News

iPhone 15 Pro leaked in early render

USB-C and a thicker camera

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Image source: Ian Zelbo

The biggest rumor from 2022 was, without a doubt, the possibility of the first USB-C iPhone. Pressured by Europe (and a few other countries), Apple might join the rest of the world and adopt the standard within a few years. Today, only a few months after the launch of the iPhone 14 series, a render has spoiled what the iPhone 15 Pro might look like, and it looks like 2022 was right.

Leaked by 9to5Mac, the render comes from 3D artist Ian Zelbo and a case manufacturer. As with all smartphones, case manufacturers get a preview of an upcoming phone beforehand to build up supply for the eventual launch. Though the information usually focuses more on dimensions, there’s a lot to be gleaned from the render.

For one, as was mentioned above, the iPhone 15 render sports a USB-C port, rather than the traditional Lightning port. Further, the smartphone will have a thicker camera island, hinting at a beefier camera setup this year.

On a subtler note, the iPhone 15 Pro will also have a curvier frame. It’s still a far cry from the formerly round iPhone 11 from years back, though. However, the render does show much smoother corners.

Other than those, the render doesn’t show much more — at least, anything we can confidently confirm from a set of dimensions. Also, until more information surfaces, it’s hard to confirm whether the USB-C iPhone will launch everywhere or only in territories affected by new policies.

SEE ALSO: Apple might be adding iPhone Ultra to lineup

Deals

vivo V27 series: Credit card, Home Credit availability

Light installment plans

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The vivo V27 series is the latest from vivo in the Philippines. It’s a smartphone series that features a light ring on its camera module instead of the usual flash. The series is comprised of the vivo V27e and the vivo V27 5G. Both are available both via credit card payment and through Home Credit.

Credit Card

You can earn rewards when you purchase either of the vivo V27 phones via credit card. The lowest payment schemes are:

  • vivo V27e — PhP 708.29 on a 24-month installment with zero percent interest.
  • vivo V27 5G — PhP 1,041.63 on a 24-month installment also with zero percent interest.

Home Credit

vivo and Home Credit Philippines partnered to offer flexible payment terms and low monthly installment rates. Installment plans are available in 9, 12 and 18-month options.

  • vivo V27e — 10% initial downpayment with zero interest rate. The 18-month plan costs PhP 877 per month.
  • vivo V27 5G — Also a 10% initial downpayment. The 18-month plan costs PhP 1,289 per month.

 vivo V27 — #AuraPortraitMaster

vivo calls the light ring on the vivo V27 series’ camera module the Aura Light. The vivo V27 series has a f/1.9 IMX766V 50MP ultra-sensing main camera. This is supported by EIS+OIS dual ultra-stabilization for sharp and high-quality shots even when moving or at night. The Aura Portrait Algorithm paves the way for impressive image and video-processing yet on a vivo smartphone for its category.

Both are equipped with 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED screens. The 7.36mm 3D curved screen on the V27 5G is the thinnest yet for a V series phone. Meanwhile, the V27e has a 7.7mm thickness.

There are three colorway choices:

  • Color-changing Emerald Green
  • Lavender Purple
  • Glory Black (specifically for the V27e, which is said to shimmer at night)

SEE ALSO: Vibe Check: vivo V27 5G

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Apps

Twitter is working on a way to hide the blue checkmark

May or may not launch

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A year ago, Twitter’s blue checkmark was a coveted piece of online identity making. Now, the once-prestigious marker has grown into somewhat of a meme. The blue checkmark doesn’t mean the same as it did a year ago. Now, Twitter is reportedly developing a way to hide the checkmark from your profile.

Last year, Twitter announced a much easier way to get a blue checkmark for themselves. Soon after Elon Musk purchased the platform, Twitter Blue offered the badge with the monthly subscription price. Users who earned the old checkmark without paying for the subscription had their badges converted into yellow legacy checkmarks.

With the change, the value of a blue checkmark changed drastically. It become associated with a joke mocking users who paid for Twitter, an otherwise free-to-use platform.

Now, as spotted by notable app engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, Twitter is developing a way to hide the blue checkmark altogether. Currently, the development is still just a leak. It remains possible that the app will not launch the feature after all.

That said, after several months reinventing verification, the platform is still struggling for the perfect way to blend the old with the new. Right around the same time the leak popped up, they also officially announced that it will retire legacy checkmarks starting April 1.

SEE ALSO: Twitter promises encrypted DMs this month

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Apps

PayPal slowly rolls out passkey support for Android

Coming to the app soon

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Big Tech has been pushing for an end to the password. However, the password-less future is taking a while to get off the ground. Only a few platforms can support passkeys. A big name is lending its hand to the technology, though. PayPal has announced that it is working on implementing passkeys for Android users.

Starting today, the digital payment platform is slowly rolling out support for the new security measure. With a passkey, users will no longer need a password or two-factor authentication. Instead, PayPal will install a passkey onto your device. That passkey will be exclusive to your devices. If PayPal recognizes the device you’re trying to log in from, then the platform will allow you in.

It’s not a grand rollout yet, though. PayPal will introduce the feature for mobile browsers first, rather than the app outright. Android users will need Chrome to access the feature. App integration will come in the future. In the meantime, Android users will start getting the feature from now throughout the year.

Passkeys are moving slowly across the tech space. Some time ago, Apple, Google, and Microsoft mutually pledged to help usher in the future of passkeys as a more secure alternative to passwords. Today, only a few platforms can support the technology. In a time when cybersecurity is quickly becoming a priority for everyone, the arrival of passkeys can’t come sooner.

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome can now go password-free

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