WWDC 2016: MacRumors Readers’ OS X 10.12 Wishlists
At WWDC 2016 next week, Apple will unveil the next major versions of iOS and OS X. Based on Apple’s historic naming pattern, the operating systems are presumptively referred to as iOS 10 and OS X 10.12. However, there is evidence to suggest that Apple may instead rebrand OS X as macOS, in line with iOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
Ahead of the keynote, MacRumors readers have been sharing their iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 wishlists in our discussion forums. For OS X 10.12, some of the most popular feature requests include Siri integration, remote unlocking, Safari picture-in-picture capabilities, expanded Continuity and Handoff features, Mission Control and Notification Center improvements, a system-wide Dark Mode, and more.
Siri
Siri debuted in beta on the iPhone 4s in late 2011, and it has since expanded to iPad, iPod touch and, in a more restricted form, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Since then, Mac users have hoped that Apple will bring the virtual assistant to OS X, and the latest rumors suggest that may finally happen this year.
“This one is heavily rumoured for this year, and not without good reason,” writes MacRumors reader Joseph H. “It’s madness the personal assistant is not on Mac yet. There are tons of useful queries we could ask the assistant which could range from searching to launching and quitting apps to simply restarting the machine.”
We previously reported that Siri will have a menu bar icon on OS X 10.12, positioned next to the Notification Center toggle, along with a colorful dock icon. When either is clicked, a waveform will pop up to give users a visual cue that the virtual assistant is listening for commands, akin to holding down the Home button on iOS devices.
When a supported Mac is connected to a power source, users will be able to make hands-free “Hey Siri” voice commands, just like on the latest iPhones and iPads. OS X users will also be able to set a keyboard shortcut to activate Siri and configure other settings through System Preferences.
Many users also hope that Siri on Mac will have an option to provide feedback.
Remote Unlocking
A common item among OS X wishlists is the ability to unlock a Mac without typing a password, such as with Touch ID, facial recognition, or a trackpad pattern, and the functionality could be introduced as early as this year.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro will feature Touch ID, but he did not specify if the fingerprint reader will be integrated into the notebook as a hardware feature.
We previously reported that Apple is working on an auto unlock function that would allow an iPhone, and possibly Apple Watch, to unlock a Mac when in close proximity, alleviating the need to enter a password on a password-protected Mac.
The feature, which uses Bluetooth LE frameworks, would likely work hand-in-hand with rumored Apple Pay support for web browsers. Remote unlocking could be introduced as part of OS X 10.12, but there is a chance that the function could be shelved until a later date if internal development is not completed in time.
Other
- System-wide Dark Mode: Apple introduced Dark Mode on OS X Yosemite in 2014, but when enabled it only darkens the OS X menu bar and Dock. A true system-wide Dark Mode would extend to windowed apps like Finder and Safari and all other elements of the operating system.
- Night Shift: Introduced on iOS 9.3, Night Shift is a feature that cuts down on the amount of blue light an iPhone or iPad is putting out during the evening hours by automatically shifting towards the warmer (yellower) colors in the spectrum. F.lux has provided similar functionality on Mac for several years, but many users are hopeful that Apple will introduce Night Shift as a stock OS X feature.
- Time Machine backups to iCloud: The application is currently only able to create physical backups of files.
- Dock: Right-click options for “New Window” and “New Private Window” even when Safari is closed. Ability to chose default behavior in System Preferences > Dock for folder clicks in Stacks, when using Grid and List view: to open the folder in Stacks or to go directly to Finder.
- Finder: A sorting option to have folders pinned to the top of file lists. Ability to view total size of multiple selected folders in “Get Info” menu.
- Notification Center: Display a notification badge in menu bar when new notifications are available. For example: Notifications (3). Set default Notification Center pane in System Preferences > Notifications.
- Mission Control: Close windows. View minimized windows. Switch to the Desktop by clicking on it in the background. Hide Safari’s Private Window contents.
- Continuity and Handoff: Transfer calls from iPhone to Mac.
- Window management: Change the green button to resize the window to the largest possible size with the Dock and Menu Bar visible. A separate button for full-screen view. Automatic window snapping. Native HyperDock functionality.
- Splitting up iTunes: Individual apps for Music, Videos, Podcasts, Books, and Sync.
- More stock apps: Apple News, Health, Phone, and Weather.
- Multi-display Dock: Make the Dock visible on all desktops for users with multiple displays.
- Text size options: A slider function to increase or decrease text sizing in apps such as Contacts and Mail.
- Systemwide support for more languages: Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, and others
- Native Caffeine functionality
- Front Row app replacement
- Expanded codec support for QuickTime
Read more about the features people are hoping for in OS X in the dedicated OS X 10.12 wishlist thread on the forums.
The new version of OS X or macOS will be unveiled alongside iOS 10, and possibly new tvOS and watchOS versions, on Monday, June 13 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The event is set to kick off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Discuss this article in our forums
MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Philips Hue Starter Kit From Stringify
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Internet of Things platform Stringify to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Philips Hue white and color ambiance starter kit to use with the free Stringify app. [Direct Link]
Stringify is a pretty popular home automation app that’s able to link together a long list of Internet-connected devices and apps, connecting products like the Nest Thermostat, Hue bulbs, and Fitbit with apps like Dropbox, Slack, Twitter, and Yelp.
Basically, Stringify is a centralized app for controlling all of your home products and automating a huge variety of actions. If you’ve ever used IFTTT, Stringify is similar to that, but it’s more powerful because it can connect to a lot more devices. It’s an app that tells your devices “when this happens, then do this.”
Most people are probably familiar with the Philips Hue at this point, but if you’re not, it’s a line of Wi-Fi connected bulbs that are linked together via a HomeKit-enabled hub. The starter kit we’re giving away includes a hub and three color bulbs, which can turn any color or any shade of white.
Stringify uses “flows” to link devices together to perform specific tasks. With Stringify and the Philips Hue, it’s possible to set up complex flows involving timers and location that aren’t available with the regular Hue app. Flows can also be used to get the Philips Hue to work with other connected home products, like the Nest. Some examples:
- On weekday evenings at 11 and location is at home, turn bedroom Hue lights on, set a timer, and fade off both lights.
- Every weekday between 5pm and 7pm, turn on Hue lights when leaving work.
- At 5:30 a.m. on weekdays, turn on Bedroom Hue lights, send a message with a weather report, and set the Nest thermostat to 62 degrees.
Creating flows between home products and apps is done through a simple drag and drop interface that makes it easy to set up the desired effect. With the Hue lights, there are a huge number of triggers that can be used for actions in Stringify, based on parameters like time, weather, location, and more.
Want to set a trigger to turn on the lights whenever a new story is posted on MacRumors? That’s possible. Want the lights to turn blue whenever rain is forecasted? That’s also possible. There are a near endless series of triggers and events you can set up with the Hue, and there’s even more you can do if you own multiple Stringify-compatible products.
Stringify can be downloaded immediately and used with the products you already own, but Stringify also has a Philips Hue Starter Kit to give to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize.
You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (June 10) at 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time on June 17. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 17 and will be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Tags: giveaway, Stringify
Discuss this article in our forums
WWDC 2016 Decorations Going Up at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Ahead of Monday’s Keynote Event
Apple today began decorating the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, which is where the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote will be held on Monday. Crews have started putting up window decorations, and rainbow-colored flags, and as the weekend progresses, we should see additional banners and signage.
This year’s Worldwide Developers Conference website, app, and media invites have all featured a simple but colorful dark theme, and it’s likely signs and banners will adopt the same aesthetic.
Image via Instagram
Decorations have not yet started going up at the Moscone Center, where the rest of the conference will take place. Apple typically starts decorating Moscone West on Tuesday or Wednesday during the week ahead of WWDC, but an event that took place at the venue through Thursday may delay decorations until later today.
A photo posted by thaiboe1 (@thaiboe1) on Jun 10, 2016 at 12:04pm PDT
This year’s keynote event will feature the debut of iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, along with new versions of watchOS and tvOS. We may hear more details on Apple’s App Store changes, and we could see updates to some services, like Apple Pay. For full details on what to expect, make sure to check out our WWDC roundup.
Apple will provide a live stream of the WWDC keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will also provide live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumors Live Twitter account.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Discuss this article in our forums
What to Expect at WWDC 2016
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on Monday, June 13 with a keynote event at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where Apple is expected to show off the latest versions of its iOS, OS X, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems and perhaps debut new features for services like Apple Pay and iCloud.
Ahead of the conference, we’ve compiled all of the rumors that we’ve heard about features that could potentially debut at the event to give MacRumors readers an idea of what to expect.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
iOS 10
Apple’s operating system for iPhones and iPads has gone largely without design changes since iOS 7, so it’s reasonable to assume iOS 10 may feature some design tweaks to update the look of the OS. A dark mode is one possibility that’s been circulating based on the look of Apple’s WWDC app and site, but there’s no evidence suggesting such a feature will be implemented.
Image via iHelpBR
Information on iOS 10 is limited, but we’ve heard some tantalizing details about the update. Apple is expected to introduce a Siri SDK, allowing Siri to interact with third-party apps in new ways. Developers will be able to build Siri integration into their apps, allowing Siri to access data and perform tasks within apps. Third-party app access has the potential to greatly expand what Siri is capable of and could put the personal assistant on par with more robust solutions like Google Now.
In 2015, rumors indicated Apple was working on an “iCloud Voicemail” service able to allow Siri to answer missed calls and record and transcribe messages for users to read as text at a later time. The service, which could come in iOS 10, is also said to be capable of relaying location information and delivering details on why a user can’t answer a phone call.
Siri may also be improved with new capabilities Apple has made through acquisitions like VocalIQ. VocalIQ is able to retain the semantic context between conversations and recall user preferences. Apple has made other AI-related purchases over the past year that could have been purchased to improve Siri. Perceptio, for example, is a startup designed to allow for the creation of advanced artificial intelligence systems while limiting the amount of data stored in the cloud, functionality that could allow Apple to bridge the gap between its desire to introduce deeper Siri functionality with its unwavering focus on privacy.
iOS 10 is rumored to include a redesigned Music app featuring a more intuitive user interface for Apple Music. It’s said to use a “bolder, yet simpler” design that emphasizes black and white backgrounds and text to put more focus on album art.
Apple is planning to replace the “New” tab in Apple Music with a “Browse” option that includes better organizational tools for discovering new content, and it will also feature a simplified “For You” section. Connect and Beats 1 will remain unchanged, but Apple may remove the Connect tab from the Apple Music interface.
New 3D Touch shortcut previews will be added, sharing features will be emphasized, and there will be more of a focus on song lyrics, making them easier to access within the app.
With the upcoming iPhone 7 Plus expected to gain a dual-lens camera, Apple is building Photos improvements into iOS 10. Apple is expected to reintroduce some abilities that were initially found in iPhoto before it was discontinued and while we don’t know specifics, iPhoto previously had features like EXIF editing and touch-based brushes for adjusting brightness and other parameters on only specific parts of a photo.
A Skitch-like photo editing feature allowing users to draw on and mark up images could also be in the works, mirroring features that are available in the Mail app for marking up PDFs and photos.
Metadata keys added to App Store apps in April suggests Apple is potentially working on a much-desired feature to allow users to hide or delete unwanted stock apps. If such a feature is in the works, it could be included in iOS 10.
Check out our full iOS 10 roundup for more info.
OS X 10.12
OS X didn’t get a major update in 2015, but 2016 may more than make up for it. OS X 10.12 is expected to bring Siri to the Mac for the first time, allowing the personal assistant to be used on Mac devices like it’s used on iOS devices.
Siri will be enabled through an icon in the OS X menu bar, the dock, a user-specified keyboard shortcut, or through a hands-free “Hey Siri” command. In May, we shared an image of the full Siri dock icon, featuring a colorful Siri waveform.
Siri functionality on the Mac is likely to mirror much of the functionality on iOS, with Siri able to conduct searches, open apps, tweak system settings, answer simple queries, play music from iTunes, and more. Siri may also be able to interface with third-party Mac apps through the rumored Siri SDK.
Another key feature of OS X 10.12 may be expanded Continuity features. Apple is working on an auto unlock function that would allow an iPhone to unlock a Mac when in close proximity, alleviating the need to enter a password on a password-protected machine in OS X 10.12.
The feature, which uses Bluetooth LE frameworks, will presumably work similarly to the automatic unlocking feature on the Apple Watch, which allows an unlocked iPhone to bypass the passcode restriction on a connected Apple Watch. In this scenario, an iPhones Touch ID button would be used as a verification method for simpler logins.
The unlocking function could also potentially be tied to the rumor suggesting Apple Pay integration is coming to web browsers. Users could make purchases online using Safari, confirming the Apple Pay payment through an iPhone’s Touch ID when linked to a Mac.
Features rumored for iOS 10, such as Photos improvements and Apple Music tweaks, are also expected to be included in OS X 10.12. An updated version of iTunes that includes a redesigned Apple Music experience with a simpler, more intuitive interface is a possibility, and as for Photos, it could gain some features that were removed during the transition from iPhoto to Photos.
Beyond rumored features, there has been some speculation that Apple could rename OS X to MacOS to better match with iOS, watchOS, and tvOS, but whether or not Apple will actually introduce a change to its long-running Mac naming scheme remains to be seen.
Check out our full OS X 10.12 roundup for more info.
tvOS 2 and watchOS 3
Apple has said new versions of tvOS and watchOS 3 will be introduced at WWDC, but we have not heard any details on what new versions of these operating systems might include.
Drawing from what we expect for iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, the two operating systems could feature Siri improvements and design tweaks to match any design changes coming to iOS 10, but beyond that, we don’t have any insight into what to expect.
We do know that as of June 1, Apple is requiring new Apple Watch apps submitted to the App Store to be native apps, suggesting Apple has plans for deeper native app capabilities. At the very least, a push towards native apps is encouraging because it will result in Apple Watch apps that are able to open more quickly and work more smoothly in watchOS 3.
Services
Apple Pay:
Apple has several new Apple Pay features in the works that would be ideal to debut at the event. Apple is planning to bring Apple Pay to web browsers, allowing Apple Pay users to make Apple Pay purchases in online stores directly through Safari, and rumors suggest the feature will debut at WWDC.
As with standard transactions, payments would be approved on the iPhone through Touch ID. Using the expanded Continuity features allowing an iPhone to connect to a Mac, Apple Pay payments on Mac notebooks and desktop machines may also be verified through Touch ID.
Apple is also working on a person-to-person update for Apple Pay, allowing users to send money to one another much like Square Cash or Venmo. It is not exactly clear how such a feature would work, but there have been “whispers” suggesting Apple may let customers send money to one another through iMessages.
iCloud:
Following its conflict with the FBI, Apple is likely to introduce new security features in iOS 10 and OS X 10.12. One possibility is encrypted iCloud backups, something Apple has been hesitant to implement in the past because it makes the restoring process more difficult.
Rumors have suggested Apple is working on implementing stronger security measures “even it can’t hack” to protect iOS devices. These improvements are likely to be introduced through a mix of hardware and software improvements, and it’s quite possible we’ll see the first of Apple’s security enhancements in iOS 10.
iMessage:
One rumor says Apple is planning to announce iMessage for Android at the event, giving Android users access to one of the iPhone’s best features. It’s not clear how accurate this information is as it comes from a source without a reliable track record.
App Store:
Ahead of WWDC, Apple announced some major changes to the App Store, which we may hear more about at the event itself. Apple opened up app subscriptions to encompass all product categories and introduced a new subscription revenue split. After a customer maintains an in-app subscription for one year, developers will receive 85 percent of profits instead of 70 percent.
Apple is also adding ads to App Store search results for the first time, and going forward, the App Store’s “Featured” section will not display apps that are already installed. Apple is planning to bring back the Categories tab, and a Share sheet option is being added as a 3D Touch Quick action for all apps to make sharing easier. Search will also be improved.
Hardware
Ahead of WWDC there were rumors and speculation suggesting Apple could introduce products like an updated MacBook Pro or a new Thunderbolt Display, but it’s likely neither of these products are going to be ready for a June debut, instead coming later in 2016.
Leading up to WWDC, multiple Apple insiders have said the event will focus on software instead of hardware, and so we are not expecting hardware updates at the event. There’s a possibility Apple could surprise us with an announcement, but if there are plans for a hardware product debut, those plans have been kept under wraps.
Though we’re not expecting any Mac announcements at WWDC, one questionable rumor from Japanese site Mac Otakara suggests Apple is planning to introduce both new MacBook Air and new MacBook Pro models in the month of June, shipping the notebooks in August.
This is somewhat unlikely as Apple just bumped the RAM in the 13-inch MacBook Air up to 8GB in April. Previous rumors also indicate Apple may not be planning to introduce further MacBook Air updates, ending development on the machine in favor of the MacBook. As for the MacBook Pro, past information has said it will ship in 4Q 2016, conflicting with Mac Otakara’s rumor of a June debut.
Streaming Details and Release Date
Apple is will offer a live stream of the keynote event through its website and through a dedicated events app on the Apple TV. MacRumors will also provide live coverage, on MacRumors.com and on the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Following the conclusion of the keynote, Apple will likely provide iOS 10, OS X 10.12, watchOS 3, and tvOS 2 to developers, giving them time to adapt their apps to take advantage of new features. The operating systems are likely to be released to the public in the fall alongside new hardware.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Rumored to Announce Apple Pay for Websites at WWDC
Earlier this year, rumors suggested Apple would expand Apple Pay to allow iOS users to make purchases from websites, and now Digital Trends says Apple will indeed introduce such a feature at WWDC.
Starting on Monday, Apple Pay will reportedly be able to be used to make purchases from select partner websites, serving as an alternative to PayPal. As with all Apple Pay transactions, purchases from websites will be confirmed using the Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the iPhone.
It is not known if the feature will be limited to Safari and only available on iOS devices. We have heard rumors suggesting Apple plans to allow the iPhone to be used to unlock a password-protected Mac using Bluetooth, and if such a feature is implemented, it could also presumably be used to approve web-based purchases on a Mac.
Based on our source’s information, it’s unclear whether you will be able to use Apple Pay on the web from a device that does not have a fingerprint sensor, such as a MacBook or a PC. It’s also unknown whether a specific browser will be required to make purchases with Apple Pay online.
At the current time, Apple Pay can be used to make purchases in brick and mortar stores and in third-party apps that support the service. An expansion of Apple Pay to the Safari browser will alleviate the need for customers to download a store’s app to make a payment with Apple Pay, resulting in a payment service that is simpler to use and more accessible.
Apple Pay could potentially be a major focus at WWDC, with other rumors hinting at Apple Pay support in new countries and person-to-person Apple Pay payments.
Related Roundups: WWDC 2016, Apple Pay
Discuss this article in our forums
How to set up your Samsung Gear Fit 2 – CNET
Enlarge Image
Jason Cipriani/CNET
You just got your hands on the shiny new Samsung Gear Fit 2. You’ve unboxed it, charged it up, and drooled over the screen — it sure is pretty. Now what? Set it up and start exercising, of course.
Or if you’re on the fence about buying the Gear Fit 2, be sure to read through CNET’s review for the ins and outs of Samsung’s latest wearable.
The setup process for the Gear Fit 2 will vary depending on whether you’re using a Samsung device, or an Android device made by a competing manufacture.
Setup on any ol’ Android phone
Enlarge Image
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
The Gear Fit 2 will work with any Android device running Android 4.4 and above. The first thing you’ll need to do is install the Samsung Gear app from the Play store.
With the app installed, follow the prompts to connect your phone and the Fit 2 via Bluetooth. During the process you’ll see a few different prompts asking you to install three total apps in addition to the Samsung Gear app: S Health, Samsung Accessory Service and Gear Fit 2 Plugin. You can install the apps ahead of time to speed up the setup process.
These apps are required for the Fit 2 to interact and work properly with your device. It’s annoying having to bounce between the Play store and the Gear app to finish the setup process, but there’s not much we can do about it.
Setup on a Galaxy phone
The process for setting up a Samsung product on a Samsung device is a bit more streamlined than a competing Android phone. To begin, you’ll need to open the Galaxy Apps app on your phone and install the Samsung Gear app if it’s not already installed. Even if the Gear app is installed, odds are there will be a pending update.
With the Gear app installed or updated, launch it and follow the prompts. Once gain, you’ll need to install additional apps and services but instead of having to manually install each one your phone will handle the process on its own.
You’re not quite done yet
Just before you finish the setup process, you’ll need to go through the list of installed apps on your phone and check the box next to each one you want the Gear app to push alerts to your wrist. One thing to watch for is the lack of the Gear app automatically activating the default SMS application on your device; find it in the list and check its box.
Now that you have the Fit 2 and your phone talking to one another and playing nice, take a second and update the apps that are currently installed on the Gear.
Enlarge Image
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
To update the included Gear Fit 2 apps:
- Launch Samsung Gear app.
- Under “Get new apps” tap on Samsung Galaxy Apps.
- You can tall which apps have an update waiting thanks to the two arrows forming a circle (for lack of a better name) to the right of each app’s icon. Open each app, and update.
That wasn’t too bad, now was it? Now it’s time to figure out just how to use it.
Find out if it’s time to replace your MacBook’s battery – CNET
My aging MacBook Pro doesn’t hold a charge like it once did. That’s not surprising, since it’s nearly five years old and batteries tend to lose their capacity over time.
And the less time my MacBook’s battery lasts, the more I fear I’ll wake up one morning to a dead laptop. Luckily, gauging exactly when that will happen is easy. Your MacBook has a built-in utility that tells you when you can expect your battery to go kaput.
Check the condition of your MacBook’s battery
To check the condition of your MacBook’s battery, click on the battery icon in the menu bar. You will see one of four conditions:
- Normal: The battery is functioning normally.
- Replace Soon: The battery is functioning normally but holds less charge than it did when it was new.
- Replace Now: The battery is functioning normally but holds significantly less charge than it did when it was new. You can continue to use the battery until you replace it without harming your computer.
- Service Battery: The battery isn’t functioning normally, and you may or may not notice a change in its behavior or the amount of charge it holds. Take your computer in for service. You can continue to use your battery before it’s checked without harming your computer.
Enlarge Image
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
After reading these descriptions, I feel better about the Replace Soon status for my MacBook Pro’s battery and feel confident I’ll make it to the fall when I can check out the new models when they are expected to be released.
Getting the exact number
For most modern MacBooks, Apple estimates the battery can last through 1,000 cycles. A cycle count means using all of your battery’s power and then fully recharging it, whether you drained your battery in one sitting or off and on over the course of a few days or weeks.
According to Apple, “your battery is designed to retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles.” So, you can expect to continue past 1,000 cycle counts, just with diminishing returns in terms of battery life. If you want to find out where, exactly, your battery stands, use the System Report tool.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
To check your current cycle count: Hold down the Alt key and click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner and then choose System Report. Next, click Power from the left panel and look for the number for Cycle Count under Health Information. My MacBook Pro has been through 1,190 cycle counts, so I’m comfortably over the limit but still not in Replace Now or Service Battery territory.
Replacing your MacBook’s battery
If the battery needs to be replaced, Apple recommends you take or ship your MacBook to an Apple Store or authorized service provider to service or replace your battery. Apple charges between $129 and $199 for battery service.
If you’re considering this route, determine if your MacBook is still under warranty (one year from purchase) or an AppleCare protection plan if you purchased one, after which point you can decide whether it makes more sense to replace your MacBook’s battery or your MacBook entirely.
Ragnarok: Heroes of Midgard could use some Godly help (Review)
Overview
Ragnarok: Heroes of Midgard is a free-to-play card collecting/RPG game that has a lot of potential, but also a lot of faults.
Developer: OmegaGamesLLC
Cost: Free (with micro-transactions and ads)
Impressions
Ragnarok: Heroes of Midgard is an interesting game, to say the least. It’s a sort of card game/RPG hybrid with characters based off of Norse mythology and fantasy. The game features card collecting, exploration and battling with a team of characters – sounds great, right? Unfortunately, Ragnarok doesn’t exactly do any of these things in an outstanding way.
The story of the game is essentially Loki, the Norse god of Mischief, is up to no good and you need to stop his evil deeds across the realms of Asgard. The game takes some liberties with Norse lore, but it isn’t the worst premise.
The game is similar in style to other popular mobile games like Brave Frontier, where you collect characters of varying rarity and power, put them in a team, and fight in automatic battles. Ragnarok uses cards instead of characters, with admittedly nice art on them, which you collect from the field of battle and from the environment. You can summon cards using in-game currency and real money, as well as upgrade and fuse them together to get more powerful units. Once you get the cards, however, the game takes a sharp drop in fun.
1 of 4
Pay no attention to the user name… I run out of ideas easily.
Where a game like Brave Frontier has Final Fantasy-style animated battles with interesting effects and some degree of interactivity, Ragnarok does not. Battles in Ragnarok boil down to two parties bumping into each other with little to no animation, and just some numbers popping up.
The battles last about 2-10 seconds at most, and sometimes you don’t even know what happened until the win/loss screen appears. I wish they had sprung for animations, or added some strategy to the mix, letting you pick which cards attack when, or maybe add some ability to launch special attacks. The game just doesn’t give the player much to do besides tap one button and watch.
The same can be said of exploration, which consists of tapping the “explore” button and watching a little animation over and over until something happens. Occasionally a battle will crop up, or a cut-scene detailing the story will occur, but they are not very frequent, making exploration become tedious at times.
There are other modes to play as well, including an arena mode, where you can battle your party against others. A guild feature is also available, in which you can create and join teams with other players or friends. These modes are fine, but the arena is just more of the same boring battles.
Also, the app has a weird issue where it installs two different icons. Worst of all, one works and the other doesn’t. Confusing and frustrating for sure.
Conclusion
Overall, I was disappointed with Ragnarok: Heroes of Midgard. It has a lot of promise and a bunch of content to work with, but the gameplay itself, coupled with the bevy of superior games available in the same genre for the same price, make this game a hard sell. If you’re looking for a decent game to pick up and play for a time waster, or if you need that collectible free-to-play card game/RPG fix, you could certainly do worse, but also a lot better.
Download and install Ragnarok: Heroes of Midgard from the Google Play Store.
Pelican PROTECTOR: A case review
The Shpeel
Smartphones are not cheap. In fact, if you already have a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge you know this all too well. Almost 800 bucks is the current going rate.
The debate is fierce, do I go “NAKED’ and show off the beauty of this very expensive pocket size computer. Or do I cover all the beautiful glass and metal up with a case, so that it lasts longer than the first day when inevitably I drop it on the sidewalk, face down and try to convince myself that ” it didn’t drop that hard. The screen is fine!” only to pick it up and to realize that even though “it didn’t drop that hard” it’s now a shattered mess that will cost almost as much to fix as replace.
I say COVER IT UP! Protect that investment and put a good case on it. Even though it’s not 100% certain that it still won’t break, there is a lot better chance of it dropping and being ok with a case on.
Back in package
The Scoop
Enter the Pelican Protector! Pelican has been at the “protecting things” game for a long time. 40 years in fact! It started out making Scuba diving gear, and have since moved into protecting everything imaginable.
Which so happens to include the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The Protector is “Tested to Military Specifications to survive multiple drops”, has impact absorbing TPR rubber lining to protect the electronics inside the phone, and angled edges to divert energy and protect the screen from surface contact. The case is made with hard plastic and rubber for “two layer” protection.
Summing it up
This case has a hard plastic back, but softer rubbery side walls. There is a rubber ring around the back that helps it not slip around when the phone is sat down on its back and when it’s in your hand. This case is two layers, not two pieces like with some other cases.
The smooth look of the hard plastic with rubber grips in all the right places make this case from Pelican visually pleasing and feels great in your hand.
Some drawbacks are the power and volume buttons are a little bit too small and take just a slightly harder push than I would like. Also the charging port cutout is slightly smaller than the non-Samsung chargers I have. Neither of those issues are a deal breaker by any means.
The other drawback for me specifically is I use a magnetic CD tray mount in my car (LIKE THIS ONE). The thickness of the hard plastic on the back, and the slippery section in the middle where the magnet connects, made my phone fall off the mount while driving. I really like the look and feel of this case and definitely feel my phone is protected from drops. Also, this case comes with a lifetime warranty that covers the case if it breaks. “Guaranteed For Life: You break it, we replace it” is the Pelican’s motto.
You can buy the Pelican Protector at Amazon HERE for around $39.99 with free shipping included.
You can also learn more at Pelican.
Pelican_Protrctor
1 of 6
Back in package
Back_close
Back Far
Front/Inside
Side View Volume Buttons
Side View Power button
PlayStation Neo confirmed and 4K-ready, but PS4.5 won’t be at E3 2016
Sony has confirmed that it is working on an upgraded PlayStation 4 console, but that rumours of it appearing at this year’s E3 are wide of the mark.
The PlayStation Neo, as it is codenamed, will be launched by the company in the future, and will have 4K Ultra HD graphics capabilities, but not at the show in Los Angeles next week.
President of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Andrew House, told the Financial Times that the new console will “sit alongside and complement the standard PS4,” as expected. It will sell “both [versions] through the life cycle,” he said.
READ: E3 2016: All the launches, games and consoles to expect
The console has also been dubbed the PS4.5 and PS4K in recent months, since some plans were leaked, but it is likely it will adopt an all-new, previously unheard name on release.
There are no indications as yet when that might be.
The PlayStation Neo is being held back until there is “a full range of the best experiences on the new system that we can showcase in the entirety,” as House explained.
READ: PlayStation E3 2016 Press Conference: How to watch it and what to expect for the PS4
He also revealed that all PS4 games will be compatible with the existing PS4 going-forward, but a “large majority” will also have extra features – thought to be higher graphical fidelity – for the Neo.
PC games developers have been doing something similar for years.
AIVAnet 