TCL Previews 2024 Phones, Including Two with Matte Displays

TCL today announced its 50 series of devices, including five new phones for the US. The TCL 50 XE 5G and TCL 50 XL 5G are mid-range 5G phones with 6.6- and 6.8-inch displays, respectively. Both have a 5,010 mAh battery, 50 megapixel triple-camera system, and dual speakers. They come with 128 GB storage and 4–8 GB of RAM. Both are available with either a standard LCD display or TCL's NXTPAPER display technology with a matte finish and a number of other eye-comfort features. Those variants are dubbed the TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G and TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G. Finally, the TCL 50 LE is a more affordable 4G phone destined for prepaid carriers in the US. It has a 6.6-inch display, 4,000 mAh battery, 13 megapixel camera, and dual speakers. It comes with 64 GB of storage and 4–8 GB RAM. TCL is previewing the phones at CES this week, but will reveal more details at the MWC trade show in a few weeks.

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New Case Adds Keyboard to iPhone Pro

Clicks is a new case accessory for recent iPhone Pro models that adds a full physical QWERTY keyboard to the bottom of the phone. By disabling the software keyboard when in use, it frees up the lower half of the display for content while typing. It also provides faster access to shortcuts, including Home and Search. The keyboard is backlit and the device provides pass-through Lightning or USB-C connections for easy phone charging. The wired connection also offers a reliable link between the keyboard and the phone, and doesn't require a separate battery for the keyboard. Clicks is a creation of Michael Fisher (known as MrMobile), and Kevin Michaluk (known as CrackBerry Kevin), "together with a team with mobile experience from companies including Apple, BlackBerry, and Google." Clicks is available for order starting today two colors: yellow and gray. Three models are available: Clicks for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro sell for $139 and ship on Feb. 1 and mid-March, respectively. A model for the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max ships in early spring for $159.

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T-Mobile Achieves World-First 6-Carrier Aggregation

T-Mobile has achieved the world's first six-carrier aggregation connection using sub-6 GHz spectrum on its live production 5G network. This allowed the mobile device to access 245 MHz of total bandwidth and reach download speeds over 3.6 Gbps. Carrier aggregation lets mobile devices cobble together multiple simultaneous connections to the network at different frequencies, for more total bandwidth, enabling faster data rates. While two- and three-carrier aggregation is now common with sub-6 5G networks, six is a first. T-Mobile's test used two channels in band 41 (2,500 MHz), two channels in band 2/25 (1,900 MHz) and two channels in band 4/66 (1,700 MHz). All of these bands offer relatively broad coverage (compared to mmWave, which is short-range).

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Samsung Teases AI Zoom Feature of Galaxy S24 Series

Samsung has scheduled its next Unpacked product-launch event for January 17th at 10am PT (1pm ET). The event will take place in San Jose, CA and the main subject is expected to be the Galaxy S24 series of flagship phones. In promotional materials, Samsung teases a new feature called "Zoom with Galaxy AI", which could be a digital zoom feature that employs generative AI to add missing details. This would be like in TV and film where a computer magically "enhances" an image. As it does every year, Samsung is offering a $50 credit to anyone that places a "reservation" to pre-order a phone. The reservation carries no commitment to buy; only a name and email address are required. The credit can only be used against an additional purchase (like an accessory) at the time the phone order is placed. Samsung will also offer additional credits and storage upgrades to anyone who pre-orders, "while supplies last".

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Beeper Mini's Newest (Cumbersome) Workaround Will be its Last

Beeper Mini has a new solution for using iMessage on an Android phone, but it requires a jailbroken iPhone left plugged in and turned on, as well as a Mac or Linux computer. Apple has found ways to shut down previous versions of Beeper Mini that did not require this extra hardware. Beeper says of its new solution: "we believe we’ve created something that Apple can tolerate existing." However, if Apple does shut down the new version of the service, Beeper says it will abandon the project.

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Google Will Relax App Billing Rules, Pay $700 Million in Antitrust Settlement

Google has reached a settlement with 36 states and the District of Columbia in case alleging that Google operated its Play app store as an illegal monopoly. Google has agreed to let developers use alternative billing systems in the US, and "[simplify] the sideloading process". In addition, the company will pay $630 million into "a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers", plus $70 million to the states that filed the suit. The case was led by the Utah Attorney General. The case was filed in 2021 and the settlement agreed to in September, but details were announced just this week. This case is separate from a private antitrust case filed by Epic Games, where a jury recently ruled against Google.

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Apple to Allow Discounts for Competing Subscriptions

Apple has announced to developers a new feature of its App Store that will enable companies to "give customers a discounted subscription price as long as they're actively subscribed to a different subscription". The feature is being rolled out slowly to select developers.

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Apple to Pause Apple Watch Sales

Apple will pause sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting December 21st, in order to preemptively comply with an order from US International Trade Commission. The issue stems from a finding that the blood oxygen sensor in those watches infringes on a patent held by medical tech company Masimo. The US President has an option to veto the order, and there are multiple paths to appealing or resolving the issue. Apple will pause online sales on the 21st, and in-store sales on the 24th. Other retailers may continue seling the watches, and Apple will continue to sell the Apple Watch SE, which lacks that specific sensor. Apple promises more information after a Presidential Review Period expires on December 25.

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Court Affirms Right to Not Unlock Phone for Police

Teh Utah State Supreme Court has ruled that "criminal suspects can refuse to provide phone passcodes to police under the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination". The case may be appealed to the US Supreme Court.

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Apple and Google Launch Phone Diagnostic Tools

Within days of each other, Apple and Google have both announced new diagnostic software that allow users to troubleshoot common issues with their own iPhones or Pixel phones. The new Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair tool starts with a web site where users enter their device's serial number. On Google Pixel phones, a Pixel Diagnostic App can be accessed by entering a special code (*#*#7287#*#*) in the Phone app. The tool is already available on all Pixel phones, but Google now seems to be supporting consumer use of a tool previously intended only for qualified technicians. Both Apple and Google have relatively new programs that enable technical-minded consumers to order parts and tools, and repair their own phones. These new software tools should help users diagnose issues, identify the correct parts to order, and verify repairs.

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