Everything You Need to Know About iOS 12

iPhone users are getting excited for the impending release of the iOS 12 update. iOS 12 is not a huge departure from iOS 11, but it does include many new features that can change how you use your iPhone. Most people will have access to it in September, but you can download the pre-release software now to see some of these changes.

Notifications

iPhone notifications have been a point of contention for some time because they would show up individually rather than grouped by the source. With iOS 12, notifications will now be grouped together by app and by topic, making it easier to dismiss notifications from the dock.

Memoji

The iPhone X introduced animojis, but this goes a step beyond. Now you can create a personalized and animated emoji of yourself. (Think Samsung’s AR emoji) This feature is only available to iPhone X users.

Facetime

Facetime will now support calls with up to 32 participants. This is a lot of people to keep track of, but one feature that may help is that the tile of whoever is talking will be the biggest on your screen.

Speed boosts for older phones

iOS 12 will improve the speed of older models of iPhone (like the iPhone 6+) for keyboard opening, camera opening and app launching.

Siri

Siri, though still not the most highly intelligent personal assistant available on the market, is getting smarter, and now allows for customizations to create series’ of actions when you say a specific command. Read more here to see how it works.

CarPlay customization

If your car supports CarPlay, you can now choose between Google Maps and Waze for navigation, rather than just having to use Apple Maps.

Apple Books

Previously known as iBooks, the Apple reading platform has gotten a facelift and has been renamed  Apple Books.

Animoji additions

Still exclusive to the iPhone X, iOS will introduce more options for Animojis including the T-Rex, koala, tiger, and ghost.

Do Not Disturb at Bedtime

This feature turns off notifications at night so that you can answer a call or check the time without notifications popping up and interrupting your nighttime relaxation and sleep.

Screen Time

A new set of tools called Screen Time tracks your usage and allows you to set time limits for different apps, schedule breaks from screens, and see how much time you’re spending on your phone or iPad.

iMessage changes

In iMessage, you will now be able to add stickers and filters along with other added actions to make messaging more interactive.

Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

Tech Gifts for Holidays 2017

The holidays are fast approaching, and with Black Friday less than two weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about the gifts you may need for your family and friends. If someone you know is into all of the newest technology, these gifts might be just what they’re hoping for!

Garmin Speak

If you drive a car without an infotainment center, the Garmin Speak is one way to upgrade your vehicle without having to buy a new car. This mountable device with Amazon Alexa voice assistant allows you to control smart devices in your home, ask for directions, and stream music all hands-free. The only thing to consider is that the device runs off of a data connection from a smartphone, so strong network coverage is key to using it to its full potential.

Amazon Kindle Oasis

Water-resistant, super light and thin, Amazon’s new Oasis eReader is a giant step up from previous models the company has released. The Kindle Oasis is available in 8GB and 32GB builds.

GoPro Hero6 Black

This new iteration of the GoPro Hero series comes on the heels of a rather rough year for the action camera company, but this camera is nothing short of exciting, especially for those looking to capture super high quality and high-resolution video. The hero 6 Black can shoot in 4K, has digital motion stability and is just as tough as it’s predecessors. Just make sure your recipient has the proper capabilities for 4K playback.

DJI Spark

The selfie lover will take their pictures to a new level with this tiny camera drone. DJI’s drones are known for their quality, and the Spark is no different. With all the features a novice drone user could want in a small and easily portable design. Perhaps the most exciting feature for selfie queens (and kings) is the gesture control option.

Amazon Echo Spot

For those who haven’t gotten into the hype of the Amazon Echo and Google Home movement, the Echo Spot operates as a high tech alarm clock that does more than just wake you up. Plan the entire day with an alarm clock that can also tell and show you the weather, read the news, set timers and more.

Xbox One X

Though the reviews are mixed about the newest Xbox game console, there is no denying that the powerful console is impressive, especially for those looking to show off 4K picture quality and high-definition visuals.  

iPhone X

The hefty price tag on the new iPhone makes it a controversial choice, but with the reviews that are starting come out, with some calling the iPhone X the best smartphone on the market.  The highly upgraded phone is just the beginning of Apple making high powered and exciting changes to their product lineup making the iPhone X one of the most sought-after tech gifts of the year.

Smartphone Camera Lens Kit

If the iPhone X isn’t in the budget but taking high-quality smartphone photos is a priority for someone on your gift list, a smartphone camera lens kit can upgrade their photos in a flash. From fisheye to macro and wide angle, you can use interchangeable lenses to go beyond the normal smartphone photos. There are many options for these kits available online, so you can look and find the one that will suit your needs.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

Black Friday 2017 Predictions

With only a few weeks until Thanksgiving on November 23rd, savvy shoppers are ramping up to this year’s Black Friday deals and sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become some of the biggest shopping days of the year, and sales keep getting bigger and bigger. In the past, sales have started on Thanksgiving and gone into Black Friday proper and the weekend and Monday following the holiday (Cyber Monday), but in recent years, retailers have begun their sales earlier and earlier, sometimes having promotions all month long. Look for these trends this November!

Spending

According to predictions by the National Retail Federation, Holiday sales (retail sales between November and December) will grow by up to 4% from last year, up to a $682 billion dollar amount. PwC’s holiday outlook data suggests that the average holiday spend for 83% of US consumers is expected to be $1,189.

Top Stores

DealNews.com suggests keeping an eye on sales at Kohl’s (where your savings will largely be in Kohl’s Cash), Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon this year, however, the best places to make your purchases will depend on what your items of interest are and will also be largely based upon price point. Forbes has a list of where to look for tablets and laptops this year, which can be found here.  If you are interested in Apple Products, online retailers will likely have better discounts on Apple products than the Apple Store itself.  Last year, Apple’s Black Friday deal included a gift card with the purchase of older product models at an undiscounted rate, and that is expected to continue this year, hinging on whether Apple even decides to participate in Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Top Deals

Video game bundles for the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are rumored to be heavily discounted this year, as well as many smartphones including the newest iPhones (8, 8 Plus and X), the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 and the Google Pixel 2. Discounted prices for 4K TVs and 4K media players are also expected.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

Tech Radar: What You Need to Know About Apple’s New iPhones

via Shutterstock

Apple made headlines with the announcement of the newest generation of iPhone, the iPhone 8, but also the addition of the game changer the iPhone X.  These are some of the key things to know about these high powered smartphones before they are released.

X is 10

Apple celebrates iPhone’s ten-year anniversary with the release of the iPhone X, which is pronounced as iPhone “ten”. At the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook says this is “the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone.”    

Shipping and Purchase Expectations

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will be available for pre-order today (September 15) and goes on sale on September 22. The 8 starts at $699 USD, and the 8 Plus starts at $799 USD.  The iPhone X is scheduled for a later release date, available for pre-order on October 27 with an expected sale date of November 3. The initial supply is rumored to be VERY limited, so be ready to pre-order. The iPhone X will have a starting price of $999, making it the most expensive iPhone yet released, but the specs of the phone are worth the price hike, according to this Business Insider post.

iPhone8 and iPhone 8 Plus Highlights

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are a beautifully designed smartphone that will host one of the most exciting releases Apple has promised, iOS 11. The 8 and 8 Plus are water and dust resistant, with an all glass design and Retina HD displays. The cameras have been improved for better color capture, as well as for image stabilization and more, so photos shot on iPhone become even more brilliant. Outstanding Augmented Reality capability and wireless charging round out some of the key features to try out if you purchase an iPhone8 or 8Plus. Learn about more features here.

iPhone X Highlights

One of the biggest draws of the iPhone X is the all new screen design. Taking away the borders of past models, the OLED screen on the X is a 5.8 inch Super Retina display that takes up the entire front of the phone, and no home button. With new features like Animoji’s (animated emoji), dust and water resistance, Face ID authentication, portrait mode selfies and added studio quality lighting effects added into the improved cameras, an efficient battery and a first for Apple: wireless charging capabilities. Learn more about the iPhone X’s features here.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/