Charge Your iPhone in the Bathtub With Mophie’s New Juice Pack H2Pro [iOS Blog]
Popular iPhone accessory maker Mophie is known for its line of battery cases and external backup batteries, which provide extra power at a decent price. The company introduced battery cases for the iPhone 6 early this year, but as of today, Mophie’s got an all new iPhone 6 battery case with a brand new feature — water protection.
The Juice Pack H2Pro is Mophie’s first waterproof product, combining the extra power provided with a battery case with protection from the elements. According to Mophie, the H2Pro has an IP-68 rating (and a military rating of MIL-STD 810G), which means the case will work even when submerged for an extended period of time (1.2m for 30 minutes). In addition to being waterproof, it’s also going to keep dust and dirt away from the iPhone, and it offers protection against drops.
Since it offers total device protection, there’s a flexible membrane over the front of the phone’s display, which Mophie says allows for complete access to Touch ID and the touch screen of the iPhone. There are also integrated mute switch, volume, and lock buttons so every iPhone feature remains accessible.
Like Mophie’s $100 Juice Pack Air, the Juice Pack H2Pro offers a 2,750 mAh battery. The iPhone 6 has a 1,810 mAh battery, so the H2Pro can offer approximately one and a half charges. There’s a power button on the case to toggle power on and off so it can be used without draining the extra battery capacity.
The H2Pro is 0.69 inches thick (17.4mm), so it’s going to more than double the thickness of the iPhone 6 (6.9mm), but that’s not unusual for cases that offer heavy drop protection and waterproofing.
The Juice Pack H2Pro can be pre-ordered from Mophie’s website for $129.95. It’s estimated to begin shipping out to buyers in late May.
Apple to Launch Streaming Music Service and Revamped iTunes Radio in Late June
While Apple is still working to get key deals in place for its upcoming streaming music service, the company remains committed to announcing the service at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), likely during the opening keynote on June 8, according to 9to5Mac.
Apple’s streaming music service will reportedly launch alongside a revamped iTunes Radio in a “long list” of countries in late June as part of iOS 8.4 and iTunes 12.2. New Apple TV and Mac apps that will integrate the service remain under development at Apple.
The redesigned Music app in iOS 8.4 beta, seeded to developers in April, will reportedly have different options and tabs geared towards Apple’s streaming music service by time the software version reaches the public. Meanwhile, the all-new version of iTunes Radio will reportedly offer unlimited skipping as a paid option, and become available in additional countries beyond the United States and Australia.
“The beta version of iOS 8.4 in the hands of developers is only a taste of the new design, according to sources, and the different options and tabs across the application will be tweaked to better feature streaming music over music stored offline. Sources said earlier this year that the new Beats-based application will include porting of existing Beats accounts, curated playlists, and the ability to save tracks for offline listening. While Apple initially hoped to charge $8/month for the service, roadblocks from the record labels have reportedly pushed the price back to the existing $10/month.”
The report also reveals a few details about iOS 9 “Monarch,” also expected to be announced at WWDC in June. The next major version of the iPhone and iPad operating system is said to have a redesigned Siri interface that resembles the colorful design of Siri on Apple Watch, and will also contain several security improvements and bug fixes.
Home Depot to Begin Supporting Apple Pay Following Retail System Upgrade
Home Depot plans to officially support Apple Pay in its home improvement stores following a retail system upgrade, reports Bloomberg. Though there’s no timeline on when Apple Pay support will be introduced in Home Depot stores, a spokesperson said the payment service would be available after a revamp to the company’s point-of-sale machines.
News of Home Depot’s plans to support Apple Pay come following earlier reports suggesting the retailer was shutting off Apple Pay access in its stores. Home Depot has NFC-based terminals in its stores allowing for unofficial use of Apple Pay, but as of this morning, a customer discovered he could no longer use Apple Pay at Home Depot.
Contacting customer support resulted in a message stating that while Apple Pay was not supported in Home Depot stores, PayPal was, hinting that Home Depot may be choosing to promote PayPal over Apple Pay, but as it turns out, that’s not the case. According to Bloomberg, Home Depot’s NFC checkout terminals have been disabled as the company works on upgrading its point-of-sale system.
Many Home Depot stores continue to support checkout through Apple Pay using NFC payment terminals at this time, but access may be shut off in the coming weeks until Apple Pay officially launches at the retail chain. Home Depot will likely support Apple Pay both in its retail stores and through its iOS app.
With 2,000 stores across the United States, Home Depot will be the largest retailer to offer Apple Pay.
OpenTV Files Lawsuit Against Apple Over Allegations iTunes Violates Five Patents [Mac Blog]
Software maker OpenTV has filed a patent lawsuit against Apple based on accusations that several of the company’s products and services, including iTunes, infringe upon five of its patents related to streaming digital video. The civil suit was filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court, and OpenTV is seeking undiclosed compensation for the alleged patent infringement, according to Re/code.
“OpenTV alleges that Apple’s iTunes software for downloading or streaming rented movies violates its patents for securely delivering media to consumer devices. The suit claims that other companies, including Apple rival Google, Cisco Systems and Disney, have licensed its technology.”
In late February, a Tyler, Texas district court ordered Apple to pay $532.9 million to patent licensing firm Smartflash LLC in a separate iTunes-related lawsuit for infringing upon the Texas-based company’s patents related to digital rights management, data storage and managing access through payment systems. Apple argued that Smartflash was exploiting the patent system and vowed to appeal the decision.
OpenTV was an early provider of interactive TV software used in millions of TV set-top boxes, according to the report, and the wholly owned subsidiary of The Kudelski Group now creates software for on-demand video services and digital video recorders. OpenTV’s patents belong to a portfolio of more than 4,400 pending and issued patents related to the secure delivery of media.
Sphero Takes Ollie to the Darkside this Month
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Sphero make some amazing tiny robotic toys, and they’ve even been involved in creating robots for the Star Wars movies. Maybe that’s what spurred them to create the new Darkside Ollie edition released this month. If you don’t know what the Ollie is, it’s a small, rugged, robotic toy with tracks at either side that you control with your smartphone. It’s one rugged little beast that pulls off all kinds of neat tricks Evel Knievel would be proud of.
The new version is an all black design that’s going to cost you a little more than the regular Ollie’s. You’re not just getting a new color scheme for your extra dosh, the Darkside Ollie comes with Prime Hubs, Flux Hubs and Turbo Tires to give you even more off-roading capabilities.
What’s in the box?
- Darkside Ollie
- 2 Nubby Tires
- 2 Turbo Tires
- 2 Prime Hubs
- 2 Flux Hubs
- USB charging cable
- Quick Start guide
- Free apps available on the App Store and Google Play
The Darkside Ollie is available this month from your favorite stores and of course from the Sphero store for $149.
Dig around a little more on the Sphero store and you’ll find all sorts of accessories and replacement parts for the entire Ollie range, including ramps, different colored tires and whole lot more. It must be someones birthday soon! why not get em a little Ollie 
The post Sphero Takes Ollie to the Darkside this Month appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
No-contract Samsung Galaxy Rush, $29.99
Mother’s day is coming up and maybe Mom needs a capable smartphone but won’t use even half of the features you’d typically fork over hundreds of dollars for. Perhaps this Summer marks another school year completed for your little one and a milestone in their young lives in which they’ll receive their first device. With that in mind, $29.99 for a no-contract Samsung Galaxy Rush is a great deal.
This certified pre-owned solution from Boost Mobile puts the power of the Jelly Bean OS build in your palm for less than the cost of a take-out dinner. Not powerful enough? Take a look at these other prepaid phones.
See more at deals.androidguys.com
The post No-contract Samsung Galaxy Rush, $29.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Best Android Watches
A number of new Android Wear watches have been hitting the market lately, which means it might be difficult to tell which one is right for you. So, to help you make that decision, we’ve rounded up the best Android Wear smartwatches you can buy.
Here’s what you need to know about the best Android Wear watches available right now.
Editor’s note – this post will be updated periodically, as new devices hit the market.
LG Watch Urbane
The LG Watch Urbane is just now making its way into the hands of consumers. Available now from the Google Store for $349, this new Android Wear-powered device brings a classy look to the wearable market. It features just about the exact same internal specifications as LG’s G Watch R, though it sports a more premium aesthetic that’s hard to pass up if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch.
While our full review is in the works, take a look at our hands-on and first impressions video below for more information on the device.
Specs
- Display: 1.3-inch POLED 320 x 320 pixels
- Processor: 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 410mAh
- Water protection: IP67
- Weight and size: 45.5 x 52.2 x 10.9mm
Read more
Huawei Watch
Huawei recently launched its first Android Wear device at MWC 2015 a few months ago, and it’s already made a huge splash in the wearable community. Featuring a beautiful sapphire crystal circular display, the Huawei Watch definitely gives the LG Watch Urbane a run for its money on the aesthetic side.
We’ve gone hands-on with the device, and you can check out our first impressions below. Huawei has yet to announce pricing and availability details for the Watch, but as of right now, this is shaping up to be one of the more sought-after wearables of 2015.
Specs
- Display: 1.4-inch sapphire crystal AMOLED 400 x 400 pixels
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 300mAh
Read more
- Huawei Watch first look
- Huawei Watch officially launched
- Huawei Watch price unveiled by several different online retailers
Motorola Moto 360
It’s hip, it’s stylish, and it’s customizable. The Moto 360 was one of the first Android Wear smartwatches announced, and, while it took Motorola more than half a year to release it, the sleek circular device has been well received. Featuring a large circular screen (albeit with the infamous “flat tire” cutout at the bottom), a sleek brushed metal build, and several replaceable bands, the Moto 360 will look good in just about any occasion.
On the inside, the processor is older than the competitors’, while the battery is on the small side – still, the Moto 360 will last a day of usage for all but the most active users, and you get wireless charging. With a variety of cool watchfaces taking advantage of the round screen and more launching constantly, the Moto 360 is a great choice if style is your biggest priority.
Specs
- Display: 1.56-in IPS LCD 320 x 290 pixels
- Processor: Texas Instruments OMAP 3
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 320 mAh
- Water protection: IP67
- Weight and size: 49g, 46mm diameter
Read more
- My first 30 days with the Moto 360
- Moto 360 review: probably the best Android Wear smartwatch yet
- Moto 360 unboxing and initial setup
LG G Watch R
The other circular smartwatch on our list is the G Watch R, and, as LG likes to point out, there’s no cutout here. The full circle screen is beautiful, and everything will look nicer on it thanks to the 245 ppi (higher than the Moto 360’s). While the Moto 360 has a minimalist flair, the G Watch R will appeal more to fans of sport watches, with its beveled engraved ring and aggressively sculpted body.
The G Watch R impresses through its large battery and the Snapdragon processor inside ensures steady performance. The device ships with a nice leather strap, but if you don’t like it, you can easily swap it with any standard 22 mm strap.
Specs
- Display: 1.3-in P-OLED 320 x 320 pixels
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 410 mAh
- Water protection: IP67
- Weight and size: 62g, 46.4 x 53.6 x 9.7 mm
Read more
Asus ZenWatch
Asus’ ZenWatch has been one of the nicest surprises in the Android Wear ecosystem so far, thanks to its good specs and stylish design, proving you can make a rectangular smartwatch that doesn’t look geeky. With a smoothly rounded two-tone metallic body and a standard-sized stitched leather strap, the ZenWatch looks sophisticated and timeless.
There aren’t any bells and whistles on the hardware side, but Asus makes it up with the software stack, including some nice watch faces and several interesting Asus features (available through an app) like the ability to double tap the screen to launch a feature. All and all, if you don’t want a round watch, but still want style, this looks like your best option.
Specs
- Display: 1.63-in OLED 320 x 320 pixels
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 370 mAh
- Water protection: IP55
- Weight and size: 75g, 51 x 39.9 x 7.6 ~ 9.4 mm
Read more
Sony SmartWatch 3
Runners, hikers, and cyclists, stop looking, this is the Android Wear watch you need. Sony used its own OS for the previous generations, but embraced Android for SmartWatch 3, and we couldn’t be happier. The Sony SmartWatch 3 stands out through its onboard GPS module, which lets you track your activities without needing a smartphone that weighs you down. Just as easily, you can connect a pair of Bluetooth sports headphones and enjoy your music straight from the watch.
Available in black, white, pink, and lime, SmartWatch 3 looks as sporty as it acts. The rubber strap is non-standard, but at least you can swap it in a few seconds without any tools. The watch is IP68 water resistant and the screen is transflective LCD, which means you can read it more easily in the sun. All in all, a great choice for active use.
Specs
- Display: 1.6-in Transflective LCD 320 x 320 pixels
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Battery: 420 mAh
- Water protection: IP68
- GPS, NFC, IR
- Weight: 45g (core unit)
Read more
There you go – our look at the best Android smartwatches available right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments.
AIVAnet 