Apple just recently announced the Vision Pro, which marked its brand new product line and entry into the VR/AR enabled headset market. But with the new headset, it appears that there will be some notable changes coming to its popular iPhone series as well to ensure seamless integration.

Future Apple iPhones to better support Vision Pro headset

According to known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino based giant is working on making its upcoming iPhone models better integrate with the Vision Pro headset. To achieve this, the company will apparently be bringing hardware upgrades to its future iPhones. This move isn’t surprising considering the brand seamlessly connects various products across multiple platforms, ranging from iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and more.

Kuo stated that Apple might soon bring Wi-Fi 7 and UWB (Ultra Wideband) technology to its upcoming iPhone models. This would help them be work better with the new Vision Pro headset. In other words, the iPhone 15 will likely arrive with an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip to offer a robust and seamless connection with the latest entry in the Apple ecosystem. Kuo claims that the new iPhones will arrive with an upgraded version of the U1 chip. For those unaware, this UWB chipset was first shipped inside the iPhone 11.

The new and improved chip would even help bring upgrades to various existing features like AirDrop, Find My, and more. But the primary benefit with the update U1 chip is better integration with the Vision Pro headset. Apart from this, Kuo also believes that the iPhone 16 will be the first smartphone from the company to feature Wi-Fi 7. This wireless tech will enable faster speeds and many other benefits. This is crucial for better virtual and augmented reality experiences. Overall, we can even expect the tech to offer better integration across the multiple platforms.

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Earlier this week, Apple released the first beta of macOS Monterey 12.3. The latest software brings various new features and has even hinted at new technologies, with internal files revealing possible ultra wideband support for the Mac.

According to a 9To5Mac report, the latest beta version of its macOS 12 arrives with frameworks and daemons that are needed to support ultra wideband technology. Furthermore, these same tools are already in used to provide UWB support on iOS devices with the U1 chip. Talking about the technology itself, ultra wideband technology is a short range wireless communication protocol that is utilized for space awareness. Through this, multiple devices that support UWB are able to locate one another.

The Cupertino based giant first introduced this technology back in 2019 with the iPhone 11. Soon after, newly launched Apple Watch, HomePod mini, and AirTags also supported this technology. And now, Apple might be bringing this feature to its Macs as well. As of right now, the iPad still does not feature UWB technology, so Macs receiving this feature before an iPad might seem unlikely. But the framework in macOS 12.3 suggests that the brand are at least experimenting on this technology with its PC lineup.

At the moment, the company is expected to be preparing for a special event in spring. During this event, Apple is likely unveiling new products and technologies, so we might even hear more about its plans with UWB tech in this conference. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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The Chinese governmental business registration agency, QCC, has recently updated its database in January 2022, and a reporter from ITHome has noticed that Xiaomi recently invested in a small tech startup called Ultraception that focuses on UWB technology.

From the database, it is known that Ultraception was established in 2019, registered under its CEO Dong Zongyu, and the company is currently worth 6.5 million in shares after Xiaomi had purchased shares of the company. From its company description, the company also dabbles in the data server business, the semiconductor business and in the telecommunications business as well. 

Ultra-Wide Band technology, also commonly referred to as UWB in the industry, is a radio-based communication technology for short-range use and fast and stable transmission of data. It is set to replace the infrared light sensors found inside of our technology today because UWB technology consumes less energy compared to infrared technology.

Although UWB technology has been with humanity since the early 1990s, it was until the 2020s when the technology was readily available to the general public with the technology incorporated into our smartphones, smart home and trackers. Most notably, the Samsung SmartTag Plus and Apple Airtags were launched in 2021 with UWB technology on board to enable more accurate tracking in a more power-efficient manner, since these devices are not meant to be plugged into a power outlet daily.

As for details of how Xiaomi may use this UWB technology for its products in the future, Xiaomi demonstrated that it will use UWB technology for controlling its smart home devices. With help from software calculation algorithms, Xiaomi had achieved centimeter-level positioning and ±3° angle measurement accuracy using UWB technology.

Xiaomi says that this Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology gives smartphone and smart devices spatial perception capabilities, similar to something like Indoor GPS. With this technology, the user can just point the smartphone to any device and a control card for the same will automatically pop up on the screen.

As of now, only the Xiaomi Mix 4 supports the UWB technology but hopefully, with the latest update on Xiaomi investing more into UWB technology, we hope Xiaomi brings this technology to more of its devices in the future.

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(Via)

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A growing number of devices are now deploying ultra-wideband (UWB) technology and it seems that the upcoming Google Pixel 6 smartphone will be the next. The ultra-wideband (UWB) technology provides greater depth and precision in devices using it. The recently launched Xiaomi Mix 4, as well as Samsung SmartTag+ and Apple’s AirTag, feature support for UWB technology. Google intends to join the class with the Pixel 6, going by a recently spotted clue.

The hype has been on the specs and technologies that are in the Pixel 6 and this has drawn some excitement from several quarters. Its all-new Tensor SoC is also impressive. The flagship smartphone from Google is designed to have a go at the competition.

A few months back, there were hints that Google may incorporate ultra-wideband support in its lineup of smartphones for 2021. The ultra-wideband technology is fast becoming prevalent across tech devices ranging from smartphones to smart tags. The camera setup of the Pixel 6 is quite impressive, as well as a few other features are already known about Google’s latest flagship offering, the Pixel 6.

A post within the AOSP Gerrit seems to have confirmed the UWB support for the Pixel 6. The comment requests that the Pixel-specific UWB hardware abstraction layer (HAL), be renamed to void conflicts with the AOSP HAL policy rules that are going to be added in Android T.

The seemingly innocuous post is packed with possible info, as only Google smartphones bear the Pixel moniker. The UWB support might just be one of the surprises. In addition, the codenames of the Android operating systems mentioned are also suggestive. Android S refers to Android 12. We could hazard a guess that a generic version of UWB support may be in the works for Android 13, referred to as Android T in the post. This would Fastrack the deployment of UWB by more OEMs in the future.

The UWB technology holds mich promise in its eventual deployment to smartphones and other devices. The NFC technology is the closest to UWB but is lacking on several fronts.

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Ahead of its August 10 launch, Xiaomi yesterday teased the Mi Mix 4 will come with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. XDA Developers have now discovered a code on the Mi Home pp after decompilation which shows the company is working on a new device. A string of references to a new device called Magic Control Bridge was spotted on the decompiled data. It is noted that the APK teardown is not definitive proof that the specified device identified will arrive in a future release.

The v6.9.601 version of the Mi Home app indicates that the Magic Control Bridge will connect specifically to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network or directly to a TV via a USB port, and when properly set, it could offer ultra-wideband control for the TV from a compatible UWB device (for example, a UWB-enabled smartphone). It is also possible to limit the connectivity access to a select set of devices, possibly only members of your household.

There are already similar devices offering support for remote access to TVs like the Google remote app for Android TVs. There are still several details that are yet to be pieced about the device, relating to its functionality and the possibility of providing remote access to multiple devices apart from the Mi TV. These details will become known when indeed the Magic Control Bridge is officially unveiled by Xiaomi if the APK teardown result is authentic.

There are currently no Xiaomi phones or tablets that have the UWB technology but the Mi Mix 4 may be the first. Samsung is one of the pioneers of this technology in the smartphone space and recently unveiled the Samsung SmartTag, and a few Galaxy smartphones that use the UWB technology.

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OPPO has today launched the world’s first smartphone accessory that comes equipped with Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology — OPPO One-Touch Phone Case Set. Apart from providing protection to the device, it also has an interesting use case.

The mobile case comes in a Galaxy Gray color scheme and has a hand-feeling paint finish that offers a delicate and smooth feel. Equipped with UWB, it enhances the spatial perception of the smartphone through functional modularity.

With the one-key identity sticker, it can realize the one-key connection and real-time control of smart home devices. The one-key ID sticker comes in a two-color and two-material water ripple design.

The sticker has a hidden indicator light that acts as a switch status prompt. There’s also a USB Type-C interface to make charging easy and convenient. Additionally, the magnetic design allows users to easily place identification stickers on smart home devices.

The product comes with the support of three modes — Switch, Control Card, and Startup. The user just needs to point the phone towards the device that needs to be controlled and then double-click the back are of the case to complete the trigger action.

The Switch mode can turn the specified device ON or OFF while the Control Card mode brings up the control page for that device with more functions to choose from. The Scene mode executes a preset profile. The usage of this last mode is quite interesting as it can be used in several situations, for instance, to turn off all the devices when leaving home.

The Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a wireless technology with several advantages over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It offers accurate positioning, wide application, low power consumption, and low interference. OPPO UWB Space Sensing technology uses a high-precision lateral antenna array on the mobile phone side, and a low cross-polarization microstrip antenna on the identity sticker side to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy, ±3° angle measurement accuracy, and a usable distance of up to 15 meters.

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Apple unveiled its own object tracker AirTag with features like UWB(Ultra Wide Band) to take on Samsung’s counterpart. Now, it looks like the Chinese giant OPPO will join the party soon as real-life images of the OPPO’s Smart Tag have been leaked online.

Leaker Digital Chat Station has posted the images of what he claims to be the Engineering Test version of the upcoming OPPO Smart Tag. The device appears in White color and another image shows the device has ‘Ultra Wide Band’ and ‘OPPO‘ written on it.

This further strengthens the reports of OPPO readying an object tracker to spoil the party of Apple and Samsung. What is more surprising is OPPO’s solution seems to be more environment-friendly than the rivals. This is because we see a Type-C port at the bottom.

This isn’t present on either the AirTag or the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag and SmartTag+. Anyway, this suggests that OPPO may include a rechargeable battery inside its Smart Tag. To compare, the rivals promise a 1-year battery life on their respective object trackers but you cannot recharge them.

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Although Apple has given the option of replacing the CR2032 battery on the AirTags, a rechargeable one might be a better and convenient option. Then again, we will have to wait and see if OPPO’s object tracker will have any kind of IP rating to protect it from getting damaged.

Talking about the features, UWB etched on the image indicates that the Smart Tag will help users accurately track the location of tags, and help you with directions better than the Bluetooth-only version. That said, we don’t see any provision for the lanyard hole just as we saw on the Galaxy SmartTag.

OPPO is holding a launch event on May 6 in China where it is expected to bring new Smart TV, OPPO K9, OPPO Enco Air, and a new OPPO Band. There are chances that the Smart Tag might debut on the same day but this is our guess so take it with a pinch of salt till we get official info on the same.

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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has today demonstrated its new technology that the company is calling Ultra Wide Band technology. As the name indicates, it is ultra-wideband communication with 500MHz bandwidth for transmitting data.

The company installed the UWB chip on the Mi 10 smartphone along with an array of antennas. Xiaomi has also used its own algorithms to achieve centimeter-level positioning and ±3° angle measurement accuracy.

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Xiaomi says that this Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology gives smartphone and smart devices spatial perception capabilities, similar to something like Indoor GPS. With this technology, the user can just point the smartphone to any device and a control card for the same will automatically pop-up on the screen.

Zeng Xuezhong, Vice President of Xiaomi and the company’s President for the Smartphone Department demonstrated the technology. In the video, he is seen pointing the Mi 10 toward a phone which automatically shows the control options for the fan on the phone. He then turns towards and Smart TV and the phone shows control buttons for the TV, eliminating the process of establishing a separate connection.

It should support all the Smart Home products launched by the company. Xiaomi also says that in the near future, it will eliminate the need to point the smartphone towards the device in order to control it. Currently, there’s no information on when the company is planning to roll out this technology on its smartphones.

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