Citing multiple sources, Nikkei Asian Review said Apple is preparing to launch 5G iPhones in 2020.
According to the report, while Apple has been slow to adopt 5G, it is hoping to leapfrog the competition with the new models. In combination with 5G connectivity, the iPhones will feature updated, more powerful processors and leading-edge screens. If the move is successful, it could help Apple edge out Huawei as the world’s second-largest smartphone maker.
“It will be the first time Apple introduces 5G iPhones … There will be three of them and the company has set an aggressive sales target,” one of the sources told Nikkei.
Given the popularity of the iPhone, Apple’s plans could also help spur faster adoption of 5G technology, especially in markets outside of China. China has recently made the news for its faster-than-expected 5G rollout. In contrast, many carriers in other parts of the world are lagging behind. With Apple planning multiple 5G iPhones next year, carriers will have to move rapidly to keep their customers happy and prevent them from switching to competitors who succeed in rolling out 5G faster.
If Nikkei’s sources are to be believed, 2020 should be a good year for 5G and the customers looking forward to using it.
According to Fast Company, Apple may have its own 5G modems ready for production as early as 2022, ending its reliance on Qualcomm.
Apple has been trying to end its dependence on Qualcomm for some time now. Initially, the company switched to using Intel, while at the same time fighting a legal battle with Qualcomm over what it perceived to be unfair pricing. Ultimately, the two companies settled in April, followed by Apple promptly buying Intel’s 5G modem business.
Apple is likely looking to leverage its purchase to create its own modems where it would have full control. As Fast Company reports, Apple initially worked with Intel in the hopes of producing a “system on a chip,” where a modem would be integrated into a single chip along with the other processors Apple uses in iPhones and iPads. Doing so would provide significant power and energy benefits. Ultimately, that partnership ended because of Intel’s inability to deliver.
Now that Apple owns Intel’s modem business, the company will be free to continue its aspirations, without relying on other partners. Traditionally, Apple has always preferred developing its own chips. Prior to the switch to Intel, Apple partnered with IBM and Motorola to develop the PowerPC line of chips. More recently, the company has licensed ARM processors to create its A-series chips used in iPhones and iPads.
Despite Apple’s expertise in chip design, sources told Fast Company that 2022 is an optimistic launch window. Once the chips are fabricated, they must still be rigorously tested to ensure they work with carriers’ networks. One factor in Apple’s favor is the individual likely leading their modem efforts. According to FactCompany’s source, Esin Terzioglu, Qualcomm’s former VP of Engineering, is probably in charge of the 5G team.
Whether Mr. Terzioglu’s experience is enough to help Apple meet its goal remains to be seen.
Apple held its much-anticipated “By Invitation Only” event today, with Tim Cook promising a “huge” morning of news and updates. Over the course of two hours, Apple delivered on the promise with updates to both hardware and software.
Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade was first out of the gate, with one of Apple highlighting the soon-to-be-released gaming platform. Apple has partnered with some of the world’s best game developers to deliver over 100 exclusive games on launch day, something no gaming service has ever done.
Rather than paying for each game individually, a subscription service will provide access to all the games in the new Arcade tab of the App Store. Users will also be able to access game guides and sneak peeks.
Unlimited access will cost $4.99 per month, with a one-month free trial, and will be available September 19 in over 150 countries.
Apple Arcade
Apple TV+
It’s no secret Apple has been working on disrupting the television market with their upcoming Apple TV+ service. Mr. Cook said Apple’s ‘mission is to bring the best original stories from the most creative minds in film and television.’
Trailers for Apple’s first three series in production have been viewed over 100 million times, with The Morning Show trailer being one of the most viewed trailers of all time.
Apple took the opportunity to introduce their latest show, See, starring Jason Momoa. The series is set hundreds of years in the future when virtually all of humanity has lost its sight. Apple enlisted the help of blind and low-sight cast, crew and consultants to help set an authentic tone for the series. If the audience’s reaction was any indication, Apple may well have another hit on their hands.
The platform’s first shows will be available on November 1 in over 100 countries, for $4.99 per month for a family subscription. In addition, anyone purchasing a Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple TV will receive the first year for free.
Apple TV+
iPad
Switching gears to the iPad, Mr. Cook said Apple’s original goal for the iPad was to ‘set out to design something truly unique, something you could take with you, transforming how we work, live and play.’ After highlighting the existing iPad models, he turned the stage over to Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller.
Mr. Schiller said the 9.7-inch iPad continues to be the most popular model, with 60% of first-time buyers opting for it. With the 7th generation of the
product, it was time for Apple to improve it with modern features and abilities.
The 7th generation iPad moves to the A10 Fusion chip, making it up to 2X faster than the current top-selling PC. The iPad moves to a 10.2-inch form factor, giving users slightly more screen real estate. The new model includes the Smart Connector found on the Pro models, allowing it to be paired with the Smart Keyboard, as well as support for the Apple Pencil.
Mr. Schiller briefly touched on some of the added functionality the upcoming iPadOS will bring, including improved multitasking, multiple app instances, more powerful Slide Over, SD card support and more.
The new iPad features an enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminum and starts at $329, or $299 for education customers.
iPad
Apple Watch
Before announcing updates to the Apple Watch, Mr. Cook introduced a video where several existing users described how the Apple Watch had saved their life or had a profound impact on their overall quality of life.
The announced Apple Watch Series 5 promises to build on that reputation with a number of new features. The biggest of these is an always-on display that no longer requires a wrist raise or tap to see the time or complications. Another big addition is a compass, similar to that on the iPhone.
Apple is also expanding the capabilities of the Apple Watch with various studies designed to monitor a user’s health and use that data to improve the overall experience. Initial studies include the Apple Hearing, Heart & Movement and Women’s Health Studies. Via the Apple Research app, users will be able to opt-in and control exactly what data is shared.
Despite the new features, the Series 5 maintains the same all-day, 18-hour battery life and will retail for $399 for the GPS model and $499 for cellular.
Apple Watch
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
The event’s last act was reserved for the unveiling of the new iPhone. The Apple rumor mill has been in overdrive in the months leading up to this event, but Apple still managed to spring a few surprises.
The new iPhone is split into three models: the base iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and the biggest iPhone 11 Pro Max. Hopefully, Apple keeps this simple naming scheme for the iPhone 12, 13 and beyond, as it’s much easier and more logical than the X, XS, XR, and XS Max.
The iPhone 11 is clearly a replacement for the XR as Apple’s entry-level phone. Based on the specs and features, however, it’s a safe bet the base 11 will likely be the most popular model, much as the XR currently is.
The 11 sports the toughest glass on a smartphone for both the front and back, with aluminum making up the rest of the enclosure. It’s available in black, white, red, purple, yellow and green and features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD display.
The dual-camera system was front-and-center among the new phone’s features, with 12 megapixels Wide and Ultra-Wide lens. The Phone is powered by the newest A-series chip, the A13 Bionic, providing the fastest CPU and GPU performance on a smartphone. The iPhone 11 will have an hour longer battery life than the current champion, the XR.
The iPhone Pro and Pro Max models build on the same features as the 11, but with a Pro twist. The aluminum is upgraded to surgical-grade stainless steel available in midnight green, space gray, silver, and gold.
The camera adds a third lens for telephoto zoom and the display is a Super Retina XDR OLED in either 5.8 or 6.5-inch. Water-resistance is rated at a full four meters for up to 30 minutes, up from the two-meter rating of the base 11. Apple promises up to four more hours of battery with the 11 Pro and five hours more with the Pro Max. All versions of the iPhone 11 include improved sound, featuring Dolby Atmos.
Apple’s presentation included examples of professional photographers’ work with the iPhone, as well as the creators of FiLMiC Pro highlighting some of the game-changing filmmaking capabilities of the Pro and Pro Max’s camera system.
The iPhone 11 starts at $699, while the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1099 respectively. Apple is also continuing to sell the iPhone 8 for $449 and the XR for $599.
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
Wrapping Up
Apple promised a “huge” morning of announcements and, without a doubt, they delivered. Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ demonstrate Apple’s commitment to expanding their services, while the 7th generation iPad, Series 5 Apple Watch and iPhone 11 show they still have plenty to offer in the hard-ware department.
Apple “By Invitation Only” Event – September 10, 2019
Analyst Toni Sacconaghi at Bernstein says, “The issue is all about if units are weak on iPhone what is that saying about the sustainability and health of that business and the sustainability and health of the growth of the installed base?
Toni Sacconaghi, Senior Technology Research Analyst at Bernstein, recently discussed investors reaction to Apple’s latest earnings report on CNBC:
iPhone Sales Decline Concerns Investors
The real issue is that if you work from Apple’s guidance they’re saying effectively, or we impute, that iPhone units are going to decline five to ten percent in the December quarter. That is really the key controversy going forward. Can you have a healthy Apple if iPhone units are gonna decline going forward?
You may say, well they’re getting price increases and revenues are still going to increase this year. However, if units do go down this cycle, and it looks quite likely that they will, the market is effectively saying… we’re not sure that we can take price increases from you anymore Apple. If iPhone prices don’t go up and smartphone units are down this year and will likely continue to be down then all of a sudden you’re talking about 60 plus percent of the revenues of the company that are going down. If units aren’t fuelling the installed base, installed base drives services growth, then all of a sudden you have a different story.
Are Weaker iPhone Sales a Result of Price Increases?
That’s really the controversy. It’s not so much that they withdrew units. People really view the withdrawal of unit information as a validation that units are going to be weak this year. The issue is all about if units are weak on iPhone what is that saying about the sustainability and health of that business and the sustainability and health of the growth of the installed base?
I think there will be an investor debate and that’s what you’re seeing in the market’s reaction today about whether lower unit growth this year is portending something more structural going forward. It’s not black and white. The market was expecting units to be flat and ASPs to be strong. ASPs are going to be strong but units are going to be down, so the markets recalibrating that. Really the core strategic question is what is weaker unit growth saying about how consumers are responding to Apple’s prices and what does that mean about future unit growth and its implications for services growth?
It looks like Google is bent on diversifying its businesses as it moves further into hardware. In fact, its latest billion dollar deal suggests the company is determined to stake its claim in the smartphone market which inevitably puts it on the warpath with Apple’s iPhone.
Google’s intention to join the hardware fray could not get any clearer. On Wednesday, the tech giant announced that it has entered into a $1.1 billion arrangement with Taiwan’s HTC, a deal which will effectively let Google hire a sizable part of HTC’s engineering team, tapping into their hardware expertise.
What does $1.1 billion get you? Intellectual property and a team of HTC engineers https://t.co/TxSzzLgplB
While it was not stated just how many HTC engineers will now be working for Google, HTC chief financial officer Peter Shen revealed that the company’s research and design team will now be reduced to just 2,000, down from the 4,000 manpower complement before the deal. However, the deal won’t likely hurt HTC’s operations as the estimated 2,000 employees affected by the deal were already working on Google’s Pixel smartphones, which were manufactured by HTC.
The latest move is in line with Google’s push to make it big in the smartphone and gadgets segment. In 2016, the company hired ex-Motorola chief Rick Osterloh to helm its new hardware division. A few months later Google announced the arrival of Pixel devices which were made with the help of HTC.
But with half of HTC’s engineers at its beck and call, Google’s bid to be among the top hardware players has become very serious. Effectively, the arrangement will allow the company to manufacture its own range of devices, which could make it serious competition for rivals Apple and Samsung.
But the potential rift between Apple and Google is expected to go beyond mere smartphone sales figures. According to The Verge, Apple is actually in the way of Google’s ambition to be on every device connected to the internet.
As everyone knows, Apple has its own set of apps and software that has allowed it to remain independent of Google. Aside from running on its own operating system, it has its own Apple App Store, Apple Music, iCloud and its own smartphone, the iPhone line. In addition, Apple’s personal assistant Siri searches the web using Bing rather the Google search engine.
And that is where Google would likely make its attack. By making its own suite of devices that ran only in Android, consumers will have no choice but to shun Apple applications. But to dislodging the well-entrenched Apple, with its horde of loyal customers, will not be a walk in the park for Google and would depend largely on whether or not its upcoming gadgets will outshine the iconic iPhone.
There are several ways to unlock and secure your mobile phone. When it comes to the iPhone, the fingerprint scanner is one of the most popular options available. However, this method has its limitations, which is why Apple has been considering facial recognition for more than a year now.
This feature would not only be convenient but also more secure than the fingerprint scanner, possibly overshadowing it. The Apple facial scanner would be able to scan a face from a distance using a depth sensor, making it faster and safer to unlock the phone rather than using the fingerprint scanner, a pattern, or a number code.
Apple is apparently testing out frontal 3D facial scanning, retinal scanning, and depth recognition. They are also focusing on a high level of speed and comprehensive accuracy with the new technology. The aim is to give the iPhone owner the ability to unlock the device, within a few milliseconds at the most, just by glancing at it. It could even work if the phone is lying flat on a table.
The security of the face recognition feature would not only exceed that of the Touch ID sensor, but also the iris scanner found on the Samsung Galaxy S8. Upon release of the Galaxy S8, hackers were able to unlock the phone with an easy-to-execute tactic that involved holding a photo image of the iris in front of the phone’s sensor. Sensing depth, the 3D feature on the new iPhone would be able to collect more biometric data to reduce the possibility of being deceived by a photo.
An added bonus of the new feature is that your face will not only be able to unlock your phone, but also make payments, launch apps, log into social media accounts, and much more. It is not clear if the 3D scanner will replace the Touch ID as Apple’s representatives have yet to respond to the rumor.
Mobile printing startup Prynt has unveiled their latest gadget that can print colored photos in just 30 seconds, and makes use of augmented reality to produce “moving” pictures.
The gadget is certainly cool, but don’t expect to get high-quality images. The printing quality of the gadget is reportedly pedestrian and doesn’t even match up to photos from Polariod. However, the faster printing speed, easy functionality, as well as better connectivity to iPhones, make it a good buy compared to most Bluetooth mobile printers.
Here’s how it works: when the users choose an image from their iPhone to print, the application will upload a clip from the Live Photo—or the Boomerang app from Instagram—to the cloud. After they scan the static image using the Prynt app, the video will be superimposed on top.
Prynt co-founder Clément Perrotsaid, “It’s the best of both worlds. You get something that is tangible, unique, but you also have a sense of the context of what happened at that time.”
“Here’s a way to capture all of that and put it into something that people would look back at. If it stays on their phone, you don’t necessarily look at it again,” he added.
A mobile printer is not exactlynew, considering that Polaroid has its own Insta-film technology, apart from its own mobile photo printer. HP also has the Sprocket (which sells for about $130).
Perrot hopes that the new technology will encourage people to print their most precious photos. While the convenience of camera phones allows people to take as many pictures as they want, they rarely go through the photos after uploading them on social media. In most instances, they just delete the photos after sharing them on Facebook or Instagram.
Perrot stated that this is what Prynt is trying to fill with its mobile printer. The nostalgia that physical photos possess, where “you can touch something and go back to it.”
For now, the Prynt app is only available for the iPhone. However, an app dedicated for Android will be launched later this year. The app uses inkless paper from Zink, which can be activated using heat.
The Prynt pocket printer sells for $138 on Amazon. Users will have to buy another pack for the sheets of paper to be fed into the device. One pack with 40 sheets will cost $20.
Hoping to get an edge over their competition, Apple Inc. is developing technology that will allow users to charge their phones via wireless routers.
The Cupertino-based tech giant has been granted a patent filing by the U.S. Patent and Trademark, according to documents publicly revealed on Thursday.
According to a recent report, the “Wireless Charging and Communication Systems With Dual-Frequency Patch Antennas” technology will make it possible for people to replenish the battery life of their devices using Wi-Fi.One of the many challenges of wireless charging is the limited range of Wi-Fi. But Apple suggested the use of dual mode circuitry and “dual-frequency patch antennas.” If the company manages to realize the dream, it can make use of Wi-Fi routers (both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) through a cellular frequency link somewhere between 700 MHz and 2700 MHz using a transmitter and receiver.
Theconcept of latching on to wireless routers to charge devices is not new, as small gadgets, like smartwatches for instance, have been proven to be charged using a Wi-Fi connection. However, this would be the first time that something as ambitious as charging a more powerful mobile phone is being pursued. It would also have greater impact on the future of charging devices, taking mobility to another level.
Apple already has existing technology in its AirPort Extreme routers that use “beamforming antennas” in order to scour and latch on to a signal. While AirPort promises to amplify the user’s internet speed, the technology itself can be used to search for nearby Wi-Fi networks to charge a cellular phone.
For now, Apple remains mum about its intentions regarding the patent, but chances are consumers can expect to see an overhaul in how we power our electronic devices in the coming years.
The communist state backed China newspaper Global Times sent a warning shot to the Trump Administration threatening to take a “tit-for-tat approach” if tariffs are imposed on Chinese products.
China will take a tit-for-tat approach then. A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus. US auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and US soybean and maize imports will be halted. China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the US.
Trump as a shrewd businessman will not be so naïve. None of the previous presidents were bold enough to launch an all-out trade war against China. They all opted for a cautious line since it’s most consistent with the overall interests of the US, and it’s most acceptable to US society.
Trump cannot change the pattern of interests between China and the US. The gigantic China-US trade is based on mutual benefits and a win-win situation. Even as president, Trump can exert limited influence on it.
If Trump wrecks Sino-US trade, a number of US industries will be impaired. Finally the new president will be condemned for his recklessness, ignorance and incompetence and bear all the consequences. We are very suspicious the trade war scenario is a trap set up by some American media to trip up the new president.
According to Apple, it’s upcoming release of iOS 10 is the biggest release ever of iOS which it considers to be the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. It unveiled the updates Monday at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. Included in the release are significant updates to Messages, New Home App, All-New Photos, Music and News & Opens Siri, Maps, Phone and Messages to Developers.
Apple CEO Tim Cook told the developers at the conference that Apple is investing in the next generation of app developers by awarding more than 150 scholarships this year. Cook said the youngest attendee at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference is only 9 and that he met her yesterday and said, “She is going to make a great developer.”
Cook announced that Apple now has over 2 million apps in the app store. “Your 2 billion apps in the app store have been downloaded 130 billion times,” stated Cook. “As you know the app store is the best business opportunity for developers. We’re about to pass $50 billion paid directly to developers. This is absolutely amazing.”
“Of course, successful developers translates into us having the best platform for users and this is what really matters” Cook said. Apple is pleased to introduce iOS 10:
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, introduced iOS 10 to the audience by stating that the official name of the “world’s most advanced operating system is macOS.
The new iOS 10 features a huge update to Messages that delivers more expressive and animated ways to message such as stickers and full-screen effects.
iOS 10 introduces the ability for Siri® to do more by working with apps, beautifully redesigned Maps, Photos, Apple Music® and News apps, and the Home app, delivering a simple and secure way to manage home automation products in one place. iOS 10 opens up incredible opportunities to developers with Siri, Maps, Phone and Messages.
“iOS 10 is our biggest release ever, with delightful new ways to express yourself in Messages, a native app for Home automation, and beautifully redesigned apps for Music, Maps, and News that are more intuitive and more powerful, making everything you love about your iPhone and iPad even better,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
Federighi added, “iOS 10 adds Siri intelligence into QuickType and Photos, automates your home with the new Home app and opens up Siri, Maps, Phone and Messages to developers — while increasing security and privacy with powerful technologies like Differential Privacy.”
Here’s how the Apple news release explains the new features:
Personal & Expressive Messages
Messages is the most frequently used iOS app, and with iOS 10 it is more expressive and fun with animated and personalized ways to message friends and family. Messages includes powerful animations, such as balloons, confetti or fireworks that can take over an entire screen to celebrate a special occasion, invisible ink to send a message only revealed after a friend swipes over it, and for added personalization, handwritten notes. Automatic suggestions make it easy to replace words with emoji, Tapback creates a quick and simple way to respond with just a tap and rich links let you see content inline and play media without ever leaving your conversation.
iOS 10 brings the power of the App Store® to Messages, opening up new opportunities for developers to create fun new ways for users to communicate in a thread, including stickers to be peeled and pasted into conversations, the ability to quickly personalize GIFs or edit photos, send payments or schedule dinner or a movie, all from within Messages.
Siri Opens to Developers
In iOS 10, Siri can be extended into major new areas and do more than ever by working with the apps you love to use. For the first time, developers can build on the intelligence Siri offers and let users interact directly with apps using just their voice. SiriKit™ helps developers easily design their apps to work with Siri for messaging, phone calls, photo search, ride booking, personal payments and workouts, or use Siri to control CarPlay® apps, access climate controls or adjust radio settings within automakers’ apps.
Beautifully Redesigned Maps
Maps in iOS 10 gets a beautiful redesign that makes it even simpler and more intuitive to use. Now open to developers with new extensions, apps like OpenTable can integrate bookings right into Maps, and services like Uber and Lyft can make it easier for users to book a ride, without ever leaving the Maps app. Maps is even smarter with new intelligence that proactively delivers directions to where you most likely want to go next, based on your routine or appointments on your calendar. Once a route is planned, Maps can search along the route for gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops and more and provides an estimate of how the stop impacts the length of your trip.
Rediscover Memories in Photos
Photos in iOS 10 helps you rediscover favorite and forgotten occasions from your photo library by automatically surfacing them in Memories. Memories scans all your photos and videos and finds favorite and forgotten events, trips and people, and presents them in a beautiful collection. A Memory also contains the Memory Movie, an automatically edited movie with theme music, titles and cinematic transitions.
Memories uses advanced computer vision to group the people, places and things inside your images into albums with on-device facial, object and scene recognition. This intelligence brings Memories and related photos to life in a way that’s personal and meaningful to you, while maintaining your privacy.
Home App for Simpler Home Automation
The Home app is deeply integrated into iOS, delivering a simple and secure way to set up, manage and control your home in one place. Accessories can be managed individually or grouped into scenes so they work together with a single command and can be controlled by using Siri. They can be managed remotely or set up for home automation with Apple TV®, and can respond with automatic triggers set by time of day, location or action.
Support for HomeKit™ continues to expand globally with nearly 100 home automation products adopting HomeKit this year, bringing support for thermostats, lights, window shades, door locks, video cameras and more to the Home app. Later this year, leading home builders, including Brookfield Residential, KB Home, Lennar Homes and R&F Properties, will begin integrating many of these HomeKit devices into new homes.
All-New Design for Apple Music & News
Apple Music has an all-new design, bringing greater clarity and simplicity to every aspect of the experience. It uses a new design language that allows the music to become the hero and a new structure that makes it easy to navigate and discover new music. The Library, For You, Browse and Radio tabs have been completely redesigned to provide an even greater sense of place, and we’ve added a Search tab to make finding music even easier. All of these changes come together to create a design that is clear and intuitive. iOS 10 features a redesigned News app with a new For You, organized into distinct sections that make it easier to find stories, support for breaking news notifications and paid subscriptions.
iOS Experience
In iOS 10, accessing the information you need is easier and quicker than ever. Raise to Wake automatically wakes the screen as you raise your iPhone®, making it easier to view all your notifications at a glance, right from the Lock screen. Notifications, Today view and Control Center are accessible with just a swipe or a press, and deeper 3D Touch™ integration with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus makes interacting with apps even easier.
Additional iOS 10 Features
Siri intelligence brings new QuickType® features, including contextual predictions to surface relevant information based on location, calendar availability or contacts; and predictive typing supports multiple languages without switching keyboards.
Phone adds integration for third-party VoIP calls, voicemail transcription and a new caller ID extension for spam alerts.
Built-in app updates include Safari® split-view for iPad®, Notes collaboration and Live Photos™ editing.
Apple Pay® can now be used to make easy, secure and private purchases on participating websites using Safari, in addition to paying in-stores and within apps.
Bedtime Alarm in the Clock app lets you set a regular sleep schedule and receive bedtime reminders.
Privacy in iOS 10
Security and privacy are fundamental to the design of Apple hardware, software and services. iMessage®, FaceTime® and HomeKit use end-to-end encryption to protect your data by making it unreadable by Apple and others. iOS 10 uses on-device intelligence to identify the people, objects and scenes in Photos, and power QuickType suggestions. Services like Siri, Maps and News send data to Apple’s servers, but this data is not used to build user profiles.
Starting with iOS 10, Apple is using technology called Differential Privacy to help discover the usage patterns of a large number of users without compromising individual privacy. In iOS 10, this technology will help improve QuickType and emoji suggestions, Spotlight® deep link suggestions and Lookup Hints in Notes.
Availability
The developer preview of iOS 10 is available to iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta program will be available to iOS users in July at beta.apple.com. iOS 10 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 5 and later, all iPad Air® and iPad Pro™ models, iPad 4th generation, iPad mini™ 2 and later, and iPod touch® 6th generation. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios10-preview. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages.
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.
Google is taking on Apple’s iPhone with a new feature called ‘Find Your Phone‘. It is a new feature of Google’s ‘My Account‘ hub, which was launched a year ago today. My Account puts all of your privacy and security tools in one spot and can be accessed on any device. The current tool let you change Ad and Privacy Settings and run Security Checkups. Google says that more than 1 billion people have logged into their own ‘My Account’ hub.
With ‘Find Your Phone’ Google is competing with Apple’s ‘Find My iPhone’ feature that is part of its iCloud service. With ‘Find Your Phone’ you can locate your phone geographically on a map, lock, call it, secure your account and leave a callback number on the screen.
Best of all, unlike with ‘Find My iPhone’ you can use this new feature with both Android and IOS phones and other devices such as the iPad or Android tablets. And coming soon, you’ll be able to simply search “I lost my phone” in Google to instantly access the features options.
Google also announced the ability to simply use your voice to get to ‘My Account’ features. Just download the latest Google app to your phone and say, “Ok Google, show me my Google account,” and they’ll take you there. This is currently available only in English, with other languages to follow.
Google added in a blog post: “We’re also making it easier than ever to find My Account by searching Google. Coming soon, you’ll be able to simply search for your own name, and if you’re signed in, you’ll see a shortcut to My Account.”
Reddit finally announced the launch of official mobile apps for iPhone and Android, which are available in the App Store and Google Play Store respectively. Earlier this year, Reddit announced the apps, but users can now go download them.
The plan was to build an Android app and revamp the Alien Blue iPhone app, but they ended up just building the iPhone app from scratch too. The apps are now officially called Reddit for Android and Reddit for iPhone. Simpler and less confusing for those who don’t necessarily keep up.
The apps feature inline images, a night theme, compact and card views, and simpler navigation. Alex Le, who joined Reddit five months ago as the VP of Consumer Products (he assures users he’s been a user for 8 years), announced the news.
“This is the beginning of our journey with you, our app users,” he says. “For everyone joining us on this ride, you can expect a lot of updates and new features that we’ll be rolling out to mobile first. Our first feature releases are getting prepared now and we’ll be updating at least once a month. Of course, if you already have an app you like, you’re free to continue enjoying it. We will continue to support our free public api.”
He’s taking feedback and questions in this thread, so if you have something to say, don’t hesitate.
The apps are available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Google is reportedly working on a virtual keyboard interface for iOS in an effort to increases searches from the operating system.
In January, Bloomberg Business reported that Google paid Apple $1 billion to keep its search bar on the iPhone. Now, the company appears to be going even further to ensure people keep using Google to search from Apple’s devices.
The keyboard news comes from The Verge, which says it has been in development for months, has been in use internally, and incorporates a variety of search options:
The Google keyboard incorporates a number of features meant to distinguish it from the stock iOS keyboard. Like its Android counterpart, the Google keyboard for iOS employs gesture-based typing, so you can slide your finger from one letter to the next and let Google guess your intended word. Tap the Google logo and you can access traditional web search. It also appears to have distinct buttons for pictures and GIF searches, both presumably powered by Google image search. The keyboard is visually distinct from the standard Android keyboard, which incorporates voice search but no text or image-based searching.
In recent years, Apple has distanced itself from Google where possible – most notably the use of Google Maps with the introduction of the initially flawed Apple Maps, which has been said to be greatly improved these days.
If Google can convince iOS users they need its keyboard it could help, though I can’t honestly imagine it would make a huge difference.
As The Verge notes, it’s unclear if Google actually plans to release this or not.
Apple held its big event on Monday, making several announcements. Among these were the iPhone SE and the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
The new phone has a four-inch display, an aluminum design, and new matte-chamfered edges, a color-matched stainless steel Apple logo, and four metallic finishes.
The device has the same 64-bit A9 chip offered in iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, longer battery life, faster wireless, a 12-megapixel iSight camera with Apple’s Live Photos feature and 4K video, and Touch ID with Apple Pay.
Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller said, “iPhone SE is an exciting new idea — we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out. The result is the most beautiful and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world. iPhone SE is packed with a stunning four-inch Retina display, advanced 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, longer battery life, 12-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, Live Photos, 4K video, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, and Touch ID with Apple Pay. Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE.”
The device will be available in gray, silver, old, and rose gold metallic finishes in 16GB and 64GB models starting at $399 in the US.
You’ll be able to order one on March 24 with availability coming March 31 if you live in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands or the US.
The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro weighs a pound, and features a new pro Retina display with improved brightness and color, lower reflectivity, Night Shift mode, and new True Tone display technology, which dynamically adjusts white balance.
The device has a 64-bit A9X chip, a four-speaker audio system, a 12-megapixel iSight camera supporting Live Photos and 4K video, a 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, and faster wireless technologies. The device supports Apple Pencil and a new Smart Keyboard cover.
“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Schiller. “The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users.”
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, gray, gold, and rose gold. It starts at $599 (US) for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $729 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Both are also available in 128GB and 256GB capacities. The latter is the highest of any iOS device.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be available to order on March 24. It will be in Apple Retail stores on Thursday, March 31, in Australia, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
As expected, Apple will host an event on March 21. The company has sent out invites to the event, which says, “Let us loop you in.”
Of course the company didn’t give any details on what will be announced, but per numerous tech media reports over the months, the company is expected to announced the iPhone SE and a new, smaller iPads Pro. Also expected are updates for Apple Watch.
This is all just rumor of course, and there’s always the possibility that Apple will have other surprises. One thing is almost certain, however. We’ll learn how “gorgeous,” “magical,” and “beautiful” the new devices are.
The keynote will begin at 10:00 AM Pacific. As usual, it will be streamed online.
You’ll have to watch it on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with Safari on ioS 7.0 or later, a Mac with Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later, an Apple TV 2nd or 3rd generation with software 6.2 or later, Apple TV 4th generation, or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
In early December, Facebook began letting a small percentage of people in the U.S. stream live video from their iPhones. Later that month, they expanded this to all verified pages. A couple weeks ago, Facebook announced that the feature was rolling out to all U.S. iPhone users.
Now, Facebook is reportedly opening up the functionality in its Pages Manager iPhone app with the latest update.
According to TheNextWeb’s Ben Woods, “To use the feature in the Page Manager app, you just need to tap ‘Publish’, enter a description and press the live video icon.”
I’ll take his word for it. There’s no mention of it on the app page in iTunes and I don’t use an iPhone (he does include a screenshot).
When Facebook announced the expansion of the feature to all U.S. iPhone users last week, it said it plans to launch it to everyone else in the coming weeks. This would of course include Android.
Given that this was nearly two weeks ago, we can probably expect word of that expansion very soon.
This isn’t the first piece of evidence that suggests Apple is interested in VR – we’ve previously seen patent filings for iPhone headset accessories, plus the firm worked on that 360-degree music video for U2.
Your iPhone and iPad are about to get a whole lot smarter. iOS 9.3 just hit beta, meaning once developers have finished some final tinkering it will be winging its way to your latest iDevice. An exact rollout date has yet to be confirmed, but this update is already shaping up as one of the most substantial ‘point’ patches in recent times.
The newest versions of Apple’s iOS 9 allows you to delete more than 30 stock apps included on the iPhone
It started with Stocks, then Apple added iBooks, Maps, Watch, Health, Tips and more. There are now 32 apps on the iPhone that users are unable to get rid of.
Many of these are essential, like Settings, Phone and App Store. But others, such as Find Friends and Podcasts, are rarely used by many users.
For years people have been calling for a way to delete some of the phone’s default apps. Others squirrel them away in a folder, hoping to ignore them as much as possible.
With today’s announcement, SpaceIL is the first of the 16 Lunar X Prize teams to book a ride off the planet. If the mission succeeds, it will be the first Israeli mission — as well as the first private spaceflight mission — to soft-land a vehicle on the lunar surface. Eran Privman, CEO of SpaceIL, claimed the group isn’t focused on the competition, but they are confident they can win. “I promise you once we land on the Moon, we’ll look around and see we are the first,” he said.
Only three nations have ever landed a spacecraft intact on the Moon: the United States, Russia, and China. Many countries have slammed lunar orbiters or probes into the Moon to study its environment, but gently landing a spacecraft is trickier. The Moon is big enough to have a gravitational pull, but it doesn’t have an atmosphere to slow incoming objects. Spacecraft in lunar orbit must fire retro-rockets, very precisely, in the opposite direction of the Moon. That way they can slowly descend without slamming into the rock. It’s a delicate procedure that usually requires a lot of time and money, which is why only government agencies have been able to do it up until now.
A trait carried over from their debut, luckily for us listeners
Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during launch. (SpaceX)
That it was only then, on the homeward voyage, after the encounter, that the final monomania seized him, seems all but certain from the fact that, at intervals during the passage, he was a raving lunatic; and, though unlimbed of a leg, yet such vital strength yet lurked in his Egyptian chest, and was moreover intensified by his delirium, that his mates were forced to lace him fast, even there, as he sailed, raving in his hammock. In a strait-jacket, he swung to the mad rockings of the gales. And, when running into more sufferable latitudes, the ship, with mild stun’sails spread, floated across the tranquil tropics, and, to all appearances, the old man’s delirium seemed left behind him with the Cape Horn swells.
Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.
Lauren Mayberry’s lyrics touches on elements of heartbreak
God the direful madness was now gone; even then, Ahab, in his hidden self, raved on. Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. Ahab’s full lunacy subsided not, but deepeningly contracted; like the unabated Hudson, when that noble Northman flows narrowly, but unfathomably through the Highland gorge.
But, as in his narrow-flowing monomania, not one jot of Ahab’s broad madness had been left behind; so in that broad madness, not one jot of his great natural intellect had perished. That before living agent, now became the living instrument. If such a furious trope may stand, his special lunacy stormed his general sanity, and carried it, and turned all its concentred cannon upon its own mad mark. I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks. I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine.
iPhone rumors are pretty hilarious – not because they’re always wrong or anything. To the contrary, plenty of rumors about the next generation of the iPhone turn out to be true. What’s funny is just how early they start – and how quickly they ramp up.
The iPhone 6s just went on sale this past weekend (and broke sales records), so of course it’s the perfect time for some juicy iPhone 7 rumors.
The newest comes from Japanese Apple blog Mac Otakara, which says that we can expect the new iPhones (which are probably about a year out) to sport a new waterproof and dustproof body.
This big new upgrade to the iPhone 7 would call for a new frame and casing material, and according to one of the postings on Weibo, Apple is in fact planning on adopting an entirely new material next year for the iPhone 7. If this turns out to be the case, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus would be the last in the iPhone line to include a metallic casing for the smartphone.
Of course, Apple is behind the curve on offering phones that protect against the elements. But there are plenty of iPhone users who would love for Apple to finally debut a waterproof phone.
Mac Otakara also says that “sources” confirm a “completely flat” LCD screen for the next model.
Waterproof? Cool. But it’s a rumor on a device that’s a year from being unveiled – so make sure you have plenty of grains of salt handy.
According to Apple, the iPhone 6s had the best opening weekend in the history of iPhone opening weekends.
The company says it sold over 13 million new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models in the first three days of availability.
“Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple’s history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Customers’ feedback is incredible and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos, and we can’t wait to bring iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to customers in even more countries on October 9.”
The opening weekend saw sales to Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK and the US.
On October 9th, the new phones will arrive in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. On October 10th, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. And finally, Malaysia and Turkey on October 16th.
Apple hopes to have the iPhone 6s in 130 countries by the end of 2015.
Anyone like accurate data-driven predictions? Here was a good one.
But, as in his narrow-flowing monomania, not one jot of 