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Apple preparing 3-year modem rollout in bid to outdo Qualcomm — starting with the iPhone SE 4

Another in-house phone part

For the last few years, Apple has been on a quest to end its reliance on iPhone components from other companies. The latest bit to get the ax looks to be the cellular modem chip, and a switch to an Apple-made part looks imminent.

Currently,Qualcommmakes the modems in your iPhone, but a new report fromBloomberg’s Mark Gurmanclaims that Apple’s in-house modem will debut in 2025.

The first iPhone to feature this new modem will reportedly be theiPhone SE 4, which is expected tolaunch in the springof next year. However, Gurman claims that the first version of Apple’s modem will be much weaker than the currently available Qualcomm chip.

>>>A2312 Battery for Apple iPhone SE (2020) SE2

Simply, the modem on your smartphone enables the handset to connect to cell towers so it can make calls and connect to the internet over cellular.

Apple wants to surpass Qualcomm by 2027 with increasingly “more advanced” chips, according to the Bloomberg story.

Gurman gets more in-depth in the history of Apple’s modem development but briefly, Apple has been working on this project since at least 2021, having spent billions including acquiringIntel’s modem group and hundreds of engineers.

Interestingly, the first version of the modem, codenamed Sinope, won’t be in the flagshipiPhone 17models next year. Instead, it will launch with the iPhone SE 4. The new modem also may feature in the much-rumorediPhone 17 Airand lower-end iPads. It appears the SE 4 will be a real test for Apple’s in-house modem.

Sinope won’t support mmWave, a 5G technology that can handle large download speeds. Instead, it’s supposed to feature a Sub-6Ghz standard that’s featured on the currentiPhone SE, which debuted in 2022.

Allegedly, because this new modem will be more integrated with Apple’s iPhone systems, it will be more efficient, use less power and better support network connections, despite its downgraded connectivity.

Like much of Apple’s chip components, Sinope is going to be produced by TSM, who also make the Apple-designed A-series of processors.

According to the report, Apple-built modems will feature in more products in 2026, including the iPhone 18. iPad Pros are slated to feature a third-generation modem by 2027. By then, Apple’s modem should support mmWave and bigger download speeds.

Gurman briefly noted that Apple is considering merging the modem and main processor as one component.

With advancing processors and capabilities the iPhone is a powerful device, it will be interesting to see what effect the modem switch will have on Apple’s devices.

Google Wallet can now hold your US passport

（Source: Google）

Now you’ve got one less thing you have to fish for in your pocket or purse at the airport. Starting today, Google Wallet can carry a digital copy of your US passport and use them at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) checkpoints.

If you want toadd your passportto Google’s virtual wallet, first you’ll need to download the Google Wallet app and log into your account or create one. Check the prompt “create an ID pass with your US passport” and follow the instructions. The app will ask you to take a video selfie to verify your identity and scan the security chip in your passport. It should only take a few minutes for Google to confirm your identity.

Your digital passport won’t work at every airport. Currently, there are 27 states (and Puerto Rico) with at least one airport that accepts digital forms of identification.The TSA websitecan show you which states and airports accept digital IDs.

Google has been testingthe use and storage of digital passports in Google Wallet for some time. Several states have started accepting digital IDs just in the last few months.New Mexicois the newest state to accept digital IDs including driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.

Google Pixel 9a prototype leak shows a radical redesign for Google’s next phone

The camera bar could disappear

Pixel 8a review: Google brings its A-game to the mid-range, but also some surprises

The Google Pixel 8a

More images of the incoming Google Pixel 9a have leaked
The rear camera bar doesn’t appear, suggesting a design shakeup
Expect to see a launch sometime in 2025

In ourGoogle Pixel 9 reviewwe describedGoogle’s latest flagship as “a fantastic phone”, and we may have been given an early glimpse at what Google’s next handset is going to look like when it shows up sometime in 2025.

That handset is the Google Pixel 9a, and two pictures of what’s being described as a “prototype” have been posted by@feni_bookand@OnLeaks– though it’s not immediately clear where these images have come from.

These real world photos closely match leaked renders we sawback in Octoberand other imagesposted online in August. It seems Google is going to ditch the raised camera bar around the back of the phone, in favor of a flatter look.

Whether you like the raised camera bar or not, it is distinctly Pixel – so it’s a little strange that Google would abandon the established design for something that’s more ordinary and arguably less visually appealing.

(Google Pixel 9a leaked./Foto: feni_book)

These new images don’t tell us anything more about the Google Pixel 9a other than what it looks like, and that there’ll be a single selfie camera on the front and a dual-camera setup around the back of the handset.

Based on aprevious leak, we’re expecting the phone to measure 154.7mm x 73.2mm x 8.9mm, which makes it slightly bigger and wider than theGoogle Pixel 8a. It may be that the screen will be a touch larger than the 6.1-inch one on its predecessor.

That’s backed up by aseparate leakthat put the screen size of the Pixel 9a at 6.3 inches. The display will apparently jump from 60Hz to 120Hz in terms of refresh rate, while the same Tensor G4 from the Pixel 9 series is tipped to appear here too.

We might also have some color information too, with a few tweaks from the Pixel 8a that launched this year. As for pricing, the launch price of the Pixel 8a is expected to be matched next year: $499.

Google confirms the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel Fold will get two extra Android OS upgrades

They were initially promised three, and now they’re getting five.

What you need to know

Google quietly updated a support document that now explains the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold will receive five full OS upgrades.
Originally, Google promised these devices would get three full Android OS upgrades, and five years of security updates.
The extension was rumored when the Pixel 6 series became eligible for the Android 16 developer preview, and it’s now official.

Google is retroactively providing an extra two years of full OS upgrades to the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold, it quietly detailed in anupdated support document. Additionally, the company says that during this extended window, these models “may” also get new features through Pixel Drops.

The change was first spotted byNail Sadykov on X(viaMishaal Rahman). It confirms what was originally suspected when Google released the first developer preview for Android 16 last month: the company plans to support the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel Fold beyond its initial promises. TheAndroid 16 Developer Preview 1updatesupported the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 6 Pro, even though Android 15 should be its last OS upgrade according to Google’s three-year promise.

Now, the entire Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series — plus the original Pixel Fold — will get a total of five years of OS upgrades from the time they were first released. That’s two more years than Google initially promised, as its first guarantee was that each of these models would get three years of OS upgrades and five years of security update.

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The change means that the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 6 Pro should receive Android 16 and Android 17. Meanwhile, the Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Fold should receive Android 16, Android 17, and Android 18.

Google has significantly expanded its guaranteed software support windows since it switched to its in-house Tensor processors, setting a new industry-standard with seven years of full OS upgrades on the Pixel 8 andPixel 9 series. However, competitors are catching up. Qualcomm recently announced theSnapdragon 8 Elite chipsetcould support up to eight years of major Android version updates.

The Google Pixel brand has grown of late,earning double-digit market share. It seems that Google is now showing some goodwill to Pixel owners by extending the support their existing devices will receive.

Samsuset for early 2025ng’s first One UI 7 beta is available now, public release

The Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are eligible.

What you need to know

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 7 update, based on Android 15, has experienced numerous delays, but a beta is available now.
The update is expected to debut near or alongside the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in January.
One UI 7 adds new features like theNow Bar, newcamera toggles, and persistentWriting Tools.

Samsung today announced that,after numerous delays, the first One UI 7 beta is now available for theSamsung Galaxy S24 series. The company says that Samsung Members can apply for access to the One UI 7 beta starting today to gain early access to the Android 15-based update. Otherwise, the upgrade is expected to launch early next year alongside the upcomingSamsung Galaxy S25 series, as the company confirms One UI 7 will release publicly in the first quarter of 2025.

One UI 7is set to launch with “upcoming Galaxy S series devices,” but will arrive on other Galaxy devices as part of a gradual rollout. For now, the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are the only three models known for certain to be eligible for the One UI 7 beta immediately. It’s possible that the beta could be expanded to include the Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

As was expected, Samsung is doubling down onGalaxy AIwith One UI 7. It’s specifically trying to compete with Apple Intelligence with more system-wide software tools. For example, Writing Tools — a set of generative AI-based grammar and writing options — are now able to be used anywhere without needing to switch apps.

Additionally, Samsung touts that One UI 7 will bring “more intuitive interaction and greater personalization,” with AI at the heart of it.

Samsung also shared a few details about the new features One UI 7 will bring. ANow Barwill become a new part of the One UI lock screen, making it possible for users to see important notifications dynamically without needing to open their phone. Additionally, the Camera app in One UI 7 is getting a boost, as the viewfinder now includes new buttons, controls, and modes. In another Apple Intelligence-inspired feature,Call Transcriptwill automatically transcribe recorded calls in 20 supported languages.

A few security improvements add aKnox Matrix dashboardthat lets users view their connected devices in one place,Credential Syncs, and a new recovery method for data transfers.

You can apply to gain access to the One UI 7 beta and test these features for yourself by becoming a Samsung Member if you have a Galaxy S24 series device.

Tim Cook won’t leave Apple until a voice in his head tells him to do so

Cook opines on legacy, Vision Pro, and Apple Intelligence

Tim Cook sat down with Wired for a wide-ranging interview
He confirmed that Apple hasn’t considered charging for AI features as of yet
Cook shedded some light on Vision Pro performance, albeit indirectly

I likeTim Cook. The now long-timeAppleCEO is gracious, smart, and as close to a human sphinx as you can imagine. He rarely drops major news, either casually or when the media are grilling him.

Cook did not disappoint inhis latest wide-ranging interview with Wired’s Steven Levy. One of the best in the business, Levy peppered Cook with questions about everything from theiPhone’s 16’snew Camera Control button toApple Intelligence, the company, and his own legacy. Cook didn’t exactly break news, but there were areas where he revealed a bit more about himself and some of Apple’s strategic decisions relating to AI, mixed reality, and what comes next for Cook himself.

Apple Intelligence, Apple’s brand of AI that Cook insists is not a pun, has been slowly rolling out to supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with each iteration getting a bit closer to what Apple promised during its JuneWWDC 2024keynote. Cook didn’t walk through any new features, though he does have a point of view on the fine line between utility and taking over. Cook tends to believe that AI is an assistant (like a copilot, I guess) and is not straight-up doing things for you.

However, Cook’s perspective on charging for additional and maybe more powerful AI Apple Intelligence features was more interesting. It’s not a discussion they’ve been having on the Apple Campus.

“We never talked about charging for it,” Cook told Levy. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s off the table, but since Apple and Cook view Apple Intelligence as similar to multitouch on the iPhone, AI is likely a feature that adds value to all the other products and services Apple charges for. Apple could simply raise the prices on them to cover the cost of building and supporting Apple intelligence features.

>>>A2527 Battery for Apple MacBook Pro 16″ Late 2021 A2485 A2780

Vision Pro realities

Apple has been mum onVision Prosales. The powerful VR and mixed-reality headset is undoubtedly the apex of Apple’s consumer electronics capabilities and the company makes you pay dearly for it – $3,500 – which may account for consumer apathy.

Cook didn’t speak directly about sales performance, but he’s still bullish about the headset. I think, though, he may have acknowledged that the pricey wearable is not for everyone. Here’s how Cook characterized it to Levy:

“It’s an early adopter product, for people who want tomorrow’s technology today.”

Cook insisted that the ecosystem is flourishing, which may be a sign of product category health, but then he added one encouraging bit of almost news about what might come next.

Levy asked aboutMeta OrionandSnap AR glasses. These lighter and more glasses-like wearables focus on AR experiences, and I wondered if Vision Pro’s next iteration could be headed in that direction.

“Yes,” Cook told Levy, “It’s a progression over time in terms of what happens with form factors.”

I think the market cannot wait to try out those next form factors.

>>>A2043 Battery for Apple iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Generation

After Cook

Some believe that Apple Hardware lead John Ternus is thenext likely Apple CEO, but for Ternus to step in, Cook would have to step away. The current Apple CEO, however, did not paint a picture of someone running out ofsteamor one who is becoming less engaged with the brand.

The Apple-Tim Cook love affair is still very much alive. Cook is not planning his exit and told Levy that he would not “do it until the voice in my head says, ‘It’s time.”

Cook said he loves the job and can’t imagine his life without it. Put another way, Tim Cook will be steering the Apple ship and building upon his legacy, which Cook wants to be health. “We have research going on. We’re pouring all of ourselves in here, and we work on things that are years in the making,” Cook told Levy.

I think it will likely be Apple Silicon for many years to come, though.

Google is rolling out new AI features for Android phones, plus some that are just for Pixel

Expressive Captions and more are here

(Image credit: Google)

Expressive Captions add feelings and [gasp] emotions to Android’s Live Captions
Google Lookout gets new Gemini enhancements
Gemini on Pixel phones will now remember more information about you and your interests

Googlehas released a number of new AI features for most Android phones, plus a couple that work only on its Pixel range of devices.

Some of the new features work inGoogle Gemini, Google’s AI app, but most of them work throughout the whole Androidoperating system, which means there will be some big changes for Android users. Let’s break it down.

>>>GMF5Z Battery for Google Pixel 7 Pro

Expressive Captions

Here’s how the same football game looks with Expressive Captions turned off and on(Image credit: Google)

First up are Expressive Captions, which are a way of bringing more emotions into the rather dull and lifeless world of subtitles and captions. Google introducedLive Captionsto Android back in 2019, so if anything plays audio on your phone, it also has captions. They work much the same way that automatic subtitles do onYouTubevideos – your phone generates them live, based on what it interprets the person is saying.

Live Captions, however, remain rather lifeless. With Expressive Captions, Google is utilizing the power of AI to help you get more of the context of what’s happening. You’ll see comments in square brackets like [whispers] and [cheers and applause] appearing amongst captions, giving you a better understanding of the feelings and emotions being conveyed.

Intense vocalizations will be written in [ALL CAPS], while vocalizations like [sighing], [grunting] and [gasping] will also appear. Ambient background sounds will also be tagged. Because Live Captions are part of the operating system you’ll now get Expressive Captions with most things you watch, so look out for them.

>>>GS35E Battery for Google Pixel 8

Gemini in Lookout

(Image credit: Google)

Google Lookoutis an assisted-vision app that’s available on Android devices via thePlay Store. It uses AI to help people with low levels of vision, or sight loss, explore the world around them using their phone’s camera. You can use it for reading out text, scanning food labels, currency identification, and even scanning your surroundings to identify things like doors and windows and find out how far away they are.

Now Gemini AI is part of the Lookout app, which means it has much richer, more helpful descriptions. If you take a photo in the app you’ll now hear its description read aloud in a natural-sounding voice, and you can ask Loopout follow-up questions about it.

New Gemini extensions

The more extensions that Google Gemini has, the more apps it can bring its AI magic to. Now Gemini has a new Spotify extension, which means you can play your favorite songs or discover playlists from within Gemini.

Gemini will now also connect to your phone and messages app, meaning you can call contacts and send messages from within Gemini. Google says that “soon” you’ll be able to use Gemini to control your smart home devices. Finally, Gemini will now also connect to Maps, which means you’ll get more information about places.

More Android features

Pizza-themed sticker combos available in Emoji Kitchen.(Image credit: Google)

Also in the December update you’ll find new pizza-theme sticker combos that you can share with friends using Emoji Kitchen in Gboard, Google’s keyboard app. You can also use QR codes in Quick Share, which makes it easy to share pictures, videos and documents without having to add people as contacts or verify devices. Now you just generate a QR code for people to scan. Documents you scan using your phone will also now be improved, with better contrast and white balance.

Pixel-only features

Circle to search on a Pixel phone.(Image credit: Google)

If you’ve got a Google Pixel phone then you get some extra features in the December Android update. There are a lot of small updates to things like the camera and security settings, but the most important feature is Gemini Saved Info. This means you can ask Gemini to remember more about you, what you’re interested in, and what you like, so that it can tailor its responses to more of what you’ll be interested in.

Pixel users will also get some updates to the Pixel-exclusive app, Pixel Screenshots. Pixel Screenshots uses Gemini to analyze and recall the information embedded in your screenshots. Now you can use Pixel Screenshots to save things when you’re using Circle to Search with just one tap.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the latest smartwatch to get Wear OS 5

All of Samsung’s Wear OS smartwatch models have now started receiving One UI 6 Watch in at least one region.

What you need to know

The last stage of Samsung’s One UI 6 Watch rollout appears to be underway, with users in Korea seeing the update become available for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
The move comes as Samsung has updated the Galaxy Watch 6 series, Galaxy Watch 5 series, and Galaxy Watch FE to Wear OS 5 in recent days and weeks.
The updates, beginning abroad, will eventually come to the US and North America at a later date.

Samsung is reaching the final stage of itslengthy One UI 6 Watch rollout, which brings Wear OS 5 to all the company’s Wear OS smartwatches. As of today, users in Korea started seeing the One UI 6 Watch update become available for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, according to aposton Samsung’s community forums. The update is currently available for only the Bluetooth models of theGalaxy Watch 4 series, and only in Korea — for now.

The company launched One UI 6 Watch alongside theGalaxy Watch Ultraand Galaxy Watch 7, released in July. It made its way to the Galaxy Watch 6 series late last month. Just yesterday, Dec. 3,Samsung brought the Wear OS 5 upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 5 series and the Galaxy Watch FE.

>>>EB-BR965ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic R965 47mm

That means all of Samsung’s Wear OS watches, from the oldest Galaxy Watch 4 to the cheapestGalaxy Watch FE, are beginning to get the boost to One UI 6 Watch. As is typically the case, Bluetooth models of the Galaxy Watch will receive the upgrade in a few regions to start. Then, over the coming days and weeks, LTE-equipped models will become eligible to upgrade, and it’ll arrive in more regions. North American units are often towards the end of the line when it comes to receiving One UI 6 Watch upgrades.

(Image credit: Samsung)

A core part of the One UI 6 Watch update are health-related feature additions. Samsung is banking on the combination of Samsung Health and Galaxy AI, aiming to use it to help wearers improve their fitness and health. Energy Score is like Samsung’s rendition of Garmin’s Body Battery, and Sleep Analysis aims to let you know how well you slept. These features were exclusive to newer Galaxy Watch models at first, but are making their way to older ones now.

Samsung initially promised up to four years of software updates for the Galaxy Watch 4, which isn’t much of a concrete guarantee. However, it appears that old smartwatch may be nearing the end of its software support.Wear OS 5.1looks like a minor update, based onAndroid 15, so the chances of the Galaxy Watch 4 making it to the eventual Wear OS 6 are slim.

Still, the first-generation of any product line typically receives poor software support, but that hasn’t been the case with the Galaxy Watch 4 (which is a first-gen product in the sense that it was Samsung’s first Wear OS watch). It’s had a great run with software upgrades, starting with Wear OS 3 and now supporting Wear OS 5.

Pixel owners can now check their device temperature with the latest app update

A new Pixel Troubleshooting app update brings the temperature check feature to Pixel 6 and above.

What you need to know

Google Pixel Troubleshooting update gets new Device Temperature check feature.
It allows Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 users to check their device temperatures whenever their devices seem warm to touch.
The temperature check feature involves relevant color schemes to accurately represent the device’s condition.

Some Pixel phones might have a nifty new feature that lets users identify how hot their devices are running directly from their handsets’ battery settings.

Google has apparently released a Pixel Troubleshooting app update for its devices, ranging from Pixel 6 to the latestPixel 9 series, notes9to5Google. The latest update brings a new “Device temperature” feature, which can be seen in the Battery section of the device Settings.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

It sits under the battery diagnostics’ “Phone is very warm” section, which earlier showcased settings that keep the device battery optimized. Another way to access the new page is to directly search for “Device temperature” through the Settings app.

Under the Device temperature, users can now find four relevant colors, evidently dubbed Cold, Normal, Warm, and Elevated, indicating the current temperature state of the device.

The new page further indicates that the projected device temperature is according to various internal sensors that the aforementioned Pixel phones already ship with. 9to5 further notes that users can also witness other tips like “To cool down your phone, provide airflow to your phone if possible” and “Use only cases or covers made for your specific phone,” among others.

The live device temperature is being rolled out via the Pixel Troubleshooting app bearing the1.0.693922709version. Pixel phones include the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and the Pixel 9 series. It has not yet been rolled out to Pixel Tablet. As 9to5 notes, the update was seen running on the devices mentioned above, running on stableAndroid 15, which wasrecently rolled outto all compatible Pixel phones.

>>>GMSB3 Battery for Google Pixel 6

For the uninitiated, the Pixel Troubleshooting app was introduced last year, and the Pixel 8 was one of the first handsets to receive the feature. It helps users diagnose their battery and network issues, and the new temperature feature is indeed a valuable addition as it eliminates the need for installing third-party apps or devices to measure the device’s temperature.

Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone launching much later globally than the Huawei Mate XT

According to a new report, Samsung has no plans to introduce its first-generation tri-fold smartphone next year. Nonetheless, a renowned display analyst has offered an insight into the device’s global availability.

Huawei stole a march on Samsung earlier this year with the Mate XT. (Image source: Huawei)

Samsung has not officially confirmed that it is working on a new type of foldable yet. Nonetheless, rumours have been flying around in recent weeks about the company’s plans to challenge theHuawei Mate XTwith its own version. Now, Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC)has offered insightsinto the state of Samsung’s first ‘tri-fold’ smartphone.

In short, it appears that the company’s foray into a new foldable form factor will not be ready in time for its 2025 hardware refresh. For reference, successors to theGalaxy Z Flip6andGalaxy Z Fold6are anticipated, as well as the so-called Galaxy Z Flip6 FE. Incidentally, Young has also disclosed new information about a new Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition too, details of which we have covered separately.

>>>EB-BF742ABE Battery for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

While Samsung’s first-generation tri-fold will not be with us next year, Young expects it to arrive in ‘early 2026’. As it stands, the company is believed to have adopted the form factor that Samsung Display showcased a few years ago with theFlex Grather than theFlex Swraparound alternative that Huawei offers with theMate XT.

Samsung’s first tri-fold may look like the Flex G on the right. (Image source: Samsung Display)

Source(s)

Ross YoungviaGSMArena