Ed Hardy - page 251

A new study tries to determine which companies are the most creative. The method used is open to dispute, especially as Apple is way back at eleventh place while its chief rival Samsung is in second.

Putting aside questions about methodology, the results are reflective of an attitude many people have about which of these two rivals is more innovative. This is the result of very different ways the two companies design their products. And it’s more than a bit unfair to Apple.

With most of the specifications of the 2018 iPhones already known, the largest remaining question is price. Possibly answering that burning question is a report coming out of Europe that indicates that the three upcoming iOS models will cost just the same Apple’s three most recent offerings.

We’ve already head reports that Apple is going to ditch the “Plus” description for its larger iPhones. Now there’s word that the replacement term could be “Max.”

If true, this means that the company will announce a week from today the iPhone Xs with a 5.8-inch display and the iPhone Xs Max with a 6.5-inch one.

The main reason the iPhone 9 is hotly anticipated is because it’s rumored to boast a large display but a relatively low price tag. However, some analysts are predicting that this 6.1-inch model will instead cost more than the iPhone 8.

They say Apple can do this because the one feature that consumers want more than anything else: larger screens. And we’re willing to pay more for them.

Update: A separate report coming from Europe indicates that the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will cost exactly the same as the iPhone 8.

We already know that Apple sells more smartwatches than everyone else. But there are other types of wearable computers. Do companies sell enough of these other types to overtake the Apple Watch? In a word…Nope.

But the second largest wearable maker might surprise you. Especially considering how close behind Apple they are.

Apple has no problem getting operating system upgrades out to its customers. The vast majority of iPhone and iPad users are running the latest iOS version. And all of these people will be able to make the jump to iOS 12 later this month for free.

Contrast that with Apple’s chief rival. Just a small percentage of Android users have a recent version.

Many Americans are on holiday this week, but not Apple. It just dropped the tenth macOS Mojave developer beta. And the full non-beta version of this updated laptop and desktop operating system is right around the corner.

The company often introduces iOS betas at the same time as macOS ones, but that hasn’t happened today. Not yet, anyway.

The 6.1-inch iPhone that’s expected to be unveiled next week has the potential to become Apple’s top seller.   Advertising will play a big part of making it so, and a clever graphic artist went ahead and created a TV ad for this upcoming large but inexpensive iOS smartphone.

Watch it now:

There’s a race on to introduce the world’s first folding smartphone, and Samsung appears committed to winning. The head of its mobile division says his company will unveil a foldable phone before the end of this year.

Other companies racing to introduce rival foldable devices include Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo. Apple is being more deliberative.

Apple appears poised to unveil the most significant redesign of the iPad in years. Renders of 2018’s iteration of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro have leaked out, showing that this model will include changes that will make it the best tablet Apple ever released.

It also includes some bone-headed design decisions that users will just have to deal with.

Don’t worry, this isn’t an anti-iPhone rant. You should buy Apple’s smartphones, just not right now. Try to hold out a few weeks if your current one is dying or even if it’s dead. That’s because the release of the 2018 iPhone models is just around the corner.

There’ll be some big new versions released. And even if you want something that’s already available, it could become more affordable in just a week or so.

The whole purpose of clip-on iPad keyboards is to make this tablet function like a laptop. The Brydge series takes that idea and runs with it: it does everything possible to make the iPad into MacBook.

This company — also called Brydge — just released an improved version of its eponymous keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Don’t miss our hands-on review. 

Apple has found the logic board in some iPhone 8 units have serious a manufacturing problem. The company will repair these at no charge.

If your phone keeps restarting or locking up, this might well be the cause.

Forget folding displays. A group of Canadian researchers created a working prototype of a rollable tablet. The MagicScroll is intended to show that computer screens don’t have to be flat.

The biggest challenge in mobile design today is somehow making larger and larger displays fit in a pants pocket. The MagicScroll accomplishes that by rolling up into a cylinder.

An image of Apple’s next wearable leaked today, revealing an impractical new Apple Watch face that crams in every possible type of notification all at once.

It has no less than nine different complications. And, oh yes, the time. 

Google just began offering its Titan Security Keys. These can be used as part of two-factor authentication to secure a range of online accounts and cloud storage services.

A Titan key is a small USB or wireless device that provides a digital signature. Without the key’s two-factor authentication, the account cannot be accessed, even with the password.

iPhone users into home automation just got several new options from Eve Energy. It unveiled a Power Strip, a Light Strip, and an updated version of Eve Room, all with HomeKit support.

These devices can be controlled from any iOS device via Siri, or schedules can be set up to turn them on or off.

Perhaps Pres. Trump is more tech savvy than many people would expect. He fires off his tweetstorms from his phone, and today we learned he uses an tablet.

Specifically, we learned he uses an iPad. That goes with the pair of iPhones he carries around. Obviously, the president is an Apple fan.

Apple hasn’t even announced its next generation of smartphones, and millions of people already want them. In fact, interest in upgrading to any iPhone is extremely strong.

A survey of iOS users found that almost twice as many people are interested in moving to a newer model as last year.

The iPhone 8 display is 4.7 inches. Over the next few years, phone screen sizes are expected to grow to the point that only a tiny fraction will be that small.

Fortunately, it appears Apple is keeping up with the trend. In fact, it could be argued that the iPhone started it.

Many portable keyboards are designed for just one device. The new Zagg Flex works with any computer with Bluetooth, including tablets, smartphones, and most smart TVs.

The keyboard comes in a protective case that can also serves as a stand for mobile devices large and small.

It’s possible you have an old AirPort Express wireless router in a box somewhere. Dig it out and set it up, because it can now be used as part of an AirPlay 2 audio system.

Even though it’s been discontinued, Apple just issued a firmware update for the second-generation AirPort Express that adds AirPlay 2 support.

Apple is once again offering one-on-one tutorials on photo editing. Oddly though, these training sessions are given over the phone.

There are grounds to question the usefulness of a lesson in which neither the teacher nor the student can see what the other is doing. Perhaps an in-person Today at Apple group session would be a better option.

Apple’s HomePod smartspeaker has struggled at least partly because of its high price. Well, Bose doesn’t see a problem because it just unveiled an even pricier option. And Harman Kardon will bring out one twice as expensive.

The Bose smartspeaker uses Alexa, while Harman Kardon turned to Google Assistant. Both these voice control systems are widely regarded as a more capable than Apple’s Siri.

Some people love it, others forget about it. But however you feel about 3D Touch, it appears increasingly unlikely that it will be part of any 2019 iPhone model.

That’s because another analyst said today that some of the 2018 models will have this user-interface trick, but they’ll be the last.