A developer running the beta of iOS 9 has found a hidden, larger keyboard layout in the system, according to theverge.com. The scaled up keyboard isn’t a dramatic departure from the present one, but does add a narrow top row of symbols keys, adds a redo key, a tab key, and a caps lock key. A widely rumored 12 inch plus iPad dubbed the ‘Pro’ is expected out later this year.
Engadget.com reports that Google has killed off the widely disliked bookmark manager, and reverted to the previous version. The cluttered, slower version can still be downloaded as an extension from the Chrome Web Store for those who really want it.
A security researcher was able to hack a page on Uber’s website, with a humorous result. Businessinsider.com says Uber’s micro-site on their website with a petition to get San Francisco to allow them to operate on Market Street had the flaw. The hacker was able to just key in ‘zipcode,’ instead of numbers. Being a security researcher, he didn’t dump malware code or steal information…he uploaded an ad for arch rival Lyft to Uber’s site!
We could get a look at the next generation iPhones in August, and they will launch in September, according to usually reliable KGI Securities. According to macrumors.com, the bulk of the next generation Apple phones will be built by Foxconn…around 60-70% of them. In addition, the report from KGI says Foxconn will build the widely rumored 12.9 inch ‘iPad Pro.’ As previously reported, the next-gen iPhones are likely to have Force Touch, a faster A9 processor, 2 gigs of RAM, a 12 megapixel camera, and offer a Rose Gold color choice.
A number of intelligence agencies planned to hack Android phones by compromising app stores. 9to5google.com says in new Ed Snowden documents released to CBC news, spies from the US, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand planned to hack the Google and Samsung app stores back in 2012. The scheme was to plant spyware that would let them extract data from targeted phones, or even take control of them. They succeeded in exploiting UC Browser, a popular Android browser used in China, India, and other emerging markets. This may be one of the big reasons Google was among tech companies that asked President Obama to reject calls for government access to encrypted data.
It’s rumored to be out in 2016, and appleinsider.com reports that the so-called iPad Pro will feature a silver nanowire touch panel for its 12.9 inch screen. Apple has reportedly requested material samples from at least 3 different display makers. Silver nanowire panels are more flexible, and could better sense fingertip pressure, bringing Apple Watch style Force Touch tech to the iPad. The Pro model will also have NFC, making it useful as a receiving terminal for Apple Pay.
The C.H.I.P computer project intends to make a super cheap pocket sized computer reality. Next Thing Co. is talking ACTUAL cheap….like $9 cheap! Bgr.com says they planned to raise 50 grand on Kickstarter, but raked in over $664,000. The Raspberry Pi is a computer on a small, hand-sized board, and was a game changer at $35. Imagine something half the size at 9 bucks! C.H.I.P has a 1 gig CPU, 512K of RAM, 4 gigs of storage, and runs Linux.
Leaked schematics of Samsung’s Galaxy S6 show that their next flagship smartphone with include support for Samsung’s Gear VR virtual reality headset, and the phone’s speaker moves to the bottom. Bgr.com reports that the handset should be slightly bigger but slimmer than the S5.
More information is out about the upcoming iPad Pro. Macrumors.com says a French site has spotted a photo of a case. It has cutouts at the bottom that indicate the tablet will have the rumored stereo speakers, and a screen between 12.2 and 12.9 inches.
Last fall, we reported that Google was working on magnetic nanoparticles that would seek out cancer cells in the bloodstream and report back to a smart wristband. Now theverge.com reports that the advanced Google X division also using synthetic skin to develop the technology, which allows them to do the research without doing it on actual people.
clarkreid 
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