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These Technologies Could Play a Big Role in the iPhone's Future

These Technologies Could Play a Big Role in the iPhone's Future

Social distancing during the height of the pandemic in 2020 was challenging for Lucy Edwards, a blind journalist and broadcaster based in the UK. So she tried the iPhone's People Detection feature, which uses the iPhone 12 Pro's and 13 Pro's lidar sensor to detect when other people are nearby and calculate their distance from the user. 

"I'm going to have to get used to it, but I'm really excited that I can be in control again," Edwards said in a BBC video from 2020 documenting her experience. 

Lidar , or light detection and ranging, is just one example of how the technology inside the iPhone has evolved in the last 15 years. When the first iPhone launched, on June 29, 2007, it had a 3.5-inch screen that would be considered minuscule by today's standards and a single 2-megapixel camera. Now Apple's most sophisticated phones come equipped with triple-rear cameras that are advanced enough to shoot films, sensors that help people like Edwards navigate the world and powerful chips with billions of transistors. We're expecting to learn about what's next for the iPhone at Apple's upcoming event on Sept. 7. 

The iPhone often served as a catalyst for the technologies introduced within, whether it's digital assistant Siri, mobile payments or wireless charging, and helped drive the evolution of how we live our mobile lives. But in the future, the most important part of the iPhone might be everything around it. That's according to analysts who've observed the mobile industry's general trends and Apple's strategy.   

In the short term, we're likely to see incremental improvements like higher quality cameras and giant displays. But over the next decade, the iPhone could evolve into a hub for smart glasses and other devices. AirPods, Apple Watches and CarPlay-enabled vehicles may be just the start. The iPhone's core elements, like its display and charging systems, are also expected to get a significant boost. 

"The next quest for the smartphone is to figure out what it will connect to next," said Runar Bjørhovde, an analyst with market research firm Canalys. "Because the smartphone has not necessarily reached its potential yet, but as a standalone device I think the smartphone is getting closer and closer to the edge." 

Your iPhone at the center of everything

There's plenty of speculation about what's next after the smartphone. The resounding consensus seems to be smart glasses, with companies like Meta, Snap and Google all working on their own version of high-tech spectacles. 

Apple is no exception; reports from Bloomberg indicate that the iPhone maker could debut a mixed reality headset this year or next that supports augmented and virtual reality technologies. A pair of AR-powered smart glasses could arrive later this decade, according to the report. 

So what does this have to do with the iPhone? Possibly everything. Even though Apple's headset is expected to function as a standalone device, the apps and services it runs would likely stem from the iPhone. 

Think of the Apple Watch. It doesn't need a nearby iPhone to function, but a large part of its appeal involves its ability to sync closely with Apple's phone. Many of the Apple Watch's notifications are also tied to accounts and apps that were set up on the iPhone. 

Whether it's a smart headset, the Apple Watch, AirPods or HomeKit-enabled appliances, analysts expect the phone to remain at the center.  

The iPhone will likely remain at the center of the Apple experience, serving as a hub for AirPods, the Apple Watch and possibly a pair of smart glasses one day.

Scott Stein/CNET

"The phone will be the anchor," said Gene Munster, managing partner for tech investment firm Loup Ventures and a longtime Apple analyst.

But it isn't just about connecting to new personal tech gadgets. Apple is gradually turning the iPhone into a viable replacement for the wallet, weaving it even more tightly into the nondigital aspects of our lives. 

Apple has made a lot of progress on this front over the past year by rolling out new features like digital IDs for Apple Wallet and Tap to Pay, which turns the iPhone into a contactless payment terminal for merchants without additional hardware. Apple also just announced Apple Pay Later, which lets Apple Pay users split a purchase into four equal installments paid over the course of six weeks. 

"It's clear that there's a lot of momentum within financial services with Apple, and I think we will see further advancements there," said Nick Maynard, head of research for Juniper Research. 

Better lidar, more advanced AI for better spatial awareness

Making educated guesses about Apple's general direction for the iPhone is certainly easier than pinpointing specific changes that might be coming. But analysts have some ideas based on the seeds Apple has planted in current iPhones. 

Lidar will likely continue to be important as the company pushes more deeply into augmented reality. Apple added lidar on the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020 to boost the performance of AR apps, enable new camera tricks and facilitate accessibility features like the aforementioned People Detection. The technology measures distance by determining how long it takes for light to reflect off an object and bounce back. 

Yet the iPhone's current lidar sensors might not be sophisticated enough to bring Apple's augmented reality ambitions to fruition, said Munster. 

"Specifically what needs to happen is the mapping of the real world needs to be more accurate," said Munster, whose firm conducts research on topics like augmented reality, autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. "And until that happens, AR isn't really going to happen."

The iPhone's People Detection feature uses lidar.

James Martin/CNET

Lidar improves the iPhone's depth-sensing skills, but it's still up to the phone's processor to make sense of all that data. Apple has leaned into artificial intelligence -- one of Silicon Valley's favorite buzzwords in recent years -- to give the iPhone and other products more context about users and their surroundings. 

Once again, you can look to the Apple Watch to see this approach at work. Apple's smartwatch uses artificial intelligence and data gathered from its sensors for tasks such as tracking your sleep and noticing when you're washing your hands. 

Hanish Bhatia, a senior analyst for Counterpoint Research, provided a hypothetical example of how AI improvements could one day manifest in upcoming iPhones. He envisions a future in which Apple's smartphone can observe a person's habits to understand whether the phone's primary user or a family member may be using the device. 

"The way you use your phone, at what angle your smartphone is tilted ... Do you press with a particular pressure, or do you just tap it with your nails or something like that?" he said as an example. "All of these are different types of behaviors which are very unique to a user."

Bhatia's example is speculative and doesn't reflect Apple's actual plans. But with advancements in AI and technologies like lidar and ultra wideband giving the iPhone more spatial awareness, it's easy to imagine a scenario like this.

Displays and charging tech could get a big change

Perhaps one of the biggest questions surrounding Apple's future smartphone plans is whether the company will ever create a foldable iPhone. Samsung, Apple's biggest rival in the mobile space, has already launched several generations of phones with flexible designs. Motorola, Huawei and Microsoft have all followed suit, and Google is rumored to be working on a bendable Pixel. Shipments of foldable smartphones are said to have increased by 264.3% in 2021 compared with 2020, according to The International Data Corporation.

But experts like Munster and Maynard are skeptical about whether Apple will take a similar approach. Though the tech giant has filedpatents for mobile devices with flexible displays, those filings aren't always indicative of Apple's plans. Sales of foldable phones have been growing, but shipments still pale in comparison with regular smartphones. (Research firm IDC estimates that 7.1 million foldable phones were shipped in 2021 compared with 362.4 million phones shipped in just the fourth quarter of last year). And then there's the question of whether foldable devices bring anything truly new or meaningful to the smartphone experience. 

There are also challenges with creating a true glass screen that's foldable, says Munster. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip has a glass screen, but that glass is also combined with "a special material" to "achieve a consistent hardness," CNET reported in 2020.

"The piece that's missing from my perspective is how [Apple] would actually do it," Munster said.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 can fold in half.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The iPhone's charging experience is probably due for an upgrade too. Between USB-C, Lightning and MagSafe, it isn't an exaggeration to say that Apple's charging options are complicated. Maynard believes pressure from the European Union and US senators could mean a switch to USB-C might be in the iPhone's future.

But more dramatic changes could also be in the pipeline. Rumors about a completely portlessiPhone have swirled for years, and Maynard doesn't think it's totally out of the question.  

"I suspect if any vendor was going to launch a fully portless system, then it probably would be Apple," said Maynard, citing Apple's decision to remove the iPhone's headphone jack in 2016. 

Wireless charging has also been a focal point for Apple in recent years, further supporting the case for a port-free iPhone. There's Apple's relatively new MagSafe chargers, and many CarPlay-enabled vehicles also support wireless connections. Apple has also patented wireless charging systems that would be built directly into MacBooks, enabling Apple's laptops to charge iPhones, Apple Watches and iPads. The iPad Pro's Smart Connector also provides a quick and easy way to attach accessories to Apple's tablet without a port. 

"The number of systems that actually 100% must have a cable are diminishing," Maynard said. 

Apple's MagSafe battery pack wirelessly connects to the back of an iPhone.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Otherwise, analysts expect to see routine upgrades to the camera in the near term. Munster says there's room for improvement in the iPhone's front-facing camera, while Bhatia expects Apple to continue to use display size and camera quality to distinguish the regular iPhones from its Pro iPhones. 

It's impossible to know what's next for the iPhone without Apple's input. But experts seem certain on one thing: Apple is laying the groundwork for the iPhone's future today. Current iPhone features, like Apple's lidar-powered accessibility tools meant to help people like Edwards, could provide a clue about what's ahead. 

"Everything we can see that they've done over the last few years is a good hint of what's coming up next," said Bjørhovde. "Because a lot of what I think they do is setting themselves up for the systems they want to integrate the iPhone into in the years to come."

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Apple's new 2021 iPad Pro: What to expect from Apple's April 20 event

Apple's new 2021 iPad Pro: What to expect from Apple's April 20 event

The 2020 iPad Pro arrived at the beginning of a year-long (and counting) pandemic, back in mid-March 2020. It's likely due for an upgrade soon, maybe at next week's Apple event. But what can it add to make a difference this year? Think processors and accessories, based on recent reports that the hardware could get a new chip and a Thunderbolt port, and possibly a display boost too. But, what will be possible in the middle of a chip and display shortage?

That 2020 model didn't have much of a processor bump, and looked nearly the same as the model from 2018. It did introduce some new tech and accessories, though: It was the first Apple product to have a depth-sensing lidar sensor, and Apple introduced a trackpad-enabled Magic Keyboard case (that costs as much as an entry-level iPad).

Apple's recent Macs got massive performance boosts from Apple's M1 processors, which already feel like advanced versions of the chips that were already in the iPad Pro. 

2021 seems like a perfect time to give the Pro line processor boosts, and that's exactly what recent reports have indicated. But it's unclear whether the iPad Pro will get the M1 that recent Macs have used, or a different custom processor, like an A14X. The next iPads could also improve how accessories connect, possibly evolving the USB-C port to add Thunderbolt speed and connectivity. Display upgrades also seem overdue, and Mini LED seems like a lock for at least the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to the latest report from Bloomberg... if supplies aren't limited. Here's what we expect.

A better display

The iPad Pro display is great, and its 120Hz refresh rate still isn't available on any other iPhone or iPad. But a shift to OLED (or in the meantime, Mini LED) feels overdue. Especially since the iPad Pro is aimed at graphic designers, photo editors and people looking for perfect displays.

If the iPad Pro gets a Mini LED display, which should offer deeper black levels similar to OLED, it may only arrive on the 12.9-inch model, and could be in shorter supply for a while. But, while a nicer display would be appreciated, the existing iPad Pro display is still really, really good.

Will the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air have the same M1 processor? If so, how similar will they become?

Scott Stein/CNET

An M1 processor (or, something nearly as good)

The A12Z processor on the 2020 iPad Pro is, to be clear, still fast. But it wasn't much faster in benchmarks than the A12X processor from 2018, which points to an overdue chip upgrade. There could be an A14Z or A14X processor, that adds extra graphics cores and other boosts over the chip on Apple's recent iPhones and iPad Air. Or, maybe, Apple uses the M1 that's already in the MacBook Air. The M1 seems like the obvious choice, but it's possible Apple will choose to customize a chip more targeted at tablets, leaving out unnecessary M1 features geared towards Macs.

All indications suggest the iPad Pro will have its own A14X chip that will effectively be as fast as the M1 on Macs.

Either way, the results could end up offering an extra boost. But for what? I'd like the already-fast iPad Pro to start being capable of more advanced multitasking. Or, maybe, true second monitor support. 

iPad Pro USB-C hubs already exist, like Sanho's HyperDrive. Thunderbolt could expand options for accessories.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

An expanded Thunderbolt port

The USB-C port on the iPad Pro and iPad Air is a big improvement over Lightning: It works with standard USB charging adapters, and can connect to multiport adapters to get SD cards, or add a monitor or Ethernet. 

Yet there are limits to what the iPad Pro can do compared to a Mac. Thunderbolt would allow expanded and higher-speed external storage, improved monitor connection and more advanced docks.

That could suggest new Apple accessories. 

The Kensington StudioDock turns the iPad Pro into a desktop computer. Could Apple make its own accessory?

Scott Stein/CNET

Will there be an Apple-made dock?

Apple's transformative keyboard case for the iPad Pro took advantage of new support for trackpads in last year's iPadOS update. If the new iPads gain Thunderbolt, maybe Apple will decide to make its own iPad Pro dock. I imagined some sort of turn-your-iPad-into-a-desktop-computer accessory a few years ago. The Kensington StudioDock for iPad Pro and Air shows how the USB-C iPads can already transform into exactly that desktop device with lots of extra ports. Would Apple try its own spin, but with Thunderbolt?

5G

The iPad doesn't have 5G... yet. Since the 2020 iPhones introduced 5G, the iPad Pro would make sense as the next on deck. Apple doesn't even have LTE on any of its laptops, but iPads have had that option almost from the start. That being said, I've found my local 5G to be lacking, and mobile data is an add-on option I don't tend to use. 

A better pencil, maybe

Recent reports claimed that Apple may have a newer version of the Pencil stylus, maybe one that's more compact or have additional touch-based controls (or a new tip?). The second-gen Apple Pencil debuted back in 2018 and there's already iPad stylus fragmentation, with differing levels of support in different iPads for the first- and second-gen Pencils. 

Apple's event invite does seem very squiggly, as if drawn by a Pencil...who knows?

Could Apple shift the front camera placement? (We hope so)

The iPad isn't great for landscape-based video conferencing, because the front-facing camera ends up sitting on one side and making conversations look like I'm staring somewhere else. It would make sense for Apple to change where the front-facing camera is this year. We're all working and schooling from home more than ever, and when we do, we usually do it with the iPad held sideways. Even the Magic Keyboard assumes you're using the iPad that way.

The iPad Pro and Mac already feel like they're overlapping. Will this year's iPad continue to blur the lines?

Scott Stein/CNET

Why not make iPadOS even more expansive (and Mac-like)?

If Apple were to put the M1 in the iPad Pro, it also raises the question of whether Apple would unleash the iPad's software even further. Living with an M1 MacBook Air alongside an iPad Pro reminded me of the iPad's OS limitations, and how a more multitasking-focused, monitor-enabled iPad could feel even more like a full-fledged computer. Now that the iPad already supports trackpads, mice and plenty of peripherals, why not?

My biggest desire for the next wave of iPads isn't about hardware. It's about unleashing the software to make it as versatile as Macs already are. We might not get any closer to bridging iPad and Mac this spring, but I'd still like to see it happen. And we'll probably find out on April 20.

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Massachusetts Tax Refund: Who Is Eligible and When Could Checks Go Out?

Massachusetts Tax Refund: Who Is Eligible and When Could Checks Go Out?

Gov. Charlie Baker's plan to send $250 checks to middle-income residents fell apart last month, but Massachusetts taxpayers will still probably get a healthy tax rebate this year.

The $250 payout was making headway but a bill failed to pass before the July 31 deadline, in part because legislators suddenly remembered a 35-year-old voter referendum that could mean nearly $3 billion in surplus taxes will be returned to taxpayers this fall.

The 1986 statute --  which has only ever been triggered once, in 1987 -- mandates that, if the money collected in income tax reaches a predetermined dollar amount above and beyond the state budget, the excess must be returned to taxpayers.

Baker insisted there was enough in the coffers to support both his original $250 payout and any mandatory refunds.  

"The tax breaks that are currently pending before the legislature are eminently affordable," he told reporters, WBUR reported. "I mean, you're talking about a tax year, this past year, in which tax revenue went up by over 20 percent."

Legislators on Beacon Hill didn't necessarily agree.

"The fiscally responsible thing to do is to hit pause right now on all of this spending," Sen. Michael Rodrigues, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, told reporters on Aug. 1, The Boston Globe reported.

"We want to make sure we get it right," Rodrigues added. "We are committed to getting some real, long-term permanent tax relief done."

Here's what Massachusetts residents need to know about the tax rebate, including who is eligible, how much it could be for and when it may go out.

For more on tax relief, find out which states are mailing out tax rebates, pausing their gas tax and instituting sales tax "holidays."

How much will the Massachusetts tax rebate be?

The original refund proposed in Baker's budget was for $250, intended for individual filers who earned between $38,000 and $100,000 last year and joint filers who made up to $150,000.

The exact dollar amount that could go out now is still to be determined: State Auditor Suzanne Bump has to calculate what, if any, tax surplus there is, using a formula based on annual wage and salary growth.

Baker's office has predicted taxpayers would get 7% of their 2021 income taxes returned, according to MassLive. For an individual earning $75,000, that would work out to about $250.

While the state auditor hasn't determined whether tax revenue has triggered a refund yet, Gov Baker predicts that thanks to a 1986 voter referendum, taxpayers will get 7% of their 2021 income taxes returned.

Photosomnia/Getty Images

Who qualifies for the Massachusetts tax rebate?

Theoretically, anyone who paid 2021 income tax in Massachusetts would be eligible to be paid back. Residents with outstanding state tax bills may not see a check, though.

When will the Massachusetts tax rebate be sent out?

Baker's original plan would have had $250 checks in the hands of eligible taxpayers by October. The tax cap won't be calculated by the state auditor until September, though the Department of Revenue could start issuing tax credits on Sept. 21, MassLive reported.

"We're looking at what's the quickest and most efficient way to get that money back to the taxpayers," Michael Heffernan, state secretary of administration and finance, told reporters Thursday, WBZ news radio reported.

Lawmakers don't want to rush any decisions and overextend the budget with multiple rounds of tax rebates.

Pausing the economic development and tax relief package forged the "wisest choice," House Speaker Ron Mariano said at a press conference, WGBH reported.  

"We wanted to make sure to be fiscally prudent that we know what we're getting into," Mariano added. "The economy is going through some strange things with a big inflation rate [and] oil and gas fluctuations that may lead to a recession."

What other tax breaks could Massachusetts residents receive?

Lawmakers want to increase the earned income tax credit from the 30% match of the federal credit to 40%, raise the child care credit from $180  per child to $310 and increase the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000. 

Certain seniors who own or rent their primary properties in Massachusetts get a "circuit breaker" tax credit, and Democrats want to bump the maximum from $1,170 to $2,340.

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What the Future of Health Looks Like for Apple

What the Future of Health Looks Like for Apple

Apple's Health app keeps evolving, with aspirations to be a complete combination personal data archive, medical liaison and insight engine. But the goals, while ambitious, aren't fully realized yet. iOS 16 and WatchOS 9 are adding medication management and multistage sleep tracking to a growing list of features. But what comes next, and will it start to become a tool that interfaces with doctors even more than it has?

Apple just published a multipage health report (PDF), which aims to detail where the company sees its health focus heading on the iPhone and the Apple Watch. The report covers the app, research studies and initiatives with medical organizations.

As Google prepares to release a Pixel Watch that will connect to Fitbit's features and services, Apple looks to be strengthening its position by expanding beyond the watch to a larger spectrum of health services. Already, Apple Health and Fitness Plus are evolving into services you don't need an Apple Watch to use.

When will Health start to become an extension of how I connect with my own doctors? Will sleep tracking offer a doorway to other health insights? And why doesn't Apple have its own equivalent of the "readiness score" used by Fitbit and Oura?

Apple's vice president of health, Dr. Sumbul Desai, spoke with CNET about the goals of Apple Health and where goals are being set next. She sees the blend of lifestyle with clinical data, medication data and an increasing number of metrics in one place as helping future insights in other health measurements over time. 

"You have to do it in a really thoughtful and meaningful way," Desai said. "Because there are also correlations you can make that are incorrect. That's where the work is, making sure that when you make those connections that they are correct, grounded in the science and make sense to the user."

Medication tracking on iOS 16 looks like another step to bring medical histories onto Health.

Apple

Where does Apple Health meet your doctor?

As I've found over the last few months, over several surgeries and doctor visits, my own medical care doesn't often connect with my wearable and phone apps. Apple's been aiming to make strides to connect Apple Health with medical providers, but the framework isn't fully there yet for digital health platforms. A lot of Apple's promised benefits are in identifying long-term data patterns and insights.

"I do think how they interact with each other is really important," said Desai, who points to the new tracking of atrial fibrillation patterns over time in Watch OS 9. "We are actually taking how much time you're in AFib and correlating it to your lifestyle. How much you're sleeping. How much you're moving, you'll see the changes in AFib. If you're using Mindful Minutes, do you see a change."

Apple has tried making data sharing easier with doctors, but right now it still doesn't go far enough. At the medical group where I'm a patient, for instance, there's no obvious way to share the data I'm collecting in Apple Health through the patient portal.

Sleep tracking is gaining sleep stages in WatchOS 9. Will that bring a wave of other health insights down the road?

Apple

Sleep as the next frontier?

Apple's addition of sleep stage-based sleep tracking in the upcoming Watch OS 9 looks to close the gap on other fitness trackers like those from Fitbit, Samsung and Oura. Apple's been pulling new features for the Apple Watch from work in some of the company's ongoing heart research studies, and sleep could end up being a place that evolves next.

"What I'm really excited to learn from a scientific standpoint is, does the amount of sleep that you're getting in certain stages, like core [replenishing sleep], does that actually translate to benefit during the day when you're moving?" Desai said. "Are there certain phenotypes of certain people who have more benefit versus others? There's so much to tackle from a research standpoint there. We would never put anything out until we knew we kind of had some scientific grounding. The whole causation-correlation thing can get very tricky."

Desai suggested future research combining sleep stage data with Apple's ongoing heart and move data from its ongoing study will possibly provide more insights, "but we're still a ways away from that."

Could Apple ever develop its own readiness score?

One thing Apple's evolving and elaborate set of Health insights currently doesn't have is any sort of attempt at a distilled score, or personal health rating. Fitbit, Oura, and a number of other wearables have daily personal scores derived from a variety of individual metrics. I asked Desai whether Apple might pursue a similar idea anytime soon. While it sounds like a direction Apple Health could head in, it also seems like Apple is still trying to lock down the best path to get there.

"It's a really good question. I think the answer is, to be honest, is we don't have a firm POV yet," Desai said. "We want to understand the science behind that, and what can we understand and glean from a scientific standpoint."

Desai suggests that the health measurements, and their meanings, can vary. "HRV [heart rate variability] is a great metric. I'm super fascinated by HRV. But HRV can be changed based on multiple reasons." She suggested that Apple's eventual evolution of its insights will need to come with clear guidance, too.

"I think for us, we want to be able to provide actionable information. So to understand to do that, you actually have to be able to draw it back to, what we think is actually causing that? We are really trying to understand the science behind all of these different metrics and focus on how we provide insights that we know we can back up."

On whether Apple Health could come to other non-Apple devices

Apple's aiming for Health to be a comprehensive, secure system for anyone to use, but it still flows through Apple hardware, which means a portion of the population will always be left out. I asked Desai whether Apple Health might ever be available beyond iPhones.

"We're always looking at ways to support the ecosystem. We just want to make sure we can support that in a private and secure way. That's fundamentally what drives our decision making," Desai said. "We have a ton of things in the App Store ecosystem that are super interesting that people are doing, and we're very supportive of supporting that work.

"Honestly, we make a lot of decisions driven by privacy. And there's a lot of things we choose not to do and choose to do, based upon that."

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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What is an escrow account and how does it work?

What is an escrow account and how does it work?

Escrow refers to an arrangement in which a neutral third party receives, holds and pays out funds as spelled out in a contract. Though it's used in a variety of financial situations, escrow accounts are commonly used in a real estate context to help manage payments for property taxes and insurance. 

What is escrow and how does it work? 

In real estate, escrow accounts are used for two main purposes -- to hold an initial payment for the property and to hold funds for property taxes and insurance.

When you're buying a house, your mortgage lender may require an escrow account to hold funds for closing until the deal is finalized. Once you agree on a home price with the seller, your agent will collect earnest money -- a good-faith deposit that proves you're serious about the home purchase -- from you and place it into an escrow account. How much earnest money is required can vary, but you'll typically provide 1% to 2% of the home sale price.

What happens to your earnest money if the deal falls through?

When initially putting your money into escrow, you have a time window to change your mind (typically 48 hours) without losing your escrow money. As long as you meet the deadlines provided, you can get your earnest money back if the deal falls through. In addition, after the home inspection, you also receive a window of opportunity to review the inspection results and cancel the home sale without losing your earnest money. If you break the deal after a specified deadline, this money could go to the seller. 

Once you close on your home, your good-faith deposit becomes part of your down payment. On your closing day, you'll add the rest of your closing costs to this escrow account. This money is then distributed to all parties involved in the home sale -- the seller, agents and any other players.

How homeowner escrow accounts work

After you buy your home, your monthly mortgage expenses may still be deposited into an escrow account to pay for holding tax and insurance funds. This money will be taken directly from your monthly mortgage payment. This money is used by the lender to pay insurance premiums and taxes whenever they are due. Typically, there must be more than two months of funds in the account, to minimize the lender's risk and to make sure that the homeowner is capable of making the payments. The account is closed once the loan is settled. Keep in mind that escrow accounts do not pay for any kind of homeownership costs. Utility bills and other maintenance costs of the property are not part of the escrow account.

Who manages an escrow account?

The escrow account is managed by a neutral third party or middleman -- usually the escrow company or escrow agent or even the mortgage servicer, depending on what you are using the account for. The escrow agent is often the same as the title agent who holds onto the deed until the sale is closed during the home buying process. After the sale of a house, escrow accounts are managed by the mortgage servicer responsible for collecting your mortgage payments and keeping their records. 

Who pays for the escrow account?

Since an escrow account benefits both the buyer and the seller, there is no hard and fast rule about who pays for it. The buyer and the seller may choose to split the fees or decide that one party bears it all. If the title provider or settlement agent is paying for the account, the fees could be rolled into the settlement fees or the title insurance fee. If the buyer fields the cost, escrow fees could be added to the mortgage payments, resulting in a higher payment every month. 

Just like earnest money, escrow account fees can range, but typically equal 1% to 2% of the home sale price.

Benefits of an escrow account

The most important benefit of an escrow account is the financial protection it offers the buyer, seller and lender. As a home buyer, you are assured that your money will return to you if the deal falls through. As a seller, you can have peace of mind that you will be covered if the buyer backs out in the middle of the deal. As a lender, you can be sure that you will not face financial loss regardless of the outcome of the deal.

For homeowners, the escrow account eliminates the need to come up with a lump sum amount to cover taxes and insurance. Spreading the cost over the year makes it easier to have the payments made on time. At the same time, you don't have to keep track of the due dates of taxes and insurance premiums because they are being paid by your mortgage lender. 

Do you need an escrow account?

When you are buying a property, an escrow account is often a requirement by the lender and cannot be avoided, unless you are making over 50% down payment, have an incredible credit score or do not have a loan at all. While the benefits and peace of mind that escrow brings cannot be denied, there are certain downsides too. 

The biggest drawback of an escrow account is the higher mortgage rate, compared to what you would pay without escrow. You may also be charged a different amount for each payment because the rate of taxes and insurance premiums could rise and fall. The estimate of how much funds are needed in the escrow may not be accurate all the time, and you could end up overpaying.

It is not impossible to avoid an escrow. If you have enough savings to buy a house without a loan or pay off the mortgage with your own money, you can do without the higher costs of an escrow. Your annual income, credit score and your history of payments will determine whether or not you need an escrow account. 

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I visited Samsung's Galaxy S22 metaverse event, but it felt rushed and incomplete

I visited Samsung's Galaxy S22 metaverse event, but it felt rushed and incomplete

Samsung's Galaxy S22 reveal event wasn't just a standard livestream this year: It also took place inside a metaverse -- and I was genuinely excited to check it out. I've attended previous Samsung events in VR and found them to be more enjoyable than most other branded virtual experiences. The infamous 2016 photo of Mark Zuckerberg walking down an aisle while everyone around him is wearing a Gear VR headset is undeniably silly, but the demonstration of what could be possible from home was actually compelling.

By comparison, this 2022 Unpacked event had surprisingly little to do with Samsung and served more as an example of what not to do when using the metaverse to host a product launch.

If you saw Samsung announce an event in the metaverse and thought it meant putting on a VR headset and sitting in an audience, you're not alone. Instead, Samsung built a version of its New York event space in Decentraland, a cryptocurrency-focused virtual playground. It's technically possible to enter Decentraland with a VR headset, but the experience is barely functional and requires a lot of technical knowledge. Using your web browser alongside your mouse and keyboard, as intended by the creators, you enter Decentraland as an animated avatar you can modify, and move yourself to the Samsung 837X space to participate. 

Arriving at this space the day before the event revealed a brightly lit building and a faux pizza shop. The doors were all closed and there wasn't much to see, but there were already people lined up to see what Samsung had to offer. When I checked in again, 30 minutes before the event was to start, a handful of people waiting outside had climbed to nearly 100 that I could see. Decentraland runs 10 servers and you can only see the people on your server, but as I moved around before the event each server seemed similarly full. Roughly 1,000 people were waiting for Samsung to open the doors and show us the Galaxy S22 Ultra. 

Unfortunately for a lot of those servers, the doors didn't open on time. Many people were unable to actually enter Samsung 837X before the event started. Everyone outside the metaverse was enjoying a strange crossover with the popular TV series Bridgerton at the start of this event, while I and dozens of my fellow metazens were changing servers to find one that worked. Once a server with open doors had been located, the next challenge was finding the room inside this virtual building where the announcement event was actually streaming.

The three unlockable clothing packs you could use to equip your metaverse avatar if you completed the minigame inside Samsung's event.

Russell Holly/CNET

Inside Samsung 837X, you are presented with three rooms and a host of smaller activities to enjoy. Samsung had made special clothing for your Decentraland avatar you could only get by completing a quest in this space. Most of the space was dedicated to this quest, but in the back you could find a theater with the Unpacked event streaming. The room was a fairly generic virtual theater with a big curved screen showing the event already in progress outside of the metaverse. I was nearly 10 minutes late, and now watching a smaller version of the livestream with animated characters dancing around inside of a web browser on my laptop.

A few minutes into watching this presentation, it became clear the real reason most people were here was to unlock the virtual clothes tied to the Samsung quest. The app told me there were 96 people in the space, but the room only held 37. The novelty of the Samsung-made space was much more important than the unveiling of a new phone and tablet for a majority of those who regularly visit Decentraland.

It's difficult to feel like this approach to an event is anything other than a step backward. Back in 2016, Samsung offered the ability to watch a Galaxy Unpacked event from inside its VR headset. You put the headset on, opened the app and picked one of several positions to watch the stage from a 360-degree streaming camera. Being able to turn your head and see the audience made you feel like you were actually sitting in the audience. Not a lot of people owned those headsets at the time, but it felt like you were in a packed room and could enjoy the show.

The Samsung Theater, where I could watch the Galaxy S22 Ultra unveiling.

Russell Holly/CNET

In fairness, this 2022 event was fully virtual, so there was no live space to warp into as there was during pre-pandemic product launches. But Samsung could have made it possible to walk through a virtual store, get a closer look at the phone from every angle, or maybe even preorder the next phone using cryptocurrency. There could have been Samsung staff on hand in the space to answer questions or talk to people about what they're upgrading from and how the cameras on this new phone might have been better.

Samsung had an opportunity to make this space actually feel like a virtual version of its 837 store, but instead built a terribly rendered virtual forest to showcase its intent to plant 2 million trees as part of its sustainability efforts. For comparison's sake, the real Samsung 837 store not only sells Samsung devices but opened with a cafe on site and, at least pre-pandemic, held a running club that promoted its fitness trackers.

This could have been a lot of fun, but instead felt rushed and incomplete. It was a halfhearted attempt in a long line of cultural zeitgeist moments from Samsung, and felt more like an online version of the Yo! Noid game from Pizza Hut in 1990 than it does a glimpse at an often-promised metaversal future.

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What Are Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4? How 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Plans Work

What Are Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4? How 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Plans Work

How many times have you added items to your online shopping cart only to balk at the total? While staying within your budget is wise, if you need to make a purchase that you're considering charging or borrowing money for, a "buy now, pay later" service might be a smarter option.

BNPL companies like Affirm, AfterPay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 work by offering you micro installment loans. This loan covers the cost of your purchase right away, and lets you repay the balance over time. These services have gained traction since the pandemic and today AfterPay has more than 16 million active users, followed by Affirm's 8.7 million, most of whom are millennials and Gen Z shoppers.

But what exactly are these installment plans and how are they different from credit cards and personal loans? Here's the breakdown of these alternative financing options and how to use them.

What are installment services?

If you've ever bought a car, a home or an education, you've probably used an installment loan. Installment loans are lump-sum loans that you pay off over a set amount of months or years. For products like cars and homes, they're often funded by well-known banks, like Chase or Wells Fargo. 

Mini installment plans from companies like AfterPay and Affirm act like microloans for everyday purchases, like clothes, makeup, electronics and gym equipment (like Peloton). Affirm, for example, also supports unexpected purchases, like car repairs through YourMechanic. But unlike new car or home purchase loans, which you typically pay off over the course of many years, products and services financed through these services are typically paid off in a few weeks or months. 

How do they work?

Each online installment plan offers different setups, but the gist is: You buy your item now, select the plan at checkout with a qualifying retailer, create an account and complete your purchase. With Klarna and AfterPay, you get your goods right away and then pay for them over four installment payments: one when you check out and typically every other week or once a month thereafter. Affirm has payment options that usually range from three to 12 months, although some plans have terms as high as 48 months.

For AfterPay, as long as you make your four payments, you won't get charged late fees. Klarna has different payment options and some of them charge interest. Affirm charges 0 to 30% interest depending on your payment plan.

To take advantage of an interest-free installment plan, you need to shop with retailers that support it. Anthropologie, DSW and Fenty Beauty are AfterPay partners, for example. You might see the installment service's logo when you're viewing a product, letting you know the partnership exists and you can select a payment plan at checkout. From there, you'll usually pay the first installment and the next one will come out about two weeks later. Otherwise, the product or service will arrive on time, just like it would if you paid in full at checkout.

You can also shop through each company's app. Affirm, AfterPay, PayPal and Klarna all have apps in the App Store and Google Play that let you shop, monitor your orders and make payments. 

While they aren't like traditional loans, they're different from other types of alternative payment methods. For instance:

• They aren't credit cards. A credit card is a revolving credit line that you get approved for. You use your card to pay for your purchase in full and then at the end of the billing period you'll pay off your bill or make payments until you pay it off in full. Typically, if you don't pay your balance off at the end of the billing period, interest will accrue, which can be 20% or more. CNET always recommends paying off your credit in full. 
• They aren't the same as layaway. Layaway is when you agree to pay off an item over the course of a few months and once you've paid it off, you can take it home. Layaway usually requires an upfront deposit and a service fee, and you don't get your goods until you've paid for them in full. Some installment plan companies require an upfront deposit, but you don't have to wait to get your item; you get it right away.

How does an installment service affect my credit score?

When you apply for a loan or a credit card, that hard credit check looks at your credit history to see if you're responsible enough with credit to lend to. With BNPL apps, there's no hard credit inquiry. If the app checks your credit, it'll be a soft credit check, which won't hurt your credit score. The services don't specify the credit score you need to shop with them.

If you aren't diligent with payments, your credit score might be affected. For most micro installment loans, you're required to make payments about every two weeks and in four total installments. So if you don't pay your bill on time, that triggers a late payment for some companies. The three major credit bureaus will get notified and you could see your credit score take a dip. Late payments are one of the biggest factors in determining your credit score, and a drop in that could hurt your chances of borrowing money in the future.

Penalties and fees vary by company. Affirm and PayPal do not charge late fees. AfterPay does, though these fees will not exceed 25% of the purchase amount. Klarna doesn't charge a late fee but if you don't make a payment when it's due, you can be blocked from using the site and app in the future. None of these services charge prepayment fees, so you won't get penalized for repaying your balance sooner.

Should I use BNPL services?

It depends on what kind of shopper you are and your mentality about money. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• You can buy items and services, even if you can't afford them right away:If you have things you need or want to buy, you're not obligated to pay full price at checkout. Micro installment loans let you pay out your purchase over a few weeks.
• You don't need great credit to get approved:Most services do a soft credit check, which won't hurt your credit score . If you don't have great credit or a long credit history, this is a good alternative payment option.
• It's simpler than a loan or credit card:If you've had trouble with credit cards or don't like using them, this is an easier method than applying for a credit card or personal loan. You can apply at checkout, whereas if you want a credit card or loan, you'll need to wait a few days before you can use those funds.

Cons

• You might believe you're spending less:If you cringe at a $1,000 couch, seeing payments broken up into $250 every other week, for example, tricks you into believing you're paying less for an item. In reality, you're still paying the same amount and you're borrowing money to do it.
• You may be charged interest or other fees: Depending on the service you choose and the repayment plan you select, you could be charged interest. Affirm, for instance, offers interest rates between 0% and 30%. While this interest does not compound like a credit card, spreading payments for that $1,000 couch over 12 months at a 30% interest rate could end up costing you $169.76 in interest alone. 
• You might not get approved for the full amount: Your credit score may not preclude you from getting approved for a BNPL loan, but it's still a factor when determining your loan amount and interest rate (if applicable). That means, there's a chance you might not get approved for the full amount you're requesting. 
• It's still a loan:Remember you're still taking out a loan, even if you pay it off sooner than you would a traditional loan. Not paying on time could result in interest fees, late payment fees or not being able to use the service in the future.
  

While the convenience of delayed payment sounds appealing as a way to get something now, you're still on the hook for paying your bill in full. If you need something now but can't afford it, micro installment loans might be a good idea. But if you don't think you'll be able to afford payments, you may want to consider another payment method or waiting until you have cash on hand to make your purchase.

Correction, April 30: Affirm has 8.7 million users, more than we previously quoted. It also has repayment options ranging from three to 12 months, a shorter period than previously listed. Clarified that AfterPay does not charge late fees as long as you make four payments.

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What Are Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4? How 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Plans Work

What Are Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4? How 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Plans Work

How many times have you added items to your online shopping cart only to balk at the total? While staying within your budget is wise, if you need to make a purchase that you're considering charging or borrowing money for, a "buy now, pay later" service might be a smarter option.

BNPL companies like Affirm, AfterPay, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 work by offering you micro installment loans. This loan covers the cost of your purchase right away, and lets you repay the balance over time. These services have gained traction since the pandemic and today AfterPay has more than 16 million active users, followed by Affirm's 8.7 million, most of whom are millennials and Gen Z shoppers.

But what exactly are these installment plans and how are they different from credit cards and personal loans? Here's the breakdown of these alternative financing options and how to use them.

What are installment services?

If you've ever bought a car, a home or an education, you've probably used an installment loan. Installment loans are lump-sum loans that you pay off over a set amount of months or years. For products like cars and homes, they're often funded by well-known banks, like Chase or Wells Fargo. 

Mini installment plans from companies like AfterPay and Affirm act like microloans for everyday purchases, like clothes, makeup, electronics and gym equipment (like Peloton). Affirm, for example, also supports unexpected purchases, like car repairs through YourMechanic. But unlike new car or home purchase loans, which you typically pay off over the course of many years, products and services financed through these services are typically paid off in a few weeks or months. 

How do they work?

Each online installment plan offers different setups, but the gist is: You buy your item now, select the plan at checkout with a qualifying retailer, create an account and complete your purchase. With Klarna and AfterPay, you get your goods right away and then pay for them over four installment payments: one when you check out and typically every other week or once a month thereafter. Affirm has payment options that usually range from three to 12 months, although some plans have terms as high as 48 months.

For AfterPay, as long as you make your four payments, you won't get charged late fees. Klarna has different payment options and some of them charge interest. Affirm charges 0 to 30% interest depending on your payment plan.

To take advantage of an interest-free installment plan, you need to shop with retailers that support it. Anthropologie, DSW and Fenty Beauty are AfterPay partners, for example. You might see the installment service's logo when you're viewing a product, letting you know the partnership exists and you can select a payment plan at checkout. From there, you'll usually pay the first installment and the next one will come out about two weeks later. Otherwise, the product or service will arrive on time, just like it would if you paid in full at checkout.

You can also shop through each company's app. Affirm, AfterPay, PayPal and Klarna all have apps in the App Store and Google Play that let you shop, monitor your orders and make payments. 

While they aren't like traditional loans, they're different from other types of alternative payment methods. For instance:

• They aren't credit cards. A credit card is a revolving credit line that you get approved for. You use your card to pay for your purchase in full and then at the end of the billing period you'll pay off your bill or make payments until you pay it off in full. Typically, if you don't pay your balance off at the end of the billing period, interest will accrue, which can be 20% or more. CNET always recommends paying off your credit in full. 
• They aren't the same as layaway. Layaway is when you agree to pay off an item over the course of a few months and once you've paid it off, you can take it home. Layaway usually requires an upfront deposit and a service fee, and you don't get your goods until you've paid for them in full. Some installment plan companies require an upfront deposit, but you don't have to wait to get your item; you get it right away.

How does an installment service affect my credit score?

When you apply for a loan or a credit card, that hard credit check looks at your credit history to see if you're responsible enough with credit to lend to. With BNPL apps, there's no hard credit inquiry. If the app checks your credit, it'll be a soft credit check, which won't hurt your credit score. The services don't specify the credit score you need to shop with them.

If you aren't diligent with payments, your credit score might be affected. For most micro installment loans, you're required to make payments about every two weeks and in four total installments. So if you don't pay your bill on time, that triggers a late payment for some companies. The three major credit bureaus will get notified and you could see your credit score take a dip. Late payments are one of the biggest factors in determining your credit score, and a drop in that could hurt your chances of borrowing money in the future.

Penalties and fees vary by company. Affirm and PayPal do not charge late fees. AfterPay does, though these fees will not exceed 25% of the purchase amount. Klarna doesn't charge a late fee but if you don't make a payment when it's due, you can be blocked from using the site and app in the future. None of these services charge prepayment fees, so you won't get penalized for repaying your balance sooner.

Should I use BNPL services?

It depends on what kind of shopper you are and your mentality about money. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• You can buy items and services, even if you can't afford them right away:If you have things you need or want to buy, you're not obligated to pay full price at checkout. Micro installment loans let you pay out your purchase over a few weeks.
• You don't need great credit to get approved:Most services do a soft credit check, which won't hurt your credit score . If you don't have great credit or a long credit history, this is a good alternative payment option.
• It's simpler than a loan or credit card:If you've had trouble with credit cards or don't like using them, this is an easier method than applying for a credit card or personal loan. You can apply at checkout, whereas if you want a credit card or loan, you'll need to wait a few days before you can use those funds.

Cons

• You might believe you're spending less:If you cringe at a $1,000 couch, seeing payments broken up into $250 every other week, for example, tricks you into believing you're paying less for an item. In reality, you're still paying the same amount and you're borrowing money to do it.
• You may be charged interest or other fees: Depending on the service you choose and the repayment plan you select, you could be charged interest. Affirm, for instance, offers interest rates between 0% and 30%. While this interest does not compound like a credit card, spreading payments for that $1,000 couch over 12 months at a 30% interest rate could end up costing you $169.76 in interest alone. 
• You might not get approved for the full amount: Your credit score may not preclude you from getting approved for a BNPL loan, but it's still a factor when determining your loan amount and interest rate (if applicable). That means, there's a chance you might not get approved for the full amount you're requesting. 
• It's still a loan:Remember you're still taking out a loan, even if you pay it off sooner than you would a traditional loan. Not paying on time could result in interest fees, late payment fees or not being able to use the service in the future.
  

While the convenience of delayed payment sounds appealing as a way to get something now, you're still on the hook for paying your bill in full. If you need something now but can't afford it, micro installment loans might be a good idea. But if you don't think you'll be able to afford payments, you may want to consider another payment method or waiting until you have cash on hand to make your purchase.

Correction, April 30: Affirm has 8.7 million users, more than we previously quoted. It also has repayment options ranging from three to 12 months, a shorter period than previously listed. Clarified that AfterPay does not charge late fees as long as you make four payments.

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Huawei's Mate 40 Pro could be firm's last hurrah in the smartphone world

Huawei's Mate 40 Pro could be firm's last hurrah in the smartphone world

Huawei on Thursday welcomed into the world the latest addition to its flagship lineup: the Mate 40 Pro. But the phone's arrival was bittersweet. The device launched under a dark cloud, with a combination of US sanctions and reputational damage to the company raising the question of whether the Mate 40 Pro will be the last Huawei phone of its kind.

Since 2018, the US government has been imposing increasingly harsh sanctions on Huawei due to the company's purported links to the Chinese Communist Party. That's the reason Huawei's phones, which are popular elsewhere in the world, including Europe, aren't on sale in the US.

It's also why the Mate 40 series is the third lot of Huawei flagships (after the Mate 30 and P40 series) to arrive without access to Google services. Over the past year, Huawei has made great strides to beef up its app offering and homegrown Harmony operating system, but it still doesn't match up to Google and Apple. That's made it hard to recommend Huawei devices over Android rivals.

The lack of access to Android's key services is taking its toll. Despite the company clinging to its No. 1 position in the global smartphone market in the first half of 2022 -- largely because of its strong performance in China -- Huawei's global market share dropped to 16% in August, from 21% in April, according to the latest Monthly Market Report by Counterpoint Research. 

In comparison, its closest competitor, Samsung, has jumped from 20% to 22%. Not only has this seen Huawei drop to second in global rankings, it's also created a 6% gap between first and second place.

"Many of the restrictions imposed on Huawei by the US government are beginning to bite now, so it is losing share in many markets outside China," Counterpoint VP of Research Peter Richardson said over email. "Assuming there is no relaxation in the restrictions placed on Huawei by the US administration, it is likely that its market share will continue to suffer."

It's a bad time to be vulnerable if you're a phone manufacturer, because the global 5G rollout is really beginning to gain momentum. Every jump to the next generation of network technology creates wiggle room at the top for a reshuffle. Ambitious companies can use this to their advantage, but just as there are always winners, there are always losers.

The big loser in the leap from 3G to 4G was HTC -- once one of the most popular phone makers in the world, now nowhere to be seen in global rankings. Huawei will be keen to avoid a similar fate.

It's not as though Huawei isn't well prepared for 5G. As one of the world leaders in building 5G equipment, it has an inside knowledge of what's required of 5G devices. Its homegrown Kirin 9000 chip, which powers the Mate 40, is a prime example of this: It's the first and only 5 nanometer, 5G system-on-a-chip with the modem built-in. 

Huawei's 5G credentials should put it ahead of the game. But unfortunately, the Kirin 9000 is the last such chipset the company will be able to produce for its phones. US trade restrictions introduced this year mean Huawei no longer has access to many of the components it needs, and the company stopped manufacturing Kirin chips last month.

It's a big loss for the company. Kirin has been the secret sauce allowing Huawei to get ahead of the competition -- particularly setting it apart from rival upstarts from within China. Boosting everything from speed to camera performance, the chip is responsible for many of the things CNET has praised Huawei phones for over the years in our reviews. Two years ago, Huawei touted that an older version of its Kirin chip was smart enough to power a self-driving Porsche.

During a phone briefing this week, Huawei declined to answer any questions about what the loss of Kirin would mean for phones beyond the Mate 40. But without clarity on what post-Kirin Huawei phones might look like, it's hard not to see the Mate 40 as the last of its kind.

"It is a tragedy to see Huawei's difficulties in its smartphone division," said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight. "Having once been close to challenging Samsung as the market leader for mobile phones, the division is now fighting for survival as it finds it increasingly difficult to get components and its brand is eroded."

For now the company is still the No. 2 phone maker in the world, and the newest addition to the Mate line, which has always been especially popular in China, could help buoy its sales for the next six months or so. 

But while this might buy it some time, there's a huge question mark over what's next for Huawei phones. If analyst predictions are correct, the company might need to brace itself for a tumble down the global rankings. One report, from Digitimes Research in Taipei, has Huawei slipping down as far as seventh place by April 2021. 

"Outside of China there is a real risk that the Huawei Mate 40 family of devices could be the company's last hurrah in smartphones," said Wood.

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