Apple Makes iPhone 7 $100 Cheaper?

Something very important emerged yesterday and its biggest implication was missed by many people: Apple AAPL +0.39% just made the iPhone 7 $100 less expensive…

That’s the exciting news following the Wall Street Journal’s ‘confirmation’ that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will scrap the 16GB entry level tier in favour of a 32GB model.

The revelation also backs up a number of smaller leaks already reporting this change, but the WSJ is by far the most influential site to speak out and its track record is impeccable. Like other sources, the WSJ also claims Apple will rearrange the other iPhone tiers so out goes 16/64/128GB in favour of 32/128/256GB.

This should work out as follows:

• iPhone 7: $649 (32GB), $749 (128GB) and $849 (256GB)
• iPhone 7 Plus: $749 (32GB), $849 (128GB) and $949 (256GB)

So how does this make the iPhone 7 $100 cheaper?

Running The Maths

With the launch of the iPhone 6S, I argued the 16GB model was now unusable due to its increased camera and video resolutions and it forced millions of customers to pay $100 more for the 64GB model.

How come? Well here’s a breakdown:

• iOS consumes 3GB leaving just 13GB before you start
• iOS needs circa 1GB kept free so it can update 
• Individual iOS games can use up to 4GB of space
• An iTunes HD movie download is 3-4GB
• 4K video consumes 375MB per minute (1080p video consumes 200MB per minute)
• 12MP photos are 3-4MB, Live Photos double that to 7-8MB

So whichever way you break this down for your own particular usage pattern, a 16GB iPhone leaves things incredibly tight – especially with the average ownership period now over two years.

Yes you can take countermeasures. You could dial down the photo and video resolutions, but that negates key photo and video upgrades. You could also spend more on iCloud storage but the amount of data you end up sending of cellular can easily get out of hand without vigilance. 

32GB Changes Everything

But that all changes with a 32GB base model iPhone 7.

For example, you’ll have 28GB of free space to start with (29GB minus 1GB of space for iOS upgrades) and 6GB for apps (a healthy amount) leaving 22GB for video of photos – that should prove ample for most mainstream consumers.

Furthermore these benefits continue up the tiers. Hardcore users will always buy the top model, but 128GB at the mid tier is generous and more than enough to dissuade millions from paying extra for 256GB which they aren’t ever likely to fill.

What about the iPhone 7 Plus? It benefits should be the same, but as this model is moving to a dual lens camera we can’t say for sure until we know how this new module affects photo and video file size.

Regardless, given the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are likely to be incremental upgradeson the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, I would argue this extra storage will be the biggest practical reason for users to upgrade from an iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S.

With sales falling year-on-year for the first time in iPhone history, Apple may be counting on this – even if it costs them $100…

credit:forbes

The World's Highest-Paid Athlete Of 2016(forbes)

Two athletes have dominated the top of Forbes’ annual look at the highest-earners in sports over the past decade and a half: Golfer Tiger Woods landed the No. 1 spot 12 times, while boxer Floyd Mayweather ranked first three of the past four years.
But with Mayweather hanging up his gloves and Woods hampered by injuries, there is an opening at the top. Filling the gap is the biggest star in the biggest sport on the planet. This year, soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $88 million over the past 12 months from salary, bonuses and endorsements. Ronaldo is only the second team athlete after Michael Jordan to rank as the top-paid since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990.

It is a good time to be a world-class athlete in a popular team sport. TV money is fueling massive increases in player salaries across baseball, basketball, football and soccer. The cutoff for the top 100 athletes is $20.8 million, up $2 million over last year.
Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract is worth more than $50 million a year in salary and bonus and runs through 2018. He triggered one of those seven-figure bonuses by leading Real to the Champions League title when he found the back of the net on the clinching penalty kick.
The three-time FIFA player of the year is a marketing juggernaut earning $32 million off the pitch by our count. He kicked off a contract extension with Nike NKE +0.31% last year worth $13 million a year (Nike is partnered with 50 members of the top 100). Other Ronaldo endorsement partners include Tag Heuer, Herbalife , Pokerstars, Clear Shampoo and more. He has his own line of suits, cologne, shirts, shoes, underwear and hotels under construction.

Ronaldo’s massive social media presence is a boon to marketers, encompassing 215 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He posted 255 times on social media promoting a brand over the last year. Those posts generated $176 million in media value, according to Hookit, which tracks sponsorship value in social and digital media.
Fellow global soccer superstar Lionel Messi ranks No. 2 with earnings of $81.4 million. Messi earned bonuses from Barcelona and chief sponsor Adidas when he racked up his fifth FIFA player of the year award in January. Messi’s total earnings from sponsors were $28 million. His Adidas pact is worth more than $10 million annually, and he also has endorsement relationships with Huawei, Tata Motors , PepsiCo PEP -0.34% (Gatorade and Lay’s brands), Gillette and Electronic Arts EA -1.29%

Moto Z ditches headphone jack in super slim smartphone

Motorola has taken the headphone jack out of its newest smartphones, making them super slim in the process.

 The Moto Z has a 5.5-inch display and is about 30% thinner and lighter than the iPhone 6S Plus.

Lenovo, Motorola's parent company, unveiled the new device on Thursday, calling it "the world's thinnest premium smartphone."
The company also showed off the Moto Z Force, a slightly thicker version of the Moto Z that boasts shatterproof glass.
Both models will be available in the U.S. later this summer on the Verizon (VZ, Tech30) network in two colors, black and white. No exact date or pricing has been announced yet. The devices will come with a headphone and USB-C port adapter for charging and audio and data transfer.

As wireless technology continues to improve, it's possible that many future gadgets will come without any ports.
The headphone jack is just an example of a legacy piece of technology that gadgets just don't need anymore. After all, there are already many types of wireless earbuds and headphones on the market, and several kinds of smartphones with wireless charging capabilities.
Chinese tech company LeEco already launched three phones without a headphone jack. And there is speculation that Apple (AAPL, Tech30) will release a new iPhone in the next two years that also ditches the audio port.
The new Moto Z and Moto Z Force are also examples of another mobile trend: modular phones. Both gadgets can be configured with external accessories to transform into speakers, a mini movie projector, and a huge battery pack.
The LG G5 has mods too, and Google's Project Ara smartphone will launch next year with interchangeable hardware, such as a fitness tracker, health tools, or an e-ink screen.

Facebook now lets you comment with a video

Words don't quite cut it? Don't panic. You can now upload a video to comment on your friends' Facebook posts.
Facebook (FB, Tech30) launched the new feature Friday, part of a strategy to get people watching more video on its platforms.

It's competing with Snapchat, Periscope and others in an increasingly crowded online video market.
They are all betting on video to grow their user numbers. A forecast from Cisco Visual Networking Index published last week said video traffic would make up 82% of all consumer Internet traffic by 2020, up from 70% in 2015.
Facebook launched live video streaming last year and made it widely available in January. It expanded it further in April by adding real-time world maps of live broadcasts, reactions and Snapchat-style live filters.
Related: Facebook plans for life after Zuckerberg
In March, the company announced that it had acquired video filter app Masquerade, saying the merger would help it to "enhance the Facebook video experience." It did not disclose the value of the transaction.
The new video comments feature was developed at a Facebook hackathon early this year.
"We wanted to enable more engaging and immersive conversations. This adds to the suite of multimedia features within comments including: links, photos, stickers, emoji, and starting today video," Facebook engineer Bob Baldwin wrote in a blog post.

iPhone 7 Design 'Confirmed' In Double Leak

Apple is famous for its ability to keep a secret. But consistent leaks have shown the company’s upcoming iPhone 7 may be both more boring and more controversial than anyone expected. And now it seems Apple’s biggest secrets really have spilled…
This week both  MacRumors were approached independently by different Apple accessory retailers who produced iPhone 7 cases that match exactly. The result is enlightening but also disappointing.
1.Goodbye Headphone Jack

 Yes, news first broke back in June 2014 now looks certain to happen because both the physical cases sent to MacRumors and renders attained from Olixar cases through popular online retailer MobileFun show no dedicated cutout for the headphone jack on either the top or bottom of the iPhone 7.

 Instead what we see is a more symmetrical design keeping the Lightning port in the middle but allowing for a pair of speakers either side. Supply chain contacts tell me Apple is still testing both single and dual speaker variants of the iPhone 7, but it appears the company has now settled on significantly boosting its external audio.
This may prove some consolation for those disappointed by the loss of the headphone jack and prospect of needing a Lighting port adaptor. 
  
2.Single Lens, But Boosted Rear Camera

The second aspect both leaked case designs separately confirmed is the iPhone 7 will sadly not be getting the dual camera setup of the iPhone 7 Plus. But on the plus side, it will be getting a much larger single rear sensor than has been seen on either the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

You can spot this from the cases’ much lower and wider camera cutouts (though one discrepancy is tapering). Given Apple’s reticence to increase megapixel count and the fact the iPhone 6S only jumped to 12MP last year, the smart money would instead be on a dramatic increase in individual pixel size.
Larger individual pixels help take in more light therefore producing better results in poor lighting conditions. The iPhone 6S in particular suffered in this area compared to a number of rival Android handsets (Galaxy S7, Nexus 6P, LG G5) so it makes sense this would be an Apple priority.
Then again the dual camera setup of the iPhone 7 Plus is sure to be the bigger draw.
 3.Ageing Design

 MacRumors’ case shows it fits almost perfectly around an iPhone 6S, so it does indeed appear that Apple will stick with a virtually identical iPhone 6 design for the third generation running.

Optimists will say this is because Apple has now perfected its handset design, but I’d argue it needs ergonomic improvements to feel better in the hand and much smaller top and bottom bezels. The company also needs to show investors that its famously innovative hardware division remains on the cutting edge.
Instead it appears we’ll have to wait for the redesigned ‘all glass’ iPhone 8 (yes, 8) in 2017 for that to happen.
 One More Thing

What goes without saying is Apple’s software prowess means the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus may still have plenty of tricks left when it comes to usability. This is especially true given the high hopes for iOS 10, which will accompany both phones at launch.
Still, from a pure hardware perspective, the iPhone 7 itself looks like it won’t be the model to reinvigorate slowing sales. Happily the future beyond it looks a lot more exciting…

New breed of e-bikes promise a clean (and cool) getaway in a polluted world

(CNN)If you're looking for a clean getaway this summer then an e-bike could be right up your street.

With urban air pollution rising at "an alarming rate," according to a recent World Health Organization report, it might be time to ditch the car and do your bit for your city's smog-infested sidewalks.

If the thought of old-fashioned pedal power leaves you gasping, then why not let an electric motorcycle take the strain out of your commute -- there are plenty to choose from...

'World's first' 3-D printed bike

 

Light and efficient: The Light Rider e-bike weighs just 35 kilos (77 lbs).

With an exoskeleton frame weighing in at just six kilograms, the 'Light Rider' is the world's first 3-D printed motorcycle, according to its creators AP Works — a subsidiary of aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

"The complex and branched hollow structure couldn't have been produced using conventional production technologies such as milling or welding," said Joachim Zettler, CEO of Airbus APWorks in a statement.

MORE: 'Magnum' Ferrari's green makeover

"Advances in additive layer manufacturing have allowed us to realize the bionic design we envisioned for the motorcycle without having to make any major changes ..."

The two-wheeler is fitted with a six kilowatt electric motor and has a top speed of 80 kph (50 mph) and weighs 35 kilos, making it 30% lighter than conventionally manufactured motorcycles, according to AP Works.

A limited production run of 50 is planned with a hefty price tag of €50,000 ($57,000)per bike.

 

From MoMA to 'Motorman'

As a product designer with more than 20 years experience, Ronald Meijs was more used to making things that would go in your home rather than on the road.

The Dutchman, whose award-winning work has been displayed by New York's Museum of Modern Art, no less, started working on the Motorman five years ago. His goal? To create "something simple and as realistic as possible" that would help tackle city pollution.

The result is a lightweight (45 kilos) e-bike with a maximum speed of 45 kph (28 mph) and a range of 50-65 kilometers (30-40 miles).

MORE: The perfect formula for Gen Y?

"The most pleasing aspect of the design is its transparency," says Meijs. "What you see is what you get. There's no hidden mechanics or transmissions. You can see through it.

"At the moment it is a completely handcrafted product and it takes about two days from start to finish to build."

Retailing at €5,950 ($6,750) Meijs has sold around 200 to date in Europe and plans to start selling the Motorman in the U.S. later this year.

 

Cruising into the future

The creator's of the Johammer J1 adopted a radically different approach to motorcyle design.

Looking like it's ridden straight out of the pages of a futuristic comic book, the Johammer J1 is an e-bike that has the looks and, with a range of 125 miles (200 kilometers), also goes the distance.

Its Austrian creator, Johann Hammerschmid chose an unconventional design route for the J1, housing the electric motor and controller in the rear wheel, with the battery and shock absorbers tucked away under a sleek aluminum shell.

"It's very convenient (to ride) because you don't have to do anything with you feet -- you do everything with your right hand," says Johammer's CFO Johannes Kaar.

"In the first 20 minutes people are curious -- it's quite different from traditional motorcycle steering but you get used to it very fast."

Currently the J1 is only licensed for roads in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, with the company actively pursuing safety licenses for the rest of the European Union and then the U.S.

"We've have a lot of interest from California," Kaar says.

The price? €25,000 ($28,500).

 

Jay Z,Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage at Roc Nation office,New York(photo)

Photo of  Mavin Records boss Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage with Jay Z at the ROC Nation office.
Tiwa is set to finalize a deal with Jay Z’s Roc Nation.
 Founded in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company, inclusive of artist, songwriter, producer and engineer management; music publishing; touring & merchandising; film & television; new business ventures; and a music label.
 It is home to a diverse roster of critically acclaimed recording artists, writers and producers including Rihanna, Shakira, J. Cole, Santigold, HAIM, Meek Mill, Big Sean and more.
 Roc Nation also has partnerships with global management companies.