10.5-Inch iPad Pro Said to Have 2,224×1,668 Display With Same Pixel Density as 9.7-Inch Model

Apple’s rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro will have a higher resolution of 2,224×1,668 pixels, while maintaining the same pixel density as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro, according to IHS Markit director of tablets and PCs Rhoda Alexander.

Specifically, she told Forbes that a 10.5-inch iPad Pro at 2,224×1,668 would have 264 PPI, equal to the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro at 2,048×1,536.

The article actually quoted Alexander as saying the 10.5-inch iPad Pro will have a 2,024×1,668 resolution, but she confirmed to MacRumors that this was a typo and that she indeed expects a resolution of 2,224×1,668.

If the 10.5-inch iPad Pro does in fact end up having the same pixel density as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro, that would go against another mathematically possible scenario in which the tablet could have the same 2,732×2,048 resolution as the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the same pixel density as the iPad mini 4.

In line with existing rumors, Alexander said the 10.5-inch iPad Pro will have slimmer bezels that allow it to have the same overall footprint as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. She reportedly expects the 10.5-inch iPad Pro to “arrive in the March-April timeframe,” which lines up with Apple’s rumored March event.

Japanese blog Mac Otakara said Apple will release four new iPad Pro models at a March event. The report said the 10.5-inch model may not ship until May, while new 7.9-inch, 9.7-inch, and 12.9-inch models are said to ship in March. DigiTimes likewise said the 10.5-inch iPad Pro may not come until May-June.

Alexander also said Apple’s rumored low-cost 9.7-inch iPad Pro could start at $299, which would be $100 cheaper than the iPad Air 2. It could supplant the iPad mini 4, which Alexander said may not be updated. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the low-cost model could have an older A9X chip.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tag: IHS
Buyer’s Guide: 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution)
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SanDisk Launches 256GB Flash Drive and Wireless Stick for iPhone and iPad

SanDisk today announced that its iXpand Flash Drive is now available in a larger 256GB storage capacity for $279.99, expanding upon existing 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities available for between $49.99 and $129.99.

The iXpand Flash Drive connects to the Lightning port on an iPhone or iPad to provide the device with up to 256GB of additional storage space through the SanDisk iXpand Drive app. It has a USB-A port with USB 3.0 speeds for quickly transferring files to and from another iOS device, Mac, or PC.

MacRumors reviewed the second-generation iXpand Flash Drive last year and noted that it was a worthwhile purchase for those who need expanded storage, although the new 256GB size is on the expensive side.

SanDisk also introduced its Connect Wireless Stick in a larger 256GB storage capacity for $279.99. The wireless flash drive enables wireless storage and transfer of files from one iPhone or iPad to another iOS device, Mac, or PC over a password-protected Wi-Fi network. It has a USB 2.0 port.

Both external storage solutions are available now at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and select other retailers in the United States and elsewhere.

Tags: SanDisk, iXpand Flash Drive, SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick
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Apple Seeds Fourth macOS Sierra 10.12.4 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.4 update to developers, one week after seeding the third macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta and over a month after releasing macOS Sierra 10.12.3.

The fourth macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta is available for download through the Apple Developer Center or the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store for those who have previously installed a beta.

macOS Sierra 10.12.4 brings iOS’s Night Shift mode to the Mac for the first time. First introduced on iOS devices with iOS 9.3, Night Shift is designed to gradually shift the display of a device from blue to yellow, cutting down on exposure to blue light. Blue light is said to disrupt the circadian rhythm and is believed to interrupt sleeping patterns.

Night Shift can be activated through the Displays section of System Preferences, where a setting to have it come on at sunset and turn off at sunrise is available. Night Shift can also be toggled on manually through the Notification Center or via Siri.

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The 10.12.4 update focuses mainly on Night Shift, but also includes dictation support for Shanghainese, cricket scores for Siri, improved PDFKit APIs, and iCloud Analytics options.

Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 10.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 10.3 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta of iOS 10.3 and more than two months after the release of iOS 10.2, the last major update to the iOS 10 operating system.

Registered developers can download the fourth iOS 10.3 beta from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air with the proper configuration profile installed.

iOS 10.3 is a major update, introducing several new features and changes to the iOS 10 operating system. The biggest new consumer-facing feature is “Find My AirPods,” which is designed to help AirPods owners locate a lost earphone. Find My AirPods records the last known location of when an AirPod was connected to an iOS device via Bluetooth and can play a sound on a lost AirPod.

Apple’s latest update also introduces a new Apple File System (APFS), installed when an iOS device is updated to iOS 10.3. APFS is optimized for flash/SSD storage and includes features like strong encryption.

Apple plans to introduce some App Store changes in iOS 10.3, allowing developers to respond to customer reviews for the first time. iOS users are also able to label reviews in the App Store as “Helpful” or “Not Helpful,” which should help surface the most relevant review content.

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Apple also plans to limit the number of times developers can ask for a review, allow customers to leave app reviews without exiting an app, and provide a “master switch” that will let users turn off all app review request prompts.

Also new in iOS 10.3 is a redesigned app open/close animation, an Apple ID profile in Settings, a better breakdown of iCloud storage usage, warnings about outdated apps that won’t work with future versions of iOS, HomeKit support for programmable light switches, improvements to SiriKit (bill paying, bill status, and scheduling future rides), CarPlay interface improvements, iCloud analytics options, and more. For a full rundown of the changes introduced in the first beta, make sure to check out our dedicated “What’s New” post.

If we find any new features in the fourth iOS 10.3 beta, we’ll update this post.

Related Roundup: iOS 10
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How to pick the right microSD card for the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo is taking an old-school approach with the Nintendo Switch by using cartridge-based games. The benefit of cartridges is that you won’t need to install them directly on the system. When you pick up your console and a game — namely, Breath of the Wild — you can just pop the cartridge in and play without having to install any data. If you choose to download Breath of the Wild, on the other hand, the file size will devour a whopping 13.4GB. Even if you plan to buy physical copies of most AAA games, if you account for system updates, game patches, eShop games, and Virtual Console classics (when VC comes to Switch), the console’s 32GB of storage space will evaporate rather quickly.

More: Nintendo’s Switch is one console you can take everywhere — here’s what you need to know

Thankfully, the Switch has a microSD card reader that allows you expand on-board storage. Here’s what you should consider when picking out a microSD card for your Switch, along with a few recommendations.

microSDXC vs. microSDHC

The Switch supports microSDHC cards by default, but a launch update will add microSDXC compatibility as well. What’s the difference? Storage limits.

SDHC stands for Secure Digital High Capacity, but these cards top out at 32GB. SDXC stands for Secure Digital eXtended Capacity, and these cards store anywhere between 64GB and 256GB at this time.

Depending on your gaming habits, 32GB of additional storage via microSDHC may be enough for you, but for those who plan to use the eShop and Virtual Console, microSDHC probably won’t cut it for very long.

Taking a look at the Nokia 3, 5, and 6: Baby steps

Nokia used to be the star of mobile tech shows, but it’s been years since MWC Barcelona showcased a genuinely exciting Nokia phone. Well, that changed this year, as you surely already know. Nokia smartphones are back – albeit through a licensing deal – and this time they run Android. As HMD Global executives said on stage at the launch event… Finally! Finally, the Nokia brand embraces Android, the most powerful and successful mobile OS in the world. But is that enough to guarantee success?

We spent time with the new Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3, and these are some of our initial impressions. Spoilers: we’re moderately optimistic!

Read: Huawei P10 hands-on!

Right off the bat, the great thing about the Nokia 6, 5, and 3 is that, no matter which one you pick, you’re getting excellent build quality.

The 6 and 5 feature unibodies machined out of blocks of high-strength aluminum, while the more affordable Nokia 3 features an aluminum frame with an understated polycarbonate back.

Nokia 5

The trio are all running Android Nougat and it’s a completely stock build of Nougat, with no bloat or needless customization added. HMD said it went for a pure version of Android in order to keep the experience clean and simple and to make it easier to keep up with Google’s monthly security updates. In fact, “Pure Android” is one of the taglines of HMD’s Android lineup, along with the “obsession” with user experience and a leadership in product design.

Nokia 6

Speaking of software, Google Assistant is built-in across the lineup, and accessible with a long press of the home button. This is the very same Google Assistant we’ve seen on Google’s Pixel phones and Home, though the recent announcement that all recent Android devices would get it soon definitely stole some of HMD’s thunder.

Nokia 6

As a quick comparison, the Nokia 6 is the biggest out of the bunch and it’s also the highest spec’d. This device, which was launched in China earlier this year, has a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, and it’s being powered by a Snapdragon 430 processor. There’s an 8MP front-facing shooter and a 16MP camera on the rear, with dual-tone LED flash. You also get dual speakers with Dolby Atmos enhancements driving the audio experience. The Nokia 6 will be available in four colors – matte black, silver, tempered blue, and copper – but there’s also a limited edition “Arte” version that comes garbed in gorgeous glossy black and packs four gigs of ram and double the internal storage compared to the regular versions.

Nokia 6 Arte

The Nokia 5 sits squarely in the middle of the pack with a 5.2-inch IPS HD display, two gigs of ram, 16 gigs of storage and the same Snapdragon 430 processor as the top of the line. It’s got a 13MP camera on the rear, an 8MP camera on the front and comes in the same four matte color options as the Nokia 6. The only other real difference between the Nokia 5 and 6 aside from the specs is that the design of the former is a rounded metal body, whereas the Nokia 6 has sharp and distinct edges with flat sides all around.

Nokia 5

The unassuming Nokia 3 rounds out the lineup with a 5-inch screen, two gigs of ram, 16 gigs of internal storage, and 8 megapixel cameras on both the front and the rear. Instead of a Snapdragon processor like the Nokia 5 and 6, the Nokia 3 features a MediaTek quad-core processor, which is a common occurrence of budget devices like the Nokia 3. If you want a small phone this is definitely the one to get out of the bunch, as it’s the easiest to use in one hand and despite having a polycarbonate back and not being fully metal, the build quality is still pretty solid.

Nokia 3

The Nokia 6 has been available in China for quite some time now, but now it’s going to be available internationally, along with the Nokia 3 and Nokia 5. The expected availability date for the three devices is sometime in Q2, which could mean as soon March.

The prices of these phones are quite appealing – Nokia 6, the current top of the line (we can’t call it a flagship, as it’s hardly a competitor to the best of Android) will retail in Europe starting at €229. The Nokia 5 will start from €189, while the smallest of the brood, the Nokia 3, will be just €139. It’s an open question whether any of these phones will make it to the US, though from HMD Global’s verbiage it does sound as the plan is to make them widely available across the world.

As a quick conclusion, it’s clear that HMD Global played it really safe with the Nokia 6, 5, and 3. Remember that we’re talking about a company that’s been incorporated mere months ago, attempting a delicate resuscitation of a brand that retains a lot of nostalgic fans, but has little other advantages against some incredible fierce competition. If you were hoping to see bolder designs or any actual innovation, you will probably be disappointed by the Nokia 6, 5, and 3, but as a first step, the trio of Nokia Android phones seems entirely adequate.

Read next: LG G6 hands-on!

For more on Nokia’s new line of Android-powered smartphones and the rest of our Mobile World Congress 2017 coverage, keep it tuned to Android Authority, our YouTube channel, and our social channels!

What do you think of these Nokia Android phones? Is this what you were expecting to see after all the buildup?

Oppo’s 5X camera tech uses a custom prism to take incredibly clear photos

Why it matters to you

Oppo’s long been recognized as a leader in smartphone camera technology, but the company’s 5X technology may be the pinnacle.

You might say Oppo’s secret sauce is camera tech. Ahead of the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona, Spain, this week, the Chinese smartphone maker detailed technology that’ll give its upcoming phone’s image sensors a leg up on the competition.

It’s called 5X, and Oppo describes it as “smartphone photography technology that [gives] users [the] ability to capture highly detailed images.” More specifically, it’s a dual camera system that uses a “periscope” structure to divert light through a prism and onto an angled telephoto lens. Oppo says the resulting shift from the light’s natural path delivers an unprecedented level of clarity at any zoom level.

More: Oppo’s mad N3 smartphone is here, and it has a motorized, rotating camera

But Oppo’s innovations don’t stop there. The 5X compensates for vibrations with a two-part optical image stabilization system that fine-tunes the telephoto lens. By dynamically adjusting the prism’s angle in 0.0025-degree increments, it’s able to deliver up to 40 percent better performance than the previous generation of OIS. It’s the fruit of more than a year of development.

Oppo has a long history of innovative camera technologies. The N1 and N3 featured the world’s first — and only — motorized smartphone cameras. Oppo kicked off its F Series with the F1, a mid-range handset featuring a selfie camera that takes in “44 percent more light” and captures “30 percent clearer selfies” than the closest competition. The Oppo Find 7 featured a software photo-stitching mode that could produce a 50-megapixel image from several separate pictures. And the company’s Pure Image 2.0+ software package contains various features including an ultra macro mode, slow shutter speeds, manual control, and the option to adjust the depth of field after taking a picture.

Oppo has also made breakthroughs in other areas. The smartphone maker’s trailblazing fast-charging system, VOOC Flash Charge, delivers up to 66 percent more power than Qualcomm’s comparable Quick Charge. And the company is developing a bendable smartphone prototype capable of folding in half, like a book.

Those types of innovations have helped to set it apart from the competition. Last year, Oppo nabbed the top spot for smartphone sales in China for the first time, beating out heavyweights like Vivo, Hauwei, and Xiaomi. Analysts at IDC credited the achievement to an aggressive pricing strategy, flashy advertising campaigns, and an abundance of brick-and-mortar product placements.

More: Selfie lovers will drool all over the 16-megapixel front camera of the Oppo F1s

The company is also focused on expansion. In a conversation with Digital Trends last year, Oppo said it would expand into emerging markets such as India, and it’s aiming to have its phones available in as many as 24 different countries.

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 make paid apps 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

White Noise

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Do you want to relax your body and soul with peaceful background sounds? With this app you’re promised to sleep tonight.

Available on:

iOS

iSchool

i-School is a study organizer and Timetable Schedule Planner, both for schools and universities. It’s very minimalistic but has everything you need.

Available on:

iOS

PhotoTangler

PhotoTangler Collage Maker is a powerful image app that instantly turns your favorite photos into beautiful collages. It allows you to blend them together in unique and creative ways.

Available on:

iOS

Ace PhotoJus

PhotoJusSpaceFX transforms your photo by adding space effects. All effects are designed together by professional photographers and real artists to provide you with the most amazing photos.

Available on:

iOS

Doodle Dandy

Doodle Dandy is as addictive as any game — but also creative, personal, and productive. The app gives you the power to create elegant, eye-catching artwork, at your fingertips — no talent required.

Available on:

iOS

Sweet Factory

Enroll in the sweetest factory — to keep your job: move quickly, stay focused, and whatever happens, don’t ruin the party.

Available on:

iOS

Get the best from EMUI 5.0 on your Huawei Mate 9, P9, or Honor phone with these 10 great tips

Until now, Huawei hasn’t had the software to match its excellent hardware. That all changed with EMUI 5.0, the latest edition of its proprietary user interface, which is placed over the top of Android 7.0 Nougat. It was first released on the Huawei Mate 9, but will soon be available as a free update on the Huawei P9, P9 Lite, Nova, Nova Plus, Honor 8, and the Honor 6X.

More: Huawei takes on Fitbit with Fit, a $130 water-resistant fitness tracker

If you’ve ever held off buying a Huawei phone because of the software, there’s no need to do so anymore. EMUI 5.0 is great, and here’s how to make the most of it, regardless of what Huawei phone you’re currently using. So if you’re looking for Huawei Mate 9 tips, P9 tips, or tips for another Huawei phone running EMUI 5.0, these tips will work.

Writer’s note: If you’re unsure if your Huawei or Honor phone has EMUI 5.0, it’s easy to check. Go to Settings > About Phone, and look at the EMUI Version. If it’s 5.0, then great. If not, you can check if an update is available by going to Settings > System Update, and hitting Check for Updates.

Home screen style

For the first time on a Huawei phone, the Android app drawer is a feature, allowing you to hide all those rarely-used apps so they don’t clutter up your home screen. If you prefer the look of the iPhone-like home screen, however, you can still have it. Here’s how to toggle the setting.

Go to Settings > Home Screen Style, and select either Drawer to activate the app drawer, or Standard to show all app icons on your home screen.

App Twin

This is a helpful feature if you use your phone for work and pleasure, and operate two different Facebook accounts. It’s also helpful if you share your phone, and need two WhatsApp accounts. Normally, this isn’t possible, as each of these apps can only be installed on a phone once. In EMUI 5.0, a feature called App Twin solves this problem.

Go to Settings > App Twin, and enable the app you’d like to run two different accounts on by toggling the switch. A second app will appear on the home screen, identified by a number “2” next to it. Open it, and add your login details as you normally would.

Create a PrivateSpace

A feature valuable to business users, PrivateSpace is like having two phones, without actually needing two phones. The software encrypts data held inside it, and is only accessible via a fingerprint. That fingerprint can’t be the same one as you use for locking or unlocking your phone, either.

Go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Users, and select PrivateSpace. From this point, it’s like setting up your phone for the first time, and you’ll need to add a Google account and your Wi-Fi details, just like you did when you set up your phone initially. It’s up to you whether you want the PrivateSpace to be a clone of the unencrypted version, or to revert back to factory settings.

Keep in mind that, whatever you do, a PrivateSpace will take up extra space on your phone, and filling it up with apps and other media will quickly use up available storage.

Split screen mode

If your Huawei or Honor phone has a big screen, like the Mate 9, for example, it’s possible to run more than one app at the same time. Activating it involves using a special Huawei feature where touching the screen with your knuckle produces different effects than with touching it with your finger.

First, you need to turn the feature on. Go to Settings > Smart Assistance > Motion Control, and select Split Screen Gesture. Then, toggle the switch on.

Entering split screen mode takes a little practice, and some prior setup. Say you want to have Twitter and Facebook running on the screen at the same time. Open both apps so they’re active, and with either active, “knock” the screen with your knuckle and drag it across. If done correctly, you’ll see a blue line strike across your display, and your phone’s screen will split.

Afterward, choose the second app you want to run in the lower half of your screen from the resulting list of options. Drag the center marker to change the size of each screen, but remember not all apps support split screen mode.

Lock screen shortcuts

Huawei has still integrated its own features into EMUI 5.0, but it’s more streamlined and less intrusive than before, as evidenced by its lock screen shortcuts. If you don’t know they exist, they’ll never bother you. Using them is simple, however. On the lock screen, swipe up from the bottom to reveal them. Here, you can quickly jump into the calculator, flashlight, QR code reader, or timer app. You can also cycle through wallpapers, if you have the Magazine option activated.

AT&T and GE are working together to make our cities smarter

Why it matters to you

The Internet of Things is already taking over your home, and now, a partnership between AT&T and GE may help it take over your city as well.

AT&T and GE are working together to monitor and mic up our cities. It’s not quite as creepy as it sounds — rather, the two technology companies are hoping that their new collaboration will “help accelerate the digital era of urban development” by connecting cities throughout the U.S. and Mexico to the Internet of Things. With this connectivity, AT&T and GE hope that cities and their denizens will be able to better operate, communicate, and meet one another’s needs.

With the new collaboration, AT&T has been named the exclusive reseller of GE’s “Current” technology, which ought to help the telecommunications company further its Smart Cities services, which have been operational since 2015. For example, AT&T will now have access to GE’s Predix-powered IoT platform, which will allow for the implementation of outdoor LED lighting in a city to help establish digital infrastructure that could assist in a variety of issues: traffic, parking, gunshot detection, air quality monitoring, and weather alerts.

Current brings together energy technology like LED and solar with various sensors and software to help users (which include cities, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities) cut down on their energy costs and make for more intelligent environments.

More: AT&T insists the FCC has no basis for halting its merger with Time Warner

“Intelligent lighting plays a huge role in a smart city,” said Chris Penrose, president, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “Our collaboration with Current will enable us to use a city’s existing lighting infrastructure to more securely connect sensor-enabled networks. This will put them on the path to becoming a smarter, more sustainable city.”

Just a few days prior, AT&T and GE worked together to equip 3,200 street lights in San Diego with cameras, microphones, and sensors, making San Diego a large-scale smart city. But clearly, that’s just the beginning of the partnership between these two companies.

“We are thrilled to expand Current’s relationship with AT&T to help cities redefine the civic engagement model—our digital network is based on an open platform, which allows entrepreneurs, incubators and students to get involved in the future development of smart city applications,” said John Gordon, Chief Digital Officer of Current, powered by GE. “Our goal is to bring the combined power of GE and AT&T to municipalities in a way that pulls from the best of both worlds.”