Your weekly look at the world of smartphones and mobile technology, this is the Phone Buzz on Friday 3rd September 2021.

Apple Headlines

• Apple is adding satellite based data services and messaging to the upcoming iPhone, according to reports this week. For the moment this feature looks to be limited to emergency calls, and follow the trend of not being switched on when the phone is first release. But once the concept is proven it could easily be enhanced through a software update, or be a key feature for the next iPhone mode (Bloomberg).
• This week saw Apple confirm a manufacturing defect with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro handsets manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021. These handsets may develop a fault in the sound receiver module, making any sort of call impossible. Apple is offering a free repair, but be warned… if your iPhone has any other damage, you will have to pay for that repair as part of the process (Forbes)
• Apple is expected to take a big step forward with the MacBook Pro later this year; last year’s release of the M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air set the stage but there’s a lot more to come from Cupertino, as Roman Loyola looks at changes coming to the macOS laptop. At this rate the hardware might reach parity with the Windows 10 powered competition (MacWorld)
• The other question, and perhaps one weighing heavily unmanly, is how much the new MacBook Pro machines are going to cost. Apple has a relatively consistent set of pricing tiers, and the new technology and design of the 14-inch MacBook Pro should see an entry-level price similar to the previous high-end 13-inch macOS laptop (Forbes).
• Alongside the iPhone, Apple is expected to launch a number of smaller products such as a redesign of the Air Pods and the next Apple Watch. Series 7 of the latter is looking to target the same launch window as the iPhone 13, although the volumes may be lower than hoped for (MacRumors).
• South Korea has passed a law that restricts App Store owners from demanding developers use their built-in payment system; alternative payment providers must be allowed. Given the expectation of credit card providers to take around three percent of a sale for fees compared to the App Store standard of thirty percent, it’s fair to say that Google and Apple especially are going to push back on this in South Korea, and hope this principle does not spread to other territories (Ars Technica).
• Apple has offered a small concession to ‘reader’ apps as s part of a settlement with the Japanese anti-trust regulator. It allows app developers who offer ‘reader’ apps – those that simply display information from elsewhere – to point to a web page from within the app to help users manage their account. This is a limited and specific option, and do note Apple decides what is or is not a reader app. (Reuters).
• And finally… What does a post-Cook Apple look like? While it is coming, there may be (ahem) one more thing from the current CEO stands down to hand over the reigns to presumably a hand-picked successor (Power On).

Android Headlines

• Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE, once a racing certainty, then on the chopping block, is back in the frame for a release in the next few weeks, according to reports from South Korea, although the initial suggestion of ten million units has been cut by thirty percent. With the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 both niche premium devices, the S21 FE is going to be the lead ‘premium’ smartphone in the run up to the holidays (SamMobile).
• Before the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 pro arrive later this year, there’s the small matter of the Pixel 5a 5G announced at the end of August. Available only in Japan and the US, this is presumably going to be the ‘mid-range’ Pixel handset while the 6 and 6 Pro go for the premium spots. And, as Ron Amadeo finds out, it could be the best Pixel of the bunch (Ars Technica).
• RealMe continues to fill out its portfolio of smartphones, with the Realme GT Master the next handset. Price wise this could well be the entry-level model in the GT series. What puts the Master in the name? The camera (GSM Arena).
• Details on HMD Global’s next Nokia branded handset have leaked through various online store listings. The ‘G’ range is the midpoint in the current Nokia portfolio, and should offer consumers a value for money 5G handset with Qualcomm’s SnapDragon 480 5G (WInfuture).
• Also showing up this week are some details on Microsoft’s next Android device. The first Surface Duo proved the concept of a dual-screened hinged device, albeit with specs a generation or so behind the norm. That’s set to change with the Surface Duo 2, with a modern processor and an uprated camera assembly (Forbes)
• Following the release of the OnePlus Buds last year, OnePlus released the Buds Z as a more affordable option. With the OnePlus Buds Pro now available, the appearance of a ‘Buds Pro Z’ looks like (9to5Google).

And Finally…

• One of the heavily trailed parts of Windows 11 is the ability to run Android apps. While this is coming, Microsoft has confirmed that it won’t be part of the initial feature set at launch (CNet).

Ewan Spence

Ewan is the editor at Phone Buzz News. For over 30 years he has been covering the worlds of media and technology, from the early days of the first smartphone through to their essential role in today's society.