#68 Top 6 New Features Expected in iPhone 7

ANTI-OVERHEATING TECH

Some users of the iPhone 6 have been complaining about their Touch ID fingerprint sensors, saying that they have been heated thus causing the home button to be hot. If Apple’s latest patent is anything to go by, that should be a thing of the past. The United States Patent and Trademark Office published a new Apple Patent that describes how Apple will solve the problem. They have found a method to use an in-built temperature sensor that will monitor the temperature of the iPhone. This feature will most likely be in iPhone 7.

GESTURE PASSCODE

When iOS 9 was launched the users were asked to use 6-digit passwords instead of 4-digit ones. iPhone 7 could possibly transform this since Apple has been granted a patent for a gesture passcode system. It is based on non-alphanumeric inputs which are user configurable. Apple has been trying to get this feature since 2012 and they have finally been granted the patent. A gesture will be used to authentic one or more authentication screens. This feature could be in the iPhone 7 or as a software update in iOS 10. As far as security and privacy are concerned, this will definitely be a big step.

Read about: Apple to launch iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in India on October 16

INTERNALLY INSTALLED SIM CARDS

Smartphones with physical SIM cards will be a thing of the past, according to a report in the Financial Times released in late July. This project is likely to be implemented in iPhones released in 2016. The software SIM will work with multiple networks. The users will just be required to sign up for mobile data plans directly from the Settings app on their devices. There will be no long term contracts and the users can switch between the network providers anytime they like. The network carriers will definitely not like this move.

WIRELESS CHARGING

The wireless charging did not arrive with iPhone 6 as some had predicted, but it could be a reality in iPhone 7. This feature was introduced in the Apple Watch as inductive charging where the device was placed to charge on a wired mat. Hopefully, this will allow the users to just sit with their iPhones charging while in the pocket. This is not yet confirmed and we can only hope that it will be in iPhone 7.

ELEVATED JOYSTICK

It is rumored that the Home button on iPhone 7 will be able to raise or pop up on a little spring and turn into a mini joystick when playing games. This would definitely benefit the iOS gamers and sounds very interesting. The joystick will then go down after the user is playing the game. However, gamers are not a very big percentage of the device users and it would seem risky for Apple to compromise everyone’s iPhone Home Button for the benefit of the gamers’ community. The idea appeared on an Apple patent published by the US Patent Office in January 2015. The gamers out there can only pray hard that this feature will be in iPhone 7.

DYNAMIC HOME BUTTON

Apple has published a new patent for a new Home that is gesture sensitive. The user will be able to swipe across the Home button or even lean a thumb in a particular direction, to scroll the screen of a game for example. It will be capable of detecting various gestures along with the force of each touch. This feature is definitely less risky than the pop up joystick one above. It could be a possible feature in iPhone 7 but we don’t know for certain.

#63 Apple to launch iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in India on October 16

It will be the fastest ever launch of the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in India after their global launch. It will also be made available in 140 countries by the end of this year.

Apple has announced the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in India on October 16. The Cupertino-based tech giant confirmed the launch date of iPhones yesterday through a post. The October 16 launch will make it the fastest ever release of iPhones in India, after their global launch. Both the devices were launched globally by Apple on September 9 at an event held in San Francisco. The company has also announced the launch dates for various other countries as well as sales record for the newly launched iPhones.

The October release date might help Apple cash in on the Diwali festival season in India. The company has not said anything about the pricing of the smartphones, but it is expected to be priced around Rs. 65,000 for the base model. Interestingly, there were reports earlier that the devices are already available for pre-orders in grey markets, with prices rising above Rs. 1 Lac.

Besides announcing the launch date for India, Apple has announced that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be launched, starting from October 9, in more than 40 countries including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. The company further said that the latest iPhones will make their way to more than 140 countries by the end of this year. Additionally, Apple said that it has sold more than 13 million iPhones this time, and that too within three days of their launch. It broke the record of selling 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices, set last year.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook said, “Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple’s history. Customers’ feedback is incredible and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos, and we can’t wait to bring iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to customers in even more countries on October 9.” 

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus comes with various new features and improvements. The phone features the 3D Touch technology that senses the pressure of the touch on the screen to perform different tasks accordingly. Other features include Live Photos, 12MP I-sight camera, 5MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash, and the latest A9 chipset. 

#46 About the new 12-inch Apple MacBook

Apple announced the all new MacBook yesterday. It is not a replacement for the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro, the new MacBook is an addition to the line of MacBooks, targeted at users looking for a compact, slim and light laptop with an ultra high resolution display. The new MacBook has a lot of segment firsts in terms of specs, features and design elements, so let's take a look at what the MacBook is all about. The new Apple MacBook starts at 1299$, yes, that is a lot! 

Core components

Let’s start with the basics. The new MacBook will be powered by an Intel Core M chip (14nm Broadwell platform). The Intel 1.1 GHz Core M processor used in the MacBook is made for hybrid devices and high performance tablets with fanless design, employing passive cooling techniques. The graphics on the MacBook is handled by Intel HD Graphics 5300, a very basic GPU that sits at the bottom of the latest Intel Core platform. The laptop comes with 8GB RAM by default and gives a choice between 256GB or 512GB of PCIe based flash storage. 

Design 

The new MacBook looks and like an extended version of the MacBook Air. Just that it's a lot thinner, smaller and lighter while offering the same unibody design. The laptop boasts a mere 13.1 mm in width and weighs 0.92Kg. This easy to carry laptop will be available in three colours: Silver, Gold and Space Gray. Just to put things in perspective, the MacBook Air 13 weighs 1.35 kilograms and is 17mm thick. 

Build 

The unibody MacBook is made out of machined aluminum, promising the same strength and durability as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Though, we'd reserve our judgment on the overall build quality till we review the device. 

Display

Apple has squeezed a 12-inch display in a smaller 11.04-inch chassis. The 12-inch display boasts of 2304 x 1140 pixel resolution. It is a 16:10 aspect display, just like the MacBook Air and Pro screens. Apple claims to have achieved higher brightness levels while keeping the power consumption down by increasing the aperture of each pixel. Again, a claim that we shall surely test before believing it. 

Keyboard 

The new MacBook features a 'butterfly-style' keyboard mechanism, promising even feedback and response across the entire surface area of each key. Each key on the keyboard is illuminated by dedicated LED underneath every key, promising precise backlighting. 

The 'Force Touch' trackpad

Apple has redesigned its glass trackpad, adding a haptic engine, which will send a tangible haptic feedback to the fingertips of users when they perform certain tasks. The touchpad now features Force touch sensors which will not only take into account a ‘tap’ but the pressure of the ‘tap’ as well. 

Ports? What Ports? We just have a port! Wireless & USB Type-C

With the new MacBook Apple is among the first companies to adopt the USB Type-C port. The laptop sacrifices all other regular ports like power, USB, Display, HDMI, VGA, for a single USB Type-C port. Apple is betting big on the use of wireless and customers would be required to buy suitable accessories. A headphone jack is included though. Seriously, just one part might turn off even the most hardcore Apple fan, especially when the port extending accessories cost you a bomb! 

Smallest custom Motherboard, 'logic board' in Apple's words

The new MacBook has one of the smallest motherboard ever developed. This was partly possible because of the tiny 14nm power efficient Intel Core M chip which does not require a fan to keep it cool. Besides saving space on the rotating fan, the moatherboard itself has been custom designed with the highest density of components ever on a piece of PCB. The downside? If something fries, you gotta replace the entire logic board, you can safely forget about getting this baby repaired! 

Battery

The tiny motherboard was a deliberate attempt to levy a lot of space in the tiny chassis for battery packs (or shall we call them slices?). Apple has used a custom terraced battery cell over the traditional rectangular battery pack. Apple claims that the new design helps in 35% more battery capacity. Well, you certainly need all the wizardry to power that pixel monster 12-inch screen. So, yeah, a necessity rather than a fad. And, after all this, the MacBook promises 8-10 hour battery life, the same as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Nothing exceptional, we'd say! 

OSX

The traditional operating system of choice MacOS is present here as well. The new OS, which was recently updated is highly integrated with iOS. OSX is easy to use and features many productivity apps.

Accessories

Since the MacBook features a single USB Type-C port, there already are half-a-dozen accessories available to extend its capabilities. Apple will be broadening this list further. 

Apple also updated 13-inch MacBook Pro

Alongside the MacBook, Apple has silently updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro as well, which is getting the new fifth-gen Intel Core processors (up to 3.1GHz), Intel HD 6100 graphics, faster flash drive storage with option 10 to 12 hours of battery life. The laptop is also getting the Force Touch Trackpad. The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro already has India pricing, it starts at Rs. 94,900. 

And, the MacBook Air also gets a tiny refresh. Both MacBook Air, 11-inch and 13-inch are being updated with fifth gen Intel core processors (up to 2.2GHz), Intel HD Graphics 6000 and thunderbolt 2 ports. Out of the two the 13-inch model gets refreshed with faster flash memory chips too. The Indian pricing for the updated MacBook Air starts from Rs. 65,900. 

#45 Apple planning to launch three new iPhone's this year

iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and a 4 inch iPhone are slated for release in 2015, unlike what Apple has done ever before. 

Apple is planning to release three new iPhone models in 2015, according to reports. The Cupertino-based technology giant is working on the 4.7 inch iPhone 6s, a 5.5 inch iPhone 6s Plus and a new 4-inch iPhone model, which will all be launched later this year.

According to reports, Apple is working on two successors to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, named iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. In addition, Apple is also working on a 4 inch model called the iPhone 6C.   

Rumors suggest that all three devices will be equipped with LTPS panels from Japan Display, LG for the 6S models and Sharp for the iPhone 6C model. The two 6S variants will be powered by an Apple A9 chip, while the 6C will have the A8 chip found in current models.

Other specifications reported for the iPhone 6S include 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM. All the three devices will come with Corning Gorilla Glass protection and inbuilt NFC and fingerprint scanning technology. According to reports Wistron may be in charge of manufacturing the 6C units, while the rest will be developed by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Pegatron.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook had stated that the new, larger iPhone models had record sales and brought the highest Android switcher rate over in the past three years. It's possible that Apple now plans to offer more sizing options to customers to further improve iPhone sales, as Cook also mentioned different regions preferred different screen sizes. 

The new iPhone models are expected to be launched in September, with Apple's new Force Touch technology, that was introduced in the Apple Watch, the new MacBook and new 13-inch MacBook Pros. 

#25 Top 15 Displays in Tech Products Today

Top Displays in Technology Products

Display technology has come a long way from all corners of consumer technology. Not all of it may make sense, but 2k displays on smartphones and 4K displays on TVs are in now. Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG and many others are working hard to give products a new selling point and displays are bigger than ever. So, with all that in mind, here are some of the best displays in consumer technology today.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 

Let's start with smartphones shall we? The Galaxy Note 4 has perhaps the best display in the market today. Yes, even better than the Retina displays by Apple. The vivid colours on Samsung's 2K Super AMOLED displays are a treat for anyone using them.

Apple iPhone 6
 

That said, Apple still knows a thing or two about the displays. The company stuck to its Retina displays with the iPhone 6 and proved to everyone that it still works. It's a well balanced display and one of the best you can get in the market today.

LG G3/Nexus 6
 

The Nexus 6 and LG G3 both has 2k displays, but the former is slightly larger than the latter. That said, both the displays are quite great and fit amongst the best displays today.

Apple iPad Air 2
 

Next up, tablets. And when you take tablets, you talk iPads. Apple's tablets have been always good and the Retina display on the iPad Air 2 makes it even better.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S
 

Again, Samsung has a 2K Super AMOLED display to offer on its Tab S. It offers high pixel density and amazing viewing angles. The colours are a bit too saturated to call it the best, but it's definitely up there with the iPad.

Lenovo Yoga 2
 

On paper, the Yoga 2 may only have a 1080p display, but it's one of the best we've used. The display is bright and reproduces colours quite well. Would be a good option to go for.

Samsung SUHD TVs
 

The CES this year was all about televisions and Samsung kicked things off there with its SUHD TVs and Quantum-Dot technology. It's not the only company that makes them, but they look mighty good.

LG 4K TVs
 

LG had actually announced its Quantum-Dot televisions before Samsung. The company also showcased them at the CES, continuing its rich history in televisions.

Sony and its 4K story
 

When Samsung talked about quantum-dot at the CES, Sony was quick to explain that it's nothing new. The company says it has been using quantum-dot in its TVs for a long time now, showcasing them at the CES.

Asus ROG Swift PG27AQ 4K/UHD
 

Onto PC monitors then, this newly launched gaming monitor by Asus comes with Nvidia's GSYNC technology and 4K resolution, making it one of the best in the market.

BenQ XL2730Z
 

AMD's answer to Nvidia's Sync is with FreeSync. The BenQ XL2730Z is one of the few monitors that support that at the moment. It is also a 4K monitor.

Samsung S34E790C
 

Samsung has gone crazy with display tech at the CES this year. This 34-inch Curved UHD monitor was amongst them. It's one of the best you can find at the moment.

Apple Retina MacBook Pro
 

With a 2560x1600 pixel panel, the Retina MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops you can buy. It is quite expensive though.

Dell XPS 13
 

The newly refreshed XPS 13 from Dell is amongst the best laptops to buy today and it nearly bezel-less Quad-HD Infinity Display is one of the main reasons for it.

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 

The newly launched Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro seems a bit overpriced, but there's no denying that QHD display's quality. It's a good one if you have the money.