handoff
Latest
HomePod update adds multi-user support and music handoffs
Apple just made the HomePod considerably more useful for whole households, albeit somewhat later than expected. It accompanied the release of iOS 13.2 with a corresponding HomePod update that, among other things, introduces promised multi-user support. The smart speaker now recognizes the voices of different people in your home, giving them personalized music access and other user-specific features. This isn't a new concept in the smart speaker world, but it'll be helpful if you'd rather not clutter your partner's Apple Music history with your own selections.
HomePod radio streaming arrives on September 30th
Apple didn't really discuss the HomePod at its iPhone 11 event, but there was still some news that (almost) slipped under the radar. The tech firm quietly updated the HomePod's product page to reveal that the vaunted radio streaming feature will reach the smart speaker on September 30th. TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Radio.com will offer 100,000 global radio stations just by asking Siri. Given that this is considered a staple of other smart speakers, it'll be both welcome and overdue. For other features, though, you'll have to sit tight.
HomePod will support multiple users and music handoffs
Apple just addressed some of the complaints about the HomePod in one fell swoop. A future update to the smart speaker will bring multiple major upgrades, most notably support for multiple users. Like its rivals, it can recognize who's speaking and customize the responses. This has rather large implications for messages, reminders and other info you might not want to share with everyone else in your household.
How to disable taking iPhone calls on your iPad
While there are a number of how-to's on the topic of enabling your iPad to take iPhone calls in iOS 8, there are unfortunately a lot of people spreading FUD about the ability to turn it off. Yes, you can turn it off. It's the same as turning it on, but you switch to OFF... So, no, this isn't a "conspiracy" as some have called it, to "get you to create more Apple IDs!!!" Yes, these people love those exclamation points. And yes, people are actually positing this conspiracy theory in Apple's forums. Sigh. Anyway, you open your iPad and go into Settings, then FaceTime settings, and switch iPhone Cellular Calls to off (the switch will be green if on). This same toggle is in the Mac version of FaceTime as well, in Preferences for the app there. If only there were a switch for paranoia.
Handoff feature in OS X Yosemite may only work on Macs with Bluetooth LE 4.0 support
The upcoming Handoff feature that allows users to seamlessly transition between workflows on their Mac and iOS device seemingly only works on Macs that support Bluetooth LE 4.0. For starters, MacRumors points out that Apple engineers during WWDC explained that the feature does in fact utilize Bluetooth LE. What's more, the recent release of the second OS X Yosemite beta includes a field for continuity support within the system information pane. The content of the field appears to be a function of which machines support Bluetooth LE With this in mind, the website Apfeimer compiled the following chart detailing which Mac models support Bluetooth LE and, by extension, will be able to run the Handoff feature. The red bars indicate which Mac models can run OS X Yosemite while the green bars represent which models come equipped with Bluetooth LE 4.0. A video of the Handoff feature in action can be seen below.
The new Handoff feature in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite in action
One of the underlying themes of this year's WWDC keynote was continuity, an overarching set of features that effectively blurs the lines between the Mac and iOS as separate devices. One of the more intriguing continuity features is something Apple calls Handoff. With Handoff, iPhone users running OS X Yosemite can seamlessly transition between workflows on their iOS 8 device and Mac without missing a beat. Apple describes the feature thusly: Now you can start writing an email on your iPhone and pick up where you left off when you sit down at your Mac. Or browse the web on your Mac and continue from the same link on your iPad. It all happens automatically when your devices are signed in to the same iCloud account. Use Handoff with favorite apps like Mail, Safari, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts. And developers can build Handoff into their apps now, too. Handoff promises to be one of the more exciting new features in OS X Yosemite and Cult of Mac recently posted a video of the feature in action. The video also shows how phone calls forwarded from an iPhone to a Mac will run, another nifty addition to the continuity feature set.
Ericsson trials HSPA-LTE interoperability, we count 7 Gs in total
Since it'll be eons until we enjoy the kind of 4G coverage that we've grown used to on 2G (and to a lesser extent, 3G), manufacturers and carriers are hard at work making sure that we've got a reliable way to interoperate for the foreseeable future -- TeliaSonera, for instance, wants to swap out its customers' modems for LTE / HSPA dual-mode versions once they're available next year. To that end, Ericsson and ST-Ericsson are trumpeting that they've become the first to establish "LTE and HSPA mobility" in accordance with 3GPP's Release 8 specification, which dictates this sort of stuff in a way everyone can agree on (that's a good thing). Verizon's naturally more interested in the CDMA handoffs that have already gone down, but for AT&T and most of the rest of the world, this is exciting news indeed.
Motorola demos EV-DO Rev. A to LTE handoffs
We try not to be an overly philosophical bunch, but we can't help but observe some interesting parallels between Motorola's industry-first demonstration of an EV-DO Rev. A to LTE handoff with the way the entire wireless world is progressing. Without a single major carrier win to its name, EV-DO's successor, UMB, seems poised to ride off into the sunset while current CDMA customers like Verizon plan migrations to the GSM-friendly LTE standard. Anyway, this little technical achievement will certainly set the minds of said CDMA customers at rest, knowing that its subscribers will one day be able to roam on data services between EV-DO Rev. A and LTE cells -- and considering that the transition period could last many years, that's an important capability to have. On an interesting side note, Alltel was on hand for the demo; they've not committed to any 4G technology, but we can say with certainty that they're at least considering LTE at this point.
Nokia launches UMA trial on home turf
While some companies are keeping their UMA trials under wraps -- or at least they're trying to -- Nokia's keeping no secrets in launching a 50-family test in its native Finland. Participants in the town of Oulu will receive Nokia's 6136 UMA clamshell (we're guessing there's no room for whining about form factor or case color here), and thanks to Oulu's "Pan Oulu" project, free WiFi hotspots around town make UMA a particularly compelling sell. The trial is currently scheduled to last at least two months, during which Nokia will be keeping a close eye on handoffs, performance over WiFi, and presumably anything else that's managed to dog UMA thus far. We might be reaching here, but we're kinda hoping at least a couple of those trial families do us all a big favor whine about the 6136's lack of Bluetooth.[Via Gizmag]
T-Mobile's UMA goodies exposed
It doesn't take an industry insider to notice that T-Mobile's been putting together plans for a UMA service to bridge their GSM network with public and home hotspots here in the States. We've also guessed that Samsung's T709 would be involved, and though we still don't have anything approaching an official confirmation, these pictures have filled in some blanks for us. Sent in by a handful of intrepid beta testers risking life and limb for the public good, we see here that the T709 looks to be T-Mobile's launch handset as expected, sporting a 1.3-megapixel camera, GSM 850 / 1800 / 1900 with EDGE, roughly 69MB usable flash, and media player. They have at least two routers in the works -- a Linksys and a D-Link -- though the only difference from your average 802.11b/g router appears to be the addition of a button to facilitate painless, secure hookup to your phone without entering a WEP / WPA key. Our respective tipsters report differeing experiences however: one said it works well, improves reception, and has no complaints; another said UMA performance leaves a lot to be desired, and besides draining battery juice at a breakneck pace (8-9 hours standby), voice quality is poor without perfect WiFi reception, and GSM / WiFi handoffs are currently a bit flaky with frequent dropouts. Of course, this is all still in beta and we'll reserve judgement until T-Mobile gives the signal -- which shouldn't be too terribly long, considering the beta materials have retail packaging -- but the T709 sadly lacks Bluetooth and any sort of memory expansion, meaning we're already in a holding pattern for second-generation devices.
