So, you have been spending lots of time on your favorite streaming services whilst on lockdown. Things have gotten quite tough finding various activities to keep yourself busy. While there is a lot of things to watch online, your favorite services don’t always work the way that you want them to. So we do what we Brits do best and complain.
Due to a surge in screen time, complaints about streaming services has also surged. According to a Media Nations Report, posted recently by Ofcom, a total of 40% of UK Adults are now spending their waking day watching TV and online video services.This is as a result of the lockdown that’s been imposed on many of us lately.
It has not been all plain sailing though.
The Bandwidth Britain Report from Uswitch has found the streaming services which use the most bandwidth are also causing the biggest disruption to our lockdown box set binges.
The research team took the most popular streaming services in the UK and revealed the ones that are the most unreliable. So, how is this done you may wonder? Well it’s calculated by the number of times that we have gone to Google to complain about them: “Netflix not working”, “Now TV not working”.
Complaints Score
So they ranked the most Complained About Streaming Services in the UK according to a complaints score:
Netflix – 8,300
Now TV – 5,020
BBC iplayer – 2,510
Apple TV – 1,570
Sky on Demand – 1,030
All 4 – 830
Amazon Prime Video – 820
Hayu – 500
Disney+ – 480
Britbox – 310
Netflix unsurprisingly topped the list as the UK’s most complained about streaming app during lockdown. As it had a complaint score of 8,300. It’s not surprising because it’s bad. Far from it. We love it! But Netflix is the most popular streaming app, so of course it’s going to have a larger number of people complaining about it. Now TV came in second with a 5,020 complaint score.
While Britbox found itself at the opposite end of the scale with the study revealing it had just 310 on the complaints score.
Lots got announced at WWDC20, so let’s crack on and tell you all about them!
iOS14 – WWDC20
iOS14 is a fairly big update at WWDC20. With Apple’s main focus to improve performance and reliability. Whilst expanding on a number of features which have been added previously. There’s been updates to search, widgets added to the homescreen, improvements to message and better sleep tracker.
Apple is allowing you to adjust your iOS14 home screen. You can move apps around and group them in new ways, such as hiding apps from the main home screen and adding them to a new App Library. A way to highlight all of your apps and group them automatically, in one big beautiful list. Even will learn what apps you use the most and group them at the top as an app suggestion.
Apple will also show incoming calls, (Facetime included) in a new more compact view which simply drops down from the top of view.
Widgets is being added to the Home Screen. Which are customisable in size and can add them where you want on screen. There’s a new gallery app which will make widgets easier to find. Whilst Smart Stack will stack multiple widgets on top of each other. You can then swipe through them easily, showing you the most important information on each one.
Picture in Picture is being added to iOS 14. You can watch videos and re-size the player when multitasking. Videos can even be played in the background by swiping the video all the way to the left/right of the screen. Visuals will disappear, yet the audio will remain. Simply swipe back to view your video.
Messages
Memoji is also getting customisable options such as a new face mask customisation option. Apple will add inline replies to Messages, allowing you to respond to a specific comment in groups. You can also tag people within groups as well. Groups are being enhanced so you get a better idea of who is in the chat and who spoke recently.
The messages app will also let you pin select chats at the top of the screen, so they’ll always be at the top.
Siri is also getting a new smaller streamlined view. With Siri getting an update itself. Better translation support and the ability to send audio messages.
Car Key
Apple have introduced CarKey which will allow you to unlock your car wirelssly simply by tapping a few buttons on your phone. First up to use this is the 2021 BMW 5 Series. Set up is simple as pairing your Apple Watch or iPhone with an eligible car. Then when you want to unlock your car, just hold your device near the NFC receiver on the car. Then use Face ID or Touch ID to confirm your identity.
CarPlay is getting custom wallpapers and new apps such as parking apps, EV charging apps and food apps.
Apple is updating the Maps app with new cycling routes, EV charging info and a range of new guides covering points of interest in a specific area. Such as tourist destinations, shops and best restaurants.
You can add your own guides and add their favourites to a list of suggestions. When new places get added by Apple, that info will automatically update in your customised guide as well.
Clips
App Clips is being introduced too. A way of accessing small snippets of an app, without having to download and install a full app. App Clips can be accessed via the App Library, a special QR Code or NFC Tag too. This would be helpful for parking places that uses apps or things like bikes or scooters in cities. Better yet, sign in with Apple can be used to sign up for an account quickly and easily without having to make a brand new account for everything.
As well as receiving the same additions as iOS14, such as App Library, a smaller Siri notifications, Widgets and smaller incoming call notications iPad OS14 is also getting upgrades of it’s own!
Apple Pencil is receiving one of it’s biggest improvements. One of them that’s impressive is the Scribble feature. You can now handwrite into any text field and iPad will automatically change it to text. If you handwrite on the same page as drawings you can select the handwriting and avoid the surrounding art. Furthermore you are able to change the colour of the text and move the text around in the doc.
iPad will also recognise Chinese and hand-written addresses and phone numbers.
Universal search is also being added. Start typing into the search bar and you can launch, apps, websites and documents instantly.
An all-new sidebar will bring additional navigation features to Apple apps. Apple highlighted this from within it’s own Photo app. You can drag a photo from an album into the sidebar and move it to another album. A streamlined toolbar, with additional controls, and side bar will also appear in mail, notes and files.
Apple now let you personalise your own watch faces with Face Sharing. When you see a face you like you can add the watch face directly to your watch. Even if you don’t have the complications needed for that specific watch face. Also share the watch face by long pressing on a face you wish to share.
A new watch face is being added called the Chronograph Pro Face. This includes a tachymeter. The Photos face will offer different colour filters and a new X-Large face will let you add a rich complication. Developers are now able to add more than one complication per app on any watch face.
Health
Apple’s own Workout app gets a few additions too. Cycling tracking, which also includes directions and tips on when to dismount. Also Dancing gets added to the workout app. There are new sensors which can detect movement differences between the upper and lower body and even full body movement. This is done via ‘advanced sensor fusion’. So, using the accelerometer, gyroscrope and heat rate sensors to detect and differentiate movement.
Activity app is being renamed Fitness and getting a new summary look at the top. It will also highlight a streamlined view of workouts and awards. Algorithms for Core Training, Dance, Functional Strength and Cooldown are also being added. While Core Training and Functional Strength training won’t track reps. It will only count calories for those exercises.
While WatchOS 6 added the Noise app now the Noise app will notify you when you listen to too much music in a week.
Sleep Tracking
Apple is also adding sleep tracking, nativelty. There’s a section in the Health app for it. Apple says the Apple Watch will be able to detect ‘micro movements’ via the accelerometer. This will give you insights about respiration during sleep. You’ll receive on-wrist insights the next morning wich will show periods of wakefulness and sleep. Plus you’ll get charts of sleep trends. Though no breakdown of sleep stages such as REM, light and deep.
Furthermore the Apple Watch will be able to detect soap sounds and automatically start a 20second countdown complete with animations. It will also prompt users to wash their hands when they return home.
Mac OS X is getting one of the biggest upgrades in years. It’s called Big Sur and it’s visuals are getting a massive upgrade. WWDC20 is really impressing!
There’s now a customizable start page, a refined app dock and finer to make use of screen space better. Mail app has colors in the navigation interface and photos gets an updated sidebar. Gallery within photos is also backed by metal so animations show up quicker.
Menu bar is now translucent will take the color of your background. The menu bar is now customizable to give yourself one click access to Do Not Disturb. Simply drag and drop it from the settings. Notification Center has been updated to feature better organisation and add widgets of various sizes of the panel. Furthermore moving Mac OS and iOS closer. There’s an iOS-like Control Center to macOS.
Apps
macOS’ messages app is getting an update. Much like it’s iOS counterpart, you’ll have direct in-line replies and group updates. It’ll get a powerful search function. It has been updated to organise your results into file types and matching terms. Memoji is able to be customised on the mac and animations will also show across the window.
Maps is getting revamped and adding features such as indoor navigation for places like airports and shopping malls. You are also able to view and create Guides for your city for example. If you want to save cool spots you’ve visited simply add them and share them with your iPhone.
Safari
Safari is also getting a HUGE update. It will support extensions and they’ll be on the App Store for easier discovery. Each extension will have a button that shows up next to the URL box. Your browser is also customisable with your own photos as the background. Homepage will have sections such as a reading list and iCloud tabs.
Apple’s browser will have a built in translator, it will detect when you visit a website not in your default language and will ask you if you wish to translate the page or text. Tabs will also be easier to navigate. With loads on screen at once they will show favicons by default. Now when you hover over a tab, you’ll be presented with a preview thumbnail of the page.
Apple is moving away from Intel processors and will start using it’s own chips in it’s computers. The Apple Silicone project will create powerful, energy efficient processors. Leading to future Macbooks with superior battery life than what we have now.
These chips will have deep integration in Big Sur. All of Apple’s won software will run as native apps on Apple silicon-based Macs. Such as Final Cut Pro, while Microsoft’s Office Suite will also work on the Apple Silicon. Furthermore Adobe is doing the same for it’s creative cloud apps.
Mobile Apps
iPhone and iPad apps will now be able to run natively on Apple silicon based Macs. You can download them from the Mac App store. This will allow developers to develop apps that will work between various devices and minimal friction.
Apple expects the developers will be able to update their Mac apps quickly and they’ll have the tools to do so within Xcode12. Apple hopes that existing apps will work on silicon based Macs. With the use of Rosetta 2. This will basically translate code as necessary on the fly and allow virtualization for Linux. Apple unveiled a Developer Transition kit to help developers update and develop their apps.
Apple announced at WWDC20, that it expects the move to silicon based Macs in 2 years and as smoothly as possible. With the first set of Apple silicon systems to likely launch this year. While Apple are still working on Intel-based Macs and will support Macs with Intel processors for years to come.
Apple said at WWDC20 that it’s improving the tech that we use in our homes. They’re looking improve the ease of use in with multiple products. Such as using Airplay to push a video to your Apple Tv. Using the Home app to control various other smart devices in your home, such as smart lights. Apple have said that they’re open-sourcing HomeKit to prioritise privacy and ease of use. So when you add a new piece of smart tech to the iOS 14 Home app, it will automatically suggest a list of automation options.
Apple currently support smart bulbs but now it’s adding Adaptive Lighting. This new feature can be used to change the colours you see in various rooms around the house, automatically based on preference.
Home Security
Home Security has got a nice upgrade too. It will let users specifically designate zones that they want to monitor whilst excluding activity outside of that zone. Therefore if you can only opt to be alerted about activity within an area. Facial recognition is being added for close contacts that you’ve tagged within your photos. Furthermore this feature will also extend to Apple’s own products such as HomePod. HomePod can alert you who is at the door, while Apple TV will display a video overlay from your security camera in the corner of your screen. Apple have said that all cameras connected to the Home App will be linked to tvOS14 as well as through the control center.
The Apple Arcade
Arcade on Apple TV is getting an upgrade in tvOS14. Multi-User support is coming and you can even pick up where you left off. Apple TV will also soon support Xbox Elite 2 controller as well as the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
Picture in Picture support is also coming to tvOS14.
A trailer for the Isaac Asimov’s Foundation was also shown at WWDC20
Airpods in general will now be able to automatically switch between Apple devices. For example, finish up a podcast on your phone and then more to your iPad to watch a movie. Airpods will connect to the iPad without having to tap through to a Bluetooth menu. This process will be the same on a Mac. Simply you’ll soon be able to change from one device to the next simultaneously. Additionally you’ll switch to your phone if you get a call.
Airpods Pro
Furthermore the audio quality with Airpods Pro is improving. They’ll soon support spatial audio for more immersive experiences. Apple have developed custom algorithms to power this so it sounds like you’re in a theatre. It will also adjust to where your head is too so the audio will stay fixed when you moved your head. It does this by using the accelerometers and the directional audio filters and subtle frequency adjustments for each ear. The spatial audio feature will feature 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atoms!
Apple’s huge focus for a long time has been user privacy. Therefore they’ve announced a bunch more improvements to this years set of updates. In every store (app store, mac app store) that Apple runs, developers will be required to show exactly what they tell Apple. That’s both data collection and tracking.
It will show all this information via a label which gives you the most important details. Saving users from having to read an entire privacy policy.
Locations services are getting a change. You can now decide to share a rough or less specific location are to a map. Therefore the app can’t track your movement as easily.
Tracking permissions across apps and websites are also having permissions added. This will make it easier to keep yourself private when browsing the internet.
Small additions to mic and camera indications is that they’ll get a small light in the indication bar. Showing you exactly when they’re being used.
Safari is getting privacy updates too, you’ll now have finer control over how long websites and extensions have access to your data. A privacy report shows up when you press the shield icon next ot hte URL bar. This will also show what trackers are on the page.
https://wp.freedomhost.uk/howtokillanhour/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/06/WWDC20.jpg551980billywrighthttp://wp.freedomofcreation.co.uk/howtokillanhour/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2017/09/htkah-web-logo-2017.pngbillywright2020-06-23 16:47:122020-06-24 15:19:50WWDC20: Everything that went down!
The lockdown has caused a lot of us to be either sitting down and playing video games or streaming our favourite shows on our prefered streaming services. Or on more than one if you are subscribed to more than one service. But which one of them is doing the best? Out of all of us, which streaming platform do we as a collective like the most?
To no one’s suprise really, the use of streaming services has increased during the pandemic. Netflix has profited from the pandemic with the most significant increase of +332%. Disney Plus followed with a 290% increase of usage on JustWatch. You can see the rise of each of the different streaming services below:
Streaming Service
Netflix
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Hulu
+% Increase since March 17th
332%
290%
266%
259%
So, are you surprised that Netflix is coming out on top? Did you think the giant that is Disney would have taken Netflix’s crown? Let us know what you think by contacting us via our socials! @howtokillanhour across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
First of all, we were very impressed! As TON of new products was announced at this years September Apple Event, including an impressive Apple Watch Series 5 and a brand new PRO line up of iPhones!
September Apple Event, a run down
Apple Arcade
At tonight’s Apple event, they revealed a price and a launch date for it’s subscription based Netflix style gaming service. It launches on the 19th September and will cost $4.99 p/m for a Family plan. Including a Frogger game from Konami, an underwater adventure game called Shinsekai from Capcom and a music based game from AnnaPurna, SayonaraWildheart. – Apple Arcade is US only at the moment, here’s hoping it comes the UK not too soon after launches in the US!
AppleTv+
Apple’s Netflix style film and tv show service, Apple TV+, now has a release date. 1st November 2019. It’s incredibly cheap at $4.99 and will begin streaming in over 100 countries. Nothing was mentioned about non Apple exclusives, so we’re going to assume that’s all that’s going to be available. Tim Cook stated during the keynote that each month new shows will be added to the platform.
Plus if you purchase an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Tv you’ll get a whole year for FREE!
Much like Disney’s service, Apple will be releasing a new episode each week, with 3 episodes being available at launch. While some shows will dump the whole season on you at once.
Apple Watch Series 5 was announced at September’s Apple Event, this time the Apple Watch comes with a brand new “Always On” display.
The screen will never go to sleep, allowing owners to always see the time and if you have fitness complications, see what your fitness stats are. While the screen will dim, it will always be visible. The display will help with power usage too, reducing the refresh rate down from 60hz to 1hz while not being used. The new Apple Watch will also have an ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness to your surroundings.
Features
The Apple Watch Series 5 comes with a built in compass with tools like an altimeter. Cellular owners of the Apple Watch Series 5 will have free emergency calling without needing to be linked to an iPhone. The Apple Watch has a noise meter on it to make sure your hearing isn’t affected. Also announced is a new Research App, where users can opt in to record their health data to be used in things such as the Apple Hearing Study, Apple Heart and Movement Study and Apple Women’s Health Study.
The Aluminium version comes in black, gold, polished metal and will be made out of 100% recycled aluminium. As with other generations of the Apple Watch, it’s also available in Stainless Steel, Titanium and ceramic models.
Prices in the US Start at $399 for regular and $499 for cellular. Series 3 gets a price cut to $199. So expect UK prices to be similar.
Apple Watch Series 5 pre-orders start today and will go on sale on 20th September.
The most popular iPad to date got a slight refresh at the September Apple Event, most notably bumping the screen from 9.2″ to 1o.2″
It comes with iPad OS built in, which means that there’ll be greater support for one handed use, extra gestures and improved support of the Apple Pencil. The new iPad 10.2″ comes equipped with the A10 chipset, improved smart connector for Keyboard Support, 8MP camera, AR support, Picture in Picture support and much like the Apple Watch Series 5, made from 100% recycled aluminium.
$329 so expect pricing in the UK to be about the same. Pre-orders open today and will ship at the end of the month.
The iPhone 11 is here and there is a HUGE focus on cameras. The iPhone 11 comes with a dual camera system, a 12MP 9f/1.8) lens and a 12MP (f/2.8) ultra wide angle lens.
Apple says that this has the capability of the equivalent of a 2x optical zoom out! The camera can also shoot 4k 60 fps on both the back AND front cameras. Including slo-motion on the front camera. Apple even showed off a quirky “slofies” promo video.
Other camera based features include automatic night mode detection, shooting video whilst in photo mode (simply hold the camera shutter down) and a zoom wheel.
Furthermore Apple showed off something called a Semantics Processor and “multiscale tone mapping.” So this means that the camera will be better at focusing on people and not blowing out the highlights. Apple also noted that the portrait mode will be better at taking portrait photos of pets.
Inside the iPhone 11 is the fastest CPU and GPU in any Smartphone the A13 bionic. Also, battery life has also improved by 1hr over the XR. The iPhone 11 also has spacial audio, Dolby Atmos and toughened glass on the front and back.
Prices start at $699 and will be available in purple, white, yellow, green, black and Product (Red)
Pre-Orders start on Friday ready for Sept 20th pick up.
The powerful models to the iPhone 11 were announced at this years Apple Event too. The iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Slightly different to the iPhone 11, the Pro models have a “surgical-grade stainless steel” case and matte finish and a lot more power on the insides.
Cameras
For example the iPhone 11 Pro models have an extra wide angle lens to the telephoto and standard camera. Similar to how the telephoto lens zooms in, the wide angle will allow uses to zoom out. Allowing you to capture more of your shot, without needing to step back. Therefore giving users a lot more flexibility and control when taking photos.
A new mode called “Deep Fusion” will take 9 photos across all three cameras, stitch them together, creating a single high quality image. Furthermore the third party app Filmic Pro will allow you to record from multiple cameras at once, including the selfie photo. So you’ll be able to get footage from the front shooter right alongside the rear camera, all at the same time! Much like it’s smaller counterpart. The iPhone Pro versions also have access to the night mode and slow motion features.
Insides
The Pro iPhones are powered by the A13 Bionic Processor, they also have brand new screens. Super Retina OLED screens which have a 2Million to one contrast ratio and have up to 1,200 nits of brightness. Which Apple claim are 15% more energy efficient than ever before. They also have HDR10 support and Dolby Vision. Furthermore they also have Dolby Atmos and Spacial audio much like the normal 11.
Furthermore, battery life has vastly improved over the XS, the 11 Pro will get 4hrs over the XS and the 11 Pro Max gets 5hrs more.
The iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999, the 11 Pro Max $1,099. Pre-orders start on Friday 13th Sept at 1pm BST and they’ll be available for pick up on Sept 20th.
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With the Apple TV app, you can now browse a wide variety of apps without ever having to switch between them. You’ll find films and programmes. Handpicked recommendations. And soon, live sport. The Apple TV app is already on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV — so get watching.
The Apple TV app works seamlessly across iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. So if you stop watching a film or programme halfway through, you can pick it up later on a different device. And in a different location.
You’ll find your iTunes purchases, your subscription services and a wide variety of free content on the Apple TV app. It even offers handpicked recommendations. Everything you want to watch is right within the Apple Tv app. (Apple)
Check your homepage after updating to the latest iOS, if, for whatever reason the Apple Tv App is not showing, you can download it here!
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Twitter are gearing up to steal Facebook’s live-video thunder and has launched a brand new app for your Apple Tv, Amazon Fire Tv and Xbox One! The app offers a lot of content for its users, of course live streaming content video from Periscope but also short clips from Vine. So you’re not far away from that latest meme!
This signals the move that Twitter is undergoing to get into the streaming atmosphere – it’s getting life underway in a big way with the streaming of the first of 10 big NFL games for all of our American listeners. Not only that but you can check out your timeline as you watch your live-streamed games!
To hear the guys talking about it on the most recent podcast please click here!
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Ever have something so good it got taken away before you could even have it? Well, it looks like this may be the case if things keep going the way they are! You boring lot you!
4K Blu Ray is the best visual/audio quality you can get for your home theatre. They look as good as they do in the cinema and they’re coming out in a few months but if the stats are to be accepted, it most likely will be ignored by you like that annoying ex thats really hot but also really crazy, so you got to stay strong!
Now to watch these 4K films you may need to put down a lot of money for a shiny new player, which in reality you wont need as you can already stream content in 4K!
Digital out sold physical-media purchases last year, clocking in at $8.9 billion compared with $8 billion and streaming subscriptions jumped 20 percent to reach $5.7 billion.
Its a lot easier to stream 4K for the regular Joe like you or I, than it is to buy new hardware, and for the industry folk, 4K Blu Ray is a lot harder to pass through all the legal hoops, for 4K Blu Ray to go ahead, you have to get all of the format partners to get on board and then convince the studios to get on board and then convince us to buy new players. When you can stream with no problem whatsoever & it is already available! So I don’t even know why we’re having this discussion!
One big problem with 4K streaming is that you need a solid internet connection (between 11Mbps and 15Mbps) to enjoy it today.
As history points out convenience always wins over quality when it comes to media formats. The unfortunate thing about 4K Blu-ray is that it lost the fight to streaming before it even arrived.
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