Vic Gundotra, Google's former Senior Vice President of Social, wrote in a Facebook post today that, in his personal opinion, Android is years behind iPhone in terms of photography, adding that his iPhone 7 Plus's dual-lens camera prompted him to replace his DSLR camera.
Available on a wide variety of Android handsets is the bottom navigation bar, and with a jailbreak tweak called AlternateControls 2 by iOS developer Ian Burns, you can bring this functionality to your iPhone as well.
Once installed, the button to the far left will act as a back button, letting you move backwards between interfaces you’ve visited previously, while the center button acts as a virtual Home button and the button to the far right acts as an App Switcher shortcut.
Apple will be live-streaming its WWDC 2017 event, just as they have for the last several years, so the world can tune in and see what’s new in the world of iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and more.
No matter what type of device you’re using the day of the event, you can live-stream the keynote. In this piece, we'll go over all the methods on how for every operating system and platform.
Andy Rubin, the guy who came up with Android, today announced his new smartphone post-Google, featuring an edge-to-edge display that one-ups Samsung's Galaxy S8, in addition to an Amazon Echo-like appliance with on-device intelligence.
Both products debuted from Rubin's new company, Essential.
Essential Phone, as it's called, runs Android and has a 5.71-inch QHD edge-to-edge display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The display extends all the way to the the top of the device and wraps around the front-facing camera.
The Echo rival, called Essential Home, features compatibility with Apple's HomeKit framework and other software platforms for the connected home.
Both products can be pre-ordered today.
Essential PhoneEncased in a titanium body with a ceramic back, Essential Phone can survive a drop test “without blemish, unlike the aluminum competitor devices,” says the company. The premium smartphone with a high-resolution 5.71-inch, 2,560-by-1,312 pixel display is powered by Qualcomm's eight-core Snapdragon 835 processor with four gigabytes of RAM.
Essential Phone lacks the standard 3.5mm headphone jack and uses Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C.
Customers will be able to use any Bluetooth or USB-C-based headset with the phone. The Verge has learned that Essential Phone will ship with a headphone dongle in the box.
Other features include a magnetic connector on the back side for connecting accessories like a new 360-degree camera, a 13-megapixel dual-lens camera with a second lens using a monochrome sensor for better low-light shots, an eight-megapixel selfie camera with 4K video capture, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and other perks.
According to the company, the magnetic connector was designed with modularity in mind, to help keep Essential Phone “cord-free, future-proof and always up-to-date".
Essential HomeBuilt on the open-source Ambient OS software which can automatically discover and use new devices on its network, Essential Home has a built-in round display at the top which can be turned on just by glancing at it (or by tapping or using your voice) to quickly see contextual information.
The accessory uses on-device artificial intelligence rather than offload AI features to the cloud. Like with Apple's AI implementation, such an approach helps preserve user privacy. Its proactive assistant will support notifications and reminders with contextual information displayed on the built-in screen.
Essential Home should support Nest and SmartThings devices for the connected home. According to Wired, it will feature hooks for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
AvailabilityEssential Phone will be available in Black, Gray, White and Ocean Depths colors. At the time of this writing, only white models were able for pre-order. The contract-free phone costs $699.
Essential's 360-degree camera currently costs $50, but the price will eventually increase to $199. Pricing for Essential Home is yet to be announced, but we do know that the device will ship later this summer.
Andy Rubin is schedule to give a talk later today at Recode's Code Conference.
Apple on Monday shared a trio of geeky ads that are part of its new campaign aimed at persuading Android users to make the leap to the iconic smartphone. Published on Apple's official YouTube channel, the new mini-ads, running sixteen seconds each, promote the company's ability to roll out important security fixes fast via iOS software updates.
Apple is also praising the smartphone's smooth, stutter-free performance while highlighting easy contact transfer via the Move to iOS app for those who would gladly switch to an iPhone.
Smoothhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy2heNOhe8
“We design the hardware and the software so your iPhone just works,” says Apple.
Securityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AszkLviSLlg
“Access to the latest updates keeps your iPhone secure,” reads the description.
Contactshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUWLszbCBF8
“Switch to iPhone,” reads the video's description. “The Move to iOS app makes it simple to move your contacts, photos, and more to iPhone.”
The new ads use the tagline “Life’s easier when you switch to iPhone” and direct viewers to the recently revamped ”Switch to iPhone” webpage at apple.com/switch.
Apple's mini-website for switchers now includes useful new sections covering topics like in-house designed iPhone chips, powerful cameras, easy of use, customer support and more.
Do you like Apple's new ads? Do they manage to sell folks on the merits of iPhones, do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Apple on Monday shared five short switcher videos through its official channel on YouTube. Titled “Photos”, “Jump”, “Fast”, “Privacy” and “Music”, each runs sixteen seconds long.
The latest ad campaign uses the new tagline “Life's easier on iPhone”.
The new clips promote some of the benefits of being an iPhone user, ranging from the official “Move to iOS” Android app (available free on Play Store) to the company's in-house designed chips that make iPhone the fastest smartphone in the world in terms of single-core CPU benchmarks to Apple's commitment to privacy and more.
Here are the videos.
Photoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-kbqiLxZwM
“Switch to iPhone. The Move to iOS app makes it simple to move your photos, music and more to iPhone,” reads the video's description.
Jumphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmdC2eEeQAI
Musichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99w8cdTcliA
Fasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKxOIbRVxs
“iPhone is designed to run fast. Life’s easier when you switch to iPhone.”
Privacyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poxjtpArMGc
“We build iPhone with your privacy in mind. Life's easier when you switch to iPhone.”
Apple also updated its “Switch to iPhone” webpage with a new design and additional information aimed at encouraging Android customers to consider switching to Apple's phone.
The mini-site offers additional information on switching from Android to an iPhone with FAQ-style answers to questions like “Is the camera as good as they say?”, “Why is iPhone so fast?”, “What makes Messages so great?” and “Will I love my iPhone”, among other topics.
How do you like Apple's new switcher videos?
Apple's webpage dedicated to Android users who would switch to an iPhone has been refreshed with a modern web design and additional FAQ-style information on key iPhone features like speedy Apple-designed chips, Apple Pay, iMessage and more.
The refreshed webpage is divided into the following sections:
Will it be easy to switch to iPhone?“Yes, it will,” says Apple. “There’s no need to save your stuff elsewhere before switching from Android.” This section promotes Apple's “Move to iOS” Android app. Available at no charge on Google's Play Store, the app can securely transfer a switcher's content from an Android phone to their brand spanking new Apple smartphone. “And you can trade in your old smartphone, if eligible, for credit toward your new iPhone,” reads the section.
Is the camera as good as they say?Apple prides itself with the fact that more pictures are taken on iPhone than any other camera in the world, as per Flickr's camera stats. This section mentions some of the most popular iPhone photography features and shooting modes, such as Slo-Mo, Portrait and Time-Lapse.
“iPhone also has cool features like Memories, which automatically compiles your favorite moments into a movie,” says the company. As of recently, Apple is promoting iPhone photography via a series of mini-video tutorials on getting the most from your iPhone 7 camera, hosted on its “How to shoot on iPhone” webpage.
Why is iPhone so fast?Even the last year's A9 chip that powers iPhone 6s is faster in single-core CPU benchmarks than today's top of the line Android handsets with quad-core chips outfitted with four gigabytes of RAM or even more. As you know, iPhones run on high-performance chips that are custom-designed by Apple for power efficiency. “Combine all that with the latest iOS updates offering smart new features, and everything you do on iPhone feels fast and fluid,” says Apple.
Will iPhone be easy to use?Apple promotes its legendary ease of use, which it says is at the core of everything it creates. “With a swipe of your finger or a single tap, you can open apps, make a purchase with Apple Pay or customize your iPhone,” reads the webpage. Apple also mentioned the Tips app, preloaded on each iOS device to help users get the most out of their device, but that's hardly something I'd choose to highlight iOS's simplicity and intuitiveness.
How does iPhone help protect my personal information?This is all about Apple's commitment to privacy and security, two major priorities with them. Since iOS 8, everything on your iPhone is “encrypted from the start” and protected by your passcode. Most flagship Android handsets have encryption disabled by default because full-disk encryption makes them sluggish due to the lack of hardware-assisted encryption.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R17WDY3BIfo&t=5s
Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTube
“Apple will not sell your information to anyone for any reason,” adds the mini-website.
The Cupertino giant notes yet another huge advantage it has over Android: its timely and easy-to-install software updates that don't have to be vetted by carriers and device vendors like major Android firmware updates do.
Can I get help from a real person?“No matter where you are, we have real human beings ready to help,” says the firm. Apple's support team will help Android users learn about topics ranging from the switching process and software on their new iPhone to troubleshooting any issues they may have with their new phone. Support options listed here include phone, online chat, Apple's Support app and a dedicated Twitter handle @AppleSupport.
What makes Messages so great?The expressive Messages app on iOS 10 “doesn’t just send messages, it also lets you hail rides, book restaurants, and even shoot lasers.” Apple is referring to new Messages features on iOS 10, like downloadable stickers, fullscreen effects and iMessage apps, as well as strong end-to-end encryption. “And, of course, you can use other messaging apps like WeChat, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger, too,” adds the company.
What about the environment?Apple says:
We think about the environment all the time. Every time you send an iMessage, make a FaceTime call, or ask Siri a question, those tasks are handled by Apple data servers running on 100 percent renewable energy. And when you switch to iPhone, we’ll even recycle your Android phone for you.
Will I love my iPhone?Of course you will.
Tim Cook likes to highlight Apple's customer satisfaction numbers that are the envy of the industry (customer sat, as he likes to put it), with a 451 Research-estimated 97 percent of people who have an iPhone saying they love it.
“That’s a lot of smiling selfies. A lot of happy emoji. And a lot of people who are glad they chose the world’s most loved smartphone,” reads the webpage.
How do you like Apple's reworked “Switch to iPhone” mini-site?
Be sure to watch short switcher videos Apple uploaded today to its YouTube channel.
iPhones have come equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology since the iPhone 6 launched in 2014. NFC's primary use in the iPhone is for Apple Pay and allows contactless payments via supported merchants at the point of sale.
On the other hand, well-known jailbreak developer Elias Limneos was tinkering with iPhone NFC on his spare time and managed to hack it to work in ways that are typically locked off by Apple out of the box.
Google is placing its Android operating system right inside cars, showing off on Monday an Android version of touchscreen car consoles and infotainment systems.
According to Bloomberg, Google Assistant is at the heart of the new Android system which hosts popular apps such as Spotify and Google Maps with 3D mapping and satellite images (for safety reasons, they're keeping YouTube off the screen).
Patrick Brady, Google's Vice President of Android Engineering, said the system will make its way to Audi and Volvo's entire fleets, along with other manufacturers.
“Where cars are going, everything is integrated into one display,” he said. “We think the future is a much more seamless, integrated system.”
From the Bloomberg article:
This version of the software had three main windows for users: a central panel for playing music, making calls and navigating; another with a grid of core car functions; and a third that lists installed Android apps. A button on the steering wheel and a voice command can activate the Google Assistant.
Android for the car might eventually extend to dashboard items like speedometers and backseat screens. Google will permit each Android software car partner to customize the controls, interface and apps preloaded into the operating system.
And with smart home integration, a user in a compatible car could ask the Assistant to, say, turn on the lights at home before arriving. Brady added that Apple's CarPlay could run on top of cars with the embedded Android system.
As it's said to take over the underlying software on the car, the forthcoming software will be able to control car features like seat positioning and temperature.
According to the company:
That means your car’s built-in infotainment system could allow you to control your air conditioning, sunroof, and windows, find the nearest restaurant with Google Maps, listen to Spotify or NPR, or just ask your Google Assistant for help—even when you leave your phone behind.
Google showed a concept of the software running on a Chrysler vehicle earlier this year.
The search giant is reportedly partnering with Audi and Volvo to ship car systems running the Android operating system. Because Google's new software is embedded right in the car software, a driver won't need to plug in an Android phone to run it.
And with built-in Google Assistant, drivers will be able to accomplish tasks like searching on the go, asking for directions and making phone calls. Google is showing off the new software today, ahead of its annual developers conference scheduled to run from May 17 through May 19, 2017 in Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View in California.
At I/O 2017, the search monster will show off live demonstrationss of the new Android operating system running on the Audi A8 and Volvo V90 SUVs. Apple is expected to update us on CarPlay advancements at WWDC 2017 next month.
CarPlay supports wired and wireless connections and requires an iPhone.
That's because unlike Google's new software, CarPlay is not embedded directly into the underlying car software. Apple is thought to be working on an autonomous driving software, too.
Google's in-car Android solution shouldn't be confused with Android Auto, a CarPlay-like system introduced in 2014 that lets people project content from their Android smartphones to their car's screen. Google said it's working on bringing the voice assistant to Android Auto.
Android Auto now runs on 300 car models.
According to the Bloomberg report, Amazon has reached agreements with carmakers for its own digital assistant. That said, the in-car software battle between Apple, Google and Amazon is only going to intensify going forward.
Apple today pushed a major update to the Apple Music client for Android. Available on Google's Play Store for free, the app has been bumped from version 1.2.1 to 2.0 and now features a refreshed user interface that mimics iOS 10 styling that should bring greater clarity and simplicity.
Aside from the facelift, the software comes with half a dozen new features including the consolidated For You, Library, Browse and Radio sections, a Now Playing screen with integrated lyrics, and more.
If you think Apple's innovation in the smartphone OS space has stalled, wait until you see the next major revision to Google's Android operating system.
Today, the search giant released a developer-only preview of Android O (it's the working title). While it won't release for public consumption before the fall, developers can download Android O and begin testing it right away. Android O adds many of the same features Apple customers have enjoyed for more than six months with iOS 10, or even longer.
These include things such as richer notifications, picture-in-picture modes, wide color gamuts in apps, limits on what apps can do in the background to improve battery life and more. Here's our preview of Android O's enhancements and new capabilities available to customers and developers.
LG's latest G6 flagship may have become the first non-Pixel phone to have Google's new Assistant feature, but the search giant is focused on bringing its new personal assistant to as many other smartphones as humanly possible.
Keeping true to its promise, the Mountain View firm just started rolling out Assistant to smartphones running Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow versions.
With Assistant, you just long press on the Home button or say “Ok Google” to get started. The advanced feature leverages Google's knowledge graph, artificial intelligence and machine learning to better understand context of your questions.