Apple has released the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 public betas, giving eager iPhone and iPad owners an early taste of the latest software. While Apple isn't planning to launch the final versions until the fall, its public beta program offers the cutting-edge a few months before that - albeit with the proviso that not everything may work exactly as intended.
Despite their loyalty, iPhone users have been complaining for years about the battery size and battery life of their favorite mobile device. iPhones have indeed become larger and iOS has become more battery-conscious, imposing strict restrictions on apps that can drain the battery in the background. Unfortunately, that may not apply to Apple's own apps as several users are now complaining about how its own Music app seems to be running amok in the background, causing the battery to drain fast and the phone to get hot.
Apple fans are looking toward the future and anticipating the upcoming iPhone 12, one that has been the subject of an increasing number of leaks. Though we can't say for sure what the new model will feature, many leaks are often close to accurate and this time around is likely no different. What should future iPhone 12 buyers expect? Possibly a higher price with fewer items in the box.
An iPhone 12 leak today says Apple decided to move to an entirely OLED display range for all four models of its next smartphone. The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max will all have not only OLED display panels, but 5G connectivity as well. The lesser two devices are rumored to come with limited 5G connectivity - with sub-6 range - while the two "Pro" models will come packed with sub-6 and mmWave 5G connectivity, if reports prove entirely accurate.
If you've cracked your iPhone screen or need a battery replacement, there are now more places to get an official repair, Apple has announced, with its Independent Repair Provider Program expanding both in the US and abroad. Launched back in the fall of 2019, the program promises genuine Apple parts but installation by approved third-party repair shops, handy for those too far away from an actual Apple Store.
Apple's mobile payment has been around for more than half a decade now but its primary interaction with the physical world has been through NFC. While more convenient and more secure than the likes of Bluetooth or RFID, that convenience requires both the phone and the terminal to have the hardware necessary to enable it. Now it seems that Apple is working on adding support for scanning QR codes and barcodes that could open the system to more users and potentially make it safer given today's health situation.
If you've not purchased an iPhone since the iPhone 4 because you didn't like the look of all subsequent Apple phones, you're in luck. If the latest batch of rumors and image leaks are accurate, the iPhone 12 (in three distinct sizes) might be right up your alley. The iPhone 12 is rumored to roll with four different models in three significantly different sizes - the two middle models are right around the same size in your hand.
Apple is planning to change how it builds its wireless earbuds, a shift that could make a big difference to AirPods 3 which are expected to arrive in 2021. The design shakeup could see the new AirPods borrow features from their more expensive AirPods Pro siblings, as well as embrace a different aesthetic for the first time since the entry-level 'buds were launched.
Apple's official move to its own processors in future Macs and MacBooks has been one of the most-talked topics in tech news for the past weeks even it has been long-rumored anyway. A victory for the ARM CPU architecture and a blow to Intel, Apple's Silicon will have repercussions for everyone involved in the Mac ecosystem in more ways than one. Some of them will be good and some will take time to be accepted. There will also be other with perhaps unseen or at least unsaid consequences, like how the new chips could drastically change the Mac's capabilities in more than just performance.
Apple has largely positioned its iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, something underscored by its launch of the Magic Keyboard with a hinge and trackpad. A key part of using the iPad Pro in lieu of a laptop is the ability to multitask, however, something that requires apps to actively support the iPadOS features that facilitate it. Gmail is finally counted among these offerings.
Apple is slowly blurring the lines that separate its devices and platforms. This year's iPhones, for example, may even look like miniature iPad Pros. That doesn't mean it will get the same features, of course, but there's still some discussion on what features the iPhone 12 may inherit from Apple's slates. As with the LIDAR camera, there is still no consensus on whether any of the iPhones will finally have a ProMotion display and the latest insider tip leans more on the side of "no".
There has been no shortage of rumors that this year's iPhones could be delayed by a few months. Some even paint a worst-case scenario of an early 2021 shipping date. Apple, of course, would have none of that and is reportedly pushing its supply chain partners to make up for lost time. Whether that will be enough to narrow the delay is just one question. Whether it will cause some lapses in quality or safety is perhaps the more important consideration.