There are multiple different modules available for each body part. The Modio app offers several different heads, torsos, legs, arms, hands, and weapons to choose from. Each module connects to the other with a cool lightning effect and a snap. If you decide you don't like that particular combination, you can flick it away until it disappears forever. Once you're satisfied with your creation's body, Modio lets you adjust the color, texture, and position of each limb. If you're not really the creative type or you need inspiration, you can work with preexisting designs, too.
You can view your creation from any angle and touch each body part to adjust the angle. A preexisting ninja design (shown above) can be formed to strike a deadly blow with a powerful kick, crouched down as it prepares to spring out of the shadows, or just about any other position you can imagine. The piece move in a fairly realistic way, that is to say, the way you'd imagine a human could move and then some.
When you're finally ready to print your monster, all you have to do is tap on the icon in the bottom left-hand corner where the printer settings are. Once you've connected to the 3D printer, the app shows you the size and weight of the toy. Then, tap on the settings icon to resize your design. You can make the toy any size you want: It can be a giant monster or a tiny bug-like pest.
The Modio app is compatible with nearly any 3D printer currently on the market, but it is optimized to work with MakerBot printers. Each part prints separately and then you can snap them all together the way you did in your design. The parts should move when you turn them, too, just like you saw onscreen while you were designing the toy.
The sheer amount of variations you can choose from ensures that your monster will look like no other. Forget mass produced toys, Modio makes it personal.
Modio's founder and CEO, Hilmar Gunnarsson, told Digital Trends that the idea for the app came out of his desire to make fun physical toys that will engage his children in more creative pursuits. It was also an excuse to make something cool with 3D printing.
"I've been fascinated with 3D printing. I think it's a technology with huge potential," Gunnarsson said. "At the same time, I have three kids and they are playing more video games and doing less creative things like drawing. I wanted to create an app that was very simple to use but also very creative."
And so Modio was born. The app has received a very positive response from everyone who has used it, including Gunnarsson's kids. He says that inspiring kids to actually design and create their own toys changes the way they value the toy.
"As soon as people make their own things, they form a different attachment to them than something just bought in a store," he explained.
Every toy made on Modio with a 3D printer is the unique expression of its creator's mind, as such, the child (or adult) learns to cherish the object. Gunnarsson hopes that Modio inspires the next generation of kids to create their own apps, gadgets, and art.
"I hope Modio can open kids' eyes to the fact that we can make amazing things and shape our own worlds," he said, adding that "3D printing gives us interesting choices and options. Everyone likes making things…if they are given the tools to be creative."
Perhaps the best thing about Modio, though, is that printing one creation probably ends up only costing a few dollars. Gunnarsson explained that Modio is geared toward 3D printers that use spools of plastic, which only cost between $30 to $50 per kilo. Since all the components used to make figures in the Modio app are hollow, the amount of material used to print one average sized toy is very small. In other words, Modio creations will cost a whole lot less than those mass produced plastic toys you've been buying at Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us.
Gunnarsson's future plans for Modio mostly involve expanding the amount of content available for creators. The first step will be to add more pieces and building kits to the mix, which will be available as in-app purchases in the future. He also hopes to bring the app to more platforms like Android. Still, his main goal is to inspire kids to create, encourage the 3D printing industry's growth, and "make creations come to life."
You can download the app on the iOS App store here to get started on your design.
____________________________________
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews
BB PIN: 260158B5
Jerad and Amanda Miller had been kicked off a Nevada ranch where anti-government protesters faced down federal agents earlier this year because they were "very radical," according to the son of rancher Cliven Bundy.
Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the Millers had ideology shared by "militia and white supremacists," including the belief that law enforcement was the "oppressor."
Police believe the shootings were an isolated act, not part of a broader conspiracy to target law enforcement, McMahill said.
Ammon Bundy, one of Cliven Bundy's sons, said by telephone that the Millers were at his father's ranch for a few days this spring before they were asked to leave by militia members for unspecified "conduct" problems. He called the couple "very radical" and said they "did not align themselves" with the beliefs of other protesters, who thwarted a roundup of Cliven Bundy's cattle by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which wants to collect more than $1 million in grazing fees and penalties.
While thousands of people have been to the site over the last couple of months, "Not very many people were asked to leave. I think they may have been the only ones," Ammon Bundy said.
On Sunday, the two Las Vegas police officers were having lunch at a pizza buffet in an aging strip mall about 5 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip when the Millers fatally shot them. The attack at a CiCi's Pizza killed officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31, both of whom were husbands and fathers.
About 100 people attended a candlelight vigil for the slain officers at CiCi's Pizza on Monday night, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1uOYPSo).
According to McMahill, this is how Sunday's events unfolded:
The Millers left a neighbor's apartment where they had been staying around 4:30 a.m. and walked for hours, eventually reaching the strip mall, about 5 miles away.
Around 11:20 a.m., Jerad Miller went briefly into the restaurant, then left and got his wife, leaving their backpacks outside.
The two officers were sitting in a booth. Jerad Miller fatally shot Soldo in the back of his head. As his partner tried to react, Miller shot him once in the throat. Amanda Miller then pulled her own gun and both shot Beck several times.
Police believe that while the Millers wanted to target police, the choice of Soldo and Beck was random.
Pulling the mortally wounded officers from the booth, they took their guns and ammunition and put a yellow Gadsden flag featuring the phrase "Don't tread on me" and a swastika on Beck's body. The flag, with its roots in the American Revolution, is a symbol for anti-government groups. Police said they believe the swastika was intended to paint police as Nazis, not necessarily as an expression of the Millers' own white-supremacist views.
The couple also told restaurant patrons that their act was "the beginning of the revolution," the same message as a note they left at the restaurant. That was what the Millers told customers at a Wal-Mart about a block away, where the couple fled. Jerad Miller entered, fired one round and "told the people to get out and this was a revolution and that the police were on the way."
In the frenzy, shopper Joseph Wilcox decided to confront Jerad Miller — not realizing that Amanda Miller was his accomplice. Wilcox went from the checkout area to Miller and pulled his concealed firearm. But before he could fire, Amanda Miller shot him in the ribs and Wilcox collapsed.
"Joseph died trying to protect others," Sheriff Doug Gillespie said.
By now, police had arrived, and two five-officer teams entered the massive store. Near the back, one team confronted the Millers, and exchanged fire. At one point, Jerad Miller tried to blast a rear emergency exit door open with a shotgun, but police had blocked it with a car and he could not escape.
One officer went with store security to screens showing feeds from surveillance cameras and saw that Jerad Miller had built a makeshift barricade around his wife.
As police closed in, Amanda Miller shot her husband several times with a handgun, killing him. She then shot herself in the head. When officers arrived, she was still breathing, and was taken to the hospital. She later died.
Police found hundreds more rounds of unspent ammunition in the Millers' bags.
The couple moved to the Las Vegas area in January, police said. Amanda Miller had worked at a Hobby Lobby craft store there until she was fired in April, the chain store said in a written statement.
Jerad Miller, 31, was convicted of felony vehicle theft in Washington state, and several other offenses, including phone harassment, driving under the influence, theft and malicious mischief, between 2001 and 2003, according to a Washington State Patrol database.
He also had a criminal record in Indiana.
Miller attended Kennewick High School in Washington state for one semester in 1999, his freshman year, district spokeswoman Robyn Chastain said. The district had no other record of him attending schools in the district, or of what he did when he left the school.
He and his 22-year-old wife were married in August 2012, according to a marriage license on file in Indiana.
When police descended on their apartment complex Sunday night in a rundown neighborhood, officers evacuated other residents.
On Monday, Sheriff Gillespie said he was pairing officers together for safety and that, for now, 300 will be on patrol — twice what is normal.
Asked about worries that more officers may be targeted, he responded: "Is that weighing? Sure, there's no doubt about it."
Ammon Bundy said supporters of his father are saddened by the killings and "have had no quarrel" with Las Vegas police.
"The only thing worse than (government) tyranny is anarchy," he said. "And we certainly recognize that."
___
Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle and researcher Judith Ausuebel in New York contributed to this report.
____________________________________
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews
BB PIN: 260158B5
Jerad and Amanda Miller had been kicked off a Nevada ranch where anti-government protesters faced down federal agents earlier this year because they were "very radical," according to the son of rancher Cliven Bundy.
Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the Millers had ideology shared by "militia and white supremacists," including the belief that law enforcement was the "oppressor."
Police believe the shootings were an isolated act, not part of a broader conspiracy to target law enforcement, McMahill said.
Ammon Bundy, one of Cliven Bundy's sons, said by telephone that the Millers were at his father's ranch for a few days this spring before they were asked to leave by militia members for unspecified "conduct" problems. He called the couple "very radical" and said they "did not align themselves" with the beliefs of other protesters, who thwarted a roundup of Cliven Bundy's cattle by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which wants to collect more than $1 million in grazing fees and penalties.
While thousands of people have been to the site over the last couple of months, "Not very many people were asked to leave. I think they may have been the only ones," Ammon Bundy said.
On Sunday, the two Las Vegas police officers were having lunch at a pizza buffet in an aging strip mall about 5 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip when the Millers fatally shot them. The attack at a CiCi's Pizza killed officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31, both of whom were husbands and fathers.
About 100 people attended a candlelight vigil for the slain officers at CiCi's Pizza on Monday night, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1uOYPSo).
According to McMahill, this is how Sunday's events unfolded:
The Millers left a neighbor's apartment where they had been staying around 4:30 a.m. and walked for hours, eventually reaching the strip mall, about 5 miles away.
Around 11:20 a.m., Jerad Miller went briefly into the restaurant, then left and got his wife, leaving their backpacks outside.
The two officers were sitting in a booth. Jerad Miller fatally shot Soldo in the back of his head. As his partner tried to react, Miller shot him once in the throat. Amanda Miller then pulled her own gun and both shot Beck several times.
Police believe that while the Millers wanted to target police, the choice of Soldo and Beck was random.
Pulling the mortally wounded officers from the booth, they took their guns and ammunition and put a yellow Gadsden flag featuring the phrase "Don't tread on me" and a swastika on Beck's body. The flag, with its roots in the American Revolution, is a symbol for anti-government groups. Police said they believe the swastika was intended to paint police as Nazis, not necessarily as an expression of the Millers' own white-supremacist views.
The couple also told restaurant patrons that their act was "the beginning of the revolution," the same message as a note they left at the restaurant. That was what the Millers told customers at a Wal-Mart about a block away, where the couple fled. Jerad Miller entered, fired one round and "told the people to get out and this was a revolution and that the police were on the way."
In the frenzy, shopper Joseph Wilcox decided to confront Jerad Miller — not realizing that Amanda Miller was his accomplice. Wilcox went from the checkout area to Miller and pulled his concealed firearm. But before he could fire, Amanda Miller shot him in the ribs and Wilcox collapsed.
"Joseph died trying to protect others," Sheriff Doug Gillespie said.
By now, police had arrived, and two five-officer teams entered the massive store. Near the back, one team confronted the Millers, and exchanged fire. At one point, Jerad Miller tried to blast a rear emergency exit door open with a shotgun, but police had blocked it with a car and he could not escape.
One officer went with store security to screens showing feeds from surveillance cameras and saw that Jerad Miller had built a makeshift barricade around his wife.
As police closed in, Amanda Miller shot her husband several times with a handgun, killing him. She then shot herself in the head. When officers arrived, she was still breathing, and was taken to the hospital. She later died.
Police found hundreds more rounds of unspent ammunition in the Millers' bags.
The couple moved to the Las Vegas area in January, police said. Amanda Miller had worked at a Hobby Lobby craft store there until she was fired in April, the chain store said in a written statement.
Jerad Miller, 31, was convicted of felony vehicle theft in Washington state, and several other offenses, including phone harassment, driving under the influence, theft and malicious mischief, between 2001 and 2003, according to a Washington State Patrol database.
He also had a criminal record in Indiana.
Miller attended Kennewick High School in Washington state for one semester in 1999, his freshman year, district spokeswoman Robyn Chastain said. The district had no other record of him attending schools in the district, or of what he did when he left the school.
He and his 22-year-old wife were married in August 2012, according to a marriage license on file in Indiana.
When police descended on their apartment complex Sunday night in a rundown neighborhood, officers evacuated other residents.
On Monday, Sheriff Gillespie said he was pairing officers together for safety and that, for now, 300 will be on patrol — twice what is normal.
Asked about worries that more officers may be targeted, he responded: "Is that weighing? Sure, there's no doubt about it."
Ammon Bundy said supporters of his father are saddened by the killings and "have had no quarrel" with Las Vegas police.
"The only thing worse than (government) tyranny is anarchy," he said. "And we certainly recognize that."
___
Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle and researcher Judith Ausuebel in New York contributed to this report.
____________________________________
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews
BB PIN: 260158B5
There are multiple different modules available for each body part. The Modio app offers several different heads, torsos, legs, arms, hands, and weapons to choose from. Each module connects to the other with a cool lightning effect and a snap. If you decide you don't like that particular combination, you can flick it away until it disappears forever. Once you're satisfied with your creation's body, Modio lets you adjust the color, texture, and position of each limb. If you're not really the creative type or you need inspiration, you can work with preexisting designs, too.
You can view your creation from any angle and touch each body part to adjust the angle. A preexisting ninja design (shown above) can be formed to strike a deadly blow with a powerful kick, crouched down as it prepares to spring out of the shadows, or just about any other position you can imagine. The piece move in a fairly realistic way, that is to say, the way you'd imagine a human could move and then some.
When you're finally ready to print your monster, all you have to do is tap on the icon in the bottom left-hand corner where the printer settings are. Once you've connected to the 3D printer, the app shows you the size and weight of the toy. Then, tap on the settings icon to resize your design. You can make the toy any size you want: It can be a giant monster or a tiny bug-like pest.
The Modio app is compatible with nearly any 3D printer currently on the market, but it is optimized to work with MakerBot printers. Each part prints separately and then you can snap them all together the way you did in your design. The parts should move when you turn them, too, just like you saw onscreen while you were designing the toy.
The sheer amount of variations you can choose from ensures that your monster will look like no other. Forget mass produced toys, Modio makes it personal.
Modio's founder and CEO, Hilmar Gunnarsson, told Digital Trends that the idea for the app came out of his desire to make fun physical toys that will engage his children in more creative pursuits. It was also an excuse to make something cool with 3D printing.
"I've been fascinated with 3D printing. I think it's a technology with huge potential," Gunnarsson said. "At the same time, I have three kids and they are playing more video games and doing less creative things like drawing. I wanted to create an app that was very simple to use but also very creative."
And so Modio was born. The app has received a very positive response from everyone who has used it, including Gunnarsson's kids. He says that inspiring kids to actually design and create their own toys changes the way they value the toy.
"As soon as people make their own things, they form a different attachment to them than something just bought in a store," he explained.
Every toy made on Modio with a 3D printer is the unique expression of its creator's mind, as such, the child (or adult) learns to cherish the object. Gunnarsson hopes that Modio inspires the next generation of kids to create their own apps, gadgets, and art.
"I hope Modio can open kids' eyes to the fact that we can make amazing things and shape our own worlds," he said, adding that "3D printing gives us interesting choices and options. Everyone likes making things…if they are given the tools to be creative."
Perhaps the best thing about Modio, though, is that printing one creation probably ends up only costing a few dollars. Gunnarsson explained that Modio is geared toward 3D printers that use spools of plastic, which only cost between $30 to $50 per kilo. Since all the components used to make figures in the Modio app are hollow, the amount of material used to print one average sized toy is very small. In other words, Modio creations will cost a whole lot less than those mass produced plastic toys you've been buying at Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us.
Gunnarsson's future plans for Modio mostly involve expanding the amount of content available for creators. The first step will be to add more pieces and building kits to the mix, which will be available as in-app purchases in the future. He also hopes to bring the app to more platforms like Android. Still, his main goal is to inspire kids to create, encourage the 3D printing industry's growth, and "make creations come to life."
You can download the app on the iOS App store here to get started on your design.
____________________________________
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews
BB PIN: 260158B5
None of these questions and many more will be answered until Tim Cook takes the stage later this year, but we can't wait until June or September. We're just not that patient. So, we've collected all the latest gossip we've heard right here. We hope you enjoy.
Updated on 06-09-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Newly leaked photos from China show super-thin iPhone 6 body and hint at light-up notifications from the Apple logo located on the back of the device.
Surprise … it's probably named iPhone 6, and it could be more expensive than ever
How long can Apple keep adding an ever-increasing number to the name of its latest iPhone? It gave up with the iPad after two models, and decided to add the word Air to the most recent iteration, signifying how slim and light it had made the tablet. Depending on the specs and size of the next iPhone(s), we could also see an iPhone Air, iPhone 6C, or iPhone Mini.
The iPhone has always been a premium smartphone with a premium price tag, but if analyst Peter Misek is to be believed, that tag may get even larger with the iPhone 6. He predicts the device will be up to $100 more than previous versions. He adds that Apple may already have network backing for the increase, due to there being "no other game-changing devices would be released in 2014." Apparently, networks realise the iPhone 6 will be the only "headline-worthy high-end phone launched this year," and may end up absorbing the extra cost themselves.
Statements like that are sure to irritate Android fans, and an extra $100 on the bill from Apple will inevitably annoy everyone when the time comes, so let's hope Misek is wrong on this one.
Preparations for launch rumored to have begun
For the last few years Apple has announced its new iPhone 6 around September or October. A sensible gambling man would bet on this trend repeating in 2014.
However, sensibility rarely comes into the equation when discussing any iPhone, so not everyone thinks this will be the case. Chinese website Tencent quotes an analyst who says the new phone will hit the production lines in May, ready for release between July and September, which does sound realistic.
Just before Christmas 2013, DigiTimes chimed in with some anonymous gossip from within the supply chain, saying Apple plans to release iPhone 6 in May 2014, just seven months after the iPhone 5S went on sale. (No, it doesn't sound all that likely to us.) Tech industry observer Eldar Murtazin disagrees, and tweeted that Apple is eyeing a June release, so it can better battle new Android phones from Samsung and HTC. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also said a June or late summer release is possible.
iPhone 6 Concept by ADR
iPhone 6 Concept by ADR
Why all the excitement over a June launch? It's the month during which Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 2014). The iPhone has been absent from WWDC for years, and rumors of its return crop up often. Will 2014 be the year they come true, or must we wait for iPhone 6 until after summer once again?
The Taiwanese press are spreading the rumor Apple has chosen August for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model to go on sale, and the larger 5.5-inch model will follow in September. Few companies hold major announcements in August, due to it traditionally being a holiday month for a large part of the world, so this doesn't sound all that likely. However, it does fit in with comments that Apple wants to speed up release to better combat its Android rivals.
According to a news report, Pegatron, the company which makes some of Apple's hardware including the iPhone, is in the process of hiring more staff and opening a new factory. It's all in preparation for the iPhone 6, which will supposedly start making its way down the production lines between April and June. It's unlikely the phone will be announced in June if production gets underway during the same month, although the report's sources didn't provide an approximate release date.
Apple supplier Catcher Technology is estimated to deliver 15 percent of the iPhone 6′s metal casing components this year, according to an analyst, a figure which could mean a total of 70 million iPhone 6 sales are expected. It's further speculated that to reach this figure, Apple will have to launch the phone slightly earlier than September. No date is offered, but the analyst doesn't expect it before the end of July.
Pegatron, one of the world's largest electronics manufacturers, is rumored to have secured orders to build 15 percent of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 devices. It's an indication Apple will split production between Pegatron and its regular partner Foxconn. Between the pair of them, at least 50 million iPhone models, of various sizes, will roll off the production lines during 2014.
Staying with production rumors for a moment, it's also being reported the first set of fingerprint sensors for the iPhone 6 (along with those for the next-generation iPad tablets) have started to be delivered, again in anticipation of the upcoming launch.
Super slim 6mm body
Will the next iPhone be much slimmer than older models? That's a very good question, and one which fits in with the idea Apple may chose to name the next model the iPhone Air. The iPhone has never been a bloater, but rumors have spread the next generation may be much thinner than ever. Korean news source ETNews.com quotes sources from the Chinese IT media, who say Apple may shave 1.6mm off the iPhone 5S' thickness to make a 6mm iPhone 6.
A Chinese website published a picture of what it claimed was the iPhone 6's chassis. It looks both slim and large, but it could also be completely fake, or not related to the iPhone at all. Only time will tell on this one. Following up his tweet regarding the pixel density of the iPhone 6′s screen, Sonny Dickson says the phone's chassis will be a mere 5.5mm thick, matching the current world's thinnest smartphone record holder, the Gionee Elife S5.5.
Another set of schematics, this time apparently leaked by a Foxconn employee, show a thin device with chamfered edges, much like the design seen on the iPhone 5S and the iPad Air. A mock-up of an iPhone 6 case, published by a French blog, shows a super-thin and longer design than existing models. Another noteworthy aspect of the case is the switch from individual volume keys to a single rocker switch.
A Chinese website recently began selling dummy iPhone 6 mockups, which you can see here in silver, the design of which could be based on the leaked specs we've already seen, or on the actual device which could enter production soon. Regardless, the pictures do give us a good look at what Apple may announce later on this year. Although they're out of stock now, the mockup phone could have been purchased for less than $100, ready for anyone to start making their own "leaked" iPhone rumors. Something to watch out for in the future, perhaps.
Such leaks may be very similar to this video, which apparently shows an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 4S being compared with a dummy iPhone 6. The new model is quite obviously much larger, and noticeably thinner, than the iPhone 5S. Plus, it has a new rounded design, and the sleep/wake key has been moved to the side of the device. All these factors have been included in previous leaks, but it's interesting to see the overall difference in size between the two.
A similar dummy unit showed up in still picture form on a French blog recently, along with a few dimensions. The mold measured 138mm long, and 64mm wide. An iPhone 5S is 123mm long and 58mm wide. Sadly, the thickness of the mold isn't mentioned. The front gives us an idea of how large the screen will be, thanks to the thinness of the bezel area down each side.
Don't think this is the last set of images we'll see based on a dummy phone either. Another set of pictures have been published by Apple leaker Sonny Dickson through his Twitter account. They show a silvery-grey version of the phone seen in most of the other leaks, but with one notable difference. It's possible the device has a curved display, something like the Lumia 920 and its siblings. However, it could also be an idiosyncrasy of the dummy phone, and not a feature of the final product at all.
Another iPhone 6 Mockup
Note the reflection on the screen, suggesting a slight curve.
YouTube user SCAVidsHD brought the rumors to life in the form of a concept video for the iPhone 6. In the two videos, one of which is posted below, the concept takes several cues from dummy models of the iPhone 6, which, in turn, used rumored specifications to bring the handset to life. In the video, the camera lens sticks out, with a circular LED flash next to it instead of the oval dual-LED flash found on the iPhone 5S. Meanwhile, the display is edge-to-edge while the fingerprint sensor is present right below it.
Several more photos leaked from China, showing the super-thin body of what is supposedly the iPhone 6. Since we've seen several photos of the thin chassis before, that detail is not particularly earth shattering. However, what is interesting is that the infamous Apple logo on the back of the device appears to be translucent instead of opaque. One report from France speculates that the Apple icon might glow when users receive notifications or phone calls. Photos of the inside of the case also show circuitry that seems to indicate that the iPhone 6 battery will be fused and not removable.
Bigger screens and a second iPhone 6?
Apple has made the most of a 4-inch screen for two generations (years) now, and while it's perfectly acceptable – go on, admit it – there's no denying the industry is shifting towards smartphones with considerably larger displays. Juniper Research estimates that devices with 5+ inch screens will see sales of 120 million by 2018, considerably more than the 20 million in 2013. Surely Apple can't ignore the trend much longer?
Leaked iPhone 6 schematics
There are two main schools of thought at the moment. First, Apple will up the screen size to 4.7-inches and leave it at that, while others speculate we may get a 4.7-inch iPhone and a 5.7-inch, or 5.5-inch iPhone/iPad hybrid. These supposed leaked schematics from Nowhereelse.fr also point to a larger screen.
According to Chinese analyst Sun Changxu, Apple may keep its current 1136 x 640 pixel Retina resolution on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. This would see the pixel density fall to around 280ppi, way below the 326ppi seen on every iPhone since the iPhone 4. Crucially though, it would be above the iPad's pixel density. Apple bases its Retina status on viewing distance – 10-inches for the phone, 15 for the tablet – so a larger phone screen could add a few inches to the optimum viewing distance, and keep it within Apple's self-imposed parameters for 'Retina.'
Via his Twitter account, Sonny Dickson, who has previously leaked details about Apple hardware, says the screen of the iPhone 6 will have a pixel density of 389ppi. He calls the display "Ultra-Retina," but doesn't mention anything about the size or the exact resolution. Using a pixel density calculator, a screen measuring somewhere between 5.6-inches and 5.7-inches, with a 1080p resolution, could potentially produce 389ppi.
iPhone 6 three models concept by Federico Ciccarese
Alternatively, researchers from DisplaySearch in Taiwan indicate Apple will give the 4.7-inch screen iPhone 6 a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, resulting in a 312ppi pixel density rating. As for the 5.7-inch hybrid, DisplaySearch says it may have 1920 x 1080 pixels, matching just about every 2013 high-end Android phone. Analyst Brian Marshall, who works for ISI, says we'll be getting two new iPhone models this year, one with a 4.7-inch display, and the other with 5.5-inches, although he doesn't mention the possible resolution of either.
iPhone 6 gold concept with glass back by Martin Hajek
An increase to 4.7 or 5.7-inches isn't universally agreed upon – not even close. Peter Misek says Apple will plump for 4.8-inches, while a Wall Street Journal reporter claimed Apple was busily testing hybrid iPhone/iPads with 6-inch screens. Long-time Apple rumor devotees will recall talk of the iPhone Math (or iPhone+, as it may have really been known), a monster-sized iPhone discussed before the announcement of the iPhone 5S.
More recently, rumors have been edging towards the possibility of a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch iPhone being released during 2014. However, according to the Taiwan Industrial & Commercial Times, only the model with a 4.7-inch screen will go on sale this year. The larger iPhone, according to the rumor, is causing problems for Apple's production team, and may not be ready until September. The 4.7-inch phone is apparently scheduled for production in July.
This fits in with an analyst's prediction regarding Apple's plans for the coming year. He says the 4.7-inch iPhone will be released in late September, and the 5.5-inch model will come later, perhaps right at the end of the year.
However, not everyone agrees on this timeline. Apparently, Japan Display has already started to produce its 5.5-inch Quad HD display, which was announced late last year. There's no proof Apple will be using this particular screen, and the timing is likely to be nothing more than a coincidence. It's also not certain the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone will have a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.
Apple may have chosen three screen suppliers for the iPhone 6, the primary firms being LG and Japan Display, with Innolux contracted to provide 4.7-inch displays too. A Taiwanese report says Apple decided against partnering up with Samsung due to their ongoing legal battles, and also rejected Sharp due to unstated issues.
The exact resolution of the larger 4.7-inch screen is still up for discussion. The latest estimate comes from 9to5mac.com, where it's reported an iPhone model with a 1740 x 960 pixel resolution is being tested. Used on a 4.7-inch screen, this would provide a pixel density of 416ppi, meaning it exceeds Apple's Retina-qualifying standards. The unusual resolution may only be one of Apple's test mules though, and it's not certain it'll make it on to the final model.
A picture leaked on to the Chinese social network Weibo may show the size difference between the iPhone 5S and one of the newer iPhone 6 models. It shows a standard black iPhone 5S next to a large, unidentified front panel, which bears more than a passing resemblance to an iPhone. It's white, and has a home button cutout below the screen, plus holes for the front camera, speaker and ambient light sensor above it. Overall, it's longer and wider than the existing 4-inch iPhone.
Could this be the iPhone 6? It's impossible to say at this stage, but the picture is certainly intriguing. It appears to have been taken in a warehouse, and a stack of similar front panels can be seen in the bottom right of the image, indicating that whatever it is, it's more than a one-off.
It's worth considering that prototype iPhones probably exist with all these screen sizes and resolutions. Apple may have tested them all out at one time, or has made a few to throw us off track. Just because they exist though, doesn't mean they'll make it into production. It's unlikely we'll see three iPhone 6 models.
iPhone 6 case video shows possible size increase
We can't say whether the case seen in this video is a true representation of Apple's plans (it could be based on the same rumors we're reporting), but it's an interesting comparison anyway. It shows a prototype case for the iPhone 6 being held up against the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5. It's noticeably slimmer than the iPhone 5S, and a similar size to the Nexus 5, which has a 5-inch display.
The case also reveals Apple may move the sleep/wake key on to the side of the phone – making a larger device easier to use with one hand – and change the individual.
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None of these questions and many more will be answered until Tim Cook takes the stage later this year, but we can't wait until June or September. We're just not that patient. So, we've collected all the latest gossip we've heard right here. We hope you enjoy.
Updated on 06-09-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Newly leaked photos from China show super-thin iPhone 6 body and hint at light-up notifications from the Apple logo located on the back of the device.
Surprise … it's probably named iPhone 6, and it could be more expensive than ever
How long can Apple keep adding an ever-increasing number to the name of its latest iPhone? It gave up with the iPad after two models, and decided to add the word Air to the most recent iteration, signifying how slim and light it had made the tablet. Depending on the specs and size of the next iPhone(s), we could also see an iPhone Air, iPhone 6C, or iPhone Mini.
The iPhone has always been a premium smartphone with a premium price tag, but if analyst Peter Misek is to be believed, that tag may get even larger with the iPhone 6. He predicts the device will be up to $100 more than previous versions. He adds that Apple may already have network backing for the increase, due to there being "no other game-changing devices would be released in 2014." Apparently, networks realise the iPhone 6 will be the only "headline-worthy high-end phone launched this year," and may end up absorbing the extra cost themselves.
Statements like that are sure to irritate Android fans, and an extra $100 on the bill from Apple will inevitably annoy everyone when the time comes, so let's hope Misek is wrong on this one.
Preparations for launch rumored to have begun
For the last few years Apple has announced its new iPhone 6 around September or October. A sensible gambling man would bet on this trend repeating in 2014.
However, sensibility rarely comes into the equation when discussing any iPhone, so not everyone thinks this will be the case. Chinese website Tencent quotes an analyst who says the new phone will hit the production lines in May, ready for release between July and September, which does sound realistic.
Just before Christmas 2013, DigiTimes chimed in with some anonymous gossip from within the supply chain, saying Apple plans to release iPhone 6 in May 2014, just seven months after the iPhone 5S went on sale. (No, it doesn't sound all that likely to us.) Tech industry observer Eldar Murtazin disagrees, and tweeted that Apple is eyeing a June release, so it can better battle new Android phones from Samsung and HTC. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also said a June or late summer release is possible.
iPhone 6 Concept by ADR
iPhone 6 Concept by ADR
Why all the excitement over a June launch? It's the month during which Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 2014). The iPhone has been absent from WWDC for years, and rumors of its return crop up often. Will 2014 be the year they come true, or must we wait for iPhone 6 until after summer once again?
The Taiwanese press are spreading the rumor Apple has chosen August for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model to go on sale, and the larger 5.5-inch model will follow in September. Few companies hold major announcements in August, due to it traditionally being a holiday month for a large part of the world, so this doesn't sound all that likely. However, it does fit in with comments that Apple wants to speed up release to better combat its Android rivals.
According to a news report, Pegatron, the company which makes some of Apple's hardware including the iPhone, is in the process of hiring more staff and opening a new factory. It's all in preparation for the iPhone 6, which will supposedly start making its way down the production lines between April and June. It's unlikely the phone will be announced in June if production gets underway during the same month, although the report's sources didn't provide an approximate release date.
Apple supplier Catcher Technology is estimated to deliver 15 percent of the iPhone 6′s metal casing components this year, according to an analyst, a figure which could mean a total of 70 million iPhone 6 sales are expected. It's further speculated that to reach this figure, Apple will have to launch the phone slightly earlier than September. No date is offered, but the analyst doesn't expect it before the end of July.
Pegatron, one of the world's largest electronics manufacturers, is rumored to have secured orders to build 15 percent of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 devices. It's an indication Apple will split production between Pegatron and its regular partner Foxconn. Between the pair of them, at least 50 million iPhone models, of various sizes, will roll off the production lines during 2014.
Staying with production rumors for a moment, it's also being reported the first set of fingerprint sensors for the iPhone 6 (along with those for the next-generation iPad tablets) have started to be delivered, again in anticipation of the upcoming launch.
Super slim 6mm body
Will the next iPhone be much slimmer than older models? That's a very good question, and one which fits in with the idea Apple may chose to name the next model the iPhone Air. The iPhone has never been a bloater, but rumors have spread the next generation may be much thinner than ever. Korean news source ETNews.com quotes sources from the Chinese IT media, who say Apple may shave 1.6mm off the iPhone 5S' thickness to make a 6mm iPhone 6.
A Chinese website published a picture of what it claimed was the iPhone 6's chassis. It looks both slim and large, but it could also be completely fake, or not related to the iPhone at all. Only time will tell on this one. Following up his tweet regarding the pixel density of the iPhone 6′s screen, Sonny Dickson says the phone's chassis will be a mere 5.5mm thick, matching the current world's thinnest smartphone record holder, the Gionee Elife S5.5.
Another set of schematics, this time apparently leaked by a Foxconn employee, show a thin device with chamfered edges, much like the design seen on the iPhone 5S and the iPad Air. A mock-up of an iPhone 6 case, published by a French blog, shows a super-thin and longer design than existing models. Another noteworthy aspect of the case is the switch from individual volume keys to a single rocker switch.
A Chinese website recently began selling dummy iPhone 6 mockups, which you can see here in silver, the design of which could be based on the leaked specs we've already seen, or on the actual device which could enter production soon. Regardless, the pictures do give us a good look at what Apple may announce later on this year. Although they're out of stock now, the mockup phone could have been purchased for less than $100, ready for anyone to start making their own "leaked" iPhone rumors. Something to watch out for in the future, perhaps.
Such leaks may be very similar to this video, which apparently shows an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 4S being compared with a dummy iPhone 6. The new model is quite obviously much larger, and noticeably thinner, than the iPhone 5S. Plus, it has a new rounded design, and the sleep/wake key has been moved to the side of the device. All these factors have been included in previous leaks, but it's interesting to see the overall difference in size between the two.
A similar dummy unit showed up in still picture form on a French blog recently, along with a few dimensions. The mold measured 138mm long, and 64mm wide. An iPhone 5S is 123mm long and 58mm wide. Sadly, the thickness of the mold isn't mentioned. The front gives us an idea of how large the screen will be, thanks to the thinness of the bezel area down each side.
Don't think this is the last set of images we'll see based on a dummy phone either. Another set of pictures have been published by Apple leaker Sonny Dickson through his Twitter account. They show a silvery-grey version of the phone seen in most of the other leaks, but with one notable difference. It's possible the device has a curved display, something like the Lumia 920 and its siblings. However, it could also be an idiosyncrasy of the dummy phone, and not a feature of the final product at all.
Another iPhone 6 Mockup
Note the reflection on the screen, suggesting a slight curve.
YouTube user SCAVidsHD brought the rumors to life in the form of a concept video for the iPhone 6. In the two videos, one of which is posted below, the concept takes several cues from dummy models of the iPhone 6, which, in turn, used rumored specifications to bring the handset to life. In the video, the camera lens sticks out, with a circular LED flash next to it instead of the oval dual-LED flash found on the iPhone 5S. Meanwhile, the display is edge-to-edge while the fingerprint sensor is present right below it.
Several more photos leaked from China, showing the super-thin body of what is supposedly the iPhone 6. Since we've seen several photos of the thin chassis before, that detail is not particularly earth shattering. However, what is interesting is that the infamous Apple logo on the back of the device appears to be translucent instead of opaque. One report from France speculates that the Apple icon might glow when users receive notifications or phone calls. Photos of the inside of the case also show circuitry that seems to indicate that the iPhone 6 battery will be fused and not removable.
Bigger screens and a second iPhone 6?
Apple has made the most of a 4-inch screen for two generations (years) now, and while it's perfectly acceptable – go on, admit it – there's no denying the industry is shifting towards smartphones with considerably larger displays. Juniper Research estimates that devices with 5+ inch screens will see sales of 120 million by 2018, considerably more than the 20 million in 2013. Surely Apple can't ignore the trend much longer?
Leaked iPhone 6 schematics
There are two main schools of thought at the moment. First, Apple will up the screen size to 4.7-inches and leave it at that, while others speculate we may get a 4.7-inch iPhone and a 5.7-inch, or 5.5-inch iPhone/iPad hybrid. These supposed leaked schematics from Nowhereelse.fr also point to a larger screen.
According to Chinese analyst Sun Changxu, Apple may keep its current 1136 x 640 pixel Retina resolution on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. This would see the pixel density fall to around 280ppi, way below the 326ppi seen on every iPhone since the iPhone 4. Crucially though, it would be above the iPad's pixel density. Apple bases its Retina status on viewing distance – 10-inches for the phone, 15 for the tablet – so a larger phone screen could add a few inches to the optimum viewing distance, and keep it within Apple's self-imposed parameters for 'Retina.'
Via his Twitter account, Sonny Dickson, who has previously leaked details about Apple hardware, says the screen of the iPhone 6 will have a pixel density of 389ppi. He calls the display "Ultra-Retina," but doesn't mention anything about the size or the exact resolution. Using a pixel density calculator, a screen measuring somewhere between 5.6-inches and 5.7-inches, with a 1080p resolution, could potentially produce 389ppi.
iPhone 6 three models concept by Federico Ciccarese
Alternatively, researchers from DisplaySearch in Taiwan indicate Apple will give the 4.7-inch screen iPhone 6 a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, resulting in a 312ppi pixel density rating. As for the 5.7-inch hybrid, DisplaySearch says it may have 1920 x 1080 pixels, matching just about every 2013 high-end Android phone. Analyst Brian Marshall, who works for ISI, says we'll be getting two new iPhone models this year, one with a 4.7-inch display, and the other with 5.5-inches, although he doesn't mention the possible resolution of either.
iPhone 6 gold concept with glass back by Martin Hajek
An increase to 4.7 or 5.7-inches isn't universally agreed upon – not even close. Peter Misek says Apple will plump for 4.8-inches, while a Wall Street Journal reporter claimed Apple was busily testing hybrid iPhone/iPads with 6-inch screens. Long-time Apple rumor devotees will recall talk of the iPhone Math (or iPhone+, as it may have really been known), a monster-sized iPhone discussed before the announcement of the iPhone 5S.
More recently, rumors have been edging towards the possibility of a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch iPhone being released during 2014. However, according to the Taiwan Industrial & Commercial Times, only the model with a 4.7-inch screen will go on sale this year. The larger iPhone, according to the rumor, is causing problems for Apple's production team, and may not be ready until September. The 4.7-inch phone is apparently scheduled for production in July.
This fits in with an analyst's prediction regarding Apple's plans for the coming year. He says the 4.7-inch iPhone will be released in late September, and the 5.5-inch model will come later, perhaps right at the end of the year.
However, not everyone agrees on this timeline. Apparently, Japan Display has already started to produce its 5.5-inch Quad HD display, which was announced late last year. There's no proof Apple will be using this particular screen, and the timing is likely to be nothing more than a coincidence. It's also not certain the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone will have a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.
Apple may have chosen three screen suppliers for the iPhone 6, the primary firms being LG and Japan Display, with Innolux contracted to provide 4.7-inch displays too. A Taiwanese report says Apple decided against partnering up with Samsung due to their ongoing legal battles, and also rejected Sharp due to unstated issues.
The exact resolution of the larger 4.7-inch screen is still up for discussion. The latest estimate comes from 9to5mac.com, where it's reported an iPhone model with a 1740 x 960 pixel resolution is being tested. Used on a 4.7-inch screen, this would provide a pixel density of 416ppi, meaning it exceeds Apple's Retina-qualifying standards. The unusual resolution may only be one of Apple's test mules though, and it's not certain it'll make it on to the final model.
A picture leaked on to the Chinese social network Weibo may show the size difference between the iPhone 5S and one of the newer iPhone 6 models. It shows a standard black iPhone 5S next to a large, unidentified front panel, which bears more than a passing resemblance to an iPhone. It's white, and has a home button cutout below the screen, plus holes for the front camera, speaker and ambient light sensor above it. Overall, it's longer and wider than the existing 4-inch iPhone.
Could this be the iPhone 6? It's impossible to say at this stage, but the picture is certainly intriguing. It appears to have been taken in a warehouse, and a stack of similar front panels can be seen in the bottom right of the image, indicating that whatever it is, it's more than a one-off.
It's worth considering that prototype iPhones probably exist with all these screen sizes and resolutions. Apple may have tested them all out at one time, or has made a few to throw us off track. Just because they exist though, doesn't mean they'll make it into production. It's unlikely we'll see three iPhone 6 models.
iPhone 6 case video shows possible size increase
We can't say whether the case seen in this video is a true representation of Apple's plans (it could be based on the same rumors we're reporting), but it's an interesting comparison anyway. It shows a prototype case for the iPhone 6 being held up against the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5. It's noticeably slimmer than the iPhone 5S, and a similar size to the Nexus 5, which has a 5-inch display.
The case also reveals Apple may move the sleep/wake key on to the side of the phone – making a larger device easier to use with one hand – and change the individual.
____________________________________
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The new gesture-based interface will allow users to interact with elements on the display without ever actually having to touch the screen directly, anonymous sources familiar with Microsoft's plans say. The new gesture controls are referred to as 3D Touch or Real Motion internally and will arrive on at least one Windows Phone soon. The first device to feature the new interface will most likely be the long-rumored McLaren.
The McLaren is expected to be a powerful, high-end Windows Phone with an excellent camera, much like the Nokia Lumia 1020 (shown above). If Microsoft is willing to put Kinect-like gesture controls on the McLaren, the interface must be well-tested. According to the unnamed sources, Microsoft has been working on the technology for several years now and expects it to work well on the device. The company is working closely with app developers to ensure that the new gesture controls can be used on multiple apps and mobile games.
The McLaren will feature multiple sensors to ensure that the user's motions are accurately detected and applied. The 3D Touch interface isn't expected to arrive on Samsung or HTC Windows Phones at first. It seems that Microsoft wants to make the technology an in-house exclusive for now. The interface will allow users to answer phone calls by moving the phone up to their ears, hang up the phone by stowing in in their pockets, and even enable speaker phone by placing the device on a table or other flat surface during a call.
Users will also be able to silence the phone by placing the device against their chest or covering it with the palm of their hands. Dismissing notifications will be a breeze with the software, too: Whenever users receive an alert, all they have to do is wave a hand in front of the display. Microsoft hopes to enable the phone to recognize different amounts of pressure while users hold the device, so that while you're reading in bed, the screen orientation lock clicks into place automatically. With 3D Touch installed, the camera app will allow users to zoom in on a subject, simply by sliding a finger along the edge of the device.
Overall, Microsoft's focus on 3D Touch gesture controls indicates that it hopes to eliminate the need for an excess of physical buttons on the device. The new interface will also significantly limit the amount of touching users actually have to do to interact with their smartphones. The anti-touch movement seems to be growing in the world of mobile, with Amazon reportedly planning a gestured-based 3D interface and Samsung's air gestures for controlling music tracks. Incorporating gesture controls on Windows Phones seems like a big risk for Microsoft, but in an increasingly competitive smartphone market, it's sometimes necessary to take drastic steps forward into uncharted territory.
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Google Now probably already knows which train you take every day and where your office is, so it's not too hard for the app to determine which stop you usually get off at. Google Now estimates the amount of time it takes for your train to reach your destination and can then keeps track of how much longer you've got before your stop. Once you are approaching the station, the app will activate an alarm to wake you out of your public transit-induced stupor. Hopefully you have your headphones in, though. Otherwise your alarm might scare the bejesus out of the drowsy person sitting next to you. (You can also have it remind you of your stop when you head home from an after-work party, in case you celebrated a bit too hard.)
To activate the alarm, all you have to do is open Google Now while you're on public transit and tap the alarm option to turn it on. The alarm option should be located at the top of the app and say, "Get off at Grand Central at 8:05," or something to that effect. Once you've set the alarm, you can sleep peacefully on the crowded train, knowing that Google will wake you just in time for your stop.
According to Android Police, Google Now will ask if you want to set the alarm each time, so that alarms don't go off every time you set foot on a train or bus. It's unclear if you'll need to be in a station with Internet or cell service for the feature to work, but it seems likely (it will also most likely only work in places where Google has transit information). This may present a problem for those of us living in cities that don't have Wi-Fi or cell service in every train station (ahem, New York).
If you are using this service with some success (or failure), share your experience with us in the comments section below.
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iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks. Hoping that this becomes an industry standard. pic.twitter.com/oGsZMtydUo
— Frederic Jacobs (@FredericJacobs) June 8, 2014
Why is this so important? Well, it turns out that several high-profile retail stores in the U.S. and beyond use Wi-Fi networks to track potential customers, using their device's MAC address, and learn more about their shopping habits. J.C. Penney, Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, Family Dollar, and several other stores use this specific method of location tracking to follow customer's movements in the store and out.
If you create an account with the store, download its app, or simply click yes on a user agreement to access its Wi-Fi network, the store can then look into your purchase history, see how many times you've entered this particular store, and even check out your online shopping record to see which pair of shoes you were admiring the night before in the privacy of your home. Retailers then use this information to target ads for each customer, send promotions, and learn more about your overall shopping habits.
This rather spooky practice has come under fire recently from privacy advocates who believe it's an invasion of user privacy. Now it seems that Apple has gotten onboard that train of thought, too, with the addition of protections against this type of tracking into the fabric of iOS 8. Since iOS 8 will randomize your device's MAC address, you won't have to worry that your personal data is being mined by stores nearby while you search for a trusted Wi-Fi network in the area.
Seeing as recent studies show that more than one in three Americans own an iPhone, and iOS adoption rates are typically lightning fast, Apple's move to block location tracking via the iPhone's MAC address in iOS 8 will certainly prevent retailers from targeting many of their customers. Perhaps it will even be enough to end the practice all together, but some have suggested that it may be an attempt on Apple's part to get retailers to utilize its iBeacon technology. Apple Insider notes that Apple and Starbucks are already testing iBeacon at select coffee house locations.
____________________________________
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Google Now probably already knows which train you take every day and where your office is, so it's not too hard for the app to determine which stop you usually get off at. Google Now estimates the amount of time it takes for your train to reach your destination and can then keeps track of how much longer you've got before your stop. Once you are approaching the station, the app will activate an alarm to wake you out of your public transit-induced stupor. Hopefully you have your headphones in, though. Otherwise your alarm might scare the bejesus out of the drowsy person sitting next to you. (You can also have it remind you of your stop when you head home from an after-work party, in case you celebrated a bit too hard.)
To activate the alarm, all you have to do is open Google Now while you're on public transit and tap the alarm option to turn it on. The alarm option should be located at the top of the app and say, "Get off at Grand Central at 8:05," or something to that effect. Once you've set the alarm, you can sleep peacefully on the crowded train, knowing that Google will wake you just in time for your stop.
According to Android Police, Google Now will ask if you want to set the alarm each time, so that alarms don't go off every time you set foot on a train or bus. It's unclear if you'll need to be in a station with Internet or cell service for the feature to work, but it seems likely (it will also most likely only work in places where Google has transit information). This may present a problem for those of us living in cities that don't have Wi-Fi or cell service in every train station (ahem, New York).
If you are using this service with some success (or failure), share your experience with us in the comments section below.
____________________________________
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews
BB PIN: 260158B5
iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks. Hoping that this becomes an industry standard. pic.twitter.com/oGsZMtydUo
— Frederic Jacobs (@FredericJacobs) June 8, 2014
Why is this so important? Well, it turns out that several high-profile retail stores in the U.S. and beyond use Wi-Fi networks to track potential customers, using their device's MAC address, and learn more about their shopping habits. J.C. Penney, Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, Family Dollar, and several other stores use this specific method of location tracking to follow customer's movements in the store and out.
If you create an account with the store, download its app, or simply click yes on a user agreement to access its Wi-Fi network, the store can then look into your purchase history, see how many times you've entered this particular store, and even check out your online shopping record to see which pair of shoes you were admiring the night before in the privacy of your home. Retailers then use this information to target ads for each customer, send promotions, and learn more about your overall shopping habits.
This rather spooky practice has come under fire recently from privacy advocates who believe it's an invasion of user privacy. Now it seems that Apple has gotten onboard that train of thought, too, with the addition of protections against this type of tracking into the fabric of iOS 8. Since iOS 8 will randomize your device's MAC address, you won't have to worry that your personal data is being mined by stores nearby while you search for a trusted Wi-Fi network in the area.
Seeing as recent studies show that more than one in three Americans own an iPhone, and iOS adoption rates are typically lightning fast, Apple's move to block location tracking via the iPhone's MAC address in iOS 8 will certainly prevent retailers from targeting many of their customers. Perhaps it will even be enough to end the practice all together, but some have suggested that it may be an attempt on Apple's part to get retailers to utilize its iBeacon technology. Apple Insider notes that Apple and Starbucks are already testing iBeacon at select coffee house locations.
____________________________________
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