Apple wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to discover accessibility features on their iPhones, iPads and Macs and to figure out how to customize their devices to better suit their needs. The gadget maker launched a redesign of its accessibility website, Apple.com/accessibility, to highlight its efforts. The revamped site, announced Thursday, is organized around …

This fall, Apple made it official — all four of its new iPhone 12 models come with next-generation 5G cellular connectivity. The new version of wireless networks started rolling out across the globe last year and picked up speed in 2020. Virtually all new Android phones arriving in the US today offer 5G, and the country’s biggest carriers have been talking …

The chip that will power most high-end 5G phones next year is here: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. And for the first time in its ultra high-end lineup, Qualcomm has integrated its 5G modem on the same chip as the brains, AI and other processor features, likely giving 5G phones a boost in battery life.  Smartphones need a lot of components …

The world may be grappling with a widespread pandemic, but that’s sure not slowing down 5G’s rollout. The super-fast technology reached more customers this year than expected and will cover about 60% of the global population by 2026, according to a new report from Ericsson. That makes 5G the fastest deployed mobile network ever, the Swedish networking giant said. By …

It all started with two trips to China. The first, in August 2019, brought Jason Keats to Hong Kong just as protesters took over the airport. The head of R&D for the once-buzzy startup Essential Products was there to work on the company’s upcoming Project Gem, an eye-catching new smartphone with an unusual, skinny design. The second was in January. …

Next year, 5G won’t just be for pricey handsets, thanks to a push by the companies making chips for the devices.  MediaTek on Tuesday joined Qualcomm in introducing 5G processors for less expensive smartphones. The Taiwanese company’s Dimensity 700 will enable 5G phones that cost less than $250. And it likely will address an important market: prepaid smartphones in the …

Apple’s long breakup with Intel is official. The tech giant on Tuesday unveiled its first Mac computers that use Apple’s own silicon — the MacBook Air, Mac Mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The devices all sport improved battery life and either cost the same or less than their Intel-powered older siblings.  The computers’ designs are essentially the same but feature …

Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have a new feature for users who are blind or low vision — the ability to essentially see other people coming. The feature went live for iPhone and iPad users on Thursday with the launch of iOS 14.2.  The devices make use of the new lidar sensor on the back of the …

Apple has given people plenty of reasons to want a new iPhone 12, much as it does every year when it refreshes its phone lineup. The camera is better, and so’s the processor. The display, with its “ceramic shield” technology, is more durable, and there’s even a Pacific blue iPhone 12 Pro. There are now four new models to choose from …

The pandemic-caused lull in demand for phones appears to be over, at least for Samsung. The company on Wednesday reported its highest ever quarterly revenue, thanks to “significant increase in consumer demand” for its smartphones, computers and other products.  The company reported its third-quarter operating profit soared 59% from the previous year to 12.35 trillion won ($10.9 billion), while its …