Apple has announced a free service programme for iPhone 14 Plus users who are affected by rare kinds of issues that affected devices manufactured between April 10, 2023, to April 28, 2024. The affected iPhone 14 Plus devices suffer from a manufacturing defect where the smartphone does not show any preview while using the rear camera of the phone.

iPhone 14 Plus users affected by a specific camera issue can check their eligibility for free repairs by visiting the company’s official support page and entering their phone’s IMEI number.

For eligible users, Apple will offer the repairs free of cost. Moreover, those iPhone 14 Plus users who previously paid for repairs related to this issue are also eligible to request a refund.

Also Read: Apple Launches Smaller, Redesigned Mac Mini: Price, Features

How Can Apple Users Get Free Repairs

Apple has stated that users can make claims for these free repairs for up to three years from the original purchase date of their iPhone 14 Plus. This program, however, applies only to a “very small percentage" of iPhone 14 Plus devices and won’t be extended to the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, or newer models.

This marks the company’s first free repair programme in three years, with the last one being in 2021 for the iPhone 12 models affected by an earpiece issue. Separately, Apple recently rolled out its iOS 18.1 update, introducing the first wave of Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series models.

While the iPhone 14 series got the update, it does not have support for the new AI features due to the older SoC and lower RAM. Even the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, released last year, did not receive support for Apple Intelligence.

Also Read: iOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence Available For These iPhones

Apple Acquires Popular Photo Editing App Pixelmator

Apple has acquired the creator of the popular image editing app, Pixelmator. The Lithunian-based company was founded in 2007 and has apps such as Pixelmator, Pixelmator Pro, and Photomator.

In a blog post, Pixelmator confirmed the acquisition. “Pixelmator has signed an agreement to be acquired by Apple, subject to regulatory approval. There will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time,” said the company.

Pixelmator has been developing apps for iOS and Mac and has been name-checked by the Cupertino tech giant several times during its product launches. “We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance,” said Pixelmator.

People have started receiving their orders of Amazon’s first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, and many claim they are seeing a yellow, discolored strip at the bottom of the display. Complaints about the $279.99 e-reader’s display have spread online and dragged down its Amazon star rating, and Amazon tells The Verge it’s aware of the issues.

A Reddit user posted a thread with images, saying it’s pretty obvious when the Kindle “is supposed to be evenly lit and colored like a piece of paper.” Several others with the same issue say they have exchanged their Colorsoft for a new one or simply returned it. Another user said they only noticed it while using the device's edge lighting.

Whether the issue is related to a hardware or software flaw isn’t known, but one user posted a screenshot where a customer service agent appeared to confirm that Amazon is working on a fix for it. Multiple people said in another thread that the issue didn’t appear until after an initial software update.

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What Exactly Is The Issue With Kindle Colorsoft

Amazon spokesperson Jill Tornifoglio confirmed the company is aware of complaints in a statement emailed to The Verge:
 

“We’re aware of a small number of reports from customers who see a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously and are looking into it. If customers notice this on their device, they can reach out to our customer service team.”

Currently, it’s not immediately clear how widespread the issue is. On Amazon’s website, where the Kindle Colorsoft is sitting at a 2.6-star average rating, a large part of both good and bad reviews point out the discoloration. Of those, some say the yellow line is hardly noticeable, while others say it’s too distracting to keep.

Amazon recently announced the launch of its refreshed Kindle lineup of e-book readers. What’s more interesting is that the lineup includes the Colorsoft Signature Edition, which comes with a colored e-ink display. It claims to offer a week-long battery and costs $279.99.

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Amazon First Colored Kindle With Kindle Scribe

The Kindle series now packs four models: the first-ever colored Kindle, a reimagined Kindle Scribe, the fastest Kindle Paperwhite yet, and a new entry-level Kindle. The entry-level Kindle comes in a new Matcha color with a price tag of $109.99, and it comes with a non-reflective e-ink display with 300 ppi and 16GB of storage.

The Kindle Paperwhite—the fastest according to the company—comes in two variants: the base model with 16 GB of storage at $159.99, and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with 32 GB storage for $199.99. Both devices offer water-resistant capabilities with new color options, such as Raspberry Metallic, Jade Green Metallic, and Charcoal Metallic.

Samsung’s much-anticipated Galaxy S25 series is said to be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets, a chip praised for its groundbreaking CPU and GPU enhancements.

However, as first reported by SamMobile, recent tests show potential heating issues that could impact performance, prompting concerns about how the company might handle this in its next flagship.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets, which Qualcomm recently unveiled, have already been used for several devices, one of which is the Realme GT7 Pro. Early reviews of this Realme model, including those from Android Authority and Digital Trends, report that the device heats up significantly when performing intensive tasks.

Also Read: Qualcomm Launches Its Fastest Chipset, Snapdragon 8 Elite

Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Heating Woes Could Be An Issue

During GPU benchmarks, reviewers noted that the smartphone’s temperature was up to 46 degrees Celsius, with the device occasionally becoming “uncomfortably hot” to the touch. At this temperature, this phone even showcased heat-related warnings and restricted all functions except for basic calling, which is an uncommon issue for high-end devices.

To address the heating, reviewers tried switching the Realme GT7 Pro from its default ‘Balanced’ performance setting to a ‘Power Saving Mode.’ Surprisingly, this change did little to curb the overheating issue.

Moreover, when benchmark tests were disguised as a different app to avoid any built-in throttling mechanisms, the Snapdragon 8 Elite-backed phone still experienced sharp performance drops after only a few minutes. Despite that, its sustained performance remained notably higher than Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, which leverages the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.

Also Read: MediaTek Announces New Dimensity 9400 Flagship Chipset

How Will Samsung Curb The Heating Issues

Outside of benchmarking, the Realme GT7 Pro reportedly managed well with demanding tasks such as heavy gaming, hinting that ther overheating may be more specific to graphics benchmarks than to general performance. These findings suggest the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip might produce more heat than its predecessors under certain conditions. This potential drawback raises questions for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series, which aims to integrate this powerful processor.

To curb the heating issues, Samsung has packed its recent flagship and mid-range devices with substantial vapor chamber cooling systems. These advanced cooling mechanisms have proven effective in preventing overheating in previous models, but the power-intensive Snapdragon 8 Elite might require even more robust thermal management.

If Samsung does use this chipset, the Galaxy S25 could benefit from an expanded cooling design to maintain peak performance without overheating. Given the Galaxy S25’s anticipated popularity, how the company addresses these thermal concerns will be closely watched by industry analysts and consumers alike.

Almost every year, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) introduces updated Bluetooth specs, the wireless connectivity feature that connects smartphones with several smart accessories like smartwatches, earbuds, smart rings, fitness trackers, and much more.

The group has now revealed the specifications for Bluetooth 6.0, a successor to Bluetooth 5.4. With the latest version of Bluetooth, SIG has managed to address some of the long-term concerns of users, and the new version is all about offering upgraded features.

Bluetooth 6.0 is said to bring a new capability dubbed channel sounding, where compatible phones or an accessories can now offer an enhanced low-powered network of wireless devices. Bluetooth 6.0-packed devices can now accurately determine the presence, distance, and direction of another Bluetooth 6.0-powered device, without compromising on security.

Also Read: Huawei Launches New Android-Free Mobile Operating System

How Can Bluetooth 6.0 Be A Game Changer

The result of this innovation can lead to the creation of new-age tracking devices like the AirTag, allowing phone or accessories makers to easily identify and track a linked device. This could also allow for home automation solutions to the auto garage or door unlock within a range, allowing auto access to restricted areas to authorized personnel, and more.

But fret not, Bluetooth 6.0 won’t be used to deliver ads like other social media apps. In this context, the advertising is meant for how one Bluetooth device identifies and interacts with other Bluetooth devices.

Decision-based advertising makes sure that it can automatically decide to scan the secondary device based on the content received on the primary Bluetooth device, which helps with efficiency and can reduce power consumption. Similarly, Bluetooth 6.0 can also monitor and filter out duplicate data, again to improve efficiency. These features will help device developers to improve the user interface and user experience.

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When Can Bluetooth 6.0 Come To Devices

Bluetooth 6.0 can also transfer large data in smaller link-layered packets, and it is known as the Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL) enhancement, helping in audio products that need low latency.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is among the first smartphone chips, as per the official listing, that supports Bluetooth 6.0. However, some of the recently introduced phones like the OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13 are still using Bluetooth 5.4. Upcoming phones with the same chip are likely to support Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity.

Similarly, the iPhone 16 series is currently restricted to Bluetooth 5.3, and with the upcoming iPhone 17 series, Apple is likely to jump directly to Bluetooth 6.0. As for earbuds, fitness trackers, and tracking devices, these devices could arrive by early 2025.

Amazon might be facing some hurdles with the promised AI upgrades to Alexa. According to a report from Bloomberg, the company’s signature voice assistant, which was supposed to get a big AI overhaul before the end of this year, will instead get that upgrade in 2025.

The idea here is to make the smart assistant more smart and more powerful by making it more conversational and capable of new things. Sadly, by all accounts, that will not happen any time soon.

Also Read: OpenAI Now Lets Users Search Through Their ChatGPT History

AI-Powered Alexa Facing Troubles In Testing

The Bloomberg report goes on to list out the problems that the AI-enhanced Alexa is having in testing. For instance, beta users reported that the AI can give long, rambling answers that aren’t completely to the original query. Other alleged problems include hallucinations, and failure to work with connected smart devices like light switches consistently.

Amazon hasn’t officially confirmed any delay, but beta access has been turned off, so users can’t even try the more conversational Alexa in a test environment anymore. Perhaps users will be able to use it in 2025.

Besides, Amazon recently announced the launch of its refreshed Kindle lineup of e-book readers. What’s more interesting is that the lineup includes the Colorsoft Signature Edition, which comes with a colored e-ink display. It claims to offer a week-long battery and costs $279.99.

Also Read: OpenAI Testing ChatGPT App For Windows Users

Amazon Unveils Its First Colored Kindle With Kindle Scribe

The Kindle series now packs four models: the first-ever colored Kindle, a reimagined Kindle Scribe, the fastest Kindle Paperwhite yet, and a new entry-level Kindle. The entry-level Kindle comes in a new Matcha color with a price tag of $109.99, and it comes with a non-reflective e-ink display with 300 ppi and 16GB of storage.

The Kindle Paperwhite—the fastest according to the company—comes in two variants: the base model with 16 GB of storage at $159.99, and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with 32 GB storage for $199.99. Both devices offer water-resistant capabilities with new color options –– Raspberry Metallic, Jade Green Metallic, and Charcoal Metallic.

Besides, there’s also a special Kindle Kids and Kindle Paperwhite Kids edition with unique cover designs dubbed Space Whale, Ocean Explorer, and Unicorn Valley. The Kindle Scribe also serves as a digital notepad and will set users back by $399.99. It comes packed with a stylus, making it easy to jot down things. It can also be used as a regular Kindle to read books since it has an e-ink display.

A recent report from the YouTube channel ‘Moore’s Law is Dead’ has reignited speculation about Apple potentially taking over Intel’s business. As per YouTuber Tom S, there are talks of Apple's interest in acquiring the chip giant, with Samsung also rumored to have an eye on Intel.

Intel has faced some hurdles recently, with shrinking profit margins due to intense competition and missed opportunities in the booming AI chip sector. Its shares have dropped around 60 percent since CEO Pat Gelsinger took over in 2021, and the company recently reported a significant USD 16.6 billion loss for Q3 2024.

Also Read: iOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence Available For These iPhones

Apple’s Shift To Custom Silicon Chipsets

Apple shifted away from intel chips in 2020, favoring its ARM-based silicon chips across its product range. This shift came after Apple’s 2019 acquisition of Intel’s modem division, but recent rumors point to the possibility of a larger acquisition. However, these are still uncertain, with no formal announcements from the Cupertino-based tech giant.

While competitors like Nvidia dominate the AI chip market, Intel has struggled to capitalize on this segment. Despite these hurdles, Intel remains a key player in the semiconductor industry, and an acquisition by Apple or Samsung could reshape the tech landscape.

Apple has also acquired the creator of the popular image editing app, Pixelmator. The Lithunian-based company was founded in 2007 and has apps such as Pixelmator, Pixelmator Pro, and Photomator.

Also Read: Apple Launches Smaller, Redesigned Mac Mini: Price, Features

Apple Acquires Popular Photo Editing App Pixelmator

In a blog post, Pixelmator confirmed the acquisition. “Pixelmator has signed an agreement to be acquired by Apple, subject to regulatory approval. There will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time,” said the company.

Pixelmator has been developing apps for iOS and Mac and has been name-checked by the Cupertino tech giant several times during its product launches. “We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance,” said Pixelmator.

The company also said that it is looking forward to reaching a bigger audience. “It’s crazy what a small group of dedicated people have been able to achieve over the years from all the way in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world,” said Pixelmator.