Over the course of the last month, some troubling information has surfaced about Ring, the Amazon-owned company that has millions of cameras inside and outside homes across the globe.
The Information in December suggested Ring employees in both the U.S. and the UK had unfettered, unnecessary access to customer camera feeds, and today, The Intercepthas shared additional details.
Starting in 2016, Ring allowed its Ukraine-based research team to access "every video created by every Ring camera around the world." Video content was unencrypted and "easily browsed and viewed," plus videos were linked to specific customers.
Ring employees highlighted objects in video feeds to improve object and facial recognition>
Ring's Ukraine team was provided with access to further development on facial and object recognition software, with executives and engineers in the U.S. also able to access the same data even if they didn't specifically need it for their jobs.
Employees with access to customer feeds could view an individual's camera with just an email address.
Although the source said they never personally witnessed any egregious abuses, they told The Intercept "I can say for an absolute fact if I knew a reporter or competitor's email address, I could view all their cameras."
Ring employees weren't just watching outdoor video, either, with a source who spoke to The Intercept suggesting indoor video was viewed as well for the same object recognition training. Ring employees were instructed to draw boxes around objects with labeling, allowing the system to learn to recognize various things.
Employees allegedly showed each other the videos they were annotating and discussed some of the incidents they witnessed, such as people kissing, stealing, and guns being fired.
According to The Intercept, Ring is still using similar tactics for improving video tagging and object recognition. Ring Labs, the team Ring has in the Ukraine, is continuing to employ people who watch and tag details in Ring video content.
Ring spokesperson Yassi Shahmiri declined to answer The Intercept's questions about past and current data policies, but he confirmed that Ring views and annotates "certain Ring videos" that are either public or obtained with "explicit written consent."
We take the privacy and security of our customers' personal information extremely seriously. In order to improve our service, we view and annotate certain Ring videos. These videos are sourced exclusively from publicly shared Ring videos from the Neighbors app (in accordance with our terms of service), and from a small fraction of Ring users who have provided their explicit written consent to allow us to access and utilize their videos for such purposes.
Team members are held to "high ethical standards" and there are systems in place to "restrict and audit access to information." Bad actors are subject to a "zero tolerance" response if abuse is detected.
As The Intercept points out, given the information from the sources it spoke to, it is not known if Ring has always used the standards described in its current statement, and past reporting from The Information has suggested that access used to be less restrictive until Amazon purchased the service.
As Ring says, Ring users who are opting into the Neighbors system, which allows for sharing of videos to "create safer videos" are unknowingly opting in to potentially having those videos viewed by Ring employees and there is no mention of that when customers sign up for the feature.
Ring's terms of service and privacy policy do not mention manual or visual annotation by employees, even though that practice is still being used to this day, nor are customers notified that some employees had or could still have access to their camera feeds. Current and prospective Ring customers should be aware of Ring's practices and wary of who has access to their videos.
Update: A Ring spokesperson has provided the following updated statement to MacRumors on the situation:
"We take the privacy and security of our customers’ personal information extremely seriously. In order to improve our service, we view and annotate certain Ring video recordings. These recordings are sourced exclusively from publicly shared Ring videos from the Neighbors app (in accordance with our terms of service), and from a small fraction of Ring users who have provided their explicit written consent to allow us to access and utilize their videos for such purposes. Ring employees do not have access to livestreams from Ring products.
We have strict policies in place for all our team members. We implement systems to restrict and audit access to information. We hold our team members to a high ethical standard and anyone in violation of our policies faces discipline, including termination and potential legal and criminal penalties. In addition, we have zero tolerance for abuse of our systems and if we find bad actors who have engaged in this behavior, we will take swift action against them."
Apple has dropped the price of the iPhone XR by about $100 for its channel partners in China, reports Yahoo Finance. The price cut allows third-party vendors to purchase the iPhone XR more cheaply, which allows the device to be sold to customers at a lower price.
Apple is not offering direct discounts on the device in China, but third-party retailers implemented price cuts on Tuesday after Apple dropped purchasing prices.
An Apple partner that buys from Apple and sells to distributors and retailers dropped the iPhone XR's price from 5980 yuan ($881) to 5380 yuan ($793) with an additional 150 yuan ($22) coupon available.
According to Yahoo Finance, the partner in question was told by Apple to drop prices to boost iPhone XR sales.
Many vendors in China are now offering the iPhone XR at a discount. JD.com is offering customers a 400 yuan coupon that drops the price of the iPhone XR to 6099 yuan ($899), while Suning, an electronics store similar to Best Buy, now sells the iPhone XR for 6199 yuan ($914).
Both of those prices are cheaper than the 6499 yuan ($958) that Apple asks for the iPhone XR from its website and retail stores.
The discount comes just ahead of the Chinese New Year in February, and could spur additional iPhone XR sales. A report from China's National Business Daily this week suggested Apple has also implemented distributor price drops on other iPhones including the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XS, and XS Max. The biggest price cuts are on the iPhone XR, however.
Another recent report suggests that Apple has cut production on the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max by about 10 percent for the next three months.
The price drops and the production cut follow a recent Q1 2019 guidance downgrade, with Apple expecting revenue of $84 billion during the quarter. That's a year-over-year decline and a drop from the $89 to $93 million revenue guidance Apple provided in November.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that a major reason for the earnings downgrade was a weakening Chinese economy, where Apple saw softer iPhone sales than expected.
There are a few notable deals happening on Amazon this week, including promo codes from Aukey, a lowest-ever discount on Twelve South's new PowerPic frame, a combo deal on Mophie Qi chargers, and more.
Starting with Aukey, the accessory maker has discount codes to offer shoppers on smart plugs, MFi-certified Lightning cables, and Bluetooth speakers. Each sale listed below requires a promo code so be sure to enter them during the checkout process on Amazon to see the discount. If you're interested, place your order before January 15, when the codes will expire.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Twelve South often discounts its products on Amazon, and this week shoppers can get the company's latest product -- the PowerPic Frame -- for just $53.00, down from $89.99. This is the first major sale on the PowerPic and definitely worth checking out if you've been interested in the accessory.
The PowerPic is an iPhone-compatible wireless charger that doubles as a traditional picture frame when it's not being used to charge a smartphone. You can read more about the accessory in our full review right here. In the Amazon sale, both White and Black colors are available.
Mophie has its own Qi chargers for sale on Amazon as well, including a 2-pack of its Wireless Charge Pad for $53.99, down from $96.16. Mophie's accessory launched around the time that wireless charging debuted on the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X in 2017, and it offers up to 7.5W fast charging on a rubberized base.
In other sales, you can get a clear case for your iPhone XR, priced at just $1.99 with promo code JB6KN5VH, down from $6.99. Made from a third-party reseller on Amazon, the clear case is sitting at a 4.5 star rating from around 850 users, so it could be a decent and ultra-cheap alternative to Apple's $40 accessory. Lastly, Dodocool also has its 7-in-1 USB-C Hub for $23.79 with code HKAUWT5M, down from $33.99.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to check out even more of the latest sales and bargains happening this week.
The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show is wrapping up, with Friday being the final day. For our last CES video, we visited ShowStoppers, the show floor, and a few vendor events to show MacRumors readers some of the coolest stuff that we saw this year.
Not all of what we have to share is entirely Apple related, but there are definitely some interesting, eye-catching technology products that give us an idea of where the tech sector is headed.
Some of the best TV technology at the show came from LG, with the company debuting a 65-inch TV that rolls up. The rolling mechanism lets the TV, which is super thin, tuck away when it's not in use, and then be brought back up when you want to use it.
LG's actually going to release the rollable TV, called the OLED TV R, sometime in the spring, but expect it to be sensationally expensive. LG's booth was also something special, outfitted with a seemingly endless array of curved OLED displays.
Samsung was on hand showing off its upcoming Bixby speaker, a smart speaker that's designed to compete with the HomePod. The Bixby speaker features a teardrop shape along with three metal legs, with Samsung promising smart home features and immersive sound. The Bixby speaker is set to be released soon.
Simplehuman, a company that makes automated trash cans, debuted the Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi, which works as a mirror, a lamp, and a speaker, while Kohler was demoing a smart bathtub that won't overfill and super fancy $7000 toilet with a heated seat, LEDs, speakers, Alexa integration, and automatic flushing.
LaMetric showed off a very neat looking Nanoleaf Smart Panel competitor called "Sky" that features a mosaic-style design. In addition to displaying various colored designs, the panels can be customized with weather information, social network data, the time, and tons more.
Aura, a company that made a fitness tracker popular on Kickstarter, introduced an Apple Watch "Smart Strap" that's supposed to measure weight, water, fat, and muscle via electrodes built into the band. We didn't get to try it out for ourselves, but we're interested to see if this is actually going to be a viable product.
VR was big at CES and we saw a virtual batting cage, options for boxing, and tons of VR headsets, and there were no shortage of prototype cars, as usual, most with self-driving capabilities.
The neatest automotive-related product we saw was the Bell Nexus Air Taxi, a hybrid electric-propulsion aircraft that's going to be launched by Uber sometime in the mid-2020s. Uber hopes that this air taxi, which can carry four passengers a couple hundred miles on a single charge, will be the future of transportation.
T-Mobile today launched a new "Caller Verified" feature that's designed to offer its customers more protection from scammers and spammers who spoof legitimate phone calls to attempt to fool smartphone owners.
Caller Verified uses the STIR and SHAKEN standards that are in place to combat illegal caller ID spoofing.
Right now, T-Mobile's implementation of Caller Verified is limited. It's only available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and it is limited to the T-Mobile network.
On the Note 9, calls on the T-Mobile network will be "Caller Verified," with customers able to see that labeling to be sure that calls are authentic and are not coming from a scammer or spammer.
T-Mobile says that it plans to make the Caller Verified feature available on more smartphones later in the year, but it is not clear if that includes Apple's devices.
The feature will also work with calls coming from other carriers once other wireless providers implement STIR/SHAKEN standards.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.3 update to developers and public beta testers, a few days after releasing the third beta and more than a month after the launch of macOS Mojave 10.14.2.
The new macOS Mojave 10.14.3 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from Apple's Developer Center or the public beta testing site.
We don't yet know what improvements the next update to macOS Mojave will bring, but it is likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't able to be addressed in the macOS 10.14.2 update.
No new features were found in the first three betas of macOS 10.14.3, but if we find anything new in the fourth beta, we'll update this post.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.1.3 update to developers and public beta testers, a few days after releasing the third beta and three weeks after releasing iOS 12.1.2.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.1.3 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center, while public beta testers can get the beta over-the-air.
The fourth iOS 12.1.3 beta is technically the third beta, but because iOS 12.1.3 includes the same updates that were supposed to be included in the iOS 12.1.2 beta that was already released, Apple released the initial iOS 12.1.3 as a second beta rather than a first beta.
Apple seeded just one beta of iOS 12.1.2 before tweaking the software to include some emergency bug fixes and the aforementioned software changes in China, rushing the update out and pushing content originally planned for iOS 12.1.2 to iOS 12.1.3 instead.
iOS 12.1.3 will mark the fourth update to iOS 12. We don't yet know what features are included, and no major changes have been found in the iOS 12.1.3 betas we've received thus far. If we find anything new in the fourth iOS 12.1.3 beta, we'll update this post.
Scosche today announced the launch of several new products that make Qi wireless charging easier and more convenient for Apple's iPhone 8 and later.
MagicMount Charge 3
The new Qi-compatible 10W MagicMount Charge 3 is the latest MagicMount product from Scosche, and it's now available with a unique vent mount that features an articulated swing arm so it doesn't impede airflow from a vehicle's vent.
The MagicMount Charge 3 is able to offer up the convenience of a vent mount without the usual drawback of blocking the vent, and it also rotates 360 degrees so your iPhone can be viewed from any angle. The swing arm offers up additional positional options for a customized fit for each vehicle.
An iPhone attaches to the MagicMount Charge3 using Neodymium magnets, and the stand has been designed with a thermal management gap that between the phone and the mount to allow heated air to disperse.
There are a total of four mounting options for the MagicMount Charge3, including the aforementioned vent mount, a dash mount that uses adhesive, StickGrip mount for the window or the dash, and a double pivot option for more versatility.
The MagicMount Charge 3 will be available in spring 2019. Pricing has not yet been announced.
MagicGrip Charge Wireless Charging Mount
The 10W MagicGrip Charge Qi Mount, designed for use in the car, is a motorized charging stand that uses a sensor to detect when a Qi-enabled device is nearby.
When a Qi device like an iPhone is aligned with the charging coil of the accessory, the arms of the mount automatically close to hold it securely in place while you drive. The charging head is designed to offer full 360-degree rotation, letting users view the device in landscape and portrait orientations.
There are four mounting options for the MagicGrip, including a dash mount that uses an adhesive grip material, a grip mount with swing arm, a window/dash StickGrip base, and a Double Pivot option that offers more versatility.
Scosche's MagicGrip Charge Wireless Charging Mount will be available in fall 2019. Pricing has not been announced.
BaseLynx Charging System
Scosche's BaseLynx system is a multi-device charging dock designed to support multiple Apple products at once, including an iPads, iPhones, and the Apple Watch. The BaseLynx consists of several different modules that can be paired together to meet each person's needs.
Modules include a 10W Qi wireless fast charging dock for the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging option that uses your own Apple Watch charging puck, a vertical power station that holds and charges three devices with two USB-A outlets and one USB-C outlet, and an end cap that offers up additional USB-A and 18W power delivery outlets.
The USB-C ports on the device can be used for charging the iPad Pro and fast charging the iPhone with a USB-C to Lightning cable. Each of the different modules comes with an AC power cord and two end caps to allow them to be used on a standalone basis.
Scosche's BaseLynx system will debut in spring 2019. Pricing has not yet been announced.
The Wall Street Journal today reported that Samsung plans to announce three new Galaxy S10 models along with an all-new foldable smartphone dubbed the "Galaxy Fold" at the event, with a simultaneous keynote in London. A fourth model with 5G network support will allegedly be released later in the spring.
Rumors point towards Samsung unveiling a lower-end Galaxy S10 Lite with a 5.8-inch display, Galaxy S10 with a 6.1-inch display, and Galaxy S10+ with a 6.4-inch display. The devices are expected to be released in March as usual.
Samsung typically unveils its Galaxy S smartphones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which takes place February 25-28 this year. Samsung reportedly decided to move up its announcement since Chinese smartphone maker Huawei plans to introduce a competing foldable smartphone at the trade show.
Leaks suggest Galaxy S10 models will feature a so-called "hole-punch" display with a small cutout for the front camera instead of a notch. More cameras are also expected across the lineup, with up to a four-lens rear camera and dual-lens front camera expected on at least one Galaxy S10+ variant.
Galaxy smartphones are one of the biggest rivals to the iPhone, which is also expected to gain a triple-lens rear camera in 2019. Apple is unlikely to switch to a hole-punch display, however, due to the various sensors required for Face ID.
Apple AirPods offer around five hours of listening time and two hours of talk time (or with second-generation AirPods, three hours of talk time) on a single charge. And if you pop your AirPods for 15 minutes in their case, you can get up to three hours of listening time or over an hour of talk time.
During use, you'll hear a tone when your AirPods' batteries are low, and another tone just before they run out. But you don't have to wait for these tones to know how much charge they have remaining. Here are a few other ways that you can keep a closer eye on your AirPods' battery life.
On iPhone
If you're not using your AirPods, open the charging case lid with the AirPods inside and hold the case close to your iPhone. The charge status of your AirPods and their case should appear on the device's screen, and if you take out an AirPod, you'll see individual percentages for the two earpieces.
You can also check the charge status of your AirPods using the Batteries widget in your iPhone's Today View, accessed by swiping right on the Lock screen or on your Home screen's first screen of apps.
If you're wearing both AirPods, the Batteries widget will show a single percentage for the two of them that's rounded down to the earpiece with the lowest battery. If you place one of the AirPods in your charging case, the widget will show you individual percentages, as well as the current charge level of the charging case itself.
If you don't have it installed already, you can add the Batteries widget manually. To do so, enter the Today view, scroll to the bottom of the column of widgets and press the Edit button. Then simply tap the green plus button in the list next to Batteries and tap Done in the upper right of the screen.
If you're a fan of Siri and you're wearing your AirPods, you can always ask the virtual assistant "How is the battery life of my AirPods?" and you should get an answer.
On Apple Watch
You can check the battery level of your AirPods from your wrist, whether they're paired with your iPhone or directly with your Apple Watch.
To do so, bring up the Control Center on your Apple Watch: Swipe up on a watch face, or when in an app, press the bottom edge of the screen then drag up the Control Center. Then tap the Apple Watch battery icon, indicated by a percentage.
Your AirPods' battery level will be displayed as a ring below the Apple Watch battery percentage, and if you place a pod in its charging case, you'll see individual percentage charges for the lot.
On the Charging Case
If your AirPods are in their case, the light inside the case shows the charge status of your AirPods. (On second-generation AirPods, this light is located on the front of the case.)
If not, the light shows the status of the case. Green means charged, and amber indicates less than one full charge remains.
Hulu is about to update its streaming app to make it easier to navigate and discover new content, according to TechCrunch.
The big change coming in the next few weeks will be to the Hulu Lineup screen that users see when the app is launched.
Hulu wants to trial two different variations to see which one has the most engagement: a "Hulu Picks" collection that will be curated by staff, and an "Unwatched in My Stuff" option that will show users things in their list that they've yet to watch.
Hulu told TechCrunch it will test both options with a portion of users in the coming weeks in order to determine which one sees the best response.
Elsewhere, other upcoming changes will include enabling users to view content while they search the thumbnail interface for something to watch.
Subscribers can also expect a larger, more prominent "Details" button on content within collections like Kids, News, and Sports. More metadata will be available, too, including things like genre, rating, and release year.
In addition, the Details button is set to feature quick user actions such as playing the next episode in a series, adding items to "My Stuff," and other show-specific settings.
When browsing the Live TV channel guide, users will be able to view two weeks ahead, rather than just what's on now and next. In general, users will also see a refreshed palette for the interface, including background artwork and movie posters.
Instagram is rolling out a new feature that allows posting content to multiple accounts at the same time. The social network confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature is now rolling out to all users of its iOS app:
An Instagram spokesperson confirms this option is becoming available to all iOS users, telling TechCrunch, "We are rolling out this feature to provide a better experience for people who often post to multiple accounts."
The ability to select which accounts to simultaneously publish the same post to is being made possible through the use of simple toggles that appear when the New Post option is selected.
The new feature is likely to be welcomed by users who have multiple accounts for whatever reason (to separate content, for instance) but it's sure be a hit with marketing companies who manage various social accounts.
Whether users will be able to publish Stories to multiple accounts simultaneously is yet to be confirmed.
Apple has added turn-by-turn navigation to Apple Maps for India. The app now offers the detailed directions for driving and walking, with options to book a ride through Uber and Ola also showing within the app.
Still missing for users in India is public transit information, lane guidance and speed limits, although given that the addition of turn-by-turn directions is part of an ongoing improvement to Apple Maps, these are likely to follow.
Rival Google Maps has been the de facto navigation app in India for some time, thanks to its driving, walking, and public transport modes. Users of the app have also benefited from the development of region-specific special features like "two-wheeler" mode which provides motorcycle and scooter users with shortcuts across cities.
By contrast, Apple's navigational contributions in the country have come in for some criticism, with some users calling out the app's sparse data for a number of cities and towns, including missing landmarks.
The introduction of turn-by-turn directions comes nearly three years after Apple announced the opening of a Hyderabad-based development center focused on improving Apple Maps in India.
Pioneer today announced the U.S. launch of the SPH-10BT, a new in-dash digital media receiver designed to work with a smartphone as a display.
The SPH-10BT is Pioneer's first receiver of this type equipped with a built-in smartphone cradle that integrates your own iPhone or Android device into your car's entertainment system.
While in the cradle, the smartphone becomes "visually combined" with the receiver, turning it into a full high-resolution LCD display for accessing Pioneer Smart Sync Driving functions via touch controls when paired with Pioneer's receiver.
"The single-DIN chassis size is almost universal, with the ability to be installed in both older and newer vehicles. However, given its compact size, a single-DIN receiver often lacks a large touchscreen or the ability to integrate well with the smartphone," said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The SPH-10BT offers a very unique solution by integrating the smartphone both electronically and physically."
The SPH-10BT smartphone setup is compatible with Pioneer's ND-PS1 rear parking sensors and will provide both audible object warnings and visual indicators when connected to sensors installed in the rear vehicle bumper.
While the smartphone integration offers up simple touch controls, the SPH-10BT is also equipped with physical buttons for switching between music sources, activating voice control, accessing navigation apps, reading incoming messages, making phone calls over Bluetooth, and launching into the Pioneer Smart Sync app.
A smartphone is able to connect to the SPH-10BT over Bluetooth, allowing for access to hands-free calling and music streaming. The SPH-10BT also features an anti-theft detachable panel, a customizable user interface, and MIXTRAX integration for "non-stop mix of your music library complete with DJ-inspired effects and club-style illumination."
Pioneer plans to launch the SPH-10BT in the U.S. in February, and it will cost $150, with installation costs not included in that price tag. The SPH-10BT is already available for purchase in Europe.
Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview yesterday said that Apple had not been in any kind of settlement talks with Qualcomm since the third calendar quarter of 2018, which ended in September.
Cook was referencing November comments from Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf, who said during a November 7 earnings call that Qualcomm has "continued to have discussions with Apple to try and reach a resolution" and in an interview later in the month that the two companies were "really on the doorstep of finding a resolution."
After Cook made it clear yesterday that no settlement talks had taken place when those comments were made, Qualcomm in a statement told Reuters that what Cook had to say was "misleading" and that the company stands by Mollenkopf's statement.
"We have been consistent for the last 18 months in making clear that we have, at various times, been in discussions with Apple about a possible resolution to our licensing dispute," a Qualcomm spokesperson said in a statement. "We have also stated clearly on several occasions that we believe it will be resolved, one way or the other, in the near future, either through a settlement or court decisions."
In response, Apple said that Cook's comments were accurate. "Qualcomm is desperate to obfuscate the tales it has been telling its investors. Their accusations are a red herring," said Apple.
Cook yesterday had no kind words for Qualcomm, calling its policies "illegal."
The issues that we have with Qualcomm is that they have a policy of no license, no chips. This is, in our view, illegal. And so many regulators in many different countries agree with this. And then secondly, the obligation to offer their patent portfolio on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis. And they don't do that. They charge exorbitant prices. And they have a lot of different tactics they use to do that. And that's not just us saying that. I mean, you can see what's coming out of the FTC trial here in the United States.
Cook also spoke about Qualcomm's alleged tactic of spreading fake news, which came to light after a November report from The New York Times and subsequent followup reports suggested Qualcomm may have hired a research firm (Definers Public Affairs) to share negative stories about Apple.
"This is stuff that should be beneath companies," said Cook. "This is not how things should operate."
Apple and Qualcomm have been involved in an increasingly bitter legal battle since the beginning of 2017, with Apple refusing to pay unfair royalties to Qualcomm and Qualcomm countering with patent lawsuits and other litigation.
Qualcomm has achieved a preliminary import ban against the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 in China and Germany. Apple was able to sidestep the China ban with a software update, but has stopped selling its devices in Germany.
In addition to its ongoing dispute with Apple, Qualcomm is this week facing an antitrust trial levied by the FTC. The FTC, like Apple, claims that Qualcomm uses its position and portfolio of patents to impose anticompetitive supply and licensing terms on manufacturers.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 73 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web API, JavaScript, CSS, Media, WebRTC, Web Animations, Web Authentication, WebGPU, and Web Inspector.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released to the public in September 2018.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Alpine Electronics at CES 2019 this week debuted two new in-car multimedia receivers with wired CarPlay and Android Auto support.
The new iLX-W650 receiver features a seven-inch anti-glare capacitive touchscreen with a shallow chassis that measures 2.4-inches deep, allowing for the system to fit into vehicles that do not have a lot of depth behind the dashboard. The receiver has a so-called mech-less design with no CD/DVD slot.
iLX-W650
The iLX-W650 also features an amp-stacking capability that enables Alpine's new KTA-450 amplifier to fit in the open space behind the receiver using an included bracket. The combined depth of the iLX-W650, KTA-450, and mounting bracket equals less than the depth of a standard double-DIN chassis.
The iLX-W650 in tandem with the KTA-450 amplifier won a CES 2019 Innovation Award in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category.
Other features include standard Bluetooth music playback, SiriusXM readiness, and three 4V pre-outs that allow aftermarket speakers, subwoofers, additional amplifiers, and sound processors to be added. Two camera inputs sold separately allow for the addition of multiple cameras, including a rear-view camera.
Alpine also added a second model to its Halo9 product lineup. Like last year's iLX-F309, the new iLX-F259 receiver features a nine-inch capacitive touchscreen that "hovers" over the dashboard, allowing the oversize screen to be added to a variety of vehicles without the need for custom installation.
The screen is attached to an adjustable mount that is connected to a traditional single-DIN chassis. It can be tilted at four pre-set angle points to better match the tilt and height of the dashboard and can be positioned up to 20mm deeper and up to 30mm lower than the default position during installation.
Other features of the iLX-F259 include a mech-less design with no CD/DVD slot, standard Bluetooth music playback, SiriusXM readiness, and one rear-view camera input with the option to add additional camera inputs sold separately.
Over the past few years, the number of streaming TV services has grown exponentially, to the point where it can get overwhelming to figure out which platform is the best for you. Major offerings include DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, Sling TV, Hulu With Live TV, and FuboTV.
Starting out with a focus on soccer and streams from other live sports channels, FuboTV has since grown into a full-featured over the top streaming service with support for many major channels, a cloud DVR, family sharing, and more, starting at a competitive price of $39.99 per month (for the first month, $44.99/month afterwards).
FuboTV (left) and DirecTV Now (right) on Apple TV 4K
In order to compare some of these services, in this article we've looked at FuboTV and DirecTV Now specifically. Like most streaming TV services, FuboTV and DirecTV Now have many similarities, but a few key differences that could lead you to choosing one over the other. As a note, we're focusing mainly on the Apple TV app for each service, unless otherwise mentioned.
User Interface
FuboTV
When the FuboTV Apple TV app is first opened, a menu screen with a horizontal list of live tv channels is displayed (seen below). The selected channel starts automatically playing at launch, but the UI hovers over the playing video (akin to Netflix's autoplay videos), and to go full screen you have to tap once on the channel.
In terms of user interface as a whole, FuboTV excels with a clear and easy-to-grasp menu system, although tab organization is questionable and the app can feel bloated due to the amount of real estate dedicated to specific movies, TV shows, and sports.
On the bottom of the Home tab in the Apple TV app, FuboTV has a list of numerous TV shows and films for you to check out. There's featured content that'll be airing soon or is live now, live news, popular shows and movies, and categories like "best shows of the 90s" and "best shows of 2018."
Each show's page has a list of episodes and seasons (if previous seasons are available on FuboTV, which is a bit of a mixed bag in my experience), and if an episode is marked as “Upcoming,” you can record it.
After Home, there are tabs for Sports, Shows, and Movies before you get to FuboTV's live Guide tab. These three tabs show live events happening now, and ones you can watch on demand. I found this to be one of the more cumbersome aspects of the app's design, because I typically just wanted to jump directly into a live TV guide to check out what was playing now, and not have to navigate three separate tabs to get an idea of what to watch.
This navigation frustration is compounded due to FuboTV's lack of a slide-to-select menu bar; each time you want to go to a new tab you have to move to it and then click in on the Siri Remote. While not a deal breaker, because the app forces you to navigate tabs so often, it does become a bit of an annoyance over time.
In the guide, FuboTV retains the horizontal UI with a list of channels that scroll from right to left, while time stamps are listed vertically. You can jump to a different day within the next four days, browse your favorite channels, and check a list of the networks you're subscribed to. When watching a live channel, you can swipe up to see a list of what else is on, and in one of my favorite UI navigation options for FuboTV, you can tap and hold on the Siri Remote to jump back to the previous channel.
Due to the Siri Remote's limited buttons, many OTT services have a tough time implementing basic features, like a recall button, so FuboTV's execution is neat and very welcome. FuboTV has a handful of useful shortcuts like this, like tapping and holding to record a show, and overall it feels like the app's developers were more aware of the platform they were building for in comparison to DirecTV Now.
DirecTV Now
For DirecTV Now, the UI as a whole is much simpler than FuboTV. DirecTV Now loads right into a channel (typically the last one you were watching), and you press the Menu button on the Siri Remote to bring up the app's UI. This quick loading into a live feed (when it works) is a great way to easily get background noise going in your home, without having to fuss through additional menus. The experience is something taken from traditional cable boxes, and one part of DirecTV Now I've always liked.
In the menu, the central tab is Watch Now, which is a recommended list of your most and recently watched channels that are easy to jump into. This area has trending and best-of show lists, similar to FuboTV.
Left of Watch Now is the guide, which is opposite of FuboTV with a vertical list of channels and horizontal list for timestamps (just like a traditional cable guide). Although I used to rely entirely on DirecTV Now's guide when navigating the app, when Watch Now was added I found that the app remembered the channels I liked to watch pretty well and was always able to quickly jump into my top 5-6 favorite channels without ever going to the guide.
In this regard, I prefer DirecTV Now's interface over FuboTV, since it more quickly and easily put me into a show without needing to click around a menu too much. At the same time, DirecTV Now's Apple TV app is overly reliant on the Siri Remote's Menu button, and even a few years into using the service, I'm still sometimes unclear on how many times I need to hit it to go back to a live video feed, and more often than not end up on the Apple TV home screen.
Cloud DVR
FuboTV
FuboTV offers 30 hours of free cloud DVR storage in every basic package, or you can pay an extra $9.99/month for 500 hours of storage. These recordings are stored indefinitely, or until you delete them.
Although FuboTV's cloud DVR beats DirecTV Now's in a few key areas, FuboTV lacks a huge feature that made it difficult for me to rely solely on the service: it doesn't have a series recording option in the DVR. Although you can find a specific show and select an upcoming episode to record, FuboTV at this time does not allow you to record every new episode (or old episodes) of a show, but the company informed me that this feature will be added soon.
Given that one of the most enticing aspects of a DVR is the set-it-and-forget-it feature of season passes, this is a huge oversight for the app. In the weeks I used FuboTV exclusively, I used Apple's Reminders app to give me a heads up about recording the latest episode of a show I was watching. Even Apple's own TV app — which pulls in new episodes automatically from third-party apps — makes this process painless.
DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now offers all subscribers 20 hours of free storage on its "true cloud DVR", which is still marked as in beta at the time of writing. At this point, there is no option to expand this storage, and after 30 days DirecTV Now deletes your recordings. You can still opt to watch them on demand, but if the show isn't available on demand then you will be left unable to watch a show you previously recorded.
Although DirecTV Now's true cloud DVR has its share of problems, including consistent audio glitches in recordings and an inelegant fast forward option, it does have a series recording option and the interface feels largely similar to a traditional cable box. Given DirecTV Now's overall performance issues, however, I still have never felt entirely confident in relying solely on the app as my only DVR.
Performance
FuboTV
Since you're relying on an internet connection to watch these services, stream quality and performance is something that varies person to person, but overall I've had far fewer issues with FuboTV in this regard. Streams rarely went dark, audio remained consistently in sync, and the service didn't go down. There are a handful of odd glitches, however, like one that caused my stream to pause every time I left the app and re-opened it on a live stream. To get the video to play, I had to leave the channel and return to it.
Each app suffers from some occasional stream stuttering where quality lowers for a few seconds before it picks back up again. FuboTV also has 4K playback on select channels (not available to record, however), while DirecTV Now doesn't support 4K at this time.
DirecTV Now
This is one of DirecTV Now's big weak points. Most days when I turn on the app and leave it to go cook or clean, I'll come back to my living room to a black screen a few minutes later. After I press the Menu button, select a different channel (or just re-select the same channel), the app refreshes and the stream comes back on. This is most frustrating when I'm actually watching something and the app goes dark.
That's not to mention other consistent issues like the guide not loading properly, weird playback bugs in the DVR, audio glitches, and complete service outages. My Apple TV has no issues streaming in other apps and my internet connection to it has always been solid, and given that many users report similar streaming frustrations and downtimes with DirecTV Now regularly in the service's subreddit, I'm inclined to believe that this is simply a downside of the service's performance and not something I could fix with a router reset (which I've tried).
What makes DirecTV Now most perplexing is that sometimes, in my experience, these glitches and bugs simply disappear for a few days at a time, and I get to see a hint at what the best version of the service can be: videos load in a snap, blackouts never happen, and the true cloud DVR never stutters during playback. The crux of DirecTV Now, at this point in time, is that it's inconsistent; you never know exactly what quality of service you'll get on any particular day, and for a platform built entirely around leisure and entertainment, that can get pretty frustrating.
Channels
Channel availability — particularly for local channels — is one aspect of any streaming TV service that greatly varies by region. For me, in southern Louisiana, DirecTV Now offered my local FOX affiliate only, while FuboTV had local FOX and CBS channels. Unless you're in a big city with more affiliate coverage, local channels typically aren't a selling point for these streaming services.
Otherwise, FuboTV's basic package offers just over 75 channels at $39.99 per month for your first month, but the price increases to $44.99/month afterwards. DirecTV Now's Live a Little $40/month package offers just over 65 channels. These two packages lined up pretty much exactly, offering most of the same channels and covering many of the big offerings like FX, AMC, HGTV, Syfy, and USA. One big channel missing from FuboTV is Freeform.
FuboTV also caters to Latin American and Portuguese audiences with Fubo Latino ($17.99/month) and Fubo Português ($19.99/month) channel bundles. The basic bundles also come with a collection of sports packages like Sports Plus (22 channels for additional $8.99/month), International Sports Plus (4 channels for $5.99/month), Fubo Cycling (5 channels for $11.99/month), and more. Despite this bevy of sports-focused offerings, FuboTV has one major weak spot: it doesn't include any ESPN channels in any plan.
DirecTV Now's offerings are a more straightforward tiered system, including ESPN from the base plan onwards. Following Live a Little, there's "Just Right" at $55/month for 85+ channels, "Go Big" for $65/month for 105+ channels, "Gotta Have It" for $75/month for 125+ channels, and a Spanish language "Todo y Más" bundle at $45/month for 90+ channels. With these tiers, DirecTV Now can easily cost as much as a normal cable bill, especially if you add more premium channels.
For premiums, FuboTV only has Showtime at $10.99/month added on, while DirecTV Now has all the big premium channels, and at a much lower cost. HBO is $5/month added on, Showtime is $8/month, Starz is $8/month, and Cinemax is $5/month.
Miscellaneous
Episode pages - On pages for upcoming episodes, FuboTV has a helpful option to jump directly into the current live stream of that channel, while DirecTV Now simply lets you record the episode.
Stream count - FuboTV offers two concurrent streams on the same account, and you'll have to pay $5.99/month to add a third stream. DirecTV Now offers two concurrent streams as well, and you can upgrade to three for $5/month.
Background stream - FuboTV cuts off sound of the live stream when you navigate its menus, while DirecTV Now keeps noise from the live channel running as you browse. I found FuboTV's method a bit jarring, but this is another feature that will depend on personal preference.
Favorites - FuboTV automatically pulls your favorites up to the top of the guide, while DirecTV Now offers a filter to show all channels or just your favorites.
DVR controls - FuboTV's fast forward options in the DVR were far more snappy and reliable in my testing compared to DirecTV Now, which always requires me to hit play/pause a few times once I jump to section of video I want to be in. Both apps still offer less-than-stellar fast forward options in comparison to traditional cable boxes.
Background app refresh - FuboTV tends to load back into the Home menu if you leave the app for longer than 30 seconds, while DirecTV Now will pick up the live video or recording you were watching even if you left the app minutes prior.
Recap
DirecTV Now continues to be riddled with bugginess, playback issues, and other problems, but AT&T's streaming TV service offers a ton of channels at a decent price, and the days that it works well truly rekindle a cable set-top box feeling. If the company expands its true cloud DVR with more storage at a reasonable price, finally makes the platform more stable, and offers some UI tweaks for slicker playback controls, DirecTV Now will have a bright future.
On the other hand, FuboTV already has a more stable streaming service and a bevy of channels (although major options are missing) at a mostly competitive price tag. The Apple TV app's UI can be cumbersome when you just want to jump into a show quickly, but the menus you navigate through are nice to look at and the app overall feels more responsive than DirecTV Now on an Apple TV 4K. FuboTV's most glaring error is the lack of series pass recordings in the cloud DVR, making it hard to recommend to hardcore TV watchers who are looking to cut the cord, but still keep track of their favorite shows.
In the end, each service has a large list of pros and cons, and the option you decide on will offer a largely competent replacement to traditional cable TV, with a few caveats. The perfect over-the-top streaming TV service doesn't exist, yet, so finding the right one that fits your viewing habits can be a trial and error process. Luckily, both FuboTV and DirecTV Now offer free trials that last one week, which is plenty of time to test out all of the major features of each service before you begin paying for one.
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