Apple Patents Advanced iPad Covers With Customizable Displays and Notification Widgets

The United States Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent that describes a collection of iPad-compatible Smart Covers that could integrate various display technologies to greatly enhance “the overall functionality of the tablet device.” The original patent application was published in August 2012 and dates back to August 2011, four years before Apple introduced the original iPad Pro and its Smart Connector. (via Patently Apple).

The first integration of a next-generation Smart Cover lies in video playback, where a user could watch a video with the cover folded up into a triangle like Apple’s current Smart Covers allow, but now supporting a set of touch-sensitive areas for play, pause, fast forward, and rewind controls. Although the user would not be able to directly see where they were pressing down, “the size and location of the touch sensitive areas can allow for a user to easily learn the locations after a short familiarization period,” according to the patent.

Another suggestion for a Smart Connector-enabled cover has an internal display with “a completely customized control scheme,” which would let users change up the cover’s input to be anything from a traditional QWERTY keyboard to a sketchbook for artists. The addition of another screen of a size in comparison to the iPad’s would introduce an iOS experience “much closer to the one enjoyed by laptop users.”

A Smart Cover with AMOLED display (left) and e-ink display (right)
One of the more basic and interesting applications lies in a Smart Cover that could show notifications and messages without needing to lift it to reveal the iPad’s screen underneath. This potential case could use AMOLED technology to power a minuscule number of pixels to generate the notification text widgets without burning battery life. An expansion on this idea suggests a cover with integrated e-ink screens to display traditional push notifications, as well as provide an area for users to jot down quick notes throughout the day.

There are a handful of other ideas in today’s patent descriptions, one of which includes a cover with solar panels that could charge the iPad with direct sunlight. Most of these applications mention technology that Apple has created in the years since the patent’s original filing, including both the Apple Pencil and Smart Connector, although neither are referenced directly by name. That being said, it’s still advised to take Apple’s newest patent application with a grain of salt, since it’s impossible to know whether the company will ever move forward with any of these iPad case designs.

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Grab the new Chromecast and Peaky Blinders Season 2 for just £23

The Chromecast 2 is available through Wuaki.TV in the UK for just £22.99 (via Hot UK Deals), which includes Peaky Blinders Season 2. While season 1 of the series isn’t included and you’ll probably have to check that out separately, it’s a neat promotion for the Chromecast alone, setting you back just over £20 for the unit.

As for Peaky Blinders, it’s a BBC crime drama series based around the Peaky Blinders gang, who operated in Birmingham during the aftermath of World War 1. Season 1 of the series is also available through Wuaki.TV for £9.99.

See at Wuaki.TV

Nova Launcher does Night mode the way all of Android should

I love Night mode.

I’ve been known to walk out of my darkened edit bay and screech “THE LIGHT! IT BURNS!” Every time I talk to the Google Play Music team, I beg them to return the dark UI the app featured when I first joined Android. But not everyone wants everything to go back to the Dark HOLOYOLO ages, though, so if/when Night mode makes its grand return, it needs to do so in a way that can please both the dark-loving users and the light.

Nova Launcher gives me hope that we’re getting close to that.

Night mode was hiding in the Developer Preview of Android Marshmallow, but never made it to the final release. This year, Night mode is back and while you have the option to use a dark mode for the Android OS, there is no such option for Night mode to trigger dark themes in other apps. Nova Launcher’s new night mode hasn’t let that omission stop them from tying their Night mode into the Android system.

The Follow system option for Night mode will switch between dark and light themes just as the system does. If you’re on the Android N Developer Preview, Night mode will switch as your system does, if your system does. If you’re on any of the publicly released version of Android, from Marshmallow down, Follow system acts currently acts like Auto, meaning it will switch based on your time/location and the sunset time.

This isn’t a perfect system. The lack of a clear-cut off switch for this feature might run afoul of users who don’t care for the dark theme or find it harder to read. On that note, if you don’t want night mode on, you’ll need to set a Custom timing for it, such as from 3:00 to 3:05 AM when you’ll likely be asleep and never see it.

The implementation of dark mode outside Nova Settings isn’t perfect quite yet, especially for people using custom color/tints for their app drawer, folders, and other elements. Night mode currently wipes out all those lovely translucent tones and replaces them with the same dark grey that’s used in Nova Settings. Thankfully, Night mode isn’t an all or nothing affair.

Night mode always applies a dark theme to Nova Settings when active, but you can turn it off for all or some of the visible home screen and app drawer features it can affect. Getting a dark search bar outside Action Launcher might be reason enough for some users to turn on Night mode, but you may not want it plastering dark grey over your app drawer – or even worse, changing your custom app drawer icon to a boring, standard (but dark) one.

The control over individual features in an important one, and one not often found in apps that are gracious enough to feature a Night mode. Much as I love dark themes, they don’t work perfectly for all features and screens in all apps, so you’ll have to turn it off while using a particular feature or trying to use the app in particular situations. We need more granular controls for Night mode, and while that most certainly means more work for already hard-working developers, the dividends for users can be tremendous.

I will say that Night mode in Nova Launcher could still use a few more options, such as letting users switch from the more material dark grey to a pure black, especially for AMOLED devices. But it’s already three steps in the right direction, and I can only hope that more apps start following its lead.

LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+ get updates from Verizon

The LG G5, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ are all receiving small updates from Verizon. Each update brings a different set of features, and fixes. We’ve got security updates, Visual Voicemail enhancements and more.

Verizon notes that the LG G5 update brings:

Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update for your LG G5. This update includes enhancements for Visual Voice Mail, Airplane Mode and reporting Microsoft Exchange Active Server data usage.

Visual Voice Mail Updates:

• New, user friendly speaker and volume icons.

Airplane Mode security enhancement:

• To enable Airplane Mode with a long press of the power button, you’ll have to unlock the screen if you used the follow methods to lock it: Pattern lock, PIN, Password, Knock code, Fingerprint.

Data Usage:

• Your device will now display data usage attributed to Microsoft Exchange Active Server (EAS).

And the Note 5 update includes:

• This software update brings the latest Android™ security patches, a fix to false “No SIM card detected” error messages and improves audio routing for incoming video and voice calls.
• New SIM card detection software fixes false “No SIM card detected” pop-up notifications.
• You can now answer video calls as just a voice call, and when you do, call audio is routed to the earpiece by default.
• Video call audio will come from the speaker by default.

Finally, the Galaxy S6 edge+ gains:

• This software update brings the latest Android™ security patches, and improvements to video and voice call audio.

Video call answering options:

• You can now answer video calls as just a voice call, and when you do, call audio is routed to the earpiece by default.
• Video call audio will come from the speaker by default.

These updates are just beginning to roll out, so it may be a day or two before you see them. To check manually, head into your Settings, About phone and finally check for the update.

Video Direct is Amazon’s new way to give content creators access to its millions of customers

Amazon has announced Video Direct, a new way for video providers to reach Amazon’s huge customer base. With this, content creators will have a number of new self-service ways to put their videos in front of Amazon’s millions of Prime customers. The company will be offering royalties based on the number of minutes streamed, and more.

Amazon notes that some of the benefits include:

• Access to Amazon’s most engaged streaming audience—video providers can distribute their content directly to tens of millions of Prime members and earn royalties based on minutes streamed
• Choice of how to share titles—video providers can utilize the different options Amazon Video uses to share content to customers
• Expanded customer reach—video providers can choose to make their titles available in any country where Amazon Video is available—the United States, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom and Japan; with support for all the devices Amazon Video is available on—Fire TV, Fire and other iOS and Android tablets, connected TVs, game consoles, iOS and Android phones, and laptops
• Insightful performance metrics—video providers are given performance metrics, such as number of minutes a title was streamed, projected revenue, payment history, or number of subscribers, so they can optimize the way they offer and promote content to customers; video providers have full control and the flexibility to make changes based on these metrics

It appears as though Amazon is positioning itself to offer a competitive package for creators to sway them to move from YouTube to their platform. Amazon is also launching the Amazon Video Direct Stars program, which will give creators a share of one million dollars per month based on customer engagement on their title. Full details of the Amazon Video Direct announcement can be found here.

T-Mobile will offer families four lines with 6GB of data for $30 a month per line

T-Mobile’s latest promotion is offering families four lines, each with 6GB of data, for $30 a month per line. Additional lines can be added for $20 a month each.

T-Mobile says their new plan offers a savings of $20 per month for a family of four on its Simple Choice with Family Match plan. The new plan begins on Wednesday, May 11 and will only be offered for a limited time.

In addition, T-Mobile is giving people who purchase a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge a free Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime smartphone. The $189.99 phone will be offered to those buyers via a prepaid card. Again this offer begins on May 11 for a limited time.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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How the AC editors do phone security

Secure your stuff.

Keeping your personal data secure is important. That’s your stuff, and most of us don’t want anyone else peeking at the things we’d rather keep private or semi-private. I treat my personal data the same way I treat my underwear — I don’t care that you know I’m wearing a pair, but I’d rather not have you digging through my top dresser drawer even though you’ll only find boring solid-color boxers. You don’t have to have anything fancy or embarrassing in your top drawer to want to keep people out of it, it’s still something you’re not ready to share.

As phones do more and hold more personal info, keeping them secure matters.

As phones do more, and we depend on them to manage our lives more, keeping them secure matters. Things like pictures, banking information, website login details and your daily activities are all in your phone and you would be surprised at how many people would like to take a look at it. We’re not afraid to ask what Google or Microsoft or Facebook is doing with all the information they have on us — so being concerned about what happens when someone can get the same data from your phone is equally important. You — and only you — should decide who gets to see what color your undies are.

All of us here at Android Central have previously mentioned the different things we do to keep personal things from turning into public things, but usually only in passing. Today, we’re going to focus on that a little more closely.

Phil Nickinson

The first rule about Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club. That’s also the general rule (and the second rule) about security. Don’t tell folks exactly how you do things.

Trading a little security for simplicity.

So here’s how I do things. It starts with the password. (It probably should start with the username itself, now that I think about it.) I use one of the password management services to not just keep track of my passwords, but to make them, as well. I don’t even know what most of my passwords are. They’re strong passwords, full of random letters and numbers and characters and symbols. The down side is that I have to have a single password to get into that password manager. But you trade security for simplicity, and that’s the compromise I’ve made for making sure my passwords aren’t all 123456.

I also use two-factor authentication on just about every service I use — I use Authy to handle all that across multiple phones. But there are still several layers of security therein, even when it’s available on multiple devices at once. Again, that’s the trade-off I made.

I don’t use Authy for everything. I use different methods for other services — generally just because I never switched them over. And that’s OK. 2FA is 2FA. And it’s one of the most important things you can do.

On my phone itself, I use a long password or PIN code or pattern. And I use fingerprints for simplicity — and they’ve meant that none of my devices goes without a lockscreen anymore. And, for that matter, you have to know the code to decrypt the device on boot.

Layers and layers of security, folks. It takes a little more thought, but not a lot of effort. And it’s a must.

Alex Dobie

I’ve used two-factor authentication on my Google accounts and other mission-critical stuff (Dropbox, VPNs, and so on) for the past few years. In that time it’s gotten a lot easier to use 2FA, in particular with Google accounts on Android and iOS. (Gone are the days when you’d need to create a rat’s nest of app-specific passports for Mail, Calendar, and so on.) Many of the pain points have disappeared — aside from the requirement of having to open the app on your phone, of course.

Really good fingerprint scanners mean there’s no excuse to not lock things up.

As for device security, I’ve used a bunch of different phones — both with and without fingerprint scanners — over the past year. In the pre-fingerprint days, Smart Lock was my weapon of choice, tying my lock screen security to whichever smartwatch I happened to be using at the time. But with newer devices featuring really good, fast fingerprint scanners — like the LG G5, Galaxy S7 and HTC 10 — there’s basically no excuse to not set a lock screen PIN or pattern of some sort. It also makes it easier to use a relatively complex pattern or PIN (as I do), as the times you actually need to input it are fewer and further between.

That’s besides all the stuff Android now does as standard, like allowing the Android Device Manager to remotely wipe and lock by default. Which amounts to a lot of extra stuff I just don’t have to think about now.

And finally, with Marshmallow and the full-disk encryption requirement for new Android phones, it’s less burdensome to require a PIN or pattern to start your phone, which is a great protection against theft. (Oftentimes the first thing a thief will do is shut down a phone and yank the SIM.)

Overall I’m not hyper-paranoid about security, but I like to think I’ve got the essentials covered pretty well.

Andrew Martonik

I’ve always been diligent about keeping at least a pattern lock screen on my phones, but with the proliferation of great fingerprint sensors on newer phones we have no excuse not to secure them. The fingerprint sensors are secure and convenient, and having one means I’m not tempted to use a long screen timeout setting or other features like Smart Lock that could potentially open up my phone to unwanted eyes. Having my fingerprints registered also open up possibilities for quickly unlocking secure areas of apps, which is an added convenience.

Having my fingerprints registered also open up possibilities for quickly unlocking secure areas of apps.

When it comes to online accounts — either on my phone or a computer — I keep everything safe inside the Enpass app. The app is also locked up behind fingerprint authentication, and keeps everything encrypted locally before syncing across my devices. Not only do I keep regular usernames and passwords in here, but also other sensitive information like credit card numbers. Having this app do it all means I’m never tempted to have important data in unsecured places.

The final part is enabling two-factor authentication for every possible service that offers it. Rather than go insane with different authentication methods for each service, I keep all of my codes locked up in the Authy app, which keeps me sane by syncing the codes across my phones as a switch. It may not be as convenient as just typing in a username and password to log in somewhere online, but knowing that nobody can get into your account without the two-factor code relieves a lot of stress about my online security.

Russell Holly

Security on your phone is incredibly important. It keeps other people from joke-posting a picture of a cat that looks kinda like your cat in a microwave to your Facebook on your behalf, which of course leads to a 20 minute phone call with relatives about how that photo made it to your wall.

We’re getting off topic.

What I do on the phone is fairly simple. Six-digit pin to encrypt the phone, so you can’t start the phone without using that code. Pattern lock or fingerprint to unlock on a day-to-day basis. It’s simple, mostly stays out of the way, and Android Device Manager lets me remotely wipe the phone if I “lose” it.

Off the phone, I use two-factor authentication for anything and everything that supports the feature. Google’s 2FA works well for Google stuff, and I use Authy for everything that doesn’t require a dedicated app or SMS because I like the way the app looks.

It doesn’t matter if your life is an open book and you really don’t want to be inconvenienced by a password when trying to check Twitter, shut up and do it anyway. When your phone is compromised — yeah, when — you introduce every person you talk to on that phone to the person or software that will attempt to target them next. Secure your phone.

Daniel Bader

These days, there is no excuse for poor security. I believe in two things: setting up a strong six-digit passcode, and ensuring that it is required to start my phone. That way, should my device fall into the wrong hands, there is a very small chance its contents will be accessible to a would-be hacker. Moreover, using Android Device Manager ensures that I can remotely locate or wipe my phone in a worst-case scenario.

1Password Family keeps our shared logins in sync.

Once inside the operating system, I use the excellent 1Password, which recently went through a Material Design overhaul, to keep safe all my login information. While I used to synchronize my personal 1Password account through Dropbox, I now use the impressive and secure 1Password Family feature with my wife to keep our shared logins in sync. While 1Password Teams is accessible through a web portal, each login requires a unique access code that the company generates upon account creation, and is only stored locally; should you lose the code, you lose access to the account. That, along with a strong password, reassures me that my information is safe.

Of course, I do use a fingerprint on devices that support it, which is an increasing number even at entry level price points, but I understand that I am sacrificing some level of security for the convenience of it. Still, if it gets more people to enable six-digit passcodes as a result, I am all for it.

Jerry Hildenbrand

For starters, I want to say my way isn’t necessarily the right way. You need to decide what things you can do that work best for you. A fingerprint scanner or password manager that stores a database online isn’t the most secure thing in the world, but both are immeasurably better than a security routine that you won’t bother using. It’s just too easy to keep your stuff pretty damn secure to not do it.

If it’s not running the latest version of Android, I’m going to pass on it.

I start with the phone software itself. If it’s not updated with the latest security patch and running the latest version of Android (or has secondary security measures in place like Samsung or BlackBerry) I’m going to pass on it, because there are other great choices that are up to date where it counts. Seeing Samsung push patches so quickly to the Galaxy S7 since it was released makes me incredibly happy. Sure, it’s only been two months, but so far they are batting a thousand. Hopefully the next Note is the same way. Then they can work on pushing out those timely updates to the rest of their models …

I encrypt my phones, and make sure a password is required decrypt and start them. I also encrypt my SD card if the phone has a slot for one, which means I’m diligent on keeping everything backed up in case I break a phone. I get that some people want the small performance gain that comes with disabling encryption, but I’m not one of them. If you are, that’s OK, just be careful in other ways. You don’t want someone like me finding your unencrypted phone at the park or Red Robin, right?

I keep my phone lock screen password protected, and I don’t use my fingerprints to make unlocking easier. Yes, this can be a pain in the ass, and I have no good reason for it other than a tinge of paranoia. My fingerprints are my identity, not my password — something that never changes. I certainly hope nobody ever finds a way to break in and figure out how to “fake” a fingerprint-generated secure token, but if they do I can’t change it. So far, it looks pretty damn secure and my reasoning is unfounded. Fingerprint security on Android is awesome, because it looks to be pretty secure and so easy that everyone will use it. Pay no mind to me unless you think the same way about it, and use that finger.

I also use a password manager for things like website logins, insurance information and banking details. I prefer mSecure because it allows me to sync with a computer on my local network to keep the database updated. (A directory on my little closet server mounted as a remote share on my desktop and laptop, if you’re interested.) I trust companies like 1Password or LastPass to keep my cloud database records safe, but I just trust myself a little more. You should use the password manager you trust and find easy to use — that means you’ll use one, and that’s the important part.

I just switched to Authy for two-factor authentication token management. So far I like it, as much as one can actually like an app that only exists to serve 2FA tokens. Using 2FA is another of those things everyone needs to enable, because you don’t have to be a movie star or millionaire to get your accounts hacked.

Your way?

None of us claim to be security experts or that our lives are unhackable. We just make a conscious effort to keep it as secure as we can.

We’re always ready to hear your ideas about the things you do, and we’ll not be shy about copying the good ones. Drop a comment and let everyone know how you do it so we can all learn a thing or two.