Technology

The iPhone 7 coming soon July 30, 2016 update:  It doesn't take a huge leap of faith to predict that Apple will introduce the next iPhone during the first few weeks of September. But new information leaked by a reliable, veteran source is pointing to a specific date. Evan has thrown his hat into the ring. In a series of tweets, he first suggested that pre-orders would begin on September 9, then reported that the iPhone 7 would be released the week of September 12, and then further refined that prediction, identifying a specific day: Friday, September 16. Given what we know about past timelines, this would likely place the date of an Apple announcement on the preceding Tuesday or Wednesday (the 5th or 6th), followed by pre-orders beginning on Friday the 9th, the launch of iOS 10 on the 15th, and culminating with the iPhone 7 hitting stores on the 16th. A leaked photo purportedly showing a Lighting to 3.5mm adapter for the iPhone 7. Also, in the wake of rumors that...

Microsoft is updating Windows 10 again, in its latest bid to win you back The company is following through on its commitment to regularly refine its Windows 10 software. Now it needs to get you to care. A new update to Microsoft's Windows 10 is coming, but you're forgiven if you didn't know. It turns out not many people are going to tell you. Admittedly, there's not much to talk about. The list of refinements for Microsoft's free paper-anniversary update to Win 10  can fit on a small sheet with less than a dozen bullet points . The changes boil down to features like making the digital pen more useful, new technology to detect hacking attacks and the ability to log into a computer with a wearable device instead of a password. The company's Cortana voice-activated assistant  will gain new features too , each of which was designed to bring the technology closer to, as Microsoft spokeswoman Laura Jones put it, "the same features of a real-life personal...

Windows 10 Anniversary Update  Preview – What's new? All you need  to know Windows 10  is about to get its super-sized Anniversary Update soon, but what's going  to be new? Here's everything you need to know, including the Windows 10 Anniversary  Update release date, all the latest news, and instructions for how to download it today. WINDOWS 10 ANNIVERSARY UPDATE RELEASE DATE Microsoft recently confirmed that the final build of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update would  be launched on August 2, 2016. Not long to go now, then – we're expecting current build 14393 to be signed off as RTM  (release-to-manufacturing) any moment, which means that the software is ready for  Microsoft's hardware partners to start integrating it into their laptops, desktops and tablets. Note that while August 2 will see the Anniversary Update officially enter t...

Mechanical keyboard for the iPad Pro Because the post-PC world is going to need good keyboards too  whole new ultra-low-profile mechanical switch, designed for and making its debut in the company's first mechanical keyboard case for the iPad Pro. The gaming peripherals champion is clearly taking the idea of the iPad Pro as a PC replacement seriously, and so it's making sure its products are ready for the next generation of ubiquitous devices. Needless to say, this is the first mechanical keyboard created especially for the iPad, and it's to Razer's engineering credit that the company has managed to shrink the requisite components down to a size where it can serve as a reasonably thick cover case as well. In classic Razer fashion, the new Mechanical Keyboard Case for the Apple iPad Pro (to give it its full, capitalized title) is an all-matte-black affair, with a detachable polycarbonate case wrapping around your 12.9-inch iPad and a metal kickstand suppo...

Microsoft's new Authenticator app lets you approve logins from an Apple Watch Microsoft is overhauling its authenticator apps for Android and iOS next month, with new features and a refreshed user interface. While Microsoft has long supported two-factor authentication for multiple services on Android, the iOS app has always been restricted to Microsoft Azure. That's changing on August 15th, and the new apps for both iOS and Android will support two-factor codes from a variety of services. IT'S EVEN QUICKER THAN GOOGLE'S NEW TAP TO AUTHENTICATE FEATURE If you're a Microsoft Account user (Outlook.com or Hotmail etc.) then you'll even be able to approve a request from a notification on your phone. This will also work for notifications on an Apple Watch or a Samsung Gear device. Google just started making its own two-factor authentication a lot easier to use thanks to a  tap to approve feature in its Google app for Android and iOS . Microsoft...

HUAWEI P9 LONG-TERM REVIEW: THE CAMERA’S  STILL GREAT BUT THE PHONE HAS BEGUN TO  SLOW DOWN Three months on since the Huawei P9 launched, I’ve been using the handset as my main phone day in and day out. It’s meant I’ve gotten a real feel for the good and bad parts of Huawei’s current flagship smartphone. The camera is still the best part of the package, even if Huawei has been caught being rather misleading in just how good it is. I’ve taken photos that have rivalled the best handsets out there. I haven’t used the monochrome-only mode as often once the novelty wore off, but the added contrast and punch is certainly still welcome. I’ve also rarely ever had the patience to use the Pro shooting modes, but the regular Auto setting has served me well enough. While the P9 survived Alastair’s initial drop test, it didn’t fare quite so favourably for me when dropped onto the hard tile surface of a swimming pool changing room. A chip across the chamfered bottom corner no...