Apple updates Clips app on iOS with retro effects and a new camcorder feature

Apple has just updated the Clips app on iOS. The slick and easy to use video creation app is ideal for creating shareable short videos and effects. The latet version can simulate a vintage camcorder, there are also 8 new posters, various retro-style banners and 3D effects plus the ability to create original songs in GarageBand and sync them with your newly created videos. Clips is available in the App Store now.

Arguing the merits of an update to iPhone SE

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

I recently re-activated my iPhone SE as I missed the device's small form factor and exquiste build quality. after updating to the latest version of iOS and installing my favourite apps and services, I marvelled at how good this two year old device still rocks.

A lot of it is iOS 12, which runs smoothly on older hardware. The iPhone SE's small 4-inch display and lower resolution is less demanding on the hardware and I found performance and battery life to be outstanding.

The iPhone SE is basically a souped-up iPhone 5 with iPhone 6S specs and an improved 12-megapixel camera. The iPhone SE, like the iPhone 5S before it, is impeccably balanced and precisely engineered. It really stands above other iPhone designs. Solid stainless steel and glass enclosure, a headphone jack and no unsightly camera bump.

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Report: Google's Pixel smartphone is fastest growing US phone brand with 43% increase

A new report from Strategy Analytics states that Google's Pixel line of smartphones is the fastest growing smartphone brand in the US with a 43 per cent growth year-over-year. Often considered the underdog brand way behind Apple's iPhone and Samsung's dominant Galaxy line of devices, Google Pixel has gained a reputation for its clean operating system, simple yet elegant design and for it's impressive photography capabilities despite having only one rear camera.

While this report seems like a nice feather on Google's cap. It becomes more meaningful when considering that the entire smartphone market is struggling. Global smartphone sales have dived by 23 per cent in the past year. Both Apple and Samsung have been forced to adjust earning's expectations after missing their sales targets in Q1.

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Microsoft's Surface revenue surges by 39 per cent in the quarter

Microsoft which recently became the most valuable company reported  $32 billion in revenues and a net income of $8.4 billion for the quarter. While Microsoft's continued success rides on it's extensive cloud services offerings, the company's Surface division is proving to be an impressive earner for the Redmond giant.

Surface revenues grew by 39 per cent in the quarter, proving that Microsoft was right to continue refining and expanding its hardware portfolio. The recent release of the Surface Pro 6 as well as the lower-priced Surface Go, there really is a Surface device for every type of user in both enterprise and consumer markets. There's also indication that Microsoft's Surface team is working on new products, possibly even the long rumoured 'Andromeda' foldable. It will be interesting to see what's next from Microsoft not just in terms of services and productivity but also in terms of hardware.