What to Expect from Apple in 2020

In the 133rd episode, David and Donna discuss Apple’s evolving plans for 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Topics include the new iPad Pro with trackpad support, production of 5G iPhones with flat edges, a budget HomePod, and Apple’s partnership with Google to bring COVID-19 contact tracing to smartphones.

 

 

Click here to listen and subscribe. If you like what you hear, be sure to leave a review. And remember to tune in every other week to hear our editors share with you the latest Apple news, best apps, iPhone tricks, and coolest accessories.

This episode was brought to you by: 

• OWC Envoy Pro EX (Starting at $89.99): Improve your workflow with the estorage solution from OWC. The OWC Envoy Pro EX with USB-C is slim and portable. But don’t let its size fool you; this small external drive quickly and safely stores up to 2 terabytes of your work. That’s a lot of storage for such a slim device, and that’s not the only thing you’ll love about the Envoy Pro EX. Your data and financial investment are safe with the OWC Envoy Pro EX with USB-C.
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Question of the week:

Do you plan to opt in to Apple and Google's contact tracing project to help slow the spread of the coronavirus? Why or why not? How would you feel about mandatory tracking as opposed to the opt-in only plan Apple and Google have committed to? Email podcast@iphonelife.com with your thoughts!

Click to Obtain your iPhone 11

Articles referred to in this episode:

• Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology
• Apple Plans iPad-Like Design for Next iPhone, Smaller HomePod
• Apple unveils new iPad Pro with breakthrough LiDAR Scanner and brings trackpad support to iPadOS
• How to Ask Siri About COVID-19 & Get Help Fast
• Enroll in our free class: Staying Connected from Home
• Vox The Weeds Podcast - How Does This End?

 

 

 

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Samsung’s 2020 QLED TV Lineup Named Best-In-Class by Global Media Outlets

 

Samsung Electronics’ 2020 TV lineup has already made its mark on the industry, receiving recognition from leading industry media through accolades for leading device and feature innovation.

 

At this year’s CES, Samsung unveiled their very latest QLED 8K and 4K lineup, new TVs that combine cutting-edge picture and sound innovations with premium designs to offer users unparalleled new viewing experiences. Several leading consumer technology publications in the U.S. and the U.K have subsequently awarded Samsung’s latest QLED 8K and 4K lineups with some of their top distinctions, highlighting the TVs’ stand-out picture quality, sound enhancements and design innovations.

 

Read on for some of the award-winning TVs and their best-in-class features.

 

 

Award-Winning Advancements

 

Samsung’s QLED 8K Q950TS/Q900T received high praise from Forbes for its picture quality and design, with the outlet highlighting how the TV’s upscaling technology produced a sense of depth, texture and detail – for example of tiny figures walking down a distant street – to singular effect. The Q950TS was also awarded the ‘Best in Class’ distinction by U.K. outlet AV Forums. AV Forums applauded the Q950TS’ new ‘Infinity’ design, which features minimized borders at the edge of the display and is only 15mm deep, and praised the device as “an impressively specified 8K TV that boasts a host of high-end features.”

 

 

The QLED 8K Q800T received both a five-star review and the Editor’s Choice Award from U.S. outlets HD Guru and Tech Aeris respectively. HD Guru praised the Q800T, along with the rest of Samsung’s 8K TV lineup, for their best-in-class image and sound processing systems, noting that the greater pixel density provided by the Q800T’s 8K delivers accurate color reproduction, 100% color volume and overall HDR performance, even for images with fine shadow detail. Tech Aeris cited the device’s design aesthetic as its winning feature, praising that, with the bezels at a thinner footprint than ever before, “it really does make this QLED TV look as if it’s floating in front of you.”

 

 

The QLED 4K Q90T has become one of U.S. outlet AVS Forums’ ‘Top Choice 2020’ by merit of its 4K display’s versatility and performance, citing its refined technologies, such as the TV’s sharpening algorithms and their ability to effectively bring out texture and detail, as offering the best 4K QLED performance yet.

 

 

A Bright Future

“Our 2020 QLED 8K and 4K TV lineups bring together Samsung’s industry leading picture quality, cutting-edge design and dynamic sound experiences,” noted Jongsuk Chu, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “These awards and distinctions underpin our relentless commitment to delivering advanced breakthroughs for consumers that are as useful as they are innovative.”

 

For more information on Samsung’s award-winning 2020 QLED 8K and 4K TV lineups along with the company’s other leading TV & audio innovations, visit news.samsung.com/global/category/products/tv-audio.

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Logitech Harmony Express Review: Alexa-based Universal Remote

I have been a customer of Logitech Harmony remotes since the beginning, before Logitech acquired the Harmony Remote Control company, so I am always excited when the company introduces a new model. The latest is the Harmony Express ($249.99) and they kindly sent me a review unit to try. Compared to the traditional models, the Express is much more compact and sleek. And since it's so small, it's nice to know you can use the app to find the remote control. It charges using a microUSB cable (included) and not a cradle as other models do. I would have preferred USB-C or, better yet, Qi-based wireless charging so I could just place the remote on a charging pad.

Related: How to Connect & Set Up Your Apple TV & Apple TV Remote

The big difference with this model is that it supports voice-activated control of your home theater devices. Given the Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV remotes that also support Siri and Alexa, respectively, this is overdue. However, you have to touch the button to activate voice commands. My preference is to leverage always-on Alexa devices like the Echo Dot, which already integrate with Logitech Harmony hubs, so I can simply say, "Alexa, turn the TV on to channel 356," and so on. The other Harmony remotes use a sophisticated and complex app, but the Express has its own minimalist app with quicker and easier setup. Like other Harmony remotes, it includes an IR blaster for better coverage of devices which may be hidden in a cabinet.

Pros

• Sleek compact design
• Voice-activated control of home theater
• Recharges via microUSB
• Minimalist app with easy setup
• Includes IR blaster for better coverage
• Use app to find remote

Cons

• Does not use USB-C or Qi wireless charging
• No screen or keypad may be a drawback for some users
• Voice activation requires pressing a button

Final Verdict

The Harmony Express might be best suited for streamers who don't need to enter channel numbers and want to use voice control as much as possible.

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