Apple has launched a new version of its hugely popular wireless earbuds, the AirPods, with long-anticipated wireless charging and longer battery life. The second-generation AirPods look identical to the previous version, complete with a white stalk that looks like a set of earphones with the cables cut off. But now the earbuds last longer when used for phone calls between charges and support hands-free access to Apple’s Siri voice assistant. The updated AirPods contain the new H1 chip, which is designed to ensure a stable connection to the smartphone, says Apple, something that still proves difficult for many manufacturers of truly wireless earbuds. Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, said the new Airpods offered “an extra hour of talk-time, faster connections, hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ and the convenience of a new wireless battery case”. The latest Apple AirPods are on sale for £199 ($199) with a wireless charging … [Read more...] about Apple launches second generation AirPods with wireless charging
Heyday qi wireless charging pad
MPs seek to address shady sanitary pads tendering
By SAMWEL OWINO More by this Author By DAVID MUCHUNGUH More by this Author More than three million schoolgirls have gone without their supply of sanitary towels for the past year despite the government allocating Sh420 million, as the Ministry of Education and county parliamentary women representatives battle for control of the funds.Supply of the pads has also caused a Principal Secretary to be probed by the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over ownership of a construction company awarded a tender to supply and distribute the towels to public primary schools, special primary and secondary schools, despite five other companies quoting better prices. The matter was raised by Mavoko MP Patrick Makau who said he googled about the two companies and found the similarities.“How come two companies — Konyipad and Belion Construction — share the same address and box number?” Mr Makau asked.These details come in the wake of news that … [Read more...] about MPs seek to address shady sanitary pads tendering
AirPods Pro review: a touch of Apple magic
Apple’s true wireless earbuds have gone “pro” and in doing so deliver on the promise of the 2017 originals. The new AirPods Pro are worth the wait. Apple managed two pieces of magic in 2017 with the original £159 AirPods. They just worked without the skips, blips or audio delay, and came in a tiny battery case that kept them charged and safe – a combination that competitors still find hard to match. But they had one big problem: no isolation from the outside world. It meant that in any noisy environment you struggled to hear your music. Three years later, the £249 AirPods Pro and their silicone earbud tips fix that fundamental problem, adding active noise cancelling for good measure. The look, feel and operation of the AirPods Pro will be familiar to anyone who has seen or used the original AirPods. Small white earbuds replete with stalks and a small flip-top white case into which they snap to store and charge. The stalks are a little smaller and have … [Read more...] about AirPods Pro review: a touch of Apple magic
Apple iPhone SE 2: Five things that can make Apple’s new compact phone a great deal
Apple took a leap of faith with iPhone 6 by increasing the screen size to 4.7-inch from 4-inch on the predecessor iPhone 5S. With another iPhone 6S Plus, Apple catered to large-screen fans with a 5.5-inch screen. Since then, the company’s newer models would have larger screens, including the 5.8-inch (edge-to-edge) on iPhone X. However, the iPhone SE continues to be an exception. Launched in 2016, the smartphone is still selling and is one of the cheapest iPhone models in the market right now.With Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC just around the corner, there’s a lot of buzz around the company’s new announcements. Based on the spate of leaks and rumours, it looks like Apple is going to launch a successor to the iPhone SE. The newer model, conveniently dubbed as iPhone SE 2, is expected to come with improved specifications, reliving the philosophy of packing iPhone 8-like features in a much more compact model.Unlike 2016, … [Read more...] about Apple iPhone SE 2: Five things that can make Apple’s new compact phone a great deal
iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, 2 months later: The ultrawide camera is still our favorite thing
Here's which one we think you should buy. Patrick Holland December 8, 2019 5:00 AM PST In a season filled with new phone releases like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and the Google Pixel 4, the new iPhone 11, 11 Pro and Pro Max impressed me early on. Apple packed its latest phones with a new ultrawide-angle camera, an A13 processor, Night Mode for photos, iOS 13 and one of the best all-around camera systems found on any phone today. Plus, the two Pro models have improved battery life. Over the past two months, I used the iPhone 11 as my daily driver and the 11 Pro as my work phone. During that time, CNET has also done in-depth tests dropping the phones, submerging them underwater and comparing their cameras with other phones. Here are my thoughts on both these phones over the course of my usage. iOS 13: From buggy to stableWhen I first got the phones, the software felt rough. The camera app on the iPhone 11 Pro frequently froze and crashed. Screens … [Read more...] about iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, 2 months later: The ultrawide camera is still our favorite thing