Jaguar XF (2018): Sumptuous luxury, now with new engines

Jaguar updated its XF model in 2015 with sharper lines, pulling this car first released in 2007 into a more modern perspective. The XF sits above the XE in the range and the difference inside is obvious: although both offer similar exterior design and comparable levels of interior luxury, but the XF gives you a lot more space, especially in the back seats.

Like the BMW 5-series or Audi A6, this is a mid-sized executive car, with Jaguar doing an awful lot over the past decade to more Jag from a brand that carried with it the reputation for being a little staid – “old man’s car” was the perception – into something that vibrant and exciting. Jaguar is now less about John Prescott and more exciting for it. 

While the F-Pace has been a tearaway success in this regard – perhaps against all expectations – and the F-Type is turning heads, the refreshed 2018 Jaguar XF is stronger than ever and more than capable of holding off those German rivals.

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Jaguar XF design decadence

Exterior design is where you really cut your chops in the saloon game. The original Jaguar XF got rather dated, running from 2007 through to 2015, before it changed pretty much to this latest guise. In the newer 2018 version, the big changes are under the skin rather than on the surface, but we’re ok with that.

The XF cuts an impressive stance on the road, especially when fitted with the optional 19-inch wheels pictured here in black (at £1255); proportionally, the XF just looks right, with the sharper bonnet creases adding some muscularity to a car that was previously a little soft in looks. Dropping the original rounded lights played a big part in this, for a much more modern look. 

Where this car really succeeds is in space. There’s adequate space in the rear seats without knocking your knees, even with a big driver in the front. At the same time you still have 540-litres of luggage space in the rear. Once upon a time it might have been a cliché to suggest you could fit your golf clubs in there, but we get the sense that Jaguar is moving on a little. You could fit a family’s luggage in there, so let’s go with that instead.

The R-Sport (pictured) sits in the middle of the line between Prestige and Portfolio trim, giving you a sporty look with extra bodywork that we think helps it square up against rivals. Front bumper changes, sills and a small boot spoiler gives things a lift, leaving the impression that this big cat means business. Not business business, but the business, you see?

• Jaguar F-Pace review: Outpacing its SUV rivals?

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Jaguar XF interior

If you’re going to pry a happy Audi driver out of the A6 saloon, then you have to deliver on the interior. The XF has plenty of luxury touches across its interior, although the design is slightly more conventional than the XE’s interior (we really like the curves running into the dash, it looks like something from a boat). As we said, there’s of shortage of space. 

There are still some novelty items. The autobox controlled by the elevated dial is a bit of fun (and not uncommon) although one of the things changed between the original design and this latest version is the mass of rotating air vents, which used to dominate the centre of the dash. There are some slightly plastic parts, which some rivals have attempted to squash away through interior sculpting, although everything is a high quality to touch, including the leather that’s liberally applied.

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The R-Sport model gets sports seats, although they’re not as sporty as some which we like. It’s more a hint at athleticism rather than a full-out Usain Bolt of a seat. What that means is plenty of comfort and sophistication which is what you want. Much of the centre console lends itself to controlling the interior climate, where you have physical buttons, as well as choices through the InControl touchscreen system. This is something of a best of both worlds: it’s not cluttered with buttons, and you can get to what you want easily.

You might miss controls nestled behind the drive select dial, because they don’t really fall into the eye-line when driving, and it’s these that will give you some of the more exciting controls over the car’s dynamics – more on that later.

The lasting impression of the XF’s interior is exactly what you want it to be. There’s the distinct sense of quality. It’s quiet and refined in the driver’s seat, cosseted by the plush interior, and it’s equally rewarding sitting in the back too. It gives you space that the XE doesn’t, but keeps things surprisingly affordable at this size, without stepping up to the max luxury that the XJ offers.

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Jaguar XF smart infotainment

The XF range comes with options for a 10.2-inch central touchscreen plus a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster screen behind the wheel, which is where things start to get thoroughly modern. Audi might be stealing headlines with its Virtual Cockpit, but you can have your Jaguar XF similarly equipped if you’re happy to step up to the InControl Touch Pro system.

The standard is a 8-inch touchscreen display flanked by major buttons that could pass as rather dated, which makes Touch Pro more enticing. Pictured here is the top of the line version, with 825W Meridian surround sound system. That option sounds fantastic, but will set you back an uncomfortable £2670. However, you can get Touch Pro with a 325W Meridian sound system for only £1780, which is a little easier to swallow.

It’s smart bundling by Jaguar and one that works for gadget fans too, as you’re getting boosted sound and more techy options on your car in one fell swoop. InControl Touch Pro is a nice system to sit behind, presenting four major sections to access areas of the car – climate, phone, navigation and entertainment. Naturally there’s Bluetooth and DAB, but also the inclusion of USB so you can connect a device for media or your phone, to give you access to stored music, or use the 10GB of onboard storage.

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Not only that, but it brings navigation with it too, which can be displayed on the central display or on the driver’s display.

Jaguar also pairs this up with iOS or Android app, expanding the app options to a degree, but there’s no support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which is perhaps the more advanced approach.

InControl Touch Pro is easy enough to use, letting you swipe through screens to access other information drawn from the car itself, like the dynamics reports when in dynamic driving mode, or your eco credentials. Yes, the Jaguar XF will judge you on your efficiency, so that you can make efforts to improve your performance behind the wheel.

Switching to dynamic mode will change the digital driver’s display red so that you know you’re in business (not business business … you get the idea), as well as letting you leaf through information using the steering wheel controls.

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Jaguar XF power and smart driving systems

Now we come to the real meat of the updated 2018 Jaguar XF sandwich, which is the new Ingenium engines that it offers. For those not in the know, Ingenium really just means a lighter, more efficient, future-proofed engine design and in the new XF there are 200 and 250PS petrol options added, alongside a new 240PS diesel engine.

That means there are actually 13 options, considering you have manual or auto options, as well as rear wheel drive and all wheel drive, with only about £2000 difference when taking the AWD option. If you’re planning to tow your caravan jetski, or just get the most from the power on slippery roads, then AWD is an attractive option. Reports from Audi and BMW suggest that Quattro and xDrive are both doing stormingly well.

Nudge the starter button and it’s heritage refinement that you get from the Jaguar, rather than sporty noise. The R-Sport version comes with sports suspension as standard, but thanks to the customisable dynamics of the car, you can let it drive you like a Jaguar should, easing away the bumps for a soft and comfortable ride. From first impressions, the new engines aren’t too noisy either; the 240PS diesel’s twin turbo makes it a little racier than the petrols, hitting 62mph in 6.5 seconds, and returning a (reported) figure of over 50mpg, with CO2 emissions as low as 139g/km on the rear-wheel drive option.

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In the standard driving mode the automatic box can be a little lazy, taking its time to get you going as though there’s a slight disconnect between putting your foot down and things responding. This gives you a smoother drive once you’ve got used to it, but the XF also now offers optional configurable dynamics. It’s a £225 option, but will let you go through and select how you want the engine, gearbox, steering and suspension to behave (pictured above). If you want faster gear changes and a more immediate response, you can set those to dynamic, for example, and leave the rest at normal.

These options do make quite a difference to how the car drives and there’s an automatic version of this system too that will make changes based on how the car is driving, although on this R-Sport model that’s an £820 extra. 

Generally though, the Jaguar XF is a fun car to drive. It’s nimble enough to handle the twisty and turny roads with the skill needed for its size, but will also let you kick back and enjoy the refinement of a soft and sedate right, perfect for when you’re driving your mother to the theatre, giving her the luxury she deserves.

First Impressions

Sitting between the sportier and more compact XE and the height of luxury that the XJ offers, the XF is the more practical of the bunch, affording you the space you’ll need in the back seats if you seriously plan on carrying passengers in comfort for any length of time.

It’s not that expensive either. For £32,000, you can access to the smaller diesels, but these newer engines will see you needing £35,000, about the same price as the BWM 5-series starts at. The new Ingenium engines offer compelling power options, giving the Jaguar XF a little more pep and performance and dressed in the R-Sport livery, you’ll see prices closer to £40,000.

Keep an eye on the options though. The base spec will bring you leather seats, LED mood lighting, the 8-inch InControl Touch system, Bluetooth, navigation, InControl apps and a whole lot more, but things can quickly soar. That’s one thing this car has in common with it’s German rivals.

More than ever the Jaguar XF feels like it has a lot to offer, Not only in terms of good looks and a good drive, but in the tech features you can add too. It certainly earns its place on the road.

LG V30: What’s the story so far?

LG was one of the first to announce a flagship smartphone in 2017 with the G6. It’s a fantastic phone but no smartphone ever has the limelight for long.

No sooner does one launch, than its competition announces a rival and all of a sudden, what was brand spanking new, becomes old news.

Luckily, LG appears to be planning to steal some of its spotlight back. Here is everything we know so far about the second LG flagship of 2017, the LG V30.

LG V30: Release date

Google confirmed during its Google I/O 2017 developer conference that LG would be releasing a second flagship before the end of the year after it announced on stage that LG’s next device would be compatible with Daydream VR.

We know from Google that we will see a device before the year is out, and although it didn’t mention an exact month or any names, it is likely this device will be the LG V30.

Based on previous “V” release patterns and industry sources, the LG V30 is likely to be announced sometime in September. The LG V20 was announced on 7 September 2016, just after consumer electronics show IFA, while the LG V10 was revealed on 1 October 2015. 

LG V30: Design

The LG G6 was a far cry away from its predecessor, righting many of its wrongs and pushing all the right boundaries, predominately in terms of its display.

While the G series has been the guinea pig in terms of design ideas though, the V series has generally nailed it first time. The LG V20 offers a lovely lightweight aluminium build with super slim bezels, STD 810G drop protection and a sleek and stylish finish.

We’d expect the LG V30 to follow in both the path of its predecessor and its successful G6 sibling, offering a premium design, almost all-screen front, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and more than likely a dual-rear camera setup again. We’d also expect to see IP68 waterproofing.

LG V30: Display

That almost all-screen display we are expecting for the LG V30 is said to be coming in the form of OLED rather than the company’s previously preferred choice of LCD.

This is one of biggest rumours circulating around the device, supported by the announcement of Daydream compatibility from Google. All the devices currently compatible with Daydream, or those coming like the Galaxy S8, use AMOLED displays rather than LCD.

Despite its fantastic OLED TVs, LG has only ever opted for an OLED display on a smartphone once: the G Flex. That was of course a little different though, given it bends, so the LG V30 is being called the first LG smartphone to have an OLED display. If true, you can expect brighter, punchier colours and better contrast than you’d traditionally find with LCD.

The LG V20 and LG V10 both have a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, as does the LG G6, despite the latter offering a different aspect ratio at 18:9 rather than 16:9. We’d therefore expect the LG V30 to remain in a similar ballpark in terms of both size and resolution, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see it adopt the 18:9 ratio and add Dolby Vision and HDR 10 skills.

The V10 and V20 both had a secondary display at the top which presented various notification icons and information without the need to turn the main display on. We’d expect the V30 to offer this too given it has become a distinguishing feature of this series.

GSMinfo

A patent found by GSMInfo, republished by SlashGear suggests an almost all-screen front and the presence of the second screen feature but in a slightly different way to previous models. The patent shows a device with a row of icons like the V10 and V20 present but there appears to be a camera in the centre of them. There are also no other sensors or speaker grilles based on the patent. For now it’s just a patent, but it does spark some interesting questions about the V30.

LG V30: Camera

LG loves a dual rear camera and unlike some companies, it works well. The LG G5 had a great camera, as do the G6 and V20 so we’d fully expect a dual camera to be on board the LG V30 too. 

Yes, LG might get bored with the double sensor thing, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? What sensor sizes will be on board the V30 have yet to be rumoured, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it follow in the footsteps of the G6, like the V20 did with the G5.

If this is the case, there could be two 13-megapixel sensors on the rear, one of which would be a wide angle lens, along with features including optical image stabilisation and phase detection autofocus. The G6 has a 5-megapixel front-facing snapper, as does the V20, but we wouldn’t be too surprised to see the resolution increase slightly for the V30. 

The LG V models have been all about video capture in the past, so we’d expect this to remain a feature, supported by strong audio too.

LG V30: Hardware

Although rumours are thin on the ground when it comes to the hardware of the LG V30, it is set to be a flagship smartphone and therefore, we can expect flagship specs.

At the moment, this would mean the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, at least 4GB of RAM and more than likely 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The LG G6 and the LG V20 both have microSD support so there’s a good chance the V30 will also offer storage expansion.

In terms of battery, the LG V20 had a removable 3200mAh capacity, while the LG G6 has a non-removable 3300mAh capacity so we’d hazard a guess the V30 will have a similar capacity, though we’d expect it to be non-removable this time round.

There will also no doubt be a big focus on audio with the LG V30, as there has been with the previous V series devices. The V20 offered Qualcomm Audio, combining a Quad DAC with high quality speaker sand sensitive mics. When it launched, it was the only smartphone in the world to include a 32-bit Quad DAC from ESS and the first to have ESS’s HyperStream 2 audio technology so expect big things from the V30.

LG V30: Software

The LG V30 will most likely arrive on Android Nougat with LG’s UX 6.0 user interface over the top, like the G6. No doubt there will be a few additional features added on the software front, but we’d expect a similar experience to that of the G6.

LG V30: Conclusion

For now, a lot of the information surrounding the LG V30 is guesswork. We know it’s coming and we are also fairly confident it will have an OLED display based on the Daydream compatibility, but other than that, no one knows anything for sure. 

We will continually update this feature as more leaks and rumours appear in the coming months though so keep checking back.

New OnePlus 5 photos leak, raising more questions than answers

There is no shortage of hype surrounding the OnePlus 5. The company has just confirmed the name and that it’s working with DxO to nail the camera experience, and we’re seeing the trickle of leaks turn into a flood. 

The latest images coming from Chinese social network Weibo (the source of a lot of leaks these days), shows what’s reported to be the OnePlus 5 with dual camera setup on the rear. 

The real life photos match some of the renders and rumours that we’ve previously heard, suggesting the OnePlus is going to follow the likes of LG, Apple and Huawei with a dual camera system.

What’s more interesting is that these photos show a device that has no antenna lines on the rear. That’s the same as we’ve seen in some of the earlier renders, but it raises the question over whether this is a metal body, or something else. 

Metal phones need antenna lines somewhere to enable reception to the internal radios. Glass and plastic phones don’t and the omission here suggests that OnePlus could be looking at glass or ceramic instead for the OnePlus 5. 

The company used ceramic for one of the OnePlus X models, but it is an expensive option. Alternatively, OnePlus might be taking the approach that LG took on the LG G5, making a metal body core and including the antenna lines and then coating it to hide it all and give a seamless finish.

Of course, this could just be a mock-up, which is still a possibility. 

The photos also show the bottom of the phone and what’s evident there is symmetry, with speaker grilles either side of the USB Type-C port. On the OnePlus 3 the 3.5mm headphone socket was on the bottom, so perhaps this is a suggestion that OnePlus is going to follow Apple and HTC and drop it in favour of USB headphones instead.

Or it’s moved to the top, of course.

The increasing number of OnePlus 5 leaks makes us think that the launch timeframe of June 2017 is likely. We’ve been keeping track of all the rumours, so make sure you read up and get yourself in the picture for the next flagship killer.

• OnePlus 5: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

Audeze iSine10 review: In-ears unlike any other

Audeze caught our imagination last year with Sine, the superb planar magnetic on-ear headphones. When the iSine in-ear model was announced, we got rather excited at the prospect of the first ever planar magnetic in-ears. Would they sound as good as the over-ears, but in a smaller package?

The question, as with any expensive earphones, is whether or not the sound is good enough to justify the price. With a design like the Lightning-equipped iSine10, plus the built-in sound processing unit, we surely hoped they would. Here’s what we found.

Audeze iSine review: Design

• Ear hooks and in-ear rings/fins
• Detachable two-pin cable
• Inline mic/Lightning cable
• 31mm x 35mm; 20g

There’s no getting around it: the Audeze iSine10’s design is unusual. If you’re a Star Wars fan then the earbuds basically look like two halves of a TIE Fighter.

And they’re big. Really big for in-ears.

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The size is entirely down to the planar magnetic transducers used to drive the audio through your ear canals. In this case, they’re 30mm, some five times larger than the usual cone-shaped drivers in most in-ears.

The planar magnetic technology is housed inside a hexagonal case with a web-shaped pattern on the outside. Although it looks metallic, it’s built from a light, durable plastic. Without the cable attached, the earphones weight less than 20g.

Despite the lightness, the size means that the earbuds won’t sit unsupported in your ears easily. As you’d expect, without some kind of anchoring, the iSine10 slipped down and hung at an uncomfortable angle. Thankfully, Audeze already considered this and ships the earphones with two pairs of over-ear hooks (one transparent, the other black) as well as two different sizes of in-ear rings. Which one works best depends entirely on your ears. In our experience, the over-ear hooks were far easier to use. The in-ear rings didn’t work at all, but that’s likely down to the shape of our ears.

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Once fitted, the iSines were as comfortable to wear as any other earphones we’ve tested. They’re easy to wear, even for longer stints. One reason for this is that they’re designed to be semi-open, which means they sound better if the ear tips aren’t super snug inside your ear canal. While that means you don’t get any real noise-cancelling, you do get an in-ear fit that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to squeeze all the air out of your head.

Like Audeze’s on-ear headphones, the iSine earbuds are detachable from the cable, using a standard two-pin connection. While you can detach the cable to swap between the Lightning “Cipher” cable and the regular 3.5mm one, Audeze doesn’t recommend changing them often, as the pins aren’t built to last thousands of swap-outs.

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The iSine ships with two cables: the iPhone version has an inline remote that’s exactly the same in design as the one you’ll find in the on-ear Sine’s box (it’s worth noting, you pay a £50 premium to get them with this cable). There are three buttons: two round ones for changing the volume and a longer pill-shaped one for playing and pausing, or accepting calls.

Audeze iSine10 review: Sound

• 24-bit audio
• Amp, DSP and DAC built-in
• 10-band equaliser iOS app

Having tested the on-ear Audeze Sine, we were curious to see how similar the sound quality was in the iSine10. Like the on-ear model, the audio quality will vary depending on the source of the music. In other words, it’s better if you have an iPhone due to the Lightning cable. This has the major benefit of some clever audio processing components.

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Like the Sine, the inline remote acts as housing for an inline amplifier, DAC (digital-analogue converter) and DSP (digital signal processor). It delivers 24-bit audio and works together with a dedicated iPhone or iPad app to real-time adjust the equaliser (EQ). The 10-band EQ lets you manually adjust the levels of each frequency, and then saves them as presets on the earphones, so if you plug them into another iOS product, it remembers your preferences.

As you’d expect from an in-ear headphone, the iSine10 isn’t as bassy as its on-ear sibling. But that’s not a bad thing. The overall balance and clarity of audio is great. By default, the high-end frequencies were a little too high, but that’s the joy of the in-app equaliser. Having toned down the higher frequencies and pumped up the low-end the balance was much more to our tastes.

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What this means is that across the spectrum of frequencies, each piece of the music you’re listening to retains its detail and clarity. Whether it is those aforementioned bass notes, the high-end strikes of the ride cymbal bell or the lead vocals.

While the low-end could do with a little more prominence, there’s no denying the earphones’ capability at producing quality, responsive bass tones. It’s well balanced.

This quality audio reproduction is down to the company’s innovative way of driving the sound through those in-ear cones. Like the Sine, they use planar magnetic drivers, except the company cleverly managed to miniaturise them for the iSine10.

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If you like the idea of even better audio, Audeze also makes the iSine20, which the company claims has better control and responsiveness, giving better clarity to mid-range and bass. Although, the 20s are considerably more expensive.

Verdict

There’s no doubt that the iSine10’s design will turn heads, but you won’t care once you have them docked in your ears and plugged in to your favourite music. They’re surprisingly comfortable to wear and sound fantastic, especially if you have an iPhone and a library of lossless audio.

Simply put: there’s nothing quite like the iSine10 anywhere else for the consumer market. Hence their considerable price point.

The alternatives to consider…

Bose QuietControl 30

For in-ears, the QC30’s offer impressive active noise cancelling. They connect by Bluetooth and have an app that lets you manually control how much ambient noise you want to let in, or block out. 

Read the full review: Bose QuietControl 30 review: In-ear noise-cancelling doesn’t get any better than this

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Rockjaw Resonate

If you need good audio, but your budget isn’t anywhere near high enough for the Bose or Audeze earphones, the Rockjaw Resonate is an impressive pair of affordable in-ear monitors. You can manually change the tone by swapping out tuning filters, and the earbuds and cabling is very well made. 

Read the full review: Rockjaw Resonate review: Rock solid audio with a price that resonates

The Morning After: Friday, May 19th 2017

Google’s big annual conference has wrapped up, while the FCC has voted to roll back net neutrality protections made under the last US government. Less (more?) importantly, Apple has designed, patented and made a pizza box to ensure your crust doesn’t get soggy. Progress.

The battle has only begun.The FCC votes to move forward with gutting net neutrality

As expected, the FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to proceed with plans to undo net neutrality protections established under the Obama administration. If the FCC rolls back Title II classification in favor of defining internet again as a Title I service, ISPs will be able to prioritize data as they see fit, and perhaps charge more for better service. As Terrence O’Brien points out, the trouble with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s argument for ‘light touch’ regulation is that it relies on the belief that the internet still works the way it did back in 1996.

We’re back.
Catch up on Google’s plans for VR in under 3 minutes

During day two of Google I/O 2017, the company detailed its plans for both AR and VR. If you didn’t see our live coverage earlier today, don’t worry: We’ve cut down the half-hour talk into a much shorter clip. You can catch up on all the news about Daydream Euphrates, YouTube VR, Google Cast and much more in under three minutes.

In-car at I/O
Audi’s conceptual Android interface is a lot better than what’s in most cars these days

Earlier this week, Google announced that Audi and Volvo are both working on cars with Android-based head units. We spent some time in a Q8 concept equipped with a demo version of the interface and came away impressed. While it’s still a reskinned Android experience, Audi’s version does include access to Spotify, Google Maps and the Assistant AI — all without plugging in your phone.

Millions could benefit from what Android O makes possible.
Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success

Android O might not seem like the most exciting software update at first, but it could be one of the most important. Google has been on a quest to capture and delight billions of new smartphone users for years with various initiatives. So far, scaling hasn’t been a problem — there are now 2 billion monthly active devices, and with Android Go, Google’s hell-bent on picking up even more in developing and underserved markets. When phone makers install Android O on their low-end devices, they don’t just get optimizations to make everything run better. They also get a different set of stock Google apps and a version of the Play Store that highlights apps designed for these limited devices.

After worried airlines pushed back, officials say a full ban is “off the table.”
The US may not ban laptops on European flights after all

European and American officials met over a laptop ban proposed by the Trump administration, and sources have told the Associated Press that it’s “off the table” for now. While the ban has been voted down, for now, officials are reportedly considering other measures, including wide intelligence sharing, and plan to meet again next week.

I wonder what score they’ll give it.
OnePlus 5 will feature DxO’s photography expertise

While a summer launch is confirmed for OnePlus’ next (typically great value) smartphone, we don’t know much else about it. Well, until yesterday, when the company took to its own forums revealing that it’s working with DxO to make its next smartphone one of the best mobile cameras out there. Renowned for creating the respected camera benchmark system, DxOMark, details are still vague as to how the two companies will contribute to the smartphone camera, but with the likes of the HTC U11 and Galaxy S8 pushing the imaging envelope, it’s probably a good idea.

The group is worried about misinformation forming policy.
House Science Committee asks Trump to stop relying on fake news

Donald Trump, science skeptic and 45th president of the United States of America, woke up to a message this morning from some of his harshest critics. Members of the House of Representative Committee on Science, Space and Technology issued a letter expressing their concern that Trump relies so heavily on unverified information and shows blatant disregard for scientific fact. “Until the OSTP is adequately staffed and the director position is filled by a qualified, objective scientist who understands the difference between alternative news peddled on alt-right websites and legitimate well-vetted scientific facts, we fear that you will continue to be vulnerable to misinformation and fake news.”

If Bungie can stick the landing, they’ll have something special.
‘Destiny 2’ has the fundamentals to be a solid sequel

Sequels often have it tough. However, Destiny 2 looks like it might have what it takes to be a great follow-up to the original hit. Reporting from the title’s gameplay premiere event, Sean Buckley explains how the game borrows the most iconic elements of its predecessor, but ups the ante with more spectacular special moves, more weapon choice, and a world (well, universe) that seems bigger and grander in nearly every way.

Looks like an Apple device.
Apple patented (and made) a pizza box to prevent a soggy crust

One more thing slice.

It doesn’t get more millennial than this.
Fujifilm’s SQ10 is an instant camera for the Instagram generation

Instant film cameras have been making a comeback in recent years, and Fujifilm is partially responsible for this. Its Instax Mini 8 is a best-seller on Amazon, which may have something to do with the fact it only costs roughly $70. For those willing to pay more for a confusing hybrid: Enter the Square SQ10. Combining instant film with digital camera sensors, it’s priced at $280. It features a newly minted CMOS sensor (1/4-inch) with a 28.5mm f/2.4 fixed lens and an image processor that, Fuji says, will push out the best shots yet from an Instax product. Don’t worry: the digital output is square, and thus, Instagram-friendly.

But wait, there’s more…

• Google Lens offers a clear view of the company’s future
• Samsung’s QLED TVs are a dream for color calibration nerds
• A ‘Dark Crystal’ prequel is coming to Netflix

Sweden drops investigation into WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange

Sweden has dropped its investigation into Julian Assange over allegations of rape, dramatically changing the plot in a standoff that has lasted seven years. The charges were first leveled at the WikiLeaks founder in 2010, causing him to seek asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012 after losing a series of appeals. He’s been sequestered there ever since, and could finally go free once the withdrawal of his warrant is confirmed by a London court, possibly by the end of the day.

The dropped charges follow a series of interviews by Swedish prosecutor Ingrid Isgren at the Ecuadorian embassy. That came about after terse negotiations between Ecuador, Sweden and Assange, following pressure inside and outside the nation. Last year, the UN declared Assange’s asylum to be tantamount to an “arbitrary detention,” and recommended he walk free. The government of Ecuador also called Sweden’s prosecution of Assange a “serious failure.”

The Ecuadorian embassy is currently guarded around the clock by London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to prevent Assange from escaping. Police released a statement saying that Assange “remains wanted for a much less serious offense,” namely, failing to surrender to the court in June, 2012, and would still face “immediate arrest.” However, it said that it would now provide a “proportionate” level of resources, meaning it may stand down much of its guard.

pic.twitter.com/dDvB1Vekhg

— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) May 19, 2017

Assange posted the above image to his Twitter account shortly after the news was announced. It finally opens the possibility he could leave his tiny quarters in the embassy near Hyde Park in London. His lawyers have said, however, that he wouldn’t part unless the UK government guarantees he won’t be extradited to the US over spying charges linked to his WikiLeaks activities.

Indeed, last month, the US Department of Justice said that it is weighing charges against Assange and others over the 2010 release of thousands of US government documents by Chelsea Manning, and a more recent dump of CIA hacking tools. CIA director Mike Pompeo recently called Wikileaks a “hostile intelligence service” that’s a threat to US national security.

Source: WikiLeaks (Twitter), Cision

Facebook’s next feature could be Instagram notifications

Facebook and Instagram might exist as individual services, but under the surface their ties run deep. Instagram users often test major new features before they’re eventually ported across to the News Feed and it only takes a push of a button to share photos and videos with a wider selection of friends and family.

Just as the Facebook and Messenger apps have grown closer, Instagram may also be integrated even deeper into the platform. TechCrunch reports that the social network is trialling a new feature that displays notification counters from the major Facebook-owned apps and allows users to quickly switch between them.

The feature itself is an extension of the Messenger notification that sits in the top-right corner of the Facebook app. Instead of just alerting users to instant messages, the trial displays a pop-up menu that displays all of the unread notifications across Facebook, Messenger and Instagram, not-so-subtly reminding them to see what they’ve missed.

“We are conducting a very small test to make it easier for people to discover and connect with the people and things they care about,” a Facebook spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. “We’re exploring ways to help people switch more easily between their Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram accounts.”

For Facebook, the idea is simple: remind people of the things they’re missing and they’ll spend more time in the apps. That means more engagement and more eyeballs for advertisers. For users, it’s another potential case of notification anxiety.

Source: TechCrunch

It looks like Microsoft has a new Surface Pro after all

Microsoft VP Panos Panay recently said that “there’s no such thing as a Surface Pro 5,” and we now know what he meant by that. Images from uber-leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) and his article in Venture Beat show a device simply called the Surface Pro, without a model or series number in sight. Other than rounded edges on the screen, it strongly resembles the current Surface Pro 4, including the lack of a USB-C port.

The device will be unveiled at Microsoft’s Surface event in Shanghai on May 23rd. It will likely get a process refresh to Kaby Lake, according to journalist Paul Thurrott, boosting performance, battery life and 4K video decoding powers. The pen and keyboard will also get new color options, but otherwise, it will be very similar to its predecessor.

Microsoft will reportedly not, however, release a new Surface Book, Blass says, echoing a report from ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley in March. According to the rumor mill, Microsoft may be working on a clamshell Surface Book without a detachable screen, a model with a detachable screen, or possibly both. We’ll have to wait to find out about that, however.

Source: Evleaks/Venture Beat

Apple Said to Be Increasing Production of Rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro

Apple is said to be boosting production of its upcoming 10.5-inch iPad Pro, making launch of the new form-factor tablet over the next couple of months increasingly possible, according to sources in the Taiwanese supply chain.

DigiTimes reported on Friday that shipments for the company’s 10.5-inch iPad Pro are expected to increase to 600,000 units in July, up from around 500,000 units currently, with annual shipments said to reach 5 million units this year, said market watchers.

Previously, reports suggested Apple’s manufacturing partners had begun limited production of the new-size tablet in March, when it remained unclear when the device would be announced. Rumors have lacked consensus regarding when Apple will launch the device, with suggestions of an early April event having failed to materialize.

However, since that time, noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed there is a “greater than 70 percent chance” that Apple will unveil the long-rumored tablet at WWDC in June, based on the timing of production ramp-up.

The 10.5-inch iPad Pro is expected to have a similar form factor as the current 9.7-inch model, squeezing in a larger display thanks to narrower bezels. Analysts say Apple is hoping the device will mark the company’s resurgence in the tablet market, given that sales of iPads have declined for 13 consecutive quarters, with consumers seeing little reason to upgrade the tablets they already own.

However, at least one Apple pundit has suggested the company could wait until October to launch the 10.5-inch iPad, in order to avoid spoiling the the design of the much-rumored “iPhone 8” with an edge-to-edge OLED display, which is expected to be announced in September.

Today’s DigiTimes report also touches on a rumored upgrade to Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with some market watchers claiming the device could begin mass production in June, “with stable shipments in the third quarter”. Meanwhile, Apple’s sale expectations for its recently launched 9.7-inch iPad are “expected to accelerate Apple’s pace on phasing out the iPad mini 4 from the market”, according to sources.

Demand for the tablet is expected to pick up strongly starting the end of the second quarter and will reach the peak in the third quarter, increasing the device’s monthly shipments to over four million units in June and July, the market watchers noted.

Despite the launch of new iPads this year, market watchers still expect Apple’s tablet shipments to fall compared to 2016. Worldwide tablet shipments were around 8.74 million units in the first quarter and the release of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro should shore up the second quarter’s tablet shipments to 8.9 million units, claimed the report.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tag: digitimes.com
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Telegram Encrypted Messenger Gains Video Support, Bot Payments, and More

Encrypted messaging platform Telegram received a significant update today, bringing video messaging, bot payments, and other new features to the chat app.

In version 4.0 of Telegram, users can activate video messaging with a tap of the mic icon to switch to camera mode, or tap and hold the icon to record a quick video clip. Swiping up while recording enables handsfree mode, which works with voice notes too. Users can also stop and replay the clip before sending.

In addition, chat bots can now accept payments, with the developers saying that users will soon be able to order pizza, shop for clothes, and potentially pay their utility bills using Telegram bots.

Also included in the update is a new Instant View feature, which is similar to Google’s AMP platform. Essentially it enables users to view articles directly from within the Telegram app, and comes with the added ability to create article previews using the Instant View Editor.

Lastly, Telegram has also announced a new service called Telesco.pe that lets anyone watch video messages from public Telegram channels.

Telegram is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Telegram
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