Canada Daily Deals: Oculus Go, Philips Hue bundles, Nintendo Switch, more
Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.
We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on Oculus Go, Choetech Micro-USB/USB-C 2-in-1 cables, Philips Hue + Amazon Echo bundles, Nintendo Switch consoles, and much more!
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MacRumors Giveaway: Win a ‘Dockit W3’ Handmade iPhone and Apple Watch Dock from WhyWood
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with WhyWood to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win something a little bit out of the ordinary – a high quality wooden iPhone and Apple Watch dock made primarily by hand in Switzerland.
The WhyWood Dockit W3, made from oak or walnut, can charge multiple devices all at once.
It has a 7.5W wireless charger for charging the latest 2017 and 2018 iPhones at maximum wireless charging speed, a Lightning port for charging the AirPods or Apple TV Remote, and a built-in magnetic Apple Watch charger for charging the Apple Watch Series 1 through 4 models.
Each dock is available with a black or white accent stripe, and feet made from microsuction tape make sure the dock stays in place on your desk or nightstand.
At the back of the Dockit, there are two USB 3.0 ports for charging additional devices, along with a Smart USB charger that features a 4.6-foot cord. WhyWood says that up to five devices can be charged at their fastest possible charging speed using the dock.
Each Dockit has been designed with safety features that include short circuit prevention, temperature control, output voltage surge protection, and power overload recovery.
Because it’s made largely by hand in Switzerland and has multiple ports built in, the Dockit W3 is priced starting at $193 for the 7.5W charging version. WhyWood also offers other Dockit configurations like the Dockit W1 with 7.5W charger and Lightning connector, or the Dockit W2 with 7.5W charger and Apple Watch charger, or the Dockit 2L1W with two Lightning ports and an Apple Watch charger.
The Dockit W3, which is the dock we’re giving away, is the most feature rich version that WhyWood offers. It is available with or without engraving, and a company logo can also be included.
We have two of the Dockit W3s to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our 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, following us on Instagram, 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 (October 12) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 19. The winners will be chosen randomly on October 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.
Tag: giveaway
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Hackers Accessed Data From 29 Million Facebook Users
Two weeks ago, Facebook announced that it discovered a security breach allowing hackers to steal Facebook data from millions of accounts, and today, Facebook shared further data on just what was accessed.
To get the Facebook data, hackers took advantage of a security flaw in the social network’s “View As” code, a feature designed to let people see what their profile looks like to someone else. The Facebook access tokens that hackers were able to obtain are basically digital keys that allow people to stay logged in to Facebook.
According to Facebook, hackers used a set of accounts that they controlled that were connected to Facebook friends. An automated technique was used to move from account to account, allowing them to collect access tokens in September 2018.
Hackers were able to obtain timeline posts, friend lists, groups, and the names of recent Messenger conversations from an initial 400,000 people. People in this group who were Page admins of a Page that had received a message from someone on Facebook had the content of their messages stolen.
After stealing data from the 400,000 people attacked first, Facebook used their friends list to steal access tokens for approximately 30 million people.
For 15 million people, attackers were able to access name and contact details that include phone number and email address.
For 14 million people, hackers were able to access the same information as well as other data that includes username, gender, location, relationship status, religion, hometown, current city, birthdate, device types used to access Facebook, education, work, the last 10 places where they checked in, websites, people, Pages they follow, and 15 most recent searches.
An additional 1 million people had their access tokens stolen but no information was obtained.
According to Facebook, people can find out whether or not they were affected through the Facebook Help Center. Over the “coming days,” Facebook plans to send customized messages to the 30 million people who were affected to explain what information hackers might have obtained.
The FBI is investigating the attack and Facebook has been asked “not to discuss who may be behind [the] attack.”
Tag: Facebook
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Apple Criticizes Proposed Anti-Encryption Legislation in Australia
The Australian government is considering a bill that would require tech companies like Apple to provide “critical assistance” to government agencies who are investigating crimes.
According to the Australian government, encryption is problematic because encrypted communications “are increasingly being used by terrorist groups and organized criminals to avoid detection and disruption.”
As noted by TechCrunch, Apple today penned a seven-page letter to the Australian parliament criticizing the proposed legislation.
In the letter, Apple calls the bill “dangerously ambiguous” and explains the importance of encryption in “protecting national security and citizens’ lives” from criminal attackers who are finding more serious and sophisticated ways to infiltrate iOS devices.
In the face of these threats, this is no time to weaken encryption. There is profound risk of making criminals’ jobs easier, not harder. Increasingly stronger — not weaker — encryption is the best way to protect against these threats.
Apple says that it “challenges the idea” that weaker encryption is necessary to aid law enforcement investigations as it has processed more than 26,000 requests for data to help solve crimes in Australia over the course of the last five years.
According to Apple, the language in the bill is broad and vague, with “ill-defined restrictions.” As an example, Apple says the language in the bill would permit the government to order companies who make smart home speakers to “install persistent eavesdropping capabilities” or require device makers to create a tool to unlock devices.
Apple says additional work needs to be done on the bill to include a “firm mandate” that “prohibits the weakening of encryption or security protections,” with the company going on to outline a wide range of specific concerns that it hopes the Australian parliament will address. The list of flaws Apple has found with the bill can be found in the full letter.
Apple has been fighting against anti-encryption legislation and attempts to weaken device encryption for years, and its most public battle was against the U.S. government in 2016 after Apple was ordered to help the FBI unlock the iPhone owned by Syed Farook, one of the shooters in the December 2015 attacks in San Bernardino.
Apple opposed the order and claimed that it would set a “dangerous precedent” with serious implications for the future of smartphone encryption. Apple ultimately held its ground and the U.S. government backed off after finding an alternate way to access the device, but Apple has continually had to deal with further law enforcement efforts to combat encryption.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Tags: Australia, Encryption
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Man Wearing Apple Maps Backpack Surveying San Francisco on Foot
Apple is expanding its street mapping efforts beyond vans outfitted with LIDAR equipment and now has employees collecting street level data on foot.
MacRumors reader Dante Cesa spotted a man wearing an Apple Maps backpack featuring a LIDAR rig, GPS, and multiple cameras, some of the same equipment that’s previously been spotted on Apple’s mapping vans.
Apple has been collecting street-level data with its Apple Maps vans since 2015, but this is the first time we’ve seen someone collecting mapping data on foot.
Apple in iOS 12 introduced a revamped Maps app that’s been rebuilt from the ground up using its own data, which the company has promised will bring better accuracy and more detail.
The new Maps app offers up improvements to traffic, real-time road conditions, road systems, new construction, and changes in pedestrian walkways along with more detail and accuracy when it comes to displaying foliage like grass and trees, parking lots, building shapes, and more.
Data gathered on foot will likely be used to improve pedestrian directions in major cities like San Francisco.
Apple appears to be bolstering its mapping efforts following the launch of iOS 12. Along with the Apple Maps backpack man, Apple has also deployed new Subaru Impreza mapping vehicles that were spotted with new LIDAR equipment earlier this week in Los Angeles.
Tag: Apple Maps
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Upcoming 2018 iPad Pro Could Be 5.9mm Thick With No Headphone Jack
Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro could be one of its thinnest devices yet, measuring in at just 5.9mm thick, based on details shared by a leaker on Twitter who previously provided accurate details on the iPhone XS and XR ahead of launch.
According to Twitter user CoinCoin, the upcoming iPad Pro will measure in at just 5.9mm, and due to its thinness, there will be no room for Apple to include a headphone jack.
Of course no headphone jack on the upcoming new iPad. 5.9mm thickness is pretty good though.
— CoinCoin (@coiiiiiiiin) October 12, 2018
The 5.9mm estimate matches up with alleged iPad Pro dimensions shared yesterday on Slashleaks, which suggested the new iPad Pro would measure 5.86mm thick.
It is also in line with current iPad Pro measurements. The existing 10.5-inch iPad Pro is 6.1mm thick, so it would make sense for a new model to be somewhat thinner.
It’s likely the 5.9mm estimate applies to the smaller of the two 2018 iPad Pro models that Apple is expected to introduce, which could be somewhere around 10.5 to 11 inches in size. Apple’s current 12.9-inch iPad Pro is thicker than the 10.5-inch version, measuring in at 6.9mm thick.
The iPad Pro dimensions shared on Slashleaks yesterday suggest the smaller iPad Pro will be 7 inches wide (178.52mm) and 9.7 inches tall (247.64mm), while the larger model will be 8.5 inches wide (215mm) and 11 inches tall (280.66mm).
We’ve seen similar dimension estimates in earlier rumors from Japanese site Mac Otakara, suggesting the smaller iPad Pro will measure in at 247.5mm tall, 178.7mm wide, and 6mm thick, while the larger model will measure 280mm tall, 215mm wide, and 6.4mm thick.
Comparatively, the current 10.5-inch iPad Pro measures in at 6.8 inches wide (174.1mm) by 9.8 inches tall (250.6mm), while the 12.9-inch model measures in at 8.68 inches wide (220.6mm) by 12 inches tall (305.7mm).
Bezels on the new tablets could measure in right around 6mm at the top, bottom, and sides, with the 7.2mm measurement on the Slashleaks document perhaps referring to bezel thickness with side button included.
Multiple prior rumors have indeed suggested that the next-generation iPad Pro models will feature slimmer bezels all the way around, with the top bezel housing a TrueDepth camera system for Face ID. The bottom bezel is slimmer than in existing models because Apple plans to remove the Home button.
Coming back to the prediction of no headphone jack, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard that rumor. Back in July, Mac Otakara also said that the upcoming iPad Pro models will not include a headphone jack. iPhone models have not offered a headphone jack since the iPhone 7, with Apple instead encouraging customers to use Bluetooth headphones like the AirPods or Lightning-based solutions.
The info shared on Slashleaks is likely from a case maker and because it’s supported with data obtained from other sources, it’s quite possibly accurate. Aside from the dimensions of the new iPad Pro models, the info also confirms the presence of a new Smart Connector at the back of the two tablets.
Other 2018 iPad Pro rumors suggest the device will feature a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, a faster A12X chip, and support for a second-generation Apple Pencil.
It’s not clear when the new iPad Pro models will be announced, but their debut is likely coming soon. We’re expecting Apple to hold an event at some point in October, with the end of October looking like the most probable option.
Related Roundup: iPad ProTag: SlashleaksBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Android apps to make your Pokemon Go experience even better
Pokemon Go is huge. Yes, in fall of 2018. In fact, the game is as popular now as it was upon its launch some two years back. It’s a money-making monster and people can’t get enough.
Why is Pokemon Go so popular now? There are plenty of reasons. For starters, there’s no fewer than 350 Pokemon available to catch. New characters are added all the time and the fourth generation appears to be on the horizon. Then there’s Community Day, regular events, friends, trading, and more.
Ask some of the more savvy or long-term players how they were able to hit the high 30’s or level 40 and you’ll find a common thread. It’s not entirely about grinding or paying for advantages.
Indeed, there are a number of ways to gain an upper hand on catching Pokemon or leveling up in Pokemon Go. We’re talking about apps. Chances are high that the guys you find occupying gyms and taking down raid bosses are using other apps.
We’ve gathered up some of the best apps you can find to enhance your Pokemon Go experience. Installing one or more of these is sure to help you not only learn more about the game itself, but how to take advantage of it.
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1. Discord – Chat for Gamers
This one might sound familiar to you as it’s used for much more than Pokemon Go. Really, it’s not so much of an app as it is a service that works across platforms. This just happens to be the Android client of the popular tool.
Many of the loyal players in your area are using a social network to communicate with each other. This is the preferred means.
Is a raid about to go down? Share the location and details with people in your community so they can coordinate a meet-up. A rare Pokemon spawned in the middle of a parking lot at 1AM? Let your buddies know where to get Lunatone before it goes away.
A lot of groups have broken their Discord group into channels with information sharing, friend codes, gatherings, and more. If anything, use it as a way to monitor the goings-on without having to be physically present.
Discord is free to download and use; an account is required to log in. Also worth noting is that many of the Pokemon Go groups are private and/or invitation only.
2. GO Ranger – Unofficial Field Guide
Given there is always something going on in the game, it can be difficult to keep up. Which Pokemon types are spawning more now? What’s the difference in Field Research and the various rewards? Which Pokemon can be shiny?
GO Ranger is an excellent resource for all things Pokemon Go. Not only does it provide you with the answers to the aforementioned questions, but it also keeps track of plenty of things, too.
Upon opening the app you’ll be greeted with a list of current events. You can see at-a-glance which legendary raid bosses are available and for how long. In the middle of an ongoing festival or event? How about a nice timer that counts down the days and hours?
Hit up the Field Guide for helpful information on which Pokemon can be found in eggs, which might be a Ditto, or what creatures can nest. Moreover, you can see how long you might have to walk your buddy for candy, identify who might be in an upcoming raid, and how to prepare for them. We love how easy it is to figure out who we’ll counter a boss with based on its weaknesses or weather conditions.
The checklists section lets you create and update lists on a variety of topics. On the hunt to collect all regionals, shiny, or a particular region? Easy peasy. Maybe you want to track those you have available to trade. Whatever you wanna do here is fine.
GO Ranger is free to download but is supported via the occasional display ad.
3. Silph Road
If you’ve ever played Pokemon Go at a park, you likely noticed that there were particular types that continue to spawn over and over. These “nests” rotate every two weeks and provide players with an opportunity to stock up.
Instead of going all the way over to the park only to find out that it’s Doduo you can save yourself some time and aggravation. Players just like you are sharing their findings with the community and are only too happy to spread the word on the latest nest Pokemon.
The Silph Road app lets you check a map of nests and see which types are spawning. You might have some rare or missing Pokemon just a few miles from you.
Don’t just take from the app, give back, too. Provide your own feedback and insight. How many did you find and how long were you there? Share the information and other players can benefit.
The app also gives you access to the latest in game news and overall research. It’s a great way to learn more about how Pokemon Go works, how to gain an upper hand, or what direction to take.
The Silph Road is free to download and use; you’ll need to create an account or validate with your Reddit account.
4. Calcy IV
Seasoned players know that Pokemon aren’t just about how high of a CP you can find. No, each one has its own unique individual value, or IV. Using a combination of Attack, Defense, and Stamina, the score determines the overall strength of your Pokemon.
Sadly, you’ve probably tossed away some potent Pokemon, thinking that the low CP meant it was weak. Instead of relying on the in-game appraisal system and trying to guess at power, go with an app like Calcy IV.
This app lets you check the IV levels of your Pokemon, and it does so much more. Use it to learn raid boss weaknesses and possible moves, or how to counter it with your own monsters. Additionally, you can use it to quickly rename your Pokemon for better identification based on a variety of factors.
This is one of those apps that gets better the more you play around with it. It can work as just an overlay atop of Pokemon Go or you could dive deep and really get a feel for your roster and its potential.
Download Calcy IV for free from Google Play and get started today.
5. Poke Genie – Safe IV Calculator
Ever wonder how much CP your Pokemon will have should you power it up or evolve? How much stardust and candy will you need to max out that Snorlax? Use Poke Genie to figure it out — it only takes a few seconds and can really change the way you’re playing.
Poke Genie is not really all that different from Calcy IV in the big scheme of things. We like the look and feel of this one as it does have a slightly more modern aesthetic. That’s not to suggest, however, that it’s any better than the aforementioned client.
If you’re serious about growing a better roster of pocket monsters, and want a leg up on battles, consider this one.
Poke Genie is free to install but includes advertisements.
6. Facebook
Yeah, we’re talking about Facebook. Why? Because that’s where a lot of players go to communicate and organize.
It’s a pretty safe bet that there’s a community or page based in your area. Be it major metro markets, counties, cities, or even townships, there’s probably a group of people convening right under your nose.
We imagine you already have an account for Facebook. Start using it for Pokemon Go and you might be surprised at how much more efficient you are as a player.
Download Facebook for free from Google Play.
The news is stressful, but easier on the eyes with new Google News dark theme
Say goodbye to blinding yourself with the news every morning, as a Google News update is rolling out that introduces a dark mode to the service.
Google has been updating the designs of some of its core services for some time now. Google Photos and Android Messages were some of the latest of Google apps to receive updates that brought their looks into line with Google’s Material Design 2 style. However, don’t expect to see a radically different Google News as a result of this update. Google News is already broadly in line with Google’s current design rules, only having been launched in May 2018, as a replacement for Google Play News.
As such, it’s a minor update, only introducing a dark mode. But as anyone who’s ever browsed their phone in darkness can attest, opening your phone to a bright and blinding theme can be a horrible experience. A darker theme can be much easier on the eyes, and it’s perfect for browsing the latest breaking news just after getting up in the morning, or just before putting your head down for the night.
As such, the dark mode on Google News comes with a couple of options that can make your life a little bit easier. A pop-up will appear the first time you access Google News after the update has been installed, but if you miss checking it out from there, you can access the mode by going to Settings > Dark theme. You’ll have the option to turn it on all the time, or having it activate automatically at night time, or as part of your automatic battery saver mode. Or you can leave it off, if a blast of white photons at 6 a.m. is the only thing that gets you out of bed in the morning.
The update is currently rolling out, and if you haven’t got it yet and can’t wait, you can download the APK and sideload it into your Android device. At the moment this seems to be an Android-only update, so iOS users will have to wait a little bit longer before getting a darker mode on the iOS Google News app.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Google Fit and new notifications arrive in much-needed Wear OS update
- New Google Maps update is rolling out with location-based recommendations
- Google Maps adds new features to help make your commute less dreadful
- The best news apps for Android and iOS
- Pixel 3, Home Hub, and Pixel Slate — our first look at all Google’s new devices
Pocket transforms articles into podcasts with an assist from Amazon
You may know it as the pre-eminent read-it-later app, but Pocket is now promoting a different option for catching up on the news: Listen-to-it-later. The Mozilla-owned platform has launched a redesign that includes a revamped and much-enhanced feature for listening to articles. While it was possible to listen to articles before, the option wasn’t prominently displayed, controls were limited, and the text-to-voice service was unnatural and difficult to follow.
With its refreshed app for both iOS and Android, Pocket has partnered with Amazon to use its Polly voice-to-text service, which sounds significantly more human than its predecessor thanks to the addition of appropriate rests and inflections in the sentences it reads. It’s not perfect, mind you — it is a robot, after all — but the quality is at the same level as Alexa in an Amazon Echo, so most people should find it a satisfactory option for hands-free use.
Additionally, the update delivers a full-screen listening mode with granular controls like 1x speed, 15-second fast-forward and rewind buttons, and a slider for jumping to a specific point in an article. Previously, the app offered only a small control panel at the bottom of the screen, and just a few controls: Play, pause, and skip. On iOS, it also wasn’t possible to queue up multiple articles — now that feature is available on both platforms.
To emphasize the new feature, the redesigned app places a prominent headphones icon at the top of the display both in a reading list and at the top of articles. Additionally, it’s now possible to listen to Pocket articles through Alexa-enabled devices.
These changes are sensible. If Pocket wants to grow, it needs to move beyond its reputation as a repository for written content, and become a platform for video and audio, as well. But there are some aspects of the update that aren’t being quite as well-received so far. Pocket introduced a new typography and user interface for articles designed to make reading easier on the eyes, but on the Google Play Store, there are quite a few people complaining about the new sans serif font, which they say is harder to read. Whether or not the criticism is valid or represents a simple resistance to change, at least Pocket is offering an alternative — skip reading, just have a listen.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Dude, where’s my car? Check out the best Android Auto apps
- The best music apps for iOS and Android
- The best news apps for Android and iOS
- You can now search the Apple Store app using your voice
- The best iPhone apps available right now (October 2018)
The best Philips Hue alternatives
Philips Hue smart lights are some of the coolest on the market and they’re definitely some of the most popular, but they can be quite expensive, especially once you get into colored bulbs. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative or just something other than what’s popular, then check out these other awesome options (like the LIFX A19 bulbs).
Top pick
LIFX
LIFX’s relatively inexpensive bulbs provide 16 million colors and 1,000 shades of white, and they connect via Wi-Fi without the need for a hub. That and each bulb only uses 17 watts despite a lumen count of 1,017 (A19 model).
$59 at Amazon
Budget pick
Cree Connected
The price of the Cree smart bulb belies its quality. Controllable with Alexa, you can get a 60-watt equivalent bulb in soft white or daylight, and it works with multiple other hubs. There’s none better for value, with the Cree Connected bulb sporting a 22-year lifespan (25,000 hours).
$15 at Amazon
Affordable color
Sylvania Smart RGBW bulb
For under $30, you can get the Sylvania Smart bulb that offers 16 million colors, multiple lighting presets, and it’s controllable using a ZigBee hub along with your favorite smart assistant. You can also grab it in just white for only $11.
$29 at Amazon
No hub required
Eufy Lumos
For hubless Wi-Fi control of your smart lights, Eufy’s Lumos bulbs are fantastic. They’re somewhat expensive, but you can snag a plain white bulb for $20. The multicolor bulbs are where the fun begins, though — just screw them in, connect to Wi-Fi with the app, and use Alexa or Google Assistant to control them.
$20-$45 at Best Buy
Light-up wall art
Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm
If you want your smart lights to make more of a statement than a simple bulb does, check out the Aurora Rhythm from Nanoleaf. It comes in packs of 9 or 15 panels, which features millions of colors, as well as audio sensors, which change the lighting in time with your tunes. Orient the panels any way you like.
$220 at Amazon
Best value
Yeelight multicolor smart bulb
Yeelight’s bulbs work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, and you don’t need a hub to control them. There are 16 million color options, they’re dimmable, and you have control of a color temperature range of 1700K to 6500K. Lots of bang for your buck.
$30 at Amazon
3-pack deal
TP-Link Kasa dimmable white
For fabulous everyday bulbs at a great price, this TP-Link 3-pack is perfect for getting your smart home started. It works out to $18 per bulb, and you can control them with Alexa or Google Assistant with no hub required.
$54 at Amazon
Super adjustable
LOHAS multicolor smart bulb
LOHAS’ bulbs have incredibly fine built-in adjustments when it comes to dimming. You can set each bulb exactly how you like it, and you don’t need a hub. Color temperature ranges from 2000K to 9000K and you have 16 million colors to choose, just like with any great multicolor smart bulb.
$17 at Amazon
While LIFX’s bulbs are certainly the best alternative to Philips Hue, the less expensive Eufy Lumos will more than do the trick for beautiful, colorful smart lightning.
