Apple pulls down Watch update that bricked Series 2 devices
You can no longer download the latest update for Apple Watch, and that could be a good thing if you have a Series 2 device. Cupertino has pulled down watchOS 3.1.1 after it bricked several Series 2 watches, displaying a red exclamation mark on their screens along with a URL to the company’s support page for the wearable. The website doesn’t address the current issue, but it does have instructions on what to do in case your watch freezes.
The first course of action is to force restart the device by pressing and holding the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time. If you don’t see the Apple logo replace the exclamation mark after 10 seconds or so, then the next step is going to an Apple Store and having the device looked at. According to AppleInsider, force restarting didn’t work for a lot of affected users — they had to leave their devices with Geniuses, who had to send them in for servicing since they don’t have access to the Watch’s diagnostics port. Other people opted to ask for a device exchange when it became clear that force restarting wouldn’t work.
Cupertino has yet to reveal why watchOS 3.1.1 bricked some devices. But since the update was supposed to fix a bevy of bugs that affected notifications, messages and other features, Apple will most likely release a patched version that doesn’t freeze Watches in the near future.
Source: AppleInsider, MacRumors, Reddit
Imgur adds chat so you never have to leave the meme factory
A long-awaited feature has finally made it into the mobile versions of content discovery site/meme emporium Imgur. In a blog post today, the Imgur team announced that chat, messaging and notifications are now available on the gif-heavy social network, while the messaging features of its desktop site are getting an overhaul as well.
Chat works pretty much as you’d expect from any number of social networks: you can send GIFs, post links, emoji and plain old text to other imgur users from their profile, a comment link, the share icon or the chat tab in the Imgur app. Although Imgur’s community manager Sarah Schaff told TechCrunch that the site’s 150 million users form a close-knit and generally positive community, they’ve also gone ahead and built in the ability to block users as a standard social media safety feature. On the flip side, you can now follow other Imgur users by tapping the “+” sign on their profile, which will give you a notification anytime that user hits the Most Viral section of the site.
Unlike Twitter or Instagram, you can’t see who other users follow and there are no Follower/Following counts anywhere. You can, however, use the latest version of the iOS or Android app to update account info and tweak your public bio.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Imgur Blog
Apple is dropping its battery life estimate on Macs
You probably don’t trust your laptop’s battery life estimates, and that’s especially true if you happen to own the latest MacBook Pro. It’s supposed to last for up to 10 hours, but the estimated time can vary wildly depending on what’s running at any given moment. Apple has a very simple solution to that: get rid of the estimate entirely. The company has released macOS Sierra 10.12.2, which ditches the “time remaining” display from the menu bar. That’s not so hot if you depend on that figure to determine when you’ll need to recharge, but our TechCrunch colleagues understand that this might be necessary given evolving technology.
Reportedly, Apple has double-checked battery life on real-world MacBook Pros and believes that the battery is behaving properly. The problem stems from a combination of both modern Intel processors with the very nature of battery life estimates. An operating system can only calculate battery life based on what’s happening at any given moment, which is a problem when the Skylake-based chips in the new MacBook Pros have rapidly changing power states. You may be getting solid battery life in practice, but you won’t see that in the estimate if the processor is running at full tilt when you’re checking the menu bar.
There are other changes and fixes coming with this update. It tackles a serious graphics bug with newer MacBook Pros that triggered “visual artifacts,” to start with. Also, it’s clearer about what happens when you use iCloud storage syncing (which backs up your desktop and Documents folders) or Optimize Storage (removing files when backed up to iCloud) so that you’re not alarmed when files seemingly disappear. You should also see improved Bluetooth audio when using FaceTime or Siri, a better Auto Unlock experience and support for new installs of Windows 7 and 8 using Boot Camp. In short: even if you’re on a desktop Mac and don’t care about battery life, there are quite a few reasons to update.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Apple
Photoshop is ready to put your MacBook Pro Touch Bar to work
When Apple replaced the physical function keys on the new MacBook Pro with a swipe-friendly Touch Bar, the company touted its ability to make edits with apps like Final Cut Pro and Photoshop a breeze. While the new laptop has been available for a few weeks now, today Adobe announced that its flagship photo-editing app is ready to play nice with the machine.
As part of an update to Photoshop that’s available now, Adobe’s custom support for the OLED touch panel means you’ll be able to use that space above the keyboard to help with adjustments to your image and design files. The company says in addition to giving you quick access to tools, it’s also handy for providing a contextual next step based on the task you’ve just completed. In other words, the app will display the item you’re likely to need next to keep your workflow moving along.
Adobe also says that the Touch Bar makes adjustments that can be cumbersome with a keyboard or mouse a bit more comfy. It’s easy to see how any behaviors that employ sliders would benefit from the integration. Touch Bar functionality inside Photoshop is divided into three sections: Layer Properties, Brushes and Favorites.
The Layer Properties tab will give you access to things like blend modes, scrubbing through the file’s history, placing Smart Objects, clipping layers and more. For Brushes, a slider allows you to adjust color, size, hardness, opacity and flow with just a finger and a swipe. Last but not least, Favorites brings the items that you use most to the Touch Bar so you can get at them quickly. Tools like full screen mode and flipping the canvas horizontal or vertical are examples of the options here.
Adobe explains that it will “continue to evolve” Touch Bar support, so perhaps we’ll see even more features down the road. For now, you can get started with what’s already here by updating to the latest version of Photoshop via Updates from the Help menu inside the app. When you need a break from work, Doom and a piano are waiting for you.
Source: Adobe
Apple’s BeatsX wireless headphones are delayed until February
When Apple announced it was killing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, it revealed a handful of wireless options to keep the music going. In addition to those AirPods that just went on sale today, the company’s Beats line pulled the wraps off of three headphone models that featured the same W1 quick-pairing chip as Apple’s delayed wireless option. Today, Apple also updated the BeatsX product page to note that the set of wireless in-ear headphones won’t ship until February.
The other two Beats models that Apple announced back in September, the on-ear Solo3 and workout-focused PowerBeats3, are already available for $300 and $200, respectively. BeatsX is the third member of the trio and was originally supposed to ship back in the fall. Right now, there’s no word on exactly what’s causing the delay. When the headphones do arrive next year, they’ll be available in either black and white and charge via an included Lightning cable. If you don’t mind waiting, expect to pay $150 to nab a set in a couple of months.
Source: Apple
Apple AirPods finally go on sale after delays
Were you worried that Apple’s delay in shipping AirPods would deprive you of a holiday gift? You can (probably) relax. Apple has quietly started selling its first self-branded Bluetooth earphones through at least its online store. If you order now, the $159 earpiece set should reach your door by December 22nd. You can always spring for Beats headphones if you need to get something Apple-made right now, of course, but Cupertino is counting on the AirPods’ smarts winning you over — they’re easy to set up, make Siri just a double-tap away and can detect when they’re in your ears. We didn’t think the audio quality was spectacular, but these are as much about convenience and phone calls as anything else.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Apple
Apple releases iOS 10.2 and its companion TV app
Apple is making good on its promise of giving you a unified video streaming experience. The company has released iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, both of which include the company’s centerpiece TV app. So long as a given service supports the feature, you no longer have to jump into and out of apps to catch up on your viewing — you can resume your favorite show or check out recommendations from a single place. Netflix isn’t included in TV at the moment, alas, but this and the recently launched single sign-on should save you a lot of hassle.
The iOS update isn’t just a one-trick pony, of course. It includes a slew of new emoji, including a face palm, a gorilla (read: Harambe) and female equivalents for most job emoji. And of course, there are numerous subtler tweaks. You’ll see improved music controls with quicker access to your queue and shuffling, better stabilization and improved frame rates for Live Photos, a dedicated News app section for saved articles and notifications for smart home devices like smoke detectors and door sensors.
Combine these with general fixes (there’s a significant upgrade to Bluetooth performance, for example) and you’ll definitely want to upgrade — if just to see Apple fulfill one of its big end-of-year promises.
Source: MacRumors
What will we see from the iPhone 8?
Rumours have already started sweeping across the internet about what will be the key features of the Apple iPhone 8. With just months since the iPhone 7 wowed critics, there’s been plenty of speculation about how Apple can stay ahead of its rivals in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.
It’s expected that the next iPhone will be unveiled in September 2017. And seeing as the launch will mark the 10 year anniversary of the iPhone, it will skip the ’s’ stepping stone, and will be branded as an iPhone 8, rather than an iPhone 7s.
In terms of the aesthetics of the mobile device, it’s been reported that Apple could be making a return to the glass casing that featured on the iPhone 4s models. But what will make it all the more stylish are the rumours that the device will have a curved screen and no home button.
This sleek screen will be able to display more media content such as movies and online games, with a 5.8-inch OLED display meaner than the phone will be sleeker and lighter than ever.
The iPhone 7 won many plaudits due to the incredible power of the A10 Fusion chip, and many have already suggested that Apple’s growing relationship Qualcomm could see Intel being ditched in the bid for processor glory.
This should mean that the new device will be able to take advantage of a possible iOS 11 split screen capacity to use Lucky Nugget Casino’s intuitive touch controls for their table and slots games whilst celebrating a win with a well-timed selfie on Instagram.
Camera technology will once again be a central feature of the iPhone 8 with a 3D dual-lens camera being amongst some of the more imaginative rumours. Although with other reports saying that the smartphone will include wireless charging, it seems that anything goes in this fascinating tech area.
Other interesting innovations that are being lined-up for the iPhone 8 include the likes of facial recognition and iris-scanning being a key part of the increasingly important security issue.
And although the iPhone 8 is reported to be much sleeker than the previous model, it’s attempting to overcome criticisms of the battery of the iPhone 7 by having a longer battery life. This will be because of advances in processor efficiency meaning that we’ll be able to check notifications and play casino games without having to stay close to the plug socket!
Apple’s AirPods won’t be ready for the holidays
Apple announced the AirPods during September’s “See You” event with a scheduled launch at the end of October. But late that month, the company delayed shipments without setting a release date in the future. Well, the tech titan’s wireless headphones still haven’t come out and it’s unclear when they’ll finally be ready for the public. For a company that places enormous emphasis on the pageantry of dramatically unveiling and releasing its products to a ravenous public, this is an unusual and humbling letdown.
It’s the first product postponement since the white iPhone 4 back in 2010, which Apple claims was delayed due to manufacturing challenges. But the company has kept mum about why they’re withholding the AirPods from store shelves. It’s likely caused by their added complexity, a source familiar with their development told The Wall Street Journal. Unlike normal wireless headphones, which receive signal over Bluetooth in only one earpiece, both AirPod pieces do. That means Apple’s product must reconcile any delays and sync audio between them, while also addressing what happens if one of the pair’s battery dies or is lost.
Apple’s silence is tough luck for folks hoping to snag a pair for a Christmas gift. But as we noted when the AirPods were first delayed, their iPhone 7-interfacing W1 chip is present in two models of Beats headphones, the Solo3 and Powerbeats 3. Otherwise, Apple’s loss is their competitors’ gain: Wireless headphones finally outsold wired in the first half of 2016. Technically, people are still buying more pairs of wired ones, but Bluetooth headphones’ high prices mean the money has finally tipped into that camp. Just how much Apple lost out by failing to make its $160-per-unit AirPods available this holiday season is anyone’s guess.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
‘808: The Movie’ is Apple Music’s latest exclusive
Apple was clear from the jump that it had bigger plans for its streaming service than just audio. Today, the Apple Music subscribers get an exclusive look a music-focused documentary: 808: The Movie. We first learned about the film that chronicles the history of the iconic 1980s drum machine back in 2014 and it was set to hit theaters last year. It debuted at SXSW in 2015, but had yet to see a wider release.
808: The Film is directed by Alexander Dunn with You Know Studios and Atlantic Records’ own Atlantic Films teaming up for the production. Narrated by Beats 1’s Zane Lowe, the film takes a deep dive into music history with commentary from Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Questlove, Rick Rubin, Lil Jon, Diplo, Phil Collins and many others. As you might expect, there’s also a soundtrack on which some of those names make a second appearance. Both the film and its audio counterpart are streaming on Apple Music starting today.
If you’re not an Apple Music subscriber, the documentary is available for pre-order on iTunes for $17 and is slated to release on December 16th. Vinyl versions of the soundtrack and several other bundle options are also available from the Warner Music Store. For a brief look at what you can expect from the full-length film, watch the official trailer down below. Meanwhile, that Cash Money documentary that was supposed to stream on Apple Music this fall has yet to be released.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: iTunes
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