iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2, tvOS 11.2.5 Updates Now Available to Download: What's New

Apple has released iOS 11.2.5 as the next update to the iOS 11 family. The new version is not full of many great features, unlike some of the past releases, but it does include the ability for Siri to read news - initially exclusive to the US, UK, and Australia. The iOS update also brings HomePod support ahead of its formal launch that is scheduled for February 9. Separately, Apple has also pushed watchOS 4.2.2 and tvOS 11.2.5.

Among other features, the iOS 11.2.5 updatefinally empowers Siri to read news, a feature that would make Apple's voice assistant a stronger contender against Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. Users in the US, UK, and Australia can initially avail the new feature and catch all the latest happenings from the world of sports, business, and music. If you're living in the supported regions, you just need to ask, "Hey Siri, read the news." You can also pick a specific news category to precisely listening to what's new in the section that interests you the most.

Folks at 9to5Mac have reported that Siri by default plays a daily news feed from The Washington Post, while users can switch sources to Fox News, CNN, or NPR as well. There is no word on the mass availability of Siri as a newsreader on iOS devices. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the US, UK, and Australia are also the first regions where the HomePod is debuting next month.

Apart from the news reading option, the iOS 11.2.5 update comes with HomePod support. This allows you to set up and automatically transfer your Apple ID, Apple Music, Siri, and Wi-Fi settings directly to your HomePod unit. The same HomePod support was initially spotted in the iOS 11.2.5 beta.

The iOS 11.2.5 update also addresses an issue that could cause the Phone app to display incomplete information in the call list and fixes the issue that disabled Mail notifications on the Lock screen specifically from some Exchange accounts when unlocking iPhone X with Face ID. Further, there are bug fixes for issues such as the one that could cause Messages conversations to temporarily be listed out of order and CarPlay making Now Playing controls unresponsive after changing multiple tracks. The update also adds the ability for VoiceOver to announce playback destinations and AirPod battery level. Besides, the new iOS version is expected to include a fix for the chaiOS message bug that was discovered earlier this month. The security update contents of iOS 11.2.5 can be found here,

You can download the iOS 11.2.5 update on iPhone 5s and above models, iPad Air and above models, iPad mini 2 and above models, or the sixth generation iPod touch. To download the update, you need to go to Settings > General > Software Update and then follow the on-screen instructions. Your device should be running on a Wi-Fi connection to download the over-the-air (OTA) update. Also, it is advisable to back up your data before beginning the update process.

watchOS 4.2.2 and tvOS 11.2.5

In addition to the iOS 11.2.5 rollout, Apple has released watchOS 4.2.2 for all Apple Watch models, including the Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3, and tvOS 11.1 for the fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV devices. The current watchOS build is 15S542, while the new tvOS build is 15K552.

The watchOS 4.2.2 update has some unspecified improvements and bug fixes. Some watchOS beta testers have reported that the update basically makes the navigation in the redesigned Workouts app faster. We can also expect an overall uplift in the performance of all the Apple Watch models through the latest software version. There are numerous security fixes in the watchOS 4.2.2 update however, including those in audio, Bluetooth, kernel, and WebKit.

Here's how you can update your Apple Watch to watchOS 4.2.2. First, you need to have at least 50 percent charge on the Apple Watch before you start the update - it is also recommended to keep it charging while updating. Your iPhone will to be in close proximity to the Apple Watch and will need to be on Wi-Fi. After this, users will need to launch the Watch app on their iPhone and head to the My Watch tab and then General > Software Update. Enter the Watch passcode if prompted and then follow the prompts from your iPhone. The Apple Watch should restart twice before the update is completed.

Similar to the latest watchOS version, the tvOS 11.2.5 doesn't have a feature-rich changelog, beyond "general performance and stability improvements". It simply enables the compatible Apple TV models to display a Now Playing tile in the Control Center on iPhone and iPad. This comes as an early part of AirPlay 2 that would debut sometime later this year. There are several security fixes available in the update however.

To update your Apple TV to tvOS 11.2.5, you need to open the Settings app on your TV and then navigate to Settings > Systems > Software Update. Once this is done, the Apple TV will search for the update and you can proceed to download tvOS 11.2.5 following the on-screen instructions.

Alongside the new iOS, watchOS, and tvOS updates, Apple has also released macOS El Capitan 10.11.6, macOS Sierra 10.12.6, and macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. The new macOS El Capitan and macOS Sierra updates prominently fix the recently discovered Meltdown bug.

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Instagram Stories Get GIF Stickers With Access to Giphy Database

Facebook-owned image sharing platform Instagram has collaborated with Giphy to announce the rollout of a new millennial-focused feature on its Android and iOS app. Starting Tuesday, GIF stickers will be available globally as a part of the Stickers tab in Instagram Stories. Instagram Stories were first revealed back in August 2016. In this time, it has grown to 300 million DAU (Daily Active Users).

Thanks to the partnership with Giphy, Instagram users can now add funny GIF stickers to their public and private stories. "Users can add as many stickers as they'd like from a growing library, and will have hand-curated recommendations to turn even their seemingly mundane moments into fun, expressive and artistic moments to share," Instagram stated. GIF stickers will be available as part of version 29 on Android and iOS.

The feature was first spotted by The Next Web in a beta update in November 2017. Gadgets 360 got early access to the official update and here are our initial impressions of GIF stickers.

GIF stickers on Instagram Stories
To access the new feature, you need to take a photo, choose one from the gallery, or record a video on the Instagram Stories tab in the app. Next, click on the Stickers icon on the top right of the screen. Within the list, you will find the new GIF button to add the animated stickers to the photo or video you chose.

Clicking on the button will take you to a list of the top trending GIF stickers. You can now choose from any of the stickers you like and place it anywhere on the image or video. You can resize the GIF sticker, place more stickers, and add text as usual. You can also tap on the GIF sticker to reverse it.
The GIF search library is commendable, and you can search for hundreds of thousands of stickers present in Giphy's GIF database. Instagram has kept things minimal without too many additional options, a good thing for social media apps. Its sibling Facebook Messenger could probably learn a thing or two.

In our testing of the feature, we searched for GIF stickers of pop culture characters like Michael Scott from The Office, Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother, Jon Snow from Game of Thrones, among others, and were impressed with the variety of stickers available for use.

Instagram recommends searching for keywords like "Accessories" to find interesting face stickers such as sunglasses, hats, lips, and so on. Searching for "Effects" will return results of stickers that you can use to enhance the ambience in your story. Additionally, stickers in the "Peekers" category give a 3D illusion; they pop up and disappear.

Alternatively, you can search for "Word Art" to get fancy words in the form of a GIF; or even search for "Emoji" to get some special emoji packs.

How it fares against competition
In terms of market size, Instagram Stories only has 'competition' from the likes of WhatsApp Stories. In terms of features though, Instagram is known to borrow several features from Snapchat in the past. Things like face filters, self-destructing private stories, and regular stickers were first seen on Snapchat. At the time of writing, Snapchat does offer animated stickers albeit with an extremely limited library. It does, however, claim that seasonal stickers are released around events like Christmas.

With the Giphy partnership, Instagram has reiterated its stronghold in the market and given users yet another chance to interact on the platform. Instagram's next public announcement will be when we find out whether users spend time on the new feature or not.

"In the coming weeks, we're also rolling out the ability to upload photos and videos of any size to your story - so you never have to lose part of a photo or cut a friend out of a group video," said Instagram in a blog post. However, we are already able to see this feature on Instagram Stories.

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Snapchat to Let Users Share Stories Outside the App With a Link

Snap said it is launching a new feature on Snapchat on Tuesday, allowing users to share public stories with friends and family who aren't on the app.

The company, which reported lower-than-expected 178 million daily active users in the third quarter ended September 30, has been trying to attract new users and rolling out features, aiming to increase the time users spend on the app.

Snap's shares were up about 1 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday.
Snapchat users will be able to press and hold on the tiles in Discover feature to share Official Stories, Our Stories and Search Stories via a shareable link, the company said. These links will then open through a player on Snap's website.

Snapchat, known for its messages that disappear seconds after they are read, said Our Stories and Search Stories will be available on the website for 30 days, while Official Stories will disappear after 24 hours.

The company also added that it is not ruling out monetisation of the stories.
Earlier this month, Snap said it would partner with Fox Sports to showcase stories with matchday highlights on the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament to be hosted in Russia later this year.

The Snapchat app was revamped last November to simplify navigation after complaints that it was difficult to use.

© Thomson Reuters 2018

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Xiaomi Surge S2 Leaked Ahead of MWC 2018

While Xiaomi is all set to showcase its new offerings at MWC 2018, specifications of the Surge S2 have now surfaced online to hint at what's cooking up behind the scenes. The new SoC, which is likely to be the successor of the Surge S1 that was debuted at MWC 2017 in last February, is speculated to power the Xiaomi Mi 6X. The rumoured smartphone is presumed to be available worldwide as Xiaomi Mi A2, the new version of the Mi A1 Android One handset. An image of a back cover, allegedly showing the Mi 6X, has already been leaked to give a glimpse at the design of the new handset.

As per the details available on MyDrivers, the Surge S2 is based on TSMC's 16nm manufacturing process - featuring an octa-core processor. The SoC is reported to have four cores of Cortex-A73, clocked at 2.2GHz, and four cores of 1.8GHz Cortex-A53. Further, the processor is said to have a Mali G71 MP8 GPU as well as come with support for UFS 2.1 storage and LPDDR4 RAM. All these details suggest that the processing capabilities of the new Surge chip would be in line with high-end processor options such as Huawei's Kirin 960 and Samsung's Exynos 8890.

It is unclear whether the Surge S2 will be a part of various new Xiaomi smartphones. However, the Mi 6X is expected to be the first to include the new SoC. The smartphone appears to be the successor of the Mi 5X that had been rebranded as the Mi A1 in the global markets. Therefore, it is likely to be the Mi A2.

The leaked image of the Xiaomi Mi 6X case suggests that smartphone would come with a thin-bezel display and a vertical dual-camera setup. Also, the image shows a circular home button in the middle of the rear panel of the smartphone that could be there to provide a room for a fingerprint sensor.

Alongside the Surge S2 and the Mi 6X, Xiaomi is in the headlines for preparing the launch of the Mi 7. The next flagship model is likely to be the key offering by the Shenzhen-based at the forthcoming MWC in Barcelona. It is already confirmed to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC.

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Uber's $3 Million Settlement With New York Drivers Rejected by US Judge

A federal judge refused to grant preliminary approval for Uber Technologies's proposed $3 million class-action settlement with 2,421 New York drivers who accused the ride-sharing company of retaining excessive fees from their fares.

In a decision on Friday, US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn objected to a provision allowing the revival of breach of contract claims he had dismissed, so long as the settlement won final approval.

Garaufis said such a "conditional stipulation" appeared to leave "in limbo" whether the settling drivers' claims had enough in common for him to approve the proposed settlement.

The judge also objected to a $2,500 payment to a driver whose claims had been deemed subject to arbitration. Garaufis said the drivers could submit a revised settlement for approval.

"We anticipate refiling our motion early this week," Jonathan Greenbaum, a lawyer for the drivers, said on Monday.

Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Drivers had accused Uber of accounting improperly for sales taxes and a "Black Car Fund" fee, which relates to workers' compensation, in fares when calculating service fees, thereby increasing the amounts owed.

They also accused the San Francisco-based company Uber of falsely advertising guaranteed compensation for drivers without disclosing the conditions.

Uber has denied all allegations.

The settlement covered drivers who used the Uber app to arrange rides in New York since December 29, 2009, and whose claims were not subject to arbitration.

It was reached after Uber paid more than $80 million to roughly 96,000 drivers in New York, following its admission that it had inadvertently underpaid drivers for two-and-a-half years, court papers show.

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Sony's Xperia XZ Pro will ditch headphone jack, probably

SONY NEXT FLAGSHIP SMARTPHONE, the so-called Xperia XZ Pro, will be the firm's first device to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. 

That's according to an FCC filing, which depicts a Sony device in 'Charging Mode' sporting a dongle that splits into a USB port and a headphone jack. This dongle (below) slots into the handset's USB-C port, and will offer users the option to listen to music while the phone is re-juicing. 

While it's not clear whether the device in question is the rumoured Xperia XZ Pro, it's listed dimensions come in at 52.8x72.4mm, so it's got more than enough room to squeeze in the handset's mooted 5.7in 4K-resolution OLED display.

That ain't all we know about the Sony Xperia XZ Pro, either. Chinese site MyDrivers last week revealed that the flagship mobe will be unveiled during next month's MWC in Barcelona as the successor to last year's Xperia XZ Premium. 

The website also claims to have got its hands on the smartphone's specs. As well as outing the phone's high-res screen, which MyDriversclaims will be largely "bezel-free", the Xperia XZ Pro will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm's 10nm Snapdragon 845 processor will apparently provide the power, despite speculation that Samsung had first dibs on the SoC for its Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus processor.

This will come paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB built-in storage, according to the report, and there's also a microSD slot and a beefy 3,420mAh battery.

On the photography front, expect a dual camera setup comprising of an 18MP shooter with a 1.33μm pixel size and a 12MP camera with a 1.38μm pixel size. The front-facing camera is said to weight in at 13MP, but no further details have yet been revealed.

The Sony Xperia XZ Pro will also pack an IP68-certified chassis and will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo. 

MyDrivers claims that the handset will fetch 6000 yuan ($930, £675) when it goes on sale, but no release date has been confirmed yet.

This MWC launch will follow Sony's underwhelming CES presser, where it unveiled a trio of mid-range smartphones: the Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra and Xperia L2. 

The highlight of the middling lineup is the Xperia XA2, which packs a 5.2in Full HD screen, a Snapdragon 630 processor paired with 3GB RAM and a 23MP rear-facing camera, complete with hybrid autofocus, support for 4K video recording plus 120fps slow-motion shooting.

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