Monday, 1 June 2020

Apple Retailers Cut iPhone Prices in China for 6.18 Shopping Festival

Apple is dropping prices on the iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max in China in celebration of the 6.18 shopping festival, reports CNBC.


Apple has cut prices on its official store on the Alibaba-owned Tmall, and JD.com, an Apple reseller, is also offering significant discounts. This is the second time that Apple has participated in the 6.18 event.
On Tmall, users can buy an ‌iPhone 11‌ 64GB model for 4,779 yuan ($669.59), down around 13% from its original 5,499 yuan selling price. The ‌iPhone 11 Pro‌ starts at 7,579 yuan down from 8,699 yuan, while the iPhone Pro Max is listed for 8,359 yuan versus the original price of 9,599 yuan. The recently-released ‌iPhone SE‌, the cheapest in Apple's range, is priced at 3,099 yuan, down from 3,299 yuan.

Tmall rival JD.com has even steeper discounts. The ‌iPhone 11‌ 64GB model is priced at 4,599 yuan, the ‌iPhone 11 Pro‌ at 6,999 and the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ at 7,499 yuan. If the full discounts are applied, the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ is at a more than 21% discount from its original price on JD.com. The ‌iPhone SE‌ is listed at 3,069 yuan with discount, down from 3,199 yuan.
According to CNBC, JD.com plans to offer discounts every day during the shopping festival, but the discount structure could vary from day to day. Apple product sales on June 1 were three times that of the same period last year, a JD.com spokesperson said.

While Apple is offering discounts through Tmall and through resellers like JD.com, its own retail stores and online store will not be offering iPhones at lower prices.

For most of February, Apple's retail stores in China were shut down, causing a sharp drop in sales. Apple has been working to regain sales momentum in the country now that stores are operational once again.
This article, "Apple Retailers Cut iPhone Prices in China for 6.18 Shopping Festival" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The best Google Chromebook for your needs: What are your options?

Google Pixelbook

Those looking for a great Chrome OS computer might want to take a look at the best Google Chromebooks listed below. The search giant is responsible for making the software, so it only makes sense that their hardware works best with the light operating system. If you have decided to go with one of their laptops, now you face another dilemma. Which is the best Google Chromebook to buy? It depends on what you value in a computer, so we’ll help you make the right choice for your specific needs.

Also: These are the best Chromebooks you can buy right now

The best Google Chromebooks:

  1. Google Pixelbook
  2. Google Pixel Slate
  3. Google Pixelbook Go

Editor’s note: This best Google Chromebook guide will be updated as new devices launch and others are phased out.


What is a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are computers that run Google’s Chrome OS operating system. This is a very simple web-based operating system made for those who use their computers mostly for browsing. It uses Chrome as its backbone, adapting its abilities to a desktop-like user interface that makes it feel like a traditional, desktop PC.

Chrome OS has advanced its offline capabilities since its inception. They became especially more capable when Google gave Chrome OS support for Android applications, giving users access to a huge library of applications, services, and offline features. For an in-depth explanation of Chrome OS, its pros, and its cons, check the link below.

Buyer’s guide: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?


Why go with the best Google Chromebook?

As mentioned above, going with the best Google Chromebook for your needs will ensure your laptop’s hardware and software are made by the same company. This should ensure better optimization and a more uniform experience. Additionally, Google’s Chrome OS devices are made with quality in mind. These are known for having outstanding builds, coming with great specs, and featuring gorgeous designs when compared to the competition.

This makes sense when you consider Google usually “leads the way” in its application of hardware in relation to their software. The concept is similar to what the company does with Pixel smartphones, which are the epitome of the Google Android experience.

Next: The bet Google products you can buy


1. Google Pixelbook: The best Google Chromebook for high-end needs

The Google Pixelbook is getting older considering its 2017 release date, but it continues to be the best Google Chromebook to those looking for a premium experience in both design and performance. It also has pen input capability, and the pressure sensitive stylus is among the best in the market.

More: From PCs to Macs and Chromebooks — The best laptops for students

Many prefer this Chromebook over the new Google Pixelbook Go because of its premium aluminum body, Corning Gorilla Glass elements, and comfortable soft rubber palm rests. It has an outstanding backlit keyboard and a gorgeous 12.3-inch 2,400 x 1,600 display. The laptop’s internals are also nothing to scoff at, with the base configuration sporting an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.


2. Google Pixel Slate: The best Google Chromebook for portability and versatility

The Google Pixel Slate was made for the portability buffs among you. Its tablet design offers 2-in-1 functionality. Because it can run Android apps, it will serve as a great tablet when undocked. Attach the (non-included) keyboard and the device turns into a convertible Chrome OS laptop of sorts. The price has dropped significantly too, with the lowest configuration going for under $500.

More: These are the best Chromebook tablets you can buy

Specs are not too shabby considering this device’s base configuration comes with an Intel Core m3 process, but you can upgrade that to an i5 or i7 chip. RAM sits comfortably at 8/16GB, and storage starts at 64GB. It’s great for road warriors and portability junkies. Not to mention it also has support for a stylus, but that will also cost you extra.


3. Google Pixelbook Go: Somewhere in between

Google Pixelbook Go Review front view open

The Google Pixelbook Go is not the most powerful, portable, or well built, but that is exactly its lure. These sacrifices lower the MSRP, which is a breath of fresh air considering the best Google Chromebooks are commonly very expensive. But it’s also not cheap enough to place it under the competition. It’s still made of magnesium and Corning Gorilla Glass. The backlit keyboard is great, and the display can come in both HD or 4K configurations.

Next: The best Chromebook accessories you can buy

While the base version is a great basic computer, the Pixelbook Go can easily become the best Google Chromebook in terms of performance, if you are willing to throw some cash at it. The top configuration comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It’s actually a high-end Chromebook, it just happens to have a relatively affordable option.




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How unemployment systems are failing workers around the US


As the COVID-19 crisis shuts down businesses across the country, total unemployment claims have now passed 30 million. And with unemployment benefits agencies buckling under the strain of new applicants, even that figure is likely a severe undercount. A report from the Economic Policy Institute published last month found that for every 10 people trying to apply for unemployment, three to four couldn’t get through the system to make a claim, and another two out of 10 said the process was too complicated to try. Taken together, the study suggests, millions of unemployed people have been effectively locked out of…

This story continues at The Next Web


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Here’s how carbon emissions would drop if all UK cars suddenly became electric


The COVID-19 lockdown has led to reduced pollution and emissions in the UK and around the world, providing a clear indication of how cars affect air quality and carbon emissions. But such a change is only temporary – millions of petrol cars are waiting for restrictions to ease. Then, higher levels of emissions will resume. But what if they didn’t? What if all cars switched to electric overnight? We recently published a peer-reviewed conference paper looking at the emissions impact for such a switch in Scotland alone, and have now extended our analysis to the whole of the UK for…

This story continues at The Next Web


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Remember S Voice? Samsung is finally shutting it down

samsung galaxy s20 logo

Samsung introduced its Bixby voice assistant back in 2017, and it’s served as the first-party assistant on Samsung gadgets ever since. But this wasn’t Samsung’s first voice assistant, as that would be S Voice.

Unfortunately for anyone who was still using S Voice, TizenHelp reports that Samsung is now killing the legacy service. This isn’t the only Samsung service to be killed off, as it’s also shuttering Find My Car, Car Mode, and MirrorLink functionality.

S Voice debuted on the Galaxy S3 in 2012, coming at roughly the same time as Google Voice Search and Google Now. But Google streaked ahead by launching the Assistant in 2016, offering faster, more accurate, and more diverse interactions.

Samsung responded with Bixby in 2017, launching alongside the Galaxy S8 series (and appearing on all later flagships). The firm later followed up with a Bixby 2.0 release that offered more supported languages and better natural language recognition.

We’re more surprised that Samsung didn’t shut down S Voice sooner. Nevertheless, those still using older phones and wearables with the service will either need to switch to Bixby or another voice assistant.

It wouldn’t be the first major voice assistant to be killed off on Android either, as Microsoft confirmed late last year that it was ending support for Cortana on the platform too.



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