It’s been almost a month since the release of an iPhone update, and it looks like we know that there’s plenty more to come. At least according to Apple’s official announcement that all phones will now be “supported for at least five years on newer models, when their current supported model expires in 2022,” so there is plenty to look forward to in the future. Well before then, though. The latest release is iOS 14.3 and includes support for AirPlay 2, making it the first Android phone to do so. That’s great news for third-party developers, as anyone who makes apps for the iPhone can make them compatible with AirPlay 2. Apple has announced that all iPhones will soon have these features, which allows us to play our favorite movies on the couch for one day, watch Netflix movies while having fun on vacation, or even watch TV shows around the house without needing an additional device. There are some other neat things, too. You can manage your music library online using Music Library, but it only supports songs that you have stored locally, not music from the cloud. Now that should tell people exactly where my favorite album was when they were just listening while walking down the street or playing soccer across the field.
Now, I think this is going to be a huge deal for mobile video games outside of console gaming, because the updated iTunes application means players can watch videos of gameplay before they download apps and take screenshots to share with friends or teammates, which can be very handy for competitive gameplay. (Read my full review of the new MacOS app here, and if you do want to play Xbox One and PlayStation 4 games on the iOS version, check out the developer tutorials at WWDC). Another interesting feature is Game Pass, which lets users buy a free subscription to hundreds of titles from a growing list that will arrive each month. Of course, I’m talking about FIFA 22 or NBA Live 15, or whatever is coming for PS4 and Xbox One, but the idea is that everyone on a budget can benefit from buying something through Game Pass, and everyone can enjoy exclusive experiences with the latest releases, whether you’re playing mobile video games, watching YouTube videos, or streaming documentaries. In fact, Google Play Movies, which is also available for Netflix, is currently being offered on Mobile for purchase, which should help gamers save money in addition to helping companies like EA and EA Sports sell their products.
Of course, we still don’t know about the new Pixel 5 and how it compares to previous iterations, but what we do know is the camera specs include dual rear cameras, and the phone includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. What this means is that most phone makers have built an ecosystem of devices that allow them to reach the same level of quality and performance as the best Android phones on earth. If Microsoft doesn’t quite have that yet for its Windows Phone, well, hopefully next year. Rumor is that Microsoft may be planning to launch another smartphone based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chips, because the company is looking to build up its own processor with a focus on power efficiency and cost effectiveness. But no matter what, Android fans really can’t wait to see the results of Qualcomm’s work with ARM architecture, especially because that partnership seems to make me feel like I’m getting a tiny slice of heaven.
Finally, the Galaxy S21 will soon be released, and I have been waiting for an Android flagship for ages, so to finally get my hands on a Samsung handset, well, I suppose this is a big step forward for smartphones everywhere, and I can’t wait for the updates and hardware improvements to hit the market. Hopefully, they will arrive soon enough. Regardless, here there are a few cool new features to keep my eyes peeled on throughout the rest of the year.
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