Sales of Apple Products Down 20% at Target

During the second quarter of 2016, sales of Apple iPads, iPhones, and other devices fell 20 percent at popular retailer Target. Target CEO Brian Cornell highlighted the sales drop during an earnings call where he suggested the decline was due to a lack of “newness” and “innovation” and blamed poor Apple sales for Target’s disappointing Q2 earnings results.

According to Cornell, electronics sales decreased by double digits, with Apple product sales responsible for a third of the overall drop.

“Our guests come to us looking for those products,” Cornell said on a conference call to discuss earnings. “They’re looking for the newness and the innovation. We’re putting together plans with Apple and our merchandising teams to make sure we’re ready to take advantage of that in the back half of the year.”

In the first calendar quarter of 2016, Apple reported its first year-over-year revenue decline since 2003 and its first ever drop in iPhone sales, sending its stock into a downward spiral. The negative trend continued into the second quarter with another year-over-year revenue drop, and based on Apple’s forecast for the third quarter of 2016, a third consecutive decline in revenue is expected.

Apple expects to see revenue of $45.5 billion to $47.5 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2016, up to 12 percent lower than the $51.5 billion in revenue it saw in the third calendar quarter of 2015.

Device sales could turn around for Apple following the upcoming release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but as rumors suggest the changes being introduced in the two new devices are moderate, Apple’s downward trend could potentially continue into 2017. Apple does, however, have some impressive products on the horizon, including the 2017 iPhone, which has caused stock to rise more than 20 percent over the course of the last three months.

The 2017 iPhone will mark the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone and to celebrate, Apple is rumored to be introducing some of its most significant iPhone changes ever like a dual curved edge-to-edge OLED display with a built-in Touch ID sensor, wireless charging, a glass body, and more.

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No, we don’t need a ‘flat’ Galaxy Note 7 model

Here’s the thing: we already have a ‘flat’ Galaxy Note 7.

When the Galaxy Note 7 was announced and Samsung talked about how wonderful the curved display was, Note fans were riled up about the prospect that there wasn’t a “flat” version announced alongside it. And to be fair to them, we’ve had simultaneous curved and flat variations of Samsung flagships for the past four iterations — it became an expectation.

To set the stage here, I’m hardly a fan of the Galaxy S7 edge’s curved screen design and what it does to hurt usability — no matter how cool it may look while doing it. Especially when considering that the accompanying “Edge UX” software is useless at best and completely duplicative at worst. And for that reason, I totally sympathized with the group who immediately cried foul over seeing that there was no “flat” version of the Galaxy Note 7 — not understanding the differences, it was frustrating to think that the only Note 7 you could buy was to be saddled with the same curved edges that make the phone harder to use.

While I was writing my Galaxy Note 7 review this past week, I kept thinking about how considerably different it is to use in daily life compared to the Galaxy S7 edge. Though they both ostensibly have the “same” curved screen, the experience of using each is entirely different, and the Note 7 is dramatically easier to use than the GS7 edge. You see, the Note 7’s display curves are both tighter and smaller, which means they actually offer a functional benefit without any of the massive downsides we’ve seen on previous edge screen phones.

Samsung finally struck a proper balance between form and function of the curved screen

Together with the more rounded metal frame, the Note 7’s curved display actually makes it easier to reach across the phone because it’s over two millimeters narrower than the Note 5, and because the curves are smaller there aren’t any worries about accidental palm touches on the display when you do reach across. The smaller curves also don’t get in the way of you being able to properly perform swipe-in gestures on the edges of the screen, because you don’t have to contort your thumb around the side of the phone.

All of this, and the curves actually look pretty darn cool. Particularly on the black version of the Note 7, the curves give you the feeling that the phone doesn’t even have bezels on the sides of the screen, which is really neat. Yes it makes the phone ever-so-slightly more susceptible to cracks and scratches with those exposed glass edges, but so is every other phone that has curved glass edges without a curved display underneath. And hey, we’re looking at Gorilla Glass 5 here as well.

So before you completely write off the Galaxy Note 7 just because you’re worried about the implications of having a curved display, realize that it isn’t the same type of experience you get from the Galaxy S7 edge or any other previous Samsung edge phone. With the Note 7 Samsung has really struck a great balance between form and function in the curved display, and that’s why I’ve been very happy to use it in ways that I was never confident with the Galaxy S7 edge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
• The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
• Here are all four Note 7 colors
• Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
• Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!

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These Galaxy Note 7 cases are just $7 for a limited time!

If you’ve placed an order for the Galaxy Note 7 and have been looking for a case for it, you’ll want to check these out. Right now, you can score a number of Caseology’s cases for just $7 with a coupon code, which is a pretty awesome deal. Depending on which color you are interested in adding to your Note 7, or whether you want something protective or slim, there are some great options here to check out.

The deals include:

• Envoy Series – Cherry Oak – $6.99 with coupon code RI84YLRB
• Parallax Series – Black/Black – $6.99 with coupon code XODYH7UE
• Wavelength Series – Navy Blue – $6.99 with coupon code R6Z9FC55
• Skyfall Series – Silver – $6.99 with coupon code 64L79FVF

There is only a limited number of each coupon available, so if you are interested you’ll want to act quick. Be sure to use the correct coupon for the case that you are interested in when placing your order. Which one will you be picking up? Let us know in the comments!

Join the Dark Side with these awesome AMOLED-friendly wallpapers

There are a lot of wallpapers out there. Unfortunately, most of them are bright and busy.

That can be a problem. Maybe you want a simple wallpaper for their elegance. Maybe you want a dark wallpaper that lights up less of your screen. Maybe you want a clean wallpaper so it’s easier to see what’s actually on your screen instead of being overwhelmed by the wallpaper. Maybe you just like black because it goes with everything, from your shoes to your shirts to your soul. Whatever your reasons, we’ve got the ultra-dark wallpapers for you.

Stormtroooper

Most stormtrooper wallpapers are as white as the day is long, but this minimalist wall flips the script and shows what would be a terrifying sight to any self-respecting rebel scum: the mask of an Imperial Stormtrooper creeping out of the shadows to put you in its terribly aimed sights…

Stormtropper

Neptune and Triton

Space. A seemingly endless void where no one can hear you scream… But there’s still a serene peace to it. Even on a distant and bitterly cold planet like Neptune, we can find beauty and tranquility.

Neptune and Triton

Tron Light Cycle Wallpaper

Try and tell me you don’t want a light cycle. Just try. You can’t do it. They’re so cool, and whatever you thought of Tron Legacy (and the threequel that got canned), the way it did light cycles was even cooler, and such a dark wallpaper meshes well with our setups, and our souls.

Tron Light Cycle Wallpaper

Batman Beyond

Okay, I take back my earlier statement. The Stormtrooper isn’t that terrifying. If I was in a dark alley and all I saw were two glowing eyes and the bat symbol, I’d be scared witless, and I’m not even a criminal. Batman is a badass and the only line he won’t cross is releasing you to the sweet, sweet mercy of death after breaking every bone in your body. He is a symbol of justice to the masses and a symbol of terror to those who would do wrong.

Batman Beyond

Beauty and the Beast Minimalist Wallpaper by chrisaloo

Great as the film was, there’s something about musicals that can (and in many cases do) surpass the original. Musicals are where we see the awesome numbers that were cut from the film for timing. Musicals are where we can see new depth to storylines we knew and loved as a kid.

Who says princesses can’t be dark? Now excuse me, I need to go belt out ‘Home’ in a dark tower somewhere…

Beauty and the Beast Minimalist Wallpaper by chrisaloo

Netflix strikes a deal with Enseo to offer its service in hotels

Tired of relaxing in your hotel room and flipping on the TV only to realize you can’t binge watch your favorite shows without Netflix? Netflix knows the true horror of this realization.

That’s why it’s partnered with hospitality company Enseo to provide the Netflix app to any hotel in the world where the service is available.

With the agreement, any guest staying in a hotel with devices powered by Enseo will be able to either sign up for a Netflix account or log into the one they already have via the TV in their guest room. The TVs will include a Netflix icon or there wll be one on the remote control. It won’t require guests to pay additional in-room fees for using the internet, either, and when the guest checks out, their Netflix credentials will be removed from the device they’ve logged into automatically.

This is an interesting development for guests who frequently travel and find themselves without a way to access their favorite shows. Without having to pay extra to get online and without the need to lug along a laptop or way to access Netflix this can drastically improve the in-room experience. Because sometimes you’ve got to get your Hell’s Kitchen on when you’re on vacation, and cable just doesn’t show what you’re looking for when you want to watch it.

Source: BusinessWire