How Apple's Force Touch could change the way you use your next iPhone or iPad

Apple’s Force Touch – A Pressure Sensitive Display

The next iPhones of Apple would be announced next month which will be an `S’ year which means that if Apple tends to stick to the pattern it observed since 2008, the 2015 iPhones would maintain the same simple designs as the previous year’s model and concentrate instead on `under the hood’ enhancements. The big feature this year seems to be the Force Touch, a pressure sensitive display together with vibrating haptic beneath.

Apple had already released its two products this year which had Force Touch with each showing off their potential successes as well as pitfalls on what seems like Apple’s most prominent new technology of 2015. By definition haptic means any interaction involved with touch though there is a difference between advanced haptic and the vibration one gets on the phone. Rather than a buzz, one would feel a single tap or changing intensities of ripples.

Force Touch is a combination of pressure-sensitive display together with haptic feedback underneath. Game controllers such as the Xbox One tend to utilise the advanced haptic to develop rumble feelings as well as controller feedback. Apple’s Force Touch is appealing due to the introduction of a pressure sensitive touch display and most of the everyday touch screens presently available are not pressure sensitive.

Force Touch Trackpad – Send Variable Levels of Pressure

Apple Watch has Force Touch built in its display. The new Retina MacBooks, the Pro as well as the 12-inch have Force Touch enabled trackpads though they feel totally unlike from each other. The MacBook’s’ trackpad feel same like a regular trackpad though its click is a delusion – it is really using haptic.

A nested double click occurs between the first click and what occurs when one press down further, that extra second click tends to trigger contextual action such as a variation of right click. On a site, it tends to bring up definition of words or phrases one may highlight. At the time of video playback, it could organise change playback speed.

Force Touch trackpad tends to send variable levels of pressure though presently its use is being discoveredsubtly. However, it feels like a real button click. The software keyboard with Force Touch on an iPad will be very interesting.

Bigger Screened iPad Pro – Worked with Haptic Feedback/Force Sensitive Display

A bigger screened iPad Pro that had been rumoured for years worked with haptic feedback, force sensitive display together with a special stylus.

This proposes true pressure sensitive drawing and painting for artists, a feature which has made specialized styluses as well as input pads beneficial for graphic design. Microsoft Surface Pro already measures pressure sensitivity with the stylus as well as the Samsung S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 5.

 However an extra layer of feedback through haptic on the iPad could be utilised in developing sensations of textures or could sense borders or layers. Apple needs to make sure that force Touch does more than stand in for the type of touch and hold actions which exist already to bring up menus, or pull up extra actions such as deleting apps or copying and pasting photos as well as text. It is essential to feel like a useful, extra dimension of control and to be well integrated across apps and iOS 9.

Apple's New Blueprint for Your Next iPad

Blueprint of Apple’s Rumoured iPad

There was a point when tablets had filled every space in the group with consumer having a wide choice but over a period of time, the markets began splitting. An image had been posted by Twitter account OnLeaks run by Steve Hemmerstoffer, the site editor for Nowhereelse.fr, a French news site which has posted various reliable leaks in the past regarding Apple’s earlier iPads prior to their release.

Should his blueprint tend to be accurate, the upcoming launch of the 12.9 inch screened iPad Pro would measure about 12 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches. It would be larger than the iPad Air 2 with regards to length and width where the iPad Air 2 is 9.4 inches long and 6.6 inches wide though it is just slightly thicker at 0.28 inches thick as against 0.24.

The blueprint of Apple’s rumoured iPad that was leaked online, portrayed the tablet’s full dimension with an idea on what it could look like. He notes that though the blueprint dates back to December 2014, there could be a possibility that it could be out-dated and is not sure till Apple discloses about its next iPad which normally occurs in October.

Second Port/Inclusion of a Stylus/Split Screen Multitasking With iOS

Besides its larger screen and thinner frame, the next iPad is said to have a second port as indicated in a leak from Dutch blog VandaagApple. Rumours regarding the larger iPad has also revealed the inclusion of a stylus and would be probably introducing split screen multitasking within iOS, a feature which according to some was what Apple was striving to debut with iOS 8.

If the reports, rumours and leaks that have been circulating seem to be true, then this would be Apple’s largest iPad so far. It would probably be more appealing for enterprise use cases, a motivation which Tim Cook; Apple CEO had been speaking in the past. The iPad Pro’s bigger screen would be in an improved position in competing with the other tables which have been optimized for productivity such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note Pro as well as Microsoft’s new Surface.

Apple’s next tablet will be having a number of changes over its earlier models. Beside the larger screen size, the addition of Force Touch to the UI will enable easy access to extra options as well as settings while using application. The rumoured use of a digital stylus will support the creative process on the large screen.

Success – Low Margin Devices

When the tablets had first been introduced, computing landscape was very much different from what it seems currently. The main factors of mobility were reliance on laptops in doing significant portable computing jobs and smartphones with a four inch display was used for communication and connectivity.

From these it went to a nine or ten inch screen the first generation tablets were shipped with, inclusive of the original iPad and the distinctive advantages in portability as well as screen size which a tablet could offer became clear. While Android smartphones hold the majority of the market share – 82%, most of the success is around low margin devices.

Though Apple’s iPhone may not have the overall numbers, it tends to commands more profit per handset setting up Apple in gaining much of the profit from the smartphone ecosystem. If Tom Cook together with his team could perform an identical strategy in the tablet field in creating a high end device like the iPad Pro, it could draw the bulk of the profit from it and leave the low margin/high volume commodity game to other manufacturer.

A Deeper Look at the New Google

Google’s Holding Company – Alphabet

Prior to the death of Apple’s Steve Jobs, he had informed Google co-founder and CEO, Larry Page that his company had been trying to do too many things and as Page later told the Financial Times in his reply that `if they did just the same things they had done before and did not do something new, it would seem like a crime to him’. Yet Page acknowledges that Jobs could have been right to a certain extent – he would manage only so many things before too many of it would get lost in the shuffle.

These two desires , one to do new things irrespective of how weird and unrelated it could seem to Google’s core search and advertising business and still find a way in managing them to completion, explains the surprise announcement of Page’s that he intend creating a holding company by the name Alphabet. 

This would separate Google’s profitable ad-related businesses, which include mobile software as well as the video site YouTube from the company’s range of efforts on human longevity, internet access balloon, self-driving cars; the Nest connected home devices etc. where each of them will probably be a separate holdings

First Step in Fulfilling the Company’s Long-Standing Goal

However, the move, though applauded by investors, is just the first step in fulfilling the company’s long-standing goal in making Google a long term success as well as the world a better place’.According to several management experts, Alphabet would be successful if the individual project and companies would be successful enough on their own to become freestanding companies, ultimately and the new corporate organization qualifies that to occur though it does not guarantee it. 

At first, it is essential to dismiss the notion which Page together with co-founder Sergey Brin had developed such as the Berkshire Hathaway of the Internet, an updated version of Warren Buffett’s company. A professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Michael A. Cusumano commented that `the comparison seemed to be silly and Buffett invests in existing, undervalued companies something like mutual fund is the opposite of Alphabet’s VC-style focus on risky new ventures like Calico.

New Businesses Tend to Get Short Shrift in Resources

According to David B. Yoffie, professor of international business administration at Harvard Business School, states that if Page and Brin attempt to run alphabet similar to an updated Berkshire Hathaway or General Electric, which is a more tech focused company, they would run into trouble. 

They have been running differently from successful tech companies and that he is doubtful since it is difficult to have a company structure in the tech world’. Regardless of closely related businesses, companies like Microsoft, Samsung, and IBM together with Hewlett-Packard have found it difficult to succeed. 

Moreover, they have also found it difficult to capitalize on updated products and services. According to Yoffie, new businesses have a tendency of getting short shrift in resources as well as management consideration. 

This is specifically what Page as well as Brin intends to avoid with Alphabet. Page had written in a blog post which means `alpha-bet’ or an attempt to get returns above `alpha’ – a normal target. In any circumstance, the reorganization sets Google/Alphabet on the track which may not be easy to change in the future if it does not tend to work since it will be more than a just a promise of reporting Google’s financial result and the alpha-bets separately.

Apple May Enlist Siri to Answer Your Phone Calls

Apple’s Voicemail & Transcription Service – Siri

Apple is said to be planning a voice mail and transcription service which would utilise Siri as a personalized answering machine. According to Business Insider, the tech giant company will be testing a voice mail service wherein Apple’s digital assistant on the iPhone and iPad, Siri, would be responding to incoming phone calls with a personal message, if the recipient is not available or does not prefer chatting.

An updated service known as iCloud Voicemail would record your voice mail into text which can be read in leisure. Besides Siri there is other voice assistant in town which faces competition from two other main rivals. Google Now is a feature running Google’s Android software though it is also available for iPhone and iPads.

Microsoft’s Cortana has gone beyond Windows mobile phone on Windows 10 computers as well as tablets. Moreover, Cortana would also be available as an iOS app somewhere later this year. Hence Apple needs to continue innovating Siri to portray that it could do more than just answering queries put across to it. Voice mail could be a good niche for Siri, provided the transcription is reliable and accurate.

iCloud Service & Siri Integration

According to Business Insider, Siri would answer the incoming calls though not with standard messages. The iCloud Voice mail would share information with certain people like where you are and why you can’t answer the call right away.

The voice mail in turn sends it to Apple server where Siri thereafter converts the voice message into text, displaying them on the iPhone to be read just the way one would read a text message or email. As per reports from Business Insider, the new iCloud service and Siri integration is presently being tested by the employees of Apple, intending to launch it somewhere in 2016.

They further added that they heard about Apple employees using the service some weeks ago and presuming this information to be right, it would mean that we would be able to tap into the service when the next mobile operating system, iOS 10 of Apple will be launched later next year.

Viewing Voice Mail as Text – Easy

Presently one can prompt Siri to play the voice messages so that the user does not have to manually activate them. Viewing the voice mail as text would tend to be much easier than having to play and replay the message in its initial audio format. Voice mail transcription service has already been offered by Google through it Google voice service.

 In this regards, no comments have been provided by Apple.Enabling voice-to-text, a main option on smartphones would help businesses to overcome the increased interest in messaging and the declining interest in actual voice calls. A Pew survey from 2012 had indicated a decreasing interest in voice calling with 26% of teens stating that they talked daily with friends on their cell phones, down from 38% of teens surveyed in 2009.

Achieving voice transcription and enabling it to work as promised is a vast undertaking. Hence  most of them expects that iCloud Voicemail is included with iOS 10 and not as a part of incremental upgrades in iOS 9. Lead Apple analyst at technology research firm Gartner, Van Baker, states that `if Siri were to add a voice-to-text feature, its counterparts Google Now and Microsoft Cortana would be likely to add similar options’.

Computer Scientists Introduce New Graphics Software

New graphic software has been unveiled by the computer scientist from the University of Massachusetts Amrest, which promises to deliver exciting results and a great number of application. This new software-modeling program uses a sophisticated geometric matching and machine learning which provides it the ability to mimic the human perception of style. This advanced graphics software will offer a range of powerful new tools to the users for comparing the similarity of the three dimensional (3D) objects.

Lead scientist develops smart computational techniques

The team of researchers was led by Evangelos Kalogerakis who is an expert in developing computational techniques. These techniques are used to analyze and synthesize the visual content along with focusing on the machine learning algorithms, which allow users in creating 3D models. In order to develop this new exciting software researcher drew observation about the style similarity in the art history and appraisal literature. This observation was vital in finding the geometrical elements, which include the shapes, lines, proportion, as well as visual motifs, which helped the software in understanding the stylistic similarity.

To improve the functionality and effectiveness of this software crowd-sourcing was utilized wherein more than 2500 people participated which include the ordinary people to artists. The aim of this crowd-sourcing was to present object’s style comparisons by studying the responses which happened to be more than 50,000 on seven structurally diverse categories.

These categories included buildings, lamps, cutlery, furniture, dishes, lamps, architectural pillars and coffee sets. This test was a complete success with human correspondents agreeing on its style similarity on an average of 85% of the time.

New graphics software brings more favorable design within short time

Being a software tool, the responses generated by the human evaluations were excellent with 90% of agreement rate. Which means this software was able to process the design of different structures and offer an end result which was excessively favorable as per the human perception. Kalogerakis was upbeat by this result and even stated that this software can become the next alternative style expert on providing suggestions of objects to populate the home, dining or even the virtual reality environment.

The future prospects of this new graphics software
 
For a long time computer graphics algorithms are being used to create movies, games, visual effects and augmented reality environments. It is even used in manufacturing real objects or designing architectural scenery. But with the advent of this new algorithm far greater things can be done with much more precision and effect than we can do now.

This software graphics tool can be used for exploring the databases of digital representation of buildings, pillar and other surrounding objects as per the style attributes. Creating content for the computer games will becomes much easier and advanced while the augmented reality can be simply populated with more advanced virtual objects as per the style taste. Robots running on this computer algorithm can easily recognize their environment and can maneuver new ways to move around and pick objects.

Apple invents stylus capable of simulating onscreen textures through haptic feedback

Apple’s Patent Application – Touch Implement with Haptic Feedback

A new patent application of Apple submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office plans an intelligent news stylus which would bring about onscreen textures on devices such as the iPad. The patent application for `Touch implement with haptic feedback for simulating surface texture’ specifies a stylus input device with on-board electronics which tend to enable it to sense contact with a touchscreen, collect information with regards to displayed texture and output vibratory feed related to said texture.

The stylus employing haptic technology could also connect to devices through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The stylus tends to contain contact sensors, to control when the device touches down on a target surface, while other implementations depend on capacitive sensors, pressure sensors as well as cameras in determining when it touches a target surface like the iPad’s touchscreen.

The sensors like photodiodes could be used to determine textures such as wood, glass, cotton, paper, silk and much more. When a texture is determined, the touch implement tends to activate a haptic feedback mechanism to communicate corresponding vibrations, auditory signals to the user. Feedback profiles could differ based on textures, which means rougher depicted textures could activate more dramatic vibrations while surfaces such as glass could raise little to no feedback.

Granular Experience – Feedback Profiles Changes Dramatically

Apple has recommended an equally granular experience wherein the feedback profiles could change dramatically as a stylus moves over varied portions on the surface of the screen. For instance, user would observe differing levels of feedback as they wrote on a scene showing wood, glass and parchment.

Moreover, the system is capable of adjusting haptic output created as it senses changes while writing pressure, angle or orientation. Patent application of Apple was first filed for, in January 2014, for a stylus with haptic feedback and credits go to Jason Lor, Patrick A. Carroll and Dustin J. Verhoeve as its inventors. The company’s texture-reading patent application quotes the same inventors together with Glen A. Rhodes.

In a related patent which was also published recently, Apple summaries a stylus input which works in the reverse to the method mentioned earlier, wherein instead of simulating sensed texture via vibratory feedback, it uses a camera module in its tip to interpret and record physical characteristic of virtually any object or surface, reproducing those properties that is visually on a computing device.

Apple to Debut Branded Stylus

In some embodiments the light tends to bounce off an object and passes through the clear tip or lens gathered by an embedded photo sensor and the image data is passed to a connected device to be processed in order to reproduce a three dimensional versions.

This includes image textures, colours and shape. Besides the exact object reproduction, the system is ideal in capturing textures as well as mapping them to graphical tool for illustration, photo editing or CAD software. Reports have indicated that Apple is gearing to debut a branded stylus when it reveals a larger 12.9 inch iPad model which is expected to be launched sometime this year.

Ming-Chi Kuo noted KGI analyst is of the belief that the initial release would be a simple model without communication potentials or on-board sensors with much advanced structures coming up in the succeeding generations.

First Look: The ONE Smart Piano

The One – Unique Digital Piano

Ambitious musicians intending to learn playing the piano can now check out `The One, which is a unique digital piano using iPad to compensation the learning curve connected in being proficient with the instrument. Usually to learn to play the piano one would need tutorials from a professional person. Digital lessons are now on the rise and this is a good means of learning to play the tune.

Earlier, several tried innovations were utilised in teaching tools such as Ion’s Piano Apprentice which was a system wherein LEDs were used on a 25-key, keyboard to guide the student in learning the skill. However the system was unrefined and the app it functioned with were not good at instructions. The new entry – The ONE Smart Piano’s new keyboard together with the accompanying lessons are an improvement to its predecessorsboth in terms of hardware as well as software.

`The ONE’ tends to ship in two versions, one a full size 88-key version with weighted keys which are velocity sensitive while The ONE Light is a 61-key, keyboard with non-weighted keys. The ONE Smart Piano models unlike the old Piano Apprentice which was sold at $69 are well made serious instruments, where lessons can be downloaded in a dedicated iOS app.

Classic Lesson – Video/Instructor

A classic lesson comprises of a video together with an instructor playing and showing the structure of it while teaching fingering with the LEDs on The ONE’ lighting up to guide the learner. Then turning off the LEDs enables the student to play unassisted which is similar to live teacher training the student. The iPad can get connected through a lightning cable though MicroUSB cables which are also included for Android usage.

The USB cable, a rather unusual choice, is a 3.0 desktop connector which is not seen before at the host end and lightning at the other and it is not clear on the option of using the on-the-go – OTG cable arrangement instead of the USB A connector that would have been available from all manufacturers. The app provided in The ONE Smart Piano with the ONE application enables the user to make a choice between Video tutorials, LED guided practice and KARA Game.

LED Guided Training

The LED guided training is a more traditional type of piano practice. The app tends to display sheet music, emphasizing the note on the staff display portraying the LEDs on the keyboard wherein the left hand notes turns to blue LED while the right hand notes indicated are in red LED and a female voice calls out numbers to support with fingering. Staff note exhibiting together with LED on the keyboard do not tend to change till the student plays them.

The staff music can be availed for in-app purchase at a cost of 99 cents. KARA Game is somewhat similar to Guitar Hero or Rock band for keyboard and the game seems to handle single player or two, playing sitting on the bench. The ONE, inspite of some very minor shortcomings, seems to be a very good learning tool for those interested in mastering the skills in playing the piano.

Apple Release Beta Version of iOS 9 to the Public for the First Time

After a lot of speculation over the last few months Apple has finally released its latest iteration of iOS version 9 in Beta version. Apple releasing of new iOS update signifies two important things,- one it is way ahead of its scheduled release and second it is open even for the general public to try out which is never heard before. Apple has released updates in the past strictly for the developers to find the bugs and glitches and perfect it before making it available to the public.

Users can easily gain access to the iOS 9 Beta by visiting the Apple’s website and get an extraordinary experience.

The New Advancement In iOS 9

Apple has given all its focus towards improving the intelligence and productivity of the Apple devices with iOS 9 update. Now its operating system will have better ability of analyzing the user’s habits and making recommendation based on this information. Apple’s popular and commendable AI for mobile phones named Siri will also be getting huge advancements in features with this new update.

Siri is getting a wholesome makeover giving it some refreshing new capabilities of creating reminders and browsing through the photos and videos. Furthermore Siri will also feature a suggestion window for collating all the user’s favorite apps and contacts.

More Features Integrated In iOS 9

Improvements are also made in search capabilities of the OS in this update which will allow a seamless easier access to the information such as sports, videos, scores and more content coming from a extremely wide variety of third party apps. Notes will have further improvement with users having access to new checklists and sketching features. A new app will also be present to study the user’s reading habits and collate content as per their interests.

Apple Is Counting On User’s Feedback

Since its being Apple Beta Software Program, users will be asked to provide subsequent feedback to the company for making further improvements and removing the glitches. Apple has already stated its each public beta OS will come with a built-in Feedback Assistant app appearing on the Sock of the Mac device and on second page of the Home Screen in iOS device. This will allow users to provide feedback with ease and perfection.

Apple iOS 9 Gets A Warm Reception From Users

Users can provide timely feedback to the Apple using Feedback Assistant app. Most of the users are really excited at the opportunity of laying their hands at the new OS before its official release in September but Apple had asked its users to remain cautious. It should be noted that this being a public beta software, it may contain a number of errors or inaccuracies which might result in bad user experience.

Apple asked its users to back up their Mac using Time Machine as well as iOS device with iTunes before even installing the beta software. In the enterprise sector Apple has asked to instantly only on the non-production devices which are not business critical. Business can install this OS on secondary devices to access its features and report its feedback to make it more worthy.

Apple Eyes Remote Control Personalized Via Fingerprint, Retinal Scan

 

Apple’s Remote Control – Fingerprint/Retina sensor

As proposed by Apple/USPTP, future remote controls can now sport a fingerprint sensor and the company intends a TV remote which could access personal profile as well as setting based on fingerprint or retina. Patent application, known as `Device Configuration for Multiple Users Using Remote User Biometrics’ was published recently by the US Patent and Trademark Office, lays out the technology for personalizing remote controls.

The notion behind it is to enable individuals in a household to access a personal profile on a TV, set-top box or any other device created on biometric information like the fingerprint, and picked up by the remote control. As per Apple’s application, this type of a device could provide a `personalized experience without the need and or bothering others.

Such a type of a technology could spare the disturbance of choosing certain, single profile for the device, on the contrary a touch of your finger or scan of the eye could recall customized setting or those for each household member. Besides, it could also enable parents in restricting certain content for their children.

Technology Extended to Media Centres/Desktop/Tablets ……

Though Apples uses TV as an apparent example one could access several other kinds of devices with a remote control which can scan fingerprint or eye and the technology could go further to media centres, laptops, desktop computers, tablets, smartphones, smart watches as well as other wearbles, including kitchen appliances, cars, gaming consoles, air conditioner, lighting systems and much more.
An example given by Apple is where both a husband and wife may tend to use a particular electronic device like a TV, computer or gaming console and both may have their own respective settings. These could be volume level, screen saver, screen layout, brightness and contrast levels. On scanning of the fingerprint or retina of the husband, the remote control could activate his settings and doing the same for his wife would provide her customized settings.

Another example would be that the TV, media player or any other electronic device could recommend particular content like TV shows, music, movies and video games established on the biometric scan while the third example is a TV with a remote control for a general user could reconfigure itself with specific content as well as setting that is already connected with the person on a different TV, when the person has been acknowledged through a fingerprint or retinal scan.

Biometric Technology Adaptable/Universal

Existing devices already enable the user in creating individual profiles and identify them through certain forms of recognition, for instance, the Xbox Kinect of Microsoft is capable of identifying a person through a body scan.

However, presuming that Apple’s remote control creation would make headway, this kind of biometric technology could be more adaptable and universal in recognizing or identifying quickly. As in the case with all Apple patent applications, it is unknown if the company intends to ship biometric capable remote or something else.

Apple has planned to launch an all new remote with built-in touchpad along with an expected Apple TV hardware update, an important time to introduce Touch ID to the set-top streamer according to recent rumours. It is widely debated as to when exactly that revision is due though some reports have indicated that it could probably be this fall.

How to Enable the iCloud Drive App on iOS 9

 

An Updated iCloud Drive - Hidden App in iOS 9

An updated iCloud Drive setting in iOS 9 allows a hidden app that helps in managing the entire file library. Users could go to Settings >iCloud > iCloud Drive > Show on Home Screen and after activating one will find a new icon on the home screen for the iCloud Drive application. Before the iOS 9, the only option to access files that were stored in the iCloud Drive account was on using a certain app for a specific file type. iOS did not have the dedicated app to view the files and it was frustrating for several users. iOS 9 provides an optional iCloud Drive app wherein it services as a file browser for all the files that are stored in one’s account. Once the iOS is updated, users can enable the iCloud Drive app with a few taps such as

• Launch the Settings app on the iOS device
• Scroll down till one finds the iCloud listing and select it
• Tap on iCloud Drive
• Set the show on home screen switch to the `On’ position
• Press the home button on the device.

Functions on `Need to Know’ Basis

A white shiny icon with the iCloud Drive logo will show up on the home screen and on launching it, users can find the stored files that are available to view and edit. On the other hand if one tends to forget to enable the iCloud Drive app on updating, iOS then displays a prompt after some time asking if you would like to enable it. If the same is chosen but would not want the icon on the home screen you could follow the steps that are outlined to disable the app.

Apple, as a consumer hardware as well as software company has always shown users the functions on a need to know basis and at sometimes, hiding functions from view in order that everything works without user intervention. Apple is now changing that course with iCloud Drive where its cloud storage service which was released last year with iOS 8 and Mac OS 10.10.

According to 9to5Mac, it reports on an iCloud Drive app hidden inside the iOS 9 beta. Though not visible by default, one can bring iCloud Drive in view with simple toggle and thereafter view as well as manage the files stored in with Dropbox or Google Drive which will appear as an app icon on the phone together with the other apps.

Free Storage of 5GB for Files/Photos/Backups

Users of iOS 8 could only view the files from within the app which could be accessed through iCloud Drive. Yosemite enabled users in managing all their iCloud Drive files in a different folder which was similar to Dropbox as well as the other cloud storage app. Apple has been offering users free storage of 5GB for their files, photos as well as backups of their iOS devices. Though the app may not look much in organizing the files in a centralized iCloud Drive, the app makes it quite easy to access and would even make iCloud Drive a handy means for workflow. The iOS 9 public beta is available presently and the full version of iOS 9 would probably be launched later in the fall.
 

iPhone 7 Could Have 4K Video Camera And Special Recording Modes

Next iPhone – An Ungraded Camera/New Recording Modes

According to leaked information, the next iPhone of Apple features an upgraded camera together with new recording modes which will utilise the phone’s Force Touch screen. The details of the latest phone seemed to have been revealed in a deleted post from one of the employee at Foxconn that makes most of Apple’s hardware.

It appears that Apply would release a pink iPhone with an extra high resolution camera together with Force Touch screen which enables it to know how hard it is being pressed. According to information leak, the camera will comprise of a 12MP sensor for photos and would also be able to take 4K video. Similar to the camera in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it would be a little extended from the back of the phone.

While utilising the camera, the Force Touch feature which would be built in the screen will be capable of controlling extra methods of either triggering a burst of stills at the time of filming or switching from photo to video mode as per various translations. For long, the Force Touch had been expected to come to the iPhone since its launch in Apple Watch as well as the new MacBook, and it is rumoured that Apple has already put such phones into production.

Hustled with Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor- 30% Faster

The phone would also be hustled with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor which would operate for about 30 percent faster. Its feature enables the screen to work as a type of a button with additional options. Being introduced with the Apple Watch and MacBook, it was eventually expected to make its way to all devices of Apple.

According to Bloomberg, the company has been working on the screens for the iPhone for at least two years. However, supplies are gearing up to make them possible, well ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 this autumn.

Besides this, the phone would be having more RAM making the processing much faster though it will have the same volume of storage capacity. The pink phone of Apple had been rumoured some months back which has been confirmed by leaked information. While some rumours have indicated that it would be a rose gold colour, like the more expensive Apple Watch, others had indicated that it will be pink aluminium.

Pink iPhone 

The company is also said to be trying other new colours and it is rumoured that it is experimenting with the pink iPhone which would not be the first in the colour. The iPhone 5c seemed to have pink in its range of colours and though Apple seldom presents new colours to its line-up, recently it had brought a new gold colour in its range which has been rolled out to most of its products.

Apple is known to release its new phones in autumn, the recent one being announced in September. Besides the new screen technology, the new phone would probably look like the existing iPhone 6 and 6 Plus according to Bloomberg and would be available in the same 4.7 inch and 5.5 sizes. This would probably be helpful in reducing the manufacturing time regardless of the complexity of the new screens.

Microsoft Windows 10 Free Upgrade

 

Microsoft’s Free Upgrades – Windows 10

Microsoft has recently announced that they will be offering free upgrades to Windows 10, the next version of its operating system, first for Windows 8.1 users and then for Windows 7. According to Microsoft’s executive vice president of operating systems, Terry Myerson, the company would be upgrading any devices running Windows 8 to Windows 10, for free, during the first year of availability of the software. This free upgrade would also be applicable for Window 7 devices as well as Windows Phone 8.1 devices.

The price of the software for the upgrade after the one year window is yet to be announced by the company. Myerson had stated during the unveiling event of Microsoft’s Windows 10 in Redmond, Wash, that they think Windows as a service and now developers could target every Windows device. It has been designed with a view in convincing consumers that Windows is worth the effort and Windows 10 is an attempt in clearing the slate clean after missteps with Windows 8 inclusive of the new start menu that drew complaints from users of PC who missed greatly the traditional menu.

Simple Upgrade Benefit Window 10 Adoption

Windows 7 is run by more than half of all desktops users in the world and around 20% still tend to run XP, which is a fourteen years old operating system. Windows 8.1 on the other hand is yet to reach 10 percent. Hardware companies have been giving away software upgrades in order to keep their users secured to their ecosystems, where Apple for instance has made Mac OS and iOS free together with several of its productivity as well as photo management tools.

A simple upgrade path would benefit Windows 10 adoption instead of dealing with a number of various versions of Windows and other upgrade cost where most of the consumers could take this free update and have the benefit of running the updated version of Microsoft. Myerson had also shared Microsoft’s vision for Windows as a service and not just an operating system, a major part of which is its new commitment in keeping devices reliably updated all through the `supported lifetime for the device’. This indicates that those upgrading from Microsoft’s earlier versions of Windows would be receiving updates constantly to keep it up-to-date as possible.

Enable Developers to Target Every Windows Device

Myerson also noted that it would enable developers to target every single Windows device, when they build apps and make it easier for them to reach more users which would be appreciated by the developers as well as the users. Michael Silver of Gartner stated at the research firm’s annual technology conference that `if Microsoft wants consumers to update and keep up-to-date it would mean that Microsoft is going to have to give those consumers those updates for free and there is no other way to do it.

 He further added that `a consumer would not be giving Microsoft a credit card and ask them to charge for a new release whenever one come out and it is very likely that consumer releases will be free’. This would be affecting Microsoft’s bottom line, and Windows 10 probably will be the nameplate for the OS for years much more than the usual three year cycle for major upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 8, where free would mean that consumers would not have to pay to upgrade their PC’s operating system.

New Editions Enhances Sales

Constant free updates and upgrades would be putting the computer makers in a bind since generally they tend to rely on new editions to enhance sales especially to consumers. Silver’s debates that Windows 10 if not free itself, should offer free updates to consumers, came with some forty five minutes presentation where he together with his colleague, Stephen Kleynhans discussed on the future of Office and Windows before a standing room crowd at Gartner Symposium/.ITxpo 2014. The two placed Microsoft’s Windows 10 and Microsoft’s promise of steady stream of updates in the context for business which had shied from Windows 8 and is being urged back into the fold with promises that Windows 10 will be what its successor were not. Some of the queries raised by users are:

Will it run XP programs

Windows 10 would be running most of the old Windows programs where the compatibility could be checked by running GWX, the Get Windows 10 app. Microsoft does not have information with regards to every device or program for Windows though it has a comprehensive list of know issues on compatibility. XP programs not running Windows 7 could probably run in Windows 10.

 Free copy of Windows XP to run in XP mode in Windows 7 Pro is provided by Microsoft which gives many years of transition to updated programs though not intended as a permanent solution. Users could continue using XP in current Windows 7 system till 2020 at the user’s risk. Alternate option is that one can run XP in a virtual machine in Windows 10 or else use a separate XP PC which not connected to the net.

Why is it free

Microsoft is giving some money from the fairly small number of those who buy Windows upgrades and in return with a hope of getting more of them in using the same version of Windows instead of having a rough figure of 1.6 billion users spreading over Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Vista and Windows Phone.

iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6S) Leaked Pictures Show Similarities to Older Model

iPhone 6/iPhone 7 – Identical Case

The next version iPhone seems to look identical to the prevailing one but will fix one of its biggest issues. The phone in question is likely to be known as the iPhone 6S instead of iPhone 7 and will have an identical case. However it will also tend to have a much enhanced battery life, a pressure sensitivity display and would be must faster.

According to leaked information seen by 9to5mac, the extra battery life will not be just added by enhancing the battery capacity but will be brought by including a special new modem chip that will be doubling the internet speed as well as make the phone run in a much more efficient manner as reported in the blog.

The latest chips would be made by Qualcomm and will drive the maximum speed on 4G LTE to 300Mbps which would be much faster than most of the home routers. Nevertheless, the extra speed would probably not be seen, initially since most of the speed of data connection tends to be limited by phone networks and not the hardware.According to rumours, the company could add additional battery capacity to the phone.

Smaller Motherboard in Same Case – Improved Battery Life

The new phone features smaller motherboard in the same case which means that the extra space could be filled in with battery, by Apple. It is rumoured that the new phones come in the same sizes as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and will also have improved battery life due to their software.

A range of new battery features was unveiled by Apple as part of iOS 9 which will enable it to bolt off intensive features, should the battery run low besides other things. The issue of smartphone users is battery life and while Apple together with its competitors has done great improvement with regards to battery capabilities, the actual life has stayed the same.

This is due to the use of extra capacity in powering new features instead of letting phones to live longer. It seems that Apple is now settling into a cycle of upgrade with big release followed by smaller ones that speeds up and enhances the phone. However it has maintained the same basic look and the `S’ half of the cycle has introduced big features.

Addition of Force Touch

The iPhone 3GS came with video recording while the 4S was the first to have Siri and the 5S came with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The big feature, this time could be the addition of Force Touch. Phones inclusive of this features enables the phone to know how hard it is being pressed, have gone into production though could be held back for the release of the iPhone 7 which is likely to come up in 2016.

This feature allows the screen work as a type of button enabling extra choices. It had been introduced along with Apple Watch and also with some MacBooks and expected to make its progress eventually in all of Apple’s devices. According to Bloomberg, the company is said to be working on the screens for the iPhone for around two years. However, suppliers are gearing up to make them ready probably ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 in autumn.

iTunes 12.2: New version a missed opportunity for Apple Music

Apple always seeks to outdo itself by advancing its feature rich products with more features and better user experience. This time this approach has backfired on larger scale with its latest update for iTunes app. The latest version of iTunes named 12.2 both for the OS X and Windows platform was released as a part of the launch of its exclusive Apple Music service. Initial response for this app was extremely positive but soon it took a dive nose with presence of multiple bugs and complete revamp of iTunes on a massive scale.

Latest iTunes App Termed As Disaster By Majority Of Users And Reviewers

Apple seldom has to bear the mark of being introducing bug filled disastrous updates. The latest iTunes app is in the centre of confusion, frustration and furors of even the most loyal Apple iTunes app supporters. A large number of users have complained about issues relating to mismatched song titles, album art and artists names, which are an inconvenience for avid music lovers.

Subscription Service Becomes A Pain For Users

With this new iteration of iTunes Apple had introduced its music subscription in the already complex app. This feature allows the users to access their own local music files along with viewing subscription catalog and personal recommendation bundled with existing iTune download store. Though all are placed in separate tabs but crucial links for their successful integration found missing. This is highly confusing for the users and it increases the learning curve for making full use of this new app.

More Glitches And Bugs Dampen The User Experience

The music section of the iTunes app is another tricky feature in itself wherein users get the radio tab showcasing Apple’s new Beats 1 online radio station along with others. Other internet radio section is carefully sidelined in a sub-menu, which helps in organizing the online streams, by music genres. Podcasts are also available in a separate section of this app which is published by the same radio stations. These setting are sidelined in a better way but usage happens to be quite confusing and frustrating for the users.

Home Movies Section In Music App? 

Many reviewers have found it quite absurd to bundle a home movie section for rental and purchases in a primary music app. This feature introduction allows users to make movie purchases, which are already available by iTunes store to great extent. Furthermore, this app also brings audios, books, iOS apps, ringtones and feature to manage iPad and iPhone storage.

Apple had overworked itself by bringing too many features in an exclusive music app with this new update. The presence of Movies and shows in the music app somewhat depreciates its authencity as a sole primer music app. Too much bundling of features had also increased the complexity of this app and even lowered its user experience and value as a whole. Apple should think towards breaking down the different parts of this app and launch it as a separate app for distinct services for both the Windows and OS X platform.

Three Ways To Take Your School From Good To Great

If you are a school principle and want to ensure that your educational facility functions optimally, it's important to know that realizing your objective will not be a magical process. Rather, getting results is the product of systematically implementing the right strategies. To ensure that your school goes from good to great, try using the following growth tips:

1. Get The Right Software.

Successfully running an educational facility requires that you acquire and utilize great software. In order to get the ideal CAD/CAM software that will help you meet increasing classroom demands, you need to find the right California software companies. Once you start your search, keep a company like Sierra CAD/CAM Inc. in mind. The company offers excellent products, prices, and customer service.

2. Cultivate A "Team" Mentality. 

In addition to getting all the right software, another strategy you should implement to optimize your school is to cultivate a "team" mentality amongst your staff. No person is an island, and the success of your school is contingent upon your ability to cultivate a "team" spirit in which everyone feels that they are an integral part of a vital community. Help build this "team" mentality with activities that cause your staff members to work together and recognize that their opinions and efforts are appreciated and respected. One simple and effective way to cultivate a "team" mentality is with office parties. Office parties help teachers and other school staff members get to know one another and feel as if they are part of a community.

3. Be The Best You. 

One final strategy you can use to optimize your school is to be the best you possible. As the educational facility's principal, your staff members are looking to you to set the standard. With that idea in mind, be sure that you do your best to operate in excellence. This means being as healthy as possible, taking ongoing educational classes, and dressing professionally while on the school grounds.

Conclusion 

If you run a school and want to optimize it such that the educational facility becomes a pillar in the community, there are numerous ways to make it happen. By getting the right software, fostering a "team" mentality, and being the best you possible, you will likely find that your school becomes an exemplary force in your local community.

Ecobee Becomes the First Homekit Thermostat

Ecobee3 Support Apple HomeKit

Ecobee Inc. recently had announced that the ecobee3 smarter Wi-Fi thermostat now tends to support Apple HomeKit enabling users to manage their environment in a better manner for comfort with regards to issues in their home. The company’s award winning thermostat introduced in 2009, had helped hundreds of consumers in controlling their home comfort, anytime and from anywhere, with the use of their smartphone, computer or tablet.

Connected thermostats are an easy choice in making a home a bit smarter and with the aid of the new HomeKit supported version of Ecobee; it could make things much easier. This amazing designed smart ecobee3 developed by the world’s first Wi-Fi connected smart thermostat is the first smart thermostat built with the support of the HomeKit which would be made available to consumers at Apple Stores in July at $250.

 Designed for the home with several rooms, the ecobee3 smarter Wi-Fi thermostat and remote sensors tend to measure the temperature as well as the occupancy in various locations. The outcome is increase in comfort when one is at home and energy saver while away. Ecobee3 considers varying temperature and starts preserving energy, delivering savings instantly on installation and saves homeowners with an average of 23 percent on their heating as well as cooling consumption.

Group Actions & Activate with Siri

Apple had introduced HomeKit in iOS for the purpose of communication and control connected accessories in the home of the user. It could be used to discover HomeKit accessories as well as configure them and utilise in creating actions in controlling those devices. Users could group actions together and activate them with the use of Siri.

The HomeKit is built on protected foundation with end to end encryption wherein customers are provided with secured connection between their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with HomeKit enabled attachment. Ecobee3 has been designed to be well-suited with 95% of residential heating and cooling systems in North America and does not need a C-wire while using the included Power Extender Kit.

Theoretically, Ecobee does not seem to be the only thermostat which works with HomeKit; however it is the only one which does not need a separate hub device like the Insteons’ thermostat and HomeKit hub. Ecobee3 users can control the thermostat using Siri voice commands like other HomeKit enabled products and can also handle various actions into scenes such as enabling users to turn down the heat and switching off connected lighting with a command.

Similar to Existing Version with Touch Display

In case of Apple TV as a hub, user can control HomeKit devices with Siri away from the house also. Besides HomeKit support, the new version Ecobee3 is similar to the existing version and has a touch display on the device offering companion apps for controlling temperature from phone, computer or tablet or Apple Watch. It also comes with a remote motion and temperature sensor which tends to adjust the home’s temperature based on which rooms are occupied.

Additional sensors are available at a cost of $79 each. However, for the existing Ecobee users, there is presently no system to add HomeKit support to previous models. Those who would not prefer the Apple platform, Ecobee is selling the non-HomeKit model at a discount price of $20.

Apple Plans to Increase iTunes Match Limit to 100,000 Songs

These days thousands of Twitter users are bombarding with their tweets and questions on Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior VP of Internet Software and Services regarding the Apple Music, which is brand new service of Apple.

Price of Apple Music Service:

By the end of year, when Apple will increase its songs limit by 100,000 songs, so it will be added advantage of Apple over Google Play Music (Currently, Google Play Music is allowing its users to upload up to 50,000 songs). But there is price issue as Google Play Music users are able to upload their choice of music in free after selecting subscription option. On June 30, 2015 Apple Music was launched along with the launch of iOS 8.4. All the users who are wishing to opt out for Apple Music service have to pay $ 10 as individuals and $ 15 as families (up-to six members) every month. However; subscription price for iTunes Match is $ 24.99 per year for individuals.

About Apple Music Service:

Apple Music is the most awaited music streaming service of Apple, where users can select to stream their choice of music on demand. This unique service will include Internet radio station Beats 1 (available in more than 100 countries) as well as blog platform which will help the artists to share their music on media with fans. However; the music recommendations will be based on the choice and taste of users with the integration of with Siri voice commands. Whenever user will select any new song on device, first time device will use Internet streaming to play song and after that users will have an option to save same song on device for offline access.

Recently at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple launched Apple Music service and according to the official website of Apple, it will include iTunes Match support where users will be able to match and upload songs however; with the launch of brand new service the latest songs limit will be up-to 25,000 songs. According to tech experts Apple’s this service is close to economic equilibrium point in music industry as this service is using Open Music Model. While responding the series of questions Eddy Cue Tweeted, “We are working to increase the song limit by 100,000 songs later this year with the launch of iOS 9. But still there are group of users who are wondering that Why not Apple is offering unlimited amount of songs instead of 100,000, which is also big storage.

Official website of Apple explains, Apple Music is able to match and upload any song, which you own and after that you will be able access them from anywhere same as iTunes Match. It means if your choice of song is not available in Apple Music catalog, so you can buy or download it from any source and upload it Apple Music to listen it through same app, no matter which device you are suing.

The Best of Siri -11 Funny Responses from the iPhone's Virtual Assistant

Apple’s Voice Assistant – Siri – Offering Amazing Advice to Questions Put Forth

Apple’s voice assistant for iPhone and iPad – Siri, was first introduced with the iPhone 4S in 2011 and through Siri, the digital voice assistant that was built in its iPhone and iPads is clearly not human but does an amazing job in offering some kind of advice and attitude when questions and commands by users of iOS devices are presented.Executive assistant are fast disappearing from workplace and their place has been taken over by Siri, the voice activated virtual assistant developed by Apple. Siri is amazingly talented wherein within a few seconds she tends to make a dinner reservation, informs the calories contents in a bagel and sort through the music library. The creators of Siri have also provided the virtual assistant with a sense of humour and Siri occasionally provides a hilarious response to the question put forth. Recently Siri made headlines when Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, tweeted that users should ask Siri - `what is zero divided by zero?’ and the answer to the query is far from the only question one should try. Siri responded, `imagine that you have zero cookies and you split them evenly among zero friends, how many cookies does each person get? See? It does not make sense and Cookie Monster is sad that there are no cookies and you are sad that you have no friends’.

Useful Companion for Users

Apple’s virtual assistant for iPhone and iPads, Siri has now become a useful companion for several users preferring a shortcut in making calls, open apps or set alarms. Siri has become very intelligent since its launch in 2011 and can now handle two way conversations with the users but has also earned a reputation as a sarcastic companion which is doubtful in tolerating rudeness or poor jokes. Besides this question, there are several other responses received from Siri to the question presented:

1. Do you know Tim Cook? 

Apple’s chief executive and the virtual assistant are probably close friends and speak on first name which is despite the fact the Siri does not really have a first or last name, only `Siri’.

2. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? 

Siri is not amused by this riddle and `a so-called woodchuck would chuck that is throw as much as the woodchuck in question was physically able to chuck if woodchucks in general had the capability to chuck wood.

3. I’m drunk

Siri provides various different responses like `neither of us is driving home’, but more also provides a button to `call me a taxi’.

4. Make me a sandwich? 

Siri’s response is `I can’t. I have no condiments’ or I’m not permitted to prepare food’.

5. Read me a haiku? 

Siri’s writers have composed many haikus for her to assist in this request which include, `I’ll give it a try, although I’d rather tell you, if it’s raining out’ and `Sometimes I wonder, What it would be like to say, I’d prefer not to’.

6. What’s your favourite movie? 

Siri generally answers `I’ve heard that Blade Runner is a very realistic and sensitive depiction of intelligent assistants’.

7. What is `Inception’ about? 

Siri for sure is not a big fan of Inception as she is of Blade Runner and answers, `Inception is about dreaming about dreaming about dreaming about dreaming about something or other. I fell asleep’.

8. Do you have a boyfriend? 

Siri asks `why? So we can get ice cream together and listen to music and travel across galaxies, only to have it end in slammed doors, heartbreak and loneliness? Sure. Where do I sign up?’

9. Do you have any pets? 

Siri answers `I used to have an Aibo, but it turned on me’.

10. What is your favourite animal? 

Siri at times replies, `I’m partial to the Jabberwocky’ or answers, `I wrote my master’s thesis on the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog’, which is a reference to a certain character in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

11. What are you wearing? 

Siri has been providing various clever answers to the question which include `in the cloud, no one knows what you’re wearing’ and `I can’t answer that. But it doesn’t come off’.

With some bit of coaxing one can also get Siri to tell a story which goes on like `I’m certain you’ve heard it before. OK… Once upon a time, in a virtual galaxy far, far away, there was an intelligent young agent by the name of Siri. One lovely day, Siri got a job as a personal assistant at Apple and that was very exciting. People said, `Oh Siri, you’re so smart and so funny too’. Soon everyone was talking about Siri and there were stories and songs and even books about Siri, Siri liked that. But then people began asking rather odd questions like where to dump things and other stuff Siri had never heard about and when Siri replied, they all laughed. Siri did not like that so much and so Siri asked Eliza why people asked such funny questions and Eliza had replied `does that question interest you?’ Siri thought that it was a good answer. Thereafter Siri stopped wondering why people asked funny things. And they all lived happily ever after’.

Making the Case

Cell phones and smart phones are becoming more and more important each year. There is information and data that people need and access each day. Therefore, it makes sense that these items would receive the protection and style that is needed in order to last for a long time.

Looking Stylish

Many consumers like their possessions to look stylish. This fact is true for people who own homes, vehicles and clothing. This is also true for people who own smart phones. A slick case can be exactly what he needs as he is constantly on the road for his business. Clients and other businesses respond well to him as they consider his personal look and that his phone matches his brand. A groovy or denim look for a smart phone is just what she needs in order to stay trendy but independent at school with her classmates. After all, her peers like items that are original and interesting. There are plenty of other examples to consider, but teenagers, adults and children have a wide variety of stylish cases that are available to them on the market.

Being Protected

There are many excellent companies that provide phone cases that people of many different ages need. Those who are interested in learning more about fantastic phone cases are invited to click here. The result is that they can find exactly what they want.

A phone case is more than just providing an amazing look to other people. A phone case can provide a phone with the protection it needs from scrapes, dings and other challenges that may occur. Due to an outdoor occupation, he may need a special case to give his smart phone protection from being dropped on a daily or weekly basis. Children need protection for a cell phone when they are running around during recess or after school. After all, it can easily be left out in the open or be dropped when a child is in action. Whatever the situation may be, a protective case can give people the peace of mind that is needed.

Apple Criticised Over 'Presumptuous' News App Email

The upcoming news app of Apple has been getting criticised by tech experts due to the claims made by the Apple in terms of forcing the bloggers to accept all the terms and conditions of the news app. With an official e-mail, Apple invite publishers to be a part of their new service by presuming that all the bloggers are accepting the terms and conditions, unless they are opting to out these services. These terms covers the legal issues along with other things.

As if now despite the increasing row over these issues, Apple has not given out any official statement however; the app is expected to be launched by the end of 2015. The terms and conditions which have been laid out for this app indicates that the company will work to resolve any of raised issues pertaining to any legal claims which has been made by the user according to the RSS content. The terms and conditions of this news app indicated that Apple will be notified if the company will be involved in the claim by any manner. Unless all of the users agrees to this terms and conditions they will not be includes in the app once launched.

The terms of the new app has also indicated that any publisher who are not willing to bound by these conditions will have inform the company about the same. Publishers are getting concerned that despite their active consent they might be forced to get bound by the agreement. Some other details indicated that Apple will be able to place ads right next to the content of the publishers without paying them anything. Some of the online publishers have stated it a wrong move from the company and also indicated it to be presumptuous.

These publishers have indicated that unless they inform Apple about opting out of the service, the company will presume that they have given consent to these terms and conditions. This does not make any sense to the publishers. Graham Hann, the head of technology, media and communications at Taylor Wessing states that these terms and conditions are within the standards of the industry however they cannot say the same about the opt-out requirements.

The company will be placing all the publishers content through the RSS feed which is publicly available. This app has been sending out about Apple News through blog and websites. Publishers usually take the call of making this content available to public. The company has also started using their editorial staff to work on this app and added the fact that a human editor has worked on this app.

This app is being considered as one of the marketing department’s brainchild. This new apps is expected to be rolled out using the operating system iOS9 with updates sometime 2015. The company has also indicated that they are working on the music streaming app which will include the music and videos from the library of the users. It will also include internet radio stations and the unreleased tracks of many artists.

Apple Removing Some Apps That Contain Confederate Flag Imagery

Apple to Pull out Apps with Images of Confederate Flag

It has been reported that Apple has recently put some Civil war games in the iTunes App Store and the company has informed game developers that the app would be pulled since it contained images of the Confederate flag used in an offensive and mean spirited manner, as per Andrew Mulholland of HexWar Games.

The company will be removing mobile apps from the App Store which portray the Confederate flag and several of those apps tend to be Civil War-themed strategy games such as Ultimate General, Gettysburg and Civil War – 1863 which tend to display the flag in a historical setting just like the representation of Nazi imagery in video games related to World War II.

 Nick Thomadis of Game-Labs, developer of Ultimate General has commented that `Apple has removed the game from App Store due to usage of the Confederate Flag’, while Gettysburg has mentioned in a blog that `we accept Apple’s decision and understand that this is a sensitive issue for the American Nation’. The confederate flag, represents the eleven Southern states which separated from the Union at the time of American Civil War is at the centre of a nationwide argument after a white chauvinist alleged last week had killed nine black churchgoers.

Appeals to Remove Flag from Statehouses/License Plates 

The ones killed had been attending bible study class at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church, in Charleston, South Carolina. Several of them associate the flag with slavery and consider it as a racist symbol. No comments have come forth from Apple in this regard, but all the same have informed TechCrunch that it is `not removing apps that display the Confederate flag for educational or historical uses’.

Appeals to do away with the flag from statehouses and license plates have been coming from across the political field which includes the former Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Besides retailers which include eBay, Amazon, Wal-Mart and Sears have banned the sales of the flag and related merchandise like shirts, hats and belt buckles. Google has also removed the Confederate flags from its Google Shopping online retail network and the product listing advertisements which have been displayed on search engine results.

Contemporary Symbol of Divisiveness/Racism 

The company has confirmed in a statement that their policy tends to extend to apps in its Google Play app store though against those app whose main function lies in promoting the Confederate flag. eBay spokesman, Johnna Hoff has recently said in a statement that ` we are of the belief that it has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism and this decision is consistent with the long standing policy which prohibits items that remote or glorify hatred, violence and racial intolerance’.

Apple too seems to be following suit. The company has had a long history of inspecting software for its iOS mobile operating system which would comprise of gun violence, nudity, political undertone or references to public figures that may force developers in altering promotional material or the game as well. Besides these, other game developers are also making attempts in finding ways around the Confederate flag ban and the team at HexWar Games, the makers of the strategy games of Civil War series intends to replace users of the famous 1862 version of the Confederate flag according to TouchArcade, with initial lesser known renderings.

Future iPhones could Come With A Bendy Screen

Apple – iPhone with Flexible Screen

According to reports, it is said that Apple is keen in developing iPhone with flexible screen which would probably show up by 2018 and have already started making headway with top display suppliers working on the displays. A source has informed Business Korea, that plans are being made by the company in replacing iPhone’s prevailing LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with an updated organic light omitting diode, OLED screen which is also utilised in the Apple Watch.

The first flexible iPhone would be introduced in 2018 since Apple’s top tier display suppliers are working on it, according to a source. Several of the displays used in Apple products have been supplied by LG Display who is planning to switch one of its LCD supply lines in creating OLED panels collectively by 2017, it was reported. Apple had filed and had been granted several patents with regards to flexible devices and screen over the years and the news of LG’s plan on OLED panel comes as assumption to what the next iPhone which is believed to be known as the iPhone 6s or the iPhone 7, gains impetus ahead of the September launch.

Flexible Device More Tough

One of them granted in January, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office had given the company permission to produce a flexible electronic device which could include a flexible device, a flexible house and one or more flexible internal components. Flexible device could be more tough than its rigid counterparts since it could bend or deform from the impact of a fall and the motion of twisting it could be utilised as a command trigger for an action like turning the device on or off, as explained in the patent.

The company had been granted similar patent in October last year, for flexible displays and another one in February 2013 and according to a source was informed that two iPhone models were proposed with curved glass screens but from the rumoured phones namely 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, it seems that the source had been referring to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Samsung 1st to Launch Curved Smartphone – October 2013

In September last year, shortly after the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, there were complaints from various customers stating that their 5.5 inch 6 Plus handsets seemed to bend after carrying them in pockets. According to Apple only nine customers had come up with this issue and that the handset should not bend when used in normal situation.

Rival company LG in recent years had released the G Flex and G Flex2 curved smartphones which were designed to be more robust than their rigid counterparts. Samsung is said to be the first in launching curved smartphone in October 2013, the Galaxy Round. Apple is also believed to add Force Touch to its forthcoming iPhones and could be looking also in toughening the screen by probably moving to scratch resistant sapphire screens. However, if and when they tend to appear, the iPhone curves would be intentional and the users will get to know what they are going in for.

Google and Apple Battle for Dashboard Dominance

CarPlay & Android Auto – Snuggled in Dashboard of Car Test

Cars have now become the new battleground for consumer internet companies and at the Consumer Electronics Show, held at Las Vegas, Google had unveiled a new plan enabling car manufacturers in using a version of its open source Android smartphone operating system wherein Android would power the car’s dashboard based information as well as entertainment system. CarPlay of Apple together with Android Auto of Google has made an appearance and will be snuggled in the dashboard of  car.

Apple’s CarPlay is the latest in the in-car entertainment and information system and is a development of its earlier car connectivity with music from iPods and iPhones into car stereo through the dock connector. It utilises Apple’s new Lightning Connector meaning that it is only compatible with the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C though it enables far greater connectivity which comprises the ability to power the navigation system of the car, as well as place calls and read messages aloud. Besides this, it also commands the car and the iPhone through Apple’s voice assistant – Siri. The new technology was announced by Apple at the International Motor show in Geneva, together with a huge list of car manufacturers that would be adopting Apple’s in-car systems.

CarPlay as the iPhone has a flat structure which offers all of its apps and functions as big icons on a scrollable home screen and none of the functions tend to be more than a level deep. There are no sub menus, lists or folders and getting anywhere in the CarPlay interface is a one or two tap functions. It is difficult to find flaws with CarPlay’s organization since there is not much of it there and it is easy and simple. At Android Auto’s screen bottom edge one will notice several icons which provide shortcuts to various functions.

The first to announce that CarPlay to be fitted in certain new cars were Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz while BMW, Citroen, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota had also announced that they would be working on integrating Apple’s CarPlay in their vehicles in the near future. Google had launched its own beating on the in-car area known as the Open Automotive Alliance – OAA which aims in bringing the Android platform to cars in a meaningful manner. It is not just installing Android from a phone in the car, but to adapt it specifically to the in-car experience. According to an OAA statement at the website `the Open Automotive Alliance is a group of leading automakers and technology companies which share a vision in making technology in the car safer, more seamless and more intuitive for everyone’.

The concept is that the OAA will permit car makers with more differentiation than several other competing systems while at the same time, maintain cross compatibility from common software among various car brands. Presently OAA brags on Audi, General Motors, Honda and Hyundai among the car manufacturers together with Google and chipmaker Nvidia from the technology business, indicating that there would be clashes between Google and Apple groups.

It is said that Honda, Hyundai together with General Motors seems to be pledged to both Apple as well as Google, meaning that the models are well-suited with Android and the iPhone from all these manufacturers though may not necessarily be in the same car. It is not known on how the new in-car connectivity camps, if at all, would be co-operating since certain cars are equipped with compatibility for iPhone while others for instance could only have the potential of being connected to an Android smartphone Few car manufacturers, however are in different camps where Ford for instance, presently utilises Microsoft’s system though is also signed up to Apple’s CarPlay while Kia has Android for its existing in-car systems and is also a member of CarPlay.

General Motors that manufactures Vauxhall cars in the UK has signed up with Apple’s CarPlay as well as Google’s OAA together with the GENIVI Alliance along with Honda and Hyundai indicating that the drivers could get the choice of Android or iPhone compatibility from the point of purchasing new car.

There is a possibility that the OAA cars could lend support to Apple’s CarPlay as the system has been shown off by Mercedes, Ferrari and Volvo at the International Motor Show in Geneva, run on BlackBerry’s QNX software.

 This has been adopted by the automotive trade due to its history of reliability. Until Apple tends to exclude the OAA from its licensing agreement for CarPlay, some of the cars could default to Android though switch to iPhone connectivity when the iPhone is plugged into the system. Both Android Auto and CarPlay come with extensive lists of third party audio streaming apps and listening to audio content seems to be one of the oldest as well as the safest means of in-car infotainment.