Google in a pickle of Pixel problems

Mario Queiroz, Vice-President of Product Management at Google, speaks about the Pixel 2 phone during a launch event in San Francisco, California, earlier this month. – Reuters

October 29, 2017:  

If you had been a fly on the wall at Google's launch party held recently in Delhi, you wouldn't have guessed there were any issues with the new Pixel 2 phones that have just gone up for pre-order. Google set up an arena for the invitees to click selfies, low-light photos, use the Lens app and more, while they made merry.

But in the background, there was the lurking shadow of various issues that accompanied the second gen of Pixels' entry into the world. After all, one would want them to be Pixel-perfect, so to speak, at upward of Rs 61,000 for the Pixel 2 64GB and touching Rs 82,000 for the 128GB Pixel XL. That's a big ask to begin with, but a serious one if there's talk of problems.

The bigger of the two Pixel 2's has the bigger problems, it would seem. One of these is that when you tilt the phone even by 15 degrees there's a 'blue shift' and you see colours like white and pink get a sheen of blue over them. Now there is always a bit of a shift in colour with every device and that's what we mean when we say that the viewing angles are fine on a device. But in this case, people are complaining that it's far too much and could interfere with viewing and editing anything that involves accuracy of colours such as photographs or art work.

Sitting here with four Pixel phones around me — old and new — I do see this shift on the Pixel 2 XL, but I have to say that I don't find it a deal-breaker. I may be lucky with my review device, which by chance doesn't have that problem really pronounced, but speaking from my experience with this device, I don't think it should bother anyone if they don't have a special need for editing colours. The device's screen is fine when you look at it straight on. Google, which was silent on the subject at first, has now said on various user forums that it will issue an update to fix this problem or give the user more choice on how to see the display, but many are sceptical about whether this is just a software fix for a hardware problem.

I would think that it doesn't matter as long it is a fix. Personally, I wouldn't avoid buying the phone because of the blue tint (specially if there's a workaround coming) if I had the money — which I don't.

Another more lethal sounding problem is that there's a 'burn-in' on the screen, much like you may have seen with old laptops and computers. The ghost of an image remains on the screen and eventually deteriorates the quality of the display. I can't comment on this problem with short-term usage, as it would take a little time. Again, it is apparently only with the Pixel 2 XL, according to reviewers who have seen it in other parts of the world. That should be a more difficult one to issue a fix for.

While we're still on the beleaguered screen, users have reported that it isn't bright enough. There seems to be some truth in that. Compared with the original Pixel from last year, both new devices seem to be a tiny bit less vibrant, but since you can turn the brightness up, I'm not convinced this is a deal-breaker either.

Tinkering with brightness level, I was able to keep all four Pixel devices to roughly the same intensity, though the Pixel original was a little ahead.

Google has upped the warranty to two years and promised fixes for just about everything. But meanwhile, a new problem has cropped up, this time with the Pixel 2 XL's audio in video recordings. Some users reported that the background sound goes warbled for certain periods and that the sound is in any case thin and sharp. I didn't find the sound on the Pixel 2 XL its strongest point, that's for sure. Even on a call, the other person could hear me better than I could hear her. While video recording, yes, there's a little static crackling like sound in the background and faint warbling. I found there's some bit of hiss in almost all phones with this task, but on the Pixel 2 XL it was certainly more muddy. This too is supposed to get a fix, but one will have to wait a few weeks.

Apart from these issues, these devices are as fast and smooth as expected and have a lot of Google Assistant running the show, including with a little squeeze to the phone's sides. The purity of Android on these devices is refreshing, being absent of all the painful customisations other manufactures put in. The camera, a marquee feature, is sharp and capable, but I didn't find it a huge leap over the previous year's Pixel. In the end it's just a lot of money, so one can't be faulted for wanting a device which is flawless.

Much more on the Pixel 2 phones in subsequent issues.

(This article was published on October 29, 2017)

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Source: Google in a pickle of Pixel problems

Introducing Tablet En Español

Earlier this year, I was asked to participate in the annual conference of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life—the only state-wide gathering of the Jews of Maine. The event was on a Friday night, which meant I had to be away from my family on a weekend. When I got off the plane in Portland, it was rainy and cold. On the way to the hotel, I remembered that I had never before even heard of the sponsoring organization, and suddenly it occurred to me that I had no idea what I was about to walk into.

The answer turned out to be: one of the most meaningful events I've done in years.

I gave a short talk about the challenges of American journalism broadly, as well as the ways in which these constraints work for a specifically Jewish publication. In response, the audience was challenging—even provocative—without ever descending into nastiness. At one point, I described journalism as a mirror, andsomeone piped up: "Except, too often I don't feel like I'm reflected in it."

This person went on to describe two specific Tablet stories that, she said, had made her furious. She explained that she saw others on Facebook who were also upset about these pieces, and then admitted that she engaged in some less-than-mannerly spewing at us—including at me personally. "But," she said, "what else was I supposed to do?"

Her feelings make sense. The problem is the Internet, which by making everything free actually rendered everyone powerless—particularly readers. You can't actually demand anything of Tablet, because you have invested nothing in Tablet. You have none of the tools formerly available to journalistic consumers: you can't cancel your subscriptions, you can't pressure our advertisers, you can't really threaten our bottom line in any way. You know all of this, even if only subconsciously, and it is (understandably) infuriating. Which is why, when publications get things wrong, mobs will form and start frothing at the mouth, pushing and pushing for some response dramatic enough that it might allow its members to pretend they actually have some control over the outlets they read.

"But there's a challenge for you too," countered my new friend: "If this arrangement keeps you so distant from your readers, can you really still be our mirror?"

Maine! You're a smart bunch.

The answer is: Only if you agree to keep standing in front of us, as steadily as you can. Instead of yelling maniacally about the stories we've already published, tell us which ones we should in the future. Ultimately, see us all as sitting in the same boat: If you poke a hole in my end, the thing won't keep you afloat much longer either.

Over the next month, the Jews of Portland pitched us 5 stories (and counting), three of which have already been published. I hope it's the opening of a channel that continuously flows, and that it serves for others as proof of our intention to reflect the lives of contemporary Jews as best we can—and as best as they'll let us.

And a few weeks after that, we received another note from a reader—this time a Jew from Buenos Aires named Ruth Percowicz. She didn't realize it, but she was calling my bluff.

"I was wondering if Tablet has ever been published in Spanish?" she wrote. "I think—although I'm not an expert—there's a huge market in the Jewish (and non-Jewish too!) Spanish-speaking world for a magazine like yours. And besides, there are lots of articles that should be translated in order to teach and enlighten and clarify the issues that you usually publish."

We reached out to Ruth, who offered to participate in an experiment with us. And with this, Tablet en Español—a week of side-by-side translated work—was born. All of the articles were commissioned and edited by Tablet editors, and translated by our new comrade, Ms. Percowicz.

Bienvenidos.

***

A principios de este año, me pidieron participar en la conferencia anual del Center for Small Town Jewish Life—el único centro que abarca a todos judíos del estado de Maine. El evento era un viernes por la noche, lo que significaba que debía estar alejado de mi familia un fin de semana. Cuando bajé del avión en Portland, llovía y hacía frío. En el camino al hotel, recordé que ni siquiera había escuchado de la organización auspiciante, y de repente se me ocurrió que no tenía idea de en qué me estaba metiendo. La respuesta terminó siendo: uno de los más importantes eventos a los que he asistido en años.

Dí una pequeña charla acerca de los desafíos generales del periodismo americano, así como también las formas en que estas restricciones obran para una publicación específicamente judía. En respuesta, la audiencia fue retadora—aún más, provocadora—pero sin llegar nunca a la grosería. En un punto, describí al periodismo como un espejo, y alguien espetó: "Excepto, que con demasiada frecuencia no me siento reflejada en él."

Esta persona continuó describiendo dos historias específicas de Tablet que, dijo, la pusieron furiosa. Explicó que ella puede ver otros en Facebook también enojados por estos artículos, y luego admitió que nos atacó—un poco menos que escupiendo—incluyéndome a mí personalmente, "Pero," dijo, "¿qué otra cosa se suponía que hiciera?"

Sus sentimientos tienen sentido. El problema es Internet, el cual ofreciendo todo gratis deja ciertamente a todos impotentes—particularmente a los lectores. No pueden demandar nada de Tablet porque no han invertido nada en Tablet. No tienen las herramientas que antes estaban disponibles para los consumidores de periodismo. No pueden cancelar la suscripción, no pueden presionar a los anunciantes, no pueden amenazar nuestras conclusiones de ninguna manera. Ustedes saben todo esto, aun inconscientemente, y es (comprensiblemente) exasperante. Es por eso que, cuando las publicaciones se equivocan en sus consideraciones, se forma un gentío al que le sale espuma por la boca, presionando y presionando para obtener algún tipo de respuesta lo suficientemente dramática que les permita pretender que tienen algún control sobre las cosas que leen.

"Pero hay un desafío para ti también," contraatacó mi nueva amiga: "¿Si este asunto los mantiene tan alejados de sus lectores, acaso pueden ustedes ser nuestro espejo?"

Maine, son un grupo inteligente!

La respuesta es: Solo si están dispuestos a mantenerse firmes frente a nosotros, lo más equilibrados posible. En vez de gritar maníacamente acerca de las historias que ya publicamos, indíquenos cuáles deberíamos escribir en el futuro. En última instancia, véannos como si estuviéramos sentados en el mismo bote; si perforan un agujero de mi lado, la cosa no los mantendrá a flote tampoco a ustedes por mucho tiempo.

Durante el mes siguientes los judíos de Portland nos presentaron 5 historias (y aun contando) 3 de las cuales ya han sido publicadas. Espero que esto sea la apertura de un nuevo canal que fluye continuamente, y que sirve a otros como prueba de nuestra intención de reflejar las vidas de los judíos contemporáneos lo mejor que podemos y lo mejor que nos permitan.

Y una semana después, recibí otra nota de una lectora esta vez de una mujer judía de Buenos Aires, Ruth Percowicz. Ella no lo sabía, pero me estaba llamando a mi juego.

"¿Me pregunto si Tablet alguna vez fue publicada en español?" escribió. "Creo—si bien no soy una experta—que existe un gran mercado hispanoparlante para una revista como la suya. Y, además, hay muchos artículos que deberían ser traducidos para enseñar y aclarar sobre los temas que ustedes usualmente publican."

Nos contactamos con Ruth, quien se ofreció a participar en un experimento con nosotros. Y con esto nació Tablet en Español, un trabajo de traducción semanal a la par.  Todos los artículos fueron encargados y editados por los editores de Tablet, y traducidos por nuestra nueva compañera, Ruth.

Bienvenidos.

***

*With special thanks to Rabbi Rachel Isaacs and Melanie Weiss. (Gracias especiales a Rabbi Rachel Isaacs y Melanie Weiss.)

Alana Newhouse is the editor-in-chief of Tablet Magazine.

Source: Introducing Tablet En Español

Vivaldi browser won't work with Wacom tablet

Chrome, Opera, and Firefox all work great with my Wacom tablet, but for some reason, Vivaldi will not. The cursor moves around on the screen when I use the pen, but that's it. I cannot scroll or select anything. Since it works flawlessly in Chrome, I feel it should be an easy fix for the Vivaldi engineers.

I really love the Vivaldi browser. But switching back and forth with the mouse is a pain, and gets old.

Please correct this problem guys.

Thanks for your consideration. -gk

Source: Vivaldi browser won't work with Wacom tablet

Acer Iconia A1-830 7.9" Inch Tablet Case Smart Cover Stand for Acer Iconia Tab

This case is designed for Acer Iconia A1-830 7.9" Inch only. It will not fit the Acer Iconia A1-810 7.9" Inch or any other Acer Tablet.

Description:

The Slim Fit Folio Leather Case offers secure protection for your tablet while adding a range of versatile options.

A smart holder is designed to hold your stylus pen, while a soft inner liner and protective corners help safeguard the tablet against scratches and damage.

The Slim Fit Folio Leather Case offers an ideal way to protect your tablet wherever you go.

Features:

Specially design for Acer Iconia A1-830. Made from durable synthetic leather with soft interior for protection.Cover has flip capability to transform the case into a horizontal viewing stand.Open interior pocket for easy insertion of your device and Velcro flap to secure it in place.Designed with a smart holder for stylus / pen.Color: Black.

Package Included:

1 x Acer Iconia A1-830 7.9" Tablet Case Cover Stand

1> We ar e NZ registered company and GST invoice can be supplied.2> We promise refund or replacement within the first 30 days. More details please refer to the Trade Me "Profile".3> We do the same day dispatch for order with payment received before 2:00PM on week day by CourierPost overnight & signature service.4> We are trying to do the best customer service. Please contact us via mail or phone for any problem freely. Your support is much appreciated! Please click here to ask a question

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You must log in to view questions and answers on this listing. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases. You must log in to ask or answer questions posted. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases. Available only to approved bidders. You must be an authenticated member to ask questions Find out more about becoming authenticated. Your account is in debt Your current account balance is You must credit your account to use this feature.
Source: Acer Iconia A1-830 7.9" Inch Tablet Case Smart Cover Stand for Acer Iconia Tab

Apple iPhone X delivery times stretch out for weeks after pre-order blitz

Go get in line now

If you wanted the new Apple iPhone X and weren't poised over your mouse and keyboard at 12:01 a.m. PDT this morning, well, it's now going to be a while – maybe a very long while – until you can get one. According to CNET and numerous other outlets where technophiles were hoping to scoop up the new phone, they were pretty much gone in ten minutes.

That's when the shipping delays began to pop up, and most cell phone carriers, along with Apple, are now showing a five to six week delay in shipping times. That means if you slept through the pre-order window, your only recourse now to get one in the short term is to get in line at an Apple Store or shell out big time for one elsewhere. The new iPhone Ten is $999 for the base 64gb model, and the 256gb model is $1149. Or, slightly more on eBay. Good luck.

Everything is fine, mostly

Speaking of expensive smartphones, Google is currently involved in a bit of… confusing messaging about the display problems with the new Pixel 2 XL handset, which has seen recent complaints of ghosting or burn-in, and now, an odd blue tint at times. According to BGR, Google is saying the displays are working just fine, but they know about the issue and just to be safe, they are extending the warranty to two years in case something… were to go wrong with them.

In a post, a Google VP says the company is aware of the complaints, and in a much more technical deep dive post about the display tech, another Googler says the displays are "as great as we hoped they would be," but just in case, software updates will be issued that fade out the lower on-screen buttons after a few seconds to avoid any issues anyone might be experiencing. The display will also be dimmed ever so slightly; they say you won't notice.

Interestingly, it seems the display problems are essentially affecting just the XL model, the regular Pixel 2 seems to be fine, just fine. Google also claims the problems the XL screens are having are "in line with that of other premium smartphones." Once the OLED iPhone X finally arrives next week, we'll just have to see about that.

Best diary ever

Given the popularity of Apple's iPads, Pencil stylus, Microsoft's Surface tablets and their Surface Pen and so on, you'd think trying to force another pen-and-slate product into the marketplace would be a bad idea. But Windows Central is claiming Redmond is indeed pushing ahead with just such a device, but it has a key difference: the device will be foldable, like a book, and it'll also have phone capabilities and will focus on a more pen-and-digital ink experience.

It even has a cool name: Andromeda. Windows Central says the device may be similar to a past effort at a similar device that didn't make it to market: Microsoft Courier. The Andromeda device or devices will reportedly run Windows 10 (everything likely will, eventually), and with a focus on a more traditional input style – actual writing – could appeal to technophobes who have kept current tablet and laptop tech at arms length.

We've seen highly flexible OLED displays and other flex-display tech, but will the bendy screens stand up to thousands of cycles of opening and closing? Hard to tell, but, we're intrigued. There's no shortage of people who love to write and draw in journals and so forth, and if they could have that experience along with the perks of modern computing, it could be a whole new product category.

We've got more news on our Facebook page and YouTube channel, and be sure to tune in to this week's DT podcasts: Trends with Benefits (general tech shenanigans)  on Thursdays, and Between the Streams (movie and TV topics) every Friday.

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Source: Apple iPhone X delivery times stretch out for weeks after pre-order blitz

Women in Scotland allowed abortion pill at home

Women in Scotland allowed abortion pill at home By Lucy Adams BBC Scotland correspondent

26 October 2017

From the section Scotland

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Close share panel Image caption Misoprostol is sold under the brand name Cytotec among others

Women in Scotland are the first in the UK to be allowed to take the abortion pill at home.

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer has written to all health boards to say the drug misoprostol can be taken by women outside of a clinical setting.

The change brings Scotland in line with other countries such as Sweden and France.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has been lobbying to change the law in the UK for years.

Two tablets

There were 12,063 terminations of pregnancy in Scotland in 2016 and almost three-quarters (73.5%) were carried out at less than nine weeks gestation.

The vast majority of these early terminations (89.4%) were medical rather than surgical procedures.

The medical treatment involves taking two different medicines.

The first tablet, called Mifepristone, blocks the action of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain the pregnancy.

The second tablet, called Misoprostol, can be given on the same day, or 24, 48 or 72 hours apart.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The tablet will be given out at a clinic but can be taken at home

Not all women are suitable for a medical abortion, although they may still be suitable for a surgical abortion.

The change in Scotland would mean the second tablet Misoprostol - would be administered in a clinical setting but could be taken by women at home.

Within an hour of taking misoprostol women often experience heavy bleeding - usually on the way home from the clinic.

This is a particular concern for women in Scotland who often have to travel long distances to access abortion and maternity services.

The Scottish government said it was making the changes under existing abortion powers.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "Abortion can be an emotive subject - however I am proud this government is working hard to ensure women are always able to access clinically safe services.

"Scotland is now the only part of the UK to offer women the opportunity to take misoprostol at home when this is clinically appropriate, a decisi on that allows women to be in control of their treatment and as comfortable as possible during this procedure."

Privacy of home

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the BPAS, welcomed the decision.

She said: "This will spare women not only the difficulties associated with having to make more than one clinic visit - childcare, transport, time off work - but it will also spare women from the risk of symptoms on their way home, having taken the medication in a clinic."

"It is simply perverse that a woman arriving at a BPAS clinic in England and Wales with an incomplete miscarriage can be given the medication to take in the comfort and privacy of her own home, while a woman seeking an abortion must take that same medication on site.

"We hope that the government will follow Scotland's lead and roll out this important policy change across the rest of Great Britain."

However, John Deighan, chief executive of the Society for the protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) Scotland, said the change would mark "a return to the days of back street abortions with no medical oversight".

He added: "The reality is that this will have many vulnerable women who may be desperate about the situation they are in, pushed towards what is seen as the easy option of being handed some drugs and sent home to stop being a problem for society."

Source: Women in Scotland allowed abortion pill at home

Why We Must Fight for the Right to Repair Our Electronics

Photo: The Voorhes

The Consumer Technology Association estimated that residents of the United States bought 183 million smartphones in 2016. There are already as many TVs in this country as there are people. That's a lot of electronics, and these numbers are just going up.

On balance, all this technology is probably making our lives better. But there's a downside, too: The stuff often malfunctions. Unlike the 30-year-old mixer on your kitchen counter that refuses to die, new technology—especially the smart devices with fancy, embedded electronics—breaks more quickly. That trend, confirmed by a recent study by the German government, applies not just to delicate products like smartphones and tablets but also to equipment we would expect to last for a long time—like televisions, washing machines, and even tractors.

Manufacturers would prefer to sell you their latest models rather than repair your old electronics, so they work to make fixing their products too expensive or too impractical. It's a global problem because the marketplace for technology is global, and people everywhere are affected. With so many people throwing out so much broken stuff, it should come as no surprise that e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream, with tens of millions of tons discarded annually around the world.

Tossing things out instead of fixing them has far-reaching consequences—for consumers, for the economy, and for the environment. Indeed, a future in which nothing ever gets repaired isn't bright for anyone except the people trying to sell you new products. And many of us are not prepared to accept that future without a fight.

In 2013, a group of concerned consumers, recyclers, refurbishers, environmentalists, digital-rights advocates, and repair specialists in the United States teamed up to found Repair.org, of which one of us (Gordon-Byrne) is executive director and the other (Wiens) is chairman of the board. We're working to make sure that when something breaks, U.S. consumers can easily find the information and parts they need to repair it, or else have it repaired by whomever they choose.

Over the past few years, this battle has been heating up. In 2017, twelve states introduced "right to repair" legislation that would make it easier for consumers to fix broken digital equipment. With grassroots support, Repair.org is leading the charge to turn these bills into laws. Not surprisingly, we've encountered significant resistance, not from lawmakers but from lobbyists hired by large tech companies to kill right-to-repair bills behind closed doors.

You might think that these legislative battles are inconsequential or don't have too much to do with you personally. But if you believe that when you buy something you actually own it, you should pay attention as we explain why that may not be the case and give the history of how we got to today's very odd situation.

Photo: The Voorhes

People have been fixing electronic devices for as long as they have existed. You know the drill: When something breaks, you troubleshoot the problem, take the thing apart, fix or replace the failed component or subassembly, and turn the machine back on. If it works, great. If not, try again. It's as simple as that.

The trouble with repairing computerized products—a category that just keeps growing and includes pretty much anything you plug into the wall or run off a battery these days—is that the path to repair isn't always so straightforward. Sometimes it's easy to see that a connection has come loose or that a capacitor has gone bad, but for the most part identifying and correcting the underlying problem requires sophisticated diagnostic tools and detailed service documentation. If the manufacturer refuses to provide those things, repair is still possible, but it's a lot more difficult. Every repair becomes an R&D project.

In past decades, companies that made electronic equipment typically provided the information needed for repair—and usually free of charge. Computers came with schematic diagrams showing how the various components on the circuit boards were connected. Even Apple, now one of the most repair-unfriendly gadget makers in the business, sent a free, exhaustive manual—complete with schematics—to owners of the Apple II. It was expected that many owners would repair and maybe even tinker with their equipment.

But as the years went on, this kind of information became scarcer. It's ironic. We live in the age of information. And yet, at the very moment when information about how to repair electronics should be easiest for owners to get their hands on, it has dried up.

That scarcity is by design. Manufacturers don't want you to fix that broken microwave or air conditioner; they want you to buy a new one. Some even send cease-and-desist letters to people who post repair information online. Back in 2012, Toshiba told laptop repair tech Tim Hicks that he needed to remove 300 PDFs of Toshiba's official repair manuals from his website, where he was offering the information for free. To avoid being sued, Hicks complied, and now fewer people have the guidance they need to repair Toshiba laptops.

Toshiba isn't the only guilty party. Go to Apple's website and try to find a repair manual for a MacBook Pro. It's not there. Go to Samsung's website and look for ways to fix your flat-screen TV. You'll come away empty-handed. Same for your Keurig. Or your Kindle. Or your GoPro. Or your Lexmark printer that's always broken. You'll probably find user manuals and perhaps a few other online resources created by people who figured out how to fix the broken product on their own. But manufacturers by and large remain silent on the topic of repair.

Instead, they put official service information and diagnostic tools behind passwords and paywalls, limiting the distribution of repair information to a select few "authorized" providers. Without access to repair instructions, customers are forced to use these authorized service centers, which can charge high prices because there are no alternatives—except perhaps buying a  new device.

That's why one of us (Wiens) created iFixit, a company that takes apart popular models of consumer electronics to reverse-engineer repair instructions and then posts the information for free online. The instructions come from iFixit, not the manufacturer, so iFixit can't be sued for disseminating proprietary repair information.

E-Waste Outstrips Population Source: The Global E-Waste Monitor 2014, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability/United Nations University

Even if you happen to find repair instructions on iFixit's website or elsewhere, you still have to locate replacement parts. In some cases, parts are so difficult to get from the manufacturer that people instead extract them from junked equipment, as if they were harvesting organs from the recently deceased. Things are even harder for small repair shops, which struggle to find reliable sources of high-quality replacement parts.

The lack of service parts is an especially big impediment when it comes to repairing smartphones, tablets, and gaming devices. Together, those products number in the billions, and yet many models have no independent sources for fragile items like glass. That's crazy because glass, of course, breaks frequently. Fixing it is a big business for phone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, which are fighting vigorously to protect their monopolies on repair. As of September 2014, gadget insurance company SquareTrade estimated that Americans had spent US $10.7 billion on iPhone repairs since the phone's 2007 introduction.

Apple may be the worst offender when it comes to refusing to sell service parts or provide repair information to anyone but its authorized service providers. The company doesn't even provide such information for equipment that Apple won't repair anymore (Apple has a long list of "vintage and obsolete" devices it no longer supports) or for repairs that its "Geniuses" aren't skilled enough to do, like fixing a computer's motherboard.

In 2015, the company went even further—remotely disabling iPhones whose screens had been repaired outside of Apple's authorized network. One of those dead devices belonged to Antonio Olmos, a photographer for The Guardian. He broke his screen while covering the refugee crisis in the Balkans. There's no Apple store in Macedonia, so Olmos had a local repair shop replace the broken screen with an aftermarket part. It worked great. Months later, though, after a routine software update, Olmos's phone stopped working simply because of that screen.

At first, Apple defended "error 53" (as the problem was identified) as a security measure. The company blamed unauthorized repair shops: "When an iPhone is serviced by an unauthorised repair provider, faulty screens or other invalid components that affect the touch ID sensor could cause the check to fail if the pairing cannot be validated. With a subsequent update or restore, additional security checks result in an 'error 53' being displayed," an Apple spokesperson told The Guardian.

But that explanation didn't fly with owners. Independent repair shops didn't break these phones; Apple did. And the aftermarket screens hadn't been faulty; they just hadn't been made by the original equipment manufacturer—because Apple refuses to sell OEM screens to independent repair shops.

Bowing to public pressure, Apple apologized and fixed the broken phones with a new update. But a precedent had been set. Previously, Apple had made it difficult for people to fix its products by restricting access to parts and service information. Now, to those owners who dared to repair their equipment without the company's blessing, Apple could dole out punishment—with software.

Photos: iFixit No Serviceable Parts: Or so manufacturers would have people believe when it comes to electronic devices such as smart watches and mobile phones. But repair is often possible, using replacement parts and instructions from other sources.

In 2011, the entrepreneur and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen quipped in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal that "software is eating the world"—meaning that it's now in pretty much everything: phones, microwave ovens, coffeemakers, sewing machines, even Barbies. And it's threatening to gobble up repair with it.

All computerized equipment comes with embedded software—code that tells the machine what to do and how its components should function together. Without that code, our coffee doesn't brew, our cars don't shift gears, and our sewing machines can't stitch.

When you buy such a machine, the hardware becomes yours. But if you ask manufacturers, they'll say that the software inside still belongs to them. It's copyrighted, and most manufacturers don't want you to touch it, even if the thing is broken. And thanks to a controversial U.S. law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) [PDF], manufacturers are allowed to put digital locks on the code to stop people from meddling with (or even looking at) it. The European Union's Copyright Directive has similar provisions. Originally, these sorts of laws were designed to prevent pirates from copying movies and music. But, increasingly, manufacturers use them to maintain control of the products they sell to you.

Lexmark famously used the DMCA to sue Static Control Components, which was making chips that allowed other companies to refill Lexmark toner cartridges and sell them again. Recently, HP went so far as remotely disabling unlicensed cartridges installed in its printers. Even John Deere deploys digital locks to make sure that only its own technicians can fix anything software-related on its agricultural machines.

When asked why it was standing in the way of farmers who want to fix their own tractors, the company replied that farmers didn't really own their tractors. According to John Deere [PDF], farmers have only "an implied license for the life of the vehicle to operate the vehicle," and farmers (or their mechanics) aren't allowed to fiddle with the software to effect a repair.

Naturally, that position upset a lot of farmers, who assumed that when they plopped down $75,000 or more for a new tractor, they were buying the whole thing. They felt they should be able to fix their tractors on their own terms. And it turns out that the farmers were right.

Authorities in the U.S. Copyright Office—who presumably have a deeper knowledge of U.S. copyright law than John Deere does—have generally sided with consumers when it comes to repair. In 2015, copyright officials told John Deere that owners do have the right to repair their own tractors and other equipment. And, in December 2016, the copyright office concluded a yearlong study [PDF] on copyright law, repair, and embedded software that solidly confirms that repair is legal under copyright law. The same study argues that federal copyright law can't be used as an excuse to prevent repair.

But that hasn't stopped some manufacturers from continuing to try. For example, as part of John Deere's 2016 End User Licensing Agreement, the buyer agrees to give up all control over the electronics within the machine—including sensors, actuators, and computing units, as well as data, documentation, and diagnostics. What's more, the buyer is assumed to have agreed to the contract simply by switching on the machine [PDF]. There is no discussion. No negotiation. No signature requirement. Just turn the key and you waive your right to own critical parts of the machine you just bought.

So how can people in the United States preserve their right to repair electronics? The answer is now apparent: through right-to-repair legislation enacted at the state level.

Popular support on this issue has been clear since 2012, when 86 percent of the voters in Massachusetts endorsed a ballot initiative that would "[require] motor vehicle manufacturers to allow vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in Massachusetts to have access to the same vehicle diagnostic and repair information made available to the manufacturers' Massachusetts dealers and authorized repair facilities."

Carmakers howled in protest, but after the law passed, they decided not to fight independent repair. Indeed, in January 2014 they entered into a national memorandum of understanding [PDF], voluntarily extending the terms of the Massachusetts law to the entire country. The commercial vehicle industry followed suit in October 2015.

Now we need right-to-repair legislation for other kinds of equipment, too, particularly electronic equipment, which is the focus of "digital right to repair" initiatives in many states.

Similar to the Massachusetts legislation for automobiles, these digital-right-to-repair proposals would require manufacturers to provide access to service documentation, tools, firmware, and diagnostic programs. They also would require manufacturers to sell replacement parts to consumers and independent repair facilities at reasonable prices.

The bills introduced this year in a dozen states have some variations. The ones in Kansas and Wyoming, for example, are limited to farm equipment. The one most likely to be adopted soon is in Massachusetts, which seeks to outlaw the monopoly on repair parts and information within the state. If it passes, electronics manufacturers will probably change their practices nationwide.

Consumers would then have more choices when something breaks. The next time your smartphone screen cracks, your microwave oven gets busted, or your TV dies, you may be able to get it fixed quickly, affordably, and fairly. And you, not the manufacturer, would decide where your equipment is repaired: at home, with the manufacturer, or at a local repair shop that you trust.

The right to repair electronics isn't just about repair or even about technology⁠—it's about ownership. You bought the thing, and therefore you own it—and not just part of it but all of it. And that means you should be able to fix it or get it fixed by whomever you choose. The terms of ownership shouldn't change just because the product has a chip in it.

This article appears in the November 2017 print issue as "The Fight to Fix It."

Kyle Wiens is cofounder and CEO of iFixit. Gay Gordon-Byrne is executive director of Repair.org. 

Source: Why We Must Fight for the Right to Repair Our Electronics

Smartphones, Tablets Sabotaging Teens' Sleep

FRIDAY, Oct. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Teens sleep less than they used to, sacrificing shuteye to spend more time on their phones and tablets.

Experts say teens need at least nine hours of sleep a night to be engaged and productive during the day. Anything less can cause daytime sleepiness and interfere with school or daily activities.

Faced with an array of tempting distractions, how much sleep are today's teens actually getting? To find out, researchers analyzed a pair of long-term, national surveys of more than 360,000 eighth- through 12th-graders.

One survey asked eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders how often they got at least seven hours of shuteye. The other asked high school students how long they slept on a typical school night.

In 2015, 4 out of 10 teens slept less than seven hours a night. That's up 58 percent since 1991 and 17 percent more than in 2009 when smartphone use became more mainstream, the researchers said.

"Teens' sleep began to shorten just as the majority started using smartphones. It's a very suspicious pattern," said study leader Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University.

The more time students reported spending online, the less sleep they got, according to the study published Oct. 19 in the journal Sleep Medicine.

Those who were online five hours a day were 50 percent more likely to be sleep-deprived than classmates who limited their daily time online to an hour.

Studies have shown that light from smartphones and tablets can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle.

"Our body is going to try to meet its sleep needs, which means sleep is going to interfere or shove its nose in other spheres of our lives," said study co-author Zlatan Krizan, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University. "Teens may catch up with naps on the weekend or they may start falling asleep at school."

Though smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices are often an essential part of life, the researchers said moderation is key. Everyone -- young and old alike -- should limit use to two hours each day, they advised in a San Diego State University news release.

"Given the importance of sleep for both physical and mental health, both teens and adults should consider whether their smartphone use is interfering with their sleep," Twenge said. "It's particularly important not to use screen devices right before bed, as they might interfere with falling asleep."

More information

The National Sleep Foundation provides more information on teens and sleep.

SOURCE: San Diego State University, news release, Oct. 19, 2017

-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2017

Copyright © 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Source: Smartphones, Tablets Sabotaging Teens' Sleep

Dr. Reddy's, fighting to recover from FDA warning letter, recalls 500K heartburn tablets

Still struggling to turn its manufacturing around, Dr. Reddy's is recalling 569,000 store-brand famotidine tablets in the U.S., thanks to failed tests for impurities and degradation. It's the India-based company's second recall of the same medication since last July.

The meds were sold at CVS pharmacies as CVS Pharmacy Acid Controller and at Walmart under the Equate label, according to the FDA's latest Enforcement Report. It's a Class III recall, meaning the suspect drugs aren't likely to cause injury to humans.

Dr. Reddys pulled more than 84,000 famotidine tablets, also produced for CVS, last July. In both cases, the company found an out-of-specification result during routine stability testing. The new recall is nationwide.

RELATED: The top 15 generics makers by 2016 revenue - Dr. Reddy's

The latest recall comes as the generics maker continues to suffer FDA citations at multiple manufacturing plants, including some included in a 2015 warning letter. Its ongoing manufacturing problems triggered a decline in U.S. sales, making a dent in its fiscal 2017 results announced in May.

That same month, Dr. Reddy's reported that an inspection of its Bachupally formulation plant in Hyderabad resulted in an FDA Form 483 with 11 observations.

That notice came as Harvard Drug Group recalled about 9,200 cartons of the antifungal drug fluconazole manufactured at the Bachupally plant. And it followed two other Form 483s, one in April and another in February, citing problems at active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plants in Srikakulam and Miryalaguda that had featured in that 2015 warning letter.

RELATED: Dr. Reddy's blasted in warning letter for hiding existence of testing lab from FDA

The company's manufacturing issues also prompted a fraud lawsuit from South Korea's Mezzion. The FDA had rejected Mezzion's drug candidate udenafil because of manufacturing problems. Mezzion alleged that Dr. Reddy's repeatedly said it was compliant with FDA regulations when it was not and that Dr. Reddy's "was the sole reason given by the FDA" for denying udenafil's approval.

Source: Dr. Reddy's, fighting to recover from FDA warning letter, recalls 500K heartburn tablets

iOS 11 latest version, problems, fixes, features, compatibility

Everything you need to know about the new iOS 11, including the latest version, problems (and fixes), new features and compatible devices

iOS 11 offers big improvements over its predecessor, iOS 10 and is now available to download for your iPhone or iPad. Here, we bring you everything you need to know about iOS 11 including the latest version, details of any problems people are encountering, and the recommended fixes.

In our latest update to this article, Apple explains why WiFi and Bluetooth won't turn off, read more here.

What is the latest version of iOS?

iOS 11 becamse available to download on 19 September 2017. If you are wondering whether you should install iOS 11, read this. Plus, here's how to install iOS 11, and how to downgrade to iOS 10 if you change your mind.

We will list the updates to iOS 11 that have rolled out since the main launch, along with any changes they bring. At some point, an update will add Peer-to-Peer payments so that you can pay your friends directly via your iPhone.

iOS 11.0.1

iOS 11.0.1 was the first update to iOS 11. It was issued on 26 September and fixes a few known problems with iOS 11 including the following:

Fixes the Microsoft Outlook/Exchange Server issues that were stopping emails from sending.

Changes to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings help alleviate battery problems.

iOS 11.0.2

Apple released iOS 11.0.2 on 3 October 2017. The update addresses the following:

An issue with crackling sounds that could occur during calls

An issue that caused some photos to become hidden

An issue where attachments in S/MIME-encrypted emails wouldn't open

The build number is 15A421.

iOS 11.0.3

iOS 11.0.3 was released on 11 October 2017. It fixes:

An issue where audio and haptic feedback would not work on some iPhone 7 and 7 Plus devices

An issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 6s displays because they were not serviced with genuine Apple parts 

However, those who have already installed the update are reporting poor performance and degraded battery life, as well as problems with stability, Bluetooth and TouchID.

Current Beta versions of iOS 11

Apple has seeded iOS 11.1 to developers.

It includes some interface changes.

Which iPhones & iPads can get iOS 11?

The devices that'll be able to update to iOS 11 are:

iPhone 8 Plus iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2017) iPhone 8 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2015) iPhone 7 Plus iPad Pro 10.5-inch iPhone 7 iPad Pro 9.7-inch iPhone 6s Plus iPad Air 2 iPhone 6s iPad Air iPhone 6 Plus iPad 5th generation iPhone 6 iPad 4th generation iPhone SE iPad mini 4 iPhone 5S iPad mini 3 iPod Touch 6th gen iPad mini 2

The iPhone X will also run iOS 11 - it will ship with iOS 11 already installed.

We look in more detail at iOS 11 compatibility in more depth in a separate article: Can my iPhone and iPad run the new version of iOS?

iOS 11 problems and fixes

Despite Apple's extensive testing and the public and developer beta programs, there are still inevitably problems with the new version of the iPhone and iPad software. As we hear of them we will outline them here, along with any fixes that have been suggested.

If you are having any issues with your iPhone or iPad let us know. There have been reports of not being able to connect to the WiFi network, the device filling up its storage too quickly, the screen freezing or buttons becoming unresponsive, and Message syncing issues with iCloud.

Below we will look at some of the key issues and the suggested fixes for them.

Battery issues

There are concerns about the battery inside the iPhone 8, with reports of two iPhones breaking after the battery burst the case open. Apple is said to be investigating the claims, which were made about iPhones bought in Taiwan and Japan. We have more information in this article: iPhone 8 battery problems: Latest news & what to do.

In addition to this, mobile security firm Wandera, has identified some battery life concerns following the update to iOS 11.

The company monitored 50,000 iPad and iPhone users on its networks and found that those using iOS 11 were finding that their battery was draining 'twice as fast' as those on iOS 10.

This battery life issue could be related to the way Spotlight reindexed iOS 11 once installed, and also it could be due to users trying out new features and thereby using their device in an unusual way.

If you are experiencing a problem with battery life then the suggestion was that factory resetting your iPhone or iPad could fix it, but this would mean wiping your device. Here's how to factory reset your iPhone or iPad.

Apple's iOS 11.0.1 update was thought to go some way to correcting the battery life issues, by addressing WiFi and Bluetooth settings. However, battery life appears to be the top complaint from those who have installed iOS 11.0.3.

You can also save battery life by following our tips here: How to save battery life on iPhone.

Crackling (or 'static') noise

Some users reported hearing an annoying crackling noise from their iPhone's earpiece during phone or FaceTime calls since updating to iOS 11 - but it only seems to affect the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus handsets. Apple has addressed this with a patch in iOS 11.0.2 (discussed above).

WiFi & Bluetooth issues with iOS 11

Users have been confused to find that when they toggle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off in iOS 11 Control Centre on their iPhone it doesn't actually turn off the functions.

Apple explains that this is so that the following applications can have access to the functions:

AirDrop

AirPlay

Apple Pencil

Apple Watch

Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot

Instant Hotspot

Location Services

What it means is that even if you think you have turned off WiFi or Bluetooth you haven't really, and functions like AirDrop will still be available.

If you want to turn off Bluetooth or WiFi you need to go into Settings, but even if you turn them off here they will turn on again automatically at 5am the next morning.

Missing apps or apps not working

Because iOS 11 marks the end of support for 32-bit apps some of the older apps on your iPhone may stop working following the iOS 11 update. We have more information on this here: Which apps won't work in iOS 11?

iOS 11 not working with email in Outlook/Exchange

There was a "cannot send mail. The message was rejected by the server" bug in iOS 11 that was stopping emails being sent via Microsoft servers.

Apple acknowledged this and worked on a fix with Microsoft which was issued with the iOS 11.0.1 update, so if you are experiencing this issue update your device.

New features in iOS 11

Here we have a summary of some of the biggest changes and enhancements in iOS 11. Many are exclusively for the iPad, but first we'll talk about the universal features. Read our full review of iOS 11 here.

Augmented reality

Apple announced ARKit as part of iOS 11 at WWDC. This allows developers to offer high-end augmented reality (AR) capabilities in their apps without having to develop the AR system themselves and also improves existing AR solutions such as Pokemon GO.

Apple's ARKit page on its website claims that ARKit is a "cutting-edge platform for developing augmented reality apps for iPhone and iPad" and offers "powerful capabilities for positional tracking and scene understanding". During the Q3 announcements, Tim Cook said that ARKit "will help the most creative minds in the industry tap into the latest computer vision technologies to build engaging content".

During the 12 September event, Apple and its developers demonstrated the AR capabilities of the new iPhones with a demo of a game called The Machines where you can battle friends online or locally in AR. The Machines will be released later in September only on iOS.

Redesigned App Store

One of the biggest iOS 11 updates is the redesigned App Store. Launching the app will first take you to the new Today tab, which is designed to help with app discovery. You'll see new Collections, a Daily List centred around a particular theme, and even tutorials that show you how to do particular things in new apps.

A second new tab is called Games, and is a dedicated place to discover both new and popular games, as well as in-app purchases for games you may already own which are available to view and download right there within the App Store. You'll see previews, tips and gameplay videos within the Games tab too.

Apps also gets its own, similarly designed tab for the rest of the content available on the App Store.

Here's how to use the App Store in iOS 11.

Control Centre, Lock Screen and Notifications

Lock Screen and Notifications have now been combined into one screen, but more excitingly Control Centre has been redesigned and is finally more customisable.

It now packs all of the features into one page and has new sliders. It also has 3D Touch to allow quick access to more settings and features, which looks like it's going to make life a lot easier.

New Messages features

iOS 11's Messages app has been updated with several new features including a new app drawer, which contains stickers, the new Apple Pay peer-to-peer feature that lets you pay contacts via iMessage, and lots more.

Apple Pay's new feature still uses the TouchID fingerprint sensor, and money received will go into your Apple Pay Cash Card, which you can use for further Apple Pay payments or to transfer money back into your bank account. At the Q3 2017 announcement Tim Cook said: "With the launch of iOS 11 this fall, our users in the US will be able to make and receive person-to-person payments quickly, easily, and securely."

There's also new Messages in iCloud that'll automatically synchronise all of your conversations across all of your iOS and macOS devices.

Apple has added a new QuickType keyboard too, which on iPhone will mean you can use the device easier one-handedly. It will move the keys closer to your thumb for one-handed typing.

Siri improvements

Siri has a new, more natural-sounding male and female voice (Cook called this "an even more intelligent and natural Siri"), as well as a new visual interface.

Apple also added new features to Siri including the ability to translate what you say into German, French, Italian, Chinese or Spanish, with further languages being added soon. It also works better with Apple Music to help suggest songs you might like.

Siri is also becoming more intelligent in iOS 11. It will now use on-device learning to discover more about you, and therefore improve suggestions when you're in particular apps. For example, if you're looking at a particular place or topic in Safari, Siri can suggest related words and items in Mail, Messages and other apps.

For developers, SiriKit is coming to bring its capabilities into more apps.

Additionally, although Apple didn't talk about it during the keynote, it looks like you'll be able to type to Siri rather than always being forced to speak out loud.

Smart Invert

Something exciting that we learned about when dev beta 6 (and public beta 5) landed was smart invert. This a long-awaited feature that some would call dark mode, where whites in the OS become black, giving a darker, slicker feel.

On iOS 10, the invert mode inverted too much; app colours, webpages and even the camera. But smart invert, while still in beta and not running perfectly, looks to be Apple's version of dark mode. This has been a long time coming!

We also found that we couldn't screenshot it - screenshots came out normally, meaning this is a filter applied over the UI, rather than changing the makeup of the UI itself. Here's a look:

This is great news, but people have been waiting for a Dark Mode viewing mode on their iOS devices for some time. In fact, it was widely expected that iOS 10 would feature a new viewing mode called Dark Mode, with black backgrounds designed to easier on the eyes when viewing at night.

Dark Mode was even seen as early as the iOS 10 beta 1 released back in June 2016, but it never materialised when iOS 10 launched.

If you want to know more about Dark Mode see How to enable Dark Mode on Mac & Apple TV.

New Camera features

The camera software also has lots of improvements, including improved image quality. Portrait Mode in the iPhone 7 Plus can be taken with Optical Image Stabilisation, True Tone flash and HDR, for example.

A new Depth API is being released for developers, which means they'll be able to use the iPhone 7 Plus's camera to add more depth information to their app.

Apple has also added a new technology called High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) that reduces the file size of your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus photos.

The camera is also getting a built-in QR scanner, and possibly the ability to pause and resume video recording without saving two separate video clips.

Live Photo Effects

You can now choose just the frame you want from a Live Photo to make your Key Photo, and there are also new 'Effects' available to use with Live Photos.

The new Loops effect will turn your Live Photo into an infinite video loop, Bounce will play and then reverse the clip. And a really cool feature means you can combine Live Photos to create a Long Exposure effect, perfect for waterfalls or city shots, for example.

Improved data tracking

While it may not be as glamorous as other features in iOS 11, there's a new addition to iOS that'll make it much easier to manage your mobile data. Within the Mobile Data section of the Settings app, you'll find a bunch of new options and menus.

We're not sure if it's compatible with all carriers at this time, but we can confirm that EE customers in iOS 11 will be able to find out how much data they have used and how much they have left in the Settings app.

It doesn't end there, either - you can even change your data plan from within the Settings app. It provides an easier way to keep an eye on your mobile data without the need to download a third-party app from the App Store.

This should make managing data on an iPhone much easier.

Indoor Maps and Lane Navigation

Maps of airports and shopping malls are coming soon, and we're also about to get information about your speed, and lane navigation.

iOS 11 will bring Do Not Disturb While Driving, too. When activated, it'll send people trying to get in touch with you a note to say that you'll see the message when you arrive at your destination.

AirPlay 2 & Apple Music improvements

A new AirPlay protocol brings lots of new features for speakers including multi-room support, and there's an AirPlay 2 audio DPI for developers.

You'll also now be able to see what your friends have been listening to in Apple Music thanks to new public profiles.

Plus, developers will get access to a new Apple Music API to introduce its library to other apps such as Nike+ Run Club and Shazam.

Apple has also redesigned the Podcast app.

iPad-exclusive features in iOS 11

We mentioned earlier that there are also lots of features coming in iOS 11 that will be exclusive to iPad users. These features are all quite simple and focus on productivity, but they're key to making the iPad a more powerful and useful device.

It feels like Apple is slowly but surely creating a tablet that can take on a laptop, and with this update and its new iPad features, it's certainly getting there.

Better multitasking

The new Dock in iOS 11 for iPad means that you'll be able to access your favourite and most frequently used apps or files quickly and easily from any screen. It's demonstrated in this cute advert:

In addition to the Dock, a new App Switcher design is going to make life easier when you want to quickly change apps or open new ones.

Plus, system-wide Drag and Drop means you can move pretty much anything between any app for much quicker and easier ways of working. An image, for example, can be dragged and dropped directly into an email. This sounds very simple but was a tedious process before so is a much-welcomed addition.

A new Files app

iOS 11 features a new app called Files. Like the multi-tasking features, it's designed to make life easier for power users.

Files will keep all of your documents in one easy-to-use place. You'll be able to drag-and-drop attachments from Mail or any other app into a particular folder, or create folders to help stay organised and find what you're looking for faster. It's going to make multitasking so much quicker, and brings the iPad Pro a lot closer to an alternative to a laptop.

As with the Dock, Apple has made an advert to explain how it works:

Apple Pencil

For iPad Pro models, the Apple Pencil has become better than ever thanks to new integrated support for inline drawing, and a new Instant Notes feature that lets you open the Notes app directly from the Lock Screen with a simple tap.

Source: iOS 11 latest version, problems, fixes, features, compatibility

Apple, Microsoft tackle the problem with tablets: they’re too advanced for their own good

SOME of the world's biggest technology companies are facing an unusual and costly problem: their products are proving too good to replace.

Sales of traditional tablet computers are falling in Australia and are tipped to drop further, even though their use and usefulness has never been higher.

Apple and Microsoft are now planning a tablet comeback, with both launching new products this month, but analysts are still debating what it will take to get tablet buyers in store and spending again.

Australians bought 1.64 million tablet computers in the last half of 2016, according to technology consultancy firm Telsyte, most of which were Apple iPads.

But iPad sales fell nine per cent during that period, and Android tablets tumbled 13 per cent.

Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi says only two-in-one-style Windows computers grew in popularity, as people sought to replace their laptops with something more versatile.

"Tablet sales have slowed since their peak in 2013 as fewer Australians have seen the need to replace their existing devices," Fadaghi says.

"However, this is changing, with support for older models ending and functionality of newer tablets improving."

READ MORE: Why you might want to delay upgrading to a new iPad Pro

Australians were most likely to upgrade their tablet for a computer they could also use for work purposes, Fadaghi says, or if the software on their existing tablet was no longer able to be updated.

As such, Telsyte is forecasting "modest growth" in tablet sales this year, he says.

But the picture is not as rosy worldwide. Gartner expects tablets to continue to fall in popularity, dropping 8 million sales this year compared to 2016, and down 12 million by 2019.

Apple plans to turn these predictions around with two new high-powered iPads.

Chief executive Tim Cook launched new iPad Pro models at its annual developers' conference — one with a bigger screen inside a similarly sized body, and another with a 12.9-inch display.

In addition to being entertainment devices, they are designed to substitute for laptops, with more processing and graphical grunt, as well as new software that will show off the iPad's file system for the first time, and add a host of multi-tasking features.

When iOS 11 software is released in spring, users will be able to create file folders, for example, and drag photos or text from one app into another.

"iPad has completely changed the way we work, play, teach, learn and create," Cook says.

"We've been pushing the boundaries on iPad and … we're going to push them further than ever before."

But as Apple tries to win over buyers with more businesslike features, Microsoft is moving in the opposite direction.

Its new Surface Laptop will come with a new operating system called Windows 10 S that uses apps rather than programs, taking a leaf from Apple's iOS playbook, and increasing its battery life.

The 13.5-inch, $1499 laptop is designed for students but it's likely to win a wider audience, particularly after Microsoft's Surface devices beat Apple for customer satisfaction in JD Power's recent Tablet Satisfaction Survey.

JD Power service industries vice-president Jeff Conklin says the fact Surface tablets "are just as capable as many laptops" won approval from the most buyers.

Source: Apple, Microsoft tackle the problem with tablets: they're too advanced for their own good

Google has a 10-inch Android tablet problem

Written by Mihir Patkar | New Delhi | Published:December 20, 2014 3:47 pm

Android does not have enough 10-inch tablets that could be called a value-for-money proposition.

If you are in the market for a 10-inch tablet, you'll be surprised by how limited your choices are. In India, Android does not have enough 10-inch tablets that could be called a value-for-money proposition. The problem, in most cases, is price.

For any other screen size, be it 7 inches, 8 inches or 9 inches, there is a wide variety of tablets by different manufacturers. And while not every one of those will be a winner, you always have a few decent options. For example, you can buy the Digiflip XT811 for Rs. 10,000, which is a good enough proposition for most regular users when compared to an iPad Mini, which costs about Rs. 17,000. But for 10-inchers, there's no such luck in the budget segment.

The new Asus Transformer Pad TF103 is the cheapest you should go, and that costs Rs. 20,000. Sure, there are a few others that cost less, like the iBall Slide series, but there are far too many problems in those for us to recommend.

So you have the TF103 for Rs. 20,000, the Lenovo Yoga 2 for Rs. 25,000 and it just keeps going upwards till about Rs. 50,000 for the Samsung Galaxy Note or the Sony Xperia Z2. Meanwhile, the iPad Air starts at Rs. 27,000. While the price difference is again Rs. 7,000—the same as the 8-inchers—the percentage of difference is much lower: 25% compared to 41%.

The iPad Air is a better tablet than its Android competitors, so in most cases, you are better off raising your budget and buying an iPad instead of any of the 10-inch Android tablets.

The problem really isn't the iPad Air; it's still a pretty expensive tablet for a large number of Indians to buy. The problem is that Google's Android partners aren't making affordable 10-inch tablets. The loser, in the end, is the consumer.

For all the latest Technology News, download Indian Express App

Source: Google has a 10-inch Android tablet problem

Apple, Microsoft tackle the problem with tablets: they’re too advanced for their own good

SOME of the world's biggest technology companies are facing an unusual and costly problem: their products are proving too good to replace.

Sales of traditional tablet computers are falling in Australia and are tipped to drop further, even though their use and usefulness has never been higher.

Apple and Microsoft are now planning a tablet comeback, with both launching new products this month, but analysts are still debating what it will take to get tablet buyers in store and spending again.

Australians bought 1.64 million tablet computers in the last half of 2016, according to technology consultancy firm Telsyte, most of which were Apple iPads.

But iPad sales fell nine per cent during that period, and Android tablets tumbled 13 per cent.

Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi says only two-in-one-style Windows computers grew in popularity, as people sought to replace their laptops with something more versatile.

"Tablet sales have slowed since their peak in 2013 as fewer Australians have seen the need to replace their existing devices," Fadaghi says.

"However, this is changing, with support for older models ending and functionality of newer tablets improving."

READ MORE: Why you might want to delay upgrading to a new iPad Pro

Australians were most likely to upgrade their tablet for a computer they could also use for work purposes, Fadaghi says, or if the software on their existing tablet was no longer able to be updated.

As such, Telsyte is forecasting "modest growth" in tablet sales this year, he says.

But the picture is not as rosy worldwide. Gartner expects tablets to continue to fall in popularity, dropping 8 million sales this year compared to 2016, and down 12 million by 2019.

Apple plans to turn these predictions around with two new high-powered iPads.

Chief executive Tim Cook launched new iPad Pro models at its annual developers' conference — one with a bigger screen inside a similarly sized body, and another with a 12.9-inch display.

In addition to being entertainment devices, they are designed to substitute for laptops, with more processing and graphical grunt, as well as new software that will show off the iPad's file system for the first time, and add a host of multi-tasking features.

When iOS 11 software is released in spring, users will be able to create file folders, for example, and drag photos or text from one app into another.

"iPad has completely changed the way we work, play, teach, learn and create," Cook says.

"We've been pushing the boundaries on iPad and … we're going to push them further than ever before."

But as Apple tries to win over buyers with more businesslike features, Microsoft is moving in the opposite direction.

Its new Surface Laptop will come with a new operating system called Windows 10 S that uses apps rather than programs, taking a leaf from Apple's iOS playbook, and increasing its battery life.

The 13.5-inch, $1499 laptop is designed for students but it's likely to win a wider audience, particularly after Microsoft's Surface devices beat Apple for customer satisfaction in JD Power's recent Tablet Satisfaction Survey.

JD Power service industries vice-president Jeff Conklin says the fact Surface tablets "are just as capable as many laptops" won approval from the most buyers.

Source: Apple, Microsoft tackle the problem with tablets: they're too advanced for their own good

OAPs to be given Samsung Galaxy tablets to SKYPE carers after cash-strapped council scraps home visits

A CASH-STRAPPED council is handing out high-end Samsung Galaxy tablets in a bid to make sick pensioners SKYPE their carers instead of receiving a home visit.

Up to 40 OAPs in Essex will be handed top-of-the-range 4G Samsung Galaxy tablets as part of the madcap scheme.

SWNS:South West News Service

Up to 40 Essex OAPs will receive top-of-the-range computer tablets as part of the trial

Last night Essex County Council bosses insisted the trial, run in partnership with Essex Cared LTD, will provide "a more convenient and prove a less intrusive method of interacting with a care worker, friends and family."

But top GP Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard blasted: "What these patients need is someone to listen to them and to find purpose in life.

"GPs see patients, many of whom are widowed, who have multiple health problems like diabetes, hypertension and depression, but often their main problem isn't medical, they're lonely.

An estimated 1.1 million OAPs are chronically lonely in the UK, and lonely people are more likely to develop serious conditions like heart disease, depression and dementia.

Cliff Rich, CEO of Contact the Elderly added: "We gladly recognise the amazing strides modern technology has made in helping all of us, and especially older people, with staying in touch with family and friends who may live too far away to visit in person.

SWNS:South West News Service

Critics say the scheme will rob lonely pensioners of vital face-to-face contact

"However, we still believe that nothing can replace the essential human need for face-to-face interaction."

John Spence, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: "It is important that we keep pace with new technology.

"I am pleased that Essex is trialling this system to have a positive impact on people's lives.

"It will allow our vulnerable adults to live independently, providing them with something that is accessible from the comfort of their own homes."

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Source: OAPs to be given Samsung Galaxy tablets to SKYPE carers after cash-strapped council scraps home visits

Honor WaterPlay tablet announced too

There aren't many Android smartphone makers that still consistently push out tablets powered by Google's OS too, but Huawei is among the few that keep at that game. Today its online-only sub-brand Honor took the wraps off its newest creation, the WaterPlay. This was unveiled alongside the Honor 7X handset we told you about earlier.

As its name strongly implies, the WaterPlay is water-resistant, adhering to the IP67 standard in fact. That means submerging it in up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes shouldn't pose any problems.

The Honor WaterPlay is powered by the same Kirin 659 chipset as the Honor 7X, and you get either 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage, or a 4GB/64GB combo depending on how much money you want to spend.

The tablet has a 10.1-inch 1,920x1,200 touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera, a secondary front-facing snapper too, a microSD card slot, a fingerprint sensor on the front, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a 6,660 mAh battery with 18W fast charging. It runs Android 7.0 Nougat with Huawei's EMUI 5.1 on top.

Connectivity-wise you get optional LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1+LE, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. Its dimensions are 248 × 173 × 7.8mm, and it weighs 465g.

It's going on sale in China on October 24 in silver and Champagne Gold color versions. Pricing over there is as follows: CNY 1,999 (approximately $303 or €256 at the current exchange rates) for 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and no LTE; CNY 2,399 ($364 or €307) for 4GB/64GB/Wi-Fi-only; CNY 2,699 ($409 or €345) for 4GB/64GB/LTE.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Source: Honor WaterPlay tablet announced too

Tech Review: Backup Your Smartphone To Your Personal Cloud

The concept of cloud storage is great.  Your phone or tablet essential backs itself up all the time.  Your photos and videos are sent off to another location and saved just in case you lose or break your phone.  Problem is, it costs money.  It often requires a monthly subscription fee.  A fee that you will basically pay forever.  Otherwise, you'll lose those files!  There are other ways to back-up your important files!Western Digital MyCloud Home – $160+

Create your own cloud!  That's the concept behind the Western Digital MyCloud Home.  It's essentially a hard drive that plugs into your internet router.  Setup is super simple via a webpage or a mobile app on iPhone or Android.  It literally took me less than 5 minutes to get the drive up and running on my network.  Once it's setup, you use it like any other cloud storage.

The WD App can work in the background on your phone or tablet, backing up your photos and videos minutes after you take them.  There is also a PC app that you can use to keep folders on your desktop or laptop computer synchronized to your cloud drive.

The MyCloud goes one step further and has a few cool tricks up it's sleeve!  It can be used as a Plex server.  This means you can store videos on the drive and watch them on your Plex compatible set-top box.  If you know Plex then you know this is an awesome feature.  You can also connect the MyCloud to your social media networks so that it backs up any photos that you post to Facebook.  It'll also backup any files that you upload to services like DropBox or Google Drive.

MyCloud is an awesome option if you don't want to pay a monthly fee for a cloud service and want to keep your files, in your home!  It's the easiest and most robust personal cloud solution I've tested yet!

The WD MyCloud Home starts at $160 for 2TB and goes up to $700 for 16TB!  It's a perfect solution for a family that wants to share a cloud storage solution among multiple devices.

SanDisk iXpand Base – $50+

If you're looking for something a little simpler to back-up your iPhone on a daily basis, iXpand is a good option.  It's a charging base that has an SD card on the back.  When you plug your iOS device into the iXpand the app starts backing up your photos, videos and contacts from your phone or iPad to the memory card.  No internet required, just a simple straightforward automatic backup.

The best part is that the iXpand is a much more affordable solution starting at just $50 (32GB).  Problem is, the memory may not be enough if you take a lot of HD video.  The largest $200 iXpand model is 256GB.  At that point you'd probably be better off looking into something like the MyCloud Home.

Source: Tech Review: Backup Your Smartphone To Your Personal Cloud

Sony Updates the Xperia Z3 Plus, Z4 Tablet & Z5 Family

Users of Sony's Xperia Z4 tablet, Z3 Plus, Z5 Premium, or Z5 Compact are in for a pleasant surprise as the company is rolling out a fresh update to those devices right now. Before anybody gets too excited, this update doesn't appear to include too many new features and definitely isn't a firmware upgrade to the latest version of Android itself – though Android 8.0 Oreo is available to users of some Sony devices in some regions already. What it does bring with it is a bump to the build number and some bug fixes. That includes at least one major improvement on the security side of things. It is worth pointing out, as always, that firmware rollouts take some time to complete – up to several weeks in some cases – so users shouldn't be too concerned if it hasn't hit their device just yet.

With regard to the update itself, users will notice that they are, as mentioned above, still on Android Nougat (OS version 7.1.1). However, the build number should be moved up to 32.4.A.1.54. That's not a huge step forward from the previous build number, 32.4.A.0.160, indicating that there is probably not a whole lot included in the update itself. In fact, it appears to primarily serve the purpose of delivering Android's September security patch and not much else. That's not really a bad thing since that patch represents the first that the devices have received since the June patch earlier this year. Moreover, September's update is reportedly supposed to bring a fix with it for the BlueBorne exploit though there hasn't been any word as to whether that is true for these devices and some manufacturers are patching that bug through different updates entirely. Unfortunately, with consideration for the ages of the above-listed devices, this could very well be the final update to hit them. There's also no word as to whether or not this update fixes the overheating problems users of the devices have been reporting since Android Nougat was first rolled out.

Whatever the case, the September security patch should include fixes for several other system-level vulnerabilities found in Android – including fixes implemented within the several patches that have been released by Google between June and September's respective patches. That should mean a much more secure experience for users, at a minimum.

Source: Sony Updates the Xperia Z3 Plus, Z4 Tablet & Z5 Family