Airmail 3.0 for Mac Brings VIP Contacts, Smart Folders, and More
Airmail, the third party email client for Mac, has been updated to version 3, bringing some major new features to the popular application and a redesigned interface.
The new update adds Smart Folders for enhanced message filtering and organization, VIP contacts, OS X notifications, and support for the “send later” feature available to Gmail and Exchange account holders.
The Mac update also means that Airmail for OS X now syncs account preferences across iPhone and iPad devices, syncing rules, VIP contacts, and Smart Folders over iCloud.
Airmail 3 supports multiple accounts including MS Exchange, Gmail, Google Apps, IMAP, POP3, Yahoo, AOL, Outlook.com, and Live.com.
Other new changes bring options for customizable menus, gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and folders, as well as calendar integration, rules for forwarding messages, Asana and Trello integration, primary inbox support for Gmail, and redesigned message threads.
Airmail 3.0 is available for El Capitan on the Mac App Store, priced at $9.99. [Direct Link]
Tag: Airmail
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Jaybird Freedom Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
When it released its X2 wireless sports headphone in 2015, Jaybird’s drew some criticism from some users because — despite some improvements — it didn’t seem like much of an upgrade over its predecessor. Well, now the company finally has a headphone with a totally new design: The Jaybird Freedom.
Originally showcased at the CES show back in January, the Freedom is finally shipping a month after Logitech acquired Jaybird for $50 million. It carries list price of $200 in the US, with international pricing yet to be announced (it converts to around £140 or AU$285).
Some of Jaybird’s earlier models were also named Freedom, but this new 2016 model doesn’t look anything like them and has a couple of distinguishing design features. For starters the buds have a proprietary “tapered stepdown” design, which is a fancy way of saying the buds have been trimmed down and now fit better in your ears. You can also wear a helmet over them without a problem.
The Jaybird Freedom Wireless headphones come with a lot of accessories.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Jaybird has built all the electronics into the inline remote and it says the buds and inline remote are made of metal, not plastic, which is mostly true (there is some plastic that’s part of the design). The headphones are sweatproof, though not waterproof, and Jaybird expects people to use these not only as a sports headphone but an everyday headphone.
Battery life is rated at 8 hours, which is good for this type of headphone — but it’s a bit misleading because you get 4 hours from the buds and an additional 4 hours with an included charging clip that has a second rechargeable battery inside it. You can continue wearing the headphones with the clip attached, but the package does look a little funny dangling down near your cheek.
You charge the headphones’ internal battery and the external battery clip at the same time via a micro USB port in the clip. It’s a cool concept to have the extra juice at your disposal when you need it, but the battery clip does seem a little easy to lose.
An external battery attaches to the inline remote and adds 4 hours of battery life.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Luckily the headphones, which are available in five color options, come with a nice little carrying pouch, where you can store the battery clip and any extra tips and ear fins that come with the headphones. A set of cord shorteners is also include, but they aren’t the most elegant solution. Jaybird needs to find a way to integrate a cord adjustment design element into the product, not have you attach something to it.
I found the headphones fit better than last year’s X2 and I was able to get a tight seal and secure fit using the included ear fins. With a tight seal this is one of the best sounding wireless in-ear sports headphones you can buy, with clean, well-balanced sound that’s close to what you’d expect from a good in-ear wired headphone. By that I mean it sounds pretty natural, at least in its default mode. The new Jaybird MySound app allows Apple iOS and Android users to tweak the sound profile to their liking.
I’d say the only downsides are that the inline remote is a little bit heavy, the price of Freedom is high, and all the little accessories that come with the product might overwhelm some people (it’s a little like opening a Lego package).
I went for a couple of runs on Randall’s Island in New York City and had no problem with the left earbud but the inline remote on the right side tugs a little on the cord as you’re running; you can feel its presence.
Monster’s Adidas Adistar Sport in-ear wireless headphones have a similar design, but the micro USB port is built into the inline remote, which I preferred. The Freedom sounds better than the Monster Adidas headphone, but the Monster costs half the price.
The Freedom in black.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, Freedom can be paired with up to eight devices, and its inline remote gives you complete control over your wireless music with volume buttons, and allows for phone calls with its built-in microphone. You hold the volume buttons down to advance tracks forward or back and hold the pause/play button to activate Siri on iPhones.
I’m still testing out the new Jaybird MySound app for Android and iOS that allows you to customize the equalizer settings for both the Freedom and X3, an updated and slightly smaller version of the X2 that will also arrive this spring and cost $150. Although I’m not quite ready to put a rating on this headphone, my initial take is that it’s a very strong entry in the in-ear wireless headphone arena, but it’s not perfect and it’s priced a little too high.
I’ll have a full review of the Freedom after I put some more mileage on it and compare it to a few more competing products.
HP EliteBook Folio G1 review – CNET
The Good The Folio G1 is very thin and light, with an upscale look and feel and a great keyboard for an ultraportable laptop. There are plenty of configuration options, including a 4K touchscreen.
The Bad Battery life takes a hit in the 4K version, the hinge should be tighter, and both ports are USB-C.
The Bottom Line HP’s take on the 12-inch Core M laptop could use a few design tweaks, but it evokes the best parts of Apple’s 12-inch MacBook, with better value and more options.
Some people want everything. They want a laptop that’s small but powerful. One that has a high-resolution display and a touchscreen. A laptop that looks sharp enough to show off, but refined enough for serious business meetings. Decent battery life would help, too, as would a price that’s not too much of a premium.
Apple came close with its 12-inch MacBook. It’s a brilliantly designed machine, with a high-res 12-inch display, but it lacks touch, the shallow keyboard isn’t ideal, and OS X doesn’t always play nice with the IT needs in some business or school environments. And, of course, it has only a single USB-C port for power and connectivity.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
HP has cooked up something that looks and feels a lot like the 12-inch MacBook, built for professional Windows users, but still stylish enough that anyone can feel comfortable using it.
Like the MacBook, it uses Intel’s latest Core M-series processors, but unlike the MacBook, HP includes the fastest version, the Core m7, in its lowest-end model, which starts at $999 in the US, and which seems like a really good deal. That version has 128GB of storage and a 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution non-touch display, but options for high-res touch screens, more solid state storage, and a couple of different processors can drive the price close to double that. Slightly different configurations available in the UK run from £1,222 to £1,498, and in Australia from AU$2,499 to AU$3,499.
For this review, we tested two different configurations, both built via HP’s system configurator. One worked out to $1,412, with a Core m7, 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM and a full-HD non-touch display. The other was a higher-end configuration, with the same CPU and RAM, but a big 512GB SSD and a 3,840×2,160 4K touchscreen display, which at the time of this review cost $1,737. Note that prices for custom-configured PCs can often change, as can the list of available components.
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The Folio G1 sits to the right of a 12-inch Apple MacBook.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Both of the Folio G1 systems stick with USB-C only, but unlike the MacBook, they include two ports (both on the right side), so you can easily keep the power connected while also using a USB accessory. Still, to even use a simple USB key, you’ll need a sold-separately USB-A to USB-C adapter, which usually costs around $20.
Using both configurations side by side, the 4K display and the touchscreen on the more expensive one really jump out, compared to the lower-end model. Touch still feels like a necessity in Windows laptops, even on ones with decent touchpads like this, as no Windows laptop has yet matched the ease of navigation Apple pulls off by controlling every aspect of its hardware and software. But, the other wise of the trade-off is clear when it comes to battery life. As in other 4K versus FHD (full HD) comparisons we’ve tested, the 4K display takes a big chunk out of battery life.
HP EliteBook Folio G1 (4K)
| $1,737 |
| 12.5-inch 3,840×2,160 touchscreen |
| 1.2GHz Intel Core M7-6Y75 |
| 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,866MHz |
| 128MB Intel HD Graphics 515 |
| 512GB SSD |
| 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Windows 10 Home (64-bit) |
Similar to the MacBook, the Folio G1 is machined from aluminum. It has a very premium look and feel, although the shiny chrome-like finish on the hinge may not be to everyone’s taste. The hinge opens a full 180 degrees, which means the lid can be pushed back to lie completely flat. I can’t think of too many cases where you’d want to do that, but having some extra flexibility is always nice.
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The hinge always shifted a bit when picked up while open.
Sarah Tew/CNET
However, in both Folio G1 models we tested, the hinge itself tended to wobble or move back a bit when the open laptop is picked up and carried by its base. It just feels a little too loose, especially for a premium product.
iPhone 7 photographed, camera lens is mind-boggling
The Apple iPhone 7, the current Holy Grail of leaks, has appeared in apparent real world photos showing it clearly at last. We say at last, the phone is due out until September, so this is pretty early leakage.
Apple’s iPhone 7 is the handset that’s allegedly shown off in the above photo, pictured in hand from the rear. The leaked photo comes from Chinese social network Weibo, as most seem to these days. As you can see from the photo, in the above gallery, this handset looks very similar to a leaked render already out there.
The photo of the iPhone 7 shows the usual Apple logo etched in the all metal rear. What’s new are top and bottom white bumpers which may be due to redesigned antennas, claim nowhereelse. The big reveal is the camera.
The camera lens appears to feature a multi angle lens shield which protrudes from the device, rather than a smooth finish. Of course this could just be a poor Photoshop job making this a fake. Also featured is a flash that isn’t the usual white but has a black finish – although this could simply be an unfinished shell. Some internal components are also shown off, in the gallery above.
The Apple iPhone 7 is expected to appear on the company’s yearly release cycle for September.
READ: Apple iPhone 7: What’s the story so far?
Win an iPad Pro worth £500 with Travelex Supercard!
Travelex, the world’s leading foreign exchange specialist, has teamed up with Pocket-lint to offer you the chance to win a brand new 32GB iPad Pro, worth £500, to celebrate the summer launch of Supercard.
Supercard from Travelex will provide a new way for UK travellers to free themselves from bank card roaming charges. Simply link existing UK bank cards to Supercard and use it to spend abroad like you do in the UK, with no fees or charges.
If you want to hear more about what we think, we covered its pilot launch last year here. The payment card will work in tandem with an app, available at launch on iOS and Android devices.
As many as five existing UK debit or credit cards can be entered into the app, one is then selected to link to Supercard (this can be changed at any time), and bam, the Supercard is ready to use.
Users not only avoid a painful application process and credit checks but roaming spending fees as well. With real-time updates through the app, travellers can avoid bill shock as they can see just how much will be debited from their UK account and how much they’ve saved, in real time.
To be in with a chance of winning a brand new 32GB iPad Pro, all you have to do is register your interest to hear more about Supercard here.
Supercard is issued by IDT Financial Services Limited pursuant to a licence from Visa Europe. IDT Financial Services Limited is a regulated bank, licensed by the Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar. Registered Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered No. 95716. All communications should be sent to PO BOX 3753, Chester, CH1 9UH.
Jaybird’s Freedom wireless earbuds balance sound and battery life
True to its word, Jaybird’s latest wireless sport earbuds are making their debut in the first half of 2016. The company’s $200 Freedom in-ears are now available and I’ve been putting them through their paces for the past few days. This new model follows Jaybird’s popular X2, adding customized sound through a companion app and an accessory that could end your battery woes. It’s that mix of sound and features that makes the Freedom a worthy competitor when it comes to fitness-focused in-ear headphones.
Let’s chat about the size of the Jaybird Freedom first. The buds themselves are 20-percent smaller than previous models, which leads to a better overall fit for more people. Don’t think the smaller speakers means smaller sound though, as the audio quality didn’t take a hit (more on that in a bit). There’s also an assortment of rubber and foam tips in the box so you can use the material that works best for your ears. Those fin-like hooks are here as well, only this time they’re removable for the times when a more traditional fit will do just fine. And yes, those are sweat-proof earbuds.
There are two key features that make the Freedom in-ears worth considering. The first is a charging clip that snaps on the in-line controls to double battery life. Without it, you can expect around four hours worth of power, but adding it doubles that time. In a hurry? Attaching the clip for 20 minutes will give you enough juice to make it through an hour-long workout or run. What’s more, that add-on doesn’t weigh down the earbuds with a lot extra heft either. You’ll notice it, but the added weight doesn’t become a burden.
The second useful feature is the MySound companion app. With that software, you can choose from a number of pre-selected EQ settings or build your own. I started with the preset from Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando as a basis for creating my settings for the earbuds. Rimando is one of many Jaybird personalities who made their EQ preferences available for the app, but there’s also a smattering of genre-specific templates. More useful that just being able to tweak the sound, those changes sync to the Freedom headphones so that no matter what device you’re using them with, the sound you like it always available.
Jaybird’s Freedom wireless earbuds sound good out of the box, but after a couple of minutes futzing with the EQ, I had them tuned to match even the best in-ears I’d tried. I’m a big fan of Sennheiser’s Momentum wired buds, but the sound I was able to achieve through the customizable settings easily rivals those. There’s plenty of bass without becoming overpowering, with a well-rounded overall sounds across bluegrass, hip-hop, metal, rock and electronic artists. My only real complaint is that I wish they were a tad bit louder. When I’m working out, I like my music cranked up, but I’m willing to admit it’s a personal preference.
By now you’ve likely noticed that those in-line controls are closer to one side rather than sitting in the middle. My initial concern was that all of the wireless components that had been crammed in that housing would pull that earbud out during any physical activity. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that’s not the case. While it’s true that all of the tech is situated inside that remote, Jaybird managed to do so without adding noticeable weight. I didn’t once feel like those controls were pulling the headphone out of my ear on that side.
There’s some small touches that make using the Jaybird Freedom an enjoyable experience. For example, when you first turn them on and pair them with a device, there’s a voice cue to let you know the in-ears are paired. It also lets you know how much battery life you have left. For me, this was particularly useful because it told me whether or not I needed to put that charging clip in my pocket when I got out of my car at the gym. Of course, with the ability to plug in that accessory separate from the earbuds, there’s a chance you might never completely run out of battery.
As I’ve already mentioned, the Jaybird Freedom is on sale today for $200 and comes in four colors: white/gold, black/silver, red and blue. If a mix of customizable sound and battery life is what you’re after when it comes to wireless sport earbuds, you’ll want to give these a look. And when the time comes open your wallet, you can do so at the company’s website or Best Buy for now. More retailers will offer these in-ear headphones in the months to come.
Microsoft wants you to share your 3D printer over your network
Sure, you can use your old-school paper printer from virtually any device in your home. But what if you want to use your 3D printer in the den while you’re lounging in the living room? Microsoft might just come to your aid. It recently released a Windows 10 IoT Core app (currently only for the Raspberry Pi) that lets you access a 3D printer from any Windows PC on your local network, whether it’s through Ethernet or WiFi. Once it’s running, it acts like any other networked gadget — you don’t have to be picky about the apps you use.
The initial version adds support for 13 3D printers, some of which you’re likely to recognize if you’re a fan of plastic printing: Ultimaker gets plenty of affection here, as do Lulzbot, Makergear, Printrbot and Prusa. And don’t despair if your hardware isn’t in the mix. Microsoft is taking requests for additional support, so your favorite 3D modelling box might soon print without a direct connection.
Source: Building Apps for Windows
Apple Offers to Replace iPads With MacBooks in Maine State Classrooms
Apple and the Maine Department of Education have offered to swap school iPads for MacBooks at no additional cost, after it emerged that students and teachers overwhelmingly favor the use of laptops in class.
According to a report in the Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal, schools in Auburn and other districts in Maine are set to benefit from the “Refresh” swap, following surveys of students and teachers across grades 7 through 12, which revealed that 88.5 percent of teachers and 74 percent of students preferred laptops over iPads.
An Edward Little High School senior works on her iPad during class (Image: Sun Journal)
iPads were perceived to have poor educational value in the classroom and were often used to play games in class, while laptops allowed students better opportunities for school work. The preference gap widened even more when it came to older students, who saw laptops as better devices for coding and programming tasks.
“The results are pretty darn clear,” said Auburn School Department Technology Director Peter Robinson, who conducted the survey. “The findings made the decision for us.” Robinson said that three years ago, after seeing success with iPads in primary grades, he thought iPads were absolutely the right choice, but now he realized iPads have shortcomings for older students.
One teacher wrote in the survey that iPads “provide no educational function in the classroom. Students use them as toys. Word processing is near to impossible. I applaud this change.”
“The iPads are largely students’ gaming devices,” another teacher wrote, while one called their introduction into the classroom “a disaster”.
As part of the state’s “Refresh” swap offer, Auburn’s iPads are being returned and 1,718 laptops will be delivered in the fall to Edward Little High School and Auburn Middle School.
The state “underestimated how different an iPad is from a laptop,” said Maine Learning and Technology Initiative Director Mike Muir. “Student use of iPads could have been better if the Maine Department of Education encouraged more teacher training.”
The offer applies to 7th and 8th-graders’ computers, which are paid for by the state, and computers for high school students that some schools pay for as part of the Learning and Technology Initiative. The initiative allows up to $254 per student for a device and teacher training to help students get the most out of technology.
The cost of the new Apple laptop will be $217 per year per student for 2016-17, and $248 per year after that. In Farmington, Mt. Blue High School’s technology manager Darcy Dunphy said the state’s offer is “too good to refuse”, because students would be getting new laptops while saving about $140,000 over four years.
“Three years ago the Apple laptop was $273 per student a year,” which meant that to stay with the Apple laptop, schools would have had to pay more, Muir said. “People chose iPads. They were within what the state would fund.”
Apple has been working on overhauling its iPad in Education program since 2015. With iOS 9.3, Apple introduced a number of new features that are specifically geared towards the education market. Outlined on a new Education Preview site, education-oriented features in the iOS 9 beta include shared iPads for students, a new classroom app, an Apple School Manager feature, and an improved Managed Apple IDs function.
Tag: education
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Toyota is bringing back Dean Kamen’s stair-climbing wheelchair
Remember Dean Kamen’s iBot wheelchair? Its uniquely adjustable wheel orientation gave patients the freedom to climb stairs and effectively stand upright, but its high price ($25,000) knocked it off the market in 2009. Well, it’s poised for a comeback: Toyota is partnering with Dean Kamen’s DEKA to develop the next generation of iBot. Neither company is committing to a release date, but they’ve shown a familiar-looking prototype (below) that gives a hint of what to expect.
This isn’t just about giving Kamen’s technology a second shot. The deal also lets Toyota license DEKA’s balancing tech for both rehab therapy and “potentially other purposes.” In other words, you might see iBot tech find its way into other health care devices, personal transport and even robots. No matter what, this is good news for the wheelchair-bound who want to enjoy more freedom.
Source: Toyota
Terahertz laser tech could scan for bombs at airports
Terahertz spectrum scanning is potentially ideal for finding bombs due to the sheer range of materials it can detect, but it’s not exactly practical for luggage checks when you need both a suitcase-sized machine and up to half an hour to conduct a scan. MIT and Princeton researchers have a better way, though: they’ve developed a quantum cascade laser system that should make terahertz detection a reality. Since the laser’s single, tiny frequency comb only consumes power for very brief periods, you can fit it into a part the size of a chip without a gigantic cooling unit — perfect for airport scanners. It takes as few as 100 microseconds to identify a substance, too, so you wouldn’t have to wait (longer than usual, anyway) while agents scan your bags.
As is often the case with breakthroughs like this, you probably won’t see quantum cascade lasers at security gates any time soon. Princeton’s Gerard Wysocki describes this as a “great first step” toward terahertz detection rather than the end goal. All the same, it’s not hard to see where things are going. The technology is most immediately relevant for security scanners, where spotting an exotic explosive could save lives, but it could also help doctors and scientists find traces of materials that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Via: UPI
Source: MIT News
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