Apple

About two months since audiobooks became available for download and listening via Google Play and the iTunes Store for the first time, an update aims to improve the user's experience by adding bookmarks and smart resume capabilities. In addition to them, the update also brings the Family Library feature to 13 new countries and refines the playback speed settings.

Apple is currently working on an all-new design for its market-leading Apple Watch. The new watch will feature a 15 percent larger display and slicker look, marking the first redesign since its launch in 2015.

Swiss computer-accessory manufacturer Logitech has announced a couple of new items specifically designed for the just-released sixth-generation iPad. Firstly, there is a stylus called the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil that offers an eight-hour battery life. Then there is the Logitech Rugged Combo 2 case and keyboard combination, which has been designed to protect the newly revised 9.7-inch iPad from bumps and drops.

Stung by lower than anticipated sales for its flagship iPhone X, Apple could be set to lower the entry point for the next-generation of OLED iPhones expected in September by US$100. This would bring the starting point for the next-generation 5.8-inch OLED iPhone down to US$899 for a 64 GB model.

Foxconn is set to acquire Belkin, and with it, Linksys and Wemo. The US$866 million deal is, however, subject to review by the US Committee on Foreign Investment.

The instant messaging app created by the founder of the social networking site VK continues to grow, although it still has a long road ahead until it can challenge Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Telegram Messenger was used by 200 million people within the 30 days for the first time — as many users as the population of the sixth-largest country in the world.

Although the next-gen iPhone flagships are not expected to feature any major changes in terms of design, insiders familiar with the inner workings of the Cupertino-based giant claim that Apple is currently working on a foldable smartphone that could also be used as a tablet and this device will hit the market in 2020.

Huawei deployed tall trucks conveniently parked in front of Apple and Samsung stores to inform users about the P20 reveal on 3/27. While the campaign is a borderline marketing stunt designed to draw attention and awareness, the spectacle is amusing nonetheless. The P20 will supposedly have some of the best cameras in the market.

Samsung, Apple, and now LG will be ramping up R&D on the potential applications and commercialization of MicroLED panels for portable devices. The technology may eventually spill over to laptops since its advantages over LCD and even OLED are numerous. LG is remaining tight-lipped on when we can expect to see the first smartphone utilizing MicroLED.

It has been reported that Apple will unveil the iPhone X Plus in September. There has already been mention of three new iPhone variants coming this year from the Cupertino-based manufacturer, including a “giant high-end iPhone,” a less expensive version of the flagship smartphone, and an upgrade of the iPhone X. It is believed the iPhone X Plus might feature a 6.2-inch OLED display.

Since Vladimir Putin will be in charge for a few more years, it looks like Telegram might end up being blocked in Russia. A set of laws introduced back in 2016 required Telegram to give the government a way to decrypt all user conversations, and they received a fine of US$14,000 for failing to do so. Now, Telegram users in Russia should prepare for the worst.

The official invite that Apple has recently sent out contains the headline "Let's take a field trip." and the location of the March 27 event makes it all clear. The new Apple products will be unveiled at the Lane Tech College Prep High School, the rumors about them including new iPads (models with an OLED display and/or cheaper ones), VR gear, a new Apple Pencil, and even a preview of the upcoming iOS 12 update.

Users are now purchasing refurbished smartphones more than ever due in part to slowing innovation and marginal design changes on the latest models. The hardest hit are mid-range smartphones as used high-end models from Apple or Samsung can be had for about the same price. Why purchase a brand new flagship when last year's model is very nearly the same for hundreds less?

Apple may finally be ditching its aging low resolution 13.3-inch 1440 x 900 pixel panels for a more up-to-date 2560 x 1600 variant manufactured by LG. The next generation 2018 MacBook Air is expected to be the first to carry these new Retina displays when it ships later this year.

Mostly thanks to the release of the iPhone X in November, iOS handsets managed to grab the first spot in Australia during the last quarter of 2017. During the given period, Apple shipped 1.76 million handsets in Australia, which accounted for a market share of 56.2 percent. On the other hand, 1.37 million Android handsets managed to reach the continent in the final quarter of last year, grabbing 43.8 percent of the market.

Essential has filed a patent with the USPTO for “image capture with a camera integrated display.” Could this mean the American technology company is working on a method to remove the selfie camera from the polarizing top notch position that many manufacturers have currently adopted? Would new sensor-positioning technology be introduced in a future Essential smartphone release?

Bose has launched a new type of AR technology that it is calling Audio AR. The prototype sunglasses on show at SXSW use an audio layer to supplement a user's interaction with their surrounds to provide more information and context.

Estimated to begin reaching its first owners in about a month, the US$749.99 Garmin tactix Charlie is a premium GPS watch that features a 1.2-inch sunlight-readable display with domed sapphire lens, GPS with GLONASS support, as well a rugged design. Its battery can provide up to 12 days of autonomy in smartwatch mode, 20 hours in GPS mode, and 35 hours in UltraTrac battery saving mode.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application made by Apple Inc. titled “ingress prevention for keyboards.” The wordy document features a number of technical drawings showing alternative examples of key assembly. The general idea of the patent is to “block contaminant ingress,” so could this mean future MacBooks will have crumb-resistant spill-proof keyboards?

Serial leakster Evan Blass is at it again, this time spoiling the official unveiling of the Huawei P20 line up. As rumored, the three model range all feature iPhone X-style notches, once the source of ridicule among the Android faithful.

The Sims Mobile is now available for both iOS and Android devices and — fortunately for the many mobile gamers on a very tight budget — comes for free on both platforms. However, those really into this iconic title can speed up the progress and enhance the user experience by purchasing various premium items that are priced between US$2.99 (Android) or US$4.99 (iOS) and US$99.99.

Apple could be looking to play the waiting card until Intel gets its 5G modem ready, which implies Qualcomm is being given the slip. We might not be seeing a 5G enabled iPhone in 2019 although Apple is already testing the technology.

KGI Securities is expecting Apple to launch a new MacBook Air sometime in Q2 2018 with a lower price tag. The analyst firm does not offer any details as to how much of an upgrade will the new Air be but obvious internal upgrades inline with a 2018 notebook can be expected.

The most controversial design element of the iPhone X has now been embraced by Oppo, and by default, OnePlus for their next flagship smartphones. Both the Oppo R15 and the OnePlus 6 will feature a “me too” notch when they arrive in the coming months.

Although the YouTube mobile apps have been providing offline viewing capabilities for more than two years, the availability of this feature that can come quite handy in certain situations was limited to a list of select markets. That list was not long at all, but now 109 new items have been added to it, bringing the total of markets with YouTube offline viewing support to no less than 125.

It seems Apple is now ready to dominate the global wearables market after the company claimed top spot in market share for the fourth quarter in 2017. According to data analysts IDC, Apple also led in market share and shipment volumes for the year, improving on figures for 2016. Fitbit and Xiaomi also managed considerable shares of the worldwide wearables market.

A recently published Apple patent describes a "Dual display equipment with enhanced visibility and suppressed reflections" and the device pictured in it looks like a MacBook with an OLED touchscreen area that replaces the traditional keyboard and trackpad combination. Lenovo tried this with the Yoga Book and it apparently failed, so it remains to see if an Apple MacBook with a touchscreen keyboard hits the market or not.

In a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session held today, Bill Gates made a comment about cryptocurrencies that suggests he is not currently a huge advocate of the decentralized and unregulated digital payment systems. In contrast, Steve Wozniak has offered a more favorable view of virtual currency, even though he has actually been subject to Bitcoin-trading fraud himself.

Sony has used MWC to introduce a new "dual listening" experience headset it calls the Xperia Ear Duo. The headphones allow users to interact with music, or notifications, at the same time as being able to hear their immediate environment.

The AirPower wireless charging mat was originally announced in September, 2017 at an Apple media event. According to reports, this handy device could be shipped by the American tech giants in March. The mat uses the Qi standard for wireless power transfer and should have multi-device charging capability. There has been no official confirmation from Apple yet.

Apparently the 911 emergency services communication center in Elk Grove, California has been receiving hundreds of calls coming from an Apple repair and refurbishing site in the vicinity. Since October, 2017 the total of 911 calls traced to the facility has reached over 1,600. The calls are believed to be accidental and possibly being caused by the SOS mode that the iPhone and Apple Watch feature.

Gartner has recorded a 5.6 percent decline in smartphone sales from Q4 2016 to Q4 2017. Key reasons given include a lack of good budget smartphone options and owners of more expensive phones opting for a longer phone lifecycle before upgrading.

A report from Bloomberg has stated that Apple is working on some upgrades for its popular AirPods product. The original wireless Bluetooth earbuds were released in 2016 and have contributed significantly to Apple’s successful “Others” division (which includes the Apple Watch). It is rumored an upgrade of the AirPods with a new custom-designed chip will be released later this year, with a water-resistant upgrade being developed for next year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has revealed that it is working on products now that won't ship until well into the 2020s. Although it is obvious Apple works on products in advance of their launch, the company has never been quite this specific about its product planning.

Apple has made an international regulatory filing with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) that suggests the company is preparing to release two new products in the iPad line-up. The filing lists two tablets with model numbers that have not been associated with the iPad before: A1954 and A1893. There is some speculation that the devices could be the next iPad refresh.

Google has officially rolled out Google Play, its feature rich competitor to Apple Pay. The new app will work everywhere that Android Pay was already accepted while the company will continue to add new features and work with partners to extend its reach.

Apple Inc. has been enjoying tremendous success in the global watch market according to analysts. Shipment data suggests the Cupertino-based company is now beating out famous brand watchmakers such as Swatch and Rolex with its series of smartwatches.

Apple has released a patch that will fix the so-called 'Telugu bug' on iOS, MacOS, tvOS and WatchOS. When users receive a message or notification that contains a certain Indian character, the app crashes and becomes unusable. In some cases, the bug even results in the device entering a bootloop.

HP will be reselling Apple's iPhone, iPad and Macs to its enterprise customers. The new program is aimed at giving its customers a one-stop solution for the deployment and support of multiple devices and operating systems in the workplace.

Apple Park may look like a futuristic marvel but apparently it has been causing a number of painful incidents for workers due to its abundance of glass features. It seems distracted Apple employees are walking straight into the surrounding glass panels.

Apple's HomePod has come third, after the Google Home Max and the Sonos One, in an independent blind audio test. It only finished ahead of the relatively weak audio quality of the Amazon Echo Plus in a test conducted by Yahoo tech writer David Pogue.

Yesterday, Wizards of the Coast and Ludia announced Warriors of Waterdeep, a new Dungeons & Dragons mobile game for both Android and iOS. This turn-based RPG is free to play and uses card packs. Although it will not launch this month, those interested can pre-register and will receive a special gift pack on launch.

A report created by research company TrendForce has revealed a total of 164.7 million notebooks were shipped in 2017. This compares to 161.2 million units shipped in 2016 and a forecast of 163.8 million units expected to be shipped in 2018.

Apple is looking to revamp its software development workflow to balance introduction of new features and ironing out existing bugs. The upcoming iOS 12 internally codenamed 'Peace' will be the first result of this strategy.

Quite a while after reaching iOS (July 2017), Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition is finally (almost) ready to launch on Google Android. This mobile game is based on the 2008 title and features 25 playable characters.

Apple has teamed up with LG and Valve to invest in eMagin, a company that has developed industry-leading technology in OLED microdisplays for use in AR and VR headsets. The move is indicative that Apple could be on track to release a headset in the near future.

The first version of the "Vetinari" branch, VLC 3.0.0 is capable of streaming to Chromecast devices even in non-native formats, also supporting 4K and 8K hardware decoding on a wide range of devices, including Android flagships.

Leaked code for the iBoot section of iOS 9 was uploaded to GitHub this week, leading to concerns that the software may have fallen into the wrong hands. Apple has already made maneuvers to try to limit the damage caused, but the company should be worried about such leaks happening in the first place.