Which? Magazine Claims iPhone 7 Has ‘Poor Battery Life’ Compared to Rival Smartphones
U.K. Consumers’ Association magazine Which? has concluded that the iPhone 7 offers the worst battery life when compared against the current crop of rival flagship smartphones.
Using a series of tests designed to account for everyday usage variables, the subscriber-only magazine compared Apple’s 4.7-inch phone against the Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10, and LG 5, and called the results “staggering”.
Whilst the iPhone 7’s 712 minutes of call time (nearly 12 hours) may sound acceptable, the rival Samsung Galaxy S7 lasted twice as long – and it doesn’t even have the longest lasting battery. The HTC 10 lasted an incredible 1,859 minutes (that’s almost 31 hours).
Internet browsing time measurements were less contrasting, nevertheless the iPhone 7 still came last.
The 615 minutes of battery life offered by the iPhone 7 is 25 minutes less than its nearest rival, the LG G5, and 175 minutes less than the top performing HTC 10. In fact, the HTC 10’s 3G internet browsing time was even longer than the iPhone 7’s 3G call time. It doesn’t make for pretty reading for Apple.
The new iPhone’s poor results in the battery test shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the physical limitations of a 4.7-inch handset’s battery cell compared to its physically larger rivals (5.1-5.3 inches). Measured in milliampere hours, the iPhone 7 has a 1,960mAh battery, compared to the HTC 10’s 3,000mAh cell, for instance, yet Which? describes this as a ‘fault’ of the phone.
The larger iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, features a 2,900 mAh battery, but wasn’t mentioned in the test, perhaps because it was perceived as belonging in the 5.5-inch handset bracket populated by devices like the Galaxy S7 Edge (3600mAh) and the HTC 10 Desire (2700 mAh).
The test doesn’t mention that Apple’s own product specifications show that the iPhone 7 has a higher-capacity battery than the iPhone 6s (1,810mAh), and seems to continue a recent negative trend where media reports have criticized Apple’s new flagship phone on the basis of its battery life. For example, last month, The Guardian ran an iPhone 7 story titled “How good can a phone be if the battery doesn’t last even a day?” and claimed that its holding charge was worse than the iPhone 6s.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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Facebook Replacing Messenger Tab With E-Commerce ‘Marketplace’ in iOS App
Facebook is launching a new user-to-user e-commerce service called “Marketplace” this week in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand (via The Verge). The new buying and selling service will replace the Messenger tab in the main Facebook mobile app for iOS and Android.
According to Facebook Marketplace project manager Bowen Pan, almost 450 million people use the social network’s various other services, like group messaging, to buy and sell items already, so “with Marketplace, Facebook is now giving users a more formal process to conduct these exchanges.”
When users tap on the new Marketplace icon, Facebook will use an algorithm to present each user with items it believes they will be interested in. This data is accumulated based on previously liked pages, and will even factor in a user’s viewing, purchasing, and selling history on Marketplace after they’ve used the service for a while.
When an item is discovered, users can send the seller a message, or place an offer on it to see if the seller accepts. When users want to unload something of their own, the process will include taking a photo of the item, naming and describing it, setting a sell price, and confirming a current location. The company said search queries can be set to nearby (for person-to-person exchanges), or wider to other cities with the option to ship the item.
“We saw a lot of people were really just looking at coming to Marketplace without necessarily anything in particular they were looking for,” Pan says. “They were just on Marketplace to casually browse through. This really mirrors an offline experience where you can go to a Sunday market or maybe the mall. You don’t know exactly what you want but you want to browse.” In that sense, Marketplace feels like a hybrid between eBay, Craigslist, and Amazon.
The company said it “does not plan” to charge users fees for using Marketplace when selling items, and Pan said that a desktop version is coming but the company’s focus is getting the service right on mobile as of now. On the safety and privacy side of things, Marketplace will continue Facebook’s rules against selling drugs, explosives, animals, firearms, and alcohol, but in terms of specific financial security, “Facebook does not have the same kinds of protections or guarantees as, say, eBay,” according to The Verge.
“We have built the tools to allow our community to report on any items that may violate our policies,” Pan says. “It has well as a whole host of flags that people that can put out for people that may not be acting in the best faith. Once we see a flag, we have a team that will promptly review these and take action.” Still, Facebook won’t take responsibility if you get ripped off, and it certainly will not get involved if someone decides to assault you and steal your item at the designated meeting place.
The company thinks that because users will be conducting these transactions under their real identities, it will prevent potential scams that other services might face because of their anonymity. “People on Facebook represent their real selves,” Pan said. “We think knowing who you’re transacting with is very important.” Facebook said the Marketplace tab will start showing up on the mobile app “over the next few days.”
Tag: Facebook
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Apple to Launch Trio of iPad Pros in Spring 2017, Including 7.9-Inch Mini Model
Apple will ship three new iPad Pro models around Spring 2017, including 7.9-inch, 9.7-inch, and 10.1-inch models, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
The report, citing “reliable sources,” said the 12.9-inch model will feature a True Tone display like its current 9.7-inch counterpart, using advanced four-channel ambient light sensors to automatically adapt the color and intensity of the display to match the light in the surrounding environment.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is also said to gain the 9.7-inch model’s same 12-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera and True Tone flash.
The smaller 7.9-inch model, which will succeed the iPad mini 4, will likewise include a Smart Connector, True Tone display, four speakers, and a 12-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera with True Tone flash, as Apple works to standardize features across its tablet lineup, according to the report.
All three new iPad Pro models will reportedly gain quad microphones, compared to the current dual setup, and retain 3.5mm headphone jacks.
Today’s report mostly corroborates KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in August said Apple is planning to release three new iPads in 2017. However, his research note claimed the trio of models would include a 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad.
Kuo made no mention of a refreshed 7.9-inch model. It has been speculated the iPad mini could be nearing the end of its line due to Apple’s focus on its larger tablet lineup, and the belief that recent 5.5-inch iPhone “Plus” models have helped lessen demand for Apple’s smallest tablet, but today’s report suggests otherwise.
Mac Otakara does not have a perfect track record with Apple rumors, but its sources have proven accurate on multiple occasions in the past. The blog was the first to report about Apple’s controversial plans to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack and add new Black and Jet Black colors on iPhone 7 models.
The website also accurately leaked the iPhone 7’s naming scheme, pressure-sensitive Home button, and larger earpiece cutout. It also said the new models would ship with a Lightning-to-3.5mm audio adapter, although 3.5mm EarPods proved wrong, and quashed rumors about the inclusion of a Smart Connector.
On the flip side, the timing proved to be wrong on its report claiming new MacBook Air models with USB-C ports would be unveiled by the end of June. The latest word is a MacBook Air refresh will occur “as early as October.”
Related Roundups: iPad mini 4 (2015), iPad Pro
Tag: macotakara.jp
Buyer’s Guide: iPad Mini (Caution), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution)
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ZENS Launches Power Bank for Simultaneous Apple Watch and iPhone Charging
Third-party accessory manufacturer ZENS today launched the two-in-one iPhone/Apple Watch Power Bank, letting users recharge their Apple devices while on the go. The rectangular case has an integrated induction charger for the Apple Watch — which is Apple MFi Certified — and a USB-A port on one side for charging any other device connected to the bank.
The Power Bank has an included battery rated at 4,000 mAh and a 2A output, which ZENS said “guarantees fast charging of the Apple Watch and iPhone or iPad.” Its battery falls in line with another portable Apple Watch/iPhone charging pack made by Kanex, which can recharge an Apple Watch six times over on one life.
The two-in-one ZENS Power Bank is developed especially for Apple Watch and iPhone/iPad. As is the case with other ZENS products, the innovative new power bank stands out for its sleek, ultra-slim design. It offers a space-saving way to charge your Apple iPhone and/or Apple Watch at home, in the office or on the go, without the need to bring along a cumbersome charging dock while you’re underway.
The Apple MFi Certified module that is incorporated in the ZENS Power Bank eliminates the need to add your own Apple Watch Charger. While you are wirelessly charging your Apple Watch, you can use the reversible micro USB cable, that is impossible to plug in wrong, to charge your iPhone or iPad.
ZENS says the Power Bank is ideal for travel as well as home and office use, because “the all-in-one charging and battery solution requires little space on your desk or in your bag” thanks to its ultra-slim design, which is about 5 inches long and just 1.5 inches wide.
The company has released an integrated charging puck accessory before for the Apple Watch, with the small Apple Watch Power Bank that focused on portability and had a 1,300 mAh battery. That cheaper option, which runs for $56, didn’t offer simultaneous iPhone or iPad charging with an additional USB-A port, however.
Those interested can purchase the ZENS iPhone/Apple Watch Power Bank from the company’s website for €69.99 or about $78.00, and it will ship to the United States and several other countries from the Netherlands.
Tag: ZENS
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Facebook rolls out Messenger Lite for emerging markets
Facebook introduced a lightweight version of its Android app earlier this year, and the social network is now doing the same for its messaging platform. Messenger Lite is designed to work on basic Android phones with limited memory and processing power, and in areas with slow internet connectivity.
Much like Facebook Lite, the goal with the barebones Messenger Lite is to get people in developing countries communicate with ease. The app comes in at 10MB, and lets people text and share photos and links over 2G connections. Users can view stickers, but there’s no option to send or download stickers. Messenger’s more advanced features, like chatbots, are missing from this version.
The app will debut in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela, and will make its way to other countries at a later date. The app isn’t live yet on the Play Store, but it should be available for download in the afrementioned markets later today.
How to factory reset an Android phone
How do I factory reset my Android phone?
There are a number of reasons why you might need to factory reset your Android phone. Maybe your phone is overloaded with apps and running slow, or you’ve downloaded a recent update and it’s causing problems with your phone’s functionality. Or maybe you want to reset to the factory settings because you’re selling your phone (you should always do this when selling an old device, by the way).
Whatever the reason, here’s how to factory reset your Android phone through the phone settings or from the bootloader if your phone is not properly booting up at all. Given how many different makes and models of Android devices there are, we’ll be using the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Nexus 6P as our examples, though the process should be fairly similar across the board.
WARNING: Performing a factory reset will completely erase all your data off the phone. If you haven’t backed up your contacts, pictures, videos, documents and anything else (preferably in the cloud, but absolutely somewhere else), you will be sorry you didn’t do so. Consider yourself warned.
- How to factory reset your phone from the settings menu
- How to factory reset your phone with hardware buttons
How to factory reset your phone from the settings menu
The easiest way to factory reset your phone is through the settings menu. The location of the factory reset option might vary slightly based on the exact phone you’re using, but once you’ve found the “back up and reset” menu, you should be in the clear.
On a Nexus 6P
Tap the Settings icon from your home screen or app drawer.
Swipe up to scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu.
Tap Backup & reset.
Tap Factory data reset.
Tap Reset phone.
Tap Erase everything.
Your phone will reboot and you’ll have to go through the initial start up again before you’re able to restore your data from wherever you backed it up.
On a Samsung Galaxy S7
Tap the Settings icon from your home screen or app drawer
Swipe up to scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu.
Tap Backup and reset.
Swipe up to scroll down
Tap Factory data reset.
Tap Reset phone.
Tap Erase everything.
Your phone will reboot and you’ll have to go through the initial start up again before you’re able to restore your data.
How to factory reset your phone with hardware buttons
If your phone is running into some issues and you’re unable to boot it up properly, you’re going to need to go into Android recovery mode. To do so, you’ll typically need to start up your phone while holding down a Volume button and the Power button. The exact button combination will depend on the brand of phone you’re using. From there, it’s simply a matter of using the Volume buttons to scroll through the menu to find the factory reset option, then press the Power button to select.
On a Nexus 6P
If your phone is on, power it off.
Hold down the Power button and Volume down button. Instead of booting up normally, you’ll see “Start” in an arrow pointed at the power button. Here you use the Volume buttons to scroll and the Power button to select an option
Press the Volume down button until you’ve highlighted Recovery mode.
Press the Power Button to start recovery mode.
When your phone reloads, you should see a screen that says “No command” with an android robot in distress. Press and hold the power button, then press the volume up button once to load up the reboot menu.
Using the Volume buttons to scroll through the menu, highlight Wipe data/factory reset.
Press the Power button to select.
Highlight and select Yes to confirm the reset.
Once the reset is complete, you will be bounced back to the same recovery mode menu. Press the Power button to select Reboot system now.
Your phone will power on and be reset to its factory settings. The next time you turn the phone on, you will go through the initial setup process as if it were a brand new phone. Once set up, you can go about restoring your data from wherever you had it backed up.
On a Samsung Galaxy S7
If your phone is on, power it off.
Hold down the Power button, Volume up button, and Home button simultaneously. The phone will boot into recovery mode.
Use the Volume buttons to scroll through the menu.
Highlight Wipe data/factory reset.
Press the Power button to select.
Highlight and select Yes to confirm the reset.
Once the reset is complete, you will be bounced back to the same recovery mode menu. Press the Power button to select Reboot system now.
Your phone will power on and be reset to its factory settings. The next time you turn the phone on, you will go through the initial setup process as if it were a brand new phone. Once set up, you can go about restoring your data from wherever you had it backed up.
Samsung resumes Note 7 sales in South Korea, sells 30,000 units in two days
With the Note 7 recall fully underway, Samsung has restarted sales of its latest flagship in its home market. Samsung launched several experience zones across South Korea to showcase the handset, and the company has introduced a green battery indicator to differentiate the safe Note 7 from the defective model.
Sales of the Note 7 kicked off over the weekend, and according to Korea Herald, Samsung sold over 30,000 units of the device. The numbers also account pre-orders that started on September 28.
Samsung mentioned on its official blog that the Note 7 will be available for purchase in other markets in the “coming weeks.” Verizon and Sprint have already started selling the phone in the U.S., and Samsung is expected to kick off European sales starting October 28. In India, the phone is going up for sale on October 7.
Initial reports suggested the South Korean company could lose $1 billion over the recall, but Korea Herald notes that Samsung is set to post an operating profit of $6.79 billion (7.5 trillion won) in Q3, a modest 6% decrease from Q2 2015. Overall sales for the company are estimated to be $45 billion (51 trillion won), which is more than what Samsung managed last quarter.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
5 reasons to buy the Galaxy Note 7 when it goes back on sale
Why should I consider the Galaxy Note 7 when it’s been banned from airplanes?
We can’t deny the fact the Galaxy Note 7 is one of the best-rated Android phones of the year. No other phablet-sized device compares in design and functionality, and it’s one of the few mobile devices with a useful pressure-sensitive stylus in tow. But it hasn’t been without its problems, with its reputation taking a beating due to unexpected problems with its battery.
Thankfully, an official recall has been put into effect, and there will soon be plenty of safe, vetted Note 7 units waiting to be taken to their forever homes. If you’re still deliberating whether to purchase the Note 7, here are five reasons you might consider it when it’s back on sale.
It’s the prettiest phone Samsung has ever made
Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, but, the Galaxy Note 7 is so much prettier than its flagship predecessors. Look at its curves, and the way the display cascades into its curved edges — it’s as if there’s hardly a bezel at all. And take a peek at all the available varieties of the Note 7—the Blue Coral alone is the nicest smartphone color combination we’ve seen yet.
It’s one of the best smartphone cameras
Eat your heart out, iPhone users. You may be enjoying the camera on your new iPhone 7, but Samsung phones have been worthy sole-shooters for some time. The Note 7 is no different with its 12-megapixel rear-facing camera equipped with OIS and a f/1.7 aperture. It also offers manual camera controls, including the ability to shoot in RAW, and a variety of nifty camera features, like live YouTube broadcasting, from inside the camera app.
It’s the most stylus-friendly Android device
Let’s be real here: It’s one of the fewest Android smartphones with a stylus that’s worth using. Samsung made the Note 7’s S-Pen twice as pressure sensitive as last years. It doubled its pressure sensitivity to 4096 levels and narrowed the point for more precise selection. The overhaul of the Samsung Notes app has helped, too, which you can use to take written notes, draw a doodle, or annotate a screenshot. The added stylus is also great for editing PDFs and signing documents.
More: Here’s what the Galaxy Note 7 S Pen can do
It has more bells and whistles than other flagships
With most flagships, you’re lucky to have NFC and expandable memory. With the Galaxy Note 7, you have that in addition to two types of wireless charging methods, including PMA and Qi, as well as a second wireless payment method, namely MST, which enables Samsung Pay. The Galaxy Note 7 also offers an iris scanner, which might seem hokey at first, but it’s actually quite neat and you can use it to secure your files and apps behind a special folder on the Home screen.
It’s better than the Galaxy S7
The Galaxy Note 7 runs Samsung’s simplified Grace UX, which isn’t as garish as the GS7 and GS7 edge’s TouchWiz UI, nor is it as bloated. The revamped UI includes helpful features like a blue light filter, which helps reduce the amount of blue light in the evening, and a souped-up Power saving mode, which offers customizable levels so you can extend your battery life while still having access to your most-used features.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
LG decides against curved OLED screen for G6 smartphone
We haven’t heard much about the LG G6 smartphone, but we can be sure that LG will be making it. But even though we haven’t seen much in the way of specs and features rumours, LG could be losing some before they’ve even be announced.
LG was rumoured to be fitting the G6 smartphone, successor to the modular G5, with a curved OLED screen and a new wireless charging system. But Korean site ChosunBiz is saying those features won’t make the cut after all. Apparently, LG Display isn’t in a position to mass produce OLED screens for a flagship phone, and can only manage with making smaller OLED screens for the Apple Watch and LG’s own smartwatches.
It means the G6 will likely come with the same or very similar screen that featured in the G5, a flat 5.3in 2560×1440 Quad HD LCD display.
The G6 was also allegedly going to introduce a new wireless charging system that would offer fast charging from a distance of up to 7cm. But the system is now likely to feature in the G7 instead as it won’t be ready for next year’s G6.
And if that wasn’t enough, LG was also said to be planning a new full-metal design and ditching the plastic, but it’s been reported that that won’t be happening either.
So what the LG G6 may in fact be is an intermittent phone in preparation for the G7. But then again, the features were never confirmed, so it’s best to take this news with a pinch of salt for now. We’ll be keeping our eye on any LG G6 rumours that appear to bring you the latest news.
Sky launches VR app featuring David Beckham and the English National Ballet
Sky announced back in March it was creating its own dedicated Sky VR Studios to develop its own original content. Sky also said it would be producing around 20 pieces of content over the next couple of years.
- New Sky VR Studio kicks off with Team Williams F1 VR experience you can watch online
Today, the company has announced the launch of a new VR app for Android devices and for use with Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard or Oculus Rift and the promised 20 pieces of content.
The app will be the mobile home to a range of content from Sky’s partners, including Disney, Fox Innovation Lab, Warner Brothers and Jaunt. Sky has also made some of its own content, including Sky Sports: Closer with David Beckham, which propels you into some of the best sporting events around the world and being guided by Golden Balls himself and later this month, Sky will release an immersive view of Giselle being performed by the English National Ballet.
Going forward, Sky has said it’s committed to producing a wide range of content in collaboration with its Sky VR Exclusives division, which can produce content in-house as well as with third-party partners. And if you’ve yet to catch the VR bug, Sky will be giving away thousands of Google Cardboard headsets for free at the Sky Backstage area of The O2 from October 20.
- Best VR headsets to buy in 2016, whatever your budget
- Oculus Rift review: The VR revolution begins here
- 5 reasons why the new Samsung Gear VR (2016) is the best mobile headset by far
Gary Davey, managing director of content at Sky said: “Interest in VR content is building, generating more excitement every day. We are just at the beginning of our VR journey at Sky, launching Sky VR studios later this year and we are already breaking new ground”.
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