Updating apps on your iPhone or iPad is a quick and easy way to get new features, play new levels, or fix bugs and security issues in the apps you use. But you may not even know if an update is available for your app or how to update your app – unless you know where to look.
Updating your apps was even easier before the release of iOS 13 in September 2019. All you have to do is open the App Store, click the Updates tab, pull down to refresh the list and click Update All. This is the process that all iPhone users have followed since the App Store launched in 2008, and you can still use it if you have an older Apple device that isn’t compatible with anything after iOS 12.
When you update your iPhone app in iOS 15, you won’t find the Updates tab. With the release of iOS 13, Apple filled that space with its Apple Arcade gaming subscription service. Even without a separate update tab, the process of updating apps is just as quick and easy, but it’s hidden.
Where to Find Hidden iPhone App Updates
1. Open the app store.
2. Click the profile icon in the upper right corner.
3. Scroll down to the Available Updates section, where you can find any app updates that you can install. You can still use pull-to-refresh to force your device to look for updates.
If you have updates, you can update them individually or hit the “Update All” button and call it a day. The ability to remove apps from the update list is also somewhat hidden. If you want to delete an app, swipe left.
Tablets with detachable keyboards were the originals of the Surface line, but it wasn’t until 2018 that Microsoft 2-in-1s really became affordable. That’s when the first Surface Go came out, making it one of the cheapest devices to run a full version of Windows. While the Surface Go 3 was one of Microsoft’s less exciting releases last year, that’s continued for the next two iterations. Aside from the processor upgrade, out-of-the-box Windows 11 is the only change to be aware of. Here’s everything you need to know about the Surface Go 4 in the early stages. Let’s have a look!
When will the Surface Go 4 be released?
Microsoft usually doesn’t reveal anything about a new product until it’s officially released. But so far, without any other release date rumors, our best guesses come from previous generations:
Surface Go 3 – October 2021
Surface Go 2 – May 2020
Surface Go – August 2018
The Surface Go doesn’t seem to have a regular update cycle yet, so it’s hard to predict when the next model will arrive. However, Microsoft typically launches new hardware in late spring and early fall.
What specs and new features will Surface Go 4 have?
Surface Go 4 isn’t expected to launch until late 2022 at the earliest. We will almost certainly see a change. The Go 3 came out just a few months before Intel showed off its 12th-generation mobile CPUs at CES. This makes it very likely that the Go 4 will be powered by an Alder Lake processor – its new hybrid architecture suggests we’ll see performance and power efficiency benefits.
The latter should help extend battery life, boosting Microsoft‘s claims of up to 11 hours on a single charge. However, the battery drained much faster in our review tests, so expect the 28Wh capacity to increase as well.
The Surface Go 2 increases the display from 10 inches to 10.5 inches without changing the overall footprint of the device, but it’s the only design change we’ve seen. Thinner bezels would allow Microsoft to fit an 11-inch display here, but it might be reluctant to make a budget device look as good as a premium Surface Pro.
That’s why we’re also unlikely to see the Go 4 move to a 120Hz display, although if we do see a price hike, 90Hz is a possibility. Either way, the 1920×1080 PixelSense (LCD) display probably won’t change — it’s detailed enough for most people buying a Surface Go.
The business version of Surface Go 3 has optional support for 4G LTE. That’s likely to stay the same for the Go 4, with the Surface Pro 9 more likely to move to 5G.
One of our main gripes with the Go 3 is its lack of ports. There’s only one USB-C, one microSD, and Surface Connect for charging. It would be nice to see at least one more USB-C port (possibly supporting Thunderbolt 4), as well as USB-A and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This may add thickness to the device, but it will be a worthwhile tradeoff.
The drag-and-drop feature on iOS 15 allows you to quickly send a link via text message or add a photo attachment to an email. With drag-and-drop on iPhone, you can move seamlessly between apps to quickly upload photos, send links, share files, and more. In seconds, you can quickly drag a dozen photos to text or drop a link into an email. We’ll show you everything you can do with the new drag and drop functionality on iOS 15. Let’s have a look!
How to Drag and Drop Photos and Videos on iPhone
The first way to use drag and drop on iOS is to move images from one app to another. This feature now works with any app that allows you to press an image to share. Below we’ll show you how to drag and drop from the native photos app.
1. Open the Photos app.
2. In grid view, hold your finger on the photo or video until the quick action menu appears, then move your finger around so that it floats below your finger.
3. If you want to add more photos to share, tap any other photo or video with another finger and these photos or videos will be automatically added to another photo under your finger.
4. Use another finger to leave the app and navigate to where you want to place the photo or video.
5. If you can put it there, you’ll see a green plus sign in the corner of the photo or video.
6. Lift your finger to drop photos and videos.
For example, you can drag a photo into the Mail app to add it as an attachment, or into the Messages app to quickly send it via text.
Files that exist in the Files app can also be dragged out of Files and into other apps, like Messages or Mail to share the file, or even to another file manager if you want to share the file server application you are trying to upload a file. Methods as below:
1. Open the Files app.
2. In the icon or list view, press your finger down on the file until the quick action menu appears, then move your finger around without lifting your finger to make the file follow your finger.
3. Use another finger to leave the Files app and go to another app.
4. Wait until you see a green plus sign, which means you can put it there, then lift your finger to release the file.
If you’re already in the Files app, this is a faster way to share files via text or email.
Like Photos, you can drag and drop links from apps like Safari, Calendar, and more. Likewise, you must be able to press the link and make the quick action menu appear to be able to drag and drop it. Here’s how to do it from Safari.
1. Open the Safari app.
2. Press your finger on any link until the quick action menu appears, then move your finger so that the link floats under your finger.
3. Leave the app with another finger and lift your finger to place it elsewhere (only if you see the green plus sign).
You can put links in other apps such as Messages, Mail, Notes or any number of social media apps.
After a few years of minor upgrades, Microsoft is releasing the Windows 2-in-1 that many people want in 2021. The Surface Pro 8 features a host of upgrades over its predecessor, including a larger 120Hz display, narrow bezels, longer battery life, and an improved camera. We also got regular processor upgrades, while it was one of the first devices to run Windows 11 out of the box. But assuming Microsoft reverts to its traditional update cycle, we expect the Surface Pro 9 to launch by 2022.
When will the Surface Pro 9 be released? Microsoft has yet to confirm the existence of a Surface Pro 8 successor, let alone any potential release date. No other rumors so far, our best guesses come from the release date or previous entries: Surface Pro 8 – October 2021 Surface Pro 7+ (for business and education) – January 2021 Surface Pro 7 – October 2019 Surface Pro 6 – October 2018 Surface Pro 5 – June 2017
What specs and new features will Surface Pro 9 have?
Microsoft only launched the Surface Pro 8 for business in January 2021, with a new, slightly pricier 4G/LTE model. While the Pro 9 may be in development at the time of writing, there are no concrete rumors so far.
But unless Microsoft surprises us with bigger changes, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. The most likely upgrade is a move to Intel’s new 12th-gen CPUs — possibly again with a choice between an i5 and an i7. Given that the Ryzen 6000 series was also launched at CES 2022, it’s nice to see an option for AMD chips on the Surface Pro, but there’s no indication that’s happening anytime soon.
Assuming the Pro 8 moves to Alder Lake processors, its new hybrid architecture includes specific cores for performance and power efficiency. The latter should be good for battery life, so Microsoft can claim more than the “up to 16 hours” you’ll get from the Pro 8 from a single charge. If the battery capacity is also increased, we could see some significant improvements in battery life.
The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s most likely Windows device to move to 5G. The technology will be widely adopted across a range of mobile devices by the end of 2022, so it makes sense to see it make its way to Microsoft’s premium 2-in-1s.
Both USB-C ports on the Surface Pro 8 support Thunderbolt 4 for fast data transfers, but it still uses the proprietary Surface Connect. This magnetic charging system tends to be more frustrating than useful, so hopefully Microsoft will drop it in favor of USB-C charging on the Pro 9. You can’t go wrong with adding some extra ports.
The 13-inch, 2880×1920 display is unlikely to change, especially since Microsoft introduced a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate on the Pro 8. No need for higher resolutions, but if the PixelSense (LCD) screen is at a point. This will pave the way for the addition of an in-display fingerprint sensor, but there’s no indication it’ll make it to the Pro 9.
Surface Pro 9 previews so far have been largely based on speculation, but leaks and rumours may not be far off.
There are many reasons why your iPhone or Android phone might no longer charge—from rusted charging ports to damaged cables. But a common problem is that your charging port, whether it’s Lightning on the iPhone 13 or USB-C on phones like the Google Pixel 6 Pro, gets clogged with dirt and the cable doesn’t plug all the way in. Let’s take a look at the reasons and solutions below!
Why is my charging port blocked?
The phone’s charging ports don’t have protective covers, which means they’re exposed to every bit of dust, grime, and debris they come across. But those tiny bits of dust and lint can build up over the months or years you own your phone, pressing together every time you plug in the charging cable until it forms a solid barrier to your charger from fully entering and allowing it to connect and Charge. If your phone is more than six months old and you’re gradually finding that the charger is becoming more and more unstable, there’s a good chance that dirt on your port is the culprit.
How to Clean Your Phone’s Charging Port
Unclogging your phone port is an easy task. You’ll need a cocktail stick, toothpick, or other small item that can be inserted into the port to scrape off grime. Wood or plastic is better because it’s less likely to scratch anything inside and possibly cause injury.
Insert the tool of your choice into the charging port until it goes no further, then gently start scraping away. With the iPhone’s Lightning port, you can scrape back and forth, but with USB-C, you’ll need to scrape the charging connector that sits in the middle of the port.
Eventually, you will start to loosen the compacted pieces and you will be able to drain the sloughed material out of the port. It’s a satisfying process, and you might be surprised how much stuff actually turns out. Work lightly on the sides of the port, but be careful not to scratch any metal charging connectors too hard.
Hopefully it’s now safer to plug in and start charging. If not, go ahead and try to extract more dirt and test the charger again. If that still doesn’t solve the problem, it’s time to consider other solutions, like a new cable or charger.
Apple on Wednesday released a small update to iOS and iPadOS for iPhone and iPad users, fixing bugs and potential vulnerabilities in operating system security related to Apple’s Siri-powered smart home platform Homekit.
The iOS 15.2.1 update fixes an issue on iPhone that could prevent messages from loading or third-party CarPlay apps from responding to input when sending messages using an iCloud link.
The iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 updates also fix operating system vulnerabilities that could allow Homekit to be exploited by denial of service attacks.
For iPhone and iPad users, the update can be accessed by navigating to Settings from the device’s home screen. From settings, navigate to “General” and click “Software Update”.
The iOS and iPadOS 15.2 updates were recently released and include many updates and new features.
Apple’s iMessage has a long history of separating users into “blue” and “green” bubbles based on whether they’re on an iPhone or an Android phone. But the question now goes way beyond looking cool in our group chats.
Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing how the difference between green and blue chat bubbles can create social stress among teens and young adults. The blue-and-green bubble debate highlights a broader problem across the industry: There is no single modern texting standard that works on all phones.
Google has been supporting the messaging platform, which has iMessage-like features, by working with carriers to make it the default option on most Android phones. This is a step forward in making messaging more unified across the wide range of Android devices out there.
As one of the biggest players in the phone industry, Apple could certainly do more to help build a more consistent texting experience across devices. Apple has often touted its control of iOS as a selling point for consumers, and the move away from iMessage could jeopardize that.
Apple hasn’t responded to CNET’s request for comment, and Google pointed us to some tweets from its Android senior vice president, Hiroshi Lockheimer, in which he criticized Apple for using “pressure and bullying” to target users. However, Apple could make some changes to fix this, similar to how it brought a limited FaceTime experience to Android and Windows users in iOS 15.
Support RCS in Apple’s Messages app, even a little
Starting with the most obvious, it might be time for Apple to consider supporting RCS in iOS 16. In addition to the fact that RCS includes many iMessage-like features, Apple does have a history of adopting an open format.
Apple doesn’t even have to fully endorse RCS to make a difference. It keeps non-iPhone messages green and relies on an iPhone-exclusive feature that uses the iPhone’s Face ID to create facial animations to appeal to Apple loyalists. But supporting some key features will go a long way towards enabling a smoother communication experience while maintaining a level of Apple exclusivity.
It could also allow encryption between messages regardless of platform, especially since Apple has been a public defender of user privacy. Some would argue that this alone should get companies to embrace RCS.
The Huawei P50 Pocket is no longer a China exclusive and is now confirmed to be coming to Europe as well. Huawei has been focusing on its Mate X series of book-style foldable phones, but it’s finally time to see its first horizontally hinged phone, called the Huawei P50 Pocket.
When will the Huawei P50 Pocket launch?
Huawei officially released the P50 Pocket in China on December 23, 2021. The phone was initially thought to be a China exclusive, followed by pre-orders in Asia-Pacific markets including Malaysia on January 12, 2022.
What are the specifications of the Huawei P50 Pocket?
The best photos of the P50 Pocket before its release, oddly enough, came from the Chinese version of Harper’s Bazaar, which took photos with the phone and shared them on Weibo. The P50 Pocket Premium, which features a textured and polished gold finish, was designed in collaboration with haute couture designer Iris Van Herpen.
Aside from the obvious bling, another key difference between it and the standard model — its white diamond-shaped “3D micro-engraved design” — is the inclusion of 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB and 512GB of storage instead of 256GB.
Other than that, both phones have a similar external hardware layout and the same internal structure, with two circular elements on the outer surface: one hosts the Pocket’s main triple “hyperspectral camera matrix”, while the other features The circular 1.04 in the touchscreen display, like the Razr and Z Flip before it, can display things like time, notifications, and more, and it doubles as a camera viewfinder.
This unusual rear camera setup is led by a 40Mp ‘True-Chroma’ sensor, a 13Mp 120° ultra-wide sensor and a 32Mp ‘Hyperspectral camera’, the latter being paired with the unit’s ’10-channel multispectral sensor’ and “Hyperspectral illuminators” – which can capture and display wavelengths of light beyond the range of natural human vision through fluorescence mode.
The system also offers a sunscreen mode that more clearly highlights the sunscreened and unprotected areas of your face.
Below is the full Huawei P50 Pocket spec sheet, based on the device released in China:
Folding 6.9in 21:9 Full HD+OLED display
120Hz refresh rate
1440Hz high frequency PWM dimming
300Hz touch sampling rate
442ppi pixel density
Circular 1.04″ 340×340 60Hz OLED overlay display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G SoC
8GB or 12GB RAM
256GB or 512GB storage
rear camera:
40Mp f/1.8 “True Chroma” main camera
13Mp f/ 2.2 120° ultra wide-angle camera
32Mp f/1.8 “Hyperspectral” camera
“10-Channel Multispectral Sensor”
Laser autofocus
10.7Mp f/ 2.2 punch-hole selfie camera
EMUI 12
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
face unlock
USB-C
Dual SIM
Bluetooth 5.2
NFC
4000mAh battery
40W fast charging
190 grams
170mm(unfolded)/87.3mm(folded) x 75.5mm x 7.2mm(unfolded)/15.2mm(folded)
Fitbit is best known as one of the first popular fitness trackers. But today’s Fitbits can do more than monitor activity and log workouts. Fitbit, now owned by Google, has loaded its devices with some features, and these tips and tricks below will help you get the most out of your device.
Check the time even when the screen is off
By enabling always-on mode, you can more easily check the time at a glance without lifting your wrist or tapping the screen. As the name suggests, this allows the screen to show the time even when the monitor is asleep.
Instructions for enabling this feature vary depending on which Fitbit you have.
On the Charge 5 and Luxe, swipe down from the clock face, tap Settings, select Display settings, and then select Always-on display.
On Sense and Versa 3, swipe right from the clock face and tap the always-on symbol that looks like a clock.
On Versa 2, swipe down from the top of the screen to view your notifications. Then, swipe down again to access Control Center. Tap the Quick Settings icon, then press the Always-on icon.
Just bring your Fitbit close to your phone to pair it with your Android
Fitbit and Google want to make setting up your new device almost effortless. Google’s Quick Pair feature speeds up the pairing process by connecting your new Fitbit to your Android phone when the two devices are in close proximity to each other. All you need to do is turn on your Fitbit device and make sure your phone’s Bluetooth is enabled to get started. It works on models like the Luxe, Charge 5, and Inspire 2.
Get your lost Fitbit Inspire 2 back with the Tile app
You must download Tile’s app and make sure your fitness tracker’s software is up to date before using it. But once set up and registered in the Tile app, you can call the Inspire 2 if it’s within Bluetooth range or see its last location on a map.
Find your phone with Fitbit
Just open the app on your watch and Fitbit will prompt your phone to ring and vibrate until it finds it. The Fitbit app must be running on your phone to use this feature, and it’s available on Fitbit Sense, Versa 2, and Versa 3.
Pay for Starbucks with your wrist
You can install the Starbucks Card app on Fitbit through the Fitbit mobile app, but keep in mind that, according to the app listing, it only works with the company’s smartwatches, including the Sense, Versa series, and older Ionic watches.
Fitbit also has its own contactless payment system called Fitbit Pay that lets you store your credit card on your wrist. It works with contactless card readers similar to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
Listen to your workout stats during your workout
Open the Fitbit iPhone app, tap your profile picture and scroll down to the Activity & Health category under Settings. Tap Workout and scroll down to see the “Play During Workout” option below the list of automatically recognized workouts. If you’re using the Android app, tap the workout tile in the Today feed, then press the stopwatch icon in the upper right corner. Then, toggle the switch next to Use voice prompts to enable or disable this option.
Turn off those mobile reminders
We can all use reminders to get up and move around, especially when working from home. But these little nudges may not help everyone, and some may find them annoying. To turn mobile reminders on or off, open the Fitbit app on your phone and tap the photo in the upper left corner. Select your Fitbit device from the list, then scroll down to the Move reminder option.
Whether you own a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or another Apple computer, we’ll show you how to get all the new features of MacOS Monterey.
MacOS Monterey launched last year with an update to Apple’s MacBook lineup, but if you haven’t updated your Mac yet, don’t worry. Installing the latest version of Apple’s Mac operating system is a fairly straightforward process that only takes a few steps. When sorting out your device for the new year, you might want to consider updating your iPhone or iPad to iOS 15.2, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system.
Monterey OS, also known as MacOS 12, adds some of the new features in iOS 15, such as spatial audio in FaceTime and Apple’s Focus feature, although we’re still waiting on Universal Control.
1. Make sure your Mac is compatible with MacOS Monterey.
2. Backup your Mac for safety. You don’t want to risk losing everything when you upgrade.
3. On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update and find MacOS Big Monterey. Click Upgrade Now. The download will begin immediately, but may take a while.
After downloading and installing the update and restarting your computer, you will be running on MacOS Monterey.
How do I download and install future MacOS public betas?
You no longer need to follow these steps to run MacOS Monterey. However, if you prefer to experience it for yourself, here’s how to get future MacOS public betas on your computer.
Note: You should never download beta builds on your main device as they are often buggy – we recommend that you only do this if a separate test device is available.
1. Backup your Mac for safety.
2. On a Mac, go to beta.apple.com.
3. Sign in with your Apple ID and select MacOS from the list of programs.
4. In the Getting Started section, click Register Your Mac.
5. On the next page, click the blue button with the beta version you’re looking for.
6. Open the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
7. After installing the utility, use the Update tool in System Preferences to check for software updates, then follow the prompts to download and install it.
After restarting your computer, you will be running the latest beta version.
