Apple confirms it's intentionally slowing down iPhones with old batteries

Last week we saw a report that Apple might be slowing down its iPhones as they batteries age. Rumors suggested Apple intentionally turned down the clock speed in order to prevent the battery life of the phones from decreasing over time.

Today the company confirmed those allegations and said the practice will continue with other products in the future.

In a message to TechCrunch, Apple said it released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to maintain battery life over time and also prevent the phone from shutting down in cold conditions. The company also confirmed that the iPhone 7 got this feature with the iOS 11.2 update with more devices to follow.

Replacing the battery might be a solution for some iPhone users who don’t want to buy a completely new device. The bigger problem stays though - Apple should have been clear about the feature beforehand and probably even let users opt out.

Case renders confirm only the Samsung Galaxy S9+ will have a dual camera

Olixar and MobileFun have a history of leaking Samsung’s designs and a track record of being right. So here are Olixar’s renders of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ - wearing cases, but the “ultra thin, 100% clear” case hardly covers up anything.
The division between the S9 and S9+ is interesting – only the Plus model gets a dual camera. That’s a departure from the S7 and S8 generations that mostly differed in the size of their screens and battery.

This confirms the rumor we heard just yesterday and suggests Samsung wants a three-tier flagship lineup rather than the simple S/Note division. What will the price difference be between Plus and non-Plus model?

Anyway, the rest is as expected - the fingerprint is below the camera now and to the side are the single LED flash and heart rate monitor.

Olixar believes that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S9 duo in mid-February and start selling them on February 28.

Alleged photo of Galaxy S9 backplate suggests a single camera setup

We’ve already seen two leaks of the Samsung Galaxy S9 today. At this point, the 3D-renders left pretty much nothing to the imagination and we pretty much know what to expect with Samsung’s upcoming device.

While we’ve already seen the front glass of the device, we’re just now taking a look at what the back of the device looks like in another form of (arguably) concrete evidence: live photos. Photos can always be photo shopped, so there’s a possibility that the final hardware could differ from what you’re seeing here.
In any case, this new leak along with the leak of the front glass corresponds with the renders from earlier today. Both devices will feature a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, but this time it will be placed below the camera instead of next to it.

Also, we’re looking at two different camera setups for the Galaxy S9 duo. The smaller S9 would get a single sensor setup while the larger S9+ will get a dual-camera system. We’re also looking at the possibility of 6GB of RAM for the larger model while the S9 gets 4GB.

There are conflicting reports as to exactly when the Galaxy S9 couple will be announced. More recent reports have said we can expect to hear from Samsung at MWC which takes place toward the end of February while other rumors have pointed to a possible announcement (or teaser) at CES taking place in the second week of January.

Deal: Buy Razer Phone and get Bluetooth speaker for free

If you are a Razer fan in the US and have plans to purchase the Razer Phone, here's a deal for you: the company is offering a free Bluetooth speaker with each purchase of the $700 handset.

Specifically, the speaker on offer is the Razer Leviathan Mini, which usually costs $180, but is currently going for $100.
To avail the offer, you need to use the PHLVLUP promo code during checkout. It's a limited time deal (ending December 19), so those interested may have to act fast. For more info, head to the Source link below.
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Google Pixel 2 headphone adapter not working for some users

A new problem related to Google's Pixel 2 smartphones has come to light. Over at the company's official Pixel forum, several users have been reporting issues with the included USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter for quite some time now.

Specifically, users say the adapter doesn't work as the sound comes from the phone's speakers instead of headphones.
Troubleshooting steps like rebooting the phone or operating it in the safe mode worked for a few users, but as you'd agree, those are not convenient solutions. Some of those who contacted Google support were offered replacements.
Officially, the Mountain View, California-based company hasn't said anything on the matter yet.
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Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) go official with dual selfie cams, Infinity Display

Meet the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) – Samsung’s new naming scheme hides it, but these are the successors to the Galaxy A5 (2017) and A7 (2017). These two sit closer to the S-series than any of their predecessors and even bring something unique.

On the front is Samsung’s first dual selfie camera – a 16MP + 8MP combo. The Live Focus feature lets you chose whether the background is in focus or blurred to a soft bokeh. The phone will seamlessly switch between the two front cameras to get the effect you need.

The main camera has been upgraded with a brighter f/1.7 aperture for the 16MP sensor. Digital stabilization was added for steadier videos while the Hyperlapse mode will help condense things to just the gist.
As expected, the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) adopt the Infinity Display design of the S-series. This includes the 18.5:9 aspect ratio and curved glass, but not the resolution – the panels are 1080p+. That is still enough to make these the first A-series phones to support Gear VR, however.

The smaller A8 has a 5.6" screen while the A8+ stretches to 6". This puts them on either side of the Galaxy S8 screen in terms of size (5.8"). Again, these are followups to the A5 and A7 from last year rather than sequels to the original Galaxy A8.
The status of premium Galaxy phones further affords these two Samsung Pay support (with MST), IP68 waterproofing and fast charging over USB-C. The battery capacities are 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh for the smaller and larger models respectively (matching the S8 duo).

The phones will come with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, which is slightly disappointing for phones launching in early January 2018. Price-wise, we can expect the Galaxy A8 to go for €499 while the larger model will go for €599. No word on where the phone will be sold outside of Europe - we might expect some more details about possible US availability once CES rolls around.

Huawei and Xiaomi are trying to forge carrier partnerships and enter the US market

Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp. - the number one smartphone manufacturer in China and the up-and-coming value king of the local tech scene are allegedly in talks with US carriers to officially enter the overseas market. The information comes courtesy of industry insiders and is really sensitive and intentionally very low-key at the moment. Still, it was picked up by Bloomberg, so the credibility is certainly there.

As far as particular details go, we know that the intention of both Chinese companies is to market flagship models through the potential new carrier channels, rather than value offers. Naturally, the the pair operate and position themselves differently in most markets, so any potential deals will likely vary quite a bit. Still, both manufacturers do have very competitive high-end devices in their current portfolios, especially when compared to more US-friendly, brand-name competition, like Apple or Samsung. 2017, in particular, saw flagship products pass a potentially crucial financial and psychological threshold - namely the $1,000 retail mark. Plus, carrier phone subsidies have been dropping steadily in the US, so the iron is definitely hot and the scene set for some competitive market manoeuvres.

That being said, however, expecting any major shift in US smartphone market conditions and especially end-user prices in not really plausible. The mature local market is not only extremely saturated at this point, but also run on a very tight shift and completely dominated by carriers. They carve up the users and iron out the offers. Realistically speaking, at this point in time, Xiaomi and Huawei can simply hope to expand their reach and try and tap the new market as best they can. This likely won't involve major price margins and gains for them, nor for consumers.

Still, its not all bad news, as a good US market standing is definitely possible and beneficial for a Chinese company. ZTE, for instance, has been selling its dual-screen Axon model in the US, through an AT&T deal and the reported figures look promising.
The two new potential players will likely have to and want to take slightly different expansion approaches. Xiaomi has been doing really well in India lately and is currently amid an ambitious European expansion. After dismissing the potential for selling through official carrier channels in the US for quite some time, Xiaomi has been steadily building up to idea lately. The whole endeavour will involve directing a lot of finances and manpower to another continent, which is no easy task for the still relatively small, comparatively speaking, company. As far as we know, however, Xiaomi has already started the tedious process of going over device specifications and certifications with carriers - a arduous task that it expects will take up to two years. In the meantime, industry insiders claim it might try to make another interesting move and get some of its other smart smart products to brick and mortar stores in the States. Things like electric scooters and vacuum cleaners, as well as other smart appliances under the Miija brand. These could prove very competitive as well.
Huawei might potentially be negotiating form a better standpoint. The company can arguably spare more resources and get through technical and legal processes faster. Also, it already has some standing on the US market. Not a carrier one, unfortunately, but it is already trying to sell some of its smartphones online with a fair level of success. An aggressive pricing strategy might just be part of the story, with devices like the Mate 9 going for around $400 on Amazon.
Overall, it's hard to say how this development will pan out and whether negotiations will be successful at all. After all, we shouldn't underestimate the importance Apple places on its home turf, as well as the company's influence. A conflict of interest, seems like a loosing battle. Tell us your thoughts on the matter. Would you like to see Xiaomi and Huawei devices in AT&T and Verison's ads, offers and contracts? Do you thinks its a possibility to begin with?