Hacker News with Generative AI: Smartphones

T-Mobile records iPhone screens and claims it's being helpful (droid-life.com)
In recent days, T-Mobile customers stumbled upon an unannounced setting in the T-Mobile T-Life app that raised some eyebrows and has created a bit of a freakout.

Privacy, Mobile Carriers, Smartphones, Technology

7 points by Improvement 31 days ago | 1 comments

Lidar Can Permanently Damage Your Phone's Camera (jalopnik.com)
One reddit user found out earlier this month that car-mounted lidar sensors can damage a phone camera under certain circumstances. It was the technological equivalent of staring directly into the Sun. Their phone's camera was toast, but only because it was close-up and pointed directly at the lidar sensor.

Technology, Smartphones, Consumer Electronics, Safety, Lidar

18 points by rntn 36 days ago | 6 comments

Lightfriend.ai – I built a way to live with a dumbphone (lightfriend.ai)

Smartphones, Minimalism, Technology, Personal Projects

10 points by thunderbong 42 days ago | 1 comments

Jony Ive's next product is driven by the 'unintended consequences' of the iPhone (theverge.com)
Former Apple designer Jony Ive says the work on his next product is driven by owning the “unintended consequences” associated with the iPhone.

Jony Ive, Apple, Design, Smartphones, Technology

17 points by emot 48 days ago | 21 comments

Huawei's Kirin X90 may be the company's 'Apple Silicon' moment (tomshardware.com)

Huawei, Smartphones, Processors, Apple Silicon, Technology

23 points by xnhbx 49 days ago | 0 comments

Kids and smartphones – The real threat isn't screen time. It's algorithm time (matthewsinclair.com)
Why the problem with kids and smartphones is software, not hardware

Parenting, Technology, Social Media, Smartphones, Algorithms

12 points by matthewsinclair 61 days ago | 6 comments

Hundreds of smartphone apps are monitoring users through their microphones (the-independent.com)
Hundreds of apps and games are monitoring smartphone users through their microphones.

Privacy, Mobile Security, Smartphones, Data Collection

48 points by macawfish 63 days ago | 18 comments

Your phone isn't secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing (newatlas.com)
Perhaps one of the most pervasive longstanding technology conspiracy theories is that your smartphone is constantly listening in on your private conversations.

Privacy, Technology, Conspiracy Theories, Smartphones

369 points by zeech 64 days ago | 327 comments

New smartphone labels for battery life and repairability are coming to the EU (theverge.com)
The European Union has announced details of new mandatory labels for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc, which include ratings for energy efficiency, durability, and repairability.

Smartphones, EU Regulations, Sustainability, Consumer Protection

9 points by tntpreneur 65 days ago | 1 comments

How to quickly charge your smartphone: fast charging technologies in detail (eb43.github.io)
The great days are gone when charging a smartphone only required two wires. Today, a charger is a full-fledged computer with more processing power than the Apollo 11 spacecraft that brought humans to the Moon. A processor is necessary in the charger to negotiate charging parameters with the smartphone. Let's dive into fast charging technologies in detail.

Smartphones, Technology, Charging, Batteries

158 points by uycyp 67 days ago | 106 comments

A study of lightning fatalities inside buildings while using smartphones [pdf] (2024) (electricalsafetyworkshop.org)

Lightning, Safety, Smartphones, Research, Studies

50 points by bookofjoe 67 days ago | 60 comments

N. Korean smartphones add screenshot function with notable exceptions (dailynk.com)
North Korean smartphones have added a screenshot function, though it doesn’t work with certain content or applications related to the country’s leaders.

North Korea, Smartphones, Censorship, Technology

14 points by giuliomagnifico 75 days ago | 2 comments

Smartphone tariffs are coming back in 'a month or two,' says Trump admin (theverge.com)
Smartphones, laptops, and other products that are exempt from Trump’s April 9th tariffs will be lumped in with duties on semiconductors in “a month or two,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on This Week.

Smartphones, Trade, Politics, Tariffs

13 points by rekovacs 76 days ago | 0 comments

You might not need a phone case any more (bbc.com)
With smartphones tougher than ever, a new wave of phone minimalists say cases are for cowards. I joined the case-free cult, called the experts and braced for the sound of broken glass.

Smartphones, Technology, Minimalism

14 points by ludwigvan 76 days ago | 4 comments

Smartphones and computers are now exempt from Trump's latest tariffs (cnn.com)

Smartphones, Computers, Trade, Politics, Tariffs

9 points by xnhbx 77 days ago | 0 comments

iPhone won't face Trump tariff price hike for now following exemption (9to5mac.com)
Apple and its customers can breathe a sigh of relief today after the White House carved tariff exemptions for smartphones, laptops, and more.

Apple, Tariffs, Smartphones, Trade, Politics

10 points by taubek 77 days ago | 0 comments

iPhone sales drop in China over nationalism, newer technology (restofworld.org)
Apple’s decline in China is also because of its struggles to roll out AI capabilities. While the iPhone 16 has some AI features, the company announced last month that it would delay AI upgrades to Siri until 2026. Apple Intelligence is not available in iPhone 16 models sold in mainland China, as the company requires regulatory approval before it can offer AI services.

Apple, China, Smartphones, Artificial Intelligence, Business

12 points by vinnyglennon 81 days ago | 4 comments

Kids with Smartphones Less Depressed, Anxious, Bullied Than Peers Without Them (reason.com)
It's funny how much media coverage is devoted to anything suggesting that phones might be ruining kids—and how little coverage goes to studies suggesting the opposite.

Mental Health, Technology, Smartphones, Children

10 points by pseudolus 82 days ago | 9 comments

Android Isn't the Anti-iPhone Anymore (howtogeek.com)

Android, Smartphones, Operating Systems, Mobile Technology, Comparison

29 points by freedomben 86 days ago | 29 comments

Deep-sea mining threatens sea life in a way no one is thinking about (theconversation.com)
As the demand for electric car batteries and smartphones grows, mining companies are turning their attention to the deep sea, where precious metals such as nickel and cobalt can be found in potato-size nodules sitting on the ocean floor.

Deep-sea mining, Environmental Impact, Mining, Electric Vehicles, Smartphones

15 points by pseudolus 90 days ago | 1 comments

Pixel 9a: The latest A-series phone with Google AI smarts at an unbeatable value (google)
Built to last with a new design, upgraded camera system and helpful AI, the Pixel 9a has a lot to offer.

Smartphones, Google, AI, Technology

45 points by meetpateltech 101 days ago | 84 comments

Citronics built a router based on the Fairphone 2 mainboard (cnx-software.com)
Belgium-company Citronics has designed a router based on the mainboard of the Fairphone 2 smartphone, connecting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 “system-on-module” to a carrier board with Ethernet, USB ports, and other connectors, while leveraging 4G LTE, WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity from the phone’s core board.

Hardware, Routers, Smartphones, Open Source

44 points by zdw 118 days ago | 23 comments

Which Motorola Phone Should You Buy? (wired.com)
Motorola phones may seem old-school, but their simple interface, good battery life, and tendency for steep discounts make them solid wallet-friendly Android smartphones.

Motorola, Smartphones, Android, Reviews, Technology

26 points by GershwinA 120 days ago | 28 comments

Google may be limiting some Pixel demo units to upsell the Pro models (androidpolice.com)

Google, Pixel, Smartphones, Pricing Strategy

3 points by josephcsible 124 days ago | 0 comments

FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users–We Want Lawful Access to All Your Encrypted Data (forbes.com)
The furor after Apple removed full iCloud security for U.K. users may feel a long way from American users this weekend. But it’s not — far from it. What has just shocked the U.K. is exactly what the FBI told me it also wants in the U.S. “Lawful access” to any encrypted user data. The bureau’s quiet warning was confirmed just a few weeks ago.

Security, Law Enforcement, Data Privacy, Smartphones

28 points by miles 124 days ago | 8 comments

Apple debuts iPhone 16e: A powerful new member of the iPhone 16 family (apple.com)
Apple today announced iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that offers powerful capabilities at a more affordable price.

Apple, Smartphones, Technology, Mobile Devices, Pricing

14 points by subsHack 129 days ago | 1 comments

Apple iPhone 16e (apple.com)
Pre-order starting at 5:00 a.m. PST on 2.21.

Apple, Smartphones, Technology, Pre-orders

10 points by ciccionamente 129 days ago | 3 comments

Apple Debuts iPhone 16e (apple.com)
Apple today announced iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that offers powerful capabilities at a more affordable price.

Apple, Smartphones, Technology, New Releases

494 points by dm 129 days ago | 819 comments

Huawei launches $3,660 trifold phone (cnbc.com)

Huawei, Smartphones, Technology, Mobile Devices, Consumer Electronics

14 points by belter 130 days ago | 65 comments

School phone bans do not improve grades or wellbeing, says UK study (theguardian.com)
Banning smartphones at school does not by itself improve academic grades and children’s wellbeing, a study suggests.

Education, Research, Smartphones, Wellbeing

6 points by PaulHoule 131 days ago | 5 comments