This is not the first time that Mozilla extended support for more extensions. Back in 2020, Mozilla added five more extensions to the list of supported extensions in Firefox for Android.

Mozilla restricted access to browser extensions in the new Firefox for Android mobile browser that the organization launched in 2020. Even today, less than 20 extensions are available officially for the mobile browser. Beta and Nightly versions of Firefox support custom extensions lists, which users may use to make other extensions available.

Mozilla has not added that option yet to Firefox for Android Stable. You may check out our guides for Firefox Beta for Android and Firefox Nightly for Android that explain how to add custom add-on collections.

For a long time, it looked as if extensions would remain limited in Firefox Stable for Android. Mozilla's recent announcement about the addition of the five extensions hints that this may change in the not-so-distant future.

"Indeed our goal is to design MV3 for mobile in such a manner we’re able to open up the discoverability of mobile extensions beyond the short list available today."

It is a vague statement but it confirms that Mozilla has plans to bring more mobile extensions to Firefox for Android. Whether that includes unlocking most of the extensions available or just a careful selection of compatible extensions remains to be seen.

Work on Manifest V3 adoption in Firefox for Android begins in 2023, and this is a prerequisite for improving extensions support.

Firefox for Android has been downloaded more than 100 million times on Google Play. The browser has a rating of 4.6 currently, which beats Google Chrome (4.1) but not Microsoft Edge (4.7).

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PineTab 2 is another try at a Linux-based tablet, without the 2020 supply crunch

If you want another reminder of the big iPhone vs. Android differences, consider how differently operating system updates are treated by the platforms' users. iOS updates garner a lot of attention — something I'd like to see happen on the Android side of things.

Hype for Android tends to die down following the big annual update, unless Google announces major changes, such as with Android 12L a year ago. Normally, however, we tend to forget about updates until the quarterly Pixel Feature Drops roll around — and those are exclusive to Google's phones, so they won't make it to the main Android codebase. 

Perhaps Android updates tend to be lower profile because Google doesn't tend to do very much with the minor updates. That's a contrast to Apple, which often introduces several new features in iOS point releases, whether it's to finally deliver on promised additions or roll out entirely new capabilities. For example, this week's iOS 16.2 update brought the new Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, iCloud Advanced Data Protection, new lock screen widgets, and adjustments to the always-on display feature for the iPhone 14 Pro.

I cannot remember a time in recent memory where an Android point release brought as many new features as what we saw from iOS 16.2. The Android 4 Jelly Bean days come to mind, but that was a decade ago. (Feel old yet?) Modern Android relies on monthly security patches and those Feature Drops I mentioned earlier to keep people sated until the next big version comes out.

But as proven by the most recent Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1, Google has started experimenting in between major launches. Normally, new features wait until the Developer Previews come around, though you see most of them in the pre-launch betas following the annual Google I/O conference.

It's hard to say that this latest Android 13 beta is unprecedented because I honestly can't recall every single post-launch beta in the history of the OS. But it stands out to me. The beta added several features such as lock screen customizations, an official desktop mode, and other smaller ones. All of that would normally be saved for Android 14, so I'm pretty excited that we might get these things before late next year. (Google could decide to not ship all of these features in a production release.)

Even if Google managed to get betas up to the standard iOS has set, I don't think people outside of hardcore fans would even bat an eye. Part of that has to do with the scope of the iPhone's popularity in comparison to the Pixel's — the latter is statistically insignificant compared to Apple's mobile portfolio.

It shouldn't be that way because anything in the Android codebase could come to other non-Pixel phones, like the Galaxy S, OnePlus, and Xiaomi devices of the world. That alone should get people interested.

If Google continues with what it's done for QPR2 Beta 1 with future post-launch betas, I think more people owe it to themselves to pay attention. Who knows what will come to your non-Pixel phone eventually.

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As you may know, all web browsers on iPhones and iPads are based on the WebKit engine, including Apple's Safari app. Why? For security reasons, that's what the Cupertino company claims, that its engine and its sandbox restrictions are more secure than others.

This bizarre restriction, imposed by the company, could be revoked. Mark Gurman's article on Bloomberg (paywalled), which was spotted by Macrumors, says that Apple is considering removing the requirement for web browsers on iOS and iPadOS.

This could finally allow Mozilla to use its Gecko engine for Firefox on iOS, and similarly Google's Blink engine for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, etc. Hopefully, Vivaldi will show up to the party too. It remains to be seen whether Apple will allow web browsers to support extensions. Or could it see that as an app downloading scripts and restrict them? If so, Mozilla could bypass this by bundling uBlock Origin with Firefox. Let's not jump to conclusions too quickly, eh?

So, why is this happening?

We can thank the European Union for that. A month ago, the EU passed a law called the Digital Markets Act, that requires gatekeepers (controllers of large online platforms) including Apple, Microsoft, and Google, to allow users to install apps from third-party sources. This will free users from the restrictions of the App Store, you will be able to sideload apps on your iPhone and iPad. It will also provide developers some relief, as they could host their apps elsewhere, without paying a 30% commission fee to Apple.

The law comes in to effect in 2024, and Apple is preparing to allow other app stores on its devices. But what does this have to do with browsers being restricted to WebKit? Browser makers and web developers have found the restriction to be anticompetitive. Even the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) criticized Apple and Google for their browser's duopoly.  WebKit's limitations prevent developers from bringing features that are available on other platforms to iOS. All of this technically falls under the gatekeeping law, so Apple's hand may actually be forced here.

Gurman also mentions that Apple is working on opening more of its APIs to third-party apps. The Silicon Valley giant is yet to come to a decision regarding allowing its Messages app and iMessage to work with third-party services, this is something which the Digital Markets Act has made mandatory. Google took a swipe at Apple for not adopting RCS, it remains to be seen where the iMessage situation is headed to. Interestingly, Apple may also allow third-party apps to access more camera technologies and the NFC chip, the latter is used for Apple Pay and Wallet.

I barely use my iPad, not just because I prefer browsing on my MacBook, but also because of how terrible Safari is compared to other browsers. Firefox with uBlock Origin may be the motivation I need to start using my iPad again. Speaking of which, if you want the content blocker on your iPhone or iPad, you can use Orion web browser, I tested the macOS version. Though it is based on Webkit, it allows you to install Firefox and Chrome extensions.

First the EU passed a law to make the USB-C connector to be the standard one on all phones from 2023 (bye bye Lightning), then they told gatekeepers not to restrict users from side-loading apps, which could now result in freedom for browsers, and choices for users. More of this, please.

Apple may drop the WebKit requirement for web browsers on iOS

Let’s face it: Google Maps is a great mapping service that might be all you’ll ever need depending on where you live or which places you visit. If you’re looking for a similarly full-fledged mapping service on Android, you're basically out of luck, even with an abundance of more specialized services out there. In fact, many third-party developers rely on Google Maps data for their projects. The Linux Foundation and a number of other companies recognize that this Google domination is a problem, and are teaming up to create a collaborative alternative with open source at its core.

The Linux Foundation has announced that the initiative launches as Overture Maps (via TechCrunch). Together with its partners Amazon Web Services (AWS), Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, the foundation wants to “enable current and next-generation map products by creating reliable, easy-to-use, and interoperable open map data as a shared asset that can strengthen mapping services worldwide.”

The project is targeted at developers and companies that want to create their own mapping systems on top of the data provided by the foundation. In the beginning, the service will offer basic layers only, like buildings and roads. It’s supposed to evolve to provide a better resolution and more accuracy, and the Linux Foundation promises that at some point, it will also provide routing data, 3D buildings, and “places” information.

Overture relies on different existing data sources and is supposed to be used as a complementary addition to OpenStreetMap, the community-created alternative to Google Maps.

Spatial information will also be available at some point, which explains how Facebook parent company Meta fits into this initiative. The company could rely on this data to power some of its VR and AR applications.

Notably missing from the collaboration are Apple and Google, which both offer mapping services of their own.

The approach is drastically different from Google, which is a single entity that holds power over its map product and how third-party developers can use it. It’s possible that the open, collaborative approach will prove more viable in the future as regulators watch gatekeepers and monopolies with increasing scrutiny.

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Multiple reports point to Apple releasing an iPhone 15 Ultra in 2023, which would presumably replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple already has an Ultra device in its lineup in the Apple Watch Ultra, which commands a $400 premium over the Apple Watch 8.

The Apple Watch Ultra sports a larger and brighter display, a more durable titanium frame, longer battery life and a dedicated action button among other upgrades. And based on the leaks so far, the iPhone 15 Ultra should have some at least a few exclusive features of its own.

Recently, one leaker tipped what seems like an obscenely high price for the next top-end iPhone, saying that the iPhone 15 Ultra could cost $100 to $200 more more than the previous model. That would put the iPhone 15 Ultra at $1,199 or possibly even $1,299. For those scoring at home, that would be the same price as a MacBook Pro M2. 

But I actually think the iPhone 15 Ultra could be worth the premium if Apple delivers a truly unique and differentiated flagship. Here’s why.

New titanium design

 (Image credit: @jonjuhan/Twitter)

The iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to feature a titanium chassis, at least for the device's side rails. This would be an upgrade over the stainless steel used for the past few generations of Pro iPhones.

The benefit of titanium is that it’s approximately three to four times stronger than stainless steel while also being lighter. However, titanium is known for being more expensive than steel. So Apple will need to demonstrate that the added durability of titanium will be worth it to shoppers, and I’m sure that a titanium device will be put through various drop tests by reviewers. 

We’ve also heard that the iPhone 15 could feature a more curved design, but it’s not clear whether this will apply to iPhone 15 Ultra or the entire lineup. It would certainly be another way for the Ultra to stand out. 

Powerful periscope zoom

(Image credit: 4RMD/YouTube)

This is long overdue, but the iPhone 15 Ultra is tipped to feature a periscope lens capable of 5x or 6x optical zoom. By comparison, the Google Pixel 7 Pro features a 5x optical zoom and the Galaxy S22 Ultra has dual telephoto zoom lenses of 3x and 10x.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max could only go up to 3x optical zoom, so this would be a very welcome upgrade for the iPhone 15 Ultra. We’re also assuming the digital zoom would increase for this model, as the iPhone 14 Pro series currently maxes out at 15x. I would be shocked if Apple didn’t go to at least 30x to better compete against Google (30x) and Samsung (up to 100x). 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max definitely struggled in our camera zoom shootout versus the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra, so a periscope zoom is easily No. 1 on our list of exciting enhancements. 

Dual front cameras

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

This is kind of a weird iPhone 15 Ultra rumor but it could happen. Twitter leaker MajinBu claims the Ultra will offer two front cameras. It's not unheard of for handsets to offer two front cameras, providing wide-angle option for fitting in more people or more background on selfies. A second front lens could also enable improved self-portraits and provide better performance in augmented reality apps.

While this rumor could come true, we have to wonder what it would mean for the design of the Dynamic Island, which has replaced the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is where you can get live alerts and other activities updates on the fly. Would the Dynamic Island grow as a result, and would it just be too big?

Double the storage

It’s kind of a no-brainer that the iPhone 15 Ultra will offer at least 256GB of storage to start. This was one of our complaints about the iPhone 14 Pro series — that 128GB is just not very Pro in this day and age when people are shooting 48MP ProRAW photos with your phones and recording 4K video. And the iPhone 15 Ultra could up this to 8K video, which takes up even more room.

Some of the pricing rumors have tied a higher starting storage with the hike, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also rumored to start with 256GB. 

USB-C with faster transfers

 (Imag credit: Ivan Shene | Shutterstock)

All four iPhone 15 models are tipped to feature USB-C connectivity — especially now that Apple has a 2024 deadline to ditch Lightning for USB-C form the EU. However, only the Pro/Ultra models are expected to offer USB-C ports capable of higher speed data transfers, likely using the USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 standard.

This would make if faster to transfer photos, videos and other files to your MacBook Pro or other PC. And it could enable the iPhone 15 Ultra to be used with an external display or other accessories that support high-speed data connections. We're just not sure whether this perk will be exclusive to the Ultra or not. 

Bottom line

When you add all of the rumored upgrades together, including a tougher and sleeker titanium design, periscope zoom camera and double the storage, the iPhone 15 Ultra could very well sell for $1,199 or even $1,299. And I’m telling you right now that people will be willing to pay that price.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra already costs $1,199, so Apple jumping from $1,099 for the iPhone 14 Pro Ultra up to $1,199 doesn’t seem far fetched at all. It’s the even bigger possible leap to $1,299 that could rub even the most fervent early adopters the wrong way, especially if the economy remains shaky through the fall.

So a pricier iPhone 15 Ultra sounds like a big gamble, but it could ultimately pay off for users — and Apple. 

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This week the kings of the Middle Kingdom issued directives to address some of the biggest annoyances associated with smartphones applications: copycat apps and bloatware.

On Monday the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) launched a campaign it said would "rectify chaos" in smartphone apps by cracking down on several behaviors such as publication of "copycat apps" that use logos, pictures or text similar to existing apps to deceive users and potentially collect personal data and app subscription fees.

The CAC also also plans to rectify dodgy ranking practices, and apps that lure people in with sexually suggestive or vulgar home pages. Apps distributed by QR code, rather than through app stores, are also in trouble.

But wait, there's more! CAC will prevent auto downloads or installations without user consent. Apps that misrepresent their function or content are in the firing line as well.

As are apps that tempt users with promises of making money.

Excessive pop-ups, functions that serve as an obstacle to removing apps or forced renewals, and fake free trials are all on their way out.

In the usual style of the CAC, the regulator did not specify how it would accomplish its goals, instead using phrases like "severely punish," "strictly regulate," and "crack down."

Given the Authoritarian nature of the regime, though, these terms should be taken pretty much at face value.

Beijing has also decided to tackle pre-installed undeletable bloatware.

On Wednesday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in conjunction with the CAC, said it would take action to regulate pre-installed apps on smartphones, requiring them to be "user first" and of "minimum necessity," as to "respect and protect users' right to know and choose."

Which, to be honest, doesn't sound all that Communist.

The rules require manufacturers to ensure that pre-installed software can be deleted – other than the Phone app, an app that drives voice and video recording, a TXT program, contact lists, browsers, and app stores.

"Violations of this notice shall be dealt with in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," states the notice.

Sadly, the regulations probably don't apply to designed-in-China phones distributed outside the Middle Kingdom. But at least behind the Great Firewall, netizens splashing out on new phones will have less bloatware to deal with, and fewer reasons to worry that apps aren't what they seem.

So how bad could Communism be, really?®

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According to a report from Bloomberg (paywall), Apple has decided to comply with the EU legislation by allowing third-party app stores and sideloading apps on iOS. However, app developers may not be able to bypass Apple's controversial 30 percent fees, as Apple still plans to charge a fee even with sideloading in iOS. For users, Apple devices and services will be much more open than they are currently.

Sideloading of apps, however, will not come at the cost of lesser security, as Apple is considering implementing security requirements such as verification. This is the same way Apple ensures safety while still giving users access to apps outside the Mac App Store.

Not only is Apple considering allowing third-party app stores on iOS but also providing deeper access to iOS. This will lead to third-party developers getting access to camera technologies. Apple will reportedly lift some restrictions on NFC too, which will allow Apple Pay alternatives to debut on the iOS App Store. Changes are also expected to come to web browsing engines and other areas of Apple's software to comply with the EU legislation.

Last year, Microsoft also made changes to its Store policies to allow third-party app stores in Windows 11. But its rationale behind that move differs from why Apple is relaxing some of its App Store rules. Also worth mentioning is that Microsoft allows developers to use third-party payment mechanisms without paying Microsoft a fee.

As for Apple, the company has until March 6, 2024, to comply with the EU's rules, but the tech firm hopes to bring a more open App Store before the deadline. The company expects to implement the changes in iOS 17 in 2023. However, these changes are reportedly designed to go into effect in the EU region initially.

via Macrumors

Report: Apple iPhones will finally allow sideloading third-party apps

Google went its own way with the Pixel's chipset last year, introducing the Tensor G1 with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. When those phones launched, a lot of people, including us here at Tom's Guide, criticized the relatively weak performance when compared to other flagships at the time.

Fast forward to 2022 with the Tensor G2 powering the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Google made a lot of strides in terms of performance, but the new chip still lags behind Qualcomm and Apple. 

But I think we as an industry, and as Android enthusiasts, have looked at Google's new venture wrong. It's not about the Geekbench or 3DMark numbers. It's about what the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) — the part Google added to the system-on-chip — can do. Here's what I mean.

Numbers don't always tell the full story

When we look at Tensor's numbers in synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench and 3DMark Wild Life, they aren't all that impressive. Compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, such as what you find in the Galaxy S22, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro lag behind by a few hundred points.

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

But looking at the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, the gap widens. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 scored 1,328 in single-core and 3,831 in multicore. The Pixel 7 Pro managed just 1,060 and 3,046, respectively. And don't get us started on the delta between the latest Google flagship and the iPhone 14 Pro.

No, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are not powerhouses on the level of Apple or any Android phone using the latest Qualcomm silicon. But they aren't meant to be. Google isn't chasing the performance crown.

So what is the point of Tensor? I'm glad you asked.

What is Tensor actually for?

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google has outright said Tensor is meant for AI, and the proof is in the pudding. I've hailed the Pixel 7 Pro as the smartest phone ever. It can do things that seemed impossible on a smartphone just a few years ago — the Pixel 5, as much as I love it, did not inspire much confidence, which made the Pixel 6 such a revelation.

Tensor is designed to show off Google's software prowess.

With features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Call Suite, and the fantastic Assistant upgrades, the Pixel 7 Pro has no equal when it comes to AI and machine learning on a smartphone. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone 14 Pro comes very close, like being able to copy or translate text from basically anything or pulling the subject out of a photo to paste elsewhere. But Google has the edge.

Tensor is designed to show off Google's software prowess. It's the showcase for Assistant's future, the computational photography magic that we see get better each year, and the future of how we interact with a smartphone.

Tensor outlook

Tensor is what makes Pixels unique in an ocean of same-y phones. It's more than just the design. (Though, the camera bar does draw a lot of attention.) Although it is a great device in its own right, the Galaxy S22 Ultra struggles to catch up to the Pixel 7 Pro in pushing the smartphone forward, despite features such as the S Pen.

I get a lot of joy out of using the Pixel 7 Pro, more than any other phone released this year. And no, it's not a perfect phone. The battery life is inexcusable. The display could be brighter. Charging is still slow.

But Tensor is one the most exciting things to happen in this industry in a long while and I can't believe I've been looking at it the wrong way this whole time. I look forward to seeing Tensor G3 and what it can do in 2023.

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What is new in iOS 16.2?

Here are the changes in iOS 16.2:

• Apple Music Sing. Apple Music has received a dedicated karaoke mode, allowing you to sing along with millions of your favorite songs. You can sing with the original artist, solo, or mix it up. Finally, the app now features enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics that let users follow along with the music easier.

• Freeform. iOS 16.2 delivers a new app for creative collaboration on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Customers can draw on a flexible canvas using various tools and add files, images, stickers, and more.

• Encrypted iCloud Backups. The latest iOS version adds end-to-end encryption support to more iCloud data categories (23 total).

• Improved Lock Screen and always-on display. iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max customers can now hide the wallpaper and notifications on the always-on display. There are also new sleep and medications widgets for the Lock Screen (available on all compatible iPhones).

• Game Center Updates. SharePlay now supports Game Center, allowing you to play multiplayer games with others during FaceTime calls. Also, the new Activity Widget is here to let you know what your friends are playing and their latest achievements.

• Apple TV and Live Activities. The Live Activities feature allows you to follow your favorite teams and receive live scores on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max).

• Home. iOS 16.2 delivers communication reliability and efficiency between smart home accessories and Apple devices.

And here are the most notable bug fixes:

• Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text

• Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari

• News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location

• Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note

• AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content

• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
• Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made

What iPhones support iOS 16.2?

iOS 16.2 is available for all iPhones capable of running iOS 16. They include the following models:

• 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 16.2 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

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If you were to draw up a list of the best phones to come out in the past year, Google's Pixel phones would rankly very highly. But write down a list of the top-selling phones, and Google's handsets would be hard to find.

It's a dilemma that's faced Google ever since the original Pixel phone debuted in 2016, but the question has only become more pointed as each subsequent handset brought further refinements to the lineup: Google makes great phones with the Pixels — why aren't more people using them?

"Google has invested heavily to build the Pixel brand, but in comparison to Apple and Samsung it still has a mountain to climb," agreed Ben Wood, chief analyst and chief marketing officer at CCS Insight. "The brand has resonated well with technology enthusiasts, but getting broader adoption is challenging."

 (Image credit: Future)

This year's Pixel releases have really highlighted the gap between what Google's phones deliver and how that translates (or fails to) to smartphone sales. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have received extremely favorable reviews, with their cameras gaining the usual enthusiastic praise. For me, though, the phone of the year was the Google Pixel 6a, a midrange offering that delivered one of the best camera phones for the money while also using its Tensor chipset to power experiences unique to Google's phones.

Those particular models are selling better than previous Pixels, but Google's share of the smartphone market is still just a ripple when compared to the likes of Apple and Samsung. Market research firm Canalys puts Google fifth in U.S. phone market share, with just a 1.7% sliver of the market for the the third quarter of 2022.

"Pixel is still a rounding error in the overall market," said Avi Greengart, lead analyst at Techsponential.

Here's a closer look at why the Pixel should be making a bigger splash in the smartphone world than it does now and whether that trend can change for Google in a market dominated by the iPhone and various Galaxy flagships.

What Google got right with the Pixel in 2022

In six years of Pixel releases, Google has built a reputation for equipping its phones with a superior camera experience, with computational photography augmenting and improving upon what the phone's lenses capture.

After upgrading the main camera on its flagship phones to a 50MP shooter with 2021's Pixel 6 releases, Google made only modest changes to the camera setup with the Pixel 7. The front camera on its latest phones saw an upgrade to a 10.8MP sensor with a wider field of view. Even with the minimal hardware improvements, both Pixel 7 models could still go toe-to-toe with any top camera phone — see our iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro camera shootout for a look at just how evenly matched these two devices are when it comes to mobile photography.

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Hardware is only a small part of the story when it comes to the Pixel's camera prowess. Google's phones also benefit from the company's expertise with computational photography, as we've seen with a number of photo-processing and editing features rolled out to the Pixels. 

We're thinking of the Magic Eraser tool introduced with the Pixel 6 and enhanced for the Pixel 6a to not only remove unwanted objects and people from photos but to also make them less prominent. The Pixel 7's Photo Unblur tool can sharpen up the faces in photos — even ones shot by entirely different phones. And I've been impresed with how the upgraded SuperRes Zoom feature on the Pixel 7 lets me zoom in for clear shots without a lot of artifiacts even though Google's standard phone has no dedicated telephoto lens.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Some of these photographic features benefit from the Google-built Tensor processor that's been powering Pixel phones since the Pixel 6 last year. (As Apple does with the iPhone SE, Google even includes its own silicon in its budget phone, so the Pixel 6a uses the same Tensor chipset introduced in the Pixel 6.) The newer Tensor G2 silicon inside the Pixel 7 models introduces even more unique features, including call management and improved transcription and translation.

As impressive an addition as the Tensor chipset has been to Google's phone lineup, it's not the sort of thing that resonates with a larger audience. "We see little evidence consumers care that much about the chipset in their devices," Wood said. "Design, battery life, camera capabilities and other anchor features typically drive consumer purchasing decisions for smartphones."

Still, Wood added, Tensor gives the Pixel an edge over other Android devices "as it allows [the Pixel] to have much deeper integration between hardware and software."

It's an assessment that Greengart shares. "Your average consumer doesn’t pay too much attention to silicon specifics, but the fact that Google is designing its own processors — and calling out that it dedicates more attention to AI — is a differentiator," he said.

Google's market share — small, but growing

Even that differentiating factor hasn't been enough to elevate the Pixel's profile among smartphone buyers. In terms of global market share, to call the Pixel's sales a drop in the bucket would be to seriously over-estimate the size of drops.

Market-research firm IDC puts the Pixel's share of the global smartphone market at 0.8% for the third quarter of 2022. Focus in on the U.S. market — the biggest source of Pixel sales for Google — and that figure jumps to a still small 5%. That's well behind Apple (47.2%) and Samsung (25%), which account for more than 70% of the smartphones sold in the U.S. by IDC's calculations.

As stark as those numbers may be, they're actually on the rise. The 2.3 million phones Google shipped in the third quarter was the biggest tally ever for that three-month period, IDC said. (And that number doesn't take into account any Pixel 7 sales, since those phones launched in October.) That's 334% growth year over year for Google's global market share.

"[Google has] had challenges, and it remains to some degree, but they're trying to improve upon them," said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC.

What needs to change for future Pixels?

Put another way, the Pixel's struggles to gain much of a foothold in the market come down to brand awareness. Google may be widely recognized for its search engine, Popal pointed out, but phones are another matter altogether.

"Despite rave reviews, Google’s biggest challenge in gaining share, globally and in the US, has been weaker marketing and presence with carriers, areas that are currently dominated by Apple and Samsung," Popal added "Pixel is not yet a household brand like Samsung or Apple."

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google may be trying to change that, analysts say. The Pixel 7 has benefitted from Google's biggest marketing push to date, CCS Insight's Wood said, as the tech giant looks to grow the Pixel's audience beyond the kind of tech enthusiasts who've been responsible for most Pixel device sale.

Wood added that past Pixel releases have been hit by supply constraints, particularly outside the US, along with negative publicity around technical issues with past Pixel versions. "The good news is that the Pixel 7 phones appear to have overcome some of these issues, and this will definitely improve Google’s reputation with key sales channels and consumers," Wood said.

"Google has been putting money behind television advertising and its influencer program," Greengart agreed. "But it still needs to do more at retail."

You may remember that the original Pixel was either sold unlocked or exclusively through Verizon. That put Google at a disadvantage relative to other phones, since most U.S. shoppers get their handset directly from a wireless carrier. With subsequent releases Google has added more carrier support — you can now buy the Pixel 7 from any of the three major wireless providers — but Google still finds itself playing catch-up with other phone makers on that front.

Of course, there's a question as to just how much Google wants to catch up with other Android devices. "Competing with your own channels is always a huge risk," Wood said. "It is the same dilemma Microsoft has faced with its Surface products. Like Microsoft, we suspect that Google is keen to 'show the art of the possible' via Pixel devices in order to provide a reference point for other Android phone makers."

Greengart puts it another way: "Google would love to take share away from Apple, but it does not want to destabilize Android by hurting Samsung, its largest licensee."

What's next for Pixel

If that's the case, expect Google to continue to look for ways to keep the Pixel among the top camera phones, as that's an area where the Pixel can provide a rather compelling alternative to the iPhone. Tensor-powered AI features also give Google a way to stand out from the smartphone crowd, perhaps earning a second look from iPhone owners who remain unimpressed with the Siri assistant.

We won't have to wait long for Google's next move. The Pixel 7a is likely to make an appearance toward the middle of 2023, with the latest midrange model likely to adopt the Tensor G2 chipset introduced in the Pixel 7. Beyond that, next fall should see the release of another round of Pixel flagships, with the likely focus on yet another new Tensor chipset plus more camera improvements.

It may not be enough to vault Google past others in the smartphone market. But it could help the Pixel continue to gain a wider audience.

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We don’t expect the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to launch until early 2023, and a new specs leak tells us even more about this eagerly anticipated flagship. Talk of a 200MP camera has us seriously expecting the S23 Ultra to be one of the best camera phones on the market when it launches, especially if the first 200MP photo is anything to go by. 

New information on the S23 Ultra’s specs has emerged from China’s TENAA certification agency via SamMobile(opens in new tab). Similar to this FCC, this regulatory body has published the certification details of the upcoming flagship, some of which we anticipated while some have us scratching our heads. 

Most of the specs match our expectations. The 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED panel found on the S22 Ultra returns but there is no word yet on the expected 2100 nits brightness that would give the S23 Ultra the brightest display ever. We will of course test it once we get hands-on. 

Under the hood, it seems as though Samsung have included three CPU clusters, running at 3.36GHz, 2.8GHz, and 2GHz — this matches the specs of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm that other sources have predicted. A choice of 8GB and 12GB RAM allays one of our fears that 8GB would be the only available option. One element Samsung seems to be generous with is internal memory. TENAA’s figures suggest a 256GB minimum. The Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max start at 128GB. 

The biggest discrepancies between industry rumors and these certification specs come when discussing the four cameras, not the 200MP main sensor but the two telephoto lenses. Previous sources have been certain that these two will be the 10MP sensors featured on the S22 Ultra. This new listing points to two 12MP zoom cameras, but as SamMobile notes the spec listing may say that resolution instead of 10MP because Samsung upscales to 12MP.

This appears to be a downgrade but in reality, is just a quirk of how batteries are listed. We should expect the battery to match the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Last but not least, the listing shows dimensions of 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and a weight of 233g, which is just slightly taller and wider than the S22 Ultra (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm). 

Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra looks to be shaping up as a worthy successor to one of the best phones on the market. See our Samsung Galaxy S23 hub and Galaxy S23 Ultra page for all the latest rumors and leaks. 

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It's still only 2022, but that's not stopping Android manufacturers from launching their big flagship phones that will sell for the majority of next year. After Vivo's launch last month, the new OEM to launch a phone with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC is Xiaomi, simply named Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro. These two models represent big (6.73-inch) and small (6.36-inch) phones with different designs.

The smaller phone is more interesting because—hey look, it's an iPhone! Xiaomi is fond of copying Apple, and with the flat-sided perimeter band and square camera block, it's hard to see the Xiaomi 13 as anything other than an iPhone. It looks much better than the curved-sided Xiaomi 13 Pro, but that's just because the iPhone's flat sides also look good. (I remain shocked that no Android OEM has copied the dynamic island yet.) The bigger "Pro" model is more of a generic Samsung-style design with curved screen edges and a beveled ring around the phone. The one Pro-model design flourish is swapping out the glass back panel for ceramic.

Both phones get the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. This is a 4 nm chip with an ARM Cortex X3, two Cortex A715 CPUs, two Cortex A710 CPUs, and three Cortex A510 CPUs. Like we talked about during the chip's launch, this mix of four different core designs is a weird, non-standard layout designed to extend 32-bit support for another year. ARM wants to kill 32-bit, but Qualcomm and Android aren't ready yet.

As for the other specs, the Pro has a 6.73-inch, 120 Hz, 3200×1440 OLED display, while the smaller model has a 6.36-inch, 120 Hz, 2400×1080 OLED. Both come with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. The Pro model has a 4820 mAh battery and 120 W wired charging, while the base model has a 4500 mAh battery and 67 W charging. Both have 50 W wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6E (not the optional Wi-Fi 7 support on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, sadly), and IP68 dust and water resistance.

The camera block on both models is basically the same footprint as an iPhone but in a cleaner grid layout, with one big lens covering all three cameras. There is a small dividing line between each lens, which will hopefully stop the glare you can get from one big continuous piece of glass. The Pro model gets a 50 MP, 1-inch Sony IMX989 as the main sensor, along with a 50 MP wide-angle and a 50 MP telephoto. The non-pro model has a much smaller 1/1.49-inch sensor for the main camera, along with a 10 MP telephoto and 12 MP ultrawide.

These phones will never hit the US market, but they usually get some kind of European release. For now, they are in China starting at 3,999 yuan (~$573) for the base Xiaomi 13 and 4,999 yuan (~$717) for the Pro model.

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What is new in the December 2022 update for the Surface Duo 2?

Here are the details about the latest firmware update for Microsoft's second-gen dual-screen smartphone:

You can install software and firmware updates for the Surface Duo 2 by heading to Settings > System Update. You can also try swapping Android 12L with Windows 11 thanks to the recently updated drivers, but the project is still in its infancy and far from being ready for daily use.

If you own the original Surface Duo, check out what is new in the December 2022 update in our separate article.

Microsoft fixes the bug breaking calling on Surface Duo 2

iOS 16.2 should be the final big update to the iPhone's operating system this year, and it's now expected in the coming week. iOS 16.1 brought some big changes to the iPhone when Apple released that software update. But a new iOS 16 update is already in the works that will bring a new app to the iPhone along with other enhancements.

The arrival of a new Freeform app leads the changes in iOS 16.2, which also includes some other under-the-hood enhancements to other apps and features. Since then we have also got an iOS 16.2 beta 2, which added a Medications widget for the Lock Screen, Apple News integration for the Weather app and a new Dynamic Island update only for iPhone 14 Pro users. Plus, 16.2 should bring the arrival of Apple Music Sing, Apple Music's fun new karaoke mode.

Here's what we know so far about iOS 16.2 in terms of new features for your iPhone.

iOS 16.2: Apple Music Sing

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Music Sing is a new built-in karaoke mode for Apple Music users and is currently slated to arrive later this month. It will likely come with the iOS 16.2 update. While you won't get this karaoke mode for every song in Apple's 100 million-plus song library, it promises to be a lot of fun on eligible tracks.

iOS 16.2 Advanced Data Protection

(Image credit: Apple)

Advanced Data Protection has already started rolling out through the Apple Beta Software Program, but it's now expected to come with iOS 16.2 or early next year. This security feature brings end-to-end encryption to Apple's iCloud storage service, which is a massive win for iPhone users. While it won't encrypt Mail, Contacts or Calendar data, this is an extra level of data security for a lot of your most sensitive information.

iOS 16.2: Always-on display improvements

 (Image credit: MacRumors)

iOS 16 added the Always-on display to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, bringing it in line with its Android competitors. This allowed users to view the time, sports scores, Calendar notifications and more, all without needing to unlock their phones. Now, iOS 16.2 is expected to let you disable the wallpaper and/or notifications(opens in new tab) on the Always-on display. While this may not be a big feature for everyone, it can clear clutter from the Always-on display, giving you just what you need and nothing more.

iOS 16.2 AirDrop

 (Image credit: Future)

AirDrop allows you to share files from your iPhone to another — no cable needed. Now Apple is changing things up by limiting the ability to receive an AirDrop(opens in new tab) from "Everyone" to only work for 10 minutes.

This feature change is not without controversy. Apple initially made the change only in China, allegedly at the request of the Chinese government to limit the communication abilities of protestors. Now it looks like the entire world can only leave themselves open to receiving an AirDrop for 10 minutes at a time unless they want to keep it between contacts.

iOS 16.2: Freeform

Maybe you forgot about Freeform, an app that Apple first previewed during its Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Apple touts Freeform as a brainstorming and collaboration tool, with the app serving as a kind of mobile whiteboard that people can work on together in real-time.

Freeform running on an iPad (Image credit: Apple)

Freeform seems to be primarily geared toward the iPad, taking advantage of that device's larger screen space. Indeed, Freeform also debuts on the iPadOS 16.2 Beta 1 release, which arrived at the same time as the iOS 16.2 update. However, Freeform is designed to work on multiple Apple devices, which is why it's also included in both iOS 16.2 and the new macOS Ventura beta.

Apple's release notes for iOS 16.2 Beta 1(opens in new tab) warn of some known issues with Freeform that require workarounds for deleting boards while offline and adding or removing collaborators when changing share settings. It's a reminder that this is very much a beta release, with a lot of fine-tuning in the works between now and when iOS 16.2 gets a general release.

Our Alex Wawro went hands-on with Freeform(opens in new tab), and he thinks it's a whiteboard app he'll actually use. 

iOS 16.2: Regional Weather app Apple News stories

 (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

If you open the iOS Weather app, and the current conditions are related to an ongoing news story, then an Apple News widget will pop up to allow you to read more about what's going on in the News app.

This feature currently seems limited to certain U.S. locations, but hopefully once this feature leaves beta it'll work anywhere.

iOS 16.2: Dynamic Island upgrade for iPhone 14 Pro

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

iOS 16.2 has a new Dynamic Island upgrade that will now keep the Wi-Fi icon and signal bars in view while playing music on the iPhone 14 Pro. Earlier, if a user was listening to music on the iPhone 14 Pro, Dynamic Island would show the Now Playing track along with the battery icon and either the signal icon or the Wi-Fi. With this update, the island will shrink down in width and all three icons will now be visible when music is played. It will also have a sleek animation that will set it in place. 

iOS 16.2: Expanded ProMotion support

iPhones with 120Hz displays — that's the assorted iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models — get a performance boost. Apple's release notes say that animated layout changes now happen at 120Hz on ProMotion displays.

iOS 16.2: New Home app architecture

Home has received a lot of attention in iOS 16, first with an all-new design that makes it easier to view and control smart home accessories. The iOS 16.1 update brought support for Matter, an interoperability protocol backed by Google, Amazon and Apple that should help different devices work together.

The changes keep coming in iOS 16.2, which is going to usher in a new architecture for the Home app. Apple says the change will bring faster, more reliable performance, though we'll have to see it in action before we can see what that means for everyday use.

iOS 16.2: Live Activities changes

 (Image credit: Apple)

Live Activities also just appeared in iOS 16.1, but there will be some enhancements to the feature in iOS 16.2. As a reminder, Live Activities are alerts that appear on the lock screen (or around the Dynamic Island if you've got an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max) that give you ongoing updates for things like sports scores, delivery statuses and timers.

9to5Mac reports(opens in new tab) that it's seen code that will allow Live Activities to request updates at shorter intervals, which would boost the frequency of updates to the alerts. Apparently, that feature isn't yet live in iOS 16.2 Beta 1, though.

Another report, this one from MacRumors, claims that Live Activities integration with select sporting events(opens in new tab) in the TV app has returned in the iOS 16.2 beta; it had briefly been a part of the iOS 16.1 beta. 

According to MacRumors, you'll be able to tap a Follow button on supported games in the TV app to have score updates displayed on the lock screen or in the Dynamic Island. Supported events include MLB and NBA games as well as Premiere League matches in the U.S. 

iOS 16.2: Accidental Emergency SOS call reporting

If you accidentally trigger your iPhone's Emergency SOS call feature, iOS 16.2 Beta 1 apparently adds a way to report an unintentional call. An iOS 16.2 user took to Twitter(opens in new tab) to say that such a feature appeared when they inadvertently launched an Emergency SOS call on their iPhone.

iOS 16.2: Sleep widget and Medications widgets

 (Image credit: Future)

iOS 16.2 beta 1 added a Sleep Lock Screen widget to iOS, which allows users to view their sleep-tracking data from the Lock Screen. A Sleep Home Screen widget has existed since iOS 15 but with the Lock Screen becoming more integral to iOS, the Sleep widget is getting ported over.

iOS 16.2 beta 2 brings a health widget of its own into the mix. Medications was a widget that had been hinted at previously but was unavailable before this latest beta. Now, iOS 16.2 beta 2 users can track their medication from the Lock Screen. If you take a fair amount of medications, this can be a highly useful feature given the complexities of many medication schedules.

iOS 16.2: Custom Accessibility Mode

(Image credit: 9to5Mac)

In its ongoing efforts to ensure anyone can use an iPhone, Apple's working on a new Custom Accessibility mode that can drastically simplify the iOS layout.

Enabling this mode replaces the default "Springboard" iOS home screen layout with a simpler one made up of a large grid of icons. Unlocking the phone can also be set to require a touch-and-hold input, and no matter where you are in the phone, an obvious Back button is available at the bottom of the screen at all times.

There are also options to enlarge on-screen text, disable volume buttons, and to make changes to individual apps and the iOS Emergency SOS service. 

iOS 16.2: Improved Messages search and other features

 (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Aside from these larger feature updates, there are also potentially some minor changes coming to iOS 16.2. According to MacRumors(opens in new tab) the new version of the mobile operating system will allow you to keyword search for photos in Messages based on the content (i.e. dog, cat, etc.). It will also bring SharePlay support to GameCenter so you can play games with people while you're on a FaceTime call with them.

iOS 16.2: Resolved issues

According to Apple's iOS release notes(opens in new tab), it has fixed a couple of issues with this newest beta. There was an issue typing in Chinese Pinyin that has been resolved, as well as an issue with the TV app not properly working. Finally, SwiftUI, which is an app-building tool from Apple, had some issues with animations that have been resolved in iOS 16.2 beta 2.

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The Samsung Galaxy S23 series has been tipped to get a 25% improvement in 8K video recording, which could see it further increase Samsung’s lead over rival phones such as the iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro. 

Tech tipster Ice Universe(opens in new tab) has claimed that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will come with a 30 frames per second recording mode for its 8K video capture. That equates to a 25% boost over the 8K@24 fps the Galaxy S22 range provides. Comparatively, rival flagship phones tend to top out at 4K and 60 fps.

Well that would be a fair reaction, as to a certain extent being able to record 8K footage on a smartphone is arguably a specs boast more than anything practical. And while the likes of the iPhone 14 Pro Max sticks with 4K video capture, we’ve found that it and its predecessors tend to offer far superior video recording — in terms of colors, clarity and quality — than pretty much every one of the best Android phones.

Samsung Galaxy S23 could lead an 8K video charge

Dig a little deeper and there’s more than meets the eye to this rumor. First off, the iPhone 14 Pro was expected to have an 8K video mode, which would indicate Apple may have some interest in that area. But that never happened.

Comparatively, Samsung has had 8K video recording for several generations of Galaxy S-series phones. That means in the resolution stakes it’s had the edge over Apple phones and arguably offers a more future-proof recording option for a time when 8K TVs become widespread.

Offering a higher resolution video is also handy for some content creators who want as detailed footage as possible and can then downsample to 4K or even 1080p, but have more room to play with things during the edit; higher resolution video basically means more data on tap. One might argue that such creators would use a dedicated camera. But sometimes the best camera you have is the one you have on you at the time, and more often than not that’s a smartphone.

Now if the Galaxy S23 range gets a 30 fps 8K video recording option, it further boosts the flexibility of recording at that resolution. Some YouTubers like MKBHD tout 30 fps as the best frame rate for video; it seemingly offers a smoother experience than 24 fps recording but avoids the potentially ‘soap opera’ effect of recording at 60 fps.

So bolstering 8K video recording could make the Galaxy S23 range the phones of choice for serious content creators. Though, I’d like to see Samsung improve some of its video processing so the end results compete with Apple’s video chops.

And this could also be quite a niche feature for the Galaxy S23 range, aimed at power users. But then again, I suspect it’s power users who would be attracted to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially as it's touted to get a 200-megapixel camera, which should deliver sharper and more detailed photos.

For the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus, 8k@30 fps video recording could be overkill. But it’s always nice to have the option.

Other Galaxy S23 Upgrades

As for other Galaxy S23 upgrades, the rumors have the smaller Galaxy S23 phones tipped to get a design that’s reminiscent of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. While on the specs side, the major upgrade will be a new chip in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is set to get the new chip, and the aforementioned 200MP camera. But don’t expect any radical design changes or huge hardware upgrades on the rest of the cameras; an even brighter display does seem promising though.

We are expecting to see the Galaxy S23 revealed early February, with the phones being released soon after. What will be interesting is to see what Samsung can bring to the table on the software side in order to keep its S-series phones near the top of our best phones list.

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Google is improving Airplane mode on Android by making it so Wi-Fi stays connected when you turn Airplane mode on. Even better, you may not even need the latest version of Android 13 to turn this feature on. While 9to5Google’s reporting suggests that this feature only rolled out in the Android 13 QPR1 beta and stable updates, a Pixel support article indicates that devices just need to run Android 11 or newer.

However, this is currently only on Google’s lineup of Pixel phones. Even the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra hasn’t received this feature yet — trust me, I tried. And if you have an iPhone 14 you are definitely out of luck, as Apple's own support document(opens in new tab) says that Airplane Mode turns off every radio but Bluetooth and that accessing Wi-Fi requires a trip to your device's Control Center.

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Airplane mode has come a long way since it first appeared on smartphones. This is, admittedly, a surprising statement to say about a feature that is used in basically one place, but it’s true. I remember when I turned on Airplane mode one time only to discover that my Bluetooth earbuds didn’t suddenly disconnect — what a huge improvement that was. But that was all the way back in Android 11.

Hopefully, this upgrade to Airplane mode will come to other Android phones soon, because I definitely want to have this feature active on my next flight. It was so frustrating every time I would turn on Airplane mode and have to reconnect my wireless earbuds. If I don’t have to disconnect from Wi-Fi either, Airplane mode may actually be perfect.

But for now, it looks like if I don’t want to pull my hair out when my phone disconnects from the in-flight Wi-Fi because I turned on Airplane mode, I need to switch to the Google Pixel 7 or Google Pixel 7 Pro. 

Google Pixel Airplane mode upgrade: How it works 

There isn’t really any work you need to do to activate this feature update — it turns on by default. The only catch is that you need to already be connected to Wi-Fi when you turn on Airplane mode to activate the feature. Don’t worry, if you connect to Wi-Fi while in Airplane mode, that will also activate the feature. 

If you’re already connected to Wi-Fi, when you turn on Airplane mode, your Pixel phone will send you a system push notification informing you that, “If you keep Wi-Fi on in Airplane mode, it will stay on the next time you’re in airplane [SIC] mode.” If you tap the notification, it just takes you to the aforementioned Pixel support page explaining how wireless connections work in Airplane mode on a Pixel phone. 

If you don’t want your phone to stay connected to Wi-Fi in Airplane mode, that’s a simple fix. Simply turn Wi-Fi off on your Pixel phone and it will default back to turning Wi-Fi off when you turn on Airplane mode.

Feeling the urge to get a Pixel phone and experience Airplane mode nirvana? Check out our phone deals coverage so you can get the best deal on a Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro or even the Pixel 6a if you’re looking for a great cheap phone. 

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This market is becoming increasingly important for Apple, as it is slowly becoming a key hardware hub. In a filing with the stock exchange in Taiwan on Thursday, Foxconn stated that its Singapore subsidiary is providing the capital for its India entity, Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development Private Limited.

In 2017, Apple began manufacturing iPhones in India with the production of the iPhone SE. Three years later, in 2020, the company started making the iPhone 11 in India, marking the first time a high-end iPhone was made in the country. Another significant milestone was reached in 2022 when Foxconn India started making the iPhone 14, which was the first time that a new iPhone model was manufactured in India in the same calendar year as its global launch.

According to a September report by JP Morgan analysts, Apple plans to move 5% of global iPhone 14 production to India by the end of 2022 and expand its manufacturing capacity in the country to produce 25% of all iPhones by 2025.

In addition to increasing its production capacity in India to meet the growing demand in the local market, Apple also plans to supply Indian-made products to global markets. This will allow Apple to reduce its reliance on manufacturing hubs such as China and potentially avoid some of the supply chain disruptions that have impacted its operations in the past.

Additionally, producing its products in India will allow Apple to tap into the country's large and skilled labor force, which will help the company increase its production capacity and better meet the demands of its global customers.

Source: TechCrunch

Foxconn invests another $500M into India to boost iPhone production

Microsoft still has a very limited reach in the mobile market, but it wants to quench this thirst by building an all-in-one app that will ideally be a one-stop place where people can access different services from Microsoft. According to The Information, which cited individuals with knowledge of the subject, this idea is inspired by the structure of WeChat, which works exactly like that: an app that combines messaging, shopping, gaming, news, and more.

As the report stresses, Microsoft doesn’t have its own mobile app store for smartphone users, unlike Google and Apple, which are both dominating the mobile market. However, the plan is beyond offering its own products to mobile consumers: Microsoft also wants to expand its consumer services.

However, it is worth noting that almost the same features are already available on the Microsoft Start app. The mobile app offers news, messaging, games, shopping deals, and even Microsoft Rewards. That said, if Microsoft is really considering building a super app, it must offer more than what the current Microsoft Start app can already do. In particular, it must exceed it. Producing an app that is just somewhere near the product it is already offering will just result in a redundant, confusing, and unnecessary app that could lead to a dead end.

Moreover, in comparison, Microsoft Start only has 5 million downloads on Google Play Store, while the WeChat app that the sources said inspired Microsoft’s plan has over 100 million downloads. If this number is part of the inspiration of the Microsoft execs, it might also not be a good idea for Microsoft to push it. As Daniel Rubino of Windows Central stresses, the only secret behind the great success of WeChat is the Chinese government’s influence, which banned the app’s major competitors in the region. This won’t be the case for Microsoft. 

The sources added that the executives are particularly eyeing the expansion of the company’s advertising business and Bing search. While the latter is understandable, greatly focusing on and highlighting the former might make a repulsive element that would ruin the app’s success. Microsoft has always been a subject of criticism due to the repeated attempts to introduce ads and push its products and service too much on its Windows customers. Apparently, Windows users have no choice over this, as the system is the most widely used OS globally. Using this same approach for Microsoft’s planned super app won’t do any good, especially in the mobile realm, where there are lots of options and competitors.

What’s your opinion about this? Let us know in the comment section.

Microsoft execs reportedly considering creating a “super app” for smartphones

Bitwarden's passwordless authentication system

I should mention this right away, the passwordless authentication does not replace your master password. It's just a shortcut to allow you to sign in to your account in desktop browsers.

If you already use Bitwarden's desktop app, you may be aware that it lets you unlock the vault using Windows Hello and macOS Touch ID. The browser extension also supports these passwordless sign in options, but you need to have the vault unlocked in the desktop app for it to work. Similarly, the mobile apps support fingerprint unlock, and unlock with PIN code. The new authentication method extends the passwordless login experience by bringing in a secondary device into play.

The big question is, is this method safe to use? Bitwarden says that its passwordless authentication requests are encrypted before they leave your device (end-to-end encryption). The vault has to be unlocked in the mobile app, before you can approve the login request. According to a support page on the company's website, login requests expire after 15 minutes if they aren't approved or denied.

When you try using the new authentication method, the mobile app and the web vault will display a sentence with random words, this is your account's fingerprint phrase. It should match the one on your other device, i.e. you should see the same phrase on the web vault and the mobile app's login request page. This helps you ensure that the sign in attempt is secure. The mobile app also gives you some additional information such as the type of device used (though it just mentions the browser), the IP address where you tried logging in from, and the time when the request was made. It's worth noting that this passwordless login method does not support the official browser extensions currently, it only works with Bitwarden's cloud server.

The setting to approve login requests is not enabled by default in Bitwarden password manager's mobile app. (refer to step 2 and 3 below). If you don't want to use it, you can just ignore it. The company is recommending its mobile app's users to enable the Unlock with Biometrics option (for fingerprint scanners and Face ID), or unlock with PIN code for a faster experience (than entering the master password to unlock the vault.

How to use Bitwarden's passwordless authentication option

1. Open the Bitwarden mobile app on your Android device or iPhone.

2. Go to the Settings page and look for an option that is labeled "Approve Login Requests".

3. Enable the option by selecting "Yes".

4. Visit Bitwarden's web vault in your desktop's browser.

5. Enter your email address in the username field.

6. Instead of signing in with the master password, click the option that says "Log in with device".

Note: The page will display your fingerprint phrase.

7. You should see a push notification on your phone, tap on it to open the Bitwarden app, and unlock the vault.

8. The app will display a page that is captioned "Are you trying to log in?".  Check whether the fingerprint phrase matches the one on the browser page.

9. Tap the confirm login button, and the web vault should automatically sign you in to your Bitwarden account.

Tip: You may not see the Log in with device option on the web vault's sign in page. That's because the web vault hasn't synced your settings.  As a workaround for this, you may want to try manually syncing your vault from the mobile app. The next step is to log in to the web vault once using your Master Password. Log out of your account in the browser, and go to the sign-in page again. You should now see the button to Log in with device. I think this step is required because of the two-factor authentication (2FA) system that's in place.

The latest version of Bitwarden password manager is 2022.11.0. You can download the Android app from the Google Play Store, GitHub and the iOS app from the App Store.

Thought's about Bitwarden's passwordless sign in method

Bitwarden's passwordless sign in system is quite convenient, but it is a tad slow, at least on my device. It takes a couple of seconds for the approve login page to appear after tapping on the notification. The announcement article states that users will need to enter their 2FA code after approving the login. I couldn't test this since the "login with device" option didn't appear for me without signing in with the master password. Since I had to input the 2FA code then, the credentials were already stored in the browser's cookies, that's why the passwordless authentication didn't prompt me to enter the 2FA code.

But, I think the 2FA step after approving the login maybe unnecessary. Think about it, your mobile app's vault needs to be unlocked to approve the login request, which is not possible without knowing the master password, or the PIN code, or the fingerprint ID. So there is already a second layer of security in place, why bother with a third one? It only slows down the process, especially if you use a third-party app for the TOTP codes.

I think Steam's passwordless sign in method is slightly better than this because Valve's mobile app lets you log in without entering the username and password, by scanning a QR code through the Steam mobile app. It cuts 2 steps: you don't need to enter the username, or wait for the push notification and tap on it. The Steam app also displays the location of the login attempt on the map, which is an added bonus. I recommend enabling the biometric authentication from the Steam Guard settings to protect your app from unauthorized usage.

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Unlike Apple's flagship iPhones and their annual update, a new iPhone SE model doesn't arrive with anything close to regularity. After the original iPhone SE debuted in 2016, we had to wait four years for a sequel. The current model, the iPhone SE 2022, came out just two years later, with Apple likely speeding up its release to get a 5G version of its budget phone out on the market.

The wait for an iPhone SE 4 could be even shorter. Current rumors suggest Apple has a new version of the phone in the works, with a spring 2023 arrival a definite possibility.

Rolling out an iPhone SE a year after the last version of the phone arrived would be a departure from Apple's usual phone release strategy. But it would clearly be the right move. Here's why Apple would be wise to boost the frequency of its iPhone SE updates.

The midrange phone market is more competitive than ever

Apple may have been content to space out new versions of its budget phone every two years or more, but rival device makers aren't following suit. Google has released new Pixel A series phones every year since 2019, and Samsung rolls out annual updates to its midrange Galaxy A lineup.

 Pixel 6a (right) and iPhone SE 2022 (left) (Image credit: Tom's Guiide)

Even more significantly, these phones are really good. I wrote a while back that 2022 has been a banner year for midrange phones, the latest iPhone SE included. But as good as that phone is, it's not the best cheap phone. The Pixel 6a claims the crown, and the Galaxy A53 isn't that far behind.

That presents a dilemma for Apple. Google and Samsung almost assuredly have Pixel 6a and Galaxy A53 successors in the works. Unless Apple does, too, with an even newer iPhone SE, it runs the risk of falling further behind whatever its rivals roll out in the interim between the iPhone SE 2022 and whenever the next budget Apple phone appears.

The iPhone SE looks dated

Even if the iPhone SE didn't have to worry about inexpensive Android models stealing its thunder — and you could make the case that Apple needn't concern itself with what Android phone makers are doing — you'd have to concede that the latest SE does not offer a cutting-edge look. 

The current model draws its inspiration from the iPhone 8, a phone that was last fresh and new five years ago. That means instead of an edge-to-edge display like you find on the current iPhone flagships, you get chunky bezels, particularly below the screen so that the iPhone SE can include a mostly obsolete Touch ID button.

 (Image credit: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo)

Surely, by now, it's time for the iPhone SE to adopt the notch display Apple introduced with the iPhone X. Yes, that look is going out of favor, too, as all of next year's iPhone 15 models are tipped to get the Dynamic Island feature introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro this fall. But adopting a notched display would at least keep the iPhone SE within touching distance of the current iPhone design.

We have good news on that front, at least. iPhone SE 4 rumors indicate Apple is going to replace the current iPhone 8-esque look with something more reminiscent of the iPhone 11. That's definitely a step in the right direction, and it's a step Apple should take right now.

Key iPhone features are missing from the SE

We get that a lower-cost iPhone is going to involve some sacrifices. Maybe Apple sticks with an LCD panel instead of an OLED screen, and we'd imagine additional camera lenses beyond the single 12MP shooter on the back of the current SE are a non-starter if Apple is to keep costs on this phone down. But we can't imagine any justification for continuing to leave a night mode out of the iPhone SE's repertoire.

There's certainly no technical limitation for the lack of low-light photo support on the iPhone SE. The phone may have a single rear camera, but it's also got a fairly recent processor in the form of the A15 Bionic. That should be enough to handle the post-processing needed to call out color and details in night shots.

What's more, the Pixel 6a offers a night mode, and the ability to take good photos when the lights are low is one of the major reasons Google's phone finished ahead in our Pixel 6a vs. iPhone SE face-off. Apple's going to have to address that shortcoming if it wants to keep the iPhone SE among the more compelling low-cost options for best camera phones.

iPhone 20220 users may be ready to upgrade

It used to be that people switched phones every two years, though that was in the early days of smartphones when there were more advances from one year to the next and phone carriers in the U.S. were willing to subsidize the cost of your handset.

As phone prices have gone up and the pace of new features has leveled off, people are holding on to their phones longer — sometimes three years, sometimes more.

People who bought the iPhone SE 2020 two years ago may not have been ready for the 2022 model, especially since it looked so similar to their current phone and only really added 5G compatibility and a faster processor. Having squeezed another year of life out of their current phone, iPhone SE owners might be ready to upgrade to a new model in 2023 — especially if the SE adopts a different design and adds more compelling features like night mode.

iPhone SE 4 outlook

It's unclear at this point when we'll see the next SE version, with at least one analyst pointing to 2024 as a possible target. If so, that would be a mistake on Apple's part. With a healthy segment of consumers balking at paying flagship prices for phones, device makers are getting more clever with their midrange models. Waiting too long for an iPhone SE successor risks Apple getting frozen out of this potential market.

It's unclear what Apple's going to call its next phone — iPhone SE 4, iPhone SE 2023 or even iPhone SE Plus. But whatever the name, it's a device that needs to arrive sooner rather than later.

Source

The backs of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

A new pricing cheat sheet provided by Apple.

Apple unveiled the most sweeping change yet to the App Store pricing model it applies to all apps submitted to its app stores on Tuesday. In the new system, app developers will have substantially more control over how they price their apps.

Apple's App Store has a history of offering relatively limited price point options to app and game developers. With the new policies, the minimum app price has dropped from $0.99 to $0.29, and the maximum has risen from $1,000 to $10,000. Prices can include $0.10, $0.50, $1, $5, $10, and $100. Supported conventions include X.99, X.00, X.90, and X.95.

Here's Apple's specific wording:

Under the updated App Store pricing system, all developers will have the ability to select from 900 price points, which is nearly 10 times the number of price points previously available for most apps. This includes 600 new price points to choose from, with an additional 100 higher price points available upon request. To provide developers around the world with even more flexibility, price points—which will start as low as $0.29 and, upon request, go up to $10,000—will offer an enhanced selection of price points, increasing incrementally across price ranges (for example, every $0.10 up to $10; every $0.50 between $10 and $50; etc.). See the table below for details.

The prices can be set on a per-country basis. This allows developers to respond to inflation and shifts in exchange rates. Developers can set a base price for a storefront and currency they know well, and they will see autogenerated suggestions for prices for other regions and currencies—which they can either accept or replace with their own chosen prices.

Apps that offer auto-renewable subscriptions will be able to leverage these changes starting today. Developers of apps that don't have subscriptions will have to wait until an unspecified date in the spring of 2023.

Before now, most changes to the App Store's pricing system were additions of new types of charges, whether expanded in-app purchases or subscription models. Beyond those additions, this is the most substantial change to the App Store's pricing model and policies since it launched.

Several forces paved the way or contributed to this change. In 2021, Apple agreed to loosen pricing restrictions in the wake of a class-action suit by a coalition of third-party developers. More broadly, the company has faced intense regulatory scrutiny by lawmakers and public criticism by developers. Like many other recent App Store policy changes, this shift may be an attempt to preempt future crackdowns.

The changes have also been made to help Apple and the developers in its ecosystem grapple with a recent volatile economic landscape, with higher-than-usual inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. It's also possible that Apple is introducing these new prices to prepare for new types of content, tools, and experiences that may be sold for its upcoming mixed reality headset, which will likely launch in 2023.

Listing image by Samuel Axon

Apple announces sweeping changes to App Store pricing

The official SwiftKey changelog in the App Store does not tell much about the latest update. Vishnu Nath, Microsoft's VP and GM of OneNote, has revealed on his Twitter account that the update aims at fixing problems with signing in SwiftKey with a Microsoft Account, so those returning to the popular keyboard on iOS can once again use their Microsoft Accounts and all the benefits they provide.

With one of the main bugs in the resurrected SwiftKey for iOS fixed, all eyes are now set on Microsoft and its promise to start "investing heavily" into SwiftKey on mobile platforms. Windows Phone's software keyboard was arguably the best in class, so it is interesting to see if Microsoft can deliver a better or comparable alternative for iOS and Android users.

You can download SwiftKey for free from the App Store and Google Play Store.

Do you use SwiftKey on Android or iOS? Are you excited about Microsoft plans to improve the keyboard with new features? Let us know in the comments.

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