VLC media player hits Windows 10 today, Xbox One this summer
At last, VideoLAN’s VLC media player has a universal Windows 10 app… and it definitely won’t be confined to conventional Windows devices for long. The developer has released a Windows 10 beta that, on a base level, embraces Microsoft’s modern OS on both PC and mobile. You’ll get recent VLC staples like a media library, a network browser and a “full” player alongside Windows 10 perks like Cortana voice commands, live tiles and Continuum support when you dock your phone. However, the real fun might come later. VLC has teased the app’s promised HoloLens and Xbox One support, and it’s clear that it won’t lose much (if anything) in translation — the features and interface will be familiar whether you’re watching on a console or an augmented reality headset.
To no one’s surprise, the VLC beta is going to be rough around the edges for a while. You won’t get Xbox One support until the system has access to the unified Windows/Xbox app store this summer, but there are also technical issues holding up support for HoloLens and the Surface Hub. And if you’re holding on to Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone 8.1 for dear life, you’ll have to wait a few weeks before the app works. Even so, it’s a big leap if you’ve wanted VLC’s play-anything flexibility in a Microsoft-friendly format.
Source: Microsoft Store, JB Kempf
Many Apple Watch Bands and Bundles Currently Listed as ‘Sold Out’
Over the past few weeks, some Apple Watch wearers have noticed that a growing portion of Apple’s band inventory has been marked as “sold out,” with many styles, sizes, and colors, now included in that group.
While Apple has made it clear that its first foray into fashion accessories will follow a “seasonal” cycle, with certain styles leaving its store forever once sold out, the array of bands unavailable on the store paints an erratic picture of shortages from all three of the Apple Watch’s seasonal collections: Spring 2015, Fall 2015, and Spring 2016.
Tracked in the U.S. on both Apple.com and the Apple Store iOS app [Direct Link], the Classic Buckle currently has the most significant stock shortage of any of the Apple Watch bands, totaling 13 out-of-stock color options in both the 38 mm and 42 mm sizes. The smaller 38 mm wrist size option is the most affected, with only one band — Saddle Brown — available to purchase. Behind Classic Buckle, the Sport Band has 12 out-of-stock options on Apple’s store, the Modern Buckle has four, and the Leather Loop has three, with varying sizes affecting availability for the latter two bands.
Out-of-Stock Apple Watch Bands
38 mm Sport
-Stone
-Apricot
-Lavender
-Lilac
-Turquoise
-Vintage Rose
-Pink
42 mm Sport
-Lavender
-Lilac
-Royal Blue
-Vintage Rose
-Green
38 mm and 42 mm Nylon
-Gold/Royal Blue
42 mm Link Bracelet
-Space Black
Leather Loop
-Medium Storm Gray
-Medium Black
-Large Black
38 mm Classic Buckle
-White
-Marigold
-Blue Jay
-Midnight Blue
-Storm Gray
-Marine Blue
-Black
-Red
42 mm Classic Buckle
-Midnight Blue
-Storm Gray
-Marine Blue
-Black
-Red
Modern Buckle
-Small Marigold
-Small Soft Pink
-Medium Midnight Blue
-Large Blue Jay
Besides the completely in-stock Milanese Loop, the newer Nylon Band is the least affected by shortages, with only the Gold/Blue colorway out of stock right now for each wrist size. The Link Bracelet is faring similarly well for 38 mm (which has stock in both Silver and Space Black) and 42 mm (which is sold out only in Space Black).
The Hermès bands have several “unavailable” options as well (the only ones to use such wording), but two collections are marked as “Sold Out,” in line with the rest of the out-of-stock Apple Watch band inventory. Still, given Hermès’ top-tier pricing and third-party nature, their shortages probably won’t affect what the stock of Apple’s own first-party bands could hint at moving forward.
In each collection, availability varies among old color options and some of the newer Spring 2016 entries, like Green and Royal Blue for the 42 mm Sport Band. Whereas some original styles have gone out of stock steadily following the launch of the Apple Watch last year, which is expected, the sudden and varying disappearance of so many colors — both new and old — is leading to speculation on what Apple might be gearing up for behind the scenes.
Out-of-Stock Apple Watch Bundles
Apple Watch Sport
-42mm Silver Aluminum Case with Royal Blue Sport Band
-42mm Silver Aluminum Case with Scuba Blue Woven Nylon
-38mm Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Royal Blue Woven Nylon
-38mm Gold Aluminum Case with Gold/Red Woven Nylon
Apple Watch
-42mm Stainless Steel Case with Storm Gray Leather Loop (All Sizes)
-42mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet
-42mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Black Sport Band
-38mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Black Sport Band
-38mm Stainless Steel Case with Blue Jay Modern Buckle (All Sizes)
-38mm Stainless Steel Case with Pearl Woven Nylon
As one Redditor posited, these shortages could be a potential hint at the incoming launch of new bands, but whether that means Apple is preparing for its first mid-season “Summer” collection, or getting a jump on fall, remains to be seen. It’s also been contemplated whether this could be early inventory shuffling ahead of the Apple Watch 2, expected to launch sometime around the iPhone 7 in the fall, with the potential for all-new band lugs making first-generation Apple Watch bands incompatible with the new wearable. That’s a highly unlikely possibility, however, given the proliferation and popularity of interchangeable bands that customers have accumulated already in one generation of the Apple Watch.
It should also be noted that the wording for each unavailable model isn’t Apple’s usual “Currently Unavailable” that typically appears when an item is temporarily out of stock for an undetermined period of time, but a seemingly more definitive “Sold Out.”
Fortunately, those bands that are in stock — including all models of the Milanese Loop — are showing shipping estimates with availability between one and three days. At the time of writing, the only bands with lengthy waiting periods are the 42 mm Saddle Brown Classic Buckle and 42 mm Light Pink Sport Band, which both have a 1-2 week shipping estimate. Some unavailable individual bands are also still in stock as part of a watch bundle, so there’s potentially a way for users to get their hand on sold-out bands if they don’t own an Apple Watch yet.
Be sure to visit the MacRumors forums to discuss the topic of the potential retirement of certain Apple Watch bands, along with plenty of other topics related to the Apple Watch and its accessories.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3
Tags: Apple Watch accessories, Apple Watch bands
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Sketchy Photos Show Off Lightning-Enabled EarPods for iPhone 7
A new image found on microblogging service Weibo shows off what Lightning adaptor EarPods might look like if Apple launches the iPhone 7 without a 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been gaining traction since it was first rumored last November.
The images, discovered by iPhone7.nl (Google Translate), are almost certainly a knockoff due to a disproportionate Lightning plug that appears far wider than the thin adaptors currently bundled in with products like the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock.
Otherwise, the EarPods appear largely similar to the model sold by Apple today, with the same slim, rubbery white cable and inline volume control, the latter component of which appears to be somewhat warped in the first image posted on Weibo. Despite the slim chance that these are official Apple EarPods, it’s an interesting glimpse into what the long-rumored Lightning headphone adapters could look like come September.
Rumors about the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack began late last year, and have since coalesced into reports that its omission will in fact be the focus of the iPhone 7, which could help make the 2016 iPhone up to 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
The expected shift into a Lightning port-only future for iPhones would require users to either use Apple’s first party Lightning EarPods, carry an adapter dongle to use traditional 3.5mm headphones, or make an early switch to a wireless, Bluetooth option with the added worry of battery life.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: EarPods
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Apple Supplier Cirrus Logic Releases Kit for Creating Lightning-Based Headphones Ahead of iPhone 7
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has announced a new MFi Headset Development Kit, a reference platform that is designed to help “Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod” accessory makers quickly develop Lightning-based headphones.
The development kit, available through Apple’s MFi Program, includes a form factor reference design and other resources to help MFi licensees create Lightning-based headphones. A reference iOS app is also available.
The MFi Headset Development Kit demonstrates the advantages of Lightning-connected headsets over conventional analog headsets. For example, digital connectivity with an integrated, high-performance DAC and headphone driver delivers high-fidelity audio to the headphone speakers. In addition, Lightning-connected headphones can interact with an iOS app to create a more custom audio experience, such as personalized EQ settings.
Multiple credible sources have confirmed that Apple plans to remove the 3.5mm headphone plug on the iPhone 7 series in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and connectivity, but only a handful of Lightning-equipped headphones are available today.
Apple introduced new MFi Program specifications in June 2014 that allow third-party manufacturers to create headphones that connect to iOS devices via a Lightning cable, but the rollout has been slow. Philips has unveiled Lightning-equipped Fidelio M2L and Fidelio NC1L headphones, pictured above, over the past two years.
Apple may also release Lightning-equipped EarPods, but a more recent conflicting rumor said the iPhone 7 will ship with standard 3.5mm EarPods and a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter. Apple is also believed to be exploring Bragi Dash-like wireless headphones, but it may hold off on adopting the technology until 2017 or later.
Those interested in learning more about Lightning-equipped headphones can watch our video: Lightning Headphones: Are They Better or Just an Inconvenience? We also shared a video showing what an aftermarket 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter looks like as they begin to reach the market.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Lightning, MFi Program, Cirrus Logic
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 9.3.3 to Developers and Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3.3 update to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the third beta of iOS 9.3.3 and more than a month after the release of iOS 9.3.2, a minor bug fix update. iOS 9.3.3 has been in testing since May 23.
Today’s iOS 9.3.3 beta update can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center (developer only) or over-the-air with the proper configuration profile installed.
As another minor 9.x.x update, iOS 9.3.3 features under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements to address issues unearthed since the release of iOS 9.3.2. No outward-facing changes or obvious bug fixes were discovered in the first three betas of iOS 9.3.3.
iOS 9.3.3 beta 4 follows the developer launch of iOS 10, a new version of iOS that will be released to the public this fall. iOS 10 includes features like a redesigned Lock screen experience, a revamped Messages app with its own App Store, a Siri SDK for developers, a new Home app for controlling HomeKit devices, a redesigned Apple Music app, and more.
Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3.3
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of tvOS 9.2.2 to Developers
Apple today provided developers with the fourth beta of an upcoming 9.2.2 update to tvOS, the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV. The fourth tvOS 9.2.2 beta comes one week after the release of the third beta and more than a month after the minor tvOS 9.2.1 update. tvOS 9.2.2 has been in testing since May 23.
tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a beta profile has been installed on the device through iTunes, new beta releases will be available over the air.
tvOS 9.2.2, like tvOS 9.2.1, is a minor 9.x.x update, focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements that aren’t immediately obvious. Apple’s release notes have suggested the update includes bug fixes and security improvements, and no outward-facing changes were spotted in the first three betas, but this post will be updated if we discover any new features or fixes in the fourth beta of tvOS 9.2.2.
Apple is also working on the next-generation version of tvOS, tvOS 10, which includes new Siri features, single sign-on cable authentication, and more. tvOS 10, currently available to developers, will be released to the public in the fall.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tag: tvOS 9.2.2
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Apple Seeds Fourth OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan Beta to Developers and Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan update to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, one week after releasing the third OS X 10.11.6 beta and more than a month since the public release of OS X 10.11.5. OS X 10.11.6 has been in testing since May 23.
The fourth OS X 10.11.6 beta update can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
OS X 10.11.6, much like OS X 10.11.5 and the El Capitan updates that came before it, focuses mainly on performance improvements and bug fixes instead of obvious outward-facing changes. According to Apple’s release notes for earlier betas, the update improves the stability, compatibility, and security of Macs.
No obvious changes or bug fixes were found in the first three betas, but we’ll update this post should anything new be discovered in the fourth beta.
Apple has also started testing macOS Sierra, the next-generation Mac operating system set to be released this fall. macOS Sierra includes features like Siri integration, auto unlocking with the Apple Watch, Apple Pay for the web, a new storage optimization feature, and more.
Related Roundup: OS X El Capitan
Tag: OS X 10.11.6
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Indians can now easily switch between English and Hindi in search results
Google has made some changes to its search results in India. It’s now possible to conveniently switch between English and Hindi while using the company’s search engine. Available in states with significant Hindi-speaking populations, the new feature on mobile will allow for easy switching on browsers and within the Google Search app.
You’ll be able to type out questions and queries in English to then switch to Hindi and view truly localized results. The new tab feature will be rolling out to mobile users now, and as noted above should work with browsers aside from UCBrowser and Opera Mini. Locations where the feature will be available include Bihar, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi and West Bengal.
Already enjoying the new language switch feature? Let us know in the comments!
Finding watch faces for Android Wear
Finding fantastic watch faces for Android Wear is easier than you think.
So you’ve got your awesome new Android Wear device. That means that the next step is figuring out what kind of watch face you want to load up on it. As of right now there are thousands of watch faces on the Google Play Store that you can choose from, along with watch faces on apps like Facer. Before you can choose a watch face though, you need to find one.
There are two really easy ways to find great watch faces for Android Wear, and we’re going to let you know what they are. Keep reading for the details!
Google Play Store
The first way involves finding the Android Wear tab inside of the Google Play Store. You’ll want to open up Google Play, and navigate over to categories. From the category list choose “Android Wear.” This will open up a screen that has all of the Android Wear apps available right now. Scroll down past the first few sections, and you should see one labeled “Watch Your Style.” If you click on this category it will open up a page with watch faces.
You don’t need to go searching for watch faces on Google Play though. That’s because they’ve set up a page with even more great watch faces. By navigating to Hand-Picked Watch Faces you’ll get a page with over 200 fantastic watch faces. As you might guess, they’ve all been hand-picked, and contain some of the best watch faces currently available.
If you’re feeling lucky, you can aldo do a blind search on Google Play.
If you’re feeling lucky, you can also do a blind search on Google Play by searching for watch faces manually. Using search terms like “watch faces for android wear,” “watch faces,” or “android wear,” will all bring up plenty of results. However there are doubtless going to be apps for Android Wear that aren’t watch faces in these results. It’s also worth noting that when you do a blind search like this, you are going to find some of the less awesome watch faces that are out there.
Facer Watch faces for Android Wear
Facer is a stand alone app, that gives you access to hundreds of watch faces that you won’t find in the Google Play Store. Much like the Google Play Store, there is tons of content for you to sift through until you find the watch face that’s perfect for you. Unlike the Google Play Store though, Facer gives you access to lists of watch faces of a certain kind. You can look through nerdy watch faces, analog watch faces, or even watch faces from your favorite movies or television shows.
After the Google Play Store, Facer is actually one of the best places to look for watch faces. Especially if you have a specific theme that you are hoping to put on your watch face. The main page will show you several different lists of the currently featured watch faces. You can also look through the top charts of watchfaces, which is separated into free and premium watch faces.
The awesome thing about Facer is that it’s actually pretty easy to design your own watch face.
Facer also has another unique section for watch faces called unlockables. It’s a small set of watch faces, and each one has to be unlocked by certain actions. To access them you’ll have to do things like sharing a watch face, or publish a watch face of your own on Facer. The awesome thing about Facer is that it’s actually pretty easy to design your own watch face.
Watchmaker Watch face
Watchmaker Watch Face is another cool place that you can go to download watch faces that you won’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t have the same degree of options that both Facer and the Google Play store have, unless you pony up and buy the premium edition for $3.99. It is super easy to build new watch faces yourself though, and you can do it right from your phone.
If you download the free version of Watchmaker, you’ll be able to choose from 6 free watch faces and see a handful of premium faces. It isn’t until you download the premium version you’ll have access to hundreds of watch faces. You do however, still get access to the ability to build your own watchface.
even if you’ve never even thought about building your own watch face you can do this.
Building your own watch face is ridiculously easy. You can add features one by one, and even if you’ve never even thought about building your own watch face you can do this. Now, you won’t have access to all of features, unless you purchase the premium version, but you can still make a simple and awesome watch face with the free app.
Finding a great watch face for your Android Wear device is easier than you think. There are literally thousands of options across multiple platforms, which means there is definitely a watch face out there for you. Whether you only go through the Google Play Store, or you decide to build the watch face you’ve always wanted through Facer, you’ve got plenty of options. Is there somewhere else to grab great watch faces that we didn’t cover? Be sure to jump into the comments and let us know about it!
Get the new Moto G4 cheap from Amazon — if you don’t mind lock screen ads
Amazon has announced a new promotion for Prime members that could see up to 50% knocked off the price of their next Android phone. The retailer is loading select phones with personalized offers and ads to appear on the lock screen of each phone in order to provide these discounts. The first phones available in the promotion are the BLU R1 HD and the Moto G4.
With personalized offers, Prime customers can get the BLU R1 HD for $49.99, or 50% off its full retail price. The Moto G4, normally available for $199.99, is available for $149.99 with this program. These personal offer phones can be pre-ordered now, and will be released on July 12.
See the BLU R1 HD at Amazon
See the Moto G4 at Amazon
Press release:
Amazon Announces Exclusive Pricing Only for Prime Members on Newly Released, Unlocked Android Phones—Up to 50% Off the Full Retail Price, Starting at $49.99
The new BLU R1 HD is available to Prime members for just $49.99, featuring a beautiful 5″ HD display, quad-core processor, and 4G LTE speed
The new Moto G is available to Prime members for just $149.99, featuring a 5.5″ full HD display, an octa-core processor with 2 GB of RAM, and 4G LTE speed
Breakthrough pricing is supported by personalized offers and ads displayed on the phone’s lockscreen
Unlocked smartphones give Prime members the freedom and flexibility to choose the wireless carrier and service that best fit their needs
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Prime members can now take advantage of exclusive pricing—up to 50% off the full retail price—on a selection of newly released, fully featured, unlocked Android smartphones. The all-new BLU R1 HD is only $49.99 ($50.00 off its retail price of $99.99) and the new fourth-generation Motorola Moto G is $149.99 ($50.00 off its retail price of $199.99). Each phone is offered unlocked, with no commitment to a contract, giving Prime members the flexibility to switch between wireless carriers and service options to best fit their needs. The newly launched BLU R1 HD and Moto G are available for pre-order starting today at http://http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones?tag=androidcentralb-20.?tag=androidcentralb-20
The breakthrough pricing on unlocked smartphones is supported by personalized offers and ads, including deals and product recommendations, displayed on the phone’s lockscreen. When a customer sees an offer, they can tap to learn more about it or simply unlock their phone to dismiss.
“Customers love the freedom of unlocked phones—it’s the fastest growing category within cell phones on http://Amazon.com—so we set out to find a way to make them even more affordable for our Prime members,” said Laura Orvidas, Vice President, Consumer Electronics, http://Amazon.com. “We currently offer low prices supported by lockscreen offers and ads on our Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers, and they’ve been a hit—in fact, the vast majority of customers choose the lower-priced option. Now we’re lowering prices in a similar way on new, unlocked smartphones, working with two of our best-selling brands, BLU and Motorola.”
The BLU R1 HD and Moto G feature Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Google Mobile Services, including Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Play. A single sign-on experience provides Prime members easy access to their Prime benefits through the most popular Amazon apps, including tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, over one million songs and playlists with Prime Music, unlimited photo storage and backup with Prime Photos, one free pre-released book a month with Kindle First, FREE two-day shipping on millions of items, and more. Customers also get access to thousands of apps, games and in-app items that are 100% free with Amazon Underground, and can shop a personalized selection of Amazon’s daily deals right from a new home screen widget.
BLU R1 HD:
At $49.99, the BLU R1 HD is the only unlocked smartphone under $100 featuring a vivid HD display with a brightness rating of 420 nits, and a wide-angle 5MP selfie camera with LED flash. The beautiful 5″ HD curved Gorilla Glass display and aluminum metal enclosure incorporate the highest grade material resulting in a stunning look and feel. Featuring a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, fast 4G LTE speed, and an 8MP rear-facing camera, the BLU R1 HD is available with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage or 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage—both have microSD card support for up to 64 GB of additional storage. The BLU R1 HD is compatible with GSM carriers, including
AT&T and T-Mobile.
“The BLU R1 HD is the perfect choice for customers who want a high quality experience in a brand new, unlocked smartphone,” said Samuel Ohev-Zion, CEO of BLU Products, Inc. “Only with Amazon could we bundle this much value in a smartphone for only $49.99—it’s an incredible offer.”
Moto G:
The fourth-generation Moto G is the latest premium phone from Motorola and the thinnest Moto G yet. Compatible with all major CDMA and GSM carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. It boasts a 5.5″ full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chipset with an octa-core processor at up to 1.5 GHz, 2 GB RAM, and 4G LTE speeds. In addition, the Moto G features a 13MP camera with dual LED flash, and a 3000 mAh battery with TurboPower charging giving you up to 6 hours of power in just 15 minutes of charging. Available with 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, plus microSD card support for up to 128 GB of additional storage.
“We’re thrilled to work with Amazon to offer customers the best of all worlds with the new Moto G,” said Jeff Miller, Corporate Vice President, North America Sales. “When considering the purchase of an unlocked smartphone, customers want the technology and features they really care about, and at a great price.”
Customers can pre-order the BLU R1 HD and the Moto G starting today, with both phones available starting July 12th. Visit http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones?tag=androidcentralb-20 for additional information and details about the Prime-exclusive offer. The BLU R1 HD and Moto G without offers and ads are also available on Amazon to Prime and non-Prime members, at full retail price. For more details about the BLU R1 HD, visit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F9N5QX1,?tag=androidcentralb-20 and for the Moto G visit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EZC9WC0.?tag=androidcentralb-20
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit http://www.amazon.com/about.?tag=androidcentralb-20
