Computer World

When the  iPhone  8 launches later this year, one of the big new features will  reportedly be wireless charging . Multiple rumors have circulated over the past few months, and yet another report claims the feature is indeed a lock. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has weighed in on the  iPhone  8 in the past, all three new models will come equipped with the feature, including Apple’s more advanced flagship, which may  sport a 5.8-inch OLED display . In order to accommodate  wireless  charging technology,  Apple  will apparently need to get creative with engineering. Kuo claims  Apple  will use a new 3D Touch module with “additional graphite sheet lamination,” something that will prevent the device from overheating. While we don’t expect general users to notice any difference, lamination of an additional graphite sheet is needed for better thermal control and, thus, steady operation; this...

Apple Maps  has come a long way since its disastrous launch back in 2012, but the Cupertino company still has plenty of room to improve. Three Apple patents published recently show how the firm continues to work on its mapping app, and hints at a few features that might be in development. The first patent describes a system for rendering 3D maps in data-less areas. Apple says it can achieve this by pulling data from nearby areas to create a detailed 3D map. A second patent dives into how the company could  create 3D  models by combining multiple data sets. For example, Apple Maps would use the 2D footprints of buildings along with 3D data  for their heights to create an accurate rendering. Finally, a third patent shows how Apple Maps could combine satellite maps with additional data for a “hybrid” view. The app’s current satellite view already layers on some data, but this version could include even more information. Apple li...