How to Change or Reset Music Genre Preferences in Apple Music

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The First FDA-Cleared EKG Reading Apple Watch Strap Is Here

A new Apple Watch strap — and the first medically approved Apple Watch accessory — has recently received FDA clearance. The aftermarket band could open up additional heart monitoring and health capabilities for Cupertino’s flagship wearable.

What Is KardiaBand?

The AliveCor KardiaBand, as the device is called, is a Bluetooth-connected strap that takes on-the-spot electrocardiogram (EKG) readings. That’s a step above the optical heart rate sensor already included on the Apple Watch, and it means that the KardiaBand can better track atrial fibrillation — an irregular and typically rapid heart rate that can increase a person’s chance of stroke, heart failure or other complications.

How Does KardiaBand Work?

To use the KardiaBand, a user must place their thumb or finger on a metal contact embedded in the strap, which completes a circuit with another metal contact that rests against a user’s wrist. By most measures, it’s a discreet and easy process. The EKG reading takes about 30 seconds, and the resulting data can be stored in-app, imported to Apple’s Health app, or even sent to a user’s own doctor for further analysis.

In addition, AliveCor’s proprietary Kardia app tracks heart rate continuously with the Apple Watch’s onboard sensor. It can detect when a user’s heart rate seems out of place, using AI and a neural network to establish patterns based on previous activity and history. If the app detects a problem, it will ping a user to take an EKG reading.

Apple has already well-established the fact that it wants the Apple Watch to be a cornerstone of modern, healthy lifestyles. The Apple Watch itself has proven to be an invaluable tool for monitoring heart rates — in one case, a man said the device’s heart monitoring saved his life. But Apple’s health ambitions may stretch well beyond its chief wearable. At one point, the company was even exploring the acquisition of an on-site medical clinic startup.

Additionally, just today, Apple announced the official U.S. launch of its Apple Heart Study — a ResearchKit-based study being conducted in collaboration with Standard School of Medicine. While it may be the most significant, it’s certainly not the first Apple Watch-focused health study.

Wearable heart monitor technology that’s medically sanctioned isn’t too common yet, but all signs point toward the technology blooming in the near future. In recent years, the FDA has even made it easier for tech firms to produce health-monitoring devices, software and accessories. Apple, it seems, is again on the tip of the spear.

KardiaBand Compatibility and Price

Appearance-wise, the KardiaBand appears to be nothing more than an unassuming black Apple Watch strap. It’s compatible with Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 — which is to say, any Apple Watch except the original. It retails for $199 with EKG recording functionality via email or print. Additional capabilities, like cloud storage, history and monthly reports sent to your doctor, cost $99 a year for Alivecor’s premium subscription.

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Another Patent Hints at iPhone Compatibility with Apple Pencil

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an Apple patent, specifically covering the technical details surrounding “position-based communication between the Apple Pencil and iPhone.”

While it’s strictly technical in nature, today’s patent, which was originally filed back in Q2 of 2016, is the latest indication that we could be much closer to an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil than we think.

As described by Patently Apple, Figure 7 (illustrated in the image below) shows a portion of a standard, multi-touch panel configuration, which according to Apple is capable of operating via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to facilitate a stylus scan. Figure 8, meanwhile, shows the iPhone and its touchscreen ready to accept input from a connected stylus device (Apple Pencil).

Worth pointing out with regards to Figure 8: illustrated is what appears to be an example of Apple Pencil communicating with iPhone via a wired connection, like Lightning — however the company notes in other embodiments that the Apple Pencil can also communicate with iPhone over a wireless communication channel such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The rest of the patent is strictly technical in both nature and terminology, and goes on to describe “touch sensitive devices” which can include “circuitry for analyzing encoded stylus data.” These examples, shown in Figures 11-A and 11-B, illustrate “exemplary stylus signal analysis hardware for decoding stylus data.” Such hardware can be used to analyze data collected from “one or more touch sensors proximate to a stylus during a fine stylus sub-scan.”

Figures 13-A and 13-B, meanwhile, illustrate examples of various “stylus data processing hardware.” In 13-A, we see an example of processing hardware which includes a “plurality of correlation engines,” which can “receive input selected by position estimation engine via multiplexers,” according to the patent documents.

As with all Apple patents, this one too should be taken with a grain of salt until further notice, especially as the company is known for patenting more in the way of concepts than it produces.

Still, considering how the inherent patent delves further into the iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil patents published previously, it’s only reasonable to assume we could actually see this in the not too distant future. Perhaps even when Apple adopts a much larger display for iPhone next year.

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Class Action Suit Filed Against Google over ‘Illegal’ Safari Browser Tracking

An unprecedented class action lawsuit has been levied at Google in the United Kingdom, claiming that the company owes compensation to millions of iPhone users in the country.

A consumer campaign group called “Google You Owe Us” is now taking Google to court in the UK, alleging that the company had unlawfully collected personal information by bypassing certain privacy settings on the iPhone between June 2011 and February 2012. The group says that about 5.4 million people in England and Wales may be eligible for up to £100s in compensation — if the suit is successful.

The lawsuit claims that Google used a workaround to track “internet browsing history” by allowing the company to deposit cookies on an iPhone’s default Safari browser, even if the device was set to block cookies. The private browsing data was then sold to targeted advertising services. Google, on the other hand, has countered by claiming the practice was only used on the company’s failed Google+ social media site.

Richard Lloyd, a former director of consumer rights group Which?, is now taking the Mountain View tech giant to court, alongside UK-based law firm Mischon de Reya. “I believe that what Google did was simply against the law. Their actions have affected millions, and we’ll be asking the courts to remedy this major breach of trust,” Lloyd told The Guardian.

“Through this action, we will send a strong message to Google and other tech giants in Silicon Valley that we’re not afraid to fight back if our laws are broken,” Lloyd added. In addition to Google, Facebook and other online advertising networks were found to be using the workaround, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2012.

The suit is unusual for the UK; class action lawsuits of this scale are rarer in the country than in the United States. Google, for its part, said it would defend its case. “This is not new,” a Google spokesperson said. “We have defended similar cases before. We don’t believe it has any merit and we will contest it.”

The consumer group expects its case to be heard by Britain’s High Court sometime next year.

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Apple Will Spend $4.2 Billion on Original TV Content By 2022

Apple’s original content ambitions are no secret: the company wants to acquire or produce a range of original and compelling television content for streaming on-demand. Earlier this year, Apple went on a hiring tangent — snapping up multiple television and film industry executives in a bid to spearhead its in-house content production projects; and the company even allocated $1 billion to help get those projects off the ground.

Now, in an indication that Apple is getting even more serious about its original video endeavors, a brand-new Variety report claims that the iPhone maker will bump up its video production allowance to as much as $4.23 billion by 2022, as part of a broader effort to expand and re-brand Apple Music.

Ultimately, according to long-time Apple watchdog slash former Piper Jaffray analyst, Gene Munster, Cupertino’s goal is to position Apple Music as a direct competitor to existing video-on-demand subscription services, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Definitely worth pointing out is that while Apple may increase its bankroll by a couple billion dollars over the next few years, the same video streaming companies it’s trying to compete with, according to Munster’s predictions, will also up their spending to as much as $6.84 and $8.34 billion, respectively, over the same timeframe.

Interestingly, Munster’s predictions are coming off the heels of separate report which suggested that Netflix could spend as much as $8 billion to develop original content in 2018, while Amazon is already expected to spend more than $4.5 billion this year, alone, Variety noted.

Still, Munster believes Apple’s goal is to re-brand Apple Music over the next two or three years — expanding and re-focusing the digital audio streaming platform to encompass “much more than just songs.”

“Apple should be able to quickly expand their sub base given they have a running start with just over 30 million Apple Music subs that will have access to the video offering for the same $10 per month,” Munster noted in his blog post, noting that the company’s move to increase spending and expand the Apple Music brand is consistent with its pledge to continue growing its increasingly profitable Services Business.

Of course, while he’s a credible source of Apple knowledge, neither Munster (nor the rest of us) know for sure whether Apple’s original video content will even debut on Apple Music — and we don’t know when it’ll debut… Although we did recently learn about some of the company’s first, upcoming productions,  which will include a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s classic “Amazing Stories” anthology, in addition to a new and original drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

Are you looking forward to watching Apple’s original video programming? Let us know in the comments!

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Another New Apple Patent Hints a Foldable iPhone Is Coming

The era of foldable smartphones may soon be upon us. If you need evidence of that, Apple recently filed yet another patent dedicated to the concept.

The patent, 20170336831, details an “electronic device (that) may have a flexible portion that allows (it) to be folded” and describes flexible displays with touch sensors and components that can bend when “being opened and closed like a book.” The patent was filed in September 2016, and was published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Nov. 23.

Notably, the patent published this month is only the latest of several that describe similar technologies — specifically foldable displays and devices with flip phone-like characteristics. In November 2016, Apple was granted a patent that details internal smartphone components that could bend without disrupting or damaging them. The company was granted a similar patent, describing a display that could “fold-out” or “fold-in,” in January.

Similarly, according to Korean media sources, display manufacturer LG has been working with phonemakers to develop flexible OLED technology that could make a true foldable smartphone — without hinges — possible. The most recent rumor we’ve heard out of Korea about the tech surfaced on Oct. 11, suggesting that there the companies are still working on the technology.

Foldable phones and flip phones, of course, had their heyday in the ‘90s and ‘00s, but are seeing a resurgence — particularly in Asia, which is the largest smartphone market in the world, CNN reported. Several high-end flip smartphones that have debuted this year include the ZTE Axon M and Samsung’s SM-W2018.

While not all of the patents Apple applies for end up being used in a mass market product, the uptick in foldable display technology patents could hint at Cupertino’s future plans. Or, at the very least, they suggest that Apple is exploring the new form factor for a possible device. Whether that device ever sees the light of day, however, remains to be seen.

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Verizon Plans to Offer 5G Residential Broadband Next Year

Verizon is poised to launch 5G residential broadband services in three to five US markets next year, the wireless carrier announced in a press release. The first commercial 5G rollout is due to take place in Sacramento, California sometime during the second half of 2018.

“Verizon estimates the market opportunity for initial 5G residential broadband services to be approximately 30 million households nationwide,” the company said.

Verizon has been conducting trials of its 5G residential offering with a sample of non-paying customers in 11 cities across the US, with promising results. Users reportedly achieved download speeds of around 1Gbps as far away as 2,000 feet from the base station, exceeding the expectations of industry observers. Latency on internet service has also been reduced to 10 milliseconds, down from the 50 milliseconds commonly seen on 4G networks. Verizon plans to use radio signals on the 28 GHz band, rather than copper or fiber cables, to deliver fifth-generation wireless services to customers.

If these results hold, users will be able to enjoy unprecedented wireless internet speeds, paving the way for commercial use of 3D and VR products and the internet of things.

“This is a landmark announcement for customers and investors who have been waiting for the 5G future to become a reality,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon president of Global Networks and Chief Technology Officer. “We appreciate our strong ecosystem partners for their passion and technological support in helping us drive forward with 5G industry standards, for both fixed and mobile applications. The targeted initial launches we are announcing today will provide a strong framework for accelerating 5G’s future deployment on the global standards.”

Verizon also has plans in place to test mobile 5G services in 2018, in partnership with telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson and chipmaker Intel, along with Samsung, Intel, LG, Nokia, and Qualcomm.

Learn More: iPhone Rumored to Receive LTE Upgrade Next Year, 5G By 2020

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Apple Countersues Qualcomm over Battery Saving Patents

Apple has filed a countersuit against Qualcomm alleging that several of the chip-maker’s Snapdragon Systems on a Chip (SoCs), which power a wide range of Android and Windows Phone devices, infringe on its battery patents, according to a Reuters report.

Documents filed with the U.S. District Court in San Diego on Wednesday reveal what appears to be Apple’s “revised response” to Qualcomm’s previous, battery patent infringement complaints lodged against it back in July of this year. Specifically, Apple is now claiming to be the owner of “at least eight” battery life patents which Qualcomm has violated.

Apple asserts that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 and 820 SoCs — which power a wide range of mobile devices from Samsung, LG, Nokia, HTC, Google and others — infringe on the inherent patents. However none of the aforementioned OEMs are named in the iPhone maker’s complaint.

“The Apple patents involve ensuring each part of a phone’s processor draws only the minimum power needed, turning off parts of the processor when they are not needed and making sleep and wake functions work better,” Reuters said, while Apple, in its official complaint, noted that “Apple began seeking those patents years before Qualcomm began seeking the patents it asserts against Apple in this case.”

Apple is seeking “unspecified damages” from Qualcomm, according to the report.

Interesting and worth pointing out is that back in July, Qualcomm accused Apple of “infringing several battery patents” (mainly covering methods and tools designed to help mobile devices achieve better battery life.) Apple, for its part, denied those initial allegations, firing back at Qualcomm with its usual “those patents are invalid” argument.

Based on the timing and nature of its complaint, however, it would appear that Apple is, in a way, snubbing Qualcomm. In other words: Qualcomm started it, but now Apple is fighting back, with a vengeance as it usually does in these cases.

We’ll just have to wait and see how this case unfolds, as whether Apple’s accusations are even valid remains open for [legal] discussion.

Meanwhile, the complaint is merely the latest spat in Apple and Qualcomm’s contentious and ongoing legal dispute, which has roiled the chip maker on multiple fronts. We’ll spare you the chronological details of where their case has been so far, but if you’re a fan of high-tech and high-stakes legal drama, then we invite you to catch up on all the latest happenings in ‘Apple v. Qualcomm’, and of course, ‘Qualcomm v. Apple’

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Apple’s Highly-Anticipated AFib Heart Study Officially Begins

Apple on Thursday announced the official U.S. launch of its anticipated Apple Heart Study — a joint, ResearchKit- and app-based study being conducted in collaboration with doctors and researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine. Utilizing the Apple Watch’s in-built heart rate sensor, researchers will collect eligible participants’ “irregular heart rhythm” data, while notifying those who may be experiencing a condition known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).

“Every week we receive incredible customer letters about how Apple Watch has affected their lives, including learning that they have AFib. These stories inspire us and we’re determined to do more to help people understand their health,” said Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams, adding that by “Working alongside the medical community, not only can we inform people of certain health conditions, we also hope to advance discoveries in heart science.”

What Is AFib?

Atrial fibrillation, or flutter, according to Cedar’s-Sinai, is “a condition in which electrical charges in the heart are sent very rapidly to the upper chambers, causing them to contract rapidly,” ultimately “stimulating the lower chambers in the heart” to “pump faster and less efficiently than normal.”

“During atrial fibrillation, the atria do not completely pump blood into the ventricles. Eventually, some of the blood in the atria starts to stagnate and clot. If these clots break up or break off, they may pass into the left ventricle, travel through the bloodstream and block a smaller artery. If this happens in the brain, it can cause a stroke.”

Apple Heart Study Method

All variants of the Apple Watch are equipped with what’s repeatedly been christened one of the most accurate heart rate monitors available in a wearable device. To calculate heart rate and rhythm in the inherent study, Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor will utilize its green LED lights, flashing at a rate of hundreds/times per second, and “light-sensitive photodiodes” to help detect the amount of blood flowing through a user’s wrist.

Accordingly, if an irregular heart rhythm is detected, participants will receive a notification on their Apple Watch and iPhone, a free consultation with one of the study’s doctors, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) patch to wear for additional monitoring.

“Through the Apple Heart Study, Stanford Medicine faculty will explore how technology like Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor can help usher in a new era of proactive health care central to our Precision Health approach,” said Lloyd Minor, Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine. “We’re excited to work with Apple on this breakthrough heart study.”

How to Participate

The Apple Heart Study app began rolling out on the U.S. App Store Thursday morning — and those who own an Apple Watch Series 1, 2, or 3, as well as an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, and are at least 22 years old can download the app and register now. Unfortunately, Apple says the study is not intended for those who’ve already been determined to have AFib.

Irregular heart rhythms are not always symptoms of a more serious, underlying condition; however AFib, or atrial flutter, is among the leading causes of stoke, which can be fatal.

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Use These 10 Gadgets to Make Holiday Travel Easy

Words most people wouldn’t use to describe ‘holiday travel’ include easy or comfortable. Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, there will be plenty of obstacles, lost items, and other mishaps along the way. While seeing friends and family is always worth the effort it takes to actually get there, there are many tech gadgets that can help improve the quality and increase the enjoyment of traveling. Here are 10 of them.

10 BauBax Travel Bomber Jacket (Men and Women)

The BauBax Travel Bomber Jacket is the everyday jacket you’ve always needed but never existed. Of the jacket’s 15 total features, it includes earphone holders, a dedicated phone pocket, neck pillow, and built-in gloves. For anyone traveling this season, this is the perfect stress-free jacket–keeping your iPhone, passport, pen, and more protected and within close reach. Simply put, the BauBax Travel Bomber hits on three levels: style, functionality, and comfort. Buy here: Get this all-in-one smart jacket for $109.99 for men (black, red, blue) and women (black, red, blue).

 

9Durable Military Grade Charging Cable

Made out of braided ballistic military-grade nylon, double thick protective PVC jacket, extra thick wire gauge and a robust kevlar core, this Nomad Ultra Rugged Universal Cable is made to last. Gift this tough cable to a friend who can’t decide between iPhone or Android (although the choice should be obvious), since this utilitarian cable includes both a Lighting and micro USB cable. Or use it yourself to keep your phone charged through the holidays and beyond. Buy here: Get this universal charging cable for $34.95.

 

8 Ultra-Thin Battery Pack

Whether you’re driving hundreds of miles, or waiting to board a plane, you can easily run out of battery power traveling over the holidays. Be sure your phone is at full battery (whether you’re around an outlet or not) with this Mophie Powerstation 8X Battery Pack, boasting an incredible 15W output that can recharge a smartphone up to eight times. It’s also one of the slimmest external batteries on the market, meaning it won’t take up too much space while you’re traveling light. Buy here: Get this must-have portable battery for $79.95, or 46% off the usual price of $149.95.

 

7 Truly Wireless Earphones

When all you want is some peace and quiet in a house full of guests or while on the road, these Treblab X11 Earphones will certainly do the trick. They deliver high-quality sound in the ultra-convenient, wireless package, with passive noise cancellation to drown out even the rowdiest of relatives. Buy here: Get these wireless earbuds for $36.99, or 81% off the usual price of $199.99.

 

6 Highly Rated Mindfulness App

Apps are capable of doing a lot these days, and this Aura Premium: Lifetime Subscription could be your ticket to a zen holiday season (it can actually happen). Using groundbreaking AI, Aura delivers short, science-backed mindfulness meditation exercises every day to cater to you and your needs — it just won’t get your mother-in-law out of the house. Buy here: Relieve stress for $59.99 — that’s 84% off the usual price of $399.

 

5 Universal Dash Smartphone Clip

Hitting the road for the holidays? Prevent accidents and keep your eyes on the road, even while you navigate with this Universal Dash Smartphone Clip Mount. It easily clips onto your dashboard and allows you to adjust your phone’s angle for your best view — helping you avoid getting a ticket (or worse). Buy here: Get this handy mount for $11.99 – that’s 69% off the original price of $39.

 

4 Activity Planning App

You have a lot to get done before the holidays actually hit: grocery shopping, gift buying, invite sending — and the list goes on and on. With this WeDo Pro: Lifetime Subscription, you’ll be able to keep track of it all — plus, there’s a way you can collaborate on your to-dos, sharing lists with groups and setting up tasks so that you can ensure everything gets done on time. Buy here: Get this powerful planning app for $19.99, or 88% off the original price of $180.

 

3 2-in-1 Eye Mask and Headphone Set

Flight delays happen – and for those longer layovers or red eye flights, there’s these Sleep Eye Mask Headphones. The ultra-soft, memory foam eye mask helps block out light (including the one from the person next to you reading on the plane) and built-in over-ear headphones can play whatever music you like, or keep out ambient noise. Buy here: Get some rest for $19.99, or 59% off the usual price of $49.

 

2 High Quality Smartphone Camera Lens Kit

Getting that perfect holiday photo with your family and friends shouldn’t be difficult — and with this RevolCam: The Multi-Lens Photo Revolution for Smartphones kit, it won’t be. The RevolCam provides extra flash for dark shots and a wide-angle lens to make sure that the entire family fits in the shot — plus wide angle, fisheye and macro lenses that easily attach to your smartphone. Buy here: No DSLR, no problem — get this kit for $34.99, or 40% off the usual price of $59.

 

1 Bluetooth Fingerprint Smart Lock

Maybe you’re not traveling this year, and friends and family are actually coming to you. No longer will you need to worry about being present to unlock the door when they arrive, or passing out spare keys. Simply give your loved ones the access code to this Bluetooth smart lock and they can let themselves right in no matter where you are. This waterproof and dustproof smart lock allows users to unlock doors with anti-peep keypad touchscreen, advanced fingerprint recognition, or straight from an iPhone. Buy here: Get this smart lock for $168.99, or 47% off the usual price of $319.99

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Thousands of American Airlines Flights Might Not Have Pilots This Holiday Season

It’s amazing the havoc a little old computer bug can wreak. This morning Apple patched a flaw that granted an unauthorized user root access to the macOS system and earlier this year a DNS-related issue brought down large portions of the Internet. Now, Bloomberg and others are reporting that American Airlines—the largest airline in the world—may have as many as 15,000 flights, or more, without pilots next month (December 17 through December 31) thanks to a scheduling error.

Reportedly, the airline’s scheduling system allowed too many pilots to request time off during the busy holiday season. Essentially the system showed that there was enough staff to cover planned flights; problem is, there wasn’t.

We reached out to American Airlines and received the following statement:

“We are working diligently to address the issue and expect to avoid cancellations this holiday season. We have reserve pilots to help cover flying in December, and we are paying pilots who pick up certain open trips 150 percent of their hourly rate – as much as we are allowed to pay them per the contract. We will work with the APA to take care of our pilots and ensure we get our customers to where they need to go over the holidays.”

While the statement provided is reassuring albeit vague, this current predicament just goes to show how much damage a little glitch can do, and also comes at bad time for the airline. In October the NAACP warned African-American passengers of “disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe” travel conditions citing numerous incidents.

Earlier in the year a blind woman made headlines for being kicked off a flight due to a dispute regarding her guide dog having enough space and being denied an upgrade due to dogs not being allowed in first-class.

According to the New York Times, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union that represents 15,000 pilots, can’t say anything but “stay tuned.” They have filed a grievance stating that American Airlines’ promise of 150% pay cannot be guaranteed in the current contract.

If you have plans to travel by airplane this December, it may be wise to research your options before booking your flight.

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10 New Cars with Apple CarPlay Unveiled at L.A. Autoshow

Apple’s CarPlay system is increasingly becoming a must-have feature for iPhone owners across the globe, and car manufacturers have taken notice. A range of automakers will debut new CarPlay-friendly vehicles at the 2017 Los Angeles Autoshow, which kicks off on Dec. 1. Press the Right Arrow to Get a Sneak Preview of 10 New Cars with CarPlay.

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Supreme Court Will Decide If Privacy Rights Apply to Your Location Data

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments today for a case that could potentially have a profound impact on the future of digital privacy.

The case, Carpenter v. United States, is centered around the question of whether the Fourth Amendment — which protects U.S. citizens from unreasonable search and seizure — applies to the location data from smartphones that is routinely gathered by cell service providers. Basically, the case could decide whether law enforcement or other authorities can obtain location data from your smartphone without a warrant.

The case has been ongoing for some time. Timothy Carpenter, the defendant in the case, was a mastermind behind a slew of armed robberies in Michigan and Ohio. Carpenter was arrested in 2011, after authorities were able to gather a large amount of location data without a warrant. Carpenter later appealed, arguing that this location data should be covered under the Fourth Amendment.

But law enforcement officials contend that the warrantless collection of data is legally protected by a principle known as the third-party doctrine. This principle states that information you voluntarily share with “someone else” isn’t protected by the Fourth Amendment, as the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Jennifer Lynch explains.

In other words, because “someone else” is vague, authorities claim that location data is “voluntarily” shared just by using a cell company’s services. And, notably, this is the decision that lower appeals courts have upheld thus far.

On the other hand, the American Civil Liberties Union largely disagree with that assessment. In the words of the ACLU (which is representing Carpenter), the government needs a “good reason” to access this data. Major tech companies, such as Google, Apple and Facebook, also think that the Fourth Amendment should apply to sensitive user data in order to line up “with people’s expectations of privacy in their digital data.”

Now, the Supreme Court seems poised to render what will likely be the final judgment in the case — a decision that could set a precedent for digital privacy in the smartphone age.

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Here’s Where to Find the Best Deals on Legitimate Apple Products

Apple is known for its high quality products, immersive advertising, clever marketing lingo, minimal design, and top-rated customer service. One thing it’s not known for is its low prices.

One could argue that Apple products are worth it, that they’re on par with similarly-priced products, or that Apple doesn’t do cheap. One could alternatively argue that you’re paying for the brand. Pricing aside, one might wonder if Apple ever clearances out any of its products. The answer may surprise you.

The holidays are just around the corner and if you missed out on any of the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals on Apple products at your local Best Buy, you might be feeling that you’re out of luck. However, it’s true Apple doesn’t do huge discounts, they do have some deals that might be right for the shopper who’s already planning on buying Apple toys this holiday season.

Clearance Items

It doesn’t happen often, but every once in awhile Apple decides to clearance some products. If you’re interested in getting new products for a great deal you’ll want to keep your eye on Apple’s Clearance Items page. As of writing the page is… blank.. but, don’t worry. Apple has factory refurbished items right around the corner.

Refurbished Macs, iPads, iPhones, and More

You can find all of Apple’s current deals here. Here you’ll find a link to the clearance section mentioned above, as well as links for refurbished Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod, Apple TV, and accessories.

Apple refurbished products are backed by Apple’s standard-one year warranty and are put through a stringent refurbishing process so that Apple can guarantee they’re up to the standard we’ve come to expect from their brand. Additionally, products come with the option to extend the warranty by purchasing AppleCare.

Don’t expect any gigantic savings though, as these products are usually still practically new. Apple offers them with a discount that typically ranges between 10 and 25 percent. For example, an Apple Pencil that generally retails at $99 can be had for $85 factory refurbished, while you’ll save $280 on a 21.5-inch quad-core iMac with 4K Retina Display.

Apple Renew Program

In addition to refurbished products and the occasional clearances, Apple has a trade-in option known as the Apple Renew Program. In addition to a possibility of credit toward your new purchases, Apple will give your old products new life, use them for parts, or recycle them in a responsible and environmentally-friendly fashion.

It doesn’t matter if the device is working or not and—in some cases—it needn’t be an Apple manufactured product. If Apple determines the product is eligible for reuse it can be traded for credit toward your purchases. If the product isn’t deemed reusable Apple will recycle it free of charge. The Apple Renew Program is available online and in stores. You can learn more here.

Just in Time for the Holidays

While Apple’s discounts may not be as big as the tech deals we saw Thanksgiving weekend, they’re still very relevant.

Unlike some deals where you get last years’ model at a discount or an additional gift card with your purchase, Apple’s refurbished devices look, feel, and function like new. Additionally, they include the same great warranty and AppleCare options as their “new” counterparts.

If you were planning on buying a new Apple product this holiday season, a trip to the refurbished section could save you some hard earned money.

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Apple Removes Violent Games from App Store Amid Philippine Drug War

An open letter which was sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook on behalf of The Asian Network of People Who Use Drugs (ANPUD) has resulted in the iPhone maker removing “a number of games” whose storylines appeared to glorify the ongoing Philippine drug wars from the App Store.

ANPUD, which is described as an organization who represents “victims of illegal drugs,” cited in its letter that the call to remove the titles from its App Store was supported by over “100 organizations who felt that they were normalizing murder,” according to Patently Apple.

“Numerous apps currently available through Apple are actively promoting the war on people who use drugs in the Philippines,” the letter states, noting how it’s “a war that has resulted in the state-endorsed murders of more than 13,000 people – many of them children – ostensibly suspected of using or selling drugs since June 2016.”

The ‘War on Poor’

Back in June, 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte initiated what some on the international stage have referred to as the ‘War on Poor’ — a highly-controversial “war on people,” in the Philippines, who are suspected of using or selling drugs.

Duterte has not only been accused of instating a so-called ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy for Filipino Police, but he’s even extended a ‘license-to-kill’ unto private Filipino citizens, granting them freedom from prosecution if they’re charged for killing those suspected of being involved in drug trade.

According to ANPUD, the war “has brought destruction of millions of lives of people who use drugs, including thousands who are imprisoned under inhumane conditions, their families and children who were already the most marginalized in and vulnerable to the Philippines system.”

A number of the games in question were reportedly based on storylines featuring Duterte, with or without Philippine National Police director general, Ronald dela Rosa, shooting people amid a typical point of view of first-person shooter interface.

While Apple has not publicly acknowledged receiving ANPUD’s letter, the organization claims that, since sending it, most of the “games in question” have been removed.

“We did not receive a direct response from Mr. Cook or Apple Inc. however, most of the apps (games) no longer appear in the search result of app store,” ANPUD said, noting that the titles in question included ‘Duterte knows Kung Fu: Pinoy Crime Fighter’, ‘Duterte Running Man Challenge Game’, ‘Fighting Crime 2’, ‘Tsip Bato: Ang Bumangga Giba!’ — all of which featured Duterte or De La Rosa shooting down criminals.

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Comcast’s ‘Commitment’ to Net Neutrality Comes Under Scrutiny

As the FCC weighs dismantling net neutrality protections, Comcast’s stance on the issue has come under scrutiny from journalists.

For years, the broadband provider– the nation’s largest– has declared that it is fully committed to net neutrality. On the other hand, Comcast has been supportive of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to eliminate net neutrality rules implemented under the Obama administration, applauding it as a positive “milestone” in a corporate blog post.

Pai has proposed no longer classifying broadband as a public utility and eliminating net neutrality regulations meant to preserve an open Internet by prohibiting companies from throttling or blocking internet content. The rules also prohibit providing “fast lanes” to web companies willing to pay more for priority access to customers. The existence of fast lanes could mean that larger companies like Netflix and Facebook will be forced to pay more to internet providers to provide faster streaming to customers, which may in turn result in higher subscription fees for customers.

Pai’s plan only requires internet providers to be transparent about their net neutrality practices. The proposal is due for an FCC vote on December 14, and it is largely expected to pass, which is why the net neutrality stance of companies like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon are coming under close scrutiny.

Comcast argues that repealing “ill-advised” and “outdated” Obama-era net neutrality regulations will pave the way for increased broadband investment and innovation, and that Pai’s proposal does not necessarily spell the end of net neutrality. Instead, the company has taken the position that the regulations are unnecessary because it is independently committed to providing net neutrality protections for its customers.

Will Comcast Enact Internet Fast Lanes?

On Monday, Ars Technica warned that the broadband provider, despite these avowed commitments, may have plans to offer paid fast lanes to web companies. While Comcast has previously said it has no plans to enact fast lanes, the article noted that Comcast omitted any promise not to institute paid prioritization in its recent company statement on net neutrality.

On Tuesday, Comcast responded in a statement to CNET by reiterating that it has not and will not enact paid fast lanes. “Comcast hasn’t entered into any paid prioritization agreements. Period,” spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice said in an email. “And we have no plans to do so.”

“No matter what the skeptics say, you can’t accurately convert an unequivocal statement that Comcast has no plans to enter into any paid prioritization arrangement into plans for paid prioritization,” Fitzmaurice added. “As we’ve made clear consistently, regardless of how the FCC rules turn out, we will not block, throttle, or discriminate against lawful content.”

However, Comcast’s Open Internet promise still has no mention of paid prioritization. And regardless, Comcast is only required to adhere to net neutrality rules until September 2018, a condition it agreed to in exchange for federal approval of its merger with NBC/Universal in 2011.

If Pai’s plan becomes federal policy, Comcast may be free to do as it pleases in less than a year.

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Here’s Why iPhone Takes Higher Quality Snaps Than Android Devices

Have you ever noticed that Snapchat snaps taken and sent from an Android phone look worse than snaps from an iPhone?

It’s not just your imagination. In many cases, Android snaps are objectively worse.

There’s a reason for that, and it has nothing to do with camera quality or hardware specifications. Android cameras have been neck-in-neck with iPhones for years. In fact, the problem doesn’t stem from hardware or even necessarily Android itself — it’s actually an app development issue. In other words, you can blame Snapchat itself.

Android vs iOS

To understand the issue, you’ll have to look at the difference between iOS and Android.

Apple makes both the software and hardware for its stable of products, and Cupertino has only produced about 17 different models of iPhone since 2008. Because of that, there are only a few devices that iOS app developers have to account for. That makes it a lot easier to ensure that an app works across the various devices in an ecosystem.

Android, on the other hand, is a much more fragmented ecosystem. There are tons of manufacturers producing hundreds of different models of Android devices. And they all sport different hardware, screen sizes and are typically running different versions of Android — often with non-stock modifications made to the OS.

Why Snaps on Android Look Worse

The reason that snaps on Android look worse basically boils down to this: unlike on iOS, which actually uses the camera hardware to take full-resolution, Snapchat for Android just takes a screen capture of your camera’s view.

By using the viewfinder-screenshot method, Snapchat’s developers don’t have to take each unique Android device into account. It’s a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is the easy way out for the company — and it results in objectively worse picture quality on the app.

Of course, some Android smartphones — like the new, first-party Google Pixel 2 — actually use the camera for Snapchat pictures and videos. This obviously results in a vastly improved image quality comparable to iOS snaps. But for the vast majority of Android devices, users have to settle for a subpar experience.

A Solution?

Since the blame lies with Snapchat, it’s up to the social media company to fix the issue. And it might mean putting a ton of effort into optimizing the Android Snapchat app for each and every device.

There is a silver lining, though. Snapchat suggested in a recent Q3 earnings call that they’d make some vast improvements to the way the app functions, even if it means putting effort into rebuilding the app’s processes from the ground up.

“Given the sheer volume of different Android handsets used to access Snapchat, we have had to establish new processes to ensure that our quality efforts can be maintained. This will be an ongoing investment,” Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel said.

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Essential Creator Takes Leave Amid ‘Inappropriate’ Google Relationship Allegations

Andy Rubin — the mastermind behind Google’s ubiquitous Android operating system, and creator of the Essential Phone — has reportedly taken a “leave of absence” from his smartphone startup following allegations of an “inappropriate relationship” dating back to his years at Google, according to an investigative report published this week by The Information.

According to sources “familiar with the matter,” these allegations of impropriety stem from Rubin’s time working as the head of Android at Google, where he was reportedly in an undisclosed relationship with “a subordinate” on the Android team — a clear violation of Google’s corporate policy, which requires that employees disclose any relationship so they can be assigned to separate projects.

While the specific nature of the woman’s allegations remain unknown, Rubin was reportedly made aware of an investigation into his conduct back in 2014 — shortly before he left Google, citing, at the time, how he was frustrated over how long it would take the search giant to advance its robotics department.

Meanwhile, within the same, relative timeframe, Rubin was reportedly informed by a superior that his behavior not only violated company policy, but was “improper and showed bad judgement,” according to The Information.

Mike Sitrick, a spokesperson issuing comment on Rubin’s behalf, appeared to contest The Information’s report, however, saying that “Any relationship Mr. Rubin had while at Google was consensual,” and that “Mr. Rubin was never told by Google that he engaged in any misconduct while at Google and he did not, either while at Google or since.”

Interestingly, Rubin’s leave of absence is said to be for “personal reasons” that are unrelated to this week’s report.

From Android to Essential

Rubin became Google’s Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital content after the search-giant acquired his Android operating system in 2005. After the company went through its ‘big restructuring’ in 2013, Rubin was then assigned to Google’s robotics division — which oversees the company’s acquisitions in the robotics space, including Boston Dynamics — while Sundar Pichai replaced him as head of mobile and digital content.

Meanwhile, after less than a year managing Google’s robotics division, Rubin left the company to pioneer a hardware incubator startup, according to TechCrunch. And his latest endeavor, the Essential Phone, launched earlier this year to generally positive reviews.

Touted as boasting a “pure Android” experience, the high-end handset originally retailed for $699 — however it’s price has since been cut to just $499.

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Google Has Officially Fixed Its Illegitimate Cheeseburger Emoji

Google has finally made good on one of its most high-priority promises in recent months. Yes, the Mountain View-based tech giant has officially fixed its cheeseburger emoji.

If that doesn’t make much sense, here’s a bit of context. In October, author and writer Thomas Baekdal brought Google’s cheeseburger emoji to the internet’s attention.

Specifically, he highlighted the fact that the emoji has its cheese slice placed underneath the burger patty — a fact that, if the response is any indication, is basically sacrilege.

The original tweet garnered over 51,000 likes and 25,000 retweets.

I think we need to have a discussion about how Google’s burger emoji is placing the cheese underneath the burger, while Apple puts it on top http://pic.twitter.com/PgXmCkY3Yc

— Thomas Baekdal (@baekdal) October 28, 2017

The same day, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent the following tweet, promising that he would “drop everything” and address the cheeseburger emoji as soon as possible, if users could come to a consensus on the proper way to construct the all-American classic.

Will drop everything else we are doing and address on Monday:) if folks can agree on the correct way to do this! https://t.co/dXRuZnX1Ag

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 29, 2017

Tongue-in-cheek as it may have been, Google apparently took the criticism to heart. As first spotted by Emojipedia, the company has fixed the cheeseburger emoji in the latest Android 8.1 developer preview that was seeded on Tuesday. Now, the cheese slice is appropriately placed on top of the burger patty.

While Google has addressed the issue in the latest version of Android, it did have a bit of fun in the interim. A few days after Baedal’s original tweet went viral, the company served a lunch at its offices called the “Android Burger” — which, of course, featured a slice of cheese underneath the burger patty.

Lunch at Google today: an "Android Burger" 🍔 http://pic.twitter.com/I4dwOUPASg

— Brad Fitzpatrick (@bradfitz) November 3, 2017

In Android 8.1, Google also took the time to fix a few other unrealistic emoji, including its cheese wedge emoji that appeared a bit unrealistic due to the placement of its holes. The company also updated it various beer emoji — which were half-filled but had a frothy foam that seemingly defied the laws of physics. Now, the glass is completely full of beer.

Android 8.1 will drop in December, reaching first-party smartphones like Google’s Pixel and Nexus lineup first. It’ll eventually roll out to all other Android devices.

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Apple Fixes Major macOS Security Flaw Allowing Admin Access without a Password

Apple’s latest operating system — macOS High Sierra — had a major vulnerability in regards to security: computers running macOS 10.13.1 or earlier could be accessed without a password. While the security flaw appears to require physical access to the device, it was still a major issue since the flaw provided access to the “root” user, allowing full system control including the ability to change passwords, delete and create files, and… well… pretty much anything.

Wednesday morning, Apple released a security update for affected users and has said it will push the security patch automatically later today. Apple released the following statement:

“Security is a top priority for every Apple product, and regrettably we stumbled with this release of macOS. When our security engineers became aware of the issue Tuesday afternoon, we immediately began working on an update that closes the security hole. This morning, as of 8:00 a.m., the update is available for download, and starting later today it will be automatically installed on all systems running the latest version (10.13.1) of macOS High Sierra. We greatly regret this error and we apologize to all Mac users, both for releasing with this vulnerability and for the concern it has caused. Our customers deserve better. We are auditing our development processes to help prevent this from happening again.”

The security flaw went viral Tuesday morning when security researcher Lemi Orhan Ergin (@lemiorhan) tweeted “Dear @AppleSupport, we noticed a HUGE security issue at [sic] MacOS High Sierra. Anyone can login as “root” with [an] empty password after clicking on [the] login button several times. Are you aware of it @Apple?”

In other words, clicking on the login button (or the unlock button in the login prompts under System Preferences) several times enabled the root user account—which is usually disabled by default for security purposes—with a blank password and then allowed the initiator to login using “root.” While there is some speculation on social media that this could be done remotely, it remains very unlikely and would most likely require a specific setup. The flaw proposed the largest threat to unattended computers and computers in sensitive workplaces such as hospitals and government facilities.

The vulnerability had been reproduced by many individuals online using various versions of macOS High Sierra, but not with versions prior to High Sierra. Apple said in a statement yesterday that they were aware of the issue and were working on a software update to patch it:

“We are working on a software update to address this issue. In the meantime, setting a root password prevents unauthorized access to your Mac. To enable the Root User and set a password, please follow the instructions here. If a Root User is already enabled, to ensure a blank password is not set, please follow the instructions from the ‘Change the root password’ section.”

If you haven’t already we strongly recommend updating to the latest version as soon as possible. While Apple will automatically push the software to any computers it can, it’s best not to take chances. Apple has taken the unique step of adding a bold header to its release notes that say “Install this update as soon as possible.” The full release notes for the patch can be found on Apple’s website.

For security purposes the root user is disabled on your Mac by default. While the patch should be enough for most consumers, for more advanced users—or those in business settings—it may be smart to enable the root user and set a custom password to prevent these kind of issues in the future. If you don’t know your way around a Unix/Linux terminal, here are some step-by-step directions for changing the root password on your device using terminal commands; keep in mind, you won’t want to forget the password you choose:

How to Set a Root Password

1. While logged in as an administrator, open Terminal on your Mac.
2. type the following command: sudo passwd root (The command “sudo” enables the user to run commands as a superuser and the command “passwd” is used to set a new password).
3. You will likely be prompted for your password to authorize sudo.
4. Next you should be prompted to enter a new password (for root). Enter the password (you won’t see any characters) and then press enter.
5. Re-enter the password and press enter to confirm the change.

While using Terminal is generally much quicker, if you are more comfortable using your computer’s System Preferences to make this change please refer to Apple’s support article on How to enable the root user on your Mac or change your root password.

Generally speaking, Apple is very quick responding to security issues and they proved that they can work on a moment’s notice with their latest patch; however, this goes to show that no security is perfect. Even from the biggest names in the business, mistakes happen.

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12 Incredible iOS 11 Tricks You Need to Know

Apple’s iOS has evolved tremendously over the years and there are a lot of obvious, cool things the system is able to do. However, there are still secrets up iOS 11’s sleeve that you may not be aware of. This guide will help you master some useful and fun features of your iPhone. Press the Right Arrow to Learn 12 Incredible iOS 11 Tricks.

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Huawei Thinks It Can Outdo Face ID — But Won’t Anytime Soon

Love it or hate it, Apple’s new Face ID system is pulling the industry forward. But Chinese smartphone vendor Huawei thinks it can outdo Apple’s facial recognition platform with its own biometric solution.

Huawei conducted a presentation of its Honor V10 handset today, the latest in a long line of flagships with reduced bezels. But brand new smartphone aside, the Chinese OEM teased something else at the end of the presentation: a depth-sensing camera system that, clearly, is meant to be a Face ID competitor.

But rather than just copy Face ID, which many Android makers have been scrambling to do, Huawei wants to one-up the Cupertino-based juggernaut. At the presentation, the company claimed that its system can capture 300,000 infrared points in about 10 seconds, according to German-language site WinFuture. If you’re keeping track, that’s about 10 times as many as the iPhone X can currently capture.

In addition, unlike current Android facial recognition systems like the ones on the OnePlus 5T and the Samsung Galaxy S8, Huawei’s solution will be secure enough to make payments and will be able to authenticate an identity as quickly as 400 milliseconds.

Not to be outdone by Apple’s more fun-focused features, Huawei also teased a not-so-subtle clone of Animoji which can also track facial expression. Its big selling point? Unlike Apple’s TrueDepth system, Huawei said that its facial mapping platform can detect if a user sticks their tongue out.

Of course, there’s a caveat to all of this. Namely, the fact that Huawei’s facial recognition system isn’t going to ship on the Honor V10 — or anytime soon, for that matter. In fact, the company failed to mention when the feature would ship at all, or which phones would use it.

In other words, Huawei teased a new technology to show that it has an answer to Face ID — even if that feature is still a few years off from being included on a Huawei device. Perhaps 2.5 years off, if previous analyst forecasts turn out to be accurate.

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Data Shows Apple Devices Dominated Black Friday, Cyber Monday

Some of the sales data for the Black Friday weekend is starting to roll in, and it seems to suggest that Apple had a great weekend in terms of performance.

Black Friday iPhone Sales

• Apple reportedly sold about 15 million iPhone units over the Black Friday weekend. Out of that, about 6 million were iPhone X devices, according to analysts at market research firm Rosenblatt. The analysts added that the higher-tier, 256GB iPhone X model was nearly twice as popular as the less expensive 64GB model.
• The larger-capacity iPhone X, which sells for about $150 more than the base $999 price for the 64GB model, means that it pulls in a higher revenue and a greater profit margin than the standard configuration. In other words, it’s a good sign for Apple’s bottom line.
• Additionally, Rosenblatt’s report indicated that Apple will likely ship about 30 million iPhone X units throughout the holiday quarter. Apple’s own earnings guidance suggests that it’s planning on selling more than 80 million iPhones in the quarter, a new unit and revenue record.
• The analysts estimated that Apple and its supply partners are producing about 3 million iPhone X units a week.

Cyber Monday Sales

Similarly, early sales data for Cyber Monday also bodes well for Apple — particularly as this year’s event was the “largest online sales day in history” with a total of $6.59 billion spent globally, according to Adobe.

Various Apple products did extremely well yesterday, including both Apple’s AirPods wireless earbuds and its iPad lineup. Both devices were listed as top electronics sellers this year by Adobe, alongside Google Chromecast, Nintendo Switch and others. Similarly, AirPods were listed as overall top sellers this Cyber Monday.

In terms of discounts, a handful of online retailers offered sales prices on several varieties of iPad, including the entry-level 9.7-inch tablet, and both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

As far as AirPods, Walmart was one of a handful of retailers which offered a discount on the popular Bluetooth headphones — offering a $15 discount on the normal price tag of $159.

While Apple’s products did well, the entire online shopping industry logged record highs in 2017. Compared to Cyber Monday 2016, this year’s online shopping day saw a 16.8 percent year-over-year increase in total sales. In addition, Cyber Monday 2017 also did better in revenue compared to the usually busy Black Friday shopping day this year, which brought in $5.03 billion compared to $6.59 billion for its online Monday counterpart.

Adobe’s data also suggests that more shoppers are shopping on mobile. The firm recorded that a record high of 47.4 percent of total visits came from mobile devices. Broken down, that’s 39.9 percent from smartphones and 7.6 percent from tablets. When it comes to total order value, iOS had the lead with an average value of $123 compared to Android’s $110.

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Facebook Rolls out New AI to Identify and Assist Suicidal Users

In a blog post published this week, Facebook announced the rollout of its advanced new suite of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software tools designed to not only detect, but also provide assistance to, individuals whose posts encompass suicidal thoughts.

“When someone is expressing thoughts of suicide, it’s important to get them help as quickly as possible,” Facebook’s VP of Product Management, Guy Rosen, explains, while noting that “Facebook is a place where friends and family are already connected, and we are able to help connect a person in distress with people who can support them.”

The new software tools have been implemented as part of the company’s broader push to “identify situations” — timeline posts, uploaded photos, or live video streams — in which a user may hint at or outright suggest having suicidal thoughts or tendencies. For instance, the software is designed to interpret comments on a post identified as “problematic,” with Facebook indicating specifically how comments like “Are You Okay?” may be an indication that something is wrong.

According to Facebook’s explanation, the initiative will function as follows:

• “Using pattern recognition to detect posts or live videos where someone might be expressing thoughts of suicide, and to help respond to reports faster.”
• “Improving how we identify appropriate first responders.”
•  “Dedicating more reviewers from our Community Operations team to review reports of suicide or self harm.”

Additionally, Facebook noted that it currently has employees working 24-hours a day, 365-days a year, whose jobs are to specifically monitor the site for posts “suggesting a user might be suicidal.” Moreover, in accordance with its ultimate objective of ‘Getting Our Community Help in Real Time’, Facebook says it’s working closely with local police departments, first responders, and community support groups to help identify and provide assistance to the distressed in a timely manner.

The company claims that its new approach was developed in collaboration with a number of leading mental health organizations, including save.org, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as “input from people who have had personal experience thinking about or attempting suicide.”

“With the help of our partners and people’s friends and family on Facebook, we hope we can continue to support those in need.”

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Apple Slashes iPhone X Profit Margins Leaving Retailers Furious

Apple has reportedly cut the iPhone X’s retail profit margins in India by up to 30 percent, frustrating local retailers and large format chain owners.

Retailers in the country are not happy, claiming that Apple is reducing their cut of the iPhone X sales while itself profiting from the device’s large margins. Some outlets, such as Sangeetha Mobiles, have even stopped taking orders of Apple’s new flagship, the Economic Times reported last week.

“Apple has cut margins on the iPhone X from 6.5% to 4.5% for large retailers like us, and if a customer pays by card, which is usually the case, the margin reduces to almost 1.5-2%,” Sangeetha Mobiles Managing Director Subhash Chandra told the Times. The Bengaluru-based retailer has more than 400 stores across India. The CEO of another top Indian retail chain said that it would stop stocking iPhones at its more than 300 stores, partly due to the margins cut and the lack of control on retail pricing in various markets.

Chandra noted that Apple already offers some of the lowest margins to retailers. Industry sources reveal that other phone makers, like Samsung and Xiaomi, offer at least double the margin that Apple does.

The retailer frustrations come in the midst of a massive supply-demand mismatch in the country, as well. One handset retailer said it had only received 400 iPhone X units in the three weeks after the device’s launch — far less than what the company had originally promised.

That fact is leading some analysts that Apple should make India a higher priority, and start shipping more iPhone X units to the country. India is a critical market for Apple, being the second-largest phone market in the world. It’s also a region that Apple lacks a strong foothold in.

“India should rank very high on Apple’s priority index … it is yet to have a single owned and operated retail store in India,” said Manjunath Bhat, research director at Singapore-based Gartner.

Analysts at another research firm, Counterpoint, added that Apple’s “window of opportunity” will begin closing in the next few years if the company doesn’t start to expand its user base. Counterpoint added that Apple should not wait for regulatory, policy or business certainty in India — a fact that’s underlined by the company’s appeals to the local government.

Sources familiar with Apple executives’ plans countered, however, told the Times that India is a high priority for the Cupertino-based company. The sources claimed that Apple had gotten supplies of the iPhone X to India quicker than it had shipped them to other markets like South Korea and Thailand.

But while retailers may be frustrated at Apple, another local media report published on Nov. 26 suggests that the Indian government is pleased with Apple’s manufacturing initiatives within the country.

It’s not clear if similar margin squeezing is occurring in other markets, but data suggests that Apple may be making slightly less on the iPhone X than previous flagships due to its more expensive components.

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Best Tech Gifts for Grandma

Don’t know what to get grandma this year? Contrary to what you might think, a tech gift might be just the right thing for her. To help you out, we’ve put together this list of awesome and useful electronics and gadgets that we’re sure she’ll love.

10 1Voice Sleep Eye Mask Headphones – $19.99

This comfortable eye mask and headphone combo is the perfect companion for a nap. Made of ultrasoft memory foam, this eye mask helps to block out exterior noise and ambient light for a restful ambiance, whether on-the-go or on the couch. The built-in over-ear headphones can connect to a smartphone or MP3 player, and have a layer of memory foam so that the wearer can lay on them comfortably. Get it here.

9 3 Credit Card-Sized Tablet Stands  – $19.99

There are times where holding a phone or tablet isn’t the most convenient or comfortable option. That’s where these incredibly small and portable stands come in. The adjustable support bar allows for several viewing angles, and they fold up to about the size of a credit card, so they fit easily into a bag or wallet, but they can support most smartphones, tablets or e-readers. Get them here.

8 ExoMount Ultra Smartphone Car Mount – $22.95

This clever smartphone stand allows drivers to safely use navigation apps on-the-road without futzing with their smartphones. It easily installs onto virtually any type of dashboard with its ultra strong suction cup. And its one-handed operation allows it to rotate 360 degrees to allow for basically any smartphone viewing angle. Compatible with all iPhone and many Android models. Get it here.

7 Nut Find 3 Smart Tracker Set of Four – $52.99

Let’s face it: we all misplace something sometimes. With the Nut Find 3 Smart Tracker, losing an important item doesn’t have to be as much of an inconvenience. Attach it to keys, smartphones or a plethora of other items, and the Nut will helpfully beep when called via an app. It can also be configured to beep if it gets out of range of a smartphone, so she’ll never leave her car keys behind again. This set comes with four individual trackers, so they can be used on a range of important items. Get them here.

6 EverFrames HD Digital Picture Frame – $79.99

It’s a well-known fact that most grandparents love pictures of their grandkids and family. That’s why a digital picture frame is a great choice. This model features a 10-inch high-resolution display, 16 gigabytes of internal memory for storing tons of photos and videos, and support for both audio and video playback. It also comes with a remote control, allowing for convenient and user-friendly operation. Get it here.

5 Fitbit Charge 2 – $99.99

Keeping active and staying healthy is important at any age. To help with those goals, the Fitbit Charge 2 is an excellent choice. It’s simple and tracks a variety of data from activity and heart rate to sleep quality and duration. Its OLED screen also displays call, text and calendar notifications, letting grandma keep up-to-date even without having her smartphone in-hand. Get it here.

4 Amazon Echo Spot – $129.99

Upgrade grandma’s clock with the Amazon Echo Spot. Like other Echo devices, the stylish and compact Spot features the smart home assistant Alexa — which can help with a variety of tasks via voice command and is always getting smarter. The Spot also features a camera for hands-free voice or video, and its onboard display allows for visual news briefs, music lyrics, weather forecasts, calendar updates and to-do lists. It’s not out quite yet, but Amazon says all orders will arrive by Christmas. Get it here.

3 Victrola Nostalgic Turntable Entertainment Center – $119.88

Don’t let grandma’s record collection sit in a box and collect dust. Let her know that vinyl is back with this elegant, all-in-one Victrola record player. It combines a nostalgic and luxury real-wood design with modern-day technology. It’s a three-speed turntable that can play basically any LP, but it also features built-in Bluetooth, CD and cassette players, an AM/FM radio, and a full-function remote for easy controls. Get it here.

2 GoSafe 760 Front & Rear Dash Cam Set – $194.95

Give grandma the gift of safety on the road. This dash cam can record a huge amount of footage with support for micro SD cards up to 128GB. Best of all, this dash cam has your back — literally. Unlike many other models, this two-pack records HD video from both the front and rear of your vehicle, giving users 360 degrees of protection. It’s also packed with safety features like stop sign recognition, driver fatigue alarm and headlight reminder. Get it here.

1 Amazon Kindle Oasis – $249.99

Give your book-loving grandma the latest in e-reader technology. The Kindle Oasis features Amazon’s highest resolution display yet — it’s a 7-inch screen that reads like paper in bright sunlight, but also features a lighted display for darker environments. It’s made with a thin, ergonomic and waterproof design for easy holding and page-turning. Best of all, it only needs to be charged every few weeks. Get it here.

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Apple’s Patented Tech Allows Users to Control Macs with Hand Gestures

Apple was awarded a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, which specifically covers methods of engaging and interacting with a Mac computer utilizing hand-based gestures.

Developed in collaboration with PrimeSense (the Israeli-based 3D imaging firm Apple acquired back in 2015), the iPhone maker’s patent takes its previous Face ID-equipped Mac patent to a whole new level: by specifically describing various ‘focus’ gestures, which would both initiate and facilitate the TrueDepth camera-assisted technology on a Mac laptop or desktop.

According to Patently Apple, Apple’s patent (No. 9,829,988) describes “A method, including receiving by a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of a sensing device coupled to the computer, the gesture including a first motion in a first direction along a selected axis in space, followed by a second motion in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the selected axis. Upon detecting completion of the gesture, the non-tactile 3D user interface is transitioned from a first state to a second state.”

In simpler terms, as you can see in the patent image above, Apple is essentially describing a TrueDepth camera-equipped Mac computer that’s been calibrated to respond to various hand-based gestures. For example, the patent specifically outlines three “additional gestures” which can be executed to control various functions on your Mac, including “The Push Gesture” (Fig. 2), “The Wave Gesture” (Fig. 3), and “The Up Gesture” (Fig. 5), which is essentially a vertical lift of the hand.

While it’s certainly interesting to think that we may be able to control our Mac computers using various gestures one day, as with all Apple patents, we encourage you to take this one too with a grain of salt until further notice. While we’ve seen futuristic renders of Face ID-equipped Mac computers, and while we’ve even heard rumors that the technology will be coming to a future iPad Pro as well as a second-generation HomePod, what we’re looking at here is still very much a concept.

Of course, given consumers’ overall warm reception to Face ID on its high-end iPhone X, it’s more likely than not that we’ll ultimately see TrueDepth cameras integrated into other Apple products down the line.

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Apple Releases iOS 11.2 Beta 5 to Registered Developers

Apple on Tuesday seeded the fifth beta of iOS 11.2 to registered developers, just about a month after releasing the iOS 11.1 update.

iOS 11.2 will introduce Apple Pay Cash, the peer-to-peer payment system introduced earlier this year. The platform allows iOS 11 users to send and receive payments through iMessage, with deep smart integration — in other words, Messages will recognize when the conversation talks about money and respond accordingly.

With Apple Pay Cash, sent cash is pulled from a linked debit or credit card, while received payments are stored in a new Cash card in Wallet. From there, it can be used to make Apple Pay purchases or withdrawn to a bank account.

iOS 11.2 also introduces faster 7.5W wireless charging for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. Faster wireless charging speeds were hinted at earlier this year, and in iOS 11.2, the faster speeds will be available via third-party wireless chargers that support 7.5W charging.

As far as user interface updates, there’s now a small bar in the top-right corner of the Lock screen. The bar is designed to make the location of the new Control Center gesture more apparent, as it is now accessed by a swipe-down from the top of the display on the new iPhone X. There are also new pop-ups which explain the new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality in Control Center, specifically the fact that toggling either function from the menu only temporarily disables them.

Minor changes included in the new update include a Now Playing function in Control Center for controlling Apple TV content, a redesigned camera emoji, a new animation for loading Live Photos effects, and new Live wallpapers for the iPhone X.

iOS 11.2 will also introduce the ability for developers to offer discounts on auto-renewing App Store subscriptions for the first time.

iOS 11.2 will also fix a minor animation bug in Calculator that caused certain functions to be ignored when typing them quickly. Presumably, iOS 11.2 will also introduce a fix for the autocorrect bug that changes the words “it” or “is” to “I.T” or I.S”.

How to Download iOS 11.2 Beta 5

Registered app developers can now install iOS 11.2 as an over-the-air update, provided that the proper configuration profile is installed on a device. It’s also available from the Developer Center.

There’s currently no word on when a public beta of iOS 11 beta 5 will be released. Similarly, we’re not sure when the final version of iOS 11.2 will be rolled out to the public — but, judging by the beta release timeline, it’ll likely come sooner than later.

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Apple Joins in on ‘Animoji Karaoke’ Trend in Latest Ad Campaign

Apple on Monday released a new set of iPhone X ads on its YouTube channel that highlight Face ID and the related Animoji feature.

The first and longest video ad sees the company capitalizing on the “Animoji karaoke” trend that spread across social media this month after a Fast Company editor posted his own foxy rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on Twitter. Since then, the fad has only taken off — with hundreds of users posting their own takes on advanced, 3D-mapped karaoke.

The Animoji ad sees several of Apple’s new animated characters singing “All Night” by Big Boi. Later in the video, the respective humans behind the facial animations appear alongside the Animoji, appropriately dressed to match the colors of each specific character. It’s a tongue-in-cheek ad which obviously hints at the fact that Apple pays attention to trends on social media.

Apple also released three videos focused on its new Face ID platform. The first is a 38-second overview of the facial recognition platform, boasting that the iPhone X uses the “most unforgettable, magical password ever created” — a user’s face. The ad also highlights the ability to use Face ID with Apple Pay.

The other two ads are 15-second spots that detail two specific features of Apple’s Face ID. The first touts the system’s ability to work in the dark, while the second focuses on the fact that Face ID can read a face despite certain changes — such a user wearing makeup, glasses or hats.

Interestingly, Apple posted a similar ad to its Canadian YouTube channel that also highlights Face ID’s adaptability — though this ad lets users know that Face ID can recognize them even if they grow a beard or make other facial hair changes.

Notably, these are the first iPhone X-specific ads that Apple has posted since releasing a couple announcement videos when the device was introduced in September. Aside from YouTube, the ads will be shown on television, the web and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

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Motorola Laughably Tries to Take on iPhone X, Galaxy Note in New Ad

Whether it’s happened behind courtroom doors before a judge and jury, or as part of a broader, more commercialized campaign blitz, Apple and Samsung have a rich history of “going after” each-other’s flagship products. Save for their years-old intellectual property and design patent disputes, which were most recently laid out before the U.S. Supreme Court, Samsung even more recently sought to outright delegitimize Apple’s high-end iPhone X via its latest and most deceptively misleading Pro-Galaxy propaganda yet.

Now, in what appears to be a half-baked attempt at flaunting its latest Z2 Play smartphone, the Lenovo-owned Motorola has come out with its own satirical ad spot which not only picks up right where Samsung’s left off (as far as the storyline and smartphone smack-talking are pertinent), but is ingeniously dedicated to promoting a modular accessory as the cornerstone feature of the otherwise mid-range Z-series device.

Dubbed “Up-upgrade” — a clear swipe at Samsung’s previous ad bearing the similar “Upgrade” name — Motorola’s ad can be viewed in the YouTube video below. Of course, what’s most interesting about this ad is that Motorola essentially came waltzing along and, unwittingly or not, decided that instead of flaunting the Z2 Play’s specifications, it would simply dedicate nearly the entire, 35-second ad to showcasing the handset’s after-market projector mod accessory.

Not included with the purchase of a Z2 Play, of course, the projector mod, when attached, allows users to project an expanded display on any flat surface for an additional $299, according to Motorola’s website.

In comparison, Apple and Samsung have historically knocked each other over the objective superiority of their flagship’s in-built features and/or designs — while the vast assortment of accessories for iPhone and Galaxy devices, respectively, have seldom if ever made such major appearances in their commercials.

Still, the Motorola-designed projector mod is pretty awesome — and it certainly gives Z2 Play owners willing to shell out the cash a talking point as to how Moto ‘blows away the competition’ or whatever. However, at the end of the day, it’s definitely worth pointing out that the unit is merely an overpriced, cumbersome, and somewhat inconvenient add-on accessory for what’s inherently a middle-of-the-road Android smartphone.

What do you think about Motorola’s latest ad spot promoting its Z2 Play over Apple’s iPhone X and Samsung’s Galaxy? Let us know in the comments.

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