Apple Likely Aiming for Late October Launch of Redesigned MacBook Pro

With the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 launches having dominated the Apple news cycle in recent weeks, attention is now turning back to the Mac lineup, which has been in need of updates for quite some time as highlighted by our Buyer’s Guide. Looking ahead to the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season, rumors have suggested Apple is preparing to update several of its Mac lines before the end of the year, led by a redesigned MacBook Pro that has been rumored to be ready for launch “as soon as October.”

MacRumors has learned that Apple is indeed moving rapidly toward a launch of the new MacBook Pro models, with the company’s current development work on macOS 10.12.1 focused largely on preparing the operating system to support the updated hardware’s new features, which have been rumored by several sources to include Touch ID support and an OLED “touch bar” replacing the current row of function keys across the top of keyboard. Apple is also said to be shifting to “Polaris” graphics chips from AMD on the higher-end 15-inch models.

Leaked MacBook Pro top case showing space for touch bar in place of function keys
Our understanding is that Apple is planning to seed one more beta version of macOS 10.12.1 for developer and public beta testing early next week, with a goal of finalizing the software update by the end of that week so it can be loaded onto the new hardware currently being produced by Apple’s supply chain partners.

This timeline could of course change should last-minute bugs or other circumstances require adjustments to Apple’s plans, but if it holds true, it appears Apple could have its new MacBook Pro models ready to ship to customers some time in the second half of October.

With an emphasis on preparing for the new MacBook Pro models and thus a need to stick to an aggressive timeline, Apple appears to be pushing off all but the most critical bug fixes and security patches beyond macOS 10.12.1. Less crucial fixes will be incorporated into the following macOS 10.12.2 update, which we understand Apple is aiming to begin seeding to developers around late October with a goal of public release around late November.

In addition to redesigned MacBook Pro models, Apple has also been rumored to be launching updated MacBook Air models with USB-C ports and new iMacs with AMD graphics chips before the end of the year. It is unclear, however, whether all three lines will be updated simultaneously and whether Apple will hold a media event to introduce the hardware or opt for a more low-key introduction via press release, perhaps with some embargoed media reviews alongside.

Finally, Apple is reportedly working with LG on a new 5K external display to replace the discontinued Apple Thunderbolt Display, although a timeframe for that product has yet to be reported. We’ve also yet to hear any word about the Mac Pro and Mac mini, both of which remain in significant need of updates.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
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T-Mobile extends free high-speed roaming in Europe and South America until end of 2016

T-Mobile extends roaming privileges until the end of 2016.

T-Mobile always finds a way to put itself in the news. The company has announced that it will be extending free high-speed roaming to postpaid customers until the end of 2016. The original plan was supposed to expire at the end of September.

Specifically, the company says all postpaid customers will be able to roam on LTE at no extra charge in a number of European and South American countries, including Spain, Sweden, UK, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and more.

Of course, not all of T-Mobile’s roaming partners in every country support 4G LTE, but the company promises the “fastest available data” in each place.

T-Mobile says that after introducing the promotion earlier this summer to coincide with the Olympics, it saw a 3x increase in data use in those countries — unsurprising when people didn’t feel they had to count their bandwidth.

Last month, the company introduced T-Mobile One, a single plan that offers unlimited calls, texting and data to all of its customers. After some criticism around the speed of free tethering, T-Mobile then revised the One plan to include faster free 3G tethering, and the option to add 4G LTE hotspot support and unlimited HD video streaming for an extra $25 per month, per line.

The full list of countries eligible for free, high-speed roaming is:

Europe

• Armenia
• Austria
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Germany
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Russia
• Serbia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

South America

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Easter Island
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Guyana
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Suriname
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

What do you think of this move to extend free, high-speed roaming in Europe and Latin America? Let us know in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy S7, six months on

It’s been half a year since we reviewed the Galaxy S7; now it’s time to revisit things.

Oh how quickly time flies. It’s hard to believe that the Galaxy S7 has already been on sale for over six months, as we published our review on March 8. The GS7 has been what I consider my “primary” phone since then (with requisite time spent away from it with review devices), so I’ve racked up plenty of experience using Samsung’s base-level flagship since it was launched.

Revisiting a phone several months after reviewing it gives necessary perspective, particularly as sales continue and potential buyers keep considering the Galaxy S7. So how has it stood up to a half-year of use? Read on for my experiences.

Still holds up

Galaxy S7 Hardware

I wrote our review of the Galaxy S7 edge, but never could get comfortable with the larger curved screen and immediately gravitated to using the “standard” Galaxy S7 instead. The 5.1-inch screen and svelte overall body are just the right size for me: big enough to not feel cramped, and small enough to fit in my pocket and manage with a single hand.

After months of use, my Galaxy S7 is still looking rather pristine, though I’m admittedly not too rough on any of my phones as they often spend hours a day sitting on a desk. I’m also cognizant of the dangers of scratches, bumps and drops while I travel, and my GS7 usually lives in a clear TPU case or Samsung’s battery pack case when I hit the road.

My GS7 has spent 80% of its life outside a case, and hasn’t picked up any cosmetic damage.

With that being said, my GS7 has probably spent 80% of its life outside of a case, and really hasn’t picked up any cosmetic damage. The metal frame has a few tiny scratches, and the back glass is the one place where damage is pretty unavoidable — you can see a few shallow scratches and swirls from sliding around on various surfaces. No cracks or pits in the glass on either side, though, which is a huge victory — and considering how well the GS7 is made I’m not surprised.

The Galaxy S7’s display continues to be marvelous, from its punchy colors and crisp resolution to its fantastic daylight visibility. Samsung’s displays have been class-topping for a couple years now, and while there are plenty of other phones out there with great displays, they all come up a little short of Samsung’s AMOLEDs. Some people aren’t as drawn to its over-saturated look, but I quite enjoy it — and if you prefer something more true to life you can tune it back in the settings.

Water resistance has saved my phone numerous times, but it’s really about the peace of mind.

Over the past six months I’ve been using some other phones, too, and I’m regularly reminded how awesome it is to come back to the Galaxy S7 with its water resistance. Though more and more phones are adding some level of resistance, it isn’t entirely ubiquitous, nor is it up to the same IP68 rating that Samsung uses. I don’t use the Galaxy S7 to take photos under water, nor am I going out of my way to get it wet — but it’s just one less thing to worry about when I’m carrying around a $650 phone. I set it out when I’m at the pool, rather than stuffing it in a bag. I leave it in my pocket when I’m walking on the beach and don’t have to be worried about a rogue wave ruining it. I can put it on a crowded dinner table even though it’s practically inevitable someone will spill a drink. And importantly for Seattle, I can use the phone while I’m on the sidewalk in the rain and not be worried.

Plenty fast

Galaxy S7 Daily use

The phone’s hardware is a known quantity that doesn’t change with use, but the software and experience can certainly deteriorate over time and erode your enthusiasm for a phone. Modern devices are pretty much always going to be quick and show off their features well when you’re in a store, or in the first couple days of use, but how well those features still work several months on shows the true character of a phone.

Software and performance

We use our phones all day every day, and a common refrain is how they slow down over time. My Galaxy S7 has survived this seemingly inevitable deterioration of performance, thankfully, despite loading it up with all of my usual apps and using it exactly as I do any other phone.

Performance is still absolutely great, even after 6 months of use.

Now considering the Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM inside this really shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the hardware inside really is overkill for most of what we do. It’s difficult to know how well a phone will far longterm during the initial review period. But now I know that the Galaxy S7 handles my daily needs the same now as it did when I first received it.

The software hasn’t had to grow on me at all, as I was already plenty happy with it when I first used the phone. Samsung’s interface is consistent and just fine on the eyes, so my only real complaint at this point is the pile of duplicative apps that can’t be disabled or uninstalled. I often use other apps as my defaults for functions like calendar and email, and I want to be able to remove Samsung’s versions so they’re no longer cluttering my app drawer and settings — this just isn’t possible given how deeply Samsung bakes them into its system. At this point, it’s the one area that still detracts from my enjoyment of Galaxy phones.

When it comes to software updates, Samsung has done better than expected, while at the same time leaving us a bit underwhelmed. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have both received monthly security patches with a regular cadence, but they’ve been delayed by a few weeks in most cases. They’ve also been inconsistent across carriers and regions, with Canadian carriers being particularly poor at working with Samsung to push updates and some regions not receiving updates at anywhere near a monthly interval.

Battery life

The single downside of the smaller size of the Galaxy S7 is its smaller battery, which leads to consistently adequate — but not astounding — battery life. I know exactly how long my phone’s going to last based on what I’m doing that day, and with my average use that means not worrying about charging until I head to bed at night. I don’t need to watch what I do on the phone, use power saving mode or even turn off the battery-draining Always On Displa. I’ve continued to use the GS7 like I do any other phone and the battery holds up.

If I have to go hard on the phone I may be down in the danger zone by nighttime, and if I’m traveling I’m almost guaranteed to have to pop on the Samsung battery case or hit a wall plug for 45 minutes, but those are fringe cases that don’t ruin the experience for me. Few phones out there can handle a full day of travel or hours of hotspotting on top of my normal use, and I don’t expect the GS7 with its 3000 mAh battery to provide any more than it does.

Cameras

Even six months later, I still hold the Galaxy S7 camera as the standard by which other phones are measured. Not only in terms of overall photo quality in a vast range of situations, but in the general experience. The Galaxy S7 still consistently launches faster — with a simple double press of the home button — than any other phone, presents you with a simple interface and captures shots the instant you press the shutter button.

The photos you can get out of the Galaxy S7 still blow me away, and the consistency from shot to shot is still there. The low light shots are generally fantastic, but are admittedly a little grainy and can sometimes rely too much on a high ISO versus a slow shutter speed in situations where there are both bright and dark parts of a scene. But that decision makes sense from the perspective of keeping images crisp — the main feature most are looking for.

If you’re willing to switch into Manual mode you can tweak things for some really great shots, including long exposures using a tripod, but the important part is that it isn’t necessary. You can get great photos time after time in full Auto with Auto HDR turned on.

Age is just a number

The bottom line, six months on

Samsung has likely already sold tens of millions of Galaxy S7s at this point, and now six months on many of them are coming to the same conclusion that I have: the GS7 is still a damn good phone. Although there will always be questions about fragility of a glass body, the sturdiness and outstanding feel of the GS7’s hardware is undeniable, and I really enjoy using it. The screen hasn’t been surpassed by any phone in the meantime, and I personally appreciate its manageable size next to all of the other mainstream phones that have gravitated toward 5.5 inches.

Just as importantly, the daily experience on offer from the Galaxy S7 is still great, even after several months using the phone and loading it up with all kinds of apps and data. I still wish that Samsung would scale back on its duplicative apps that can’t be disabled or uninstalled, but the interface is slick and fast, with no performance issues. At the same time, battery life is good enough to get your through a day without worrying about hitting a charger. And then you have the camera, always waiting and ready to snap a picture at a moment’s notice with excellent results in a variety of situations.

Considering how well the Galaxy S7 has held up to my use, I still have no hesitation in recommending it someone who wants the best of hardware, performance and camera in a phone that’s still a manageable size. Even six months on with some price cuts the GS7 is still quite expensive, but it continues to offer excellent value that few other phones can match.

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Forget pumpkin spice lattes! Get your pumpkin fix with these wallpapers

Fall is officially here.

This means so many wonderful things: getting to wear jackets outside without melting like the Wicked Witch of the West, there’s some new Google phones getting announced next week, and I can break out the fuzzy knee high socks! Woo hoo! Oh, also — PUMPKINS ARE BACK! Now, that may not mean a lot to you, but that’s because you’ve never had my pumpkin seeds. Pumpkins may just be set dressing or photo fodder for most of us, but this tech-loving snacker knows better. The best use for pumpkins isn’t chunking them out a cannon, it’s for gutting them and baking the seeds…

And wallpapers. They do make really good wallpapers.

Look at this! It’s too ridiculously adorable. I think we can all agree it doesn’t get more adorably fall than a little black cat with a jack-o-lantern. Now, there are two things about this wallpaper: first, this is a paid wallpaper, and I have no problem paying for it because LOOK AT THOSE EYES! Second, if you’re a Chrome browser user, it also comes as an adorable Chrome theme.

Just be careful looking at those eyes, they will cut deep into your soul and drag the biggest AWWW out of you.

Pumpkin paper by Apofiss

Now, in Cinderella we had a glass slipper, but what would’ve been amazing is if that pumpkin she’d been riding in had turn to glass. I mean, look at that! So shiny, so round… so perfect. Isn’t it a wonder? And while it’s not a ridiculously bright orange, the dark burnt orange of the wallpaper fits with a broader set of themes and home screens than other, more bold colors.

36 Glass Pumpkin by UltraShiva

This is Halloween, this is Halloween! Pumpkins scream in the dead of night!

Can you keep a secret? I sing this to my pumpkins as I carry them into my house to gut them. The Nightmare Before Christmas may be an odd duck among the Disney portfolio, but there’s no denying its distinct and wonderful flair. Jack is the Pumpkin King, and his lovely, skeletal grin has graced many a pumpkin. This dark wallpaper lets Jack share that skeletal grin with your home screen.

The Pumpkin King

There are Pokemon that look like pumpkins. Of course there are! And look at the Pumpkaboo, aren’t they just the end of all cuteness? I’d be scared to own one, though, because I’d be afraid it would hide next to the pumpkins I intend to carve. I’d also be afraid of traumatizing it by gutting a bunch of things that looks like it and then baking and eating their guts. Also, this wallpaper will work beyond Halloween if you’re the type to not change wallpapers often, because the Pumpkaboo are forming a Christmas tree, complete with a Shiny Pumpkaboo for a tree topper!

Pumpkaboo!!!! By artico

No, I’m not drooling. Shut up… Okay, I’ve tooted my horn about my pumpkin seeds, and I know the question on all of your minds: how do I make them? Well, here’s my secret: I brine them. After I cut open a pumpkin, like the ones on this wallpaper, I give the seeds a rinse and then brine them in a half-cup of water and two tablespoons of pickling salt. After a few hours (usually overnight), I drain the seeds and dry them on a tea towel for a half hour. I then melt a half-stick of butter for every cup of seeds, stir in two more tablespoons of pickling salt, coat the seeds in this loveliness, spread them in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, and bake them at 340 until golden, crispy, and delicious.

Pumpkin patch

iOS 10 Overtakes iOS 9, Now Installed on 48% of Devices

Just over two weeks after iOS 10 was released to the public, its adoption rate has reached 48.16 percent, successfully overtaking iOS 9, according to data obtained from Mixpanel’s iOS 10 adoption tracker.

iOS 10 is now installed on slightly more iOS devices than iOS 9, with Mixpanel’s numbers suggesting 47.79 percent of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches continue to run Apple’s previous-generation operating system. 4.06 percent of devices still have iOS 8 or earlier installed.

Since iOS 10 was released, its adoption numbers have been growing steadily and have been almost on pace with iOS 9 adoption rates during this time last year. One day after release, iOS 10 was installed on 14.5 percent of devices, and at just under one week, following the release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, it was installed on 34 percent of devices.

iOS 10 saw some early installation issues that may have made people wary of downloading the update, but its steady growth can be attributed to the many appealing features it offers, including a revamped Messages app with stickers and a full App Store, a Siri API for developers, a redesigned Lock Screen experience, a new Music app, new facial and object recognition capabilities in Photos, and more.

Last year, less than two weeks after iOS 9 was released, Apple said it was installed on more than 50 percent of active devices, making it the operating system with the fastest ever adoption rates. Based on Mixpanel’s numbers, it doesn’t appear iOS 10 has outpaced it, but it did come close.

Related Roundup: iOS 10
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