🌞 Hey there! I recently bought a new laptop, the Lenovo Flex 5 (Ryzen version, mind you). I’ve been using my gaming laptop as my work device for years now, but it’s a real backbreaker when traveling.

Apple’s Far Out launch

Apple held its iPhone 14 series launch event yesterday, and there were plenty of announcements on offer. Rumors have given us plenty to go on, but there were still loads of features and details to hear about.

The iPhone 14 series at large

Apple revealed four new iPhones, namely the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

• True to the rumors, the Mini has been replaced by the 6.7-inch Plus. This is for people who want a large-screen iPhone without paying Pro money.
• This makes sense as one report asserted that Mini phones only accounted for 6% of sales in the US in the second fiscal quarter of 2022.
• These phones also lack physical SIM slots in the US, opting for eSIM only instead. We’ve got a guide to eSIMs if you’re curious about the tech.
• They also all pack satellite connectivity for sending SOS messages, although you need to keep your phone pointing at satellites to get things done.
• Satellite functionality launches in November, and Apple says it’ll be free for two years with the iPhone 14 series. Apple is unfortunately mum on pricing after that.
• Huawei’s China-only (for now) Mate 50 series was first to bring satellite connectivity when it launched yesterday.
• T-Mobile also announced a deal with Starlink to bring this tech to phones. But this is only happening in late 2023.
• So iPhones are still the only widely available devices with this tech for now.

A wide gulf between standard and Pro models

This is arguably the biggest gap yet between standard and Pro iPhone models.

• True to rumors, the standard models retain last year’s still-powerful A15 Bionic chipset, while the Pro models get the new A16 SoC.
• Apple is also sticking with a 12MP primary camera on standard models, while Pro devices get 48MP main cameras.
• Finally, Apple’s standard phones retain the notch of bygone models, while Pro models get the ridiculously named Dynamic Island.
• This is a pill-shaped cutout and punch-hole cutout with software being used to bridge the two.
• The area can also display info when tapped, such as sports scores and music.
• The Pro models also get 3x telephoto cameras. Samsung still has Apple beat with its 10x periscope camera.
• At a starting price of $799 for the iPhone 14, it seems like the iPhone 13 might be the better deal at its new $699 base price.

The Apple Watch Pro emerges

Apple also revealed three new watches this time, taking the fight to the best smartwatches.

• Starting with the Apple Watch Series 8, the key upgrades include a temperature sensor (for period/sleep tracking) and car crash detection.
• The latter feature is also available on iPhone 14 models, but it must be said that Pixels have offered this feature for a few years.
• Meanwhile, the Apple Watch SE 2022 is a cut-down smartwatch that lacks features like a temperature sensor, blood/oxygen measurements, and ECG functionality.
• The third watch is the Apple Watch Ultra, and it’s a new rugged entry in the series. It certainly feels like they’re trying to take on Garmin’s best.
• Expect a 49mm titanium case, MIL-STD 810H certification, water resistance to 100 meters, and a second (remappable) button
• You even get a depth gauge, cellular connectivity as standard, and longer battery life than other Apple Watches.
• Adventure enthusiasts, scuba divers, and other outdoor types might want to keep this watch in mind.
• Expect to pay $249 for the base SE 2022 watch, $399 for the cheapest Watch 8, and $799 for the Apple Watch Ultra.
• Apple also launched the AirPods Pro 2 on the day, coming in at $249. Highlights include wireless and MagSafe charging for the case, a larger battery, and improved noise cancellation.

Roundup

📱 Tim Cook says ‘buy your mom an iPhone’ when asked about RCS support in iMessage: This really does have Don Mattrick energy (Android Authority).

🎵 Bose has announced new QuietComfort Earbuds II (Android Authority).

🖼️ Wallpaper Wednesday is here again, if you’re looking for some decent backgrounds for your phone (Android Authority).

💻 AMD is making laptop CPU model numbers simultaneously less and more confusing: AMD is overhauling its CPU model numbers and explaining what each digit means (Ars Technica).

🍎 Apple has confirmed the stable iOS 16 release date: Expect to get the new update on September 12 (Apple Newsroom).

🎮 Sony’s next Xperia product is ‘made for pro gamers’: Are we looking at a mobile controller for Android devices or even a new smartphone? (Android Authority).

💡 Why a text alert may have helped California keep the lights on: A text asking users to turn off non-essential appliances helped California keep the lights on amid a heat wave (The Verge).

✈️ Pentagon halts deliveries of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a component manufactured in China: Turns out it’s a magnet containing an alloy made in China (CNN).

🎧 How to ensure that headphones last as long as possible: Some handy tips here (Android Authority).

🕹️ A new PS5 system update brings 1440p output support, game lists, and more: 1440p TVs aren’t really a thing, but it’s still great news for monitor owners (PlayStation Blog).

❓ What’s something you did “the hard way” for the longest time, because you didn’t know there was a much easier way? (r/AskReddit).

Thursday Thing

It turns out that the first surgical amputation may have taken place 20,000 years earlier than expected. The skeleton of a young adult who lived 31,000 years ago was found in Borneo, Popular Science reported, but signs point to the person having their left leg amputated when they were six to nine years old.

The study was published in Nature by lead author Tim Ryan Maloney and his team, and they found that the left leg was cut off at the tibia and fibula. These bones then healed, with the child living for years as an amputee, reaching adulthood. Maloney says the ‘surgeons’ responsible for the amputation also had to inevitably manage key factors like shock, infection, and blood loss.

For what it’s worth, the earliest example of a limb amputation prior to this case came from a French farmer who had his forearm amputated 7,000 years ago.

Love weird and wonderful stories like this? Packed with science and history documentaries, CuriosityStream might be the streaming service for you. Before you subscribe, you might want to check out our review.

Have a great day!

Hadlee Simons, Editor.