News
iPhone 17: Better display tech, power efficiency, more
More capable Neural Engine, longer battery life, Center Stage front camera among upgrades
The latest iPhones are here. Apple has launched the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, alongside the standalone iPhone Air model on Tuesday morning.
The base model, the iPhone 17, has been made more capable than ever, with upgrades in display technology, power efficiency, Neural Engine, and more.
So, what’s new?
Better, brighter, larger display
The iPhone 17 comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with thinner borders for more display real estate.
This display now features the same ProMotion technology found on Pro series models, with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.
In a nutshell, that means smoother scrolling and better video playback, but for gaming, it means the audiovisual experience is elevated as well.
Users can also benefit from the now 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness — the highest ever on an iPhone — and reduced glare.
Moreover, the display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2. This upgraded coating is said to be three times more scratch resistant than Ceramic Shield, adding to the iPhone 17’s overall durability and toughness.
More power efficient, more capable of AI tasks
The iPhone 17 features an A19 chip built on a 3nm technology. It makes the handset faster and more efficient for handling even intensive tasks.
Featuring a 16-core Neural Engine, the chip also enables more power-efficient AI inference.
Users will benefit from the more powerful 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU chip especially in gaming and graphics intensive tasks.
The chip is likewise tailor-made for running on-device AI better while still being power efficient.
Of course, the iPhone 17 runs on iOS 26 and features Apple Intelligence, as well as relatively newer features like Visual Intelligence and Live Translation.
Faster wired charging also enables the iPhone 17 to be charged to 50% in just 20 minutes.
iPhone 17 cameras
As for its cameras, the iPhone 17 features a 48MP Dual Fusion Camera System. This 48MP main camera allows users to shoot at up to 2X zoom without detail loss.
In addition, the iPhone 17 has a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera camera which can also double as a 12MP 1x macro shooter for higher-quality close-up shots.
Center Stage front camera
Also new across the series is the 18MP Center Stage front camera. This features the widest field of view yet on an iPhone selfie camera.
That’s thanks to its large sensor that is almost twice the size of the previous one. Furthermore, what makes the sensor different is it has a square shape.
This means users will have better time taking selfies as they do not have to rotate the phone itself anymore.
The device will also intelligently respond when there are more subjects in the frame, widening the field of view to its maximum or even rotate it to landscape orientation.
Stabilization has also been made better for filming using the front camera. This optimization can also be felt on video calls.
iPhone 17 price, availability
The iPhone 17 starts at US$ 799 for the 256GB configuration. There are five available colors: Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White, and Sage.
Pre-orders start on Friday with general availability starting September 19th.
Accessories
Jabra launches PanaCast Room Kit for simpler hybrid meetings
The function room setup that doesn’t need an IT guy
Jabra is expanding its hybrid work ecosystem with the new PanaCast Room Kit.
It’s a video conferencing solution built for meeting rooms. But it skips the usual complexity. No tangled cables, no custom programming, and no need for IT on standby.
The kit is designed for teams of three to 15 people. Setup takes minutes: Connect the cameras, place the speakers and microphones, and link everything with a single cable.
That’s it. A standard room becomes a smart collaboration space without the usual friction.
Built for inclusive meetings
At the center of the experience is the PanaCast 55 VBS.
It uses a 180-degree multi-camera system powered by onboard AI. Jabra’s Virtual Director technology tracks speakers and reframes the view in real time.
Everyone stays visible. Even those seated at the far end of the table.
The goal is simple. Make remote participants feel like they’re in the room.
Audio keeps up with that promise. The PanaCast SpeakerMic extends coverage up to 11 meters. Every voice comes through clearly and at a consistent volume. No need to raise your voice just to be heard.
No-fuss by design
The system adds a Huddly L1 camera for a secondary angle. This gives meetings a more complete and inclusive view.
There’s also the Jabra Control IP touch controller. It handles meetings with simple, one-touch controls.
Everything works together with minimal input. No manual pan-tilt-zoom adjustments. No audio balancing. The AI handles it.
Enterprise-ready, plug-and-play simple
The PanaCast Room Kit is fully UC-certified. It works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.
It also runs on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), bringing enterprise-grade security and reliability.
The idea is straightforward. High-end meeting tech shouldn’t be hard to use.
From small huddle spaces to larger boardrooms, the kit scales without added complexity. It removes the usual barriers to hybrid collaboration.
Whether it’s a quick team sync or a full boardroom discussion, the PanaCast Room Kit aims to give everyone a front-row seat.
vivo has officially announced the global launch of the X300 Ultra, marking the first international debut of its top-tier imaging flagship.
The device introduces the ZEISS Master Lenses Collection, featuring triple prime focal lengths at 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm. It supports up to 200MP output across key focal lengths and can extend reach to 200mm and 400mm using optional telephoto extenders.
A 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with gimbal-level stabilization and 60fps AF tracking enables detailed long-range shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm camera uses a large Sony LYTIA sensor for natural perspective and improved low-light performance.
For video, the X300 Ultra supports multi-focal 4K 120fps recording in both 10-bit Log and Dolby Vision formats. It also introduces Pro Video mode with LUT support and compatibility with ACES workflows for advanced color grading.
The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with a dedicated imaging chip. It packs a 6600mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Other features include a 2K ZEISS Master Color Display, quad-mic audio recording system, IP68/IP69 durability, and up to five years of OS updates.
Pricing and availability will depend on the region.
Enterprise
Allbirds suddenly turns into an AI company
Allbirds is an odd shoe company. Though it already enjoyed a cult following in some circles around the world, the brand suddenly expanded its reach everywhere, offering a lighter and more environment-friendly alternative to the usual suspects of the shoe world. Now, getting even odder, Allbirds is ditching the shoes and going barefoot into the world of AI.
It’s one of the oddest transitions in the corporate world. In an official statement, Allbirds has confirmed that it will pivot fully into a “fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service and AI-native cloud solutions provider.” From Allbirds, it will be known as NewBird AI.
It’s not an incredibly abrupt change, though. The shoe brand and its stores won’t disappear overnight. The company will still hold a shareholder vote on May 18. If approved, they will transition into the new brand gradually.
The transition to AI, itself a gremlin of a keyword in today’s financial world, has resulted in the company’s stock value rising up. However, its long-term viability is in question, especially for a company with no experience in a world already drowning in AI.
From last year to today, AI has been the darling child of investors and a plague to consumers. While the former salivates over the short-term gain of AI adoption, the latter ruminates on the technology’s projected effects on the world.
SEE ALSO: Lenovo accelerates production-ready enterprise AI with NVIDIA
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