Skylake Mac Notebooks May See Staggered Launch in 2016, Led by MacBook and 13″ MacBook Pro
Apple is expected to refresh its MacBook lineup in 2016 with Intel’s faster Skylake processors and Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C, and supply chain sources now indicate the updated notebooks may see a staggered launch throughout the year.
The company’s manufacturing partners are expected to start producing new 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro models around late March or early April, followed by 15-inch MacBook Pro models in the third quarter, according to the sometimes-reliable Taiwanese website DigiTimes.
If accurate, new 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro models could debut at Apple’s rumored March media event, alongside the new 4-inch iPhone, iPad Air 3, and Apple Watch updates, or at WWDC, likely scheduled for mid-June. Smaller updates could also be announced at any time via press release.
The larger 15-inch MacBook Pro may not be launched until after WWDC, however, as the third quarter translates to between July and September. While that seems questionable, Apple may elect to announce a new 15-inch MacBook Pro at WWDC and begin shipping the notebook later in the year.
Last year, Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March, but its 15-inch sibling was not updated until May. For this reason, the 13-inch model is classified as Early 2015, and the 15-inch model is Mid 2015. Both notebooks received Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics.
The Early 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro is based on Intel’s newer Broadwell chip architecture, while the 15-inch model still has older Haswell architecture. Since then, Intel has announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 13-inch MacBook Pro in September and 15-inch MacBook Pro earlier this week.
Given that Skylake chips have been announced for both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro, there does not appear to be any reason for Apple to stagger the release of its notebooks this year. But, perhaps in line with its 2015 release cycle, Apple may plan to give the current 15-inch MacBook Pro a longer shelf life before replacing it.
Intel also announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Airs throughout 2015, so it is likely we will see Mac updates across the board over the coming months. The report also claims a new iMac will be released in 2016, but an update is unlikely until later in the year.
Tags: digitimes.com, Skylake
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy), MacBook (Neutral)
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Skylake Mac Notebooks May See Staggered Launch in 2016, Led by MacBook and 13″ MacBook Pro
Apple is expected to refresh its MacBook lineup in 2016 with Intel’s faster Skylake processors and Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C, and supply chain sources now indicate the updated notebooks may see a staggered launch throughout the year.
The company’s manufacturing partners are expected to start producing new 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro models around late March or early April, followed by 15-inch MacBook Pro models in the third quarter, according to the sometimes-reliable Taiwanese website DigiTimes.
If accurate, new 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro models could debut at Apple’s rumored March media event, alongside the new 4-inch iPhone, iPad Air 3, and Apple Watch updates, or at WWDC, likely scheduled for mid-June. Smaller updates could also be announced at any time via press release.
The larger 15-inch MacBook Pro may not be launched until after WWDC, however, as the third quarter translates to between July and September. While that seems questionable, Apple may elect to announce a new 15-inch MacBook Pro at WWDC and begin shipping the notebook later in the year.
Last year, Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March, but its 15-inch sibling was not updated until May. For this reason, the 13-inch model is classified as Early 2015, and the 15-inch model is Mid 2015. Both notebooks received Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics.
The Early 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro is based on Intel’s newer Broadwell chip architecture, while the 15-inch model still has older Haswell architecture. Since then, Intel has announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 13-inch MacBook Pro in September and 15-inch MacBook Pro earlier this week.
Given that Skylake chips have been announced for both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro, there does not appear to be any reason for Apple to stagger the release of its notebooks this year. But, perhaps in line with its 2015 release cycle, Apple may plan to give the current 15-inch MacBook Pro a longer shelf life before replacing it.
Intel also announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Airs throughout 2015, so it is likely we will see Mac updates across the board over the coming months. The report also claims a new iMac will be released in 2016, but an update is unlikely until later in the year.
Tags: digitimes.com, Skylake
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy), MacBook (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums
OPPO to unveil camera and power breakthroughs at MWC
OPPO looks to have something major planned for this year’s Mobile World Congress, as the Chinese electronics manufacturer is set to unveil some breakthrough technology at the event. Specifically, technologies related to power and smartphone cameras.
The teaser release is absent of any specifics, but OPPO has a history of coming up with some pretty interesting camera and smartphone charging options. OPPO’s latest handsets come packing VOOC Flash Charge technology, which is the company’s own creation somewhat similar to Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, but it is able to deliver a huge 25 watts of power. So we could well see a next generation version of VOOC, or perhaps something entirely different. Maybe a wireless power solution?
“We are excited to present OPPO’s latest breakthroughs at the world-class MWC and look forward to creating even more amazing user experiences.” – Mr. Sky Li, OPPO Vice President
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When it comes to cameras, the company has been pretty creative in the past. OPPO’s novel swivelling camera design in the N1 and N3 were world’s firsts, and the company has developed an NFC optical zoom accessory for its smartphones too. Furthermore, OPPO also implemented a 50 megapixel Super Zoom feature in with Find 7, which stitches together photographs for additional detail. OPPO probably has something else pretty inventive up its sleeve for MWC, so we’ll be watching with interest.
Any inkling about what OPPO has planned? What would you like to see?
Shenzhen, Jan. 28, 2016 — The ever-evolving smartphone brand OPPO is heading to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2016, where it plans to unveil a groundbreaking power solution and an unprecedented smartphone camera innovation that will offer tomorrow’s consumers a reinvigorated user experience.
“With our commitment to equip everyday consumers with the best technology, OPPO invests great efforts in technological innovation. We have a legacy of bringing new ideas to the industry that we are proud to uphold, such as introducing the world’s first motorized rotating camera, the fast and safe VOOC Flash Charge technology, the first front-facing Screen Flash, and the first selfie beautify function for smartphones,” said Mr. Sky Li, OPPO Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business. “We are excited to present OPPO’s latest breakthroughs at the world-class MWC and look forward to creating even more amazing user experiences.”
In 2015, OPPO sold 50 million units, representing year-on-year growth of 67 percent. The company has broken into the top ten smartphone brands worldwide, ranking eighth in units shipped, according to a recent report by TrendForce.
# # #
About OPPO
OPPO is a leading global technology brand dedicated to providing consumers across the Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Asia with pioneering products that never fail to inspire and excite. At OPPO we design, manufacture, and promote our own products, combining innovative technology with unique design, to ensure our customers always receive the best.
Founded in 2004, OPPO quickly proved itself in the market with its intense obsession to details. Each OPPO product encompasses a carefully selected array of attributes to specifically cater for users, combining impressive features with elegant designs. After entering the mobile phone market in 2008, OPPO quickly expanded into overseas markets a year later. OPPO mobile phones are currently available in over 20 markets and offered for online purchase in over 50 additional countries, with the brand already registered in 116 countries as of April 2015.
But OPPO doesn’t stop there. Using our passion for design and commitment to new technologies, OPPO has made a big impact in the audio-visual market by offering world-renowned, premium Blu-ray players in the United States and across Europe. For more information, please visit http://www.oppo.com/en/.
NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 review: It’s ‘game on’ with this tablet
For the past several weeks I have spent some time with the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1, NVIDIA’s latest entry into the tablet market. Part of the class of devices with 8-inch screens, NVIDIA positions the device as a gaming tablet thanks to the processor and graphics chip that help drive the high resolution screen and a variety of effects you likely will not see on other tablet devices.
In the past I have used 10-inch tablets and I have a 7-inch second generation Nexus 7. Like much of the market, I may be a microcosm of what is happening with tablets as I rarely use my tablets, opting for either my smartphone or just jumping on my laptop. One of the questions any tablet manufacturer, including NVIDIA, is faced with is “why bother?” with a tablet. NVIDIA hopes they have answered that question with NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1.
Design
When initially confronted with the SHIELD Tablet K1, the first thing noticeable is the heft of the device. The SHIELD Tablet K1 comes in at 9.2 mm thick and weighs 390 grams (13.76 oz). Compared to my Nexus 7 which is 8.7 mm thick and weighs 290 grams (10.2 oz), you would not think the differences are very noticeable. Nevertheless, the SHIELD Tablet K1 feels much heavier and thicker on initial use. Fortunately, that initial impression fades quickly and the SHIELD Tablet K1 did not present any problems for me in terms of getting tired of holding it.
The “left” edge of the SHIELD Tablet K1 has two small openings that are used to align the special cover accessory you can get for the tablet. The openings only align the cover as it is held on magnetically.
Along with the SHIELD Tablet K1, I also had access to NVIDIA’s universal charger kit that could be used in a variety of countries. NVIDIA also makes a flip cover for the SHIELD Tablet K1 that would probably be worth the investment. The cover has several seams that can be used to fold it in to different configurations to function as a stand. Magnets along the “open” edge also help keep it in place when it is closed. I also found that the tablet could detect when the cover was opened and would turn on the screen, which was a very nice feature.
One issue I did have with the tablet was the power button and to some extent the volume rocker. The power button on the unit I’ve been using barely extends out of the case, making it very difficult to locate and then to press it in enough to power on the unit. The volume rockers suffer the same problem, though not quite as badly. I have seen this similar issue happen with tablets from other manufacturers, so I suspect this is a production issue and not a design issue. Nevertheless, it was quite annoying to deal with the power button. If NVIDIA continues to produce tablets, they should investigate improvements to the production process and possibly design the buttons to be a bit larger. Even if they did extend appropriately, they are rather small.
Hardware
The SHIELD Tablet K1 features an 8-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS LCD display, NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 processor, GeForce Kepler GPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for up to 128GB, a 5MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, a 5200mAh battery, front-facing speakers, a stylus, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Performance
With the hardware packed into the SHIELD Tablet K1, it should be no surprise that performance was top notch. In addition to the processors, NVIDIA includes the Unreal Engine 4 to drive graphics delivery. Although I am not much into games these days, I did fire up Need for Speed: No Limits on the tablet for some testing and noted the device had no problem displaying the full range of special effects like specular lighting, reflections, shadows and other graphs effects. Speed of play was excellent with no pauses or skipping and the game easily transitioned between the game and the story screens.
Although the screen is not a Quad HD display like so many higher end smartphones are getting, it is still very crisp and bright. Netflix and Google Play movies looked great when I was testing them out and with the front-facing speakers the experience is very nice.
One issue that I did have with the tablet was responsiveness of the screen to taps. This seemed to manifest itself when using the Chrome browser, although I detected a few other instances when trying to launch apps.
Battery
The battery in the SHIELD Tablet K1 seemed to be adequate for the tablet. When testing with video playback, I could generally run Netflix for about 1.5 hours on full screen brightness and drawn down around a third of the battery capacity. I also tried streaming some music one day and got about 6 hours of use while streaming TuneIn with the screen off except for the occasional check of email. Of course, the biggest hit will come with gaming where I was lucky to get a couple hours of use off of the battery. In a world where so many devices are starting to get quick charge capabilities, I had to adjust my expectations to the “normal” charging speed of the device. You will need to plan on about 5-6 hours of charging time if you drain the battery.
Software
The SHIELD Tablet K1 came with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, but during the time I was testing NVIDIA rolled out their Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for the device. The update process went smoothly. NVIDIA does not run an additional interface on top of Android, so it is close to a pure Android experience. If a user wanted to go in a different direction with a custom ROM, NVIDIA does not block unlocking of the bootloader, although it will void the warranty.
One tweak that I noticed NVIDIA did make involves the process for taking screenshots. This can be triggered by a button on the settings shade, which was handy given the problems I had with the power button making the power + volume down combo for taking screenshots a problem. One issue with the software method was that I could not capture pop-ups and other dialog boxes as they disappear as soon as you access the notification bar.
As far as NVIDIA specific software and apps, NVIDIA does include their NVIDIA Hub application for accessing NVIDIA optimized games and content. This also enables users to access PC gaming titles that can be played on the SHIELD Tablet K1 using their GameStream technology. Users can also access the GeForce cloud gaming platform. NVIDIA includes a drawing program called NVIDIA Dabbler that is supposed to take advantage of the graphics capabilities of the device, although I think your digital graphics skills would need to be fairly robust for this to be of use to you. Finally, NVIDIA does include software to make it easy to use a second screen, like a large screen TV, to either mirror the tablet or to function as the main display while the tablet is used for controls.
Camera
The SHIELD Tablet K1 does come equipped with a pair of 5 MP cameras on both the front and back. NVIDIA did build in HDR capabilitiy to both cameras. In a selfie test of the front-facing camera, you can see it did a good job of handling the bright light coming in from a window behind me. The rear-facing camera did fine on well lit shots. However, indoors in lower light the camera produced a lot of graininess.
Closing
NVIDIA decided to position their entry into the tablet market with a unique selling point by targeting gamers. That meant packing their tablet full of stout hardware in an effort to drive the latest graphics engines and fully exploit a range of special effects. The good news is that even non-gamers get to enjoy the benefits of the strong processor and graphics chip as everything runs smooth and snappy on the tablet. About the only shortfalls from a spec point of view is that it “only” has a full 1080p HD screen and in only has 2 GB of RAM instead of say 3 or 4 GB. I am not sure there would really be any benefit to upgrades in those areas though as the screen looks great and performance was excellent.
The only complaints I had with the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 involve the buttons, the power button in particular, and the responsiveness of the screen to tap inputs. Each of those items is more of an annoyance than anything, but the irritation level could vary by user and even for me I found some days I was really annoyed and other days I was just “meh” about it.
One thing that the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 has going for it is the current retail price of $199. For only a couple hundred dollars buyers can get a tablet loaded up with a cutting edge processor and graphics chip and decent hardware otherwise. Overall the build quality is quite good outside of the apparent quality control issues with a couple items. The NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 represents a much better bang for the buck than say the Nexus 7 did at the time it was for sale. Even with the problems I had with the unit, I would still recommend the tablet if you are in the market for one to be used for gaming or general use.
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OnePlus X now invite-free forever
OnePlus took to its forums today to announce that the OnePlus X can now be purchased without an invite at any time.
The company previously required consumers to have an invite in order to purchase OnePlus’ mid-range handset. OnePlus eventually implemented Tuesday as a day where interested buyers could get a OnePlus X invite-free, though that system has been dismantled with the handset going invite-free from now on.
While many gawk at the company’s invite system, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei says they put in place to help them handle demand. The OnePlus 2 had an invite system implemented for four months, and the OnePlus X had one for even less. Pei hopes that OnePlus’ next smartphone will take even less time to go invite-free. It seems that the eventual goal is to not have a invite system at all once the company is able to handle the large demand in a timely manner.
As a quick refresher, the OnePlus X has a 5-inch Full HD, a Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Also included is microSD support, a 13-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front camera, and a 2,525mAh battery. As far as software goes, it’s running OxygenOS 2 atop of Android 5.1.
Pei in the same forum post reminded buyers that the company is providing complimentary shipping on orders of $100 or more.
The company recently made an interesting, albeit strange move, pulling the 16GB model of the OnePlus 2 from US and European markets.
source: OnePlus
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T-Mobile Adds Amazon Video, Fox News, Univision, and WWE Network as Binge On Partners
T-Mobile today announced the support of four new partners to its free video streaming service Binge On, including Amazon Video, Fox News, Univision NOW, and WWE Network. The new streaming partners join more than 40 services already supporting Binge On, which lets customers watch video content without using data from their T-Mobile cellular plan.
The company also released a few details about the status of Binge On in the three months since its launch, saying that customers using the service are watching “more than twice the video” they were before Binge On. The service is one of the latest programs in T-Mobile’s “Un-carrier” marketing campaign, which CEO John Legere says “has literally changed the way millions of people are watching video.”
“Binge On is our most disruptive Un-carrier move yet. It has literally changed the way millions of people are watching video – they’re watching more, more than twice as much as before, and most importantly, they’re watching without worrying about bigger bills or surprise overages!” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “Binge On is the Un-carrier solution to satisfy Americans’ growing appetite for mobile video – and the facts are telling us that customers love it!”
T-Mobile conducted a survey of its customers as well, focusing on users’ understanding and opinions regarding Binge On. 92 percent of T-Mobile customers surveyed said they plan to watch more video using the service, while 93 percent claimed that they’re okay with all video being “optimized to DVD quality,” referencing Binge On’s baseline 480p video resolution.
After the FCC began scrutinizing similar programs last year, T-Mobile’s program became the center of some drama between the cellular carrier and YouTube, which claimed the service throttled its content even though it wasn’t a partner with Binge On. After an independent test confirmed such throttling claims, John Legere responded to all of the comments made against the service, reiterating T-Mobile’s continued enthusiastic support of Binge On.
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Apple Recalls Some International Wall Adapters Due to Risk of Electrical Shock
Apple today issued a voluntary recall for certain two-prong AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand, and South Korea, due to the risk of electrical shock if touched in very rare cases.
The recalled wall plug adapters shipped with some Mac and iOS devices sold between 2003 and 2015, and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. The recall does not affect any other Apple AC wall plug adapters designed for the U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and United Kingdom, or any Apple USB power adapters.
Apple has posted a AC Wall Plug Adapter Exchange Program with more details for affected customers.
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Chrome extension makes quick clips from Twitch broadcasts
In the words of Harlan Ellison, “Pay the writer.” Or, in this case, attribute and pay the streamer. Plays.tv is launching a a Chrome app that enables Twitch casters to recieve full attribution for clips that fans make from watching their broadcast sessions. It’s a solution to a problem many streamers face: They’re spending five or more hours streaming per day and afterward, should they do something pretty crazy in-game, if they want to make a shareable clip of it that means more time spent editing and sitting in front of his or her computer. It’s a vicious, time-consuming cycle when some Twitch partners are already spending seven days per week on camera and in front of their gaming rigs.
With the Plays.tv Chrome extension, all someone in chat has to do it type in “!plays” into the chat of a given Twitch broadcast and then they can make the 30-second source-quality clip themselves. From there you can send it to your social network of choice and it’ll appear alongside other creator-made-content on a streamer’s Plays.tv profile. Plays’ parent company, Raptr, says that compensation for streamers for these isn’t far off, either. Really, this builds on empowering the community in a way that Twitch has from the outset, all while making sure the streamer gets the recognition for the work they’re doing. That’s pretty easy for me to get behind.
Source: Plays.TV
ICYMI: Smart sweat detector, AI for gaming and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: Berkeley researchers developed a wearable sensor that can track the chemicals inside your sweat. The idea is that it can help identify dehydration, muscle fatigue and stress, though it could also help spot disease flare-ups for the diabetic.
Google’s artificial intelligence lab built an algorithm that beat a champion Go player at the game– the first time that’s ever been done by a machine, since it’s one of the most complicated board games.
The gene that triggers schizophrenia has been discovered by a team of scientists with the Broad Institute. It is a gene that regulates immune system functions, just unfortunately has a habit of killing connections to brain cells in some cases. That loss of connection is what leads to the disease.
And finally, we loved the video of a paraglider seemingly moving through a breathtaking Aurora Borealis display in Norway.
Please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.
Pandora’s iOS app now has better recommendations and a redesign
Pandora’s iOS app is getting a much-needed facelift as well as a pretty major new feature today. The music streaming service has a new way to find tunes called Browse, which basically takes all of your listening history and songs you give a thumbs-up to and presents you with more radio station suggestions the company thinks you’ll enjoy. It’s pretty much a table stakes feature for a music streaming service at this point — basically every Pandora competitor looks at your listening habits and offers up playlists, stations, albums and more to keep the music playing when you are feeling indecisive.
Pandora’s added a smart option in its implementation. You can get a preview of what specific songs the station will play before you start it up, so you can get a good idea if it’ll meet your musical expectations before committing. Once you find a station you like, you can save it to your library for easy access going forward. The core Pandora experience hasn’t changed, as you can’t pull up specific songs or albums on demand still (that’ll likely happen later this year thanks to the company’s Rdio purchase).
From a design standpoint, Pandora’s felt awfully stagnant, but that’s changed a bit too. Honestly, my first reaction to the screenshots the company shared was that it’s an awful lot like — you guessed it– Rdio. Stations are laid out in a grid with large album artwork accompanying them, most of the navigation is hidden in a left-side menu and there’s a new “mini player” slice along the bottom of the screen so you can keep navigating through the app and still see what you’re listening to.
All in all, it’s a solid update to an app that was starting to feel a little outdated. Pandora had limited recommended stations, but this new Browse feature is a complete and much more comprehensive overhaul. The new design is similarly needed — it’s not a radical change, but it looks like it’ll be a definite improvement over the old version. We’ll need to wait until later this year to see a true next-generation Pandora roll out, but fans of the current service should be happy with today’s release. The update is live today for iOS and should come to Android soon.
AIVAnet 