iPhone 8 Plus has the best smartphone camera
If taking great photos and videos is important to you, then the iPhone 8 Plus is the best smartphone that you can get right now. That's according to camera testing site DxOMark, which says that Apple's new flagship range tops its charts in nearly every category, featuring "outstanding image quality."
The iPhone 8 Plus comes ahead of every other smartphone in DxOMark's mobile rankings, including the smaller iPhone 8 which takes second place. It basically wipes the floor with every other rival flagship, including the well-received Google Pixel and HTC U11.
Warning: Toggles in the iOS 11 Control Center don't let you turn off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
The aesthetics of the new Control Center in iOS 11 has been the source of amusement, debate and disgust in varying measures. But putting the look to one side for a moment, people upgrading to iOS 11 have been disappointed to discover that the toggles for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in the Control Center don't actually turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
For reasons best known to Apple, the toggles disconnect from wireless networks and Bluetooth devices, but the two radios will remain enabled. While the change of functionality is covered in Apple's support documentation, it's not something that is obvious to users. It's hugely unintuitive, drains battery life and, according to security researchers, could leave iOS devices open to attack.
Apple Watch Series 3 is plagued by battery issues and LTE problems
When Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 3 just over a week ago, there was much excitement at the fact that the smartwatch now features LTE connectivity. It's finally possible to make a call from your Apple Watch without having your iPhone nearby -- although there's the slight dampener that the watch does not support roaming.
Now the first reviews of the Apple Watch Series 3 are starting to trickle in and, while they are generally positive, they highlight a couple of issues. Battery life seems to be rather less than was proclaimed at launch, and Apple has also identified LTE issues that prevent the watch from using cellular.
Privacy: With iOS 11 and Safari's cookie blocking, Apple is kicking advertisers in the teeth
Apple news has been dominated -- understandably -- by the launch of the iPhone X, iPhone 8/8Plus and Apple Watch Series 3. But there's also iOS 11 to consider. The latest version of Apple's mobile operating system hit iPhones and iPads around the world yesterday, bringing with it a raft of new features.
The release of iOS 11 includes an updated version of Safari and, importantly, a feature called Intelligent Tracking Prevention. Enabled by default, the feature blocks certain cookies from websites, making it harder for advertisers to follow users around the web. Users and privacy advocates are happy; advertisers, it must be said, are not, saying "Apple's unilateral and heavy-handed approach is bad for consumer choice and bad for the ad-supported online content and services consumers love."
Some of your favorite apps will stop working in iOS 11 -- here's how to find out which
Today is a big day for iPhone and iPad users, as it’s when iOS 11 makes its official debut.
There’s a lot of cool new features in this OS update, including a design refresh, revamped Control Center, a Do Not Disturb driving mode, Siri improvements, and much more. However, iOS 11 is also when Apple stops supporting 32-bit apps. And that means some of your beloved apps and games may stop working once you perform the update.
Apple Watch Series 3 does not support roaming
When the Apple Watch Series 3 was revealed last week, there was much excitement about the fact that -- at long last -- it would be possible to make calls without the need to have an iPhone nearby. Built-in cellular connectivity is something Apple Watch users have been begging for, and the Series 3 model delivers LTE goodness.
But all is not quite as rosy as it might first seem. Yes, it's possible to use your new Apple Watch to make phone calls, but it's not going to be of any use to you if you go abroad. The smartwatch does not support roaming. On top of this, the device will only provide full functionality in the country of purchase -- so if you were thinking of buying a cheap Apple Watch abroad, you might want to think again.
Face ID on iPhone X has a quick-disable anti-theft feature, says Apple
With the launch of the iPhone X, Apple unleashed Face ID biometrics on the world. During a demonstration of the feature there was a SNAFU when Face ID failed to work as intended (due, Apple says, to staff playing around with the device beforehand), and there are many questions hanging over the idea of using one's face to unlock a phone -- Senator Al Franken has many questions, for example.
Among the questions posed by Franken and others are queries such as "what's to stop someone using a photo or mask to unlock my phone?", and "if a mugger steals my phone, could they not unlock it just be holding it in front of my face?" Good points, though Apple Senior VP Craig Federighi says there are built-in measures to prevent such instances of unauthorized unlocking.
Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus coming to Xfinity Mobile
In the United States, there are four major cell carriers -- Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. They are not the only game in town, however, as there are regional carriers too. Not to mention, there are many MVNO offerings that piggyback off of the towers belonging to the aforementioned "big four."
One interesting new player in the MVNO space is Comcast with its affordable and unlimited "Xfinity Mobile" offering. Limited to subscribers of Xfinity home service, it uses a combination of Verizon's excellent LTE network plus Xfinity's 18 million hotspots to maximize coverage. Today, Comcast announces that the the budget-friendly service will soon be getting Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.
Privacy: Senator Al Franken has a lot of concerns about Face ID on the Apple iPhone X
From the moment Apple started to talk about Face ID, there were concerns voiced about privacy and security. It's not just security experts and potential users who have these worries; Senator Al Franken has written to Tim Cook asking for details about the safeguards Apple has put in place to protect users.
On top of this, Franken wants to know more about how Apple trained the Face ID algorithm, and seeks assurances that third parties will not be able to access or be granted access to Face ID data.
iPhone X vs iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: Which Apple flagship should you buy?
With the new iPhone X, Apple just made it more difficult to decide which new iPhone to buy. It is no longer a matter of figuring out which display size you prefer or how nice you would like the camera to be. The new kid on the block is different, coming with all sorts of cool features that can make you more confused than ever.
It's so different from the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus that it is basically in a category of its own, at the top of Apple's smartphone lineup. But how does it actually compare to the other two flagships, and is it the right iPhone for you?
Apple quietly raises iPad Pro prices after iPhone X launch
The iPhone X surprised some people with its starting price of (just) under a grand -- many were expecting Apple to break the $1,000 barrier even with the base model. It wasn't all good news on the price front, though. As well as hiking the cost of AppleCare+ for some devices, Apple also raised the price of some iPad Pro models.
With no announcement, the price of the 256GB and 512GB 10.5 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models have jumped by $50. Apple has not given a reason, but the increased price of memory has been suggested as a possibility.
Apple strips the App Store from iTunes 12.7
The focus of Apple's event yesterday was certainly the new iPhones, but this was far from being all that came out of Cupertino. Apple also released iTunes 12.7 and there's a glaring change -- the App Store is gone.
iTunes has long been derided for being bloated, and this latest change seems to be Apple's attempt to get things back under control. Ditching the App Store means that apps can only be downloaded using an iOS device, but as significant as this is, it is not the only notable change in the software.
Apple jacks up the price of AppleCare+
If you were enticed by yesterday's iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X announcements, you may be preparing to delve into your pocket to hand over some cash for one of Apple's latest handsets. If you're thinking of taking out AppleCare+ insurance to protect your new device, you're going to have to dig a little deeper.
Apple is increasing the price of AppleCare+ for its Plus model -- including the previous generation iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 7 Plus -- and is introducing a new, even higher price point for iPhone X insurance.
When will Apple release macOS 10.13 High Sierra?
Apple previewed macOS 10.13 High Sierra at WWDC 2017 in June, but it will not officially release the latest version of the Mac operating system until this fall. But, when exactly is it coming?
Apple has updated the macOS 10.13 High Sierra landing page on its website to announce that it will be released on September 25, just two weeks from now.
Want to buy an iPhone? There are too many choices now
At its first ever event at the new Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, Apple took the wraps off its latest iterations of iPhone -- the iPhone 8, its larger sibling the iPhone 8 Plus, and the re-imagined iPhone X.
If you’re in the market for a new flagship smartphone, then choosing between the iPhone 8/8 Plus and the iPhone X could be tricky, as many of the new features are available on both devices, but it becomes even harder when you consider there are even more iPhones to choose from in the official line-up.
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