iPhone X: Apple unveils new £999 edge-to-edge display handset

iPhone X

Apple has unveiled a new edge-to-edge display iPhone which will go on sale as the most expensive handset the tech giant has ever made.

The iPhone X, pronounced 10, features wireless charging, an infrared camera and improved battery life, and will cost £999 when it is made available on 3 November.

Unlike previous models it has no physical home button, and will include facial recognition software which replaces the fingerprint sensor used to unlock the phone.

The Face ID technology can also be used to create Animoji - animated emoji controlled by the user's face.

Image:The model also features wireless charging, an infrared camera and improved battery life

Announcing the iPhone X at the company's new Steve Jobs Theatre in California, Apple chief executive Tim Cook described the model as "the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone".

However, the launch did not go fully to plan as Apple vice president Craig Federighi initially failed to unlock the device using Face ID.

As well as the iPhone X, Apple also announced the new iPhone 8 and iPhone Plus 8, which will cost £699 and £799 respectively.

Both will feature wireless charging capabilities, while the 8 Plus will include new camera technology called portrait lighting.

Image:The launch included a tribute to late Apple chief executive Steve Jobs

The software uses artificial intelligence to automatically improve the lighting effects of portrait photographs.

Both models are dust and water resistant, and feature 12-megapixel rear cameras.

Away from smartphones, Apple also announced the Apple Watch Series 3, which includes its own mobile signal.

The new feature will enable users to make calls, send messages and stream music without being connected to a smartphone.

The new Apple Watch Series 3 includes its own mobile signal

Image:

The new Apple Watch Series 3 includes its own mobile signal

An enhanced version of the Apple TV which supports 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) was also revealed.

The Watch and TV will go on sale on 22 September, alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Tech analysts were split on the appeal of Apple's new iPhone X model.

Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research described it as "a far bigger upgrade" than previous devices, adding it would become "the object of desire for many users".

However, Ernest Doku, from uSwitch.com, said Apple "still faces a challenge in convincing both the uninitiated and long-term fans alike that these new devices are the true innovation the market has long needed". 

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Has Apple gone too far for £999 iPhone X to be a success?

iPhone X

Apple's chief executive describes the iPhone X as "the future of smartphones", but reviews are suggesting that this future is not imminent.

We already know that the iPhone X - pronounced 10 - features wireless charging, an infrared camera and improved battery life.

We also know that it is going to be Apple's most expensive handset ever, setting consumers back £999 when it hits the shelves on Friday.

But what we didn't know was how well its edge-to-edge screen would work, if its Face ID unlocking system would be accurate, and whether it could possibly be worth that much money.

Many reviewers have complained about the limited time they had with the phone due to delayed deliveries - and all criticised the continued lack of a headphone jack, which was discontinued after the iPhone 6.

Apps which aren't designed for the iPhone X leave the edge-to-edge screen looking odd, with the iOS autolayout feature meaning icons are blocked or obscured.

Image:The queue outside Apple Regent Street for the iPhone 8 launch

A particular issue for US technology news network The Verge is the sensor housing at the top of the screen, which breaks the typical layout for iPhones of a perfect rectangular display.

It would fall to the app developers to handle this display oddity, but when the apps worked the results were complimented by all reviewers.

The iPhone X is Apple's first phone to use an OLED (organic light-emitting diode)display rather than LCD and uses the technology to keep the screen's colours sharp.

The edge-to-edge front means the iPhone X was set up to be billed as the most attractive smartphone ever made, but it fell short for The Verge, whose reviewer gave that title to the iPhone 4.

The Telegraph went so far as to say the design took a backseat, despite the full screen being billed as an achievement for Apple's chief design officer Sir Jony Ive.

Video:iPhone X launch not entirely smooth!

Face ID worked for all of the reviewers, despite a wobble during the launch event which risked embarrassing the company.

The biggest issue with Face ID, which uses infrared light to map users' faces and unlock the phone, was the difficulty of using it in bright environments.

It was "a little inconsistent" in bright sunlight and in the presence of fluorescent light, reported The Verge, although Forbes claimed to find it worked well in bright light.

For all this, Apple will be hoping the iPhone X launch on Friday will be less muted than that of the iPhone 8, for which a paltry 13 customers queued outside of its Regent Street store.

Those rumoured supply demands will almost certainly play in Apple's favour come Friday morning when customers who have not pre-ordered a device will be queuing to pick one up in person.

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It Looks a Whole Lot Like the Next iPhone Will Have Wireless Charging

It Looks a Whole Lot Like the Next iPhone Will Have Wireless Charging

Apple just quietly joined Wireless Power Consortium, a group of 214 companies dedicated to promoting wireless charging through its “Qi” standard, fueling rumors that the next iPhone will include the technology.

Whispers of a wireless-charging iPhone have been around for years, but Apple’s new membership in the Wireless Power Consortium is the most significant evidence to date that the company is serious about developing the technology. It also comes just months before the release of the next iPhone, which is rumored to be packed with expensive new hardware.

Behind the scenes, Apple has been making moves for years that have lead several experts to believe the next iPhone will charge wirelessly. Earlier this month, the company submitted an unnamed “wireless device” to the FCC that the device contained Bluetooth and NFC that some suspected was the highly anticipated wireless-charging iPhone.

Shortly after its FCC submission was reported, respected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple will release three versions of its next iPhone, all of which will include wireless charging. His prediction is based off of information from manufacturers, assemblers, and other sources with direct knowledge.

Kuo’s prediction echoes a lot of the same information included in a recent 
Fast Company report, which claims that one version of the next iPhone will be packed with high-end parts that will make the device cost more than $1,000. There is also the fact that Apple has been hiring wireless charging experts for some time now, including at least two former uBeam engineers with an expertise in wireless charging, according to a report from The Verge.

It’s still unclear why Apple hasn’t released a wireless charging iPhone. As Bloomberg reported early last year, the company has been stockpiling patents involving wireless charging methods including one that uses the iMac as a hub for charging devices at a distance of one meter called near-field magnetic resonance. Bloomberg also predicted Apple would release a wireless-charging iPhone in 2017.

Of course, we should take these rumors with a huge grain of salt. Apple is already using wireless inductive charging in the Apple Watch, and any new investments could be simply to beef up that product.

With all of that said, we’re long overdue for a wireless charging iPhone. Competitors like LG and Samsung have released several phones capable with inductive charging. Right now, the only way you can get wireless charging on an iPhone is by using a special case that includes Qi wireless technology. The brand behind the wireless charging case, Mophie, also built a battery case before Apple basically ripped off the idea with its own charging case.

Whether this technology would be helpful is an entirely different point. The problem with inductive charging right now is that you have to set your phone in a very specific place in order for it to work. You could argue that this is more inconvenient that having a to plug it into a cable. For others, however, a wireless-charging iPhone could be the realization of a rumor that has been around for years.

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iPhone 8 release date tipped to see Apple launch brand new sized smartphone

iPhone 8 release date tipped to see Apple launch brand new sized smartphone

THE APPLE iPhone 8 release date is edging nearer and now reports have suggested the phone will adopt a new 5-inch form factor.

Like the Goldilocks of the smartphone space, many have complained that the iPhone 7 is too small and the iPhone 7 Plus is too big.

For those hard to satisfy smartphone owners then, there could be some good news on the way, with the iPhone 8 reportedly set to adopt a brand new screen size and form factor.

With the current iPhone 7 currently lining up with a 4.7-inch panel and the 7 Plus adopting a 5.5-inch form factor, it's been suggested that the new iPhone 8 will slot in between the two with a 5-inch display.

That's according to tech blog Macotakara, which cites sources inside Apple's Asian operations network in hinting at the new dimensions.

Just because a new 5-inch iPhone is on the way, doesn't mean that the traditional 4.7 and 5.5-inch handsets aren't on the way out though.

Instead, Apple has been widely tipped to launch a trio of new handsets later this year, with the 5-inch model to feature a more impressive collection of specs than either of its siblings.

As well as more power and a new OLED panel, the latest report has claimed that the 5-inch phone will be the only one of Apple's future devices to come equipped with wireless charging capabilities.

According to the claimed insiders, however, this might not be as impressive as it first sounds.

Instead, it's been suggested that the phone will require users to splash out on an additional wireless charging dock in order to make use of its cable-free recharging options.

Although prices are currently unclear, this is sure to add a sizeable premium to the iPhone 8's already lofty cost.

Tipped to launch this September, potentially alongside the Apple Watch 3, the iPhone 8 will go head-to-head with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 for smartphone supremacy.

A device that will mark 10 years of Apple's market-leading handsets, the iPhone 8 has been rumoured to drop with an improved camera set up and brand new design.

Retiring the three year old look of the iPhone 6/7, the iPhone 8 will reportedly ditch the smooth, curved metal in favour of a glass-backed design.

Apple has yet to comment on the claims.

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HOW TO PASSWORD A PDF FILE

A reader asks:

“Is there any way to password-protect and lock a sensitive PDF file before sending it as an attachment through email? I cannot afford Adobe Acrobat Pro and free primopdf didn’t work for me. Any help will be appreciated!”

The quickest way to do this is to ZIP the PDF file and protect the ZIP file, or use Microsoft Office’s built-in encryption tools to create a password. If you use Outlook, you can use Adobe Acrobat IX to password protect PDFs. You can also try programs like NitroPDFand PDF Encrypt to set the password protection to your PDF file without Acrobat.

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Guardians of the Galaxy game UK release date and gameplay rumours, plus trailer

Guardians of the Galaxy game UK release date and gameplay rumours, plus trailer

Here's everything we know about Telltale's episodic game of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel's first game in partnership with Telltale Games, who've already made games based on The Walking Dead, Batman, and Game of Thrones. Here, we discuss the potential release date for the five Guardians of the Galaxy episodes, along with what to expect in terms of gameplay and storyline.

Guardians of the Galaxy game UK release date rumours: When is Guardians of the Galaxy episode one coming out in the UK?

Guardians of the Galaxy game UK release date: 2017

All we know for sure about the release of the first episode of Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy game is that it's due some time in 2017. Telltale confirmed the 2017 release date in a blog post shortly after revealing the game at The Game Awards 2016, writing that the five-part episodic series will "premiere digitally in 2017."

We can speculate about a more precise release date though. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the upcoming sequel to the first film, hits UK cinemas on Friday 28 April 2017, and it's a pretty reasonable guess that Marvel and Telltale will be timing the release of the game's first episode to capitalise on the excitement around the film's release. That means we can likely expect Guardians of the Galaxy Episode One to release some time in April 2017, with the remaining four episodes over the following few months. 

As for release platforms, the game will apparently come out on "home consoles, PC, and mobile devices." That means we can expect it on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, along with Android and iOS, and maybe even the Nintendo Switch.

We’ll update this section with more information as soon as it becomes available.

Guardians of the Galaxy gameplay rumours: What can we expect from the Guardians of the Galaxy game?

We don't know much about the game yet beyond its official title: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series. 

Telltale released a first teaser video for the game (shown above), but it doesn't reveal much except that fans can expect the same sort of tongue-in-cheek soundtrack choices that helped make the Marvel film so popular. Thankfully, Telltale co-founder and CEO Kevin Bruner has revealed a little more about what to expect in the official blog post.

"The energizing blend of humor, emotion, teamwork, and full-on sci-fi action-adventure of the Guardians provides an enormously satisfying space to explore through Telltale’s unique style of interactive storytelling. In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, players will take on multiple roles within the ragtag band of heroes, and take the pilot’s seat in directing their escapades around the universe. We are always honored to be working with the best creative partners and storytellers in entertainment, and working with Marvel on this series leaves us excited to share what we’ve been developing when it premieres in 2017."

That sounds about like what we'd expect from one of Telltale's games, which have popularised episodic interactive storytelling. Going by previous Telltale titles like The Walking Dead and Batman, we can expect some branching narrative options and hefty moral choices, with more of an emphasis on interacting with other characters than on big action-packed set pieces. 

There's no word yet on whether the Guardians of the Galaxy game will be the first to sit within the official continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or on whether we can expect cast members like Christ Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Bradley Cooper to reprise their roles from the film. 

This is expected to be the first of several Marvel games that Telltale is working on, but neither company has revealed what other titles they might be working on. We'll update this as we know more about the Guardians of the Galaxy game and any of the other projects.

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If you have ever searched for answers to your questions on the internet, there’s a good chance that you’ll have come across Yahoo Answers in which your question, or a question that’s similar, has been asked and answered by internet users. Now it looks like there is finally a dedicated mobile app for it.

We should note that the app has been in testing under a different name: Yahoo Hive, and it was only earlier this month that the app changed its name to Yahoo Answers Now. It still seems to be in some kind of testing phase as users will need an invite code to use the app, at least for now, but we can imagine that it should open itself up to the public in the near future.

How the app works is pretty simple and straightforward: Users can post a question within the app and wait for other users to respond to it. At the same time users will be able to answer to other questions if they are so inclined. Of course the quality of the answers is not guaranteed, so it’s really up to you to judge for yourself.

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Facebook may be a social networking site first and foremost, but the company also has a long history of enabling developers to create games that users can play on their own or with friends.

As a growing percentage of Facebook’s users are accessing the site on mobile devices, Facebook is taking a step that helps turn the social network into a mobile game platform.

Now you can play PAC-MAN, Space Invaders, EverWing, and other games in the Facebook  or Facebook Messenger apps for Android or iOS. There’s no need to exit the app or download and install the games from the App Store or Google Play.

Facebook calls the new gaming-through-Messenger service “Instant Games,” and at launch there are 17 games available to play in 30 countries.

Titles include classic games like Galaga and Arkanoid, social games like Words with Friends: Frenzy, and some newer titles. The games are all rendered in HTML5 and work cross-platform.

Not surprisingly, there’s a social aspect to the games, even when you’re playing single-player titles. You can launch a game from the chat window in Messenger and your score will be posted to the conversation, letting your friends try to beat your high score.

There’s also a solo option for folks that don’t want to use Messenger (or let anyone know what games they’re playing. Games will also be available through the News Feed in the Facebook apps for Android or iOS.

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The Women Techmakers Scholars Program for Bachelors, Masters and PhD Students from Africa, Europe and Middle East

The Women Techmakers Scholars Program for Bachelors, Masters and PhD Students from Africa, Europe and Middle East

Scholars Program
(formerly, Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship)

Course(s) Offered: Computing, Informatics, Related fields 
Course Level: Undergraduate (bachelors), Graduate (masters, PhD)
Provider: Google Inc.
Country to Study in: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Online

Scholarship Description
Through the Women Techmakers Scholars Program - formerly the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Program - Google is furthering Dr. Anita Borg’s vision of creating gender equality in the field of computer science by encouraging women to excel in computing and technology and become active leaders and role models in the field.

Google is proud to honor Anita’s memory and support women in technology with the Women Techmakers Scholars Program. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of each candidate's academic background and demonstrated leadership. 

The Program is offered to women in 3 divisions -- Scholars Program (North America), Scholars Program (Europe, Middle East and Africa i.e. EMEA) and Scholars Program (Asia Pacific). This page describes the Scholars Program: EMEA . For other regions, please scroll down and visit the official website via link below.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Identify as female
• Currently be enrolled at an accredited university for the 2016-2017 academic year
• Intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time or part-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD program at a university in Europe, Middle East or Africa for the 2017-2018 academic year
• Be studying computer science, computer engineering, informatics or a closely related technical field
• Demonstrate a strong academic record
• Exemplify leadership and demonstrate passion for increasing the involvement of women in Computer Science

The Women Techmakers Scholarship is a one-time scholarship. While past applicants and finalists are encouraged to reapply, unfortunately, past recipients of any Google scholarship, including the Women Techmakers Scholarship and Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship, are not eligible to apply.

Selection criteria:
Each application will be evaluated and scored based on the following criteria (the "Criteria"): (i) demonstration of passion to computer science; (ii) academic merit; (iii) demonstration of leadership skills 

Eligible groups
Women citizens of EMEA countries (i.e. countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa)

Participating Institutions
All accredited universities in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa

Fields of study
All Bachelor, Master or PhD level courses in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics or a closely related technical field at the participating institutions (including distance or online study for Bachelor, Master or PhD at the accredited universities)

Number of awards
A group of female undergraduate and graduate students will be chosen from the applicant pool. The best 20 applications (as assessed by the panel of judges in their sole discretion against the "Criteria") will be successful.

Scholarship benefits
Women Techmakers Scholars will each receive a 7,000 EUR award (or local equivalent) for the 2017-2018 academic year. The €7,000 (issued in the form of bank transfer) is to be spent on tuition fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the applicants' classes at their primary university.

All scholarship recipients will be invited to attend the annual Women Techmakers Scholars' Retreat in summer 2017 to connect with fellow scholars, network with Googlers and participate in a number of workshops.

Professional development and community outreach opportunities will continue to be offered after the retreat. As a Women Techmakers Scholar, you will join a long-term community of scholars program participants designed to provide a forum to share resources, support other women in tech, and collaborate on projects to make continued impact.

Method of Application
No purchase necessary to enter or win. To enter, applicants are required to complete the online application form and provide any supplementary information and/or documentation as may be requested from time to time. The application process will open on October 3rd, 2016 at 8:00 am GMT and will close on December 1st, 2016 at 11:59 pm GMT.

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete information on how to apply for this scholarship program

DEADLINES:
Applications for the 2017-2018 Scholars Program are now open and will close December 1st, 2016 at 11:59 pm GMT.

PLEASE NOTE:
Notification of successful applicants will take place by no later than April 30th, 2017 by the email address provided at the time of application. Successful applicants will be required to accept the scholarship terms within 14 days of notification by Google. If they fail, the scholarship payment will be forfeited and Google may, in its sole discretion, select an alternative successful applicant.

Dr. Anita Borg (1949–2003) believed that technology affects all aspects of our economic, political, social and personal lives. A technology rebel with a cause, she fought tirelessly to ensure that technology’s impact would be a positive one. Dr. Anita Borg devoted her adult life to revolutionizing the way we think about technology and dismantling barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields.

Her combination of technical expertise and fearless vision continues to inspire and motivate countless women to become active participants and leaders in creating technology.

Application Deadline: 1 December 2016
Open to International Applicants: Yes

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