Apple Begins Selling Apple Watch Hermès Bands Separately in Online Store

Following an announcement earlier in the month, Apple today began selling the higher-end Apple Watch Hermès bands separately in its online store. Before today, the only way to get a band from the French lifestyle accessory brand was to buy an Apple Watch collection which included either the Single Tour, Double Tour, or Cuff bands, ranging between $1,100 and $1,500.

Now those who already have an Apple Watch can splurge on the Hermès bands, and choose from an array of new colors including sapphire blue, peacock blue, white and orange. The color options do vary by casing size and band design, however. For the $340 Single Tour bands, the 42mm size is offered in sapphire blue, deer brown, fire orange and black, while 38mm users have additional choices of white and peacock blue.

The $490 Double Tour option is aimed at smaller wrists and is available only in 38mm option, but in two regular and long strap lengths. The regular length will be available in white, peacock blue, sapphire blue, tin gray, deer brown and fire orange, while the longer length band comes in deer brown. The $690, 42mm-only Cuff band is still being sold in just the deer brown color option.

Apple has updated its Apple Watch band storefront to include the Hermès collection, but the new page has a few bugs and broken images and links, so users can’t fully purchase the bands separately as of yet. Apple began selling the Apple Watch Hermès collections on its website in January, which was an online expansion of its previous exclusivity to select boutique retailers and Apple Store locations. Since the new bands are being sold separately from an Apple Watch, it also appears users who purchase a band only won’t get the Hermès exclusive Apple Watch clock face.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Tag: Apple Watch Hermès
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Apple Releases First Software Update for Brand New 12-Inch MacBook

Less than two hours after announcing the new 12-inch MacBook, which has yet to become available for purchase online, Apple has released the first software update for the notebook.

Apple’s website says the Bluetooth update for the 12-inch MacBook (Early 2016) improves compatibility with third-party Bluetooth devices, and is recommended for all users.

The software update is a 157.8MB download and requires OS X El Capitan 10.11.4.

Related Roundup: Retina MacBook
Tag: Bluetooth
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook (Don’t Buy)
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Parents should not let their kids play Hitman and here’s why

Getting the most from videogames with your family is no easy matter. Games are complex, long and offer a range of experiences not always evident from the first few minutes.

However, with a little research you can find the right games to play and easily avoid experiences that you consider not suitable.

Hitman serves as an interesting example in this respect. It’s a PEGI 18 rated game, which means the Games Rating Authority rates it as only suitable for those 18 and over. Therefore the game cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18 in a shop.

However, there are some games rated highly by authorities that you might allow your older kids to play – depending on their maturity and understanding of the material.

Hitman isn’t one of those. As good as it is, it is not a game for children.

READ: Hitman review: Agent 47’s regaled return

You might consider caving in to a 13 year-old’s demands to download the latest Hitman game, which is available as an episodic download for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. And those pleas might intensify when the second episode appears online soon. But while it is a superb game for adults, it is a prime example of where the ratings are spot on so you need to think again.

To actually understand the experience offered by Hitman some more details are helpful.

Hitman is of the action adventure stealth genre. Here players control the central character, Agent 47, in various assassination missions. They play from a third-person perspective and use a variety of weapons and strategies to complete each level – guns, garrottes, traps, explosives and poison can all be used.

As with previous titles in the series, this game’s story revolves around Agent 47’s work for the mysterious International Contracts Agency (or ICA) and his handler Diana Burnwood. The PlayStation version also has a set of exclusive missions called The Sarajevo Six.

Carefully examine the ratings

The game receives its PEGI 18 rating for “motiveless violence against innocent characters” and “strong language”.

More information on this is published by the Games Ratings Authority (GRA) that states “Agent 47 can beat, shoot or strangle anyone in the game”. Also it is “possible to kill a large number of people at one time as Agent 47 shoots into crowds” causing people “to run away in panic or crouch on the floor with their hands on their heads”. The GRA also highlights that Agent 47 can kill people by “strangling them, as they struggle and kick their legs, until they fall unconscious” or “snap their neck while they are incapable of running or defending themselves”.

The strategic game-play and violent action could be seen therefore as a gratuitous murder simulator by some, although the attraction of the game-play leans more towards acting out a James Bond style role than Jack the Ripper.

The game offsets some of the violence by making it clear that each target is a bad or evil individual. It’s still quite disturbing stuff – particularly when dispatching people by strangling them or snapping a henchman’s neck before stuffing their body in a dustbin to acquire their uniform as a disguise.

While some games’ story and strategic elements are a veneer or excuse for violent gun rampages, Hitman stays true to its assassination genre. If players stray too far from stealth or employ the wrong strategy they are soon stopped in their tracks.

It’s worth also noting that our criticism isn’t of the game itself – which is actually excellent. We’re just warning you to think again if you are considering allowing a child to play it. It’s most definitely not a game for children but maybe something for older family members to enjoy once the kids are in bed.

At internetmatters.org parents can find all the advice they will need to keep their children safe online. Designed specifically for parents, the site offers a wealth of up-to-date, unbiased information and advice about how to deal with online safety. Parents can learn about the latest issues and technologies, get great tips on how to talk about online safety with their children and get the best advice on dealing with issues and taking action. Created with experts, Internet Matters provides detailed information, but also signposts to best-in-class resources from individual expert organisations. Our goal is to ensure parents can always access the information that they need, in a format that is clear and concise.

Apple announces new MacBook line-up, rose gold version added

As widely rumoured Apple has announced a refresh to its MacBook range, with upgraded Intel processors, improved graphics performance, faster flash storage and longer battery life.

It has also added a rose gold model to the superslim laptop line-up.

The 2016 model of the 12-inch Retina display MacBook features dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds of up to 3.1GHz. There is also faster 1866MHz RAM.

Graphics are now served by Intel HD Graphics 515, which Apple claims is 25 per cent faster than last year’s version.

Faster PCIe-based flash storage boosts access speeds too. While the battery is now said to last up to 11 hours for iTunes movie playback (10 hours of wireless web browsing).

READ: WWDC 2016 announced for 13 June by Apple, following Siri tease

As before, there is just one port on the new MacBook – a USB Type-C input/output that serves power and all other connection purposes.

It comes with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless hook up. The MacBook ships with OS X El Captian as standard.

The new line, including the rose gold model, is now available through Apple.com and in Apple retail stores, starting at £1,049 with a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB flash drive. The price rises to £1,299 for the version with a 512GB drive, 8GB of RAM and 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m5 processor.

There are also options to boost that to a 1.3GHz dual-core processor.

The Apple MacBook Air also gets a minor upgrade, with 8GB of RAM now standard across the range.

Netflix details its HDR streaming lineup for this year

Netflix recently revealed it had rolled out support for high dynamic range video, starting with the first season of Marco Polo. This was the initial step in the company’s plan to go all in on that technology, which it believes is the perfect complement to 4K — something it’s been pushing since 2014. By the end of 2016, the streaming service will have more than 150 hours of original programming in HDR, Netflix confirmed to Engadget. Of those, over 100 hours are expected to hit the platform in August, a figure that won’t be easy for competitors such as Amazon to match.

While Marco Polo is the only show taking advantage of HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10) right now, more content is going to follow suit in the next few months. That includes existing series like Bloodline, Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Chef’s Table, as well as The Ridiculous Six movie. Netflix will also feature HDR in the upcoming Luke Cage and The Defenders shows, plus The Do-Over film starring Adam Sandler and more. Here’s the full list, according to Netflix:

• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Bloodline
• Chef’s Table
• Hibana
• Knights of Sidonia
• Marvel’s Daredevil
• Marvel’s Iron Fist
• Marvel’s Jessica Jones
• Marvel’s Luke Cage
• Marvel’s The Defenders
• The Do-Over
• The Ridiculous Six

Unfortunately, there are no firm details on when these are scheduled to arrive. “Timing varies depending on the title, as we are in the process of remastering any existing TV shows and movies,” a Netflix spokesperson said to Engadget. “It is also dependent on the title’s launch date. We don’t have any dates to confirm at this point in time.” But hey, at least you can be excited about all the HDR stuff that’s coming in the near future.

Apple upgrades its MacBook series and adds a rose gold option

It’s been just over a year since Apple launched its slimmer Macbook series. Today, the company is upgrading them with new processors (from Intel’s sixth-generation Core M series), as well as refreshing the built-in Intel HD GFX, promising around a 25 percent faster graphical performance. On top of new processing muscle, there’s faster flash storage and improved battery life. Apple claims you’ll get up to 10 hours of web browsing, and up to 11 hours of movie playback with the new machines. However, if you were looking for more ports, you’re still going to have to look elsewhere — or splurge on a hub.

The refreshed MacBooks are available starting today, and come in gold, silver, space gray and (finally!) rose gold — the first time for a Mac. Prices start at $1,299 for 1.1GHz Core M-3 processor and 256 gigs of space, while a faster 1.2GHz Core M-5 Macbook with 512GB is priced at $1,599. Meanwhile in the shadows, Apple has made 8GB of memory standard on all of its 13-inch MacBook Air models — if you’re still into full-fat USB ports.

Source: Apple

Apple just fixed one of the Macbook Air’s biggest problems

Ever since Apple stopped trying to sell it at $1,799, the 13-inch MacBook Air has been one of its most popular computers. The eventual drop down to $999 made it accessible to a far larger crowd, but in recent years there have been two drawbacks: its low-res, 1,440 x 900 display, and its meager 4GB allocation of RAM. Today, one of those issues has been resolved. The 13-inch MacBook Air now comes with 8GB of RAM as standard.

It’s not been impossible to get a MacBook Air with 8GB before now: since 2012 you’ve been able to upgrade for an additional $100. But that’s a 10% surcharge for something that’s almost essential for modern computing — just having a few too many Chrome tabs open in El Capitan is enough to choke a 4GB machine. The upgrade should keep the Air relevant for a few more years.

Of course, there’s still the issue of that screen to contend with. When Apple upgraded it to 1,440 x 900 in 2010 (the original Air had a 1,280 x 800 display), that was a respectable resolution. When taken together with the color balance and viewing angles, it was seen as a great package. But a lot’s changed in six years. Apple’s more recent laptops all have “Retina” displays that almost double the Air’s resolution. Only the ultra-budget (for Apple, at least) 11-inch MacBook Air and the all-but-forgotten non-Retina MacBook Pro offer inferior displays.

With the RAM upgrade a near-necessity, the Macbook Air has been uncomfortably close — $1,099 vs. $1,299 — to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, a computer that offers more power, a better display and only weighs a pound more. Now that the MacBook Air comes with 8GB of RAM, there’s a little more breathing room between the various models in Apple’s laptop lineup. You have the 11-inch MacBook Air at $899, the 13-inch at $999. The 13-inch MacBook Pro and the 12-inch MacBook at $1,299 and finally the 15-inch MacBook Pro at $1,999. Everything just makes a little more sense, and all that’s left to fix now is that display.

Unfortunately, it seems pretty unlikely that Apple will ever upgrade the 13-inch MacBook Air’s resolution. More probable is that the aforementioned (and today upgraded) 12-inch MacBook will get cheaper over the coming months and years. Once Apple gets the asking price down to three figures, the MacBook Air range will have little reason to exist, and Apple might finally retire what many people believe is its best laptop ever.

Source: Apple

ICYMI: VR Mars bus tour, self-assembling nanowire and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: Lockheed Martin is encouraging kids to get into STEM with a Mars Experience Bus, with giant displays that look as though they’re actually driving on the surface of Mars. Rice University created nanotubes that quickly self-assemble into nanowire. And Yamaha created an acoustic guitar that can store and loop back reverb and chorus sounds.

We are also collectively irritated by the latest smart mattress with sensors inside, designed to catch your partner cheating, on your own mattress, when you’re not at home. Ugh. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

PillDrill does smart medication tracking in style

Folks who rely on medication for a long period may forget their routine once in a while, especially the elderly or anyone with memory loss. It also gets rather dull when every conversation with the family starts with, “Have you taken your pills yet?” This is where PillDrill comes in. The system consists of a hub that resembles a cute-looking alarm clock, a couple of weekly pill strips containing RFID pods (you can add more strips, too), a dozen alphabetical RFID tags for your own bottles, a “mood cube” and a mobile app. You don’t need to learn how to program your schedule: Just take your pills the way you’re used to — be it with the pods on the pill strips or with the original pill bottles — and scan their RFID tags onto the right hand side of the hub as you go along.

After it’s learned the pattern, the system will notify both the patient and family members or caretakers — via the hub’s flashing light and beeping sound and via the app or SMS — should the patient fail to log his or her medication. This allows the patient to be monitored remotely rather than being nagged all the time. For those who are tech-savvy enough, you can also use the app or web form to manually schedule and label each medication, if you want to get things started right away. Afterwards, you can check the schedule either in the app or on the hub — the arrow buttons on the left let you check previous and upcoming reminders.

To make full use of the remote monitoring feature, the PillDrill’s mood cube lets the patient log his or her feeling at any time. Just place one of the five faces — “great,” “good,” “OK,” “bad” and “awful” — onto the RFID scanning area on the hub to log, and whoever has the app running will get a notification should something go wrong. On a related note, the notifications are highly customizable: You can set it so that you only receive notifications if the patient fails to take medication after a set period (say, two hours); and you can also set it so that when the patient is at home, the system only funnels notifications through the hub and skips the app, in case he or she finds the double alert too annoying.

The idea of PillDrill came from Peter Havas, formerly of Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery fame. During his time in the US some years ago, his mother was recovering from two hip surgeries back in his home town in Australia, and even though he was unable to take too much time off work, he was impressed by how he could use Fitbit to monitor his mother’s recovery, which inspired him to develop a system that could do the same for monitoring medication intake. While there are similar systems on the market, many are clunky, difficult to use, and some even require a subscription fee. “Everyone had missed the mark.”

For Havas, his system should work with the patient’s existing habit, and it should also look good. He went as far as reading all the reviews of existing pill strips to understand everyone’s pain points — some were hard to open and some were too easy to open. In the end, he ended up with a pill strip design with pods that can be easily secured onto the strip, and their lids can be opened with one hand (which is important for those suffering from arthritis) but are also tightly sealed when closed with a click — as is the case with the prototype I saw in Hong Kong two weeks ago. Similarly, the scheduling system appears to be idiot proof and also quite handy for those monitoring remotely. It’s apparently so good that none of the users in the beta program wanted to return their units (though Havas said he’s actually going to swap them with the final version).

The aforementioned PillDrill package is available now for $199 and will be shipping to North America towards the end of May. If all goes well, Havas’ team may expand into other regions as well.

Apple Updates 12-Inch MacBook With Skylake Processors, Faster Graphics, Longer Battery Life, and Rose Gold

Apple today announced that it has released new 12-inch MacBook models with the latest sixth-generation Skylake dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3 GHz, new Intel HD Graphics 515 that deliver up to 25% faster performance, faster PCIe-based flash storage, an additional hour of battery life, and faster 1866 MHz memory.

The ultra-thin notebook retains the same all-metal unibody enclosure, including a single USB-C port, Force Touch trackpad, and full-sized keyboard, in a design that continues to be 13.1 mm thick and weighs just 2 pounds. The notebook also remains fanless and has no moving parts or vents akin to the original model.

The refreshed 12-inch MacBook models are available through Apple’s online store starting today, once it has been updated, and can be purchased at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers starting tomorrow. The base 1.1 GHz Core m3 model costs $1,299, while the faster 1.2 GHz Core m5 model costs $1,599.

Apple has also made 8GB of memory standard across all 13-inch MacBook Air configurations.

Related Roundup: Retina MacBook
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook (Don’t Buy)
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