Apple

What’s a computer? Just ask Cortana.

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Apple's most recent iPad Pro commercial attempts to position the powerful tablet as the ultimate computer, but Microsoft begs to differ.

But in its latest commercial for the Surface Pro 4 laptop/notebook hybrid, the Windows maker challenges Apple by basically saying that just because you call something a computer doesn’t mean it fits the description.

“Cortana knows that the Surface Pro 4, with its powerful Intel Core processor, detachable keyboard with real keys and a trackpad, pen, touchscreen, full Office and external ports fits the description. Everything else is just late to the party,” says Microsoft.

Feast your eyes on crips shots of iPhone 7 Pro in Space Black and Deep Blue

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

If you can't get enough of Space Black/Deep Blue iPhone colorways, we've got you covered with some nice looking photos of alleged iPhone 7 Pro units in Apple Watch-style Space Black finish that's supposed to replace the current Space Gray option. Plus, we have a bunch of crisp shots of a working iPhone 7 Pro prototype in Deep Blue.

Feast your eyes on the photos and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

iPhone 7 may implement fast-charge technology

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Many Android devices, like Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, can go from zero to fifty percent charge in about thirty minutes, and Apple's next iPhone could be able to offer a similar fast-charge technology of its own, according to a sketchy post attributed to an unverified Chinese source.

Smartphone leakster The Malignant tweeted out an image of a supposed circuitry which the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus should utilize to support at least 5-volt, 2-amp fast-charging, a major improvement over current iPhone chargers rated at one amp.

Tim Cook resumes charm offensive in China, confirms Asia-Pacific R&D center

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Tim Cook is on the road again, visiting China, where he's promised to increase investment by opening up a research and development center in the increasingly tough 1.33 billion people market by the end of 2016. Cook has confirmed the move to Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, one of China's most senior officials, Reuters reports this morning.

Google’s new video calling app Duo hits App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Duo, a video calling app announced at Google I/O 2016, released today in the App Store as a free download. A one-to-one video calling app “for everyone,” Duo allows iPhone users to call their Android-toting friends, and vice versa. After signing up with your mobile phone number, you can place video calls to contacts who also have Duo installed on their device. According to Google, Duo for Android and iOS began rolling out today and will be live worldwide in the next few days.

Former Apple Watch engineer talks working with Jony Ive’s design team, secrecy, and more

Cody Lee ∙ August 15, 2016

Former Apple engineer Bob Messerschmidt recently sat down with Fast Company for a wide-ranging interview. Messerschmidt joined the iPhone maker in 2010, when it purchased his startup, and led the team that designed the Apple Watch's heart rate sensor.

As you can imagine, the interview is pretty interesting. Messerschmidt talks about everything from working with Jony Ive's vaunted design team, to how secrecy is embedded in Apple's culture. We've highlighted some of our favorite excerpts from the article below.

Microsoft’s mobile Office apps pick up support for drawing with a finger/stylus on iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

Microsoft today issued updates to its mobile Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps on the App Store, adding support for drawing with your finger on the iPhone. Back in January 2016, the Windows maker brought its inking tools to the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil support. With the latest update, iPhone owners can take advantage of the Draw tab to draw, highlight and annotate documents with their finger or a stylus.

Honda confirms CarPlay coming to 2017 Civic Hatchback this fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

After rolling out CarPlay in the 2016 Accord and Civic and in the 2017 Ridgeline, Japanese car manufacturer Honda today confirmed that Apple's iPhone-connected infotainment system will be returning in the new five-door 2017 Civic Hatchback, arriving in North America this fall.

Tim Cook just admitted that Apple’s doing “a lot of things” on augmented reality

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 20, 2016

“I think augmented reality is extremely interesting and sort of a core technology,” Tim Cook told The Washington Post in an interview published Sunday. “So, yes, it's something we're doing a lot of things on behind that curtain we talked about.”

This, boys and girls, right there is Apple's first public admission that not only has it been dipping its toes in augmented-reality technology, but possibly creating its next major computing platform.

KGI: 10.5″ model joining iPad Pro lineup in 2017, radically overhauled AMOLED iPad in 2018

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—who has a decent, but not stellar track record in predicting future Apple products—just issued a peculiar note to clients regarding the future of Apple's iPad lineup.

In the note, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, the well-connected analyst does not expect any major refreshes to iPads in this year.

But for 2017, the analyst is calling for three new models: a brand new 10.5-inch iPad Pro size joining a second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad. These devices are predicted to be followed by a “revolutionary” iPad model in 2018 that should bring “radical changes” in form factor design and user behavior while adopting flexible AMOLED panels, which so-called Tenth Anniversary iPhone is expected to gain in 2017.

Here are the best iPhone 7 Space Black images yet

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

Dummies produced by third parties previously hinted at what an Apple Watch Space Black-like colorway reportedly in tow for the next iPhone might look like. Such photos are as fine as plasticky dummies go, but there's nothing quite like seeing the real aluminum unibody construction with Apple fit and finish.

Leaked out of China and discovered by Dutch blog TechTastic.nl, the latest batch of photographs presumably taken inside a Foxconn factory give us our best look yet at the rumored Space Black finish for the iPhone 7.

Google Photos amps up advertising with funny new ad focused on automatic backup feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

Like many photo-syncing apps, Google's Photos online service and the mobile app provide an optional feature that automatically backs up to the cloud every image and video in a user's photo library. Apple, too, offers such a feature with iCloud Photo Library but its free five-gigabyte iCloud storage tier is no match for Google Photos unlimited cloud storage for your (recompressed) images (up to 16MP) and videos (up to 1080p). To drive that point home, they've put together an amusing new ad solely focused on that feature.