Apple’s WWDC starts on June 5th

Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC, will begin on June 5th and run through to June 9th. Typically, the show doubles as a press conference, serving as a showcase for the latest iterations of the company’s various software offerings. While new hardware has rarely graced the stage in recent years, it’s likely we’ll see new versions of MacOS, iOS, WatchOS and tvOS, and perhaps some new applications to go with them. Regardless, we’ll probably know a lot more about Apple’s plans as the event draws closer, if not from Apple then from the traditional flow of leaks.

For the first time in a decade and a half, WWDC will skip San Francisco in favor of San Jose. That’s likely because Moscone West, the conference’s home in recent years, is scheduled for refurbishments through June. The show will now be held in San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center, which hosted WWDC from its 1988 inception all the way through to 2002. If you want to be there yourself, you’ll need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program. Registration for WWDC begins on March 27th at 10AM PT, but the opportunity to buy tickets will be offered by random selection.

Source: Apple

IBM and Indiegogo are bringing Watson’s smarts to the masses

IBM sees a big future in the Internet of Things. The company unveiled its $200 million IoT headquarters in Munich this week as part of its planned $3 billion investment in the connected devices industry. So far, however, the tech behemoth has mostly lent Watson’s brains to larger companies and research projects. That’s about to change thanks to a new partnership from IBM, Indiegogo and Arrow Electronics that promises to give independent developers and entrepreneurs access to those same machine learning tools.

According to IBM, any qualified Indiegogo project will have free access to the Watson IoT platform and cloud services for an unlimited amount of time. That means developers can take advantage of more than 160 off-the-shelf services like AI, Blockchain, advanced analytics and cyber security while saving countless dollars and development hours in the process. Indiegogo entrepreneurs will also have access to IBM’s network of experts, mentors and business partners.

The Watson partnership also expands on Arrow’s existing “Arrow Certified” program which helps make Indiegogo projects become reality much faster by offering up to $500,000 in benefits ranging from raw parts and materials to financing support. So far, IBM and Arrow’s support has already helped bring two well-received Indiegogo products to market: Fitly’s Smart Plate and PlayDate’s connected pet ball.

3Doodler’s new kits help kids craft their own robots

It used to be that if you gave a 3Doodler Start to a child, you’d have to throw them some stencils or otherwise pray they were creative enough to make something neat. Not so anymore. Eager to empower a new generation of Boston Dynamics engineers, 3Doodler is releasing a new robotics kit that lets kids — what else? — create their own moving machines out of melted plastic and sheer moxie.

For the most part, the robotics kit is full of stuff we’ve seen before. There’s the 3Doodler Start, for instance — released about this time last year, it’s a curvier, cheaper, safer version of the 3D printing pen meant for wee lads and lasses. Also in the package is the requisite plastic, some “DoodleBlocks” (a.k.a. molds kids that extrude their plastic into), gears, a motor and a battery pack.

While some kids will probably figure out how to craft their own pint-sized Big Dogs by themselves, an included activity guide should help everyone else get creative without too much wailing or gnashing of teeth. The robotics kit might be the most immediately fascinating, but it isn’t the only new bundle the 3Doodler team has created — there are also new architecture and product design starter kits for would-be Frank Lloyd Wrights and Jony Ives, too.

It’s nice to see 3Doodler more fully explore the ways kids can create with these kits, but co-founders Max Bogue and Daniel Cowen have also spent plenty of time chasing down some potentially lucrative licensing deals. Just look at the rest of their Toy Fair line-up: there’s a Powerpuff Girls edition Start pen in the works, and the company’s full-size 3Doodler Create will be offered in a Star Trek tie-in packages that offers the ability to craft “Spock ears, Klingon foreheads, Phasers, and more.” Don’t throw your wallet at your screen just yet, though — all of these packages are expected to launch this Spring.

ICYMI: Microsoft’s drone simulator and Dubai’s hover taxis

Today on In Case You Missed It: Why get stuck in traffic when you can simply fly over it? At least, that’s Dubai’s plan. The UAE’s largest city announced its intent to unleash swarms of EHang 184 “Personal Flying Vehicles” — the same ones that wowed crowds at last year’s CES show — to ferry citizens around town starting as early as this July.

We also take a look at Microsoft’s new open-source UAV simulator, the Aerial Informatics and Robotics Platform. With it, drone designers will be able to program and test their flying creations for autonomous operation without having to worry about their precious prototypes crashing and burning. Or getting attacked by wildlife. Or being shot out of the sky by trigger-happy property owners. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Facebook Users Will Soon Be Able to Apply for a Job Within iOS App and on Web

Facebook has announced that businesses in the United States and Canada will soon be able to post job listings on their pages, and potential hires will be able to easily browse local openings through a new “Jobs” bookmark. The update is rolling out over the next few weeks for both the Facebook iOS and Android apps, and on the web.

The company said that the update is aimed at small business owners who may find it more difficult than expected to hire talent for specific positions. After a job is posted, employers can review applicants, contact them on Facebook Messenger, and set up an interview date for the best candidates. The update has already begun as a small test in parts of the U.S.

We’ve tested the new jobs experience in parts of the US, and while it’s still early, businesses are already filling roles. “It was great because it was easy,” says Wendy Grahn, co-owner of the Chicago-based Lakeview Kitchen and Market. “It took three minutes to fill out the information and put it out there. Then someone saw the post, we talked, and it was done.”

On the applicant side of things, job posts will be visible in their News Feed, in the Jobs bookmark tab, and included along with other posts on the business’ regular Facebook page. Clicking “Apply Now” pre-fills information accumulated from the user’s Facebook page, and applicants can review and edit it to their liking before hitting submit.

Facebook recently announced that it is building a video-focused app for the Apple TV that will allow users to watch the “same kinds of videos” as found on the Facebook app, but on a larger screen. The app will recommend videos for users to watch, but they will also be able to save videos to watch on mobile and then view them later on Apple TV. An official date for the app’s launch hasn’t been set, but the company said it’s coming “soon.”

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Apple Testing 4K Capable Fifth-Generation Apple TV For Possible Release This Year

Apple is currently testing a new, fifth-generation Apple TV capable of streaming Ultra HD 4K video, according to a report released on Thursday.

The new Apple TV is internally codenamed “J105” and is able to output content in more vivid colors, according to Bloomberg. The fifth-gen device may release as soon as this year, with Apple’s recent hiring of former Amazon Fire TV unit chief Timothy D. Twerdhal said to indicate a renewed focus on the set-top box.

Twerdhal’s arrival comes as the company tests a new, fifth-generation Apple TV that it may release as soon as this year. Internally codenamed “J105,” the new box will be capable of streaming ultra-high-definition 4K and more vivid colors, according to people familiar with the plans.

Details on Apple’s intentions for its set-top box have been scant in recent months, with the last rumor that it was readying a new model appearing as far back as December 2015. Today’s new disclosure appears as part of an investigation into Apple’s apparent inability to keep pace with rivals like Amazon and Roku in the TV streaming market. According to Bloomberg’s sources, Apple engineers have been forced to compromise “time and again” on Steve Jobs’ original vision of revolutionizing the living room.

Originally, the Apple TV was meant to replace the ungainly set-top boxes supplied by cable companies and allow owners to stream live television, but Apple’s failure to secure deals with the major cable channels left Cupertino unable to push ahead with its TV plans. According to the report, that left the Apple TV team debating other options, such as including a game controller with the fourth-gen model to better compete with Microsoft’s Xbox and the Sony PlayStation, but that ultimately fell through because of cost concerns.

Apple also reportedly passed on including a more expensive 4K-capable chip in the fourth-gen Apple TV because it would be forced to accept lower margins. This left the set-top box more akin to a “giant iPhone”, consisting of a cluster of apps and an App Store.

“That’s not what I signed up for,” says one of the people, who requested anonymity to talk freely about internal company matters. “I signed up for revolutionary. We got evolutionary.”

Apple has never revealed how many Apple TVs it has sold, although Apple CFO Luca Maestri recently admitted that sales had decreased year-over-year during the 2016 holiday period, while market research suggests the fourth-generation Apple TV has been losing market share to cheaper Amazon and Roku boxes since its launch in the fall of 2015.

Steve Jobs’ ambitions in the TV space has become almost legendary since his passing, but little has been achieved by Apple to realize his vision, which originally included an Apple-branded television set. Jobs previewed the first Apple TV in 2006, when the device was only able to stream iTunes video from a Mac to a TV. When he stepped down from his position as Apple CEO on August 24, 2011 due to illness, he intended to work on an Apple television that would re-invent living room entertainment.

After Jobs’ death, Apple tried to gain a stronger foothold in this regard, but the company failed to secure the cable channel deals that would allow it to create the full integrated television programming experience and TV set that Jobs envisioned, and since that time it has relied on the fourth-generation Apple TV, with App Store and Siri integration, as a makeweight solution.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly asserted in the past that “the future of TV is apps”, but such a vision is difficult to realize in the context of a fully unified user experience. Apple TV users still have to buy individual TV episodes via the iTunes Store, pay extra for services such as Hulu, and download apps linked to specific channels, after which they must log in with their existing cable subscriptions.

According to the Bloomberg report, by all accounts, Apple’s efforts to position the Apple TV as a streaming and distribution platform for other content providers have failed. Whether or not a 4K-capable device can bring about a resurgence in its ambitions for the living room remains to be seen.

You can read the full Bloomberg report here.

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Apple Announces WWDC 2017 Takes Place June 5-9 in San Jose

Apple today announced that WWDC 2017 will run Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

WWDC is returning to San Jose for the first time since 2002. The conference had been held in San Francisco since 2003. Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller told The Loop that downtown San Jose is a “great environment for developers” and closer to Apple’s headquarters in nearby Cupertino.

Schiller said that downtown San Jose is going to provide a great environment for developers attending the conference. Of course, San Jose has the added benefit of being close to Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, which should make logistics much easier for the company, especially when it comes to getting engineers on site.

Schiller said he expects WWDC 2017 to be about the same size as previous conferences—about 5,000 developers and 1,000 engineers. But given the venue’s closer proximity to Cupertino, more Apple engineers will be able to attend since they will not need to take an entire day off to commute to San Francisco.

The McEnery Convention Center will be the hub for thousands of attendees with great hotel, restaurant and entertainment options, all within walking distance. In addition to the keynote address, get-togethers, sessions and labs for developers, Apple is working with the city of San Jose and local businesses to celebrate the return of WWDC with very special experiences around San Jose throughout the week.

Tickets will be offered by random selection for $1,599. Ticket lottery registration opens Monday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Those that plan on registering must be a member of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program as of February 16 at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

WWDC, or the Worldwide Developers Conference, is where Apple unveils the latest versions of its software platforms, which this year is likely to include iOS 11, macOS 10.13, tvOS 11, and watchOS 4. The opening keynote has sometimes included other big announcements, such as new Macs and iCloud.

Apple said the conference will be live-streamed on its WWDC 2017 website and through the WWDC app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Tag: WWDC 2017
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Pokémon Go storage upgrades cost 50% less until Feb. 26

Upgrade your Pokémon Go storage for half the price.

Niantic is rolling out a huge update to Pokémon Go that introduces 80 new creatures to the game. The update is set to go live later this week, and to celebrate the release, Niantic is offering a 50% discount on storage upgrades until February 26:

To help you prepare for upcoming adventures, Pokémon Storage upgrades require 50% fewer PokéCoins starting the afternoon of Feb. 16–28 PST!

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) February 16, 2017

That means that upgrades will now cost 100 PokéCoins instead of the usual 200. You can store up to 250 Pokémon when starting out, but you’ll need to upgrade storage to accommodate additional Pokémon. Both the backpack and storage can be upgraded to store a maximum of 1,000 items and 1,000 Pokémon.

Everything you need to know about Pokémon Go Gen 2

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• Pokémon Go Game Guide!
• Pokémon Go Gen 2 FAQ
• Pokémon Go tips and tricks
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• How to play without killing your battery
• Join our Pokémon Go forums!

How to track your sleep with Android Wear 2.0

Easily track your slumber with Sleep as Android.

How can you track your sleep patterns with Android Wear 2.0 if it doesn’t come with a built-in sleep tracker? And why doesn’t Android Wear natively feature sleep tracking abilities the way that most fitness bands do?

Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to the second question, but I can help you with your sleep tracking conundrum—especially if the smartwatch you brought home doesn’t offer its own sleep tracking app. Try Sleep as Android on for size. It’s a full blown sleep tracking app for your smartphone that actively listens as you sleep to determine whether you’re sleeping well or hardly at all. The app also offers Android Wear sleep tracking functionality, as well as synchronization with your Google Fit account, and though the wearable app is merely a switch to turn on your phone’s sleep tracking feature, it’s better than using nothing at all.

Download and install Sleep as Android.
On your Android Wear 2.0 device, launch the Play Store.

Scroll down. Select Sleep by tapping on the download icon.

Once it’s installed, go back to the watch’s app drawer and select Sleep Tracking.

That’s it! The app will start up Sleep as Android‘s tracking abilities on your smartphone.

Be sure to keep your smartphone nearby or lay it on the bed near you for better sleep tracking results.

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
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• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Lenovo’s third-quarter profits take a nosedive over slow smartphone sales

Lenovo is hoping to turn its mobile business profitable by the end of the year.

Lenovo has posted its financial results for the quarter ending December 31, 2016 (third fiscal quarter). The Chinese manufacturer netted $12.2 billion in revenue, a decline of 6% from the same period a year ago. Net profit at $98 million was 67% less than the 300 million it posted this time last year, and a decrease of 37% from a quarter ago.

Lenovo saw a sharp downturn in profits and revenue even as it managed to sell more devices than the preceding quarter. With 15 million smartphones sold, Lenovo saw a 7% increase in sales to $2.2 billion. The company’s Motorola brand continues to perform well, witnessing a quarterly sales increase of 20%. The Moto G line also saw a 12% YoY boost, largely aided by a healthy 23% increase in sales from Latin America. Lenovo also gained ground in India, where it now has a market share of 9.9%.

While Lenovo managed to sell more smartphones than the previous quarter, its YoY performance doesn’t make for inspired reading. Sales declined by 26%, and the mobile unit posted an operating loss of $112 million. Despite the downturn, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing said that the mobile unit is a “core business,” and that it is on course to become profitable by the end of the year.

One way of doing that is to launch new products, and Lenovo is doing just that by accelerating the launch window of the Moto G series, with the Moto G5 and G5 Plus slated to make their debut later this month at Mobile World Congress.