Comcast’s Xfinity X1 finally streams Netflix in 4K

Netflix has offered 4K streaming on seemingly every platform under the Sun by this point, but not Comcast’s Xfinity X1. You’ve had to settle for 1080p if your TV, console or digital media player somehow wasn’t up to the job. No more: Comcast has made 4K streaming available on the X1. You’ll need an XG1v4 box, a Netflix Premium subscription and (of course) a 4K TV, but you too can watch Stranger Things or Narcos without missing a pixel.

The addition is part of a broader expansion into 4K, we’d add. Comcast says it’s planning to bring the higher resolution to curated Xfinity on Demand collections and discovery using the voice remote. You’ll also have a choice of resolution for programs, so you don’t have to test the limits of your capped connection by streaming everything in 4K. The cable giant is clearly late to the party, but it’s hard to knock this when it makes 4K Netflix available to people who might never buy a streaming device of their own accord.

Source: Comcast

Conductive thread stores data in clothes without built-in tech

New technology may soon enable you to get into your home or office with nothing more than your coat, wristband or tie. Scientists at the University of Washington have found a way to create smart fabric, using only conductive thread with no other added electronics.

The team manipulated the polarity of magnetized fabric in cloth patches to encode different types of data, which so far can include 2D images and strings of bits, which can store things like passwords. The data can then be read with a standard smartphone using “its inbuilt magnetometer,” wrote the researchers. They also found out that magnetized fabric won’t lose data when washed, ironed or dried. The team developed a glove made of the smart fabric that was able to perform gestures in front of a smart phone with 90 percent accuracy. The scientists said that the fabric can be used in a variety of accessories, too, like necklaces, wristbands, ties and belts that can then carry data within them.

While the smart fabric patches created by the researchers lost around 30 percent of their original magnetic field strength after a week, they were able to be remagnetized and retain at least partial field strength for months. The researchers also note that this new tech has the advantage over RFID technology in that any basic smartphone with a magnetometer can access the data, while RFID tags require specialized readers that fit the tag’s specific frequency in the 120kHz to 10GHz band. “RFID readers can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars,” the scientists wrote. “Magnetometers are as cheap as $0.78, 10000x cheaper than some RFID readers. Each magnetized fabric tag cost < $0.17. This is competitive with RFID tag prices.”

Source: University of Washington

You won’t have to pay to win in ‘Battlefront II’ after all

If nothing else, EA is listening to the fans for Star Wars: Battlefront II. After all, outcry was the reason the game will have a single-player campaign mode and an awful lot more depth. So, perhaps it isn’t too surprising that the game company paid attention when people were up in arms over the game’s loot box implementation.

Essentially, what the development team has done is removed a good deal of the “pay to win” criticisms lobbed at it by making sure you can’t access stuff like Epic Star Cards (high value power-ups) from crates. “To help keep everyone on a level playing field, these Star Cards will primarily be available through crafting, with the exception of special Epic Star Cards available through pre-order, deluxe and starter packs,” a blog post reads.

More than that, if you want a new weapon for a specific class, you’ll have to play as that class to unlock it — not just buy a bunch of crates and hope for the best. Same goes for class-specific gear.

Oh and you’ll need to hit a certain rank before you can start crafting upgraded Star Cards, too. “You won’t be able to buy a bunch of Crates, grind everything up into crafting materials, and immediately use them to get super powerful Star Cards,” the post says. “You can only upgrade the ability to craft higher tier Star Cards by ranking up through playing the game.”

This is all well and good, and should keep things on an even keel in terms of balance. You won’t just be able to drop a bunch of cash on crates and start dominating new players who would rather progress without spending money beyond the game itself. Will EA admit that its decision to shutter Visceral Games was a bad idea and cancel pivot Amy Hennig’s Star Wars game back to its original pitch too? Unfortunately, that’s probably not going to happen regardless of how much digital ink is spilled.

Star Wars: Battlefront II will be released November 17th on PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One.

Source: EA

Google lists all the devices Home supports for easy reference

The number of gadgets Google Home supports is getting pretty large these days. According to the company, more than 1,000 smart home devices from more than 150 brands play nice with its smart speakers to control things around your house. That’s quite a lot of gadgets. If you’re looking for a way to find out whether or not your Google Home, Mini or Max will work with the specific smart devices you have in your own home, the company has provided a new support page that lists all the compatible gear.

The support page offers a long alphabetized list of all the partner brands that Google Home supports, including Anova Culinary, Alarm.com, Electrolux Frigidaire, Firefly Home, Honeywell and Lowe’s iDevices. You can filter the list at the top with the brand name or device type, and each entry has a link out to its respective support page. Now you’ve got a place to head the next time you want to purchase a smart device to confirm it will work with your Google Home.

Source: Google

Amazon Prime Video is available on Xbox consoles worldwide

There’s more to the Xbox One X than just 4K gaming. Beyond playing UHD Blu-rays, the console will stream media from your provider of choice in 4K, too. That includes Amazon Prime Video, which is now available worldwide on Xbox consoles following its staggered launch last year.

A post on Xbox Wire says that to celebrate, customers in Australia and New Zealand can sign up at a discounted rate for the first six months — $2.99/£2.99 per month — and after the into period it’ll jump to $5.99/£5.99. Brazilians can sign up for $7.90 per-month, and the price more or less doubles after the first six months.

Meanwhile, Apple TV owners are still waiting for an Amazon Video app of their own. That announcement was in June, so the company has a few months to make good on that “later this year” promise from WWDC.

Source: Xbox Wire

Microsoft pulls in LinkedIn details for Outlook.com users

It’s only been a day since Microsoft killed Outlook.com premium features like tougher email security and more storage and brought them to Office 365 members instead. Today, the company announced that it will bring LinkedIn integration to Outlook.com subscribers, a feature that has been part of Windows 10 since June of this year.

The company is also bringing a host of other additions to Office 365, including a translation feature in Word for Office Insiders, “Tell Me” support for both people and documents and new learning tools for Word on iPad. Tell Me users can now search across their company, share files with co-workers, and use slides and graphs from previous documents. The new LinkedIn tools for Outlook.com users will give you insights, profile pictures and work histories of your contacts right in your personal inbox. LinkedIn integration is rolling out to Outlook.com members now, says Microsoft, and will arrive for all customers by the end of November.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Microsoft

You wanted more Switch games, so you got ‘Monopoly’

As the Nintendo Switch was gearing up to launch back in March, fans worried that it would go the way of the big N’s prior consoles: Spectacular first-party games with minimal third-party support. But after a tenuous few months when Zelda: Breath of the Wild seemed like the only thing worth playing, the floodgates have opened. Titles of all stripes are coming to the console, from Doom to Shin Megami Tensei V — and so, it seems, has Monopoly.

Monopoly for Nintendo Switch is out now! Play with friends online or offline, anytime, anywhere >> https://t.co/PpM6pu2g6o pic.twitter.com/rPZ7jmwWio

— Spookysoft 🎃 (@Ubisoft) October 31, 2017

Ubisoft has brought Hasbro’s iconic(ly frustrating) board game to Nintendo’s platform, and there’s sure to be a Switch-owning family that would enjoy recreationally bankrupting each other. Up to six players can load up a game on-or-offline, and there are a trio of themed boards to liven up the proceedings. There’s also six ‘House Rules’ (assumedly including the ‘Free Parking’ unofficial rule) and a few additions that aim to speed up the game. If you like recreating property ownership’s cruel twists of fate or need the most family-friendly game out there, Monopoly on the Switch could be your ticket.

Apple to Accept iPhone X Reservations Starting November 4 Outside of United States

In addition to pre-orders and limited in-store availability for walk-in customers starting Friday, Apple will also begin accepting reservations for the iPhone X starting this weekend in several countries outside the United States.

Reserve and Pickup will open Saturday, November 4 at 6:00 a.m. local time in Australia, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, and at 8:00 a.m. local time on the same day in Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

In those countries, customers should be able to select the iPhone X color and storage capacity they want and reserve that model for pickup at the Apple retail store they specify. The models available, if any, will vary by location.

Other countries where Apple retail stores operate may be included, but we couldn’t find other region-specific links yet.

Unlike the standard in-store pickup option offered during the checkout process on Apple’s website, which requires paying upfront for the device, the Reserve and Pickup system lets customers pay for the device in store upon pickup.

Reserve and Pickup also lets customers bypass the current 5-6 weeks shipping estimate of pre-ordering with in-store pickup.

The pickup generally must be completed within a 30-minute window selected, or else the reservation may be canceled. A valid government-issued photo ID must be shown at the store, and there’s a max of two reservations per customer.

The availability of SIM-free iPhone X models for reservations will vary on a country-by-country basis. Last year, for example, SIM-free iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models could be reserved in Canada.

Reserve and Pickup page for iPhone 7 Plus last year in Canada
Apple confirmed to us that Reserve and Pickup will not be available in the United States, but standard, pay-ahead in-store pickup is available.

Related Roundup: iPhone XTag: Reserve and PickupBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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Review: CalDigit AV Pro 2 Combines External USB-C Storage With a USB Hub and 30W of Charging Power

CalDigit recently launched its AV Pro 2 storage hub, a USB-C accessory that serves not only as an external drive with up to 8 TB of storage, but also acts a peripheral hub with two additional Type-A USB 3.0 ports and can charge a connected computer at up to 30 watts.

The AV Pro 2 is available in a range of capacities in both traditional 7200 rpm hard drive and solid-state drive models, ranging from 3 TB to 8 TB for the HDD models and coming in at 1 TB or 2 TB for the SSD models. I’ve been able to spend time with a 3 TB HDD model, and I’ve come away impressed with its capabilities. Stepping up to an SSD model would offer even more performance, although at substantially higher cost and lower capacities.

Overview

The AV Pro 2 can be oriented either vertically or horizontally, with small cushioning pads provided on one of the large faces for horizontal placement. For vertical placement, CalDigit includes a clear plastic stand, also equipped with cushioning pads, to provide stability.

A large green LED power button is located on the front of the AV Pro 2, making it easy to turn the drive on and off. The LED shines steady when there is an active connection, flashes while the drive is being accessed, and turns off when the drive goes to sleep, keeping you informed of its status and helping protect against data loss. As always, you should eject the drive from your system before physically disconnecting it, and you can use either the built-in eject function in macOS or a dedicated menu bar utility from CalDigit.

MacBook Pro with AV Pro 2 and Tuff external drive
CalDigit is still in the process of finalizing the utility software for the AV Pro 2 and it should be available as a download from the company’s support site “in a few weeks,” although I was able to use CalDigit’s existing menu bar utility for other docking stations and it worked fine with the AV Pro 2.

The AV Pro 2 itself measures 9.5 inches deep by 5.8 inches wide by 1.8 inches tall (in horizontal orientation), and weighs approximately 4.37 pounds. It’s not light, as there is quite a bit of aluminum making up the enclosure and the drive module, plus the drive itself and the electronics inside the enclosure.

It certainly has a hefty feel, so this is something you’re going to want to leave on a desk rather than take with you unless absolutely necessary. The enclosure is made of a silver brushed aluminum that matches Apple’s Mac finishes, with aluminum ribbing along the narrow sides.

Storage Drive

One of the great features of the AV Pro 2 is the removable drive module, which is compatible with both traditional hard drives and solid-state drives in 3.5-inch form factors. The removable module, which is fairly rare in a single-drive system, offers flexibility for easily moving the drive to and from other enclosures or managing multiple drives, and is fully compatible with some of CalDigit’s other storage products such as the T4 RAID array line.

Traditional hard drive options for the AV Pro 2 include 3 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 6 TB, and 8 TB capacities, and CalDigit advertises speeds up to 200 MB/s for these models. In my testing, the HDD model came close to that 200 MB/s mark for both read and write. CalDigit says the 1 TB and 2 TB solid-state drive models max out at 430 MB/s.

The AV Pro 2 includes support for USB attached SCSI protocol (UASP), which can improve single-drive storage device performance by allowing for simultaneous bidirectional commands and thus faster transfers.

The drives arrive pre-formatted for Mac in HFS+ format, although they can obviously be re-formatted as needed.

Swapping out the drive module is a simple two-step process involving a pair of keys provided in the box. The first step is to use the larger drive key to gently twist a drive module lock counterclockwise to unlock it, and then inserting the smaller drive pin into the release hole to release a large spring-loaded lever on the front of the module that can then be easily grasped to pull the module out.

Installing a drive module is even simpler, only requiring you to slide the module in while making sure the lever catches the rim of the enclosure opening and then snapping the lever closed. A quick twist on the module lock with the drive key secures it.

With a spinning hard drive and a small fan inside the AV Pro 2, there is a little bit of noise while the disk is active, but it’s not overly distracting. When the disk goes to sleep, the AV Pro 2 is silent.

Ports

The AV Pro 2 includes a USB-C port and a USB Micro B port, both on the 5 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1 standard, and CalDigit includes a 0.5-meter USB-C to USB-C cable and a 1-meter USB Micro B to USB-A cable in the box to allow you to connect to both the latest USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 computers and older computers offering only legacy USB-A ports.

The AV Pro 2 also includes a mini USB hub built into it, consisting of a pair of USB 3.0 Type-A ports on the rear of the enclosure. The Type-A ports can be used to connect peripherals such as mice and keyboards, add additional hard drives, or even daisy chain more AV Pro 2 units. The USB ports also include support for Apple’s external SuperDrive, and they can provide up to 1.5A/7.5W of standalone charging, so you can recharge an iPhone or other device even if the AV Pro 2 isn’t connected to a computer.

I tested CalDigit’s fast Tuff external SSD hooked up to one of the AV Pro 2’s rear USB ports, and I saw speedy data transfers from my MacBook Pro in the range of 425 MB/s read and write. That performance is actually surprisingly fast considering the connection is only 5 Gbps USB 3.0 and has the AV Pro 2 between the Tuff and the computer.

Beyond its various USB ports, the rear of the AV Pro 2 also includes a DC-in port for the power supply connection, a vent for the small fan to keep things cool, and a Kensington lock slot if you wish to secure the AV Pro 2.

USB-C Power

While MacBook owners will appreciate the 30 watts of power the AV Pro 2 can supply to their computers over a USB-C connection, MacBook Pro owners may find it coming up a bit short depending on their usage patterns, as the 13-inch MacBook Pro can draw up to 60 watts while the 15-inch model can draw up to 87 watts at peak demand.

I did test the charging capabilities of the AV Pro 2 with a Late 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro, and over the course of a workday the AV Pro 2 was able to keep my Mac topped off at 100 percent charge. Granted, I wasn’t doing any heavy lifting like video processing with my Mac, but for moderate uses the AV Pro 2 can actually keep up with or at the very least significantly slow the rate of battery discharge.

I asked CalDigit why the AV Pro 2 is limited to 30 watts of charging power, and a representative told me it was a combination of factors. For many users like myself, 30 watts is actually enough. Boosting power output to 60 or 85 watts would require a much larger power supply, and given the relatively small size of the AV Pro 2 as a single-drive storage device, a larger power supply would be an extra cost and a bit of an inconvenience. The AV Pro 2 already includes a 60-watt power adapter, with 30 watts going to the drive itself and 30 watts able to be passed through to a connected computer.

From a more general perspective, CalDigit views storage as being the primary function of the AV Pro 2, with the charging capabilities being a bonus. Under many circumstances, 30 watts will be enough to keep even a MacBook Pro topped off, but if you’re putting your machine under heavy loads or need to recharge a depleted battery quickly, you’ll want to use a higher-powered charger.

A customer will get the convenience of single cable charging but if they’re in a rush they’ll need to connect the factory charger. It’s really only for instances when someone needs to charge quickly before they go somewhere. When working with the files on the AV Pro 2 or overnight charging they won’t see much difference.

While tradeoffs in size and component costs are understandable, it’s still a bit disappointing that the AV Pro 2 can’t fully support charging a MacBook Pro over a single USB-C connection. It seems that it would likely be sufficient as an everyday power source for my needs, even with a 15-inch MacBook Pro, but it definitely wouldn’t be for users with heavier workloads, and for many users it could be hard to tell until they really spend some time with it.

Wrap-up

Pricing on the AV Pro 2 starts at $249.99 for a 3 TB HDD model, with higher-capacity options available at 4 TB ($299.99), 5 TB ($349.99), 6 TB ($399.99) and 8 TB ($449.99). If you’re looking for faster speeds but with lower capacities, CalDigit offers the 1 TB SSD model for $549.99 while the 2 TB SSD model costs $849.99. All models come with a one-year warranty.

CalDigit is currently offering a 15 percent discount on all capacities through November 6 simply for signing up for the company’s newsletter through a pop-over on the AV Pro 2 product page.

Amazon is currently knocking $50 off of several of the lower-capacity models including 3 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB HDD options for an even better deal, although stock is quite limited.

CalDigit also offers extra drive modules bundled with HDDs ranging from 1 TB ($109.99) to 6 TB ($349.99). Standalone SSD modules will be available in 1 TB ($449.99) and 2 TB ($749.99) capacities, and they should be added to CalDigit’s site in the very near future. Each package also includes an archive box for storing and organizing extra modules.

Note: CalDigit provided the AV Pro 2 to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.

Tags: review, USB-C, CalDigit
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Waiting in Line for iPhone X? Check Out These Tips

With iPhone X delivery estimates now at five to six weeks for all carriers, colors, and capacities, customers who want an iPhone X but didn’t pre-order will need to wait until well into December to get their hands on one of the new devices.

There’s still one way to get an iPhone X on launch day – waiting in line. Apple says there will be iPhone X models available for walk-in purchases, but if pre-orders are any indication, supplies are going to be tight. Stores are opening starting at 8:00 a.m. local time for iPhone X sales.

If you’re planning to try for an iPhone X this Friday, make sure to check out these tips to maximize your chances of success.

Pick Your Store

Strategically choosing where you’re going to wait in line for an iPhone X is the most important part of the process. If you’re in a more remote area without a lot of options this isn’t up for debate, but in urban areas where there are a range of Apple Stores, carrier stores, and big box retailers to choose from, it takes a little more thought.

Apple Stores are going to have the most available iPhone X stock, but will also have more people waiting in line than carrier stores or major retailers. In the United States, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile stores will have the iPhone X available for purchase, as will Target and Best Buy locations.

The Palo Alto Apple Store
If you’ve waited in line for an iPhone before, you probably have insight into some of the better locations. In the Bay Area, for example, we have dozens of stores to choose from, but Palo Alto and San Francisco tend to get the most stock. Flagship stores like San Francisco are often well stocked, but draw a lot of customers, while indoor locations like Valley Fair are popular. Smaller Apple Stores like Oakridge and Los Gatos are often more overlooked, and I’ve picked up several launch day items at the former.

These examples are limited to my area, but the same thing goes for every location. Think about how populated an area is, what the waiting conditions are like, and how many iPhones are likely to be available to try to find the best spot. There are hidden gems out there.

If you haven’t waited in line before, ask around for suggestions. The MacRumors forums are a good resource to get tips and chat with others who are going to be waiting in line.

Apple Store employees aren’t going to give out details on the amount of stock that will be available, but sometimes you can get lucky with a third-party retailer, so if you’re going to choose a carrier or a big box store, it’s worth calling ahead just to check.

Go Early

Once you’ve decided on a location, the best advice I can give is go early. iPhone X pre-orders sold out in minutes, so it definitely looks like stock is low. The last thing you want to do is line up at 4:00 a.m. and wait for hours just to not get a new device.

If you can manage it, this is one of those launches where going the night before or even earlier is going to give you the best chance of getting an iPhone X.

An iPhone 7 line on the Wednesday before launch, via Olaenglund
Again, though, this is going to depend on location. Starting the morning before the iPhone X launch, go scout your target store. Drive by to see if there are people waiting outside. It’s best to do this a few times during the day, if possible. Once you see a line start forming, that should give you an indication of when you need to be there.

For some launches, I’ve gone early in the morning and been okay, but for others, I’ve waited overnight and still not gotten a device. It’s better to wait a few additional hours and get a spot closer to the front of the line.

Bring a Friend

Waiting in line is better with a friend because if you need to step out of the line to use the restroom or grab a bite to eat, there’s someone to hold your place. It also gives you someone to chat and commiserate with as you stand outside for hours on end. MacRumors readers often plan iPhone launch day meet ups on the forums, and that can be a good way to find someone to wait in line with.

Bring Supplies

If you’re going to be waiting for several hours or camping out overnight, supplies are essential. You’re going to want a comfortable chair to sit in first and foremost, so bring something that’s portable but not uncomfortable, like a beach chair.

Dressing for the weather is important, so check the forecast. Dress warmly in layers so you’re prepared for the cold overnight or in the early morning. A jacket, warm boots, gloves, and a scarf will make standing in the cold more bearable if you’re waiting someplace chilly. If it’s going to rain, bring a raincoat and an umbrella.

Make sure you bring snacks and something to drink, along with entertainment. Charge your iPhone and iPad and bring a battery pack or two if you have them.

Some people bring tents to camp out overnight, but that’s a lot of equipment to deal with when it comes time to pack up. Still, if you’re waiting for more than 12 hours, it’s worth considering.

Apple employees will often provide drinks and snacks in the morning, but employees aren’t out overnight so you should bring your own supplies too.

You can’t bring a bathroom with you, so make sure you scout out the nearest bathroom locations.

Get to Know Your Line Buddies

When you’re waiting in line, make friends. Get to know the people you’re with, and get a feel for how many people are ahead of you. Lines will undoubtedly swell as it gets closer to the 8:00 a.m. launch time as people who have been saving spots have more people join them.

Line swelling can be super frustrating, so it’s worth being aware of ahead of time. Find out if the people around you are saving spots so there are no surprises. If you make line friends, you also have someone to save your spot if you need to step out of line.

Know What You Want

Before 8:00 a.m., store employees will likely come out, suss out the line, ask what color and capacity you want, and let you know if there’s enough available supply to fill demand. Make sure you know what you want and what your backup plan is so this process goes quickly and smoothly.

Make sure you’re an authorized user on your phone account if it’s a shared plan, and have your payment method planned out and ready. You don’t want to run into any hiccups with ordering after waiting in line.

This is also about the time that you should start packing up your supplies and getting ready to head into the store to make a purchase. Most stores will let customers in a few at a time, but from here, the checkout and purchase process should go smoothly.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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