Apple’s ‘One Night on iPhone 7’ Ad Campaign on Display in 25 Countries Starting Today
Apple has introduced a new “Shot on iPhone” campaign called “One Night on iPhone 7” that will be on display in 25 countries starting today.
Jennifer Bin sought to show a different perspective of Shanghai
Apple enlisted a group of photographers to capture photos on one night—November 5, 2016—to showcase the low-light capabilities of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus cameras. The photographers traveled around the world, ranging from the clubs of Johannesburg in South Africa to the rooftops of Shanghai in China.
Some of the photographers tackled extreme climates in search of the perfect shot. Chicago-based photographer Reuben Wu ventured to Java, Indonesia to photograph the 130 active volcanoes, using an iPhone 7 attached to a drone to capture breathtaking views of Gunung Karang’s lava flow after dark. Ruairidh McGlynn traveled to Iceland to photograph the foreboding terrain of the Arctic, traveling overnight by dog sled.
The photos will presumably be displayed on billboards and other advertising mediums in a number of cities around the world.
A collection of seven photos in the campaign can be downloaded from the Apple Newsroom.
Tags: Apple ads, Shot on iPhone
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Square Offering $350 of Free Processing Fees to Small Businesses Supporting Apple Pay
Electronic payments company Square today announced a new partnership with Apple that will allow small businesses to obtain free processing fees with Apple Pay and compatible Square Readers. Starting today, eligible small businesses across the U.S. will have the chance to process over $12,000 worth of Apple Pay payments for free (based on the 2.75 percent contactless transaction fee charged by Square), totaling $350 worth of savings in Square processing costs.
To receive the free processing discounts, merchants will have to order a discounted $29 Square Reader, which comes with a free Apple Pay marketing kit. The kit includes various stickers and marketing ephemera that promotes the businesses’ support of Apple Pay, as well as staff training materials. Once the merchant has their counter set up with all of Square’s marketing kit display material, a simple picture sent to Square will then allow the business to start processing Apple Pay transactions for free.
In the press release, Square mentioned that it hopes the new small business-focused effort will continue to educate both business owners and customers about the benefits of Apple Pay. After a focused campaign by Square took place in Portland, contactless payments “tripled over the course of the campaign.” On Apple’s side, the company is constantly adding new financial institutions and retailers to its Apple Pay “Where to Use” page, encouraging growth of its mobile wallet since its launch in 2014.
Increased awareness for Apple Pay is also driving traction at major festivals and events. Across Kanye West’s Life of Pablo pop-up shops in August there was significant usage of contactless transaction in cities across the U.S., from San Francisco (28%), to Dallas and Houston (both 14%). Together with Apple Pay, Square is taking this approach nationwide to help move the payments industry forward through initiatives that educate sellers and customers.
“It’s no secret that chip cards can be slow, which is why we built our reader to also accept contactless payments, a faster and safer way to pay,” said Jesse Dorogusker, Square’s Hardware Lead. “Anything we can do to make a seller’s experience faster and safer, including working with Apple to encourage Apple Pay usage, is an investment worth making.”
For each business taking part, today’s offer lasts until the business reaches the $350 cap of free Apple Pay processing fees, or a year passes from the time they enroll in the offer, “whichever occurs earlier.” After either of these contingencies is reached, the standard processing fees will begin to apply. Merchants have all year to take advantage of Square’s offer, with enrollment deadlines hitting December 31, 2017.
Square updated its line of payment solution devices in 2015 with a reader that supports NFC payments, letting locations which previously could not support Apple Pay — due to the lack of a required contactless reader — begin allowing customers to pay with the service. Apple has supported the Square Reader since early 2016, when it began selling the NFC reader both online and in Apple retail stores for $49.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Square
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Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 3.2 to Developers With SiriKit, Theater Mode
Apple has seeded a new beta of of an upcoming watchOS 3.2 update to developers for testing purposes. watchOS 3.2 comes more than three months after the release of watchOS 3.1, the first significant update to the watchOS operating system, and a week after the release of watchOS 3.1.3.
The watchOS 3.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. iOS 10 or later and the proper configuration profile are required.
watchOS 3.2 requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install and will only be available to developers. Apple does not make watchOS betas available to the public as there is no way to downgrade the software on an Apple Watch.
Ahead of releasing watchOS 3.2, Apple shared some details on what’s included in the update with developers. watchOS 3.2 includes a “Theater Mode” designed to let customers mute the sound on their Apple Watch and disable Raise to Wake, preventing the screen from lighting up with arm movement.
Theater Mode, originally introduced in watchOS 3.1.3, is being made available in watchOS 3.2. Customers are still able to receive haptic feedback-based notifications, and information can be viewed by either tapping the screen or pressing down on the Digital Crown.
watchOS 3.2 also brings SiriKit to the Apple Watch, allowing customers to ask Siri to do things like send messages, send payments, book a ride, log a workout, make a call, or search through photos. SiriKit has been available on iOS devices since the release of iOS 10, but is new to the Apple Watch.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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ASUS ZenFone 3s Max (ZC521TL): First Impressions
It’s only been three months since ASUS launched the ZenFone 3 Max, but that hasn’t deterred the Taiwanese company to follow it up with an incremental upgrade, the ASUS ZenFone 3s Max (ZC521TL).
ASUS launched the first ZenFone Max in 2015 with a focus on marathon battery life. Now, the ZenFone 3s Max packs in a 5000mAh battery compared to the 4100mAh of its predecessor. There’s also slightly better internals and minor design changes for us to get interested.
With the entire ZenFone 3 portfolio, ASUS has upped the ante in design and positioning and instead of focusing on hardware specifications, aims to bring premium experience to its users. That also means that most of their latest phones are not exactly run-of-the-mill value-for-money devices, but differentiate themselves in design, camera, battery life, etc.
But does ZenFone 3s Max offer a well-rounded smartphone experience while delivering its promise of long battery life? Let’s find out!
Ahead of the formal launch, I’ve been using the ZenFone 3s Max for over a week now. However, the following review is incomplete since we don’t know the price of the device. Therefore, it is difficult to judge if certain attributes of the phone are value for money or not. Also, I can’t just yet make a final opinion on the device and if I should recommend the same. We’ll update the post at the launch.Show More
Design
With the ZenFone 3 line-up, ASUS finally brought all-metal design to its smartphones much later than when most people would’ve liked. Even entry-level budget smartphones in 2016 boasted of an all-metal design.
Like its predecessor, the ZenFone 3s Max sports a metal unibody design – there’s nothing extraordinary about the design, but neither is it run-of-the-mill. The homogenous design language of the ZenFone series is apparent, a premium one at that. It is well-built and the aluminum chassis gives it a solid feel.
With this device, ASUS has done away with the capacitive navigation buttons, introducing on-screen buttons. Also, the fingerprint sensor has moved to the front below the display, instead of the back.
Since the ZenFone 3s Max is smaller than the ZenFone 3 Max (5.2-inch display instead of 5.5-inch), the former has a compact form factor. That combined with its slim bezels and rounded edges gives it nice ergonomics and it feels good to hold in the hand.
Unlike the original ZenFone Max, this one is not a brick and neither does it sport big bezels – boasting of pretty good 75 per cent screen-to-body ratio. It’s not very slim at 8.85mm, and at 175 grams, it’s not the lightest smartphone out there. Yet it is one of the lighter phones to pack a big battery, and there’s no apparent heft to it.
Display
The ZenFone 3s Max sports a 5.2-inch HD (720p) IPS display with a 2.5D curved glass on top. The display is sharp with rich colors and the 450 nits brightness is very good, offering great sunlight visibility. The viewing angles too are quite excellent. The contrast ratio though is just average, and even on higher brightness levels, the colors are not as vibrant as I would’ve liked.
It is, however, disappointing that the ZenFone 3s max sports only an HD display when other phones in the same – and even lower – price range feature a Full HD display. It’s good that the device packs in a smaller display, so this does not become a showstopper for a lot of people. Of course, it looks a poor sight on the specifications sheet.
Performance
Powered by 64-bit MediaTek MT6750 processor clocked at 1.5GHz paired with 3GB of RAM, the ZenFone 3s Max chugs along nicely while multitasking offering a smooth Android experience. However, the chipset isn’t powerful enough as the ones powering some of the competitors. In 2017, it is a shame ASUS didn’t go for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, a terrific SoC for mid-range smartphones. Clearly, the device is geared towards casual smartphone users – and that is where it excels.
Of course, the USP of the ZenFone 3s Max is its long battery life. There is a considerable increase in the battery capacity of the Max this time around – from 4100 mAh to 5000 mAh. The device, with the hardware it packs and the software optimizations that ASUS has done, offers phenomenal battery life. With moderate usage, I was easily able to get two days battery life on the phone, which is quite good. Using the built-in power saving features, you can even squeeze more than that! Even in random observations, like a long media streaming session or more than few races at Asphalt 8, I noticed only a drain of few percent.
Hardware
The ZenFone 3s Max comes with 32GB of internal memory, further expandable by up to 2TB via a microSD card slot. The dual SIM smartphones features a hybrid slot, so you can either use the second SIM or the microSD card, but not both. The phone supports reverse charging, and can be used to charge other devices via OTG.
The fingerprint scanner can be used to answer incoming calls, launch the camera app, or take a picture. While the authentication is just fine, the recognition is a tad miss-and-a-hit. In first couple of days with the device, I would never get it right in the first try. Of course, with impulse you get used to placing the thumb exactly where the sensor wants you to, but one would expect a little flexibility there.
Camera
The ZenFone 3s Max sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash. Outdoors in daylight, the camera performs decent. While the color reproduction is mostly accurate, the photos lack details. The photos aren’t sharp enough, which is more pronounced when I viewed them on a 32-inch display. For most people though, who just share photos on social media, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Indoors or in low-light conditions, only some of the shots come out decent, but mostly they are very noisy with messed up metering.
On the front, there is an 8-megapixel camera that manages to click detailed selfies outdoors, and just about okay ones indoors.
The camera app on the Zenfone 3s Max is the same as on the company’s flagship ZenFone 3 smartphone. While the options are great to tinker around, including a manual mode and a super resolution mode that takes four photos to combine into one 52MP image for superior details, the camera on the ZenFone 3s Max is just average.
Software
The first Nougat device from ASUS, the ZenFone 3s Max runs Android 7.0 out of the box with the new version of the company’s proprietary ZenUI 3.0 on top of it. Virtually, every nook and corner of the Android experience gets a fresh coat of paint.
Right up, that’s a good thing. The older versions of ZenUI were plagued with bloatware and gimmicky UI elements that marred the overall user experience. The latest version is a complete makeover, and offers a clean UI with subtle animations. There are several nifty utilities, but there’s still a plethora of ASUS-branded apps that I’ve hardly seen anyone using really. Unfortunately, only a few of these can be uninstalled and while you can disable most others, they still occupy storage space on your phone.
ZenUI 3.0 features an app drawer, and there’s a built-in search functionality. You can swipe down the screen and search the Web or your apps and contacts, and view your frequently used apps. There’s an all-new Theme Store from which users can download free as well as paid themes, wallpapers, icons, and ringtones to customize their smartphone.
The latest version of ZenUI is fluid and aims to offer stock Android-like experience while offering additional functionalities. And, it succeeds in doing that. It’s one of the better UIs out there in terms of ease of use and feels polished. Better internals would’ve made it even smoother on the ZenFone 3s Max. ASUS has reduced the bloatware this time around, but still has a long way to go in that positive direction.
Specifications
| Operating System | Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 3.0 |
| Display | 5.2-inch HD (720p) IPS | 450nits brightness | 2.5D curved glass display | Built-in Bluelight filter |
| Processor | MediaTek 64-bit 1.5GHz MT6750 | Mali T860 GPU |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Internal Storage | 32GB; expandable up to 2TB with microSD card |
| Rear Camera | 13 MP | f/2.0 | 5p Largan lens | Dual LED Real-tone Flash | 52MP Super Resolution |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 85° field-of-view |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Weight | 175 grams |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The ZenFone 3s Max aims to pimp up the Max range with a premium design while improving the internals from its predecessor. It succeeds there, but there’s little else.
Like the entire ZenFone lineup, the ASUS ZenFone 3s Max is a decent smartphone. It looks good on paper, but the real-world performance is limited – and would only meet the demands of less discerning users. Yes, there’s the fantastic battery life, and that’s the sole reason one should go for this device.
The device hasn’t been officially launched yet, and no pricing information is available. We will update the review at the launch. Meanwhile, tell us your thoughts on the ZenFone 3s Max, and if you’d be interesting in picking one up.
Breaking Down The Technology in Amazon Go
The announcement of the Amazon Go store last year was met with much anticipation. The concept is a perfect union between the convenience of Amazon and the traditional shopping experience—but without the lines. CNET wrote this colorful piece predicting that the announcement is going to have retailers everywhere scrambling for new ideas, as Amazon continues to threaten brick-and-mortar stores more and more. All you need is your phone…but how does it work exactly?
Originally, it seemed that Amazon was going to use RFID technology to implement their vision, but this isn’t the case, according to GeekWire. According to the announcement video and the patent, Amazon Go relies on computer vision and sensor fusion, the same kind of technology as self-driving cars. Customers with compatible smartphones can tag a reader as they enter the store and simply put items in their bags and walk out.
The fine points of how all the technical components work together are still anyone’s guess, but we know that there are three main components to the system: The entrance and exit, the shelves, and customers’ smartphones.
Entrance and Exit
Based on the patent, the entrance and exit of the store will use 2D barcodes and a “customized” system. Mostly likely, the scanners at the front of the store will need to read a code or detect you in some other way. IDTechEx speculates that facial recognition and GPS may also play a role in confirming your entrance. We can only assume that there will have to be some sort of staff in the store to prevent theft or unpermitted entrance.
Smartphones
We know that the Amazon Go shops will require users to have a supported smartphone and use their app, but that’s all we know so far. Your smartphone is most likely used to track your proximity to individual items and keep track of what’s inside your bag.
Shelves
It’s not really just the shelves that are at work in this component. The patent says that there are “cameras, pressure sensors, infrared sensors, scales, volume displacement sensors, light curtains, etc.” It seems clear that this is where the real magic happens. There are a multitude of sensors that will interact with each other to manage your cart. Based on the patent illustration, it looks like Amazon Go stores are going to have more cameras per square foot than any store in the world; they’ll be on the ceilings, on the shelves, everywhere. The cameras can be used in conjunction with the various weight sensors to recognize products and product removal by customers. It’s been confirmed that if the system fails to recognize what a customer has picked up, the system can look at the user’s account to make an educated guess.
The Amazon Go store is still in beta testing, but we’re probably going to see some more shops open in major cities in 2017. Until there’s more information, we can’t know everything about how the system works, but it’s sure to change the way we shop in the future.
The 15 best LG V20 cases to keep your phone in perfect condition
The LG V20 — the followup to last year’s LG V10 — is shaping up to be one of the most noteworthy phones of the year, which means you should be prepared when the time comes to hold it. The V20 may have passed military drop tests, but there are still a variety of reasons to apply a protective case. Many people can’t stand to see a naked product, one exposed to the world that dares misfortune to befall it. Some are well aware of their clumsiness and can’t put a case on it soon enough, while others invest in one just to change up the look of their phone. Whatever your motivation, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite LG V20 cases. Maybe something will catch your eye.
More: Want a smaller version of the LG V20? It’s called the LG V34 Isai Beat
OtterBox Defender Series Case ($60)
For the best in protection for your shiny new toy, look no further than OtterBox’s Defender case. OtterBox makes Defender cases for many other smartphones out there, and they are seriously tough. First and foremost is the built-in screen protector that completely covers the 5.7-inch display, followed by the drop resistant cover that will only enhance the phone’s own drop proof capabilities. The case also has port covers to keep dirt, dust, and other debris out of the phone’s important parts, but still leaves them entirely accessible when needed. When the time comes to put the phone away, you can attach it to the included holster and clip it onto your waist for safe keeping and easy transportation.
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OtterBox T-Mobile Verizon
Urban Armor Gear Plasma Series Case ($30+)
What Urban Armor Gear’s case lacks in the built-in screen protector department, it more than makes up for when it comes to guarding the rest of the phone. Like the phone itself, the Plasma case also meets military drop-test standards, so you don’t have to worry about your LG V20 if it takes a tumble. The sides come with button covers, as well as rubber grips to decrease the chances of an accidental drop, while the edges surrounding the screen are scratch resistant and will prevent skidding, in the event the phone is in a position to slide along a surface. The case itself is also incredibly light, so don’t worry about adding more mass to your phone.
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Urban Armor B&H Jet
Tech21 Evo Check Case ($40)
The most unique thing the Evo Check case has going for it is the material it’s made out of, which is known as FlexShock. Tech21’s proprietary blend results in a case that’s well equipped to deal with sudden and drastic impacts, which is especially important if you’re prone to dropping your phone. It’s lightweight and thin, and the case’s design doesn’t draw much attention, but it is smooth to the touch and features a diamond pattern on the back. All ports and buttons are accessible, and fully functional, while the case is on.
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T-Mobile
Incipio DualPro Case ($30)
The LG V20 can handle itself when it comes to drops from a reasonable height, but you can’t have too much protection, right? Incipio’s DualPro case has a hard outer shell that defends against scratches, and a flexible inner layer and bumper that keeps your phone from shaking around too much or being damaged by hard impacts. The cut-outs for phone features are accurate and there are good button covers for the volume controls. If you don’t want to solely rely on the phone’s abilities to deal with high falls, the DualPro delivers good protection against drops, thanks to that aforementioned hard outer shell and soft interior. It comes in a couple of different color combinations.
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T-Mobile
Poetic Revolution Series Case ($17)
Poetic says its Revolution case is rugged, so it should suit people constantly on the move and in areas that aren’t phone friendly. Like the OtterBox Defender, this case also comes with a built-in screen protector. Not only does it cover the display, it’s also water resistant. It has a boxy look when viewing the case from the sides, because of the face plate around the display instead of raised edges. Speaking of the sides, they’re covered in a unique grip texture to keep you from dropping your phone, but even if you do, there’s nothing to worry about. The reinforced back and corners are meant to withstand most falls and scratches, while the ports, buttons, and speakers are covered to keep out dirt and dust. That’s not to say you should go around dropping your phone wherever you please, but it’ll probably be okay if there’s an accidental fall.
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Amazon
Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.
These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged.
More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion
Talking Bruce
Bruce is your pet panda who responds to your touch and swipes, and repeats everything you say in a cute voice.
Available on:
iOS
Soccer Juggler
The rules are simple — kick the soccer ball up and keep it off the ground. You get one point for each kick. If you kick the ball and hit the target on the roof, you get two points.
Available on:
iOS
Mango
Mango is the ideal tool for monitoring your calorie intake and physical activity routine, on a daily basis; the perfect app if you want to lose weight, or simply improve your eating habits, by tracking your activity.
Available on:
iOS
Phoenix Photo Editor
With Phoenix you will have all the freedom to customize your photos with unique filters, effects, borders, and fonts.
Available on:
iOS
ManCam
A powerful camera app with full control over your image. Quickly and simply adjust all parameters of your image. No more tapping and hoping to get a good shot. Do what you want the way you want it.
Available on:
iOS
Personal Statement
Personal statements for your college or university applications are now made easy for you with this app, which is intuitive, useful, and easy to use.
Available on:
iOS
This case turns your iPhone 7 into a diving camera — touchscreen controls included
Why it matters to you
iPhone 7s may soon be able to photograph underwater scenes — but you’ll have to pay nearly as much for the case as for a point-and-shoot underwater camera.
Sure, the iPhone 7 can withstand a little splashing, but a new Kickstarter campaign is aiming to take the smartphone over 300 feet underwater — without losing the touchscreen controls. LenzO is an iPhone 7 and 7 Plus case designed to turn the phone into a diving camera.
After launching on Kickstarter last week, the LenzO is already over a quarter of the way to a $60,000 funding goal. Created by the designer for National Geographic’s first underwater housing, Valentins Ranetkins, and five-time Emmy Award-winning underwater cinematagrapher Anthony Lenzo, the case seals out water down to 100 meters or 328 feet.
ValsTech / Kickstarter
More: Dedicated dive camera adds depth data to video down to 656 feet
But besides waterproofing the case, the Lenzo by ValsTech also solves another challenge — using a touchscreen underwater. The case uses two control systems, through which operating a control on the outside of the case adjusts a small arm on the inside of the case. With a press on the outside, the arm will touch the screen on the inside, controlling camera functions within that water seal. Access to the physical home and wake/sleep buttons is also maintained with the case.
Along with access to the camera controls, the case also includes built-in filters to adjust the camera’s white balance to shoot underwater. A dome gives both the rear and front-facing cameras an unobstructed view, the company says.
While the iPhone 7 case will float to the top if you drop it, the iPhone 7 Plus case is instead made from solid aluminum. ValsTech says the aluminum version will have a better depth rating, but didn’t say just how far beyond that 328 feet the case can dive.
LenzO’s creators say the case is the only iPhone 7 underwater case that works with the native camera app instead of a third-party download. If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, early backers can receive the Lenzo for $229 for the iPhone 7 or $450 for the iPhone 7 Plus, while the cases are expected to retail for $395 and $749. The company’s iPhone 6 and 6S housing retails for $295.
40 of our favorite iPhone 6 cases for style and protection
Apple’s iPhone 6 has proven to be another smash hit, with sales in the millions. But shortly after they hit the stores, they also began to hit floors and sidewalks as horrified new owners accidentally dropped them. You can alleviate the worry by investing in some protection. That sexy, svelte look demands some respect and we’ve got a range of the best iPhone 6 cases for you here to suit any style or budget.
More: Protect your iPhone 6 from spills and submersion with one of these 15 cases
Pad & Quill Luxury Pocket Book Case ($100)
Pad & Quill is all about luxury, functionality, and craftsmanship, and the company the Luxury Pocket Book case doesn’t disappoint. Made using full-grain, American leather, this case is meant to completely replace your wallet. Such being the case, it features five internal pockets, including a clear ID pocket and a hidden cash pocket. It also comes in five color combinations, it can be personalized, and it ships with a hand-finished birch cradle for additional style and protection. This is a bulkier case than you might be used to, however, and doesn’t support the iPhone’s flash function. Still, that may not be a huge deal breaker if everything else about the case speaks to you.
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Pad & Quill
Lunatik TAKTIK Strike ($50)
The Taktik Strike features shock-absorbing Impact Truss technology and ballistic bezels, meaning it’s tougher than the slim design and lightweight build lets on. This case will protect your phone from drops, shocks, and even the heaviest of impacts, and your display will be protected thanks to the tempered glass screen protector. The case also features a switch that allows you to toggle the ringer on and off easier, and an audio toggle seal that pivots and allows you to choose how loud you want the sounds coming from your phone to be.
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Lunatik
Inner Exile Odyssey Voyage Case ($65)
If you want a case that protects not just your device, but the all important buttons that reside along its edges, Inner Exile has such a case for you. It looks as elegant as possible, with a smooth aluminum design. The case comes in two parts that snap-lock together, and once it’s locked, the iPhone is held in place and protected from every angle by a hardened polycarbonate shell designed to hug its every curve. It also comes with a 3.5mm adapter, making it compatible with all headphone jacks.
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Amazon
Cable and Case Armorbox Hybrid Case ($15)
The Armorbox’s design may be a little off-putting — especially given the visible kickstand on back — but that’s only because the case was designed with protection in mind, not style. The case’s design, which uses outer and inner shells, is meant to provide maximum protection, while the ribbed trim gives you a better grip on your iPhone 6 and helps reduce the chance of accidental drops. It also comes with a screen protector.
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Amazon
Spigen Tough Armor FX Case ($18+)
What this case lacks in colors and design, it makes up for with overall protection. The case utilizes TPU and polycarbonate materials, along with button covers, a built-in screen protector, and raised corners that lift the back of the phone. The latter has also been treated with a special coating to ensure it maintains the iPhone’s responsiveness and functionality. Drop protection, shock absorption, and air cushioning in the corners round out the hallmarks, all of which have been to meet military drop-test standards.
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Amazon Spigen
iDeal Swipe Wallet Case ($20+)
iDeal wants you to never have to open your case in order to answer phone calls — and the Swipe Wallet comes with several unique and practical features to make this a reality. First off, there’s the answer function located on the front of the case, which allows you to answer calls with the mere swipe of a finger. The window on the front can also display the time, music, and calls, while the side contains two hidden volume buttons. Since it’s a wallet case, it also has slots on the back for holding up to four cards, and its slim design allows it to rest neatly within your pocket. It also has a built-in stand and magnetic closure.
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Amazon iDeal
Zagg Speaker Case ($82+)
This unusual offering from Zagg is unlike any iPhone 6 case we’ve seen before. There’s a simple black bumper case with metallic button covers, then there’s a separate Bluetooth speaker and microphone that snaps into the back. The idea is that you only take the speaker when you need it, and easily pop it out and use it in the center of the table for conference calls. It also boosts the sound considerably when listening to various forms of entertainment, though it’s not really powerful enough to fill a room with music. As an added bonus, the speaker section contains a 1,800mAh battery and a USB port, so you can potentially use charge your iPhone battery so longs as you bring your Lightning cable with you.
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Amazon
Loopy Case ($35)
Do you often fumble with your iPhone 6 when trying to juggle it with your keys, coffee cup, and whatever else you’re holding? Then you’re going to love the Loopy Case. It’s a pretty standard, flexible case with a hard-shell backing, but it has a wee added extra on the back in the shape of a rubber loop. The idea is that you can stick a finger through the loop and easily secure your iPhone. Doing so makes it easy to carry multiple items, or just add a touch of extra security whenever you’re holding your phone. It can also work as a stand for propping your iPhone in landscape view. The ends of the changeable loop — it comes with a spare — give the case a slight curve when the iPhone is fitted, but we bounced it up and down vigorously and there’s no doubt that it’s truly secure once placed.
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Loopy
Burkley Jacketcase ($30+)
What do you do if you love leather, but you don’t want a wallet case? You check out this case from Burkley, which features a fitted hard-shell design and a leather finish. Snap your iPhone 6 securely into place, and you’ll find accurate openings for your ports, camera, and buttons. The coverage is pretty minimal, so this isn’t the most protective case out there, but the leather finish is attractive and makes your phone very comfortable to hold given the added grip. You also have a choice of different colors and styles of leather.
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Amazon
Mikol Nero Marquina Case ($100)
Premium iPhone cases come in all sorts of different flavors, but this is the first time we’ve seen a marble one. These cases look absolutely stunning, but we’re not sure how practical they are, and we’re not willing to drop test one. The basic case is standard TPU, minimalist, and closely fitted to the iPhone 6, with cut-outs in all the right places. Set into the back is a panel of marble. Each case is completely unique. You can go for white, black, or a kind of reddish option, and you can also get the white one with white TPU instead of black. These aren’t protective cases, they’re all about the style, and they aren’t cheap.
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Amazon Mikol
UberEats in London now an early riser — you can order starting from 7 a.m.
Why it matters to you
Now that UberEats is starting its service even earlier, hungry patrons have more food delivery choices.
Your list of excuses for skipping the most important meal of the day is growing shorter by the second, especially now that UberEats is now serving up breakfast on demand. That is, if you’re in the British capital of London. Beginning Tuesday, January 30, the ridesharing company is planning on helping you get a good start to your day by starting its services at an impressive 7 a.m. So rise and shine, sleepy heads. We know Uber does.
While previously, UberEats was not available in London until 11 a.m., the company has decided to expand its window of opportunity by a solid four hours. The new UberEats app will let you place an order not quite at the crack of dawn, but early enough to ensure that even if you don’t have time to make yourself a delicious breakfast, you can get one delivered.
More: McDonald’s, UberEats to partner for delivery in Florida starting in January
And you can get it delivered just about anywhere. Because the app supports custom locations, you can have your first meal of the day waiting for you at a destination other than your doorstep. So whether you want to leave your spinning class to find an egg sandwich or get to your desk and start chowing down on a danish, Uber can help.
Already, Uber has a number of popular breakfast options on board, including PAUL, Bagel Factory, and Crepeaffaire, which are apparently all the rage across the pond. And while UberEats isn’t a particularly cheap service to use, it will likely prove a welcome service for those who can afford it.
Of course, competition in the breakfast space will remain fierce, especially with other services like Deliveroo offering food delivery. In fact, the British answer to Seamless recently started a monthly subscription model for folks who find themselves ordering in all the time. So get moving, UberEats. The people are hungry.
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