Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is the best tool around for detecting and eliminating potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) from your Windows PC. It performs on-demand scans of your whole system (including heuristic analysis to detect brand new threats), quarantines any undesirables it finds, and lets you purge them all with a single click.
Why you need it
Free software is fantastic, but sometimes when you download a program, an unwanted extra comes along for the ride.
PUPs – also known as adware – aren’t viruses, so they might not be picked up by your regular security software, but they’re a nuisance. They can redirect your homepage, change your default search engine, add toolbars to your browser, and generally make your life miserable. They can also compromise your privacy, monitoring your comings and goings, then reporting back to advertisers.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware also wipes out more serious issues, including ransomware. It won’t replace your usual antivirus software, but it a superb addition to your online security arsenal.
When you first install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, you’ll be given a 14-day free trial of the premium edition, including real-time scanning. Once that expires, you’ll have to open the program and scan for issues yourself, but this is easy and well worth the effort.
Mac users can get somewhat complacent about security, but they shouldn’t – Apple’s desktop computers are being increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, and it never pays to let your guard down.
Certainly, as well as competent antivirus, folks with a Mac need a quality Virtual Private Network just as much as anyone on Windows – although not every VPN service provides a client or satisfactory support for macOS users. However, if you’re stuck as to which provider to go with, help is at hand…
It’s not always easy to find a Mac-friendly VPN service. Obviously enough, it’s important to choose a provider that offers a pre-configured client for its service. Having a good Mac client is a huge boon in terms of simply making things as easy as possible. Solid iOS support is also a welcome feature if you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and have an iPhone as well as a Mac.
Next, you need powerful security with strong encryption, which goes without saying, and an easily understandable privacy policy that makes it perfectly clear what data is kept by the provider. Good performance levels obviously don’t hurt, either. Below are the five best VPN services for Mac that we've picked out for you.
ExpressVPN is our top choice for the best all-round VPN service on the Mac. Their dedicated app is intuitive and very user-friendly, which features a one-click option for connecting, as well as some advanced options. It uses 256-bit OpenVPN encryption both over UDP and TCP protocols and comes with a kill switch.
There’s also a very good iOS app so you get a complete Apple VPN experience. Great speeds, a favourable privacy policy and 24/7 customer support rounds off an excellent Mac VPN experience.
Nevertheless, the pricing slightly tarnishes things. The service is a tad pricier than most other VPN providers, with no free trial – but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN offers three price plans, with the 12-month plan offering the best value. The packages available are:
When it comes to security, NordVPN does it like no other. Its own ‘Double VPN’ technology encrypts data twice – in other words, it passes your data through two separate VPN servers to make things even more secure – while there are additional security extras such as encrypted chat, web proxy extensions and so on.
NordVPN’s clients for both macOS and iOS are rather basic compared to others, but keeping things simple can be advantageous for novices. This provider is also P2P-friendly and has a strict zero logs policy, which makes it perfect for those seeking an ultra-secure and private experience. The performance was slightly above average in our testing, too.
There's a free 3-day trial (hidden away in the FAQ), and NordVPN is a relatively affordable service. There are three plans available with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The 1-year plan is the most popular and obvious choice. The packages available are:
This Switzerland-based provider operates a tier-1 network and is solely in charge of its own servers – so it’s no wonder that VyprVPN does well on the performance front. In fact, in our testing we found that it more than doubled our download speeds compared to our regular rates (without the VPN running).
When it comes to Mac, there is a rather neat and, to our knowledge, unique feature. Namely, the ability to manage and customise your VPN connections on a per-app basis, allowing for better overall control of your online privacy. And in terms of security, you get VyprDNS, OpenVPN (160-bit and 256-bit), L2TP/IPsec protocols, as well as VyprVPN’s own Chameleon protocol for avoiding VPN blocking.
VyprVPN has two pricing plans with either monthly or annual billing. Monthly plans are rather expensive, so the yearly option is the best way to save money. Curiously, there are no refunds available from this provider, so be sure to utilise the three-day free trial in order to test the service out before you buy. The packages available are:
IPVanish’s Mac app features a nifty design and a few welcome options like a kill switch and automatic IP switching. The service is blazingly fast, and it’ll automatically hook you up to the fastest server available, a nice touch on the convenience front. Not only are download speeds fast with this VPN, it allows P2P.
OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols are supported, and there’s also decent iOS support and a wide coverage of servers, with no logging of the user’s activities.
However, you pay for the performance you get here. IPVanish doesn’t have a free trial, although there is a 7-day money-back guarantee with all three available plans. The 1-year subscription is clearly the best choice. The packages available are:
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has all the right ingredients in optimal quantities. Its native Mac client is well-designed, and you can pick up nifty extras like a personal server or a personal static IP. The service also boasts solid iOS support and doesn’t store any user information on the privacy front.
Performance varied a bit during our testing, but overall the service was solid enough, doing well on downloads, but with things slowing up a bit more on uploads. And the choice of servers isn’t as extensive as some rival VPNs.
There are three price plans and they all represent good value for money, ranging from a monthly offering to a permanent ‘Infinity’ subscription. The 1-year plan offers the best savings (if you don’t need a permanent plan, that is) – and don’t forget you can avail yourself of a 7-day free trial to test the service out. The packages available are:
Update:The OnePlus 5 is now confirmed. OnePlus has said it will release the OnePlus 5 "this summer", putting to bed rumors that it may be called the OnePlus 4, while a sketchy sketch suggests the phone could have two front-facing cameras as well as two on the back.
The OnePlus 5 will arrive in the coming months, as the Chinese startup has now confirmed the name of its next flagship smartphone and that it will arrive during 'Summer 2017'.
OnePlus has managed to consistently stand out from the crowd by offering high-end hardware at a mid-range price, but even to say that undersells its achievements.
The company often out-specs rivals with its 'Never Settle' mantra and clearly puts time and thought into its phones, yet still manages to sell them for less.
All of that is true of the OnePlus 3T, which has a massive 6GB of RAM, along with a premium build and high-end specs throughout, all for just $439, £399 (around AU$580).
It's a remarkable phone then, but it's not perfect and we've come up with a wish list of things (on page 2) that we want to see for the OnePlus 5.
You'll find all the latest news and rumors about the OnePlus 5 on this page, along with speculation and analysis to fill in the gaps.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next affordable flagship from OnePlus
When is it out? Summer 2017
What will it cost? Probably around £400, $439, AU$580
It's more than likely then, that the OnePlus 5 will land in mid-2017, to keep the Chinese firm on the annual rotation of new handsets which is commonplace in the mobile industry.
That's all but confirmed, with OnePlus revealing that the OnePlus 5 launch will take place during "Summer 2017" – basically we should only be a month or two away at most.
This all falls in line with Weibo tipster i ice universe, who claimed a June or July OnePlus 5 launch, while another Weibo source reckons we'll see it in June, and a store listing claims the phone will ship in early June.
TechRadar's take: We'd be surprised if the OnePlus 5 landed before June though, with June or July the mostly likely arrival date for now.
The name: OnePlus 5 vs OnePlus 4
It will be called the OnePlus 5
We won't get a OnePlus 4
The eagle-eyed among you will note that we've not had a OnePlus 4. We've had the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, OnePlus X, OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T – and now we're getting the OnePlus 5.
Why 5? The number 4 is a sign of bad luck in China, which is the main thinking as to why we're going straight to the OnePlus 5. It would also, technically, be the fifth flagship phone (ignoring the short-lived OnePlus X) with the OnePlus 3T taking the fourth generation spot.
Thing is, apparently neither of those are the reason behind the name. According to OnePlus, it was apparently inspired by the former NBA player Robert Horry who had a number five jersey and is a popular player among OnePlus employees.
The OnePlus 3T is great – but there’s still room for improvement
OnePlus 5 screen
Hottest leaks:
A change in technology
A 5.3 or 5.5-inch 2K display
The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T have a 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 display, just like the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus One. Given how staunchly the company has stuck to that size and resolution combination it's tempting to think it will do the same with the OnePlus 4, and that's certainly possible.
In fact, one tipster has said exactly that, and also shared the image below, showing the phone with an edge-to-edge display.
Credit: @Mocha RQ
But we reckon OnePlus might push the resolution up to 1440 x 2560, and that possibility has also been rumored, with talk of a 5.3-inch screen of that resolution, while another source points to a 5.5-inch QHD display.
The resolution of the screen on the OnePlus 3T is one of its few faults and one of the only areas you can really point to and say that's where the company cut corners.
To make an impact next year it's likely to push the resolution up, especially since by then just about every flagship is likely to have a QHD or higher resolution screen.
But why do we need to push resolution above 1080p on such a small screen? Two letters: VR. Virtual Reality was big in 2016, even OnePlus has got in on the act launching the OnePlus 3 in VR (and the OnePlus 2 in 2015), but for the best experiences you need a high resolution display.
A 2K screen would improve the VR experience on the OnePlus 5, as well as giving a boost to movies and gaming.
All previous OnePlus flagships have a full HD display
The rumored drop in size to 5.3 inches is more surprising. OnePlus only makes one or two phones a year and while there's no such thing as one size fits all the company is going to want to get close.
Big phones are growing in popularity and it's done well with the 5.5-inch size point, so we'd be surprised if it really gets any smaller, but any bigger pushes it into phablet territory, which is a relatively niche market.
We may see a move from AMOLED back to LCD though, as OnePlus is reportedly struggling to source enough AMOLED panels to keep up with OnePlus 3 demand. Then again, the first OnePlus 5 rumors point to AMOLED still.
TechRadar's take: We reckon the OnePlus 5 will have a 5.3-5.5-inch QHD LCD screen – so roughly the same size as the OnePlus 3, but higher resolution to catch up with rivals, and a return to previous tech due to AMOLED shortages.
OnePlus 5 design
Hottest leaks:
A metal/glass body
The first design rumors suggest we could see a big change in the look of the OnePlus 5, with apparently a glass body in place of the OnePlus 3's metal one.
You can see a rough render of how that might look below – note the absence of antenna bands, which wouldn't be as needed with glass.
We're not totally convinced by this though, as while it's tough to pinpoint how OnePlus has kept the cost down in the final design of its handsets, it presumably aims to keep spending to a minimum during the development of the phone, which means a whole new design every year isn't likely to be on the cards.
The company completely changed the design for the OnePlus 3, giving it a truly premium metal build, so we may see something similar for the OnePlus 5. It won't be identical – look out for something slimmer and more refined, but it could have a similar overall look.
A clearer leaked image also shows a lack of antenna bands, though if anything it looks more like a metal back here than a glass one, and whether glass or metal the overall style and shape looks similar to the OnePlus 3T.
We're hoping for further bezel slimming – allowing the OnePlus 5 to sport a more compact frame even though it houses a 5.5-inch display. The Samsung Galaxy S8 also boasts a larger 5.8-inch screen, but it's narrower and shorter than the OnePlus 3T, which means the OnePlus 5 should be able to slim down a bit.
We won't mind if OnePlus makes its next flagship slightly thicker, allowing it to reduce bezel size while making a bit more room for a bigger battery. And space for a microSD slot? We can but dream.
TechRadar's take: The OnePlus 5 could go glass, but we think the changes will probably be smaller – think evolution, not revolution.
OnePlus 5 camera
Hottest leaks:
A dual-lens camera
12MP rear and 8MP front snappers
Augmented and mixed reality features
Several leaked images show a dual-lens camera, and another rumor also points to a dual-lens snapper, with augmented reality and mixed reality functions, though no details are given on the specifics of these features.
Another leak details some aspects of the camera though, saying that both lenses will be 12MP, with one color and one monochrome (black and white one), which combine for improved contrast, more light and less noise in images. The same source says there will be an 8MP front-facing camera.
We've also heard again that there will be a dual lens camera, but that the lenses will be horizontally aligned rather than vertically, which would mean the images we've seen of the phone are inaccurate.
These changes are believable. A lot of work was put into the camera on the OnePlus 3T. Both rear and front sensors have a high megapixel count (16MP on both), there's optical image stabilization and plenty of other features.
But the end result is a snapper which still isn't quite up to the standards of the best around, so expect the camera on the OnePlus 5 to be further tuned and improved. That's not to say it's a bad offering, it's just the bar has been raised so high it's difficult – on a budget – to match it.
Credit: anzhuo.cn
Surprisingly, a leaked sketch shared by Chinese site anzhuo has shown a dual front-facing camera. No details of its specs are included and this is the first we've heard of that, so we're highly skeptical, but can't rule it out.
TechRadar's take: A 12MP rear camera is likely, as this would both change things up and fall in line with rivals. There's a good chance it will also be dual-lens, but we doubt the front-facing camera will be.
OnePlus 5 battery
Hottest leaks:
A 4000mAh juice pack
Seriously fast charging
Battery life is one area which OnePlus will hopefully be focusing on for next year's handset. The company delivered great life with the 3,400mAh OnePlus 3T and we want to see a repeat of that – or something even better.
Fortunately, it sounds like that might be what we'll get, with rumors of a 4000mAh juice pack.
Then again, another source says to expect just a 3,600mAh juice pack – but with 25% faster charging speeds.
The Dash Charge tech OnePlus has employed in the 3 is already impressive, and we fully expect to see it return in the OnePlus 5. It could be even faster too, as sister company Oppo unveiled an even speedier charging tech at MWC 2016.
One source claims it will have Dash Charge 2.0, though its description of being able to get a full day's charge in half an hour is the same as the claims OnePlus made about the original Dash Charge. The same source says the phone will have a 3,580mAh juice pack.
TechRadar's take: We doubt the battery will get much smaller than 3,400mAh and there's a good chance it will get larger.
OnePlus 5 OS and power
Hottest leaks:
A powerful Snapdragon 830 or 835 processor
6GB or 8GB of RAM
OnePlus flagships are always among the most powerful around, at least on paper, and we don't expect that will change with the OnePlus 5.
So it's likely to have whatever the chipset of the moment is, probably the Snapdragon 835. More than one rumor has now suggested that the Snapdragon 835 will indeed be powering the handset.
Alongside that we may see 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, although another Weibo source claims that the amount of RAM could be upped to 8GB.
The 8GB of RAM spec has also been outed by PCPop.com, and it would certainly be eye-catching on paper – it's unlikely to have much of a noticeable advantage in general usage though.
The OnePlus 5 will almost certainly run Android (likely Android Nougat) overlaid with OnePlus' own Oxygen OS.
TechRadar's take: The Snapdragon 835 is the obvious chip choice for the OnePlus 5, but RAM might stay at 6GB, since the OnePlus 3T is already ahead of the pack there.
OnePlus 5 other features
Hottest leaks:
128GB of storage
The OnePlus 3T has a fingerprint scanner, so expect that to return. It's possible that OnePlus will add other features for its next phone, perhaps an iris scanner for example, since Samsung has started using them.
But, on the other hand, the company will likely be focused on making the best phone it can while keeping costs down, so if it doesn't think a feature is worthwhile or likely to be used by many then it probably won't include it. An example of that is the lack of NFC on the OnePlus 2.
The other question is whether the OnePlus 5 will come with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Motorola and Apple have dropped the aging audio technology from recent phone releases – including the Moto Z Force and iPhone 7 – and it seems Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus, is interested in whether the community thinks the headphone jack is necessary.
The result was overwhelmingly in favor of the OnePlus 5 keeping the headphone jack, so it looks likely the phone will keep the 3.5mm jack.
As for storage, that could jump to 128GB if early rumors are to be believed.
TechRadar's take: We don't expect feature-overload on the OnePlus 5, but old features like the fingerprint scanner and headphone jack are likely to return.
OnePlus 5 price
The only price rumor so far comes from a store listing, with the phone carrying a $449 price.
That's slightly higher than the the $439 starting price of the OnePlus 3T, and if accurate suggests the UK price will be slightly higher too. The 3T costs £399 in the UK, so expect a price of over £400 for the OnePlus 5.
The OnePlus 5 isn't far off now, so here's our top ten wish list for the next flagship phone. Check it out below and let us know if we missed anything that you want to see.
1. A QHD screen
OnePlus has stuck with a 1080p display since day one and with each passing year it becomes that little bit more questionable.
It’s still fine, but noticeably less sharp than a QHD display and it’s becoming less and less flagship-worthy, so we’re hoping for a jump in resolution next year.
Arguably that’s more important than power improvements, given that there’s not much that can tax top-end phones at this point anyway.
2. More storage and room for expansion
The OnePlus 3 comes with 64GB of storage, which is a generous amount, especially for the price. But there are no other options, so if you want more you can’t have it and equally if you don’t need that much and would rather pay a little less for something smaller that’s not an option either.
Worse, there’s no microSD card slot, so you really are limited to what’s built in. That 64GB will probably be enough for most people, but not for everyone, so it would be great if the OnePlus 4 gives us room for expansion.
3. Sharper snaps
As high-spec and feature-packed as the camera on the OnePlus 3 is it’s not perfect, with shots sometimes coming out blurry and a little dark, especially when the lighting isn’t ideal.
We don’t need more megapixels next year, but hopefully OnePlus will further tune and polish the camera so it can take shots that rival the best phones around.
4. Double tap to sleep
One handy feature on the OnePlus 3 is being able to double tap the screen to turn it on, but we’d like to see that being taken a step further, with you also being able to double tap the screen when it is on to turn it off.
This might take some work, to ensure that the phone knows when you mean to do that and when you’re just vigorously tapping an application or on-screen button, but it would be a neat, time-saving feature if they can make it work.
5. A more inspired design
The OnePlus 3 is undeniably a good looking phone, in fact it looks great, with a metal unibody and a comfortably curved shape. It’s a big improvement on the OnePlus 2 then, but it also looks a lot like plenty of other phones, with more than a passing resemblance to the HTC 10 and iPhone 6S.
That’s not a huge problem, after all there’s only so much you can do with a rectangle and most manufacturers are borrowing at least a little from rivals, but if the OnePlus 4 is to wow on more than just its price, then a different, unique design would really help.
6. Two days of life
The OnePlus 3 has more RAM, a faster processor and a higher spec camera than the OnePlus 2, but the battery has shrunk.
With Dash charging you can juice it up quickly, but that doesn’t help when you’re nowhere near a charger, so we’d really like to see improvements in life for the OnePlus 4, either through a larger juice pack or just optimizations.
The OnePlus 3 aims (and largely succeeds) to last a day, but two days of life would be vastly preferable. That way even if you typically stick to a nightly charge you can be confident that it will see you through if you forget or are unable.
7. Waterproofing
While the OnePlus 3 looks great it can’t survive a soaking, which is a problem, given that 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water.
Waterproofing still isn’t a standard feature on phones, but we’d like it to be, especially high-end ones, so hopefully the OnePlus 4 will join the club.
8. Stronger speakers
The OnePlus 3 has a single downward firing speaker, which can pump out audio at a pleasing volume but has a tendency to distort if you turn it up too high.
So it would be nice to see a strong speaker in the OnePlus 4. Better yet two speakers, and not on the bottom where they can easily become covered. Improvements to audio through headphones would also be welcome, such as the ability to upscale music quality.
9. A curved screen
Curved screens are likely to become more and more common over the next couple of years. Samsung has embraced them and might be going curves-only for the Galaxy S8.
Apple is also rumored to be adding curves to its phones in the near future and once that happens everyone is likely to follow, so it’s not too far-fetched to think that OnePlus might.
Of course curves for the sake of curves could be pointless, but Samsung has shown how they can be genuinely beneficial with Edge screen functions and we’d like to see OnePlus follow suit, or come up with its own uses for curves.
10. A dual-lens camera
The OnePlus 4 is bound to have a better camera than the OnePlus 3, but we don’t just want a better camera, we want an extra lens, giving it more versatility.
An implementation a bit like the LG G5 – where one lens is specifically designed for wide-angle shots, would be great. Then the other can be a standard one along the lines of what the OnePlus 3 has, so users will have the tools to take great shots in almost any situation.
One of the biggest flagships of 2017 still to appear is the OnePlus 5, and if a recently leaked spec sheet is anything to go by, it's going to go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S8 as far as raw performance goes.
A set of specs posted to Geekbuying suggests we're looking at a Snapdragon 835 processor, a huge 8GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a hefty 4,000mAh battery and a 5.5-inch screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution.
Around the back there's a 23-megapixel camera, the listing suggests, and the accompanying image shows a dual-lens setup – something that we've heard mentioned in previous leaks about the upcoming smartphone.
Premium specs, mid-range price
If all of that information turns out to be right, then we're looking at a very, very capable handset, on paper at least. The details also happen to match up with a leaked specs sheet posted to Slashleaks earlier in the week.
At this stage either sites are copying details from each other or they're all drawing conclusions from the same source – but even if these specs aren't exactly spot on it looks like the OnePlus 5 will be a phone worth waiting for… and the listed price of just $449.99 is very appealing too.
We've had confirmation that the OnePlus 5 does indeed exist and is coming this summer, but there's still no exact launch date or any press event in the calendar. The fact that the rumors are picking up pace suggest we'll be seeing it sooner rather than later.
Update: A leaked screenshot suggests the 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2 could land in June. Read below for all the rumors we've seen so far for the iPad Pro 2.
Apple launched its largest ever tablet in September 2015. The iPad Pro 12.9 came with a huge 12.9-inch screen, supported the Apple Pencil stylus and packed a powerful processor – it was a big change to the iPad game.
We were big fans, giving it 4.5-stars in our full TechRadar review, praising the slate for its impressive front-facing speakers and great display among other things.
Then there was the iPad Pro 9.7, an iPad Air 2 replacement which came with a smaller screen, new True Tone technology and all of the features we'd already seen on the original iPad Pro.
But with 2017 now in full swing we need a new large-screen iPad, and the good news is it's possible we'll get one soon: the rumored device is likely to replace both Pro models and may come in a third size too. Here's everything we know so far about the iPad Pro 2.
Cut to the case
What is it? The next tablet from Apple
When is it out? Possibly later in 2017, maybe in September
What will it cost? It'll be expensive. Expect $799 (£679, AU$1249)
iPad Pro 2 release date
The original iPad Pro is well over a year old, but considering the iPad Pro 9.7 came out earlier in 2016 and demand for new tablets isn't high at the moment, it's no surprise we're going to be waiting longer for an iPad Pro 2.
Based on previous releases an early 2017 launch around March was rumored, but as we now know, the Apple announcement in March was for a new iPad, that's essentially an iPad Air 2 replacement.
There's evidence that the iPad Pro 2 was originally heading for a March launch but that the slate was delayed, as TSMC – which is making the chips for it – has apparently seen lower than expected yields.
So where does that leave us? Well, according to an analyst speaking to Forbes a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model has entered limited production, which could mean it's coming soon, with a supply chain source claiming to MacRumors that it could arrive as soon as April.
That, of course, didn't happen, but we might not be waiting much longer, especially as a leaked screenshot from an authorized Apple reseller shows a case for a 10.5-inch iPad as launching in June.
In which case we might see it at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which takes place on June 5-9.
That rumor has been backed up by certain analysts, claiming that Apple will indeed unveil the new slate at WWDC, traditionally an event for software announcements rather than new hardware.
On the other hand, it would seem odd to launch new iPads so close together, so it's just as likely that we'll be waiting a little longer, and some analysts don't expect to see it until October.
TechRadar's take: We're still very much expecting to see a new iPad Pro (or three) later this year, but it probably won't land until later than June.
iPad Pro 2 price
There's no news on pricing yet, so we only have the original iPad Pro's pricing to go from. That starts at $599 (£499, AU$899) for the 9.7-inch model and $799 (£679, AU$1249) for the 12.9-inch one, so with pricing likely to be similar for the Pro 2 it certainly won't be easy on the wallet.
iPad Pro 2 design
Hottest leaks:
A slimmer, lighter slate
Water resistance
No headphone port
Not much is known about the iPad Pro 2 just yet – but leaked photos of a new Apple tablet have shown off what some believe to be the iPad Pro 2.
They came from a source working on the Chinese supply line – according to Apple Insider – and show off the tablet’s screen with a model number of MH1Z2CD/F.
That number's not attached to any existing product, so it'd make sense for this to be the iPad Pro 2. The photos don't show off any specific changes though, so it may look just like the original iPad Pro tablet.
That wouldn't be a surprise, especially as Apple only just reinvented the iPad to some extent with the launch of the Pro range.
That said, there's a fair chance the company will try to make the new slates slimmer and lighter, as this is something Apple often does with new models and it could really benefit the larger model, as the iPad Pro 12.9 weighs a hefty 713g.
On the other hand, they could get thicker, albeit with a smaller overall footprint, as one leak claims a new 10.9-inch model will have the same length and width as the iPad Pro 9.7 but will be 7.5mm thick (where Apple's current flagship is just 6.1mm).
The same source says the iPad Pro 2 12.9-inch variant will get 3mm thicker, making it 9.9mm thick.
Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, so this may be a change Apple brings over to the iPad range.
Apple may also make the iPad Pro 2 water and dust resistant, like the iPhone 7. While a tablet – which is typically used indoors – is arguably less in need of that protection it would still help defend it against spilled drinks.
TechRadar's take: The main iPad updates will likely become slimmer and lighter, although the much-vaunted 10.5-inch model could be a thicker variant of the current 9.7-inch choice.
If the smallest iPad Pro gets a reboot, expect the same shape with just an internal spec boost.
iPad Pro 2 screen
Hottest leaks:
Three sizes
A True Tone display
A fingerprint scanner built into the screen
According to a research note from a respected analyst, the iPad Pro 2 will come in three different sizes. There'll be 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch models, just like with the original range, but there'll also apparently be a 10.5-inch version.
There was some consternation that we wouldn't be getting new iPad Pro models this year at all when the rumored launch date only spat out a few alterations to current models.
But analysts still believe that the new Pro models, including the new 10.5-inch option, are still on their way, so don't worry that they'll never appear. Apparently the production is just about to start, although its hard to know the validity of such a claim.
Recently we've heard additional details about that new size, including the fact that it will apparently be 2,224 x 1,668 in order to retain the same pixel density of 264 pixels per inch as the 9.7-inch model, and that despite having a larger screen it would have the same overall dimensions by reducing the bezel.
However, a supply chain source has claimed that there'll be a 10.9-inch model (presumably instead of the rumored 10.5-inch one).
The source believes the home button would be built into the screen – along with TouchID fingerprint scanning – to allow for smaller bezels, but we've heard this rumor for a long while with the iPhone and it's impossible to see it coming this year, as it's just too early.
These leaks don't mention the resolution or any other details, but we can predict that all models of the iPad Pro 2 will come with a True Tone display, which debuted on the iPad Pro 9.7.
True Tone allows your tablet to alter the screen's color temperature depending on the ambient lighting of where you use it, so you can see the image properly no matter what conditions you're in.
Apple rarely changes the resolution of its device's screens; in fact, it hasn't upped the 9.7-inch iPad's resolution since the iPad 3 in 2012. You could argue that it's due a jump by this point, but the 1536 x 2048 display doesn't feel lacking, so we expect the iPad Pro 2 9.7 will keep that sharpness.
Similarly, the iPad Pro 2 12.9 will probably stay at 2048 x 2732 and the iPad Pro 2 10.5 or 10.9 – if it exists, which feels unlikely given it would be far too close to the 9.7-inch model in screen size – will presumably slot somewhere in the middle.
We'd expect to see some improvements to the display, but like the addition of True Tone on the iPad Pro 9.7 these are likely to be software tweaks or technology improvements, rather than an increased resolution.
One such improvement could be 3D Touch, which debuted on the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. This essentially makes the screen pressure-sensitive, so a hard press on something will yield different results to a light one.
Bigger changes could come with the iPad Pro 3, likely in 2018, with talk of a curved AMOLED display.
TechRadar's take: The iPad Pro 2 12.9 is bound to have a True Tone display since the iPad Pro 9.7 does, and Apple is likely to improve and refine the screen too, but probably won't change the resolution, and a fingerprint scanner built into the screen sounds like a long shot.
iPad Pro 2 camera and battery
Hottest leaks:
A bigger battery
Upgraded camera features, but not hardware
The iPad Pro 9.7 has a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing one, so we’d expect at least that from the iPad Pro 2.
Chances are Apple won’t change the megapixel count, as both cameras on the iPad Pro 9.7 are already an upgrade on the iPad Pro 12.9’s snappers.
Although given that Apple stuck a larger lens on the iPhone 7 and a dual-lens on the iPhone 7 Plus it’s possible that it will bring one of those to the iPad Pro 2.
There's no news on what the battery size will be, and in any case it's likely to vary depending on which screen size you opt for. However it'll likely be slightly more power efficient thanks to the optimised A10X chip.
TechRadar's take: The camera is often an afterthought on the iPad range – and rightly so. As such we don't expect big changes here, especially as Apple improved the camera for the iPad Pro 9.7, but a larger battery is likely.
iPad Pro 2 OS and power
Hottest leaks:
A powerful A10X processor
iOS 10
4GB of RAM
We'd fully expect the iPad Pro 2 will launch with iOS 10 – Apple's latest mobile operating system software upgrade. iOS 10 includes big improvements to Siri, the ability to live broadcast apps, a new look (and a lot less clutter) in the Control Center and more besides.
It wouldn't be a new iPad without a new processor and Apple is rumored to be sticking an A10X chip in the iPad Pro 2. A Geekbench leak suggests it'll be far more powerful than the original iPad Pro, suggesting it'll have a single-core score of 4236 and a multi-core score of 6588.
By comparison the original iPad Pro had a multi-core score of 5472.
We could also see more RAM in the iPad Pro 2, or at least the 9.7-inch model. The iPad Pro 12.9 already has 4GB of RAM, but the iPad Pro 9.7 has just 2GB, so it would make sense for Apple to push the new model up in line with the 12.9-inch slate (and if we get a 10.5-inch model to equip that with 4GB of RAM too).
It seems that the refresh to the smallest 9.7-inch model will be mostly about power – there's very little to suggest that we'll get anything more than just a boost to the CPU and RAM to help keep the Pro range at the right power levels for modern apps.
TechRadar's take: It's unlikely Apple will jump from two to six cores for the A10X chip, but it's bound to be very powerful all the same, and a sharp step forward in graphics processing especially. 4GB of RAM across the board would make sense and iOS 10 is all but guaranteed – unless the launch is pushed to September.
iPad Pro 2 other features
Hottest leaks:
A pressure-sensitive home button
Improved Apple Pencil
The Smart Connector is bound to make a return, giving users an easy way to connect keyboards and other accessories to the slate. The iPad Pro 2 will obviously support the Apple Pencil and there's every chance Apple will release new versions of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard alongside it.
In fact, we've heard talk of ways in which the Apple Pencil might change, with the new version possibly having a magnet built in, so it sticks to your slate, and a clip on the side, so it doesn't roll away.
Beyond that we can look to the iPhone 7 for other possible features, such as a pressure-sensitive home button, which could vibrate rather than physically clicking and do different things depending on how hard you press it.
TechRadar's take: There's no way Apple will ditch the Smart Connector, as it's one of the iPad Pro's defining features. We're not convinced we'll get a pressure-sensitive home button though.
iPad Pro 2 rivals
The iPad Pro 2, particularly in its larger sizes, is likely to be positioned as a laptop alternative, which means it will be competing with the Microsoft Surface Pro range, which is currently up to the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and by spring 2017 should include the Microsoft Surface Pro 5.
These slates are powerful, expensive and support similar accessories, like a stylus and a keyboard. But they run Windows 10, which means an inferior app selection but a more laptop-like experience.
The original iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad Pro 9.7 will likely be rivals too, as they will probably stay on sale for a reduced price – and given the larger model especially still feels like it’s got power oozing out the edges, it will remain an attractive option, especially if it becomes more affordable.
There’s less direct competition from any Android slates, but despite getting on a bit the Google Pixel C could prove a tempting alternative, with its premium build, great screen and keyboard accessory – and we’re expecting Google to come out with a decent upgrade soon too.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has arrived (along with the Galaxy Book) to provide another 2-in-1 alternative to the iPad Pro for those that love a bit of Android (or Windows, in the case of the Book).
The main selling point here is that each device will come with the S-Pen stylus in the box, where Apple's Pencil costs extra.
With so little known about the iPad Pro 2 we’ve run through some of the spec and design changes we’d most like to see on Apple’s next slate.
1. Bigger battery
The original iPad Pro 12.9 came with a mammoth 10,307mAh battery, but we’d like to see it upgraded on the iPad Pro 2 to make the battery life even more impressive. With a powerful processor and a huge 12.9-inch screen to power the battery did drain quite quickly on the original tablet.
Fingers crossed Apple will put a big focus on the Pro 2’s power optimization as well, to give us considerably better battery on the iPad Pro 2.
2. Free Pencil stylus
The Apple Pencil cost extra on top of the iPad Pro, so next time we’d like to see the Pencil 2 thrown into the box alongside the tablet. It’s not usually Apple’s style to offer accessories up for free, but the stylus is an essential part of the iPad Pro experience, so we’d like to see it included.
3. More storage
The iPad Pro already comes with up to 256GB of storage, but with no expandable memory and the positioning of the slate as a laptop replacement a version with even more storage would be great to see.
If Apple could up the top size to 512GB – ideally without upping the price – then there’d be plenty of room for all our apps, games and media.
4. Better front-facing camera
The front-facing camera is arguably the most important aspect of a tablet, as it can be used for video calls, so we’d like to see some improvements here and certainly hope the Pro 2 in all sizes at least gets a 5MP front-facing camera like the iPad Pro 9.7, rather than the 1.2MP snapper of the iPad Pro 12.9.
But ideally Apple will go further and equip the slate with a truly great front-facing camera, so we can make the most of video calling, as well as shooting selfies while lazing on the sofa.
5. Lighter build
The iPad Pro is heavy, especially in its larger 12.9-inch size. Right now there’s no obvious way to tackle that if you want a big tablet, but we’d like to see Apple shave off a little of the weight for the second generation. Whether that’s possible for Apple though is a different story.
Update: It seems rumors of the Apple Siri Speaker aren't going anywhere anytime soon. More reports have emerged of Apple employees testing out the smart speaker in their own homes, suggesting Apple is pretty serious about its smart speaker ambitions.
Original article continues below…
After first appearing on phones, voice assistants entered the home in a big way with the Amazon Echo, a speaker that was equipped with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.
While Apple has had a voice assistant, Siri, on its phones for some time now, it has so far been left behind when it comes to smart speakers. Competitor Google brought its own voice assistant to dedicated hardware with the Google Home speaker last year.
Rumors have been circulating for a while now that both Microsoft and Apple are planning on bringing their voice assistants, Cortana and Siri respectively, to the home in the form of smart speakers.
So, read on for all the information we have so far about Apple’s rumored smart speaker.
Cut to the chase
What is it? A rumored smart speaker equipped with Apple’s Siri voice assistant
When is it out? TBA – Apple is yet to confirm that it actually exists
What will it cost? Competitors range in price from $50 to $180 – Apple’s will likely be priced towards the high end of this range
Apple Siri Speaker release date
The most recent rumor points towards a launch in the second half of this year, in time for the Christmas shopping season, after an announcement at Apple’s annual developer showcase, WWDC, which this year takes place in June.
However we’re slightly skeptical of this rumor for a couple of reasons.
First is the fact that WWDC is traditionally a conference where Apple talks about software rather than hardware, so talking about a new piece of smart speaker hardware would be highly unusual.
Secondly we’re skeptical that the speaker would be announced as early as WWDC, only to be released much later in the second half of the year, as Apple likes to release hardware as soon as possible after it’s announced; each year the iPhone is released just 10 days after its initial announcement, for example.
There have been exceptions to this rule such as the AirPods, which released around three months after they were originally announced, but for the most part Apple maintains a fast turnaround between announcement and release.
Unfortunately this doesn’t leave us with much of an idea about when the smart speaker might be coming, but after hearing that Apple employees are already testing prototypes in their own homes, we’re guessing it’s not far away.
Speculation is increasing that the speaker will indeed be shown off at WWDC though, complete with a touch panel, so perhaps Apple will spring a surprise.
What will it be called?
Seven years ago, if you'd asked us what Apple would call this product we would have been certain that it would have called it the 'iSpeaker'. After all, back then the company had recently released the iPad, and prior to that it had brought out the iPhone, iPod, iTunes and iMac.
But nowadays the company's naming scheme has shifted towards using the word 'Apple' rather than the 'i' prefix, pointing towards the new device being called the 'Apple Speaker'.
Even a tertiary initiative like the iTunes festival has been renamed to the Apple Music festival to reflect the new naming structure.
Given this change at Apple, we think it's much more likely that the speaker will be called the 'Apple Speaker'.
Apple Siri Speaker features
If you want to get an idea of what an Apple Speaker would be capable of, then Siri on your iPhone is a good place to start.
Currently Siri is able to sync up with a number of the iPhone’s core features. It can add reminders to the reminders app, create events in the calendar app, set alarms and timers, call and video "Facetime" call contacts, and find and read emails.
Siri is also heavily integrated into Apple HomeKit, which is the company’s home automation ecosystem, that allows you to control all of your connected devices from a single app. Using HomeKit you can have Siri turn on your lights, increase your home’s thermostat, or even activate a ceiling fan.
However, Siri has some significant problems compared to competing voice services.
For example, it heavily prioritises Apple’s own apps rather than allowing you to use alternatives. Ask Siri to play some music, and it will only be able to play songs that are located in your Apple Music app.
This is in contrast to both Alexa and Google Assistant, which both allow you to use a music app of your choice, rather than restricting you to Amazon Prime Music and Google Play music respectively.
Amazon has been especially open with allowing developers to integrate their services into its smart speakers. It allows the creation of ‘Skills’ which essentially act as apps for the smart speaker, and so far there have been over 10,000 of them created for the speaker.
On a basic intelligence level, Siri also has a number of problems. Ask it when the Mona Lisa was painted (the year 1503, art buffs), and the voice assistant will happily tell you that ‘the answer is one thousand, five hundred and three,’ rather than being intelligent enough to realise that the year should be read aloud as ‘fifteen oh-three’.
Of course there’s always the chance that Apple will put significant effort into improving Siri before the technology finds its way into a smart speaker. Google did a similar thing when it overhauled Google Now, creating Google Assistant, in the months before the Google Home was released.
Meanwhile, recent comments by Apple VP Phil Schiller suggest Apple is thinking along the lines of a Siri speaker with an integrated screen – so basically just a big iPad with better audio, then?
Facial recognition
Previously, smart speakers focussed entirely on the voice, and recognising the commands that are spoken by the user.
However, there are some rumors that Apple’s rumored smart speaker might feature facial recognition via a built-in camera.
The technology could be used to recognise which users are interacting with the device, allowing it to cater to their individual preferences in music or lighting.
Over the past two years Apple has acquired the facial recognition startups Faceshift and Emotient, which suggests that such technology is something that the company is exploring.
Apple’s speaker would not be the first to feature a built-in camera. The recently announced Amazon Echo Look has a built in camera, which is used to recognise and recommend clothing choices.
Google Home recently added the ability to recognise users based on the sound of their voice, and we’d imagine that Apple would want to feature similar functionality if it wants to compete with the existing major players in the market.
Emotion sensing
Related to the facial recognition capability is a recent rumor that the smart speaker will be able to recognise user’s emotions.
We’re not entirely sure what this could end up adding to the overall user experience, but it’s funny to think that the speaker could theoretically play different music depending on how it reads your mood.
Beats technology
Another recent rumor points towards the device making use of ‘some form of Beats technology’, although it’s unclear exactly what this could be.
Apple needs to improve Siri’s ability to recognise our voice, since we’ve found that its current implementation on phones can be a little flaky. Could a Beats-built microphone fit the bill?
The big development with Beats headphones over the last year has been the introduction of Apple's new W1 bluetooth chip, which makes it a lot easier to pair the headphones to an iPhone, and also improves battery life.
Obviously that latter point isn't as important for a speaker that's likely to be mains, rather than battery, powered, but it would be a great feature if the speaker could be easily paired to your phone by simply holding it close by. Could this perhaps be another way of identifying the user – by proximity to the W1 chip?
Apple Siri Speaker AirPlay
The Amazon Echo Dot has a 3.5mm audio jack output that allows it to plug into a stereo, and Google Home integrates with the Chromecast.
Allegedly Apple’s Siri speaker will offer similar functionality thanks to an integration with Apple’s AirPlay technology, which allows users to stream video and audio from their phone to a television or stereo respectively.
A new challenger has entered the arena
Smart speakers are one of the most unexpected and cool technologies to have come out over the past couple of years, and interesting to see each of the technology giants repurposing their existing voice assistants to work in a home context.
Apple isn't the only one with such a device on the horizon. Microsoft appears to be readying a home speaker equipped with its Cortana voice assistant, and between that and Google's existing smart speaker efforts, the market is set to get crowded very quickly.
Apple has a real chance of standing out when it comes to its home automation efforts thanks to HomeKit, but it's not as strong when it comes to integrating with non-Apple services such as Spotify.
Apple's next major conference is set to be WWDC in June, but as previously mentioned, we would be surprised to see a hardware reveal come out of the software-focussed show.
Then again when it comes to Apple anything is possible, so keep your eyes trained on the McEnery Convention Centre in San Jose from 5-9 June for any new information about Apple's voice controlled ambitions.
Kodi is a term you’ve probably heard discussed a lot in the context of TV and movie streaming, but you may not be sure exactly what it means. Don’t worry though – you’re far from alone, and we’re here to help you get your head around the open source streaming software.
Essentially, Kodi is a platform for accessing all of your digital audio and visual content in a single, convenient place, and in its vanilla form is a foundation for more accessible personal media. However, its reputation has been tarnished by illegal activity, with the software able to be easily manipulated to grant users access to content of questionable origin.
It’s not all scandal and playing fast and loose with the law, though. Kodi is a complex mix of the good, the bad, the ugly and the illegal, a piece of software that can adopt many forms and fulfil many uses, some wholesome, some less so.
So if you’re struggling to get your head around Kodi, here’s what you need to know about the software that everyone can’t stop talking about – even if they themselves aren’t fully up to speed on its form and functions…
What is Kodi?
Simply, Kodi in its true form is free, open source software that can be used as a centralized media centre, letting you store all of your digital content in a single location and access it from virtually any device you like.
Things aren’t quite that straightforward though. Originally launched in 2002 as XBMP – or Xbox Media Player, in reference to its console roots – Kodi evolved to the better-known XBMC – Xbox Media Centre – in 2004 before eventually being rebranded and relaunched as Kodi in 2014.
It’s since branched out from its single device foundations, and can now act as a home streaming hub, connecting all of your devices on a single network, or over the internet. Bringing all of your content to one place, Kodi lets users store their movies and TV shows as well as their entire music collection and photo library.
Unlike some rival platforms, however, Kodi doesn’t offer any original content. There is no Kodi sales platform or app store. Instead, the software lets users collate their own content from a number of platforms and media formats including DVD, Blu-ray and remote hard drives.
While it can also double as a TV planner of sorts, letting you access digital EPGs and even record live TV shows directly for later viewing, and collating all your content into a single, easy to access and pleasingly laid-out form, it can also be enhanced by a number of plug-ins, bringing the likes of YouTube and Vimeo content to whatever screen you like.
It’s because of this extensive support network that Kodi is currently one of the most popular home-streaming services available for download. It’s also helps that it’s widely supported, with installs available for almost any device, including your TV, laptop, smartphone or tablet.
For those who want Kodi to be the centre of their home network, it can also be added to set-top boxes, and this is where some of the software’s issues by association have stemmed from. Some users with more questionable morals have been filling these devices with Kodi-hosted plug-ins that offer unlicensed access to all manner of copyright-protected content.
Is Kodi illegal?
While Kodi’s name is regularly dragged up in media reports on illegally-streamed content, Kodi software itself is not illegal to use.
However, the software can be utilized in such a way as to perform illegal activities, such as accessing live, copyright-protected sports broadcasts, or watching pirated copies of Hollywood films or the latest can’t-miss TV series without paying.
This is made possible by a number of downloadable add-ons and plug-ins, themselves enabled by the open nature of the Kodi platform. These nefarious uses have become a key draw for a number of law-flouting users, with Kodi becoming a prevalent tool for illegal activity.
Enabling and expanding these illicit applications, users and sellers are loading the software onto dedicated hardware devices known as ‘so-called Kodi boxes’. While Kodi doesn’t make any such hardware itself, these boxes have become readily available, although online retailers, including Amazon and eBay, have starting cracking down on their sale.
Such devices are illegal, and a number of arrests of individuals who were openly selling the doctored hardware have been made recently. As well as being pitched to private users, such devices have been increasingly sold to bars and clubs, granting their customers illegal access to live sports action.
But, as we’ve mentioned, despite being tweaked to enable some legally questionable uses Kodi is actually perfectly legal software – software that offers plenty of impressive features.
The good
Kodi isn’t just another media player, its versatility and open nature have made it a hugely popular platform.
The platform supports virtually all audio and video file formats, ensuring that all of your content, no matter how old or obscure, is accessible in a single location. Once you’ve configured your Kodi account to access the files you want, your files are automatically available on all your connected devices.
It’s not just content you own that can be accessed, either. Perfectly above-board Kodi plug-ins let you stream a range of free-to-access video content from the likes of YouTube, and Vevo. While all Kodi’s plug-ins are regularly all tarred with the same brush, this isn’t the case – they’re not all designed to enable illegal activity, promote torrent services and offer unpaid access to paywall-protected content.
As well as being convenient, Kodi is also a well-designed piece of software, with the platform pulling in a range of programme-specific bios and cover art around your content and enabling you to navigate your catalogue in an accessible, visual, tile-based format.
There’s another bonus to Kodi: the cost. The software itself is completely free to download and use, perfect for those tired of forking out significant sums for subscription-based streaming services they don’t make full use of.
The bad
All that said, the platform is being widely used to facilitate illegal activity, and as such the service has faced criticism from media regulators and legal content providers.
Kodi, however, has remained stubborn on the matter, insisting that it’s not about to change its user policies to thwart those seeking to download third-party plug-ins designed to facilitate illegal streams, dodgy downloads, and torrent services.
“Even though pirate streaming appears to be illegal in Europe, we still stand by our neutral policy,” Kodi’s community and project manager, Nathan Betzen, wrote in a recent blog post.
He added: “We are developers and not the police, and we have no interest in acting as police for our own software. Kodi will remain as free and as open as it always has. Feel free to continue using Kodi however you want.
“To us Kodi is and always will be just a tool, like a hammer, and how you choose to use that tool is up to you.
“We don't have any problem with users setting up their boxes however they want. We just want them to actually know what they are getting themselves into when doing so.”
While there is a difference between being directly involved in, or supporting, illegal activity, and turning a blind eye to it, Kodi’s approach continues to anger many, and will continue to do so until and unless it takes a harder line.
And the issue is likely to be brought into sharper focus moving forward, as stricter anti-piracy laws are introduced targeting those who utilize Kodi and similar services to access licensed content without paying.
What is being done to control illegal content on Kodi?
While Kodi maintains that the onus is on the user to do the right thing, lawmakers and some retailers have taken a firmer line.
At the start of May, European judges ruled that the use of multimedia players to stream pirated video content would be subject to the same tough laws that govern the downloading of illegal content.
Although Kodi devices weren’t mentioned by name, given their prominence it’s widely thought that their growing impact has been the driving force behind such legal moves.
In the UK meanwhile, the recently passed Digital Economy Act is designed to crack down on the use of ‘so-called Kodi boxes’ and other devices that have been modified to permit the illegal streaming of copyrighted content. New laws carry a maximum jail term of 10 years for those found guilty.
The act states: “A person…who infringes copyright in a work by communicating the work to the public commits an offence if [the person] knows or has reason to believe that [they are] infringing copyright in the work, and…knows or has reason to believe that communicating the work to the public will cause loss to the owner of the copyright, or will expose the owner of the copyright to a risk of loss.”
Lawmakers aren’t the only ones cracking down on Kodi. Tired of people accessing its content for free, the English Premier League has been granted permission to close down servers hosting illegal streams of soccer matches. Previously it had only been able to shut down individual streams, which could be moved to a new host within minutes.
Elsewhere, Amazon and eBay have blocked sales of ‘so-called Kodi boxes’ and similar devices, and Apple has blocked the native Kodi app from the App Store due to concerns over its use of third-party plug ins – so if users want to access Kodi on their iPhone or iPad they’ll need to jailbreak their device.
So while Kodi itself continues to do nothing wrong, the software remains highly controversial. And given the platform’s growing popularity, it’s unlikely that the controversy is going to go away any time soon.
KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a man with a better-than-average record at predicting which way Apple will go in the market, is confident that we'll see both the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the long-rumored Siri speaker unveiled at WWDC this June.
As 9to5Mac reports, Ming-Chi Kuo puts the chances of the iPad showing up at 70 percent, and the chances of Apple's Echo competitor appearing at 50 percent, so tailor your expectations accordingly. The claim does fit in with earlier rumors we've heard about both the tablet and the speaker.
WWDC, or the Worldwide Developers Conference, runs from June 5 to June 9 this year. The annual developer shindig is traditionally used to show off advancements in macOS, iOS, tvOS and watchOS, but the event has also been used to debut hardware before.
Talk to the touch panel
The revamped 10.5-inch iPad Pro, technically the third model in the series but effectively the iPad Pro 2, is said to be ditching the bezels down the side in order to cram a larger display into a chassis that's just about the same size as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro that got launched in March 2016.
Meanwhile Ming-Chi Kuo says the Siri speaker features a touch panel of some kind, though it's not certain whether that means an actual display (which would make more sense) or just an input panel. Amazon has recently been getting itself ready for increased competition in the market with the launch of the Amazon Echo Show.
The analyst also says Siri will get extra AI capabilities for managing your smart home at WWDC this year – so the new software and hardware could mark a fresh push into the smart home space from Apple. It sounds like the 2017 Apple developer conference is not to be missed this year, and we'll of course bring you all the news as it happens.
We like to think EaseUS took its name from the sound of somebody realising they didn’t have a backup as their hard disk fails. “EaseUS! The computer’s borked!” We’re probably wrong.
What EaseUS Todo Backup Free does is make backing up important files as simple as possible. You can use it to backup to external drives or to make a clone of your hard disk so you can migrate to an SSD (and if you haven’t done that, here’s a word to describe it: wheeeeeeeeeee!).
It works with Windows versions from XP to Windows 10 and it’s multi-lingual too.
Why you need it
Things fall apart, the center cannot hold and mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. In other words, stuff breaks – and if that stuff has your irreplaceable collection of family photographs, Minecraft parodies or Miley Cyrus memes, you might not be able to get your data back.
By taking regular backups you can be confident that if disaster strikes, you won’t lose your data. EaseUS Todo Backup may not have the fancy-dan features of its paid-for rivals, but then it doesn’t have a price tag either. All you need to provide is a little bit of your time.
With businesses and organizations across the globe reeling from a major ransomware attack – including the NHS in the UK – Microsoft has taken the unusual step of releasing a security patch for Windows XP, some three years after support for the antiquated OS was officially stopped.
The WannaCry ransomware is currently causing a headache for IT managers at Renault in France, the NHS in the UK, Telefónica in Spain, and dozens of other companies. It works by exploiting an unpatched bug in Windows XP, the 16-year-old operating system which is still limping along in many a corporate office.
Microsoft stopped issuing global patches for XP in April 2014, though it does still provide essentially security updates for the OS to companies who stump up extra cash for the privilege. The WannaCry attack is so serious, though, Microsoft has decided to take action.
Your money or your files
"We are taking the highly unusual step of providing a security update for all customers to protect Windows platforms that are in custom support only, including Windows XP, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2003," says Microsoft. "Customers running Windows 10 were not targeted by the attack today."
Meanwhile the spread of WannaCry has been slowed down somewhat after a security researcher registered one of the domain names mentioned in the program's code, the Guardian reports. The ransomware apparently doesn't spread itself if the domain is active, which it now is – it looks like a hidden 'kill switch' added by the developer.
WannaCry is the latest in a long, long line of lessons to keep your software updated and patched up. The security block for this ransomware was pushed out by Microsoft back in March, but won't have reached OSes that are no longer supported – like Windows XP.