U.K. telecoms regulator Ofcom has drawn up plans to ban the sale of locked smartphone handsets that can’t be used on other mobile networks until the owner pays for them to be unlocked.
The proposal is part of a consultation document published today that aims to achieve fairer treatment and easier switching for broadband and mobile customers in the U.K. The document reads:
Some providers sell locked devices so they cannot be used on another network. If customers want to keep using the same device after they switch, this practice creates additional hassle and can put someone off from switching altogether. We are proposing to ban the sale of locked mobile devices to remove this hurdle for customers.
Ofcom notes that, currently, BT Mobile/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone sell devices that are locked and cannot be used on other networks until they are unlocked. Meanwhile, O2, Sky, Three and Virgin Mobile choose to sell unlocked devices to their customers.
The regulator’s research found that just under half of mobile customers experience some sort of problem, such as a long delay before getting the code they need to unlock their device, being given a code that doesn’t work, a loss of service if they didn’t realize their device was locked before they tried to switch.
Meanwhile, to make broadband switching easier, Ofcom plans to require a customer’s new broadband provider to lead the switch, and offer a seamless switching experience, regardless of whether they are moving across different fixed networks (for example, between Virgin Media and a provider using the Openreach network) or between providers of ultrafast broadband services on the same fixed network. The plan comes as there are currently no regulated processes in place for these types of switches.
If the consultation period goes smoothly, the proposals could become law in the first quarter of 2020 or 2021. The plans are a response to changes to the European regulatory framework. The Government consulted earlier this year on how to reflect these changes in UK law.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today visited San Jose State University near the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California where he sat down with Malala Yousafzai and SJSU president Mary Papazian to discuss education and the empowerment of women at the university.
Apple in January 2018 announced a partnership with the Malala Fund to support the Malala Fund’s work championing a quality education for girls all around the world, and the two companies have worked together since then. Cook is on the Malala Fund leadership council, and he tweeted about the meeting this afternoon.
According to SJSU newspaper The Spartan Daily, Cook spoke about familiar topics that include the importance of an early coding education and privacy.
.@Malala is an unparalleled champion for access to education — a basic human right. Apple is proud to continue our partnership with the @MalalaFund to help 130 million girls get a safe, quality education. Thank you @PrezPapazian and the @SJSU community for hosting us today! pic.twitter.com/rAfMCH8U34
“We’ve tried to focus on teaching coding skills to everyone,” said Cook. Everyone should learn to code before they graduate.”
Cook said that it’s important to introduce collaboration into the classroom as early as possible.
“The earlier you introduce collaboration into the classroom and the teacher becomes the coach and tech is used as a tool, not a means to itself, I see great results in boys and girls.”
Malala also spoke about the work the Malala Fund is doing around the world, sharing her thoughts on the future of the Malala Fund. “Technology is changing at a very fast pace, we need to change our education for that,” she said. “We have taken it for granted that education isn’t possible in some places like refugee camps, but technology can change that.”
Hosting @Malala & @tim_cook on #SJSU‘s campus today was a delight, privilege & honor.
Her story is courageous & inspiring. Her message is universal. I know the students in attendance appreciated the opportunity to engage with them. Thank you, Malala & Tim. @calstate#MalalaFundpic.twitter.com/4vWmfvkIXL
Through Apple’s support, the Malala Fund has aimed to double the number of grants awarded to its Gulmakai Network and extend funding programs to India and Latin America, bringing secondary education opportunities to more than 100,000 girls. Malala said that over the next five years, she hopes the Malala Fund will spread to 10 new countries.
“There are 1 billion girls not ready to enter the workforce because its not a quality education or they’re not in school at all,” she said.
The Malala Fund also works with Apple’s Developer Academies in Brazil, and Apple is helping the Malala Fund scale its organization by assisting with technology, curriculum, and research into the policy changes needed everywhere to allow girls attend school and complete their education.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
After Apple came out with the AirPods, wire-free earbuds flooded the market, and there are now a ton of options from companies ranging from Sony to Razer.
In our latest YouTube video, we took a look at several popular wire-free earbud options, comparing the features and giving each one an overall score to figure out which ones are the best.
This comparison includes the following earbuds: Razer Hammerhead, Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, Jabra Elite 75t, Sony WF-1000XM3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and Powerbeats Pro.
We’re comparing the major features of each set of earbuds and assigning a score in four different categories, including comfort, portability, sound quality, and bonus features. Keep in mind that these are opinion-based scores. We have a quick overview below, but make sure to watch the video for the full comparison.
Razer Hammerhead ($99)
These earbuds are modeled after the AirPods with no silicone tips and a stem at the bottom. They’re cheap at $99, and while the sound isn’t bad, it does lack bass.
They’re not uncomfortable, and charging via USB-C is a nice bonus. Razer promises 60ms latency for gaming, and while we didn’t notice a huge difference when playing a game, it was noticeable with videos. The battery lasts for four hours, with an additional 12 hours from the charging case.
Comfort: 8
Portability: 7
Sound Quality: 6
Bonus Features: 6
Overall: 7
Soundcore Liberty 2 ($149)
Soundcore is an Anker brand, and Anker is known for its high-quality but still affordable hardware. Priced at $149 (but often on sale for less), these earbuds are standard wireless earbuds that are rather bass heavy out of the box. These have “Astria coaxial acoustic architecture,” which is a fancy way of saying good sound, and these do indeed offer some pretty great sound quality.
Sound profile can be customized with the Soundcore app, and there physical media controls. The battery lasts for 8 hours, and the USB-C charging case provides an additional 24 hours of battery life. These are comfortable to wear and provide a good seal in the ear, though there’s no active noise cancellation technology (Anker does say these have noise reduction, but it’s mostly for phone calls.)
Comfort: 8
Portability: 8
Sound Quality: 7
Bonus Features: 7
Overall: 7.5
Jabra Elite 75t ($180)
Jabra has been making wireless headphones for a long time, and the Elite 75t are the company’s wire-free option. These are small earbuds (the smallest of the bunch), but they fit well and offer a good in-ear seal, so good that there’s a “hearthrough” mode. We weren’t entirely sure what hearthrough mode was meant to do, but it didn’t seem to work well.
Sound wise, these are a little bass heavy but can be adjusted with the Jabra app, and there’s excellent instrument separation. A four microphone setup offers great call quality, unsurprising from a Jabra offering. The battery lasts for 7.5 hours and the charging case provides an additional 28 hours of battery life.
Comfort: 8
Portability: 9
Sound Quality: 7
Bonus Features: 6
Overall: 7.5
Sony WF-1000XM3 ($229)
With noise cancellation, the Sony WF-1000XM3 are the earbuds that are closest to the AirPods Pro. There are 6 different silicone tips for a good fit regardless of ear size, but these are heavy which can lead to ear fatigue after awhile.
Sound is excellent with impressive balance and an equalizer option in the app to adjust the sound to your preferences. Sound cancellation isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Pro Transparency mode wins out over the Ambient Noise control Sony offers. Battery life is 6 hours, with 24 hours from the case.
Comfort: 8
Portability: 7
Sound Quality: 10
Bonus Features: 8
Overall: 8
AirPods Pro ($250)
AirPods Pro are Apple’s newest AirPods and the priciest on this list at $250. AirPods Pro are super comfortable, fit well, and offer silicone tips in three sizes. Battery life is not as good as some of the other headphones on this list at 4.5 hours with ANC, but the charging case adds 24 hours.
The press-based playback controls are easy to use, but no volume control is a major downside. Sound quality is impressive, though the AirPods Pro lack the option for customization via an app. The H1 chip for easy iPhone connections can’t be overlooked, and the active noise cancellation works well.
Comfort: 9
Portability: 8
Sound Quality: 10
Bonus Features: 10
Overall: 9
AirPods 2 ($159 – $199)
AirPods 2 offer all of the features of the AirPods Pro when it comes to connectivity and device switching, but the design is the original AirPods design without the silicone tips. Most people find AirPods comfortable, but the AirPods Pro have the edge.
There’s no active noise cancellation and the sound quality isn’t quite as good, but these still sound excellent for earbuds that are this portable. AirPods have become some of the most popular wire-free earbuds on the market for a reason, and we think they’re almost as good as the AirPods Pro, but not quite as nice when it comes to fit or sound quality.
Comfort: 8
Portability: 8
Sound Quality: 7
Bonus Features: 9
Overall: 8
Powerbeats Pro ($200)
Like the AirPods and AirPods Pro, the Powerbeats Pro have Apple’s H1 chip for simple setup and fast device switching. Design wise, these are in a category of their own thanks to the earhooks that hold them securely in place even during vigorous workouts.
The silicone tips offer a tight in-ear fit that can drown out ambient noise, but there’s no active noise cancellation. Sound quality is solid, but again, there’s no option for customization. Powerbeats Pro offer excellent nine hour battery life, but the charging case is enormous because it needs to accommodate those earhooks.
Comfort: 8
Portability: 8
Sound Quality: 8
Bonus Features: 9
Overall: 8
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like the AirPods Pro if you have an Apple device, given the noise cancellation and the deep integration with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Simple pairing, easy device switching, and Hey Siri support are features that third-party headphones can’t match.
The Sony headphones also have noise cancellation and great sound if you’re looking for an AirPods Pro alternative, but you’ll miss out on several of the aforementioned options.
If you don’t need noise cancellation, you won’t go wrong with the AirPods 2, and for those who want an in-ear fit along with secure earhooks for working out, the Powerbeats Pro are a great choice.
What are your favorite wire-free earbuds? Let us know in the comments.
Mac threat detections were on the rise in 2019, according to data shared by Malwarebytes, a company that makes anti-malware software for Macs and Windows PCs.
Looking at the top 25 threat detections in 2019, six of those were Mac threats, with Mac threats accounting for 16 percent of total detections. Malwarebytes found this number significant because its Mac user base is 1/12 the size of the PC user base, but Malwarebytes does not provide direct year-over-year comparisons of Mac malware numbers.
Mac adware
Perhaps 16 percent doesn’t sound impressive, but when you consider the number of devices on which these threats were detected, the results become extremely interesting. Although the total number of Mac threats is smaller than the total number of PC threats, so is the total number of Macs. Considering that our Mac user base is about 1/12 the size of our Windows user base, that 16 percent figure becomes more significant.
For the first time in 2019, Mac malware broke into the top five most-detected threats, accounting for the second and fifth-most detected threats during the year.
The number two malware was Mac adware known as NewTab, accounting for four percent of overall detections across platforms. NewTag is adware that uses browser extensions to modify the content of webpages, and it’s found in Chrome. It is no longer able to be installed in Safari because of changes Apple has made to extensions.
The number five malware, PUP.PCVARK, was responsible for three precent of total detections. PUP.PCVARK (with PUP standing for potentially unwanted program) is a collection of Mac programs not intentionally installed by the user.
Malwarebytes says there were 9.8 detections per Mac in 2019, compared to 4.2 detections per device for Windows PCs. That may sound significant, but there are caveats with that data point.
All of the machines used for these figures have Malwarebytes installed, and Mac users tend to believe antivirus software is unnecessary. Macs represented in this data may have “already had some kind of suspected infection” prompting users to install the Malwarebytes software, which would skew the numbers.
For that reason, Malwarebytes believes the overall threat detection rate for all Macs is not as high as its data sample suggests.
Though Malwarebytes suggests Mac malware is on the rise, it’s worth noting that the threats Macs are facing consist primarily of adware and “potentially unwanted programs.” There are more nefarious malware programs able to infect Macs, but these are more targeted and limited in scope, so unlikely to affect most Mac users.
Last week, a music player app called “Rewound” surfaced on the App Store, with the purpose of bringing back classic music players through downloadable skins, including the iPod with its classic click wheel design.
Lots of people loved the iPod design for the nostalgia, but Apple wasn’t a fan and has pulled the app from the App Store.
In an article on Medium, Rewound’s creators explain that Apple “killed” the app because it copied the iPod’s design, charged a fee for Apple Music features, and, apparently, could be mistaken for an Apple-designed app.
Rewound disputes all of these charges, insisting that Apple was “salty” that users shared clickwheel skins (the app could be customized with multiple looks, though initial focus was on the iPod). From the Medium post:
– An optional scrolling motion to navigate a menu isn’t Apple IP
– A button layout without a wheel or scrolling navigation isn’t Apple IP
– Similar menu systems are found in all operating systems.
– Skins were user added/downloaded, we didn’t include them in the app.
Rewound’s developer says that the app can’t be updated to get it re-approved without breaking the app for the 170,000 people who use it at the current time. A separate version is in the works, but the developer feels that it is “barely worth the time or effort to even try and humor them” as the developer believes Apple will continue to deny the app.
The developer plans to make a Rewound web app as an alternative that can be used on the iPhone “without Apple’s approval,” and is seeking $50,000 in funding for the project.
In a retrospective on the technology of the last decade, The New York Times has shared a new interview with marketing chief Phil Schiller, covering the debut of the iPad in early 2010.
Schiller says that the iPad was conceived when Apple began looking at a future computer device that could be sold under $500. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO at the time, said that to reach that price point, things need to be removed “aggressively.”
Apple cut the clamshell design and the keyboard, prompting the iPad team to work on multitouch technology, which would go on to debut first in the 2007 iPhone.
And so the team started working on multitouch technology. During that process, a human interface designer, Bas Ording, showed us this demo where he pretended to scroll and the whole screen moved up and down with realistic physics. It was one of those “holy crap” moments.
Apple set the iPad aside to focus on the iPhone, but once the second-generation iPhone was launched, Apple returned to working on the tablet form factor. Schiller says that it was “easy to imagine” what needed to be taken from the iPhone to make the iPad.
When we got back to the iPad, it was really easy to imagine what to take from iPhone and what needed to be different to create the product it would be. It really helped.
The New York Times piece on the iPad also includes a tidbit from Walt Mossberg, former technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, who worked closely with Jobs. Jobs invited Mossberg over to his home to show him the new iPad ahead of its launch.
Mossberg says he was impressed with the thinness of the iPad, and Jobs was “careful” to demonstrate how it “wasn’t just a big iPhone.” The most impressive part, though, was the price. Mossberg initially guessed $999 when Jobs asked what he thought the iPad might cost, half of the actual $499 price tag.
He gave me this wicked smile, and he said, “You’re going to be really amazed if that’s what you think. It’s way lower than that.”
Since the iPad first launched in 2010, Apple has released new versions on a yearly basis, and in 2019, the line has grown to encompass multiple pricing and design choices. There’s the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models at the high-end, the middle tier 10.5-inch iPad Air, the tiny 7.9-inch iPad mini 5, and the low-cost 10.2-inch seventh-generation iPad.
The New York Times also looks at several other technological advancements and changes that took place over the course of the last decade, including the development of Siri, Apple’s 2016 fight with the FBI, and the 2011 death of Steve Jobs.
Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro, though there is no word on what’s new in the refreshed firmware.
AirPods Pro were previously using firmware version 2B588, while AirPods 2 were previously using 2A364. Both AirPods Pro and AirPods 2 run firmware version 2C54 following the update.
There’s no clear cut way to upgrade the firmware of the AirPods and AirPods Pro, with the new software being installed over-the-air while the AirPods are connected to an iOS device.
Putting the AirPods in the case, connecting the AirPods to a power source, and then pairing the AirPods to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.
You can check the firmware of your AirPods by following these steps:
Make sure the AirPods are connected to your iOS device.
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap About.
Tap AirPods.
Look at the number next to “Firmware Version.”
AirPods firmware updates often bring performance improvements, bug fixes, and feature tweaks, but we may not find out what’s new as Apple does not provide any kind of release notes for AirPods updates.
Transit agencies in major cities like London, New York, and Washington, D.C. have recently rolled out support for or expanded availability of Apple Pay for contactless fare payment using an iPhone or Apple Watch.
Given this trend, MacRumors reached out to transit agencies in additional cities across North America to inquire about their Apple Pay plans:
Philadelphia: SEPTA plans to start supporting Apple Pay and mobile ticketing next year. The rollout may begin as early as the second quarter of 2020, but the timeline is not firm yet.
Boston: MBTA says Apple Pay with Express Transit mode will be piloted in 2022 and rolled out widely in 2023. This will include CharlieCard fare card integration in the Wallet app.
San Diego: SDMTS plans to begin implementing a new fare payment system in late 2020 with support for mobile wallets like Apple Pay. No plans for Compass Card integration in the Wallet app at this time.
Toronto: Metrolinx says it is working toward initiating a limited pilot program to test out new forms of payment in 2020. In April 2018, Metrolinx reportedly said riders would be able to pay their fare by tapping their smartphone against a PRESTO reader in “far less than five years.”
Montréal: STM plans to support Apple Pay around 2022-2023 for credit cards, but not the OPUS fare card.
We’ll update this list if any other transit agencies respond.
Apple Pay with Express Transit mode allows for tap-and-go payment, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. The device does not need to be waked or unlocked, either.
CalDigit is a popular maker of docks, external storage, and other accessories that work well with Apple’s ecosystem, and the company recently released a new Tuff nano external solid-state drive that packs blazing-fast transfer speeds into a tiny package.
I don’t have a huge need for external storage with my MacBook Pro, but when I have needed it I’ve used CalDigit’s previous Tuff SSD, which I reviewed a couple of years ago. The original Tuff was available in both SSD and traditional hard disk versions, with the hard disks offering greater capacity at slower speeds while the SSDs offered faster speeds but with lower capacities and higher prices.
The cost of SSDs has come down over the past couple of years as the drive modules have also gotten smaller, and CalDigit has taken advantage of those advances to create the Tuff nano.
The Tuff nano is currently available only in a 512 GB version priced at $150, and while it’s big enough to back up my entire MacBook Pro, some power users may want more. Regardless, when you need speedy data transfers in a compact form factor, it’s a great option, and CalDigit is planning to launch a 1 TB version late in the first quarter of next year (pricing to be announced closer to launch), so you might want to hold out for that if you need a bit more storage space.
The Tuff nano is built for the road, with the compact size easily fitting in a pocket or bag and the SSD offering great shock protection. The drive casing is made of aluminum to help dissipate heat, but the whole thing is wrapped in a silicone bumper to protect everything against drops of up to three meters.
The silicone bumper also has a tab that fits over the drive’s USB-C port, helping give the Tuff nano IP67 water and dust resistance, meaning it is fully dust tight and can stand up to immersion in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes. The tab seemed a little bit finicky in getting it to firmly seal the USB-C port, so make sure you double-check that it’s seated properly before potentially exposing the Tuff nano to liquids.
The Tuff nano comes in a selection of four bumper colors (Tomato Red, Olive Green, Royal Blue, and Charcoal Black), letting you choose your favorite if you only need one drive, or easily differentiate between multiple drives. The whole thing also comes in a plastic archive case measuring around four inches (10 cm) square by a little over 0.75 inches (2 cm) thick that fits both the drive and the included short 0.25-meter USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables that come with the drive.
The Tuff nano itself measures just three inches (7.6 cm) long by a little over two inches (5.5 cm) wide and just over half an inch (1.5 cm) thick, including the bumper. The drive weighs only 2.6 ounces (74 grams).
Moving on to performance, the Tuff nano maximizes speed by using a Toshiba M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD over a 10 Gbps USB-C connection, which CalDigit says offers read speeds of up to 1055 MB/s.
In my testing with the Tuff nano connected directly to a 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro, I didn’t quite reach that level, but it was still plenty fast, yielding read speeds of 920 MB/s and write speeds of around 765 MB/s. Compare that to the original Tuff connected to the same machine, which maxed out with read speeds of just over 500 MB/s and write speeds around 485 MB/s.
That also makes the Tuff nano faster than Samsung’s popular T5 portable SSD, although the T5 is a little bit smaller and definitely cheaper per gigabyte than the Tuff nano, with Samsung rumored to be preparing a new T7 successor. Another competitor is SanDisk’s new Extreme Pro Portable SSD, which offers similar speeds to the Tuff nano at solid pricing but in a somewhat larger form factor that also lacks the Tuff nano’s water and dust resistance.
The Tuff nano comes formatted in HFS+ for macOS and can be connected directly to an iPad Pro over USB-C. For use on Windows, you’ll need to reformat the Tuff nano. Similarly, it should work with many Android phones, provided it’s formatted in exFAT or FAT32.
CalDigit clearly views the Tuff nano as the future of its highly portable SSD lineup, as it has reduced its original Tuff offerings to just the 2 TB hard disk model, and even that appears to be running low on stock, so it would not be surprising if that disappears entirely in the not too distant future.
The Tuff nano is an early entrant in the next generation of portable SSDs that are taking advantage of NVMe-to-USB technology to deliver blazing-fast data transfer speeds with versatile connectivity, and they’re a welcome advance in portability and performance. CalDigit has blended a strong set of features, including fast speeds, a compact design, and excellent water and shock resistance, all at a reasonable price point to provide convenient on-the-go storage for a variety of users.
Note: CalDigit provided MacRumors with a Tuff nano for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple’s new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR became available to order last week and, on schedule, the first deliveries to customers have begun. The photos below were shared by MacRumors forum member K. Johansen from Oregon.
As suspected, it appears the new Mac Pro is only assembled in Texas for orders placed in the United States, Canada, and other countries in the Americas. French blog MacGeneration has confirmed that a new Mac Pro delivered to a customer in France today has fine print indicating it was assembled in China.
