Former Apple Executives Recall Designing Touchscreen Interface of Original iPhone

As we near the ten-year anniversary of the iPhone later this week, a few stories posted online have delved into the rich history of where the device started, how the original team came up with the idea for the touchscreen smartphone, and what it was like reviewing the device back in 2007.

In a new video shared by The Wall Street Journal today, three former Apple executives — Scott Forstall, Tony Fadell and Greg Christie — have taken a look back at the first days of designing the iPhone with Steve Jobs. Apple’s former senior vice president of the iPod division, Tony Fadell, recounted a time when Jobs showed him the company’s first demo for what would become the iPhone’s touch-based operating system.

Image via WSJ
Jobs and the rest of the team were seeking a more elegant solution to a smartphone interface than the one they began with, which was an iPod click wheel interface, when Jobs invited Fadell into a demo room.

“Steve goes, “Come over here I need to show you something.” So he walked me into the room…and it was basically like a ping pong table sized demo with a projector that was projecting a Mac interface on it. And you could use your whole hand and you could touch different things on it, like it was a big big Mac.

It was literally a ping pong sized multi-touch display. And he goes, “I think this is gonna solve our problem.”

Former Apple vice president of iOS, Scott Forstall, recalled a specific time in 2005 when the iPhone team was put on a deadline of two weeks to come up with a better design for the smartphone’s user interface. Jobs was not satisfied at the time with early iterations of the iPhone’s look, and told Forstall and the team that he’d give the project to another group at the company if they failed to deliver.

Greg Christie, former Apple vice president of human interface, said that the team’s design ultimately satisfied Jobs, and led to even more work over the next two years before the iPhone’s launch in 2007.

“The first time he saw it he was completely silent, he didn’t say a thing. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t gesture, he didn’t ask a question. Then he sat back and he said, “Show it to me again.” And so we go through the whole thing again and Steve was pretty much blown away by the whole demonstration. It was great work.

Our reward for doing a great job on that demonstration was to, you know, kill ourselves over the next two and a half years.”

In 2006, Forstall froze development across the iPhone’s user interface divisions to force the team to focus on one troublesome part of the smartphone’s UI: the keyboard. At the time, Forstall said it was difficult to use and that if someone tried to type out an e-mail, they’d just “give up.”

Forstall explained that one of the best keyboards pitched by a developer had a few clever advantages over all the others designed by the team. Namely, it could intelligently predict words, so if a user would type “T,” the keyboard would make the hit region for “H” larger — while the actual key remained the same size — so that common words such as “the” were easier to type.

The full ten-minute video created by The Wall Street Journal, which is called “How The iPhone Was Born: Inside Stories of Missteps and Triumphs,” is well worth checking out. Other topics discussed by Forstall, Fadell, and Christie include the creation of the iPhone’s visual vocabulary (like pinch to zoom and rubber banding to mark the end of a scrollable page), as well as the company’s Fight Club secrecy tactics for “The Purple Project,” the code name for the original iPhone’s creation.

Tags: Tony Fadell, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie
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Pearl Automation Shuts Down After Poor Sales of Its $500 Vehicle Backup Camera

Pearl Automation, the vehicle accessory company founded by ex-Apple engineers and which debuted its $500 “RearVision” wireless backup camera system just one year ago, has shut down following poor sales of the device, reports Axios.

What happened: Early product sales disappointed, which was exacerbated by a high burn rate.

What next? The Pearl Automation team received several “acqui-hire” offers, but opted instead to shut down and part ways, according to a source close to the situation.

RearVision, which went on sale last September, was a license plate frame with dual HD cameras, solar power, and Bluetooth to wirelessly connect to an OBD port hub and an iPhone or Android phone. While it was a slick and easy to install system, the $500 price tag undoubtedly contributed to its downfall.

Pearl appears to have had larger ambitions related to autonomous driving technology and driver safety, but with its initial project suffering from poor sales, the company lacked the resources to push forward on its follow-up products.

Tags: Pearl, RearVision
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Report: Facebook to pay Hollywood millions for original shows

Facebook is very serious about its original programming ambitions — $3 million per episode serious. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the tech giant is courting Hollywood agencies for original scripted TV shows, in some cases offering up to $3 million per episode. It’s also keen on procuring less-expensive productions that would cost hundreds of thousands each episode to make. The Journal’s sources said that Facebook has set late summer as a tentative launch window, and that it hopes to reach audiences aged 13-34.

In particular, the company is reportedly focusing on those aged between 17 and 30, and is therefore looking for shows like ABC’s Pretty Little Liars, Scandal or The Bachelor. We’re already expecting about two dozen titles from the social network when it launches its programming lineup, including reality show Last State Standing.

We’ve yet to hear back from Facebook on this, and the company has kept mum about previous rumors. The Journal’s report falls in line with everything we’ve heard so far on the social network’s push into original content, though. Last year, Facebook offered media companies millions of dollars to stream live content on its website.

The focus on high-end content could help Facebook better take on its rivals like Snapchat and, to a lesser extent, Twitter. Snapchat already has a large stable of original content coming from major names in entertainment, including Disney, MTV, MGM, Time Warner and A&E. But Snapchat shows are of a different format — each episode lasts between 3 and 5 minutes long.

It’s not yet clear if Facebook plans to have similarly short clips just yet, but the Journal’s report indicates it is considering a variety of runtimes from ten minutes to thirty minutes. If these latest rumors are true, we could be looking at a greater diversity of shows coming to our Facebook feeds very soon.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Protect your modular midranger with one of the best Moto Z2 Play cases

Motorola’s new Moto Z2 Play is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and comes with a better camera to boot. It supports all the existing Moto Mods, meaning it has the same connector at the bottom of the back plate. Since it also has a large, protruding camera module, it’s a good idea to get some protective clothing on there before an accident occurs. It can be difficult to pick a good case, however, so here are our picks for the best Moto Z2 Play cases to safeguard your modular device when it arrives.

Case Mate Waterfall Case ($40)

You will capture plenty of attention if you wrap your Moto Z2 Play in this gleaming, glitter-filled case. As you turn your case or shake it, the shiny flakes inside move around in the “mineral oil” housed inside. You’ll also find accurate openings for your phone’s camera, microphone, and ports. The volume and power buttons even have metallic covers to match the case’s glittery aesthetic. This is also one of the toughest Moto Z2 Play cases on our list, one that offers solid drop protection.

Buy one now from:

Case Mate

Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case ($10)

If you just want a basic layer of shock-absorbing TPU, this case will do the trick. The circuitry design etched into the plastic features the Android mascot. The cut-outs for your phone’s camera, ports, and microphone are also present and correct, and there’s a raised lip around the screen that helps protect your device when placed face down. The “M” logo and connector faintly shows through the matte plastic, and the frame and design have a contrasting, gloss finish. You can pick this one up in a wide range of colors, too.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Case Mate Wallet Folio ($40)

With this classy offering, you can leave your wallet at home and cram your plastic in beside your phone. The folio case’s leather exterior is neatly stitched and there’s a large opening on the back for your phone’s camera module. Inside, you’ll find a plastic cradle for your phone, with cut-outs for easy access to everything. The cover includes four card-sized pockets and the front one has a window, which makes it perfect for stowing your ID. There’s also a larger cash pocket on the back.

Buy one now from:

Case Mate

Cimo Protective Cover ($8)

If you like to keep it simple, and you don’t want to spend much, then this slim cover from Cimo might be for you. It’s made from flexible TPU, and comes with a raised lip around the screen. You’ll also find accurate openings for your phone’s ports, microphone, and camera, and slim covers for the power and volume buttons. The back features a frosted, matte finish — meaning the ionic “M” logo shows through slightly with the lighter offerings — but the frame itself is glossy. This case currently comes in black, white, purple, or light blue.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

LK Wallet Case ($10)

Maybe you like the idea of a wallet case for your Moto Z2 Play, but you balk at the $60 price tag on Case Mate’s offering. Well then, perhaps this polyurethane option from LK will better suite your budget. The design is fairly similar to the aforementioned Case Mate offering, in that it has three card pockets inside, one windowed slot for your ID, and a cash pocket on the back. Your Z2 Play slots into a plastic shell with reinforced corners, and you can use the case to prop it up in landscape view. It also comes in rose gold, purple, brown, or black.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Oeago Protective Case ($8)

We’re not big fans of the tire tread look, but this case does offer dual-layer protection and comes with a fold-out kickstand. The inner layer, which is available in a range of colors, is soft and completely covers your phone. It also comes with all the cut-outs and button covers you need, along with an outer layer made of hard plastic. The bezel extends well beyond the screen for all-round protection, making this one of the most rugged Moto Z2 Play cases available.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

VR porn: The Ultimate Guide [NSFW]

VR porn isn’t a thing of the future. It’s here now, and easier to find and access then you may have thought.

When it comes to watching videos on VR, one of the first questions many people asked was whether or not you’d be able to watch porn or other adult content. From apps that let you speak with camgirls, to full blown 360 degree adult videos, porn in VR is here and it’s making it’s mark. Whether you’ve got a Gear VR, Oculus Rift, or even Playstation VR, there is plenty of adult content just waiting for you out there.

Read more at VR Heads!

How to bring Harry Potter magic to your Facebook account

Quickly, Potterheads, to Facebook!

Wanna feel old? The first Harry Potter book was released 20 years ago today. Don’t let that bum you out, though. In celebration of this anniversary, Facebook has turned a few of your favorite words into spells you and your friends can activate on both the app and the website.

Here’s how it works!

Casting a Harry Potter spell on Facebook

Unlike many other Facebook promotions, there’s no page you have to go and like to access these powers. All you need to do is create a post or comment with one of these words:

• Harry Potter
• Slytherin
• Gryffindor
• Hufflepuff
• Ravenclaw

When you send the post, a little wand will appear and magic will erupt across your screen. After the post is live, you and any of your friends can click or tap on those words — which are now colored special for the celebration — and that same wand animation will appear again!

What are you waiting for? Go have some fun!

Facebook, not presidential ambition, is why Zuckerberg’s on tour

There’s been a lot of speculation around whether Mark Zuckerberg is or is not planning to run for office. From his nationwide tour to his rejection of atheism, there have been quite a few moments that could be interpreted as a lead-up to a presidential bid, but I don’t think that’s what is happening with Zuckerberg and neither does Nathan Hubbard, former Ticketmaster CEO and Twitter VP.

This morning, Hubbard wrote a series of tweets about why Zuckerberg’s recent activities aren’t about running in the next election, but about understanding how his company influenced the last one. “Zuck woke up on Nov 9th acutely aware that FB had facilitated a new shift he didn’t foresee or understand; that’s terrifying to a founder,” said Hubbard in one of the tweets.

1/Zuck isn’t running for President. He’s trying to understand the role the product he created played in getting this one elected.

— Nathan Hubbard (@NathanCHubbard) June 25, 2017

This isn’t a farfetched theory on Zuckerberg’s movements. Just after the election, Zuckerberg denied that Facebook had an influence on the election, but there’s no way he actually believes that. It’s undeniable that Facebook has changed how the world communicates and shares information. For that not to eventually have some sort of impact on our elections is wildly improbable.

There were many moments during the election where Facebook played a role. Along with the claims that rampant fake news swayed voters, there were reports that the website’s employees filtered conservative news stories. On the other hand, there were also reports that Facebook had the means to combat fake news but that it chose not to because the the system tended to disproportionately remove news posted by conservative sites. Plus, from a campaigning perspective, Trump’s team spent a hell of a lot of money on Facebook ads.

It was only a matter of time before people began to realize that Facebook could go beyond social media and serve as a tool for political sway. Fake news is probably just one of the more obvious tactics being used. But when it came to fake news, whatever Facebook did resulted in it having a new level of influence, whether that meant sitting back and letting it happen or jumping in and trying to take it down. Either way Facebook became an active player.

Zuckerberg has never been a hands-off guy when it comes to Facebook. And like Hubbard points out, this new role that his company clearly played in the presidential election pushed the CEO out of Facebook headquarters and into the world so that he could better understand its direction.

6/He’s the head of product. So he’s ventured out into the world beyond his bubble to do field research and inform how FB will evolve again.

— Nathan Hubbard (@NathanCHubbard) June 25, 2017

Plus, just because Zuckerberg has the skills to run a company, it doesn’t mean he has what it takes to run a country. And unlike our current president, I think that’s something Zuckerberg is actually aware of. We should give him a little more credit.

Apple Celebrates Pride During Parades in San Francisco, New York City, and Toronto

Apple this weekend participated in a few LGBTQ pride parades happening around the world, including those in San Francisco, New York City, and Toronto.

Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted his support for the parades, wishing a happy pride, “to all our employees, their families and customers around the world!”

Happy #Pride2017 to all our employees, their families and customers around the world! Today we’re showing #applepride in SF, NYC and Toronto pic.twitter.com/ngM48Fy0Ws

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 25, 2017

The company handed out t-shirts with a rainbow Apple logo to those marching in the parades, and in San Francisco there was a large #applepride structure where visitors were able to write their own messages regarding the celebrations.

Image via @Gabomambo
In previous years Apple has taken to the streets for the pride parade in San Francisco with similar pride t-shirts for employees, commemorative videos posted on YouTube, iTunes gift cards, and a custom rainbow Apple Watch Woven Nylon band. The Pride Edition Woven Nylon band launched to the public during WWDC earlier this month, and Apple this week confirmed a portion of its proceeds are going to help LGBTQ organizations like The Trevor Project and the HRC.

Apple has long voiced support for LGBTQ causes like same sex marriage, as well as having spoken out against some controversial laws that predominantly risked negatively affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals. Before he publicly came out as gay in late 2014, Apple CEO Tim Cook fought for equality in speeches and op-eds. Under late CEO Steve Jobs, Apple also opposed many discriminatory laws, including 2008’s Proposition 8 that sought to eliminate the right to same sex marriage in California.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: San Francisco, Toronto, New York City, Pride
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How to give your Galaxy S8 that clean, stock Android look, no rooting required

Rooting an Android phone or tablet allows you to maintain a more minimalist version of Android, without the bloatware that manufacturers often tack on. It has become increasingly difficult over the years, but you don’t necessarily have to root your phone to get all the benefits. Here are a few ways to give your Samsung Galaxy S8 a stock Android look and feel without having to root it. Don’t own a Samsung Galaxy S8? We also have directions for getting Google Pixel features on any Android phone.

Let’s start with the biggest difference maker for daily use, the launcher. Our pick for the most basic launcher is the Pixel Launcher that comes on Google Pixel phones. It’s available in the Play Store. You’ll be informed that this launcher will not work with your phone (which is a lie). You’ll still need to install it nonetheless. To do so, go to Settings, then Security, and turn on Unknown sources.

After that grab the latest APK file, then start the download and save it to your device. Once it downloads, go to the My Files app on your phone, tap the APK, and select Install. After it installs, select the Home button and select the Pixel Launcher. This will set Pixel Launcher as the new default launcher.

Next up, is the messaging app which is in the Google Play Store. Search for Android Messages in the Play Store and then install it. Open it and follow the prompts to set it as the default messaging app. Next we are going to add a new stock keyboard. Go to the Play Store and search for Gboard. Install Gboard, open the app, and again follow the prompts to set this as your default input method.

Now, let’s switch the browser. If Google Chrome is not already installed on your phone search for Chrome in the Play Store and install it. Now, go to Settings, and then Apps, then tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Default Apps. Then tap Browser Apps and select Chrome. Now, anytime you open links it will automatically open Chrome.

Now, let’s change the Dialer and Contacts. Go to the Play Store and search for ExDialer and install it. Once this is installed, got to Settings, then Apps, and then select the three dots in the top right corner again. Now select Default Apps, then tap on Calling Apps, and select ExDialer.

Now, let’s have our Android use the stock Calendar app rather than the Samsung Calendar app. Like Chrome this may already be on your device, but if it is not go to the Play Store and search for Google Calendar and install it. Open Google Calendar and set it up if you have not already done so.

Next go to Settings, tap Apps, and select Samsung Calendar (it’s the Calendar app with the green icon, not the blue icon). Once there, select Clear Defaults and this will remove Samsung Calendar as the app that handles events on your device. The next time you are prompted to select a calendar to mark an event select Google Calendar to set it as your new default calendar. Now, select More Options in Settings and turn off notifications for the Samsung Calendar to prevent double notifications for future events.

For a final touch, let’s add a stock Android wallpaper. Select the wallpaper you prefer, then tap, and hold it once the wallpaper is enlarged. Then select Download Image using the three dot button in the top right of the screen and this will be saved in your Gallery. Now, tap and hold on the home screen background, tap Wallpapers, and then tap My Photos. Select the wallpaper you downloaded and select Set Wallpaper.

David Cogen, a regular contributor here at Digital Trends, runs a popular tech blog TheUnlockr.com that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him over at Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

Custom Spectacles takes snaps under the sea

Spectacles have made sharing marginally exciting videos on land via Snapchat easier. It also helps that you no longer need to hunt down a vending machine to snag a pair in the US. But a partnership between the social network and Royal Caribbean cruise lines will make it easy to capture footage under the sea.

Called the SeaSeeker, the video and photo recording mask lasts for 30 minutes underwater at depths up to 150 feet. So it’s perfect for scuba and free diving. Currently there are only a few masks available and Royal Caribbean has been testing them with marine biologist Gabriela Nava and wildlife photographer Roberto Ochoa. So don’t start hassling the crew on your cruise ship for a pair just yet.

The SeaSeeker mask is @robertoochoahe approved. Check out the barracuda! See conservationist Gaby Nava’s dive today. 👻: @RoyalCaribbean pic.twitter.com/sv96DexdIa

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) June 22, 2017

But once they do start handing these out to tourists wanting to document their dives without having to carry a GoPro or other waterproof camera around, expect to see more random stickers and text floating over fish from your friends on vacation.

If you missed it, watch Gaby Nava regrow the reefs. Today, see @deepleigh freedive the deepest cenote in Quintana Roo. 👻: @RoyalCaribbean pic.twitter.com/m2794d8xsy

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) June 23, 2017

Via: Mashable

Source: Royal Caribbean