Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.2.2 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta and more than a month after releasing watchOS 4.2, an update that introduced support for Apple Pay Cash.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
We don't yet know what features or improvements might be included in the watchOS 4.2.2 update, as no outward-facing changes were discovered in the first three betas.
It's possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes, and if that's the case, we won't know the extent of the changes until it sees a public release complete with release notes. Should new features be discovered in the fourth watchOS 4.2.2 beta, we'll update this post.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.2.5 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta and almost a month after releasing iOS 11.2.1, an update that introduced a fix for a HomeKit vulnerability.
Registered developers can download the iOS 11.2.5 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
iOS 11.2.5 introduces a new feature that allows Siri to play daily news podcasts when queried about the current news. Siri will offer up news from The Washington Post by default, but you can also choose to switch to Fox News, CNN, or NPR.
The new audio news feature, which appears to have been developed for use with Apple's upcoming HomePod speaker, is invoked when using Hey Siri or asking Siri about the news when using CarPlay or with headphones connected - essentially any situation where you're not looking at the display of an iOS device. If you activate Siri using the side button or Home button of a device, standard Apple news headlines are provided instead of the audio-based news highlights.
It's not clear what other new features, if any, will be included in the iOS 11.2.5 beta. We didn't discover other noticeable outward-facing changes in the first three iOS 11.2.5 betas, so it's possible this update focuses mainly on bug fixes and security improvements aside from the Siri news update.
If that's the case, we may not know the extent of what's in the update until it sees a public release.
Apple is supposed to be releasing an iCloud Messages feature that was pulled from the iOS 11 release, but there has been no indication of when we can expect iCloud Messages to be reintroduced. Should new features be discovered in the fourth beta of iOS 11.2.5, we'll update this post.
Update: Apple has also seeded a new public beta of iOS 11.2.5 to public beta testers.
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Satechi is launching a new Smart Dual Charging Station designed to charge both the iPhone and the Apple Watch at once.
Made from silver or space gray aluminum, the Charging Station features two separate docks -- one that accommodates a Lightning cable to charge the iPhone and a second one that houses an Apple Watch charging puck to charge an Apple Watch.
Unlike some docks on the market, Satchi's option does not come with built-in cords, so you will need to supply your own cables. Cables are designed to wrap around the base of the Charging Station inserts to hide any excess. Satechi says that its dock distributes a total of 15W of power, providing fast yet safe charging capabilities.
Satechi's Smart Dual Charging Stand will be available for $64.99 starting in the spring of 2018.
Misfit, known for its line of affordable fitness tracking devices and smart watches, today announced the launch of the Misfit Path, its latest smart watch.
The Misfit Path is Misfit's smallest smart watch yet, allowing it to look much like a traditional analog watch while also providing smart features.
Misfit has designed the Path with a stainless steel case that has a matte finish, and it comes in four colors: Stainless Steel, Rose Tone, Gold Tone, and Stainless Steel with Gold Tone Accent. Each watch also features a silicone sport strap in matching colors.
Like all of Misfit's smart watches, the Path tracks health metrics like steps, calories burned, distance traveled, and sleep duration using its built-in 3-axis accelerometer. It is not as advanced as devices like the Apple Watch as it has no heart rate monitoring function.
It does have smart watch functionality, though, alerting users to incoming calls, texts, and emails through an iOS app. Path also includes a smart button that serves as a remote control, allowing users to do things like ring their iPhones, control smart devices, snap pictures, and more.
Path is swimproof and water resistant up to 50 meters, and it does not need charging because it uses a standard watch battery that lasts for six months before needing to be replaced.
Path is priced starting at $150 and it will be available from the Misfit website starting in the spring of 2018.
The Apple retail store located on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland was evacuated on Tuesday following a situation with an overheated iPhone battery and its injury of a repair worker (via Reuters and Swissinfo.ch). Zurich police said that the incident happened as the worker was removing the battery from the iPhone, subsequently overheating and "slightly" burning his hand.
It wasn't confirmed which iPhone was the source of the incident, but afterwards smoke began building up within the store, leading to the temporary evacuation of around 50 customers and employees from the premises. In addition to the repair worker, seven other people required medical attention but none were hospitalized.
The police mentioned that Apple staff responded quickly to the overheated battery by sprinkling quartz sand over it and containing the smoke as fast as possible.
“At the same time, there was a slight build-up of smoke, which led to around 50 customers and employees having to leave the business temporarily,” a police statement said.
“The staff responded well and correctly. It sprinkled quartz sand over the overheated battery so that the smoke could be contained and sucked out after switching on the ventilation.”
According to the police statement, forensic specialists are now examining what caused the incident in the first place, so no explanation was given at the time of writing. Apple has yet to comment on the situation.
Today at CES, smart lock maker August announced the expansion of its in-home delivery service "August Access," which will roll out in partnership with delivery company Deliv. Similar to Amazon Key, customers who use August's service will grant Deliv drivers one-time access into their home so that packages aren't left outside (via TechCrunch).
August's service will expand upon its previous August Access platform by opening it up to any interested online retailer, allowing users to order products from these stores and select the August Access in-home delivery option. As long as customers have smart locks from August, Emtek, or Yale, August will then generate a one-time password that the Deliv driver enters, drops off the package inside, and closes the door on their way out (which re-locks automatically).
Once the process is complete users will get a notification on their iPhone or Android smartphone, and the company will also offer "a camera feature" to see the delivery live or watch it later. No information was given on what security cameras will be supported with the service.
“We have been working on this for some time with a variety of retailers and testing it,” said Jason Johnson, the co-founder and CEO of August, in an interview. “It’s now coming along very fast.”
“Through this unique partnership, we are bringing a bit of magic to the shopping experience,” said Daphne Carmeli, CEO of Deliv, in a statement. “Deliv provides the last mile fulfilment solution for a broad retailer network across the country while August Home supplies the technology to take the final step into the home for a totally seamless experience, start to finish.”
Besides August locks, the Emtek and Yale brands are supporting August Access now that each company is under the Assa Abloy umbrella, following its acquisition of August last year. The service was previously tested with Walmart in September, even allowing delivery people to put away groceries in customers' refrigerators when needed.
Amazon Key works in much the same way as August Access, allowing Prime members in 37 cities across the United States to order "tens of millions of items" on Amazon.com and have them delivered securely inside their home. But August CEO Jason Johnson said August Access provides more "choice and flexibility" since it's not only available to products on Amazon but will be supported by any retailer who decides to back the platform.
Orbit at CES 2018 this week announced that it is adding HomeKit compatibility to its new B-hyve smart hose faucet timer and a new version of its B-hyve smart sprinkler timer that will be released later this month.
iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users will have the ability to control the lawn and garden watering systems through Apple's Home app or with Siri.
HomeKit will enable users to control basic watering functions, such as turning on or off sprinklers. In the Home app, users can schedule their sprinklers to run at specific times, and find out when the next watering is.
Orbit's new HomeKit-enabled B-hyve products will be available to purchase from Amazon, The Home Depot, and Lowe's in the United States.
HomeKit added support for sprinkler systems and faucets in iOS 11, and the first accessories compatible with Apple's smart home platform are beginning to roll out, including Kohler's new Sensate kitchen sink faucet.
Fibaro today announced a new version of its popular Z-Wave control device called, "The Button," which will work with Apple's HomeKit products.
The Button, which is less than two inches in size, is a new battery-powered multi-touch HomeKit device that is designed to allow users to activate a HomeKit scene.
No bridge, hub, or gateway is required to use The Button, allowing it to integrate with any HomeKit setup. The Button can be programmed with up to three different actions activated with a single click, two clicks, or a long press.
When pressed, The Button has a buzz feature that provides audible feedback and confirmation of which scene was activated via a single buzz, a double buzz, or a long buzz.
Available in red, white, and black, The Button will be available for purchase for $59.99 starting during the first quarter of 2018. Additional colors will be introduced later in the year.
Apple is planning a significant investment in LG Innotek to secure supply of 3D sensing modules for next-generation iPhone and iPad models expected to launch this year, according to Korean website The Investor.
iPad Pro render by Benjamin Geskin and rough mockup of iPhone X and iPhone X Plus
The upfront payment could be worth as much as around $820.9 million, which LG Innotek would use to build additional facilities for production of 3D sensing and camera modules for mobile devices, the report claims.
The 3D sensing modules assembled by LG Innotek, including the flood illuminator and dot projector, are key components of the iPhone X's new TrueDepth camera system, enabling features such as Face ID and Animoji.
Apple will also release at least one iPad Pro model with Face ID this year, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg News.
The investment could help Apple avoid the temporary supply chain issues it experienced with 3D sensing modules late last year, ensuring availability of the new iPhone X, iPhone X Plus, and iPad Pro is more plentiful.
Alpine Electronics at CES today unveiled a new aftermarket CarPlay system with a "hover" design that floats in front of the vehicle's dashboard instead of being embedded directly into it. The company said that the iLX-F309 "doesn't require custom installation," but professional help will still likely be needed to remove existing infotainment systems before installing the iLX-F309.
Alpine's receiver includes a 9-inch touch screen and will fit in "a variety of vehicles." The 9-inch screen is slightly larger than the average 6-to-7-inch screen size of many other aftermarket CarPlay systems, and Alpine pointed out that the hover design will bring the larger display into vehicles that were previously restricted to dashboards with smaller form factors.
The system uses a 1-DIN chassis and an adjustable mount to give the hover effect after installation. In its announcement, Alpine Electronics described some of the installation mechanics of the iLX-F309 and how users will be able to adjust its angle:
The 9-inch screen is attached to an adjustable mount connected to a 1-DIN chassis. Once installed, the screen and mount are fixed to the chassis for a sturdy installation. The screen hovers over or in front of the dash while its rear housing tapers off cleanly at the edges for a thin and modern silhouette. At its default position, the screen's sliding mount is pushed out, sitting at a 90 degree angle and the bottom of the screen is centered with the 1-DIN chassis.
At this point, the screen can be angled at select positions to assist during installation, help with visibility, or move it away from other items on the dashboard. The screen can be positioned 20 millimeters (mm) back from its default position, to move it closer to the dashboard. It can be moved up or down 30mm from its default position and can be tilted up or down at a maximum of 45 degrees, depending on the position of the up/down location.
In addition to CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, the new system is also an AM/FM receiver with video support. The system doesn't include a CD or DVD slot, but there is a USB port, AUX input, and an HDMI input. The company mentioned that it has Bluetooth technology for audio streaming, but it doesn't appear to include Wi-Fi or support for wireless CarPlay connectivity, like the company's iLX-107.
Multiple add-ons are available for the iLX-F309, including a CD/DVD player, a second HDMI input, and rear/side cameras to see behind the vehicle as it's backing up. Alpine Electronics authorized retailers will begin selling the new system in February for $1,100.
Colgate this week announced the launch of its first app-enabled electronic toothbrush, called the Colgate Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1 with Artificial Intelligence. Available exclusively beginning today on Apple.com and in some Apple retail locations, Colgate's new product provides a few pieces of real-time feedback to help users improve their brushing routine.
The electronic toothbrush also uses Apple's ResearchKit in order to crowdsource toothbrushing data and "get even smarter about oral care for better and faster future innovation." ResearchKit is a software framework created by Apple that lets medical researchers gather data from compatible apps and programs, working in conjunction sometimes with CareKit to provide users with a better understanding of their specific medical conditions.
"Our goal is simple. We want people to have their healthiest smiles by brushing their best," said Dr. Patricia Verduin, Chief Technology Officer, Colgate-Palmolive Company. "The first step to improving brushing is to understand consumers' brushing habits, and Apple ResearchKit has proved to be a powerful tool for this."
Otherwise, Colgate's electronic toothbrush performs functions similar to previous devices from Philips, providing users with real-time feedback through an iPhone app as a way to improve brushing habits. The toothbrush includes various sensors, 3D motion sensors, and AI algorithms to detect brushing effectiveness "in 16 zones of the mouth."
The device's AI technology was created in partnership with Kolibree, and the connected app coaches users through brushing sessions that point out sections of the mouth where they might need to focus on more during their daily routines. The more the toothbrush is used, the more the AI learns and will adapt to each user, adjusting to their own habits and providing improved brushing tips.
Colgate is launching the Smart Electronic Toothbrush today in the United States on Apple.com and in select Apple stores, and will run for a price of $99.95.
There are currently around 20 configurations available to choose from, including Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular variants, with prices reduced by around 15 percent compared to what Apple charges for brand new models. As usual, supply is limited, so be quick to place an order if you are interested.
In the United States, refurbished prices start at $549 for Wi-Fi models with 64GB of storage, a discount of $100. Wi-Fi models with 256GB and 512GB of storage are $649 and $849, down from $799 and $999, respectively.
Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new white box and all manuals and accessories. Apple also installs a new battery and replaces the outer shell, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a refurbished and brand new iPad Pro.
All refurbished iPad Pro models come with Apple's standard one-year warranty effective on the date the tablet is delivered. The warranty can be extended to up to two years from the original purchase date with AppleCare+ for iPad, at a cost of $99 for all 10.5-inch iPad Pro models in the United States.
Apple introduced the 10.5-inch iPad Pro in June 2017. The device is only slightly larger than the 9.7-inch iPad Pro it replaced, but the size and weight difference is hardly noticeable, given Apple was able to make the display around 20 percent larger by significantly reducing the size of the tablet's bezels.
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro is powered by Apple's A10X Fusion chip and features a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 120Hz refresh rate, Touch ID, four speakers, and a Lightning connector with USB 3.0 transfer speeds and fast charging capabilities. Apple advertises battery life of up to 10 hours per charge.
It's worth noting that Best Buy and other Apple resellers frequently discount brand new 10.5-inch iPad Pro models by around 15 percent, including Micro Center right now. Keep an eye on our Apple Deals roundup for other sales.
After introducing a HomeKit controller in the shape of a dodecahedron, Nanoleaf recently announced the next generation of its popular triangle-shaped Nanoleaf Light Panels. The new panels don't have a name or a price yet, but the company revealed that they are square and include a few feature additions and improvements from the previous generation (via CNET).
Each square panel will include a touch sensitive surface, so you can turn them on or off, dim or increase their brightness, or change to another color preset just by tapping or sliding your finger on them. The base station for the square panels is also said to come with a microphone and motion sensor that can detect motion and alter the lighting flow of the panels as you walk by, for example.
Nanoleaf has also greatly increased the maximum limit of panels you can connect together. Instead of 30 panels able to connect to one base station (the limit on the triangular panels), up to 1,000 square panels can be outfitted together at once. Still, for every 60 panels strung together you will need a power booster -- set to be sold by Nanoleaf -- in order to "maintain optimal brightness."
Nanoleaf said that it plans to keep the new square panels "as affordable as possible," but the company isn't confirming a price range at CES. The new panels are expected to launch at some point later in 2018.
Apple's second-generation iPhone SE will come with a rear glass panel that could enable it to support Qi-compatible wireless charging accessories, according to Indian tech website Tekz24.
Speculation about a new version of Apple's small form factor smartphone originally began in August last year, when Focus Taiwan first claimed a new iPhone SE would ship in the first quarter of 2018.
That report was accompanied by claims from Tekz24 that the "iPhone SE 2" will be powered by Apple's A10 Fusion chip, with 2GB of RAM, 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, a 12-megapixel rear camera, a five-megapixel front camera, and a slightly larger 1,700 mAh battery.
Three months later, China's Economic Daily News fueled speculation with a report that Apple will release a second-generation iPhone SE in the first half of 2018, to be assembled exclusively by Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron at its factory in Bengaluru, India, where some assembly of the current iPhone SE occurs. Lastly, earlier this month Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce predicted that Apple is planning to launch a second-generation iPhone SE in 2018 to target the mid-range smartphone market.
Tekz24 – the source of today's glass back rumor – lacks an established track record of reporting on Apple rumors, so the above tech specs and today's claim remain completely unverified.
However, given that Apple recently introduced support for wireless charging with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X series of devices, the possibility that it could bring its smaller four-inch smartphone model into the fold certainly isn't completely outlandish, especially with the company's AirPower wireless charging mat already confirmed for release sometime this year.
Apple hasn't properly refreshed the iPhone SE since it launched back in March 2016, but it did double the available storage capacities to 64GB and 128GB in March 2017. Suggestions that Apple could tweak the design – perhaps giving it thinner bezels to make way for a larger screen – remain entirely in the unverified speculation department at this point.
As for the rest of Apple's smartphone line-up in 2018, rumors suggest Apple will launch a new 5.8-inch iPhone X alongside a second OLED iPhone, this one measuring in at 6.5 inches, which means it can be thought of as an "iPhone X Plus".
Alongside these two OLED iPhones, Apple is also said to be planning to introduce a 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD display, positioned as a more affordable device targeting the low-end and mid-range markets, with a starting price of $649 to $749 in the United States.
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all three of these iPhones will feature edge-to-edge displays, Face ID, and TrueDepth camera systems, which would likely signal the final nail in the coffin for both the Home button and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in new iPhone models.
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Western Digital is introducing several new products under both its WD and SanDisk brands, including new SSDs, software updates, and an ultra small flash drive.
The new WD My Passport Wireless SSD features wireless connectivity to allow customers to transfer photos captured on devices like drones or cameras without the need for a cable.
It features a rugged enclosure, read speeds of up to 309MB/s, 10 hour battery life, and a built-in SD card reader, making it a solid choice for on-the-go usage.
The My Passport Wireless SSD also has a one-touch transfer button to initiate content transfers, and it serves as a power bank for charging your devices with an integrated 6,700mAh battery. It's available in 250GB to 2TB capacities, with pricing ranging from $229 for the 250GB model to $800 for the 2TB model.
Under its SanDisk brand, Western Digital is introducing the USB-C SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, a small pocket-sized SSD with capacities up to 2TB and 550MB/s read speeds. It has an IP55 rating so it can stand up to splashes, light rain, and dust when in use outdoors.
Pricing for the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD starts at $99.99 for the 250GB version and goes up to $700 for the 2TB version.
Along with the new SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, Western Digital is debuting the SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1, which it says is the world's smallest 256GB USB flash drive with read speeds of 130MB/s. There are several versions of the Ultra Fit, with the 16GB model priced at $22 and the highest-end 256GB model priced at $150. Western Digital also has a 1TB Ultra Fit prototype on display at CES.
In addition to its new hardware products, Western Digital is announcing Smart Home media app integration that enables voice activation in its My Cloud Home. With the update, My Cloud Home can integrate with devices like Alexa and Chromecast.
More information on Western Digital's new products can be found on the Western Digital and SanDisk websites.
Nokia is adding to its health accessory lineup with the launch of a new sleep tracking accessory called the Nokia Sleep, which is debuting at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
Like Apple's own Beddit sleep tracker that it acquired back in May, the Nokia Sleep is a thin under-the-mattress accessory that has built-in movement sensors to track metrics like sleep length, heart rate, sleep quality, and snoring, which can be viewed in the accompanying Health Mate. Data is synced to your smartphone using WiFi.
Nokia Sleep will provide users with an overall sleep score as a measure of how well a night of sleep went, which is also how the Beddit sleep tracker works. It includes integration with IFTTT, so it can interface with other smart home products to do things like turn off the lights when you fall asleep.
The Nokia Sleep will be available for $99, which is $50 cheaper than the Beddit. More information about the Nokia Sleep can be found on the Nokia website.
Incase today announced the upcoming launch of a new IconConnected Power Sleeve for the MacBook Pro, which is designed to be an all-in-one protection and power solution for Apple's latest notebook computers.
The IconConnected Power Sleeve combines the protection of the Incase Icon sleeve with a built-in battery that's able to provide additional power to a MacBook Pro right from the case. The Power Sleeve features a built-in 14,000mAh battery with a USB-C port and an included USB-C charging cable.
In addition to being able to charge a MacBook Pro, the Power Sleeve also includes a USB-A port that can be used to charge iPhones, iPads, and other USB devices.
According to Incase, the Power Sleeve is able to provide more than one charge to the MacBook Pro, and multiple charges for devices with smaller batteries like the iPhone and iPad.
"For over 20 years, Incase has created innovative solutions that provide a better experience for Apple users through good design, with a rich heritage in MacBook protection and most recently, with an emphasis on connected solutions," said Paul Okui, Vice President of Product, Incase. "The IconConnectedTM Power Sleeve bridges the Incase connected and protection product ecosystems into one refined, powerful sleeve designed to meet the evolving demands of today's MacBook Pro users."
The Power Sleeve will be available for both 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with USB-C ports, and when it launches in the third quarter of 2018, it will be priced at $199.95.
Philips and Razer today announced a new collaboration that allows Philips' Hue line of lights to integrate with Razer Chroma-enabled devices.
When using a device that features Razer Chroma, which includes everything from the Razer Blade line of laptops to Razer Chroma keyboards, gaming controllers, and mice, allowing your Philips Hue lights to react to whatever game you're playing.
You can choose to set each bulb to a preferred color or sync all of your lights with one touch using Razer's Synapse 3 hardware configuration software.
With Chroma Studio, you can also create different lighting effects across all Synapse-enabled devices that extend to Hue lights or use pre-configured effects like cascading waves or fire.
Razer says that its Razer Chroma devices and Hue lights are able to provide a fully immersive gaming experience, activating with game cues. When there's a flickering lamp, for example, the lights in the room will flicker, or when you score a kill, you'll be rewarded with a unique lighting scene.
Game developers can use Razer's Chroma SDK to built lighting effects that will impact Hue and Chroma devices, and many games have already adopted support, like Overwatch, Quake Champions, Factorio, Killing Floor 2, and more.
