Alexa-equipped ecobee Switch+ with HomeKit now available for pre-order, ships March 26
After being teased last summer, ecobee has officially announced pricing and availability for its new Switch+ smart home accessory. Switch+ is available for pre-order starting today and ships on March 26 for $99 in the US and $119 in Canada. Like other smart light switches, Switch+ includes Alexa integration as well as HomeKit support for controlling lights — but Switch+ takes integration with Amazon’s voice assistant a step further by building it in to the light switch.
PSA: iOS Markup is not designed to be a redaction tool for sensitive information
In iOS 11, Markup is a system-level feature able to annotate and draw shapes over images and PDFs. It lets you draw with a pen, a marker and some basic squares and circles over photos. Apple doesn’t really advertise Markup as a redaction feature, to cover up information, but it feels like it is up to the job and I’ve seen many people on social media use it to do just that.
However, you have to be careful as the Markup tools can be deceptive, particularly the marker. Even if it looks like the personal info is obscured, some basic photoshop work easily reveals what is underneath …
Developer behind AR Super Mario creates creepy ARKit version of The Ring horror scene [Video]
A developer who previously created an augmented reality version of Super Mario for the Hololens has used ARKit and Unity to create a super-creepy AR scene from The Ring …
The 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle offers 10 elite apps: BusyCal, HoudahSpot, more for $15
No Mac is complete without some great apps — and you can get 10 in one hit with the 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle. The lineup includes the ever-popular BusyCal, plus Movavi Photo Editor, RollerCoaster Tycoon, and much more besides. The bundle is now just $14.99 ($525 value) over at 9to5Toys Specials with exclusive coupon: SAVEMAC.
Wistron set for expanded iPhone production in India as it gets approval for new plant
Apple’s iPhone supplier in India has won approval for a new $105M assembly facility close to the tech hub of Bengaluru. The new plant will allow it to expand local iPhone production in the country.
Wistron currently only makes the iPhone SE model locally, but a recent report says that Apple plans to begin local production of iPhone 6s models too …
Apple tumbles from #5 to #29 in huge Harris corporate reputation poll
TSA denies ACLU suggestion that it illegally searches electronic devices on domestic flights
A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) suggests that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may be conducting illegal searches of electronic devices belonging to passengers on domestic flights …
MoviePass CEO totally backtracks previous comments about tracking you after you leave the theater
MoviePass made headlines last week when its CEO, Mitch Lowe, bragged that the subscription-based movie service collects an enormous amount of data from its users. In a new interview with Variety, however, Lowe backtracks and says his original comments were “completely inaccurate.”
New survey aims to show how many people will upgrade to a new iPhone this fall
A new survey from Loup Ventures aims to offer color on what percentage of Apple’s current iPhone users plan to upgrade to this year’s yet-to-be-announced models. The survey ultimately indicates that the iPhone is “settling into a lower growth, more predictable rhythm.”
