iPhone 7 Case: Nearly Identical Fit to 6s, Except for Camera Cutout and No Headphone Jack
With only three months to go until the launch of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, case makers have already started creating cases for the two devices based on rumored specifications. We were able to get our hands on a set of iPhone 7 cases, so we did a comparison video to see how it measures up to the iPhone 6.
Early iPhone cases are always built on specifications gleaned from rumors, supply chain information, and other third-party sources, and oftentimes, they’re an accurate representation of what we can expect a next-generation iPhone to look like.
Cases aren’t always spot on because they’re only as precise as the information they’ve been built on, but these iPhone 7 cases match with almost all of the rumors we’ve heard about the iPhone 7 so far.
As can be seen in the video, the iPhone 7 case fits well on an iPhone 6s, in line with myriad rumors pointing towards only minor changes for the 2016 iPhone. When it comes to size and thickness, the iPhone 7 is going to be almost identical to the iPhone 6s, with some minor antenna band changes. The mute switch, the volume buttons, and the power button on the iPhone 6s fit perfectly into the iPhone 7 case.
The iPhone 7 case does not fit the iPhone 6s camera, with a lower, wider, and tapered camera cutout. Schematics of the iPhone 7 have depicted a larger camera, presumably to accommodate an improved sensor, so we will see some design changes in the camera area. Rumors have widely focused on the dual-camera in the iPhone 7 Plus, but we expect the iPhone 7 will also be getting some significant camera improvements.
At the bottom of the case, there are cutouts for two speakers and no cutout for the headphone jack. Apple will be removing the headphone jack in the iPhone 7, but whether or not the space will be filled with a second speaker is contested. Some rumors suggest dual speakers for stereo audio, but others say the iPhone 7 will continue to sport a single speaker.
Other design changes rumored for the iPhone 7 include repositioned antenna bands, with the removal of the bands that span across the back of the device, and the possibility of improved water resistance. Inside, we expect the iPhone 7 to have an A10 processor and 2GB RAM.
You probably noticed that the cases in our video are sporting a MacRumors logo. That’s because we ordered hundreds of iPhone 7 cases in anticipation of giving them away as part of a new optional membership program that we’re launching in the near future. Want one? Sign up for our interest list to be the first to hear about the upcoming membership because we’ll be sending them to early subscribers.
Don’t worry, all current MacRumors content and coverage will remain free. Membership will offer added incentives and bonuses to our most loyal readers.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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This might explain why your electricity bill is so high – CNET
Even when you turn off your electronics, they could still be wasting electricity. When you press the off switch, many electronics, like televisions, DVRs and satellite boxes, go into stand-by mode.
During stand-by mode electronics don’t turn off completely. They preform updates, record your favorite shows and generally just wait for you to come back, sucking up energy as they do. This is called stand-by power or phantom load. The energy lost is called vampire energy or leaking energy.
According to the US Department of Energy, your electricity wasters account for 10 percent or more of your electricity bill.
It would explain how Jason Cipriani ended up saving $840 per year on his electricity bill.
Televisions, DVRs and satellite boxes aren’t the only energy users. Chances are, you have several chargers around your home and they stay plugged in 24/7. Phone chargers use around .26 watts of energy per day when plugged in, but not in use. Laptop chargers also waste, using 4.42 watts when not in use and 29.48 watts when it’s plugged into a fully charged laptop.
Test your home for excess energy usage
Want to see if your home is affected by leaking energy? Turn off your AC or heating unit and your hot water heater. Now, turn off everything in your home, but leave them plugged in.
Then, go look at your electric meter box that’s typically located on the side of your home. Are the numbers still going up? If they are, that means that your devices are still sucking electricity.
Another, more straightforward approach is to use a device like the Kill-A-Watt or the Belkin WeMo Insight Switch, which let you measure energy usage when the device is plugged into them.
How to kill vampire waste
The Pivot Power Genius
Colin West McDonald/CNET
The most obvious way to nix energy leak is by unplugging everything when you aren’t using it. But this can be a huge pain, especially when you use various items throughout the day or the outlets are behind heavy furniture.
One way to make things a little easier is by using power strips. Whenever you aren’t using your devices, flip the switch on the power strip to cut off all power to your devices so that they can’t go into stand-by. Some power strips even come with remotes so you can shut off power from across the room, like the Conserve Switch AV Surge Protector.
Smart power strips take this idea a step further. They have outlets that are meant for different types of devices. Some of the outlets are designated for items that need to stay on all the time, like your DVR. Other outlets are for items that go into stand-by mode or use energy, but don’t need to be on. When you shut off a device or disconnect your device from your it’s charger, the power strip senses it and will shut off all power to the device.
Another option is programmable outlets, like Belkin WeMo Insight Switch and Quirky Pivot Power Genius. These plug into your regular outlet and have an app you can use to schedule your devices to shut off remotely.
Worst offenders: The 16 least-efficient new…
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Replace energy-hogging appliances
In some cases you might decide that replacing a device or appliance is the best solution. For instance, Jason found that his old secondary refrigerator cost him $40 per month, enough to justify a more energy-efficient replacement.
How, where and when to get the Moto Z, Moto Z Force – CNET
Lenovo on Thursday announced two new Motorola smartphones, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force. The two devices breakaway from the Moto X design we’ve seen for the last few years, and add hot-swappable modules, Moto Mods.
When using Moto Mods, you can add a projector, external battery or a JBL speaker to your Moto Z without having to turn the device on or off, thanks to a magnetic connection on the back of the phone.
The promise of adding capabilities to a phone long after you’ve purchased one is welcome — but more importantly, when will the Moto Z and Moto Z Force be available?
Well, it depends on where you live and your wireless carrier.
See the Moto Z’s snappy, magnetic personality
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Verizon exclusive
The Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid will be available on Verizon wireless “this summer” according to Motorola.
It’s important to note, the Moto Z Force, which has a better camera and bigger battery will only be available on Verizon. Hashtag sad face, indeed.
Unlocked version
An unlocked version of the Moto Z will be available through Moto.com and various retail channels (but it’s unclear which, exactly) this fall. According to Motorola, the unlocked version will work on GSM networks such as AT&T or T-Mobile here in the US.
Global
Keeping to the theme of telling us as little as possible about launch plans, Motorola has only indicated that the Moto Z will be available worldwide in September.
Enlarge Image
JBL SoundBoost Moto Mod.
James Martin/CNET
Mods
Moto Mods announced during Thursday’s event will be made available at the same time as the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Force on Verizon Wireless this summer. Those Mods include the previously mentioned battery pack, JBL SoundsBoost and a Moto Insta-Share Projector capable of projecting the Moto Z’s display onto a 70-inch screen.
Pricing for Moto Mods as well as either handset wasn’t revealed during today’s announcement.
As details start to emerge in the coming months leading up to the official launch, we’ll update this post.
Flamingo for Twitter: An alternative to the big names (Review)
Overview
The battle still rages to find the perfect Twitter app. The Play Store is flushed with them, however, it remains that there are only a few that dominate. And what’s crazy is that, at the bottom of that top contenders list, is where the official Twitter app lies. Now looking to push the official app even lower is Flamingo for Twitter from Sam Ruston, the creator of Weather Timeline.
Developer: Sam Ruston
Cost: $0.99
Review
Right out of the gate you can see that Flamingo has really embraced material design. It uses gestures to change from timeline, mentions, messages, and any other page you wish to add.
Once you click the traditional hamburger menu, you are given those exact same options plus an activity page, profile and your lists. Clicking the settings option opens the possibility of customizing several features to your liking, such as themes, navigation, fonts, and more.
The timeline is laid out in one nice solid color, with a short line dividing the tweets. That color will depend on your currently selected theme, but more on that later.
Once you click on a tweet, you are given all the options you expect from a Twitter app, like retweet, like, quote, etc. Also, when you click a link, it will open a built-in browser so you don’t have to leave the app. The app fully supports GIF playback, with the option of turning off autoplay in order to save your precious data allowance.
When composing a tweet, you have the option of adding your location, pictures, and GIFs, just like in many popular Twitter apps. What’s cool is that, if you have second thoughts about your tweet and don’t want to send it right now, you can save it to your drafts and send it later. It also has autofill when typing in a Twitter handle, which is always handy.
Direct Messages are the same as all apps, except it doesn’t give you the option to delete a conversation, which is a bummer.
Whether you want a preset theme, or really get in there and dig in, Flamingo has it. There are 12 different preset themes that you can choose from. These presets are so diverse that you probably won’t need to do more, but, if you want to, you can change the colors of everything from title text, links, header, and more.
You can also add more pages to the home screen, with content such as specific lists, search, and trends. This adds a lot to customization and really helps in making it your own.
You also have total control of your notifications. You can turn them off individually or all of them with one tap. If you wish to defer notifications to a later time in order to save battery, you can activate the Power Savings mode.
Finally, there are a few awesome features in the Advanced settings entry that I wanted to point out. The first up is turning on/off hover preview. This allows you to long press profile pictures to preview them. Also, Flamingo allows you have different themes for different accounts. This isn’t unique to them, but good nonetheless, especially for a first release.
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Conclusion
This is a solid first release by the famed developer Sam Ruston, but a tall order to compete with the likes of Fenix and Talon. I do think it’s better designed than the official app. The developer do needs to add scheduled tweets, as many people depend on this feature. While it is missing that, it does make up for it in price and other useful features. At only one dollar, it’s by far cheaper than the rest. I would suggest giving it a try.
Download and install Flamingo for Twitter from the Google Play Store.
Inateck’s Aries BH1101 Headphones: High-end look for under $20 (Review)
Great headphones for under $20 seem to be a rarity these days and buying them online seems like a shot in the dark. You don’t really know what you’re going to get. I just reviewed some headphones from Inateck that were some amazing sounding budget headphones. Well, I have another pair from them and this time its the Aries Dynamic Driver In-Ear Headphones. That’s such a mouth full that we are gonna call it by it’s model number, BH1101, and for $15.99, they didn’t disappoint.
In the Box
- BH1101 Headphones
- 3 Silicone Ear Tips
- Clothing Clip
- Carrying Case
- Airline Adapter
- Instruction Manual
Design
Just like before, Inateck makes some high-end looking headphones. The earbuds are made with an aluminium housing and the backs are topped with dark wood that really makes them pop. The four-and-a-half-foot cord is is wrapped in PU Aluminum Foil that prevents it from getting tangled easily. The package says the color is dark gray, but it looks to have a copperish tone to it, which looks amazing.
The inline microphone is encased in aluminium and has a durable button that answers and ends calls and doubles for play and pause for music. One quarter of the way down from the ear buds is an adjustment slider to snug the wires hanging from your ears up. This keeps things nice and tight. While at the bottom, the 3.5 mm connector is made from the same material as the microphone and earbuds making it tough.
To ensure the best possible fit, they have included three different sizes of ear tips (S,M,L). Made from silicone they are comfortable inside the ear. Although they don’t stay in my ear (if you have read any other headphone review from me, you know this is a problem I have) they don’t fall right out; it takes a little work. Inside the tips, they are color coded to make it easy to find matching pairs.
The case is made from a soft cloth that will ensure the protection of all your pieces and even has a compartment for all the small pieces so they don’t just tumble out when you open it. The overall design makes you feel like you got the better end of the deal.
Sound
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, sound is where it counts. Headphones can be beautiful and still sound crappy. These Hi-Fi headphones seem to focus more on mids and highs. That’s not to say that the bass isn’t there, it’s not just as prevalent. These headphones have a clear and crisp sound. They are great for pop music and podcasts, but you can still enjoy all types of music with them.
Let’s not forget the microphone. Sure it plays music, but that’s only half. I made a few calls, and on both ends, the sound was clear and every word was understandable without any stutters.
One more thing to touch on. People just hate when you blast your music through headphones so loud that they can here it. But Inateck’s headphones are designed so well that you can barely hear anything coming out no matter the volume. It makes being in public more pleasant for everyone.
Conclusion
I consider Inateck a trusted brand in the headphone market. It makes a product that is durable, with high-end style, and an amazing sound that keeps your bank account happy, as well. Add in the clothes clip to keep from the cord catching and an airline adapter all for $15.99 on Amazon and you can’t go wrong!
Buy Aries Dynamic Driver In-Ear Headphones BH1101
Denon adds Hi-Res to HEOS, confirms wider system expansion
Denon announced a major upgrade to its HEOS multi-room speaker range in the form of the HEOS HS2 a couple of months ago and the new range is now available to buy.
The HEOS HS2 range carries the same design as the original HEOS HS1 system and the two ranges will work together but the HS2 speakers add Hi-Res audio support and built-in Bluetooth functionality.
There are four speakers within the HEOS system comprising the HEOS 1, HEOS 3, HEOS 5 and HEOS 7. Alongside this, there is also the HEOS HomeCinema, which is a soundbar and sub duo, the HEOS Drive, which is a multi-zone AMP and the HEOS AMP, which will turn any speakers into a wireless zone.
Denon also offers the HEOS Link which is a wireless pre-amplifier that will turn any stereo system into a wireless zone, allowing users to connect up a separate AV receiver for example.
Pocket-lint
This latter device might not be necessary for too much longer for everyone however as Denon has also announced its HEOS technology will be introduced to a couple of AVRs across the Denon and Marantz ranges.
The AVRs powered by HEOS will enable users to access music streaming services including Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and Napster, among others, as well as control them through the main HEOS app, removing the need for the HEOS Link.
The Denon 4300H and 6300H AVRs will be powered by HEOS when they arrive, along with the Marantz SR7011 and AV7703 but prices and availability are not yet known.
The HEOS technology will be added to other products across the brands in the future and Denon has also said it will be introducing a HEOS AVR. When asked when it would arrive, we were told sometime in 2017 so it’s all systems go for HEOS. Watch out Sonos.
Tesla drops the price of its entry-level Model S, say hello to the 60 and 60D
Followers of Tesla’s EV march will have noticed a slight change to the line-up the company offers for the Model S. Gone is the 70D and in its place is the 60 and 60D.
For those who don’t know, Tesla’s model naming follows its available battery capacity, so it’s no surprise to find that the Tesla Model S 60 has a 60kWh battery. Well, it doesn’t, but we’ll get to that.
There are two models of the new 60, the regular rear-wheel drive option and the 60D, which adds all-wheel drive for a £4,400 premium. Currently in the UK, the Model S 60 is the only rear-wheel drive option, and now the cheapest at £46,900.
We say £46,900, but that includes the government’s rebate as well as an estimation for fuel savings, so the actual cash price is £53,400, but let’s not dwell on that.
The specifications for the 60 reads out as a 248-mile range (NEDC), 0-60mph in 5.5-seconds and a 130mph top speed. The 60D manages 253 miles (NEDC), 5.2-seconds to 60mph as a slight boost.
Of course you get all the technical gubbins, with the option for Autopilot at £2,200, or the premium package for £2,600 and plenty more.
However, there’s a twist to this tale that might sound familiar. There’s the option to boost the battery to 75kWh with the payment of a fee of £7,500. This brings with it a 50-mile range boost. Take that option on the 60D and you get a 51-mile boost.
But it seems that the Tesla Model S 60 already has the larger capacity battery on-board, you just can’t access the full capacity. This has been the subject of debate over the past few months as this was also the case with the Model S 70D that’s just been phased out.
With that in mind, the introduction of the Tesla Model S 60 is really a shift down in price for a slightly lower entry point to the Tesla world, rather than any shift in battery capacity or technology.
But, if you do part with your money, there’s still the option to get that battery boost after you’ve bought the car: it just costs £7,850, £350 more than if you do it at the time of purchase.
The Tesla Model S 60 is available to order now, with a delivery expected in August 2016.
Denon’s AH-7200 over-ear headphones: Wood you wear them?
Denon has announced it will be launching a new model of over-ear headphones at the end of 2016.
The AH-D7200s feature real wood housing similar to the company’s D7100s but the new model is a little larger and rounder in comparison to the older model.
There is a 50mm Denon Free Edge Driver within the new headphones to enable pure piston motion for what the company says will deliver superior sound, and the wood is also said to enhance the sound quality.
Additionally, the AH-D7200s feature three dimensional-cut artificial leather ear-pads, a 7N purity cable and a 3.5mm detachable cable system. There is an Apple remote and microphone cable included and a cable jack floating system to stop cable vibration noise is also on board.
Pocket-lint
While we weren’t able to test the sound quality of the D7200s, they were comfy, even if they felt a little large for our head. The cushioning felt nice though and the design is sophisticated.
A pair of dual driver in-ear headphones and another pair of in-ear headphones were also announced at the company European conference in the form of the AH-C821s and AH-C720s, respectively. The C821s will arrive in September for £149 and the C720s will also launch in September for £119.
The flagship over-ear Denon AH-D7200s will be available from December for £599.
Anki Overdrive Supertrucks: Extending AI racing to big rigs
Anki has steadily improved its Overdrive AI racing system since it launched last year. Software enhancements have added extra modes, like One Shot Kill and Balanced Cars, and it now sports handy features, such as replaying the same track without the cars having to scan it again.
Now we get the first major hardware update. The company has added new vehicles in the form of two big articulated supertrucks: Freewheel and X52. These hold true to the Matchbox toy aesthetic while mixing in the talents of Harald Belker, who also worked on the movie Minority Report.
In the hand, they have more weight than the cars. They’re three times the size, after all. They also have upgraded motors to offer the extra grunt needed to pull those trailers around any of your Anki Overdrive tracks.
It takes a bit of getting used to. The trucks handle very differently to the cars. Their articulation requires you to take corners a little wider to avoid clipping the connection bumps. They take longer to get going, but once rolling they’re harder to stop.
READ: Anki Overdrive review: App-controlled car racing fun for all the family
The smartphone app used to control the vehicles has been updated to match, with bespoke designs for each car and truck making it easier to remember who you are controlling in the current challenge.
The trucks’ acceleration is controlled by an on-off pedal rather than slider, which adds to the sense that these big rigs need constant power to keep them rolling. There’s also a new rage meter for them which slowly fills as their speed builds.
Once the rage meter is full the real fun starts. Tapping rage puts the truck straight into top speed and triggers a weapon that whizzes any cars in front of it off the track. It sounds a bit over-powered but actually requires quite a bit of skill to use.
The trucks each have a special weapon as well. Freewheel has “Gravity Trap” that disables opponents making them to lose control. X52 has an “Air Ram” attack that forces cars up to top speed to send them sprawling off corners.
Speaking to Anki Engineer on Supertrucks, Tommy Liu, I asked how the trucks’ weapons would effect other trucks: “We can race two trucks but the exact effect we are still figuring out and tuning the best way for it to be the most fun,” he said.
Pocket-lint
Hearing how the Supertrucks required Anki to redesign the artificial intelligence, there is obviously a lot more going on under the hood here than is immediately apparent. “There’s a lot of work that went into modelling the truck and how it handles. We had to change our AI path-finding so it could plan the best place to use the truck weapons.”
Liu was keen to talk about the new game mode that trucks offer, in addition to being able to add them into existing battles and challenges: “The user interface detects if you have a truck connected,” he explained. “The Takeover mode will be greyed out unless you have a truck. We also customised the screens so you can see more easily which car you are driving.”
This Takeover mode is where Supertrucks really starts to get exciting. Human opponents each race in a car, but to earn points they must Takeover the truck by shooting it. Get a successful hit and they are swapped into the truck’s driver seat and can earn points by taking down the other cars.
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It works well because everyone has a chance to drive the truck, and there’s a balance between being in the more powerful truck and having all the other players trying to take you down.
It’s in this balancing of the game between trucks and cars that Anki must focus for Supertrucks to be a success. It’s certainly fun to drive the big rigs around the track, blasting the cars out the way, but it’s also important that the cars can fight back too. Modes like Takeover go a long way to resolve this tensions.
The two trucks will be available from 3rd October and cost £59.99. To use them you need an Anki Overdrive starter set that retails at around £149.99.
Denon AH-C160W wireless fitness headphones: Small, light and waterproof
Alongside a new model of flagship over-ear headphones, Denon has also announced an upgrade to its wireless fitness headphones.
The AH-C160Ws are said to be 20 per cent lighter and smaller than the original AH-W150s, alongside offering better comfort. They feature a sporty, premium design and a waterproof rating of IPX/7, which is an improvement on their predecessors.
The new wireless fitness headphones will be available in three colours comprising black, white and blue, all of which will offer support for voice prompts in seven languages. The previous model came in yellow, blue and black.
Pocket-lint
The AH-C160Ws are equipped with Bluetooth, as you would expect, and they feature a Sports Comply ear tip that Denon says will offer a comfort fit. Driver size has not been detailed as yet but their predecessors offer an 11.5mm so we would imagine the new model will be similar.
We weren’t able to try the new wireless fitness headphones on, but they look nice and slim so we’re hoping they won’t look too bulky when worn. There are volume controls on the side and the rubber texture looks comfortable.
The Denon AH-C160W wireless fitness headphones will be available from November 2016 for £129, complete with a carrying case.
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