Google’s device line could end up having a particularly important moment in 2023. The company usually announces new Pixel products throughout the year. Google is expected to release its first foldable phone this year, however, which would directly compete with Samsung’s proven line of Galaxy Z Fold devices.

Google also introduced its own ChatGPT rival, Bard, which it opened up to the public in March. It wouldn’t be surprising to see new developments to Bard and hear about Google’s other AI ambitions during its I/O conference in May. 

Both potential announcements would further signal that tech giants are thinking about what’s next for the smartphone and the apps that run on these devices in 2023. Samsung and Motorola, for example, both introduced new concept devices earlier this year with slidable and rollable screens, which could one day succeed today’s foldables. And Microsoft has its own revamped version of Bing that uses AI to provide more direct and conversational answers, giving Google stronger competition in the search arena it’s dominated for years.   

Here’s a look at what we’re expecting from Google this year, based on rumors, reports and the company’s typical product launch schedule. We’ll be updating this story regularly as more leaks and reports surface. 

Pixel 7A

If history repeats itself, Google will release a cheaper version of the Pixel 7 known as the Pixel 7A in the spring or summer. Google introduced the Pixel 6A at Google I/O last year before putting it on sale in July. That means we might be just weeks away from learning about the Pixel 7A, if Google does decide to announce it at its annual developer conference again this year.

We won’t know anything for certain until Google debuts the Pixel 7A, but some leaks and reports have provided clues about what it might include. Developer Kuba Wojciechowski, who claims to have found details possibly referring to the Pixel 7A in the Android codebase, suggests the Pixel 7A could have a screen with a higher 90Hz refresh rate and wireless charging. 

That might not sound too exciting, but it’s notable because these two features are absent from the 6A. By bringing them to the Pixel 7A, Google would further close the gap between its premium and budget-friendly phones. 

Another purported leak from Vietnamese website Zing News suggests the Pixel 7A will have a 6.1-inch screen just like the 6A and a design that resembles the Pixel 7.

If the Pixel 7A follows in the Pixel 6A’s footsteps, we can expect it to have the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7, but a camera that’s a step down. 

Pixel Fold

Aside from Apple, Google is one of the only major phone-makers that hasn’t released a foldable phone or discussed plans to do so. But that could change in the near future. Reports from 9to5Google and WinFuture suggest Google’s first foldable Pixel device could arrive as soon as June.

The phone could avoid the Samsung Z Fold series’ tall, thin design in favor of a shorter, wider format with a look that’s similar to the Oppo Find N or Microsoft Surface Duo, according to reports and leaks from 9to5Google and YouTube personality Dave2D. Code in the beta for Android 13, which Wojciechowski says he discovered, also suggests the Pixel Fold would have a camera with main, ultrawide and telephoto lenses. 

Google is known for undercutting rivals like Apple and Samsung on price with its regular Pixel phones. If Google does release a foldable phone, I’m hoping it takes a similar approach. Samsung currently dominates foldable phones with 62% of the market in the first half of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research, so it’ll be interesting to see if Google can give Samsung some worthwhile competition. 

Sales of foldable phones are growing, but they still make up just a fraction of the broader smartphone market. Global shipments are expected to grow by 52% year-over-year in 2023, according to Counterpoint, reaching 22.7 million units. But when you consider that 304 million smartphones are estimated to have been shipped in the fourth quarter of 2022 based on Counterpoint’s findings, 22.7 million in a whole year seems like a drop in the ocean. 

Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

Google typically releases new flagship Pixel phones in the fall, and we’re expecting the company to follow that same pattern in 2023. We won’t know what’s in store for Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro until it announces those devices. 

However, Google’s updates have been very camera-centric in recent years, with the Pixel 7 lineup gaining improved zoom and the Pixel 7 Pro receiving a new macro photography mode. With the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which were the first Pixels to run on Google’s Tensor chips, we saw new features like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur and Real Tone. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Google push the camera even further on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, although we won’t know exactly what that looks like just yet. Both phones will also likely have a new Tensor processor, too.

Leaks have been scarce so far, but there have been a few reports claiming to provide details about Google’s next pair of Pixels. WinFuture reports the new phones will run on Android 14, which is expected to be the next major version of Android, and will have 12GB of RAM. Well-known gadget leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer also partnered with blogs MySmartPrice and SmartPrix to publish what are said to be renderings of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. 

Android 14

Android 14 is currently available in a preview mode for developers, with the final consumer-ready version expected to arrive in the fall. Google releases new Android features and Pixel-specific features throughout the year, but its annual version upgrades usually provide sweeping platform-wide improvements. 

Android 13, for example, introduced more color options for Google’s Material You interface, end-to-end encryption for RCS group chats in Messages and more privacy protections, such as the option to grant apps access to a limited selection of photos instead of your whole library. 

Based on what we know about Android 14 so far, it seems like Google will continue building on these themes by making improvements related to power efficiency, privacy and accessibility. We’ll likely find out more at Google’s I/O developer conference in May. 

Pixel Tablet

Google is taking a fresh approach to tablets with its upcoming Pixel Tablet, which will have a speaker charging dock that turns it into a Nest Hub when docked.

The company hasn’t revealed much about its upcoming tablet, but it did provide some details during its last Pixel event in October. Other than its speaker dock, we also learned that the tablet will have a nano-ceramic coating inspired by porcelain and will run on the Tensor G2 processor found in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. 

Google said it plans to launch the tablet in 2023, although it didn’t provide specifics. We’re expecting to learn more at Google I/O or in the fall, when the company typically holds its Pixel product launch event. 

More AI in Google Search and elsewhere

Following the success of ChatGPT, generative AI has been everywhere in 2023 — and that includes in Google’s products. The company already introduced its AI-powered search chatbot Bard and announced new AI features for Gmail and Google Docs for generating drafts and rewriting emails. 

But we’re expecting AI to be a dominant trend at Google I/O conference this year, especially as it seeks to keep pace with Microsoft and other rivals. Google reportedly issued a code red in December after ChatGPT debuted, according to The New York Times, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Google use its conference as an opportunity to assert its authority in AI. 

AI has been a prominent theme at Google I/O before. Last year, for example, Google discussed improvements to automation, like auto translation and transcription for video, as well as updates to Search that make it better at handling questions that combine text and images. With all the attention Microsoft’s Bing has garnered thanks to its incorporation of AI, Google will likely make AI and Search a centerpiece of its I/O presentation. 

Pixel Watch 2 

Google hasn’t discussed plans for future Pixel Watches, nor have there been many leaks or rumors about what’s next for Google’s smartwatch. But since Google’s Pixel phones follow a yearly cadence — as do the Pixel Watch’s biggest competitors like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch — it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Pixel Watch follow suit. 

Based on Google’s current direction for the Pixel Watch, we can probably expect to see the same round design on its sequel. The latest version of Wear OS, which we’re expecting to hear more about at Google I/O, will also likely make an appearance. I’m also hoping to see longer battery life and a few extra health and fitness-tracking features, such as auto-workout detection.

The post 8 New Google Products We Expect to See This Year first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Google’s Pixel 6A was my favorite Android phone under $500 last year, which means Google has a lot to live up to for its rumored Pixel 7A. That’s especially true as the company faces more competition in the budget phone space from Samsung, which just announced the $450 Galaxy A54 5G.

The $449 Pixel 6A is essentially a smaller, less expensive version of the Pixel 6, Google’s flagship phone from 2021. The Pixel 6A has the same Tensor processor and general design as the Pixel 6, but with a lower-resolution, 12-megapixel main camera and a few other compromises. But its relatively low cost, solid photography for the price and attractive design made it a top choice for Android fans shopping on a budget.

Google got a lot right with the Pixel 6A, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. For example, I sometimes felt the Pixel 6A’s screen was too dim, and its lack of wireless charging feels antiquated in 2023.

Google hasn’t mentioned any details about its upcoming product launch plans. But if the company maintains the same product launch strategy as last year, the Pixel 7A could appear as soon as this summer. Here’s what I’d like to see.

Same screen size, but smoother and brighter

The Pixel 6A’s 6.1-inch screen size is perfect for people who prefer smaller phones, so I’m hoping the Pixel 7A inherits this trait. It rounds out Google’s Pixel family nicely by ensuring there’s a small, medium and large option within the lineup.

However, I am hoping to see display upgrades in other areas. Google could improve the brightness on the Pixel 7A, for example, considering I was sometimes tempted to crank the brightness above 50% on the Pixel 6A, even when indoors. That’s one area where Samsung rarely has an issue, especially in the Galaxy S22 and S23 lineups.

I’d also like to see a higher refresh rate on the Pixel 7A. Since Google’s A-series phones aren’t meant to have all the flourishes you’d find on a flagship phone, a standard refresh rate may seem reasonable for the Pixel 7A. The problem, though, is that high refresh rates are no longer reserved just for premium devices. Budget phones like last year’s Galaxy A53 5G and even Motorola’s Moto G 5G have refresh rates that are higher than the standard 60Hz, resulting in smoother scrolling. That makes the Pixel 6A feel a little behind, though it excels over these competing devices in other ways, like the camera.

Luckily, Google might address this with the Pixel 7A, if a leak from developer Kuba Wojciechowski turns out to be true. Wojciechowski claims to have found details in the Android codebase indicating that the Pixel 7A could have a higher, 90Hz refresh rate, which would match the Pixel 7’s.

Wireless charging

Another feature missing from the Pixel 6A is wireless charging. The ability to charge your phone on a wireless charging pad instead of by plugging it in may not seem like a deal breaker for most people. But similar to high refresh rates, wireless charging doesn’t feel like it should be a premium feature in 2023, especially since it’s been common on most phones for the last five years. That said, many competing phones in this price range don’t support wireless charging either, aside from the $429 iPhone SE.

Thankfully, the Pixel 7A may indeed gain wireless charging, if Wojciechowski’s findings are accurate.

More guaranteed Android updates

Google’s Pixel phones are among the first to get new Android software updates. Google, however, doesn’t offer Android version updates for as long as Samsung does. Samsung provides four generations of Android version updates, while Google offers only three. Considering Google is the purveyor of Android, and that Pixel phones are expected to provide the ideal Android experience, I’m hoping Google considers extending support in the future. And not just for the Pixel 7A, but for all upcoming Pixel phones.

Face Unlock

The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro support the ability to unlock your phone with your face, unlike the Pixel 6. Since that functionality primarily relies on the Pixel 7’s front-facing camera, unlike Apple’s Face ID, which creates a depth map of your face, I don’t see any reason why Google couldn’t easily bring this feature to the Pixel 7A. Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G, which was in the same price range as the Pixel 6A at launch, also supports facial recognition.

If the Pixel 7A does gain the Pixel 7’s Face Unlock, just remember that Google cautions it isn’t as secure as using the fingerprint reader or a PIN. Because of this, it’s meant for unlocking your phone more conveniently, rather than authenticating purchases.

Photo Unblur

One of the biggest ways Google differentiates its Pixel phones from other Android devices is by providing software and camera features you can’t get elsewhere. One of my favorite additions to the Pixel 7 is a feature called Photo Unblur, which sharpens old photos that may’ve been taken out of focus. If the Pixel 7A runs on the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, it’ll likely support Photo Unblur, too. And I hope it does, because during my review, I was seriously impressed with how well it sharpened a photo of me from 10 years ago.

Google has an opportunity to make its next A-series Pixel phone even more compelling by adding features that should be standard in 2023 — namely wireless charging and a screen with a higher refresh rate. Google will naturally need to make some compromises with the Pixel 7A to keep its price competitive and maintain some separation from the Pixel 7. But even with the features mentioned above, there’s still plenty that would distinguish the Pixel 7 from its cheaper sibling, like a larger screen, a higher resolution camera, a larger storage option and more RAM. 

We’re hoping to find out more about Google’s upcoming Pixel plans at its Google I/O developer conference in May. 

The post Google’s Pixel 7A: The Biggest Features I Want on the Rumored Phone first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

My sister calls me almost every day — often at inopportune times, like when I’m in a meeting or out at dinner with friends. That’s why I was intrigued to learn about Samsung’s Bixby Text Call, a feature that lets you blend traditional phone calls with texting. Instead of interrupting my meeting or dinner to answer the phone verbally, I can answer through texts using Bixby, i.e., Samsung’s version of Siri.

Samsung’s digital helper essentially acts as a mediator that converts my texts into speech. It works both ways by also transcribing the caller’s words into text. I’ll admit, it’s a confusing concept to grasp until you try it. But it shows that smartphone giants like Samsung and Google are thinking about ways to shake up the traditional phone call. 

Though phones themselves have evolved tremendously over the last decade, the experience of making a call has largely remained the same. Google sought to change that over the last five years by launching new phone-centric features for Pixel devices, such as those that allow the Google Assistant to screen spam calls and wait on hold for you.

Bixby Text Call feels like Samsung’s way of putting its own spin on the modern phone call, though there’s an important distinction between Google’s and Samsung’s methods. Unlike Google’s Call Screen feature, which uses the Google Assistant to screen calls on your behalf, Bixby isn’t actually answering the phone for you. You’re still the one answering the call, just through Bixby’s voice.

Whether that approach is useful, however, is still up for debate. I’ve been using Bixby Text Call sporadically over the past week to occasionally answer calls in scenarios where it would be inconvenient to pick up. I’ve found it helpful at times, but there have been instances when it may’ve created more confusion than it’s worth. 

How Bixby Text Call works

The English version of Bixby Text Call is available for Samsung devices running One UI 5.1, the company’s latest software update, which just launched in February. 

Getting started with the Bixby Text Call feature is simple enough. Just open the Phone app, tap the three dots in the right corner of the screen, and choose the Settings option. From there, you should see a menu item called Bixby text call. Tapping this choice will bring you to a page that explains what the tool does and allows you to switch it on or off.

Once the feature is activated, you’ll see a button that says Bixby text call on your incoming call screen. Tap that button and swipe up on the green phone icon when answering a call to use Bixby Text Call.

Here’s where things get interesting. Instead of seeing the traditional phone interface and hearing the caller’s voice, you see a text message thread on your screen. Meanwhile, the caller hears Bixby’s automated voice instead of yours. It says the following: “Hi. I’m using Bixby Text Call to convert your voice into text and respond to you. If you want to continue, say who you are and why you’re calling.”

From then on, Bixby transcribes whatever the caller says into text and also recites the recipient’s texts on the other end. The idea is that the caller speaks on the phone as if it’s a normal phone call, and the recipient types responses. You can also switch to a regular phone call anytime by tapping a green button labeled Voice call that sits above the text thread. 

When announcing Bixby Text Call, Samsung said the feature works on-device, meaning it doesn’t send data to the cloud for processing. The company also says audio is deleted after the recognition process is completed.   

Bixby is socially awkward but sometimes helpful

Bixby Text Call is easy to set up, but there’s one problem. Using it can feel socially awkward. Since my friends and family expected to hear my voice answering the phone, Samsung’s automated speech caused some confusion. Because of this issue, it would be wise to decide when it’s appropriate to answer using Bixby Text Call, based on who’s calling, says business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach.

“I think those people who embrace technology would find it to be fascinating, innovative, unique, maybe cool,” she said. “But for someone like your grandmother, who doesn’t understand what’s going on, that could certainly be confusing.”

My sister, for example, initially hung up after stating her name following Bixby’s greeting. A close friend of mine said he almost ended the call right away because he initially mistook Bixby’s voice for a telemarketer’s.

Samsung is hoping to remedy this issue with a new tool that lets you create an artificial copy of your voice. (Yes, you read that correctly: Samsung wants to make an AI clone of your voice!) It’ll be launching in Korean before becoming available in English later this year, according to Samsung. 

That raises many questions, perhaps the biggest of which involves whether this tool could be used to impersonate others. Users will need to read specific sentences to create a voice copy, Samsung previously told CNET, which should prevent others from creating a voice clone by using any random clip of a person’s voice. We also have no idea what this voice copy will sound like. For example, we don’t know whether the intonations and cadence will sound natural.

Bixby Text Call requires that you trust Samsung’s virtual helper to accurately translate speech into text and vice versa. I was able to get through simple, quick conversations pretty easily using the feature. But there were times when Bixby made some obvious mistakes. As shown in the screenshot below, Bixby transcribed the speaker’s comment as, “Hey outstanding just calling a check in this event,” which, of course, doesn’t make sense. (I’m still not quite sure what my husband was trying to say there.) 

It can also be difficult to manage the natural flow of a conversation over Bixby Text Call. Since one party can hear and the other can’t, it’s challenging to know when to speak or type. For example, the listener can’t always tell when Bixby is about to finish speaking, especially during its long-winded (but much needed) introduction. And when the recipient is typing, the caller hears nothing. 

Even without a feature like Bixby Text Call, it’s easy enough to respond to the wrong message or misconstrue someone’s words over text. That’s why it’s even more important to pay close attention when using an intermediary like Bixby, says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas. 

“With this type of technology, we are going to have to be even more cognizant and aware that what I’m responding back to, and [what] you’re responding back to me, may be out of order,” she said.  

In most scenarios, it would probably just be easier to decline the call and send a separate text message if you can’t answer. But despite these shortcomings, I can imagine some scenarios when Bixby Text Call might make sense. 

For example, the feature came in handy recently when I was out with some friends at a crowded bar and my husband needed to ask me a quick question while at the store. It was too loud for me to answer the call at the bar, but it also would’ve been inconvenient for him to text since he was roaming around grocery store aisles. Since it wasn’t our first time using Bixby Text Call, my husband knew what to expect. Hearing Bixby answer the phone didn’t seem as jarring, so it ended up being the right solution for that specific situation.

I could also see it being helpful in scenarios where the caller simply can’t text, such as while driving, cooking or caring for a child. Though it’s true you can just dictate a text message in those situations, Bixby Text Call might be a better option if the caller wants a timely answer or needs to quickly send follow-up messages. 

I don’t think Samsung is reinventing the phone call with Bixby Text Call, nor do I think this feature is compelling enough to convince non-Samsung users to switch to a Galaxy phone. Google’s phone calling features, such as wait time predictions, generally feel like more practical solutions to real problems.

That said, it’s interesting to see companies other than Google thinking about ways to modernize the phone call. This just feels like a first step for Samsung, rather than the final answer. 

Now playing:
Watch this:

Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus Review: Practical but Promising…

12:13

The post Samsung’s Voice Assistant Answered My Calls. It Was Weird first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Apple never discusses new products before it’s ready to formally introduce them, making it impossible to know exactly what to expect. But certain products tend to arrive around the same time every year, providing possible clues. Leaks and rumors also paint a picture of potential gadgets we may see throughout 2023, such as the iPhone 15 and Apple’s long-rumored “mixed-reality” headset.

If the reports turn out to be accurate, 2023 could mark several firsts for Apple’s product lineup. We may see the company’s first AR/VR headset, the first iPhone with USB-C and the first 15-inch MacBook Air, for example. As for other products like AirPods, the Apple TV and the iPad, Bloomberg reports we likely won’t see major changes to those product lines this year.

The debut of a mixed-reality headset would signal an entirely new product category for Apple, while the other updates suggest Apple is further optimizing its devices to contend with Android and Windows competitors that offer bigger screens and universal USB-C charging.

Now playing:
Watch this:

Beyond Yellow iPhone: Apple Rumors Point to New Macs,…

5:21

Apple has already released several new products this year, including a new yellow version of the iPhone 14, an updated HomePod, a Mac Mini with the M2 and M2 Pro chips, and MacBook Pro computers with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max. 

Here’s a look at what we’re expecting in 2023 based on Apple’s previous launches, rumors and leaks so far. Apple did not respond to a request for comment for this story. 

iPhone 15 lineup

Apple usually launches new iPhones in September, and this year will likely be no different. Among the most significant changes we’re expecting to see in the iPhone 15 is the switch from the Lightning charging port to USB-C. That’s because there are new rules requiring tech products sold in Europe to support USB-C by 2024. Still, it’s unclear whether Apple will fully embrace the transition to USB-C across the entire iPhone 15 lineup, or if it will make a region-specific model for Europe.

Another potential update could include the Dynamic Island’s arrival on standard non-Pro iPhone 15 models, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, tweeted in September. At the same time, Apple could add more features to the iPhone 15 Pro that differentiate it from the base models. Such features could include a new periscope camera with better optical zoom for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and solid-state buttons for both Pro phones, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. 

Read more: I Want to See These 6 Features on the iPhone 15

Apple AR/VR headset

Apple’s long-anticipated mixed-reality headset could finally make its debut in June, according to Bloomberg, marking Apple’s first major expansion into a new product category since the Apple Watch. The headset is expected to blend elements of augmented reality, which lays digital graphics over real-world environments similar to the smartphone game Pokemon Go, and virtual reality, which envelopes users in 360-degree graphics like the $400 Meta Quest 2.

But don’t expect Apple’s headset to come cheap. The device could cost $3,000 and will run on a new type of software that’s essentially a 3D version of the iPhone’s interface, Bloomberg reports. Expect it to be powered by Apple’s M2 chip, which can be found in its current MacBook lineup, the report says. 

Tech giants from Meta to Sony to Microsoft have all tried their hand at virtual or augmented reality. But there’s an expectation that Apple’s first VR product could popularize the technology, since the company has a long track record of doing so with other products.

“I think Apple is going to be a big help to the market kind of like it has with, let’s face it, smartphones, tablets and smartwatches,” said Ramon Llamas, a research director at the International Data Corporation.

Apple Watch Series 9

Like clockwork, Apple typically releases new Apple Watch models alongside its new iPhones in the fall. This year, however, we may see a more modest update than usual. Bloomberg reports that we shouldn’t expect to see significant changes to the Apple Watch this year. What that means is unclear, but it’s possible the watch could include routine updates like performance enhancements rather than significant new health-tracking features. 

That falls in line with the pattern that Apple has followed in recent years. Other than the addition of temperature sensing and car-crash detection, the Apple Watch Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7. Apple has also introduced more new features through software updates rather than hardware changes in recent years, such as the ability to track sleep stages that arrived in WatchOS 9. But I’m hoping the Series 9 inherits some features from the Apple Watch Ultra, especially its handy Action button, which makes it easier to jump right into a workout. 

There haven’t been many rumors or reports about whether to expect updated Apple Watch SE or Ultra models in 2023. But since Apple doesn’t always release special-edition products on an annual cadence, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Apple skip those updates this time around. 

Read more: All the Apple Watch Series 9 Rumors We’ve Heard So Far

A new iMac

Fans of Apple’s colorful all-in-one computer may have something to look forward to this year. The company’s next iMac is at an advanced development stage, meaning it could arrive in the second half of this year, according to Bloomberg. The refreshed computer will likely run on Apple’s rumored M3 processor, which would be a step up from the M2 chip powering the current MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It’ll have a 24-inch screen like the 2021 edition and will be available in the same color options, but will have some internal design changes, according to the report. 

Mac Pro with M2 Ultra

Apple is also readying a new version of its top-of-the-line Mac Pro that would run on a chip called the M2 Ultra processor, likely a successor to the M1 Ultra, according to Bloomberg. That would mark a departure from the current model, which debuted in 2019 and runs on Intel’s Xeon processors. The chip will reportedly have 24 CPU cores, 76 graphics cores and 192GB of memory. 

The $5,999 Mac Pro is Apple’s high-end desktop computer aimed at professionals. It’s the last remaining Mac in Apple’s current lineup that doesn’t include the company’s own silicon. The report suggests it will launch between late spring and summer, meaning we might see it at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. 

A 15-inch MacBook Air 

Apple’s lightweight laptop will reportedly be available in a 15-inch size for the first time this year. Bloomberg reports that a 15-inch MacBook Air is in Apple’s 2023 product roadmap, although it’s unclear whether this machine will run on the company’s expected M3 chip. A new 13-inch MacBook Air is also said to be in the works.

These two laptops are also expected to arrive in the late spring or summer, so we should be hearing about them in the coming months if Bloomberg’s report is accurate. 

All told, the rumors, leaks and reports suggest 2023 could be a pivotal year for Apple’s computing lineup. If Apple does announce its first mixed-reality headset, we’ll get a glimpse at the company’s vision for the future of computing. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been vocal about the potential he sees for augmented reality, but we haven’t seen dedicated Apple hardware for providing those experiences yet. The arrival of Apple silicon in the Mac Pro would also mark the completion of Apple’s transition to its homegrown Mac chips within its current lineup.

The post 6 New Apple Products That Could Be Coming in 2023 first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Apple and Samsung are both rethinking the smartphone, but in very different ways. With its Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple is changing how the iPhone’s software displays information from apps and services. Samsung, on the other hand, is updating the physical shape of its phones through its foldable Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip smartphone lines. 

Apple launched the iPhone 14 Pro on Sept. 16 after unveiling it at its “Far Out” event, and one of its standout new features is a redesigned notch area called the Dynamic Island. It’s a pill-shaped cutout for the front camera and Face ID sensors that Apple has also repurposed as a miniature secondary display for showing notifications and other content. 

At first glance, Apple’s Dynamic Island and Samsung’s foldable phones have little in common, if anything. But the intention behind both is the same: to improve how our phones surface information. 

The iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island explained

The Dynamic Island is essentially Apple’s answer to faster multitasking on the iPhone. While Android phone-makers like Samsung support the ability to open multiple apps at once on screen, Apple instead uses the Dynamic Island to expand and contract to show contextual information. It can expand to show alerts and may change shape depending on the app. 

For example, the Dynamic Island can show the song you’re listening to even when you’re on the home screen. If you have a timer running at the same time, it’ll display both the timer and the music playback information at the same time by splitting one into its own little bubble. Similarly, you can see turn-by-turn directions on the Dynamic Island without having to jump from one app to another. The same goes for sports scores. Tapping the Dynamic Island will take you right to that app, making multitasking on the iPhone 14 Pro a bit easier.

Apple says the goal behind the Dynamic Island is to clearly show information without distracting from the app you’re in. “With this change, we reconsidered how you interact with your iPhone,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said during the company’s keynote last Wednesday. Our full review of the iPhone 14 Pro has more detail about what it’s like to use the Dynamic Island. 

How Samsung’s foldables and the Dynamic Island are similar

Samsung’s foldable phones and the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island are inherently different. But they both aim to change the way we interact with apps on our phones. 

Samsung has been promoting the Z Flip 4’s Flex Mode, for example, which splits compatible apps between the top and bottom portions of the screen when folded halfway. When opening the camera in Flex Mode, the top half of the screen serves as the camera viewfinder while the bottom half displays controls like the shutter button. You can also take photos and send canned responses in certain messaging apps on the Z Flip 4 without opening the phone by using its cover screen. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung’s book-shaped foldable, is designed to provide more screen real estate in a device that still fits in your pocket. You can also open multiple apps on the Z Fold 4’s tablet-sized screen at once. 

The common thread between the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island, the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Fold is that they all change the way apps are displayed on our phones’ screens — with the ultimate goal being to make apps more useful. The Dynamic Island and Samsung’s foldables are designed to make our phones more adaptable based on the situation. Apple’s new notch replacement pins information from certain apps to the top of your screen and morphs according to what you’re doing. Samsung’s foldables allow you to change the size and position of your phone — and the apps running on it — to fit different scenarios.

Apple’s Newest Releases

• iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Review: Welcome to Apple’s Dynamic Island
• iPhone 14 Review: A Good Upgrade for Most People
• Apple Watch Series 8 Review: Improvement By Degrees
• Apple Watch SE Review: Almost Everything I Want
• Apple iOS 16 Released: New iPhone Features From the Update

It’s too soon to know whether either approach will meaningfully impact the way we use our phones over the long term. Apple’s new iPhone 14 lineup just launched, so it’s unclear how useful the Dynamic Island will be in everyday life over the course of months or even years. Foldables have been widely available for roughly three years, but they still make up a tiny portion of overall smartphone sales.

What is clear, however, is that Apple and Samsung are both trying to improve the way we absorb and manage the massive amount of information flowing through our phones each day. Now that phones have matured to the point at which most updates feel incremental, it’s refreshing to see changes that genuinely feel different. 

The post iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy Z Fold Show How Phones Are Evolving first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Say goodbye to the Series 3; the 2022 Apple Watch SE is now the cheapest smartwatch in Apple’s lineup. The second-gen SE starts at $249 (£259, AU$399) and replaces the $279 original model as well as the $199 Series 3.

The new Apple Watch SE’s upgrades are modest rather than dramatic, but they should keep the watch feeling fast and relevant for years to come. Such changes include a new processor that matches the one inside the $400 Series 8, car-crash detection and a tweaked design. You’ll also get new features that are coming to certain other Apple Watch models, like low-power mode for extending battery life and a new version of the Compass app to help you retrace your steps.

8.5

Apple Watch SE (2022)

See at Apple

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Apple Watch SE (2022)

Like

• Lower price
• Same performance as the Series 8
• Car-crash detection for additional safety

Don’t Like

• No always-on display
• No QWERTY keyboard
• Most new features can be found on older watches too

At $249, the Apple Watch SE is the best option for those who just want a smartwatch for tasks like reading iPhone notifications, tracking workouts, logging sleep and using Apple Pay from your wrist. Much like the iPhone SE, the Apple Watch SE offers the basics along with Apple’s newest processor at a more palatable price than its flagship counterpart. And if you want cellular connectivity, you only have to pay $50 extra for the LTE-enabled version, unlike the cellular Series 8, which costs $100 more than the GPS-only version. 

The Apple Watch SE is a versatile and relatively affordable smartwatch. But it’s missing one feature I would have loved to see at this price: an always-on display. 

There also aren’t many new features that are exclusive to the SE, which might make a tough case for upgrading. The Apple Watch SE is best for people who are buying an Apple Watch for the first time or are upgrading from a Series 3 or earlier. 

Apple Watch SE design

At first glance, it would be easy to mistake the new Apple Watch SE for the 2020 model. Like its predecessor, the new SE is available in an aluminum finish and comes in 40- and 44-millimeter options. What has changed, however, is the SE’s color choices. You’ll get to choose between midnight, starlight and silver, while the 2020 version came in silver, space gray and gold.

Apple also redesigned the back of the watch with a new finish that more closely matches the Apple Watch’s casing. It’s a nice touch that makes the new SE feel more premium, but it’s only noticeable when the watch isn’t on your wrist.

The Apple Watch SE lacks the larger screen found on the Series 8 and Series 7, which for the most part, didn’t make much of a difference. I’ve been switching between the Series 8 and the new SE during the course of this review, and I’ve also worn the Series 7 for the past year. 

The biggest thing I miss about having that larger display is the ability to use an on-screen QWERTY keyboard for quickly responding to texts when I’m away from my phone. Samsung’s $280 Galaxy Watch 5, which also comes in a 40mm option and is around the same price as the Apple Watch SE, has a digital keyboard. I wish Apple could have found a way to make this work, too, but you can still send messages through dictation or by scribbling letters.

If you prefer to use a larger text size on the Apple Watch, you may also benefit from using one of the larger models. But otherwise, the SE’s display has plenty of space for comfortably reading notifications and news headlines.

Above all else, I hoped Apple would bring an always-on display to the new Apple Watch SE. I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the time, progress on my activity rings and the weather whenever I look down at my wrist after wearing the Series 7 and Series 8. But now that I’m wearing the SE, my Apple Watch turns into a blank, black square unless I intentionally activate the display. (Again, Samsung’s similarly priced Galaxy Watch 5 has this feature, as do Fitbit’s Versa and Sense watches, which also work with the iPhone.)

It’s reasonable that the SE is missing certain features found on the Series 8 and other flagships. But an always-on display seems like something that should be standard across the Apple Watch lineup at this point after debuting three years ago.

Apple Watch SE speed

Inside the Apple Watch SE is Apple’s S8 processor, the same chip that powers the Series 8. This makes the SE feel snappy and smooth overall; apps launched quickly, and Siri was able to recognize my speech right away. Apple says the new SE is 20% faster than its predecessor, and the upgrade is noticeable. Apps opened instantly on the new SE, whereas the 2020 Apple Watch SE sometimes experienced a slight pause. 

But what’s really significant about the SE gaining the Series 8’s processor is that it future-proofs the SE to some degree. New features coming to future versions of WatchOS will likely work on the 2022 SE since it runs on Apple’s newest processor. 

In the past, certain features haven’t been available on older watches because of their aging hardware — even if that model supported the overall software update. Handwashing detection, for example, is only available on the Series 4 and higher even though the Series 3 supported Apple’s WatchOS 7 software. 

The SE’s new processor means you likely won’t have to worry about missing out on features like this in the future. The 2020 SE, by comparison, runs on Apple’s S5 chip from the Series 5, which is now about three generations old. 

Apple Watch SE battery

There’s good news and then there’s bad news when it comes to battery life. First, the bad: The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8 each have the same 18-hour battery life as their predecessors. Now, the good news: Apple is adding a low-power mode to the Apple Watch. There’s even better news for current Apple Watch owners: it’ll be available for the Series 4 and later. 

Low-power mode limits the Apple Watch’s sensors and turns off certain features, like the always-on display (for watches that support it), automatic workout detection and background heart-rate measurements to preserve battery life. Apple says low-power mode can extend the Apple Watch’s battery life up to 36 hours for the Series 8 when its accompanying iPhone is present.

I haven’t had the chance to test this feature for 36 hours continuously yet, but I’ve been switching between regular and low-power mode on the new SE to see the difference. After 12 hours of use with the battery starting at 100%, my Apple Watch SE had more battery capacity left with low-power mode turned on compared to similar usage without it. But the difference was minimal. Low-power mode will likely make a bigger difference on the Series 8 and other flagship watches: Those devices have more features that will be limited in low-power mode, such as an always-on display and blood oxygen saturation measurements, so the difference should be more noticeable.

Apple Watch SE features

The other major new addition coming to the Apple Watch SE, Series 8 and Ultra is the ability to detect car crashes. Apple upgraded the accelerometer and gyroscope inside its new watch lineup to enable this feature. The company also says its crash detection algorithm is based on data from professional crash test labs that simulate head-on, rear-end, side-impact and rollover accidents. 

When a crash is detected, Apple will alert emergency services and share your location if you’ve been unresponsive for 10 seconds. Your emergency contacts will also be alerted. (This feature is present in the iPhone 14 lineup as well.)

Car-crash detection adds to the selection of safety features Apple has been offering for years. These include emergency SOS and fall detection. It also comes after Google had previously added crash detection to its Pixel phones.

Apple is also bringing improvements to the Apple Watch’s Compass app that should make it easier to navigate unfamiliar areas and mark points of interest. Two new features, Backtrack and Waypoint, are coming to the Series 6 and later, including both generations of the Apple Watch SE. 

Backtrack does exactly as its name suggests; it uses GPS to create a path so that it can point you in the right direction to retrace your steps later. Waypoint lets you mark your current location as a point of interest. 

I turned on Backtrack when walking just under a mile from my home to a nearby park. When it was time to go home, the Compass app displayed a straight line representing the path I took on my way to the park, along with an arrow pointing me in the direction of that path. 

I could see this being useful for navigating open areas that Google Maps might not be able to help you with, like a campsite or festival ground. You can turn on Backtrack manually by opening the Compass app and tapping the icon that looks like footprints. Apple also says it’ll turn on automatically when you’re off the grid, but I haven’t had the chance to try this yet.

Samsung offers a similar feature for outdoor hikes and cycling on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, although it works a little differently. The feature, called Track Back, displays your current location and the path you traveled to get there on a map, as my colleague Lexy Savvides explains in her Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review.

Apple Watch SE vs. Series 8: Health tracking, compared

The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8 have a lot in common when it comes to activity tracking. Both watches are swim-proof, support the same variety of exercise modes, offer sleep tracking and can measure heart rate and your cardio fitness level. You’ll also get notifications for high and low heart rates and irregular heart rhythms on both watches. After using the Series 7 for almost a year, I didn’t miss much when tracking workouts with the SE instead. 

Where the two watches really differ is in their health-monitoring capabilities. Unlike the Series 8 and Series 7, the Apple Watch SE can’t take an ECG from your wrist or measure blood oxygen saturation levels. It also doesn’t have temperature sensing, which is new to the more expensive Series 8 and the high-end $800 Apple Watch Ultra. 

Whether these omissions matter depends on your needs and what you’re looking for in a smartwatch. I rarely find myself taking an ECG or a blood oxygen reading on the Series 7. But those who want to keep a closer eye on cardiac and respiratory health and share that data with their doctors might. 

The Series 8’s new temperature sensor seems like it has the potential to be more useful to me on a regular basis. The watch has two sensors — one underneath the display and another on the back, closer to your wrist — so it can measure your wrist temperature overnight. You must sleep with the watch for five nights so that it can establish your baseline wrist temperature before receiving readings in the Apple Health app. Once it records your baseline, you’ll be able to see whether your wrist temperature deviates from the norm overnight. 

Since I haven’t had the Series 8 for long, I can’t say how useful this functionality is, or whether it makes the Series 8 worth recommending over the cheaper SE. I’ve only been wearing it long enough to get readings for the past five nights, and I suspect this metric will be more valuable to track over the long term. 

Apple charts wrist temperature data in a graph within the Apple Health app, but it seems like it’s largely up to you to make sense of it. I’ve deviated from my baseline wrist temperature on most nights, according to the readings I’ve received so far. Over the weekend, my wrist temperature was higher than normal — which makes sense considering I had a few drinks with friends on those nights. But I’m curious over the long term to see if these deviations correlate with when I’m feeling under the weather, which could be a sign that I need some extra rest. That would be particularly useful considering the Apple Watch doesn’t have a readiness score like the Oura or Fitbit.

Apple is promoting fertility planning as the primary benefit of measuring wrist temperature. The company says the Series 8 can provide retrospective ovulation estimates, by way of the Series 8’s new temperature sensor, along with more accurate period predictions. 

Apple says data stored in the health app — including female health statistics like ovulation estimates — is encrypted when your iPhone is locked with a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID. The same goes for data backed up to iCloud. You’ll also want to make sure two-factor authentication is enabled for your iCloud account, which should be turned on by default. This ensures that health data is end-to-end encrypted, meaning Apple cannot read or access your data. 

To make sure two-factor authentication is on, open the Settings menu on your iPhone, tap your name, and choose the Password & Security option. Check out our full review of the Series 8 for more information about the Series 8’s temperature sensor. 

Apple Watch SE: The bottom line 

At $250, the Apple Watch SE is a compelling choice if you don’t want to spend $400 or more on a new Apple Watch. The new model is about $30 less expensive than the previous Watch SE, but $50 more than the Apple Watch Series 3, which used to be the cheapest watch in Apple’s lineup. That extra $50 gets you a much faster processor, support for Apple’s WatchOS 9 software, a larger screen, fall detection and more. 

The Apple Watch SE is the best choice for those who just want a smartwatch for receiving iPhone notifications on their wrist, tracking workouts and sleep and using features like Apple Pay. The Apple Watch SE feels like a general purpose smartwatch and fitness tracker, while flagship watches like the Series 8 are moving in a more health-centric direction. 

The Apple Watch SE’s lack of an always-on display is a disappointment, and it’s the one feature I found myself missing after switching to the SE from the Series 7 or Series 8. Some of the Apple Watch SE’s new features, such as low-power mode and the updated Compass app’s Backtrack and Waypoint tools, aren’t exclusive to the SE and can be found on certain older models. 

That’s great for current watch owners because it means you may not have to upgrade to get new functionality. However, it also means you probably won’t need to upgrade to the SE if you have the 2020 version or another recent Apple Watch, like the Series 5 or Series 6. But the fact that the SE has the same chip as the Series 8 means it will likely run smoothly and support software updates for a long time. 

Overall, the Apple Watch SE is the right choice if you’re buying an Apple Watch for the first time or upgrading from an older watch like the Series 3. But most other people who’ve bought a new Apple Watch in the last three years can probably give this a pass.

The post Apple Watch SE (2022) Review: Almost Everything I Want in a Smartwatch first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Apple is launching three new Apple Watches: the $399 Apple Watch Series 8, the $249 Apple Watch SE
and the all-new $799 Apple Watch Ultra. Unless you’re an avid scuba diver or rock climber — or want to look like one — you’re probably deciding between the SE and the Series 8. Both watches support the new WatchOS 9 software, run on Apple’s newest chip and are among the first to detect car crashes. That’s in addition to the functionality Apple Watches have offered for years, like the ability to track workouts, detect hard falls and mirror iPhone alerts. 

Which one is right for you depends on what you want in a smartwatch. As someone who primarily uses my Apple Watch for logging exercise, viewing notifications and checking the time, there’s little that I missed when switching from the Series 8 to the SE after testing both for a few days.

The biggest reason to choose the Series 8 over the SE right now is its extra health-tracking smarts, such as its new wrist temperature measurements, blood oxygen saturation readings and the ability to take an electrocardiogram. The Apple Watch isn’t a medical device and shouldn’t be treated as such. But those who want more data on their cardiac and respiratory health to share with their doctors might find the Series 8 to be the better choice.

I think the Series 8’s main benefits will become more clear over the long term. Temperature sensing is still new, but I like the idea of being able to see how changes in my baseline temperature may correlate with how I’m feeling that day. The Series 8’s ultrawideband chip, which isn’t present in the SE, may also feel more valuable in a future where unlocking your car with your phone or watch is just as common as using Apple Pay at the checkout counter.

A larger screen with an always-on display

If you were to ask me what I’ve missed most about using the Apple Watch SE, it’s the always-on display found on the Series 8 and other flagship Apple Watches since 2019. Without an always-on display, the Apple Watch SE’s screen just turns into a black box on my wrist, which isn’t exactly the most attractive look. 

When wearing the Series 8 (or the Series 5, 6 or 7), I can view my watch face anytime without having to raise my wrist or touch the watch. I don’t think the always-on display alone is worth paying an extra $150 if you don’t care about the other health extras that come with the Series 8. But I do wish the always-on display was standard across all Apple Watches at this point.

The Apple Watch Series 8 also has a larger display and comes in 41- and 45-millimeter case sizes, compared to the 40 or 44mm SE. Having a bigger display is nice, but the only thing I missed is the Series 8’s QWERTY keyboard for typing responses to text messages (the Series 7 has this too). On the SE, you can still scribble letters, dictate words or send canned responses, but I like the flexibility of being able to quickly type a couple of words. Those who prefer larger text sizes may also want to choose the Series 8 over the SE.

The Series 8 is also available in a pricier stainless steel finish, and the aluminum version comes in an additional Product Red color option not available on the SE. 

More health tracking

Apple’s flagship watches like the Series 8 have evolved into comprehensive health-tracking devices, with the ability to take an ECG from your wrist and monitor blood oxygen levels. The Series 8 and Ultra are the first to get temperature sensors, enabling them to check your wrist temperature overnight and show whether you’ve deviated from your baseline. It takes five nights to set up temperature sensing, since the watch needs enough time to establish your baseline wrist temperature.

I’ve only had enough time with the Series 8 to get readings from the last five nights, so I can’t say whether this feature makes it worth choosing Apple’s new flagship over the more budget-friendly SE. But I do think these readings have the potential to be more useful than the blood oxygen sensor, which I barely check if at all. 

Apple says nighttime wrist temperature can be an indicator of overall body temperature, and changes could possibly be caused by illness, jet lag or exercise. Since the Apple Watch doesn’t have a readiness score like Oura or Fitbit, I could see this information being useful for helping me decide whether my body needs extra rest.

I’m hoping Apple weaves wrist temperature readings into new features and insights in the future. Right now, you can see a chart showing how your nighttime temperature readings deviate from your baseline. But it generally seems like it’s up to you to interpret these readings. 

The Apple Watch isn’t a medical device and can’t tell you when you’re sick, so it can be hard to know how to use this data. That’s part of the reason why I never check my blood oxygen levels; it’s just another statistic that I’m not sure what to make of. Still, having another data point like wrist temperature opens up some interesting opportunities for the future. I’m hoping Apple finds new ways to crunch all of these statistics together to enable new insights and actionable advice. Until then, nighttime wrist temperature is yet another metric you can potentially share with your doctor if you’re not feeling well, but it’s difficult to tell how useful it actually is. 

For now, the biggest application for the Series 8’s temperature sensing will likely be fertility tracking. Apple says the Series 8 and Ultra can provide retrospective ovulation estimates and improved period tracking, potentially making the Series 8 a better choice for those who are interested in using it for family planning purposes. Apple says data stored in the health app — including female health statistics like ovulation estimates — is encrypted when your iPhone is locked with a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID. The same goes for data backed up to iCloud. 

You’ll also want to make sure two-factor authentication is enabled for your iCloud account, which should be turned on by default. This ensures that health data is end-to-end encrypted, meaning Apple cannot read or access your data. To make sure two-factor authentication is on, open the Settings menu on your iPhone, tap your name and choose the Password & Security option. 

Other extras, like faster charging and ultrawideband

While the Series 8’s extra health sensors are the biggest reason to potentially choose it over the SE, there are a few other extras to consider. The Series 8 can charge more quickly than the SE, as it inherits the fast-charging capabilities of the Series 6 and 7. The Apple Watch Series 8 charged from 70% to 80% in 10 minutes, while the SE charged from 70% to 77% over the same time period. For each watch, I used the included charging cable and the same power adapter plugged into the same outlet. Both watches have Apple’s new low power mode, which dials back certain features like automatic workout detection to extend battery life.

The Series 8, like the Series 6 and 7, also have Apple’s U1 ultrawideband chip. Ultrawideband is a wireless protocol for proximity sensing that’s become common in new flagship phones and smartwatches. Ultrawideband is primarily used for finding misplaced items and gadgets using Apple’s Find My service, or for unlocking your car with more precision than Bluetooth. 

If you have a car that’s compatible with ultrawideband, for example, you can unlock your vehicle automatically as you approach it with your Apple Watch. Ultrawideband is said to be more secure and precise than Bluetooth when functioning as a key, which you can read more about here. It’s a nice perk, but it’s likely not a necessity for everyone. At least not yet. 

The bottom line

The Apple Watch Series 8 and SE have a lot in common when it comes to core features and functionality. They can both track workouts, show iPhone notifications, provide high and low heart rate notifications and detect irregular heart rhythms. They also both come with safety features like emergency SOS, fall detection and car crash detection, the latter of which is exclusive to Apple’s 2022 smartwatches. The new Compass app, which includes a new feature to help you retrace your steps, is also coming to both watches as well as the Series 7, Series 6 and first-generation SE. 

If you like using Apple Pay or syncing your Apple Watch to the treadmill at your local gym through GymKit, you’ll do just fine with either the new SE or the Series 8. They both have the same processor, support low power mode and run on Apple’s new WatchOS 9 update. 

The difference really comes down to health tracking. By choosing the SE, you’ll miss out on the Apple Watch’s ECG app, blood oxygen sensor and new temperature sensor. Whether those features are necessary depends on what you hope to get out of your smartwatch. Do you primarily want to track workouts, or are you looking for deeper health metrics to share with your doctor? 

You’ll also get a few perks that make the Series 8 a better iPhone companion, such as a larger always-on display, faster charging and ultrawideband support. Of those features, I personally find the always-on display to be most useful. 

Overall, the Series 8 seems poised to become more useful over time, especially after I’ve had more time to test the temperature sensor. Ultrawideband is another feature I’m expecting to become more useful in the long term as using mobile devices as digital keys starts to become more common. But for now, ultrawideband alone shouldn’t be a deciding factor; it’s more about the sum of how all of these parts come together. 

The Series 8 is the right option for those who want more health-tracking features and are willing to pay a premium for it. The Apple Watch SE is the best choice for those who are upgrading from an older watch or are buying an Apple Watch for the first time and just want an Apple Watch that feels new and has all of the core features. But if you have a recent Apple Watch like the Series 5, you can probably hold off on upgrading entirely unless you really want Apple’s new health upgrades. 

The post Apple Watch Series 8 vs. SE: Biggest Differences After Using Both Watches first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Apple’s iOS 16 update has now arrived, bringing new features such as a customizable lock screen (with widgets), the ability to unsend and edit text messages, a redesigned battery icon in your status bar and so much more to your iPhone.

And while it might be a good idea to wait before installing an operating system update, just to let others stumble over any bugs or issues that might mess up your iPhone, if you’re considering updating to iOS 16 right now, you want to follow the steps below to make sure your phone is ready.

If you want to learn how to update to iOS 16 right now, check out if your phone is even compatible and how to download and install iOS 16 today.

Make sure your iPhone is compatible with iOS 16

If you own an iPhone that’s from 2017 or later, starting with the iPhone 8, it should be compatible with iOS 16. Here’s the full list of the iPhones and iPads (for iPadOS 16, which will release later this year) that will support Apple’s new software update. And if you’re interested in buying the iPhone 14, here’s how to preorder it.

• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (second generation and later)

And although the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max haven’t been released yet, they will all come pre-installed with iOS 16.

Back up your iPhone or iPad before updating to iOS 16

Backing up any device before an update is usually a good idea. Most of the time, your phone will update normally with no hiccups. But on the rare occasion that something goes wrong, as was the case for some iPhone owners when iOS 10 launched back in 2016, you’ll want to be prepared. If you have the time, it’s also a great idea to go through your photo and app libraries to delete any unnecessary content so that it takes less time to back up your device.

I recommend backing up your iPhone immediately before installing the new software so your backup is as recent as possible.

There are a couple of ways to back up your iPhone or iPad, and they’re all simple. The easiest way is through iCloud. 

How to back up your iPhone through iCloud

First open your device’s Settings and tap your name.

Then, choose the iCloud option.

Tap iCloud Backup. 

From here, you can choose to back up your phone right now by pressing Back Up Now. You can also turn on iCloud Backup, which automatically backs up apps and data when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, plugged in and locked. You’ll notice that Apple tells you the last time this device was backed up right underneath the Back Up Now button.

Before backing up your iPhone, it’s also a good idea to see exactly how much iCloud storage you’ll need. To do this, launch Settings, tap your name, choose iCloud and select Manage Storage. This will show you details about your iCloud plan, how much space is required for a backup, and all of the devices that are backing up to your iCloud account. 

Back up your iPhone through Mac

If you don’t want to use iCloud, you can always back up your iPhone to your computer. To get started, connect your iPhone to your Mac via its charging cable. 

Then launch the Finder and click on your iPhone.

Click General and choose the option for backing up all of your iPhone data to this Mac. You can also encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password by selecting the option shown below.

Finally, click Back Up Now to save a copy of your iPhone’s data and apps to your Mac.

If you’re using a PC or a Mac running a version of MacOS that’s earlier than 10.15, you can still create a backup of your device through iTunes. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC with its cable, launch iTunes, and click the iPhone button near the top left of the program. From there, choose Summary and select Back Up Now. 

Make sure your iPhone is otherwise up to date

Before updating to iOS 16, make sure your device is running on the latest version of iOS 15. This will ensure that the update appears in the Settings menu once iOS 16 becomes available. To check for an update, launch Settings, tap General and choose Software Update. 

It’s generally a good idea to keep your iPhone up to date anyway, since new software versions usually introduce important security bug fixes and other improvements.

Now that your phone is up to date and backed up, you’re ready to download iOS 16. Once it’s installed, check out the best iOS 16 hidden features we’ve found so far and some of the more annoying features (and how you can fix them).

Now playing:
Watch this:

Testing iOS 16 (Edit/Delete Sent Messages, New Lock Screen…

16:22

The post Apple’s iOS 16 Update Is Here. Follow This Checklist to Get Your iPhone Ready first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 8 during the company’s annual fall product event on Wednesday. The GPS version starts at $399 (£419, AU$629), while the cellular version begins at $499. It’ll be available on Sept. 16 with preorders beginning immediately. Apple also announced the rugged Apple Watch Ultra, which starts at $799, and a new version of the more affordable Apple Watch SE, starting at $249 and on preorder now. (Here’s everything Apple announced at its Sept. 7 event.)

The most significant change is the addition of a temperature sensor, marking the first time Apple has added a new health sensor to its smartwatch since the Series 6 arrived with blood oxygen saturation measurements in 2020. The new batch of Apple Watches, which includes the Series 8 as well as the new SE and Ultra models, are also the first to include car crash detection, further underscoring Apple’s emphasis on wellness and safety. The Apple Watch Ultra is a new outdoorsy version of the Apple Watch aimed at athletes, while the SE is a refreshed version of Apple’s cheaper smartwatch.

Apple’s Newest Releases

• iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Review: Welcome to Apple’s Dynamic Island
• iPhone 14 Review: A Good Upgrade for Most People
• Apple Watch Series 8 Review: Improvement By Degrees
• Apple Watch SE Review: Almost Everything I Want
• Apple iOS 16 Released: New iPhone Features From the Update

Temperature sensing and car crash detection

The Apple Watch Series 8’s temperature sensor is the biggest upgrade in this year’s watch. There are actually two sensors, one under the display and another on the back, closer to the skin. This should improve accuracy by helping the watch distinguish your wrist temperature from other factors affecting the temperature in your environment. The watch measures your wrist temperature overnight every five seconds and tracks it in the Apple Health app. 

Since this is a passive reading that happens overnight, I wasn’t able to try it in Apple’s demo room. But I did get to see how this information will be presented in the Health app. The app will show changes in your baseline temperature in a chart within the app, along with context about what the data means. The company says shifts in your baseline temperature could be indicative of exercise, jet lag or illness. There’s also a new wrist temperature tile in the Health app’s summary section where you can tap into this data. 

Apple is positioning the temperature sensor as being most useful for tracking female health. The temperature sensors allow the Series 8 to provide retrospective ovulation estimates and improved period predictions. 

The Apple Watch is also getting a new safety feature this year: car crash detection. If the watch detects a crash, it will notify emergency services and the wearer’s emergency contacts if the wearer has been unresponsive for 10 seconds. This is only available in the Series 8, new SE and Apple Watch Ultra models because it uses the upgraded gyroscope and accelerometer.

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8: From $399

Preorder at Apple

Go straight to the source for your Apple Watch Series 8 preorder and score three months of Apple Fitness Plus. 

See at AppleSee at AmazonSee at Best Buy

Low power mode

Another noteworthy addition is the Apple Watch’s low power mode, which Apple says should prolong battery life for up to 36 hours for the Series 8. The new low power mode turns off features like the always-on display and automatic workout detection to preserve functionality while extending battery life. Although Apple just announced the feature on Wednesday, it will also be available for the Series 4 and higher. Otherwise, the Apple Watch’s battery life is generally the same at 18 hours. 

The overall design of the Apple Watch seems generally unchanged this year. The Series 8’s size and overall shape remain the same, and it will be available in midnight, starlight, silver and Product Red with an aluminum casing. The stainless steel version, which I got to try during my time with it, will come in silver, graphite and gold. 

Most of the Apple Watch Series 8’s most significant changes, like temperature sensing and low power mode, are under-the-hood changes rather than cosmetic upgrades. We’ll have to spend more time with the Series 8 to know how much these additions really impact the overall experience. But based on what we know so far, the Series 8 seems like another step toward the Apple Watch becoming an even more comprehensive wellness device. 

Apple leads the global smartwatch market with 29.3% of shipments in the second quarter of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. Samsung follows in second place with 9.2% of the worldwide smartwatch shipments during the same period. Still, Apple faces increased competition. Even though Samsung trails far behind Apple in terms of shipments, Samsung saw 40% growth year over year, compared with Apple’s 8% growth, according to Counterpoint’s data. 

In August, Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Meanwhile, Google is expected to release its first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch, this fall. Google hasn’t revealed many details yet, but it seems to be positioning the Pixel Watch as a premium smartwatch similar to the Apple Watch.

Although the iPhone is Apple’s biggest moneymaker, products like the Apple Watch are an important part of the company’s business. The wearables, home and accessories division, which encompasses products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, is the company’s third largest business following the iPhone and digital services. Apple said in a quarterly earnings call in April that its wearables business is now the size of a Fortune 100 company.

Read more: Best Smartwatch for 2022

The post Apple Watch Series 8 Hands first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

With their 6.7-inch screens, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max are the biggest phones Apple’s ever released. The rumored iPhone 14 Pro Max, which we’ll likely learn about at today’s big Apple event (check out our Apple event live blog for more), is expected to maintain that same screen size. Although Apple’s “Pro Max” devices are significantly larger than the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini and 4.7-inch iPhone SE, they still run the same software as Apple’s smaller phones. 

If only there were more ways to make use of the Pro Max’s giant screen. Luckily, there are. Apple should draw inspiration from the iPhone’s larger cousin, the iPad. Apple’s tablets are loaded with extra features that make apps easier to use on a larger screen. The company even renamed the iPad’s operating system iPadOS in 2019 to distinguish it from the iPhone’s iOS. The iPad’s interface had evolved so much by that point, it no longer made sense to lump both sets of software together.

I’m not suggesting something as drastic as a rebranding to “Pro Max OS.” But I do think both Apple and its customers could benefit from new features that are designed specifically for larger iPhones. That could be all the more important as Apple is rumored to be launching a bigger version of the iPhone 14 this year. 

Doing so wouldn’t be simple. Modifications would need to be made to bring iPad-specific features like multitasking to the iPhone Pro Max. But Apple already has a history of tailoring apps and software to specific products, as it proved with the original iPad and Apple Watch. So I’d trust it to do the same in this case. 

Here are the iPad features I think would translate well to the iPhone Pro Max. 

Apple’s Newest Releases

• iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Review: Welcome to Apple’s Dynamic Island
• iPhone 14 Review: A Good Upgrade for Most People
• Apple Watch Series 8 Review: Improvement By Degrees
• Apple Watch SE Review: Almost Everything I Want
• Apple iOS 16 Released: New iPhone Features From the Update

Multitasking

The iPhone Pro Max’s large screen is great for focusing on a single app, like reading or watching TV. But I’d love to see a version of the iPad’s multitasking capabilities on the iPhone Pro Max, too. Being able to view more than one app at a time could prevent me from needing to switch between apps so often. 

Apple offers two main options for running multiple apps on the iPad’s display: Split View and Slide Over. The first is self-explanatory; it lets you divide the screen between two apps. Android phones have offered a split-screen mode for years. Slide Over is a bit different. Instead of splitting the screen, you can open an app in a floating panel that can be positioned on either side of the screen.

If Apple were to bring any of these features to the iPhone Pro Max, I think Slide Over would be the most useful. Compared with Split View mode, it’s a better way to make use of a smartphone-size screen. You’d be able to dedicate most of the screen to one app while quickly checking another. I’d love to glance at my Slack messages in a column along the side of my screen while using most of the iPhone’s display to catch up on emails. 

This is an example of an iPad feature that Apple would likely have to tweak significantly for the iPhone rather than bringing over the current version. The iPhone Pro Max is big for a phone, but it’s still small compared with an iPad — even the iPad Mini. 

One way Apple could make this work is by formatting Slide Over apps like interactive widgets that you can view while running another app. Widgets are already designed to display a lot of information in a space that only occupies a fraction of your phone’s screen. As such, it’s easy to imagine widget-like Slide Over apps that you can pin to any corner of the iPhone Pro Max’s display.

Still, getting the iPad’s multitasking features on the iPhone Pro Max is a longshot. Part of the iPhone’s appeal is that the software is consistent no matter which model you own, so I doubt Apple will jeopardize that. In the meantime, we are stuck with the handful of existing iPhone Pro Max-specific features that were actually introduced for the iPhone 6 Plus. For example, default apps like Mail and Messages take advantage of the iPhone Pro Max’s larger display in landscape mode to show a column of message previews alongside the currently viewed message.

We won’t be getting any new iPhone Pro Max-specific multitasking features in iOS 16, Apple’s new iPhone software update arriving any day now. But the update will introduce a revamped lock screen with widgets for seeing more information at a glance. While the new lock screen is available across all supported models, I imagine it will add some extra utility to the Pro Max’s larger display. 

A mini Apple Pencil

Yes, I know Steve Jobs famously ridiculed the idea of using a stylus with a mobile device. But hear me out. The Apple Pencil has proven itself to be a valuable iPad companion over the last several years. Now, it’s time to bring it to the iPhone Pro Max as an optional accessory. 

I’m not alone in wishing for an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil. My colleague Patrick Holland has been begging for an Apple Pencil since he reviewed the iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2020, saying a MagSafe Apple Pencil would be “a killer accessory.”

First, consider the iPhone Pro Max’s audience. It’s for people who are willing to pay top dollar for the biggest screen and best camera available on an iPhone. The Apple Pencil seems like a natural addition to the Pro Max, both for photographers and those who just want a giant screen. 

I imagine those who frequently touch up photos on their phone would benefit from editing with a stylus that’s more precise than their finger, especially since popular apps like Adobe Lightroom and Pixelmator have Apple Pencil support. An iPhone-friendly Apple Pencil could also appeal to those who often take notes or mark up documents using their phones. The rumored iPhone 14 Max, which would be a 6.7-inch version of the standard iPhone, would benefit as well from an optional pencil accessory. 

The success of Samsung’s Galaxy Note line (which has now been consolidated into the Galaxy S Ultra family) also suggests there’s an audience for styluses. I have to admit I don’t find myself using the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s S Pen very often. But it has come in handy for jotting down notes during meetings or quickly capturing thoughts when I’m writing a review and happen to be away from my computer. 

Again, it wouldn’t make sense to just expand the current Apple Pencil’s compatibility to the iPhone Pro Max. Instead, Apple should design a smaller version of the Pencil with a smaller tip that’s better suited for a phone-size screen. 

A win for Apple and its customers

With or without these features, the iPhone Pro Max is already a hit. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was the world’s second-best-selling phone in 2021, according to data from Counterpoint Research. 

There’s clearly a demand for larger iPhones, as evidenced by rumors that Apple will replace the iPhone Mini with another 6.7-inch iPhone this year. 

But why not do more with the Pro Max? It would be a great way for Apple to further distinguish the Pro Max from its smaller and less expensive iPhones. The additional software features would also give owners more for the price, while a Pencil would provide Apple with another opportunity to make money from current iPhone Pro Max owners. It seems like a win-win scenario.

The iPhone Pro Max’s lack of multitasking and Apple Pencil support aren’t necessarily shortcomings. But it feels like Apple is missing an opportunity.

The post iPhone 14 Pro Max Should Steal These Features from the iPad first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.