MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Super Protective ‘Limitless’ iPhone Case From Mous

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Mous to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Limitless iPhone case from Mous.

Mous’s iPhone cases started out as an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that ultimately brought in nearly $2 million thanks to the impressive range of features offered.

Available for the iPhone 6, 6s, 7, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and 7 Plus, the Mous Limitless cases are equipped with AiroShock, which is a smart material that’s meant to offer superior protection without adding a lot of bulk to Apple’s super thin iPhones. Limitless cases add just over 2mm of thickness to the iPhone and weigh 42 grams.

With AiroShock, Limitless cases have a built-in micro air pocket structure that protects them from impacts, along with a raised front lip to keep the screen from cracking in case of a drop.

Cases are available in real materials like bamboo wood, black marble, black leather, kevlar carbon fiber, walnut wood, and white marble, to suit a range of tastes.

Along with drop protection, Limitless cases are built with magnets and a steel plate in the back, allowing them to work with accessories like a wall mount, which is included with the case for free, and an optional modular wallet and flex mount that can be used anywhere. All cases also ship with a screen protector for total device protection.

The included wall mount attaches to a flat surface using an adhesive strip and then attaches to the Limitless case using magnets. It’s an ideal setup for using the iPhone in a kitchen or another spot where hands-free usage is helpful.

Mous’s Limitless iPhone cases are normally priced at $35, but we have 10 cases to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (July 28) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 4. The winners will be chosen randomly on August 4 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Winners will be able to choose the size and color of their choice, with all cases coming with a free wall mount and a free screen protector.

Tag: giveaway
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Apple Listing Select Movies as 4K and HDR in iTunes Purchase History

MacRumors reader Tomas Jackson, who resides in the UK, has discovered Apple is listing select movies as 4K and HDR in iTunes purchase history.

In a discussion topic on the MacRumors forums, Jackson shared a screenshot of his iTunes purchase history with the 2016 film Passengers listed as “Movie (4K, HDR)” under the Type column. However, he said iTunes only let him download the movie in HD quality, which is either 720p or 1080p depending on the content.

Another reader mentioned that the 2016 film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is also listed as 4K and HDR. MacRumors rented the film to check, and we can confirm the film indeed has “4K, HDR” next to it in our iTunes purchase history. Nevertheless, iTunes lists the movie’s video quality as 720p.

Not all movies are listed as “4K, HDR” at this time, and it may be region specific for now. One reader from the United States shared a screenshot of Passengers still being listed as “Film (HD)” in his iTunes purchase history. MacRumors can confirm “4K, HDR” has appeared in both the UK and Canada at least.

iTunes content remains viewable in SD and HD for the time being, but the discovery suggests Apple may be gearing up for what’s around the corner — 4K and HDR support for both iTunes content and a new Apple TV.

In February, Bloomberg reported Apple was testing a new, fifth-generation Apple TV capable of streaming 4K video, adding that it may be released as soon as this year. The report also said the new Apple TV, allegedly codenamed “J105” internally, would display more vivid colors, suggesting HDR support.

A month later, developer Firi Games provided MacRumors with evidence of a device identified as “AppleTV6,2” and running “tvOS 11.0” connecting to its arcade game Phoenix HD for Apple TV in its logs. The IP address fell within a range linked to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

The current Apple TV has a model identifier of AppleTV5,3, and Apple TV6,2 does not correspond with any released model.

It’s conceivable that Apple could launch 4K content in iTunes alongside a new Apple TV with support for up to 4K video output and HDR, or high dynamic range, which allows for sharper colors and lighting. The current, fourth-generation Apple TV has a maximum 1080p video output, and no support for HDR.

Netflix has embraced 4K, offering its original series in ultra-high-resolution on compatible devices. The high-end iMac models with 4K and 5K Retina displays are currently Apple’s only devices that can properly display 4K content. The latest Apple TV lacks the hardware required for 4K and HDR video output.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tags: 4K, HDR
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Possible ‘iPhone 8’ SIM Tool Packaging is Consistent With Rumors of Narrow Bezels and Front Camera Notch

A new picture of an alleged packaging insert for the so-called iPhone 8’s SIM-eject tool has been shared on Chinese microblogging service Sina Weibo. The image was then submitted to leak aggregator Slashleaks today.

The insert includes a generic diagram of what is supposedly the iPhone 8. If legitimate, the smartphone’s design is consistent with rumors, which suggest it’ll be almost entirely screen on the front, beyond narrow, uniform bezels along the edges and a tiny notch for the front camera and sensors.

It’s almost August, when mass production of Apple’s next iPhones would normally be underway, ahead of their usual September launch. However, recent reports suggest the iPhone 8 may be running several weeks behind. Some analysts believe the device may not begin shipping whatsoever until at least October.

Make sure to read our comprehensive iPhone 8 roundup, which is updated regularly with the latest information and rumors about what could be Apple’s most significantly redesigned smartphone ever.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: Slashleaks
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TouchArcade iOS Gaming Roundup: Pokemon Go Fest, Strike Team Hydra, The Elder Scrolls: Legends and More

Without question, the biggest thing that happened in iOS gaming this week was the disastrous Pokemon Go Fest that took place in Chicago last Saturday the 22nd. The event was hyped to unbelievable levels in the Pokemon Go community, particularly as exclusive in-game rewards for attending were teased. This led to people from quite literally all over the world flying into Chicago to participate in what was thought to be the premiere Pokemon Go event. Having been to large Pokemon Go meetups where cellular networks were crippled by the people in attendance, I was curious to see how Niantic was going to solve inevitable connectivity problems.

Right around the time the event was set to start, massive server problems and crash bugs hit Pokemon Go. Then, as more people started flowing through the gates, cellular networks were so crippled that it was incredibly difficult to get online to even attempt to connect to the game. Throw in the exquisite misery of an unbelievably hot and humid Chicago summer day, people who paid anywhere between hundreds to thousands of dollars to travel to the event, and a game that straight up doesn’t work, and you were left with crowds eager to boo and heckle any Niantic representative that took the stage.

This eventually resulted in Niantic refunding everyone’s tickets, along with giving all players who came $100 worth of premium in-game currency as well as the legendary Pokemon Lugia. I’ve posted more details on the day over on TouchArcade, and we discussed it on our podcast, if you want to dive even deeper into the Pokemon Go Fest fallout.

In other news, we’re huge fans of both Demon’s Rise as well as its sequel, Demon’s Rise 2. They’re highly strategic turn-based games that don’t reinvent the strategy RPG genre, but instead just execute it really well on touch devices. Another game from the same developer titled Strike Team Hydra is due to launch in mid-August and we’re super-excited for a continuation of gameplay reminiscent of the Demon’s Rise series, but set in a futuristic environment. Strike Team Hydra is definitely a game to keep an eye out for in the future.

Don’t say I never gave you anything. pic.twitter.com/Ud30sW4DeY

— Pocket Mortys (@PocketMortys) July 24, 2017

To coincide with the new season of Rick and Morty premiering this Sunday, Pocket Mortys is continuing to get loads of new season three content. If you haven’t tried the game yet, it’s easily among the best Pokemon-likes on the App Store, except instead of catching Pokemon you’re catching Mortys. It’s free to play, but the monetization scheme is very player friendly. Rick and Morty fans will find loads of in-jokes, and everyone else will just find a really competent lightweight RPG battler.

One thing we’ve kept our eyes on waiting for it to go anywhere is mobile virtual reality. Google Cardboard and Galaxy Gear-like headsets are a good (and low cost) way to get involved in virtual reality, but none of the “mobile” VR headsets out there are really that portable. A Swedish startup aims to solve that problem with the “Moggles,” a pair of VR goggles that compact down into a case that’s significantly more portable than existing solutions. I’m still not sure what the killer app is for mobile VR, but at least the headsets are getting better?

The Elder Scrolls: Legends has finally been updated to be universal, which should greatly grow its playerbase if Hearthstone’s path to success was any indication. Legends is another digital collectable card game, but with a level of complexity that should satisfy hardcore card gamers. For more information, check out our interview with Pete Hines, Bethesda’s VP of PR/Marketing.

Last, but not least, is a huge update for Phoenix II which adds support for the 120 Hz screen of the new iPad Pro. It’s impossible for me to capture in video just how much of a difference this makes when playing the game, but needless to say, if you’ve got a new iPad Pro you need to give this game a shot. It really wouldn’t surprise me if Phoenix II found itself on the demo iPads on the Apple Store, as tons of fast moving objects on the screen at high refresh rates do a great job of showing off the screen.

That’s all of the big stories from this week, but as always, if you’re interested in iOS gaming and want to easily keep your finger on the pulse of the mobile gaming scene, check out TouchArcade. We post this kind of stuff, along with news, reviews, guides, and more all week long.

Tag: TouchArcade gaming roundup
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Wallpapers HD [Backgrounds] by Walldroid (Review)

Wallpapers HD by Walldroid is a typical wallpaper app designed to allow easy access to a variety of different wallpapers. Wallpapers HD has a host of high quality and interesting wallpapers available at no cost–and there seems to be something for everyone. Whether you like nature, sports, technology or cartoons, Wallpapers HD by Walldroid has you covered.

Simple layout practice

The layout is very well designed and allows you to sort by categories such as ‘Abstract’, ‘Cars’, ‘Games’, ‘Animals’, etc. Overall there are 13 different categories to select from the main menu. Any wallpaper can be viewed, liked, shared, saved to your device, or set as your current wallpaper. The options available within Wallpapers HD are easy to find and very easy to utilize.

Pop open the menu to sort by categories, shuffle, share and rate the application–it’s all here!

There are tools within the menu that allow users to rate the app as well as share information about the application over Twitter, Facebook or email. There is also an option to shuffle through all available wallpapers or to view your favorites right from the main menu.

High on quality

Wallpapers HD by Walldroid has one of the best collections of high-quality and visually stunning wallpaper backgrounds I have ever seen. Each photo, rendering, and artistic design is high resolution and visually pleasing. This is some of the “best of the best” as far as wallpapers go. If you have access to a tablet or phone with a high-resolution display, I can easily recommend Wallpapers HD by Walldroid.

One neat option within the main menu is to view only background images designed specifically for ‘Edge’ devices. While this is primarily for Samsung Edge phones (minus the asymmetrical, original Note Edge), these images can also be used on other devices such as the Huawei Mate 9 or Xiaomi Mi Note 2.

Wrapped in Wallpapers

Wallpapers HD by Walldroid is supported by advertisements that are always visible at the bottom of the screen. Thankfully they are not overly intrusive or distracting, especially on smaller screens. I experienced no issues with pop-ups, slow-loading or missing content–which was a major bonus.

If a random stranger was to walk up to me today, asking for a good place to find wallpapers for his or her phone, I would recommend Wallpapers HD (Backgrounds) by Walldroid. It’s an app I’ll definitely keep around for times when I need to switch it up with a new and pretty device background. Download it and try it for yourself.

Scientists use laser beams to turn simple crystals into transparent electronics

Why it matters to you

Optically drawn electronics could make for some innovative new circuit designs, potentially allowing them to be rewritten in the future.

Giving us further hope for a future without silicon circuitry, researchers have shown that transparent, photoconductive crystals can become conductors in when exposed to light. So much so in fact, that one test saw researchers use a laser to ‘draw’ an electrical pathway on a crystal that made it capable of electrical conductivity, potentially leading to the creation of transparent electronics in the future.

Although it has been previously shown that photoconductive materials saw an increase in their electrical conductivity following the exposure to light, conditions required to create a viable use for it weren’t exactly pleasant. Tests with simple memory storage devices only worked under extreme cooling, suggesting the practical applications were limited.

This latest breakthrough by Washington State University suddenly makes the technology look more viable.

In the test, researchers took an annealed crystal of strontium titanate (STO) and noted that when exposed to light at room temperature, its resistance decreased by three orders of magnitude, and free electron concentration increased by a factor of several hundred (via Nature). In short, it became conductive enough use in electronics.

That improved conductivity was maintained for several days afterwards, even when the crystal was stored in a dark environment.

Taking the experiment a step further, researchers were able to ‘draw’ a path of low resistance on the crystal using a laser beam. That improved conductivity along the ‘circuit’ on the crystal, opens up the possibility for the creation of transparent electronic circuits that could be erased through heating.

Although there was some increase in resistance over successive days, it was marginal, and the light exposure appeared to have a long-term effect on the crystal’s conductivity.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-07090-2/figures/6

What’s most impressive about this test, is that resistance could be gradually reduced between two points. Exposing the first point to the laser created a noticeable reduction in resistance between the two, but it was only in exposing both of them that resistance really fell. While exposing the path between them had a dramatic effect itself, it was not as effective as exposing the two contact points.

Although this sort of research is still in its very early stages, it shows potential and those behind it believe that it could one day lead to the creation of transparent electronics that could be erased and re-written. If possible, it would offer a rare alternative to silicon.

Scientists use laser beams to turn simple crystals into transparent electronics

Why it matters to you

Optically drawn electronics could make for some innovative new circuit designs, potentially allowing them to be rewritten in the future.

Giving us further hope for a future without silicon circuitry, researchers have shown that transparent, photoconductive crystals can become conductors in when exposed to light. So much so in fact, that one test saw researchers use a laser to ‘draw’ an electrical pathway on a crystal that made it capable of electrical conductivity, potentially leading to the creation of transparent electronics in the future.

Although it has been previously shown that photoconductive materials saw an increase in their electrical conductivity following the exposure to light, conditions required to create a viable use for it weren’t exactly pleasant. Tests with simple memory storage devices only worked under extreme cooling, suggesting the practical applications were limited.

This latest breakthrough by Washington State University suddenly makes the technology look more viable.

In the test, researchers took an annealed crystal of strontium titanate (STO) and noted that when exposed to light at room temperature, its resistance decreased by three orders of magnitude, and free electron concentration increased by a factor of several hundred (via Nature). In short, it became conductive enough use in electronics.

That improved conductivity was maintained for several days afterwards, even when the crystal was stored in a dark environment.

Taking the experiment a step further, researchers were able to ‘draw’ a path of low resistance on the crystal using a laser beam. That improved conductivity along the ‘circuit’ on the crystal, opens up the possibility for the creation of transparent electronic circuits that could be erased through heating.

Although there was some increase in resistance over successive days, it was marginal, and the light exposure appeared to have a long-term effect on the crystal’s conductivity.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-07090-2/figures/6

What’s most impressive about this test, is that resistance could be gradually reduced between two points. Exposing the first point to the laser created a noticeable reduction in resistance between the two, but it was only in exposing both of them that resistance really fell. While exposing the path between them had a dramatic effect itself, it was not as effective as exposing the two contact points.

Although this sort of research is still in its very early stages, it shows potential and those behind it believe that it could one day lead to the creation of transparent electronics that could be erased and re-written. If possible, it would offer a rare alternative to silicon.

During the eclipse, researchers will study the potential for life on Mars

Why it matters to you

The 2017 solar eclipse offers a scientists a chance to study the environmental limits for terrestrial life.

This August 21, during the Great American Eclipse, most sky-gazers will have their eyes set on the moon and the sun. At the same time, researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center will focus their attention on life on Mars.

On the big day, the research team will conduct MicroSat, an inexpensive experiment using 34 high-altitude balloons to simulate a Mars-like environment and test how well life can survive there.

“The August solar eclipse gives us a rare opportunity to study the stratosphere when it’s even more Mars-like than usual,” Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA, said in a statement. “With student teams flying balloon payloads from dozens of points along the path of totality, we’ll study effects on microorganisms that are coming along for the ride.”

At the surface of Mars, the atmosphere is 100 times thinner than that on Earth. As such, it’s also cooler and subject to more radiation. The upper part of Earth’s stratosphere, where the balloons will be floating, is just above the protective ozone layer and subsequently has similar features. The balloons will be met with temperatures of at least minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure about 100 times less than that found at sea level.

For the research, NASA will offer the teams two small metal cards with harmless but resilient bacteria dried onto their surface. One card will hitch a ride with a balloon and the other will remain on Earth. By comparing the bacteria on the two cards, the scientists will be able to assess what exposure to a Mars-like atmosphere does to similar organisms.

The Mars study will be made possible thanks to a group led by Montana State University’s Angela Des Jardins. Des Jardins and her team will launch over 50 high-altitude balloons across the United States. As a part of NASA’s Eclipse Balloon Project, the balloons will beam back live-streamed footage from the edge of space.

“Total solar eclipses are rare and awe-inspiring events. Nobody has ever live-streamed aerial video footage of a total solar eclipse before,” Des Jardins said in a statement. “By live-streaming it on the internet, we are providing people across the world an opportunity to experience the eclipse in a unique way, even if they are not able to see the eclipse directly.”

Newly discovered exploit can move malware between devices over the air

Why it matters to you

An exploit like this one — carried out remotely, that moves from device to device regardless of platform — could pose a catastrophic risk to security.

Despite Apple’s and Google’s best efforts to keep our smartphones safe, new vulnerabilities always crop up. Traditionally, they are exclusive to a device, or maybe several versions of a device’s firmware — and hopefully, they are dealt with swiftly. Unfortunately, a new gap has been discovered that transcends operating systems, delivering malware in a way we have not seen before.

The exploit attacks a phone’s Wi-Fi chip and because multiple manufacturers source their wireless equipment from the same company, it can be carried out across devices. Broadcom produces the tech used in some of the market’s top devices, like the Galaxy, Nexus, and iPhone brands. Appropriately, the scheme has been named “Broadpwn,” according to The Guardian.

Researcher Nitay Artenstein revealed the flaw at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas on Thursday. Fortunately, it has just been patched. If you have updated to the recently released iOS 10.3.3 or Android’s July security fix, your phone is no longer susceptible to the attack.

As for how it works, hackers have been able to take advantage of common flaws found in a number of Broadcom’s chips to write and push code that can directly inhibit a phone’s Wi-Fi capabilities. Through this, they gain full control over the component and can even engineer the malware to self-replicate and automatically move to the next-closest device all on its own.

According to Artenstein, the method requires very little intervention on the part of the hacker. Everything can be carried out remotely, without knowledge of the specific device being targeted. It is so discreet, there is no sign to tip the owner off that they have been infected.

It sounds like a doomsday scenario — especially the self-replicating part — though thankfully the exploit only concerns the Wi-Fi chip and cannot be used to gain access to the device at this time.

While the vulnerability has been patched for users of the newest devices receiving the latest security updates, owners of older hardware will regrettably be left out in the cold. Under Google’s current policy for its own products, like the Pixel, system updates are no longer issued two years after release, while security updates wrap up after three. That is standard practice in the Android industry and unfortunately, the best owners can really hope for. Most manufacturers struggle to get crucial updates out in a timely manner and some never even get around to it.

PC Guardians unite! ‘Destiny 2’ PC beta opens up on August 28

Why it matters to you

Destiny 2’s PC beta is only a few weeks away, check the specifications to make sure your system is up to snuff.

PC gamers, it is time to ditch your warehouses full of useless Destiny guns for good, as the first chance for you to play Destiny 2 starts August 28. The beta will offer a glimpse of the full game’s new and expansive gameplay in both cooperative and competitive multiplayer.

A much-hyped title for some time now, Destiny 2 is set to debut on consoles first before its eventual launch on the PC. Its pre-release testing period has been much the same, with PS4 and Xbox One gamers given a chance to dive into the beta ahead of their PC counterparts between July 18 and 25, following an extension.

Bungie has not released any stats about that beta yet, but it does give us an idea of what we can expect in the PC version. It will give gamers a taste of the final game experience, letting players take on Destiny 2‘s first campaign mission called Homecoming, a three-player strike called The Inverted Spire, and a pair of additional competitive multiplayer modes, Control and Countdown, according to Polygon.

To make sure everyone is ready to dive into the beta, Bungie also released recommended and minimum specifications for it. It did clarify that these are beta only specifications and may not be reflective of requirements for the final game.

Minimum specifications

CPU
Intel Core i3-3250, AMD FX-4350 or better
Graphics
Nvidia GTX 660 2GB, AMD HD 7850 2GB or better
Memory
6GB or more

Recommended specifications

CPU
Intel Core i5-2400, AMD Ryzen R6 1600X or better
Graphics
Nvidia GTX 970, AMD R9 390 or better
Memory
8GB or more

If you want to run Destiny 2 at its best, Bungie also offered a few upgrade recommendations for players looking to get themselves ready, though it appears to have some brand loyalty in its suggestions. Among recommendations for Nvidia GTX 1060s and Intel Core-i5 7400s, there was not an AMD CPU or graphics card to be found.

Whether your PC easily outstrips these recommendations though, or you are languishing toward the minimum end of the spectrum, you can look forward to enjoying the Destiny 2 beta in a month. It launches for those with pre-orders on August 28, opening up to all players on the 29th and comes to a close on August 31.

If that still seems a long way away, consider reading through Bungie’s guide on setting up clans in Destiny 2. They will play a major part in the game and there will be plenty of new tools to help manage yours in the future.

Destiny 2 launches on consoles on September 6 and on PC on October 24.