Apple Watch Series 3 Battery Lasts Up to 18 Hours, But Varies Based on Activity

Apple says its Apple Watch Series 3 offers “all-day battery life” with 18 hours of usage, but in some cases, the LTE model’s battery will drain more quickly.

The 18-hour usage metric includes 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback, and on the LTE model, it includes 4 hours of LTE connection and 14 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth.

When talking on the Apple Watch or working out, though, battery life is shorter when using an LTE connection.

The Series 3 Apple Watch offers 1 hour of battery life when talking to someone on the phone over LTE, or three hours when connected to the iPhone.

For audio playback when connected to the iPhone, the Apple Watch battery will last for up to 10 hours, which is an improvement over the Series 2 (6.5 hours). Apple does not mention how long the battery will last when listening to music over an LTE connection, but the Apple Watch Series 3 will support streaming from Apple Music without an iPhone.

When it comes to workouts, the Apple Watch battery will last for up to 10 hours during an indoor workout with an iPhone nearby, but that number drops for an outdoor workout sans iPhone. With just GPS activated, the battery in the Series 3 Apple Watch will last for five hours (the same battery life as the Series 2 with GPS on), and when connected to LTE and GPS the battery will last for four hours during an outdoor workout.

According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 3 will charge to 80 percent in one and a half hours and 100 percent in two hours using the included Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable. These charging numbers are identical to the Apple Watch Series 2.

Apple’s Series 3 Apple Watch models will be available for pre-order on September 15, with the device launching on September 22. Pricing starts at $329 for non-LTE models, and $399 for LTE models.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 3, watchOS 4
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Don’t Buy)
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AOMEI Backupper – Merge All Your Backup Versions into a Single Image File

Now more and more people wish to restore their data to a point-in-time specified by an incremental backup image. But how do you achieve that? Is there an easy way to merge all your backup versions into a single image file? The answer be in the affirmative. Today we will introduce you a very practical  backup tool AOMEI Backupper. AOMEI Backupper is a best free backup software that can help you merge all your backup versions into a single image file easily! Also, it has other function such as system backup, files/folders backup, partition backup.etc. AOMEI Backupper supports all Windows versions including Windows 7/8/10/8.1/XP/Vista.

AOMEI Backupper  has been updated to 4.0.6!  What’s new in Version 4.0.6?

• Added new multiple languages: Italian (Italiano), Dutch (Nederlands), Spanish (Español) and Turkish (Türkçe). Now AOMEI Backupper supports 10 languages. How to change the language on AOMEI Backupper.
• Fixed issue: antivirus software like Avira falsely report AOMEI Backupper as Adware or gen2.

How to merge all backup versions into a single image file with AOMEI Backupper?

Step1. In the left Tab, select Utilities and then select Merge Images.

Step2. Select a backup task that you want to merge. If you could not find the backup from the list box, you can click Browse to locate it. Then click the Next button to the next step.

Step3. You can now view all image files in the backup task, which are about to be merged into one. Click the Next button.

Step4. Select a location to save the new, merged image file. You may save to the original directory or specify a new directory to save it.

Step5. Finally, click the Proceed button to merge the image files and wait for the process to complete.

After Words

AOMEI Backupper is also a professional and powerful system image creating and system recovery software. The best PC backup software is easy to use and performs exceptionally well. If your system is Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 10 (not XP or Vista) , you can download backup software with smaller installation package size.

Relive your best wolfy Zelda moments with ‘Okami’ remaster

It would give me great pleasure to name Twilight Princess the best Zelda game of the 2000s (you heard me, Skyward Sword fans), but it would be untrue — that crown belongs to Okami. First released in 2006 as one of the last games to come out on PS2, its gorgeous watercolor-style animation, mystical world and magical paintbrush mechanics made it an instant classic. Two (and a half) console generations later, PS4, Xbox One and PC owners are getting a remastered version on December 12th for $20.

Okami HD, one of the most beautiful games ever created, journeys onto PS4, XB1 and PC on 12/12. https://t.co/mZQN26OKbn 🐺🐺🐺🐺 pic.twitter.com/2E7TrcbZEi

— Capcom UK (@Capcom_UK) September 12, 2017

For the uninitiated, the Japanese folklore-inspired Okami follows the wolf goddess Amaterasu’s journey to purge ancient Japan of evil along with her tiny, magic brush-wielding pal Issun. It follows standard Zelda progression — adventure, gain powers, defeat bosses — but in tranquil nature rendered in absolutely stunning ink-and-watercolor design. Developer Clover Studios originally styled the game realistically, but pivoted to its now-iconic painterly look. Unfortunately, Okami was a critical but not commercial success, and following an exodus of Clover’s top staff, parent company Capcom closed the studio shortly after the game’s release.

The game became a much-beloved cult classic and was ported to the Wii (making spotty use of its motion controls for the brush gameplay) and was later remastered for PS3 in 2012. The newest version out this December, Okami HD, will feature 4K resolution on the Xbox One X, PS4 Pro and PC. Don’t be discouraged, vanilla PS4/Xbox One console owners: This game is worth picking up if you’ve never had the pleasure. All formats will be digital-only releases for $20, so download ’em while they’re hot.

Source: Capcom

Facebook nabs reality show with NFL star Marshawn Lynch

Facebook is determined to make its Watch section a go-to place for video, and that means spending big bucks for original shows. Time Warner’s Bleacher Report tells Reuters that Facebook is spending “millions of dollars” to secure No Script, a reality TV show that revolves around Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch. The show will launch later in September, with eight short (10 to 15 minutes) episodes covering Lynch’s “antics” — the first has him learning to drive a race car until he ruins the tires.

The company isn’t commenting on its spending. With that said, it’s not at all surprising that Facebook would snap up a show on Lynch. Sports are a major draw on Facebook, and it doesn’t get much bigger than a Super Bowl-winning player who’s coming back to the game after a brief retirement. The question is whether or not this and other Watch-specific shows are enough to reel people in. Many people are happy to watch short clips on the social network, but it’s too early to say whether or not many people are willing to head to Facebook for professional programming instead of heading to YouTube or subscribing to the likes of Amazon and Netflix.

Source: Reuters

‘Destiny 2’ studio will remove armor that looks like a ‘hate symbol’

Destiny 2 came out much fanfare September 5th, with a much-improved storyline and a better shared-world experience. One of the fun bits of the meta gameplay is finding improved armor and weapons that can make your Guardian even more of a badass than before. On Twitter, developer Bungie said that it had found a set of gauntlets (armor gloves) that shared “elements with a hate symbol.” The development team promised that this was “not intentional,” and that it will be “removing it.”

1/2 It’s come to our attention that a gauntlet in Destiny 2 shares elements with a hate symbol. It is not intentional. We are removing it.

— Bungie (@Bungie) September 12, 2017

A second tweet offered the company’s deepest apologies, saying that such hate symbols do not represent its values. The team is “working quickly to correct this. We renounce hate in all forms.”

While Bungie gave no specifics as to which armored gauntlet it was referring to, Polygon reports that a Reddit user thinks that they have figured it out. According to the Destiny 2 subreddit, the Road Complex AA1 gauntlets have a symbol on the shoulder that looks similar to the fictional flag of Kekistan, which some associate with the alt-right and hate-groups. The Kekistan flag itself seems to share much in common with the Nazi flag flown by Germany in World War II. We’ve reached out to Bungie to find out more on this matter and will update this post when we hear back.

Via: Polygon

Source: Bungie/Twitter

Apple’s New iPhone Lineup: SE for $349, 6s for $449, 7 for $549, 8 for $699, X for $999

With the introduction of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, Apple has lowered its prices on previous iPhone models, introducing a new iPhone lineup that offers devices at a range of different price points.

The 4-inch iPhone SE continues to be Apple’s most affordable iPhone, but it has a new lower price point. Pricing on the iPhone SE starts at $349 for the 32GB version and goes up to $449 for the 128GB version. With carrier financing, prices start at $14.55 per month.

The iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus are the middle-tier devices, available in 32 and 128GB capacities. Pricing on the iPhone 6s starts at $449 ($18.71/month with carrier financing), while pricing on the iPhone 6s Plus starts at $549 ($22.88/month with carrier financing).

Apple is continuing to offer the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, also in 32 and 128GB capacities. Pricing on the iPhone 7 starts at $549 ($22.80/month with carrier financing) and pricing on the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $669 ($27.88/month with carrier financing).

Apple’s new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are available in 64 and 256GB capacities. The iPhone 8 is priced at $699 for the 64GB model and $849 for the 256GB model. With the iPhone Upgrade Program, prices start at $34.50 per month.

The iPhone 8 Plus is priced at $799 for the 64GB model and $949 for the 256GB model. With the iPhone Upgrade Program, prices start at $39.50 per month.

The iPhone X is the new flagship high-end iPhone, available in 64 and 256GB capacities. The 64GB iPhone X is priced at $999, or $49.91 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program, while the 256GB model is priced at $1,149 or $56.16 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program.

The iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 15, with the devices launching on September 22. The iPhone X will be available for pre-order on October 27 ahead of a November 3 launch.

Related Roundups: iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone X
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Don’t Buy), iPhone SE (Caution)
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Charitybuzz Auctioning Off Vintage ‘Schoolsky’ Apple-1 Computer

Charitybuzz today launched an auction for a rare Apple-1 computer known as the “Schoolsky” Apple-1. The Schoolsky Apple-1 earned its name from Adam Schoolsky, who was gifted the computer by Steve Wozniak when he worked at Apple. It was never sold to the public.

David Larson, who purchased the computer from Adam Schoolsky in 1994, is selling it via Charitybuzz. The Apple-1 was constructed by Steve Wozniak and it is in working condition.

It comes with an original Apple-1 operation manual, original box, Apple-1 Cassette Interface Card and early cassette, an original advertisement for the Apple-1, three issues of 1970s magazine the Silicon Gulch Gazette, a conference program for the first West Coast Computer Faire, a letter from Adam Schoolsky to David Larson, a drawing from original Apple employee Ron Wayne, and more.

The Apple-1 Cassette Interface Card in particular is a rare find with an Apple-1, as most of the surviving machines do not include it. The card is designed to allow the Apple-1 to be connected to a cassette recorder.

Back when the company was first founded, Apple made 175 Apple-1 machines by hand. Only 50 to 60 of the machines still exist today, and just a handful of those are functional.

Previous Apple-1 auctions have brought in up to $905,000. The last Charitybuzz auction for an Apple-1, the “Celebration” model, sold for $815,000.

A portion of the proceeds from the Charitybuzz auction will benefit the Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, aka FAIRS. Founded in 1991, FAIRS educates citizens about disaster preparedness and provides radio equipment and technology for areas in need.
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AI re-creates ‘Super Mario Bros.’ game engine by watching gameplay footage

Why it matters to you

AIs aren’t just getting good at playing video games — they are teaching themselves about how they work under the hood based on nothing more than video footage.

Over the past few years, we have seen various attempts to teach an artificial intelligence how to play a video game. Now, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Interactive Computing published a paper outlining a method of teaching AI how to learn a game engine.

In previous projects, the AI has only been instructed on how to excel at a particular game. This study goes one step further, aiming to instill a deeper understanding of the mechanics at play, rather than just the fastest route to success.

The researchers decided to use Super Mario Bros. for the study, describing it in the paper as a “classic platformer.” The same game was at the core of previous researchers performed by the study’s authors, which developed an AI that was capable of creating new stages in the vein of those seen in the original.

For the purposes of this research, the AI was not given access to the game’s code, which would make it very easy for it to understand things like the height that the character could achieve with a jump or the effect various enemies had on the protagonist. Instead, it was fed video footage that it used to make assumptions how the game engine worked.

The footage was analyzed via a three-step process, starting with a scan that determines which objects were present in a given frame. A greedy matching algorithm was then run over a pair of adjacent frames to gauge changes made to those objects before each frame was parsed — if the second frame differed beyond a set amount from what the system expected to see in the next frame, an engine search would be performed.

“We anticipate this technique to aid in applications for automated game playing, explainable AI, gameplay transfer, and game design tasks such as automated game design,” the team states in the paper.

However, there are some limitations to the AI in its current form. For one, the technique that is currently in place doesn’t take player death or level transitions into account, but the team hopes to address this issue in a future study.

Here are five things we like about the iPhone X (and two we don’t)

Not content with two next-generation iPhones (the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus), Apple chose to give its audience a third helping with the iPhone X (pronounced “ten”). Apple hails the new phone as the future of the smartphone, and while such lofty praise is nothing new from the company, the iPhone X does have some nifty features. Here are five things we like about the iPhone X, and a couple things we don’t.

What we like

No more home button

Lately, Apple seems driven to ax features from its products. First went the headphone jack, now the home button. Whereas the removal of the headphone jack was a travesty for anyone who prefers to listen to music on a nice pair of wired headphones — and drew criticism at the time of announcement — it’s doubtful anyone will miss the home button. The iPhone X’s display now runs edge-to-edge, top-to-bottom, and users can return to the home screen with a simple swipe. Although the iPhone X still has buttons on the sides, the removal of the home button is the next step toward a gesture-oriented future for smartphones, and it contributes to the phone’s minimalist appearance.

FaceID could be convenient

The home button didn’t just let you jump to the home screen, however; it also contained a fingerprint sensor for easy unlocking. Apple has decided that fingerprint scanners are old hat, apparently, and the iPhone X instead uses a robust suite of sensors to scan the user’s face, immediately unlocking whenever they look at the phone. Apple claims that FaceID will even adapt to changes in the user’s face, so if you grow a beard or put on a funny hat, your phone should still recognize you. This could theoretically remove even the tiny inconvenience of pressing your thumb to a sensor, although any technical hiccups would be annoying.

True Depth camera system makes for lovely photos

People use their iPhones as much for photography as for calls these days, and Apple has continually upgraded the cameras in its phones for ever more beautiful photographs. The True Depth camera system not only lets you unlock your phone with a glance, but it makes for some nifty social features, too. The advanced front-facing camera allows users to use the new Portrait lighting feature for stunning selfies. In a wacky twist, users can also use the camera system to create “animoji,” emoji you can animate using facial movements, even recording voice messages. Some might say this ruins the elegance of old-fashioned emoji, but the animoji feature at least looks fun.

Longer battery life

All this new hardware under the hood seems like it would require sacrifices, specifically to battery life, but Apple claims that the iPhone X’s battery will actually last two hours longer than the iPhone 7’s. That’s a nice boon, especially paired with the next feature.

Wireless charging

Is there anything worse than fumbling with a cord as you try to plug your phone in while in a moving car, or lugging your bags around an airport, or simply lying in bed in the dark? The iPhone X can eliminate that frustration via Qi wireless charging technology. Apple is even rolling out its own AirPower charging mat, which accommodate the iPhone X, Apple Watch, and AirPods, and is large enough to fit all of them at the same time. That means no more fighting with your friend for control of the one USB cable in the room!

What we don’t like

All-glass display could be fragile?

The iPhone X sports glass on the front and back, and while that contributes to the phone’s sleek aesthetic, it also poses some risks. Will the glass scratch or even shatter if one drops their phone? Will the glass be prone to fingerprints and smudging, a problem exacerbated by the increased focus on swiping and other gestures? These are concerns that have arisen with other glass-screen phones; it may behoove you to get a sturdy case for your iPhone X.

Is FaceID the next step toward a cyberpunk future?

The iPhone X’s face-scanning technology may be a convenient way to unlock your phone, but it also raises some unsettling concerns about privacy. In a world where massive data leaks are commonplace (and protections for consumers scarce), how safe is it to have a detailed, digital scan of your face stored on your phone? Imagine a world where face-scanning becomes commonplace, where it can be used for everything from unlocking your front door to making a withdrawal at an ATM.

What happens if data thieves can then steal your face? Even if hackers never manage to get your face-scan data, one should always be concerned about what corporations like Apple are doing with it. For years now, tech companies have been stretching their tendrils into every facet of consumer’s lives, and handing over biometric data is yet another concession to the growing power of corporations.

Microsoft, Google patching ‘BlueBorne’ vulnerabilities linked to Bluetooth

Why it matters to you

Microsoft and Google are now issuing patches to fix vulnerabilities related to Bluetooth, but you may want to switch it off on other platforms for now.

Bluetooth was originally created in 1998 to serve as a secure short-range wireless connection between two devices. It pairs our wireless mice to our laptops, our smartwatches to our smartphones, and so on. But a recent report published by security firm Armis points to eight Bluetooth-related vulnerabilities — four of which are critical — that reside on more than 5 billion Android, Windows, Linux, and pre-iOS 10 devices. The company dubs this “epidemic” as BlueBorne.

“These vulnerabilities are the most serious Bluetooth vulnerabilities identified to date,” Armis said on Tuesday. “Previously identified flaws found in Bluetooth were primarily at the protocol level. These new vulnerabilities are at the implementation level, bypassing the various authentication mechanisms, and enabling a complete takeover of the target device.”

The problem starts with the complexity of Bluetooth itself. The specification stretches across 2,822 pages, which is massive compared to the base Wi-Fi specification (802.11) consisting of only 450 pages. Because of its complexity, Bluetooth does not receive the same scrutinized audits as other less-complicated protocols. That means vulnerabilities get buried as Bluetooth evolves.

Many issues prior to Bluetooth v2.1 were resolved with the introduction of Secure Simple Pairing, thus the security community shifted its attention away from Bluetooth. But a thorough inspection still needed to be performed and Armis says that its discovery of eight vulnerabilities in a recent analysis of Bluetooth could very well be “the tip of the iceberg.”

Overall, the BlueBorne set of vulnerabilities can enable a hacker to take control of a device, access its content, and use it to infect other Bluetooth-enabled devices with malware. Outside the actual vulnerabilities, the root of the issue stems from keeping Bluetooth turned on. A device will listen for Bluetooth traffic even if it is not set to discoverable mode, so all a hacker needs to know is its Bluetooth device address (BDADDR), and its MAC address.

But how do you get this information? By using open-source hardware sold online that can sniff out encrypted Bluetooth connections passing through the air. These packets of information contain plain text data pointing to the Bluetooth device address. Hackers can then use that address to send unicast traffic if they are within physical proximity of the target device.

“If the device generates no Bluetooth traffic, and is only listening, it is still possible to ‘guess’ the BDADDR, by sniffing its Wi-Fi traffic,” the firm explains. “This is viable since Wi-Fi MAC addresses appear unencrypted over the air, and due to the MACs of internal Bluetooth/Wi-Fi adapters are either the same, or only differ in the last digit.”

Device owners may want to switch Bluetooth off in public until patches are released by original equipment manufacturers and platform developers. This especially holds true in corporate environments where an attacker could gain access to multiple devices, and then hop onto the local network to steal data, and more. BlueBorne should not be an issue within the home environment.

Google and Microsoft released patches on Tuesday, September 12 to address the eight vulnerabilities. Other OEMs and platform developers are working on patches as well.