Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Deal Alert: $100 off the premium Acer Chromebook Spin 713


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Virginia Releases COVID-19 Exposure App Based on Apple and Google API

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Virginia this week became the first U.S. state to release a COVID-19 exposure notification app using Apple's and Google's jointly developed API, as noted by Kyle Carmitchel on Twitter. The app is available now on the App Store.


The COVIDWISE app allows you to be notified if someone you have been near later tests positive for COVID-19, so long as that other person confirms their positive test in the app. The system relies on the exchange of anonymous Bluetooth tokens between devices, with no location data or personal information collected or shared.

iPhone users must be running iOS 13.5 or later in order for exposure notification apps using the Apple/Google API to function, and the opt-in feature must be enabled first in the Settings app. Users who have upgraded to iOS 14 should note that exposure notification apps are only functional as of the fourth developer beta.

A growing list of countries have released apps based on the Apple/Google API, most recently including Canada's COVID Alert.


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Microsoft's xCloud Unavailable on iOS at Launch, Future Uncertain

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Microsoft's upcoming "Project xCloud" game streaming service is set to launch on September 15th, exclusively on Android devices. Despite extensive testing via TestFlight on iOS, xCloud's launch on iOS seems to have been postponed indefinitely.



Project xCloud is Microsoft's "vision for game-streaming technology that will complement our console hardware and give gamers more choices in how and where they play." xCloud will be bundled as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month, with more than 100 games available.

App Store guidelines ban services that rely on streaming games from the cloud. Cloud gaming services, where users stream games live via an internet connection, are growing in popularity.

Although Microsoft has been trialing xCloud on iOS with a closed public preview of 10,000 testers, the company previously stated that testing was limited due to Apple's ‌App Store‌ policies. Unlike the Android version, the app was limited to streaming games from the cloud only, excluding the ability to stream games from an Xbox console.

"To comply with ‌App Store‌ policies, the preview experience on iOS may look and feel different for those who have been testing on Android," Microsoft warned ahead of launching the preview.


Only one title, "Halo: The Master Chief Collection," was available on the TestFlight app. This is because ‌App Store‌ rules state that "games offered in a game subscription must be owned or exclusively licensed by the developer."

"It's our ambition to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available on all devices, but we have nothing further to share at this time regarding iOS," a Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge.


Apple initially rejected Valve's Steam Link app due to "business conflicts," and it took almost a year to eventually be approved. Steam Link and Sony's PS4 Remote Play was approved only because the ‌App Store‌ allows remote desktop technology, but it is limited to devices on the same network.

Similar game streaming services Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now are still unavailable on iOS. A spokesperson for Nvidia, when asked about the challenge of reaching iOS users with GeForce Now, told Bloomberg, "Ask Apple."

The TestFlight preview of xCloud has ended today and will no longer function. This is due to Apple's automatic expiry date on all TestFlight apps, indicating that it has been 90 days since the preview was updated. The future of xCloud on iOS now seems to be uncertain, and it is unknown whether development will continue.
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Realme 6 Pro Lightning Red Color Variant Launched in India, Available from Tonight During Flipkart Sale


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What you need to know about Google’s Nearby Share for Android and Chromebooks


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Deals: MacBook Pro and Air Sales Hit at Multiple Retailers, Save Up to $300 on Latest Models

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There are a few Mac notebook sales happening this week at Amazon and B&H Photo. These discounts include $100 off the 2020 MacBook Air, with sale prices starting at $899.00 for the 256GB model. You can also get $300 off the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, starting at $2,099.00 for 512GB.

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MacBook Air


Amazon today is discounting Apple's 2020 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 10th gen processor) to $899.00, down from $999.00. This discount represents a match of the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model of the new 13-inch MacBook Air, and it's available in Space Gray.

B&H Photo today is matching this price in the Space Gray and Gold color options for the MacBook Air. The 256GB MacBook Air has typically seen a $50 sale over the past few weeks, so today's $100 markdown is a good opportunity to get the notebook at its current best price.

$100 OFF
2020 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.00


Additionally, this week both Amazon and B&H Photo are discounting the 512GB 2020 MacBook Air to $1,199.00, from $1,299.00. Across both retailers you can get this version of the notebook in all three colors, and this again represents the lowest price we've ever tracked.

$100 OFF
2020 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,199.00


13-Inch MacBook Pro


The newest 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,799.00, down from $1,999.00 on Amazon this week. This is the model with a tenth-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Amazon has it on sale in both Space Gray and Silver.

$200 OFF
13-inch MacBook Pro for $1,799.00


The same sale can also be found on B&H Photo, and that retailer also has it in both Space Gray and Silver. This model of the MacBook Pro has the new Magic Keyboard, which uses a refined scissor mechanism that is expected to be more reliable than the butterfly keyboard that was prone to failure.


16-Inch MacBook Pro


For the higher-end MacBook Pro models, Amazon has Apple's 512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro (2.6GHz 6-Core, 16GB RAM) for $2,099.00, down from $2,399.00.

This $300 off sale is the current lowest price for this model of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it's available in Silver and Space Gray. You can also find the same sale at B&H Photo, but only in the Space Gray color option.

$300 OFF
16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $2,099.00


Likewise, the 1TB model (2.3GHz 8-Core, 16GB RAM) is on sale on Amazon today. You can get this notebook for $2,499.99, down from $2,799.00. Just like the 512GB version, it's available in both Silver and Space Gray, and the same price can be found on B&H Photo.

$300 OFF
16-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) for $2,499.99


You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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Alleged 'iPhone 12' Images Depict Circular Array of Magnets in Chassis

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New images shared on Weibo appear to show a circular array of magnets housed inside an "iPhone 12" chassis. The unverified images depict 36 individual magnets in a circular arrangement, suggesting they could be related to mounting or charging.


EverythingApplePro, who shared the Weibo-originating images on Twitter, also posted an image of an alleged iPhone 12 case with a similar array of magnets built in, which he suggests are "likely for perfect alignment with Apple's wireless chargers."

Apple hasn't released any native wireless chargers for iPhone. The company canceled its much-anticipated AirPower charging mat last year due to quality concerns. Rumors persist that it continues to work on an AirPower-like charging mat, although faked images have been shared in support of this.


Back in January, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Apple to release a small wireless charging mat in the first half of the year, but no such product materialized in that timeframe.

For months ahead of their unveiling, last year's iPhone 11 series was rumored to feature a Qi-based device-to-device charging feature, allowing for an Apple Watch, AirPods, and other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhones. The feature was expected to be similar to Wireless PowerShare on Samsung's Galaxy S10.


According to one leaker, the ‌iPhone 11‌ series includes the necessary hardware for a two-way charging feature that was widely rumored for the devices, but Apple disabled the feature on the software end. According to Kuo, the feature was abandoned because the charging efficiency did not meet Apple's requirements.


We're expecting Apple to launch four iPhones in three display sizes this year, and a recent rumor has suggested Apple could release the devices in two stages.
Related Roundup: iPhone 12

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