Monday, 26 October 2020

These Android Launchers Will Change the Way You Use Your Phone

You might already be familiar with launcher apps, which completely reskin Android phones with different icons, app drawers and home screen layouts, but some of these launchers go way beyond a visual overhaul—they actually change the way that apps and information are presented on your screen, and can transform how you…

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Can Trump Be Charged With Criminal Negligence for His Coronavirus 'Response'?

There is technically no law against doing nothing while millions suffer and hundreds of thousands die from a disease it is in your power to curtail. No one’s going to arrest you for ensuring scores of needless deaths through demented, inflammatory rhetoric. Downplaying a plague for political gain: legal as a stroll…

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Charge All Your Devices With an Aukey USB-C Power Bank With Wireless Charging for $36

AUKEY 20,000mAh Wireless Portable Charger | $36 | Promo code LE7M9OBK + Clip Coupon

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iPhone 12 Drop Test Results: Ceramic Shield More Durable But Not Damage Proof

Apple's new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro feature a new Ceramic Shield screen that Apple says offers 4x better drop performance. To test that claim, Allstate Protection Plans put the two models through a range of breakability tests and recorded the results.


In a face down sidewalk drop test at six feet, the ‌iPhone 12‌ suffered small cracks and scuffed corners and edges, leaving sharp grooves in the metal. According to Allstate, this result was significantly better than both its predecessor, the iPhone 11, and the Samsung Galaxy S20.

As for the the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌, which is 25 grams heavier than the ‌iPhone 12‌, the handset cracked across the lower half of its Ceramic Shield screen but sustained no malfunctions or noticeable functional damage. While it fared slightly worse than the ‌iPhone 12‌, it also performed considerably better than the ‌iPhone 11‌ Pro in similar tests.

In a back down drop test in similar conditions, the ‌iPhone 12‌ corners and edges were scuffed but the rear panel survived "virtually unscathed," and the testers suggested its improved durability could be down to its flat-edge design. Meanwhile, the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ shattered when dropped on its back, resulting in loose glass and cracking on its wide camera. The damage was not catastrophic, however, and the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ seemed to work as normal after impact.

When dropped on their sides in similar conditions, both ‌iPhone 12‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ suffered scuffing and sharp steel edges, especially along their corners, but both models were otherwise
unharmed. The testers summed up the findings with the following:
Through face-down, back-down, and side-down breakability drop tests, Allstate Protection Plans found that the Ceramic Shield front front is a huge improvement. Additionally, the flat side design appears to improve durability on both phones when dropped on their rear panels. That said, both phones were damaged when dropped on a sidewalk. Given their hefty repair costs, we encourage everyone to use a protective case and treat their new ‌iPhone 12‌ with the care you would give an expensive camera.
Apple charges $279 for screen repairs on ‌iPhone 12‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ models. For all other damage, such as cracked rear glass, the repair fee is $449 for the ‌iPhone 12‌ and $549 for the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌. To obtain service, visit the Get Support page on Apple's website.

YouTube channel MobileReviewsEh previously conducted some tests on the ‌‌iPhone 12‌‌ using a force meter to compare its performance to the ‌‌iPhone 11‌‌. You can see the results of those here.

Keep in mind that these kinds of drop tests are not always going to see the same results, and can vary based on the angle that an ‌iPhone‌ happens to fall at, so it's always best to use caution with devices made of glass, whether or not they have a Ceramic Shield.
Related Roundups: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro

This article, "iPhone 12 Drop Test Results: Ceramic Shield More Durable But Not Damage Proof" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg: Apple to Launch 3rd Gen AirPods and 2nd Gen AirPods Pro in 2021, Possible Third HomePod Model Also in the Works

Apple plans to update its AirPods line next year with two new models including third-generation ‌AirPods‌ and second-generation AirPods Pro, according to a new report from Bloomberg.


The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on two new models: third-generation entry-level ‌AirPods‌ and the second version of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ earbuds, according to people familiar with the plans.

The models will join other new Apple audio devices like the HomePod mini and upcoming over-ear headphones.
Corroborating previous rumors regarding new ‌AirPods‌ models, the report claims the new entry-level ‌AirPods‌ will inherit a form factor design similar to ‌AirPods Pro‌, with a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips, but minus the higher end features of the latter earbuds such as noise cancelation. Apple is looking to improve the entry-level ‌AirPods‌' battery life, however.

As for the second version of ‌AirPods Pro‌, Apple aims to make the earbuds more compact by eliminating the short stem that currently sticks out from the bottom, and is said to be testing a design with "a more rounded shape that fills more of a user's a ear," which would make them more similar to Samsung's Galaxy Buds and similar rival designs from Amazon and Google.

According to the report, integrating the ‌AirPods Pro‌ features, antennas, and microphones into the smaller casing has proven "challenging" during development, which "could result in a less ambitious design when the product is finalized."

Apple has reportedly discussed launching the new low-end ‌AirPods‌ during the first half of next year and is also planning new wireless chips to power both models. Apple launched the original ‌AirPods‌ in 2016 for $159 and updated them with a wireless charging case in March 2019, while the ‌AirPods Pro‌ came out in October 2020 and cost $249.

Apple is also reportedly mulling a new model of HomePod that would sit in between the original ‌HomePod‌ and the recently announced ‌HomePod mini‌, claims the report.
Beyond the new ‌AirPods‌, Apple has also internally weighed a new ‌HomePod‌ that sits in size, price and sound quality between the original $299 ‌HomePod‌ and the $99 ‌HomePod mini‌. It's unclear if Apple will ultimately launch that product or just further cut the price of the higher-end version.
Apple unveiled the smaller ‌HomePod mini‌ earlier this month, along with new smart Home features for the speakers, like Intercom.

The report also provides an update on where Apple's rumored "AirPods Studio" headphones are at. According to Bloomberg, Apple still plans to announce the high-end noise-canceling over-ear headphones but the product has faced several development challenges over the past two years, leading to multiple delays and a scaling back of functionality, including the replaceable headband.
The headphones were due to go into production weeks ago, but that was pushed back due to problems with the headband, a person familiar with the matter said. That part was deemed too tight in some testing.

The company initially wanted to include large touch pads on the sides of the headphones, but reduced the size of those panels. Apple has also scaled back some of the interchangeable functionality of the headphones that were a hallmark of the initial concept. The latest version of the product is likely to lack a replaceable headband, but could still include interchangeable ear pads.
Previously rumored to be priced starting at $350, "‌‌AirPods Studio‌"‌ are expected to feature Active Noise Cancellation and a retro-style design that could involve both a premium model made from high quality materials and a sport-oriented model made from breathable, lighter weight materials.

As the report suggests, ‌‌AirPods Studio‌‌ will likely feature magnetic ear cups that can be swapped out for a customizable look, much like Apple Watch bands, and there could be additional features like ear detection so there's no right or left side when wearing the headphones.

Photos and a video clip said to depict the ‌AirPods Studio‌ surfaced in September, featuring headphones with large oblong ear cups and gray fabric padding at the top of the headband. The fabric of the ear cups and the headband appears to be similar to the mesh used for the ‌HomePod‌.

Rumors have suggested that Apple may be planning to hold a third fall event on November 17, which is said to be focused on Apple Silicon Macs, but could also see the debut of ‌AirPods Studio‌. The 2020 launch date isn't a sure thing though, as there's been some mixed information suggesting the ‌‌AirPods Studio‌‌ might not be ready for launch, so it's unclear just what's going to happen.
This article, "Bloomberg: Apple to Launch 3rd Gen AirPods and 2nd Gen AirPods Pro in 2021, Possible Third HomePod Model Also in the Works" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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