Without the software that powers them, iPhones and Android phones would be high-priced pieces of glass, metal and plastic. So let's see how the new mobile OSes from Apple and Google compare. iOS 13 will go live on Sept. 19 and Android 10 -- previously codenamed Q -- is out now for Pixel phones. On one side of the table, iOS 13 includes a systemwide dark mode, more control over privacy settings and a bushel of improvements designed to make the iPhone more secure and easier to use. On the other side, Google's Android 10 also brings on dark mode, a focus on privacy and useful AI enhancements.With the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Max Pro just announced, we'll soon see this the new iOS software absorbed into hardware. And if you have a Pixel phone, Google's new software is your reality.That means we're basing this comparison on the shipping version of Android 10 and the near-shipping version of iOS 13. After the final version of iOS 13 is out, we'll have the final showdown … [Read more...] about iOS 13 vs. Android 10: How Apple and Google match up
In Vader Immortal: Episode 2, Darth Vader is a mean Mr. Miyagi
Memorably in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker travels to Dagobah to train under Jedi Master Yoda. The training challenges Luke physically, emotionally and psychologically, and Yoda is as fair as he is tough. But imagine if Darth Vader had trained Luke instead. He definitely wouldn't win any "teacher of the year" awards, but I'd definitely want to see what the old Dark Lord could teach someone who is new to the Force. Star Wars virtual reality experience Vader Immortal: Episode II, the Dark Lord of the Sith is here to teach you a few tricks. And when I say here, I actually mean it because one of the amazing aspects of this VR game is the ability to show scale and presence. Vader is no small potato.I met with the creators of the upcoming game and watched the first few minutes on Friday at Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. and the footage isn't available online, but I can tell you it looks insane.The full title of the game is Vader Immortal: A Star … [Read more...] about In Vader Immortal: Episode 2, Darth Vader is a mean Mr. Miyagi
Pixel 4 XL purportedly shows up again in leaked photos
Can't get enough of images that purportedly show Google's Pixel 4 XL phone? You're in luck. We've already seen a cache of such shots, as well as a video, and now there's more. Vietnam-based phone shop D Store Mobile has leaked twenty or so pictures of a white "test model" of the Pixel 4 XL, according to a report.The photos don't reveal anything really new, notes The Verge, which published the shots, but they do give us another glimpse, and The Verge's Jacob Kastrenakes does call out a couple of interesting tidbits.The pics suggest that "the main rear camera will be getting a slightly faster aperture, moving to f/1.73 on the Pixel 4 from f/1.8 on the Pixel 3," he says. And they also hint that the phone "will shoot in 16:9 by default so that photos can take up the entire camera screen, despite the sensor remaining 4:3." Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.Google's next flagship phones, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, are expected to launch in October. They're important … [Read more...] about Pixel 4 XL purportedly shows up again in leaked photos
The iPhone 11 lacks 5G. Why it won’t matter one bit
You won't see 5G on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro or any Apple iPhone until at least 2020. That's because Apple and Qualcomm, which were until recently locked in a bracing legal battle, have kissed and made up, making a 5G iPhone possible -- if a little late. Other Android phone makers, from Samsung to the lesser-known OnePlus, are hitching their wagons to 5G data speeds (Verizon even rushed its first network launch in order to be the world's first consumer available service). But for most buyers, it'll hardly make a difference.5G describes the next-generation data network that wireless carriers and handset makers have already begun to use. This technology promises to supercharge phone speeds from anywhere between 10 and 100 times today's fastest 4G speeds, letting you download and upload large volumes of content in a fraction of the time. (Its uses extend beyond phones, too.)One day, 5G will become the new standard for data speeds, but for now, growth is slow and the coverage sporadic … [Read more...] about The iPhone 11 lacks 5G. Why it won’t matter one bit
iPhone 11 Pro: To upgrade or not
After months of rumors and speculation, the iPhone 11 is finally here. In this week's Apple Core wrap, let's see how the new phones stack up compared to last year's models and see what extras you may get if you're upgrading from an older iPhone. We won't know for sure which is the "best" of the new bunch until after we've tested and reviewed them, so stay tuned. But in the meantime, here's what we know.iPhone 11 and 11 Pro get design tweaksApple has changed up its naming convention this year and its new 2019 flagship phone is now known as the 11 Pro (and 11 Pro Max) rather than the roman numeral XS. Looking at both phones from the front, there's no obvious differences between the 11 Pro and the phone it replaces, the XS. Size-wise, they're the same with a 5.8-inch display, or 6.5-inches for the Max models. The new phones have a super retina XDR display, which is still OLED, but Apple says it's brighter: 800 nits in bright sunlight and up to 1,200 nits when viewing content like … [Read more...] about iPhone 11 Pro: To upgrade or not