Apple’s newest addition to the iPhone SE lineup of secondary devices is a masked avenger for everyday smartphone consumers. While many simpler phones in the past take what the flagship devices offer and completely back down the specs, the iPhone SE 2020 comes to the table with the gloriously fast A13 Bionic chipset that is found in the top-of-the-line Apple phones.
Touted as “the fastest chip in any smartphone,” the A13 Bionic plays right into Apple’s bread and butter: the speed of their mobile devices. A more streamlined operating system, and less to fuss about with, has lent to their success over the decades. This A13 Bionic chip spoils users, giving them lightning-fast responsiveness, and nearly instantaneous app launching. It’s enough to make you second guess using other devices. Better yet, this is a “budget” phone, primarily aimed at pleasing non-technical folks.
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So you’ve been given the keys to a street racing supercar, but all you ever drive for is a daily commute, and a grocery trip or two. What’s the point?
It’s easy to look at the guts of this device and say, “This market doesn’t need any of this,” but you’d be denying the simple truth that with ultimate processing comes an easier flow. Sure, the iPhone SE market may do a whole lot more day-to-day things on their mobile devices when compared to tech-heads or photographers and the like, but all of those things are made far easier when you’ve got nothing to internally slow down the process.
The only problem with all of the power in the iPhone SE 2020 is that there’s not the normal mountain of tools to use it. Sometimes it feels like I’ve got that spectacular supercar engine in a family-inspired minivan, and just puttering around on autopilot waiting for something brilliant to happen.
Apple has brought back the beloved original iPhone SE design and tossed out the full-front edge-to-edge touch display used in their mainline devices. It may seem like a step in the opposite direction of design trends for modern phones, but there is a lot of adoration out there for the layout and aesthetics of the iPhone SE.
A classic feel to the boxed-off display in the new iPhone SE / Daily Hive
The boxed feel on the front of the device can oftentimes make you certain you’re holding a phone made five or six years ago. That is, until you launch a premiere Apple Arcade game and you’re playing a smooth, visually stunning, and high-performance video game without the phone even blinking.
As a tech aficionado and a critic, our current global climate poses some interesting hurdles when it comes to taking a piece of technology, as mobile as the iPhone SE, out for a test-drive. However, being that it’s a smartphone designed for the every-person, there are plenty of things from dusk until dawn that are vastly improved by this phone residing within arms reach.
Capturing and connecting
We’ve been staring a lot more lately. Whether it be loved ones, roommates, insects, or pets, people all over the world are spending a lot more time within the vicinity of those living beings around their house.
While the iPhone SE 2020 doesn’t have the secondary Ultra-Wide lens from the iPhone 11, or the Tele-photo (third) lens of the 11 Pro, the SE has the very same 12MP Wide-Angle base camera found in both of those previously mentioned premium devices.
Video captured using the iPhone SE quick capture shortcut with auto image stabilization. (Daily Hive)
Pound-for-pound, the camera is decent. It’s a tad soft in places, and the optical zoom can get rough without the perfect lighting, but for an everyday phone to have an above-par single lens is extraordinary. Especially when it comes to the slow-motion video capture, and built-in image stabilization for filming.
Regardless of the power and quality of the camera, it’s the software — like the built-in stabilization — that revolutionizes the capturing of moments. With the latest operating system update, the iPhone camera application makes going from a locked phone to taking pictures a task that spans a matter of seconds. Without even unlocking the device, you can swipe left to pull up the camera.
Capture moments in mere seconds with a quick-launch camera app and swipe capture. (Daily Hive)
Better yet, from the standstill of the basic camera function (single photo mode), you can tap and drag the capture button to the left for burst photo captures, or drag it to the right to instantly start recording a video. It’s these tools that help keep those magical moments that may happen around your home from going unseen.
Is your dog making a funny face? Burst photo capture and select from all the gathered frames the perfect one to express your mood. About to take your lawnmower off a sweet (but relatively safe) jump? Start recording a video within seconds.
Swiss Army Phone
Playing the same game as many smartphones available today, the easiest way to describe the usefulness of an iPhone is that you can pretty much use them to improve everyday things. Whether it be setting timers for laundry, ordering essentials from the internet, or having an in-kitchen assistant, the iPhone SE is one of the nicest and most affordable brand-name smartphones on the market.
Throughout my day, I use the iPhone SE for many things. However, nothing beats the portable screen-and-Siri combo in the kitchen. Without having to rinse your hands or touch the phone at all, Apple’s built-in voice assistant can find you the right answers to your kitchen questions, bring up ingredients, or best of all convert measurements.
Using Siri to improve your kitchen activity will change your life. (Daily Hive)
Being the every-person’s version of a brand new iPhone, the SE 2020 model comes in swinging as an essential partner in your life.
Without the frills and premiere features of the more expensive models, this phone has the potential to be far more widely accepted, adopted, and usable.
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Notable perks beyond the standard array of applications and integration are things like a free year of Apple TV+ subscription with the activation of a new phone, and thanks to the internal guts of the iPhone SE 2020, users can also run Apple Arcade games (like A Fold Apart) without any issue whatsoever.
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I never thought that a pared-down device would be something that could be easily pitched to people. We techies really love the latest and greatest. However, my bias truly shone while having hands-on time with the iPhone SE 2020, and it’s vastly realized integration into my day-to-day life.
At times, it feels like the “selling features” of the iPhone SE 2020 are the direct result of laziness — taking extra parts from their flagship devices and slapping them in this — but it all works out for the better. Instead of getting a roughed-up and dumbed-down version of a modern iPhone, the new iPhone SE simply provides a more condensed Apple product and experience.
This, in its theory, makes it the perfect phone for everyone. Perhaps Apple should front-and-center the iPhone SE lineup and pitch the more premium products to a more niche audience.
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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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
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.
