Tech

Apple eyes a foldable iPhone following Vision Pro launch

Published

9 months ago

February 7, 2024

Last week’s Vision Pro release shed some fascinating light on Apple’s generally top secret development process. A Vanity Fair interview with Tim Cook detailed — in part — what a long and heavy lift it took to get the company’s first headset off the ground. The Apple CEO gave an early iteration of the device the less than flattering nickname, “the monster.”

Rumored foldable versions of the iPhone have also reportedly had their share of setbacks. Issues around durability and the ever-present crease are said to have caused the company to put the foldable iPhone’s development on ice, as the company shifted focused on a folding iPad. A new report from The Information, however, suggests that — after delays — Apple may be back in the foldable iPhone business.

The Vanity Fair piece alluded to the product in the above profile, noting:

[Cook] strolls past restricted rooms where foldable iPhones and MacBooks with retractable keyboards or transparent televisions were dreamed up. Where these devices, almost all of which will never leave this building, are stored in locked Pelican cases inside locked cupboards.

The tense with which the device is described, however, lumps it in with what sounds like one-time projects that failed to materialize. Apple has been known to abandon ambitious projects that don’t meet its exacting standards. With occasional exceptions like AirPower, however, these devices aren’t announced publicly.

Image Credits: Brian Heater

As it did with spatial computing, Apple has apparently been mulling the notion of foldables for quite some time. The root of these efforts could date back to 2018 — a year before Samsung released the Galaxy Fold, the first viable foldable smartphone. Of course, that launch was fraught with its own launch issues. As Samsung re-learned the hard way, lab testing will only get you so far. TechCrunch was among the users who experienced issues with an early version of the phone.

The category has matured a fair bit in the intervening 4.5 years. Foldables are hardly ubiquitous, but Samsung’s Fold and Flip devices proved that demand is there, culminating in the company’s decision to retire the Galaxy Note and promote the new devices to flagship status. A number of other companies are also in the game now, including Huawei, Oppo/OnePlus, Motorola (Lenovo) and Google. For my money, Google and OnePlus’ models are the best on the market, currently.

Durability issues have largely been addressed by now. That’s not to say that foldables can necessarily stand up to the same degree of wear and tear of other flagship devices (adding moving parts to a device always complicates the math), but the days of them breaking due to things like dirt particulars are mostly over. Ultimately, the question here, however, is what constitutes “good enough” for Apple?

Much like Vision Pro, the original iPhone, AirPods and the Apple Watch, the company needs to believe it’s bringing something fresh to the table before launching a new product line. Maybe that means better drop-testing results. From the sound of things, it could mean the elimination of the ubiquitous foldable crease. Whatever the case, however, it seems consumers won’t be able to get their hands on one of these things before 2026.

Image Credits: Brian Heater

IDC put foldable shipments at just over 21 million for 2023, while projecting that the market will more than double to 48.1 million by 2027. That might sound like a big figure, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the 1.17 billion smartphones that shipped globally in 2023 (itself a 3.2% decline from the previous year).

While foldables have seen continued growth and have injected some excitement back into a staid smartphone market, it’s difficult to know how things will look come 2026 (a sentiment that can obviously be applied far more broadly than just foldables). There have been discussions for several years now about whether Apple can “pull an iPhone” with the foldables space. And while the form factor continues to have its detractors, much speculation has softened as interest in the category has grown.

Apple has reportedly been toying with different versions of a foldable iPhone, though the company seems to prefer the clamshell model — that is to say more Galaxy Flip than Galaxy Fold. Both takes on the category have their merit. The Fold has a much larger main display with a more common aspect ratio, but it’s heavy and large, even when folded. The Flip is a far more portable phone. I prefer the latter, due in part to the fact that these devices generally spend more time folded than not.

The company is reportedly eyeing an eight-inch main display, which would be massive for a clamshell form factor. The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s main screen is 6.7 inches, while the latest Motorola Razr is 6.9. A foldable iPhone would need to be significantly wider to pull this off without a bizarre aspect ratio, and at that point one begins to wonder at what point “clamshell” isn’t the most accurate description of form factor. The Information compares the prototype’s interior to an iPad Mini.

Image Credits: Cory Green/Yahoo

One nice thing about market competition is that different companies have different notions of the ideal footprint for such a device. One of the key things that impressed me with Google’s Pixel Fold is the balance its designers struck between screen and device size. It’s one of the most book-like foldables in terms of aspect ratio. Much of this comes down to personal preference, so each company needs to determine the dimensions they believe will appeal to the largest sliver of audience. Most companies have one or two form factors, tops, and it’s hard to imagine Apple straying from that in the early days of a product.

The likeliest scenario is that Apple releases a single form factor positioned as a second flagship in the iPhone line. Much like the Vision Pro, such a device will probably be cost-prohibitive, hampering adoption — though certainly not to the tune of $3,500.

Another thing worth noting is that Apple’s mere presence legitimizes a category for many. I’m not saying this is always a rational thought, but the company has a great track record of revolutionizing existing categories. Again, see the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch, AirPods. The jury is still very much out on the Vision Pro, leaving some to wonder whether that particular brand of magic has begun to fade.

At the very least, Apple’s entry in the space would certainly move the needle on foldables. It will surely impact the 48.1 million by 2027 figure forecasted by IDC. For the time being, the fight is very much Samsung’s to lose, with analysts putting the hardware giant’s share at between 60-70% of the market.

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Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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