According to a source cited by Bloomberg, this new version to be released in 2026 is aimed at catching up with OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT and will be similar to OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode but with all the same access to personal information and apps that Siri currently has.

The enhanced version, tentatively called “LLM Siri,” will fully replace the Siri interface that users currently rely on and is expected to be better at handling complex tasks, interacting with third-party apps through App Intents, and performing functions like summarizing and writing text using Apple Intelligence.

At the moment, Apple is relying on third parties to power the iPhone’s advanced AI features. While ChatGPT will become available inside Apple Intelligence in December, Apple has reportedly discussed similar deals with other AI providers, like Google and Anthropic.

The tech giant also debuted its much-ballyhooed Apple Intelligence platform last month, though it still lacks many of the features offered by other tech companies.

The post Apple is Building a More Conversational Version of Siri appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The event was kicked off by Apple CEO, Tim Cook live from Apple Park —as he commenced the event with a focus specifically on Apple Intelligence and its capabilities. He called upon the company’s COO, Jeff Williams to introduce the latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10 which comes in two variants. Jeff revealed that the series is slimmer than its predecessor, but features a larger OLED display that is up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle, making it easier to glance at information, while still offering the digital crown and the physical button on the right side of the watch.

Under the hood, the Apple Watch Series 10 is powered by a new S10 chipset with a four-core neural engine which according to Apple is 30 percent smaller. With a new change in design, users can now play music and podcasts directly on their smartwatch using the built-in speaker if they don’t have their AirPods.

Water resistance was upgraded and a new depth gauge automatically comes on when you dive into the water, allowing you to go down up to 5m. Apple says the smartwatches are perfect for snorkeling and are even getting the Oceanic+ app.

The watches support the fastest charging yet, you can get up to 80 percent of the charge achieved in just 30 minutes.

Apple Watch Series 10 with the GPS model starts at $399, and the GPS+Cellular one is $100 more while the Ultra 2 starts at $799. Pre-orders have commenced, and they will be available for purchase starting September 20th.

AirPods 4

Apple went on to introduce the next product, the AirPods 4 which comes in two variants; standard AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The AirPods 4 are touted as the best-sounding non-Pro AirPods and the most comfortable ones. Apple has used special mapping technology to examine a large pool of users’ ears and make the earpods more comfortable.

The AirPods 4 are powered by Apple’s H2 chip and feature a new acoustic architecture which is claimed to improve sound quality. AirPods 4 also offer personalized spatial audio, adaptive audio, and conversational awareness.

The case has also been revamped and Apple says it’s the lightest and most portable one yet. With the said case, the buds can go for 30 hours of continuous playback, so no compromises in battery life. The case also gets a small speaker so you can find your AirPods 4 easily or notify you of incoming calls, for example. Right next to the speaker, Apple has added a USB-C connector for charging. Now, the AirPods can be charged wired or wirelessly.

As for the pricing, the standard AirPods 4 without ANC will go for $129 and the ANC version will ask for $179. Pre-orders have commenced, and they will be available for purchase starting September 20th.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

As expected not much has changed compared to its predecessor. Starting with the display, the panels are the same size as before, 6.1-inch for the iPhone 16 and 6.7-inch for the iPhone 16 Plus. They still run at 60Hz and can go from 2,000 nits in the sun to as low as 1 nit in the dark. According to Apple, the latest Ceramic Shield protection is 50% tougher than the original formulation and is twice as tough as the strengthened glass used by other phones.

The big upgrade is the Apple A18 chipset, which is two generations ahead of what the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus had, A16. This is a second-gen 3nm chip that is both more powerful and more efficient. The bionic chip is 30% faster than the iPhone 15 CPU and 60% faster than the iPhone 12 CPU. The GPU is 40% faster than the iPhone 15 and twice as fast as the iPhone 12. The iPhone 16 can offer the same CPU as the iPhone 15 performance while using 30% less power and the same GPU performance while using 35% less power. Apple also improved the system memory bandwidth by 17%.

The 48MP main camera hasn’t changed much, what has changed is the imaging pipeline behind it. Apple has introduced an intermediate mode that captures 24MP photos —they offer more detail than 12MP shots combined with smaller file sizes than 48MP images. There is a new ultra-wide camera —it’s the same 12MP module as last year’s Pros. It has autofocus, which enables a macro mode. Also, the brighter lens allows it to capture 2.6x more light than before for better nighttime images.

As for video, it can record 4K video with Dolby Vision at 60fps. The new AI features also include wind noise reduction for videos. There’s no dedicated telephoto lens yet, but instead the main camera and processing pipeline offer 2x zoom with optical quality at 12MP or you could choose a high-resolution 48MP option.

The two new models will be available from September 20, pre-orders will start this Friday. Both phones have 128GB base storage and you are looking at the same prices as last year —the iPhone 16 starts at $800 and the iPhone 16 Plus at $900.

58 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Turkiye, the UAE, the U.K., and the U.S. are in the first wave to get the new iPhone 16 and 16 Plus on September 20. The second wave of countries includes Macao, Vietnam, and 19 other countries and regions and they will get the new iPhones starting from Friday, September 27.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

These are Apple’s most top-notch smartphones and are powered by the top-of-the-line A18 Pro chip, which also powers the new Apple Intelligence features that are part of iOS 18. The new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max also feature larger displays than their predecessors. The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the Pro Max goes to 6.9-inch.

The A18 Pro is built on a 3nm process and has a new 16-core Neural Engine. There’s a 17% increase in total system memory bandwidth, which also benefits the 6-core GPU which is up to 20% faster than the previous generation. The new 6-core CPU is “the fastest in a smartphone”, boasting two performance cores and four efficiency cores that can run the same workload as the iPhone 15 Pro 15% faster while using 20% less power.

Both iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with a triple rear camera setup that comprises a 48-megapixel wide primary camera, an upgraded 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, and a ‘tetraprism’ periscope lens that offers up to 5x optical zoom performance. In the front, you have a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera for taking video calls and capturing selfies.

The phones also support 4K 120fps recording.

The two Pro iPhone 16s will be available in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium. Pre-orders will start on September 13, and they will become available on September 20 for $999 and up for the Pro and $1,199 and up for the Pro Max.

In addition to the Action button that replaced the mute switch last year, Apple has equipped the new iPhone 16 series with a touch-sensitive Camera Control button that can be used to quickly launch the camera.

The post Apple ‘Glowtime’ Event: iPhone 16s, Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 Launched alongside the A18, A18 Pro Chipsets appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

We delve into the area of cellular technology and discover the leaders revolutionizing the enterprise.

Samsung Electronics

As one of the main manufacturers of Android devices, Samsung Electronics has established itself as an effective stressor in the cell industry. These gadgets represent the cutting edge of cell generation, imparting users with the strength to update between a compact phone and a larger tablet-like.

In addition to hardware innovation, Samsung has invested heavily in software programs and services to beautify the purchaser’s enjoyment. One UI, Samsung’s custom Android pores and skin, offers an easy and intuitive interface optimized for one-passed use. This strategic interest in software development positions Samsung’s cellular division favorably inside the BCG Matrix, because it provides price to their present product line even as differentiating them from the competition. Moreover, the integration of Samsung Pay offers customers a handy and solid manner to make bills online and in-keep,

Apple Inc.

Arguably one of the maximum influential cell organizations in the world, Apple Inc. Has always set the same old for innovation and format excellence. With every new generation, Apple continues to push limitations, introducing cutting-edge functions that include Face ID, twin-camera structures, and effective A-series chips.

Beyond hardware, Apple’s atmosphere of services enhances its devices seamlessly. ICloud maintains clients’ information synchronized across all their devices, at the same time as the App Store gives a substantial array of applications tailored to every need and interest. The integration of Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, further enhances the client experience, presenting accessible voice-controlled proper entry to information and duties.

Apple’s determination to privateness and safety additionally gadgets it apart from its opposition. Features like Touch ID and Face ID make sure that the best legal clients can access their devices, at the same time as surrender-to-give-up encryption protects touchy records transmitted via iMessage and FaceTime.

Google

As the developer of the Android jogging machine, Google performs a pivotal role in shaping the mobile landscape. While the enterprise does now not manufacture its gadgets, it collaborates with numerous hardware partners to offer a diverse variety of smartphones under the Pixel brand.

The Pixel series exemplifies Google’s imagination and prescient for Android, imparting a natural, unadulterated man or woman enjoy unfastened from bloatware and unnecessary customizations. This determination for simplicity extends to software program application capabilities like Google Assistant, which leverages the electricity of artificial intelligence to offer custom-designed assistance and data.

Google’s environment of services seamlessly integrates with its cellular platform, providing customers with access to critical equipment like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive. The corporation’s cloud-based approach guarantees that records are synchronized throughout devices, permitting clients to transition between their cellphones, pill, and PC seamlessly.

Google’s strength of will to innovation extends beyond hardware and software program software to embody growing technology like augmented reality (AR) and machine analysis. Projects like Google Lens leverage PC vision to offer actual-time records about the area around us, at the same time as duties like Google Duplex display the capacity of AI to automate normal responsibilities.

Huawei Technologies

Despite dealing with challenges in current years because of geopolitical tensions, Huawei Technologies remains a giant player within the cellular corporation. The enterprise organization’s flagship smartphones, together with the Mate and P series, are famous for their modern era and sleek design.

Huawei’s Kirin chipset, advanced in-house, powers lots of its devices, delivering incredible ordinary performance and electricity overall performance. The integration of Leica-branded camera gadgets Huawei smartphones apart, supplying customers with outstanding imaging abilities for every pics and video.

Beyond hardware, Huawei has invested intently in the 5G era, positioning itself as a pacesetter in the subsequent generation of cell connectivity. The organization’s infrastructure device powers telecommunications networks around the arena, laying the inspiration for the sizable adoption of excessive-pace wi-fi verbal exchange.

Despite dealing with demanding situations in gaining access to Google’s suite of offerings due to trade regulations, Huawei has made strides in developing its surroundings of apps and services. The Huawei AppGallery serves as an opportunity for the Google Play Store, presenting a growing choice of packages tailor-made to the desires of Huawei customers.

ALSO READ: HUAWEI’S HARMONYOS ISN’T ANDROID’S ALTERNATIVE

OnePlus

Founded with the project to deliver flagship-level overall performance at a much less high-priced fee, OnePlus has briefly risen to prominence within the mobile industry. The organization’s lineup of smartphones, which incorporates the OnePlus Nine series, offers a compelling mixture of pinnacle fee layout, powerful hardware, and a near-inventory Android.

OnePlus’ commitment to client delight is contemplated in its OxygenOS software program, which prioritizes pace, simplicity, and customization. Features like Zen Mode encourage users to disconnect from their devices and awareness at the triumphing second, promoting virtual well-being.

The organization’s “Never Settle” mantra extends past its products to embody its method of customer service and community engagement. OnePlus actively solicits feedback from its clients and includes their pointers in Destiny product updates, fostering a feeling of possession and loyalty amongst its fanbase.

OnePlus’ focus on sustainability is also commendable, with projects geared towards lowering waste and carbon emissions at some unspecified time in the future of the product lifecycle. The company is dedicated to minimizing its environmental footprint from green packaging to power-green production techniques.

In a warp, the cell industry is characterized by fierce competition and rapid innovation, with every agency striving to push the limits of what is possible. Whether it’s for Apple’s iconic layout, Samsung’s hardware innovation, Google’s software prowess, Huawei’s technological improvements, or OnePlus’ dedication to affordability, each organization brings a few factors particular to the desk.

As clients, we are lucky to have the form of a numerous array of options available to us, empowering us to choose the cellular device that first-rate suits our wishes and alternatives. Regardless of which enterprise emerges due to the fact the “exquisite,” it is clear that the destiny of mobile technology is brilliant and complete with interesting opportunities.

The post The Top Mobile Companies Revolutionizing Connectivity appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

With the M3 chip, the MacBook Air is up to 60 percent faster than the model with the M1 chip and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. With a faster and more efficient Neural Engine in M3, MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best consumer laptop for AI.

The 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air both feature a strikingly thin and light design, up to 18 hours of battery life, a stunning Liquid Retina display, and new capabilities, including support for up to two external displays and up to 2x faster Wi-Fi than the previous generation.

With its durable aluminum unibody enclosure that’s built to last, the new MacBook Air is available in four gorgeous colors: midnight, which features a breakthrough anodization seal to reduce fingerprints; starlight; space gray; and silver.

Combined with its world-class camera, mics, and speakers; MagSafe charging; its silent, fanless design; and macOS, MacBook Air delivers an unrivaled experience — making the 13-inch model the world’s bestselling laptop and the 15-inch model the world’s bestselling 15-inch laptop.

During the launch, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said, “MacBook Air is our most popular and loved Mac, with more customers choosing it over any other laptop. And today it gets even better with the M3 chip and new capabilities.”

“From college students pursuing their degrees to business users who need powerful productivity, or anyone who simply wants the unmatched combination of performance, portability, and industry-leading battery life, all in a fanless design, the new MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best thin and light laptop,” he added.

Customers can order starting today, with availability beginning this Friday, March 8.

The post Apple’s 13 and 15 inch MacBook Air Unveiled With an M3 Chip appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

iPhone users have come to expect their devices to become hotter during the initial set-up or when they are being backed up, due to the amount of processing power being used and the handset working overtime — but these issues with the iPhone 15 have been worse.

Users took to social media to complain the new phones were searing.

Apple said that the device may feel warmer in the first few days “after setting up or restoring the device because of increased background activity.”

Among the apps blamed for the iPhone 15 heating are Instagram, Uber, and the video game Asphalt 9, according to Apple. Instagram already fixed the issue with its app last week.

Apple stressed that the warming phones are not related to the new titanium casing that houses the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the stainless steel used on older smartphones.

It also dismissed speculation that the overheating problem had anything to do with the new USB-C port that allowed it to comply with a mandate issued by European regulators.

ALSO READ: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CLEANING YOUR ARAMID FIBER CASE

The post Apple Blames Bug Fix and App Updates For iPhone 15’s Overheating appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

All iPhone 15 models have USB-C ports, finally! USB-C was mandated by the EU (although Apple won’t admit that’s why it’s switching). The Pros saw the biggest upgrades including the cameras and the A17 Pro chipset. The Pros also ditched the heavy stainless steel for a stronger, more durable, and lighter titanium alloy with a brushed finish in four colors — Black, White, Blue, and natural Titanium.

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Specs

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have screens with up to 2,000-nit peak outdoor brightness (twice as high as the previous generation, Apple says), a textured matte finish, a contoured edge on the aluminum frame, “all-day battery life”, and five new colors. The devices are powered by last year’s A16 Bionic chipset, as Apple is continuing to artificially differentiate between its Pro and non-Pro models as much as it can.

The main camera has a 48 MP sensor this time around, although it’s smaller than what the iPhone 15 Pros have and even more than the one inside the iPhone 14 Pro models from last year. Nevertheless, Apple says it can shoot “optical-quality” 2x telephoto shot, in lieu of an actual telephoto snapper – since that is still limited to the Pro line. Interestingly, the default resolution is 24 MP, for “incredible image quality at a practical file size”.

This camera system lets you take “next-generation portraits” with “sharper detail, more vivid colors, and improved low-light performance”. And you don’t have to switch to Portrait mode anymore. If there’s a person, dog, or cat in the frame, or when you tap to focus, the iPhone will automatically capture depth information, so you can turn any image into a portrait later if you wish (and adjust the focus point). Night Mode gets “sharper details and more vivid colors”. Smart HDR has been improved too, including for third-party apps.

Emergency SOS via satellite is available in 14 countries already and is arriving in Spain and Switzerland later this month. Building on top of that, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have Roadside Assistance via satellite, starting in the US.

iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max Specs

The front of the new iPhone 15 Pros is Ceramic Shield glass. The display size hasn’t changed — the iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with an adaptive 120Hz (ProMotion) refresh rate, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The iPhone 15 Pro Max on the other hand comes with a 6.7-inch size. Always-on display has expanded to include Stand-by, a landscape always-on mode for when you’re charging.

The camera system on the new iPhone 15 Pro is completely new. It all starts with the 48MP main camera (the lens is 24mm f/1.78), which has a bigger sensor with 1.22µm pre-binned pixels and second-generation sensor-shift stabilization.

The main camera opens a few imaging possibilities for the iPhone 15 Pros. You can now capture 48MP HEIF images alongside 48MP ProRAW. The new bigger sensor also allows for 28mm and 35mm digital zoom modes and the iPhone will let you pick one of these focal lengths as your default setting.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max debuts the first periscope camera. Finally, with the Pro Max, you can zoom past 3x and up to 5x, or 120mm in 35mm equivalent terms thanks to the folded optical design. The optical design is unique. Apple calls it a tetraprism and it reflects light four times from the pupil opening of the lens to the folded sensor. The lens itself is an f/2.8, the brightest on a 120mm camera on a phone, which granted is pretty specific. There’s optical stabilization too, which Apple says runs 10,000 micro-adjustments per second to neutralize blur.

The A17 Pro chip powers both Pros. It’s the first industry chip that’s built on a 3nm process. Inside is a 6-core processor with 2 performance cores, which Apple says are 10% faster than in the A16 Bionic, and 4 efficiency cores.

The A17 Pro SoC features a Display Engine with a dedicated AV1 codec and a ProRes codec. The chip allows the new iPhone 15 Pro models to capture 4k 60fps in ProRes RAW, along with support for the industry standard ACES color profile.

The Pros come with a USB 3.0 with speeds of up to 10 Gbps. You’ll be able to use the charger and cable from your iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, or Galaxy to charge the new iPhones. Nothing was mentioned about faster charging.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2

Finally, we got the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2. The biggest update to these smart wearables is the S9 system in package (SiP) with 60% more transistors than the outgoing S8 series chip. It boasts a 30% faster GPU and a new 4-core NPU. This will obviously speed up the OS with faster animations and it’s claimed to offer 18 hours battery life.

The S9 SiP allows Siri requests processed on the device, which means much faster results as they don’t go to the cloud and back. Apple also promises 25% more accurate voice dictation. Siri can also now access your Health data making it easier than ever to check up on your key metrics.

Double Tap is arguably the killer new feature on the Series 9. This is a new pinch gesture using your thumb and index finger similar to how you operate the Apple Vision Pro headset. It works by sensing changes in your blood flow and wrist movement via the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. Double Tap allows you to play/pause music, snooze alarms, scroll through widgets, and pick up or hang up calls.

Apple Watch Series 9 comes in the same 41mm and 45mm sizes with Bluetooth and cellular trims. The display can now crank out up to 2000 nits peak brightness and it also down to 1 nit when you don’t want to blind yourself late at night.

Watch 9 also gets a new UWB chip which brings improved location tracking. You can still locate and ping your paired iPhone with even better precision. You also get improved integration with HomePod speakers.

Watch S9 boots WatchOS 10 and comes in aluminum and stainless steel casings.

Watch 9 series is also completely carbon neutral. Apple will also match your electricity bill by investing in renewable energy sources around the world.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 gets the same new Apple S9 SiP and Double Tap gesture controls alongside the new UWB chip for improved location tracking. It’s still a tower of watch with its 49mm casing and 1.92-inch LTPO OLED display which now cranks out up to 3,000 nits peak brightness.

Battery life is rated at 36 hours just like its predecessor but it can now extend to 72 hours in low-power mode. Watch Ultra 2 gets a Modular Ultra watch face which provides users with the most amount of info by taking use of the display’s outer edge. Night mode can now use the ambient light sensor to activate automatically.

Colors, Price, and Availability

The iPhone 15 starts at $799 and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899 in both cases with 128 GB of storage. Pre-orders start on September 15 (this Friday) and the devices will be released on September 22. The handsets will be offered in pink, yellow, green, blue, and black.

The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 for a base 128 GB model, while the 15 Pro Max starts from $1,199, but the base model now has 256 GB of onboard storage. Pre-orders start on September 15 (this Friday) and both models will also start shipping on September 22. The iPhone 15 Pro and the Pro Max come in four finishes – Black, White, Blue, and natural Titanium.

Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $399 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes in at $799 with pre-orders starting today while open sales kick off on September 22. Color options include starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT) RED, and pink for the aluminum model. The Stainless Steel version gets Silver, Gold, and Graphite options. Apple added new band colors for the Alpine Loop (blue, indigo, olive), Trail Loop (orange/beige, green/gray, blue/black), and Ocean Band (blue, orange).

Written with inputs from GSMArena

The post Wonderlust: iPhone 15s, Watch Series 9 & Watch Ultra 2 Launched — Specs, Colors & Availability appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Not many of these were made at the time, leading the model to be considered the “Holy Grail” by iPhone collectors. The lot, run by LCG Auctions, attracted 28 bids in total at a starting bid of USD$10,000 (approx. UGX36 million) and sold at nearly 400 times its original price. The final fee includes the administration costs on top of the hammer price paid to the auction house by the buyer, known as a “buyer’s premium”. The buyer’s premium goes directly to the auction house and not to the seller.

LCG Auctions described it as “a popular high-end” and “red-hot collectible”, adding that two other factory-sealed, first-edition iPhones had sold at record values in the last year.

The website described the model as an “exceedingly rare, factory sealed, first-release 4GB model in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness”.

Originally retailing at USD$599 (approx. UGX2.19 million), the lot was expected to fetch in the region of USD$50,000 (approx. UGX183 million) to USD$100,000 (approx. UGX366 million) but managed to smash all previous records.

First released in 2007 by then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the tech giant made the decision to discontinue the 4GB model just two months after it was launched, due to lagging sales.

Most people decided to purchase the 8GB model, which was launched at the same time, and gave users double the storage space, for just USD$100 more.

Every few months, some rare Apple memorabilia or relics of Jobs’ life and career sells at auction this includes a poem he wrote in a classmate’s high school yearbook, photos of him in college, and a business card from 1978.

In 2011 the Apple co-founder died at the age of 56 after suffering from pancreatic cancer. Apple said he had been “the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives” and had made the world “immeasurably better”.

Notably, before his passing, Jobs had also introduced the iMac computer, the iPod, and the iPad to the world.

The post The Original 2007 Apple iPhone Sells For UGX697.4M at Auction appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The company aims to begin by swapping out the display in the highest-end Apple Watches by the end of next year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The screens upgrade the current OLED — organic light-emitting diode — standard to a technology called microLED, and Apple plans to eventually bring the displays to other devices, including the iPhone.

The changes are part of a sweeping effort to replace Apple supplies with homegrown parts, an undertaking that will give the company more control over the design and capabilities of its products. The tech giant has dropped Intel Corp. chips in its Mac computers in favor of in-house designs and plans to do the same with the key wireless components in its iPhones.

Samsung is the world’s most advanced manufacturer of displays and has been producing its own version of microLED for TVs. But by bringing the screens in-house, Apple could, in the long run, better customize its devices and maintain a stronger hold on its supply chain.

Apple’s screen switch has been underway for years. The move will deal a blow to Samsung Display Co. and LG Display Co., the two main suppliers of the watch’s screens.

The company has begun testing the microLED displays on an update to the Apple Watch Ultra, its new high-end sports watch.

Compared with current Apple Watches, the next-generation displays are designed to offer brighter, more vibrant colors and the ability to be better seen at an angle. The displays make content appear like it’s painted on top of the glass, according to people who have seen them, who asked not to be identified because the project is still under wraps.

The microLED displays will be Apple’s first screens designed and developed entirely in-house. The company currently sources screens from a range of manufacturers, including Japan Display Inc., Sharp Corp., and BOE Technology Group Co., in addition to Samsung and LG.

In the near term, the new displays are the most significant changes coming to the Apple Watch. The company plans to introduce new models at the end of this year, but they will be modest updates focused on faster chips and minor health sensor upgrades. Apple hasn’t updated the main processor inside of its watch for three years.

The company has also customized the displays for its upcoming headset, which will use similar technology to the microLED screens coming to the Apple Watch. While it will take years before Apple moves the iPhone to microLED, it plans to bring OLED technology to the iPad with the Pro model in 2024.

Apple accounts for 36% of LG Display’s revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Samsung, which competes with Apple in the smartphone market in addition to serving as a supplier, gets about 6.6% of its sales from the iPhone maker.

ALSO READ: A PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE TO APPLE MACOS SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

The post Apple Plans to Reduce its Reliance on Samsung and LG appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

“We resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter potentially being removed from the App Store. Tim was clear that Apple never considered doing so,” Musk said in a tweet.

Musk had earlier posted a video on Twitter showing the meditation pool at Apple’s campus and thanked Cook for taking him around the company’s headquarters. “Thanks, Tim Cook for taking me around Apple’s beautiful HQ,” he wrote.

It’s not clear what else the two CEOs talked about or if Musk’s “Among other things” include the App store’s 30% charge which Musk suggested in a now-deleted meme that he’d rather “go to war” instead of paying Apple’s cut. Before this meeting with Cook, Musk reportedly said there would be a delay relaunching Twitter’s paid verification service as his company tries to skirt Apple’s 30% App Store fees.

The post Elon Musk Meets Tim Cook, Averts Feud With Apple appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

According to the press statement issued by the European Parliament, out of the 623 total votes, the proposal, known as a directive, received 602 votes in favor, 13 votes against, and 8 abstentions.

In 2018 when the European Commission attempted to reach a final resolution on this issue but it failed to come into law. At the time, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation and create electronic waste as consumers would be forced to switch to new cables.

The EU’s effort resumed in 2021, with the European Commission spearheading a refreshed version of the directive. In April 2022, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted to support the directive, with 43 votes in favor and just two against.

In June 2022, the EU’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection reached an agreement to introduce the directive to the European Parliament.

Now by the end of 2024, a wide range of consumer electronic devices in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. This “common port” will be a world-first statute to impact Apple in particular since it widely uses the Lightning Connector instead of USB-C.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds, and laptops among others that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

Exemptions will apply for devices that are too small to offer a USB-C port, such as smartwatches, health trackers, and some sports equipment, but the legislation is expected to be expanded to other devices over time.

With this rule devices that support fast charging will have the same charging speed, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger. In addition, the EU also seeks to ensure that wireless charging solutions are interoperable as the technology evolves over time.

The European Council must approve the directive so that it can be published in the EU Official Journal. It will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal and its requirements will start to apply to new devices after 24 months. Products that went on sale before the date of application will be exempt and can continue to be sold after that point.

The Council has also stated that this obligation will extend to laptops starting from 2026.

The new law, adopted by the plenary is part of a broader EU effort to reduce e-waste and empower consumers to make more sustainable choices while addressing product sustainability and putting to use different devices more conveniently.

ALSO READ: APPLE UNVEILS THE IPHONE 14, APPLE WATCH SERIES 8 AT THE FAR-OUT EVENT

The post iPhones Will Switch to USB-C Chargers by End of 2024 appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.