Friday 30 August 2019

Apple set a date for the next iPhone event

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Friday, August 30, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Ready to meet the rumored iPhone Pro? Apple has set a date for its annual unveiling event, and Microsoft is ready to let Android players try out its real-life Minecraft mobile game. Oh, and the new Nike Adapt Huaraches can talk to Siri.

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We're expecting another trio of models, some with triple cameras on the rear.

Apple will unveil its latest iPhones on September 10th

September is fast approaching, so that means it's almost time to officially find out what Apple has in store with this year's iPhones. Its big fall event is set for September 10th, and it'll take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT.

Rumors suggest Apple will unveil another three new iPhones. The handsets that will supplant the XS and XS Max (known as the Pro devices) could have an array of three cameras on the rear, and the front-facing lens might have a 120 fps slow-motion option. Those Pro devices will also reportedly have an option to wirelessly charge AirPods by placing the charging case on top of the rear. Meanwhile, a new entry-level iPhone will get a dual-camera array this year if you believe the early reports. More updates to Airpods and the HomePod are expected, too.

Certification means they can use genuine replacement parts and avoid any nasty surprises

Apple will 'verify' third-party iPhone repair stores

More Apple news. It has announced it will be verifying third-party repair stores, widening the number of places that can fix your iPhone. The company has said that it'll offer third-parties the same "genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics" as Apple Authorized Service Providers. On paper, it means that any verified and approved store will be able to offer battery and screen repair with Apple's blessing. For now, however, the program is limited to "out of warranty iPhone repairs," so your broken iPad may still need to be sent back to Apple.

Back to the future present perfect.

Nike's self-lacing Huarache can be controlled with Apple Watch and Siri

The Nike Adapt BB featured smartphone control, but the Adapt Huarache adds a link to Apple Watch and Siri for even faster changes. Presets will make it even easier to switch from a relaxed fit while sitting at your desk to a secure hug for running sessions. It also supports a number of presets for different situations and a far more stylized look than the earlier Adapt model. These shoes will hit Nike's apps and select stores on September 13th in grey and yellow colorways for a price that’s TBA.

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One of the new outdoor GPS watches comes with solar charging.

Garmin's new Fenix 6 watches are prettier and last longer

Garmin continues to upgrade its Fenix line of GPS watches, making them more useful for outdoor-sports enthusiasts. With the new Fenix 6 series, Garmin is also trying to give its fans more options by offering prettier styles and more premium builds. The most interesting watch is the expensive $999 Fenix 6X Pro Solar. It packs in solar charging that can extend battery life by up to three days. There's also a new PacePro feature that will coach you in real time, so you can speed up or slow down during your run rather than try to remember what to do the next time you work out. As you jog, the Fenix 6 will show your target split pace, actual split pace, distance to next split and how much time you're ahead of or behind your goal.

Launch is scheduled for 2021.

NASA's much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope has finally been assembled

The telescope will be the successor to Hubble, and it includes a five-layer sunshield that blocks infrared light from the sun to keep the delicate components cool. The sunshield was already integrated with the spacecraft that will launch the project, and the telescope itself had to be lifted onto this combination using a crane. Next, the engineers must electrically connect the two halves and test the electrical connections before unfurling the sunshield and performing environmental and deployment testing.

But wait, there's more...

1. 'Minecraft Earth' AR beta is available on Android -- in five cities

2. Lenovo's fall lineup includes an all-in-one inspired by a tree

3. Back to School 2019: The best desktops for students

4. The Trump Administration just revived the Cold War-era Space Command

5. Can this year's new Kindle compete with the Paperwhite?

6. 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid delivers towing power and 500 miles per tank

7. Senators demand answers from Amazon about unsafe products

8. The safest messaging apps

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Thursday 29 August 2019

E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Thursday -- August 29, 2019

The E-Commerce Times -- E-Business Means Business
https://www.ecommercetimes.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Apple Says Sorry for Listening In on Siri Talks
Storm Erupts Over Google's Advice Against Blocking Cookies
Powerful Enterprise-Class Chromebooks May Make Windows Exit Possible
Putting CX at the Center of Testing Strategies
Cloud Users: Read the Click Agreement Terms

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Today's Story Highlights

Apple Says Sorry for Listening In on Siri Talks

Apple has suspended audits of consumer interactions with Siri, and
undertaken a review of practices and policies related to the voice
assistant. Before suspending grading, the process involved reviewing a
small sample of audio and computer-generated transcripts from Siri
requests -- less than 0.2 percent -- to measure how well Siri responded.
The goal was to improve the assistant's reliability.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86216.html

Storm Erupts Over Google's Advice Against Blocking Cookies

Google's recent announcement of Privacy Sandbox -- an initiative to
develop a set of open standards geared toward fundamental enhancements
of privacy on the Web -- has stirred up a controversy. Blocking cookies
is not a good idea for a number of reasons, and standardization of such
efforts is needed, argued Justin Schuh, director, Chrome Engineering.
Google invited the Web community to comment.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86214.html

Powerful Enterprise-Class Chromebooks May Make Windows Exit Possible

A new collaboration between Dell Technologies and Google has produced
the world's first enterprise-class Chromebook. The companies have
announced their partnership to bring new capabilities and services to
Dell's Unified Workspace strategy. Google launched its Chrome Enterprise
capabilities in 2017 to give enterprises critical features like advanced
security protections and fleet management.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86209.html

Putting CX at the Center of Testing Strategies

From e-commerce to banking applications to healthcare systems -- and
everything in between -- if it's digital, users expect it to work at
every interaction, and on every possible platform and operating system.
However, despite the need to provide a digital experience that delights,
Gartner research suggests that only 18 percent of companies are
delivering their desired customer experience.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86212.html

Cloud Users: Read the Click Agreement Terms

There is no data showing how many people actually read through click
agreements, terms of service and privacy policies -- collectively
"online terms" -- before clicking the alluring "accept" button. However,
there's research that indicates fewer than 1 percent of people report
taking the time to review online terms. Most folks consider online terms
an annoying speed bump and frankly don't care.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86207.html

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Apple will stop listening in on Siri recordings

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Apple’s privacy update for Siri leads this morning’s news roundup, while Epic Games walked back one of its Fortnite tweaks after just one day. Plus, we’ve got a few new cameras to discuss, a super-sensitive robot made to handle jellyfish and some advice on how to get Disney+ cheap.

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By default, Apple ‘will no longer retain audio recordings of Siri interactions.’

Apple fires contractors hired to listen to Siri recordings, switches to opt-in transcripts

In the wake of revelations that Apple has people listening in to some Siri requests, Apple has fired more than 300 contractors in Cork, Ireland. As The Guardian reports, those contractors were hired as part of a "grading" program that reviewed audio recorded by Siri.

Beginning this fall, Apple will once again review Siri recordings, but it won't retain audio recordings of Siri interactions. Instead, it will use computer-generated transcripts to help Siri improve. Users will be able to decide whether or not to share their data with Apple, and they'll be able to opt out at any time. In a statement, Apple said "we realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologize."

A small construction delay had major impact.

Epic reverts 'Fortnite' turbo building changes after players push back

Stop us if you've heard this one before: Epic made a change to its hit battle royal shooter that was supposed to make the game more even and has now changed it back after a near-revolt by the Fortnite community.

Grabs focus in 0.2 seconds.

Sony's A6600 APS-C flagship is a shooting speed demon

Sony has finally revealed the much-anticipated 24.2-megapixel Alpha A6600, its new flagship APS-C mirrorless camera and follow up to the popular A6500. The new model is all about speed and video performance, packing Sony's latest sensor, 4K video capability, a larger battery and AI-powered Z-Bionz image-processing tech. The A6600 will arrive in the US in November for $1,400, or $1,800 with an 18-135mm kit lens.

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All you need now is a Tesla.

Tesla's car insurance is now available in California

After rollouts in Asia and Australia, the EV maker has introduced its simply titled Tesla Insurance in California. Drivers can theoretically lower rates on their cars by as much as 20 to 30 percent compared to conventional insurers since "Tesla knows its vehicles best." There are no surprise fees, and you can cancel or modify your policy at any point.

Don’t squeeze.

Harvard's noodly robot fingers are great at grabbing jellyfish

Researchers created a robotic hand with a squishy grabber and a gentle grip that uses "fettuccini-like silicone fingers" to catch and release fragile gelatinous jellyfish. According to the team, they exert less than one-tenth of the pressure that a human eyelid exerts on the eye -- key when you’re handling animals that are 95 percent water.

Hands-on with the cutesy handheld.

Playdate's tiny console with a crank is big on charm

This weekend, at PAX West, Panic will be showing off the Playdate to the public for the very first time. Nicole Lee visited the company’s offices for an early look, and despite some early skepticism found "a smile spread across my face the more I played around with it."