News

iPhone 16 adds Camera Control, Apple Intelligence, new colors

Better experiences on the more powerful new flagships

Published

September 10, 2024

Manila Connoisseur

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have been officially introduced via Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event in Cupertino, California on Monday. These base models feature the new A18 chip and Apple Intelligence features, but an even more interesting new addition is the Camera Control button.

Located on the lower right bezel when on a portrait orientation, this add-on lets users access the Camera app with just a click, making it easier for them to take quick snaps and videos.

Apple positioned the Camera Control button in a way where it replicates the shutter button on traditional film cameras especially when holding the iPhone 16 in landscape mode.

This way, users do not need to adjust the grip anymore after launching the Camera app. And for filming, they simply have to click and hold the Camera Control button to start recording right away.

Moreover, the iPhone 16 Camera Control button is designed to understand haptic feedback, differentiating full presses from light touches.

When the Camera app has already been opened, users may simply light press the button to frame the shot. Another light tap will show various settings like depth of field, exposure, and more.

They may then slide their fingers on the button to adjust these settings. The same gesture helps them to zoom in and out easily. These same features can be utilized when filming. Furthermore, when on portrait orientation, Snapchat may be accessed directly from the control for quick sharing.

iPhone 16 cameras

Speaking of cameras, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus feature a 48MP main camera and a 12MP telephoto camera.

The main camera absorbs light 2.6x better than its predecessor. Users may take macro, ultra-wide angle, normal, and 2x zoom shots without compromising quality, all thanks to the 48MP Fusion camera.

The new flagships also leverage powerful machine learning algorithms for better audio pickup on video recording and video calls.

First iPhones built for Apple Intelligence

And as the iPhone 16 series is the first generation of iPhones specifically built for Apple Intelligence, users can take advantage of a handful of AI-powered features, like Clean Up to remove unwanted parts on photos.

The A18 chip on the devices also allow them to support the Apple Intelligence features easily. With a 6-core CPU, including two performance cores and four efficiency cores, the A18 chip delivers a 60% faster performance than an iPhone 12. Yet it uses 30% less power than an A16 Bionic chip, making the iPhone 16 Series even more power efficient.

One of the Apple Intelligence-powered features is Writing Tools. This can be used to help with proofreading texts or changing its tone with just a few taps. There’s also Genmoji, which lets users be creative with generating emojis with just text prompts.

Siri has likewise been supercharged so that simple voice prompts lead to browsing through apps to pull up vital information.

iPhone 16 series price, availability

The iPhone 16 is priced starting at US$ 799 for the 128GB model. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Plus retails starting at US$ 899 for the 128GB option.

Both come in the new Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink, colorways, joining the classic White and Black options.

News

FIFA World Cup: Lenovo’s Referee View received positively by fans

Unique first-person perspective brings action closer to viewers

Published

July 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

Lenovo has revealed that technological advancements at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has made viewers “feel closer” to the action than ever before.

Surveying fans across Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Lenovo bared that 87% say technology is improving the viewing experience.

Close-to-action camera perspectives have also help 84% of surveyed viewers, making them feel they’re right on the pitch.

Of course, Lenovo AI has introduced Referee View throughout the World Cup. This AI-powered technology gives viewers a first-person POV of the match from a referee’s perspective.

Lenovo Referee View has been featured on an average of three times per match across the tournament in over 220 countries and territories worldwide, according to preliminary FIFA data.

Through a lightweight camera mounted on the match official, the technology gives a first-person POV of the match.

And while raw footage is fast-moving and sometimes unstable, Lenovo’s AI-powered video analytics platform automatically transforms the clips into smooth, broadcast-quality video in real-time.

Other findings from Lenovo’s research include:

76% of viewers have seen or heard about Referee View
91% say the close-to-action Referee View POV is appealing
88% say smooth and stable footage is an important part of viewing sports footage
98% say clear picture quality has been important when watching the FIFA World Cup 2026
91% are interested in seeing more technology that creates immersive or close-to-action sports experiences

Apps

Netflix suddenly resurrects 30-day free trials

It’s available only in some countries.

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Over the weekend, a report emerged about Disney+ allegedly considering a new tier offered to users for absolutely free. Apparently, Disney isn’t the only one. Netflix is now resurrecting its free trial program in select countries.

Back in the day, it was easy to get into Netflix. With a 30-day free trial, you can watch the shows you’ve always wanted to catch. If you liked what you saw, you can pay the monthly fee to access the entire library without constraints. Eventually, the platform got rid of this system to favor a cheaper ad-supported tier.

Perhaps not seeing the benefits of ad-supported tiers, Netflix has suddenly resurrected its free trial program. Spotted online (via Android Authority), some countries, including Brazil and India, are experimenting with the program again. New users can get 30 days of free Netflix access.

Because only regular users are spotting this (rather than an official announcement), we don’t have a list of where the free trials are available.

Still, it’s an interesting move. Cable isn’t a thing anymore so “cutting the cable” isn’t a popular phrase anymore, but people are definitely cancelling subscriptions over rising prices. Some even rely on short clips from YouTube to catch up with their shows. Having a free trial opens up more possibilities for users, but it remains to be seen whether it’s enough for users to return to Netflix.

Apps

Disney+ might get a free tier

What would you like to see in a free Disney+ tier?

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In a world disappointingly obsessed with increasing prices beyond our means, Disney+ has miraculously remembered the phrase, “free sample.” According to a report, the streaming platform is considering making a free subscription tier.

As of late, it’s been difficult to maintain a healthy collection of streaming services. When you have to pay the equivalent of a full-course meal every month for just a single platform, you start to evaluate which ones really matter.

Perhaps feeling the sting of users leaving the platform over pricing, Disney+ is reportedly experimenting with a tier that comes at no cost to users (via Business Insider). According to two sources, adding such a tier might help the platform reach customers more.

Now, it’s still a mystery how this tier might work. Disney+ already offers an ad-supported tier, so it’s unlikely to be another one like that.

One possibility is a heavily curated feed of content either designed specifically for free users or limited exactly to give users a free sample. For the latter, think of the limited content you get on a plane. Sure, you might get the first three episodes of The Mandalorian, but you’ll have to fork over cash if you want to see the rest of the story.

And for the former, you can imagine short-form content available for free. Going back to Star Wars, you might see a short anthology series like Star Wars: Visions.

Either way, it’s an interesting concept. If the tier does offer full content, it’s a great way to get into franchises you were thinking of trying without the need to spend for a taste.