Category: iPhone

iPhone 14 Review: Pros And Cons

At an exciting consumer event hosted at the iConnect Store in Lekki, Lagos, iPhone presented the new iPhone 14 series in keeping with its legacy of constantly seeking customer happiness.

The series was introduced in Nigeria several weeks after the product was released on the international market.

As users experienced some of the new features the product has to offer, the series of iPhones, which includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, was fascinating to watch.

Apple’s new plus-sized iPhone 14 expands on a tried-and-true design with a bigger screen and a longer-lasting battery but at a higher cost.

The Plus is the supersized Apple phone for users who only want a bigger screen and do not need additional cameras or other features.

It is a larger version of the iPhone 14 but with the same internal hardware, display technology, cameras, materials, software, and interior design that makes repairs easy.

The brand-new iPhone 14 max model for this year retails for £949 ($899/A$1,579), or £100 ($180) more than the base model 14 but less than the 14 Pro line.

The iPhone 14 costs £849, and the iPhone 14 Plus costs from £949 ($899/A$1,579) with 128GB of storage.

As of November 2022, Apple iPhone 14 series smartphone prices in Nigeria range between ₦649,194 and ₦1 million.

Read also: How to check your NIN number on MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, and Glo

iPhone 14 Review: Specifications

Build
• Aluminum mid-frame
• Glass front and back
• “Ceramic Shield” for front glass

Dimensions And Weight
• 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm
• 172g

Display
• 6.1-inch OLED display,
• 2556 x 1179-pixel resolution at 460 PPI
• 60Hz refresh rate
• HDR display, True Tone, Wide color (P3)
• 800 nits max brightness, 1200 nits peak brightness (HDR)

RAM And Storage
• 6GB RAM
• 128GB, 256GB, 512GB,
• No microSD card

Connectivity

• 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)
• Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Ultra Wideband (UWB)
• NFC

Security
Face ID

Rear Camera
• Primary: 12MP wide, f/1.5 aperture, 1.9μm
• sensor-shift OIS
• Seven-element lens
• 5x digital zoom
• Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4 aperture

Front Camera
• TrueDepth camera: 12MP, ƒ/1.9

Battery And Charging
• 3,279mAh rated for up to 20 hours of video playback
• 20W wired charging
• 15W MagSafe charging
• 7.5W Qi wireless charging

Apple doesn’t say how long the battery should last, but it should last at least 500 full charge cycles and keep at least 80% of its original capacity. A new battery, which can be purchased for $105, should last longer. Screen repairs outside of the warranty are £349.

iPhone 14 Pros

With the iPhone 14 series, there is a new animated module called “Dynamic Island.”

It wraps around the now-sleek selfie camera and can change to show helpful information at a glance.

You actually use it every single day, and it may display everything from the tune that is now playing on your preferred music streaming service to the battery life of your AirPods as soon as you plug them in.

With the addition of support for live activities, the feature has improved since its initial release.

With Live Activities, you can see things like your real-time workout progress in the Steps app or live sports scores on Apple TV at the top of the screen.

After you update to iOS 16.1, Live Activities are turned on by default. This means that when you use your favourite apps, you’ll probably start to notice these benefits.

Apple’s ultra-smooth ProMotion display technology is another fascinating feature.

This feature increases the refresh rate of the iPhone to up to 120 Hz, which essentially means that actions like swiping through Twitter and navigating the home screen feel twice as fluid as they would on an older or non-Pro iPhone.

When switching back to a slower 60Hz screen, you’ll notice this benefit right away because even modern gadgets like the iPhone 14 regular model or the iPad 10th generation will feel slow in comparison.

The new triple-camera array on the iPhone 14 Pro, headed by a massive new 48-megapixel primary lens, offers some clear advantages that even the most amateur photographers can appreciate.

The increased optical 3x zoom, which is comparable to that of the iPhone 13 Pro but an improvement over the 2x zoom received on the iPhone 12 Pro, has been the big draw.

Pros

• Class-leading design, water resistance and durability.

• Class-leading OLED screen, 120Hz, AOD, Dolby Vision, 2000nits.

• Class-leading performance and very good stability.

• Class-leading battery life.

• Outstanding photo and video quality across all four cameras.

• Best video stabilization available on a smartphone, high-quality action mode.

• Superb stereo speakers.

• Every iPhone comes with at least five years of iOS updates.

How To Use Your Smartphone as a CCTV Camera Without Internet.

iPhone 14 Cons

One of the major new features of the iPhone 14 Pro is its Always On display, which is made to keep important details visible (such as the time and weather) even when your phone is dormant.

It is Apple’s interpretation of a function that Android phones have had for eons.

Android phones have sleek, minimalist always-on displays that frequently only show the time and a few essential widgets in white lettering against a black background.

In contrast, the Always On display on the iPhone 14 Pro is a lesson in excess as it displays what is essentially a dimmer version of your whole lock screen colored background.

The Always On display on the iPhone 14 Pro not only confuses users, but it can also significantly reduce battery life.

Cons

• Dynamic Island is a love-it or hate-it affair.
Bigger and heavier than most.

• No charger in the box, somewhat slow charging.

• Apple’s iOS restrictions can be off-putting to newcomers to the ecosystem.

Expert Review

Even if you don’t think any of the improvements in the best iPhone ever are revolutionary or important to your usage, they are all present and do add up.

The new features include the brightest screen by a wide margin, AoD, a remedy for notch pain, a camera system with general enhancements and excellent full-res photographs, and emergency hardware/software features.

These are in addition to Pro Max mainstays, like long-lasting batteries, excellent speakers, and a sturdy and upscale build quality.

Other well-known justifications for the iPhone, including the Pro Max, include having the strongest chipset in the industry and at least five years of support for the software you’ve used for years and probably both love and despise.

In any case, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is unquestionably a fantastic phone with minimal drawbacks.

In the end, you can’t go wrong with this one if it’s time for an upgrade and the pricing is appropriate for you.

November 21, 2022
The real value of the iPhone

The world’s most well-known company, Apple Inc., produces the iPhone line of smartphones, which combines technology for a mobile phone, digital camera, music player, and personal computer. The gadget’s first release in the US occurred in 2007 after more than two years of development.

The iPhone was subsequently made available in Asia and Europe in 2007.

Apple , which makes one of the most widely used smartphones as of the end of 2021, held the top rank in the smartphone market share, often exchanging positions with Samsung. Its first mobile smartphone was designed to run on the Mac OS X operating system, which gained popularity on the company’s personal computers.

The device’s most innovative component was its touch-sensitive multisensor interface. Users may operate all programs and telephone functions with their fingertips instead of a pen or physical keyboard, owing to the touchscreen. This interface, which Apple perfected if not created, imitated a tactile physical experience; for example, a user might pinch to expand photos or flick through music albums to flip between albums. Other features of the iPhone were tabbed contact lists, visual voicemail, digital cameras, music, and video playback, digital cameras, and visual voicemail.

Many people buy the iPhone to gain social status, but is that the point?

The iPhone has evolved with innovation and helped make companies and customers more sustainable. Apple is fostering innovation in the fields of energy, transportation, health, and privacy by collaborating with partners to create a connected future. With every new series, the device offers unparalleled performance and software features created for the future.

In 2007, Apple unveiled the iPhone with a small flat display using their first flexible OLED technology. As the first smartphone in history with a paper-thin design and big touch screen, the iPhone sparked worldwide innovation, improved the smartphone market, and was the first device to go on sale for an almost unheard-of $600. With a surprisingly small size that makes it easy to handle and operate, the iPhone is still pushing the limits of what is now achievable more than 10 years later.

Read also: Self Service Repair For iPhone Now Available To US Customers

Apple Products

Apple’s iPhone epitomizes sustainable design. Its production procedures and products have been created with an emphasis on recycling to be as ecologically friendly as possible. Apple’s devices have an average lifespan of almost three years per unit as of 2014.

The iPhone was designed to be adaptable to different global markets, better providing customers with technology, content, and services that suit their demands for innovation and sustainability.

Apple made it even simpler for companies to be more sustainable by combining cutting-edge capabilities into a single smartphone.

The iPhone is still evolving. With Samsung as a rival in certain areas and capabilities like face recognition and attractive mobile advertising, it has established a reputation as one of the greatest gadgets available.

We can now do more than ever due to the revolutionary changes brought about by mobile technology and the iPhone. Apple is a pioneer in its field and consistently comes up with inventive methods to produce ethical, compassionate, and sustainable goods.

The company’s work has evolved over the last 24 months from a ground-breaking new product to a truly global technological platform. Everyone is thrilled by this strong new voice of personal freedom and connection, from shoppers and merchants to governments and private institutions.

The iPhone has always been fundamentally about fusing the finest of Apple’s hardware and software with the greatest of human connections. It has been successful in bringing ideals, fundamental concepts, and advancements in sustainability together to keep up with that commitment.

Over the years, the iPhone has transformed how we use technology and continually pushed the envelope. Millions now use it as a status symbol, and millions more get inspiration from it. Many people use their iPhones for communication, entertainment, education, productivity, and convenience. Apple has inspired billions of people around the world.

The best gadget for applications, music, and navigation is now the iPhone. Our actions as people are bending the ability of our ecosystems to sustain the mounting demands we place on them. Apple has promised to take seriously its role in climate change and sustainability by researching and coming up with new ideas for all of its products.

Europe’s New Phone Charger Policy Forces Apple to Adapt

Apple Wearables

Apple’s services division includes iTunes and Apple TV. AirPods and other wearables have proliferated.

Apple’s services and wearables extend to the iPhone and other devices. Apple’s 14% (-$22 billion) drop in iPhone sales for 2019 does not indicate a dismal year.

The company’s services and wearables divisions grew by $6.5 billion and $7.1 billion, respectively. $13.6 billion offsets the 2018 iPhone revenue drop of $22 billion. Services and wearables outpaced iPhone sales, which dipped 14% in 2018. Apple bolsters iPhone sales with services and wearables.

What Benefits Can an iPhone User Expect?

Apple’s iPhone is no longer considered to be the standard definition of a “smartphone” as it once was because of rising competition. The iPhone is still the preferred phone for many people, despite competition from other manufacturers like Samsung and Android. The iPhone is presently offered by all the major U.S. mobile service carriers and includes a stylish design, is easy to use, and has quick surfing speeds. The iPhone is a must-have among consumers because of a number of additional functions and benefits.

FaceTime

FaceTime utilizes the iPhone’s front-facing camera to allow high-definition video calls with other iPhone users. FaceTime video conversations over cellular data are now supported on the iPhone 5. FaceTime is a personal method to keep in contact with family, friends, and customers.

Camera

People are swapping digital cameras for iPhone cameras. Some iPhones include an 8-megapixel iSight camera that is 40% faster than previous versions and can capture 28-megapixel, 240-degree panoramas. Apple’s iSight takes 1080p video.

iCloud

The iPhone works with Macs, iPads, and iPods. The iPhone distributes data, music, photos, and contacts through iCloud. This simplifies product data transfer. iCloud transmits iPhone images to your computer to be edited.

Benefits

iPhone users get extras. The Apple App Store has 800,000 apps, many free. Siri can help you find a restaurant, access an app, and call a repair service.

November 1, 2022
Google Chrome will soon allow fingerprint authentication for incognito tabs

Google Chrome for Android will soon get a helpful privacy feature that will make browsing the web while in Incognito mode even more covert. The browser now has a feature that lets users use their fingerprint as a key to lock and unlock the tabs they use for private surfing.

It might seem normal for iOS devices since FaceID can be used to protect the operating system and apps, but for Android smartphones, it’s a bit of a surprise.

When you exit the Chrome app on Android, it will now immediately lock any Incognito tabs you have open. If you attempt to visit those tabs again after relaunching the browser, you will get a gray screen with an option to “Unlock Incognito” at the bottom of the screen. To reopen the tabs, you would need to provide your fingerprint for verification. Don’t use fingerprint sensors? There is also the option to lock the tabs behind a PIN. Still, if other people have access to your phone, the first option is probably better.

Read also: Google releases a feature for Android called “Clear Calling”

How to Use Fingerprint Recognition to Lock Your Icognition Tabs

According to the information that 9to5Google has provided on this capability, They said that in the stable channel of Chrome 105, they discovered a new feature that allows them to lock incognito tabs and that can be unlocked using a fingerprint.

It should be evident that none of this takes place by itself. You must enable the feature in the app’s Privacy and Security settings, where you will find a new option titled “Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome.” Once you have done this, the feature will be activated.

This is a really useful function when you have to give your phone to someone else and don’t want them to open any of your private tabs mistakenly.

Google offers a suite of widgets for the iPhone’s lock screen with iOS 16

When will Google Chrome Fingerprint for Incognito Tabs be available?

When will it be available? At the moment, there is no information on it. However, it can be affirmed that it will be coming to devices running android, and it is quite unlikely that it will arrive much later.

Since it is now accessible through Chrome 105’s stable channel, this indicates that it will be included in the stable version of the Chrome browser in a very short period of time.

September 21, 2022
Google offers a suite of widgets for the iPhone’s lock screen with iOS 16

Apple’s most popular apps, including Search, Maps, Gmail, and more, will soon be accessible directly from the iPhone’s lock screen, the company revealed this morning. iOS 16, the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, can be downloaded today.

These small widgets are three different sizes: a circle, a rectangle, and an inline line of text and symbols displayed above the lock screen’s clock.

What are the new changes on iOS 16?

With it, iPhone owners can now add widgets to the lock screen and the home screen to make their phones more personal.

In a recent blog post, Apple showed the widgets available in iOS 16. These widgets include a Search widget that will allow users to initiate a Google search directly from the Lock Screen, using either voice or camera (Google Lens). A Google Translate widget will also be included with this widget.

Read also: Samsung Unveils Foldables Galaxy Series

Also, the new Chrome Lock Screen widget will let you initiate a search—including a voice search—but also provide a button to switch to incognito mode immediately. It comes with a widget that turns Chrome’s offline dinosaur game into a lock screen option. (We’re big fans of the dino game, but we can’t see ourselves giving up that precious real estate on our lock screens for this, but hey, to each their own!)

Meanwhile, the new Google Drive Lock Screen widget will let you quickly access starred files and folders or a suggested Drive item with just a tap.

With the Gmail widget, you can easily monitor your email. There are three different sizes available for this widget; the inline widget, for example, can be placed directly above the clock to display an abbreviated date (such as “Wed 7”) and the total number of unread messages. The number of new messages in several categories, such as social, updates, and promotions, is displayed in a rectangular widget, allowing the user to assess each message’s relevance quickly. The number of unread messages is displayed in a smaller, circular widget.

With the release of iOS 16, Google Maps joins the ranks of apps that offer Lock Screen widgets. The widgets will provide real-time traffic information and predicted journey times to locations such as your office or home address, making them handy for travellers and commuters. To help you identify places to eat, shop, grab a cup of coffee, or stay overnight, we’ve included several widgets in the trip planner.

Apple Begins Ads Display in App Store

Availability

Finally, the Lock Screen now has a Google News widget, which displays brief headlines and, when clicked, opens the Google News app.

When Apple released iOS 14 in 2020, Google included widgets for the Home Screen that allowed users to access interactive components within various apps, including Gmail, Drive, Chrome, and others. However, the Google Calendar widget, available on the Home Screen, is not included in the new Lock Screen widgets. Strangely, the lock screen doesn’t include information about upcoming activities and meetings since that’s the kind of quick-glance data many seek. Hopefully, the delay in the release of this widget is only temporary.

The company has said that the new Lock Screen widgets will be released “in the coming weeks,” so users won’t know an exact date.

September 17, 2022
Elon Musk discusses satellite features with Apple for the iPhone 14

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said that his company had “promising talks” with Apple about using Starlink connectivity for the new satellite feature that was introduced in the latest line of iPhones just one day after Apple’s “Far Out” event on Wednesday, where the company introduced the iPhone series 14 for the first time.

Furthermore, to make this new feature possible, which is “Emergency SOS via Satellite connectivity,” possible, Apple has to partner with a satellite company. With this feature, users can connect to emergency services through satellite networks in places where regular cellular networks don’t work well.

Will Apple partner with Starlink for its iPhone 14 satellite feature?

We all know that Starlink is a popular satellite connectivity provider, and most people will want to believe that Apple will partner with them.

Read also: New Apple iPhone 14 may include new satellite features, but users may never use them

Elon Musk, who provided this information in a tweet in response to a statement that Apple would work with SpaceX for its satellite service, tweeted a comment a day after the iPhone 14 launch, stating that they had promising conversations about it, but it didn’t work out properly, and he also noted the preferability of Starlink.

We’ve had some promising conversations with Apple about Starlink connectivity. iPhone team is obv super smart.

For sure, closing link from space to phone will work best if phone software & hardware adapt to space-based signals vs Starlink purely emulating cell tower.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 8, 2022

In the tweet, he also said that the iPhone team is “super smart,” but the context of the tweet does not make it clear whether or not he was making a dismissive comment about them or praising their intelligence.

Although Musk’s claims have not received Apple’s validation, this will be the first time that Musk’s businesses and Apple will work together if the two companies move forward with the plan.

However, Apple has recently announced a partnership with a different satellite company called GlobalStar, which doesn’t go with Elon Musk’s Starlink. Even though GlobalStar is not very well known, Apple is thought to be GlobalStar’s biggest customer.

Read also: The Race to Conquer Space in Africa

When will the iPhone 14 satellite feature be available?

This satellite function won’t be made accessible for usage until November 2022, and it will only be available in the United States of America and Canada.

What is SpaceX doing now?

Amidst this, Musk’s SpaceX has already announced a partnership with US telecom provider T-Mobile to work on the same kind of satellite feature for all smartphones. This means that T-Mobile customers can send and receive text messages even when they are in remote areas by using the SpaceX satellite network.

About Globalstar

Globalstar, Inc. is an American satellite communications company that runs a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for satellite phones and low-speed data communications.

The Globalstar system aims to offer high-quality satellite-based phone services to a wide range of customers. It meets the needs of cell phone users who go outside their service areas and those who work in remote areas where terrestrial networks aren’t available. People in underserved areas can use fixed-site phones to meet their basic phone needs. Travellers who use Globalstar may be able to talk to each other reliably.

September 17, 2022
WhatsApp is Dropping Support for Some Apple and Android Operating Systems

WhatsApp has again updated its device support guidelines. The Meta-owned messaging platform has limited its software compatibility to devices running iOS 10 or newer version and Android 4.1 or newer versions.

WhatsApp, is an internationally available American freeware, cross-platform centralized instant messaging and voice-over-IP service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to send text messages and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content.

This is not the first time that WhatsApp is cutting a small bunch of aging devices off the support channel, and has actually been doing so on an annual basis for some time now.
The messaging platform usually does this when it wants to introduce functionality on the app that may not work on older phone versions.

This time, iOS 10, iOS 11, iPhone 5, and iPhone 5C will be catching the axe.
The new device support guideline takes effect on 24 October 2022.

WhatsApp’s Reason For Dropping Support

The messaging platform says that their criteria when choosing devices to drop include looking at older devices that have fewer people using them and do not have the latest security updates and are therefore vulnerable to attacks.

WhatsApp says that it will notify users directly on WhatsApp if their device doesn’t have the required operating system. Users will also be reminded a few times to upgrade their operating systems.

Read Also : WhatsApp Communities A New Feature For Users to Combine Different Groups

These rejected IOS and OS devices do not have the latest technology to run certain functions on the updated version of WhatsApp.

Additionally, most of these old devices have ‘ancient’ hardware that either doesn’t support the advanced features of an app or offers a poor experience. In either case, the end result is not desirable, which is why developers periodically raise the software and/or hardware requirements to ensure that their apps offer the best user experience possible at the time.

WhatsApp Supported Operating Systems

The Meta-owned platform said the following operating systems are supported for both iOS and Android.

Android running OS 4.1 and newer version
iPhone running iOS 12 and newer version

IPhone users can still continue using the messaging app on iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6S, but they will need to update their iOS version to iOS 12.

June 4, 2022
Apple discontinues the famous iPod Models

Apple has officially said goodbye to the iPod models. The company announced that it would stop making the iPod Touch. This ends a 20-year run for a product line that led to the creation of the iPhone and helped Silicon Valley become the centre of capitalism around the world.

The iPod has been in the Apple company’s business catalogue for twenty years, but streaming music via Apple Music and devices such as the iPhone and Apple Watch have relegated it to the background.

The combination of these services and products has prompted Apple to cease developing more iPod models.

The Ipod’s History

The iPod began with a simple goal: to produce a music product to encourage people to buy more Macintosh computers. It would change consumer electronics and the music business in a few years, making Apple the most valuable company in the world.
The pocket-size rectangle with a white face and polished steel frame first appeared in October 2001, weighing 6.5 ounces. It came with 1,000 tracks and white earbuds in a unique colour, moon grey.

Its popularity skyrocketed in the years that followed, giving birth to the iPod generation. People walked the world with headphones dangling from their ears for much of the 2000s. The iPod was everywhere.

According to Loup Ventures, a venture capital firm specialising in technical analysis, Apple has sold an estimated 450 million iPods since its introduction in 2001. It sold an estimated three million iPods last year, a fraction of the estimated 250 million iPhone sales.

Apple’s Position on Ipod

Apple told users that the music would live on, mainly through the iPhone, which it launched in 2007, and Apple Music, a seven-year-old service that reflects customers’ present tastes. Most people no longer buy and own 99-cent songs on their iPods. Instead, they pay a monthly fee to access much bigger music libraries.

For decades, the iPod served as a pattern for Apple, combining unequalled industrial design, hardware engineering, software development, and services. It also showed how the corporation frequently won despite rarely being the first to market with a new product.

The first digital music players began to appear in the late 1990s. People who were copying CDs onto computers at the time could put a few dozen songs on the first models to carry the music in their pockets.

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Steve Jobs, who returned to Apple in 1997 after being fired more than a decade earlier, saw the burgeoning category as an opportunity to modernise Apple’s legacy computer industry. Mr. Jobs, a die-hard music fan who rated the Beatles and Bob Dylan among his favourite performers, believed that appealing to people’s love of music would help persuade them to move from Microsoft-powered personal computers, which had a more than 90 per cent market share.

“There was no need for market research,” claimed Jon Rubinstein, who led Apple’s engineering team. “Everyone was into music.”

During a trip to Japan, Rubinstein saw a new hard disc drive built by Toshiba, which sparked the product’s development. The 1.8-inch hard drive could hold 1,000 songs. In essence, it enabled the creation of a Sony Walkman-sized digital player with a far higher capacity than anything else on the market.

More on Ipod History

The creation of the iPod coincided with Apple’s acquisition of an MP3 software business that would become the foundation for iTunes, a digital jukebox that structured people’s music libraries so that they could rapidly make playlists and transfer songs. It helped Mr. Jobs realise his vision for how consumers would buy music in the digital age.

In a 2003 address, he said, “We think people want to buy their music on the internet by downloading it, just like they used to buy LPs, cassettes, and CDs.”

The $399 price tag of the first-generation iPod dampened demand, restricting the business to sales of less than 400,000 units in its first year. Three years later, Apple produced the iPod Mini, a 3.6-ounce metal case available in silver, gold, pink, blue, and green. It cost $249 and held 1,000 songs. Sales skyrocketed. It had sold 22.5 million iPods by the conclusion of its fiscal year in September 2005.

Apple increased the power of the iPod Mini by making iTunes available for Windows computers, allowing Apple to reach millions of new customers. Former executives said that Mr. Jobs turned down the idea at the time, even though it would later be seen as a brilliant financial move.

iPods were soon ubiquitous. “It took off like a rocket,” said Mr. Rubinstein.

Nonetheless, Mr. Jobs lobbied Apple to make the iPod smaller and more powerful. Mr. Rubinstein stated that the company discontinued production of its most popular product, the iPod Mini, to replace it with a thinner version dubbed the Nano, which began at $200. Over the next year, the Nano helped the company nearly treble its unit sales to 40 million.

Perhaps the most significant contribution of the iPod was its function as a platform for the birth of the iPhone. As mobile phone manufacturers began introducing music-playing devices, Apple executives were concerned about being outpaced by superior technology. If it was going to happen, Mr. Jobs decided that Apple should be the one to do it.

The iPhone drew on the same mix of software and services that helped the iPod flourish. The App Store, which allowed individuals to download and pay for applications and services, mirrored the success of iTunes, which allowed customers to back up their iPhones and put music on the device.

In 2007, the company dropped its long-standing corporate name, Apple Computer Inc., and became simply Apple, a six-year-in-the-making electronics giant.

“They showed the world they had an atomic bomb, and five years later, they had a nuclear arsenal,” said Talal Shamoon, CEO of Intertrust Technologies, a digital rights management company that worked with the music industry. “There was no doubt after that that Apple would own everybody.”

May 19, 2022
Self Service Repair For iPhone Now Available To US Customers

For a long time, I’ve been covering Apple in various ways. Over the years, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a company announcement as unexpected and well-received as their current Self Service Repair for iPhone. Apple has formally introduced the service to consumers in the United States, after announcing it last November.

Owners of the iPhone 12, 13, and third-generation SE will be able to purchase extra parts and tools, as well as read instruction manuals that will lead customers through the process of mending common problems with the devices, starting right now. The new service is being positioned as a follow-up to Apple decision in 2019 to expose iPhones to third-party repair — and resale — shops.

“Over the last three years, Apple has nearly increased the number of service sites with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and training, including over 3,000 Independent Repair Providers,” according to a press statement. “Over 100,000 active technicians are supported by a global network of over 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers.” As a result, eight out of ten Apple customers in the United States are within 20 minutes of a certified service provider.

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A recent white paper titled “Expanding Access to Safe, Reliable, and Secure Service and Repair” contains this information as well as some insight into the company’s environmental commitments.

Self Service Repair for iPhone A Niche On Its Own

Despite the — natural — excitement around the announcement, Self Service Repair for iPhone is being positioned as a niche product. In practice, the corporation does not suggest it to the majority of users. Instead, it’s something that anyone who has some experience mending modern consumer gadgets can do. The truth is that as devices have become thinner, the ease with which they can be repaired has been sacrificed.

That’s why firms like FairPhone have been able to establish a name for themselves by emphasizing the importance of repairability. Samsung and Google have also recently made similar announcements, but the truth is that even cracking a phone open without causing damage is impossible without the correct equipment. As a result, Apple offers both purchased and rented tools. To soften the glue and open the phone, for example, a heating instrument is required.

Options Available To iPhone Users For Self Service Repair

Buying it outright will set you back hundreds of dollars, which is a waste of money if you’re not planning on launching a phone repair company or performing other high-volume repairs. In that case, you can simply rent the device for $49 for seven days and return it to Apple via mail. According to the company, it sells components and tools at the same price as third-party retailers, so if you play your cards well, you can save some money.

Cost Consideration For Apple Self Service Repair

The cost varies based on the gadget model and whether or not you’re trading in parts. As an example,

Battery 12/13 models: $69 (possible credit of $24.15 if the changed part is returned)

Battery SE: $49 (possible credit of $24.01)

225.96 – 309.96 depending on the model for Display 12/13 models (33.60 credit potential)

SE: 128.44 Display SE: 128.44 Display SE: 128.44 Display (30.40 credit potential)

The company will assist you in determining which parts are required, in addition to providing guides to guide you through the repair process. Following your purchase, Apple will send you a box containing the parts as well as a return label for returning the old, broken components in exchange for a reduction on the overall cost.

The new guides will be available to anybody, regardless of whether or not they buy Apple tools and components (iFixit, for example, offers some), though Apple is, of course, recommending first-party items.

“Our tools are intended for professional repair providers, to give the same performance as factory equipment used to produce Apple products,” the company explains, explaining why its tools are more expensive than third-party tools.

They are also made to be shared across a variety of product lines. The Display Press and Battery Press, for example, are compatible with all iPhone devices released in the last seven years thanks to interchangeable product-specific repair trays.”

April 30, 2022
Apple empowers businesses with contactless payments through Tap to Pay feature on iPhone

Apple continues to build its stand as the leading innovative mobile tech giant in the world after announcing its plan to introduce a new Tap to Pay feature on iPhone which allows businesses to receive payment seamlessly. The feature would allow compatible iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit cards and debit cards, and other digital wallets. The interesting part is no additional hardware is required. Merchants get to enjoy this awesomeness with just a download of an app.

Let’s take a deep dive into how the Tap to Pay works and the possibilities it unlocks for businesses.

What is Tap to Pay on and how does it work on iPhone?

In July 2020, Apple acquired payments startup Mobeewave, which created a system that lets shoppers tap a credit card or smartphone on another phone to process a payment. Tap to Pay is notable because, previously, businesses that accepted contactless payments on an iPhone needed to use additional third-party hardware such as the Square Reader dongle.

As it seems, Apple acquisition of Mobeewave is the basis of this technology.

The Tap to Pay feature essentially allows small businesses to large retailers to use mobile devices as a payment terminal — seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets through a simple tap to their iPhone (iPhone XS or newer) through supported iOS apps. For now, it’s limited to businesses and merchants in the US that wish to accept contactless payment.

On purchasing an item from a store, a merchant will ask you to hold your own iPhone or Apple Watch, contactless credit or debit card, or another digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and then the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.

Now businesses are being empowered and all merchants will need in the future is their compatible iPhones in order to accept and process payments, says Apple.

Businesses that support Tap to Pay on iPhone

Stripe has announced it’ll be the first payment platform to offer “Tap to Pay on iPhone” to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app, in spring 2022. Additional payment platforms and apps will follow later this year. Apple Stores in the US will also roll out the feature sometime in 2022, says Apple.

Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet pointed out that — “In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses of all sizes — from solopreneurs to large retailers — to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.”

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“As more and more consumers are tapping to pay with digital wallets and credit cards, Tap to Pay on iPhone will provide businesses with a secure, private, and easy way to accept contactless payments and unlock new checkout experiences using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone.” She noted.

When will the Tap to Pay feature be available and which iPhone model supports it?

The feature will launch in the US later in 2022. It appears to be exclusive to the US at launch, with no other countries announced yet. Hopefully, as the Tap to Pay feature becomes widely accepted in the US, other countries including Africa.

Although Tap to Pay isn’t ready for you to use yet – the supporting API is available in the iOS 15.4 beta 2 potentially enabling the feature on iPhone XS and later models.

There are older iPhones with NFC – but, for now, the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 models are not on the compatible list.

Tap to Pay on iPhone will also roll out to Apple Store locations in the US later this year according to Apple.

February 13, 2022