News & Reviews:   Apple

Global infection rates of the COVID-19 virus continue to rise and this has caused companies to look for ways to help track them. Google has even partnered up with Apple to create a COVID-19 contact tracing system, which will be updated to Android devices running at least Android 6.0.

Many wonderful things are going to happen on Apple’s next-generation device, which is the iPhone 12. Earlier, rumours have been going on saying the new iPhones will be notch-less, having a LiDAR scanner and the list goes on. One of them also mentioned that the upcoming devices will pack a 5nm A14 chipset that is currently in production. Now, we’ve found a source claiming that the tech giant is placing more orders for the chipsets from their manufacturer.

In an effort to battle COVID-19, Apple have been testing a new way for everyone - particularly the hospitals, healthcare support and businesses that are still open - to have access to COVID-19 testing locations on their Apple Maps app. In other words, the app will be able to help those who want to do a health screen test at the nearest location possible so it should prove to be convenient.

The news just broke earlier and the movement control order has just been extended to 28 April 2020. That means we're stuck indoors for another two weeks and should REALLY find more ways to keep ourselves from getting cabin fever. Fortunately, Apple is going to provide a bit of help in that area by letting us watch some shows on Apple TV+ for free.

Based on a statement by engadget.com, it seems that Huawei is planning on offering their own credit card, similar to Apple's which was release on August of 2019. While it is not known whether the card will be made out of metal, we do know that it will be backed by China’s UnionPay and it supports features such as NFC for one-touch payment.

Much of the focus for Apple has been on its upcoming iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone 12 series smartphones. But with the latest rumour, it's clear that Apple wants to have a full lineup of audio products with its branding too. A source has revealed the retail pricing for Apple's new headphones and AirPods, along with the estimated launch timing as well.

Back in March, sources claimed that the Apple iPhone 12 series this year will have two variants with LIDAR scanner. From that, it can be assumed that Apple's next flagship smartphone series could come with at least three variants this year. But it looks like there's going to be a total of four variants if a new leak is to be believed.

Voice assistants have been around for a few years but most of us don't use them. Among them is Apple's Siri, which was first released in late 2011. Despite the long years of development, Siri continues to be criticised for poor voice recognition accuracy and has been accused of lacking innovation. That may change now that Apple has acquired a new AI company.

Just today, we have received news that Apple is preparing for the launch of Apple iPhone 9. Other than that, it looks like the iPhone 9 will also be named as iPhone SE to avoid confusion. Now, another rumour has surfaced on the Internet that the tech giant is going to bring some new technologies to the upcoming devices. It has been found out that there are two patents from the company hinting at an underwater UI and an automatic screen orientation adjustment.

The disruption to events and product launches has been rampant during this COVID-19 pandemic. But Apple's upcoming 5G iPhones might not be delayed after all with Foxconn reassuring investors that things should be on schedule. From the hints, it's believed that the iPhone 12 series can still make it for the usual September launch.