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WWDC 2018: Apple announces iOS 12

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Software,

WWDC iOS 12

During today's WWDC 2018 keynote, Apple announced the next generation of its mobile software in iOS 12. Here are the biggest points of news for iOS 12:

PERFORMANCE

  • Apple is doubling down on performance with the aim of making devices faster and more devices
  • iOS 12 will be available on all the same devices that support iOS 11 - this includes devices that shipped back in 2013.
  • Apps launch twice as fast on devices running iOS 12 on even the oldest devices

AUGMENTED REALITY

  • A major update in iOS 12 is more AR support. Adobe took the stage to introduced simplified tools that will allow developers to create better AR experiences.
  • There's a new file format for AR, called USDZ, created in collaboration with Pixar.
  • A new app, Measure, will allow you to take measurements in real-time using an iOS device with AR. A demo was shown measuring a suitcase using just an iPhone X.
  • Support for shared experiences is announced - multiple users can see the same AR environment in real-time. This allows developers to create worlds that people can all see simultaneously.
  • LEGO took the stage to demo a shared AR LEGO app

PHOTOS

  • The Photos app gets new updates and features, starting with search. Search Suggestions will highlight things like key moments, places you've taken photos, business names, and events like concerts and sporting events. You can search for multiple terms, like surfing and vacation, to drill down into your library.
  • Effect suggestions give you reccomendations to edits you can make to your photos to make them even better.
  • Sharing suggestions will find people in your photos and allow you to share them with the folks who are in them. Shared photos are full resolution.
  • When you share, the receiver will also be given a suggestion to share photos from the same event with you.

SIRI

  • Siri Shortcuts allows you to pull in specific tasks from your apps. An example given was "I lost my keys" to have Siri activate your Tile hardware.
  • You can create your own Siri Shortcuts as well, so you can put together your own shortcut phrases.
  • A demo was shown using Siri Shortcuts - the user said "travel plans" and got their hotel reservation with an image, address, and check-in time from Siri
  • A "Heading Home" shortcut is able to set the home thermostat, play a podcast, send an ETA to a contact, and turn on a HomeKit fan. Very impressive stuff.

APPS

  • The News app gets an updated sidebar to make navigation easier
  • The Stocks app gets more granular vision to see stock performance. Apple News stories are now integrated into the Stocks app as well, giving you business news on the stocks that you follow.
  • The Stocks app now comes to iPad with iOS 12.
  • Voice Memos app also comes to iPad with iOS 12, with iCloud support built-in for syncing across devices.
  • iBooks becomes Apple Books with a redesigned app.
  • In iOS 12, CarPlay will support third-party navigation apps.

DIGITAL HEALTH

  • Do Not Disturb is updated to hide notifications at night, and in the morning hides notifications until you specify that you want to see them.
  • Do Not Disturb allows you to choose much more granular timeframes rather than just optimized for overnight.
  • Notifications can be turned on or off on a per-app basis right from the lock screen
  • Notifications can now be grouped by app, topic, or thread. With a swipe, you can dismiss an entire group of notifications.
  • A new feature called Screentime offers reports, giving a weekly summary that shows how you used your iOS device. This shows how much time you spend in each app, how often per hour you pick up your phone, and which apps are sending you the most notifications.
  • App Limits allows you to set a limited amount of time that you'd like to use specific apps per day. 
  • Kids get activity reports too, and parents get reports on their own devices of their kids usage. Parents can also create downtime periods and app limits. This is setup through the Family Sharing interfaces.

MESSAGES

  • Animoji now support tongue detection for sticking tongues out
  • New ghost, koala, tiger, and T-Rex Animoji characters
  • Apple announces Memoji, allowing you to create your own customized 3D emoji character that looks like you
  • Memoji has a slick creator app to design your character
  • The Messages camera now includes effects, filters, stickers, and even Animoji and Memoji right in the camera

FACETIME

  • Apple announces Group FaceTime, which allows you to chat with up to 32 simultaneous participants
  • You can use both audio or video
  • FaceTime is integrated into Messages, allowing you to quickly do a Group FaceTime right from a group chat
  • A demo is shown, and as people speak, they become bigger on screen, or you can choose who to bring front and center
  • The same effects mentioned above in Messages also applies to the FaceTime camera

Improved performance, new AR experiences, digital health, improved Messages, Group FaceTime, and more. That's iOS 12.


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Bleeding Edge TV 508: LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 first look

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features, Podcasts, Toys, Videocasts, Videos,

In this episode I bring you a first-look at the new LEGO Fairground Mixer set. Part of the LEGO Creator series, the Fairground Mixer 10244 includes the Mixer ride, ticket booth, working dunk tank, test of strength area, 12 minifigures (including new throwing up minifig!), and two trucks that carry everything around. A hand crank makes the Mixer turn, or you can attach an automatic motor. This set was revealed at the Sydney Brickshow, and includes 1,746 individual pieces, so it'll take you a little while to get it all put together (it's rated at expert level, after all!) When all is said and done, though, you'll be left with a great-looking, usable carnival scene with working attractions. We give you a look at how it all works in this episode.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel--also, we are giving away awesome perks for our Patreon backers - thanks for your support!

 

Click to continue reading Bleeding Edge TV 508: LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 first look


LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 brings the magic of the carnival home

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Toys,

LEGO Fairground mixer

LEGO has announced one of its most impressive Creator sets yet in the Fairground Mixer 10244. Focused on recapturing the magic of the traveling carnival, where kids would ride on rickety, precarious contraptions while other would walk around carrying stuffed prized, popcorn, and cotton candy, the set succeeds in its goal.

LEGO unveiled the set this past weekend at the Sydney Brickshow in Sydney, Australia, bringing with it the nostalgia of days gone past. If you were around during the traveling carnival heyday, you know that it all begins with the trucks. That's how all those rides get moved from town to town, and that's how the LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 operates as well. The entire set of attractions (and characters!) neatly tucks away into the LEGO trucks. Here's a look at what's in the set:

Click to continue reading LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 brings the magic of the carnival home

Gallery:


The first 16 LEGO Simpsons Minifigs are awesome [Gallery]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features, Toys,

LEGO Simpsons minifigs

Hot on the heels of the release of LEGO The Simpsons House 71006, the first 16 LEGO Simpsons Minifigs have been revealed. They all look great, and we're sure Chief Wiggum appreciates the slimming down that LEGO happened to give him. Each Minifig will cost $4, and they'll hit stores in time for the LEGO-themed episode of The Simpsons that's set for May 4th on FOX. Check out each Minifig over in our LEGO Simpsons Minifig gallery.

Gallery:


The Simpsons House LEGO set arrives February 1 for $199

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Toys, Videos,

The Simpsons House 71006 lego

LEGO has announced the very first set in The Simpsons theme, and it looks fantastic. The Simpsons House 71006 is a replica of the home that the family has lived in for over 20 years, complete with six Simpsons LEGO Minifigs (Bart, Homer, Lisa, Marge, Maggie, and neighbor Ned Flanders) and the pink family car. You won't have to wait too long to get your hands on this set, either, as it goes on sale in about 3 weeks time on February 1 for $199. At the same time, LEGO will sell individual Simpsons minifigs to add to your collection for $4 each. Check out a couple more images of the set, along with a video, after the jump.

Click to continue reading The Simpsons House LEGO set arrives February 1 for $199


Infinity Blade III, Baston, and more great iOS games deeply discounted

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software, Video Games,

Infinity Blade III

Gaming is huge on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and during the holiday season, lots of new owners are looking for the fun games that'll allow them to put their devices to the test. There are also all the people who already own iOS device and just received an iTunes gift card, which means it's time to grab some apps. Devs are well aware of this trend, and many of them look to capitalize on it by offering their hottest apps at a discount during the end-of-the-year holiday season. There are a bunch of great games that can currently be had for a great bargain. Here's a sampling:

Yep - a couple of those are even free at the moment, but even those that aren't are well worth it if you're a gamer.


Custom Daft Punk LEGO minifigs tide us over until the album drops

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Music, Toys,

Daft Punk minifig

The next Daft Punk album, Random Access Memories, is set to be released in a couple of weeks, and for those who can't wait, there are custom Daft Punk LEGO minifigs. Jake Meier, LEGO minifig extraordinnaire, put the duo together with custom turntable, helmets, and a bunch of assumedly electronic music vinyl in a box. Well done.

Click to continue reading Custom Daft Punk LEGO minifigs tide us over until the album drops

Read More | Jack Meier LEGO

What if Breaking Bad was given the LEGO video game treatment? [Video]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adventure, Culture, Trailers,

Breaking Bad LEGO

Many popular movies have been adapted into LEGO video games, and the video below aims to show what it would look like if Breaking Bad were given the LEGO game treatment. In the four-and-a-half minute parody, we get a look at the great-looking LEGO versions of Walter White, his sidekick Jesse Pinkman, Skylar, Hank, and all the other characters from the show. And yes. You can cook meth. Blue, LEGO meth.

This matches up nicely with the Bathing Bad blue bath salts, no?

Check the video after the break, just be warned, there are spoilers if you're behind on the series.

Click to continue reading What if Breaking Bad was given the LEGO video game treatment? [Video]


Massive LEGO Hogwarts at Emerald City Comic Con [Video]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Videos,

LEGO Hogwarts

If you weren't able to make it to Emerald City Comic Con, then you missed the awesome LEGO Hogwarts that was built by Alice Finch. This thing took a year to build, and then had to be taken apart and sectioned in order to be brought to ECCC. It took six minivans to transport it, and three hours to get everything back in place. That's 400,000 LEGO bricks, over 250 minifigures, and no glue. Check out the video after the jump that shows off the reconstruction, and just how how LEGO Hogwarts is.

Click to continue reading Massive LEGO Hogwarts at Emerald City Comic Con [Video]


Black Friday 2012: Target

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Google, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies, Music, PC / Laptop, Video Games,

Target Black Friday 2012

We've been busy posting some of the tech-heavy Black Friday 2012 sales that we're finding, and now we've arrived at Target. Doors at Target will open at 9:00pm on Thanksgiving, but you can get a ton of deals online, which is always our preferred method of beating the crowds. We've got the full list of the more noteworthy items the break, and it's definitely worth taking a look. Can't wait a day or two? Target is also running a Beat the Rush sale right now!

Click to continue reading Black Friday 2012: Target


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