Best New Features of iOS 16

    Robert Cerff / 18-07-2022 / News & Tips

    The new iPhone 14 is bringing a new operating system updated with it. iOS 16 is slated for release later this year and so far, we’ve seen glimpses of its capabilities after its debut in preview form at the WWDC in June.

    If you’re curious to know more, we have the low down on the best new features to expect from iPhone’s newest operating system.

    Customisable Lockscreen

    iOS 16 has completely overhauled the old lock screen, adding new dynamic and customisable features. When it launches, you will be able to adjust picture placement, create multiple lock screens and apply themes like astronomy or weather. An unconfirmed but very likely improvement will be a new live updates feature where notifications come through in real-time. For example, if this feature is activated for the Sports App, you will receive live updates as the action unfolds. The feature hints that the new range of flagship iPhones could boast an always-on live screen.

    The Freedom to iMessage

    With the introduction of iOS 16, you can finally edit and undo your messages as well as mark threads as unread on iMessage. A feature that’s been a long time coming for iPhone lovers!

    Focus Gets More Focused

    When Focus launched on iOS 15, it quickly became a fan favourite as users loved how it helped them block out distractions. With iOS 16, Focus is set to become even better as it extends to the lock screen and adopts advanced customisation features. For example, in work mode, Focus enables you to apply work-related wallpapers and widgets. Customisations will extend to selected apps such as Safari, Messages, Mail, and Calendar. You will only receive notifications related to the mode you're using at the time. And, you’ll easily be able to switch to another mode when you’re relaxing by swiping on the lock screen.

    A Boost for Apple Maps

    Apple Maps is expanding its coverage to 11 new countries and added six new cities to the 3D city map network. It offers better functionality allowing you to add 15 stops on an Apple Maps route and you can prepare your routes in advance on a Mac or ask Siri to add more points while you're on the move!

    Expanding Your iCloud Library

    With iOS 16, you get a separate iCloud Shared Photo library that allows you to share photos with your friends and family. You can add up to five people and organise the photos by person or date. There’s also a new way to add images to the library via a sharing shortcut in the camera app.

    Keep Your Health on Track

    iPhone’s Health App is set for its own version of Apple Watch’s Fitness app. With the release of iOS 16, the Health App will track your movements and a range of other activities, such as managing your medication. Once you’re on, you can log your meds and schedule reminders to take these at specific times.

    If it’s time to upgrade your iPhone so you can fully benefit from the new iOS 16 when it rolls out, check out Mondo for the hottest iPhone deals.

    TECH NEWS

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    How to Protect Your Privacy When Lending Out Your Smartphone

    Whether you’re showing off your vacation pictures, letting a friend make a call, or allowing your parents to watch a video, we’ve all handed our phone over to someone at some point. But have you ever thought about how risky sharing your phone could be?Your phone contains tons of personal information. Things like your banking apps, password vaults and even those embarrassing pictures that you would like to keep private.Thankfully, whether you’re Team Apple or Team Android, there are ways that you can protect your privacy and ensure that your information is kept secure.For iPhone UsersApple has a cool feature called Guided Access that locks a user within a specific app. You can activate it by opening “Settings” and going to “Accessibility” and then selecting “Guided Access”. Be sure to use “Passcode Settings” to set a code to protect your device.Once you’ve enabled Guided Access, turning the feature on is as simple as opening your app and triple-tapping the home button or the side button.To exit, just triple-tap again and input your Guided Access password.Without the code, the person using your phone cannot get out of the selected app.Be careful though, because  when it comes to your gallery, the person using your phone will still be able to access all your pictures, even with Guided Access activated.There is an easy workaround though. Just open the video or image  you want to keep private,  tap the share button on the bottom left and choose “Hide”. This will move the file into a hidden folder that isn’t immediately accessible.  For Android UsersSimilar to Guided Access, Android has the App Pinning feature.  App Pinning prevents the person using your smartphone from exiting the app without a code.To enable App Pinning on your Android device, go to your “Settings” and choose “Security”, then select  “Advanced Settings” and activate “App Pinning”.Toggle the “Use App Pinning”  button and make sure that the “Ask for Pin Before Unpinning” feature is enabled.To pin an app, swipe up and hold until you see the thumbnails of your recently used apps. Select the app you want to lock and choose “Pin”.To exit App Pinning, just swipe up and hold. The device will automatically lock, and you will need to enter your code to unlock and have full access to your phone once again.When it comes to hiding your pictures and videos, Google Photos is the Android hero you’ve been looking for. Simply open the file, tap the menu icon on the top right and select “Move to Locked Folder”. Files moved into this folder cannot be accessed without unlocking your smartphone.Now, with so many safety nets in place, there’s no need to be anxious about putting your phone in someone else’s hands for a change!

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    Samsung Galaxy A13 vs. Galaxy A12: The Clash of the Mid-Range Titans

    Samsung’s most affordable smartphones on the market, the Galaxy A12 and A13, are going head to head in this comparison by Mondo. Considering you can own either one of these mid-range handsets without breaking the bank, which one will you pick?The more dynamic displayIf you’re looking for a smartphone with a striking display for watching videos or light gaming, the Samsung Galaxy A13 is the better option. Launched in March this year, it sports a larger screen size at 6.6-inches with 400 PPI (pixels per inch). In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A12, launched in February 2020, has a 6.5-inch screen and 264 PPI. The Galaxy A13 also has a better screen resolution at 2 408 x 1 080 than the A12’s 720 x 1 600, and although it falls just short of a Full HD experience, it’s still sharp for day-to-day use.This doesn’t mean the A12 is a dud. On the contrary, the display specs are decent, with a pretty good maximum brightness. Although both phones lose out on high-end AMOLED tech, they have very similar displays (PLS on the A12 and IPS on the A13) that are surprisingly good and produce bright, punchy colours. One place the A12 wins is its bigger screen-to-body ratio, which is 85.8% to the A13’s 83.2%.Winning battery performanceTurning our attention to battery power, the Galaxy A13 and A12 sport a big 5,000mAh battery with fast charging capabilities of up to 15W. The phones can last up to two days on a single charge, ensuring that these mid-range powerhouses go the distance without needing to be constantly charged. In video playback tests, the Galaxy A13 reached just over 19 hours, while the A12 surprisingly lasted an extra 7 hours under the same conditions.Latest software is unbeatableSince the Samsung A12 was launched a whole 2 years before the A13, there are some drawbacks in terms of software simply because it’s an older release. Both phones run on Android with Samsung skins on top. However, the A12 features Android 10 with a One UI skin, while the A13 runs on the latest Android 12 and One UI 4.1. Even so, both versions of Android offer excellent security upgrades, more personalisation and easy multitasking. Plus, the Samsung skins allow for a unique Android experience that isn’t possible with other brands.Changing chipsetsThe chipset of the Galaxy A12 was introduced with a MediaTek Helio P35 processor. But Samsung soon replaced it with the snappier Exynos 850 processor.Now, the A13 is following a similar path with a change of chipsets planned. It’s powered by the 5G-enabled MediaTek Dimensity 700 in the US but currently ships with the 4G-only Samsung Exynos 850. The Samsung chip is planned to be swapped out for the faster MediaTek Helio G80 processor. The upgrade will see a boost in gaming, camera and connectivity capabilities.Cameras find common groundWhen it comes to camera specs, the Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a slightly more powerful 50MP main shooter, while the Galaxy A12 holds steady with a capable 48MP offering. Both feature a quad lens setup on the back, and the main cameras are supported by a 5MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP macro lens and 2MP depth sensor. On the front, they’re both equal with an 8MP selfie snapper. The handsets capture vibrant, shareable photos with enough detail and decent composition.More memoryBoth phones combine octa-core processing with a good amount of RAM for a smoother performance. On the Galaxy A12, you get 4GB RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and a MicroSD card slot that holds up to 1TB. The A13 offers a choice between 3GB, 4GB, or 6GB of RAM, and 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of internal storage. It mirrors the A12 with a 1TB MicroSD card slot.VerdictThe newer Samsung Galaxy A13 features plenty of upgrades that place it a step above the Galaxy A12. If you’re looking for a faster chipset, the latest software, better main camera and display, and more storage, this one's for you. However, the A12 holds its own for a 2020 model with a bigger screen-to-body ratio, decent screen and camera quality, and unbeatable battery performance.So which one should you choose? Both are excellent entry-level handsets from this A-series lineup. If you’re looking for a smartphone that fits the current mid-range standard, the Samsung Galaxy A13 ticks more boxes. But if you’re willing to cut back on certain specs for a better battery, then the Galaxy A12 is a good contender.

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    Get These Awesome Emoji Packs to Celebrate World Emoji Day

    Emojis have completely changed how we communicate, adding character, fun and humour to our everyday messages. They have become so iconic that there’s now an unofficial global holiday on 17 July to celebrate them!  Here’s are 5 FREE emoji packs to help you up your emoji game this World Emoji Day.Bitmoji for Hyper-Personalisation(iPhone/iPad/Android)Owned by Snapchat, Bitmoji gives you a custom emoji experience that lets you create cartoon versions of yourself. These are so accurate that they can even match your unique style. Bitmoji integrates with Facebook, Gboard, iMessage, and even Gmail and Slack. But its best feature is unlocked while using Snapchat. Known as Friendmoji, the feature allows you and your friends to send personalised emojis to each other. This gives Bitmoji the competitive edge since it is the only platform with the feature.Elite Emoji for High-Definition (iPhone, iPad, Android)With over 2000 high-definition emojis to choose from, Elite Emoji gives you both quality and quantity. Choose from an array of themes and categories, including animals, sports, birthdays, jokes, and much more. For a touch of personalisation, there are over 5000 witty messages to pair with your emojis. You can use Elite Emoji on messaging and social media apps like iMessage, WhatsApp and Instagram.Gboard for Originality (Most compatible with Android)GBoard is one of the most popular keyboards on Android, featuring good functionality and outstanding originality. Emoji Kitchen, in particular, boasts cutting-edge Google AI technology that allows you to mash up two different emojis into a wacky combination. With the possibility of cooking up over 15 000 new emojis directly on the keyboard, Gboard takes your emoji game to the next level! It works on most Android apps, like Google Messages, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and WhatsApp. Although Gboard is also available on iOS, it doesn’t support Emoji Kitchen, but there is a workaround. You can access the feature online on emoji.kitchen and download your creations as images instead.Emoji> for Choice (iPhone/iPad Only)With over 60 million users worldwide, Emoji> is the go-to emoji app for iPhone users. There are hundreds of exclusive and regularly updated emojis to add character to your iMessage and social media conversations. You can enjoy a free version, unlock special emojis through in-app purchases or even ask the user community to create specific emojis just for you! Emoji> integrates smoothly with the iOS keyboard, and brings you more emoji choice.Facemoji for Character(iPhone, iPad, Android)The Facemoji keyboard app offers thousands of emojis at your fingertips, ensuring you’re never short of ways to express yourself. The emoji feature has dozens of custom themes, funny gifs and eye-catching fonts that range from fancy to playful. Most emoji packs are free, although there are some paid options. You also get a choice of themed packs to celebrate annual events.There are so many ways to express yourself this World Emoji Day, so what are you waiting for? 😉

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