The new iPhone SE looks striking in red. At $399 it’s the most affordable iPhone you can currently buy.
John Kim/CNET
At $399 (£389, AU$679), the budget-minded iPhone SE is the cheapest Apple smartphone you can buy. We praised the 2020 model for its affordable price and fast performance driven by the same chip in the iPhone 11, which launched just a few months before the iPhone SE.
But there are still many things we want from Apple’s next cheap smartphone, especially as competitors like Samsung and Google have improved their own cost-conscious devices. The iPhone 11’s new cheaper $499 (£489, AU$849) price could also make the $399 iPhone SE a tougher sell for those who want a more affordable Apple device, considering it comes with longer battery life and a better camera system for just $100 more.
Apple is rumored to be developing a new iPhone SE that may launch in early 2022, according to a report from Nikkei Asian Review. If that turns out to be true, here are the improvements we’d like to see.
A sharper selfie camera
The 2020 iPhon SE has a 7-megapixel front camera and we’d love to see an upgrade in the next model.
John Kim/CNET
The iPhone SE’s wallet-friendly price means that it comes with some compromises, particularly when it comes to the camera. And if Apple keeps the next iPhone SE’s pricing as competitive as the 2020 version’s, that probably won’t change much.
But we’d at least love to see a higher-resolution front-facing camera for clearer video calls and selfies. The current iPhone SE has a 7-megapixel front camera like the iPhone XS. The iPhone 11 and newer devices have a 12-megapixel front camera with a wider field of view, as my colleague Patrick Holland pointed out in his review.
While the iPhone SE’s rear camera lacks the dual-lens setup that’s become common on most phones — even on budget devices — its single-lens wide camera is still capable enough to produce impressive images. But now that the COVID-19 pandemic has made making video calls on our mobile devices the norm, it would be great to see the front camera get an upgrade that brings it closer to Apple’s pricier phones.
Apple A15 processor in the iPhone 13 has 15 billion transistors.
Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET
One of the best things about the iPhone SE is that it comes with the same processor as the iPhone 11, ensuring it won’t feel sluggish soon and will be well-equipped to handle new features. While the A13 Bionic chip inside the iPhone SE packs plenty of power for everyday tasks, Apple could give its budget phone an edge by outfitting it with an even newer processor.
The iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic processor would be ideal, but even gaining last year’s A14 Bionic chip would be a step forward in future-proofing the iPhone SE for years to come. Again, the older A13 Bionic chip is more than enough for most of the tasks you’d typically accomplish on your phone, whether that’s checking email, reading the news, playing games, or taking photos.
But the improved neural engine in Apple’s newer chips will likely make your iPhone better at a lot of the machine learning-powered software flourishes that the iPhone has gained in recent years. These include app recommendations, text predictions, language translation and the ability to recognize people in photos. It’s these types of features that largely drive the iPhone’s appeal rather than raw computing power, and the more powerful neural engine in Apple’s newer chips should help.
There’s a chance we could see Apple’s latest mobile processor arrive in the next iPhone SE, as Nikkei’s report says it will run on the same A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13.
5G support
T-Mobile 5G nationwide network advertisement seen in Midtown Manhattan.
Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
You may not need 5G today considering speeds are usually comparable to that of 4G LTE networks. But 5G is now standard in most smartphones, meaning they’re not typically more expensive than non-5G phones as was the case in 2019. Along with a processor upgrade, bringing 5G to the iPhone SE would be another way to ensure that Apple’s next-generation budget phone doesn’t feel dated in two to three years. Nikkei’s report also suggests the next iPhone SE will come with 5G support, which would mean Apple’s entire 2022 lineup will be capable of supporting the next-generation network.
The iPhone SE is one of Apple’s smallest iPhones, along with the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini.
John Kim/CNET
The iPhone SE isn’t just the cheapest phone Apple sells; it’s also one of the tiniest. That also means it has a smaller battery than other iPhones like the iPhone 11, 12 and 13. Apple estimates that the iPhone SE should last for up to 13 hours when playing back local video, whereas the iPhone 13 should last for 19 hours and the iPhone 11 and 12 should last for 17 hours. Apple also improved the battery life in its other smaller-sized iPhone, the iPhone 13 Mini, which it says can last for 17 hours during video playback just like the iPhone 12.
In our review of the iPhone SE, my colleague Patrick Holland wrote that he was able to easily get through a day and a half on a single charge. However, battery life will always vary depending on how you use your device. In my own experience, I’ve only been able to get through a full workday into the late afternoon on days when I’m making a lot of calls or recording audio for work. But I typically get more mileage on weekends when I’m mostly just checking email, reading the news and browsing social media.
Still, battery life can never be too long, and since Apple improved the iPhone 13 Mini’s battery life I’m hopeful it’ll do the same for the next iPhone SE.
Touch ID
The iPhone SE is the only current iPhone with Touch ID.
Angela Lang/CNET
The iPhone SE is the only model Apple currently sells that still has the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button. I imagine that’s a big draw for some people, especially over the past year-and-a-half as many of us have been wearing masks when leaving the house. Some might also find Touch ID to be more convenient than Face ID since you don’t have to worry about positioning your phone in front of your face properly to get it to work.
Many modern Android phones include both facial recognition and fingerprint scanning as biometric options for unlocking your phone or authenticating payments. Reports suggest that Apple is working on an in-screen fingerprint scanner for future flagship iPhone models, but I’m hopeful that Apple will at least keep Touch ID on the iPhone SE in the meantime.
More storage at the base model
The iPhone SE starts with 64GB of storage, but we’d love to see 128GB.
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple bumped up the iPhone’s entry-level storage capacity from 64GB to 128GB with the iPhone 13 — a welcome update that would be much appreciated on the next iPhone SE, too. More storage usually results in a price increase, but 128GB is now widely considered to be the standard on most smartphones, including budget models like the $350 Samsung Galaxy A42 5G and $450 Google Pixel 5A 5G. I’m hoping that by cutting the 64GB configuration out of the iPhone 13 lineup, Apple is acknowledging this shift rather than introducing it as a premium feature that’s only available on its flagship phones.
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.
