OS X 10.11 Could Feature Control Center, ‘Rootless’ Security and More, iOS 9 to Support A5-Based Devices
While OS X Yosemite introduced several new high-profile features, such as Handoff, iCloud Drive and Instant Hotspot, the focus of OS X 10.11 will be on improved stability and performance, new security features and system-wide interface tweaks, according to a lengthy report by 9to5Mac.
OS X 10.11 is still expected to gain a handful of noteworthy features, including a systemwide change to Apple Watch font San Francisco and a new Control Center menu similar to iPhone and iPad. Control Center was originally found in early betas of OS X Yosemite, but was not included in the final release.
“Control Center moves many of the controls from the Mac’s Menu Bar to a pane that slides out from the left side of the Mac’s display, adding on-screen music controls and other iOS-influenced features,” the report claims. “However, Control Center reportedly has been in flux during development, and could be pushed back again.”
A possible first look at Control Center for Mac on OS X from 2014
Apple is also reportedly working on a major new kernel-level security system called “Rootless” for OS X and iOS that will help curb malware and protect sensitive data by prohibiting users from accessing certain protected files on Mac and iOS devices. “Rootless” appears to be a permanent feature of iOS, much to the chagrin of the jailbreaking community, but can likely be disabled on OS X.
Apple plans to enhance security one step further by converting many of its core IMAP-based applications on OS X and iOS, such as Notes, Reminders, and Calendar, to have an iCloud Drive backend. Apple expects there to be increased iCloud usage after the transition, so the company is reportedly upgrading its iCloud Drive and CloudKit servers to handle the additional load.
“With iOS 9 and OS X 10.11, Apple plans to transition this sync process to iCloud Drive, which offers better end-to-end encryption and faster syncing than traditional IMAP servers. As an example of how this will work, when a user launches Notes in either of the new Apple operating systems, a splash page offering to move content from the IMAP server over to iCloud Drive will appear, making the transition easy for users.”
The company is also testing a new “Trusted Wi-Fi” feature that would enable Macs and iOS devices to connect to trusted wireless routers with no additional security measures, while non-trusted routers would have a heavily encrypted wireless connection. Apple could release the feature later this year or hold off until next year’s OS X and iOS releases, according to the report.
iOS 9 will reportedly support A5-based devices such as the iPhone 4s and iPad mini
Apple is also said to be optimizing iOS 9 to better support older hardware, with the report claiming that even legacy A5-based devices including the iPhone 4s and original iPad mini will be compatible with the upcoming software update. The three-year-old iPad Air 2 and fifth-generation iPod touch, released in March 2012 and October 2012 respectively, are also powered by Apple A5 chips.
“Apple is now building a core version of iOS 9 that runs efficiently on older A5 devices, then enabling each properly performing feature one-by-one. Thanks to this new approach, an entire generation (or two) of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches will be iOS 9-compatible rather than reaching the end of the iOS line.”
Last, Apple is said to be preparing a major upgrade to its Swift programming language with “Application Binary Interface (ABI)” stability. Swift applications updated for iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 will have preinstalled code binaries that require less space and use less cellular data. The report claims that Apple plans to convert its own apps to Swift in 2016 as part of iOS 10 and OS X 10.12.
Samsung’s new wireless headphones are a worthy contender
Last summer, I spent some time getting to know the first four entries in Samsung’s “Level” audio line. There’s a new item this year, though: a wireless version of the original Level On headphones. In case you missed the first roundup, this model is an on-ear option, and it ended up being my favorite of the bunch. But with the bulk of the features being the same, is the extra $80 worth it to go wireless?
In terms of aesthetics, the Level On and Level On Wireless are identical. The only way to tell the difference — save for the expanded color options — is the “Level” branding on the outside of the wireless model’s earcups. Aside from that, you’re looking at the same plastic construction and metallic accents. Speaking of colors, this new model comes in red, blue, white and sapphire — the last of which is the one I’ve been testing. Unlike on the original, the earpads and headband match the rest of the unit. On the older wired model, Samsung went with a white and tan color scheme, a design that made the Level On look a bit more high end. The headphones also still fold up nicely for easy storage in a backpack pocket. That may be table stakes for audio gear these days, but the ability to fold up a set is still much appreciated.
As you might expect, the addition of Bluetooth connectivity means a few extra buttons as well as a charging port. The two sliders that power on the headphones and toggle the active noise cancellation are on the edge of the right earcup. In particular, they’re toward the back, which makes them easily accessible with your thumb. Honestly, it’s kind of the perfect location for those. Touch controls reside on the outside of the right earcup for controlling volume, skipping tracks and pausing songs. The touchpad works quite well, though in practice I only used a vertical swipe to adjust the volume.
The charging port uses micro-USB for powering the wireless and sound-enhancing tech. There’s only a cord included for that task, though, so you’ll have to use your own plug or free up a port on your laptop to get the job done. Bluetooth pairing is a breeze, and after my recent issues with Sennheiser’s Momentum wireless headphones, I’m quite grateful for that.
I mentioned last time how comfortable the Level On is, and the wireless option thankfully carries the same degree of wearability. The headphones feel light and nice padding on the earcups keeps things comfy, even during longer listening sessions. The headband has nice flex to it, too, so unlike the Beats Solo2, you won’t have to worry about feeling like your head is being pinched. Extended listens are possible thanks to an internal battery that easily made it through a full work day. Samsung claims 11 hours of battery life with both Bluetooth and noise cancellation on. Indeed, in a typical 9-hour day, I didn’t get a single low battery warning. Most of the time I switched off the active noise cancellation while listening to podcasts, though, as it seemed unnecessary in the confines of my home office.
Let’s discuss sound quality, shall we? Like I said before, I thought the original Level On was the best-sounding of the original bunch, and I really like the sound of the wireless model, too. Everything is crisp and clear, and the headphones are tuned well by default. When testing cans, I usually run through a gamut of genres to properly put the accessory through its paces. Rock, metal, bluegrass and jazz all sound great, but when it comes to styles that demand a little more thumping bass, the Level On is lacking. There is a Level Audio app for making tweaks, and while it does offer some improvement, it doesn’t add enough kick for my liking. What can I say, I favor a solid dose of bass when it comes to hip hop, especially while listening to tracks like Ace Hood’s “Bugatti.” Just like the regular version, these can get painfully loud, too. I kept that level about halfway on my MacBook Air and it was plenty, but there’s a bit more gas in the tank for those who prefer to listen at a deafening volume.
Is the Level On Wireless worth the extra cash? If you haven’t already splurged for the wired model, go for it. To me, it’s a better option than the Beats Solo2 Wireless just for how comfortable it is. I kinda dig the sound of the newer Beats gear, but in this case, I’d rather not feel like my head is in a vice after 15 minutes or so. For folks who think Dr. Dre and co. pack in too much bass, you’ll probably like the sound here. Unfortunately, having to look elsewhere to tweak the EQ won’t entice me to give up my B&O H6s even though I still have to use a cord with them.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Samsung
Re/code: Apple wants local stations on its web TV service
Earlier this week, folks in the know claimed that Apple’s HDTV project had been junked after more than a decade of development. Now, however, Re/code is reporting that the company is still working on an online TV service for its devices, but wants to beat its rivals by being the first to offer live video from local broadcasters. Naturally, a push for regional content means having to deal with the hundreds of affiliates that operate across the country. So, instead of just shaking hands on a contract with ABC, Apple’s got to get lawyers out to every station from Arizona’s KNXV-TV to Wyoming’s WAOW.
As the report points out, it’s a feat that not even ABC has been able to achieve, since it only shows live local streaming video in selected cities. That increase in contractual complexity is also matched on the technical, since Apple is going to have to build some hefty infrastructure to support all of this live video. Naturally, this means that any announcement won’t take place this year, forcing the company to push back this entirely theoretical start date until 2016.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple
Source: Re/code
The best air purifier
This post was done in partnership with The Sweethome, a list of the best gear for your home. Read the full article at TheSweethome.com
It took 100 hours of research and testing conducted by an airborne particle physicist and former NOAA scientist using $100,000+ of equipment to find the best air purifier for most people: The $250 Coway AP-1512HH Mighty. It’s as effective at removing particulate contaminants (such as pollen, spores, smoke, and dust) as machines over twice its size and costing twice as much. But the best air purifier for you personally depends on your specific needs, which is why we have other recommendations.
What you should know before buying
Before you buy, know that effective air purifiers are expensive to both purchase and operate. And despite the prolific marketing to the contrary, scientific studies don’t support claims that they improve your health. But if you’ve tried everything to improve indoor air quality (closing windows, not smoking indoors, etc.) and still have health issues, it’s worth buying one to see if your symptoms improve before the return policy is up.
How we decided
All the purifiers we tested.
After comparing spec sheets and reviews of literally hundreds of air purifiers to pick out the ones that were true HEPA-certified machines (meaning they’re guaranteed to remove at least 99.97% of particles greater than 0.3), powerful enough to purify a standard-sized bedroom, and consulting the best existing sources of informationincluding Achoo Allergy, Allergy Buyers Club, Consumer Reports, and Air-Purifier-Powerwe handed nine finalists to airborne particle physicist John Holecek for testing.
Figure 1. Percent of particles remaining after 10 minutes of air purification. Lower values are better.
Holecek used testing instruments capable of detecting particles as small as 0.010 microns, which is 30-times more sensitive than civilian equipment and the 0.3 micron threshold tested for the HEPA standard. We also conducted a first of its kind odor control test using a VOC meter.
Our pick
The TSI Inc. 3080/3010 Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and 3321 Aerodynamic Particle Sizer were hooked up to my laptop.
The $250 Coway AP-1512HH Mighty earned our pick for overachieving in every regard. Despite being the smallest machine we tested, our results show that it was just as effective at purifying air as much large purifiers that sell for many times its price. That’s because its brushless motor lets it run at a higher fan setting while keeping noise levels at an acceptable level. It’s also the cheapest to own and run over five yearson its medium setting, it barely uses more electricity than an LED bulb and its $50 filter replacements are the cheapest around.
Figure 2. Percent of volatile organic compound remaining after 15 minutes of air purification. Lower values are better.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Unfortunately, the Coway isn’t effective at removing odors. But it’s not alone in that regard. Our testing showed that you have to spend hundreds of dollars more on a machine containing many pounds of chemical adsorbing material.
A step up for faster filtration
Our contaminants (from top clockwise) were matches, titanium dioxide, and an ISO dust sample.
If you have severe reactions to particle allergens, other health issues related to air quality, or you’re willing to pay a premium for a machine that can be extremely efficient while running quietly, we recommend our step up pick, the $660 BlueAir 503 with the $160 Smokestop filter package. It will cost over 5x as much as the Coway over a five-year operating period, but it’s the best at cleaning air as quickly as possible. Its 4.2 lbs of activated charcoal makes it reasonably effective at removing odors and chemicals. But if that’s your main concern, we have a different pick.
A step up for odors and chemicals
We used a venturi nozzle to disperse the particles.
If you live in a problematic environment with microscopic chemical pollutants (e.g. near a freeway, farm, or refinery), or are particularly sensitive to odors and/or other volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde, we recommend the Austin Air Healthmate Standard HM-400. It’s loud and large, but its 15 pounds of activated carbon bested all other air purifiers by a wide margin in odor removal tests. This is a big part of why FEMA and the Red Cross chose Austin Air units for deployment at Ground Zero and the surrounding areas in the aftermath of 9/11.
Wrapping it up
If you want to improve your indoor air quality by removing particle contamination, there’s no reason to spend more than the $250 it costs to get the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty. Our testing showed that it performs every bit as well as competitors costing many times its price.
This guide may have been updated. To see the current recommendation please go to TheSweethome.com
Filed under: Household
Sprint: LG G4 will be available June 5
Sprint announced on Friday that the LG G4 will be available online and in stores starting from June 5. The all-in retail price of the smartphone will be $599.99 however the carrier offers a number of purchase options.
Customers who opt for Easy Pay can spread the cost of the phone out over two years with 24 equal payments of $25 each. The two-year service agreement price shakes out to $199.99.
Sprint will also allow for leasing of the LG G4 at $0 with 24 payments of $18 per month. Should one go that route they will have the option to trade in the handset or buy out the remainder of the balance of the device.
Pre-orders of the LG G4 begin today; Sprint is dangling an incentive to entice customers. If you pre-order the phone you’ll also receive a second 3000mAh battery with charging cradle and a 32GB microSD card.
Sprint offers the Metallic Grey and Black Leather options of the LG G4.
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Project Fi invites should be sent to everyone by mid-summer
Chances are that you still have not received an invite to Project Fi. Relax, the wait will not be much longer. The Project Fi team sent emails out this morning to those interesting to give an update on when you and everyone else can expect their invite. The team is monitoring the service as it adds more users and, because of this, everyone should receive an invite by mid-summer.
Here is the email:
Hello!
Thanks for requesting an invite to Project Fi. We’re really excited that you’re interested in trying our service! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been happy to bring the first customers onto Project Fi and the initial feedback has been very positive.
We’re sending invites as quickly as we can, while ensuring a high-quality experience. Given the number of requests we’ve received, we currently estimate that it will take until mid-summer to get everyone.
In the coming weeks we’ll have a way for you to check the status of your invite – stay tuned for more information.
Thanks again for your interest in Project Fi. We’ll get to you an invite as soon as we can!
– The Project Fi team
So there you have it. Project Fi invites should be in the inbox of everyone by sometime in July.
Come comment on this article: Project Fi invites should be sent to everyone by mid-summer
SwiftKey releases its latest Greenhouse innovation
Last month, SwiftKey set up a brand new scheme entitled Greenhouse which it’s using as a platform to release experimental apps to the public for them to test and provide feedback on. Today’s the day the second application was introduced as part of the initiative, and it’s a shiny new Android launcher called Hexy.
Hexy, as the name suggests, has a hexagon feel. The launcher automatically organizes the apps on your homescreen into a canvas of hexagonal tiles with the most frequently used positioned in the middle to make up the central hexagon. According to SwiftKey, “Hexy saves you time when you’re searching for and launching apps. It learns from how you use apps to surface the app you’re most likely to want to use next”.
All of Hexy’s features can be seen below:
- All your apps arranged in a clean and color-coordinated hexagonal design.
- A central hexagon that contains your apps Hexy thinks are most relevant to you, based on your previous use of apps.
- The ability to quickly filter the apps in your grid using the search bar.
- Options to add widgets for your apps and size them dynamically.
If you’d like to find out more about Hexy and want to give it a go — hit the source link below.
Source: SwiftKey
Come comment on this article: SwiftKey releases its latest Greenhouse innovation
The LG G Pad F 8.0 will launch on AT&T next week
Earlier today, AT&T announced that starting Friday, May 29, LG’s latest tablet, the G Pad F 8.0, will be available to purchase from both its online and bricks-and-mortar stores with $0 down and $12.50 per month for 12-months on a Tablet Installment plan, or $149.99 with a new two-year agreement.
As for its specs, the G Pad F 8.0 packs an 8-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 4,200 mAh Lithium Ion battery.
If you like the sound of the G Pad F 8.0 and want to reserve one on AT&T, hit the source link below.
Source: AT&T
Come comment on this article: The LG G Pad F 8.0 will launch on AT&T next week
T-Mobile Nexus 6 now said to be getting the WiFi calling update
T-Mobile’s popular social media figure, Des on Twitter has subtly hinted that the WiFi calling update for the Nexus 6 could be rolling out starting today. His tweet said the following – “This is shaping up to be a very Happy Memorial day weekend… #Nexus6“
While he’s not making it obvious that the update is being sent out, the responses to the tweet mention that it is currently being sent out to the devices. Also the hashtag leaves nothing to the imagination.
We’re yet to see anything on the company’s site at the moment, but we’ll update you with more information as we have it. There shouldn’t be any other changes bundled with the update as the carrier is only enabling the WiFi calling feature.
So T-Mobile Nexus 6 users, are you seeing the update yet?
Source: @askdes – Twitter
Come comment on this article: T-Mobile Nexus 6 now said to be getting the WiFi calling update
Ending soon: 1TB Wi-Fi hard drive + 10TB cloud backup from iDrive
When my parents were young, they’d collect photographs in shoeboxes, albums, and scrapbooks. Now, all of my photos and videos are on a small MicroSD card tucked into the back of my phone. What if I were to lose that phone or, even more likely, that card? Sure, I can back the images up on my laptop’s internal hard drive — and I do — but there’s only so much space and who’s to say the laptop will even last? With this deal from iDrive, you’ll be able to benefit from the best of both worlds — physical and digital.
This deal includes a 1TB Wi-Fi hard drive with 256-bit AES encryption and is compatible across all platforms (Mac, PC, Android, etc) at rapid transfer rates. That means you’ll be able to back up your entire mobile device, wirelessly! If you do prefer a more tactile approach, it also comes with USB 3.0 capabilities for even faster transfer speeds. What’s even cooler is that this deal also includes a 1-year subscription to iDrive Pro Personal, a 10TB cloud storage solution. With that much space — both physical and digital — we’re potentially talking about a lifetime of photo, video, and file storage. Even better yet is that you can grab this bundle, normally priced at $475, for just $97.
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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