iPhone 12 ‘could see through mist and fog’ with new Spectral Edge camera, report claims
THE NEXT iPhone could feature a high-tech camera that lets you take photos through mist and fog.
That's because Apple has bought up British camera firm Spectral Edge, which specialises in building tech that makes photos crisper.
Specifically, Spectral Edge, based in Cambridge, uses infrared and artificial intelligence (AI) to boost the quality of photos.
Apple's purchase of the company, first reported by Bloomberg, means its technology could soon make its way into the cameras of new iPhones.
Details of the buyout are yet to be revealed by either company, though filings at Companies House suggest the California firm is now in full control of Spectral Edge.
The camera company has a number of left-field projects that should excite Apple fans.
"And so when you have a picture with a little bit of mist, little bit of fog you get a much more stunning effect.
"The secret sauce is being able to combine the infrared with the visible light picture in a way that’s pleasing.
"There’s been other techniques to combine the two in the past but they don’t end up with pictures that are nice to look at."
Apple's camera systems are already loaded with AI to help users take the perfect photos.
The iPhone 11 Pro, released in September, came with a cracking triple-camera array that featured "Deep Fusion" technology.
It blends several photos together pixel by pixel to improve shots taken in low-light conditions.
Apple is not expected to release a new iPhone until September 2020, so there's plenty of time to integrate the new tech into its new handsets.
Rumours suggest Apple is primed for a radical redesign for the iPhone 12.
For a start, they will apparently do away with the "notch" on the front of the display.
Ever since 2017's iPhone X, Apple has had a small notch that juts into the top of the screen.
It houses the selfie camera and scanners for the Face ID unlocking system, allowing Apple to have a nearly all-screen front.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
But Android rivals are increasingly doing away with the notch altogether, so it's possible Apple will follow suit.
Another key change is the framing of the device – the iPhone 12 will apparently have squared-off metal edging.
Ever since the iPhone 6, Apple has used smooth and curved edges.
But previous phones like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 had had square edges, which proved very popular with fans.
Many are hoping Apple will return to this more industrial design style with the iPhone 12.
Of course, Apple hasn't officially confirmed the phone exists yet, so take all rumours with a pinch of salt.
In other news, Apple could be planning to launch five new iPhones in 2020.
Apple revealed that its 'best app of 2019' can delete people from your holiday photos.
And check out the full list of Britain's top iPhone app and game downloads.
Do you plan on nabbing one of next year's iPhones? Let us know in the comments!
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