Everything you need to know about the iPhone 8

Everything you need to know about the iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 will mark the 10th anniversary of Apple smartphones, so it’s going to be huge. In this article, I’ll cover:

• What’s the latest iPhone 8 news?
• What is the iPhone 8 release date?
• What will the 2017 iPhone be called?
• What’s new about the iPhone 8 design and specs?
• What’s the iPhone 8 price?

Apple’s very first iPhone launched way back in 2007, re-shaping the landscape of mobile phones forever more. Now we’re 10 years on and Apple is reportedly planning to majorly revamp the iPhone line-up with the new iPhone 8 – which could equally be called the iPhone X, iPhone Pro, or something else entirely. Read on for more on what Apple will call its 2017 iPhone.

We weren’t exactly thrilled by the iPhone 7; it felt like an incremental upgrade, and it struggled to deliver on battery life. But rumours suggest Apple is pulling out all the stops for the iPhone 8, and so we’ve got high hopes for what’s next.

Read on for all the latest iPhone 8 news, or simply scroll to the bottom of this page for a very brief overview of what to expect from Apple’s next smartphone.

iPhone 8 Release Date – When does it come out?

The million-dollar question: when does the next iPhone come out? No one is really certain, but we’ve done a deep-dive on the dates and we reckon we’ve got a very good idea when the new device will be available.

First off, here’s a recap of recent iPhone launches:

• iPhone 7: Wednesday, September 7 (reveal) | Friday, September 16 (release)
• iPhone 6S: Wednesday, September 9 (reveal) | Saturday, September 19 (release)
• iPhone 6: Tuesday, September 9 (reveal) | Friday, September 19 (release)
• iPhone 5S: Tuesday, September 10 (reveal) | Friday, September 20 (release)
• iPhone 5: Wednesday, September 12 (reveal), Friday, September 21 (release)

Based on those dates, we’d expect the iPhone 8 reveal date to be either Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13.

And we think that the iPhone 8 release date will be either Friday, September 22, or Saturday, September 23.

The bad news is that there have been rumours of iPhone 8 delays. Apple CEO Tim Cook dismissed this as baseless industry chatter in the company’s most recent earnings call, but there’s still no shortage of leaks suggesting supply for the iPhone 8 may be limited to a few million units at launch. As some of you may know, that’s significantly less than the number of iPhone handsets Apple would normally expect to sell during the opening week of sales. Still, we can’t confirm this rumour, so take it with due caution for now.

In any case, it’s very likely that the new iPhone will sell like hot-cakes as soon as it’s available, so even if there aren’t stock issues, we’d recommend snapping one up early if you plan to buy one

iPhone 8 Name – What will the next iPhone be called?

Apple has been fairly consistent with iPhone product naming in recent time, generally switching between a number (e.g. iPhone 6), followed the next year by a device with a number and an ‘S’ suffix (e.g. iPhone 6S).

Given that last year’s entry was the iPhone 7, it’s expected that there will be two phones – normal and plus-sized – delivered under the name iPhone 7S this year. However, it’s expected that the more special flagship model will be called iPhone 8.

There are also a bunch of wild-card names for this special iPhone 10-year Anniversary Edition, including the iPhone Pro, iPhone X, iPhone Edition and iPhone 10.

iPhone 8 Design – What’s new?

The biggest change we’re expecting to see from the iPhone 8 is a huge ramping up of the handset’s screen-to-body ratio. That ratio describes how much of the phone’s front is occupied by display, and having an all-screen front appears to be a big trend in smartphones. LG debuted such a design with the LG G6 earlier this year, and the Samsung Galaxy S8 quickly followed suit.

The thinking is that you’ll be able to fit a 5.5-inch screen (like the iPhone 7 Plus) in the form factor of a 4.7-inch iPhone (like the iPhone 7). This will almost certainly require the removal of the Home button (and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner) from the front of the phone in order to slim down the handset’s bezel.

The most recent depictions we’ve seen showcase a phone with only a small bezel protrusion on the top of the phone, which is expected to host 3D facial recognition sensors – a necessary addition given the removal of Touch ID. We’ve also seen dummy versions of the handset with a glass back (to allow for wireless charging), metal sides, and a dual-camera.

The only interesting design titbit is that there may be a new ‘Blush Gold’ colour option for the iPhone 8 – huzzah!

iPhone 8 Specs – What’s new?

Screen: The big news this year is that Apple is expected to finally introduce OLED displays on the iPhone. It’s a widely accepted theory, having been reported by the likes of The Korea Herald, Nikkei, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and even Tai Jeng-wu, President of Sharp.

Unlike conventional LCD panels, the pixels on an OLED screen produce their own light. That means the screen doesn’t need a backlight, saving power. But it also means that individual pixels can be turned off, allowing for truer blacks – thus improving dynamic range and widening the colour gamut.

Despite rivals such as Samsung having adopted OLED screens long ago, Apple has steered clear of the tech – possibly due to the fact that Samsung controls the lion’s share of phone-sized OLED screen manufacturing.

Apple is reportedly plotting three display sizes for the iPhone 8: 4.7-inches, 5.5-inches and 5.8-inches. A report in July by Nikkei Asian Review suggests that all three iPhone models will get the new screen, although the wider consensus is that only the iPhone 8 will receive an OLED upgrade.

For navigation, given the absence of a Home button, analysts at KGI Research believe that the bottom of the iPhone 8’s screen may be portioned off for functions. This new display function area at the bottom could potentially provide custom controls depending on the app you’re using, a little bit like the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro. There’s also talk of the iPhone 8 borrowing the iPad Pro’s ambient light-adjusting True Tone display, albeit under a new ‘True Colour’ display moniker.

Performance: Apple is also highly likely to introduce a new system-on-a-chip (SoC) for the iPhone 8, as is always the case with major iPhone releases. The iPhone 7 runs on the new A10 Fusion chip, but the iPhone 8 will utilise a newer SoC – probably the unannounced A11 processor.

A Digitimes report on July 18, 2016 suggested that Taiwan’s TSMC had won the contract for the new chip: “The Taiwan-based foundry will continue to be the sole supplier of Apple’s next-generation A11 processor that will be built on a 10nm FinFET manufacturing process.”

Production for the chip was said to have begun on May 12, 2017.

For the unaware, “10nm” describes the manufacturing process used to create the chip. The lower the number, the more densely transistors can be packed in. Transistors are what allow computing to get done, so the more transistors you have, the more processes can be completed simultaneously. This means you can increase power efficiency, or offer boosted performance.

Apple has never used a 10nm chip; the iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion was created using a less efficient 16nm process. So we should see some serious power gains (or battery life improvements) from the iPhone 8.

Photography: As far as the camera goes, KGI Securities believes that Apple will carry over the dual-lens camera from the iPhone 7 Plus, although it isn’t clear whether this will be available on select models. The only specific change mentioned is that both lenses (wide-angle and telephoto) will feature optical image stabilisation; currently, only the wide-angle lens features OIS.

The analysts also believe that the iPhone 8 will use a “revolutionary” front camera that features 3D-sensing capabilities. This could be used to determine depth and location of objects in a 3D space, allowing for interesting augmented reality applications in the future.

Regarding the latter, Bloomberg published a report in February that claimed Apple was planning AR features for the iPhone, citing “people with knowledge of the company’s plans”. The report details how Apple has “built a team combining the strengths of its hardware and software veterans with the expertise of talented outsiders”.

“One of the features Apple is exploring is the ability to take a picture and then change the depth of the photograph or the depth of specific objects in the picture later; another would isolate an object in the image, such as a person’s head, and allow it to be tilted 180 degrees,” the report explained. “A different feature in development would use augmented reality to place virtual effects and objects on a person, much the way Snapchat works.

It continued: “The iPhone camera features would probably rely on a technology known as depth sensing and use algorithms created by PrimeSense, an Israeli company acquired in 2013. Apple may choose to not roll out these features, but such additions are an up-and-coming trend in the phone business.”

iPhone 8 Software – Will it run on iOS 11?

At the annual WWDC conference in June, Apple showcased the latest version of its mobile and tablet operating system: iOS 11.

There’s no proper release date for iOS 11 just yet, but the developer preview is already available – with a public beta scheduled for later this summer.

Importantly, the iPhone 8 is almost guaranteed to run on Apple’s new iOS 11 software, given that iOS 10 is now technically outdated.

So what’s new? Well there are plenty of upgrades coming with iOS 11, including an update to Messages. In iOS 11, there will be a bigger focus on apps and stickers, featuring a redesigned app picker. There’s also cloud syncing so your messages carry (or delete) across from an old phone to a new phone.

Siri is getting a new voice that makes her much more lifelike too. It’s a clear bid to tackle growing competition from rivals like Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant. She’ll also be able to translate your voice and speak out the response.

Other changes include updates to the the camera and photos, a redesigned control centre, and modifications to Maps, Apple Music, and the App Stores.

Apple’s iPhone 8 will definitely be expensive, because that’s just how Apple operates. But how expensive? Well, here’s a brief rundown of historical iPhone pricing, for a start:

• iPhone 7 – £599
• iPhone 6S – £539
• iPhone 6 – £539
• iPhone 5S – £549
• iPhone 5 – £529

As you’ll no doubt remember, the iPhone 7 broke the trend of low-£500 Apple smartphones, pricing at a pound shy of £600. The general thinking is that the UK’s post-referendum currency woes caused Apple to jack up the price, mitigating the lowered value of Sterling when traded against the dollar. Unfortunately, unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of Britain’s economy, it’s likely that the iPhone 8 will be similarly (if not more) expensive.

Given that the Samsung Galaxy S8 costs £689 and the Galaxy S8+ is even more expensive at £779, we’d be surprised if the iPhone 8 retailed for anything less than £650.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 hands-on

The Hidden Innovations within the Samsung GalaxyS8 and S8+

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, with its jaw dropping Infinity Display and silky smooth performance speed, 
bring mobile experience to the new level. As good as it looks amazing on the outside, the old adage “it’s what’s 
inside that counts” still holds true.

While the users enjoy a new standard of mobile experience with surprisingly futuristic design and functionalities 

of the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, numerous innovative components, such as the Exynos 9 Series (8895)
 processor 
built on 10nm FinFET process, the advanced image sensors or the OLED display driver IC for the Infinity Display, 
within the device are hard at work to handle various complicated tasks in the most efficient and optimal manner.

Samsung System LSI Business of Samsung Electronics offers diverse cutting-edge semiconductor solutions to help 
the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to not just innovate but to go beyond innovation. Discover Samsung’s component 
solutions that enable the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to offer superlative features.

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Key Features

• Review Price: £869
• 6.3-inch quad-HD+ AMOLED HDR display
• Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895
• 6GB RAM, 64GB storage
• 3300 mAh battery, Wireless and fast charging
• Android 7.1.1
• 12-megapixel dual camera: 1x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS) and 1x regular 
• wide-angle (f1.7, OIS)
• 8-megapixel (f1.7) selfie camera
• IP68-certified waterproof
• Colours: Midnight Black (UK), Maple Gold (UK), Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue
• S-Pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity
• USB Type-C charging port
• Bixby AI digital assistant
• 8MP front camera

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8: 

The new best big phone?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was one the best phones of 2016 – until it began to catch fire. A few weeks later, it was recalled and then discontinued. It was a sour end to what appeared to be a good year for Samsung. 12 months on, it doesn’t seem to have caused any lasting issues. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are easily two of the best handsets of the year so far, selling in droves, and the company has just announced the Samsung Note 8: a smartphone I never thought would come to be.

Before delving into my hands-on first impressions, here are the key facts you need to know about Samsung’s latest phablet.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 UK release date – September 2017

Like all recent Samsung phones, the Note 8 is a gorgeous slab of curved metal and glass. It looks a lot like the S8, but it’s more straight-edged – more businesslike – and the curved screen is steeper to aid S-Pen note-taking. The Infinity Display is even bigger at 6.3 inches, and it continues to make bezel-heavy devices feel old-fashioned by comparison. 

Note 8 – Design and Screen

If you found the S8+ too big, you’ll struggle here. The Note 8 is slightly larger on all fronts and difficult to use with one hand. The iPhone 7 Plus, which remains a bizarrely large phone for its screen size, is one of the only other recent phones to come close to matching the Note 8 in size.

The QHD+ AMOLED display is stunning, but that’s no surprise. The colours suck you in and perfect blacks make it ideal for Netflix and YouTube viewing, and scrolling through pictures. The slightly odd 18.5:9 aspect ratio is strange at first, but you can stretch videos and apps to fit it so it doesn’t detract from anything. Like the S8, the Note 8 is HDR certified by the 4K Alliance, but the actual amount of HDR content around is still slim.

There are a few design differences between the Note 8 and its S8 siblings. The biggest is the addition of the S-Pen stylus, which is tucked away next to the USB Type-C port on the phone’s bottom. Even though this adds a for water to get in the Note 8 has the same level of IP68 water-resistance as the S8. 

Samsung told me the S-Pen is more sensitive than previous versions, and its combination with the Note 8 will be ideal for artists looking for a mobile sketch station. However, in my opinion, the Note 8’s giant screen will still prove too small. Some people may still want it for note-taking, but in all honesty the S-Pen has always felt like an antiquated accessory that I’ve never used beyond the initial week. I’m not sure it will be any different this time.

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Galaxy Note 8 – Camera

The other big change is on the rear of the device. Samsung has jumped on the dual-camera bandwagon, popping a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor next to the already excellent wider-angle 12-megapixel sensor from the Galaxy S8. Importantly, both these sensors feature optical image stabilisation (OIS), so even if you use the 2x optical zoom, your snaps should be blur-free. The main issue with the secondary sensor on the iPhone 7 Plus is that it lacks OIS, and so it struggles if you’re not stock still.

I’m not the biggest fan of dual-sensor cameras, and none of the phones with the best cameras have them, but it does seem like Samsung is on the right track. You can quickly jump to ‘2x’ zoom in the camera app, and from there access a Live Focus mode for achieving that blurry background bokeh effect. Again, false bokeh effects can often look terrible, but in my short time with the Note 8, the results looked good. The second sensor really helps here. 

On the front you get the same 8-megapixel selfie camera as the S8.

Galaxy Note 8 – Specs

Internal specs have always been pulled from the top-drawer for the Note series, and that remains true here. There’s 6GB of RAM, either an Exynos 8895 or Snapdragon 835 CPU, and 64GB of storage, plus a slot for a microSD card. Expect US owners to get the Snapdragon version while the UK and rest of the world the Exynos one. Time will tell whether the device is as fast as the specs suggest, but Samsung’s software has been gradually and constantly improving so we have high hopes.

The Android 7.1.1 software is all but identical to that included with the Galaxy S8, and that’s no bad thing. Samsung has done a great job of making use of that big screen. Split-screen apps are useful with the extra space, and the UI makes it easier to swipe around with just one hand.

Predictably, the majority of the extra software tweaks added for the Note 8 revolve around the S-Pen. Screen-off Memo remains my favourite, letting you pop out the S-Pen with the screen off and start jotting down notes on the black display. You can also live-translate words simply by dragging over the stylus, which works as advertised during my demo.

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Amazon Echo Hack: Is it actually as as bad as it sounds?

Amazon Echo Hack: What’s the vulnerability?

   Unlike more dangerous hacks, this exploit can’t be capitalised on remotely. This means that although someone could listen to your conversations from afar, they need to first have physical contact with your device – and enough time to tamper with it, too.

To exploit the vulnerability, a rogue party would need to remove the rubber base on the bottom of your Echo and access the debug pads. This would allow them to directly boot into the device’s firmware and use an SD card to install malware. There wouldn’t be any physical evidence of the access, and functionality would remain the same.

Importantly, by doing this, the hacker would be able to access your “always listening” microphones, and effectively own a constant stream of audio from your home indefinitely.

“The rooting of the Amazon Echo device in itself was trivial; however, it raises a number of important questions for manufacturers of internet-enabled or ‘smart home’ devices,” said Mark Barnes, a security consultant at MWR InfoSecurity.

Barnes continued: “The biggest limitation of this vulnerability is the need for physical access to the device itself, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted that consumers won’t expose the devices to uncontrolled environments that places their security and privacy at risk.”

According to the researchers, the vulnerability only affects the 2015 and 2016 versions of the device, but 2017 models are protected from such an attack. It’s also worth noting that the Amazon Echo Dot (pictured below) is also safe from this attack.

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Is it as bad as it sounds? And how can you stay safe?

It sounds pretty scary, but it’s quite a tricky exploit to take advantage of. It would involve a hacker finding their way into your home and tampering with your device – and would only work if you have one of the specific vulnerable models.

It’s near-impossible for someone to stream your audio without your knowledge or permission as long as you:

• Buy your device from Amazon, or a trusted retailer
• Don’t relinquish possession of your device
• Keep your software up-to-date

For your own safety, consult this list of approved retailers where you can buy Amazon devices in the UK safely:

Click here for a list of approved Amazon Device retailers

To stay safe, we’d recommend not leaving your Echo alone with people you don’t trust, and installing all software updates as they go live.

The good news is that this hack is arguably more difficult than simply concealing some kind of audio bug in someone’s home. So although this would certainly be more useful to hackers than a bug, it’s unlikely you’ll ever be affected by this.

In a statement sent to Trusted Reviews, an Amazon spokesperson said: “Customer trust is very important to us. To help ensure the latest safeguards are in place, as a general rule, we recommend customers purchase Amazon devices from Amazon or a trusted retailer and that they keep their software up-to-date.”

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Amazon Echo Security: How is Amazon keeping you safe?

It’s worth noting that Amazon has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Amazon Echo has decent security.

For a start, there’s a button on the top of the speaker that lets you turn the microphone off. Once you hit it, a red light will come on to signify that your microphones are off. This button is connected to the microphone with analogue electronics, so when the red light is on, it’s a guarantee that the mics are electrically disconnected.

Also, even though the Amazon Echo is always listening, it’s not always streaming your conversations to the cloud. The Echo uses on-device keyword spotting to detect the wake word – that’s “Alexa” – and will only stream your phrases to the cloud when that wake word is detected – as signified by the blue light ring.

None of your utterances are stored on the device either; instead, they’re held securely in the cloud. You can see every single utterance associated with your account in your Alexa settings, and it’s also possible to either delete individual utterances or wipe the whole lot in one go.

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