Sony Reveals Its First CarPlay-Supported Audio System, Coming in November
Sony today announced its first CarPlay-supported in-car audio system, the XAV-AX100, which the company touts as offering “everything you need” for long car journeys, including smartphone connectivity, a high-quality sound system, and voice command features. Following Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, and Pioneer, Sony is the newest company to manufacture aftermarket CarPlay systems.
Thanks to the inclusion of CarPlay, Apple’s in-car software platform, users with Sony’s new system installed can access Apple Maps, Apple Music, make phone calls, send text messages, and control various functions with the help of Siri. The XAV-AX100 system is also compatible with Android’s CarPlay alternative, Android Auto.
In its announcement, Sony focuses on its new system’s sound quality, which it says can “overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume with deep and punchy bass.” Users can even expand the system with other external amplifiers to get a more customized listening experience in their vehicle.
High power sound comes full throttle with the XAV-AX100 in-car audio system. 55 watts x 4 Dynamic Reality Amp 2 and EXTRA BASS™ low boost circuitry overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume level with deep and punchy bass.
The 10-band graphic equalizer gives an astonishing variety of sound, perfectly complementing EXTRA BASS™ for an enjoyable drive. 3-pre out connectivity allows system expandability to connect external amplifiers with a wide range of speaker connections, allowing sound enthusiasts to build their own bespoke system
Users will be able to purchase Sony’s XAV-AX100 in-car audio system with included CarPlay support for $499.99 when it goes on the market sometime in late November. The company listed a full roster of the system’s technical specifications in its press release.
Related Roundup: CarPlay
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Apple to Join ‘Robocall Strike Force’ to Crack Down on Automated Phone Calls
Apple, AT&T, Google, and 30 other companies will join efforts with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission this year to crack down on automated phone calls, otherwise known as “robocalls,” according to Reuters.
AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson will make the announcement at the first “Robocall Strike Force” meeting at the FCC later on Friday, the company said.
The so-called “Robocall Strike Force” will provide the FCC with “concrete plans to accelerate the development and adoption of new tools and solutions” to crack down on automated phone calls by October 19, the report claims.
Last month, the FCC sent a letter to phone companies and intermediaries, presumably including Apple, expressing how robocalls and telemarketing calls are the number one source of consumer complaints it receives. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler urged the companies to respond within 30 days with concrete, actionable solutions to tackle the problem, and AT&T was quick to agree that action is needed.
AT&T is prepared to take a leadership position in the industry in the development of comprehensive solutions. We currently allow many of our customers to block calls using black-listing software like Nomorobo and we are committed to providing our customers with the best blocking tools available for use with their knowledge and consent. […]
For these reasons, and at the request of Chairman Wheeler, Mr. Stephenson has agreed to chair a new Robocalling Strike Force, the mission of which will be to accelerate the development and adoption of new tools and solutions to abate the proliferation of robocalls and to make recommendations to the FCC on the role government can play in this battle.
The U.S. has some protective measures in place to prevent automated phone calls. The FCC, for example, requires private companies to have prior consent to robocall or robotext mobile phones. Americans can also add their phone numbers to the FTC’s Do Not Call list to prevent legitimate telemarketers from calling. Last, the FCC expects carriers to respond to consumer requests to block robocalls.
The strike force will push for further solutions, such as developing secure Caller-ID authentication technology, supporting the Anti-Spoofing Act of 2015 in U.S Congress, and implementing new technologies to identify and block robocalls. Apple’s involvement in the strike force remains unclear, but iOS 10 will include at least one combative measure: a new caller ID extension for spam alerts.
Tags: FCC, AT&T
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Dr Fone iPhone data recovery: How it lets you recover messages, contacts, and more
There are many ways you can lose data on an iOS device.
You can delete it, experience a system crash, forget your password, catch a virus, damage your device, or have your device stolen altogether. Factory resets, iOS updates, jailbreaking/flashing, and being unable to sync backups are also common scenarios that result in you needing to recover your data. Although it’s scary to imagine, you don’t have to worry about what can happen to your data.
Dr. Fone can get it all back. And it’ll do all the hard work for you.
Dr. Fone: What is it?
Dr. Fone is an app for your iOS device, Windows, or Mac. It is a toolkit that boasts several major features targeting both Android and iOS devices. This article will focus on Dr. Fone for iOS.
It claims to have to the “highest iPhone data recovery rate” in the industry. Dr. Fone gives you three ways to recover data, including from an iOS device directly, iTunes backup, or an iCloud backup. With either of these methods, you’ll be able to recover photos, videos, contacts, messages, notes, call logs, and more.
Please note that Dr. Fone does not fix any PC-related problem though technically it is a desktop application. Dr. Fone for iOS is available in both Windows and Mac versions. There is also an iOS app, but the function of app is limited compared to the desktop apps.
Dr. Fone: How to recover iOS data
Before you decide which method you’d like to use in order to recover your iOS data, download the Dr. Fone app to your Windows PC, Mac machine, or iOS device. You can find download links from the Dr. Fone website.
From iOS device
Make sure you’re running the latest version of iTunes before using Dr. Fone, and then disable automatic syncing in iTunes (launch iTunes > Preferences > Devices > Check “Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically”).
Using your device’s USB cable, connect your iOS device to your computer, then launch Dr. Fone on your computer, and let Dr. Fone automatically detect your device. A Recover from iOS Device window should appear.
Click the Start Scan button in the window to let Dr Phone scan your iOS device for deleted/lost data. This process may take a few minutes. During the scan, if you see the data you’re looking for, click the Pause button to stop the process.
After the scan is finished, you’ll see the scan results. Both your lost and existing data on your device should be displayed in different categories. Enable the Only display the deleted items option to filter out the deleted data, and by clicking the file type on the left side, you can preview all the found data. There’s also a search box on the top right that lets you search for a specific file.
When you find all the data you need, put a check mark in front of the box to select it, then click the Recover button at the bottom right of the window, and all the recovered data should save to your computer. However, when you click Recover, all texts, iMessages, contacts, and notes will prompt a pop-up that asks you to Recover to Computer or Recover to Device . If you want to put this stuff back on your iOS device, click Recover to Device .
From iTunes backup
Launch Dr. Fone and click Recover from iTunes Backup File , then let the iTunes backup recovery tool detect and display all iTunes backup files on your computer, and confirm which backup file you need according to the date it has been created.
Select the iTunes backup file that has the data you want to recover, click Start Scan , and let it grab all data from the iTunes backup file.
All data in the backup file will be displayed in categories. You can preview them individually before recovery, and mark and recover those you want by hitting the Recover button at the bottom. There’s also a search box in the window that lets you search for a specific file.
Contacts, notes, and messages can now be directly recovered to your iOS device if you keep your iOS device connected to your computer via a USB cable during the recovery process.
From iCloud backup
Launch Dr. Fone, choose the Recover from iCloud Backup Files recovery mode on the top, and then in the window below, enter your iCloud account credentials to login. Dr. Fone said it will not store any your Apple account.
When logged into iCloud, Dr. Fone can locate all the iCloud backup files in your account. Choose the file you’ll need to recover data, then click on the Download button, and then in the pop-up, select the type of files you want to download. After that, scan the iCloud content, and then click on the Scan button to begin. This process may take a few minutes.
When the scan stops, preview the data in your iCloud backup file (like contacts, messages, photos, etc), then check them individually, and click on the Recover to Computer or Recover to Your Device button to save them on your computer or your device.
Contacts, notes, and messages can now be directly recovered to your iOS device if you keep your iOS device connected to your computer via a USB cable during the recovery process.
Dr. Fone: Which systems are supported?
- Supported OS: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP; Mac OS X 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, or 10.6; and iOS 9 and former
- System requirements: 1GHz (32-bit or 64-bit) CPU, 256MB or more of RAM (1024MB recommended), and 200MB or more free space
Dr. Fone: Which file types can be recovered?
- Supported file types: Contacts, messages, call history, notes, photos, video, calendar, reminders, WhatsApp messages, messenger messages, voice memos, voicemail, Safari’s bookmark, app’s photos, app’s video, and app’s documents
Dr. Fone: Which iOS devices are supported?
- iPhone: iPhone SE, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4
- iPad: All models of iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Mini, and iPad
- iPod Touch: iPod Touch 5 and iPod Touch 4
Want to know more?
Dr. Fone for iOS also features some other useful functions such WhatsApp backup & restore, iOS system recovery, etc. If you would like to learn more and take a free trial of the application, please visit the official site: Dr. Fone. You can also watch these helpful video tutorials below.
Virgin Media’s next price hike will come in November
Virgin Media customers across the UK will today begin receiving letters notifying them of an upcoming price increase. The company says that from November 2016, line rental costs will rise from £17.99 to £19 per month and annual Line Rental Saver plans will set subscribers back £196 instead of the usual £184. Broadband packages and bundles will also rise between £3 and £4 per month.
With a multi-billion pound commitment to improving its UK infrastructure, increased download speeds and an upcoming launch of its new 4K-capable Virgin V6 box on the books, Virgin Media has been forced to raise its prices above inflation, offering disgruntled customers a way out should they choose (but only if they joined after January 23rd 2014).
November’s rise will be the third price hike this year. In February, “the vast majority” of customers saw their packages rise by up to 5.4 percent or between £3.49 and £3.99 a month. A few months later, it raised the price of TV packages for some customers with Sky Sports and Sky Movies.
“Data usage continues to grow 60 percent every year,” says Gregor McNeil, Managing Director, Consumer at Virgin Media. “We do everything we can to keep prices competitive while striking the balance with investing in more of what our customers want.”
Listen to Groove Music while you play ‘Forza’ on Xbox One
One of the cooler features from the Anniversary Update for Xbox One is Background Music. As the name implies, you can use music from practically any source as your soundtrack for a lot of different activities on the console. If you’re a fan of Groove Music, there’s an update rolling out that adds the service to the list of Background Music sources. It’s a feature that’s been available to folks in the Dashboard Preview Program for awhile, but Xbox’s Mike Ybarra says that the update, version 3.6.2395, will be available for everyone today.
Xbox owners: Groove on Xbox should support background music tonight/tomorrow for all users. Look for version 3.6.2395.
— ♏️ike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) August 18, 2016
Source: Mike Ybarra (Twitter), Microsoft
Smartphone batteries with twice the life may arrive in 2017
A type of lithium battery that could make gasoline-powered cars obsolete is on track to be commercialized, according to MIT News. The “lithium metal” batteries, developed by MIT spin-off SolidEnergy, can reportedly pack the same energy as a standard lithium-ion cell in half the size. “Or, we can make a battery the same size as a lithium ion battery, but now it will last twice as long,” says SolidEnergy CEO Qichao Hu.
Researchers have been working on batteries that use lithium metal instead of carbon anodes for awhile. However, nobody had cracked the problem of increased resistance and “dendrite” filaments that form on the anodes, making batteries short-circuit and heat up. While at MIT, Hu developed a thin lithium metal foil anode that did reduce battery size considerably. However, it wouldn’t work unless the battery was heated up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit, an obvious “showstopper,” he says.
To solve that, the team developed a solid electrolyte coating for the lithium metal foil that functions at room temperature. Hu also formulated a non-flammable liquid electrolyte with less resistance that won’t create dendrites when it reacts with the lithium metal. The end result is a battery with the same power as a modern lithium cell in half the size.
Investors soured on battery tech when another MIT spinoff, A123 systems, went bankrupt because it’s tech didn’t work. However, SolidEnergy took over A123’s idle facility, which forced it to build its own batteries in a commercially practical way. “By starting with this real-world manufacturing perspective and building real-world batteries, we were able to understand what materials worked in those processes, and then work backwards to design new materials,” says Hu.
SolidEnergy promo video from 2015
The company now has its own facility and is building towards a November 2016 launch with drone batteries. Following that, it plans to commercialize cells for smartphones and other electronics in 2017, with EV batteries to follow in 2018. In theory, electric cars using the tech could go twice as far with the same size battery — a 280 mile-range Tesla Model S could go 560 miles, for instance.
Obviously, that would be game-changing, but we’ve heard this tune before. A123 itself was trying to commercialize very promising-sounding batteries, and failed. We’d like to hear SolidEnergy’s latest charging cycle figures — last we heard, it could handle 300 cycles and still retain 80 percent capacity, which is good for electronics but may be too little for an EV. Also, we’ve been disappointed with battery “breakthroughs” so often, that we’ll believe it when we see them on a store shelf.
Source: MIT News
The New York Times Announces Closure of News Curation App ‘NYT Now’
The New York Times has announced that its curated news app, NYT Now [Direct Link], will officially shut down and no longer be available to download from the week of August 29. The app was originally announced in early 2014 as a way to provide readers with a cheaper alternative to the digital subscription service offered by the company, coming in at $8 per month, “roughly half the price of the least expensive digital subscription.”
NYT Now was said to be an attempt by the New York Times to offset dips in revenue from its traditional printed newspaper circulation. The goal was to present a less expensive subscription model, with news focused and curated for each specific user, and attract people who might not otherwise subscribe due to the ease-of-access inherent in mobile apps. Unfortunately, “the app never quite took off,” and NYT Now transitioned to a freemium model last year in an attempt to expand its audience.
Kinsey Wilson, the executive vice president for product and technology, said the decision to do away with NYT Now was driven in part by a shift in how the company thinks about broadening its audience. The Times, with the help of its audience development team, now looks more to third-party platforms like Facebook and Twitter to expand its reach among younger readers.
“That gave us a different ability to tap into younger audiences and to provide exposure to a much, much wider audience,” Mr. Wilson said.
The app was said to have peaked in May 2015 with 334,000 total unique users in one month but, in the last three months, it only managed to acquire 257,000 total unique users. Many of NYT Now’s features will be folded into the company’s main mobile app, NYTimes [Direct Link], “including morning and evening news briefings, bullet-point lists and a more conversational tone.”
The editors of NYT Now have written a brief note about the app’s shuttering, including the specific locations users can find its various features in other apps. For readers who keep the NYT Now app on their iOS or Android device, it will officially cease being updated in September.
Apps like Apple News, which offer users a wide breadth of news stories from an expansive list of various publishers, are also likely to contribute to a slight loss of subscribers for single-publisher apps. Apple News is even getting a feature in iOS 10 that will support paid subscription models from sites like The Wall Street Journal, curating premium content right alongside free stories from other publishers.
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Apple Opening Three Next-Generation Stores Over Next Week
Apple has announced that it will be opening a trio of retail stores following construction and renovations over the next week.
Apple’s retail store at Westfield Annapolis in Annapolis, Maryland will open at a new location within the shopping mall on Saturday, August 20. Apple did not provide a specific time, but the store opens at 10:00 a.m. local time on Saturdays. The store’s new address will be 1735 Annapolis Mall.
Apple Annapolis prior to renovations
Apple’s retail store at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri will also be moving to a new location within the shopping center on Saturday, August 20. Apple did not provide a specific time, but the store opens at 10:00 a.m. local time on Saturdays. The store’s new address will be 227 Nichols Road.
Apple’s retail store on Buchanan Street in Glasgow, Scotland, closed since January, will reopen one week later on Saturday, August 27 at 9:00 a.m. local time. The store remains located at 147 Buchanan Street. Planning documents filed with Glasgow City Council in 2015 reveal extensive interior and exterior renovations.
Apple Buchanan Street prior to renovations
The trio of locations will feature Apple’s next-generation store design inspired by chief design officer Jony Ive, including some combination of large glass doors, light boxes extending the length of the ceiling, indoor trees, touch-sensitive sequoia wood tables, sequoia wood shelves along the walls, and large digital screens for product marketing.
Read our Apple Stores roundup to keep track of the company’s latest retail store developments.
Related Roundup: Apple Stores
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Save 50% on this protective Nexus 6P case today!
Want a protective case that won’t make your Nexus 6P harder to hold? Seidio’s Surface case offers a thin hard layer of safety to the phone which can prevent scratches, dings and may even help in the event of a fall. Right now you can grab one for $14.95, a savings of 50%.
Best heavy duty cases for Galaxy Note 7
What are the best cases for keeping my Galaxy Note 7 fully protected?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a marvel of smartphone design. Resistant to dust and water, the Galaxy Note 7 is also the first phone to feature Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back of the phone, making it the most durable smartphone you can buy and use right out of the box.
But despite all its ruggedness, as with any other piece of technology, it’s not impervious to scratches or drop damage. However, you can greatly increase it’s chance of surviving the nastiest of falls with a heavy duty case.
- OtterBox Defender Series
- MoKo Premium Full Body Rugged Cover
- Spigen Tough Armor
- CoverON Atomic Series Hybrid Armor
- VRS Design High Pro Shield
OtterBox Defender Series
One of the most trusted names in phone cases, OtterBox’s Defender Series line has been protecting phones for years. Their Defender Series case for the Galaxy Note 7 includes 3-layer protection — high-impact internal polycarbonate shell, silicone slipcover and a built-in screen protector — so your phone will be fully protected.
With precise cutouts around the USB-C port, headphone jack, and cutouts in the screen protector around the earpiece and fingerprint scanner, your Galaxy Note 7 is protected yet accessible. Along with the speaker and microphone, the S-Pen is the only port not protected by a silicone cover, which ensures it’s always available at a finger’s press. The Defender Series also includes an optional belt-clip holster that doubles as a kickstand for easy hands-free media viewing and is available in three color options.
See at Amazon
MoKo Premium Full Body Rugged Cover
If you want heavy-duty protection for a low price, the Moko Premium Full Body Rugged Cover delivers in spades.
This two-piece case features a shock absorbing silicone inner sleeve and an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell that also provides added protection around the camera. The S-Pen, buttons, and ports are always accessible thanks to precise cutouts with no protective flaps to deal with. The case also comes with a 180-degree rotatable belt clip holster. It’s quick to mount and dismount from the holster, which is lined with microfiber material to ensure your screen is always protected.
And in terms of keeping your screen protected, this case is compatible with screen protectors — even the thicker tempered glass options — so you can fully protect your Galaxy Note 7 and always keep it in like-new condition. Whether you go with the classic black, or opt for the blue or red accent options, the MoKo case is available for under $10.
See at Amazon
Spigen Tough Armor
Looking for a heavy duty case that tries to preserve the sleek look and feel of your Galaxy Note 7? Spigen’s Tough Armor case offers a good compromise between rugged protection and stylish presentation. Tested to meet U.S. Military-grade drop protection standards, this two-piece case consists of a flexible TPU sleeve that features shock-absorbing webbing along its interior, and a hard polycarbonate shell — available in your choice of Gunmetal Grey, Champagne Gold, or Blue Coral — adds a second level of toughness.
The buttons are designed to be flush along the edge of the case via the TPU sleeve, providing the tactile responsiveness you require, and precise cutouts along the bottom of the phone keep all the ports, speakers, and the S-Pen fully accessible. Both the screen and rear camera are well protected with a 1.4mm bezel around the screen and a 4mm lip around the camera on the back so you can confidently place your phone down however you prefer. And then there’s the included kickstand, which lets you set your phone up for hands-free media viewing at an ideal 60-degree viewing angle. For solid, all-round protection and presentation, Spigen is a fantastic option for protecting your Galaxy Note 7.
See at Amazon
CoverON Atomic Series Hybrid Armor
If your biggest fear is your slick Galaxy Note 7 slipping out from your grip and smashing on the ground, perhaps you’re best off getting a case with tactile features along its exterior. In that regard, CoverOn’s Atomic Series Hybrid Armor is your best bet.
Featuring a shockproof soft TPU rubber inner layer along with a rigid polycarbonate backplate, perhaps the most striking detail of this phone at a glance is its gridwork of raised plastic along the back, which will give your fingertips plenty of spots to anchor in — because the best way to protect your phone from drops is to avoid dropping it in the first place.
Beyond the protection this case provides, there’s a built-in kickstand on the back for gaming or watching videos. Available in four color options, this case is also extremely affordable priced under $10.
See at Amazon
VRS Design High Pro Shield
A sleek option for protecting your Galaxy Note 7 while keeping with the phone’s slim, minimalist design is VRS Design’s High Pro Shield.
Featuring the industry-standard two-part design, this case features a tough polycarbonate bumper around the edges, with precise cutouts along the bottom for easy access to the ports and S-Pen. The majority of the protection comes from the impact-resistant TPU sleeve that forms tight to the phone and features a brushed metal design on the back for a stylish appearance. This case has received military-grade certification for protection so your phone will be well protected while still looking stylish with four color options available.
Built into the bottom end of the bumper is a metal kickstand, perfect for hands-free media viewing. If you’d rather not compromise style for protection, the VRS Design High Pro Shield is a great option for your Galaxy Note 7.
See at Amazon
How will you keep your Galaxy Note 7 protected?
Got any thoughts on the cases we’ve recommended above? Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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