Kalakshar US

After several weeks of testing the latest version of its iPhone operating system in public, Apple is now rolling out iOS 17.2 to all compatible devices. In addition, iPadOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2 Sonoma, which boast many of the same features, are here as well. Finally, watchOS 10.2 is also available for download. The biggest change this time around is the introduction of a new core app called Journal.

Apple’s hope with the app is to help “iPhone users reflect and practice gratitude through journaling.” It differs from third-party offerings like Day One, as Apple is able to offer suggestions for journal entries based on activity in other apps. Your iPhone might suggest logging a trip populated by photos from your camera roll, accompanied by a writing prompt such as “what will you remember most about your day out?” Your device might also suggest creating a journal entry after a workout or even to note a podcast episode you listened to.

Third-party developers can tap into a Suggestions API to nudge users to create journal entries based on activity in their apps. Apple says the Journal app is end-to-end encrypted and all information is stored locally (though you can sync everything to iCloud if you wish). Users will have control over which apps can offer Journal suggestions too.

The Journal app isn’t all that’s new in iOS 17.2. You’ll be able to set up the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to act as a quick translation tool for spoken phrases. You could even use it to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you.

Apple is rolling out support for Qi2 charging on all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models (it’s already present on iPhone 15 models). Qi2-certified chargers are said to match the 15W wireless charging speeds of MagSafe. As Qi2 chargers become more widespread, it should be easier for both iPhone and Android users to top up their phones’ batteries quickly.

Elsewhere, iPhone 15 Pro users can capture spatial video that can be viewed in 3D in Apple Vision Pro’s Photos app (once you’re eventually able to try out the headset, that is). You’ll now be able to access and log Health data with your voice thanks to a Siri update. The Apple Music, Messages and Weather apps are getting a few new features too, while an AutoFill upgrade for PDFs and other forms could prove very useful.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-172-and-apples-new-journal-app-are-now-available-181348877.html?src=rss 

A battle to bring iMessage access to Android is not yet over, even though Apple recently closed a loophole that seemingly allowed Beeper and other third-party apps to tap into the service. The latest version of the Beeper Mini app for Android once again allows users to send and receive messages.

Beeper says its team has been working around the clock to restore iMessage functionality after Apple shut down the app’s access to the service. Now, Beeper cofounders Eric Migicovsky and Brad Murray say the team has found a solution. There’s one key caveat, however: phone number registration isn’t working and you’ll need to sign in with an Apple ID. You’ll send and receive iMessages via your email address instead of your phone number. The Beeper team says it’s working on a phone number fix.

In the meantime, the team says it’s not comfortable with charging users while its service remains in flux. As such, Beeper is free to use for the time being. “As soon as things stabilize (we hope they will), we’ll look at turning on subscriptions again,” Beeper wrote in a blog post.

Migicovsky and Murray added that, despite Apple’s assertions to the contrary, messages sent via Beeper Mini are end-to-end encrypted and secure. In fact, they suggest that Beeper is a more secure way for iOS and Android to communicate with each other than regular SMS. Apple does not yet support the more secure RCS standard Google has embraced, but it plans to start doing so in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beeper-mini-is-back-promising-imessage-access-on-android-if-you-sign-in-with-an-apple-id-182924774.html?src=rss 

Apple will reward record labels and artists who offer their music in spatial audio, a relatively new audio format that is more immersive than regular stereo. According to a Bloomberg report, artists who release their music in spatial audio will receive “added weighting” starting next year. That, Bloomberg speculates, could mean higher royalties.

Nearly all of Apple’s audio hardware such as AirPods, HomePod, the iPhone and the upcoming Vision Pro headset, support playback in spatial audio, so the company’s move to incentivize artists is almost certainly to ensure that most music available on Apple Music is available in a format that Apple has positioned as a selling point. Notably, Bloomberg notes that Apple Music listeners wouldn’t necessarily have to stream a song in spatial audio for artists to be rewarded. Simply having their music available in the format would be enough.

Apple added spatial audio, which is powered by technology from Dolby Atmos, to Apple Music in 2021. Most of the company’s original shows and movies on Apple TV+ are also offered in the format. Artists also have the option of mixing their older music in the new format, something that bands from all decades are already doing. Mixing music in the format isn’t wildly expensive, according to Bloomberg; if true, this push could help get independent musicians and smaller acts on board.

Some Apple Music competitors like Amazon Music and Tidal also offer spatial audio on their services. But Spotify, Apple’s biggest music stream rival, is a notable exception, even though rumors about a high-quality music format on the service have swirled for years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-will-reportedly-reward-artists-for-offering-music-in-spatial-audio-183713277.html?src=rss 

If you’re looking to grab a wallet-friendly pair of wireless headphones or restock your charging gear for the holidays, a few recent Amazon sales on Anker accessories may be of interest. Several of Anker’s Soundcore headphones, including a couple of top picks from our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, are currently down to the lowest prices we’ve tracked, as are a handful of charging stations, cables, power banks and similar accessories. There’s a decent amount of discounts between the sales, but we’ll run through the highlights below. 

This deal has been available for the past few days, but it brings the the top recommendation in our budget wireless earbuds guide back down to the all-time low we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The Soundcore Space A40 delivers a number of features we’d expect from more expensive pairs, including wireless charging, multi-device pairing, eight- to 10-hour battery life and, most notably, genuinely useful active noise cancellation (ANC). Its warm sound profile isn’t the most accurate we’ve tested, but it should be pleasing to most, and you can customize the EQ curve through the Soundcore app. Call quality is just OK, however, and playback won’t automatically pause when you remove an earbud.

The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the runner up in our budget earbuds guide, as it offers a highly similar feature set to the Soundcore Space A40 but comes in an AirPods-style “stem” design. It’s bulkier as a result, but some may find this shape easier to remove. It supports auto-pausing and has slightly more extensive touch controls as well, though the former can be finicky, and its more bass-heavy sound may not be to everyone’s liking. Right now the Liberty 4 NC is $30 off and down to $70, which is another all-time low we previously saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

While the Soundcore Space Q45 isn’t a formal pick in any of our guides, it’s worth considering at this price if you want a set of over-ear noise-cancelers for less than $100. This $50 discount matches the best deal we’ve seen. The Space Q45’s adaptive ANC system can’t top the best wireless headphones on the market, but it’s good for the money, and its lively V-shaped sound should be fun for pop music. A comfy design and multi-device pairing also help. Mic quality is mediocre, however.

If you want a more affordable set of over-ears, the Soundcore Life Q30 is also worth a look at $56, though that pair isn’t as sturdily built and its default sound might be too bass-heavy for most tastes.

Moving onto to charging gear, the Anker 335 Wireless Charger is down to $17, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen. This is a three-in-one wireless charging station that can partially fold up and lets you refill a smartphone, Apple Watch and set of wireless earbuds at the same time. It’s not as fast as the best wireless chargers we’ve tested — maxing at 10W for Samsung phones, 7.5W for iPhones, and 5W for other devices — and you need to supply your own USB-A charging puck to use an Apple Watch. Larger iPhone 15 models may not fit, either. But if you can live with all of that and just want a way to passively top up your devices throughout the day, this is an affordable and travel-friendly way to make it happen.

A pick from our power bank buying guide, the Anker Nano is an ultracompact portable battery that can connect directly to a device through its built-in, foldable USB-C port. It has a capacity of 5,000mAh and supplies up to 22.5W of power — though some devices will get a bit less — so it’s best suited for emergency situations where you might need a quick refill but don’t want to carry around a heftier power bank. You’ll want to be gentle when attaching the connector, though. Right now the “shell white” version of the Nano is on sale for $21, which ties its best price to date. 

If you have an older iPhone, the Lightning-based version of this charger is also discounted to a low of $20.

Among the rest, a two-pack of 10-foot USB-C to Lightning cables is down to a low of $20 for those willing to pay extra for a braided model. The compact 20W Anker 511 Charger is available for $12.59 with a 10 percent coupon, which is about a dollar more than the lowest price we’ve seen. And the 65W Anker 735 Charger can be had for $34 with a 15 percent coupon; that’s about $6 more than its best-ever price, but it’s a more powerful multiport model we recommend in our fast charger buying guide.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-headphones-and-charging-accessories-are-up-to-43-percent-off-right-now-165634084.html?src=rss 

Microsoft has agreed to union contract language regarding its use of artificial intelligence, which should give workers a voice when challenging how the technology’s deployed, as reported by Bloomberg. This is the first US instance of collective bargaining in Microsoft’s history and could be a huge step for those employed with the tech giant.

This came to pass as part of negotiations with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union and involves contract language that covers a few hundred staffers at Microsoft’s game studio ZeniMax, which includes well-known subsidiaries like Bethesda and Arkane, among others.

The gist here is that the contract language incorporates Microsoft’s previously-announced AI principles, sort of a ten commandments type deal. The language dictates that AI systems will “treat all people fairly” and “empower everyone.” To that end, it will give employees covered under the contract an avenue of recourse should they feel that Microsoft isn’t holding up its end of the bargain. Microsoft even hired dozens of ZeniMax contract workers as full-time employees, potentially as a show of good faith.

“The goal is to ensure tools and technologies benefit rather than harm workers,” the contract states. The language stipulates that Microsoft must inform the CWA whenever AI or related automation technology is implemented in a way that could impact workers. If requested, the company must enter into good-faith negotiations regarding the change. This is a big first step, considering Microsoft’s massive play into the AI space via integration with OpenAI products.

This would be news on its own, given Microsoft’s former hesitance to engage with unions in any way, shape or form. However, there’s more. The company also entered into a partnership with the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of unions. The entities struck a deal that ensures Microsoft will remain neutral in efforts by unions to encourage workers to join up.

The partnership also creates an “open dialogue” to discuss AI and how it impacts workers. The AFL-CIO calls this team-up the “first of its kind between a labor organization and a technology company.” Microsoft has committed to share information with labor leaders regarding impactful AI trends and consider “worker perspectives” when developing new technologies.

Why the about face? There’s a whole lot of uncertainty out there regarding artificial intelligence and how it will impact workers across multiple industries. It looks like Microsoft is setting itself up to be the “adult in the room” when compared to rival entities. It’s worth noting, though, that Microsoft shareholders rejected a proposal last week that would slow down AI spending until a risk-assessment project could be conducted.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-agrees-to-union-contract-terms-involving-the-use-of-ai-173354643.html?src=rss