First Beta of iOS 12 Now Available for Registered Developers
Following the conclusion of today’s keynote event, where Apple introduced new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Apple has made the first beta of iOS 12 available for developers for testing purposes and to build new iOS 12 features into apps ahead of the software’s public release.
Registered developers can download the first iOS 12 beta from Apple’s Developer Center or over-the-air after installing the proper certificate.
iOS 12 is a major overhaul to the iOS operating system that introduces tantalizing new features like Group FaceTime, local multiplayer shared AR experiences, new Animoji, and a Memoji feature that’s designed to let you create a personalized Animoji that looks just like you.
Animoji, stickers, text, and more can be used in FaceTime and the Messages app, and there’s a new Screen Time feature to help customers understand and manage the amount of time they’re spending on their iOS devices.
Siri has been improved in iOS 12 with Siri Shortcuts, which is designed to allow Siri to work with any app.
Under-the-hood improvements to iOS 12 will make everyday tasks on the iPhone and iPad faster and more responsive, with the camera launching up to 70 percent faster and the keyboard showing up up to 50 percent faster.
Only registered developers are able to download the iOS 12 beta at this time. As Apple has done in the past, a public beta for public beta testers will be provided later this summer after the software has gone through a couple rounds of developer testing.
iOS 12 will be available as a beta for several months as Apple works out all of the kinks and bugs. The update will see a public launch in the fall alongside new iPhones. iOS 12 will be available on all devices able to run iOS 11.
Related Roundup: iOS 12
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Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS Mojave to Developers
Apple this morning introduced the latest version of macOS, macOS Mojave, and the new software is now available for developers to download for testing purposes.
The new macOS Mojave beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
As this is brand new, early release software, it should not be installed on a primary machine.
macOS Mojave brings multiple new features to Apple’s Mac lineup, including a new system-wide Dark Mode, an entirely revamped Mac App Store, and a Stacks feature for organizing files on the desktop.
Several iOS apps are coming to macOS Mojave, including Apple News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home, which will let you control your HomeKit devices on the Mac. As with iOS, Group FaceTime is available on the Mac with Mojave.
macOS Mojave is limited to registered developers at this time, but latter in the summer, Apple plans to make a public macOS High Sierra beta available, giving public beta testers a chance to try the software before it sees a public launch in the fall.
Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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Apple Releases First Beta of New watchOS 5 Operating System to Developers
Apple this morning announced watchOS 5, a new version of the software that runs on the Apple Watch. The first developer beta of watchOS 5 has now been released to developers for testing purposes.
To install the beta, you’ll need the proper configuration profile, which can be obtained through the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 5 beta can be downloaded using the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update.
To install the beta, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. It would be wise to install the beta on a secondary device instead of a primary device given that this is an early version of the watchOS 5 software that still has bugs to be worked out.
watchOS 5 is a huge update that brings Activity Competitions so you can compete on workouts with friends, Walkie-Talkie with push-to-talk functionality for quickly communicating with the people you talk to most, and auto workout detection to make it easier than ever to start and stop workouts.
Other new features include an improved Siri watch face with support for third-party apps, a dedicated Apple Podcasts app, new Workout types that include Yoga and Hiking, new features for runners, and enhanced notifications, which will make notifications on the Apple Watch interactive.
watchOS 5 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers (because there’s no way to downgrade Apple Watch software), so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Provides First Beta of tvOS 12 to Developers
Following today’s WWDC keynote event that saw the introduction of iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new tvOS 12 operating system to developers for testing purposes.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 12 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that’s installed using Xcode.
tvOS 12 brings support for Dolby Atmos, a feature that Apple TV users have been wanting since the Apple TV 4K first launched. Starting this fall, iTunes will be home to the largest collection of Dolby Atmos-supported movies, and all purchased iTunes movies will be upgraded for free.
There are new aerial screensavers on Apple TV that were captured from the International Space Station, starting later this year, Apple is introducing a new No Sign On feature for Charter Spectrum users that will let them watch live channels and on-demand programs when connected to their Charter Spectrum broadband with no need to sign in.
Charter Spectrum users are also going to be able to place their traditional cable boxes with the Apple TV through an upcoming Spectrum TV app. These features will come to other providers in the future.
Other tvOS 12 features include autofill passwords from the iPhone to sign into Apple TV apps more quickly, and support for Home Control systems like Crestron and Savant, which will be able to be used to control the Apple TV. Apple also plans to make the Apple TV Remote a default option in Control Center on iOS devices.
The tvOS 12 update is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers later this summer. tvOS 12 will see a fall launch alongside iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5.
Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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macOS 10.14 Mojave Drops Support for Many Older Machines
Apple this morning introduced macOS 10.14 Mojave, the newest version of the operating system designed to run on the Mac.
macOS Mojave is a major update that introduces a range of new features like a Dark Mode, Desktop and Finder improvements, new apps, and a revamped Mac App Store, but unfortunately, the update drops support for a number of machines.
While macOS High Sierra was available for some machines manufactured as early as 2009, macOS Mojave is largely limited to 2012 or newer machines, with the exception of some Mac Pro models. Here’s a full list:
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid 2010 and mid 2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)
As you can see, compared to High Sierra, the update drops support for the older plastic MacBooks, and MacBook Pro, Air, mini, and iMac models from 2009, 2010, and 2011.
These older machines will not have access to the macOS Mojave features, and will continue to run macOS High Sierra.
Developers can download macOS Mojave starting today, and the update should be available for public beta testers later this summer.
Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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watchOS 5 Not Available for Original Apple Watch
The new watchOS 5 update, which was introduced at the keynote event of the Worldwide Developers Conference this morning, will not be available on the first-generation Apple Watch models that were released three years ago in 2015.
There were some hints that support might be dropped for the original Apple Watch, including warnings in later watchOS 4 updates after Apple stopped supporting the watchOS 1 SDK.
watchOS 5 will be able to be installed on Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watch models, while original Apple Watch models will not be able to be upgraded beyond watchOS 4.
The original Apple Watch likely does not have the power and battery life necessary for some of the newer watchOS 5 features, including Walkie-Talkie for touch-to-talk communications with friends, richer interactive notifications, automatic workout detection, and updates to the Siri watch face.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Introduces Apple Watch Bands and iPhone Cases in Summer Colors
Apple today updated its lineup of silicone iPhone cases and Apple Watch Sport Bands in three summer colors, including Peach, Marine Green, and Sky Blue.
The three new colors are available for both 38 and 42mm Apple Watch Sport Bands, with pricing the same as other Sport Bands ($49).
Apple has also released silicone cases for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus in the new colors, with the cases also suitable for the iPhone 7 lineup. The new silicone cases are priced at $39 for iPhone X, $39 for iPhone 8 Plus, and $39 for iPhone 8.
Apple has not provided leather iPhone cases in new colors, nor has the company introduced iPad cases in the new summer shades. There are also no other new watch bands, with the exception of the Pride watch band.
The Pride watch band is a new version of last year’s Pride band, using Apple’s Woven Nylon band in a series of rainbow colors. Apple has also introduced a matching watch face that’s available today in watchOS 4. The Pride watch band is available for $49 and can be ordered starting today.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral), iPhone X (Neutral)
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Asus ROG Phone shrinks your gaming PC and puts it in your pocket
What’s the worst thing about that monster gaming PC rig you’ve got at home? It’s the fact that it stays at home and never leaves because it’s so enormous, you’d practically need a heavy-duty crane just to shift it off the desk. Asus feels your pain, so it has made a smartphone that will satisfy your mobile gaming needs without compromising on power, funky designs, or hardcore gaming credentials. It’s called the Asus ROG Phone, and it’s coming later this year.
If you’re not a gamer, ROG stands for Republic of Gamers and is a division of Asus that focuses on gaming, esports, and modding PCs for the highest levels of performance. Hardware wearing the ROG branding is always impressive specs-wise, and the ROG Phone is no exception. It also introduces a new phrase to phone fans unfamiliar with the gaming world: Speed binning. This refers to Asus cherry-picking the best-performing processors from a production run, in this case, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chip, which hits 2.96GHz inside the ROG Phone, well above the normal 2.8GHz clock speed.
This is exclusive to the Asus phone and instantly singles the ROG Phone out as one designed for people who take mobile gaming very seriously. The chip comes with 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or a whopping 512GB of internal storage. To make sure you have the power when you need it most, a squeeze of the phone’s body — something like on the Pixel 2 and HTC phones — activates X Mode, where processing tasks are handled by the chip’s four fastest cores, and maxes out the clock speed. To avoid overheating, Asus has built a copper heat spreader into the body, and even sells a separate clip-on fan to speed up heat dispersal.
Made of glass and metal, the ROG Phone weighs a hefty 200 grams — in part due to the 4,000mAh battery — and the body is covered in slashes, angular lines, and design elements that will be familiar to Republic of Gamers fans. It looks great, especially the offset fingerprint sensor and glowing — yes, it really does light up — ROG logo on the back. The dual-lens camera is made up of a 12-megapixel lens and an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens. Around the front is a 6-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution. On the audio side, you get dual stereo speakers, DTS Headphone X enhancements, AptX HD Bluetooth, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
To go with the ROG Phone, Asus has made a series of accessories including a second display that’s identical to the one on the phone, an external 4K monitor, a 6,000mAh battery pack, and a dock for livestreaming use when you’re at your PC. Several different game controllers are also available to increase speed and accuracy over using the touchscreen, while the phone itself has two touch-sensitive AirTriggers built into the left-hand side of the device for use in landscape orientation.
When can you get a ROG Phone, and how much will it cost? Asus hasn’t announced availability or price yet but says the device should be on sale before the end of the year. The price is sure to be high, given the technology inside and the presence of that speed-binned processor. The bigger question is just how much demand there is for a specialized gaming phone, a segment most recently explored by Razer with its Razer Phone. It’ll be fascinating to compare the two when the time comes. We’ll keep you updated with ROG Phone news right here.
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Nvidia GeForce GTX 11 Series’ arrival is uncertain after Computex remark
When Nvidia will introduce its GeForce GTX 11 Series graphics cards is still up in the air. A recent press release stemming from the Hot Chips technology summit in California in August originally said Nvidia would feature “their next-gen GPU,” but that statement has since been removed. Nvidia’s scheduled GPU talk at 11:30 a.m. on August 20 also shifted to “TBD.” Stuart Oberman was originally slated to talk about “Nvidia’s next-generation mainstream GPU.”
“We will hear from the CPU and GPU giants: AMD featuring their next-gen client chip and Intel with an interesting die-stacked CPU with iGPU plus stacked dGPU,” the Hot Chips press release now states.
Even more, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted during a Computex press conference that gamers may not see next-generation graphics cards for “a long time from now.” Previously, the company was expected to launch a Founders Edition of the GeForce GTX 1180 graphics card in July, but that rumor shifted to August once the original Hot Chips press release went live. Now August may not even be on Nvidia’s roadmap.
These two factors — the altered Hot Chips schedule and Jensen Huang’s statement — indicate that the company may have pushed back its GeForce GTX 11 Series launch. That is only speculation at this point, and the “long time” statement could merely play into gamer anticipation for the next-generation cards. Still, a fourth-quarter 2018 release window would still fall within Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s previous expectations for a GTX 11 Series portfolio rollout during the second half of 2018.
Keep in mind that Nvidia is under a lot of pressure. While Nvidia is apparently aware that gamers are champing at the bit for next-generation graphics, the company still must answer to its shareholders. Graphics cards are a big chunk of Nvidia’s revenue, and the company hasn’t introduced an updated architecture since May 2016. Right now, most of what you hear from Nvidia revolves around artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, supercomputing, and robotics.
The GeForce talk presented by Nvidia’s CEO during the Computex press conference highlighted the Max-Q design: A tweak of the current Pascal architecture to enable thinner gaming notebooks without sacrificing a lot of performance. These discrete GPUs run around 10 percent slower than their non-Max-Q mobile counterparts because they are required to generate less heat due to the slimmer form factors.
Over the last two years, Nvidia rolled out 14 GTX 10 Series add-in cards for desktops spanning from the GT 1030 to the Titan Xp, eight discrete graphics chips for laptops, and three Max-Q mobile GPU variants. The architecture to be used in the GeForce GTX 11 Series is up in the air for now: Either Nvidia will fall back on its new Volta design used in the Titan V, or use a rumored new design called “Turing.” There is another code name floating around the rumor well — Ampere — pointing to the next generation family of Tesla cards.
As a reminder, Nvidia’s CEO said during the company’s Fiscal 2018 fourth-quarter conference call in February that we should “expect Pascal to continue to be world’s best gaming platform for the foreseeable future.”
Hackers prove how powerful computers can cheat Bitcoin and blockchain
Niche cryptocurrency ZenCash has been hit by a “51 percent attack,” leading to the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of tokens. Although problematic in its own right, the attack highlights one of the biggest weaknesses of blockchain platforms like Bitcoin — computing power.
Blockchain backed cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and ZenCash, are built on a “proof-of-work” system. That means that the network goes along with what a majority of ‘nodes’ (or miners) say is true. It’s a secure system because to trick it, you need to control more than half of those nodes, or an equivalent amount of computing power.
While that might be difficult for a platform like Bitcoin where there are thousands upon thousands of high-powered mining rigs, it’s much easier to trick smaller cryptocurrency networks. That is exactly what happened with ZenCash, where over a period of four hours, attackers used masses of computing power to take control of the blockchain and create alternate histories, thereby letting them spend their ZenCash twice.
Because the attackers covered their tracks, no one quite knows what they did with it, but no doubt it was profitable. Crypto51 looks at the hash rate, or global computing power currently mining different cryptocurrencies, and how much a 51 percent attack would technically cost to perform if rented from existing networks. In the case of ZenCash, the attacker would theoretically only have had to spend around $30,000 to complete the double-spend hack.
Blockchain networks like Bitcoin, which are far larger, would require a much greater expenditure to complete a 51 percent attack — $717,000 for just one hour, according to Crypto51. Fortunately, there isn’t enough rental power in the world to conduct such an attack, but if an organization was to get a hold of enough hashing power, those currencies are just as vulnerable and could be attacked in much the same way.
ZenCash isn’t the only cryptocurrency that has been hit with a 51 percent attack. As Bitcoinist reports, both Bitcoin Gold and Verge have both been hit in a similar manner in recent months. They required less hashing power than ZenCash, so it’s possible that this latest attack is just another example if a trend of upward trajectory attacks that target much more vulnerable cryptocurrencies and blockchain platforms.
Fifty-one percent attacks aren’t the only problems faced by Bitcoin and public blockchain platforms, though, these developers are trying to solve them.
