Satellite calling to no SIM card tray: iPhone 14s cool new features explained

On September 7, during their “Far Out” event, along with the new Apple Watch Series and the new AirPods Pro, Apple announced their latest iPhone 14 line of phones. There had been a lot of rumours doing rounds on the internet about the speculated specifications of these newly launched phones. 

All of them were put to rest when the official announcements were made. Some of these were underwhelming. However, there were some announcements that took many by surprise. Let’s look at what’s new in Apple’s latest and best-ever iPhones.

Apple iPhone 14 – New display

There were two sides to the coin to look at when it came to the changes to the display of the new iPhones. While the lower-end, non-Pro iPhones, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus, retained the old and infamous notch from the iPhone 13 and before, the Pro models, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone Pro Max, were presented with refreshed displays.

As speculated, Apple went and ditched the notch on the Pro iPhones this year in favour of a new pill-shaped cut-out, which we at the Digit office are calling, the Morse Code notch.  While this new design does free up some real estate, the star of the show here was Dynamic Island. 

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

We have covered it extensively in our article, so go check that out here. Basically, it is a mini-command centre that will morph into small widgets, if needed, giving you information about incoming calls, battery percentage, some music controls, etc.

The iPhone 14 Pro and the Pro Max also saw an improvement in the panel that they will be sporting. The new display panels on these iPhones will have 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness and 2000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. 

Additionally, there was also the introduction of the always-on display on the Pro iPhones, which Apple executives spent a lot of time talking about. In its essence, it works the same as all other phones, with the only difference being the better battery optimisation by Apple, and selective screen dimming, allowing better reproduction of human skin tones if they are present on the lock screen wallpaper.  The cherry on top is ProMotion, which also saw a few improvements. However, much to the dismay of the fans, there was not much added to the displays of the non-Pro iPhones. 

Apple iPhone 14 – Same old tech for the non-Pros

When it came to the processors, there was again a divide clearly visible in the treatment given to the Pro and the non-Pro iPhones. The iPhone 14 Pro and the Pro Max, as announced during the event, would come equipped with Apple’s latest and greatest, A16 Bionic chip.

The new A16 Bionic chip sports a 6‑core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, a 5‑core GPU, and a 16‑core Neural Engine. These specs look impressive on paper, and if Apple’s claims are anything to go by, this is the “fastest chip ever in a smartphone”.

As for the non-Pro iPhones, they retained the last-gen A15 Bionic chip. This is a very interesting move by Apple. Because without a processor upgrade, there’s very little for the prospective iPhone 14 buyer to look forward to. If coming from the iPhone 13, then we don’t see any point for users to upgrade.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

Apple iPhone 14 – Better photos?

Apple’s iPhones are known for their cameras, and the folks are Cupertino understand this very well. That’s why they introduced new and improved camera tech on both the Pro and the non-Pro models of the iPhone 14. However, there was much more to talk about when it came to the Pro iPhones compared to their non-Pro brethren. 

Both the phones saw the introduction of a new Photonic Engine, which Apple claims will provide a significant improvement in the quality of pictures you take using your iPhones. The front camera also saw improvements in both models, with the introduction of the new TrudeDepth camera. It is a 12MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture and is capable of clicking photos  in Apple ProRAW, and 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, along with Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps.

When coming to the upgrades to the camera system in the Pro models, we saw the introduction of a new mammoth 48MP main camera. The camera system on the Pro iPhones now comes with 4 zoom options. These were – 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom. There was also the introduction of the Action mode, which would provide users with better stabilisation when shooting videos.

Apple iPhone 14 – All day battery

One of the biggest talking points for Apple across both the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro models was the improved battery life. The executives on stage left no chance to mention that the new phones would have a better battery that would last users all day. Both phones get better battery tech inside, ensuring that their battery life is better than what we have seen before. 

Apple iPhone 14 – Drop messages from the middle of nowhere

When the Apple executives were presenting the iPhones, no one expected that the Pro models would include satellite communication technology. It was announced that the new iPhones, both the Pro and the non-Pro variants, would sport “Emergency SOS via satellite”.

This new feature would allow iPhone 14 users to connect to a satellite in an emergency and establish contact with the first responders. The emergency communications service works using Apple’s own messaging protocol, which would compress messages to allow for better communication over the limited bandwidth of the connection to satellites. 

To ensure that maximum required information is transferred in the shortest time, Apple has made a set of pre-configured questions that would help the responders to gauge the severity of the situation in the best way possible, in the least amount of time. This would ensure better connectivity for iPhone users in remote areas, should they ever face an adverse situation.

Staying on the topic of connectivity, Apple also revealed that the latest iPhones would come without a sim card slot in the US. This move can be viewed from several different perspectives, with one of them dubbing this the last step before Apple’s iPhones go completely port-less. Apple’s already been making improvements to MagSafe. And, with the EU’s USB-C regulation looming and the lightning port being the last remaining slot on the iPhone, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Apple introducing a port-less iPhone next year.

There was also the introduction of crash detection tech in the new iPhones. This feature would be triggered in the event of an iPhone user being involved in a car crash or a similarly adverse situation. It would prompt the device to contact the authorities – if needed.

Meet iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro. All that and more from the #AppleEvent

— Apple (@Apple) September 7, 2022 Apple iPhone 14 – What’s the price?

In India, as per the listings on Apple’s web store, the base iPhone 14 will start at ₹79,900. If you are looking to go for the Pro models, then the base phone would set you back by ₹1,29,900.

During the one-and-a-half-hour-long keynote, Apple's executives took half the time talking about iPhones, and a lot more things were discussed. All of those, along with the features that we covered in this article, would be put to the test if and when the iPhones drop into the Digit Test Center.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in

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Xbox Elite Series 2 – Core Controller Announced, Launches September 21

Microsoft has unveiled its new Xbox Elite Series 2 – Core controller. Priced at Rs. 10,990, the controller is cheaper than the standard variant but offers less functionality in terms of customisation. Pre-orders for the Elite 2 Core controller are now live with the release date set for September 21. Neither Amazon nor Flipkart has it up on display though.

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What is Dynamic Island in iPhone 14: Heres how Apple has re-imagined the notch

Tim Cook and Co. took to the stage on Wednesday for the Apple September Event, which was called “Far Out” this year. There was a plethora of announcements, including new iPhones, Apple Watch Series 8, and the AirPods Pro 2. 

Dynamic Island in iPhone 14 – What’s the deal?

During the event, it was revealed that Apple, much to the joy of the fans, would ditch the infamous notch in favour of a new pill-shaped cutout on the Pro models. And, to make full use of this new, smaller cutout, they also announced Dynamic Island. This new introduction would serve as a small notification hub and add subtle quality of life features, enhancing the iPhone experience.The new iPhone Pro models, the 14 Pro (6.1 inch) and 14 Pro Max (6.7 inch), powered by the new A16 Bionic chip, will retail at $999 and $1099, respectively. While the basic design language of the phones remained the same, the biggest change was the introduction of the pill-shaped notch, which is home to the new Dynamic Island.

Meet iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro. All that and more from the #AppleEvent

— Apple (@Apple) September 7, 2022 Dynamic Island in iPhone 14 – Changed form, improved functionality

Dynamic Island is Apple’s newest and, as they’d love to call it, the best-ever way to serve popups to iPhone users. It would be a shapeshifting black pill surrounding the pill-shaped cutout on the Pro iPhone 14 models, notifying users if they are receiving a call and acting as a mini control centre, giving them access to essentials such as music controls and battery percentage information. 

Talking about the functionality of Dynamic Island on their website, Apple wrote, “Dynamic Island blends fun and function like never before, consolidating your notifications, alerts and activities into one interactive place. It’s integrated throughout iOS 16 — and can work with all kinds of apps — to seamlessly surface what you need, right when you need it.”

Dynamic Island in iPhone 14 – New and improved hardware too!

Inside the Dynamic Island, Apple has included a 31 per cent smaller TrueDepth camera system and a re-engineered proximity sensor. Additionally, Apple’s also introducing a host of new animations and algorithmic additions, which they promise would improve the display’s touch sensitivity around the island. All these new features were demonstrated during Apple’s presentation.

Apple’s touting the new Dynamic Island to be “This is the biggest change to the face of iPhone since we went all screen,” which is true. However, the actual functionality of this new addition would actually be determined when it ships out to users, who put it to test and see if Apple’s claims stand true or not. 

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God of War: Ragnarök Gameplay Reveals Dwarven Realm Svartalfheim, Environmental Puzzles

God of War: Ragnarök revealed some new gameplay footage, courtesy of GameInformer. The snippet video offers a first look at the Dwarven realm of Svartalfheim, as Kratos and son Atreus solve puzzles in the technologically advanced burrow. Traversal will mainly be based on foot or canoe, though other modes of transportation are also teased in the gameplay footage. God ...

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 announced with mmWave 5G: What else do they being

Chip-maker Qualcomm has announced Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 mobile platforms to address the mid-tier and mass-volume smartphone segment.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 extends users' reach with expansive connectivity and sustained, efficient power and performance for high-intensity gaming.

Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 offers impressive performance and AI to make interactions seamless and intuitive. This chip also provides advanced photography features as well as improved connectivity, the company said in a statement.

Commercial devices powered by Snapdragon 6 are expected to be available in Q1 2023, while devices based on Snapdragon 4 are likely to be available in the ongoing third quarter.

"Both Snapdragon 6 and Snapdragon 4 provide upgrades in their respective series to enable advancements in capture, connectivity, entertainment, and AI. These new mobile platforms help our customers to deliver advanced solutions for consumers," said Deepu John, senior director, product management, Qualcomm Technologies.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 allows users to capture 108 MP photos and video with computational HDR via support for staggered HDR image sensors — a first in the Snapdragon 6-series. 

Snapdragon 6 features the 7th Gen Qualcomm AI Engine enabling up to three times improved AI performance compared to its predecessor for intelligent assistance across the board, including AI-based activity tracking. 

"With hard-hitting gaming features that deliver up to 35 percent quicker graphics rendering and up to 40 percent faster processing, Snapdragon 6 powers HDR gaming at an ultra-smooth 60+fps while delivering real-time responses and high-quality visuals for winning entertainment," said the company.

Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 boasts impressive performance and multi-day battery life. 

The platform features up to 15 percent improved CPU and up to 10 percent enhanced GPU compared to the previous generation, allowing users to multitask smoothly and enjoy immersive entertainment. 

"Based on our long-lasting collaboration with Qualcomm, we can't wait to introduce our upcoming new iQOO smartphone adopting the new Snapdragon mobile platform," said Nipun Marya, chief executive officer, iQOO India.

"As a company, we will continue to find the perfect balance between performance and affordability by utilising the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 Mobile platform in the future," said Francois La Flamme, head of strategy and chief of marketing office, Motorola.

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Lava Blaze Pro with 50MP triple cameras to launch in September in India

Lava Blaze Pro is an upcoming budget smartphone by the popular Indian smartphone brand Lava Mobiles. The Blaze Pro seems to be a slightly upgraded version of the Lava Blaze which launched in India in July as an entry-level Android phone. Lava has also started teasing the Blaze Pro across its social media handles.

Are you ready for the Pro? #Coming Soon pic.twitter.com/MF1nRXFnwK

— Lava Mobiles (@LavaMobile) September 7, 2022

As per industry sources, Lava Blaze Pro will launch in September but there’s no official launch date for it right now. That said, we do have some specifications and features of the Lava Blaze Pro to share with you, courtesy of our sources who are familiar with the matter.

The Lava Blaze Pro is expected to feature a 6.5-inch HD+ resolution display with a waterdrop notch cutout for the selfie camera. Interestingly, the Lava Blaze also features a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen which has likely been carried onto the Blaze Pro. 

The Lava Blaze Pro is also expected to have a 5,000mAh battery to boot which again is the same as on the Lava Blaze, however, it remains to be seen whether the Pro supports fast charging or just the same 10W charger in the box.

Lava Blaze Pro has 50MP triple cameras offering upto 6x digital zoom which is a massive upgrade over the 13MP main camera on the Lava Blaze. Though information about the rest of the two sensors remains under wraps in the heads-up to the launch.

The Lava Blaze is powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 processor which is an entry-level chipset but the Lava Blaze Pro could be powered by a different processor since it’s being pegged as an upgrade to the standard Lava Blaze. As far as pricing is concerned, the Lava Blaze Pro is expected to be priced at around ₹10,000 in India but we will know for sure when it's officially announced later this month.

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Twitter should put more efforts in tackling bots, not serving subpoenas: Musk

San Francisco, Sep 7 (IANS) Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday said that Twitter should put more effort into tackling bots and spams on its platform and not in serving subpoenas to his friends.

Musk's friend David Sacks has already lost a bid to quash a Twitter subpoena because of his controversial tweets aimed at the micro-blogging platform that included an image of a middle finger, as well as a video of a man urinating on a subpoena.

Sacks, CEO of Craft Ventures and member of the "PayPal mafia", lost his appeal after being subpoenaed by Twitter for his correspondence with Musk, according to court documents.

Gary Black, Managing Partner, The Future Fund LLC, posted on Twitter that Musk needs to be very careful not to disrespect Twitter counsel or the court as "Judge McCormick is a no-nonsense judge with a gift for wicked prose. She will tear Elon apart if he shows disrespect for the court. See Friday's ruling on David Sacks subpoenas".

Musk replied: "Read the actual ruling. We had zero to do with David Sack's response. Zero."

The Tesla CEO further said: "If Twitter put as much effort into bot/spam removal as they do into subpoenas, we wouldn't have this problem in the first place!"

Sacks had taken out a non-disclosure agreement to evaluate a potential investment in connection with Musk's acquisition of Twitter, according to Insider, citing the court filing.

Sacks responded to Twitter subpoena by tweeting a picture of a middle finger from a Mad magazine cover, and posting a follow-up video from "The Wolf of Wall Street" of a character urinating on a subpoena.

This "obscene" behaviour prompted Twitter to file a complaint with the court, and was cited by the judge as the reason the subpoena could not be quashed.

Musk has terminated the $44 billion Twitter takeover deal, and the matter is now in a US court, over the presence of bots on the platform, and seeks answers from Agrawal via an open debate.

The Musk-Twitter trial is slated to begin from October 17.

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