Salivating over the new XPS 15 2-in-1? Here’s how you should configure it

The XPS 15 2-in-1 is a computer we like a lot. It’s not perfect, but it’s forward thinking and risk-taking. It also delivers some impressive gaming performance in the shell of a sleek, thin laptop.

But not all configurations offered are ones you should buy. Most notably, we’d recommend staying away from the 4K model, which just happens to be what we received as our review unit. Using the 4K XPS 2-in-1 wasn’t a bad experience by any means — after all, the display is absolutely gorgeous, as to be expected.

However, there are two significant issues with it. The first is battery life.

Though it has a 75 watt-hour battery inside, our tests showed it had very mediocre battery life. It only lasted around five and a half hours in our video loop test, which is half that of the average competitor. For a machine that is sold as a “do it all” laptop, you’ll be disappointed when it quickly dies at a coffee shop without an outlet. We don’t know exactly how much better the 1080p version will be, but we’d guess it’ll get at least a couple more hours per charge.

Then there’s the price.

Even if the 4K model didn’t significantly hinder the battery life, it still won’t be worth the extra $400 for most people. In the case where it provides an overall lackluster experience, it’s really not worth the extra money. Throw in the fact that you probably won’t be able to play many games at 4K anyway — even desktops struggle to do that — it’s a clear cut case. Don’t buy it.

If you do decide the XPS 15 2-in-1 is for you, which configuration should you get? Well, most of the other options offer solid value for what you get. Since the same AMD Radeon RX Vega M graphics component is standard across the board, you’ll get the most gaming value out of the least expensive models offered.

The starting price is a $1,300 configuration, which has a slower Core i5 processor and less RAM, but you can still expect decent gaming performance out of it. There isn’t currently an option out there that competes with this level of configuration, unless you compromise the overall look and feel of the laptop (as in a cheap gaming laptop), or are willing to pay a lot more (as in the Surface Book 2).

The base model XPS 15 2-in-1 has a slower Core i5-8305G CPU and only 8GB of RAM, but for the price you’re still getting a quad-core processor and a very capable GPU. The $1,300 is not currently listed on Dell’s website, but it goes on sale on April 23. We think it’s worth the wait.

We think the slightly more expensive mid-tier options a good value as well. You should stretch for those if you plan to use the XPS 15 2-in-1 for productivity work, because you’ll need the added RAM and larger hard drive. Remember that Dell offers some customization, so you can jump up the hard drive on the base model. However, you must buy the $1,800 version if you want 16GB of RAM.

On the whole, less is more when buying the XPS 15 2-in-1. It’s an extremely capable, and experimental, 2-in-1 even in its most basic configuration, which means there’s less reason to go all-out. If you do need more, we recommend going for RAM and hard drive upgrades, but avoiding the wonderful, beautiful, and very, very expensive 4K screen.

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Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 vs. Surface Book 2 15

Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 represented the height of 2-in-1 innovation when it was introduced in October 2015. Since then, it’s gone through a few revisions and today’s Surface Book 2 maintains the innovative tear-off display while incorporating some seriously high-performance components.

Dell’s XPS 15 2-in-1 is also a highly innovative 2-in-1, and in fact Dell considers it to be essentially an experimental platform. Dell is innovating in different areas than Microsoft, however, making the XPS 15 2-in-1 a lot thinner and lighter and with a focus on controlling heat and managing the experience in a relatively tiny chassis.

Given that they’re both innovators, our Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 and Surface Book 2 15 showdown attempts to answer the question: Which machine’s idea of innovation results in the most usable 2-in-1?

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Surface Book 2 15

Dimensions
13.9 x 9.2 x 0.36-0.63 (in)
13.5 x 9.87 x 0.568-0.90 (in)

Weight
Starting at 4.36 pounds
15-inch starts at 4.2 pounds

Keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard

Processor
Eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8705G
Eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8650U

RAM
Up to 16GB
16GB

Graphics
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL
Intel UHD 620
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060

Display
15.6-inch IPS Display
15.0-inch PixelSense Display

Resolution
Full HD (1,920 x 1,080, 141 PPI)
4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160, 282 PPI)
3,240 x 2,160 (260 PPI)

Storage
Up to 1TB PCIe SSD
Up to 1TB PCIe SSD

Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1

Connectivity
USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 (x2), USB-C 3.1 (x2), 3.5mm combo jack
USB-A 3.0 (x2), USB-C 3.1, Surface Connect, SD card reader, 3.5mm combo jack, Xbox Wireless built-in

Webcam
1080p webcam
1080p webcam

Operating System
Windows 10
Windows 10

Battery
75 watt-hour
90 watt-hour

Price
$1,300+
$2,500+

Availability
Coming Soon
Now (Microsoft Store)

Review
7.0 out of 10 stars
8.0 out of 10 stars

Design

Visually, the XPS 15 2-in-1 bears a striking resemblance to the smaller XPS 13 2-in-1 and to the rest of the XPS notebook line in general. That’s a good thing, because the combination of aluminum and black carbon fiber is conservative yet attractive — and it’s functionally pleasant as well with the soft-touch keyboard deck.

The XPS 15 2-in-1 is also incredibly thin, and in fact Dell calls it the “smallest, thinnest 2-in-1” in its 15-inch class at 0.63 inches. It’s also relatively light at 4.38 pounds, at least compared to most 15-inch 2-in-1s. Making a machine so thin that packs in such serious power (see the performance section below) required Dell to use some innovative materials to keep heat under control. Mainly, that meant enlisting some space-age Gore material that sits in between the hot components and users’ skin to keep things tolerable.

For its own part, the Surface Book 2 15 also packs in some innovation. It’s in its third iteration without too much changing in its design or appearance, with the same silver-grey magnesium chassis with the unique fulcrum hinge the gap between the display and keyboard that you may or may not dislike. But it maintains its very different approach to the 2-in-1 format, where the display containing the actual PC tears off into a shockingly thin and light 15-inch tablet.

The entire unit remains relatively thick (0.9 inches at the hinge) compared to the XPS 15 2-in-1, but surprisingly its a bit lighter at 4.2 pounds. Thermal concerns aren’t quite so profound for the Surface Book 2, because unless you’re pushing the discrete GPU located in the machine’s base component, all of the heat is in the display and thus far away from a user’s skin when in clamshell mode.

Both machines are examples of the kind of innovation that pushes the market forward. We think that the Surface Book 2’s overall design remains both less compromising in a search for infinite thinness and yet it still makes for a better tablet experience — and that’s the crux of the 2-in-1 equation.

Winner: Surface Book 2 15

Performance

The Surface Book 2 15 is built around the fast and efficient eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8650U processor. That’s a speedy yet power-sipping 15-watt processor that can ramp up for higher-end productivity tasks and use significantly less power while running less demanding tasks. But the Surface Book 2 15 has a trick up its sleeve — it packs a legitimate gaming GPU, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, into its base, making it a contender as both a serious 1080p gaming system and a hardcore video editing machine with the right software.

The XPS 15 2-in-1, on the other hand, utilizes the even newer Intel Kaby Lake-G processor, which is an eighth-generation quad-core processor coupled with an AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU. That’s a combination that’s less about efficiency and more about pure performance, and compared to most other convertible 2-in-1s it’s a much more potent solution.

The XPS 15 2-in-1 competes well against the Surface Book 2 15 in terms of processor power. However, it falls short in graphical power compared to the GTX 1060 tucked away in Microsoft’s 2-in-1.

Winner: Surface Book 2 15

Keyboard, Mouse, and Pen

The Surface Book 2 is like most 2-in-1s in that it offers multiple ways to get information into the system. And it’s excellent at doing so across the board, with an excellent keyboard offering copious amounts of travel (1.55mm) and a precise feel, and a Microsoft Precision touchpad that might very well be the best performer this side of a MacBook Pro. The newest Surface Pen is also a standout performer, with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and unmatched responsiveness among Windows 2-in-1s.

Input is another area where Dell felt the need to come up with something unique thanks to the XPS 15 2-in-1’s incredibly svelte chassis. And the company’s response is a first-ever: a keyboard that uses magnetic levitation (maglev) to help overcome a short 0.7mm key travel that would normally result in a very shallow feel. We found the result to be snappy and loud with an abrupt bottoming action — whether it’s great or not will come down to personal tastes.

The XPS 15 2-in-1’s touchpad is a little more pedestrian and it’s also a good Microsoft Precision version with solid gesture support (although we noted that the buttons were a little loose resulting in some unintended clicks). The Dell Premium Active Pen also enjoys 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support, and it even attaches magnetically to the notebook just like with the Surface Book 2.

These two 2-in-1s are mostly equally matched, even down to supporting Windows 10 Hell0 (the Microsoft with an infrared camera and the Dell with a fingerprint scanner located in the power button). However, although we laud Dell’s use of cool technology with the maglev keyboard, the Surface Book 2 15’s keyboard is just a better experience. Microsoft takes this round as well.

Winner: Surface Book 2 15

Connectivity

With the Surface Book 2, Microsoft finally embraced USB-C. However, the company still didn’t pack in Thunderbolt 3 support, making it more limited in terms of things like display and external GPU support. There are also two USB-A 3.0 ports, a Surface Connect port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack. That’s all you get to go along with the usual 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.

With the XPS 15 2-in-1, Dell is all-in on USB-C — the machine has four of them, in fact. Two support Thunderbolt 3 with a full four lanes of PCIe, meaning that you’ll be able to plug in an array of displays and connect to an external GPU if the AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics are insufficient. Add in a headset jack, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and that covers connectivity.

While Microsoft gets points for legacy USB-A support, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 is a weakness. Dell wins this one.

Winner: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Display

Both of these 2-in-1s pack in beautiful displays. However, they take different routes in getting there.

The Surface Book 2 offers a 15-inch display that utilizes the excellent-for-productivity 3:2 aspect ratio that’s taller and shows more vertical data at once. It’s also pin-sharp at 3,240 x 2,160 (260 PPI) resolution with awesome contrast and brightness that lends real depth to text and graphics. It doesn’t have terribly wide color gamut or great color accuracy, though, and so its better for number crunchers and writers than it is for photo editors.

Dell offers two display options, a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 or 141 PPI) display and a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160 or 282 PPI) panel. We tested the latter in our review unit, and found it to be one of the best displays we’ve ever experienced in a notebook, hands-down. It offers a wide color gamut (96 percent of AdobeRGB), excellent brightness, and class-leading contrast, with awesome sharpness that’s made for Netflix 4K binging. Only its color accuracy is average.

Usually, Surface machines win the display category. Not this time — while the Surface Book 2 has a lovely display that beats most competitors, it can’t keep up with the XPS 15 2-in-1.

Winner: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Portability and Battery Life

The XPS 15 2-in-1 is significantly thinner and smaller than the Surface Book 2 15, and so it has that in its favor. And it’s within a couple of ounces of the Surface Book 2 in terms of overall weight. That makes it easier to toss into a backpack and carry around from workplace to workplace. It’s not as good as a tablet compared to the Surface Book 2 15’s tear-off display, but that’s true of all 360-degree convertible 2-in-1s.

However, the Surface Book 2 packs in 90 watt-hours of battery compared to XPS 15 2-in-1’s 75 watt-hours. And, Microsoft’s 2-in-1 uses the highly efficient U-series Intel Core processor with its lightweight integrated GPU. Apparently, it sips power compared to the Intel Core “G” processor in the XPS 15 2-in-1, because the Surface Book 2 15 simply blows the Dell away in terms of battery life.

In each of our battery tests, the XPS 15 2-in-1 performed poorly. It lasted for just over two hours in our Basemark test, compared to the Surface Book 2 15’s almost seven hours. It lasted for around four and a half hours browsing the web, compared to Microsoft’s almost 16 hours. And the Dell couldn’t even manage six hours looping a local video, whereas the Surface Book 2 15 lasted for over 20.5 hours.

We like svelte chassis in our notebooks, but battery life matters too. The XPS 15 2-in-1 just doesn’t have enough battery capacity to match its high-powered components, and Microsoft simply blows Dell out of the water in this category.

Winner: Surface Book 2 15

Availability and Price

The Surface Book 2 15 usually loses in price comparisons, unless it’s being compared to Apple’s MacBook Pro. It starts out relatively high, at $2,500 for a Core i7-8650U, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, and goes all the way up from there. At its most expensive, it’s a stratospheric $3,300 for all of the same components except for a 1TB SSD. That’s a lot of money, which you’re paying for the powerful components and the ability to tear off the display.

The XPS 15 2-in-1 is also firmly in premium territory, although it doesn’t scale up quite as high as the Surface Book 2 15. It starts at $1,300 for an Intel Core i5-8305G (which sports the same AMD graphics), 8GB of RAM, a GB 128SSD, and a Full HD display. At the high end, you’ll spend $2,750 for an Intel Core 8705G, 16GB of RAM, a 1TBGB SSD, and that luscious 4K UHD panel.

These are both expensive machines, but Microsoft’s pricing is out of this world. At its lowest configuration, the XPS 15 2-in-1 qualifies as a cheap way to get some decent gaming performance.

Winner: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

The Surface Book 2 takes the prize for its better performance and battery life

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

These are two seriously innovative and high-powered 2-in-1 notebooks. We like both of them, sometimes for very different reasons, but it’s undenable that they’re both good looking, fast, and fun to use.

However, Microsoft simply packed in faster components, at least for gamers and creative types that can use that GTX 1060 GPU, and the Surface Book 2 15’s battery life puts the XPS 15 2-in-1’s longevity to shame. More power and better battery life? We’ll take it. And when we want to use our 2-in-1 as a tablet, Microsoft’s design wins then, as well.

Editors’ Recommendations

• LG Gram 15Z980 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2 15
• Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 2
• Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 review in progress
• Dell’s XPS 15 2-in-1 gets slim maglev magic, yet packs AMD Radeon graphics
• HP Spectre x360 15 vs Dell XPS 15 2-in-1: Both are awesome, but one is the future

Hearts are breaking because Tinder is broken and it’s Facebook’s fault

The love seekers of the world are collectively freaking out now that Facebook has ruined your chance at finding your soulmate. We’re talking, of course, about Facebook’s recent changes to how third-party apps are able to interact with the social network. It’s a much-needed change in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle, but alas, it’s apparently having some unintended consequences, like locking people out of their Tinder accounts.

But wait, you say — how could Facebook possibly affect my Tinder account? Well, the problem is that in order to sign into Tinder, you must sign into your Facebook account. In fact, there is no way for you to even create a Tinder account if you don’t have a Facebook profile. So now that Facebook is tweaking the way in which it works with these independent apps, things are getting a bit hairy.

If you try to log into your Tinder account, you will likely receive an error message that reads, “Facebook Permissions. Tinder requires you provide additional Facebook permissions in order to use a Tinder account. This information is used to create fuller profiles, verify authenticity and provide support.” Basically, it would appear that Facebook has revoked Tinder’s permissions, which also means that it’s revoked your ability to meet and potentially fall in love with new people. Even if you follow Tinder’s prompts, it seems that the issue is not resolved, and you’ll remain unable to swipe left or right.

Twitter, of course, wasted no time in raising the alarm. Tons of Twitter users have complained about being unable to access their accounts, and have pointed the finger squarely at Facebook. One user tweeted, “Facebook’s API changes just broke Tinder. It throws you into an endless login loop. Bravo to Facebook for being considerate of their only valuable product.”

Facebook’s API changes just broke Tinder. It throws you into an endless login loop. Bravo to Facebook for being considerate of their only valuable product. pic.twitter.com/QbJA1uTi0v

— Daniel Sinclair (@_DanielSinclair) April 4, 2018

Others have tried tweeting directly at Tinder in hopes of receiving an answer, though this not seem to be a particularly successful way forward. Some folks have even attempted to delete and reinstall both apps, alas, to no avail.

We reached out to Tinder and Facebook alike in hopes of shedding some light on this issue and will keep up with any updates.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to delete your Tinder account
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These language apps are almost as good as having a babelfish in your ear

There are countless apps out there designed to help you learn a new language, which makes it tricky to pick the right one. You may want to widen your vocabulary, get some conversation practice in, revise your grammar, or all of the above. Whatever your goal, there’s likely an Android or iOS app for you. Below are a few of our current favorites, so you can pick up a foreign tongue without ever stepping foot inside a classroom.

You may also be interested in our picks for the best travel accessories and the best travel adapters.

Duolingo

There are plenty of reasons why Duolingo is one of the most popular language apps around — it’s free, well-designed, and accessible. Lesson are broken down into bite-sized chunks and it feels like you’re playing a game.

The app divides languages into different topics, such as clothing or business, but also into adverbs, pronouns, and other grammatical subjects. You must interpret the text and audio, but you can slow down the audio if you’re having trouble understanding it. The app’s answering structure encompasses a wide range of activities, too, meaning you’ll often switch between typing answers, speaking them aloud, and choosing from a set of multiple choice answers.

Duolingo is a great introduction, but it can feel like you’re learning a random mix of information, often through repetition. Obviously, the more you do, the more robust your vocabulary will be. It’s great for comprehension purposes, yes, but it may not be the best when it comes to developing your conversational skills. The offline mode is limited, too, so you really need a Wi-Fi or data connection to make the most of Duolingo.

Supported languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish and Turkish.

Download now for:
Android iOS

Babbel

This app is broken down into lessons that last between 10 and 15 minutes each. There are packs of lessons that cover different abilities, including those tailored to both beginners and advanced learners. The app teaches you a range of words and phrases, and challenges you to spell them out, speak them aloud, and fit them into sentences.

The nice thing with Babbel is that it focuses on conversational learning and it explains grammar rules as you progress. Filling in the gaps in mock conversations is fun and the lessons progress in a logical, traditional manner, starting with basic conversational phrases that you’ll want to master. You can also download lessons to work through them while you’re offline.

The app design is a bit rough around the edges, however, and we found that the software’s voice recognition doesn’t always work the way it’s intended to. Also, though you get one lesson for free with Babbel, you have to pay between $5 and $10 a month if you want get full access to the learning materials for a single language.

Supported languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Polish, Indonesian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian.

Download now for:
Android iOS

Tandem

Everyone knows that the only way to become fluent in a new language is to speak it. Thankfully, Tandem is geared toward conversations with native speakers. The idea is that you can help one another learn new languages via text, audio, and video chat. The app vets you and then helps you to find a partner who shares your interests. They teach you and you teach them.

Once you agree on a time to chat, you can pick specific topics that serve as conversation prompts, which helps ease the initial awkwardness of talking to a stranger. It’s free if you can find a suitable exchange partner, which is easy for popular languages. You can also pay for a lesson with a professional tutor, if need be.

To sign up, you’ll need to use your Facebook or Google account. There are also moderator checks to ensure that you’re serious about learning, and to weed out those who are abusing the service. This means you might have to wait for your profile to be approved. If you’re ready to move onto the next level with your language and want to speak to a native, then Tandem is worth checking out.

Supported languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and nearly 150 other languages.

Download now for:
Android iOS

Memrise

If you want to practice and expand your vocabulary, then Memrise is a fun way to do it. The app is set up like a game, one in which you travel to a foreign planet as a spy and you score points for correct answers. It’s a unique way to frame language lessons, and the bulk of the courses consist of memorizing specific words and phrases using mems, which are strange sentences or images.

You can also listen to audio recordings of various words and phrases, and occasionally see video footage of native speakers saying them. The general idea is to learn words and then review them at predetermined intervals, which grow longer as you memorize the words. There’s some science behind the algorithm, but it ultimately amounts to a sophisticated flashcard system. Still, it seems to be very effective for some people.

Memrise primarily functions as a vocabulary builder, so you’ll want to combine it with conversation and grammar lessons, if possible. Some of the mems are odd, but bizarre associations and images can be a very effective way to memorize things. You can sign up for the app via email, or use your Google or Facebook account, which grants you access to the wealth of community-created content.

The app’s basic functionality is free, but a subscription ($9 a month) will grant you access to additional games and an offline mode.

Supported languages: French, Spanish, German, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, and more than 100 other languages.

Download now for:
Android iOS

Busuu

With an impressive user base of more than 60 million people, Busuu is worth checking out. It’s a well-designed app that offers complete lesson packages, which cover a good amount of content. The app provides basic flashcards, along with grammar, writing, dialogue, and pronunciation exercises. The quizzes and vocabulary games are quite fun for testing your knowledge.

Busuu also offers a set of handy travel courses that provide the basics for a particular language, allowing you to better prepare for your next trip. You can even chat with native speakers — and have them correct your text — or earn points by correcting other learners. There’s an offline mode, too, so you can download lessons and study without an internet connection.

You get some basic flashcards and writing exercises for free, but you’ll want to subscribe to unlock all the courses and extra tools, which will cost you somewhere between $6 and $10 a month.

Supported languages: Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic, Polish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Download now for:
Android iOS

Editors’ Recommendations

• 100 awesome Android apps that will transform your tired tablet
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Tinder suffers sign-in problems following Facebook’s privacy changes

Virtual romance has run into a momentary setback — Tinder has confirmed reports that many users can’t sign into its dating service. Those affected are frequently stuck in a login loop where they’re asked for extra Facebook permissions, only to be sent back to the original Facebook sign-in request when they tap the relevant button. Others have had success signing in, but have reported losing all their messages or matches. Suffice it to say that this is worrying if you’ve had your eyes on someone special.

It won’t surprise you to hear the cause. Facebook just altered its developer frameworks in the name of improving data privacy, and the social network has confirmed in a statement that these problems were “part of the changes” and that it’s “working with Tinder” to fix the problem. We’ve asked Tinder for comment and will let you know if it can share more.

There isn’t word of other services breaking as a result of Facebook’s changes, but don’t be surprised if other services struggle for a while as a result. Regardless of what happens, the incident underscores one of the problems with the ubiquity of Facebook as a sign-in option: it’s very convenient when everything works, but even a minor tweak to Facebook’s code can break entire services.

A technical issue is preventing users from logging into Tinder. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to have everyone swiping again soon.

— Tinder (@Tinder) April 4, 2018

Via: Select All

Source: Tinder (Twitter)

Microsoft AI knows when to (politely) interrupt conversations

Most AI assistants can’t really hold a conversation. They’re fine with I-go-you-go dialogue, but most humans aren’t quite so timid — they know when to interrupt, and when to restart chat when there’s an awkward pause. Microsoft wants to fix that. It just upgraded its Xiaolce chatbot AI with “full duplex” conversation that lets it start speaking when it’s listening to what you’re saying. As it can predict what you’re likely to say next, it knows when to interrupt you with important info or say something more when both sides suddenly go quiet. Think of it as that friend who knows when to speak up without being overly rude.

Besides providing a more natural flow to your conversation, it also spares you from using a smart speaker’s wake word unless it’s actually necessary. Many AI helpers can skip wake words when they want an immediate follow-up (“would you like me to send the message?”) but this would keep the conversation humming until you’re truly done.

The initial plan is to spread this technology to Microsoft’s other chatbots, such as Zo in the US and Rinna in Japan. It’s pretty clear that this could be useful for Cortana and just about any other conversational AI, though. Instead of barking orders to a voice assistant and waiting for answers, you could hold two-way discussions that feel more like you’re asking real people (albeit ones without much personality) for help.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: Microsoft AI Blog

Zuckerberg: Nobody has been fired over Cambridge Analytica

Facebook has been ramping up its damage control as outrage continues over the Cambridge Analytica mess. But it seems nobody at the social media company has been let go as a consequence. On a media conference call, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that no employee was fired in the wake of the scandal because, in his words, it’s his fault: “At the end of the day this is my responsibility,” he said.

Has anyone been fired in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal?
Mark Zuckerberg: I have not. At the end of the day this is my responsibility. I’m not looking to throw anyone else under the bus for mistakes that we’ve made here.

— Recode (@Recode) April 4, 2018

Zuckerberg won’t be firing himself, either. Separately, he was asked if he still feels like he’s the best person to run Facebook (‘Yes’) and if the board discussed him stepping down as chairman (‘Not that I’m aware of’). Which was, predictably, an awkward moment in a public call.

Most awkward moment on Facebook press call so far: reporter asks if board has talked about Zuckerberg stepping down. His answer: “Not that I’m aware of.” Followed by 3-second silence.

— Michal Lev-Ram (@mlevram) April 4, 2018

And those of you hoping that #deletefacebook made enough of a dent in the platform’s userbase will be disappointed. When asked if he’d seen any change in usage from the movement, Zuckerberg said “I don’t think there’s been any meaningful impact that we observed. Look, it’s not good. I don’t want anyone be be unhappy with our service. Even if we cant measure change, it still speaks to people feeling like this is a massive breach of trust.”

‘Hitman’ games have brighter future thanks to Warner Bros. deal

The Hitman game franchise has seen some tumultuous times lately: Square Enix tried to offload its developer, IO Interactive, prompting the studio to buy its independence. While that gave IO more control, it also left the company more vulnerable if sales fell short. Not to fear, however: IO has signed a Hitman publishing deal with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The agreement should provide some stability, and even gives fans a re-release in the short term.

Warner Bros. is launching Hitman: Definitive Edition on May 15th for the PS4 and Xbox One, and it includes a handful of content beyond what you received in the Game of the Year Edition release. You’ll get Hitman’s core Season One and GOTY content, of course, but you’ll also receive the Summer Bonus episode, an IO 20th Anniversary outfit collection and a Blood Money Requiem Pack. Although this won’t be nearly as alluring as more missions, it could be a good way to catch up if you hadn’t played all the missions.

It’s too soon to say Hitman games will come in the wake of this deal (Season Two, please?). This suggests Agent 47 isn’t going away any time soon, however, and will make it easier to pick up games if you’re not keen on existing download options.

Source: BusinessWire

Total Number of App Store Apps Shrank in 2017 Thanks to Apple’s Quality Crackdown

The number of apps available in the App Store shrank for the first time ever in 2017, according to data shared today by App Store analytics company Appfigures (via TechCrunch).

At the end of 2017, there were 2.1 million iOS apps available in the App Store, compared to 2.2 million apps at the beginning of the year.

Starting in September of 2016, Apple told developers it would be removing old, outdated apps that had not been updated with compatibility for more recent devices or no longer complied with current review guidelines.

Apple also created new App Store guidelines limiting apps created from commercialized templates or app generation services, and officially banned virus scanning apps, plus it cracked down on clone and spam apps, all of which contributed to the company’s App Store cleanup efforts.

Changes in iOS 11 may have had the biggest impact on the available number of apps in the App Store, though. With iOS 11, Apple stopped supporting 32-bit apps, which the company began phasing out in 2013. 32-bit apps do not open on devices running iOS 11, nor can older 32-bit apps be found in the App Store.

Since 2015, Apple has required all apps and app updates to use 64-bit architecture, so apps that became defunct with iOS 11 had not been updated in at least two years.

Appfigures says that the decrease in apps can also be attributed to a dip in the number of new apps submitted by developers in 2017. Just 755,000 new apps were added to the App Store in 2017, down 29 percent from the previous year. This too could be attributed to Apple’s more restrictive App Store policies cutting down on low-quality apps.

While the number of App Store apps has declined due to Apple’s efforts to make sure apps in the App Store are prioritizing quality, Google Play growth has accelerated. In 2017, Google Play reached 3.6 million available apps, a growth of 30 percent. Android developers released 1.5 million new apps in 2017, up 17 percent.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your New Sixth-Generation iPad

Apple last week announced and debuted an attractive new iPad option — a sixth-generation model with an affordable $329 price tag, an upgraded A10 Fusion processor, and support for the Apple Pencil, an accessory previously limited to the more expensive iPad Pro models.

For MacRumors readers who are upgrading to Apple’s stellar new tablet from an older model, we’ve put together a video and guide covering features, accessories, and tips for getting the most out of the sixth-generation iPad.

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Apple Pencil

Apple Pencil support is the major new feature in the sixth-generation iPad, and there are a ton of useful tricks you need to know if you’re new to the accessory.

Pairing

Pairing the Apple Pencil to the iPad is as simple as uncapping it and plugging the Lightning connector into the Lightning port on your iPad. You’ll see a popup that asks you to confirm to pair, and once you accept, the Apple Pencil is successfully connected to the iPad.

Charging and Battery

When you connect your Apple Pencil to your iPad, it’ll let you know the battery level. You can also check using widgets accessed by swiping to the right of the Home screen. Scroll down to the “Batteries” section where your iPad and its connected devices (including Apple Pencil) are listed.

Don’t see a battery widget? Tap on “Edit” at the bottom of the list and tap on the “+” icon next to the “Batteries” option.

The Apple Pencil’s battery lasts for approximately 12 hours, and it charges through the Lightning connector on the iPad or with any Lightning cable using an adapter that ships with the accessory.

If your battery is dead and you need your Apple Pencil in a hurry, just plug it in for 15 seconds. That’ll get you enough juice to use it for a half hour, so it’s never out of power when you need it.

Apple Pencil Capabilities

The Apple Pencil is a sophisticated device that does quite a lot when paired with the sixth-generation iPad. A new touch sensor in the iPad allows for the Apple Pencil to work, enabling a lag-free writing and drawing experience that’s identical to using the Apple Pencil on the more expensive iPad Pro.

Your iPad knows when you’re using your Apple Pencil and it blocks out other touch input. That means there’s built-in palm rejection, so feel free to rest your hand on the iPad while you write or sketch.

There are pressure and positioning sensors included in the Apple Pencil, which let it detect a range of forces to enable pressure-sensitive drawing and writing in supported apps. When you press lightly, you’ll get a thin line. Press harder, and you’ll get a thicker line.

On the same note, there are two tilt sensors that determine the orientation and angle of the Apple Pencil while you’re holding it, a feature that lets you add shading to drawings and sketches by using the side of the tip.

Replacing the Tip

The Apple Pencil has a replaceable tip, so when it wears down, you can swap in a new one. An extra tip comes with the Apple Pencil, and you can purchase an additional package of four from Apple for $19.99.

How often you’ll need to change the tip will depend on how much you’re using the Apple Pencil, but on average, a tip should last for multiple months to a year or more. To swap it out, turn the tip counterclockwise to unscrew it and then screw on a new one.

Apple Pencil Apps

The Apple Pencil is ideal for taking notes, writing, sketching, drawing, and other similar tasks on the iPad, and because it’s been around for several years now, there are tons of apps that offer full support for the Apple Pencil’s features. We’ve listed some of our favorites below:

• GoodNotes 4 ($7.99) – GoodNotes 4 is a comprehensive note-taking app that offers a range of writing and sketching tools, along with OCR for searching through your written notes. You can also use it to annotate documents and PDFs with the Apple Pencil.
• Notability ($9.99) – Notability is another app that offers all of the features you need for taking detailed, concise notes with the Apple Pencil. It’s simple, easy to use, and offers tons of writing and sketching tools, but it’s not quite as feature rich as GoodNotes 4.
• PDF Expert ($9.99) – If you’re going to be editing and annotating a lot of PDFs, it may be worth investing in PDF expert.
• Pigment (Free) – Pigment is a coloring book app that lets you color in intricate designs using the Apple Pencil. Kids love it, and it’s relaxing for adults too.
• Affinity Photo ($19.99) – Affinity Photo is a lot like Photoshop – you can use it for drawing, sketching, editing photos, and more. It has full support for Apple Pencil, including pressure sensitivity and tilt. Use it to apply editing effects to photos or create paintings with its extensive brush library and brush tools.
• Procreate ($9.99) – For sketching and drawing on the iPad, you won’t go wrong with Procreate, an app that many iPad artists prefer. Procreate supports high-definition canvases, offers tons of brushes, and has full support for Apple Pencil.

Tracing Through Paper

Want to digitize a drawing that’s on traditional paper? The Apple Pencil works through paper, so just place the sheet over the iPad’s display, where it will be illuminated by the screen, and then trace the design in your favorite sketching app.

Other Apple Pencil Tidbits

Apple Pencil support is built into apps throughout the iOS 11 operating system. Inline Apple Pencil drawings, for example, can be inserted into Notes and Mail, while a useful Instant Notes feature lets you tap your Apple Pencil on the display of the iPad to automatically open a new note in the Notes app without having to unlock the iPad or manually open the app.

If you use the the document scanner in the Notes app to scan a piece of paper, you can then sign it or annotate it with Apple Pencil. It’s a useful feature for documents that you need to sign and return to someone. You can also sign standard PDFs, either in the Mail app or right in the Files app.

With the sixth-generation iPad, Apple also added Apple Pencil support to all of its iWork apps, so you can use Apple Pencil with Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. You can also use the Apple Pencil for drawing on and annotating screenshots and photos with Instant Markup, a feature available in the Photos app or whenever you take a screenshot (just tap on the screenshot icon in the lower left corner).

The Apple Pencil is, of course, designed for note taking and sketching, but you can also use it for navigation just like your finger.

Augmented Reality

The sixth-generation iPad includes an A10 Fusion chip, and while it’s not as speedy as the A10X Fusion in the iPad Pro, it’s still able to run any app or game in the App Store. Apple specifically said the more powerful A10 Fusion, which was first introduced in the iPhone 7, was added to the sixth-generation iPad to support augmented reality content.

There are now tons of augmented reality apps built using ARKit in the App Store, and you can download everything from Pokémon Go to apps that let you preview furniture to educational apps, all of which have AR content. In the iOS App Store, you’ll want to check out the specific AR categories in the apps and games sections.

iOS 11 on the iPad

iOS 11 introduced a whole slew of iPad-specific features that make using an iPad as a computer replacement a much more pleasing experience. The new sixth-generation iPad, with its A10 Fusion processor, supports all of these features.

A persistent dock, for example, houses all of your apps and makes it easier to use the built-in multitasking features for accessing two apps side by side. Using simple drag gestures that are easy to learn, you can use multiple apps in a variety of ways with Slide Over and Split View arrangements, as demoed in the video.

Picture-in-picture, another multitasking feature in iOS 11, lets you watch a video on YouTube or another source while continuing to use other apps, which is super handy, and drag and drop features make it simple to move files and content from one app to another.

Control Center has been merged with a useful new App Switcher, accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the iPad. With the App Switcher, you can access all Control Center options and quickly switch between open apps with just a tap.

You can find more detail on all of these iPad features in our iOS 11 roundup, which is complete with tons of how tos that are worth checking out for learning even more about iOS 11 and the new iPad.

Adding Accessories

While the new iPad supports the Apple Pencil, it doesn’t have a Smart Connector and there’s no option for a Smart Keyboard. Bluetooth keyboards are supported, though, and if you want to use your iPad for writing, coding, or other keyboard intensive tasks, it’s worth picking one up.

The sixth-generation iPad’s design is the same as the fifth-generation iPad’s design, so all existing iPad keyboards will work with the new model, and there are tons of options out there. Brydge, for example, makes a highly rated $99 iPad keyboard, and there are multiple options from Logitech, like the $99 Slim Folio. You can also use Apple’s own Magic Keyboard for a Mac-like typing experience.

Did you get a new iPad? Are there tips and tricks worth knowing that we haven’t covered here? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundup: iPadBuyer’s Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
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