Photos Claiming to Be of New Lightning Cable with Reversible USB Connector Surface
Apple may be shipping a new Lightning cable that features a reversible USB connector with forthcoming iOS devices, reports Chinese website Dianxinshouji.com (Google Translate, via Nowhereelse.fr).
The source shares a few photos of the new cables said to be from Apple supplier Foxconn, with the images showing a USB connector that is attached to the center of its metal casing. By comparison, the USB connector on Apple’s current Lightning cable attach against the bottom of the metal housing’s inner surface.
While it is unable to tell for sure whether these cables are legitimate or not, it is possible that Apple could ship new Lightning cables to match the forthcoming USB 3.1 cables that will soon come with newer smartphones. As revealed last week by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, the USB 3.1 Type-C cable comes with reversible ends and will start shipping next year. An Apple patent for a reversible USB connector also surfaced last month, perhaps further indicating that the company will look to equip its newer devices with new Lightning cables at some point.
Furthermore, a report this past May from Mac Otakara claimed that Apple is preparing an upgraded Lightning cable to accommodate high-definition playback on Made for iPhone audio accessories, which may include a next-generation version of its In-Ear Headphones. Apple also introduced Lightning Cable MFi specifications for headphones in June, which could also be integrated with newer Lightning cables.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 6, next-generation Retina iPad mini and iPad Air 2 by the end of this year, as a new Lightning cable could technically be packaged with those devices.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Discussing 2014 Flagships and the Dawn of Android 5.0
This year has been great for smartphones. Like previous years, we see faster and faster innovation and upgrades for our beloved, intelligent cell phones. The launch of the HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z2 and Galaxy S5 as well as the recent launch of the LG G3 have been very successful for all companies. The launch… Read more »
The post Discussing 2014 Flagships and the Dawn of Android 5.0 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Not even a sharknado will stop Google’s conquest of the undersea internet
How’s this for Shark Week? At a recent event, one of Google’s product managers recently revealed just how far the outfit goes to protect its subaquatic infrastructure. Word is that Mountain View’s shiny new internet pipeline crossing the Pacific is going to need a Kevlar cover to keep it safe from the jaws of your favorite Great White. It’s believed that the apex predators are attacking these cables (video after the break) because they give off the same kind of electrical signals as those of wounded fish, according to Network World. That, or maybe the sharks are just trying to snuff out the untruths that Discovery Channel has apparently been spreading.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Via: The Guardian
Source: Network World
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Hiring for Future Retail Store in United Arab Emirates
Apple today posted retail job listings for a future store to be located in the United Arab Emirates, indicating that the company may be soon opening its first store in the Middle East. The postings were initially spotted by ifoAppleStore and show typical openings for Specialists, Creatives, and Experts, as well as managerial positions for Store Leader and Market Leader. The report speculates that the store could already been under construction for an opening in February 2015 based on hiring schedules.
Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited the UAE, posing for photos at various Apple resellers and meeting with UAE Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. While the reason for his visit was unknown, it is possible that Cook may have been meeting with officials about the possibility of an Apple Retail Store in the region.
Additionally, MacRumors received a tip last year that Apple was planning to open a flagship store at The Galleria in Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi, a luxury mall that opened late last year. The source claimed the store would not open for several years, but noted that it could be Apple’s largest retail store to date.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Premier League tells fans to stop posting GIFs and Vines of goals
After becoming the go-to network to upload replays of goals scored during the recent World Cup, Vine could soon become the subject of a domestic copyright clampdown. With the new season commencing tomorrow, the Premier League has told the BBC that it’s developed new ways to track unofficial uploads of goals and other related footage, including GIF crawlers, Vine crawlers and working with Twitter directly, in a bid to stop users from stepping on the toes of rights holders.
You see, Sky and BT paid over £3 billion to secure live coverage of Premiership matches, while The Sun and The Times have put down a lot of cash to grab the online rights. Fans must pay to watch both, but can access goal replays (within minutes of them being scored) and full match highlights on their mobile or online. But while the Premier League is attempting to address a legitimate concern, users can’t argue with free. We’ll almost certainly continue to see Vines and GIFs shared to Twitter, but those in charge might have more to say about things this season.
[Image credit: wonker, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: BBC Newsbeat
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Google Voice Search can now handle multiple languages with ease
It’s not unusual for people who speak several languages to forget particular terms, and that can be pretty frustrating when you’re trying to look up stuff through Google Voice Search. Thankfully, the latest Voice Search update for Android gives you the power to choose up to five languages as your default instead of just one, making random lapses in memory a bit less annoying. This change, spotted by Android Police (and which the Google Search team first revealed on Reddit in July), allows you to do voice queries in different tongues without having to dive into the settings page each time. The app now even understands a query even if it’s spoken in more than one language — the bad news is you’re still stuck with English as the sole default if you use the OK, Google command. If that’s not a dealbreaker, just sit tight and wait for the update to arrive on your phone, if it hasn’t yet.
[Image credit: Android Police]
Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Google
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Play
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple Sued by Shareholders Over Anti-Poaching Agreements with Other Companies
Apple shareholder R. Andre Klein is suing Apple on behalf of all of its shareholders over the company’s anti-poaching agreements, reports Patently Apple.
The lawsuit claims that Apple’s no-hire agreements with other companies including Google, Adobe, and Intel caused the company to grossly mismanage its assets, mislead its investors, breach the duty of “honest services”, and hurt its overall value. The suit seeks damages for all shareholders through a jury trial, and names a number of Apple executives as individual defendants including current CEO Tim Cook and even former CEO Steve Jobs.
The suit follows a rejection of a $324 million settlement proposal between the four tech companies and tech workers by a California court. In the filing’s court documents, Judge Lucy Koh stated that the total settlement “falls below the range of reasonableness” when compared a $20 million settlement given last year by Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Intuit. Comparatively speaking, Apple and others should pay a minimum of $380 million.
Employees of the various tech companies originally brought forth a lawsuit against the companies no-hire agreements in 2011, with a trial revealing anti-poaching tactics dating back to 2005. The United States Department of Justice intervened in the case in 2010, forcing the companies to stop engaging in anti-poaching agreements. However, the class-action civil lawsuit brought against the aforementioned companies by over 64,000 employees will remain open until a settlement has been reached.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
PlayStation 4’s new digital game-sharing trick sounds simple
Okay, we know that the PlayStation 4′s Share Play feature is coming, but how does letting a friend on an entirely different console (possibly around the globe) play one of your games work? A lot like how PS4′s remote play with the PS Vita does, apparently. In an interview with Famitsu Weekly, Sony’s head of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida said that game developers don’t have to do anything special to enable the feature, and that barring a game requiring the PlayStation Camera, any title should be compatible. Once firmware 2.0 launches, all a friend has to do is send you a Share Play invite and voila you can start playing their copy of Destiny on your TV. If it sounds like we’re living in the future, that’s because we pretty much are.
Don’t, however, go thinking that this is a loophole you can exploit to sidestep ever buying another game: Sony clarified to Kotaku that the guest’s progress would not be saved to their account, but to the host’s. It’s going to be interesting seeing how the feature deals with lag and just what the image quality’s going to look like once it launches. Given our hands-on time with Sony’s PlayStation Now streaming service, though, we’re cautiously optimistic.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Via: Kotaku
Source: Famitsu
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Get Apex Notifier on Android Wear
Loving your new Android Wear smartwatch? Well, you might just love it even more with the Apex Notifier update that now supports Android Wear. On your smartwatch, the app can show you how much battery remains on your smartphone, so you don’t have to take it out of your pocket just to check how much…… Read more »
The post Get Apex Notifier on Android Wear appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Pēq will let you control and automate your home for a monthly fee
Thinking about upgrading your home? There are plenty of home automation systems to choose from — and now, there’s one more. Pēq (pronounced ‘peek’) is a new smart home service designed to take the guesswork out of device compatibility by offering a store of self-branded products that integrate seamlessly with the system’s central control hub. It’s kind of like SmartThings, but with a monthly subscription fee. Pēq’s $9.99 service gives users access to smartphone, PC and tablet control apps, the ability to receive e-mail or text message alerts, remote video streaming capabilities, automatic firmware updates and, of course, access to customer service seven days a week.
The system is said to be heading to Best Buy exclusively, but Pēq’s collection of hubs, plugs, thermostats and sensors can also be purchased from the company’s own website. Pēq selling point seems to be about making smart home setup simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap: systems start at $120 for a simple door and window sensor kit and can cost as much as $490 for bundles with motion sensors and lamp modules. Paired with the monthly fee, that could get expensive – but who doesn’t want to pay $10 month to see when nana is playing Nintendo Wii? Check out a quick demo (in all it’s grandma spying glory) in the video below.
Source: Zats Not Funny, Peq
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 