Apple’s cash reserves expected to reach a quarter of a trillion dollars

Why it matters to you

Apple has enough money in the bank to facilitate even the most outlandish research and development projects, but the avenues it will pursue remain to be seen.

On Tuesday, Apple will submit its earnings report for the second quarter of 2017, and the company is expected to announce that its cash reserves exceed $250 billion. This enormous amount of money serves as a very reassuring safety net, but it’s thought that the announcement may prompt calls for Apple to invest more of its available resources.

As of the time of writing, there’s no firm confirmation that this figure is accurate. However, given that the company reported cash reserves of $246.1 billion in December 2016, it certainly stands to reasons that another $4 billion could have been added to its coffers since then.

Apple may delay spending too much of its reserves to see whether or not President Donald Trump will follow through on campaign promises that would allow money being held overseas to be brought back to the United States at a reduced tax rate, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

Rumors often circulate about major acquisitions Apple could make by utilizing its considerable war chest. In late 2016, the company apparently considered buying Time Warner before it was eventually sold to Charter Communications, and there are persistent reports that it might make a play to purchase Netflix, in an attempt to bolster its entertainment portfolio.

Apple got into the habit of keeping healthy cash reserves under the leadership of Steve Jobs. During the 1990s, the company’s financial situation got into such dire straits that it took a $150 million investment from Microsoft to keep the ship afloat.

Today, Apple is obviously in a much more advantageous financial situation. However, its massive reserves will prompt big questions about whether the cash should be pumped into research and development, or returned to shareholders. With more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in the bank, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see the company investing heavily into what’s coming next.

Apple’s cash reserves expected to reach a quarter of a trillion dollars

Why it matters to you

Apple has enough money in the bank to facilitate even the most outlandish research and development projects, but the avenues it will pursue remain to be seen.

On Tuesday, Apple will submit its earnings report for the second quarter of 2017, and the company is expected to announce that its cash reserves exceed $250 billion. This enormous amount of money serves as a very reassuring safety net, but it’s thought that the announcement may prompt calls for Apple to invest more of its available resources.

As of the time of writing, there’s no firm confirmation that this figure is accurate. However, given that the company reported cash reserves of $246.1 billion in December 2016, it certainly stands to reasons that another $4 billion could have been added to its coffers since then.

Apple may delay spending too much of its reserves to see whether or not President Donald Trump will follow through on campaign promises that would allow money being held overseas to be brought back to the United States at a reduced tax rate, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

Rumors often circulate about major acquisitions Apple could make by utilizing its considerable war chest. In late 2016, the company apparently considered buying Time Warner before it was eventually sold to Charter Communications, and there are persistent reports that it might make a play to purchase Netflix, in an attempt to bolster its entertainment portfolio.

Apple got into the habit of keeping healthy cash reserves under the leadership of Steve Jobs. During the 1990s, the company’s financial situation got into such dire straits that it took a $150 million investment from Microsoft to keep the ship afloat.

Today, Apple is obviously in a much more advantageous financial situation. However, its massive reserves will prompt big questions about whether the cash should be pumped into research and development, or returned to shareholders. With more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in the bank, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see the company investing heavily into what’s coming next.

Samsung Z4 news and rumors

Why it matters to you

Samsung’s Z4 is the first to run Tizen 3.0, the latest version of Samsung’s proprietary operating system. Here’s everything we know.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 may be the high-end smartphone to beat, but it isn’t exactly affordable. Luckily, the Seoul, South Korea-based smartphone maker is offering more than a few affordable alternatives to its flagship phone, and one — the Samsung Z4 — runs the latest version of the company’s homegrown Tizen operating system.

Here’s everything we know about the Samsung Z4.

Software

If rumors are to be believed, the Samsung Z4 will be the first phone to run Tizen 3.0.

Tizen, for the uninitiated, is Samsung’s open-source alternative to Android. It powers tens of million of the company’s smart TVs and Samsung Gear smartwatches.

The bulk of Tizen 3.0’s new features focus on performance. According early developer notes, the update packs Khornos’ Vulkan graphics API, which minimizes overhead and reduces CPU load, and the speedy open-source web runtime Crosswalk. There’s support for 64-bit Intel and ARM CPUs, too, which Samsung says should boost CPU-intensive apps like video editors and games.

That’s not all that’s new in Tizen 3.0. It supports multiple users on a single device, and voice commands via S Voice. And new recognition APIs support facial detection and image recognition.

Samsung’s also improved Tizen’s security features. Tizen 3.0 introduces a “new security model” that simplifies “policy management,” and an “anti-virus framework” and “privacy guard” that aim to ensure rogue applications don’t gain access to personal information.

That’s encouraging news in light of an April report that painted an unflattering picture of the operating system’s flaws. According to Motherboard, Tizen contains as many as 40 unknown bugs, or zero-days, that could allow a cyber criminal to hack devices without needing to physically access them. One vulnerability involving TizenStore, Tizen’s app store, could let a hacker pack malicious code in a software update.

In response to the report, Samsung said it was working on addressing the exploits. And based on what we’ve seen of Tizen 3.0, that certainly seems to be the case.

Specs

The Samsung Z4 won’t blow anyone away with its specifications. But for a budget phone bound for developing markets, they’re par for the course.

The Z4 reportedly packs a 5-inch HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) Super AMOLED screen powered by a quad-core 1.3 GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. There’s 8GB of onboard storage inside (expandable via MicroSD slot), and accouterments like Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, a 3.5mm audio jack, GPS, and a MicroUSB 2.0 slot.

An 8 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera handle picture-taking duties, and a 2,050mAh battery supplies a full day of power.

Release date and price

Samsung has yet to announce pricing or availability for the Z4, but it likely won’t be expensive. The Samsung Z3, its predecessor, retails for the equivalent of $87 (5,590 rupees).

And likely won’t come to the U.S., either. Samsung currently sells Tizen smartphones in India, Russia, China, and other select markets.

Still, there’s a chance the Z4 will be different. We’ll keep our eyes peeled.

Cricket Wireless and GoPhone add new Samsung phones to their portfolios

Why it matters to you

If you’re in the market for a Samsung phone, you could do worse than to buy through Cricket Wireless and GoPhone.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the best phones we’ve reviewed this year, but let’s face it: It’s expensive. Some people really don’t need any more than something cheap and reliable to get them through the day, and that’s why AT&T sub-brands Cricket Wireless and GoPhone are giving them choices.

On Friday, Cricket Wireless added the Galaxy S8 and Samsung’s Galaxy Amp Prime 2 to its lineup, and GoPhone added the Galaxy Express 3.

The Galaxy S8 practically needs no introduction. It has a crisp, 6.2-inch Super AMOLED (2,960 x 1,440 pixels) curved edge-to-edge screen, Qualcomm’s bleeding-edge Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a USB Type-C connector. Rounding out the internals is a 3,500mAh battery with support for high-speed charging; a dedicated button for Samsung’s Bixby, an AI-powered virtual assistant; Bluetooth 5 with support for simultaneous music streaming; and sensors like a fingerprint reader and iris scanner.

Samsung Galaxy S8.

The Galaxy S8 starts at $700 on Cricket Wireless.

The Galaxy Amp Prime 2 sits at the opposite end of the hardware spectrum. It packs 4.5-inch Super AMOLED (800 x 480 pixels) screen powered by Samsung’s quad-core Exynos 3 chip and 1GB of RAM. There’s 8GB of storage onboard (expandable via MicroSD card), two cameras (a 5MP rear and 2MP front), and a 2,050mAh battery and touch-sensitive control keys.

The Amp Prime 2 is $150 on Cricket Wireless.

If neither of those suite your fancy, there’s a third option: The Galaxy Express 3. It features a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED (800 x 480 pixels) screen and a Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon 400 processor. There’s 1GB of RAM and a removable 2,000mAh battery in tow, 8GB of internal storage, and two cameras: A 5MP rear-facing model and 2MP selfie cam. Otherwise, you’ll find a pretty standard array of accouterments, including GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a MicroUSB connector.

Samsung Amp Prime 2.

It’s free for GoPhone customers until June 22.

It’s not a bad time to hop on AT&T’s prepaid bandwagon. In March, GoPhone bumped its highest data allotment to 6GB (for $40 a month) and introduced and unlimited plan for $60 a month. And earlier this year, Cricket raised allotments for several of its plans: 3GB for $40 per month, 8GB for $50, and 12GB for $60.

It’s worth noting, of course, that both carriers impose restrictions that others don’t. GoPro caps unlimited plans at 3Mbps and video streaming to 1.5Mbps. Cricket, meanwhile, limits LTE and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) speeds to 8Mbps and 4Mbps, respectively.

Amazon is shutting down Underground app store, ‘Actually Free’ promotions

Why it matters to you

Amazon’s Actually Free program was unique among app stores, and unfortunately users will have to find another place to get apps at a reduced cost.

Amazon’s App Store has long been a destination for savvy Android users to find popular apps for free or at a reduced cost compared to Google’s Play Store. In its early days, Amazon’s marketplace would offer up a different free app every day. In 2015, the company discontinued that promotion, but in its place launched Amazon Underground — a separate app where developers could give away their software, and Amazon would reimburse them depending on the amount of time people spent using it.

Some of these apps were even listed as “actually free,” meaning everything from the initial download cost to in-app purchases was slashed — something you don’t often see in Google’s or Apple’s mobile storefront. Unfortunately, however, it appears Underground’s days are numbered. On Monday, the company announced plans to shutter the program.

If you’re a developer, May 31 will be the last day to submit your app or game to Underground. Amazon says that Underground will stay around exclusively for these apps until 2019, meaning you’ll still be able to snag them for free, updates will continue, and developers will keep receiving reimbursements for quite some time. However, new apps will stop appearing on the service after this month — so although Underground won’t completely end for another year and a half, it could lose its appeal much sooner than that.

If you’ve been accessing Underground via the regular Amazon App Store, that will no longer be possible after this summer. You’ll have to download the dedicated Underground app.

The loss of Underground is a significant blow to Amazon’s store, which doesn’t offer the breadth of content of Google’s platform and also needs to be sideloaded on devices other than the company’s own Fire tablets. Without it, there isn’t much to entice shoppers, and Amazon hasn’t mentioned any new program to take its place.

Thankfully, if you’re on the hunt for a new third-party storefront to get your apps for a reduced cost, Android has several alternatives, like GetJar and Slide Me. These may not offer the polish of Google’s or Amazon’s offerings, but they have their own perks — like higher developer revenues, in the case of Slide Me. You can read about our favorite alternative Android shopping destinations here.

Latest ZTE Axon 7 update brings a blue light filter, support for 256GB microSD cards

ZTE continues to improve the Axon 7’s functionality.

ZTE is rolling out an update to the Axon 7 that introduces several new features. Build B25 offers a Night Mode setting that acts as a blue light filter to prevent eye strain while viewing the screen at night. The latest build also includes fixes for Wi-Fi calling, as well as performance improvements, stability fixes, and support for 256GB microSD cards.

Here’s the official changelog:

• Enables “Night Mode” setting
• Supports 256GB microSD cards
• Allows users to disable some stock apps
• Optimizes the “Do Not Disturb” function
• Fixes various Wi-Fi Calling issues
• Improves device stability and security
• Miscellaneous performance improvements and other fixes

ZTE recommends that you remove the SD card before installing the update. The OTA is rolling out now, and should be available to all users in the next 48 hours. The build doesn’t increment the Android version number — it’s still at Android 7.1.1 Nougat — but with ZTE’s release cadence, the Android 7.1.2 update shouldn’t be too far away now.

Already installed the update? How are you liking the changes?

Galaxy S8 and S8+ update to fix red tint issue is now rolling out in India and Europe

Samsung’s OTA update to fix the Galaxy S8 red tint is now live in two markets.

Samsung is now rolling out an OTA update that fixes the red tint issue on the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The update kicked off in Korea last week, and is now available for Indian and European units. The fix is going out to S8 and S8+ units in the UK, Germany, and Turkey, and should be rolling out to additional countries in the region shortly.

The phone itself isn’t going on sale until May 5 in India, but Samsung is kicking off deliveries a few days earlier for customers that have pre-ordered the device. With over 80,000 bookings, Samsung is seeing a lot of interest in its flagships from the subcontinent.

The update comes in at 426.7MB, and alongside the display calibration to fix the reddish tint noticed by a few customers using the S8 and S8+, it includes the usual stability and bug fixes.

Update: Added details for the OTA rollout in European markets.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

Aukey’s multiport USB-C hub is a great desktop dock for your Chromebook

Connect all your stuff and charge your Chromebook with this handy hub.

I am finding this Aukey USB-C hub is a really great gadget for my Acer Chromebook 14. Not because it adds any specific ports or does a thing I can’t do with my Chromebook another way, but because it’s an all-in-one solution that turns my Chromebook into a desktop machine.

Once set up you plug in one cable and have it all.

Chromebooks are designed to be a portable way to get to the internet. But as anyone with a Chromebox will tell you, they can make for a fine desktop machine. The biggest drawback, at least for me, is plugging everything in when I’m at my desk because I can just pop it open and use it instead. It’s totally worth it when you connect to a nice monitor or your favorite keyboard and mouse. But sometimes, lazy just wins.

Not anymore. Now I just connect one USB-C cable and have access to my monitor, an Ethernet connection, my keyboard and mouse and any backup drives I might want to use. And I can charge my Chromebook at the same time!

See at Amazon

What you get when you connect the multiport USB-C hub to your Chromebook (or MacBook)

• 4K 30Hz HDMI out or 1080p over VGA
• An RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port
• Two USB 3.0 ports (USB-A legacy)
• USB-C port with Power Delivery

There’s no mystery or magic at play here. Laptop users have been using small docking solutions when they want to have a more traditional sit-down experience since forever. And your Chromebook is a laptop when all is said and done. It’s a convenient and relatively cheap way to use the same computer all the time. Simply connect your peripherals to the hub, supply power to the USB-C port if you want to, and when you connect to your Chromebook everything just works. I’ve been using it with an HDMI cable, and Ethernet connection and a Logitech unifying receiver for my mouse and keyboard and think it’s one of the best little gadgets I’ve used in a long time.

This is why we love USB-C.

The USB-C Power Delivery feature really puts its usefulness over the edge. The Hub includes one USB-C port that you can use to connect a USB-C peripheral, like a thumb drive. Because of the way USB-C PD works, you can also plug a compatible charger into the port and provide power for the other USB ports as well as the Chromebook it’s attached to. This is great if you only have one port, and a reason why the entire industry is moving to USB-C.

Best of all, it’s still a small USB-C hub. It will fit into your bag or briefcase and you can carry it with you if you’ll need this sort of connectivity outside of your house or office. I can see this being pretty useful for anyone giving a presentation, as power, a projector, and a wireless pointer can all be attached with no worries. You do need a Chromebook (or any laptop) with a proper USB-C port but most any laptop you buy now will have that covered.

Android compatibility

A lot of us will instantly wonder how this works with an Android phone. The answer is “it depends”.

A phone with a proper USB-C connector sees the hub and provides power via USB to it. Things like mice, keyboards, thumb drives and other “dumb” devices work with no problems. The good stuff that you might want for your phone are a little different.

You need to have a phone with USB-C and video out through USB support for it to even have a chance to mirror your display. I haven’t found one that does the trick yet, but there is still a long list of phones to try. For now, I’ll say it doesn;t work and you shouldn’t buy it with that in mind.

Ethernet is the same story. You need to have a phone with support for ethernet over USB (most Androids have this) and has driver support for the Realtek 8152 chipset. Some phones will have this while others won’t. I’ve found phones with support for one of the requirements, but not run across one that can handle network over USB-C and has the Realtek chip support. Don’t buy this for Ethernet for your phone. Aukey does provide the driver files needed, but installing them requires you build them from source and install them as kernel modules, which means rooted phones and a lot of knowledge is needed.

Should you buy it?

If you have a newer Chromebook like my Acer Chromebook 14 or a MacBook, heck yes. It’s not super cheap at $85 but it’s solid (made from a chunk of aluminum!) and will last as long as your laptop does. The same goes for any Windows laptop where ports are at a premium or you just want a “docking station” solution. It’s one of those products that I would spend my own money on after trying it because I find it so useful.

This is awesome for a Chromebook, not so much for a phone.

If you’re just looking for a way to connect a mouse or have Ethernet on your phone, there are cheaper solutions that were designed for just that. Something like this one for $30 that works just fine with the Pixel phones and the Pixel C will do the trick.

Always pick the right tool for the job, and if you want a simple all-in-one connectivity solution for your laptop, the Aukey multiport USB-C hub is a great tool.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Grab the Cisco complete network certification bundle for $49

Getting ready for a career change, or ready to take your current one to the next level? If so, you’ve got some studying ahead, lots of prep work, and maybe even a large cost associated with the choice.

Pay less for a limited time Learn More

You don’t have to spend a fortune in order to get ready for the next step in your career, especially with this Cisco complete network certification training which is currently 98% off! From learning at your own pace, to a mix of instructor-led videos and self-assessment tools, there are ways for everyone to learn this information and succeed.

• Take all the training modules required to sit for 11 different certification exams
• Learn from a mix of instructor-led videos & self-assessment tools
• Learn at your own pace w/ course access for an entire year
• Access training materials for both CCNA & CCNP qualifications
• Build your technical skills for corporate networks
• Learn the fundamentals of IP networking protocols
• Understand how to improve network traffic flow & throughput via interconnecting devices and configuration
• Learn to apply Cisco best practices to real-world scenarios
• Improve your technical skills
• Become a higher-value employee or job candidate once you’re certified

Don’t miss out on this 98% savings! Learn More

Priced at just $79 you are getting way more than you are actually paying for. Normally this certification training would set you back over $7,000, which is a much higher price tag to pay for it. This massive bundle gives you training to ace eleven Cisco certification exams, from interconnecting network devices to securing entire networks. By course’s end, you’ll be ready to dive headfirst into a lucrative new career.

Don’t miss out on this sweet deal, your future self will thank you!

Meet the BlackBerry KEYone this month at CrackBerry Meetups across Canada!

The CrackBerry Meetup Tour is coming back, and it’s starting in Canada this month!

This isn’t an Android thing — at least not directly — but our friends over at CrackBerry will be touring parts of Canada to meet up with BlackBerry fans who want to try the KEYone prior to its release on May 31.

The meetups will take place in Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal (they already did Toronto!) throughout the month, and, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’d love it if you registered!

RSVP for KEYone!

Calgary – Friday, May 5th

Vancouver – Saturday, May 6th

Ottawa – Saturday, May 13th

Montreal – Monday, May 15th

Every attendee gets entered for a chance to win a KEYone, so make sure you go if you’re around!

Sign up for future CrackBerry meetups

If you haven’t yet, be sure to visit our global CrackBerry Meetup Groups page, where you can sign up for your city. If an official CrackBerry Meetup is coming your way, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Register for a CrackBerry Meetup Group In Your City

Visit the CrackBerry Meetup Groups Forum

BlackBerry KEYone

• BlackBerry KEYone hands-on
• BlackBerry KEYone specs
• The latest KEYone news
• KEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry keyboards
• Join the discussion in the forums

BlackBerry Mobile