Apple’s Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad Now Ships in 6-7 Weeks as Refresh Possible Alongside iMac Pro

Apple’s Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad is now estimated to ship in 6-7 weeks in the United States and several other countries, fueling speculation that a refreshed model could be released alongside the iMac Pro in December.

The extended wireless keyboard was just released alongside WWDC 2017 in June, so any possible update could be relatively minor.

The eject key could be replaced with a dedicated Siri key, for example, given the iMac hasn’t had a built-in SuperDrive for CDs/DVDs since the Mid 2011 model. Siri is located in the same position above the delete key on the Touch Bar.

Apple will be releasing the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2 in Space Gray exclusively for the iMac Pro as well, so the shipping estimate could be related to the new color being on the horizon.

Last year, a report claimed Apple was exploring a standalone keyboard with a Touch Bar and Touch ID for desktop computers like the iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini, but it’s unclear if the product is still on the company’s roadmap.

It’s common for Apple products to face lengthy shipping estimates when they are due for an upcoming refresh, but it could also be nothing more than routine fluctuations in supply, especially given how niche this keyboard is.

(Thanks, Keir Ansell!)

Tag: Magic Keyboard
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The Morning After: Friday, October 13th 2017

Good morning! Yesterday, we got a date for a giant robot battle, the chance to win tickets (and gadgets) for the Engadget Experience, and Virgin joined the Hyperloop… hype.

I don’t recognize myself on social media anymore.
Fear of the US government led me to censor myself on Twitter

Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low discusses the Department of Homeland Security’s modified system of records, and how it would allow the DHS, Border Patrol and other immigration authorities to collect social media handles as part of an individual’s official record. Working in the US on a visa, she was immediately worried about how it would affect her standing — and it’s already changed how she uses social media.

Free tickets, travel and gadgets.Win a trip to LA and two tickets to the Engadget Experience

Next month we’re hosting a series of futuristic art installations and panels, bringing together the brightest minds in art and technology. To make the Engadget Experience happen, we gave out $100,000 apiece to five visionaries making art out of VR, artificial intelligence and even search results. We are so excited to showcase our winners at LA’s Ace Hotel on November 14th. Tickets are on sale now, but one lucky reader can win two free tickets — plus a boatload of other stuff. We’re also throwing in a two-night stay at the Ace Hotel, a $1,000 airfare stipend and a collection of gadgets that includes a Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Gear VR and more. Enter here to win — good luck!

It wasn’t a hack, but it wasn’t good either.
Malicious code spotted on Equifax’s website

As if the company didn’t have enough problems, a malicious Flash pop-up appeared on its customer site. An Equifax rep said the company’s website was not compromised, and the errant Flash downloader came from one of its vendors’ code — but it raised concerns of another hacker attack. According to Equifax: “Since we learned of the issue, the vendor’s code was removed from the webpage and we have taken the webpage offline to conduct further analysis.”

Moving forward.
Richard Branson and Virgin join forces with Hyperloop One

Hyperloop One is now Virgin Hyperloop One, thanks to a new investment from Sir Richard Branson. In a recent demo, one of its pods hit a top speed of 192 mph, faster than Category 1 high-speed rail, but not quite matching Japan’s bullet train. There’s no word on how much cash Branson plugged into the outfit, but hopefully the “world’s most revolutionary train service” works out better than the UK’s Virgin Trains.

Epic giant robot battle scheduled for October 17th
The MegaBots vs. Suidobashi fight will be streamed live on Twitch

Are you ready for the world’s first giant robot fight? We finally have a date.The fight will take place on October 17th, 2017, at 10:00 PM ET, streamed worldwide on Twitch. If you miss the live stream, you can catch it on YouTube and Facebook immediately after the event.

Going cord-free is worth the drop in audio quality for fitness fanatics.
Jaybird Run review: the perfect truly wireless earbuds for workouts

The Jaybird Run are exactly what you’d expect from a company that’s been working on wireless headphones for years. They’re comfortable, easy to use and they sound great. You’ll pay a bit more than similar headphones — even Apple’s Airpods — but it’s worth it for fitness fanatics.

Moving beyond the panels.
Square Enix’s Project Hikari makes a good case for VR comics

For its first big VR project, Square Enix’s Advanced Technology Division is putting the spotlight back on manga. Project Hikari feeds you the story mostly with floating comic panels, but also adds spoken dialogue, sound effects and music. The big difference here is its use of 3D animation that Kris Naudus said looks smooth from every angle. It should be available next year on all major VR platforms.

But wait, there’s more…

• Kansas City mayor tries to snag Amazon’s new HQ by reviewing 1,000 products
• #WomenBoycottTwitter protest spreads across social media
• The NBA will broadcast every game in VR this season
• EA rebuffs ‘pay to win’ loot criticism of ‘SW Battlefront 2’
• Sony’s Xperia Touch projector arrives in the US priced at $1,700

Microsoft Edge browser preview makes its way to Android

Windows Phone is on its way out. To no one’s surprise, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore recently confirmed its demise. In its place, the company has adopted a more pragmatic approach that embeds pieces of its Windows experience in iOS and Android. You can trace this strategy back to 2014, when Microsoft released a trio of Office apps for iOS. More recently, it’s been ramping up with the launch of Cortana and an Android launcher. Now, on the heels of its iOS beta, we’re getting Microsoft Edge for Android preview.

Starting today we’re in preview in the Google Play store. Microsoft Edge, now on your Android device — woo! https://t.co/nz8858IDyI

— Lauren Cascio (@lcascio) October 12, 2017

The company’s default browser for Windows 10 is an uncluttered Internet Explorer replacement. It brings those design traits with it to mobile, along with its core desktop features (including the Hub and reading view). Best of all, Windows users can sync their browsing data, and open mobile web pages on a PC with a tap. Like the Launcher before it, Edge’s synchronization perks should prove a boon for Windows diehards.

You can grab the app by signing up for the preview on the Google Play Store. Expect an official launch on iOS and Android later this year, which may also include support for tablets.

Source: Microsoft

Uber formally appeals the loss of its London licence

In what should come as no surprise to anyone, Uber has today appealed Transport for London’s decision to deny the ride-hailing company a renewed private hire licence. Uber’s licence actually expired on September 30th, but it had until today (21 days later) to challenge TfL’s verdict. Uber has filed its appeal with Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and can continue to operate as normal in London while the legal business plays out, which is expected to take several months.

“While we have today filed our appeal so that Londoners can continue using our app, we hope to continue having constructive discussions with Transport for London. As our new CEO has said, we are determined to make things right,” an Uber spokesperson commented this morning.

TfL concluded last month that Uber was not “fit and proper” to hold a private hire licence. “TfL considers that Uber’s approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications,” the regulator’s statement read. Specifically, TfL isn’t happy with how Uber reports serious criminal offences and conducts driver background and medical checks. Uber’s controversial ‘Greyball’ tool, which helped the company track and deliberately evade authorities, was also mentioned, though Uber claims it has never been used “for those purposes” in the UK.

While Uber will contest TfL’s decision in court, legal proceedings are also buying the ride-hailing outfit much-needed time. It’s possible Uber could address the regulator’s concerns before it even exhausts the appeals process. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi met with TfL ten days ago to open a dialogue, and in an unrelated UK government committee session investigating the gig economy as a whole, Uber this week revealed it was testing a system that would automatically log off UK drivers working excessive, unsafe hours — similar to the 12-hour logged-in limit imposed on drivers in New York City.

Via: The Guardian

Ofcom orders BBC to show more original British productions

Ofcom has told the BBC it needs to show more programming developed inside Britain. The new rules, part of a revamped operating licence, will require the broadcaster to show at least 75 percent original content on BBC One, Two and Four. From 6 to 10:30pm, or peak hours, that figure will rise to 90 percent on BBC One and Two. The change will effectively ban the BBC from showing movies and TV series bought from international broadcasters during the evening. Instead, the organisation will have to rely on BBC commissions to retain and grow its audience share at night.

The new licence will also demand that the BBC produce more of its programming in different parts of the UK. Half of the BBC’s schedule (measured by hours, rather than individual shows) will need to be developed outside of London. Ofcom is also creating minimum quotas for programmes developed inside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These will be proportionate with each nation’s population size, ensuring that the BBC is catering to each region with an appropriate amount of specialised content. Furthermore, the BBC will need to spend the same amount (on a per-head basis) on programming in each UK nation.

Ofcom wants the BBC to have a stronger focus on news and current affairs too. It will increase the relevant quotas for BBC One and Two, and introduce new ones for BBC Radio 1 and 2. Radio 2, for instance, will need to run three hours of news and current affairs during “peak time” each week. Radio 1, meanwhile, will have to run a set number of “major social action campaigns” each year, utilising its still substantial reach with young people across the UK. “Raising awareness of social issues among younger people and providing a platform on which to engage is one of the key ways Radio 1 can set itself apart from other radio stations,” the regulator said.

Workforce diversity will be another point of contention. Ofcom says it will, for the first time, make the BBC “publicly accountable” as it tries to improve representation on and off camera. The broadcaster’s targets include 15 percent of staff being from ethnic minority groups, and half of all staff and leadership roles being held by women by 2020. The BBC will need to report on its progress each year and Ofcom will scrutinise accordingly. “If audiences are dissatisfied, the BBC must explain itself and put in place measures on how it will improve,” the regulator said.

A BBC spokesperson described the new rules as “tough and challenging,” but agreed they would create a “distinctive BBC which serves and represents all audiences.” “We will now get on with meeting these requirements and continuing to provide the world-class, creative BBC the public wants,” they added. The quotas will, undoubtedly, put pressure on a broadcaster already facing budgetary constraints and fierce competition from streaming services such as Netflix. A greater focus on originals is arguably in line with its public broadcasting remit, but could diminish its influence as viewers seek an increasingly broad palette of pop culture.

Source: Ofcom

Motion Stills 2.0 Adds In-App Live Photo Capture, Collage GIF Export, and More

Google released version 2.0 of Motion Stills this week, bringing some notable improvements for frequent users of the app. For those unfamiliar with it, Motion Stills is designed to create unique GIFs from Live Photo images captured with iPhones that support the Apple camera feature. Users can add motion-tracked text overlays and emoji to their custom-framed creations and share them as a looping GIF to their favorite messaging app.

Previously, users of the app had to access their device’s photo library to add Live Photos to a Motion Still, but with version 2.0 it’s now possible to capture Live Photos and Motion Stills from within Google’s app. It’s still possible to import Live Photos stored in the native photo library, but Google has tried to make things more convenience for regular users of Motion Stills.

In addition, version 2.0 lets users delete Live Photos in the photo library with a swipe gesture, and there’s a new option to export collages as GIFs. Google’s updated Motion Stills app for iPhone and iPad can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct link]

Tag: Motion Stills
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Activists Urge Apple to Remove App Store Games That Play Up Philippine Drugs War

A group of civil society organizations has demanded that Apple remove games from its App Store that promote violence and killings commonplace in the Philippines’ war on drugs (via Reuters).

The games in question, which the group said violated Apple’s own guidelines, include characters based on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his national police chief, Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa, who engage criminals in gun battles and fistfights.

Tsip Bato by Ranida Games

“These games valorise and normalise the emerging tyranny of Duterte’s presidency and his government’s disregard for human rights principles,” the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD) said in an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The group named 131 organizations from several countries as supportive of the October 10 complaint to Apple, with groups working on human rights, youth and drug policy reform among them.

They urged the tech giant to issue an apology for hosting such “insensitive content”. Apple has yet to respond to the letter.

Thousands have been killed in Duterte’s war on drugs, a 15-month-long campaign that has caused international alarm. Human rights groups say state-sponsored executions are taking place, but authorities vehemently reject the claim.

Games available in the App Store that have come in for criticism include Fighting Crime 2, Duterte Knows Kung Fu, Duterte Running Man Challenge, Tsip Bato, and Duterte Vs Zombies. The civil rights groups said the games “might seem harmless and fun” but are offensive and distasteful because of the reality and prevalence of state-sanctioned murder with impunity.

Ben Joseph Banta, a managing partner of Ranida Games, which developed Tsip Bato, told Reuters in an email that the aim of its game was “not to promote violence”, but that it sought to discourage drug use with the use of banner messages opposing drugs that were visible to players.

“We understand the human rights groups and we’re very much open to make changes in the game in order to remove the stigma that the game is promoting violence,” said Banta.

On Thursday, The Guardian reported that President Duterte had ordered police to end all operations in his war on drugs. In a televised speech he said he hoped a shift to target big networks would satisfy “bleeding hearts” and interfering western states fixated on the high death toll in his brutal crackdown.

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

Tags: App Store, Philippines
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iPhone With Apple Pencil Support Could Launch ‘As Early As 2019’

Apple is reportedly “mulling” the idea of launching a stylus compatible with iPhone, believed to be a new iteration of the Apple Pencil, which is currently only supported by the iPad Pro. The rumor comes from industry sources speaking to The Korea Herald (via The Investor), which claimed that Apple engineers “have recently been working” on a new iPhone device that “comes with a digital pen,” aiming for a potential launch in 2019.

The sources said that the iPhone stylus is likely to adopt a “supercapacitor stylus type” for price benefits, contrasting with Samsung’s Galaxy Note pen which is based on electromagnetic resonance technology that needs additional panel components to be installed underneath the smartphone display. “A supercapacitor type is cheaper to make compared to the EMR stylus. It also offers a more pen-like feel,” according to the industry sources.

Notably, Apple’s current A-series chip would see a “drastic upgrade” as well in order to fuel a better handwriting experience for the stylus on iPhone.

Apple is mulling something that its late founder Steve Jobs had outright rejected — adding a stylus to its iPhone, according to industry sources on Oct. 13.

“Apple is preparing to launch the phone as early as 2019,” an industry source told The Investor on condition of anonymity. “It is also in talks with a couple of stylus makers for a partnership.”

The Apple Pencil launched nearly two years ago in November 2015 alongside the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Apple’s first stylus was designed specifically to work with the iPad Pro, and gives users the feel of using a real pen or pencil with sensors that determine the orientation and angle of the Apple Pencil, and pressure sensitivity allowing for darker or lighter pen strokes.

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs was famously against launching a stylus for iPhones, during the original iPhone event stating: “Who wants a stylus? You have to get them, and put them away, and you lose them, yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.”

Apple executives and current CEO Tim Cook have repeatedly avoided referring to Apple Pencil as a “stylus” over the years, with Cook commenting in an interview last year that “we launched a pencil not a stylus.” The Apple CEO further stated, “I think that Steve would have loved” the Apple Pencil, and even gave early mention of a pencil device potentially supporting iPhones in the future: “if you’ve ever seen what can be created on an iPhone or an iPad with that pencil is really unbelievable.”

Tag: Apple Pencil
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Airbnb’s Select vetted homes may arrive next year

Back in June, reports came out that Airbnb has conjured up a project called “Select” that will offer vetted homes and rooms to the more discerning customers. According to a new report by The Information, Airbnb is planning a limited launch of that initiative sometime in 2018. It’s unclear how many Select listings will be available during the limited launch, but the company is reportedly aiming to offer hundreds of thousands of Select homes in the future.

To help home owners ensure their properties pass muster, the Select program will apparently give them the option to ask Airbnb for funds in advance. The company expects them to use the cash to fund the home improvements they need to make, such as remodeling their bathrooms or repainting their houses. Airbnb still seems to be working out the details, though, because according to hosts the publication talked to, the company couldn’t give them exact info on how the program will benefit them. In addition, dealing with inspectors and photographers in their homes has been eating up a lot of their time. One of them also voiced out being worried that the program will raise customers’ expectations, leading them to leave mediocre reviews for homes they would’ve given five stars otherwise.

Select is an entirely different entity from Airbnb’s initiative that focuses on luxury homes. When the news of the program first went around, a source told Engadget that the home rental company came up with the idea to better serve older guests who want more space and to stay in unique neighborhoods. Select will put a sharper focus on quality in order to cater to those customers.

Source: The Information

Samsung CEO Resigns as Tech Giant Forecasts Record Profits

In a surprise move, Samsung announced on Friday that its CEO and vice chairman Kwon Oh-hyun is to step down. Kwon was expected to take a bigger role at the company after de facto leader J Y Lee was arrested and jailed for bribery, but his surprise resignation has deepened concerns of a power vacuum.

“It is something I had been thinking long and hard about for quite some time. It has not been an easy decision, but I feel I can no longer put it off,” Kwon said in a letter sent to employees. “As we are confronted with unprecedented crisis inside out, I believe that time has now come for the company to start anew, with a new spirit and young leadership to better respond to challenges arising from the rapidly changing IT industry.”

The news came on the same day that Samsung forecast record third-quarter operating profit thanks to its thriving memory chip business, which has allowed the South Korean tech giant to brush off a punishing period in 2016 in which the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 recall made the biggest tech headlines.

Semiconductors were Samsung’s top earner in the three months through June, making a record 8 trillion won ($7.19 billion). While memory chips were responsible for most of Samsung’s profits, its mobile phone business was given a boost by its new Note 8 smartphone which received the company’s highest number of pre-orders.

The timing of the announcement and Kwon’s references to an “unprecedented crisis” suggest that Samsung is gearing up for major changes to its operational structure and internal culture following Lee’s corruption scandal, but the move also increases uncertainty as to who will fill the gap that Kwon leaves.

Kwon has essentially functioned as the number two in Samsung Group, being not only the chairman of the board and a board director, but also head of the components business and Samsung Display. Also known as “Mr Chip”, Kwon was instrumental in making Samsung’s semiconductor business a global leader.

“We are fortunately making record earnings right now, but this is the fruit of past decisions and investments,” continued Kwon in the letter. “We are not able to even get close to finding new growth engines by reading future trends right now.”

Kwon said he will see out his term as chairman of the board and board director until March 2018, and will remain in his two other roles during the same period.

Tag: Samsung
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