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You can continue to use the technology, but it will not receive any future updates or support from Intel.
(Image credit: Intel)
Intel has discontinued support for its Deep Link suite of technologies, as confirmed by a representative onGitHub, via X userHaze.After Intel quietly stopped promoting the feature in newer products such as Battlemage, it has now confirmed that active development for Deep Link has ceased. While you still might be able to use Deep Link, Intel has clarified that there will be no future updates or official support from their customer service channels.
“Intel Deep Link is no longer actively maintained and will not be receiving future updates, meaning that there will be no changes to the features regardless of their current functionality status.”
from X
Deep Link was introduced in late 2020. It allows you to harness the combined power of your Intel CPU and Arc GPU to improve streaming, AI acceleration, and overall efficiency. To utilize Deep Link, you needed an Intel 11th, 12th, or 13th Generation CPU and a dedicatedArc AlchemistGPU. The suite offered four key utilities: Dynamic Power Share, Stream Assist, Hyper Encode, and Hyper Compute.
Dynamic Power Share optimizes performance and power by intelligently shifting power resources between the CPU and GPU. Stream Assist improved streaming by offloading the task from the dedicated GPU to the integrated GPU. Hyper Encode accelerated video encoding using multiple Intel processors. Lastly, Hyper Compute leveraged your Intel CPU and GPU to accelerate AI workloads in OpenVINO.
“Deep Link is no longer actively maintained and will not be receiving future updates, meaning that there will be no changes to the features regardless of their current functionality status.”
Intel representative at GitHub
These features boosted performance in apps like OBS, DaVinci Resolve, and Handbrake. The user who originated the thread at GitHub could not get Stream Assist up and running with OBS using the latestArc B580paired with theCore Ultra 7 265K. Following a month-long wait, a representative relayed that Intel had discontinued software development.
It turns out that even Alchemist users had a hard time getting these features working in Handbrake and OBS. It’s possible that Intel considered Deep Link a niche feature and deemed the ongoing effort and investment not worthwhile. Besides, most of these features require per-vendor validation. Development was likely dropped a while back, asMeteor Lake, an architecture that dates back to late 2023, is also not among the supported CPUs.
Game Chat footage recorded to ensure a “safe and family-friendly online environment”.
Image credit: Nintendo
Nintendo has updated its Nintendo Account Agreement with a severe warning against “unauthorised use”, in a bid to prevent emulation and piracy.
All those with a Nintendo account will have received an email (including Eurogamer) linking to the updated policy. And, asGame File’s Stephen Totilospotted, the wording for the Licence for Digital Products section has been altered.
Theagreement for UK accountsnow states digital products are “licensed only for personal and non-commercial use”, and that any “unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable”.
This differs slightly from the US, which states: “You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part.”
For comparison, here’s the original wording (effective since April 2021): “You are not allowed to lease, rent, sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble all or any portion of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo’s written consent, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law.”
And here’s the UK update in full: “Any Digital Products registered to your Nintendo Account and any updates of such Digital Products are licensed only for personal and non-commercial use on a User Device. Digital Products must not be used for any other purpose. In particular, without NOE’s written consent, you must neither lease nor rent Digital Products nor sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of Digital Products other than as expressly permitted by applicable law. Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable.”
The US update is as follows: “Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorised copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorisation, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part.”
TheNintendo Account Privacy Policyhas also been updated ahead of the release ofSwitch 2. Now, Nintendo will be able to record video and voice chats stored on your console for a limited period of time – if you give consent.
This is intended for anyone who encounters “language or behaviour that may violate applicable laws”, with the company able to review the last three minutes of recorded footage. This is to ensure a “safe and family-friendly online environment”.
The update comes ahead of theGame Chat feature on Switch 2, where players can essentially video call each other during gameplay.
Back in March,Nintendo shared a legal victory over French file-sharing company Dstorage, which it stated was “significant…for the entire games industry”.
It followed a string of moves against piracy, including theshutdown of Switch emulator Yuzuand alawsuit against a streamer who regularly played pirated copies of Nintendo games ahead of release.
There’s no denying that AirPods are the best wireless earbuds for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. With Apple-exclusive features like location finding, control customization, and automatic in-ear detection, they make the experience a lot smoother for Apple users.
But while AirPods are indeed most compatible with Apple devices, at the end of the day, they’re still just Bluetooth earbuds. This means you can readily connect them to any other Bluetooth-enabled source out there. AirPods can work with Android phones, non-macOS computers, and even smart TVs.
The question now, though, is: can you connect your AirPods to two different devices at the same time? Maybe you have an iPhone and an iPad and want to use the earbuds with both. Or perhaps you prefer to borrow your significant other’s AirPods instead of buying your own.
The short answer to that is yes: AirPods can be paired with two or more devices at once. They’ll still only work for one device at a time, but you won’t have to repeat the pairing process after each use. But how exactly would this look if you were using two Apple devices versus two random ones with different operating systems?
AirPods will work flawlessly with two other Apple products, especially if they are signed into the same Apple ID. All you need to do is pair them to each of your devices — hold the open charging case next to your iPhone or iPad and follow the prompt that appears. If you have a Mac and paired the AirPods to your iPhone first, they should automatically connect without any extra steps.
Once paired, your devices will remember the AirPods and connect to them right away the next time you use them. If they don’t, you can go to your Bluetooth settings, where you should find the AirPods as an available option. Besides quick connection, using the AirPods with two Apple devices you own also means you get to enjoy one of the best hidden AirPods features – automatic device switching. All models, except for the AirPods 1, can transfer audio to any other Apple device with the same Apple ID.
Here’s how it works: Say you’re watching YouTube on your iPhone, then decide you’re more in the mood to listen to an audiobook on your Apple Watch. As soon as you play the audiobook, your AirPods will disconnect from the phone and switch to your watch. You won’t need to connect it manually. If you change your mind, you can easily move back to your iPhone by hitting the back arrow that appears on your handset.
If you’re not a fan of automatic device switching (it can be annoying and disruptive at times), you can turn it off. Launch Settings, open Bluetooth, and press the info icon to the right of your AirPods. Then, go to “Connect to this [device]” and choose “When last connected” instead of Automatically.
So you want to pair the same AirPods to two Apple devices, but they use different Apple IDs — maybe your other device is a work phone, or you’re just borrowing your sister’s AirPods. In this case, the process is a bit different. You’ll still need to pair the two devices to your AirPods as you normally would, but unlike devices with the same Apple ID, the AirPods won’t automatically switch to the other device. This means you’ll have to do so manually.
On iPhone or iPad, long-press on “Bluetooth” from the Control Center and choose “AirPods.” If you have an Apple Watch, start playing the audio you want to listen to, then select your AirPods from the list. For Mac computers, press the Bluetooth icon at the top and click on AirPods. Finally, on Apple TV, wait for the AirPods to pop up, then hit the TV button on the remote.
Depending on what devices you’re using, automatic connection (where the AirPods automatically connect to the mobile device, computer, or TV they were last used with) may or may not work. We’ve personally tested this on an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPhone 7, and AirPods 2. The AirPods automatically connected to the iPhone 15 Pro but wouldn’t do so on the iPhone 7. We had to tap on it from the Bluetooth menu.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the original owner of the AirPods (the first Apple ID it was linked to) would always get access to the earbuds’ location. Having said that, if you ever move away from the owner’s device, you’ll get notified about it, and the owner can track the AirPods’ location on the Find My app.
AirPods two devices from different ecosystems
The beauty of AirPods is that they aren’t completely exclusive to Apple devices. You can use your AirPods with PCs, Linux computers, Android, and any other non-Apple operating system. For instance, you can pair them to an iPhone and a Windows PC simultaneously or have your AirPods connect to two Android phones.
As usual, you’ll need to pair the AirPods to every device before use. The process is the same for Apple devices if you’ll be using one. For other devices, though, follow these steps to get your AirPods paired:
Turn on Bluetooth on your Android, Windows, or Linux system. Go to your device’s Bluetooth pairing screen. Activate the AirPods’ pairing mode:
For AirPods 1 to 2 and both AirPods Pro models: Open the charging case and long-press on the back button.
For AirPods 4 models: Open the lid and double-tap the invisible button on the front.
For AirPods Max: Hold down on the noise control button.
Back on your device, tap “AirPods” when it appears on your available Bluetooth list.
The AirPods should then connect to your non-Apple device, and you can now use them to listen to music and watch movies. When you want to transfer to a different device, you’ll have to select the AirPods from the Bluetooth settings manually (applicable for both Apple and non-Apple products). Auto device switching, unfortunately, doesn’t work. You also won’t get other Apple-exclusive AirPods features.
What works in this case, though, is the auto-connection feature. Whenever you use your AirPods, they will automatically connect to the last device used, regardless of whether it was your iPhone, Windows PC, or Android phone. The AirPods will connect right out of the case, so you won’t have to bother doing so manually.
If you’ve been in the market for a new computer, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the term AIO thrown around. It can be difficult to assess what the term means, since it is extremely context-dependent. You may have encountered it when shopping for multiple different types of computers. It’s especially prevalent in the world of custom-built PCs, but you may also hear it when shopping for a prebuilt system.
As it turns out, AIO, or “all-in-one,” is a fairly flexible term that can refer to anything that integrates multiple parts that would usually be separate into a single product. However, with that in mind, there are two types of products you’ll hear referred to as AIO: liquid PC coolers and integrated desktops. These uses of AIO should be disambiguated from other terms we won’t discuss in this article like AI/O (asynchronous input/output) and artificial intelligence optimization, or various medical terms (adhesive intestinal obstruction, sounds awful — new fear unlocked). In this article, we’ll break down the most common uses of the term as it relates to consumer computer hardware. Here’s what you need to know.
AIO is an abbreviation that usually means “all-in-one,” but it has multiple applications in the realm of computers. One common meaning is a desktop computer that contains all of its components within a single unit that includes a display. The most straightforward example of an all-in-one desktop is the Apple iMac, which has been a staple of school computer labs, households, and offices for decades. Rather than the computer and display monitor being two separate units, the iMac integrates its motherboard, processor, RAM, storage, and more into the display itself. All a user needs to do is connect a mouse and keyboard. Other AIO desktops include the Microsoft Surface Studio, which folds down to become a massive desktop tablet for artists, and the Lenovo 24 All-In-One, which is closer to the sort of thing you might see on a receptionist’s desk at a doctor’s office.
In addition to being convenient, especially for users who aren’t very comfortable with or knowledgeable about computers, all-in-one desktops have two more benefits. First, they’re often relatively cheap, with many priced at under $1,000. Bulk deals make them even more affordable, which goes a long way to explain their popularity in offices and schools. Second, they’re space savers, eliminating the need to make room for a big desktop tower while also cutting down on cable management.
Another common use of the AIO abbreviation appears in the realm of PC components, where it can refer to an all-in-one cooler. Water cooling has become increasingly popular among custom PC enthusiasts, as it provides more effective cooling for CPUs during intense workloads compared to traditional air coolers that use heat pipes and fans. However, cooling with a custom loop is rather complicated, requiring multiple components including a radiator, pump, reservoir, and water block. In addition to the complexity of assembling such a system, you risk spilling the cooling liquid into your system if you’re not careful, and you need to maintain it by changing out the liquid every so often.
That’s where AIO coolers come in. They have all the necessary components of a cooling loop, but are contained in a single closed ecosystem within a single unit. An AIO cooler has a pump with a cold plate that mounts to the CPU. This is connected by tubes to a radiator with fans that mounts (in most instances) on the top or back of the PC case. Unlike cooling loops, AIO coolers come pre-filled with water-based coolant, so you never have to worry about spills. You also don’t need to refill AIO coolers. The liquid inside lasts for the lifetime of the AIO. Cooling loops can be more fun, with some PC enthusiasts using them to add flair to their PCs. Lately, though, more AIOs come with RGB effects and other aesthetic touches. When trying to choose the right cooling kit for your PC, these factors make AIO coolers the best choice for people who aren’t experienced PC builders.
The new Discord-like GameChat feature for theNintendo Switch 2may come with a major privacy compromise.
In its effort to strengthen child safety on GameChat, Nintendo may spy on all your calls, chats, and messages.
That makes sense from a moderation perspective, but could alienate gamers despite good intentions on Nintendo’s part.
Here’s what gamers should know.
Nintendo quietly announces it might be spying on GameChat activity
This week, Nintendo quietlyupdated its Privacy Policyto include a major change for GameChat, its Discord clone for the Switch 2. The update effectively reveals that Nintendo may be watching all of your activity in GameChat in attempt to ensure safety.
According to Nintendo, “We clarified that we may collect, monitor and record audio and video of your chat sessions with other users to provide a safe and secure environment.”
This means anything you say or do in your GameChat sessions could be monitored by Nintendo. It isn’t clear how Nintendo plans to analyze GameChat activity or how it might deal with unwanted behavior, but it’s clear Nintendo plans to have some level of surveillance on GameChat.
Nintendo first announcedGameChatback in April during the official Switch 2 reveal. It’s a built-in video and chat feature with a dedicated button on the Switch 2. The demo footage of the feature looks blatantly similar to Discord, only with visibly grainy video quality and seemingly low framerates. It will be free until March 31, 2026, but after that you will need a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership to use GameChat.
Unfortunately for Nintendo, a lot of gamers might be passing on this Discord wannabe after this news, and that’s probably the right call.
Is it worth using GameChat on the Switch 2? Probably not.
I understand why Nintendo is implementing this Privacy Policy change, but unfortunately for most gamers it’s just another reason to skip GameChat.
Making any kind of social feature like this kid-friendly is very difficult to do without some sort of surveillance or kneecapping the service itself, like the limited pre-written chat options you get in kid-friendly MMOs.
This surveillance measure, along with seemingly poor resolution on GameChat, make it an all-around less attractive option for gaming calls and chats compared to Discord. If you’re already using Discord, the possible convenience of having GameChat built-in on the Switch 2 is likely not worth sacrificing your privacy and the higher-resolution video and screen sharing you can get on Discord.
While, of course, you can never be 100% sure that anything you say or do online is completely private and un-monitored, it’s clear from Nintendo’s updated privacy policy that GameChat will likely be less private than Discord.
Parents may be tempted to overlook that with the assumption that GameChat will be safer for their kids, but no amount of surveillance is going to make GameChat 100% kid-friendly. The best solution is for parents to make sure their kids know how to be safe online and stick to chatting only with known friends and not strangers, rather than trusting Nintendo to keep everyone safe.
Instead, the company removed base Surface models from Microsoft.com
Microsoft hasn’t secretly raised Surface prices, as earlier reports claimed. Instead, it has removed the base models of the Surface Pro 13-inch and Surface Laptop 13.8-inch from Microsoft.com, according to a statement by Nancie Gaskill, GM of the Surface group. “Customers can purchase base models of Pro and Laptop at the starting price of $999 at other key retailers,” she added.
Currently, you can still find those models atAmazonandBest Buy, where they’re discounted to $800. That’s the same price as the smaller (and slower) Surface Pro 12-inch, so potential buyers have to think hard about balancing portability versus power. It’s also unclear if those base models are still being produced by Microsoft, the company could be trying to sell through it’s existing stock so future customers canonlyorder the more expensive models.
Earlier this week,XDAfirstnoticeda potential Surface price change at Microsoft.com. The starting prices of the13.8-inch Surface Laptopand13-inch Surface Proappeared to jump from $1,000 to $1,200 — but it turns out those are just higher-specced models.
And despite the confusion around actual Surface pricing, Microsoft has definitely made its accessories more expensive. The 65W Surface power supply shot up from $90 to $120 this week, and the 127W variant went from $125 to $175. (Perhaps consider themany cheaper options from Anker and other companiesin our fast charging guide.)
Microsoft also increasedXbox prices last week increases. The Xbox Series X is now $80 more expensive, while an Xbox Series X costs an extra $100.
Updated 5/8/2025 6:00PM:Added Microsoft’s statement about not increasing Surface pricing.
A few weeks ago, Google announced a bunch of new features targeted at digital travel planning, such as hotel price tracking and deploying AI as a personal guide. Among them was also aneat trick that could extract address details from screenshotsand save them to Google Maps.
That feature has now started to roll out slowly. Users started receiving it this week, it seems, and earlier today, Google also released a blogupdateinstructing users on how to enable it. For now, it is focused on iOS, but the facility will soon land on Android, as well.
I often save Google Search listings, social media ads, and blog posts about a certain place, restaurant, monument, or stuff related to my travel plans as screenshots. It’s the quickest way to save such information, especially for scenarios where you don’t have the time to type it all as a note.
Woah this new Google map feature where it can scan screenshot and save the place. Genius! Something I’ve needed for a long time bc I have so many random screenshots— coleen 🌴🐺 (@fluffybbom)May 4, 2025
When I eventually return to them, I mostly use Google Lens to extract the text details from those screenshots, and accordingly save them either in my planner notes, or custom lists in Google Maps’ “You” section.
Now, thanks to Gemini, the AI assistant will automatically look for such information in screenshots saved on your phone, and add them to a dedicated list in the Google Maps app. “Places you save will show up on the map, and you can easily share the list with your travel buddies,” Google said back in March.
The new feature is somewhat similar toGemini’s file analysis capabilities. When you open a document, let’s say a PDF, in the Files app, you will see a Gemini chip at the top that lets you ask Gemini questions about the contents of the file. It works quite well, actually.
In order to let Gemini scan your screenshots and automatically add them to a dedicated list in Google Maps, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that you are running the latest version of the Google Maps app on your iPhone.
2. Open the Google Maps app and tap on the “You” option in the bottom row. Google
3. On the next page, you will see a new list named Screenshots, with a “Try it out!” badge attached to it.
4. When you tap on it, the app will show a brief tutorial video on how it works. At this point, you will need to grant the app permission to access the media files stored locally on your iPhone.
5. The next time you take a screenshot with address-related information mentioned in it, it will be scanned in the background. When you open the Google Maps app afterward, it will inform you that there are new location details ready for review.
6. Approve the addresses that you want to save, and they will automatically be added to the list. Users will also be able to do a manual screenshot scan from within the “You” tab in the app.
7. The saved addresses will appear in the “Screenshots” list and the map view.
If you, like most people, have a drawer full of USB cables for all your different devices, then you know how quickly those cables can get out of hand. However you organize your cables, keeping track of the different types can require a course in tech jargon just to make sense of it all. Two of the terms you’ve likely come across are USB-C and USB4, especially if you’ve been out shopping for new tech recently. Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with USB-C and what it can do, but if we throw USB4 in the mix, things can start to get confusing, especially since they share the same connector.
While you’ll often see USB-C and USB4 listed side by side on packaging and spec sheets, they’re not interchangeable. USB4 refers to the technology standard, while USB-C describes the physical shape of the connector. In other words, when we talk about USB-C, we’re referring to the design of the connector itself: the small, reversible plug that you see at the end of the cables you use for everything from charging your phone to connecting accessories like external drives and monitors. However, just because two cables share the same connector doesn’t mean they deliver the same performance; that’s where USB4 comes in. USB4 is a technology standard that uses the USB-C connector to deliver faster speeds, better power delivery, and more advanced features.
USB-C is just the connector, but performance varies widely
Whether you’re charging the brand new MacBook Air M4 or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, you’re plugging your device into a USB-C port. Over the past few years, the compact, rectangular-shaped reversible connector has become the standard across modern tech, replacing older USB-A and USB-B ports. From laptops and tablets to smartphones and wireless earbuds, if you bought a new device in the last couple of years, there’s a good chance it has a USB-C port. And that’s what makes the USB-C connector so special: it has a universal port shape that’s easy to plug in and supports a wide variety of devices and functions, including charging, data transfer, and even video output.
As convenient as this universal connector is, there’s a catch: USB-C only describes the shape of the connector; it says nothing about its speed, charging capability, or features. For example, that USB-C cable you’re using to charge your device may only support slow USB 2.0 speeds, or it may support much faster USB 3.2 or USB4 speeds; it all depends on the cable’s specifications and the standards it supports.
Some USB-C cables are even charge-only, meaning they don’t support data transfer at all. In other words, the USB-C cable you’re using could be limited to basic power delivery or support high-wattage charging for laptops. It’s this variation that makes USB-C so confusing for many people. You can be staring at two seemingly identical cables, and one charges your device rapidly while the other moves at a snail’s pace and doesn’t even support data transfer.
How USB4 improves performance over older USB-C standards
While USB-C describes the physical connector, USB4 refers to the technology standard that uses it. Introduced in 2019, USB4 is a major upgrade over previous USB technology, offering faster speeds, better power delivery, and built-in support for Thunderbolt features. That said, just because a device uses a USB-C connector doesn’t guarantee it supports USB4; you’ll need to check the specs carefully. If you’re using a USB-C connector that supports USB4, you’ll get data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps, which is almost double what USB 3.2 Gen 2 can provide. That means you’ll be able to move your large files a lot faster, stream high-resolution video, or connect multiple monitors through a single port and not worry about lag.
USB4’s capabilities go beyond just delivering faster speeds; it also improves power delivery, supporting up to 100 watts, which is something you’ll find especially useful if you have large devices like laptops that need to be charged. Another important feature is its compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 or later, which makes it possible to use high-speed accessories like external monitors, docks, and storage drives through the same USB-C port. Getting to know the difference between Thunderbolt and USB-C can be helpful in making sure you get the right cable or accessory for your device, as well.
Alongside the rollout of cheaper Surfaces, Microsoft also increased prices on previous-gen laptops by around 20%.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch
Microsoft announced twonew Surface laptopson Tuesday, and it appears the company used the announcement to increase prices on some of the previous models by around 20%.
Spotted byXDA, Microsoft has yet to officially announce the price changes, but they’re active on the company’s online store. For example, the13-inch Surface Prolaunched at $999.99 but now costs $1,199.99 if you try and buy one in its cheapest configuration.
Surface Pro price on May 5 (Credit: Wayback Machine/Microsoft)
Surface Pro price on May 7 (Credit: Microsoft)
Other retailers, like Amazon and Best Buy, have yet to reflect the price increases, so if you’re looking to buy one of these products, it may be cheaper on a third-party site. Price hikes spotted so far include:
Surface Laptop, 13.8-inch— now $1,199.99, up from $999.99
Surface Pro, 13-inch— now $1,199.99, up from $999.99
Surface 65W Power Supply— now $119.99, up from $89.99
Surface 127W Power Supply— now $174.99, up from $124.99
TheSurface Laptop Studio 2also got more expensive in recent weeks, moving from a base of $1,999.99 to $2,379.99, XDA notes. There’s currently a deal on the product that keeps it at the $1,999.99 mark, but Microsoft says it’s a time-sensitive discount rather than the base price. Meanwhile, the 15-inchSurface Laptopremains at $1,299.99.
The reasoning for the price change is unclear, but the company alsosignificantly increased the prices of its Xbox products last week, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” That saw the price of an Xbox Series X rise $100 and an Xbox Series S increase by $80, alongside various accessories. The brand also warned customers to expect its first-party games to rise to $80 at some point later this year.The brand’s two new Surface products are a 12-inch version of the Pro that starts at $799.99 and a 13-inch Surface Laptop that starts at $899.99. Both are more affordable than recent Surface products, giving customers a new entry-level option.
For many in the tech arena, the iPhone has been, and likely always will be, the gold standard for handheld mobile devices. The smartphones were the very definition of “game changer” when they debuted in 2007, and they have continued to evolve into some of the most technologically advanced devices on the consumer electronics scene in the years since.
These days, the iPhone has become such an advanced piece of tech that it tends to have lots of features and functions installed that many users don’t even know about. With the list of hidden iPhone features only seeming to get longer with every new iteration of IOS, it’s likely that some users will never fully grasp what their devices are actually capable of. Even as Apple continues to build new functions into the iPhone, a few have been around for a while now, though you still may not know about them.
For example, did you know that your iPhone has a barometer built into it? Apple’s iPhones have boasted a built-in barometer since the device’s sixth generation. As for why the Apple design team began incorporating barometers into the smartphones, it’s likely because a barometer can help provide the device with better readings for vertical location, which greatly improves the iPhone’s GPS capabilities. So, how exactly does a barometer aid in that particular endeavor?
If you are wholly unfamiliar with what a barometer does, the devices are designed to measure atmospheric pressure, which is sometimes called barometric pressure, hence the name. The devices have long been utilized by scientists and meteorologists, as changes in atmospheric pressure tend to coincide with changes in the weather. Historically, those devices have functioned with the aid of mercury, as the metal fluid is directly impacted by the amount of pressure in the air, though fluid-less aneroid barometers have also been utilized regularly.
Don’t worry, you don’t have a tube of mercury or an aneroid chamber built into your iPhone. Barometers went digital long ago, and the readings taken from digital sensors built into your iPhone are far more accurate and immediate than those taken by the old school instruments. If you’re curious how they take readings, the barometer is one of the reasons there are vents in the bottom of your iPhone, as the design feature allows air to enter the device for readings.
As for what the barometer in your iPhone is measuring, it, in part, uses the change in pressure to chart the device’s change in elevation, since air pressure can shift dramatically the higher or lower you are in the world. The barometer in your iPhone may be so sensitive that the readings shift by moving from the first floor of a home to the second. Readings from the barometer can also be used by certain weather and health-monitoring apps if you give permission for them to access that information.
Now that you know your iPhone has a barometer and is regularly charting the changes in atmospheric pressure depending on where you are in the world, you might be wondering how you can access this information. Unfortunately, it does not appear that you can directly access the information on your iPhone yourself. In fact, searching “barometer” on your device will produce exactly zero results.
That means you’ll need to visit ye old App Store and download a third-party feature if you want to tap into the barometric potential of your iPhone. As a reminder, the barometer did not debut in the iPhone until the sixth generation models made it to market. So, if you’re using an iPhone 5 or earlier, you will not be able to access the info because, well, there just won’t be any info to access. The good news is that, assuming you are using a barometer-equipped iPhone, there are several third-party apps to choose from in the App Store.
Among the higher-rated free apps you’ll find are the Barometer & Altimeter & Thermo from ExaMobile S.A. and My Altitude from Dayana Networks Ltd., which each boast a 4.8 stars out of 5 rating with more than 8,000 and more than 25,000 user reviews, respectively. The apps offer many of the same free features, with each offering in-app upgrades at a cost, meaning that the differences are primarily aesthetic. But if you’re interested, My Altitude does allow users to utilize barometric readings from NOAA instead of those taken directly by your iPhone, though there’s no guarantee of which numbers will be more accurate.
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Google
