Glances

A new jailbreak tweak that hit the Cydia store recently and managed to grab my attention is a release called Glances.

To me, this look like an attempt to bring Apple Watch-inspired Glance-like information to the iPhone and iPad, and in this review, we’re going to show you how it works.

The reason I say it’s Apple Watch-inspired isn’t just because of its name, but it’s the concept. Glances is essentially similar to the Glance views that you’re probably used to seeing on your Apple Watch. Each Glance provides a little bit of information to you, and you can easily swipe between them.

Accessing Glances is done, by default, by swiping up from the bottom of the display. The interface replaces Control Center with what you see above, which includes some buttons that take you directly to specific shortcuts. Of course, you can also swipe left and right to navigate between the Glance pages.

Some of the examples of Glances are Weather, Calendar, and Battery, which are shown below:

A new jailbreak tweak that hit the Cydia store recently and managed to grab my attention is a release called Glances.

To me, this look like an attempt to bring Apple Watch-inspired Glance-like information to the iPhone and iPad, and in this review, we’re going to show you how it works.

The reason I say it’s Apple Watch-inspired isn’t just because of its name, but it’s the concept. Glances is essentially similar to the Glance views that you’re probably used to seeing on your Apple Watch. Each Glance provides a little bit of information to you, and you can easily swipe between them.

Accessing Glances is done, by default, by swiping up from the bottom of the display. The interface replaces Control Center with what you see above, which includes some buttons that take you directly to specific shortcuts. Of course, you can also swipe left and right to navigate between the Glance pages.

Some of the examples of Glances are Weather, Calendar, and Battery, which are shown below:

From the Control Center glance, you get everything you would expect to see in Control Center. The Music Glance shows information about your currently-playing media, as well as controls for it. And lastly, the App Launcher Glance gives you a customization page where you can add up to 8 shortcuts to your favorite apps to make accessing them easier from anywhere in iOS.

Overall, the fluidity of the tweak is impressive to me, and I like the features that it comes with out of the box. But what you see isn’t all you get. The tweak also adds a preferences pane to the Settings app where you can tailor it more to your personal preference:

Here, you can enable or disable the tweak on demand, as well as choose what Glances are enabled, set up an Activator action for using Glances instead of the Control Center gesture, selecting the default Glance that opens when you launch the interface, setting up your favorite apps, and more.

At $2.99 in Cydia’s BigBoss repository, the tweak isn’t one of the cheaper releases we’ve seen this week, but I think it’s certainly worth the price, and I don’t say that often for jailbreak tweaks.

What appeals to me the most is the Apple Watch-like shortcut interface, which shows you intuitive information that you actually care about, but also the well-made design of the tweak, which look good enough to be Apple-made. Another thing that sells me on the tweak is I know this particular tweak developer works really hard to offer very good support for his customers, so knowing that, this will be a solid release.

For those who were wondering, Glances can be installed on any jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 8 or later.

What are your thoughts on Glances? Share below!

Bluetooth headphones

Now that you’ve ordered your iPhone 7 and picked out a case, it’s time to think about getting another accessory: Bluetooth headphones. With Apple choosing to remove the 3.5mm jack from its latest handset, wireless headphones make the perfect companion for your new gadget.

As for which model to get, Apple’s just-announced AirPods look pretty cool. But between their steep $160 price tag and unproven real-world performance, we think there are some better options out there. Here is a list of 7 great pairs of Bluetooth headphones for your new iPhone 7.

Aukey Bluetooth Sport Earbuds

Aukey

If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest pair of Bluetooth earbuds, here you go. Well, I’m sure there are cheaper sets out there, but this is about as cheap as you want to go. Aukey is a highly regarded name brand in the mobile accessory space, and its sport earbuds get respectable reviews on Amazon. Features include Bluetooth 4.1 support, in-line volume controls, built-in microphone for answering phone calls, ear hooks for better fit, 7 hours of talk time and a 24-month warranty.

You can buy these Aukey Bluetooth Sport earbuds for $23.

Photive BTH3 Over-The-Ear Bluetooth 

Headphones

photive

If you’d prefer over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones, but still want to keep the price down, the BTH3s from Photive are a great choice. This is another one of those brands that you may not have heard of, but has a great reputation online. These headphones charge quickly, last for up to 12 hours, have built-in playback controls and microphone, and offer a comfortable fit. Plus, a nice hard travel case is included for free. You can’t beat that!

You can buy these Photive Over-The-Ear Bluetooth headphones for $50.

JLab Audio Epic2 Bluetooth Sport Earbuds

JLab

If we had a “Best Value” or “Editor’s Choice” selection in this post, it would be the Epic2s from JLab Audio. You really just get a lot of bang for your buck here: best-in-class playtime of up to 12 hours, IPX5-rated sweat and splash proofing, Memory Wire tech for more durability, and titanium over-ear hooks and gel tips for long-lasting comfort. Of course the headphones also sound great, and they come with a hard travel case.

You can buy these JLab Audio Epic2 headphones for $100.

Jabra Move Wireless Stereo Headphones

headphone

Jabra is a longtime vet in the Bluetooth audio space, and its Move headphones have been widely praised by critics. They are ultra-lightweight, with an adjustable headband for a comfortable fit, and are made with premium materials. They also have built-in playback controls, a built-in microphone, and can be used as wired headphones with the included cable.

You can buy these Jabra Move headphones for $86.

Jaybird X2 Sport Bluetooth Earbuds

jaybird

Jaybird has made a name for itself in the sport earbud space, and the X2s are its latest hit. These sport Bluetooth headphones feature 8 hours of playback, an inline microphone, and built-in playback controls. The sound is impressive for Bluetooth earbuds, and Jaybird includes a “lifetime” sweat-proof warranty. Also in the package are memory foam ear tips, secure-fit ear fins, charging cable, and silicon sport carrying case.

You can buy the Jaybird X2 earbuds for $150 note: at the time of writing, the white model is on sale for $100.

Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth

 Headphones

plantronics

These Plantronics BackBeat headphones have a respectable 4 star rating on Amazon, but we’re including them here more for their behind-the-head design—some users find this design more comfortable and stable during workouts. The BackBeat Fits are also waterproof, flexible, and have a solid battery life providing up to 8 hours of playback. In the box you get the charging cable, and a smartphone armband—which has a pocket that can store the BackBeat headphones when folded.

You can buy these Plantronics BackBeat Fit headphones for $76.

Beats Solo2 Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones

beats

If price really isn’t a factor for you, and you want on-ear headphones, you’re going to want to look at the Beats Solo2s. True, Beats has gotten a bad wrap for being over-priced, but most will agree that Solo2 headphones are a solid buy. They look great, sound great, and feature 12-hour battery life. Other features include built-on Mic and an included carrying case. Plus, how good would the black Solo2s look with your new Black or Jet Black iPhone 7?

You can buy the Beats Solo2 Bluetooth headphones for $200.

new-iphone

The just-announced iPhone 7 will become available for pre-order on September 9, and start shipping September 16. The pricing for the smaller iPhone 7 starts at $649, as usual, but the iPhone 7 Plus gets a tad more expensive with a starting price of $769.

As rumored, both handsets will be available in 5 colors: Rose gold, Gold, Silver, Black and a new high gloss stainless finish called Jet Black. They will also come in new storage configurations: 32GB is the new entry level, 128GB,  and 256GB for the high tier.

Here’s a breakdown of the pricing for the new iPhone lineup:

iPhone SE:

• 16GB – $399
• 64GB – $499

iPhone 6s

• 32GB – $549
• 128GB – $649

iPhone 6s Plus

• 32GB – $649
• 128GB – $749

iPhone 7

• 32GB – $649
• 128GB – $749
• 256GB – $849

iPhone 7 Plus

• 32GB – $769
• 128GB – $869
• 256GB – $969

Note: only 128GB and 256GB storage options are available in the new Jet Black colorway

And here is availability information by country:

• Customers will be able to order iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus beginning Friday, September 9, with availability beginning Friday, September 16, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and Slovenia beginning Friday, September 23.
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will also be available to customers in India beginningFriday, October 7.

iphone-7

The iPhone 7 is official and it’s got most everything the rumor-mill has been clamoring for: a new high-gloss black colorway (they’re using a new anodization process so we’ll see about the scratches and dings), a dual-lens camera with curved appearance and accompanied by a new four-component LED flash, subdued antenna lines on the back, refined design using cutting-edge manufacturing process, and much more. Developing…

Design

The new high-gloss finish is called Jet Black, but they’re also offering a classic Black appearance that’s matte. As mentioned, it has subdued antenna lines and glossy inset Apple logo. It will also be available in Gold, Rose Gold and Silver.

design

Home button

Apple’s marketing honcho Phil Schiller said on stage that the iPhone 7 has a next-generation Home button, as rumored. It’s fully customizable, re-engineered, uses force sensors and Taptic Engine and doesn’t move when pressed, he said.

home-button

Apple is also providing a Taptic Engine API allowing apps to create new feelings and experiences when using features like Quick Actions, Messages, Notifications, Ringtones and so forth.

Not just water, but dust-resistant, too

The iPhone 7 honors the IP67 protection standard. What that means is that you can submerge your iPhone in water like your Apple Watch and it’s also protected from dust damage.

ipone-7

Cameras

Everything about the iPhone 7’s camera system is new.

All iPhone 7 devices now have optical image stabilization and a wider f/1.8 six-element lens that lets in 50 percent more light. The sensor itself is 60 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient and the camera now has a flicker sensor allowing it to remove flickering you see on photos of computer screens or photos taken under artificial light.

camera

Apple’s all-new image single processor built into the A10 chip takes the pain out of adjusting camera settings for you, performing a hundred billion operations per image in just 25 milliseconds. All you need to do is press that shutter button.

camera

And of course, low-light photography has been improved greatly, and now video image stabilization is applied to Live Photos. As a bonus, developers can capture Live Photos in their apps using new APIs and the iPhone 7 also captures RAW images.

The FaceTime HD camera has gone from five to seven megapixels, captures sharper, wide color images like the back shooter, and more.

camera

As for the iPhone 7 Plus, it’s got two cameras allowing it to do true 2x optical zoom, which uses two twelve-megapixel lenses to get closer to the subject. Of course, you can zoom beyond 2x but even digital zoom (up to 10x) now produces much better images thanks to the dual-lens system than with software zoom.

Lastly, Apple’s engineers have created a big breakthrough in photography with the iPhone 7 Plus: the ability to take shallow depth of field images like on DSLRs. When you take an image, machine learning analyzes the image and creates a depth map, applying a bokeh blur in the background while keeping the front subject in focus.

You just select a new Portrait feature in the new Camera app and marvel at real-time deep depth preview before you even tap the shutter button. Of course, the iPhone 7 Plus won’t replace your DSLR, but the amount of work that has gone into the new cameras is impressive.

However, this new depth of field feature won’t be ready in time for launch as Apple said iPhone 7 owners will get it via a free software update later this year.

Retina display

The Retina HD screens on the new iPhones have seen some hardware improvements, too. The display now shows wide color gamut like that on the iPad Pro and is end-to-end color managed to the cinema standard.

Because the cameras on the new iPhones also capture wide color gamut and taking into account the fact that Photos’ filters are now also optimized for wide color gamut, any images taken with a new iPhone will look stellar on its display. Apple has said that a new version of Instagram app will use Apple’s new APIs to show wide color gamut images.

Stereo speakers

For the first time, the iPhone has stereo speakers, producing twice the volume versus the iPhone 6s. The other speaker is at the top, meaning you’ll get the best stereo experience in landscape mode.

speakers

Headphones

As suspected, the iPhone 7 ditches the 3.55mm headphone jack. And yes, Apple will include a wired Lightning-based edition of the EarPods, as well as a dongle to connect your legacy 3.55 mm headphones, in every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus box. Apple has also said that there are more than 900 million Lightning connector devices in the world now.

headphones

Why is Apple removing the 3.5mm connector? Courage, Schiller said, to move on and try something new. And more importantly, removing the 3.5 mm connector which takes a lot of space inside the device has created space inside the device for new hardware without making the phone thicker.

Wireless AirPods

Apple has taken it upon itself to really deliver quality sound to headphones wirelessly while solving some of Bluetooth’s pain points with an entirely new Apple-designed W1 chip built into a new headphones. Yes, you can say hello to the new AirPods.

airpods

Designed without any wires to dangle around as you’re working out, each headphone fits inside your ear. The infrared sensor detects when you wear the headphones, automatically turning them on and off.

airbods

You also get a built-in motion and accelerometer sensor and the accessory responds to touch, allowing you to invoke Siri by double-tapping the headphones. When you’re speaking, it detects the direction of your voice to block unwanted noise from the outside.

airpoads

They have a five-hour battery, come in a charging case and there’s no pairing like with Bluetooth (you get 24 hours total run time with the charging case). You just take them out from the case and tap Connect on one of your devices: from that point on, iCloud tells your other devices about the headphones and they just work.

apple

Plus, as you move rom one device to another, headphones automatically switch to the new device so you don’t have to.

hedphone

Performance

Apple’s silicon team is killing it in performance, but the new phones take that to a whole new level with an all-new Apple-designed “A10 Fusion” chip. It’s got a four-core CPU with more than 3 billion transistors.

iphone-performance

OF the four CPU cores, two are high performance and two are designed with power efficiency in mind. The high-performance cores run 40 precent faster than the iPhone 6s’s A9 chip while the high-efficiency cores kick into action when you do light tasks that don’t require the full power of the CPU, like browsing the web, checking your email and so forth.

iphone

These high-efficiency cores run at just one-fifth the power of their high-performance counterparts (which are used for graphics-intensive applications, like games). How does the system know which cores to use?

iphone

Well, an Apple-designed performance controller analyzes how you used your device and in real-time determines which cores to use.

In terms of graphics, A10 Fusion packs in six GPU cores that allow for fifty percent faster graphics performance than last year’s A9 inside the iPhone 6s and 3x faster than the iPhone 6’s A8 while consuming two-thirds of the power of the A9 (half the power of the A8).

Battery

Running iOS 10, the new iPhones deliver the longest battery life on any iPhone. On average, Apple said, iPhone 6s users moving to an iPhone 7 can expect two additional hours of battery life per day versus their iPhone 6s.

iphone-7-battery

And if you plan on upgrading from an iPhone 6s Plus to an iPhone 7 Plus, you’re looking at an additional hour of run time.

Of course, Apple will be offering New cases battery cases, charging docks

Storage

Thankfully, Apple has replaced the current 16/64/128GB storage tiers by doubling the storage tiers to 32/128/256GB. By the way, the Jet Black comes only in 128GB and 256GB sizes.

iphone-7-storage

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 7 starts at $649, just like the iPhone 6s which is now a $100 cheaper, with higher-storage models and the iPhone 7 Plus costing more. As a rule of thumb, the new lineup costs the same as the iPhone 6s family cost before today’s announcement.

Oh, and the iPhone Upgrade Program has expanded and is now available in the United States, United Kingdom and China to give customers there financing options when buying a new device.

Apple will start taking pre-orders for the new phones this Friday, and they’ll be shipping on September 16 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and select other countries.

iphone-7-price

Oh, and the iPhone Upgrade Program has expanded and is now available in the United States, United Kingdom and China to give customers there financing options when buying a new device.

Apple will start taking pre-orders for the new phones this Friday, and they’ll be shipping on September 16 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and select other countries.

iphone-7-launch

One week later, the new phones will hit additional markets. The new AirPods will ship in late October, priced at $159, while iOS 10 will release next Tuesday, September 13.

airpods

To learn more about the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and the technologies built into these new phones, read Apple’s press release and see apple.com/iphone-7.

And that, boys and girls, is the new iPhone.

iPhone-7

Apple has unveiled the all-new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus at Wednesday’s keynote event and one of the biggest new features of the redesigned device is the updated rear-facing camera.

iPhone 7’s 12 megapixel rear camera is re-engineered with a new six-element lens structure for improved clarity and better low-light performance. With an f/1.8 aperture, wider color gamut, and up to 3x longer exposure, you’ll get clearer photos with better colors.

iPhone-7-camera

Driving this camera is an all-new high speed sensor that pushes the speed of the iPhone 7 camera far beyond previous iPhones. It’s up to 60% faster than the previous generation, and up to 30% more efficient. The signals then get sent to an Apple-designed image signal processor in the A10 chip so you can view them on the device.

iPhone-7-camera

iPhone 7’s camera also gets a new flash, which is a quad-tone with four individually-colored LEDs, for more accurate color tones in low-light conditions. Apple says it’ll provide up to 50% more light in dark conditions and has a built-in flicker sensor to improve photo output in low-light.

iPhone-7-camera

With optical image stabilization included, you will have reduced camera shake and jitter too.

iPhone 7 will include all-new photo-editing features inside of the iOS 10 operating system. Among these are new capture and editing API features, which allow you to take full advantage of photo-editing to get the finalized look you really want.

It would seem the iPhone 7 has a single-lens system, while the iPhone 7 Plus has a dual-lens system. For the iPhone 7 Plus, both lenses have 12 megapixels, but one is a wide-angle lens and one is a telephoto lens.

iPhone 7

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, the next thing you’ll want to consider is what kind of case you’re going to get for it. With a starting price tag of $650, and some models prone to fine micro-abrasions, you’re definitely going to want to protect your new handset.

There are several types of cases already available for the iPhone 7, including thinner slim-fit cases, bulkier rugged cases, and those with built-in credit card slots so you can leave your wallet at home. So we decided to round up some of our favorites in an effort to help you with your selection.

Note: for those wondering, no, iPhone 6/6s cases will not properly fit the iPhone 7. While they are very similar dimension-wise, the cutouts will not match up properly due to the removal of the headphone jack and the redesigned LED flash/camera lenses on the iPhone 7.

Speck Presidio Case for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Speck is one of the most respected brands in the mobile device case space, and if you’re looking for a slim, slip-on case, you’re going to want to check out its Presidio line. These dual-layer cases are scratch-resistant, have a raised bezel for added screen protection, and are 10-foot drop tested to ensure durability. I like the Presidio’s unassuming design, with just a tiny Speck logo in the top corner, and there are several colors available.

You can buy the Speck Presidio Case for iPhone 7 for $39.95 and the iPhone 7 Plus for $44.95.

Silk Slim-fit Grip Case for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

If the Speck case is a little too pricey for you, have a look at the Grip Case from Silk. It features a similar slim-fit, slip-on design and the same raised bezel to protect your screen from drops. It also has air cushioned corners for shock absorption, textured edges for added grip, and Natural Throw button covers that feel like right buttons. Plus, Silk will throw in a “premium scratch-resistant screen protector film” for free. Available in multiple colors.

You can buy the Silk Grip Case for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus for $13.95.

Trianium Protanium Heavy Duty Case for 

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Looking for something a little more rugged? Here is the Protanium case from Trianium. Like Silk, Trianium has built up a reputation online as a solid case-maker, and its products constantly get positive reviews. The Protanium features 3 layers made up of premium TPU, GXD impact gel, and a hard polycarbonate spine for ultimate protection. It has cutouts for all of the speakers and ports, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

You can buy this Trianium case for iPhone 7 for $13.99 and for the iPhone 7 Plus for $14.99.

Supcase Rugged Holster Case for iPhone 7

Supcase’s Unicorn Beetle PRO series has been a hit on Amazon, garnering 4 and 5 star reviews from thousands of customers. This is the iPhone 7 version, and it once again features a dual layer construction made up of  a flexible TPU and polycarbonate hard shell. It’s shock resistant, has a built-in screen protector and it comes with a side mount clip with swiveling belt clip for carrying convenience and protection. Comes in multiple colors.

You can buy this Supcase rugged holster case for the iPhone 7 for $19.50 and for theiPhone 7 Plus for $21.50.

Spigen Wallet Case with Stand for iPhone 7 and

 7 Plus

Spigen is another well-recognized case manufacturer that has a knack for being among the first to market following a new iPhone launch. This is its Wallet Case, made of a material it is calling “premium synthetic leather.” It features 3 credit card and ID slots, a built-in stand with adjustable angle for watching videos, and a dual-sided magnetic strap for quick tuck-away. Available in multiple colors.

You can buy the Spigen Wallet case for iPhone 7 for $16 and for the iPhone 7 Plus for $16.

Spigen Slim Armor Wallet Case for iPhone 7

 and 7 Plus

If you’re looking for a case that can hold your credit cards, but don’t like the flip-cover wallet style, Spigen also makes the Slim Armor for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The Slim Armor case has long been a staple accessory for iPhones, offering both great protection and storage. It features dual-layer construction, air-cushion tech, and a sliding cover that can hold up to two credit or ID cards. This one also comes in multiple colors.

You can buy the Spigen Slim Armor for iPhone 7 for $17 and for the iPhone 7 Plus for $17.