Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of tvOS 10.2.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 10.2.2 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the fourth beta of tvOS 10.2.2 and over a month after releasing tvOS 10.2.1, a minor bug fix update.

tvOS 10.2.2 is only available for the fourth-generation Apple TV. Registered developers can download the update by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C cable and installing the beta software using iTunes. Once a beta profile is installed, new updates will be received over-the-air.

No major feature changes or bug fixes were discovered in the first four betas of tvOS 10.2.2, so it appears the update focuses on minor under-the-hood improvements and security enhancements.

tvOS 10.2.2 will be one of the last updates to the tvOS 10 operating system as Apple is already working on the next-generation version of tvOS, tvOS 11. tvOS 11 is currently available for developers and public beta testers.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Security Researchers Don’t Think Apple Pays Enough for Bug Bounties

Apple’s bug bounty program has been available to select security researchers for almost a year now, but according to a new report from Motherboard, most researchers prefer not to share bugs with Apple due to low payouts. More money can be obtained from third-party sources for bugs in Apple software.

“People can get more cash if they sell their bugs to others,” said Nikias Bassen, a security researcher for the company Zimperium, and who joined Apple’s program last year. “If you’re just doing it for the money, you’re not going to give [bugs] to Apple directly.”

Motherboard spoke to several members of Apple’s bug bounty program with the condition of anonymity. Every single one said they had yet to report a bug to Apple and did not know anyone who had. iOS bugs are “too valuable to report to Apple,” according to Patrick Wardle, a Synack researcher and former NSA hacker who was invited to the bug bounty program last year.

Apple first introduced its bug bounty program in August of 2016 at the Black Hat Conference, an annual global InfoSec event. Apple offers bounties of up to $200,000 depending on the vulnerability. Secure boot firmware components earn $200,000 at the high end, while smaller vulnerabilities, like access from a sandboxed process to user data outside of the sandbox, will earn $25,000.

Tags: Apple security, bug bounty
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Popular photo app Enlight is now free, adds desktop-class editing features

Why it matters to you

Enlight Photofox is a new freemium mobile photo app that introduces desktop-class editing, including layers.

Desktop photo editors use layers to make a number of different effects possible, but now a free iOS photo app is bringing the capability to mobile devices. On July 7, Lightricks announced Enlight Photofox, a free, second-generation version of the popular Enlight photo editor that was named Apple’s App of the Year in several countries and ranked as the 11th top-selling paid iOS app in 2016.

While the original Enlight app costs $4 on the App Store, Enlight Photofox comes with a freemium model and the option to subscribe to unlock extra in-app features. Despite the change in pricing, the new app brings several features from the original version as well as adding several new ones. The developers say the second generation strikes a balance between function and usability.

The new version brings layers to the mobile app, allowing users to put multiple images into a single file. Blending modes allow for different effects such as creating a double exposure. Each layer can be edited individually with the suite of photo tools as well, the developer says, making it akin to a desktop photo editor.

Enlight Photofox also includes an “app-within-an-app” in the form of Darkroom, a panel of controls for adjusting tone, contrast, and the details inside an image. The app is also pre-loaded with a number of extras for photo editing, including fonts, graphics, and presets.

“Enlight was a huge step forward in empowering creativity on mobile, and this new version will push the boundaries even further,” said Zeev Farbman, the co-founder and CEO of Lightricks. “Our users are making amazing artwork on mobile and they’re increasingly looking to unleash their creativity with powerful yet simple mobile tools that can carry out even the most complex creative tasks, and Enlight Photofox is built to support just that.”

Lightricks is the same company behind Facetune, a portrait retouching app. Combined, the original Enlight and Facetune apps generated 11 million downloads. The second version, Facetune 2, recently added the ability to turn selfies into emojis, and, like the second generation of Enlight, also switched to a subscription model.

Enlight Photofox is available for iOS from the App Store.

Galaxy S8 Mini: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

The Galaxy S8 is a great phone, but a little too large for some. The upcoming Galaxy S8 Mini could shrink the S8’s innovative design and top-tier performance down to a smaller, more manageable form.

Small phones are rare these days, and good small phones are even harder to come by. In previous years, Samsung has offered a more compact version of its flagship Galaxy S that lacks quite the same power, performance, and features of the larger variant. The last “Mini” model actually was released alongside the Galaxy S5, all the way back in 2014. Now, it’s looking like Samsung might be ready to bring back the Galaxy S Mini with an all-new model based on this year’s S8. Here’s everything we think we know about the upcoming Galaxy S8 Mini.

Galaxy S8 Mini specs

IT Home

The first report regarding the Galaxy S8 Mini comes from Chinese site IT Home by way of Phandroid. The rumor is that Samsung is currently working on the device, which will sport a 5.3-inch screen instead of the standard model’s 5.8-inch one. Given the S8’s lack of bezels, the idea is that even with such a large screen, the Mini would feel more like a 4.7 inch phone in the hand — like the iPhone 7. The bezels won’t be quite as narrow above and below the screen as on the other S8 models, IT Home reports.

In terms of silicon, the article says Samsung may opt to go with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 system on a chip in place of the 835 found in some versions of the S8 and S8 Plus. The 821 was the same chipset LG put in its G6. While it is older and not quite as powerful as the 835, it is considerably more high-end than the processors found in most small Android phones. Using it could also allow Samsung to keep costs down and sell the Mini at a lower price point than the larger model.

IT Home says the device could come with 4GB of RAM on board, as well as 32GB of internal storage. The RAM figure is impressive, in that it’s on par with the versions of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus sold outside of Asia. The storage allotment may seem small, but Samsung included a MicroSD slot in the S8 and typically does with most of its devices, so it appears that can be increased.

Release date

There’s no word of a release date yet for the S8 Mini, though we can look to the past to make an informed guess.

Galaxy S Mini devices previously tended to be released several months after the spring unveiling of the mainline phone. For example, the S5 Mini launched in June, and the S4 Mini before it landed on shelves in July.

Given that this is the first piece of news we’ve heard regarding the S8 Mini, we may not see the device until August at the earliest. Nevertheless, if Samsung is looking to stay consistent with a summer release window, there’s still time.

Much could and likely will change between now and release. Check back here for updates in the coming weeks.

Google Earth is broadcasting live footage of brown bears hunting salmon

Why it matters to you

Google Earth’s new live video features offer up a live nature documentary that unfolds before your very eyes.

When Google Earth launched back in 2005, it was an undeniably impressive resource — a vivid online atlas unlike anything most users had seen before. We’ve perhaps become desensitized to just how amazing the software is, but recently Google has been hard at work on new features that should restore its wow factor.

An update that was released in April 2017 introduced the Voyager tab to Google Earth, a curated section of the program that whisks users away to see a particular sight. Now, this part of the software has been updated to support live video feeds, according to a report from The Next Web.

The first addition to this strand of Voyager content takes viewers to Katmai National Park and Preserve in King Salmon, Alaska. In association with Explore.org’s Pearls of the Planet program, Google Earth is offering up live video feeds of brown bears catching salmon in the wild.

There are five different video feeds to choose from, with three focusing on different spots around the river where brown bears go to hunt. There’s even an underwater camera that shows off the creatures’ propensity for swimming, and a camera perched high atop Dumpling Mountain that gives a broader view of the surrounding area.

It’s not difficult to catch a glimpse of some brown bears doing what they do best, but there is alternative content in place to ensure that the stream doesn’t get boring when the animals are at rest. Feeds switch to highlights when there’s nothing interesting going on at that particular moment.

Last month, Google Earth partnered with National Geographic to launch new content as part of the Voyager program. Google also supplied schools with Cardboard viewers and other hardware to allow students to take part in Expeditions, tailored VR “field trips” that take learners away to exotic locations.

Google Earth is a really amazing project, and it’s great to see Google putting so much effort in recent months into using it to its full potential. Whether it’s exposing Americans to the important role of the country’s national parks, or giving students a taste of the wider world, this piece of software has the capacity to do a great deal of good.

Google Earth is broadcasting live footage of brown bears hunting salmon

Why it matters to you

Google Earth’s new live video features offer up a live nature documentary that unfolds before your very eyes.

When Google Earth launched back in 2005, it was an undeniably impressive resource — a vivid online atlas unlike anything most users had seen before. We’ve perhaps become desensitized to just how amazing the software is, but recently Google has been hard at work on new features that should restore its wow factor.

An update that was released in April 2017 introduced the Voyager tab to Google Earth, a curated section of the program that whisks users away to see a particular sight. Now, this part of the software has been updated to support live video feeds, according to a report from The Next Web.

The first addition to this strand of Voyager content takes viewers to Katmai National Park and Preserve in King Salmon, Alaska. In association with Explore.org’s Pearls of the Planet program, Google Earth is offering up live video feeds of brown bears catching salmon in the wild.

There are five different video feeds to choose from, with three focusing on different spots around the river where brown bears go to hunt. There’s even an underwater camera that shows off the creatures’ propensity for swimming, and a camera perched high atop Dumpling Mountain that gives a broader view of the surrounding area.

It’s not difficult to catch a glimpse of some brown bears doing what they do best, but there is alternative content in place to ensure that the stream doesn’t get boring when the animals are at rest. Feeds switch to highlights when there’s nothing interesting going on at that particular moment.

Last month, Google Earth partnered with National Geographic to launch new content as part of the Voyager program. Google also supplied schools with Cardboard viewers and other hardware to allow students to take part in Expeditions, tailored VR “field trips” that take learners away to exotic locations.

Google Earth is a really amazing project, and it’s great to see Google putting so much effort in recent months into using it to its full potential. Whether it’s exposing Americans to the important role of the country’s national parks, or giving students a taste of the wider world, this piece of software has the capacity to do a great deal of good.

Apple iPhone 7S and 7S Plus: Rumors and news leaks

The iPhone 7S and 7S Plus might feature some of Apple’s most intriguing designs in years. If you want to know everything about them, here’s all the information we’ve got. If you want to read about the rumored high-end OLED iPhone with a curved screen and other game-changing tech, check out our iPhone 8 news post, or our iPhone 7 review if you’re wondering how Apple’s latest headset stacks up against the competition.

Here’s everything we know so far about the new iPhone 7S and 7S Plus models, likely coming in September.

Design

iPhone 7

Nikkei Asia, citing “two industry sources,” reports that Apple is planning to use advanced OLED displays in iPhone models from the second half of 2018. But it says that the iPhone maker’s suppliers might not be able to meet demand if Apple opts to use the new displays across its new iPhone lineup. (Taipei-based Yuanta Investment Consulting said shipments of new iPhone models in the second half of 2017 will reach 90 million, half of which will be OLED handsets.)

Original device manufacturer and Apple partner Wistron recently revealed some details about the iPhone 7S Plus, saying it will receive wireless charging and waterproofing. Apple’s current phablet, the iPhone 7 Plus, is already rated IP67 water resistant — making the mention a bit peculiar. Perhaps the company is looking to improve water resistance on the upcoming models.

Wireless charging, however, is a new feature that has been previously linked to the upcoming flagship iPhone X, but not so much the refreshed 7S line. The system would work similarly to conventional devices that charge wirelessly, through contact on a pad. Earlier in June, it was rumored that the iPhone 7S would receive an aluminum unibody like its predecessor, which would put wireless charging out of the question.

The iPhone 7 was the first device in the iPhone family that could be submerged up to a meter underwater for 30 minutes. But Apple’s could take it a step further with the next iPhones, ramping up the IP rating from IP67 to IP68 and putting it on par with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. That rumor comes from the Korea Herald, which cites “multiple sources.” Most people will hardly notice a difference. The IP68-rating allows submersion up to about 5 feet for 30 minutes, a minor improvement over the 3.3 feet depth against which IP67-certified devices are protected.

The iPhone 7S models may feature a familiar design. According to Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri, the mid-range iPhones will serve as upgrades to the existing iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. They’ll likely sport LCD screens instead of the OLED technology rumored for the iPhone X, Arcuri says, and eschew the high-end iPhone’s “wraparound” design in favor of the current crop’s familiar flat display.

The iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus may ship in a new color. The jet black iPhone was a huge hit for the iPhone 7 despite the $100 premium, and according to recent rumors, Apple may well do the same thing with the iPhone 7S models. According to the Japanese Apple blog Macotakara, the new color’s red. Since this rumor spread, Apple has released a special Product (Red) edition of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, in partnership with the HIV/AIDS charity, making another Product (Red) edition of the new models likely.

Specs

Every year, Apple upgrades the processor in its new iPhone. The iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will likely get the new A11 chip, which DigiTimes reports will use a 10nm manufacturing process. The chip should be even faster than the A10 Fusion processor. It’s safe to assume that we’ll see 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options for the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus.

Analyst Timothy Arcuri from Cowen and Company speculates the iPhone 7S, the iPhone 7S Plus, and the mysterious iPhone X will all feature 3GB of RAM. The iPhone 7 Plus is the only iPhone model at the moment with this amount of RAM, meaning the smaller model may get a bump to match the performance level of its larger sister phone. However, a previous report from TrendForce disagrees, saying the iPhone 7S will retain the current 2GB of RAM configuration.

Release date

In late February, a Wall Street Journal report corroborated rumors that Apple would launch updated versions of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 2017; but their precise release date remains a mystery.

We’ve long expected the iPhone 7S to show up at Apple’s normal mid-to-late September event, however, some reports suggest that perhaps we’ll see the device a little earlier. According to a research note from BlueFin that was picked up by Barron’s, Apple is ramping up production of the next iPhone, and reportedly scheduling it for June. The report notes this doesn’t mean Apple will release the phone sooner.

Camera

A new rumor suggests the next iPhones will feature dual-lens, vertically mounted cameras, likely with functionality similar to the cameras on the existing iPhone 7 Plus. Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing an unnamed Taiwanese supplier, suggests dual cameras will be a part of the upcoming iPhone lineup. They’re rumored to be arranged in a vertical configuration as opposed to the current horizontal layout on the 7 Plus.

According to a report from The Korea Economic Daily, Apple is collaborating with LG to create a dual-camera module that will take 3D photographs. This would certainly make sense, as LG is already the company behind the iPhone 7 Plus camera. While Apple previously patented 3D-object and gesture recognition, it’s unclear whether the upcoming iPhone will bring these patents to life.

Screen size

After some initial confusion, it seems Apple will announce an iPhone 7S, an iPhone 7S Plus, and a special iPhone X (often referred to as the iPhone 8) model in 2017. Rumors indicate the iPhone 7S will have a 4.7-inch screen, and the iPhone 7S Plus a 5.5-inch screen. The mystery iPhone X is different, and may be a more elaborate 10th anniversary device, and have a 5.8-inch curved screen. None of these phones are officially confirmed yet. You can read all about the iPhone X here.

Noted KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo agrees with many of the rumors. He writes that Apple’s iPhone 7S lineup will feature iPhones with screens measuring 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches diagonally. He also suggests that Apple may experiment with either glass, ceramic, or plastic backs on the iPhone 7S.

In his latest report, Kuo suggested that the 4.7-inch iPhone 7S will serve as a mid-range or perhaps even low-end iPhone. And he said that the iPhone 7S models could account for between 30 and 35 percent of new iPhone shipments in 2017.

Update: We’ve added in new predictions for the iPhone X by Nikkei Asia, which reports that all models will boast high-contrast OLED displays.

Nintendo Online mobile app launches alongside ‘Splatoon 2’ on July 21

Why it matters to you

Nintendo’s game subscription service will be free for its first several months but will start costing users cash in 2018.

The Nintendo Online mobile companion app will launch on July 21, along with the release of Splatoon 2, which will take advantage of the app for both stat-tracking and social features. The story of Nintendo’s tentative embrace of mobile phones has been somewhat dwarfed in the last year by the explosive success of the Switch and the NES Classic, but the launch of the mobile app and the company’s new online service for the Switch casts the spotlight once again on Nintendo’s moves into the 21st century.

SplatNet 2 is the Splatoon 2-specific section of the Nintendo Online mobile app. It will allow players to track different stage schedules, gear collected, global stats, and gameplay data like how much ink they have spilled. It will also serve as a hub for social activity, providing in-game voice chat and the ability for players to send multiplayer invites over social media and create private lobbies for their friends. SplatNet 2 (as part of the Nintendo Online mobile app) will be exclusive to smartphones.

The online subscription service will be free for all users when it launches later this month, but starting in 2018 will require a subscription fee. This will range from $4 per month up to $20 per year for the best value, which is about a third of the cost for a year of PlayStation Plus, for instance. In addition to online play and voice chat (though only through the mobile app as the Switch itself has no voice capability), the service will also act as a classic games library, offering a rotation of classic Nintendo titles for players to download similar to Xbox Games with Gold or Sony’s similar perks for subscribing. The first games announced for the rotation are Super Mario Bros. 3, Dr. Mario, and Balloon Fight, all for the NES.

Splatoon 2 follows up on Nintendo’s surprise hit from 2015, which reinvented the competitive, team-based shooter as a family-friendly, third-person explosion of color. As inklings, players shoot ink as both a weapon and a means to spread their color around the arena in an area control game, also allowing them to turn into squid form and quickly swim through their own color. The sequel adds more maps, gear, and modes, such as the new Salmon Run, a cooperative mode where two to four players fight off waves of enemies and bosses to collect enough power eggs (and live long enough) such that they can move to the next round. It also adds a new class of special weapons, such as missiles or an explosive hamster ball, which can be used once the player’s special meter is full.

Splatoon 2 launches alongside the first piece of the Nintendo Online mobile app on July 21, exclusively for the Switch.

Limited Time Offer: Verizon FIOS gigabit connection bundle for $79.99 per month

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This is a Verizon Fios Sponsored post.

Fiber-optic technology is the future of home internet, delivering faster communication over long distances and much higher bandwidth than traditional wire cables.

Verizon continues to be one of the leaders of this industry with its highly rated Fios internet,

TV, and phone service. Verizon Fios was one of the first home fiber-optic services to hit the market and remains the top-rated choice by customers when it comes to speed and reliability.

A stand-alone Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection subscription can be yours for $69.99 per month without locking you into a yearly contract. Starting Saturday, you can score the complete Fios bundle for just $10 more per month, which includes:

• Fios Gigabit Connection: Enjoy data speeds of up to 940/880 Mbps for fast and lossless online gaming, HD video streaming, and more. Say goodbye to lag, interruptions, and dropped connections as well: Verizon Fios has been consistently rated by customers as one of the best internet services for speed, reliability, and consistency.
• TV plus Phone for one year: Verizon Fios Custom TV lets you select the HD programming you want, so you are only paying for the shows and channels you watch and are not stuck with the ones you don’t. You also get one year of Fios phone service free of charge. Like the Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection, Fios TV is also rated highly by customers for overall service quality.
• HBO for one year and multi-room DVR for two years: Bundled with the Verizon Fios TV service is a one-year subscription to HBO and two years of Verizon’s multi-room digital video recording service. Multi-room DVR lets you record multiple programs simultaneously and watch them later at your leisure so you never have to miss your favorite shows again.

To sweeten this deal further, Verizon is waiving the $90 setup fee when you sign up for Verizon Fios online. If you are already locked into a contract with your current service provider, Verizon makes it easy to switch by giving you a credit of up to $500 when you sign up for a Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection to help cover any early-termination fees.

This limited-time Verizon Fios offer is the perfect way to jump into the world of fiber optics and enjoy super-fast next-generation internet service. Note that this deal requires a two-year service agreement and is based on availability in your area.

Sign up now

Amazon might partner with Dish Network to offer a wireless service

Why it matters to you

If you’re a Prime subscriber, it might not be long before you can get smartphone service from Amazon.

Fast on the heels of its $13.4 billion acquisition of upscale grocery chain Whole Foods, Amazon’s going on another shopping spree — but this time for cell service. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Charlie Ergen, CEO of Dish Network, have entered talks to partner on future “wireless projects,” including an internet of things network and a subscription cellphone plan.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reports that Bezos and Eregen have floated the idea of an add-on, metered data plan for Prime, Amazon’s premium subscription service, and always-on connectivity for devices like thermostats, connected bulbs, and smart kitchen appliances.

Under the terms of one proposal, Amazon Prime members, who pay $100 a year for free two-day shipping, streaming music, movies and TV shows, and cloud storage, would gain an optional, metered allotment of smartphone data. But the Dish-powered, Amazon-branded network could benefit the retailer’s services behind the scenes, according to Fox Business sources.

Dish’s network might make Amazon’s AI-powered Echo speakers “faster” and “more human-like” in its responses by “putting intelligence throughout the nodes of a wireless network,” and provide the infrastructural foundation for Amazon’s planned Prime Air drone delivery service. And Dish executives have reportedly floated the idea of a “one-way broadcast signal” for Amazon’s Prime Video service that would ensure shows and movies streamed “without hiccups everywhere.”

The idea isn’t as farfetched as it might sound. Bezos and Eregen, who have reportedly gotten to know each other better over the past year, have shared interests in space and robotics, and there’s history between Amazon and Dish. In May, Dish made its streaming TV apps available on Amazon Fire devices, and some Dish customers gained the ability to control their set-top boxes through Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Dish Network has long sought out deals with telecom companies in an effort to get its nascent cellphone network off the ground. It’s unsuccessfully pitched Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and spent more than $21 billion over the course of a decade to acquire airwaves nationwide. But it lacks a network to deploy the spectrum.

Amazon, meanwhile, has dipped more than a few toes in the wireless market. The Seattle-based retailer debuted its ill-fated Fire Phone, a high-end smartphone with object recognition features and perspective-shifting 3D interface, in 2014, and launched its Prime Exclusive Phones program in June 2017.

In exchange for putting up with advertisements on the phones’ lockscreen, Prime Exclusive Phones offers Prime subscribers steep discounts on devices like the Moto E and Blue R1 HD.

Analysts at Citi say Amazon is unlikely to acquire Dish. Instead, they predict that the internet retailer could become a “preferred customer” on the new wireless network and commit to spending a certain amount on connectivity in exchange for a below-market rate, or invest cash upfront in Dish’s network to help pay for the build-out.