Apple Park Visitor Center Set to Open to the Public on November 17

The Visitor Center at Apple’s new Apple Park campus will open to the public on Friday, November 17, according to an internal email that Apple sent out to employees today.

The date is also listed on a sign at Apple Park that was shared today on Twitter, but the sign does not offer up a specific time for the event.

According to our source, the Apple Park Visitor Center features a gift shop with Apple-branded items available for purchase, much like the store at One Infinite Loop, but it does not have a full Apple Store and will not stock devices like the iPhone X.

Prior to the November 17 grand opening, Apple is inviting Cupertino residents who live near the Apple Park campus to preview the Visitor Center on Thursday, November 16. Residents can visit Apple Park from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a photo ID confirming a nearby address required for entry.

Just got an invite to visit Apple’s new visitor center. Cool tin foil shiny “Hello” harking back to the Mac’s introduction Tip @Techmeme pic.twitter.com/EogVpN9wes

— Abbi Vakil (@AbbiV) November 8, 2017

The Apple Park Visitor Center features a rooftop observation deck that overlooks the main ring-shaped building on the campus, along with a cafe, an outdoor seating area, and indoor wooden tables.

Tag: Apple Park
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Google’s Voice Experiments harness the power of Assistant

Google already has technological showcases for Chrome, neural networks and other technologies, so why not demonstrate what Assistant can do? Sure enough, it’s doing just that. Its newly launched Voice Experiments site highlights projects that use Assistant tools (such as Actions on Google) to perform odd feats using only the AI companion. Google’s own MixLab lets you create music just by making requests. Mystery Animal lets you play the classic “guess what I am” game. Story Speaker lets you tell tales you’ve written in Google Docs. And then there’s Meme Buddy — you can create dank memes in a matter of seconds just by describing them.

There are only those four experiments to play with right now, but you can use all but Meme Buddy in some form using your phone, a Home speaker or anything else that takes Assistant requests. And really, the goal isn’t so much entertainment as it is inspiring developers who might not have realized what was possible using Google’s virtual helper.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Voice Experiments, Google Developers

Microsoft adds AI-powered LinkedIn resume assistant to Word

We’re starting to see more results from Microsoft acquiring LinkedIn last year, like the new employment information features brought over to Outlook.com members. Now the company that build Office is bringing AI to your job search with a new LinkedIn-powered feature in Word called Resume Assistant.

Microsoft claims that more than 80 percent of resumes are updated in Word, which could make this new assistant super useful to a ton of people, many of whom change roles and jobs much faster than in the past. Resume Assistant brings in examples from other people in your chosen field to help you describe your work experience on your own resume. You can also see the most prominent skills from LinkedIn to help you know what terms to include in your resume, kind of like keywords for jobs.

The assistant will also help you customize your resume based on actual job postings, get professional help via LinkedIn’s freelance platform, ProFinder, for help with writing resumes, interviewing and career coaching. You’ll also be able to tell recruiters on LinkedIn that you’re open to a new job without alerting your current bosses from within Word.

These updates are rolling out this week to English Office 365 users in the Office Insiders program. It will be available to those in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, the UK and the US first, then to more platforms and markets during the coming months.

Source: Microsoft

iPhone X Case Review Roundup 3: Rokform, Nodus, Moshi and Peel

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m taking a close look at iPhone X cases from a wide range of manufacturers. Case reviews aren’t often featured on MacRumors, but with the launch of the iPhone X and its entirely revamped design, we felt that it was worth exploring some of the case options out on the market.

This is the third review in the series, with the other two available here and here.

For all of my reviews, I’m looking at the general usability of iPhone X cases. Extreme drop tests and in-depth testing aren’t covered because those factors are less important than how a case works on an average day, and it’s often fairly easy to tell from design how protective a case is going to be.

Factors like bulk, button accessibility, general protection, grip, thickness, and appearance are what I focused on below.

Nodus

Nodus is known for its line of high-quality leather cases, and its Access Case 3 has been made available for the iPhone X. Priced at £49.99 (~$65), the Access is a folio-style case that’s surprisingly slim.

The Access has a simple design that actually holds the iPhone X in place with adhesive that Nodus calls micro suction, with “millions of microscopic suction cups” holding onto the iPhone. The adhesive (or micro suction) doesn’t feel particularly sticky when touched and so it doesn’t pick up lint and other detritus, but it grips tightly to the glass of the iPhone X.

I turned the Access upside down and shook it and my iPhone X didn’t dislodge even a little bit, so I’m confident that it’s safe enough for daily use. What I can’t test, though, is how the suction holds up over time. Since it’s not sticky and doesn’t get dirty, it shouldn’t lose hold, but it’s a small risk.

It takes a good amount of pull to get the iPhone X out of the Access, but the adhesive can be used again and again so you can take it out whenever you want. Since there’s no inner case holding the iPhone X in place, this is the thinnest folio case I’ve seen for the iPhone X.

I like the folio design because it keeps the iPhone X’s display safe in a pocket, but there’s no protection for the sides of the phone and I wouldn’t want to drop it in this case because it could fall with the flap open. Inside, there’s a soft microfiber and a little flap that can hold cash, credit cards, or whatever else you’d like. At the back, there’s a cutout for the camera. Those of you who don’t like the lip at the bottom of the display that some cases have will like the Nodus.

With folio cases, I find the volume buttons of the iPhone a little hard to access, and that’s no exception with the Access. It’s awkward when using gestures that require both buttons at the same time (like a screenshot or powering down). The Access case does support wireless charging functionality.

Rokform

Rokform makes two cases for the iPhone X, the Crystal Case and the Rugged Case, both of which are priced at $50.

Rokform’s cases are made from a hard plastic with rubber edges that wrap around the sides of the iPhone X and come up to protect the display. The volume and power buttons are protected, but there are cutouts for the camera, mute switch, Lightning port, and speakers. The Crystal Case is fairly slim, while the Rugged case is thicker and bulkier as it’s made from a thicker material. Both are easy to grip because of the rubber edges.

All of the Rokform cases have magnets built in and ship with an included car vent mount. The car vent mount, as the name suggests, fits into a car vent for mounting the iPhone X in the car for use with Maps and other apps while driving.

With the magnets, the Rokform cases can also stick to magnetic surfaces like refrigerators, but since the magnets are positioned right over where the wireless charging module is within the iPhone X, it means the Rokform cases do not support wireless charging. I could not get wireless charging to work with either Rokform case.

Both cases are also compatible with other kinds of mounts and accessories for bikes, cars, and motorcycles, so I’d say that while these aren’t suitable for most people, they have niche applications for customers who need mounting options and rugged protection more than wireless charging.

Moshi

Moshi has several cases available for the iPhone X, and sent me the StealthCover to check out. Priced at $39.95, the StealthCover is definitely the strangest of the iPhone X cases I’ve used.

It offers 360 degree protection for the iPhone X thanks to a plastic front cover. It’s designed like a standard iPhone X case with a hard plastic back and protective rubber edges, but the left side attaches to the plastic cover, which also protects the display.

The display cover is a dark gray plastic that allows the time to show through, and because it has cutouts for the TrueDepth camera, Face ID works so you can unlock it. To use the iPhone, though, you have to open the cover (which snaps shut magnetically), which can be a hassle.

The cover is attached to the case through a flexible bridge material, so it folds backwards when you want to use the case unimpeded, and the volume/power button covers are designed to leave them easy to press. I like that this offers complete protection for the iPhone X and that its cover snaps shut — this isn’t a feature offered on most other folio-style cases.

While you can glance at the time and your notifications, some of the text is obscured by the cover’s connection to the case, which is an unfortunate design oversight.

The StealthCover is made from a nice smooth plastic that’s easy to grip, and the design is sleek and stylish. If you’re planning to toss your iPhone X in a pocket or in a bag most of the time and are worried about the display and the edges, this kind of case is a potential solution. The StealthCover works with wireless charging.

Peel

Peel cases, priced at $25, are designed to be ultra thin at 0.35mm. These cases are similar to the thin plastic cases that are available from a range of other manufacturers. As an example, I reviewed two pretty much identical cases from Caudabe and Casetify in a previous case roundup.

The Peel cases have no branding and because they’re so slim, they look amazing on the iPhone X. There’s no weight and almost zero bulk added with these cases, but there’s a caveat. These are going to protect the iPhone X from scratches, but these are made of plastic that’s not much thicker than a piece of paper, so there’s not much drop protection here.

There is no lip around the display to keep it from scratching when the iPhone X is placed face down (and so there’s no lip when swiping up from the bottom of the phone), and if you drop the iPhone X with one of these cases, I’m not sure it’d be much better than dropping a naked iPhone. Because the Peel cases are made from a smooth plastic, they don’t add a lot of grip.

Peel cases come in a wide range of colors, all of which look nice with the iPhone X. There are several shades of black, including a glossy option, a glossy white, gold, and rose gold. There is no clear option though, so you’re going to lose the shiny stainless steel rim with one of these.

The Peel cases are akin to having nothing at all on your iPhone, but they offer scratch protection. Pair them with a screen protector and the finish of your iPhone will stay pristine for the life of the device (provided you don’t drop it).

Bottom Line

Unless you need mounting options, I’d avoid the Rokform because it doesn’t allow for wireless charging and the cases are all built around mounting functionality. If you want a folio case, I think the Nodus is about as thin and unobtrusive as they come, and if you want something super thin that’s like using a naked iPhone, the Peel is a good choice.

Since this was a brief look at the cases available from several different companies, I’m happy to provide additional photos and answer questions about any of the cases listed down in the forums. I’ll be covering additional cases from companies like X-Doria, MagBak, Spigen, Otterbox, Caseology, and more in roundups that will be shared later this week and next week.

Note: Nodus, Rokform, Peel, and Moshi provided MacRumors with iPhone X cases for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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What’s a headphone amp, and do you really need one? You’d be surprised

From analog turntables to digital streaming, the way we get our music has transformed mightily over the years. As our music has gone increasingly mobile, headphones, too, have evolved into a daily obsession. Today, there’s a glut of affordable, high-performance options available, promising to enrich our lives with sweet, glorious music everywhere we go.

If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you care a great deal about those precious cans you dropped a pretty penny on, and are now wondering if you can improve their performance with a shiny new headphone amp.

The short answer is: Yes. Yes you can. Depending on what kind of headphones you use to mainline your daily soundtrack, there’s a good chance a quality headphone amp — or a headphone amp/DAC (digital-to-analog converter) — can breathe new life into your music. But what is a headphone amp? How does it work? And more to the point, how much do you have to shell out to raise your headphone game? We’re going to answer all those questions and many more.

What is a headphone amp?

Your DAC is an extremely important stop on the good train audiophile.

A headphone amp is a relatively low-powered amplifier that raises the low-voltage audio signal from a source device (be it a turntable, PC, or smartphone) to a sufficient level such that it can be converted (or transduced) into soundwaves by the speakers inside your headphones. A headphone amp is like the amps used to power big speakers, but operates at a lower scale.

What is a DAC?

Most modern headphone amps also include an electronic component called a DAC (digital to analog converter). A DAC’s job is to convert digital audio information into a low-voltage signal that an amplifier can use.

Analog components like a turntable or tape deck don’t need a DAC – they already put out analog low-voltage signals – but any digital audio device like a PC, smartphone, iPod, or tablet, need both a DAC and headphone amp in order for you to hear sound with your headphones.

Why do I need a headphone amp?

All those digital devices we just mentioned already have a DAC and headphone amp built right in – that’s why you can just plug your headphones in and hear sound. Why, then, would you need a different headphone amp?

Unfortunately, the quality of those built-in components varies greatly from device to device, and, therefore, so does the sound quality. A MacBook Pro has a decent DAC and headphone amp built in, so it sounds … decent, but many laptops, like the old Dell Inspiron N5110 for example, have very low quality DACs and headphone amps built in, so they sound pretty bad. The same goes for phones: Some sound terrible, some are decent, and some – like the LG V30 – sound superb.

Frankly, if you don’t have a good quality pair of headphones (read: better than a pair of $30 pair of earbuds), you won’t benefit from a headphone amp. But as the quality of headphones increases, so does the potential benefit of using a headphone amp.

Does anyone need a headphone amp? That’s questionable. But might you want one? If you dig great sound, the answer is a resounding YES.

Impedance (aka, the numbers game)

There are certain kinds headphones that really do need a headphone amp to function properly: we call these high-impedance headphones. Impedance refers to the resistance of an electrical signal, and is measured in Ohms – the higher the impedance, the more resistance a pair of headphones or speakers will give to an electrical signal.

As our audio sources have gotten smaller, headphone designers have adjusted.

For headphones, impedance can vary widely, from around 16 Ohms on the low end to as high as around 600 Ohms. (There are some headphones, like the insanely expensive Sennheiser HE1 Orpheus, with impedance far above that number but they usually come with an amp.) The higher the impedance, the more amplification power is needed to drive the headphones, and the more likely a headphone amp would be beneficial. If you’re curious about the impedance on a pair of headphones, you’ll find it in the manual or specs section online.

Classic headphones like the Sennheiser HD800 (300 Ohms) and the Beyerdynamic DT880 (600 Ohms) were originally designed for use in listening rooms and recording studios with powerful audio gear. Therefore, a headphone amplifier with more voltage than what’s available inside the average smartphone is needed to get these headphones to play loud enough and perform properly. Modern designs such as Audeze’s LCD-3 (110 Ohms) and LCD-4 (200 Ohms), which use planar magnetic drivers instead of more traditional dynamic drivers, also require the power of a dedicated amp for optimal performance.

Not all high-performance headphones are high-impedance, power-hungry monsters, though. As our audio sources have gotten smaller, headphone designers have adjusted. New technology makes high-performance headphones with low impedance possible, and these work well with low-power devices. Audeze’s EL-8 (30 ohms) and Sine (20 ohms) planar magnetic headphones are great examples.

Audeze’s Sine (20 ohms) headphones is one of the best high-performance, low impedance headphones we’ve ever tested. Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Most in-ear headphones — which naturally utilize smaller drivers that require lower voltage — also generally work fine with portable devices.

While there are no hard or fast rules, if your headphones have an impedance of, say, 50 Ohms or higher, a headphone amplifier is probably a good idea – we would consider you to be in the need camp.  If your cans are below 32 Ohms, they’ll work fine with virtually any consumer audio device. With that said, you could still be in the want camp.

The sound quality quotient (aka, the signal path)

Most commonly referenced in professional audio circles, the signal path — or signal chain — refers to any and all components that make contact with your audio signal. In our case, that likely includes a digital source, DAC, amplifier, a pair of headphones, and finally, your ears. The higher quality the signal path is, the higher the sound quality will be. And though you can’t replace the last stop on the list (yet), the rest are all in play.

When matched up with good headphones, quality amplification can do some very cool things.

You may have landed here to learn about headphone amplification, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the DAC is an extremely important stop on the good train audiophile. That’s because the DAC is such a critical portal between you and your sound as it changes from digital information — simple code of 0s and 1s — into electrical current. The better that transference point, the better the sound.

Quality amplification can also improve sound quality for virtually any pair of headphones from around the $100 price point up; basically any model built for sound quality over colorways and cute designs. When matched up with a good pair of headphones (and a good DAC), quality amplification can do some very cool things. It can lend more or less color to the sound as desired. It can make your sound clearer and more balanced, or on the other end, warmer, richer, and smoother. A good amplifier can also affect the sound in other ways, including isolating the current running inside your device to limit crosstalk, or interference between stereo channels, which can muddy up the end product.

The best amplifiers and DAC solutions create a purer, clearer, and less distorted signal. And the better the signal that reaches your headphones, the better your sonic experience will be.

What kind of headphone amp/DAC should I buy?

Ok, so you’ve decided to pony up and buy yourself a dedicated amplifier or amplifier/DAC combo. That means it’s time to cash out that Apple stock, right? Not necessarily. There are a number of ways to up your headphone game, at a number of price points. We’ll go through a few to help get you started.

Going mobile

There are a wide variety of quality mobile headphone amp/DACs to choose from. On the high end (though they go much higher) are products like Shure’s excellent SHA900, which can push virtually any pair of headphones you can find (up to 600 ohms), offers versatile input connection and four-band parametric equalization, and high-resolution support at up to 24-bit/96kHz. If the $1,000 asking price is too rich for your blood, there are also much more affordable options like the $60 FiiO A3, which gets high marks from reviewers and can push headphones from 16-150 ohms.

DAC attack

A relative newcomer to the headphone amp game, the USB DAC/headphone amp or DAC stick is one of the easiest ways to get higher quality sound directly from your computer’s USB output. While they require a laptop to take them on the road, they represent a supremely simple and affordable way to raise your signal chain game. Our favorite at present is the DragonFly Red, which costs $200 and is claimed to be able to drive virtually any pair of headphones you can throw at it, even the “lowest efficiency” models like those we referenced above. There’s also the DragonFly Black ($100) for your medium- to low-impedance cans. Another option we like is the Cambridge Audio DACMagic XS, which will also run you around $100 or less.

Desktop decision

The desktop headphone amp is a staple in the industry that should not be overlooked. While often pricey and bulky, these devices are anything but out of date or style for true audio fans, and many represent the absolute best way to take your daily audio to the next level. There are far too many types to outline here, but we’ll go over a couple of very different solutions that stand among our favorite.

The first and more modern of the two is the Oppo HA-1, a gorgeous Class A amplifier/DAC that matches a healthy blend of digital and analog features for incredibly clear and smooth sound. Loaded with features, including everything from digital VU meters and analog volume control to Bluetooth connection and high-resolution audio support at up to 32-bit/384kHz, the HA-1 brings every feature you could want to virtually any pair of headphones you can buy in one gorgeous, hi-res package.

The Amps & Sound Kenzie Headphone Amp. Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

On the other end is the decidedly old-school cool Kenzie tube headphone amp from Amps and Sound. Those glowing tubes on the top will pull in plenty of admirers, while also perfectly outlining our point about sound coloration. Unlike the HA-1, the Kenzie drops plenty of flavor into the pot, serving up warm, rich, and vibrant sound. One of the few options on our list that isn’t a DAC/amplifier combo, the Kenzie sources analog sound from your preferred output, and is therefore dependent upon your DAC. Sound is a shade noisier than more modern amps, and neither of these solutions are the best choice for ultra-sensitive in-ear models. Even when connected to a basic headphone output, though, the Kenzie brings magic to your mix, and should get serious consideration from those with a great pair of over-ears.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best headphones you can buy
• Got a Benjamin to burn? Here’s the best gear and gadgetry under $100
• These crazy headphones let you record immersive 3D soundscapes anywhere
• The best headphones you can buy under $100
• Stay hidden in the elements with Master and Dynamic’s Greene Street headphones

Benchmarks may spill the beans about Intel and AMD’s new love-hate union

Earlier this week, Intel and AMD revealed a rejuvenated love-hate relationship that will see Intel’s Kaby Lake processor cores married with AMD’s recent Polaris graphics cores in one eighth-generation Kaby Lake-G package. The two didn’t disclose any hardware details, but that didn’t stop benchmarks from appearing to temporarily satisfy our palate.

What Intel and AMD are bringing to the market isn’t exactly the typical processor. It’s a multi-chip module (MCM) cramming processor and graphics cores together along with HBM2 memory that’s dedicated to the graphics portion. All three are connected by a special “bridge” inside the module for extremely fast data transfers between the three components.

Intel is expected to initially produce two modules: The Core i7-8705G and the Core i7-8809G. The “G” in both the code name and model number supposedly means graphics, as these modules will have extremely more graphical power than the GPU cores typically crammed into Intel’s processors.

Here are the rumored specifications:

Core i7-8705G
Core i7-8809G
Board number:
694E:C0
694C:C0
CPU core architecture:
Kaby Lake
Kaby Lake
Cores:
4
4
Threads:
8
8
Base speed:
3.1GHz
3.1GHz
Boost speed:
4.1GHz
4.1GHz
Polaris compute units:
24
24
Polaris stream processors:
1,536
1,536
Base speed:
1,000MHz
1,190MHz
HBM2 memory amount:
4GB
4GB
Memory speed:
700MHz
800MHz

The hardware specifications listed for each module in the table above were pulled from various benchmark software including GFXBench, GeekBench, 3DMark 11, SiSoftware Sandra Platinum, and the PC game Ashes of the Singularity. The source appears to be Tum Apisak’s YouTube channel that is currently displaying several videos regarding the two modules, such as the i7-8809G clearly listed in 3DMark 11 in one clip, and both modules detailed in other benchmarks in another.

But the information is a little confusing. In one instance, Geekbench first appears to provide conflicting data regarding board number and clock speeds. Specifically, it’s the Core i7-8809G in question, and appears to be throttled back with a CPU base speed of 2.81GHz, and a GPU base speed of 1,000MHz. This may be due to power restrictions and thermal limitations in the host PC.

In GFXBench, the board numbers appear to be backward. In Car Chase, the “slower” 694E hit an average rate of 12.3 frames per second while the “faster” 694C only managed 6.8 frames per second. In Manhattan, the 694E achieved an average of 27.4 frames per second while the 694C managed 11 frames per second. Again, based on information provided in other benchmarks, those results should be reversed.

Meanwhile, SiSoftware’s Sandra Platinum lists the Core i7-8705G with the Polaris graphics cores throttled back at 550MHz, and the HBM2 memory throttled back at 500MHz. As before, this may be due to the parent PC, preventing the module from reaching its peak performance due to cooling (thermal) issues.

As always, you cannot take everything you read here as official information. There are obvious inconsistencies across the multiple benchmarks, and we’re not entirely sure the part numbers are correctly matched with the model numbers. But at least we now have some idea of what is going on until Intel and AMD come clean with the details.

Editors’ Recommendations

• 8th Gen Intel Core news: Mobile quad-cores confirmed, desktop rumors stay strong
• Intel is cramming custom AMD Radeon graphics into an eighth-generation chip
• Intel reveals its 8th-gen desktop CPU rollout early dubbed as Coffee Lake-S
• AMD crams desktop performance into ultra-thin laptops with its new Ryzen APUs
• Intel’s 8th-gen Core chips will turn svelte laptops into quad-core powerhouses

Benchmarks may spill the beans about Intel and AMD’s new love-hate union

Earlier this week, Intel and AMD revealed a rejuvenated love-hate relationship that will see Intel’s Kaby Lake processor cores married with AMD’s recent Polaris graphics cores in one eighth-generation Kaby Lake-G package. The two didn’t disclose any hardware details, but that didn’t stop benchmarks from appearing to temporarily satisfy our palate.

What Intel and AMD are bringing to the market isn’t exactly the typical processor. It’s a multi-chip module (MCM) cramming processor and graphics cores together along with HBM2 memory that’s dedicated to the graphics portion. All three are connected by a special “bridge” inside the module for extremely fast data transfers between the three components.

Intel is expected to initially produce two modules: The Core i7-8705G and the Core i7-8809G. The “G” in both the code name and model number supposedly means graphics, as these modules will have extremely more graphical power than the GPU cores typically crammed into Intel’s processors.

Here are the rumored specifications:

Core i7-8705G
Core i7-8809G
Board number:
694E:C0
694C:C0
CPU core architecture:
Kaby Lake
Kaby Lake
Cores:
4
4
Threads:
8
8
Base speed:
3.1GHz
3.1GHz
Boost speed:
4.1GHz
4.1GHz
Polaris compute units:
24
24
Polaris stream processors:
1,536
1,536
Base speed:
1,000MHz
1,190MHz
HBM2 memory amount:
4GB
4GB
Memory speed:
700MHz
800MHz

The hardware specifications listed for each module in the table above were pulled from various benchmark software including GFXBench, GeekBench, 3DMark 11, SiSoftware Sandra Platinum, and the PC game Ashes of the Singularity. The source appears to be Tum Apisak’s YouTube channel that is currently displaying several videos regarding the two modules, such as the i7-8809G clearly listed in 3DMark 11 in one clip, and both modules detailed in other benchmarks in another.

But the information is a little confusing. In one instance, Geekbench first appears to provide conflicting data regarding board number and clock speeds. Specifically, it’s the Core i7-8809G in question, and appears to be throttled back with a CPU base speed of 2.81GHz, and a GPU base speed of 1,000MHz. This may be due to power restrictions and thermal limitations in the host PC.

In GFXBench, the board numbers appear to be backward. In Car Chase, the “slower” 694E hit an average rate of 12.3 frames per second while the “faster” 694C only managed 6.8 frames per second. In Manhattan, the 694E achieved an average of 27.4 frames per second while the 694C managed 11 frames per second. Again, based on information provided in other benchmarks, those results should be reversed.

Meanwhile, SiSoftware’s Sandra Platinum lists the Core i7-8705G with the Polaris graphics cores throttled back at 550MHz, and the HBM2 memory throttled back at 500MHz. As before, this may be due to the parent PC, preventing the module from reaching its peak performance due to cooling (thermal) issues.

As always, you cannot take everything you read here as official information. There are obvious inconsistencies across the multiple benchmarks, and we’re not entirely sure the part numbers are correctly matched with the model numbers. But at least we now have some idea of what is going on until Intel and AMD come clean with the details.

Editors’ Recommendations

• 8th Gen Intel Core news: Mobile quad-cores confirmed, desktop rumors stay strong
• Intel is cramming custom AMD Radeon graphics into an eighth-generation chip
• Intel reveals its 8th-gen desktop CPU rollout early dubbed as Coffee Lake-S
• AMD crams desktop performance into ultra-thin laptops with its new Ryzen APUs
• Intel’s 8th-gen Core chips will turn svelte laptops into quad-core powerhouses

HTC U11 Plus vs. HTC U11: Is bigger always better?

The HTC U11 is one of the best Android phones on the market right now, but the U11 Plus brings some intriguing improvements to the table. Originally designed to serve as Google’s larger Pixel follow-up, the HTC U11 Plus has a bigger display and a different design than its smaller sibling.

As it turned out, Google switched to LG for the Pixel 2 XL – a decision it may be regretting after a flood of screen complaints, though we think the criticism is overblown. In any case, instead of the project being quietly forgotten, HTC took it forward and the enticing U11 Plus was born. Let’s drill into the differences between the two phones to find out how they compare.

Specs and performance

HTC U11 Plus

HTC U11

Size
158.5 x 74.9 x 8.5mm (6.24 x 2.95 x 0.33 in)
153.9 × 75.9 × 7.9 mm (6.05 × 2.99 × 0.31 in)
Weight
6.63 ounces (188 grams)
5.96 ounces (169 grams)
Screen
6-inch Super LCD
5.5-inch Super LCD
Resolution
2,880 x 1,440 pixels
2,560 × 1,440 pixels
OS
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 7.1 Nougat (Oreo update coming soon)
Storage
64/128GB
64/128GB
SD Card Slot
Yes
Yes
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
4/6GB
4/6GB
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GSM
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GSM
Camera
Front 8MP, Rear 12MP with OIS
Front 16MP, Rear 12MP with OIS
Video
2,160p 4K
2,160p 4K HDR
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Edge Sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
Edge Sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
Water Resistant
Yes, IP68
Yes, IP67
Battery
3,930mAh
3,000mAh
Charger
USB-C
USB-C
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
No
No
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Translucent Black, Ceramic Black, Silver
Silver, blue, black, white, and red
Availability
HTC
HTC, Sprint
DT Review
Coming soon
4 out of 5 stars

Whether you’re skipping in and out of apps, firing up the camera to snap a quick shot, or playing one of the latest games, the HTC U11 offers silky smooth performance. It sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor inside, which is the heart of every Android flagship from the last few months.

That processor is backed up by 4GB or 6GB of RAM, depending on whether you opt for the version with 64GB of storage or the one with 128GB of storage. Both can be expanded further via the MicroSD card slot.

The HTC U11 Plus comes in exactly the same varieties, with the same processor, so we expect performance to be very similar. It may have to work a little harder because of the larger screen, but we don’t think you’ll notice much difference between the two. That’s a good thing, because the U11 is slick and fast, outperforming competitors like the Galaxy S8 in our benchmark tests.

Winner: Tie

Design, display, and durability

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

One of the things we disliked about the design of the U11 was the size and the chunky bezels top and bottom of the screen. The U11 Plus is inevitably bigger than its predecessor, but it packs a 6-inch display into a body that’s just 5mm taller and just over half a millimeter thicker. The U11 is actually a tiny touch wider.

HTC achieved this by moving the fingerprint sensor onto the back, placing it centrally below the camera lens, just like on Google’s Pixel phones. The Taiwanese manufacturer also shaved the bezels down, giving the U11 Plus a screen-to-body ratio of 82 percent. It doesn’t quite match Samsung’s Galaxy S8, or even Apple’s iPhone X, but it’s a huge improvement over the U11 which has a 71.4 percent screen-to-body ratio.

Something we are a little concerned about is the extra weight, because at 6.63 ounces (188 grams) the U11 Plus is quite a heavy phone.

We’re fans of the liquid glass finish on the back of the U11, so we’re glad to see it on the U11 Plus, though the bigger phone comes in a much smaller range of colors, two of which are black. There’s the oddly-named “Ceramic Black”, which isn’t ceramic, and the more interesting “Translucent Black” which shows off the coiled NFC component inside. The last choice is the familiar “Amazing Silver”. We’re slightly disappointed there’s no solar red option, but it may arrive at a later date.

The screens are both Super LCD, but while the HTC U11 makes do with a 5.5-inch, 2,560 × 1,440-pixel display with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, the U11 Plus changes things up with a 6-inch, 2,880 x 1,440-pixel screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio which matches the latest from LG and Samsung. Extra screen real estate is always nice.

Both phones boast dual speakers, but HTC says the U11 Plus is 30 percent louder with better dynamic range and less distortion. You won’t find a headphone jack on either of these phones, but you do get an adapter for the USB-C port. The U11 Plus also has Bluetooth 5 support, whereas the U11 relies on Bluetooth 4.2. If you use Bluetooth headphones, then you’ll appreciate the extra range and speed.

HTC has also ramped up the durability, with the U11 Plus claiming an IP68 rating. The U11 got an IP67 rating, so it can survive submersion in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The U11 Plus can handle slightly greater depths.

We suspect that the U11 Plus might be too big for some people, but the extra screen, shaved bezels, and added durability are enough to earn it the win in this round.

Winner: U11 Plus

Battery life and charging

HTC

Having used the U11 as a daily driver for a few weeks, we can confidently say that the battery life is great. It packs a 3,000mAh battery that will see you through to bedtime with change most days. The battery in the U11 Plus will have to work a little harder because of the larger screen, but HTC has made ample provision for that with a whopping 3,930mAh battery.

We expect the U11 Plus to have serious stamina. It may even go two days between charges. When it is time to plug in, charging is speedy because the U11 and U11 Plus both support Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 standard. Sadly, neither of these phones offer wireless charging support.

Winner: U11 Plus

Camera

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

The 12-megapixel camera in the HTC U11 has thoroughly impressed us. It features HTC’s UltraPixel technology, an f/1.7 aperture, and optical image stabilization (OIS). There’s also support for HDR, slow motion 1080p video, and 4K video recording with Hi-Res audio. Point and shoot with the automatic settings and the results are generally great. That’s probably why HTC has stuck exactly the same camera in the U11 Plus.

The only difference comes with the front-facing camera, which is rated at 16 megapixels in the U11, but just 8 megapixels in the U11 Plus. Both have an f/2.0 aperture and support for full HD video recording. But only the U11 Plus has an 85-degree field of view and HDR boost. We don’t think there’s going to be a big difference, but we’ll need some time with the U11 Plus to be sure. For now, this one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Software

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You may imagine that the software on these phones would be identical, but the HTC U11 Plus launches with Android 8.0 Oreo onboard, while the U11 is still awaiting that update – it runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. HTC has confirmed that the U11 will get the Oreo update around the end of November.

Both have HTC’s Sense UI over the top and it offers a range of customization options and a few other extras, some useful, some not so much. We like Edge Sense, which enables you to trigger different apps or snap a photo by squeezing the edges of the U11 or U11 Plus. You’ll also find support for Google Assistant or Alexa, so you can pick your preferred assistant.

The U11 Plus also has the Edge launcher, which is a half-circle of customizable apps and shortcuts perfectly placed for your right thumb, and designed to make it easier to manage your U11 Plus one-handed. This will also come to the U11 with the Oreo update.

The fact that the U11 Plus runs Android 8.0 Oreo with a couple of extras on top is enough to sneak the win here, but we do expect the U11 to match it very soon.

Winner: U11 Plus

Price and availability

You can buy the HTC U11 unlocked from HTC or Amazon for $650, or pick it up from Sprint on a two-year contract at $29 per month. In the U.K., the U11 will cost you 600 British pounds direct from HTC, but you can also snag one from Amazon for 500 British pounds now.

The HTC U11 Plus is not available in the U.S. You can preorder one in the U.K. for 700 British pounds from November 20, and it costs 800 euros across the rest of Europe. HTC is only offering the Ceramic Black version in the U.K. to begin with.

It’s a shame that the U11 Plus won’t be released in the U.S., but we’re giving this round to the U11 based on price. Shop around for a discount and the HTC U11 is a very attractive deal.

Winner: HTC U11

Overall winner: HTC U11 Plus

The tweaked design of the U11 Plus has its pros and cons, but the bigger screen and battery offer tangible improvements over the U11. We also like the fact that it’s running the latest flavor of Android and is slightly more water resistant. Beyond that, HTC hasn’t taken anything away — you’re still getting all the things that made the U11 great.

If you’re looking at buying one of these devices right now, then you must weigh up whether the extras in the U11 Plus are enough to justify the increased cost. That task is complicated by discounts for the HTC U11. We think the improvements are worth an extra 100 British pounds, but 200 may be a stretch. Pricing differences aside, the U11 Plus is the superior phone.

Editors’ Recommendations

• HTC U11 Life vs. HTC U11: How different is HTC’s slimmed-down budget U11?
• Everything you need to know about the HTC U11 Life and HTC U11 Plus
• HTC U11 Life review
• HTC U11 review
• HTC’s Green is Good sale slashes prices on the HTC U11, HTC U Ultra, and more

Having problems syncing your music to the cloud? Here’s how to update iTunes

It’s important to make sure your apps stay up to date — especially considering how much we rely on apps in our daily lives and how often those apps require security updates to keep our information safe. Luckily, some apps make it easier than to stay up to date than others.

iTunes is an app that regularly gets updated, and with the integration of Apple Music into the desktop app, it’ll only continue to get more attention into the future. Whether your iOS device is giving you trouble or your music collection isn’t syncing to the cloud, here’s a quick guide on how to update iTunes.

How to update iTunes on MacOS

Naturally, MacOS makes it easy to keep your apps up to date — especially apps you’ve acquired from the MacOS App Store, like iTunes. Even though iTunes comes pre-installed on all Mac computers, you’ll still head to the App Store for updates.

Go ahead and open up the App Store, either by finding it in Launchpad or searching for it in Spotlight (⌘+Space Bar). Once you’ve got it open, click on Updates up on the top right. Here is where you’ll find a full list of the updates available for your Mac and any apps installed from the App Store.

By clicking Update All your Mac will download and apply any and all updates your apps need. Underneath Update All, you’ll also see Update buttons beside each app with an available update. If you don’t want to sit through a bunch of different app updates, just click on the ones you want to update and the App Store will do the rest.

You’ll also get relentless notifications from MacOS when you have first-party software (like iTunes) to update, so don’t worry about having to go in and check for updates all the time.

How to update iTunes on Windows

When you install iTunes on Windows, you also get the helpful Apple Software Update utility. It’s not as full-featured as the MacOS App Store, but it does keep all of your Apple software updates in one convenient location. To update iTunes on Windows, all you need to do is open the Apple Software Update tool by clicking on your Start menu and typing “Apple” into the search bar. The Apple Software Update tool should be among the first items that pop up.

Fire it up, and the app should look something like the above image. Just click the checkmark beside the software you want to update or download, and then click Install down on the bottom right. Once that’s done, Windows will ask if you want to give the Apple Software Update tool permission to make changes to your computer, click Yes and you’re all set.

That’s all there is to it, just let the app do its thing, and you’re all done. Now that iTunes is up to date, try turning one of your favorite songs into a ringtone. Or, if you’ve had enough of iTunes for one lifetime, maybe check out our guide on how to get rid of it for good.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Looking to wipe your laptop? Here’s how to restore a Mac to its factory settings
• Wondering how to backup an iPhone without iTunes? Try these six alternatives

Colorado city OKs broadband plan despite opposition from internet providers

Voters in Fort Collins, Colorado have approved a proposal for a citywide municipal broadband service. When unofficial returns came in during the early hours of this morning, the measure was seen to pass with a 57.15 percent share of the vote.

Fort Collins is proposing the construction of a fiber optic network that will provide the entire city and the area it’s likely to expand into over the coming years with gigabit-per-second upload and download speeds. Pricing estimates for residential customers stand at $70 per month for 1gbps, and $50 per month for 50mbps.

The proposal offers some flexibility in terms of how Fort Collins might go about establishing the network. The council will be able to set up its own dedicated utility company, but there’s also scope for a partnership with an existing organization. Later this month, a session will be held to establish the next steps that need to be taken.

Not everyone is enthused about the idea of the city council fostering municipal broadband. A group known as Priorities First Fort Collins spent $451,564 on its campaign to oppose the idea – by contrast the Fort Collins Broadband Committee only reported spending $9,250 on its campaign to support the proposal.

““I was very encouraged with the passage today, and particularly with the headwinds of incumbents trying to misinform the electorate,” commented Mayor Wade Troxell, according to a report from The Coloradoan. “And also, I was very disappointed in the [Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce] playing an active role in misinformation.”

It should come as no surprise that internet service providers played a key role in what Troxell characterized as a “misinformation” campaign. CenturyLink is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and Comcast contributed funds to the campaign run by Priorities First, according to a report from Ars Technica.

On the face of it, making broadband available to all residents seems like a no-brainer, but it’s the idea of pitting the government against private providers that some can’t agree with. There are concerns that putting these powers in the hands of the council will make it more difficult for commercial companies to compete, which could ultimately result in higher prices.

Editors’ Recommendations

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