As we head into March, we could be just days away from Apple’s first new hardware releases of the year. While 2018 has already marked the release of the HomePod, Zac outlined earlier today that Apple still has quite a few new products up its sleeve for this year.
What potential new product are you most excited for this year?
The camera is a major feature of any smartphone, and Consumer Reports says Apple makes the best. All three of top models in the magazine’s latest ranking of top phone cameras are iPhones, as are six of the top ten. At the top of the list is the iPhone X, which boasts a 12 megapixel […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
The Apple Watch might finally be getting some worthy competition from Fitbit. Images of Fitbit’s new wearable leaked online this week and even though it doesn’t pack all the features of Apple Watch Series 3, it actually looks pretty decent. Take a look at the lineup: Wareable says the images are of the upcoming Blaze […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Hate cluttering up your nightstand with tons of cords and accessories? Sobro wants to eliminate all that extra junk so you can rest better.
Confession: my night stand is covered with clutter. It's usually home to my water bottle, my iPhone (complete with annoying charging cord), my headphones, a small Sony speaker I got for Christmas, My MacBook charging cord, and two small lamps so I can find my way around in the middle of the night without tripping and knocking my teeth out or something. And that's just on top! Underneath, I've got a whole mess of other stuff I like to keep within my reach while I'm sleeping or lounging.
I say all that to say that I know I'm definitely not the only one who struggles to find a way to keep all my essentials nearby in a tidy, manageable way. If you're in the same boat as me (and pretty much everyone else I know), you may want to consider adding the Sobro Smart Side Table to your bedroom (or living room, or whatever room) setup. It offers wireless charging, cord management, lights, speakers, and more — all in a single piece of furniture.
The Sobro Smart Side Table is the brainchild of Sobro Design, creator of the multitasking Sobro Coffee Table. The company has recently launched an Indiegogo campaign for to fund the new, smaller version, meant for use next to a bed or couch.
The Smart Side Table pairs with Sobro's upcoming companion app, and has an overabundance of cool features that make it the perfect all-in-one nightstand:
Charging options: The Sobro Smart Side Table offers multiple ways to charge all your favorite devices. The surface of the table itself has an integrated wireless charging pad for 2 phones. If you prefer the corded route, there's also four USB charging ports and two 120v outlets on set into the back of the table (along with a built-in cord management system so you don't have to deal with tangling).
No more water trips: The bottom of the table houses a quiet thermoelectric cooler drawer to keeps all your favorite beverages chill and within arm's reach. That means no more getting out of your warm, cozy bed in the middle of the night to get a glass of water — you'll have one right there when you need it. (I'd put LaCroix in mine probably, but you do you.)
Light your way: The Smart Side Table is equipped with soft LED accent lights so that you never have to stumble in the dark when you do actually have to get up to do something.
Listen up: The table features integrated Bluetooth speakers so you can jam to your favorite tunes or listen to your favorite podcast without any additional speakers. You can also connect it to your TV via Bluetooth for your own little movie theatre surround sound experience.
Store your essentials: In addition to all the tech, the Smart Side table does actually function as a regular nightstand, too — there's ample storage within the table to hold all your bedside needs, complete with an inset shelf perfect for books and magazines.
Want to grab the Sobro Smart Side Table for yourself? Though it hasn't officially launched on Indiegogo, you can still support the project early and receive backer perks. Right now, if you pledge $299 or more, you'll receive your own table for about 66% off — it'll retail for $900. Though it looks like the table only comes in white at the moment, if the company's Coffee Table is any indication, more color options may become available once the item is widely released.
What do you think of Sobro's products? Do you think you'd utilize a multifunctional table like this? Share in the comments!
Taking a journey down virtual rabbit holes may not be far away. With the Pokemon Go craze now a thing of the past, developers are looking for other uses for augmented reality. Peder Norrby has created an app that shows off some of the possibilities of Apple’s ARKit and the iPhone X: a portable […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
iDB’s Daily Deals post is a roundup of our favorite deals on tech and tech-related products from around the web. This includes everything from smartphones, tablets and accessories, to connected devices and even video games.
Every deal you see below has been hand-picked based on a variety of factors including personal experience, online reviews from customers and experts, and discount percentage. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
... Read the rest of this post here
"Daily Deals: $88 Netgear router/modem bundle, 42% off CarPlay receiver, and more" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Apple Music’s biggest competition is about to get an influx of Wall Street cash. Spotify finally filed documents for an initial public offering, after rumors of going public had been floating around for years. According to reports, the company could be worth as much as much as $23 billion, but it’s still not profitable. CNBC […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Apple has today made some improvements to both transit directions and lane guidance in Apple Maps. The company has been making a rapid push to get both of these features out the door and has been looking to expand them in as many cities as possible.
Grand Finale is a universal app that lets you master music on an iPad or iPhone. An iPhone!
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Sketch 49 has been released for Mac, and it offers interactive prototyping, Apple's official iOS 11 design template, and more.
According to a blog post, version 4.5 of Bohemian Coding's popular digital design app Sketch is rolling out today and features a plethora of improvements and bug fixes, including Apple's official UI design resource for iOS 11.
Okay, so your design looks great. But will it actually work well? Now, with Prototyping, you can find out for sure. Prototyping for Sketch allows you to transform your static designs into interactive, clickable prototypes, allowing you to preview them thoroughly without ever needing to leave the app. You can even use Mirror, Sketch's iOS counterpart app, to see how your design looks and functions on the mobile device it's made for. If you're looking for a second opinion, you can also share your demo with colleagues, clients, and whoever else may like to weigh in. Here's how to use the feature, according to Bohemian Coding:
To turn your static designs into clickable prototypes, simply select a layer and add a Link to an Artboard. Once you have two Artboards connected, you can add a simple animation for a smooth transition from one state to the next. Rinse and repeat across your whole project and you can quickly and easily build a lightweight, working prototype of your app or website — perfect if you're working on a project and need to share a quick demo or you want to check the usability of a specific workflow.
You can find out more about Prototyping in Sketch's support documentation.
Another exciting feature of Sketch 49 is the addition of an integrated Apple iOS UI Library, complete with Apple's official iOS 11 design template. When designing any project for an Apple device, access to the Apple iOS UI library is invaluable. it includes everything you need to make sure your work coincides with Apple's UI, "from tab bars and status bars to buttons and switches."
All you need to do to download the Library is navigate to the Libraries tab in Preferences and select it. The best part: when Apple updates UI documentation, you'll be notified, and you can then update your designs to the latest version so you won't ever lag behind.
When you download Sketch, you also get free access to Sketch Cloud, where you can view, download, and comment on Sketch documents which have been shared publicly or privately. All this happens within the Sketch app. Now, though, you can now subscribe to specific Documents uploaded to Sketch Cloud and they'll be added directly to Sketch, as Shared Libraries:
If you want to allow your Documents to be added as Shared Libraries, simply select the Allow others to download this Document option when you upload your file to Sketch Cloud. If you want to add a Document from Sketch Cloud as a Shared Library, just click Download › Add Library to Sketch and the Document will be added to the Libraries tab in Preferences, and you'll be notified if the original Document is updated.
In addition to the big cool features, there are also a ton of small cool features and bug fixes that come along with this update. Here are the highlights, according to Bohemian Coding:
For an exhaustive and hyper-detailed list of improvements and bug fixes, you can check out Sketch's update page.
If you're looking for a full-featured digital design toolkit to add to your creative arsenal, you can try Sketch for free by downloading it directly from the developer using the link below (Sketch was removed from the Mac App Store back in 2015). Once your trial is up, though, you'll need to pay $99 for a license. Note that if you're a student or teacher you get 50% off a Sketch license, so make sure to take advantage of that option if you qualify.
Have any questions regarding Sketch? Toss 'em in the comments below.
Everything you need to know about Twitter … in more than 140 characters.
"Tweeting" has almost become as ubiquitous a verb as "googling", but if you're not sure what Twitter even is, you may be at a loss for words (or characters). Here's everything you need to know about Twitter.
Check back here for the latest updates in Twitter news.
Back in October, it was announced by Twitter Product Manager Jesar Shah that the social media site was in the process of building a "Save for Later" feature that would allow users to privately bookmark tweets without cluttering up their likes or using third party apps. This would obviously be an advantage, because up until this point, users have had to do things like send a tweet to themselves via direct message or publicly like a tweet to refer back to it later on — kind of confusing if you don't actually like the tweet but instead found it interesting or wanted to give it a real glance at a different time.
The initial prototype version of the feature was developed during Twitter's Hack Week. Since then, Shah and her team have been receiving user feedback on the prototype via the hashtag #SaveForLater. Now, after only a few months, the oft-requested feature is rolling out globally.
To get bookmarking right away, all you have to do is tap the new "Share" icon (the small horizontal bracket with the arrow pointing upward) at the bottom right of the tweet you'd like to save for later. From there, you can choose to either send the tweet via direct message, share it to social media/via email, or add it to your bookmarks. Easy peasy!
Once a bookmark is added, you can find it by tapping on your Twitter avatar in the upper left-hand corner of the app and then selecting "Bookmarks" from the navigation menu. VoilĂ ! Now you can save tweets without any extra effort and without any of the connotations that come along with liking, as all bookmarks are private.
Go forth and save tweets in peace!
According to Twitter's safety team, the social media platform is updating the login verification process so that users will no longer have to receive an SMS text message when verifying their identity.
We’re rolling out an update to login verification.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) December 20, 2017
You’ll now be able to use a third party app for two-factor authentication instead of SMS text messages.https://t.co/UXl3xKLEaG
However, though their announcement tweet implies that the update will allow users to use two-factor authentication in third-party apps for the first time, this isn't entirely true — prior to now, many have already been using apps such as Authy and 1Password to verify their identity, as evidenced by this tweet by our Daniel Bader:
Pretty sure I've been using Twitter with Authy for a year now. The real upside is that Twitter will no longer FORCE an SMS whenever you log in. https://t.co/3qcY960loE
— Daniel Bader (@journeydan) December 20, 2017
Regardless, the update will make things a little less annoying (I mean, seriously, who likes receiving unnecessary texts?), and will seemingly allow a wider variety of third-party apps — like Google Authenticator — to verify who you are.
To set up third-party app verification, we suggest you follow the instructions provided by Twitter's Help Center:
To choose between login verification type on twitter.com:
To set up using a separate third-party app for verification on twitter.com:
According to Twitter's safety calendar, today is the day that the social media site is going to (hopefully) start cracking down on hate — "hate" here meaning everything from abusive Twitter handles, names, and bios to hateful imagery and hate symbols to groups that condone and glorify violence.
This change in policy was announced by the microblogging platform back in October in response to #WomenBoycottTwitter, an online movement to protest harassment and abuse. The movement was incited when actress Rose McGowan was temporarily suspended from the site after calling out multiple men in Hollywood — including Harvey Weinstein — for sexual harassment. Twitter has also recently been under scrutiny for granting verification badges to white nationalists rather than banning them for their on- and off-site conduct.
Twitter's blog post detailing the new anti-hate policies claims that the company has approached developing and implementing the changes collaboratively, working in "close coordination" with its Trust and Safety Council. The Twitter team made it clear that these new rules are being put in place especially to reduce abusive and violent behavior — whether the threats are direct or indirect — and indicated their hope for a safer site (while also requesting user patience) in a statement:
Today, we are starting to enforce these policies across Twitter. In our efforts to be more aggressive here, we may make some mistakes and are working on a robust appeals process. We'll evaluate and iterate on these changes in the coming days and weeks, and will keep you posted on progress along the way. We're making these changes to create a safer environment for everyone.
For more information and further updates, you can follow @TwitterSafety.
Today, Twitter Product Manager Sasank Reddy announced on the social media site's blog that the Twitter team has developed a way to make "threading" — AKA stitching multiple tweets together to extrapolate on a topic or tell a longer story — a whole lot easier.
Initially, users would have to respond to their own tweets repeatedly in order to create a cohesive thread, which was problematic. It took a long time, it was messy, and it made it really difficult for anyone to read all the tweets in the proper sequence. And if there were any replies to the thread? Madness. Now, however, all you have to do in order to compose a thread of tweets is use Twitter's new plus-sign button. Here's how:
Your tweets will then show up in your followers' feeds as one connected thread, complete with a "Show this thread" label so they can expand and read it in its entirety.
The update will be rolling out to everyone on iOS and Android and on Twitter's desktop site in the coming weeks.
According to a tweet by Twitter Product Manager Jesar Shah, Twitter is in the process of building a "Save for Later" feature that will allow users to privately bookmark tweets without cluttering up their likes or using third party apps:
For Hack Week @Twitter we started developing #SaveForLater. Here’s the early prototype that we put together in a week, which is likely to change. pic.twitter.com/c5LekvVF3l
— jesar đź’ (@jesarshah) October 9, 2017
A native bookmarking feature has been a top priority request for many individuals for quite awhile now, especially in Japan. Up until this point, users have had to do things like send a tweet to themselves via direct message or use the "favorite" button (the little heart at the bottom of each tweet that adds it to your likes) in order to keep it handy. Now the goal is to have a list of bookmarked tweets that are private and separate from your likes so you can refer back to them at your leisure without the confusing connotation of publicly hitting the "like" button.
Shah noted that Twitter wants this to be a collaborative effort, saying that she and others working on the project will be tweeting to share designs and prototypes and asking for user feedback. If you have any ideas to contribute re: bookmarking, you can also tweet at Shah and her team using the hashtag #SaveForLater.
Because the project is in its early stages, there's no news yet about when users will be able to try it out. If you'd like to find out more, you can follow Shah as well as Product Designer Tina Koyama for updates.
Heads up if you have sensitive eyes: Twitter's eye strain-reducing "night mode" theme, once only available on Twitter's iOS and Android apps, is now available for web. Even better, it's incredibly easy to enable. Here's how:
Whether you're making the change for your eye health or just because you dig how it looks, you'll now be able to more easily keep up with your social media at all hours. Nice!
It's a social media platform, like Facebook, that lets users share quips, photos, videos, GIFs, and more, all in 140 characters or less. It was founded and launched in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams.
It comes in both web and app form and is available for iOS and Android. There are also many third-party apps that help you manage your Twitter feeds more easily, like Tweetbot.
Twitter runs on "Tweets" — 140-character posts that Twitter users make and then broadcast to all of their followers. You follow other Twitter users by creating your own profile and then searching for them or clicking "Follow" on suggested users.
Twitter also supports the addition of photos, short videos, and (most recently) GIFs, so you can jazz up your tweets to make them more appealing. When you follow people, all of their tweets will show up on your feed in a long, scrolling column. This makes Twitter somewhat ephemeral and designed for quick interaction.
You know the incredibly annoying trend where people say "hashtag" before something, out loud? You can thank Twitter for that! In order to group tweets and hopefully make your tweets for noticeable in the void that is the Twittersphere, you can add phrases or words to your tweets and precede them with the pound sign or "hashtag". This tags your tweet so that when people search Twitter for specific terms, your tweet pops up. #craycray #amirite?
Everybody!
Well, maybe not everybody, but there are roughly 328 million monthly active users, including celebrities, athletes, writers, artists, bands, and more. If you have a favorite actor or singer, chances are they have Twitter. In fact, celebrities will often tweet back to "regular" people. Kiss me, I'm Twitter famous.
While it's true that Twitter has seen some rather slow growth in the last couple years and finished off 2016 $456 million in the hole, it's likely that the platform will be around in some incarnation or another for quite a while.
In fact, on the day of 2016 U.S. presidential election, 40 million election-related tweets were sent by 10 p.m., making Twitter the biggest source of breaking election news that day.
It's a thing... kind of. Twitter TV is going to be a 24/7 streaming service that offers everything from TV shows to regular, everyday people streaming their lives (á la Facebook Live).
Read more: Twitter TV?
Do you use Twitter? Do you like it or would you rather stick with Facebook? Let us know in the comments below!
BARCELONA, Spain — Smart sperm testers, body cavity inspectors, Bluetooth pillows, holographic jump ropes and contactless thermometers. It’s all just another day at Mobile World Congress, where more and more companies show off their new HealthKit-compatible gadgets. If you want your iPhone to know absolutely everything about what’s going on with your body, these handy […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
This post is presented by Trendmicro, maker of Dr. Cleaner. Spring is coming, and the urge to tidy up follows close behind. Of course, our computers can get just as cluttered as our homes. We use all kinds of cleaning supplies for tidying up our homes easily and effectively. It’s also a good idea to […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Consumer Reports has today published an updated list of its “Best Smartphone Cameras,” reflecting Apple’s most recent releases. The testing agency, which is sometimes accused of being unfairly anti-Apple, now claims the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus are the two best smartphone cameras…
Are you searching for a great game for your Switch without the high price? I've found the best games for a fraction of their price!
Have you played all of your Nintendo Switch games and you're looking for a bit more fun? I know how pricey they can be, especially if you're on a budget. Sixty dollars on a game seems a bit high, but I have found some great games currently on sale for your pleasure!
Let your imagination go crazy with Puzzle Box Maker, where you can upload your own Pixel Arts or browse the online gallery to play already-created levels. Start your own game with friends for $12.
You are Youngho, a Korean student who drifts to sleep and wakes up trapped in a twisted version of his school where he is not alone. Run, hide, and find your escape in the Coma: Recut for $16.
Bathoryn must battle his way through this area, packed with lethal monsters before making his way into the stronghold. Take on the depths of hell for $16.
Go back in time with Caveman Warriors, a cooperative platformer game where you can play with up to 4 players or even on your own. Smash heads and take on the battles of long ago for $9.
Become The Cleaner, a crime scene cleaner for the mob, and clean up the streets for your boss. Don't miss a spot with Serial Cleaner for $8.
Go back to the 1970's on the western coast of Italy where you play as Lella who came to experience the sights and sounds of Italy's history. Discover Italy and Lella's past for $6.
Test your throwing skills with Super Ping Pong Trick Shot, over 80 challenges with multiple objectives with each challenge. Get your best shot in for only $3.
The Flame in the Flood is a wilderness survival game in which a girl and her dog travel by foot and raft down a river to find resources, craft tools, remedy afflictions, and more. Keep your health and your heart up with this game for $8.
Become your favorite Cartoon Network character and take down your enemies in Battle Crashers. Be Chowder, Jake, or even Mordecai as you play through this game for just $25.
Crush everything in your way as a monster truck driver. You can take on multiple stadiums with multiple trucks for only $25.
forma.8 is a Metroidvania action-adventure with a striking visual style and a huge world to explore. Take on this open world for $6.
Follow John Carnage as he goes through his post-apocalyptic world and salvages to survive the world. Grab this game while it's on sale for $4.
This puzzle game will surely keep you busy with all 77 levels and 6 different modes, and you can get your puzzle on for only $3.
Become a little one-eyed square that has to make his way through 63 different levels in Qbik. You can defeat puzzles, riddles, and brain busters for only $3.
If you're a fan of color matching games, then be sure to grab this marble shooter while it's on sale. With over 100 different levels, be sure to grab this game for $6.
Play an electronic version of your favorite board games with Tactical Mind. This is a great game for only $2, and it will please any checkers or chess player.
Make your way through the inside of a giant worm as Slime-san. Get through 100 levels and make your way through the worm, only $8.
Whether you're playing the campaign or taking on your friends, Ultra Hyperball is a fun pixel-art game for anybody. For $7, you get 5 different game modes, 49 different characters, and you can play with up to four players.
FIFA 18 is a great game for any soccer lover who wants to take on their favorite players. Take on your friends as your favorite teams for only $36.
Any games you love that are currently on sale? Let us know in the comments below!
Updated February 27, 2018: I've added the games that are on sale for this week!
Spotify, the popular music service and Apple Music’s biggest competitor quietly filed for its IPO with the SEC early last month. Now, the filing has gone public.
Logitech has today announced expanded support for their tactile-focused Craft keyboard. The keyboard’s standout feature is its creative input dial dubbed the Crown. By twisting, turning, and clicking the Crown, users can quickly adjust and use different tools in a set number of apps. Today’s announcement introduces support for Adobe Lightroom Classic CC and unveils an official SDK opening the door for third-party application developers.
We’re now two months into 2018 and possibly just days away from Apple releasing new products, so let’s take a look at all the new hardware we expect Apple to release this year. From new iPhones to upgraded iPads and unreleased products and features we’ve already seen announced, there’s a lot on the table this year.
Guided Access lists you disable parts of the iPad/iPhone screen so you don't accidentally check your email in the middle of a gig. Here's how to set it up.
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
With the release of the iPhone X just around the corner, you're probably wondering how you're going to protect the gorgeous phone. After all, you really don't want to break something that costs you about 1,000 dollars.
Heavy duty cases are built for protection and if you want to keep your iPhone X looking like brand new, the more protection, the, better. Although the iPhone X has yet to launch and more manufacturers will likely have more cases to choose from in the coming weeks and months, here are our favorite heavy duty cases for the iPhone X!
Otterbox is a household name when it comes to heavy duty cases, and its Defender series is the toughest offered.
The Defender series has a two-layer protection system to keep your iPhone X safe and sound. It has an inner shock-absorbing shell that protects the rest of the phone from damage, and a hard outer slipcover that seals up the Lightning port to prevent dust and dirt from getting inside. Interestingly enough, the iPhone X version of the defender series doesn't come with a front cover like it does on other phones.
Otterbox rigorously tests all of their cases with drop tests and tumble tests, allowing you to rest easy knowing your iPhone X won't be harmed should harm befall it. The Otterbox Defender series will cost you about $41.
The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro series has everything you need in a heavy duty case and will cost you about $20. A hard polycarbonate shell protects all sides and edges of the iPhone X, and a built-in screen protector and dust covers protect the Lightning port. Plus it comes with a front cover that acts as a screen protector, meaning that huge almost bezel-less display won't get scratched.
The case easily snaps into a belt clip that attaches to the back of the phone. Now wearing your phone on your waist isn't everyone's cup of tea; however, the option of having easy access to your phone, right on your hip, is super useful.
It comes in a wide array of colors such as blue, red, gold, black, and white, so you should have no problem finding the perfect hue for you.
While most heavy duty cases focus solely on protection the UAG Metropolis series aims to protect your iPhone X while also making your life easier.
The two-layer protection system includes a soft silicone inner sleeve to help reduce the shock of an impact and a hard polycarbonate outer shell to avoid scratches and scuffs. If with all that protection the UAG Metropolis series is a little thinner than some of its competitors.
The bonus on top of all that protection is that the Metropolis series is also a functioning wallet case allowing you to carry up to two cards at a time. The wallet portion of the case also acts as a screen protector when you're not using your iPhone X, meaning you don't have to worry about your phone while it's in your pocket.
The military-grade drop tested UAG Metropolis series only comes in black and will cost you about $35.
If you want a protective case that doesn't diminish the aesthetic of your iPhone X, Speck's Presidio case is a clear choice. The case provides a solid layer of protection that is designed to take an impact to the phone, and it won't yellow over time, so it will remain crystal clear.
The case has a scratch-resistant coating that ensures that both your phone and case stay looking great, and the cutouts make accessing your ports a breeze. You'll find the Speck Presidio on Amazon for about $30.
Spigen's Tough Armor may not have a screen protector, but with the edges of the case protruding at least 2mm above the screen, it will still protect the glass on flat surfaces and from falling screen-side-down. On top of that, the dual-camera system of the iPhone X also has lots of protection from table scratches, thanks to the high edges of the case as well.
Spigen's Tough Armor is certified military grade drop-tested and features a dual-layer design. The soft TPU offers protection from impacts while the hard outer shell will prevent any scratches or scuffs from marking up your iPhone X.
The added feature of a metal kickstand, which allows you to prop the phone up (ideal for watching videos) is just the icing on the cake.
You can pick up a Spigen Slim Armor in a bunch of different colors all starting around $17.
Let us know in the comments down below!
Updated February 2018: These are still my top picks for heavy duty cases for your iPhone X!
Samsung’s newly announced flagship Galaxy S9 phone is getting destroyed by the iPhone in early benchmark tests. It’s far, far slower than Apple’s recent models and even much slower than the two-year old iPhone 7. In a Speedometer 2.0 OS WebView benchmark performed by Anandtech, the iPhone 8 scored an 88.9, the iPhone 7 came […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Best List: Button-Stud Apple Watch Band by Form Function Form Making Apple’s “most personal device ever” personal to you is super-serious business for one Florida purveyor of handmade leather goods. Echoing the individuality of Apple Watch, Form Function Form takes customization to new levels in the design of its one-of-a-kind Button-Stud Apple Watch Band. This […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
This tip will show you how to quickly pull up a list of recently-seen tabs in Mobile Safari. It's like a pop-up mini history for each tab.
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
The PlayStation Vue TV service has added multiple features that will enhance its mobile viewing experience. The company originally rolled out its PS Vue app on Apple TV back in 2016, being one of the first internet TV providers to launch a client on the tvOS platform.
Netflix is always adding new movies and TV shows to its catalog, and each week, we'll bring you the best it has to offer!
In this week's Netflix selections, a city's greatest hero, now transformed into a sock puppet, must team with his biggest fan in order to fight crime. Power players work to climb the ladder and secure their places in the political structures of the city of Marseille, France. Finally, follow a mute man who heads into the grimy underbelly of near-future Berlin to find his girlfriend after she goes missing.
As always, this week on Netflix sees a new set of movies and TV shows hitting the service, starting with the 2009 film Moon, which tells the story of a man, at the end of an isolated rotation on a Moon-based mining station, beginning to witness strange occurrences around his station and the lunar surface. A man who lives his life around the country and out of a suitcase begins to realize that the life he idealizes might not be all it's cracked up to be in Up in the Air. Finally, check out the continuing adventures of five young space explorers as they team up to fight evil in giant robotic lions in Voltron: Legendary Defender.
Bookmark this page and check back next week for more from Netflix!
For years, Samsung’s obsessed about being the first with any new feature—and for a good reason because the South Korean firm has a long history of firsts in the mobile industry.... Read the rest of this post here
"Samsung’s U-turn: our obsession with being first has turned out to be meaningless" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. more…
Siri kind of sucks, despite its increasingly prominent role in the Apple ecosystem. With the general verdict on the HomePod being “great speaker, shame about Siri,” what does Apple need to do in order to catch up with its rivals? Here are six Siri improvements we’d love to see Apple implement as soon as possible. How […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
When we cover dozens of stories each year about Mac related security issues and malware discovered in the wild, it’s hard to imagine that the misconception that “Macs don’t get viruses” still exists. Although there is some truth to it. Macs are much more resilient to what are commonly classified as “viruses” and in general malware is much more rare for Mac users versus Windows. But that doesn’t mean Mac users don’t need to protect themselves from malware threats. And it’s not just malware, there are a long list of other threats that Mac users should be aware of and protecting themselves against.
The security experts at long-time Mac software developer Malwarebytes are often the source of security stories we cover throughout the year on 9to5Mac. We’ve come to trust its team for the many discoveries and coverage of malware and security related issues for Mac users. That’s why it’s easy to give a recommendation on the Malwarebytes software as a go-to option for protecting your Mac. Here’s how it works:
iOS 11 finally has its first jailbreak with Cydia support. If you’re yet to use our guide to installing Electra 1.0.1, which supports all of Apple’s latest devices, you need to check out this list of Cydia apps and tweaks compatible with iOS 11 to find out if it’s still worth it. You might not think […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
Apple has completed the transition of iCloud accounts registered in China to state-run Chinese servers, and privacy and human rights advocates are (rightfully) worried. In addition to transferring the accounts to state-run servers, Apple may have also transferred the digital keys to Chinese jurisdiction, although Apple says it retains control of them. Nonetheless, it’s a concerning […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
After bringing transit directions to people in Milwaukee and Omaha last month, Apple Maps is now offering transit data to customers who live in the Columbia, Charleston and Greenville areas of South Carolina.... Read the rest of this post here
"Apple Maps transit directions now available in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Wanna get your body moving with some Switch games? Check these titles out.
Since its very inception, the utilization of motion controls in games has been divisive for gamers. When the implementation of motion controls feel like an afterthought to a game, it's hard to argue that there is any sort of added value or fun. However, when the use of motion feels like it was woven into the fabric of a game's development from the beginning, it can actually serve to deepen the experience.
I have found that games which include motion controls effectively can be a blast to play at family gatherings and parties. If you're looking for some Nintendo Switch games to get your friends and family moving, then take a look at these titles.
Splatoon 2 may not have you jumping around the room and waving your arms around in an odd example of semaphore, but it does actually utilize the technology pretty effectively. Aiming with your Joy-Con can be smooth, fast and satisfying once you get the hang of it. Despite the fact that you probably wont be breaking a sweat while you play, I think the fact that it works so effectively earns it a spot on this list. Pick up your copy for $50.
ARMS offers a lot more depth of physical mechanics when it comes to motion controls. With bespoke, real-world movements for a multitude of in-game effects, there is a lot more to chew on here than other games with motion control. Pick up a copy and you will be swinging, twisting, and grabbing your way to victory. Get your copy for $50.
Sure, 1-2 Switch feels a bit like a showcase for motion control on the Switch, but that may be exactly why you might want to consider picking it up. If you want to show the fam what your Switch can do while playing through a multitude of party games, then you can't do much better than 1-2 Switch at the moment. There are some truly odd mini-games included which could see you in a shaving contest with your grandmother. I bet you that's something you never thought you would do. It can be yours for $50.
Nintendo hasn't really found its Wii Sports equivalent on the Switch yet, but as the console starts to mature I am sure we will see more titles using motion control. Without a doubt, some of those titles will use the technology poorly, but every now and then there will be a release which will actually be a load of fun. Getting your body moving while you play a game can be more than just novel when it's implemented well.
Is there a certain type of game that you think would be perfect for motion control technology? Let us know below
Your iPhone makes daily life a lot easier. But when driving, the most you can expect is getting directions. That’s why we’ve rounded up four awesome iPhone car accessories. From smart license plates to wireless charging, speed trap detectors and more, there’s something in here for anyone who wants their phone to be a true […]
(via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)
A survey of 1,000 young adults Americans found that more than 10% of them had used Apple Pay to make a purchase in a retail store. This was well ahead of Google Pay at 4% and Samsung Pay’s 2%.
The figure was even higher when it came to online purchases in the same 18-35 year old demographic …
Today, Waymo has the world’s first and only fleet of fully self-driving cars on public roads.... Read the rest of this post here
"Take a ride with Waymo’s self-driving minivan in this immersive 360-degree video" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
The Series 3 LTE Apple Watch isn't going to be for everyone yet. But it's a peek at the future for 38mm and 42mm users alike.
While Apple Watch has always been good at tracking indoor and fairly warm-weather based outdoor activity, winter workouts haven't enjoyed anywhere near the same level of support. Until now.
According to Apple
Starting today, skiers and snowboarders can use Apple Watch Series 3 to track their activities via new updates to apps available in the App Store. Watch users can now record runs, see vertical descent and other stats, and contribute active calorie measurements directly to the Apple Watch Activity app.
We haven't had a chance to test out the new ski and snowboard workouts, or the new integrations for app developers, but we aim to do so soon and we'll update this review with the results.
Black Diamond with Black Sport Loop, here we come!
Before Apple's official Series 3 Apple Watch announcement in September, I admit: I was concerned. As a devout fan of Apple's 38mm casing size, I didn't love the rumors over LTE connectivity. LTE networking is hard and battery-draining, and every other manufacturer on the market who's tried it has been forced to make big, clunky watches that look more like 1980s ideals of wrist-connected technology than actual watches for humans without 6'4"-sized wrists.
Would Apple abandon 38mm users in its quest to chase after the "true" dream — the watch as a stand-alone product? Or would it include 38mm users but destroy the user experience? Could it actually make LTE useful on the small watch?
Apple's official on-stage debut and our subsequent hands on time allayed my fears for a few days, but then early reviews of the Series 3 started trickling in with concerns over connectivity. While the vast majority of those problems seem to be related to a Wi-Fi bug, it still left me uneasy.
I've now been able to test the 38mm Series 3 LTE model for 48 hours, and I have a few thoughts about all of this. Like many of our other iMore reviews, this is a living document — I plan to update this again in about a month with more longterm testing notes and observations, but for those of you curious about my initial observations, feelings, and questions over Apple Watch Series 3 — read on (or watch below!).
I want to start with a statement that has been true since 2015: Apple is currently the only company in this space innovating on full-featured smartwatches below 42mm.
There are lots of smartwatches out in the world. Pretty much every fashion company, tech manufacturer, or fitness company has at least one device they're marketing as some sort of "smartwatch," but not a single one of them is actively thinking about a full-featured watch for anyone whose wrist size doesn't look great with a 44mm circular frame.
And just to go on a quick tangent here — I don't bring this up to pit women vs men, or style preferences. There are plenty of women who like big watches and men who like small ones. But in practice, the big "boyfriend"-style watches of the fashion world are worn rather loose on the wrist. You can't make that work on a smartwatch if you want accurate fitness data. As such, if you're a smaller-wristed person, your options have largely been "use a smart band with limited performance options," "wear a gigantic sundial strapped tightly to your wrist," or buy an Apple Watch.
I also say this to point out that Apple never had to make a 38mm watch. Its competitors all think that market doesn't need to be served by anything beyond a bracelet-style fitness band; they haven't even tried to produce a watch in that sizing bracket — largely because trying to shrink the components down to that size while still getting good battery life is hard. Adding LTE? That's just crazy talk.
I suspect that one of the reasons Apple went with a rectangular face rather than a round one when first making the Apple Watch has to do with the 38mm — the same general size in a circular model is a vastly harder engineering problem.
Apple could have easily dropped support for the 38mm watch after its first generation, and the greater tech community wouldn't have batted an eye: "It got terrible battery life in comparison to the 42mm." "Who wears that thing, anyway?" "The screen is so small!"
But the company didn't stop making the 38mm. Instead, it doubled down on making the size actually useable. The Series 2 had proper all-day battery life for its smaller watch, all while keeping feature parity with its 42mm sibling.
I wear and champion the 38mm because of this: It's a triumph in technology that Apple, every year, fits everything it needs to in this casing size without compromising on features. The company could have easily announced LTE as a 42mm-only perk this year, much as Portrait mode is limited to iPhone Plus.
But it didn't. The company figured out how to embed its LTE radio around the screen of the Apple Watch to fix its space problem and offer LTE to both models.
Are there compromises you'll get by wearing a 38mm over 42? Absolutely. You lose out on battery life and a larger screen, and third-party app interfaces don't always consider the smaller watch when making touch targets.
But by and large, the 38mm and 42mm models are identical to the end user — and this is why, for all of Apple's rough waters in making LTE work for Apple Watch, I applaud the company for giving a damn and trying to make this work.
The Apple Watch isn't in its perfect, final form yet with Series 3, but because Apple is forcing itself to innovate here, I can easily foresee a time when it will be — all while the rest of the industry sits and twiddles its thumbs, claiming that no one will buy smaller sizes, so why even try?
But I do. And so, I suspect, do millions of others.
Before I get into the rest of my review, we should probably talk about the elephant in the room: The Series 3's reported LTE and cellular problems. Here's what I can say for sure, after my tests.
The good news is that the issues reported can be tweaked or fixed by software — this isn't a hardware problem, which means it's infinitely easier to solve for the end user. And Apple's teams are likely working weekends at this point to make sure that the LTE watch experience improves.
That said, there's definitely a Wi-Fi bug. I ran into it on Friday while riding Amtrak; when I switched watches, rather than my Series 3 watch hopping on cellular, it attempted to grab the Amtrak captive network. A quick "toggle Airplane mode on and off again" seemed to right its senses, which I'll recommend to anyone else currently having problems.
This is an unfortunate issue, and I'm rather disappointed in Apple for catching it so late in the process — especially because I'm sure older Apple Watches have been falling prey to this bug for years, but no one noticed because they wrote the cloud Wi-Fi support off as finicky.
I certainly did. I've been complaining upwards of a year about Apple not having a way to enter Wi-Fi passwords or interstitials, but I was primarily thinking about new networks — it didn't even occur to me that memorized captive networks might trip up the Apple Watch.
But it's not my job to catch those bugs. It's Apple's. And because the company didn't, it's a huge black mark that tarnishes an otherwise exciting launch.
Now, aside from that bug, have I found any other gaping problems with LTE on the Apple Watch? Not personally. I've tested the watch wandering through NYC, various parks, Amtrak, a Faraday-cage-like hotel with no cellular service, and New England over the last two days — including a particularly ill-advised experiment in putting my iPhone's SIM card into a Samsung phone to make the Apple Watch work for Android users — with no LTE problems whatsoever.
But that said, your mileage may vary. With various carriers, service areas, and everything else that goes into cellular signals, I'm not surprised to see early reviewers having issues. Add in the fact that the watch wants to stay connected to your iPhone or a Wi-Fi network as long as possible before switching to LTE (to keep from unnecessarily draining your battery by looking for a cellular signal), and you have the perfect recipe for potential problems.
Do these make the LTE watch a bad buy, or unusable? Depends on your use case. As I said, I've been using mine for the last few days without issue. But if you've logged into a lot of captive Wi-Fi networks (like Starbucks or Panera) on your iPhone in areas you frequent, you may have weird connectivity while using the watch without an iPhone present until Apple pushes a bug fix.
If you do run into cellular connectivity issues on the watch, there's at least a pretty simple fix: Toggle Airplane mode on and off on your Apple Watch. This will disconnect everything and reboot your cellular antenna, allowing the device to grab onto a new signal. (It's a trick I've used for years when having cellular problems with my iPhone, and now, I suppose, for my watch.)
Perhaps the best praise I can give is that when it works, it feels seamless — something the Apple Watch has always had problems with in the past when pulling data from the iPhone.
Siri queries have improved across the board for watchOS 4 users, but when they're LTE-powered, they feel almost like magic. I frequently got answers to my questions almost before I finished asking them, and the Siri voice is a lovely little chirp in my ears without being too grating. (You can always turn off the feature if you dislike it.)
watchOS 4 has definitely made the Series 2 snappier at quick responses, especially once Siri has been asked an initial query. But on more complex questions, the Series 3 Apple Watch's LTE powers shine.
Directions is a big one. On Series 2 and older, asking for directions directly on the watch was often a crapshoot — sometimes it would work; sometimes the watch wouldn't even load your current location, let alone anything else in the Maps ecosystem.
Series 3 is still slower than I'd like in the directions-seeking department, but it found driving directions to Apple Park from NYC within a minute and a half; in contrast, I waited a minute and a half more for my Series 2 watch (paired to a different iPhone) to try and resolve the same identical query, and eventually gave up.
Calls are crystal clear, and both cellular and FaceTime audio connections work without problem — though they're both battery hogs, eating up anywhere from 5-15% of your power capacity on 5-20 minute calls. I am slightly curious as to which burns more battery (FaceTime or cellular), and it's something I plan to test soon.
There are still queries Siri can't accomplish, which is doubly frustrating when you're away from your iPhone. You can't take a note, for example, or use any of the third-party Siri integration options. (The lack of Lyft support is particularly grating: Even if Siri can't interpret "call a Lyft" into the third-party Siri framework, it should at least be able to open the Lyft app for me to use.) If you ask a query that requires your iPhone even if you're away from your device, the watch will still ask you to "Continue on iPhone," though it has no way of actually accomplishing that task. (Whoops.)
That said, you can ask a number of things I didn't know, including showing photos you took last year, playing music, and querying Wikipedia (by saying "Wikipedia [your query]) or WolframAlpha.
Lastly, carrier limitations. There are a few things to cover here: For one, yes, there's no option to roam. Part of that has to do with the slim number of LTE bands packed into each region-specific model (there are six — 3 of each size) of Apple Watch, but I'd guess the bigger deal here is the cost of roaming on battery life.
How cellular data works on Apple Watch
Bigger issues, though, are individual carrier limitations. When you set up your Series 3 via your iPhone's Watch app and pop into your carrier portal, you'll be asked to pay a $5-$10 "monthly access charge" to essentially let your Apple Watch access your iPhone's pool of data. It's a money-grubbing move by carriers, and I'm not a fan of it, but hey, at least they're not making us sign up for individual plans or locking SIMs.
You can switch to a different carrier (including ones in a different country supported by your Apple Watch's LTE bands) if you switch your iPhone line, but not until that point; there's not even an option to pick a different carrier until your iPhone is set up.
Once you've set up with a carrier, you're bound by their rules. AT&T, for instance, won't let Apple Watch Series 3 users call internationally without the iPhone is connected. I was also unsuccessful at sending a "green bubble" SMS, though I'm not quite sure if that issue was terrible networking or an actual AT&T limitation. (iMessages, for what it's worth, work quite well even with your iPhone in Airplane mode.)
Bottom line: If you don't run into any LTE issues, it feels like magic on the watch and it's hugely helpful into making the watch feel like the device I've wanted on day one.
Here's the section I wanted to start my review on before the insanity of LTE issues and Wi-Fi bugs. Can the 38mm be functional for a full day when you're using it as a LTE-only option?
Mostly.
In the few days I tested, I ran the watch ragged for one day — calling multiple people on cellular and FaceTime audio, querying Siri, forcing the watch to run on LTE by putting the iPhone in Airplane mode, doing a skating workout — and wore it more normally the next.
On the stress-test day, I started at 9AM around 100% battery, and immediately enabled Airplane mode on my phone to force my watch to use LTE. First, I placed a few 5-minute calls to my folks in LA. That begged the battery a few notches (97%), but not too much.
After that, I experimented with international calls, FaceTime calls, iMessage texts, and SMS for about a half-hour. By the end of that session, I had hit 90%.
I swapped back over to iPhone connectivity around 10:40AM and proceeded to work on my computer, answering the occasional notification on my watch. By 1PM when I broke for lunch, it was around 84%.
After lunch the real fun began: This was when we tested using an Apple Watch with Android, which meant keeping the 38mm watch entirely on an LTE connection while we attempted outbound and inbound calls, sending iMessage notifications, and looking up some directions in Maps.
By 4PM when we went to start shooting for my Apple Watch review, the watch had hit 47%.
After filming (which involved both LTE-only connectivity and iPhone) and skating tests (three short skating workouts), I hit 29% around 5PM.
By 7PM, I got a 10%-pleading-for-a-charge battery notification from my 38mm watch. Result: 10 hours with about 3-4 hours of forced LTE connectivity and short workouts. Not fantastic battery life, but solid given everything I put it through.
On the second day, the watch behaved similarly in battery consumption to my Series 2, giving me a full 14-16 hours with a short walking workout included in that time period.
So, is battery life functional on the LTE Series 3? Pretty much. You're not going to be able to eke out a full day of LTE-only use without something like a BatteryPro in your bag. But if you work out and use LTE the way Apple intends it (AKA let your Apple Watch decide when it hops between networks, rather than forcing your iPhone into Airplane mode), you should easily get similar battery life to the Series 2.
That's still not fantastic, but I honestly don't know how Apple solves this problem short of a revolution in battery tech or permanently moving to a bigger casing size. For me, the smaller watch size is more than worth the tradeoff of a few extra hours of battery life.
It's also worth noting that Apple has optimized watchOS to better reflect battery decay: Now, when you hit 50%, it's actually 50% — the second half of battery consumption (49%-1%) should take as long as the first half, rather than exponentially draining.
Not a ton to say here, but a few thoughts for posterity.
The new Sport Loop is fantastic, and I'll be writing a stand-alone review shortly. It's the lightest, most comfortable band Apple has ever made while still looking stylish, the Velcro-style hook and loop closures are rock solid, and it's so much better at repelling water than the Woven Nylon.
The new gold color is an ever-so-slight buttery copper that matches the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus shade. It's halfway between the original gold shade of the watch and the almost-purple rose gold tint from last year. I love the look, personally, and vastly prefer it to last year's gold models.
Yes, there's a red crown. Yes, it's for every LTE model. And yes, you can cover it up if you really hate it. I was expecting to strongly dislike it, but I find myself largely indifferent — possibly because I wear the watch in reverse orientation, which makes the crown far less noticeable when I look at the watch.
The Series 3 LTE model comes with 16GB of storage. More room for apps, more room for Apple Music when it shows up in October, more room period.
The non-LTE Series 3 models only get the composite back, rather than the ceramic back upgrade that all Series 3 LTE models get (and all Series 2 got, as well). I think this is kind of a raw deal given the difference in scratches on ceramic vs composite glass, but I'm guessing it's to keep the Series 3 GPS-only price at a reasonable rate. Doesn't mean I have to like a subpar material in an otherwise superior casing.
The Series 3's casing design is roughly identical to Series 2 (and slightly bigger/heavier than Series 0/1), though the ceramic backing has an ever-so-slightly increased lip. (About the depth of two sheets of paper, according to Apple.)
A 21x macro shot looking at the back composite glass of the Series 3 GPS-only option versus the slightly deeper ceramic lip on the GPS + Cellular model.
Qi charging: Apple Watch uses a specialized version of the Qi for its magnetic inductive charger. As such, most regular Qi chargers (like the two optimized for iPhone) won't work with the Series 3 Apple Watch, You might be able to find luck with this if you buy a magnetic Qi charger, but I haven't been able to personally confirm one working.
Lots of folks asked about the speaker system: Apple has redesigned the way the speaker fits into the casing, but it's the same basic speaker from the Series 2. The redesign definitely helps with sound projection, however.
Where the Series 2 brought a major improvement to the fitness community with support for GPS, Series 3's altimeter addition is less of a statement, but still welcome. "Flights climbed" has become as shareable a metric as steps as of late, and runners and hikers should especially appreciate knowing their elevation gain over a lengthy trip.
The biggest fitness improvement isn't limited to the Series 3, however, and that's watchOS 4's completely redesigned Heart Rate app (for Series 1-3). It's an excellent way to get more contextual data from the watch, rather than just having your heart rate taken in the background.
Part of Apple's success with fitness has been not only cataloging data, but making it mean something. For instance, as irksome as Stand notifications can be, they mean something in a way that "get 400 calories or else" does not.
Zoom zoom zoom. It's hard to quantify just how incredible the Series 3's S3 processor feels because of watchOS 4 improvements that make Series 2 feel — and look — faster on screen. But even if the lack of lag isn't as dramatically pronounced as it was between Series 0 and 2, it's still improved.
Everything feels snappier. Swiping feels stutter-free for the first time in Apple Watch history — including horizontal swipes for watch faces, which used to make my Series 0 cry.
I haven't done too many academic tests between Series 3 and Series 2, but Siri, app launches, and swipes showed the most dramatic improvement; Series 3 also restarts faster than Series 2, but it's still a hibernating bear in comparison to the iPhone — the two times I attempted to reboot, it took almost a minute and 40 seconds, respectively.
I have no qualms about calling watchOS 4 the best smartwatch software out there right now. Between its iPhone integration and all the apps and options offered to Apple Watch users, watchOS crushes its competition by being easy to use and easier to comprehend.
The LTE Series 3 Apple Watch elevates that software by making it faster and more responsive. All apps are faster, and the Apple Watch's new S3 chip allows it to render things like a full video preview of your iPhone's rear camera.
Two Portrait mode shots taken by the Series 3 Apple Watch while filming said feature.
Just a quick shout out for the Apple Watch's Camera Remote app: What started as an almost-gimmicky remote in watchOS 1 has become an incredibly powerful second-screen tool for mobile filmmakers. The fact that I can line up a shot, tap to focus, and take the photo or video without ever touching my iPhone is a big deal. I could see people buying the watch literally just for video monitoring and shooting, and nothing else.
If you're interested in how the Series 3 LTE compares to its older siblings and non-Cellular Series 3 compatriot, I'm currently in the midst of comparison testing. I just picked up a Series 3 GPS-only watch, and plan to spend a few days testing performance and battery this weekend. I'll report back when I have more concrete detail about battery life, speed, and any other notes (but feel free to leave comments below if you have a specific test you'd like me to try!).
The Series 3 Apple Watch with LTE is the best watch Apple has ever made. It's also the most flawed: Even if there weren't Wi-Fi issues, any deal that involves carriers is by its very nature have growing pains. If you can deal with the occasional Airplane mode toggle, you'll have a chance to peek into the future: A land where Apple offers users a chance to explore the world with just the AirPods and the Apple Watch, no slab of electronics-packed glass necessary.
We're not living entirely in that future yet. Battery life, while not terrible, is merely okay. Siri limitations keep Apple Watch from being as full-functioned as it is on iPhone. And the iPhone-LTE handoff isn't as good as it could be.
But if you're willing to deal with some friction to live in the fire, the Apple's Series 3 GPS + Cellular 38mm watch gets us as close as we've ever been. I certainly am.
