Siri Offers Witty Responses About September 7 Event

Ahead of Apple’s “See You on the 7th” special event next Wednesday, September 7 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, Siri is now offering up some traditionally witty responses to users that mention the tagline for the upcoming event. iPhone users can test Siri themselves by saying “see you on the seventh.”

Apple sent out media invites earlier today for the event, to be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California. There, Apple CEO Tim Cook and other senior executives are expected to announce the iPhone 7 and possibly a second-generation Apple Watch. Less likely is a new MacBook Pro, expected later in the year, but a September announcement cannot be ruled out entirely.

Apple will also likely provide an update on the prospective launch dates of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10.

Tags: Siri, September 2016 event
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Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of macOS Sierra to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Apple today released the eighth beta of macOS Sierra, the newest operating system designed for the Mac, to developers. Public beta testers have also been provided with their seventh beta version. macOS Sierra beta 8 comes one week after the release of the seventh beta and more than two months after the software was first unveiled at Apple’s 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Developers and can download today’s update through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store or from the Apple Developer Center.

macOS Sierra is a major update that brings Siri to the Mac for the first time, allowing users to conduct voice searches to quickly find files, look up information, and more. New Continuity features offer an “Auto Unlock” option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch and a “Universal Clipboard” for copying text on one Apple device and pasting it on another.

Deeper iCloud integration allows files stored on the desktop or the Documents folder of a Mac to be accessed on all of a user’s devices, and Photos features deep learning algorithms for improved facial, object, and scene recognition. There’s also a Memories feature for displaying photo collections, and Messages has rich links, bigger emoji, and “Tapback” response options.

Apple Pay is coming to the web in macOS Sierra, with payments authenticated through an iPhone or Apple Watch, and new features like multiple tabs, Picture in Picture multitasking, optimized storage, and revamped emoji are also available.

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macOS Sierra is currently available to developers and public beta testers, and it will see a wider public release this fall, with Apple possibly announcing a release date at its September 7 media event. For full details on all of the new features included in macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our macOS Sierra roundup.

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Best wireless charging pads for Galaxy Note 7

What’s the best wireless charger for Galaxy Note 7? Any that are Fast Charge-enabled!

The Galaxy Note 7 has a big ol’ 3500 mAh battery, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to last you all day if you push the phone hard. That huge 5.7-inch screen and high-end specs take a lot to power and you might need to charge up throughout your day.

A wireless charger lets you remain free of annoying cables, so you can just pick up your phone, do what you need to do, and put it right back on the charger. There are a ton of wireless charging stands, but not all of them are compatible with Samsung’s Fast Charge.

We’ve rounded up the best of the best and all of these chargers are Fast Charge-enabled so that you don’t have to wait around all day for a fill-up.

Note: For all of these charging stands and pads (except Samsung), you must use the wall adapter that came with your Note 7. Otherwise, you’ll be getting regular Qi charging and not Fast Charge.

• Samsung Fast Charge Qi wireless charging stand
• Seneo Fast Charge wireless stand
• Pleson wireless charger
• Nekteck Fast Charge wireless charger
• Itian Qi charging stand

Samsung Fast Charge Qi wireless charging stand

The best route to go when looking at proprietary charging methods is the manufacturer itself and Samsung’s Fast Charge Qi wireless charging stand is the sure-fire way to true Fast Charging for your Note 7.

Samsung Fast Charge wireless charging stand review

This model is upright, so that you can keep an eye on your Note 7 and keep it on display without having to stop charging.

The Samsung Fast Charge stand even comes with a Fast Charge wall adapter, just in case you lost the one that came with your phone or would rather keep it by your bedside and have an extra to carry around with you.

See at Amazon

Seneo Fast Charge wireless stand

Seneo’s stand is another great option that lets you keep using your Note 7 without having to interrupt charging. It’s a larger charger (rhyme time!) than Samsung’s, but that just means more support for your Note 7 and less rocking back and forth if you’re using the S Pen or texting with your thumbs.

The nice part about this stand is the way the coils are placed – you can charge your Note 7 vertically or horizontally, so you can keep your movie or YouTube video while charging.

An excellent safety feature is the LED indicator which turns blue when the stand is receiving power and turns green when it begins charging your Note 7.

If you like your Note 7 to remain upright while charging so that you can remain productive, then check out Seneo’s wireless stand.

See at Amazon

Pleson wireless charger

Pleson’s wireless charger is your typical wireless charging fare in a stylish, clear package that has a sleep-friendly LED indicator that turns on to let you know your Note 7 is charging and turns off after 10 seconds.

The neatest thing about the LED indicator is that it tells you whether or not you’re charging normally or Fast Charging. Blue is normal and a green indicator means Fast Charge.

This charger also features surge and short circuit protection, so you won’t fry your big, beautiful, expensive phone.

If you like an unobtrusive wireless charging pad that allows you to make sure you’re fast charging, check out the Pleson wireless charger.

See at Amazon

Nekteck Fast Charge wireless charger

Nekteck’s Fast Charge wireless charging pad is your classic black wireless charging pad that reliably gets the job done.

It’s got a rubber ring on the bottom so that it isn’t slipping and sliding all over your desk or table and its LED indicator will let you know when your Note 7 is charging.

If you want a sharp-looking, reliable wireless charging pad, check out this one from Nekteck.

See at Amazon

Itian Qi charging stand

Itian’s upright charging isn’t just Fast-Charge compatible — it’s only for Samsung phones with Fast Charge capability. That’s probably a bit downside for some who may have other Qi phones now or in the future, and something to seriously keep in mind.

This is a 10W charger, so you’ll want to be somewhat careful with it, but don’t fear it. It does exactly what it’s supposed to: Fast Charge your Note 7. It will only work if you place your phone on it vertically; horizontal is a no-go.

If you want an exclusively Fast Charging wireless charging stand, then Itian’s stand is the only way to go.

See at Amazon

What keeps you charged?

Are you using an awesome Fast Charge wireless charger not mentioned here? Sound off in the comments below!

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LG V20: What we know so far about the first Nougat phone

The successor to the LG V10 is just around the corner. Here’s a primer on what we know so far.

In any other year, the LG V20 might have been just another Android phone. But the follow-up to the decent but underappreciated V10 has one unique trick up its sleeve — it’ll be the first handset to arrive with Android Nougat preloaded. And that turns what might’ve been just another Android “phablet” into a milestone device for the platform.

Ahead of the September launch event, let’s take a look at what we know so far about LG’s next big thing.

1. The first phone shipping with Android 7.0

Google’s Nexus devices are already starting to get Nougat, but the honor of first phone shipping with the new version of Android goes to the LG V20. LG — a company that’s proudly boasted of software “firsts” in the past — has announced that its device, not any future Nexus phone, will be the first with Android 7.0.

The V20 is even prominently promoting the V20 on its Android Nougat website, showing a holographic cutout of the phone.

That render also pours cold water on hopes that the LG might have switched to a more barebones UI atop Nougat; instead the screenshot shown on Google’s page looks almost exactly like the UI of the LG G5.

Android 7.0 Nougat

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2. It’ll probably be modular

One of the more reliable leaks to surface thus far points to the V20 being LG’s second modular phone, following in the footsteps of the G5. While that handset didn’t achieve universal acclaim — our Phil Nickinson described it as “great cameras attached to a modular mess” — LG was likely already committed to a modular V20 by the time the first reviews emerged.

Expect a cross between a V10 and a G5.

CAD renders of the phone leaked by Steve Hemmerstoffer (a.k.a. @onleaks) show a G5-style camera protrusion, a secondary display and another release switch for plug-in modules.

If the renders are accurate — and Hemmerstoffer has a decent track record here — then we’re looking at a more angular handset than the G5, but with a similar dual-lens camera setup around the back, a larger display (estimated around the 5.6 to 5.7-inch mark) and secondary ticker display, along with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. But the real surprise? It’s looking increasingly likely that the V20 will be LG’s second modular phone.

The renders show a G5-style release switch on the bottom right side of the phone, and what appears to be a clean join between the bottom section of the phone and the body. It sure looks like we’re in for another LG phone with swappable modules.

MORE: LG V20 could be another modular phone

3. Big screen, secondary ticker display

Of course the whole point of the V20 is that it’s a big-screened counterpoint to the G5, and as such we’re expecting a similar 5.7-inch screen size. (And, we’d hope, a battery that at least matches its predecessor’s 3,000mAh cell.) The V10 was also the first mass-market phone to feature a secondary ticker display above the main screen which can be used for app shortcuts, notifications or cutesy messages. This feature got a mixed reception last year, but it looks like LG is undeterred, as leaked renders from Evan Blass reveal a similar setup in the V20 — alongside a relatively subdued dark grey chassis

It’s difficult to make out fine details in an image of this size, but it also appears that the V20 will lose its predecessor’s twin selfie cameras, instead most likely using two cameras around the back, like the G5.

MORE: LG V20 leak confirms secondary ticker display

4. Killer audio output

As LG continues to trickle out nuggets of information ahead of the V20’s launch, one of the more interesting revelations has centered on the phone’s audio capabilities. It’ll purportedly be the first smartphone with a 32-bit quad DAC (digital to analog converter) for improved high-resolution music playback. The component comes from audio firm ESS, which provided the 32-bit DAC for the V10.

LG is also talking up a continuation of the partnership with Bang & Olufsen, which created the B&O Play module for the G5. The company claims the V20 will “feature best-in-class audio functions developed in partnership with B&O PLAY.” It’s possible that means another plug-in module from B&O, though that’s not explicitly mentioned.

5. Launching September 6 in San Francisco

LG’s launch is sandwiched between IFA and the new iPhone.

LG will hold the V20’s launch event in San Francisco on Sept. 6, within days of the major announcements taking place at IFA 2016 in Berlin, and perilously close to Apple’s expected iPhone 7 launch event. That means we can expect the phone to be widely available in the U.S. — and likely LG’s home country of Korea as well.

However we’ve heard nothing official on any Euro release plans for the V20, and given that the V10 never got a widespread European launch, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

LG V20

• Google gives us a good look at the V20’s interface
• The V20 will have a secondary display ticker
• A Quad DAC will improve the V20’s audio output
• LG V20 could be modular like the G5

5 things to know about Honor 8 in Europe

Picking up an Honor 8 in Europe? Here’s what you need to know.

The Honor 8 is the latest affordable flagship phone from the Huawei-owned brand, having officially broken cover in Europe on Aug. 24. The European model is a little different to the Honor 8 that’s coming to the United States however, so it’s worth taking a quick primer on what exactly UK and Euro buyers get for their £369.

1. It’s a dual-SIM phone

Unlike its U.S. counterpart, the European Honor 8 (model FRD-L09) features Huawei’s hybrid slot, which can take either two nano-SIMs, or one nano-SIM and a micro-SD card. That means you get the option of using a second SIM or augmenting the phone’s 32 or 64GB of internal storage. (Unfortunately you can’t use two SIMs and a micro-SD at the same time, like you could with the Honor 5X.)

If doesn’t really matter which slot you load your SIMs into (unless you care about the order of signal bars in the corner of the screen.) You can choose which card gets to use 3G/4G, and which is the default for mobile data Settings > Dual card management. (You’ll almost always want to set those two options to the same card.) The card management menu also lets you choose whether to use one SIM as the default for calls, or whether to show two “call” buttons in the dialer app, one for each SIM.

A dual-SIM phone can be useful if you’re traveling and want to use a local SIM for data while also receiving calls and texts on your normal phone number — or if you need to be reachable on a work and personal number at the same time.

2. It supports a bunch of LTE bands

The European Honor 8 supports 7 bands of 4G LTE, meaning you’re good for 4G coverage across most of Europe and Asia. The 4G SIM slot supports LTE bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 and 40, along with 3G (HSPA) on 900, 1900 and 2100MHz.

In practical terms that means you shouldn’t run into any problems using 3G or 4G services on any carrier that uses those bands.

Unfortunately for those traveling to the United States, the major coverage gaps include basically all the U.S. LTE bands, so you’ll be limited to 3G speeds on T-Mobile or AT&T, provided you’re in an area with 1900MHz coverage.

In China, support for TDD-LTE (bands 38 and 40) as well as FDD-LTE on band 3 should allow for good 4G coverage on China Telecom or China Unicom.

3. There’s a choice of freebies depending on where you buy

Honor’s latest marketing push has given buyers a wide range of incentives to pick up the new phone, with the Huawei-branded vMall letting customers “mix and match” any combination of coupons up to the value of £69.99. Vouchers from Gameloft, Elex, Truecaller and Deezer are available.

Meanwhile Honor has announced that orders placed with Amazon will receive a free Amazon Fire TV stick while stocks last.

4. Buy on PAYG with Three, use anywhere

In the UK, Three is the exclusive carrier partner for the Honor 8. Fortunately for anyone wanting to buy on the high street and use with another carrier — or carriers, given the dual SIM slot — all of Three’s phones are sold SIM-unlocked. That means once the Honor 8 goes on sale with Three in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to walk into a store and pick up the handset (with a Three PAYG SIM, of course) and use it anywhere else.

5. Black, white and blue are your main color options

Wherever you’re buying the Honor 8 your main color choices are black, blue or white. (Our favorite by far is the blue model, for what it’s worth.)

There are also gold and pink models, but these are harder to track down. The gold Honor 8 will be focused on the Russian and Middle Eastern markets to begin with, while we’ve yet to see the pink version outside of China.

By the same token, the only storage option available at present is the 32GB version. The more expensive 64GB variant hasn’t shown up anywhere in the few days since launch.

Anyone picking up an Honor 8 in Europe in the coming weeks? Shout out in the comments!

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European Commission Rules Apple Received Illegal State Aid From Ireland, Owes Billions in Back Taxes

The European Commission on Tuesday will rule that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland, according to a 130-page judgment seen by Financial Times.

Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager circulated the final ruling to her counterparts in the EU’s executive branch only on Monday morning, deploying a fast-track procedure in a bid to minimize leaks. The usual notice period is two weeks.

The ruling follows a three-year investigation into Apple’s tax arrangements in Ireland, where it has reportedly paid around 2% or less in taxes compared to the country’s headline 12.5% corporate tax rate.

The commission’s ruling asks Dublin to raise a new tax assessment on Apple, which could have to restate its accounts as a result of the ruling, according to the report. One area of focus is Apple’s tax arrangements for its intellectual property assets, which is “a hotly disputed area likely to lead to a large claim for back taxes.”

The ruling means Apple could owe several billions of euros in back taxes. JPMorgan estimated the company could be forced to pay up to 19 billion euros ($21.2 billion) in back taxes, although a previous study placed the figure around $8 billion, and some analysts believe the amount could be a comparatively lower $1 billion.

Europe’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager will provide an actual estimate of Apple’s potential tax bill when the European Commission’s findings are publicly released on Tuesday, according to the report.

Apple declined to comment on the matter, reiterating that the company fully complies with international tax law and that it is the largest taxpayer in the world. Apple said last month that both the company and Ireland would appeal any unfavorable ruling in European courts.

Apple joining the ranks of Starbucks, Fiat Chrysler, Amazon, Google, IKEA, and McDonald’s as one of several large corporations accused of tax avoidance in Europe recently. Starbucks in particular is currently appealing its case in Netherlands, where it was ordered to pay as much as 30 million euros in back taxes.

Last week, the U.S. Treasury department warned that an adverse ruling against Apple could “set an undesirable precedent.” It also said the European Commission is becoming a “supranational tax authority,” going beyond acceptable enforcement of competition and state aid law and singling out U.S. companies.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: corporate tax, European Commission, Europe, Ireland
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It’s official: Apple will hold 7 September event likely for iPhone 7

Apple will officially host another September event this year.

The Cupertino, CA-based company has invited the media to a press event scheduled for 7 September at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The invite simply had the caption: “See you on the 7th”.

Apple typically unveils its next iPhone model (actually, it’s now models) in September, so many have waited for the company to send this year’s round of invites. According to several leaks and rumours, we can expect to see the so-called iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus debuted. They’ll naturally come with better cameras, better processors, and maybe even better water resistance thanks to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack.

We may also see a new, pressure-sensitive home button and 32GB instead of 16GB as the minimum storage capacity for both phones, as well as 3GB RAM and a dual-lens camera exclusively for the iPhone 7 Plus, among other things. But don’t expect a radical redesign. Both devices are said to look similar to the iPhone 6S/6S Plus. Apple will reportedly overhaul the iPhone in 2017 to coincide with the smartphone’s 10th anniversary.

• What to expect at Apple’s September 2016 event: iPhone 7 and more
• Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Everything you need to know
• iPhone 7 Pro: What’s the story so far?
• Apple iOS 10: Release date and everything you need to know
• New MacBook Pro (2016): What’s the story so far?
• Apple Watch 2: What’s the story so far?

Apple may also use its event to once again showcase iOS 10, the upcoming update to iOS that should release sometime before the new iPhone models go on sale. Like past events, the 7 September event will begin at 10 am PST. There will likely be a livestream via Apple’s site and Apple TV.

Check out Pocket-lint’s round-up to see what else might be unveiled at Apple’s 7 September event. We will be there live to give you the latest and breaking news as it happens and possibly hands-on reviews.

NFL reportedly using ball tracking chips in pre-season games

The NFL is using sensors inside footballs during pre-season to track quarterback throwing speeds, running back acceleration, ball position and other stats, according to Recode. The chips are reportedly made by Zebra, a company that already already tracks player statistics for the league using shoulder pad-mounted chips. The NFL used the same ball tracking tech before at the Pro Bowl last year, but the experiment is a first for pre-season. Officials haven’t decided if they’ll continue it once the regular season starts.

Zebra teamed up with Wilson to install the RFID-like chips under the football’s laces. Sensors located around the stadium can ping the chips and give stats like velocity, acceleration and ball location (within six inches) to Zebra employees within a half second. (The sensors can’t track a ball’s air pressure to prevent another Deflategate, though.) The NFL is also tracking kicking balls to see if the goalposts should be moved closer together, but that seems to be a different experiment.

Zebra’s shoulder pad trackers, now used by all 32 teams, collect data that can be used to evaluate personnel, scout players and improve safety. It could also provide interesting data to broadcasters, though there’s no indication the league has allowed that yet. Last year, the NFL released the shoulder pad data at the end of the season, but in 2016, it will reportedly give it to teams just hours after games end. If the Zebra’s ball tracking tech is adopted the same way, the devices should soon arrive to regular season games, giving teams (and hopefully fans) more stats to geek out on.

Source: Recode