Innehållsförteckning för December 2024 från Tech Advisor

The iPad mini had a new lease of life with the release of the sixth-generation tablet in 2021, offering a substantial upgrade compared to what came before it. As well as a boosted 8.3-inch display in the same form factor as its older sibling, the sixth-gen mini has a refined design similar to that of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, along with A15 Bionic performance and support for the second-gen Apple Pencil. This time, however, the iPad mini only seems to further improve on everything the iPad mini 6 did brilliantly, making it a more minor update. The question is, will it prove to be as big a sales hit as its predecessor? Here’s everything Apple has unveiled about it. RELEASE DATE Apple’s latest iPad mini is available to…

We already know that Fitbit has officially stopped making smartwatches but we’ve now had another signal that the activity tracker brand might be moving towards getting phased out. The brand recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) that its official account has been closed down. It’s still live at the time of writing, presumably so people see the announcement that Fitbit news will now appear on the @madebygoogleaccount. However, the same move hasn’t taken place on Instagram and Facebook, while the Fitbit support X account remains. The UK and Ireland pages were redirected earlier this year, but we can’t see the page on Facebook at the time of writing. “Starting today, follow us over there for all the latest Fitbit news, tips, and fun or head to @Fitbit on Instagram and…

Price: From £599 The sixth-generation iPad Air doesn’t look like much of an advancement at first glance, and except for one pretty sizeable addition (in more ways than one), it really isn’t. This is the first example of Apple’s mid-range tablet range to feature a larger size option, however, which could make it the ideal Goldilocks choice for a certain type of tablet user. It might not be the best or the cheapest iPad on the market, but it borrows a number of key attributes from the brilliant iPad Pro without commanding MacBook money. As it turns out, there’s considerable value in that. I’m reviewing the larger 13-inch model here, but most of the comments will apply just as well to the ‘regular’ 11-inch model too. Size aside, the two…

Price: From £599 Samsung’s FE line stands for ‘fan edition’. These models often come at a cheaper price than the standard models, but most people will recognise the name from smartphones in the Korean tech giant’s line-up. But the FE line now expands beyond phones and tablets, as the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch FE goes to prove. Designed as a more cost-friendly alternative to the Watch 7 series, this model is mostly a repackaged version of 2021’s Galaxy Watch 4 – with the same processor, a similar design and a few tweaks including longer software support. I’ve spent some time with the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, exercising, sleeping and more, to discover if this is the budget smartwatch for you. DESIGN Putting Galaxy Watch 4 similarities aside, the Watch FE…

The big Windows 11 2024 Update (also known as Windows 11 24H2) is both a brand-new operating system but also one that’s been out for several months now. It’s Windows 12 – but it’s also not. And its best features are really reserved for those who have invested in a next-gen Copilot+ PC powered by chips from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD. These seeming contradictions are at the heart of Windows 11 24H2, which begins rolling out today in a ‘phased’ rollout that will last several weeks. But when you get it and what you get with it will all depend on whether you own a Copilot+ PC. In other words, there’s a set of basic features that everyone will receive (including new energy-saving features for laptops and desktops, improved smartphone…

The long wait for an update to the next version of Android has finally come to an end. Google has officially begun gradually rolling out Android 15 to supported Pixel devices. Some users have already received the update on their devices, marking the beginning of the upgrade process. Here’s the list of confirmed devices: • Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a• Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a• Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a• Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold• Pixel Fold• Pixel Tablet Other Android phone and tablet makers will likely follow soon with their Android 15 upgrade, including Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and more. Android 15 introduces a range of new features and improvements. It enhances performance and efficiency with an upgraded AV1 software decoder, better PDF handling, and…

South Korean tech giant LG exited the phone market in 2021, but now it seems the company may have plans to try its hand at smartphones again. As MsPoweruser reports (tinyurl.com/7pzbpcpv), the company has taken out a new patent for a mobile phone. But this isn’t just any phone – it’s seemingly a new version of the rollable device that LG began teasing in 2020, just months before it stopped making handsets. The new patent diagrams show a screen that’s ‘rolled up’ at one end, allowing you to pull it out to your chosen size according to the situation. The patent itself is 21 pages in total. It was filed on 10 October 2023, and has a publication date of 8 October 2024, hence why it’s public now. Does that…

Price: From £599 If you weren’t following the Pixel 9 launch closely, you could be forgiven for thinking that AI was the only interesting thing about Google’s new phones. Asofficialmarketingshows, there are countless uses of artificial intelligence across all four Pixel 9 models. Yet in day-to-day usage, AI is remarkably easy to ignore or miss. During my month of testing the Pixel 9 Pro, my direct interactions with it have been fleeting and the results mixed. But you shouldn’t be buying any of these phones for AI alone. The 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro has plenty of other strings to its bow, packing nearly all of the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL’s specs into a more compact body. In that regard, it’s more of a new model than a successor to…

Nowadays, when almost everyone seems glued to their phones, the idea of using a ‘dumb phone’ has become pretty appealing to many people. Whether you want to cut back on distractions, reduce your screen time, or just simplify your life, switching to one of the best basic phones can be a great option. But before you make the jump, here are seven important questions you should ask yourself. 1. WHY DO I WANT A DUMB PHONE? Before you decide, think about why you want to make the switch. Understanding why you’re considering a dumb phone will guide you in making the right choice. Ask yourself if it’s because of the constant digital overload or if your phone usage has become detrimental to your productivity or well-being. You might also feel…

Chromebooks have been able to install Linux apps for years, which isn’t all that surprising – ChromeOS is basically a browser wrapped around a custom Linux distro, after all. But according to a new report, you’ll soon have similar capabilities to run Linux applications right on your Android phone. This will come in the form of a new Linux terminal built right into Android’s Developer Options menu, which many of you will already be familiar with. Android Authority spotted the updated commits to Android’s open source code in the AOSP repository. While it’s currently possible to run a Linux virtual machine on Android, and plenty of recent phones have the numbercrunching power to do so, these new changes indicate that Google will offer this as a pre-configured system. In an…

Price: From £699 Huawei has released a lot of tablets this year, and with each new model that crosses my desk, I seem to dub it the best Android tablet for illustration and digital art. Now, the MatePad Pro 12.2 has arrived, and it’s gunning for that title yet again. So, what makes these tablets so good for doodling, you may be wondering? It’s a combination of Huawei’s ultra-low-latency NearLink stylus, the textured anti-glare PaperMatte display options and Huawei’s exclusive GoPaint app – which is basically a clone of the extremely popular (and iOS-exclusive) Procreate. With this latest slate, Huawei is bringing dual-layer tandem OLED tech and a PaperMatte finish together for the first time. There’s also a massive battery, fast charging, loads of speakers and a new thoughtfully designed…

Price: From £599 The iPhone 16 Plus represents a significant leap in design and functionality, offering one of the most similar experiences to its premium counterpart, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, in years. With a high-quality 6.7-inch display, it brings a large-screen experience without the added weight or cost of the Pro Max. Notable design changes include the introduction of the Action Button, a feature that was previously exclusive to the Pro models, and the new Camera Control button, which transforms the photography experience by allowing real-time customization of zoom, exposure, and more. While the iPhone 16 Plus doesn’t carry the Pro Max’s 120Hz display or telephoto lens, it’s the closest Apple has come to narrowing the gap between its standard and Pro models. This iteration of the Plus offers…

A mobile phone was initially only design for calls and texts, but you probably use it for a lot more these days. The smartphone has transformed the way many of us live our lives, offering easy access to millions of apps, the entire web and powerful cameras from almost anywhere. However, they’re certainly not the right choice for everyone. Many older people simply don’t need all the extra features of a smartphone, which can be confusing if you haven’t used them before. But even for younger people, having such a distraction-filled device with you everywhere isn’t always ideal. If you’re struggling to focus or switch off, your smartphone probably isn’t making it any easier. In both these scenarios, a basic phone is worth a try. As the name suggests, these…