Apple Shares First Ads For New iPad Pro

Apple today shared the first two ads for the new iPad Pro, including the all-new 10.5-inch model just announced, on its YouTube channel.

The 15-second spots are the latest in Apple’s ongoing ad campaign that reads out actual Twitter complaints and then promotes the iPad Pro as a solution.

In “a whole new kind of computer,” Apple recommends the person purchase a new iPad Pro, which will allow them to quickly forget about their broken computer.

In “so many things to love,” Apple quips that the person who tweeted “I hate everything” is going to “hate” the new iPad Pro because they can do “pretty much everything” with it, like type, take notes, and multitask.

The new iPad Pro is available to order today in 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch sizes starting at $649 and $799 respectively in the United States.

Tag: Apple ads
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Apple Releases First Beta of New WatchOS 4 Operating System to Developers

Apple today announced new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS at the keynote event of its Worldwide Developers Conference, and is now providing betas to developers for testing purposes. watchOS 4, the latest version of the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch, is now available for download.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual, new Disney-themed Toy Story watch faces starring Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie, and a Kaleidoscope watch face designed to turn static images into “mesmerizing patterns.”

There are new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app. GymKit, a new technology platform, will allow the Apple Watch to interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and Activity app will offer up intelligent coating and tailored encouragement, plus new monthly activity challenges.

A redesigned Music app syncs automatically with the Apple Music new Music Mix, and there are auto-sets for for swim workouts. There’s also a new High Intensity Internal Training workout option, and the Apple Watch supports the new person-to-person Apple Pay feature.

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Provides First Beta of tvOS 11 to Developers

Following today’s WWDC keynote event that saw the debut of iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, and watchOS 4, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new tvOS 11 operating system for the Apple TV to developers for testing purposes.

Registered developers can download tvOS 11 by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C cable and installing the beta software using iTunes.

tvOS 11 saw little screen time at today’s event, and in fact, it wasn’t even officially announced on stage. The new operating system was largely glossed over, with the exception of an announcement for an upcoming Amazon Prime Video app.

According to Apple’s release notes, tvOS 11 brings automatic light/dark appearance switching, Home screen syncing potions, new background modes and notification support, Focus API improvements, custom sound support, network-based pairing and development support, and improvements to Mobile Device Management.

tvOS 11 is only available for registered developers due to the installation requirements for tvOS betas. For that reason, non-developers will need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to give it a try.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Debuts New Summer Apple Watch Bands, Including Rainbow Pride Woven Nylon Band

Alongside a new version of the watchOS operating system for the Apple Watch, Apple today quietly debuted a selection of Apple Watch bands in new summer colors.

Apple Watch Sport Bands are available in Mist Blue, Pollen, and Flamingo for both the 38 and 42mm Apple Watch. As with all sport bands, the new bands are priced at $49. The only new leather band is a yellow Sunflower Classic Buckle, priced at $149.

The new Nike Sport Band options that match the Nike Air VaporMax Flyknight Day to Night shoe collection are also available. The bands are priced at $49 each and come in Light Violet/White, Violet Dust/Plum Fog, Blue Orbit/Gamma Blue, and Obsidian/Black.

The final watch band that’s new today is a Pride Edition Woven Nylon band that features a rainbow stripe. Priced at $49, the band is available for both 38 and 42mm Apple Watch models. The Pride band was originally given out to employees during last year’s Pride parade in San Francisco.

All of the new bands are available for purchase today with the first shipments arriving later this week.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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AppleCare+ Now Available For Mac With Accidental Damage Coverage

Apple today introduced AppleCare+ for Mac, an extended warranty plan that provides accidental damage coverage for a service fee.

AppleCare+ extends a Mac’s warranty coverage to three years from its original purchase date, and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage. Prices are based in U.S. dollars and vary elsewhere.

AppleCare+ for Mac also includes 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone. It replaces the AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac, which was essentially the same as AppleCare+, but didn’t include accidental damage coverage like Apple has long offered for devices like the iPhone and iPad.

AppleCare+ for Mac is available for the 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini for between $99 and $379. The service fees are additional in the event of accidental damage. Prices are between equal and $30 higher than the old AppleCare Protection Plan sans accidental damage coverage.

AppleCare+ can be purchased alongside a new Mac, or customers can buy it online or in store within 60 days of purchasing a Mac.

Related Roundups: iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
Tag: AppleCare
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), Mac Pro (Caution), Mac Mini (Don’t Buy), MacBook Air (Don’t Buy), MacBook Pro (Caution)
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Apple Releases macOS Sierra 10.12.5 for 2017 iMacs and Touch Bar Update for 2017 MacBook Pro

Some new iMac and MacBook Pro models will need upgrades right out of the box, with Apple today releasing a version of macOS Sierra 10.12.5 that’s specific to the new iMacs and a Touch Bar update for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

macOS Sierra 10.12.5 for 2017 iMacs is identical to the version of macOS 10.12.5 that was released on May 15, with the following bug fixes:

– Fixes an issue where audio may stutter when played through USB headphones
– Improves reliability when connecting an external display or waking it from sleep
– Enhances compatibility of the Mac App Store with future software updates
– Adds support for media-free installation of Windows 10 Creators Update using Boot Camp

The Touch Bar update will need to be installed on all 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro machines that feature a Touch Bar. According to Apple’s release notes, the update resolves issues with system stability and graphics corruption on the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Apple’s new 2017 iMac and MacBook Pro machines are available for purchase starting today. They feature upgraded Kaby Lake processors, improved GPUs, and faster SSDs.

Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), MacBook Pro (Caution)
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Amazon’s ‘Ice’ smartphone may eschew Alexa for the Google Assistant

Why it matters to you

Alexa’s second attempt at smartphones will reportedly be far different — and more affordable — than its first.

To say Amazon’s 2014 foray in smartphones was underwhelming is an understatement. The sprawling Seattle-based retailer was forced to cancel production of its Fire Phone, which used an innovative eye-tracking system to produce three-dimensional software effects, after it sold a mere 35,000 units. But the company is not giving up.

Amazon is reportedly working on a new smartphone, code-named “Ice,” that runs Google’s Android mobile operating system. It will ship with Google’s voice-enabled Google Assistant instead of Amazon’s Alexa, and retail at or below $200.

Here is everything you need to know.

Specs

Amazon’s affordable Ice — unlike its high-end, top-of-the-line Fire phone — is aimed at developing markets like China and India.

The Ice handset has a screen between 5.2 and 5.5 inches in size, and reportedly packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor (the same as ZTE’s Max XL) paired with 2GB of RAM. It is said to ship with 16GB of storage and Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and capture photos at a maximum resolution of 13 megapixels.

Interestingly, Amazon’s Ice might not support Alexa, the retailer’s artificially intelligent voice assistant. Instead, it will ship with the full range of Google services and apps, including the Play Store and Google’s eponymous Assistant, the digital helper that handles voice commands on Google Home and Android devices that support it.

It is an approach that would seem to run counter to Amazon’s current strategy: Partnering with phonemakers to integrate Alexa into existing devices. Huawei’s flagship P10 is the first with an Alexa app that responds to the same voice commands as the Echo line of home speakers. And separately, Motorola is said to be working closely with Amazon on an Alexa-enabled charging dock that works with the company’s Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play phone series.

Things could change, of course. A person who’s “seen and used” Amazon’s Ice smartphone told Gadgets 360 that the software build had not been finalized, and that “Alexa could make it to the device by the time of launch.”

Localization could be a factor. Amazon’s Ice phone will reportedly launch in India first, a country where Amazon does not currently sell is its Echo speakers. Recent job listings by the company suggest it’s working on bringing Alexa-powered devices to the subcontinent, but plans have yet to materialize.

Name and release date

Just when Amazon will launch its Ice phone is a mystery. But according to Gadgets 360, it might not be long.

The Ice phone will reportedly retail for $93 when it launches “later this year.” It will go on sale first in India, where Amazon has committed more than $5 billion in the form of expanded server infrastructure, a new software engineering and development center, 21 fulfillment centers, and a partnership with India Post.

It’s unclear whether Amazon’s Ice phone will be made available unlocked via Amazon’s website, or in partnership with India’s local cellphone carriers. Some analysts point to the Fire Phone’s AT&T exclusivity as a factor that contributed to its demise — a mistake Amazon is no doubt eager to avoid repeating.

Password-free tethered internet may soon head to Google Chromebooks

Why it matters to you

Keeping your laptop connected to the internet should be a lot more seamless when Google enables this feature.

The latest Chrome OS Canary build has a new feature in it called “Instant Tethering,” which makes it possible to automatically tether the laptop to your phone in the absence of an internet connection, without prompting. The feature doesn’t work properly just yet, according to reports, but it is present in the new build, suggesting that it’s something that could show up on Chromebooks in the near future.

Instant tethering is something that Google rolled out to certain Android devices earlier this year and it means that various devices connected to your Google account can automatically link up for sharing internet access and information like battery life. With preapproval, the system doesn’t require a password or any authentication, making the process far simpler.

It now seems like Google is keen to see that feature adopted by a wider variety of hardware.

You can now enable instant tethering if you have the latest Canary Build of Chrome OS for Chromebooks, as ChromeStory does. However, enabling it isn’t easy. You have to put “chrome://flags/” in the location bar, search for the instant tethering flag, enable it and finally, reboot the system. At that point, you’ll find a toggleable option alongside Wi-Fi and other network options.

ChromeStory

Unfortunately, even if you jump through all of those hoops the tethering is not yet ready for prime time. It does however, suggest that it is something Google is working on and we could see pushed out to all Chromebooks in some future release.

Indeed, instant tethering is a feature that makes much more sense for a laptop than it does for a fellow Android smartphone or tablet, which would likely have 4G or similar access themselves. As Liliputing points out, it may be worth keeping an eye on the Google support page for the feature, to see as and when it adds Chromebooks to the list. When it does, we can expect the feature to begin working as intended.

Apple tests giving third-party shops access to iPhone repair machines

Why it matters to you

Apple may finally be considering letting repair shops fix your iPhones entirely on site, which will give you expanded options the next time your smartphone takes an unfortunate fall.

Apple has launched a pilot program under which it will provide certain companies access to the highly specialized calibration machine used to repair iPhones. The news was announced by ComputerCare, one of the three companies included in the initiative.

According to ComputerCare, use of the machine would allows a third-part company to conduct iPhone repairs entirely on site. In the past, it was necessary to send repaired devices back to Apple for final testing. The calibration process reportedly only takes 15 minutes, but is deemed necessary by Apple to ensure the product’s touchscreen functionality still meets the manufacturer’s standards.

As a result, ComputerCare states access to the proprietary machine should “dramatically reduce turnaround times” for its customers, while offering the same level of service they’d expect from Apple’s own technicians.

This initiative follows months of lobbying by the iPhone maker against “right to repair” bills proposed by lawmakers in 12 states — the most recent being New Jersey. The legislation varies from state to state, but the basic premise is that tech firms must provide customers and third-party repair shops with access to manuals and parts sufficient to permit repair by those third-party shops, should they request them.

Motherboard

While the launch of this pilot program may make it appear as though Apple has buckled somewhat in the fight against right to repair, the company has recently stepped up its efforts in New York, alongside other firms like Verizon, Toyota, and electronics insurer Asurion.

At best, ComputerCare’s announcement means Apple is considering, to some degree, opening up the means to fix and maintain its devices. Motherboard published a photo of the rarely seen machine back in March, and said the equipment is particularly important because it’s required to pair new Touch ID fingerprint scanners with existing iPhones.

Apple reportedly began using the contraption with the release of the iPhone 5S back in 2013 — though ComputerCare says the machines they will receive support every model in the range from the 6S onward.

Pix2Pix AI drawing dives head first into the uncanny valley

Why it matters to you

Machine learning is coming on apace, partly thanks to efforts to have the machines teach themselves how to get better.

As hyper-efficient as machines are rapidly becoming, they aren’t quite up to snuff when it comes to creativity, even if they can be somewhat artistic if given a little prodding. When that mechanical talent is combined with a little human creativity, in some cases the result can be digital monsters. Just take a look at some of the outputs from the Pix2Pix Project algorithm.

As horrifying as these creations are though, what’s impressive about Pix2Pix is that it is using a generative adversarial network (GAN). GAN is a method of training an AI about how to build toward a solution to a problem by judging the accuracy of the end product and then iterating upon it several times. That’s why with just a simple sketch, Pix2Pix is able to generate images that are at least relatively realistic.

While GANs can be used with massive datasets, in this case, it’s using a comparatively small amount of data to make educated guesses about what the doodles are of. As Motherboard explains, it maps the input image and uses machine learning to interpret it into a more ‘fleshed-out’ picture.

guy #3 looking goodhttps://t.co/vokmv0AxJb#pix2pix pic.twitter.com/eDG8hSPvhL

— tlr @ EarwormAud.io (@_tlr_) June 3, 2017

It’s not just images of faces that the Pix2Pix tool can handle, either. Previously fans of the service have made line drawings of cats, and Pix2Pix in response rendered relatively realistic felines in response. Others have played around with having the tool interpret drawings from a film — the results weren’t half bad.

Unfortunately, Pix2Pix’s server is rather popular right now, so you’ll need to be persistent if you want to take a stab at submitting any of your own drawings to Pix2Pix so that it can render its horrifying machine-inspired takes on them. If you do spend a bit of time crafting a potential masterpiece though, hammer away at the process button for a while and eventually it will slip into the queue.

The really interesting takeaway from this isn’t that machines can have a very twisted view of what a human being should look like, but that GANs can be highly useful for machine learning. We still have lots to teach them, but teaching machines how to judge things for themselves could be the key to making them far, far smarter in the future.