News
iPhone 15 will be the first USB-C iPhone, analyst says
Move over, Lightning
USB-C is slowly talking over the world. In the past, our devices were always a mish-mash between different cable standards. Now, most of the industry is adopting USB-C, prompting users into the standard. Of course, “most” does not include the incredibly exclusive devices from Apple. Fortunately, that might soon change. A new report pegs the first USB-C iPhone for 2023’s iPhone 15 series.
According to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is ready to switch over to the new standard as soon as next year. Besides adopting the new universal standard, the switch will supposedly improve the lineup’s data speeds.
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It's expected to see existing USB-C-related suppliers of Apple's ecosystem (e.g., IC controller, connector) become the market's focus in the next 1-2 years, thanks to vast orders from iPhones and accessories' adoption of USB-C ports.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 11, 2022
Currently, Apple uses the Lightning cable, a hugely proprietary standard meant specifically for Apple. The standard makes it difficult to just use existing cables on an iPhone. If anything, the company started using USB-C to Lightning cables recently, but its phones have always used Lightning. That said, the rumored switch is a welcome change for all consumers, especially those switching from Android.
Of course, there is reason to take the rumor with a slight pinch of salt. As Apple is still gearing for the iPhone 14 series, it might be too early to get any definitive details about the iPhone 15. However, Kuo has enjoyed tremendous success as an Apple analyst. Though it’s early, it might be believable, too.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 will have an under-display camera, rumor says
Gaming
Infinix expands SEA footprint with more official MLBB tourney partnerships
Infinix becomes MPL Indonesia, MSL Thailand official partner
Infinix has announced a landmark expansion of its partnership with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports.
As part of the strategic move, Infinix is now the official partner of various MLBB tournaments across Southeast Asia.
The smartphone brand is now the Presenting Partner of the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Indonesia, as well as the Titling Partner of the MLBB Development League (MDL) Indonesia.
Infinix also strengthens its regional footprint further as the Official Sponsor of the MLBB Super League (MSL) Thailand.
These partnerships build on successful collaborations with the Philippines and Malaysia, deepening Infinix’s commitment to the region’s most competitive markets.
Next-level fan, community engagement
As an official partner, Infinix will deliver comprehensive end-to-end support for the tournaments. This includes supplying tournament-grade hardware and executing localized fan engagement initiatives.
Infinix’s AIoT devices are also going to be on display at the tournaments. Moreover, their flagship regional esports IP, the Infinix Campus Cup, will bring the competition to campuses with offline matches played on Infinix gaming phones.
Uniting Southeast Asian markets
The 2026 MLBB Tournament Series officially kicks off on March 20, with the brand powering the opening matches of MPL Philippines and MSL Myanmar as their Official Gaming Phone.
On March 27, Infinix will debut its presence at MPL Indonesia Season 17, followed by the opening of MDL Indonesia three days after.
As a presenting partner, Infinix will also crown the MPL Indonesia season champions with the “KINGFINIX” title.
The regional expansion continues on April 3 with the start of MPL Malaysia and MPL Cambodia. Infinix’s strong presence across the region then culminates with MSL Thailand on April 18.
Apps
Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts
TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.
Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.
Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.
According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.
Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.
Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.
SEE ALSO: Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines
Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.
In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.
In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.
Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.
Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.
SEE ALSO: Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode
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