What’s new in iOS.

iOS 9 is full of enhancements you’ll appreciate every day. Your apps become more essential. New multitasking features on iPad make you even more productive. Siri can do more than ever, and new proactive suggestions help you get things done before you ask. And improvements at the foundation of the operating system deliver outstanding performance, better battery life and enhanced security. The more you do with iOS 9, the more you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

Built-in Apps

A new way to experience your news and great features for the apps you use every day.

iPad Experience

Do more on the big iPad display — in two apps at once.

Intelligence

iOS 9 gets even smarter. And proactive suggestions make your device even more helpful.

Foundation

Faster performance, improved security, convenient updates, and longer battery life.

Photo credit: YouTube

Google just unveiled some insane new technology

These new devices make Google Glass look like a DVD player.

MICHAEL HISCOCK

Google’s newest gadgets are bringing science fiction to real life.

The tech giant’s lab for advanced projects unveiled some of its hottest new innovations last Friday, which included finger control technology and a pair of smart jeans. As with all things Google, they proved extremely impressive.

We’ll start off with the finger control technology. Dubbed Project Soli, the gadget takes the form of a radar that can detect precise hand movements and translate them into commands. In other words, it’s just like touch screen technology, only it doesn’t require the screen. During a showcase, Google presenters were able to kick a virtual soccer ball by flicking their fingers, or shift the hours on a clock by turning an imaginary dial.

It actually functions a lot like the holograms in Tony Stark’s lab:

You can check it out in action below:

As for Google’s smart jeans, they’re about to blow your socks off. The company partnered with Levis and found a way to engineer conductive cloth that it says is “indistinguishable” from regular fabrics, and can be controlled by a chip the size of a button. That means Google can turn your pants or other clothing items into a touchpad.

Strangely, Google doesn’t really have many ideas for this new technology. The company is calling it a “blank canvas” for designers and developers, so it looks like the innovation will be up to third parties. The search engine giant is simply trying to perfect the art of marrying technology with clothing in a seamless way. You can check out the new jeans, codenamed Project Jacquard below:

iPhone 7

Apple won't release its next-generation iPhone until the fall of 2016, so there are still months of development ahead. For the current time, Apple's flagship iPhones are the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, released to the public in September of 2015.

Though it will be several months before the new iPhone 7 launches, rumors about the device started trickling out in January of 2016. We've already gleaned many details about the upcoming iPhone, giving us plenty of information on what to expect when it debuts.

Since the 3GS launched in 2009, Apple has used an alternating "S" naming formula to mark years where the iPhone does not receive a major redesign, saving its numbered upgrades for years where design changes are introduced. Releases have been as follows:

2007 - iPhone
2008 - iPhone 3G
2009 - iPhone 3GS
2010 - iPhone 4 (new design)
2011 - iPhone 4s
2012 - iPhone 5 (new design)
2013 - iPhone 5s
2014 - iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (new design)
2015 - iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

The next-generation iPhone is expected to be called the iPhone 7, but there have been some rumors suggesting Apple could drop its standard numbered naming convention, instead calling the 2016 iPhone the "iPhone Pro." It is unclear at this point if those rumors are accurate.

Because 2015 marked an "S" iPhone upgrade year that introduced new features such as an improved camera and a better processor, 2016 will bring an even-year upgrade that will include a new iPhone design in addition to new features.

Apple will continue releasing two versions of each iPhone, so we can expect to see an iPhone 7 and an iPhone 7 Plus in 2016. Apple is said to be planning to stick to the 4.7- and 5.5-inch screen sizes it first introduced with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Apple is still working on finalizing the iPhone 7's body so we don't know exactly what it will look like, but multiple rumors suggest it will be a modest update that continues to use a design similar to the design of the iPhone 6s. It is said to have the same general shape as the iPhone 6s, but it may have a camera that protrudes less (though rumors currently disagree on this point). Antenna bands across the back of the device have been removed, but are expected to remain at the top, bottom, and sides of the iPhone.

Mockup of iPhone 7 case showing possible flush rear camera and no antenna bands across rear.

Some rumors suggest Apple is aiming to make the iPhone 7 thinner, perhaps through the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack and the implementation of a thinner Lightning port, but other rumors suggest the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will have a body that is the same thickness as the iPhone 6s.

With no headphone jack, wired headphones will connect to the iPhone 7 using its Lightning port and Bluetooth headphones will connect wirelessly. Apple is rumored to be working on Lightning-equipped EarPods to sell alongside the iPhone 7.

Blueprints and an image of a device said to be the iPhone 7 Plus have surfaced depicting a Smart Connector on the back of the shell, suggesting that is another potential feature, but it is not yet clear what it would be used for and other rumors have said it will not be included. If the Smart Connector rumors are accurate, it appears it will be a feature limited to the larger-screened model.

Internal specs for the iPhone 7 aren't yet known, but we can speculate Apple will continue on its path of introducing more powerful, efficient devices with each design iteration. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to include next-generation A10 processors manufactured by TSMC.

There are rumored to be some distinguishing features between the iPhone 7 and the larger-screened iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 may ship with 2GB RAM, while the iPhone 7 Plus could include 3GB RAM, and there is said to be a different camera system in the iPhone 7 Plus that uses two cameras instead of one with 2-3x optical zoom and improved performance in low-light conditions. The iPhone 7 will likely continue to use a standard single-lens camera as multiple sources have said the dual lens camera is exclusive to the 5.5-inch iPhone.

Part Leaks

A photo of a full device said to be the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus was leaked on a Chinese website in March. It features a design similar in shape to the iPhone 6s, but without rear antenna bands. It has a protruding, pill-shaped camera enclosure that includes two cameras inside, as is rumored for the larger-screened device, along with a round flash.

It also depicts a Smart Connector on the back of the iPhone, but rumors disagree on whether this is a feature that will actually be included. It's been seen on the back of this device and in iPhone 7 Plus blueprints, but according to to Japanese site Mac Otakara, Apple has decided not to include a Smart Connector on the iPhone 7.

It is not known if the device in the images is a genuine iPhone 7 Plus prototype, a dummy based on iPhone 7 Plus specifications, or a completely fake device.

A rear casing said to be for the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 was discovered on Weibo in May, matching many of the features rumored for the device. It includes a larger protruding rear camera and top and bottom antenna bands, but no rear antenna bands and no Smart Connector. Rumors have disagreed on whether the rear camera of the iPhone 7 will protrude.

An image depicting a Lightning cable assembly that could potentially be destined for the iPhone 7 surfaced in early May, which is notable because it features a headphone jack amid rumors the headphone jack is being eliminated in the iPhone 7. The part is similar in design to the Lightning cable assembly for the iPhone 6s, but not identical. While it could be an iPhone 7 part, its origin cannot be confirmed so it is not clear if it is indeed a legitimate iPhone 7 component.

If it is a valid part, it suggests reports Apple will eliminate the headphone jack are incorrect or partially incorrect. Apple could leave the headphone jack in place on both the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus rendering rumors fully wrong, or remove it on just the larger iPhone 7 Plus, leaving it intact on the iPhone 7. The component does not mesh with multiple rumors pointing towards the removal of the headphone jack, so it should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed as an actual part.

Images depicting what could potentially be the dual-lens camera component for the iPhone 7 Plus surfaced from multiple sources in the early months of 2016. The part has an "821" number on it, which has been associated with Apple in the past, suggesting it could be a legitimate component.

An image of the battery said to be for the iPhone 7 lists a capacity of 7.04 watt-hours. That's slightly larger than the equivalent battery capacity listed for the iPhone 6s (6.61 watt-hours) and almost identical to the iPhone 6 (7.01 watt-hours). Voltage is not visible on the alleged iPhone 7 battery, so the exact charge capacity is not yet available, but should be similar to the iPhone 6 battery.

We've seen a backlight assembly said to be destined for the iPhone 7, which surfaced in January of 2016. We can't really glean any information about the iPhone 7 from the backlight component, but it is similar in design to the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus backlight assembly with the exception of relocated LCD flex cables and 3D Touch chip.

An alleged iPhone 7 prototype casing surfaced in May, depicting four separate speakers positioned at the top and the bottom of the device much like the iPad Pro. Because the four speaker layout has not been spotted in other renderings and design leaks, there's a good chance it's fake.

Case Leaks, Design Drawings and Renderings

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus blueprints reportedly sourced directly from Taiwan-based Apple supplier Catcher were leaked in May, appearing to confirm the removal of the headphone jack in both models. The two designs in the blueprints also feature protruding cameras, with the iPhone 7 using a larger single camera and the iPhone 7 Plus adopting a dual-lens camera as has been rumored. There is no second speaker in place to replace the headphone jack, casting doubt on rumors suggesting the devices will have stereo sound.

iPhone 7 blueprint

The first image (above) depicts the blueprint of the iPhone 7, with no Smart Connector located on the rear of the device. There have been conflicting rumors on whether the iPhone 7 will include a Smart Connector, but the second blueprint (below) depicts the iPhone 7 Plus with a Smart Connector, suggesting the larger-screened iPhone will include the connector while the smaller iPhone 7 will not.

iPhone 7 Plus blueprint

Both devices continue to feature a design similar to the design of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which is in line with past rumors. The antenna bands are not pictured in the images, and previous rumors suggest they will be removed from the back of the device while remaining present on the sides of the device.

A third image also allegedly sourced from Apple manufacturer Catcher Technology featuring the iPhone 7 depicts the same design changes.

The Catcher schematic features a larger camera hole, with a slightly protruding lens that is less pronounced than the protruding lens in the iPhone 6s. The Catcher images do not appear to depict a device that is significantly thinner, casting some doubt on rumors suggesting the iPhone 7 could be up to a millimeter thinner than the iPhone 6s and as thin as the 6.1mm iPod touch.

Nowhereelse.fr's Steve Hemmerstoffer created a rendering of the camera design based on the above Catcher schematic, which can be seen below, giving us a better look at the camera design changes on the iPhone 7.

Japanese magazine MacFan published design drawings of the iPhone 7 Plus, which are in line with rumors that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will feature largely the same design as the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The schematics, which depict the 5.5-inch iPhone, say the iPhone 7 Plus will measure in at 158.22mm x 77.94mm x 7.3mm, identical to the dimensions of the iPhone 6s Plus.

The design drawings also depict the dual camera setup rumored for the iPhone 7 Plus and no headphone jack. Not pictured is a second speaker to replace the headphone jack, which disagrees with some rumors suggesting stereo sound will be an included feature.

A set of molds said to be for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus include a single-lens camera for the smaller device and a dual-lens camera for the smaller device. In line with past rumors, the iPhone 7 mold appears to depict a larger camera, perhaps to accommodate an improved sensor. Both cameras protrude, a design element rumors have disagreed on.

Neither mold depicts a Smart Connector, casting some doubt on rumors that have suggested a Smart Connector will be a feature included on the iPhone 7 Plus. At this point, it is not clear which Smart Connector rumor is accurate.

A sketch of the iPhone 7 from a French website includes the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the device, again pointing towards an iPhone that is the same length and width as the iPhone 6s (5.44 inches long and 2.64 inches wide). Thickness is not included in the design drawing and previous rumors have disagreed on whether or not the new iPhone 7 will be thinner than the iPhone 6s. The sketch also appears to depict a slightly larger camera, which agrees with rumors suggesting the smaller-screened iPhone 7 will include a larger camera sensor.

The first alleged case for the iPhone 7 surfaced in March, with the overall design appearing to be similar to the iPhone 6s. It features the same pill-shaped volume buttons and side-located power buttons, but it has cutouts for two speakers, in line with one rumor suggesting the iPhone 7 will have stereo speakers.

The two speaker cutouts replace the cutout for a headphone jack, which is said to be eliminated in the iPhone 7 in favor of an all-in-one Lightning port, but later rumors have suggested there will only be a single speaker.

The iPhone 7 case was compared to an iPhone 6s on YouTube, and while the older device fit into the iPhone 7 case (suggesting the new phone won't be dramatically thinner), there were some differences. The iPhone 7 case appears to have a larger opening for the camera, which could be designed to accommodate a larger single-lens camera on the iPhone 7.

Because the iPhone 6s fit almost perfectly into the iPhone 7 case, it's likelyt it won't be as thin as some rumors have suggested.

Early cases for new devices are often based on schematics obtained from factory workers and other inside sources and can give a solid picture of upcoming iPhone designs, but they are not always accurate.

Design

The iPhone 7 may be somewhat thinner than the iPhone 6s, but exactly how thin remains in question. Apple may use the elimination of the headphone jack, advances in chip packing technology, and a slimmer Lightning port to cut down on the thickness of the device. One rumor has suggested the iPhone 7 will be between 6.0mm and 6.5mm, but leaked renderings and cases do not appear to depict a device that thin, and design drawings from Japanese magazine MacFan feature no reduction in thickness at all.

Information obtained by MacRumors and confirmed by additional reports indicates the iPhone 7's body will be similar to the iPhone 6s, adopting the same general design language.

Apple is planning to change the design of the antenna bands on the device, doing away with the thick white antenna bands that are located across the back of the Phone 6s rear shell. The bands located at the top, bottom, and sides of the device are rumored to remain on the iPhone 7, but the rear bands are eliminated for a cleaner look. As for the thinner Lightning port, while Apple plans to slim it down, it will continue to be compatible with existing the Lightning connector and Lightning cables.

A mockup of what the iPhone 7 may look like. It is said to have a design similar to the iPhone 6s, with a slightly thinner body and no antenna bands across the middle of device's rear shell.

Rumors on the rear camera have varied. Some rumors point towards a camera that protrudes less or not at all, while an image of an alleged iPhone 7 Plus features a camera that continues to protrude. The iPhone 7 will feature a larger camera sensor while the iPhone 7 Plus will include a dual-lens camera.

Some unconfirmed rumors about the iPhone 7's design suggest it could have a strengthened, water resistant frame that ditches Apple's traditional aluminum casing for "new compound materials while also incorporating a touch sensitive Home button, but these rumors do not mesh with information pointing towards minor design changes.

A report from >Mac Otakara says the iPhone 7 will use the same aluminum that's used in the iPhone 6s and it will be no more water resistant, while multiple reports from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo point towards a modest update for the iPhone 7 without "many attractive selling points."

No Headphone Jack

Captain America 3- Civil War - official international trailer (2016) Chris Evans

Captain America is doing a great job - Saving the world.

Is Apple really building an iOS to Android migration tool?

Apple is rumored to be working on a tool that will make it easier for iOS users to migrate to Android, following pressure from major European mobile operators. The carriers apparently believe that it is too difficult for their iPhone-toting customers to switch to a device running the more popular operating system, which severely limits their options come upgrade time.

Apple actually has a similar tool, but it is there to help Android users migrate to iOS, and not the other way around. Developing a tool that would basically enable it to (more quickly) lose customers to major rivals, like Samsung, sounds like Apple agreeing to shooting itself in the foot. But is the iPhone maker actually building it?

First of all, it makes little sense for Apple to even consider it because the company is not in a dominant position, where it would risk facing scrutiny from the EU. That would be Google with its Android, which dominates the smartphone market in Europe.

The market share of iPhones in the five largest local markets is 20 percent, while Android smartphones rule the market with a 70.9 percent share. If anything, it would more make sense for Apple to defend its position even more and try to "steal" more users from fellow vendors. In fact, in the third quarter of 2015, 30 percent of consumers who purchased a new iPhone were Android switchers.

At the same time, it would also make more sense for mobile operators to ask Google to build such a tool to help Android users make the switch to an iOS device. After all, Android is the unchallenged leader.

What's more, Apple has flat out denied that such a tool is in the works. "There is no truth to this rumor", says the company's Trudy Muller. "We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great".

The rumored tool is said to be designed so that customers can quickly transfer data like contacts, music and photos. But is it really needed? The availability of cloud services like Gmail and Google Drive make it easy for consumers to have the same data across a number of different platforms, and, if that's not enough, there is already a guide that Google has releasedwhich explains how potential consumers can migrate pretty much everything they would want to transfer from an iOS device to an Android handset.

AT&T chooses Ubuntu Linux instead of Microsoft Windows

While Linux's share of the desktop pie is still virtually nonexistent, it owns two arguably more important markets -- servers and smartphones. As PC sales decline dramatically, Android phones are continually a runaway market share leader. In other words, fewer people are buying Windows computers -- and likely spending less time using them -- while everyone and their mother are glued to their phones. And those phones are most likely powered by the Linux kernel.

Speaking of smartphones, one of the largest cellular providers is the venerable AT&T. While it sells many Linux-powered Android devices, it is now embracing the open source kernel in a new way. You see, the company has partnered with Canonical to utilize Ubuntu for cloud, network, and enterprise applications. That's right, AT&T did not choose Microsoft's Windows when exploring options. Canonical will provide continued engineering support too.

"By tapping into the latest technologies and open principles, AT&T’s network of the future will deliver what our customers want, when they want it. We're reinventing how we scale by becoming simpler and modular, similar to how applications have evolved in cloud data centers. Open source and OpenStack innovations represent a unique opportunity to meet these requirements and Canonical’s cloud and open source expertise make them a good choice for AT&T", says Toby Ford, Assistant Vice President of Cloud Technology, Strategy and Planning at AT&T.

John Zannos, Vice President of Cloud Alliances and Business Development at Canonical explains, "this is important for Canonical. AT&T's scalable and open future network utilizes the best of Canonical innovation. AT&T selecting us to support its effort in cloud, enterprise applications and the network provides the opportunity to innovate with AT&T around the next generation of the software-centric network and cloud solutions. Ubuntu is the Operating System of the Cloud and this relationship allows us to bring our engineering expertise around Ubuntu, cloud and open source to AT&T".

This is a great example of a technological mutualistic relationship. Obviously, Canonical is the big winner here, as AT&T is a huge partner -- it should inject some much needed money into the growing company. With that said, AT&T is benefiting too -- utilizing Linux and other open source technologies is a smart, cost-effective, way to retain flexibility. In other words, the company is wise to choose Ubuntu.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is always filled to the brim with thousands and thousands of gadgets. Some of these are obviously useful, but many, many others are baffling in their inanity, audacity, and just plain weirdness. Imagine if you took the products from a Skymall in-flight catalog, amped up the oddity by a factor of eleven, and infused them with millions of dollars of venture capital and crowdfunding donations and the latest technological bells and whistles. That's CES.

And CES 2016 was full of stranger products than many gadget shows of the past few years, which is really saying something. Take a look at some of the ones that stood out to the Popular Science crew and left us reaching once again for that all-too familiar phrase: "WTF CES?"

Follow all of our coverage from CES 2016, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, full of weird and wonderful gadgets from around the world.