VMware won’t charge you to run a new OS in Fusion
Virtual machine software is theoretically a one-and-done purchase, but you know that’s not how it works in practice. You typically end up buying an upgrade every year just to get the latest operating system support, whether it’s in the virtual environment or your native OS of choice. You might not have to run on that treadmill this year, though. VMware is releasing free upgrades to Fusion (8.5 and 8.5 Pro) and Workstation (12.5 and 12.5 Pro) that support the latest and greatest platforms. The Linux, Mac and Windows versions of those programs can all run Windows 10 Anniversary Update and Windows Server 2016 in a virtual system, including multiple systems on Linux and Windows. On the Mac, Fusion will also take advantage of macOS Sierra features like Siri voice commands and tabbed windows.
The gesture beats dropping $50 (it’s $80 for a new copy), although it’s not surprising why VMware would give away this update. The focus here is almost exclusively on compatibility, rather than a big revision of VMware’s features — there wouldn’t be a strong incentive to buy a new copy. While it’s too soon to say for sure what will happen with Fusion 9 or Workstation 13, it won’t be surprising if it’s back to business as usual with those versions. Think of this year’s free upgrade more as a temporary reprieve than a fundamental shift in behavior.
Source: VMware
Apple Granted Eurasian Certificates for ‘AirPods’, iPhones, and Apple Watch models
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC) has issued new certificates for Apple products that suggest the company is set to release wireless earphones and multiple new versions of Apple Watch alongside the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Manufacturers are required to certify electronic devices for sale in countries that are signed up to the EAEC treaty (ratified last year), which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia. Russian website iPhones.ru found a reference to “AirPods” along with other Apple certificates added to the regulatory body’s digital products registry yesterday.
Last month, MacRumors revealed that an “AirPods” trademark filing discovered last October seemingly confirmed Apple’s work on upcoming wireless earphones in lieu of a headphone jack on the iPhone 7. This latest regulatory certification appears to cement that finding, although whether Apple plans to bundle the AirPods with its new phones or sell them exclusively as a separate accessory is still unclear.
Elsewhere, the documents list several new certificates for Apple Watch (although oddly these are labelled as running watchOS 2, not watchOS 3, as would be expected for new models) and two certificates for products running iOS 10, likely indicating Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 and 7 Plus expected to be announced in a special event next week.
Apple may use the same event to debut its second-generation Apple Watch, said to include better waterproofing, better battery life, an improved processor, and a built-in GPS chip – but no cellular. Design changes are not expected for the next-generation Apple Watch, but new materials and new bands are always a possibility.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3, iPhone 7
Tag: AirPods
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Apple Must Repay $14.5 Billion in Back Taxes, EU Commission Rules
Apple must repay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back taxes dating back to 2003-2014, the European Commission has ruled (via BBC).
The Apple tax ruling was confirmed this morning, after the judgement was leaked to the media yesterday. In unequivocal wording, the EU commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Apple’s tax benefits in Ireland are “illegal”.
“The Commission has concluded that Ireland granted undue tax benefits of up to €13 billion to Apple. This is illegal under EU state aid rules, because it allowed Apple to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. Ireland must now recover the illegal aid.”
Vestiges said this selective treatment allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 percent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 percent in 2014. Therefore in 2014 Apple paid 0.005 percent tax on EU profits, which means that “For every million euros in profits, it (Apple) paid just €500 in taxes,” said Vestager. “This is based on an in-depth investigation, it’s based on the facts. I also think and hope that if it goes to the courts that it will be upheld by the European Court.”
According to the EC’s press release, the existing tax rulings endorsed a way to establish the taxable profits for two Irish incorporated companies of the Apple group (Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe), which did not correspond to economic reality:
“Almost all sales profits recorded by the two companies were internally attributed to a ‘head office’. The Commission’s assessment showed that these ‘head offices’ existed only on paper and could not have generated such profits. These profits allocated to the ‘head offices” were not subject to tax in any country under specific provisions of the Irish tax law, which are no longer in force.”
Ireland Finance Minister Noonan said the country “disagrees profoundly” with the back tax ruling by the European Commission. “The decision leaves me with no choice but to seek cabinet approval to appeal. This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system; to provide tax certainty to business; and to challenge the encroachment of EU state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation,” he said.
Apple shares fell more than 2 percent in pre-market trading following the ruling, which comes after a three-year investigation into Apple’s tax arrangements in Ireland, where it was initially thought to have paid around 2 percent or less in taxes compared to the country’s headline 12.5 percent corporate tax rate.
Update: Apple has reacted to today’s ruling with the following response:
“The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe, ignore Ireland’s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process. The Commission’s case is not about how much Apple pays in taxes, it’s about which government collects the money. It will have a profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe. Apple follows the law and pays all of the taxes we owe wherever we operate. We will appeal and we are confident the decision will be overturned.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook has also posted “A Message to the Apple Community in Europe” on the Apple website.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Tags: corporate tax, European Commission, Europe, Ireland
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AEG ComfortLift Dishwasher Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Electrolux
Between easy-to-use wine glass racks, fold-down tines, and third racks for silverware, lots of dishwashers bend over backward to make it easier to load your dishes. Electrolux’s newest innovation will make it easier to unload them.
The ComfortLift technology in Electrolux dishwashers raises the bottom rack to an easy-to-reach height as you pull it out of the tub. You won’t have to bend over to reach your plates and bowls anymore. The rack swings up to about waist height, and you can swing it back down into the dishwasher by pulling the lever beneath the front handle.
Feature-rich dishwashers
- LG LDF7774ST
- GE GDF610PMJES
- Kenmore 13699
Dishwashers with the ComfortLift rack will roll out to various European markets starting this month, as part of the AEG Mastery range of appliances. Electrolux is showing off models with the tech at the IFA trade show in Berlin this week. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing yet, and no official plans to bring the technology to the US.
The high-end AEG ComfortLift Dishwashers that’ll first bring the tech to the public also tout lots of other premium perks. Beyond ergonomic loading, the AEG ComfortLift Dishwasher supposedly runs at a whisper quiet 39 dB and offers an energy efficient cycle and an extra-quiet cycle that runs at 37 dB.
Electrolux has been working on the ComfortLift technology for a couple of years, and I’m happy to see tangible dishwasher innovation finally reaching the marketplace. However, the creative features of the Frigidaire FGID2466QF I tested recently got in the way more than they helped. Hopefully, ComfortLift will prove as neat in practice as it is in theory, and Electrolux will roll out the feature worldwide before too long.
AEG SenseCook Oven Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
AEG
Can an oven produce restaurant-quality food, even if the home cook at the helm is lousy? AEG is making a case for that with its SenseCook oven, a built-in wall oven the German brand will introduce at this year’s IFA trade show in Berlin. The SenseCook oven includes control screen that lets you select how you want your food cooked, such as the doneness of a steak or the internal temperature of a casserole, and a temperature probe called the Food Sensor that monitors the progress of your food so you don’t have to.
More IFA 2016 coverage
- Need a phone or a refrigerator? Here’s where you’ll find it
- Fitbit unveils Charge 2, Flex 2, Fitbit Adventures and updates to Blaze
- Philips Hue promises better greens, but you’ll need to buy new lightbulbs
AEG, which is a part of the Electrolux Group of appliance manufacturers, is the latest company to attempt to remove the guesswork from cooking with the addition of temperature probes and smart cook settings. We’ve seen this feature in ovens from high-end brands such as the Dacor DYRP36D and the Jenn-Air Connected Double Wall Oven and no-frills connected temperature probes in mainstream options like the Kenmore 92583. What makes AEG’s SenseCook oven stand out is the Command Wheel. Rather than relying on a touchscreen to control your cook settings, the wheel provides a more solid way to control your oven. This could help folks adjust from traditional ovens with control knobs, and it could be useful when your hands are too greasy from cooking to operate a touchscreen.
There aren’t any concrete plans to bring the SenseCook to the United States, AEG says. The appliance will roll out across Europe beginning in September. The company hasn’t finalized pricing.
Check out CNET’s full coverage of IFA 2016 here.
AE Electrolux 9000 Series washing machine Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The AEG Electrolux 9000 Series washer softens water for gentler cycles.
Electrolux
Imagine if your laundry appliances could ruthlessly rid dirt from clothes yet be gentle enough to never damage their delicate fabric and fibers. It may sound like an unrealistic dream but AEG Electrolux says its new line of washers and dryers are built to do exactly that. Freshly announced at IFA 2016 in Berlin, the new 9000 Series Washing Machine is especially capable of preserving laundry items.
According to the company this advanced washer actually filters and softens its water supply to clean more efficiently but at extremely low temperatures. The benefit of this approach claim AEG Electrolux is a washing machine which launders without leaching bright colors or deep blacks from your favorite garments even after scores of laundry cycles.
Use the app to choose a cycle
Another clothes-friendly tool in the 9000 Series Washer’s arsenal is the My AEG app, a mobile application which provides specific care advice based on the type of cloth you plan on cleaning. The app also chooses a recommended cycle plus tweaks its individual settings accordingly for optimal performance.
Built into the application as well are general tips and a guide to interpret the often cryptic symbols you see on clothing labels You can download versions of the software for either iOS or Android depending what platform suits your needs best.
Get laundry handling help from the My AEG mobile app.
Electrolux
Along with the 9000 Series, AEG Electrolux also unveiled the 8000 and 7000 Series washing machines though both are less sophisticated and lack water softening technology. In addition neither have the ability to link to the My AEG mobile application.
Better than air
AEG Electrolux pulled the tarp off of a pair of new dryers too designed to pair with their fancy washer siblings. Named the 8000 and 7000 Series Tumble Driers, the most notable is the 8000 series machine. It boasts cycles Electrolux claims safely dries items sown from unforgiving materials such as silk and wool.
An “Outdoor” mode is supposedly as safe as air drying and handles water-resistant, windproof, and breathable sportswear lightly enough to remove moisture but is hot enough to flatten wrinkles. That said the cycle won’t harshly strip away chemical coatings or destroy synthetic fabrics.
AEG Electrolux hasn’t yet disclosed pricing for these appliances nor did it release specific availability beyond sometime in 2017. The company does plan to have its connected laundry app up and running by, “mid-2017.”
Roku overhaul will see five new streaming boxes released, include 4K and HDR
Roku will reportedly enforce its biggest line-up overhaul in many years, replacing all of its current streaming devices with all-new boxes, many of them offering 4K video.
Two leaks have revealed Roku’s plans. Documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission in the US, which certifies wireless technology, suggested that there are three brand new models coming. While two Canadian retail channels revealed more details, including an all-new naming convention.
The channels and FCC filings all use similar model coding to help piece the puzzle together. One gives an indication of some of the features, another the headline differences, while the third adds new names.
Zatz Not Funny
Tech blog Zatz Not Funny reports that the existing Roku 1 will be replaced by two new models, the Roku Express and Roku Express Plus. The exact differences between the two is not known, but it could be that one comes with an improved remote with headphone port or better connectivity.
It could even be that the Roku Express is in Streaming Stick form, while the Plus is the natural successor to the Roku 1.
Zatz Not Funny
A little more is known about the Roku Premiere and Premiere Plus boxes, as both are referred to by number in the FCC filing. Both are said to be 4K, while the latter will also come with HDR video capabilities.
A final Roku Ultra is said to have 4K Ultra HD streaming with HDR too, and it will also have an optical audio output. It will also be the only model with a USB port to play local media. It replaces the Roku 4 in the line-up.
Zatz Not Funny
All of these boxes are expected to launch in the US, but there are no indications yet whether they are also planned for the UK. After all, we don’t even have the Roku 4.
Hopefully, we’ll soon find out as Roku is tipped to get them all launched ahead of the bust holiday season.
Adieu, Chromebook Pixel 2
The best Chromebook that money can buy is slowly disappearing. As VentureBeat notes, the second-generation Chromebook Pixel is now unavailable in the US, with a mere “out of stock” message displayed in the Google Store. Google has said it’s “committed” to the Pixel line, but admits: “We don’t have plans to restock the Pixel 2.” The situation might be different outside the US — here in the UK, the laptop is still in stock — so act fast if you still want to buy one. Otherwise, it’s time to say goodbye.
The Pixel 2 is one of the best pieces of hardware Google has ever produced. The aluminium chassis is beautiful, hiding a spacious keyboard and a high-resolution, touch-friendly display. The impeccable build quality, combined with some decent performance and battery life, make it a sublime canvas for Chrome OS. The problem is the price — at $999 it’s an expensive piece of gear, and hard to justify against a similarly-priced MacBook or Windows laptop. But then, it was never supposed to be a mass market seller. The Pixel, like Google’s Nexus phones, is a showcase for the operating system.
Earlier this year, Google put out a job opening for a Chromebook Pixel Quality Engineer. While it doesn’t guarantee a new model, the position would indicate that Google is still interested in building its own high-end laptops. In the meantime, there’s always the Pixel C, a Surface-style hybrid that’s now considerably more useful thanks to Android 7.0 (Nougat).
Source: VentureBeat
VMware Announces Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 With Sierra and Windows 10 Anniversary Support
VMware today announced Fusion 8.5, Fusion Pro 8.5, Workstation Player 12.5 and Workstation Pro 12.5, the latest versions of its visualization software for running Windows on a Mac without using Boot Camp. Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 come with macOS Sierra support while both Fusion and Workstation suites come with Windows 10 Anniversary support.
Windows 10 Anniversary is a large upgrade to Microsoft’s operating system, making Cortana smarter, allowing interactions with Android and Windows phones, more desktop apps and games in the Windows Store, a dark theme, Windows Edge extensions, click-to-play Flash and more.
Both Fusion 8.5 and Workstation 12.5 include Windows 10 Anniversary support and Windows 10 server support in addition to various bug fixes and performance improvements. The Fusion suite’s Sierra support includes Siri integration and support for tabbed VM windows.
VMware also announced that it’s giving away 20 Oculus Rift headsets to the general public. Entrants must tweet (using #FusionLove) a short video of themselves telling a story of how Fusion has helped them accomplished something. Meanwhile, registered attendees of VMworld 2016 will receive 18-months of Fusion or Workstation.
Current VMware Fusion 8.0 and Workstation 12.0 users can receive the 8.5 and 12.5 upgrades for free. However, users of pre-8.0 versions of Fusion and Fusion Pro can upgrade for $49 and $119 respectively, while users of pre-12.0 versions of Workstation Player and Workstation Pro can upgrade for $79 and $149 respectively. Upgrade pricing eligibility extends back to users of Fusion 4 and Workstation 7.
Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 are priced at $79.99 and $119.99 for new users while Workstation Player and Workstation Pro 12.5 have new-user prices of $149.99 and $249.99 respectively. Both Fusion and Workstation can be purchased at VMWare’s online store.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Tags: Windows 10, Cortana, VMware, Fusion, Fusion Pro, Workstation
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Chinese vendor Meizu is readying a Star Trek-themed handset
Samsung has launched limited edition models of its flagships with Batman and Iron Man branding, and it now looks like Chinese manufacturer Meizu is following suit with its upcoming Star Trek edition of the M3E. Leaked images of the phone reveal the Starfleet insignia on the back of the phone, as well as a custom launcher with backgrounds and icons from the franchise.
As for the phone itself, it looks like the Star Trek edition will offer the same hardware as the standard variant of the M3E, which includes a 5.5-inch Full HD display, MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, and a 3100mAh battery.
Meizu is slated to unveil the phone in China on September 2. Seeing as how this will be a mid-range offering, it won’t be as astronomically priced as Samsung’s Injustice Edition, but with no mention of global availability, it will be just as hard to track down.
AIVAnet 