Allstate’s SquareTrade buys phone repair service iCracked
Allstate may be looking to diversify its service a little. The company announced that SquareTrade, a company Allstate owns, is buying iCracked, a popular phone repair service that currently operates in more than 60 cities around the U.S. and Canada. It's unknown how much SquareTrade spent.
9 million veterans can now access their health records on an iPhone
Apple announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that allows as many as 9 million veterans to access their health records straight on their iPhone. The announcement could have a significant impact on veterans' health, allowing them to take better control of their medical needs.
Nomad’s metal Apple Watch straps are strong and classy but come at a price
Nomad is known for building high-quality, premium Apple Watch straps, and now the company is back with its first metal Apple Watch bands. The new Nomad Titanium bands are classy and strong, but they come at a price. They're available in silver or black, and available for both Apple Watch sizes.
Here’s how to disable FaceTime on your Apple iPhone and Mac
FaceTime is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, but many don't need it, or simply don't want it. Thankfully, it's very easy to disable FaceTime, both on your iPhone or iPad, and on your Mac. Here's how to disable FaceTime for yourself, no matter which device you're using it on.
Your emoji game is getting a big upgrade with 230 new additions this year
There are thousands of emojis, but they could still be a whole lot more inclusive to a wider range of people. The Unicode Consortium has approved a list of 230 new emojis, which are set to roll out to users in the second half of this year. Emojis include different kinds of couples, foods, and more.
Apple patent suggests it will allow for more than two Face ID registrations
According to a new patent, Apple is working on a way to allow for multiple Face ID registrations and it could eventually open up a way for multiple users on one iPhone or iPad. Currently, users can register up to two faces, and they can be two different people, or different versions of the same face.
Apple patent hints at flexible display that hides speakers, buttons, and more
Apple is working on a new flexible display tech that could be used to hide speakers, buttons, and more -- while still changing shape to accommodate for those features when it needs to. The display could, for example, act as a membrane for a speaker, or allow you to press down on it like a button.
The Samsung Galaxy M series is the first with an Infinity-V display
Samsung is finally releasing phones with its new Infinity-V display. The company has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 smartphones, which boast edge-to-edge displays with an Infinity-V cutout, plus decent specs at a very affordable price. The phones are only available in India.
American consumers think Apple is leading the way in 5G — but it’s not
While the likes of Samsung and Huawei are expected to unveil 5G smartphones this year, Apple will most likely lag behind and finally launch a 5G iPhone in 2020. Despite that, most American consumers seem to think that Apple is a leader in the world of 5G, according to a recent survey.
Alphabet’s Verily is reportedly working on shoes that can track your weight
Fitness tracking is getting increasingly important, but while the likes of Apple are working on fitness-tracking watches, Alphabet's Verily is instead turning to shoes. According to a recent report, Verily is working on shoes that can track your weight and offer things like fall detection.
Apple patent hints at Force Touch volume rocker on a future iPhone
Apple is continuing its war on physical buttons, and has filed a patent for a volume rocker that uses Apple's Force Touch tech. The patent specifically relates to touch- and force-sensitive rocker switches, and could end up being used on either the iPhone or the Apple Watch at some point in the future.
Viber is finally getting group calling, along with a slick new design
Viber has announced Viber 10, a radical redesign of the Viber app that puts an emphasis on easy navigation and access to things like Viber Communicates, chatbots, and so on. On top of that, the app is getting group calls. The new design will roll out to Viber users over the next few days.
The Alcatel Onyx smartphone has a dual-sensor camera and costs just $120
Alcatel has a history of delivering good smartphones at a reasonable price, and the company is at it again with its latest offering. Alcatel has announced the new Alcatel Onyx, which boasts features like a 1.5Ghz processor, 2GB of RAM, a dual-sensor camera, and more -- and all for only $120.
Apple patent shows contact info could be displayed on the iOS Home screen
Apple filed a patent for a new way to show information on the iOS Home screen. The patent details being able to add a link to a contact card from the Home screen, allowing users to quickly and easily open up a contact's information. The information could be displayed intelligently, too.
Google will begin shutting down the classic Hangouts app in October
Google has confirmed that it will finally begin retiring the classic Google Hangouts app in October of this year. The company will start by pushing users to move to the new Google Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet -- and once they have moved over, they won't be able to use classic Hangouts anymore.
Google is buying mysterious smartwatch tech from The Fossil Group for $40 million
Google is about to step up its smartwatch game. The company has agreed to buy an unnamed smartwatch technology from The Fossil Group for a hefty $40 million. Considering the acquisition, it's clear Google is serious about smartwatches -- and could release its own smartwatch by the end of the year.
It’s back! Here’s how to switch to Twitter’s reverse chronological feed
Twitter has finally brought back the reverse chronological feed, allowing you to see your feed based on the newest tweets, rather than using Twitter's algorithm that shows what it thinks you want to see. Thankfully, it's easy to switch to the reverse chronological feed on Android and iOS. Here's how.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs. Huawei Mate 10 Pro: How much better is the new flagship?
Huawei has finally taken the wraps off the new Huawei Mate 20 Pro, the company's latest and greatest smartphone. The device boasts upgraded processing, an improved display, and more. But last year's Mate 10 Pro was also a hit. Is the new Mate 20 Pro really that much better than its predecessor? We compare them.
