Donald Rumsfeld helped make an iPhone game
Like him or hate him, Donald Rumsfeld has been a jack of all trades — and apparently, that now includes mobile games. The veteran politician has teamed up with programmers to release Churchill Solitaire, an iOS game based on the card game that Winston Churchill supposedly played to sharpen his strategic thought processes. Rumsfeld was strictly a creative director (he’s not exactly a coder by trade), but his influence is everywhere. Reflections on Churchill’s life appear while you’re playing, and even the pricing mirrors Rumsfeld’s values — while the base game is free, hints and retries cost money (“there are damn few undos in life,” he says).
The title isn’t going to make you rethink your views on Rumsfeld, but it might be worth a go if you’re not averse to efforts with his name attached. It’s not only considerably tougher than regular solitaire, but requires the kind of long-term thinking that’s not always present in card games. A careless decision early on can ruin your chances of winning much later. Our only major question right now: where’s the Android version?
[Image credit: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images]
Via: Wall Street Journal
Source: App Store
March Event Could See Launch of iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3 and New Apple Watch Bands
Apple is rumored to be planning to host a March event to unveil new products, but exact details on what will be shown off at the event have been in flux. An early December rumor from 9to5Mac suggested Apple would use the event to unveil a second-generation Apple Watch, but a report from TechCrunch indicated that rumor was false – no Apple Watch 2 is in the works for an early 2016 launch.
Instead, TechCrunch shared information indicating something smaller but still watch-related could be introduced in March, perhaps a minor update to add a FaceTime camera or new bands and partnerships similar to Apple’s collaboration with Hermès. In a new report on what may come out at the March event, 9to5Mac backtracks on earlier claims of an Apple Watch 2 and instead agrees with TechCrunch, pointing towards a new Apple Watch lineup with new bands but no hardware changes.
At its September 2015 event, Apple introduced its Hermès partnership and debuted new colors for several Apple Watch bands, and we may see the same kind of update at the March event. New colors for existing bands and bands in new materials may be in the works. Apple is also planning to release watchOS 2.2 at or shortly after the event.
Apple’s March event may also see the debut of the rumored 4-inch iPhone, now thought to be called the “iPhone 5se” to reflect its position as a successor to the iPhone 5s. The device is said to have an iPhone 5s-style exterior with iPhone 6-style curved cover. Internally, it will feature an A8 or A9 processor, NFC support for Apple Pay, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and while it won’t have 3D Touch, it will be capable of taking Live Photos.
Previous rumors have suggested we could also see the next-generation iPad Air at the March event, as it is said to be debuting in the spring of 2016.
Though no Apple Watch 2 update is planned for early 2016, a second-generation update is undoubtedly in the works. It’s possible Apple could be planning to release a new Apple Watch in the fall months alongside the iPhone 7.
Apple’s plans for a March event remain tentative, and should products not be ready for release, there’s a possibility that it could be canceled in favor of an online-only unveiling and announcement for the 4-inch iPhone and new Apple Watch bands.
Buyer’s Guide: iPad Air (Don’t Buy), Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Hosting In-Store Art and Photography Workshops Beginning Next Month
Apple has announced plans for in-store art workshops to give customers “at all skill levels” some hands-on time with image capturing and art-centric apps (via CNET). The classes aim to not only instruct attendees on photography techniques like long exposures and light trails, but will equip them with various iPhone and iPad accessories in attempting to introduce new and creative ways to take photos and create artwork on an Apple device.
A painting part of Apple’s “Start Something New” campaign
“We’ll help you try out various accessories and techniques — like long exposure for light trails, using Time-lapse to show progression, or getting up close with nature using a macro lens,” Apple said in a statement. “Then, we’ll explore artistic ways to adjust and edit your photos, so you can create a work of art, find your style, or just improve your skills.”
In addition to an iPhone-focused photography session, Apple Stores will offer an iPad workshop centered around drawing and painting on the tablet. The company didn’t give any detail as to whether the workshops will require specific iPhone and iPad models, but there’s a good chance that the improved 12-megapixel camera on the iPhone 6s and Apple Pencil support on the iPad Pro will be a big focus.
The workshops are the newest addition to Apple’s “Start Something New” campaign, which it has introduced coinciding with the New Year holiday over the past few years. The campaign features a collection of artwork — including paintings, photos, drawings, and even short films — that were all created using Apple products and accessories. Apple has yet to set a start date for the in-store workshops, but promised that each Apple Store around the world would be joining in on offering the creative sessions.
Tag: Apple Store
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Buy Now), iPad Air (Don’t Buy)
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Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Apple of Crippling iPhone 4s With iOS 9 Update
Apple was today hit with a class action lawsuit (via AppleInsider) seeking over $5 million in damages for deceptive trade practices and false advertising. Plaintiff Chaim Lerman says that he and other iPhone 4s owners became unable to use their devices after upgrading to iOS 9 as the update “significantly slowed down” their iPhones and “interfered with the normal usage of the device.”
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs were forced to either live with a “slow and buggy” device that “disrupts every day life” or shell out hundreds of dollars for a new iPhone.
When iPhone 4s owners are faced with the dilemma of continuing to use a slow, buggy phone or spend hundreds to buy a new phone, Apple often benefits because consumers will often buy a new iPhone to keep their investment in the App ecosystem. […]
Furthermore, iPhone owners will buy a newer iPhone when faced with the choice because it is familiar and they can easily transfer their information, media, contacts, and apps without a major disruption in usage. There is no learning curve and no delays and trouble that accompany new information input. Thus Apple stands to benefit financially when older iPhones are slowed down and owners are forced to purchase a new phone.
The plaintiffs argue that Apple failed to properly warn iPhone 4s users that the update would “significantly interfere” with the performance of their phones. When Lerman and other plaintiffs upgraded their devices, they noticed a significant drop in performance in both third-party apps and basic functions like using the Phone app. Because Apple does not allow iPhone users to easily downgrade their device to a previous iOS version, the plaintiffs feel like they’re forced into either using a slower phone or purchasing a new one.
Apple’s advertising, the plaintiffs allege, does not mention the potential of slowed performance for iPhone 4s users, instead focusing on performance improvements. The lawsuit points towards Apple’s iOS 9 website, which says the update brings “faster performance, improved security, convenient updates, and longer battery life.” The plaintiffs argue that Apple must have known about the iPhone 4s’ slower performance from internal testing or other means and did not warn users about potential headaches in their advertising.
This isn’t the first time Apple has been accused of planned obsolescence, as the company was hit with a lawsuit in 2011 regarding the iPhone 3G and iOS 4. That case was thrown out by the judge who ruled the iOS 4 update was not a “good or service” and dismissed claims of false advertising and deceptive business practices.
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Apple Refreshes ‘Start Something New’ Campaign in Multiple Countries
Apple has reintroduced its “Start Something New” campaign ahead of New Year’s Day in Australia, India, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The campaign will likely be expanded to the U.S., Canada, Europe and other regions soon.
“Start Something New” features a gallery of nearly a dozen paintings, photos, drawings, short films and other pieces of creative work made by artists using Apple products and apps, ranging from the Apple Pencil, iMac and iPad Air 2 to Adobe After Effects, Darkroom and Procreate.
Apple has also shared individual profiles for each new work and artist on its website:
– Painting fluid landscapes by Lu Jun, China
– Painting with dots by Lieu Nguyen, Vietnam
– Chasing wild vistas by Emma Phillips, Australia
– Illustrating nature through its details by Tiffany Bozic, USA
– Drawing with light by Darren Pearson, USA
– Shooting from a new perspective by Bernhard Lang, Germany
– Visualizing the power of gravity by Greg Barth, UK
– Cultivating a different kind of rose by Kahori Maki, Japan
– Composing a sense of wonder by Jake Sargeant, USA
– Seeking color in the streets by Brian Lotti, USA
– Capturing the texture of movement by William Hundley, USA
Apple ran a nearly identical campaign in December 2014, starting in Japan and later expanding to the U.S. and other countries.
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Unofficial Apple museum shows decades worth of gear
Apple isn’t about to open a museum any time soon, but that isn’t stopping fans from making one of their own. Prague’s newly opened Apple Museum showcases what’s billed as the “biggest” private collection of Apple gear, ranging from some of the earliest systems to models you can find in stores today. The collection includes some relatively hard-to-find items, too, including the Lisa, the Twentieth Anniversary Mac and a Beatles Collector’s Box (complete with iPod and rip-it-yourself CD library). The tributes to the company are over the top at times — expect to see a lot of Steve Jobs quotes — but it might be worth the trip if you’re in town and have a penchant for Apple gear.
[Image credit: Apple Museum, Imgur]
Source: Apple Museum, Imgur
Best Buy Sales Event Includes $300 Off Retina MacBook, $125 Off iPad Air 2, and More
Best Buy today introduced a new deal into its Apple-centric “Holiday Event,” giving customers the chance to get $300 off of the entry-level Retina Macbook, along with free two-day shipping for last minute holiday shoppers.
Originally priced at $1,299, the deal reduces the new Gold, Silver, and Space Gray MacBook to $999, rivaling that of the entry model 13-inch MacBook Air. College students also have the opportunity to get the MacBook as low as $949, thanks to a $50 student discount offered when ordering either a MacBook or an iMac. The $1,599 version of the 12-inch MacBook, with increased flash storage, isn’t available in Best Buy’s current sale.
The Apple Holiday Event began earlier in December at Best Buy, and all of its deals are still running in the lead-up to Christmas. When activating on a two-year contract, the retailer is offering the 16GB versions of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus for $1 and $99.99, respectively. The iPad Air 2 has been cut by $125 for both cellular and Wi-Fi only options. A similar deal is running for the iPad mini 4, which has been reduced by $100 on each of its versions. The Apple Watch is also still available at a $100 discount.
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Best Buy Sales Event Includes $300 Off Retina MacBook, $125 Off iPad Air 2, and More
Best Buy today introduced a new deal into its Apple-centric “Holiday Event,” giving customers the chance to get $300 off of the entry-level Retina Macbook, along with free two-day shipping for last minute holiday shoppers.
Originally priced at $1,299, the deal reduces the new Gold, Silver, and Space Gray MacBook to $999, rivaling that of the entry model 13-inch MacBook Air. College students also have the opportunity to get the MacBook as low as $949, thanks to a $50 student discount offered when ordering either a MacBook or an iMac. The $1,599 version of the 12-inch MacBook, with increased flash storage, isn’t available in Best Buy’s current sale.
The Apple Holiday Event began earlier in December at Best Buy, and all of its deals are still running in the lead-up to Christmas. When activating on a two-year contract, the retailer is offering the 16GB versions of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus for $1 and $99.99, respectively. The iPad Air 2 has been cut by $125 for both cellular and Wi-Fi only options. A similar deal is running for the iPad mini 4, which has been reduced by $100 on each of its versions. The Apple Watch is also still available at a $100 discount.
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Apple Working on Scalable 3D Touch Technology for Future iPads and iPhones
Apple is working on next-generation pressure-sensing display technology that will work on screen sizes as large as the iPad Pro, reports AppleInsider citing a source with knowledge of Apple’s plans. The new display technology is said to be in development, but it won’t be finished in time for inclusion in the third-generation iPad Air or the next-generation iPhone.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Apple is unable to scale existing 3D Touch technology to accommodate larger displays like the 9.7-inch panels used in the iPad Air line. The source, who has in the past provided accurate information about Apple’s future plans, said the company is working on a comparable technology for integration in both iPhones and iPads, potentially offering support for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Apple’s largest iOS device.
AppleInsider‘s information comes following a similar report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the next iPad Air, set to be released in the first half of 2016, will not include 3D Touch because of production issues. Kuo also said the upcoming iPhone 7, coming in the fall of 2016, will continue to use 3D Touch technology that’s similar in structure to the 3D Touch in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Positioned as one of the flagship features of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, 3D Touch adds new pressure-based gestures to iOS devices. Apple has called 3D Touch “the future of multi-touch,” so it’s a logical assumption that the company is working on expanding pressure sensitive touch gestures to its entire iOS lineup.
Taken in tandem, Kuo’s statements along with AppleInsider‘s rumor suggest 3D Touch or a comparable technology will not be available on iPhones and iPads until after the fall of 2016, perhaps pointing towards a 2017 debut for the feature.
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ConnectSense Review: The Smart Outlet Offers Two HomeKit-Enabled Sockets and a USB Port
Now that HomeKit’s been available for several months, more and more HomeKit-enabled products are popping up. When HomeKit first launched in June, there was only one smart plug available (the Elgato Eve), but now there are a handful to choose from. ConnectSense is the latest company to develop a HomeKit-enabled plug, debuting its Smart Outlet in October.
I went hands-on with the new ConnectSense Smart Outlet to see how it measures up to similar HomeKit products that are available for purchase.
Design
Unlike the other intelligent HomeKit-compatible plugs on the market, the Smart Outlet from ConnectSense combines two outlets in one simple device, with an additional USB charging port for charging an iPhone or iPad. To connect to the iPhone and other HomeKit devices, the Smart Outlet uses Wi-Fi and connects to a home Wi-Fi network.
The Smart Outlet plugs into any traditional outlet in the home, fitting into either the bottom or the top socket. Plugged into the top socket, it fits neatly over an in-the-wall outlet, and while it sticks out about an inch, it’s largely unobtrusive thanks to a simple design. It can also be plugged into the bottom socket of a standard wall socket, but its shape does not allow it to leave the top socket free for use, so there’s no real reason to use it that way.
Made of a smooth white plastic with curved edges, the Smart Outlet has an attractive no-frills design and a decent build quality, but I’m not entirely sure it feels like an $80 product.
Each socket in the Smart Outlet is treated as an individual HomeKit product, so devices plugged into the Outlet can be controlled separately. On the left side, there’s also a USB port for charging iPads and iPhones, but this port can’t be controlled via Siri or through the app.
AIVAnet 