What is Li-Fi? How does Li-Fi work? Wi-Fi vs Li-Fi vs Wi-Fi HaLow: How Apple may use Li-Fi for iPhone: The ultimate definition of Li-Fi

Reports suggest that Apple may build future iPhones with Li-Fi capabilities. A Twitter user found that within its iOS 9.1 code there were references to Li-Fi written as 'LiFiCapability' hinting that Apple may integrate Li-fi with iPhones in the future. Read on to find out what Li-Fi is, how it works and why Wi-Fi may be a thing of the past. 

Li-Fi claims to be 100 times faster than standard Wi-Fi. But what exactly is it and how does it work?

Li-Fi uses common household LED (light emitting diodes) light bulbs to enable data transfer, boasting speeds of up to 224 gigabits per second.

The term Li-Fi was coined by University of Edinburgh Professor Harald Haas during a TED Talk in 2011. Haas envisioned light bulbs that could act as wireless routers.

Subsequently, in 2012 after four years of research, Haas set up company pureLiFi with the aim 'to be the world leader in Visible Light Communications technology'.

How it works

Li-Fi and Wi-Fi are quite similar as both transmit data electromagnetically. However, Wi-Fi uses radio waves while Li-Fi runs on visible light.

As we now know, Li-Fi is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system. This means that it accommodates a photo-detector to receive light signals and a signal processing element to convert the data into 'stream-able' content.

An LED light bulb is a semi-conductor light source, meaning that the constant current of electricity supplied to an LED light bulb can be dipped and dimmed, up and down at extremely high speeds, without being visible to the human eye.

For example, data is fed into an LED light bulb (with signal processing technology), it then sends the data (embedded in its beam) at rapid speeds to the photo-detector (photodiode).

The tiny changes in the rapidly dimming of LED bulbs are then converted by the 'receiver' into electrical signals.

The signal is then converted back into a binary data stream that we would recognise as web, video and audio applications that run on the internet enables devices.

Li-Fi vs Wi-Fi

While some may think that Li-Fi with its 224 gigabits per second leaves Wi-Fi in the dust, Li-Fi's exclusive use of visible light could halt a mass uptake. 

Li-Fi signals cannot pass through walls, so in order to enjoy full connectivity, capable LED bulbs will need to be placed throughout the home. Not to mention, Li-Fi requires the light bulb is on at all times to provide connectivity, meaning that the lights will need to be on during the day.

What's more, where there is a lack of light bulbs, there is a lack of Li-Fi internet so Li-Fi does take a hit when it comes to public Wi-Fi networks.

In an announcement yesterday, an extension of standard Wi-Fi is coming and it's called Wi-Fi HaLow.

This new project claims to double the range of connectivity while using less power. Due to this, Wi-Fi HaLow is reportedly perfect for battery powered devices such as smart watches, smartphones and lends itself to Internet of Things devices such as sensors and smart applications. 

But it's not all doom and gloom! Due to its impressive speeds, Li-Fi could make a huge impact on the internet of things too, with data transferred at much higher levels with even more devices able to connect to one another. (See also: What is the Internet of Things?)

What's more, due to its shorter range, Li-Fi is more secure than Wi-Fi and it's reported that embedded light beams reflected off a surface could still achieve 70 megabits per second.

The future of Li-Fi

In November last year, Li-Fi pioneers pureLiFi joined forces with French lighting company Lucibel aiming to bring out Li-Fi enables products, later this year.

pureLiFi already have two products on the market: Li-Flame Ceiling Unit to connect to an LED light fixture and Li-Flame Desktop Unit which connects to a device via USB, both aiming to provide light and connectivity in one device. 

Plus, with faster connectivity and data transmission it’s an interesting space for businesses. The integration of the internet of things devices and Li-Fi will provide a wealth of opportunities for retailers and other businesses alike. For example, shop owners could transmit data to multiple customers' phones quickly, securely and remotely. 

Do you like new Li-Fi? Comments below.

Apple’s Secret Design Lab Where It’s Working To Make iPhones Even Thinner

For more updates and interesting stories from Tech World, Stay connected with us. 

2016's Nexus phones may be made by HTC

The latest rumours suggest that HTC might be making two Nexus devices for Google in 2016.

The next launch of Google's Nexus smartphone(s) is more than six months away, but rumours regarding the next Nexus phones have started coming in. According to a source in China, Google will be partnering with HTC for this year’s Nexus phone. More importantly, the source claims that Google will continue the trend of launching two flagship phones coming at two price points, and HTC will supposedly make both the devices this year.

According to the source, Google and HTC are likely to bring two phones, with 5-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes. If this information is true, Google will be disrupting the trend of offering a larger display with each Nexus year. However, the Chinese source also claims that just two phones won’t be able to help HTC prevent posting losses, like it has over the past months. The phone maker was not able to bring a promising flagship smartphone in the past two years, and the recently-launched HTC One A9 received mixed reviews.

If HTC is making the next Nexus phone(s), this will be its third tryst with Nexus. HTC made the first Nexus smartphone, the Nexus One, which became a milestone for the company. The Taiwanese company tried repeating the success with the Nexus 9 tablet in 2014, but it never took off. The tablet received lukewarm response from reviewers and buyers alike, at its highest praise.

On a related note, HTC is likely to announce its next flagship smartphone, the One M10, at MWC 2016. The upcoming phone may be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and feature a refined metal unibody build. The HTC One M10 may house a 5.2-inch QHD display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. There are multiple rumours surrounding the phone’s rear camera. While some hint at a 13MP rear camera sensor, others suggest a 20MP sensor. The phone is also likely to come with a USB Type-C port and a fingerprint sensor.