Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of iOS 10.3 to Developers
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming iOS 10.3 update to developers, just over one week after seeding the fourth beta of iOS 10.3 and almost three months after the release of iOS 10.2, the last major update to the iOS 10 operating system.
Registered developers can download the fifth 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app open/close animation, an Apple ID profile in Settings, a better breakdown of iCloud storage usage, warnings about outdated apps that won’t work with future versions of iOS, HomeKit support for programmable light switches, improvements to SiriKit (bill paying, bill status, and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.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
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Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of tvOS 10.2 to Developers
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 10.2 update to developers for testing purposes, just over one week after seeding the fourth tvOS 10.2 update and more than a month after releasing tvOS 10.1.1, the current release version of tvOS.
Designed for the fourth-generation Apple TV, the fifth tvOS 10.2 beta can be obtained by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, downloading and installing the software from a registered developer account via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a profile is installed, subsequent betas can be downloaded over the air.
Given the tricky installation requirements, tvOS betas are limited to developers and will not be provided to the public.
According to Apple’s release notes, tvOS 10.2 introduces improved scrolling behavior, allowing tvOS users to scroll through large lists of information more quickly. A large swipe on the Siri remote automatically activates the new scrolling mode, and a swipe on the far right side of the remote allows users to navigate specific indexes.
It’s likely there are other small feature tweaks and bug fixes included in tvOS 10.2, even though additional changes have not been specifically outlined by Apple. We’ll update this post should any new content be found in the fifth tvOS 10.2 beta.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor Now Available From Apple Stores
Qardio, known for its line of connected health products, today announced that it is expanding its partnership with Apple, a move that will see Apple Stores around the world offering the QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor.
The QardioArm, which is priced at $99, is an FDA approved blood pressure monitor that’s able to interface with an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch to help users keep an eye on their blood pressure. It was the first medical device available via Apple Health, and it’s designed to make it simple for users to share data with health professionals.
“We’re thrilled to expand our global retail presence in collaboration with such a visionary retailer,” says Alexis Zervoglos, Chief Business Officer at Qardio. “We share with Apple an absolute belief that purity of design coupled with technological innovation drives change, as we focus on creating beautiful, accessible products that lead to a healthier world without compromising lifestyle.”
QardioArm is available from Apple’s online store and from Apple retail locations starting today. It’s priced at $99 in the U.S., £99 in the UK, and €129 in other European countries.
Tags: Apple retail, Qardio, QardioArm
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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 25 With Bug Fixes and Feature Improvements
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced one year ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 25 includes fixes and improvements for Resource Timing, User Timing, WebCrypto, Web API, Web Inspector, CSS, Rendering, and Media. Today’s update enables Resource Timing by default.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Tag: Safari Technology Preview
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Pebby the robotic toy means you’ll never miss your pet when you’re out
Why it matters to you
Pebby lets the animal lovers among us enjoy playing with their pets from a remote location, or simply keep an eye on them while away from home.
If you like the idea of playing with your pet even when you’re not around, then the solution could be in the form of a high-tech, remotely controlled ball called Pebby.
Touted as a “robotic pet sitter,” Pebby lets you interact with your dog or cat — or dog and cat — via your smartphone whenever you’re out of the house.
Features include a wide-angle camera so you can watch your canine or kitty dash around the house as you tease it by rolling the ball any place you like. Of course, the camera also lets you remotely snap images and shoot video so you can save the best moments or quickly share them on your favorite social media sites.
Pebby can also project a laser light onto the floor, ramping up the entertainment factor for your pet as it scurries after the light wherever you choose to point it. It includes a bunch of LED lights too, so you can even play about in the dark or in dimly lit rooms.
Tempting as it might sound, you won’t be able to play with your pet the whole time you’re out of the house. After all, there may be the small matter of work to consider, and what if you spot your boss heading in your direction just as you’re about to send the ball scuttling between Buster’s legs?
Thankfully, Pebby’s creators have thought of that and wisely included an automatic mode that’ll keep your four-legged friend happily entertained, at least until the battery gives up.
When that happens, the PebbyKennel comes into play. This is Pebby’s awesome charging station. Simply tap the auto-dock function on the robotic toy’s mobile app and it’ll automatically locate the charging station and slot itself in. Pebby offers 90 minutes of playtime and lasts for 12 hours on idle mode.
The kit also includes a smart collar so you can track your pet’s activities throughout the day, with all the data sent straight to the app.
And there’s more. The clever device can also emit a “woof” or “meow”, or your own prerecorded message, something like, “Who’s a good boy,” or “Fetch,” or even, “Stop wrecking the furniture,” if they have a habit of doing so.
More: Love your pets from afar with Petcube Bites and Petcube Play
Some more boisterous pets are bound to test the ball’s durability, but Pebby’s thick, shatterproof, polycarbonate casing, which includes a specially made “Shock suspension system,” means the device is a match for even the rowdiest of mutts.
It’s waterproof, too, so if it ends up in the water bowl you’ll have nothing to worry about.
As you can tell, the Pebby is a pretty comprehensive piece of kit, and the Sunnyvale, California-based team that built it hope its Kickstarter project, launched this week, will help take it into production.
Delivery is estimated for July 2017, with early bird specials offered at $124 for the whole package — that’s about half the expected retail price.
The 10 best USB Type-C cables to keep your gadgets powered
The shift toward USB Type-C cables is well underway, and with good reason. Thanks to a reversible connector, you can finally wave goodbye to the frustration of plug in failures because your cable is in the wrong orientation. With USB-C, you can also potentially benefit from the latest speed boosts that the USB 3.1 standard brings. More and more devices, including Google’s new Pixel phones and the forthcoming LG G6, sport the new port.
More: The best portable battery chargers
Devices generally ship with a cable, but they sometimes break or go missing from time to time, and it’s always handy to have a spare or two. You may also want a USB Type-C cable to attach to one of your older chargers or devices. If so, below are the USB Type-C cables we personally recommend.
Ravpower C to C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $11
This cable is a great value and offers rapid charging or syncing between two USB Type-C devices. That means you can use it to plug your Pixel smartphone into your new Macbook, or connect it to the USB-C brick that ships with Google’s phone. It’s a strong cable with solid, anodized-aluminum casing on the connectors. It supports fast charging, too, so you should be able to get maximum charging speeds for a range of phones. Syncing data is also extremely fast with this cable.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
iOrange-E USB 2.0 C to C Braided Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $14
This nylon-braided cable is strong and sure to stay tangle-free. It’s another cable for hooking up Type-C to Type-C connections. It should support fast charging for most phones — delivering up to 3A — and it can also handle data syncing at up to 480 Mbps. If you don’t like the gold finish, the cable is also available in either black or silver.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Google USB-C to USB-C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $25
Google offers a no-frills cable that’s a little more expensive than some of the others on the list. It has reinforced, rubbery plugs with a tapered neck. It can deliver up to 60W at 3A, so fast charging won’t be a problem. Data sync speeds are USB 2.0, so you’ll get up to 480 Mbps.
This specific offering is a USB-C to USB-C cable, but the same price will net you a USB-C to USB-A cable. Charging speeds will vary depending on your device and charger, but it supports USB 3.1 for data transfers at up to 10 Gbps.
Buy one now from:
Belkin USB-C to USB-C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Price: $22
You’ll enjoy fast speeds based on the latest USB 3.1 standard with this USB-C to USB-C cable. That means you’ll be able to capitalize on data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, gain support for Thunderbolt 3, and benefit from the ability to connect to a DisplayPort-enabled USB-C display, allowing for 4K resolution. It can deliver up to 3A of power. The design is minimalist, with slim connectors, which makes it easy to plug in. The necks are also reinforced, though that doesn’t mean the cable is all that rugged.
Buy one now from:
Apple
Anker Powerline USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable
- Quick charge: Limited to 2.4A
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $14
You can use this cable to connect a new device with a USB-C port to a charger or computer with a standard USB port. This is a durable cable that you can rely on, with a double-braided exterior and an aramid fiber core. The connectors also have reinforced necks to reduce damage from bending, and this cable won’t tangle or get knotted. It syncs data at up to 5 Gbps, but, sadly, it won’t charge faster than 2.4A, so you won’t be able to get the maximum charging speeds for phones like the Google Pixel XL. It comes with a neat carry pouch, however, one that has a Velcro strap to help you keep any excess cable out of the way.
Anker also offers an excellent USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable for $10, which supports fast charging and syncing speeds at up to 480 Mbps.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Choetech USB-C to USB-A Cable
- Quick charge: Limited to 2.4A
- Length: 10 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $8
If you need a longer USB Type-C cable to hook up to an older USB device or adapter, but you don’t want to spend too much, then this offering from Choetech could be the solution for you. It’s a plain, black cable that’s capable of charging at up to 2.4A. It won’t be able to charge at the maximum speed for some phones, however, and doesn’t work with the rapid charge function unique to the OnePlus 3. That said, it’s going to be fast enough for most people. It can also sync data at speeds of up to 480 Mbps.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Cable Matters USB 3.1 C to A Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3.3 feet
- Warranty: Lifetime limited
- Price: $6
This short, black cable is thick and sturdy. It offers fast charging and data syncing for connecting USB-C to USB-A. It also supports the latest USB 3.1 standard and transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps. In conjunction with a fast charger, it should charge phones and other devices at the maximum speed. This is a quality cable that works well, especially given the price.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Belkin 3.1 USB-A to USB-C
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: Lifetime limited
- Price: $18
If you want 10Gbps transfer rates, then this is the cable you’re looking for. It has a USB-C connector on one end, and a USB-A 3.1 connector on the other. Most of the time, you will find USB-C to USB-A 2.0 or 3.0, so this cable is a special find. It’s compatible with any USB-C device, but well suited for laptops such as the Macbook and Google’s lauded Chromebook. It has a maximum charging output of 3A, too, so it will quickly charge your devices when you’re in need of a little juice.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Snowkids USB-C to USB-3.0
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $9
This 6.6-foot cable makes use of a braided-nylon design and attractive metallic housing, the latter of which adds durability. The cable is safe to use with USB-C smartphones, such as the Google Pixel, along with devices like the 12-inch Macbook. It also has a current output of 3.0A, ensuring a quick charge when paired with a 3.0A wall charger.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Bridgegen USB-C to USB-A 2.0
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $10
Compatible with the LG G5, Google Pixel, and other USB-C devices, this nylon cable can endure more than 4,000 bends. Quick Charge 2.0 requires a maximum current of 3.0A, so this 2.1A cable will provide charging speeds more in line with Quick Charge 1.0. It’s not as fast as the aforementioned Snowkids offering, but it does provide transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. The cable also comes in black, gold, and rose gold, just in case you want to pair it with your newfangled Macbook.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
The 10 best USB Type-C cables to keep your gadgets powered
The shift toward USB Type-C cables is well underway, and with good reason. Thanks to a reversible connector, you can finally wave goodbye to the frustration of plug in failures because your cable is in the wrong orientation. With USB-C, you can also potentially benefit from the latest speed boosts that the USB 3.1 standard brings. More and more devices, including Google’s new Pixel phones and the forthcoming LG G6, sport the new port.
More: The best portable battery chargers
Devices generally ship with a cable, but they sometimes break or go missing from time to time, and it’s always handy to have a spare or two. You may also want a USB Type-C cable to attach to one of your older chargers or devices. If so, below are the USB Type-C cables we personally recommend.
Ravpower C to C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $11
This cable is a great value and offers rapid charging or syncing between two USB Type-C devices. That means you can use it to plug your Pixel smartphone into your new Macbook, or connect it to the USB-C brick that ships with Google’s phone. It’s a strong cable with solid, anodized-aluminum casing on the connectors. It supports fast charging, too, so you should be able to get maximum charging speeds for a range of phones. Syncing data is also extremely fast with this cable.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
iOrange-E USB 2.0 C to C Braided Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $14
This nylon-braided cable is strong and sure to stay tangle-free. It’s another cable for hooking up Type-C to Type-C connections. It should support fast charging for most phones — delivering up to 3A — and it can also handle data syncing at up to 480 Mbps. If you don’t like the gold finish, the cable is also available in either black or silver.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Google USB-C to USB-C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $25
Google offers a no-frills cable that’s a little more expensive than some of the others on the list. It has reinforced, rubbery plugs with a tapered neck. It can deliver up to 60W at 3A, so fast charging won’t be a problem. Data sync speeds are USB 2.0, so you’ll get up to 480 Mbps.
This specific offering is a USB-C to USB-C cable, but the same price will net you a USB-C to USB-A cable. Charging speeds will vary depending on your device and charger, but it supports USB 3.1 for data transfers at up to 10 Gbps.
Buy one now from:
Belkin USB-C to USB-C Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Price: $22
You’ll enjoy fast speeds based on the latest USB 3.1 standard with this USB-C to USB-C cable. That means you’ll be able to capitalize on data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, gain support for Thunderbolt 3, and benefit from the ability to connect to a DisplayPort-enabled USB-C display, allowing for 4K resolution. It can deliver up to 3A of power. The design is minimalist, with slim connectors, which makes it easy to plug in. The necks are also reinforced, though that doesn’t mean the cable is all that rugged.
Buy one now from:
Apple
Anker Powerline USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable
- Quick charge: Limited to 2.4A
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $14
You can use this cable to connect a new device with a USB-C port to a charger or computer with a standard USB port. This is a durable cable that you can rely on, with a double-braided exterior and an aramid fiber core. The connectors also have reinforced necks to reduce damage from bending, and this cable won’t tangle or get knotted. It syncs data at up to 5 Gbps, but, sadly, it won’t charge faster than 2.4A, so you won’t be able to get the maximum charging speeds for phones like the Google Pixel XL. It comes with a neat carry pouch, however, one that has a Velcro strap to help you keep any excess cable out of the way.
Anker also offers an excellent USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable for $10, which supports fast charging and syncing speeds at up to 480 Mbps.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Choetech USB-C to USB-A Cable
- Quick charge: Limited to 2.4A
- Length: 10 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $8
If you need a longer USB Type-C cable to hook up to an older USB device or adapter, but you don’t want to spend too much, then this offering from Choetech could be the solution for you. It’s a plain, black cable that’s capable of charging at up to 2.4A. It won’t be able to charge at the maximum speed for some phones, however, and doesn’t work with the rapid charge function unique to the OnePlus 3. That said, it’s going to be fast enough for most people. It can also sync data at speeds of up to 480 Mbps.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Cable Matters USB 3.1 C to A Cable
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3.3 feet
- Warranty: Lifetime limited
- Price: $6
This short, black cable is thick and sturdy. It offers fast charging and data syncing for connecting USB-C to USB-A. It also supports the latest USB 3.1 standard and transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps. In conjunction with a fast charger, it should charge phones and other devices at the maximum speed. This is a quality cable that works well, especially given the price.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Belkin 3.1 USB-A to USB-C
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: Lifetime limited
- Price: $18
If you want 10Gbps transfer rates, then this is the cable you’re looking for. It has a USB-C connector on one end, and a USB-A 3.1 connector on the other. Most of the time, you will find USB-C to USB-A 2.0 or 3.0, so this cable is a special find. It’s compatible with any USB-C device, but well suited for laptops such as the Macbook and Google’s lauded Chromebook. It has a maximum charging output of 3A, too, so it will quickly charge your devices when you’re in need of a little juice.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Snowkids USB-C to USB-3.0
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $9
This 6.6-foot cable makes use of a braided-nylon design and attractive metallic housing, the latter of which adds durability. The cable is safe to use with USB-C smartphones, such as the Google Pixel, along with devices like the 12-inch Macbook. It also has a current output of 3.0A, ensuring a quick charge when paired with a 3.0A wall charger.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Bridgegen USB-C to USB-A 2.0
- Quick charge: Yes
- Length: 6.6 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $10
Compatible with the LG G5, Google Pixel, and other USB-C devices, this nylon cable can endure more than 4,000 bends. Quick Charge 2.0 requires a maximum current of 3.0A, so this 2.1A cable will provide charging speeds more in line with Quick Charge 1.0. It’s not as fast as the aforementioned Snowkids offering, but it does provide transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. The cable also comes in black, gold, and rose gold, just in case you want to pair it with your newfangled Macbook.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Sport yacht designed for Bugatti Chiron owners to match their cars
Why it matters to you
If your sights are set on a Bugatti Chiron, why not get the matching yacht to go with it?
Imagine for a hot minute what it would be like to own the world’s fastest production car, the Bugatti Chiron, which, though electronically limited to 261 mph, can hit 290 without the governor. The limited edition Chiron (only 500 will be built) isn’t just incredibly fast, it also epitomizes luxury and design. But once you have the car, wouldn’t you like a boat to match?
In 2015, Bugatti began a collaboration with Palmer Johnson Yachts, one of the world’s premier yacht designers. Palmer Johnson is known for pushing the edge of design and materials technology to build major race-winning sailing yachts across a number of decades and, more recently, for its fast, sleek sport yachts. When Bugatti and Palmer Johnson revealed early concept drawings, current Bugatti owners and other potential buyers wanted the sport yacht to draw more from the then-just-released Chiron. The result of the collaborative effort is the limited edition Bugatti Niniette 66.
Bugatti, as it happens, has a boat-building heritage. Austrian Prince Carlo Maurizio Ruspoldi commissioned founder Ettore Bugatti to build a one-off speedboat in 1930. Bugatti named it Niniette after his youngest daughter’s pet, hence the name.
More: 11 radiators. 16 cylinders. 1,500 horses. How Bugatti built the monstrous Chiron
At 20 meters long, the Bugatti Niniette 66 has a slim main hull with left and right sponsons — projections that extend from the side of the main hull. The sponsons aren’t visible from the side of the craft, but they add stability and allow a wider-than-normal beam, in this case, 6.5 meters or a little more than 21 feet. Generous use of carbon fiber gives the yacht structural rigidity and reduced weight.
It’s a Bugatti, so you know there’s plenty of power. Two 1,000-horsepower MAN V8-1000 engines are paired with Marine Jet Propulsion waterjets to propel the Niniette to a maximum speed of 44 knots. All that power is controlled by joystick in the Ninette’s topside cockpit where an interactive infotainment system also controls navigation, systems monitoring, and entertainment. One of the benefits of the Palmer Johnson sponsor and slender hull design is the yacht’s shallow 1.3-meter draft, about 4 feet, which enables it to enter waters denied most boats of this class because of their deeper draw.
The Niniette doesn’t cram small cabins below deck. The emphasis is on the highest levels of luxury for a select few. A spacious Bugatti signature horseshoe-shaped salon for entertaining has heritage-automotive design elements. The master suite has a double bed and a large lounge. There is also a galley kitchen and a guest bathroom. As in the Chiron, the Bugatti yacht emphasizes the finest materials, with polished metal, carbon, leather, and marble used throughout in furnishings and appointments.
On the open top deck a combined Jacuzzi, sun pad, and champagne bar are situated between seating areas on each side. A fire pit just forward of the Jacuzzi and additional seating is another bold, instinctive touch.
Bugatti and Palmer Johnson describe the Niniette as “powerfully seductive.” As the photos show, the yacht is designed to be pleasing from all angles, with elements uniquely characteristic of the Chiron.
According to Timur Mohamed, Palmer Johnson CEO, “The challenge was to create an experience and a persona as much as a yacht, from streamlined luxury, sophisticated style, and unprecedented quality. For owners of tomorrow, Niniette will lift your expectations of life even higher.”
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
FotoMed
FotoMed is a handy mobile medical reference, medical image search, and photo comparison tool for health tracking.
Available on:
iOS
50mm
Create charming 50mm-photo style photographs with real-time vintage effects. These effects work great on selfies and other portraits but also for many other subjects.
Available on:
iOS
Backup Contacts
Backup Contacts is the easiest way to backup and restore your contacts all from your phone without needing a computer or synchronization.
Available on:
iOS
Photo Sharing
With Photo Sharing you can send as many photos as you want in one single email, even a whole album. Photo Sharing allows you to send far more than a normal email.
Available on:
iOS
Pro Camera
Enhance your photos with the effects of this photo editing app. The filters mimic analog processes, vintage optics, and wear and tear typical for traditional film photography.
Available on:
iOS
Jet Scanner
Tired of convoluted and unnecessarily complicated iOS Scanners? Look no further. With JetScanner, just scan, validate, and save as a PDF smoothly, without complications.
Available on:
iOS
Oklahoma bill won’t penalize homeowners who shoot drones out of the sky
Why it matters to you
Oklahoma’s new bill to allow homeowners to shoot down drones could open the door for other states to pass similar legislation.
Drone owners in Oklahoma may soon be forced to keep their unmanned aerial vehicles on a short lease or risk losing them to rifle-wielding homeowners. A new bill, sponsored by Oklahoma state Senator Ralph Shortey, makes it easier for a homeowner to shoot down or otherwise immobilize a drone that is flying over their private property.
As it is written, Oklahoma Senate Bill 660, removes any civil liability for a property owner who damages or destroys a drone that is flying in the airspace above their premises. The bill states, “Any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily damages or destroys a drone located on the real estate or premises or within the airspace of the real estate or premises not otherwise regulated by the Federal Aviation shall, together with any successors in interest, if any, not be civilly liable for causing the damage or destruction to the property of such person.”
The bill was a response to skirmishes between homeowners and drones. In particular, Bill sponsor Senator Shortey points to a 2015 incident in which a drone that was being flown by an animal protection group was shot down over a pigeon shoot fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma. When defending his bill, Shortey points to the thorny issue of privacy in a statement provided to the Tulsa World newspaper. “As a private citizen, you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your property where the public does not have access, and that is under 400 feet.”
More: Oreo flies five ‘cookie drones’ over New York City in a wacky milk-dunk stunt
The bill has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with an 11-0 vote but has not been debated on the floor of either the House or the Senate. The bill is expected to be taken up by the full Senate in the coming weeks. Even if it passes through the state legislature and becomes law, it may not stand for very long, argues Stephen McKeever, the chairman of Oklahoma’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Council, which opposes the measure.
According to McKeever , the bill may run afoul of FAA regulations that make it illegal to shoot down an aircraft. Though the term “aircraft” conjures up images of Cessna and Lear jets, the FAA considers a drone to be a form of aircraft and blankets these UAVs with the same protections provided to conventional aircraft. The Oklahoma bill also allows a homeowner to shoot down a drone flying at any altitude, which runs afoul of the FAA’s statement that any airspace from the ground up is regulated by the FAA and not under the control of individual states.
And on a more practical level, shooting a drone out of the sky is dangerous and will land someone in hot water as the discharge of any weapon within a residential area is legally restricted in Oklahoma and most other U.S. states.
AIVAnet 