Apple is apparently going back to the hits, at least for design cues, when it comes to future handsets.
‘iPhone SE 2’ rumored to launch in the first quarter of 2020 with iPhone 8 design
iPhone 8
Here is your 2019 iPhone lineup
Every year Apple refreshes its iPhone lineup, adding a few new handsets to the mix while also rearranging older models. This is the company's way to refresh the whole mix, while offering a change to price points for aging handsets.
iBSparkes teases Cydia running on the first iOS 13 beta
Just yesterday, talented security researcher and iPhone hacker iBSparkes teased what appeared to be Saurik’s Cydia package manager running on an iPhone SE with iOS 12.4 installed on it, which was a particularly noteworthy feat given that all public jailbreak tools at the time of this writing only support up to iOS 12.1.2.
The teaser raised several questions, such as whether iBSparkes’ latest exploit would also support Apple’s upcoming iOS 13 software update. Fortunately, we might now have an answer to that question, as iBSparkes shared another teaser just this morning of Cydia running on an iPhone 8 (iPhone 10,4) running the first iOS 13 beta:
Apple halts sales of iPhone 7 & 8 models in Germany following Qualcomm’s patent case
Apple's expectedly pulled the iPhone 7 and 8 models from sale in Germany following a legal spat with chip maker Qualcomm, which proved in court that Apple violated its hardware patent.
iPhone XR accounted for a larger proportion of Android switchers than iPhone 8 & iPhone X
Fresh data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) indicates that Apple's colorful iPhone XR, which starts at $749, has likely attracted a significantly larger proportion of Android switchers in the United States than iPhone 8 and iPhone X did last November.
Apple to stop selling iPhone 7 and 8 in Germany as Qualcomm secures another sales ban
Qualcomm has secured another victory in its legal spat with Apple, this time in Germany after a Munich court ruled that some iPhone models that employ Intel-made cellular modems violate a Qualcomm patent which covers so-called envelope tracking, a feature that helps smartphones save battery power while sending and receiving wireless signals.
Your iPhone X or iPhone 8/8 Plus might one day get throttled by Apple
Late last year, Apple was caught throttling iPhones that had degrading batteries. This lead to class action lawsuits, a discounted battery replacement program, and various meetings with regulators around the world. It also forced Apple to add a battery monitoring tool in iOS 11.3. With the 2018 iPhones now in stores comes word that last year's handsets might eventually be throttled too.
As first discovered by The Verge, the recently released iOS 12.1 update brings Apple’s controversial “performance management feature” to the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus for the first time. With this tool, Apple can dynamically throttle the devices (i.e. slow them down) as the battery degrades in order to stop random shutdowns.
An Apple support page explains:
With a low battery state of charge, a higher chemical age, or colder temperatures, users are more likely to experience unexpected shutdowns. In extreme cases, shutdowns can occur more frequently, thereby rendering the device unreliable or unusable. For iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus, iOS dynamically manages performance peaks to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down so that the iPhone can still be used. This performance management feature is specific to iPhone and does not apply to any other Apple products. Starting with iOS 12.1, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X include this feature, but performance management may be less noticeable due to their more advanced hardware and software design.
No doubt this news will lead to some more criticism against Apple. However, it's probably no longer justified. If you own one of last year's phones, you can turn off the performance management feature.
What do you think? Let us know below.
Image of iPhone X battery courtesy of iFixit
iPhone XR supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 content even without a true HDR display
Although Apple advertises in support documents and elsewhere on its website that the new iPhone XR series features HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, these colorful smartphones in reality do not have a display compliant with the high dynamic range (HDR) specification.
Apple launches free iPhone 8 logic board replacement program
Apple has determined that a small number of iPhone 8 devices contain logic boards with a manufacturing defect. Phones affected with the problem may experience unexpected restarts, a frozen screen, or won't turn on. To resolve this issue, the company has implemented a logic board replacement program, which is free of charge.
How to fast charge your iPhone or iPad
To juice up your iPhone XS, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus significantly faster than the included five-watt USB wall brick, you'll need either a 7.5-watt Qi wireless charger or a ten-watt or stronger USB-C power adapter to enable slightly faster wired charging. For best results, you're wholeheartedly recommended to take full advantage of the convenient fast charge feature supported by 2017 iPhones and beyond. Here's what you'll need to use the fast charge option and how to fuel your phone faster without burning money on USB-C chargers and cables.
Logitech’s new wireless charger lets you unlock with Face ID while your iPhone X is charging
We still don't know when Apple's multi-device AirPower wireless charging mat is coming, but if you need a Qi charger for your iPhone, Logitech just unveiled a new wireless charger for iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus that lets you use your phone while it's being charged.
Apple bashing continues with new Galaxy S9 ads about the camera, fast charging & dongles
Samsung's new “Ingenius” ad series renews Apple bashing, depicting a puzzled Apple Store Genius Bar employee unable to answer tricky questions regarding iPhone X and Galaxy S9.