Bennet claims in the letter that TikTok poses a threat to the national security of the United States because "of its parent company's obligations under Chinese law".

TikTok is one of the most popular applications on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. On Google Play, TikTok is listed with more than one billion downloads, 57 million reviews and an editor's choice badge, making it the number one top free social app on the entire store.

On Apple's App Store, TikTok is listed as the number one entertainment app. Apple does not reveal download numbers, but ratings for TikTok have reached 14.1 million on the company's App Store.

TikTok is one of the most popular applications on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. On Google Play, TikTok is listed with more than one billion downloads, 57 million reviews and an editor's choice badge, making it the number one top free social app on the entire store.

On Apple's App Store, TikTok is listed as the number one entertainment app. Apple does not reveal rough download counts, but ratings for TikTok have reached 14.1 million on the company's App Store.

Bennet cites several Chinese laws that decree that organizations "shall support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work", that Chinese state security may demand cooperation from companies, and that agents of the state are allowed to "access relevant materials and files and make use of its communication tools and facilities".

TikTok has faced questions regarding data storage, access and privacy in the past. In November 2022, TikTok confirmed that Chinese employees could remotely access data of European users.

A Buzzfeed report, cited by Bennet, suggests that user data from the United States was accessed repeatedly from China. Buzzfeed accessed more than 80 internal TikTok recordings and discovered that nine different TikTok employees suggested that "engineers in China had access to US data". On several occasions, meeting members stated that Chinese employees had access to all data.

TikTok has been a controversial topic in the United States for years. In 2020, the Trump administration attempted to ban the app from app stores in the United States. More recently, concerns about the app have increased, culminating in the unveiling of a bipartisan bill to ban the TikTok app nationwide.

27 state governments have already passed full or partial bans of the TikTok application.

While things seem to be moving toward a full ban in the United States, not everyone seems to agree that banning the app is the right way to move forward. In a recent New York Times article, Glenn S. Gerstell argues that banning TikTok would not make the United States safer.

Gerstell acknowledges that there is a possibility that the Chinese government could compel TikTok's owner, ByteDance, to hand over information or use the application to spread disinformation, influence elections, or manipulate public opinion.

ByteDance admitted in December 2022 that it fired several of its China and United States-based employees for accessing private information of users from the United States, including several journalists. There is no evidence that ByteDance provided information to the Chinese government.

ByteDance submitted a plan in August 2022, detailing how it would prevent the Chinese government from accessing U.S. user data and give the U.S. government oversight of the platform.

Senator Bennet's letter is available in full on Scribd.

Source

The mobile app industry really only has two platforms to use; Apple's App Store for its iPhones and iPads, and the Google Play Store for all the various Android-based smartphones and tablets. However, the Biden Administration claims that "the current mobile app store model is harmful to consumers and developers."

In a report published today by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the government agency says that mobile app consumers usually can't download apps outside of Apple and Google's digital stores. In addition, developers who have to use those stores to sell their apps are being handcuffed by too many rules dictated by Apple and Google.

The agency recommended that consumers be allowed to download and use alternative mobile app stores on their devices, along with the ability to hide or delete any pre-installed apps and the right to choose their own default apps.

The report also recommended that developers not be restricted to using Apple and Google's own in-app payment systems. This was the main issue with Epic Games when it tried to launch its own in-app payment system for its game Fortnite a few years ago, only to be kicked off the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. In 2021, a court ruled that Apple must allow external payment methods for its mobile devices. So far, that has yet to happen, as Apple is appealing that ruling.

Apple and Google must also allow mobile devices to accept features like sideloading, alternative app stores, and web apps, according to the report. Android devices can support sideloading to a degree, and it does allow some third-party stores, such as the Samsung Galaxy Store, on that company's smartphones. However, Apple's strict hardware and software policies have not allowed iPhone or iPad owners to sideload apps or use different app stores. Finally, the report says Apple and Google should not be allowed to give their own mobile apps any preference in search results or "discriminate against other apps that are similar to their own."

The agency admits that to make these kinds of changes, "new legislation and additional antitrust enforcement actions are likely necessary to boost competition in the app ecosystem." So far, neither Apple nor Google have responded to this new report.

Source

It's a new year, and that means it's time for a new Samsung flagship. The Galaxy S23 series is official, with a tweaked design for the cheaper models and a big SoC change for international users. As always, there are three models: the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23, 6.6-inch S23 Plus, and 6.8-inch S23 Ultra.

With the release of the S23, Samsung is kicking off some internal drama, with Samsung's Galaxy phone "DX Division" spurning Samsung LSI—the division that produces Exynos chips—for not being good enough. In the past, the Galaxy S series has gone with dual suppliers for its SoC, where some regions get Qualcomm Snapdragon chips (usually the US, China, Japan, and Latin America) and others get Samsung Exynos chips (Europe, India, among others). The performance of Exynos chips is usually not up to the (second place) standard of Qualcomm, and Exynos customers who get stuck with a purely inferior phone are naturally disappointed. Exynos chips have made Samsung fans angry enough to make petitions begging for the superior Qualcomm model to be released in their markets.

This year, Samsung is listening and will be going all Qualcomm, all the time. The Exynos chips have been banished to lower-end devices, which is a wild turn of events after Samsung LSI scored an AMD collaboration last year and two years ago—perhaps out of desperation—started naming Exynos chips after Galaxy S phones, with the Exynos 2100 launching in the S21, and the Exynos 2200 launching in the S22. The Exynos division still supplies chips to various mid-range Samsung phones, and an orphaned Exynos 2300 chip is still floating around the rumor mill and might end up in a tablet or a cut-down version of the S23.

The star of the show is a newer, faster Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Samsung scored a higher-binned version of Qualcomm's chip, called, officially, the "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy." Besides the long name, it has a slightly higher clock rate: 3.36 GHz as opposed to the normal 3.2 GHz. On the non-Galaxy version, Qualcomm promises a 35 percent faster CPU and a 25 percent faster GPU, both with a claimed 40-45 percent higher efficiency. It's a 4 nm chip, with one Arm Cortex X3 CPU,

two Cortex-A715 CPUs, two Cortex-A710 CPUs, and three Cortex A510R1 CPUs. It's kind of a weird CPU layout, but Qualcomm reworked Arm's recommended layout a bit to keep 32-bit support rolling for another year. This is the first Qualcomm chip to support the royalty-free AV1 codec, and it also can support Wi-Fi 7, but Samsung didn't add that to any of the models.

The base model of the S23 is getting some cut-down parts. The major differences are 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a lack of ultra-wideband (UWB) support, and 25 W charging on the base model, while the more expensive S23 Plus and Ultra have a base of 256GB of much faster UFS 4.0 storage and 45 W wired charging. Those charging numbers aren't anything to write home about, which is a shame. Everything has a baseline of 8GB of RAM, 15 W wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, and an 8MP front camera. The Ultra model has higher tiers that can go up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The base model S23 is $800 and packs a 3900 mAh battery. The Plus model is $1,000 with a 4700 mAh battery, and the Ultra is $1,200 with a 5000 mAh battery. Those prices haven't moved in the US, but leaked pricing says the phones are around $100 more expensive internationally. The lower two models have 200 mAh higher battery capacity than the S22.

The biggest visible change in the lineup is on the S23 and S23 Plus. Last year the two cheaper S22s had a wraparound corner camera block, while this year they look more like the Galaxy S23 Ultra with individual camera lenses. The corner block never had much of a design justification, but with the individual camera lens, Samsung has landed on an honestly slick-looking minimal design. A subtle change on the S23 Ultra is that, according to 9to5Google, Samsung flattened out the screen by 30 percent, and the workable area is now almost completely flat. Samsung finally admitted that curved screens are a bad idea and serve no purpose.

The Ultra model looks identical to last year—it's much more squared off than the two cheaper phones, and those taller corners make room for a stowable S-Pen. Besides the biggest display, the Ultra's claim to fame is an upgraded camera loadout, and this year the main sensor is a whopping 200 MP.

The phones are up for preorder today and will be at every major carrier and electronics store on February 17.

Source

According to Kuo, the foldable iPad will bring more diversity to Apple's product mix and boost sales in the iPad segment too. While the analyst didn't exactly dive into details, they noted that the foldable iPad, rumored last year too, will feature a carbon fibre kickstand manufactured by Anjie Technology.

Kuo's latest report is significantly different from fellow analyst Ross Young, who previously noted that Apple is working on an iPad-MacBook hybrid but that it won't release until 2026. Similarly, another reputable journalist Mark Gurman had stated that the foldable iPad would arrive "later in the decade".

Although Apple was initially also expected to release a foldable iPhone this year, it seems like this is not the case anymore. Instead, Kuo expects the foldable iPad to arrive in 2024 along with a revamped iPad mini. The analyst expects a 10-15% decline in iPad shipments this year but expects them to be boosted by the foldable iPad and the iPad mini next year.

Source: Ming-Chi Kuo (Twitter) via The Verge

Apple may release a foldable iPad next year

While the feature is already on iOS and some Android devices, it’s still disabled by default. To switch it on and give yourself a security boost, you should go to Chrome Settings > Privacy & Security > then switch on “Lock incognito tabs when you close Chrome”.

The existence of this feature was quietly mentioned on Google’s blog in a post outlining five ways Chrome boosts your privacy. Many of the features such as Privacy Guide, Safety Check, clearing browsing history, and the Google Password Manager are all existing Chrome features but incognito tab locking is new.

If you use Chrome on Android or iOS, head into the Privacy & Security settings to see whether you can enable this feature yet, otherwise just hold on a little while longer and you should also have the option available.

Ability to lock incognito tabs rolling out to Chrome for Android, already on iOS

What is new in January 2023 firmware update for Surface Duo?

According to Microsoft, the latest firmware update for the duo of Surface Duo smartphones "addresses scenarios outlined in the Android Security Bulletin" for January 2023.

The original Surface Duo with 128GB of storage is currently available for $314, and the 256GB variant can be yours for $419. As for the Surface Duo 2, the smartphone is out of stock in most marketplaces, including the Microsoft Store. You can grab one on Amazon for a whopping $1,799 (128GB).

The Surface Duo 2 went out of stock amid rumors of Microsoft ditching the dual-screen smartphone design in favor of the standard single-screen variant with a flexible display. There are also reports about the company working on a regular slab-like smartphone under the Surface brand. Surface Duo smartphones are not the best by any means, but the form factor makes them unique and rare devices that also happen to be capable of running Windows 11.

Our stories may contain affiliate links for products/apps where Neowin is paid an affiliate fee if you complete a purchase via those links.

Surface Duo and Duo 2 offered January 2023 firmware update

What is new in Microsoft Edge Dev 111.0.1633.0?

New features:

Android:

• Long press on New Tab Page now can enter the Wallpaper center.

Reliability improvements:

• Fixed browser crash related to the Search sidebar.
• Fixed browser crash related to Search in the Mini menu.
• Fixed browser crash on an older version of Windows 10 when trying to use a camera.
• Fixed browser crash when moving a tab into a separate window.
• Fixed browser crash when dragging a tab out of a Group Tab.

Android:

• Fixed browser crash related to Read Aloud.

WebView2:

• Fixed crashing issue related to Sandbox.

Other changes:

• Fixed links from PWA so they no longer open in Workspace.
• Fixed can’t add current page in Sidebar in certain scenarios.
• Fixed duplicated MSA sign-in issue.
• Fixed can’t print on printers with names containing Japanese strings.
• Fixed Quit App on the context menu for Discover and Search Sidebar not working.

macOS:

• Fixed Default workspace for external links setting that caused external links to open in a window that was not the last active window.

iOS:

• Fixed zooming issue on PDFs.
• Fixed duplicated quick links.
• Fixed the Restore prompt showing up when there was no crash.
• Fixed multi-page PDF showing a different page of the PDF when switching from portrait to landscape and vice versa.

Android:

• Fixed duplicated quick links.

Xbox:

• Fixed video corruption playback issue.

WebView2:

• We disabled preconnect to search to stop the SSL connection when opening about:blank page. (#2978)
• Fixed the open file dialog box not opening. (#3075)
• Fixed re-installation fails if WebView2 is running (#3137)

Enterprise:

• Fixed top sites data not clearing after changing identity on iOS.

Microsoft Edge Dev is available for download on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Android users can get the browser from the Google Play Store. As for iOS, you need an invitation from Microsoft to start testing Edge Dev. Unfortunately, the program is full, so new users cannot sign up.

According to the official release schedule, Microsoft plans to ship Edge 111 to the general public on the week of March 9, 2023, after arriving in the Beta Channel on the week of February 14, 2023.

Microsoft Edge Dev 111.0.1633.0 is out with bugfixes and new features for Android

Apple beefs up smartphone services in “silent war” against Google

The control center allows you to enable/disable stuff, access the camera, and control your phone's volume among other things.

Do you know who else can use this? Anyone who steals your phone.

This allows a thief to use the control center from the lock screen to turn on airplane mode, disabling cellular data and Wi-Fi hindering your ability to use “Find my iPhone".

Here is how to disable the control center from a locked iPhone

• Tap Settings
• Tap “Touch ID & Passcode"

• Scroll down to “Allow access when locked” and turn “Control Center” off.

You may also be able to turn on airplane mode with Siri, so you may want to disable that too making Siri inaccessible from the locks screen as well.

That’s it. Control Center is no longer accessible from your iPhone's lock screen!

Happy Computing!

If you learned something today, great! If not, maybe share your own tech tip in the comments below!

I'm Adam, I'm known as Warwagon on the forums. For the past 19 years, I've been operating my own computer repair business. In doing so, I deal with the average computer user on a day-to-day basis.

Every bit of information I provide for people I do so with the lowest common denominator in mind. It's a common misconception that everyone who joins or browses a tech site is a techie. Some people are just looking for guidance. That is why for some, these tech tips may seem a bit too simplistic but they are educational for others.

Tech Tip Tuesday: How to Prevent a thief from disabling your iPhone tracking

What is new in iOS 16.3?

Here is the official changelog provided by Apple:

• New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month

  

   

• Security Keys for Apple ID allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process on new devices
• Support for HomePod (2nd generation)
• Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls
• Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards
• Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen
• Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status
• Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests
• Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly

iOS 16.3 supports the following iPhones:

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022
• iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max

You can download iOS 16.3 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. If you are new to iOS 16, check out what is new in iOS 16.0, 16.1, and 16.2.

iOS 16.3 is out with HomePod 2 support, FIDO keys, new wallpaper, more

iPadOS 15 drops support for newer iPads in 15.7.3 security update

Twitter will stop forcing you onto its ‘For You’ timeline

According to Samsung, packing 200 million 0.6-micrometer pixels in a 1/1.3" sensor enables higher-resolution photos with more details while retaining the physical size of a camera module. Customers can enjoy better images without camera bumps getting bigger.

Like other high-resolution sensors, the ISOCELL HP2 can combine pixels to provide optimal performance depending on available light. For example, the sensor can switch to 50MP 1.2-micrometer mode or 12.5MP 2.4-micrometer mode to gather more light and work better in low-light scenarios.

Phones with the ISOCELL HP2 sensor will also perform better in brightly lit environments thanks to Samsung's new Dual Vertical Transfer Gate technology. D-VTG adds a second transfer gate in the pixel to boost its full-well capacity (the amount of charge each pixel can hold before saturating and spreading the charge to the neighboring pixels and causing blooming) by more than 33%. Samsung says the increased full-well capacity reduces overexposure and enhances colour reproduction.

Samsung's latest camera sensor also offers improved auto-focus in low-light scenarios. Cameras with the ISOCELL HP2 can use all 200 million pixels grouped by four to focus quickly and reliably.

Samsung is already mass-producing the ISOCELL HP2, so expect the sensor to appear in the 2023 flagship smartphones, such as the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung announces new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor for next-gen flagship smartphones

Netflix for iPhone gets a new interface

The image that you see above is the new interface for the Netflix app on the iPhone. For comparison, here's a screenshot from the previous version of the app. It was not bad per se, the design is actually similar to that of the Android app.

The new interface of the Netflix app for iOS no longer has a black navigation bar. The info button that appeared next to a movie or TV show has been removed. The top of the home screen now displays your profile name, e.g. "For John", to indicate that it is showing recommended content for the current user based on your usage (previously watched content).

The tabs at the top of the screen have a slightly different design, with a rounded rectangle borders. There is more to it than this. Selecting a movie or TV show displays some details about it, this function replaces the Info button. Netflix's Coming Soon tab is now called What's New, and displays recommendations for your profile.

According to the lead developer of the UI, Janum Trivedi, (who recently quit the company), the Netflix app for iPhone has a billboard layout with a lighting effect that users can notice when they move their phone. You may want to check this video that Trivedi shared on Twitter. 9to5Mac notes that this parallax effect is produced with the help of the accelerometer sensor on the iPhone.

Trivedi further mentioned that the app generates a wallpaper gradient based on the art (media card) that is displayed on the screen. The video demo also highlights how the card transition animations work, and they are interruptible, i.e. you can dismiss them mid-way.

Other improvements in the Netflix app for iOS includes new fluid animation effects. For example, when the app is launched, it displays a large card for a movie or show, as opposed to a nearly-full screen promo that the old version had. The animation that renders when you switch profiles is also different. Speaking of which, you can now access the profile section or the search function from any screen in the app. That should help with navigation, and content discovery. The update also adds support for haptic feedback in the app.

The new UI is available in version 15.14.0 of the app. Download Netflix for iPhone and iPad from the App Store.

Netflix is working on providing a similar visual upgrade to its app for Apple TV. It is not clear if the Android app will get the new UI, but one can hope. Netflix has recently been working on ending password sharing on its platform. First, it introduced Netflix Homes in some markets, hoping to make people buy subscriptions if they wanted to share their account with others. It was soon followed by a way to migrate shared profiles to a new account, and an option that lets you remove other users from your account. It even launched an ad-supported tier, called Netflix Basic, in some Countries.

Do you like the new Netflix interface? Yay, or nay?

Netflix app for iOS gets a redesigned interface and new animations

According to the developer, most people interested in the project want three notable things addressed before they pull the trigger on installing Windows 11 on the first or second-gen Surface Duo. Those things include the ability to boot Windows without an extra device, dual-boot Android and Windows, and lock back the bootloader. All three items will be available to customers once Gustave finishes the necessary updates and documentation.

Users will be able to select Android or Windows on boot by having the device closed or open upon turning it on. This month's update will also bring other features and restore previously broken apps, such as McDonald's, Netflix, and banking applications.

Speaking of other Surface Duo news, a new report recently emerged with details about the next generation of Microsoft's Android smartphone. Rumors claim Microsoft has scrapped its plans to release another dual-screen smartphone in favor of a more "traditional" one with a single foldable display. Besides, Microsoft is reportedly working on a conventional slab-like phone under the Surface brand.

Those wanting to snag the Surface Duo should act fast and get the device for $314.99 while the supply last. Unfortunately, the Surface Duo 2 is nowhere to be found, including on Microsoft's website.

Our stories may contain affiliate links for products/apps where Neowin is paid an affiliate fee if you complete a purchase via those links.

You will soon be able to dual-boot Windows and Android on Surface Duo

Google’s Android clock app now lets you record your own annoying alarm sound

After constantly teasing the device on its social media accounts, Oppo has finally launched in India the A78 5G, a new mid-range smartphone.

The A78 5G sports a Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset, a typical choice for smartphone brands that want to offer 5G at an affordable price. The device also comes with 128GB of internal memory, 8GB of RAM that can be expanded up to 16GB via virtual memory, and a microSD card slot.

What's more, the device has a 6.56-inch display with a 720 x 1612 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen also supports up to 600 nits of brightness, 96% NTSC colour gamut, and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut.

The Oppo A78 5G even packs a dual rear camera setup with its 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth shooter. An 8MP selfie camera is also present. Other key features include dual stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, IPX4 water resistance, and a 5,000mAh battery that Oppo claims can be charged from 0 to 100% in 67 minutes through the included 33W SuperVOOC charger. The device ships with colourOS 13 based on Android 13.

The Oppo A78 5G will be available this January 18 and cost Rs 18,999 or about $232. It can now be pre-ordered through Oppo's website and Amazon India. colours available include Glowing Black and Glowing Blue.

Oppo launches the A78 5G in India, a smartphone with a Dimensity 700 SoC

One of the new features that arrived alongside the iPhone 14 handsets in September 2022 was a feature that Apple calls “Emergency SOS via satellite”—and the name tells you pretty much all you need to know.

Apple says it's intended for “exceptional circumstances when no other means of reaching the emergency services are available.” When you're in trouble and you can't get a Wi-Fi signal or a lock on a cell tower, your iPhone 14 will make contact with a satellite and send out your plea for help that way.

Be warned, though, this isn't a backup internet connection for personal use. The satellite connection is slow and limited, and it's really only suitable for transmitting key information about your situation: where you are, what condition you're in, and what you need help with.

To use the Emergency SOS via satellite function, you need an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple hasn't discussed long-term pricing yet, but it has made the service free for two years when you buy a compatible device.

How Emergency SOS via Satellite Works

The service sends key information to emergency responders.

Courtesy of Apple

Emergency SOS via satellite becomes available only when you're in an area without any Wi-Fi or cellular coverage—otherwise it's expected that you can get in touch with emergency services or your trusted contacts in the normal way. Ideally, you need a clear view of the sky and the horizon, as obstructions like foliage and mountains can slow or even block your satellite connection.

Even in perfect conditions with the best satellite lock, messages can take 15 seconds to send. That might seem primitive, but there's a lot of impressive technology here—not least the way that Apple has fitted satellite connectivity into something as svelte as the iPhone 14. (Check out the size of a regular satellite phone to see what we mean.)

As you would want in a stressful emergency situation, your phone will guide you through everything you need to do, and that includes moving the iPhone to stay locked to a satellite. (This can be done even when the handset itself is locked.) The feature works in combination with the other safety options on the iPhone, so you can send emergency responders information from the Medical ID section of the Health app, for example.

Reports suggest that the Emergency SOS with satellite feature is already saving lives. After a car with two passengers went off the road in Los Angeles, an iPhone 14 in the vehicle registered the accident (via the Crash Detection feature that was also introduced with the 2022 models) and contacted emergency services automatically over a satellite connection, as there was no Wi-Fi or mobile data available.

How to Use Emergency SOS via Satellite

Let's hope you never have to use Emergency SOS via satellite, but it's wise to lay a bit of groundwork just in case. Head to the Health app on your iPhone and tap Summary, then your profile picture (top right), then Medical ID, and Edit. You can fill in details about your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and so on. If necessary, you can send this information as part of your Emergency SOS via satellite communications.

You're also able to designate emergency contacts who can be reached through a satellite connection as well as first responders. In addition, it's a good idea to make sure you're sharing your location with these people through the Find My app on your phone—your whereabouts can then be automatically transmitted out into the wider world if you get in trouble.

To use Emergency SOS via satellite, you first need to try and make a 911 call. If no networks are available, then the Emergency Text via Satellite option appears on screen. Tap this, then Report Emergency, and you'll be prompted to answer a few questions about what's happened and what sort of assistance you need. (This might cover how many people are with you and details of any injuries that have been incurred, for example.) You also get to choose which optional information gets sent, like your Medical ID records.

With that done, just follow the instructions on the screen of your iPhone. You'll be guided to get a lock on a passing satellite, and to keep that lock (which may require you to shift your position slightly). The emergency services may request further information from you via text messages, and they should keep you updated on the response.

How to Use the iPhone 14’s Emergency Satellite SOS

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Ok, enough alliteration. Let’s get down to the facts, shall we? The Pixel 7 is supposed to be Google’s superior product in terms of mobile devices. But customers have been having problems with both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro since launch. The latest issue that people have reported is that the presumably pixel-perfect Pixel has trouble providing picture-perfect video calls. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the issue presents itself most prominently while users are communicating via Google Meet. However, users report that other apps are also affected. 

With such a premium phone, you’d expect that the cameras at least work as well as other devices do. However, when it comes to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, what you have instead is a blurry, grainy, distorted, and sometimes even smeared picture. Like a Salvador Dali painting, but on your family and friends’ faces. Lovely. 

Just in case people were overexaggerating, a Redditor in possession of a Pixel 7 Pro, iPad Pro, and Pixel 3XL, took screenshots of a Google Meet call on each of the phones. The Redditor found that the dated Pixel 3XL was capable of delivering much clearer video quality than the current Pixel 7 Pro. This is quite a significant issue as people spending $1000 dollars on a Pixel 7 Pro likely believe that they’re firmly out of the poor video quality demographic. Alas, not. 

The media speculates that particular apps are able to optimize video feedback much more efficiently for certain devices. However, when both the app in question and the culprit phone are made by the same company, Google, that argument seems a little lackluster. Surely Google would ensure there’s some sort of parity, a deeper connection, if you will, between its products? What should work better on Google Pixel phones than other Google apps?

We’ve been hearing about this issue since October, and we sincerely hope that Google does something to rectify the situation soon. However, in the interim, we strongly suggest Google Pixels customers use alternative apps for video calls. Or, better yet, buy a less exorbitant phone with better video feedback quality. I know, I know; I’d buy a Pixel, too, if they were sold in the boondocks where I live. There’s just something about the design, interface, and animated widgets that sets this phone apart from others. We’ll keep you updated on the progression of the situation.

Source

What Did iOS 16 Bring?

iOS 16 and iOS 14 were two major updates from Apple that brought about many changes. Users received redesigned widgets on their home screens. The app library was changed, and new features in Safari & Maps and a redesigned lock screen were some of the changes users enjoyed.

Not Too Many Changes

According to industry expert Mark Gurman, Apple has been working on a Virtual Reality (VR) headset. This headset will be integrated with Augmented Reality (AR) and run on xrOS. Apple's experts have been working on this for years, putting the development of iOS 17 on the back burner.

iOS 17 is expected to be launched with iPhone 15 and will have very few changes compared to its predecessor. With the scheduled release date for iOS 17 set for June 2023, only time will tell if there will be any changes in this OS or will all the changes be implemented with iOS 18.

2023 Is the Year for AR

As per Gurman, 2023 is set to be a big year for Apple in terms of AR. They are currently working on two projects (one with the VR  headset and the other is an AR lens). These new ventures will revolutionize the VR & AR market, and Apple is taking a big chance here by temporarily shifting focus away from iOS.

Without Major Changes, iOS 17 Is Expected To Be Disappointing

Microsoft is rolling out a noteworthy new feature for SwiftKey Keyboard on Android via an app update on Google Play Store. Taking the app to version 8.10.30.11, the update enables users to change the app language from Android system settings. However, only Android 13 users will get this privilege and not anyone running an older version of the operating system.

Besides a new way to change the app language, the latest version of SwiftKey also has a fix for issues in the accessibility description for radio buttons for theme selection. That's all that is new in the latest version of Microsoft SwiftKey. You can still read the full official changelog of the latest SwiftKey Keyboard update on Android if there is a need.

• Fixed accessibility description for radio buttons for theme selection
• SwiftKey main app language can now be set via Android 13 system settings

You can download the Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard app on your Android phone from Google Play Store. You can also click on this link that will redirect you to the SwiftKey download page.

Latest SwiftKey version on Android gives a new way to change your app language

This revelation is far from the previous rumors claiming that the next Duo will have a 360-degree hinge, allowing the device to be folded to make the internal screens external. According to Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, the next Duo will have a 180-degree hinge, though it will get an additional screen to make the external display possible. And although the flawless, gapless screen now makes the name “Duo” questionable for this new device, sources said that the handheld is still treated as the third-generation of Duo internally.

The report added that the change in the display of the next Duo came after the “original” finalized plan for Surface Duo 3 was discarded. In the scrapped design described, Duo 3 sounded nothing significantly different from the present Duos. It was supposed to get bigger edge-to-edge screens and other improvements and was set to ship by the end of 2023. However, the team shifted the plan to pursue a “true” foldable design, which changed everything. This includes the shipping window for the device, which sources said is still unclear.

On the other hand, while this is big news for Duo fans everywhere, the screen concept is nothing new. As Bowden notes in the report, the next Duo can be compared to the present foldable devices currently available in the market: the Vivo X Fold and Honor Magic Vs. Despite this, Microsoft seems determined to make its Android hardware products stand out from its competitors. In the report, sources added that there is an internal software effort called “Perfect Together” aimed at creating an ecosystem that will produce a smoother link between Windows computers and Microsoft Android devices similar to Apple’s iPhone and Mac.

Apparently, the plan to make this Apple-like ecosystem between PCs and phones could be hard to achieve with limited options for the latter. With this, the report added that Microsoft is also working on expanding its Android products in different form factors, including a conventional slab design. This is nothing huge since there are already a lot of one-screen smartphone choices out there, but the report said it would be Microsoft’s new strategy to uplift the name of Duos and make them an “enthusiast product.”

What are your thoughts about this? Will this new design help boost the charm of the next Surface Duo? Most of all, will this new ‘strategy’ work for Microsoft’s Android efforts?

Third-generation Duo: no gaps in screen, external display, and looks nothing like ‘Duo’

Apple is reportedly making an all-in-one cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth chip

I can’t be the only one who appreciates how similar the logo is.

Image: Motorola

The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola is a ThinkPad owner’s dream

The design for the Android Auto experience has been revamped with increased focus on improved navigation, communication, and playing audio content. This is done by relocating Maps closer to the driver's seat, a Material You-based media card to show album art, a quick launcher to start recent apps, and split screen layouts that are compatible with different screen sizes.

In terms of new features, we have smart suggestions from Google Assistant about missed call reminders, faster access to music, and quick arrival time sharing. Additionally, you can leverage shortcuts to quickly call your favorite contacts and respond to messages. And it's surprising that this has not been supported since launch, but Android Auto finally has a seekable progress bar for skipping parts of music and podcasts. Owners of the latest Pixel and Samsung phones will also be pleased to know that they can make WhatsApp calls, with the capability slated to arrive for more devices in the future.

Moreover, digital key sharing is coming to Samsung and Xiaomi handsets and more car brands soon. Right now, they are only supported on BMWs across Pixel and iPhone devices.

Google also talked about some improvements from its partner ecosystem, summarized below:

• High-quality maps and navigation
  • The Waze app is now available on select Renault vehicles and is headed to more cars with Google built-in.
  • Google’s new HD map is now available in select new cars with Google built-in, starting with the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3. The HD map delivers precise road details like lane markers, signs and road barriers to support automakers' assisted and autonomous driving technology for safer, more hands-free driving on select roadways.

 

• More entertainment
  • While you’re waiting for curbside pickup or charging your EV, the car screen is a great place to catch up on shows or movies. With Tubi and MGM+ already available on Google Play, we’ll soon be offering YouTube and more.

 

• Expanded choices
  • With the recently announced 2023 Accord Touring model, Honda joins a growing list of brands offering cars with Google built-in that includes Volvo Cars, Polestar, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Renault. Expect even more choices from brands like Ford and Lincoln later in 2023 as well.

All of the aforementioned features have started rolling out today, unless explicitly mentioned otherwise.

Source