Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Korean teaser hints at a world of possibilities

Samsung starts hyping up the Galaxy S8 ahead of its official unveil on March 29.

Samsung has released a 15-second trailer for the Galaxy S8 in South Korea, showcasing little of the phone itself, a refreshing change in pace from the litany of leaks, rumors, and renders we’ve seen of the device in recent weeks.

The trailer starts off with a countdown to the number 8, and features a man walking to a door that has the same basic contours of the Galaxy S8. Behind the door lies outer space, replete with rocks whizzing around — a possible reference to the VR prowess of the upcoming flagship. The Galaxy S8 will be the first phone to be powered by Qualcomm’s 10nm Snapdragon 835, which has improved VR chops in the form of 15ms motion-to-photon latency and six-degrees-of-freedom for accurate motion tracking.

The trailer ends with the tagline (roughly translated), “Completion and new beginning,” which suggests that Samsung is entering a new era with the Galaxy S8. There’s certainly a lot at stake following the company’s recent woes, and with the phone slated to make its debut on March 29 in New York, we don’t have to wait long to find out what’s in store.

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Nintendo and Cyanogen almost partnered for the Switch

Nintendo was flirting with Android again, but it looks like Cyanogen didn’t pick up.

You know that massively successful new console Nintendo can’t keep in stores? The one that smashed Nintendo’s own sales records and caused the company to dramatically ramp up production to meet demand? Apparently the OS for that console was almost based largely on Android, but Cyanogen’s Kirt McMaster put a stop to that according to his Twitter feed.

From a fun, nerdy perspective, it would have been kind of cool to know the Switch was based on Android. And, knowing some of the nice performance enhancement things Cyanogen projects had been capable of, it’s not impossible to imagine a Switch that was even more capable as a result of that custom OS. But that’s what it would have been, a custom closed down version of Android that didn’t look anything like the OS you see on tablets and phones. It would have been an entirely unique and locked down thing, which was very much the opposite of what Cyanogen was all about as a company.

Lots of folks in the Android bubble hear the name Cyanogen and immediately think of CEO Kirt McMaster very publicly saying a lot of very silly things about how successful the company was going to be. With the company dismantled and its core features picking up steam as the community-led LineageOS, you may find yourself wondering how he feels about passing up something like opportunity to work on the Nintendo Switch.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but it looks like he’d be a little more “open” to the idea if it were to come back around. Given the complete lack of reputation these days, that second chance is a little more than unlikely.

Check out more of our Nintendo Switch coverage over on iMore!

U.S. bans laptops and tablets on flights from eight Middle East countries

Travelers from eight Muslim-majority countries are prohibited from carrying devices larger than a smartphone onboard U.S.-bound flights.

The Department of Homeland Security is rolling out new restrictions for carry-on items for U.S.-bound flights from eight Middle East countries. Electronic devices larger than a smartphone are prohibited from being carried onboard flights from nine airlines operating out of 10 airports in eight countries. People flying from these airports will have to stow laptops, e-readers, portable gaming devices, and cameras in their check-in baggage.

The DHS cited attempts in the last two years involving laptop bombs as the reason for the enhanced security measures:

The US government is concerned about terrorists’ ongoing interest in targeting commercial aviation, including transportation hubs over the past two years, as evidenced by the 2015 airliner downing in Egypt; the 2016 attempted airliner downing in Somalia; and the 2016 armed attacks against airports in Brussels and Istanbul.

Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items. Based on this trend, the Transportation Security Administration, in consultation with relevant Departments and Agencies, has determined it is prudent to enhance security, to include airport security procedures for passengers at certain last point of departure airports to the United States.

These are the airports where the new restrictions will be enforced:

• Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan
• Cairo International Airport, Egypt
• Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
• King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait International Airport
• Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco
• Hamad International, Doha, Qatar
• Dubai International, United Arab Emirates
• Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates

The ban doesn’t affect any U.S.-based carriers as they do not have direct flights from the airports mentioned above. It does, however, affect these airlines:

• Royal Jordanian
• Egypt Air
• Turkish Airlines
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• Kuwait Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Qatar Airways
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways

The airlines have until Friday to comply with the new restrictions, failing which they risk losing their operator license in the U.S. As of now, there’s no end date to the restrictions, with the DHS stating that they will be in place until the “threat changes.”

Turn your Android phone or iPhone into a tablet with the Superscreen

Your iPhone or Android smartphone are essentially small computers with small screens. While screen sizes may be increasing in the smartphone world to just under 6-inches, they’re still much smaller than their tablet counterparts.

So what if you want to watch a movie or play a game on a tablet-sized screen, but without having to invest some serious cash on a separate tablet? Enter the Superscreen.

The Superscreen is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, although it’s already smashed its $50,000 target. It’s essentially just a 10.1-inch full HD tablet screen that connects to your smartphone via “high performance hardware communication circuitry”, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth involved here, and mirrors its display exactly.

It can support multi-touch input exactly as you would be on your smartphone and even claims to support the Apple Pencil.

The Superscreen has its own 5-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front cameras so you can carry out video calls and take photos, and any photos you do take automatically save to your smartphone.

On the bottom you’ll find dual stereo speakers and the USB-C charging port – the 6,000mAh battery claims to last around 12 hours – and it has Bluetooth 4.1 built-in so you can send audio to a pair of wireless headphones, for example.

The Superscreen is available to pre-order from Kickstarter now in Midnight Black or Ivory White colour finishes for the early bird price of $99, although delivery isn’t expected until December this year.

Apple (Product)RED iPhone 7 is as red in colour as it sounds

Apple has released a (Product)RED version of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to celebrate its continues commitment to the charity.

Apple has always had a fondness for the charity, and this time has gone as far as creating two bright red versions of its two flagship smartphones.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning Friday 24 March (Red Nose day is probably just a coincidence), and feature a red anodised shell.  

“Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

Aside from the colour, the two Apple smartphones will be identical to the current iPhone 7 line-up in terms of specs.

The company, unlike it normally does with partnerships with its Apple Watch, hasn’t included specific exclusive wallpapers, or any other (Product)RED features. The new models will be available in 128GB and 256GB models starting at £699 in the UK and $749 in the US.  

Apple says that both special edition models are available worldwide beginning Friday, March 24, and start shipping to customers by the end of March in the US and more than 40 countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK and United Arab Emirates.

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Turkey and other countries will follow in April.

Alexa lets you order from Prime Now

“Alexa, order chips and dip from Prime Now” is a phrase that you can now say and legitimately expect chips (and dip) to turn up at your door within two hours. That’s because the shopping giant has bonded its fast delivery knowhow with its voice assistant, enabling you to just ask for things and have them arrive.

The usual caveats and restrictions apply, since the feature will only work in eligible cities where Prime Now is operating. Plus, you’ll only be able to order alcohol and other restricted goods in locations where you can do so legally, like Seattle, Washington and (kinda) Ohio.

Still, being able to bake in voice ordering and fast delivery is another way that Amazon plans to own the entire retail experience. After all, if you don’t need to leave the house to order convenience goods (or takeout), why bother trucking down to your local bodega?

Source: Amazon (Businesswire)

Google Maps’ latest trick is remembering where you parked

Google Now kept track of parking locations before, but it wasn’t with any degree of accuracy. The latest version of the Android Google Maps app circumvents how inaccurate the feature was by having you mark a parking spot for yourself. That’s a pretty stark comparison to the dark magic (read: GPS and other data) that Now used prior.

Simply open the application after parking, tap the blue location dot and you’re good to go. From there you can add notes (helpful for jotting down location in parking ramps) and even take photos to remind you which blue Toyota Camry is yours. Additionally you can add a timer so you know when the meter will expire. All of this info can be pulled for notifications and alerts, too.

As Android Police points out, though, this appears to only work for one car at a time. Not a huge deal, but it does rule out keeping track of your car at home, and a rental car in another city while on vacation.

AP also notes that some Android Auto users might see a new arrival screen too. Oh, and folks using Maps to find their way around via public transit could see weather alerts.

Via: Android Police

Source: Google Support, Google Play

iCloud led authorities to journalist’s Twitter attacker

The man who triggered Newsweek journalist Kurt Eichenwald’s epileptic seizure through Twitter used a prepaid phone with no identifying info. But a little digging revealed that the Tracfone prepaid SIM card he used was once connected to an iCloud account, which ultimately led to his arrest. According to the newly surfaced documents The Verge shared, authorities started by sending a court order to Twitter to ask for the details behind the @jew_goldstein account. If you’ll recall, that user sent Eichenwald a “weaponized tweet” containing a strobing image with the words “You deserve a seizure for your posts.” The recipient often talks about his condition, so the sender likely knows that the journalist is epileptic.

The details Twitter handed over didn’t have a lot of useful details, but it did reveal the Tracfone number @jew_goldstein used. Since AT&T supports that Tracfone SIM, authorities sent its next info request to the carrier. The phone company’s toll records revealed that the SIM was once associated with an iPhone 6. What truly helped the case was the info authorities got from Apple after sending the tech titan a few warrants. The iCloud info Cupertino handed over contains the owner’s name: John Rivello. It also had his verified email address and his home address in Maryland.

Authorities found a screenshot of Eichenwald’s wife’s response to the strobing image Rivello tweeted in his iCloud account. It also had a screenshot of the journalist’s Wikipedia page that had been altered to show a date of death, as well as a screenshot of an article on the search for the perpetrator. Plus, authorities found a photo of the account’s owner holding up his driver’s license with his address and photo, which made finding him much easier.

All those clues from iCloud led feds straight to Rivello who was arrested on March 17th and charged with cyberstalking. We’re guessing the court will dissect all the pieces of evidence the feds unearthed — it’ll be interesting to see if they’ll hold up and how the court will punish “weaponized tweets.”

Via: Dallas News, The Verge

Source: Kurt Eichenwald (Twitter)

Apple’s Clips app makes crafting viral videos in iOS dead-simple

Crafting a short-form video masterpiece on an iPhone or iPad is possible, but Apple just made it a little easier. This morning, the company announced a new iOS app called Clips that — long story short – tries to help anyone piece together a polished, well-produced video without a whole lot of work. After playing with the app earlier this week, I’d say Apple’s Clips team succeeded.

Now, you might be thinking that Apple already has a few video creation and editing tools available for iOS, and you’d be right. On one end of the spectrum, you’ve got Memories videos –- iOS 10 automatically pieces these slideshow videos together from photos you’ve taken in the past. Meanwhile, iMovie sits on the other end. It’s not too hard to wrap your head around, but laying out clips and audio tracks on a timeline can seem daunting to beginners. It’s not hard to see how Apple created Clips to fill the gap between these two experiences, and the simplified process of creating and editing will feel awfully familiar to some.

If you’ve recorded clips and stitched them into a single video in Instagram, congratulations – you already know how this app works. Hold down the record button to capture what you want, let go when you’re done and repeat. Once done, you can drag your clips into the right order and flesh out your micro-films with photos, not to mention filters, emoji and animated icons and titles you can litter on top of your work. What would’ve taken minutes in iMovie takes seconds here, thanks especially to some interesting threads of intelligence woven into the app.

You know those short, text-laden videos that have invaded your social networks of choice? For better or worse, they’re now dead-simple to create. Step 1: Choose a look for the text you want on-screen. Step 2: Speak. That’s it. From there, your words are automatically transcribed and time-coded so the text appears pops up in the video the moment you say them. In our very brief time playing with Clips, this was easily the most impressive trick the app had to offer… though I wouldn’t go in expecting perfection.

Since Live Titles’ dictation is powered in part by Siri, you’ll need a decent data connection for them to work in the field. (If one isn’t available, you could always go back and add the Live Titles later.) And internet connections aside, the app will almost certainly misinterpret your words from time to time. My favorite goof from our testing session: it turned the word “macchiato” into the seemingly Scottish surname “McYaddow”. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to edit those Live Titles after they’ve been recorded, and they’ll still be correctly time-coded when you’re done. iOS is also smart enough to tell when you’re talking about a person, so if the app transcribes a name you’ve spoken in the video, that person appears as a suggested contact when you try to share your creation.

Clips’ other fascinating trick comes in at the end of the process, after you’ve pieced together your opus. Beyond using your own music as a soundtrack, Clips comes with a handful of pre-recorded tracks that range from cliché hipster-ukelele to a dense, dramatic piece composed by Hans Zimmer. (Seriously.) What’s really neat is how these songs can expand and contract – they’re pieced together from a selection of intros, middle bits and closers to precisely fit the length of your video, and even in the app’s unfinished state, the effect was near-seamless.

There’s a lot of power here that’s neatly hidden behind simple controls, but Clips doesn’t require Apple’s latest and greatest hardware to work properly. When it launches next month, it’ll run on the iPhone 5s and newer, along with the iPad Air and newer. (Just make sure your device is running iOS 10.3.) Given Apple’s popularity and how pervasive the iPhone seems to be sometimes, you should probably spend the next few days/weeks enjoying the world before these slick little videos wind up everywhere.

Apple announces red iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

In the midst of launching a new video-editing app for the iPhone and iPad, Apple has also just snuck out a new special edition red iPhone 7, to barely any fanfare. (Although rumors that something was afoot began when Apple’s online store went down earlier.) The red aluminum iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be launching globally, adding some welcome color to the black and plainer metallic shades we’ve had until now.

It’s certainly not the first red-hued device from Apple (that honor goes to its red iPod), but the company has supported AIDS charity Product RED for the last ten years. It has apparently contributed more than $130 million in corporate donations. A red iPhone is far more substantial charitable contribution than wireless headphones or an iPhone battery case, at least.

The phones will be joined by a new iPad, as well as new silicone phone cases in azure, camellia and pebble. There will also be new leather cases in taupe, sapphire and berry shades, priced at $35. The special edition iPhones (in 128GB and 256GB options) will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning Friday, March 24, starting from $749.