Android users have a new way to look for information stored inside their smartphone apps, with a new Google search feature appropriately titled "In Apps." The new feature, announced tonight, appears as an option inside Android's Google app, and allows you to search for — among other things — contacts, photos, and videos across apps like Gmail, Spotify, and YouTube.
In Apps searches work offline, meaning you won't need a data connection to sift through your software for that address you forgot, and you'll be able to tweak settings so that certain apps don't appear in the search results. Google says it will be adding support for more apps in the future, letting users look for information with keywords in Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn, and Evernote, as well as Glide, Todoist, and Google Keep. LG's V20 smartphone will be the first device to ship with a dedicated shortcut to the In Apps search on its home screen, but all Android users will be able to access the feature once they've updated the Google app.
LG announces huge new ultra-wide monitor with built-in Google Cast
LG is set to launch the world's largest ultra-wide monitor next month, a 38-inch curved creation that's one of three new ultra-wide 21:9 models the company has detailed ahead of the IFA trade show this weekend. Also announced today were two ultra-wide 34-inch monitors: one flat model with built-in Google Cast capabilities, and one curved device, the first of its kind with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
The biggest of the bunch, the 38UC99, is capable of 4K-quality video, producing ultra-wide images at a resolution of 3840 x 1600. In addition to being the world's largest curved ultra-wide, the monitor's also the first of its class to feature a USB-C port, and comes with two BlueTooth speakers packed inside its body. It's also got the price tag to match — the 38UC99 will cost $1,499 when it launches in mid-September.
The 34-inch 34UC79G is a smaller curved ultra-wide monitor, but a little more reasonable than its bigger counterpart, weighing in at $599 at release in November. Coming soon after arch-rvial Samsung announced its own range of 30-inch curved gaming monitors, LG says its smaller new ultra-wide is ideal for gamers, with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate and AMD's FreeSync technology. Also focused at gamers is the 34UM79G, an ultra-wide that ditches the curved shape of its siblings for a more traditional flat screen, and includes Google Cast out of the box. The flat 34UM79G will cost $699 at launch in October.
The biggest of the bunch, the 38UC99, is capable of 4K-quality video, producing ultra-wide images at a resolution of 3840 x 1600. In addition to being the world's largest curved ultra-wide, the monitor's also the first of its class to feature a USB-C port, and comes with two BlueTooth speakers packed inside its body. It's also got the price tag to match — the 38UC99 will cost $1,499 when it launches in mid-September.
The 34-inch 34UC79G is a smaller curved ultra-wide monitor, but a little more reasonable than its bigger counterpart, weighing in at $599 at release in November. Coming soon after arch-rvial Samsung announced its own range of 30-inch curved gaming monitors, LG says its smaller new ultra-wide is ideal for gamers, with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate and AMD's FreeSync technology. Also focused at gamers is the 34UM79G, an ultra-wide that ditches the curved shape of its siblings for a more traditional flat screen, and includes Google Cast out of the box. The flat 34UM79G will cost $699 at launch in October.
Apple's 2017 iPhone will reportedly get rid of iconic home button
We're just one month out from a new iPhone release, but news of next year's model can't seem to stop seeping out. According to Bloomberg, the 2017 iPhone will no longer contain the iconic home button Apple fans have grown accustomed to over the last decade. The news pairs well with other reports of next year's Phone, which will mark the device's 10th anniversary, using OLED display technology. That would allow the entire front of the device to "appear like a single sheet of glass," according to The Wall Street Journal in June.
That's not the only big change rumored for the 2017 iPhone. Nikkei Asian Review reported earlier this week that Apple may introduce a third, premium smartphone next year with a curved display not unlike Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge. In fact, the report states Samsung may even be the supplier for these curved OLED displays.
For those wondering what will change with the upcoming iPhone 7, the device is said to remove the headphone jack in favor of the Lightning port, contain two rear cameras, and a memory boost to 3GB of RAM, according to separate report from Bloomberg. It will also contain a pressure-sensitive home button that relies on the same type of vibrating haptic feedback used in the Apple Watch and the trackpad of the new Apple MacBook.
Microsoft broke millions of webcams with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Microsoft is facing a torrent of backlash from consumers and businesses complaining that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update has broken some third-party USB cameras. The update, released on August 2nd, reportedly dropped support for two major video compression formats — specifically the H.264 and MJPEG codecs. According to Microsoft-focused blog Thurrott.com, this was supposedly a decision the company made to prevent performance issues now that certain Windows apps have more direct webcam access post-update.
Now, millions of Windows users are discovering that their webcams are freezing up, even when trying to stream via Microsoft-owned Skype. The issue is said to effect many popular webcams from big-name peripheral makers like Logitech on the hardware side, while numerous apps and services that rely on the codecs are being crippled from the software side.
Microsoft issued a vague statement to Gizmodo, claiming Windows 10 has the "highest customer satisfaction of any version of Windows." The statement does concede, however, that the Anniversary Update has caused some issues. "We have seen a small number of reports of unexpected behaviors following the Windows 10 Anniversary Update," it reads. "Engineering and customer support are investigating these on a case by case basis and offering trouble-shooting tips as necessary."
Members of Microsoft’s Windows Camera team are performing damage control in support threads, and Thurrott.com reports an official fix may be in the works for a September release. Unfortunately, that may only remedy the MJPEG format. Those who rely on H.264 may be waiting even longer to make use of their webcams. If you recently installed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can revert to the prior version of the software within 10 days.
For the more technical-minded users out there, Thurrott.com contributor Rafael Rivera devised a workaround that appears to be resolving the webcam freezing issues so long as you're okay with making changes to the Windows Registry:
Now, millions of Windows users are discovering that their webcams are freezing up, even when trying to stream via Microsoft-owned Skype. The issue is said to effect many popular webcams from big-name peripheral makers like Logitech on the hardware side, while numerous apps and services that rely on the codecs are being crippled from the software side.
Microsoft issued a vague statement to Gizmodo, claiming Windows 10 has the "highest customer satisfaction of any version of Windows." The statement does concede, however, that the Anniversary Update has caused some issues. "We have seen a small number of reports of unexpected behaviors following the Windows 10 Anniversary Update," it reads. "Engineering and customer support are investigating these on a case by case basis and offering trouble-shooting tips as necessary."
Members of Microsoft’s Windows Camera team are performing damage control in support threads, and Thurrott.com reports an official fix may be in the works for a September release. Unfortunately, that may only remedy the MJPEG format. Those who rely on H.264 may be waiting even longer to make use of their webcams. If you recently installed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can revert to the prior version of the software within 10 days.
For the more technical-minded users out there, Thurrott.com contributor Rafael Rivera devised a workaround that appears to be resolving the webcam freezing issues so long as you're okay with making changes to the Windows Registry:
Some Galaxy Note 7 colors will be in short supply at launch
Some customers of the popular Galaxy Note 7 may have to wait several weeks for their unit — particularly those who ordered the unique and eye-catching Blue Coral version.
Customers in the U.S. and Canada who ordered the Blue Coral and Silver may have to wait upwards of three weeks for their units, according to sources who didn't want to be named. Samsung underestimated the demand for pre-orders, said these people, and were shocked at the number of Blue Coral units sought out after the announcement.
In a statement to Android Central, Samsung Canada, one of the regions affected by unit shortages, said, "We've experienced an unprecedented number of pre-orders and we're excited to begin fulfilling orders on August 19th. Over the coming weeks, we'll work with our valued carrier and retail partners to provide wide-reaching national retail availability." Representatives from many Canadian and U.S. carriers declined to comment.
Samsung is no stranger to unit shortages at its product launches: it misjudged the popularity of the curved Galaxy S6 edge when it debuted in early 2015, and there were supply issues with some colors of the Galaxy S7 edge when it arrived earlier this year. Manufacturing issues with the curved glass screens were the cause of delay for those units, but it appears that Samsung merely didn't account for the overwhelming number of pre-orders of then Note 7.
Customers in the U.S. and Canada who ordered the Blue Coral and Silver may have to wait upwards of three weeks for their units, according to sources who didn't want to be named. Samsung underestimated the demand for pre-orders, said these people, and were shocked at the number of Blue Coral units sought out after the announcement.
In a statement to Android Central, Samsung Canada, one of the regions affected by unit shortages, said, "We've experienced an unprecedented number of pre-orders and we're excited to begin fulfilling orders on August 19th. Over the coming weeks, we'll work with our valued carrier and retail partners to provide wide-reaching national retail availability." Representatives from many Canadian and U.S. carriers declined to comment.
Samsung is no stranger to unit shortages at its product launches: it misjudged the popularity of the curved Galaxy S6 edge when it debuted in early 2015, and there were supply issues with some colors of the Galaxy S7 edge when it arrived earlier this year. Manufacturing issues with the curved glass screens were the cause of delay for those units, but it appears that Samsung merely didn't account for the overwhelming number of pre-orders of then Note 7.
What are the best cases for keeping my Galaxy Note 7 fully protected?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a marvel of smartphone design. Resistant to dust and water, the Galaxy Note 7 is also the first phone to feature Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back of the phone, making it the most durable smartphone you can buy and use right out of the box.
But despite all its ruggedness, as with any other piece of technology, it's not impervious to scratches or drop damage. However, you can greatly increase it's chance of surviving the nastiest of falls with a heavy duty case.
But despite all its ruggedness, as with any other piece of technology, it's not impervious to scratches or drop damage. However, you can greatly increase it's chance of surviving the nastiest of falls with a heavy duty case.
Apple's ConnectED efforts reach more than 32,000 students
August 10, 2016 — As the 2016-2017 school year kicks off, there are now 32,145 students at underserved public schools across the country who are learning, creating and exploring on iPad through Apple’s ConnectED commitment.
Today, 701 students in Indianola, Mississippi, were introduced to iPad as Carver Elementary School became the 66th ConnectED school — and the first of the school year — to transform its classrooms with Apple’s cutting edge teaching and learning technology solutions.
In addition to providing an iPad to every student and teacher, Apple’s ConnectED grant also includes professional learning, wireless infrastructure upgrades and ongoing support.
For more information about how Apple is partnering with its 114 ConnectED schools: apple.com/education/connectED/.
The Piano Guys Reach 1 Billion Views On YouTube
The Piano Guys Reach 1 Billion Views on YouTube - Photo Credit: Tim Norris
According to YouTube – just over 100 artist channels, including some of the biggest icons in the world, have reached the 1 billion view mark.
Of their latest landmark, Steven Sharp Nelson says: "A billion is a big number. Especially for a quartet of dads who just started making music videos for fun. Honestly, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. We feel like there have been so many miracles to make this possible that we are simply along for the ride. Behind every view is someone that has spent their time and sometimes their hard-earned money in support of us. We've built this on their shoulders. We also feel like there have been lots of answered prayers along the way too. No matter how big the number gets, we've promised ourselves that we'll never lose sight of this. We were in the middle of tour when the big billionth view boomed so we celebrated the best way we know how – by thanking our audience personally!"
In addition to their loyal YouTube fan base, the four dads from Utah recently celebrated an official RIAA Gold Album Certification for their first album - The Piano Guys. To date, the group has released five albums on Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks: The Piano Guys, The Piano Guys 2, A Family Christmas, Wonders and The Piano Guys: Live! Collectively these releases have spent 302 weeks at #1 on various Billboard Sales Charts. They are currently working on their new album Uncharted which is due on October 28th.
On reaching 1 Billion YouTube views Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Music Masterworks says: "One billion views on YouTube is an amazing achievement for any artist and something to be proudly celebrated. It goes to show just how special the connection is that The Piano Guys have made with their fans across all media as they continue to push the boundaries through their music and their videos."
The Piano Guys - Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson - quickly became an online sensation by way of their immensely successful series of striking music videos; most notably their 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." Nearly 5 Million loyal YouTube subscribers look forward to watching them perform in exotic locations around the world including The Great Wall of China, and Iguazu Falls in Brazil. They continue their quest to film a music video at each of the Seven Wonders of the World, recently recording their latest video in the ancient city Petra in Jordan.
The Piano Guys touch fans of all ages beyond the computer screen. They continue to tour the world and sell out shows at legendary venues around the world.
Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.sonymusicmasterworks.com.
Facebook is testing a new Wi-Fi service in India
It's not free this time
Facebook's latest effort to provide people with internet so they can become Facebook users is taking shape as Express Wifi, a new program that lets phone owners in India purchase data from local internet service providers. Effectively, Facebook is providing software that helps local ISPs and entrepreneurs sell and provide internet service in rural areas, which can be accessed via public Wi-Fi hotspots. Express Wifi has already completed a trial period in the country with a local state-run telecom and about 125 rural Wi-Fi hotspots.
This is Facebook's second attempt to provide connections for one of the world's most populous and fast-growing countries. The key difference: this time, internet access isn't being given away. The social network tried to offer internet in India for free starting last year with a program called Free Basics. However, the company faced substantial regulatory roadblocks and Free Basics was eventually banned by India's Telecom Regulatory Authority in February.
Because Free Basics provides access to certain websites, namely facebook.com, for free, it technically violates the tenets of net neutrality. That practice, known as "zero rating," has become a popular way to win over customers, but it may run afoul of net neutrality principles by way of incentivizing people to use some services over others. If access to Facebook is provided for free in India, the logic goes, there is no hope for a competing social network to grow so long as it consumes mobile data. Some believe the net neutrality argument with regards to Free Basics is a deflection, and that some government regulators in fact want to spy on citizens, which Facebook would not allow, according to Reuters.
"While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement following the Free Basics ban. "Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet." Internet.org, the industry consortium Facebook founded back in 2013, also dabbles in solar-powered internet drones, satellites, and other hardware infrastructure to provide internet to developing countries and rural areas.
Nonetheless, zero rating has proved to be Internet.org's biggest snag thus far. Despite the pushback in India, the practice has created a confusing and murky gray area for the US's Federal Communications Commission, which has yet to rule on whether it violates the Open Internet Order. For instance, T-Mobile uses zero rating as a way to promote its network with programs like Music Freedom and Binge On, which exempt popular music and video streaming services from counting toward a customer's data cap. While FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler initially seemed okay with the idea back in November, pressure has been mounting from tech companies and activist organizations asking the FCC to reexamine the practice.
Facebook's latest effort to provide people with internet so they can become Facebook users is taking shape as Express Wifi, a new program that lets phone owners in India purchase data from local internet service providers. Effectively, Facebook is providing software that helps local ISPs and entrepreneurs sell and provide internet service in rural areas, which can be accessed via public Wi-Fi hotspots. Express Wifi has already completed a trial period in the country with a local state-run telecom and about 125 rural Wi-Fi hotspots.
This is Facebook's second attempt to provide connections for one of the world's most populous and fast-growing countries. The key difference: this time, internet access isn't being given away. The social network tried to offer internet in India for free starting last year with a program called Free Basics. However, the company faced substantial regulatory roadblocks and Free Basics was eventually banned by India's Telecom Regulatory Authority in February.
Because Free Basics provides access to certain websites, namely facebook.com, for free, it technically violates the tenets of net neutrality. That practice, known as "zero rating," has become a popular way to win over customers, but it may run afoul of net neutrality principles by way of incentivizing people to use some services over others. If access to Facebook is provided for free in India, the logic goes, there is no hope for a competing social network to grow so long as it consumes mobile data. Some believe the net neutrality argument with regards to Free Basics is a deflection, and that some government regulators in fact want to spy on citizens, which Facebook would not allow, according to Reuters.
"While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement following the Free Basics ban. "Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet." Internet.org, the industry consortium Facebook founded back in 2013, also dabbles in solar-powered internet drones, satellites, and other hardware infrastructure to provide internet to developing countries and rural areas.
Nonetheless, zero rating has proved to be Internet.org's biggest snag thus far. Despite the pushback in India, the practice has created a confusing and murky gray area for the US's Federal Communications Commission, which has yet to rule on whether it violates the Open Internet Order. For instance, T-Mobile uses zero rating as a way to promote its network with programs like Music Freedom and Binge On, which exempt popular music and video streaming services from counting toward a customer's data cap. While FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler initially seemed okay with the idea back in November, pressure has been mounting from tech companies and activist organizations asking the FCC to reexamine the practice.
Curvy Samsung Galaxy Note 7 takes giant-screen Android phones to the next level
Even with its differences, the Note 7's wraparound screens, 12-megapixel camera, expandable storage and water-resistant coating bring it closer to the S7 series than to last year's Note 5 (that's right, there's no Note 6). And that's a good thing. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are two of the year's best phones, with excellent cameras and battery life -- not a bad way to begin your pedigreed life as a phone.
From what I've seen so far, the Note 7 should fall in line as a terrific, high-powered device whose stylus tricks take the Note to the next level. On paper, it corrects the biggest shortfalls of the Note 5, though our forthcoming testing will confirm this. But if you already bought an S7 or S7 Edge, don't worry -- you haven't been left behind.
Here's what the Note 7 has that the Note 5 doesn't:
Curved screens (sharper, less sloping than the S7 Edge)
USB-C charger port (Samsung's first phone to adopt the new standard)
Iris scanner to unlock the phone with your eyes
Gorilla Glass 5 screen (the first phone with Corning's new screen tech)
More sensitive, accurate S Pen stylus
Water-resistant phone body and S Pen
MicroSD card slot (like the S7 phones)
Larger battery (3,500 mAh versus Note 5's 3,000 mAh)
Better low-light camera
New S Pen tricks, like magnification and GIF-making
Stylus won't get stuck if you jam it in backwards
Coral Blue color choice (it's great)
So if the S7 Edge and Note 7 are almost hardware twins, who is the Note 7 for? Power users. Samsung targets people who want the phone with the most goods, and the Note's gliding stylus and extra writing, drawing and navigation tools give it all the things.
IPhone fire left me with severe burns, says cyclist
An Australian man is asking Apple to warn the public about the dangers of mobile phone batteries after his iPhone 6 caught fire, leaving him with severe burns.
Gareth Clear, a 36-year-old management consultant from Sydney, told local papers the phone caught fire when he fell off his bicycle.
He posted pictures of his injury on Twitter.
Apple has not responded to requests for comment.
Mr Clear fell off his bicycle while cycling along a Sydney bike trail at the weekend. His phone was in a pocket of his shorts.
"I just saw smoke coming out of my back pocket... and then all of a sudden I felt this surging pain in my top right leg," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I could see it melting through my shorts. I just remember looking at my leg and I had this black discharge all down my leg and this smell of phosphorus."
Mr Clear said his injuries required skin graft surgery.
Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if they are involved in an impact.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it receives around one to two reports of consumer injuries from mobile phone batteries each year.
It recommends that people do not carry mobile phones in their pockets.
In the US, lithium ion batteries in "hoverboards" have been blamed for 12 incidents, in some cases destroying bedrooms and even entire homes.
Mr Clear said he wants Apple to do more to inform people of the dangers.
"Apple got back in contact with me saying that it looked serious and asking for more information so they could support me and replace the phone," he said.
"Imagine if that was a young child, banging a phone against a table or someone skiing or running and the phone explodes?"
Airline authorities in the US and Europe are considering bans on carrying lithium-ion batteries because of the dangers of an explosion on board.
Such a ban would apply to large shipments of batteries, rather than to individual devices carried by passengers.
Gareth Clear, a 36-year-old management consultant from Sydney, told local papers the phone caught fire when he fell off his bicycle.
He posted pictures of his injury on Twitter.
Apple has not responded to requests for comment.
Mr Clear fell off his bicycle while cycling along a Sydney bike trail at the weekend. His phone was in a pocket of his shorts.
"I just saw smoke coming out of my back pocket... and then all of a sudden I felt this surging pain in my top right leg," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I could see it melting through my shorts. I just remember looking at my leg and I had this black discharge all down my leg and this smell of phosphorus."
Mr Clear said his injuries required skin graft surgery.
Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if they are involved in an impact.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it receives around one to two reports of consumer injuries from mobile phone batteries each year.
It recommends that people do not carry mobile phones in their pockets.
In the US, lithium ion batteries in "hoverboards" have been blamed for 12 incidents, in some cases destroying bedrooms and even entire homes.
Mr Clear said he wants Apple to do more to inform people of the dangers.
"Apple got back in contact with me saying that it looked serious and asking for more information so they could support me and replace the phone," he said.
"Imagine if that was a young child, banging a phone against a table or someone skiing or running and the phone explodes?"
Airline authorities in the US and Europe are considering bans on carrying lithium-ion batteries because of the dangers of an explosion on board.
Such a ban would apply to large shipments of batteries, rather than to individual devices carried by passengers.
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