Will Apple ditch its 16GB entry-level model with the iPhone 7?

July 2, 2016 update: Chinese shopping site Weibo has posted prices for three iPhone 7 models, with storage tiers starting at 32GB -- twice the capacity of the current entry-level iPhone models. In 2014, Apple doubled the top two tiers of the iPhone from 32GB and 64GB to 64GB and 128GB (and kept pricing the same). Earlier this year, analyst firm Trendforce predicted that the iPhone 7 would support 256GB of storage space, matching the iPad Pro and offering lots more room for apps and videos.

In addition, Apple has been awarded a US patent for a system that can force an iPhone into disabling video-recording functions at concert venues. The system uses infrared signals to send messages to your phone to tell it to shut down video recording. Apple's patent illustration shows a phone at a concert with the words "recording disabled" on screen. It's not known whether Apple plans to put the patent into use, and it's highly unlikely that this technology will appear in iOS 10 or the iPhone 7.

Editors' note: This story was originally posted on December 14, 2015 and has been updated regularly.

iPhone 7: All the rumors about the specs, design and features of Apple's 2016 iPhone

Announcement and release dates

According to Apple's traditional cadence, iPhone models always debut in the fall. That changed on March 21, 2016, with the introduction of the iPhone SE, a new model that combines the look of the iPhone 5S with the soul of the iPhone 6S. That noted, the iPhone SE is a relatively minor, mid-cycle update that brings little to the table in terms of design, features, or specs.

Given this, there remains a pervasive expectation that we'll see the next major iPhone update, right on schedule, in the fall of 2016.

Design

For the past several years, Apple's iPhone updates have followed a predictable cycle: major design changes in even-numbered years, followed by "under the hood" tech upgrades that keep the same basic physical chassis in odd-numbered "S phone" years. For 2016, then, a total redesign is a near certainty -- possibly with some dramatic innovations.

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However, the iPhone 7 may buck this trend. According to Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz, supply chain murmurs indicate that the iPhone 7 won't have "any must-have form factor changes," suggesting that we'll see only a few modest refinements and perhaps some newer internal components. In this vein, MacRumors has suggested that the iPhone 7 will have a design that's "very similar" to that of the iPhone 6 and 6S, though without the antenna bands that run across the current generation.

Clearly, Cook's May interview with Jim Cramer was meant to dispel this theory.

Apple may introduce a third variant. According to tech blog site Mobipicker, the company has already begun production of its 2016 iPhone lineup. The portfolio would include an iPhone 7, an iPhone 7 Plus -- and an iPhone 7 Pro or Plus Premium. Apple device makers Foxconn and Pegatron have reportedly bumped up staff to handle all three versions, reported Mobipicker. We shall see.

Apple Patent Application Publication (US 2015/0357741 A1).

Given the regularity with which folks drop phones in toilets and other bodies of water, could Apple develop a water-resistant or waterproof chassis? (By the way, here's what to do when it inevitably happens to you.) Other manufacturers have already gone there, of course: Samsung with the Galaxy S5, Sony with its Z5 Premium and Motorola with its entry-level Moto G. Still, the fact that Samsung did not make the Galaxy S6 waterproof suggests that it's not a critical feature for most consumers.

In recent months, multiple sources (of varying reliability) have reported that the iPhone 7 will be waterproof and dustproof. Business Insider reports that Apple has filed for a new waterproofing-related patent. Titled "Electronic Device with Hidden Connector," the application suggests that ports could be covered with a "self-healing elastomer." According to the patent description, iPhone ports equipped with this technology would be covered with membranes, which could be penetrated by a headphone or USB connector, for example, and which would seal back up once the connector is withdrawn.

Building on this narrative, 9to5Mac reported that Apple is developing a new set of Bluetooth earphones that could be introduced simultaneously with the iPhone 7. The fruit of the company's acquisition of Beats Electronics, the new earphones, potentially called "AirPods," are rumored to be completely wireless, similar to the Motorola Hint.

One of the most active categories of iPhone predictions involves the home button. In June, analysts at Cowen and Company predicted that the iPhone 7 would have a "Force Touch" home button. According to Business Insider's coverage of the report, "Instead of a physical mechanism, Apple will use its 'Force Touch' technology and a motor inside the iPhone to provide the sensation that the button is being physically depressed." Replacing the traditional, slightly concave iPhone button, a new home button would sit flush with the front of the phone, and would capably convey the sensation of pressing a button -- without an actual button.

As CNET reported earlier, recent iPhone innovations -- specifically the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch screen and increasing always-on hands-free functionality of Siri -- have diminished the need for a physical home button altogether. Could Apple unveil an iPhone without a physical home button?

That would also allow the large top and bottom bezels to shrink, effectively allowing Apple to squeeze a larger screen into the same size body. The trick, of course, would be keeping the all-important Touch ID fingerprint sensor somehow integrated into the device.

9to5mac.com reports that in 2015 Apple filed a patent for a transparent fingerprint sensor embedded into a smartphone display. First published in May 2015, the patent application outlines three sensor technologies, including "ultrasonic imaging" that could be embedded into a display and deliver greater accuracy than the current iPhone's Touch ID capacitive sensor.

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Will Apple ditch its 16GB entry-level model with the iPhone 7?

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Samsung's Notebook 7 Spin is a folding Windows 10 convertible

Samsung has announced the Notebook 7 Spin, a convertible laptop with a folding design reminiscent of Lenovo's Yoga line. The Notebook 7 Spin is available with either 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch 1080p LCD touchscreens; the smaller model is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and integrated graphics, while the larger uses an i7 alongside an Nvidia 940MX GPU.

All models have an HDMI port, a USB-C port, and three USB-A ports (two 2.0 and one 3.0), while the 15.6-inch model adds Ethernet. The 13.3-inch model has 8GB of RAM, and there are 12GB and 16GB variants of the larger model, the latter of which includes a 128GB SSD to supplement the otherwise standard 1TB HDD.

Samsung is touting the laptops' fast-charging feature, which supposedly extends battery life by up to two hours after 20 minutes' charging, as well as a "Video HDR" mode for the display that makes "the content sharper, colors more vivid and textures truly pop." You'll probably want to see that in person before taking Samsung's word for it.

The Notebook 7 Spin range will be available at Best Buy and Samsung.com from June 26th, starting at $799.99.

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Samsung's Notebook 7 Spin is a folding Windows 10 convertible

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Which phones can’t be hacked: Apple, Windows Phone, Android or BlackBerry?

How do Apple, Windows, Android and BlackBerry fare against hacking? Lets take a look

While the technology world is waiting with bated breath for the final decision in the ongoing battle between the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Apple over a government request for a backdoor to the iPhone used by San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook, it exposes the issue of security that has for long been the selling point in smartphones that dates back to the long-encrypted BlackBerry.

“The tech industry tries to build the most secure products possible,” says Harvey Anderson, chief legal officer at computer security company AVG Technologies.

On the market today, there is no genuine way for consumers to keep themselves secure against the privacy concerns raised by likely government-instructed backdoors in mainstream phones.

That’s the reason why some people believe that the Apple-FBI fight may give tech companies a long-term motivation to build products that are safe which cannot be hacked. “If Apple had done it right, and no backdoor was available (to iPhone 5c), this would not be an issue,” Anderson said.

Jonathan Zittrain, an Internet law professor at Harvard Law School says that the Farook case in the end “compels Apple to build a next-generation, ultra-secure phone”.

How secure is my phone compared with the other brands available – will be the question on any ordinary users’ mind who are concerned about privacy until such new, super-secure phones are built.

Here’s is a summary:

Google’s Android operating system :

According to comScore MobiLens, phones that use the Android operating system with 53% of market share are the most popular worldwide and in the United States.

These Android phones come in many favors. Google made the decision to give away its software when it first launched Android in 2007, and not tie it to any one device or carrier. That means that today there are exactly dozens of marginally different types of the Android operating system running on phones built by multiple companies and using the cell networks of dozens of companies.

Four out of five smartphones are powered by Android worldwide, due to the openness that makes Androids cheaper and popular. However, it also means that based on what flavor of the operating system is being used, such as what the hardware is and which carrier the phone runs on, the phones’ security can vary enormously.

The latest version of Android, Marshmallow, that was released last October is used on new phones, the phone is fully encrypted on all devices that support a secure lock screen. However, older phones that were updated to Marshmallow may not be fully encrypted as they may not meet the necessary requirements.

Though stronger versions of encryption are possible, Android Marshmallow uses AES 128-bit encryption as the default. Generally used in phones, Advanced Encryption System is a standard first established by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. The bigger the bit number, the more tougher it is to break the key. However, anything from 128-bit on up is regarded as reasonable, as the key length is normally not the weakest link in a phone’s security.

The open app system of Android is considered by many as the main security threat to Android phones. While Apple’s apps must all be examined by the company to run on its phones, Google allows users to run unapproved apps as well. An outsider can be allowed access to the phone, if the apps that are not purchased from Google’s own app store can contain malicious code.

Samsung’s Knox (most probably after the super-safe Fort Knox) is an example of a feature built around security. Knox that was first announced in 2014 works only with selected Samsung phones, as it integrates directly with the hardware.
Apple’s iPhone:

Apple is mostly considered as having the most secure mainstream phones on the market today, a place once held by BlackBerry. Since the release of iOS 8 in 2014, all Apple phones have been fully encrypted. The system uses an AES 256-bit key from iOS 9 forward.

The company’s rigorous inspection process and firm sandboxing system that keeps apps from accessing other apps keep Apple phones protected from malicious apps.

At present, Apple has about 41% of U.S. smartphone market share.

Microsoft’s Windows mobile operating system

The first version of Microsoft’s mobile platform was the Windows 8.1 operating system that supported full-device encryption. However, it comes disabled by default and the phone’s administrator must enable it.

Windows 10 Mobile also support encryption, which must be turned on by the customer.

Currently, Windows handsets are not believed to be very susceptible to app-based attacks, partly as the platform has a somewhat small app library that is basically believed to be relatively free of malware.

BlackBerry Inc.’s BlackBerry OS:

For those wanting strong security, the BlackBerry was the device of choice for years, as they offered a safe network and chip-level hacking protections that was lacking in others. For at least a decade, BlackBerry’s have been fully encrypted.

However, Blackberry is no longer a feasible option for many companies, as the phone’s market share had shrunk to less than 2% in the United States in 2015.

Other smartphones :

There is a phone with high security and high prices to match for those for whom security is vital.

By default, Silent Circle’s $799 Blackphone 2 provides full device encryption. The enterprise-grade phone works through Silent Circle’s own Silent OS, an operating system built around privacy and with Android.

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Which phones can’t be hacked: Apple, Windows Phone, Android or BlackBerry?

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