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The Mobile Phone Industry and Customer Retention

The mobile phone industry’s growth has slowed.  It is now operating more like a stable, moderate to slow growth market.  This is particularly true in Europe.  To face the challenge of slower growth in the industry, European mobile operators are turning to customer retention, but they are careful of the customers they seek to retain. 

The Europeans have observed that less than 20% of an operator’s customers generate to 80% of the operator’s total revenue.  This pattern repeats itself in many industries.  When we have seen these patterns in other industries, we have also noted that less than 10% of the total customers generate an astounding 50% of total revenues.  These are the really important customers in an industry. 

A company must retain its key customers.  In the mobile phone industry, as in most industries, the largest 20% of the industry’s customers are likely to be what we would call Core customers for the industry’s larger competitors.  A Core customer allows supplier company to earn at least the cost of capital through a business cycle.  The retention of these core customers is of paramount importance to long term company success. It costs a great deal more to find a new customer than to retain and build the relationship with a customer you already have.  In the European mobile phone industry, carriers have found that it costs ten times more to acquire a customer than to retain one. 

The industry has found another important phenomenon associated with customer defection.  Recent research has told it that defection is a social phenomenon.  If defecting customers leave an operator, they usually are not quiet about it.  They tell their friends.  In turn, some of their friends defect as well.  So, the loss of a Core customer to an operator will often bring with it the loss of several other Core customers. 

The mobile phone operators in Europe are working on retention by focusing particularly on those Core customers most likely to defect.  These operators have analyzed the value of their customers and have assigned a rating to each customer.  When a customer calls a call center, the information about the customer, including his rating, is readily displayed on the service representative’s screen.  This customer specific information enables the service representative to respond with different value offers, depending on the importance of the customer.  Most of these offers reflect lower prices for a potential defector.

But the industry is responding to potential defections with more than simple price reductions.  Some companies are developing personal calling rates and plans tailored to individual Core customer habits.  One European company instituted this individual approach and cut its percentage of customers defecting each year in half, from 20% to 10%. 

The industry has found another important phenomenon associated with customer churn.  Recent research has told it that defection is a social phenomenon.  If defecting customers leave an operator, they usually are not quiet about it.  They tell their friends.  In turn, some of their friends defect as well.  So, the loss of a core customer to an operator will often bring with it the loss of several other core customers. 

Customer retention is an important, strategic management imperative, even in fast growing markets




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iPhone Users: Put an AirTag in Your Camera Bag



Apple’s new AirTags are a straight-up gift for photographers. After testing one for the past couple of weeks, I’ll be hiding an AirTag in my scooter, one in my car and another one in my camera bag.
Read more »




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Smartish Gripzilla iPhone 16 Pro Max case review

REVIEW – One of the nice experiences when buying a new smartphone is choosing nice cases that are not only attractive but provide protection and create a good gripping surface. Let’s see how this Smartish Gripzilla iPhone 16 Pro Max case works for me. What is it? The Smartish Gripzilla iPhone 16 Pro Max case […]




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National Geographic Launches World Atlas App for iPhone & iPod Touch!

Now Available!

Easy-to-use, feature packed, and containing the world’s best maps, the National Geographic World Atlas enables you to browse, search, and zoom detailed maps of the globe.

Unlike other atlas applications, the National Geographic World Atlas utilizes our highest resolution, “press-ready” images, providing you the same rich detail, accuracy, and artistic beauty found in our award-winning wall maps and bound atlases.

The National Geographic World Atlas contains 7 different levels of National Geographic cartography, plus through our unique partnership with Microsoft, 7 bonus levels of Microsoft Bing maps enabling you to zoom in close enough to see your home! Learn more...

Now available in the iTunes App Store! Click here to buy now...








Learn more...

Now available in the iTunes App Store! Click here to buy now...




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Fundraising by Phone is for every Non-Profit: The Basics of Telephone fundraising.


 An increasing number of charities and nonprofit groups are electing to solicit donations through Telefundraising campaigns. Despite having different goals and needs, disparate organizations find that Telefundraising is an effective use of resources . For many groups, the option of telefundraisng makes sense.
For large groups with vast amounts of members, telephone fundraising provides an effective means of outreach.  Charities withsignificant fundraising budgets see impressive returns from telephone fundraising efforts. Large organizations are results oriented, this is why they continue to support Telefundraising campaigns.

Small non-profits use telephone fundraising efforts as ameans to gain support for little upfront investment.While wide-scale print and media campaigns are often beyond the reach of small organizations, phonecampaigns can be executed in an extremely cost effective manner. Adjustments to telephone campaigns are virtually instantaneous, while other types of fundraising efforts need much more planning to alter.
Organizations of any size can quickly realize significant benefits from telephone campaigns. The relative low cost of phone fundraising campaigns is an attractive feature, regardless of organizational size. Paired with simple initial equipment requirements, this makes raising money by phone an easy choice for most non-profits.


Raising money is not the only goal of telephone solicitation campaigns. Contacts that end without a donation can still prove to be useful. Basing success on donations alone, overlooks other possible benefits to an organization.
Receiving a call from an organization helps to personalize the charity to its donors. Phone calls keep organizations on the minds of their supporters. These calls provide donors with the latest information on the cause they support. Well informed donors provide more frequent support.
Donation calls properly made, can be an important source of feedback for an organization as well. Donors use telefundraisng contacts as an opportunity to sound-off about their feelings about an organization.  Organizations can take these valuable insights, and use them to tweak their efforts.
Solicitation calls can provide much more than donations alone. Fully grasping this truth greatly improves campaign results.Positive campaign results are limited only by the imaginations of the organizations which run them.


Calling campaigns are always an effective solicitation method. For the best possible outcomes, additional factors should be considered as well. Holidays represent an excellent time for telephone fundraising efforts. This time of year is when many donors are most receptive to giving.Wise non-profits leverage the holidays to increase their rate of success.
Topical campaigns have increase significance to givers. These campaigns can be combined with additional media efforts. By closely monitoring the news cycle, it is possible to create campaigns that take advantage of current news, and require no additional effort to spark media interest.
Close attention to relevant news is useful, but not essential to telephone fundraising. Calling campaigns that are well structured can drive their own press coverage.  Press coverage is useful in some cases, but not an absolute requirement for all calling campaigns.


Implementing a successful telephone campaign is not substantially different than other types of solicitation methods. Good Telefundraising applys traditional fundraising methods to the phone. The benefits of applying telephone fundraising are obvious.
Telephone campaigns are an excellent way to overcome the problem of donor fatigue. Combined with other strategies, Telefundraising can strengthen listing campaigns. Fundraising by phone can produce results in and of itself.
Carried out properly, there is no application where telephone fundraising campaigns cannot be attempted with positive outcome.Effective fundraising campaigns require detailed planning. Phone fundraising and other solicitation efforts should be designed to work in harmony.
Fundraising by telephone requires serious preparation. Calling efforts should be well managed and adequately staffed. The results of telephone campaigns are based largely on the dedication of the organizations which run them.


Pound for pound, telephone fundraising delivers better results than other fundraising techniques. The advantages of telephone fundraising fluctuate across organizations, but remain significant. While income is an important factor, it is not the only way to evaluate the performance of a fundraising effort.
Phone campaigns can be implemented with minimal staff requirements. Well managed small teams can out performs much larger groups . Small teams are capable of delivering large gains.
Changes to phone fundraising campaigns can be implemented without halting the camapaign. Important updates can be quickly integrated. News and current events can be incorporated into the campaigns virtually instantly.Comparable fundraising methods need significant time to alter.
Speaking directly with prospects ensures valid contact. Direct  contact with donors is assured with calling campaigns.




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A bushel of buzzwords from Japan; the advent of phoneticization

Below are two lists of nominations for Japanese buzzword of the year.  Each has 30 entries, and from each list one will be chosen as the respective winner.  Since the two lists are already quite long and rich, I will keep my own comments (mostly at the bottom and focusing on phoneticization) to a minimum. […]




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you insist phone

Today on Married To The Sea: you insist phone


This RSS feed is brought to you by Drew and Natalie's podcast Garbage Brain University. Our new series Everything Is Real explores the world of cryptids, aliens, quantum physics, the occult, and more. If you use this RSS feed, please consider supporting us by becoming a patron. Patronage includes membership to our private Discord server and other bonus material non-patrons never see!




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xylophone ribs

Today on Married To The Sea: xylophone ribs


This RSS feed is brought to you by Drew and Natalie's podcast Garbage Brain University. Our new series Everything Is Real explores the world of cryptids, aliens, quantum physics, the occult, and more. If you use this RSS feed, please consider supporting us by becoming a patron. Patronage includes membership to our private Discord server and other bonus material non-patrons never see!




phone

owns a phone

Today on Married To The Sea: owns a phone


This RSS feed is brought to you by Drew and Natalie's podcast Garbage Brain University. Our new series Everything Is Real explores the world of cryptids, aliens, quantum physics, the occult, and more. If you use this RSS feed, please consider supporting us by becoming a patron. Patronage includes membership to our private Discord server and other bonus material non-patrons never see!




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Tiny Microphone

I know that we'd all like some come-together-in-unity rhetoric, but on Morning Joseph (Biden's favorite show!) they're reading Maureen Dowd columns about the evil transes and, you know, we're back to the bad days of the early aughts.




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“Uh… I Think My Phone Is Face-Palming”

Read “Uh… I Think My Phone Is Face-Palming”

And on it went for a few minutes as I tried to find ways to convey where the top of the thing was. Finally, it came to this:
Me: "Okay, let's say that your phone is a little person. Where you charge it, that's his feet, okay?"
User: "Okay..."

Read “Uh… I Think My Phone Is Face-Palming”




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Smartphone Photography: The Essential Guide (+ 15 Tips)

The post Smartphone Photography: The Essential Guide (+ 15 Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Karthika Gupta.

These days, you don’t need professional photography equipment to take stunning photos. The smartphone in your pocket has the power to capture the kind of high-quality shots you can find in magazines – and it’s extremely easy to use, too! That said, smartphone photography involves more than grabbing that iPhone or Google Pixel, turning on […]

The post Smartphone Photography: The Essential Guide (+ 15 Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Karthika Gupta.




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Thieves are caught after stealing 35 phones

Watch the moment phone thieves were caught after stealing 35 phones in south-east London.





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iOS 17.7.1 & iPadOS 17.7.1 Available for iPhone & iPad

Apple has released iOS 17.7.1 and iPadOS 17.7.1 for iPhone and iPad users who are not running iOS 18, which was just updated to includes support for Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1. The software updates include important security fixes, making them important updates to install if you’re still running the prior major ... Read More




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5 Helpful Uses for Apple Intelligence on Mac, iPhone, & iPad

Apple Intelligence is here on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and while the system requirements are strict, the Apple devices that are new and powerful enough to use the AI tools now gain some really fantastic features. We’re going to show you six helpful Apple Intelligence features and uses that you’ll find beneficial to your workflow, ... Read More




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How to Change iPhone Used by iPhone Mirroring on Mac

If you have several iPhone’s, as many people do when they buy a new iPhone, upgrade, get a hand-me-down, develop iPhone software, or develop mobile sites or apps where you test things on multiple devices, you might be in a situation where iPhone Mirroring on the Mac is using an iPhone that you do not ... Read More




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How to Turn Off Bluetooth in iOS 18 on iPhone

The iOS 18 update is a fun one with some intriguing new features, mostly for visual tweaks like adding dark mode icons and color hues, and of course there’s Apple Intelligence AI features if your iPhone is new enough to support those features. One of the other major changes in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 ... Read More




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Here's how much more laptops, TVs, and smartphones could cost under Trump's proposed tariffs, consumer group says

Donald Trump's proposed tariffs would hit the consumer tech sector, raising prices on US consumers' favorite gadgets, an October report found.




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News24 Business | Huawei 'super fans' annoyed at lack of supply as pricey phone hits China stores

Many fans of Huawei on Friday were disappointed that its much-anticipated phone, Mate XT - more than twice the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max - was not available for walk-in customers.




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Are smartphones ruining childhood? | Jonathan Haidt

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation," is shaping cultural conversations and sparking fierce debates about the role of smartphones in society. In this timely conversation, he investigates how a smartphone-based childhood, amplified by overprotective parenting, is driving the mental health crisis among young people. He also explores the push for phone bans in schools and the concrete steps we can take to improve the mental health of young people around the world. (This conversation was hosted by Elise Hu, the host of TED Talks Daily. Visit ted.com/membership to support TED today and join more exclusive events like this one.)




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Pennsylvania expands virus app to school-age phone users




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Pennsylvania expands virus app to school-age phone users




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Ask Smithsonian: How Do Noise-Canceling Headphones Work?

Our host, Eric Schulze explains how 1 + 1 = 0 when it comes to sound




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What Are Wind Phones, and How Do They Help With Grief?

A clinical social worker explains the vital role of the old-fashioned rotary phone for those dealing with death and loss




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Province earmarks $2.5M for cellphone towers, but no one has signed on to use them

P.E.I.'s capital budget has allocated $2.5 million to build up to five provincially owned cellphone towers, but so far no telecommunications companies have committed to using them.



  • News/Canada/PEI

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Hyphen Design, Ltd. cuts development time for mobile phones, power tools, etc. with SOLIDWORKS software

UK consultancy reduces design cycles by weeks, cuts prototyping costs, and designs better products for global clients like Virgin Mobile and Hasbro




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How to fix iPhone Notes disappearing after iCloud terms & conditions update

When iPhone users accepted new iCloud terms, some were shocked to see all their Notes disappear from the app. Here's how to get them back.


Apple Notes on iPhone

A recent bug affecting Apple's Notes app has left some iPhone users concerned after their notes appeared to vanish. The issue seems to impact iPhones running iOS 18 versions after users agree to updated iCloud terms and conditions.

Reports across social media indicate that the Notes app disconnects from iCloud, leaving the app empty and alarming users who rely on it for personal and professional information.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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Two senior presidential campaign officials' iPhones maybe hacked by Chinese group

Evidence suggests that the earlier Chinese Salt Typhoon breach of American telecoms may have led to the potential hacking of two presidential campaign officials' iPhones.


iPhones potentially breached

Whether the hack actually happened, what data might have been obtained, or which officials were breached have not been revealed. The FBI is investigating claims by a security startup called iVerify that tie the events together.

According to a report from Forbes, iVerify flagged anomalous behavior on two iPhones belonging to senior officials for one of the presidential candidates. Settings had been changed on the iPhones in "patterns that are not observed on healthy devices."


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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iPhones stored for forensic analysis unexpectedly reboot, causing problems for police

Multiple iPhone units stored for forensic analysis have rebooted themselves, causing concern among law enforcement officials that Apple has a new security feature.


iPhones stored for forensic analysis have reportedly begun rebooting themselves.

The phones in question had a few things in common, they were all running iOS 18.0, and they had been disconnected from cellular networks for some time. They were sent into a forensics lab on October 3, 2024.

The affected devices even included one that was in Airplane Mode and another that was kept in a Faraday cage, which prevents electrical signals from accessing the device. While it's most likely that the devices began boot-looping or that they ran low on battery, officials believe the restarts were caused by something else entirely.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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iPhone 18 Pro rumored to gain a variable aperture wide-angle lens

In a major update to the camera system, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro's wide angle lens will be upgraded to have a variable aperture.


Apple may update the iPhone's wide-angle lens to give it a variable aperture

Rumors concerning the cameras in the forthcoming iPhone 17 range and later have previously varied from saying they will get better bokeh, to how the front camera's resolution will double to 24MP. Now analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims to have specific information that the iPhone 18 Pro will gain this variable aperture update.

In a blog post that he says is based on his own industry sources, Kuo says that this update will "significantly improve the user's photography experience."


Rumor Score: ???? Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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iPhone 16 Pro Max review two months later -- Like Apple says, the best iPhone yet

Maybe there isn't one giant improvement in the iPhone 16 Pro Max from its predecessor, but there are many improvements worth the steep price of admission.


Apple's best — the iPhone 16 Pro Max

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a curious device. While it has a fractionally larger screen than last time, so does the iPhone 16 Pro.

And while it has a new Camera Control button, so does every model in the iPhone 16 range.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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iPhones on iOS 18.1 will automatically reboot and lock down after being idle for a while

A hidden feature in iOS 18.1 will automatically reboot a locked iPhone when it is asleep but hasn't been unlocked for a while, presumably as a security measure.


The feature has been identified as an "inactivity reboot," and is similar to a feature found on Macs. The Mac version, known as "hibernation mode," saves the state of the device to disk when put to sleep, in case the power fails or the battery runs out before the user can return to the machine.

By flushing the last state of the device, iPhone users are better protected from forensic searches by law enforcement or other entities. The change also makes it more difficult for anyone to break into the device using brute-force or other methods.

The reboot timer is not reliant on charging or network functions, and is only tied to inactivity since the last unlock. This means the reboot will take place after a period of time, even if network connections are not maintained.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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Apple starts supplying replacement parts for iPhone 16 repairs

Repair parts for the iPhone 16 lineup are now available to order in the US and other countries, including for those wanting to fix their iPhone for themselves.


DIY repairs are well-suited to some, but can be labor-intensive and expensive.

Following the release of the repair manuals for the iPhone 16 in September, it's now possible to acquire replacement parts for repairs from Apple directly. This is a continuation of a move starting in 2022 towards more user repairability of its products.

Batteries, one of the most common replacement parts, sell for $99 for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, or $119 for the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. Likewise, replacement camera assemblies cost $169 or $249, depending on the model.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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Battery problems threaten the iPhone Slim and iPhone Fold

A new rumor claims that both Apple and Samsung are having difficulty making thinner batteries, thereby limiting just how thin phones like the expected iPhone 17 Slim can be.


Renders of what the iPhone 17 Slim could look like

What's currently rumored to be called the iPhone 17 Slim is believed to be an iPhone with a 6.6-inch screen, and to be significantly thinner than regular iPhones. Just how thin has not been known, but a new rumor says battery problems may mean it can be no less than 6mm.

The rumor comes from yeux1122, who has a mixed track record — most recently claiming the Apple Ring project is still on, and regularly if erroneously claiming that there will be a 2TB version of the Pro iPhone models.


Rumor Score: ???? Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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iPhone 14 Pro prototype reveals the humble beginnings of Apple's haptic button project

A newly-discovered iPhone 14 Pro prototype features one of the earliest known incarnations of Apple's scrapped haptic button project.


An iPhone 14 Pro featuring Apple's Bongo design was recently discovered.

Back in July of 2024, AppleInsider published exclusive imagery of a prototype iPhone 15 Pro Max equipped with Apple's long-rumored haptic buttons. Developed under the codename Project Bongo, the haptic buttons were supposed to make their debut in 2023 but never ended up on mass-production units.




Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums




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News24 Business | Malatsi confirms plans to scrap smartphone luxury tax, address SABC Bill controversy

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has said his department will look into scrapping luxury tax on smartphones.




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Getting Bibles in print and on phones

The Bible in the local Arabic dialect is shared via smartphone app in North Africa.




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News24 Business | Indonesia adds Google Pixel phones to ban list with iPhone 16

Indonesia has banned the sale of Google Pixel phones over the tech giant's failure to meet investment regulations, its industry ministry said, days after blocking sales of Apple's iPhone 16.




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Good news on the phone

A member of OM Germany's Xenos Team, working amongst immigrants in a South German city, shares about a friend who comes to Christ.




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iPhone Production in India Could Double Due to Donald Trump's Bigger Tariff Proposals: Report

Apple still relies on China for the bulk of its manufacturing and sales but several factors like the US-China trade tensions played a key role in boosting Indian production. A new report suggests that Apple could double its iPhone production in India if the US imposes tariffs on Chinese imports. The Cupertino-based company is likely to increase its iPhone production in India to over $30 billion annually if the newly elected US President Donald Trump decides to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.




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Android 15 Brings Support for True Adaptive Refresh Rate on Smartphones and Other Devices

Android 15 was released globally in August and since then, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as OnePlus, Oppo and Realme have introduced their iterations of the new operating system (OS) for their smartphones and other devices. The update is said to bring support for true adaptive refresh rate (ARR) which leverages discrete VSync steps to adapt to the frame rate of the on-screen content without changing the current display mode.




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Gemini App for iPhone With Gemini Live Capability Appears in the App Store for Some Users

Gemini app might have been released on iOS. On Sunday, a Reddit user posted screenshots of the iOS version of the app. In the screenshots, the Gemini Live feature, which offers a two-way voice conversation with the AI, was also visible. The user also shared the app’s App Store listing URL, however, several others claimed that it was not available in their region.




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iOS 18.2 Developer Beta 3 Update for iPhone Rolling Out Now: Here's What’s New

iOS 18.2 Developer Beta 3 update for iPhone was released by Apple on Monday. It builds upon the previous updates as the Cupertino-based tech giant continues to test the second batch of features powered by Apple Intelligence — the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) suite for iPhone and other devices. Apple’s latest update is not a substantial introduction but still includes tweaks to the video player in the Photos app, updated dark mode icons for apps, and more.




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Asus ROG Phone 9 Reportedly Spotted on Geekbench ML With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, 24GB RAM

Asus ROG Phone 9 will be officially launched later this week. Following Qualcomm's unveiling of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset last month, Asus confirmed that the ROG Phone 9 would use the flagship SoC. Now, ahead of the launch, the handset has been reportedly spotted in the Geekbench ML online database suggesting key specifications.




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iPhone 17 Air Might Not Be as Thick as Apple Planned Due to Technical Challenges, Tipster Claims

Apple's iPhone 17 Air model might not be as thin as the company previously planned, according to a tipster. Expected to replace the 'Plus' model in its lineup in 2025, Apple has reportedly encountered challenges in lowering the device's thickness due to the battery.




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Poco X7 Pro Could Be the First Smartphone to Ship With Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 in India

Xiaomi's new Android skin version — HyperOS 2.0 — was announced in China last month alongside the Xiaomi 15 series. While the company did not outline a rollout plan of its latest custom skin for devices in India, a new leak has hinted that the Poco X7 Pro will be the first to debut with HyperOS 2.0 in the country. The new Poco X series phone is rumoured to launch next month in India.




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Oppo Reno 13 Series India Launch Timeline Leaked; Reno 13's Alleged Render Shows iPhone-Style Design

Oppo is said to be working on the Reno 13 series. While the brand is yet to announce the China launch date, a report has surfaced online suggesting the India launch timeline of the Oppo Reno 13 series. The new lineup is expected to come with at least two offerings, namely the Oppo Reno 13 and the Reno 13 Pro. Additionally, an alleged render of the Oppo Reno 13 has leaked on Weibo showcasing an iPhone-style rear design.




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iPhone SE 4 Camera Production to Begin Soon Ahead of Anticipated Debut in March 2025: Report

iPhone SE 4 could be launched in early 2025, according to a report. An Apple supplier is reportedly gearing up for mass production of camera components for the iPhone SE 4, which is expected to succeed the iPhone SE (2022).




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Xiaomi Shows Off HyperConnect Feature for Easy File Sharing With iPhone and Other Apple Devices

Xiaomi announced the the latest operating system (OS) for its devices dubbed HyperOS 2.0 last month. A company official has now previewed another new feature which improves compatibility of Xiaomi smartphones with Apple devices such as the iPhone, enabling the user to share files easily across ecosystems.