Tim Cook Confirms Apple's Focus on Self Driving Car

Self driving car: news, rumors, facts and information on iCar

Under the cover "Project Titan", Apple is researching an electric and self driving car. All information, rumors and pictures can be found here at Macmyth.com

Apple's plans for self-propelled cars are now official - even if it remains unclear how far the iPhone Group wants to push into the business with the mobility of the future. Apple was given permission to test self driving car on public roads in California. The approval, made public on 14 April 2017 by the US traffic authority, is the clearest indication of the ambitions of the smartphone and computer manufacturer in the competitive future market for autonomous driving. Apple is the 30th company to which one has issued in the most populous US state such a license.

Strong competition

Although Apple's commitment to robotic self driving car has long been considered as an open secret, it has never been publicly confirmed by the Group itself. The clearest hint so far has been a letter to the US traffic authority NHTSA, in order to contribute to the guidelines for self driving car. Apart from that, it merely meant that mobility is an interesting future market.

Apple first started the development of its own electric vehicles up to first prototypes a few years ago, but the project then focused on robotic self driving car software. According to data from the traffic authority, the approval has now been issued for three converted Lexus SUVs. GoogleSEO for beginners also started with modified series cars before the Internet company sent its electric two-seater on its own.

Rivals such as Google's parent company Alphabet with its subsidiary Waymo, as well as major players from the automotive sector, such as Volkswagen, Daimler's Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, Ford, General Motors and Tesla, have long been permitted to test robotic cars in California. It was only recently that the transport authority was not able to test its self driving car without such permission, but the traffic authorities did not play along.

Although Apple's commitment to robotic cars has long been an open secret, the Group has not yet publicly confirmed it. The clearest hint so far has been a letter to the US traffic authority NHTSA, in order to contribute to the guidelines for self-propelled cars. Apart from that, it merely meant that mobility is an interesting future market.

Three test vehicles

Apple first started the development of its own electric vehicles up to first prototypes a few years ago, but the project then focused on self driving car software. According to data from the traffic authority, the group has now been granted approval for three converted Lexus SUVs. Google also started with modified series cars before the Internet company sent its electric two-seater on its own.

Leaks and rumours surrounding the new 10th-anniversary iPhone 8

Recently photos and information have leaked that appears to show that Apple is engaging in major overhauls involving their most famous product the Apple iPhone. Leaks appear to indicate that after spending years reiterating on the original iPhone design the iPhone 8 is going to be radically different from the phones that have come before.

The leaks come from a highly credible source named Steve Hemmerstoffer (Whose twitter username is @OnLeaks) He has said that these leaks are “sourced directly from the factory in charge of building the new iPhone”. Hemmerstoffer has worked with Tiger Mobile in the past and has proven to be a very credible source in the past. The leaked images show a very different style of phone. The iPhone 8's measurements will be, according to the leaks, 143.5 x 71 x 7.5 mm. These measurements would make the iPhone 8 appear very short for what is traditionally sold. Another feature is the protruding dual camera. This will perhaps make the phone slightly more difficult to use on flat surfaces as the uneven back will mean the phone will have trouble resting on flat surfaces. However, the massive 5.8-inch high-resolution display is a huge boon for the phone. There also seems to be space for the ios 11 function area. The edges also appear to be curved on both sides which are also a new design. Another feature is the lack of rear fingerprint scanner and physical home button. There does not appear to be any increase in battery size.

The other leak is sourced from a case maker named Olixar. Olixars leaks match up almost perfectly to Hemmerstoffer’s leaks. However, the size is slightly different with Olixar saying that the iPhone 8 will be 145 x 73 x 9mm. This leaker has previously correctly leaked the iPhone 7, Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8. Olixar is a retail partner with Mobile Fun and they have released videos showing off the official iPhone 8 case and screen projectors. This video even compares the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 7.

Other then these leaks there have been various rumours floating around about the iPhone 8. For example, there has been rumours that Apple is planning on using glass as its main material in the iPhone 8. This would greatly help them in their competition with Samsung as this would mean that Apple has discovered a way to put the handset's fingerprint beneath into the screen.

Another rumour has it that Apple is planning to deliver a handset with a wireless charging option. This is an option Samsung already provides. Apple had (allegedly) considered wireless charging for the iPhone 7 but in the end, it was not available upon release.

One interesting rumour is that the iPhone 8 will have a flexible plastic OLED display rather than an LCD display. This would mean the device would consume less power and offer a better display and possibly higher contrast ratios and more realistic colour. The iPhone 8 is also expected to be waterproof but may even improve upon previous iterations in its water resistance.

Internally the iPhone 8 is expected to have a 10-nanometer A11 chip this would mean that the iPhone 8 will be far faster and more battery efficient than previous models. Iris, Facial and gesture recognition are also rumoured to be included in the new Apple iPhone. 3d sensing capabilities have also been rumoured. However, it is important to note that none of these features have been confirmed by Apple or the leakers.

This new phone is a massive step forward for Apple. They are radically changing their traditional designs which could continue to their iPad and other products . This is most likely in an attempt to stay competitive in an increased competition driven market. The iPhone 8 will be facing up against the hotly anticipated Pixel 2 and it will be quite the clash of the titans to see who comes out on top in an ever increasingly saturated market. There is currently no release date announced for the Iphone 8 but it is expected to be officially announced very soon with a release date to follow shortly.

Apple Leak 'Confirms' iPhone 8 is Massive

Apple iPhone 8: Display with mega resolution

This year it has Apple has to celebrate the release of iPhone 8! This cries formally after a glorious keynote with features that the world has not yet seen. Especially Samsung has done with the Galaxy S8. As always, Apple remains silent, of course. Luckily there are the rumors and talkative suppliers: These sources provide daily information on the iPhone 8. When it comes? For mid-September, many Apple employees have received a holiday lock - this could be a hint.

And apropos Samsung Galaxy S8: A first comparison with Samsung's super smartphone is already there. The hitherto most pertinent reports: Foxconn employees have talked on reddit times really from the sewing box, a supplier has confirmed a wireless shop and first sharp pictures of the new iPhones have dived. Macmyth.com bursts through the rumors and collects all news about the hottest smartphone of the year - the Apple iPhone 8.

All rumors about the iPhone 8:

June 23, 2017: Gigantic Resolution?

Forbes reports that the display of the iPhone 8 is not only huge but also extremely high resolution. According to the report, the upcoming Apple smartphone will offer 2800x1342 pixels. For comparison, the iPhone 7 Plus brings it to 1920x1080 pixels.

Behind such a resolution, however, is actually a plan stuck - because only for the display of existing apps the display would be completely overqualified. A new VR or AR function is therefore possible in combination with VR glasses - because at low resolutions one sees in this situation every pixel. If the rumors, the iPhone 8 could turn out to be a real VR-cracker

June 19, 2017: Protective glass confirms design

It seems safe: The iPhone 8 has (almost) no edge around the display. This is confirmed not only by all rumors almost in unison, but also manufacturers of accessories jump on the train. The British dealer MobileFun has offered a protective glass for the iPhone 8 for a few days. Although the device is not yet on the market, you are obviously sure that the thick edge only a small area for cameras and speakers remains. If we assume that the dealer does not produce the product for the ton, then the display of the iPhone 8 is really a real eye-catcher.

iPhone 8: Design

For three years, Cupertino has been content with the iPhone-6 design and only made tiny changes during this time. No wonder that there are now much more modern devices in the Android camp. Apple would, in any case, reduce the border - both at the sides as well as above and below. Because even if the iPhone 7 looks like a modern smartphone: the front shows too little display.

In addition to this, Twitter user KK Sneak Leaks uploaded pictures of the "finished" iPhone 8 and showed that the display shows the entire front face, the home button virtually disappears behind glass and distracts nothing from the screen. A similar theory is behind the dummy of Benjamin Geskin, which according to own data shows an (empty) model of Foxconn.

There is also no touch-ID sensor on the back and the display covers the entire front. The latest images are currently available at reddit and Geskin, both of which match the rumors so far: more front-panel display and a clean back. And the touch-ID sensor? This could actually wander in the power button if one looks at this patent.

iPhone 8: Hardware

As far as the hardware is concerned, the rumored kitchen simmers slowly. It is almost certain that Apple is again switching the processor and for the iPhone 8 with the Apple A11. This should be a 10-nanometer-FinFET-CPU, which uses less electricity due to its new architecture and works more efficiently. In the battle for minutes, the A11 would thus be an important building block - even if the batteries are reported to grow significantly.

With a new Logic Board, the iPhone-7-Plus battery should fit into the smaller case and the 5.5-inch model will provide even more power. Together with an OLED screen, a two-day running time seems to be within reach. To round off this idea, other rumors and the statement of an insider attest to the iPhone 8 finally also cable chargers. Like the Apple Watch, the rechargeable battery is also inductive. The memory of the iPhone 8 is still a maximum of 256 gigabytes.

Still a good news: Presumably, the outdated 32 gigabytes versions from the iPhone 8 are a thing of the past and the entry starts at 64 gigabytes. In terms of memory, it is probably at 3 gigabytes, however, iOS in everyday life has not yet shown by its sluggish side. Another exciting rumor: Forbes reported that the display resolution is huge 2800x1342 pixels - that would be more than twice as sharp, as is currently the case with the iPhone 7 Plus.

iPhone 8: Cameras

Main attention of a smartphone is generally the snaps. In the iPhone 7, Apple already installed the sometimes best mobile cameras on the market, the iPhone 8 is probably already something again. According to rumors, the cameras offer an optical image stabilization and may even allow 3D effects in photos. There should also be new developments in the arrangement of the lenses, which are in the iPhone 8 one under the other instead of next to each other - the at least a user claims on Twitter, which wants to upload real pictures. Other rumors confirm this regularly.

Has Apple for the Friends of Selfies on the iPhone 8 an ace in the sleeve - is it really a special feature? A new system consisting of three modules supports 3D capabilities that allow, for example, recordings for augmented or virtual reality (AR / VR) or iris unlocking. There are hardly any rumors about the megapixel number of both cameras; Fortunately, this idle discussion has now moved into the background.
Apple iPhone X: design study in retro style

iPhone 8 Connections: Does USB-C?

The "Wall Street Journal" wants to know from a well-informed source that Apple is thinking about a farewell to Lightning. Therefore, instead of a USB-C socket. Whether the change already on the iPhone 8 comes to bear, is questionable.

Only recently, the AirPods were released and put on Lightning as a charging port. Therefore it is probably - if at all - only at the iPhone 9 or iPhone 10 so far. Logically, the change would be nevertheless, because in particular users of several Apple devices, such as a MacBook Pro and an iPhone, do not currently have the possibility to use the included Lightning headphones also on the Mac - a mistake in the otherwise interlocking product range, not from Duration. On the other hand, internal sources say that it remains with Lightning.

iPhone 8 & 7S: How many iPhones will it be?

The fact that the iPhone 8 may appear as a very special smartphone, insiders and experts agree. Only under what designation Apple introduces the particularly expensive and noble mobile phone, the spirits separate. In addition to the iPhone 8, the names "Anniversary Edition" and "iPhone X" - both are references to the 10th anniversary of the brand. A Japanese website brings another option into play:

One wants to have found out that Apple the mobile phone under the label "iPhone Edition" issues. This is not a fake, but the most expensive version of the Apple Watch came with this name. Does Apple really release three smartphones, most of which customers do not want to have two? What would an iPhone 7S if there were the successor at the same time? Does this point remain unclear until the day of the keynote?

iPhone 8: Release

And when the new models come - when is it time? September, you should think. But other rumors start from two events this year. So the iPhone Edition is not to appear with the other two iPhone-7S models in the autumn, but by solo appearance at the end of the year, possibly in November. The reason for this may be that the development of the smartphone is not completed.

According to the report, Apple is still experimenting with several prototypes to find out which is best suited for mass production. These should include devices with LCD and AMOLED display as well as variants with aluminum, glass and ceramic housing.

BusinessInsider reports that the financial experts published a report starting from a 2018 release in early May. Based on the details of ValueWalk, the shift is as follows: Apple plans for the iPhone 8 numerous new functions and a fresh design. The parts for the assembly are however not available in sufficient number so that Apple is not able to build by the end of the year enough iPhones of the next generation. Instead, it gives the iPhone 7S, so more time to work on the iPhone 8. But can Apple really miss the anniversary? Probably would be an announcement in September despite all circumstances, but very long delivery times. So, everything is open.

iPhone 8: Price

That does not sound good at all. The Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski reports that the iPhone 8 could become the most expensive smartphone of the company's history. Keep it right, then the iPhone appears only with 128 GB or 256 GB, so that all entry-level variants were dropped. The prices of the devices count with 999 US dollar and 1.099 US dollar - that would be 25 percent surcharge! In the USA, the price for the entry-level model would, therefore, be the first time in the four-digit range. Currently, the iPhone 7 with 128 GB of memory there costs 749 US dollars. Applying the percentage price increases of the US dollar prices would be on the price tag of the iPhone 8 with 128 GB of memory an amount of approximately 1,100 euros.

Apple's New iPad-Pro in the Test: Tablet Power in Large Format

Even if the iPhone is significantly more popular: Apple is struggling to keep its tablet attractive. The iPad Pro gets a bigger display and more computing power for the AR and VR in the latest version. Reason enough for an update? Macmyth tested it.

One would think one day, Apple would start the ideas of how the iPad could become even better. After all, the CPU has been running at a much faster pace than normal users actually need. The display is also convincing: no other touchscreen on the tablet market can be seen more sharply and more responsively. And the battery holds for days. Admittedly, the speakers are poor. But this is mainly due to physics - where there is a lack of volume because the iPad has become too slim, Apple engineers can not do anything about.

So much more amazing, however, that Apple has nevertheless succeeded in improving the iPad Pro in its latest version significantly. This starts with the display: so far, Apple and most buyers in the 9.7-inch screen of the predecessor model looked the perfect size for a tablet that was just 435 grams. Now the developers have accommodated more screen space in the same housing: With the new iPad Pro, the display measures 10.5 inches in the diagonal (about 26.7 centimeters), and who are looking for an even larger screen can go to the model with 12.9 inches diagonal (About 32.8 centimeters).

In addition, the already fast-paced processor with the A10X Fusion chip has, even more, computing power - not for Netflix, but for the age of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). This also benefits the touchscreen. Even the previous iPad Pro convinced with its rich contrast, bright and low-reflection screen. The new display is one more thing, doubling the refresh rate - the so-called refresh rate.

This may sound like developer gibberish, but it is important to understand that a refresh rate of 120 hertz means that the image is updated 120 times per second. And the more often the image is built, the fewer jerks are shown in fast movements.

The improvement of the hardware is also shown when working with the Apple Pencil. My (lousy) characters and the (hasty) writing of notes felt more natural because there was no disturbing delay. This is certainly due to the shorter response times of the display, but also to the ability of the iPad Pro to be one step ahead of its users: the handwriting of most people is in the same direction and short pauses in writing. Apple is trying to deduce how the next hand movement might look - and if necessary, to correct itself in the blink of an eye. This works remarkably well: For me, the writing with the Apple Pencil on the screen felt like on paper.

In terms of the display, the diagonal of 10.5 inches proves to be perfect for users and developers: the high resolution of 2224x1668 pixels ensures a sharp image impression and allows the iPad to adapt each app independently to the iPad-Pro display; Neither the developers have to intervene, nor is it due to conversions to faded images.

The 10.5 inch diagonal also means plenty of space for the embedded keyboard when the iPad is transversal and fills the bottom half of the screen. It comes almost from the size of a conventional laptop keyboard. For my taste, writing on a hardware keyboard like Apple's Smart Keyboard or similar keyboards from third-party vendors is still much more pleasant. It just feels strange to pan on the glass when the iPad is crosswise.

The fact that Apple has succeeded in accommodating a larger screen in the same housing is one of the least dramatic improvements for me. Clear: It looks good, and the increase in the display area is unmistakable. But we are not where we really want to go. Also, the new iPad Pro is just an intermediate step between past.

At least the increase in display size brings no disadvantages with it. The iPad Pro never confused my grasping hands with a deliberate finger tap, and it did not happen that my fingers suddenly caught sight of the view or were otherwise in the way. And that more screen size also means more fingerprints, which have to be wiped off from time to time, was clear anyway - every tablet after a few minutes is greasy. Since the iPad Pro is no exception.

At the Apple developer conference at the beginning of June, programmers had a nice surprise. With ARKit, it would be easy to develop augmented reality applications for iOS devices in the future. At the conference, Apple executives introduced a rousing AR game and built a scene for Star Wars - before all eyes on the stage. Almost everyone involved held iPads in their hands: A display that is so great is the perfect window into the world of Augmented Reality, explained to me later one of the Apple managers.

In the iPad Pro, the same camera module as in the iPhone 7 - but is not intended for best snapping.

That's why the iPad Pro now features the same camera module as in the iPhone 7 - but not so that you can stretch the tablet at the concert to take photos from the audience and take everyone's view. But to get a better view of the other side of the world with the camera and screen, through the iPad, which can enrich all recordings with information.

Sure, the software team lags a whole few months behind. The new iPad Pro - like all iPads - will be able to take full advantage of such advances with iOS 11. The update of the software is announced for the fall and promises abundant new features, including many, which so far has never been mentioned in the same breath with the iPad.

This includes a built-in file management (similar to the Finder on the Mac) and the ability to drag and drop files back and forth between apps, but also for data exchange between different apps. Also, the dock should grow, so more app icons fit in. This is especially important for anyone who wants to use an iPad as an alternative to the laptop. And when iOS 11 is available then we should all want the largest screen we can only get.

At the moment, the wide-screen display makes little difference in the new iPad Pro. Just because there is suddenly more space, do not automatically grow your ideas, and nothing changes with the iPad. But wait and see: I've been able to play around with iOS 11 a bit, and I have to say it feels like a giant step towards the "computer for all purposes," to which Apple would like to make the iPad.

What would be the standard question that arises in every meeting: Is the purchase worthwhile? If you're looking for a new iPad - definitely! Probably no Apple tablet was ever as versatile as this new iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch version is similarly recommended, but feels more like a desktop device, not necessarily like something to take away. The outdated iPad Mini is probably just before its end, so better not buy more. Also, if you have an iPad, which is still working fast, do not necessarily have to access.

If there are cracks in the display, apps start to get lame, or if you're just stunned to stare at too much housing around the touch screen, there's the regular iPad (recently updated, from $446), Which is very suitable for videos or gaming. Or the iPad Pro, which costs from $815 and becomes the best tablet you have ever used. (In addition, if necessary USD122 for the Pencil and USD133 for the Magic Keyboard.) Either way, despite dropping iPad sales, Apple is doing everything to be a device that has long been among the best in its class, still a thing of beauty.

PRO: A larger display can never hurt, and this not only reacts faster but also provides a better picture. // Very long battery life of several days. // Very fast processor. // In conjunction with iOS 11, the iPad becomes a full-fledged computer.

CON: At least USD815 for the basic variant with only 64 GB of memory is quite expensive. In addition, there are extra costs for accessories such as an external keyboard or the Apple Pencil. // The XL display will only pay off properly when iOS 11 is available (probably in autumn 2017).

Apple Invents Wireless Charging iPhone Case Accessory using Millimeter Wave Technology

Next Generation iPhone – Integrate Wireless Charging

Patent application from Apple had been published on 15th June by the US Patent & Trademark Office relating to a next generation iPhone case which tends to integrate wireless charging. It had been observed by Apple that `the removable case could be couple to the electronic device by utilising wired as well as wireless paths which could be utilised in conveying power together with data between the case and the electronic device.
 Last month Patently Apple had posted a report titled – Apple Seeks License from FCC Covering new Wireless Millimeter Wave Technology Found in a Recent Patent Filing’. The first millimetre wave patent of Apple has appeared in April in framework with new wireless patch antennas. Present patent portrays that the latest iPhone case would utilise millimetre wave technology.

 Apple had indicated that this type of wireless charging could be utilised with forthcoming smart-glasses, head mounted systems, Apple Watch together with the other devices of Apple, known as well as unknown. Besides this, Apple noticed that `the removable case could also comprise of circuitry which tends to obtain wireless power from outside equipment and the circuitry which receives the wireless power could also receive wireless power at microwave frequency.

Power Established – Electronic Devices – Wired/Wireless Paths

The power established could be provided to the electronic device via wired as well as wireless paths. The removable case could also comprise of circuitry which wirelessly tends to communicate with the external equipment and a selection of antennas could be utilised in assisting beam steering.

The selection of antennas could help wireless communications in millimetre wave communications bands like communications band at 60 GHz or an alternate extremely high frequency communications bands. The electronic device together with the case could have individual intermediate frequency antenna construction to enable intermediate frequency signals for wireless transmission between the case and the device.

Millimeter wave technology, beyond a wireless charging iPhone case, can be utilised in other forthcoming wireless devices from smart-glasses, HMDs, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, headphones, television, Apple TV together with automobiles, wireless speakers and much more.

It had been noticed by Apple that antennas #40 could comprise of phased antenna selections together with other antenna structures for the purpose of handling millimetre wave communications, for handling near field communications, for handling communications from 700 – 2700 MHz, or also for handling communications at other appropriate frequencies.

Patent Application – Filed Q4 2015

The phase antenna selections may permit beams of signals which may be transmitted and/or received, to be steered in real time, for instance in enhancing wireless communications and/or wireless power transmission. Wireless circuitry #50 could comprise of baseband processors, up-converter and down-converter circuits, and transceiver circuits, circuits for controlling the operation of antennas in antenna selections, power circuitry, and transceiver circuitry for the purpose of handling wireless communications together with other wireless circuitry.

Transceiver electrical system of electrical system 50 could also cover wireless local area network transceiver circuitry which could accomplish 2.4 GHz as well as 5 GHz bands for Wi-Fi. The patent application of Apple had been filed in Q4 2015 and taking into account that this is a patent application, the time of this kind of product to market is not clear at this point of time.

Will iPhone 8 reposition its finger print sensor in the power button?

The Internet is going haywire over this question and there are reasons enough for doing so. Speculations over the repositioning of the finger print sensor in the new iPhone 8 were rife with two positions contending for the top spot; just below the display or on the back. Many experts seemed to have overlooked that there was a third option available and it seems like Apple have gone for that option as well.

How can we say so?

A new patent has been granted to Apple that has the illustration of an iPhone that is edge-to-edge stretched and has a finger print sensor imprinted on the power button located on top of the iPhone. Although it was earlier speculated that Apple will release its new iPhone 8 with an edge-to-edge design it was hardly anticipated that it would also relocate its finger print sensor on top of the phone. Rumors were doing the rounds about the new position which was expected to be at the back of the phone accommodating an edge-to-edge display but the third possibility seemed to have excluded everybody’s imagination and that can be another reason why Apple has gone with the third option. We all know how the company loves to have an element of surprise and that has also proved to be successful from their perspective.

But there are conflicting reports…

..about the location of the finger print sensor which serves as a touch identification function and is also deemed to be located exactly where it was in the previous models, at the bottom separated from the display. According to experts and leakers associated with Apple, the company will not change the position of the finer print sensor which has been so successful over the years and the officials do not want to experiment with something that has been so much approved by the users over the years.

The other contending position is also in the league with a group of experts going with that option. They suggest that the sensor will be relocated at the back of the phone’s body just beneath their iconic Apple logo.
Although the patent indicates otherwise

The patent which Apple had filed in the last month of the previous year clearly indicates that they want to relocate the sensor somewhere not seen before in other smartphones. The pushbutton was only button that has functioned to turn the phone ON and OFF over the years of smartphone evolution. Now Apple seeks to imbibe the functionality of the power button in a whole new sense by placing the finger print sensor on it.

This means that the power button functions dually as a Touch ID function and that the users will have to use the button more often than they used to earlier. The sensor sits cleanly at the top with a layer of sapphire or glass covering it from above. The finger print sensor is most likely to get thinner and hence users will have to roll their fingers over it.

Apple iOS 11 Update Ends Support for iPhone 5 and 5C

When Apple's iOS 11 mobile operating system will be launched later this year, it will not be made available for the iPhone 5 and 5C or the iPad 4. This just means that older devices will stop receiving software and security updates. Newer devices such as the iPhone 5S will receive the upgrade; however, apps that are older will stop working later.

This is the result of Apple’s verdict to terminate devices and apps that use 32-bit processors. iOS 11 will only work on a new iPhone and not on an old one as older phones use 34-bit processor whereas newer phones will have a 64-bit processor which permits the system to use a larger amount of memory. Since 2013, Apple’s devices have had 64-bit processors instead of 32-bit processors, when it was introduced with the iPhone 5S and the iPad Air.

This change will be challenging for app developers too. In the new version of the App store, apps that run only in 32-pit processors will fail to show up in the search results or be available from the tab under Purchase if they were previously downloaded. If the apps are updated to be 64-bit compatible, they will stop working on older phones which have 32-bit processors.

Warning Was Given Years Before

A 64-bit processor is faster in use as it can handle a large amount of data all at once, that is four billion times as much as compared to a 32-bit processor. This is why iOS 11 will work better with 64-bit processor. Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said that Apple gave warning for years about this migration to the 64-bit processor hardware but still many customers will be left blindsided with this news.

Most of the apps belonging to the last four years’ time period or so maybe compatible, provided they have not been updated since the year 2015. Way before iOS 11, when iOS 10.1 was released by Apple in October 2016, users functioning with an updated device would be warned through a message that it may slow down their phone.

 The upgrade to iOS 10.3 also includes a tool that detects apps that are not compatible with a 64-bit processor. The apps which are affected will be found under Settings > General > About > Applications > App Compatibility. Last year, it was revealed on a trading website that the iPhone 5 was one of the most popular handsets from the number of listings that were created. This new change in its functioning is likely to further disappoint owners.

Phasing out the 32-bit

All the updates to the current apps and new apps have had to ability to support 64-bit since June 2015, so any app that has been updated in the span of these last two years will remain unaffected. However, a few popular games and educational apps have not been upgraded from the time the 64-bit requirement was introduced.

These include apps from Fisher Price and WeeWorld. The 32-bit support for Mac is also likely to be phased out by Apple. The company informed developers at WWDC that Mac OS High Sierra would be the last device to have 32-bit capability without any adjustments.

All the new apps given to the Mac app store and all the updates to existing apps will need to be 64-bit compatible from June 2018. This new iOS 11 update will be available in about September as a free update for any iPhone and iPad that is supported.

Apple’s Homepod Is a Cautious Approach to the Connected Home

 
The new HomePod was announced at the WWDC and the company has managed to get a full and top-quality sound from such a small form factor. It is made up of a nice hardware and there is a lot happening on the back end creating the perfect audio experience. It also includes a six-mic arrangement that sonically takes a scan of the room the speaker is placed in. Other similar smart home hubs like the Echo, which is similar in terms of price, is no match for what the HomePod can duplicate sonically. Hence, one is able to see why Apple is leading in the speaker category. The audio function is primary here, unlike in devices such as Echo and Google Home. This makes the HomePod very useful as an apartment speaker for movies and music.
Apple has developed HomePod as a premium device with best quality in terms of build and performance. It keeps Steve Jobs’ original concept of use of music as the basis for launching newer products and services. It reflects on how the company launched Siri. The unique selling point of the iPhone was not its assistant and that came just as an added bonus. Same goes for the Apple TV where Siri’s function was available in few upgrades released post the product’s launch. Apple is attempting to introduce its smart assistant in users’ homes, but in a less obvious way. This is because the company recognises the home is the next area where consumer electronics sales will see a boost but its approach has not been hands-on.

HomePod as a Premium Device

Apple’s marketing approach for the HomePod has been totally different than Amazon. As it is in the field of commerce, Amazon’s profitability lies in the products it sells with the help of Alexa than the Alexa products themselves. Profitability for Apple comes in the form of sales of products and retaining users into Apple itself. To remain consistent in this, it is important that it maintains the same standard and quality experience it has built its name around while offering Siri. This can be clearly seen in the HomePod as it has such a unique design that completely eliminates ports, which is a typical character trait of Apple. Looking at its functions, if Mac Pro had to be transformed into a speaker, it could be called the HomePod.

Apple’s Home Assistant and Its Market Presence

Apple had a lot to catch up where its connected home play was concerned, before the WWDC keynote. The HomePod’s cost is nearly double than that of the standard Echo and can in no way compete with the Dot which is priced at $50. This has made Amazon’s offer an attractive option for those who want a simple smart assistant for their homes. For now, Apple’s focus is on offering a top-quality audio-experience than introducing Siri in as many homes as possible. This focus may alter as Apple tries to come up with more solutions that will include Siri or do it the way Amazon did it with Alexa, by allowing third-parties to introduce this function in their own smart home solutions. At present, Apple is losing market to Amazon swiftly as its focus is on delivering a premium product rather than attracting more sales.

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.