How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

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How to Fix iOS 11 Wi-Fi Issues

iOS 11 is packed with tons of exciting new features and changes, but it also has its own share of bugs and software problems. Just like every major release of iOS, the first few versions are not as stable.

If you’ve installed iOS 11 on your device, but have started facing issues with Wi-Fi, then you’re not alone as a number of other iOS 11 users are also facing the same problems. Some of the issues that are being reported include poor Wi-Fi connectivity, random connection drops, slow internet speed, and not being able to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Fortunately, there are a number of solutions which can you help you remedy the Wi-Fi issues in iOS 11. Here are the workarounds.

How to Fix Wi-Fi Issues in iOS 11

1 Turn Wi-Fi Assist off and Back on

Wi-Fi Assist is a feature in iOS that automatically switches your device to Cellular Data when your Wi-Fi connection is poor. Some users have reported that turning off Wi-Fi Assist and re-enabling it helps to solve Wi-Fi problems.

To access Wi-Fi Assist settings, do the following:

• Open the Settings app.
• Go to Cellular Data.
• Scroll to the bottom and you should see the toggle for Wi-Fi Assist. Turn it off, then turn it back on.

2 Perform a Hard Reset

Hard reset is a forced reboot that is usually used to troubleshoot the minor software problems on your device, such as the Wi-Fi issues that you’re facing. Therefore, it’s a good idea to perform a hard reset and see if it solves the problem.

• How to Hard Reset iPhone 8 and iPhone X
• How to Hard Reset iPhone 7
• If you own an older model iPhone, press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Power button together for a couple of seconds. Once the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears, release the buttons. Now wait until your device boots up normally and the Lock screen appears.

3 Update to the Latest iOS Version

New iOS updates usually fix bugs and issues that were present in the previous version. If there’s a software update available for iOS 11, then we highly recommend that you download and install it as it might fix the Wi-Fi issues that you’re facing.

To update your iOS device:

• Open the Settings app.
• Go to General > Software Update.
• If you see a pending software update, tap on the Download and Install button to download the update. Once the download completes, tap on Install.

4 Turn off Your VPN

If you have VPN enabled, then it could be the reason why you are having issues with Wi-Fi. Try to disable VPN to see if it solves the issue.

• Open the Settings app and tap on General.
• Tap VPN.
• Turn off the Status toggle to disconnect VPN. If you’re unable to toggle it off, then open the VPN app which you’ve used and toggle it off from there.

5 Reset Network Settings

The issues that you’re facing with Wi-Fi could be due to problems with the network settings. One of the effective fixes for this is to reset the network settings, which clears caches and DHCP settings and resets all network-related configurations to factory default. It does not delete any data from your device, so all your files, apps, and important information will remain intact after the network reset.

To reset the network settings on your iOS device:

• Open the Settings app and tap General.
• Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset.
• Choose Reset Network Settings, then enter your iPhone’s passcode to confirm the reset.

6 Reset All Settings

If you’ve reset the network settings and the Wi-Fi issue still remains, then you should try resetting all your device settings. Doing so will put all your device settings back to factory defaults and won’t remove any of your data.

To reset all settings:

• Open the Settings app and tap General.
• Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset.
• Choose Reset All Settings, then enter your iPhone’s passcode to confirm the reset.

7 Restore Your iOS Device or Downgrade to iOS 10.3.3

As a last resort, if none of the above methods work, then you should try restoring your iOS device using iTunes, or downgrade back to iOS 10.3.3. As of this writing, Apple is still signing iOS 10.3.3 so you still have the chance to downgrade to that version and fix the Wi-Fi problems that you’re facing. Another solution is to restore your device via iTunes to see if it solves the issue. This will wipe your device and remove all the data. After the restore, you can either set up as a new device or restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup.

These are the solutions that should hopefully help you fix your Wi-Fi problems. If any of these tips helped you fix the problem, or you’ve got some tips of your own, then let us know in the comments below.

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Apple Responds to FCC: iPhone 7 and 8 Do Not Have FM Chips

Apple has been under increasing pressure to activate the FM chips in its devices. But in a statement Thursday, the company said that it’s “not possible” to do so on newer devices.

Earlier this week, the National Association of Broadcasters and the chairman of the FCC both urged Apple to turn on FM chips in their devices. In a statement to tech journalist Rene Ritchie, however, Apple wrote that “iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products.”

That’s an interesting development, seeing as basically all major smartphone modems have FM chips built into them. It’s likely, however, that Apple’s chips are sourced and built specifically to Apple’s requirements — and in recent years, Apple has apparently decided to leave any FM tuner off of its chip orders.

Presumably, this means that iPhone 6s and older devices do have FM chips, but Apple doesn’t seem to be interested in activating the functionality. Of course, not that it is as easy as just rolling out a software update and turning the chips on. Even iPhones with an FM tuner built into their modems lack the antennas necessary for listening over-the-air.

Despite the lack of FM radio capabilities, Apple says that it still “cares deeply about the safety of (its) users, especially during times of crisis.” The company pointed out iOS’s Medical ID card information and emergency dialing options on the Lock screen, as well as the iPhone’s ability to receive government emergency and AMBER alerts. To check if those latter two options are on, just go to Settings > Notifications and scroll to the very bottom.

Statement from Apple regarding calls for FM radios to be enabled on iPhones. (Recent models don’t have them.) http://pic.twitter.com/xwggMNtjhq

— Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) September 28, 2017

Of course, there’s an argument to be made about how useful a smartphone with FM radio would be in an actual emergency situation. Compared to a hand-cranked emergency radio, a smartphone just isn’t as durable, power-efficient or convenient to charge.

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4.2% of Macs Fail to Update Firmware, Vulnerable to Exploits

Routine software updates, among other things, are meant to protect your device against known security exploits and vulnerabilities. But according to a new report, macOS updates might be leaving out important patches that are critical for security.

In a recent survey of more than 73,000 Mac computers, researchers at Duo Security found that an alarming number of Mac machines — about 4.2 percent — were running outdated EFI firmware relative to the version of macOS installed. In most cases, routine software updates either skipped updating the firmware, or the firmware installation was unsuccessful, according to Duo’s whitepaper on the topic.

EFI, or Extensible Firmware Interface, is the software on a computer’s motherboard that runs when a Mac is powered on. Since it’s such a core, under-the-hood part of the Mac platform, it leaves Macs with outdated firmware dangerously vulnerable to attack. And unlike other vulnerabilities, these firmware attacks offer malicious entities “powerful capabilities in terms of stealth, persistence and direct access to hardware,” Duo’s research paper notes.

In other words, compromising a computer’s EFI allows an attacker dangerous control over the system as it can bypass high-level security features. Worse still, it’s extremely hard to detect if a system has been compromised, and once it is, it is very hard to fix. EFI infections can even survive entire hard drive wipes or clean installs of an OS.

Duo Security’s research found that 47 of the Macs they surveyed, which were capable of running either OS X Yosemite, OS X El Capitan or macOS Sierra, did not have the appropriate EFI patch for the Thunderstrike vulnerability — a dangerous exploit that allowed attackers to install malicious code without a user’s knowledge. Thunderstrike was first discovered three years ago.

As to why Macs aren’t receiving these vital updates, the research paper notes that there seems to be an issue with the way that EFI patches are bundled with standard macOS software updates. In the cases where Macs received no EFI update at all, Duo said that it’s unclear why.

“This means that even if your Mac is still receiving security patch support, there is a non-trivial chance that your system is not running the latest version, even though you thought it was installed,” Duo wrote. Even though Duo’s research focused on Apple machines, the security firm noted that similar — if not worse — EFI issues are present on PCs running various versions of Windows or Linux.

“We appreciate Duo’s work on this industry-wide issue and noting Apple’s leading approach to this challenge,” Apple wrote in a statement provided to ARS Technica. “Apple continues to work diligently in the area of firmware security and we’re always exploring ways to make our systems more secure.” Additionally, Apple noted that macOS High Sierra automatically conducts a weekly validation of a Mac’s EFI to ensure that it’s up-to-date and hasn’t been tampered with.

If you’re concerned about your own Mac platform, Duo Security said in a blog post that it offers a tool to help you figure out which version EFI you’re running. As always, it’s also recommended that you update your Mac to the latest version of macOS High Sierra.

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Apple Investigates iPhone 8 Plus Models ‘Splitting Open’

Apple is investigating a small number of reports of iPhone 8 Plus models “splitting open.” Details are scarce at this point, but reports indicate that at least two iPhone 8 Plus models have split open.

In one case, a Taiwanese woman’s iPhone 8 Plus “split open” while it was being charged with the official Apple cable and wall brick supplied in the box. The event occurred five days after she bought the device. According to local media, the owner reported seeing the front panel bulge and lift completely from the device after about three minutes of charging.

The other confirmed report comes from an iPhone 8 Plus owner in Japan, who tweeted photos of the damaged device last week. According to the user, the device was already split open when he unboxed it.

It’s currently unclear why these iPhone 8 Plus models are splitting open, and the two reports seem to be contradictory. The device in Taiwan could have suffered from a faulty battery-related issue, for example, as it split during charging. But the report out of Japan, in which the device arrived split open, seems to suggest that it’s not a battery problem.

届いたiPhone8plus、開けたら既に膨らんでた http://pic.twitter.com/eX3XprSzqv

— まごころ (@Magokoro0511) September 24, 2017

More than that, if it is a battery issue, it doesn’t appear to be as severe as the notoriously fiery Galaxy Note 7. It doesn’t look like the devices exploded or ignited, as there are no visible burn marks or extensive damage to the casing in either report. Apple is reportedly only aware of these two cases and is carefully investigating the issue.

Until there are more reports of casing-related issues, it might be best to view these as isolated incidents. With a device as mass-produced as the iPhone 8 Plus, there are bound to be a small percentage of defective models. There’s currently no evidence suggesting that it’s a more widespread issue.

Of course, if you’re an iPhone 8 Plus owner, it might be best to be on the safe side and keep an eye on it while it’s charging. If you notice any bulging or splitting open, carefully and immediately move the device to a safe and open place away from anything flammable.

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5 Biggest Announcements from Amazon’s Surprise Product Event

Amazon held a surprise Alexa-focused event earlier this week where it showed off a lineup of new Echo speakers and Echo-related devices. Amazon also unveiled a new Fire TV to compete with Apple’s recently announced 4K TV. Press the right arrow to view the biggest product announcements from Amazon’s latest press event.

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Apple Sued By a Native American Tribe over 2012’s iPad 4

In a twist, Apple is being sued for patent infringement by a company owned by a North Dakota-based Native American tribe that has probably never invented anything close to resembling a tablet computer, ARS Technica reports.

MEC Resources LLC is a North Dakotan company wholly owned by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes). The self-described “small patent holding company” had no revenue in 2016 and has had no revenue to date in 2017 according to legal filings. Yet it has launched a lawsuit against a multibillion dollar tech giant claiming royalties from iPad sales thanks to a patent it purchased from another company.

The original intellectual property complaint against Apple was filed in March by Texas-based Prowire LLC, which alleged that inductors in the iPad 4 (named the “Accused Inductors” in its complaint) infringe on its patent for “Inductors with Minimized EMI Effect and the Method of Manufacturing the Same”. Prowire, in turn, obtained the patent, which was invented by two Taiwanese nationals, from a Taiwanese company called Fuco Technology Co., LTD.

Although the complaint was originally filed in Delaware, was recently transferred to the Northern District of California by judges who cited a congested court and a depleted bench as reasons.

The rights to the patent were likely sold onto the MEC Resources LLC for legal reasons. It turns out that Native American tribes enjoy something called “sovereign immunity”, which, under the Eleventh Amendment of the US Constitution, means they cannot be sued in federal court unless they consent to. Sovereign immunity comes in handy when it comes to patent disputes because sovereign patent holders can avoid having the US Patent Office judge their patents in a process called inter partes review (IPR).

IPR cases go before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) rather than before district courts. IPR has emerged as one of the most quick, efficient, and cheap methods for fighting off patent trolls. According to Unified Patents, a defensive patent group, the PTAB cancels around 74 percent of patent claims, making IPRs the preferred method of legal recourse for tech companies besieged by bogus patent claims.

While IPR has made it riskier for holders to assert weak patent claims, the sovereign immunity loophole may have shifted the balance in favor of patent trolls. In any case, more and more patent holders seem to be paying Native American tribes to hold onto their claims in the hopes that it will allow them to circumvent the IPR process.

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Does Apple Make Older iPhones Slow Intentionally?

If you’ve been an iPhone user for a while, you’ve probably noticed that older phones tend to degrade over time. For many, this is just the natural cycle of consumer electronics. For others, however, it’s the result of a long-standing conspiracy meant to get people to buy new devices when they don’t need them.

The Background

Apple, these theorists contend, deliberately sabotages older devices via software updates to incentivize consumers to buy the latest iPhone. This phenomenon is known as planned obsolescence, and many believe that it’s a sinister and malicious business strategy meant to keep a company’s coffers full of customer cash.

Of course, there’s no arguing with the fact that older devices get slower over time — and in many cases, eventually become obsolete. But is there any truth to the theory that it is an intentional decision?

One Dubious “Study”

Many of these theorists point toward one “Harvard study” that, ostensibly, proves that Apple does indeed kill its older devices. Before we move on to what’s actually happening, let’s get this “study” out of the way.

Firstly, it’s not a Harvard study. It appears to be a casual experiment performed via Google Trends by a Harvard student named Laura Trucco— and more than that, it doesn’t prove that Apple is sabotaging its devices at all.

The only thing that the “study” proved is that worldwide searches for “iPhone slow” tend to spike whenever a new iPhone is launched. Of course, that’s just a passing correlation and hardly concrete evidence of intentional sabotage. Furthermore, while the “study” states that there isn’t a similar trend for Samsung Galaxy devices, this can be explained, too (though we’ll get to that later).

The Facts: Speed Testing

While benchmark testing sites like Geekbench and AnTuTu don’t test for various operating systems, a variety of other sources have tested iOS 11 on older devices.

YouTube channel EverythingApplePro performed a speed test comparing iOS 11 to iOS 10.3.3 on various iPhone models and found that — in most cases — iOS 11 did result in a nominal decrease in speed. Similarly, ARS Technica conducted benchmark testing on an iPhone 5s running iOS 11 and found similar results. There was a noticeable decrease in speed, though not significant.

A slight speed hit doesn’t exactly sound like “sabotage,” but older devices do get slower on newer and better software. So what’s going on?

First-Party Software & Hardware

Apple, unlike Android, designs both its own hardware and its own software. Because of that, the company has a very specific target to design their software around. Apple obviously creates and optimizes a new version of iOS to work best with its latest and greatest devices. It wouldn’t make any sense to do otherwise.

While many older devices are supported by newer software, some devices do go obsolete. The iPhone 5, for example, is a 32-bit phone and incompatible with new 64-bit versions of iOS. But, again, Apple can’t just keep iOS 32-bit in order to appease owners of older devices — it would just become stagnant.

That’s also the reason why “slow phone” Google searches don’t spike for Samsung devices. Android isn’t made by Samsung, and the release of new Android software often doesn’t coincide with new Samsung hardware. Similarly, when developing a new version of Android, the OS’s makers have to account for a broader range of devices than Apple does.

The Conclusion

Apple is creating its software to keep up with its advancements in hardware — and technology overall. That’s hardly “intentional sabotage” of older devices, even if it does result in aging handsets becoming obsolete.

The simple fact of the matter is that newer versions of iOS (really, all operating systems), with their increased load of features and capabilities, require better processors and internal specifications to run properly. With the pace of technological advancement in our modern age, there’s no wonder why older phones get slower as time goes on. The technology that manufacturers install in these devices gets old very quickly, since it doesn’t take long for technology to improve.

Aging devices just can’t keep up, even if they were the latest and greatest when they were released. That’s just the cycle of technology — particularly when it’s advancing so rapidly.

But There’s A Caveat, Of Course

That all being said, there’s is some planned obsolescence going on. But it’s a trend across the entire consumer industry, not just at Cupertino. And it has its roots hundreds of years ago. As an example, there’s a lightbulb that’s been on continuously for nearly 116 years. Contrast that to modern lightbulbs that last just a few years.

But as the BBC points out, planned obsolescence of consumer products allows for businesses to be sustainable. And it allows these companies to keep up with the tastes and desires of their customers. “In this way, planned obsolescence serves as a reflection of a ravenous, consumer culture.”

While greedy industries of yesteryear may have come up with this business model, “they were hardly alone in doing so.” And the rapid pace of obsolescence in technology has created hundreds of thousands of jobs and allowed the industry to flourish and advance at a breakneck pace.

In short, Apple isn’t intentionally sabotaging its older phones — at least, no more than literally any other company is sabotaging their own products.

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iOS 11.1 Public Beta: New Features and Changes

Apple on Thursday released a slew of new software updates to public testers, including the first beta of iOS 11.1. The new update comes about a week after the official release of iOS 11.

Users enrolled in Apple’s public beta testing program will be able to download the new update over-the-air, provided that the appropriate certificate is installed on a device.

What’s New in iOS 11.1

iOS 11.1 is a relatively small update to Apple’s mobile operating system. Other than the standard security fixes and under-the-hood improvements, iOS 11.1 contains a number of small tweaks.

• Firstly, in Messages, there’s a new update to the QuickType keyboard concerning emoji suggestions. When you type a word into Messages (like “smile” or “surprised”), you’ll now see three suggested emojis instead of one. That’s similar to how the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro models handles emoji suggestions.
• There are also some new animation and UI tweaks in iOS 11.1, such as a fluid scrolling animation when scrubbing to the top of a webpage and a new animation when tapping on a notification while in an app.
• Other small tweaks include a new design for heart rate when you’re logging finished workouts in Activity.
• Additionally, there’s no longer any haptic feedback when inputting an incorrect password into the Lock screen.

The new update does not, however, add Apple Pay Cash or the popular 3D Touch Apple Switcher gesture to iOS 11. Those additions should be coming soon, however.

How to Install iOS 11.1

To install the iOS 11.1 beta, you’ll need to sign up for Apple’s public beta testing software and enroll your device or devices — which you can do so via Apple’s website. Once you do, iOS 11.1 will become available as an over-the-air update.

As always, it’s recommended that testers refrain from installing public beta software onto their daily devices — since beta software can be unstable and riddled with bugs. At the very least, perform a full backup of your iOS device before proceeding.

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iPhone 8 Scores Top Marks for LTE Speeds, But There’s a Catch

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have scored top marks in LTE speeds, according to recent testing. But there are a few caveats to keep in mind.

The gist of the results is that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are the fastest iPhones ever in terms of LTE download and upload speeds, according to a recent in-depth test performed by PC Mag and bolstered by crowdsourced data via Ookla. While the results vary, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus see a range of improvements in speed and coverage across most carriers.

Of course, that’s not the entire story — and here it gets a bit tricky. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus still aren’t the fastest smartphones on U.S. networks, since they lack the 4×4 MIMO antenna seen in the Galaxy S8. And tracked performance varies depending on your specific model of iPhone and which channel you purchased it from.

Different iPhone Versions

There are basically three versions of both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus around the world.

• Unlocked iPhone 8 units, or units sold by Sprint, Verizon and Australian carriers, have a Qualcomm X16 modem.
• iPhone 8 units sold by AT&T, T-Mobile and Canadian carriers have an Intel modem, likely the XMM7480.
• There’s also a Japanese iPhone version, with an unknown modem, that’s sold exclusively in Japan.

PC Mag’s review goes further in-depth, but the general takeaway is that Qualcomm-equipped iPhone 8 models have generally better performance than Intel models. Japanese devices weren’t tested, so there isn’t any data on that. Additionally, in the U.S., the iPhone 8 lacks gigabit LTE support.

Speeds Vary by Version

Across the board, users in the U.S. can expect to see about a 10 percent bump in speed improvements when they use an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. Interestingly, in Australia, that jumps to a nearly 25 percent improvement due to their unique network structure — but that’s another story.

As seen in the graph below (provided by Ookla), the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus still boast improved speed performance over their predecessors — most notably for AT&T and T-Mobile. Also, note how Qualcomm-equipped devices consistently rank slightly faster than their Intel counterparts.

If mobile broadband speed is the primary thing you’re after, it might be best to opt for the unlocked iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. Presumably, that will also be true for the upcoming iPhone X — something to keep in mind if you’re holding out for that device.

Coverage Also Varies

When it comes to coverage, the results vary, too. Users will see the biggest jump in performance if they’re switching from an iPhone 6 or older, and if they’re on Sprint’s and T-Mobile’s network.

The lack of 4×4 MIMO also contributes to the iPhone’s notorious difficulty in recovering from dead zones. PC Mag conducted a test pitting the iPhone 8 and the Galaxy S8 against each other in a New York subway. In most cases, the iPhone 8 took several seconds longer to regain an LTE signal.

Improvements Can Still Be Made

Despite the speed improvements across the board, the iPhone’s cellular speeds and coverage could be vastly improved with the addition of a 4×4 MIMO antenna structure. But iPhone users will likely have to wait until 2018 to see Apple flagships roll out with the technology.

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FCC Chairman Pressures Apple to Activate iPhone’s Dormant FM Chip

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is urging Apple to activate the FM chips within its iPhone handsets.

Chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement this week specifically calling on Apple to activate the dormant FM tuners, which are already built into every iPhone but left deactivated by the manufacturer. If turned on, the FM chip would allow iPhone users to listen to FM radio over the air — without using a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

That becomes especially relevant for communities battered by powerful storms — like recent hurricanes — which can leave thousands without access to cellular connectivity. Even without an internet connection, users could listen to important news and weather reports via FM radio if the chips were turned on.

Pai wrote that he hopes Apple will “reconsider its position” in the wake of those hurricanes, which have devastated areas of the United States, including Texas, Florida and U.S. territory Puerto Rico. “It is time for Apple to step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first,” the chairman added.

The FCC’s statement comes amidst renewed pressure from industry and lobbying groups to activate these FM chips. “Broadcasters are providing information on how to evacuate quickly, where flood waters are raging, how to get out of harm’s way if there’s a tornado or hurricane,” a spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters told Bloomberg Thursday. “The notion that Apple or anyone else would block this type of information is something we find fairly troubling,”

The broadband modems installed in most modern smartphones — including Qualcomm and Intel chips — already have a built-in FM tuner that would allow people to listen to FM radio over the air. But on iPhones, Apple has left this functionality disabled — forcing users to stream FM radio via cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. FM connectivity would also allow users to listen to free content over the radio, which some critics say is a key reason certain companies leave the capability off.

This isn’t the first time Pai has criticized phone-makers for leaving the FM chips in their devices off. “It seems odd that every day we hear about a new smartphone app that lets you do something innovative, yet these modern-day mobile miracles don’t enable a key function offered by a 1982 Sony Walkman,” Pai said in February. Despite his comments, Pai said that he is a believer in “free markets,” and cannot support government legislation or an FCC mandate requiring companies to activate these FM chips.

But while Pai has urged phone makers to activate FM chips before, today’s statement is the first time that Pai has called Apple out by name. “Apple is the only major phone manufacturer that has resisted (turning on FM chips),” the chairman wrote. “Do the right thing, Mr. Cook. Flip the switch. Lives depend on it.”

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New iPhone X Home, Lock Screen Details Revealed in Xcode 9.1

Apple on Wednesday issued a new Xcode 9.1 beta that adds support for new operating systems, including iOS 11.1, watchOS 4.1 and tvOS 11.1. In addition, the new development environment update shows off a bit more of the iPhone X experience.

Xcode 9.1 features a more fleshed-out iPhone X simulator, including demonstrations of the new Lock and Home screen. Additionally, the update comes with a series of onboarding videos for various tasks on the iPhone X.

The Lock screen features a few new surprises that Apple didn’t mention during its September event. For starters, the iconic Lock screen text has been changed to “Swipe up to open.”

The home indicator/gesture bar at the bottom of the display will also gently animate to suggest to users how they’ll unlock an iPhone in lieu of a Home button.

There’s also a prominently placed icon for Control Center in the upper-right corner. On the iPhone X, users will swipe down from this corner to access the revamped interface. Xcode 9.1 doesn’t feature a working Control Center, but the statusbar will apparently disappear and will be replaced by status indicators placed below the sensor notch.

Reportedly, there will also be dedicated Camera and Flashlight buttons near the home indicator at the bottom of the display, which will be accessible via a firm 3D Touch press.

As far as the Home screen, not a whole lot has changed. Apple has done away with the old-style iOS dock in favor of an unattached iPad-like dock with rounded corners. Of course, due to the smaller display compared to the iPad, the Dock is still limited to four apps on the new iPhone.

There’s also the aforementioned onboarding videos, which Brazilian developer Guilherme Rambo shared via Twitter. They’ll introduce iPhone X users to the new UI interactions, such as the various swipe gestures and remapped side button controls. You can see those videos below.

Remember I talked about onboarding videos when setting up the iPhone X? Here’s the first one. http://pic.twitter.com/Fe5t3s8lgo

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) September 27, 2017

iPhone X onboarding video 2: go home http://pic.twitter.com/WrG0cW5Iqq

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) September 27, 2017

iPhone X onboarding video 3: Siri http://pic.twitter.com/LYnrMZmkbK

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) September 27, 2017

iPhone X onboarding video 4: Control Center http://pic.twitter.com/GdwhOhSIvV

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) September 27, 2017

Pre-orders for the iPhone X will begin on Oct. 27. The premium OLED handset will then hit store shelves and ship out to customers on Nov. 3 — though many anaylsts predict that the device will be in short supply until next year.

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Apple to Launch Premium TV Series Akin to ‘Game of Thrones’

Apple is continuing its strong push into the original TV content market, according to a recent feature in the Hollywood Reporter detailing the company’s plans and efforts.

Reportedly, Apple is being “inundated” with spec scripts and packaged projects as the company looks to create its own offering of high-end, “prestige” TV content. According to several sources familiar with Apple’s plans, the company is looking specifically for “big, smart, splashy dramas” akin to Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad or The Crown.

The tech giant’s Los Angeles-based executives have apparently been spotted all over Hollywood meeting with agents and studio executives. Among Apple’s L.A. team are Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, two former Sony executives poached by the company earlier this year to head its TV content division.

Cupertino isn’t looking to “replicate the pace or scale” of rivals like Netflix, which spends about $6 billion annually on original content. But the company is steadily edging in on the TV and movie business, as multiple reports over the last few months indicate. And the talent is already lining up.

“There’s this sense of, ‘It’s the most innovative company in the world, of course you want to have a show there,’” UTA TV’s Matt Rice told the Reporter. UTA TV is just one of several agencies sending scripts and projects to Apple for consideration.

While Apple is a relative newcomer to Hollywood, its Culver City-based studio has already “leap-frogged” much of its competition. Several agents told The Hollywood Reporter that a project that might be pitched to Netflix or HBO is now being taken to Apple, as well. Part of its “overnight” credibility might be due to the established reputation of Van Amburg and Erlicht. Alternatively, it might be Apple’s own clout in the tech world or its comparatively deep pockets.

The company isn’t looking to sacrifice quality for haste, however. While Apple is still being “deluged with nearly every script in town,” Apple’s TV team has passed on most of them. On the other hand, some of the projects still being considered include a reboot of Steve Spielberg’s Amazing Stories and a drama headed by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

But Apple’s unique position in Hollywood has many in the industry asking tough questions — particularly where and how Apple’s premium content will be streamed. Others are proposing theories that Apple could use every available asset — from Apple Store screens to iPhones — to market its original content. For the most part, many of these questions have remained unanswered. Apple, ever secretive with its plans, declined to comment.

Chris Silbermann, managing director at talent agency ICM Partners, said that Apple needs to “articulate to the creative community and the industry at large” its strategies on marketing, release and distribution. “Simply, what does it mean to be an Apple show?” Silbermann said.

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iOS 11 Patches a Critical Security Flaw Discovered in iOS 10

If you needed another reason to update to iOS 11, here’s one: security researchers have discovered a critical vulnerability in iOS 10 that could allow hackers to hijack an iPhone over Wi-Fi networks.

The flaw was first discovered by Gal Beniamini, a researcher with Google Project Zero. The vulnerability exists in devices with Broadcom Wi-Fi chips, which includes iPhones, Galaxy smartphones, and a wide range of other devices. It can allow an attacker to remotely take control of a user’s smartphone over local Wi-Fi connections.

All that’s needed for an attacker to hijack a handset is the device’s MAC address — which is easy enough to obtain over local networks. It’s a serious threat to iPhone and Android owners, and to hammer home the risk it could pose to users, Beniamini published a proof-of-concept exploit to demonstrate its danger. Researchers have tested the exploit in iOS 10.2, but believe that all versions including iOS 10.3.3 are similarly at risk.

Beniamini informed Broadcom of the flaw, and also privately reported the vulnerability to Google’s bug-reporting system in August, The Hacker News reported.

The flaw only exists on Broadcom Wi-Fi chips running the BCM4355C0 firmware version — which is used across a plethora of smartphones, smart TVs and set-top boxes like the Apple TV. As users can’t readily tell which firmware version that their devices are running, it’s recommended that all iPhone users upgrade to iOS 11.

The vulnerability has been patched in Apple’s latest software, according to release notes on iOS 11’s and tvOS 11’s security content. Google also appears to have fixed the issue for its Pixel and Nexus devices, though users of other Android handsets will need to wait for their particular manufacturers to push an update out.

This isn’t the first time that Broadcom Wi-Fi chips have been plagued by serious security issues. Beniamini discovered a similar flaw in Broadcom’s Wi-Fi SoC in April. And another security researcher discovered a critical vulnerability dubbed BroadPwn over the summer.

If you’re on a compatible iPhone, it’s strongly recommended that you update to iOS 11 or tvOS 11 as soon as possible.

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Apple Named World’s Most Valuable Brand Fifth Year in a Row

Apple has been named the world’s most valuable brand of 2017 by global brand consultancy firm Interbrand. Apple’s 2017 ranking marks the fifth consecutive year that it has held onto the position.

The company’s brand valuation rose to $184 billion, up 3 percent from last year, according to Interbrand’s “Best Global Brands” 2017 report.

Google placed second with a valuation of $142 billion, while Microsoft ranked third with a rough value just under $80 billion.

Coca-Cola and Amazon rounded out the top five, with $70 billion and $65 billion valuations, respectively.

But while Apple has managed to fend off other tech giants like Google and Microsoft for the top spot for several years, Interbrand notes that the company’s growth rate is slowing down overall. It first fell to 21 percent in 2014, and down to 5 percent last year.

Best Global Brands 2017

 

Top Growing Brands

Interbrand also tracks quickly growing companies under its “Top Growing” category — which was previously dubbed “Top Risers.” Facebook, which achieved eighth place overall, ranked first on that list, with an impressive 48 percent valuation jump from the previous year. Amazon, Adobe, Adidas and Starbucks rounded out the “Top Growing” companies this year.

Apple was once a “Top Growing” brand, too — most recently in 2015, when the company saw a 43 percent boost due to strong iPhone 6 sales and services revenue. It also ranked high in Top Risers when it overtook Coca-Cola as the world’s most valuable brand in 2013.

The global consultancy firm considers a range of factors when determining a brand’s cumulative value, including financial performance for branded products and services, a brand’s strength in influencing customer decision, and the ability for a brand to command a premium price for its wares.

Interbrand’s list isn’t the only one to rank global brands. Earlier this year, Forbes released its seventh annual “World’s Most Valuable Brands” list. Apple took first place in the Forbes list for the seventh year in a row.

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Analyst Says ‘Bleak’ iPhone 8, 8 Plus Launch Was Highly Exaggerated

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sales are doing well and are in line with expectations, according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.

That’s obviously contrary to the bleak picture that many analysts and media analysts painted of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus launch weekend. News outlets said that lines were noticeably shorter on launch day, and data from engagement platform Localytics suggested that adoption of the two new devices was much slower than average. But Kuo wrote in a research note distributed to clients Tuesday that reports of underwhelming sales have largely been exaggerated and overplayed by an “excessively negative” market.

Kuo agreed that the shorter lines and seemingly slower sales were due in part to the delayed iPhone X launch, but added that Apple is likely expecting a 50/50 split in demand between the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. With the iPhone X’s launch taken into consideration, Kuo contends, sales of the other two devices are actually in line with Apple’s production plans. This lines up with consumer demand since adoption of the iPhone 8 lineup is roughly half that of the iPhone 6s and 7 launches. The other half will be made up by the iPhone X.

“At first glance, the combined first-week adoption rate for the iPhone 8 / 8 Plus might appear low (about half that of iPhone 6s / 6s Plus and iPhone 7 and 7 Plus),” Kuo wrote. “However, this is due to the fact that the iPhone X is not included, not because iPhone 8 / 8 Plus first weekend sales have been weak.”

Part of the reason for the market’s negativity, Kuo adds, is that analysts are overly reliant on sales data for unlocked and SIM-free channels, like Apple Stores, rather than sales via carriers. While Kuo indicated that lines outside of Apple retail outlets were indeed shorter, demand for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus was much more stable from carrier and contract channels.

Part of the reason for that, Kuo said, is that the people who stand in line to purchase new devices straight from an Apple Store are “presumably hardcore Apple fans and heavy users.” Those are the type of people who are likely holding out for the premium iPhone X. That could have contributed to the perceived lack of excitement for the iPhone 8 lineup.

KGI Securities’ research also indicated that demand for the larger iPhone 8 Plus is higher than the standard-sized iPhone 8. This corroborates data from Localytics, who reported that — though sales were lower overall — the iPhone 8 Plus saw the highest first-weekend adoption rate of any Plus-model iPhone to date.

But while sales of the iPhone 8 lineup are on track with exceptions, Kuo warned that the shipment momentum could begin to slip and that sales need to be closely monitored as the iPhone X launch looms.

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7 Tips to Shoot Perfect Videos on iPhone

Apple’s iPhone has become a staple of modern-day photography. But while the iPhone can shoot impressive still images, the device can also record stunning video. It’s certainly not perfect, but the iPhone is a great tool for videography — particularly because it’s small, convenient and probably already with you. Press the right arrow to learn 7 tips to help you record iPhone videos like a professional.

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Here’s Why Foxconn Chose to Build Its LCD Factory in Wisconsin

Foxconn Technology Group — one of Apples largest, contract-based product assembly partners — announced ambitious plans earlier this year: that largely in light of President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ manufacturing and jobs initiatives, it would develop a $10 billion LCD manufacturing plant in the United States. According to a fresh report published this week by DigiTimes, Foxconn’s chairman and CEO, Terry Gou, is now just days away from making a visit to Wisconsin, where his firm has chosen to develop its sprawling, 20 million square-foot, 1,000-acre campus.

Why Did Foxconn Choose Wisconsin?

While Foxconn’s upcoming plant will exclusively be used to develop LCD display panels, and it’s unclear if Apple has any involvement in the dealings at all, some might be wondering why the Chinese manufacturing-giant chose Wisconsin as its new home in the first place.

To put it plainly: shortly after Foxconn’s tentative development plans were announced this past July, Wisconsin’s state assembly convened and unanimously approved a bill that would offer the iPhone builder a sweeping, $3 billion incentives package to set up shop on its turf.

Of course, while we’re unsure if other U.S. states offered Foxconn similar incentive packages, we know for a fact that the company was considering other options before it settled on The Badger State. Among these earliest considerations were Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas — all which were floated as possibilities because, in Gou’s own words, “they are the heart of the country’s manufacturing sector.”

Nevertheless, Gou should be touching down on American soil later this week, and is expected to attend a joint meeting with the Wisconsin Economic Development Association on September 28th. As for the LCD factory, itself: development is already underway, and the firm has tentative plans to open by sometime in 2020 — if not sooner. The factory will ultimately provide permanent, high-paying jobs for as many as 13,000 local workers — the first 3,000 of which will start out at salaries averaging $53,900 per year, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

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U.S. to Begin Collecting Social Media Info on All Immigrants Oct. 18

As of October 18, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will expand the background checks it conducts on immigrants to cover social media and internet search results, a policy that will impact both green card holders and naturalized citizens.

The new Trump administration rule, which was published in the Federal Register and first reported by Buzzfeed News, notes that official immigration records will soon include “social media handles, aliases, associated identifiable information, and search results”. The policy covers, among other things, data obtained from immigrants’ Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts, as well as “publicly available information obtained from the internet”.

The expansion of federal data collection efforts aimed at immigrants has alarmed privacy advocates, who worry at the privacy and free speech implications of government surveillance aimed at a particular group of people.

“This Privacy Act notice makes clear that the government intends to retain the social media information of people who have immigrated to this country, singling out a huge group of people to maintain files on what they say,” said Faiz Shakir, national policy director of the ACLU, according to CNET. “This would undoubtedly have a chilling effect on the free speech that’s expressed every day on social media.”

Others questioned the efficacy of turning to social media to screen for potentially dangerous immigrants. “It’s very difficult to successfully use social media to determine what people are going or not going to do,” Faiza Patel, co-director of the Brennan Center’s liberty and national security program, told BuzzFeed News. “When you look at all the different ways in which we use communication tools, and social media is pretty different, very truncated. People use emojis, they use short form, sometimes it’s difficult to know what something means.”

The new regulation is part and parcel of a trend of increasing social media screening that began during the Obama administration. In 2015, the DHS added social media checks to the screening process for visa applications. In February, Homeland Security announced it was planning to collect the social media handles and passwords of visitors from Trump’s list of banned Muslim-majority nations.

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4 Things Users Hate About the iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus undoubtedly improve on a lot of key features compared to their predecessors, particularly in processing power and camera quality. But the new iPhone lineup is not without its faults, and at times, some of their features feel like slight downgrades. Press the right arrow to learn four things users hate about the iPhone 8.

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iPhone 8 Deemed More Durable Than Samsung Galaxy Note 8

When Apple unveiled its latest line of glass-sandwich styled iPhone 8 and 8 Plus handsets, executives were quick to highlight how they’re built using only the most durable glass ever employed in a smartphone. Of course, while we all know Apple has a tendency to talk-up the key details about its most revolutionary new products, it appears from a recent spate of drop tests that Cupertino’s latest flagships aren’t quite as durable as the company will have us believe — however the iPhone 8, nevertheless, still puts its competition to shame.

The first of said tests was conducted by SquareTrade, who as a subsidiary of AllState Insurance group offers competitive, low-cost equipment protection plans for electronic devices including smartphones, tablets, and more. As you can see in the YouTube video below, the company conducted a 3-way drop test between the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and Samsung’s latest glass-bodied flagship: the Galaxy Note 8, for comparison.

Unfortunately, all three models shattered magnificently on all sides — in not just one, but every single test, which included front- and back-side drop tests from heights of six-feet, 22-feet, as well as a so-called ‘tumble test’ using the same equipment each time.

Interestingly, while all three devices shattered — as I’m sure we expected given that glass is glass, right? — SquareTrade officially gave each its own “breakability score,” a number ranging between 0-100, with higher numbers indicating a “higher risk” of breakability.

Ultimately, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and Galaxy Note 8 received scores of 67, 74, and 80, respectively, which according to SquareTrade means that the iPhones fall into a category of being at “medium risk” of breakage from a drop, while the Galaxy Note 8 was given a slightly higher score of 80 because it was deemed non-functional after some tests.

Meanwhile, we have yet another drop test below, provided courtesy of YouTuber PhoneBuff, who has historically posted videos of testing the latest devices against his heavy-duty ‘drop test machine’. Check it out for yourself in the video below, where PhoneBuff pits an iPhone 8 Plus exclusively against the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Unfortunately, both devices shattered instantly after just the first test.. And while we certainly can’t use heavy-duty machinery as an indication of how our devices might fall in the real-world, these tests ultimately solidify one reality we all have to come terms with: Apple’s new iPhones (including iPhone 8 and moving forward) are more susceptible to damage now than ever before, and that’s almost entirely because of their glass-sandwich construction, which enables wireless charging by employing a durable sheet of glass on the back-side.

And of course, while it may appear that iPhone 8 has a slight advantage over competing glass devices like the Galaxy Note 8, these tests also confirm beyond question that you’ll want to keep your iPhone 8 in a case at all times, especially since the cost of repairing them keeps getting more expensive.

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iOS 11.0.1 Released with Outlook, Exchange Email Bug Fix

iOS 11.0.1 was seeded to the general public the morning of September 26, exactly one week after iOS 11.0.0 was officially released.

iOS 11.0.1 is most importantly a security update, but also provides bug fixes to enhance the user experience of the operating system. While Apple did not disclose the specific security threats that iOS 11.0.1 patches, we do know of at least one particular problem iOS 11.0.1 addresses: an issue with the Mail app sending e-mails using Exchange/Outlook servers.

According to ArsTechnica, “the Exchange e-mail server bug that prevented sending e-mails for many users relying on e-mail accounts hosted on Outlook.com, Office 365, or certain Exchange Server 2016 configurations,” has been fixed. Before the update, “users received an error message saying, ‘Cannot Send Mail. The message was rejected by the server.'”

If you’ve experienced issues with your Mail app, sending or receiving e-mail, it’s important to update to the latest version of iOS.

Beyond the most recent update, iOS 11 adds a revamped Control Center with customizable shortcuts and a new Lock screen that’s been merged with the Notification Center. The next-gen software also adds several upgrades to Siri, including a completely new voice that is much more natural-sounding. Additionally, iOS 11 will introduce a real-time translation feature and other hefty upgrades to the digital assistant. It also marks the general release of ARKit, meaning that iOS 11 is now the largest augmented reality platform in the world. Other additions include a slew of updates to native apps, a Do Not Disturb While Driving mode, and built-in screen recording.

How to Download iOS 11.0.1

iOS 11.0.1 is available to download on devices including the iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.

1. Prepare your iPhone for iOS 11, if you haven’t yet.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Tap General.
4. Tap Software update.
5. Press Download and Install, then follow the onscreen instructions.

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Apple TV 4K Appears on Amazon Hinting Prime Video Is Imminent

The new Apple TV 4K was listed on Amazon briefly, prior to being taken down, after a nearly two-year hiatus from the online retail platform. And while the set-top box is no longer available, its short-lived appearance is still significant.

While seemingly unrelated, the appearance of Apple’s set-top box on Amazon suggests that the Amazon Prime Video app for Apple TV will be released in the near future. Apple first vaguely announced in June that the Prime app would be coming to tvOS 11 “this year.” Earlier this month, Apple said that the app is still on the way — but didn’t give out any additional details. Now, it seems, the official release date is imminent.

To understand why it’s important to look at the recent history between the two companies. In October 2015, Amazon pulled the Apple TV and Google Chromecast from its virtual shelves since they did not support the retailer’s Prime app. According to Amazon, the decision was made in order to avoid confusing customers about the compatibility of those streaming platforms with Amazon’s first-party content service.

Apple was criticized after the fact for not allowing Prime Video on its tvOS platform, but Apple later told BuzzFeed that “all are welcome” on its Apple TV platform. Cupertino added that Amazon simply never submitted a Prime app to tvOS — interesting because Prime Video has been available on iOS for some time. Of course, the Apple TV and other set-top boxes directly compete with Amazon’s own Fire TV streaming platform.

Now, it seems, the two tech giants have resolved their differences. Amazon Prime Video is coming to tvOS, and the appearance of Apple TV on the retailer’s site suggests that it’ll be released sooner than later.

As for when exactly, there’s still no hard date. An admittedly sketchy rumor from earlier this week suggested that it could launch alongside the addition of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games to the Prime video platform — slated for this Thursday. Take that rumor with a grain of salt, but keep in mind that Amazon customers probably won’t have to wait too long to stream Prime Video content on Apple TV.

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iPhone X Specs Revealed: 3GB RAM, Large 2,715mAh Battery

Several previously unknown details about the iPhone X’s specifications and internals have just been revealed by a filing with Chinese communication regulators.

Those details include the premium device’s onboard memory, its battery capacity, and its CPU clock speed. They were first spotted Tuesday morning by mobile leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer in a filing to the Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center (TENAA), a subdivision of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Firstly, the iPhone X’s file with the TENAA lists the device as having a 2,715mAh battery capacity. For comparison, TENAA filings also show that the iPhone 8 will sport a 1,821mAh battery and the iPhone 8 Plus will be equipped with a 2,675mAh battery.

Apple’s rumored “L-shaped” battery may contribute to the increase in mAh, or Apple may just have had more room in the iPhone X due to an internal space redesign. In either case, the company likely resorted to equipping the iPhone X with a larger battery due to its massive screen.

For those who cares about #2, Tenaa just confirmed #iPhoneX comes with 3GB of RAM, reveals 2716mAh battery… http://pic.twitter.com/WCtvqg6e5j

— Steve H. (@OnLeaks) September 26, 2017

While OLED displays are generally more power-efficient than traditional LCD displays, the power draw of the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display is probably larger than the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus — with their 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens, respectively. Presumably, advanced features like the TrueDepth camera and Face ID likely draw more battery life, too. Despite that, Apple estimates that the iPhone X’s battery will last about two hours longer than the iPhone 7 Plus.

Additionally, the listing clocks the iPhone X as having 3 gigabytes of RAM, on-par with the amount of memory in the iPhone 8 Plus (the smaller iPhone 8 has 2GB). While that’s a lot less RAM than, say, a Galaxy Note 8, Apple devices tend to be much more efficient with their memory than Android devices. That’s because Apple’s hardware and software are both first-party, and are designed to work in sync with each other. Even with less RAM than comparable flagships, Apple’s current lineup of devices are still the fastest smartphones on the market by far.

On a similar note, the filing with the TENAA lists the A11 Bionic as having a clock speed of 2.4GHz — slightly more than the Galaxy Note 8. Clock speeds are an indicator of how many instructions a particular CPU can execute per second. In layman’s terms, a higher clock speed allows a CPU to perform more work.

Pre-orders for the highly anticipated iPhone X officially kick off on Oct. 27. The flagship OLED handset will start shipping out to consumers and will become available in-store on Nov. 3. Of course, due to the high demand and low supply, it might be hard to get your hands on an iPhone X until next year.

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Review: Mofily YoCam Waterproof HD Life Camera

There’s certainly no shortage of action cameras available on the market today, and the niche has largely been dominated by a few giants. Despite that, an American startup called Mofily has created what they call the “world’s most versatile waterproof life camera.” It’s called the YoCam.

The YoCam is a waterproof action camera that’s built in an entirely new form factor — Mofily says it’s the smallest and lightest action camera on the market.

After a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, the YoCam is now available to purchase. But how does it stack up, and more importantly, should you buy one? Read on to find out.

First Impressions

Right out of the box, the first thing to notice is the form factor. The YoCam is small, particularly when compared to similar action cameras. It’s also a different shape, which might lend to its portability.

The front of the device is dominated by its rather large camera, as well as a single button for recording, which you’ll hold down to start recording or capture a photo. The button has a built-in LED indicator that flashes red when it’s recording.

The YoCam has two buttons on the side, an on-off button and a connectivity button, along with two corresponding LED indicators. Inside a waterproof compartment are the camera’s micro SD card slot and a MicroUSB port for charging. On the bottom, there’s a threaded adapter for attaching various accessories or tripods.

In the box, the YoCam comes with a user manual (not pictured), a small MicroUSB charging cable, a lanyard and a detachable pocket clip. A MicroSD card isn’t included, so you’ll need to buy one separately.

HD Recording, Image Quality & Battery Life

The YoCam supports video and image capture up to 2.7K at 30 frames per second (it can also film in 1080p at 60fps). It also features a wide F2.0 aperture, shoots in a 140-degree wide angle field of view, and supports HDR. Image resolution is 8 megapixel and the camera also features built-in image stabilization.

All of this results in really nice video quality across a variety of modes, both above water and underneath it. It doesn’t fare as well in low lighting — but neither do most action cameras.

The YoCam’s still image quality is also surprisingly good, which is pretty incredible for a camera with a sensor of this size.

The YoCam features an internal 700mAh battery, which the company says will last through about two hours of recording HD video, so it would be smart to pack an external battery for your lengthier adventures.

Design, Durability + Water-Resistance

The camera is made of a hard plastic, but its construction feels incredibly sturdy. While you probably don’t want to throw the YoCam off of a roof, the camera feels like it could easily take a drop or two. Its unique shape and size probably also contribute to its durability.

It also carries an IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating, so it’s basically waterproof. In our testing, this particular YoCam went for a swim in a normal-sized pool, and was even dropped momentarily into a lake with no issues. According to the manufacturer, it’s waterproof to up to 30 feet.

While the camera feels durable, it also manages to be incredibly light-weight. It clocks in at just around 2 ounces. Combined with its slim design, the YoCam is incredibly portable. You can put the camera in your pocket and basically forget that it’s there. The flat bottom also allows it to stand on its own, without the need for any external tripod.

Connectivity + Mofily App

The YoCam also easily connects to a smartphone, which is how you’ll access some of the camera’s settings and shooting modes (more on that below). It does this via its own Wi-Fi connection, but you don’t have to be connected to Wi-Fi for it to work. Luckily, the app walks you through the connection process step-by-step.

The free Mofily app lets you view a live preview or stream of the camera’s feed, which is itself pretty impressive due to the relative lack of any lag or latency. The app is also the only way to view the current battery life, adjust the video quality and resolution, and tweak a variety of other settings including additional shooting modes (more on those below).

You can also start and stop recording remotely via the app, as well as shoot still images. There’s also the option to download videos and images from the YoCam to your smartphone wirelessly. Overall, it was pretty simple and easy to use.

Additional Functions

One thing that helps the YoCam to stand out is the variety of available shooting modes. The usual time-lapse and slow-motion video modes are here, and function really nicely. You can tweak optical image stabilization, resolution, white balance, HDR and EV on the modes, too.

On the photo side, it also features burst mode for shooting still images. There’s also a photo & video mode that can automatically take still images at varying intervals while simultaneously shooting video. An additional “Life Log” mode takes photos at an interval without video recording.

Lastly, the camera features a “Baby Mode” and a “Car Mode.” The former sends an audio and visual to your device, great for use as a baby monitor or impromptu security or “spy” camera. The Car Mode captures single looping videos in intervals of 5 to 10 minutes.

Accessories

While the YoCam comes with a pocket clip, it’s also compatible with a variety of first-party accessories and mounting options. Mofily offers helmet-mounting kits, magnetic stands, clamp mounts and surfboard mounts from its site. Additionally, the camera’s threads will allow it to fit onto any number of tripods and third-party accessories.

Pros & Cons

Pros

The Mofily’s biggest perk is its small and lightweight design. It really is an ultraportable camera, and as mentioned before, it can basically disappear into a pocket. Despite that, it doesn’t sacrifice durability or camera quality by any means. Similarly, the YoCam also delivers surprisingly good still images. The still shooting modes worked great, as did the time-lapse and slow motion function.

It’s also incredibly simple to use. You push the power button to turn it on and push it again to switch between picture and video. From there, you just hit the prominent shutter button on the front to start shooting video or to snap an image. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

The Mofily app is simple to navigate and use, and the added baby monitor and security camera functionality is another plus on an already solid camera.

Cons

The biggest drawback of the YoCam has to be its audio quality. There’s no getting around it — it’s not great. The YoCam’s recorded audio is extremely quiet, to the point where it’s hard to hear much of anything. You could obviously correct this by using external audio, but there’s no way to connect a third-party mic to the camera. That means you’re left with the camera’s built-in mics (pictured above, though it’s hard to see). It’s nice that they’re forward-facing, but the resulting audio just isn’t that good.

The Mofily app is pretty great overall, but it’s (currently) only usable in portrait mode. To be clear, that doesn’t mean the YoCam itself only records in Portrait mode, but the app doesn’t switch over when you orient your iPhone into landscape. The app is still nice to line up shots, but the addition of a landscape mode would make much more sense with the camera’s Baby Monitor and Security Camera feature.

Should You Buy It?

All in all, the YoCam is a great little camera with an awesome form factor. It’s small, lightweight and durable, and yet it manages to pack in pretty impressive video quality. It’s also extremely simple to use and the extra shooting and functions are an additional plus. If you’re looking for a good-quality, waterproof action camera — particularly one that’s incredibly light and portable — the YoCam might be the one for you. Get it here for only $99.00, that’s 50% off of the YoCam’s retail price.

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Chinese Govt. Blocks WhatsApp to Further Control Its Internet Users

China’s Communist Party has blocked most of WhatsApp, a popular messaging app with over one billion users worldwide and the last Facebook product to operate freely in China, according to The New York Times.

WhatsApp users behind China’s “Great Firewall” encountered temporary disruptions to service in the past few months which prevented them from sending photos, voice, and video messages. The latest crackdown comes in advance of a major Communist Party meeting in October during which a leadership reshuffle is anticipated to occur. President Xi Jinping, who has expanded China’s government censorship system in the name of maintaining the nation’s “cyber sovereignty”, is widely expected to retain his leadership spot.

It’s unclear whether the ban is related to the meeting and whether it will be permanent. As of Sunday evening, everything including WhatsApp’s text messaging service has been blocked throughout much of mainland China, joining Instagram and the Facebook social platform, which have been inaccessible in the mainland for years.

“Essentially, it seems that what we initially monitored as censorship of WhatsApp’s photo, video and voice note sharing capabilities in July has now evolved to what appears to be consistent text messaging blocking and throttling across China,” Nadim Kobeissi, a security researcher at Symbolic Software, said to The Verge.

The ban marks a setback for Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has sought to expand his reach in the world’s most populous nation and paid a highly publicized visit to China’s propaganda chief last year.

A Facebook spokesperson has said “We have long said that we are interested in China, and are spending time understanding and learning more about the country in different ways”.

WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014, provides secure communication channels via end-to-end encryption, ensuring that no one except the participants of an exchange have access to a conversation. The New York Times conjectures that WhatsApp’s strong security protocols may have ultimately attracted the unwanted attention of Chinese censors, who tolerate less secure communications services like Skype and Apple’s FaceTime that are easier to monitor.

In any case, it’s likely that the disruption to WhatsApp will push Chinese users to WeChat, a homegrown messaging service that, with 963 million users, is not only vastly more popular, but also allows routine government monitoring of users’ conversations.

“By blocking WhatsApp, the authorities have shut down one of the few remaining free and encrypted messaging apps but, more importantly, they have also limited the ability for Chinese to have private conversations with their peers,” a Chinese censorship researcher going by the pseudonym Charlie Smith, said in an e-mail to The Guardian, in July when China partially blocked WhatsApp’s video, photo, and voice sharing services.

“While the internet freedom community continues to develop unique and innovative circumvention tools we are doing very little to fight the climate of fear that Xi Jinping has manufactured in China”, he continued.

Beyond limiting access to encrypted communications for privacy-minded users in China, the move has disrupted the day-to-day operations of businesses quartered there as well.

“Losing contact with my clients, forced back to the age of telephone and email for work now,” one user, cited by The New York Times, complained on Weibo. “Even WhatsApp is blocked now? I’m going to be out of business soon,” said another Weibo user.

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iPhone 8 Buyers Report ‘Annoying Static Sounds’ During Calls

Several iPhone 8 and 8 Plus handsets are allegedly emitting “very annoying” static sounds through their front-facing earpieces when owners conduct routine phone calls, according to a growing number of complaints posted to the MacRumors’ Support forums. The issue was first published to said forums by a user who goes by vask on Friday, shortly after the handset launched. Since then, a somewhat concerning number of iPhone 8 Plus owners, in particular, from across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, have contributed reports of similar issues.

Interestingly, while most of these iPhone 8 Plus buyers report experiencing the static, crackling sounds when they conduct phone calls through the handset’s earpiece, the issue appears to correct itself when headphones are plugged in or speakerphone is enabled, which may suggest that whatever’s causing the noise is software-related, rather than a hardware defect.

“It is a high-pitched crackle like an audio pop that happens in the earpiece top speaker intermittently during calls. Some calls are fine and others crackle. It is not audible on earphones or on speakerphone, only through the earpiece. The caller on the other end doesn’t hear it,” explained forum member jgpsolo, while Switzerland-based forum member, ManuCH, added that the problem occurs “With or without Wi-Fi calling, with 4G voice (VoLTE) on or off, with phone noise cancelling enabled or disabled under accessibility, and even with third party VoIP apps over several different carriers.”

Is There a Solution?

At present, it appears that some of those affected have tried one of several potential fixes, garnering mixed results, such as performing a hard reset, erasing the iPhone and resetting it from scratch, and even outright returning what they thought was a defective device, only to be given a replacement that’s beset by the same issues, according to MacRumors.

The good news, at least, is that Apple is aware of the problem and is currently looking into how it can be fixed.

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macOS High Sierra Vulnerability Could Put Your Passwords at Risk

A major security vulnerability has been discovered in the newly released macOS High Sierra. The exploit can be used by an attacker to steal usernames and passwords stored in Keychain.

The vulnerability was first pointed by security researcher and former NSA analyst Patrick Wardle, who tweeted about the exploit early Monday morning. According to Wardle, certain unsigned apps on High Sierra (and possibly older versions of macOS) can reportedly access data stored within Apple’s Keychain platform — and that data is displayed as plaintext, even without a user’s system password. Waddle also shared a video showing the vulnerability in action (see below).

Waddle, for his part, created an example app he named “keychainStealer” to demonstrate the exploit. Using the app, he was able to access plaintext user login information for various accounts stored in Keychain — including Facebook, Twitter and Bank of America.

It’s worth noting that the exploit can only work if a user downloads an app with malicious code from a non-trusted source. Apple discourages these types of downloads and even blocks apps from unknown developers by default. A user can explicitly override the built-in security settings, however. And presumably, many popular apps from non-trusted developers would harbor malicious code. Wardle told Forbes on Monday that it isn’t too difficult to run malicious code on a Mac, even with Apple’s strict security platforms in place.

“Without root privileges, if the user is logged in, I can dump and exfiltrate the keychain, including plaintext passwords,” Wardle told the publication. “Normally you are not supposed to be able to do that programmatically.”

The researcher went on to add that most attacks today involve social engineering “and seem to be successful targeting Mac users.” He noted that his keychain exploit might not be “elegant,” but it doesn’t require root access and is successful 100 percent of the time.

In order to help prevent malicious attackers from taking advantage of the vulnerability, Wardle did not release the full exploit code. Because of that, however, exact details on the exploit aren’t currently known and haven’t been corroborated by any other source thus far. It’s also impossible to tell whether malicious entities have access to similar code, or if the vulnerability has been used in the wild.

Apple only just released its macOS High Sierra update to the public this morning. But with an exploit this dangerous, the company is likely to patch the problem in a future update — one that’ll likely come in the next few days. As of the writing of this article, the company has not responded to requests for comment.

If you haven’t downloaded macOS High Sierra, it might be smart to hold off until Apple addresses the issue. If you have, be extremely careful about the kind of apps you download. In fact, you should entirely avoid downloading or running apps from non-trusted sources until the vulnerability is patched.

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iPhone 8, 8 Plus See Lowest-Performing Launch in Four Years

The iPhone 8 rollout over the last few days may very well be one of Apple’s lowest-performing launch weekends in several years. But it’s not exactly unexpected and it’s not entirely a bad thing for Apple.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have seen the lowest adoption rates of any iPhone in the last four years, according to new data by mobile engagement firm Localytics. Combined, the devices achieved an estimated 0.7 percent market share of iPhone models — the lowest percentage tracked since the iPhone 5s launch weekend in 2013.

Here, it’s important to note that the data doesn’t necessarily represent overall sales for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Rather, the numbers track how many users have used one of the new iPhones on an app that utilizes Localytics’ platform to track user engagement — roughly, there are about 37,000 apps using the firm’s SDK. Even with that in mind, the results are pretty telling.

Specifically, the data suggests that the type of consumer who rushes out to buy a new iPhone during a launch weekend are likely holding out for the premium OLED iPhone to launch in November. “Apple is betting big on the iPhone X, and so far it looks like consumers may be doing the same,” the firm wrote in a blog post.

There’s another explanation for the lower percentages. Namely, the fact that the total iPhone market is growing steadily larger could skew the numbers. Put simply, there are more iPhones in more users’ hands, meaning that Apple has to sell more new devices to equal the same percentage as previous years.

The numbers do show an uptick in the demand for larger-sized phones, however. The iPhone 8 Plus alone recorded a 0.4 percent market share, higher than any other first-weekend adoption of a Plus model iPhone. The upgraded camera tech and dual-lens module in the larger iPhone are likely also attracting higher demand.

There’s no way to corroborate Localytics’ data with actual sales statistics, as Apple decided to stop releasing first-weekend sales data for its new flagships last year. Since iPhone sales are increasingly governed by supply rather than demand, Apple said, first-weekend sales numbers are no longer a “representative metric” for the company’s investors or customers.

In addition to iPhone adoption rates, Localytics also tracked the adoption of Apple’s new iOS 11 software — which was released last Tuesday. According to its data, iOS 11’s adoption percentage was also lower than previous versions through the first six days of its availability.

Of course, Localytics’ report may not be entirely representative of the iPhone 8’s sales. But it does correlate with other reports suggesting that the initial buzz surrounding the iPhone 8 has been “bleak” compared to previous years. Taken together, these reports suggest that demand for the iPhone X will be substantial and Apple could very well see the long-rumored upgrade supercycle when that premium headset launches on Nov. 3.

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Jim Carrey’s Bizarre ‘Face ID Will Enslave Humanity’ Interview Is Fake

Actor Jim Carrey did not say that Apple’s Face ID will be used to “enslave humanity” and will lead to “a totalitarian New World Order.” Last week, a site called ‘YourNewsWire’ published a story claiming that Carrey raised concerns about Apple’s new facial recognition system while at the Toronto Film Festival. Allegedly, Carrey told a reporter that Face ID is the “latest step on the march towards total surveillance.” That claim is patently false.

“If George Orwell wrote 1984 today, it would have been about tech companies ruling over a totalitarian state instead of communists, the stores would be called ‘town squares’ and the phones that you are forced to buy would read your face,” the actor ostensibly said, according to the site. “Only when they can read our thoughts will they stop. And by then it will be too late. They will have total power.”

Except he didn’t say any of that. While Carrey did attend the annual, Canada-based film festival, he did not make any of the above remarks to any news outlet. Put simply, the quotes and story about Carrey and Face ID are fabricated. And more than that, YourNewsWire is a known fake news website, according to both the non-profit organization FactCheck.org and the rumor-debunking site Gossip Cop.

Granted, Carrey did give a bizarre interview to an E! reporter at Fashion Week earlier this month. But that fact also hints at the fake news site’s motivation. YourNewsWire’s fake claims about Carrey and Face ID are obviously a move to capitalize on that weird interview while tying in Apple’s newly unveiled biometric platform (and even their decision to rename Apple Stores “Town Squares”).

One of the biggest clues is that the site is the only outlet with Carrey’s alleged “comments.” A celebrity as high-profile as the actor would attract a lot more media coverage, particularly for such a weird and unusual story.

There are certainly some valid privacy concerns about the proliferation of facial recognition technology. But fabricating stories and conspiracy theories about celebrities isn’t constructive. Let’s not forget that Apple has been pro-privacy for quite some time, even going so far as to wrestle with the FBI to protect its user security. So it’s not likely that Apple would suddenly team up with the government to “enslave humanity.”

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iPhone with Massive 6.46-inch Display Rumored for 2018

Apple’s all-new iPhone X is still weeks away from officially being available for pre-order, and already, a new report out of South Korea is claiming that Apple has much, much bigger plans for its iPhone models in 2018.

The report, which was published Monday morning by South Korea’s The Investor, specifically cites local component suppliers who say that Apple has been examining two new OLED screen sizes, including a massive 6.46-inch LED-based display, for its next installment of iPhone devices.

Earlier reports had suggested that the Silicon Valley tech-giant was working with Samsung Display Co. to develop two new display sizes for its 2018 iPhone models — including 5.28- and 5.85-inch OLED panels. However, today’s report, which cites “local parts makers” in the Far East, claims that Apple has since suspended development of the smaller, 5.28-inch display, and has instead opted for a considerably larger, 6-inch+ OLED panel, in addition to the much, much larger 6.46-inch display that will allegedly be built on Apple’s current LED technology.

While it should certainly be nice to see iPhones featuring much larger, more interactive and immersive displays for enjoying our digital content, the report goes on to claim that Apple’s shift towards larger displays has created “changes” in its well-established supply chain, and especially so among manufacturers of the company’s ubiquitous 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone LCD panels.

Nevertheless, Apple’s shift towards developing much larger displays is a clear and decisive response to the growing popularity of large smartphones like Samsung’s Galaxy S8, S8+, and all-new Note 8 devices, which boast massive 5.8-, 6,2-, and 6.3-inch AMOLED displays, respectively. The iPhone X, meanwhile, will feature a 5.8-inch Samsung-built ‘Super Retina’ AMOLED display this year, while Cupertino and its South Korean counterpart have supposedly inked a deal under which the latter would handle the bulk of Apple’s future display development.

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