Updated Sept 13 with new Apple Watch ; article originally posted Sept 12.
Ahead of Apple’s upcoming launch event on Tuesday 14th September, expectations are for a predictable and safe few hours. Tim Cook and his audience will walk through ritual of being surprised by the features that will finally be appearing on the iPhone and the updating of a new of accessories.There’s no doubt that the last eighteen months has seen the consumer electronics market impacted by the economic hit of both the chip shortage and the coronavirus pandemic. The high hopes for significant new features and design changes in the iOS-powered smartphone are not there.
Instead there’s going to be an incremental update, with small wins across the board for existing iPhone users. For those more used to Android many of the new features are going to feel a bit familiar.
Following on from last year’s iPhone 12, Apple is not expected to make any big design changes to the iPhone 13. For all the talk of a notchless iPhone with a more expansive screen, the new iPhone will have a smaller notch, but the familiar silhouette of the screen remains.
Along with a refresh of the color palette ( Black, Blue, Purple, Pink, White, and Product (Red) ), the new camera island at the rear will probably be the biggest point of difference. This is going to be slightly deeper, offering a millimeter or two more protection for the lenses.
Lens wise, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are expected to have two lenses (the main camera and a wide-angle camera), while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will come with an telephoto lens to take the count to three. Last year saw the two Pro models pick up a LIDAR scanner to build a 3D map of the area in front of the lens, something that Apple’s camera software leveraged nicely. While there were initially thoughts that LIDAR would be available across all four handsets, it looks like the decision has been made to keep it with the Pro handsets only.
While the hardware will remain relatively static, expect Apple’s presentations to lean heavily into the software changes, especially around the camera, to create better images and new effects such as portrait mode being available for video recording. As always with the iPhone, the yearly update will also see an update to the A-Series system on chip, which should offer a lot more headroom for processing images and video.
Thanks to a slightly thicker iPhone design, there is space for Apple to increase the size of the battery on the new smartphone, but with the addition of faster refreshing screens, potentially with variable rates for those with LTPO displays, that extra battery power will no doubt be budgeted primarily for the hardware rather than a massive increase in endurance.
The LTPO design, coupled with the power benefits of running a very slow refresh rate, should allow Apple to deliver an ‘always on’ screen display; particularly useful when a phone is in ‘stand-by’ and can then display the time, alert icons, and notifications.
An Apple iPhone SE smartphone, taken on August 5, 2020. (Photo by Phil Barker/Future Publishing via … [+] Getty Images)
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The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max are all strong performers in Apple’s line-up, so it will come as no surprise to see ’13’ versions of these handsets. More surprising is the return of the iPhone Mini. Given the weak sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, Apple sticking with the form factor will raise eyebrows. Following the success of the second generation iPhone SE, the majority of consumers looking for a new small iPhone were served; living a much smaller potential audience for the iPhone 12 Mini.
Given the typical two year contracts with networks, just how much demand will there be for the iPhone 13 Mini? And what of the next-generation iPhone SE due in early 2022? That’s going to be a prime candidate for those updating the 2020 SE. The Mini just feels isolated in the portfolio.
With the squeeze on supply thanks to the global chip shortage, Apple’s bill of materials has become more costly, and you could there’s an argument for Apple to pass on some of that increased cost to consumers – no doubt consumers would have grumbled while accepting the increase. But the latest leaks running into the event suggest that Apple is going to maintain the pricing structure seen with the iPhone 12.
This is certainly one to watch out for, so it’s nice to have a little bit of mystery heading into the event.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: An attendee wears an Apple AirPods during a launch event on … [+] September 7, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Apple Inc. unveiled the latest iterations of its smart phone, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the Apple Watch Series 2, as well as AirPods, the tech giant’s first wireless headphones. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
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Apple’s AirPods 2 were launched in 2019, so they are very much ready to be replaced, so the AirPods 3 announcement this week is very much expected. Pricing is going to need to thread the needle a bit – the AirPods 2 launch price was $159, while the AirPods Pro are at $249. With the AirPods 2 potentially staying on sale and moving down the price bracket, the AirPods 3 will need to find a spot where it can maximise sales without cannibalising other buds. $199 is the obvious point, especially if the bundled case comes with wireless charging.
Feature wise two of the key audio features – active noise cancellation and spatial audio – are likely to remain exclusive to the Pro buds; the former would be tricky to implement with the ‘half-in-the-ear’ design the regular AirPods use.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 30: A man takes a picture during the new Apple Watch display during an … [+] Apple special event at Colette store on September 30, 2014 in Paris, France. Apple unveiled the Apple Watch wearable tech and two new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
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Update: Monday 13 September. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has made some last-minute reports on the hardware we can expect to see at the ‘California Streaming’ event. Looking at the Apple Watch Series 7, Kuo has discussed the design changes the Apple Watch will bring to your wrist. While the small space doesn’t leave a lot of room to work with, a 1mm change to the case size, along with a new screen and smaller bezels should bump the diagonal from 1.78 inches to 1.9 inches. Samuel Nyberg reports:
“Specifically, the Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to get a new design with flatter edges, reminiscent of the iPhone 12. The screens are also expected to grow slightly. The larger model could get a 45mm bezel with 16% more pixels than the current 44mm model.”
TOKYO, JAPAN – APRIL 24: Hajime Shimada shows off his newly purchased Apple Watch outside boutique … [+] store, Dover Street Market Ginza on April 24, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. The Apple Watch launched globally today after months of publicity and pre-orders. However the smart watch was not sold from Apple stores but from a handful of upscale boutiques at select locations around the world in a bid to position the watch as a fashion accessory. Apple has been directing people to order online preventing the long lines usual seen with the launch of iPhones and iPads. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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While the design of Apple’s Series 7 smartwatch will be picking up a refresh, many of the features that were through to be bound for the 2021 wearable are being held over to next year. If you’re looking for a number of new health sensors you can watch over, such as body temperature monitoring, you’ll want to hold off until 2022.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Apple CEO Tim Cook waves as he arrives on stage during a launch … [+] event on September 7, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Apple Inc. is expected to unveil latest iterations of its smart phone, forecasted to be the iPhone 7. The tech giant is also rumored to be planning to announce an update to its Apple Watch wearable device. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
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Just as last year, the iPhone launch event will have the spectre of the coronavirus pandemic over it. Last year this was much more present in the mind of the consumers and the ecosystem; although with the long lead time on products much of the broad strokes would have been in place before the rise of Covid-19. The It’s been eighteen months since the impact of the pandemic became apparent, and the iPhone 13 plans have been under this cloud far longer than the iPhone 12 ever was.
Much of the advances that have been in the Android world will not yet be seen in the iPhone; just this week the notchless iPhone with sensors under the screen was flagged up for the iPhone 14 in September 2022. Apple has always stayed on the conservative side of the major hardware beats. Where it does have an advantage is in the one-to-one relationship between iOS and Apple Silicon – Android will always have to make more compromises to allow for wider compatibility.
But when the iPhone has no competition for those needing the continuity of iOS in their next smartphone, Apple can take a step back from specifications Top Trumps and iterate on the current successful handset family.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
