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UK-based company Nothing has launched an Android phone it hopes will re-energise the smartphone market.

The distinctive-looking Nothing 1 has a translucent back featuring hundreds of light-emitting diode (LED) lights that function as notifications.

Nothing raised more than $144m (£122m) in funding to develop the handset.

Backers include iPhone designer Tony Fadell, YouTuber Casey Neistat, and gaming channel Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.

Teething problems
Nothing 1’s creator, China-born Carl Pei, 32, who co-founded phone company OnePlus and is highly regarded in the smartphone industry, told BBC News he wanted to “make tech fun again” – for consumers and investors.

The company says it has received more than 200,000 requests for pre-orders of the £399 phone – about half the price of an average iPhone – manufactured in China and India.

The company also has ambitions to create a luxury product and Mr Pei says he hopes to collaborate with electric-car manufacturer Tesla.

Nothing has sold more than half a million units of its first product – wireless, noise-cancelling headphones Ear 1, launched in August – despite software teething problems.

‘Huge challenge’
But Nothing 1 – despite a fair amount of hype, not least because of the high-profile names behind it – has “a mountain to climb”, according to Ben Wood, from CCS Insight.

“The smartphone market is frighteningly competitive and is dominated by Apple and Samsung, who have incredible resources,” he said.

“The rest of the addressable market is a firefight between numerous Chinese manufacturers desperate to grab share, making it even harder for a new entrant to break into the segment.

“Add in the current macroeconomic situation and cost-of-living pressure, and it means being successful will be a huge challenge.”

Globally, smartphones sales were down 17% in May, compared with last year, according to CounterPoint Research.

There are a number of reasons for this:

people holding on to their devices for longer because of rising living costs
environmental concerns around e-waste
global chip shortage and supply-chain issues
“The big suppliers, they owe their bigger customers a lot of chips, they were really hesitant to bring in a new customer like us, a much smaller company,” Mr Pei said.

“We had to spend so much time finding different suppliers and pitching to them why the market needs somebody like us.”

All Apple Watches from the Series 4 onward will get the new update.

The Apple Watch is getting a major software update with WatchOS 9, adding in-depth running metrics, new watch faces and some clues to what we might see in the rumored Apple Watch Series 8. The WatchOS 9 public beta has just arrived along with iOS 16, which means we get to preview most of the new features ahead of the general release in the fall. That’s likely the same timeframe when we expect Apple to announce a new Apple Watch and the iPhone 14.

The WatchOS 9 public beta is now available for all Apple Watches from the Series 4 onward. You’ll need to have the iOS 16 public beta also installed on the iPhone. Both updates are a free download from Apple, however you should exercise caution with installing any beta software. Features are subject to change between now and the final release, plus there may be bugs or unstable elements. If you’re going to install the public beta, I strongly suggest backing up your Apple Watch and your iPhone. Here’s our full guide to how to install the beta.

All that said, there are plenty of reasons why I’m excited to test the public beta. I’ve used testing the developer beta for weeks to find some of the best new features coming to your Apple Watch, and I’ll update this article as I discover more in the public beta to share.

WatchOS 9 looks fresher and more like the iPhone
One of the first things I noticed after installing the public beta is how different notifications look on the Apple Watch. New banner notifications that look similar to the iPhone’s now appear at the top of your screen. Notifications no longer occupy the entirety of the screen when a text message or email arrives, unless your Watch is inactive or locked.

Siri also borrows some of the same look from the iPhone by having the icon appear at the bottom of the screen when you summon the virtual assistant. Also, I really like how you can swipe up to access the control center and now see the text size settings. Before, you’d have to pop into the Settings menu to change the font size.

Another small but welcome improvement is the battery widget, which you can add to the iOS 16 lock screen. Now you can easily see the battery level on the Apple Watch (or AirPods, if you have those connected) without unlocking your phone. It even reflects in real-time the charging status if you have the Watch on its charger.

New watch faces capitalize on the Apple Watch Series 7 screen
There are four new watch faces to choose from:

Metropolitan: A customizable clock face with complications and numbers that move in and out as you rotate the digital crown
Astronomy: Higher resolution than before, and you can now see changing cloud coverage updated hourly
Playtime: Just as the name describes, big bouncy numbers float around the screen and move as you tap the screen or rotate the crown
Lunar: Shows the lunar calendar when you rotate the crown
But my favorite is the portrait mode face, because it now works with pets (it didn’t on WatchOS 8). This is the watch face that takes portrait mode photos and lets you turn the digital crown to make your subject pop in and out of the screen, separated from the background. Existing watch faces like Activity Analog, Kaleidoscope and Numerals have been updated to support rich complications. That makes it easier to see details on the screen, particularly on larger displays like the Apple Watch Series 7’s.

WatchOS 9 boosts the workout app with more screens
A new multisport mode automatically lets you link together two or even three activities at a time, without manually needing to stop, restart or tack on another workout using the “add” feature. You might be competing in a triathlon, or just wanting to go for a run straight after jumping off your bike. WatchOS 9 will automatically detect when you start this new activity and switch between workout types as you go, hands-free.

Bloomberg reports one of the rumored editions of the Apple Watch Series 8 may be a “Pro” edition with a rugged finish and aimed towards extreme sports, so it makes sense to introduce a multisport feature on the new update.

More exciting for athletes like me who only take on one activity at a time are heart-rate zones. Your Apple Watch can now show you which heart-rate zone you’re in at any given moment during the workout. Based on your personal estimated maximum heart rate, you can get alerts when you enter into different zones. This can help give you an idea of how hard your heart is working during a cardio-based workout and if you’re hitting your max. All these zones are fully customizable and you can change them by going to Settings > Workout > Heart Rate Zones.

All the workout screens have also been revamped to show you even more stats as you scroll the digital crown, rather than the single screen from earlier WatchOS versions. Scroll down to see your activity rings for an idea of how you’re progressing during the workout. I also love that I can now see an elevation view in real time when doing an outdoor run, bike ride, walk or hike.

WatchOS 9 is built for runners
For the first time, the Apple Watch will be able to show you running form metrics in the workout app, including vertical oscillation, stride length, ground contact time and a running power metric. These also appear after your run in the Activity app on iPhone.

You can now create custom workouts by tapping the three dots before starting an activity, to set personalized distance and time goals that may be better suited for your training program. You’ll also see a new feature here too called Pacer. This lets you choose a distance and desired finishing time, then the watch will give you the pace you need to hit that goal and alert you along the way if you’re above or below that pace.

Improved dictation and app tweaks
I’m a heavy user of the Apple Watch’s dictation tool for sending messages since it automatically converts my voice to text. Now WatchOS 9 goes one step further by automatically inserting punctuation into your sentences as you speak. Rejoice! No more having to say “period” and “comma” or the awkward “question mark” to manually add your punctuation. This should be turned on by default, but if not, go to Settings > General > Dictation and turn on Auto Punctuation.

Some of the native apps have also had some usability tweaks, including the Calendar app that now lets you add events straight from the watch. You can also see a new week view. The Reminders app also lets you add and edit them from the watch, plus the Podcasts app lets you search, follow content, provide suggestions and download episodes to the watch.

Your iPhone can now control and mirror your Apple Watch
Just like how Assistive Touch on WatchOS 8 lets you control the watch by moving muscles in your hand and arm, Apple Watch Mirroring on WatchOS 9 is a game-changer for accessibility. It allows you to mirror the Apple Watch on the iPhone, so you can control every aspect of the watch by touching the larger iPhone screen. It even lets you use the digital crown and side button, too.

On the iPhone go to Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring. Now you’ll see a little emulation of your Apple Watch live on the phone. You can even use iPhone-specific features like voice control and switch control if you can’t tap the display.

These are just a few of my favorite new features in the WatchOS 9 public beta, but there are even more updates to explore including AFib history, improved sleep tracking that now shows sleep stages, plus reminders to take your pills using the new Medications app.

When is the iPhone 14’s release date? How much will it cost? And what will Apple’s new iPhone look like? We’re collecting all the buzz.

We’ve seen the beta of Apple’s latest iPhone software update, iOS 16, but what about a new iPhone? Although we likely have a couple months before its release date, gossip about the iPhone 14 lineup has already started to spread. In fact, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro rumor mill kicked off even before the iPhone 13 arrived last year.

In an effort to piece together what’s in store for Apple’s 2022 flagship ahead of its release date, we’re collecting all the rumors about the iPhone 14, from possible design changes to price. We even have a wish list of features we want to see on the upcoming iPhone.

While we wait for more intel on the iPhone 14, here’s a sneaky way to message someone on iPhone without anyone ever seeing and the 20 iPhone tips that’ll make you a power user. We’ll update this story as new information becomes available.

iPhone 14 lineup rumors: Will there still be four phones?
We still don’t know much about the iPhone 14, but we’ve heard that Apple’s next lineup will nix the Mini and focus on larger phones instead. A 2021 report from Nikkei Asian Review predicted the death of the iPhone 14 Mini, and a research note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by MacRumors also suggested that the Mini was not long for this world. However, Kuo reported, the iPhone 14 lineup will still comprise four models, a “high-end” and a “lower-end,” with two size options for each.

While name speculation isn’t as germane to the discussion of Apple’s 2022 lineup as it was for unlucky 13, rumors suggest a small shift in naming conventions, with an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max, with “Pro” designating higher-end specs and “Max” referring to the larger screen size.

iPhone 14 size rumors: How large will screens be?
Apple’s last two iPhone lineups have featured the same 6.1-inch size for the base model, going up to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max. According to the same Nikkei Asian Review report, Apple will stick with these sizes for the iPhone 14, but delete the 5.4-inch Mini. This rumor is corroborated by a March report from 9to5Mac. Reports showed sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, so it’ll be no surprise should Apple retire the small phone in 2022.

Although the size of the next iPhone is expected to stay the same, the display bezels for the Pro Max are rumored to be 20 percent smaller compared to previous iPhone generations, according to CAD renders shared by Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro. This means the screen would be slightly larger. However, it’s important to note that this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt since ShrimpApplePro doesn’t have an extensive track record to support their speculations.

iPhone 14 rumors: Will there be a SIM card?
In 2020, rumors began to surface that iPhone was ditching physical SIM cards entirely, and now a chain of leaks suggests that the iPhone 14 might be the first line to do it. 9to5Mac broke down the cascade of leaks, which started with a Brazilian site claiming the iPhone 15 Pro would go physically SIM-less. Then MacRumors reported an anonymous tip that Apple was preparing major carriers for eSIM-only phones by September. Apple leaker DylanDKT confirmed being “in agreement” with reports of the tray for physical SIM cards being removed, though his Twitter account has seemingly disappeared since.

Release date: iPhone 14 will likely arrive in the fall
There haven’t yet been many reputable release date rumors for the iPhone 14, but we expect Apple to hold its annual fall iPhone event in September, as it does almost every year, with the phones being released shortly thereafter, usually the following Friday. Sometimes Apple will stagger release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. So it’s possible that the iPhone 14 lineup will have more than one release date.

Here’s what we know:

Apple likes to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
iPhone release dates are typically a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.
In general, new iPhones are released on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.
A few years ago, CNET took a deep dive into the Apple event timeline and emerged with a compelling Labor Day hypothesis, which you can read about here. Based on the 2022 calendar, the Labor Day rule would put the September Apple event (and unveiling of the iPhone 14) on Sept. 7, with a Sept. 16 release date. However, our Labor Day hypothesis was a week off for 2021 — and, because of coronavirus delays, about a month off in 2020.

iPhone 14 price: How much will Apple’s 2022 iPhone cost?
There haven’t been many credible rumors regarding the iPhone 14’s price. Apple didn’t make any major price changes between 2020’s iPhone 12 and 2021’s iPhone 13. But with bigger changes expected to be on the way for the iPhone 14, it’s responsible to believe that Apple may raise prices in 2022.

The new iPhone may see a $100 price increase, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. “Prices have been increasing across the whole supply chain, and Cupertino needs to pass these costs to the consumer on this release,” Ives told The Sun. However, Kuo predicts the high-end 6.7-inch phone (the iPhone 14 Pro Max) will launch at a record-low price, under $900. Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which ranges from $1,099 all the way up to a staggering $1,599, that’s quite a steal.

Camera rumors: A better front-facing camera and more for the iPhone 14
Apple may have a few camera upgrades in store for the upcoming iPhone 14. Rumors say the tech giant has chosen a new supplier for its front-facing camera to make a higher-end lens. According to a report from Korean tech site ET News, citing unnamed industry sources, South Korean supplier LG Innotek will provide the new selfie camera for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

Kuo also shared insights about the iPhone 14’s potential camera upgrades in an investors note reported on by 9to5Mac just after the iPhone 13 launch. In the note, Kuo predicts a hole-punch front camera, making the iPhone 14 notchless, as well as a 48-megapixel wide rear camera for the Pro and Pro Max models, up from 12 megapixels on previous iPhones.

Display analyst Ross Young hypothesizes, however, that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have a hole-and-pill shaped design to accommodate for the front-facing camera and Face ID. The hole cutout is believed to be for the Face ID dot projector, and the pill-shaped cutout holds the front camera and Face ID camera, according to a January report from MacRumors. Supposedly leaked CAD renders of the iPhone 14, seen by 91mobiles, corroborate this rumor.

Kuo’s speculation regarding the camera’s megapixel capacity aligns with both a recent research note from Haitong International Securities, also reported on by MacRumors, and a report from research company TrendForce. Both Jeff Pu and TrendForce hypothesize the two Pro models will be equipped with a 48-megapixel wide lens. Pu, however, adds that the iPhones will sport a triple-lens rear camera system with a 12-megapixel ultrawide and telephoto lenses in addition to the 48-megapixel wide lens. The analyst adds that the Pro versions of the iPhone 14 could sport 8GB of RAM, as well. (In comparison, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have 6GB.) This is corroborated by a report from a Korean blog that cites domestic supply chain sources, as MacRumors spotted.

iPhone 13 camera upgrades include a new Cinematic mode, ProRes video and some improvements in zoom capabilities. We had previously reported on rumors that the entire lineup would feature lidar, the iPhone 12 Pro’s standout depth-sensing feature, but lidar ended up making an appearance only on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max after all. It’s possible Apple might expand the feature to its full lineup in 2022 instead, but we haven’t heard anything yet.

Another of the camera features we’re still waiting on is an improved telephoto lens. While the iPhone 13 Pro’s zoom capabilities were given a 3x optical zoom, it still pales in comparison to a lot of competitor flagships, including Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, which boasts a 10x optical zoom.

Will iPhone 14 get under-display Touch ID?
The feature that seems to get kicked down the road the most in Apple rumor world is the return of Touch ID. Early rumors supported the Touch ID’s return coming in the iPhone 12, and when that didn’t happen, speculation turned to the iPhone 13. But even before the iPhone 13 launched (sans Touch ID), word on the street had shifted again: iPhone 14 would surely be it. Now, that’s looking less likely, too. In late September, Kuo predicted that it won’t be until 2023 that the iPhone regains Touch ID technology. That would be… the iPhone 15?

Design rumors: iPhone 14 might be notchless… or will it?
YouTuber and iPhone leaker Jon Prosser (whose track record is admittedly spotty) made waves the week before the iPhone 13 announcement by releasing renders he commissioned of the iPhone 14 Pro Max based on “real images and schematics” leaked to him from purported sources at Apple.

Prosser’s renders corroborate a number of previously reported rumors, including the notchless display and hole-punch camera previously reported by Kuo, and the iPhone 14 Pro’s titanium alloy chassis, which was first referenced in a 2021 report from JPMorgan Chase. We’d been expecting to see the iPhone 13 go notchless, but instead we got a slimmed-down, but still very notchy, notch. Apple introduced the world to the notched display in 2017 with the release of the iPhone X, and as rivals solved the selfie conundrum with hole-punch and under-display cameras, Apple still hasn’t, er, taken it down a notch.

Read more: iPhone 14 Design Rumors

But Prosser’s renders seem to align with these earlier reports that Apple would finally excise the iPhone’s notch in 2022. And Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also hinted at its removal in a September edition of his Power On newsletter, wherein he predicted a “complete redesign” for the iPhone 14, while Young says Apple could introduce a hole-and-pill shaped design for the new iPhone. This hole-and-pill display emerged in schematics on Chinese social media site Weibo, and were later shared by Prosser.

Those who’ve been crossing their fingers for a notchless iPhone since the iPhone 12 and had their hopes dashed once again by the iPhone 13 can possibly now look forward to a potential realization of their all-screen dreams in 2022’s iPhone 14.

However, before you get too excited, there’s a possibility that not all the iPhone 14 models will get a new notchless design. MySmartPrice published supposed CAD renders of the iPhone 14 in March, depicting — you guessed it — a notch. But renders of the 14 Pro model published the day before on 91Mobiles do show a notchless display. If these rumors prove true, it looks like you’ll have to spring for the Pro in order to get rid of the notch.

iPhone 14 says buh-bye to the camera bump but keeps the Lightning port
The other big design change Prosser’s renders show is a flattened camera bump. According to Prosser, the iPhone 14’s body is going to be a “thick boy,” thick enough, it seems, to encompass all the camera hardware without an annoying, protruding camera setup on the back. Why is the iPhone 14 supposed to be so thick? Perhaps to house a bigger battery, or even the previously rumored periscope camera, which Kuo projected in 2020. However, Kuo and famed tech leaker Max Weinbach have actually pointed to a thicker camera bump in the 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Two prior rumors that won’t pan out, according to Prosser at least, are the death of the Lightning port and the addition of USB-C (the EU may force Apple to add USB-C ports to iPhones, however). Rumors of a completely portless iPhone have been circulating for a while, but it appears those won’t come true in 2022.

Rumored iPhone 14 features and specs
Here’s everything else we know (and think we know) so far about the iPhone 14 lineup’s specifications and potential new features.

An always-on lock screen
Apple’s iOS 16 will include an always-on mode for the lock screen, according to Bloomberg. This feature, however, may be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Better battery life
Apple’s 2022 iPhone could offer better battery life, according to a report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News (via MacRumors). This is said to be due to a new 5G chip that could also provide the new iPhone with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.

A larger battery capacity for each model in the iPhone 14 lineup could also contribute to the better battery life. According to ShrimpApplePro, the standard iPhone 14 may have a 3,279-mAh battery, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max may sport a 4,323-mAh battery.

Wi-Fi 6E adoption
The iPhone 14 could be equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, according to a November note from Kuo, reported on by 9to5Mac. However, the analyst says the components needed for Wi-Fi 6E may be in short supply. Apple’s rumored VR headset is also said to have Wi-Fi 6E.

A16 chip
Previous speculation was that the whole iPhone 14 series would upgrade to an A16 chip, improving upon the last iPhone’s A15 chip in keeping with Apple’s previous pattern. However, Kuo predicted in March that the A16 will only appear in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the 14 and 14 Max will keep the A15.

120Hz ProMotion display
All iPhone 14 models could include Apple’s ProMotion display, which only the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max variants currently have. ProMotion boosts the screen’s refresh rate for smoother performance, up to 120Hz. This is more speculation than actual rumor, based on changes in Apple’s supply chain that would make it easier for the company to offer the feature across its next lineup.

Young, however, speculates that Apple will continue to offer ProMotion displays exclusively to its Pro models. The analyst suggests that Chinese manufacturer BOE would be one of Apple’s LTPO OLED display suppliers, but the company doesn’t have a large production capacity right now.

5G connectivity
Apple introduced 5G connectivity to its iPhone 12 lineup and, unsurprisingly, included it in the iPhone 13 as well. There’s no reason to believe we won’t see 5G-compatible iPhone 14s, too. A 2021 report from Nikkei Asian Review also predicts Apple will “go all in on 5G” in 2022.

MagSafe accessories
Like 5G, MagSafe was introduced to the iPhone in 2020’s iPhone 12 lineup. The snap-on, magnetic accessories include wallets, battery packs and chargers, and it was one of our favorite iPhone 12 features. The iPhone 13 is also compatible with MagSafe, and we expect the same for Apple’s next generation of phones.

Satellite connectivity
An 11th-hour iPhone 13 rumor via Kuo that didn’t come to fruition was the addition of satellite connectivity, which would allow users to send text messages via satellite in areas without cellular coverage, at least in emergency situations, as reported by Bloomberg. Alas, satellite connectivity is nowhere to be found in the iPhone 13 lineup, but perhaps that means it’s coming in the iPhone 14 instead.

Google will soon launch the Pixel 6A, a more wallet-friendly version of the Pixel 6 that it announced nearly two months ago during its I/O conference. As expected, the Pixel 6A includes many of the Pixel 6’s highlight features like the Tensor chip at a lower price of $449.

Coming July 28, the new 6.1-inch Pixel will serve as a successor to last year’s Pixel 5A. As rumored, it will feature a design similar to last year’s Pixel 6 line, including a camera bar in the middle of the back of the phone for its 12-megapixel ultrawide and main cameras. Preorders begin on July 21.

Google’s custom Tensor chip will power the phone alongside 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Google says the 6A will be capable of the same tricks the Pixel 6 offers, including camera features like Night Sight, Real Tone and Magic Eraser — with the last of these getting an improvement that will allow you to “change the color of distracting objects in your photo.”

The phone will support 5G and all three major US wireless carriers will offer the phone, though Verizon’s version will run $500 since it supports millimeter-wave 5G. Google is promising roughly three years of Android software updates and five years of security updates. The company says the 6A will be “among the first Android devices to receive the upcoming Android 13” update later this year.

Like the Pixel 6, the 6A will have an under-display fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. The fingerprint reader may even be more responsive than the Pixel 6 Pro’s, according to a video posted by a Malaysian YouTuber that obtained the device early. While the 5A had a headphone jack, the 6A will not. Like the Pixel 5A, the new phone will be IP67-rated for water and dust resistance, and will not support wireless charging.

“[The] Pixel 6A is about maximizing the user value,” Google said in a statement to CNET. “To maintain a $449 starting price point we needed to make some trade-offs, one of which was the exclusion of wireless charging.”

The new phone will come in charcoal, chalk and sage colors.

The Pixel 6A is one of several new gadgets in Google’s pipeline, along with the long-awaited Pixel Watch, new Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, the Pixel Tablet coming in 2023 and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones due in the fall.

The launch also comes at a time when rivals like Apple and Samsung are focusing more on their competitively priced devices. Apple released a new 5G-enabled version of the iPhone SE in March, which at $429 is just $20 cheaper than the Pixel 6A. Samsung debuted the $450 Galaxy A53 5G in during that same month.

The “rugged” version of Apple’s smartwatch may be revealed later this year.

Apple is rumored to be working on a new version of the Apple Watch that’ll be geared toward extreme sports. The more “rugged” Apple Watch will feature a larger display screen, longer battery life for workouts and a protective metal case, according to a report Wednesday from Bloomberg, which cited people with knowledge of the company’s plans. The new Apple Watch will reportedly be unveiled later this year.

The larger watch screen will reportedly measure approximately 2 inches diagonally, be more shatter-resistant and will have around 7% more screen surface than current Apple Watches. This will be the third time Apple has increased the screen size of Apple Watches since they debuted in 2015. With the increased screen size, the rumored extreme sports Apple Watch would offer consumers one of the largest screens on the market.

Changing the case to a “strong metal material” instead of aluminum and including a larger battery are the other main changes geared toward extreme sports enthusiasts. Apple will reportedly unveil two other updates in the Apple Watch Series 8, a standard Apple Watch and a lower-end Apple Watch SE, both of which will keep their current screen size. The entire series of watches will run on an S8 processor, according to Bloomberg.

The new rugged Apple Watch is expected to be more expensive than existing standard stainless steel Apple Watches, which start at $699.

Apple has announced a new security feature to protect high-risk users from spyware cyber-attacks.

Lockdown Mode will be available in the autumn with the next operating system across all of the company’s iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The setting blocks certain functions and prevents unknown users from calling.

It comes after Apple devices owned by activists, politicians and journalists were infected with spyware.

Apple is currently suing Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, accusing it of targeting victims in 150 different countries with its powerful Pegasus spyware.

The firm’s software could infect both iPhones and Android devices, allowing operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras.

NSO Group says its tools are made to target terrorists and criminals and insists it only supplies Pegasus to military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records.

NSO Group: Israeli spyware company added to US trade blacklist
Pegasus spyware seller: Blame our customers, not us, for hacking
When the extent of the alleged surveillance was revealed last July, Apple faced criticism from privacy and security experts for not protecting users.

It quickly released an emergency software update to all devices to patch up the vulnerability that Pegasus had secretly been using for years.

Now the company is releasing Lockdown Mode as a wider security feature it claims can protect devices from all known spyware currently on the market.

Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:

Messages: Most message attachment types other than images are blocked. Some features, like link previews, are disabled
Web browsing: Certain complex web technologies, like just-in-time JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site
Calls: Incoming invitations including FaceTime calls, are blocked if the user has not previously sent the initiator a call or request
Wired connections with a computer or accessory are blocked when iPhone is locked
At launch, Lockdown Mode will be available to all users in the device settings, but Apple suggests it should only be activated if someone is a risk of what it calls “mercenary spyware attacks” – for example a journalist or opposition leader in a repressive regime.

“While the vast majority of users will never be victims of highly targeted cyber-attacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture.

Apple announced it will double the bounty threshold it pays out to ethical hackers who discover security flaws in Lockdown Mode to $2m (£1.7m).

The US firm will also donate $10m to a fund helping organisations expose the misuse of spyware.

“The global spyware trade targets human rights defenders, journalists, and dissidents, and facilitates violence, reinforces authoritarianism, and supports political repression,” said Lori McGlinchey, director, technology and society at the Ford Foundation, which will oversee the grant.

In November, US officials placed NSO Group on a trade blacklist, saying the software had “enabled foreign governments to conduct transnational repression, which is the practice of authoritarian governments targeting dissidents, journalists and activists”.

NSO Group is also being sued by WhatsApp, which accuses it of using the messaging service as a vehicle to spread Pegasus.

When you want a new phone, these are the most important details to keep in mind.

The main differences between the standard 6 and the 6 Pro come with its storage and memory options: The 6 starts with 256GB of storage with models that include 8GB and 12GB of RAM, while the 6 Pro includes 512GB of storage and 18GB of RAM. The Pro also has a second display on the back that can show notifications, system information and animations. The 6 instead gets a LED logo that can be customized to light up for different situations.

These are all specs that — like other gaming phones — are meant to prioritize power and performance in order to get the most out of Android games. The battery in particular is especially notable and its 6,000mAH capacity matches last year’s Asus ROG Phone 5. That phone has one of the longest battery lives that we’ve seen on an Android phone, according to CNET reviewer Patrick Holland, and was accomplished through two 3,000-mAh batteries. Last year’s phone also had a very fast 144Hz screen though, and this year’s even faster 165Hz screen might affect how quickly it burns through a charge.

Having that 165Hz screen should also make animations extremely smooth, especially for games that are capable of supporting that threshold. I found during my review of the RedMagic 7, which also has a 165Hz refresh rate, that only some Android games support that right now since most phones cap out at a 120Hz refresh rate. For most people, 120Hz is plenty smooth enough, but for the gaming crowd this phone is targeted toward, 165Hz does bring out a bit more precision in what you can see.

Release dates aren’t yet available, but both phones are set to first arrive in Europe at 999 euros (roughly $1,024; £858; AU$1,510) for the 6 and 1,299 euros for the Pro. This puts them well into flagship territory in terms of pricing, and an uptick over last year’s ROG Phone 5, which started at 799 euros.

While we would need to wait for a hands-on with the phone in order to check out the Snapdragon chip in the phone, this latest chip along with the higher refresh-rate display on a Samsung-made display are intriguing as they both could eventually end up in more mainstream phones down the line.

Save yourself time and stress by knowing where these things are at all times.

If you’re prone to losing personal items on a regular basis, then listen closely because this tip will change your life. Place an Apple AirTag on or in whatever it is that you tend to misplace.

While generally you need to be within Bluetooth range to find your AirTag, you can use Apple’s Find My service to locate it if it’s further away but — and this is important to remember — in range of another Apple device (here’s how the Find My network works). To do so, just put your AirTag into Lost Mode and you’ll get a notification once it’s within range of the Find My network.

We’ll tell you where you can place an AirTag that you may not have thought of before. For more details, here’s how to tell if an AirTag is tracking your location on Android.

In your tent when you go hiking
If you’re setting up camp in a location you’ve never visited, it could be useful to place an AirTag inside your tent so you can easily find your campsite. For instance, if you decide to hike several miles one day, you can use Find My to look up the AirTag’s last location (your tent) and get directions back to the campsite. Remember, it’ll need to be within range of anyone else’s device, so don’t rely on this out in the wilderness. (This is also why Apple advises you not to use AirTags on pets.)

In your jacket pocket
How often have you left your coat behind in a restaurant, bar or friend’s house? Forgetting to grab your jacket when you head out is easy to do, especially if the weather is warmer than you expected or your hands are full of leftovers and to-go cups.

If you know you’ll be hanging your jacket on a coat rack — or the back of a chair — when you arrive, place an AirTag inside the pocket so you know where you left it. This can help prevent yet another favorite jacket from getting lost, and less money out of your wallet to replace it.

Inside your luggage
Airports can be tricky to navigate, and can become especially difficult when you’re trying to find the correct luggage pickup. Sometimes you wait 30 minutes until your bags finally roll out on the conveyor belt — and sometimes they get lost. To relieve the stress of trying to locate your suitcase, you can put an AirTag tracker inside so you can track its whereabouts.

This can help you find out if your bags were left on the airplane, if they’re on the conveyor belt but you haven’t spotted them yet or if someone mistakenly grabbed your luggage. Once you find out where your bags are, you can remedy the situation and continue on to where you’re going.

Inside your laptop bag
Laptop bags can be easily left behind at a cafe when you’re picking up coffee for everyone at the office. When your hands are full and you’re distracted wondering how you’re going to open your car door, it’s hard to remember to grab your bag from the booth you were sitting in.

That’s why it’s a good idea to place an AirTag inside one of the pockets. You will be able to not only locate your expensive laptop but also save any confidential company or personal information you had in your bag.

In a hidden place on your bicycle
If it hasn’t happened to you, you probably know someone who has had this experience. You get home from a bike ride, go inside to grab water and something to eat and completely forget about your bike you left outside. Or maybe you went to the store, didn’t lock your bike up and when you came back it was gone.

If you place an AirTag in a hidden place on the bike, you can easily locate it. We don’t recommend tracking the bicycle down on your own though. It’s best to notify the police and let them retrieve your bike for you to avoid any dangerous situations.

This method also works on your car if it’s been stolen or towed away — or if you can’t remember where you parked it. Although if you have an iPhone and it’s connected to your car via Bluetooth, your phone can locate where you last left it.

More common areas to put your AirTag
AirTag is commonly used to locate these items.

Your purse or wallet
Your keychain
Your phone or tablet
The remote to your TV
Anything valuable that you leave outside your home
For more Apple information, here’s how to send secret messages on your iPhone. Also, this new iOS 16 feature can save you from cringeworthy iPhone texts.

Commentary: The Apple Watch SE nails the basics for a much cheaper price than the Series 7. I’m excited to see what’s in store for the next version.

With a blood oxygen monitor, the ability to record an ECG from your wrist and plenty of exercise logging options, the Apple Watch Series 7 is already a capable health tracker. But Apple might expand its wellness ambitions by adding a temperature sensor to the Series 8, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal report.

However, I’m much more excited about the idea of a new Apple Watch SE, which Bloomberg says could be coming in 2022. Apple’s simpler and cheaper device has everything most people want in a smartwatch, from tracking workouts to enabling Apple Pay transactions and displaying iPhone alerts.

Apple’s newer wellness features are a step forward for consumer health monitoring and show promise. There are also plenty of stories indicating the Apple Watch has helped save lives. But the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 already provide more information than I personally know what to do with. A Series 8 with even more health metrics might be too complex for some people.

That’s why I’m more interested in seeing what’s next for Apple’s more wallet-friendly option. The current Apple Watch SE debuted in 2020, and it’s time for an update.

The Apple Watch SE has most of the Series 7’s best features
The $399 Apple Watch Series 7, compared with the $279 SE, is packed with extra health features and other refinements, such as blood oxygen readings, the ability to take an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) from your wrist, a larger screen and faster charging.

Those qualities make the Series 7 a more comprehensive health tracker, a better communication tool and a more useful sleep tracker. The Series 7’s more spacious screen means it can fit a full QWERTY keyboard for responding to text messages, and the speedier charging makes it easier to top off your watch after a night of sleep tracking.

The Series 8 is expected to take a similar trajectory, and it could include a skin temperature sensor for fertility planning and potentially other applications, according to Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.

These perks may not be necessary for everyone, hence the SE’s more focused appeal. Those who just want to close their Activity Rings and make sure they don’t miss text messages while away from their phone can probably do without blood oxygen readings, a larger screen and faster charging. The Apple Watch Series 7 and its predecessor feel targeted toward those looking to keep a closer eye on their wellbeing, especially when it comes to cardiac health.

The Apple Watch SE has many of Apple’s most important health and safety features even though it’s not as advanced as its pricier siblings. Although you can’t take an ECG from your wrist using the SE, Apple’s cheaper watch can still deliver high and low heart rate notifications, notice irregular heart rhythms, detect hard falls and provide access to emergency services. If you’re buying a watch for an elderly family member who may be prone to falling, that might be enough.

Newer metrics such as blood oxygen readings don’t always feel helpful. Although Apple says measurements from the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen app can provide you with “insights into your overall wellness,” I’m not sure what to do with these readings. Since the Apple Watch isn’t intended for medical purposes, it’s unclear whether I should be alarmed if my readings are too low.

That’s not to say there isn’t potential. When the Series 6 was unveiled in 2020, Apple announced plans to work with researchers on three separate health studies to examine how blood oxygen readings and other metrics can help with managing asthma and heart rate failure in addition to detecting respiratory conditions like COVID-19. But for now, the blood oxygen reader on the Series 6 and 7 doesn’t feel necessary. Similarly, other wearables such as those from Garmin, Fitbit and Samsung offer blood oxygen readings that rely on the wearer having to interpret them.

While I appreciate the SE’s simpler approach to health tools, I’d like to see Apple add at least one feature that’s currently exclusive to more expensive models: an always-on display. New Apple Watches starting with the Series 5 and later (except for the SE) can keep their screens on even when the watch is idle. This makes the Apple Watch better at its most basic job — telling the time.

It might not seem like a huge deal, but I appreciate being able to glance down at the time and my activity progress on a Series 7 without needing to move my wrist or touch the watch the way you do on the SE. It’s not as exciting or meaningful as health-related updates in the long term, but it’s handy for everyday use, and I’m hoping to see it on the next Apple Watch SE.

The Apple Watch has matured, just like the iPhone
The Apple Watch has evolved to the point where annual upgrades aren’t always a major step forward, much like the iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 7, for example, felt like a more refined version of the Series 6. Aside from blood oxygen measurements, the Series 6 also didn’t feel that different from the Series 5.

That makes the case for cheaper models like the Apple Watch SE all the more compelling, especially as WatchOS updates bring new features to older models. WatchOS 9, which launches this fall, will bring more detailed sleep tracking, a new app for logging medications, fresh watch faces and other updates to the Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

The Apple Watch SE holds its own in terms of performance and feels just as responsive as the latest model when running the same software. You don’t need the most expensive or newest version to get a full experience, which is why Apple has kept the Series 3 in its lineup for so long.

But the Apple Watch Series 3 won’t support WatchOS 9 and has become difficult to update since it doesn’t have much internal storage. With that in mind, it seems like the Apple Watch Series 3’s days are numbered, a prediction analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made back in March. That also makes the Apple Watch SE much more important since it will likely replace the Series 3 as the most affordable Apple Watch option.

Overall, the current SE provides the right middle ground between the Series 3 and Series 7. As Apple’s high-end watches have become more sophisticated health tracking devices, the SE has increasingly felt like the better option for everyday users with tighter budgets. Now that the Apple Watch SE is almost two years old, I’m ready for a new one.

Other recipients will include Olympians Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe, former US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and actor Denzel Washington.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House said Friday, recognizing his accomplishments as the head of Apple and Pixar, as well as his leading role at the Walt Disney Company.

“His vision, imagination and creativity led to inventions that have, and continue to, change the way the world communicates, as well as transforming the computer, music, film and wireless industries,” the White House said in a statement.

President Joe Biden’s recognition for Jobs marks the latest of accolades the former Apple CEO has received since he died of cancer in 2011. He received an Edison Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, honoring the “successful development and launch of game-changing new products and services” as well as his “lasting contribution to innovation.” In 2013, Jobs received a Disney Legends Award for his contribution “to the Disney legacy” as Pixar’s CEO and later a board member.

The announcement came the same week that marked the 15th anniversary of the launch of the original iPhone.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the US. Basketball star Michael Jordan received the honor in 2016, as did entertainment Oprah Winfrey in 2015 and feminist activist Gloria Steinem in 2013.

Others have received the award posthumously, including civil rights giant the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1977 and music legend Elvis Presley and baseball great Babe Ruth, both in 2018.

This year’s presentation ceremony is set for July 7 at the White House. The 17 recipients will also include two Olympic gold medal winners, gymnastics icon Simone Biles and soccer star Megan Rapinoe, as well as former US Rep. and gun-safety advocate Gabrielle Giffords and actor Denzel Washington.