Apple Stock Smashes Previous All-Time High For Second Month Running

Apple shares hit a record closing high in Nasdaq trading yesterday, reaching $140.69 to beat its previous all-time closing high of $140.46 set just two days ago.

A new all-time intraday high of $141.02 was also set by AAPL on Thursday, eclipsing its previous record of $140.75, also set on March 15. Stocks re-opened today at $140.72 and remained steady around the $140 mark.

The figures cement Apple’s position as the most valuable company by some margin, now with a market value of $738 billion. Google parent company Alphabet remains second largest with a market cap of around $592 billion, followed by Microsoft at just under $500 billion and Berkshire Hathaway at around $430 billion.

Following Apple’s first annual revenue decline since 2001, its stock has been steadily rising over the past five months, buoyed by record-breaking earnings results at the end of January. February 14 saw shares reach $136.27 in intraday trading, eclipsing a previous all-time intraday high set in April 2015, while Apple’s market value surpassed $700 billion.

Wall Street analysts have claimed for months now that Apple remains one of the world’s most under appreciated stocks. Among a large group of Apple analysts, Brian White of Drexel Hamilton, Steven Milunovich of UBS, and former analyst turned venture capitalist Gene Munster have all predicted rises. Apple’s relative strength line, which gauges the stock’s performance versus the S&P 500 index, is at its highest level since September 2015.

Some projections put Apple’s stock price on a continual upward trend over ‘iPhone 8’ optimism, with several financial analysts raising their price targets for Apple’s stock to between $150 and $185, according to research notes obtained by MacRumors.

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Swatch Working on Apple Watch Competitor With Custom-Made OS and Better Battery Life

Swatch is developing its own operating system for an all-new smartwatch intended to compete directly with Apple Watch and Android Wear, according to company CEO Nick Hayek (via Bloomberg). The new smartwatch will be an addition to the Tissot brand, a subsidiary of The Swatch Group, and is set to launch towards the end of 2018.

With its debut so far out, details remain scarce on both the watch itself and the Swatch-made user interface, but Hayek mentioned that the technology will require less battery power and will “protect data better.” According to Hayek, the company’s strategy will give Swatch the chance to become a worthy competitor to Apple and Samsung wearables because of its focus on a beefy battery which wouldn’t require users to charge the watch every day, or every other day, like Apple Watch.

The already-announced Tissot Smart Touch compared to Apple Watch Series 2

Swatch’s approach will work better because it’s trying to “think small” as one of the biggest problem for wearable devices is battery drainage, Hayek said, speaking at the Biel, Switzerland headquarters of Omega, another of 18 brands that Swatch produces.

“There’s a possibility for wearables to develop as a consumer product, but you have to miniaturize and have an independent operating system,” the CEO said.

Luca Solca, an analyst who follows the luxury watch industry, pointed out that Swatch’s own-made OS could be the company’s first mistake. “People use smartwatches expecting to use the same apps they have on their mobiles,” Solca explained. “A proprietary operating system defeats the object.” Swatch said it is willing to give its OS to third parties for the creation of apps, and about half of the parties interested originate from small companies in Silicon Valley who “don’t want to be dependent on Android and iOS.”

The Tissot brand is set to launch its first smartwatch (seen in the image above), called the Tissot Smart Touch. The watch was announced a year ago and was set to launch in 2016, but it never appeared for users to order. When it does, Smart Touch will be a solar-powered wearable able to connect to iOS and Android smartphones, and include abilities like leading users to lost keys.

The Smart Touch will also include accessories like a standalone weather station that connects to the wearable and offers “hyper local weather information” like temperature, humidity, and air quality. With a debut so far out, it’s unclear whether Swatch’s new smartwatch will include any of the Smart Touch’s features, or even what it might look like.

Although some smart wearable companies, like Fitbit, are facing troubled waters in the market, Apple Watch has become a “magnificent success” for Apple thanks to a boost in holiday sales in 2016. If the Swatch smartwatch debuts in late 2018, it would likely enter the market as a competitor to the Apple Watch Series 4.

Right now, rumors are understandably focused on the 2017 Apple Watch Series 3, with some suggesting the line’s first major form factor change, and others theorizing that the wearable will see yet another iterative update this year with feature additions including cellular connectivity and the expected under-the-hood performance enhancements.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tag: Swatch
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Netflix to Replace Star Ratings With Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down

Netflix announced yesterday that it will replace star-based user reviews in its content library with binary thumbs up and thumbs down ratings over the coming weeks.

Previous star ratings given by users will be used to personalize their Netflix profiles, but the ability to rate a TV series or movie by awarding stars is set to disappear altogether, according to Variety.

Image via Variety

Netflix VP of Product Todd Yellin told journalists on Thursday during a press briefing at the company’s headquarters in Los Gatos, Calif., that the company had tested the new thumbs up and down ratings with hundred of thousands of members in 2016. “We are addicted to the methodology of A/B testing,” Yellin said. The result was that thumbs got 200% more ratings than the traditional star-rating feature.

According to Netflix, at one point subscribers had awarded over 10 billion 5-star ratings and more than half of all members had rated more than 50 titles. However, the company eventually concluded that star ratings had become less relevant, with some users giving documentaries 5 stars and silly movies just 3 stars, even though they would watch the silly movies more often than the highly rated documentaries.

“We made ratings less important because the implicit signal of your behavior is more important,” Yellin told journalists.

In addition to the binary rating scheme, Netflix is also bringing a new percent-match feature to its interface that shows how good a match any given show or movie is for an individual subscriber. If a movie or TV show fits very closely with a user’s taste, it may get a high percentage match, although shows with less than a 50 percent match won’t show a match rating.

Netflix said the changes will roll out globally within the next month or so.

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Drones: Canada imposes strict new rules following a jump in dangerous incidents

Why it matters to you

Drone rules aren’t universal so if you’re heading north of the border with your UAV, or anywhere else for that matter, be sure to check out the local rules for flight.

Drone fans north of the border have been hit with tough new rules restricting how and where they can use their flying toys.

Announced on Thursday by Canadian transport minister Marc Garneau, the new regulations place strict limitations on drone flights close to people, animals, and buildings.

The rules, aimed specifically at non-commercial drone flights, also stipulate that the machines should be kept well clear of airports.

“I am taking measures now, before a drone hits an airplane and causes a catastrophic accident,” Garneau told the Globe and Mail, adding, “That’s the kind of nightmare scenario that keeps me up at night.”

Folks with an unmanned aerial vehicle weighing more than 0.5 pounds (250 grams) and up to 77 pounds (35 kg) are now banned from operating the machine within 5.6 miles (9 km) of any airport as well as other places where aircraft operate such as heliports or seaplane bases.

Drones must stay within 295 feet (90 meters) of the ground, and keep at least 246 feet (75 meters) from buildings. Flights near forest fires and first-responder emergency locations are also prohibited under the new rules.

Canada already had a set of regulations in place aimed at drone users, but in most cases violators had no fear of punishment.

However, from this week, anyone breaking the rules could face fines of up to CAD$3,000 (about $2,250), around $800 more than the maximum fine for comparable offenses in the U.S., according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents.

More: For recreational drone users in the U.S., here’s what you need to know

Canadian officials have become increasingly worried about rogue drone flights, with reported incidents near airports leaping from 41 three years ago to 148 last year.

Garneau told the Globe and Mail the government needed to do “everything in our power to stop this from happening.”

However, aware that the drone market is rapidly developing with many tech companies researching new technologies, the minister was keen to reassure the industry that the government would continue to encourage innovation in the sector, adding, “But like any new technology, drones must be used with care. And we cannot wait until something bad happens before we act.”

The increasing popularity of consumer drones has left many governments around the world scrabbling to create new rules to encourage safe and responsible flying. In the U.S., the FAA has a Fly for Fun webpage explaining its own guidelines for recreational users, which include flying at or below 400 feet (122 meters), keeping the machine in sight at all times, staying well away from airports, and keeping clear of people. You can find out more here.

The Heatbuff means no more cold hands at the keyboard

There’s nothing worse than cold hands when you’re trying to type or play a game on the computer. The rest of your body may be feeling snug, but your exposed hands just don’t seem to want to warm up, causing your all-important keyboard performance to suffer.

Keen to devise a solution, Emil Frolund and Mads Sorensen — two students studying innovation and entrepreneurship in Denmark — created the Heatbuff heater that gently warms your hands without melting your keyboard. Which is kind of important.

The Kickstarter project has already received pledges worth more than double that of its $11,000 funding target, meaning early backers could be warming their digits in front of the heater this coming winter, when the first shipments are scheduled to go out.

As you can see from the images above, the Heatbuff, which requires a nearby power outlet, sits at the top of your keyboard and uses harmless infrared no-burn technology to gently heat up your hands. The device also lets you angle each of the two heaters, allowing you to point one of them toward your mouse if you happen to use it a lot during your PC sessions.

More: Are you a sweaty gamer? These special clothes will cure your clammy hands

Heatbuff’s creators, both keen gamers, said the idea for the device came to them last year when they realized that cold hands affected their skill level, with reaction times slower than usual.

“We started researching online and were blown away by the massive amounts of people who complained about this … and no one seemed to have a solution that people were fully happy with,” the pair said.

While developing the Heatbuff, Emil and Mads soon realized that the device could also come in useful for office and home-based workers, as well as those with conditions such as arthritis.

With three weeks to go, there’s still plenty of time to support the project. You can get yourself a Heatbuff with a pledge of about $70, offering a decent 28 percent saving on the final retail price. You can check out all the various deals on the project’s Kickstarter page here.

The Heatbuff means no more cold hands at the keyboard

There’s nothing worse than cold hands when you’re trying to type or play a game on the computer. The rest of your body may be feeling snug, but your exposed hands just don’t seem to want to warm up, causing your all-important keyboard performance to suffer.

Keen to devise a solution, Emil Frolund and Mads Sorensen — two students studying innovation and entrepreneurship in Denmark — created the Heatbuff heater that gently warms your hands without melting your keyboard. Which is kind of important.

The Kickstarter project has already received pledges worth more than double that of its $11,000 funding target, meaning early backers could be warming their digits in front of the heater this coming winter, when the first shipments are scheduled to go out.

As you can see from the images above, the Heatbuff, which requires a nearby power outlet, sits at the top of your keyboard and uses harmless infrared no-burn technology to gently heat up your hands. The device also lets you angle each of the two heaters, allowing you to point one of them toward your mouse if you happen to use it a lot during your PC sessions.

More: Are you a sweaty gamer? These special clothes will cure your clammy hands

Heatbuff’s creators, both keen gamers, said the idea for the device came to them last year when they realized that cold hands affected their skill level, with reaction times slower than usual.

“We started researching online and were blown away by the massive amounts of people who complained about this … and no one seemed to have a solution that people were fully happy with,” the pair said.

While developing the Heatbuff, Emil and Mads soon realized that the device could also come in useful for office and home-based workers, as well as those with conditions such as arthritis.

With three weeks to go, there’s still plenty of time to support the project. You can get yourself a Heatbuff with a pledge of about $70, offering a decent 28 percent saving on the final retail price. You can check out all the various deals on the project’s Kickstarter page here.

LG G6 now available to pre-order in the U.S.

Verizon, AT&T and Sprint kick off pre-orders for LG’s latest ahead of April 7 street date.

Our favorite phone of 2017 so far is now up for pre-order on American shores. Today three of the big four carriers have started taking orders for the LG G6, meaning you can secure yours in time for the April 7 release date. All three are offering a free Google Home, courtesy of LG, if you order your G6 before April 30.

Verizon is offering the G6 for $28 per month with $0 down, or $672 if you’re paying the full retail price, in black and platinum colors. Pre-orders are set to ship by March 30.

See at Verizon

AT&T has the same two colors available for $24 per month, or $719.99 outright, with pre-orders due to ship between April 4 and 6. Get your G6 on a two-year AT&T Next deal and the carrier will hook you up with an LG Watch Sport for $49.99. (That’s in addition to LG’s separate promotion for a free Google Home.)

See at AT&T

Over on Sprint, it’s $29.50 monthly on a 24-month plan, or $299.99 with a 24-month contract. Full retail price is $708, and Sprint is throwing in a free 49-inch LG TV to sweeten the deal — again, on top of that free Google Home.

See at Sprint

T-Mobile isn’t taking G6 pre-orders just yet, but plans to kick off sales on April 7 along with its competitors. T-Mo’s G6 will set you back $650 outright, or 24 payments of $26 after $26 down, with the same free Google Home promotion if you buy before April 30.

See at T-Mobile

Meanwhile B&H Photo has the U.S. unlocked G6 (LG-US997) listed, but without a price or release date.

Picking up a G6 today? Hit the comments and let us know!

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• LG G6 vs. Google Pixel: The two best cameras right now
• Everything you need to know about the G6’s cameras
• LG forums

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Watch our Huawei P10 + P10 Plus video review!

Huawei is big in China, and growing the West. In the past twelve months, it’s gone from being that one company that made great hardware but could never seem to get the software right, to being able to legitimately compete with more established brands in Europe.

So in 2017, the new P10 phones are tasked with building on that momentum, while also competing with what’s to come from Samsung and Apple. In our video review of the 5.1-inch Huawei P10 and its 5.5-inch sibling the P10 Plus, we’ll see how Huawei has created two of its best phones yet, with superb build quality, an eye-catching “dazzling” finish and a competitive camera. But is it all undone by one fairly major hardware oversight?

Hit the video above for our comprehensive take on the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus!

• Android Central on YouTube
• Huawei P10 + P10 Plus review
• Huawei Mate 9 review
• Huawei P10 vs P10 Plus camera

Future Sony smartphones could charge wirelessly from a friend’s phone, a fridge or a washing machine

Sony has submitted a patent application for a technology that could revolutionise the mobile industry.

It proposes adding a second wireless antenna for Near Field Communications (NFC) that will transfer power rather than data. You could therefore recharge your phone from a friend’s device, a refrigerator, washing machine or anything else that has an NFC power transmitter.

And it will be truly contactless, you wouldn’t need to place your device on the power source.

The only restriction is that the device you are charging from must be connected to the mains. So you could only leach power from a friend’s handset when he or she is charging it through a wired connection.

• Future batteries, coming soon: Charge in seconds, last months and power over the air
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview: The complete Xperia package

It is suggested that power sources would show up much like Wi-Fi hotspots, for you to choose which to take charge from.

The patent application was filed in November last year but came to light when it was posted by the US Patent and Trademark Office at the beginning of March. It is worth remembering that technology firms file many patents every year and only a handful ever make it to fruition and appear in a product.

This is one, however, that we would thoroughly encourage as it could mean you’d never run out of battery on your phone again.

The ‘Candy Crush’ TV show debuts on CBS July 9th

For whatever reason, Candy Crush is making the jump from addictive game to primetime TV game show, and CBS has revealed it will premiere July 9th. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it’s a little too late to get cast as one of the two-person teams that will play the game. You and a partner are missing out on the opportunity to “use their wits and physical agility to compete on enormous, interactive game boards featuring next generation technology to conquer Candy Crush and be crowned the champions.” That’s the kind of action that will be available to you on Sunday nights this summer — choose wisely, and remember Game of Thrones doesn’t come back until July 16th.

#CBS Announces Summer premiere dates @CBSBigBrother 6/28 @ZooCBS 6/29 #CandyCrush Premiere7/9 #Salvation Debuts7/12 https://t.co/AolOlSiAzq pic.twitter.com/OFVYsw4w58

— CBS Tweet (@CBSTweet) March 16, 2017

Source: CBS