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Olloclip's new lenses attach quickly to your iPhone 7
Now that there are new iPhones with revised cameras, many smartphone photographers are going to want new Olloclip lenses. Thankfully, they've arrived... and Olloclip didn't just tweak the connectors and call it a day. Its new Core, Active and Macro Pro lens sets not only have improved optics ("premium multi-element coated glass," Olloclip says), but an improved interchangeable lens system. Called Connect, it separates the frame on your phone from the lens housings. This lets them quickly attach to and align with your iPhone's camera, even if you have a screen protector. You should spend less time swapping lenses and more time shooting, in other words.
BioWare's 'Jade Empire' gets another shot at life on iOS
BioWare is virtually synonymous with Mass Effect and Dragon Age these days, but it has had its share of experiments. Remember Jade Empire, its China-inspired (and critically well-received) action role-playing title? Aspyr does -- it just released versions of Jade Empire: Special Edition for the Mac and, crucially, iOS. You can now relive the story of a martial artist restoring balance to the world using your phone or tablet, not just your computer at home. There are simple controls in the iOS version if you're not comfortable with a touchscreen, but you can also switch to an expert mode when you're comfortable with using taps and swipes to defeat other warriors.
Google Pixel tools help you switch from an iPhone
We've seen many attempts at helping you switch from one smartphone platform to another, but Google is kicking things up a notch with its Pixel smartphones. The lineup will include software to bring over contacts, media and messages from other phones, including iPhones. It'll even bring over your iMessages, in case you're worried that all those blue chat bubbles will disappear while moving to Android. To that end, Google bundles an adapter to help iPhone owners make the leap. These tools aren't that necessary if you store a lot of your data in the cloud, but it's evident that Google wants to remove as many pain points as possible -- it wants Pixel to appeal to everyone. Click here to catch all the latest news from Google's fall event.
Yahoo's reworked mobile app is all about sharing news
When you're browsing your Facebook feed (or Flipboard, or Reddit), you probably spend at least some time reading, sharing and commenting on the latest news. What if there was an app dedicated just to that? Yahoo is giving it a shot. It's relaunching its core mobile app as Yahoo Newsroom, which focuses on following news "Vibes" like politics or sports, sharing stories in those threads (from anywhere on the web) and commenting on them. The more Vibes you follow and the more you interact, the more personalized your feed becomes.
Japan's noisy iPhone problem
I canceled my iPhone 7 Plus order last week. Yes, I still had a two-week wait before it was scheduled to arrive, but it wasn't impatience that got the better of me. It was where I live: Japan. iPhones sold here (and in Korea) hold the dubious honor of being customized for their markets. We're not talking about extra mobile wallet functions, but a limitation -- a constraint. Ever since the iPhone 3GS arrived in Japan in 2008, taking a photo and even a screenshot (ugh) has been accompanied by a mandatory shutter noise -- one that iPhone users elsewhere probably turn off right away. Even switching to mute mode doesn't halt the awkward "passht" that was added to discourage covert photography. I'll soon leave Japan and return to my native England, at which point I'll reconsider upgrading. I'm not buying another Japanese iPhone.
Cybersecurity firm offers $1.5 million for iPhone exploits
A previously undisclosed (aka zero-day) exploit can fetch enough money to buy its finder a house. Zerodium, a firm that buys security exploits, has announced that it's paying $1.5 million for one that can be used to take over iPhones and iPads. That's thrice what the company used to offer, though it did up the bounty to $1 million last year for a limited time. While that very much smelled like PR stunt, Zerodium did end up having to pay one group the full amount. Unlike that time, this price bump is permanent. Anyone who's OK with the fact that Zerodium will sell their find to the government and to various corporations can cash in anytime.
Google adds an Incognito search mode on iOS
Sometimes you need to find something that you don't want to see listed in your Google search history, even while you're on the go. Chrome's Incognito browser sessions can be good for that, but a new tweak for the Google Search app on iOS makes it easy to open up disposable sessions there too. Additionally, it's set up so that if you leave the app and need to come back to the search, you can lock it using TouchID, so even on a shared device like an iPad, someone else can't easily see what was in there.
ICYMI: Another thing likely to survive with the cockroaches
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Scientists just mapped the DNA of a microscopic organism that can survive both oxygenless places and the Antarctic. Researchers believe they might help humans survive too much radiation, which is a thing we'll probably need soon enough so get hyped, people. Meanwhile a Danish car company is showing off its prototype of a tiny carpooling electric vehicle that will one day be modified for autonomous rides. In case you're interested, you can see the Japanese Pokemon Go video here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Transit's app now tells you when to hurry for the bus
Sure, your existing phone apps can tell you when to catch the bus and when to hop off, but public transportation fans know that's only half the story. What if the driver is quicker than you expected, or a delay ruins your subway connection? Transit might just save the day. It's updating its Android and iOS apps with a Go routing feature that could take some of the uncertainty out of commuting. You'll get on-screen and voice notifications when it's time to head out or disembark, but it gets truly interesting when things go haywire. Transit will tell you to hurry up if your departure time suddenly skips ahead, create a new itinerary if you miss a ride and warn you if a bus takes a surprise detour.
Leaked Google Pixel phones might look familiar
In just a couple of weeks, we could have our first official look at Google's renamed flagship phones, so brace yourself for leaks and unofficial revelations. Take for instance, these images posted by Android Police. They apparently show the Pixel and the Pixel XL, and they do look like the computer render of the phone that leaked earlier, as well as the device Nest used in a new commercial.
Some iPhone 7 owners report hissing sounds
Some early iPhone 7 adopters are getting considerably more than they bargained for. Reports are surfacing of both the regular iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus producing hissing sounds when they're subjected to a heavy processor workload, such as a game. They continue to function, thankfully, but it's a bit disconcerting when most phones are virtually silent. It's not clear what the cause is -- some suspect coil whine or similar electromagnetic effects, but there's no guarantee that this is the case.
iOS 10 review: Apple evolves
With iOS 10, Apple is basically polishing a pearl. iOS 7 introduced a vibrant and "flat" new aesthetic. iOS 8 and 9 were focused on refinement. So by this point, we should get something completely fresh and new, right? Well, not quite. Just like the iPhone 7, Apple's latest mobile OS doesn't look that much different on the surface. Instead, the company once again chose to focus on improving the overall experience. In particular, this year's refinements collectively make the OS a lot more convenient (and help Apple play a little catch-up). If you've longed for some of the features you've seen on your friends' Android phones, iOS 10 is more than enough to keep you under Apple's spell for another year.
AP and Vice sue FBI for San Bernardino iPhone hack info
The Associated Press and the Gannett Satellite Information Network, parent company to USA Today and Vice Media, filed suit against the FBI in federal court on Friday demanding information on how the bureau broke into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone. The news organizations are leveraging the Freedom of Information Act in their lawsuit, arguing that the FBI has no expectation to privacy regarding the methods used to crack the shooter's phone encryption and that those methods should be disclosed to the public.
The Engadget Podcast, Ep 6: I Beg Your Pardon
Managing editor Dana Wollman and reviews editor Cherlynn Low join host Terrence O'Brien to discuss all the latest Apple goodies. Plus they'll talk about Samsung's software bandaid for your exploding Note 7 and debate whether or not Edward Snowden deserves a presidential pardon.
The FBI missed a trick to hack the San Bernardino iPhone
The FBI told Congress it couldn't hack the San Bernardino shooter's phone without Apple's aid, but a researcher has proved that claim was inaccurate. "The process does not require any expensive and sophisticated equipment," wrote University of Cambridge researcher Sergei Skorobogatov. "All needed parts are low cost and were obtained from local electronics distributors."
iPhone 7 Plus teardown reveals bigger Taptic Engine (update)
iFixit has given Apple's latest plus-sized flagship phone the same treatment it gave its older siblings. It's currently in the midst of tearing down an iPhone 7 Plus, taking it apart piece by piece to give us a more complete picture of what's going on inside that rose gold facade. The team already tore down the part where the headphone jack used to be, and it looks like Apple really didn't make room for the 3.5mm port. That corner of the phone also contains the Taptic Engine, which looks much, much bigger than the one inside the 6s Plus. Makes sense, since the Home button now makes the phone vibrate when you push it.
T-Mobile tells iPhone owners not to install iOS 10 just yet (Updated)
T-Mobile issued a stern warning to its customers against downloading and installing the new iOS 10 update to their existing 6, 6 Plus and SE iPhone models. According to the T-Mobile website, doing so will, cause the handset to "lose connectivity [to the T-Mobile network] in certain circumstances." Once that happens, the user can only re-establish their network connection by fully powering down the phone and restarting it. That said, the company does expect Apple to push a corrective patch live within the next 48 hours.
Apple's iPhone 7 Plus has already sold out
In a break from tradition, Apple said last week that it would no longer report the volumes of new iPhones it sells over the first pre-order weekend. The justification, according to the company, is that pre-order numbers are "no longer a representative metric" and that it basically knew the iPhone 7 would sell out anyway. That prophecy has come to pass, at least in part, after Apple released a statement confirming that it has already allocated all of its iPhone 7 Plus stock and sold all Jet Black iPhone 7s.
Apple's iOS 10 is bricking iPhones
Apple's iOS 10 just dropped this morning and, less than an hour after launch, the landings haven't been smooth for everyone. From the get-go, Twitter has lit up with reports of people's phones (including your humble Engadget contributor) getting bricked or otherwise stuck in the update-restore process.
Apple releases iOS 10 and watchOS 3
You no longer have to be a guinea pig to give Apple's latest software upgrades a try -- as promised, the Cupertino crew has released the finished versions of iOS 10 and watchOS 3. As before, iOS' biggest improvements are in communication -- Messages gets apps, hand-drawn images, secret messages and stickers (among many other additions), while Siri now offers you control over third-party apps. You'll also see major interface revamps in Maps (which now offers proactive suggestions) and Music, a Home app to manage smart household gadgets, lock screen widgets and wider use of 3D Touch on supporting hardware.
