Apple Obsoletes Select Early 2008 to Late 2009 Macs
Apple has updated its vintage and obsolete products list with various older products that have not been manufactured for at least five years, including select Macs manufactured between early 2008 and late 2009, the second-generation Time Capsule and the 32GB original iPod touch.
Apple products on the vintage and obsolete list are no longer eligible for hardware service, with a few exceptions. Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five and less than seven years ago, while obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than seven years ago.
Only the new additions are reflected below.
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)
iMac (27-inch, Late 2009)
MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd generation)
Macintosh products obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America
Apple Cinema Display (23-inch, DVI, Early 2007)
Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
Time Capsule 802.11n (1st generation)
iPod products obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America
iPod touch with Jan SW UPG 32GB
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Stratos’ universal credit card lives on with a new owner
Like a certain Monty Python Black Knight, the all-in-one credit card company Stratos is still clinging to life. Yesterday we heard that it was going out of business after only six months, but now TechCrunch reports that it was sold at the last minute to Ciright One, which is developing a smart credit card of its own. Ciright will now manage Stratos sales and management of its existing service, but it’s unclear how long that will last. After all, it doesn’t make sense for it to have two universal credit card products. Most likely, one of those cards will eventually shut down, but Ciright will still be equipped with Stratos’ technology and design work. It looks like the all-in-one credit card battle is now between Ciright and Coin.
Source: TechCrunch
Unofficial Apple museum shows decades worth of gear
Apple isn’t about to open a museum any time soon, but that isn’t stopping fans from making one of their own. Prague’s newly opened Apple Museum showcases what’s billed as the “biggest” private collection of Apple gear, ranging from some of the earliest systems to models you can find in stores today. The collection includes some relatively hard-to-find items, too, including the Lisa, the Twentieth Anniversary Mac and a Beatles Collector’s Box (complete with iPod and rip-it-yourself CD library). The tributes to the company are over the top at times — expect to see a lot of Steve Jobs quotes — but it might be worth the trip if you’re in town and have a penchant for Apple gear.
[Image credit: Apple Museum, Imgur]
Source: Apple Museum, Imgur
What to binge-watch over the holidays
If you’ve been struggling to keep up with the mammoth amount of television these days, 2015 didn’t do you any favors. We saw more original series than ever from Netflix (most of which are definitely worth a watch), as well as a slew of great shows from established networks. Some call this the era of peak television — we just like to think of it as the age of binge watching.
All of our recommendations from last year still stand, though some might now be available on different streaming platforms. We’ve also tried to focus on shows readily available on services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, but in some cases you’ll actually have to (gasp!) buy individual bits of content. Now onto the selection:
A Very Murray Christmas
While this special seems like a Netflix gimmick to cash in on Bill Murray’s celebrity, it’s actually something much more. Murray plays himself, dreading an upcoming Christmas show that’s taking place amid a terrible blizzard in New York City. With no guests to be seen, he ends up making the best of the situation with the other unfortunate souls stuck in his hotel. It’s simply charming and sweet, with a hint of melancholy. We already see ourselves revisiting it over the next few years.
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch if you like: Bill Murray, A Charlie Brown Christmas
Fargo
No, it doesn’t really make sense to remake the Coen brother’s seminal slow-burn crime film as a TV series. But it turns out, that’s not what the show’s creator, Noah Hawley, has in mind at all. Fargo’s first season shares some basic story details with the 1996 film, but it veers off into completely different territory as it remixes other elements from the Coen’s backlog. If you liked No Country for Old Men’s unstoppable villain Anton Chigur, you’ll love Billy Bob Thornton in this.
Fargo’s first season was a breath of fresh air. But its second season is even better, with a stronger cast (including Friday Night Lights’ Jesse Plemons, Patrick Wilson and Kirsten Dunst), and a story that does a surprisingly great job of exploring family and gender roles (with habit of weirdness thrown in). Also, there are shootouts. Lots of them.
Where to watch: Hulu (season 1); iTunes/Amazon (Season 2); FX
Watch if you like: Justified, Westerns, and the Coen’s crime films
The Leftovers
Give Damon Lindelof a break already. We get it, you were disappointed with how Lost turned out. And you probably blame him for some of the issues with the new Star Trek films. But it’s time to move on — which, fittingly enough, is one of the major themes in The Leftovers. The first season introduced us to a world where a small portion of the world’s population simply disappeared, in a Rapture-like event. But instead of trying to figure that mystery out, we followed how it affects people in a small town. Families are torn apart. Cults are formed. The nature of reality is questioned.
It’s definitely a tough show to watch, but it’s the sort of cathartic experience that makes you reassess what’s important in life. The first season takes a while to get going, but it’s worth watching for several incredible standalone episodes, as well as a strong second half. With the second season, Lindelof and his writers have crafted one of the most poignant and unpredictable television experiences ever. Consider him redeemed.
Where to watch: HBO Now/Go
Watch if you like: The X-Files, Lost, Twin Peaks
The Great British Baking Show
Rebadged for American audiences (it’s called The Great British Bakeoff elsewhere), this is a cooking competition show that’s as comforting as drinking hot chocolate while curled up under a blanket on a winter morning. What makes the show truly different is its lavish production (everyone is baking in a countryside tent), sugary sweet tone and creative challenges.
Where to watch: Netflix, PBS
Watch if you like: Chopped, Top Chef
Master of None
Aziz Ansari’s Netflix series is indeed hilarious, yet it’s also a wonderfully real portrayal of thirty-something life and relationships today. It follows his dating life as a young actor in New York City, but it also touches on his relationship with his immigrant parents, and the surprising trend of Hollywood “brown facing” white actors to play South Asians. Ansari has crafted something truly unique in the guise of yet another show portraying NYC as a magical wonderland for affluent, disaffected young people.
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch if you like: Parks and Recreation, Girls, Aziz Ansari
Review
“Life. It’s literally all we have. But is it any good?” So begins every episode of Comedy Central’s Review. If you’re reading this site, you’re probably familiar with the idea of reviewing products. But Review, instead, aims to put a score on actual life experiences. And for host Forrest MacNeil (played by comedian Andy Daly), that includes things like stealing, road rage and even divorce.
As you can imagine, these situations don’t usually end up too well for him. Review starts off pretty straightforward, but it quickly reveals itself to be a dark comedy that revels in pushing Forrest to the brink. The extent to which he destroys his life for a dumb TV show is admirable. And hilarious. (Also, it’s strangely reminiscent of the lives of gadget reviewers.)
Where to watch: Comedy Central, Hulu
Watch if you like: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The League, Arrested Development
Rectify
How do you piece together a normal life after spending 19 years on death row? Is it even possible? And how does coming home affect your family? Rectify isn’t your typical TV drama. It’s full of quiet whispers and methodical self-reflection. There are few soapy plot twists or big action scenes. The result is an achingly beautiful story that doesn’t feel like anything else on television.
Where to watch: Netflix (Seasons 1-2); iTunes, Amazon
Watch if you like: Enlightened, The Wire
Rick and Morty
If you haven’t caught on to the mad brilliance of Rick and Morty yet, now’s the perfect time. It’s pretty much like Doctor Who or Back to the Future on acid, starring a nebbish teenager and his alcoholic mad scientist grandfather. Hopping between dimensions has never been so hilarious. You can watch the entire first season on Hulu now, but it’s the second season where it really matured into something surprisingly meaningful amidst the insanity. It’s worth the iTunes blind buy, trust me.
Where to watch: Hulu; iTunes/Amazon (Season 2)
Watch if you like: Futurama, Doctor Who, The Simpsons
Better Call Saul
The minds behind Breaking Bad give us a closer look at how that show’s criminal lawyer Saul Goodman got his start — and the results are surprisingly entertaining. We follow his progression from a small-time lawyer named Jimmy McGill who’s simply attempting to do good, to someone pushed towards more extraordinary measures. We expected it to be funny, but we didn’t expect the show to end up being one of the best dramas of the year.
Where to watch: AMC; For purchase on iTunes, Amazon
Watch if you like: Breaking Bad, Justify
Mr. Robot
Finally, a show that at least tries to get hacking right. Mr. Robot takes the vibe of Fight Club and pairs it with a disaffected techie who gets wrapped up in a scheme to take down the global financial system. It’s surprisingly stylish for a USA show, and while it can be a bit campy at times, there’s enough memorable material to make it worth a watch. Rami Malek is the real star, but it’s also a great reminder of why Christian Slater can be pretty darn great.
Where to watch: Hulu, USA
Watch if you like: Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, technology in general
Casual
This show’s about another sort of modern family: A thirty-something guy and his divorced sister, along with her teenage daughter, all living in the same house. Yes, it’s another show about relationship issues, but it’s a unique spin on that formula, with different generations going through their own problems.
Where to watch: Hulu
Watch if you like: Juno, Young Adult
One-Punch Man
The problem with ultimate power? Life can get pretty boring. That’s the dilemma facing Saitama, an amateur superhero who’s trained so hard he can defeat anything with a single punch. In his quest to find a suitable opponent, he ends up joining an organization of heroes who fight off the monsters/kaiju/aliens that plague his city. It’s a fun, action-packed series on its own, but it’s particularly hilarious if you catch the many anime tropes it’s making fun of.
Where to watch: Hulu
Watch if you like: Dragonball Z, Bleach, Naruto
Steven Universe
The story of a young boy who joins a trio of aliens to fight monsters and save his town/planet (as one does), Steven Universe deftly evolves into a show about childhood, friendship and being a decent human being. It pulls plenty of influence from anime, especially classic shows like Revolutionary Girl Utena with a hint of Sailor Moon, but it also delves into entirely new territory for kids television. Also, the music is simply fantastic.
Where to watch: Hulu, Cartoon Network
Watch if you like: Anime, Dragonball (before Z), joy
Honorable mentions
Here are a few other choice selections from the Engadget staff:
- Fireplace for Your Home (Netflix): It wouldn’t be the holidays without this.
- The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Prime): This Philip K. Dick adaptation explores a world where Germany and Japan won World War II.
- Catastrophe (Amazon Prime): A sweet-yet-vulgar look at a modern relationship.
- The Affair (Showtime)
- Penny Dreadful (Showtime): One of the most sumptuous shows on television, it’s a must for fans of classic monsters.
- Bojack Horseman (Netflix): The second season of this Netflix animated series matures into something truly great.
- Bob’s Burgers (Fox, Hulu, Netflix): This show takes over the mantle of the best animated family series from The Simpsons.
- Longmire (Netflix): If you’re a fan of Westerns, you need to be watching this.
Apple unsettled by the UK’s draft surveillance bill
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s position on encryption is pretty clear: it’s important and shouldn’t be weakened with so-called “backdoors” that would give governments open access to communications. Now, the company has emphasised its stance yet again in a written response to the UK’s draft Investigatory Powers Bill, a new piece of legislation that seeks to collate, clarify and extend the surveillance capabilities from previous laws.
According to The Guardian, Apple’s submission to the Joint Select Committee, which is currently evaluating the draft bill, reads:
“We believe it would be wrong to weaken security for hundreds of millions of law-abiding customers so that it will also be weaker for the very few who pose a threat. In this rapidly evolving cyber-threat environment, companies should remain free to implement strong encryption to protect customers.”
But it’s unclear exactly how the Investigatory Powers Bill would affect encryption. In the opening section of the draft legislation, published in November, the UK’s Home Office says there will be no “additional requirements in relation to encryption” above what is already set out in RIPA, the UK’s primary piece of surveillance legislation. That law requires companies, when served with a notice tied to an interception warrant, to hand over customer data in a readable, preferably decrypted format. That’s reliant on the company actually having that capability, which Apple doesn’t — at least not for iMessage, which uses end-to-end encryption.
In its submission, Apple is said to have highlighted a passage in the draft bill that would, it believes, give the UK government the power to forcibly alter iMessage. This, it argues, would break encryption and finally allow agencies like GCHQ to access private communications. Apple’s concerns could be referencing the “technical capability notice” that’s mentioned in the new draft bill. Such a request could include “the removal of electronic protection applied by a relevant operator to any communications or data.” The full extent of that wording remains unclear, however. Would it stop companies from offering end-to-end encryption in the first place? Or would it mean, like now, that it’s only valid if the company in question has the ability to remove such protections?
Apple seems concerned that it would lead to required “backdoors.” Its submission reportedly reads: “The creation of backdoors and intercept capabilities would weaken the protections built into Apple products and endanger all our customers. A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too.”
These comments echo what Tim Cook has said in recent interviews with the Telegraph and the CBS TV program 60 Minutes.
The Guardian says Apple has also slammed the government’s proposals which make clear, for the first time, the powers that UK law enforcement agencies have to hack phones and computers. The draft bill includes “a new obligation” to “assist in giving effect to equipment interference warrants.” Again, the full extent of this power is unclear, but it could mean that the government would be able to force a company like Apple to tinker with its hardware or software. It reportedly told the Committee:
“It would place businesses like Apple – whose relationship with customers is in part built on a sense of trust about how data will be handled – in a very difficult position.”
The company’s full, eight-page report should eventually be published by the Joint Select Committee, giving us a better understanding of its complaints and how they relate to specific passages in the bill. The BBC says Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Twitter have filed responses too, most likely with some similar concerns. They’ll add to the chorus of companies that are questioning not just the feasibility of the bill’s proposals, but the wording and how each policy would work in practice.
Source: The Guardian, The BBC
The best-selling unlocked Android phones from Best Buy (December 22)
Motorola’s 2nd-Gen Moto G is at the head of the pack
Purchasing a new smartphone can be quite the expensive endeavor. Moreover, it can also be a bit of a headache as you try to consider which phone, which carrier, and which rate plan is right. We’re here to help you with at least one of those segments: the phone.
Why unlocked?
The benefit of an unlocked smartphone, for those who aren’t aware, is that it can be used on a variety of wireless service providers. Moreover, going this route ensures you don’t have to worry about contracts or long-term obligations. Want to hop from T-Mobile to AT&T or vice-versa? That’s no problem when you’re using an unlocked GSM phone.
We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android devices from Best Buy so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available.
So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the long run.
- Motoroloa Moto G 2nd Generation 8GB – $99.99
- Sony Xperia C4 16GB- $249.99
- Blu Advance 4 4GB – $49.99
- Motorola Moto G 3rd Generation 8GB – $179.99
- Samsung Galaxy S6 32GB – $449.99
- Huawei P8 Lite 16GB- $219.99
- BLU Life X8 8GB – $129.99
- BLU Studio X 8GB- $124.99
- Motorola Moto X Pure 16GB – $399.99
- Google Nexus 5X 16GB- $379.99
The post The best-selling unlocked Android phones from Best Buy (December 22) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[Deal] Pay what you want for the VPN Lifetime Subscription Bundle
When it comes to keeping our information private, there are folks out there who will pull out all the stops. Whether it’s creating fake emails, or fake accounts to keep their email out of the hands of spammers, or signing up for a VPN to keep your browsing history out of the wrong hands. Today’s deal aims to provide great options for both of those solutions.
The first deal in today’s bundle is for a greaVirtual Private Network (VPN) service option through AnonVPN. AnonVPN is one of the most trusted VPN services on the market. What sets this VPN service apart from the rest is that it’s a “zero log VPN”. This means that the service does not keep any of your personal information on any of their servers. This is something that is forgotten when signing up for services., because if you’re trying to keep all your information out of cyberspace, there are still some pieces that end up on the VPN server itself.
- Enjoy fully secure Internet at full speeds
- Bypass geological restrictions & censorship to stream anything, anywhere
- Utilize multiple server locations in the US, London, Amsterdam & Singapore
- Access your chat, email client & web apps securely on public Wi-Fi networks
- Get peace of mind that none of your personal info is stored on AnonVPN’s servers
- Enjoy the Zero Log policy
The next deal in today’s bundle is one that will help keep those spam emails out of your personal and private inbox(es). The Lifetime Subscription to Nonkly Disposal Email will alleviate any spam from finding its way into your inbox due to the fact that you can create, and monitor, fake email addresses. This is beneficial when signing up for new services and you don’t want that wave of emails flying in and cluttering up your already cluttered inbox.
- Protect your private email address from spam
- Prevent incoming & future spam
- Sign up for new services without getting overwhelmed w/ emails
- Generate completely new email addresses for every unique online interaction
- Reply to sites like Craigslist, while keeping your personal email private
- Get lifetime access & unlimited email addresses
Now the fun part. If purchased separately, you would be spending upwards close to $300. Instead, today’s deal is a “Pay What You Want” kind of thing. We’ve had a few of these in the past and they seem to be the best bang for your buck. Simply “Beat the Average Price” and you’ll unlock all of the goodies and get some great services for incredible prices.
At the time of this writing, the average price for the bundle is only $16.28. So if you beat the average price, you’ll get the lifetime subscriptions for both AnonVPN and Nonkly Disposal Email. So if you look at the regular prices for both of those, you’ll be saving 95% on both services. Now, when you do beat the average price, you’ll also get a year of AnonVPN thrown in for free. That’s a savings of $69.99, and you can either use it for yourself, or gift it to one of your friends or family members who is in the market for a reliable VPN service.
Drop us a line and let us know if these kind of deals pique your interest, and if you decided to treat yo’self to this great deal from AndroidGuys and StackCommerce.
You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!
AndroidGuys Deals: Pay What You Want: VPN Lifetime Subscription Bundle
The post [Deal] Pay what you want for the VPN Lifetime Subscription Bundle appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[Deal] Unlocked 32GB Galaxy S6 only $399 on eBay
The Samsung Galaxy S6–an unlocked 32GB variant–has been discounted to just $399 on eBay, down from it’s standard MSRP of $699.
Samsung has launched a handful of premium smartphones since the Galaxy S6’s launch, making the handset feel old and outdated. However, with its gorgeous 5.1-inch display and powerful Exynos 7420 processor, it’s still one of the top devices on the market.
At $399, buying the Galaxy S6 off-contract is well worth the price. Unfortunately, it won’t work on Sprint or Verizon, but will run like a champ on AT&T and T-Mobile LTE networks.
There’s a limited quantity available, so those wanting to snag this handset on a deal will need to act fast!
[eBay]
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Unlocked 32GB Galaxy S6 only $399 on eBay
OnePlus X in Champagne available to buy without an invite in some countries today
OnePlus revealed last week that the OnePlus X would be available to purchase invite-free every Tuesday, but this Tuesday is particularly special, as the company is now opening up orders for the Champagne-colored model.
Open sales for the device might not be open just yet, as OnePlus is selling it invite-free in local times. With that in mind, sales will open in Hong Kong, Europe, and North America at 4pm in their respective time zones.
Unfortunately, the Onyx version will continue to be the only variant available in North America, with the Champagne model expected to hit shores at some point in January.
The OnePlus X sports a 5-inch Full HD display, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, a 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 2,525mAh battery, all for just $249.
Consumers are able to buy the OnePlus X exclusively through OnePlus’ online store.
source: OnePlus
Come comment on this article: OnePlus X in Champagne available to buy without an invite in some countries today
SwiftKey is offering discounts on select theme packs for a limited time
SwiftKey, the popular third-party keyboard app, is offering a handful of discounts on many of its theme packs for the holidays.
The company is giving away the “Holiday Presents” theme pack for free, which comes with five festive themes, such as Hazy Winters, Ninja Pro, and Gift Wrap: Gold themes. It also has the Winter Night and Frosted Winter Night themes bundled with it.
SwiftKey is also selling the “Everything Megapack” bundle, containing an arsenal of 77 keyboard themes, for 70% off. This brings the price down to just $8.99, giving you access to every theme pack currently available on the SwiftKey Themes store.
Buying this pack unfortunately isn’t likely to include any future themes added, but it still offers great value considering that it normally runs for $29.99.
SwiftKey recently began publicly testing a new initiative called SwiftKey Symbols, which aims to help those with speaking disabilities communicate through images.
If you haven’t sprinkled festive cheer all over your keyboard yet, SwiftKey is available to download from the Play Store for free.
Come comment on this article: SwiftKey is offering discounts on select theme packs for a limited time
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