Amazon Echo Wall Clock review - TechRadar

Not content with filling your house with Echo speakers and Fire TV Sticks and Cubes, Amazon’s connected ecosystem has recently expanded to take in other sorts of household goods. From literal TVs to microwaves, one of the more intriguing Alexa-enabled gadgets is the Amazon Echo Wall Clock.

Helping to visualise your Alexa-set timers and alarms, it’s a physical extension of what Amazon’s voice helper can do.

But is there much that can be added to a wall-hanging timepiece by linking it to other web-connected gadgetry? It appears not – though that’s not to dissuade the Alexa-loving masses from giving it a look.

(Image credit: Future)

Price and availability

The Amazon Echo Wall Clock is available now, priced at $29.99 / £29.99 (around AU$43.60). There’s very little other than regular clocks to compare that pricing to, and with a clock as much a design piece as a functional item, prices vary widely. But, over an average, basic wall-hanging clock, the Echo Wall Clock does represent a bit of a mark-up. 

Design

Have you ever seen a clock? Yep, we thought so. The Amazon Echo Wall Clock looks just like one, too. There’s very little in the way of frills or design flourish here – about the size of a dinner plate, it has white numbers placed on a black face, with white hands and a white plastic frame. Note that it doesn’t have a clear plastic cover over its face, so you might find it gets a bit dusty on the inner lower edge over time.

(Image credit: Future)

Powered by four AA batteries (which should last a few months at least), the Amazon Echo Wall Clock sets itself apart through its use of LEDs. 60 light notches sit around the edge of the face, marking seconds and minutes, which light up when you set a timer on a connected Alexa device, and count down by dimming accordingly. There’s also a blue-ish light above the ‘6’ on the bottom edge of the clock to note connectivity. A pairing button on the rear aside, and that’s it.

Sensibly, then, it’s a clock first, and a gadget second. By being about as generic in style as is imaginable, the Amazon Echo Wall Clock will suit practically all decors.

Setup

Despite an early connectivity glitch that caused Amazon to temporarily halt sales of the Echo Wall Clock shortly after its release, the Echo Wall Clock now works like a charm.

Pop the batteries in, say to your Alexa device “Alexa, set up my Echo Wall Clock”, and you’ll be prompted to push the pairing button on the rear, which triggers its Bluetooth connection. The clock then sets its hands to the correct time automatically, including taking daylight savings time into account.

And that’s it – you’re good to go. There’s a screw and plastic anchor included for wall mounting in the box too – just make sure you’ve paired the clock before attaching it to your wall.

It’s worth noting, however, that the Amazon Echo Wall Clock is currently only compatible with Amazon’s own Echo speaker line. If you’ve a Sonos One, or a Fire TV Stick with voice control, for instance, they won’t be able to get the clock working properly. So if you don’t have an Amazon-branded speaker, you’re out of luck here.

Features and performance

It tells the time – do you really need a clock to do much more than that? No, but the Amazon Echo Wall Clock has at least one more trick up its sleeve. Ask your Amazon Echo speaker to set an alarm, and the paired Echo Wall Clock will light up its LEDs to match the timer in seconds and minutes. Once an alarm is up, the whole ring of LEDs around the clock face will pulse with white light.

The clock can track a second timer too, with the longer timer’s light trailing the faster one around the edge of the clock.

(Image credit: Future)

That’s it – but it’s also all it ever claimed to do, and it does it well enough. There’s a slight delay between sending the command to your Alexa speaker and seeing it visualised on the Wall Clock, which may frustrate those tracking, say, short bursts of exercise. But for the majority of people, it’ll work just fine.

Apart from those with hearing impairments however, it’s hard to see who will benefit from the additional visual elements of the Echo Wall Clock. As it has no mic or speaker of its own, it can’t stand alone in a room, and so will likely be placed near an Amazon Echo speaker. And as the speaker offers audible feedback for timers as they complete anyway, a flashing clock might just prove to be overkill.

Verdict

The Amazon Echo Wall Clock does exactly what it says on the tin – it tells the time, and visualises timers set by an accompanying Amazon Echo speaker device.

If that’s all you need, then job done – it nails it, being easy to set up in seconds, and making for a neat Echo accessory.

But it’s hard to not feel like a little more ambition here would have benefited the device. Perhaps a mains-powered clock, that doubles as a standalone Echo Speaker? Or perhaps not – the Echo Wall Clock does all it needs to, and perhaps anything else would make for something akin to those bizarre two-in-one toaster radios that were once chic.

Still, this is early days for the expanded Amazon Echo ecosystem, and we’re looking forward to the increasingly adventurous products that will likely follow in its wake.

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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-echo-wall-clock-review

2019-09-13 12:09:00Z
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Best iPhone 11 pre-order deals: Free device with new line, up to $300 gift card, more - 9to5Toys

Following Apple’s Keynote event on Tuesday, it’s now time to lock-in your pre-orders for the latest devices. So you’re probably wondering where the best iPhone 11 deals are? This year, there is a host of carriers and retailers offering discounts in the form of cashback, gift cards, and monthly discounts. So no matter which iPhone 11, Pro, or Max you’re choosing this time around, there’s likely an incentive out there somewhere. Head below for all of the best iPhone 11 deals.

Best iPhone 11 pre-order deals

iPhone 11 is expected to be the device for the masses this year. A simple design on the outside covers plenty of new features within, including a dual-camera system and “the fastest chip ever in a smartphone.” All-day battery life continues to be a significant selling point for Apple, as well. There are six colors to choose from this year, including a few new ones like purple, yellow, and green. FaceID, a 6.1-inch display, and 12MP cameras round out the list of notable specs here.

The best iPhone 11 deals for today’s pre-order launch include:

Best iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max pre-order deals

The best iPhone 11 deals are amplified even more for Apple’s new high-end handset. iPhone 11 Pro and Max deliver your choice of a 5.8-inch or 6.5-inch display, both featuring Apple’s new Super Retina XDR display with HDR support. While that’s a mouthful to say out loud, there’s plenty of specs here to love, making it one of Apple’s most compelling devices ever. That’s starts with a new three-camera array, which includes triple 12MP wide, ultrawide, and telephoto setups. Perhaps what’s most impressive is an insane jump in battery life, which promises up to five hours more use than the previous generation. New colors round out the list of specs for the new iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.

The best iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max deals for today’s pre-order launch include:

Now that you have a new iPhone on the way make sure to grab a new case as well. Swing by our roundup of the best cases out there to see all of your options for this year.

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2019-09-13 11:22:00Z
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Streaming services compared, including Netflix, Disney+ and more - digitalspy.com

20 years ago, looking to the future, you probably thought we'd have flying cars and robot maids by now. Blame The Jetsons. Instead we've got streaming platforms, absolutely ruddy loads of them, and that number is only set to increase as we head into 2020 and beyond.

More TV and movie choices than ever before sound great. But those choices demand your hard-earned dollar, which means the vast majority of us are going to have to choose where our loyalties lie.

So what gives you the best bang for your buck?

We're here to help you make an informed decision and pick the perfect package for you.

Netflix

Netflix

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Price:

• Basic package (stream on one device only) = £5.99/month

• Standard tariff (two devices) = £8.99/month

• Premium tariff (four devices) = £11.99

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Big changes are happening over at Netflix. Friends and The Office, two of the platform's most popular shows, are set to leave Netflix US, the former heading to HBO Max next year, and the latter off to NBCUniversal's currently unnamed streaming service in 2021.

Little is known about NBCUniversal's platform, other than plans are in motion to launch it in April 2020, and the "vast majority" of its content will be acquired from elsewhere, including Sky Studios, which Comcast now own along with NBCUniversal.

A Netflix spokesperson told Digital Spy that those changes "only apply to the US and there is no impact on the UK", but it's unclear if those terms will change in the future.

NBC Universal

That is a trend that is happening all over the park as corporations take back content that belongs to them in a bid to challenge Netflix for the streaming crown.

And it's something that could, although official reports have not yet surfaced, affect future legacy shows that Netflix currently licenses, such as:

• The Big Bang Theory

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

• Brooklyn Nine-Nine

• The Vampire Diaries

The CW

But while that might have initially alarmed execs over at Netflix, it also means that the whopping licensing fees – according to the New York Times, the streaming giant coughed up roughly $100 million to keep hold of Friends until the end of 2019 – will play less and less of a role in their business model.

Instead, the focus is on increasing original content, which they make in-house and own outright, and continuing to focus on its established, consistently high-performing shows which consumers can't watch anywhere else:

• Stranger Things

• Black Mirror

• The Crown

• Sex Education

• Mindhunter

• The Society

• Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

• The Umbrella Academy

• Making a Murderer

• Queer Eye

• You (season one also aired on Lifetime, but its second season will be a Netflix original)

Netflix

But of course, there's still a number of other supremely popular, well-executed series awaiting further seasons that Netflix doesn't own outright, but will continue to stream:

• The End of the F***ing World

• Better Call Saul

• Schitt's Creek

• RuPaul's Drag Race

Then there's the slate of big, A-Lister-fronted movies, which will enjoy limited theatre releases before heading to Netflix and Netflix alone:

• The Laundromat - directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas and Sharon Stone

• The King - starring Timothée Chalamet and Robert Pattinson

• The Irishman - directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Kathrine Narducci and Ray Romano

Netflix

Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, released on Netflix last year, kick-started the platform's reputation as a serious movie outlet, receiving ten nominations at the 2019 Oscars including one for Best Picture.

Netflix is also paying particularly close attention to its teen and young adult market, with many of its titles catching the attention of younger viewers in a way that other streaming platforms have been unable to. (They clearly follow Hollywood's "four quadrant" model – ie male/female/under-25/over-25.)

TV series such as The Society and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, alongside Elite and On My Block are immensely popular with both young and older viewers. Young Adult movies, such as To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Kissing Booth, both of which have sequels in the works, also make Netflix an attractive option for teens.

Netflix

Netflix is also making a concerted effort with its foreign language output to capitalise on its vast global spread. In March, it was reported by The Guardian that the streaming giant has programmes in 26 languages, and is aiming to have 100 in production by the end of this year – Dark (German), Money Heist (Spanish) and The Rain (Danish) are three of the platform's most popular.

"It doesn't matter where you live or what languages you speak, this is about great storytelling," said Netflix's Chief Product Officer Greg Peters at Web Summit in Portugal last year (via CNET).

"Netflix members around the world want authentic storytelling, they want a perspective from a passionate creator that's grounded in the local culture."

The wealth of original content, from scripted dramas and comedies, to films, documentaries and an impressive number of true-crime titles, continues to ensure that Netflix remains right up there as a top-tier streaming contender.

There is something to fit every age range, interest and mood, as well as an ever-growing number of foreign-language titles, making this option as inclusive as they come.

Prime Video (Amazon)

Nicole RivelliAmazon Prime

Price: £7.99/month, or £79/year (slightly cheaper at £6.58/month)

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Prime Video has the biggest library of TV shows and movies according to Reelgood data provided to Business Insider, with 14,000 movies (compared to a fraction of that over on Netflix – just over 3,800). Though quality, needless to say, varies.

It beats Netflix on TV shows too, with more than 2,300 titles in its library compared to 1,900+ on Netflix.

So if you're looking at the best package on the basis of numbers, Prime Video offers you more for your money.

But according to Reelgood's data, Prime Video has fewer "high quality" TV shows than Netflix – series rated 8 or higher on IMDb:

• Netflix: 203

• Prime Video: 142

The biggest current titles available on Prime Video are:

• The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

• Vikings

• Jack Ryan

• The Boys

• Outlander

• The Man in the High Castle

• The Grand Tour

• Homecoming

• Good Omens

• Carnival Row

• Mr Robot

HISTORY

But in terms of films – 7.5 or higher – there's only one between them:

• Prime Video: 125

• Netflix: 124

Prime Video also has a wealth of legacy series, such as Lost, Parks and Recreation and The X-Files available to those who just can't let go, or who missed out the first time around.

There's also the option to buy or rent big-ticket (or classic) films and TV shows that aren't included in the subscription, and you can download programmes and watch them on multiple devices – if you're a real TV nut, you can add STARZ PLAY to your package for £4.99/month if you're in the mood for yet more original TV shows and movies.

Mario PerezABC

Amazon has also been making moves in sports broadcasting – the Telegraph branded its US Open coverage "impressive" – and its Premiere League football coverage is also hitting the spot for fans of the beautiful game.

The streaming site is down to broadcast 20 Premier League matches every season for the next three years. That's also complimented by Back of the Net, a brand-new football show hosted by Gabby Logan, Peter Crouch and John Bishop.

Plus, as well as a number of other nice extras, unlimited one-day delivery on tonnes of items is included in the package, which is a big bonus if you do a lot of online shopping.

There's also the Fire Stick, which uses Alexa voice recognition to help you search for new content.

Apple TV+

Apple

Price: £4.99/month in the UK and $4.99 in the US for a family package. If you purchase a brand new Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or Apple TV, you'll get the first year for free.

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There is one big disadvantage with Apple TV+, launching on November 1: there will be significantly less content than on other streaming platforms to begin with. More, of course, will be added over time.

But what will be on offer is likely to be high-quality, judging by the players involved.

Here's a taste what you can expect:

• See – a post-apocalyptic drama written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight starring Aquaman's Jason Momoa

• The Morning Show – a comedy-drama with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon as rival TV presenters

• The Banker – a film based on a true story. Anthony Mackie and Samuel L Jackson star as two African-American entrepreneurs on a mission to provide housing loans to the their community in Texas during the Jim Crow era

• Amazing Stories – Steven Spielberg is bringing the Emmy-winning '80s fantasy-horror anthology series back to life

• Defending Jacob – based on William Landay's 2012 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name from Mark Bomback (War for the Planet of the Apes, The Wolverine), starring Captain America's Chris Pine

• Dickinson – a coming-of-age starring Hailee Steinfeld as poet Emily Dickinson

• Central Park – an "outrageous" musical comedy series with an all-star cast which includes Frozen's Kristen Bell and Josh Gad, Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Stanley Tucci

• Little America – Silicon Valley's Kumail Nanjiani and Parks and Recreation writer Alan Yang are heading up the anthology series, which tells multiple stories across the US through the eyes of immigrants

• Toxic Labour – Oprah Winfrey's documentary series about workplace sexual harassment. She is also working on a currently untitled series focusing on mental health with Prince Harry

• Servant – M. Night Shyamalan's psychological thriller, in which a couple struggling to deal with the aftermath of a tragic event must face a mysterious force when it enters their home

You can see the full rundown here.

But there will be no licensed content on Apple TV+, so don't expect to find the likes of Friends or Seinfeld when you sign in.

Subscribers will be able to watch content both online and offline, on demand, and free from ads.

The Apple TV app is available on the following:

• some Samsung smart TVs

• Amazon Fire TV

• LG

• Roku

• Sony

• VIZIO platforms

You can also catch the platform's originals on the web at tv.apple.com.

Marvel Studios

Price:

• $6.99/month, so £5.67 in the UK, or $69.99 annually

• Or you can opt for a package including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN for $12.99/month

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There is A LOT of anticipation surrounding Disney+, set to launch in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12 before hitting Australia and New Zealand on November 19. It doesn't yet have a UK launch set yet.

So, with that caveat, what might you eventually get? These are the titles that are already announced:

• Marvel: five new shows with roots in the Cinematic Universe – Falcon and the Winter Soldier (autumn 2020), WandaVision (spring 2021), Loki (spring 2021), Hawkeye (autumn 2021), and What If...?, Ms Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk. All future Marvel films will stream exclusively on Disney+

• Star Wars: The Mandalorian live-action series, a Cassian Andor live-action series, an Obi-Wan Kenobi live-action series, and an animated series The Clone Wars is being revived for a seventh season. All of the Star Wars films will also be available.

• Disney classics: all of Disney's original signature films will be included in the library, such as The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, classic movies will stream exclusively on the platform, as will all the new live-action remakes and brand-new releases such as Frozen 2 and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

• Pixar: Monsters at Work (Monsters Inc), Forky Asks a Question (Toy Story), and Lamp Life, a Bo Peep short movie. All Pixar movies and shorts will stream exclusively on Disney+

• Disney Channel favourites: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Lizzie McGuire revival, Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe. You will also be able to stream 5,000 episodes of Disney Channel's most beloved shows, and all your favourite Disney Channel Original Movies

• Simpsons: all 30 seasons on the animated sitcom will be available to watch

• National Geographic: more than 250 hours of content, including the Oscar winning Free Solo

Marvel Studios

You can also expect:

• Muppets Now – scripted series

• The World According to Jeff Goldblum – docuseries for National Geographic

• Encore! – executive produced by Kristen Bell, the reality series reunites adults with their high school musical castmates to put on a performance

• Noelle – Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader star in the movie about Santa's daughter

• Secret Society of Second-Born Royals – starring Skylar Astin and Peyton Elizabeth Lee

• Togo – a film starring Willem Dafoe about the real-life story of a man and his sled dog's journey through the Alaskan wilderness

• Timmy Failure – based on the book series of the same name, the story follows an 11-year old boy who heads up a detective agency with his best friend, an imaginary polar bear

• Stargirl – based on Jerry Spinelli's novel of the same name about a young girl tying to make her way in a brand new high school

• One Day at Disney – a documentary about a day in the life of a whole range of Disney employees

So if you love your classic and new Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, this one really is a must.

NOW TV

Price: NOW TV has a number of different packages to choose from:

• The Entertainment Pass - box sets and TV shows = £8.99/month (from Wednesday, October 9). Get access to shows such as Big Little Lies, Euphoria and Chernobyl

• The Sky Cinema Pass - more than 1,000 movies = £11.99/month

• The Sky Sports Pass - 24-hour day pass = £9.99 / week pass = £14.99 / month pass = £33.99 / mobile month pass = £5.99 a month. Catch the latest Premier League and Champions League games, as well as rugby union, cricket and Formula 1. Keep your eyes peeled for offers on sports passes around big events such as The Ashes and the start of the new football season

• The Kids Pass = £3.99/month

• The hayu Pass - for reality TV shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Vanderpump Rules = £3.99 per month.

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You can also save some pennies by purchasing one of the bundles they have on offer.

The best aspect of NowTV is that it allows you to tailor your content, ditching either TV in favour of movies or vice versa, or opting in for all of them if you're feeling flush.

In terms of TV, there's both Sky Originals, such as Save Me and Tin Star, and HBO's finest, such as the aforementioned Big Little Lies and previously Game of Thrones, as well as legacy series such as The Wire and The Sopranos.

Plus, there's a number of non-Sky channels included to watch live and on-demand, such as Comedy Central and Fox.

Britbox

BBC

Price: £5.99/month

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The BBC and ITV have joined forces to bring viewers Britbox, where you can find all of the biggest and best British TV content in one place. But Channel 4, Sky and Channel 5 are yet to be included.

It will offer its subscribers stuff from the archives, as well as commissioning brand-new programmes. It will not affect BBC iPlayer or the ITV Hub because it won't offer shows which are currently airing or recently aired – BBC shows will move to Britbox after 12 months on iPlayer, and 30 days after appearing on the ITV Hub.

BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall

Britbox will also follow the likes of NBCUniversal and Disney, removing the majority of its content from its competitors, such as Netflix. Popular BBC shows on Netflix which will likely move to Britbox are Bodyguard, Happy Valley, Gavin & Stacey and Line of Duty. Unforgotten and Marcella are three ITV shows that will likely leave the platform. Amazon also streams a number of popular British classics, which it will lose to Britbox.

World ProductionsBBC

While the likes of Netflix, Disney, Apple and Prime Video all have a number of options for younger viewers, that's an area in which Britbox will be lacking.

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2019-09-13 11:00:00Z
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iPhone 11 Pro release date, specs and price: Pre-orders kick off at 1pm - The INQUIRER

IT'S OFFICIAL: Apple has unveiled its 2019 iPhone lineup: the iPhone 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max and, er, iPhone 11. 

The Pro-branded models are being touted as the "most powerful iPhones ever", naturally, and are the first to sport triple-camera arrays. They also feature a new "Pro" design that's crafted from matte stainless steel, all-new 5.8in and 6.5in Super Retina RDX displays and Apple's newly-debuted A13 Bionic CPU.

The lesser-spec iPhone 11 also features an "all-new" design, with its reworked glass and aluminium chassis said to be the toughest on a smartphone to date. There's also a new camera setup comprising 12MP wide-and ultra-wide lenses, and an array of new colour options including yellow, purple and green.

We've rounded up everything you need to know about Apple's trio of new iPhones below. 

Release date
The iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone 11 will be available to pre-order from 1pm UK time on 13 September, with shipping set to begin on 20 September.

Price
Apple has announced that, here in Blighty, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max be available from £1,099 and £1,149, respectively, despite fetching $999 and $1,099 in the US. 

The "entry-level" iPhone 11, which can be picked up in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations, will be available £729; that's £70 less than last year's iPhone XR. 

Here in the UK, BT, EE, O2, Three, Sky Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone have confirmed that they'll be offering the new iPhones from 13 September. 

Three has confirmed that it will be offering the iPhone 11 for £49 on tariffs starting from £41 per month, with its most-expensive £58 contract offering unlimited 4G data. The iPhone 11 Pro will fetch £79 on tariffs ranging from £55 to £85, while the top-of-the-line Pro Max will be available for the same price from £73 to £89 per month. 

Sky Mobile will offer the iPhone 11 from £36 per month with 10GB data for a "limited time", though a cheaper £32 plan with 1GB data will also be available. The unsurprisingly more-expensive iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max will be available for £37 and £41 upfront on tariffs from £43 and £47 per month, respectively. 

Virgin Mobile has also spoken out about pricing, confirming that it'll be flogging the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max with 50GB data for £39, £50 and £54 per month, respectively. 

Latest news
10/9/19: Apple has unveiled its 2019 iPhones: the iPhone 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max and entry-level iPhone 11.

The Pro-branded models are, naturally, being touted as Apple's most-powerful iPhones to date and both handsets sport an all-new "Pro-grade" surgical-grade stainless steel chassis with a matte finish that will be available in midnight green and gold finishes.

More interestingly, the handsets are first to sport triple-camera arrays, with Apple adding a new 12MP wide-angle lens alongside the main and telephoto lenses. While this setup will allow you to capture more of a scene, it also means you'll have to put up with a bulge on the backside of the handset thanks to its Pixel 4-esque square camera hump. 

Like Google, Apple is also souping-up its camera software. The iPhone 11 lineup will ship with a dedicated Night mode to improve performance in dark lighting, which kicks in automatically when you're shooting in the dark.

Underneath the bulging hood, the new iFlagships sport Apple's 13 Bionic CPU, which it's proudly touting as the "fastest CPU ever in a smartphone," adding that it also has "the fastest GPU in a smartphone," too. As well as equipping the iPhone 11 Pro with more power, Apple is promising four hours of extra battery life when compared to last year's iPhone XS.

The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max also feature 5.8in 6.8in and "Super Retina XDR" OLED screens with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and up to 1,200 nits of brightness and, finally, a fast charger included in the box. 

The simply-named iPhone 11 is Apple's new entry-level model. It features an anodised aluminium and glass chassis the Apple claims the toughest found on a smartphone to date and is available in a number of new colours including purple, white, yellow, green, black, red.

While it doesn't boast the same triple-camera setup as its flagship siblings, it does feature an upgraded dual-camera setup that comprises 12MP wide and ultra-wide sensors. 

10/9/19: Analyst Ming Chi-Kuo has spouted some last-minute iPhone 11 predictions, and it's not good news. As reported by 9to5Mac, Kuo believes that Apple will drop the long-rumoured wireless power-sharing functionality from this year's iPhones because "charging efficiency may not meet Apple's requirements", though he notes that the new handsets will offer fast charging support out of the box. He's also thrown out previous rumours of Apple Pencil support for the iPhone 11.

9/9/19: Apple has announced that, for the first time, you'll be able to stream its 10 September iPhone event on YouTube; previously, Apple forced watchers to use an Apple device or Microsoft's Edge browser on Windows 10. The event will kick-off at 6pm UK time on Tuesday, and we'll be bringing you all of the news as it happens. Natch. 

6/9/19: We're just a few days away from the official launch of the iPhone 11, so - naturally-  images have appeared online that allegedly give us a look at the devices' final design.

The snaps (above), which come via accessory maker Nood Cases, show off the handset's familiar, sleek design, and show off the long-rumoured triple-lens camera system that's housed in a square bump in the iPhone 11's rear. Interestingly, the casemaker refers to the three incoming iPhone models as the iPhone XIR 11, iPhone XI 11 Pro and iPhone XI 11 Pro Max.

4/9/19: A leaked internal document has confirmed that Apple has three iPhones lined up for next week; the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The document, spied by AppleBeta2019 also states that the new iPhones will run iOS 13.0 out of the box, with 13.0.1 rolling out as an OTA update in October followed by the stable release of iOS 13.1.

The 10-page document, seen by AppleInsider, also says that four new Apple Watches will be unveiled in September, with two new iPad models set to arrive the following month. 

3/9/19: The iPhone 11's A13 chipset has prematurely appeared on Geekbench. The benchmarks, which confirm the new iPhone will boast 4GB RAM compared, show the iPhone 11 scoring 5,415 for single-core and 11,294 for multi-core. If legit, this means Apple's new iPhones are about 12 per cent faster for single-core tasks, but the multicore score remains unchanged hinting that the A13 chip will continue to include six cores, presumably in an identical setup to the A12.

28/8/19: Apple has reportedly culled the iPhone 11's rumoured 'Walkie-Talkie' feature just weeks ahead of the handset's launch. So says The Information, which reports that the feature, dubbed 'Project OGRS (Off-Grid Radio Service)' internally, was being developed in partnership with Intel and would have allowed messages to be sent between iPhones over long-distance radio waves that bypass cellular networks.

It's unclear why Apple scrapped the feature, though The Information notes that the departure of the executive in charge of the project, Ruben Caballero, may have been a factor, as could Apple's decision to ditch Intel in favour of a Qualcomm modem.

27/8/19: With just weeks to go until Apple's next iPhone launch, a YouTuber claims to have posted the first hands-on video with the iPhone 11 Pro. The clip, shared by ConceptsiPhone, shows off a dummy iPhone 11 unit, all-but-confirming its bulging square-shaped camera array that's surrounded by the same gold stainless steel that runs around the edges of the device. The two-minute-long video doesn't tell us much else we don't already know, but one thing's for sure: you're going to need a new case. 

22/8/19: A new mega-report from Bloomberg claims Apple's incoming iPhones will feature triple-camera systems, reverse wireless charging functionality and a new multi-angle Face ID sensor.

The report also affirms rumours about the "Pro" naming scheme for Apple's OLED models. Both the Pro and the so-called Pro Max will feature triple cameras comprising wide-angle, telephoto and ultra-wide lenses, according to the report, while the iPhone XR sequel will be upgraded from a single to a dual-camera system.

The iPhone 11 Pro's camera software is also getting an upgrade; it'll be able to take three images simultaneously from each of the lenses and combine them together to create higher-resolution pictures "rivalling some traditional cameras", according to Bloomberg, and will boast improved low-light capabilities. 

Reserve wireless charging is also coming, allowing users to juice AirPods on the back of the handsets, as is an upgraded "multi-angle" Face ID system that captures a wider field of view so that users can unlock the handsets more easily, the report claims. 

Bloomberg also confirms earlier rumours of a new matte design, noting that "at least some colours" will feature the dull finish. The design will be more durable too, with souped-up water resistance and better shatter-resistance. 

22/8/19: Images of cases for the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, revealed by retailer MobileFun, have added weight to earlier rumours that the handsets will boast Apple Pencil support.

The Olixar case (above) features a cutout to hold an Apple Pencil, though it won't be the same version that ships with the iPad Pro. Rather, the casemaker expects the iPhone 11 Pro to feature a shorter, lighter design that will be optimised for Apple's smartphone line-up.

21/8/19:  Yet another rumour is claiming that the iPhone 11 will drop the long-standing 5W charger in favour of the same USB-C charger that ships with the iPad Pro. CharerLab has tweeted (below) that the new iPhones will ship with an Apple USB-C plug and a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, which - if correct - would mark the first time the iPhone has shipped with a fast charger.

However, as per 9to5Mac, it's worth noting that ChargerLAB tweeted a similar prediction last year, incorrectly claiming that the charger would ship with the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. 

20/8/19: Apple's iPhone 11 lineup will boast an all-new design and double the storage of last year's models, according to YouTuber EverythingApplePro and XDA Developers' Max Weinbach.

Echoing recent predictions from Ming-Chi Kuo, the tipsters claim that certain 2019 iPhone models will feature a new "rainbow" design; Apple isn't planning a multicoloured iPhone, but the handsets will reportedly feature a new coating that will give them a rainbow-like "shimmer" appearance, similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 10.

They also point to a new matte back on the iPhone 11 lineup, that will feel "very different" compared to Apple's current crop of handsets. 

Seperately, the leak points to more storage on this year's iPhones; while the iPhone XS and XR come with 64GB base storage, the incoming models will allegedly boast 128GB base storage, along with 256GB and 512GB configurations. 

19/8/19: Apple may have inadvertently revealed the iPhone 11's launch date in its latest iOS beta. iOS 13 beta 7 was pushed out to developers last week, and iHelp BR spotted an asset that suggests the iPhone 11 will debut on 10 September; an image, titled HoldForRelease, includes that date on the Calendar app of the iOS 13 home screen. While by no means confirmation, it's worth noting that iOS 12 had a similar image with a 12 September date - the date when Apple announced the iPhone XS and XS Max. 

12/8/19: Apple's highest-spec 2019 iPhone could arrive as the iPhone 11 Pro. So says reliable Twitter tipster CoinX, who last year accurately predicted the names of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, tweeted: "'Pro' for iPhone? Crazy naming schemes over the past few years."

Separately, MacRumours received a tip from an anonymous source claiming that: "The square camera iPhone will be called the iPhone 11 Pro. This is a fact." 

6/8/19: According to Softbank president Ken Miyauchi, via Macotakara, the iPhone 11 will go on sale on 20 September.

Speaking during an earnings call, Miyauchi let slip the date while replying to a question on how Softbank plans to handle next month's release of the iPhone with Japan's new law that would require carriers to separate data and device plans going into effect on 1 October: "Honestly, I am wondering what should I do for 10 days," he said. "No, I shouldn't say that… Anyway, I don't know when the new iPhone will be released. However, after almost 10 days, it will be unbundled."

As 9to5Mac speculates, this likely means the iPhone 11 will make its official debut on 10 September, with pre-orders to kick off on 13 September.

1/8/19: Apple's 2019 iPhones could be the first to support the Apple Pencil. So says a report from Citi Research, seen by Business Insider, which includes "support for iPhone pencil/stylus" in the list of features it's expecting to see in the iPhone 11. The stylus was first introduced in 2015 alongside the first-generation iPad Pro, and support has since been extended to the iPad Air and iPad mini.

City also expects the iPhone 11 lineup to include larger batteries, a bezel-free screen similar to that seen on the current iPhone XS, a triple rear camera array and a 10MP front-facing camera. It says that pricing of the 2019 iPhones will remain the same as last year's models. 

23/7/19: Apple's iPhone 11 lineup will comprise of three models that pack an A13 chip, Lightning port and an 'all-new' Taptic Engine that will enable improved haptic feedback, according to 9to5Mac. 

While the screens on the handsets - known as 'D42' (iPhone 11), 'D43' (iPhone 11 Max) and 'N104' (iPhone 11R) will remain unchanged, you can expect an upgrade in the camera department. The report claims that the square-shaped system will include a wide-angle lens that will enable a new feature called 'Smart-Frame' that captures the area around the framed part of pictures and videos so that the user can adjust the framing and perspective. 

Around the front, the iPhone 11 will boast an upgraded camera capable of capturing 120fps slow-mo footage. 

Unsurprisingly, 9to5Mac notes that Apple's 2019 iPhones will be unveiled at a yet-to-be-scheduled September event. 

17/7/19: YouTuber MKBHD has got his mitts on dummy models of the so-called iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max and iPhone 11R (below), which he mopes offer an "underwhelming" upgrade over last year's models.

Still, his hands-on fondling gives us our closest look at the iPhone 11 line-up yet and confirms that all three models will feature a square-shaped camera bump. On the iPhone 11 and 11 Max this will house three lenses - standard, telephoto, and ultra-wide, while the iPhone 11R likely will boast only standard and ultra-wide sensors. 

Beyond that, the dummy models show that the handsets will feature a similar design to the iPhone XS and XS Max; there's a Lightning port flanked by asymmetrical bottom speakers, and a notch around that front that houses "new" sensors for faster Face ID. 

8/7/19: The iPhone 11's A13 SoC will maintain Apple's one-year lead over the competition, according to Ice Universe. The leaker tweeted that Apple's next-generation A13 processor will greatly enhance the CPU multi-core performance," while the new GPU is "still far beyond the Android camp's SoC."

No further details about the chip were revealed, but earlier reports claimed TSMC has already begun production of the 7-nanometer SoC.

4/7/19: Apple might release a variant of the iPhone 11 with an in-display fingerprint sensor that will be made available exclusively in China. So says a report from cajing.com.cn, via The Global Times, which reports that the model will ditch Face ID in favour of "an under-display fingerprint function." Citing sources in the industry supply chain, the report notes that the move is likely to "save on costs."

24/6/19: Olixar has launched yet more accessories for the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, this time 'confirming' that the flagship duo will retain the Lightning port rather than switch to USB-C. The cases, available over at MobileFun, also show Apple will revert to an earlier design with the silence switch changing to a circular slider. 

13/6/19: Apple's next-generation iPhones will take on the Pixel 3, and yet-to-be-announced Pixel 4, with a dedicated night mode for the camera.

So says tipster Max Weinbach who shared the information with YouTube channel EverythingApplePro. He claims the so-called might mode will activate automatically when low-light conditions are detected, but notes that users will also likely be about to manually activate the nighttime-shooting feature.

No further details about the feature were revealed, that Weinbach claims it'll be stack up to the Night Sight feature on Google's Pixel 3 and 3 XL, and the Night Mode on Huawei's most recent flagships. It's currently unclear whether the night mode will roll out to older iPhone models such as the iPhone XR and XR.

10/5/19: Apple might be about to ditch its proprietary Lightning port in favour of USB-C; while we've heard this rumour many times before, this time we finally have some proof.

As spotted by Twitter user Raphaël Mouton iOS 13's restore screen clearly shows a USB-C cable, rather than the Lightning connector shown on earlier versions of the OS. Don't go getting your hopes up, though - this is an early beta of the software and could refer to the USB-C port on the iPad Pro. 

28/5/19: Apple's iPhone 11 might be its first to support two Bluetooth connections simultaneously. At least that's according to Japanese blog Macotoakara, which claims dual Bluetooth audio support will allow adopters of the next flagship iPhones to hook up two pairs of AirPods, for example, or connect both a car stereo and headphones at the time time.  

Further reading

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https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3066173/iphone-11-uk-price-release-date-specs-pre-orders-begin-1pm-uk

2019-09-13 10:50:49Z
52780378330583

Apple's new iPhones shift smartphone camera battleground to AI - Reuters

(Reuters) - When Apple Inc (AAPL.O) introduced its triple-camera iPhone this week, marketing chief Phil Schiller waxed on about the device’s ability to create the perfect photograph by weaving it together with eight separate exposures captured before the main shot, a feat of “computational photography mad science.”

FILE PHOTO: CEO Tim Cook presents the new iPhone 11 Pro at an Apple event at their headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stephen Lam - HP1EF9A1EM211

“When you press the shutter button it takes one long exposure, and then in just one second the neural engine analyzes the fused combination of long and short images, picking the best among them, selecting all the pixels, and pixel by pixel, going through 24 million pixels to optimize for detail and low noise,” Schiller said, describing a feature called “Deep Fusion” that will ship later this fall.

It was the kind of technical digression that, in years past, might have been reserved for design chief Jony Ive’s narration of a precision aluminum milling process to produce the iPhone’s clean lines. But in this case, Schiller, the company’s most enthusiastic photographer, was heaping his highest praise on custom silicon and artificial intelligence software.

The technology industry’s battleground for smartphone cameras has moved inside the phone, where sophisticated artificial intelligence software and special chips play a major role in how a phone’s photos look.

“Cameras and displays sell phones,” said Julie Ask, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester.

Apple added a third lens to the iPhone 11 Pro model, matching the three-camera setup of rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], already a feature on their flagship models.

But Apple also played catch-up inside the phone, with some features such as “night mode,” a setting designed to make low-light photos look better. Apple will add that mode to its new phones when they ship on Sept. 20, but Huawei and Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google Pixel have had similar features since last year.

In making photos look better, Apple is trying to gain an advantage by way of the custom chip that powers its phone. During the iPhone 11 Pro launch, executives spent more time talking its processor - dubbed the A13 Bionic - than the specs of the newly added lens.

A special portion of that chip called the “neural engine,” which is reserved for artificial intelligence tasks, aims to help the iPhone take better, sharper pictures in challenging lighting situations.

Samsung and Huawei also design custom chips for their phones, and even Google has custom “Visual Core” silicon that helps with its Pixel’s photography tasks.

Ryan Reith, the program vice president for research firm IDC’s mobile device tracking program, said that has created an expensive game in which only phone makers with enough resources to create custom chips and software can afford to invest in custom camera systems that set their devices apart.

Even very cheap handsets now feature two and three cameras on the back of the phone, he said, but it is the chips and software that play a huge role in whether the resulting images look stunning or so-so.

“Owning the stack today in smartphones and chipsets is more important than it’s ever been, because the outside of the phone is commodities,” Reith said.

The custom chips and software powering the new camera system take years to develop. But in Apple’s case, the research and development work could prove useful later in products such as augmented reality glasses, which many industry experts believe Apple has under development.

“It’s all being built up for the bigger story down the line - augmented reality, starting in phones and eventually other products,” Reith said.

Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa Shumaker

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2019-09-12 11:15:00Z
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