Tech Digest daily roundup: iPhone 13 to have terabyte storage option?
Apple could be about to upgrade the iPhone 13 with huge amounts of new storage, according to a last minute rumour. The company is planning to release the new phones in the same options that are offered in the iPhone 12, numerous reports have suggested. But it will add a new storage option, giving people a full one terabyte of storage, according to a report from reliable analyst Ming-chi Kuo and reported by Apple Insider. That would be double the existing storage and bring it more in line with traditional computers than a phone. The report suggests that the option will only be available in the more premium models – so the Pro and Pro Max, but not the standard iPhone 13 or the Mini – and would come with a price bump to account for it. Independent
Apple has issued a software patch to block so-called “zero-click” spyware that could infect iPhones and iPad. Independent researchers identified the flaw, which lets hackers access devices through the iMessage service even if users do not click on a link or file. The problem affects all of the technology giant’s operating systems, the researchers said. Apple said it issued the security update in response to a “maliciously crafted” PDF file. University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, which first highlighted the issue, had previously found evidence of zero-click spyware, but “this is the first one where the exploit has been captured so we can find out how it works,” said researcher Bill Marczak. BBC
Motorbike vibrations can cause damage to iPhones, Apple has said. The tech giant published a warning to iPhone users that vibrations, like those from motorbikes, can damage the camera systems. The optical-image stabilisation and closed-loop autofocus systems – mechanisms that helps capture clear, sharp images by counteracting movement – can be harmed by engine vibrations. The phones should therefore not be attached to powerful bikes, for purposes like navigation, the support page on Apple’s website said. Sky News
The British taxpayer has become a shareholder in an online store for knitting, an at-home beautician service and the Secret Cinema following an effort to rescue startups struggling to survive the pandemic. The Government’s Future Fund, which was launched in May last year to bail out early stage companies, revealed part of its portfolio for the first time on Tuesday. The fund provided loans of up to £5m to early stage companies, matched by venture investors, which converted into shares if the company raised a further round of equity. In total, £1.14bn was lent to 1,190 companies. The Future Fund, run out of the British Business Bank, had until now remained secretive about which companies had benefited from taxpayer cash, citing confidentiality agreements. Telegraph
Mozilla has circumvented Microsoft’s restrictions on setting a default browser on Windows 11, making it easier to use Firefox by default. This fights off one of the more annoying aspects of the new operating system, which tries to push users toward Microsoft Edge. If you’re not aware, Microsoft has made it even harder to change default browsers on Windows 11. The problem starts with the prompt that shows up when you click a link outside of the browser. If it’s the first time you’re clicking a link and you have more than one browser installed, you’ll be asked which browser you want to use. The thing is, if you choose an option and confirm it without checking the “Always use this app” box, you’ll never be prompted to choose a browser again. Microsft Edge remains the default, even if you opened that first link in a different browser. XDA Developers
