FCC Proposes Mandate for Phone Unlocking After 60 Days
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed that the Commission require mobile providers to unlock customers' mobile phones 60 days after the device is activated. (Unlocking would let customers take their phone and use it with any other compatible network.) The FCC is seeking comment on the proposal, including "whether an unlocking requirement should be applied to existing contracts or future contacts", and "the impact ... in connection with service providers' incentives to offer discounted phones for postpaid and prepaid service plans".
Apple Loosens Some Repair Restrictions
Apple has quietly issued a new paper revealing plans to make it easier to repair iPhones and improve functionality when using third-party parts. Currently, when an iPhone detects that a third-party part has been installed, it disables certain features that require calibration. This includes True Tone — which auto-adusts white balance on the display — and battery health metrics. Those restrictions will be lifted starting later this year. Instead, a small warning will be displayed. Apple will also stop requiring a device serial number when purchasing parts via Apple's Self Service Repair store. The changes come as a wave of new "Right To Repair" laws are being passed in multiple US states and countries abroad.
Verizon Refreshes Brand, Adds Perks
Verizon today launched a new logo for the company. The new logo trades a red checkmark for a soft yellow glow in the "v" of the wordmark. The company is also expanding its smartphone trade-in program and rolling our new ticket-access perks. "Verizon Access" is a new program for all Verizon customers offerings exclusive event ticket pre-sales and free giveaways. This includes "thousands of tickets to concerts and music festivals" as well as soccer and football games, and red carpet movie premieres.
Hands On with the Motorola razr and razr+ (2024)
Motorola has a refreshed pair of razr foldables for 2024 and they come with a solid set of upgrades over last year's models. Most notably, the $700 model now has a full-size outer display, making it look much more like a premium foldable while offering considerable functionality. There are plenty of other upgrades to talk about, and there's a lot of unique software to explore. And what are they like to hold and use in person? We'll cover it all in this hands-on report with our first impressions of both phones.
Motorola Upgrades its razr Foldables Across the Board
Motorola has revealed its new razr and razr+ foldable phones for 2024. While the price points are unchanged at $700 and $1,000, both models get important upgrades. The most obvious and important is that the cheaper model now has the same large (3.6-inch) OLED touch display on the outside as last year's plus model, offering extensive functionality while closed. Both models also get the same new and improved main camera with 50 megapixel resolution and OIS, and much better waterproofing (IPx8 to withstand full immersion). Both also share a new hinge design that's 30% smaller while offering better reliability, stability, dust resistance, and "crease" resistance. Both have Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the outer display and a similar 6000-series aluminum frame. Both have a 6.9-inch flexible main display inside with FHD+ resolution, and HDR10+. Other features in common include Google Gemini AI pre-installed, 256 GB of storage, 15-watt wireless charging, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 32 megapixel internal camera.
- The razr (2024) has a 3.6-inch outer touch display and both displays have 120 Hz refresh. It's powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chip and 8 GB of RAM. The battery is 4,200 mAh and it fast-charges at up to 30 watts. The second camera remains a 13-megapixel wide-angle one. Wi-Fi is version 6E. Color options include grey, sand, and orange. (Grey will be most common in the US.) The back is a smooth "vegan suede" texture.
- The razr+ (2024) has an even larger 4-inch outer display and both displays have up to 165 Hz refresh. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip and 12 GB of RAM. Both the RAM and storage are faster than on the base model (LPDDR5x and UFS 4.0). The battery is 4,000 mAh (larger than last year), it fast-charges at up to 45 watts, and the wireless charging is two-way. The second camera is a 2x telephoto instead of wide-angle, with 50 megapixel resolution but no OIS. Wi-Fi 7 is supported. Color options include blue, green, peach, and pink. (Blue will be most common in the US, with a vertical "racing stripe" of smoother texture in the "vegan leather".)
iOS 18 Brings Fast Pairing to 3rd-Party Wireless Accessories
Apple has quietly introduced a way for third-party wireless accessory makers to implement a new pairing process on iPhone and iPad that's as fast and easy as the one Apple uses for its own AirPods. This "AccessorySetupKit" API is new in iOS 18, currently available in beta for developers. Once users have the manufacturer's app installed, pairing can be as simple as turning on the accessory and bringing it near the phone. A pop-up automatically appears on the phone, and one tap can complete the process, without having to open an app or go into Bluetooth settings. Apple has recently come under government scrutiny in multiple parts of the world for abusing its market position and platform control.
AT&T Raises Prices on Most Old Plans
AT&T is raising prices on most of its older service plans by up to $10 per line per month starting this August. This includes most legacy "Unlimited" plans, as well as Mobile Share, FamilyTalk, and Nation plans. Unlimited plans will get a $10/month hike for a single line, or an extra $20/month (total) for family plans. Some plans get additional high-speed data as part of the deal. "AT&T Unlimited Choice, Choice II, Choice Enhanced, Unlimited &More, and Unlimited Value plans will now include 75GB of high-speed data and 30GB of hotspot data. AT&T Unlimited Plus, Plus Enhanced, Unlimited &More Premium, and AT&T Unlimited (with TV) plans will now include 100GB of high-speed data and 60GB of hotspot data." Mobile Share plans gain access to 5G, but also see a price hike. Plans with 6 GB or more of data will see a $10 hike, while plans with less data get a $5 hike. FamilyTalk and Nation plans that are currently $45/month (before taxes and fees) or less will see an increase of $5. More expensive plans will see a $10 bump. These plans will not gain any new benefits. All of these changes go into effect August 2024. Verizon and T-Mobile have also raised rates on older plans in the past year, and AT&T has already done two small increases before this.
Major Battery Maker Makes Big Advance in Solid-State Batteries
TDK claims to have made a rechargeable solid-state battery with an energy density 100 times that of existing solid-state batteries, bringing the technology much closer to production for a wider range of consumer devices. TDK is positioning these new batteries for use in wireless earphones, hearing aids, and smartwatches. Solid-state batteries are safer than today's lithium-ion batteries, and can be soldered directly to a circuit board like any other electronic component, helping to reduce overall device size. TDK plans to offer samples of the prototype battery to customers next year, with mass production to follow. TDK is a major battery supplier to Apple and other phone makers.
Chrome Adds "Listen to this page"
Google's Chrome web browser for Android has quietly added a new feature that will read a web page aloud. On pages where it makes sense, the main options menu now has a "Listen to this page" option. This brings up a basic audio playback interface at the bottom, which can be expanded to show more options. A scroll bar lets you skip around. Two buttons let you skip 10 seconds back or ahead. You can also choose from several different voices and set playback speed from 0.5x to 4x. By default, it highlights what it's reading and auto-scrolls so you can follow along visually, but this can be disabled.
Light Phone Gets a Complete Redesign with Third Edition
The new Light Phone III offers significant upgrades over the Light Phone II, while maintaining the same concept of an un-smartphone without internet, social media, news, or email. The compact, metal-framed design has a simple black & white interface on a larger, matte OLED display. There's a 50 megapixel camera with a two-stage shutter button. A spinning navigation wheel graces the side, while the power button on top includes a fingerprint reader. The 1,800 mAh battery is replaceable. It's rated IP54 for basic water protection. The proprietary software includes: alarm, timer, calculator, calendar, directory, directions, voice memo, and a simple music / podcast player. It does not currently support streaming music, third-party messaging, nor rideshare hailing. The Light Phone III also includes NFC and front-camera hardware for "potential" future updates that would enable video calling and/or a tap-to-pay digital wallet. It's powered by a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, enabling 5G. The single unlocked model available globally has excellent support for 4G networks in the US and decent support for 5G in the US. The company currently plans to ship the Light Phone III in January 2025. It can be pre-ordered now for $399, a 50% discount.
FCC, Navy Expand Commercial Access to 3.5 GHz Band
The FCC, US Navy, and NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) this week announced new rules for the 3.5 GHz band, also known as block A of band 77, band 77-A, or the 3.45 GHz band. The new rules dramatically expand the "unencumbered service area" where wireless carriers can freely use this band for commercial 5G service. The US Navy maintains priority access to this band along coastlines and around federal facilities throughout the country, via a dynamic spectrum sharing system. However the geographic area where this system is required is being reduced by an area covering 72 million people. This mid-band spectrum is ideal for good 5G service. AT&T is one of the largest users of this band. States most affected by this change include Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Samsung Reveals Galaxy Watch FE
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch FE promises to be a more affordable Wear OS smartwatch, starting at $200. Samsung emphasizes the health features, which include Samsung's "BioActive" sensor that measures heart activity two ways as well as skin impedance. The Galaxy Watch FE includes tracking for over 100 different workouts, sleep tracking, ECG, and detection of abnormal heart conditions. It also works with Samsung's Find My Phone feature, can control a Galaxy smartphone camera remotely, and includes Samsung Wallet for tap payments and digital ID. The round face is 40mm, with an always-on AMOLED display protected by Sapphire Crystal glass. It's powered by a Samsung Exynos W920 chip and 247 mAh battery. It charges wirelessly. It has Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, and GPS. It will be available with or without 4G LTE. The aluminum case is rated IP68 for water and 5ATM for immersion. It comes in black, silver, or pink gold. A "one click" band design makes it easier to change bands quickly. The Bluetooth-only model goes on sale in the US June 24. Samsung plans to launch the LTE model in October.
Hands On with the TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G
TCL has been showing off prototype phones with its "NXTPAPER" matte-display technology for a while now, but now one is actually going on sale in the US. The TCL 50 XE 5G comes in two flavors: with or without the NXTPAPER display. The display is the only difference, so this hands-on also applies to the TCL 50 XE 5G. The model with the regular display was just launched on Verizon Prepaid, while the NXTPAPER version is sold unlocked by TCL. So, what's the phone like in person? What's the NXTPAPER display like? Read on for our impressions.
Boost Celero5G SC is Just $110
Boost Mobile today launched the Celero5G SC, a more-affordable model in Boost's own Celero5G lineup that retails for just $110. Compared to the standard Celero5G (2024), the SC has less memory and lacks NFC or a dedicated wide-angle camera. It does have a fingerprint reader, large battery, and large 6.6-inch display with 90 Hz refresh. It's powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset, the same as in the new TCL 50 XE 5G that also launched this week on Verizon Prepaid. The Celero5G SC is available in black or white.
New York State Launches Mobile ID App
New York is newest US state to offer an official, standards-compliant mobile ID (MiD). The new New York Mobile ID app is available for both Android and iOS. The dedicated app is required for both setup and use; New York's solution is not yet compatible with Apple Wallet nor Google Wallet. During setup, the user scans both their physical ID card and face. The app can then display a personalized QR code any time identity and/or age need to be verified. The code is scanned by the person requesting verification using any standard-compliant verification app. They then choose what information to request, the ID holder gives permission on their device, then the requested information (and that info only) is transmitted wirelessly and automatically verified with the NY DMV. The ID holder does not need to hand over their phone at any time. The verifying device must have an internet connection, but the device of the ID holder can be offline. The TSA currently accepts mobile ID at 28 airports, including all terminals of JFK and LaGuardia in New York City. Businesses that need to check ID can start accepting mobile ID at any time, but verification apps are not yet in widespread use. New York's app is similar to that of California, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, and Virginia. States with mobile IDs that can also be added to mobile wallets are currently: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland.
New Update for Pixel Phones Brings TV-Out, Dead Phone Finding
Google has released its June Feature Drop, a software update for Pixel devices that adds several new features. The Pixel 8 series phones (including 8a) gains support for external monitors with video-out over USB-C. The new, Bluetooth-based Find My Device network can now locate a Pixel 8 series phone even if it's battery has been "dead" for up to one day. The Phone app now has an option for reverse phone number search in the call log. (This is available for most Pixel devices.) The camera app now lets you manually choose a specific lens instead of just a zoom level. Finally, Google is expanding its new Gemini Nano AI model to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, although it must be manually enabled in Developer Settings. On Pixel Watch 2, the update bring Car Crash Detection, which can automatically call for help if it detects a crash and you're unresponsive.
Verizon Prepaid Intros Another 5G Phone Under $100
The TCL 50 XE 5G is now available on Verizon Prepaid, the second 5G phone available from Verizon Prepaid for under $100, following the Motorola moto g 5G (2024). The 50 XE has a 6.6-inch display with 90 Hz refresh, 5,010 mAh battery, 18-watt fast charging (charger included), 50 megapixel camera, NFC, and a fingerprint reader. It's powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage (expandable). TCL will also be offering the 50 XE 5G unlocked in the US in a NXTPAPER edition with its unique matte display technology. Verizon Prepaid also recently added the TCL 50 LE, a 4G entry-level phone for just $80.
Nokia Makes First Phone Call with Spatial Audio
Nokia has conducted the first successful test of Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), a new technology that brings 3D spatial sound to mobile phone calls. IVAS is a new industry-standard codec that will be part of the next 3GPP 5G Advanced standard. Nokia was one of 13 companies that helped develop IVAS. While IVAS is designed to work across many device types, Nokia was particularly involved in "the development of a smartphone specific format for the IVAS standard." The call was made on a public 5G network.
