The refreshed Copilot App from Microsoft is focused on delivering a more intuitive design with more digestible, speedy and fluent answers, as per the company. Alongside, Microsoft also announced what’s to come for Copilot, including Copilot Voice, Copilot Vision, Copilot Daily, Copilot Labs, and a Copilot update in Microsoft’s Edge Browser as well.
The Copilot mobile iOS and Android apps, on the web at copilot.microsoft.com, and through the Copilot Windows app now adapts to you with a warm tone and a distinct style, providing not only information but encouragement, feedback and advice as you navigate through your everyday life. The new redesigned Copilot app, for example, in addition to helping you plan that big trip, can also offer tips on how to keep your composure when, say, the back of your seat is getting kicked by a small child.
Aside from the fresh new look, Microsoft also announced Copilot Vision, which sees what you see and can talk to you about it in real time. It understands the web page you’re viewing, both text and images, and can answer questions about its content, suggest next steps and help you without disrupting your workflow. Copilot Vision will be limited to a number of Copilot Pro subscribers in the US as of now.
As for Copilot Voice, according to Microsoft, it is the most intuitive and natural way to brainstorm on the go, ask a quick question or even just vent at the end of a tough day. Your companion will be personal to you, with four voice options to choose from. Copilot Voice will be available in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US in the first phase, and will expand to more regions and languages soon.
Then there’s Copilot Daily which helps you start off your morning with a summary of news and weather, all read in your favourite Copilot Voice, with more options like reminders of what’s coming soon. Copilot Daily will pull content only from authorised content sources. Microsoft says it is working with Reuters, Axel Springer, Hearst Magazines, USA TODAY Network and Financial Times, and plan to add more sources over time. It will also add additional personalisation and controls in Copilot Daily over time. Copilot Daily is limited to users in the US and the UK before it reaches more regions.
The new personalised Copilot Discover offers a guide to its useful features and conversation starters. With your permission, these jumping off points are customised based on your interactions with other Microsoft services and will be further personalised over time according to your conversation history.
In addition, users can now access Copilot directly from the Microsoft Edge browser by simply typing @copilot into the address bar. Then there’s Copilot Labs which gives people the opportunity to test out Copilot’s experimental features that are still in development. It’s a chance to give feedback and help shape the experiences Microsoft is creating. Microsoft currently offers two features via its Labs initially, Copilot Vision and Think Deeper.
Finally, Microsoft also revealed how its making the Copilot experience more safer and secure for users:
Copilot Vision sessions are entirely opt-in and ephemeral. None of the content Copilot Vision engages with is stored or used for training. As soon as you end your session, the data is permanently discarded.
The experience won’t work on all websites because Microsoft has taken important steps to put boundaries on the types of websites Copilot Vision can engage. Microsoft is starting with a limited list of popular websites to help ensure it’s a safe experience for everyone.
Copilot Vision won’t work on paywalled and sensitive content for this preview.
There is no specific processing of the content of a website you are browsing, nor any AI training. Copilot Vision simply reads and interprets the images and text it sees on the page for the first time along with you.
The company will continue to take feedback on all the above from early users in Copilot Labs, and will refine the safety measures if there’s a need to do so.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus October 2024 security patch update is now rolling out for users worldwide with a slew of bug fixes and enhancements to improve the overall experience of using the device. Nothing Phone (2a) Plus launched in India back in July earlier this year.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus October 2024 Security Patch Update: What’s New?
While small in size, weighing in at about 51.21MB, the update brings a good amount of improvements for the handset, including those for camera, connectivity, and more. Here’s the full changelog:
Connectivity enhancements:
Improved availability of 5G standalone network option
Optimised SIM2 VOLTE registration speed after exiting Airplane Mode
Nothing also seems to be the first brand to rollout the October 2024 security patch update for one of its smartphones. As the update is rolling out in a phased manner, it might take some time to reach your unit. To check if your device has received it, you can head over to Settings > System > System Update.
Meanwhile, select Nothing devices are set to receive Nothing OS 3.0 update in the form of an open beta version later this month. Nothing OS 3.0 is set to bring a whole lot of new changes to Nothing’s Android-based software skin, including a revamped quick settings panel, new lock screen clock styles, animations, and much more. The update will be based on Android 15 and will also bring some of its Proprietary features.
Motorola has launched the world’s first smartphone with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, paired with a durable build quality where the body of the device is both IP68 rated and is also MIL-STD-810H certified. Here’s everything you need to know about the Motorola device.
Moto G75 5G: Price
The Moto G75 5G is available in Charcoal Grey, Aqua Blue, and Succulent Green and is priced at CZK 8,999 (approximately Rs 33,300). It is expected to debut in India before the end of November this year.
Moto G75 5G: Specifications
The Moto G75 5G sports a 6.78-inch IPS LCD screen with an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1000 nits peak brightness. The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass 5. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, up to 8GB virtual RAM, and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which is expandable via a hybrid SIM slot.
For optics, there’s a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS on the back, joined by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and a flicker sensor. At the front, there’s a 16-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calls. The device is backed by a 5000mAh battery with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging support.
Additional features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Dolby Atmos-powered stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth v5.4, NFC, and a USB-C port. The device is IP68 rated and also has the MIL-STD certification. Finally, it runs on Android 14 with MyUX and will receive five major Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.
Samsung is preparing to debut new Galaxy A-series phones, which may launch before the end of the year. These will be the Galaxy A16 5G and the Galaxy A16 4G. The two smartphones have been leaked in detail, including their design and detailed specifications. Here’s what one can expect.
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G seems to have a shiny back panel. It will be available in Blue, Light Green, and Gray. The vanilla Galaxy A16 (LTE) will be available in Black, Light Green, and Gray. Both phones are expected to land in the market with a 128GB storage variant.
The two devices will feature a flat-screen with a water-drop notch at the top, flat sides, and a key island on the right side for the volume rocker and power key, per the renders shared by YTECHB. The overall design of the phone remains similar to its predecessor, however, the Galaxy A16 5G will have a slimmer profile.
In addition, the Galaxy A16 5G will get a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, while the LTE variant could pack the Exynos 1330 chipset. The phone is expected to sport 4GB RAM and 5,000mAh battery. On the back of the device, there’s a triple-camera module, expected to consist of a 50MP main sensor.
The Galaxy A16 4G will feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with 90Hz Refresh Rate support, an IP54 rating, and Exynos 1330 chipset. The phone will come in 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM options paired with 128GB onboard storage, while the 8GB RAM variant will also be available with 256GB storage.
Apart from all these specs, Samsung is expected to offer 6 years of OS updates and security updates to the smartphone, which will be a first for the brand’s Galaxy A-series devices. The previous generation A-series phones came with 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates.
Epic Games is suing Samsung and Google over coordinated efforts to block competition in app distribution on Samsung devices with Samsung’s default-on Auto Blocker feature. Auto Blocker is the latest in a long series of dealings in which Google and Samsung have agreed not to compete to protect Google’s monopoly power, as per the game’s publisher.
Epic Games claims that Samsung’s recent introduction of the Auto Blocker feature was deliberately designed in collaboration with Google to preemptively counter the U.S. District Court’s remedy following the jury’s verdict in Epic’s lawsuit against Google. The jury determined that Google’s app store practices, including its unlawful agreements with manufacturers like Samsung, were illegal.
As for what’s auto-blocker, it is a setting that Samsung introduced on their mobile devices in October 2023 as an opt-in feature that disables the user’s ability to install apps from any sources other than the Google Play Store and the Samsung Galaxy Store. In July 2024, however, Samsung made Auto Blocker the default setting, requiring every user to change their device settings before they could download and install any app from third-party app stores or the web.
This setting affects Epic Games’ mobile app store because it installs as a third-party application, which Samsung blocks during installation until the user turns off Auto-blocker. Auto Blocker defaulting to “on” requires an exceptionally onerous 21-step process to download an app outside of the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store, mirroring Google’s “Unknown Sources” process with multiple steps and scare screens, says Epic Games.
On the other hand, Samsung advertises the feature as a prevention method against security attacks. “At Samsung, we constantly strive to keep our users safe from security attacks, and with the introduction of Auto Blocker, users can continue to enjoy the benefits of our open ecosystem, knowing that their mobile experience is secured,” Samsung said when it introduced the feature.
Epic Games provided evidence against Samsung and Google, saying that Google has a long history of inducing Samsung into “anticompetitive dealings.” “During the Epic v Google trial there was exhaustive and detailed evidence of Google’s schemes to pay Samsung to not compete with the Google Play Store and to block other app stores from trying to compete,” read the blog post by Epic Games. Key points noted by Epic Games included:
Google expressed a strong desire to avoid competing with Samsung.
Google sought to pay Samsung to phase out the Samsung Galaxy Store, including as part of an initiative called Project Banyan.
In 2020, Google signed a Revenue Sharing Agreement with Samsung. Since then, Samsung has not entered into exclusive deals with major game developers to launch on the Galaxy Store, has not competed to offer developers a better headline rate than 30%, and has not taken other necessary steps to meaningfully compete with the Google Play Store.
Google lost its previous lawsuit against Epic Games. The jury ruled that Google’s agreements with OEMs to block competition were illegal. The game’s publisher said this applies not only to Google but also to the device manufacturers that collude with them.
Apple doesn’t believe in providing major upgrades every year, except for hardware, for its iPhones but polishes them year by year. With the iPhone 16, the company is following a similar strategy but not entirely, as features like Camera Control have been added to the lineup, marking a completely new feat of hardware. With a starting price of Rs 79,900, can the iPhone 16 justify itself over its competitors and predecessors simultaneously? We’ll find that out by the end of this review.
Design & Display
The Apple iPhone 16 retains the compact form factor like its predecessors, with flat sides, aluminium rails, a matte finish on the back, and a glossy Apple logo slapped on the back. The matte satin finish on the back surely maintains a minimal and subtle touch, but my personal favourite is the new Ultramarine. However, if you usually prefer black, the iPhone 16 in black also looks handsome and offers a stealthy look.
Despite also having a matte finish, the sides still attract fingerprints if your hands are sweaty. What impressed me the most was how lightweight the handset felt when I first picked it up, probably also because I was coming from a Galaxy S23 Ultra, which feels like a brick in the hand. The iPhone 16 is also suitable for one-handed use due to its compact form.
The left side of the iPhone 16 has the volume rocker and the action button, confirming that the mute switch is gone for good. The right side has the power/lock key, below which sits the camera control button. It has its own glossy finish as it’s covered with sapphire crystal material, making it look like the Touch ID button on the iPad Mini 6. Unfortunately, it only serves the purpose it is built for, and that’s camera control.
The camera island has also changed over last year’s model. The Sensors are now stacked vertically instead of the diagonal placement we have seen before. The sensors also look slightly bigger in size compared to the iPhone 15. This new island gives the iPhone 16 a distinctive look, making it easily recognisable amongst the pack, unlike the Pro models, where the only differentiators are the camera control button and the bigger display.
The bottom has the speaker grilles and the USB-C port. The stereo speaker setup on the iPhone 16 is one of the best I have heard, certainly topping the Pixel 9 and the Galaxy S24, which I have also used. The music sounds fuller with more loudness and better bass reproduction. The Haptics are also excellent in terms of strength and tightness, which is usual for Apple.
The front display features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR panel. It supports HDR, TruTone, P3 wide colour gamut, Dynamic Island, 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness, and 2000 nits of outdoor brightness. Apple says it also has a Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, but I haven’t found it to be working much, as I can still notice a good amount in bright light.
The panel’s performance remains top-notch, whether we talk about the colours or the brightness. Watching videos on the device was a pleasant experience, and the viewing angles were also impressive. I also didn’t face any touch issues with the iPhone 16 during my time with it.
However, the 60Hz Refresh Rate cannot be justified, and it made for a jarring experience for me, considering I have been using phones with a 120Hz display for years now.
While many may not even bother about the refresh rate, they certainly should as they deserve the latest and the best technology available in the market when spending Rs 79,900 on a smartphone. It’s high time for Apple to equip the base model iPhone with a 120Hz ProMotion panel and reports suggest Apple will do so next year.
Aside from my quibble with the refresh rate and how the rails of the iPhone pick up fingerprints from sweaty hands, the iPhone 16 feels well-built, and the display looks sharp and vibrant.
The display also has a dynamic island that houses the sensors for Face ID technology. As usual, Face ID quickly unlocks the device even when it’s pitch black, but it could be an inconvenience if the device is sitting flat on the table, where you have to lean over to show it your face, after which it unlocks.
Software & Performance
The iPhone 16 is powered by the Apple A18 chip which is a significant step up from last year’s A16 Bionic in iPhone 15. Not only that, but you also get higher 8 GBRAM which is now standard across the whole iPhone 16 lineup.
All these upgrades are for AI, which generally stands for Artificial Intelligence but in Apple’s case, it is for Apple Intelligence. However, the phone doesn’t have a single Apple Intelligence feature out of the box in Indian units as of now.
The iPhone 16 doesn’t feel majorly different from iPhone 15 if we talk of software. There are the same dynamic island features we talked about in iPhone 14 Pro review 2 years back, with live activities from apps like Zomato, Blinkit, and more, which show you the status of your order in the Dynamic Island.
Aside from the Dynamic island, iOS 18 also introduces a customisable home screen, a revamped control centre, and much more, all of which are also part of iPhone 15. The device’s performance also feels similar to iPhone 15’s, which is good as it’s snappy and smooth. The animations felt fluid except for some instances where a slight lag was noticeable, while the device responded quickly to the user’s input.
The RAM management is also well handled, but we’ll have to recheck that when Apple Intelligence arrives, as the upgraded RAM is meant for those AI features to run smoothly.
As we have said, Apple Intelligence is the only major differentiating factor between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16. While some of those features will be available later this year, reports suggest that the AI-powered Siri experience, which is the most important feature of the pack, will not arrive until January 2025.
Because Apple Intelligence isn’t there, buying the iPhone 16 right now won’t provide you with the full experience Apple intends to give its users, delaying it to some point. Apple Intelligence also has to come soon because competitors, including Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24, are already jam-packed with a load of AI features, making it feel like Apple is lagging behind in the AI race.
Speaking of gaming, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus also allows it to run AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Alien: Isolation, and more, which were only limited to the Pro models until last year. The handset’s gaming performance is incredible, with decent thermal management.
The device did get warm during gaming but not something that was out of control. Aside from that, it got hot to the touch during two other situations: while using the camera and while it was charging.
Features like App lock, hidden apps, app icon customisation, the ability to place icons anywhere on the home screen, and more have also been added in iOS 18, and they work as they should. The action button customisation matches that of Pro models. I am still using it to put the iPhone in silent or ringer mode, which I feel suits my needs the best.
What I didn’t like, though, is that there’s no Always-on display support, and it is still limited to the Pro models. Even though the display supports it, and Apple could have enabled it without the full-screen Wallpaper mode where they could have shown just the clock and date, the company chose not to do that.
While smooth, the iPhone 16 also has bugs. Apple Music would often just crash upon launch, while the system UI would reboot while updating apps through the App Store.
Another bug caused the Settings app to crash when going to Keyboard settings, but that was fortunately solved after an update. In addition to this, an animation bug plagued the device: locking the iPhone would dim the screen for a millisecond and then turn it off instead of turning it off with a fading animation.
Network issue
The connectivity performance of the handset remained subpar, where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth worked as they should, but the mobile network didn’t. With an Airtel 5GSIM inserted, the device randomly lost signals, dropping down to only one bar, so I also couldn’t make or receive any calls during that period. I faced the issue daily, and it was a bit of a hassle. The signal would be restored on its own after a few minutes, but it is not an issue I expected to face on an iPhone.
Battery Life
According to a certification website, the iPhone 16 packs a 3561 mAh battery, while Apple itself doesn’t reveal the battery capacities. The battery is about 6.3% bigger than the iPhone 15’s 3349 mAh cell.
The iPhone 16 doesn’t have many demanding features to power, like a 120Hz panel or Always-on display. While those features would have been a welcome addition, their omission certainly helps the device last much longer.
During regular usage, which included browsing social media, making a few calls, chatting on WhatsApp, surfing Safari, and watching YouTube videos, the device consistently lasted an entire day. This usage involved a mix of Wi-Fi and 5G; by the time I needed to charge it, around 34% battery remained.
The device also delivered an impressive screen-on time of 8 hours consistently and sometimes even more, which is noteworthy for such a small battery cell. Stand-by time is slightly on the higher side, where I was losing about 3% overnight.
Overall, the device’s battery backup is quite reliable, and you won’t have to worry about topping it up during the day if you leave for work with 100% battery.
Apple has also provided features to extend the battery lifespan. You can limit the charging percentage up to 80% or go above 95% so the iPhone doesn’t charge past the specified limit.
Apple still needs to improve its charging time, as the device took about 2 hours to charge despite being connected to a 65W PD charger. Reports suggest the device supports up to 45W fast wired charging, but whatever the case may be, it’s still not fast enough and definitely not enough to match the competition, which can do a 0-100% cycle in a matter of minutes.
Cameras and Camera Control
The iPhone 16 has dual cameras, including a 48-megapixel f/1.6 primary camera and a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with autofocus. The front of the iPhone 16 has a 12MP TrueDepth camera with an f/1.9 lens.
The camera control, which is actually a button, is on the right spine in a weird position that makes it slightly difficult to click photos when you hold your device in either of the positions, landscape or portrait. However, it has been made to detect force, which means you can light-press the button to access the settings of a desired function.
Next, you can light-press it twice to scroll through various functions such as exposure, depth, zoom, cameras, style, and tone. The button is definitely unique and has been implemented well. It responds nicely to the scroll gesture when you are scrolling with the tip of your finger and also accurately handles the half presses.
As we have explained in this guide, you can also completely personalise the camera control button and set how sensitive it is to your touch. The animation when you press the camera control to access the camera from anywhere in any app is also quite appealing. The button has also allowed me to remove any camera shortcuts or the camera app‘s icon from the home screen.
It still needs some optimisation, though. I often accidentally trigger the half-press function while pressing it completely to use it as a shutter button. It can also mess up the shot sometimes, as the device can shake while pressing the camera control. Overall, the camera control may not be useful for many, but it adds value to the device and is apt for camera enthusiasts who want to change the look of their photos in real time without much effort.
Coming to the quality of the shots, the outdoor photos from the iPhone 16 are, as usual, very iPhone-like. The natural colours of the scene are retained with impressive dynamic range and excellent sharpness. The focus lock on the subject happens in an instant. The photos look as they do in the real world, which is preferred for those seeking natural and accurate image representation. However, those who want contrast-rich photos will need to play with tones and styles.
Standard (Default) toneCool Rose toneLuminous ToneNatural ToneGold ToneVibrant Tone
Tones and styles allow you to completely change the look of the scene, as you can see in the shots above. Various styles, including vibrant, natural, dramatic, luminous, etc., are available. With Tone, you can change it both via Camera control and a dedicated D-Pad that offers more granular control over the tone compared to Camera control.
Ultra-Wide Angle Shot
Ultra-wide angle shots closely match the main sensor in colour, sharpness, and detail, which is impressive. However, EDGE distortion is an issue, with the image appearing stretched at the sides, which could be improved for a more balanced shot. Macro shots from this sensor look average, lacking proper detailing and sharpness.
Macro Shot2x Zoom
2x zoomed shots look decent with enough sharpness. The shots do not miss out on a lot of detailing. At 10x, which is the maximum zoom level, the shots tend to fall apart in terms of details which is expected considering there’s no dedicated telephoto sensor.
Speaking of portrait shots, the edge detection is near perfect, and the subject lock is highly impressive. As you can see in the shot above, the plant was leaning to the right due to the windy weather, but the iPhone locked it well in focus while the edge detection remained impressive. The colours and sharpness in the shot are appealing, too.
Under artificial lighting, the iPhone 16 doesn’t struggle to reproduce excellent shots. The detailing remains on the higher side, while the colours are also on the natural end of the spectrum.
Low-light shots can contain a bit of noise, but turning on the Night mode can definitely help in this scenario. The brightness and detailing are dialed up while noise is removed from the shot to a good extent.
Once again, the front camera delivers outstanding selfies, with skin tones appearing natural and impressive overall detail. Exposure is well-balanced, and the dynamic range is excellent, ensuring high-quality results in various lighting conditions.
FAU-G: Domination, developed by Mumbai-based studios Dot9 Games and nCore Games, set a new record for pre-registrations within just three weeks. The game’s trailer was also revealed during the World Premiere event held in Mumbai in August. It has also become the fastest title to reach over 1 million pre-registrations for Nazara Publishing.
Vishal Gondal, co-founder of nCore Games said, “Hitting this milestone so quickly is a powerful testament to the growing demand for high-quality, Made-in-India content.” Deepak Ail, co-founder and CEO of Dot9 Games, noted that the Dot9 Games team is putting in extensive effort to make FAU-G: Domination the best it can be.
Pre-registration for the game is currently open on Android, with iOS support expected to arrive soon. Players who pre-register will receive exclusive limited-time rewards, including the Beast Collection, which offers weapon skins for the sawed-off shotgun, USP, Scout rifle, M4, Uzi, and Kabar. The Beast Collection also includes a variety of accessories such as frames, banners, avatars, stickers, sprays, and more.
The game proudly supports the Bharat Ke Veer Trust, an initiative championed by Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. As part of this effort, Nazara has donated ₹25 lakhs to the trust. Players will also have the option to purchase in-game badges, with all revenue from these sales being entirely directed towards the Bharat Ke Veer Trust to further support its cause.
According to the publisher, playtest feedback from players has been taken into account to tune the game accordingly. “Their insights have been instrumental in refining key aspects of the game, from improving weapon balance to enhancing map layouts and user interface,” the makers of the title said in the press release.
Honor has announced the launch of Honor Pad X8a Nadal Kids Edition tablet in India. The tablet is tailored for children and comes with a protective, child-safe, food-grade silicone case and a shockproof body, ensuring durability for everyday use. Here’s everything to know about the tablet.
Honor Pad X8a Nadal Kids Edition: Price, Availability
The Honor Pad X8a Nadal Kids edition is priced at an MRP of Rs 13,999 but is available at an inaugural price of Rs 10,999 for a limited time.
Honor Pad X8a Nadal Kids Edition: Specifications
The Honor Pad X8a Nadal Kids Edition sports an 11-inch 90Hz TFT LCD display (1920 x 1200 pixels) with a 16.7 million color gamut, 207 PPI, and 400 Nits max brightness. The tablet draws power from a Snapdragon 680 chipset, paired with 64GB or 128GB storage options. RAM in the tablet remains unspecified as of now.
The tablet runs on MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14. There’s a 5MP camera with Autofocus on the back while the front camera also houses a 5MP sensor with fixed focus. The tablet packs an 8300mAh battery while it is claimed to deliver up to 14 hours of cartoon playback and 56 days standby time. For connectivity, there’s dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.1, and a USB port for charging.
Additional features include quad speakers, 1 mic, pre-installed Google Kids Space, Honoe Notes, Doodle Pen support, family link support, TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission, dynamic dimming, and E-book mode. Additionally, it includes parental guidance tools to help parents monitor and control usage.
Finally, the case of the tablet is made with food-grade silicone, suitable for children’s hands and minds. It is tested to be shock-proof and anti-drop, giving children and parents peace of mind. The three modes of the case, including sketching mode, video-watching mode, and handle mode allows the user to set it to the child’s preferred position of using the tablet for various activities.
Vivo has unveiled the FunTouch OS 15 Beta rollout timeline for its X-series, Y-series and T-series smartphones. Meanwhile, the company also officially announced the next major update for its Android-based skin, where FunTouch OS 15 is claimed to deliver smoothness, a suite of new personalization options, and optimized features focused on photography, gaming, and productivity.
FunTouch OS 15: New Features
Based on Android 15, FunTouch OS 15 improves the overall fluidity of the Android system and animated elements. By replacing Android’s existing Fair Scheduling algorithm with vivo’s proprietary Priority Scheduling model, Funtouch OS 15 prioritizes computing power for foreground processes. This results in a 15% increase in average App startup speed, even under overload scenarios, as per Vivo.
To further enhance performance, the new Memory Enhancement Technology employs an optimized zRAM memory compression algorithm, resulting in a 40% increase in compression speed. Additionally, it reduces GPU memory consumption for background applications, enabling users to run multiple apps simultaneously without compromising the device’s smoothness.
With 3,800+ redesigned design elements, including updated system colors, fonts, icons, and illustrations, Funtouch OS 15 offers a clean and minimalistic aesthetic. Users can further personalize their devices with a wide array of options, including nine general system themes and a variety of Static, Immersive, and Video Wallpapers. Four new fingerprint recognition animations, customizable app icon styles, and adjustable icon shapes and sizes have also been added.
New AI features include AI Image Lab which allows users to automatically enhance photo quality and remove shadows from documents using AI-powered tools. For avid mobile gamers, the upgraded Ultra Game Mode introduces a convenient sidebar with a performance panel, game tools, and the Game Small Window feature. This allows for quick access to social apps and easy setting adjustments, such as the screen Refresh Rate and touch sampling rate.
In terms of productivity, Funtouch OS 15’s optimized Link to Windows feature enhances cross-device collaboration between vivo devices and PCs, allowing users to sync content in real-time, manage file sharing efficiently, view recent photos across devices, and more. Additionally, the overhauled S-Capture feature now allows for annotations during screen recording, supports multiple audio tracks, and includes a control panel for microphone volume and system sound recordings.
FunTouch OS 15 Beta Rollout Timeline
Funtouch OS 15 will be available for upgrade starting from mid-October on vivo X Fold3 Pro, X100 Series and iQOO 12. According to FunTouch OS India account on X, the beta update will rollout for devices as per the following list:
A new report from a reliable source confirms that Apple is planning to enter a new market next year, which is of smart displays which will run on the company’s own HomeOS. The operating system will likely be optimised for the two new products and will allow Apple users to control their smart home devices.
As per Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the most prominent smart displays device in development is a tabletop model, codenamed J595. It integrates a robotic arm with a large display, similar to an iPad, aiming to enhance interactivity. Another project, J490, is a budget-friendly smart display designed primarily for FaceTime calls and smart home control, offering users a streamlined option for managing home appliances.
Both devices represent efforts to expand into versatile, home-oriented tech that blends communication with automation. The lower-end product is expected to launch as early as next year and may serve as a budget-friendly companion to the robotic device, which could be priced at $1,000 or more.
Both devices will feature Apple’s advanced intelligence tools, integrating AI into home settings. Currently, Apple’s home products, such as the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini, lack the necessary hardware to run AI models directly on the devices, marking a shift toward smarter home technology with these upcoming releases.
Furthermore, these will run on Apple’s own HomeOS, where the low-end smart display is designed to run apps like Calendar, Notes and Home, and will include an interface optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information. In the early stages of development, Apple envisioned the device being versatile in placement, either magnetically attaching to walls or sitting on a desk.
