iPhone 16e to come with 8GB RAM, launch of Grok-3 AI model that outperforms its competitors, iPhone 17 may support charging speeds of up to 35W, Humane AI pin discontinued and failed after less than a year, Apple tests reverse wireless charging feature, Gemini removed from Google app on iPhone, and other exciting news in On the Sidelines…
Google Lens Search Feature Comes to Chrome and Google App on iPhone
Google is rolling out new updates to its Google Lens visual search feature in Chrome and Google apps on iPhone, allowing users to search for content directly from their screens without having to take screenshots or open new tabs. Users can access the new feature through the three-dot menu in Chrome, and the company plans to simplify the process in the coming months by adding a dedicated icon to the address bar.
The Google app is also getting similar functionality, with users able to perform on-screen searches by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting “Search on this screen.” The feature supports multiple ways to interact, including drawing, highlighting, or tapping to select content. Additionally, the company is expanding its AI-powered search capabilities, with results appearing more detailed and available to users in English in supported regions, with plans to expand support to other platforms soon.
Apple Stops Selling Small iPhones
With the iPhone SE discontinuation announced yesterday, Apple no longer sells any iPhones with smaller screens. The smallest iPhones currently available are the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, iPhone 16e, and iPhone 16. Apple also offers the iPhone 16 Pro with a 6.3-inch display, the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 16 Plus models with 6.7-inch displays, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a 6.9-inch display.
With no iPhones left on sale with a screen smaller than 6 inches, and no rumors of smaller devices in the future, Apple seems to have given up on the small phone market altogether. This shift comes after a long history of screens offered by Apple, starting with a 3.5-inch screen on the first iPhone in 2007, through a 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5 in 2012, and up to the latest small phone, the 12-inch iPhone 5.4 mini in 2020.
Apple stops production of iPhone SE
Apple also announced that it will discontinue the iPhone SE 3 after launching the new iPhone 16e. As a result, it will no longer sell any iPhone that has a Home button, fingerprint sensor, LCD display, or Lightning port. It has also discontinued the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. Apple’s current lineup now includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus, with plans to discontinue the iPhone 15 models in September when the new iPhone 17 series launches.
WhatsApp is testing Clear Badge again for unread messages
WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature that will let users choose whether the app will automatically clear the number of unread messages displayed on the app icon on the home screen after each time the app is opened. The feature is controlled via a new button in the notification settings on iOS called “Clear Badge,” and comes with the description: “Your home screen badge will be completely cleared every time you open the app.”
According to WABetaInfo, this feature is already available in the WhatsApp version on Android, and aims to reduce the clutter on the user's home screen and alleviate the "anxiety of unread messages." Although this feature appeared to some users in the past few weeks, WhatsApp decided to disable it for unclear reasons. This feature is expected to be rolled out to all WhatsApp users in the coming days after its beta testing is complete.
Remove Gemini from Google App on iPhone
Google has announced that it is removing its Gemini AI model from the Google app on iPhone, according to an email the company sent to Gemini users on Feb. 18. The change is intended to improve the Gemini experience on iOS, where it is now available as a standalone app that can be downloaded from the App Store.
The standalone Gemini app offers advanced features compared to the Google app’s built-in version, allowing users to interact with AI via text and voice commands, and supports the Gemini Live feature that appears in the notification bar and lock screen. The app also offers paid subscriptions under the name “Gemini Advanced” at a price of $18.99 per month, which gives users access to the advanced 1.5 Pro model and other exclusive features, with the need to log in with a Google account to benefit from the service.
iPhone 17 Pro: Apple tests reverse wireless charging feature
Apple is reportedly testing a reverse wireless charging feature for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, which would allow the iPhone to wirelessly charge other Apple devices. According to Weibo tipster Instant Digital, the company is testing a 7.5W wireless charging feature that could be used to charge accessories like AirPods, the Apple Watch, and possibly the future Magsafe portable battery.
Although the iPhone 15 and later support reverse charging for small devices via the USB-C port at up to 4.5 watts, the reverse wireless charging feature has not been activated since the Magsafe battery was discontinued in September 2023. While the leaker confirms that Apple is testing this feature, it is not known whether the company will actually activate it when the new iPhone is officially launched next September.
Humane AI Pin Stops and Fails After Less Than a Year
Humane announced that it will discontinue its $700 AI pin in late February, less than a year after its April 2024 launch. The company said the device will work until 12:00 p.m. PT on February 28, after which all features including calls, messages, queries, smart replies, and cloud access will stop.
The surprise decision comes as Humane is being sold to HP for $116 million, with HP acquiring its CosmOS AI platform and more than 300 patents. The company will not offer refunds to most customers, except those who purchased the device after November 15, 2024. The company advises users to sync their devices over Wi-Fi to download stored photos, videos, and notes before February 28, as all data will be deleted after that date.
iPhone 17 may support charging speeds of up to 35 watts
According to Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu for investment firm GF Securities, the upcoming iPhone 17 series will support wired charging speeds of up to 35W, which may disappoint those looking for faster charging speeds. It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro phones already achieve sustained charging speeds of up to 30W, with the possibility of reaching a peak charging speed of 37W under certain conditions. Pu did not reveal the wireless charging speeds via Magsafe technology for the iPhone 17 models, noting that the current iPhone 16 models support charging with a power of up to 25W via Magsafe.
iPhone 17 Pro may come with an aluminum frame instead of titanium
Analyst Jeff Pu also revealed that all iPhone 17 models will come with aluminum frames, while the iPhone 17 Air will come with a titanium frame. Pu explained that Apple's decision to use aluminum in the Pro models comes for environmental considerations, as aluminum leaves a smaller carbon footprint than titanium, especially with the company's goal to reach carbon neutrality across all its products and supply chain by 2030.
But the reason behind using a titanium frame in the iPhone 17 Air is unclear, especially since aluminum is lighter than titanium. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air frame will use a combination of titanium and aluminum, with less titanium than the iPhone 15 Pro models.
iPhone 17 may get a different camera bar than iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to come with a new rear design, with the cameras featuring a rectangular bar with rounded corners. The iPhone 17 Air has been rumored to have a similar design, but it seems the base iPhone 17 model will retain its current design.
According to leaker Jon Prosser, the base iPhone 17 will feature the same design as the iPhone 16, with two rear cameras arranged vertically inside an oval-shaped notch. This means the base iPhone 17 will be the least changed in appearance among the new models this year. For users who prefer the traditional design, it may be reassuring to know that this design will continue for at least another year. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.
Miscellaneous news
◉ Elon Musk’s xAI has announced the launch of its new AI model Grok-3, claiming that it outperforms competing models like GPT-4 and Gemini. Grok-3 boasts ten times the computing power of its predecessor, and introduces new features like a “Think” mode that shows the AI’s thought process while processing requests, and a “Big Brain” mode for handling more complex tasks. Additionally, xAI has introduced “Deep Search,” a next-generation search engine designed to analyze information from the internet and the X platform to provide comprehensive answers to user queries. Grok-3 is available to X Premium Plus subscribers for $40 per month, and the company has also launched a new subscription tier called SuperGrok for $30 per month, which offers advanced features and early access to new updates. Musk noted that Grok-3 is designed to be an AI that seeks the ultimate truth, even if it conflicts with political correctness. xAI plans to add synthetic voice capabilities to the Grok chatbot in the future, and intends to open source the previous version, Grok-2, in the coming months.
◉ Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.3, preventing users who updated to iOS 18.3.1 from downgrading to the previous version. Apple adopts this policy to ensure that devices stay up to date with the latest security fixes, as iOS 18.3.1 included important fixes, including a fix for a widely exploited security vulnerability.
◉ Leaks suggest that Apple will make major changes to the iPhone 17 design this year, with the iPhone 17 Air model getting a horizontal camera bump, while the Pro models will adopt a new camera bar design that extends across the back. According to previous reports, the Pro phones may come with a back that combines aluminum and glass, which enhances durability and supports wireless charging.
◉ Apple is working to bring AI features to China by May, using local partners like Alibaba and Baidu to comply with strict government regulations. Alibaba will develop an on-device system to modify and analyze AI models, with oversight mechanisms in place to meet government requirements, while Baidu will support features like visual intelligence on the iPhone 16. The Chinese system will be significantly different from the US version, relying on local servers without integrating ChatGPT. The move comes amid declining Apple sales in China as competition from domestic brands focused on AI technology increases.
◉ Reports have confirmed that the iPhone 16e will come with 8GB of RAM, which is the minimum required to run Apple Intelligence features. All other iPhone 16 models, including the Pro versions, will come with the same capacity, while the previous iPhone SE was limited to 4GB.
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