Apple iOS 11.0.3 Angers Users Two Weeks Later

While everyone is waiting for the thrilling possibilities of iOS 11.1 the sad truth remains that Apple iOS 11.0.3 is creating a lot of problems for its users. And now even the most faithful followers of Apple have begun to recognise this.

Famed ally AppleInsider wrote addressing this topic, stating that, problems such as battery life and instability propagate through social media and Apple support forums and many of these problems don’t seem to have a common origin and are neither solved easily. More relevant to the point, AppleInsider points out postings where users have bombarded Apple with many complaints.

Apple’s Official Support Communities forum shows a post where multiple reports of problem with iOS 11.0.3 have been made but in particular, the really terrible battery life has more than 1200 endorsements proving to Apple that “I have this question too”.

A post on Reddit by one owner describes how his iPhone’s performance has gradually gone downhill after upgrading to iOS 11.0.3 and this post has over 400 comments, where almost all relate with the poster. And this only worsens from here on. A second Reddit thread describes a drop in performance and stability problems and the poster asks how common other users are finding this. This received over 2000 comments in support to the problem described.

Temper levels are also on the rise. Users that are affected are arguing that it’s a disaster and unaffected users are contradicting that saying they are unaffected and that there is absolutely no problem. However, neither of the viewpoints is useful. It is clear that each and every single iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is not affected, but it is also equally clear that a considerable number are.

AppleInsider itself clarifies this point saying that it has observed iOS 11.0.3 running well on a pair of iPad Airs, iPhone 7 Plus and an iPhone 6S that it has but other iPads and iPhones are facing problems which includes an intense effect on its battery life. This issue of battery life specifically seems to be a very dreadful problem for many.

A simple search on Twitter shows thousands of complaints pertaining to only iOS 11.0.3 battery life and the software, not the hardware, appears to be the cause of the problem. AppleInsider studied the data set gathered from Genius Bars since the 2016 ‘Touch Disease’ problems and concluded that authorised hardware repairs saw no significant increase and thus there had to be a problem with iOS 11 itself.

There is good news is that there may be hopes for battery life in particular as the latest betas of iOS 11.1 are showing huge improvements. But this is just one particular issue and notes that have been released so far alongside the iOS 11.1 betas did not show it will make the truck-load of fixes in demand by many, at least officially.

Apple iOS 11.1 will be likely to be launched in the next 1-2 weeks, but it would be beneficial to sign up for the Apple Beta Program if one can’t wait. For the moment, Apple needs to keep in mind that even though they are very focused on the super smart iPhone X, the company cannot risk leaving behind their faithful customers who are still using older models.

Apple Leak Reveals Massive iPhone Feature Cancelled

Widely known as the planet’s best Apple analyst on the planet, Ming-Chi Kuo, a KGI Securities analyst is back in the news again, with the revelation that Apple will be making a huge deletion in the new iPhones to come in 2018.

A Macrumors report stated that Apple has made a decision to “abandon” the very famous Touch ID fingerprint sensor and it will not be seen in any of the future generation of iPhones. Kuo states that as an alternative Touch ID will be completely substituted by Face ID, a thrilling yet polarising technology that involves facial recognition which will make its first appearance in the upcoming iPhone X. The logic that Apple applies behind this is that it firmly believes it will gain an advantage competitively via differentiation, according to Kuo, who said it will take many years for the Android-based competitors to match it.

Nonetheless, this is a huge risk that Apple is taking, especially when the Face ID has not yet appeared on the market and this is likely to be a controversial move for many reasons. First and foremost, even if it works as efficiently as the Touch ID, there are many cases where the physical activity of phone unlocking by looking at it will not be as seamless or subtle as utilising your fingerprint. This comprises of almost everything from trying to align your face to the camera and screen while running or walking, utilising Apple Pay while checking out or even discreetly browsing your phone under the table while stuck in a dull meeting.

Secondly, while Apple commits to not accessing your data, Face ID works on the principle of building a thorough 3D model of your face for recognition purposes. So if the concept of your phone gathering your fingerprints was unsettling, then swapping that feature for a digital record of the exact features of your face will not be appealing enough.

Thirdly, biometrics works best when used in combination. For example: using a fingerprint sensor while your face is being scanned. Hence Apple’s decision to substitute one with the other does not do much to enhance security over Touch ID, as tests have proved.

Face ID is surely a very thrilling technology and in the case of the iPhone X, it facilitates a few great secret features, but there’s no solid reason to completely dismiss the idea of Touch ID. It can be included into the power button, the rear of the phone or maybe even beneath the display and having both the options of Face ID and Touch ID being made available to owners to choose from.

Still Apple attempts at thinking different and Kuo says 2018 iPads will see the addition of Face ID but there is no word on it being included on MacBooks and Macs yet. Also, history shows us that Apple is pretty ruthless when it comes to replacing the older technologies with the new and it’s not surprising as these replacements are always justified in the long-run. But while Face ID may match Touch ID in terms of accuracy and speed, there is no solid proof to show that looking at your iPhone to unlock it is quicker or more convenient than using our fingers to do the same.

7 Things You Need to Know About the Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 3: Practical test of the LTE Smartwatch

The Apple Watch Series 3 is available in stores. Macmyth.com has looked at the new Cellular version with LTE. Here comes the first practical impression!

The Apple Watch Series 3 looks good on the paper: GPS sensor, barometer, pulse sensor, eSIM card. The operating system offers more fitness functions and a new Siri interface is really awesome. Visually nothing has happened compared to the predecessor, the processor is brighter. The battery life disappointed.
 
Pros
 
GPS sensor
pulse sensor
barometer
Fresh operating system
Flatterer processor
UMTS and LTE connections
 
Cons
 
Battery life only 18 hours
Music streaming does not work yet

On this day, Apple fans have waited: the 22nd of September. From then on there are the iPhone 8 models to buy - and the Apple Watch Series 3. The fresh watch closely resembles the previous model Series 2, only this time comes as a "Cellular" variant with eSIM. In Europe the mobile radio mode works only exclusively with the Telekom. Why this is so and how the Series 3 hits in the first practice test - read on!

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in two versions: "GPS" and "GPS + Cellular". In the Cellular equipment, Apple has fixed a SIM card, which makes LTE and UMTS connections without smartphone - as with the iPad. In this way, users can make calls without the iPhone, stream music over Apple Music, and answer messages. In the practice test it was shown: As soon as WLAN or the Bluetooth connection to the smartphone is available, the Watch uses this connection. Thus, it only accesses the network independently if it is its only option. This is a good thing: the LTE connection gnaws properly on the battery. Other testers complained about problems with the telephone connection - here everything worked smoothly in the MACMYTH.COM practice test. The only drawback: With SMS the watch showed a non-notified message, although they arrived at the receiver.

Practice Test: Apple Watch Series 3

With the eSIM, the Apple Watch is more independent of the smartphone than its predecessors. However, the usage scenarios for the mobile data connection are limited; a possible situation is about a jogging round. Internet is then used to stream music or the emergency call. Already the Apple indicated recharge time is small. Other smartwatches plague this problem, some of which are now two or three days.

eSIM in Europe: Telekom tariff

To use eSIM, you need a tariff. The Apple Watch Series 3 "GPS + Cellular" does not work with any provider and not in every country. In Europe, for example, this is only offered by Telekom for its mobile customers. Reason: Telekom is here the only provider, the eSIM maps programmed. The required multi-SIM tariff at the Telekom costs depending on the mobile phone tariff up to 4.95 euros. For the first six months, telecom customers use the eSIM of the Apple Watch free of charge if they bought the device there. The tariff is booked online in the customer center or by hotline. Then the Telekom sends the QR link by mail and clears it in the online customer center. You will find the link under My contracts. Then click on the handy number with which you want to connect the SIM, scroll to My SIM cards, and click the activation code under Multi-SIM. Apple Watch and iPhone ask during setup for this QR link.

To use the Apple Watch 3 with the eSIM you will have to store a profile on it. Apple points out that when you set up the AppleWatch for the first time, you are prompted to enter a code from the vendor.
The prices for the Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS and Cellular start at 449 euros with aluminum case and sports or sports loop bracelet. If you decide to buy a stainless steel case, you have at least 749 euros. The Nike special models are available from 449 euros. And if you would like it to be exclusive, you can access the Hermes edition, which starts at 1299 euros. If you decide for the ceramic housing, which is now also available in gray, you pay 1399 euros.

iPhone X vs iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Should We Upgrade?

Upgraded iPhones – iPhone X/iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus

 
The three updated iPhones this year are the slick all-screen iPhone X, the latest iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, made available with wireless charging.

 

How does the latest iPhone tend to differ?

 
The iPhone X has a different appearance in comparison to the other iPhones. It’s more like the Essential Phone and the Samsung Galaxy S8 though with an increase in screen-to-body ratio. On slimming down the bezels and eliminating the home button, Apple seems to have packed a 5.8-inch OLED display in a reduced body than the iPhone 7 Plus together with the iPhone 8 Plus. Towards the top of the display is included an IR camera, for the front facing camera together with an array of sensors - `Dot Projector’ and 1Flood Illumination’.

Moreover, Apple has also switched the aluminium frame utilised from the time of iPhone 6 with a glass back though has maintained the comfortable curved edges that are now of `medical grade’ stainless steel on the iPhone X. Regardless of the claim of Apple that the glass tends to be most durable in a smartphone, glass tends to be a fragile material which would mean that the user would not only have to cope with the likelihood of cracking the display when the phone tends to fall but the rear as well.

At first glance, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus tends to look similar to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which seems to appear like the iPhone 6, with chunky bezels together with home button/fingerprint reader. Apple has also included a glass back to the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus which tends to make it more delicate than its precursors.
 

What is the size of the iPhone X in comparison to other phones?

 
Some users have the penchant to the tiny, easy to use one hand dimensions. The amazing news is the `no bezel’ design which shows that the iPhone X is somewhat the same to the iPhone 8 than the Plus irrespective of its big screen. With regards to statistics, the iPhone X is said to be about 5.2mm taller than an iPhone 8 though the iPhone 8 Plus tends to be a substantial 14.8mm taller than the iPhone X. Moreover the iPhone X also tends ot be the same size as the Samsung Galaxy S8.
 

How does the iPhone X tends to work without a home button?

 
In order to get to the Control Centre, user could swipe down from the top of the screen towards the left, swiping down from the right side opens the notifications. These are small changes and not too complex. TouchID that are in-built in the home button have been replaced by FaceID on iPhone X tough TouchID tends to remain on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
 

What is Face ID?

 
Since the home button has been eliminated from the iPhone X together with the fingerprint sensor by Apple, it has come up with a standby in the form of Face ID which is a facial-recognition security process enabling the user to unlock their phone with their face. Face ID, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, utilises the new depth sensing camera of iPhone X for verifying the features which means that it is unable to be fooled with an image, the way the system of Samsung tends to do. It functions by utilising a `Flood Illuminator’, which provides adequate light for infrared camera as well as `Dot Projector’ for firing `30,000 invisible IR dots’ at one’s face. Thereafter the IR image together with the dot pattern is moved through neural networks for the creation of mathematical model of the face and is then matched to a stored 3D model. The information related to facial is protected by same `secure enclave’ utilised by TouchID while at the same time the data processing is carried on-device rather than of the cloud. Apple has stated that its tech is good enough for FaceID to function in the dark and also if one intends to improve on their looks like grow a beard, wear glasses etc. It’s left to be seen if FaceID would be living up to the promises made by Apple.
 

Should we care if iPhone X has OLED screen?

 
The iPhone X is said to be the first phone of Apple to have OLED display though Samsung had been utilising the same in its devices for several years. Apple’s IPS LED displays utilised tend to be good though OLED technology enables richer colours together with deeper blacks which is owing to the ability of turning each single pixel on or off whenever required. Considering stability, OLED seems to be a good upgrade due to its fantastic contrast of OLED screens which seems excellent for videos as well as photos and this is the reason people prefer an OLED TV. Hence it is good news that Apple has made the switch even though it has come up with this idea a bit late.
 

Are the latest iPhones faster?

 
The iPhone X and iPhone 8 features a new six-core A11 system-on-a-chip –SoC, comprising of four low-power core together with two performances cores which tend to build on 10nm FinFET manufacturing system rather than the 16nm process of A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7. Apple, on decreasing the process, has filled more transistors in a smaller space enhancing the performance as well as the battery life. Apple has claimed that the iPhone X has the potential of lasting for two hours longer on a charge than the iPhone 7 as well as it is 25% faster on performance cores and 75% faster on the energy efficient cores. In the meanwhile Apple has created its own Graphics Processing Unit – GPU for the A11 SoC breaking off with Imagination Technologies. Both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus tends to have the same A11 SoC like the iPhone X. But the A11 seems to be a tough sell if one is a user of iPhone 7 and are also new to the features.

Apple TV 4K arrives, now Apple's finally ready to play the Ultra HD game

Apple TV 4K – Streaming Video-Player
 
The long-awaited streaming video-player of apple tv 4K is getting a renovation as the iTunes store squeezes Hollywood for an improved deal on Ultra HD movies. Since the prices of Ultra HD television has dropped they have been replaced by full HD as the default choice while shopping for big screen for the living room. Australians could overlook the Ultra HD broadcasting for the predictable future.

 In the meantime Ultra HD Blu-ray disc players have been gradually taking off though the easiest method of getting Ultra HD movies to your living room is through the internet where one would be having your home broadband connection. Bandwidth is obviously less scarce in US and so Apple watchers had been amazed two years back when the Apple TV 4th gen did not make the leap to Ultra HD.

 American at that point of time already had access to a range of Ultra HD capable streaming services comprising of Netflix, YouTube and Amazon though not the iTunes stores of Apple. If Steve Jobs had been around, he would have described Ultra HD as a `bag of hurt’, which is Apple-speak for `it doesn’t suit the business model at least not yet’ Ultra HD support back then would have benefitted Netflix more than Apple when Apple had been working on its own streaming video goals.
 
Ultra HD Trend
 
Two years thereafter, Cupertino is eventually taking on the Ultra HD trend so that apple tv 4K will show up on sign. The latest apple tv 4K had been put on sale in Australia on September 22 with pre-orders on September 15 priced at $249 for 32GB of storage for $279 for 64GB model.

The old Full HD apple tv 4K will fall to $209. Apple does not sell the earlier apple tv 4K models anymore which had not permitted the user to install third-party apps. In the meantime, Ultra HD movies will be coming to iTunes stores mainly for sale instead of rental. The most amazing thing is that the user will pay the same price as HD movies with a cost free upgrade for any of the HD movies one may have purchased earlier if they are made available in Ultra HD.

Apple is not taking a risk here. On the contrary it played hardball with the movie studio in making a better pricing deal rather than other video services which is a part of the continuing power struggle of Apple with content providers.
 
Support High Dynamic Range – Standard HDR10/Dolby Vision
 
Competitors such as Google Play in the meanwhile have been compelled to charge additional for Ultra HD movies not that there is much Ultra HD content in Australian store in spite of the launch of the Chromecast Ultra player. The apple tv 4K would be obtaining the support for Ultra HD Netflix shortly.

 The good news is that the player is said to support the High Dynamic Range for standard HDR10 as well as the advanced Dolby Vision chosen by Netflix HDR provides more vivid colours together with additional detail in the brightest highlight and deepest shadows. Amazingly Dolby Atmos audio support has not been mentioned.