New Images Provide Detailed Glimpse Into Apple Orchard Road in Singapore

After removing the barricades from its brand new retail location in Singapore, Apple this week has allowed a few reporters to tour the inside of Apple Orchard Road ahead of its grand opening this Saturday, May 27 (via Mashable). The location marks Apple’s first store in Southeast Asia.

The outside of the store features an all-glass design that spans 120 feet, allowing anyone passing by to glimpse into the two-story location. The bottom level of the store houses the traditional retail aspect of Apple locations, letting customers browse and purchase products like iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook.

A curved staircase inspired by Apple Park leads up to the second story where customers will find a large grove of trees that was specially brought in from Malaysia, and that Apple hopes gives off a “modern-day town square” vibe. Next to the trees sit a collection of cubes and a large screen — an area specifically designed for “Today at Apple” events.

In one moment during the media’s tour through Apple Orchard Road, an illustrator was seen drawing on iPad with Apple Pencil, and the store was displaying her progress on the screen. Like all Today at Apple events, the company wants customers to be able to walk into Apple at any time of the day and find inspiration.

“You can see an illustrator just sitting over there and we’re air-playing her illustration on the video wall — that’s the real goal at Apple. You can come come in and be inspired or buy an iPhone, but we wanna show people what they can create with our products.”

“You can see an illustrator just sitting over there and we’re air-playing her illustration on the video wall — that’s the real goal at Apple. You can come come in and be inspired or buy an iPhone, but we wanna show people what they can create with our products.”

Apple Orchard Road represents one of nine major next-generation Apple Store redesigns, which also includes its spots at Union Square in New York, Dubai, Ginza, and more. The major changes began last summer when Apple dropped “Store” from its retail branding, signifying its shift to a communal gathering place over a purely merchandise purchasing experience.

After a year and a half, Apple Orchard Road will finally open to the public on May 27 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Check out more photos of the store taken by Mashable and CNET, including the location’s boardroom that has murals of Apple Park hanging on the walls and Designed by Apple in California sitting on a few tables.

Tags: Singapore, Apple retail
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OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: What’s the rumoured difference?

OnePlus’ next flagship killer has been stealing several headlines over the last few weeks. It is rumoured to arrive some time in June, which will be around seven months after its predecessor, the OnePlus 3T hit shelves. 

The question is, how much has changed in half a year? Here is how the OnePlus 5 compares to the OnePlus 3T, based on the speculation. 

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Design

• OnePlus 5 rumoured to be coming with dual camera
• No antenna lines expected for the OnePlus 5
• Ceramic or glass build rumoured for OnePlus 5

The OnePlus 5 is rumoured to be coming with a dual rear camera, along with a ceramic or glass build. It has been claimed a fingerprint sensor will be placed within the screen on the front, but there have also been suggestions that the fingerprint sensor will sit within a capacitive button on the front, like the OnePlus 3T.

Based on the leaked images, the antenna lines featured on the OnePlus 3T will be removed for the OnePlus 5 and USB Type-C will be present at the bottom, flanked by speakers on either side. It is not currently clear if the headphone jack will remain intact.

There have yet to be any leaked measurements for the OnePlus 5, but the OnePlus 3T measures 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm and weighs 158g. It has an anodised aluminium build, available in three colours and it offers a single lens rear camera, USB Type-C and a headphone jack.

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

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Display

• OnePlus 5 could see a screen size reduction 
• Bump in resolution expected for OnePlus 5
• Both expected to be Optic AMOLED 

The OnePlus 5 is rumoured to be reducing its display size to 5.3-inches, though 5.5-inches has also been suggested for the new device. It has also been claimed the resolution would see a bump to Quad HD, which would put its pixel density at 554ppi or 534ppi, depending on the size.

We’d expect the panel to be Optic AMOLED like the OnePlus 3 and 3T rather than LCD like the OnePlus 2.

The OnePlus 3T features a 5.5-inch screen with a Full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 401ppi. The new device should therefore deliver crisper and sharper images than its predecessor, assuming the bump in resolution is true.

• OnePlus 3T review

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Camera

• Dual-camera reported for OnePlus 5
• 23MP and 16MP or 16MP and 16MP front and rear sensors rumoured
• OnePlus 3T has 16MP and 16MP sensors with f/2.0 aperture 

Leaked images all suggest there will be a dual-rear camera on the OnePlus 5 and there has been some discussion of a dual-front camera too.

The resolutions of the sensors are still up in the air, with some rumours claiming 23-megapixels on the rear and 16-megapixels on the front, while others have claimed 16-megapixels on both the front and rear.

The OnePlus 3T by comparison offers a 16-megapixel single rear sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, coupled with PDAF and OIS, both of which we’d expect on the new device. The front camera is also 16-megapixels with a f/2.0 aperture.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Hardware

• OnePlus 5 will have performance improvements
• RAM and storage could stay the same
• Battery capacity likely to increase for OnePlus 5

OnePlus has confirmed the OnePlus 5 will arrive with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, though it has yet to specify the RAM and storage configurations that will be available. 

Rumours have suggested 6GB or 8GB of RAM for the OnePlus 5, as well as 64GB or 128GB storage capacities, while the battery is rumoured to be 4000mAh. No doubt the company’s Dash Charge will also be on board for quick charging.

The OnePlus 3T features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage. This means the new device will offer a bump in performance, as you would expect, even if the RAM and storage remain the same. 

It’s also set to see a bump in battery as the OnePlus 3T has a 3400mAh capacity, which too supports Dash Charge.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Software 

• Both likely to run on OxygenOS
• OnePlus 5 may have a few additional features

The OnePlus 5 will no doubt launch on OxygenOS, a customised version of Android, like the OnePlus 3T runs on, meaning the software experience should be pretty similar between these two devices. 

The new handset is likely to offer a few new features that the OnePlus 3T may not get, even with an update, but overall we’re expecting the user experience to be very familiar.

OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 3T: Conclusion

As with any flagship successor, the OnePlus 5 is rumoured to offer several improvements over the OnePlus 3T, including camera, design, display and performance.

For now, only the upgrade in chipset has been confirmed but we will update this feature and our rumour round up as soon as any more leaks or official details are revealed.

Siri will soon control Belkin’s WeMo smart switches

WeMo, Belkin’s line of smart light switches and plugs, will soon be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit. Its products already give you a way to control the electronics in your home wherever you are, but HomeKit support means you’ll be able to ask Siri to do it for you. You can, for instance, tell virtual assistant to “dim the lights in the living room” or switch them on or off completely. That said, you’ll have to do more than update your software or download an app to get that feature. You’ll have to get WeMo’s upcoming HomeKit-enabled device called Bridge to be able to ask Siri on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch to control supported devices.

Belkin chief technology officer Brian Van Harlingen said in a statement:

“WeMo is offering this bridge to address the overwhelming request from customers to make currently installed Wemo products work with HomeKit and other HomeKit compatible products. We’re proud to work with Apple to bring together two of the most influential Smart Home platforms. The WeMo Bridge will allow current and future WeMo users to experience the benefits of HomeKit, including Siri integration and interoperability with other HomeKit devices while also leveraging all the WeMo features customers enjoy.”

The Bridge (pictured above) adds HomeKit integration into WeMo’s smart plugs and light switches by using your WiFi connection. You’ll have to connect it to your router with an Ethernet cable so it can do its job. While Belkin doesn’t have a price or a specific release date for it yet, it has at least revealed that the device will be available sometime this fall.

Source: WeMo

SpaceX begins test-firing parts of its biggest rocket

Sorry folks, things are about to get heavy, by which we mean that SpaceX has begun test-firing the boosters for the Falcon Heavy. The company posted a clip of the event from last week, showing a side booster being put through its paces. Elon Musk subsequently tweeted that, when the Falcon Heavy launches, it’ll be this powerful, but “times three.” The CEO aded that “one way or another, launch is guaranteed to be exciting.”

Static fire test of a Falcon Heavy side booster completed in McGregor, TX last week. This booster previously launched Thaicom 8. pic.twitter.com/nWrNCXtu13

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2017

The first Falcon Heavy launch is expected to take place at some point this summer, with its two boosters being re-used from previous flights. The one in the video, for instance, was previously used to send Taiwanese communications satellite Thaicom 8 to the heavens. The vehicle itself, meanwhile, will be an extraordinary piece of equipment, with SpaceX saying that it’ll be able to push 54 metric tons into space.

BBC Store to close because people prefer streaming

The BBC has confirmed it will close its digital download store less than 18 months after it launched following poor sales and tough competition from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video. The corporation has begun emailing customers about the closure, noting that it has already stopped making programmes available to buy before it completely shuts down on November 1st.

As customers will no longer be able to access the content they’ve paid for, the BBC has said it will offer full refunds on purchases made since November 2015. Alternatively, the BBC will provide Amazon Video vouchers that can be used to buy or rent digital downloads. They’ll be worth more than total purchase values on the BBC Store and can be used to buy BBC programmes (and any other content) listed on Amazon UK.

“Since the appetite for BBC shows on SVOD and other third party platforms is growing in the UK and abroad, it doesn’t make sense for us to invest further in BBC Store where demand has not been as strong as we’d hoped in a rapidly changing market,” a spokesperson said in a statement. It will continue to sell programmes via DVD and iTunes, but is keen to reduce costs as it prepares to offer free TV licenses to over-75s.

Even though the BBC will help customers find similar programming on Amazon, the Store offered over 7,000 hours of TV, which including shows that have never been available digitally before, like Dad’s Army and Morecambe & Wise. However, the corporation says it is working “to find new ways to make archive content available.”

If the rumours are true, BritBox — the BBC- and ITV-owned streaming service that launched in the US earlier this year — could be expanded to host more of the BBC’s back catalogue and eventually launch in the UK.

A major investment company is taking bitcoin very seriously

Many predicted that the world would soon lose interest in bitcoin. Yet, eight years after its inception, its surprisingly robust Blockchain tech and prominence on the darkweb has led to the cryptocurrency trading at an all time high. This success hasn’t gone unnoticed in the financial world, and now bitcoin is being integrated into one of America’s largest brokerage company — Fidelity Investments.

Later this year, Fidelity’s clients will be able to check their cryptocurrency balance straight from the company’s website, providing they store it on Coinbase — one of the leading bitcoin exchange sites. Despite the cryptocurrency being around for almost a decade, this very public bitcoin recognition makes Fidelity just one of a handful of big investment companies who have chosen to integrate it into their website.

The announcement came at a recent Blockchain conference, where Fidelity’s CEO Abigail Johnson discussed the difficulties that bitcoin raises for the financial world. While she admitted that many companies in the sector have given up on the cryptocurrency, she claimed that Fidelity is still “a believer”, revealing that even the company’s cafeteria accepts bitcoin.

Despite the currency’s success, its shady uses mean that many banks are still hesitant to adopt bitcoin. However, that ethical dilemma hasn’t stopped the financial industry in taking a more than a healthy interest in the tech that powers it — Blockchain. With its underlying tech potentially saving banks time and money on tracking transactions, it looks like bitcoin’s seemingly minimal impact may well be felt in the financial world for years to come.

Source: Reuters

New ‘Wemo Bridge’ Will Bring HomeKit Support to Belkin’s Wemo Line This Fall

Belkin today announced that its Wemo line of smart home devices will support HomeKit starting this fall with the launch of a new HomeKit-enabled Wemo Bridge.

The Wemo Bridge, which will connect to any home Wi-Fi router via an Ethernet cable, will allow current Wemo Smart Plugs and Light Switches to connect to a HomeKit setup. Wemo products will respond to Siri voice commands and will be able to interface with other HomeKit devices in Scenes when connected to the bridge.

“Wemo is offering this bridge to address the overwhelming request from customers to make currently installed Wemo products work with HomeKit and other HomeKit compatible products,” said Brian Van Harlingen, chief technology officer at Belkin International. “We’re proud to work with Apple to bring together two of the most influential Smart Home platforms. Wemo has been providing smart home devices for more than five years, and millions of people use Wemo devices every day. The Wemo Bridge will allow current and future Wemo users to experience the benefits of HomeKit, including Siri integration and interoperability with other HomeKit devices while also leveraging all the Wemo features customers enjoy.”

With the addition of HomeKit support, Wemo products will work with almost all connected home solutions on the market, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest Learning Thermostat (Home and Away modes), and IFTTT.

Bridge-compatible Wemo devices include the Dimmer, Mini Smart Plug, Insight Smart Plug, and Light Switch.

Belkin plans to debut the Wemo Bridge in the fall. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Tags: Belkin, WeMo
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Apple Maps Transit Directions Now Supported in the Netherlands

Apple Maps has been recently updated with public transit information for those living in and traveling to the Netherlands. Transit directions allow users to navigate the Netherlands thanks to integration with the Intercity direct train line, various bus routes, trams, and ferries.

Transit in the Netherlands includes up-to-date advisory information with the help of data accumulated from various local transportation companies including NS, Connexxion, and GVB (via iPhoned). With the data, Apple Maps can warn users about reduced service, or a complete service shutdown, and update their transit trip directions accordingly.

Apple first added in a small amount of transit data to various Dutch cities last week, including the appearance of train, tram, and metro stations for a few areas, but had yet to turn on live schedule information for public transport. Most recently, areas including Singapore and Adelaide, Australia have received transit updates in Apple Maps.

Transit directions first launched with iOS 9 back in 2015 with just a handful of cities supported, but now Apple has kept up a consistent pace with adding new areas all over the world. In total, more than 10 countries now include transit directions, as do most major United States cities like Boston, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. It appears the rollout in the Netherlands will be ongoing since the area has yet to appear on the supported transit list on Apple’s website.

Tags: Apple Maps, transit, The Netherlands
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New Qualcomm Court Filing Wants iPhone Suppliers to Pay Royalties Amid Battle With Apple

As the legal dispute between Apple and Qualcomm continues, Qualcomm this week has requested an injunction to force Apple’s iPhone manufacturers to keep paying royalties during the legal battle (via Axios). Last week, Qualcomm sued four of Apple’s suppliers — Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal — for “breaching their license agreements” by failing to pay royalties on the use of Qualcomm’s technology in the assembly of Apple’s devices.

Now, Qualcomm is trying to force the suppliers to continue to make royalty payments amid the legal scuffle with Apple. According to Qualcomm’s general counsel, Don Rosenberg, the company believes that “it is only fair and equitable” that the suppliers pay for Qualcomm’s licensed technology.

“We are confident that our contracts will be found valid and enforceable but in the interim it is only fair and equitable that our licensees pay for the property they are using,” Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement to Axios.

In April, Apple decided to stop making royalty payments to its manufacturers in relation to Qualcomm technology, and said it would continue doing so until the conflict was resolved. Now, in an amended section of its earlier lawsuit, Qualcomm claims Apple has promised to compensate its suppliers for any monetary loss potentially faced during the lawsuit.

According to Qualcomm, this is a tactic enacted by Apple “to make litigation unbearable” and to force a settlement, because Qualcomm claims that Apple knows it would not win if the case eventually made it to court.

By withholding billions of dollars in royalties so long as Qualcomm defends itself against Apple’s claims, Apple is hoping to make litigation unbearable for Qualcomm and, thereby, to extract through a forced settlement what it knows it cannot obtain through judicial process—a below-market direct license. Apple’s tactics are egregious.

The lawsuit began with an FTC complaint regarding Qualcomm’s anticompetitive patent licensing practices, for which Apple sued Qualcomm, accusing the company of charging unfair royalties for “technologies they have nothing to do with.” The argument died down for a few months until Apple ceased royalty payments to its suppliers in April, which particularly hurt Qualcomm because the company’s licensing deals are directly with iPhone suppliers and not Apple itself.

Tags: lawsuit, Qualcomm
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Nike’s new Apple Watch straps will match your cool new sneakers

Why it matters to you

Wearable tech continues to learn and grow with help from fashion brands, meaning we’re getting more products we’ll actually want to wear.

Nike understands we crave matching accessories and has launched four new straps for the Apple Watch. They join a wealth of other bands and straps available for the Apple Watch, but these are a little bit special, as each of which comes in the same colors as the Day to Night collection in its Air VaporMax Flyknit sneaker range. It’s the latest made-for-Apple product from Nike, a partnership which has reignited recently after the launch of a special Nike+ Apple Watch, and another standalone strap.

This time, Nike wants you wearing both its Watch strap, and a pair of brand new Nike shoes. The Day to Night collection is inspired by the colors of the sky, seen when running during early morning, day, evening, and night, translating into shoes in pink, aqua blue, powder blue, and dark blue.

You’ve got the shoes, and you want an Apple Watch strap to match, right? The four Apple Watch bands come in corresponding colors, and feature the same cool perforated, hole-punched look that defines the Nike+ version of the Apple Watch released late last year. While the original band was black with green accents, these are way more colorful; and are made from the same lightweight and sweat-resistant fluoroelastomer material. Wondering what this feels like? It’s the same thing Apple uses for its own Sport bands.

These new Nike Sport Bands will be sold through Nike’s own online store, plus some of its retail stores, and Apple’s retail and online stores from June 1. If you want one, they’ll cost $50 each, while if you want a pair of matching VaporMax Flyknit shoes to go with it — and let’s face it, that’s the whole point — they will also be released on June 1, for both men and women. The Day to Night collection’s release follows the general release of the VaporMax series back in March.