alao News in September: iPhone 15, Android 14, critical bugs in iOS & Android
Here you can read the most important tech, provider and device news every month. These are the news items that kept the Swiss tech world busy in September.
iPhone 15: These are the new models
On 12.9. It was that time of the year: Apple presented the new iPhone 15 models. As in previous years, there will be four models. And as expected, Apple is discontinuing the mini variant of the iPhone at the same time. The normal iPhone 15 as well as its bigger brother, the 15 Plus, use the A16 chip of the Pro predecessors. On Monday after the presentation, iOS 17 was also released for download, as well as updates for other Apple hardware.
Reading tip: Whether it’s worth upgrading from last year’s iPhone 14, read our iPhone 15 vs 14 text. If you don’t need the latest model and want to save money, you can find all the necessary information on the iPhones currently sold by Apple in our iPhone comparison.
Android 14 delayed
Android 14 was actually supposed to be released on 5 September – even the manufacturers were expecting this date. According to insiders, Google changed its mind at the last minute; in the meantime, the release date is 4 October. On this day, Google will present its new Pixel generation. It would be the first time that the Android announcement and Pixel keynote take place on the same day. Unfortunately, the Pixel 8 may see a hefty price increase in Europe.
Critical gaps in iOS and Android closed
Both Apple and Google have closed critical security holes in their operating systems this month. In the case of Android, four serious security vulnerabilities made it possible to take control of the Android mobile phone; one did not even require any interaction from the user. Android versions 11, 12, 12L and 13 are affected, and one vulnerability is even said to be actively exploited, according to Google. Check the settings to see which version your phone has. The date under security patch level should be either 1 September or 5 September.
iOS has also closed actively exploited vulnerabilities in the image processing software and the Wallet app. The former was even actively exploited by the Pegasus spy software. iOS 16.6.1 is available for all iPhones from the 8th generation. Since other Apple devices are also affected by the gap, Apple has also provided macOS, watchOS and iPadOS with updates.
Whether Android or iOS: Update your devices as soon as possible!
Digital Service Act comes into force in the EU
After long negotiations, the long-awaited Digital Services Act came into force in the EU at the end of August. The law is intended to strengthen the rights of users and promote more competition. In the past, tech giants such as Amazon, Google or Apple were able to push smaller competitors out of the market (“gatekeeping”). Through the DSA, Apple in the EU must, for example, allow the installation of apps outside its own App Store. At the same time, online companies must take stronger action against illegal content, such as hate crime or counterfeit products. General terms and conditions must now also be kept simple and understandable. Initially, the law will only apply to very large companies, but from February 2024 it will also apply to small companies. Even though Switzerland is not an EU member, some changes are likely to be noticeable here as well. In the USA, too, the tech giants are getting a raw deal. The US Department accuses Google of unfair practices and abuse of its market position. The US authority FTC is taking action against Amazon – here, according to US media, even a split-up is possible!
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