AT&T has officially purchased Time Warner for $85 billion

This will allow AT&T to bring a “fresh approach” to the media industry.

Nearly two years after initially proposing its acquisition plans, AT&T announced on June 14, 2018, that it had officially completed the deal to purchase Time Warner for a sum of $85 billion.

AT&T first announced these plans back in October 2016, and soon after, was faced with a tremendous about of backlash from all sectors. The company most recently spent six weeks in court to determine if the acquisition violated any antitrust laws, but Judge Richard Leon told AT&T it could move forward on June 12.

It was expected that AT&T would finalize its purchase of Time Warner on June 20 to give the Justice Department proper time to make an appeal, but either AT&T decided to jump the gun or the Department admitted defeat.

Commenting on the deal, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said:

We’re going to bring a fresh approach to how the media and entertainment industry works for consumers, content creators, distributors, and advertisers.

Now that AT&T owns Time Warner, this also means it’s acquiring the other brands under Time Warner’s belt — including Warner Bros., HBO, and Turner. As part of the deal, Time Warner’s former CEO and Chairman, Jeff Bewkes, will be transitioning to a Senior Advisor position.

T-Mobile and Sprint are merging for $26.5 billion: Here are the details

Is Android P Beta 2 safe to use as a daily driver?

Yes.

Google announced the first Android P Developer Preview build back in March for the Pixels, and at I/O the company expanded the beta program to include devices from seven third-party manufacturers while rolling out Developer Preview 2.

DP2 was the first Android P public beta build (with DP1 considered the alpha build), and earlier this month Google rolled out DP3, the second beta build. DP3 is an important build as it includes final APIs and the SDK for developers to begin compatibility testing and make use of new features baked into Android P. Developers can also start pushing out apps targeted for Android P to devices enrolled in the beta.

While DP3 adds a lot of tools for devs to start building apps for Android P, there’s plenty to like if you’re just looking to try out Android P before it goes official later this year. The first beta build was notable for just how stable it was (considering it was a developer preview), and DP3 builds on that by ironing out lingering bugs from previous builds.

I’ve been using the Beta 2 build on a first-gen Pixel for most of this week, and I haven’t encountered any show-stopping bugs. I wasn’t able to pair Bluetooth accessories with Beta 1, but I had zero issues on that front with Beta 2. That said, there were a few instances where the volume skipped all the way to 100% as soon as I connected my MDR-1000X.

I haven’t faced any problems with calls or texts either, but it looks like there’s an ongoing issue with text messages on Verizon. Third-party app behavior has also been significantly improved, and aside from Alexa, I haven’t noticed any app crashes. I’ve even noticed a slight increase in battery life from Oreo thanks to the AI-assisted battery management tweaks.

Android P Beta 2 irons out the kinks from earlier releases, and is ready for use as a daily driver.

The gesture-based navigation system definitely takes some getting used to though, and the fact that you have to swipe up twice to access the app drawer is irksome. Android P still has a back button that kicks in when you’re in an app, which feels counter-intuitive. I prefer the way OxygenOS and MIUI implement gestures, where you can just swipe up from either edge of the screen to go back in an app.

On the subject of change, I’m still not sold on the idea that the clock is now to the left of the status bar. With the Pixel 3 said to sport a notch, I can understand Google’s reasoning for wanting to free up space for notifications on the status bar, but it feels unnecessary.

Overall, the latest beta build is stable enough to be used as a daily driver. Beta 2 is limited to the Pixels and the Sony Xperia XZ2 for now, but it should be making its way to the rest of the eligible devices shortly.

Looking ahead, Google is set to roll out DP4 — which will be a release candidate build — sometime later this month, followed by the final preview build sometime in July. We’ll likely see the digital wellness features and App Actions introduced in the upcoming build, and the stable Android P build should make its way around August.

How to get Android P on your Pixel or Nexus right now

Android P

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• Will my phone get Android P?
• How to manually update your Pixel to Android P
• Join the Discussion

Sony says it’s stopping development of its Xperia Home launcher [Update]

Only bug fixes will be added from here on out.

Updated June 15, 2018: Sony’s announcement of ending development for Xperia Home left us wondering what the future would hold, but thanks to a developer for the launcher, Erika Prymus, we now have a better idea as to what’s going on. According to Erika, “The reason for discontinuing new feature development in the current Xperia Home Application is that we are developing a new Home Application.” We don’t know what the new launcher will look like or what features it’ll have, but chances are we’ll get to see it with one of Sony’s next flagships.

Most Android OEMs outfit their phones with their own skin on top of Android, and with that, a custom launcher. Sony’s phones have long come with the Xperia Home launcher, and following the latest update that landed on June 11, development for it will be ending.

As noted by moderator Erika Prymus for the Xperia Home Open Beta on Google+:

A business decision has been taken that our current launcher, Xperia Home should enter maintenance phase.

In this “maintenance phase”, Xperia Home will no longer receive new features. There will still be updates down the road, but they’ll strictly be focused on removing bugs “for as long as deemed necessary.”

Additionally, this transition also means that the Xperia Home Open Beta program will be ending.

The latest update to Xperia Home (11.3.A.0.17) prior to this switch was mostly focused on bug fixes anyways. As noted by Sony, some of the highlights include fixes for widgets not updating, crashes when trying to open a photo from search, and more.

What does this mean for the future of launchers on Sony phones? Although Xperia Home will probably keep on chugging for a while to come, it’s likely that Sony’s either looking to create an all-new experience or just go the Nokia route and mimic the Pixel Launcher. I’d prefer to see the latter of those two things, but only time will tell.

Are you a Sony fan? What do you think about the end of Xperia Home?

Best Android Launchers in 2018

ARK: Survival Evolved is the latest AAA game to land on Android! [GotW]

Update June 15, 2018: ARK: Survival Evolved lets you play out your own dino-adventure right on your smartphone! Can you survive long enough to tame these prehistoric beasts?

ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: Survival Evolved is a vast game set in the Jurassic era that has you playing as a primitive human trying to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world filled with deadly dinosaurs and, if you venture into the online mode, other players for which you can team up or battle against.

The game was originally released for PC, PS4, and Xbox One last August and has just launched for Android and iOS this week. The game is a full port of the original game with optimization for mobile that includes a touchscreen interface and a free-to-play model that lets you play the game for free with ads, or Primal Pass subscriptions (available for $9.99 on a monthly basis or $34.99 for a yearly subscription) that removes all ads, give you a permanent 2x XP boost, and other perks such as access to the best servers along with special updates and perks in the future.

The game boasts a robust world full of prehistoric vegetation and fauna to interact with. The early game is all about foraging for food and supplies and crafting items and tools necessary for survival. There’s a single player mode which has you fending for yourself in a world filled with over 80 different dinosaurs and an expansive map to explore, while the online mode lets you play with up to 50 other players in a massive server where you can join up with a Tribe to share resources and spawn points as you try and tame your own dinosaurs and dominate your opponents.

My first interaction with a predator while playing @survivetheark on mobile. I died. 💩#ArkSurvivalEvolved #Android #dead pic.twitter.com/7hrXlxZTrm

— Marc L Lagace (@spacelagace) June 14, 2018

If you’ve never played ARK — or other survival-type games before — prepare to struggle early as you work your way through the opening tutorials of how the crafting system works. If you stray too far into a dangerous area, you’re bound to get mauled to death by a carnivore; swim into too deep of waters and a Megapirahna will take a bite out of you; forget to eat berries and you’ll die of starvation. Isn’t survival fun?

In terms of the hardware requirements, the game takes up nearly 2GB of storage and needs a phone with at least 3GB of RAM to run properly. Based on Google Play Store reviews, people have gotten the game to play well enough on a Samsung Galaxy S6 which would just meet the necessary specs. The game defaults to run on “High” video settings, so if you’re noticing sluggish frame rate you’re best off slipping into the settings and turning that down to “Medium” or “Low”. The “Epic” graphics setting proved to be too much for the Razer Phone — your experience may vary.

It’s a bit early to tell whether ARK is poised to be a hit on mobile — it garnered mixed reviews on PC and console and feels a bit clunky and unfair when you’re first starting out — but it’s free-to-play for mobile so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’ve got the time.

Download: ARK: Survival Evolved (Free w/Ads)

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Best Bluetooth Headsets in 2018

Most of the world has migrated to Bluetooth headphones, but there are still uses for a dedicated earpiece. These are the best options!

While most consumers have moved onto using Bluetooth earbuds and headphones, there’s still a use for old-school Bluetooth earpieces. They’re smaller and often less expensive than actual headphones, making them an attractive option for someone who would just needs the earpiece for hands-free phone calls.

These are the best ones you can buy right now.

Plantronics Voyager 5200

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is a straightforward earpiece that securely hooks around your ear and has a lengthy microphone for voice calls. There’s noise cancellation built-in to keep wind, traffic and other surrounding noise from ruining your call. It features Bluetooth 4.1 and works up to 98 feet away from your phone — though the specifics will vary based on interference. You get seven hours of talk time from the headset itself, but you can purchase a charging case for up to two additional charges. The headset includes a Micro-USB charging cable, as well as three different earbud sizes to help you find the perfect fit.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is available for $90.

See at Amazon

TOORUN M26 Bluetooth Headset

A much less expensive option comes from a company called TOORUN. Its M26 Bluetooth headset pairs with Bluetooth 4.1, and you can pair it with two devices. It also offers plenty of on-ear controls so you don’t need to get your phone out of your pocket to start a call. There’s also noise cancellation built-in to keep your surroundings from leaking into your call. This charges over Micro-USB, meaning you’ll be able to find spare chargers easily. You get up to seven hours of talk time, and five hours if you decide to use it for music.

The TOORUN M26 Bluetooth Headset is available in black, red, blue for $17.

See at Amazon

Plantronics M165 Marque 2

Plantronics has another great option, but this one costs much less money than the earlier earpiece. The M165 allows you to trigger Google Assistant or Siri, and you can answer or reject calls just by saying “Answer,” or “Reject.” This headset charges with Micro-USB, and offers seven hours of talk time. There’s also a deep sleep feature which will extend your battery life while it is turned on, letting the headset remain on for up to 180 days. Finally, this earpiece comes with three different earbud sizes so you can find the perfect fit.

The Plantronics M165 Marque 2 is available for $36.

See at Amazon

Mpow Pro Trucker

This headset isn’t nearly as compact as the other options, but if you can’t stand in-ear headphones, this is a great option for you. The boom mic swivels 360-degrees, letting you wear the earpad on either your left or right ear. The headband is flexible and adjustable for a snug fit, and the soft earpad should let you wear this headset for hours and hours. Speaking of which, the larger design means a larger battery, letting you talk up to 12 hours and have the headset in standby for up to 200 hours. There are volume and call controls on the headset, and you can pair this with two devices.

The Mpow Pro Trucker headset is available in all-black, black/silver, and violet/blue for $20.

See at Amazon

Apple AirPods

Yes, these are advertised and regular Bluetooth headphones, but since they are genuinely wireless headphones, you just use a single earbud the same way you would use a Bluetooth earpiece. Despite being made by Apple, AirPods work without issue with Android phones. There are no physical on-ear controls, but if the AirPods are paired to an Android phone, double-tapping them will play/pause music. Each AirPod has five hours of battery life, with another 24 hours of so in the charging case. The only downside to using the AirPods with an Android phone is the charging case can only be recharged with a Lightning cable, rather than the standard Micro-USB or USB-C.

Apple AirPods are available for $160.

See at Best Buy

Samsung Gear IconX 2018

In a similar vein as the Airpods, Samsung’s latest Gear IconX also serve as a great — albeit expensive — earpiece. Samsung and Apple are two of the few truly wireless headphone makers that set each earbud to work independently. For example, if you only want to have the left earbud in, you can do so and still have all the access to on-ear controls. With other truly wireless headphones, you can only access controls on one of the earbuds. The Gear IconX 2018 comes has five hours of talk time or music playback per earbud, and the included charging cradle offers another ten hours of battery life. The charging case itself charges with USB-C, meaning you can use the same power cord that you use with your phone.

Samsung’s Gear IconX 2018 headphones are available in black, gray and pink for $135-$150.

See at Amazon

What say you?

Which Bluetooth headset strikes your fancy? Let us know down below!

PSA: Apple Maps is Down for Many Users as ‘Directions Not Available’ Right Now

If you are attempting to navigate with Apple Maps right now, you may be unable to do so, as the service appears to be experiencing downtime.

The issue appears to be widespread, with many users reporting that Apple Maps is down across the United States, Canada, and other countries. The outage affects all devices with Apple Maps, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

“Directions Not Available,” the app says. “Route information is not available at this moment.”

Apple has yet to update its system status page to reflect any issues. We’ll update this article if that changes or when the issues are resolved.

Tags: Apple Maps, system status
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Apple Begins Selling Danalock V3, First Retrofit HomeKit-Enabled Smart Lock Available in Europe

Danalock today announced that the HomeKit version of its Danalock V3 smart lock is now available for purchase from Apple’s website and retail stores in more than 20 other countries across Europe, after limited availability in April.

Danalock V3 is said to be the first and only retrofit smart lock compatible with Apple’s HomeKit platform and Home app in Europe. Like the August Smart Lock, it is mounted on the inside of the door, enabling users to use a regular key for locking and unlocking the door from the outside if needed.

HomeKit support means users can control the lock with Siri voice commands or the Home app using an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, without needing a physical key. Through the Home app, it’s also possible to give keyless access to family members.

For added convenience, users can connect the Danalock with other HomeKit accessories, such as cameras, lights, thermostats, switches, and security systems.

Apple’s online store notes that the Danalock V3 is easy to install and globally compatible, with an adjustable cylinder set included in the box in countries outside of Scandinavia. It is battery powered and uses advanced AES-256 encryption.

Danalock V3 with HomeKit is available at select Apple retail stores in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. It’s also available on Apple’s online store in more than 20 countries in Europe and on Danalock’s website.

Pricing: £219.95 in the United Kingdom and €249.95 in most other European countries.

Tags: HomeKit, Europe
Discuss this article in our forums

HomePod Can Now Read the News in Canada, France, and Germany, Where Sales of the Speaker Begin Monday

Ahead of the HomePod launching in Canada in three days from now, the speaker has gained the ability to read the news in that country.

Siri can now provide news briefs from a handful of sources in Canada and abroad, including CBC, Global TV, CTV, and CNN. To start, say “Hey Siri” and then say something like “read me the news” or “what’s the news today?”

MacRumors reader Pedro Marques, who lives in Toronto, Canada, shared a demonstration of the feature with us today:

Until now, the HomePod was unable to read the news in Canada, as the speaker has yet to officially launch in the country.

Apple previously announced that HomePod sales will begin in Canada, Germany, and France on Monday, June 18. The speaker will be available to order in white and space gray through Apple’s online store, retail stores, and the Apple Store app on iPhone and iPad, and at select authorized resellers, including Best Buy.

The speaker will be priced at $449 in Canada, and €349 in Germany and France, according to Apple’s online store.

HomePod first launched in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia in February. Of course, Canadians could simply drive south of the border, purchase a HomePod in the United States, and bring it back to Canada, where it worked fine, beyond a few features like news that are now being added.

Late last month, Apple pushed a software update to the HomePod that enables Siri to speak in French, German, and Canadian English. Apple notes that Canadian French will be added later this year in a subsequent software update.

In related news, Apple’s TV app recently gained live news in Canada. CBC News is available for free, or $4.99 per month without ads, while CTV News Go is offered through authentication with a cable provider like Bell or Rogers. Other options include CNN, BNN Bloomberg, and online news network Cheddar.

Related Roundup: HomePodTag: CanadaBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Park’s office setup aims to keep workers on their toes

Considering Apple boss Tim Cook once described sitting as “the new cancer,” it’s little surprise that workers at the company’s new Apple Park campus have been given standing desks to work at.

“We have given all of our employees, 100 percent [of them], standing desks,” the CEO revealed in a recent interview broadcast on Bloomberg TV.

“If you can stand for a while, then sit, and so on and so forth, it’s much better for your lifestyle,” Cook said.

Various researchers have been saying for years that sitting for long periods of time can cause health problems in both the short and long term, including everything from painful back problems to obesity to a range of chronic diseases.

Keen to avoid a workforce of grimacing employees holding their backs or taking time off for medical treatment, Cook has decided to introduce standing desks to Apple’s offices to give workers the opportunity to switch from sitting and stay a little more active.

Cook has commented in the past about how sitting for long periods may result in health issues further down the line. The CEO said that many employees who have an Apple Watch use its “stand reminder” feature, which, at regular intervals, prompts you to get up and walk around a little bit.

“Ten minutes before the hour, it will remind you to move,” Cook once said. “We have a lot of people using the Apple Watch at Apple, and 10 minutes before the hour, suddenly they all get up and move.”

It’s rare for Apple to give anything away about what goes on behind the scenes, with the company famous for wanting to keep most aspects of its business very much behind closed doors.

Speaking of closed doors, pretty much the only other thing we know about its stunning new “spaceship” campus is that some of its workers, perhaps while taking a break from sitting or standing, have been walking into all-glass doors and walls. The accidents were brought to light by Bloomberg just months after Apple Park opened, with the publication of transcripts of several 911 calls appearing to confirm the reports.

As for staying on your feet at work, a study published earlier this year suggests that prolonged standing can also harm a person’s physical health, suggesting that the key is to switch regularly between sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day whenever you have the chance.

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Is Microsoft building checkout-less store technology to take on Amazon Go?

Microsoft is developing technology for checkout-less stores similar to Amazon Go, and the computer giant is also in talks with Walmart about a possible partnership.

The revelation comes via a Reuters report, which said that a team of between 10 and 15 Microsoft engineers have been working on developing technology capable of tracking what shoppers put into their bags as they make their way around a store. One of the team members is reportedly a computer vision specialist hired from Amazon Go.

Amazon opened its first “grab-and-go” store in Seattle in January, with new ones expected to be opening soon in Chicago and San Francisco.

Like Amazon Go, Microsoft’s technology would track shoppers as they make their way around a store, automatically processing customer selections. When they’re done, they can walk straight out of the store without stopping by a checkout, with the payment taking place automatically online.

Multiple sources claiming to have knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Microsoft is already showing its in-store technology to retailers around the world, suggesting that it’s already well advanced.

Part of Microsoft’s setup apparently involves cameras attached to shopping carts that would monitor a shopper’s selections as they move around the store.

Amazon Go uses an array of cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence technology to track each item that a customer places in their bag. It’s so clever that it even knows when you put an item back on the shelf, should you change your mind during your shop.

Reuters’ report noted that there’s no known launch date for Microsoft’s technology, adding that there’s a chance it might not even see the light of day. Current challenges include making it not only failsafe, but also cheap enough that retailers will actually want to use it.

It’s not clear if Microsoft’s system is confined to the shopping cart or requires additional sensors around the store, but the need to make it cost effective suggests it’s working on a platform that’s less complex than Amazon’s.

Walmart Go?

Soon after Amazon embarked on its ambitious project to build a delivery drone platform, Walmart revealed its own plans for a similar system. With that in mind, it’s little surprise that the retail giant is now believed to be in talks with Microsoft as it apparently eyes the launch of its own checkout-less stores.

But if Microsoft is able to create an effective technology, it could potentially sell it to multiple retailers, enabling it to take on Amazon and transform the way we shop at brick-and-mortar stores.

Amusingly, many Amazon Go shoppers have been commenting on how the experience leaves them feeling a bit like a shoplifter. Find out how it went for Digital Trends when we visited the first-ever Amazon Go store in Seattle soon after it opened.

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