LG recently released its latest flagship smartphone, the LG G7 ThinQ, which, like flagship smartphones from many other manufacturers, includes a high-quality dual-lens camera that enables impressive photographic capabilities.
In our latest YouTube video, we pitted the G7's camera against the camera of the iPhone X to compare and contrast the feature set and image quality of the two devices.
While the iPhone X has a dual-lens setup that includes a wide-angle and a telephoto lens, the G7, like the G6, takes a different approach for its camera setup, introducing both a standard ~71-degree f/1.6 wide-angle lens and an even wider f/1.9 107-degree lens, eschewing telephoto capabilities all together.
Both sensors offer an improved 16-megapixel pixel count, and the standard lens includes support for optical image stabilization and an autofocus system that includes phase detection and laser.
Apple's iPhone X has a standard 12-megapixel f/1.8 wide-angle lens paired with a 12-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto lens, which is what Apple uses for its Portrait Mode depth effects. Both wide-angle and telephoto lenses have their purposes, and with LG's setup, you can take wider landscape shots that fit more of the background in rather than closer portrait images designed to focus on a single subject.
LG's device also includes a portrait mode-style effect, but the background blurring is done entirely via software rather than through lens technology. LG has included a unique "AI Cam" feature that's designed to analyze the subjects in the photo and offer up recommendations on how to make adjustments for the best possible photo.
The native camera app on the LG G7 has an option for manual operation and several included photographic modes, while taking manual shots on the iPhone X requires you to download a third-party app.
We've got some comparison shots of the two cameras below, along with an Imgur album with all of the images featured in the video at a higher resolution:
The LG G7 and the iPhone X are both capable devices that take high-quality photos, so you won't go wrong with either one of these smartphones.
We largely preferred the look of the iPhone X photos because of its tendency to capture more natural colors and accurately capture images with a lot of variation in lighting without overexposing elements of the photo, but in a lot of cases, the camera you like best is going to come down to personal taste.
What do you think of the LG G7's camera? Let us know in the comments.
John Carmack, best known for his work on iconic games that include Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein 3D, today took to Facebook to share details on his interactions with Steve Jobs and to provide some insight into Jobs' opinion on gaming, what it was like working with Jobs, and what it felt like to participate in one of Jobs' famous keynotes.
Carmack first interacted with Jobs when Jobs was still at NeXT, because Carmack wanted to add a "Developed on NeXT computers" logo to the original Doom game. His request was initially denied, but later Jobs changed his mind. Doom never included a made on NeXT label, but Carmack did go on to work with Jobs on other projects.
Jobs, said Carmack, didn't appear to "think very highly of games" and seemed to wish "they weren't as important to his platforms as they turned out to be." Carmack was asked to discuss gaming requirements with Apple, and ended up having "a lot of arguments" with Jobs over the adoption of OpenGL. Jobs was good at talking with "complete confidence" about things he was "just plain wrong about."
Part of his method, at least with me, was to deride contemporary options and dare me to tell him differently. They might be pragmatic, but couldn't actually be good.
"I have Pixar. We will make something [an API] that is actually good." It was often frustrating, because he could talk, with complete confidence, about things he was just plain wrong about, like the price of memory for video cards and the amount of system bandwidth exploitable by the AltiVec extensions.
Carmack did convince Apple to adopt OpenGL, something Carmack says was "one of the biggest indirect impacts" on the PC industry that he's had, and he ended up doing several keynotes with Jobs. According to Carmack, keynotes were always a "crazy fire drill with not enough time to do things right."
At one point, Jobs asked Carmack to do a keynote that was scheduled on the day of his wedding, with Jobs going as far as asking Carmack to reschedule the event, which Carmack declined to do.
Carmack and Jobs' relationship began to fall apart after the launch of the iPhone, over a disagreement about web apps. Carmack was advocating for native apps while Jobs preferred web apps, leading to a heated dispute that later escalated when Carmack's comments were covered by the media.
People were backing away from us. If Steve was mad, Apple employees didn't want him to associate the sight of them with the experience. Afterwards, one of the execs assured me that "Steve appreciates vigorous conversation".
Still deeply disappointed about it, I made some comments that got picked up by the press. Steve didn't appreciate that. The Steve Jobs "hero / sh**head" rollercoaster was real, and after riding high for a long time, I was now on the down side. Someone told me that Steve explicitly instructed them to not give me access to the early iPhone SDK when it finally was ready.
Carmack developed several now-defunct iOS games, the last of which was Rage for iOS, and while he had "allies" within Apple, he was "on the outs with Steve" and never again conversed with the Apple CEO.
Carmack's full account of working with Steve Jobs, which can be found over on Facebook, is well worth reading for anyone interested in the history of Apple.
Apple has partnered up with French cable television Canal+ to allow 5.2 million Canal+ subscribers in France to opt to receive an Apple TV 4K in lieu of a traditional cable box.
Customers who choose the 4K Apple TV will need to pay Canal+ an equipment rental free of 6 euros, equivalent to approximately 7 dollars. This is the same price that Canal+ charges to rent a standard cable box.
In a statement to French site Numerama (via VentureBeat), Canal+ Deputy General Manager Frank Cadoret said that the company's goal with the Apple TV offer is to reach a younger clientele and to offer existing customers a second box.
Apple vice president of Apple Music and International Content Oliver Schusser also told the site that Canal customers will be able to "enjoy a rich experience" with access to iTunes movies and the App Store in addition to regular cable programming that will be accessible through a Canal app.
Canal+ customers will be able to choose an Apple TV over a cable box starting on May 7.
Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson is being awarded the 2018 Environmental Award from the Environmental Law Institute "in recognition of her visionary leadership and outstanding environmental stewardship over a most distinguished career.
Jackson has worked at Apple since 2013, and as head of environmental initiatives, she spearheads Apple's efforts to minimize its environmental impact through the use of renewable energy, the introduction of more energy efficient manufacturing processes, the deployment of greener materials, and the invention of new ways to repurpose resources, such as through Apple's recycling robot Daisy.
Under Jackson's leadership, Apple achieved a milestone goal in April, announcing that its global facilities, including retail stores, offices, data centers, and more are powered by 100 percent clean energy, and she has also led the company to make a pledge to work towards a closed-loop supply chain that would allow Apple to stop mining the earth for rare minerals and metals.
Prior to working at Apple, Jackson served as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Barack Obama.
In a statement, Environmental Law Institute president Scott Fulton lauded Jackson for her work "greening Apple's supply chain."
"Lisa has exemplified leadership, innovation, and commitment to sound science and rule of law at each step of her remarkable career. She has been a tireless champion for both sustainability and environmental justice, and has left an enduring mark on both the private sector and the public sector. Her work in greening Apple's supply chain and in reducing the company's carbon and natural resource footprint has been exceptional, reflecting the power and reach of business leadership in advancing environmental performance and stewardship."
The Environmental Achievement Institute plans to present the award to Jackson on Tuesday, October 23 in Washington, D.C.
Apple recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the iMac G3, and to mark the occasion, Spigen has created a line of fun cases for the iPhone X that have been designed in homage to the candy-colored iMacs that restored Apple's reputation and revenue streams while also establishing the company as a force to be reckoned with.
Spigen's new Classic C1 cases are available in a selection of shades designed to match the original colors of the first iMacs, like Bondi Blue, Ruby, Sage, and Graphite. Spigen is launching its new case lineup via an Indiegogo project with prices starting as low as $18.
Spigen sent MacRumors its Classic C1 case lineup ahead of the launch of the Indiegogo project, and we can confirm that these combine the protection Spigen is known for with a whimsical interpretation of classic Apple designs.
Each Classic C1 case actually consists of three components. There's an inner silver shell that's made of a soft, flexible material that fits right onto the iPhone. It features iMac-style chip and battery designs, with a cutout that lets the Apple logo of the iPhone shine through.
The inner shell pairs with a two-piece outer shell that's made of a translucent plastic, which snaps right onto the iPhone. Because it's see through, the outer shell allows the design of the inner shell to peek out, giving the case a 3D iMac-style look that's quite attractive and a must have for fans of classic iMac designs.
Spigen paid quite a bit of attention to detail with these cases, and there are even detailed iMac-like design elements included in the inside of the case.
Because this is a multi-layer case, it's thicker than some of the cases that Spigen offers, but it provides an attractive iMac design that pairs with solid protection. The softer inner component paired with the hard plastic exterior will keep the iPhone safe from mild drops, scratches, and other damage.
The inner silver case provides a nice lip around the display for protection when it's face down, and the bottom offers protection while still leaving ports accessible. The case also covers the volume and side buttons with the exception of the mute switch, but it does not impede button usage.
Spigen is also offering another case based on a classic design -- the original iPhone. Available alongside a C1 case, the Classic One offers a simple silver and black design that turns the iPhone X into something resembling the first iPhone. This case is simpler than the C1 with just a single layer and no intricate design elements, but it will be ideal for those who want a sleek design.
Super early bird Indiegogo backers can order a Classic C1 case for just $18, and when those are gone, prices will go up to $22 and then $25. If Spigen gets enough orders, additional colors will be unlocked, including Grape and Blueberry.
Spigen plans to begin shipping out the Classic C1 cases to backers in June.
Update: Spigen's Indiegogo campaign raised more than $100,000 from backers, and as a result, and due to demand, Spigen is now going to make its Classic C1 iMac cases available for the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus.
Apple this afternoon shared a new ad designed to show off the Portrait Lighting feature on the iPhone X.
Called "Studio in your pocket," the ad features a woman who pulls out her iPhone X and sees an entire studio's worth of lighting equipment pop up around her.
Portrait Lighting, available on both the front and rear-facing cameras of the iPhone X, is designed to allow you to add studio quality lighting effects to your images, either while taking a shot or during the editing process afterwards.
According to Apple, Portrait Lighting uses sophisticated algorithms to calculate how facial features interact with light, allowing the data to create unique lighting effects like Natural Light, Studio Light (lights up your face), Contour Light (adds dramatic shadows), Stage Light (spotlights your face against a dark background), and Stage Light Mono (Stage Light, but in black and white).
Apple has shared several other iPhone X and iPhone 8 videos showcasing the Portrait Lighting feature, including "Portrait of Her," "A New Light," and a video titled simply "Portrait Lighting" that explains how the feature was developed.
Apple has also shared several tutorial videos designed to each iPhone users how to use Portrait Lighting.
Apple is hosting a one-night-only Shawn Mendes concert at the Ford Theatres in Los Angeles, California this Thursday, the company shared today on Twitter.
The live performance kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will include the debut of a brand new song that will be included on Mendes' upcoming album.
Apple continues to expand the number of self-driving vehicles it is testing on the streets of Northern California, according to new numbers sourced from the California DMV (via macReports).
Apple has 55 vehicles out on the road driven by a total of 83 drivers, up from the 45 vehicle permits the company possessed in March. Since last April, Apple has been steadily adding new vehicles to its fleet, all of which are equipped with the autonomous driving software that Apple is developing.
For its software testing, Apple uses Lexus RX450h sports utility vehicles outfitted with advanced LIDAR equipment and an array of cameras. While California now allows for fully autonomous driverless vehicles to be tested on public roads, Apple does not yet possess those permits and all of its vehicles have safety drivers inside.
Rumors of Apple's work in the vehicle space first surfaced in 2015 as the company hired thousands of automotive experts and explored the possibility of a full Apple-designed electric vehicle. Those plans did not pan out, and in 2016, longtime Apple executive Bob Mansfield took over the automotive team and Apple refocused its efforts not on a car, but on self-driving car software.
At the time of the pivot, Apple executives allegedly gave the automotive team until 2017 to "prove the feasibility" of a self-driving car system, and given the continued expansion of Apple's self-driving car fleet, it seems the company has decided to progress with development.
It is not yet clear what Apple plans to do with the self-driving car software when finished, but the company could partner with other car manufacturers or eventually return to development on its own vehicle. It's also possible that some of the features that are being worked on could be introduced in future more advanced versions of CarPlay.
Some rumors have suggested augmented reality aspects could be included in the software that Apple is developing, such as a heads-up display that would provide standard driving details along with data from apps like Maps.
Because of the need to submit public information to the DMV, Apple has not been able to keep its work on autonomous driving software under wraps as it does with most of its product development. Tim Cook in June of 2017 even confirmed Apple's work on autonomous software, a rare move for the normally tight-lipped CEO. "It's a core technology that we view as very important," he said. "We sort of see it as the mother of all AI projects. It's probably one of the most difficult AI projects to actually work on."
On Friday, Apple began promoting its streaming show Carpool Karaoke: The Seriesinside of the TV app, marking the first time the entire series will be available for people who don't subscribe to Apple Music. Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps -- which represent Apple's foray into original television content -- have been mainly housed inside of the Music app since they both launched last year, and in the ensuing months the company has been connected to over a dozen upcoming original TV shows.
Apple has set aside $1 billion for its TV efforts, with a global team working on high-quality dramas that reports have compared to Stranger Things and Westworld, in terms of scale. Due to the amount of money it's putting into the initiative, Apple is expected to distribute the shows via subscription service of some kind, and with the recent expansion of Carpool Karaoke into TV we now have a potential hint at what Apple might do when launching its next set of shows.
Apple started off leaning into Apple Music as its home for new shows, with a "TV & Movies" category in the Browse tab, so it's been somewhat unclear how the company will go about launching its own streaming TV service. Possibilities include keeping the shows within Apple Music and bundling a TV category into user subscriptions, launching a completely new streaming service and connecting it to iTunes somehow, or making the service and shows available in the existing TV app.
That last option appears like a solid guess now that the entirety of Carpool Karaoke is rolling out on TV. When the app is opened this week, Apple gives Carpool Karaoke prime placement on the "What to Watch" tab, along with an exclusive tab bar that highlights the free episodes of the show. One of the advantages of Apple TV and the TV app is a quick snapshot of every app that a show or film is available on, and for Carpool Karaoke instead of just "Music," it's now "Available on TV."
This means that when you click the play button, you won't be diverted to another app to stream the show since it'll be playing directly in TV, similar to how purchased movies and TV shows from iTunes work in the app (on the other hand, Planet of the Apps does not have an "Available on TV" label and still must be watched in Music). If combined with its upcoming plan to offer subscriptions to other streaming services in TV, Apple could then let users subscribe to its own service within the app, with a dedicated area for shows exclusive to the company.
Apple's weekly rollout model for episodes of Carpool Karaoke could also be a hint at how some shows might debut on the dedicated streaming service. Following the first two episodes, Apple will now put one episode onto the TV app every Friday until the season is finished at episode 19. Streaming networks vary in episode distribution strategy, with Netflix popularizing the all-at-once model while Hulu chooses to release episodes of its shows, like The Handmaid's Tale, one episode per week.
Every Friday, Apple will add a new episode of Carpool Karaoke into TV
The tricky thing is that Apple Music itself does connect to the TV app, so even if some shows initially launch bundled into Apple Music, you'll still be able to keep them organized in TV (like you can with Planet of the Apps right now), with the main difference simply being the actual location of streaming the series. Of course, we won't know for sure how we'll be watching Apple's shows until the company lays down its plans for the rollout, which could launch as early as March 2019 according to the latest rumor.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4 update to developers, one week after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing iOS 11.3, a major update that introduced several new features.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 11.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
The iOS 11.4 update introduces a new ClassKit framework for educational institutions, which supports new features announced at Apple's March 27 education-focused event.
For regular users, the iOS 11.4 update adds features that were originally present in the iOS 11.3 beta but removed ahead of release.
It includes support for Messages on iCloud, designed to store your iMessages in iCloud rather than on each individual device, allowing for improved syncing capabilities. Currently, incoming iMessages are sent to all devices where you're signed in to your Apple ID, but there is no true cross-device syncing.
Messages on iCloud will allow you to download all of your iMessages on new devices, and a message deleted on one device will remove it on all devices. Older messages and attachments are also stored in iCloud rather than on-device, saving valuable storage space.
The iOS 11.4 update also includes AirPlay 2 features, with the Apple TV once again available in the Home app. With AirPlay 2, the same audio content can be played in multiple rooms on devices that support AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 includes a feature that lets you ask Siri on one device to play content on another AirPlay 2-enabled device. So, for example, you can ask Siri on iPhone to play content on your Apple TV in another room if you're running the iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4 betas.
There were initially signs of support for HomePod stereo sound in the first iOS 11.4 beta, a long-promised feature, but stereo sound didn't work properly and the mention was removed in the second beta. It's not clear if it will return for the update's release.
For the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, there is a new (PRODUCT)RED wallpaper available, which is not available on iPhone X.
iOS 11.3, the previous update to iOS 11, introduced a new Battery Health feature for monitoring the status of your iPhone's battery, Business Chat for iMessage, which lets you communicate with companies directly in the Messages app, ARKit 1.5 with augmented reality improvements, new Animoji on iPhone X, Health Records from participating medical providers, and more.
Update: Apple has also released a new version of iOS 11.4 for public beta testers.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 11.4 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS 11.4, paired with iOS 11.4, reintroduces AirPlay 2 features that were present in early tvOS and iOS 11.3 betas but were removed ahead of release. With AirPlay 2, the same audio content can be played on multiple devices (like the Apple TV) throughout your home, and audio playback can be controlled via the iPhone or through Siri commands. After installing iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4, the Apple TV is also once again be listed in the Home app.
There were no other new features discovered in the first four tvOS 11.4 updates, and it's likely it focuses on bug fixes and other small improvements. Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, and we may not find any other new additions.
We'll update this post should new features be introduced in the fifth beta of tvOS 11.4.
Update: Apple has also made the fifth beta of tvOS 11.4 available to its public beta testing group.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4.3.1 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
Shortly before watchOS 4.3.1 was introduced, Apple stopped allowing developers to update Apple Watch apps built on the original watchOS 1 SDK. In watchOS 4.3.1, there's an alert when launching a watchOS 1 app that warns that the app may not be compatible with future versions of watchOS. This suggests Apple will drop support for watchOS 1 apps entirely in the future, just as it did with support for 32-bit iOS apps in iOS 11.
Code hidden within watchOS 4.3.1 also suggests Apple is working on introducing support for custom third-party watch faces, but this is likely a feature that would be introduced as part of a major watchOS 5 update rather than through watchOS 4.3.1.
There were no major new features discovered in first four watchOS 4.3.1 betas, which is unsurprising as this is a minor 4.x.x update. It's likely this update focuses primarily on bug fixes to address issues discovered since the release of watchOS 4.3.
Apple does not provide detailed release notes for watchOS, so we may not know what's included in the update until it sees a public release.
The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta can be downloaded through Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.
macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 introduces support for Messages on iCloud, a feature that was previously present in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 betas before being pulled ahead of the release of the update. Messages on iCloud is also available in iOS 11.4.
The Messages on iCloud feature is designed to store your iMessages in iCloud for improved syncing. Right now, incoming iMessages are sent to all devices where you're signed into your Apple ID, but it's not true cloud-based syncing because your old messages don't show up on new devices nor does deleting a message remove it from all of your devices, both features enabled through Messages on iCloud.
Messages on iCloud also allows your older iMessages and attachments to be stored in iCloud rather than on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, saving valuable storage space.
The update also likely includes bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, but as Apple does not provide detailed release notes for macOS High Sierra beta updates, we may not know exactly what's included until the new software is provided to the public.
No other major outward-facing changes were found in the first four betas of macOS High Sierra 10.13.5, but we'll update this post should any new features be found in the fifth.
The previous update, macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, brought support for external graphics processors (eGPUs) along with Business Chat in Messages and several other bug fixes and smaller feature improvements.
Update: The fifth macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta is also available for public beta testers.
iPhone SE 2 rumors are running rampant, but there is little consensus about what to expect should the device be real.
The latest word comes from Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing Chinese accessory makers who claim production has yet to begin for the second-generation iPhone SE. In fact, Apple is apparently still considering a final design for the device among the several different prototypes it is said to have tested.
The report claims that at least one of those prototypes has an iPhone X-esque design, including a nearly full screen display with no home button and a notch, while other prototypes are believed to have a similar design as the current iPhone SE, except with a glass back, presumably to allow wireless charging.
Ben Geskin recently shared photos of what appears to be iPhone display glass with a shallow cutout resembling the TrueDepth sensor housing on iPhone X, but in a follow-up tweet, he said his "main source" says that the new iPhone SE will have the same design and display as the current model, but with a glass back.
I have to say, that my main source is saying that SE2 will have the same design (and display) as the first SE, but with a glass back.
— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) May 10, 2018
Meanwhile, MacRumors obtained renders from case maker Olixar last week that depicted a new iPhone SE with an iPhone X-esque display, but still with an aluminum, flat-edged frame like the current model and iPhone 5s. Olixar said its renders are based on information obtained from a "reliable source" in China.
The renders suggest the iPhone SE's notch would be approximately half as wide as the one on the iPhone X, likely making it too slim to house facial recognition sensors. One possibility is that the iPhone SE does move to an edge-to-edge design, with a notch, but without any of the Face ID technology.
As we said at the time, however, it's hard to imagine that Apple would include Face ID on the iPhone SE without significantly raising its price, as such a move would likely cannibalize sales of the iPhone X lineup.
And without Touch ID or Face ID, it's unclear how authentication would work on the new iPhone SE. Chinese company Vivo's new X20 Plus UD became the first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor early this year, but Apple seemed to have elected against that approach early on with the iPhone X.
In whatever form it arrives, the accessory makers believe the new iPhone SE is more likely to launch in the third quarter of 2018, suggesting the device could be unveiled alongside a new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus in September. If true, however, Apple has likely already finalized the design of the device.
A handful of earlier reports and regulatory filings had suggested the new iPhone SE could be unveiled in May or at WWDC 2018 in June.
It's unclear how the Chinese accessory makers obtained their information, but they could be confusing one of the prototypes with the rumored 6.1-inch iPhone. That device is expected to have some iPhone X features like Face ID, but lack an OLED display, stainless steel frame, and 3D Touch to achieve a lower price point.
All in all, it's a confusing mess right now. Apple often prototypes several iPhone models, and it could even have some fake versions passing through the supply chain to throw off leakers. But where there's smoke, there's often fire, so specifics aside, it sounds like a new iPhone SE of some kind is in the works.
Apple hasn't truly updated the iPhone SE since it launched in March 2016, beyond doubling its available storage capacities a year later. The device currently starts at $349 in the United States with 32GB of storage.
Wi-Fi Alliance today announced a new certification program called "EasyMesh," which will allow users who own mesh network products to choose from devices across different brands, while still ensuring reliable Wi-Fi coverage (via PCWorld). This way, customers will no longer need to stay within a single-vendor ecosystem dictated by the brand of the hub router, and can branch out to add on access points to their network that might have better performance, or other advantages.
So with EasyMesh certified products, if you own a Linksys Velop router then you can extend coverage across your home using a Netgear Orbi access point. Right now, users can only add products onto mesh networks that work with the main network gateway. For EasyMesh, the limitation as of now is company adoption, so users will have to wait for each mesh system maker to introduce EasyMesh compatibility into their devices.
According to Wi-Fi Alliance marketing vice president Kevin Robinson, EasyMesh is implemented in software, "so there should be no need for new hardware," which could speed up adoption rates. Still, Robinson pointed out that it will be up to each company to decide about adding EasyMesh into existing products. He also stated that companies will also be able to "differentiate their products with unique features or performance" and went on to break down the main components of EasyMesh.
“Interoperability has been core to Wi-Fi’s success,” said Wi-Fi Alliance marketing VP Kevin Robinson in an embargoed interview last week. “A standardized approach enables great economies of scale.” Robinson explained that EasyMesh has two main components: The controller and the agent.
“The controller resides in one device on the network—in either a gateway or an access point—where it controls and manages all the devices on the network and how they connect to each other. Agents are in the mesh access points, and they organize with each other and provide information to the controller about how the network is operating.”
In the announcement, the Alliance described EasyMesh as a system that will be familiar to any mesh network user. The program monitors network conditions and "self-adapts as needed," and it can guide internet-connected devices to the optimal access point in order for the user to have the best possible connection. Of course, the main advantage is that EasyMesh accomodates Wi-Fi extending access points across various brands, making the creation of an in-home Wi-Fi network far easier.
Wi-Fi EasyMesh networks accommodate a greater selection of devices across brands and are also extensible, making it easy for users to introduce new Wi-Fi EasyMesh access points into their network. Wi-Fi EasyMesh access points today will maintain interoperability with future Wi-Fi EasyMesh networks, providing an enhanced user experience for years to come.
“Wi-Fi EasyMesh offers both service providers and Wi-Fi users a consistent approach to multiple AP solutions," said Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “Wi-Fi Alliance is delivering a standardized solution to a market-leading product category enabling a strong ecosystem for interoperable, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices.”
Mesh networks have become increasingly popular over the last few years, thanks to their ability to easily extend Wi-Fi signals throughout a home. Some well-known brands include eero, Linksys Velop, Google Wi-Fi, Luma, and Netgear Orbi, which just announced a new 2-in-1 modem router system earlier this month.
Apple itself never offered a Wi-Fi mesh system, and the company officially got out of the router market completely in April with the discontinuation of the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. As an alternative Apple sells the tri-band Linksys Velop system on Apple.com, and the new dual-band system will be launching tomorrow, May 15, although it's still unclear if it will also be up on Apple's website.
Apple has been hit with a class action lawsuit over "defective" keyboards in recent MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
The lawsuit, filed in Northern California district court, alleges that the low-profile, butterfly-switch keyboards in 2015-and-later MacBook and 2016-and-later MacBook Pro models are "prone to fail," resulting in "non-responsive keys" and other issues, according to court documents obtained by MacRumors.
The lawsuit was filed by law firm Girard Gibbs LLP on behalf of MacBook Pro owners Zixuan Rao and Kyle Barbaro, residents of San Diego, California and Melrose, Massachusetts respectively.
The proposed class:
All persons within the United States who purchased, other than for resale, a model year 2015 or later Apple MacBook, or a model year 2016 or later MacBook Pro laptop, equipped with a "butterfly" keyboard.
The complaint notes that keys can become unresponsive when small amounts of dust or debris accumulate under or around them:
Apple's butterfly keyboard and MacBook are produced and assembled in such a way that when minimal amounts of dust or debris accumulate under or around a key, keystrokes fail to register. […] As a result of the defect, consumers who purchased a MacBook face a constant threat of non-responsive keys and accompanying keyboard failure. When one or more of the keys on the keyboard fail, the MacBook can no longer serve its core function: typing.
The lawsuit alleges that "thousands of consumers have experienced this defect," and highlights over 20 complaints shared by users on the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors Forums, and Reddit. The complaint also cites a Change.org petition about this issue that currently has over 22,000 signatures.
One of the comments included from a MacRumors reader in May 2015:
The C key on my new MacBook has a subtle but noticeable problem. I noticed yesterday morning that typing C wasn't always registering. I played around with the key and discovered that pressing the top of the key registered a normal click like the rest of the keys, but pressing at the bottom of the key was mushy with no click.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple is "aware of" the keyboard issues, either through "pre-release testing," customer complaints, or a combination of the two, but has "failed and continues to fail to disclose" the defect to customers:
Apple knew that the MacBook is defective at or before the time it began selling the affected models to the public. Complaints of keyboard failures began to come in shortly after the 2015 MacBook was launched. Despite awareness of the keyboard defect, Apple equipped future model MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops with the butterfly keyboard, and continued selling these laptops to consumers at premium prices.
Apple is said to "continuously monitor" complaints on websites like MacRumors:
Apple has been aware of these serious keyboard problems through the discussion pages hosted on Apple’s website as early as May 2015, the month after the MacBook was released. Apple continuously monitors those web pages. Apple also regularly monitors other web pages, including MacRumors, on which consumers complained about keyboard problems beginning on April 15, 2015, just five days after the MacBook came to market.
MacRumors first highlighted keyboard issues with the 2016 MacBook Pro over a year ago, including non-functional keys, strange high-pitched sounds on some keys, and keys with a non-uniform feel. The issues are back in the spotlight again after AppleInsider shared data on failure rates of the keyboards a few weeks ago.
The lawsuit acknowledges that Apple provides a support document with instructions to clean the keyboard of a MacBook or MacBook Pro with "an unresponsive key or "a key that feels different than the other keys," but notes that the steps "do not fix the keyboard defect or prevent the keyboard from failing."
When a customer takes their MacBook or MacBook Pro to a Genius Bar, the complaint alleges that Apple "routinely refuses to honor its warranty obligations," or is unable to permanently fix the problem when it does.
In the United States, Apple charges an out-of-warranty fee of $700 to replace the keyboard on affected MacBook Pro models, as the process requires replacing the entire top case assembly, which also houses the trackpad and speaker grilles. The fee is less if the notebook is covered by an AppleCare+ plan.
One of the two named plaintiffs in the lawsuit:
Mr. Barbaro took his laptop to the Genius Bar on September 11, 2017. A Genius Bar technician inspected the keyboard and confirmed that the space bar and caps lock keys were unresponsive. The technician offered to send the laptop to Apple's service depot for repairs. Mr. Barbaro sent his computer in, and after about one week, Mr. Barbaro received the repaired MacBook. He continued to use the MacBook for ordinary tasks until December 2017, when the space bar again became unresponsive in the same way as the first time his MacBook manifested the keyboard defect.
Mr. Barbaro returned to the Genius Bar to seek assistance. At the Genius Bar, a technician examined the laptop and determined that it would cost over $700 to repair the problem. The technician informed Mr. Barbaro that his warranty had expired and that he would be responsible for the full cost of the repairs. Mr. Barbaro declined to pay for the repairs. He still has the MacBook. It remains defective.
Apple is accused of, among other things, violating California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and fraudulent concealment.
The complaint requests that Apple pays punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial, publicly discloses the defect, and reimburses customers for all costs attributable to remedying or replacing defective MacBook or MacBook Pro models. A jury trial has been demanded in Northern California district court.
Our Take: Apple has yet to launch a repair program for MacBook Pro keyboard issues, either publicly or internally, suggesting that the number of customers affected might not meet its threshold for doing so. But, given the increased attention and lawsuit, Apple may feel obligated to take action soon enough.
Thursday, May 17 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and ahead of the event CNET has spoken to individuals with disabilities, accessibility advocates, and Apple's own director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, to discuss the company's efforts in this field.
Showing off the wheelchair workouts on Apple Watch, two-time U.S. Paralympian Austin Pruitt explained how he uses a racing wheelchair in a stationary workout routine to help him keep in shape. Pruitt has cerebral palsy from the knees down, but he continues to compete in the Paralympic Games by racing in a wheelchair, and the Apple Watch has replaced bulky trackers in his workout routines.
Photo taken by Sarah Tew via CNET
He said he used to set up a bunch of trackers on his chair to log his workouts, but now uses just an Apple Watch instead.
"This has everything," he told me. "This has my wheelchair and my walking, all in one."
Apple added a "Wheelchair" setting to the Apple Watch in watchOS 3, allowing the device's activity options to be customized for wheelchair users. This means that controlling and pushing a wheelchair contributes to all-day calorie goals, "time to roll" notifications remind users when to be a bit more active, and new wheelchair-specific workouts provide customized sessions for users like Pruitt.
According to Herrlinger, accessibility updates (like the wheelchair setting in Apple Watch) are something the company tries to add into its devices every year.
"Every year we try to add in new things. We do look at how can we make it slightly better year over year," Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, said about the company's work on its iOS and MacOS operating systems.
Other popular accessibility options on Apple products include VoiceOver on iPhone, which describes what's on the device's screen for visually impaired users. Apple's home automation platform, HomeKit, is also featured on its accessibility web page since it can help a wide variety of users accomplish tasks like turning on lights, starting a coffee pot, or changing the temperature by speaking near an iOS device or HomePod.
Apple is expected to continue to celebrate and promote Global Accessibility Awareness Day throughout the week, if previous years are any indication. Around this time last year, the company highlighted the event with new "Designed for" videos, a series of interviews CEO Tim Cook gave with three accessibility activists, and a concert at One Infinite Loop where Stevie Wonder performed.
Security researchers are warning users of PGP/GPG email encryption plugins not to use the software, after critical vulnerabilities were discovered that could potentially be used reveal the plaintext of encrypted emails.
The official advice from security researchers is to disable and/or uninstall the affected software until the vulnerabilities are disclosed and fixes can be issued. In the meantime, users are advised to seek alternative end-to-end encrypted channels such as Signal to send and receive sensitive content.
This short how-to guides users through the steps necessary to remove the popular open-source encryption plugin GPG Tools (GPGMail) from Apple Mail. It requires deleting a "bundle" file used by the app. Users' existing encryption keys are not affected by the procedure and will remain on their hard disk. GPGTools has also since published a temporary workaround that it believes mitigates against similar so-called "Efail" attacks.
How to Uninstall GPG Tools from Apple Mail
Quit Apple Mail if it is running (Mail -> Quit Mail in the menu bar).
Click on the desktop and in the Finder menu bar, select Go -> Go to Folder....
In the Go to Folder dialog that appears, type /Library/Mail/Bundles and click Go.
Delete the GPGMail.mailbundle file by either dragging it to the trash in your dock or by right-clicking (Ctrl-clicking) it and selecting Move to Trash in the contextual dropdown menu. If you don't see the mailbundle file, return to the previous step but type ~/Library/Mail/Bundles in the Go to Folder dialog (note the tilde (~) character denotes your home folder).
Enter your administrator password if prompted to confirm the action.
After following the above steps, the GPG Tools email plugin will be gone from Apple Mail the next time you launch the client.
Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson is 
Security researchers are warning users of PGP/GPG email encryption plugins not to use the software, after 
