 |
|
|
|||||
Every year, the calculus of choosing which iPhone to get feels increasingly frustrating. Do you opt for the standard iPhone? Do you splurge for the latest and greatest Pro model, something that might take two years to pay off completely? Or should you just buy a slightly older used or refurbished model to get the best deal possible? And of course, there's always the safest bet: Save your money and keep your current phone for as long as possible. After sitting with Apple's announcements for a day, one thing has become clear: The plain $799 iPhone 16 is a pretty solid deal, at least compared to basic iPhones from the last few years. It actually has a new processor, Apple's A18, instead of reusing an older chip. It brings over the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro and it also has Apple's new camera button. The iPhone 16 is also relatively future-proof since it supports Apple Intelligence, something that doesn't work on the non-Pro iPhone 15 and older models. Apple While the $999 iPhone 16 Pro has an additional camera and supports more powerful photography and filmmaking features, the line between that device and the standard iPhone 16 is blurrier than ever before. It certainly makes more sense to invest in the iPhone 16 today, instead of the poor, beleaguered iPhone SE. That device sports an aging A15 chip, the tiny 4.7-inch screen of yore and it still costs $429 like it did in 2022. It's rumored that we'll see a new iPhone SE sometime next year, but the current model is simply a terrible option in Apple's current lineup. If you don't care about Apple Intelligence and you'd like to replace an older device, you can currently find a refurbished iPhone 15 on Amazon and elsewhere between $500 and $600. But really, if you're willing to shell out that much money for a used device with a limited warranty, it might make more sense to grab an iPhone 16 and pay it off over time via your carrier. Trade-in deals can also shave off a significant chunk of a new phone's price. Verizon, for example, is currently offering $800 off a Pixel 9 or iPhone 15 when you swap out an older device. To be clear, all of the preceding advice only applies if you need to replace a trashed iPhone, or youre excited to play with Apple Intelligence. Judging from the latest rumors, well likely see an ultra-thin iPhone model next year (similar to the latest iPad Pro), so it might just make sense to hold onto your existing device. And dont forget, Apples AI features wont be immediately available at launch youll have to wait until an October update for the first batch of features, and Siri wont get all of its new smarts until the first half of 2025. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/its-a-good-year-to-buy-the-vanilla-iphone-16-and-avoid-the-se-at-all-costs-192919611.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an op-ed in June calling for social media to come with a warning label about its negative health impacts, similar to the warnings placed on cigarettes and tobacco products. Now, 42 attorneys general have drafted an open letter to Congress to signal their support for Murthy's plan. "This ubiquitous problem requires federal actionand a surgeon generals warning on social media platforms, though not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be one consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth," the group's letter reads. "A warning would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people, but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research, and investment into the oversight of social media platforms." Almost every state's AG signed the letter; the only holdouts are Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia. Attorneys general from American Samoa, District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands also signed. The attorneys general cited the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act, which both recently passed in the Senate, as other important measures for protecting young people's mental health. The measures took multiple tries to get to a floor vote in the Senate, and it's unclear whether they have the support to pass in the House of Representatives.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/majority-of-attorneys-general-support-a-warning-label-for-social-media-platforms-184138728.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Metas Oversight Board has weighed in on its first Threads case and reversed the companys initial decision and first appeal. Regarding a post about the outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, using a phrase that translates to drop dead / die in English, the board determined the phrase was used figuratively and not as a literal threat or call to violence. The case was sparked by a Threads post showing a news article about Kishida and his reaction to his political partys (ahem) fundraising irregularities. The caption criticized the Prime Minister, accusing him of tax evasion. The users reply demanded an explanation from the government leader and, calling him a tax evader, used the phrase , or drop dead / die. The post also included hah and derogatory language about people who wear glasses. (Watch yourself there, partner!) The post went largely unnoticed, with no likes. But someone reported it under Metas Bullying and Harassment rules. After three weeks, one of Metas reviewers determined it instead broke the Violence and Incitement rules. The user appealed, and another reviewer agreed with the first that it violated the policy. One more appeal teed up the issue for the board, which accepted the case and overruled the two human reviewers who removed it. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio KishidaThe Government of Japan In this case, the threat against a political leader was intended as non-literal political criticism calling attention to alleged corruption, using strong language, which is not unusual on Japanese social media, Metas Oversight Board wrote in its explanation. It was unlikely to cause harm. The board considered the posters use of hah to help determine its figurative sense. The board said that, despite speaking Japanese and understanding local content, the moderators who removed the post were in error. It recommends Meta clarify its internal guidelines and offer more guidance for reviewers on how to evaluate language and local content. Metas Oversight Board added that the Violence and Incitement policy includes a rule prohibiting the phrase death to against high-risk persons isnt clear enough. It said that while the companys policy rationale suggests context matters in threat evaluation, its reviewers arent empowered to assess cases involving the death to phrase. The board echoed its 2022 recommendation for Meta to explain that rhetorical threats using the phrase are generally allowed, except when directed at high-risk individuals, and to provide criteria on when threatening statements directed at heads of state are permitted to protect rhetorical political speech. Further, the board recommended that Meta clarify how the policy differs for public figures vs. high-risk persons. It calls out the confusion over why threats against public figures are only removed when credible. In contrast, those against others are axed regardless of credibility. The Oversight Board has had a busy September after deciding on only 53 cases last year. Last week, it ruled that the phrase From the River to the Sea shouldnt be banned and, in a case with some parallels to this one, it separated death threats from aspirational statements in Venezuela.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/in-its-first-threads-case-metas-oversight-board-asked-for-clarity-on-death-threats-170630647.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||