Apple to Offer $29 iPhone Battery Replacement Amid Controversy

Apple publicly admitted to throttling older iPhones last week. And today, the company is doing more to address the ongoing controversy that has cropped up in the wake of that revelation.

The company published a letter on Thursday explaining its policies and apologizing for the miscommunication surrounding the power management system that slows down older iPhones. Apple also detailed a number of changes, including reducing the price of out-of-warranty battery replacements and adding additional information about battery health into iOS.

“We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize,” the company wrote, and added that they “have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.”

If you’re a bit lost, here’s a refresher: last week, Apple publicly admitted to slowing down old iPhones as their batteries degrade. Specifically, it’s a failsafe measure included in all versions of iOS released in the last year meant to keep components from catching fire and to prevent random shutdowns. And it was discovered by a user who found that replacing their iPhone’s battery significantly boosted its performance.

But, of course, the fact that third-parties — rather than Apple — revealed the existence of that failsafe did not make the company look good. In the wake of that revelation, a slew of class action lawsuits has been levied at the Cupertino tech giant — including a rather ridiculous one asking for nearly $1 trillion in damages.

So to alleviate customer concerns, and presumably to deter future lawsuits, the company has penned today’s letter. In addition to the apology, Apple also expanded on why the power management failsafe is included in iOS in the first place. Apple explains that aged batteries can result in random shutdowns, and to avoid such shutdowns, the company throttles a phone’s peak performance, according to a newly published support article.

The power management failsafe, which was introduced in iOS 10.2.1, is currently implemented for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 devices — including Plus model variants. It will be added to newer devices, like the iPhone X and subsequent devices, as they get older. And, according to Apple, it has successfully reduced unexpected shutdowns.

As far as the changes Apple is making to address customer concerns, they include the following:

• Apple is reducing the price of out-of-warranty battery replacements to $29 — down from $79. The reduced pricing will be available to anyone with an iPhone 6 or newer, and will run globally from late January through December 2018.
• Apple also said it will issue an iOS software update with “new features” in early 2018 that will give users more visibility into their iPhone’s battery health. Reportedly, this will allow iOS users to “see for themselves” if battery conditions are affecting performance.

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Target Now Offers $80 off 2017 iPad, $100 off iPad mini 4

If you’re in the market for a new iPad, the next few days might offer a good opportunity to pick one up. Several end-of-the-year sales have cropped up online, giving some pretty impressive discounts on Apple’s entry-level tablets.

Target, for example, has priced the 9.7-inch iPad at $249.99 for the 32-gigabyte configuration, down from $329.99. That’s probably the cheapest that you’ll find Apple’s early 2017 tablet, as it’s about $30 cheaper than a similar year’s end promotion that Best Buy is running.

The lowest that the device is going for on Amazon appears to be $265.27, but your mileage may vary when you check the site yourself.

Currently, there are Space Gray models of the 32GB iPad in stock and ready to ship. On the other hand, Gold models qualify for free in-store pickup — depending on your location and the stock levels of stores around you. As of the writing of this article, there aren’t any 32GB models in Silver available from the retailer.

Unfortunately, if you opt for the 128GB iPad, there won’t be any discount. According to Target’s website, the higher-capacity model still retails for $429.99.

If the smaller iPad mini series is more your speed, Target is also running a promotion on the iPad mini 4 from 2015. The 128GB Wi Fi-only model is currently retailing for $299.99 — $100 off the usual price of $399.99. There are only Space Gray iPad mini 4 devices in stock, however.

For comparison’s sake, the cheapest you’ll find the iPad mini 4 elsewhere is $358 on Amazon. Of course, if you’re a Prime member, the 2-day free shipping might be a factor in your decision.

Both Target iPad sales will run through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 30. That’s this Saturday, so keep that in mind. Additionally, stock of the tablets appears to be limited — so you might want to hurry if you want to take advantage of the discounts.

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3 Pro Tips to Make Your Mac Easier to Read

One of the great things about iOS and macOS is that they share many of the same core features, UI elements, and accessibility settings. We’ve already shown you how to make your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS 10.3 or later easier to read using Apple’s accessibility settings.

Today, we’re going to show you how some of those same settings can also be implemented on your iMac or MacBook running macOS High Sierra.

(NOTE: most of these features are unfortunately not available to Mac mini users.)

Scaled Resolution

The latest version of macOS High Sierra allows you to scale the entirety of the in-built display, making all onscreen content larger, easier to read and discern, or smaller and more spaced-out, depending on your preference.

Start by opening System Preferences from your desktop, then select Displays, at which point you should see the menu of options shown below.

To make changes, select Scaled under Resolution, and then choose from the available options to apply larger text or more space on the screen.

While you’re there, you can also adjust and enable or disable automatic brightness settings.

Display Zoom

While iOS allows you to zoom in and out of onscreen content using a variety of touch gestures, macOS offers up a slightly more practical, keyboard and mouse-assisted mechanism.

1. To enable zooming of onscreen content, navigate to System Preferences and click Accessibility.
2. From the side panel of options on the left-hand side, select Zoom.
3. From this menu, shown below, you have a few different options for tweaking zoom settings; but to save you time and confusion, I’ll be walking you through how to configure the most useful and easily accessible option.
4. In the right-hand menu, simply check the second box, Use Scroll Gestures with Modifier Keys to Zoom.
5. Then, from the dropdown menu directly below, select which keyboard key you’d like to use as a modifier: Control, Option, or Command.
6. Finally, select Smooth Images to optimize image quality and clarity when zooming.

With these settings enabled, return to the desktop and, whenever you’d like to zoom in or out, simply press-and-hold your selected modifier key while swiping up or down with one finger on your Magic Mouse, or two fingers on your Magic Trackpad, to zoom in or out, respectively.

Notice how the screen will zoom following the cursor’s focus, meaning you’ll be able to zoom in/out of the exact point at which the mouse cursor is positioned onscreen.

Additional Display Settings

From the same macOS Accessibility menu you can tweak a number of additional display settings.

1. Start by selecting Display in the left-hand column; then, in the right-hand sub-menu, you’ll notice a variety of display settings such as the ability to invert colors, reduce contrast and more.
2. To increase or decrease display contrast, simply click and slide the meter between Normal and Maximum until your viewing preference is met.

You can also make the mouse cursor, itself, easier to find by sliding to select a variable between Normal and Large on the Cursor Size meter and then checking Shake Mouse Pointer to Locate.

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Italian Brothers Win the Right to Name Their Company ‘Steve Jobs’

There is an Italian clothing company called “Steve Jobs” — and there isn’t anything that Apple can do about it, even though the brand’s name and logo are obviously indicative of the Cupertino iPhone maker.

The pair of brothers from Naples, who own the Steve Jobs company, managed to win the multi-year legal battle against Apple, earning the right to continue calling their company after the iconic co-founder of the Cupertino-based tech giant, The Verge reported, citing various Italian media outlets.

The legal fight began in 2012, when the brothers — Vincenzo and Giacomo Barbato — noticed that Apple had never trademarked Steve Jobs’ name. The Barbato brothers were already in the process of starting their own clothing company, and they decided that “Steve Jobs” would be the perfect moniker for their nascent brand.

It’s not just the name that hints at the Apple legacy, however. The company’s logo is a stylized “J” with a bite taken out of it and a suspiciously familiar leaf. Apple sued the two brothers for using Jobs’ name, but focused on the fact that the Barbatos’ logo mimicked their own — that last move may have been a mistake, according to Italian outlet La Repubblica Napoli.

In 2014, the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office ruled in favor of the Italian brothers, rejecting Apple’s trademark opposition. The IPO decided that the Barbatos’ logo didn’t infringe on Apple’s own trademarked icon. The reason? The letter “J” is not edible, and therefore, the “bite” in the letter cannot technically be a bite mark.

While the Barbatos won the legal battle in 2014, they were barred from discussing the details of the case until now — due to the fact that the claim on the brand wasn’t settled until this year.

The brothers now claim to have full legal right to use the name and logo globally. They are reportedly continuing to work on products under the Steve Jobs brand, and currently sell a range of clothing items such as t-shirts, bags, jeans and accessories. But their ambitions may very well stretch beyond clothing.

In an interview with Business Insider Italia, the Barbatos state that the eventual goal of the Steve Jobs brand has always been to release “highly innovative” electronic devices — a project that they said they’ve been working on for “years.” Indeed, the brothers added that they’ve been in talks with various Chinese manufacturers, and have hinted that an Android-based Steve Jobs smartphone may be on the way.

Despite their obvious attention-grabbing plans, the brothers insist that they’ll “respect” the name of Steve Jobs. “We will not do anything low-level, you will never see phones or TV shoddy with the brand Steve Jobs,” the brothers told Business Insider Italia. “We will have very high guidelines.”

Of course, if Steve Jobs devices start popping up in the market, Apple will undoubtedly continue to contest the Naples-based brand’s hold on its founders’ name.

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Tim Cook Earned $102 Million in 2017 and Transport via Private Jet

According to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing made public this week, Apple’s top brass — including CEO, Tim Cook; CFO, Luca Maestri; Chief Counsel, Bruce Sewell, and others — received substantial compensation packages in 2017, following what was arguably one of Apple’s most successful years in business on record.

The filing indicates specifically that Maestri and Sewell, along with Apple’s Retail boss, Angela Ahrendts, Vice President of hardware engineering, Dan Riccio, and VP of hardware technologies, Jony Srouji, each received a hefty $24.2 million in compensation — including $3.11 million performance bonuses, across the board, as well as salary and stock — the latter of which will be paid out, according to today’s report, if the executives stay with Apple “long enough for their stock to vest.”

Cook Takes the Cake

By far the largest payout went to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, who not only received a cushy $9.33 million performance bonus for the year, but also took home $3.06 million in salary and a previously disclosed $89.2 million equity award for serving faithfully as Apple’s CEO since 2011. That brings Cook’s total compensation for 2017 to a whopping $102 million.

As if that weren’t enough, at the behest of Apple’s Board of Directors, Cook was also required to fly around for official business exclusively on a private jet this year, and will continue to moving forward, the report added.

The Board’s decision to set Cook up with his own jet stemmed primarily from security concerns over the Chief Executive’s safety. The report goes on to note that in 2017, the cost of Cook’s private airfare came to about $93,109, while his personal security detail (bodyguards, etc.) cost the tech titan an additional $224,216.

While expenses like these are bound to seem unnecessary, or even wasteful to the rest of us, it’s definitely worth noting that the bigger reason why Apple executives received so much this year is because the iPhone maker grew by leaps and bounds.

Just to put it in perspective: Apple’s stock (NASDAQ: AAPL) started off the year at around $116.15 per share (at market close on January 3, 2017), but are currently up about 39 percent (at $170.55 per share) as of Thursday, December 28th at 3:15 pm EST.

That’s more than double the gains generated by the S&P 500 index, as a whole, Bloomberg noted.

Interestingly, today’s report is absent of any details about what Apple’s Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, received as compensation for the year. Ive has long been regarded as one of Apple’s most important employees, having designed multiple generations of iPhone, iPad, Mac and more. For the last two years or so, however, Ive reportedly took a break from his design management role to work exclusively on Apple Park and the Steve Jobs Theater — ultimately returning to his original role earlier this month.

There’s also no indication of how well Apple’s iPhone X is performing on the sales stage — though shipping estimates continue to improve. However we can expect Apple to go public with its sales figures for the fiscal quarter ending December 30th, 2017, sometime in late January or early February, 2018, AppleInsider noted.

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Bitcoin Exchange Executive Kidnapped in Ukraine

The chief executive of a UK-based Bitcoin exchange has been kidnapped in Ukraine, according to new reports.

Pavel Lerner, 40, was reportedly abducted as he left his office in Kiev on Dec. 26. According to Ukranian and Russian media outlets, Lerner was grabbed and dragged into a black Mercedes-Benz by a group of masked men. The BBC received confirmation from local authorities that a man had been kidnapped that day, but Kiev police did not confirm his identity.

The identities or motives of the kidnappers are currently unknown. A spokesperson for the Kiev police said that the matter is currently under investigation, and that more information would be available to the public in the coming days.

Lerner is a Russian citizen, a blockchain expert and the managing director of EXMO, a Bitcoin exchange based in Polegate, England. According to EXMO’s website, the exchange has workers in Spain, Russia, India and Thailand, as well as “financial advisers” from the UK, the US, Lithuania and Singapore.

Despite being a UK financial institution, the exchange’s primary financial operations are conducted in Ukraine. Lerner is also a prominent figure in the Ukrainian cryptocurrency scene.

EXMO has released a statement to Russian government-backed outlet RT, stating that Lerner’s abduction wouldn’t affect the company’s business. “Despite the situation, the exchange is working as usual. We also want to stress that the nature of Pavel’s job at EXMO doesn’t assume access either to storages or any personal data of users. All users funds are absolutely safe.”

“We are doing everything possible to speed up the search of Pavel Lerner,” EXMO wrote. “Any information regarding his whereabouts is very much appreciated.”

In the wake of Lerner’s kidnapping, EXMO’s website was also hit with a distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Thursday morning, the company wrote in a tweet. The cyberattack temporarily knocked bitcoin trading offline. It’s unknown if the two events are connected.

Digital wallets and cryptocurrency exchanges are increasingly becoming targets for criminals and thieves. During one attack this month, thieves made off with nearly $70 million worth of bitcoin, CNN reported on Dec. 8.

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iPhone Slowdowns Spark $999 Billion Apple Class Action Lawsuit

Apple has been hit with at least eight class action lawsuits in the wake of its confirmation that it slows down older iPhones as their batteries degrade.

One of the lawsuits levied at Apple, filed by Violetta Mailyan in California, is asking for $999 billion in damages, according to Patently Apple, which first spotted the suit on Dec. 25. The nearly $1 trillion suit alleges that iPhone owners were forced to buy newer devices since their older phones had been purposefully throttled.

The $999 billion suit also states that Apple could have been transparent about the fact that it slows down older iPhones — allowing consumers to alleviate performance issues by replacing a battery rather than just outright buying a new device.

Of course, it probably doesn’t help that Apple only came forward and confirmed the fact after a series of reports revealed the intentional throttling — including a Reddit user whose post has accumulated nearly 1,100 comments.

Geekbench founder and Primate Labs researcher John Poole followed up with a series of tests that corroborated the Reddit post. Finally, iOS developer Guilherme Rambo actually discovered the Powerd failsafe hidden within all versions of iOS released since “last year.” Apple officially confirmed that iOS throttles old devices last week. The company says that it’s a precaution to “smooth out” performance, prevent random shutdowns, and to protect against important components getting fried.

Asking for $999 billion in damages is a bit ridiculous, but the massive suit isn’t the only one. According to Reuters, there are at least eight federal lawsuits against Apple currently, filed in U.S. District Courts in California, New York and Illinois. Reportedly, a similar case was filed in Israel on Monday.

One of the U.S. cases is being represented by Jeffrey Fazio, the same attorney who won a $53 million settlement against Apple over iPhone warranty claims. The lawsuit alleges that “the batteries’ inability to handle the demand created by processor speeds” is a battery defect, and Fazio said that Apple intentionally chose to conceal that defect.

There are other significant implications for Apple, too. Specifically, how the “Powerd” failsafe plays into the planned obsolescence narrative — which is a theory that Apple maliciously kills its older devices to get consumers to purchase new ones. iDrop News has debunked that conspiracy before, but the “Powerd” fiasco certainly doesn’t help Apple’s case here.

But despite the flurry of negative media attention, some people don’t think Apple has done anything wrong. Chris Hoofnagle of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology told Reuters that “we still haven’t come to consumer protection norms” surrounding aging products. Apple could have done the right thing. Hoofnagle gives the example of an aging device with a significant security flaw. According to him, the ethical approach to that situation could be to degrade or even disable functionality entirely.

The lawsuits — including the $999 billion complaint — all seek financial compensation, as well as reimbursements in some cases. Additionally, a couple of the suits are asking for courts to bar Apple from throttling speeds in the future, or requiring the company to notify consumers when it does.

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Apple’s Lisa OS Will Be Ported to macOS in 2018

One of the lesser-publicized ‘milestones’ Apple achieved in the early 1980s was the development of its Lisa project, which ultimately culminated in the creation of its defunct Lisa computer and Operating System.

Having debuted shortly after Apple’s successful run with the Apple II in 1977, Lisa was not only a cutting-edge computer, but was also the first of such to boast a dedicated Graphical User Interface (GUI), mouse, and file system.

Lisa was also, unfortunately, the most expensive of Apple’s early offerings, clocking in at a whopping $25,000 a pop! This pricing strategy may explain why the Lisa hardly sold and was abruptly discontinued within the year following its release.

Lisa’s Coming to macOS

Still, Lisa is a historic piece of Apple’s rich history, and offers a unique glimpse into the tech-giant’s earliest software and hardware endeavors. And now, thanks to contributions from Apple and the Computer History Museum (CHM), one prominent software developer has promised to bring Lisa OS back to life for the rest of us.

That’s according to an announcement from software developer, Al Kossow, who says that Lisa’s original source code and applications were not only discovered, fully intact after all these years, but that Apple is currently conducting a review of the code for a final sign off.

“After that’s done,” Kossow added, “CHM will do a blog post about the historical significance of the software and the code that is cleared for release by Apple will be made available in 2018.”

Although it’s not entirely clear what features or capabilities we can expect Lisa to bring to our modern day, macOS computers. Nevertheless, it’s certainly interesting (and exciting) to think that sometime next year, you and I will actually be able to play around with one of Apple’s first major software creations for the very first time. Unless, you happened to own one of the roughly 2,700 Lisa units that are believed to be buried deep within a Utah landfill.

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7 New Products and Platforms Apple Is Working on for 2018

This year was a big one for Apple: from the HomePod to the iPhone X, the company released a plethora of new products, features and software. But 2017 is almost over, and Apple is likely looking to next year.

Apple will no doubt be busy: the company is rumored to be developing more advanced technology, like AR glasses and self-driving car tech, for 2019 and 2020 releases — and it’ll likely be working on that tech throughout next year. But, as far as what devices will or could debut in 2018, there’s still quite a few products on the table. Press the Right Arrow to Learn About 7 New Products and Platforms Apple Is Working on for 2018.

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What Happened to iPod? The End of an Era

We all remember that historic moment when Steve Jobs walked up on the stage and unveiled the first ever iPod. It’s not a stretch to say that the iPod was the thing that put Apple on the fast track to success which is what makes it even more curious as to why we’ve not see any more big iPod releases by Apple.

Much like many of you reading this, the iPod for me has feelings of nostalgia and good memories attached to it, but just like every other piece of technology, it was inevitably going to become obsolete one day. Apple announced on July 27 that the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano were discontinued for good, which leaves the iPod touch as the only member of the iPod family that began with the iPod Classic.

The iPod touch itself hasn’t received any updates since the 6th generation, making it exceptionally out powered by the newer iPhones. And looking at the current state of things it’s safe to assume that we won’t be seeing a new release of the iPod anytime soon, if at all.

The Slow Decline

Seeing what was once Apple’s biggest product reduced to a mere image of its former glory does make us sad, but looking at it from a business perspective it does make sense for Apple to move on. As you can tell from the chart provided, by 2015 the iPod only accounted for 1% of Apple’s total revenue which would make investing any more resources in it not the smartest move for Apple.

Since the launch of the iPhone the need to have a separate music player like the iPod has only decreased, because the iPhone serves as an phone, music player, and so much more. The major reason why one would even consider purchasing an iPod over an iPhone would be the lower price margin, which is something Apple isn’t so keen about.

Will We Ever See a New iPod?

With Apple iPhone sales being higher than ever before, and the need of a separate music player lessening with each new release, the chances of a new version of the iPod touch coming out anytime soon are low. Considering Apple has stopped producing all other iPod versions it’s safe to assume that the Apple iPod touch will be receiving the same treatment soon. But it is also unlikely that Apple will terminate the iPod touch without another big release. Apple hasn’t made a clear statement of whether we’ll be getting a new iPod but with the 20th anniversary of the iPod drawing near us, one more release might just be possible. We’ll keep you updated with any new iPod rumors or news so be sure to check back.

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How to Turn Your iPhone into a Metal Detector

Our iPhones have evolved over the years to embody much more than mere communication tools. Thanks to routine hardware updates and the myriad of useful apps available on the iOS App Store, iPhones can effectively be transformed into just about anything from a compass to help you find your way, a flashlight to illuminate the road ahead, or even an intuitive digital scale.

Did you know you can even use your iPhone as a metal detector? Thanks to Apple’s inclusion of a hardware magnetometer on iPad and iPhone 3GS or newer, these devices are even capable of detecting and measuring the strength of magnetic fields, allowing them to scan and detect the presence of light and heavy metals.

And while a number of these metal detecting apps exist on the App Store, either of the following have been highly regarded for their ability to transform your iPhone into a powerful, capable metal detector, allowing you to survey the Earth, uncover the elements and potentially strike it rich.

1 Metal Detector

Featured by FOX News Tech, Metal Detector for iOS is a full-fledged and fully-operational metal detection app which intuitively relies on your device’s magnetometer to get a better idea of what’s lurking right beneath your feet. While the app functions like a real metal detector, unfortunately the developer notes it will only be able to detect “magnetic metals” — for example, nickel, iron, steel, cobalt, etc.

The app itself boasts a somewhat retro, knob-themed interface that does look admittedly cool. And according to the majority of reviewers who actually used the app as instructed, overall positive results were achieved.

“I’m actually shocked. This app works,” one user wrote, giving Metal Detector a 5-star review. “I rarely write reviews but I noticed the 3 star average and felt compelled to recognize the quality of this app.”

Download Metal Detector for free on iPhone devices running iOS 4.3 or later.

2 iSmartDetect

For those who’re more determined in their quest to find hidden treasure, iSmartDetect is a more advanced, feature-packed alternative to the bare-bones metal detectors on the app store. For just $9.99, iSmartDetect offers a robust interface designed to serve the needs of amateur “metal detectorists” and aspiring archaeologists, alike.

iSmartDetect is built around a suite of powerful detection tools, including overhead and double sided object tracking to help you identify what you’ve found before you start digging it up.

Found something that would make a great addition to your collection? Easily save your location and track your progress getting to it; then, just as easily save and sync your progress via NG Marketing’s fully encrypted servers.

Download the $9.99 iSmartDetect app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices running iOS 10.0 or later.

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Everything You Need to Know About iOS Carrier Settings Updates

If you’ve used an iPhone for any amount of time, you’ve probably come across a pop-up that asked if you want to update your carrier settings.

Of course, it’s an easy pop-up to ignore — particularly as it isn’t as persistent as Apple’s own iOS software updates can be. Another likely scenario is that you’ve hit the “Not Now” button in the prompt because you just weren’t sure what “carrier settings” were. Some iOS users might even be wary about the pop-up, thinking that it’s a type of malware or malicious attack.

To be fair, iOS is a bit vague about it. Unlike other device operating systems, there’s isn’t a ton of information within iOS about what carrier settings updates do. Because of that, here’s everything you need to know — and how to update manually, if you so choose.

Why Should I Update?

Put simply, carriers use the settings update to improve their network performance and occasionally add new features to iOS. It doesn’t matter if you have Verizon, AT&T, or one of the smaller, localized networks. In some cases, they can include network settings pushed out by Apple, too.

According to Apple, these updates can “improve cellular network connectivity and performance.” In addition, they can also “add support for features like VoLTE or Wi-Fi Calling.” Put simply, those specific updates aren’t included in iOS. Therefore, carriers have to push them out manually — via the carrier settings updates.

Unfortunately, it’s also a bit tough to figure out exactly what’s contained within the carrier settings update. As Recode points out, you’ll usually have to dig around on a carrier’s support site and find the appropriate support document to find out.

In any case, though it’s not as crucial as an iOS update containing a critical security patch, they can improve your device’s overall performance, so it’s a good idea to update.

How to Update Manually

Since the carrier settings update prompt doesn’t show up if you’ve hit “Not Now,” here’s how to update your carrier settings manually.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on About.
4. If there’s a carrier settings update pending, you’ll see the prompt show up.
5. Just tap “Update” and it’ll install automatically.
6. Alternatively, if you don’t see an update prompt show up, then your carrier settings are all up-to-date.

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5 Greatest iOS Games of 2017

The iOS App Store might not offer as many apps and games as the Android Play Store but when it comes to quality – the App Store has everyone else beat. Every year brings a new batch of the finest iOS games and 2017 is no exception. Here are the top 5 iOS games 2017 that are definitely worth all of the praise they’ve gotten from fans and critics. Press the right arrow to begin.

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How to Replace Your Battery and Speed up Your iPhone

Apple officially admitted to slowing down older iPhones this week — but not for the reason you might think.

While iOS does have a measure within it that throttles device performance when their batteries age, “Powerd” is meant to prevent your device from randomly shutting down or catching on fire. But whether or not you’re angry at this revelation, there’s another implication of the discovery: older device performance can be significantly boosted with a simple battery replacement.

If you’re experiencing random shutdowns or throttled performance, it might be time to replace your battery.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit hard to get a clear picture of your iPhone’s battery health within iOS. Apple will alert you of battery service needs in a small notice in Settings > Battery, but only near the end of the battery’s lifespan or if it identifies a significant issue. That’s likely well past the time when you start noticing throttled performance.

Third-party methods, like the free Battery Life app, can help you get a few more details about your iPhone’s battery health. Of course, the most accurate results will come from Apple itself, so it’s probably smart to just contact them to assess your iPhone’s battery. Even if they don’t find any major issues, you might still opt to replace your battery on account of significantly decreased performance.

As far as how to get your battery replace, there’s one option that’s recommended for replacing your battery, one that’s a bit more risky, and one that we suggest you don’t attempt at all.

Replacing Your Battery at Apple

Obviously, your safest bet when it comes to iPhone repairs is Apple. Sure, first-party repairs aren’t cheap, but they are the most reliable — and they can save you the most grief in the long run.

• If your iPhone is still under warranty, or if you purchased AppleCare+, the company might replace your battery for free. Of course, Apple will only replace batteries that it deems defective — basically if it doesn’t hold a charge (at least 80 percent of its original capacity).
• If your battery is simply degraded, but still operates within Apple’s battery guidelines, then a battery replacement won’t be free. Currently, the service fee for a battery replacement is $79.

You can bring your iPhone into a brick-and-mortar Apple Store location to get it repaired, which could be the quickest option. If you’re willing to go without your device for a few days, you can also send it in for repairs via the mail. Apple said it’ll get your iPhone back to you in 3 to 5 business days. In some cases, you could end up paying for the shipping costs.

On a similar note, Apple is currently offering free battery replacements for a number of iPhone 6s devices manufactured between September and October 2015, if they’re experiencing random phone shutdowns. To see if you qualify, check your device’s serial number here. Your phone will still need to be free of cracks and water damage to be eligible.

Third-Party and DIY Repairs

If time or budget are factors when you’re considering official Apple repairs, your other option could be a third-party repair shop.

• While many third-party shops are reputable and staffed by skilled technicians, the quality and price varies considerably between vendors.
• Similarly, there’s no guarantee that third-party shops will use waterproof adhesive when reassembling your device, meaning that your recent iPhone (iPhone 7 and newer) won’t be water-resistant anymore.
• Third-party repair shops are also unlikely to be using official Apple batteries, which automatically and permanently makes your iPhone ineligible for any repairs or service at Apple locations, according to Apple warranty guidelines leaked earlier this year.
• If a third-party shop is your only option, do your research and understand the consequences.

When it comes to DIY repairs, we can offer the following advice: don’t do it. Such repairs, while the cheapest, can irreparably damage your device — and you run the risk of damaging the battery, which can pose a safety risk. Even in the best case scenario, you’ll likely ruin your iPhone’s waterproofing measures.

Similarly, you immediately void your warranty if you try to conduct any DIY repairs. If that wasn’t enough, again, if your iPhone doesn’t have an official Apple battery in it, it’s automatically ineligible for any repairs. That means if you end up breaking your device in the process, you won’t be able to take it to Apple to get it fixed.

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2019 iPhones to Feature Larger Batteries, Upgraded TrueDepth Tech

An upgraded and more battery-intensive TrueDepth Camera will likely hit iPhones in 2019, which could result in a need for larger batteries, according to one analyst.

Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities recently said that the adoption of the TrueDepth Camera in the iPhone X — as well as next year’s iPhones and iPads — will lead to a demand for higher-capacity batteries. Presumably, because the TrueDepth system and Face ID use more power than a traditional front-facing camera.

In a research note distributed to clients this week, Kuo added that, for 2019’s iPhones, Apple is likely to implement an upgraded TrueDepth system with enhanced 3D-sensing and augmented reality capabilities beyond the current iPhone X’s version. This upgraded system will consume even more power, and will further necessitate larger-capacity batteries.

According to Kuo, Apple already has the technology to develop larger-capacity batteries without significantly changing an iPhone’s relative shape or size. Much of that is due to the latest battery tech and new semiconductor manufacturing processes, as well as the smaller size of newer internal components. All of this will create the “required space for larger batteries,” Kuo wrote.

Not surprisingly, KGI Securities believes that Apple will use these technologies to continually increase iPhone battery capacities through 2019 and 2020. That’s pretty routine for the company, and could result in iPhones that are the same size as current Apple flagships but with even longer battery life.

The research note also doubled-down on KGI’s predictions that Apple will expand the TrueDepth system to the entire iPhone lineup next year. That includes the iPhone X successor, as well as a 6.4-inch iPhone X Plus and a mid-range, 6.1-inch LCD-based model with metal construction. That’s in addition to a report that forecasted Apple adding the TrueDepth Camera — and Face ID — to its 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets next year.

Currently, it sounds like the TrueDepth system will remain relatively unchanged in next year’s iPhone and iPad lineup — with no major outward-facing upgrades expected for the system. At least at this point.

These reports focus on 2019, but Apple is already rumored to be working on incrementally upgrade battery tech for next year’s devices, too. Kuo forecasted in a previous note that the second-generation iPhone X could use a one-cell, L-shaped battery that would provide about 10 percent more capacity than the current two-cell battery design, around 2,900 to 3,00 mAh. While Kuo said the iPhone X Plus is likely to retain the two-cell battery design used in the current iPhone X, its larger size could result in a battery capacity in the 3,300 to 3,400 mAh range.

The trio of 2018 iPhones are likely to be unveiled at Apple’s fall announcement, which will probably take place in the usual September to October timeframe.

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Apple Patent Details New Self-Driving Car Navigation System

Apple has long been suspected of developing its own self-driving car, a project that Tim Cook has previously described as the “mother of all AI”.

To fuel more discussion on the topic, the company has just published a patent for a new “autonomous navigation system”. The latter happens to be the title of the document.

With little information from the firm on its intentions with the patent, the company made a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday.

As reported by CNBC, the tech giant has had the system under wraps for a while. In fact, it’s thought that Apple has been developing the technology since 2015.

Of course, Apple hasn’t responded to these rumours, but the patent document does give a glimpse into how the system might work.

The main aim of the patent is to make self-driving navigation systems more efficient, according to the filing. Currently, these technologies can take a while to generate maps with significant detail. Apple is looking to change this.

Most navigation technologies used in self-driving cars rely on maps and sensors to monitor real-life elements that change on a day-to-day basis. This helps cars deal with intense computing workloads.

Apple doesn’t think that’s good enough, though. As noted by CNBC, it’s proposing a system that controls the car “independently of any data received from any devices external to the vehicle and any navigation data stored locally to the vehicle prior to any monitoring of navigation”.

It’s essentially a more refined computerised model for controlling self-driving cars, making use of powerful sensors and processors. The system would be able to predict routes accurately.

CNBC attempted to get in touch with Apple to comment, but it didn’t respond to the report. And there’s no word on when the system may become a reality. So the rumour mill continues.

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Cutting the Cord: Which TV Streaming Service Is Best?

Since 2010 broadcast television has been taking a hit from cheaper (and even free) “cord cutting” and SVOD (Streaming/Subscription Video on Demand) services such as Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. More and more people are realizing they can get more out of the content they want often at a better price, using more modern user interfaces, and with less commercials and obligations.

In addition to on demand or downloadable content, there are now many services which offer live and local content in your living room, in your pocket, and virtually anywhere you go.

With so many services to choose from it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. I’ve personally used PlayStation Vue (PS Vue), Sling TV, Hulu with live TV,  DIRECTV NOW, fuboTV, and YouTube TV and would like to provide you with an insider’s guide to understanding the pros and cons of each so you can decide which service is right for you.

Why Cord Cutting?

Many may wonder why cord cutting is becoming so popular. Why is it different than traditional TV? There are three reasons that really sum it up: price, user experience, and commitment.

Price

With traditional TV providers, you’ll pay a lot of money to use the service and that price can change at anytime. In addition, you’re often locked into a contract with that provider.

With cord cutting services you have a wide variety of packages available often starting at less than $40 per month without worrying about your price being hiked after an introductory period.

User Experience

Times and technology are changing rapidly and so are the ways we find and view media content. It’s only logical that the way we consume live television content should change as well.

By cord cutting you no longer need a cable set top box or DVR and many user interfaces feel much more responsive and modern. Options such as cloud DVR make your recorded content available anywhere and most services offer a wide array of on demand options often included in your plan. Additionally, you can usually access content using mobile apps or digital media players such as Apple TV, Roku, Chomecast, or Amazon Fire Stick.

Commitment

With traditional TV providers you often are locked into a contract and the price may go up after an introductory period. With most cord cutting services you can cancel your service at any time. Additionally, because no installation is required you can sign up and try each service for yourself. Many even offer a free trial period—just remember to cancel before the trial period is up if you don’t want to be charged.

Things to Know Before Cutting the Cord

Cord cutting isn’t for everyone. In fact, traditional TV service providers often work with apps and have many of the same (or more) features than you get when using a cord cutting service. If you like TV the way it is, you don’t mind having a contract, and you can afford to pay for traditional TV, then traditional TV is still probably your best option. But, if most TV plans are outside of your budget, or you like flexibility, or you just want to see where the future of TV is headed, you might want to give cord cutting a try.

Internet Connection Requirements

Because cord cutting literally refers to getting rid of your cable line, you’ll need to have a stable high speed Internet connection. While you may be okay with 15 Mbps, I’d recommend at least 25 Mbps (per stream) for the best experience. Additionally, since this is live TV, your network should be optimized for real time streaming. In other words, make sure your latency is below 100 ms (the closer to 0 the better) and has little to no jitter (variations in latency) for the best possible experience.

How to Watch

If you plan on watching on your TV set, you’ll need a digital media player (i.e. Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, etc) or a smart TV that supports the service you choose. You can also view most services using an app on your iOS or Android device, or by using a Web browser.

Channel Lineup

Although many cord cutting services offer the big four—ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC—not all will be available in your area and some may only be available on demand. As cord cutting is still a relatively new concept, it’s a good idea to continue to monitor the progress of the service across providers as they are constantly being updated. Features and channels are always being added and local content is being made available at more and more locations over time. Some channels, such as CBS, offer their own live service and content a la carte. For example, you can sign up for CBS All Access for $5.99 per month ($9.99 per month for limited advertisements) if the service you choose doesn’t offer CBS.

What Options Are Available?

There are hundreds of options available when it comes to cord cutting in general; however, only a handful offer live streaming options that can really hold their ground against traditional TV. In this guide we’ll check out Sling (Sling TV), YouTube TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu with live TV, and PS Vue (PlayStation Vue). Additionally, we’ll take a brief look at fuboTV—a sports-focused alternative.

How Does This Guide Work?

We’ll look at each of the cord cutting services listed above and provide a brief review of each service taking into account experience, live and on demand content, price, features, user reviews, and potential. We’ll also provide a rating (out of 10) for each service, a list of pros and cons, a list of supported devices and missing popular channels, and pricing information.

Experience and User Interface

Because cord cutting is so new, many designers are still trying to figure out the best approach for the user interface. Some have taken a Netflix-like approach that focuses on the content being center stage while others choose to mimic the guides found with traditional TV-providers. Personally, I like having a guide and being able to flip through channels when it comes to live content. I think this helps the user know what’s on currently, what’s coming up, and it allows users to browse options until they find what they want to watch.

Some services also have proven to be more reliable than others, with DIRECTV NOW users reporting a slew of issues earlier this year according to multiple sources such as The Verge.

Channel Lineup and Content

One downside to cord cutting is the lack of live channels. DIRECTV NOW and PS Vue offer the most live channels, with DIRECTV offering up to 120 channels. Sling is currently the worst, only offering 30-40 channels. Hulu has 55 channels and possibly the widest variety of on demand content; however, it doesn’t offer any additional channel packages.

Price

The main reason people are terminating their cable subscription is probably price. For the most part, cord cutting options aren’t dependent on additional hardware, they don’t have contracts, and the prices have been known to start as low as $20 per month. Even some of the most expensive plans are under a $100 per month and can include on demand and premium services such as HBO, Showtime, or Stars.

Without any further ado let’s take a look at the six services that were tested.

PlayStation Vue (PS Vue)

PS Vue is an awesome option for cord cutters, it has the second largest lineup of channels, it has unlimited DVR with cloud storage, and allows up to five devices to stream content simultaneously. PS Vue does not require a PlayStation console and has no annual contract.

PS Vue offers a traditional TV guide and has four packages starting at $39.99 per month. They previously offered a “slim” package for $29.99 per month, but it was discontinued.

While PS Vue is one of the best options in terms of live content, it can be buggy and unreliable, often feeling half-baked. If PlayStation can improve the overall user experience and offer a more modern user interface, this may end up being the best option on the market.

Pros

• A traditional TV guide
• A wide variety of top networks and channels

Cons

• User experience feels glitchy and outdated
• Streaming often cuts out or is poor quality even on a stable connection
• Slim package discontinued

Notable Missing Live Channels

• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• MTV

Supported Devices

• iOS
• Android
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 3
• Apple TV (4th generation and up, tvOS 10.0 and up)
• Chromecast
• Roku players (firmware 7.7 and up)
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire HD6 tablets and above

Web Browser Support

Yes.

Rating

9/10 Best Overall Value

Sling TV

Sling TV (or simply Sling) is the cheapest of the options, has excellent user reviews, and is overall an enjoyable experience. However, one place it really falls short is content. Not only is it missing some popular channels, but it’s channel lineup is divided between two packages: orange and blue. The orange service has 30 channels for only $20. The blue service has 45 channels for $25, but loses many popular channels offered in the orange package like ESPN (and ESPN 2, 3), Disney, and Free Form. You can get both blue and orange for $40.

Another downside is that Sling doesn’t include channels like Disney Jr., E!, The Hallmark Channel, or MSNBC in the standard packages. Instead you can add channels on by choosing from four $5 “Extra” packages (News, Kids, Lifestyle, and Comedy); you can get all four for $10. You can also add a Sports Extras package for $10. Also not included is cloud DVR which will cost you $5 per month. There are also other “Extra” add ons and “Premium” add ons such as HBO, Epix, Starz, Showtime, and Cinemax. With most of the packages selected you could end up paying well over $130 on what started out as the cheapest service.

Pros

• Lowest price
• Highly customizable
• Great reviews and user experience
• Supports a wide variety of devices and viewing options

Cons

• Fewest available channels
• Adding channels can become expensive

Notable Missing Live Channels

• ABC (Available in some areas for $5 per month)
• CBS
• Animal Planet
• TLC
• Discovery Channel

Supported Devices

• iOS 9 and up
• Android 4.4 and up
• Amazon Fire Tablets (running Android 4.4.2 and up)
• Apple TV (4th Generation and up)
• Chromecast
• Android TV
• Roku (LT and up)
• Amazon Fire TV
• Samsung smart TVs (2016 and later)
• LG TVs (most running WebOS 3.0 and 3.5)
• Xbox One

Web Browser Support

Yes (Chrome and Windows 10)

Rating

7/10 Most Affordable and Most Versatile Experience

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu is the service I’m currently using and I love it. It only has one plan with some add on features and services. Additionally it includes access to the regular Hulu streaming library ($7.99 per month by itself) giving users a wide variety of live and on demand content.

Hulu with live TV starts at $39.99 per month and has over 50 channels and includes 50 hours of smart DVR cloud storage (expandable to 200 hours).

As great as Hulu is, it also has its shortcomings. The user interface—while modern and aesthetically appealing—is crowded and doesn’t offer a traditional TV guide. In lieu of a guide the Hulu offers a “Fliptray” which is capable of showing what live content is available or what is upcoming. It’s a nice feature but would be more useful if it could expand into a traditional guide that showed live and upcoming content simultaneously. It’s also annoying that the thumbnails for live content aren’t actually live like on other platforms.

In addition to not having a guide, it’s odd that users can’t pay for unlimited DVR cloud storage. However, one thing that makes Hulu’s DVR nice is that it intelligently saves content that it thinks you may like based on what you’ve saved to “My Stuff.” My Stuff is also where you access your cloud saves. You can also upgrade to Hulu’s commercial-free plan for less than $5 per month. You’ll still see commercials on live content, but on demand content will have no interruptions and you can fast forward through commercials on DVR content (some content will play a commercial before and after the show).

Overall Hulu is a great option that has a lot of potential. It could be improved by adding more channels, offering a less-cluttered user interface with a traditional guide, and by expanding the amount of cloud storage available to viewers.

Pros

• User profiles
• Lots of live and on demand content
• Won’t break the bank
• Smart DVR with expandable cloud storage

Cons

• Missing some popular live channels
• Extra DVR space costs monthly and is capped to 200 hours
• No traditional guide or channel surfing

Notable Missing Live Channels

• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Animal Planet
• MTV
• TLC
• Discovery Channel

Supported Devices

• iOS
• Android
• Apple TV (fourth generation and up)
• Chromecast
• Roku (select models)
• Amazon Fire TV
• Xbox One and 360
• Samsung (select TVs)

Web Browser Support

Yes (Hulu.com)

Rating

9/10 Most Potential and Excellent Content

DIRECTV NOW

You know cord cutting is becoming popular when players like DIRECTV enter the fray. DIRECTV NOW is a service that mainly focuses on live content and feels a lot like traditional TV. On demand content is available, but it’s limited in both quantity and functionality (you may not be able to fast forward and you may need to watch commercials).

DIRECTV NOW doesn’t currently offer a DVR option, has very limited support for pausing live TV, and only allows two simultaneous streams. In addition it can get very expensive depending on what package and premium add ons you select.

On the bright side, DIRECTV NOW offers 60fps and support for 5.1 surround sound on some devices. And virtually all of the individual channel apps work with the service. AT&T (the parent company of DIRECTV) has also said they are looking into adding 4K streaming and DVR storage in the future.

If you’re looking for a traditional TV service, without the cable box or satellite dish, DIRECTV NOW might be what you’re looking for.

Pros

• Most available live channels and includes virtually all top networks
• A traditional TV guide with channel surfing
• Support for 60fps (great for sports) and 5.1 surround sound

Cons

• No DVR options
• Doesn’t feel as modern as its competitors
• Many bugs and issues reported by users
• Can be very expensive

Notable Missing Live Channels

• None

Supported Devices

• iOS
• Android
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Some smart TVs

Web Browser Support

Yes

Rating

9/10 Most Traditional TV Experience

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is an almost magical experience. It has unlimited cloud DVR, it offers over 40 channels, and offers a wide range of local programming. But what really makes it awesome is it’s interface. It manages to provide viewers with a modern experience that really shows off the content. You can flip through channels with ease and quickly see what’s playing live. You can also minimize your current content into a PIP (picture-in-picture) window while you browse the guide.

YouTube TV is easy to use and is constantly improving and expanding local coverage. There aren’t a lot of add on features—which in some ways may be a good thing—and there’s currently no support for Apple TV, but Google says it’s coming soon. The service is still new and improving and if you have a Google ecosystem this may be the service for you.

Pros

• Best user interface
• Unlimited DVR
• Lots of local content

Cons

• No native support for Apple TV
• Limited add ons and content

Notable Missing Live Channels

• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Animal Planet
• MTV
• CNN
• TLC
• TNT
• Discovery Channel

Supported Devices

• iOS 9.1 and up
• Android L and later
• Streaming support for Chromecast, Android TV, supported Smart TVs, Cbox One, and Apple AirPlay

Web Browser Support

Yes

Rating

8/10 Best Interface and Easy-to-Use

fuboTV

For the sports enthusiast fuboTV may be a good option. fuboTV offers an entertainment guide and a sports guide to help with locating live content. It has 500 hours of DVR storage space. And it also offers a PIP (picture-in-picture) of your current show while browsing the guide.

That being said it doesn’t have a lot of non-sports content and it starts at $39.99 per month (although you can get your first two months for $19.99 per month). In my tests (on a fiber connection at up 1000 Mbps) there were some channels that were choppy and not up to the same streaming quality of the other options. Additionally, the iOS app would show a loading indicator every time I switched back to it.

One cool feature that fuboTV advertises is it’s 72-Hour Loopback. This feature allows the user to rewind and replay nearly any content that aired within the past three days.

Overall fuboTV is best suited for someone who mainly wants sports or as an additional service for your sports content.

Pros

• Traditional guide with PIP and and a sports view
• A wide variety of live sports content

Cons

• Fewest total entertainment channels
• Quality didn’t seem on par with other providers
• Can be expensive if you aren’t interested in sports content
• Missing popular kids programming

Notable Missing Live Channels

• ABC
• CBS
• Disney
• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Animal Planet
• MTV
• CNN
• TLC
• TNT
• Discovery Channel
• FreeForm

Supported Devices

• iOS
• Android
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Roku
• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV

Web Browser Support

Yes

Rating

6/10 Low Cost Sports Solution

Final Thoughts

All six services offer something unique and the best service for you might be different for you than someone else.

Value

If price is the only thing you care about Sling is the cheapest option. That being said PS Vue offers almost as many channels as DIRECTV NOW and has DVR. Lastly, Hulu with Live TV also includes the regular Hulu streaming library. If you’re already paying for Hulu, it could be your cheapest option.

Potential

Both Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV have a lot of potential. It wouldn’t be surprising if either of them became the most popular option for many people. YouTube needs to add more content, features, and supported devices. Hulu needs to add a real guide and offer free unlimited DVR (currently they offer up to 200 hours). Both services need to continue to expand and add local coverage for live channels.

Sports

While fuboTV offers a lot of sports content, some of the other services have equally good sports packages and may even have some content fuboTV doesn’t have. If you’re mostly interested in sports content maybe try each service to see which one is right for you (they all offer free trials).

While fuboTV probably isn’t the best stand-alone TV service, it may make a good additional service if you want more sports channels in addition to what the others offer.

Verdict

For me Hulu with Live TV is an easy best choice because I already paid for regular Hulu when I signed up, it has many of the channels my family and I use, and it’s constantly improving. That being said DIRECTV NOW and PS Vue offer more channels and packages and feature a more traditional TV viewing experience. I originally used PS Vue and enjoyed it but was disappointed in some of the bugs and glitches I encountered. I would consider PS Vue another chance or switching to DIRECTV NOW if the price came down and they added a DVR feature.

For now, it’s a three-way tie between Hulu with Live TV, PlayStation Vue, and DIRECTV NOW, as all of them bring something a little different to the table. You may want to try signing up for a free trial of each and seeing which one is best for you.

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6 New Year Apps to Help You Achieve Your Goals in 2018

With the New Year looming just around the bend, chances are you’re beginning to think of all the ways you’ll make a splash in 2018. Will I join a gym, endeavoring to melt away this post-holiday pudge? Will this finally be the year I get organized and take control of my finances? The choice is yours, folks. But if you’re searching for intuitive tools to help you reach new heights in the year ahead, then look no further than these feature rich iOS apps designed to teach, inspire, and challenge you. Press the right arrow to learn more about 6 awesome apps to make 2018 your best year yet.

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T-Mobile Offers BOGO Deal on iPhones and $300 Off iPhone X

If you’re in the market for a new iPhone, you might be in luck. T-Mobile has launched a couple of new promotions on iPhones that could save you some money.

Starting Dec. 21 and lasting through Sunday, Dec. 24, T-Mobile will be bringing back two previous iPhone offers. They’ll be available both in-store at T-Mobile brick-and-mortar outlet and online through its website, according to a press release.

The first of the deal is a buy-one-get-one offer. When customers purchase a valid iPhone, they’ll get a second one for free. As far as additional considerations, buyers will need to add an additional line for the free iPhone, as well as purchase both devices on an equipment installment plan (EIP). Valid devices include the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

Once a user buys both iPhones, they’ll receive a prepaid MasterCard to cover the cost of the second device — or whichever device is cheaper — up to $700. That means if you opt for two iPhone 8 Plus devices, the first device will be full-priced, while the second will run you $99.99. Not exactly free, but still quite a bit off of the usual price tag.

Previously, T-Mobile launched a similar, weeklong BOGO promotion on a range of Apple, Samsung and LG smartphones last month. But, likely in order to attract new customers before the holidays, the Uncarrier is bringing that promotion back for another week.

Sadly, T-Mobile isn’t offering a buy-one-get-one deal for the new iPhone X flagship. Instead, T-Mobile is launching a separate promotion for that device.

When users trade in a qualifying iPhone and purchase an iPhone X on an equipment installment plan, they’ll receive up to $300 off of the price of the iPhone X (depending, presumably, on which iPhone you are trading in). Valid trade-in iPhones include the iPhone 6 and newer, in both normal and Plus-sized iterations. Yes, that means the only exception among newer devices is the 4-inch iPhone SE.

As stated above, both promotions will start Thursday, Dec. 21, and last through end of day on Sunday, Dec. 24.

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California Health Department Warns Against Keeping Phones Close to You

For many of us, our smartphones are a constant companion. They’re in our pockets, in our purses, or just generally kept close to us. But according to the California Department of Public Health, that could be a problem.

The CDPH issued a warning last week cautioning against keeping smartphones close to your body. That’s due to the electromagnetic radiation that smartphones and cell phones put off. For its recommendation, the CDPH suggests that people keep their distance from their smartphones and limit their usage of said devices.

Of course, that’s no easy feat in the age of the smartphone. But it might be smart to heed the CDPH’s warnings. While the science is far from settled, there are studies that suggest a slightly increased risk of brain cancer or tumors of the salivary gland and acoustic nerve. Other issues include adverse effects on learning, memory and sleep, as well as headaches.

The California Health Department has released these guidelines in part due to a lawsuit levied at it. A researcher at the University of California, Joel Moskowitz, sued the department for not making the guidelines public. Earlier this year, a judge ruled in his favor, which led to the drafted CDPH guidelines released this week.

Phone manufacturers have generally recommended that people use hands-free devices or a device’s built-in speakerphone when making calls. But those suggestions are usually buried pretty deeply within a user manual. (Which, let’s admit it, most of us don’t read through entirely.) There’s also the issue that there isn’t currently a national standard for safety limits. The FCC does state that it requires phonemakers to ensure that devices comply with “objective limits for safe exposure.”

The CDPH recommends users refrain from keeping their devices in a pocket or bra, using a smartphone next to their ear for a prolonged period, and or sleeping with it near them at night, among other things.

But despite the guidelines, Moskowitz says that most health agencies haven’t kept up with the research — which he says suggests that smartphones pose a “major risk to health.”

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iPhone X Plus Prompts Samsung to Quadruple Apple’s OLED Supply

Apple will be receiving a lot more OLED panels from Samsung next year. A new report on Wednesday suggest that Samsung could quadruple its OLED shipments to the iPhone maker throughout 2018.

Samsung Display will reportedly supply the Cupertino tech giant with around 180 to 200 million flexible OLED panels for Apple’s 2018 iPhone lineup, according to industry sources cited by Korean publication The Investor. Notably, that’s about four times the amount that Samsung shipped to Apple for the iPhone X this year — which is reported to be about 50 million since the beginning of 2017.

For Samsung’s display-making subsidiary, this will translate into roughly $19.8 to $22 billion of revenue. That’s based on the per-unit supply price of $110 calculated by research firm IHS Markit. The $110 price tag includes the cost of the display’s cover glass, as well as its touch sensor.

The report also indicates that Samsung is getting more efficient with its OLED production, claiming that the display maker has achieved a 90 percent yield rate — up from 60 percent recorded earlier this year. As Samsung is currently the only company that can produce enough OLED displays that also meet Apple’s stringent quality expectations, this bodes well for both companies. It also suggests that shipping estimates for next year’s OLED iPhones could be significantly improved.

More OLED Shipments = iPhone X Plus?

Of course, while a significant portion of those OLED panels will be used in the current iPhone X and its 2018 successor, it’s also likely that the quadrupled supply order accounts for a new Apple device. Based on reports, it looks like that device could be the “iPhone X Plus” that Apple is rumored to launch alongside the second-generation iPhone X next year.

The iPhone X Plus is largely expected to sport a massive 6.4-inch OLED display, similar to the display size of Samsung’s own Galaxy Note 8. Despite its huge display, the iPhone X Plus will likely have a form factor that’s closer in physical size to the current iPhone 8 Plus, rather than the larger Note 8.The smaller footprint would, obviously, be the result of Apple applying its edge-to-edge, bezel-free design to a Plus-model form factor. That’s a move that makes perfect sense as the demand for Plus-model phones gets stronger.

The second-generation iPhone X, on the other hand, is likely to retain the 5.8-inch display size of its predecessor. Apple is also forecasted to round out next year’s lineup with a mid-range, 6.1-inch iPhone model that could sport a metal construction and an LCD display. While Apple is also rumored to be developing an iPhone SE 2 for an exclusive Indian launch early next year, it’s not known when that device will reach other markets.

It’s still a bit early to guess at the price ranges, but assuming that an iPhone X successor would retail for $999, we can guess at the price of the iPhone X Plus. Apple typically charges a $100 premium for Plus-model iPhones, which could put the iPhone X Plus’ starting price at about $1,099.

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Apple Admits to Slowing Down Old iPhones – But for Good Reason

Smartphones get slower as they get older. That’s due to a variety of factors, from aging hardware to bit rot. But if you’re an iOS user, there might be another culprit behind your device’s degrading performance.

Several recent reports have revealed a secret power mode buried within the code of iOS. It’s called “Powerd,” which is “responsible for controlling the CPU/GPU speed and power usage based on iPhone battery health,” according to its discoverer, Brazilian developer Guilherme Rambo. In other words, it deliberately slows down an iOS device’s performance as its batteries age and degrade.

Why Is Powerd in iOS?

At this point, it’s worth noting how Powerd will likely become a significant talking point in the planned obsolesce narrative. For years, many have theorized that Apple purposely  slows down older iPhones to get people to buy new ones.

As iDrop News has covered before, it’s safe to say that this is — still — mostly false. Even with the discovery of Powerd.

Put simply, Powerd has a failsafe built into it that keeps a device’s internals from being overtaxed when its batteries degrade. Put another way, Powerd stops your older iPhone or iPad from overheating, randomly shutting down, or even catching fire if they have a degrading battery.

It also controls CPU power based on thermal pressure. So it’s a very important system to make sure your phone doesn’t catch on fire https://t.co/5q2ZVdEQxk

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) December 18, 2017

Apple confirmed the use of Powerd in a statement provided to TechCrunch on Wednesday. According to the company, standard lithium-ion batteries become “less capable” of delivering peak current charges as they age (among other reasons). This could result in an iPhone or iPad randomly shutting down to protect its own electrical components.

As such, Apple introduced the Powerd failsafe for the iPhone 6, 6s and SE to “smooth out the smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions.” Apple says it has extended that feature to the iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plans to include it in future products. Presumably, that means devices like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X as they get older.

But, as a consequence, the Powerd failsafe — which operates independently of the Low Power Mode — will continue to slow down an iPhone’s performance as its battery gets older.

How Powerd Was Discovered

Rambo unearthed Powerd on a hunch after reading a series of tests conducted by researcher John Poole of Primate Labs. Poole had found that operating performance for his iPhone 6s had essentially doubled when he simply changed the battery on the device.

Poole later confirmed the discovery with multiple subsequent tests, and actually plotted the kernel density of Geekbench scores recorded for the iPhone 6s running various versions of iOS. According to Poole, iPhone 6s handsets running iOS 11.2.1 showed some signs of being throttled. The issue became “even more pronounced” on devices with iOS 11.2 installed.

Based on the research, Poole said that the “problem” is widespread for iPhone 6, iPhone 7 and even iPhone 8 devices. The issue will “only get worse as phones (and their batteries) continue to age,” he added.

What Apple Should Do

Of course, the primary issue here is not necessarily that iOS has Powerd built into it. There are some obvious safety considerations. The issue is that Apple hasn’t been public with its existence until now. That may have been a result of Apple’s “it just works” way of designing products, but a bit more transparency about Powerd would have benefitted Apple.

Obviously, keeping users in the dark about Powerd doesn’t make Apple look the best. But, going forward, Apple should begin to publicly let users know that a new battery could alleviate a portion of the performance issues on older devices — and in some cases, could be a good alternative to just outright buying a replacement device.

For a company that prides itself on being eco-friendly and consumer-oriented, this could be the only (good) way forward.

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Apple’s Project ‘Marzipan’ Will Allow iPhone Apps to Run on Mac

Apple is working on a new project that will enable apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to run seamlessly on macOS computers, effectively giving users a “single set of apps” designed to work, sync content, and be equally accessible across their entire range of iOS and macOS devices, Bloomberg reports.

Beginning as early as next year, iOS and macOS developers will be given the option to design a single application that functions using “either a touchscreen, or mouse and trackpad,” according to sources familiar with the project who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Project Marzipan

Codenamed Project “Marzipan” internally, Bloomberg’s sources said Apple’s plans are in fact part of the company’s “multiyear effort” which will completely revolutionize the iOS and macOS user experience. They added that while nothing’s set in stone, and Apple’s plans could change at any time, we could potentially see the first of these major changes announced at the company’s annual software developer conference, WWDC, in 2018.

“This would be the biggest change to Apple’s software platform since iOS was introduced,” said Apple software developer, Steve Troughton-Smith, while adding that by unifying iOS and macOS, Apple will ultimately help both software platforms “evolve and grow as one, and not one at the expense of the other.”

Currently, app developers like Troughton-Smith who design apps for both iOS and macOS are required to design two separate applications — one for mobile and one for desktop — which, as any dev will assure you, can be both time consuming and unfruitful.

And that’s because Apple’s Mac App Store simply hasn’t caught on with users like its considerably more accessible iOS App Store. The former, for example, has struggled due to its limited selection of titles — some of which have not received updates in months or years.

By creating a single app to work seamlessly across all devices, Mac, iPhone, and iPad users not only stand to receive more routine software updates, but, let’s be honest — the sheer scope of what features and creative possibilities iOS apps will bring to macOS is rather exciting to entertain, isn’t it?

It’s not clear whether Apple’s Mac and iOS App Stores will be merged into one as a result of these changes; however, in what could be a tell tale sign of what’s to come, Apple did a top-to-bottom refresh of its iOS App Store earlier this year — while its Mac App Store hasn’t received attention since 2014.

It’s also worth pointing out that while the idea of iOS apps running on Mac sounds novel, Apple wouldn’t be the first company to try merging mobile and desktop in this way. Microsoft, prior to killing off its Windows Phone OS earlier this year, had been peddling a technology dubbed Universal Windows Platform — which allowed its devs to create apps that run on Windows Phones, Tablets, and PCs. Similarly, Google took a stab at merging mobile and desktop when it brought its Google Play App Store to some Chrome OS powered laptops.

In his assessment, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman asserted that Apple’s ultimate goal is to slowly but surely make the “underpinnings of its hardware and software more similar,” noting as an example how the company began developing its own A-series chips for iPhone and iPad years ago — and how, just recently, a variant of those powerful chips debuted in its beastly iMac Pro.

“Much the way Apple plans to unify apps, it could also one day use the same main processor on Macs and iOS devices,” Gurman portends, which would obviously make matters much easier for Apple and its customers. Unfortunately, the likelihood of that merger ever happening in slim to none. As recently as 2012, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has voiced his stern opposition to the idea of merging macOS and iOS, likening the idea in a 2012 interview to merging a toaster with a refrigerator.

“But those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user,” Cook said.

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ARKit Support Is Finally Coming to Pokémon GO

If you’re still playing Pokémon GO you may have turned off AR mode to make things a little less awkward. But now, you may want to turn it back on.

December has been a good month for Pokémon GO players. The game has added 50 new Pokémon that originally appeared in the Hoenn region, new weather dynamics and visuals, battle parties, and more. In fact, last Friday, the legendary Pokémon Groudon started appearing in Raid Battles. While the game can still be a bit slow and buggy, Niantic and The Pokémon Company have continued to improve the game and add new features regularly.

Now, Niantic Labs—the developer behind the popular pocket monster game and other AR (augmented reality) games such as Ingress—has just announced AR+ for the iOS version of the app. AR+ will be available in an update later this week. The new update will utilize iOS 11’s ARKit framework to vastly improve the game’s AR mechanics, providing a more immersive experience. Players will be able to see Pokémon as they would look in the real world, and will even be able to “sneak up” on Pokémon to catch them.

What Is ARKit?

ARKit is a new framework introduced in iOS 11 that provides developers with positional tracking so that virtual objects can be added to the real world. Objects utilizing ARKit are able to blend with the environment around them. These virtual objects can be seen by using Augmented Reality which utilizes a display and a camera to make digital objects come to life.

ARKit takes advantage of Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) which uses the device’s camera in correlation with Core Motion data to provide accurate real-world tracking. This eliminates the need for calibration and helps the device sense how it moves within a space.

What Else Can ARKit Do?

ARKit can detect horizontal surfaces such as the ground, a floor, or a tabletop and can track points on these surfaces. This makes placing and tracking digital objects easy. In addition, ARKit is capable of determining a room’s lighting to provide accurate lighting and shading to digital objects.

Some developers have also used ARKit’s tracking abilities to dynamically increase or decrease the volume of sounds in relation to an object. In other words, digital objects that emit sound will be louder or quieter depending on how close the user is in relation to it.

What Is AR+?

With the introduction of AR+, Pokémon will now appear in an exact spot within the real world when AR mode is enabled. AR+ will be available on iPhone 6s and newer running iOS 11 or above.

Before ARKit support, Pokémon would often drift around as the device moved and usually looked like an overlay rather than a real world object. Now that Pokémon are able to be rendered in a more fixed location, players will be able to move around them and get up close. This new experience will give players a feel for how these monsters might appear in the real world. In fact, Niantic says Pokémon will be shown actual size, so larger Pokémon such as Onix will be towering above players.

Pokémon in the latest update just got a little smarter. Getting too close to a Pokémon may even cause it to flee. Niantic refers to this new in-game dynamic as “awareness.”

If a player is able to “sneak up” close enough and catch a Pokémon, they will be rewarded with an “Expert Handler” bonus. This bonus increases the amount of XP and Stardust earned for catching the Pokémon. Sneaking up close enough also improves a player’s chance of getting a great or an excellent throw. Additionally, players will now see an awareness meter on the display; if it fills up, the Pokémon they are attempting to catch will run away.

The Tall Grass

If a Pokémon runs away you will be able to find it in “the tall grass.” For players who have never played the original handheld games, this is a reference to the glory days. In older Pokémon games, Pokémon could be found by walking around in the tall grass. In Pokémon GO, you will be able to find Pokémon that run off by tapping on nearby tall grass. This may result in a second chance at catching the Pokémon.

Niantic is calling this the first step in making the game’s AR features “even more awesome,” and encourages players to remain aware of their surroundings while playing and take awesome AR+ photos to share with the community. If this is only the beginning, AR gaming is about to get even better.

More to Come

Pokémon GO now has over 300 Pokémon to catch and battle, better AR features, and even more is rumored to be coming down the pipe. Some features that players are still waiting for include trading, peer-to-peer battles, and breeding. Personally, I’d like to see Pokémon Centers and NPCs (non-playable characters) added to the game.

A Pokémon GO Christmas event featuring the Jhoto-region Pokémon Delibird is expected soon. It may include Pikachus wearing Santa hats, more Stantler, and possibly the addition of more generation-three Pokémon.

If you’re a fan of Pokémon, there’s never been a better time to dust off your sneakers and venture into the tall grass. Good luck, trainers!

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Shazam Finally Adds Offline Mode on iOS

Apple recently made headlines across the globe when it acquired British music app Shazam for $400 million, and it’s already begun releasing new features. The music recognition app has just released a new update for iPhone and iPad users introducing a caching feature.

There’s nothing more annoying when an app suddenly crashes when you run into problems with your connection. Now, users will still be able to use the service when their internet is weak. From now on, when you click to listen to song, the app will keep a back-up copy if internet access becomes a trouble. You’ll also be sent a notification to tell you that the sample has been saved.

The Android version of Shazam has offered offline support for a while now, but after increasing demand from iOS users, the firm has finally brought the feature to Apple devices.

If you want to benefit from this technology, you’ll be happy to learn that you can now download the update from the App Store.

“Just open the app and tap the Shazam button as usual. A digital fingerprint of the audio will be created and stored on the app,” explained the company in a post.

“You’ll also see a pop-up message telling you that you’re offline, and that we’ll try again when you’re next connected to the internet.”

When your connection drops, Shazam will keep updating to ensure you don’t lose any content, and it’ll also check for new connections.

“When you next have a stable internet connection, Shazam will automatically look for a match for you,” said Shazam.

“If successful, your new discoveries will be added to the My Shazam and you’ll see a small red badge on the My Shazam icon on the homescreen letting you know how many new Shazams you have.”

It’s unknown what Apple plans to do with Shazam, but the firm said they’re a “natural fit”. In a statement, Apple commented: “We are thrilled that Shazam and its talented team will be joining Apple.

“Since the launch of the App Store, Shazam has consistently ranked as one of the most popular apps for iOS. Today, it’s used by hundreds of millions of people around the world, across multiple platforms.

“Apple Music and Shazam are a natural fit, sharing a passion for music discovery and delivering great music experiences to our users. We have exciting plans in store, and we look forward to combining with Shazam upon approval of today’s agreement.-Apple

Shazam said: “We are excited to announce that Shazam has entered into an agreement to become part of Apple.

“Shazam is one of the highest rated apps in the world and loved by hundreds of millions of users and we can’t imagine a better home for Shazam to enable us to continue innovating and delivering magic for our users.”

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