Apple Insider – Page 96

Posted on November 25, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Review: Apple’s iPhone 11 Smart Battery Case caters to shutterbugs

Apple has dropped its annual update to the Smart Battery Case to support the latest crop of iPhones, but this time it wasn’t just the camera cutout that changed —Apple also integrated a hardware shutter button.

Apple’s updated Smart Battery Case

More battery life for your iPhone

Made from the elastomer as Apple’s silicone case, the Smart Battery Case has a soft, but grippy external texture. The inside is lined with microfiber to coddle your iPhone and prevent scratches and soften inadvertent drops.

Apple’s iPhone 11 Smart Battery Case is lined with microfiber and connects via Lightning

To adorn the case, the top, flexible portion bends backward where the iPhone can be slid into place into the hardened lower portion. At the bottom of the case is a Lightning connector that fits perfectly into the bottom of the iPhone.

This differs from some third-party battery cases such as that from Mophie that connects to your iPhone wirelessly rather than through the Lightning connector.

This is a large differentiator that many don’t realize. When a case such as the Mophie Access is turned on and starts to charge the phone, the phone thinks it is connected to stable, wall power and not a mobile case. That causes more power-intensive tasks to kick in.

With Apple developing the case, phone, and software, it is able to properly optimize all three to get the most battery life possible. When the case is connected, the phone understands that it is a battery case and not wall power so it holds off on power-intensive tasks.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD-uStsu6wk&w=560&h=315]

That’s why Apple is able to get a good amount of battery life out of such a compact case. Apple says users should expect up to 50% longer battery life when using the Smart Battery Case with their iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max. That’s excellent considering the already stellar battery life the iPhone 11 line achieves.

A Lightning port is on the bottom of the Smart Battery Case

There have been a few battery cases in the past that connected over Lightning instead of just wirelessly charging the phone, but in doing so they prevent any data from working over the port due to strict MFi restrictions. Apple doesn’t have these hurdles and allows you to use the Lightning port as normal —including utilizing CarPlay or Lightning headphones.

The Apple Smart Battery Case charges also over Qi

Of course, the case can also be charged wirelessly on a Qi charging pad or fast-charged with a USB-C to Lightning cable. Battery life can be ascertained any time charging commences, or by heading into the Battery widget of Notification Center. Or, ask Siri.

New functionality

What is most notable this time around, is Apple has also added a new dedicated hardware camera button. This new button will not only launch the camera app whenever pressed but also acts as a shutter button.

The new dedicated camera button on the Smart Battery Case

In our testing, it is quite a bit faster than waking the phone and using Haptic Touch (or a swipe) to enable the camera. Precious moments saved could be crucial to catching your precious moment.

The button is well-positioned so that when the phone is held horizontally with the cameras on the top, the shutter button is just below your right index finger —as it would be on a traditional point-and-shoot camera.

Should you buy it?

iPhone 11 Pro Smart Battery Case in black

This year, iPhones have the longest rated battery lives to date. This makes the prospect of a dedicated battery case a tougher sell than in years past.

That’s why Apple needed to go further with the addition of the camera button. To some, it may come off as a non-consequential addition, but for many —likely the same ones who saw the camera on the iPhone 11 line as a worthwhile reason to upgrade —it will be a well-received update.

If you find yourself regularly needing additional battery life to make it through the day or through a weekend, Apple’s own Smart Battery Case is the best available.

Pros

Well-optimized battery and software

Up to an additional 50% battery life

Durable design

Dedicated camera button

Strong iOS integration

Full Lightning port access

Cons

Expensive

Silicone is the only exterior material option

Limited colorways

Rating: 4 out of 5

Where to buy

You can grab the new Apple Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max now from B&H Photo in pink sand, black, or white.

Posted on November 24, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

How to back up your Apple Watch

The more independent Apple makes the Apple Watch, with apps and more storage for music or podcasts, the more you need to think about backing up your data.

Apple has brought the App Store to the Apple Watch.

The odds are that you have never knowingly backed up your Apple Watch. It’s not something you’ve had to think about, either, because the Watch has always been this adjunct to your iPhone. That’s steadily changing, however, and at some point you’re going to need to think about backups.

The good news is that your Apple Watch has been automatically backed up since the first day you had it. If you need to, though, there is a way to make a backup happen right now.

What goes on

Up to now, your Apple Watch has contained Apple‘s own pre-installed apps, ones you’ve bought via your iPhone, and settings, photos or data for all of these. You may also have chosen to put music or other audio onto the Watch.

All of that is being backed up automatically to your iPhone, and so is your choice of Watch face and even the layout of your apps in that honeycomb display.

Apple doesn’t say how often your Watch is backed up, but you can take a clue from what happens whenever you use the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

Open the Watch app and go to My Watch, then My Faces.

With that open, customize a face on your Apple Watch. Before you even commit that change, before you even finish making adjustments, you’ll see the same thing on your iPhone.

Make a change to this face on your Watch and you will see it reflected in the iOS app immediately.

It’s really as if the Watch has been just a second display for your iPhone.

It’s definitely been the case that if there is any data on your Apple Watch, it is also stored on your iPhone and so backed up along with that. There are exceptions, however.

Your Watch contains Health and Fitness data, and to back that up, you have to do certain things. Specifically, you have to be backing up your iPhone to iCloud, or, if you’re using iTunes on your Mac, you have to be using an encrypted iTunes backup.

What stays off

Regardless of how you backup your iPhone, there is Apple Watch data that will not be backed up alongside it. Specifically, there is no backup done of any Apple Pay credit or debit cards on your Watch. The Watch’s passcode, too, stays on the Watch and isn’t backed up on your iPhone.

And any Bluetooth settings you’ve got for pairing the Watch to other devices will not be backed up, either.

What’s changing

As of watchOS 6, there is now an App Store on the Apple Watch. This does mean that you can buy apps directly, without going via your iPhone, but there’s more to this.

What it really means is that there can now be Apple Watch apps that are solely on the Watch. To date, every Watch app has been really an iPhone one that has a Watch companion. You couldn’t get the app on your Watch without installing the iOS app too.

Your iPhone had the iOS app, so if you lost or changed Watches, the most that needed to happen was that you’d tap the Install button next to the app in the iPhone’s Apple Watch app.

Now you can download a Watch-only app directly to your Watch and there will be no host app on the iPhone.

Covering yourself

Apple hasn’t commented about what will happen with these directly-downloaded apps, but you are getting them from an App Store. If you ever need to get them again, you can just re-download them.

You can delete an App off your Watch and then just re-download it from the App Store as you would on iOS.

Then if the apps are ones such as a podcast player, any audio you could possibly lose could itself be re-downloaded.

The problem comes when these directly-downloaded apps are ones that you create data on, such as the way Drafts lets you scribble text, or Just Press Record captures audio.

The more that Apple makes it so you don’t have to have your iPhone around, the more we’re going to get into the situation where you leave it behind. And so the more we’re going to have apps that aren’t backed up via the iPhone yet, plus data that isn’t either.

Even with Apple’s clear aspirations to make the Watch fully independent one day, it isn’t going to happen for a while. For instance, while it’s true that you can download apps directly to the Watch, you have to enter your Apple ID password to do it. It is possible to scribble that password, but you also get the option to type it on your iPhone instead.

Until there’s something like Face ID for the Apple Watch, that’s still going to be better than trying to enter the password on that tiny screen. And that means your iPhone is going to be around.

Plus to directly download an app to your Watch, you have to have a connection. If you are away from your iPhone, that connection has to be cellular. There’s no way to get an app from the App Store without an internet connection, and connections go both ways.

Force a backup now

If you want to know for certain that your Apple Watch with all its apps and data is backed up, you can force it to happen.

Think twice, though. This works and it works immediately, but really what it does is start working immediately. It takes a long time.

And considering that your goal is to make a safe copy of your Apple Watch, you’re going to have an unhappy moment about halfway through because the process includes erasing the Watch.

If you’re certain

Make sure your Apple Watch is well charged, then put it on your wrist. Then on your iPhone:

Open the iOS Apple Watch app

Choose the My Watch tab

Tap on your Watch name at the top

Tap the i button next to your watch on the list that appears

Tap on Unpair Apple Watch

You’ll have to confirm you want to do this, and part of that confirmation will include specifying what happens with any cellular plan you’ve got.

Three steps to unpairing your Apple Watch. This will force a backup first.

If you have one, you’ll be prompted to keep or remove it. As you’re solely doing all this to back up the Watch, choose to keep it.

Then your iPhone makes a new backup of your Apple Watch.

Finishing up

It’s always a good idea to try restoring from a backup of anything, just in case something has gone wrong. In this case, you have no choice. You’ve got to restore that backup to your Watch or you’ll be wearing an expensive blank screen on your wrist.

To restore this backup, follow the prompts to pair your Watch to your iPhone.

The unpairing and pairing process is what takes the time here, but you do end up with what you want. You’ve got your Watch working perfectly, and you know you’ve got a complete backup of it.

Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

Posted on November 23, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Review: Tiger & Rose wireless earbuds are super comfortable and super stylish

We got to check out some truly one-of-a-kind wireless earbuds that feature all-day battery life to see if they’re a must add to our collection.

Tiger & Rose have created a pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds for those with a wild side. They’re panther-shaped, boast touch controls, and feature Bluetooth 5 for superior connectivity and stability. For all-day listeners, they also get an impressive 30 hours of playtime with the included charging case.

If you’re interested in finding out how they performed, here’s how we felt they held up in our time with them.

Style & features

The creators bill the Tiger & Rose earbuds as “the most stylish truly wireless earbuds,” and I’d have to agree that they’re definitely high on the list. They describe them as having a panther design, though I’d say they look startlingly similar to my college alma mater’s mascot.

Either way, the design of the Tiger & Rose earbuds is unlike anything I’ve seen, and since wearing them in public a few times, people have taken quite a bit of notice. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments from people who actually did ask if they were Penn State related —which they’re not.

In terms of features, the Tiger & Rose earbuds have simple touch controls that make them convenient for times when grabbing your phone simply isn’t going to be possible.

Tapping once on the front of the earbud will play or pause your music. A double tap on the left earbud will advance to the next song, while a double tap on the right will switch to the previous one —it’s notable that this is opposite of most other earbuds. A long press will activate Siri

In the event that you get phone call, a quick tap will answer it, while a long press will send it to voicemail.

As of right now, the current model of Tiger & Rose earbuds do not feature any volume control features.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Tiger & Rose earbuds comes in a charging case that can be charged wirelessly on any QI-compatible charging mat, or via USB-C. They feature 6 hours of play-time, with the case allowing you to charge them roughly five full times, for roughly 30 hours of play time before the case will need to be recharged. Both the earbuds and the case take about an hour and a half to charge fully if completely depleted.

Comfort & wear

As far as how comfortable these earbuds are, I was actually pretty surprised. They’re light weight, which means they don’t put any undue strain on my ears, even after long wear sessions. These earbuds are actually comfortable—considerably more comfortable than several other pair that I own. They also sit securely in the ear with the added benefit of a soft, silicone ear hooks. While I haven’t taken them to the gym yet, I’d imagine that they’d manage just fine on even fairly rigorous workouts.

There is a downside, though—because these earbuds sit so far outside of the ear canal, they are extremely easy to accidentally bump. If you’ve got long hair, you’ll probably knock one out if you try to pull your hair back. If you pull on a hood or pull a shirt over your head, you’ll probably snag an earbud, which I’ve learned can be somewhat painful. Since I’ve been wearing them for a bit over a week now, I’ve trained myself to be a bit more careful, but I still do accidentally snag or bump them.

Sound & performance

I found that pairing the Tiger & Rose earbuds was easy, it’s automatic and starts from the minute you open the case. They paired easily with both my iPhone 11 and my Mac mini.

The sound quality is about what you’d expect from a pair of mid-range headphones. I wasn’t blown away by the audio quality, but it wasn’t terrible. It seems to lack bass, which gives it somewhat of a less-full sound. Fortunately, the sound is still quite clear, meaning that it worked especially well for listening to podcasts.

Overall

The Tiger & Rose earbuds is a solid set of earbuds that are remarkably comfortable to wear, though the sound quality could be a little better. Overall, I think that if you’re in the market for something like this, it’s purely to catch the attention of others.

Where to buy

While not ready for public release yet, you can pre-order your own set of Tiger & Rose earbuds from Tiger & Rose’s Indiegogo. They come in white, black, rose gold, speckled, and Tiffany Blue, feature a pre-launch price of $59 (and are expected to retail at $129,) and are expected to ship in January of 2020.

Comfortable
Stylish

Lacks considerable bass
Can be easily snagged/bumped

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Posted on November 22, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Over 1.2B profiles found in unsecured server shows severity of data collection by tech firms

The discovery of an unprotected data store containing 1.2 billion records of personal information gleamed from data brokerage services offers a glimpse into not only the kind of resources scammers and hackers can acquire about a large number of potential targets, but also the amount of data online services share or sell with other entities.

A still from an Apple marketing campaign about the privacy security offered by iPhone and iOS

It isn’t a secret that online services like Google, Facebook, and many apps take advantage of the data of its users to serve advertising to them, which usually includes creating a profile for each person and potentially tracking them as they use other services and browse the Internet. It is also well known that the same data can circulate around and be collected together by some firms to create vast marketing databases, making them potentially quite valuable to acquire from a data breach.

In October, Wired reports dark web researcher Viny Troia discovered a data store on an unsecured server hosted on Google’s cloud infrastructure. The data consisted of approximately 4 terabytes of personal data, amounting to about 1.2 billion records, compiled into databases.

The data on show didn’t include any sensitive details, like payment details or passwords, but did contain lots of basic data that could have been scraped from social media, such as names, home and cellular phone numbers, and links to individual social media profiles. Approximately 50 million unique phone numbers were found on the store, as well as 622 million email addresses.

Troia reported the existence of the store to the FBI, with the server and the data pulled offline within a few hours. As the server was found by Troia as part of a search with researcher Bob Diachenko using scanning services BinaryEdge and Shodan, only the IP address for the server was discovered, with no way of knowing who compiled the data collection at all, except that it was easy to find and to acquire data from it.

Due to the inability to determine its creator, it is also not possible to know exactly what the store was used for, be it by criminals or by a larger company with exceptionally poor security. Despite existing on a server hosted on Google’s cloud services, it is unlikely Google itself created the cache, as it is far more likely someone paying for Google’s cloud services formed the server instead.

Sourcing Questions

What is known is that the data is made up of four datasets, with three seemingly from one data broker called People Data Labs, while the other may have come from Oxydata.

It is suggested by People Data Labs the server creator used one of its “enrichment products” along with other service to compile the collection. “Once a customer receives data from us, or any other data providers, the data is on their servers and the security is their responsibility,” advised co-founder Sean Thorne.

It is unlikely the data was sourced from PDL as part of a breach, Troia believes, as it would be easy enough to simply pay for the data in the first place. An alternate option would have been to sign up for a free trial service from PDL that provides 1,000 consumer profiles per month, with the use of a thousand burner accounts potentially resulting in a million profiles in a short space of time, if there are no duplicates.

Though it is doubtful either firm endured a breach of the data, and also insist on their clients securing the data and signing agreements to not resell the data onward, neither PDL nor Oxydata are able to enforce the security of their customers, leaving the possibility of it being staggeringly poor security by a client.

An Even Bigger Issue

“What stands out about this incident is the sheer volume of data that’s been collected and how it’s been aggregated, stored, and commercialized without the knowledge of the data owners,” said security researcher and operator of HaveIBeenPwned Troy Hunt, noting his own personal data was found in the store. “We’re definitely seeing more data than ever circulating,” which Hunt believes is not just from breaches, but also from data being “taken by other services, duplicated, then breached again.”

The sheer amount of data being compiled and seemingly acquired with ease highlights not only the amount of data at risk from the regularly-reported breaches but also how much tech companies have compiled about their users. The creation of marketing profiles has helped refine the advertising campaigns and revenue of companies like Google, but at the expense of user privacy.

In some cases, this has resulted in major scandals, with the biggest being the privacy breach of Cambridge Analytica, which misused data sourced from Facebook for political purposes.

Apple is seemingly one of the few companies attempting to take a stand against the practice, with CEO Tim Cook often referring to privacy as a fundamental human right along with the creation of advertising campaigns hammering home the message to customers.

The company has taken steps to anonymize data in a variety of different ways, minimizing what it collects to the bare essentials to perform an operation, while also attempting to perform protection on behalf of the user against other firms’ best efforts. This includes Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Protection blocking the vast number of online tracking systems, while Sign In with Apple attempts to limit the usage of the usual Facebook and Google-based sign-in systems that have dominated online services so far by creating a privacy-focused version.

Cook has also suggested to the U.S. Congress there should be some form of privacy legislation to protect against data brokers, including how data is collected and stored.

Posted on November 21, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Best gifts for Apple fans priced under $100

As the holidays approach, everyone is on the lookout for the perfect gift for their family, friends, and coworkers. Here, we’ve compiled our favorite gifts under $100 that will be perfect for the Apple fan in your life.

Best gifts for Apple fans under 100 dollars

Anker PowerPort III Nano

If your special someone has an iPhone or an iPad, they’ll likely love the Anker PowerPort III Nano (review). This compact charger is about as small as it gets but has enough power to fast charge their iPhone to 50% in only 30 minutes. With up to 18W of power, that will also fast charge their iPad or iPad Pro.

Priced at $19.99 on Amazon, this budget-friendly gift can be used as a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift easily. Just make sure they have a USB-C to Lightning cable if being used for their iPhone.

The 18W Anker PowerPort Nano III compared to Apple's 5W charger

The 18W Anker PowerPort Nano III is a great gift idea, offering faster charging compared to Apple’s 5W charger

For even more power, there is the PowerPort III Mini which can output 30W of power in a similarly small design. That is easily enough to not only power an iPhone or iPad, but a 2018 or newer MacBook Air in a size smaller than what Apple bundled. The beefier high-speed charger is currently on sale for $25.99 on Amazon.

Anova Precision Cooker Nano

The Anova Sous Vide Cooker can be paired with an iPhone or iPad for enhanced precision

The Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano (review) is a fantastic sous vide cooker that can work on its own, or by being paired to an iPhone or iPad for more control and notifications.

Throw some protein or other food into a bag with seasoning and submerge it in a bath of water with the Anova set to the desired cooking temperature and wait. Not long after they’ll have a perfectly cooked piece of meat without losing any of the flavor.

There are a lot of sous vide cookers out there as the technique grows in popularity, but Anova was one of the first to bring it to the masses and the new Nano model makes it even more compact. The Anovoa Precision Cooker Nano is currently on sale for $97 at Amazon.

DJI Osmo Mobile 3

The powerful DJI Osmo Mobile III is a perfect gift for Apple iPhone users

Technically, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is a bit above our $100 price point but it is such an excellent device we couldn’t help but include it. It received raved reviews when we looked at it earlier this year and it still holds up as a great iPhone accessory.

While photographers and videographers will surely love it, casual uses will find use too as it stabilizes videos and helps shoot cinematic timelapse scenes. Retailing for $119, the DJI Osmo Mobile III is available at Amazon and B&H, with accessories also available bundled as a kit for $139.

Mophie Juice Pack Access

Mophie Juice Pack Access is available for all recent iPhones, including the new iPhone 11

There are a few battery cases available for iPhone users, but the Mophie Juice Pack Access is one of few available for almost any iPhone from the past few years.

It charges itself and the phone wirelessly and leaves the Lightning port at the bottom free for wired charging, headphones, or CarPlay. Now available for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the Mophie battery case retails for $99.99, but is currently 20% off with exclusive promo code INSIDER20 at ZAGG.

Twelve South HiRise Wireless

Twelve South HiRise wireless 3-in-1 charging pad

Twelve South’s HiRise Wireless is a creative multi-use Qi charging stand that works well vertically, but can also be removed and used horizontally as a charging pad or tossed in a bag as a travel charger.

When we reviewed it, we were impressed with the build quality and unique design that simplifies the user experience.

The Twelve South HiRise Wireless Charger sells for $79.95 on Amazon.

AirPods Case

Several of the best AirPods cases

Everyone loves AirPods, and like phones, many like to adorn their AirPods with protective cases. We looked at a huge variety of cases that will surely fit your giftee.

If those don’t fit your needs, we also checked out the new metallic Incase cases and the retro Elago AW3 that was inspired by vintage Macs.

All of these cases fit both the original AirPods as well as the second-generation with wireless charging case.

Prices for AirPods cases can be found for as low as $7 with premium models covered in our roundup retailing anywhere from $29 to $79.

Nomad Base Station

The original Nomad Base Station wirelessly charges current iPhones with ease

Nomad has always produced some of the most sought Apple accessories and in 2019, its Base Station was top of our list.

The Nomad Base station has an aluminum body with a Horween leather pad for charging up an iPhone. A second USB-A port fits around back for connecting a second device such as an Apple Watch charging puck.

If you don’t mind shelling out a little more, Nomad also offers a version with an integrated Apple Watch charging puck as well as one made of genuine leather and walnut.

Prices for the charging stations start at $84.95 with exclusive coupon code INSIDER15 at HelloNomad.com.

Eve Light Strip

The Eve Lightstrip is the brightest of the bunch

Lightstrips are rampant on Amazon but when it comes to Apple-friendly HomeKit-enabled ones they don’t get better than the one offered by Eve.

It connects over Wi-Fi, can be controlled via Siri or scheduled to turn on and off when desired, and is the brightest of the lot.

Plus, light strips are incredibly versatile. It can illuminate under countertops, along baseboards, up stairs, under the sides of the bed, and more. The Eve Light Strip that works with Apple HomeKit sells for $77 at Amazon.

BentoStack Charge

BentoStack Charge is a useful Apple accessory

BentoStack Charge is a great accessory for dealing with all existing accessories. It has repurposed a traditional Bento Box into a travel case that can hold cables, chargers, memory cards, Apple Watch bands, an Apple Pencil, and more.

Compared to the original BentoStack, BentoStack Charge integrates a battery pack into the lid and allows to charge over USB or Qi, with a price tag of $89.95.

It won’t make it in time for the holidays, but Function101 did just launch an updated model with a USB-C hub as well.

Ember ceramic mug

Ember ceramic mug keeps itself, and beverages, warm with an iOS app

As the temperatures drop, more people turn to coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Ember improves the experience by always keeping your drink warm. It comes in both a tumbler as well as a mug and can be controlled and monitored through Bluetooth and its corresponding iOS app.

It was even updated earlier this year with a thicker ceramic wall that helps keep it warmer for longer. Priced at $99.95 on Amazon, the Ember mug makes a great gift for coffee and tea enthusiasts, as well as those looking to curl up with a good book this holiday season.

UpperCase Space Saving MacBook Stand

The UpperCase Kradl saves space by holding Apple MacBooks in a vertical position

For the business professional or home office user that finds space ever elusive, the Aluminum Vertical MacBook Stand from UpperCase is the perfect solution. Available in your choice of Space Gray or Silver to coordinate with Apple finishes, the UpperCase Kradl is made to fit 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros from 2016 onward.

Designed in California and machined from a single piece of aerospace-grade aluminum, the Kradl is up to 60% smaller than other vertical stands on the market.

Holiday shoppers can pick up UpperCase’s Kradl Aluminum Vertical Stand for $29.95 with free shipping on Amazon.

Posted on November 20, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Conde Nast still waiting for Apple News+ success

By William Gallagher
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 12:46 pm PT (03:46 pm ET)

The CEO of influential magazine publisher Conde Nast says he hopes Apple News+ will be a success, but so far “the jury is out,” and his company hasn’t seen the expected impact.

Magazines in Apple News+ on an iPad (Source: Apple)

Roger Lynch, CEO of publisher Conde Nast, says its magazines —including Vanity Fair and Conde Nast Traveler —have yet to see the success on Apple News+ that was expected. The company, whose titles regularly reach 84 million readers across print and digital services, had an initial burst of new subscribers but that interest failed to continue.

According to Variety, Lynch was talking at the Recode Code Media conference about issues including both publishing and streaming.

“I hope Apple News+ is wildly successful,” he said. “[However] I think the jury is out.”

Conde Nast was one of the original publishers on Apple News+ when it launched in the US and Canada in March 2019. Lynch says that, as reported on AppleInsider within the first 48 hours of that launch, Apple News+ signed up 200,000 subscribers, but has struggled to grow further.

Apple News+ subscriptions begin with a free month’s trial, but Lynch said he was specifically talking about paying ones, so people who continued after that initial period. Users pay a single subscription and publishers earn part of their revenue through a share of that fee —the rest through advertising and selling direct subscriptions —though Lynch declined to say how much the company had earned.

He did speak to an issue that has previously concerned other publishers, that of the comparatively low price Apple News+ subscription undercutting other firms. Lynch was asked about how it affects publishers trying to build their own services, and whether it meant users could circumvent paywalls.

“We haven’t seen that effect,” he said.

Magazines on Apple News+

Lynch joined Conde Nast in April, so after the firm negotiated terms with Apple for the service, but says the publisher could ultimately quit Apple News+ if necessary. “Over time, we have options,” he said.

While Apple News+ has been available in the US and Canada for most of the year, it only began in the UK and Australia countries in September. Publishers in Europe have reported that the service is paying off for them, if not dramatically.

“We’re seeing quite good traffic from Apple News,” said one unnamed publishing executive, “but the revenue is not show-stopping.”

Nonetheless, rival organisations are seeing the potential value of a news service and CNN is reported to be planning its own competitor to Apple news+, as is Mozilla.

Posted on November 19, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Comparing Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro & 16-inch MacBook Pro

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a considerable refinement of the 15-inch model’s design, but how does it compare against its smaller stablemate, the 13-inch MacBook Pro? AppleInsider takes a closer look.

The 16-inch and 13-inch MacBook Pros

Those in the market for a new powerful and portable Mac currently have two options available —the existing 13-inch MacBook Pro and the newly unveiled 16-inch Macbook Pro. Let’s talk about the differences.

Design

Each machine is primarily based on the 2016 unibody design with only minor tweaks since the original unveiling. Closed, they look almost identical to one another —other than the obvious size difference.

Comparing the sizes of the 16-inch and 13-inch MacBook Pros

The 13-inch model is far more portable than the 16-inch, coming in at more than a pound lighter, slightly shorter, more than two inches narrower, and more than an inch shallower. If portability is most important, there is a clear choice here —though the MacBook Air remains lighter and smaller than either of them.

When opened, you can see more of the differences and similarities.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrnUywLZFfI&w=560&h=315]

Both machines have the Touch Bar sitting above their respective keyboards. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has larger speaker grills sitting to either side of said keyboard.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro keyboard arrow keys (left) compared to the 16-inch MacBook Pro version

Speaking of the keyboards, there are a variety of differences here. The 16-inch has the new independent physical escape key and Touch ID sensor whereas the 13-inch has both incorporated into the Touch Bar. The 16-inch also has a more defined inverted “T” design for the arrow keys.

Different mechanisms are also used —the 13-inch still relies on the possibly-flawed butterfly design and the new 16-inch has an updated scissor-switch design Apple has called the Magic Keyboard.

16-inch MacBook Pro display

Looking at the displays, the 16-inch model has noticeably smaller bezels around the screen versus the slightly aged look of the 13-inch which has chunkier bezels.

13-inch MacBook Pro display

Of course, the displays are also different sizes —13.2 inches versus 16 inches —but have very similar pixel densities —227 versus 226 PPI.

Pros do have an option on the larger model to specify their refresh rate, something new to the MacBook Pro feature set.

Other standout features for the 16-inch include vastly better speakers and a new set of incredible microphones.

Specs

The 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro

Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro starts with a 1.4GHz quad-core 8th-gen Intel i5 processor, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, 8GB 2133MHz RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts with a 2.6GHz 6-core 9th-gen Intel i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro editing with Logic Pro X

The former can be maxed out with 2.8GHz 8th-gen Intel i7 processor, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655, 16GB RAM, and 2TB SSD storage. The latter goes all the way up to a 2.4GHz 8-core 9th-gen Intel i9 processor, 64GB RAM, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, and 8TB of SSD storage.

Price and recommendations

While there are often ongoing sales, the base model 13-inch generally starts at $1,299 and the base 16-inch starts at $2,399. If you max out either option, the 13-inch can cost as much as $3,099 and the 16-inch goes all the way up to $6,099.

MacBook Pro

Needless to say, maxing out the 16-inch machine yields far more performance than the 13-inch ever could achieve.

The 13-inch is still no slouch, and there are decent upgrades available in the more compact body. But, as it is a fresh addition to the lineup, the 16-inch is exceptionally capable. If you want the most power, the best choice is the 16-inch model.

If you do lean towards the 13-inch unit, we may recommend holding off until early 2020 before picking one up. The machine was updated earlier in 2019 and rumors point to an early-to-mid 2020 update with improved performance and an updated keyboard mechanism to match the 16-inch.

Save money on both options

Apple resellers are accepting orders for the new 16-inch MacBook Pro with a variety of incentives. Expercom is knocking up to $438 off select new configurations with coupon code appleinsider, while Adorama is taking up to $250 off retail models with promo code APINSIDER (prices start at just $2,199 with code). Details can be found in this 16-inch MacBook Pro deal roundup.

Meanwhile, at B&H, shoppers can save $100 on the retail systems and select between no interest financing when paid in full within 12 months with the B&H Financing Card or a sales tax refund in eligible states with its Payboo Credit Card. The latter can save many shoppers anywhere from $200 to $500 on average.

Amazon is also offering instant discounts on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, matching B&H with prices as low as $2,299.

Those looking for the best deal on a 13-inch MacBook Pro can find prices as low as $1,199 and savings of up to $200 off.

Be sure to check out the AppleInsider 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide and the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide for the latest deals and product availability on Apple’s current hardware.

Posted on November 18, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

New Olloclip lenses and cases enhance cameras on iPhone 11, Pro, Pro Max

By William Gallagher
Monday, November 18, 2019, 12:05 pm PT (03:05 pm ET)

The bolt-on lens manufacturer Olloclip has released a new range of protective cases and one-piece clip lenses for Apple’s latest iPhones, bringing them a new macro feature plus extra stability.

One of the new Olloclip lenses clipped to an iPhone

Long-time makers of extra lenses for the Apple iPhone and other smartphones, Olloclip has now updated its range to fit the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. These lenses clip on to the phone and provided extra photography and video features such as a macro zoom for what the company describes as like using a “digital microscope.”

“With the arrival of the iPhone 11 series and Samsung’s new S series, Olloclip is proud to continue innovating exciting solutions for mobile photographers who just want to shoot on their phones,” said CEO Jim Weisz.

“Olloclip’s unique unibody clips make attachment to the phone a breeze, and our precise engineering ensures that whatever lens is being used fits perfectly every time,” he continued.

Olloclip lenses on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

The company is selling two new types of case for each of the 2019 model iPhones. There’s a Classic Case which is clear with a black rim, and a Charcoal one with a darker finish. Both cost $39.99 direct from the maker.

The lenses are being sold both in kit collections and individually. On their own, lenses come in one of ten types from telephoto to ultrawide, and costing from $39.99 to $119.99. Users have to also buy a clip in order to add any of the lenses to their phones, and that retails for $29.99.

One of the new Olloclip protective cases for iPhone

This clip is a new design especially for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The company says that it is redesigning its clip for the iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The reworked clip will let owners use the new lenses from some time in December.

Olloclip also says that it will be offering a series of three lens kits, although currently only the ElitePack and Macro ProPack are available on its site.

The former includes the new clip plus the macro lens and telephoto one for $129. The latter, the Macro ProPack, features a choice of clip plus all five macro lenses in a custom case for $199.99.

The third option is to be an Olloclip StartPack. For $79.99, it includes the telephoto lens, a Superwide Start lens and an Ultrawide Start Lens.

Most recently, Olloclip introduced a Pro and Intro version of its clip-on lenses and AppleInsider has previously recommended Olloclip for iPhone X as the best budget lens system.

Posted on November 17, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Apple Watch styles drop to $169 (record low prices); AirPods fall to $139 at Amazon

By Christine McKee
Sunday, November 17, 2019, 09:05 am PT (12:05 pm ET)

Fresh early Black Friday markdowns have been issued at Amazon, with Apple Watch devices dropping to new record low prices thanks to discounts of up to $350 off. Meanwhile, Apple AirPods have received another price cut, knocking the earphones down to $139 while supplies last.

New Apple deals

Kicking off the pre-Black Friday sale, Amazon has dropped prices on several Apple Watch devices, with Series 3 models as low as $169.99 and Apple Watch Series 4 styles up to $350 off.

According to our Apple Watch Price Guide, these the best deals available on the devices found below.

The AppleInsider Price Guide also picked up a new discount on 2019 Apple AirPods with Charging Case. Now $139 after an additional $5 price drop, this is the the lowest price on record at Amazon for the handy earphones. At press time, the AirPods are in stock and ready to ship, without an extended wait like the one to two month delay found on Apple AirPods Pro.

For the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers, stay tuned to AppleInsider for exclusive savings and the lowest prices on Apple hardware and accessories. Looking for deals on Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro? Check out our savings guide for discounts of up to $438 off.

Apple Watch Series 3 for $169

Apple Watch Series 4 up to $350 off

Apple Watch Series 5 up to $80 off

2019 AirPods on sale

Additional Apple deals

AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running additional exclusive savings this month on Apple hardware that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of the items, but also throw in discounts on AppleCare, software and more. These deals are as follows:

Interested in additional Apple hardware? See if there is a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch deal that will save you $100s by checking out prices.appleinsider.com.

Posted on November 16, 2019 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Ex-Apple executives take aim at datacenter processor market

By Malcolm Owen
Saturday, November 16, 2019, 11:25 am PT (02:25 pm ET)

A trio of former Apple executives who worked on the iPhone maker’s mobile chips have launched their own startup to design processors destined for use in data centers, with the company Nuvia recently raising $53 million in funding.

From left to right: John Bruno, Gerard Williams III, and Manu Gulati

The three founders of Nuvia are Gerard Williams III, Manu Gulati, and John Bruno, who all worked for Apple for multiple years. Williams left Apple earlier this year after spending nine years at the company, leaving his position as senior director of platform architecture, and having helped architect Apple’s CPU and Systems-on-Chip development for Apple’s self-designed A-series processors.

According to Williams’ LinkedIn, he was the “Chief Architect for all Apple CPU and SOC development,” including leading work on the Cyclone, Typhoon, Twister, Hurricane, Monsoon, and Vortex architectures.

Gulati worked on mobile SoC development for eight years at Apple, before being hired away by Google in 2017. Bruno worked on Apple’s platform architecture group for five years after spending time at AMD, before making a similar exit to Google.

Reuters reports the trio are using their backgrounds in mobile chip development and the creation of power-efficient but powerful processors for the iPhone and other Apple products in Nuvia, but for data center usage. By targeting a processor market that typically uses power-hungry chips, the team are hoping their self-designed chip codenamed “Phoenix” will offer performance gains and lower energy usage, as well as more security than current server processors.

“We want to bring all these aspects that we have developed over time through our careers to this new market and really exploit them in this market, because it’s an area ripe for innovation and advancement,” Williams advised.

The effort puts them against industry giants like AMD and Intel who already make up the majority of server processors used today. A similar concept is also being made like other chip producers, such as Qualcomm and Marvell, who are keen to pivot their knowledge of mobile chip design towards server usage.

So far, the project has caught the attention of major server vendor Dell, who among with a number of other investors has put $53 million in funding into the startup. Dell is a major customer of Intel, so investing in potential alternatives offering power savings could be worth investigating, but the company advised it could not comment on whether Dell would use Nuvia’s chips in its servers.