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Mobile

Do JBL’s earbuds really need a “smart” case?

JBL is one of the leaders when it comes to audio products. Its Flip 5 is still one of the best small speakers in my opinion. And, at its IFA event, JBL unveiled its new one-of-a-kind wireless earbuds aimed at disrupting the wireless audio market. The company launched its Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds. While the earbuds themselves look like every other TWS in the market, it comes with a charging case that features a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display.

That’s right: the case of the Tour Pro 2 comes with a full-fledged LED display that lets you perform a number of actions without picking up your smartphone. These include changing music, answering calls, sending messages, and even checking social media notifications and battery levels. When not in use, you can set it to show one of the preset wallpapers. JBL is advertising this as a productivity feature, especially for those who don’t already own a smartwatch or keep their phone in an easily accessible pocket.

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While the idea seems interesting, I’m not sure how the extra screen adds value to the product. If I have to take a device to switch songs and check notifications, won’t I just use my smartphone in the first place? It seems we’ll have to wait and see how practical the screen actually is, though having the option to control stuff from your case is also nice.

Even though the display seems a little gimmicky at the moment, the earbuds are not short on audio features (its primary purpose). The earbuds use 10mm dynamic audio drivers to create ‘pro’ sound. The earbuds also offer true adaptive noise canceling. It features am ambient sound mode using which you can focus on what is going on around you. For those who make tons of calls using earbuds, there is a six-mic combination on the earbuds that should ensure a crisp and clear voice call. They’re also future-proof, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio support.


What puts me off

With great power comes great responsibility, and with new features comes a great price tag. JBL says the Tour Pro 2 earbuds will retail for $249 in the US or €249 in Europe. This means that the Tour Pro 2 would cost customers ~25% (or $70) more than Apple’s AirPods Pro or the new Samsung Galaxy Buds.

Does paying a $70 premium for a smart case make sense? Although it’s too early to judge — the device won’t be available until January of next year — I still have reservations about the practicality of the display. And the fact that an extra display could lead to somewhat increased weight, size, and overall weaker battery life (though JBL claims should last 40 hours on a single charge) also make me a tad bit wary about the device.

Nonetheless, we are not going to make our judgment solely based on price and specs. We will be covering these earbuds extensively when they are available in the US next year, so make sure to check back! In the meantime, tell us about your thoughts on the new JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds. Do drop a comment and let us know!

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Apple

Users not seeing macOS Monterey 12.1 update on M1 Macs

Apple yesterday officially released macOS Monterey 12.1 for all users. However, the update, which comes with SharePlay, Apple Music Voice Plan, Hide My Email, and other enhancements, is not showing up for everyone – that’s what some M1 Mac users have been saying.

While the latest version of macOS 12.1 should be available to everyone, it seems that some users are unable to download and install it. More specifically, it seems that the issue has been affecting users of Macs with the M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max chips.

Microsoft journalist and Senior Cloud Developer Advocate Christina Warren reported on Twitter that the macOS 12.1 update is simply not showing up in the System Preferences app. Other Mac users on Reddit also seem to be experiencing the same problem.

Anyone else having issues installing macOS 12.1 on an M1 Max? I get prompted for latest Xcode tools but nothing for macOS itself and I can’t force it. Some people on Reddit resort to recovery mode but I don’t want to do that.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an easy workaround for this problem so far. 9to5Mac’s Bradley Chambers tried to download the full installer of macOS Monterey from the App Store, but the download gets stuck at 52%. Warren mentioned on Twitter that she had the same issue.

For now, the only solution to update affected Macs is to enter Recovery Mode and reinstall macOS, as the tool will download the latest version of the operating system. Apple is yet to acknowledge the issue.

Were you able to update your Mac to macOS Monterey 12.1? Let us know in the comments below.

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Mobile

Galaxy S21 FE colors leak as Samsung announcement inches closer

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Apple

Apple Watch users can ‘Ring in the New Year’ with fitness challenge

As Apple typically introduces Activity Challenges for Apple Watch users on commemorative dates, the company will soon be promoting a “Ring in the New Year Challenge.” The challenge will offer special achievements during January 2022.

Apple Watch Activity Challenges are meant to promote using the watch for fitness and act as a way for Apple to guide users into taking advantage of the workout tracking features. In order to win the next award, Apple Watch users must close all three activity rings for seven consecutive days.

That means standing for at least one minute of 12 different hours, meeting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day, and burning your personal goal of active calories throughout the day.

Start 2022 on a high note. Earn this award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January.

As usual, users who complete the challenge will receive not only a special achievement in the Fitness app, but also unique stickers for iMessage and FaceTime. The challenge will run from January 7, 2022 to January 31, 2022, and Apple Watch users will be notified a few days before the challenge begins.

Are you planning to close your rings in January to get the New Year Achievement? Let us know in the comments below.

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Mobile

WhatsApp now hides ‘Last Seen’ from strangers by default

Whatsapp featured

WhatsApp has been working on including a ton of features in the past few months, such as the disappearing messages, sticker creator, message reactions, redesigned apps, and so much more. In the latest release, WhatsApp is now rolling out a new privacy measure that will hide your “Last seen” status from people who you hadn’t added to your contact list by default, instead of letting “everyone” see when you were last online.


While the ‘new’ feature may actually be new to WhatsApp, it had been added to several other popular messaging platforms such as Telegram a long time ago. Needless to say, the more privacy options, the better, and it’s great to see this finally appear on one of the most popular messaging services (via WABetaInfo).

In a Twitter post, a user asks WhatsApp why they haven’t been able to see the “Last seen” information from other users. Another user replied, showing an email, explaining how the new feature works. The email says that WhatsApp is “making it harder for people you don’t know and haven’t chatted with from seeing your last seen and online presence on WhatsApp. This will not change anything between you and your friends, family, and business who you know or have previously messaged.”

The option previously allowed anyone to stalk you online, and see when you were “last seen” by default. A few third-party apps may have used this feature for other than what they were supposed to, and it’s good to know that this tracking information will be cut off by default from now. There will also be an additional “Nobody” option in settings, letting users completely hide from everyone when they were last online.

What are your thoughts about the new feature? Will you completely hide your online presence on WhatsApp, or still allow your contacts to see when you were last online? Let us know in the comments below!


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Apple

Ashley Gjøvik complaint against Apple now under investigation

The US Department of Labor has agreed to investigate an Ashley Gjøvik complaint against Apple. The former senior engineering manager alleged that the Cupertino company treated her unfairly, before first suspending and finally dismissing her.

Gjøvik said that the saga began when she raised concerns over workplace safety in regard to previous contamination on the land beneath the building where she was based …

The former employee says that the company intimidated her for raising the concerns, then took various retaliatory actions against her when she persisted. She also accused the company of sexism in its treatment of her and other female employees.

Gjøvik and another Apple employee filed complaints with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The board does not automatically investigate all such complaints, but the Financial Times reports that it has now agreed to do so in this case.

The US Department of Labor is investigating Apple over claims that it retaliated against an employee who complained of workplace harassment and unsafe working conditions […]

The labour department declined to comment, but confirmed its investigation in a letter to Gjovik seen by the Financial Times, dated December 10.

Stephen Kohn, an employment lawyer and an expert in US whistleblowing law, said the burden of proof needed for the agency to open an investigation was high, as the employee must have already established enough evidence that, unless rebutted, would prove the case.

Apple has a policy of declining to comment on issues relating to individual employees, but issued a brief statement to the FT:

We are and have always been deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace. We take all concerns seriously and we thoroughly investigate whenever a concern is raised.

A former NLRB lawyer says that the board has a high threshold for opening investigations.

“Federal agencies exercise what in the context of criminal law is known as prosecutorial discretion,” said Michael Duff. “They are very careful of what cases they move forward because they have scarce resources, so they must have a strong reason to believe they can prevail.”

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Mobile

OnePlus to become an OPPO sub-brand, announcement imminent

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Mobile

New 27-inch iMac Pro to arrive in the first half of 2022?

It seems that Apple is getting ready for the next big step in its transition from Intel to Apple Silicon. The latest information reveals that Apple may be announcing a new iMac Pro in the first half of 2022. The best part is that this new iMac is expected to feature a miniLED display and other great new features.

According to Ross Young’s article at Display Supply Chain, the new 27-inch iMac Pro will arrive in Spring 2022, which means that we could expect a new and more powerful iMac between March and June. In other words, Apple’s next Spring event may be just as packed as the one we received in 2021.

“Apple’s Launch of the 27” iMac Pro with MiniLEDs, 120Hz Variable Refresh, and Oxide Backplanes
Expected in the spring as Apple brings its ProMotion technology to the iMac.
Apple is the only major brand with a MiniLED tablet and the only major brand with a MiniLED notebook. Will this change in 2022? We shall see.”

Rumors suggest that this new 27-inch iMac Pro will feature a miniLED display, similar to the one we find in the MacBook Pro. It is also said that this new display will be capable of delivering 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, and the best part is that this new iMac could also feature the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that were announced with the latest 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops.

Ross also mentions other Apple devices, including a new OLED iPad and a Macbook, but these could arrive “until 2023 at the earliest, 2024 more likely.” He also mentions an Apple Foldable, but we’re not really sure if he is talking about an iPhone or other device. Apple’s AR Headset is also mentioned, as he claims that “volume estimates look low for next year, so price must be high.”

This year’s Apple Spring Loaded Event revealed Apple’s AirTags, new iMacs, new iPad Pros, and other great devices. So it wouldn’t be strange to see the iMac Pro and other great Apple products in next year’s Spring event.

Source:DSCC

Via: MacRumors

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Apple

Apple updates its Developer Program agreement to clarify use of Swift Playgrounds, Xcode Cloud, more

Apple today announced some changes to its Apple Developer Program agreement, which are the terms that developers are required to agree to in order to offer their apps on the App Store. The new terms clarify the use of Swift Playgrounds, Xcode Cloud, and more.

Ahead of the Swift Playgrounds 4 launch, Apple has updated its terms to mention the platform as one of the alternatives for creating iOS apps. This is because one of the main new features of Swift Playgrounds 4 is the ability to create and submit apps to the App Store directly from an iPad, so now the app is considered an “Apple SDK,” just like Xcode.

“Apple SDKs” means the Apple-proprietary Software Development Kits (SDKs) provided hereunder, including but not limited to header files, APIs, libraries, simulators, and software (source code and object code) labeled as part of iOS, watchOS, tvOS, iPadOS, or Mac SDK and included in the Xcode Developer Tools package and Swift Playgrounds for purposes of targeting Apple-branded products running iOS, watchOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and/or macOS, respectively.

The new agreement also mentions Xcode Cloud, which was announced at WWDC 2021 as a platform that will let developers accelerate the development process by running automated tests and other tasks in the cloud. Xcode Cloud is currently available as a private beta and is expected to become available to more developers next year.

“Xcode Cloud Content” means the software, tests, scripts, data, information, text, graphics, videos, or other content that You post or make available when accessing or using the Xcode Cloud Service (including any software residing in source code repositories to which You provide log-in credentials), excluding any Apple materials licensed to You.

There are also mentions of the new Legacy Contacts feature introduced with iOS 15.2, clarifications on the requirements for using the HealthKit and Fitness APIs, and the inclusion of gender-neutral language.

You can find all the details on the Apple Developer website.

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Apple

Xcode 13.2 hints at Swift Playgrounds 4 release

In addition to the release of iOS 15.2, macOS Monterey 12.1, watchOS 8.3, and tvOS 15.2, Apple on Monday also updated its Xcode developer tool to version 13.2. The update, which comes with new features, hints at the upcoming release of Swift Playgrounds 4.

For those unfamiliar, Xcode is the tool used by developers to create apps for Apple’s platforms, which includes iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Xcode 13.2 adds support for iOS 15.2 and other recently released software updates.

However, Xcode 13.2 brings some new features, including support for Swift Playgrounds 4. According to the app’s release notes, the latest version of Xcode adds compatibility with projects created in Swift Playgrounds 4 – which is yet to be released by Apple.

Swift Playgrounds 4 was announced back in June at WWDC 2021. The app helps developers and students learn the company’s Swift programming language, and the new version lets developers build and submit apps to the App Store directly from an iPad. 9to5Mac showed a first look at Swift Playgrounds 4 last month with some exclusive screenshots of the app running on iPadOS.

Swift Playgrounds is a great way to learn to code right on a Mac or iPad. With Swift Playgrounds 4, users will be able to create the visual design of an app with SwiftUI. App projects can be opened and edited in Swift Playgrounds or in Xcode, and when they’re ready, users can build a real app and submit it directly to the App Store right from their iPad.

It’s now only a matter of time before Apple finally releases Swift Playgrounds 4 on the App Store. You can download the current version of Swift Playgrounds for free. The tool is available for both iPadOS and macOS.

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