Apple to Make Space for Larger Batteries in iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks By Adopting Slimmer Peripheral Chips

[cmaier]

Software only would be a pain in the ass for switching a SIM between my iPad, IPhone Max and Mini as needed. There is no reason to fix what is not broken.

Software doesn’t have to be a pain in the ass for that. It would be quite easy for the software to allow the same SIM to be installed on multiple devices and only active on one at a time. Reasons it hasn’t happened yet aren’t due to technical difficulty. (Potential security issues, relationships with carriers, etc. are the hold up)

 

[jlc1978]

It does at present - but it doesn't seem entirely fanciful to imagine a super-simple transfer mechanism if the networks and manufacturers both wanted to achieve that.

It's not just transfer between networks but between devices on the same carrier network. Software would make that more of a headache than simply pulling and swapping 2 SIMs.

How can a NANO be huge? What a ridiculous comment.

Because they don't remember the old days when a SIM had 4x the area?

Software doesn’t have to be a pain in the ass for that. It would be quite easy for the software to allow the same SIM to be installed on multiple devices and only active on one at a time. Reasons it hasn’t happened yet aren’t due to technical difficulty. (Potential security issues, relationships with carriers, etc. are the hold up)

Maybe, but at some point it also becomes a security issue if someone can do that without physical access to the device. Why open up another avenue for failure when it is not needed?

 

[cmaier]

It's not just transfer between networks but between devices on the same carrier network. Software would make that more of a headache than simply pulling and swapping 2 SIMs.

Turning on an esim in Settings seems a lot easier than finding a paper clip and changing physical SIMs (in the mechanism the prior poster was imagining)

 

[poked]

I would be quite happy if they would just make the phone as thick as the camera and fill it with battery. The camera bump is annoying for those of us that do not use a case.

Blasphemy! Cases protect! If my phone got scratches on it from direct contact I’d cry. Dropping it in its case by accident 4 dozen or so times however over the course of its lifetime? No sweat, even if the case is ugly.
Also, I’ve never understood the idea of a phone needing a million cameras just to capture a ****** macro image. One lens is enough for me, considering I don’t use the feature much.

 

[polyphenol]

Turning on an esim in Settings seems a lot easier than finding a paper clip and changing physical SIMs (in the mechanism the prior poster was imagining)

In principle, I agree. But when I looked at eSIMs a couple of years ago, there was some bizarre procedure to get my first eSIM which involved visiting my network carrier's shop. I didn't bother.

But you can imagine that the device which has the eSIM could display a QR code. Read that on another device and the eSIM transfers. The only real difficulties would seem to be making sure such transfers were secure enough. And handling the issue if you lose your phone, or it won't switch on and display a QR code.

 

[cmaier]

In principle, I agree. But when I looked at eSIMs a couple of years ago, there was some bizarre procedure to get my first eSIM which involved visiting my network carrier's shop. I didn't bother.

But you can imagine that the device which has the eSIM could display a QR code. Read that on another device and the eSIM transfers. The only real difficulties would seem to be making sure such transfers were secure enough. And handling the issue if you lose your phone, or it won't switch on and display a QR code.

Yeah, the current implementation is not the greatest - I assume because of limitations imposed by the carriers, but it’s easy to imagine a much nicer one, where you could move your esim from device to device much more easily.

 

[jlc1978]

Turning on an esim in Settings seems a lot easier than finding a paper clip and changing physical SIMs (in the mechanism the prior poster was imagining)

However, that requires setting it up in settings somehow, which right now requires a device with the physical SIM installed plus the eSIm device. So, if you buy a new device unless carriers simply let you enter the data into settings you have to pay a visit to their shop.

If all it took was going to settings and enabling it without any interaction with your carrier, great. Otherwise a physical SIM is much more convenient.

 

[cmaier]

However, that requires setting it up in settings somehow, which right now requires a device with the physical SIM installed plus the eSIm device. So, if you buy a new device unless carriers simply let you enter the data into settings you have to pay a visit to their shop.

If all it took was going to settings and enabling it without any interaction with your carrier, great. Otherwise a physical SIM is much more convenient.

We are talking about a hypothetical future implementation, not the current one. In a hypothetical world where there was no SIM slot and only esims, things would have to change. Those changes could very easily make things much easier than the need to swap physical sims.

 

[jlc1978]

We are talking about a hypothetical future implementation, not the current one. In a hypothetical world where there was no SIM slot and only esims, things would have to change. Those changes could very easily make things much easier than the need to swap physical sims.

One can hope; but I won't bet against carriers using them to make it harder to switch.

 

[Doctor Q]

Following the trend to its logical conclusion, you get the future iPhone:

 

[poked]

Following the trend to its logical conclusion, you get the future iPhone:

View attachment 1814036

Still only five minutes of charge! Woo!! (/s)

 

[FToWnPlAyA]

I still do not get it. We have year 2021. Why we cannot implement some solar cells into the case around. Anytime you are outside your phone is charging once you using it.

Yeah sure it wont replace a Battery Magsafe for now but its a start. Imagine getting 15-20% Battery just by waking outside while using it in the tram, in the park or somewhere else.

 

[polyphenol]

I still do not get it. We have year 2021. Why we cannot implement some solar cells into the case around. Anytime you are outside your phone is charging once you using it.

Yeah sure it wont replace a Battery Magsafe for now but its a start. Imagine getting 15-20% Battery just by waking outside while using it in the tram, in the park or somewhere else.

You can buy solar phone chargers, as you are likely aware.

What you get when walking in a park starts out at half the maximum (assuming you go in one direction then return). And by the time you subtract or divide due to shadows, being vertical rather than horizontal, time of year, hand obscuring a good part when in use, etc., the charging ability drops very speedily. For the cost and weight penalties of adding to a phone, probably not worth doing.

Also, leaving a phone in direct sun to charge up is likely to cause it to heat up excessively and see plastic/organic materials deteriorate.

Might be better to leave as a separate option.

 

[jlc1978]

I still do not get it. We have year 2021. Why we cannot implement some solar cells into the case around. Anytime you are outside your phone is charging once you using it.

When do people have their phone out? generally someone is holding it and using it so the logical place for solar cells will be covered while the phone is out; and the phone stuck in the pocket or some satchel when not in use. That limits solar cell viability, beyond the added size. Plus, look how people complain about camera bumps and notches - you think solar cells would be seen as a cool design feature?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I still do not get it. We have year 2021. Why we cannot implement some solar cells into the case around. Anytime you are outside your phone is charging once you using it.

Yeah sure it wont replace a Battery Magsafe for now but its a start. Imagine getting 15-20% Battery just by waking outside while using it in the tram, in the park or somewhere else.

Looking at the way I use my iPhone, the only way solar cells would work is it OtterBox put the cells into the back of their case. My iPhone spends most of its time in the holster on my hip, and even doing the Citizen Watch solar cell behind the screen would be a waste of time, and technology to pull it off. And with such a high demand device, the amount of charge a solar panel sized to fit on a cell phone wouldn't really be worth the effort either, sadly.

Perhaps a better idea is using the idea that fabrics can be made that will provide charging through motion. A magsafe pad could be developed that plugs in to your pants, allowing the connection. I was always amazed at how much I walked in a normal day, and those were days I didn't leave the office. I have also have a Qi pad at my desk, and on my pain cave table to charge during moments of brilliance, or times of self punishment.

 

[George Dawes]

Anything that improves battery life cant be bad

 

[mook]

Fantastic. BUT JUST MAKE THICKER PHONES TOO!

 

[cmaier]

Anything that improves battery life cant be bad

They could remove all the smartphone functionality and the battery life would improve, so I guess not "anything that improves battery life can't be bad?"

 

[polyphenol]

Fantastic. BUT JUST MAKE THICKER PHONES TOO!

They are smart phones and the smarter the better - I don't want a thick phone.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

They could remove all the smartphone functionality and the battery life would improve, so I guess not "anything that improves battery life can't be bad?"

Jitterbug?

 

[MacBH928]

If Apple could find a way to squash a 3000mah battery into the iPhone Mini they would have a hit on their hands. Many reviewers on YouTube love the phone but the battery just doesn't cut it for power use.

because youtube reviewers are a bunch of demanding brats. They hold a brick in their hand that is the PRO MAX then wonder why the mini doesn't last for 5 days. Its a smartphone. The fact that it can last 7-8 hours of operation doing HD 5inch full colour screen with wifi/LTE with a built in camera and running console level games is mind shattering, but nooo thats not enough for them.

Sure we all like a longer lasting battery, but instead of making fun of the mini battery lets take a moment and appreciate the technology we have today. Its literally a full computer in the palm of your hands running on a battery.

 

[MacBH928]

They could remove all the smartphone functionality and the battery life would improve, so I guess not "anything that improves battery life can't be bad?"

actually in a lot of cases that is not a bad idea, i do not need 3 magical lenses on the back and a magical strip on the front that has sensors and laser to measure the dept of my face dimensions just to unlock.

I find touchID superior in use and performance.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

We've reached the point for technology, where the battery is the only limitation for making devices exactly as a designer wants them, or to look as cool as in sci-fi movies.

Well, that, and the size of 720+p camera modules apparently.

 

[polyphenol]

actually in a lot of cases that is not a bad idea, i do not need 3 magical lenses on the back and a magical strip on the front that has sensors and laser to measure the dept of my face dimensions just to unlock.

I find touchID superior in use and performance.

When I switched from touch on iPhone 6 to face on iPhone 12 Pro, I really was wary. The reality has been little practical difference - except in relation to masks.

I have found the combination of Raise to Wake and face mostly fine.

But there are circumstances, such as trying to take a photo in an awkward place, or (as mentioned) when wearing a mask (or full-face motorcycle helmet!), when both would have been much appreciated.

For both touch and face, Apple's implementations have been far, far better than some others. My Surface 7 is extremely erratic - sometimes working when I don't expect it to, and other times repeatedly failing and needing passcode. Another phone I had with a fingerprint reader only worked about half the time - sometimes taking half a dozen or more goes.

 

[David1964]

because youtube reviewers are a bunch of demanding brats. They hold a brick in their hand that is the PRO MAX then wonder why the mini doesn't last for 5 days. Its a smartphone. The fact that it can last 7-8 hours of operation doing HD 5inch full colour screen with wifi/LTE with a built in camera and running console level games is mind shattering, but nooo thats not enough for them.

Sure we all like a longer lasting battery, but instead of making fun of the mini battery lets take a moment and appreciate the technology we have today. Its literally a full computer in the palm of your hands running on a battery.