Apple Boosts Prices on iPhones and Other Products in Europe
While the iPhone 7 Plus introduced today saw a general $20 increase compared to the iPhone 6s Plus it will replace, customers in some countries are finding prices on both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and other products increasing by even more due to fluctuations in exchange rates.
One country significantly affected by the changes is the United Kingdom, where off-contract prices for the iPhone 7 in the UK are £599 for 32 GB, £699 for 128 GB, and £799 for 256 GB, compared to £539, £619, and £699 for the iPhone 6s last year. With its higher price points and the general price increase, the iPhone 7 Plus is seeing even large price jumps of between £100 and £130 for UK customers.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have seen more moderate price increases in euro-based countries like Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Italy. In Germany, for example, the iPhone 7 is priced at €759, €869, and €979, roughly €15 higher than the iPhone 6s was priced prior to today. With the general price increases compounding the currency adjustments for the iPhone 7 Plus, prices have increased by €45 on those corresponding models.
The iPhone isn’t the only Apple product receiving price changes. For example, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £729 in the UK as of today, an increase from the previous £679. Other iPad models have seen similar increases, while the Apple Pencil has increased from £79 to £99. Accessories such as cases and cables have also seen price increases in the UK.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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Beats Releases $130 Wired ‘EP’ Headphones With 3.5mm Plug
While Beats announced three new wireless headphones equipped with Apple’s new W1 wireless chip earlier today, it also quietly released the new Beats EP wired headphones with a 3.5mm headphone plug. The new on-ear headphones are built to deliver “premium” sound in a “tough” and lightweight frame.
The headphones are battery-free, allowing unlimited playback with a hassle-free fixed cable. They also come with adjustable vertical sliders so that users can personalize the fit for their head. RemoteTalk control allows users with iOS devices to take calls and control their music.
The Beats EP are available in four colors (blue, white, black, and red) and is available now on Apple.com and select retailers for $129.
Tag: Beats by Dre
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T-Mobile Offering Free 32GB iPhone 7 During Pre-Order With Trade-In
T-Mobile has announced that it will offer a free 32GB iPhone 7 during pre-order to new or existing customers when they trade in their iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus or 6s Plus. The offer is for a limited time and will be available at T-Mobile.com when pre-orders are live and T-Mobile retail stores.
The offer partially extends to other iPhone 7 models. For example, the 32GB iPhone 7 Plus is available for $120 with a trade-in, while the 128GB and 256GB iPhone 7 are available for $100 and $200, respectively.
To qualify for the offer, the trade-in iPhone has to be a 6, 6s, 6 Plus or 6s Plus and be able to turn on, have no water damage, and not have a shattered screen. Customers will also need a 24-month no-cost finance agreement. T-Mobile says that customers will see a credit on their bill every month for 24 months. After 24 months, T-Mobile says customers will have paid nothing and received a free iPhone 7.
Customers can walk away at any time by either paying their outstanding phone balance or turning in their iPhone 7.
AT&T has also announced a promo for the iPhone 7. New and existing DirecTV and AT&T U-verse customers can get a 32GB iPhone 7 on either AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year when they add a new line to their account from another wireless provider. Customers will receive up to $650 in monthly bill credits whey they activate their new iPhone. Similar to the T-Mobile offer, customers can choose another iPhone 7 model and pay the difference.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: T-Mobile
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Super Mario Run for iPhone: Release date, price and gameplay – CNET
Mario lovers rejoice. You can soon play with the mustachioed plumber no matter where you go. Today at Apple’s San Francisco event, Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto unveiled the first ever Mario mobile game, Super Mario Run. Here’s what we know so far.
Who’s getting it?
The game will be coming exclusively to iOS, at least at first, playable on the iPhone and iPad. However, according to a Kotaku report, Nintendo may be planning an Android release in 2017. But Windows users will likely never see the game on the platform.
What’s the gameplay like?
Nintendo Mobile released a video of actual game play to give you a glimpse on YouTube. Take a look:
Old-school Mario fans will instantly recognize that the gameplay looks like footage from New Super Mario Bros.with slightly better graphics. You can only go forwards, up and down.
The game reminds me a lot of Flappy Bird. Like in the bird game, Mario runs through the levels on his own. You just need to tap the screen with your finger to make him jump. The longer you hold your finger down, the higher he jumps. That’s all there it to it.
Toad characters watching Mario jump.
Screenshot by Alina Bradford / CNET
A good jump into certain game elements can make Mario do extra maneuvers, though. For example, jumping into the ceiling in certain areas can make Mario climb across the ceiling over obstacles. Jumping on arrows can boost Mario’s jumping power to get those coins that are just out of reach.
There are three different game modes. The first is single player mode. The goal is to get as many coins as you can and end up at the flagpole at the end of the level before your time runs out. You also have to avoid Goombas by jumping over them or by smashing in them with a well-timed jump. You can also slide down slopes into Goombas to knock them off the map.
The always hungry piranha plants are back, as well, so timing is another important part of game play.
Screenshot by Alina Bradford / CNET
The second mode is “Toad Rally” where you can “challenge the play data of other players to show who can beat a course with the most style to impress Toads into joining you,” according to Nintendo.
The third mode puts your coins that you’ve collected to good use to create your own Mushroom Kingdom. It isn’t clear what this mode entails just yet.
What will it cost?
The game will be free to download and play and will also have in-app purchases. This is probably in direct relation to the third mode, which focuses on the Mushroom Kingdom. Don’t have enough coins to customize Mushroom Kingdom? Buy some! At least that’s what makes the most sense based on what we know.
When will it be released?
Nintendo Mobile says that Super Mario Run will be released December 2016. You can see more at the game’s official App Store page.
Updated 3:50 p.m. PT:Adds Kotaku report that the game may come to Android in 2017.
Apple AirPods Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
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Up close with Apple’s wireless AirPods
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When Apple launched the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, a lot people were expecting it to announce new wireless headphones from Beats, which it acquired last year, and a wireless version of its EarPods that rumor had it would be called AirPods.
The new Beats did indeed materialize in the form of next-gen versions of its current models — the Powerbeats3 ($200) and Solo3 Wireless ($300) — as well the all-new BeatsX ($150). But it’s the new $159 (£159, AU$229) AirPods, due to ship in late October, that have created the biggest stir.
Yeah, they happen to be a wireless version of the ubiquitous white Apple earbud, seemingly the most popular default headphones in the world. But more strikingly, they’re totally wireless earbuds, which makes them different from anything that Beats has. And they also use a new proprietary W1 chip that Apple has developed (the new Beats also use the W1 chip).
That chip is being described as custom hardware that uses ultralow-power Bluetooth and keeps the two earbuds in sync.
According to Apple, the W1 chip has dual optical sensors and accelerometers in each AirPod that work with the W1 chip to detect when the AirPods are in your ears, so they only play when you’re ready to listen. You access Siri with a double tap to the AirPods and select and control your music, adjust volumes and check your battery life with voice commands. “An additional accelerometer in each AirPod detects when you’re speaking, enabling a pair of beam-forming microphones to focus on the sound of your voice,” Apple adds, “filtering out external noise to make your voice sound clearer than ever before.”
Alas, AirPods only work with Apple devices running iOS 10, watchOS 3 or macOS Sierra. But at least they’re compatible with legacy iPhones, not just the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
James Martin/CNET
More from Apple’s event
- Apple’s iPhone 7 is a familiar phone for unfamiliar challenges
- Apple’s AirPods may look weird, but they’ll change the headphone market
- Full coverage of Apple’s event
I haven’t used the new AirPods yet, but CNET editor Scott Stein got a chance to spend a few minutes with them at the launch event and thought they sounded pretty good and were comfortable to wear. That’s not saying much, but I think it’s pretty safe to assume they share very similar design traits to the EarPods — they just don’t have any wires.
Apple isn’t the first to come out with totally wireless earbuds. In last year we’ve seen several companies — and a lot of Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns — hawking these types of wireless headphones. I’ve tried a few pairs and have liked the models I’m using now from Erato (the Apollo 7) and Earin. They work surprisingly well, though they’re expensive (around $280). And plenty more totally wireless headphones are on the way, including Bragi’s The Headphone, Doppler Labs’ Here One, Jabra’s Elite Sport and Samsung’s Gear IconX.
I’ve been skeptical of these types of totally wireless earphones. My early experiences them were marred by inconsistent connections and poor fit. But the Erato Apollo 7 in particular has changed my mind. It’s not perfect — there’s some lag when watching video or playing games — but it’s worked smoothly, with few hiccups (the two buds mostly remain synced), the sound quality is good, and they fit comfortably with a tight seal.
James Martin/CNET
I was worried about losing the little buds, but when I’m finished listening, I stick them in their charging case, and put the case in my pocket. Battery life is around four to five hours, but they charge quickly in their charging case.
Apple AirPods also come with a charging case and their battery life is rated at five hours. However, the charging case provides an extra 24 hours of battery life, according to Apple. Three to five hours is the current standard for totally wireless stereo earbuds so the AirPods battery life is in line with that or slightly better.
The AirPods won’t be perfect either. As with most in-ear headphones, they won’t necessarily fit everyone’s ears — or stay in them — and it’d be nice if you could run in them. (Apple isn’t positioning the AirPods as workout headphone, but it would be nice if they were.) I’m also curious how good they are for making calls — my hunch is they’re pretty good.
If they’re as easy to pair with your phone and have as rock-solid a connection as Apple is saying they have, they’re going to be game-changers. The fact is, once you go totally wireless, it’s hard to go back to wires, and with Apple’s backing behind this new type of headphone — and a $159 price tag that’s not too outrageous — you may soon be looking at a lot people wearing the same white earbuds but with no wires between them.
CNET’s Scott Stein contributed to this story.
Updated 7:03 p.m. PT with compatibility specifics.
DirecTV now streams many more channels on your phone
AT&T is pushing hard to get you streaming DirecTV on your smartphone. An update to the DirecTV iOS and Android apps mean you can now stream many more of the TV channels you can get at home. In The Verge’s testing, the only big exceptions were most local channels and a handful of sports channels like the NFL Network. Oh, and you now have an easy way to watch recorded shows — you can either download them to watch offline or stream them directly from your DVR.
The move isn’t completely surprising. DirecTV is gearing up to launch dedicated streaming services that won’t require a satellite subscription, and a large chunk of the provider’s existing selection will be available on mobile. It only makes sense to offer a similar mix to customers who do subscribe to satellite TV.
The update doesn’t come without some concerns. AT&T is also promising that DirecTV mobile streaming won’t count toward your data cap if you’re one of its wireless subscribers. While that’s good news if you like catching up on TV during your commute it’s also bound to raise eyebrows among net neutrality advocates. They’re concerned that exemptions like this may violate net neutrality by effectively punishing customers who prefer competing services.
AT&T tells us that it’s “not treating our services differently” than other data and is merely “saying thanks to customers” who use both services (you can read its full statement below). Other companies can do the same through the Sponsored Data program, the carrier says. However, there’s no denying it — this still means that you’ll have to limit your viewing for the majority of services that don’t participate in the program, like Hulu or Netflix, and won’t face that restriction with DirecTV.
“We are not treating our services differently from any other data. This feature is simply our way of saying thanks to customers that purchase both video and mobility services from AT&T. Other content providers can do the same thing through our sponsored data program.”
Via: The Verge (1), (2)
Source: App Store, AT&T
Sony brought new PS4 accessories too
Sony didn’t talk about it much during today’s PlayStation Meeting event, but the reworked DualShock 4 (CUH-ZCT2) spotted in earlier leaks is real. The touchpad is a bit see through, allowing that line on the top to display whatever color the lightbar is showing — all the better for games that take advantage of its color-changing abilities.
Also, it’s able to send data back and forth to the PS4 over USB in addition to its Bluetooth connection for those times when wireless just isn’t working — a trick the Xbox One’s controller has had since launch. It will be available individually this fall for $59/£54/€59 and no, it does not have a larger battery.
There’s also a new Platinum Wireless headset coming for $159 with “premium” construction and materials, all ready to work with the PS VR headset. A new PlayStation Camera (CUH-ZEY2) has the same features in a cylindrical design that is easier to adjust for $59, while a new vertical stand is built for the PS4 Pro and new slimmer PS4.
Source: SIE
Apple Pay Coming to New Zealand, Russia and Japan This Fall
Apple Pay is expanding to three new countries this fall, including New Zealand, Russia, and Japan. Apple today confirmed its plans to bring Apple Pay to Japan on stage at its iPhone 7 event, while the Russia and New Zealand Apple Pay sites were updated with info on an imminent launch.
As was previously reported, Apple Pay in Japan will be implemented through a partnership with Sony and an iPhone 7 with support for the FeliCa tap-to-pay format, which has been widely adopted in the country. Apple Pay, which will work with Suica, will be coming to Japan in October.
Apple Pay is accepted anywhere Suica is available, so users can make quick everyday purchases and buy or reload a Suica card or commuter pass, all with their iPhone. Japan’s major financial brands will also support Apple Pay, so shoppers can make purchases in many of the country’s largest stores, at neighborhood shops and restaurants, and from their favorite online merchants.
Apple Pay in Japan will support credit and prepaid cards issued by AEON, Credit Saison, JCB, Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos, Orient Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Toyota Finance, UC Cards and View Card, and carriers KDDI, NTT Docomo, and Softbank.
Apple Pay will be coming to New Zealand through a partnership with ANZ, and it will initially be limited to ANZ customers. A launch date has not been announced but it is expected to be released in October.
“Our customers in the nine markets around the world where Apple Pay is live today love how convenient it makes their day-to-day shopping, and we can’t wait to bring Apple Pay to New Zealand so customers there can start making easy, secure and private payments in their favourite stores, apps and on the web,” said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay, in a statement.
Details on Apple Pay in Russia are limited with no word on which banks it will work with, but the service is expected to debut before the end of the year.
Apple Pay is currently available in nine countries including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, France, and Singapore. Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey has said Apple is “working rapidly” to expand the service to additional countries in Asia and Europe.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
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Apple AirPods preview: Showing us a wire-free listening future
With no headphone socket on the new Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, you’ve either got to go Lightning or wireless. Although the former is found in the box of the new iPhone 7 models, the company is hoping you’ll go for the later.
With that in mind it has launched a brand new product called the Apple Airpods, a pair of wireless in ear headphones.
Pocket-lint
Apple Airpods: Wireless and wirefree
The dinky Apple AirPod headphone are in-ear headphones that are completely wirefree. By that we mean there are no wires that connect to your phone, or connect the two earphones together.
Like the new wave of Bluetooth headphones starting to come on to the market, the AirPods are intelligent enough to wirelessly connect to each other and then to your phone.
The design is simple, white, and typically Apple. They sit in the opening of your ears with a small rod protruding out and down your face. That outer rod is touch sensitive to allow you to engage Siri.
With no connectors the only way to charge the AirPods is via the accompanying charging case, which is itself a battery giving you more juice on the go.
Aside from the concern of what happens if you lose the charging case, you’ll also have the fear of losing the headsphones themselves as for as good as they are small and as good as they are light, we suspect they are also as good as lost within days of getting them.
Sadly there doesn’t appear to be a lost of found feature like Tile.
Pocket-lint
Apple AirPods preview: Connecting the music
With AirPods, setting up and using wireless headphones looks to be incredibly easy. Demoed to us at the Apple Special Event in San Francisco ahead of their availability in October, connecting the AirPods to your iPhone, and in fact any of your Apple devices, is easy. Once you’ve connected it to one device, the AirPods will be available via iCloud to all your devices and automatically know which one you are listening to music on, be it the iPhone, the Apple Watch, or a MacBook.
“Just open the charging case near your iPhone and with a simple tap, AirPods are immediately set up with all the devices signed into your iCloud account, including your iPad and Mac. AirPods are connected and ready to go when you are, just put them in your ears when you want to listen. AirPods can intelligently and seamlessly switch from a call on your iPhone to listening to music on your Apple Watch,” says Apple.
And our demoed proved it was that easy too. Very cool.
Pocket-lint
Apple AirPods preview: One headphone or two?
It’s not just about listening to music in the same old way you’ve always done. The AirPods include a new wireless processor, dubbed the W1, which has some tricks up it’s sleeve. Pop them in your ear and the music starts playing, take one out and the music will pause and then rather than playing in stereo will only play on the one remaining in your ear.
Remove them completely and they automatically pause the music until you pop them back in. It’s very clever.
You can access Siri with a double tap to your AirPods to select and control your music, change the volume, check your battery life or perform any other Siri task. Yes, there are no buttons whatsoever.
An additional accelerometer in each AirPod detects when you’re speaking, enabling a pair of beam-forming microphones to focus on the sound of your voice, filtering out external noise to make your voice sound clearer than ever before.
In the crowded and noisy demo room it was hard to really put the wireless earphones to the test, but what we could tell from our brief play is that these are one intelligent pair of headphones, that work really well.
First Impressions
With the promise of 5 hours of listening time on one charge, and a case that offers a further charges to give you 24 hours of total listening time on the go, worries about running out of battery are probably moot.
The design won’t be for everyone, but what is clear is that the AirPods show us where wireless headphones could and should go.
This is Apple setting a benchmark in this area and it is very welcomed.
Of course there are lots of questions to answer, like how they sound in a much quieter environment, or what they are like when running, or what happens when you lose one or the charging case.
From what we’ve see so far the results look good and there are some great features. You’re only worry if you do buy them will be how long you can go before losing one.
The new Apple-designed wireless AirPods including charging case will be available for £159 beginning in late October. AirPods require Apple devices running iOS 10, watchOS 3 or macOS Sierra.
Vizio’s Cast-powered speakers offer an alternative to Sonos
Vizio first announced plans to bring Google Cast to its wireless speakers back in March. Now that the multi-room SmartCast Crave 360 is available for purchase, Vizio hopes you’ll give it a look instead of splurging for some Sonos gear. As you might expect, the speaker that looks kind of like an Amazon Echo is the Crave 360. The $250 circular device touts 2.1 audio, the ability to beam sound in any direction and it comes with a detachable charging base. Disconnect it and you’ve got a portable speaker with 8 hours of battery life.
The $300 Crave Pro also has 2.1 audio and it packs in a pair of subwoofers for more robust sound. This should translate to better bass over the Crave 360, but the Pro doesn’t offer the same portability. The Crave 360 and the Crave Pro are controlled with a volume knob that rotates for those adjustments. The top of that same knob accepts taps and swipes to handle play, pause and skipping tracks.
Vizio’s SmartCast speakers pack in Bluetooth connectivity in addition to WiFi, something Sonos doesn’t have on its feature list. While you’ll get better audio quality via Cast and WiFi, it’s nice to have the option and you’ll need it with the mobile Crave 360. Both speakers also have aluminum exteriors for a more sophisticated look than a lot of the other options, too.
To manage the multi-room setup, you’ll need to employ the Vizio SmartCast app. However, you can control your music and other content from any Cast-friendly applications like Spotify, Deezer and others. This is another area where Vizio differs from Sonos. Right now, you have to use the Sonos controller app to manage music, but the company recently announced that Spotify Connect and other integration is on the way. What’s more, these two Crave speakers play nice with Vizio’s SmartCast soundbars that are already on sale. Speaking of availability, you can snag the Crave 360 now directly from Vizio and at Sam’s Club while the Crave Pro is listed as “coming soon.”
Via: The Verge
Source: Vizio
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