iPhone 7 Plus

Despite rear fingerprint sensor, Consumer Reports ranks Galaxy S8 higher than iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 14, 2017

Influential US magazine Consumer Reports today published their latest smartphone rankings. After weeks of “rigorous testing”, the organization has ranked Samsung's new Galaxy S8 Plus, which released in late April, higher than Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus devices, which have been on the market for eight months now.

The testing procedure took into account popular user features such as design, battery life, cameras, display quality and more. The top spot was previously occupied by the earlier-generation Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.

As for Apple's smartphone, Consumer Reports ranked iPhone 7 Plus fifth.

Here are the top five smartphones, according to Consumer Reports:

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge LG G6 Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Despite the latest Galaxies not having a dual-camera setup, Consumer Reports doesn't think consumers will miss the depth of field photography and optical zoom features found on iPhone 7 Plus.

“A few top-end cameras, including the iPhone 7 Plus and the LG G6, have dual rear-facing cameras, to enhance either zoom or wide-angle photography,” notes the report.

“The Samsung phones haven’t gone that route yet—and we don’t think they suffer for it.”

The latest Galaxy phones have “some of the best smartphone battery life we've seen,” they added.

Consumer Reports testers found the latest Galaxies' curved AMOLED display with the drastically reduced bezels at the top and the bottom both pretty to look at and functional, with a bigger screen area in the same-size device.

That doesn't necessarily make the flagship Samsung phone comfortable to hold in one's hand.

“Even on the smaller model, it will be hard for most users to reach the upper regions of the screen with their thumb,” said lead phone tester Richard Fisco.

Consumer Reports' biggest gripe with the new Galaxy S8 family? An “awkwardly” positioned fingerprint sensor on the back.

Here's what they had to say about it:

The fingerprint scanner on the back is awkwardly placed. You can use the scanner for unlocking the phone, and that works well. But it's right next to the rear camera, and we found ourselves repeatedly poking around to locate it—and smudging the camera lens in the process.

Consumer Reports is, of course, the same publication that lost some of its credibility by first not recommending iPhone 4 due to Antennagate only to change its mind a few weeks later. The fact they're now pitting the latest devices from Samsung and LG against Apple's 2016 smartphone—which will be superseded by iPhone 8 in a three month's time—isn't helping either.

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How to build extra_recipe from source code using Xcode

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ Updated June 24, 2019

If you're an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus user on iOS 10.0.0-10.1.1, the time has come for you to switch from the mach_portal jailbreak to the newer, more stable extra_recipe. If you're a flagship user on iOS 10.1 or iOS 10.1.1 it's as easy as downloading the .ipa and sideloading it; you can follow our guide on the subject.

However, if you're on iOS 10.0.0-10.0.x, or if you have a device other than the iPhone 7(+), there isn't currently an .ipa available which supports you. For that reason, we'll show you how to build your own straight from the source code on GitHub and push it to your device, so you needn't wait to get the newest features and device support.

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How to switch your jailbreak from mach_portal or Yalu to extra_recipe

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ Updated June 24, 2019

If you're currently jailbroken with mach_portal for iOS 10.1(.1), you should switch over to the new extra_recipe jailbreak. It uses a different exploit from mach_portal, and boasts better stability. iPhone 7(+) users on iOS 10.0.0-10.0.3 can also get in on the fun, and some users of Yalu for 10.0.1-10.2 can make use of extra_recipe if they wish too. Follow our guide to see how to go about it.

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extra_recipe+yaluX reaches Beta 3: now with Substrate

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ May 25, 2017

As many of you will by now be aware, the yalu+mach_portal tool for iOS 10.1(.1) is no more. Troubled as it was with stability issues stemming from the mach_portal exploit it used, many iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners struggled with it, or chose not to use it at all. Luckily, that struggle is now over, as an updated tool entitled extra_recipe+yaluX has been released.

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iPhone 7 and 7 Plus get a stable jailbreak on iOS 10.1.1 with extra_recipe+yaluX

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ Updated June 2, 2017

Developer xerub has just released an updated version of Ian Beer's mach_portal exploit, entitled extra_recipe. This new iteration should resolve the stability issues which have been plaguing iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users on the iOS 10.1.1 jailbreak.

Yalu creator Luca Todesco has in turn picked up the extra_recipe code and paired it with his Yalu jailbreak, compiling the project into a downloadable .ipa to create extra_recipe+yaluX, which effectively replaces his previous yalu+mach_portal tool.

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Apple publishes 4 new “How to shoot on iPhone 7” video tutorials

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 23, 2018

Apple on Friday added four new video tutorials to the “How to shoot on iPhone 7” series on its YouTube channel. The four new videos were designed to teach customers how to shoot with zoom on their iPhone 7 Plus, convert their photographs to black & white, as well as take a one-handed selfie and edit it on the phone.

How to shoot with zoom on iPhone 7 Plus

“Get closer with 2x optical zoom. Or use digital zoom to get up to 10x closer,” says Apple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsaA1s7oCKA

If you tend to use the zoom feature while shooting video on your iPhone 7 Plus, it may be a good idea to disable the automatic lens switching feature in camera settings to avoid any glitches that may occur when zooming in and out during video capture.

How to convert to black & white on iPhone 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQoEsUJpy_Q “The right filter and a bit of experimenting with light levels give you a dramatic black-and-white image,” says Apple.

How to shoot a one-handed selfie on iPhone 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4miX5CNATEI

“The quick-draw selfie in three easy steps.”

How to edit a selfie on iPhone 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUxahFzjGS4

“Use cropping and auto-enhance to create an even better selfie for sharing,” says Apple.

If you'd like, feel free to explore additional photography tips and techniques at Apple's website.

The clips join Apple's seven video tutorials on using iPhone 7's camera, published last week.

Our own iPhone Photography series is a valuable resource of free tips, tricks and advanced photography techniques, whether you are an experienced photographer or a beginner.

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Apple’s latest iPhone 7 Plus ad takes place in a barbershop

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 15, 2017

A brand new television commercial for iPhone 7 Plus's dual-lens camera surfaced Monday on Apple's official YouTube channel. Titled “Barber,” the ad showcases Apple's Portrait camera mode made possible by the dual-lens system found on the back of the company's latest Plus smartphone.

Running one minute and ten seconds long, the video takes place in a barbershop and shows the device being used to take depth-of-field shots of customers having their hair done.

Physical prints are then created and displayed on the front of the store to draw in new customers until a lone line emerges outside the shop.

“In Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus, you don’t just look good. You look fantastic,” says the video's description. Portrait shooting mode blurs out the background and focuses on the subject in the foreground to create a DSLR-like depth-of-field effect.

And here is the new television commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcMSrKi8hZA

Song: “Fantastic Man” by William Onyeabor

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, iPhone 7 Plus has emerged as the most popular Plus model the company has released yet. Last week, Apple posted more than three-dozen videos tips to help customers get the most from their iPhone 7 camera.

How do you like Apple's latest iPhone ad?

Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Apple shares videos tips on getting the most from iPhone 7 camera

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 7, 2019

Apple has published a new mini-website with nearly two dozen how-to videos covering iPhone 7 photography. Titled “How to shoot on iPhone 7”, the mini tutorials run about forty seconds each and deal with various topics of interest, including taking depth-of-field images with Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus, using tap to focus, adjusting exposure, taking low-light images, capturing selfies with the timer, snapping vertical panoramic photographs, taking stills while filming video and more.

Here are Apple's photography how-tos.

How to shoot action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhZnMBnosJk

“Use Burst mode to capture that perfect split second”.

How to shoot without flash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwMJv0_wa-M

“Make the most of light sources around you to brighten up your photo.”

How to shoot vertical panoramas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY2FqNAk0mM

“Boldly go from base to summit with a vertical pano.”

How to shoot close-ups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElHnXjbGAm4

“Life looks different from 10 cm away. See how to capture it beautifully every time.”

How to shoot great portraits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvXIt7XwXE

“Use Portrait mode to take an amazing photo of a friend.”

More photography tips and techniques can be explored via the new mini-site.

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Meet Breaker, a young podcast app with a social twist

Steffen Reich ∙ May 11, 2017

Podcast listeners are traditionally creatures of habit when it comes to the app of choice to access all their favorite shows. Thus, whenever a new gateway to podcasts comes along, it often cops the ‘not as good as Overcast’ treatment and is passed into oblivion.

The guys and girls at Breaker, a fresh podcast app available on your iPhone, look poised to buck that trend by trying something novel in the rubric: marry a solid podcast app to a social network, enabling the community of listeners to discuss, recommend and share the content.

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How to stop your iPhone from automatically switching lenses when shooting video

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 10, 2017

iOS decides on your behalf when it's appropriate to use iPhone 7 Plus's telephoto camera and when to switch to the wide angle shooter. This default behavior can be altered, which helps you avoid potentially unexpected results when shooting video.

If the phone switches to or from the second lens while you’re zooming in or out, glitches will probably appear in the recorded video. Thankfully, Apple, in all its wisdom, has provided a toggle in Settings to easily override this behavior at any time.

With its dual-lens system, iPhone 7 Plus is an awesome portable camera for both pro and wannabe iPhone photographers. In addition to powering depth-of-field photography, the dual twelve-megapixel cameras give you the benefits of an 2X optical zoom.

The problem with lens switching

Due to an ƒ/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, the wide angle camera captures images that are sharper and stabler than those taken with its telephoto counterpart. The two lenses have a different aperture and physical position, which also affects image quality.

Jarring transitions in your recorded videos are caused by automatic lens switching, which occurs if your iPhone switches to or from the second lens as you’re zooming in or out.

To avoid accidentally running into jarring transitions while recording video on your iPhone 7 Plus, you should disable the automatic lens switching feature.

Here's how.

How to stop your iPhone from automatically switching lenses

1) Launch the Settings app.

2) Tap Photos & Camera.

3) Tap Record Video underneath the Camera heading.

4) Slide the Lock Camera Lens switch at the bottom to the ON position.

Your iPhone will no longer automatically switch between camera lenses while shooting video.

This setting only takes effect when you’re actually shooting video. If you toggle the Lock Camera Lens to the ON position, your iPhone will keep on using whichever lens you started recording with. You'll want to keep that in mind when fiddling with this setting.

By the way, I learned about this feature via the always informative iLounge.

Speaking of which, iLounge explains how this setting affects your video recordings:

In most cases, you’ll simply be relying on digital zoom rather than optical. However, if you begin recording a video while zoomed in to beyond 2X, you may not be able to zoom back out, as you’ll already be using the 2X lens.

iOS uses a number of factors to determine whether it should use the optical 2X lens or simply rely on digital zoom, such as in lower light conditions where the faster primary lens has an advantage, so you won’t always see the impact of the Lock Camera Lens setting.

And that's it, boys and girls.

Any questions?

If you have any questions regarding automatic lens switching on iPhone 7 Plus, please post them in the comment section below and our knowledgable writers will try to answer them.

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You can shoot us your ideas regarding future coverage to tips@iDownloadBlog.com.

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