TechPression

Tag: iPhone

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

    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.

    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.

  • New Apple iPhone 14 may include new satellite features, but users may never use them

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

    The iPhone 14 series is expected to include new, non-cellular satellite communication features from Apple, but analysts believe their utility may be limited.

    Although Apple hasn’t officially confirmed it, the satellite communication feature is expected to make its debut next week finally. Last year, it was anticipated to debut with the iPhone 13, but the rumour mill is strong. Although experts predict that most people won’t regularly use satellite capabilities, it doesn’t mean that certain people won’t find them useful—especially in emergency situations when alternative options aren’t accessible.

    According to Apple analyst and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, if the long-anticipated iPhone satellite features do appear this generation, expect them to be focused on emergency services, such as a feature to send brief texts to emergency contacts or services. “Another feature would enable users to report specific incidences from places with no cellular reception, such as car accidents, plane crashes, or boating mishaps.”

    Read: Apple Begins Ads Display in App Store

    Is Apple Right with this addition?

    If Apple does include satellite connectivity in the iPhone 14 lineup this year, experts predict that it will be a feature that will be useful in a limited number of circumstances but won’t revolutionize how we use our iPhones daily. Even if the allegations are accurate, Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told Lifewire via email, “having the capacity to activate an emergency beacon or text alert is likely a limited use case.” Users will typically have a cellphone connection, so they might rely on that.

    But analysts believe this functionality will be essential when a dependable cellular connection is unavailable. The iPhone 14’s satellite communication feature, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, will only be used in emergency scenarios. In a similar vein, Bloomberg stated that consumers would be able to report accidents and call 911 even when there is no cellular service—something that is not currently possible with iPhones.

    Tim Farrar, a consultant in satellite communications, anticipates Apple making its initial foray into the satellite business. Regarding a related announcement made recently by T-Mobile and SpaceX, he wrote on Twitter that “the only possible conclusion is that [the T-Mobile/SpaceX announcement] was designed to pre-empt next week’s Apple announcement of their own free messaging service with Globalstar,” before adding that the collaboration between the two businesses “should begin as soon as the new phone is released.” On September 7, there is anticipated news on the iPhone 14 lineup.

    Apple is not expecting the usage of the feature

    Is it conceivable that the iPhone 14’s satellite capabilities will be a function that is rarely utilized but crucial in the worst-case scenario, similar to Apple Watch’s ECG and other proactive health-oriented features? Although many people hope their Apple Watch never alerts them to a heart problem, research has shown that the feature can save lives.

    According to Carolina Milanesi, President & Principal Analyst at Creative Strategies, “I think this is one of those insurance benefits that you hope to never need, but you will be grateful [you have]” she told Lifewire via email. If Apple does include such a function in the iPhone 14 lineup, Milanesi and other experts think that rather than actively using it daily, customers will be content to have it as a backup.

    If that’s the case, several industry professionals think Apple will need to put in more effort to pique the interest of potential iPhone 14 purchasers in a feature they will rarely, if ever, use. By email, Wood said, “If this new function does materialize, I’ll be extremely eager to watch how Apple presents it to consumers. Not only that, but Milanesi said that, if such were the case, she would be “wonder how Apple is going to sell it as a safety feature.”

  • Self Service Repair For iPhone Now Available To US Customers

    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.”

  • Apple empowers businesses with contactless payments through Tap to Pay feature on iPhone

    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.”

    Read Also: IOS or ANDROID Which is Safer from Cyber Attack?

    “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.