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Tag: iPhone

  • iPhone 6 Event Reportedly Happening on Sept. 9

    It’s the dog days of summer, and like most years, Apple is here to offer a cool oasis to thirsty Applemaniacs.

    Recode is reporting that Apple’s next big media event – at which the company is set to reveal the next generation of the iPhone (among other things, maybe) – is scheduled for September 9th. That means you have just over a month to convince yourself of your iPhone 5s’ depressing obsoleteness.

    Here are a few things that the iPhone 6 could sport, but have not been confirmed:

    – A blood glucose monitor

    – Swiss army knife-style tweezers

    – Cortana

    – A backdoor NSA app

    – Seven actual dollars hidden somewhere

    – Something called a “flavor saver”

    – The fasterest processor known to man and God

    – Bees?

    All unconfirmed, of course.

    In all seriousness, folks expect Apple to reveal a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 with a new A8 processor. Apple may also unveil a much larger iPhone – possibly with a 5.5-inch display. You’ve also likely heard that Apple’s displays could be made of a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Apple may also turn the resolution up to 11, or maybe something like 1704×960.

    But why speculate? All will be revealed when the world stops spinning for two hours on September 9th.

    Image via Apple

  • TSA Bans Uncharged Cellphones on Certain Flights

    TSA Bans Uncharged Cellphones on Certain Flights

    The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced Sunday that it will not allow cellphones or other electronics on U.S.-bound planes originating at some international airports if the devices are not charged up. The ban is part of heightened security measures surrounding Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamist Nusra Front, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, seeking to blow up a jetliner.

    Passengers will be required to power up their devices at certain security checkpoints, to assure that the encasement is not a hidden bomb. Laptops and tablets will be included in the checks, and U.S. officials have stated that security officers will be paying closer attention to passengers’ shoes, as they can be used as bombs as well.

    The added security will apply primarily to U.S.-bound direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, though the TSA did not specify which airports will be affected, and said in a statement, “As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers. During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.”

    U.S. officials have feared that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) bomb makers have figured out how to fashion a difficult to detect explosive device into a smartphone. Interestingly, American authorities have singled out the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy series as the phones to keep an eye on as being potential bombs.

    Devices found to not be powered up will be confiscated, and the passenger carrying it might be taken into custody for questioning. The TSA adds, “[we] will continue to adjust security measures to ensure that travelers are guaranteed the highest levels of aviation security conducted as conveniently as possible.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • iPhone 6 Is Bigger, Better And Coming In September [Rumor]

    The iPhone 6, like every iPhone before it, is the most talked about piece of hardware in tech. Everybody wants to know – will it be bigger? When does it come out? Will Apple release a new OS to go along with the new hardware? While it’s impossible to answer these questions before it’s unveiled, rumors and leaks go a long way in letting us know what Apple has planned.

    One of the most persistent rumors regarding the iPhone 6 is actually a rumor that was started a while ago. To catch up with ever growing Android devices, it’s been rumored that Apple would release a larger iPhone. We heard that that iPhone 5S would feature a 5-inch screen, but those rumors never panned out. Now we’re hearing the same thing again about the iPhone 6. Will Apple finally release a larger iPhone, or is it sticking with the 4-inch screen found in the iPhone 5S?

    According to MacWorld UK, Apple is preparing two iPhone designs for 2014, and both are larger than the current iPhone 5S. The rumors suggest that Apple will release an iPhone with a 4.7-inch display while the other will feature a 5.5-inch display. Both would be an extreme upgrade in display size from past iPhones and would help Apple finally compete with larger Android devices. While Apple execs (and fans) will defend the current display size, the reality is quite different. Consumers like it when things are big and a larger iPhone would definitely sway some consumers away from Android.

    Those hoping for a simultaneous release of the two new iPhones are going to be disappointed. Recent rumors indicate that Apple will be launching the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 later this year while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 might slip into 2015. Why? Apparently, Apple is having some issues manufacturing the super thin battery for the 5.5-inch iPhone that’s being dubbed “iPhone Air” by the media. The larger iPhone will likely be marketed as a device that offers the best of both smartphones and tablets, and may get its own event in early 2015.

    As for the hardware, Apple will inevitably trot out the newest Ax chip to replace the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S. It might also finally introduce wireless charging with the iPhone 6, a feature that’s been quickly making its way into competing Android devices over the last few years. Apple has always been reluctant to add features unless it can perfect it and the company may have found some way to make the already convenient practice of wireless charging even better.

    So, when will you get a chance to get your hands on the iPhone 6? According to a report from apfelpage, the iPhone 6 is slated to launch on September 19 after a reveal on September 9. The rumored release date follows the release date of the past few previous iPhones so it’s not out of the question.

  • Hearing Aids Get Smart, Can Be Controlled By An iPhone

    Hearing aids aren’t exactly what you would consider high tech. Sure, the technology has come a long way since its introduction in 1898, but nobody has paired it with a smart phone… until now.

    Beltone, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hearing aids, announced the Beltone First today. The electronic hearing aid is the first that can be controlled remotely via a user’s iPhone. The hearing aid paired with the power of the iPhone allow for unprecedented sound quality, or so claims Beltone.

    “Our new Beltone First hearing aids are a game changer for a growing number of baby boomers who have been looking for a hearing aid that truly meets their on-the-go lifestyle needs,” said Todd Murray, President of Beltone. “These new iPhone compatible hearing aids definitely add a ‘cool factor’ that hopefully encourages those who’ve avoided wearing hearing aids in the past to finally make the move!”

    The Beltone First claims to offer a number of advantages over a typical hearing aid:

  • Beltone First hearing aids wirelessly communicate with each other to self-adjust as a person’s surroundings change.
  • The free Beltone HearPlus app recognizes the places an individual regularly visits and automatically applies the right settings. “Find My Hearing Aid” locates misplaced devices.
  • Provide unprecedented sound quality and connection between the iPhone and the hearing aid via Beltone’s award-winning, third generation 2.4 GHz technology.

    • Beltone got its new hearing aid into the ear of a user and they said the major benefit is that he can now change audio levels covertly. While one shouldn’t be ashamed of having hearing aids, one can still be embarrassed when they have to manually adjust them in plain sight. With the Beltone First, a user can adjust levels from their iPhone so nobody has to know they’re wearing hearing aids in the first place.

    Here’s an ad that shows what Beltone is talking about:

    Beltone notes that the release of the Beltone First coincides with Better Hearing & Speech Month. During the month, everybody is encouraged to get their hearing checked.

    Image via Beltone

  • iPhone Ringtone Remix Sure to Land at Your Next EDM Show

    YouTube user MetroGnome has done something that’s rather impressive. He’s taken a classic, tired, and admittedly annoying iPhone ringtone and built a catchy, three-minute song out of it.

    You’ve probably set plenty of songs as your ringtone before, but have you ever turned a ringtone into an actual song? Furthermore, are you ready to use the ringtone remix as your new ringtone? (He provides a free download, so that’s a very easy thing to do).

    Kudos for working in a couple of other (and more recent) iPhone sounds–including the most jarring alarm tone in history as well as a little bit from Siri.

    Color me impressed. Well, first color me in body glow paint. Then color me impressed.

    Image/Video via itsMetroGnome, YouTube

  • Perfume Internet Advice: Avoid Counterfeits & Carry It In Your iPhone Case

    For the Spring season, the internet has began dishing out perfume advice. Some of the advice is typical, but a lot of it can be eye opening or downright bizarre.

    First, stealing or making counterfeit perfume can not only be a social faux pas, it can get you arrested. On Wednesday, CBS reported that two men were arrested in New York’s Perfume District on Broadway for selling and making counterfeit perfume. The men were charged with trademark counterfeiting, but what’s worse is what they used to make their fake products.

    “What is often in fake fragrances are ingredients like antifreeze, poorly based chemicals — and urine,” President Valerie Salembier of the Authentics Foundation told CBS, “If it’s too pale, that means it’s heavy alcohol. If it’s too dark, it is most likely using faux chemicals.”

    YouTube has lots of advice on how to avoid counterfeit products, especially in New York City:

    Stealing perfume can lower your social acumen and land you in court. Don’t follow the path of a Dubai airport safety officer who absentmindedly used perfume he found at work. Gulf News published this embarrassing exchange in court:

    “’I took the bottle by mistake. I found it at the section where I worked and used it to smell nice. I liked the perfume and I mistakenly placed the bottle in a bag and was caught by security while leaving my workplace,’ said R.K. when he entered a not guilty plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

    ‘What do you mean that you took it by mistake?’ presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi asked him.

    ‘Sir, I did intend to steal it. I tried the perfume for a while and liked it. I decided to use it but I did not want to steal it. What happened was a mistake,’ replied the suspect.

    Thereafter presiding judge Al Mahdi changed the charge to attempted theft.

    It could have been more embarrassing. The guard could have been caught stealing pizza scented perfume, or worse:

    If you need help finding the perfume that’s right for you, there are a myriad of iPhone apps to help you in your search. Or you can just upgrade your iPhone case into a perfume dispenser:

    For those who don’t use perfume, the Huffington Post came up with a list of other possible liquids for the case, including water (to cool down in summer), hot sauce (to help with lunch), and vodka (for “liquid courage on the go”).

    Image via Rahul Dharod, YouTube.

  • Apple Stock Split Will Make Apple Shares Cheaper

    It’s been nine years since Apple has offered a stock split. Thanks to the phenomenal success of the iPod, iPhone and iPad, Apple has never felt the need to split its stock. Shareholder confidence is at an all time low these days, however, and Apple has to take drastic measures to retain that confidence.

    AFP reports that Apple announced a stock split in today’s earnings results that saw the company bring in $45.6 billion in revenue. While the company is still doing incredibly well, shareholders are looking for Apple to introduce something revolutionary into the market. For the past few years, new iPhones and iPads have disappointed despite both seeing stellar sales.

    So, what will the stock split look like? Apple’s board says it will be introducing a seven-for-one stock split that will drastically bring the price of individual Apple shares down. The company says the stock split will help make Apple stock available to more investors. The split is expected to go into effect on June 2.

    Alongside the stock split, Apple will also repurchase a number of shares this quarter. In its quarterly earnings, the company said that it’s putting aside an extra $30 billion to buy back shares. In all, it expects to spend $130 billion this year in share buyback programs.

    The stock split and share buyback programs underscore Apple’s need to introduce something new to the market. While it’s propelled to record revenue each quarter on iPhone sales, investors desire to see something new from the company. That something new may come in the form of a smart watch that Apple is rumored to be working on. The company is also expected to introduce a larger iPhone in 2014, but it remains to be seen if a larger iPhone would equal innovation. Android devices have been getting bigger for the past few years and they haven’t exactly been heralded as innovative for the size. Instead, software is king and that’s where Apple still has the edge. After the successful reception of iOS 7, Apple can coast for a few years on incremental updates.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • iOS 7.1.1 Update Officially Released

    On the eve of its second-quarter financial results, Apple has released a new update for its latest iOS operating system.

    The iOS 7.1.1 update brings minor changes and fixes to the more significant iOS 7.1 update that was released back in March. The new iOS 7.1.1 update can be downloaded through Apple devices compatible with iOS 7.1, including the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini, and the latest iPod touch devices.

    According to the update’s description, iOS 7.1.1 brings yet another fix for the iPhone 5S’ Touch ID fingerprint recognition system. The update also includes several unlisted changes such as security patches and user interface tweaks. Fixes for the Touch ID system were one of the major features of the iOS 7.1 update, which also included a fix for a home screen crash bug and better iOS 7 optimization for the iPhone 4.

    Other improvements included in the iOS 7.1.1 update include a fix for a bug “that could impact keyboard responsiveness” and a fix to make Bluetooth keyboards more compatible with VoiceOver.

    The 7.1.1 update comes just as Apple is preparing to release its second-quarter earnings results. The company will hold its quarterly earnings conference call at 5 pm EDT today. The call will be broadcast live through the Apple website.

    In January Apple released its first quarter results, showing yet another record quarter of holiday spending on iOS devices. The company took in $57.6 billion in revenue during the holiday quarter, up 5.6% over 2012’s holiday season.

    As no new Apple product revisions have been released yet in 2014, analysts are not expecting the company’s second-quarter earnings to break records. However, with the company’s new rumored iPhone 6 on the way and a the possible release of the long-rumored “iWatch” smart watch this fall, Apple is poised to see tremendous revenue growth in the coming quarters.

    Image via Apple

  • Should Apple Replace Google Search With Yahoo On iPhones And iPads?

    Rumor has it that Yahoo is focused on trying to convince Apple to switch the default search experience on iOS to Yahoo rather than Google.

    Would you like to see this happen? Let us know in the comments.

    Kara Swisher at Re/code, who frequently reports on chatter from within Yahoo, has sources who say CEO Marissa Mayer and SVP of mobile and emerging products Adam Cahan are leading an “aggressive effort” to convince Apple to do just that. Swisher writes:

    A number of Yahoo insiders I have talked to said her plan to pitch Apple on the idea as its marquee mobile search partner is far along. The company has prepared detailed decks, including images of what such a search product would look like, and hopes to present them to Apple execs.

    That has not happened as yet officially and no deal is imminent — it’s just the big honking goal of the new Yahoo effort, said sources. Still, several said Mayer has already buttonholed a few Apple executives on the topic, including its powerful SVP of design, Jony Ive, who knows the former Google exec well.

    It’s worth noting that Yahoo already provides default data for the iPhone’s weather and stocks apps, and Apple has tried to distance itself from Google reliance in the past. I probably don’t have to remind you about the time they dropped Google Maps in favor of their own maps product (with less than ideal results).

    Google is said to pay over a billion a year to Apple, but Yahoo has hardly been shy about throwing money around since Mayer took over. The company has pretty much been on a non-stop acquisition quest.

    Still, it could be hard for Yahoo to make a legitimate case to Apple when its own search product is powered by Bing, though Mayer is apparently determined to get away from that too.

    Danny Sullivan, who has been covering search for eighteen years now, doesn’t see it happening.

    “The biggest challenge Yahoo has is that it lacks any solid search technology. Sure, Yahoo has some for very specialized things,” he writes. “But the core technology to sift through billions of pages across the web and ferret out relevant results? Yahoo gave all that up as part of its deal with Microsoft years ago.”

    Mayer is said to hate the Microsoft partnership, and Swisher has reported in the past that she has the company working on two secret projects that would help it become more independent. The code names are “Fast Break” and “Curveball,” and they “could potentially get the company back into algorithmic search as well as search advertising,” the report said.

    Yahoo has also recently switched over to Yelp listings for its local search reviews, which could sit better with Apple than Yahoo’s previous offering (even if it doesn’t with business owners) Local search is, of course, very important to the mobile experience.

    Yahoo released its Q1 earnings report this week, with revenue up 1% year-over-year. Search revenue was up 5% at $445 million. Ex-TAC, it was up 9%. It was actually Yahoo’s ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in search revenue ex-TAC. Paid Clicks increased by 6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013, and price-per-click increased approximately 8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013.

    As Yahoo likes to show with acquisition after acquisition, it has pretty deep pockets. So does Google though, and it’s not going to just sit idly by.

    If Yahoo wants to really be taken seriously again in search, however, the kind of exposure being the default option on iOS would be a good start. You can say what you want about Yahoo’s search technology, but in the end is the average user even thinking about it? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean Apple isn’t.

    Would you like to see Yahoo become the default search on iOS? Would you switch it? Let us know in the comments.

    Image via Tumblr

  • iPhone 6 Battery Reportedly Leaked in New Photo

    Apple’s next iPhone is still months away from being announced but the rumor mill surrounding the device is, as always, going strong. This week tech blogs hit the jackpot as new details about the iPhone 6 and even photos of some of the device’s components were leaked online.

    Earlier this week a photo leaked through China’s Weibo platform seemed to confirm that the next iPhone will be significantly larger than even the iPhone 5S. The image purportedly shows the iPhone 6’s 4.7-inch screen in comparison with an iPhone 5.

    Now another photo has surfaced showing what appears to be the battery for the iPhone 6. French website nowhereelse.fr today published a photo it claims comes from a Taiwanese website. The photo shows what appears to be batteries destined for the inside of iPhone 6 smartphones.

    iPhone 6 batteries

    Judging from the date of the battery photo leaks for last year’s iPhone 5S in relation to that smartphone’s announcement, nowherelese.fr estimates that Apple could be ready to announce the iPhone 6 in as little as three months. The publication also points out that the batteries in the photo are slightly different in design from those found in the iPhone 5S, which could signal a significant internal redesign of the iPhone 6 compared to previous iPhones.

    In addition to the new photo leaks, new hardware information about the iPhone 6 has also hit the web recently. Last week a KGI securities analyst revealed supply chain research showing that the iPhone 6 will have a 1334 x 750 “Retina” display, a newly-branded A8 processor, 1GB of memory, and a significantly slimmer bezel. Apple may also be including NFC in the device and could even offer a larger 5.5-inch version of the iPhone.

    Of course, all of this new tech could come at a price. A Jefferies & Co. analyst this week weighed in on the issue, estimating that Apple is looking to charge mobile providers $100 more for the iPhone 6 than the company charged for other yearly iPhone upgrades.

    Image via nowhereelse.fr

  • iPhone 6 to be Significantly Larger (Rumor)

    iPhone 6 to be Significantly Larger (Rumor)

    Since even before the iPhone 5S was officially announced rumors about the iPhone 6 have persisted. Most of those rumors have focused on the device’s size, which is said to be significantly larger than even the iPhone 5S.

    In January a Chinese analyst predicted that the iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch display. Now a new leak has shown that that prediction could very well be true.

    A photo leaked through China’s Twitter-like Weibo service purportedly shows a side-by-side screen size comparison between the iPhone 5 and the new iPhone 6 display. The photo, posted on the French site iPhonote appears to show that the iPhone 6 does indeed have a 4.7-inch screen.

    iPhone 6 comparison

    The new leak lends credence to an analyst report released all the way back in April 2013. That report, which held that the larger iPhone display was being saved for the 2014 iPhone, now appears to be completely accurate.

    The image also seems to corroborate a purported image of the iPhone 6 mold that was leaked online late last week.

    Apple has historically been reluctant to increase the size of its iPhone models, arguing that the user experience is best on the screen sizes they have selected. Now it appears Apple will be joining popular Android handsets with a larger screen size. The design choice can be seen as a tacit admission by Apple that consumers really do want the option of larger screen sizes – and perhaps that ease of use isn’t quite as important as once thought.

    The likely enlargement of the next iPhone puts Apple in an odd position. For years Apple has created the standard that other smartphone manufacturers have aspired to, introducing features and design that Android handsets have copied year after year. Now Apple is taking design advice from those same Android smartphone manufacturers. As the premium smartphone market becomes more saturated in established markets, every smartphone manufacturer – even Apple – will have to work hard to attract customers that are already largely satisfied with their current smartphone experience.

    Image via MacRumors

  • Apple Reportedly Pushing For More Automated Manufacturing

    Apple is well-known throughout the tech industry for its meticulous manufacturing specifications. With the advent of the iPhone the company turned its discerning eye for design to its manufacturing pipeline, creating a streamlined, efficient, and inexpensive way to release several new high-end products on a yearly basis. Apple also single-handedly turned Foxconn into one of the biggest manufacturing entities in the entire world.

    One of the keys to Apple’s manufacturing success has been rigid contracts that use inexpensive (but quality) Chinese labor. Now, as market conditions are changing in China and other tech manufacturers are catching up to Apple’s market efficiency, the company is reportedly turning to automated production as a partial solution to rising manufacturing costs.

    A new DigiTimes report today revealed that Apple will be using fully-automated production lines this year to create the batteries for its iPhone devices. The report’s unnamed “sources from the upstream supply chain” stated that, like in the area of device design, Apple will lead the way in manufacturing and other tech companies are expected to soon automate more of their manufacturing processes.

    As stated in the report, more automated production could allow Apple to move its manufacturing processes to nearly anywhere, potentially cutting down on other logistical costs while avoiding the expense of a Chinese labor force that is quickly modernizing.

    This may not be as bad for Chinese labor as it sounds, though. According to Digitimes younger Chinese workers are less willing to work tedious production lines. This, combined with rising minimum wages in the country has led to cyclical labor shortages that could be seen as a coming-of-age for the manufacturing industry in China.

    These factors have begun to raise the price of manufacturing in China significantly while complicating ever-tightening manufacturing schedules. Still, China is the go-to location for cut-rate manufacturing for tech companies. Digitimes believes that Apple will still continue to the majority of its components in China, due to the proximity of its parts vendors in the country. The future, however, could be other Southeast Asian countries that are currently building out their manufacturing infrastructures.

  • Georgetown Student Arrested for Making Ricin in Dorm

    A Georgetown student was arrested in Washington Friday, after showing his resident advisor a bag of homemade ricin he’d made in his dorm room. The advisor contacted police, and Daniel Harry Milzman, 19, of Bethesda, Md., was taken into custody, after testing confirmed the substance was ricin, according to a court document.

    Milzman claims to have learned how to produce the lethal substance using his iPhone, and went and purchased the ingredients at retail stores.

    Ricin is a highly toxic, naturally occurring lectin (a carbohydrate-binding protein) produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant Ricinus communis. A dose the size of a few grains of sand can kill an adult, and acts as a toxin by inhibiting protein synthesis. Ricin causes severe diarrhea, and victims can die of circulatory shock. Symptoms typically don’t present themselves for a few hours to a full day after exposure, and most victims die within 3-5 days. Survivors typically experience long-term organ damage.

    Most acute poisoning cases due to overdose are attributed to the ingestion of whole castor oil beans. Just 5-20 beans can be fatal to an adult, though those who survive experience nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension and seizures persisting for up to a week.

    The U.S. military first examined weaponizing ricin during World War I, though the conflict ended before the substance could be deployed as a biological agent. During World War II, the military considered coating bullets with the substance, but mass production of ricin proved to be uneconomical.

    Ricin is listed as a schedule 1 controlled substance under both the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention and the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, and has been viewed as a domestic threat, as castor beans are easy to come by.

    Andrew Ames, a spokesman for the FBI’s Washington Field Office told The Washington Post, “Based on our investigation, we do not believe there is any connection to terrorism.There is no immediate threat to members of the Georgetown community.”

    Georgetown University issued a press release concerning the incident stating, “Anyone exposed to ricin would have presented with severe symptoms within 24 hours. This window has passed and there are no reports consistent with ricin exposure.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Apple’s iPhone Return Window Shrinks to 14 Days

    For a while now, Apple has allowed customers to return any iPhone they purchased 30 days ago or less at an official Apple store (or online)–considering the phone wasn’t screwed up and it had all of its accessories with it.

    The policy itself isn’t going away–but the window you have to return your unwanted iPhone has shrunk. Now, you must bring your device back within 14 days of purchase.

    9to5 Mac reports that Apple plans on changing the policy officially on March 13th, but if you check out the fine print on Apple’s legal site, you’ll see that the company has already made the shift.

    “For iPhone returns, you may return your undamaged iPhone with its included accessories within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. Here’s the important part: returning your iPhone may not automatically cancel or reset your wireless account; you are responsible for your wireless service agreement and for any applicable fees associated with your wireless account. Please contact your provider for more information,” says Apple.

    Just last week, Apple said that iPhone returns could take place within 30 days of purchase.

    Speaking of carriers, this move will align Apple’s policy with that of most carriers–a two-week return window. Apple’s 30-day iPhone return policy was generous, at least when compared to what most carriers practice. At least now there won’t be any confusion–no matter where you buy your iPhones, you have two weeks to make up your mind.

    Image via Apple

  • Volvo XC90 To Include Apple CarPlay

    Volvo XC90 To Include Apple CarPlay

    Volvo may not be a name that comes to mind when we in America consider purchasing a new car, but it may jump a few spots up the list after the company’s recent announcement regarding the newest version of their XC90 SUV.

    The company has made it known that the most recent iteration of the XC90 will include Apple CarPlay, which will enable drivers to use all of the capabilities of their iPhone without the danger or hassle of having to take their attention away from the road.

    Mobile phones have changed the way people communicate forever, but with that has come the danger of individuals paying far more attention to the device in their hand than oncoming traffic. While campaigns against texting while driving may have some success, companies like Apple are racing to adapt to the consumer, and CarPlay hopes to change the way people interact with their vehicles. Using the built-in dashboard touchscreen drivers will be able to play their favorite music, answer phone calls, navigate, and perform any number of tasks without taking their eyes off of the task at hand.

    While the news is exciting for Volvo fans (if such a group of people exists) other companies will be offering the technology in their vehicles. Those companies include Honda, Ferrari, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar.

    However, the XC90 has other tricks up its sleeve, like featuring both an electric “booster engine” along with a 4-cylinder gas-powered engine which can work in tandem to drastically improve mileage and boast greater power over other hybrids.

    Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson made it clear that the company needs to do something to separate itself from its competitors. In an interview at the Geneva Motor Show he was quoted as saying “Sometimes you have to make radical choices, but we’re not a bit nervous about it. The brand has to stand out a bit more.”

    And if all of these things don’t win you over the Volvo’s side, take a look at their amazing ad featuring the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme or the spoof by the equally badass Chuck Norris.

    [Image via Consumer Reports]

  • The Bing iOS App Just Got A Meaty Update

    The Bing iOS App Just Got A Meaty Update

    With iOS using Bing as its default search provider, you may have found yourself enamored by all that Bing has to offer. You might have even downloaded the official Bing iOS app. If that’s the case, you’ll discover that it now has some new features.

    Bing announced this week that its iOS app has been updated with a number of new features. All of the additions were based upon feedback it received from iOS users so you just might see something that you specifically asked for.

    First up, Bing for iOS now has a “pervasive widget that is always available within the app” for searches. In other words, you can always reach the search page no matter where you are in the app with a simple tap. If the widget is getting in your way, you can also disable it in the settings.

    Next up, Bing has added a feature that lets users manage multiple searches at once. You can think of it like a Web browser with multiple tabs open, but Bing just keeps your most recent searches in memory for easy access later. Here’s what it looks like:

    The Bing iOS App Just Got A Meaty Update

    If you’re more of a person who follows trends, the new Bing app also has you covered. When looking at Bing Trends, each trend will now have its own tile:

    The Bing iOS App Just Got A Meaty Update

    With its latest update, Bing also plays friendly with Safari. From within the app, you can open a link in Safari or you can even bookmark it for later use.

    The final feature is more fun than anything as it allows you to shake your phone will the app’s open and it will return a random search result based upon currently trending topics. You can think of it as a more restricted version of StumbleUpon where the only topics available are those seen as trending by Bing’s community of searchers.

    The Bing IOS App Just Got A Meaty Update

    If you want to give Bing for iOS a try, you can find it here.

    Image via Bing

  • Apple Security Flaw Is “As Bad As You Could Imagine”

    Apple Security Flaw Is “As Bad As You Could Imagine”

    Apple is performing an emergency software fix this week to correct a security flaw putting both iPhone and Mac users at risk.

    After it was brought to their attention that hackers could enter systems by email, Apple, Inc. issued an official announcement acknowledging the oversight and their team promptly began to work on updated software to protect users. On Saturday, the company indicated that damage control would be forthcoming to halt hackers before they could lift private data from iPhones or Macs. Per the Orlando Sentinel on Sunday, Feb. 23, iPhone users probably already received their notification regarding that security update. Mac users, contrarily, remain at risk until updates can be issued for them too.

    Apple says those fixes are coming “very soon”.

    Why did this breach happen? There doesn’t seem to be one concrete explanation. However, researchers have said Apple itself was culpable in that it performed “inadequate testing.” It was likewise described as a “fundamental bug in Apple’s SSL implementation,” by Dmitri Alperovich, chief technology officer at security firm CrowdStrike Inc.

    In addition to iPhones and iPads, the report stated that any kind of desktop device or notebooks that run Mac OS X are also at risk, as the security error is present in them as well. Although iPhones are in the clear, the proverbial bad guys are likely working around the clock to concoct programs that pry into private data of Mac users before their resolution can arrive.

    One way in which tech-villains can do this is by gaining entry to a given mobile user’s network.

    This could be done in a coffee house or restaurant, where an unsecured wireless service is offered. In this situation, a hacker can observe and alter the interactions of someone using a protected website – be it their email or social networking site. Johns Hopkins University cryptography professor, Matthew Green explained that in the absence of a fix, hackers impersonate these sorts of protected sites. Then they can pilfer private data as they watch financial or other data go between the user and the actual site.

    “It’s as bad as you could imagine, that’s all I can say,” Green stated.

    Apple did not acquiesce to comment requests beyond a statement offered this week:

    “We are aware of this issue and already have a software fix that will be released very soon.”

    Image via Youtube

  • New iPhones Will Sport Larger Screens [REPORT]

    Exactly one year ago today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said this during an earnings call:

    “The iPhone 5 offers as you know a new 4-inch Retina display, which is the most advanced display in the industry and no one comes close to matching the level of quality as the Retina display. It also provides a larger screen size for iPhone customers without sacrificing the one-handed ease-of-use that our customers love. So, we put a lot of thinking into screen size and believe we’ve picked the right one.”

    And so Apple stuck with the 4-inch display for the iPhone 5s and 5c. Tim Cook thought is was the right size, and so it was. Of course, some iPhone loyalists would tell you (maybe privately) that what they really wanted was a device with a big ol’ screen – or at least a screen as big as many of the iPhone’s competitors.

    It looks like those people might just get their wish.

    The Wall Street Journal is quoting “people familiar with the situation” who say that the next couple of iPhones, which are due out later this year, will sport larger screens. From the WSJ:

    The people said Apple plans an iPhone model with a screen larger than 4½ inches measured diagonally, and a second version with a display bigger than 5 inches. Until now, Apple’s largest phone has been the 4-inch display on the iPhone 5.

    The sources also indicate that Apple is going to ditch the plastic shell that the iPhone 5c currently rocks. Most would say “good riddance.”

    Apple has a history of lagging behind the competition when it comes to screen sizes. As you probably recall, Apple didn’t even make the jump to 4 inches until the iPhone 5 – the iPhone 4s still sported the comically small 3.5-inch display.

    Of course, this is just one report, but this isn’t the first such report of bigger screens we’ve heard recently. Just a few days ago, a Chinese analyst said that Apple would release two new iPhones this year – one with a 4.7-inch display and the other with a 5.7-inch display.

    Image via Apple

  • Images Of iOS For Cars Leak On Twitter

    Images Of iOS For Cars Leak On Twitter

    It’s no secret that Apple wants to get in your car. Back in June of last year, Apple announced that it would be bringing iOS 7 to cars with voice controls provided by Siri. While iOS 7 is already out, a car-specific UI is nowhere to be seen. Well, that is until now.

    On Tuesday, Twitter user @stroughtonsmith shared a series of images that appear to be what iOS will look like when it’s used in conjunction with a vehicle. It’s obviously a very early build as the only app available in this mode is Apple’s own Maps app. Even then, the pictures provide a great look at what may end up being the UI Apple uses for iOS in the car.

    So, how did @stroughtonsmith get access to what appears to Apple’s answer to Google’s Open Automative Alliance? No clue, but we’ve sent a request @stroughtonsmith a request for comment and will update this story if we hear back. At the moment, those replying to the images seem to think he was able to gain access to this mode through the developer version of iOS 7. While that’s likely the case, we’ve also reached out to Apple for their take on the images.

    If it turns out that these images are real, we’re likely very close to an announcement of a new car mode for iOS. What’s unclear at this point is if Apple will just release a new UI for iOS 7 that’s activated when you’re in the car or if Apple will be going the Google route by working with automotive manufacturers to integrate iOS into the vehicles themselves. With this being Apple, my bet’s on the former.

    [h/t: chiploco]
    Image via @stroughtonsmith/Twitter

  • iPhone 6 May Launch In June, Will Sport Larger Display

    Since the iPhone 4S’ launch in 2011, every iPhone has come out in either October or September. It used to not be that way though. The original iPhone all the way up to the iPhone 4 launched in Summer. Now one analyst believes Apple will go back to that again with its next smartphone.

    Tencent is reporting that Chinese analyst Sun Chyang Xu has predicted Apple will start making the iPhone 6 in a trial capacity in February. The new iPhone will then enter mass production in May with a launch coming in June just in time for Apple’s annual WWDC conference.

    So, what can we expect from the iPhone 6? We don’t know much yet, but Chyang Xu thinks it will sport a larger screen. Apple finally upgraded the iPhone’s display size from 3.5-inches to 4-inches with the iPhone 5, and now it’s rumored that the iPhone 6 will sport a 4.7-inch display.

    Interestingly enough, Chyang Xu predicts that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will be the first of two iPhone models being released this year. For later in the year, he expects Apple to release an even larger iPhone with a 5.7-inch display. By doing so, Apple will finally enter the phablet market that’s beginning to attract more attention thanks to devices like the Galaxy Note III and HTC One Max.

    Of course, rumors of a large iPhone have around since April of last year. At that time, analyst Peter Misek said that a large iPhone would launch in June 2014. Coincidence? Probably, but it certainly lends more credence to both analysts’ predictions.

    With Apple increasingly being seen as behind the curve when compared to its rivals, it will have to shake things up with the iPhone 6. A fingerprint scanner was certainly an interesting addition to the iPhone 5S, but a larger display would finally put Apple’s flagship device on equal footing with its competitors. Granted, some of Apple’s biggest fans, and the management itself, feels that its current display size is just fine. It will be interesting to see if the larger market agrees this year if Apple decides to stay at 4-inches.

    [h/t: UnwiredView]
    Image via Apple

  • Apple’s Going to Start Repairing Your Cracked iPhone 5c Screens In-Store

    Good news, clumsy iPhone 5C owners. The next time you smash the screen of your iPhone 5c in a tragic drunken texting accident, you’ll soon be able to walk into an Apple Store and have your screen repaired or replaced in about an hour. And since you won’t have to swap your trusty device for a brand new phone, you can avoid all of the hassle of re-apping.

    9to5 Mac is reporting that Apple will soon begin to repair busted iPhone 5C displays in-store – as early as next week. Apple’s been working on fitting all their stores with this ability for months, and now it’s about to go live.

    The on-site repair will take the place of the current most-common fix for a totally-shattered iPhone screen, which is simply swapping out the busted device for a new one. That can be costly, of course.

    Even at $149 (the estimated screen repair cost for those not covered), it’s still less money and less of a hassle than having to get a brand new phone.

    If you’re an iPhone 5s owner – sit tight. You’re next.

    Image via Apple