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.

Microsoft fixes sign-in issues in SwiftKey for iOS

Pixel 7 gets 500MB update including “clear calling,” lots of bug fixes

This month’s update addresses 45 vulnerabilities in core Android components with patch level 2022-12-01, and another 36 vulnerabilities impacting third-party components addressed in patch level 2022-12-05.

The four critical-severity vulnerabilities addressed in this month’s update are:

• CVE-2022-20472 – Remote code execution flaw in Android Framework, impacting Android versions 10 to 13.
• CVE-2022-20473 – Remote code execution flaw in Android Framework, impacting Android versions 10 to 13.
• CVE-2022-20411 – Remote code execution flaw in Android System, impacting Android versions 10 to 13.
• CVE-2022-20498 – Information disclosure flaw in Android System, impacting Android versions 10 to 13.

The rest of the fixed vulnerabilities involve elevation of privileges (EoP), remote code execution, information disclosure, and denial of service problems.

The high-severity EoP flaws are typically exploited by malware sneaking into a device via a low-privilege pathway, such as installing malicious software masquerading as an innocuous app.

That said, applying the available update as soon as it becomes available for your device is crucial, even if none of the flaws are currently reported as actively exploited.

If your device no longer receives monthly Android security updates or uses Android 9 or older, you are officially out of support.

In these cases, you are advised to upgrade to a newer device or install a custom ROM based on a later Android version, like LineageOS.

Owners of Google Pixel devices have also received an important security update this month, which addresses a total of 16 critical-severity flaws in various components.

These critical vulnerabilities enable attackers to elevate privileges or information disclosure on the target devices.

More details on the Pixel December 2022 update can be found on the dedicated security bulletin for Google’s own smartphone range.

Source

Further evidence of the iPhone 15 Ultra's alleged titanium-clad sides seems to have emerged, teasing a stronger, lighter Apple smartphone. 

An image shared by Setsuna Digital(opens in new tab) and posted on Twitter by ShrimpApplePro(opens in new tab) claims to show an extreme close-up shot of the rumored super-powered iPhone's titanium frame. This isn't the first hint we've heard of a titanium iPhone 15, so it's exciting to see the rumor take another step toward potentially being true.

Adding a titanium option for the iPhone wouldn't be unprecedented for Apple, since it already offers the Apple Watch Ultra exclusively in titanium. This is a quite expensive wearable though starting at $799 is about twice the price of the regular Apple Watch 8. If Apple did use titanium on the iPhone, we'd hope it wouldn't have such a big impact on its price compared to other models.

However, it's worth keeping in mind that rumors of a part-titanium iPhone have circulated for previous iPhone generations already. The rumors at least paint the picture that Apple's considering adding titanium to its phones, but we should be prepared for Apple deciding to hold off for another year.

There's more rumored for the iPhone 15 Ultra than just a luxurious build quality. This model, which could replace the Pro Max variant of the phone, may feature a periscope telephoto camera for more powerful zoom shots, dual front cameras and other big design updates like solid-state buttons and a curved back. It'll also apparently join the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro in getting USB-C ports, replacing Lightning after ten years of use on Apple's iPhones and iPads.

Whatever Apple has in store for the world with the next iPhone, we're still a long way off of seeing it. We'll keep you updated with the rumors as they emerge. But nothing will be certain until Apple's official event, likely in the second week of September as has now effectively become a tradition.

Source

Apple's plans to move more of its supply chain away from China comes after protests in the country over the past two weeks due to Beijing's strict zero-Covid policy. In November, the tech giant warned that iPhone shipments would be delayed because of lockdowns in China. As a result, analysts have been reducing their iPhone manufacturing estimates for the crucial holiday quarter.

Apple began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017, starting with the iPhone SE. In 2020, the company started producing the iPhone 11 in India, marking the first time that a high-end iPhone was being produced in the country. Another 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 the country in the same calendar year as its launch.

However, sources warn that the lack of highly skilled talent and individuals with expertise in building complex devices like the iPad could hinder these plans in India. The current foreign policy climate is also not conducive to the move, with tensions between India and China increasing. The two countries have been involved in territorial disputes in recent years, leading to an escalated military presence at the India-China border.

In addition to producing current-generation iPhones with Foxconn in India, Apple also diversified its portfolio of contract manufacturers in the country by outsourcing some orders to Pegatron and Wistron in the country.

Meanwhile, Foxconn is planning to quadruple its workforce in India to address future iPhone shortage. Reuters reports that JP Morgan estimates Apple will move almost 25% of iPhone production to India by 2025. As for the iPad and Apple Watch, Vietnam is expected to receive 20% of the net production volume. The company is also considering Malaysia and the US as potential production sites.

Source: CNBC via WSJ

Apple is reportedly shifting some of its iPad production to India

Here is what is new for the original Surface Duo:

• Charging finally works under Windows! This is a first version of the charging stack, as a result a few things are currently limited. The charging input is limited to low current for safety measures while work is ongoing.

• Adds a driver for the Qualcomm SMB1380 Secondary Charger.

• Adds a driver for the Qualcomm PM8150B Fuel Gauge and Primary Charger.

• Enables Content Adaptive Brightness Level.

• Adds support for Duo's Pedometer Sensor.

• Adds support for Duo's Light Fusion Sensor.

• The new Tablet Posture experience is now enabled for Surface Duo by default. Expect a more tablet optimized taskbar, bigger hit targets in Microsoft Edge/File Explorer, and more.

• Addresses a few issues with duplicated sensors.

• Enables smooth brightness control for both panels.

• Addresses an issue preventing USB Function Mode from working. This issue mainly affected USB File Transfers using a computer.

• Updates Surface Duo firmware to the latest Android OTA release of November

• Long forgotten bug fixes & enhancements.

• Call provisioning is work in progress, if calls do not work for you at the moment, you may need to provision the call functionality manually. (Same as on Lumia 950s).

   

And now to the Surface Duo 2, which currently features much more limited Windows support compared to its predecessor:

• Addresses an issue preventing USB Function Mode from working. This issue mainly affected USB File Transfers using a computer.

• Updates Surface Duo 2 firmware to the latest Android OTA release of November.

• Call provisioning is work in progress, if calls do not work for you at the moment, you may need to provision the call functionality manually. (Same as on Lumia 950s).

   

It is worth noting that getting Surface Duo's sensors to work under new drivers on Windows 11 requires sensor calibration (follow the steps published on GitHub) and updating the UEFI to version 2212.12 or higher. Also, mind the following known issues:

• Automatic Orientation only works for the left panel, using the right panel orientation sensor.
• USB Dongles that are not externally powered may not currently work.
• USB C Billboard devices will not currently work.
• External Display Stream support will not currently work.
• Additional information provided by the posture sensor is currently not available for. public consumption, this includes peek events.
• Digitizers will not react to the device being folded over.
• Displays will not react to the device being folded over most of the time.
• Physical device data is incorrect.
• Digitizers aren't calibrated correctly.

You can track the progress of the project on GitHub, where Gustave has published all the features working and not. Swapping Android with Windows on Surface Duo smartphones is a complicated process, so we recommend waiting for more user-friendly methods and guides if you cannot afford to brick your dual-screen smartphone. Luckily, the original Surface Duo is available for only $314, and you might want to consider buying one to see how well the smartphone runs 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.

New drivers for Surface Duo on Windows add charging, new sensors support, and more

I love Pixel phones — regularly considering them among the best Android phones — even with their yearly issues. Part of that comes down to the software. Google, which makes Android, has created a suite of useful features and additions to the base system that make handsets like the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6a true devices of utility.

But as much as I like Pixels and their software, Google is lacking in one key area, and it's one that makes no sense to me. The company only promises three years of Android updates, even though it writes the code for the OS and controls the hardware from the Pixel 6 onward.

I find that unacceptable given Samsung's update policy. And even OnePlus has joined in, also offering four years of platform updates. Google should be leading the pack, not trailing its competitors.

Pixels should be Android's iPhone equivalent

The Pixel devices, and the Nexus ones before them, have long presented the promise of an Android equivalent to the iPhone. They get updates as soon as Google releases them (in most cases) and they have the core functionality that Google thinks is best for the OS.

(Image credit: Future)

But that promise has not fully realized itself yet. One area where Apple absolutely dominates its Android competition is in how long it supports its iPhones. Those handsets can go for years, five or more, even if they can't use all of the latest software features. (The iPhone 7, released in 2016, made it to iOS 15 before hitting end-of-life.)

Pixels, comparatively, go for three years of Android updates. So the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, released not all that long ago in 2019, will no longer get updates after Android 13. The iPhone 11, launched in the same year, just got iOS 16 and it'll likely see iOS 17 and beyond.

Now that Google uses its own Tensor chipset in Pixels, I see no excuse while the Pixel 6 and newer can't get five years of platform updates. Or even longer than that!

With inflation rapidly rising and people having less disposable income, it would make sense to ensure that your devices go longer for good will and brand loyalty. I've seen and heard several people express both of those for Samsung since it announced its new update policy.

Lagging behind Samsung and even OnePlus

Which brings us back to the Android sphere. In February, Samsung announced that it would offer four years of platform updates and five years of security patches for its portfolio, even including the more budget-friendly Galaxy A series. In this space, that was unprecedented, making Samsung devices some of the best values as far as support.

OnePlus just followed suit a few days ago, promising the same four-year/five-year commitment for "select" phones going forward. (You can read my thoughts on that shifty policy if you'd like.) OnePlus, which hasn't been great about updates for a long time, is now outmatching Google for long-term support.

At this rate, Motorola will catch up, and that would be just embarrassing.

Google has remained mysteriously silent since Samsung's announcement, ignoring it outright when it announced the Pixel 7 series. In fact, the company only highlighted five years of security patches, not how many years of Android updates. It immediately made me suspicious, and the news that came out afterward proved me right.

There has to be an answer coming. At this rate, Motorola will catch up, and that would be just embarrassing.

Pixel updates outlook

I find that Pixels are left in an awkward spot. Google may lead the Android pack on things like cameras and useful software features like Call Suite, but two of its biggest competitors in the U.S. and beyond outmatch it with their update policies.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Like I said, I love Pixels. The Pixel 7 Pro is easily one of my favorite phones of all time, even if I use an iPhone 14 Pro as a daily driver.

But when I had to tell my sister-in-law and her husband that their Pixel 4s would no longer receive Android updates, with just another year of security patches, I could see their disappointment. I told them their options were, if they wanted the most up-to-date device for the longest period of time, to flash GrapheneOS on their current phones or go with Samsung.

Google can — and should! — absolutely do better than this. Pixels should spearhead a new trail for Android update support. I want to see a four-year promise at minimum, but five years or more would really help Pixels stand out.

Will that ever happen? I don't know. The ball's in Google's court now. We'll see how they toss it.

Source

Here’s the summary of all the features included in this announcement.

Exclusive Pixel 7 and 7 Pro features

• During the Pixel 7 series launch, Google said that folks buying the new devices would get access to a VPN included in Google One subscriptions at no cost. With the latest update, that feature will become available to the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro owners.
• If you are a user of the company’s latest flagship phone, Google is also introducing its clear calling feature. It will reduce background noise and enhance your voice so the person on the other side of the call can hear you better.

Image Credits: Google

 

• The latest update brings speaker labels to the Recorder app that will automatically assign labels to multiple people in the recording. What’s more, the app will introduce a line break whenever the speaker changes in transcriptions. Journalists and interviewers will be pretty happy with this feature. Professional transcription tools like Otter.ai offers this service, but it’s a good feature to have on your phone. Hopefully, Google introduces this feature to other Pixel devices too.

Image Credits: Google

Features for all Pixel phones

• Google is introducing a new hub so that you can easily access your privacy and security settings. It includes shortcuts to the app security feature, screen lock settings, Find My Device and Google Security Checkup. The hub will show you action cards if any of your accounts are at risk and suggest steps to bolster security for them.

Image Credits: Google

 

• The update has a bunch of new wallpapers to celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities.
• Pixel devices are finally getting a Spatial Audio update if you pair your phone with the Pixel Buds Pro. Google says this pairing enables head tracking for an immersive experience. But you’ll have to wait until January to get it.

Pixel Watch updates

• Pixel Watch owners are getting a Fitbit Premium feature even if they are not Fitbit Premium subscribers: Sleep Profiles. This function tracks 10 different things like sleep duration, disruptions and bedtime consistency to analyze your sleep. It also assigns you a cute animal based on your sleep patterns if you wore the Pixel Watch for 14 nights in November.

Image Credits: Google

 

• Google’s new Watch is also getting Tiles for weather and favorite contacts — Tiles are widget-like screens that give you information at a glance. These Tiles were also a part of the company’s December feature release for Android.
• The search giant has also promised that the Pixel Watch will get a fall detection feature next year. Once triggered, the watch will contact emergency services if it detects that you are unresponsive. Notably, the Apple Watch has had this feature since the Series 4 model.

These features will roll out to the Pixel watch and Pixel phones (for Pixel 4a and above) through over-the-air updates starting today.

Source

A stranded man in Alaska was rescued after using Apple’s new Emergency SOS satellite feature to contact emergency services.

According to Alaska State Troopers(Opens in a new window) on Dec. 1, at 2:00 am (AST), rescue services were notified that an adult male traveling via snowmachine from the remote town of Noorvik to Kotzebue had activated an Emergency SOS via satellite on his iPhone after becoming stranded. The area did not have Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.

The Apple Emergency Response Center provided Troopers and the Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator with the GPS coordinates of the stranded man, and four volunteer searchers located and transported him to Kotzebue. No injuries were reported, according to Troopers.

A spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety told(Opens in a new window) Insider that search and rescue teams were dispatched at 3:30 am and the stranded man was taken to Kotzebue at 6 am. According to Insider, the man did not have another form of satellite communication and was wearing “appropriate clothing” and had “fire-starting supplies.”

In a public statement, Troopers who saved the man said they “were thoroughly impressed with the accuracy and completeness of information included in the initial alert.”

The news comes just weeks after Apple announced(Opens in a new window) the launch of the Emergency SOS satellite feature for iPhone 14 users in the US (except Guam or American Samoa) and Canada. The safety service allows users to message emergency services outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

The feature also enables iPhone 14 owners to share their location via satellite with friends and family using the Find My app. Owners of every model in the iPhone 14 lineup can use the feature. It’s due to roll out to certain European markets including the UK, Germany, France, and Ireland sometime this month.

The satellite connection can be maintained even if your phone screen is locked but it might suffer when around hills, mountains, canyons, and tall structures or even when around dense foliage. Apple notes(Opens in a new window) that a message sent using the satellite feature can take 15 seconds to send in ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky, and over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage.

Latitude can also affect the connection. Apple has said that being in places above 62 degrees latitude can make it harder for the feature to work. This can be taken with a grain of salt however as Noorvik and Kotzebue are close to 69 degrees latitude.

Apple has said that Emergency SOS is free for two years after the activation of iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro but has not stated whether there are plans to bring in charges going forward.

You can test the Satellite feature without alerting rescue services through the settings menu on your iPhone 14.

Source

Microsoft is developing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode capability for Teams for iOS devices. The aim is to let users multitask while a Teams meeting is going on. As described by Microsoft, you can see your meetings in an adjustable window to make room for other apps on your iPad or iPhone devices. The feature is already available for Teams users on Android. Similar functionality is also available on Zoom, but it has a fancy name — "Floating thumbnail window."

A picture-in-picture mode is essentially a mini-window view, which you can collapse and expand as per the requirement. Although Microsoft has not explained the functionality in great detail, users should be able to mute/unmute themselves and turn on/off video while in the PiP mode. We will have to wait a few more days to find out how exactly the feature functions.

According to Microsoft 365 Roadmap page, Microsoft is planning to add PiP support to iOS devices this month. However, as is the case with every feature listed on the roadmap page, it has no details on its exact release date. While Teams users on iOS devices will not mind waiting, there is always a possibility that Microsoft will delay it to January or beyond.

If you are using Teams on iPad or iPhone, let us know if PiP mode will be useful for you.

Microsoft Teams to soon add Zoom's 'Floating thumbnail window' to iOS devices

Elon Musk appears to reconcile with Apple after Twitter tirade

"Apple has sort of singled themselves out as the only company that is trying to control unilaterally what apps get on a device.

I don’t think that’s a sustainable or good place to be."

Zuckerberg added that he sees Apple as one of their big competitors.

"There is a conflict of interest there and it makes them not just a kind of governor that is looking out for the best of, of people's interests. I think they also have a lot of their own strategic interests, which makes it very challenging."

Zuckerberg praised Google's approach, on the other hand, which allowed users to sideload an application if they want, even though Google has made that process slightly trickier now.

"They’ve always made it so you can sideload and have other app stores and work directly with phone manufacturers. That’s also been our commitment in how we built up our VR and what we plan to do with our AR headsets."

Last week, Elon Musk had also expressed his concerns over the App Store. He wasn't happy about it either since Apple forces app developers to pay from 15 to 30 percent fees from all in-app purchases, including for subscriptions like Twitter Blue.

Zuckerberg said that Elon Musk's approach towards fighting over App Store policies is rather interesting.

"It’s going to be very interesting to see how this plays out in terms of the approaches he’s taking. I would guess that not everything is going to work, but I think some things might work."

Over content moderation, the Meta CEO believes that they or their company doesn't want to primarily make the decisions.

"I tend to think that I don’t want one person or one company making those decisions, which is why we pioneered this oversight board for our content decisions. People have a vehicle that they can appeal to outside of us."

Apple's App Store Tracking Transparency has already hurt advertising revenue on Facebook by up to 50%. The policy, which was introduced with iOS 14, allowed users to stop Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) from tracking their data for advertisement purposes, which was Facebook's bread and butter.

Source: New York Times

Mark Zuckerberg sides with Elon Musk over Apple App Store fees controversy

Google customers win class-action status in lawsuit over app store prices

Gustave Monce (@gus33000), a developer who made it possible to run Windows 11 on the first and second-gen Surface Duo, uncovered traces of the "Surface Insider Program" while going through the device's software guts. As of now, you cannot sign up for the Surface Insider Program—the feature hides behind "two mechanisms" that ensure only those approved by Microsoft can get inside.

Besides providing early software updates, Surface Insider allows testers to toggle on and off specific "flags" that manage certain capabilities, similar to how we enable some cool hidden features in Microsoft Edge and Windows 11. Finally, Gustave says the program features a flyout for selecting a "ring," which could work like channels in Windows Insider.

A cherry on top of all these findings is an app for testing devices' sensors, and it features a fantastic icon for the tilt-to-wake feature.

He He!

There is no information on when Microsoft plans to unveil the program to the public (if ever). Zac Bowden from Windows Central says the Surface Insider Program "has been on the to-do list for the Duo team for many months." Perhaps Surface Duo users need to wait a few more months to start testing software updates for their dual-screen smartphones.

Microsoft reportedly preparing Insider Program for Surface Duo

As 2022 comes to a close, the iPhone 15 rumors are starting to ramp up. And we're now getting word that Apple could address an ongoing issue with its iPhone cameras. 

A new rumor from Nikkei(opens in new tab) (via AppleInsider(opens in new tab)) claims that Apple will work with Sony on the iPhone 15's camera. The Cupertino phone maker will reportedly use Sony's new "state-of-the-art" image sensor instead of a Samsung sensor. This new part from Sony will supposedly drastically overhaul how the iPhone 15 processes exposure control.

Apple + Sony = Super iPhone 15 Camera

The report from Nikkei says the following, "Sony's new image sensor roughly doubles the saturation signal level in each pixel compared with conventional sensors. In other words, the sensors can capture more light and reduce overexposure or underexposure in certain settings, enabling a smartphone camera to clearly photograph a person's face even if the subject is standing against a strong backlight."

The iPhone 15 could address some of the iPhone's historical exposure weaknesses.

Sony has supposedly accomplished this by placing the photodiodes and transistors in separate substrate layers, changing up the semiconductor design from what we have now. With this new methodology, Sony can add more photodiodes to the layer, allowing it to achieve that double saturation signal level. 

No more overexposed shots?

If that's all a bunch of gibberish to you, don't worry. It basically means that the iPhone 15 could address some of the iPhone's historical exposure weaknesses. While the iPhones regularly rank among the best camera phones, we have found that they tend to struggle with exposure control in some extreme situations. (Whereas Google tends to do a lot better.)

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Pixel 7 Pro

The above comparison from our iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Pixel 7 Pro camera shootout is a good example. The subject's face in the iPhone 14's shot is a bit blown out, while the Pixel 7 Pro handles the sunlight better.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Pixel 7 Pro

Here's another example of the iPhone 14 Pro's less-than-ideal exposure compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. In this case, the Pixel 7 Pro does a better job exposing the bottom of each lamp, while the iPhone's picture loses detail, not to mention that it's too dark. So it's underexposed this time even though the lights themselves are brighter.

What the new Sony sensor could mean for your photos

If the iPhone 15 uses this new Sony sensor, it could, for example, equal some incredible and artistic portraits. Imagine having your subject with a bright background, but your iPhone can still accurately capture their face and complexion. So you could achieve the halo effect without losing out on the subject's detail. We're already excited at the possibilities this upgrade could offer.

Nikkei's report does not specify whether this would be an upgrade for the whole iPhone 15 series or if it would be a Pro feature only. Our money, sadly, is on the latter based on Apple's strategy with the iPhone 14 Pro.

Other rumored iPhone 15 upgrades

As for other iPhone 15 rumors, it's almost guaranteed that Apple will finally switch to USB-C for the charging port after an EU ruling mandating that all smartphones need to use the standard. Other rumors suggest that Apple will do away with physical buttons, going with haptic ones instead (similar to the home button switch on the iPhone 7). 

Other people have said that the iPhone 15 Pro could get a periscope camera to improve zoom photography, helping it catch up to Samsung and Google — trust us, Apple has a long road ahead to match the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Pixel 7 Pro on telephoto performance.

Apple typically opts for a mid-September announcement date for iPhones, so be ready to wait a long time. However, in the months leading up to September, we expect to see a lot more rumors and leaks pop up. Be sure to check our iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Ultra hubs frequently to stay up-to-date on the latest news.

Source

After install, you’re presented with four slots in which you can add your favourite apps. If you need more or less choice than this, you can long press the wallpaper and change the number of favourites to anything from zero to eight – I have six apps pinned at the time of writing, a few messaging apps and a few side-hustle apps I like to check to earn a bit of pocket money.

As it’s a minimalistic launcher, the notification bar fades away, so you don’t get distracted, but you can easily see any notifications that have come through by swiping down to open the full notifications interface. Swiping up will show all the installed apps as a long list, unlike other minimalistic launchers, Olauncher does something pretty special.

When you swipe up, you’re presented with your keyboard to start searching for the app you want to open. To save time, the launcher will open up your desired app mid-way through typing as soon as it becomes the only option in your app list. For example, if I want to open Facebook, I just type f-a-c and the launcher starts launching Facebook as there are no other apps on my device beginning with ‘fac’.

As mentioned earlier, the launcher comes with a limited number of spaces on the home screen for your apps. To save you two slots, there are home screen shortcuts to open the camera and phone. Swiping left to right will open up the phone app, while swiping in the other direction will open up your camera. I haven’t found myself invoking either of these shortcuts accidentally just yet, so that’s promising.

Earlier today, I was reading more about the app in the Play Store and discovered that it has a hidden apps feature. While other users of the launcher will probably know about it, people who don’t use it will never have a clue where to look for your secret apps! To hide an app, you just go to your app list and long press. You’ll see an option to hide it, tapping this will remove it from your app list. To see your hidden apps, you have to long press on the home screen and at the top of the settings menu tap the title ‘Olauncher’, this will show you any hidden apps if there are any.

Speaking of the settings menu, here you can enable features like show the status bar, change the wallpaper daily, and alter the position of your favourites app list. There is also an option to view the Olauncher public roadmap. On the roadmap page, the developer of Olauncher says that adding new features isn’t too difficult, but ensuring everything works across all device form factors is what takes time to get right. Hopefully, this thoughtful approach ensures Olauncher remains a great launcher.

From a development perspective, Olauncher is also good because it’s open source. If you’re a new coder and want to contribute to build your coding experience you’re free to contribute to this project, and if you want to make your own launcher you can fork the Olauncher project and get to work. Its open source nature also means that it’s available to download on the F-Droid app store as well as the Google Play Store – this makes it easier to download and install if your device is missing the Google Play Store.

Olauncher is pretty minimalist, so it’s probably going to appeal more to people who prefer a spartan interface. That said, the experience overall is very good and that could expand its appeal to a wider audience. I have the daily wallpaper option setting enabled on my phone and find that the wallpaper choices are pretty good and make excellent use of all the free space on the home screen, making the device generally nice to look at.

If you do try it out, setup shouldn’t take too long, you just go through the prompts to make it your default launcher and choose your favourite apps, and you’re good to go. Unless I discover something truly annoying in this launcher, I would probably say that it's my favourite launcher on Android.

Gallery: Olauncher

Hands-on: Olauncher is possibly the best launcher on Android today

Pedram Rezaei (@pedram_re), Microsoft Maps & Local Services Division CTO, revealed on their Twitter account that the company decided to restore SwiftKey for iOS "with popular demand." Moreover, the company is now "investing heavily in the keyboard," and users can stay tuned for exciting future changes.

There are no further details on what that "heavy investing" means, so we can only guess what Microsoft plans to do with its resurrected AI keyboard for iOS and Android. Microsoft's representatives promise some "very exciting" changes.

SwiftKey became part of Microsoft in 2016 when the software giant bought the company for $250 million. SwiftKey for iOS spent last year with zero updates, but now, with the project back in the App Store, you can expect it to start receiving frequent updates with new features and improvements.

You can download SwiftKey for iOS from the App Store, and the Android version is available from the Google Play Store.

Microsoft's SwiftKey for iOS is back from the grave

Apple took its sweet time adding an always-on display feature to its phones, introducing it to the iPhone 14 models with this year's iOS 16 update. However, not everyone liked Apple's approach to always-on displays, which have been a mainstay of Android phones for some time.

If you think the always-on display on your iPhone 14 Pro is too busy, you're going to want to grab iOS 16.2 when the software update becomes available this month. A new version of the iOS 16.2 beta just landed with developers, and it gives users the options to turn off some of the features that appear on your screen when always-on mode is enabled.

Currently, the always-on feature for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max dims the phone's lock screen. The clock and lock-screen widgets you've added to the lock screen still appear, but so do your wallpaper plus any notifications that show up. That's a stark contrast to the way most Android phones present their always-on display, which features the clock and maybe a few other notifications or widgets.

The iOS 16.2 beta 3 update introduces a way for your iPhone to adopt Android's more minimal approach. You can now toggle off both the wallpaper and notifications for your always-on display, leaving just the time, data and widgets on a blackened screen.

You'll be able to access this feature by going into the Display and Brightness section of the Settings app. Select Always-on Display and you'll now see separate toggles for allowing the wallpaper and notifications to appear on the screen. They join an existing toggle that lets you turn off the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display altogether.

Personally, I like Apple's different take on always-on displays, which I think helps them stand out from how Android phones implement the feature. I also appreciate how the always-on feature takes advantage of the iPhone 14 Pro's ProMotion display to scale all the way down to a 1Hz refresh rate so that the always-on feature doesn't come at the expense of your battery life. But I can understand why some people might feel Apple's approach was too much.

In addition to the change to the always-on display, iOS 16.2 introduces a new Freeform app for real-time collaboration across different Apple devices plus a Dynamic Island upgrade that will keep the Wi-Fi icon and signal bars in view on your iPhone 14 Pro screen when you play music. Additional changes include expanded ProMotion support, tweaks to Live Activities and a feature that brings weather-related news stories into the Weather app.

Apple watchers have tipped mid-December for the full release of iOS 16.2.

Source

Rumors have suggested that next year's Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is going to more fully embrace Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset at the expense of Samsung's own Exynos chip. And now we have another indicator that Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S phones will appear beyond the U.S.

According to smartphone leaker Ice Universe(opens in new tab), the rumored Samsung Galaxy S23 series is now “confirmed” to get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the chipset announced by the chip maker this week. 

Ice Universe is basing that claim on leaked Geekbench 5 benchmark testing that shows model “Samsung SM-S918B,” rumored to be a European-market Galaxy S23 device. The testing results were a 1,504 single-core score and a 4,580 multi-core score, both of which are in line with other leaked benchmarks of other rumored S23 devices.

This is great news for European and U.K. customers, who now look set to get the latest Qualcomm silicon in their versions of the Galaxy S23. Previous versions of Samsung's flagship phone released in Europe had been powered by Samsung Exynos chips, which traditionally lag behind their Snapdragon equivalents.

We've already heard rumors that Qualcomm was going to be the global chipset provider for the S23 phones. Now it seems that not only will Samsung's upcoming flagship phones get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but they will receive a high-frequency version exclusive to Samsung.  

Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup: Benchmark roundup 

So far we’ve seen a fair amount of leaked benchmarks for rumored Samsung Galaxy S23 phones. It’s partially why this new rumor of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-based Galaxy S23 headed to Europe checks out — it lines up with the current benchmarks.

Rumored Samsung Galaxy S23 benchmarks

This was similar to the leaked Galaxy S23 Plus benchmarks (rumored model SM-S916U), which scored 1,485 and 4,844 for single-core and multi-core respectively and the leaked S23 Ultra benchmarks (SM-S918U) which scored 1,521 and 4,689 for single-core and multi-core.

Given that this rumored Galaxy S23 European market phone (rumored model SM-S918B) scored 1,504 and 4,580 for single-core and multi-core performance, it does seem likely that whatever chipset these S23 phones are using, it's the same one showing up in other leaked models. 

There’s an established range now of 1,485 to 1,524 for single-core performance and 4,580 to 4,844 for multi-core performance. So anything we see come out with similar numbers should add weight to the theory that it's the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powering all these devices.

(Image credit: Volodymyr Lenard/Tom's Guide)

Unfortunately, it also potentially confirms that this next generation of Samsung phones will fall short of the iPhone's performance — though the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 numbers appear to be inching closer. In fact, the rumored multi-core performance for the S23 lineup beats the base iPhone 14 powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. But both the single-core and multi-core numbers fall well short of the Geekbench 5 scores for the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro. That $999 Apple phone scored 1,891 and 5,469 for single-core and multi-core respectively, well ahead of the range we are seeing for the leaked Galaxy S23 benchmarks.

As always, the leaked benchmarks aren't official numbers, and we won't fully know how phones powered by the new chipset will perform until we get the chance to test the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ourselves. At this point, though, it looks like if you want the best performance from your mobile processor you’ll need to get an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max — luckily there are some decent iPhone 14 Pro Max deals. Otherwise, stay tuned for all the latest rumors and leaks for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which will almost certainly be the most powerful Android phone when it comes out next year.

Source

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 brings Wi-Fi 7, sticks with some 32-bit support

Amazon has become the retail behemoth it is in part thanks to third-party sellers. Amazon doesn’t need to stock or ship many of the things sold on the site, giving it a much wider selection than smaller competitors. One notable exception is Apple, which has an agreement in place with Amazon to limit the number of sellers allowed to list its products. A new lawsuit claims this is an unlawful violation of antitrust law that has cost consumers big bucks.

As recently as 2018, there were more than 600 entities selling Apple products on Amazon. This ensured robust competition, which kept prices a bit lower than Apple’s own store. However, that all changed in late 2018 when Amazon and Apple teamed up to bring more Apple hardware to the site. As part of the agreement, Amazon would only allow third parties to sell Apple hardware if they were approved by Apple. Today, there are just seven companies offering the products on Amazon.

According to the law firm Hagens Berman, which has filed a class-action antitrust case, Apple and Amazon have benefited hugely from the agreement while consumers have been paying higher prices. Amazon reportedly got access to a continuous supply of Apple devices to sell at a 10 percent discount, provided it kept third-party sellers off the site. The suit claims this is known as “naked restraint,” and is illegal under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

This graph shows the alleged relationship between prices and the drop in sellers. (via Hagens Berman)

Following the start of the retail agreement in January 2019, Amazon became much more likely to get placement in the “buy box,” increasing its revenue from Apple devices. Apple, meanwhile, no longer had to worry about sellers on Amazon undercutting it.

The suit contends that buyers are paying up to 20 percent more than they otherwise would. There is some precedent for this case. Italian regulators slapped Amazon with a fine last year for a similar deal involving Apple’s Beats audio products, reports Ars Technica.

Hagens Berman will be familiar to those who follow Apple news. The firm was involved in numerous legal actions against Apple over the years, including the ebook price-fixing case and a battle over touchscreen patents. Hagens Berman clearly feels there’s money to be made going after Apple, and this time, consumers might be able to benefit. The law firm is asking anyone who purchased an Apple product via the Amazon buy box in 2019 or later to join the class action. In a few years, you might get part of your purchase refunded, and Hagens Berman will get a big heap of cash.

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While Microsoft had previously only talked about all the new functionalities it will be adding as a part of this redesign, it's perhaps expected that some features would be on the chopping block too. To that end, the Redmond tech firm has now detailed two capabilities that will be axed in the Office mobile apps by the end of this year.

The first is Transfer Files, which allows you to transmit files between your Office app and your computer. The process involves opening a URL and scanning a QR code in order to pair the two devices and transfer content. Microsoft thinks that this can easily be replaced by OneDrive, which is "seamlessly" integrated to Office so that you can access shared content regardless of device. As such, Transfer Files will be retired on December 31, 2022, but your previous files will remain unaffected.

The other feature being killed off in the Office mobile app is Share Nearby. As the name suggests, this allowed content sharing between Android devices in close vicinity. However, Microsoft believes that this capability does not meet all the current needs of its customers ads. Therefore, it will be getting the ax on December 31, 2022. Previous files will remain unaffected.

Microsoft has emphasized that these measures are being taken to evolve the Microsoft 365 app on mobile to offer the best value to customers, powered by solutions that are consistent, reliable, and enable productivity. These removals are part of the streamlining process for Microsoft 365 apps and it wouldn't be surprising to see similar announcements in the future as development continues.

Microsoft is killing off two features in the Office mobile app

We all have at least one of those friends.

They're likable. They're interesting. They're definitely not stupid.

Somehow, though, they keep making decisions that lead to disasters.

Worse, you can see those disasters coming. You try to warn them. You get tired of warning them. But they just don't listen and glide headlong into a solid brick wall.

That's how Samsung feels about iPhone users. And, well, Apple buyers in general.

How do I know this? Because Samsung has just emitted an ad that fully expresses such thoughts and positively screams: "What is wrong with you, Apple fanperson?"

Perhaps that should have been "negatively screams."

Here, you see, we have a man who's climbed onto the wall of Apple's garden. You're familiar with that garden. It's the walled one, the one where Apple tells you all you need is Apple, more Apple, and whatever new thing Apple comes along with next.

Many people don't even think about what's on the other side of the wall. They've heard about Android, but those Android people, well, even their texts are green instead of blue.

Why would you want to do that yourself?

This intrepid Apple customer, though, is curious enough to peer into Samsung's garden -- which, of course, goes on forever into infinity.

"Hey, what are you doing up there?" wonders an Apple employee. "You can't sit on the fence."

Apple has rules, you understand. Lots of rules.

"But on the Samsung side they have folding phones and epic cameras," says our putative escapee.

The Apple employee is concerned. "You don't want to leave," he said. "We're waiting for all that to come over here."

Oddly, I've heard that Apple has quite good cameras these days, but what do I know? I still have an iPhone 12.

But why, wonders our escapee, should he wait?

"Because that's what we do," explains the Apple employee. "We wait."

It's a contentious one, this. Yes, Apple does, indeed, often wait and then attempts to improve on someone else's version for quite a few things.

Then again, the company does occasionally get ahead quite quickly, so much so that its product names become generic. Tablets are iPads.

Watches are Apple Watches. AirPods are, oh, still so ugly.

But Samsung wants you to mount that wall and take the leap toward its folding phones. The company insists it makes them specifically to be ahead and different.

Then again, when it advertises its Z Flip 4, it says one of the main reasons for using it is to take selfies more easily.

Still, these Apple people just won't change, will they?

It's maddening for Samsung. The Apple people just keep on buying the next Apple thing, signing up for Apple Care, going to the Apple store when they have a problem and generally believing that Apple offers them a relatively easy -- and occasionally aesthetic -- way of navigating their earthly needs.

Yes, the Android world has its positives. But if you start to consider Samsung phones, then you should also consider Google's Pixel. That makes things so troublingly complicated.

Apple is pretty. Apple is pretty soothing. Apple lets you plug and play. And hey, the company even acts as if it believes in privacy.

There's lots of privacy in that walled garden, people believe -- whether rightly or wrongly.

Privacy is a new thing, right?

Source

Apple and Amazon colluded to raise iPhone and iPad prices, class action claims

Pixel 8 hardware leaks suggest faster chip, tweaked screen ratios