Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 2.2.2 to Developers
Apple today seeded the first version of an upcoming watchOS 2.2.2 update to developers, three weeks after releasing watchOS 2.2.1, a minor update that introduced bug fixes and performance improvements.
The watchOS 2.2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone by going to General –> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.
We don’t know what’s included in watchOS 2.2.2, but as a 2.x.x update, it’s likely to focus on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than outward-facing design changes and feature tweaks. We’ll update this post with any changes that are discovered in the watchOS 2.2.2 beta.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Second OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the first OS X 10.11.6 beta and three weeks after the public release of OS X 10.11.5.
The OS X 10.11.6 update, build 15G12a, can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
OS X 10.11.6, like OS X 10.11.5 and the El Capitan updates that came before it, appears to focus mainly on performance improvements and bug fixes. According to Apple’s release notes for the first beta, OS X 10.11.6 improves the stability, compatibility, and security of Macs.
No outward-facing bug fixes or changes were found in the first beta but we’ll update this post if any new features are discovered in the second beta.
Related Roundup: OS X El Capitan
Tag: OS X 10.11.6
Discuss this article in our forums
T-Mobile Unveils ‘T-Mobile Tuesdays’ Perks, Stock for Customers and Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
T-Mobile CEO John Legere today hosted an Un-carrier 11 event, where he announced T-Mobile’s latest customer perks, which include a new app that offers weekly freebies, customer stock options, and free in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic flights.
T-Mobile is releasing a new T-Mobile Tuesdays app, available now, with freebies available every Tuesday. Starting tomorrow, T-Mobile customers can get perks like food, movie tickets, ride-sharing credits, and more. Some of T-Mobile’s partners include Domino’s Pizza and Wendy’s.
Tomorrow, all T-Mobile customers will be able to get free frosties and a ticket to the upcoming movie Warcraft. T-Mobile Tuesdays will also include weekly giveaways for trips, with tomorrow’s raffle consisting of a Warcraft viewing party with a party bus that can accommodate 40 friends. Extra rewards come from sharing on social networks.
T-Mobile is also giving a share of T-Mobile stock to every primary account holder and customers who switch to T-Mobile from another carrier. For every customer who brings another customer to T-Mobile, T-Mobile will offer an additional share. Customers can receive up to 100 shares of T-Mobile stock per year. Customers who have been with T-Mobile for more than 5 years will get two shares of stock per referral.
Customers can claim their share starting tomorrow through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, which will walk customers through the brokerage process.
T-Mobile’s final announcement brings a full hour of free GoGo Wi-Fi to T-Mobile customers for every domestic flight they’re on, allowing customers to use Google Hangouts, Viber, WhatsApp, and iMessage.
Over the course of the last two years, T-Mobile has aimed to disrupt traditional mobile service with its 11 “Un-carrier” initiatives.
The company began with uncoupling device costs from service costs in 2013, and then went on to offer several additional incentives to encourage customers to switch to the carrier, including paying early termination fees, offering a JUMP! upgrade plan, unlimited texting and 2G data in 100 countries, free streaming music from Spotify, Rdio, iTunes Radio, and Pandora, one week free trials to test the T-Mobile service, Wi-Fi calling, data rollovers, low-cost plans for businesses, and free “Binge-On” video and music streaming.
Tag: T-Mobile
Discuss this article in our forums
What to do when your Apple Watch gets wet – CNET
“Apple Watch is water resistant but not waterproof.”
That’s the official word from Apple (well, Apple’s user guide) when it comes to liquid and your very expensive timepiece. But what does that really mean, and what should you do if a splash becomes a dunk?
For starters, remember that although the watch itself can withstand a few drops, leather wristbands cannot. (This is one of the great mysteries of the universe, especially as told by Jerry Seinfeld.) Obviously the plastic and metal bands will hold up much better to moisture.
Enlarge Image
The Apple Watch can survive a swim — but you should probably think twice about keeping it on in the pool.
FoneFox
As for the hardware, the Apple Watch has a “water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529.” Oh, well, that clears it up. If you want to geek out over those details, check out Dan Graziano’s explanation of water and dust resistance ratings for your gadgets.
If you just want the important takeaway, it’s this: “A device with the rating IPX7 is protected from accidental submersion in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes, but it has not been tested against the entry of dust.”
In theory, then, the Apple Watch should be able to join you in the bathtub, let alone the shower, as long as you don’t soak for more than half an hour. But Apple expressly notes that submerging the watch is “not recommended” and suggests that you avoid bathing with it as well.
So what does all this really mean? Don’t take the watch into the shower, but also don’t worry if it gets splashed while you’re doing the dishes or having a squirt-gun fight with the kids. You should also be able to go running or hit the gym — any activity that produces sweat — without any adverse effects. Indeed, a few Aussies took the Apple Watch into the shower and then a swimming pool, and it emerged unscathed and fully functional.
More Apple Watch info
- What the Apple Watch can learn from Amazon Echo
- 7 reasons people aren’t wearing their Apple Watch
- Apple Watch starting price slashed to $299
But here’s the upshot: If the watch gets wet, dry it off as soon as you can. The longer it stays wet, the greater the likelihood of damage.
What to do when your Watch gets wet
Okay, what if the watch takes a spin in the washing machine, falls off your wrist into the pool or suffers some other kind of dunk situation — and now won’t turn on?
You have a couple options — neither of them great. First, you could try the old bag-it-with-silica-gel-packets trick, which has been known to resurrect water-logged phones by absorbing all the moisture. Given the sealed, water-resistant nature of the device, my guess is this won’t help — but there’s no harm in trying.
Second, if the watch is still under warranty, take it to your nearest Apple Store and show them it’s dead. Whether or not you explain that it got soaked is up to your moral compass. If they don’t ask, you certainly don’t have to tell. If you shrug your shoulders and mentally plead the Fifth, chances are excellent you’ll walk out with a replacement watch.
Your thoughts?
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active review – CNET
The Good The Galaxy S7 Active has extra long battery life and is resistant to dust, water and drops. It has has the same speedy performance, expandable storage and excellent camera quality as the original S7.
The Bad The bulky, plastic design feels cheap compared to the glass-and-metal S7 and the phone is expensive.
The Bottom Line AT&T customers looking for a durable and high-end smartphone can’t go wrong with the Galaxy S7 Active.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Everyone says that the two biggest things they want in a smartphone are a tough screen that won’t break, and super-long battery life. After my time carrying the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active with me out and about New York City, I can comfortably say that it delivers on both at one expense: Compared to the premium elegance of the original Galaxy S7, it ain’t pretty.
The Active shares all of the S7’s high-end specs — that beautiful Quad HD display, a speedy quad-core processor, a microSD card slot for more storage and an excellent 12-megapixel rear camera — but gone is the beautiful metal-and-glass design. What you get instead is a shatter-resistant screen, physical navigation buttons, a customizable Action Key, and a military-grade body. It’s also equipped with the largest battery Samsung has ever put in a smartphone, which should appeal to just about everyone.
Every Samsung Galaxy Active phone ever made
See full gallery
1 – 5 of 8
Next
Prev
While marketed towards those with an “active lifestyle” (and really, that can mean anything), the Active is a solid choice for anyone looking for a durable and high-end phone — this is the S7 to get if you don’t want to use a case and want to avoid cracking your screen like this. But Galaxy fans who put a premium on design should stick to the S7 or S7 Edge. Check out our existing review of the S7 to see how the camera and processor perform.
Right now, the Active sells only with AT&T in the US, and at $795 (around AU$1085 and £550, converted) at full retail when it goes on sale on June 10, it isn’t cheap. That’s the same price as the curved-screen Edge, and $100 more than the S7 and a whole lot of other Android phones.
Here’s why you’d want the Active instead
I was initially turned off by the Active’s cheap look and feel, but it has worked hard to win me over, because it has a few things that the better-looking S7 and S7 Edge don’t. (And also a few reasons why you may want to stick with the original S7 or S7 Edge).
View full gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
The shatter-resistant screen and durable body mean you don’t need a case
Samsung put an extra layer of protection on top of the display glass to keep it from cracking, and in general, the phone is rated to withstand falls from up to 5 feet. I’ve dropped it numerous times on the sidewalk, gravel and hardwood floor, and while the body has scratched slightly, the screen has remained unscathed.
2016 Audi TTS review – Roadshow
The Good Excellent looks, a zippy turbocharged engine and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit technology make the TTS stand out in a crowd.
The Bad Enthusiasts may mourn the lack of a manual. Some folks might find the ride a little harsh, especially in Dynamic mode.
The Bottom Line The 2016 Audi TTS is a sweet little sports coupe that should have you searching for the long way home.
Amid the packs of SUVs and crossovers jamming the roads, the 2016 Audi TTS comes as a breath of fresh air, a lithe little coupe offering a ridiculous amount of fun when pushed to the limit, all wrapped up in a polished package. This more potent version of Audi’s new TT model comes with more power, but still no manual transmission.
When I first got in the TTS, I turned every mode and feature to its sportiest setting. The four different driving modes let me customize levels for the engine and transmission, suspension, steering, all-wheel-drive and the exhaust note. I quickly learned that the suspension in Dynamic setting leads to a harsh and uncomfortable ride. Even after switching it to Comfort, the TTS is jarring over city pavement.
Emme Hall/Roadshow
Audi has been plagued in the past by numb and light steering, and it seems it has fixed at least half that problem. The weight and ratio are both satisfying, especially in dynamic mode, but the numbness is still there. It’s just tough to tell how much grip the Pirelli tires have when slinging the TTS through the corners.
And slinging this car is a joy. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine puts out 292 horsepower, pulling the car neatly through the corners and turn exits. And Audi’s claimed 4.6 seconds to 60 mph acceleration can be put down to the TTS’ 280 pound-feet of torque.
As Audi doesn’t offer a manual transmission for the TTS, I had to make due with the steering-wheel mounted paddles to shift its six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The car shifted on its own just fine in everyday driving scenarios, but it upshifted too quickly and downshifted a bit too late for my taste when pushed to the limit, even when in Dynamic mode. The paddle shifters let me keep the revs up and have more control over my corner exit speeds.
My TTS test car came with Audi’s well-known Quattro all-wheel drive system. Having power go to all four wheels made the handling feel neutral in the turns and kept the rear from kicking out during my testing.
Clean and refined cabin
Audi painstakingly culled the cabin of most buttons, resulting in a sleek and modern cockpit. The HVAC controls, incorporated into the vents themselves, leave only a single row of buttons on the center stack for drive mode, traction control, spoiler deploy, parking sensors and hazards.
Audi
Audi locates all other controls on the TTS’ Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3-inch screen in place of a gauge cluster. With navigation and infotainment features on the Virtual Cockpit instead of a center-mounted screen, as in most other cars, it was easier to keep my eyes on the road. Multiple view options include larger or smaller gauges with or without the navigation map, but I often found myself driving with just a large tachometer front and center.
Unfortunately I found Audi’s MMI system unintuitive. The buttons to control the many menus can be found on the steering wheel, center console or accessible by the center controller knob, and it can be tough to remember which button does what.
Android phone owners can record 360-degree VR video with NeoEye
Wandering around the show floor at Computex last week, we came across this dinky little 360-degree 3D camera for Android devices.
Called the NeoEye, it attaches to your Android phone and enables you to record VR footage on the go.
The company behind it, Etron technology, let us have a go at making a short film at the show and it couldn’t be simpler; simply slot it into the Micro USB port on your phone, open up the app and you’re good to go.
Once you’ve made the film you can use a virtual reality viewer or headset to really enjoy the fruits of your creativity.
Etron told us it’s the world’s smallest spherical camera and we are inclined to agree. It’s pretty small, no bigger than 3cm. It had several versions on display, but only the gold ball style one will go into mass production. That’s a bit of a shame, because that penguin one is actually pretty darn cute.
READ: Weird and wonderful tech of Computex 2016: Crazy gadgets and gizmos you must see
The NeoEye will be out before Christmas. Its price hasn’t been set as yet, beyond a commitment to ensure it is under £140. The initial version is only for Android, but the company hopes to release an Apple-compatible version early next year.
Huawei confirms it’s making Nexus phones this year
Google Nexus fans and those who’d never considered a Nexus before were well pleased with the Huawei made Nexus 6P. It looks like that winner is set to get an upgrade by the same company as Huawei announces it will make another Nexus this year.
Traditionally Google swapped hardware manufacturers for its various Nexus smartphones, having one a year. The last batch saw, for a first time, two manufacturers making two different sized and powered variants. Google has confirmed it will continue creating two devices: an X for core users and a P for the high-end experience.
Now Huawei general manager for consumer business in South Africa has made the comment that the company will be making a Nexus for Google in 2016. She said: “We’re doing the Nexus again this year, by the way.” She said this following on from making points about the Nexus 6P import numbers. So, of course, there is a chance she could be referring to a tablet.
Until now rumours have suggested that HTC will be making both Nexus handsets, codenamed Marlin and Sailfish.
The full conversation was as follows:
“The Nexus product is a very niche product… the techies love it but there’s a very small number of people that buy it. Hence Cellucity only brought 300… into the country,” she pointed out.
“…The operators generally don’t take up the Nexus device,” Munilall said.
“That said, the distributors, our open market, do bring in the device, that’s how Cellucity got it… and that will still be the same this year. We’re doing the Nexus again this year, by the way,” she said.
READ: Next Nexus (2016): Release date, rumours and everything you need to know
Best phones from 2015 that are now cheaper than you think
This year has already seen some excellent smartphones launch and no doubt there will be a few more to follow. We’ve already seen Samsung’s fabulous Galaxy S7 and S7 edge hit the shelves, Apple introduce a new 4-incher in the iPhone SE, HTC step back into the game with the HTC 10 and LG go modular.
You don’t have to buy brand new to end up with a great smartphone though. Yes the smartphones from 2016 will be faster and more feature-rich than those of 2015, but last year still had some amazing devices well worthy of attention, especially if you don’t have the budget for a brand new handset.
Why spend the best part of £600 on a brand new smartphone when you could get a fully refurbished device from 2015 that features new parts, a warranty and quality assurance? Yeah, we can’t think of a particularly good reason either.
Instead, we have listed some of the best handsets from 2015 that are available on musicMagpie for a lot less than they were when they launched. We are talking savings over a couple of hundred in some cases so head to the gallery to see how much you could save by opting for last year’s awesome smartphones instead.
MusicMagpie offers a 12-month warranty on all mobile phones, as well as free delivery on all orders. It is an online recycling service that buys and sells gadgets so you can also make money too if you have some old gadgets to get rid of. All devices sold by musicMagpie have all broken or damaged parts replaced and they are all quality assured.
Click here to head to the gallery for seven of 2015’s best smartphones that are now cheaper than you think
Want to sell your old phone? Check out Pocket-lint’s preferred recycling partner musicMagpie.co.uk / decluttr.com to find out how much money you can get for it.
AIVAnet 