Apple Community Raises Over $13 Million for Hurricane Relief and Recovery Efforts

Following a series of natural disasters that have impacted tens of thousands of people in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Apple employees and customers have raised more than $13 million to provide shelter, food, and clean water in areas devastated by earthquakes and hurricanes.

Apple shared the update in a news post released this morning. Funds have been raised in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which impacted Texas and Louisiana, Hurricane Irma, which hit the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys, and several Caribbean Islands, Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico, and earthquakes that hit Mexico.

Along with raising money, many Apple employees stepped up to volunteer for recovery efforts, running food drives, opening their homes, transporting clean water, and more.

Apple is continuing to raise money for relief efforts in Puerto Rico and other U.S. communities by accepting donations to the American Red Cross and the Hand in Hand hurricane relief benefit, with customers already having raised more than $2 million.

Employee donations to the American Red Cross, Hand in Hand, GlobalGiving, and UNICEF are being matched two-to-one by Apple, and the company says that it donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and UNICEF for Hurricane Maria relief and $1 million to GlobalGiving for earthquake recovery efforts in Mexico.

These donations are on top of several other donations Apple has made over the course of the last month. Apple donated $5 million to the Hand in Hand benefit for hurricane relief efforts, and another $2 million to help Hurricane Harvey victims.

iTunes and App Store customers can easily donate by clicking on the American Red Cross banner in the respective stores and choosing an amount to donate.
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Apple’s Latest Transparency Report Shows Jump in National Security Requests

Apple this week released its latest transparency report [PDF] outlining government data requests received from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

In the United States, Apple received 4,479 requests for 8,958 devices and provided data 80 percent of the time (in 3,565 cases). Worldwide, Apple received 30,814 requests for data from 233,052 devices and provided data 80 percent of the time (in 23,856 cases).

Overall demands for data were slightly down compared to requests during the same time period last year, but Apple disclosed a much higher number of national security requests that include orders received under FISA and National Security Letters. According to Apple, to date, it has not received any orders for bulk data.

Apple says it received 13,250 – 13,499 National Security Orders affecting 9,000 to 9,249 accounts. That’s up from 2,750 – 2,999 orders affecting 2,000 to 2,249 accounts received during the first half of 2016.

Though Apple attempts to be as transparent as possible in its reports, the government does not allow the company to release specific details when it comes to the number of National Security requests received, instead requiring a number range to be provided to customers. Apple uses the narrowest range permissible by law.

Apple lately has been making more of an effort to be clearer about the type of information governments around the world have asked for, and its last two reports, this one included, have been highly detailed.

Along with the total number of device requests and National Security Orders, Apple also provides data on a range of categories covering government requests for emergencies such as missing children, requests related to stolen devices, fraud requests, account deletion/restriction requests, civil non-government cases and account preservation requests, all of which can be viewed directly in the report.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: security, Apple security, transparency
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Roli’s new Lightpad Block M is a light-up synthesizer that fits in your pocket

Why it matters to you

Built for creative musicians on the go, Roli’s new Lightpad Block M compact MIDI controller lays a world of synthesizers at your fingertips.

Roli, the London-based firm behind the popular Seaboard series of soft-touch music keyboards, is back with a digital controller instrument designed for on-the-go musicians: The Lightpad Block M.

The Lightpad Block M, the newest addition to the company’s modular Blocks system and the evolution of last year’s Lightpad Block, features a colorful grid of touch-sensitive programmable LEDs that can be assigned to sound effects, instruments, and musical loops. It pairs to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop via Bluetooth, and charges via a concealed USB-C connector on its side.

Instrument and musical loop selections are designated by color. Switch from a guitar to a violin in Noise, the Lightpad Block M’s smartphone companion app, and the touchpad’s LEDs might shine green instead of purple, depending on your configuration. The controller can differentiate between forceful and gentle taps, and the quickness with which you release your fingers makes an audible difference. Swiping your finger across instrument “keys” manipulates pitch, and wiggling your finger mimics vibrato, such as the warbling sound produced by a bow moving rapidly back and forth across a stringed instrument.

The Lightpad Block M’s biggest improvements over the original are surface level, so to speak. A deeper, softer silicone layer and 225 sensors (Roli calls them “microkey waves”) supply more tactile feedback than the outgoing Lightpad Block’s touch-sensitive surface, and upgraded LEDs deliver greater contrast, a “richer range” of color, and 50 percent more brightness.

The Lightpad Block M is otherwise fully compatible with Roli’s aforementioned Blocks system, a puzzle-like ecosystem of music controllers that snap together magnetically. The growing lineup includes the Live Block, which lets you switch scales and queue up musical chords on the fly; the Loop Block, which plays back and records looping sound samples; the Seaboard Block, a modular version of Roli’s full-size Seaboard keyboard; and the Touch Block, a sensitivity tuner for the Lightpad’s touch-sensitive surface.

“In the last 10 months since we launched Blocks, we have continuously evolved the system with software and firmware updates, as well as new hardware components like the Seaboard Block,” Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of Roli, said in a statement. “You can configure an endless number of production workflows and enjoy a range and depth of expression that was hard to imagine just a few years ago.”

Coinciding with the release of the Lightpad Block M is Noise 3.0, the latest version of Roli’s music composition app for iOS and Android devices. In tow are improvements to audio clip editing and the app’s navigation panel, and new acoustic soundpacks ($10 each in Noise’s Soundpack Store) featuring violin, cello, saxophone, and clarinet, along with other string and woodwind instruments.

In a related series of announcements, Roli said that the Noise Audio Unit for Apple’s GarageBand would gain 400 new sound effects in the coming weeks. Digital audio workflow app Abelton Live 9 Lite is also now included with every Lightpad Block purchase, and Strobe2, a desktop sound player, is now available free to all Lightpad Block owners.

“Today, with the release of the Lightpad Block M and Noise 3.0, we are even more firmly establishing Blocks as the most powerful way to create music on the go,” Lamb said.

The Lightpad Block M is available from Roli’s website for $200, a $20 premium over last year’s Lightpad Block. It’ll come to retailers including Amazon later this year.

Mobile version of Blizzard’s Battle.net app lets friends get friendlier

Why it matters to you

While it’s light on features right now, the official Battle.net app should help players organize game sessions more quickly.

Acclaimed game developer Blizzard previously released game-specific mobile apps for titles like World of Warcraft and Hearthstone, but strangely never released a mobile version of its Battle.net desktop program. That changes now, as you’ll finally be able to talk to your friends and set up games while on the go.

Available now on both iOS and Android, the official Battle.net mobile app is a more convenient way to interact with people on your account’s friend list, as well as make new friends before you head back into your game. The app features mobile chat, similar to the Destiny 2 app, and a notification system lets you know when your friends are trying to get your attention. You can also see which friends are currently online playing a Blizzard game, so you’ll know whether or not it’s worth jumping on to try your hand at the latest content in Diablo III or World of Warcraft: Legion.

If you’re looking to expand your friend list, the app includes “mobile friending,” which lets you not only add and accept friend requests by username, but also by QR code if you happen to meet someone in the real world who also plays Blizzard games. Suggested friends are also available based on your current friends, similar to how Facebook and Twitter suggest new friends and followers.

There isn’t much else to the Battle.net app, as Blizzard’s game-specific apps cover most other ground, but it does feel a little bare-bones at the moment. While there are options to list yourself as “away” if you don’t want to be bothered, there isn’t a way to let others know what game you’d like to play, outside of the one you’re currently playing. There is also no scheduling system to remind players of when they’re supposed to get online.

Blizzard briefly planned to change the name of its Battle.net service to just “Blizzard” in order to better reflect its library of games, but this was scrapped once sister company Activision decided to release the PC version of Destiny 2 through the app. Now, its official title is “Blizzard Battle.net,” though it remains functionally identical to previous versions.

The DuraXV LTE is a sturdy flip phone bound for Verizon’s airwaves

Why it matters to you

If you can’t be bothered with a smartphone, Kyocera’s DuraXV LTE smartphone might be the answer you’re looking for.

The iPhone 8 has a lot of bells and whistles, true, but not everybody needs them. Its all-glass design makes it prone to scratches, dents, and other unsightly battle scars. For folks who prefer a simpler, durable handset, there’s the Kyocera DuraXV LTE, a ruggedized flip phone that’s built to withstand the elements.

The DuraXV LTE is the third addition to the DuraXV family and the direct successor to the DuraXV Plus. This device supports Verizon’s 4G LTE and 2G CDMA networks, plus enterprise extras like Push to Talk Plus and corporate email accounts. That is in addition to HD Voice, which delivers crisper-than-average phone calls; Wi-Fi Calling, which supports over-the-internet phone calling; and mobile tethering, which shares the DuraXV LTE’s internet connection with other devices.

In terms of aesthetics, the Dura VX LTE has a thick clamshell design that would look right at home in a belt holster. An outward-facing LCD screen shows the time and date, cell signal strength, and battery level, and a single 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with an LED flash handles photo-taking duties. The DuraXV LTE’s hardened plastic body is Military Standard 810G for a long list of elements and conditions, including dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, salt, fog, and humidity, and it’s rated IP68 for water immersion up to 6.5 feet for half an hour.

The Dura VX LTE’s tech specs aren’t anything to write home about, as you might imagine. Inside the phone’s flip-up plastic shell is a 2.6-inch QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) powered by a low-range Qualcomm system-on-chip and 256MB of RAM. There is 512MB in onboard flash storage for your favorite apps and music, but if that is not big enough for your music collection, the DuraXV comes with a swappable 4GB microSD card and a card reader that supports up to 32GB.

You won’t be playing Candy Crush or Angry Birds on the DuraXV LTE’s tiny screen and underpowered processor. And at $11 per month or $264 full retail, it’s not exactly a steal — the excellent $280 Moto G5 Plus packs a 5.5-inch HD screen and zippy processor, and the $280 Moto E4 Plus has a long-lasting battery that lasts well over two days on a charge. But if you’re set on a flip phone and can’t be bothered a new smartphone’s ins and outs, the DuraXV LTE might be worth a look.

These 6 choice iPhone bike mounts hold your phone so you don’t have to

Playing music and navigating via GPS isn’t something you only do while driving a car — it’s also something you might do while riding your bike. However, it’s dangerous to hold your iPhone while biking because, like driving a car, there’s a significant need to focus on the road and sidewalk — as well as the people around you. For the avid biker that’s always on the go, however, not using a smartphone isn’t an option and that’s when a bike mount comes in handy.

Available in all shapes and sizes, the market for iPhone bike mounts is extensive, making it tough to know which are best. From the simplistic to the elaborate, if you’re looking to buy a dedicated bike mount, there’s definitely one here for you. Here are six of our favorite models on the market.

Roam Co-Pilot universal mount

• Bike placement: Handlebars
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: Lifetime guarantee
• Price: $16

The Roam Co-Pilot is one of the more popular iPhone mounts on the market and for good reason. The Co-Pilot supports any phone up to 3.5 inches in width, which is more than sufficient for any iPhone currently on the market, including the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X. Similarly, the adjustable mount connecting the unit to the bike fits brackets up to 1.25 inches in diameter, offering cyclists a host of potential arrangements along the handlebar (on bikes and motorcycles). A flexible, silicone web also stretches around all four corners of the device, ensuring a sturdy grip on even the most rugged terrain. At just $16, the Roam Co-Pilot is a real steal-on-wheels.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Quad Lock Bike Kit

• Bike placement: Stem or Handlebars
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: 1-year warranty, 30-day money back guarantee
• Price: $70

Quad Lock has a bike kit available for every iteration of the iPhone after the iPhone 4 and even offers Quad Lock cases for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus before those pre-ordered phones even arrive. Each kit attaches to either the stem of a bike or its handlebars and keeps the phone steady regardless of where it’s placed with the bundled mounting o-rings and zip ties. The Quad Lock’s best feature, though, is it companion case that not only attaches a smartphone to the mount but doubles as a protective case. The Quad Lock Poncho is even better, serving as a weather-resistant cover that keeps phones dry in the rain and dirt-free. If a phone uses a screen protector, however, the poncho may interfere with its touchscreen.

Buy one now from:

Quad Lock Amazon

Studio Proper M Lock Bike Mount

• Bike placement: Stem
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: 12-month guarantee
• Price: $60

Studio Proper’s M Lock Bike Mount is made of solid aluminum, meaning it’s incredibly durable and keeps iPhones firmly in place — provided a rider isn’t traversing rocky terrain. Easy to install, the mount supports portrait and landscape positions and can be adjusted up or down for easy viewing from a variety of angles. The mount must be used in conjunction with an M Lock iPhone case, which, unlike the Quad Lock, isn’t included in the package and costs an additional $30. Once paired, the case securely locks into the mount via magnets and also comes with a reusable wetsuit that stretches over the phone to protect it from rain, adding more versatility.

Buy one now from:

Studio Proper

Vibrelli Universal Bike Phone Mount

• Bike placement: Handlebars
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: 5-year warranty, full refund
• Price: $19

The Universal Bike Phone Mount from Vibrelli is compatible with all iPhone iterations — along with a host of Android phones. It also supports 360-degree rotation and angle adjustment, making it easy to see from any position while riding. It securely holds smartphones in place thanks to an adjustable clamp and silicone grips. Interestingly enough, when transitioning from a bicycle to a motorcycle, Vibrelli’s mount can go with the rider, fitting easily onto the latter. It only takes two minutes to install and removing an iPhone from the mount is as easy as slipping it out of the aforementioned clasp, which features a quick release.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

iOttie Active Edge Bike & Bar Mount

• Bike placement: Handlebars
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: 1-year warranty
• Price: $33+

iOttie’s Active Edge fits any bar with a diameter between 21.59 and 35.56 millimeters, be it a bike, motorcycle, or baby stroller. It also fits any iPhone later than the iPhone 4S but may be tighter on larger iPhone models such as the 7 Plus, 8, and X (especially if it uses a protective case). The mount is entirely adjustable, though, and features a cradle that uses three side arms and a slip-resistant pad in order to hold iPhones in place. Said cradle is also removable, which makes it easy to pack while on the move. It’s perfect for those that have more than one Active Edge mount installed and are constantly moving from one set of handlebars to another.

Buy one now from:

iOttie Amazon

TaoTronics Bicycle Phone Mount

• Bike placement: Handlebars
• Adjustable: Yes
• Warranty: 12-month warranty, 30-day money back guarantee
• Price: $12

The best feature of TaoTronic’s bike mount is its protective straps. Unlike other mounts on this list which feature straps, TaoTronics’s are built-in and, when not in use, rest comfortably within the mount itself. That, in combination with the mount’s cradle and clamp, means it’s highly unlikely an iPhone becomes dislodged while riding. The mount also supports any iPhone later than an iPhone 5 — with a case on — as it extends to 3.55-inches wide. If a rider wants reassurance regarding a phone’s protection, its silicone-lined clamp locks in place for a secure fit. Furthermore, it’s easy to install, supports 360-degree rotation, and is backed by a 1-year warranty.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Update: Double checked copy for relevancy.

Google ‘Ultra Pixel’ phone rumored to ditch navigation keys, have dual cameras, and more

According to a new rumor, the Google Ultra Pixel will feature dual-cameras, a new kind of fingerprint scanner, and get rid of Android’s navigation buttons.

Google’s Pixel 2 event next Wednesday will be here before we know it, and alongside the highly anticipated Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, we’re also expecting Google to show off a Home Mini, and Pixelbook to go alongside its latest flagship smartphones. However, according to a new rumor that just popped up, Google is also working on an even more premium handset in the form of the Google Pixel Ultra.

Arun Maini from the YouTube channel Mrwhosetheboss uploaded a video in which he talks about an email that he received from an anonymous source. In this email, Maini’s source sent him images and videos that supposedly reveal a Pixel Ultra phone that we haven’t heard about up until now.

The photo that shows off the Ultra Pixel the most is that of a laptop with a screenshot of what appears to be a promo image. It shows off the front of the Ultra Pixel with very slim top and side bezels (similar to what we’re expecting from the Pixel 2 XL), along with professional-looking artwork and wallpaper to match.

Next to the phone itself, we see branding that reads “Ultra pixel” and underneath “Phone by Google.” The font used looks to be right in line with what Google’s been using for other marketing material, but the lowercase “p” for “Ultra pixel” is an oddity. This could be a typo on Google’s end, or it could be a sign that this whole image is entirely fake. You can watch Maini’s video to be the judge yourself, but what we’re seeing here does look legitimate.

The Ultra Pixel might feature dual-cameras and a fingerprint scanner under the display.

Maini continues on in his video to say that the Ultra Pixel will have a dual-camera system (something we’re not expecting in the Pixel 2 or 2 XL ) and a “new kind of fingerprint scanner.” We don’t have any concrete info to judge just what this means, but there is the chance that this means Google will be implementing a fingerprint scanner that’s embedded under the display of the Ultra Pixel. Technology like this does exist, but we’ve yet to see it in a mass-produced consumer handset. It’s not necessarily impossible for Google to pull off something like this, but the likelihood of it happening is still up in the air.

Lastly, and perhaps the most interesting, the Ultra Pixel will supposedly do away with Android’s Back, Home, and Recent navigation buttons in favor of a system that’s based purely on gestures. Another photo that Maini received shows a swipe up gesture on the Ultra Pixel to access the phone’s multitasking screen, and in another instance, we see a screenshot of three phones next to each other with the text “The future of Android is Fluid.”

What does all of this mean? It’s entirely possible that Google is working on an Ultra Pixel phone to be released alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, with the Ultra Pixel being the company’s true flagship for 2017. This is identical to what Apple just did with the iPhone X, and with Google’s intent to beat Apple and its own game, we wouldn’t be surprised at all by a move along these lines.

As for the removal of Android’s navigation buttons, that’s a different story. I don’t doubt that we’ll see a drastic change in the way we interact with the Android OS at some point in the near future, but seeing as how this is the first time we’ve ever heard of such a proposal, I’m inclined to believe that the navigation buttons will be staying where they’ve been for all these years — at least this time around.

Thankfully, we only have to wait until next Wednesday to stop with all of the speculation.

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These 4K Fire TV and Echo bundles help you save on Amazon’s newest devices

They aren’t shipping yet, but you can already bundle Amazon’s new Echo devices and save some cash!

Amazon has announced a variety of new Alexa-powered Echo devices, and in typical Amazon fashion, you can already save on the purchase of them with these great bundles.

Some of the new hardware includes a redesigned Echo, the addition of an Echo Plus, another attempt at a product with a screen, the Echo Spot, and finally a 4K Fire TV. This time around, Amazon is offering some great bundles that you’ll want to check out.

These bundles pair some of the new hardware with a complementary device and help you save money. They include:

• Fire TV Stick and Echo Dot – $59.99 (Normally $89.98)
• 4K Fire TV and 35-mile OTA HD Antenna – $74.99 (Normally $89.98)
• 4K Fire TV and Echo Dot – $79.99 (Normally $119.98)
• Echo Plus and Philips Hue Bulb – $149.99 (Normally $164.98)

In addition to these, you can also grab 3 of the new Echos for $247 when you use coupon code ECHO3PACK at checkout. Amazon also announced an Echo Connect for $34.99, which connects your home phone to your Echo devices for making calls, as well as Echo Buttons for making trivia games fun again!

The latest Echo devices aren’t yet released and will be available in late October. If you want to have one delivered as soon as they are available, you’ll want to get your orders in now.

More from Thrifter

• Use Sugru for cost-effective and easy DIY fixes around the house
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I’m in love: A week with Substratum/Andromeda theming

System themes are beautiful, but beautiful things that can come with a lot of baggage.

Want to have a dark system theme on your Android phone? Well, if that’s not the default theme on your smartphone, you basically have two options: buy a phone that has a theme engine, like a Samsung Note 8, or root your phone and find a custom ROM that’s theme-friendly. This is far from perfect, and Google has been working to change it for years, and this year, they’ve come so close we can taste it. Matter of fact, if you’re on an Android Oreo phone, you can get a small taste of system theming with Substratum’s newest rootless add-on: Andromeda.

I was apprehensive about what sounded like such an easy way to get the dark themes I’ve dreamed of for years, but after a week with Andromeda, I can say it: I’m in love!

Bridging the divide with Andromeda

Because we don’t have to bother with rooting or custom ROMs, getting started with Substratum and Andromeda is rather quick, and almost entirely painless. Once you’ve downloaded the Substratum app and the Andromeda backend add-on on your phone, you head to xda-developers for the Andromeda desktop client that works with your PC. There’s a version for Windows, Mac, and Linux — sorry, Chromebook users — and each has everything included to connect to your phone and upgrade the privileges for Andromeda and Substratum to enable system theming.

Now, we need USB debugging enabled under Developer Options on the phone in order for the desktop client to work. Since the upgraded privileges are lost after reboot, we’ll have to reconnect to your PC and re-run the desktop client every time you restart your phone. It’s quick, but still an annoying necessity. It’s worlds easier than rooting, though.

This leads me to an important point: turn off auto-update for Substratum and every Substratum theme you download. Many Substratum themes need a device reboot after an update or things can get unstable, and because you need to re-run the desktop client every time you reboot, if Substratum updates and something breaks while you’re out running errands or on a weekend trip without your computer, you could be stuck disabling theme until you get home.

Theming made easy (almost)

Once Andromeda is installed and the desktop client has upgraded the necessary privileges, it’s time to go theme shopping. There are a lot of different themes out there for Substratum, and not all of them will work with Android Oreo, nor do all themes theme the same apps and system elements. Here’s what to look for with Substratum themes:

• Look for Oreo, 8.0, or OMS compatibility in the theme’s description. Most themes are quick to say what systems they do and don’t support, especially in regards to skinned Android phones like TouchWiz.
• Look for a list of themed apps included in the theme. Some Substratum themes just theme the Android system and a few basic apps, while others support dark themes for dozens of Google and third-party apps.
• Read the theme’s full description before downloading and applying a theme. I know it’s hard to resist it, but don’t skim. While most warnings in theme descriptions are usually big and bold, some aren’t, and applying an overlay that’s not compatible can give you a really, really bad time.

While I’ve dabbled with a couple of themes, the one I’ve stuck to most is Swift Black, which supports a lot of different devices and Android versions, and features a whole, whole lot of customization. I’ve been slowly adding more and more app overlays as the days have gone on, and I am in heaven.

The next frontier of Android theming

If you’ve been reading Android Central for a while, you’ve probably heard me begging Google for dark themes for our favorite apps and our favorite system for years. I’ve been begging them to bring back a dark theme in Google Play Music for four years, and Substratum finally granted my wish. These overlays aren’t perfect, but they give me a glimpse of what Android could look like with a dark vision, and it’s glorious. Google Play Music’s dark theme looks like a jack-o-lantern, just in time for Halloween, and YouTube with a dark theme is heaven, even if it doesn’t extend to every nook and cranny of the app yet.

I have little doubt that OMS theming will be coming to Android before too much longer, and then we can all build and enjoy themes that make Android as diverse and beautiful as its users. Until then, Andromeda and Substratum have given me back glorious darkness, and I’m never letting it go.

If you’ve got a Pixel-friendly Substratum theme you’d like me to check out, reach out to me on Twitter or email. I’m especially looking forward to trying more overlays for Google Play Music and Google Keep.

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
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The Sony Xperia XZ1’s camera has pleasantly surprised me

Finally, something to get excited about with Sony’s smartphone cameras.

After using and reviewing the Sony Xperia XZ Premium earlier this year, and being squarely disappointed by the camera considering its flagship positioning and price, I was expecting much more of the same out of the (relatively) lower-end Xperia XZ1. It after all has the same camera specs as the XZ Premium, so how much could it have improved? Well, as it turns out, a lot has changed — and for the better.

Despite ostensibly having the same camera hardware as the XZ Premium, it only took a few shots with the XZ1 to notice that Sony has made big improvements in processing. Something to actually get excited about with a Sony smartphone camera? Absolutely. Here’s why.

See at Amazon

Important photo processing improvements

There’s basically one change in the characteristics of the XZ1’s camera that makes it so much better than Sony’s last handful of attempts, and that’s how it detects and processes fine lines and detail in photos. Saying it’s “one” change makes it seem like it was easy to fix, but really this is a combination of lots of tweaks to the processing the camera software does, and it’s a big change.

Sony has finally stopped murdering fine lines and details.

On the XZ Premium and the last handful of Sony phones, the camera’s “Superior Auto” mode went way overboard in its sharpening and processing of photos, doing what it thought was great work but in reality just completely murdering every last bit of detail in each shot. Otherwise-sharp lines were muddy and soft, and any sort of texture you’d normally find in a scene was crushed to a blotchy mess. I’m not entirely sure why Sony thought this was a good thing, but it was most certainly a bad thing.

Sony has walked back that stance dramatically on the XZ1, and to great effect. Lines are actually sharp where they should be, fine detail is much more preserved even when zooming in, and scenes look natural instead of bordering on watercolor interpretations. I actually had the confidence to open the XZ1’s camera, take a shot and not second guess whether it was acceptable or switch over to Manual for another shot “just in case” — that alone is a big improvement.

To add to it, Superior Auto seems far more willing to use HDR (there’s no explicit HDR toggle unless you are in Manual mode) in scenes that would benefit from it. And in poorly lit scenes where there’s a mixture of lighting, the XZ1 again properly refrains from over-processing those dark areas — you still get grain on account of the lack of OIS, but it’s just natural low-light grain and not post-processed chroma noise.

On the right path, with more work to do

The Xperia XZ1, despite not being the top-of-the-line phone for Sony, still has a $699 price tag and we should rightfully expect a great camera considering the kind of photos you can get out of several other phones for the same money. And I’m unfortunately still going to say that the camera on the XZ1 isn’t completely up to speed with the rest of the industry. Between the serious speed and consistency improvements with the XZ Premium and the subsequent processing leap in the XZ1, Sony has reduced the number of dire feelings I have for the state of the company’s smartphone cameras. But there’s still plenty of room to improve.

There’s still plenty of room for Sony to improve — but there are positive signs here.

Much like the XZ Premium, the XZ1 still has issues with metering and overall dynamic range, even though increased use of HDR helps mitigate that. Sony’s cameras are still crying out for OIS to improve low light performance and reduce reliance on high ISOs and slow shutter speeds that introduce noise and blur. They also still exhibit some weird post-processed depth-of-field quirks that are rough on the eyes.

At the same time, the camera app, while now very fast, is still poor in terms of usability. The use of disparate modes to accomplish things is unnecessary and complicated — look no further than Samsung to see how a camera app should be made. Copy it wholesale if you want; I’d be happy with that.

Using the XZ1 has shown me that Sony is improving its smartphone cameras, and not just making seemingly superfluous changes without any plan or progress. Now it just has to give up on some of its long-held feelings about how its cameras should be set up, and we could see something that actually goes head to head with the best.

See at Amazon