Merely days after the release of its new operating system – iOS 17 – Apple has had to issue urgent updates. 

iOS 17.0.1, now available globally, fixes three security flaws that left devices exposed to ‘malware’ – malicious computer software. 

The update is for all iPhone models still supported by the tech giant – so those released in 2018 and later (including iPhone XS and the 2nd generation iPhone SE). 

However, if you’ve got yourself a brand new iPhone 15 in the last few days, you’ll need an even newer update – iOS 17.0.2. 

iOS 17.0.2 also fixes an issue that may prevent the transfer of data directly from an older iPhone during setup.

Therefore, if you have the new iPhone 15, you should update it to iOS 17.0.2 before you try transferring data from your old device, not after.

To get either of the latest updates for your iPhone (or iPad, which is also affected), you just need to head to your device’s Settings and select ‘General’ followed by ‘Software Update’.

Tapping ‘Download and Install’ should start the update, which could take a few minutes to complete. 

Apple’s new iOS mobile operating system, iOS 17, was released last week, a few days before the iPhone 15 hit the shelves (although iOS 17 was made available for other recent iPhone models too). 

In a web post, Apple disclosed the three security flaws that are affecting iOS 17.0, which will be fixed in minutes as long as you update. 

One of these flaws allowed a malicious app to be able ‘to bypass signature validation’ – meaning it may be able to run without the user noticing. 

Apple disclosed the flaws following tip-offs from Google and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab research group. 

iOS 17.0.1 – which is for all recent iPhone models apart from the new iPhone 15 – fixes the bugs.  

Meanwhile, iOS 17.0.2 includes the three security fixes of iOS 17.0.1, but it also corrects the iPhone 15’s data transfer issue, the tech giant said in another post.

If you have any one of the new iPhone 15 models, you should notice in your Settings that the newest software update available is iOS 17.0.2.

iOS 17.0.2 fixes the data transfer issue that is issue specific to the iPhone 15 lineup, so the update is not necessary for older iPhone models. 

Therefore, if you have an older iPhone and you see the latest update available is iOS 17.0.1, you don’t not have to worry that iOS 17.0.2 is not available. 

The most important thing is updating your iPhone from iOS 17.0 (or iPadOS 17.0 if you have an iPad) because it leaves your device vulnerable to bugs. 

Once this is done you should be able to enjoy the new functionality offered by iOS 17, as intended by Apple. 

The generation of software includes several exciting features, including a Live Voicemail tool and the ability to share your contact details simply by touching your iPhone to another. 

iOS 17 was released a few days before iPhone 15 hit the shelves, leading to packed crowds from London to Beijing. 

The standard range of new iPhones start at £799 and are equipped with a new titanium frame, USB-C charging port and new artificial intelligence features. 

The two most expensive options in the iPhone 15 family, the Pro and Pro Max, reach a whopping £1,499 and £1,599, depending on storage. 

Do you panic when you get a text message or call from a number you don’t recognize? 

Forget having to send that awkward ‘sorry, who is this’ text or Googling the phone number – there are several ways to track down the caller.

TikToker Liz Perez posted a recent video detailing what to do when you get a call from an unknown number. 

Here’s how it works: If you get a text from an unknown number, mobile payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or PayPal can help you put a name to that number.

All you have to do is copy and paste the number into your payment app of choice to unveil the mystery sender’s name.

However, this only works if you already have an account with one of those apps, and the sender has to use their real name and number in the app, too. 

Then there’s the flip side. What if you don’t want your name and phone number to be so readily available? 

Be sure to disable your mobile payment app from sharing your name and phone number with other people. The steps vary per app. For example, in Venmo, open Settings, Friends and Social and toggle off Phone contacts.

However, there are also settings in iPhone and Android phones that can figure this out. 

Here is DailyMail.com’s step-by-step guide to revealing mystery callers. 

What about blocked numbers?

Maybe you remember from your pranking years: Dialing *67 conceals your number from someone you call. There are similar numbers you can dial to respond to mystery callers.

The first is *69, which traces the number of the last person who called you. It works even for anonymous or hidden calls, so you can get the phone number and exact time they called. 

Once you have that number, you can block it on your phone so they can’t call you anymore.

In more dangerous circumstances, such as harassment, another number you can use is *57. 

It gets you the phone number and call information that *69 does, but it goes above and beyond by passing that info on to the police.

Your phone service will log a *57 call so authorities can more easily locate whoever is harassing you. 

To get the most out of this, call the police right after a *57 call with a written log of the calls from your harasser so law enforcement can act. 

Your phone company might charge you extra for these calls, so it’s worth checking your plan to see if it supports the shortcuts.

‘I just want it to stop’

If you have an iPhone, you can take a more extreme step and automatically block numbers that aren’t on your Contacts list using Silence Unknown Callers.

Calls from numbers not in your Contacts will still go to your voicemail and appear in your recent calls list, but your phone won’t ring for them. Follow these steps to turn it on:

● Go to Settings, then Phone.

● Scroll down to Silence Unknown Callers. Slide the toggle to the right to enable the feature.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy:

● Open the Phone app and tap the More icon (three vertical dots) at the bottom of the screen.

● Tap Settings, then Call blocking.

● Turn the Block anonymous calls switch to on.

Keep in mind that if you send calls not in your contacts directly to voicemail, there are downsides. You will miss important phone calls, say from your doctor or child’s teacher.

Using a different phone? Search your phone’s model name and “call blocking” for directions if you need them.

Use a (virtual) burner

Giving away your real number to anyone and everyone is always a mistake. Think about all the accounts your phone number is attached to. Scary stuff.

Google Voice gives you a free phone number to use however you like for domestic and international phone calls, texts, and voicemails. All you need is a Google account to get started.

Here are steps for doing this: 

● Download the app for iOS or Android or go to voice.google.com/u/0/signup to get it for your computer.

● Next, sign into your Google account.

● Review the terms and proceed to the next step.

● Choose a phone number from the list. You can search by city or area code.

● Verify the number and enter a phone number to link to your Voice account.

● You’ll get a six-digit code to enter for the next step.

Another option is downloading a burner app. These give you a second phone number and use your internet data or Wi-Fi to make and receive calls and texts.

Burner is one of the most popular apps of this kind. You can route calls directly to your secondary number. The app comes with a seven-day free trial, and plans start at $4.99 monthly for one line.

Hushed lets you create numbers from around the world, so you can go outside your area code or the country if needed. 

A prepaid plan starts at $2.99 for seven days and comes with bundled minutes for local calls and texts. You can step up to unlimited talk and text ($4.99 per month) and international service ($6.99 per month).

Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. 

Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 500,000 people who call her free 5-minute daily email newsletter. 

By Britney Nguyen For Dailymail.Com

Published: 14:13 EDT, 21 September 2023 | Updated: 14:19 EDT, 21 September 2023

The moment that Apple fans have been waiting for is finally almost here, as the iOS 17 update is set to be released today. 

The software update includes several exciting new features, including a Live Voicemail tool and the ability to share your contact details simply by touching your iPhone to another.

‘With iOS 17, we’ve made iPhone more personal and intuitive by deeply considering the features we all rely on every day,’ said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. 

‘Phone, FaceTime, and Messages are central to how we communicate, and this release is packed with updates we think our users are going to love.’

Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 17, including how and when to download it on your iPhone. 

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 17? 

iOS 17 will be compatible with the iPhone XS and newer models. 

This means you’ll be able to download it if you have one of the following iPhones:

• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

What time will the update be available? 

Apple has confirmed that the iOS 17 update will be launching today, although it is yet to announce the exact time for the release. 

However, based on previously updates, it’s likely iOS 17 will be available at around 10:00 PT (18:00 BST). 

How do you download it?

If you have one of the compatible iPhones listed above, once the update is released, you’ll be able to download it via the Settings app. 

Open the app, then General > Software Update. 

Once iOS 17 is available, you’ll be able to download it here. 

What are some of the key features? 

1. Check In

With Apple’s new Check In feature, you’ll automatically be notified when a family member or friend gets to their destination safely.

‘After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will automatically be notified as soon as the user arrives,’ Apple explained. 

‘If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cell service status. 

‘Any information shared is end-to-end encrypted.’

2. Live Voicemail 

If you’re over a certain age, you’ll remember old-school voicemail machines — the kind that let you pick up the phone in the middle of the message if you decided the call was worth answering. 

Apple’s bringing that back with the Live Voicemail feature, which transcribes the message in real time and lets you take the call.

‘Live Voicemail gives users the ability to see real-time transcription as someone leaves a voicemail, and the opportunity to pick up while the caller is leaving their message,’ Apple said. 

‘Calls identified as spam by carriers won’t appear as Live Voicemail, and will instead be instantly declined. With the power of the Neural Engine, Live Voicemail transcription is handled on-device and remains entirely private.’

3. NameDrop 

The days of having to manually type a new friend’s contact details into your iPhone are a thing of the past in iOS 17. 

The update includes the ability to share your contact details, simply by bringing your iPhone close to another.  

‘NameDrop allows users to easily share contact information by simply bringing their iPhones together, or by bringing an iPhone and Apple Watch together,’ Apple said. 

‘With the same gesture, users can also share content or start SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game while in close proximity between iPhone devices.’

4. StandBy

If your iPhone is charing across the room, it can be annoying having to stand up to check what notifications are coming through. 

But a new feature in iOS 17 called StandBy will make it much easier to glance over at your device. 

‘StandBy gives users a full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to be viewed from a distance when iPhone is on its side and charging,’ Apple said. 

‘StandBy is perfect on a nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk, and can be personalised to display a range of beautiful clock styles, favourite photos, or widgets, including Smart Stacks, which surface the right widgets at the right time.’ 

5. Screen Distance

The Screen Time tool has a new feature called Screen Distance, which will alert you if you’re holding your iPhone too close to your face. 

‘Screen Distance uses the TrueDepth camera to encourage users to move their device farther away after holding it closer than 12 inches from their face for an extended period of time,’ Apple said. 

6. Autocorrect improvements

iOS 17 will keep Apple’s autocorrect feature from correcting one of the English language’s favoured expletives to ‘ducking.’ 

‘Autocorrect receives a comprehensive update with a transformer language model, a state-of-the-art on-device machine learning language model for word prediction — improving the experience and accuracy for users every time they type,’ Apple said.

‘It also receives a refreshed design to better support typing, and sentence-level autocorrections can fix more types of grammatical mistakes.’

US health officials are looking into reports that the iPhone 12 emits harmful levels of radiation — after sales were temporarily halted in Europe due to safety fears.

A spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — which is partly responsible for making sure cellphones are safe — told DailyMail.com the agency was ‘reviewing the available information’.

It comes after a regulator in France this week asked Apple to stop selling the 2020 iPhone 12, claiming tests found the handset emits radiation levels that exceed EU restrictions. 

Germany, Belgium and Spain have all signaled they could follow suit. Apple has disputed the findings, but the news has reignited deep-rooted fears about health and cellphone usage.

More than 81million iPhones were sold in the United States in 2021, the year after the model’s release. It is unclear how many Americans still own a device that is now three years old.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesman said: ‘In general, the FDA does not comment on specific studies or test results, but evaluates them as part of the body of evidence to further our understanding about a particular issue and assist in our mission to protect public health.

‘The FDA is reviewing the available information.’

The agency is responsible for regulating the safety of phones along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.

The Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) initially raised the alarm on Tuesday, claiming that the iPhone 12 had failed its latest round of routine testing – with radiation levels 40 percent above what the regulator says is acceptable.

But most experts say even if the higher radiation levels are true, they are ‘not sufficient’ enough to harm people.

There are old fears about the effects of phones on health, having previously been linked to brain cancer and fertility issues, but these have never been proven conclusively. 

Dr Devra Davis, an epidemiologist who has been studying the dangers of radiofrequency released from phones since the early 2000s, told DailyMail.com the FDA should ‘absolutely’ investigate the iPhone 12.

‘Why should French people be more protected than Americans?,’ she added.

Dr Joel Moskowitz, who researches the adverse effects of cellphone radiation at the University of California, Berkeley, said he hoped the reports from France prompted an investigation.

He told DailyMail.com: ‘I hope the French Apple 12 emissions debacle triggers an independent investigation in the US regarding SAR testing procedures for authorization for all wireless devices. 

‘In 2012, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report at the request of the Congress which raised major concerns about the SAR testing protocol, but it was ignored by the FCC.’

In routine testing, French regulators found the iPhone 12 emitted radiation levels that were 40 percent above permissible levels when it was next to a human.

Radiation from cellphones is measured in Europe using the specific absorption rate (SAR), or the amount of power absorbed by the body from a particular source per kilogram of body-weight.

More than 100million iPhone 12’s have been sold worldwide, while in the US an estimated 135million people own an iPhone.

In 2021, a year after the iPhone 12’s release, the number of iPhone owners sat at around 116million users. 

French digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed the iPhone 12’s radiation levels were much lower than those that scientific studies say could cause harm.

He added that a software update would be able to solve the issue.

Dr Rodney Croft, a neurophysiologist in Australia and chair of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, said: ‘From a health and safety point of view, it is not as if this is putting anyone at risk.’

The safety levels — based on the risks of burns or heatstroke from the phone’s radiation — are already set ten times below the level where scientists found evidence of harm.

Dr Croft added that France’s findings may differ from those of other regulators because measurement methods vary between different regulators.

France has previously stopped the sales of 42 smartphones in the country over radiation concerns. This is the first time Apple has been hit.

Apple currently has two weeks in which to respond but has already said it will issue a software update to fix the issue.

French regulators say they will need to test the software before they can put the phone back on the market.

The software update will only affect phones in France, and not those in other countries, they added. 

Previous research has suggested exposure to radiation from phones can cause everything from cancer to fertility issues.

But many researchers seek to pour cold water on these results, saying the tests were done in animals and exposure levels were very high in order to cause the issue.

‘Currently there is no strong evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields during mobile phone use is associated with adverse health effects,’ Maria Feychting, a professor of epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, said.

‘However, there are still some uncertainties and further research is needed, especially regarding the higher frequencies that will be used by 5G.’

It is worth pointing out that the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is an offshoot of the WHO, has previously claimed that certain radio frequencies at extreme levels are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’.

However, this is thought to be unlikely.

Apple said in a statement that its phone complied with standards worldwide but that it would ‘issue a software update for users in France to accommodate the protocol used by French regulators’.

They added: ‘This is related to a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and not a safety concern.’ 

The iPhone 12 was first released in September 2020 and is still sold worldwide, although Apple is now seeking to phase it out following the release of the iPhone 15.

Apple tech support staff are being told not to volunteer any information about the phones.

DailyMail.com contacted Apple for comment. 

Outside critics can endlessly debate whether innovation died with Steve Jobs, but at least one former Apple employee has taken to TikTok to blast the company’s flagging ingenuity and plummeting standards. 

The ex-employee, once an Apple sales specialist based in Los Angeles, called the launch of the new iPhone 15 ‘probably the most disappointing event I’ve seen.’ 

Despite touted changes, like USB-C charging and potentially life-saving new features like Roadside Assistance, the ex-sales rep called Apple’s latest just ‘the iPhone 14 Pro with titanium’ – a reference to the new device’s ‘aerospace‑grade titanium’ exterior.

Worse, the ex-employee said, the ‘colors suck.’ 

But, the new iPhone was not the only target of his withering criticisms: Everything from the new Series 9 Apple Watch to the Apple’s desktop displays were put in his crosshairs. 

Watch out for the iPhone SE, which he described as simply ‘Tim Cook’s way of scamming you.’

When it comes to the new iPhone 15, former Apple sales specialist Tyler Morgan, who goes by @hitomidocameraroll on TikTok, had little interest in new hardware features like the new ‘action button,’ which he described as ‘whatever.’

Mobile gamers will enjoy the new phone’s ability to perform ‘ray tracing,’ a graphics rendering feature that allows surface features like virtual reflections, lighting sources, and shadows behave more like they would in the real world.

Morgan described this addition as simply ‘okay.’

The iPhone camera’s ability to do five-times zoom was described as ‘measly’ – and, adding insult to injury, only available on the iPhone Pro Max.

He also blasted the mobile device’s drab, professional new colors: beige and blue.

The critique was a stark contrast from the bells and whistles emphasized at Apple’s launch event for the iPhone 15 this past Tuesday. 

Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, said: ‘iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and features like Roadside Assistance via satellite that make a real difference in users’ lives.

‘We’re also pushing the power of computational photography to new levels this year with a 48MP Main camera featuring a new 24MP default for super-high-resolution photos, a new 2x Telephoto option, and next-generation portraits.’

The iPhone 15 and the larger iPhone 15 Plus, which starts at $899, feature a 48-megapixel main camera, capable of twice the telephoto option for capturing photos and 4K video, and the new A16 bionic chips.

The iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display but the same features as the flagship model, which has a 6.1-inch screen.

Both smartphones feature new capabilities that let users take portraits without switching to Portrait mode.

An Apple executive said the company used machine learning to detect a person in the frame, allowing users to turn a picture into a portrait immediately or later in the Photos app.

‘When there’s a person, dog, or cat in the frame, or when a user taps to focus, iPhone automatically captures depth information, so users can turn photos into stunning portraits later in the Photos app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac,’ Apple shared.

The new model has the Dynamic Island, a ‘pill-shaped’ cutout at the top of the display that shows notifications and activities – a feature only available in the high-end iPhone 14 lineup.

‘The elegant experience fluidly expands and adapts so users can see the next direction in Maps; easily control music; and, with third-party app integrations, get real-time updates on food delivery, ride-sharing, sports scores, travel plans, and more,’ Apple shared on Tuesday.

The iPhone 15 also has an OLED Super Retina display, which supports Dolby Vision content with 1,600 nits of brightness.

But, on TikTok, Morgan was having none of it. 

The former employee advised Apple users to avoid upgrading not just to the new iPhone 15, but to many of their other products as well.

Hold off on the iMac, until the company finishes a long-gestating upgrade. Avoid later generations of the AirPod, which he opines has gotten progressively worse. And never bother buying an Apply display monitor for your desktop.

‘I know they look nice, okay’ Morgan said, ‘but my 14-inch MacBook has a better refresh rate than both of these.’

‘I’m just trying to help people man,’ as he explained beneath one follow-up post. 

With the iPhone 15 dropping, it feels like technology is becoming outdated faster and faster – but that doesn’t always mean it loses value.

Earlier this week DailyMail.com revealed the 10 most sought-after cult classic VHS tapes, which are fetching thousands on eBay.

Now we’ve done a deep dive into other semi-vintage technologies up for auction, finding consumers can make a generous profit on products collecting dust in their attic – as long as they have the original packaging. 

These forgotten gadgets included a first-generation iPod that is going for $60,000 and a 1996 Tamagotchi fetching up to $3,500. 

Here are five gadgets from which you can make a small (or large) fortune if you’re willing to part ways:

First Generation iPod: $60,000 

Apple released the first iPod on October 23, 2001 – eight years before the first iPhone launched.

The device changed how people listened to music as they no longer had to carry many CDs to listen to their favorite tunes.

Instead, the iPod saved 1,000 songs that could be shuffled with a finger swipe.

A first-generation iPod still sealed in its box from 2001 was sold at auction early last month for $29,000 in a private sale. 

On eBay, some first-generation iPods are listed for around double that price, with the current highest being listed for $60,000 for a factory-sealed iPod Classic 1st Generation.

Tamagotchi: $3,500

These digital pets you had to remember to feed to keep alive came out in 1996 in Japan before coming to the US less than a year later. The egg-shaped device cost about $18 at the time.

After hatching a digital creature, users must take care of their virtual pet as it moves through the different stages of life.

Users have to feed it – either a ‘meal,’ consisting of a rice bowl or a candy ‘snack’ – and clean up after it goes to the bathroom.

If they fail to care for it correctly, the pet will get sick and even die.

Bandai, the creator, revived the lovable digital pet in 2018 for around $20, but the originals are being auctioned off for a high price. 

A set of two Tamagotchi keychains are being sold on eBay for $3,500.

The hand-held digital pets are making a comeback now with updated colorful graphics, the option to wear them around in a watch band, and the ability to connect with Tamagotchi users worldwide who are also in the ‘Tamaverse.’

Game Boy Pocket Limited Edition Ice Blue: $3,500 

Nintendo is undoubtedly one of the most popular game device makers ever, and its Game Boys line is listed on eBay for between $100 and $18,000. 

A limited-edition ice blue Game Boy Pocket, the first redesigned version of the Gameboy, which came out in 1996, is listed on eBay for $3,500, while a Kiwi-colored one is listed for almost $18,000.

The Ice Blue Nintendo Gameboy Pocket was released on September 3, 1996 for about $90.

Unlike the Gameboy, the pocket version was smaller and had a lighter form factor.

Nintendo 64 Pokemon Stadium Battle Set: $1,800 

A Pokemon-themed Nintendo 64 is being listed on eBay for $1,799.99. 

The Nintendo 64 came out in June 1996 in Japan and in September of that year in the US.

The one up for auction on eBay includes the game itself, two controllers, the transfer pack, and the original box.

The console lets users see their Pokémon battle in 3D and control the digital creature like a handheld main series game. 

Motorola Dynatac 8000x: $55,519

On April 3, 1973, Motorola employee Martin Cooper called in New York on a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X – widely regarded as the first public mobile phone call.

The device is also said to be the world’s first portable mobile phone, weighing 1.75 pounds.

DynaTAC was a series of Microsoft cell phones between 1983 and 1994. 

The DynaTAC 8000x was the line’s first model and offered 30 minutes of talk time. It was the first cell phone offered commercially.

One of these cell phones is listed for more than $55,000 on eBay, including the charging base and carrying bag. 

VHS tapes

You could be sitting on a treasure trove of valuable childhood movies.

Streaming has replaced trips to the video store, but VHS tapes are becoming a hot commodity among collectors.

Classics like Back to the Future and movies with a cult following like the original Fast and the Furious are fetching thousands on eBay.

But before you go sprinting to the garage or rummaging around the attic – proceed with care: the condition of these tapes is key to their sale price.

Sorry, that copy of ‘Aladdin’ you watched 50,000 times as a kid is a dud.

eBay says that around 250,000 VHS tapes are sold on the online selling platform every year. 

Additionally, it revealed more than three million dollars has been spent on VHS tapes by eBay buyers.

Apple has been ordered to stop selling its iPhone 12 in France after tests showed the model produced radiation levels above the EU safety threshold.

The tech giant was also told to fix existing smartphones via an update or recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the country.

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s digital minister, played down fears that the radiation levels detected were a cancer risk, but the announcement has once again reignited the debate about the safety of mobile phone use.

The World Health Organization has previously sought to quell fears about radiation emitted by mobiles, stressing that there is no evidence to suggest it is harmful to humans. 

However, scientists have cautioned that very little is known about safety risks beyond 20 years, because most people did not use mobile phones until the late 1990s.

So might your iPhone be causing you harm? 

‘Currently there is no strong evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields during mobile phone use is associated with adverse health effects,’ Maria Feychting, a professor of epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, told MailOnline.

‘However, there are still some uncertainties and further research is needed, especially regarding the higher frequencies that will be used by 5G.’

She added: ‘The guidelines are set with considerable safety margins, and health effects are unlikely to occur even if guidelines are somewhat exceeded. 

‘However, the safety margins of the guidelines are applied to consider the uncertainty in the scientific knowledge.’

It is worth pointing out that the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is an offshoot of the WHO, has previously claimed that certain radio frequencies at extreme levels are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’.

However, this is thought to be unlikely.

There have also been studies suggesting mobile phone use can increase the risk of cancer and impact fertility.

In 2014, researchers at the University of Exeter suggested a possible link between mobile phone exposure and poorer sperm quality.

They said the number of sperm and their movement could be affected by keeping phones in a pocket, but admitted that more research was needed because the evidence was sketchy.

A separate study in 2020 also claimed that using a mobile phone for as little as 17 minutes per day over 10 years increases the risk of developing cancerous tumours by up to 60 per cent.

The controversial research involved statistical analysis of 46 different studies into mobile phone use and health around the world, by experts from UC Berkeley. 

One of the researchers involved in the study, Joel Moskowitz, said: ‘Our main takeaway is that approximately 1,000 hours of lifetime cellphone use, or about 17 minutes per day over a 10-year period, is associated with a statistically significant 60 per cent increase in brain cancer.’

However, the charity Cancer Research UK is adamant this is not the case.

‘Using mobile phones does not increase the risk of cancer,’ its website states.

‘There aren’t any good explanations for how mobile phones could cause cancer.

‘The radiation that mobile phones or phone masts transmit and receive is very weak. It does not have enough energy to damage DNA so is highly unlikely to be able to cause cancer.’ 

On top of this, 10 years ago the UK’s now defunct Health Protection Agency said a major safety review had revealed no evidence that mobile phones harm human health. 

Scientists looked at hundreds of studies and found no conclusive links that exposure caused brain tumours, other types of cancer, or harm to fertility or cardiovascular health.

The general consensus in the scientific community is that there is no suggestion mobile phones are a risk to human health, but that more research is needed into any potential long-term effects related to decades-long use of the devices.

What did France’s tests actually show?

EU law sets limits for the specific absorption rate (Sar), which measures the amount of energy absorbed by the body when exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic waves from electronic devices such as mobile phones. 

The limit is 2 watts per kilogram when a handset is held next to the ear or torso and 4 watts per kilogram when held or kept in a pocket.

ANFR, the French watchdog which governs radio frequencies, said the Sar for Apple’s iPhone 12 when carried was 5.74 watts per kilogram.

What has Apple said?

The tech giant has said it is contesting the results published by ANFR.

Apple added that it has provided the regulator with both its own lab results and those from third parties, showing that the iPhone is compliant with the EU safety threshold.

Its website states that the iPhone 12 has a Sar of 0.98 watts per kilogram when held next to the ear and 0.99 watts per kilogram when carried or kept in a pocket – far below what the French claim.

This is also not the first time Apple has faced questions over the Sar limits of its iPhones.

In 2019, the Chicago Tribune published a story saying its tests had shown that the iPhone 7 and iPhone X exceeded radiation levels set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US.

However, when the FCC repeated its own analysis in the wake of the claims officials found that the phones both complied with limits set.

France’s decision to temporarily ban the sale of the iPhone 12 came on the same day Apple officially unveiled its iPhone 15.

CEO Tim Cook said the new range included the ‘best and most capable iPhones we’ve ever made’. 

So has France made a mistake?

There no evidence of that. However, experts say Sar testing is extremely sensitive to small changes in methodology.

‘You can get almost any value you want by tiny variations in how you do the test,’ Professor Kenneth Foster, of the University of Pennsylvania, told MailOnline.

‘The Sar values change depending on which of a number of available bands the phone is transmitting on during the tests.’

He also said he had ‘no reason to doubt’ the radio frequency exposure levels that Apple publishes on its website for each of its devices.

‘The Sar values reported by Apple for the iPhone refer to tests done by a certified test lab done strictly according to FCC protocol. 

‘They concur with test reports the company filed with FCC and are on the FCC website.’ 

France is standing firm, however. It has stressed that Apple would be ill advised to ignore its warning to reduce the iPhone 12’s radiation to acceptable levels. 

The Californian company is not the first firm to face such a ban in France.

Since 2017, the ANFR has banned the sale of 42 smartphones for giving off too much radiation, while on six of these occasions there was a recall of the models.

Which smartphones have the highest radiation levels?

Last year the website Digital Information World compiled a list of the smartphones emitting the most and least radiation.

Among the worst offenders were the Motorola Edge ( 1.79 w/kg); OnePlus 6T (1.55 w/kg); Sony Xperia XA2 Plus (1.41 w/kg); Google Pixel 3 XL (1.39 w/kg); and the Google Pixel 4a (1.37 w/kg). 

Not far behind were the Google Pixel 3 (1.33 w/kg), Huawei’s P Smart (1.27 w/kg) and the OnePlus 9 (1.26 w/kg). 

On the opposite end of the scale, among the least radiation-emitting phones were the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G (0.19 w/kg); Samsung’s Galaxy Note10 (0.21 w/kg); the Samsung Galaxy A80 (0.22 w/kg); LG G7 ThinQ (0.24 w/kg); and the Motorola Razr 5G (0.27 w/kg). 

Data from the German Federal Office for Radiation was used to compile the two lists.

• Apple unveiled the new iPhone 15 made of 100 percent recycled cobalt battery
• The move comes amid a smartphone slump and problems with sales in China
• Apple also announced a new Apple Watch Series 9 with new features
• The Watch tracks hand gestures to answer calls and snooze alarms  

By Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:19 EDT, 12 September 2023 | Updated: 14:07 EDT, 12 September 2023

Just six hours before the eagerly anticipated iPhone 15 launch event, the Apple Store website has gone down. 

While users can usually browse an array of devices when visiting the website, they’re now greeted with a disclaimer that reads: ‘Be right back. 

‘We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon.’

A blue and grey version of the Apple logo is also displayed, hinting that the outage is linked to the iPhone 15 launch. 

The event, titled Wanderlust, will take place in Cupertino, California, at 10:00 PT (18:00 BST). 

While Apple has made no mention of a new iPhone, the company has revealed a new device every year around autumn for over a decade now.

Apple will be livestreaming the event on its website later today.

MailOnline will also be covering it live, so make sure you check back in for all the latest Apple action.

As for when the iPhone 15 will actually hit the shelves, Apple insider Mark Gurman thinks the release will come less than two weeks after the event.

He said he’s been told by an unnamed source that it will go on sale on September 22, which means Apple will ‘get about a week of iPhone 15 sales in its fiscal fourth quarter’. 

Apple is expected to unveil four variations of the iPhone 15 – the standard iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and what may or may not be called the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

According to leaker Andrew O’Hara, Apple has decided to change the name of the iPhone Pro Max (the top end version) to ‘iPhone Ultra’.

Whatever its name, it’s still considered one of its two ‘Pro’ models, meaning it will have more power and greater capabilities – as well as a higher price-tag.

A few features will be exclusive to the higher-end versions, although the biggest design tweaks will likely come to the entire iPhone 15 family. 

Gurman says the iPhone 15 ‘promises to be the biggest update to the device in three years’ – since the launch of the iPhone 12 in 2020.

The biggest change to the iPhone 15 will be a new USB-C charging port, which is already commonly used for Android phones, laptops and more. 

Apple has made the switch to USB-C and away from its own charging design called Lightning (discernible by its eight pins) due to an EU law.  

The new legislation aims to make a single charging design the common standard – and ultimately reduce electronic waste.

Apple has effectively been forced to make this design change due to the EU law, although it technically could have manufactured iPhones with Lightning ports if they were sold in non-EU countries.

Along with a new charging port, the iPhone 15 will support faster charging speeds of up to 35W – significantly more than the iPhone 14, which has a charging speed of just 20W, another leaker claims.

This means the upcoming smartphone could charge from 0 to 100 per cent in just one hour, saving precious time for users if they’re in a hurry.

Other details about Apple’s new flagship have been gradually leaked based on insider knowledge and clues from ‘dummy units’ (accurate models given to third parties to design their phone accessories).

The iPhone 15 will allegedly have curvier edges, so it fits better in the hand, and titanium frames instead of stainless steel.

The back of the new phone, meanwhile, is covered with matt glass rather than polished glass, according to one YouTuber who accessed dummy units.

It’s possible that the design of the Apple logo in the official promo image is a nod to the new materials. 

While Apple is not expecting to increase the size of the iPhone’s screen this year, it will shrink the border that goes around the edge – known as the ‘bezel’.

Gurman has claimed the border size around the display will be 1.5 millimeters, down from about 2.2 millimeters on current iPhones.

Long term, Apple wants to release an iPhone that is ‘truly all-screen’ with no borders around the display and no cutouts for cameras or sensors, he says – and iPhone 15 is a step towards that goal.

Apple has already filed a patent for an all-glass phone, which may indicate the secretive company’s longer-term plans. 

According to Apple analyst Jeff Pu based in Hong Kong, the two iPhone 15 Pro models will be more expensive than previous iPhone Pros.

Apple has raised the prices for the Pros this year due to big hardware updates, including the titanium frame and the A17 Bionic chip, he claims.

Although Pu didn’t reveal exact price-tags, it’s worth noting that last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max started at £1,099/$999 and £1,199/$1,099, respectively.

Tim Long, an analyst at Barclays, also expects price hikes for the two more expensive iPhone 15 models, while the standard and Plus models will be about the same as last year.

iPhone 14’s standard model was £799/$849, while the iPhone 14 Plus was £949/$899.