Apple Store fires staff for stealing customers’ private pics
Another Apple Store in Australia is embroiled in a scandal, and this time, it involves explicit photos. According to Courier Mail (membership required), the Carindale Apple Store in Queensland fired four male employees for not only stealing sensitive images from customers’ phones sent in for repair, but also for taking creepshots of their female co-workers. The four reportedly shared their loot with other employees in chat, where they rated women’s body parts out of 10. By the time their MO was discovered, they already had quite a collection going: the publication says they were in possession of over 100 creepshots and stolen images, including close-ups of women’s chests and derrières.
The whole thing was apparently blown wide open when a staff member found one of the employees involved browsing a customer’s iPhone in the repair room. Courier Mail says the Carindale store then brought in an HR executive from overseas to investigate the issue.
In a statement sent to the various publications, Apple insists that its investigator didn’t find evidence that the employees transferred customers’ photos and took inappropriate shots of female co-workers without their consent. Nevertheless, Cupertino confirmed that the store already sacked several people as a result of its findings. It’s unclear why the company would fire anyone if nothing improper took place, so we reached out for clarification.
Here is Apple’s full statement:
“We are investigating a violation of Apple’s business conduct policy at our store in Carindale, where several employees have already been terminated as a result of our findings.
Based on our investigation thus far, we have seen no evidence that customer data or photos were inappropriately transferred or that anyone was photographed by these former employees. We have met with our store team to let them know about the investigation and inform them about the steps Apple is taking to protect their privacy.
Apple believes in treating everyone equally and with respect, and we do not tolerate behaviour that goes against our values.”
Last year, an Apple Store in Melbourne landed in hot water after employees kicked out a group of black teenagers. Their reason? They were worried that the kids would “steal something.” The store apologized for the incident, and Apple chief Tim Cook sent out a company-wide email calling the incident “unacceptable.”
Via: Mashable
Source: Courier Mail
The Next Generation Apple Watch Could Identify Users by Their Heart Rate
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published an invention today that suggests the next Apple Watch could identify its owner simply by checking their heart rate.
Apple’s patent application is titled “User identification system based on plethysmography” and describes how a pulse oximeter is used to determine the biometric signature of a user’s cardio rhythms. This data could then be used to identify the wearer and unlock the watch in a manner similar to Touch ID on the iPhone.
The system works similarly to existing monitors, by projecting light on the user’s skin and measuring how much of it is absorbed and reflected back to the device. The measurement can then be used to determine the amount of blood present in the vasculature. According to the patent, the data gathered by the two photosensors is either stored or compared against previously saved information to positively identify the user.
In an associated patent also published today, the invention is extended to take in data from motion sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine user movement. Certain gestures, for example raising the device from waist height to head height, trigger the authentication process.
AppleInsider notes that the system could replace Touch ID during Apple Pay payments and further reduce the watch’s reliance on iPhone, although it’s unclear if heart rate data can be a unique enough identifier to ensure the same level of security.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tag: patent
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Samsung Offers Note 7 Recall Customers $100 in Credit to Stay Loyal
Samsung is offering $100 bill credit to U.S. customers caught up in its ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 recall if they’re willing to stay loyal to the brand (via TechCrunch).
Samsung discontinued the Note 7 earlier this week after handsets deemed safe by the company began setting on fire just like the handsets they replaced. Samsung is now offering those who choose to exchange the phone for any other Samsung device up to $100 credit as a goodwill gesture.
Those who opt to exchange the Note 7 for a full refund or for another brand of smartphone are being offered a smaller $25 credit for the hassle. Currently the goodwill credit appears to be limited to U.S customers.
Commenting in a statement on the U.S. refund and exchange program, Tim Baxter, president and COO of Samsung Electronics America, said: “We appreciate the patience of our consumers, carrier and retail partners for carrying the burden during these challenging times. We are committed to doing everything we can to make this right.”
According to a report by The New York Times, Samsung still doesn’t know exactly why Note 7 smartphones have been catching fire. The company was apparently unable to replicate the problem at their labs and have so far been unable to identify the exact cause of the issue.
Samsung’s recall of the devices was made official today via the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, citing “serious fire and burn hazards” to consumers. According to the statement, Samsung has received 96 reports of batteries overheating in the U.S., including 23 new reports since the September 15 recall announcement. Samsung has also received 13 reports of burns and 47 reports of property damage associated with Note 7 phones.
Some reports predict the recall could cost the company $17 billion. Samsung has already issued a profit warning and slashed its Q3 estimate by a third, with $2.3 billion in lost operating profits, down nearly 30 per cent from a year earlier.
Tags: Samsung, Galaxy Note 7
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Google Photos Can Now Fix Sideways Snaps and Generate GIFs to Share
Google has announced a few notable updates to its Photos app, with some new features powered by its machine-learning technology.
The app can now automatically generate animated GIFs from videos you upload to the service. Google says its technology looks for video segments that capture activity — “a jump into the pool, or even just an adorable smile” — and creates short animations that can then be easily shared over email or social media.
In addition, Photos now uses facial recognition to surface older pictures of people that appear in your most recent uploads, and can also serve up what it considers to be picture ‘highlights’ from each month – similar to Apple’s Memories feature in its native Photos app.
Last but not least, Google Photos now detects sideways photos in your uploads and offers to rotate them in one batch, saving you from having to correct their orientation yourself one by one.
Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Google Photos
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Save 50% on this 2A adaptive fast charger today!
Tired of having to sit tethered to a wall for long periods of time to charge your phone? If so, Samsung’s 2A adaptive fast charger is a great option so that you can charge nice and quick. Right now you can save 50% on the purchase, dropping it to just $14.95.
CPSC issues second Galaxy Note 7 recall — 23 new fires involving replacement Notes
It’s official — two days after Samsung canceled the phone, it’s been recalled (again) in the United States.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a second recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, affecting both old and new replacement models. Significantly, the CPSC statement now tells us exactly how many battery fire reports have been reported in the new Note 7 with the green battery icon.
From the CPSC statement (emphasis ours):
Samsung has received 96 reports of batteries in Note7 phones overheating in the U.S., including 23 new reports since the September 15 recall announcement. Samsung has received 13 reports of burns and 47 reports of property damage associated with Note7 phones.
In line with Samsung’s guidance, the CPSC says customers should immediately power off their phones and return them for a refund or a (different) replacement device. While Samsung had already canceled the Note 7, the official recall of replacement Notes is an important legal step — for instance, it’s illegal to sell a recalled product, and one may not be taken aboard an airplane in the U.S. at all, in any capacity.
It’s the latest development in a what’s been a dire couple of months for Samsung, with the Note 7 fiasco damaging its brand, eroding consumer trust and knocking billions off its market value. If you’ve still got a Note 7, return it and get one of these great Android phones instead.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
- Do not buy a Galaxy Note 7
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Samsung offers $100 credit to swap your Note 7 for another Galaxy phone
Only $25 credit if you’re changing brands.
With the brand damage caused by not one but two recalls, Samsung is offering incentives to Note 7 customers in the U.S. to keep them loyal to the Samsung brand. Anyone with the now canceled phone can claim $100 bill credit if they choose another Samsung smartphone, compared to just $25 if they choose another brand or a refund.
The new exchange program in the U.S. begins October 13 at 3 p.m. EDT. If you’ve already returned your Note 7 for a Samsung phone and taken the $25 bill credit offered at the time, you’ll be able to claim an additional $75 from your carrier or retailer.
As before, Samsung says it’ll use several methods to reach out to Note 7 owners and have them return their phones — so expect push notifications, text messages, and eventually even software updates which will nerf your maximum battery capacity. We saw all of this stuff first time around.
Working in partnership with the CPSC, carriers and retailers, Samsung is maximizing its reach to Note7 owners through multiple touchpoints, including direct communications, customer service, social media, marketing and in-store communications, to ensure users are aware of the program, understand their options and participate in the U.S. Note7 Exchange Program.
Samsung’s U.S. president and COO, Tim Baxter, also offered a message of apology to Note 7 customers: “We appreciate the patience of our consumers, carrier and retail partners for carrying the burden during these challenging times,” he’s quoted as saying in Samsung’s press release. “We are committed to doing everything we can to make this right.”
MORE: How to return your Galaxy Note 7
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
- Do not buy a Galaxy Note 7
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Dali Katch review: Audio artistry meets ‘tache-twiddling design
The word Dali will probably see your mind either wander to the ‘tache-twiddling famed Spanish artist, or to a certain Danish audio manufacturer known for its great quality speakers. The Dali Katch isn’t necessarily a piece of art to be hung in a gallery, but this Bluetooth speaker does deliver audio artistry at a portable scale. Is it a genuine catch given its £330 cover price?
Dali Katch review: Design
There are all manner of Bluetooth speakers on the market, ranging from the ultra budget to pricier models such as this Dali. At over £300 it’s fair to say you should be expecting something special.
Pocket-lint
So when we first pulled the Katch from its box we had mixed emotions: the giant pill-shaped body is fronted by plasticky-looking mesh panels, but matched with a solid aluminium body. The mesh is actually a combination of polycarbonate an ABS (a thermoplastic polymer), but it just looks like plastic – which is all you need to know. The aluminium exudes a greater quality because of its exposed chamfered edge, adding lift to the shadowy blue finish of this review sample (grey and green choices are also available – but all are muted rather than snappy colours).
That brown edging to one side of the pill? It’s actually an integrated leather carry strap, which can slide out of its stowed position to form a handle, in a fashion reminiscent of many B&O BeoPlay devices Again, however, the choice of finish doesn’t look much like leather; again it initially looks like more plastic – until you pull it away from the body. A different texture would have been better to highlight the material quality.
To one side of the Katch there are an array of buttons: on/off, Bluetooth pairing, volume up and down, and an EQ preset. These days most manufacturers are opting for sparse design minus such old skool buttons, so while these classic buttons are fine by their function, the “hidden away” style of those found in the B&O BeoPlay A1 make for a more refined overall appearance.
Pocket-lint
So, on balance, the Dali Katch doesn’t really look like a more-than-£300 speaker. Not on the outside at least…
Dali Katch review: Sound quality
Switch it on, however, and Dali’s audio knowledge comes to light. The Katch sounds solid from the off: a great delivery of bass, with balanced mids and treble. That’s perhaps no surprise given the twin aluminium woofers and 21mm tweeters aboard, expertly crafted as you would expect.
That EQ button even functions to toggle between two pre-sets to cater for different environments depending on how close the product is to a wall (one is baser than the other, effectively). However, there’s no app to make more of this EQ: we would like more presets, or the ability to tweak these presets accordingly.
Pocket-lint
The Katch is also really loud. It could be the only speaker that you’ll ever need to fill a room. And given its portability, it’s no hassle to cart it from one room to another. So while the exterior might leave you wanting more, the audio quality really doesn’t.
We’ve had no issues with Bluetooth connectivity – which even caters for aptX high-quality streams – or you can go old skool and plug in devices via the 3.5mm adapter – which is tucked away behind a panel to one end of the device.
The Katch’s on-board battery lasts for an alleged 24-hours of non-stop use. We’ve been using it non-stop for three office days and it’s still not given any hint that it might run out of juice just yet, which is pretty good going by any speaker standard.
Pocket-lint
Should you run out of juice then two forms of charging are possible: via the exposed mains charger (which comes with an annoyingly over-sized plug socket) or via the full-size USB port, which also means on-the-go charging is possible if you have the right cable (that one’s not included). The USB port can also be used to drive a Chromecast Audio dongle for connection to a home network, which is a nifty little feature that brings the Katch into the modern world.
Verdict
The Dali Katch is a tale of two halves: its exterior aesthetic has some not-so-hot moments, while its audio artistry is second-to none. The battery life is standout for a portable Bluetooth speaker too.
However, at £330 Dali is pushing faith that its premium brand name will drive purchase, because for £130 less you could buy the smaller, better looking and just as decent B&O BeoPlay A1 instead.
As it stands, we find the visual exterior of the Katch has us ‘tache-twiddling like a certain other Dali because it’s simply surreal that it doesn’t look better. The score reflects this rather than the abundant audio quality.
US couriers issue strict guidelines for returning your Galaxy Note 7
If you can’t walk into your carrier’s store to turn in a Galaxy Note 7 in person, you’ll have to ask them for Samsung’s fire-proof box and wait for it to come in. FedEx and UPS have announced that they won’t ship out the phone unless it’s inside one of the special containers Samsung has prepared for it. This container is actually comprised of several boxes you’ll have to stack like a Russian doll, though the outermost one is lined with ceramic fiber designed to keep potential fires under control. Meanwhile, the US Postal Service will accept your shipment, so long as it’s inside hard cardboard or plastic boxes.
While it could be a hassle having to wait for the insulated box to arrive, it’s still a step up from the couriers’ previous stance: they originally refused to ship the plus-sized phones back to carriers altogether. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for our friends in the UK. The Royal Mail has banned sending the devices entirely, suggesting that Note 7 owners get in contact with the retailer that sold them the phone in the first place.
Take ‘note’ that you might have to wait a while before the phone gets to your phone carrier, since Note 7s are not allowed on planes anymore. To comply with the Department of Transportation’s rule that prohibits recalled products with lithium-ion batteries on planes, the devices are now only eligible for ground shipping.
Samsung’s earnings for July to September weren’t affected by its Note 7 problems, but things likely won’t be the same the next quarters. After it decided to stop making the phones completely, the chaebol adjusted its profit guidance to expect a $2.34 billion loss for the current quarter. Analysts also believe that the conglomerate will end up spending around $1 billion to make and ship out the insulated recall boxes. While Samsung’s growing display and chip business could make up for those losses, the future of its extra-large phone line is now up in the air.
Source: Bloomberg, Fox6Now, The Washington Post
Samsung offers Note 7 owners $100 off another Galaxy phone
In an attempt to keep users, Samsung is issuing a $100 credit to exchange the defective Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 Edge or other Samsung device. By comparison, it’ll give you just $25 if you switch to Apple, HTC or any other brand. It has also expanded the recall to include all Galaxy Note 7 devices, including those issued as replacements for the original defective phones. That move was expected, since both have proved to have defective batteries that can cause fires and explosions.
Following the initial recall of the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung issued refunds or replacement devices to consumers, along with a $25 credit. However, the new phones also had problems and caused incidences like a fire on a Southwest Airlines flight. The company has now killed the phone altogether, and advised buyers to shut it off immediately.
Samsung is trying to keep users from straying to other brands, while also trying to stop further financial bleeding from the debacle. In a post, it said that the incentives are to compensate customers for the “big inconvenience” of exchanging the device. That’s an understatement, because customers have been forced to handle devices with gloves and return them in a fireproof box. Then, they must wait a considerable period for the replacements, which can only be shipped by ground.
The best option might be to avoid the exchange and get a full refund. Buyers likely paid full price for the Galaxy Note 7, which was just released. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, on the other hand, have been out for six months, and can be found at a considerable discount. For many users, the difference likely amounts to more than the $100 exchange incentive.
Source: Samsung
AIVAnet 