Apple’s earnings show declining iPhone sales, average returns in second quarter

Why it matters to you

iPhone demand may be slowing ahead of probable new product launches this coming fall.

Apple, the world’s most valuable tech company, had a pretty average second fiscal quarter. Despite a new iPad, a bright red iPhone, and a bevy of new Apple Watch bands and other accessories, Apple only slightly beat Wall Street’s expectations on revenues — and it missed on sales.

After the closing bell on Tuesday, Apple’s reported revenue of $52.9 billion versus an expected $53.02 billion — $2.10 per share versus $2.02 per share. Apple’s software and services — including AppleCare, Apple Pay, and digital content sales — brought in $7 billion, but device shipments dipped or remained unchanged across the board. The company shipped 50.8 million iPhones versus a projected 52 million, and Mac and iPad sales held at 4.1 million ($5.84 billion)  and 8.9 million ($3.89 billion), respectively.

Apple CEO Tim Cook credited the growth in revenue to “robust demand” for the iPhone 7 Plus. But despite a colorful new Project (RED) iPhone, the company failed to make a major splash in an industry suffering a sales slowdown. According to a survey conducted by 451 Research, smartphone buying intent among North American consumers hit a nine-year low.

Falling sales in China did not help. Fierce competition from Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, Xioami, and other regional brands drove iPhone shipments down 12 percent in the country compared to the same quarter a year ago, and analysts at Warren Capital estimate that the region saw a two percent decline in overall smartphone activation.

An ill-timed buying cycle contributed, too. Venture capitalist Gene Munster estimates that as many as 300 million iPhones may be set for an upgrade later this fall, when Apple is expected to announce new models.

Julian Chokkatuu/Digital Trends

If there is a silver lining, it’s Apple’s “other product” category, which includes the Apple Watch, iPods, Beats headphones, and other accessories. It raked in $2.87 billion — much better than the $2.26 billion analysts were expecting.

More good news? Potentially lucrative developments lie on the horizon.

Apple is dipping its toes into content creation with Planet of the Apps, its first original show. It will be available exclusively to Apple Music subscribers later this year.

A new Mac Pro is on the way. Apple’s Phil Spencer told Buzzfeed News that the company was “completely rethinking” the high-end workstation after a lukewarm reception to its last refresh in 2013.

And there could be a new product line on the horizon — or several. Rumor has it that Apple’s readying a high-end, Siri-powered home speaker that will compete directly with Amazon’s Echo series and Google’s eponymous Google Home. It could launch as soon as June at Apple’s worldwide developer conference.

Apple’s autonomous car project, meanwhile, is ongoing. In late April, white Lexus SUVs outfitted with an array of sensors and cameras were spotted emerging from an Apple facility in California — one of three vehicles the California Department of Motor authorized Apple to test earlier in the month.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Binghampton University students work on 3D bioprinting artificial pancreas

Why it matters to you

Biomedical engineers at Binghampton University are working to create a 3D-bioprinted artificial pancreas, using human stem cells.

The pancreas, for those of you who daydreamed your way through high school biology classes, is a gland organ in the abdomen that produces various important enzymes and hormones that help break down your food.

Creating an artificial one is also the ambition of a team of researchers at New York’s Binghampton University.

Student biomedical engineers Thomas Hays, Kyle Reeser, and Sebastian Freeman have been working on a process they hope will let them 3D bioprint an artificial pancreas using stem cells, in a project which has the potential to greatly improve life for people suffering from type 1 diabetes.

The process they’re using involves taking “autologous” stem cells, differentiating them into pancreatic cells, then layering them in such a way that allows them to construct 3D pancreatic tissues for implantation back into a patient’s body. The stem cells must belong to the patient in question because doing so lessens the risk that their body will reject the organ transplant.

“It is essentially a layer-by-layer technique where they overlap different 2D layers of material until you have a 3D product,” Thomas Hays told the website Pipe Dream. “[We] took that technology and applied bio-printing to the title. You take different materials, different cells, and create an organ in that sense … You have to have vasculature in there, too. It’s hard to nail down just a few things to put in [the printer], but it is a lot of cells and growth factors.”

The research is ongoing, and Hays suggests that it will take at least another decade before 3D-bioprinted organs are able to be transplanted, following the necessary R&D and clinical testing phases.

However, it’s yet another example of some of the pioneering work that’s being done in this area, alongside innovations like 3D-printed skin and 3D-printed human cartilage. And when it’s completed, it could be a major boon for those suffering from diabetes, which is sometimes treated using pancreas transplants.

In the meantime, we’ll add Binghampton University to our list of innovative bioprinting institutions to keep an eye on!

Google Home is even more useful with support for new services

You can now use Assistant to control iHome, Leviton, Emberlight, and Samsung Artik Cloud devices.

There are so many different smart home startups out there attempt to do their part to contribute to the ever-growing ecosystem of connected devices. And the Google Home, which is meant to be used exclusively inside your dwellings, now supports a few more standards to make it easier for you to control those third-party products.

Originally discovered on two different Google Support pages by Android Police, it’s now plainly stated that Google Home supports iHome, Leviton, Emberlight, and Samsung Artik Cloud connected devices. This means that a whole host of smart plugs, smart switches, and outlets are now supported by Google Assistant, so you can shout out Okay, Google! to start commanding the different devices around your home. Note that if you use the Samsung Artik Cloud, the Legrand smart hubs are currently the only product supported.

Curious to try the functionality for yourself? The services are now available in the Google Home app.

Google Hardware

• Google Wifi review
• Google Home review
• Everything you need to know about the Chromecast Ultra
• Chromecast vs Chromecast Ultra: Which should you buy?

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Microsoft Surface Laptop vs Apple MacBook (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2016): What’s the difference?

Microsoft has introduced a new Surface-branded device – and it runs a new version of Windows 10.

Called Surface Laptop, it’s a premium device designed to rival the 12-inch MacBook. So, with that in mind, we pitted the Surface Laptop against the MacBook as well as the 13-inch MacBook Pro — because why not? If you’re considering the Surface Laptop, you’re probably also eyeing both of Apple’s compact laptops. But which one is best for you and your lifestyle? Well, we’ve figured it so you don’t have to.

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Design

• Surface Laptop: Metal, plastic, and fabric body available in different colours
• MacBook: Aluminium construction available in four different colours
• MacBook Pro: Aluminium construction with OLED Touch Bar

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop is available in four colours (burgundy, platinum, cobalt blue, and graphite gold). Its emphasis is on manufacturing skill, with metal, plastic, and the Alcantara fabric deck coming together to give you a premium product. It includes a Mini DisplayPort, full-size USB 3.0 port, and Surface Connect for extendibility. It weighs 2.76 pounds with the following dimensions: 12.13 x 8.79 x 0.57 inches.

Apple’s 12-inch MacBook has a “highly recyclable aluminum enclosure” available in rose gold, space gray, gold, and silver colours. The MacBook only comes with a USB Type-C connection for power and external use. However, many third-party accessories and dongles are now available. It weighs 2.03 pounds and has a tapered thickness with the following dimensions: 11.04 x 7.74 x 0.14-0.52 inches.

Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro introduces a Touch Bar OLED panel, which replaces the function keys on the keyboard. They dynamically change depending on what you’re doing. There’s also Touch ID in the power button, allowing for Apple Pay and logging in. It comes with come with two USB Type-C connections and weighs 3.02 pounds with the following dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59 inches.

In terms of size, the Surface Laptop is thicker and heavier than the 12-inch MacBook but not the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It also has as many colour options as the 12-inch MacBook, and although it doesn’t have an aluminium unibody construction, it does have a premium blend of materials. All three laptops offer a 3.5mm headset jack and at least some way for you to hook up external peripherals.

• Here’s how much the new MacBook Pro will cost you in new adapters and cables

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Display

• Surface Laptop: 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504 pixels, 201ppi, touchscreen
• MacBook: 12-inch, 2305 x 1440 pixels, 226ppi
• MacBook Pro: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600 pixels, 227ppi

The Surface Laptop comes with a 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 resolution PixelSense display (3:2 aspect ratio). It’s touch-enabled with 3.4 million pixels for a sharp picture, and Microsoft is claiming it is the thinnest LCD touchscreen you’ll find on any device. As it comes with touch, you also get support for Surface Pen, meaning you can craft, sketch, annotate, edit, and do whatever else you want using a stylus.

The MacBook has 12-inch LED backlit display with IPS technology. Its resolution is 2304 x 1440 (226ppi) and it features a 16:10 aspect ratio. The MacBook Pro offers a conventional 13.3-inch Retina display with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, 227ppi, and a 8:5 aspect ratio. Neither Apple laptop offers a touchscreen, though the MacBook Pro does come with a Touch Bar OLED panel instead of a function key row.

The Surface Laptop’s display isn’t as sharp as the 12-inch MacBook or 13-inch MacBook Pro, but it is touchscreen, which might not matter to most people, though we imagine students will love the ability to use a pen to sketch and annotate. As for which display looks better, it’s difficult to judge without getting them side-by-side. We’ll keep you posted when we have a chance to review the new Surface Laptop.

• Microsoft Surface Book i7 (2016): Not an overhaul, but certainly more oomph

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Hardware

• All three offer Intel Core i5 and i7 options
• Surface Laptop offers Intel HD 620 or Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
• MacBook offers Intel HD Graphics 515
• MacBook Pro offers Intel Iris Graphics 540 or Graphics 550

The Surface Laptop is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs. Graphics-wise, it has Intel HD 620 or Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640. Impressively, Microsoft says you’ll get 14.5 hours of battery life. It’s also claimed that when the lid is closed and the laptop is in standby, it will drain no battery. It will be available with 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB RAM, with an option of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD for storage.

The 12-inch MacBook also has Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs with Intel HD Graphics 515, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro offers the same but with Intel Iris Graphics 540 or Intel Iris Graphics 550. Both laptops promise 10 hours of battery life with casual web use and offer various RAM from 8GB to 16GB depending on your configuration. They also both offer 256GB or 512GB of storage. 

So, because the Surface Laptop runs the latest Intel hardware (Kaby Lake versus Skylake), it should theoretically outpace both Apple laptops in terms of performance and graphics, though we’d have to test the Surface Laptop first before we can make a final conclusion. It also beats both laptops when it comes to battery life, offering up nearly five hours more plus a no-draining when in standby feature.

• Apple MacBook Pro (2016) with Touch Bar: Thinner, brighter, faster, and very touchy feely

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Software

• Both MacBooks run the latest MacOS software
• Surface Laptop comes with the Windows 10 S OS

Last summer, Apple pushed out MacOS Sierra with some useful new features. They can speed up how you work and find things, as well as help you save space on your precious hard drive. Perhaps the biggest new feature is Siri, which is just as useful as it is on iPhone. The new Messages app has also been revamped to make it more compatible with the all-new iOS 10 Messages app. Both MacBooks run Sierra.

Surface Laptop runs Windows 10 S, a fully functional version of Windows that is meant to run smoothly on all hardware. The big catch is that it’s designed to only run verified apps from the Windows Store. You will not be able to download apps online and install them, so this version is sandboxed. But there aren’t any hardware restrictions on Windows 10 S, so again, it can run across a full range of devices.

While Windows 10 S can only run verified apps from the Windows Store, you can download and run anything you want on either MacBook. That’s a huge advantage. But keep in mind Microsoft is targeting students with the Surface Laptop, and it’s giving them the ability to use Office apps. It’s not trying to go after professionals who consistently need to use powerful apps.

• What is Microsoft Windows 10 S?

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Price

• Surface Laptop: $999 (Core i5) or $2,199 (i7)
• MacBook: $1,299 (256GB)
• MacBook Pro: $1,799 (256GB)

Surface Laptop vs MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Conclusion

The Surface Laptop is a real challenger to the 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro. It comes with a range of ports including a 3.5mm headphone socket, USB 3.0, SD card slot, and mini DisplayPort, rather than just a USB Type-C connection, and it’s available in many colours with premium finishes. It also has full, crisp touchscreen and runs the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs with entry-level graphics.

Plus, it’s cheaper than both laptops. We’d probably say it sits somewhere between the MacBook and MacBook Pro when it comes to design, and for power, it really does give the MacBook Pro a run for its money, especially when you factor in battery life. Surface Laptop is also compatible with existing Surface accessories, like the Dial and Pen. Its “downside” is that it comes with Windows 10 S out of the box.

However, you can upgrade a Windows 10 S device to Windows 10 Pro (update is $49 for individuals). This may be an attractive option if you end up needing an app that’s not verified by Microsoft. And if you’re using Microsoft Intune for Education to manage devices, you will be able to update your Surface Laptop to Windows 10 Pro at no cost.

You have to decide what you want from your next laptop and how much you can pay. You can choose between Apple’s two high-end, MacOS-powered laptops or Microsoft’s high-end, Windows 10 S-powered laptop that happens to be cheaper (and is upgradeable to Windows 10 Pro). The differences aren’t too wide to best honest. 

‘Code Vein’ blends anime vampires with ‘Dark Souls’ combat

Towering enemies? Check. Moody atmosphere? Check. Slow, methodical combat? Check. Bandai Namco has released the first trailer for its upcoming action RPG Code Vein, and it wears its Dark Souls influence on its bloody sleeve.

Bandai Namco first made the Dark Souls connection when it teased the new project last month. “Prepare to dine,” it told us at the time, an obvious play on Dark Souls’ tagline, “Prepare to die.” But, the game also borrows heavily from anime as well, from the melodramatic music to the impossibly coiffed vampiric protagonists, to the ominous voice over complete with capital letter words like “Thorns of Judgement” and “the Lost.”

The trailer also gives a glimpse at Code Vein’s companion feature. Apparently, you can take a partner with you into the game world, and finding one that complements your play style will likely add an extra layer of strategy as you tackle the game’s challenging enemies.

Now that the popular Dark Souls series has ended, can Code Vein fill that void in fans’ hearts? We’ll find out when it launches sometime in 2018.

Source: Bandai Namco

PGA Tour will livestream a single iconic hole in VR

Golf officials are building out their 4K broadcasts and even starting to livestream smaller events in VR, but the sport’s biggest tournaments are taking awhile to try out the new broadcasting tech. After testing the waters with a handful of virtual reality videos exploring its Phoenix Open course last year, the PGA Tour is livestreaming its upcoming The Players Championship in VR. Let’s hope you like the vantage from TPC Sawgrass’ penultimate fairway: Cameras are only recording the Florida course’s iconic 17th hole.

Fans with Samsung Gear VR headsets can view the pure immersive experience using the PGA Tour VR Live app. The device-less masses can tune in on Twitter and Periscope, which will both stream the same 17th-hole vantage in 360 video. Three VR camera positions will capture the whole round: One at the 17th tee, one on the walkway to the green and one in the water next to the island.

Big news from @PGATOUR! Golf’s most famous hole will be LIVE on Twitter in 360 video every round @THEPLAYERSChamp https://t.co/U2ujSAhlvb pic.twitter.com/AWPOWcPPt7

— Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) May 2, 2017

Source: PGA Tour

Proterra wants to build autonomous vehicles for public transit

The company that built an electric bus capable of driving 350 miles before needing a recharge wants to take public transit to the next level: autonomous driving. Working with the University of Nevada, Proterra has launched an autonomous driving program to help develop self-driving electric buses in Reno. The idea is simple, but implementation is complicated, partially because Proterra buses have to serve the public and abide by completely different laws than private vehicles. That’s why the company’s CEO says autonomous bus lines will probably never run without a human co-pilot.

The problem is less about trusting the autonomous bus to safely drive it route as it is about trusting the machine to properly abide by the Americans with Disabilities act. “You’re going to need a human being there to take care of people,” Proterra CEO Ryan Popple told SFGate. “I’m not comfortable yet with the idea that an ADA passenger could get on an autonomous vehicle, and that we could code for every possible disability.” There simply needs to be someone around to make sure riders board okay, settle any possible disputes or, if it’s a School bus, take care of the children.

Before Proterra sorts out the human element, however, it does need to lock down the actual autonomous driving. That process will be deliberately slow — starting by outfitting the company’s electric buses with sensors that can scan the street during normal human-driven routes and test how well the bus can detect traffic, pedestrians and passengers. The program will slowly add more complexity, developing and testing self-driving algorithms slowly until the team is confident to run a real life test.

Source: SFGate

Kobo’s latest waterproof e-reader is sized for poolside reading

Kobo’s Aura One e-reader was potentially the dream device for anyone who likes to read in the bath or at the beach, but it had some catches. Its big 7.8-inch screen didn’t make it the most portable device around, and that $229 price could be off-putting if you just wanted to read a novel now and then. Enter the just-introduced Aura H2O — the new e-reader is still as waterproof as the One, and shares the same smart lighting that reduces blue light at night (in theory, to help you sleep). Its 6.8-inch touchscreen is decidedly easier to hold during longer siestas, while the $180 price (£150 in the UK) might simplify your purchasing decision.

You won’t find much of a revolution inside, but that’s not entirely a bad thing. The 8GB of storage is enough to hold about 6,000 books, and you’ll have Kobo staples like awards, stats and fine-grained control over fonts. You’ll have to be slightly patient, as the Aura H2O launches in North America, the UK and several other markets on May 22nd. Look at it this way, though: Amazon still doesn’t have a truly waterproof Kindle, so the wait could be worth it to get an e-reader that can survive a drop in the tub.

Source: Kobo

Apple’s ‘Other Products’ Category Sees Strong Growth in Q2 2017

Apple’s “Other Products” category, which includes the Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod, and Apple-branded and third-party accessories, is seeing solid growth according to Apple’s Q2 2017 earnings results.

Revenue from “Other Products” was at $2.87 billion during the quarter, up from $2.19 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Apple Watch sales doubled year-over-year during the holiday quarter, and according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the response to AirPods has been “great.” Cook says that demand for AirPods continues to significantly exceed supply, and that Beats growth is also “very strong.”

“Combine Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats and our revenue from wearable products in the last four quarters was the size of a Fortune 500 company,” said Cook.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘Demand Was Stronger Towards iPhone 7 Plus Than We Expected’

Apple did not expect so many people to choose the iPhone 7 Plus over the iPhone 7, according to statements made by Apple CEO Tim Cook during today’s second quarter earnings call.

“One of the things we didn’t get right was the mix between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus,” said Cook. “Demand was much stronger towards the iPhone 7 Plus than we expected.” Apple’s misestimation of the popularity of the iPhone 7 Plus led to some shortages of the bigger-screened device during the December quarter.

Apple sold the highest number of Plus models in the first half of fiscal 2017 than ever before, higher than the iPhone 6 and 6s lineups. Cook says it took Apple a while to “bring the iPhone 7 Plus into balance,” something that occurred early in the second quarter.

According to Cook, Apple learns from its mistakes. “Every time we launch something, we learn something, and we brush up our models and apply everything we learn for next time,” he said.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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