Apple Planning Fix for iOS 7 Home Screen Crashes
Since iOS 7 was released in September, users have complained of frequent home screen and app crashes, resulting in a soft reboot of the system. According to an Apple representative that spoke to Mashable, a fix for the issue is in the works, with a software update to be released soon.
“We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash,” Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Mashable.
Random iOS 7 reboots have been occurring for users since September, according to a threads on both the MacRumors forums and Apple’s own Support Communities. During these system reboots, the iPhone screen goes black or white (depending on the color of the phone) for a short period of time before reloading. Based on the complaints, all iPhones running iOS 7, regardless of model, appear to be exhibiting problems.
The fix may possibly come bundled as part of iOS 7.1, which is currently in its fourth beta iteration. Developers received the latest seed of the operating system on Monday, but it is unknown when Apple plans to release iOS 7.1 to the public.
According to a report from BGR, a public launch of iOS 7.1 isn’t expected until March, which could mean Apple plans to release a smaller iterative iOS 7.0.5 update in the meantime.
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Scientists prove dwarf planet Ceres contains water
Scientists have long thought that the dwarf planet Ceres might hold some form of water, but they’ve only had indirect evidence at best — until today, that is. An ESA-led team has used signal fluctiations to confirm that the asteroid belt planetoid is spewing water vapor from two points on its surface, creating both ice and a rudimentary atmosphere. It isn’t clear what’s producing the vapor, although researchers believe that geysers, thawing or icy volcanoes may be responsible. Whatever is behind Ceres’ behavior, the discovery could improve our understanding of how water reached Earth. We’ll get a much clearer picture of what’s happening in early 2015, when NASA’s Dawn probe swings by to map the mini-planet’s water activity in greater detail.
[Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab/Küppers et al.]
Via: CNET
Daily Roundup: Snapchat’s adorable captcha, T-Mo’s ‘Mobile Money’ and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Snapchat battles dummy accounts with a captcha
Snapchat’s been in some hot water lately, what, with that security vulnerability and all. Thankfully, the company put a captcha-like security measure in place to prevent dummy accounts. Click the link for more information.
T-Mo’s ‘Mobile Money’
T-Mobile’s latest endeavor is a personal finance product called “Mobile Money” that combines a smartphone app and branded prepaid Visa card. Best of all: you don’t even have to be a customer to sign up for it. Click on through for details. Click on through for details.
Judge voids two Samsung claims
Judge Lucy Koh shot down two Samsung patent claims today, one of which may affect the entire Android ecosystem. Click through for the story.
New SteamOS beta
Valve released a new SteamOS beta that features support for older PCs and dual-booting. Though, it’s still not ready for the masses. Follow the link for the deets.
Get This Look: Minarch
We’re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience for our Android. So much so that we present our ongoing series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new layout, app, widget, or icon set for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need to mimic the feel.
Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome!
If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more!
Minarch by spncrmoo
Why we love this look:
First and foremost, it works with just about any look or layout you might already have. You will find minimal aesthetics and simple white pop off your wallpaper and match icons, regardless of what launcher you’re using.
The widgets themselves offer handy notifications including a battery indicator arch that spans the entire width, weather and forecast, and upcoming calendar events. You can use this one widget to replace multiple others.
What you’ll need:
- Zooper Widget Pro | $2.49
- Minarch | FREE
The post Get This Look: Minarch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
iTunes 11.1.4 Released With Wish List and Language Improvements [Mac Blog]
Apple has released a minor update to its iTunes software, improving support for Arabic and Hebrew, adding the ability to see a Wish List while viewing the iTunes library, and “additional stability improvements”.
The last update to iTunes occurred back in early November, fixing issues with the equalizer and improving issues when switching views in large libraries.
iTunes 11.1.4
This version of iTunes adds the ability to see your Wish List while viewing your iTunes library, improves support for Arabic and Hebrew, and includes additional stability improvements.
The new iTunes is available through the Mac App Store’s update mechanism or Apple’s iTunes download site. The update weighs in at 128MB.
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Engadget HD Podcast 382 – 1.22.14
It’s that time of year again, CES is fading from memory, football season is wrapping up and Ben is tempted to cut the cable cord with less of his favorite sports programming on the air. The lull in pigskin-based TV probably doesn’t have much to do with reports of declining subscribers for premium channels, but with content like Netflix’s oscar-nominated documentary The Square, streaming services are proving to be tough competition. All this and more is packed into this week’s episode; simply head to the streaming links below for another edition of the Engadget HD Podcast.
Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh
Producer: Jon Turi
Hear the podcast:
12:00 – Google Glass wearer removed from AMC theater under suspicion of recording
17:01 – Paramount now releases movies only in digital form
18:47 – Microsoft: Xbox One is #1 in the US for December with 908,000 consoles sold
22:54 – HBO Go is coming… to PS3 and PS4
25:24 – NPD: premium TV networks losing subscribers as streaming services continue to grow
29:39 – Amazon reportedly considering live TV channels for new pay-TV service (updated: Amazon denies report)
32:04 – Verizon finally takes control of Intel’s doomed internet TV service
34:23 – Comcast discontinues AnyPlay in-home IPTV device, preps cloud Xfinity TV apps
37:24 – CBS schedules premieres for Extant and Under the Dome, Amazon gets them days later
39:15 – Nickelodeon’s new interactive kids channel will bring streaming features to live TV
44:51 – Netflix’s first Oscar nomination comes for ‘The Square’ and you can watch it right now
48:42 – Must See HDTV for the week of January 20th: Black Sails, Sleepy Hollow and Workaholics
Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS – AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS – MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace.
Contact the podcast:
Beam saved videos to your flat-screen with Pocket’s iOS update
No matter how pixel-packed your iThing’s display is, watching video clips on a bigger screen is usually way more comfortable. Pocket has added AirPlay and Apple TV support to its free bookmarking app with just that in mind. That would be pretty cool on its own, but the outfit has also tailored the application to keep broadcasting video even if you exit it — you know, to check Facebook or bang out an email. If you have a stack of unwatched Vimeos (or perhaps that Kristen Bell flick), this could be the perfect time to finally start watching ‘em.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile
Source: Pocket
Netflix ends 2013 with 44 million subscribers, will keep experimenting with pricing
Netflix had a big year in 2013 with award-winning original content, new features and millions of new customers. Now, the company’s fourth quarter report reveals it wrapped up last year with over 44 million customers worldwide. Interestingly, an entire section of the letter to investors is related to the recent appeals court ruling that struck down key parts of net neutrality. CEO Reed Hastings doesn’t appear overly worried however, and says the most likely case is that ISPs “will avoid this consumer unfriendly path of discrimination,” like extra fees or tiers for access to streaming video. If they do go that route however, the company will protest on its own behalf, and encourage customers to join in. In the US Netflix now counts over 33 million customers, and it predicts that by the end of the current quarter, it will be over 35 million, with 48 million total worldwide.
Another segment deals with its recent pricing tests, which Netflix says it hopes to boil down to “three simple options to fit everyone’s taste.” That said, it’s not ruling out pricing changes for new members, but promises (in bold type) “existing members would get generous grandfathering of their existing plans and prices.” We’ll see if bold type is enough to quell the customer unrest that happened the last time Netflix shifted around its plans.
Speaking of those old plans, Netflix still maintains 6.9 million DVD subscribers, and plans to advertise the direct link to its disc business with dvd.netflix.com branding. Unlike its last address, Netflix also found time to shout to the competition, referencing Hulu’s 3 CEOs in the last year and impressive growth, recent moves by Verizon — it bought Intel’s OnCue IPTV platform, a content delivery network and a streaming software firm — the rise of Aereo and Sony’s IPTV plans. Strong words from the company that’s diving into 4K to maintain the perception that it’s a leader in streaming — Hastings and the rest of the team will take questions live on YouTube in a few minutes, we’ll let you know if we hear anything else notable.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Netflix (PDF)
In a bid to regain trust, Microsoft okays storage of foreign users’ data overseas
In the wake of recent NSA leaks, Microsoft’s taking the tech road less traveled and committing to protecting foreign users’ data by storing it overseas. The controversial move, as reported by the Financial Times, would place that data out of the NSA’s legal reach by moving it off US soil and under the protection of local laws. It also pits Microsoft against a bevy of the US internet companies, like Google, which have staunchly opposed any such requirement for offshore data-hosting, citing concerns such as increased costs for that build-out.
There’s also the possibility that such policies, if adopted or enforced by countries like Brazil, would cut off foreign citizens from the use of American online services should those companies choose not to comply. For Microsoft’s part, the company deems the decision a necessary one to reinstall faith in the quality and security of its services. Brad Smith, the company’s general counsel, told the Financial Times that despite the inherent costs in moving hosted data offshore, Microsoft believes this to be the right course of action to restore the trust of foreign users. He went on to say, “People should have the ability … to make an informed choice of where their data resides.” Smith is even advocating for a joint US-EU agreement that would put an end to the abuse of tech companies’ data for the purposes of foreign espionage.
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Google
Source: Financial Times
Nomad ChargeKey review
Carrying around a setup to ensure your device is always charged, especially when you’re traveling or out for the night is never convenient. The fact that companies are making a ton of money off of portable battery packs and external battery cases is proof enough it’s time for one of the tech giants (or perhaps this needs to come from an out-of-nowhere startup) to revolutionize batteries.
Until then, we make do with what we have and wait for the next product to help us keep our devices full of juice.
One such product is the ChargeKey from Nomad. Designed to mimic the exact size of the average house key, ChargeKey is small, flexible, and portable.
The model I was sent for review is the Lightning compatible version for iOS devices. It’s capable of carrying 3.1 amps when charging, meaning it will provide enough power to charge full-size iPads. Don’t worry, there is a Micro USB version as well.
The material of ChargeKey makes it so it’s bendable and can withstand the normal abuse metal keys are subjected to on your keyring. With ChargeKey able to bend and move, it also means your iOS device will sit flat on the table or desk as you have your device connected. On top of that, it’s nearly impossible to always find a USB port or charging station that has a surface directly underneath it. As such, the ChargeKey creates a secure enough connection to hold an iPhone, while bending, without requiring you to hold your device the entire time it’s connected.
I have used the ChargeKey for the last few weeks during my trip to CES, and around the house. I find it better suited for use when not attached to my keyring. Keys and a glass screen have never gotten along, and I’m too paranoid my screen will accidentally get scratched when I have my device charging via the ChargeKey. It’s small enough that it fits into a side pocket on a backpack, or heck even your front pocket if you’re really paranoid about a dying battery.
The only drawback that I can come with for the ChargeKey is that it’s not an all-in-one charging solution. You still have to either find a USB port (which is getting easier and easier) or carry around a wall wort to plug ChargeKey into.
The Nomad isn’t currently shipping ChargeKey, but it expects to by the end of February, according to its website. The ChargeKey will set you back $25, or if you’re really creative you can offer to barter a service or good for a ChargeKey or two. Perhaps the best part of the ChargeKey is it’s warranty. Nomad states if your ChargeKey ever breaks, it will replace it free of charge.
The post Nomad ChargeKey review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 