Amazon Echo Gains Support for Multi-Room Music Playback

Amazon today added a new Alexa feature that allows several Amazon Echo devices to be synchronized and controlled across multiple rooms in a home. Echo owners can now target music to a specific Echo device or play the same music on more than one Echo.

The feature works with a variety of music services, including Amazon Music, TuneIn, iHeartRatio, and Pandora, with support for Spotify and SiriusXM coming soon. To use multi-room support, users will need to use the Alexa app to create groups with two or more Echo devices, giving the group a name like “downstairs.” Once the group is enabled, commands like “Alexa, play John Mayer downstairs” will work.

“In just the last few months, we’ve added dozens of new features to Alexa that enhance your entertainment experience–control of Amazon Fire TV and your home entertainment systems via Echo; music lyrics, Amazon Video, and movie trailers on Echo Show; and activity-based music searches–and we’re just getting started,” said Toni Reid, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “Today, we’re making Alexa even smarter with an all-new feature that lets you play music synchronized on multiple Echo devices to provide room-filling music throughout your home.”

Amazon’s move to add support for multiple Echo devices comes as Apple prepares to launch both the HomePod and an AirPlay 2 protocol. Multiple HomePod devices can be used simultaneously, and with AirPlay 2, speakers that support the feature can be paired together for a whole-home music experience.

Multi-room music support is available for the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show in the United States, UK, and Germany starting today. Amazon says it plans to extend the ability allow users to control multi-room music on other connected speakers with just a voice command through a new Multi-Room Music SDK that device makers can build into their speakers. Amazon plans to work with brands like Sonos, Bose, Sound United, and Samsung, and some of these manufacturers are also working to support AirPlay 2 in future devices.

In other Echo-related news, the original Amazon Echo is out of stock on Amazon.com, fueling speculation that a new device launch is imminent. Rumors have suggested Amazon is working on a new version of the Echo that’s designed to better compete with Apple’s upcoming HomePod. The new Echo device is said to feature improved sound quality, better microphone technology, and a new design.

Tag: Amazon Echo
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NYPD ditches 36,000 Windows Phones, confirms plans to switch to iPhone

Why it matters to you

With an end to Windows 8.1, the NYPD will no longer receive updates to its Windows Phones. iPhones will now handle your direct 911 calls to officers.

After deciding to go with Microsoft’s mobile operating system last year, the New York City Police Department is getting rid of the 36,000 Windows Phones it gave its police force throughout the past two years. The city will transition from the obsolete devices to iPhones by the end of the year, the New York Post reports.

The Windows models chosen in particular were the Nokia Lumia 830 and the Lumia 640XL, as part of the $160 million initiative to bring the NYPD up to date. Even though Windows Phone’s U.S. market share was at 2.3 percent in comparison to Android’s 65.2 percent and iOS’ 30.9 percent, the decision was based on Windows’ better security features and remote management.

Jessica Tisch, the NYPD deputy commissioner of IT, spearheaded the initiative claiming Windows applications were more cost-effective in comparison to iOS and Android, MacRumors reports. The Lumia smartphones were provided to the NYPD for free, allowing the department to replace the smartphones with any other device within two years.

It also allowed New York City’s police to work with Microsoft to create seven NYPD-specific apps, one of which includes 911 calls. The app directs the calls to officers instead of having dispatchers read the reports to them. Other apps allow officers to complete tasks ranging from filling and filing paperwork or reports, along with staying informed with department policies.

But the decision to switch to iPhones comes only one month after it was announced that Microsoft officially ended Windows 8.1. With both of the NYPD phones and the Microsoft-engineered apps running on this specific operating system, the change is necessary. An end to Windows 8.1 means the devices will no longer receive updates going forward.

Switching to the smartphones did see its benefits, with crimes being solved more quickly and improved direct communication between citizens and officers. But when working in such a crucial field where lives are on the line, it is important to carry devices that are equipped with the best software and operating systems.

On the other hand, Apple frequently updates the number of its devices on its OS. As of July 28, 87 percent of active iOS devices run some version of iOS 10 while 10 percent run iOS 9. A majority of Apple’s customers on its most up-to-date software not only means users are accessing its latest features, but they also have better security.

The NYPD has yet to give details on which model of the iPhone it plans on providing to law enforcement officers. But with Apple reportedly weeks away from unveiling its latest lineup of iPhone models — including the iPhone 8 — officials will definitely have a lot of options to choose from.

Mobile app can screen for pancreatic cancer when users snap a quick selfie

Why it matters to you

The University of Washington’s new mobile app can screen for one of the deadliest forms of cancer in a non-invasive way.

There have been a few examples of research we covered that have used machine learning technology to diagnose cancer. None of them have been quite like the University of Washington’s BiliScreen project, however. In an attempt to diagnose cancer, researchers at the university have developed a smartphone app that is capable of carrying out a screening by asking users to snap a quick selfie. Could there be a more 2017 medical diagnosis tool?

But if the idea sounds whimsical, the problem it is helping to solve is anything but. The type of cancer the researchers are interested in is pancreatic cancer, a particularly nasty type of cancer with a five-year survival rate of just nine percent. (Pancreatic cancer was the cause of death of former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs). Making pancreatic cancer hard to spot is the fact that it does not display obvious telltale symptoms which allow people to catch it prior to it spreading. That is where the University of Washington’s new smartphone app enters the frame.

“BiliScreen is a smartphone app we are developing to quantify the extent of jaundice in an individual,” Alex Mariakakis, a doctoral student at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, told Digital Trends. “Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to the buildup of a compound called bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice becomes obvious to the naked eye at 3.0 mg/dl, but clinicians start to be concerned at only 1.3 mg/dl, leaving a gap where detection could be important. There are many reasons why someone may become jaundiced, including hepatitis and Gilbert’s syndrome. What we are most excited about, [though], is the fact that jaundice is one of earlier symptoms that appears in people who have pancreatic cancer.”

Dennis Wise, University of Washington

The app works by using a smartphone camera, along with computer vision algorithms and machine-learning tools, to look for increased bilirubin levels in the white part of a person’s eye. In an initial clinical study of 70 people, the app — along with a 3D-printed box that controls the eye’s exposure to light — was able to correctly identify cases of concern 89.7 percent of the time.

As Mariakakis notes, jaundice does not necessarily equate to pancreatic cancer, but recognizing elevated levels of it in the eye could be a sign that an individual should consult a physician.

As exciting as this is, Mariakakis points out it will take longer before it is ready to be made available as a clinical tool. “Giving people information that could lead them to believe they have a serious medical condition is not something we take lightly, so there is more research to be done before we get to that point,” he said.

A paper describing the project can be read here. It will be presented in September at Ubicomp 2017, the Association for Computing Machinery’s International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing.

Mobile app can screen for pancreatic cancer when users snap a quick selfie

Why it matters to you

The University of Washington’s new mobile app can screen for one of the deadliest forms of cancer in a non-invasive way.

There have been a few examples of research we covered that have used machine learning technology to diagnose cancer. None of them have been quite like the University of Washington’s BiliScreen project, however. In an attempt to diagnose cancer, researchers at the university have developed a smartphone app that is capable of carrying out a screening by asking users to snap a quick selfie. Could there be a more 2017 medical diagnosis tool?

But if the idea sounds whimsical, the problem it is helping to solve is anything but. The type of cancer the researchers are interested in is pancreatic cancer, a particularly nasty type of cancer with a five-year survival rate of just nine percent. (Pancreatic cancer was the cause of death of former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs). Making pancreatic cancer hard to spot is the fact that it does not display obvious telltale symptoms which allow people to catch it prior to it spreading. That is where the University of Washington’s new smartphone app enters the frame.

“BiliScreen is a smartphone app we are developing to quantify the extent of jaundice in an individual,” Alex Mariakakis, a doctoral student at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, told Digital Trends. “Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to the buildup of a compound called bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice becomes obvious to the naked eye at 3.0 mg/dl, but clinicians start to be concerned at only 1.3 mg/dl, leaving a gap where detection could be important. There are many reasons why someone may become jaundiced, including hepatitis and Gilbert’s syndrome. What we are most excited about, [though], is the fact that jaundice is one of earlier symptoms that appears in people who have pancreatic cancer.”

Dennis Wise, University of Washington

The app works by using a smartphone camera, along with computer vision algorithms and machine-learning tools, to look for increased bilirubin levels in the white part of a person’s eye. In an initial clinical study of 70 people, the app — along with a 3D-printed box that controls the eye’s exposure to light — was able to correctly identify cases of concern 89.7 percent of the time.

As Mariakakis notes, jaundice does not necessarily equate to pancreatic cancer, but recognizing elevated levels of it in the eye could be a sign that an individual should consult a physician.

As exciting as this is, Mariakakis points out it will take longer before it is ready to be made available as a clinical tool. “Giving people information that could lead them to believe they have a serious medical condition is not something we take lightly, so there is more research to be done before we get to that point,” he said.

A paper describing the project can be read here. It will be presented in September at Ubicomp 2017, the Association for Computing Machinery’s International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing.

LG 34UC89G review

Research Center:
LG 34UC89G

LG has long produced monitors fit for gaming without slapping any of that obnoxious style on them. High refresh rates, adaptive refresh tech, and quick response times are par for the course in LG’s screens, rather than features reserved for displays with gaming slapped in front of them. It’s a path that has worked well for the brand in the past, but as our LG 34UC89G review demonstrates, making that final step into gaming is risky.

That’s because the LG 34UC89G stretches a 2,560 x 1,080 resolution to its very limit to fit onto a 34-inch ultrawide panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio. It compensates with Nvidia G-Sync for adaptive refresh, 144Hz maximum refresh rate, with up to 166Hz on overclock, and just a five-millisecond response time.

The decidedly gamer-focused model is available for $900, a high price point for a 1080p screen, even one tricked out with a modern feature set.

Black and red and hardcore all over

The LG 34UC89G’s design draws heavily from its home and office counterparts, except for a new coat of paint. Where most LG displays reach for a greyish-silver color, this screen is decked out in a combination of matte and high-gloss black, with touches of red. This change of pace feels about four years too late, as the gaming community has largely grown tired of the now-cliché red and black color scheme.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The other problem is that this new color palette leaves more plastic than metal exposed, and this includes the stand. Though it does its job well enough, we did notice a lot of twist in the neck of the stand when the monitor was directly bumped or jostle. It won’t break break, but we do think it’s disappointing to see on a $900 monitor.

At least the stand offers ergonomic options. It can adjust for height and tilt, which puts it on par with other high-end ultrawide monitors. VESA mounting is supported, too, so you can replace the stand with another option if you’d like.

More ports, please

Ultrawide displays have no shortage of real estate for ports, which makes the LG 34UC89G’s somewhat limited selection a bit of a disappointment. The inputs include just one DisplayPort, one HDMI input, 3.5mm audio out, and a 2-port USB 3.0 hub. Most other ultrawide screen packs in more ports, including LG’s own competing 3,440 x 1,440 screen, which has Type-C. Even a bump to four ports on the USB hub would’ve made the screen more competitive.

Even the menus are red and black

The on-screen controls are managed through a nub directly under the center of the screen, which moves in four directions and clicks in, like a button. It’s a common control scheme, particularly for ultrawide screens. LG’s implementation is responsive, where touch sensitive buttons with poor reaction times have become the norm.

The stand can adjust for height and tilt, which puts it on par with other high-end ultrawide monitors.

Fitting with the gaming theme, the menus have been painted with the familiar red-and-black gamer brush, with some extra jagged edges and glitch patterns to really drive home the point. The main menu features a row of large status indicators with information about the current input, resolution, and refresh rate at a glance.

Dig deeper into the menus, and you’ll find a wider selection of options and preset modes for the screen. There are game modes for FPS and RTS titles, which affect a variety of options from response time to gamma. Under the game adjust menu, you’ll find overclocking, which can push the refresh rate from 144Hz to 166Hz. There’s also an on-screen crosshair feature, so you can cheat in games that don’t offer it by default.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

For more typical screen options, the picture adjustment sub-menu has sliders for brightness and contrast, gamma, and color temperature, although only in terms of “warm” or “cool” rather than by Kelvin. There are also individual RGB sliders for fine-tuning the color palette. Finally, a general tab catches settings like language, power LED behavior, standby times, and quick charge settings.

All in all, the menus are solid for a gaming display. LG provides more options than we’re used to seeing, and navigating between them wasn’t a chore.

How does it look?

In addition to our subjective impressions from our time with the screen, we used Datacolor’s Spyder5Elite to measure the screen’s objective qualities. It gives us a chance to evaluate the screen on a level playing field, with other screens that aren’t in the office anymore.

On paper, the LG 34UC89G scored some important wins. Its 920:1 contrast ratio is a strong score for the category, and only falls short of the Acer Z35, a screen in a very similar position to the LG. We also measured a 330-nits maximum brightness, where we generally consider anything over 300 to be a strong enough score for a desktop display. The LG scored a 2.3 for gamma, which is just slightly higher than the ideal 2.2, so images may appear a little on the dark side out of the box.

The LG’s color gamut was a similar story, covering 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum and 80 percent of the AdobeRGB spectrum. Most high-end panels fall right in the same range, particularly ultrawide screens, as there are only a limited number of manufactures building curved 21:9 panels – and LG is one of them.

LG’s menus have more options than we’re used to seeing, and navigating between them wasn’t a chore.

The LG also did well in color accuracy, although it didn’t beat competitors by a wide margin. Its score fell at 1.94, while the Acer Z35 and Samsung CF791 sitting closer to 2.5. A lower score is better for color accuracy, and anything under one is generally considered undetectable by the human eye, an honor only the LG’s higher-resolution 34UC98 can claim in this category.

Subjectively, the deep contrast and sharp color reproduction are definitely strong suits for the screen. That means games and movies look full and life-like.

There is a problem, however. The resolution. Stretching 2,560 x 1,080 across 34 inches, the LG 34UC89G crams just 82 pixels into each inch, a good deal behind the 110 PPI offered on the 3,440 x 1,440 options of the same size. As with the Acer Z35 – another big-screen, low-resolution display – sharpness can be a concern. Games that rely on many fine elements (like online role-playing games) can appear lackluster, as the resolution results in chunky text and interface art.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

To be fair, the LG 34UC89G’s resolution is intended. This monitor is built around its very high refresh rate. That means your computer needs to be putting out frames quickly – preferably, at 144 frames per second – to see the full benefit. Very few PCs can do that at 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, so 2,560 x 1,080 is a necessary compromise.

Here’s the thing, though. We’re not convinced a high refresh rate is better than a sharp picture. Samsung’s CF791 refreshes at a less impressive 100Hz, but it looks incredible. Ideally, we’d like to have both the refresh rate and image quality but, forced to choose, we have to pick the latter. Not everyone will agree with that, though, and we know that. The LG 34UC89G will look attractive if you prefer the opposite.

Fine tuning

The Spyder5Elite doesn’t just read the screen’s potential performance, it can also help knock it into shape. In this case, calibration was able to push the already solid gamma and color accuracy readings closer to perfection. Gamma settled into an ideal 2.2 score, from 2.3 before calibration. Color accuracy dropped from 1.94 to 1.28, as well, which is a fairly sizable improvement.

LG 34UC89G Compared To

Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW

Acer Predator XB272 Gaming Monitor

BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor

Dell S2418H

LG 27MD5KA‑B Ultrafine 5K

Samsung CF791

Dell U3417W

Samsung CFG70

LG 38UC99

Dell s2417DG

Dell S2716DG

HP Dreamcolor Z32x

BenQ BL3201PH

Samsung U32D970Q

LG 34UM95

Warranty information

LG covers the 34UC89G for one year of manufacturer defects, a paltry offering compared to other high-end screens, almost all of which feature three year warranties. This continues to be a thorn in LG’s side, and we’d like to see the company respond by improving its warranty terms.

Our Take

LG’s ambitious 34UC89G is certainly a step in the right direction for ultrawide monitors. High refresh rate screens are just starting to make their way to the aspect ratio, and this initial effort by LG shows how much smooth gameplay can facilitate immersion. At $900, however, it competes with some of the best ultrawide monitors around, including LG’s own offerings.

Is there a better alternative?

$900 is a lot to spend on a monitor, and there are lots of competing options. Samsung’s CF791 is a solid alternative for $50 less that’s sporting a 100Hz refresh rate, 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and AMD FreeSync, for those on team Radeon. It even features quantum dots, which allows for a wide color gamut.

How long will it last?

We see buying a monitor as an investment, and the right screen can stick with you for years, across several systems. The LG’s refresh rate is high, but its resolution is low in a world of increasingly high-resolution media. More streaming services and games are supporting 1440p and 4K resolution, and spending $900 on a monitor that’s only 1080p is a tough call in 2017.

Should you buy it?

No. While LG’s gaming-oriented 34UC89G checks off a lot of boxes for solid contrast, brightness, and color accuracy, the screen’s comparatively low resolution is a real turn-off. By bringing 144Hz and higher refresh rates to the ultrawide platform, the LG 34UC89G should excite us, but there are just too many problems to ignore. The resolution is far too low for the size, the connectivity and warranty are limited, and at $850, the Samsung CF791 offers a much better value.

Tumblr adds three useful ways to post from your mobile device

Tumblr keeps improving its mobile apps, adding to already useful features like photo filters, instant messaging, stickers and GIF posts to keep your interactions fresh and interesting. The microblogging service just announced three new ways to post from the mobile apps, including images in reblog posts, fun new text styles for text posts, and the ability to drag and drop paragraphs and images within blog posts.

Now you can add your own images when you reblog another Tumblr users post, which should help when you want to make a visual comment. If text posts are more your thing, you’ll be able to style your post with headers, lists and use serif, fancy cursive and typewriter fonts to get your point across. Instead of cutting and pasting your various elements, now you can just tap and drag them around in the mobile app.

Source: Tumblr

The first water-resistant BlackBerry will ditch the keyboard

TCL, the Chinese conglomerate that produces phones under the BlackBerry name, is going to broaden its appeal to more than just keyboard devotees. The company has revealed to Engadget that it will launch a full touchscreen device under the BlackBerry name at some point in October. It may not be a Z10, or even a Storm (or Thunder), but if you were looking to get your mitts on a keyboard-free BlackBerry, it’s coming.

Granted, TCL’s DTEK 50 and 60 phones were also all-screen, but this is different. Details are, perhaps obviously, fairly scarce about the as-yet unannounced device, but we managed to glean tidbits from TCL’s François Mahieu. Mahieu explains that TCL will respect BlackBerry’s reputation for building hard-wearing devices for clumsy international travelers who will be working in all weathers. The main feature, beyond the full-touchscreen, is the (planned) IP67 water and dust-proofing, as well as a battery rated to last for more than 26 hours of mixed use. Mahieu believes that durability and longevity will be two of the biggest selling points, a long-lasting phone that’ll keep going long after your iPhone has conked out.

Mahieu feels bold enough to claim that he expects a number of iPhone and Galaxy users to “make the switch” to BlackBerry come October. Of course, these handsets now run Android, which means that it’s far harder to make it stand out from the crowd. Mahieu continues to believe that BlackBerry’s security know-how will enable TCL to deliver the “most secure Android phone in the world.” Although given the failure of so many ultra-secure Android devices to sell, his confidence seems — at least right now — misplaced.

But TCL is used to combating cynicism with people looking down their nose at BlackBerry in its new after-life as a white label brand. Mahieu said that users shouldn’t write off BlackBerry just because it doesn’t stand toe-to-toe against Apple and Samsung. “We are there to play,” he explained, “we’re just playing with different cards,” mostly by pushing its strengths of battery life, security and durability. As for pricing, it’s likely that the device will cost less than other flagships.

Of course, we’ve already seen a BlackBerry device with a large display unencumbered by a physical keyboard. The Priv hid its physical input device in its slider, and so could actually work as a phone for touchscreen devotees. And given how well that device sold — prompting BlackBerry to abandon producing hardware altogether — it’s going to be interesting to see how TCL can avoid history repeating.

TCL is banking on certified water and dust-resistance as a draw, and it’s not clear how many people were waiting for that as a reason to make the switch. But Mahieu is hinting that the company is “marching towards millions” of device sales, although it’s not clear how many models it needs to shift before it can be considered a success.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Uber may face federal investigation over foreign bribery

Uber’s new CEO might have a lot of trouble on his plate. The Wall Street Journal has learned that the US Department of Justice is taking preliminary steps to determine whether or not Uber managers broke American laws barring foreign bribery. Reportedly, there are claims the ridesharing firm paid foreign officials to either get or maintain business. These are just tentative steps and may not lead to anything, but there could be a full-on investigation if the DOJ finds enough evidence.

The WSJ’s sources haven’t said whether this is focused on bribery in one country, or is part of a broader look into Uber’s foreign operations.

The DOJ has declined to say whether or not there’s an investigation underway “as a matter of policy.” However, Uber says it’s cooperating with the preliminary investigation. Clearly, the cat’s out of the bag.

If this leads to a full investigation, it could be one of the biggest problems yet for a company that’s no stranger to crises. Uber has faced plenty of past accusations of lawbreaking, but this would be particularly grave — the DOJ would be accusing Uber of nothing less than systematic corruption. Even if Uber has already cleaned up its act by booting key executives, it would still have to deal with the legal fallout and prove that any questionable dealings are a thing of the past.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Cummins unveils an electric big rig weeks before Tesla

Sorry, Tesla, but someone just stole the thunder from the electric big rig you were planning to unveil this fall. The engine giant Cummins has unveiled a concept semi truck, the AEOS, that runs entirely on the power of an electric motor and a 140kWh battery pack. It’s roughly as powerful as a 12-liter fossil fuel engine and could haul 44,000 pounds of cargo, just without the emissions or rampant fuel costs of a conventional truck. There’s speedy 1-hour charging, and Cummins is even looking at solar panels on the trailer to extend range. It’s a promising offering, although Elon Musk and crew might not lose too much sleep knowing the limitations.

For one thing, range is a sore point. You’re looking at a modest 100-mile range with that 140kWh pack. That’s fine for inter-city deliveries, but it won’t cut the mustard for longer trips. And while there’s talk of extending that distance to 300 miles with extra packs, that would only make it competitive with Tesla’s anticipated 200- to 300-mile range.

And more importantly, this is a concept, not a production vehicle ready to roll off the manufacturing line. There should be a production model in a couple of years, according to CNET, but that gives Tesla plenty of time to get its own EV semi on the road. Not that we’re going to complain about both companies having a fighting chance — more electric big rigs means more competition and fewer polluting trucks.

Via: IndyStar, CNET

Source: Cummins (1), (2)

Apple Shares New Augmented Reality Resources for Developers

Apple today updated its developer site with new sample code for ARKit, providing developers with additional details on what can be done with the upcoming feature.

According to Apple, the new code is available alongside new ARKit “best practices” published in the Human Interface Guidelines. Apple also asks developers working on an “amazing” ARKit experience to share it with the company.

Design intuitive augmented reality experiences for iOS using the best practices now available in the Human Interface Guidelines, and explore new sample code for ARKit. We can’t wait for your apps to be available to hundreds of millions of people with the launch of iOS 11 this fall. If you’re working on creating an amazing experience with ARKit and would like to share it with us, let us know.

The new demos cover interactive content in ARKit and audio in ARKit, while the Human Interface Guidelines cover ideal app design like using the entire display, creating convincing illusions, being mindful of user safety, interacting with virtual objects, positioning virtual objects, and more.

Along with new ARKit info, Apple today also informed developers that starting in the fall, apps will need to support App Store transactions of promoted in-app purchases for in-app purchases to be properly displayed on the App Store.

iOS 11 includes new functionality that will let users browse in-app purchases from the App Store app and purchase them before downloading an app, and developers will need to implement support when the GM version of the Xcode 9 is released.

With iOS 11, users can browse in-app purchases directly on the App Store and start a purchase even before downloading your app. During the iOS 11 beta period, promoted in-app purchases are displayed on the App Store without the ability to buy. Starting this fall, your app must handle App Store transactions of promoted in-app purchases in order for your in-app purchases to be displayed on the App Store. Once the GM version of Xcode 9 is released, simply implement the new delegate method within SKPaymentTransactionObserver, rebuild your app, and submit for review. You can also customize which promoted in-app purchases a user sees on a specific device with the SKProductStorePromotionController API.

Apple is expected to release iOS 11 in September alongside new iPhones, and that’s when the first ARKit apps will become available for download.

Tag: ARKit
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