The only app on Donald Trump's iPhone is Twitter

May 25, 2017, 7:43 am

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Maybe this is one of those things we shouldn't be so surprised about but — President Donald Trump reportedly has a phone dedicated solely to tweeting.

SEE ALSO: The real losers in Trump's NASA budget are kids and the Earth

Yep, you read the right. The president has an iPhone without any apps aside from Twitter, according to Axios. 

This gives Trump easy access to his favorite 140-character microblogging platform, which uses to greet his country with early-morning tweets that often deride his enemies, talk up his vague plans to bring more jobs to Americans, and excoriate news coverage of him and his administration. Read more...

More about Donald Trump and Social Media Reported by Mashable 7 hours ago.

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President Trump's iPhone reportedly has one app installed: Twitter

May 25, 2017, 8:00 am

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The iPhone used by U.S. President Donald Trump is said to have just one third-party app loaded onto it -- Twitter, which he uses to communicate his agenda directly to the world. Reported by AppleInsider 7 hours ago.

Pokémon's new game for iPhone and Android is out, and it's unlike any game before it

May 25, 2017, 8:51 am

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The Pokémon Company has never shied away from making unusual games. Ever since the original Red and Blue versions came out in 1996, it's released many traditional, turn-based sequels. But it's also dabbled in pinball games, photography games, puzzle games, RPGs, fighting games, and even one based on feudal Japan. 

And now, in perhaps its boldest move yet, Pokémon has released a mobile game centered entirely around what is widely considered its weakest, most useless creature: Magikarp.

The goal of "Magikarp Jump" is to make the titular Pokémon, Magikarp, well, jump. Your protagonist is introduced to Mayor Karp, who is in charge of Hoppy Town, where "everybody loves Magikarp." The mayor explains that despite its reputation as a Pokémon that doesn't know any good moves for battle, the people of Hoppy Town love competing with Magikarp in other ways. 

Gameplay is simple: feed and train your Magikarp to increase its Jump Power (JP), and then enter it into jumping competitions. There's no skill involved, and the game isn't difficult, but it's endearing and I found myself becoming attached to the Magikarp I'd spent all of 20 minutes with. Unfortunately, once your Magikarp reaches level 20, it'll retire from the jumping competitions and you have to start over with a new one. 

While "Magikarp Jump" doesn't have the replay value of a traditional Pokémon game, or even a mobile game like "Pokémon Go," it's a worthy ode to one of The Pokémon Company's most infamous creations. 

"Magikarp Jump" is available for free (with in-app purchases) on iOS and Android devices. 

*Check out the trailer below: *

 

*SEE ALSO: Russia wants to jail a man for 3 and a half years for playing Pokemon Go in a church*

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NOW WATCH: Here's a visualization of Elon Musk's tunneling project that could change transportation forever Reported by Business Insider 6 hours ago.

Qualcomm tells court that Apple is holding its payments ‘ransom’

May 25, 2017, 10:15 am

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Qualcomm is asking a court to force Apple’s iPhone and iPad manufacturers to pay up, since they’ve been withholding royalty payments for weeks under Apple’s instructions.

In a court filing yesterday, Qualcomm asked for a preliminary injunction against four of Apple’s suppliers — Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal — all of which it began suing for breach of contract earlier this month. Qualcomm said in April that Apple had instructed those companies not to pay royalties for devices they made using Qualcomm technology. It later said that would lead to a loss of $500 million in revenue this quarter alone because of the missing payments.

"“[Apple] has chosen commercial ransom over judicial process.”"

Qualcomm and Apple are locked in a... Reported by The Verge 4 hours ago.

Trump's only phone app is Twitter

May 25, 2017, 10:54 am

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President Trump has only one app downloaded to his iPhone – Twitter. The revelation came as part of a discussion on how White House aides are better trying to control the message. Reported by MailOnline 4 hours ago.

8 reasons Google's Pixel is better than the iPhone

May 25, 2017, 10:52 am

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I've been switching back and forth between my iPhone 6s Plus and our Google Pixel review unit, and I keep wishing I had the Pixel.

You should note that everything here is subjective. The iPhone has great features that the Pixel doesn't have, and the Apple ecosystem is in a league of its own.

But damn the Pixel is good.

You should also note that I'm comparing the Pixel XL experience with my iPhone 6s and not the iPhone 7 series. That's because I have more experience with the 6s Plus, as it has been my phone for the past year and a half. However, the iPhone 6s Plus isn't that much different, as a whole, from the iPhone 7. The performance between the two phones is still comparable, and the iPhone 7's camera upgrades aren't as important as some of the Pixel's more functional features.

Check out what I think makes the Pixel a better phone than the iPhone:

*SEE ALSO: How to break free from the Apple ecosystem*

-The Pixel is lighter.-

My iPhone 6s Plus' weight (192 grams) never bothered me until I picked up the Google Pixel XL (168 grams). The iPhone 7 Plus is slightly lighter than the 6s Plus at 188 grams, but that's a difference of only 4 grams, so I'd still consider the 7 heavy compared with the Pixel.

The Pixel's lighter weight has no ill effect on its reliability, and it's easier to manage in your hands.-The Pixel is slightly smaller but has the same size of screen.-

The difference is slight, but it's there and noticeable on a device you hold and use many times a day.

The iPhone is in the lower end in terms of screen-to-bezel ratio (67.7%) compared with the Pixel XL (71.2%).-The Pixel's screen is stunning.-

The Pixel's design is more utilitarian than it is beautiful, but its AMOLED screen outshines the iPhone's Retina display. Everything looks better on the Pixel than on the iPhone's LCD display. Pictures, videos, and apps pop with inky blacks and vibrant (but not oversaturated) colors on the Pixel, which makes for a more premium and modern look overall.

In the photo above (taken with the Pixel, by the way), the Pixel XL and the iPhone 6s Plus are showing the same photo on full brightness. The iPhone's LCD screen is nice, but the colors aren't as rich, and the contrast isn't as pronounced, as on the Pixel's display.

Also, the iPhone 7 Plus has a 1080p screen that's fine and sharp enough, but the Pixel's 1440p screen is sharper. 
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 4 hours ago.

Love 'Cars'? You can now talk to Lightning McQueen for real

May 25, 2017, 9:46 am

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It looks, sounds, and moves like Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars. This toy car is more like a robot. It's able to speak your favorite lines and react to your touch from its capacitive touch panels. Even when you're driving the car, it leans side to side and lifts up the front. This Lightning McQueen robot costs $299. Read more...

More about Iphone, Movies, Cars, App, and Disney Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.

Manchester bombing: Mother was saved by her iPhone

May 25, 2017, 11:13 am

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Lisa Bridgett, 45, was speaking into her iPhone after the Ariana Grande concert when the explosion sent the steel nut towards her head. Reported by MailOnline 3 hours ago.

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5 Reasons Why Android Phones Are Better Than iPhone

May 25, 2017, 10:57 am

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The Apple iPhone are constantly attracting attention, it is undeniable. Apple provides an experience of quality, but limited to the features that the company allows, both from a hardware and software standpoint, dictating what a phone should or could not be able to do. Android goes beyond these limits and allows the user to choose from a variety of devices with different technologies and features, from external storage, to various photo sensors, to 4K screens ... Not to mention The painful issue of the tariff, frankly not in favor of the apple brand. Here are ten reasons why Android phones have the ascendancy on the iPhone. 1 - Better value for money For several years, subsidized smartphones... Reported by WorldNews 4 hours ago.

Pokemon: Magikarp Jump comes to Apple's iPhone & iPad

May 25, 2017, 11:51 am

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The Pokemon Company has launched a new game for Apple's iPhone and iPad, Magikarp Jump, looking to build in a small way off of the success of Pokemon Go. Reported by AppleInsider 3 hours ago.

Flipdeck for Teams Equips Sales Reps to Share Targeted Content with Customers

May 25, 2017, 12:05 pm

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New cloud service allows mobile sales teams to quickly locate links to documents, web pages, and videos — and easily send to customers and prospects.

Los Gatos, California (PRWEB) May 25, 2017

Silicon Valley-based Flipdeck announced today the launch of its new sales enablement cloud service — Flipdeck for Teams.

A Flipdeck for Teams account puts an organized feed of marketing content and more in the hands of field sales reps, ready to share with customers. An account administrator creates visual Flipdeck cards containing direct links to information. Flipdeck cards — which are organized into themed decks — can contain an image, text, and links to web pages, documents, videos, and more. After setting up a card once, it only takes seconds for sales teams to find and send that information via email.

“We created Flipdeck for Teams to put links to the most important information on the mobile devices of sales people and to make it extremely easy and fast to share that information,” said Lee Mayfield, President of Flipdeck. “New products and services are launched and retooled very rapidly, and sales people need a core set of information at their fingertips so they can move sales opportunities forward. Flipdeck for Teams concentrates on giving you quick access to your 'short list' of tried and true information — whether that’s pricing info, order forms, case studies, research reports, videos, etc. Just flip to the card that contains the information you want to share with customers and send them the link. It’s that simple.”

Simple Solution for Mobile Sales People:

The new Flipdeck for Teams cloud service takes a simple approach to sales enablement — focusing on making it easy to locate and share “short list” information and to point prospects to the materials that can help move a discussion into a sale. With the entire team on the same page, everyone can rally around the same go-to-market strategy with quick time-to-market for new initiatives.

Key Features:· Visual Flipdeck cards contain sharable links to information — including web pages, documents and videos — and are organized into decks
· Subscriptions share current cards and decks with sales team members
· Members can also create their own cards with any additional insights they might have
· New/updated cards are automatically pushed to each subscriber to support message consistency
· Organizing subscribers into teams ensures that sales people only get the info that applies to their sales focus
· Announcements or promos can be sent to team members via message
· Team analytics provide “at a glance” insight and help sales managers understand usage and trends

Named a Top Marketing Tool:

Flipdeck was recognized for its simple sales enablement capabilities when it was named a Top Marketing Tool by Smart Selling Tools.

"Flipdeck for Teams looks to hold a lot of promise. Today, sales people have two things in common: they’re overwhelmed and they’re on their phones. That means they need info to be easily understood and digested from their phones. Flipdeck’s simple approach focuses in on these two factors, which gives it unique positioning in the sales enablement space.”

— Nancy Nardin, President, Smart Selling Tools, Inc.

Complete Turn-key Accounts:

Flipdeck is also announcing the launch of Flipdeck for Teams Managed Accounts. With a Managed Account, companies can empower sales teams without having to worry about taking on the role of administrator or freeing up personnel to maintain cards, decks, and subscriptions.

Flipdeck for Teams Website
Press Page
Informational Video
Twitter 
Facebook

Limited Time Pricing:

For a limited time, per-user pricing for a Flipdeck for Teams account starts at just $20/mo. Prospective customers can learn more about the Flipdeck for Teams Free Trial Program, ask a question, or get a quote by visiting http://www.FlipdeckTeam.com.

About Flipdeck:

Flipdeck is dedicated to giving sales people a simple, fast way to send frequently shared information using their mobile devices — so they don’t have to go searching for the same links, docs, and videos every time. Using a familiar cards and decks approach to organizing information, the Flipdeck for Teams cloud service and Flipdeck iPhone app can be used by anyone to send links to the information that’s important to them.

Flipdeck is a registered trademark of Presentek, Inc. based out of Silicon Valley (Los Gatos, CA).

Apple, the Apple logo, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

Wilbur Ross has links to Russia that he won't answer questions about

May 25, 2017, 2:34 pm

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The investigation into Russia's influence over Donald Trump's campaign has gained such momentum in recent weeks that full-throated arguments in the President's defense are starting to sound feeble.

Consider the loud protests from Trump's commerce secretary — the 79-year old billionaire steel magnate Wilbur Ross —who chose to deliver a scathing assessment of the probe even as it kicked into higher gear with the appointment of a special prosecutor.

"This investigation is a sideshow and it’s a distraction from trying to run the country in a proper way,” Ross told CNBC on May 18. "This is all rumor, it’s all innuendo, there’s no there there," Ross said. 

Ross doesn’t come up in the Trump-Russia connection conversation because he is not one of the people who was revealed to have secretly met with the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential campaign.

And — to be clear — he's not been accused of any wrongdoing.  The probe, instead, is focused on the campaign and the potential for collusion between some of Trump's advisers and the Russian government.

But Ross has his own ties to Russia's billionaires and power brokers, and he should be made to explain them. 

These ties come in the form of his stake in, and co-directorship of, the Bank of Cyprus, a known conduit for Russian oligarch money. Ross also owns a shipping concern whose key client is a large shareholder of Russia’s state-owned oil firm. 

Ross bought his stake Bank of Cyprus 2014, becoming, according to the New York Times, "owner of a big but failing bank with a vice chairman who used to work with Vladimir Putin in the Leningrad KGB and five other Russians on its board."

Reporting about what happened next points in two directions. The Times reported that Ross actually countered Russian influence at the bank, pushing out the Russian board members. 

The Guardian, meanwhile, says he was part of Bank of Cyprus's deal to sell its Russian business to a banker with ties to Putin. When the Bank of Cyprus came up at Ross's confirmation hearing — several highly-detailed questions on the matter were never answered. Among other issues, Ross was asked about his own financial ties to Russia and about whether he had any knowledge of links between Russia and the Trump campaign. The White House advised him not to submit his written response to the relevant Democratic senators, and he was confirmed despite their protests. 

One of the questions, in a February letter from Sen. Cory Booker to Ross is about Dmitry Rybolovlev — who famously paid Trump $95 million for a house in Florida — and was also a Bank of Cyprus investor. 

Rybololev has done us the kindness of responding to this, even though Ross won't. As my colleague Natasha Bertrand reported in March: 



The adviser sent a later statement to Business Insider commenting on Rybolevlev's ties to Cyprus Bank, which was majority-owned by Wilbur Ross until this year. Ross, who was recently confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, bought out the Cypriot bank in 2014 from Russian oligarchs who had been accused of using it to move their money to offshore accounts.

"Following the 2013 bail in at Bank of Cyprus, Mr Rybolovlev's previous shareholding in the bank was diluted to a very low level," Chernitsyn said. "He has never met Wilbur Ross."



Ross has also retained ownership in a shipping company, the Center of Public Integrity recently reported, itself a glaring conflict for a commerce secretary but also one that raises additional concerns given its own ties to Russia.
Ross' firm is called Diamond S Shipping, and one of its biggest clients, Glencore, owns a 19.5% stake in Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil giant.

There's a lot of reasons why Ross should want the Russia inquiries to be over with. Some have nothing to do with his own dealings with wealthy and powerful Russians.

His job is to advance Trump's economic agenda and that won't happen while the White House is expending all its political capital fending off attacks — or while Ross has to dedicate air time to talking about Russia instead of tax cuts. 

"I think we have to just get on with it, get this over with, it’s a sideshow," he went on to tell CNBC.

Unfortunately for him, such a speedy resolution to the investigation is unlikely.

*Here's the list of questions for Ross from Senator Cory Booker:*

2.24.17 Letter to Wilbur Ross on Russian Ties FINAL SIGNED by Senator Cory Booker on Scribd*SEE ALSO: Trump's firing of FBI Director Comey has huge implications for stocks*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 15 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do Reported by Business Insider 7 minutes ago.

UK's Gatwick Airport installs 2,000 Bluetooth beacons for AR-based indoor navigation

May 25, 2017, 12:29 pm

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Gatwick Airport, the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom, is making it easier for passengers to navigate its two terminals with the installation of around 2,000 beacons, initially providing iPhone users their location on indoor maps, with the system also allowing for the use of augmented reality wayfinding in the future. Reported by AppleInsider 2 hours ago.

Spectrum kept raising my monthly TV and internet bill but wouldn't tell me why (CHTR)

May 25, 2017, 1:13 pm

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This past weekend, I spent more than an hour on the phone with Spectrum, my internet and cable provider, because my bill was increasing every month without my knowledge for seemingly no reason at all.

I eventually resolved the situation — finding out about a bunch of hidden charges in the process — and even got a discount on my service. But that was only after I insisted on talking to a manager and agreeing to accept slower internet service.

My situation is not unique. The problems I ran into — a lack of transparency about billing practices and a lack of communication about service changes — illustrate just how awful it can be do deal with internet service providers (ISPs) in America. Monthly bills can feel arbitrary, and customers are often left with few choices other than cancelling their service. And even that's not much of a solution, since most Americans have few choices when it comes to internet providers.

I've been a Time Warner Cable customer for as long as I've lived in New York City. When it comes to competition, we actually have a decent situation here. In terms of the big providers, customers can choose among Optimum, Verizon Fios, and Spectrum (formerly Charter, which renamed its service after purchasing Time Warner Cable last year).

Though I regularly check offers from the competition, Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum) has consistently been cheaper and generally more reliable. Plus, you don't have to sign a contract, as you do with the others. You can cancel at any time, although that's often easier said than done.

When my fiancée and I moved apartments last year, we had Time Warner Cable install our cable TV and internet service the day we moved in. For 200Mbps download speeds and a limited cable package, TWC told us we'd pay $120 for the first year of service. After that, the price would increase, although TWC didn't say by how much. This billing practice — giving customers a flat rate for a year before increasing the price — is typical among internet service providers, and we were totally fine with it.

After our first year of service ended, we saw our bill increase by $10, to $130 a month. We considered switching ISPs, but Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) was still our cheapest option for both cable and internet. And since we had expected the bill change after the first year, we were OK with a $10 increase.

But the following month — April — our bill unexpectedly jumped another $13 to $143. And then this month, it increased again, this time by $2, to $145.

My fiancée and I called Spectrum the night we got our latest bill. A representative told us what we were paying was "still low" for what we have and said we should expect further price increases.

The rep could not give us a specific timeline for how many months it would take before our bill would stop increasing. But when it was all said and done, our monthly rate would end up being $173 per month, she told us.

We were given no prior notice about these price increases, whether by email, billing statement, or otherwise. Although we agreed to a price increase after the first year of service when we signed up with Time Warner Cable, we didn't agree on having our bill jump every single month.

We pressed the Spectrum rep on why our bill was seeing seemingly random increases every month and why the company kept raising the price of our service, instead of just raising it once after the first-year discount expired. The Spectrum rep responded by saying the company felt the gradual increases are "easier on customers."

But it didn't feel easier to us. We were concerned that our bill was increasing at an unpredictable rate for seemingly no reason — we hadn't changed our service — and we wanted to know why. So I asked to speak to a manager. 

We were quickly transferred to Spectrum's retention center, where we spoke to a woman named Esmy. After listening to our concerns, Esmy explained that when we signed up for service, Time Warner Cable made our first year's bills cheaper by applying a bunch of individual discounts. Those discounts were now expiring one by one, which was causing the fluctuating price increases each month.

It was good to have that explanation, but it was baffling. As I explained to Esmy, we had received no information about these particular discounts. Our statements didn't say what discounts we were receiving, how they were applied, or when they expired.  

After a long discussion, Esmy eventually offered us a deal. We'd get a lower monthly rate than we paid in our first year, but we'd have to accept slower internet service. Instead of 200Mbps speeds, we'd get 100Mbps, since Spectrum no longer offers a 200Mbps plan.

We decided to take the offer, because the the price was less expensive than what we'd pay one of Spectrum's rivals. 

But the price we were paying was less important to me than what we had to go through to find out why our bill kept going up. We would have never known what was going on if we hadn't called Spectrum and then insisted on talking to a manager when the customer service rep couldn't answer our questions. It's ridiculous that we had to go that far just to get an explanation for what we were being charged.

And that's not the only example of Spectrum's arbitrary and opaque billing practices. Another comes into play when customers decide to upgrade their internet service, say from 50Mbps to 300Mbps. After making the upgrade,* *Spectrum will not only charge them a higher rate for the speedier service, but will also apply a one-time $199 fee. When I asked a Spectrum representative about it, the rep couldn't explain the reason behind the fee or why it's so hefty. The rep did confirm, though, that it's not due to any technical change needed for the faster service or the need to install new hardware. It's just the way it is. 

Those kind of arbitrary fees as well as the lack of transparency and predictability that Spectrum has exhibited is bad for customers. Because many subscribers pay their bills through auto-pay, they expect them to be a certain amount each month. When bills suddenly change, it can cause confusion, frustration and undue stress. The lack of a clear explanation for such changes feels unfair and could open the door for predatory practices.

The bottom line is that Spectrum needs to be more transparent. It — and its rivals, which can be just as bad — needs to communicate bills, fees, discounts, and changes to customers' accounts clearly and well in advance of when it sends out its monthly statements.

Two years ago, Time Warner Cable ranked dead last in customer satisfaction in a a survey of 300 companies. Although it's merged with another company and switched names since then, it doesn't seem like its customer service or the overall experience it offers have gotten any better.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

*SEE ALSO: The Apple TV is a mess — and hardly the 'future of TV' Apple advertised*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 15 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do Reported by Business Insider 1 hour ago.

iOS 11 Wishlist: Features MacRumors Readers Are Hoping to See in the Next Version of iOS

May 25, 2017, 1:19 pm

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Apple will introduce the next-generation version of iOS, iOS 11, on June 5 at its Worldwide Developers Conference. While WWDC is less than two weeks away, we've haven't heard many details on what we can expect.

There's talk about an overhauled design and an updated user interface along with rumors of new functionality for the iPad, but beyond that, we don't know what's coming, and we don't know what that new user interface will look like. In the absence of rumors, we've taken a look at some of the most-desired features MacRumors readers are hoping for in iOS 11, culled from our forums.
Unsurprisingly, many readers are looking forward to a new design and an overhauled interface. Here are some of the things readers want in a design refresh:

- *Animated icons* - Allowing developers to add small animations to app icons is something that iOS users have been wanting for several years. With access to subtle animations, apps like Fantastical could feature an icon with the current date, or third-party weather apps could display the current temperature.

- *iPhone complications* - The Apple Watch interface features multiple complications or small icons that let Apple Watch users glean information at a glance. On the iPhone, complications could be added to the lock screen or the Home screen to serve the same function, letting users see information like weather or activity level without needing to open an app.
- *Customizable Control Center* - iOS 10 made a mess of the Control Center, splitting it into three screens. MacRumors readers are hoping for a more unified design with the ability to choose what icons and functions are displayed. Expanded 3D Touch for more granular control over Control Center options would also improve the Control Center.

- *Call interface* - When an incoming phone or FaceTime call is received on an iPhone, it takes over the entire display with a call interface, something people would like to see changed in iOS 11. A call interface that pops up over what a user is doing instead of domineering the entire iPhone is a feature several readers mentioned wanting.
- *Volume interface* - On a similar note, there's a lot of hate towards the current volume display that pops up when the volume is adjusted on the iPhone because it's a giant icon in the middle of the screen. Something subtler and less intrusive is at the top of several wish lists.

- *Widgets* - Android-style Home screen live tiles or widgets are another feature that some iOS users have long desired. Apple added widgets to the Notification Center on the iPhone, but some readers want a more integrated, customizable solution directly on the Home screen.

- *Keyboard* - Users who prefer a swipe-based keyboard (where typing is done by swiping across the screen) would like to see that added as an option. A top number row across the default keyboard is also highly desired.

- *Dark mode* - Dark mode was a feature rumored for iOS 10 that never materialized, and MacRumors readers are hoping to see it in iOS 11. A system-wide dark mode that comes on at sunset is something a lot of people want, and with an overhauled interface rumored for iOS 11, it could happen.A dark mode concept from iHelpBR

- *iPhone 7 Plus multitasking features* - Some users would like to see the iPad's multitasking features expanded to the iPhone 7 Plus, including Split View, which allows two apps to be used at once, and picture-in-picture, which allows a video to be watched in the corner of the display while other apps are in use. With a larger 5.8-inch display rumored for the OLED iPhone, it doesn't seem out of the question.Split-View multitasking on iPad

Along with the above listed design changes, there are also wish lists for individual apps, Siri, and other internal features, ranging from notifications to Continuity.
*Photos App*Many MacRumors readers want to see some significant improvements to the Photos app, which got a major overhaul in iOS 10. Facial recognition was added, allowing iOS devices to automatically recognize the people in photos and group them accordingly, but the feature is on-device only and does not sync for privacy reasons.

Some users want the People option to sync across devices for convenience purposes, while others want to be able to choose specific albums to sync to iCloud Photo Library. Other desired features include options to fully hide photos from albums and options for manually adding things like keywords and location.
*Camera App*Several camera settings for adjusting video and other options are tucked away in the Settings app, and several readers would like to see those options added to the Camera app instead, where accessing them would be much easier.
An option for manual controls in the Camera app is also a requested feature, as it would allow users to have more control over photos without needing to download a third-party app.
*Maps*iOS users would like to see an option for offline Maps and multi-destination routes in iOS 11, two features that are available in Google Maps.
*Siri*Along with an overhauled interface, a better version of Siri seems to be one of the features people are most hoping for in iOS 11. The good news is that Apple's rumored to be working on some major Siri improvements, and it's likely we'll see something Siri-related in iOS 11.
- *Text-based Siri* - A Siri assistant would allow people who don't want to talk to their phones to interact with Siri via text, sort of like a chatbot. Google just introduced chatbot abilities for Google Assistant, and introduced a Google Assistant iOS app, which could inspire Apple to release a similar feature.

- *Unified Search* - A merged Siri and Spotlight Search feature goes hand-in-hand with a text-based Siri assistant. The search function could be updated to support Siri-style commands that could be typed into the current search interface.

- *Offline Siri* - Some users would like to be able to use Siri when the iPhone is offline for tasks that are able to be accomplished without an Internet connection.

- *Extended SiriKit* - Opening up SiriKit to more kinds of apps would expand Siri's capabilities.
*Other Features**File management* - Several MacRumors readers mentioned a desire for a better file management system that would make it easier to transfer content between apps. MacStories' Federico Vittici made a mockup featuring a drag and drop interface and a file storage shelf on the iPad that would be an ideal way for Apple to implement simpler file sharing options.Federico Vittici's iOS 11 file sharing concept

- *Notification grouping* - A lot of people hate the way notifications are handled on iOS. Options for grouping notifications by app would go a long way towards cleaning up the Notification Center.

- *Default apps* - While it probably won't happen, MacRumors readers would like to see an option to set non-Apple default apps, like choosing Chrome for the default browser or Google Maps for the default mapping app.

- *Improved Continuity* - For those of us with multiple devices, Apple's Continuity features that let tasks be transferred from one device to another are super useful. Improvements to make existing Continuity features more reliable would be nice, as would support for ongoing media -- the ability to transfer a call in progress, or a movie that's playing.

Another thoughtful Continuity suggestion involves the Mac and native support for using the iPad as a secondary Mac display, functionality that's currently enabled through third-party apps like Duet Display. Apple could also potentially add support for connecting an iPad to a Mac to enable drawing features, allowing it to serve as a substitute for a Wacom tablet. That's another third-party feature that's already available through apps like Astropad.

- *Multi-user support* - Support for multiple users on the iPad has been a long-desired feature, but Apple has thus far declined to implement it outside of a classroom setting.

- *Touch ID for locking apps* - Third-party developers can use Touch ID as a second layer of security for locking iOS apps, but some users would like to see this feature expanded to encompass all apps. The option to lock apps like Photos with Touch ID would prevent them from being accessed without a fingerprint or a password even if someone bypassed an iPhone passcode.
What features are you hoping to see in iOS 11? Join in on the discussion about the update on the MacRumors forums.

Apple will unveil iOS 11 on June 5, the day of its WWDC keynote event. The update will be provided to developers immediately, while Public Beta testers can expect access later this summer. iOS 11 will be officially released this fall alongside new iPhones.Related Roundup: iOS 11

Discuss this article in our forums Reported by MacRumours.com 1 hour ago.

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iPhone 8 Case Compared to iPhone 7 Offers Clear Picture of Size Difference

May 25, 2017, 2:21 pm

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Though the launch of the "iPhone 8" is months away, case makers have already started creating cases for the device based on leaked design renderings and schematics.

A case designed for the iPhone 8 surfaced on Alibaba, and was purchased by Japanese site Mac Otakara for a series of images and a video. We've already seen some iPhone 8 cases so the design shouldn't come as a surprise, but this particular case includes comparisons to both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, giving us a clear picture of how the iPhone 8 might fit into the iPhone lineup if the case design is an accurate representation of the finalized device.

As can be seen in the images, the case is a good deal smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus, but slightly larger than the iPhone 7. That's in line with rumors suggesting the iPhone 8 will be similar in size to the iPhone 7, but with a display that's much larger (and edge-to-edge), closer in size to the iPhone 7 Plus display.
An iPhone 7 placed directly inside the case suggests the iPhone 8 will be about the same width as the iPhone 7, but quite a bit taller. Rumors have also suggested the iPhone 8 will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and Mac Otakara says the iPhone 7 is noticeably thinner, with the case being "quite loose feeling."
Leaked design renderings and schematics have suggested the iPhone 8 could measure in at 144mm tall, 71mm wide, and 7.7mm thick, compared to the iPhone 7 dimensions of 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm.

The case features a vertical camera cutout to accommodate a rumored vertical dual-lens camera, which may be larger in size than the camera in the iPhone 7 Plus, based on a comparison.
Volume buttons, the power button, and other ports seem to be in generally the same location as the current iPhone 7, with some small variations. The volume buttons and the mute switch are the same size as the buttons on the iPhone 7, but the spacing is slightly different.

Because Apple has tested multiple iPhone 8 prototypes, it's difficult to determine whether this case accurately depicts the final design of the device. Most of the rumors and design leaks have centered on a device that's similar to the iPhone 8 case Mac Otakara purchased, with no visible Touch ID button, but we've also seen leaks featuring an aluminum device with a rear Touch ID button.

Once we start seeing legitimate part leaks, we should have a much better idea of what to expect when Apple introduces the iPhone 8 this fall.Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)

Discuss this article in our forums Reported by MacRumours.com 19 minutes ago.

ParentSquare Parent Engagement Platform Introduces Smart Two-Way Translation

May 25, 2017, 2:09 pm

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Smart Two-Way Translation is designed to create an easy way for educators to communicate in real-time with non-English speaking families. Now, every direct message an educator writes, goes out in the family’s preferred language AND when parents write back in their native language, the message gets translated right back into English.

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) May 25, 2017

Today, ParentSquare announced the addition of one new major feature: Smart Two-Way Translation. Smart Two-Way Translation is designed to create an easy way for educators to communicate in real-time with non-English speaking families. Now, every direct message an educator writes, goes out in the family’s preferred language AND when parents write back in their native language, the message gets translated right back into English.

How it works:
• Teacher sends a direct message to parents in English
• Parents receives message in their preferred language
• Parents reply in their native language
• Teacher receives in English

“Being able to connect educators and ELL parents so they can have a dialogue, regardless of the language they use, in this elegant manner is very satisfying. Hopefully this can help eliminate the language barriers for our busy teachers and the frustration felt by ELL families that have relied solely on their children for school communication.” says CEO Sohit Wadhwa

Smart Two-Way Translation is enabled on the app and portal for all schools and districts using ParentSquare and direct messaging. Users can verify to see if they are on the latest update by going into the App store for iPhone users and Playstore for Android users. See it in animated action at: http://blog.parentsquare.com.

ParentSquare’s strong technical team, from the GoToMeeting Cloud Communication family of products, will continue to make updates and release major features to keep up with today’s educators and families.

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is the only parent engagement platform built for district administrators, providing them with engagement tools for district-wide adoption, enabling broad visibility and consistency across all sites, groups and classrooms, thus helping improve student outcomes, increase school revenue and build a vibrant school community. Based out of Santa Barbara, California, ParentSquare was officially released in 2013. For more information contact ParentSquare at 888.496.3168, schools@parentsquare.com, or visit http://www.ParentSquare.com. Reported by PRWeb 32 minutes ago.

Don’t Laugh: Three-Years-Old iPhone 6 with 32GB Launches in the UK

May 25, 2017, 2:33 pm

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Even though it’s already three years old, Apple still sees the iPhone 6 a super-compelling product, so the company refreshed it with a 32GB version earlier this year. This new model was mostly aimed at emerging markets where most customers cannot afford a top-of-the-range new iPhone, but Apple is now bringing it in most of its bigger markets as well. The 32 GB iPhone 6 landed in the United Kingdom this week too, and even though it was supposed to be a bit more affordable, it’s not. Carphone Warehouse sells the device for £399 ($515) unlocked or with a two-year plan priced at £29 a month. The old iPhone 6 Originally, the iPhone 6 was only available with 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage space, but given that Apple abandoned the 16GB version for the new generations, the company decided to launch a refreshed model of the iPhone 6 as well with more storage. The 32GB iPhone 6 was mainly aimed at developing countries where Apple has a hard time selling mo... Reported by Softpedia 8 minutes ago.

Apple asks if the iPhone believes in reincarnation

May 25, 2017, 2:33 pm

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Apple dropped another entry in its animated Earth Day shorts series — and this one grapples with a pretty heady concept: Does my iPhone believe in reincarnation? 

The 50-second spot was a tie-in to Apple's participation in the Sustainable Brands 2017 event, which explains the late rollout. The reincarnation angle comes via LIAM, the bot helping to fulfill the company's pledge to stop mining and use a closed-loop supply chain by recycling iPhone parts.    Read more...

More about Apple, Iphone, Sustainability, Liam, and Recycled Materials Reported by Mashable 8 minutes ago.

Apple staff blackout dates hint at 'iPhone 8' launch post-Sept. 17

May 26, 2017, 6:25 am

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Apple's anticipated launch of new iPhones -- including the "iPhone 8" -- should take place sometime after Sept. 17, a memo sent to AppleCare workers suggests. Reported by AppleInsider 9 hours ago.