Apple Reportedly Met With Potential Suppliers of Augmented Reality Glasses at CES 2018

Apple representatives met with suppliers who make the type of parts required to power augmented reality glasses at CES this week, according to Bloomberg News.

During CES, representatives from major players like Apple, Facebook, and Google met with suppliers that make the nuts and bolts required to power AR glasses, according to people familiar with the meetings.

The report doesn’t provide any additional details about the meetings, or what was discussed, but it’s yet more anecdotal evidence that so-called “Apple Glasses” may one day go from rumor to reality.

Bloomberg News has previously reported that Apple is working on an augmented reality headset that could launch by 2020. An early version is said to have a dedicated display, a built-in processor, and a custom operating system dubbed “rOS” for “reality operating system,” but many prototypes are thought to exist.

The early November report said Apple hasn’t finalized how users will control the headset and launch apps, but it is supposedly investigating touchscreens, Siri voice activation, and head gestures, likely among other ideas.

Engineers are prototyping a range of applications, from mapping and texting to more advanced features including virtual meeting rooms and 360-degree video playback. The company has discussed pairing the headset with its own version of the App Store, where users would be able to download content, just as they do with the iPhone, Watch, Apple TV and Mac.

At the time, Apple software engineers were said to be using HTC Vive headsets for internal testing purposes, while working on a device similar to an Oculus Gear VR headset that uses an iPhone’s display and other hardware.

An augmented reality headset is one of several projects that a team of Apple software engineers are supposedly working on under the umbrella code name of “T288” at the company’s offices in Cupertino and Sunnyvale. The same team reportedly worked on Apple’s ARKit platform for iPhone and iPad.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, despite repeatedly expressing a profound interest in augmented reality, recently alluded to any headset being at least a few years away during an interview with The Independent.

Today I can tell you that the technology itself doesn’t exist to do that in a quality way. We don’t give a rats about being first, we want to be best in creating people’s experiences. Something that you would see out in the market any time soon would not be something that any of us would be satisfied with.

Apple’s acquisitions of augmented reality headset maker Vrvana and eye-tracking company SensoMotoric Instruments could certainly help it build a headset, but we likely still have a few more years to wait until we see any finalized product, and there’s still a possibility the project is canceled at some point.

Related Roundup: Apple VR ProjectTag: bloomberg.com
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Air-Gapped MacBook Air Helped Rian Johnson Avoid Leaks When Writing ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’

Writer/director Rian Johnson did an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, discussing his favorite tech essentials that he uses both casually and professionally, including for the creation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In regards to the scripting process of The Last Jedi, Johnson said that he wrote the entire film on an air-gapped MacBook Air.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi official title via starwars.com
An air-gapped computer is never connected to the internet, ensuring that the device is completely isolated from other, potentially non-secure networks. Johnson explained that this prevented secrets within The Last Jedi’s script from ever getting out, and he “used it for nothing except writing the script,” although he didn’t specify which model of Apple’s MacBook Air he used.

I typed Episode VIII out on a MacBook Air. For security it was “air-gapped”—never connected to the internet. I carried it around and used it for nothing except writing the script. I kept it in a safe at Pinewood Studios. I think my producer was constantly horrified I would leave it in a coffee shop.

Johnson also mentioned playing iOS game Desert Golfing on his iPhone X, admitting he’s played “more than 1,500 holes” in the game. Other tech discussed included a Leica M6 35mm film camera used on The Last Jedi, his Omega Speedmaster Pro wrist watch used to time out moments on the set, and “The History of Rome” podcast he listened to when writing the movie.

Ahead of the release of The Last Jedi, Apple hosted free Star Wars-themed workshops at select Apple retail stores. The sessions taught participants how to make movie trailers and code droids in celebration of Force Friday II, the day that new Star Wars toys launched for characters, stories, and locations from The Last Jedi. Earlier in the summer, animator and illustrator Wahyu Ichwandardi shared an Apple/Star Wars project of his own when he recreated the entire first trailer for The Last Jedi on a vintage Apple IIc from 1984.

Tag: Star Wars
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MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Adventure Leather Satchel for Your MacBook Pro From Intrepid Bag Co

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Intrepid Bag Co to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Adventure Leather Satchel Bag designed for Apple’s line of MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro machines.

Available in 13 and 15-inch size options, the Adventure Leather Satchel is made from high-quality full grain tobacco-colored leather that will age into a unique patina, making each bag one-of-a-kind.

Intrepid Bag Co offers several quality-made leather bags, but the Adventure Satchel is its most rugged, made with old-world craftsmanship techniques like hand pounded copper rivets and UV-resistant nylon stitching.

The Adventure Satchel is laden with pockets and can hold quite a bit of gear. Under the front flap, there’s a dedicated laptop section, two medium-sized interior pockets, rainproof side flaps, a key strap, and two pen holders.

There’s also a hidden passport/wallet section for keeping your valuables safe, and on the outside of the bag, there’s a zippered compartment under the flap and a long newspaper pocket at the back.

You can wear the Adventure Satchel cross-body with a side mounted 1.5-inch strap made from leather and canvas, which is padded for comfort even when the bag is packed full, and there’s also a hand strap at the top.

Intrepid Bag Co normally charges $249 for the 13-inch Adventure Satchel or $269 for the 15-inch version, but we’ve got one to give away. Intrepid Bag Co has also provided MacRumors readers with a 10 percent discount on all products using the code “MacRumors10.”

To enter to win the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (January 12) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 19. The winners will be chosen randomly on January 19 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Tags: giveaway, Intrepid Bag Co
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Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of tvOS 11.2.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.2.5 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the fourth beta and almost a month after the release of tvOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit vulnerability.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 11.2.5 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that’s installed using Xcode.

We don’t yet know what features or changes might be included in the tvOS 11.2.5 update, but it likely focuses primarily on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than major outward-facing changes.

There were no outward-facing changes discovered in the first four developer betas, but we’ll update this post should new features be found in the fifth beta.

Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
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How to take a screenshot with your Nintendo Switch

One of the coolest features among current game console hardware is the ability to snap screenshots of your gameplay and share them easily on the internet and social media. Sony and Microsoft were first to the gate with super-easy sharing buttons on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but the Nintendo Switch has what may be the best and easiest sharing interface of them all.

It’s incredibly easy to snag a screen grab with the Nintendo Switch, thanks to a dedicated button on the left Joy-Con controller. Taking pictures, however, is just the beginning: Thanks to a function that lets you easily adjust images and overlay text, the Switch effectively offers a built-in meme maker. Here is everything you need to know about taking screenshots with the Switch and turning them hilariously viral.

Step 1: Set up your social media connections

Before you take a screenshot, let’s make sure you’re ready to do something with it. If your Switch is connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can link your Switch user profile to your Twitter and Facebook accounts. To set up your Twitter and Facebook accounts, go to the “system settings” menu on the Switch Home screen. (It’s the gear in the bottom row of round icons.)

On the Systems Settings menu, head down to “Users” and then choose your user account. From there, select “Social-Media Settings.” That menu will offer prompts to connect your social accounts. Enter your usernames and passwords, and you’re set to share.

Once you’re ready, you can tell the Switch to upload your shots to the internet straight from the Album application, without having to transfer the images anywhere else, such as to a computer.

Step 2: Grab your shot

The easiest step in taking a screenshot is actually capturing an image. While you’re playing any game, you can instantly capture a screenshot of whatever you’re doing by hitting the square screencap button on the left Joy-Con right below the bottom arrow of the directional pad. Hit it, and the Switch automatically saves a capture of whatever is on the screen.

While you can capture any game, Nintendo has blocked players from taking screenshots of many of the Switch’s menus, and within certain applications. (Our favorite example: You can’t a take a screenshot of your screenshot “Album”). For the most part, though, you should be able to snag an image of anything from a game you’re playing. The screenshots are automatically saved to the Switch’s internal memory (or a microSD card if you have one installed).

Step 3: Head to the Album

Now that you are linked up and ready to send your screenshots to the internet, you need to go find the one you want to share. The Album application is also on the Home screen lower menu near where you found System Settings. It’s the blue square icon that looks kind of like a photograph, next to the yellow bag icon for the Nintendo eShop.

In the album, you can sort your images and videos with the “filter” function by hitting the “Y” button. Using the filter function lets you alter what you see in the Album to focus on just images, just video, or things you’ve saved from a particular game, to make searching easier. To delete images you don’t want, press the “X” button.

Highlight the image you want to share and hit the “A” button to pull it up to full-screen size. From here, select “Editing and Posting” by hitting “A.” To look at the image without any user interface elements to block your view, press the plus (“+”) button on the right Joy-Con.

Step 4: Editing

Here’s the fun part. Once you select “editing and posting,” you gain access to three new options: “Post,” “Add Text,” and “Copy.” The copy function allows you to create a copy of the screenshot. Saving a copy allows you to move your image to a microSD card, which you can use to upload the image to another device (more on that later). We recommend saving a copy before editing an image no matter what, though, in case you want to make multiple images from a single screenshot.

You can also do some light editing with the Switch itself, using the “Add Text” option. This is how you can turn your images into memes. When you hit “Add Text,” you will be prompted to copy your image, so that you keep the original, unedited version in addition to the one you add text to. The “Add Text” button next pulls up the Switch’s virtual keyboard to let you type text onto the image, which works both with the controller buttons or the Switch’s touchscreen. Type out your message, hit “OK,” then “Accept” (both at the bottom right, accessed with the plus button) to get your text on the image.

From here, you can change the size, color, position, and angle of your text. The menu on the right side of the screen contains all the options — at the top, a slider adjusts the overall size of text, going from smaller on the left to larger on the right, which you can adjust with either the directional pad, the left analog stick, or the Switch’s touchscreen.

Click one of the color squares to select the text’s color, which will include a border of a different preset color to make sure it stands out from the background image. Clicking the third option lets you use the analog stick or directional pad to move the text around on the image, to change its position. You can also use the stick here to adjust its angle, rotating the text as you see fit.

When you have  your text looking the way you want it, you can finalize the process by hitting “Finished.” The new, edited image will appear in your Album.

Step 5: Sharing on Facebook and Twitter

If you’re happy with what you made and want the world to see it, it’s time to hit the “Post” button. You’ll be prompted to pick your Switch User account, which will then pull up your linked social media accounts. If you haven’t linked your accounts, you will be prompted to do so before sharing, but you can switch to your other social media account by hitting the “Change Posting Location” button at the top of the screen.

From here, just compose a message to accompany your image. The Switch automatically adds the #NintendoSwitch hashtag, and a hashtag related to the game you used to make your image, but you can delete them if you want. Once you type your update, hit the “Post” button at the bottom of the screen.

As the Switch advises, you can pull up your social media account on another device, such as a smartphone or a computer, to make sure your update went through.

Step 6: Downloading to your screenshots to a computer

When you pull up an image in the Album, the third option on the menu is “Copy.” This lets you create a copy of the image file and save it to your microSD memory card, so you can take it off our Switch without sending it to the internet. The option is always there, even after you edit an image — just go back to the Album and pull up the screenshot you’re looking to save and hit “Copy.” If you made a copy when prompted while editing your original screenshot, you will have both the version that you snapped from the game and the version that now has text on it.

The “Copy” option brings up a menu that lets you choose the destination to send the copied image, so you need a microSD card installed. (Conversely, if your System Settings save your screenshots to a microSD card, you can use this option to copy the image to the Switch’s internal memory.) When you have picked where you want the image to go, hit the “Copy” button to send it along.

Once you have saved your images, turn off the Switch by holding down the power button, then select “power off” from the power options menu. Remove the microSD card from the Switch and place it in your device’s SD card reader. (Note: Some computers have a built-in microSD card reader, but most people will need to purchase an adapter). The card will have a single file marked “Nintendo.” Click on it, then click on the file marked “Album.”

In the album file, your screenshots and video clips will be divided into files by month, then by day. Select the images you wish to transfer, then download them to your device.

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How to factory reset an Xbox One

Whether you’re giving your console to a friend or troubleshooting a technical issue, sometimes you just need to give your Xbox One a fresh start. Fortunately Microsoft makes this very easy to do, whether you want to keep your games and apps installed, or just start with a totally clean slate. This same process applies to all versions of the console, whether you have the original or the new and beefed-up Xbox One X, with one minor difference noted when relevant.

Note that even if you opt to keep your games and apps installed, performing a factory reset will still remove all personal files and associations from the console, including saved games, achievements, settings, and accounts. All of that will be stored in the cloud if your console has synced up with Xbox Live, which happens automatically when connected to the internet, so be sure to go online, if able, before initiating the reset.

When you’re ready, proceed with our guide on how to factory reset an Xbox One. If for technical reasons you are unable to see the screen or access the Settings menu in order to perform the following steps, then skip ahead and we’ll tell you the workaround to boot it up with an external USB drive. Note that you will need access to a Windows PC to do this, however.

Performing a factory reset from the dashboard

Step 1: Sign in

Press the Xbox button (glowing in the center of the controller) to bring up the guide overlay.

Step 2: Navigate to the System menu (the gear on the far right), and select “Settings.”

Step 3: Select “System,” then “Console info.”

Step 4: Select “Reset console.”

At this point, you have the option to either Reset and remove everything or Reset and keep my games & apps (or cancel and back out if you aren’t ready).

Note that even if you keep your games and apps, all of your personal data will still be wiped from the system, so be sure to sync up with Xbox Live or export your settings manually beforehand if you don’t want to lose them. Once you’ve selected your preferred way to reset, the console will proceed with erasing content, which could take several minutes.

Here’s how to record a gameplay video on Xbox One

If you can’t share something on social media, did it happen at all? Sharing gameplay highlights is integral to the landscape of modern video gaming, and the latest generation of consoles makes it easier than ever to capture and broadcast your play, even without any dedicated equipment. If you’re playing on Xbox One, it’s very easy to record yourself playing, even if you didn’t have the foresight to set up a stream in advance. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to record a gameplay video on Xbox One.

How to save what just happened

Step 1: Do something awesome

Given that you necessarily couldn’t know about many of your best gaming moments before they happen, Xbox One is always recording a buffer of the last five minutes of gameplay, which gives you plenty of leeway to capture footage when something incredible happens.

Step 2: Press the Xbox button to bring up the Guide

Step 3a: To save the last 30 seconds, press X

The default Xbox One gameplay clip is 30 seconds, which should be plenty for most typical gaming highlights, like the dramatic comeback combo finisher in your last Street Fighter match.

Step 3b: To save more or less than 30 seconds, press the View button (below and to the left of the Xbox button) for Capture options.

If you want to save something shorter or longer, you can opt to carve out a clip from 15 seconds up to five minutes long.

From here, you can also save a screenshot, record upcoming gameplay, or manage all of your saved clips. When you’ve selected your preferred duration, press “A.”

How to save what is about to happen

Step 1: Press the Xbox button to bring up the Guide, and press the View button for Capture options

Step 2: Select “Record from now” and press “A”

You can record up to 10 minutes of gameplay at a time on the Xbox One’s internal storage. By connecting an external hard drive, you can extend record up to an hour of continuous video. To set the length of your clips, go Broadcast & Capture settings in the Guide (under the broadcasting satellite dish icon).

Step 3: To stop recording manually, press the Xbox button and then X

How to view and export your clips

Watch it right now

To view your clip immediately, hold the Xbox button when the pop-up confirms your recording has saved.

From this overlay, you can view your new clip, upload it to Xbox Live or Microsoft OneDrive (if either is set up and linked to your Xbox account), delete the clip, or go to manage all of your saved gameplay. Selecting Edit will send you over to Microsoft’s free Upload Studio app (or to its entry in the store if you don’t have it downloaded).

Watch it later

To view your clips at any time, press the Xbox button to bring up the Guide, go to the Broadcast & Capture menu (second from the right), then select “Recent captures.”

On this screen, you’ll see a chronological list of recently captured gameplay, or you can go to manage all of them by selecting “See All” at the bottom. Here, you can delete and sort your clips, or share them on your Activity Feed, to any Xbox Clubs of which you are a member, through a message, to a linked Twitter account, or to your OneDrive.

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Google’s aggressive push at CES affirms that Assistant is its No. 1 focus

“Hey Google.”

That’s been the mantra of CES 2018. From massive physical and digital billboard ads, to giant gumball machines, and a presence at more than 200 partner booths, the Google Assistant appears everywhere you turn.

It feels as though Amazon has swapped roles with Google. At CES 2017, Google hardly had a visible presence, and “Alexa” was rolling off every tongue. There’s still a great number of Alexa-enabled devices launching this year, but companies aren’t just saying “it works with Alexa.” No, Alexa support is quickly followed with, “and Google Assistant” — and sometimes, Alexa’s mentioned as an afterthought.

The Google Assistant appears everywhere you turn.

2017 was a whirlwind year for Google, with the Assistant now on more than 400 million devices, and Google expanded ways to interact with the Assistant — from Android phones, Android Wear smartwatches, the Google Home Mini and the Google Home Max to third-party speakers from companies like Anker Innovations.

We’ve already seen the first wave of third-party Assistant-enabled devices launch toward the end of 2017, but at CES 2018, the Assistant is launching on an impressively varied category of products, including washing machines, vacuums, and more. Google also now has an answer to the Echo Show, thanks to companies like Lenovo and JBL debuting Assistant powered smart displays.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

“We want to make sure that people have a choice,” Gummi Hafsteinsson, product management director for Google Assistant, told Digital Trends. “You might want a white thing on a counter in your kitchen and I might want something with nice speakers. It’s actually critical for us to work with partners to make sure that we do provide usage with a choice for whatever they want in a home. Having that wide selection is actually really important.”

You want to get a point where it feels like you’re just having a conversation.

Google and Amazon have the same approach — get their respective voice assistants on every product imaginable. If you thought last year was the year of the assistant, think again. With Apple set to enter the market with the HomePod, things are going to get more competitive than ever. While Amazon may still have more Alexa-enabled devices, more skills, and more supported smart home products, Google has stolen the show this CES, and it’s safe to expect an aggressive focus on Assistant this year.

And as product design is more important than ever before to stand out — given that these assistants all perform the same across devices — Google is continuing to focus on making conversations with the Assistant feel more natural. If you haven’t noticed, all the ads and billboards opt for the “Hey Google” wake word rather than the traditional “Okay Google.” You can still use both, but it’s clear the direction we’re heading.

“It’s actually much more about the conversation,” Hafsteinsson said. “The interface has moved from being I issue a command and one thing happens, to now I actually want to have a conversation. … Ultimately, you want to get a point where it feels like you’re just having a conversation.”

At the pace innovation is moving in this space, talking to an assistant the way you would talk to a human doesn’t sound far off.

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• From TVs to automobiles, Google Assistant looks to make a big splash at CES 2018

New Artec 3D scanner creates gorgeous, accurate replicas of physical objects

If you want to build your own Tron-esque virtual world, you’ll probably need a device to scan 3D objects and create digital copies. Artec 3D has just the thing to help. The company is a leader in the field of 3D scanning, and showed off its latest creation, the Artec Leo, at CES 2018.

The Leo is a handheld 3D scanner with a processor and other electronics packed inside. That means it doesn’t need an external computer to function. The scanner has a large field of view, and can reconstruct a 3D object in digital form at 80 frames per second. Once rendered, the digital models show a pristine level of detail. If you want to create a model of a friend through 3D printing, Artec could create a frighteningly accurate replica.

If you’re an average consumer, you may want to save up a bit before buying a Leo, as the device costs $25,800. That makes sense, given that Artec markets the device to industrial engineers and medical institutions, for whom the device is a pricey but useful business expense.

Digital Trends also got to try out Artec’s Shapify booth, which can scan a human body in 12 seconds and create an immaculate 3D model.

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Goal Zero’s next-gen Yeti Lithium power stations are packed with new features

At CES 2017, Goal Zero’s Yeti Lithium 3000, a portable power station with plenty of convenient features, impressed us enough to win our Top Tech of CES Award for Outdoor Gear. Goal Zero made an appearance at CES 2018, and Digital Trends checked in to see the current status of the Yeti 3000, which is now available for purchase.

The new edition of the Yeti 3000 has USB-C ports, a USB-PD spec, and Wi-Fi. That last bit is crucial, as it allows you to control the Yeti from anywhere as long as you have a connection, so you can monitor the status of the battery, adjust setting to save power, or just crank up the juice.

“The cool thing about the 3000 is it comes with a really handy roll cart, an extendable handle, it’s got great wheels,” Lisa Janssen of Goal Zero said. “So you can really take it anywhere with you. I can have it at home, I can have it wired in, and then I can take it with me. Say I want to go camping, I want to throw it in the truck for an awesome tailgating party, it’s really mobile power, on demand, whenever, wherever you need it, without any sort of gasoline, without any sort of noise, and without the maintenance that comes with a traditional gas inverter.”

The battery will live for an estimated five years, and Goal Zero offers replacement batteries if the need arises. How much time does a single charge get you? Janssen estimated that with a full-sized refrigerator plugged in, a single charge would last about 40 hours.

As the name implies, the Yeti Lithium line marks the company’s first foray into the use of lithium power cells in its products. This delivers significant improvements in terms of both size and weight over the previous generation, which used lead-acid batteries instead. In comparison, the new Goal Zero Yeti Lithium 1000 weighs just 40 pounds — that’s 63 pounds lighter than the Yeti 1250, which has been on the market for several years. The new model is also more compact, shaving several inches off of its predecessor’s dimensions.

In addition to making strides in reducing the size of these portable generators, Goal Zero has also improved the way they work with other devices. The new AC inverter found on the Yeti Lithium models is now capable of putting out more than 1,500 watts of pure sine wave power, which translates to better compatibility with a wider variety of devices. In addition to charging smartphones, tablets, and laptops, these new batteries are also capable of running a portable refrigerator, space heaters,  power tools, and other high-capacity devices, all without creating excess noise or fumes, as a traditional gas-powered generator would.

This being a Goal Zero product, the new Yeti Lithium line can be recharged using a solar panel, or it can be plugged into a wall outlet at home or 12-volt port in your car. The next-generation generators also feature pass-through charging, which allows users to power up their mobile devices while continuing to charge the battery pack at the same time.

A new smart screen integrated onto the front of the Yeti Lithium provides constant monitoring of power consumption, showing how much is being drained by the gadgets that are plugged into it at any given time. That same screen also displays the time remaining until it’s full or empty, as well as an easy-to-read battery indicator for the current charge level. In other words, it helps take all of the guesswork out of knowing just how much power you still have at your disposal.

The Yeti 3000 is currently available from Goal Zero for $3,000. If you’re in the market for a power station, we’ve rounded up the best of them.

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