Apple Grabs a Larger Share of Global Tablet Market in Q3 2016

Despite numerous headwinds, Apple managed to actually increase its share of the global tablet market from 19.6% to 21.5% in the third quarter of this year, according to market research from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

This was despite of the fact that the worldwide tablet market slumped during the third quarter, as tablet vendors shipped just 43 million units or 14.7% less than a year prior. Apple’s tablet shipments also declined 6.2% from 9.9 million units to 9.3 million.

Even as iPad shipments and sales continued their long decline, Apple earned consistent revenues on the iPad thanks to the release of the more expensive iPad Pro. But the real drivers for Apple were the iPad Air and Mini models, which accounted for over two-thirds of estimated shipments and whose mass appeal may have helped boost Apple’s market share last quarter.

Apple’s closest tablet competitor Samsung slipped from 16% to 15.1% market share in the third quarter of 2016, though it maintained its number 2 rank, suggesting that negative press from the Galaxy Note 7 debacle hadn’t adversely affected its tablet sales.

Amazon grabbed third place with 7.3% of the market, up from the 1.5% market share it enjoyed a year ago. Its tablet shipments have actually grown 319.9% thanks to promotions such as Amazon Prime Day and other flash sales on its Fire Tablets. Lenovo and Huawei rounded out the top five.

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Teenager Arrested for iPhone Hack That Threatened 911 Emergency Systems

Authorities have arrested an 18-year-old hacker for disseminating code last Tuesday that resulted in scores of hang-up calls made to 911 emergency systems in Arizona, California, and Texas in a matter of minutes.

Meetkumar Hiteshbhai Desai has been taken into custody on three felony counts of Computer Tampering for pushing out the 911-dialing code. Authorities were able to locate the teenage Arizona resident through a link on Twitter that caused people’s iPhones to dial 911 repeatedly and persistently. Investigators moved to quickly shut the link down and discovered that it was registered under the name “Meet Desai.”

According to a statement by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, once in custody, Desai allegedly told the Sheriff’s detectives that he was interested in discovering iOS bugs that he could manipulate and report to Apple in exchange for cash remuneration under the company’s bug bounty program. He also claimed that he had originally intended to propagate a funny and annoying, yet ultimately benign bug that would add pop-ups, open email, activate the dialing feature on iPhones, and cause them to reboot.

Instead, according to the same press release, Desai admitted that he may have unintentionally released a malicious form of the bug that directed calls to 911.

Proceeding similarly to a distributed denial-of-service attack, the telephony denial-of-service attack could have compromised emergency 911 infrastructure in parts of Arizona and other states by directing an overwhelming barrage of bogus calls at call centers. Because most 911 centers already operate at near capacity under normal circumstances, even a slight uptick in call volumes can prove unmanageable. A typical 911 call center uses just three to five circuits to process all of its incoming calls and are very easy to overwhelm.

Earlier this year, a group of researchers found that just 200,000 infected phones distributed throughout the nation could form a botnet powerful enough to significantly disrupt 911 services across America.

Featured Photo: Leszek Kobusinski / Shutterstock.com

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Apple Confirms 13″ MacBook Pro’s Thunderbolt 3 Speeds Are Reduced on One Side

Shortly after unveiling its super-advanced, late 2016 MacBook Pro with OLED Touch Bar last week, Apple released a support document covering the machine’s new Thunderbolt 3 connectivity on its website — indicating, among other things, that two of the four total Thunderbolt 3 ports on the 13-inch, Touch Bar-equipped model would not support the new uber-fast data transfer speeds.

To be more specific, the two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the right-hand side of the machine will provide users will full functionality — albeit at a reduced bandwidth capacity — while the Thunderbolt ports on the left-hand side will retain full PCIe throughput, according to AppleInsider.

Apple indicated in the Support Document that Thunderbolt 3 speeds will “vary slightly” on its 13-inch Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pro. In comparison, however, the company’s 15-inch counterpart will boast all four Thunderbolt 3 ports featuring the full, unabridged data transfer speeds.

As AppleInsider noted, the exact infrastructure powering Thunderbolt 3 on both the 13- and 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pros remains unclear. However, it appears that the Mac-maker opted to employ a pair of two, dual-port controller chips — with one installed on either side of the machine. Apple used the most current components when building its 2016 MacBook, however, which more than likely entails that the company used Intel’s latest Alpine Ridge PCIe controllers to power its Thunderbolt 3 standard.

Interestingly enough, though, Intel currently lists multiple variants of the latest Alpine Ridge controllers on its website — offering them in single, double, and “low-energy” options — each of which apparently features a different number of PCIe lanes.

A single PCIe lane is defined by TechTarget as “a serial expansion bus standard for connecting a computer to one or more peripheral devices.” And, as such, these PCIe lanes ultimately determine the speed and quantity of data that can flow through a given PCIe channel.

Both the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros are capable of running a 5K display, or two 4K displays, however, so it’s reasonable to assume that the company is using two dual-port controllers — particularly in light of the fact that MacBook Pro boasts a total of four Thunderbolt ports. Therefore, without any knowledge of Apple’s exact component selection choices, one could venture to guess that the company opted to use both a standard, as well as a “low energy,” dual-port controller on each side of the machine, respectively.

Does this news affect your perception of the 13″ MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comments.

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CEO of Sharp Display Co. Hints Apple’s iPhone 8 Will Feature OLED Display Technology

Sharp Display Co., one of Japan’s premier LED-LCD display manufacturers, recently hired a new chief executive; and the newly appointed head honcho recently spilled some pretty big beans.

Speaking to students at his alma mater, Taiwan-based Tatung University, this weekend, recently appointed CEO of Sharp Display, Tai Jeng-wu, commented on Apple’s future plans — indicating that the Cupertino, California-based tech-titan would indeed be switching to OLED display technology soon.

“The iPhone has been evolving and now it is switching from LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) to OLED panels,” Jeng-wu said. “We don’t know whether Apple’s OLED iPhones will be a hit, but if Apple doesn’t walk down this path and transform itself, there will be no innovation. It is a crisis but it is also an opportunity.”

Jeng-wu added that his company is currently in the process of building out a new OLED display manufacturing facility in Japan — and that, if need be, Sharp could also produce OLED panels in the U.S.

“If our key customer demands us to manufacture in the U.S., is it possible for us not to do so?” he said.

Some might be wondering what makes Jeng-wu so sure of Apple’s imminent switch in technologies, and so it’s important to note how deep the relationship between Sharp and Apple really is. Jeng-wu was appointed as CEO of Sharp Display back in August of this year, while he also maintains an executive position at the firm’s new parent company, Foxconn.

As far as Apple’s supply chain is pertinent, Sharp Display has for years provided the Silicon Valley tech-giant with LCD panels for a variety of its products; while Foxconn, Apple’s long-time general manufacturing partner who recently acquired Sharp’s display division, handles the bulk majority of U.S.-bound iPhone display orders.

Beyond his brief mention of Apple’s OLED aspirations, however, Jeng-wu didn’t provide any additional details — such as a potential launch timeline for Apple’s OLED-equipped iPhone, for instance. However, based on the litany of mumblings from the rumor mill, Apple will be making the switch to OLED most likely ahead of the 2017, 10th anniversary iPhones.

Whether Sharp Display, itself, has the capacity to produce such large quantities of OLED display panels by next year remains to be seen; however, it’s quite unlikely that the firm will have a part in developing the 2017 iPhone’s display. To be fair, the Japanese display-maker recently announced that it would be infusing upwards of $588 million into its OLED business, however that likely won’t be happening until at least the 2nd quarter of 2018, according to earlier reports.

Are you looking forward to an iPhone featuring OLED display tech? Let us know in the comments!

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Tesla’s Camouflaged Solar Panel Roof Shingles Could Change Everything

At Tesla’s Universal Studios press conference, CEO Elon Musk took the stage on the suburban set of “Desperate Housewives.” About a minute into his speech, Musk revealed that all of the surrounding houses were solar-powered — which was a surprise, as none of the roofs looked like they had solar cells installed on them, Bloomberg reported.  “This is sort of the integrated future. An electric car, a Powerwall and a solar roof. The key is it needs to be beautiful, affordable and seamlessly integrated,” Musk said at the press event.

Tesla is going to start building and selling solar panels, camouflaged as shingles, to go with its line of battery storage systems, the company announced Friday.

The company’s solar panels are made of textured glass, and look just like any other ordinary roof. The panels work by allowing light to pass through them, to a bottom layer of flat solar cells. They’ll reportedly be more durable than standard shingles, and will come in a number of different versions, including Textured Glass Tile, Slate Glass Tile, Smooth Glass Tile and Tuscan Glass Tile.

But Tesla’s plan is dependent on whether or not shareholders will approve its acquisition of SolarCity — a move that will cost $2.6 billion, and will require both company’s shareholders to vote yes in mid-November.

However, the niche auto manufacturer is banking on the fact that its version of integrated solar technology will be successful, as similar systems have not had much success. This year, Dow Chemical announced that it would discontinue a solar roof shingle that it rolled out around five years ago. But Tesla’s solar roof has a number of upgrades over standard solar cells — and even conventional roofs, Musk argued. They would look far better than similar products, would cost less than a standard roof and aftermarket solar cell setup, and would even be more durable than conventional shingle roofs, Reuters reported.

Still, some have expressed skepticism that Tesla’s plan could work. Jamie Condliffe of the MIT Technology Review called the plan “superficial,” and backed by an “unconvincing narrative.” Wired reported that — beyond some basic details — Musk failed to elaborate about pricing, performance, availability or installation at the press conference.

But despite the criticisms, only time will tell if Musk’s grand plan of integration — where every home has a solar roof, a Powerwall and a Tesla car in the garage — will become reality. If the SolarCity acquisition is approved, Tesla might be able to sell all of those things at a single retail location. If the two companies fail to merge, rolling out this technology on a mass scale would be “unwieldy,” Musk said.

Tesla’s Powerwall 2 was unveiled last week, and installations of the energy storage system should begin in December. There’s no solid word on when Tesla’s solar shingles would be available, but the company said we could except a “slow rollout” in around nine months.

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Apple Watch Users Report Significant Battery Life Improvement After Downloading watchOS 3.1

Owners of Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 devices have noticed a bump in their battery life upon downloading watchOS 3.1, new reports say.

Cupertino released watchOS 3.1 last week, and the update brought various improvements and bug fixes. Since its release, a large number of users have reported that their Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 battery life has also been significantly improved — an added bonus that Apple didn’t specifically announce in the watchOS 3.1 changelog.

One Reddit user reported that their Apple Watch Series 2’s battery remained at 82 percent after 11 hours of standby and 1 hour of actual usage. The user also reported that they were running on maximum vibration and brightness settings, and had background app refresh turned on — all things that are normally notorious battery killers. Many Redditors shared similar sentiments in the comments, as well.

According to numerous reports from Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 owners, they can get through two days comfortably on a single charge — assuming, of course, that battery-draining apps aren’t running in the background. One Apple Watch Series 2 owner even reported that they got through an entire weekend without a charge. Before watchOS 3.1, it was pretty much necessary to charge the Watch every night.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case across the board. Some owners of the original Apple Watch — known colloquially as the Series 0 — have actually reported their battery life draining quicker since updating to watchOS 3.1. Remaining battery life for the older model Watch averages around 10 percent lower than before, according to user reports on the MacRumors forum. Of course, this is likely a hardware issue and not a bug brought on by watchOS 3.1.

Apple’s watchOS 3.1 is currently available to the public. So, if you haven’t downloaded it yet, you might now have one more reason to.

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Apple Officially Releases iOS 10.1.1, Fixes Disappearing Health Data Bug

Apple’s iOS 10.1 update fixed a lot of subtle issues with iOS 10, but it added its own significant bug: disappearing Health app data. Some iOS 10.1 users started reporting that their Health data, including step and calories counts, would simply disappear. The afflicted users reported that restoring from backups or even factory resets wouldn’t fix the issue or cause lost data to reappear. It was certainly a frustrating glitch for fitness or health-minded iPhone users — and could even snarl user attempts to use health data to manage health or illnesses with their doctors, Forbes reported.

This caused some users to wrestle with the choice whether or not to download iOS 10.1, since the update included a fix for a serious security flaw that could let hackers hijack iOS devices just by having the user view a compromised image file or PDF, which would then send the user to a malicious website. The security flaw definitely put dedicated Apple Health users in a difficult spot.

But Apple has been quick to respond. Today, they released iOS 10.1.1, which is now available for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices running iOS 10.1. The small update fixes the Health data bug, restoring lost data and preventing the issue from happening in the future, Cupertino wrote in its release notes.

The update is relatively small — it’s around 70 megabytes — which means that it’s a quick download, and an easy fix for frustrated users. It’s not likely that iOS 10.1.1 has any additional major features or fixes, as the change log only states that the update fixes the Health data bug. In any case, it’s almost certainly worth a download.  iOS 10.1.1 is currently available as an over-the-air update for devices running iOS 10.1.

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Apple Drastically Raises Prices of MacBook Pro Computers and More in the UK

In the wake of announcing the company’s MacBook Pro lineup refresh, Apple has apparently bumped up the prices on its older model computers in the UK. Cupertino unveiled its new MacBook Pro lineup on Thursday, and prices for the new computers in the United Kingdom were similar to the US, but Apple has also raised the prices on its older models by hundreds of pounds in UK currency — even beyond price increases in the US, Business Insider reported

For example, the new entry-level, 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar now starts at £1,449, which is equivalent to $1,760 US dollars. The previous 13-inch MacBook Pro model used to start at £999. But after yesterday’s unveiling, it got its own price bump to £1,249 — around $1,520. It’s the exact same device with no new internals or upgrades, it’s just more expensive now.

Apple isn’t exactly to blame for the price bump. The UK’s recent decision to leave the European Union — a move referred to as “Brexit” — has caused the British pound to plummet in value. The Verge points out that the new UK prices seem to be the result of converting dollars to pounds and adding in the UK’s 20 percent consumption tax known as the VAT.

“Apple has to recalibrate prices after significant currency fluctuations, and since (Brexit), UK prices are out of sync with the dollar,” Verdict Retail Analyst Patrick O’Brien told the BBC.

Apple isn’t the only company increasing prices in the UK. Microsoft has also announced UK price bumps for some of its services. Earlier this month, the US tech giant said that prices would go up by as much as 22 percent due to the pound’s weakening value against the euro, the EU’s currency.

MacBook Pro prices are getting higher everywhere in the world, but the UK seems to be getting the brunt of the increases. And the fluctuations aren’t just affecting MacBook Pro prices, either. According to the Verge, the Mac mini, the iMac 4K, the iMac 5K, and even the older Mac Pro are all seeing similar price bumps in the UK.

O’Brien also told the BBC that, due to increased costs of importing goods, retailers are struggling. He added that prices are likely to rise even further in the UK, and advised consumers that now is a better time to buy an expensive item than later.

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Top 3 Things We Wanted to See at Apple’s Special Event, But Didn’t

Year after year, Apple introduces new products, or product refreshes, that captivate the minds and capture the hearts of millions of people around the world. And yet, even amidst all the clamor and excitement immediately following one of Apple’s signature media events, year after year, some of us are left in their midst, scratching our heads, perhaps wondering what all the fuss was about in the first place?

Hate it or love it, though, Apple is a company that’s not going away anytime soon. They’ll keep innovating, and they’ll keep releasing new products, and product refreshes, year after year, for many years to come..

But for what it’s worth, something felt ‘missing’ Wednesday morning.. No, it wasn’t Steve Jobs’ iconic “One more thing..” teaser; neither was it a dissatisfaction with the new MacBook Pro, in and of itself. But rather, there were a few aspects about Apple’s ‘Hello Again’ event that left me feeling, well, not so enthused..

1. MagSafe        

To be fair, we already knew that Apple killed off its iconic MagSafe adapter. And while the myriad of super-fast USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pro are abounding, not a single one of them has been outfitted, coated, or reinforced with something — anything — even remotely close in resemblance to Apple’s patented MagSafe technology. That would have been a very wise move on Apple’s end, if you ask me, especially considering how USB-C connectors can so easily slide into and out of their ports. Is this a make or break feature fumble on Apple’s end? Probably not in most people’s minds, no; but I can tell you, that it’ll also start to get frustrating plugging in your USB-C charging cable, rather than slapping on the MagSafe connector and letting it’s strong magnet do all of the work for you.

2. More Products

Don’t get me wrong, folks, that new MacBook Pro is, quite possibly, the machine to beat. It’s fast, it’s beautiful, and it’s advanced in ways even beyond the scope of my own understanding… But really — I mean, really — that’s it? We didn’t get a new iMac. No Mac mini refresh, no MacBook Air, and no other major product announcements, for that matter — not even a mention about Apple’s AirPods, even though we know what happened to those. We just got the MacBook Pro.. That’s — well, that’s just what we got — take it or leave it. For what it’s worth, though, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I wish there were more to talk about.

3. A More Affordable MacBook Pro

Yeah, umm, about that… Look, the MacBook Pro is gorgeous, and the technology employed within is powerful and intuitive — but the price is just way too high for my budget. Sure, Apple may have been quick to defend itself in regards to the MacBook Pro’s price, but the fact of the matter is Apple’s new top-tier laptop is simply too expensive for the majority of us. Fortunately, however, all you really have to do is wait a year or so for the next refresh to come out, and then the price will likely drop to be more in line with Apple’s 2015 MacBooks.

What would you have liked to have seen at Apple’s ‘Hello Again’ event? Let us know in the comments!

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How to Save Vine Videos Directly to Your Computer, iPhone, or Android Device

Twitter is killing off Vine, the social media platform famous for popularizing looping, 6-second video clips. The mobile app is being discontinued in the coming months, which likely means that it won’t be available to download on Google Play or the App Store. The app, website and the Vines themselves will remain intact and available for viewing for the time being.

While that means that you’ll be able to revisit your favorite Vine uploads in the near future, it’s not likely to last forever. So if you want to save any Vine videos from their eventual fate, you’ll need to download them directly to your computer or smartphone. Luckily, to do that, you have a few different options.

Computer Method

Luckily, the easiest way to download your favorite Vine videos is also free.

1. Open a web browser.

2. Go to vine.co, and find the Vine you want to download.

3. Simply right-click the Vine, and choose Save Video As.

4. Name it whatever you’d like, and save it as an MP4 file for best playback.

If you’re on a Mac, you’ll need to download Google Chrome for this to work — currently, Safari won’t let you right-click and download video files. If you’re on a PC, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer will also let you download Vine videos.

Smartphone Method

You also have a few options available if you want to download Vine videos directly to your phone.

If you have an iPhone, you can also download a Vine video directly to your device using the Video Downloader for Vine iOS app — if you’re willing to shell out 99 cents, of course. After signing in with your Vine account, the app will let you save videos directly to your Camera Roll. These include your Vines, videos you find on the platform, or even videos sent in private messages.

If you’re on an Android, there are similar apps available, including Saver for Vine and vDownloadr.

Featured Image: Vdovichenko Denis / Shutterstock.com

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7 Must-Have Widgets for iOS 10

iOS 10 brought with it a number of new features including a brand revamped iMessage platform, new Photos features, upgraded Siri, new 3D Touch capabilities for iPhone devices, and more. And now, swiping left on the home screen or lock screen reveals new, exciting, and certainly useful widget pane.

Widgets are often underutilized by a majority of iPhone users. Taking advantage of widgets can seriously lend a hand in helping you to get the most out of your device by saving time and energy. Below are some of the more popular widgets you can install on your device in order to maximize your efficiency and productivity on your iPhone.

Note: Widgets are extensions of apps. To access widgets you must have the original app installed. 

1. Fantastical 2

If you’re looking for a new way to view your calendar and to-do items, then Fantastical 2 has the layout you’re looking for. Colorful, quick, and easy, Fantastical 2 works with iOS Reminders and lets you add events, to-do lists, alerts, and more. To boot, the app also works alongside iCloud, Google Calendar, and more. With the widget installed, you can get a ‘Today’ view and access all of your calendar events without opening the app. Download it here.

2. Launcher

Originally determined to be useless with the introduction of iOS 10, Launcher is back. According to iPhoneHacks, developers have found a way to bring functionality back with version 2.2.3. Launcher is an app and subsequent widget that lets users contact the people they talk/text/video chat with most, quickly access favorite websites, get directions, and more. Essentially, it puts everything you access the most right at your fingertips. There’s a reason this free app is voted the top productivity app in over 80 countries and counting! Download the app here.

3. Yelp

The popular business, service, and restaurant-rating app, Yelp, also has a widget for easy access while your phone is locked. The Yelp widget lets users easily search by name and get immediate access to the app. Or, users can search by restaurants, by coffee & tea, or by bars based on your current location with an icon tap. This widget comes in handy especially when you’re in a new city, traveling, or are simply looking to explore new options. Download the app here. 

4. Shazam

Have you ever heard a song you liked, but didn’t know the song title or artist? Shazam can fix that common occurrence. With the touch of a button, Shazam listens to the song playing, and then retrieves the song title and artist, adding it to your feed. It also lets you preview songs, find lyrics, and more. And with the widget installed, you can Shazam from your lock screen and even see your most recent Shazams. Download the app here.

5. Wunderlist

This free to-do app makes it simple to organize, collaborate on, and share lists for absolutely anything. Rated as one of the top apps for to-do list items and tasks, Wunderlist makes it easy with due dates, reminders, subtasks, sharing capabilities, and more. Their widget presents users with an easy-to-read today view that shows tasks and to-do items for that specific day. Download the app here.

6. Strava

Enjoy tracking your progress, splits, calories burned, and routes on a bike ride or run? Like to share your progress with family and friends? Strava can help. This free app also comes with a widget that lets you easily start recording your activities with one tap. Instead of searching through your phone for the Strava app, easily start recording right from your widget. You can also check your weekly progress through the widget, too. Download the app here.

7. Parcel

Have you ever had trouble tracking a package? Hate digging through emails searching for your tracking number? Do you want to know when that package you’re expecting arrives on your doorstep? Simple, just use Parcel. The free app, and the accompanying widget, lets you see detailed notes of what was delivered. Plus, their iOS 10 app even lets you find your delivery on a map. Download the app here.

How to Add Widgets in iOS 10

1. Swipe left on your lock screen, or home screen, to access the widgets panel.

2. Scroll to the bottom and tap on the ‘Edit’ button (if accessed from the lock screen, you will be prompted to enter your passcode.)

3. The ‘Add Widgets’ screen will appear. All added widgets will appear in a list at top, and scrolling down will reveal more widgets you can add by tapping the green + symbol.

4. Rearrange the widgets order by doing a tap and hold on the three lines located to the right of any widget. Then drag to reorder.

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Top 5 New Features and Enhancements in iOS 10.1

Apple officially began rolling out its iOS 10.1 software update to the masses earlier this week, and as with any new software release, iOS 10.1 brings along with it a plethora of new features, UI enhancements, and general stability improvements throughout. Check out our top 5 favorites below.

1. iPhone 7 Plus’ Portrait Mode

Taking center stage in this update, as many iPhone 7 Plus users have eagerly been anticipating, is Apple’s new Portrait mode feature in the iOS camera app. As an exclusive to Apple’s dual-lens-equipped iPhone 7 Plus, the Portrait mode feature is currently in its beta stage.

This feature is exclusive to the larger, 5.5-inch Plus variant of Apple’s latest and greatest iPhone 7, making it a polarizing new addition to the handset’s photo taking abilities. In essence, Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus is achieved when the dual-lens camera sensors work synergistically to create a real “Bokeh” (or depth of field) effect in an image — evidenced when the foreground of said image is clear and sharp, while the background appears blurred out, so as to appear distant and fading.

It’s a really cool new feature for iPhone 7 Plus owners, but just remember to keep in mind, folks: Apple’s take on Portrait mode isn’t quite ready to replace your DSLR hardware just yet!

2. Replay Bubble and Screen Effects in iMessage

Have you ever received an iMessage featuring one of Apple’s many special effects? They’re actually pretty cool, and suit a variety of occasions; however, they’re not there to enjoy at your discretion — until now, that is. Thanks to Apple’s iOS 10.1 update, users can now relive the excitement of when they first read an iMessage sent to them with special effects. All you have to do is simply tap on the Replay option located in the bubble underneath the message.

3. iMessage Effects Play in Reduced Motion

Alternatively, you can also slow down the special messaging effects so that they last longer for your viewing pleasure! Simply navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility > scroll down and select Reduce Motion > toggle Reduce Motion to On, and finally, enable the AutoPlay Message Effects option to On. (Keep in mind, as an iOS Accessibility tool, this feature will marginally reduce the latency of most system-wide UI interactions.)

4. Transit Support For All Major Train, Subway, Ferry, and Bus Lines in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya Japan

If you just so happen to be among the estimated 65 million residents of Japan’s largest cities — Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya — then iOS 10.1 has a special treat baked in just for you: enhanced transit directions for most of the major public transit services available in those areas.

5. Improves LTE Cellular Connectivity Across All Apple Devices and Wireless Carriers

According to Forbes, iOS 10.1 also brings to the table a certain “hidden” feature, having to do with the iPhone 7’s litany of cellular connectivity issues that have surfaced in the last few weeks. It appears that Apple, in iOS 10.1, has officially addressed the breadth of these issues — via the introduction of cellular LTE connectivity performance upgrades for all major networks offering the iPhone 7.

What’s your favorite enhancement in iOS 10.1? Let us know in the comments!

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Google’s Pixel Is Excellent, But Here’s Why It’s Not an iPhone Killer

Google’s Pixel smartphone, the first built completely in-house, debuted recently to rave reviews. Critics from all quarters hailed its top-notch performance, vibrant QHD AMOLED display, sleek design, and high performance camera, among other things, inviting comparisons to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Google could not have asked for a better reception, given that it priced the phones similarly to Apple’s flagships. The Pixel phones start out at $649 for the 32GB model and top out at $869 for the 128GB XL model.

Some reviewers have taken to calling it the best Android smartphone on the market, implying that it has eclipsed Samsung Galaxy S7. The Galaxy Note 7 as far as all are concerned, removed itself from contention when it decided to blow up repeatedly and violently. The consensus seems to be that Google’s debut has gone great, positioning the company to be a potential competitor to Apple and Samsung in the high-end smartphone market.

Is the Pixel an iPhone killer? In short, no. The Pixel phone is only available on Verizon, lacks Apple’s global brand recognition in the smartphone market, and, perplexingly, doesn’t come with water-resistance. But it can hold its own and has the potential to carve out a niche for itself, especially among Android users. And according to early reviews, it matches or outperforms the newest iPhones in a few key areas– and comes with a 3.5mm audio jack to boot.

The 12.3 MP camera, which you can easily access by double-pressing the home button, is stellar. While it lacks the optical image stabilization and the Portrait mode of the iPhone 7 Plus, the Pixel XL is great with exposure shifting and consistently yields sharp, vibrant photos, even in low-light settings. Not to mention the Pixel also captures great audio when recording video. All in all, however, neither camera comes out decisively on top, and the consensus is that both phones should please avid shutterbugs.

The Pixel phone distinguishes itself with its built-in Google Assistant AI. As we discussed earlier, Google Assistant trounces Siri because it’s simply more intelligent. Google Assistant’s language comprehension abilities allow you to carry on more natural conversations with it (via text or voice) and even ask follow-up questions, which other AIs can’t handle yet. For instance, you can ask Google Assistant, “who is the president of the US?” and follow up with “how old is he?” and get the correct answer to both questions, even if you don’t specify who the “he” is. That being said, all AI assistants are still in relatively early stages of development, and Google Assistant fumbles its fair share of queries, though that should improve with time.

Yet the Pixel also pales in comparison to the iPhone in several important ways. It features the conservative, minimalist design that’s standard on high-end smartphones, but users have complained that it wears quite easily, besides which, it’s nowhere near as clean and sleek as the iPhone. The Pixel comes with a thick forehead and chin bezel, and is slightly chunkier overall. If aesthetics are your thing, stick with Apple’s Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus. The Pixel also fails to outpace the iPhone 7 in terms of battery life, though it delivers a solid 12 hours on average.

All in all, Apple lovers have plenty of reasons to remain loyal to the excellent iOS ecosystem, iMessage, and all the other trimmings that make owning an iPhone a fine experience. And, due to iPhone’s excellent resale value, when you’re ready to upgrade in 2017, you’ll be able to barter your iPhone 7 much more easily than the Pixel.

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Top 3 Reasons to Choose the Apple Watch Nike+ over the Standard Series 2

On September 7^th Apple took the wraps off of a slew of new and advanced technologies, including the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the all-new Apple Watch Series 2. Interestingly enough, though perhaps not so much to the avid consumer of Apple + Nike merchandise, the Silicon Valley tech-giant teamed up with the world’s leading sportswear brand, yet again, to introduce an all-new product — the Apple Watch Nike+.

Boasting essentially the same physical design (and price tag) of its similarly styled sibling, the standard Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Nike+ features a multitude of exercise-oriented advancements over the standard Apple Watch Series 2 — making it an ideal choice for the physically fit-minded among us.

Check out our top reasons to consider choosing the Apple Watch Nike+ over the standard Apple Watch Series 2 below!

1. Nike+ Exclusive Perforated Sport Bands

One really cool thing about the Apple Watch Nike+ is that the wearable comes exclusively with one of Nike’s sleekly designed sport bands, which feature a series of Swiss cheese-style holes designed to keep air flowing to your wrist during the height of your work out.

2. Super-light Aluminum Alloy Chassis

While the Apple Watch Series 2 comes in your choice of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and even ceramic — in a variety of colors, to boot — Apple Watch Nike+ is constructed of the standard alloy material. For the avid runner and exercise enthusiast trying to get the most accurate readout of their workout statistics, the Nike+ Watch, therefore, plays out to your benefit. Aluminum alloy is light yet durable, and can withstand erosion from sweat, oil, water, etc. Coupled with one of four color coordinated Nike+ sport bands, and you’ve got yourself an elegantly designed, yet intrinsically powerful, workout monitoring machine.

3. Nike+ Exclusives

In addition to the aforementioned incentives, Apple’s comparably priced $369 Nike+ Watch comes pre-loaded with a litany of exercise-friendly apps and content. For avid runners, you’ll have exclusive access to the Nike Run Club — a social media-style platform for runners to connect, share, and learn about upcoming running events taking place in their area. Additionally, you’ll get an advanced suite of Apple Watch Nike+ apps, geared specifically towards helping you keep closer tabs on and take better control of your workout.

Apple Watch Nike+ is available as a standard model, in your choice of four colors, for a flat $369 — the same price as a standard, 38mm Apple Watch Series 2. For the avid runner and exercise enthusiast, the Apple Watch Nike+ is a great companion. You no longer have to sacrifice style at the expense of functionality, or vice versa. With the Apple Watch Nike+, you get both, and it not only works well for the fitness-minded types, but it looks pretty dang snazzy while doing so.

Are you planning on picking up an Apple Watch Nike+? Let us know in the comments!

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New MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar Is Essentially a Modified Apple Watch

The flashiest feature of the newly unveiled MacBook Pro is the Touch Bar, an OLED touchscreen display that replaces function keys with a dynamic strip, and according to noted Apple developer and hacker Steven Troughton-Smith, the Touch Bar is essentially a modified Apple Watch. More specifically, the Touch Bar runs on a version of watchOS, which is in-itself a modified version of iOS.

“From everything I can piece together, the T1 chip in the new MacBook Pro is a variant of the system-on-a-chip used in the Apple Watch,” Troughton-Smith said in an interview with The Verge.

The Touch Bar comes with Touch ID embedded in the right corner, which allows you to make payments via Apple Pay. In order to protect your financial information when you’re making purchases, the newest MacBook Pro has a T1 chip embedded in them that blocks malicious access to Touch ID and gives it a secure enclave. It also manages access to the forward-facing camera, to prevent hackers from peering through them. The T1 chip is, in fact, an ARM processor similar to the S1 chips found within Apple Watches.

“Running watchOS on the T1 lets the Mac benefit from Apple’s deep work on iOS embedded security, as the T1 gates access to the Touch ID sensor and, from the looks of it, the front-facing camera in the new MacBook Pro too,” Troughton-Smith went on to explain. This means that the Touch Bar is actually a modified variant of the Apple Watch.

This revelation doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple is going to make a Surface Book-esque laptop that runs both macOS and iOS. Nor does it mean that the new MacBook Pros are going to run Apple Watch apps on the Touch Bar any time soon. But it does pave the way for Apple to start innovating and expanding the capabilities of the Touch Bar in the future, potentially allowing it to run certain iOS apps and features, even when your MacBook Pro is off.

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‘Celebgate’ iCloud Hacker Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

Ryan Collins of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will spend 18 months in prison for his role in the infamous ‘Celebgate’ photo leak of 2014. Earlier this year in May, Collins pled guilty to violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act when he carried out a phishing campaign to break into at least 50 iCloud and 72 Gmail accounts between 2012 and 2014.

Many of those accounts belonged to famous actresses– including Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, and Scarlett Johansson– who were tricked into giving him sensitive data and passwords when they received fake emails from Google or Apple requesting their account information.

According to the BBC, Collins used fraudulent email addresses, such as email.protection318@icloud.com, noreply_helpdesk0118@outlook.com and secure.helpdesk0119@gmail.com, in order to disguise his emails as automated security messages from Apple and Google.

Once the celebrities handed over their account information, Collins used it to access and download their personal information, including nude photos and videos, according to federal prosecutors. In certain cases, Collins used a software program to download copies of the celebrities’ entire Apple iCloud backups. In addition, Collins ran a modeling scam to trick victims into sending him nude photos. In total, his hacking and scamming activities affected over 600 victims, according to the Justice Department.

Notably, investigators found no evidence that Collins had actually leaked, shared, or uploaded the Celebgate photos, which first appeared on 4chan in August 2014, and did not charge him for the leaks.

The incident prompted Apple to broaden the use of two-factor authentication when it released iOS 8 in September 2014, and add security notifications to alert users whenever someone tries to change an account password or restore iCloud data.

Featured Photo: NBC

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Samsung Mobile’s Profit Plummets 95% Following Galaxy Note 7 Disaster

Early Thursday morning, Samsung posted its dismal financial results for the third-quarter ended September 30, 2016, revealing that its company’s quarterly operating profit had tumbled more than 30% in the wake of the botched recall and eventual discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung’s co-chief executive J.K. Shin publicly apologized for the fiasco at a shareholders’ meeting in Seoul following the earnings release. So far, Samsung has recalled around 2.5 million of the exploding smartphones and provided 1.47 million replacement sets to affected customers. They still haven’t figured out what went wrong, and it may be some time before they fully understand the cause of the defect.

Unsurprisingly, the Korean mobile giant’s IT and Mobile Division experienced the biggest losses, with nearly all of its earnings going up in flames as a result of the Note 7 failure. Its operating profit dropped by more than 95% to 100 billion won ($88 million), a staggering loss in light of the 2.4 trillion won ($2.1 billion) it earned a year earlier. It was the worst drop the mobile division experienced in the six years since the first Galaxy smartphone debuted.

Overall, Samsung posted an operating profit of 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion). By comparison, it earned 7.39 trillion won ($6.4 billion) a year ago.

The Note 7’s discontinuation also hit Samsung’s display business, leading to declining shipments of its flexible OLED panel for phones, though overall, the division’s earnings actually increased thanks to healthy demand for its other OLED and LCD TV panels. Samsung’s semiconductor business, which makes V-NAND memory chips for mobile phones, also saw remarkable growth, helping to offset some of the mobile division’s losses. As such, the company announced it would continue investing in OLED and V-NAND, given the reliable demand for them.

As for its tarnished mobile business, Samsung said that it would focus on bringing new flagships with “differentiated design and innovative features” to market and also work on “regaining consumers’ confidence.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Development

Design

Marketing

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Apple Executives Defend New MacBook Pro Pricing: ‘We Don’t Design for Price, We Design for Quality, Experience’

Apple released its overhauled 2016 line of MacBook Pros on Thursday morning, ushering in an era of the Mac defined largely by Cupertino’s latest, greatest, and most innovative new creation — the machine’s new contextually-based, app specific, OLED Touch Bar.

Apple’s Touch Bar appears to be an absolute delight to use, however, you were perhaps a bit thrown off by the fact that Apple’s entry-level, 13-inch OLED Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pro is being offered for a whopping $300 more than its Touch Bar-less sibling.

“So, what gives?” you might be wondering. “Are you telling me that I’m paying an extra $300, $500, just for a Touch Bar?”

Well, no, not exactly. You’re actually getting a faster, higher spec’d laptop computer. And while the apparent price hike may be difficult for some to swallow, it’s important to note that, for the extra money, you’re not only getting Apple’s OLED Touch Bar, but also a machine boasting considerably upgraded internals, including Intel’s latest processors and AMD graphics, vastly improved displays, faster storage, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and a longer lasting battery to run the show, untethered, for a full 10 hours.

Don’t see the logic in that argument? Well, maybe Apple’s own Senior Vice President of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, can best substantiate the price hike — from Apple’s point of view, of course.

“Affordability is absolutely something we care about,” Schiller said, as he sat alongside fellow Apple executives, Jony Ive and Craig Federighi, during an exclusive interview with CNET on Wednesday. “But we don’t design for price, we design for the experience and the quality people expect from Mac. Sometimes that means we end up at the higher end of the range, but not on purpose, just because that’s what it costs.”

Apple had come under scrutiny shortly after the launch of its new MacBook Pro, simply due to the apparent price gouging going in relation to the machine’s OLED Touch Bar. However, as Apple’s Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, points out, not only was the OLED Touch Bar-equipped MacBook designed over the course of the last two years or so, but its cornerstone feature also “marks the beginning of a very interesting direction” for the future of Apple products.

In regards to why the 2016 MacBook Pro refresh took so long to design, Schiller offered that his company didn’t want to “just create a speed bump,” but rather, offer up a “big, big step forward.” Schiller also noted how the new OLED Touch Bar will enable Apple to “create many things to come, some of which we can’t envision yet.”

Do you think Apple’s revamped MacBook Pro is worth the extra money? Let us know in the comments! 

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Soylent Is Reformulating Meal Replacement Products After Making Consumers Violently Ill

Soylent, the company famous for making liquid meal replacement drinks, will reformulate two of its products after reports of customers becoming sick, the company announced.

The two products are new formulas of the company’s standard meal replacement powder and a snack bar released a few months ago, according to a blog post on the company’s website. “For the past several weeks, we have worked aggressively to uncover why people were having these negative experiences,” Soylent wrote. “Our tests all came back negative for food pathogens, toxins or outside contamination.”

The tests apparently included product testing, an “exhaustive” industry search, and discussions with ingredient suppliers. Since its testing came back with no leads, the company added that it was now looking into individual ingredients to see if they could have affected customers with specific food intolerances.

Soylent recently halted sales of its bar, which was first released in August, after people who consumed the bar began reporting that they had fallen ill. A small number of customers have experienced similar issues after ingesting Soylent’s new 1.6 powder formula, so it’s believed that the two products might share the same problem ingredient, Fortune reported.

“This possible connection allows us to narrow the field considerably given there are only a few ingredients that are specific to only our bars and Powder 1.6,” Soylent wrote, adding that there were no similar complaints for the company’s other products.

Soylent’s lineup of meal replacement drinks, bars and powders have become popular with the tech industry and Silicon Valley in recent years. But the company has also drawn criticism because of its steadfast focus on efficiency, which some say takes the simple pleasure and joy out of eating.

As for its potential ingredient issuers, the company wrote that it’ll continue to look into the matter, and will collaborate with the Food and Drug Administration so that the government agency could perform its own evaluation.

The reformulated bar and Powder 1.6 should be available early next year, the company wrote.

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Here’s How the New MacBook Pro with Touch Bar Will Increase Your Productivity

Apple is changing the notebook game yet again with the addition of the ‘Touch Bar’, which sits above the keyboard on the company’s new MacBook Pro. Replacing the function and system control keys that once lined the top of previous MacBook keyboards, the Touch Bar is a Retina-display, multi-touch surface that adapts to different software and apps. These contextual-based commands allow it to be used for a wide variety of uses. From Apple’s keynote event, the Touch Bar looks like it’ll make a plethora of tasks easier and quicker, ultimately increasing productivity.

For designers and photographers working in Photoshop, Touch Bar can improve the workflow by placing commonly used sliders and controls within easy reach — without having to manually change or toggle them with the Track Pad. Touch Bar can also help you view the progression of a project over time, allowing you to scroll through its history by swiping left or right without using complicated keyboard commands.

For the professional DJ, Touch Bar can also make their work easier by essentially replacing a lot of the functionality of the dedicated controllers typically used in the field. A series of controls, such as sampler, loop and filter commands, can be accessed with a simple touch on the bar. The Touch Bar can also control the waveform of a song, allowing DJs to scratch and find cue points. The standard volume controls used to mix songs can also be mapped to the Touch Bar.

But the Touch Bar isn’t just for professionals and creatives. For average users, the Touch Bar could also make a slew of everyday tasks more convenient.

System controls are now easier to get to; for example, screen brightness and volume can be easily changed with a tap-and-drag motion. In Apple’s Mail app, the Touch Bar has commands to create a new message, reply, or delete emails. When you open Safari, the Touch Bar displays graphic icons that link directly to websites, allowing you to instantly go to your favorites with a tap, and allows you to sort through your tabs easier. In Photos, the Touch Bar can be used to scrub through video, rotate photos, crop pictures, and add photos or effects.

Additionally, the Touch Bar also features the first integration of Touch ID in MacBook history. A small fingerprint scanner on the right corner of the Touch Bar allows you to instantly unlock your MacBook Pro just by pressing it with your finger. And, like Touch ID on Apple’s other devices, it can be used to purchase items online via Apple Pay. And if that isn’t enough functionality, Apple has said that the Touch Bar is also going to be customizable, allowing users to add the commands and functions that they use or need the most.

The new MacBook Pro lineup is available now. The 13-inch version will retail at $1,799, and the larger 15-inch MacBook will start at $2,399. Orders will begin shipping in two weeks, the company said.

Watch the video below to see many of the Touch Bar’s features in action:

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FCC Passes Sweeping New Internet Privacy Laws — Here’s How They’ll Affect Your Web Browsing Experience

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday morning, in an unprecedented 3-2 vote, approved a slate of new rules intended to protect broadband internet users’ personal information from being collected by their internet service provider (ISP) without the user’s express consent. ‘Personal information’, according to the agency, includes the customer’s app usage, browsing history, mobile location data, and other personal information such as saved passwords and form data that is collected and stored as the customer browses the web.

The new rules, in effect, stipulate that all internet service providers — including Verizon, COX, and Comcast— obtain their customer’s explicit, expressed consent prior to using or sharing any collected data with advertising firms or other 3rd parties. Extremely personal information, such as Social Security numbers, health, financial, and personal account login data, is also protected under the new rules.

In addition, Thursday’s measure includes a statute allowing the FCC to impose these same rules on other forms of information in the future; however, certain types of data, including a customer’s IP address and device ID number, for example, are not forms of ‘personal information’ as defined by these rules.

“It’s the consumers’ information,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “How it is used should be the consumers’ choice. Not the choice of some corporate algorithm.” These sweeping changes come amidst an increasing number of wireless broadband providers allegedly collecting customer browsing data, prior to selling that data to 3rd party firms — such as advertising agencies, so as to generate additional profit from the sale of targeted ads.

Advertising on the internet is quite the profitable endeavor, if you play your cards right; so perhaps it comes as little surprise that your ISP has been increasingly monitoring you as you casually browse the web? Well, either way, these new rules are meant to protect you, the end user, and all that you do online.

Pursuant with these changes, customers shouldn’t expect their current web browsing experience to change in any noticeable or significant way. The FCC is mainly hoping that these new rules will lead to new avenues by which customers can leverage more control over the information accessible by their ISP moving forward — such as by creating dialogue boxes within which customers can share their concerns directly.

Check out the brief video clip below, which explains the new measures and how they will affect your internet privacy.

 

As a die-hard Apple fanatic, I personally find this move by the FCC a major step forward in the relentless fight for internet privacy. The truth is, even users of Apple’s Mac computers — machines known historically for their enhanced security, among other things — are susceptible to being watched closely, and all of the shady business practices of money-hungry internet providers. So these new rules, especially for Mac users, will provide that additional, much needed layer of protection while we about our online business.

Do you agree with the FCC’s decisions? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image: Yeamake / Shutterstock.com

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Microsoft Will Literally Pay You to Trade in Your MacBook Pro for a Surface Pro 4

Microsoft is pulling another strategic move in the laptop wars. This holiday season, the tech giant will pay owners of Apple-branded computers up to $650 to trade in their device.

It’s all part of Microsoft’s “trade-in and trade up” program. Depending on the model of MacBook you have, Microsoft will apply that potential $650 toward the purchase of a Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book — although it’s worth noting that the amount of credit you’ll actually get is dependent on model, condition and other factors.

And this isn’t Microsoft’s first buyback campaign aimed squarely at Apple. The company also runs several other similar programs that will give companies and consumers credit for trading in devices — including many Apple products. For example, an iPad may be worth up to $455 credit toward various models of Windows tablet. Do you, against all odds, have a shiny new, 256GB iPhone 7 Plus? Microsoft will give you up to $580 in credit for it. Of course, if you got your hands on an iPhone 7 Plus, you’re probably not quite ready to give it up just yet.

This announcement is pretty obviously nothing more than a cunning PR move, due to its impeccable timing just a few hours before Apple’s “Hello Again” MacBook Pro refresh event. Even the wording in the campaign’s title, calling trading in an Apple device for a Microsoft device a “trade up,” is an obvious dig at Cupertino.

Of course, unless you’re specifically looking to get a particular Microsoft device, it’s not really all that great of a deal anyway. If you’re really dead set on parting ways with your Apple device, you could probably sell it to someone else for a lot more than Microsoft will give you — and the obvious plus of that is that you’ll get cold, hard cash instead of Microsoft credit.

If you’re curious to see how much your MacBook is worth to Microsoft, you can visit the buyback program’s page here.

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Twitter Is Killing Vine

In the wake of announcing that it is cutting 9% of its workforce, Twitter also announced that it is killing Vine’s mobile app, meaning users won’t be able to upload new video clips.

The people behind the short-lived video app wrote to Medium that it will go away “in the coming months,” but reassured users that, for the time being, their Vines will not be deleted. Vine also promised to notify users before making any changes to the app or website.

“We value you, your Vines, and are going to do this the right way,” the company said in the post. “We’ll be keeping the website online because we think it’s important to still be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made.”

Vine was acquired by Twitter and launched in January 2013, becoming an instant hit for its 6-second video loops, featuring singers, comedians, sports highlights, and other viral shenanigans that were on fleek.

However, Vine’s popularity withered dramatically over the past 36 months. Its brand of short-form comedy quickly became stale as thousands of variations of essentially the same joke proliferated and played on loop, over and over and over again.

Its brand of short-form comedy quickly became stale.

Vine’s creators started being accused of being annoying, self-obsessed, and just plain uncreative purveyors of clickbait. Allegations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate content being depicted in Vines only worsened its reputation as a toxic community infested with overplayed jokes and vapid teenagers.

Users eventually got bored or repelled by it all and stopped watching and sharing. As they moved to Snapchat and other video sharing alternatives like Facebook and Instagram, Vine’s high profile stars followed suit, taking their millions of followers and ad revenues with them. Earlier this year, nearly all of Vine’s top executives jumped ship.

As Twitter’s stock continues to plummet and the microblogging platform moves to focus on its core product, it’s only somewhat surprising that it decided to axe Vine.

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4 Details You Missed from the New MacBook Pro Announcement

Apple’s newly unveiled Touch Bar certainly stole the show at today’s “Hello Again” keynote event. But there are a few things worth knowing about the latest MacBook Pro that you might have missed.

1. The New MacBook Pro Won’t Have MagSafe

Apple is killing off the MagSafe power cables in the latest iteration of its MacBook Pro lineup. Both versions of Cupertino’s MacBook Pro refresh will use USB-C for charging. And while this more universal type of charging cable has its advantages, it means that we’ll no longer have that extra peace of mind that MagSafe cables brought.

For those worried about tripping on the new, non-magnetic USB-Cables — and potentially breaking their expensive laptops — there are already products available that will add MagSafe-like functionality to their new MacBook’s USB-C connectors.

2. You’ll need an adapter to plug your iPhone 7 into your new MacBook Pro

With the MacBook Pro refresh, Apple made the move toward USB-3, also known as Thunderbolt. They’ve swapped out the HDMI, USB and power ports with four Thunderbolt 3 ports. They’re the same size as a USB-C port, so while that means you’ll have the latest standard, it also means that you’ll need an adapter to connect your iPhone 7’s USB cable into your new MacBook Pro.

Additionally, Cupertino won’t include the needed adapter in the new MacBook Pro’s box. You’ll need to purchase it from Apple for $19.

3. The new MacBooks will have upgraded hardware

With the Touch Bar stealing the show, it was easy for Apple spend less time covering the upgraded trackpad, keyboard and speakers that’ll be included on the new MacBook Pro lineup.

The new MacBook Pro’s speakers, for example, boast truer-to-life sounds with better bass output and double the dynamic range. The updated track pad is almost twice as large on both the 13- and 15-inch models — allowing more room for gestures. The new MacBook Pro keyboard is also expected to be more responsive and comfortable to type on, featuring a second-generation butterfly typing mechanism.

4. Yes, there will be a headphone jack on the new MacBook Pro lineup

While Apple has done away with standard USB ports and its iconic MagSafe charger on the new MacBook Pro models, it hasn’t killed off another feature — one that was recently excluded on Cupertino’s flagship iPhone 7.

That’s right, the new MacBook Pro will have a headphone jack. Apple has been largely been criticized by other tech companies for killing off the standard in its newest flagship smartphone. But even as Apple moves continuously toward a future of port standardization, it seems that Cupertino wasn’t quite ready to kill the jack on its latest flagship notebook.

So that means you’ll be free to use any standard headphones or earbuds you want with your new MacBook Pro — with the exception, of course, of the iPhone 7’s Lightning EarPods.

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RIP MacBook Air – Apple Upgrades the Beloved MacBook Before Its Imminent Demise

The original MacBook Air was introduced in January of 2008, and when it was introduced, it was the world’s thinnest notebook, a title that it maintained with every new iteration. The MacBook Air is currently Apple’s most popular computer, but its time may soon be coming to an end.

During a special event this morning, titled “Hello Again,” Apple introduced a trio of new laptops. New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros were the highlight of the event, featuring a thinner and lighter design, completely upgraded internals – 6.8 billion times faster than Apple’s first laptop, a brighter, more colorful display, and the rumored Touch Bar – a “Multi-Touch enabled strip of glass built into the keyboard for instant access to the tools you want, right when you want them.” In addition to the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros with the Touch Bar, however, Apple introduced a 13-inch MacBook Pro model without the Touch Bar, with the traditional function keys and only two Thunderbolt ports.

Designed for “customers that would traditionally pick a MacBook Air,” the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is 12% thinner, with 13% less volume, and weighs the same as the MacBook Air. Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller was quick to call the new MacBook Pro “better in every way” than the MacBook Air, featuring a 13.3-inch Retina display, a 6th-generation dual-core processor, faster memory, storage, and graphics, as well as a Force Touch trackpad, and a keyboard featuring the 2nd-generation butterfly mechanism keys.

So, does that mean we should say goodbye to the MacBook Air? Not exactly. Although Apple quietly pulled the 11-inch MacBook Air from the lineup on the Apple Store during the press event (RIP), the 13-inch MacBook Air is still available – with double the RAM. The pricing for the entry-level model still stands at $999, and really all of the specs are pretty much the same, as well – with the exception of the RAM: the 13-inch MacBook Air now has 8GB of RAM instead of 4GB. There’s still a $1,199 model as well, also with 8GB of RAM, but featuring double the storage at 256GB.

What does this mean for consumers? Well, with the entry-level (slightly) upgraded MacBook Air, retailing at $999, budget-friendly buyers can still get a hold of an Apple laptop for under $1,000. However, the pricing jumps up from there – the 12-inch MacBook starts at $1,299, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar starts at $1,499, and the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros featuring the Touch Bar start at $1,799 and $2,399, respectively.

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Apple Unveils New MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The highlight of Apple’s “Hello Again” event has finally arrived with Tim Cook’s introduction of the 2016 MacBook Pro and its highly anticipated Touch Bar. “The Mac is so incredibly important to us,” Cook said shortly before cueing the intro video and handing the stage over to Phil Schiller to unveil the newest MacBook Pro. “This week happens to be a huge week in the history of the Mac, and the history of Apple. This week is the 25th anniversary of our first notebook.”

By that, he was referring to the very first PowerBooks, which Apple released in October 1991. In any case, it’s been four years since the last significant reboot of the MacBook Pro, so this keynote has been a long time coming in more ways than one. Let’s dive in.

Specifications

The latest MacBook Pro features an all-aluminum body. It is also the thinnest and lightest ever and comes in two color options– Silver and Space Grey– as well as in two sizes– 13-inches and 15-inches. The 13-inch model is 14.9 mm, which is 17% thinner than the last model’s (18 mm). It weighs 3 pounds, down from 3.5 pounds. It’s also 23% smaller in volume. The 13-inch model actually comes in two variants, which are priced at $1499 and $1799 respectively. The cheaper one doesn’t come with the Touch Bar and features an Intel Iris Graphics 540 chip, Intel Core i5 processor, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The more expensive flavor comes with the Touch Bar (which we delve into below in further detail) and features an Intel Iris Graphics 550 chip, a faster Intel Core i5 processor, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. It’s 103% faster for gaming and 76% faster for 3D graphics. The 15-inch model is 15.5 mm, down from 18 mm, and weighs 4 pounds, down from 4.5 pounds. By volume, the 15-inch model is 20% smaller, but that clearly hasn’t affected its performance.

This juggernaut retails for $2399 and comes with the Touch Bar, obviously. It features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, Radeon Pro 450 chip for graphics, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. It is 130% faster for 3D graphics and 60% faster for gaming. Its display is 67% brighter, has 67% higher contrast ratio, and shows 25% more colors. And for good measure, the speakers have been amped up and improved allowing double the previous range.

Every Thunderbolt 3 port on the aforementioned models can be used to charge your device and also support USB, DisplayPort, VGA or HDMI, using adapters.

The newest MacBook Pros’ trackpads are Force Touch-enabled and are now double the size of their older counterparts. Their keyboards have also been updated with the second-generation butterfly switch mechanism, similar to what we saw in the latest 12” MacBooks. On the other hand, one thing that has stayed the same is the headphone jack, which is thankfully still there.

But the crown jewel of the updated MacBook Pro is undoubtedly the Touch Bar, an OLED retina display with multi-touch input, which is replacing the old function keys.

Touch Bar (with Touch ID)

Besides handling volume and brightness controls (and other typical functions) and coming with a default Siri key, the Touch Bar changes dynamically based on the tasks you’re performing and what apps are in use. It mostly supports native Apple apps, but also integrates third-party apps like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Skype, Adobe Photoshop, and djayPro.

For instance, if you’re using Mail, the Touch Bar features functions for flagging spam, moving messages to folders, discarding emails, etc. In Safari, it offers a preview of your open tabs as well as access to your favorite sites.

Touch Bar is also great if you’re a designer because it allows you to work your craft while in full screen, displaying useful tools neatly on the Touch Bar, without cluttering the view of your project. For example, the Touch Bar allows you to apply a slew of different edits and effects when using Final Cut Pro, and rework photos on Photoshop.

And in iMessage, the Touch Bar features a full roster of emojis to choose from, which, by its own merits, justifies purchasing this stellar device. The Touch Bar also comes with a predictive feature that learns to foresee the words and phrases you’re trying to type.

You can also use the Touch Bar to toggle between apps such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google. If you’re not a fan of its default layout, fear not, because the functions of the Touch Bar are fully customizable.

Finally, the rightmost corner of the Touch Bar has a Touch ID sensor that lets you unlock the MacBook and even switch between multiple user accounts. It’s also worth noting that the Touch ID supports Apple Pay, which uses a T1 chip to secure your fingerprint so you can authenticate purchases without fear.

The 13-inch model without Touch Bar and Touch ID ships today. The other two models start shipping in two to three weeks.

What are your thoughts on the new MacBook Pro?
Let us know in the comments below!

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Apple’s New ‘TV’ App for Apple TV and iOS Will Streamline Your Shows Across Devices

Apple kicked off its special ‘Hello again’ media event on Thursday morning by showcasing an all-new, forthcoming app for tvOS, which the Cupertino-company is calling “TV.” The app seeks to consolidate and simplify the way you access your television content, making it easier than ever before to access said content on either your Apple TV, or your iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPad.

“It will completely change how you watch TV with your Apple TV, as well as with your iPhone and iPad,” Apple’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, proclaimed at the event.

Upon launching, Apple’s TV app will feature a “Watch Now” page by default, displaying a summary of curated content and top picks based on your prior search terms and genre interests. What’s more, not only can new content be discovered directly from the Watch Now panel, but whatever you elect to watch will automatically be placed in the app’s “Up Next” queue — allowing you to pick right up watching where you left off on your other device.

Additionally, a “Library” tab will display any previously purchased content from the iTunes Store, while new content can easily be discovered and downloaded via the “Search” tab.

Apple’s new TV app will also feature enhanced Siri integration, as well, which was shown off on stage by Senior Apple TV designer, Jen Flouse. In her demonstration, Flouse inquired Siri to start playing a particular episode of FOX’s popular sitcom, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” — at which point said episode began playing, exactly where she last left off. 

In another on-stage demonstration, Siri’s new support for controlling your live TV viewing was shown off. For instance, Siri can now be asked to tune into live, on-demand programming, such as a college football game on ESPN, or an afternoon cooking show. At the same time Siri was asked to watch the specified programming, she was also able to switch with ease between other apps, their content, and even playing games.

According to Tim Cook, his company’s all-new TV app will be available by the end of the year — December to be more precise — via free software updates for iOS and tvOS. 

Are you looking forward streaming your TV shows via Apple’s new “TV” app?
Let us know in the comments below!

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Saying Goodbye to a Piece of Apple History: Slide to Unlock

There’s really no other way to put it: I miss Slide to Unlock. And ever since Apple killed the feature in iOS 10, I’m sure many of you miss it too. I don’t think anyone can blame us, Slide to Unlock was literally the first thing we saw an iPhone do, during the first iPhone announcement event in 2007. And, at the time, it drew applause. In the following years, Apple’s innovative touchscreen fostered in a new generation of smartphones and user interfaces.

Other companies were apparently inspired by that innovation, too. Let’s not forget the court case in which Apple claimed Samsung infringed on its design patents, including Slide to Unlock. So while Cupertino might not have been the very first to come up with a similar feature, it certainly was responsible for popularizing it.

Slide to Unlock has been ubiquitous since the very beginning of iOS — even before it was called iOS. So I can’t be the only one who keeps sliding to the right in an attempt to unlock my phone — only to be greeted by Apple’s new, and admittedly useful, widget screen. For those of us who have owned iPhones for any length of time, Slide to Unlock has undoubtedly become muscle memory.

Since the very beginning, Slide to Unlock was an iconic piece of user interaction. It was easy. It was intuitive. And, after its implementation on the first iPhone, it seemed pretty obvious. But it really was a beautifully designed and executed little idea, if only because of its simplicity. Business Insider has called it “one of the most important gestures” Apple has created.

And even though many of us have switched to using Touch ID to unlock our phones, just knowing that Slide to Unlock isn’t there anymore is almost sad. In some weird way, it feels like saying goodbye to an old friend, and an ever-present trusty companion.

But like the headphone jack, and even like the skeuomorphism of old iOS versions, Apple is obviously just continuing to reinvent itself and its devices. There’s no doubt that they’ll keep innovating in the coming years, even if there are some unexpected casualties along the way. And yes, in time, we’ll all get used to ‘Press home to unlock’, or whatever other system Apple comes up with in the future — even if the relearning process is a bit annoying.

So, yes: Slide to Unlock is gone, and I am sad to see it go. Yes, I can justify that Apple is just making room for something else, maybe even something more useful and important. But I know that, in the years to come, I’ll remember Slide to Unlock’s chapter of iPhone history with no shortage of nostalgia.

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Google Fiber Will No Longer Come to New Cities, Announces Layoffs

Access, the Alphabet division containing Google Fiber, has announced a major strategy shift in its mission to bring gigabit internet speeds to American homes. Going forward, the company will halt the planned expansion of its fiber optic network into more cities across America as it looks for cheaper and more viable alternatives. In the process, the company will layoff or reassign a significant portion of its staff, or around 9% of its employees, according to ArsTechnica.

In a blog post, Access CEO Craig Barratt announced that he will also step down from the helm and indicated that he would remain in a limited advisory role at the behest of Alphabet CEO Larry Page. A replacement chief has yet to be announced.

Barratt went on to explain that Access is “going to pause” or end operations in the nine “potential Fiber cities” where it had been considering building out its fiber network. Existing Google Fiber offices in those cities will be shuttered, which accounts for most of the upcoming layoffs. On the other hand, Google Fiber will continue operating and building out its fiber optic network in the eight metro areas where it has already launched, as well as the four cities it has already committed to deploying fiber in.

The move suggests that Google Fiber is shifting focus away from fiber, which is costly and difficult to install, and toward wireless. In June, it announced that it was acquiring Webpass, a wireless ISP that owns the technology to beam high-speed internet into residences using fiber-connected antenna arrays. Over-the-air internet would provide a quicker and cheaper way to expand gigabit internet access, though this approach works more efficiently with apartment buildings than single-family homes. Webpass already operates in Boston, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco.

Last year, Google restructured itself as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet, a holding company that also owns other various Google companies, including Google X and Access. The reorganization brought Access under increased scrutiny and pressure from its parent entity to stem the millions in capital expenditures it consumes each quarter to purchase equipment and expand its fiber footprint. According to The New York Times, Google Fiber accounted for the bulk of Alphabet’s $280 million in quarterly capital expenditures.

When Google Fiber launched in 2010 with the ambitious aim of bringing superfast internet to people, its presence was seen as a challenge to the dominance of incumbent broadband providers and cable companies. Since then, it has encountered numerous challenges, including stiff and costly legal opposition from the likes of AT&T and Comcast, as well as other regulatory hurdles. Google Fiber has also struggled to win over subscribers, adding to its financial strain.

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Apple’s Focus Shifts Away from the Apple Car to Self-Driving Software

The last we heard, Apple’s “top secret” self-driving car project — known internally as ‘Project Titan’ — had been halted by a few, unexpected bumps in the road. After a major shift in focus, following a big shake-up in the team and its upper management, the project seemed to be back on track, once again.

Well, while many of us are likely expecting an actual, perhaps futuristic looking vehicle from Apple, it appears that the Silicon Valley tech-giant now has other plans in mind — insofar as its automotive ambitions are pertinent. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, a team of former QNX engineers — headed by former CEO, Dan Dodge — are working to develop a car-based operating system out of Apple’s Ottawa, Canada offices.

QNX is a software engineering firm best known for its former role as Blackberry’s automotive software division. As for Dan Dodge, the former chief executive of QNX: he was hired on by Apple at the beginning of this year, and given the lead role at the top of Apple’s ‘Project Titan’, as the autonomous car project was going through its most trying phase.

According to the Bloomberg report, Apple recently opened a new testing division at its Kanata, Ottawa, Canada office complex, whereat the newly formed ‘Project Titan’ team will work together to test and refine Apple’s self-driving carOS in the division’s “virtual reality simulator.” Since Apple has no hardware, as in an actual test car like Google’s, for example, such a virtual reality-testing environment is necessary, as it allows the company to work out any issues with its software in a variety of controlled, virtual settings — such as a busy city or open highway.

As with all major corporate shake-ups, Apple’s is one that comes with its own litany of good and bad news, respectively. The bad news is that it doesn’t appear we’ll ever get to drive an actual, Apple-branded car. The company has shifted focus, and is now more interested in developing self-driving car software, complete with an in-cabin experience of some sort. Exactly how said software will be implemented, and to what extent, however, still remains unknown.

The good news, on the other hand, is now that Apple’s ‘Project Titan’ has forged a new path forward, with a considerably narrowed down objective, the company has etched in stone a hard deadline for the completion of its car operating system — by the end of 2017 — which sounds better to us than waiting until 2019, right?

What do you think about Apple developing a new automotive operating system rather than a physical Apple Car? Let us know in the comments!

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