Why I'll be Buying a New iPhone 7

Some say, the iPhone 7 will be a yawner. What’s forgotten is that our appetite for new (useful) toys and being state-of-the art always outweighs the cynicism of skeptics and critics. John’s going to have a new iPhone 7, and states why you should think seriously about one too. Ignore the voices that seek control.

Apple Patent Blocks Smartphone Recording, and it's Creepy

Musicians and other live performers could have a new way to stop attendees from using their smartphones to record video, photos, and audio at events thanks to a new patent from Apple. The iPhone and iPad maker was awarded a patent this week for a system that remotely disables recording with infrared signals. The system could be used in other ways, too, like blocking recording in secure facilities, or by governments to prevent free speech.

Apple Hit with $13B Lawsuit for Stealing the iPhone Concept

Thomas Ross says he invented and patented the idea of the iPhone in the early 1990s, so he’s suing to the tune of US$13 billion Apple for stealing his intellectual property. Never mind the fact that his patent was declared abandoned in 1995, he didn’t go after Apple when the MessagePad was a thing, and he isn’t suing other smartphone makers.

Game Foul: Ford Dealership Steals Firewatch Art

No matter how hard our kindergarten teachers tried, some people never really wrapped their heads around the idea that stealing is bad. Take, for instance, the Quirk Ford dealership in Massachusetts and the Firewatch artwork it stole for a promotional event.

Apple gets its Rainbow on for SF Pride Parade

Apple helped celebrate the LGBTQ community over the weekend by marching in San Fransisco’s annual Pride parade. Company CEO Tim Cook’s photo on Twitter shows what looks like hundreds of Apple employees marching and waving rainbow flags—and wearing the special limited edition Apple Watch rainbow watch bands the company gave to participants.

6 Great Display Choices for Your MacBook Pro and Mac Pro

Apple is getting out of the stand-alone display market—at least for now—and says there are plenty of third-party alternatives to its now defunct Thunderbolt Display. Sorting out which display to buy can be a little intimidating, so The Mac Observer put together a list with some great 4K, 5K, and HD options to help make your shopping a little easier.

Apple Drops 2.81% in Broad Brexit Selloff

Shares of Apple Inc. shed 2.81% Friday in a broad market downturn sparked by Brits voting to leave the European Union, or Brexit for short. The selloff was part of a general panic among investors concerned about what Brexit will do to the global economy.

OS X: Using Policy Banner for Custom Login Screens

You may know that you can set a custom message on your Mac’s lock screen, so if someone takes or finds your computer, he’ll have an easy way to contact you. However, if you’re an administrator who manages multiple machines, there’s also a built-in way to add a policy banner, which’ll make anyone who logs in click an “Accept” button to continue.

G-BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Boombox: $79.99

It’s loud, wireless, will play tunes for up to 6 hours on a charge, and it has a handle. G-BOOM is a boombox for the iPhone era. It features a protective rubber base, and has a standard headphone jack in addition to Blueooth connectivity. You can get this device through our deal for $79.99.

Judge Dismisses Error 53 iPhone Bricking Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit against Apple over bricked iPhones and Error 53 has been dismissed because the Judge overseeing the case saying the plaintiffs failed to prove they had been harmed. This isn’t, however, the end of the line because they can amend their claims, plus there are at least two similar cases in the court system, too.

YoCam Versatile Waterproof Camera: $179

Check out the YoCam, a small camera that is waterproof up to 20 feet (IP68). It takes photos or video, and has video stabilization, too. It weighs just 1.9 ounces, and it has a companion app for iPhone and Android devices for processing images. You can get YoCam through our deal for $179.

What We've Learned About Apple's New File System, APFS

It wasn’t discussed in the WWDC keynote. But Apple’s has been developing a new file system for all its devices called Apple File System. It’s been a hot topic of discussion over the last week. Here are some of the notable things we’ve learned since the first day of WWDC along with some context.

Apple Should Confirm the iPhone 7 Headphone Jack is Gone

The only big design change we can expect to see in the iPhone 7 when it ships this fall will be the lack of a headphone jack. That’s what the latest report claims, and it also says it’ll be 2017 before a major redesign comes. Considering this report comes from the Wall Street Journal, Apple should just go ahead and officially confirm the headphone jack is gone.

Apple Puts Non-Retina MacBook Pro on Death Row

Apple’s 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro looks to be close to end of life because the company is pulling it from retail displays, and it’s unavailable in some locations. Once the 13-incher is gone, the MacBook Air will be the only non-Retina laptop Apple sells, and none of its computers will ship with an internal optical drive.

Apple Says No to GOP Convention Over Trump

Apple won’t provide any funding or support to the Republican presidential convention because of Donald Trump’s negatively charged position on women, minorities, and immigrants. Other tech companies are staying out of this year’s event, too, and some are scaling back their support, showing how controversial the Republican presumptive president nominee is.

Chatlight Video Chatting Light: $19

Check out the Chatlight—I did a Cool Stuff Found during January’s CES show, and now Stack Commerce has put together a deal for this device. It’s designed to light you for selfies and video chats. It clips onto the edge of your mobile device and two banks of LEDs light your face. The bank of LEDs rotates, too, allowing you to control your lighting. You can get Chatlight through our deal for $19.

Lynktec Takes its Apex Fusion Electronic Stylus to the Next Level

Lynktec has continued to evolve the Apex line of electronic styluses. In late May, the company released a sleek, new version called the Apex Fusion. It's slimmer, better looking, and is available in black, silver, gold and rose gold. It's drop-dead gorgeous and features a fine point for accurate drawing and a rechargeable battery. Those…

Uniloc Hits Apple's Messages with Patent Lawsuit

Uniloc says Apple's iMessage technology infringes on its patents The lawsuit claimed patents 7,535,890, 8,995,433, 8,724,622 and 8,243,723 cover the voice recording and transmission feature in Messages, and that Apple isn't licensing the technology. Uniloc is asking the court for the usual unspecified damages, legal expense reimbursement, and other relief. If you aren't familiar with…

Microsoft Goes Social with $26.2B LinkedIn Purchase

LinkedIn joins team Microsoft The boards of both companies unanimously approved the deal which is expected to wrap up later this year. Mr. Nadella said, The LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business centered on connecting the world's professionals. Together we can accelerate the growth of LinkedIn, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics…