Fruitfly Mac Malware: How to Protect Yourself from Undetected Malware

credit:NJCCIC

Do you know that from past 15 years there is an undetected malware hovering over your Mac systems? The Fruitfly mac malware is the one that has been undetected since a very long time.

So, if you are not updated with that fruitfly story then here is the brief and latest news for you.

Fruitfly Latest Update: 

FBI has finally solved the 15 years undetected fruitfly mac malware mystery. The Mysterious mac malware was created by an Ohio man just to take control of the malware victims & Mac computers.

The hacker has stoled flies, keyboard strokes, and also watched victims via their webcam secretly and had listened to their private conversations as well. According to the latest FBI report the man has created this fruitfly mac malware in 2003 itself when he was at the age of just 14 years. Since then he is using this malware until his arrest 2017.

The crazy think about this malware is the mac upgraded versions of antivirus programs never detected this “Fruitfly” malware on any of the victim's computers. Even the experts couldn't figure out the working process of a fruit fly and how its creator has spread that virus around the Mac computers.

According to the FBI, the accused used a port scanner to find the internet macs with weak passwords and he logged into these weak systems remotely via the open service ports and he installed and hid the “fruitfly on the user's computers without their notice.

Now, if you are really new this term “fruitfly mac malware” means you will be banging your heads and thinking about what is fruitfly and whats the relation between mac and that fruitfly etc.

If you are one of them then don’t worry here I am going to cover everything about the Fruitfly mac malware.

What is Fruitfly Malware? 

The fruitfly malware is a stealthy but very highly-invasive malware on Macs. As said above this particular malware has been around the Macs for almost 15 years. Even Mac Antivirus programmes and other anti-malware software hasn't found that virus.

Fruitfly Mac malware Discover: 

This highly-invasive malware was first discovered back in January 2017 with a normal blog post from the Malware bytes and it has highlighted its existence.

In that post, the author has explained how fruitfly infects mac computers and he also stated that it has an ability to capture screenshots, view keystrokes and control webcams etc on the Mac. In that post, he also stated that the creator of the malware will have full access to all affected victims.

At that point of discovery, they suspected that the malware has been around 2014 since the OS X Yosemite update but it recently it has been relieved that it was first created in 2003 itself by a 14 years old kid. You will know more about him below.

In that blog post, they have said that this malware is targeting biomedical research centers. And they also said that the first version of this fruit fly is really unsophisticated and it is just using a hidden file and a launch agent to keep the mac infected.

New updated Varients of Fruitfly Emerge: 

After first discover of this fruitfly malware most of the experts tried to resolve this malware but they couldn't crack it. At some stage, all thought the new update from Apple has patched the issues.

But the new variants of fruit fly have emerged and they have infected a large number of computers. The new version has also been undetected by all antivirus. That has made this malware spread even more.

In the July of 2018, a former NSA hacker has done a in-depth analysis of the latest variant and told some interesting facts about the malware. He stated that despite the virus is relatively simple but the malware has full control over the system as there will be no speed in processing and other factors it has been undetected.

In that wardly research somehow he could crack the malware and found the malware creator ip address, the name of the users and other necessary information. And he also found that there are more than 400 infected macs connected to the registered services as he was unable to view the IP addresses and users of those devices he didn't speak a word about them.

He later tried to do further research but said that there’s no way to know how the malware infects computers. However, he said one information that this whole virus has been spread through a tedious and malicious email attachment.

Who’s the mysterious man behind the Fruitfly? 

At that point of time even though he collected all the information but he couldn't do anything because he skipped from his network. But, wardly has discovered that he is a single hacker rather than the team of a hacker. However, he recently got caught in the FBI investigation and he is behind bars.

Although we can't share enough information about him as we only know some information we can say that person is from Ohio State and he has found that malware in 2003.

Who is affected by fruitfly: 

As said, in the above statement the fruitfly has affected more than 400 plus mac computers in a single server but to be frank the list could be increased as well. Although you don't have to worry about these because you can protect yourself from these kinds of attacks. In this article, I am going to disclose how you can protect from fruit fly and other types of malware.

How to protect yourself from fruitfly: 

Apple has released all the security patches for fruitfly earlier this year. But as the newer version comes into the place you have to be very careful in dealing with email attachments and spam emails.
You should not open any kind of spam or unknown emails. Apart from that, you have to keep your password much stronger than ever because he has remotely accessed weak password-protected accounts. So, you have to take care of your password as well.

As of now, the mystery has been relived so all the antivirus has updated their core algorithm according to it and you can quickly find these type of malware with Anti-malware or Antivirus programs.

How that fruitfly malware looks like: 

If you are a techie who is striving to see the malware code means you can see that in this posts. This code was first published in the “ malware bytes” Blog post only. We are just using this as a reference to show you how the fruitfly mac malware looks like.

The malware was extremely simplistic on the surface, consisting of only two files:

~/.client
SHA256:
ce07d208a2d89b4e0134f5282d9df580960d5c81412965a6d1a0786b27e7f044

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.client.client.plist
SHA256: 
83b712ec6b0b2d093d75c4553c66b95a3d1a1ca43e01c5e47aae49effce31ee3

You can see full code in the malware bytes post. This is all about the fruitfly mac malware.

Conclusion: 

As this fruitfly malware can be detected by some of the antimalware tools you can stay protected from it. Along with that keep, a secure and robust password will always keep you safe from most of the malicious programs.

I hope I have covered every aspect of the fruitfly mac malware. Now it's up to you if you have any queries you can let us know in comments section below.

7 Reasons to Buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max?

The most awaited Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are finally out in both the international and in Indian markets. Although these brand new models of iPhone have arrived silently without any parties or grand launches in India across the metropolitan cities.

As the new batch of iPhone is released, people are rushing into the Apple stores and ordering the new devices. However, some brave people are carefully looking at the reviews and other factors to judge whether to buy the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

Now, if you are one of them who want to know the reasons to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Then you in the perfect place, here I am going to show you all the best reasons to buy the iPhone XS and XS Max.

Now, let’s look the best reasons to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Along with that, you can also have a glance at why to skip this new update of iPhone devices.

Reasons to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max? 

These are the best reasons why you need to update your old device with new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

1. iPhone XS and Xs Max both run on the latest A12 Bionic Processor: 

The most recent A12 Bionic Processor powers the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. This powerful processor is faster than all the other processors in real time. Apple dominates the routine phone tests conducted between Snapdragons 845, Kirin 970 chip and A12 Bionic Processor.

After conducting the tests, Apple iconic A12 processor has been the fastest of the three processors tested. So, it has an even faster processor in the iPhone XS and Xs Max rather than other models of iPhone.

In general, the A12 processor has two performance cores that are reportedly delivering 15% faster performance than other processors and also consuming 40% less power than the A11. Along with that, it is having four efficiency cores, which further saves the power consumptions.

Now you will not have any sort of disturbances in the iPhone while playing games because it is having a 50% boost in speed it efficiently perform all the high Graphics interface games without any kind of problem.

As said above A12 Bionic, the processor is the fastest processors, and it leaves the most rapid Snapdragon 845 in the dust. Therefore, this is the best reason “why you have to upgrade your iPhone to iPhone XS and XS Max.”

2. The New iPhone XS and Xs Max both come with the biggest ever display on an iPhone: 

If your concern is about the display size, then you have to check out this new iPhone XS and XS Max. I am saying this because iPhone XS and XS Max are having the biggest ever display on the iPhone. These devices are coming with a 6.5-inch display.

So, if you are watching out closely to buy a more prominent display iPhone means you should be buying iPhone XS because of its giant display. Along with that giant display, this also looks stunning in appearance.

3. iPhone XSis having most significant battery performance ever on any iPhone: 

The new iPhone XS claims that it is having the biggest ever battery life on any iPhone versions. As Apple promised to improve the battery performance, they had done that in the new version. Apple’s new XS phone lasted 10 hrs. 45 minutes on the battery test which we had conducted. Even after using, the phone continuously over LTE until it runs out of charge.

Usually, the conventional iPhone devices will not last longer than the 9hrs clock, but the newer version almost has two hrs. Better battery time than the standard device. Therefore, this new iPhone XSwill last longer than other devices. If you are striving to get better battery performance, then you have to have a look at the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at the Thanksgiving Day sales.

4. iPhone XSand Xs Max is the most durable than another device: 

If you are looking the best durable device in iPhone, then you should be looking at the new batch of iPhone devices XS and XS Max. Usually, the iPhone X sported an IP67 Rating for the dust and water resistant, but when it comes to the iPhone XS and XS Max, it has IP68, so it is litter tougher than the iPhone X. Which means, you can drop the phone in up to the 6 feet of water and you do not have to worry about anything? The Xs is a better option in other ways too; it is having the reformulated glass, which can save your phone when the drop has happened.

5. Better Face ID, Dual SIM, and Speakers: 

If you are eagerly waiting for the Apple new version, then your wait and patience levels will pay off because the Xs is having a bunch of upgrades than its last model iPhone X. This new version is having an improved Face ID, which means your phone will unlock faster than the other device.

Its screen offers greater and broader screen experience along with its prolific processor A12. Apple has stated that the new phone offers a wide range of stereo sounds and if you are the lover of music, then you will love this new device. Along with that, you will appreciate the dual SIM cards support in the new iPhone models.

6. iPhone XShas more Expansive Storage Options: 

The Apple’s new phones are having more extensive storage options than other Apple iPhone. Usually, the base model of the iPhone XS offers 64GB, which is more generous than the 32GB. As it is normal storage space, you can now, go for bigger options. Both the new iPhone devices can be top out at 512GB of the storage. Which is another impressive feature of the iPhone XS and Xs Max? The 512 GB version costs $350 more than the standard models.

7. The Brand New iPhone is the most beautiful devices in the market: 

In general, iPhones are always known for its looks and appeal. Now if you are one of them who always gives preference to the look of the phone, then you should be buying the new iPhone XS.

The brand new iPhone models are one of the most beautiful devices presently available in the market. New devices are having the new gold color option, which is strikingly good-looking, and it is one of the gorgeous devices I have seen in today’s market.

Until now, we have seen the reasons to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Now if you really want the reason why not to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Then don’t worry I will cover them in the next post.

Conclusion: 

This is all about the reason of why to buy iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. What do you think about these iPhone reasons to buy? Do you have any other better reason to say? Please let us know in the comments section.

Macmyth Apple Watch Series 4 Review

Is Apple’s watch Series 4 for You?

Apple recently released its all new Apple watch series 4. Just by looking at it you wouldn’t straight off see any major changes but once you power it up you’ll realise that Apple has come a long way with its watch series. The same shape, same design and same bands, on the looks side, Apple watch series 4 is your same Apple watch. However as soon as you turn it on you just know that the Apple watch series 4 is not like its predecessors in some ways.

What’s New in the Apple Watch Series 4?

Due to its curved display and no bezels, the Apple watch series 4 seems to have a 30% larger screen which you notice as soon as you power up the thing.

But that’s not all that is new with the new Apple watch series 4. The new Apple watch series 4 comes with a crown that provides haptic feedback as you scroll through the screen, a much louder speaker (don’t know when anybody is going to need that), a much faster processor and an all and new wireless chip all snuggled up into one sleek body.

If this still does not impress you then let me tell you the Apple watch series 4 also comes with a heart rate monitor and an ECG scan. The heart rate monitor thing may not be super interesting as all sport watches come with anyway but having an ECG in the watch is a start.

Having all these things in the Apple watch series 4 is not going to come cheap for anyone. You can get the basic model with GPS for $399 and the cellular model with a 40mm case or a 44mm case for $499. But this shouldn’t be surprising as Apple is hardly known as an affordable brand.

A combo of hardware and software in the new Apple Watch Series 4: 

What’s makes this Apple watch series 4 all the more special is the combination of updated software and hardware. The new health features added to the watch also makes it a winner in anyone’s eyes.

The Apple watch series 4 comes with new sensors that monitor not only your heart in the ECG readings but also notifies 911 when the user takes a tumble and does not get up for a minute. To know more- Apple has updated the gyroscope and accelerometer to identify when a person has fallen and needs emergency services to be phoned up.

Heart Screening not yet there….

The Apple watch series 4’s heart screening features are at present are a no show and will come later this year along with an update.

The heart screening tech keeps track of your heart rate throughout the day and the Apple watch series 4 also has electrodes in the crown and crystal back to record an ECG.

If the Apple watch series 4 gets an atrial fibrillation in its reading it will confirm it four more times and then send the user an alert.

Apple Event: Go Big or Go Home!

Go big or go home seems to be Apple’s new motto when it came to the Apple event that it held this Wednesday. As Apple released its new iPhones, the overriding theme seemed to be that if you didn’t go big you had to go home as the starting price of these new unveilings are at $750, $1000 and $1,100, when last year it was at $700, $800 and $1,000.

As iPhone markets saturate around the world, Apple plans on getting as much out of the market before it dwindles altogether by getting better performing phones and another alternative is to make a phone do more so that people wouldn’t have to look elsewhere for gaming and such.

Introductions at the Apple Event: 

The new round of iPhones are supposedly bigger, better and faster than their last year’s counterparts. The biggest ever iPhone to be released at an Apple event was this time around. The new ever largest iPhone ever to be released by Apple is 6.5 inches and is called the iPhone XS max not extra small mind you but ten S.

This mammoth of an iPhone, as mentioned at the Apple event will retail for $1,100, if that does not make your eyes pop then I don’t know what will.

Another mention at the Apple event was a larger Apple watch that comes with a heart trend monitoring system or ECG apparently approved by the FDA or Food and Drug Administration.

Bigger, Faster iPhones at the Apple Event: 

The recent Apple event saw an iPhone XS which is a premium model that has a 5.8 inch screen and a 6.5 inch screen iPhone XS max model, which is its biggest ever selling smart phone.

But if you’re looking for a more basic one then Apple also unveiled a 6.1 inch entry level iPhone XR model.

What’s the Difference in these models discussed at the Apple Event: 

The XS iPhone models will be the better, faster and bigger iPhones that was mentioned with better processing speeds and a super retina OLED display that has a wider color gamut.

The iPhone XR model on the other hand will be made of aluminum instead of the higher end stainless steel and is made of LCD tech rather than the high-fi super retina OLED display.

Although, the XR model is as fast as the XS models as said at the Apple event.

Here comes Apple watch Series 4 inaugurated at the Apple event:

Apple also released its watch series 4 at the Apple event which is much sleeker than what they released previously back in 2015. This time around, the watch series 4 as released at the Apple event has no bezel to go with it, making it seem as if it has a larger screen.

This new watch as Apple said at the Apple event has better motion sensors to detect when a person has fallen down and has got major injury as well as a faster processor.

What is a 5G network mobile network?

How is 5G Network going to Help You!

At first it was 4G now it has become 5G network or maybe not so fast. 5G network is still a little ways off for now. But shortly that will be the norm and not 4G. Basically with a 5G network you will get faster speeds and lesser delays, that is if all goes well. It will be the upgraded version of 4G and like all upgraded versions, will give you faster speeds. In a few years we can expect 5G network to come to us. But for now let’s make do with all the changes that is going to come about with the new 5G network.

The Same Architecture with the New 5G Network:

The 5G network will have the same architecture with a few complex details here and there.

Basically a cellular mobile network has three parts to it- mobile devices, radio access network and a core network.

The simplest of the lot is the mobile device which could be a smart phone, laptop or tablet.

The radio access networks on the other hand are phone towers which are connected to the core network. These mobile phone towers use radio waves to relay data between the mobile devices such as our smart phones to the core network. The area so covered or the range is called a cell.

The core network has to setup communication between devices, other networks, user management and also has to record information for billing.

Since newer and newer mobile networks have come out, new changes were made to the network and its architecture.

Changes are of the analogue to digital kind, the introduction to data services, the move to a more simplified architecture, increased data speeds to users and better bandwidth efficiency.

So how is the New 5G Network Different? 

Many of the changes planned for the 5G network have to do with the base stations and core networks. The changes will be less apparent to end users as compared to the mobile operators.

With the new 5G network, there will be a new frequency too. 5G will transmit on high frequencies than their predecessors. The problem with this high frequency transmission is that the 5G network will weaken as it travels far.

Hence the cell or the space covered by mobile towers will be smaller like a few hundred meters in diameter.

With smaller cell sizes a number of unused frequencies become available but added problems also arise such as interference and handing over problems.

The new 5G network will also support many more devices than their predecessors such as around 1 million devices per square kilometer.

This has become the need at present as a number of devices have become smart and need a network connection to remain that way. I am talking about the smart toasters or fridges in the house.

Since 5G networks use high frequencies their wavelengths are much smaller and can be used with MIMO devices or multiple node devices.

How to get started with Apple Music

Explore Apple Music to maximise on your Subscription

In order to get the maximum advantage from your subscription of Apple Music, you need to explore all the possibilities that is offered. Over the past three years the Apple Music service has grown, though there were bugs in the beginning.

Apple Music library has 45 million tracks to choose from.

The Apple Music is available on your Mac, Apple TV and iOS devices. By downloading anything you want from Apple Music, it becomes available wherever you go.

For the first-time users, Apple Music gives a confusing message like whether you want to Keep Music or Delete & Replace. Apple provides an explanation for the choices.

If you select Keep the Music, then the tunes that are present on your iPhone will remain there. In addition, you will get the choice of Apple Music.

The second option allows you to delete everything and replace it with copies from the Apple Music library.

It is better to choose Delete & Replace on your iPhone or iPad, while selecting Keep the Music on your Mac. These options ensure you get the best audio quality when you are on the go and also have a backup of your favourite tunes on your desk. Make sure to download the music on your iOS devices since you never know when you may need them especially during your commute.

How to explore Apple Music

There are five areas in Apple Music and navigating between them is done by using icons that are at the bottom of the mobile app. There is Apple Music: For You, Apple Music: New, Apple Music: Radio, Apple Music: Connect, Apple Music: Playlists and Library.

When should you download Apple Music? 

It is advisable to mark the Apple Music track and copy it to your phone at least a few hours before. You also need to download it on the device from which you would be listening to.

Once you find a song on your iPhone, then you will get a button with an icon to the right of the sound track. If you tap the plus sign, the track from Apple Music will be added to your library. The plus sign then turns into the iCloud one with a download arrow. On tapping on it, that track gets downloaded. It is faster to do this for entire playlists than individual songs. When you go to the playlist on your iOS devices and tap Add then all the tracks on the playlist get added to your library. It will then change to the iCloud one with the download arrow. Tap on this and it will be downloaded.

There is also a button with ellipses which lets you add tunes to your library or to a playlist. Select Add to Library where the options increase with a download button wherein everything on that list will go onto the phone.

Once you stop subscribing to Apple Music then you will lose all the tracks that you have downloaded. There is a possibility of all your favourite tunes vanishing even if you are still subscribing. It may occur after an iOS update which may be due to offloading music when space is required. It can also happen if you have more than one iTunes account and you switch between them. You may lose your entire playlist when you go back to your original account.

In that case, go to Settings and Music and then switch on iCloud Music Library. You will be prompted to choose between Keep Music or Delete & Replace.

Subscription of Apple Music

Apple Music costs $9.99 per month or $14.99 for a family package of up to 6 people.

Apple Hack by a Melbourne Teen who Dreamed of Working for Apple

Though Apple claims to protect their networks, Apple Hack was done by a 16-year-old Australian lad from Melbourne. The Apple Hack was done on the Apple’s network where he downloaded the internal files and accessed the customer’s accounts.

When he appeared in a Melbourne court, the 16-year-old said that he admired the company and the sole purpose of the Apple Hack was to work in Apple someday. As per The Age newspaper, the lawyer of the teen told the children’s court in Melbourne that his client conducted the Apple Hack on several occasions within a span of one year since he was a great fan of the Apple group. The lad who studies at a private school is said to have stored the information he gathered in a folder which he titled ‘hacky hack hack’.

At the hearing, it was informed to the court that the teen had conducted the Apple Hack and downloaded 90GB of secure data. They were secure files of the customer’s accounts that he had hacked into. In spite of this Apple Hack, the company has said that none of their customer’s accounts were affected.

Tight security by the Apple vigilantes helped detect the Apple Hack

When the security was breached, the Apple vigilantes informed the FBI and they in turn notified the Australian federal police. The company spokesperson told Guardian Australia that they ensure that all their networks are secure and all their data are well protected. They informed them that at Apple they have a dedicated team of professionals who specifically work to detect and respond immediately to any security breach.

In addition, they also stated that as soon as they detected the Apple Hack, the team contained the breach and immediately informed the law enforcement department. They made sure that none of the accounts of their valued customers were breached since they consider the security of the customer’s data their primary responsibility. The Apple Hack did not allow the personal data of their valued customers be compromised in any way.

Apple did not tell Guardian what information the boy accessed neither did they tell them how their personnel identified the breach.

How did the Australian teenager conduct the Apple Hack?

According to The Age, the teen managed to conduct the Apple Hack by accessing the customer’s data by getting the login access of the customers. He got into the company’s network and downloaded the internal files. He downloaded 90GB of secure files and accessed the customer’s accounts. He then stored them in a folder titled ‘hacky hack hack’. The teen is also said to have shared the details of the Apple Hack with members of a WhatsApp group.

Dr Suelette Dreyfuss who is a privacy expert from the University of Melbourne’s school of computing and information systems, appealed that they do not take any punitive action against the lad. He has been researching a lot of teen hackers worldwide.

He says that these teens outgrow the technology hacking and go on to live useful lives and contribute to society. He says that they often make mistakes during their youth when they are exploring and breaking rules especially online. They could also be boasting and bragging about their exploits. Putting them in jail could be a waste of potential.

What is the New Wi-Fi EasyMesh Standard?

Wi-Fi EasyMesh and what to expect?

Today everyone has a need to stay connected to the internet. For that purpose, we have mobile data and Wi-Fi systems at our disposal. In cases when there is Wi-Fi, sometimes we find that we don’t get the same coverage everywhere and why would you too? The closer you are to a router the better the Wi-Fi. That’s where mesh Wi-Fi s come in.

Wi-Fi EasyMesh allows you to get the same coverage no matter where you are in the vicinity of a router. A mesh Wi-Fi system is where you connect devices or routers from the same manufacturer to get the same reception throughout the place irrespective of where you are in relation to a router. What happens when you want to use different manufacturers devices to create one mesh? That’s where Wi-Fi EasyMesh steps in.

What is Wi-Fi EasyMesh? 

Wi-Fi EasyMesh is a mesh system where you can connect any manufacturer’s hardware in the house together to get Wi-Fi throughout a space.

Mesh systems allow you to get strong Wi-Fi throughout a space no matter where you are in relation to a router. You may think why not use an extender then?

You can always use an extender but setup is problematic and they often have a different name to your actual router. They come with the suffix SSID. But under mesh systems that is not there.

With mesh systems you connect to the closest device that gives you the best connection and you get Wi-Fi all under one name itself.

Why Wi-Fi EasyMesh is Better? 

With any mesh system you have to get hardware from one manufacturer itself. If you’re already using linksys then you have to get hardware from linksys itself. Where as in Wi-Fi EasyMesh, that is not required. You will be able to use hardware from any manufacturer to set up your mesh system.

Wi-Fi EasyMesh is a standard developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to allow users set up a mesh network using various manufacturer’s hardware and not just one.

Under Wi-Fi EasyMesh standard, one unit becomes the controller and the rest are all agents. So, if manufacturers decided to adopt this system then you could use one manufacturers hardware with another. For example, you could use Google Wi-Fi with Linksys to create your Wi-Fi EasyMesh system.

Why Manufacturers do not like Wi-Fi EasyMesh? 

Manufacturers are not so ready to adopt Wi-Fi EasyMesh as yet and here is why.

The main reason has to do with manufacturers wanting people to use all of their hardware itself. If you were to use Wi-Fi EasyMesh instead, then you could use two or more different manufacturers hardware to create your Wi-Fi EasyMesh system. This will affect their bottom line.

The next point to note with Wi-Fi EasyMesh is that if you use devices form different manufacturers, then upgrading will be a problem. Just think about it, if one manufacturer updates his hardware and others do not, then you have to wait till all manufacturers update all their hardware to update your Wi-Fi EasyMesh.

Apple Hides iPhone X Plus Secrets In iOS 12

Apple to make a New iPhone X Plus Model

Yes you read right Apple plans on making a new iPhone X plus model that will be radically different from the previous iPhone X. But who am I kidding, any phone coming out these days has to be way different from their predecessors if you want people to latch on to them. The same goes for the Apple iPhone X plus. While Apple does enjoy a huge and loyal customer base, their new phones have to have the wow factor if Apple has to maintain its image in the market.

This new detail about iPhone X plus coming out is due to another leak by Apple. These days companies really need to get plumbing done. Most are suffering form various “leaks” and that to of the big variety. The first Apple leak concerned a major upgrade in iOS 12 beta and now it has to do something with Apple iPhone X plus.

What is the new leak about?

This new leak was discovered by a Brazilian site called iHelp,BR which reveals details of Apple’s new and gigantic iPhone X plus in iOS 12 beta version 5. This new iPhone X plus will have a huge 6.5 inch screen and will operate much like an iPad. This new bit of information will have significant implications for the iPhone X plus.

How did iHelp,BR discover this you say? Well the answer is simple enough through a hack of course.
What’s the Hack concerning iPhone X plus all about?

Previous leaks concerning the iPhone X plus ( Apple should really look into a good plumber), shows that the iPhone X plus will have a 2688 by 1242 pixel which is higher than what you’ve ever seen before with Apple iPhones.

So now coming closer to the point, iHelp,BR used Apple’s Xcode simulator to run this iOS 12 beta 5 on it at 2688 by 1242 resolution and the results were astounding. They found that by doing this, new secret landscape modes were unlocked. Besides this many new interfaces for core Apple iPhone apps too were visible.

Apple’s new landscape mode with iPhone X plus:

Up till now Apple has played with the idea of using landscape modes for apps such as Calendar as well as Contacts on the iPhone plus sized variations. But has never thought of doing it for the iPhone X 5.8 inch model.

Now Apple is pegging the iPhone X plus as a more productive phone than its predecessor pushing the iPhone X down to second best.

Apple’s budget friendly 6.1 inch iPhone X did not get this feature too. Apple is planning on using this feature exclusively for iPhone X plus along with giving it dual sim exclusivity as well. This may be because the company wants to move users from their earlier models on to the new and better iPhone X plus. Which is also more expensive too.

The good news relating to iPhone X plus:

To make your decision to buy the iPhone X plus even easier, Apple has decided to slash prices of their phones this year.

How to Get Rid of Annoying Mac os Update Notifications (2018)

Imagine you could get your mac up to date without the annoying mac os update notifications.

If your updates are installed in the background automatically without showing up annoying updates means you can stick with your work without any disturbance. It is beneficial for you, and even you can work flawlessly.

Usually, these software updates are useful for any device, and they are essential. It is because they can bring brand new abilities and features to your device and helps to safeguard your system.

In general, these updates are quite frequent for any modern devices. But, If you are mac computer users means you will probably feel frustrated and sick with all those annoying update notifications which show up every day on your computer screens.

Usually, people don't have a problem with updating their computer, but their main problem is all about the frustrating notification which appears at the right time -- when you usually arrive at your work hours or when you have week worths work to complete in few days or at the first thing in the morning, etc.

These situations are quite annoying, and people complain about these most often. Even if you update your computer today, there will be another update waiting for your tomorrow. So, if you want to get rid of these annoying mac os updates means, merely follow this post.

In this post, you will find about how to install updates with getting any annoying mac os notifications. You can even see the solution for updates notifications which you can dismiss or remind me later as well.

Before going to the article how to get rid of annoying mac os update notifications. You have to think about the updates process as well.

Usually, these updates can fix all the security issues and resolve bugs in your system. In this post, I’ll show you all the three options, and you have to choose the best option which you want to try?

So, let's start,

How to get rid of seeing Mac OS update notifications:

Usually, stopping the mac os update notifications is quite easy. I’d instead suggest you skip this method because in this method you’ll skip updates and notifications. But, that is genuinely your call, and you can do as you wish.

If you want to ignore all of the Apple’s Mac OS updates means you can simply use this option. This option opens up the vulnerabilities of your system, and it could be open for the attackers.

To quickly stop seeing updates just follow this process:

• Firstly, Open System Preferences
• Then click on the App store settings.
• After clicking on that, a box will appear on your screen.
• Now, uncheck “ Automatically check for updates option.”

That's it with this process you can quickly stop seeing updates. But if you really want to install updates without showing any annoying notifications means, follow the next process.

How to get rid of only Mac OS update notification but not updates:

If you want to improve your computer health and want to keep your computer updated means you have to use this method.

In this method, you keep your system update but you I’ll get rid of annoying updates.

Process:

• Firstly open the system preferences on your Mac.
• Then select “App Store.
• After that click on “ Install macOS updates” in newer versions. If you are using an older version means click on “ Install OS x Updates.

In this way, you can quickly install updates without getting notified. That's why this is one of the best ways to get rid of annoying notification updates.

How to get rid of updates apart from the security updates:

If you want to safeguard your mac with security updates means you can install only security updates other than installing Mac Os Updates.

It is still possible if you want me to show that process means, have a look at below method.

Here’s the process:

• Head over to the system preferences.
• Then open your Mac’s App store settings.
• After opening check the box beside the “ Automatically check for updates option.”
• It will have four options now deselect the “ Install Mac OS Updates.
• Then you can deselect the install app updates.
• After that "deselect download newly available updates" in the background.
• Make sure you only check in the install system data files and security updates option only.

This process will install all the data files and security updates, but it will not install significant OS updates until and unless you update them by selecting Mac > Software Update.

Now if you want to disable high sierra notifications means you can do that.

How to disable high sierra notifications:

Usually, all of the above notifications are easier to manage, but the new major operating system upgrades High Sierra, is the Apple’s latest big update and it is a sophisticated update which comes with a notification that's always harder to dismiss it manually.

In this notifications, you will only have two options one is "install," and another one is "details" so there is no way to skip the notifications. So, to these harder changes, we have come up with a solution.

There are two different ways to merely mute these high sierra notifications: 

First way:

• The first one is a simple process -- here all you have to do is launch the mac app store.
• Then click on the updates.
• After that, you will see a big banner for the high sierra at the top of the page.
• Right, Click, anywhere on the image and select the hide update button which pops up.

Second way:

• If the above process doesn't work, then you can use this method.
• In this method, you have to open finder and press the shift + Command + G keys
• simultaneously to launch the “ go to folder.”
• Then type “/Library/Bundles” in the dialogue box.
• After that, you will see a file named “OSXNotification.bundle.”
• All you have to do is delete or move the file somewhere on your computer.
• While doing this, it will ask your computer password.
• You have to enter the password and allow your computer to restart.
• Once it is restarted means, you will be free from high sierra update notifications as well.

These are the two different ways to get rid of notifications. This last high sierra second process was learned from Make Use Of article. You can find more details on that post regarding high sierra.

5 MacBook Stands to work Smarter

MacBook Stands and why you’ll Love them

So everyone knows that when you use a laptop, you can use it on your lap but for better performance you might want to switch over to using a base. With a MacBook stand you will allow for better air circulation with your MacBook and will also help improve your posture as you won’t have to bend to look at anything. So better posture equals better work.

You might think what’s so great in a MacBook stand, they’re all the same. Well no some do offer you more than others and also will cost you more than the others but from your work to your posture they will all seem a little different. Depending on ease of use we give you a list of the best MacBook stands out there.

The First MacBook Stand on our list- ProBASE HD USB- C Aluminum Monitor Stand: 

This MacBook stand comes with a Type- C port as well as 4K HDMI output and a number of USB ports. You can charge up to a number of devices using this MacBook stand and all at the same time.
Plus the way things are organized you get less wire clutter and everything in order while you work at your MacBook stand. When not in use the MacBook stand doubles as storage, allowing you to stash away your MacBook.

MOBICASE MacBook Stand in Carry bag form: 

This is not just your average laptop carry bag but this bag features a MacBook stand too. You can raise the height of the stand to up to 8 inches and is great for those travelling and working at the same time.

As a bag you get a lot of storage for all your workly paraphernalia too.

Henge Docks Presents to you a MacBook stand- Pro Docking Station: 

This MacBook stand is not just a stand, just like the others but is a docking station too and can dock to up to 13 devices all at the same time.

You can even connect up to 3 external displays on to this MacBook stand to create your own mini work station.

A Curvy MacBook Stand on the list- Twelve South Curve MacBook Desktop Stand: 

This MacBook stand has a curve on its base bring in a little modernity to its look. Made of aluminum, this MacBook stand has a notch to hold your laptop in place. Your laptop will be at a slight angle thus helping you look at your work more comfortably.

Something a Little Fancy on the list: 

The de Dolomieu Marble MacBook stand is made specifically for Apple products. This MacBook stand is actually made of marble form Italy while the actual MacBook stand is made from Germany and you have your self an international MacBook stand right on your desk.

The MacBook stand lifts your MacBook to just the right height too.

Combining simplicity with Functionality- Elgato Thunderbolt 3 MacBook stands: 

 

This MacBook stand combines functionality with a flair of simplicity. The stand also supports many ports and is connected through a USB- C port.

Apple Stops Signing iOS 11.4 Following Launch of iOS 11.4.1

Code Signing to Apple iOS 11.4 stopped just a Week after iOS 11.4.1 Release

Apple has recently launched its official version of iOS 11.4.1 to users earlier in the month. Besides the not- so- spe

cial correction of bugs and a system update, the most interesting news with iOS 11.4.1 is that the signing of iOS 11.4 ceased only a week after the iOS 11.4.1 release. According to Apple the ceasing of iOS 11.4 has to do with getting all users on the same page. Basically everyone should be using the most up to date iOS software available.

This is done so that everyone can have not only the latest but also havea software where the old bugs are sorted out. Normally Apple ceases code signing a month after the official iOS software releases but this time has been different.

What does iOS 11.4.1 contain? 

Like all previous software updates and all coming software updates, iOS 11.4.1 takes care of a number of bugs and addresses some critical issues.

Among coding that iOS 11.4.1 corrected was the coding related to phone crashes. Some users’ iPhones crashed after typing in the word “Taiwan” or being sent a Taiwanese flag emoji in a text.

Apple also instated USB restricted Mode for iPhone and iPad owners, in iOS 11.4.1, as a way to disable hardwired USB data connections after some time of use, to prevent brute force passcode attacks.

Apart from the above, Apple also fixed AirPod tracking with iOS 11.4.1, for Find My iPhone and also improved the reliability of mail, contacts and notes sync with Microsoft Exchange. Before the update, users complained of their phone’s battery draining due to syncing of data in the background.

Apple’s trend of ceasing old iOS signing: 

Apple normally ceases code signing a month after the official new iOS release to prevent users form downloading old and buggy versions of the old iOS following a new release.

This strategy helps keep users safe and ensures that all Apple devices are running on the most up to date version of iOS that there is. This eases potential compatibility issues that devices may have with the new software and its features. At present all Apple users will have to download and run iOS 11.4.1.

Apple’s new iOS 12 release: 

Apple is currently working on its new generation iOS release which it hopes to launch along with its new iPhone models coming out later this year. Earlier in the week Apple launched the fourth developer beta version of iOS 12 for developers to test and try out.

This new version is all set to bring in new features and performance enhancements than previous iOS versions. Among those new features will be newer first party apps, a new measure tool that measures 3D objects in space with AR technology, group Facetime, Memoji, Siri shortcuts and much more.

iOS 12 is slated to release this fall along with Apple’s new iPhones that are supposed to release this fall too. iOS 11.4.1 may be the last of the iOS 11 series to be released.

How to Use Emergency SOS on Your iPhone

Using Emergency SOS on Your iPhone

Apple released emergency SOS last year with iOS 11, this really helpful feature allows you get in touch with 911 services or the like (depending on your country of residence) in a matter of seconds. Even when you’re travelling abroad things like the emergency numbers may not be readily known by you and in such an emergency situation knowing what the emergency number is, can be invaluable.

The emergency SOS mode varies on the iPhone you’re using but essentially you’ll be able to place the call within a matter of seconds no matter the model of phone you have.

Getting to emergency SOS on the iPhone:

If you’re tagging along your iPhone 8, 8 plus or the X, then to get to the emergency SOS feature all you have to do is hold down on the side button and one of the volume buttons to activate the emergency caller on the phone.

In about 2 seconds, you’ll see the caller and all you have to do is slide the slider to dial emergency services. Another option would be to continually hold down on both buttons till a countdown of 5 seconds begins and the emergency SOS service is dialed automatically.

As for iPhone 7 models to access emergency SOS all you have to do is rapidly press the side button 5 times to get to the emergency slider.

Depending on your country of residence you get to see multiple options some for hospitals, police or the fire station. For iPhone 8 users and later getting to the same emergency SOS mode as that of iPhone 7 is a simple change of settings.

All you have to do to get the same emergency mode as that of iPhone 7 is to go to settings and then press on emergency SOS to turn on the side button switch. Besides that you may also want to switch on the automatic dial button to call emergency services directly without the slider button.

Once this is done you’ll get a 3 second countdown, after 5 times pressing the side button, before emergency services are called. To cancel emergency services just press the cancel button before the countdown is over.

Using Emergency contacts with the Emergency SOS mode:

Your emergency contacts will be automatically notified when the emergency SOS mode is used. Your contacts will automatically get your location as well as updates to it. You can set up your emergency contacts by going to the Health app and tapping Medical ID to go through the set up process.

By also inputting your medical details, medical personal can access these details without the need of unlocking your phone.

When using your emergency services a valuable point to note is that face ID and Touch ID will be automatically disabled so as to prevent people from forcing you to open your phone with your finger or face. People have found it more difficult to access Passcodes from a user rather than forcing them to unlock their phones with their face or finger.

Peppermint 9 OS Review – Chrome OS Alternative

Peppermint 9 is a new, cooler and efficient OS for Linux lovers

For Linux users nothing sounds cooler and exciting than the launch of the new distribution of their OS. Our world is being aggressively ruled by the Windows and Mac OS which simply doesn't give the due share of popularity to the Linux based systems. One of the least known and particularly new Linus based operating system to debut recently is the Peppermint 9 which is available for free download for everyone. People still gets surprised to know that installing and running a Linux based operating system doesn't require any money. The best thing about the Peppermint 9 is that is extremely light OS which can run easily even some of the really hardware.

Peppermint 9 has taken feedback into consideration

  Peppermint 9 is based on the 18.04 LTS code base and it has been made available in both 64 bit and 32 bit flavours. Being available in the 32 bit will ensure people still using the older hardware will be able to make use of the OS without much hassle. Peppermint 9 comes with its own share of new cool features and changes which helped in enhancing the capability of the OS further. Team Peppermint has actively taken the user feedback into account while working on the version 9 and it has incorporated a number of features which has been sought out by the users. Likewise Menulibre menu editor has been installed in Peppermint 9 as default. Now users will also find a "Create new launcher here" option upon giving a right-click. This will help in improving the menu and launcher management on the Peppermint 9.

VLC will run smoothly on the Peppermint 9 as it honors the system Gtk theme. HTOP has been installed on the OS right out of the box and comes with its own menu item. Developers had also added a new fin your mouse cursor keyboard cursor which can be accessed by pressing Alt along with C key. Peppermint 9 has done away with Chromium bowser in favour of the Firefox browser for this version. It also comes with a new Skype web client SSB and it has been developed exclusively keeping the Microsoft users in mind who are able to make use of the Skype on their ageing systems. It also has a newer version of the Nemo file manager of 3.6.5.

Lightweight, fast and full of opportunities

Developers are hoping that people will find using the new Peppermint 9 a better experience than the earlier versions. Integration of apps both local and web based hasn't been new thing on the Linux based OS but Peppermint 9 takes the experience of using both to the next level. It has a dedicated cloud and web application management tool named Ice which ensures easy and simple integration of the apps into the system menus. It is free to download from its official website and it backed by a dedicated user support team which offers help through chat and email. So the time is ripe to enjoy the new age advanced and fast paced free Peppermint 9 OS to unlock your world of opportunities.

Apple to Unveil High-End AirPods

AirPods Slated for 2019 Release

According to sources, Apple is planning for the release of high-end AirPods, HomePod and over-ear headphones for as early as 2019. The AirPods are slated to pump up the volume and will also come with noise cancellation and water resistance. When we talk of water resistance, the AirPods will not be suitable for swimming, but essentially to protect it against rain and perspiration.

Apple will be working on increasing the range that the AirPods can work away from an iPhone or an iPad. The AirPods will cost more than the $159 per pair. They are working on a wireless charging case which will also be compatible with the AirPower charger.

The company is also looking at biometric sensors to be added to the AirPods. It could be a heart-rate monitor which could be handy like the Apple Watch and thus expand their base in the health-related field. However, the AirPods that are currently available are slated to be enhanced later this year with a new chip. This will allow hands-free Siri activation.

Features of the AirPods

The cordless AirPod headphones can connect instantly with all your other devices as soon as you put them into your ears.

The AirPod has a W1 chip which allows 5 hours of non-stop listening on a single charge. It also has a charging case which accommodates additional charges and gives more than 24 hours listening time. In case you require quick charge, then put the AirPods in the charging case for just 15 minutes and you will get 3 hours of listening time.

Siri can be activated by double clicking on any of the AirPods, without any need of taking your iPhone out of your pocket.

The AirPods will connect with all the other Apple devices that you have. The AirPods connect with your Apple Watch and iPhone simultaneously. You need to just choose AirPods on your iPad or Mac in case you want to listen on those devices.

With the AirPods, you receive high quality AAC audio. Whenever the user wants to make a call or talk to Siri, then the background noise is cancelled by dual beamforming microphones.

The AirPods will help you hear more clearly in a noisy environment through the iOS 12 operating system which is slated for a launch in the fall.

The AirPods through the iOS 12 can be used for “Live Listen”, which is an assistive hearing technology developed by Apple. This is available on the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants since 2014. The AirPods need to be paired through the Bluetooth on your iOS 12 device.

The AirPods from Apple have raised the bar since you can not only walk around with them in your ears but you can also understand what people are saying more clearly.

In addition to the AirPods, Apple is said to be coming out with a new HomePod and over -ear headphones in early 2019. The headphones will be competing with those from Bose and Sennheiser. These headphones will be a higher-end alternative to the company’s Beats line.

Want to Try MacOS Mojave Right Now? Apple Releases Public Beta

MacOS Mojave is now on public Beta

MacOS Mojave was released onto pubic beta just a day after Apple released the public beta for iOS 12. Mac users can now take a look at the new Dark Mode and other new features on Mac OS Mojave. We heard the first of the dark mode and other macOS Mojave features at the WWDC held earlier this year. But before you go ahead with those impatient fingers to download the new OS, keep in mind that this public beta may have bugs and you may want to back up your system before you go ahead with the Mac OS Mojave beta.

This will be the first time the general public as well as developers will get a chance to test out the new Mac OS Mojave beta ahead of its final release later this year, probably sometime in Autumn. If you are one of those who can’t wait for the final release, then make sure that you are signed up for the beta testing program. You also may want to take this beta to a secondary Mac rather than your main use one.

Macs that support MacOS Mojave: 

Mac OS Mojave will be available on 2012 and further Macs. So this would definitely include the newer 2015 macs, MacBook Air the 2012 version and newer, mac mini, MacBook Pro, iMac Pro and Mac pro models.

How to get the beta version of MacOS Mojave? 

You first have to be signed up for the beat testing program and then you can go on ahead to the official beta testing web page where you can get all the betas available such as the latest iOS or tvOS public betas.

But before you go ahead and download macOS Mojave, a word of advice, you might want to backup your data and maybe update your secondary mac for fear of bugs.

With mac OS Mojave, you can update your system through the software update tool in the mac app store.

You will have to register with your Apple ID at beta.apple.com. You’ll then have to download the macOS Mojave Beta access utility. After doing this, the app store will contain the public beta seeds for macOS Mojave. Once the update button is shown, this may take a few minutes, you could then procced to download the public beta for MacOS Mojave.

After downloading it, run the macOS Mojave installer on the drive of your choice and then agree to the terms and conditions. Once all this is done, you can then check out the new macOS Mojave beta.

Features MacOS Mojave will bring to mac: 

With the new macOS Mojave you will get a new dark mode, dynamic desktop wallpapers, a refreshed mac app store, a better Finder Window, Desktop stacks, Apple news, Stocks, voice memo apps and a new home app.

You will even be able to use Siri to control home kit products with your mac too.

Apple StudioPods Over-Ear Headphones

Apple set to launch its own Headphones titled “StudioPods”?

Rumor has it that Apple is all set, well almost anyway, to release its own headphones which could possibly be named studiopods or something with pod in it. This new headphones will be Apple’s first and will complete their audio product range. The studiopods will likely be aimed at the higher end of the market and is supposed to be better that the current airpods.

So taking a look at the release date, the studiopod’s likely price and its name and features we will delve into studiopod’s features without further ado.

What’s in a name? 

At present there is no sure news that Apple plans on releasing anything that has to do with headphones, let alone decide on its name. But looking at the past and Apple’s reputation for naming everything that has to do with audio, “pods” or “air”, this pair of headphones too will come with a prefix or suffix “air” or “pods”.

Right now the only name I will be using is Studiopods since it has a good ring to it.

Likely release date of “studiopods”: 

At present, if rumors are anything to go by, Apple’s studiopods were scheduled to be released in the 4th quarter of this year. But according to Bloomberg, Apple has apparently pushed the release date to the first half of 2019.

We had our hopes that Apple would release these new studiopod headphones along with the iPhones this year. But Alas! Apple is facing some development challenges which might just push the release date to early 2019.

But then again, Apple might just do away with the studiopods project altogether. Rumor has it that Apple has been trying out various designs and has been on and off the project for quite some time.

Studiopod’s Likely Features: 

As Apple has not yet announced plans for a pair of headphones, the likely features of studiopods is anyone’s guess at this point.

But if we were to take a guess we would say, probably wireless pairing like the airpods, noise cancellation functionality and wireless charging which basically is the standard now a days with all headphones.

According to some sources Apple is working with SZS and Primax on the studiopods project.
Primax, a Taipei based company, is known for making camera parts for smart phones including the iPhone but is also known for making wireless speaker parts too.

Apple could also take cue from their Beats company’s Studio 3 which features Apple’s W1 chip and noise cancellation tech. Besides the features, I wonder if the Apple Studiopods price will also take cue from the Beats Studio 3’s.

Price of the highly anticipated studiopods: 

Sources say that Apple’s studiopods price will be much more than the airpods, surprise suprise.
On a serious note, Apple’s studiopods will be priced keeping in mind the higher end of the market.
These new studiopod headphones will likely stand in competition with companies such as Bose and Apple’s very own Beats by dr. Dre brand.

5 iPhone Lenses To Capture The Best Shots in 2018

The Best iPhone Lenses in 2018 To Give You the Best Photos and Videos

Among the smartphone cameras available in the market, Apple promises the best. Cameras that have come along with the smartphones have created a total transformation in the way photos are taken and shared. However, there is a disadvantage since the focal length is fixed with a wide field of view and it will not be suitable for every subject that needs to be captured.

With the latest iPhone lenses you can enhance your photographic skills and take and share images. There are a few iPhone lenses that can be fitted over the smartphone’s lens to give you high quality photos that you shoot and videos you capture.

The iPhone lenses allow the user to get minute details (macro), 180degree field (fisheye) and even landscapes (wide angle). There is also the choice of telephoto lenses. If you are looking for a good deal then there is the option of multiple iPhone lenses with the added advantage of good picture quality.

We take a look at some of the best iPhone lenses that will give the sharpest photos yet

The first choice in iPhone lenses is the Moment’s lenses

The Moment’s lenses can be used as an add-on lens with a wide range of smartphones that includes the iPhone6, 7, 8 as well as the iPhone X. It can also be used for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S9 and the Google Pixel 2 Series. The Moment’s lenses range from macro to telephoto. These lenses are made of glass optical elements and are within a metal frame. You get a good image quality and the lenses are very durable.

Moment has come out with its latest Filmaker Collection by stressing on mobile cinematography. With the Moment’s lenses you get the sharpest photos and if price is not the criteria and you are looking for good picture quality, then it is the best investment you can make. It costs $90 for a single lens and $190 for a kit that includes wide angle lens, telephoto lens and mounting plate.

The OlloclipiPhone Lenses which are simple and still efficient

This is a professional iPhone lens that snaps onto your iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.Olloclip is known for its high-quality iPhone lenses. Olloclip’s lenses comes in three sets-Core, Active and Macro Pro. The Core set includes the fisheye, 15x macro and a super-wide lens. The Active set has the telephoto and ultra-wide lens. In the Macro Pro set there is the 7x, 14x and 21x macro lenses as well as an InstaFocus hood whereby you get sharp images. It is simple yet efficient and the Olloclip set starts at $80. For $200 you can get all three lens sets and the Olloclip hand grip.

The Olloclip Connect X iPhone X lens enhances the iPhone X camera. You can shoot closer and wider angles with the Macro 15x and Fisheye Lens. These iPhone lenses can be attached easily and still retain the sleek design of the smartphone. This iPhone lens also provides for a 180degree spherical effect and is priced at $59.99.

Aukey Ora Lens: A best budget iPhone lens

The Aukey Ora lens is wide angle having a 140degree view and a 10x macro lens for close views. Both these iPhone lenses are of an aluminium alloy that comes with a coating to prevent lens flares and other problems. When we consider the 140degree wide angle view, it is fairly sharp and shows very little curvature. With the Aukey Ora 10x macro lens, fine details are sharply focussed and deliver quality pictures. It sells at $20 which is a good value for your money where you can keep things simple and also get good shots. The Aukey Ora lens works on IPhone 7, 6 and 6 Plus as well as Samsung and some Android smartphones.

ExoLens Pro by Zeiss: An iPhone lens which is great but heavy on the pocket

The Zeiss ExoLens Pro is an excellent quality lens with good image quality and low distortion. The casing is made of black anodised aluminium and the detachable lens is fairly heavy. Inside there are aspherical elements to overcome distortion and an antireflective coating to lessen the reflections and improve light transmission. The drawback is that it is large, a bit heavy and expensive. The quality of the images that the Exolens Pro captures justifies its size. It gives excellent images and widens the view of the iPhone camera without any distortion. Even the images at the edges of the frame are sharp, clean and detailed. There is the telephoto lens selling at $199.99 and the Macro Zoom at $149.99. The ExoLens Pro comes with rubber inner sleeves which is suitable for a wide range of iPhones.

SANDMARC iPhone lenses

SANDMARC has launched a range of lenses for iPhone users. It has introduced the wide angle, fisheye and macro optic which is suitable for the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. The macro lens is priced at 469.99, the fisheye at $79.99 which comes with a 5x wide capture. The wide angle lens which comes with a 2x capture is priced at $89.99. In case you wish to buy all the three SANDMARC lenses, then you can get them at $189.99. Each of the lens comes with a lens case mount or if the case is not available then you can use the lens with a clip mount.

Before you buy an iPhone lens, you need to consider the sharpness of the photos at the edges, see for any distortion, any distortion of light where the center of the photos are brighter than the edges and also the price. When going in for telephoto lenses, you need to be aware of the fact that they will produce jittery and blurry photos as compared to wide angle or fisheye due to slight hand shake or vibrations.

Top 10 Features of iOS 12 That Give iPhones an Edge over Android

Why iOS 12 May be better than Android P?

Apple recently announced the release of iOS 12 at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2018. With Google’s Andriod P set to be released somewhere in this year and with Apple’s iOS 12 coming out at the same time, it is going to be a tough competition for both companies. But at present Apple seems to be ruling the roost. At the recent conference Apple said that while Google’s latest update was enjoyed by only a few namely 6% of android devices, Apple’s latest iOS 11 is being used by 81% of their users.

With both android P and iOS 12 coming out with a slew of features, it will be interesting to see which company comes out on the top. Looking at the features Apple’s iOS 12 will bring, it seems that Google better pull up their socks soon or we may see more users shifting over to Apple.

Siri just got Smarter:

With iOS 12 users can now use Siri with third party apps without the need for actually opening up those apps to use the voice assistant. Apple users can even use Siri to trigger different actions or a single command can be used for multiple actions. As for Google assistant, users cannot use the assistant for giving commands to third party apps.

No Tracking with Apple’s Browser:

Apple’s Safari browser has smart tracking prevention that basically prevents people from tracking users based on their “likes”, “shares” and “comments” on social media. While on the other hand Google has no way of stopping cookies from tracking a user’s browsing habits.

iOS 12 has graduated to memojis:

With iOS 12 users get to play with memojis while Google is still stuck with animojis in Android P. Android is dependent on individual OEMs to power their emojis.

FaceTiming with a lot more people on iOS 12:

With iOS 12 users will get a major update to their FaceTime app. You will be able to chat with 32 people at a time using FaceTime and the app will also automatically detect the person who is talking and highlight their face in such a big group.

iOS to reach even older iPhones:

iOS 12 will supposedly reach even older iPhone models starting from iPhone 5S while Google’s Android P will be usable with only newer android phones.

Measure real life objects with iOS 12:

Apple’s iOS 12 will allow you to measure real life objects using the iPhone’s camera and AR technology. Google teases about a lot of AR in Android P but there are no real life cases in which the tech can be applied as of now.

iOS 12 brings you multiplayer AR games:

With iOS 12 more than one person and up to 4 persons can play AR games while Google’s Android P lacks any multiplayer AR games.

Already there QR scanner with iOS 12:

iOS 12 comes with an already there QR scanner while with Android P users will have to download the scanner from third party apps.