Nest Debuts New Nest Protect Smoke Detector, Nest Cam Security Camera [iOS Blog]

Google-owned Nest today held an event in San Francisco and announced several new products, including an updated Nest Protect smoke detector and the Nest Cam, a new security camera that builds on technology the company acquired from Dropcam.

The second-generation Nest Protect includes a “split spectrum sensor,” letting it detect signs of smoke more quickly and allowing it to differentiate between smoke and steam. Rather than being silenced with a wave, false alarms can be turned off using the Nest app. The smoke detector itself is 11 percent smaller than the original version, and it includes a chamber that keeps dust and insects out.

Nest’s new Nest Protect will continually test itself to ensure that it’s functioning, including testing its alarm when no one is home.

Nest’s original Nest Protect smoke detectors had several flaws, including a significant safety issue with the “Nest Wave” feature that let alarms be silenced by waving at them. This feature could be activated in error. Nest pulled the Protect from store shelves for several months because of the problem. The new Nest Protect does not include the Nest Wave feature.

The Nest Cam is a home security device that’s similar to the products made by Dropcam, which Nest acquired last year. The Nest Cam includes 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second and it has a 130-degree field of vision with 20-foot infrared night vision. A built-in microphone records sound, a speaker allows for two-way communication, and an 8x zoom feature allows for closer focus on specific areas.

Nest Cam has a new look with a zinc alloy stand that makes it easier to position in a variety of locations, with a built-in tripod mount, magnet, and wall mount included. Nest Cam works with a Nest cloud subscription service called Nest Aware, with pricing that starts at $10 per month.

Nest’s app will also be receiving an update, improving interactivity and functionality. For example, if the Nest Protect’s smoke or carbon monoxide sensors are activated, the Nest Thermostat will shut off and alert users of the incident. A new temperature feature will also ensure a home does not get too hot or too cold, and if it does, the Thermostat go into override mode to fix the problem. A single app, rolling out today, will control the Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect, and Nest Cam.

Nest Protect is priced at $99, with pre-orders for the device available today. Nest Cam is priced at $199.99 and is available for pre-order today.

AT&T Fined $100 Million by FCC for Unlimited Data Throttling Practices

The United States Federal Communications Commission today announced plans to fine AT&T $100 million for misleading customers about its unlimited mobile data plans. Following an investigation, the FCC is accusing AT&T of severely slowing down the data speeds of customers with unlimited data plans and failing to adequately warn them about the slower data speeds.

In 2011, AT&T implemented a “Maximum Bit Rate” policy and capped the maximum data speeds for unlimited customers after they used a set amount of data within a billing cycle. The capped speeds were much slower than the normal network speeds AT&T advertised and significantly impaired the ability of AT&T customers to access the Internet or use data applications for the remainder of the billing cycle.

The FCC says AT&T violated the 2010 Open Internet Transparency Rule by falsely calling its plans “unlimited” and by not informing customers of the maximum speed they would receive under AT&T’s Maximum Bit Rate policy. Millions of customers suffered slow data speeds, with some seeing speed reductions for 12 days per month on average.

On the decision, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler had this to say: “Customers deserve to get what they pay for. Broadband providers must be upfront and transparent about the services they provide. The FCC will not stand idly by while consumers are deceived by misleading marketing materials and insufficient disclosure.”

AT&T ceased offering unlimited data plans years ago, but it continues to have customers with grandfathered unlimited data plans. AT&T previously throttled all of those customers after they exceeded 5GB of LTE data, but in May, AT&T implemented a policy change that sees customers being throttled only when connected to a cell tower experiencing network congestion.

Along with facing a $100 million fine levied by the FCC, AT&T is also involved in an ongoing lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission over the same issue.

UK Indie Labels Say Apple Music Free Trial Could ‘Literally Put People Out of Business’ [iOS Blog]

Apple’s newly announced music streaming service, Apple Music, is upsetting a handful of independent United Kingdom-based music labels who house artists such as Adele and Arctic Monkeys (via The Telegraph). Under the terms being proposed by Apple, labels will receive no compensation during the three-month free trial given to Apple Music users. The labels argue that this trial period will “literally put people out of business,” and refuse to support the service, which launches in under two weeks on June 30.

According to Andy Heath, the chairman of industry lobby group UK Music, no British independent labels have agreed to Apple’s terms or plan to in the future. Most of the labels claim Apple hasn’t thoroughly prepared the labels for the launch, and that the time between its announcement and launch has left little time for contract negotiations.

“If you are running a small label on tight margins you literally can’t afford to do this free trial business,” Heath stated. “Their plan is clearly to move people over from downloads, which is fine, but it will mean us losing those revenues for three months.

Apple hasn’t thought this through at all and it’s not like them. They can’t spring a contract like this on us three weeks from release.”

Apple has attempted to reassure skeptical labels that once the three-month free trial ends, Apple Music will support a 71.5 percent revenue sharing contribution to labels backing the streaming service. The number will even be slightly higher — about 73 percent — outside of the United States to counterbalance the no royalty payment policy during the trial period. It’s still not enough for some labels, according to Heath.

“I think the dynamic here is nothing to do with the royalty rates but there are elements of these deals that are just too difficult for smaller labels to do. It will literally put people out of business.

Smaller labels would be completely screwed. Apple just has to move on this.”

Apple Music was officially unveiled last week during WWDC as a three-tiered service with basic music streaming, a live global radio station, and a social media platform that allows fans to follow favorite artists. The long-awaited service will officially launch on June 30 with a three-month trial period that will allow everyone to try it out for the summer. Afterwards, Apple Music will cost $9.99 per month for users who want to stick around.

Next-Generation iPhone Again Rumored to Adopt 7000 Series Aluminum

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a note to investors, a copy of which was obtained by Japanese blog Mac Otakara, in which he corroborates rumors that the next-generation iPhone will adopt 7000 Series aluminum as used in the Apple Watch Sport. Kuo also claimed that Apple will retain the same design as the iPhone 6, although the smartphone may have slightly different dimensions.

The report claims that the next-generation iPhone could be wider and taller by about 0.15mm to account for the stronger 7000 Series aluminum design, while the smartphone may also be about 0.2mm thicker due to the addition of Force Touch. The new dimensions are marginal enough that most iPhone 6 users are unlikely to notice much of a difference with the so-called “iPhone 6s” design.

Apple explains the properties of 7000 Series aluminum on its Apple Watch website:

“For Apple Watch Sport, we started with 7000 Series aluminum — the same used in competition bicycles. We altered it to create a new alloy that’s just as light, yet even more durable — it’s 60 percent stronger than most aluminum, and one-third the density of stainless steel. It has a bright, lustrous colour and a uniform structure free of defects and impurities. Each case is machined and polished, then blasted with microscopic zirconia beads to achieve a consistent, satin texture. A special anodizing process creates a hard, clear outer layer that helps protect against scratches and corrosion.”

Kuo reiterated that the next-generation iPhone will be available in a new Rose Gold color option, similar to the rose gold Apple Watch Edition, and also claimed that the existing gold color could be changed to look more like the yellow gold Apple Watch Edition. The existing space gray iPhone is also expected to look slightly more black, possibly in line with the space black Apple Watch.

Last month, Kuo shared a long list of predictions for the next-generation iPhone, including an A9 processor with 2GB of RAM, Force Touch, an improved 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, new Rose Gold color option, improved Touch ID recognition, gesture control support and more. Apple will likely retain 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes akin to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

iOS and OS X Security Flaws Enable Malicious Apps to Steal Passwords and Other Data

A team of six researchers from Indiana University, Georgia Tech and Peking University have published an in-depth report exposing a series of security vulnerabilities that enable sandboxed malicious apps, approved on the App Store, to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in other apps, including iCloud passwords and authentication tokens, Google Chrome saved web passwords and more.

The thirteen-page research paper “Unauthorized Cross-App Resource Access on Mac OS X and iOS” details that inter-app interaction services, ranging from the Keychain and WebSocket on OS X to the URL Scheme on OS X and iOS, can be exploited to steal confidential information and passwords, including those stored in popular password vaults such as 1Password by AgileBits.

“We completely cracked the keychain service – used to store passwords and other credentials for different Apple apps – and sandbox containers on OS X, and also identified new weaknesses within the inter-app communication mechanisms on OS X and iOS which can be used to steal confidential data from Evernote, Facebook and other high-profile apps.”

The different cross-app and communication mechanism vulnerabilities discovered on iOS and OS X, identified as XARA weaknesses, include Keychain password stealing, IPC interception, scheme hijacking and container cracking. The affected apps and services include iCloud, Gmail, Google Drive, Facebook, Twitter, Chrome, 1Password, Evernote, Pushbullet, Dropbox, Instagram, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Dashlane, AnyDo, Pocket and several others.

Lead researcher Luyi Xing told The Register that he reported the security flaws to Apple in October 2014 and complied with the iPhone maker’s request to withhold publishing the information for six months, but has not heard back from the company since and is now exposing the zero-day vulnerabilities to the public. The flaws affect thousands of OS X apps and hundreds of iOS apps and can now be weaponized by attackers.

Apple Maps Vehicles Begin Surveying England, Coming to New Orleans Next Month

Apple’s fleet of vehicles collecting street-level mapping data has arrived in the United Kingdom as planned, with the first verified sighting in Solihull, England, approximately two hours northwest of London. While camera-equipped fifth-generation Dodge Caravans have been used to collect mapping data in the United States, Apple appears to be using second-generation Mercedes-Benz Vito vans in Europe.

Apple Maps van driving in Solihull, England in June 2015
Apple confirmed earlier this month that it is driving vehicles around the world to collect data to improve Apple Maps, and the mapping imagery is almost certainly being used to create a Google Maps “Street View” competitor. Apple Maps vehicles are also taking photos of businesses and storefronts in major metropolitan areas to replace current imagery provided by third-party sources such as Yelp.

The cities and regions where Apple Maps vehicles will be driving in England through July:

East of England
Essex (Brentwood, Epping Forest), Hertfordshire (Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford, Welwyn Hatfield)

Greater London
Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, City of London, City of Westminster, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth

South East
Kent (Dartford, Sevenoaks), Surrey (Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Spelthorne)

West Midlands
Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield, Perry Barr, Erdington, Ladywood, Hodge Hill, Yardley, Edgbaston, Hall Green, Selly Oak, Northfield), Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Worcestershire

Apple has also updated its Apple Maps vehicles website with a new list of locations where it will be collecting data between July 1 to July 14, with notable additions including New Orleans and unmapped areas in Santa Clara County. Apple may also be at least temporarily finished collecting data in multiple states it has canvassed over the past several months, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Hawaii.

(Thanks, Stephen!)

Apple Watch can now be reserved online and picked up in stores

Apple will finally start selling its Apple Watch in retail stores later this month, but if you’re desperate to pick up the timepiece, there’s now another ordering method to consider. The company is rolling out a “Reserve & Pickup” system which allows you to choose a Watch online and, as the name implies, ultimately buy and collect your order in store. It’s a departure from the current appointment system, which requires that you order on the web — even if you’ve just handled the device in a shop. Instead of waiting for the mailman to deliver your Watch, you can now choose an almost immediate booking at your nearest store and walk out with the hardware sharpish. As 9to5Mac reports, the option is already live in the the UK and Australia, and we expect other countries will follow later today. It seems Apple is finally starting to catch up with its pre-order backlog from May.

Filed under: Wearables, Apple

Comments

Via: 9to5Mac

Source: Reserve & Pickup

Apple Watch Now Available for Purchase in Apple Retail Stores in Australia

We reported this morning that Apple Watch shipments had begun arriving at Apple Stores in the United States ahead of the imminent launch of in-store availability, and it now appears that in-stores sales of the Apple Watch will indeed begin tomorrow, on June 17.

It’s now after 10:00 a.m. on June 17 in some parts of Australia, and Apple Stores in the country have begun offering in-store Apple Watch reservations and pickups. In the Australian online Apple Store, when selecting a watch, there’s now an option that says “Interested in buying in-store?” with a link that allows buyers to check reservation availability.

After choosing to select a reservation, there’s a drop down menu that shows nearby Apple Stores, letting users see whether a particular Apple Watch is in stock. If a watch is in stock, the site displays a green checkmark and the next available reservation time. Making a reservation requires a phone number to be entered, allowing Apple to text a unique registration code. After receiving a code, buyers have 30 minutes to complete a reservation.

Apple Watches that are not in stock are listed as unavailable for in-store pick-up, with Apple providing instructions to check stock levels again at 8:00 a.m. each morning, when inventory for the day is updated.

With the Apple Watch now available in-store in Australia, it’s likely that all first wave launch countries will be seeing in-store sales starting as June 17 rolls around in each location. The reservation process will likely be the same as the process that’s currently available in Australia, so potential Apple Watch buyers in the United States should check stock levels right at 8:00 a.m. local time.

Stock levels of each watch remain unclear, but in Australia, many stores appear to have a mix of Sport and Stainless Steel Apple Watches available. Many of the more limited Apple Watches, including those in Space Gray and Space Black, are not currently available, nor are those with limited bands like the Modern Buckle and the Link Bracelet. It’s likely that stock levels in the United States will be similar.

(Thanks, Ian!)

Apple Watch on watchOS 2 Hacked to Run Truly Native Apps Including ‘Canabalt’ and ‘Flappy Bird’ Clone

Since watchOS 2 was released last Monday, several developers have been tinkering with the software and have managed to get games like Canabalt and a Flappy Bird clone to run natively on the Apple Watch using frameworks like UIKit and SpriteKit, which are not available to developers for Apple Watch apps.

One of the main features Apple added to watchOS 2 is the ability for developers to create “native” apps that run on the device itself instead of the iPhone, but as it turns out, developers are restricted to using WatchKit for Apple Watch interfaces and are not able to use more advanced frameworks available on for iPhone apps like UIKit, SpriteKit, and SceneKit.

Last week, developers Steven Troughton-Smith, Adam Bell, and Jay Freeman were able to get apps using UIKit and SceneKit to run on the Apple Watch, and in the video below, endless runner Canabalt is shown running natively on the Apple Watch.

Developer Hamza Sood has also been tinkering with watchOS 2 and today tweeted that he was able to get a Flappy Bird clone to run on the Apple Watch with native SpriteKit rendering. He also took it one step further, adding both touch and Digital Crown input controls.

Hacked a Flappy Bird clone onto Apple Watch with native SpriteKit rendering, touch/crown control, SFX through speaker pic.twitter.com/U1cavXb7SN

— Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) June 16, 2015

Developers don’t yet have permission from Apple to use these frameworks for Apple Watch apps, but the hacked games give a look at what the device might be capable of in the future. WatchOS 2, set to be released in the fall, will allow developers to create native apps that are powered by the Apple Watch instead of the iPhone, but without the frameworks used in the above examples.

watchOS 2 also gives developers access to the Digital Crown, the microphone, and various sensors on the watch, including the accelerometer and heart rate monitor, which will lead to more full-featured apps later this year.