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The Backbone One has become a favorite mobile gaming controller for iPhone, Android and PlayStation over the last few years. Now, Backbone has announced that its beloved $100 controller (yes, even the Android-specific version!) will be compatible with the upcoming iPhone 15.

The good news is that playing with an iPhone 15 doesn’t require buying a new controller. Anyone with a Backbone USB-C product needs to have the company’s app downloaded to receive the automatic update adding its “patent-pending universal technology.” This should then make all USB-C Backbone One controllers — including the PlayStation Edition — compatible with Android devices and the iPhone 15. All new USB-C Backbone One controllers purchased should also work across the devices.

The announcement comes on the same day as Apple’s iPhone 15 launch, which has been largely anticipated (and seemingly confirmed by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman) to have USB-C compatibility — finally replacing the longstanding lightning port. This shift is the critical factor in allowing this Backbone One crossover to occur, but it isn’t a change Apple necessarily wanted. The European Union is mandating that any new phones, portable speakers, tablets and many related devices sold in the region must have a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. The bloc’s rationale is that the regulation will reduce e-waste, though lightning port users might first have to buy a new charger.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-backbone-one-android-controller-now-supports-iphone-15-190059914.html?src=rss 

Apple’s next desktop overhaul is almost ready to download. macOS Sonoma will be available on September 26 as a free update for users with a compatible Mac device, the company announced at its annual fall event today. As is typically the case with desktop software upgrades, a lot of the improvements are under the hood. However, changes to widgets, high-resolution video screensavers and other items mean there’s plenty of new stuff to try.

One of the more notable changes is that widgets are now available on the main desktop area. Sure, it’s not the most thrilling of updates, but it will be handy to have things like weather and upcoming calendar events just a glance away. Apple is also adding high-res video screensavers to macOS, something akin to what’s been available on Apple TV. The motion continues on your lock screen, but once you’ve signed in, that all settles into a still image. 

There are upgrades for video chat apps like FaceTime too. New gestures will trigger effects over top of your camera feed while presenter overlays allow you to be present while you’re sharing your screen. When it comes to Safari, any website can now be transformed into a web app and the browser supports multiple profiles for things like work and personal use. There’s also a new Game Mode that prioritizes your computer’s power during those sessions and both Memoji and Stickers now sync across all of your iCloud-connected devices.  

Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/macos-sonoma-arrives-on-september-26-184116109.html?src=rss 

The writing was on the wall for the iPhone mini series last year, when Apple went to a bigger Plus size of the iPhone 14 instead of the mini model it offered for the iPhone 12 and 13. But now, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 mini entirely, a tough blow for those of us who like smaller phones. 

First introduced in the fall of 2020, the iPhone 12 mini had the same specs as the bigger iPhone 12 but with a smaller battery and smaller 5.4-inch screen. People who love small phones rejoiced, as it’s been increasingly difficult to buy a phone with a screen less than 6 inches — but analysts were quickly stating that iPhone 12 mini sales were not up to par. Apple still released an iPhone 13 mini in 2021, but last year decided that a bigger phone made more sense. 

The iPhone 13 mini stuck around for another year, but now has been stricken from the portfolio. The iPhone SE remains as a relatively compact device, but with a much smaller and lower-quality display than the mini offered. Maybe tastes will shift and we’ll come back around to a time when a smaller phone is in demand, but my guess is it won’t happen any time soon. 

Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-discontinues-the-iphone-13-mini-its-last-small-phone-worth-owning-184836048.html?src=rss 

Apple just teased an interesting feature for the just-announced iPhone 15 Pro line of smartphones. Thanks to the redesigned camera system and the addition of the powerful A17 Pro CPU, these phones can shoot 3D spatial videos and photos which can then be viewed by using the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.

When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, it spent some time on the notion of spatial videos and photos. Basically, these are completely three-dimensional experiences that you can relive by donning the headset. For instance, if you make a spatial video of your daughter’s birthday party, you can wear the Vision Pro and relive the day, as the operating system makes it feel like you’re back in the moment.

However, the company hadn’t detailed an easy way for consumers to make these videos, until now. You point and shoot a video and let the beefy iPhone 15 Pro do the rest, eventually sending the footage onto a Vision Pro once it releases. Additionally, you’ll be able to use the headset itself to capture these moments, but that’ll be at the expense of, you know, actually experiencing the moment.

During today’s iPhone-centric fall event, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again confirmed that the Vision Pro is all set for a release in the beginning months of 2024, so start saving up for the $3,500 device. The iPhone 15 Pro, for its part, starts at $1,000 for the bare-bones model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-iphone-15-pro-can-take-3d-spatial-videos-for-vision-pro-users-185251737.html?src=rss 

Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 9 on Tuesday. The main upgrade is a new S9 chipset, which includes the wearable’s first real CPU upgrade since the Series 6 in 2020 and helps enable features like a “double tap” gesture for controlling parts of apps hands-free. There’s also a brighter display, a new neural engine, a fresh pink colorway and, according to Apple’s product listing, a more expansive 64GB of storage. Designwise, however, the new watch looks much like the old ones.

Should you upgrade? We’ll have to review the Series 9 to see, but for now, we’ve laid out how the new wearable compares to a couple top rivals, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Google Pixel Watch, on the spec sheet. Specs can’t tell the whole story, of course: WatchOS and Wear OS are different beasts, and many of Apple’s biggest updates this year are software-based. Plus, just because two watches have similar sensors doesn’t mean they’re equally accurate. But if you’re curious about what your money gets you in 2023, here’s how the Series 9’s hardware stacks up.

There is a caveat to this, as Google has already confirmed that a new Pixel Watch will arrive in October. That one will come with better water resistance and, in all likelihood, an improved chipset. That said, we won’t have full rundown of its specs until next month, and Google’s sneak preview suggests it’ll be similar to the existing model physically.

Apple Watch Series 9

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Google Pixel Watch

Pricing (MSRP)

41mm Aluminum: $399

45mm Aluminum: $429

41mm Stainless steel: $699

45mm Stainless steel: $749

40mm: $299.99

44mm: $329.99

$349.99

Dimensions

41mm: 1.61 x 1.38 x 0.42 inches

45mm: 1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 inches

40mm: 1.53 x 1.59 x 0.35 inches

44mm: 1.69 x 1.75 x 0.35 inches

41mm: 1.61 x 1.61 x 0.48 inches

Weight (approx.)

41mm Aluminum: 1.13 ounces

45mm Aluminum: 1.37 ounces

41mm Stainless steel: 1.49 ounces

45mm Stainless steel: 1.82 ounces

40mm: 1.02 ounces

44mm: 1.16 ounces

1.27 ounces

Case material

Aluminum or Stainless steel

Aluminum (Stainless steel on Galaxy Watch 6 Classic)

Stainless steel

Display size

41mm: 1.69 inches

45mm: 1.9 inches

40mm: 1.31 inches

44mm: 1.47 inches

1.2 inches

Display resolution / pixel density

41mm: 430 x 352, 326 ppi

45mm: 484 x 396, 326 ppi

40mm: 432 x 432, 330 ppi

44mm: 480 x 480, 327 ppi

320 ppi

Display type

LTPO OLED

Aluminum: Ion-X glass

Stainless steel: Sapphire crystal glass

Super AMOLED

Sapphire crystal glass

AMOLED

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Display brightness

Up to 2,000 nits

Up to 2,000 nits

Up to 1,000 nits

Chipset

Apple S9 (dual-core)

Exynos W930 (dual-core, 5 nm)

Exynos 9110 (dual-core, 10 nm)

Storage

64GB

16GB

32GB

Battery life (claimed)

Up to 18 hours / up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode

Up to 40 hours with always-on display (AOD) off / up to 30 hours with AOD on

40mm: 300mAh

44mm: 425mAh

Up to 24 hours

294mAh

Wireless charging

Yes, via proprietary standard

Yes, via WPC-based chargers

10W

Not officially supported

Water resistance

Up to 50 meters, IP6X dust resistance

IP68, 5 ATM

5 ATM

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

Health features

Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen measurements, temperature sensor, ECG app, sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications

Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen measurements, temperature sensor, ECG app, sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications, bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor

Optical heart rate sensor, overnight blood oxygen measurements, Fitbit ECG app, sleep tracking

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

802.11 a/b/g/n

802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth

v5.3

v5.3

v5.0

NFC

Yes

Yes

Yes

OS

watchOS 10

Wear OS 4, One UI 5 Watch

Wear OS 3.5

Case colors

Aluminum: Pink, Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Product Red

Stainless steel: Gold, Silver, Graphite

Graphite, Gold

Champagne Gold, Matte Black, Polished Silver

Other features

Always-on display, ultra-wideband chip, fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE (standard with stainless steel model), altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

Always-on display, fall detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

Always-on display, Fitbit integration, fall detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-watch-series-9-vs-the-competition-same-design-more-power-191333859.html?src=rss 

After the usual flurry of rumors, we now know exactly what Apple is packing into the new iPhone 15. We also know models start at $799 and are up for pre-order starting this Friday with availability on September 22. The headline feature is the charging port: now all iPhone 15 models have USB-C instead of the old Lightning port (thanks, European Union). Other changes include the introduction of the Dynamic Island, previously reserved for Apple’s Pro-level handsets only. Around back, the dual cameras incorporate a 48MP lens and a 12MP telephoto cam with a 2x optical zoom. And now Portrait Mode is enabled automatically, letting you apply the effect later, or not at all. It’s all powered by the A16 Bionic chip, previously found in the iPhone 14 Pro models of the previous generation. 

If you’re intrigued by that USB-C port and are in the market for a new iPhone, you may want to compare Apple’s newest handset to the latest, most similar models: Samsung’s Galaxy S23 and Google’s Pixel 7. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of all three of the major flagship phones: 

Apple iPhone 15 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 7 

Apple iPhone 15

Samsung Galaxy S23

Google Pixel 7

Pricing

Starts at $799

Starts at $700

Starts at $599

Release date

September 22, 2023

Feb 17, 2023

October 13, 2022

Dimensions

5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in

(147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm)

5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in

(146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm)

6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in

(155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm)

Weight

6.02 oz

(171 g)

5.93 oz

(168 g)

6.95 oz

(197 g)

Operating system

iOS

Android

Android

Screen size

6.1 in

6.1 in

6.3 in

Screen resolution

2556 x 1179 at 460ppi

2340 x 1080 at 425ppi

2400 x 1080 at 416ppi

Screen type (refresh rate)

Super Retina XDR display

Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)

OLED (90Hz)

Processor

A16 Bionic chip

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Tensor G2

Water and dust resistance

IP68

IP68

IP68

Battery

not listed

3900mAh

4355mAh

RAM

not listed

8GB

8GB

Internal storage

128GB / 256GB / 512GB

128GB / 256GB

128GB / 256GB

Rear camera(s)

Two cameras:

Main: 48MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture

Wide, 2x optical zoom: 12MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture

Three cameras:

Wide: 50MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture

Ultrawide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture

Two cameras:

Wide: 50MP, ƒ/1.85 aperture

Ultrawide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Video capture

4K x 60 fps

8K at 30 fps

4K at 60 fps

Front camera

12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture

12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

10.8MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E

Charging

20W fast charging, 15W wireless

25W fast charging, 12W wireless

20W fast charging, 20W wireless

Connector

USB-C 2

UCB-C

USB-C

Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-iphone-15-vs-the-competition-goodbye-lightning-hello-usb-c-192629676.html?src=rss 

An FDA medical advisory panel ruled that phenylephrine (PE), a key ingredient in many over-the-counter cold medications, does not actually work to treat nasal congestion when taken orally at the recommended 10 mg dose every 4 hours. Phenylephrine was last evaluated for over-the-counter use as an oral and intranasal decongestant in 1976, according to the panel. If you’re keeping score at home, that means many of the OTC decongestants consumers in the US have been buying for nearly the last 50 years were, according to the FDA, “failed to provide any benefit over [a] placebo.”

This determination will impact drug makers that use PE as an active ingredient, which can be found in Sudafed, Vicks Sinex, and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, for example.

As part of the panel’s review, the FDA reported that in 2022, an estimated 242 million packages of OTC cough and allergy oral products containing PE were sold in retail stores, which raked in about $1.8 billion in sales. It even notes that the true extent of use of PE-containing cold products is likely underestimated because retail sales data does not “capture sales activity from Costco, convenience stores, specialty stores, internet sales, phone sales, or kiosks.”

The FDA will now need to determine if it will revoke PE’s oral OTC designation as “safe and effective.” Without that designation, drug makers may see their products removed from stores.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-most-common-oral-decongestant-in-the-us-does-not-work-fda-finds-193003406.html?src=rss 

Apple’s watchOS 10 will officially be available on September 18, the company announced during its iPhone 15 launch event today. The update is simultaneously one of the biggest facelifts ever for watchOS, while also being a throwback to the original “Glances” feature from the original Apple Watch. Instead of focusing on individual apps, WatchOS 10 relies on widgets in every watch face — just turn the Digital Crown and you’ll have quick access to things like timers, music, or a podcast episode that you’re listening to. 

Given how confusing multitasking has been in watchOS for some time, it makes sense for Apple to reorient the platform around simple tasks, rather than have you flip through multiple app screens. (Maybe Apple just noticed that people really like using the Siri watch face, which offered a similar array of widgets.) 

As we saw during WWDC, watchOS 10 will come equipped with two new watch faces — a colorful view called Palette, and one featuring Woodstock and Snoopy — and includes a slew of other upgrades. You’ll be able to add corner shortcuts to the Activity app, for one, while the Compass app will automatically log where you last had cellular connectivity (in case you need to backtrack for an emergency call).

watchOS 10 will be available on the Apple Watch Series 4 or later, and it also requires an iPhone XS running iOS 17. 

Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watchos-10-brings-widgets-to-your-apple-watch-on-september-18-173827349.html?src=rss