Monday, May 8, 2017

Apple Patents Way to Charge iPhone Over Wi-Fi

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


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

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

A little history of wireless charging technology

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

Insights from the patent filing

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

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

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

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

Friday, May 5, 2017

iPhone 8 Photos Gets Leaked Suggesting a Redesigned Look

iPhone 8 Photo
iPhone 8 based rumors and reports doesn’t seem to die anytime soon. This being one of the most eagerly awaited gadgets to be unveiled this year has left everyone wishing for something extraordinary. It might come as surprise that the images leaked can turn out to be the very first images of the iPhone 8. Samsung has simply gone ahead with revamping the complete design for the S8 which shows a definite departure from its stable design present in almost every high Samsung gadgets. Apple is also working on the same lines as per the images where a prototype of the handset is shown having a redesigned look.

Reveals from the new images

The pictures made available in the online forums shows the primary hardware for the upcoming iPhone 8. Quite interesting it retains the structure of the iPhone 7 and other who came before it as it offers the similar volume button along with the rounded rectangular design and the power switch. Nothing has changed on this level but a lot of effort has gone towards the extending the length of the device at its sides.

The prominent design change which reflects from the picture is the presence of the long camera hole which now stretches right down the phone. With the launch of the iPhone 6S Apple first brought the large oval opening for the camera as it helped in keeping the dual lens camera setup in the efficient fashion. However in the pictures it can be easily seen that Apple has rotated them to a certain extent so they move down the phone.

Quite interestingly in the images it has been seen that there is no Apple logo present at the back of the phone. In the prototype usually the logo is not present which a norm is but this also helps in pointing fingers at the legitimacy of the images. Secondly Apple would never bow down from retaining the iconic branding on its premier flagship smartphone devices at all. When it comes to thinness, thickness and dimensions this new iPhone happens to be of same physical dimension as seen on the iPhone 7. It is also being speculated that Apple will be following the Samsung lead by bringing a similar edge-to-edge display on its iPhone.

Most of the times the images posted in the online forums and websites tend to end up as being fan made or artistic images. But rumors are strong that this particular set of images happens to be the true prototype though legitimacy is highly questionable.

All these pictures might be a hoax

For all those who are eagerly waiting for the upcoming iPhone 8 should understand that Apple has not yet revealed any information or pictures for this product and these images are likely to merge as hoax in next few months. Apple will be unveiling the new iPhone along with other gadgets in September if the development of the new gadgets doesn’t get delayed in between.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

8 Ways the iPhone 8 Can Beat the Galaxy S8

 Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S8 IPhone 8: the top smartphones in advance comparison

Galaxy against iPhone: this year, it's going to be an extra year. In 2017, it promises to be particularly exciting. Samsung has to deliver after the note 7; Apple will introduce its anniversary iPhone. We compare the Galaxy S8 and the iPhone 8 based on the current rumour. At the Mobile World Congress 2017, there were some exciting smartphones to see.

The LG G6, the Huawei P10, and the Nokia 6 - all these devices could convince. Nevertheless: The very big highlight was missing this year. This was because Samsung pushed the presentation of the Galaxy S8 was postponed. After the presentation of the Galaxy Tab S3 there was only a short teaser, held an event on 29 March 2017. After all, almost all the specs, pictures and videos from the device have come into the public several times.

According to the company, the Galaxy S8 is once in a normal and the larger plus version. With Apple this year even three iPhones are pending. To the iPhone 8, which is apparently to be called iPhone Edition, the upgrades of the model from the previous year: the iPhone 7s and the iPhone 7s Plus.

The Samsung will probably differ only with the screen and the battery size as well as in the price. In addition, we can assume that the new Galaxys also offer top processing. Since there was in the past few years apart from the premium class nothing to complain about. Likewise, it will be experience with Apple. Well, the protruding camera lens in the last devices was perhaps not everyone's thing.

Display: OLED and curved is the trend

The Edge screen, which Samsung introduced with the Galaxy Note Edge and then with the Galaxy S6 Edge on both display pages, has now become the trademark of the premium class. Leaks show: Even 2017 do not differ from Samsung. On the contrary, for the first time, both Galaxy-S devices will come with curved displays, which extend over the entire front side. Infinity-Display calls Samsung the same, the smaller output is 5.8, the larger 6.2 inches. As far as the technology is concerned, everything that is not AMOLED would be a surprise.

Apple is also on the iPhone 8 gadget for the first time set to OLED. Whether the company from Cupertino sets on edge screens remains to be seen, but is not excluded. Apple will probably change the display size. The current iPhone 7 Plus offers a diagonal of 5.5 inches, the iPhone 8 is to come to 5.8 inches. That was in the past at 2560 x 1440 pixels. Apple's largest iPhone brought it 2016 to Full-HD.

The keys move to the screen

Both manufacturers had a physical home button under the display. It seems to be in the upcoming version. In Samsung, the fingerprint sensor moves to the back, everything else is solved via on-screen buttons. That was already seen on numerous leaked pictures

Apple should go even a step further and the fingerprint sensor in the screen. In addition, the well-known dock in iOS could give way to a touchbar-like bar that offers fast access to apps. There will be further optical differences in the connections. Apple has already renounced the iPhone 7 on the headphone connection and will not deviate from it. At Samsung, which also show pictures, the socket is still on board.

In terms of performance, both smartphones are not likely to be used in everyday use. Samsung is using the new Snapdragon 835. Samsung has secured a lot of chips for the production by an exclusive deal with Qualcomm - and thus also overpowered all competitors. Apple, on the other hand, is an open secret, the A11 chip is used.

As you know from the company, you will not reveal details on the timing. Instead, a chart of marketing boss Phil Schiller will once again show how much faster the new iPhone is compared to its predecessors. The company is also traditionally silent on working memory. You can assume that the speed at the iPhone 8 will again be very high.

Double or simple camera

Both Apple and Samsung have been known for years for excellent smartphone cameras. In the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple has switched to a dual camera, with which to shoot chic portrait photos. On Samsung, however, it did not look like a converted to double clips on leased images. A tweet, however, gave cause for surprise. Perhaps the dual camera at Samsung is used up front. Portrait Selfies would be fine. Apple also has something special - the front camera, it is to support depth perception. In principle, the technology even includes 3D self-esteem and facial recognition.

The software: the old song

With the software, Apple traditionally has the nose ahead. iOS 11 is adjusted exactly to the hardware of the iPhone 8. In addition, operating system updates are guaranteed in the following years as well. At Samsung it looks a bit different. The Galaxy S8 certainly comes with Android Nougat on the market. Until the update on Android O follows, it should then experience but again a few months.

Two personal assistants:

Siri is an old well-known one that fulfils the usual requirements more or less reliably. Samsung sends Bixby a whole new artificial intelligence into the race, which comes from the Siri inventors. Scope? Not clear! In addition, you can connect the Galaxy S8 to the so-called Dex interface to a monitor and use as a PC. That sounds exciting. With such a thing, Apple cannot serve. Finally, the iPad Pros and the MacBook Pros are working.

Prices and availability

Up to the presentation of the S8 it takes only a few weeks. Very shortly it should come on the market. The prices are rumored at 799 euros for the small and 899 euros for the big Galaxy. Apple traditionally invites in September. Especially in the anniversary iPhone, there is no reason to swerve from it. The prices always remain constant. But this year should only apply to the iPhone-7s series. The iPhone 8 should be significantly more expensive.

Monday, May 1, 2017

How to protect your Apple iCloud account

iCloud account

Protecting iCloud Password/Data

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

Backup susceptible data

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

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

Utilise Passphrases Rather than Passwords

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

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

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

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

Add layer of Protection – Two Factor Authentication

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

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

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

Trusted Devices – iPhone/iPad/iPod

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

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

  • Go to Settings > iCloud > tap on Apple ID 
  • You could Tap Password & Security 
  • Tap Turn on 2FA
On Mac with OS X El Capitan or later

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

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

Friday, April 28, 2017

iPhone Users Warned About Potentially Dangerous "Siri 108" Prank

Siri 108

Caution – Viral Social Media Campaign 


The police department all across the United States are annoyed over a viral social media campaign which has encouraged iPhone users in saying the number 108 to Siri as a prank, which has gone viral. The police have stated that the scam has been spreading all over Facebook as well as Twitter and when iPhone users tend to test the Siri command `just for fun’, they are in reality tying up phones lines at the emergency call centres.

 If you dial 108 you will hear `calling emergency services in five seconds and within a span of five seconds, you will be transferred to 911. Sergeant Adrian Page with the Lonoke Police Department in Arkansas in a Facebook post which had gone viral with over 1,100 shares, had informed users not to fall for it, since it seems to tie up emergency lines. It has been designed specially as a panic code. The number 108 is in fact the emergency services number in India.

 As reported by sources, Apple desired to make it simple for people to contact emergency services from any location in the world and so telling Siri any emergency number of a country would get the user connected to the service for any location. You could ask Siri to call 911 if one is visiting the U.K. and it would dial 999 for local help.

Phone System Preventing Emergency Calls


The Annapolis Police Department in Maryland had mentioned that this prank has been spreading among Annapolis teens and has the possibility to tie up dangerously the 911 phone system preventing emergency calls from being instantly answered.

They have cautioned users not to fall for this trick. According to the National Emergency Number Association , around 240 million calls are said to be made to 911 each year in the U.S. most of which are made from wireless devices and placing prank call to 911 is said to be an offence.

The Marshall Police Department in Wisconsin had warned recently that this prank is problematic since it tends to use resources which are important for others attempting to receive help in case of genuine emergency conditions.

 The police has informed that essentially, telling Siri to call 108 is not a jest and the same should not be done unless in genuine emergency cases. The police agencies all over the U.S. have been cautioning iPhone users of a probable dangerous viral social media prank.

Users Call Emergency Services From Any Location

Pranksters are attempting to trick users into saying `Hey Siri, 108, prompting the digital assistant to contact emergency services wherein the number in India is equivalent of 911. Siri tends to begin a five second countdown on hearing `108’ enabling the users with the opportunity to terminate the call before it goes through.

 But pranksters who seem to share the trick tell users to `close their eyes and wait for 5 seconds before looking at their phone. Though 108 is said to be the emergency service number in India, Apple has made it that way in order that users can call emergency services from any location they may tend to be in the world, according to CNET.

 Users sharing the trick on social media may consider it as harmless but a similar incident had resulted in the death of a six month old boy wherein the caregiver had called 911 thrice on T-Mobile phone and was kept on hold each time she had called and resulted in the death of the infant.