Researchers say aliens aren’t causing Tabby’s Star to dim after all

Tabby’s Star, also known as KIC 8462852, is quite a mystery. Located about 1,280 light-years from Earth, the star puts on an interesting light show every now and then, dimming and brightening at unpredictable times. While many theories have been put forward as to what could be causing the changes in brightness, — which can dip by up to 22 percent — theories that include an alien megastructure, researchers haven’t been able to get any solid data to explain the phenomenon. However, Louisiana State University researcher Tabetha Boyajian, who the star is named after, launched a Kickstarter campaign in May of 2016 with the goal of raising funds for a long-term observation of the star. The funds were raised and a new paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters presents the work of over 200 researchers who observed the star from 2015 through last year.

Last May, after beginning regular monitoring of the star in March of 2016, the researchers finally spotted the star’s characteristic dipping in brightness and ultimately observed four major episodes of dimming. While they weren’t able to determine what exactly is causing the dips, the researchers were able to rule out quite a few theories with the data they collected. And I’m sorry to disappoint those who were rooting for it to be an alien megastructure, but it’s almost certainly not that. If a solid, opaque structure was causing the changes in brightness, those changes should be consistent across all wavelengths of light, but that wasn’t the case. “Dust is most likely the reason why the star’s light appears to dim and brighten. The new data shows that different colors of light are being blocked at different intensities. Therefore, whatever is passing between us and the star is not opaque, as would be expected from a planet or alien megastructure,” Boyajian said in a statement.

Observations of the dimming events were made with a number of different telescopes around the world, resulting in a flood of data. “It’s exciting. I am so appreciative of all of the people who have contributed to this in the past year — the citizen scientists and professional astronomers. It’s quite humbling to have all of these people contributing in various ways to help figure it out,” said Boyajian.

Jason Wright, a Penn State assistant professor and a researcher on the project, says that though these findings narrow the possibilities of what’s causing the dimming, there are still a few on the table. “This latest research rules out alien megastructures, but it raises the plausibility of other phenomena being behind the dimming,” Wright said in a statement. “There are models involving circumstellar material — like exocomets, which were Boyajian’s team’s original hypothesis — which seem to be consistent with the data we have.” He also says it’s possible that the star isn’t being blocked by anything but is itself getting dimmer at certain times.

This is just the first paper to come out of the observations and it focused on the first dimming event of the four. Future papers will discuss the findings of the other three dimming events. You can check out the study over at arXiv.

Via: Phys.org

Source: arXiv

How to Get Your iPhone’s Battery Replaced at Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider

Apple has reduced the price of battery replacements for the iPhone 6 and newer to $29, down from $79, as part of its apology over a lack of communication about the power management changes it made starting in iOS 10.2.1. The discount is effective immediately and available until the end of 2018.

iPhone users in most countries can initiate the battery replacement process online by scheduling an appointment with the Genius Bar at an Apple Store. The reduced price is also available at some third-party retailers and repair shops, as long as they are designated as an official Apple Authorized Service Provider.

To get started, head to the Contact Apple Support page, click on See Your Products, and sign in to your Apple ID account.

Next, select the iPhone to be serviced, select Battery, Power, and Charging, and finally select Battery Replacement. Next, select Bring in for Repair and specify your location and carrier.

A list will appear with nearby Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers, such as Best Buy, Simply Mac, Micro Center, and CapitolMac. To schedule an appointment, simply click on a store and choose an available 15-minute time slot, which reflects the time you are expected to arrive by.

It’s worth noting that many Apple Stores allow walk-in customers to wait for a Genius Bar appointment on the spot, but only if the queue is short enough, so booking a reservation in advance is recommended.

When you arrive at an Apple Store, find an employee holding an iPad, who should be able to check you into your Genius Bar appointment. If you chose a service provider instead, ask a staff member for help.

If the Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider has replacement batteries in stock, the process should be completed within hours, allowing you to walk out with your iPhone on the same day. An invoice will be provided for the $29 fee, plus any local taxes, to be paid upon completion of the replacement.

Apple in an internal document obtained by MacRumors said customers are entitled to a $29 battery replacement “regardless of diagnostic result,” and it doesn’t matter if the iPhone is still covered by Apple’s one-year limited warranty or extended AppleCare+ plan to qualify for the price reduction.

The internal document also stated that customers may be eligible for a refund if they replaced their iPhone battery for a higher price, but we’ve heard from many customers that Apple is only honoring these requests if the replacement was completed on or after December 14, 2017. Your mileage may vary.

Be advised that Apple said initial supplies of replacement batteries for some iPhone models may be limited, and we’ve heard that some of its stores and repair shops are currently out of stock. Apple doesn’t appear to be notifying customers about the inventory shortages until they arrive for their appointment.

In those cases, we’ve heard that Apple has advised customers to return at a later date, once they have restocked replacement batteries. And, in some cases, the store may offer the option to mail the iPhone to an Apple Repair Center to have the battery replaced, but the process can take several business days.

Another aspect to consider is that given Apple reduced its price for iPhone battery replacements so recently, an influx of customers are rushing to take advantage of the deal, which can result in hours-long waits at some stores. Keep in mind that the discount is being offered for an entire year.

If you don’t live near an Apple Store, a Send in for Repair option is also available on Apple’s website in certain regions. Apple charges the $29 replacement fee upfront, plus $6.95 for shipping, and any local taxes, and then sends you a postage paid box to send them your iPhone. Apple quotes a 5-9 business day turnaround time.

To mail in your iPhone, head to the Contact Apple Support page, click on See Your Products, sign in to your Apple ID account, select the iPhone to be serviced, select Battery, Power, and Charging, and finally select Battery Replacement. Next, select Send in for Repair and fill in your shipping and billing information.

The $29 price applies to customers in the United States and varies in other countries based on local currencies. For instance, the fee is $39 in Australia, $35 in Canada, £25 in the United Kingdom, and €29 in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Related Roundups: iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone SEBuyer’s Guide: iPhone 8 (Buy Now), iPhone 8 (Buy Now), iPhone SE (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of iOS 11.2.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming iOS 11.2.5 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second beta and three weeks after releasing iOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit vulnerability.

Registered developers can download the iOS 11.2.5 beta from Apple’s Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

It’s not clear what new features, if any, will be included in the iOS 11.2.5 beta. We didn’t discover any noticeable outward-facing changes in the first two iOS 11.2.5 betas, so it’s possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes and security improvements.

If that’s the case, we may not know the extent of what’s in the update until it sees a public release. Apple is supposed to be releasing an iCloud Messages feature that was pulled from the iOS 11 release, but there has been no indication of when we can expect iCloud Messages to be reintroduced.

Should new features be found in the third iOS 11.2.5 beta, we’ll update this post.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second beta and a month after releasing macOS High Sierra 10.13.2, the second major update to the macOS High Sierra operating system.

The macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.

It’s not yet clear what improvements the third update to macOS High Sierra will bring, but it’s likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren’t addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.2.

No major outward-facing changes were discovered in the first two betas of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3, but we’ll update this post should new features be found in the third beta.

The previous macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 update focused solely on security fixes and performance improvements, with no new features introduced.

Related Roundup: macOS High Sierra
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of tvOS 11.2.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.2.5 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the second beta and three weeks 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 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 two developer betas, but we’ll update this post should new features be found in the third beta.

Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of watchOS 4.2.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.2.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second beta and a month after releasing watchOS 4.2, an update that introduced support for Apple Pay Cash.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

We don’t yet know what features or improvements might be included in the watchOS 4.2.2 update, as no outward-facing changes were discovered in the first two betas.

It’s possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes, and if that’s the case, we won’t know the extent of the changes until it sees a public release complete with release notes. Should new features be discovered in the third watchOS 4.2.2 beta, we’ll update this post.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Mophie’s new Powerstation can now recharge phones and laptops

Mophie is known as one of the top competitors when it comes to external batteries and chargers, but most of its offerings have so far been focused on phones. Now, it looks like the company wants to change that, and it has taken the wraps off of its latest external battery pack, the Mophie Powerstation AC.

So what’s so different about the Powerstation AC? For starters, it boasts a 100W AC output, which means you will be able to plug in your laptop, camera batteries, and other devices to keep them nice and charged up on the go. According to Mophie, the battery in the Powerstation AC is capable of delivering an extra 15 hours of battery life to the Apple MacBook — though we imagine that’s without the device charging anything else as well.

Thankfully, the Powerstation AC doesn’t only have an AC output — it also has a few standard USB ports as well for charging your other devices. The device offers one USB-C port and one USB-A port, which, coupled with the AC port, means you can charge your laptop, phone, and another device all while on the go.

The Powerstation AC also offers Mophie‘s Priority+ charging technology — meaning that when you plug the battery itself in to charge, it will first pass through any energy to devices plugged into the USB-C port to charge them up before topping up itself. We wish the same applied to the USB-C ports and AC port, but it seems as though only the USB-A port is supported this time around.

Under the hood, the device features a 22,000mAh battery, which is pretty large. The trade-off is that the device itself is a little large — about the size of a medium book. It’s a little heavy too, coming in at 4.44 ounces. Still, if you’re carrying around a backpack, the size and weight shouldn’t be that big of an issue, and this battery is clearly built for situations in which you have a laptop with you anyway.

So how much will the Powerstation AC set you back? $200 — which makes it one of Mophie’s more expensive battery packs. Still, it could be well worth it for those that often find themselves running out of power. This isn’t the first battery pack with a power outlet that we’ve seen — others from ChargeTech and Jackery have been on the market for some time now. But it is the first from the likes of Mophie, which is a pretty well-respected brand in the battery pack business.

Check out the video below for more information on the Mophie Powerstation AC, and head to the Mophie website to buy one.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The Saber portable power pack can keep your MacBook pro running for days
• Stay safer, bike brighter with the See Sense Ace, an A.I. cycling light
• Forget lithium-ion — this graphene-based power pack recharges insanely fast
• Lenovo’s stand-alone Daydream VR headset finally appears on FCC site, with a name
• The best portable chargers for quickly juicing your device

Mophie’s new Powerstation can now recharge phones and laptops

Mophie is known as one of the top competitors when it comes to external batteries and chargers, but most of its offerings have so far been focused on phones. Now, it looks like the company wants to change that, and it has taken the wraps off of its latest external battery pack, the Mophie Powerstation AC.

So what’s so different about the Powerstation AC? For starters, it boasts a 100W AC output, which means you will be able to plug in your laptop, camera batteries, and other devices to keep them nice and charged up on the go. According to Mophie, the battery in the Powerstation AC is capable of delivering an extra 15 hours of battery life to the Apple MacBook — though we imagine that’s without the device charging anything else as well.

Thankfully, the Powerstation AC doesn’t only have an AC output — it also has a few standard USB ports as well for charging your other devices. The device offers one USB-C port and one USB-A port, which, coupled with the AC port, means you can charge your laptop, phone, and another device all while on the go.

The Powerstation AC also offers Mophie‘s Priority+ charging technology — meaning that when you plug the battery itself in to charge, it will first pass through any energy to devices plugged into the USB-C port to charge them up before topping up itself. We wish the same applied to the USB-C ports and AC port, but it seems as though only the USB-A port is supported this time around.

Under the hood, the device features a 22,000mAh battery, which is pretty large. The trade-off is that the device itself is a little large — about the size of a medium book. It’s a little heavy too, coming in at 4.44 ounces. Still, if you’re carrying around a backpack, the size and weight shouldn’t be that big of an issue, and this battery is clearly built for situations in which you have a laptop with you anyway.

So how much will the Powerstation AC set you back? $200 — which makes it one of Mophie’s more expensive battery packs. Still, it could be well worth it for those that often find themselves running out of power. This isn’t the first battery pack with a power outlet that we’ve seen — others from ChargeTech and Jackery have been on the market for some time now. But it is the first from the likes of Mophie, which is a pretty well-respected brand in the battery pack business.

Check out the video below for more information on the Mophie Powerstation AC, and head to the Mophie website to buy one.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The Saber portable power pack can keep your MacBook pro running for days
• Stay safer, bike brighter with the See Sense Ace, an A.I. cycling light
• Forget lithium-ion — this graphene-based power pack recharges insanely fast
• Lenovo’s stand-alone Daydream VR headset finally appears on FCC site, with a name
• The best portable chargers for quickly juicing your device

Apple could become the world’s first $1 trillion company in 2018

The world’s biggest tech giants are in a race to become the first company to be valued at over $1 trillion, and Apple is currently leading the pack, despite the iPhone X’s disappointing sales.

The valuation, created by taking the share price of each company and multiplying it by the number of shares available, puts Apple in the lead, with Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook in close competition behind the Cupertino giant. If share prices are to continue to climb at the same percentage as they did in 2017, then it’s pretty much inevitable we will see the world’s first $1 trillion company — and Apple only needs to increase share prices by 15 percent to do so (following an increase of 47 percent last year).

The race to become the first $1tn company has opened. Apple has the best shot to be the world's first trillion-dollar company. Requires just a 17% rise in market value from $860bn. The 5 other contenders are Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Tencent. pic.twitter.com/JSdE4lmsCd

— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) January 1, 2018

Apple’s valuation of $869 billion puts it $140 billion ahead of Google parent Alphabet, and $200 billion ahead of Microsoft, so Apple’s lead appears strong. Market analysts, however, are still split over which of the tech giants will be the first to reach the coveted value. U.S. investment magazine Barron’s backs Apple to claim the prize, citing its strong profits and overall performance is a good indicator of success in 2018. Other sources back fourth-place Amazon as a key contender for the top, claiming Amazon’s fast growth will see it supplant Apple at the top of the list. Alphabet’s and Microsoft’s chances have largely been downplayed — Alphabet’s shares would have to rise by 72 percent in 2018, after a 2017 rise of only 11 percent, and Microsoft’s shares would have to rise by 98 percent, making either company an unlikely winner.

Of course, there could be a dark horse in the race. Elon Musk has previously stated he believes his Tesla and Solarcity will be eventually valued at $1 trillion, and with renewable energies on the rise, a sudden burst in enthusiasm for Musk’s companies could see a surge in share prices for each. The trick would be getting there before Apple.

A $1 trillion-valued company is currently seen as “inevitable,” and it’s highly likely we’ll see such a company emerge this year, barring any sudden revaluations of the market. The global stock market generally follows an upwards trend, and ended 2017 on a high, adding $9 trillion over the year, and with such a trend likely to continue, it’s possible one of the biggest companies in the world will gain immortal bragging rights during 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Bitcoin is still soaring. What’s the limit?
• Netflix keeps on growing, bumps budget for original programming to $8 billion
• Remember GeoCities? 9 tech titans that fell from grace
• SoftBank investment is a long-awaited piece of good news for Uber
• 5 tech trends you’ll be talking about in 2018

Are you using Substratum themes on your phone?

Gotta have that all-black theme.

Towards the end of Summer last year, Substratum was made available for non-rooted Android phones running Oreo and some Samsung phones. Substratum is a theming engine that was previously reserved for devices that had root access, and the expansion of it to phones without root meant that you could now customize just about every aspect of your UI that you wanted without having to tinker too much at all with your handset.

Android Central’s Ara Wagoner raved about how much she loved using Substratum shortly after it was released for her Pixel, and now at the beginning of 2018, some of our forum users got to talking about whether or not they’ll still theming their devices all these months later.

Here’s what they had to say:

mary beth hale
01-01-2018 06:29 PM

“

Use Substratum swift black theme on my S8 and love it. Taking a break from it right now because I’m doing the Oreo Beta and didn’t want to complicate things.

Reply

hasasimo
01-01-2018 11:41 PM

“

Using an all-black theme on Android Oreo on my Nokia 8 currently, without the need to root. Absolutely love the aesthetics. As the member above said, it takes Samsung themes to a whole new level by theming out some apps that Samsung themes don’t, like Google Voice and Gmail, and even parts of the Google app itself.

Reply

chazglenn3
01-02-2018 12:03 AM

“

I’m using the Swift Black Substratum theme. I’m loving the black Google search on my home screen. I reduced it to a circle.

Reply

gernerttl
01-02-2018 12:30 AM

“

I just downloaded the Swift Black. I like it! It’ll be even better when it supports all of my apps.

Reply

What about you – Are you using Substratum themes on your phone?

Join the conversation in the forums!