Amazon has pulled its Echo Wall Clock over concerns about connectivity issues, just a little over a month since it began shipping the product.
The Wall Clock's lack of availability on the Amazon website was first spotted by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern before being confirmed by Amazon in a statement given to The Verge.
"We're aware that a small number of customers have had issues with connectivity. We're working hard to address this and plan to make Echo Wall Clock available again in the coming weeks."
Announced in September along with several other Alexa-enabled products, Amazon's Wall Clock costs $29.99 and performs the expected Alexa and Echo tasks while also telling the time.
It runs on four AA batteries and connects to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for setup, but requires the user to own a standard Echo to access all the features, which include displaying timers on the clock face.
Customers who received a clock before they were delisted and have experienced connectivity issues are advised to contact Amazon to arrange a refund.
Instagram has moved to address rumors that it actively suppresses the reach of user posts on the social network.
In a statement posted on its official Twitter account, Instagram said that it has not made any recent changes to the way its feed algorithms work and that "we never hide posts from people you're following - if you keep scrolling, you will see them all."
Instagram explained that the order of posts in a feed is determined by the level of user interaction – in other words, like its parent network Facebook, posts on Instagram are organized by potential level of engagement rather than in chronological order.
What shows up first in your feed is determined by what posts and accounts you engage with the most, as well as other contributing factors such as the timeliness of posts, how often you use Instagram, how many people you follow, etc.
— Instagram (@instagram) January 22, 2019
We have not made any recent changes to feed ranking, and we never hide posts from people you're following – if you keep scrolling, you will see them all. Again, your feed is personalized to you and evolves over time based on how you use Instagram.✌️
— Instagram (@instagram) January 22, 2019
Instagram adopted Facebook's algorithmic feed way back in June 2016. A study by Instagram itself found that before the algorithm was introduced, on average, users missed 70 percent of the posts on their feeds and 50 percent of the posts from their friends.
After the algorithm though, Instagram's users see 90 percent of their friends' posts. Given those figures, recent rumors that the platform have been limiting the reach of posts could just well be the result of some users not scrolling down far enough.
Amidst increasing hype about foldable displays, Xiaomi has revealed that it is also working on its own flexible phone.
The Chinese mobile maker broke the news with a teaser video posted on Weibo that shows Xiaomi president and co-founder Lin Bin using what at first looks like a normal tablet device, until he folds back both sides of the display so that it resembles a distinctly phone-like form factor.
The physical power button is side-mounted on the device when in landscape orientation, which places it in a top-center location when in phone mode. In a neat touch, the size and orientation of the user interface also automatically adjusts in order to conform to the new dimensions of the display.
In a message accompanying the post, Bin wrote that the device is the result of the company overcoming technical challenges relating to folding displays, foldable hinges, flexible covers, and UI adaptation.
Bin admitted that what he hopes will become "the world's first dual-folding phone" is still just a prototype at this stage, but said that the company will consider mass producing it if the response from consumers is positive. Bin floated two possible names for the phone – the Mi Dual Flex and the Mi MIX Flex – although he said Xiaomi is open to suggestions from the public.
Last year, Samsung showed off its new Infinity Flex display technology in a device that features a 7.3-inch flexible display that can be folded in half. The company said it had developed an advanced composite polymer that's "flexible and tough" to replace the glass that's usually used as a display cover in smartphones.
Samsung is expected to formally announce its first commercially available foldable phone during its Galaxy S10 event on February 20 in San Francisco, California.
Rumors that Apple is developing an iPhone with a foldable display stretch back to December 2016, when it was reported that LG's display division would begin mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones as early as 2018. Apple was said to have chosen to work with LG Display and not Samsung out of fears that Samsung could get ahold of the sensitive tech.
LG is said to have created a dedicated task force to start developing a foldable OLED display for a future iPhone, while its siser company LG Innotek has a team developing a rigid flexible printed circuit board or (RFPCB) to go along with it.
LG has shown off several foldable display prototypes over recent years, including one that folds over like a book and a second that rolls up much like a newspaper.
For those of you who like to rearrange the Home screen on your iPhone and iPad to organize your apps, you might be interested to know that there's a handy little hidden feature for moving multiple apps at one time.
With this option, you can move multiple apps from your Home screen to another screen or into a folder, making organization a breeze.
Press and hold to make all of your apps wiggle, like you'd do to move or delete an app.
With a finger, drag the first app that you want to move away from its initial position.
With a second finger, tap the additional app icons that you want to add to your stack, while keeping the first finger on the first app.
That's all there is to it! Each app that you've tapped will be stacked up with the first app that you dragged. You can assign the entire stack to a folder, or drag it over to a new Home screen page.
If that list of instructions sounds a bit confusing, just check out our video above for a hands-on walkthrough of the steps.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, meeting with world leaders, mingling with other CEOs of major companies, attending dinners, and doing interviews.
According to reports on Twitter, Cook met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and attended a dinner with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and more.
Vuelve Brasil 🇧🇷🚀
Bolsonaro cenando en Davos con Tim Cook, CEO de Apple Satya Nadella, director ejecutivo de Microsoft Klaus Schwab Presidente del Foro Económico Mundial Famlia real de Bélgica Presidente de Suiza Primera ministro de Nueva Zelanda pic.twitter.com/zfBrtiJU1v
— Vení Gil💎 (@rulosk_el) January 22, 2019
Cook also sat down for an education-focused interview with German site Bild, and while the original interview appears to be unavailable, Apple Must shared some details on what was discussed.
Cook's interview came on the day that Apple announced the translation of its Everyone Can Create curriculum to German, French, Spanish, and Italian on Apple Books, expanding its availability to additional countries.
According to Cook, Apple believes that "creativity is something everybody is born with," and "education is a great equalizer."
"People are not born with the same resources but many are born with incredible opportunities to learn and to move up and do incredible things in live." [..]
"I was born in a very rural lower middle class environment. I loved it and it's great for me but the thing that enabled me to do other things and to be at Apple today is education."
Cook says Apple's education-focused content like Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create is "for the people." "If it has an indirect effect on our business, that's fine," he said. "But frankly, this is from the heart."
Apple, Cook said, has created 1.5 million jobs across Europe with its iOS app economy, with the number of available app-related jobs growing each year. Cook believes that Apple's apps offer an "outstanding" educational opportunity, offering tools that can help kids learn faster when paired with great teachers.
Additional details about Cook's trip to Switzerland may come out over the course of the rest of the week, but thus far, it's not clear what else the CEO has done while in the country. The World Economic Forum lasts through Friday, January 25.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Commonwealth Bank (CBA) today implemented support for Apple Pay, making it the second of Australia's "Big Four" banks to offer the payments service. CBA is the biggest retail bank in Australia and was a notable Apple Pay holdout.
Multiple MacRumors readers in Australia have reported being able to add their Commonwealth Bank cards to Apple Pay, and Commonwealth Bank is listed as a partner on Apple's Apple Pay site in Australia.
Commonwealth Bank first announced plans to support Apple Pay last month, giving in to consumer demand after a years-long dispute with Apple over fees and access to the NFC chips in iPhones.
When announcing Apple Pay support, Commonwealth Bank Group Executive of Retail Banking services Angus Sullivan said that the bank had heard many requests from customers asking for Apple Pay, leading to its implementation.
"We are committed to making changes that benefit our customers and simplify our business. We will continue to look for more opportunities to innovate and listen, to ensure our customers get the best experience when they bank with us. Responding to customer demand for Apple Pay underscores our commitment to becoming a better, simpler bank.
Commonwealth Bank, along with NAB and Westpac, tried to collectively bargain with Apple to attempt to force Apple to open up the iPhone's NFC capabilities to support other digital wallets, like those offered by the banks themselves.
ANZ was the only one of the four major banks in Australia to support Apple Pay when it launched in the country in April 2016. Other smaller banks later implemented support, but Commonwealth, NAB, and Westpac continued to hold out amid negotiations.
It's not clear if NAB and Westpac will implement support now that Commonwealth Bank has done so.
Bankwest in Australia is also now supporting Apple Pay, along with ASB Bank Limited in New Zealand and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Canada. Multiple smaller banks in the U.S. have implemented Apple Pay support as well, with a full list available on Apple's website.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this month approved for publication a trademark application from Apple for the term "iPod touch" that would extend protection to cover "Hand-held units for playing electronic games; Handheld game consoles" under International Class 28 (games, toys, and sporting goods).
Apple has held a trademark for the iPod touch name since 2008 under International Class 9 (audiovisual and information technology equipment) with the following description:
Portable and handheld digital electronic devices for recording, organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing text, data, audio and video files; computer software for use in organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing text, data, audio and video files on portable and handheld digital electronic devices.
As part of its justification for the new trademark application under gaming consoles, Apple submitted a screenshot of its iPod touch overview page scrolled to the "Gaming" section, with red arrows calling out the product name and the "Buy" button.
The iPod touch has of course been a handheld gaming console since its launch over a decade ago, so it's unclear why Apple has waited until now to extend its trademark coverage to include the area. It could be a purely defensive move to protect against competitors or other challenges, but given rumors last week of Apple working on a seventh-generation iPod touch some three and half years after the last update, there's naturally some speculation that there could be more to this.
We haven't heard any specific rumors about what to expect in a seventh-generation iPod touch, but we expect Apple to keep spec upgrades fairly minimal in order to maintain a low price point to appeal to customers who can't or don't want to step up to an iPhone.
Apple's new application will be published for opposition on February 19, and unless viable third-party opposition to Apple's claim appears, the company will be granted the trademark later this year.
Netflix today launched a new Instagram integration that's designed to allow Instagram users to share their favorite movies and TV shows in Stories, reports Variety.
The feature can be used by selecting a title of choice within the Netflix app for iOS devices, tapping on the "Share" icon, and then selecting "Instagram Stories" as an option.
"We're always on the lookout for ways to make it easier for members to share the Netflix titles they're obsessing about and help them discover something new to watch," said a Netflix spokesperson. "We hope our members enjoy this new feature!"
From there, Netflix opens up Instagram with a screen featuring the show's name and artwork, with an option to share it to Stories or send it to close friends.
Instagram has been allowing third-party apps to integrate with Stories since May 2018, and other integrations include Spotify and SoundCloud.
Honor, a smartphone brand owned by Huawei, today unveiled its newest device, the Honor View 20. The device launched at an event in Paris, and several tech publications were able to go hands-on with it.
A mid-range device, the Honor View 20 is the first Honor-branded smartphone that features a hole-punch notch in the display, maximizing view area with a single cutout just for the camera. This isn't the first device under the Huawei umbrella to have a hole-punch cutout - the Nova 4 also has a similar design.
The Honor View 20 is a 6.4-inch LCD display with rounded corners, the aforementioned camera cutout (which houses a 25-megapixel camera), a small bezel at the bottom of the device, and a speaker grille at the top of the casing. There's a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, a 48-megapixel rear camera paired with a second camera sensor for detecting objects in 3D, a 4,000mAh battery, and a Kirin 980 system-on-a-chip.
TechCrunch's Romain Dillet said the hole-punch cutout "definitely feels different" from an iPhone notch, but it looks weird located on the left side of the device. Still, it "looks great" when viewing photos and videos, and after just a few minutes, "you barely notice it."
"I hope more companies are going to follow this trend," writes Dillet.
CNET's Jessica Dolcourt was also able to give the new smartphone a try, calling it "visually mesmerizing." The display, according to Dolcourt, "feels as close to an edge-to-edge screen as we're likely to get right now."
You might have opinions about the hole-punch camera, just as you might have strong feelings about the notch. But it never got in my way. It either fits into an unoccupied corner of whichever app you open, or falls into the navigation bar of that app. It all depends on how the app maker laid everything out in the first place.
The Honor View 20 launches in Europe and Asia and is priced starting at 569 euros or 499 pounds for 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Huawei's devices are banned in the U.S. and so the new smartphone will be difficult to obtain in countries like the United States, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
While hole-punch camera cutouts are a growing trend, with even Samsung set to use the technology, it's not clear if it's something Apple is aiming for. Most front-facing camera setups are not as complicated as the TrueDepth camera system, which, in addition to a standard camera, incorporates a dot projector and infrared camera for facial scans.
Rumors have suggested Apple will cut down on the size of the notch in 2019, and Apple's ultimate goal is said to be an uninterrupted edge-to-edge display with no compromises like a notch, but it's not known if and when the company will reach that goal.
Twitter today announced that it has started rolling out a new, simplified interface on the web, which is available to some users starting today.
The updated interface features a two-column design instead of the current three-column layout, and there are a number of new features aimed at making it easier to use Twitter on the web.
Twitter is gaining an emoji button, quick keyboard shortcuts, an upgraded trends feature, an advanced search interface, and more.
According to Twitter, some users are seeing an opt-in option to give the new interface a try as of today, while others will need to wait to see the new design. Those who do not prefer the updated look can opt out.
A new https://t.co/fHiPXozBdO is coming.
Some of you got an opt-in to try it now. Check out the emoji button, quick keyboard shortcuts, upgraded trends, advanced search, and more. Let us know your thoughts! pic.twitter.com/G8gWvdHnzB
— Twitter (@Twitter) January 22, 2019
Twitter is also working on an updated Dark Mode feature, according to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. In a reply to a Twitter user complaining about the current Dark Mode interface, which is more of a dark blue than black, Dorsey said Twitter is planning to fix it with true black color in the future.
There's no word on when Twitter plans to introduce the updated dark mode, but those unhappy with the current version will be glad to know an update is coming.
A U.K.-based non-profit organization, CDP, recently asked major companies to provide reports on their environmental impact with details on the risks and opportunities that climate change might present.
Apple was one of the respondents, and as outlined by Bloomberg, the company believes future climate-related disasters could increase peoples' dependence on the iPhone.
According to Apple's report, of which only a portion of a statement was shared, the iPhone can work as a flashlight or a siren, provide first aid instructions, or serve as a radio. The device can be charged via hand cranks or car batteries, allowing it to work even when power is out.
"As people begin to experience severe weather events with greater frequency, we expect an increasing need for confidence and preparedness in the arena of personal safety and the well-being of loved ones,'' the company wrote. Its mobile devices "can serve as a flashlight or a siren; they can provide first aid instructions; they can act as a radio; and they can be charged for many days via car batteries or even hand cranks.''
Apple declined to comment on the information provided in the report, and we only have a small glimpse at the data that was included. Apple undoubtedly had additional thoughts to share on climate change, much like the other companies that participated.
Disney, for example, said it's worried about rising temperatures affecting park attendance, while Coke said potential water shortages could limit water availability for the bottling of Coke. Intel said that droughts in areas of its operation could increase operational costs, while AT&T said that frequent hurricanes and wildfires could lead to more spending on damage repair for its network.
Based on the reports submitted by each company, CDP (which used to be called the Carbon Disclosure Project) provided letter grades measuring metrics like "how aware they are about [climate change]," "how they're progressing towards targets," and "how they're managing it."
Thirty total companies in the United States received overall "A" grades when it came to environmental performance, including Apple. Apple was scored on metrics like the infrastructure in place to address climate change issues within the company, risks and opportunities related to climate change, financial planning for these risks and opportunities, emissions targets and progress made towards those targets, and more.
Apple works hard to limit its carbon footprint, and all of its facilities worldwide operate using 100 percent renewable energy. Apple is now focusing on recycling, with the aim of a closed-loop supply chain that puts an end to its need to mine the earth for rare minerals.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple is hosting a "Shot on iPhone" photography challenge, and is asking iPhone users to submit outstanding photographs that were captured on an iPhone.
Entries are being collected starting today, with users able to submit a photo on Instagram or Twitter using the "#ShotOniPhone" hash tag or submitting a high-resolution photo to shotoniphone@apple.com with the file format "firstname_lastname_iphonemodel."
A "Shot on iPhone" image captured by Erdem Summak
Winning images will be featured on billboards in select cities, Apple retail stores, and online on Apple Newsroom and Apple's social media accounts. Apple will select a total of 10 winners.
Apple says photos can be captured straight from the camera, edited through Apple's editing tools in the Photos app, or edited with third-party photo editing software.
Apple will be accepting submissions through February 7, and participants must be over 18. Apple employees, including retail employees, along with their families, are not eligible to participate.
Apple has a panel of well-known photographers serving as judges for the contest, including former White House photographer Pete Souza, travel photographer Austin Mann, travel photographer Annet de Graaf, Brazilian photographer Luísa Dörr, and fashion photographer Chen Man.
Several Apple employees will also be judging entries, including Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, senior director in Worldwide Product Marketing Kaiann Drance, photographer Brooks Kraft, software developer Sebastian Marineu-Mes, camera software team leader Jon McCormack, and director of photography Arem Duplessis.
Alongside the release of iOS 12.1.3, the latest update to the iOS 12 operating system, Apple has released new 12.1.3 software that's designed for the HomePod.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod after you update to iOS 12.1.3, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.
As Apple outlined in its iOS 12.1.3 release notes, today's HomePod update addresses a few HomePod-related bugs.
It fixes an issue that could cause the HomePod to restart and it addresses an issue that could result in Siri ceasing to listen to a command.
HomePod is currently available in the United States, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, China, and Hong Kong.
For more details on HomePod and the HomePod software, make sure to check out our dedicated HomePod roundup.
Apple today released watchOS 5.1.3, the fourth update to the watchOS 5 operating system that runs on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 5.1.3 comes more than a month after the release of watchOS 5.1.2, a major update that brought ECG functionality.
watchOS 5.1.3 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 5.1.3 is a minor update that focuses on performance improvements and fixes for bugs discovered since the release of watchOS 5.1.2. We didn't find any changes during the watchOS 5.1.3 beta testing period. Apple's release notes do not mention any new features or include information beyond the general "this update includes improvements and bug fixes" statement.
The prior update watchOS update, watchOS 5.1.2, introduced the long-awaited ECG feature for the Apple Watch Series 4, allowing Apple Watch owners to take single-lead electrocardiograms to detect atrial fibrillation, which can be a sign of serious health problems.
Apple today released macOS Mojave 10.14.3, the third update to the macOS Mojave operating system that first launched in September. macOS 10.14.3 comes six weeks after the launch of macOS Mojave 10.14.2, a bug fix update.
macOS Mojave 10.14.3 can be downloaded by going to the "Software Update" section of System Preferences, a new installation method that was introduced with the Mojave update.
macOS Mojave 10.14.3 brings performance improvements and bug fixes for issues discovered since the launch of macOS 10.14.2. During the beta testing period, we didn't find any major feature changes. According to Apple's release notes, the update improves the security, stability and compatibility of your Mac and is recommended for all users.
This update improves the security, stability, and compatibility of your Mac and includes the following enterprise content: When making a file-sharing connection that uses a valid Kerberos TGT to authenticate, users are no longer prompted to enter credentials.
Apple today released tvOS 12.1.2, the fourth update to the tvOS 12 operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 12.1.2 comes more than a month after the launch of tvOS 12.1.1.
tvOS 12.1.2 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.1.2 automatically.
As a minor 12.x.x update, tvOS 12.1.2 focuses on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements. No major features were found during the tvOS 12.1.2 beta testing period, and Apple does not provide release notes for tvOS updates, so it's not known what specific bug fixes and improvements are included in the new software.
If any additional information on the content of the tvOS 12.1.2 update becomes available, we'll update this post.
tvOS 12.1.2 follows the tvOS 12 update, which introduced support for higher-quality Dolby Atmos sound, zero sign-on, and new aerial screensavers created in collaboration with the International Space Station.
Apple will today release iOS 12.1.3, the fifth update to the iOS 12 operating system since its September launch. iOS 12.1.3 is a minor update that follows iOS 12.1.2 (iPhone only), released back in December, and iOS 12.1.1, also released in December.
The iOS 12.1.3 update will be available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.1.3 will be free to download. iPhone owners will be upgrading to iOS 12.1.3 from iOS 12.1.2, while iPad owners will be updating from iOS 12.1.1.
iOS 12.1.3 is a minor update, and during the beta testing period, we found no major new features. According to Apple's release notes, iOS 12.1.3 includes fixes for multiple bugs affecting iPad Pro, HomePod, CarPlay, and more.
On HomePod, the update fixes bugs that could cause restarts or that could cause Siri to stop listening. On the iPad Pro, iOS 12.1.3 fixes an issue that could cause audio distortion when using external input devices, and for CarPlay, issues that could cause disconnects from the 2019 iPhones have been addressed. Apple's full release notes:
This update:
- Fixes an issue in Messages that could impact scrolling through photos in the Details view - Addresses an issue where photos could have striped artifacts after being sent from the Share Sheet - Fixes an issue that may cause audio distortion when using external audio input devices on iPad Pro (2018) - Resolves an issue that could cause certain CarPlay systems to disconnect from iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
This release also includes bug fixes for HomePod. This update:
- Fixes an issue that could cause HomePod to restart - Addresses an issue that could cause Siri to stop listening
The prior update, iOS 12.1.2, included a fix for eSIM activation issues and tweaked some iPhone functionality in China to remove features that infringed on Qualcomm patents so Apple could bypass a sales ban on older iPhones.
DxOMark today published the results of its "Selfie scores" test, which gauged the performance of the front-facing cameras for 12 modern smartphones. Apple's iPhone XS Max sits at fourth place on the overall selfie rankings with a score of 82, beaten out by Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9, and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3.
According to DxOMark, the iPhone XS Max produces "some of the best" still images and video quality when it's placed in brightly lit situations, but it lost points because of poor performance in dim lighting. The only other Apple smartphone on the list is the iPhone X, with a score of 71 in 10th place.
DxOMark also broke down its results by providing a specific "selfie photo score" and "selfie video score." The iPhone XS Max received a score of 81 and 82, respectively in each category, again staying in fourth place in both instances.
The company said that Portrait Mode selfies are a major strength of the iPhone XS Max, with very good depth estimation and accurate subject masking. Overall, DxOMark said the iPhone XS Max was "among the best results we've observed for front cameras" thanks to features like HDR and Portrait Mode's bokeh effect.
iPhone XS Max bokeh effect
Google Pixel 2 bokeh effect
Overall, DxOMark pointed out that one of the XS Max's big weak spots on its front-facing camera is noise, noting that luminance noise is visible on faces in many of the outdoor images taken during the testing process. The company noted that results remained "acceptable," but things only got worse in low lighting conditions, and even explained that these results are slightly poorer than those found on the iPhone X's front-facing camera.
Achieving a DxOMark front camera score of 82, the Apple iPhone XS Max puts in a solid performance for both still and moving images during our tests, and is a nice improvement over its predecessor, the iPhone X. For still photos, the device boasts some great strengths for selfie shooters, including excellent HDR, bokeh shots, and detail at close range, which are among the best results we’ve observed for front cameras.
There are some areas in which Apple can continue to improve for stills, however, with noise visible in all lighting conditions; and white balance and skin rendering issues, especially in indoor images and occasionally outdoors, too, where color casts and low-contrast faces can look unnatural.
The full ratings breakdown for the iPhone XS Max's front-facing selfie camera can be seen below:
The two phones topping the list -- Pixel 3 and Galaxy Note 9 -- tied for first with a score of 92. DxOMark said that the Pixel 3 edges out the Note 9 in terms of its focus system, but the Note 9 achieves better results for exposure and color in selfie photos. "Images captured with the Google device show slightly stronger contrast and a cooler white balance," DxOMark's Lars Rehm mentioned. "The Samsung is a little better at exposing for faces and applies a little less contrast to faces, making for a slightly more natural look."
You can check out the full iPhone XS Max front camera review by DxOMark right here.
Instagram has moved to address rumors that it actively suppresses the reach of user posts on the social network.
