Redesigned notifications system

There’s no shying around the fact that the current notification center on iOS is totally chaotic, for a lack of a better word! Sure we do have grouped notifications and a visually pleasing design to back up, however, the organization of items isn’t the best out there when compared to the rival Android where notifications are stacked much more neatly and logically conceptualized.

In-app Settings and preferences

This one has been on our wishlist for almost a decade now. You see ever since its inception, iOS has been burying every official and third-party app settings and preferences towards the bottom section of the Settings app. This behavior is nothing short of frustrating considering how well-tuned iOS is for usability. As a prime example, let’s take the Camera app for instance, where changing main camera preferences requires one to jump to the Settings app to make required changes. However, thankfully, Apple since the iPhone 11, Apple baked in the video resolution setting right onto the top bar of the Camera app.

Interactive widgets

Home screen widgets were introduced in iOS 14 last year. Although it bought with it some nice dynamic information right in the forefront. However, the widgets aren’t interactive in any way, say, for example, the ability to control audio playback, scrollable info, browse social media feeds, and more. Also, we wish if Apple adds the ability to expand icons to form widgets and vice versa.

improved multitasking with split-screen view

When it comes to memory management, nothing comes close to iOS, all thanks to Apple’s effortless software and hardware integration. The iPhone 8 has just 2GB of RAM and it even today does multitasking in a beat. The maxed-out variant of the iPhone 12 Pro Max features 6GB of RAM but the sheer amount of memory is severely limited by the lack of split-screen multitasking. Combining all this with the large bezel-less display experience further hampers productivity and feels like a not-so-great usage of all the available screen real-estate.

Restyled UI

Source: Apple

iOS has been nearly the same in terms of look and feel (that Weather app though!) ever since the heavy redesign of iOS 7 way back in 2013. Rumors have been making rounds for quite some time now indicating macOS Big Sur-esque icons, ambiance, and overall elements throughout the user interface. We just can’t hold our excitement with regards to this as we feel Big Sur brought freshness to the Mac lineup after so many years and that the look and feel trickling down across other systems would make everything even more cohesive and consistent.

Alright, below is the list of supported and unsupported iPhone models for Apple’s next major iOS 15 software update.

Devices that will have full support for iOS 15

• iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 and 12 mini
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone XS and XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
• iPhone SE (2016)
• iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

Thank you for reading!

The post 5 features and improvements we want in iOS 15 appeared first on PhoneGlide.

Users can now customize their lock screen fonts, date, and time according to the wallpaper tats been set. It could be a static, live, or dynamic wallpaper. The subject of the wallpaper photo intelligently sits in front of the time to create a sense of depth. A wide range of colors can be chosen for the fonts, multiple lock screens can be created to suit the mood.

Widgets are now part of the lock screen as well. Taking inspiration from the Apple Watch complications, one can apply upcoming alarms, battery level widgets, calendar events, activity rings, and more to glance at key information on the go in a pinch.

Rich dynamic wallpapers make it to the iOS 16 lock screen in the form of live weather alerts along with actual animations. Also, a new astronomy wallpaper views the earth, moon, and solar systems accordingly. Have a favorite emoji? You can create a lock screen based on that too as part of the multiple lock screen functionality we just mentioned earlier.

Focus modes can now be accessed directly from the lock screen. It can be set to mix and match with the look of the lock screen for a more personalized experience.

And by the way, notifications have been revamped to cater to the new dynamic lock screen. Now, the notification alerts pop up from the bottom f the screen so that the beautiful lock screen doesn’t get buried by a plethora of notifications. This provides a clear view of the new lock screen interface letting you enjoy the wallpapers and customization in full glory.

Then we have what’s called the Live Activities API allowing users to see live and real-time notifications right on the lock screen. For example sports scores or food or parcel delivery tracking. The developer rejoices on this one!

Apple Pay Later feature makes a debut. Users can now split payments into four equal installments for up to six weeks with zero interest and fees of any kind. Speaking of which, apps can now access your Wallet information to authenticate you for their services such as digital keys and ID. Only relevant is information collected such as age will be collected. Digital Keys or virtual keys can be shared with the Messages app.

Messages get a slew of features as well and much-requested ones for that matter. Now you can unsend messages (Undo Send) easily. Want to edit a message and that too after sending it? Yes, you can! Also, the ability to make conversations unread is also now possible. Dictation now does not require an internet connection and is all done on-device now. Dictating and typing can be done simultaneously with the algorithm smartly switching back and forth. Emoji and punctuations are also recognized intelligently.

Live Text functionality now extends to videos as well creating a much more involved learning experience.

Apple showed off the next generation CarPlay and oh boy it gets a massive makeover. CarPlay apart from the infotainment will now extend to every other screen in a car including the gauge cluster and other screens. Data like speed, RPM, fuel level, coolant temperature, and other driver tidbits will be shown to the driver. All of this is collected directly from the car system. Also, HVAC controls, seat adjustments, and heating among others can be controlled via the new CarPlay system. CarPlay will available at the end of next year.

The Developer Beta of iOS 16 is already available for registered Developers ($99/month). However, you may also download and install iOS 16 Developer Beta for free (at your own risk). The Public Beta goes live next month for all iOS users. The final version will be available in the fall right after the iPhone 14 event.

The post iOS 16 brings reimagined lock screen experience among others appeared first on PhoneGlide.

The Galaxy Buds Pro features a much better design than the Buds Live for an ergonomic fit. However, the charging case design has remained intact much like the previous iteration. Starting things off, we get an 11mm bass driver for a bass boost and a 6.5mm tweeter for minimizing distortion and producing a crispier treble. All of this ensures a dynamic, rich, and clearer sound.

To clear out unwanted noise and upping the communication quality, the Galaxy Buds Pro has three mics and a Voice Pickup Unit (VPU). Also one of the microphones has a high signal-to-noise ratio to aid in filtering out background noise even better. Samsung’s new Wind Shield Technology employs a specially designed chamber and meshes to filter wind disturbance during those rides or on a windy day. All of this is possible due to the redesign of the earbuds.

Earbuds | Source: Samsung Charging case | Source: Samsung Silver, Violet, and Black | Source: Samsung

As usual, ANC is at work here but Samsung claims that the level of ANC here is up to 99%. Should you go out for a walk or want to be in sync with the on-coming traffic, you can set to amplify nearby sounds by up to 20 decibels.

Similar to Apple’s spatial audio, the Galaxy Buds Pro comes with 360 Audio with Dolby Head Tracking technology to help the user be in focus with the audio regardless and create an exceptional surround sound experience.

The earbuds boast a playback life of 8 hrs with additional 20 hrs of juice when used with the charging case. Speaking of which, both the earbuds and the case feature 61mAh and 472 mAh battery respectively. With the ANC on, the battery life downs to 5 hrs for the earbuds and 13hrs with the case. Qi wireless charging is available. Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with SBC and AAC codec support is onboard.

The Galaxy Buds Pro is IPX78 certified for water and dust resistance. The earbuds will be up for pre-order on January 15 with sales set to begin on January 29 for €229.

Images: Samsung

The post Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro brings an improved design and audio experience appeared first on PhoneGlide.

First discovered by 9to5Mac, a quick rundown at the iPhone 13 specifications page on Apple’s website reveals the new feature addition. Speaking of which, users can still use a physical SIM + eSIM combo if they prefer the old way. It’s just that Apple has made carrier-bound iPhone 13 activations (especially in the US) easy as the same will not come bundled with an actual SIM like it was in the past. All in all, this is a welcome feature set from the Cupertino giant.

As a heads up, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro will be up for pre-order from September 17 with shipments slated for September 24. The Worldwide rollout will be completed in the coming weeks.

The post Apple brings dual eSIM with the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro appeared first on PhoneGlide.

• Live Text in Photos: You can now select a text in any photo and take action such as translate, copy and paste text, call a number or find an address. Text can also be interacted right from the camera by a tap on the Live Text button in the viewfinder.

HOT: Download iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro wallpapers

• Interactive globe and 3D experience in Maps: Users will be able to use the new 3D globe to discover the beauty of places which includes enhanced details for mountain ranges, forests, deserts, and more. Explore cities in the highest detail possible for elevation, trees, buildings, and more.  navigate the road with detailed turn lanes and complex 3D views for interchanges.

The 3D map experience in iOS 15 | Source: Apple

• New weather app animations: Enjoy the weather condition in your area with brand new varying animated backgrounds for different weather conditions.
• Visual Lookup: Tap the i button in any photo to look up recognized scenes and objects. Find out and explore popular art, landmarks, plants, and more around the world.
• Keys in Wallet: Add your home keys, car keys, and hotel keys to the Wallet for seamless entry and exit.
• On-Device speech recognition and processing: Speech recognition and requests are not processed on-device without an internet connection. All possible with the help of the Neural Engine delivering the same server-based high-quality speech recognition.
• Panorama pictures (iPhone 12 and newer): Improved geometric distortion and captures moving subjects much better while also reducing image noise and banding.
• Cinematic mode (iPhone 13 series only): Also called Portrait video, Cinematic mode provides the ability to focus on a subject and seamlessly shift focus to another all while blurring the background using the Rack Focusing technique.

To learn everything that’s included in iOS 15, click here.

Previous ArticleDownload iPad mini 6 wallpapers Next Article Here is every iPhone 13 battery capacity

The post These iOS 15 features are only available on iPhone XS and newer appeared first on PhoneGlide.

The AirTag is a small and lightweight round puck-like device that attaches onto or slips right into your bag, luggage, or any other belongings. Just bring the AirTag near to the iPhone and that’s it, it’s paired! The Find My app comes to play here to help locate current or last known location. A sound can also be played to help find it provided it is in the Bluetooth range. The device is IP67 certified for dust and water resistance.

Source: Apple

AirTag employs the Apple U1 chip with Ultra-wideband technology and this helps to find your stuff with the Precision Finding feature. This feature is exclusive to iPhone 11 and 12 devices that have the U1 chip in them. It allows the user to locate his belongings by determining the exact distance and direction of the AirTag. As the user moves, the camera, the accelerometer will guide the user towards the AirTag by providing sound, haptics, and visual feedback. A simple coin-sized watch battery (CR2032) is used to power up the AirTag.

Source: Apple Source: Apple

A lost Airtag is out of the Bluetooth coverage area, the user can go to the Find My network and place it in Lost mode and locate it from anywhere provided the person that comes across the AirTag has an iPhone 11 or 12 featuring the U1 chip. The AirTag can simply be placed inside your bag, purse or you can opt for keychain accessories designed to attach the tag to your devices and personal belongings.

Source: Apple

An AirTag will set you back $29, however, Apple is offering a bundle with 4 AirTags for $99. It will be available starting April 30.

The post Apple AirTag is a smart tracker to locate your belongings easily appeared first on PhoneGlide.

Galaxy S21 Ultra: specs fest!

S Pen support and full-on refresh rate

To start off, the 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display of the Galaxy S21 Ultra runs at Quad HD+ resolution with a variable 120Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, the Infinity-O panel does support a full refresh rate at the max resolution of 1440p+. The panel is HDR10+ certified.

Speaking of the display, the company has carried over the S Pen functionality of the Note line to the S series. The S21 Ultra gets support for S Pen or any Wacom-based Stylus. However, the stylus is a separate purchase and on top of that, the S21 Ultra has no compartment for parking the stylus when not in use.

Quad-camera

Now, coming to the main highlight, which happens to be the camera on the S21 Ultra resting on the new camera island. We do get a quad-camera system. A large 108MP wide camera + a 12MP ultrawide along with two tele units both featuring a 10MP resolution. The fifth module is a laser auto-focus module. As for the selfie cam, a 40MP unit is at the front of the Galaxy S21 Ultra. 4K @ 60fps videos can be captured using each and every camera module.

S21 Ultra with S Pen | Source: Samsung

Processing

Running the show is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 SoC depending upon the country of purchase. Storage capacity starts from 128GB on the 12GB memory model all the way up to 512GB on the 16GB unit. A storage expansion slot is absent.

Power, OS, price, and availability

A 5000 mAh battery is embedded inside the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Charging is rated at 25W wired and 15W wireless and reverse-wireless charge at 9W. On that note, a power brick is not included in the box. All you do get is a USB-C cable.

One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 boots up the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Note line’s S Pen-specific features have trickled down to this device too.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra will start reaching stores by 29th January and will retail for a starting price of €1,250.

Images: Samsung

The post Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is here with S Pen support, better camera and display appeared first on PhoneGlide.

The Need for Blood Pressure Monitoring

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is extremely common affecting over a billion individuals globally. Often called “the silent killer,” high blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms but can lead to serious cardiovascular issues like stroke, heart attack, and heart failure if left untreated. Having access to regular blood pressure measurements allows people to identify problems early and make lifestyle changes to reduce risks. Doctors also rely on accurate blood pressure readings to determine if medication is needed for management.

The standard for trustworthy blood pressure evaluation is the traditional arm cuff, but these devices are not always convenient for frequent home monitoring. This is why many patients end up avoiding daily checks altogether. The Apple Watch’s ability to provide on-demand readings throughout the day would be invaluable for these individuals. It would allow them and their doctors to have a more complete picture for making care decisions.

Overcoming the Obstacles

Implementing blood pressure monitoring is highly complex with sensors for consumer wearables. The Apple Watch uses LED lights and photodiodes to detect blood volume changes in the wrist with each heartbeat. It then applies proprietary algorithms to estimate overall heart rate. Estimating blood pressure is much more complicated and sensitive to external conditions like temperature, skin perfusion, motion artifacts and orientation of the watch face.

Companies like Samsung have produced smartwatches capable of blood pressure measurement but with significant limitations on accuracy. The validation requirements of medical agencies like the FDA are extremely rigorous as well, meaning the Apple Watch’s readings would need to match those from a traditional arm cuff.

To reach this level of precision, Apple likely needs to develop a new type of sensor and set of algorithms specifically for the intricacies of blood pressure. The company has made major investments in wearables health technology over the years, acquiring startups like Oura Health which specializes in identifying blood pressure variations via multiple on-body sensors. With all its resources and expertise, Apple is well positioned to be the first consumer tech brand to truly crack the code of seamless, medical-grade blood pressure evaluation.

Implementation in Watch Series 10

If blood pressure tech is nearing completion behind closed doors, the Apple Watch Series 10 would be the perfect time to unveil it. This anticipated model will likely launch in fall of 2024, five years after the Series 6 first introduced blood oxygen measurement. Enabling another key vital sign in the Series 10 would nicely mirror this incremental health capability advancement. It would also give Apple a major new feature to market and drive smartwatch sales.

Apple would need to conduct comprehensive clinical studies beforehand to validate accuracy and safety too. Those trials may already be underway using prototype models. Regulatory approval processes for medical claims could also impact timing, but with breakthrough FDA clearances like electrocardiogram functionality in the past, Apple has shown it can navigate these spaces.

Once the blood pressure technology is consumer-ready, users would access readings through the Health app, Apple Watch faces or notifications just as heart rate and blood oxygen data is delivered currently. The sensors would remain active during the day to provide ongoing measurement without dedicated user initiation. Apple would also integrate the data into health research partnerships and personal health record sharing with providers like it has done with past sensors.

What This Could Mean for Users

Having convenient access to blood pressure measurement would transform health management for tens of millions of Apple Watch users. Hypertension is often completely invisible to those affected until critical cardiovascular health decline starts. Easy monitoring enables earlier changes in diet, exercise and stress levels to promote artery health. Users would also be able to instantly share blood pressure logs from their Health app with physicians for better diagnoses and treatment decisions.

From Apple’s perspective, debuting blood pressure capabilities would further elevate the watch’s reputation as the premier health wearable on the market. It maintains a commanding worldwide smartwatch market share already, but offering something no competitor yet provides could see that dominance continue for years to come. For a company investing heavily in healthcare innovation, the Apple Watch Series 10 launching with blood pressure monitoring would prove this strategy is paying off.

What to Expect Next

All signs point to blood pressure tech making its way to the Apple Watch eventually. It is likely not a matter of “if” but “when.” Apple has made wearable healthcare a priority and has the resources to solve the difficult engineering challenges involved. The Series 10 in 2024 seems like the earliest this major advancement could practically materialize.

In the meantime, users have other promising innovations to anticipate as well. Further enhancements to activity and sleep tracking, mental health management tools and women’s health capabilities are also active areas of Apple Watch development. Expanding the watch’s ability to sense key medical vitals non-invasively also opens the door for monitoring related metrics like blood glucose levels down the road.

The Apple Watch of the future sounds truly groundbreaking. It will take comprehensive health evaluation from occasional doctor visits to continuous safeguarding. Blood pressure measurement in the Series 10 could be the next step toward this vision. With Apple’s track record of innovation, it is only a matter of time until having complete medical-grade daily biometrics from your wrist is the norm. I sincerely hope you find this “Apple Watch Series 10 Blood Pressure Monitoring” article helpful.

The post Apple Watch Series 10- Awaiting the Arrival of Blood Pressure Monitoring appeared first on PhoneGlide.

Display, chipset, and storage

The OnePlus 10 Pro specs packs a massive 6.7” AMOLED screen with LTPO 2.0 technology and 1440p resolution. Impressive this time around is a flexible refresh rate due to the LTPO Display 2.0 tech allowing to adjust refresh rate between 1 Hz to 120 Hz in most use cases. All in all, ensuring max battery endurance.

The star of the show is the the all new Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset mated to up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage. It’s equally unimpressive that Android makers are still stuck to UFS 3.1 as opposed to much much faster NVMe storage on iPhones.

Speaking of processing power, OnePlus annomned a new Hyperboost feature allowing user to tax the device to its limits for extreme gaming sessions.

Source: OnePlus

Camera system

Now coming to the main part I.e the Hasselblad powered camera system. Much like we saw In the OnePlus 9 series last year. A triple camera array is at the back of the device. A wide 48MP camera followed by a 50 MP Samsung made ultra wide along with an 8MP telephoto unit does the job.

As for taking selfies, there’s a 32MP Sony sensor for commendable shots.

Battery, software, colors and price

As far as the software department is concerned, OnePlus has embraced the parent company’s ColorOS 12.1 at least in China. Even though the international version is expected to come with OxygenOS, today it’s more than just ColorOS rebranded.

Source: OnePlus

Keeping the lights on is a 5000 mAh battery along with 80W fast charging capability.

Starting from CNY 4,699 for the base model (approximately $737), the OnePlus 10 Pro comes in green and black color.

The post OnePlus 10 Pro brings the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and much more appeared first on PhoneGlide.

Apple unveiled iOS 15 at the June 7 WWDC21 event. The next-generation update brings with it changes and new features to FaceTime, Messages, Maps, Photos, and notifications system. Without further ado, let’s jump to some of the key features announced in the keynote.

Source: Apple 1. iOS 15: A no-risk update! 2. iPadOS 15: Evolutionary!

iOS 15: A no-risk update!

Source: Apple

Apple started off the event with new features built into FaceTime. First, spatial Audio makes its way to FaceTime call for a natural life-like audiovisual experience. Then we have a voice isolation feature that allows you to shun background noise and puts a priority on your voice for a clearer calling experience.

Group Fcaeome call gets a new Grid view which organizes callers in equal-sized tiles and also highlights the tile corresponding to the person speaking on a call. To elevate the call experience, Fcattime now brings portrait mode to calls, neat! The SharePlay feature allows you to share music or video with others in an active call exactly like how you would watch on your device.

Collage view is now available for a bunch of photos shared in a message. The new Shared with You feature enables you to view say an article or playlist your friend sent you on iMessage later while browsing Safari or navigating through the Apple Music app. The items will be available in a section called shared with You within the corresponding app.

• Tweaked notification system

Source: Apple

As part of Apple’s new vision to keep things in focus, a new notification system is here. App icons and contact photos in notifications are now prominent and easily graspable. To avoid piling of notifications over time and keep important ones in check, we now have a Notifications Summary. As the name suggests, all of the notifications are stacked in this category that to based on priority.

And of course, messages and conversations do not end up in the Notifications Summary and are always available right at the front in the Notification Center. A new Focus mode as part of the Do Not Disturb mode gives options to switch to modes such as personal, work, sleep or the usual D Not Disturb and helps keep you in focus as per preference.

Source: Apple

Fire up the Camera app and point your iPhone camera to anything that has text in it. Next, copy and send it to anybody for a better communicating experience. This also works in the Photos app where you can select texts or phone numbers in any picture and take required actions.

You can now search for photos directly in Spotlight right from your home screen. To make things better, SpotLight will show texts in pictures right in the search.

A driving License can now be added in the Wallet app provided that your country and its states support the feature. Also new is digital keys for your home to seamlessly enter and exit your home.

Source: Apple

New layout that changes according to the weather conditions to better understand the details. Brand new animations and graphics for intricate weather condition details and time of the day. A full weather map now gets a better representation of the conditions.

Source: Apple

New detailed 3D view to better navigate the city. Driving mode now gets a revamped view to judge traffic and flyovers in a very eye-catching manner for a safer navigating experience. There’s also the use of AR to better assist frim being lost out.

iPadOS 15: Evolutionary!

Source: Apple

Along with iOS 15, Apple also debuted iPadOS 15. We feel this update is noting but for an interactive upgrade over iOS 14. Key changes include placement of widgets anywhere on the home screen, split-view multitasking better Safari tabs, Quick Note, and Shelf.

The brand new Shelf feature helps minimize apps and access them within any apps seamlessly while Quick Note allows you to jit down notes by swiping from the bottom corner of the screen. And by the way, App Library makes its way to iPadOS from iOS.

Availability

The beta of iOS and iPadOS 15 rolls out today for developers with public beta testing to start in July. iOS 15 is compatible with iPhone 6S and later. iPadOS 15 supports every iPad Pro 12.9″ and iPad 11″ models, iPad Pro 10.5″ and iPad Pro 9.7″, iPad Air (2nd gen and later), and vanilla iPad (5th gen and later). The update also has support for iPad mini (4th gen and later).

The post Apple unveils iOS 15 and iPadOS 15: Key features appeared first on PhoneGlide.