sorts of smaller tweaks and improvements have also been found in iOS 15.4.

These include the ability to turn off notifications for Personal Automations in Shortcuts if you don't want to be alerted about them, set up custom email domains directly from iCloud Mail on the iPhone (if you have an iCloud Plus subscription), activate SharePlay from the Share Sheet, and customize the left and right corner swipe gestures in the Notes app.

You can also choose whether to show still frames or poster art in the Up Next section of the TV app, use your iPhone to sign in to passkey-compatible websites and apps on your iPad or Mac, and make use of what Apple describes as 'new DualSense adaptive trigger firmware features' when you've paired Sony's latest controller with your phone.

Plus, those in the EU can now add their Covid vaccine cards to the Wallet app, and there's also evidence in the iOS 15.4 beta that Apple is working on a 'Cosmetic Scan' feature, which would be used to check your iPhone for damage when trading it in.

Bug fixes

New versions of iOS almost always come with bug fixes, and iOS 15.4 is no exception. One such fix is that third-party apps will now display animations at 120Hz when using the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, which in some cases they weren't doing previously.

The second iOS 15.4 beta also fixes a bug that caused Siri to record and store interactions from a 'small portion' of iPhone users, even if they opted out.

We'd expect other bugs have been fixed too, but we're not sure which ones.

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PSA: It’s a good idea to reserve a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra before launch

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is rumored to go up for pre-order next month, and if you're interested in picking up the latest device, then we recommend you head on over to Samsung's reservation page and get your foot in the door this weekend.

Why? Well, first up, you can score yourself $50 of Samsung store credit on the house, but more importantly, you'll guarantee you'll get one of these bad boy devices as soon as they land. 

We've seen reports recently that the Galaxy S22 Ultra specifically could be out of stock for months - a rumor that's come directly from a well-known South Korean tech leaker. How long? Three months to be exact, which is a long wait if you're clamoring to upgrade to what's likely one of the best Android smartphones this year.

If you click through to the reservation page, you'll see two 'mystery' devices being teased. Interestingly, Samsung hasn't actually confirmed that these are S22 devices but let's be honest - considering there have been Galaxy S devices for many years now, it would be a complete shocker if it wasn't an S22 and S22 Ultra.

Even more so, we pretty much know everything there is to know about the upcoming Galaxy S22 Ultra. Most of the major details have already been leaked, such as its larger Galaxy Note-like squared-off design and S-Pen slot. However, the one thing we don't know is the price - which we'll get once these devices go up for pre-order on February 9th.

It may seem risky to reserve a device when you don't know all the details, but we say why not? You won't have to plop down any cash until the pre-orders go live, and you'll get a guaranteed place in line either way.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra reservations available

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: reserve and get a $50 store credit
Two 'mystery' Galaxy devices, highly likely to be the S22 range, are now available for reservation via the official Samsung Store page. Input your details right now, and you'll not only secure your device for when pre-orders go live, but you'll get $50 of store credit on the house to spend on any number of accessories.

Credit-wise, $50 isn't a huge amount but it's enough to contribute to a number of accessories, earbuds, or even smartwatch purchases via the Samsung Store. It's highly likely that the official store will also have competitive trade-in rates when the devices actually release to supplement your savings even further.

Not interested? Head on over to our weekly roundup of the best cell phone deals to check out today's options for other top Android and iOS devices.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 marketing materials leak out

Samsung has a new flagship smartphone and a new flagship tablet on the way, as we know from extensive Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 leaks in recent months – but the leaks are showing no signs of stopping as the launch dates get closer.

Reputable tipster Dohyun Kim has posted some marketing materials for the smartphone and the tablet, as well as a promo video for the Galaxy S22 range. All of this looks like it's official and has come straight from Samsung – though the video has been pixelated to stop it from being tracked.

These devices have already leaked so extensively that there's not all that much that's new here, but we do get apparent confirmation for a lot of specs – like the huge 14.6-inch screen on the biggest Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 model, for example.

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Sneak leak

We see that the Galaxy Tab S8 has a 3-mic noise reduction system for video calls, as well as an ultrawide selfie camera and a new S Pen with improved latency. It looks as though plenty of effort has gone into the software experience too, with multi-window layouts one of the features being promoted.

As for the Galaxy S22 line-up, it looks as though it's going to feature an object eraser for photos much like the latest Google Pixel 6 does. We can see the S Pen included on the S22 Ultra model, and there's a promise of the longest battery life ever on a Galaxy device (it seems battery capacities are going to go up to 5,000mAh).

The Galaxy S22 promotional video lasts for a little over a minute, and while it's not particularly clear, we do get mentions of a "minimalist design" and "the toughest Galaxy Samsung yet", plus a look at the different colors the phones are going to be available in.


Analysis: a flood of leaks

We're used to devices leaking ahead of their official unveiling, but we've rarely seen this much information appear in advance before: the Samsung Galaxy S22 has to go down as one of the most leaked smartphones in history, which is something that we assume Samsung isn't particularly happy about.

Only yesterday just about every detail of the Galaxy S22, the Galaxy S22 Plus and the Galaxy S22 Ultra was revealed. It seems as though the most expensive Ultra model is going to be the most interesting, as Samsung looks to be positioning it as a replacement for the Galaxy Note devices.

We haven't heard quite so much about the Galaxy Tab S8, but there have been numerous leaks here as well: the tablet series has already popped up on retail sites ahead of time, and we've seen authentic-looking renders of what the device will look like too.

Nothing is certain until Samsung says it's certain of course, but there have now been enough leaks – and enough similar leaks – to make us reasonably confident about what to expect. We'll finally get to see these shiny new pieces of hardware on February 9, when Samsung holds its next Unpacked event.

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3 things left to learn about the Samsung Galaxy S22

At this point there’s very little left to learn about the Samsung Galaxy S22 range – assuming that the leaks and rumors we’ve heard so far are accurate.

The entire range has been extensively leaked, right down to their weight and dimensions, and while some early leaks disagreed on key specs and features, recent leaks are largely in agreement. So Samsung might not have many surprises for us on February 9 when it officially unveils the Galaxy S22 range.

That said, there are still a few things that we aren’t totally clear on. Things that either haven’t leaked, or where the leaks don’t have us fully convinced. With that in mind we’ve dug up the three main things that we still have left to learn about the Samsung Galaxy S22 range.

1. The release date

An image from a Samsung Unpacked teaser video

(Image credit: Samsung)

While we’re almost certain that Samsung will announce the Galaxy S22 range on February 9 (as it’s confirmed that it’s holding a big event then), what we’re not so sure of is when you’ll actually be able to buy the phones.

There has been at least one release date leaked, with a source claiming that the phones will go on sale on February 24. However, they also claimed that the announcement would be on February 8, which we now know to be a day out.

Given that they got that wrong (albeit only slightly) we’re not totally confident of their release date claim, especially as it hasn’t been backed up by other sources. Still, there’s a good chance the range will go on sale around that date at least.

2. The charging speeds

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

A Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Future)

How fast will the Samsung Galaxy S22 range charge? We’ve heard a couple of times that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra might support 45W charging, but at least one source points to 25W for the whole range.

There’s also a chance the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus will support 45W, but fewer leaks point to that than the Ultra, and there’s not much word on the standard model. So the leaks aren’t totally clear here.

We’re also even less sure of how speedy the wireless charging will be. There’s evidence that Samsung is working on a 25W wireless charger, but no guarantee that any – let alone all – phones in the Samsung Galaxy S22 range will support it.

For reference, every phone in the Samsung Galaxy S21 range supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so there could be some upgrades this year, but we’re just not certain.

3. How much storage the S22 Ultra will have

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra tops out at 512GB (Image credit: Future)

While sources seem to agree that the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus will come in 128GB and 256GB configurations, there’s less agreement on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Some sources point to a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage, while at least one other suggests it will also come in a 128GB version.

But then we’ve also heard of a 1TB model in some leaks. That would be more storage than you can get with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, but if such a version does arrive, it might not do so until later than the other models. So even if these leaks are accurate we might not learn about this model on February 9.

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FAA gives green light to more 5G towers around airports

The Federal Aviation Administration's ongoing battle with Verizon and AT&T over ultra-fast 5G C-band deployment around airports is finally ending: On Friday, the FAA announced an agreement on new steps that allow yet more 5G towers to operate safely around key airports.

In the year since Verizon and AT&T paid nearly $70 billion for the mid-band 5G spectrum (T-Mobile 600-MHz 5G that is not C-band) -- a slice of the bandwidth that provides better reliability and speed than Verizon and AT&T's original 5G deployments -- the FAA, US, Department of Transportation, and more recently the major airlines have expressed concern over possible safety issues, which has led to multiple deployment delays.

At the crux was whether 5G C-band towers situated near airports could interfere with some flight instrumentation, namely the altimeters that tell pilots how far they are from the ground.

AT&T and Verizon argued that it was safe and that the airlines, airports, and the FAA had months to work through these concerns and any potential technical hurdles. They also agreed to various mitigation measures, from lowering the transmission power of all 5G towers to mothballing some towers around the airports. That last action occurred just as the two wireless carriers were finally lighting up their 5G C-Band service. Verizon calls its flavor "5G Ultra Wideband" (AT&T just calls it "C-Band"). TechRadar took Verizon's new service for a ride earlier this week but did not travel around any airports where the latest flavor of 5G might've been unavailable.

Now, however, at least some of these 5G C-band towers will be powered up.

"The FAA appreciates the strong communication and collaborative approach with wireless companies, which have provided more precise data about the exact location of wireless transmitters and supported the more thorough analysis of how 5G C-band signals interact with sensitive aircraft instruments," the FAA said in a statement released on Friday.

5G vs. the airlines: a brief timeline

Jan. 13: FAA reveals exactly what 5G will do to airplanes  The FAA is providing the airline industry with ‘Notice to Air’ missions that detail how 5G networks could potentially affect aircraft equipment, notably altimeters that rely on frequencies located between 4.2 and 4.4GHz. 

Jan. 10: 50 airports get 5G "buffer zones"  Airports in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and more are covered by the new restrictions, with some airports excluded because they do not permit low-visibility landings or because 5G towers are not close enough to cause concern. 

* Read more ▼

Jan. 04: So much for 5G at the airport Verizon and AT&T agreed late Monday to delay the 5G C-Band rollout, after earlier in the day announcing plans to move forward with their $70 billion dollar investment in the 5G C-band spectrum and their plans to launch the service on January 5.

Jan. 03, 2022: The DoT treads into the battle A letter by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to AT&T and Verizon acknowledges the investment in 5G-C made by both companies but cautions that "the economic stakes for the aviation industry and the disruptions the traveling public would face ... are significant."

Dec. 08: FAA sets new 5G flight restrictions The FAA has issued a warning that interference from C-band 5G could result in flight diversions as the planned use of this new 5G wireless spectrum by mobile carriers poses an air safety risk.

Nov. 5: Pilots warned about 5G interference -- and carries caved Verizon and AT&T agreed to temporarily postpone their rollout of C-band 5G in order to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address concerns surrounding potential interference with key cockpit safety devices.

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The location data allowed the FAA to determine that " it is possible to safely and more precisely map the size and shape of the areas around airports where 5G signals are mitigated, shrinking the areas where wireless operators are deferring their antenna activations."

The cooperation means that AT&T and Verizon will be turning on more towers. But the FAA added that it's still working with helicopter operators and the rest of the aviation industry to make sure they can also operate safely in 5G transmission areas.

As for consumers, if you have a 5G phone, it likely already supports 5G C-Band. Verizon customers might notice a tiny "UW" next to 5G when they have it. You can also test your speeds with Speedtest.net.

TechRadar has contacted the carriers for comment and will update this post with their response.

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Nokia breaks Standalone 5G record using ‘world first’ technique

Nokia, China Mobile (CMCC) and MediaTek have achieved a record 5G Standalone (5G SA) speed of 3Gbps thanks to the world’s first test of three component carrier aggregation technology.

Nearly all early 5G deployments to date have relied on Non-standalone 5G (NSA 5G), which uses new radio technologies but still relies on the underlying 4G core.

SA 5G uses a new virtual, cloud-based core that allows data to be processed closer to the point of collection and enables features like network slicing. This allows for guaranteed speeds, enhanced reliability and ultra-low latency.

5G SA speed record

Meanwhile, carrier aggregation fuses separate spectrum bands together to harness the advantages of each. For example, marrying the coverage and indoor propagation rates of low-band frequencies with the high capacity and data rates of mid and high band airwaves.

Not only will this capability improve speeds and coverage, it will allow operators to do so using their existing assets, reducing the cost of network deployment.

Carrier aggregation has been used on both 4G and 5G networks, helping to achieve speeds in excess of the 3Gbps recorded by Nokia and its partners. However, this is the fastest to date using 5G SA technology alone and offers an indication of what might be possible in a real world setting.

For this trial, the partners combined 30MHz of 700MHz and 100+160MHz of 2.6GHz to achieve the record transmission rates, showcasing the potential of 5G technology to offer even greater performance.

The record was achieved in Shanghai using Nokia’s radio equipment, China Mobile’s network and MediaTek’s 9000 5G mobile platform.

“Nokia has put a strong focus on leading in 5G Carrier Aggregation. This new speed record, using commercially available hardware and software, highlights how Nokia’s pioneering approach continues to drive important innovation in the market,” said Mark Atkinson, head of Radio Access Networks PLM at Nokia.

“5G Carrier Aggregation is a critical technology for mobile operators around the world to maximize the impact of their spectrum holdings and deliver enhanced coverage and capacity to subscribers. Nokia will keep pushing the boundaries of 5G to deliver industry-leading performance.”

“China Mobile is…committed to building a 5G multi-frequency collaborative network; This [three component carrier aggregation] verification can provide users with better throughput and user experience, and provide good technical foundations for new services,” added Ding Haiyi, VP of China Mobile’s Research Institute.

  • If you want the fastest speeds around, here are the best 5G phones you can currently buy
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iOS 15.4 brings beans, bubbles, and dozens of other emoji to iPhone

The first iOS 15.4 beta has landed, and while it comes with a number of new features, the most exciting aspect for many iPhone users might be its new emoji.

It includes support for Emoji 14, which means there are 37 new emoji types and 75 skin tone additions.

The skin tone additions are of course great for inclusivity – being able to share an emoji that somewhat reflects you is always better than one with a wildly different skin tone.

The new emoji meanwhile cover a wide range of things, from a melting face, a saluting face, and a face with an eye peeking out from behind hands, to a biting lip, an empty nest, an x-ray, a crutch, a troll, coral, beans, bubbles, a lotus flower, and a whole lot more.

In total there are 112 new additions (factoring in both the new types and the skin tone variations), and you can see a full list of them on Emojipedia.

If you’re desperate to get these emoji now and are registered with Apple as a developer then you can grab the current beta, but we’d generally recommend waiting at least for the public beta (which based on past form could arrive any day now), and ideally for the finished release.

The final version of iOS 15.4 is probably still many weeks away, but we’d think based on past form that it should arrive before April at least.


WWDC 2021 screenshot

Universal Control has finally landed (Image credit: Apple)

Analysis: what else you’ll find in iOS 15.4

As well as emoji, the iOS 15.4 beta is a home to a whole bunch of other updates and improvements, with the highlight perhaps being mask support for Face ID (without needing an Apple Watch).

There’s also an Apple Card widget which lets you view your balance and spending at a glance, the ability to add notes to passwords in iCloud Keychain, the option to activate SharePlay directly from the Share Sheet, and loads of other changes.

Universal Control makes a long-awaited appearance too, though this is more of an iPadOS 15.4 feature, as it allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across both an iPad and a Mac.

What we haven’t so far seen is any sign of the ability to add your driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app, which is something Apple announced a long time ago but is yet to launch. Still, maybe it will make the finished version of iOS 15.4, and if not there’s always iOS 16.

Posted in Uncategorised

iOS 15.4 brings beans, bubbles, and dozens of other emoji to iPhone

The first iOS 15.4 beta has landed, and while it comes with a number of new features, the most exciting aspect for many iPhone users might be its new emoji.

It includes support for Emoji 14, which means there are 37 new emoji types and 75 skin tone additions.

The skin tone additions are of course great for inclusivity – being able to share an emoji that somewhat reflects you is always better than one with a wildly different skin tone.

The new emoji meanwhile cover a wide range of things, from a melting face, a saluting face, and a face with an eye peeking out from behind hands, to a biting lip, an empty nest, an x-ray, a crutch, a troll, coral, beans, bubbles, a lotus flower, and a whole lot more.

In total there are 112 new additions (factoring in both the new types and the skin tone variations), and you can see a full list of them on Emojipedia.

If you’re desperate to get these emoji now and are registered with Apple as a developer then you can grab the current beta, but we’d generally recommend waiting at least for the public beta (which based on past form could arrive any day now), and ideally for the finished release.

The final version of iOS 15.4 is probably still many weeks away, but we’d think based on past form that it should arrive before April at least.


WWDC 2021 screenshot

Universal Control has finally landed (Image credit: Apple)

Analysis: what else you’ll find in iOS 15.4

As well as emoji, the iOS 15.4 beta is a home to a whole bunch of other updates and improvements, with the highlight perhaps being mask support for Face ID (without needing an Apple Watch).

There’s also an Apple Card widget which lets you view your balance and spending at a glance, the ability to add notes to passwords in iCloud Keychain, the option to activate SharePlay directly from the Share Sheet, and loads of other changes.

Universal Control makes a long-awaited appearance too, though this is more of an iPadOS 15.4 feature, as it allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across both an iPad and a Mac.

What we haven’t so far seen is any sign of the ability to add your driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app, which is something Apple announced a long time ago but is yet to launch. Still, maybe it will make the finished version of iOS 15.4, and if not there’s always iOS 16.

Posted in Uncategorised