News on the margin week 10 - November 16

The return of the feature of switching watch faces by dragging, the announcement of the first wireless chargers with the Qi2 standard, 5G download on the iPhone 15 that is 54% better compared to the iPhone 14, an artificial intelligence-powered pin worth $700, and side loading on the iPhone soon. Announcing the finalists for the 2023 App Store Award and other exciting news on the sidelines...

WhatsApp launches voice chats for large groups

WhatsApp has introduced a new voice chat feature for group conversations. Unlike before, where starting a voice call caused everyone in the group to ring, this feature allows users to start voice conversations without disturbing everyone. Members are asked to join secretly through a silent notification. This applies to groups with 33 to 128 members. Non-participating group members can see who is active on the call, and people can join or leave at any time. If the chat remains empty for 60 minutes, it will automatically end. The feature is now available for iOS and Android users with the latest WhatsApp update.

Extending emergency satellite service for another year, free of charge

Apple has extended its emergency SOS service via satellite for current iPhone 14 users for an additional year for free. Originally, new iPhone 14 owners were given two free years after activating their device, which would have ended in November 2024. Now, the extension allows iPhone 14 users to access this service for an additional two years, starting on the day or time of activation. This feature allows users to send text messages to the emergency via satellite when the cellular network and Wi-Fi network are not available, and it is available in all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models. The service has been praised because it has saved many stranded people. all over the world.

Samsung announces an 8TB portable SSD

Samsung has released a new portable SSD called the T5 EVO, and it comes with a massive storage space of up to 8TB, making it the largest storage capacity available for a portable SSD. This SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 460 speeds, allowing data transfers at up to 7MB/s, which is faster than regular hard drives but slightly slower than NVME SSDs like Samsung's T9 and TXNUMX series.

The T5 is rectangular in design, and has a clip that can be attached to luggage and backpacks. It also has drop protection of up to six feet due to its rubberized surface. To prevent overheating, Samsung has included Dynamic Thermal Guard technology.

In terms of size, the SSD is 3.74 inches long, 1.57 inches wide, and weighs 3.6 ounces, making it portable and travel-friendly. The 8TB version is priced at $650, and there are also 2TB and 4TB versions available at $190 and $350, respectively. You can buy it from the Samsung website.

Demos of Telegram on VisionOS

Telegram founder Pavel Durov shared a sneak peek at the upcoming Telegram app designed for Apple's VisionOS Pro. Thus this is one of the first third-party implementations of VisionOS. The app features a transparent design, a sidebar that lists ongoing conversations, videos that appear for a more immersive experience, and animated emoji characters. Users can send messages using the virtual keyboard or dictate to Siri. The Telegram icon on the main interface reacts visually when selected with eyes and gestures. As the launch date approaches, more third-party implementations of VisionOS are expected.

Apple announces finalists for the 2023 App Store Awards

Apple recently revealed the finalists for its 2023 App Store Awards, showcasing standout apps and games across different categories. Applications include drawing, design, video editing, education, music, time management, fitness, hiking, gaming, and more. Phil Schiller expressed his happiness with the achievements of these finalists, emphasizing their talent and effort. Winners, who will be announced in a few weeks, will receive a physical App Store award modeled after the App Store logo. Finalists were selected on the basis of excellence, innovation and technical achievement, contributing to users' creativity, personal challenges and enjoyment with family and friends.

List of the best apps of 2023 that are finalists

◉ The best iPhone applications: AllTrails، Duolingo ، flighty

◉ The best iPad applications: concepts، DaVinci Resolve، Pret-à-Makeup

◉ Best Mac apps: Linearity Curve، photomator، Portal

◉ Best Apple TV apps: bugsnax، Win، MUBI

◉ Best application for Apple Watch: – Planny، smart gym، TideGuide

The best games of 2023 that qualify for the finals

◉ Best iPhone games:afterplace، Honkai: StarRail، vampire survivors

◉ Best iPad games: Eggy Party، Lost-in-Play، Pocket City 2

◉ Best Mac games: elex II، Lies of P، Return to Monkey Island

◉ Best Apple Arcade games: Cityscapes, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, stitch.

Best Culturally Impact Apps of 2023 Finalists

◉ application Libra: Providing evidence-based information to help women become more informed, prepared and empowered during perimenopause and menopause.

◉ application endling, highlights the bad impacts on the environment and humans' corruption of everything that is beautiful on this planet through one last vixen's look at this planet.

◉ application Finding Hannah, to connect women across generations through play.

◉ application Facebook, to help children learn, explore and experience in the digital playroom

◉ application ProloquoTo support communication without words.

◉ application rebel girlsBedtime stories from inspiring women throughout the ages and from different parts of the world.

◉ application Too Good To Go, to help reduce food waste in restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets.

◉ application UnpackingPuzzle application.

Nothing announces iMessage compatibility with its new app

Nothing has announced a new app called “Nothing Chats” that will be compatible with iMessage. The app is powered by Sunbird Messaging is an Android and web app that gives users the ability to unify the world's most popular messaging apps into a single app inbox including iMessage, and promises end-to-end encryption. Users can sign in with their Apple ID to use the app, which supports individual and group chats, typing indicators, media sharing, and voice notes. Additional features such as read receipts and message interactions will be added later. The app will also support RCS messaging on the phone, and will be available in the US, UK and EU starting November 17.

Apple gets 36% of Google search revenue in Safari

Google pays a large sum of money to Apple for being the default search engine on Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad. The exact percentage is 36% of the revenue Google earns from searches on the Safari browser. This agreement has been in effect since 2002 and has been revised several times. Apple earns billions of dollars annually from this deal, which contributes significantly to its profits. The US Department of Justice is investigating Google over its possible search monopoly, with a focus on its deal with Apple. If Google loses the antitrust suit, the agreement with Apple could be terminated, giving Apple the opportunity to develop its own search engine. However, any changes resulting from the lawsuit could take several years to materialize.

Side loading on iPhone soon

In the first half of 2024, iPhone users in the European Union will have the option to download applications from sources outside the Apple App Store. This change, known as side loading, is intended to comply with EU regulations. This means that users can get apps without using the App Store, and developers will not have to pay Apple fees. This modification is expected to take place in the first half of 2024, when a “highly controlled system” will be introduced for installing applications from other sources. The move comes in response to the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which requires major companies such as Apple to open their platforms. Despite privacy and security concerns, Apple must comply with these regulations or face potential fines. Other countries, including the United States, are considering similar legislation regarding side loading.

Praise for the iOS 18 update powered by artificial intelligence

Apple is planning important upcoming updates, which will include iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. These updates are expected to feature major changes, with a focus on generative artificial intelligence. Improvements include a smarter Siri, with a potential revamp using large language models (LLMs) to enhance its capabilities. Apple is investing heavily in artificial intelligence research, allocating $XNUMX billion annually and aims to catch up with industry leaders such as Google and OpenAI.

Despite the ambitious plans, Apple is taking a cautious approach to software development, pausing work on future features to address current software issues. The first versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 have been completed, but bugs were discovered during testing, leading to a temporary pause in development.

The company is discussing how to deploy its new generative AI technology, considering options such as cloud-based, on-device, or a combination of both. LLM-powered AI is expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2024, while other generative AI features may be exclusive to the iPhone 16 models.

Humane launches $700 AI pin with 'laser ink display'

Humane, a technology startup led by former Apple designer Imran Choudhury and former Apple Software Director Bethany Bongiorno, has unveiled its first product, Ai Pin. Priced at $700, the Ai Pin is a standalone AI device designed from scratch. It attaches to clothing using a magnetic system and features a detachable and swappable battery, creating what Human calls an “always-on power system.”

The design of the Ai Pin resembles the Apple Watch, with a rounded rectangular shape, an aluminum body, and a touch operation. It includes an “optical sensor capsule,” a XNUMXD depth sensor, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. The device lacks a standard display screen but uses a laser screen called “Laser Ink Display” to display information on the user’s hand. Interact with the device by swiping, tilting, and tapping with your fingers, similar to Apple's Double Tap feature.

The Ai Mic is activated by touch or voice, to answer questions and assist in retrieving information. The “Personal Speaker” plays music, and the Ai Pin, which claims to be fluent in multiple languages, provides real-time translation. All functions are accessed through artificial intelligence; There are no traditional applications.

The device is also equipped with a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, which captures photos and videos, which can be viewed on the “Center” website.

Users can tell Ai Pin about their activity and nutritional goals to monitor their progress and better understand the energy they are taking in and putting out. Uploading a food item to the Ai Pin will allow the device to provide nutritional information and can let the user know if the food is “safe” to eat based on their health goals.

The Ai Pin has cellular connectivity, enabling it to answer incoming calls from trusted contacts designated by the wearer. It is able to set priorities intelligently, and manage calls and messages intelligently as well. The device requires direct user activation, ensuring no listening or recording by default. A colored “Trust Light” indicates when your camera, phone, or microphone is being used.

Orders for the Ai Pin begin in the US on November 16, priced at $700, with a $24 monthly subscription to the Humane network, powered by T-Mobile.

5G download on iPhone 15 is 54% better compared to iPhone 14

The iPhone 15 models come equipped with the Qualcomm X70 modem chip, which promises faster 5G speeds compared to the iPhone 14 models equipped with the X65 chip. Ookla, a company that measures internet speeds, conducted tests and found that download speeds on the iPhone 15 are much better. The results show that iPhone 15 models support up to 54% faster download speeds than iPhone 14 models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the highest download speeds among Apple and Samsung devices, reaching 285 MB/s. It's important to note that these speeds vary based on location, carrier, and other factors. It covers the data collected by the company Ookla The entire United States, and improvements in 5G speeds have also been observed in several other countries.

Miscellaneous news

◉ The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has revealed that the first wireless chargers that support the new Qi2 charging standard will be available this holiday season. It is a technology similar to MagSafe charging technology. The iPhone 15 is the first phone to support Qi2 charging, with more than 100 devices from companies such as Belkin and Anker currently being tested. Qi2 ensures precise alignment for better efficiency and faster charging. But it is uncertain whether the iPhone 15 will support faster charging using the new Qi2 accessories or not. When the iPhone 15 is placed on a charging mat that follows the current Qi standard, it charges at a rate of 7.5 watts. However, when using MagSafe chargers the charging speed increases to 15W. Will the iPhone charge at the same speed on Qi2 devices?

◉ Apple has stopped downgrading to the iOS 17.1 update, so it is not possible to downgrade to this version of iOS again.

◉ Apple released the first firmware update for the new USB-C Apple Pencil, which was released last week. But there is no information about what features, fixes, or updates may be included in the update, and Apple does not provide feedback about these releases.

◉ Apple announced the Tap to Pay feature on the iPhone in France, allowing independent sellers, small merchants, and major retailers in the country to use the iPhone as a payment method.

◉ The third beta version of watchOS 10.2 reintroduces the feature of switching watch faces, which was initially removed with the upgrade to watchOS 10. So you can swipe right or left to switch the active Apple Watch face by enabling the option from Settings.

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