Apple today seeded the ninth beta of an upcoming tvOS 11 update designed for the fourth-generation TV, just a few days after seeding the eighth beta and more than two months after releasing the first beta during the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference.
Registered developers can download the tvOS 11 update by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C cable and installing the beta software using iTunes.
tvOS 11 didn't receive a lot of attention at the Worldwide Developers Conference because it's a modest update, but according to Apple's release notes, it does introduce a few new features to the operating system.
tvOS 11 brings automatic switching between light/dark mode based on local time, Home screen syncing options that keep multiple Apple TVs in a household in sync, new background modes and notification support, Focus API improvements, custom sound support, network-based pairing and development support, improvements to Mobile Device Management, and more.
The ninth beta of tvOS 11 most likely focuses primarily on bug fixes and other small refinements, as the first eight betas did. Apple's new tvOS 11 update is available for both registered developers and public beta testers and will see a public release this fall.
Update: Apple has also made a new public beta of tvOS 11 available for public beta testers.
Apple today seeded the ninth beta of iOS 11 to developers for testing purposes, just a few days after releasing the eighth beta and more than two months after introducing the new update at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 11 beta from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed.
iOS 11 brings several new design changes like a customizable Control Center and a new Lock screen that's been merged with the Notification Center. Peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments are coming in the Messages app, which is also gaining a new App Drawer, and there's a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature that's meant to help drivers stay focused on the road. Siri, Photos, the Camera app, and more are also gaining new features and refinements.
ARKit for developers will bring a range of new augmented reality apps and games to iOS devices, and a new Core ML SDK will let developers build smarter apps. iOS 11 is also the biggest update ever for the iPad, with a new Dock that introduces much improved multitasking, a Files app for better managing files, improved Apple Pencil support, a revamped App Switcher, and a system-wide drag and drop feature.
iOS 11 is available for both registered developers and public beta testers and be released to the public in September alongside new iPhones. We are getting closer to the end of the beta testing process and should see a golden master release candidate soon.
Apple today sent out media invites for its annual iPhone-centric event that will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Steve Jobs Theater at the company's new Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The media invites offer a first look at the theme of the event and feature the tagline: "Let's meet at our place." (via The Loop)
Apple's fall 2017 event will be its most significant in years thanks to the debut of a radically redesigned iPhone that features an edge-to-edge display, a vertical rear camera, facial recognition capabilities, a much improved processor, and wireless inductive charging functionality. The new iPhone features a display similar in size to the display of the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, but with a body closer in size to the 4.7-inch iPhone 7.
Along with a nearly bezel-free display, the device includes a glass body and is promised to be the most advanced, most revamped iPhone we've seen since the introduction of the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014. We expect the OLED iPhone, which is rumored to be more expensive than traditional iPhones, to be sold alongside two 4.7 and 5.5-inch LCD models that more closely resemble existing devices.
A dummy model featuring the upcoming OLED iPhone
The upcoming 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones have not been heavily featured in rumors, but they too are said to feature glass bodies, support for wireless charging functionality, and improvements to the processor, camera, and other components.
The iPhones aren't the only upgrades Apple will unveil at the event. Rumors suggest Apple will introduce a third-generation Apple Watch with an LTE chip that allows it to be decoupled from the iPhone. There's been some talk of a potential redesign, but it's sounding like the third-generation Apple Watch will look a lot like the Apple Watch Series 2.
At the event, we may hear more about upcoming products like the iMac Pro and the HomePod, and there could be one other major hardware surprise in store for us - a new 4K Apple TV. Hints of such a device have been spotted in firmware leaks and we've known Apple has had a new Apple TV in the works for some time.
As for other hardware, many iPads and Macs were refreshed in June, so we are not expecting any updates to the Mac and iPad lineups, but expect to see new Apple Watch bands and new iPhone cases.
We've already been testing next-generation operating systems including iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, tvOS 11, and watchOS 4, but following Apple's event, we may see some of these updates released to the public. iOS and watchOS updates are often released just ahead of new iPhones, while macOS updates tend to come somewhat later. tvOS 11 is such a minor update that it isn't clear when it'll be released, but it could come alongside the other updates. One thing we may not see -- an Amazon Prime Video app. There's one in the works, but word is it won't be ready in time.
In line with past events, Apple's 2017 iPhone unveiling will kick off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will stream the event live on its website and on the Apple TV, but for those who are unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage, both on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
In a letter submitted during the Restoring Internet Freedom comment period, Apple has urged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission not to roll back regulations that prevent "paid fast lanes" on the internet.
Image via Change.org. Apple logo added by MacRumors.
Broadband providers should not create paid fast lanes on the internet. Lifting the current ban on paid prioritization arrangements could allow broadband providers to favor the transmission of one provider's content or services (or the broadband provider’s own online content or services) over other online content, fundamentally altering the internet as we know it today—to the detriment of consumers, competition, and innovation.
Apple warns that paid fast lanes could result in an "internet with distorted competition" based on an online provider's ability or willingness to pay, which in turn could put some customers in the "slow lane."
Consumers today seek out the content and services they desire based upon numerous factors, including quality, innovation, ease of use, and privacy considerations. Paid fast lanes could replace today’s content-neutral transmission of internet traffic with differential treatment of content based on an online providers' ability or willingness to pay. The result would be an internet with distorted competition where online providers are driven to reach deals with broadband providers or risk being stuck in the slow lane and losing customers due to lower quality service. Moreover, it could create artificial barriers to entry for new online services, making it harder for tomorrow’s innovations to attract investment and succeed. Worst of all, it could allow a broadband provider, not the consumer, to pick internet winners and losers, based on a broadband provider's priorities rather than the quality of the service.
In May, under the leadership of chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC proposed to roll back the Barack Obama administration's classification of internet providers as "common carriers" under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.
Apple is far from the only major technology company that has urged the FCC to reconsider its proposal. Last month, companies including Amazon, Google, Twitter, and Netflix hosted an internet-wide day of action to save net neutrality.
The FCC received a record-breaking 22 million comments from the public during the comment period, which closed Wednesday. The FCC will now revise and vote on the proposal, at which point it could become official policy.
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.
Contrast and Agile Tortoise, the developers behind popular apps Launch Center Pro and Drafts, respectively, have teamed up to introduce a new weather app called Weather Atlas.
Weather Atlas has been developed from the ground up with the unreleased "iPhone 8" in mind, and it is meant to take advantage of the device's taller display. It also incorporates iOS 11-style design elements like bolder text and crisp, simple icons, and bottom-focused app controls, so it'll fit right in on Apple's upcoming 2017 devices.
The app has also been built to take advantage of all of the latest functionality in the iOS operating system, so it also supports features like Split View on the iPad Pro.
Meant to offer up a wealth of information in a single glance, Weather Atlas features both hourly weather and 10-day forecasts overlaid on a map with standard radar and cloud layers so you can check the temperature and see weather patterns at the same time. The 10-day forecast features prospective highs and lows along with precipitation, wind speed, and sunrise and sunset.
The hourly forecast for a single day displays the hourly temperature, humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover along with precipitation.
Multiple locations are supported, so you can see the weather across several cities, and there are built-in weather warnings for your location. There's an option to see the weather patterns on the map over time, and tools for customizing the look of the app and sharing weather forecasts in other apps. Warning layers can be set to provide additional data on thunderstorms and tornados, wind, winter conditions like blizzard warnings, hurricanes, fire, floods, fog, and more.
Weather Atlas is a free app and it is supported by ads, so there are some somewhat intrusive ads at the top of the app and when looking at a full 10-day weather forecast. Removing the ads requires a Pro account, priced at $0.49 per month or $4.99 per year. A Pro account includes support for different themes, extra widgets, improved maps, and of course, no ads.
For the time being, Weather Atlas is only available in the United States, but it may expand to other countries in the future.
Weather Atlas can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
A collection of ARKit demos have steadilyreleased over the summer following the announcement of the developer platform at WWDC this past June, and now we're merely weeks away from ARKit's debut alongside iOS 11 sometime in September. Today, item tracking company Pixie Technology announced the newest iteration of its "Pixie Point" tracker, which will use a few miniature-sized finding devices and ARKit to guide users to their lost items in augmented reality.
The introduction of ARKit into Pixie follows the company's previous version of the Pixie Point, which originally used a combination of proximity-guiding menus and in-house augmented reality technology to discover lost items. Now, ARKit is being used to improve upon the previous technology with "one continuous AR experience," and Pixie Technology is calling the new tracker and iOS combination, "one of the first practical everyday apps using Apple’s ARKit in iOS 11."
Instead of traditional sound-based Bluetooth trackers, Pixie uses visual data as well as audio cues to provide a more accurate position of a lost item. To use Pixie, users need to attach one of the Pixie Points to an included iPhone case (or use an included adhesive sticker to attach the Pixie Point to a different case), while the second Pixie Point is linked to items of importance. While indoors, users first perform a panorama room scan with the iOS Pixie app to discover a 3D avatar of their missing wallet, keys, or bag.
The avatar will float over an augmented reality area of "Pixie Dust," related to the exact location of the lost item in the room, while the exact distance to the item (down to the amount of inches) will be overlayed on the app's user interface. As users get closer, the avatar grows in size, and once they're within five feet of the item the audio cues kick in from the Pixie Point on the lost item, further helping in rediscovery.
With the help of ARKit, a Pixie Point can be seen through walls and furniture, which Pixie Technology noted will help finding lost items under cushions, in drawers, and in nearby rooms. The company also explained that the Pixie Point's reduced reliance on sound will help item discovery even in noisy environments.
The new Pixie is a complete paradigm shift and leverages Apple’s ARKit, enhanced 3D motion tracking, powerful animation tools and patented signaling technology. As a result, it is:
Faster – Reducing overall search time Friendlier – Providing the ability to continually use the ultimately intuitive AR interface through the entire finding process even while on the move Functional – Improved accuracy and the ability to conduct even the hardest searches and even in a noisy environment, increasing Pixie’s leadership as the most accurate finder on the market Fun – While a serious tool, it is an almost game-like experience that’s super simple and quick to use
The trackers work outdoors as well with a range of 150 feet outside, and within 30-50 feet indoors. Each Pixie Point has a 12 month battery life (there is no discounted replacement program for dead trackers, akin to what Tile offers), are water and dust resistant to IP67 standards, and measure 47mm x 35mm x 3.2mm in size.
Users interested can purchase Pixie today on the company's website and on Amazon, starting at $29.99 for a 2-pack, $54.99 for a 4-pack, and $104.99 for an 8-pack. The company confirmed that any Pixie pack purchased today will be compatible with the advanced ARKit features coming in September, and the Pixie app is expected to see an update alongside iOS 11 at that time.
Apple Watch was the world's most popular smartwatch by a significant margin last quarter, with an estimated 49.6 percent market share in the April-June period, according to data shared with MacRumors by research firm IDC.
In other words, the Apple Watch accounted for just under half of all smartwatches shipped in the June quarter.
IDC estimates Apple Watch shipments totaled 3.4 million units in the quarter, well ahead of runner-up Samsung's estimated 800,000 smartwatches shipped. Garmin trailed in third place with an estimated 600,000 shipments.
IDC: worldwide smartwatch shipments (units in millions)
Strategy Analytics estimated Apple Watch shipments totaled 2.8 million units last quarter, which is 600,000 lower, so there is clearly some discrepancy between the datasets. As it stands, only Apple knows exactly how many watches it has sold.
Apple doesn't break out Apple Watch sales like it does with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Instead, it groups the wearable under its "Other Products" category, alongside Apple TV, AirPods, Beats, iPods, and other accessories.
Apple reported "Other Products" revenue of $2.7 billion in the June quarter, representing year-over-year growth of 23 percent.
On a conference call in early August, Apple CEO Tim Cook did reveal that Apple Watch sales were up 50 percent in the June quarter.
Sales of Apple Watch were up over 50 percent in the June quarter, and it's the number one selling smartwatch in the world by a very wide margin. Apple Watch is having a positive impact on peoples' health and daily lives, and motivating them to sit less and move more. With features like built-in GPS and waterproofing, Apple Watch Series 2 is the perfect companion for hiking, running, and swimming.
Quarterly smartwatch shipments totaled an estimated 6.9 million units overall, including 300,000 shipments by Fossil. IDC said it defines smartwatches as watches that can run third-party apps on the device itself.
IDC reports that Apple trailed Chinese company Xiaomi by 100,000 shipments in the overall wearables market, but the broader category consists of many inexpensive fitness trackers and bands with limited functionality.
"The transition towards more intelligent and feature-filled wearables is in full swing," said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC. "For years, rudimentary fitness trackers have acted as a gateway to smartwatches and now we're at a point where brands and consumers are graduating to a more sophisticated device."
Garmin today announced three new wearable devices that it will debut at IFA 2017, including the vívomove HR, vívosport, and vívoactive 3. The Garmin vívoactive 3 closely resembles Apple Watch in terms of features, with Garmin's device tracking heart rate, packing in 15 indoor and outdoor activity apps, and supporting a new "Garmin Pay" contactless payment solution.
Garmin Pay supports Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards from major issuing banks, and the company said that more will be added every day. The smartwatch includes a stainless steel design and an always-on high-resolution Garmin Chroma display, with a watch face that supports thousands of different faces and widgets from the Garmin Connect IQ store. The device is safe to wear when swimming or showering, and will last up to seven days in smartwatch mode, and thirteen hours with GPS turned on.
The heart rate variability monitor in the vívoactive 3 can keep track of stress levels as well, which users can track both on the smartwatch itself and on the Garmin Connect mobile app. The vívoactive 3 is available in three colors: black/stainless and white/stainless ($299.99), and black/slate ($329.99). There are also various bands users can purchase to attach to the smartwatch, and both the smartwatch itself and the bands are available at Best Buy.
The Garmin vívomove HR is the company's "hybrid smartwatch," combining the advanced features of a smartwatch in the body of a classic analog watch. The device can monitor much of the same data as the vívoactive 3, including heart rate and stress, as well as display smartphone notifications, but the readouts are placed more subtly within a traditional watch face.
There are various stainless steel finishes, as well as both leather and silicone band accessories. The "Sport" version costs $199.99 and the "Premium" leather band version costs $299.99.
Lastly, the company announced a basic activity tracker called the vívosport, which focuses more on fitness features like GPS tracking and a few new built-in sports apps for strength training, cycling, cardio, and more. Users also won't have to worry about battery life thanks to seven full days of battery in smartwatch mode, and then eight hours when using the device's GPS.
Garmin Move IQ automatically tracks data users might forget to log, and LiveTrack lets authorized family members track the wearer's outdoor workouts for safety precautions. The vívosport costs $199.99 and comes in black/slate (small/medium and large), black/fuchsia (small/medium only) and black/limelight (large only).
All of Garmin's new wearable devices connect to the Garmin Connect app, which saves the user's activity stats, connects them to a community of workout enthusiasts, provides more detailed graphs, tracks sleep patterns, and more. For more information on all of Garmin's new smartwatches, visit the company's website.
While a few weeks remain until Apple is expected to unveil the so-called iPhone 8, widely rumored to be its first smartphone with an OLED display, the rumor mill has already turned its attention to next year.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 next to iPhone mockup by Benjamin Geskin
South Korea's ETNews, citing unnamed industry sources, claims Apple is working with Samsung Display and its other suppliers on the development of next-generation OLED displays in 5.85-inch and 6.46-inch sizes.
The report said the displays are expected to be used in new iPhone models released in 2018, although Apple's plans could change.
With a nearly 6.5 inch display, the so-called iPhone 9 would have an even larger screen than the 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 8 introduced earlier this month. Meanwhile, the 5.85-inch version would likely be the same size as the iPhone 8.
With reduced bezels, the overall physical sizes of the 5.85-inch and 6.46-inch iPhones could be similar to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus respectively.
In May, South Korean publication The Bell reported that Apple was planning to launch new iPhones with 5.28-inch and 6.46-inch OLED displays next year, but ETNews claims development of the 5.28-inch size has been abandoned.
"This is because consumers have preferred to use a large screen, and technologies such as full-screen or bezel-less have been developed that can enlarge the display while keeping the overall size of the smartphone small," it said.
The bottom line here is a second source lending support to rumors of a 6.4-inch iPhone launching next year. It might seem early in the cycle, but iPhone 8 rumors first surfaced in March 2016, nearly a year and a half ago.
Sony today announced a collection of new products that it plans to showcase during the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Germany this upcoming weekend. One of the biggest additions to the company's line-up is a new smart home speaker, called the LF-S50G wireless speaker, which looks similar to Apple's upcoming HomePod, has a built-in Google Assistant, and is being pitched with a "high quality" music-focused message.
Users can start off music playback by saying "OK Google," and from there they can ask the assistant for any information that it normally provides, including basic trivia, unit conversions, nutritional information, recipes, and more. The sides of the speaker have an LED clock display, while the top includes various sensors that support gesture controls for starting a song, skipping a song, and adjusting volume.
"Now you can get Sony’s awesome sound quality and design with the Google Assistant built-in," said Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics. "This functionality is another example of Sony’s commitment to customer choice by delivering new and innovative technologies."
The LF-S50G wireless speaker includes a 360 degree, vertical two-way facing speaker system, which Sony said provides for "maximum sound coverage" in any average-sized room. The device's full range speaker reproduces vocal and treble notes, while a dedicated subwoofer reproduces bass sounds and an omnidirectional two stage diffuser evenly spreads the sound to anyone in the room. For music playback, the speaker supports smartphone pairing through Bluetooth and NFC.
Sony is billing the device as a kitchen assistant thanks to its included clock and timer functionality, as well as its IPX3 splash-proof design and a water repellant surface. Users will also be able to control connected smart home electronics, and connect other supported Sony wireless speakers that have Chromecast built-in, syncing the same music across multiple speakers in one home. The LF-S50G wireless speaker will cost $199.99, and Sony said that it will go on sale this October.
Sony also revealed a trio of new wireless headphones that are coming to the 1000X family of products, each bringing advanced noise cancellation features for users. The collection includes the "truly wireless" WF-1000X with an in-ear design, the WI-1000X with a behind-the-neck design, and the WH-1000XM2 with an around-the-ear design and more sound options to adjust to various noise levels and environments. The WH-1000XM2 headphones are the newest versions of the MDR-1000X from last year.
The first device, the WF-1000X, is similar in functionality to many wireless headphones on the market, like Apple's AirPods. When taken out of the included charging case, the earbuds automatically connect to the user's smartphone, and Sony said that the case allows users to listen to nine hours of music on the go. In terms of price, the WF-1000X earphones will cost $199.99, the WI-1000X will cost $299.99, and the WH-1000XM2 will cost $349.99, and all three devices launch in September.
For more information on Sony's announcements, check out the company's IFA-focused press release here. One of the other notable unveilings centered around three new Xperia smartphones coming this fall, with a flagship feature called the "3D Creator." Sony described this as its in-house solution for 3D object scanning that allows users to create avatars, play with augmented reality camera effects, set a live wallpaper, send to friends as a sticker on social media, print on a 3D printer, and various other AR-related options.
Logitech today announced CRAFT, the company's latest $200 "advanced keyboard" for Mac and PC that features a creative input dial for more easily accessing context-specific controls while working.
Called the Crown, the "smart aluminum dial" sits on the top-left of the new full-size keyboard and is touch sensitive, enabling creative users to tap or turn it to adjust settings like brush size, brightness, chart type, font size, and so on.
"Our new flagship Logitech CRAFT keyboard is for all creators who spend a lot of time designing and creating - who want to work with greater precision and feel connected to their work," said Art O'Gnimh, global head of keyboards at Logitech. "The creative input dial gives you instant access to the functions you need, the moment you need them, allowing you to increase your productivity by simply touching the dial. CRAFT puts you in your creative element – every time you sit at the desk."
Users can customize the Crown's functionality using custom profiles in the Logitech Options software utility, which is compatible with Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe InDesign CC and Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and Word, although Microsoft functionalities work on PC only at this time, according to Logitech.
The dial can also be set up to access global Mac controls - giving users the ability to change desktops, navigate between apps, or adjust volume, as well as assign one additional Crown function in each of their favorite apps.
In addition to the creative dial, the CRAFT Advanced Keyboard features smart illumination with backlighting that detects hands and adjusts lighting automatically depending on the room conditions. Meanwhile, a proprietary button on the keyboard allows users to dynamically switch between – and type on – any three connected devices, whether they are using a Windows PC, Mac, or tablet.
The Logitech CRAFT Advanced Keyboard is expected to become available in October 2017, but can be pre-ordered now from the company's website for the price of $199.99.
Bluetooth speaker maker Libratone has announced that beginning this fall, Zipp and Zipp Mini speaker owners will be able to use their devices to invoke Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant as well as tap in to Apple's forthcoming AirPlay 2 protocol.
The company said it will make a free firmware download available in the coming months that activates Alexa support in the wireless speakers, which connect to Wi-Fi and have integrated microphones.
Following the update, Zipp and Zipp Mini owners will be able to touch the button on the top of the speakers to ask Alexa for news, sports, traffic updates, and all the other things that can be done on Amazon's Echo range of speakers, including controlling smart home devices.
Libratone intends to add Apple AirPlay 2 support as soon as Apple releases the new protocol, which will enable users to stream music wirelessly to multiple speakers of different brands on the same Wi-Fi network. AirPlay 2 is expected to arrive with the release of iOS 11 next month.
Philips today announced an expansion of its Hue smart lighting range, bringing two new fixtures and two additional starter kits to its Apple HomeKit-compatible family of products.
The Philips Hue White Ambiance Cher Suspension is the largest new fixture – a hanging pendant light made for a kitchen island or dining table. The fixture outputs 3000 lumens and costs $230.
Meanwhile, a new Hue White Ambiance downlight is being introduced to replace existing ceiling lights. The downlight will be available in two sizes – 4-inches at 700 lumens and 5/6" at 750 lumens – costing $35 each.
In addition to the above, the company is bringing a $50 Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance candle bulb to its Color Ambiance range. The smaller E12 base of the 40W-equivalent candle, with a range of more than 16 million colors, is made for ceiling fans, chandeliers and decorative table lamps.
Finally, Philips is now including four traditional A19 light bulbs in its starter packs, all of which come with the Philips Hue bridge to set up and customize the system. The new starter kits come in White and Color Ambiance ($200), White Ambiance ($150) and White ($100). Multi-packs of Philips Hue light bulbs continue to be available separately for extending existing installations.
Philips says the new starter packs and fixtures will be available to purchase online and in retail stores beginning October.
QardioBase 2 has been designed with a wider base for more stability on any floor surface, a welcome change as the unstable base was one of the main features we disliked when we reviewed the original version last year.
It continues to feature the same circular "floating" design, but Qardio says it should be much more stable, even for people with large feet.
QardioBase 2 also includes an enhanced sensor system that improves accuracy and introduces quicker weight measurements, and it has an embedded rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 12 months before needing to be recharged.
A new screen is included, with a brighter and crisper display to make it easier to see weight and other body measurements at a glance, and there's a new haptic engine for better vibration feedback.
"In everything we do, it is important to us to combine high accuracy and performance with superior design," said Rosario Iannella, CTO of Qardio. "QardioBase has been found to be the most accurate smart scale in benchmarks done by third parties and with QardioBase 2 we take it to the next level and make it a beautiful addition to any room of the house."
Like the original QardioBase, the new version measures weight, body mass index, and body composition. It also includes a smart feedback mode that offers up smileys as a user progresses towards a weight loss goal, and it supports multiple users.
To keep track of weight data, the QardioBase connects to an iPhone using Bluetooth and the Qardio app. The Qardio app integrates with Apple's Health app so you can keep track of all of your information in one place.
QardioBase 2, which comes in Arctic White and Volcanic Black, can be purchased from the Qardio website for $149.99. It's available in the United States, UK, and Europe starting today, with sales in Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong to start on September 18.
Bang & Olufsen today unveiled a pair of $299 truly wireless earbuds called Beoplay E8, the Danish company's pricier luxury alternative to Apple's $159 AirPods.
The E8 Bluetooth in-ear headphones are a mixture of aluminum and polymer, making them splash and dust-proof, while each earpiece features a touch surface that supports fingertip gestures to play/pause music, take calls (a mic is integrated into the buds), and change volume.
There's also voice recognition support for activating virtual assistants like Siri, as well as a Transparency Mode that lets environmental sounds in for safer commuting. There's also a built-in digital signal processor that enables custom output tuning with equalization and gain.
The buds provide up to 4 hours of play time at a moderate sound level, while the included leather charging case supplies two additional charges to give users up to 12 hours of listening time on the go. For reference, AirPods offer up to 5 hours' play time and Apple's charging case carries up to 24 hours' charge.
Four pairs of different-sized silicon tips are included along with a USB charging cable (USB-A to MicroUSB). The Beoplay E8 wireless buds are available in black and charcoal sand colors, and will be available from the company's website from October.
Replacing the metallic look of its predecessor, the new HVAC energy-saving device features a soft-touch plastic white control ring around a black display, which lies behind a frosted screen to make the thermostat blend in to most home environments.
The display itself offers a more basic readout than previous Nest's, showing the temperature only. When the frosted display is off, the screen is grey. When it’s on, it displays soft text and images that are designed to be easy to see and read with a slight glow. The display uses an ambient light sensor to share information at just the right brightness.
Meanwhile the unit's innards have been simplified, which means the Thermostat E doesn't offer the same wide compatibility with various U.S. domestic setups as the pricier device, so check before ordering.
Like the original Nest, the Thermostat E learns the user's temperature preferences over time, smartly adjusting them on the fly depending on the circumstances. Alternatively, the Thermostat E can be set up on a simple schedule, based on an average of thousands of schedules already learned by the company's devices. Users can adjust temperature using the control ring or via Nest's iOS app for remote access.
The Thermostat E costs $169, while the original Nest Learning Thermostat will remain available to buy for $250. The new thermostat can be ordered from Thursday on the company's website, with shipping set to start on September 1 and availability in retail stores from September 10.
Western Digital today introduced a new 400GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card, which it says is the world's highest-capacity microSD card available on the market.
The new 400GB card comes two years after the company introduced its 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSD card, with the new version doubling the storage capacity. According to Western Digital, this new milestone was achieved through leveraging proprietary memory technology, design, and production processes that allow for more bits per die.
"Mobile devices have become the epicenter of our lives, and consumers are now accustomed to using their smartphones for anything from entertainment to business. We are collecting and sharing massive amounts of data on smartphones, drones, tablets, PCs, laptops and more. We anticipate that storage needs will only continue to grow as people continue to expect more sophisticated features on their devices and desire higher quality content," Jeff Janukowicz, research vice president, IDC. "We estimate mobile device users worldwide will install over 150 billion applications alone this year, which require a ton of memory on all of our favorite devices."
Designed for use in Android smartphones, drones, cameras, and other devices that use microSD storage, the new card can hold up to 40 hours of full HD video and it features transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s.
The 400GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card will be available from SanDisk and other major retailers soon. It is priced at $249.99.
Western Digital today announced its latest SanDisk product, the SanDisk iXpand Base. The iXpand Base is designed to make it simple to back up an iPhone's photos, videos, and contacts, offering storage and an intuitive nightly backup setup.
The iXpand Base is designed to look like a small iPhone dock, with a flat rubber-coated base where the iPhone rests. At one side, there's a Lightning cable that plugs into the iPhone, and at the other, there's a power cord that plugs into the wall.
The idea is to connect the iPhone to the iXpand Base at night to charge your phone. While it's plugged in and charging (15W charging is supported), the iXpand Base makes a backup of all of your critical files with the iXpand Base app, essentially providing an automatic, hassle-free way to make a nightly backup. Many people likely upload their photos to iCloud for safekeeping, but it's always a good idea to have multiple backups.
"iPhone users care deeply about their content and understand the importance of protecting it. Our top priority is to offer convenient solutions like the iXpand Base that fit with people's everyday habits so they don't have to change their routine, and never have to worry about losing memories," said Jim Welsh, senior vice president, Client Solutions, Western Digital.
The iXpand Base offers up to 256GB of local storage, so it can also be used to offload photos and other files to save space on an iPhone. With the data backup feature enabled, if you need to transfer content to a new phone, it's just a matter of plugging the new device into the base and downloading the app.
SanDisk's new iXpand Base is available starting today from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Pricing starts at $49.99 for 32GB of storage. 64GB of storage is available for $99.99, 128GB of storage is available for $129.99, and 256GB of storage is available for $199.99.
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