Wallpapers of the week: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead season 7 premiered last week with a brutally violent opener, bringing the show to the next level. Arguing the tagline “we’re just getting started,” the show continues to entice viewership.

Before diving headlong into the fresh season, use the following wallpapers to reminisce about the good days. The upcoming season will prove to continue what appears to be a shocking new change in the show. 

The Walking Dead Wallpaper

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iPhone 8 Plus model likely to use curved US-made Sharp OLED display

Japan’s Nikkei again reports on upcoming features for Apple’s next iPhone just a month after the launch of the iPhone 7. Three days ago, it reported that there would be 3 versions of the all glass-backed iPhone 8 line including a 5-inch screen model. Today the news organization is reporting that at least the biggest model will use a OLED and Sharp could be making some of those future OLED displays in the US.

“The iPhone has been evolving and now it is switching from LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) to OLED panels,” Tai told students at Tatung University, his alma mater, during a ceremony in which he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree. “We don’t know whether Apple’s OLED iPhones will be a hit, but if Apple doesn’t walk down this path and transform itself, there will be no innovation. It is a crisis but it is also an opportunity,”

After the Foxconn purchase of Sharp was finalized in August, Tai, a close associate of Chairman Terry Gou, was appointed CEO of Sharp. Foxconn, known as Hon Hai, is of course Apple’s principal manufacturer of iPhones.

Apple’s next iPhone, called ‘iPhone 8’ by many because of its rumored sweeping changes, is also expected to do away with the physical touch button and place touchID behind the display among many other innovations. Bloomberg previously reported that Sharp OLED iPhones would have to wait until 2018.

OLED displays offer sharper color contrast compared to LTPS screens that iPhones have traditionally used. Apple’s competitors including Samsung, LG, Motorola and others have been using OLED for quite some time and Apple and its proxies have often labelled OLED technology as “oversaturated”. Apple began using OLED displays on Apple Watch last year.

Perhaps most interesting about the report is that the displays could be made, at least in part in the US. Sharp only does very limited OLED production currently.

“We are now building a new [OLED] facility in Japan. We can make [OLED panels] in the U.S. too,” he said. “If our key customer demands us to manufacture in the U.S., is it possible for us not to do so?”

Previously it had been reported that Samsung would make the curved OLED display for Apple’s iPhone 8 but as we know, Apple likes to have multiple suppliers for key components, especially when one of those suppliers is Samsung.

 

Video roundup: Hands-on with Apple’s new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Apple finally unveiled its new MacBook lineup earlier today and as usual, members of the press in attendance of the keynote were able to go hands-on with the new products as soon as Tim Cook exited the stage. Videos have gradually been emerging from the hands-on area, and we’ve rounded them up below…

Laptop Magazine’s Mark Spoonauer went hands-on with both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar. Spoonauer showed off the Touch Bar’s ability to change depending on what app is open, as well as the default function row icons. Additionally, the design and size of both the 13-inch and 15-inch models are shown off, as well.

Finally, Touch ID functionality is also demonstrated. Touch ID, of course, will allow for the MacBook Pro to be unlocked more easily, as well as for Apple Pay purchases to be completed without the need for authentication with another device.

Engadget also took a look at the 2016 MacBook Pro, noting of the new slimmer design, as well as the USB-C ports, Touch Bar, Touch ID, and much more. The Touch Bar is showcased in use with Safari, with bookmarks and other quick links intelligently appearing.

Next up is SlashGear, who spent some time with Apple’s new laptops, as well. The blog again highlights the Touch Bar and its intelligent app switching, specifically in iMessage and its ability to show emoji and Tapback options. The video also shows the ability to customize the icons that appear in the Touch Bar.

The general consensus from early hands-on seems to be that Apple has a solid update on its hands with the new MacBook Pros. The design, while similar to the previous generation, is slimmer and lighter, making it easier to carry around for extended periods of time. Additionally, the Touch Bar seems to work very well and is incredibly quick to update as you move around various apps and interfaces. It’s also nice to see that the Touch Bar is customizable to the degree that it is, and open to third-party developers.

View a few more hands-on videos with the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros below, as well as one video with Apple’s new TV app for Apple TV.

Everything Apple Announced at Today’s ‘Hello Again’ Mac Event in Under Four Minutes

Apple hosted its “Hello Again” Mac event this morning, where it debuted a newly redesigned MacBook Pro with an integrated “Touch Bar” panel that supports multi-touch and a range of gestures to unlock new capabilities in apps.

Much of the event was actually spent covering existing features, demoing the Touch Bar, and highlighting Apple TV capabilities, allowing us to condense the full 82 minute presentation into four minutes. If you missed Apple’s keynote, our recap is a great way to get caught up without having to invest an hour and a half.

Apple’s new MacBook Pro models feature a thinner, lighter body, better battery life, upgraded processors, improved displays, and the aforementioned Touch Bar, but all that innovation comes at a price, which has many customers disappointed. Apple is charging $1,799 in the United States for the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro model with a Touch Bar, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro models start at $2,399.

While the MacBook Pro was the main highlight of the event, Apple also introduced a new Accessibility site, 4K and 5K monitors from LG, a new Apple TV app that serves as a TV guide to help users find what to watch.

macOS hints at new MacBook Pro’s OLED touch bar on keyboard ahead of Apple’s event

A new discovery in yesterday’s release of macOS 10.12.1 hints at the much anticipated OLED touch screen expected to be integrated into Apple’s upcoming MacBook Pro rumored to arrive at the company’s October 27 event this week. 

Within resources for System Preferences, updated assets in macOS 10.12.1 show a new virtual keyboard layout with the top row of the current keyboard design missing. 

With the upcoming refreshed MacBook Pro’s expected to have the new OLED touch bar in place of the top row of function keys on the device’s keyboard, it makes sense that a new virtual keyboard layout for that device wouldn’t have those keys represented…

It’s still unclear exactly how Apple will implement the touch screen functionality, which is said to include contextually sensitive buttons of some kind based on the app in use. Apple was also planning to possibly include Touch ID functionality in the new MacBook Pros, and earlier discoveries in macOS seemed to hint at possible integration into or near the new OLED touch bar. In addition to the new functionality with the OLED touch screen, Touch ID would open up possibilities for Apple Pay on the web, unlocking the Mac itself, and other apps without the need of an iPhone or Apple Watch for authentication.

In addition, the new MacBook Pros are said to be thinner and have a smaller footprint, a larger trackpad, and offer the usual upgraded internals including new AMD graphics and more.

The latest reports from supply chain sources this week backed up earlier reports that Apple will release a new 13-inch MacBook in addition to two MacBook Pro models at its event this week. The report also indicated new iMacs and 5K display in the pipeline for next year. 

Wallpapers of the week: autumn

As the northern hemisphere enters colder months, the leaves begin to drastically change. Reds and oranges take over, once green leaves.

Capturing the natural beauty, our Wallpapers of the Week section brings relevant, photo quality images to your devices. Each week a specifically curated list of wallpapers is posted to the site on Sunday.

Autumn wallpapers

 

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Apple releases iOS 10.1 with Portrait Mode for iPhone 7 Plus, fixes and improvements for all other devices

Apple has just released the official build of iOS 10.1 to the general public which includes the new Portrait Mode for the iPhone 7 Plus. After being available to developers and public beta testers for the past few weeks, iOS 10.1 is now available to users on compatible iOS devices. iOS 10.1 also includes a list of other changes for all iOS devices. Jump through to read the full release notes.

Developers and public beta testers on iOS 10.1 build 14B72c will be happy to know that they are already running today’s general public release and any further update won’t be necessary.

In regards to iOS 10.1’s fixes, the most notable include fixes for Bluetooth connectivity with 3rd party devices, People’s names being saved in iCloud backups, and new option to replay Message effects.

For the impressive new Portrait mode in Camera, we went hands on with the new feature using the beta in our initial walkthrough. Zac also wrote about the new feature here and took some example images here. Check out Jeff Benjamin’s video demonstration below:

How to update to iOS 10.1

To update to iOS 10.1, visit Software Update in Settings. Connect your iPhone or iPad to a power source and tap Install Now. Firstly, the OS must download the OTA file in order to begin setup. After the download has finished, the device will then begin the update process and eventually reboot into iOS 10.1.

If you don’t have the time right now to update, you can let iOS automatically install it at a later date (it will intelligently choose a time when you are likely to be asleep).

iOS 10.1 runs on:

• iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad 4th generation, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 9.7 inch and iPad Pro 12.9 inch
• iPod touch 6th generation.

iOS 10.1 Release Notes

Camera and Photos

• Introduces Portrait Camera for iPhone 7 Plus that creates a depth effect that keeps your subject sharp while creating a beautifully blurred background (beta)
• People names in the Photos app are saved in iCloud backups
• Improved the display of wide color gamut photos in the grid views of the Photos app
• Fixes an issue where opening the Camera app would show a blurred or flashing screen for some users
• Fixes an issue that caused Photos to quit for some users when turning on iCloud Photo Library

Maps

• Transit support for every major train, subway, ferry, and national bus line, as well as local bus systems for Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya
• Sign-based transit navigation including layouts of all underground structures and walkways that connect large transit stations
• Transit fare comparison when viewing alternative transit routes

Messages

• New option to replay bubble and full screen effects
• Messages effects can play with Reduce Motion enabled
• Fixes an issue that could lead to contact names appearing incorrectly in Messages
• Addresses an issue where Messages could open to a white screen
• Addresses an issue that could prevent the report junk option from displaying with unknown senders
• Fixes an issue where videos captured and sent in the Messages app could be missing audio

Apple Watch

• Adds distance and average pace to workout summaries in the Activity app for outdoor wheelchair run pace and outdoor wheelchair walk pace
• Fixes issues that may have prevented Music playlists from syncing to Apple Watch
• Addresses an issue that was preventing invitations and data to appear in Activity Sharing
• Fixes an issue that was allowing Activity Sharing to update over cellular when manually disabled
• Resolves an issue that was causing some third-party apps to crash when inputting text

Other improvements and fixes

• Improves Bluetooth connectivity with 3rd party accessories
• Improves AirPlay Mirroring performance when waking a device from sleep
• Fixes an issue where playback would not work for iTunes purchased content when the “Show iTunes Purchases” setting is turned off
• Fixes an issue where certain selfie apps and face filters used with the FaceTime HD Camera on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus did not display a live preview
• Fixes an issue in Health where individual strokes are converted to separate characters when using the Chinese handwriting keyboard
• Improves performance of sharing websites from Safari to Messages
• Fixes an issue in Safari that caused web previews in tab view to not display correctly
• Fixes an issue that caused certain Mail messages to be reformatted with very small text
• Fixes an issue that caused some HTML email to be formatted incorrectly
• Fixes an issue that in some cases caused the search field to disappear in Mail
• Fixes an issue that could prevent Today View Widgets from updating when launched
• Fixes an issue where Weather widget sometimes failed to load data
• Fixes an issue on iPhone 7 where Home Button click settings would not appear in search results
• Fixes an issue that prevented spam alert extensions from blocking calls
• Resolves an issue that could prevent alarm sounds from going off
• Fixes an issue where audio playback via Bluetooth would cause the Taptic engine to stop providing feedback for some users
• Resolves an issue preventing some users from restoring from iCloud Backup

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

https://support.apple.com/HT201222

Found anything else not noted in the release notes? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple Invites Media to ‘Hello Again’ October 27th Mac-Centric Event

The October event is expected to focus on the introduction of new Macs, headlined by a much-rumored and highly anticipated revamped MacBook Pro. According to rumors, the new MacBook Pro will feature the first redesign to the machine since 2012.

A thinner, lighter body is expected, with a wider, pressure-sensitive trackpad and a flatter MacBook-style keyboard with the same butterfly key mechanism. The MacBook Pro will be available in the same 13 and 15-inch size options, and will feature USB-C with USB 3.1 support for faster transfer speeds, Thunderbolt 3, and Touch ID.

Touch ID is expected to be built into a new OLED touch panel built into the top of the MacBook Pro, where it will replace the physical function key row. The OLED touch panel is said to feature contextual buttons that will change based on each app that’s in use. A leaked chassis suggests it will feature four USB-C ports and a headphone jack, but no HDMI port, no USB-A ports, no MagSafe connector, and no SD card slot.

A refreshed 13-inch MacBook Air with USB-C ports has also been rumored, but it is not clear if other internal changes will be made to Apple’s low-cost machine. It’s possible the 13-inch MacBook Air will be a standalone product going forward, based on rumors suggesting the 11-inch model will be discontinued.

Apple is also said to be working on updated iMacs with AMD graphics chips, which could be introduced at the event, and we might possibly see the debut of a rumored 5K Retina display with an integrated GPU. Apple discontinued the original Thunderbolt Display earlier this year, but an updated product has been in the works and it makes sense to release it alongside refreshed Macs if it’s ready to launch.

Apple’s Mac Pro and Mac mini are in dire need of refreshes, having been updated last in 2013 and 2014, respectively, but it is not clear if these machines will also see updates at the event.

Doctor Strange wallpapers for iPhone

The Wallpapers of the Week section is an ongoing list of curated images for iOS devices.

Another collection in the Marvel movie series, Doctor Strange is releasing this upcoming November 4, in what will most likely prove to be another hit movie in the comic bookinspired realm. Step inside to grab your wallpapers before the action hits theaters.

Doctor Strange wallpapers

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A jet black Apple Magic Keyboard & Magic Mouse to match iPhone 7

The jet black iPhone 7 might be a little more prone to scratches and fingerprints with its glossy finish, but that didn’t stop me from choosing the color for my iPhone this year. And I’m glad I did— it’s even more stunning in person than how it appears in photographs.  

The only thing missing was a jet black Apple Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard to match my new iPhone…

With a little help from the folks over at Colorware, I decided to give Apple’s Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard the full jet black treatment. The company’s website let me configure the paint job, and I chose solid jet black with a glossy finish for both the mouse and keyboard. Alternatively, you can pick a matte finish and a number of other color options.

Colorware has been around for a while, but I never had the pleasure of feeling the quality of its paint process for myself. The good news is that unlike many other third-party treatments for Apple’s keyboard that I’ve tested, Colorware’s process didn’t leave the keys of the Magic keyboard or the distinctive glossy shell of the Magic Mouse feeling much different than how they come stock from Apple. That’s important, because other shortcut keyboards I’ve tested, for example, apply color in a way that can drastically change the way the keyboard feels for the worse.

The glossy finish on the Jet Black Magic Keyboard as you might expect feels a bit different than the matte finish that Apple puts on its keys, but it doesn’t noticeably change the typing experience much. The bottom of the keyboard remains white, but Colorware paints all the sides so you only see your color of choice when it’s lying flat. The company has matte color options too, and I might have opted for a black matte keyboard for both the feel and to avoid fingerprints if I wasn’t specifically going for the jet black look to match my new iPhone 7. 

The jet black Magic Mouse, on the other hand, looks and feels almost exactly the same as Apple’s stock mouse which already has a glossy (but white) finish. I didn’t notice any difference in performance, either, with the top of the mouse feeling identical to a stock Apple Mouse for all the usual gestures, clicking and scrolling. The paint job removes the Apple logo normally on top of the mouse, and you can optionally select two tone finishes with a different color on the bottom than the top.

I opted for an entirely jet black setup (the bottom of the mouse is pictured below).

The result is a glossy jet black paint job that doesn’t much take away from the design and feel of Apple’s accessories and looks almost identical to the iPhone 7, so what’s there to lose? You can’t send in your own Apple mouse and keyboard like Colorware does for other products, but you can configure a new set from their site for $199 and $119. That’s a $40 premium on the mouse over Apple’s usual $79 price tag and $99 on the keyboard.

It’s something I wish Apple itself would do for its products. Why are the new AirPods only available in white for example? I’m not the only one that’s noticed, however, as just last month someone rendered the AirPods in black, which in hindsight seems like a no-brainer alongside the new jet black iPhone 7. And it’s even something that myself and a lot of other people have mentioned when it comes to Mac accessories too…

A black Apple mouse and keyboard was something I hoped for when I bought the “new” black Mac Pro back in 2013, but so far Apple has mostly stuck with the aluminum and white color scheme for its accessories despite bringing new color options to MacBooks and other products.

Fortunately, Colorware remains a solid option until then…

The Magic Mouse and keyboard come with all the original Apple packaging and cables, and you can customize both with ton of different color options and finishes if jet black isn’t your thing. $119 for the Magic Mouse, and $199 for the Magic Keyboard. 9to5toys has 10% off with coupon code ‘9to5Toys’ for a limited time.