How to: Get bokeh in photos taken with older iPhones (in very limited circumstances)
I did cringe slightly as I wrote that headline, as it would be more correctly stated as ‘How to get shallow depth of field’ – bokeh being the particular appearance of the out-of-focus areas. But, thanks to Apple, the world is using one term to refer to the other, so I gave in where the headline was concerned.
Only the iPhone 7 Plus, with its dual-camera system, has the ability to generate artificial shallow depth of field, an effect activated in yesterday’s beta. But all iPhones are capable of generating optical shallow depth of field in very limited circumstances, and it’s actually really easy to do so …
Filed under: Apple
Why today’s Apple v Samsung Supreme Court case is so important, and why it won’t end there
The BBC has an interesting take on the Apple versus Samsung patent case that is finally heading to the Supreme Court today, arguing that a definitive ruling is needed in order to bring a 19th Century law into the 21st Century. It also explains why the legal battle probably won’t end with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
A one-paragraph recap for anyone who hasn’t been following the case closely. Samsung infringed several of Apple’s design patents – that is, patents concerned with how things look (in either hardware or software) rather than what they do. Samsung is no longer denying that. The lower courts ruled that Samsung must pay all of the profits made by infringing these patents. That’s the bit Samsung is fighting, arguing that it should pay a much smaller sum.
And it is this element of patent law which the BBC’s Dave Lee suggests needs to advance a century or two …
Filed under: Apple
It’s over: Samsung permanently ends production of Note 7 after multiple fires in replacement devices
Samsung has officially ceased worldwide production of its Galaxy Note 7 after multiple reports of replacement models, like the original ones, catching fire.
I argued yesterday that the company ‘might as well write-off this year’s flagship phone as a lost cause,’ and there are today multiple reports (The Verge, Bloomberg and the BBC) that it has now done so.
South Korean tech giant Samsung has permanently ceased production of its high-end Galaxy Note 7 smartphones after reports of devices it had deemed safe catching fire.
“We recently readjusted the production volume for thorough investigation and quality control, but putting consumer safety as top priority, we have reached a final decision to halt production of Galaxy Note 7s,” the company said. “For the benefit of consumers’ safety, we stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 and have consequently decided to stop production.”
The announcement was made in response to growing pressure …
Filed under: Apple
Apple collecting donations for Hurricane Matthew relief in partnership with the Red Cross
As it has done for other causes in the past, Apple today launched a Red Cross donation program to benefit those facing the death and destruction of Hurricane Matthew. Via iTunes and the App Store, Apple is collecting donations in the denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, and $200.
Filed under: Apple
Apple blames removal of ‘Dash’ app on 1,000 fraudulent reviews from two of the creator’s accounts
Last week, we reported on the removal of popular developer app Dash from the App Store, as well as the termination of the creator’s Apple Developer account. The company that publishes Dash, Kapeli, originally stated that it did not have any idea why Apple removed the app from the App Store, though it was later revealed that Apple had found evidence of App Store review manipulation. Now, Apple has issued a statement regarding the removal of Dash and the termination of Kapeli’s account…
Filed under: Apple
Facebook Workplace officially launches on the web and iOS, set to compete head-on with Slack
Facebook today officially announced the release of their Workplace business product. Originally titled Facebook at Work, the new product is set to compete head-on with other similar services like Slack and Hipchat. Riding off the familiarity that users already have with the social network, and its competitively low price-points, Workplace looks like it can be a contender in the business communications demographic…
Filed under: Apple
Review: Nomad Horween Leather iPhone 7 Plus Case + Apple Watch Strap
Nomad is the maker of clever tech accessories for travelers like the Key and Carabiner charging cables, and the recent partnership with Chicago’s Horween Leather Company has disguised battery packs inside good-looking wallets. Nomad’s effort with Horween extends to their new iPhone 7 leather cases and Apple Watch leather bands which we’ve been testing. Read on for our hands-on experience…
Filed under: Apple
Apple releases iOS 10.1 beta 3 with Portrait camera for iPhone 7 Plus, third tvOS 10.0.1 beta
Apple has released the third iOS 10.1 beta which includes the Portrait camera for iPhone 7 Plus that applies a DSLR-like blur effect over photos using the dual lens system. iOS 10.1 beta 3 is available to registered developers. A public beta of iOS 10.1 for non-developers is also currently active. tvOS 10.0.1 beta 3 for Apple TV is also available for developers.
Filed under: Apple
9to5Toys Lunch Break: 15” Retina MacBook Pro $1,600, Union iOS Photo Editor App Free, Leather Apple Watch Band $14, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Apple’s 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB is back down to $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)
Pixite’s unique Union photo manipulation app is now available for free on the App Store (Reg. $2)
Give your 42mm Apple Watch a new leather band for $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
Epic Best Buy sale knocks 25% off rarely discounted tech accessories from Apple, Logitech, Belkin & others when you buy 3 (or more) items
Grab the 9.7-inch iPad Pro 32GB WiFi (Refurb) at the lowest price we’ve seen: $420 (Orig. $600)
Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: San Andreas $3, Vice City $2, Chinatown Wars $2, Liberty City Stories $2, more
The popular minimalistic Dwelp puzzler for iOS is now available for free (Reg. $2)
Runtastic GPS Mountain Bike Tracker PRO for iOS/Android goes free for the first time in nearly a year (Reg. $5)
App Store Free App of the Week: IMPOSSIBLE ROAD minimal arcade racer free for the first time (Reg. $3)
The best metal USB 3.0 flash drives for your MacBook Air or Retina Pro
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Your choice of widescreen displays w/ HDMI inputs: Dell 27-inch Curved $200 (Reg. $270), or LG 34-inch 21:9 $500 (Reg. $700)
- Smartphone Accessories: Unifun 10400mAh Power Bank $14, more
- Jabra’s MOVE Bluetooth Headphones are marked down to $60 (Reg. $90+)
- Jawbone MINI JAMBOX Bluetooth Speaker $40, CyberPower Battery Backup UPS $35, more
- Bring Fossil’s Q Founder Smartwatch (Android or iOS) to your wrist for $190 (Reg. $275)
- Jaybird’s Freedom F5 Bluetooth Earbuds pair perfectly with iPhone 7: $150 (Reg. $200)
- The Motorola Moto 360 Sport brings fitness tracking to Android or iOS: $140 (Reg. $180)
- Games/Apps: Ratchet & Clank $20 or less, iOS freebies, more
- Watch your favorite TV shows anywhere with the Slingbox 500 for $215 (Reg. $250+)
- Grab this best-selling Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner for only $96 (Reg. $125+)
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Amazon drops a horde of digital and print magazines down to $5: Fortune, Macworld, Wired, GQ, Men’s Health and more
The Bose SoundLink II Bluetooth Headphones have never been less at Amazon: $229 (Reg. $280)
You can now pick up a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Pro Headphones for just $29 shipped (Reg. $49)
Filed under: Apple
Olloclip unveils three new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus interchangeable lens sets
The new cameras on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are highly impressive on their own, and Olloclip has three new interchangeable lens kits that let you take a variety of different shots not otherwise possible. All three new camera accessories work with both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and Olloclip has updated its Ollo Case to fit both new iPhones as well.
Filed under: Apple