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January 11th, 2016, 21:20 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's pre-release software isn't usually buzz-worthy outside of major revamps, but there's definitely a reason to take notice today. The company's iOS 9.3, tvOS 9.2 and WatchOS 2.2 betas all introduce some hefty upgrades that are likely to get some use. Of the bunch, iOS 9.3 is the centerpiece. There's a new Night Shift mode that changes to warmer color tones to cut back on blue light and help you sleep, akin to third-party apps like F.Lux. You'll also see your Apple Watch goals in the Health app, tighter Apple Music integration with CarPlay, a Classroom app for guided lessons and Notes secured by Touch ID. There's even a multi-user feature on iPads, although you shouldn't get too excited -- it's currently meant for students, not the family tablet back home.
Not that Apple is being shy with features elsewhere. On the Apple TV, you finally get a Podcasts app as well as folders, a new multitasking interface and Bluetooth keyboard support. The Apple Watch update isn't as huge, but you now have the option of pairing with more than one Watch at a time -- handy if you're a developer, or just have enough cash to throw at separate smartwatches for different occasions. There's no mention of when finished versions will arrive, but you can get all of the betas (plus an OS X 10.11.4 beta) today if you're willing to throw caution to the wind.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/11/a...d-watch-betas/
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January 11th, 2016, 21:25 Posted By: wraggster
Rumors have swirled about Apple ditching the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack for much of the last year. Now, one of the most reliable Apple rumor reporters is saying that the iPhone 7 will indeed force owners to use either wireless headphones or a wired option through the device's Lightning port. Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac today posted a report claiming that the 3.5mm headphone jack was history and that Apple is also developing a premium pair of wireless headphones to go with the new phone.
If you're not interested in using wireless headphones, you'll need to find a pair of Lightning-compatible headphones for the iPhone 7. It wouldn't surprise us if Apple included an adapter to go from 3.5mm headphones into the Lightning port, but that's a clunky and unappealing solution. So if you get a new iPhone this year, your old wired headphones will be by and large left behind. Gurman's report indicates the phone will come with a new set of Lightning-connected EarPod headphones so you'll have something to use right out of the box.
Apple's obviously not adverse to cutting older ports from its products -- the new MacBook with its single USB-C port is just the latest example. But the iPhone is the company's biggest and most profitable business, and taking away such a useful and important legacy connector would be a pretty bold (or stupid) move.
To move its customers into this wireless world, it sounds like Apple will lean on the resources it acquired when it bought Beats in 2014 to unveil a premium pair of wireless earbuds. These headphones will reportedly be truly wireless, with no cable connecting the two earpieces. The accessory is also expected to include a noise-cancelling microphone and a button for taking phone calls. It sounds like a decent solution to the lack of a headphone jack, but it won't come cheap -- Gurman says it'll be positioned as a "premium" accessory, and comparable headphones from Bragi cost $299.
Of course, if history holds, we're a good nine months out from the next iPhone, so anything could change. But Gurman's track record, as well as other reports that have bubbled up over the last few months, make it ever more likely that the 3.5mm headphone jack will be a thing of the past with the iPhone 7. Apple's relentless and perhaps unnecessary pursuit of thinner devices makes this a necessity, but it's still a bitter pill to swallow.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/08/a...phone-7-rumor/
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January 11th, 2016, 21:27 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft appears to building its own contract-free cellular data service for getting Windows 10 devices online, if a curious app store listing is any indication. According to the app's description, it "allows you to connect to a trusted nationwide mobile data network" and pay for a one-off plan with no subsequent commitment using only your Microsoft account details. The catches are you'll need a Microsoft SIM card, which doesn't exist yet, and that the service is only available to select devices (things you don't make phone calls on). The service will be reserved for certain markets and offer domestic data initially, with international roaming plans coming later. For something we're hearing about for the first time, it would seem Microsoft's got some pretty concrete plans in place.
The concept itself is all about convenience -- a way to get online in several countries without contracts and SIM swapping -- but how has Microsoft got into a position to offer this data service? Well, a company called Transatel left us a big flat clue earlier this week when it announced it had been chosen by Microsoft to facilitate it. Transatel is something of an international mobile virtual network operator that piggybacks on the cellular infrastructure of provider partners around the world. The company's "SIM 901 solution" plays nice with 3G/4G networks regardless of geography, and it's undoubtedly this that'll be rebranded as the Microsoft SIM. Currently, Transatel has agreements in 38 countries, but come January 15th it'll operate in a total of 50, including the US, UK, Mexico, India, a few Asian markets and much of Europe. Giving the timing of the expansion, perhaps it's an indication of when Microsoft intends to launch its data service in earnest.
Microsoft isn't the only tech giant to take on the role of middleman, of course. Apple bundles its own carrier-agnostic SIM with cellular iPad models, allowing users to pick data plans from a few mobile network partners. It's unclear whether Microsoft's deal with Transatel will give users a choice of regional providers or a single rate they have to like or lump. Either way, it's an interesting move from a company that primarily concerns itself with software and hardware. Microsoft told us it has nothing more to share beyond the information that's publicly available right now, but no doubt we'll hear the ins and outs soon enough.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/08/m...-data-service/
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January 11th, 2016, 21:31 Posted By: wraggster
BlackBerry spent years fine-tuning BB10, but its homegrown mobile OS will have to take a backseat for now. During an interview at CES in Las Vegas, CEO John Chen has revealed that the company plans to release at least one new Android phone this year. A second one might follow, but it likely depends on how well the first one sells. Chen chose to keep all the details and release dates a secret, but computer renders of what could be the company's next Android device, code-named "Vienna," were leaked last year.
This doesn't necessarily mean we're saying goodbye to BB10 forever. Chen is apparently hoping that its first Android phone, the Priv, can bring the brand back into the limelight, make it viable again and enable the company to make another BlackBerry 10 phone. While Chen felt it was too early to talk about his BB10 dreams, he said he's "confident in [the company's] profitability this year." In fact, BlackBerry's already taking steps to sell more Privs: It will start offering the handset through Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile sometime this year. It's currently available only as an unlocked device or with a contract through AT&T.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/07/b...-devices-2016/
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January 11th, 2016, 21:33 Posted By: wraggster
Don't look now, but Apple may be facing a rough patch. Wall Street Journalsources claim that Apple has cut its iPhone order forecasts to suppliers in the "past several months." Moreover, some Chinese factories making the handset have had idle capacity and let people go on holiday early -- this isn't the usual post-holiday dip. The city of Zhengzhou also gave Foxconn (Apple's main iPhone manufacturer) $12 million to help 'stabilize' the workforce, although it's unclear whether or not this is directly related to the apparent reduction.
Not surprisingly, Apple isn't commenting on what's happening. It wouldn't want to tip off competitors, and there's not much point when it's due to post its fiscal results on January 26th. If Apple is comfortable with revealing anything about what's going on, you'll hear about it then.
Whether or not this spells trouble (assuming it's accurate) is up in the air. It's tempting to suggest that demand is poor, but it could also reflect overly optimistic production or a transition to a new model (say, the fabled 4-inch iPhone 6c) ahead of the usual September update window. It would make sense if low demand was at work, though. China's economy is slowing down, which would hurt one of Apple's hottest growth areas. Also, theiPhone 6s isn't as dramatic an update as last year's model -- there just isn't as much incentive to upgrade. If that's the case, Apple might have a tough time until the next big iPhone rolls around.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/06/a...iphone-orders/
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January 11th, 2016, 21:55 Posted By: wraggster
Apple has revealed that it had its biggest ever Christmas this year.
The tech giant announce that over $1.1bn was spent on apps and in-app purchases during the Christmas break. The period also set ‘back-to-back weekly records’ for traffic and purchases.
In addition, January 1st was the biggest single day in the App Store’s history, with consumers splashing out over$144m. The previous record was set just one week earlier on Christmas Day.
“The App Store had a holiday season for the record books. We are excited that our customers downloaded and enjoyed so many incredible apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, spending over $20 billion on the App Store last year alone,” said Apple’s SVP of worldwide marketing Philip Schiller.
“We're grateful to all the developers who have created the most innovative and exciting apps in the world for our customers. We can't wait for what's to come in 2016.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/1-1bn...istmas/0160987
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January 12th, 2016, 22:05 Posted By: wraggster
The new Apple TV is a more capable media device than its predecessors, but let's face it: out of the box, it's not much use if your collection is in formats that Apple doesn't handle. That's where the newly released (andlong promised) VLC for Apple TV might come to save the day. Much like onother platforms, the app lets you play audio and video files in all kinds of formats, whether they're sitting on your local network or streaming from the internet. There's even a web-based remote playback feature (to play media you haven't already shared), and you can tweak playback speed if you're determined to zip through boring segments.
This isn't quite as advanced as the iOS app in its initial form. You can't stream files from cloud services like Dropbox or OneDrive yet, for one thing. VideoLAN already has cloud service support in beta testing, however, so you shouldn't have to worry about where your videos are located.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/12/v...s-on-apple-tv/
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January 18th, 2016, 21:11 Posted By: wraggster
Ask Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile fans about their favorite interface features and they may point to the Word Flow keyboard -- that combination of swiping, word correction and overall feel is hard to replicate. Well, you might not have to pick up a Lumia to get those elusive qualities in the near future. Microsoft is now planning to bring Word Flow to "other platforms," beginning with iOS. Yes, you won't have to ditch that familiar typing experience just because you switched to (or need to use) an iPhone. It's not clear what if anything will change in the conversion, though we'd expect the keyboard to largely remain intact.
Microsoft is only inviting Windows Insiders to a preview program at the moment, but it's promising an App Store release. We wouldn't be surprised if there's an Android version soon after, for that matter. Between this, theCortana release and existing cross-platform Microsoft apps, you won't have to suffer many Windows withdrawal symptoms at all in the future -- the biggest absence may simply be that tiled home screen.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/17/w...rd-for-iphone/
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January 18th, 2016, 21:27 Posted By: wraggster
After Microsoft delayed the release of Windows 10 for Windows Phone 8.1 handsets, there are signs that it's finally ready to roll. The software giant has launched an internal beta for the Mobile Upgrade Advisor for Windows 10, as spotted by a Neowin reader. That's similar to the tool it used last year to prep PC users for Windows 10. According to the description, the app "will tell if your Windows 8.1 phone is eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile. It can also help free up space on your phone so you're ready to upgrade." It's still not available for the public to download, but that situation should change soon.
The OS has already arrived on the latest Lumia 950 and 950 XL models, but the upgrade for older devices was delayed last month. No reason was given, but our review of the Lumia 950 showed the OS still needed some tweaking and polish. The new software apparently takes up a lot more room, too, as Microsoft advises that "you may need to free up some space to get [Windows 10]. The app will recommend files, such as videos or photos, that you can temporarily move to OneDrive or an SD card, if you have one installed." You may want to start any such housekeeping now if you have a Windows 8.1 phone, as the upgrades could start rolling out as early as next week.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/15/m...grade-advisor/
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January 19th, 2016, 21:22 Posted By: wraggster
When you Google for apps on their respective mobile platforms, the main results appear on top inside their own panels. That makes them easy enough to install, but Google wants to make it even easier. According toAndroid Police, Mountain View has started rolling out a feature that allows Android users to install apps directly from search results.
Simply type in a query -- for instance, "Engadget Android app" -- and tap on the top result. Instead of taking you to the Play Store, a new windows pops up. When you click Accept, the Install window replaces it still within the search results. AP says some users have had it for at least a month now, but it doesn't seem to be available to everyone yet (I can't replicate the results you see below myself). If you want to try it out, make sure to use the Google app, as it doesn't seem to be working for the Chrome browser.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/19/a...nstall-search/
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January 20th, 2016, 22:21 Posted By: wraggster
Many will tell you that patent lawsuits are useless as competitive weapons, in part because the years-long legal process makes any product bans pointless -- by the time you get a ban, the offending gear is off store shelves. And Apple is learning that first-hand. Judge Lucy Koh has awarded Apple a long-sought US ban on certain Samsung smartphones over alleged patent infringements, but all of the target devices are so old that you're highly unlikely to see them on store shelves. Let's put it this way: the most advanced of the bunch is the 2012-era Galaxy S III, which isn't easy to find even if you go searching through your carrier's bargain bins.
The kicker is that the ruling doesn't have teeth for those phones that are still around. The data detection patent (used for turning phone numbers and dates into links) that affected most of the Samsung devices expires on February 1st, and there's a 30-day grace period on honoring the ban. In short, Samsung can let that one go. Apple's well-known slide-to-unlock patent doesn't run out so quickly, but the three devices targeted in the lawsuit don't use that method any more. At most, Samsung might have to work around an autocorrection patent.
It's a symbolic victory for Apple... but that's about it. As it stands, neither company is particularly interested in drawing out this fight. The two ended all their non-US lawsuits back in 2014, and they've spent the rest of their time winding down what litigation is left. It's mostly a matter of pride -- Apple wants to show something for all those years in court, while Samsung is hoping to minimize the damage and hold its head up high.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/19/a...ung-sales-ban/
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January 26th, 2016, 20:39 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft isn't just porting its Windows smartphone keyboard to iOS verbatim -- it's spicing things up in the process. Both Windows blogger Paul Thurrott and The Verge understand that iPhone users will get a fan-shaped one-handed keyboard. Based on the early peeks (including a few Verge pictures), the new mode resembles the touchscreen keyboard you got back in the Windows Vista days. Windows 10 Mobile already has a single-hand mode, but it only shunts the keys to one side -- this is designed more explicitly to fit your thumb.
Besides that, you're looking at a largely faithful rendition of the Windows keyboard, complete with Word Flow (swipe-to-type) and suggestions. The add-on still isn't publicly available -- you'll have to wait a few months for that. Look at this way, though: you'll at least know what you're likely to get when this new input method arrives.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/25/m...e-handed-mode/
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January 26th, 2016, 20:41 Posted By: wraggster
That rumored new 4-inch iPhone, the iPhone 5se, may not just be an iPhone 6 in a smaller case. In a follow-up rumor, 9to5Mac's sources claim that the compact phone is "more likely" to include a version of Apple's A9 processor (and its companion M9 chip), as previously hinted, than the A8. And while it'd still ship with 16GB of baseline storage, you'd have the option of 64GB. Between this and earlier talk of support for Apple Pay and Live Photos, about the only things you'd really miss from the iPhone 6s are the larger display (if you like that), 3D Touch and the higher-resolution camera.
There's no certainty that this is what you'll get around the rumored mid-March launch, although a purportedly leaked photo at One More Thing (shown above, on the right) adds fuel to the fire. However, the A9 might make sense from a business perspective. Although this will reportedly kill the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus the moment it shows up (why get a larger but slower phone?), it'd simplify the lineup and make sure that the iPhone 5se doesn't seem prematurely outdated when the iPhone 7 arrives in a few months.
It might also be necessary to keep the cash rolling in. For Apple, the biggest growth potential remains in China, India and other countries where price is an important factor. The iPhone 5se would give these countries a much more interesting low-end (relatively speaking) device that fits local budgets but competes with some companies' flagships. And this would no doubt revitalize sales from fans of small smartphones -- you wouldn't have to get ancient hardware just to get something that fits easily in one hand.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/25/i...se-may-use-a9/
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January 26th, 2016, 20:43 Posted By: wraggster
The whole point of Microsoft's Selfie app for iPhones is to share your pretty face (albeit an ideal, algorithmically-modified version of it) with the world, but you haven't had an easy way to make that happen for most of the app's existence. A bit ironic, don't you think? Microsoft agrees. It quietlyupdated Selfie with a sharing feature that makes it almost trivial to indulge in a little public vanity. You can tap one button to post your latest shot directly on Facebook, or another to bring up the iOS sharing dialogue and spread the joy through other apps.
The app also brings in a few interface tweaks, although you aren't about to get lost if you've been trying Selfie already. As for versions on Android or (logically) Windows 10 Mobile? There's still nothing concrete, but Microsoft is promising to bring Selfie to "more platforms." The iOS edition was just the first app out of the gate.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/24/m...e-app-sharing/
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