Failure rate of MacBook Pro ‘butterfly’ keyboards double that of older models

Although it’s been widely reported on various forums and on Apple’s support site that the new MacBook Pro keyboards with the butterfly key-switch can fail if there’s dirt or debris lodged under the keys, we now have  statistics on how often the keyboard fails. Apple switched to the new butterfly key-switch with the slim keyboard on the MacBook, and the MacBook Pro followed suit in 2016. According to data collected by Apple Insider from Apple Genius Bar repairs and Apple-authorized third-party repair shops, we now know that the keyboard failure rate on MacBook Pro models with the butterfly switch keyboard is double that of older MacBook Pro models with standard keyboards.

The 2014 MacBook Pro model saw 2,120 service events that were reported on, according to Apple Insider , with 118 keyboard-related problems. Similarly, in 2015, there were 1,904 service events implicating 114 keyboard-related issues. When Apple switched to the butterfly keyboard in 2016, there were 1,402 warranty events with 165 issues related to the keyboard, excluding any problems with the Touch Bar. This means 5.6 percent of warranty issues in 2014 and 6.0 percent in 2015 were caused by keyboard problems, a number that jumped to 11.8 percent in 2016. The 2017 numbers aren’t complete yet, but the first half of the year saw 1,161 service events with 94 keyboard-related issues.

On its own, a twofold increase in keyboard-related issues may be cause enough for concern, but the increase in the recidivism rate shows that the design may play a large part in why the new keyboards are failing. Of the 118 keyboard repairs on the 2014 model, eight were brought back for secondary service within 90 days. On the 2015 model, six returned for secondary repair. A third repair was not necessary for both model years.

After the redesign in 2016, 51 secondary repair jobs were required, of which ten needed a third repair in the 90-day period. The 2017 model saw 17 secondary repairs and three requiring a third repair.

And because of how the keyboard mechanism is designed on the 2016 and 2017 models, repairs are costly. If the keys are damaged in any way, the whole assembly needs to be replaced, including the keyboard, battery, upper casing, and the Thunderbolt 3 ports, Apple Insider noted. If you’re out of warranty, a simple keyboard repair job could cost more than $700. Apple-authorized repairs for the 2014 and 2015 models cost $400.

“We don’t know for sure how many GPU failures in the 2011 through 2013 MacBook Pro line caused Apple to act, nor do we know what triggered the display coating repair extension program,” Apple Insider said. “But, the near-doubled failure rate of the keyboard in the first year on the 2016 MacBook Pro is a ticking time bomb for users, and it doesn’t matter why.”

Given that the new butterfly switch keyboards are more prone to failure and costly to repair, it may be wise to consider alternatives to the MacBook and MacBook Pro if you’re shopping for a laptop.

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Opera discontinues its mobile VPN app

Opera’s free mobile VPN app wasn’t long for this world, unfortunately. The browser maker has discontinued both its Android and iOS VPN clients after SurfEasy, the developer Opera had acquired in 2015, parted ways with the company. We’ve asked about the fate of desktop support, but it’s safe to say this reduces your choices when you’re accessing content from other countries or adding a degree of secrecy to your surfing. You’re not out of luck if you want to use Opera VPN’s underlying technology, though.

If you’re an Opera Gold user, you’ll have the option of a free one-year subscription to SurfEasy’s Ultra VPN service. Everyone else, meanwhile, can use the Opera VPN app to subscribe to SurfEasy Total for 99 cents per month instead of the usual $5. That’s less than ideal if you’re used to paying zero, but look at it this way: if you still need a VPN client, you’ll have an affordable service while you’re considering your options.

Via: Android Police

Source: Opera

Gruber: Apple’s Cross-Platform App Support to Debut in 2019, Not 2018

Rumored cross-platform functionality that will allow Macs to run iPhone and iPad apps is planned for macOS 10.15 and iOS 13 rather than macOS 10.14 and iOS 12, according to well-known Apple journalist John Gruber.

Gruber shared the tidbit in a blog post covering “scuttlebutt” he’s heard about the cross-platform UI project, which he says is indeed in the works at Apple.

News of support for universal apps able to run on iPhone, iPad, and Mac was first shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in December. At the time, Gurman said Apple would introduce the functionality in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14, with an announcement likely to happen at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June.

Gurman and Axios’ Ina Fried later confirmed in January that the combined app framework was on the table for 2018 despite other planned iOS 12 and macOS 10.14 features being pushed back, but Gruber says he’s “nearly certain” it’s a 2019 project for macOS 10.15 and iOS 13, which could also be part of an updated UI for iOS said to be coming next year. “I would set your expectations accordingly for this year’s WWDC,” he writes.

According to Gruber, from what he’s heard through first and second-hand sources, Apple appears to be working on declarative control APIs for iOS and macOS, which suggests Apple wants to make it easy for developers to create modern cross-platform user interfaces. Gruber’s info is not as definitive as outright support for cross-platform iOS and macOS apps as has been previously reported, but it is an indication that Apple is working towards that goal.

There’s nothing inherently cross-platform about a declarative control API. But it makes sense that if Apple believes that (a) iOS and MacOS should have declarative control APIs, and (b) they should address the problem of abstracting the API differences between UIKit (iOS) and AppKit (MacOS), that they would tackle them at the same time. Or perhaps the logic is simply that if they’re going to create a cross-platform UI framework, the basis for that framework should be a declarative user interface.

It’s not clear who is correct on the timing of the universal app project given the conflicting information, but we don’t have long to wait to find out. macOS 10.14 and iOS 12 will be introduced at the keynote event of the Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to take place on June 4.

Gruber’s full writeup with additional details on the project can be found over at Daring Fireball.

Related Roundups: WWDC 2018, macOS 10.14, iOS 12Tags: daringfireball.net, John Gruber
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Twitter’s new shows include Formula 1 and SportsCenter Live

Twitter wasn’t kidding when it promised a flurry of video. The social network has announced more than 30 video deals, including a slew of live shows. To begin with, Twitter has landed a Formula 1 deal: The @f1 account will stream a live post-race show (sorry, no live races) with both key interviews and panel discussions with luminaries like Nico Rosberg. The first of ten shows will premiere after the Spanish Grand Prix on May 13th, and you’ll also find on-demand race highlight clips.

On top of this, Twitter has divulged details of two of ESPN’s sports shows. SportsCenter Live is a “Twitter take” on ESPN’s signature news show that will offer breaking news through Twitter’s Moments feature. Fantasy Focus Live, meanwhile, translates the channel’s fantasy sports podcast to a livestreamed morning series.

Other highlights? Twitter’s still-fresh MLB streaming deal is expanding to include a show discussing the All-Star Game and the playoffs, while the MLS pact now includes the Homegrown Game. Vice News is launching a live show, The New Space Race, that will cover the competition between private outfits like SpaceX and Blue Origin. There’s also a range of originals focusing on women’s experiences, with creators like the Huffington Post (Crash the Party), History and Vox Media (Divided States of Women). And did we mention shows from NBC Universal and Viacom?

Twitter is certainly no stranger to video from big names. The scale of the announcement is significant, though. The social site is now a large enough destination for video that it can launch programming slates with the sizes you’d expect with traditional TV. It’s still not at the point where it would replace TV, but the gap is narrower than it once was.

Source: Formula 1, PR Newswire

3Doodler’s latest kits help kids draw 3D shapes in the classroom

Since it crowdfunded on Kickstarter back in 2013, 3Doodler has come out with multiple versions of its 3D-printing pen — including a kids version and a pro version — as well as themed kits focusing on architecture, robotics and other STEM activities. Now, the company is launching kits designed specifically for classroom use.

Currently, there are two kits that come in two sizes each. The 3Doodler Start Learning Pack Kit is for kids aged six through 13 and comes with 3Doodler Start Pens, DoodlePads, DoodleBlocks, plastic strands and a slew of resources for teachers including lesson plans, activity guides and equipment manuals. The 3Doodler Create+ Learning Pack Kit is geared towards students upwards of 14 years old and includes 3Doodler Create+ Pens instead of Start Pens. It comes with a similar set of teacher resources and pen supplies. Both kits are available for class sizes of 12 or 24 students and can be purchased through 3Doodler’s EDU site. Prices range from $349 to $1,199 and the kits will also be available through Amazon and Best Buy.

For educators that want to get a look at what these kits offer before committing to a full purchase, 3Doodler is also selling Teacher Experience Kits for each pack, which come with a pen, plastic strands, abbreviated lesson plans and classroom materials. They can be purchased through 3Doodler’s EDU site as well and will cost $29 or $59 depending on the kit.

3Doodler says its products have been used in more than 5,000 classrooms over the past five years. “These products represent 3Doodler’s continued commitment to inspire students pursuing STEM interests and passions,” Leah Wyman, 3Doodler’s head of EDU, said in a statement. “We pride ourselves on creating accessible 3D products and making it fun to learn in the classroom.”

Source: 3Doodler

Iranian Telecoms Ordered to Shut Down Access to Messaging App Telegram

A Tehran-based court today ordered Iranian telecommunications providers to block popular messaging app Telegram, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Iran has been concerned about Telegram’s role in recent protests and unrest in the country, which has led to the ban.

The order said Telegram gave Islamic State “safe ground” in an attack in Tehran last year and also blamed its role in protests in December and January, the biggest in Iran in almost a decade. It ordered telecommunications providers to block the service.

As of now, the Telegram app continues to be available for use without the need for a VPN or another method of circumventing the ban, and it is not clear if and when it will be rendered unavailable in the country.

According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 40 million Iranians use Telegram, accounting for one-fifth of Telegram’s user base. Telegram is popular in the country as it offers end-to-end encrypted communication that’s inaccessible to the government.

Iran’s move to ban Telegram comes just a few weeks after a Russian court ordered Russian telecommunications providers to block Telegram in Russia after Telegram refused to comply with government demands for access to users’ messages.

Due to U.S. sanctions, Apple does not sell its products in Iran nor is there an Iranian App Store, but there are millions of iPhones in the country that have been smuggled from places like Dubai and Hong Kong.

Apple in March blocked access to the App Store in Iran, preventing Iranians from accessing apps by setting their devices to other regions.

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.
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A new MacBook Air likely won’t be revealed until later in 2018

Although Apple still could still reveal a new MacBook Air during the company’s developers conference in June, component suppliers claim Apple won’t go into production on the new model until the second half of 2018. The thin-and-light notebook was originally slated to enter manufacturing in the second quarter, but now component suppliers claim Apple won’t even accept shipments of the necessary hardware until the third quarter. 

The problem is twofold. Not only will customers not see a new MacBook Air until the back half of 2018, but components suppliers already have the necessary parts poised and ready for Apple’s picking. Thus, these companies have a high material inventory and really have no room for additional components until the MacBook Air goes into production. 

According to supply chain sources, Apple provided no reason for the MacBook Air delay. But there’s speculation that the company faced a problem with a “key component,” such as the processor, that forced Apple to adjust the new design. Given the new MacBook Air production is now aligned with the next iPhone, we wouldn’t be surprised if the new MacBook Air will have a configuration with built-in LTE connectivity to combat the new “always connected” Windows 10 PCs. 

The new MacBook Air models are expected to feature Intel’s latest eighth-generation processors. These will likely be the “U” chips given that they’re designed for low power consumption in ultra-thin laptops. The current MacBook Air models on the market, launched in June 2017, rely on older fifth-generation Core i5-5350U and Core i7-5650U processors, so the MacBook Air needs a serious processor upgrade at the very least. 

Rumors claim that the next MacBook Air will have a starting price of $899, or perhaps even $799, which is a nice little drop from the current $999 starting point. Apple reportedly wants to get more MacBook Airs in the hands of mainstream customers who are looking for a thin and light premium solution but don’t want to pay premium prices. The current $999 starting point gives you the Core i5 processor, a 1,440 x 900 resolution, 128GB of storage, and 8GB of system memory. 

With production of the MacBook Air moved back to the third quarter, Apple likely won’t introduce the device in June, but rather toward the end of the year when it unveils the next iPhone. As previously stated, Apple’s smartphone will go into production in the third quarter as well, according to industry sources, which will have Chinese manufacturers competing with each other as they scramble to beef up their workforce to handle both products. 

As for what will be revealed at Apple’s developers conference in June, the company is expected to introduce the new MacBook Pro, which will serve as the hardware launch platform for MacOS 10.14. The company is also expected to showcase iOS 12 for the iPhone and the latest iPad launching at the conference. Apple’s tvOS 12 and improvements to the CarPlay platform are also expected, although the next HomePod release likely won’t be revealed until the MacBook Air and iPhone event later this year. 

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Where to buy a used VR headset

VR is expensive. Buying used might be the solution.

Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR, and the PlayStation VR are taking the world by storm when it comes to amazing VR experiences. The only problem for some people is the price of getting started. For instance, the PlayStation VR is about $349 on Amazon for a bundle with Skyrim. But what if we don’t have that kind of money?

No worries, we’re here to walk you through all your buying used options!

What to consider before buying a used VR headset

Do you have everything that’s required?

You’ll need to make sure you have a dedicated VR space, which is extremely important. Your entire gaming experience can be ruined if you find yourself trying to play in the smallest space possible because you keep running into walls or furniture!

For the PlayStation VR you’ll obviously need to have a PlayStation 4 to run the device. A PlayStation Pro is recommended for the best PSVR experience, but you can still get a good quality of gameplay on the PlayStation Slim. Not just that, but the PlayStation Slim goes for about $299 which is $100 cheaper than the Pro.

Now with the Google Daydrea you will need to ensure that you have a device that is supported to run the headset.

Last but not least the Samsung Gear VR also requires supported devices you can check out here by clicking “Compatibility” on the menu bar.

Cleanliness

Let’s just get right to it: Buying a used VR headset thethe somewhat akin to buying a used pair of headphones. It’s been tight against someone’s face and they’ve likely sweat into it with perhaps an eye goober or two has slipped into the mix. Or their house is a lot like mine where there is a little gremlin who’s super interested in everything they can’t use. So, from jelly-fingers to other human eye-gunk you need to be okay with where your headset has been and know how to clean it off.

• The Google Daydream is extremely easy to clean and disinfect. Since most of the surface is hard plastic, most times you can wipe down with disinfectant wipes and call it a day.
• The PlayStation VR is a bit more of a pain to clean, but it’s still very possible.
• The Samsung Gear VR has replacement parts available should you need to replace foam for more cleanliness. Other than that, here’s how to clean your device.

Working condition

Is the used VR headset that you’re considering in working condition? If at all possible, test it to make sure. This will be nigh-impossible if you’re buying online, so you should ask for photos of the hardware working and more detailed photos of the hardware (ports and all) to make sure it’s not damaged.

Also, be wary when you come across sellers who are marketing their equipment “as is.” If there aren’t enough photos to suggest that the hardware is not damaged and in good working condition, ask for more. If the seller refuses, no soup for you.

Better yet, most of us have smartphones now (all the cool kids, anyway), so ask the seller to send you a short video of the equipment in action.

Buy only from trusted sellers

Until VR really takes off, Craigslist just isn’t going to be a valid source for used VR headsets. If you’re purchasing your used VR headset online from sites like eBay or Swappa, make sure you’re buying from trusted sellers and only those with great track records.

Where to buy used VR headsets

Here are the few places we’ve found used VR headsets and so far:

• Swappa: Google Daydream, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR,
• eBay: Google Daydream, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR
• Amazon: Google Daydream, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR
• Call your local GameStop.

We all know GameStop is not one to cut prices down as cheap as buying it from a private seller, but you can get a console for a discount that can come with a warranty.

Where else?

Have you found used VR headsets from any reputable sellers that we may have missed? Out the back of a hatchback in an alley doesn’t count! Sound off in the comments below!

Updated April, 2018: We’ve updated links and information about buying used headsets as well as price updates!

Today’s best deals you won’t want to miss

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Today you can get big discounts on the Canon EOS 77D DSLR camera, the Nintendo Switch, the Apple Watch Series 3, and more! Don’t pass these up.

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Samsung reveals mid-range Galaxy A6 series with 18:9 Infinity Displays

Currently no word on pricing or availability.

Samsung’s Galaxy A series is well-known for offering quality phones at affordable price tags, and today Samsung’s Indonesia website gave us a look at new two phones coming soon to this lineup — the Galaxy A6 and A6+.

Looking at the two phones, their overall designs are pretty similar to one another. Both phones have 18.5:9 Infinity Displays, resulting in a narrow screen with slim bezels. The regular A6 has a 5.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1480 x 720 whereas the larger A6+ has a 6-inch one set at 2200 x 1080.

Both the A6 and A6+ have rear-mounted fingerprint sensors, face recognition, Bixby Home, Vision, and Reminder (no Bixby Voice, here), 32GB of internal storage, mysterious octa-core processors, and “breathtaking surround sound.”

Look inside the handsets, however, and you’ll find some notable spec differences. The A6 has a single 16MP rear camera, 16MP front camera, expandable memory up to 256GB, 3GB of RAM, and a 3,000 mAh battery. On the other hand, the A6+ has dual 16MP + 5MP rear cameras, 24MP front camera, expandable memory up to 400GB, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,500 mAh battery.

Samsung’s yet to announce pricing or availability for the Galaxy A6 and A6+, but since the phones are living loud and proud on the company’s official website, it shouldn’t be too much longer before this info is made available.

See at Samsung