Tag: iPhone 14 Pro

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 6a wins MKBHD’s blind camera test

Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) has done another blind camera test, pitting sixteen smartphones against each other and having participants on the internet vote for their favourite pictures taken from these devices.

The phones include plenty of handsets that don’t release in Canada, along with devices that do, like the iPhone 14 Pro, OnePlus 10 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 Pro, iPhone SE, and the S22 Ultra.

However, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, Moto Edge 30 Ultra, Nothing Phone (1), Oppo Find X5 Pro, Realme 10 Pro+, Asus ROG Phone 6, Sony Xperia 1 IV, Xiaomi 12s Ultra, Asus Zenfone 9 and the Vivo X80 Pro+ on the list are not available in Canada, which is worth keeping in mind.

This year the MKBHD used an ELO rating system similar to what you find in competitive games to break down devices into ‘Best Overall,’ ‘Best HDR,’ and ‘Best Portrait.’

The Pixel 6a won the contest, with the Pixel 7 Pro in second place and the Zenfone 9 in third for best overall photos. The S22 Ultra was fifth on the list, and the iPhone 14 Pro landed in seventh.

It’s worth noting that the Pixel 5a won the blind camera contest last year, so that’s two years in a row for Google’s Pixel a series handsets.

Source: MKBHD

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Apple now offers end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups

Apple will now allow users to end-to-end encrypt photos, notes and, more importantly, full backups stored in its iCloud platform, according to a recent press release from the tech giant.

As part of what the tech giant calls ‘Advanced Data Protection,’ the following can now be encrypted: device backups, Messages backups, iCloud Drive, Notes, Photos, Reminders, Safari bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts, Wallet Passes and Voice memos. According to the company’s press release, only iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendar aren’t covered because of the platform’s “need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems.”

With Advanced Data Protection turned on, Apple says that law enforcement and hackers can’t access your data in the tech giant’s databases. With the feature off, Apple can help users recover their information if need be, but it’s also far less secure.

The feature is available now to iOS beta users in the U.S. and will release globally in 2023. Alongside this announcement, Apple confirmed it no longer plans to scan users’ iCloud libraries for images of child sexual abuse. The company also revealed that it will launch iMessage Contact Key Verification, a feature designed for journalists, human rights activists and members of government, that aims to verify users are only messaging who they intend to.

Image credit: Apple

Source: Apple

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Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite saves stranded snowmobiler

A snowmobiler in Alaska is believed to be the first person to use Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite.

As reported by 9to5Mac, Alaska State Troopers were notified of an alert in the early morning hours of December 1st. It came through the Apple Emergency Response Center, notifying them of an adult male activating the feature on their iPhone after being stranded.

Volunteer searchers were sent “to the Nimiuk Point area directly to the GPS coordinates provided by the Apple Emergency Response Center,” a report from Alaska’s Department of Public Safety states.

Searchers successfully located the male.

Apple launched the feature a matter of weeks ago. It’s available on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models in Canada and the U.S. and connects the devices with satellites when out of reach of cellular networks.

MobileSyrup’s review of the feature is available here.

Source: Alaska Department of Public Safety Via: 9to5Mac

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The iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display is finally usable

Apple’s iOS 16.2 beta three has added two new key toggles to the always-on display (AOD) feature that’s available on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Now when you dive into your AOD settings, you can disable the wallpaper and notifications from appearing on the screen. This makes the Always-on display look more subtle, which I find less distracting. To test these settings yourself, you need to be in the iOS beta or wait until the stable iOS 16.2 drops.

If those conditions are met, jump into the Settings app > Display & Brightness > Always On Display.

One thing I enjoy about the AOD is it maintains the custom font and colour of your lock screen clock and widgets. It looks really nice, especially with some of the more ‘out there’ font choices. I do wish Apple would develop a more subtle way for notifications to roll through, but for now, I keep them turned off since they’re just too distracting.

Perhaps linking the AOD to Focus modes would be cool so you could set a notification type or contact group to be allowed to pop through the always-on display. One feature I do like on the AOD is the ability to see the now-playing information. It’s greyed out a bit to be less distracting, but it’s nice to always have play/pause controls handy.

Regardless, it’s nice that Apple is listening to feedback and providing people with more options to make the AOD less intrusive. Something that came up a lot when the phone was reviewed a few months ago.

It’s also worth noting this display shouldn’t impact battery life substantially. Apple says that it turns off the display when it detects its face down, in a bag, or when it’s being used for something like Continuity camera or has a Sleep focus turned on. You can read more about the setting on Apple’s support page.

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Testing Apple’s new iPhone 14 Emergency SOS via Satellite

iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models can connect to satellites allowing you to contact emergency services or share your location without being connected to a cellular network. Now that Apple’s new Emergency SOS satellite infrastructure is available in Canada, we got the opportunity to try a hands-on demo.

We didn’t contact emergency services during our time with the feature, but if you try it out at home, you will. To avoid this there’s a dedicated demo mode in the ‘Emergency SOS’ section of the iOS settings app.

We tried out both features that come with Emergency SOS via Satellite services. The first and most important is what happens in an emergency. We used a demo iPhone 14 Pro with access to a real Globalstar satellite, which relayed directly to the ground station. However, the ground station didn’t actually contact the emergency services. This process worked well and faster than expected.

To use it, call 911 with no service. Your phone will first try to use regular cellular roaming to attach to any network in the area, but if it can’t, the option to trigger SOS via Satellite kicks in. When this happens, it says, “No connection. Try Emergency Text via Satellite,” and the green call button will transfer you to the Satellite SOS interface.

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A demo of the emergency services questionnaire if you select ‘Fire.’

From there, you answer a quick questionnaire regarding your predicament,  injuries, fire, or whatever else. Following the questions, you’re asked if you want to share your location and a transcript of the questionnaire with your ‘Emergency contact.’ If you don’t have one yet, you can set your Emergency contact in the Apple Health app or via the ‘Emergency SOS’ section in Settings.

Hold the phone steady for a few seconds, or minutes, depending on your view of the sky, and you’ll make contact with the relay station. The folks at the station will text back via satellite and try to collect more information to provide detailed information to an actual emergency dispatch station. Since satellite connections can be fickle, these messages should be brief, but you can still offer a sentence or two of information.

The small Satellite icon moves to tell you where to point your phone for the best connection.

When we tried this out, we noticed that you’re sometimes forced to spin around a bit to get a solid satellite connection, and your handset needs to stay connected to the satellite. There’s a very easy-to-use guide within the persistent notification and haptic feedback whenever the phone disconnects. Sometimes there will be satellite blackouts as they pass overhead, but the phone should be smart enough to know roughly how long before the next one passes. During the demo, we lost connection and the phone predicted re-connection in two minutes. It was right.

The secondary feature enabled by satellite integration is in Apple’s ‘Find My’ app. If you’re hiking and want your loved ones to know where you are, you can send your location via satellite. This is a barebones implementation, but for people who are often exploring solo, this is very helpful for updating people at home to let them know you’re safe. There’s a small cottage industry of devices like this so it will be interesting to see what happens as phones step into that market.

The emergency contact transcript (left) looks like a text message, but there’s nowhere to respond.

Other tips

  • The feature should be live as of November 15th. You’ll need to have the latest iOS update to take advantage of it.
  • The demo mode is worth trying as it familiarizes you with the system in case you need to use it in an emergency. It’s located in the Settings app at the bottom of the ‘Emergency SOS’ page.
  • You can also text 911 or SOS and gain access to Emergency Services via Satellite that way.
  • International travellers visiting Canada can use Emergency SOS via satellite, except if they bought their phone in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao.
  • Emergency SOS via satellite might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.
  • Trees with light foliage might slow down the connection, and dense foliage might block it. Hills or mountains, canyons, and tall structures can also block the connection. Rain and snow should be ok.
  • Since a failed 911 call triggers, this feature also works with fall detection and car crash detection outside of service areas.
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Mobile Syrup

MobileSyrup’s top iPhone accessories gift guide [2022 Edition]

‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving, and MobileSyrup is back with our annual iPhone accessories gift guide. Last year’s iPhone accessory gift guide featured many fantastic products, including MagSafe PopSockets, lightning adapters, and BeatsFlex. All the accessories featured in that piece are still great buys, so check out that article after reading this one. 

But of course, people love their iPhones just as much as ever, and there’s no shortage of desire to find that right tech-related gift or stocking stuffer. This guide features another sixteen products and categories to help you with your holiday shopping. Although, if you buy something for yourself, I won’t tell anyone. 

This guide includes updates to last year’s guide, my top Apple Store picks from 2022, and some gems I came across on Amazon. As a reminder, both Apple and Amazon have started their extended holiday return policies. Most items purchased from either retailer until December 25th may be returned until January 8th with Apple and January 31st with Amazon. 

Belkin BOOST CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand/Pro with MagSafe

I love 3-in-1 wireless chargers. Ask any of my friends, and they will tell you I’ve owned many brands, including Mophie, Logitech, and Belkin. Whenever a new one came out with a revised design or new features, I had to try it. 

3-in-1 wireless chargers are charging stations that can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and supported AirPods. Apple sells two Belkin charging stations that I believe to be the industry’s best. Both charging stations feature 15W MagSafe charging for iPhones, fast charging for support Apple Watches, and a wireless charging pad for support AirPods. 

The only difference is that the stand is a T-shaped charging tree which suspends the iPhone and Apple Watch vertically. Where the pad lays all devices flat. Both charging solutions are available in either black or white.

Buy either the Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro Stand or Pad from Apple for $179.95

UGREEN Travel Accessory Bag & Cable Organizers

Many of us travel, and when we do, we bring plenty of cables, power bricks, and other accessories. This holiday season, consider grabbing an accessory organizer for yourself or someone else. UGREEN makes two inexpensive and compelling options. 

The UGREEN Travel Case is flat and compact with double zippers and water resistance. It measures 9.6″ by 6.9″, is large enough to fit an iPad mini and has an internal double layer for cable storage. This cable organizer makes for an excellent choice for luggage and messenger bags. 

The UGREEN Travel Case Universal Electronic Accessory Bag is a hardshell case with a leather carrying strap and a small carabiner clip. It measures 5.7″ deep, 2.8″ tall, and 8″ wide. It’s durable and an excellent choice to clip to a backpack. 

Order the UGREEN Travel Case and UGREEN Travel Case Universal Electronic Accessory Bag on Amazon for $21.99 each

UGREEN Nexode 45W Charger

UGREEN makes a wide range of Nexode chargers ranging in wattage and USB ports. These chargers are a great choice to accommodate any number of devices that need charging. 

The power brick I recommend for most iPhone users is the 45W model with two USB-C ports. This allows not one but two iPhones to be fast charged simultaneously or an iPhone and another device like an Apple Watch or iPad. 

This little GaN power brick can even charge an iPhone and MacBook Air. The prongs fold in, and the build is a durable dark grey plastic. 

Order the UGREEN Nexode 45W charger on Amazon for $42.99

Braided USB-C to lightning Cable

If someone in your life is constantly damaging their Apple cables, then this item is for them. Both UGREEN and Anker make attractive Apple-certified braided lightning cables. Being covered in fabric material, braided cables are more durable than Apple’s standard cables. They offer better longevity and resilience.  

While both cables are black, the Anker Powerline+ II features USB-A, whereas the UGREEN cable is USB-C. 

Order both cables on Amazon–the Anker Powerline+ II is $19.99, and the UGREEN cable is $19.99

MagSafe Battery Pack

I suggested Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack in last year’s iPhone gift guide, and I still do. However, this year, I also want to bring attention to Anker’s MagGo battery pack. 

Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack is by far the smaller and more sleek of the two. So, if aesthetics is your primary focus, grab that. However, Anker’s MagGo features a 5000mAh battery. Quite a bit larger than Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack at 1460mAh. Granted, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is more efficient, but it’s still substantially smaller. 

Additionally, the Anker MagGo comes in grey or white, charges via USB-C, and has a small foldout stand. Compared to the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, which only comes in white, charges via lightning, and has no stand functionality. 

However, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack does feature battery monitoring integration within iOS. In contrast, the Anker MagGo has to rely on external status indicator lights. Both products are great choices. The decision really boils down to budget and desired feature set. 

Buy the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack from Apple for $119 or order the Anker MagGo from Amazon for $69.99

MagSafe Wallet

Apple’s MagSafe Wallet is another returning product from last year’s gift guide. The combination of the Apple Wallet app and MagSafe have completely replaced my need to carry around a physical wallet. It’s fantastic! 

Nothing has changed with Apple’s MagSafe Wallets since last year. They still come in various colours and support Find My to alert users when disconnected from their companion iPhone. Additionally, Apple’s MagSafe Wallet holds three cards.

New to this year’s gift guide is Spigen’s MagSafe wallet offerings. The Spigen Valentinus is half the price of Apple’s MagSafe Wallet, comes in black, and holds two cards. It’s made of leather and features a small cut-out at the bottom, making it easier to slide out your cards. 

Spigen Smart Fold, on the other hand, is made of a fabric-like material with a foldable stand that doubles as a privacy cover for your cards. The Spigen Smart Fold also holds two cards. 

Buy the Apple MagSafe Wallet from Apple for $79 or order the Spigen Valentinus for $39.99 or the Spigen Smart Fold for $49.99, both from Amazon

JETech Tempered Glass Screen Protectors

On the hunt for an inexpensive stocking stuffer? Look no further than JETech Tempered Glass Screen Protectors. Glass screen protectors crack, chip, and shatter all the time. Instead of spending $50 in a retail store, order a two or three-pack for a fifth of the cost. Quality is top-notch. I’ve been ordering from this brand for years, and they haven’t disappointed me. 

You can order some JETech Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for $10 to $15 on Amazon

VIJIM Overhead Camera Desk Mount Stand

The VIJIM Overhead Camera Desk Mount Stand is a superb option for artists who are having difficulty capturing overhead desk shots. This stand is made entirely of black aluminum and features three pieces which connect into a large single adjustable arm. This allows you to set the components up in any formation and get the best angle. Suppose you do order this mount. In that case, consider also ordering the following item to mount your iPhone if you don’t already have an iPhone tripod mount. 

Order the VIJIM Overhead Camera Desk Mount Stand from Amazon for $49.95

Manfrotto Smartphone Clamp Pro

The Manfrotto Smartphone Clamp Pro is pretty straightforward. It’s a clip that allows you to mount your smartphone on any standard tripod. The clamp is a modern black and red and holds devices ranging from 2.36″ to 4.09″ wide. 

Order the Manfrotto Smartphone Clamp Pro from Amazon for $29.70

Belkin Magnetic Fitness Mount

Is someone in your life a fitness buff? If so, the Belkin Magnetic Fitness Mount might be perfect for them. This simple accessory features a rubber strap that can wrap around or magnetically attach to exercise equipment. Then, MagSafe-compatible iPhones can magnetically attach to it. Additionally, this mount features a 360-degree rotational ball joint to adjust the viewing angle. Use this mount to watch anything from Fitness+ workouts to YouTube videos. 

Buy the Belkin Magnetic Fitness Mount from Apple for $44.95

NFC Tags

NFC tags are another inexpensive stocking stuffer. NFC tags are small disks that can be mounted just about anywhere with some double-sided tape. People can then program automations using Siri Shortcuts to run specific actions when a particular NFC tag is detected. As a smart home enthusiast and an automation novice, NFC tags are a lot of fun. 

Order a 50-pack of AIEX NFC tags for $15.99 on Amazon

Lightning Yubikey 5Ci

The Yubico YubiKey 5Ci is perfect for that nerd or security-minded person in your life. YubiKeys are hardware authenticators supported by a growing number of websites. The idea behind a hardware security key like a Yubikey is that an account cannot be accessed without it. When people attempt to log into a website, they’ll be prompted to plug in their security key. It’s another form of authentication and an un-hackable one at that. Without the physical security key, someone is unable to access the account. 

The Yubico YubiKey 5Ci is unique because it supports lightning on one end and USB-C on the other. It is an excellent choice for Apple users with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. 

Order the Yubico YubiKey 5Ci from Amazon for $89 

Whoosh! Screen Cleaner

As always, people need to keep their devices shiny and clean. Whoosh is my go-to choice for a screen cleaner solution. It’s Apple’s too. Apple Stores use Whoosh to keep all their demo devices shiny and clean. Whoosh sells a range of product sets on Amazon, including multiple cleaning cloths and solution amounts. However, the one I’m recommending makes for an excellent stocking stuffer. Included are three orange microfibre clothes, a smaller 0.3 oz travel bottle of solution, and a larger 3.4 oz bottle. 

Order this set of Whoosh on Amazon for $16.99

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

AirPods are a holiday favourite every year. They’re right up on the list alongside Apple Watch. Last year, I generally recommended AirPods, and I still do. Regardless of what version you buy, AirPods are just a fantastic product. However, Apple refreshed their AirPods Pro lineup this year with a 2nd generation pair, and I love it. 

I used to despise the fit of the silicone AirPods Pro tips in my ears. But, with the second generation AirPods Pro, Apple includes a new extra small size of ear tips. This change has made AirPods Pro my new favourite headphones, beating the redesigned regular third-generation AirPods. Additionally, the second generation AirPods Pro features precision Find My support, improved audio, an external speaker to help locate the AirPods Pro case, and longer battery life. You can even engrave your Memoji on them as an extra bonus when ordering from the Apple Store app. 

Grab a pair of AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) from Apple for $329

Find My Item Trackers

AirTags are awesome! I’ve written about them several times, including a story about tracking my dog with one. AirTags are small Apple-specific item trackers with around a year of battery life that use Apple’s Find My network. Suppose you or an iPhone owner in your life frequently lose items like their keys or wallet. In that case, an AirTag is a delightful gift to help keep track of and recover items. 

AirTags are water resistant, feature a speaker, and precision finding with supported iPhones. Additionally, AirTags can be engraved with emojis and initials when ordering from Apple’s website. Remember, when you order an AirTag, also order a holder for it to attach to a keychain or bag. 

If you’re looking for a less expensive item tracker alternative, I like the ATUVOS tracker. The ATUVOS is water resistant and uses Apple’s Find My network, just like AirTags. The speaker on the ATUVOS is louder than AirTags, too, and they don’t require a separate holder accessory. However, the ATUVOS trackers don’t support precision finding like AirTags. 

If you are tracking an item where precision finding is a crucial feature, AirTags are a great choice. Alternatively, ATUVOS offers many of the same functionality while being half the price. 

AirTags can be purchased from Apple for $39 for a single AirTag or a 4-pack for $129. ATUVOS trackers can be ordered from Amazon for $20.99 for a single tracker, $39.99 for a 2-pack, $57.99 for a 3-pack, and $76.99 for a 4-pack.  

DJI OSMO Mobile 6

The DJI OSMO has been a popular smartphone gimbal for years. DJI’s sixth version is an exciting update for vloggers, TikTokers, and content creators. The gimbal features 3-axis stabilization for smoother video, an extendable neck to work as a selfie stick, and motorized controls. Additionally, the DJI OSMO Mobile 6 features ‘Active Track’ when using the DJI app, allowing you to select an object, and the OSMO will follow the object automatically. 

Order the DJI OSMO Mobile 6 from Amazon for $215

Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks

When Apple showed off continuity camera at WWDC 2022, the company also unveiled a MagSafe-compatible mount made by Belkin. That mount has arrived just in time for the holiday shopping season. 

Continuity camera is both a macOS and iPhone feature that allows an iPhone to work as a Mac’s webcam. Of course, how would the iPhone stay in position? Enter the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe. Place the mount on top of your MacBook and connect your MagSafe-compatible iPhone. 

This accessory is ideal for users who own both an iPhone and a Mac. Keep in mind iPhones need to be updated to iOS 16.1 and Macs need to be updated to macOS Ventura to use this feature. 

Buy the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe from Apple for $39.95

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Apple cuts iPhone 14 production estimates by three million

Sources familiar with Apple are reporting that the Cupertino-based company intends to produce roughly three million fewer iPhone 14 units in 2022 than it had initially anticipated.

The information comes via a Bloomberg report that suggests the “iPhone 14 has suffered from blunted consumer spending,” and that Apple aims to produce a total of 87 million units, compared to the initial target of 90 million.

The trimmed-down figure is a result of a lack of demand for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models, both of which still feature last year’s A15 chipset and also lack the new Dynamic Island notch. And while demand for the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max still remains high, Apple is having issues on those fronts too. In a press release from Sunday, November 6th, Apple said, “COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China.”

Adding to that, the company said that it continues to see strong demand for the higher-end flagships, however, it expects “lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.”

Apple states that it is working closely with its suppliers, which, in the Zhengzhou factory’s case, happens to be Foxconn, to return production back to normal levels, while not compromising on the health and safety of the factory workers.

As of today, delivery estimates for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in Canada state delivery between December 9th – December 15th.

Source: Bloomberg

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What it’s like shooting a full YouTube video on iPhone

I’ve been incredibly impressed with iPhone footage since the iPhone 12 Pro landed in my hands a few years ago, but the iPhone 14 Pro has taken things to the next level.

The iPhone 14 Pro’s new camera system is the most versatile Appel has offered in years, and as a video maker, it’s become an invaluable tool. Small features like an excellent microphone and autofocus on the front-facing camera have bumped up what you can do with this shooter, turning it into an all-in-one production tool.

Video is the next mountain to climb

I’ve been putting the iPhone 14 Pro through the gauntlet over the past five weeks, and on a recent day trip to New York, I decided to see if I could go full #ShotOniPhone. The answer was, of course, yes. As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras, HDR and zoom functionality all worked nearly flawlessly. Amusingly, the most problematic shots were trying to film my iPhone 14 Pro without having another iPhone 14 Pro to do B-roll with until I got back to the MobileSyrup office in Toronto.

However, little things like the autofocus on the front-facing camera this year and a smooth transition between the lenses when shooting make this camera much more practical than last year’s 13 Pro. Even the microphone surprised me with how clearly it was able to pick me up as I walked through downtown Manhattan. To be fair, I was holding the phone maybe a hair too close since I was trying to favour the microphone, but I can safely say that next time, I can frame myself up nicely and trust that the mic will work.

The last thing that impressed me was the 3x zoom (77mm equivalent) capabilities. Sure last year’s iPhone 13 Pro could reach the same distance, but the stabilization and clarity of the telephoto zoom this year seem to be better to me. A few times during the Brooklyn Bridge aspect of the video, I even cropped in on 3x footage to 200 percent digital zoom. It looks a little grainier, but the fact that it works says something about how far the 3x lens has come. It’s still not as good as the S22 Ultra’s 10x lens, but it’s a fun focal length.

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The 2x zoom is also nice this year. Offering a shorter 50mm equivalent, I found myself using it more for photos than videos, but there’s no denying that it helps frame up cinematic shots a little more than the 24mm width of the primary lens.

Where to improve

That’s not to say that every aspect was an outstanding success. During the opening on-camera sequence, I’m riding my bike at 6am, and the stabilization is too jerky to be called a good shot. In good light, the stabilization is top-notch, but in low light, things get harder to lock onto. This issue affects all cameras pretty similarly, especially tiny phone cameras. On the flip side, the iPhone camera can be commended for being able to see when it’s that dark out and for me to be able to use it while biking.

It’s not perfect, but you can get the shot where other cameras might fail.

The only other issue I encountered was that the Macro mode was a little more aggressive this year and often turned on when not needed. On the plane, the window kept triggering it, and around my home, it seemed to come on any time I was around 15cm away from an object. This doesn’t matter if you’re taking pictures of receipts for expense forms, but when I’m taking photos, the main lens is still sharper and provides a more uniform image.

The ability to strap an iPhone anywhere is hard to beat.

Overall the cameras seemed a bit less sure of themselves this year. The image would shift around as the camera analyzed the scene and chose the best lens for the job. Most of the time, I’d still be able to get a great shot, but sometimes it would take the camera longer to compose than I was used to. It would never be an outstanding amount of time, but something I hope can be addressed in future updates.

Other iPhone video perks

Beyond being a commendable camera due to its lenses and advanced computational photography techniques, the iPhone is also loaded with a few cool cinematic tricks and one handy feature that gives it a leg up on the competition.

The most important of these features is the Cinematic Mode. This camera technique launched on the iPhone 13 series, but it’s considerably improved on the iPhone  14 series. Now that it works in 4K, it’s much more useful. It still can’t replicate a big lens in every situation, but with its (fake) variable aperture controls, it’s pretty easy to dial in a nice-looking image on just about anyone. And the fact that you can adjust focus in post can help. I used this feature a lot for quick talking-to-camera moments on the iPhone 13 Pro, and I expect to utilize it more this year now that the selfie camera also has autofocus.

The newest camera perk is Action Mode, which turns your iPhone into a GoPro. It does crop the sensor down to 2.8k, but the stabilization is impressive and gives your footage a gimbal-like quality. It even works on the 3x lens when you have enough light, which does spark some ideas for B-roll in the future. Action Mode is still a little limited this year, but it’s a convenient tool to have packed into the iPhone for adventurous shooting situations or that one crazy shot you want to get for an online short film.

ProRes support is the other perk I don’t use much. It allows for a tiny bit more colour flexibility, but it also takes up a ton of storage. Hence, it’s not something I’d recommend for anyone other than if you needed to get one iPhone shot for a pro shoot and wanted the best chance at making it uniform. For people like me who run a YouTube channel, I’d expect the standard video files to be more than enough.

The final draw of the iPhone camera for me is AirDrop. It sounds like a small thing, but being able to send files efficiently to my MacBook so I can edit them is genuinely a time-saving feature that I never want to give up.

Does this replace a mirrorless camera yet?

What When it boils down to it, I think the iPhone 14 Pro can replace a real camera as long you use its main lens or vlog with the selfie camera. This is all within reason, of course. In low-light situations, a mirrorless camera will hold up much better and provide a more compelling depth of field in conditions where the focus isn’t set to infinity. However, for shooting wide landscape shots or vlogging, the iPhone is so handy it’s hard to compare.

Often when I’m shooting car videos or vlogs, I need to leave my camera on a tripod on the side of a road or leaning on a building to get a shot of me walking or driving past. For moments like that, the ease of setup and the small size that I can somewhat hide are huge bonuses compared to the bulky mirrorless system. A real camera will produce a marginally better shot, but the setup time isn’t worth it in many instances.

Still, I just can’t call the iPhone 14 Pro my favourite camera yet. It’s probably my most used camera, but next to my Fuji systems, it’s still hard not to set up the big camera when I want to shoot some crisp footage with nice bokeh and total control over a shot.

However, as Cinematic mode, the iPhone’s low-light capabilities and zoom lenses get better yearly, it might only be a matter of time before a phone’s computational power rivals a dedicated camera system.

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Mobile Syrup

Galaxy Z Fold4, iPhone 14 offer faster 5G speeds than predecessors

Have you been thinking about upgrading to Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold or Apple’s iPhone but wondering if it would be worth it?

According to a new analysis by Ookla, the upgrade is worth it if you’re looking for a device with faster 5G performance.

Ookla compared Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4’s to the Galaxy Z Fold3 and found the newer device had faster 5G upload and download speeds in every country it surveyed except Australia. Samsung’s Fold4 performed similarly to the Fold3 in South Korea and Taiwan.

The study also found Apple’s iPhone 14 models performed better than the iPhone 13 devices in all of the countries it surveyed.

What about Canada?

“Canadian consumers saw a moderate increase in 5G download speed if they upgraded their phone from the Galaxy Z Fold3 to the Fold4,” the study states.

The Fold4 had a median download speed of 202.23Mbps, compared to the 165.36Mbps speed seen with the Fold3. There was less of a difference in upload speeds, with 27.73Mbps for the Fold4 and 26.77Mbps for the Fold3.

Image credit: Ookla

“Canadian Galaxy Z Fold3 users should feel confident that upgrading their phone to the Fold4 will give them a faster 5G experience,” the findings state.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max had a download speed of 198.12Mbps, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 149.78 Mbps.

The iPhone 14 Pro had download speeds of 193.53 Mbps, compared to 145.60 Mbps for the iPhone 13 Pro.

The iPhone 14’s download speed was 189.85 Mbps, and the iPhone 13’s download speed was 133.64 Mbps.

Upload speeds were also slightly faster for all iPhone 14 models.

Image credit: Ookla

“Canadian iPhone 13 users should beeline straight to their mobile operator to upgrade to a new iPhone 14 model,” the study states.

Ookla used data from its Speedtest Intelligence, covering data within the first weeks of the devices’ launch.

Source: Ookla

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Mobile Syrup

Google releases iOS 16 lock screen widgets

Google has released its lock screen widgets for Apple’s iOS 16, giving users quick insights into what’s happening through various Google apps.

The Gmail widget shows users the number of new messages since the inbox was last opened. The Drive widgets allow users to open a suggested or starred file through a single tap. The Google News screen widget provides headlines, and Maps can provide estimated travel times for a trip or find nearby restaurants or other venues. Users can also add a shortcut to Google Lens and use their camera to translate more than 100 languages.

The YouTube Music widget allows users to search for songs, and alternatively, use voice search to sing a few bars of a song if they can’t remember the name.

Here’s how to add widgets:

  1. Unlock lock screen
  2. Tap and hold anywhere on the lock screen to access the customization mode
  3. Tap ‘customize’
  4. Select ‘lock screen’
  5. Select ‘add widgets’ and drag widgets to the lock screen, configuring them to your liking
  6. Tap the ‘x’ icon, and then ‘done’

Image credit: Google

Source: Google