Telecommunications & Media

Slow smartphone: repair or replace? If the repair costs this much, replacement may be better

A guideline suggests it can be more rational to repair a broken smartphone and keep using it rather than automatically replacing it. The key measure is repair cost as a share of the device’s current value. If repairs cost 30 percent or less of market value and the user plans to keep the phone for at least another year, repair may be worthwhile. Longer software support also supports repair, while severe performance slowdown or extensive damage can favor replacement.

Telecommunications & Media

Apple has not abandoned foldable Mac development; soft keyboard is key

Apple’s foldable Mac may remain a long-term project rather than being discontinued, an analysis said, citing the difficulty of matching a laptop-level keyboard experience when the screen is unfolded. The report said a dynamic hardware keyboard that changes layout by app is one proposed step, while the ultimate goal could be using the display itself as a keyboard. Apple has previously outlined related patented approaches, including haptics and surface texture cues.