Thursday, June 30, 2016

Nancy Pelosi expresses disappointment over Tim Cook's GOP fundraiser

Engaging in a bit of political posturing this week, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi offered a — surprisingly condescending — takedown of Apple CEO Tim Cook's fundraiser for House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican candidates. 

Inside watchOS 3: Apple Watch app in iOS 10 lets you browse & customize watch faces

One key new feature in watchOS 3 comes in tandem with iOS 10, allowing users to view, add and edit watch faces to their liking with more screen real estate, via the Apple Watch app on an iPhone.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Rumors surrounding Apple's "iPhone 7" are flying in fast and furious as September quickly approaches, with a report on Tuesday claiming the next-generation handset will replace the mechanical home button with a capacitive Force Touch version.

Pantech Has it All Figured Out With This Original Sky IM-100 Phone

We like to cover all of the designs we fancy, even though sometimes they’re much more than concepts. 

pantech sky im 100 music phone design  (3)

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Review: Rachio's iPhone-connected Smart Sprinkler Controller is efficient, easy to use

With summer in full swing, scorching temperatures can wreak havoc on even the greenest of lawns. Rachio's second generation Smart Sprinkler Controller is designed to save you time and money by automating your existing sprinkler system with support for up to 16 zones.


Design




iPhone 7 With Capacitive Home Button Gets Rendered in Dark Blue; Here’s a Video of It

OK, OK, I know that there are too many iPhone 7 concepts and renders, particularly annoying, since 

iPhone 7 capacitive button concept  (5)

Monday, June 27, 2016

Rumor: Apple's space gray 'iPhone 7' will be a 'much darker color

Apple's space gray color option for iPhones could return to a darker shade, closer to black with the upcoming "iPhone 7," according to a new report.


Citing his own sources, Danbo of Macotakara reached out to AppleInsider on Monday to indicate that Apple is expected to offer the "iPhone 7" in a "much darker color" than the current space gray option found on the iPhone 6s series.


Tipsters apparently indicated that the new, darker shade of iPhone will be close to black, though not quite black.


Apple previously offered the iPhone 5 in a black and slate color that was much darker than the current space gray options. Space gray was first introduced with the iPhone 5s in 2013.


Though Apple uses the same space gray branding for different products, the color is far from consistent. For example, the space gray found on the Apple Watch Sport is a darker shade than the Series 7000 aluminum used on the space gray iPhone 6s.


Apple also offers a "space black" stainless steel Apple Watch, which itself is darker than the space gray sport model.


Monday's indications from Macotakara sources appear to be a clarification from earlier reports that suggested Apple would ditch space gray for a "deep blue" color option. Sources who claim to have seen the next-generation iPhone coloring apparently mistook the darker space gray for a blue shade.


In addition to space gray, the iPhone lineup also comes in silver, gold, and rose gold. It's expected that all four of those colors will remain for the next-generation "iPhone 7."


Rumors and parts leaks point to a largely unchanged chassis design, expected to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Internally, the device is rumored to have an upgraded "A10" processor, a 256-gigabyte storage tier, and an all-new dual-lens camera system for the larger "iPhone 7 Plus" variant.


Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone in September alongside the release of iOS 10.

iPhone 7 Concept is All About the New Lightning Earpods

It’s been a while since I last heard about the designer Giorgi Tedoradze and now he’s back with a 

Apple iPhone 7 concept Giorgi Tedoradze  (3)

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Apple's differential privacy in iOS 10 is opt-in, limited to four use cases

The new data collection method set to roll out in iOS 10 will require users to opt in, and will be limited to four specific system functions, according to Apple.

New leaks show bigger lens opening on 'iPhone 7,' dual-lens camera on '7 Plus'

Photos published on Saturday depict what are claimed to be rear shells for Apple's "iPhone 7" and "7 Plus" — and particularly, evidence of the new camera technology the devices are using.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Inside watchOS 3: Apple Watch gets new apps for Reminders, Home, Find My Friends & heart rate

The number of default Apple Watch apps will grow with the upcoming release of watchOS 3, gaining Reminders, Home, Find My Friends, as well as a separate heart rate app, and also adding watch face complications for each.

Motorola motoROKR Z7 is a Beast of a Music Phone, With 7 speakers and a Subwoofer

Some of the Motorola series of phones seem to have been abandoned for good, like the RAZR and 

Motorola motoROKR Z7 concept phone  (4)

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Apple to open fifth Hong Kong store on June 30 as Chinese expansion continues

Apple's will debut its fifth store in Hong Kong on June 30, reflecting the importance of both the city and the Chinese market in general.

Xbox PHD Handheld Concept is a Portable Console That Feels Like a Suitcase

The idea of a portable Xbox has been floating around for as long as the PSP Phone, so basically ever 

Xbox PHD handheld concept 1

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Inside watchOS 3: Customize your Apple Watch display on a workout-by-workout basis

With the upcoming watchOS 3 update, tracked workouts with Apple Watch will not only display more information in the midst of an exercise, but the type of information shown can be completely customized by the user.

Apple Magic Keyboard Gets the OLED Touch

Everyone expected that we would see an Apple MacBook with OLED keys at the top of the keyboard

Apple Magic Keyboard OLED concept  (5)

Monday, June 20, 2016


The Indian government on Monday announced loosened policies towards local sourcing by foreign retailers, likely setting the stage for Apple launching its first stores in the country.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Games for iOS will look much better

An excellent level of graphics capability.

IMG_3565

Inside watchOS 3: New 'Breathe' app for Apple Watch reminds you to relax, focus

In addition to reminding you to stand and walk throughout the day, watchOS 3 will also prompt Apple Watch users to take a minute to relax, focus and meditate with a new app dubbed "Breathe."

Breathe is an all-new app found in watchOS 3. Upon updating, the default settings will have Breathe prompt a user to have a focused breathing session every four hours.

Nokia Phone for the Elderly Concept is Shock Proof, Features SOS Feature

I love it when a concept phone is not only fancy high end stuff, but also a bundle of useful features for a 

Nokia phone for the elderly concept  (2)

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Apple's WWDC keynote provided plenty of news fodder this week, including the announcements of macOS Sierra, iOS 10, and watchOS 3 — plus many other technologies coming soon to Apple devices.

Gaming Mobile Phone Concept Looks Solid, Should be an Xbox Phone

When I came across a device named Gaming Mobile Phone Concept, I was underwhelmed by its 

GEMP Gaming Phone Concept  (1)

Friday, June 17, 2016

Video: See how Apple Music in iOS 10 has been redesigned from the ground up

Music selection and discovery will get easier for 15 million paying Apple Music subscribers with this fall's launch of iOS 10. Here's a closer look at the big changes coming soon to iPhone and iPad.

Inside iOS 10: Apple simplifies HomeKit control with dedicated Home app

Answering a long-running demand, Apple is introducing a dedicated Home app with iOS 10, giving people a central location to manage and control their HomeKit accessories.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Inside iOS 10: Photos Memories will generate slideshow movies automatically

Looking to compete with similar options in Google Photos and other apps, Apple's iOS 10 Photos app includes a new Memories tab, which not only groups photos into events automatically but creates customizable slideshow movies for them.

Steampunk 1920s iPhone Concept is Just… Weird

Well, there are futuristic concepts and then there’s the model below. It’s a steampunk piece of work, a 
iPhone rotary phone steampunk concept

throwback to the 1920s era of telephones, that were still a prized possession, since they were not widespread yet. We’re dealing with a sort of iPhone integration within this old school piece.
Created by Paul Myers, the render features a metal and wood design, plus what appears to be a a camera at the center of that support holding the earpiece into place. I must admit I’ve missed the second screen on the huge wood base, which is useful to see people during retro FaceTime calls. The UI is displayed on an oval screen bit on the receiver portion, which frankly doesn’t feel like an inspired choice.
However, before we go out and criticize stuff, steampunk was never a way to make predictable art. It’s supposed to be original, unusual, a throwback to the past, with elements from the future. Thus, a weird screen format or two is permitted… This would make a fine piece of furniture in an Apple museum of concepts.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Inside iOS 10: Upgraded QuickType wields 'Siri intelligence' for contextual suggestions

Apple's forthcoming iOS 10 update will feature enhanced QuickType keyboard recommendations, which will now go beyond suggesting the next best word to write, and will intelligently recommend dates, locations, contacts and more.

Apple SVPs Schiller and Federighi discuss Siri, Messages and more in Q&A session

Apple executives Phil Schiller and Craig Federighi on Tuesday took part in a casual interview to discuss the many software and services enhancements revealed at this week's Worldwide Developers Conference. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

During its WWDC keynote, Apple solidified rumors by announcing that Apple Pay will be coming to France, Switzerland, and Hong Kong in the next several months.


The company did not set a firm timeframe for any region, but has since launched webpages identifying which banks, credit cards, and retailers will be taking part. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted in all three areas, for example, while American Express cards will work only in Hong Kong.


In France, initial card issuers will include Banque Populaire, Boon, Caisse Epargne, Carrefour Banque, Orange, and Ticket Restaurant. Only 18 retailers other than Apple will be onboard, such as Boulanger, Dior, FNAC, Orange, Parkeon, Sephora, and Simply Market.

Switzerland's issuers will be limited to Bonus Card, Cornèrcard, and Swiss Bankers. Just 11 non-Apple retailers will be supported, some examples being Aldi, Avec, Lidl, Spar, and TAG Heuer.

Residents of Hong Kong will have six banks to choose from: Bank of East Asia, Bank of China, DBS, Hang Seng, HSBC, and Standard Chartered. The city is home to the best retailer support of the new regions, with 29 partners mixing American brands like 7 Eleven, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks with numerous Chinese companies.

The major Apple Pay announcement during the WWDC keynote was support for Mac payments, something coming this fall. Shoppers will need to be using Safari or Messages, however, and have either an Apple Watch or a nearby device with Touch ID to authenticate.

iPhone 9 Rendered, Feels a Bit Like an Oversimplified Zune

Today was the starting day for WWDC 2016, an event focused on Apple software, but what about the 

iPhone 9 concept 1

Monday, June 13, 2016

Some low hanging fruit for Apple to pick at WWDC 2016

On Monday, Apple will finally reveal an assortment of new technologies and initiatives it's been working on over the past year. Here's a look at some of the ideas Apple likely—or hopefully—has on its agenda.



A big Ten opportunity





India asking for commitment on manufacturing before approving Apple Stores

The Indian government is aiming to get a firm commitment from Apple on local manufacturing before authorizing the launch of any Apple Stores in the country, a report said on Monday.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

New Apple Campus 2 tour highlights 'breathing' concrete, glass panels, power tech & more

A new tour of Apple's Campus 2 headquarters in Cupertino — due to start operations in early 2017 — offers a close-up glimpse of the building's progress, and some of its unique architectural details.

iPhone 4SE is a Phone Nobody Requested, but May be a Hit in the Entry Level Market

Few expected the iPhone SE to become real when rumors started last year, but in the end it came to 

iPhone 4SE concept render  (3)

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Apple prepares San Francisco venues for WWDC 2016

As it does every year, Apple on Friday began to decorate the two main San Francisco venues that will host this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, installing banners, flags, utility equipment and more. 

San Francisco locals and visitors in town for WWDC 2016 are posting photos of Apple's building preparations to social media outlets like Instagram and Twitter, some of which show exterior work at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is nearly complete. Apple will kick off this year's event at the 7,000-seat auditorium on Monday.

The building is dressed with flags and signage bearing Apple logos — in a rainbow of colors to match WWDC 2016's theme — including a massive 15-foot version borrowed from last year's iPhone event. Photos of what appears to be a large, portable commercial HVAC apparatus positioned outside Bill Graham, seen below, are also circulating around the web. It seems Apple is expecting a big turnout.


Following this past week's work at Bill Graham Auditorium, contractors started preparing the nearby Moscone West building on Friday. In years past, the site was WWDC central, playing host to Apple's keynote presentation, developer sessions and closing bash. It last saw a WWDC keynote in 2014

Like last year's conference, Moscone West will act as the hub of operations for developers. There, attendees can take part in informational sessions and hands-on labs run by Apple engineers, consultations with key Apple personnel, special guest speaker presentations and get togethers with colleagues. 


WWDC 2016 kicks off on Monday, June 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, and concludes with a free concert for guests on Thursday, June 16. Apple is expected to detail the future of its major software platforms — iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS — throughout the conference, while rumors suggest the company might take the opportunity to announce new MacBook hardware and Apple Pay for websites

AppleInsider will be on the scene with live coverage of events, announcements and goings on starting with Monday's keynote.

Lenovo Foldable and Flexible Phone and Tablet Concept May Predict an Interesting 2017

This week Lenovo held a conference called Lenovo Tech World, that included the showcasing of a 

Lenovo Folio folding tablet concept

Friday, June 10, 2016

Thor is a Fully Modular Smartphone, Also Fully Customizable

I have the feeling there’s so much lost potential in the area of modular phones, as if these projects come to a point, show potential and then get canned. Project Ara keeps getting delayed, we haven’t heard of ZTE’s Eco Mobius in a while and the LG G5 doesn’t have enough modules. Maybe Thor can give us hope…

Thor fully modular smartphone concept  (8)

iPhone 8 Concept Rendering Created by Techconfigurations, Based on Patent Documents

Many analysts and people following Apple trends are convinced that next year’s iPhone will be a special kind of device. They call it iPhone Pro, iPhone X or simply iPhone 8. Anyway, there are some patents related to the device that have been used by Techconfigurations as inspiration to create the concept below.

iPhone 8 concept render based on patents  (7)

Thursday, June 9, 2016

DOJ urges Supreme Court to return Apple vs. Samsung patent case to lower court

The Justice Department on Wednesday filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Apple's appellate court win over Samsung in a nearly five-year-old patent dispute, a decision that would inevitably lead to a new round of litigation.

Martin Hajek Takes on iPhone 7 Pro and iPhone 7, With Nifty 3D Renders

Designer MVP Martin Hajek has taken on the task of creating professional 3D renders of the iPhone 7 

iPhone 7 Pro Martin Hajek 3D render  (2)

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

In preparation of next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple on Tuesday activated a landing page for its upcoming keynote live stream, inviting those unable to attend in person to take part in the online broadcast. 

Nokia Lumia Black has a Strange Form Factor, May Offer Nice Ergonomics

I’m not the type of person to criticize designs too much, because I know there’s a ton of work behind 

Nokia Lumia Black concept phone 2016  (1)

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Apple issues second betas of iOS 9.3.3, OS X 10.11.6, watchOS 2.2.2 & tvOS 9.2.2 a week before WWDC

With just seven days to go before Apple unveils the future of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS and at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, developers were provided with new betas for upcoming minor updates.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 versus Galaxy Note 6/7 in Schematics Form

Leave it to good old @OnLeaks to provide some very detailed schematics and CAD renders of 

galaxy note 5 versus galaxy note 6

Monday, June 6, 2016

So the Curved Display iPhone is Real and Coming in 2017

We’ve been hearing about a curved screen iPhone for a while now, but trusted sources now claim that 

curved screen edge iPhone