Author: Allen Parker

Apple announces Black Friday 2018 deals

Apple typically charges a premium price of its products. Hence, buyers usually wait for the holiday season sale to pick up iPhones and iPads at reasonable discounts. That said, it appears holiday season shoppers are seemingly out of luck as Apple’s Black Friday 2018 deals are disappointing to say the least.

Besides, the company’s Blackk Friday 2018 page itself confirms you’re not getting any dispcunts on iPhone, iPads, MacBooks. Instead, you’ll only get Apple Store Gift Cards if you buy any Apple product during this year’s Black Friday sale.

Apple has already set the bar for launching one of the most expensive iPhone to date, with the iPhone XS priced at a whopping $1449 in the US. That said, it appears the company still sees no reason to announce lucrative Black Friday deals to attract buyers, despite falling iPhone sales. Hence, what you’ll get if you do decide to buy an iPhone this Black Friday – a $50 Apple Store Gift Card for select SIM-free models. Eligible models for this offer include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.

Apple Watch Series 3 also get you a $50 gift card. However, there are no deals on Apple Watch Series 4.

There are no good deals on iPads either. In case you’re interested in buying an iPad, you’ll receive a $100 Apple Store Gift Card. iPad models eligible for this promo include the latest 10.5-inch iPad Pro, iPad, and iPad Mini.

Finally, Apple is offering $200 Apple Store Gift Card with MacBooks.

Apple hasn’t announced any special deals for its 2018 product lineup. Therefore, Apple Store isn’t the best plave to go if you’re looking for a cheaper iPhone XS or the Apple Watch Series 4. It’s better to check other retailers for discounts on Apple products.

November 23, 2018
Apple to slash iPhone XR prices in Japan to boost sales: Report

Apple has reportedly announced price cuts for the iPhone XR in Japan in an attempt to improve the handset’s sale in the country. According to a report by WSJ, the iPhone-maker is offering subsidies to carriers in Japan and these price cuts are likely to be implemented next week.

Besides, the report further notes Apple has apparently resumed production of last year’s iPhone X. Now, this suggests that the company plans to sell older iPhone models in Japan. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as this won’t be the first time Apple will produce old iPhone models for markets which have sufficient demand for cheaper handsets.

One of the problems Apple is facing is the fact that older iPhone models still have massive popularity in countries like Japan, most probably because they’re much cheaper than the latest iPhone models.

However, the report also cites supply chain sources which claim that resuming iPhone X production is also because of Apple’s need to use OLED panels ordered from Samsung. These panels were actually planned for use in iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, however, lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models has pushed Apple to use them on the older iPhone X.

This strategy would allow Apple to use the excess OLED screen components in a smartphone that became massively popular during its lifetime. Besides, offering it at a discounted price would allow Apple to mitigate losses suffered because of weak demand for new iPhone models. That said, it’s still not clear whether the iPhone X will go back on sale globally. As Apple no longer sells the 2017 iPhone X via its own stores.

Interestingly, the latest news comes shortly after a report earlier this week which claimed that Apple has slashed production orders for its latest iPhone XS and iPhone XR models, due to lower than anticipated demand.

November 22, 2018
Apple reportedly acquires AI-centric privacy startup SilkLabs

Apple has reportedly acquired SilkLabs, a start-up which focuses on AI-centric privacy and builds machine learning products. Founded in 2015 by Mozilla’s former CTO, Andreas Gal, Silk Labs develops on-device machine learning software and products for private and business security.

The startup has launched only one product so far: a smart home monitoring camera dubbed as Sense. The device uses facial and object recognition that can recognize different faces as well as pets for home security and business surveillance.

Besides, the device can connect with smart home products such as thermostats, cameras, smart bulbs, and speakers. With the help of on-device machine learning software, Sense can even identify users patterns and play music as per the user’s taste.

SilkLabs also stresses that the way it collects data offers more privacy than its rivals. The start-up explains its algorithms are designed to collect only key data, instead of substantial amounts a user processes so that a user is always in control of his privacy. Put simply, it could process data without sending it to the cloud.

Silk Lab’s focus on privacy and machine learning would have lured Apple , who also has a similar approach to privacy. The AI-talent from Silk Labs can be put to use by Apple to improve Siri and its smart products such as HomePod.

With Apple’s increased focus of AI- centric privacy, the acquistion of Silk Labs shouldn’t come as a surprise. Reports also suggest that Apple’s acquisition of SilkLabs was on a much smaller scale compared to the company’s other acquisitions.

The Information reports that SilkLabs only has around a dozen employees and received $4 million in funding. However, neither company has issued an official statement regarding the acquisition.

November 21, 2018
Tumblr ousted from the AppStore over child pornography issues

Tumblr suddenly went missing from the AppStore a few days back, though no statement by either companies were issued over the disappearance. Now, a report from Download.com has revealed the reason as to why the social media app went missing from the App Store.

According to the report, Tumblr was removed from the AppStore because some images showing child pornography appeared on website. The report further claims that the cause of disappearance was confirmed by independent sources within the company.

“As this is an industry-wide problem, we work collaboratively with our industry peers and partners like [the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children] (NCMEC) to actively monitor content uploaded to the platform. Every image uploaded to Tumblr is scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material, and images that are detected never reach the platform. A routine audit discovered content on our platform that had not yet been included in the industry database. We immediately removed this content. Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms. We’re continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team,” said Tumblr in a statement.

Just like other websites, Tumblr scans images that users upload. Though in this case, these images depicting child sexual abuse somehow got through the website’s filters. The social network is now reportedly deleting all kinds of NSFW blogs, even those not related to child pornography. Apple has laid down clear iOS guidelines that all apps must have content filter to detect such material, and it appears the Yahoo-owned app doesn’t have enough tools yet.

Tumblr notes that getting back to the AppStore is now its number one priority, however, it didn’t reveal an exact timeframe when it’ll be back. Tumblr is infamously tolerant of NSFW and adult-oriented content, which also led to its brief ban in Indonesia. As back in 2016, the Indonesian government banned the site for a while over pornography content.

November 20, 2018
Pixel 3 Lite leak tips at headphone jack and Snapdragon 670

A new leak of an alleged Pixel 3 Lite variant has surfaced on the web, and it appears Google is trying to attract buyers with a competitively priced handset.

The leak comes from Rozetked, the same tipster who also revelead key details about the Pixel 3 XL before its official release. Now, he has allegedly leaked close-up pictures along with techincal specifications of the alleged Pixel 3 Lite.

According to the leak, the Pixel 3 Lite is codenamed Sargo. As for specifications, it’ll come with a 5.56-inch IPS display having a resolution of 2220×1080 pixels. The leak further suggests it’ll have a notchless display just like the regular Pixel 3. However, it is rumoured to come with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Under the hood, the smartphone is expected to run Snapdragon 670 processor bundled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage.

As for cameras, the Pixel 3 Lite appears to have the same 12MP primary camera from the Pixel 3 range. Though up front, there’s only a single-lens selfie shooter. Finally, the leak suggests the handset will get fuelled by a 2915mAh battery.

That said, readers are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt as it’s impossible to know for sure if these details are accurate.

However, we all know there was time when Google was releasing affordable phones back in the day with its Nexus range. In the present times, all their smartphones are considered premium, and the number of Android users purcahsing Google-branded devices have seemingly reduced. And one way to attract more buyers would be to offer a competetively priced handset, and the latest leak suggests that something along those lines could be on our way.

November 16, 2018
New Galaxy S10 concept render leaked, shows a notchless fullscreen display

Rumours and leaks about the forthcoming Galaxy S10 flagship are flying thick and fast. Samsung is expected to launch three Galaxy S10 variants next year, which will reportedly feature significant design and hardware upgrades. Out of these, two of them will feature a 5.8-inch display, while one will have a 6.4-inch screen.

Samsung has already announced it’ll adopt a top-cutout for its Infinity-O display panels on the upcoming flagship range. Today, another leaked render of the handset has surfaced online, giving us a fairly good idea about handset’s new display panel.

Going by the leak, it appears Samsung has found a workaround to hide the notch for its Infinity-O panel. The camera cuts outs for these panels are drilled at the top-left, a strategic placement which allows users to cover it up with their thumb while consuming multimedia content. Samsung essentially wants its users to have a more immersive experience by utilizing every inch of the screen.

Besides, credible tipster Evan Blass has also revealed a few preliminary details about the Galaxy S10. He suggests that the upcoming flagship will feature an Infinity-O display, Ultrasonic fingerpirnt sensor, triple rear cameras, and Samsung’s latest OneUI.

Not to mention, Samsung has also announced its next-gen Exynos 9820 processor. According to the company, its latest chipset delivers a 20 percent improvement in single-core performance over its predecessor and is 40 percent more power efficient. That means, the Galaxy S10 could be the most powerful Android smartphone in the near future.

As far as release goes, Samsung is rumoured to launch its upcoming flagship sometime in February next year. Besides, the Korean giant is also expected to introduce a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 about a month later in March, during the launch event of the Galaxy F foldable phone.

That said, readers are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt as nothing is official at the moment. More details about Samsung’s upcoming flagship are likely to surface as we near its official launch. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anyhting new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

November 15, 2018
Google Night Sight feature now rolling out on all Pixel devices

Google gave us a glimpse of the Night Sight feature during the Pixel launch event, a feature that’s supposed to enhance low-light photography. Now, the company has officially confirmed that Night Sight is rolling out to all Google Pixel smartphones. According to Google, the feature will rolling out over the next few days and arrive on ‘all three generations of Pixel devices’. Night Sight is essentially designed to reduce noise and offer enhanced details for images shot in extremely low-light or dark environments.

Google says that the feature uses a combination of digital photography and machine learning to yield the best results. As soon as you press the shutter button in Night Sight mode, the camera rapidly captures a series of frames. Once the picture is saved, Google explains that the feature uses deep machine learning algorithms to correct the white balance and exposure levels.

6-second Night Sight Image shot with the Pixel 3 using a Tripod: (Credits: Googleblog/AlexSavu)

The feature is now officially available on all past and current generation Pixel devices. Owners of any of the three Pixel generation devices can head over to Google Play and check if they need to update Google’s camera app. If the update doesn’t show up, then you already have the update or the update isn’t yet ready for your device.

Once the update is installed, the feature will show up on your Google Camera app. To see how Night Sight works, just point your Pixel’s camera lens towards any dark spot in your room. After which, Night Sight should pop-up as a button just above your other camera modes. In case it doesn’t show up, you can also find it by sliding on your camera modes towards the left.

November 15, 2018
Meet Samsung W2019, a folding smartphone with dual AMOLED displays

At its developer conference in San Francisco, Korean giant Samsung officially unveiled its foldable smartphone dubbed as the W2019. The highlight of the handset is its foldable design. The device looks reminiscent of the Moto Razr, at least when we look at its buttons and keypads.

In terms of specifications, the Samsung W2019 sports a 4.2-inch Full HD internal S-AMOLED display as well as a 4.2-inch external AMOLED display that also supports Full HD. The smartphone packs a 3070mAh battery and runs Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. Elsewhere, the handset packs 6GB of RAM bundled with either 128GB and 256GB of built-in storage. The W2019, however, does not get the classic 3.5mm jack.

In the photography department, the smartphone features a dual lens 12MP+12MP primary camera setup with f/1.5 aperture, 2x optical zoom, OIS, 4k video recording at 60fps, as well as slow-motion recording at 960fps. There’s also an 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture.

Owners of Samsung W2019 will also get free access to a host of services which will include an exclusive hotline, phone disinfection, as well as software fixes and updates.

That being said, the smartphone will remain exclusive to Chinese market and will be sold in the country through carrier China Unicom. It will be offered in a choice of Rose Gold and Platinum color options. As far as pricing goes, the Samsung W2019 is priced at 18,999, which roughly amounts to a hefty $2700.

Samsung, however, has plans to launch another folding smartphone for the US market, rumoured to be called the Galaxy F or Galaxy X. The Korean manufacturer recently gave us a glimpse of the device’s Infinity Flex display at the annual Samsung Developer Conference. Samsung’s long-rumoured foldable phone is expected to launch in 2019. Hopefully, it doesn’t carry the same obnoxious price tag as the W2019.

November 12, 2018
Deal! Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with Platinum cover now availble at just $599

If you’re on the lookout for a new Surface Pro model, this might be the right time to get one as the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is now available at a much lower price. Not to mention, it’ll also get you some extra goodies as a part of a rather not-to -be missed deal.

The deal which is available right now includes the Surface Pro 6 and a Platinum cover bundle for just $599. That said, it’s a limited time offer so grab one before the deal expiries using the link here.

Microsoft is offering a substantial discount as the Surface Pro 6 usually starts at $899, while a Type C cover is priced at an extra $129.99. So essentially, you’ll have to shell out over $1000 to get a Surface Pro 6 without any discounts.

However, it’s also worth noting that this discounted Surface Pro 6 bundle features Intel Core m3 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM, as opposed to Intel Core i5 or Intel i7 core processors. Hence, it won’t be a s powerful as its other high-end variants, but the deal is something one cannot afford to miss.

Apart from this, Microsoft is also selling two other Surface Pro bundles, though at much higher prices. The Surface Pro 6 featuring Intel Core i5, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM along with Platinum Signature Cover is now available for $1159, while its 256GB storage variant is available at $1459.

However, readers are reminded that these deals will only till supplies last so grab them as soon as you can. Besides, we can expect more Black Friday deals with attractive discounts in the next few days. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

November 9, 2018