Apple ‘Error 53’ Sting Operation Caught Staff Misleading Customers

Apple ‘Error 53’

A sting operation was carried out against Apple by Australia’s consumer watchdog and it caught staff continually misguiding iPhone customers with regards to their legal rights to a repair or a replacement that is free of cost, after a malfunction called “error 53”.

This was brought to light through court documents. A high-profile case was lodged against Apple this year, after several iPhone and iPad users faced a malfunction that made their phones useless if it detected that a certain repair had been done by a third-party that was non-Apple. This malfunction took place between 2014 till early last year.

The case, which is scheduled to go to trial in mid-December this year, alleges that Apple incorrectly informed customers that they were not eligible for a free repair or replacement if they had got their devices repaired from a third-party repairer. This advice was given even when the repair was not connected to this malfunction, such as a screen replacement.

Breach was uncovered by the ACCC

So far, Apple has made a choice to remain silent about the case carried out by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). But Guardian Australia obtained court documents that show the company has refused these allegations made by ACCC to be true and said that it did not misinform to its Australian customers.

The documents also reveal that ACCC went undercover as iPhone customers to investigate the matter and made calls to all 13 Apple retailers across Australia last year in the month of June. On the call, they told the iPhone staff that their speakers stopped functioning after their screens were repaired by a third party.

Apple gave the same response in all the 13 calls, informing the ACCC caller that it would not repair or replace the defective speaker free of cost if the iPhone screen was replaced by someone other than Apple.

Error 53 and the Misinformation

Error 53 normally occurred after a customer tried to upgrade their phone’s operating system from iOS 8 or iOS 9 and about one in every 1,000 iPhones between September 2014 and February 2016. If the product was faulty or defective, Australian consumer law states the right of a customer to a free repair.

ACCC also alleged that the information on Apple’s website, too, was misleading. It said on the website that if any part of the iPhone was re-done somewhere else other than Apple, there would be a cost for the out-of-warranty repair. In response, Apple said the undercover calls conducted by the ACCC cannot be considered as the consumer law only exists for actual consumer-related issues and not suppositious circumstances.

Apple also said that real customers who came with actual problems received other information and were well informed of their rights as per the consumer law. As for what was mentioned on the website, Apple said that was in reference to the conditions of the company’s own limited warranty which is present along with the customer’s statutory rights.

Apple also stated that an outreach program was set up with regards to error 53 and offered repairs and replacements for most of the phones in the case mentioned by the ACCC. Also, an update was released last year in February to tackle the problem and restore smooth functionality.

Apple set to expand Siri, taking different route from Amazon's Alexa

Apple is likely to declare its plans in the coming week to make its voice assistant, Siri work and assist a huge varied range of apps, in an attempt to counter the tough competition from the success of Amazon’s Alexa. But, according to engineers and industry insiders, rather than focusing on a large variety of apps, Apple Inc. is sticking to its tried and tested method of concentrating on small number of features and getting them right.

At present, Apple’s voice assistant Siri works with just six types of applications which are messaging and calling, photo searching, hailing a ride and sharing, making payments, fitness and auto infotainment systems. Apple is expected to add more to the mentioned categories at the company’s yearly developer conference which is to be held next week.

Some sources have also stated that Apple is likely to announce a hardware which will be on similar lines as Amazon’s Echo, a device for home that has seen a lot of sales recently. Apple, however, refused to comment on the same. Amazon’s Alexa currently handles 12,000 or so tasks. Even if the area of expertise is doubled, Siri will be no match for it. This difference reflects the difference in strategy between these two rival companies.

Apple bets that users will not use voice commands in a way similar to speaking to humans and with this it has limited Siri’s area of function so that it is efficient. Amazon, on the other hand, has not limited Alexa in any area, stating that voice assistants with a number of skills are the way to garner more sales, in spite of an occasional mistake or additional effort to use it. This shows that there is a head on clash in approach.

Differences in Function

An iPhone user can hire a ride by saying “Hey Siri, order a car for me” and Siri will open a car hiring service app and start booking your ride. Other than the standard home and music functions, Alexa needs a more specific command that is to-the-point.

For example, the process of hiring a car from Uber will start if you say “Alexa, ask Uber for a ride” but if you say “Alexa, order me an Uber”, Alexa will not do so because it cannot make the connection that opens the Uber skill. One can order food with the help of Alexa but not with Siri, because this is one of the many categories that Siri does not function in, yet.

An Apple spokesperson has stated that Siri’s expertise in this area was very limitedly tried but the outcome was largely positive. Amazon made a statement that their goal is to make the whole voice command and result experience to be very natural and as easy as possible with Alexa.

Side-Lines and Not the Main Focus

A venture capitalist with Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group, Matt McIlwain, said that Apple’s narrower focus could be a problem. If the categories are not expanded, it could create a problem for Siri’s sales, he said. Neither of the two, Alexa and Siri, are on a smooth path to gaining more finance. Because of the limitations, voice apps are just on the side-lines and not the main focus and once an economic model is developed, there will be a substantial rise in sales.

Apple and Nokia Settle Patent Dispute

Apple & Nokia – An Agreement Over On-going Patent Dispute

Apple and Nokia had come to an agreement after an on-going patent dispute over the patent of the Finnish company. The two parties had disclosed the agreement in a joint statement recently after five months of suing each other over royalty payments. Apple would be making a sizeable one-off payment as future fees for the utilisation of the technology of Nokia.

 Under the business partnership agreement, Nokia would be providing network infrastructure service to Apple. Apple on its part would resume selling Nokia health product that had been earlier sold under the Withings brand. In December 2016, Apple had pulled Withings products from its online as well as retail stores, days after the company had been sued for patent violation, by Nokia.

The deal estimated by analysts was worth hundreds of millions of pounds to Nokia wherein the shares went up by 7%. It is said that the company had greatly suffered at the hands of the iPhone and had discontinued making handsets after selling its mobile business in 2013 to Microsoft.

Though most of the revenue was from telecoms infrastructure, it intends to boost income from the valuable patents that it seems to hold from its days as the dominant mobile phone company of the world.

Nokia Sued Apple – Violating 32 Patents

Nokia had sued Apple for violating 32 patents used in the iPhone, after a long-running deal had expired last year. Apple on the other hand had sued back calling Nokia a `patent troll’, stating that it had refused to license the technology on a fair basis.

 Recently the company had informed that they had settled all proceedings and had reached a new settlement wherein it will see the healthcare gadgets of Nokia back to Apple stores after they had been detached. The two companies informed that they would work together on enterprises related to healthcare.

Apple is said to pay Nokia an undisclosed amount and additional revenues till the deal tends to stand. Analysts at UBS estimate that Nokia would be receiving between £450m and €550m from Apple.

The Finnish company had acquired Alcatel-Lucent, comprising of its patent rich Bell Labs division in the US that had strengthened its hand heading in negotiations over a new deal. During the negotiations over a new licensing deal, two people conversant with the negotiations had earlier stated that they expected a settlement to be attained in spite of the fractious language.

Meaningful Agreement

The chief legal officer of Nokia, Maria Varsellona had commented that this is a meaningful agreement between Nokia and Apple and it has moved their relationship with Apple from being opponents in court to business partners working for the benefit of the customers.

The Nokia dispute with Apple had been a sign to a deeper patent war between the iPhone maker and Qualcomm which had taken place last year. Jeff William, chief operating officer of Apple had stated that they were pleased with the resolution of their dispute and are looking forward in expanding their business relationship with Nokia.

The agreement is said to culminate the patent dispute which had started last year when Nokia had sued Apple in Germany and the US, charging breach of the 32 patents and the two companies had sued one another in 2009 sticking a licensing agreement in 2011.

Apple Rumour Mill Jumps Forward a Generation with Leaks Revealing Possible Features of iPhone 9

iPhone 9: Rumors, Release, Infos

Even if it still takes some time: On the Internet you may find some first guesses for upcoming iPhone 9. Does Apple have an iris scanner? All rumors and information about iPhone 9 can be found here.

IPhone 9: More security through the iris scan

At the view of your eye, the smartphone will unlock: rumored that Apple is working on an iris scanner for the iPhone 9.

According to the most trustable source, Apple is working on a biometric iris scanner for the iPhone. From 2018 each iPhone is to be equipped with an iris scanner.

Like the fingerprint sensor on the current iPhone models, the Iris scanner is a biometric validation method, that can be used, to unlock the screen, for example. Touch ID also permits

iphone 9 users to make payment transactions. This iris scan is used as extra protection for iphone 9 - whether or not you can utilise it to make the payment in the future.

iPhone 9 with OLED displays in 5.28 and 6.46 inches

The magazine "The Investor" from the Korea Herald reports exclusively on information from Apple's supply chain. One wants to have learned that the iphone 9 manufacturer at Samsung Display, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has commissioned OLED displays in two different sizes. These are 5.28 and 6.46 inch displays. The order volume should be 180 million display units.

The report also shows that Samsung and Apple recently signed a mutually binding declaration of secrecy. It obliges both companies not to disclose details about orders. Strangely enough, apparently "display sizes" should also count as an exclusion criterion, which should be kept under lock and key. Strange, however, as this detail now came to the public. Understandable is such an agreement from Apple's view in any case, since you do not want to surrender too much details about future products.

The other high light about iPhone 9 is that using 5G technology that reports Apple in US has got the permission to test 5G connectivity in iPhone labs. It is really amazing to know that the 5G technology found in iPhone 9 promises the download speed that is 60 times more faster than the apical NBN bracket.

The iPhone 9 is coming! If not today, then sometime. As long as Apple's smartphone business is the driving force of the company, we do not have to worry that there could be no new iPhone every year. But while we do not even know one hundred percent, how the device looks like this year, the mills continue to rotate.

Apple Acquires AI startup Lattice.io

Apple Acquired Lattice Data –AI Enabled Implication Engine

Apple has acquired its own company to fill up its potentials in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence, as huge tech companies tend to gear up in making stronger headway in this area. Apple has precisely picked up Lattice Data, a company which tends to apply an AI enabled implication engine to take unstructured `dark’ data turning it into structured information and it had been reported from a source that Apple had paid a price of about $200 million for the same.

The deal had been closed recently according to a source and around 20 engineers had joined the bigger company. A standard Apple confirmation had been received wherein a first source had alerted regarding the same. According to Apple spokesperson who had informed TechCrunch, stated that Apple tends to buy smaller technology companies from time to time and generally no discussions are done on the purpose or plans.

Last year, Lattice had unobtrusively raised around $20 million funds from GV, Madrona and InQTel before exiting from stealth. Lattice founded in 2015 had been under the radar though it has a outstanding pedigree. The company was co-founded by Christopher Re, Michaeol Cafarella, Raphael Hoffmann and Feng Niu as commercialization of DeepDive which is a system developed at Stanford to `extract value from dark data’.

Dark Data

A professor at Stanford, Re, had won a MacArthur Genius Grant for his work on DeepDive and is presently the chief scientist at Lattice. Cafarella who had started at CEO of Lattice now the CTO is a professor at the University of Michigan and is recognised as one of the co-creators of Hadoop while Niu is the chief engineering officer of lattice.

According to his LinkedIn, Cafarella together with Hoffmann who had since moved to Google also had worked on developing DeepDive. Andy Jacques is the CEO of Lattice who had joined last year, is a seasoned enterprise executive. What could possibly be called the dark data?

Our linked, digital world tends to produce data at a fast-tracked speed and in 2013; there were 4.4 zettabytes of data which is anticipated to increase to 44 zettabytes by 2020. IBM has estimated that 90% of the data prevailing today was produced in the last two years.

Application of System - Diverse

However between 70 and 80% of the said data is unstructured which is `dark’ and hence mostly useless with regards to processing and analytics. Lattice tends to utilise machine learning to basically utilise that data in order and make it useful.

Applications of the system is said to be diverse and can be utilised in international policing as well as solving crimes like in this case in detection of human trafficking, in medical research as well as in helping to organize and analyse paleontological research. Besides this it could also be utilised in assisting in training AI systems in the creation of added useful data feeds.

It is not known who Lattice has been working with and also how Apple plans to utilise the technology. It is speculated that there could be an AI play. As per a source, Lattice had discussions with the other tech businesses with regards to the improvement of their AI assistants including Alexa of Amazon and Bixby of Samsung and had recently spent some time in South Korea.

iCar Release Date Rumours

Apple’s Electric iCar

Since February 2015 reports have been circulating that Apple intends manufacturing electric iCar to compete with Tesla. This source of information had come up after Business Insider had received some facts from an Apple employee with some knowledge on the development on the subject. There were rumours that Apple will now be focusing on autonomous driving system.

 This had added up with the findings of cars that were registered with Apple arrayed with sensors/cameras which had been exposed later and had led to the visions of Apple iCar. The Wall Street Journal had earlier stated that there were several hundred, according to Apple employees working on the project and the iCar had been named `Titan’.

Though many are of the belief that Apple had intention of moving away from autonomous car project, a latest letter addressed to US transport regulators by Steve Kenner, the director of product integrity of Apple conveys something else. Apple had seemingly informed that it had been excited about the prospective of automated system in several capacities, inclusive of transportation as well as there were substantial collective benefits of automated vehicles to be realised.

The same had been confirmed by one of spokesman of Apple that the letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA, had been impelled by its `heavy investment in machine learning and autonomous system.

Privacy of Individual – Not to be Compromised

Moreover it also wanted to assist in outlining the best practises in the future industry. The letter had also stated not to introduce many rules with regards to the testing of self-driving cars, requesting that launching manufacturers as well as fresh entrants should be equally treated.

A suggestion had been made by Kenner that companies need to share data from crashes together with near-misses in order to develop a better comprehensive image instead of one company alone supporting in improving the system. And knowing Apple to be focused on user privacy, the same would be out of character of not making a mention of it in the letter.

Besides this Kenner also observed that the privacy of the individual should not be compromised by the sharing of data which regulates `address privacy challenges connected with the collection, used together with sharing of automated vehicle data’.

Enhance Customer Experience

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple had answered during the Q4 2016 financial results of Apple topics on Apple Pay, Siri together with the importance of Apple Car. Though he had not confirmed or denied the presence of the rumoured electric car of Apple he informed that Apple always visualized for methods wherein they could enhance the experience together with the experience of the customers on various sets of products.

He had further mentioned that they are always looking at new things and the car space has been an area which is evident with lot of technologies that will be available or would be capable of revolutionizing the car experience. He adds that it is so interesting from that point of view though nothing to certainly nothing to make an announcement.

The CEO of Apple as usual is being evasive on the topic and considering the same, it does indicate that Apple could have something to make an announcement in the near future.

Apple Patents Way to Charge iPhone Over Wi-Fi

Apple Goes Ahead and Patents the Way to Charge the iPhone over Wi-Fi

Apple had something extraordinary and it has become synonymous with this tech firm as well. For quite some time it was reported that Apple is experimenting with the different of chagrining its iPhone and iPad devices wirelessly. Quite recently it has filed a patent which helps these devices to charge at a good pace with contact through using the signals emitted from the Wi-Fi devices in the form of radio frequencies. This also brings our focus to the wireless charging on a more grand level as soon the Apple users will be able to bid adieu to the physical cable for good.

One of the interesting things to note about this patent is that Apple has found a way of re-powering its range of devices not just using the Wi-Fi but also the mobile and millimeter wave signals. Apple patent has clearly proposed the way of directing the electromagnetic frequencies tight towards the device like a beam of energy. 

A little history of wireless charging technology

It would come as a surprise that this technology was invented way back in 1891 by Nikola Tesla. It makes use of an electromagnetic field in order to transfer the energy between the two objects. The conventional wireless charging is supported on a variety of mobile phones by keeping the device on a charging pad or mat. Some of the popular flagship device to support this technology includes LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S7, Google Nexus 6, Microsoft Lumia 1520 and Blackberry Priv Z30. This technology has helped in doing away with cumbersome phone specific chargers to a very limited extent.

Insights from the patent filing

The patent filed by the Apple at the moment only covers the theory behind its method but doesn’t reveal the actual way of doing it. For quite some time rumors were rife that Apple will be introducing the wireless charging on its iPhone series which would mark first time in ten years that Apple has given respite to the users from the lightning cables.

It is quite unclear how exactly Apple will be bringing this technology on its range of devices. It is worth noting that Apple won’t be bringing the short range inductive charging system which is found on the Apple Watch as well as on Samsung Galaxy S8 devices.

This charging technology is quite old and a number of OEMs has been playing with it for few years but they had not found any long range system or capability. Apple has decided to stay away from this technology as it was waiting to come up with a long range system which offers a better option to the users. Just few months Apple has patented the inductive charging station in concept specifically designed for the iPhone.

Way back in 2010 Apple filed a patent to recharge the iMac wirelessly from the distance of 1 metre. But we still fail to see the resurgence of this technology on Apple device ecosystem and this new patent has helped in giving hope to the Apple fans once again.

How to protect your Apple iCloud account

Protecting iCloud Password/Data

`Turkish Crime Family’, a London-based group may not have access to the names and password of 250-million Apple iCloud account. However they have access to some unspecified number of accounts and that could be adequate reason to be cautious. The following are some insights in protecting your iCloud password and data and save yourself from losing it:

Backup susceptible data

The first thing essential is to back up the iCloud data and the easiest method of doing it for your iPhone; iPad or iPod is to back up your files of your device to your Mac or PC with iTunes backup. This can be done by –

• Plugging your device to your Mac or PC with iTunes on 
• Towards the left hand area in iTunes, under play the controls, you will find a tiny phone icon. You could click here where you will be taken to the menu of the device 
• You could click on Summary towards the left-hand area 
• Here you come across three boxes and you could opt for `Backups’ 
• You could opt for automatically or manually back-up your device. If automatic is chosen, iTunes tend to start backing it up each time you are likely to plug your gadget in. 
• The issue here is that iTunes does not tend to back up everything. For instance, it will not back up your information and settings for Apple pay, photos, already on iCloud or purchased iTunes together with App Stores content 
• In order to be on the safe side, users need to change and secure their password

Utilise Passphrases Rather than Passwords

Apple could provide support in changing the passwords and not only by paying off the Turkish Crime Family. The other major sites such as Amazon, LinkedIn and Netflix tend to buy cracked password list and use one-way hashing counterparts in order to check for prevailing passwords and then reset susceptible passwords asking users to switch passwords.

 Apple has not does that so far though it considers doing the same depending on how huge the threat would appear to be. Since Apple is presently not doing the same, it is up to the user to do it. In order to change the Apple ID password, the user should sign in to their Apple ID account page in any browser and follow the reset your password instructions.

The new Apple ID password should comprise of at least eight characters, together with a number, an uppercase letter as well as a lowercase letter. Spaces, the same character three times in a row, your Apple ID or a password used the previous year are not permitted.

The user should be aware of not using dumb passwords like `abcdefgh, qwerty or password’ In order to create an easy and secured password, that would not tax your memory would be to utilise passphrases rather than passwords which would be easy to evoke.

Add layer of Protection – Two Factor Authentication

Once the password has been changed the user will have to change it on all the Apple devices. Thereafter it will be essential to add another layer of protection namely the Two-Factor Authentication – 2FA. When the 2FA is activated, the user can access his account from trusted devices only like your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Whenever you intend signing in for the first time to a new device, the two pieces of information is required, which is your Apple ID password and the six-digit verification code that is automatically shown on the trusted devices. For the purpose of utilising Apple 2FA, it is essential for the user to have a trusted phone number so that he can receive verification codes. The following steps can be taken to add a trusted phone number:

• Go to the Apple ID account page 
• Sign in with your Apple ID 
• Click Edit by going to the Security section 
• Click Add a Trusted Phone Number and edit the phone number

Trusted Devices – iPhone/iPad/iPod

The user is now ready for 2FA. In order to have a trusted device one would need an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 9 and thereafter would need a Mac running OS X El Capitan or later that the user has already signed in with 2FA. In order to turn on Apple 2FA the following steps needs to be taken:

On iPhone/iPad/iPod touch with iOS 9 or later

• Go to Settings > iCloud > tap on Apple ID 
• You could Tap Password & Security 
• Tap Turn on 2FA

On Mac with OS X El Capitan or later

• Go to the Apple menu > System preferences > iCloud > Account Details 
• Then click Security 
• Click Turn on 2FA 

This could be time consuming but considering how much work it would take for the user to replace the important music, photos, books or documents, should your Apple iCloud account be hacked, it would be worth the efforts taken for the same and the user would have saved important data from being lost.

See All the Mac’s Open Windows at Once

See All the Mac’s Open Windows on a Single Click

In the contemporary world, where some of the most excellent developments have taken place, those are having great importance in the life of an individual and also in the society. The computer technology is one of such inventions that have changed the basic approach of our life to a great extent, as there is a bit of the computer in almost every single product or service in present days.

It is known to all; there are lots of computer manufacturing companies throughout the world and Apple is undoubtedly one of the front runners in this particular segment. The Mac operating system of Apple is the most popular one and since its inception, millions of people have tried it and find it very user-friendly. The constant upgrading of the system is considered as the key reason behind the success of the Mac system. Now there are some unique features available in this system, which are quite helpful for their users to get the best result, with extreme ease and comfort.

Issues to be noted

It is often found that a new user of Mac operating system unknowingly hit some button, which may be shown some of the most interesting and surprising results that caught the user in a baffled condition. It means, by tapping some buttons on the keyboard, some sorts of commands got generated and the unknowing incidents occurred and these can be rectified by some specific actions, made on the keyboard.

If someone is working on his system and suddenly hit some buttons and find that all kinds of open programs shrank down and get back to the normal position by hitting another button. This entire episode made the person concerned baffled and clueless of how these things are happening!!

It is a very simple thing; while anybody found that all open windows are on the top on the desktop, it means, the person hit the Mission Control feature. If in any case, the Mission Control is summoned intentionally; it can of great help in locating any particular program on the cluttered desktop. The temporarily move aside the specific program in the split view or full-screen modes or may be seen any of the alternative desktops spaces that have been created for a different task on the Mac.

Conclusion

The most important part of the Mac operating system is; The Mission Control screen can be used in several ways, depending on the hardware of the system. Some of the laptops, having a shortcut on the F3 key on the system keyboard.

While on Mac's dock; the Mission Control can be seen, which features three numbers of color squares on the black background. This same icon can be seen in the famous Launchpad, which is basically a system tool, displays the important clickable icons of entire installed applications at the center of the screen.

It can be done by pressing the all important F4 button or clicking silver rocket icon on the Mac laptop, which helps the user to get the intended and prompt result.

Apple's Self Driving Car Program Detailed in DMV Training Doc

Apple – Automated System – Self-Driving Vehicles

Apple had been granted permission recently by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to publicly test the autonomous driving technology on the Californian roads.

A new document of Apple has come up detailing the self-driving car training program for drivers. The new document offers more evidence that Apple is actively operating on autonomous driving technology internally. The official papers were obtained by Business Insider entitled `Development Platform Specific Training’, which tends to refer to the `Apple Automated System’, utilised in self-driving vehicles.

Apple had established an `Automated System’ for self-driving vehicles and intends putting select staffers through a training program in order to control the vehicles. As per the documents, the drivers of Apple need to pass seven various tests before their complete training. Every driver is given two practice runs together with three trials in order to pass each test which is said to be a private course.

The documents specify that the technology utilised by the drivers comprise of Logitech hardware as well as basic driving schemes such as tight U-turns with sudden braking or acceleration. Every test includes a goal together with steps to supersede the autonomous system while training with the scheme.

Focus on Self-Driving Software

Though Apple has the liberty to test anything internally and privately, it is the California permit that enables it to test three 2015 Lexus RX450h hybrid sport utility vehicles as per the DMV documentation that had been published recently, which is the same vehicle utilised in the self-driving tests of Google.

Though it had been presumed for some months that Apple had been constructing its own electric vehicle, the recent rumours have claimed that presently Apple has been focusing on self-driving car software instead which is shown by the latest public-facing development. A letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in December had shown that disclosed first hand work on self-driving technology of Apple. Self-driving car technology is said to be one of the most prominent arenas in Silicon Valley.

Earlier known as self-driving car unit of Google, Waymo is presently in a high-stakes combat with Uber over its autonomous car tech and analysts have estimated that the industry could be worth trillions of dollars. Apple had refrained from commenting on this issue.

Possibility of Self-Driving Car Platform

For the past three years the work of Apple had been something of an open clandestine and the company initially had intention of creating its own autonomous vehicles. However it turned to an autonomous driving software platform resulting in internal strife and leadership problems.

The company is now creating a driving system under the management of Bob Mansfield wherein the car team have been given till the end of this year in order to substantiate the possibility of self-driving car platform. Such a type of structure would probably permit Apple to partner with car manufacturers as a type of development of CarPlay.

 Apple being ready in testing the software on public roads shows that the development seems to be fairly far-off. If the company tends to take the vehicles out on the streets of California, its works would require to be publicly shared with the DMV established on the law of California.

Apple's AR Smart Glasses Could be in the Works

Apple’s AR Smart Glasses

Apple could be working on some undisclosed hardware comprising of a pair of AR smart glasses. It has been revealed after an incident report had been apparently leaked to Gizmodo signifying that the company had been playing with some kind of ocular prototype.

Gizmodo, the Apple document stated it acquired an incident wherein an employee had reported eye pain on using a new prototype. Gizmodo had reported that the employee was of the belief that the pain could be the outcome of using the device together with the testimony that the seal of the device had been broken, an indication that it had been tampered.

Though apparently the incident report tends to utilise language with the intention of concealing what type of prototype it is, Gizmodo wonders that it could be some kind of smart glasses. Another incident indicated that an employee had been sent to the optometrist after working with another prototype and thereafter experienced eye pain and saw `laser flashes’. Since the wording seems vague, it is not known if the two prototypes had any link or what they were meant to do.

Bringing AR to iPhone

Apple had already shown concern in augmented reality or AR. Tim Cook, CEO had mentioned that he envisages a big future for AR which would impact the world as much as the smartphone that Apple had supported to propagate with the iPhone.

 Cook had constantly responded to AR-related queries on quarterly earning calls stating that he is of the belief that the technology seems to have more potential than its virtual reality counterpart and had implied at plans of Apple of entering the space.

Nonetheless, as of September, Apple tends to continue hiring both AR as well as VR professionals which has left the possibility that it could develop products in both the classifications. Some rumours have already claimed that Apple could be working on means of bringing AR to the iPhone, while still others state that Apple is working on a pair of wearable glasses alike to Google Glass.

 But many are speculating whether the glasses by Apple could succeed where Google Glass fell short. The company has been exploring the smart glasses market according to reports and hence it is not clear when the completed product would materialize.

Earliest Time-Frame - 2018

The earliest time-frame is said to be 2018 for the product though Apple could delay the project much longer or alter its direction as in the case of its automotive goals. It is also a known fact for months that Apple had been gathering AR talent and putting heads together in working in secret on some kind of consumer product.

Apple has already been in talks with prospective suppliers, as per Bloomberg for components such as near-eye displays. Moreover it also tends to have the capability with companies such as PrimeSense, Metaio and Flyby which are the start-ups that had been dedicated to AR software, 3D mapping together with computer vision before Apple had attained them over the period of the last three years.

 The intention was to create a pair of glasses which could be linked wirelessly to iPhone as well as overlap information on the field of vision of the wearer. The AR does not come without its flaws. Google Glass had been a huge failure providing AR a bad public image thus displaying just how far the technology should go before it can be eventually utilised on the face.

This Tiny iOS Change Will Make Your iPhone Even Zippier

After a long wait Apple has finally rolled the update for the iOS 10.3 which is expected which will started hitting the devices from Monday. Those who got the chance to get the latest update early on their devices are claiming that their device is surprisingly faster than earlier. iPhone is running with a new vigour and performance is simply way better than it was being produced before the update.

But this isn’t the surprisingly thing which we would love to share with the iPhone users. It is widely known that the new update tends to improvise on the performance of the OS which ultimately helps in getting better output from the existing hardware. But this update has shown a new insight into how the iPhone can be made run much better even after the update.

The key hidden feature

The latest update brings a relatively new kind of fancy file system which plays a judgement role in freeing up the storage space on the OS. But this isn’t the only major improvement made in the iOS by the developers at the Apple. One of the Apple engineer going by the name of Renaud Lienhart has revealed on the Twitter one of the undocumented tweak implement in the OPS. This particular tweak has helped in improving the performance of the iPhone to a whole new extent.

What this tweak is all about? 

The update iOS 10.3 brings a wide range of snappier animation for the OS which allows it to perform exceptionally well. All the animation present on iOS was tweaked as well as shortened to a great extent by the team of the Apple engineers.

The animation which has been the talking point in the whole case of performance boosting relates to almost every aspect of the operating system experience. This animation can be seen in the opening, closing or switching between different apps. It would be absurd to think that simply optimizing the animation will help in getting better performance out a device. Rather this has helped in improving the responsiveness of the OS to the user’s commands or gestures which ultimately gives a feeling of improved performance on the iPhone. This tiny change has made it easier to perform multitasking on the iPhone.

Why wait? Just Update to 10.3 & See the difference

If you are tired with the slow performance of your iPhone then waste no time and update your device to the latest 10.3 version. This will allow you to get the speed boost and it is very good thing to keep your device updated with the latest version of OS as it helps in safeguarding the devices from wide range of bugs and it brings a whole range of fixes. A major bug has been rooted from the iOS with this update which is called Safari ransom bug. In short 10.3 update not just speeds up your iPhone but it also helps in keeping device secure against the bugs.

New iPhone 8 Details Reveal Impressive Advanced Technology

Credit: Oscar Luna Martinez

Apple’s famous rival has already launched its flagship devices for this year’s sales but Apple is quiet about the development made into the creation of next iPhone 8. Samsung has been smart in launching the Galaxy S8 with a revamped refreshing design and thereby gets the advantage of getting into the market first. However Apple is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that iPhone 8 remains the elite device for the consumers to purchase during the last quarter of this year.

Removal of iconic physical home button

Samsung has simply paved way for the Apple to ditch the physical button with the launch of the Galaxy S8. Apple is certainly expected the follow the lead with the removal of the physical home button in the iPhone 8 as per the rumors. And once Apple does it then it will become a trend for other mobile OEMs to follow in the upcoming days but Apple is known for giving a huge boost on its each move. Removing the button will not be a simple affair rather Apple is working towards bringing such a technology which brings more features and functionalities right to the screen to compensate for the removal.

Fingerprint sensor will move away from the front

With Galaxy S8 Samsung has removed the fingerprint sensor from top to the bottom of the device by placing it right beside the camera. Though this move is bit awkward and it will take considerable before one gets accustomed to it. Apple has worked all the year to bring a credible solution for this as per the rumors where fingerprint scanning functionality will be embedded right beneath the touch screen.

Curve design to debut on iPhone

It might appear that Apple is simply ripping off all the important design elements of the Samsung Galaxy S8 in its upcoming iPhone 8. But it is other way around. Reports have already in the media for past six detailing most of the advancement and dramatic design which is expected to be implemented on the upcoming device. Samsung is just reaping the benefit of coming in the market first which such a kind of device.

Apple has worked in close association with a number of suppliers to come with an advanced curved display which works in sync with its homegrown technologies. iPhone 8 will certainly embrace the curved display trend which was pioneered by the Samsung but it will be completely optimized for the iOS platform to lend a completely new persona.

iPhone set to feature a new Touch ID sensor

Apple will be bringing a different style of TouchID sensor for the iPhone 8. Earlier it has been widely reported that Apple is planning to do away with the iconic physical home button with the use of ‘discrete ultrasonic transducers’. This will allow Apple to add some interesting gestures support and lot of magical feature right into the screen which can become the talk of the planet for the rest of the year.

How to Use Find My AirPods Feature in iOS 10.3

One of the pioneers of creating high tech gadgets, Apple has never failed to surprise its customers. Yet again, Apple has come up with something new that is bound to awe its loyal customers. The company has recently released iOS 10.3 officially, and as usual it is packed with a host of surprises. AirPods users would find themselves lucky, for the gadget’s updated version is all set to amuse the users. The Find My iPhone feature is now available on AirPods, and it would make the process of finding misplaced AirPods incredibly easy.

Easier to locate misplaced earbuds 

The feature called Find My Airpods is new and thus a few glitches are quite common. This AiPod feature is not quite sophisticated as the iPhone one, as one has to connect their iPhone to their AirPods for making this new feature functional. This also means that if the two devices are present not quite close to each other, the feature will not operate. However, Apple is known for its constant customer dedication and thus every AirPod user can be assured that the company will try its best to find the misplaced device. This new feature is accessible just like the other ‘Find’ services for Apple Watch, iPod, iPad, and Mac.

Find My AirPod 

For using this new and enhanced Apple feature, simply log into the Find iPhone application, and find ‘AirPods’ in the list of available devices. From there, you will find where all the Apple products including the Airpods are located. For locating the AirPod only, tap the option given and you’ll find an option which will allow you to play a song on the device. You’ll also find a similar option which will allow you to mute the right or left AirPod for stopping the music. The feature of stopping the music is provided to help you locate only one of them if you’ve not misplaced both. Although, the sound emitted isn’t that loud, but it is enough to find a misplaced earbud in a moderately quiet environment.

Keep it connected with the iPhone 

For those of you, who have started using iPhone or AirPods for not that long need to know that the feature will only work if the AirPods are connected to the iPhone. In case, your device isn’t connected to the AirPods or you’ve misplaced them in some other location you will only get to see its last location. Even if you press the ‘play sound’ button you’ll receive a screen pop up saying ‘sound pending’. However, while most of us are in the habit or losing or misplacing earbuds, this function will be a boon for all Apple users.

It’s quite useful for tracing nearby AirPods. Even though Apple has made it far easier to locate misplaced gadgets (that are expensive), losing them at a faraway location might make it difficult for you to locate. Inspite of this slight technical hurdle, the feature is advantageous and even more applaud able is the gadgets wireless design. So, if you’ve invested in AirPods no need to fret if you’ve managed to misplace it. Apple’s impeccable features will help you locate the device and save you from the hassle of buying new ones.

How to Enable Theater Mode on Apple Watch in watchOS 3.2

With lots of innovative devices and wearable gadgets, Apple has now gathered attention from many tech enthusiasts. Apple watches have also become the preferred products to the consumers, though they are used by people for different purposes. Some users like to utilize it as simply a timepiece, while others want to consider it as a kind of workout tracking system. To most of the consumers, Apple Watch involves a very simple or uncomplicated design. However, it turns out to be flashy to some people, while the screen lights up now and then.

Want to stop flashing of Apple Watch? Use Theatre Mode-

Whether you’re watching something in a theatre or driving a vehicle, this flickering of Apple Watch is quite disturbing to you. That is why Apple has updated watchOS 3.2 with the addition of a special feature to prevent the issue. Theater Mode is the newest feature, which allows all users to get rid of the problem. While you have activated this mode, the timepiece becomes silent. However, you will be able to access the screen only by tapping or pressing Digital Crown. This type of feature may be compared to flight mode, which you often find in Smartphone. But, it does not interfere with the function of wireless system, though it retains the silence of other things.

To say more clearly, the screen of your Apple Watch screen will not get lighted up whenever you are moving around your own hands very frequently. Moreover, you may not hear any sound of notification. But, though notifications will not stop reaching your device, the display area can never flicker.

Know the way to turn on the new mode-

When you have not installed new firmware of Apple, you need to do it instantly. Choose the option- General, and then click on- Software Update. It may allow you to have the new update on your wearable device. Connect your gadget to a source of power and install it.

• After installing this firmware, you may access Theater Mode option, offered by Apple. In order to have the interface, you need to swipe up the display part to the upward direction from base of the watch. You may instantly have a view of different things, such as, current percentage of battery and different icons (Don’t Disturb).
• An icon of AirPlay may get shifted towards the bottom part to create a place for Theater Mode. Until a new different icon is seen, you need to keep on scrolling Control Center. 
• Touch the icon for Theater Mode to get extra information. It lets you know that this mode activates Silent Mode, keeping your display dark. 
• After pressing the button, you will automatically have the benefits from this new mode. No matter, whether you’re lifting up your wrist, its screen may stay dark without causing diversion. 

Thus, with this few steps, you can make use of Apple smartwatch in your own way. However, if needed, you may also deactivate the function.

Apple Opens Lottery Registration for WWDC 2017

Apple’s developer conference is one of the most prestigious developer conferences in the world of technology. It is extremely tough to get the entry tickets as it costs around $1600 and there are innumerable numbers of people who are still willing that much of money. For last few years Apple has been using the lottery system in order to secure fewer number of ticket holders who can be accommodated at the venue. But this year Apple has decided to open the lottery for the WWDC 2017 which mean more people will have a rational chance of getting into the coveted conference.

If you are looking to join the developer’s conference then get about booking the seat before March 31 at 10 AM. Apple will simply collect the credit card number in order to charge for the ticket in the said person is elected for the conference. The second most amazing thing about this year’s conference is that it will be happening right in San Jose. It will take during June 5-9, 2017. Apple has moved away from San Francisco event due to rising cost and it is move around the officials, engineers and developers from the head-office to the conference without wasting too much of money.

How the day unfolds at the conference? 

Each year Apple begins the conference on a kickoff keynote right on the first day to keep the people engaged. In the later days major announcements are made and different segment of the presentation are done for over the week long period. The best part about the developer conference is that the attendant gets a chance to have a look at the upcoming products or services from Apple stable. Most of the time upcoming version of the Apple’s varied operating system is showcased to the audience by focusing on the advancement made in the new iteration.

Expectation from WWDC 2017

This year Apple is expected to unveil the upcoming version of the iOS as well as mac OS along with AppleTV OS and the iwatch OS. In short all the four operating system designed for iPhone, iPad, MacBooks, Apple TV and Apple Watch will get a significant boost in their features. This isn’t breaking news as most of the Apple MacBook line-up has been due for an update for quite some-time. Some are even expecting news to drop regarding upcoming iPhone models but that news is always revealed in the November event which explicitly deals with the launch of new products.

Apple has also unveiled the ‘Code of Conduct’ online which lists down the way in which attendants are expected to behave during the conference. It basically aims to provide a harassment free conference for everyone though upholding the best in class services, behaviour and respect for all communities. This year’s event will be lot closure to the Apple’s headquarters which will allow the opportunity to the Apple’s engineer and other officials to make their way to & fro the conference with ease and simplicity.

What to Consider Before Buying Cheaper iPad and Red iPhone

We know that it was in 2010, when Apple launched the first iPad model in this world. Till now, this company has promoted lots of models, starting from iPad Air version to Mini.

Apple has made an announcement about its launch of two new products, which have something special that may instantly attract the users. Perhaps, many of you have not planned to buy iPad because it is too much pricy. However, the most exciting news for you is that a new iPad model has been released at a lower rate. Another product, which may draw the attention of gadget lovers, is the red colored iPhone. Thus, if you have decided to purchase some exclusive products of Apple, you may choose these two latest models.

Cheaper model of iPad- What you get with it-

Though the new iPad is cheaper in price, its size (9.7 in.) gives it a very stylish look. The present price rate for this product is $469, and you may avail it in three shades- grey, gold and silver. If you look for an alternative of iPad Air 2, then this cheaper model is the best option. However, it is almost twenty percent thicker, in compared to the previous models, though its weight is about 469g.

Philip Schiller, associated with the company, has stated that lots of users will prefer this screen size- 9.7-inch. This screen is best for movies, browsing the internet, making video calls with friends and also enjoying the snaps. As all these things are available at a lower cost, the customers may be happy with the new model. So, you may replace your old iPad to have an upgrade. Whether you are using the cheaper model at the home or office, the special features, like A9 chip and Retina Display make everything convenient for you. In addition to it, you may access millions of apps, which are intended only for this model.

However, you must not confuse 9.7-inch model with the Pro line version. Moreover, the storage section has also been improved in case of iPad mini as you can get 128 GB for storing data.

Red iPhone- Why Apple has made newer approach with RED-

Now, let us talk about the new RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. With aluminum structure and the matte red color, these models look quite superb. You may get 256GB storage space with this iPhone 7. These latest iPhones are accessible to all users in the USA and several other nations.

Red products always seem to appear excellent, and there is a reason for adding such red color to the iPhones. So, many users are excited to know why Apple has marketed the new version with a different color. The company has made collaboration with the campaign- Product Red in order to prevent AIDS all over the world. However, some say that it is rather crimson rather than red. Thus, buy any of the latest products, released by Apple, and get some exceptional features with them.

Why Apple's red iPhones are not 'Red' in China

Tech lovers, who are enthusiastic of using iPhone, perhaps always wait for the release of new handsets of Apple. So, when Apple has recently launched Red version of iPhone 7, everyone becomes excited to have an experience of using the stylish model. Apple has started a campaign with the name- Product Red, and it has comprised all its red colored accessories, including iPods and headphones. The company has planned to sell Red iphone 7 with its red color in order to back up RED- an AIDS or HIV charitable trust.

This campaign of Apple will surely increase awareness of people internationally and produce more funds because each of the deals is to be counted as donation to the stated organization. A specific part of every red colored gadget, sold in the market, will help in funding a group that is working hard for struggling against the serious disease, mainly in Africa. This affiliation has recently led to the contribution of one hundred thirty million dollar. CEO of Apple has said that Apple is now the major corporate supporter to their fund.

No relevance of charity RED in iPhone models for Chinese citizens-

The latest edition of Apple Red iPhone is intended to be made available in more than forty nations of this world. However, the most interesting fact is that the handset is not presented in China as red edition by promoting the charity. It is known to all that China has a high possibility to make large number of sales. But, still, the Red iPhone edition has not been promoted there. The perceptive online users have made out that the marketing strategy, used by Apple for the new version, in China and Taiwan is not same. If you look at Apple’s website, intended for Chinese citizens, you may see that iPhone 7 has no mentioning of the charity RED. Rather, it reveals some other information, such as, time and date for launching the model.

Possible reasons for which Apple has not promoted the campaign in China-

You should not think it to be a mistake of Apple. AIDS and HIV are one of the complicated issues in the country of China. Some agencies have also raised a warning about the threatening AIDS problem of China.

Though a significant amount of advancement has been seen among young generation, government strategies have not been able to prevent the increase of this grave syndrome among homosexual guys in the country. So, it has been guessed that Apple has considered AIDS to be a very sensitive subject to Chinese iPhone users.

There is another presumption behind of avoidance of Red branding in the nation of China. A media has claimed that the iPhone manufacturer has understated its relation with RED, after posting Dalai Lama’s image on a social networking site. China thinks this personality to be a separatist. Though there is no proof to confirm such reason, many Chinese people have criticized Apple’s campaign due to their step for wishing birth anniversary to Dalai Lama.

Allen Liao Got Investors from Apple for an Idea He Created

The world depends heavily on technologies now a days. With the innovation, we have dealt and experienced the impossible ones. We are defined by the choices we make and the profession that we would like to pursue. Sometimes, we often hear about the college drop outs who then later went to become the game changer of the world. Well, many of us might not be aware of Allen Liao but his skills and ideas brought a great change in the digital market and technological world.

THE START-UP

Allen was about to replace his friend’s expensive eye wear when he came out with an idea to replace the glass. So he created a solution – unlosable glasses. To create the history they required almost more than two years to design the tiny electronics embedded with new software and also sophisticated manufacturing process. His company had the support from the high tech leaders which made him go forth with his idea. It is quite remarkable to note the number of investors which included the former employees of Apple, WordPress founders and many more. Allen was not afraid to take the deal which got him the success he wanted. The list of investors was quite impressive and fascinating as almost the big companies started investing for him and his unique product and solution. The investors just used to send a normal email and that was enough to reach him.

THE GLASS

The product is often considered to be complicated as the process of manufacturing this product is not that easy but the concept is easy to understand. A Bluetooth device is embedded inside the glass which is known as the Bluetooth beacon which sends out the signals to connect with the Tzukuri App. If the glasses are left behind, then you would be notified with the latest GPS location in your Tzukuri App. The interesting part is that if you have lost your glasses or you are looking for it, the algorithms developed within this embedded glass will tell you the distance that you are away from it. The glass was made stylish keeping in interests of the digital market. The batteries that are used in this glass are special Silver Zinc Oxide cells which keep the charge for a month after a complete charge of the battery. This is indeed fascinating and useful.

THE FUTURE

The glass is well developed with the embedded technology. This will be change over for the tech savvy guys. This will set a benchmark for all the market leaders in the tech market well. A unique property for this product is that it is heat resistant. The great part is that already he has received orders worth more than 50000$. But you need to come and visit his store to try out the gadget as you can’t do this online. So brace up and experience the change in the future with the new glass. Thanks to Allen who have been set this mark in a young age of just 23.

Apple Patent Reveals Docking Gadget to Turn iPhone and iPad Into Computer

Day n day out we experience a change in our lives. The change in the technological world is inevitable and we are quite surprised by the way the change has occurred. Thanks to the great and top companies in the world which has shaped our lives in a great deal. Well, we are quite familiar with the best phone in the world and that is iPhone developed by Apple. Needless to say, that these phones have the best features and designs in the world. There has been a recent update in the Apple arena that the iPhones or iPads are soon going to work like a complete computer. To be more specific, they will function like the famous Mac book of Apple. Apple’s patent have decided to with this outstanding approach.

THE PLAN 

The US Patent and Trademark Office has published a statement saying that the iPhone would be turned into the MacBook-like shell and power it using the smartphone. This is called the electronic accessory device. Well, the plan is that the touch pad of the Mac book is the place where you can dock your iPhone. There were some images being released on this concept. The Mac book will have everything including the screen, GPU ports, and keyboard. Only the screen of the iPhone will act as a tracking pad. It will also drive the whole unit as well. Well, some speculations is that the screen of the iPhone is inside the laptop chassis.

THE ASSURANCE

The reports have been stated in the Apple Insider but there are still no confirmation from the Cupertino labs whether they are going with this idea of turning the dump laptop terminal into the smart with the help of an iPhone. Well, it is not clear that how the synchronisation would be done in between the smartphone and laptop. The patents are trying out to figure of how to charge both the iPhone and the laptop in one go. So, Apple may have to try our something different from the earlier companies which have tried doing this.

THE FUTURE

It is too early to come to a conclusion now as there have been no confirmed news on this. It is not a new concept but how they bridge the gap is the thing that the common mass are looking forward. It will be big step towards the portability as well as saving the energy. The report also states that the iPad may become the screen for other versions of laptops. People who travel heavily will get a relief as the laptops would be light as well as they won’t have to face the problems of charging. So, now people are in a confused state whether to go for the iPhone 8 later this year or just test their patience for this docking gadget. It is surely going to create a great landmark in the tech market if launched within a few months.