Steve Kovach November 27, 2015 at 05:33AM
Best Buy is selling the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus for $100 on Black Friday.
You can get the iPhone 6S starting at $99.99 with a two-year contract from your carrier. It normally starts at $199.99 with a two-year contract.
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You can get the iPhone 6S for $100 off on Black Friday from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 27, 2015 at 05:01AM
You can now buy a full computer for just five bucks.
The new Raspberry Pi Zero, an iteration of the $35 Raspberry Pi computer, just went on sale. It's incredibly tiny, just 65 mm by 35 mm.
The Pi Zero isn't meant to replace your Windows PC or Mac. Instead, it runs a lightweight operating system designed for coding and hacking. (But it can run the popular game "Minecraft.") The real mission of Raspberry Pi is to make computing accessible to more people who may not be able to afford traditional machines.
It's also more powerful than the original Raspberry Pi thanks to a 1 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. You can use special adapters (they're cheap too) to connect it to a keyboard, monitor, mouse, and other standard accessories.
Raspberry Pi made several thousand units of the Pi Zero, but expects to sell out quickly. It could take some time to catch up to demand.
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This computer only costs $5 and it can fit in the palm of your hand from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 24, 2015 at 08:49AM
I've tried to use it as a computer. I've tried to use it as a sketchpad. I've tried to use it as a gaming machine and a screen just for streaming Netflix.
But after more than a week with the iPad Pro, I've learned that it's pretty simple. It's just a big iPad.
That probably sounds like a silly, obvious statement to many of you, but over the last two weeks, tech pundits (and maybe even Apple itself) have been shouting nonstop, conflicting opinions about what the new iPad Pro is for.
My answer: The $799 iPad Pro is just an extra-large, powerful tablet, and it's something even the biggest iPad fans won't need to buy. It's not a good replacement for your laptop, despite what Apple's CEO Tim Cook has said. It also doesn't do much more than Apple's excellent iPad Air 2 to justify spending an extra $300.
Instead, the iPad Pro is a niche product targeted at the subset of people who want to experiment with drawing or designing on a tablet, thanks to the excellent $99 Apple Pencil accessory. It's also good for people who want to use an iPad for everything despite the obvious compromises they'd have to make giving up a laptop.
I know that sounds kind of harsh, so I want to be clear that I don't think the iPad Pro is a dud. Like many new Apple products, there were lofty expectations for this thing, and Apple didn't do a great job explaining what it's for, leaving it to us to figure it all out. (The same thing can also be said about the Apple Watch.)
I think the iPad Pro is a hint that some day soon we won't need a traditional computer to do everything. But for now, you have to deal with too many compromises. It's a great iPad, but not much else.
The iPad Pro has a 12.9-inch screen, which is significantly larger than the the 9.7-inch screen on the iPad Air 2. It's thin and light for its size, but it's still too cumbersome to hold for extended periods of time if you're reading a book or magazine. I mostly used the iPad Pro while sitting on my couch, but eventually found myself propping it up on my coffee table with the optional $170 keyboard case, even if I wasn't typing.
On the inside, the iPad Pro has the most powerful specs of any of Apple's mobile devices. In theory, this is to take advantage of professional apps for things like video editing or 3D modeling. The Pro can handle those tasks perfectly, but if you're just planning to use the device for watching movies or playing games, you won't need that extra power. In fact, most iPad apps are still designed for casual consumption, not powerful productivity, so there aren't many ways to unlock the hardware's real potential unless developers start making better apps. And right now, the iPad Pro app selection is pretty bleak.
Apps are the real problem with the iPad Pro. While several have been updated for the larger screen, most, including top apps like Facebook, are just blown up versions of the regular-sized iPad app. These apps tend to look a bit distorted and don't take full advantage of the larger screen. It's not a terrible experience, but it does show developers aren't exactly excited to get cranking with the iPad Pro.
Apple did try to help though. The iPad Pro can run two full-sized iPad apps at once in a split-screen mode, which I found handy for things like monitoring Twitter and reading the web at the same time. Still, not all third-party apps take full advantage of the split screen, and the feature isn't as versatile as Microsoft's solution on the Surface, which works with just about any app.
In short, the iPad Pro acts like a jumbo-sized version of the iPad Air 2. That's not necessarily a terrible thing. I enjoyed having a larger screen for watching videos and reading web pages. But it feels like all that extra screen space and power will be wasted unless app developers take the time to utilize it.
The $170 optional keyboard case is the most disappointing part of the iPad Pro.
It's difficult to type on, offers limited functionality over a normal laptop keyboard, and its design clashes with the beauty of the iPad Pro.
The most frustrating part is that even with the keyboard snapped in, you still have to tap and swipe around the screen a lot more than feels necessary for the form factor. I would've liked it a lot better if Apple had included some sort of traditional mouse trackpad for navigation like Microsoft's Surface tablet does. (John Gruber of Daring Fireball went into a really deep dive on all the keyboard's problems if you want to give that a read.)
And for a device that's supposed to replace your laptop, I found it frustrating that I couldn't adjust the angle of the display or use it in my lap with the keyboard connected. The only option is to keep it at one angle on the table. Writing a few quick emails that way is ok, but it's a pain if you need to do any long-term work.
Apple tried to make the case for the iPad Pro replacing your laptop, but I just don't see that happening without a suitable keyboard. It's the same problem Microsoft's Surface Pro has. Both tablets may technically be able to perform the functions of a laptop, but the experience isn't better. There are just too many compromises. We're getting closer to that miracle all-in-one device, but this iteration of the iPad Pro is not it.
If you get the iPad Pro and want a better keyboard, I suggest going with the one Logitech made. It's designed more like a traditional laptop keyboard and I found it much easier to type on than Apple's accessory. Plus it's 20 bucks cheaper.
The keyboard case may have been a disappointment, but I was surprised to find out how much I liked the $99 Apple Pencil stylus.
I'm not an artist or a designer, so I couldn't really put the device through its paces. And I wouldn't recommend buying the Pencil unless you plan to do some serious sketching or designing. (My colleagues from Tech Insider's video team had a professional graphic artist give it a try and he really liked it.)
So I don't really appreciate the Apple Pencil from an artist's perspective. I'm more impressed by what it can do. Yes, there have been styluses for the iPad before, but those just mimicked your finger and didn't have any more precision than that. The Apple Pencil can detect various levels of pressure, so the harder you press, the deeper and darker the marks you make look. You can even use the edge of the tip to create a shading effect, just like a real pencil.
The iPad Pro has two big problems: The form factor and the app selection. The keyboard feels unfinished and doesn't function as well as the one on a MacBook. And there just aren't enough great apps out there that take full advantage of the larger screen to justify spending so much on the iPad Pro, when you can get nearly the same experience on the iPad Air 2 for hundreds less.
If you want an iPad, get the iPad Air 2. It may be a year old, but it's the best tablet you can buy. You'll love it.
I'd only recommend buying the iPad Pro if you're really dying for that larger screen or you're a graphic artist or designer.
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The iPad Pro is a great tablet, but you probably don't need to buy it (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 22, 2015 at 08:30AM
It's an understatement to say I'm a huge "Star Wars" fan.
The first thing you see when you enter my apartment is a framed screen print of the Millennium Falcon. I've watched the original trilogy so many times I have every scrap of dialogue memorized. I have a tattoo of the Imperial Insignia on my right shoulder.
That should be all the evidence you need. (On second thought, maybe just my tattoo would've convinced you.)
I also discovered a renewed interest in video games this summer after stumbling into a Best Buy after brunch one Sunday and dropping 400 bucks on a new PlayStation 4.
So everything was in perfect order for me to play one of the hottest games of the year: "Star Wars Battlefront," which launched last week.
Think of "Battlefront" as a virtual toy box full of all the best stuff from "Star Wars" lore. You can play as Darth Vader and slice down rebels with your lightsaber. You can pilot an X-Wing in wild aerial battles. And you can play online with up to 39 others in massive battlefields based on planets from the movies. That's just scratching the surface. The game is packed with references, characters, and weapons from the original trilogy.
But if you're a "Star Wars" fan like me and the pitch for the game sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
After playing "Battlefront" for a few days, I'm incredibly disappointed. It's not a total disaster, but it definitely fell short of all the expectations set by the flood of trailers, commercials, and early gameplay footage I've seen over the last several months.
Instead of unlocking the "Star Wars" universe and unleashing players into an engaging experience, "Battlefront" just feels like a generic shooting game. It may look like "Star Wars," but playing "Battlefront" is an exercise in drudgery and monotony. It's just not fun.
"Battlefront" isn't designed to be played alone. The single-player mode dumps you in the middle of a battlefield populated with computer-controlled characters trying to hunt you down. The objective is usually to take out as many of them as you can while searching for tokens that unlock powerups like new weapons and certain special abilities. It's dull, repetitive, and not very fun at all.
The frustrating thing is, you have to do it if you want to unlock some items that'll help you dominate in the online multiplayer modes, which are the main focus of the game. I've spent way too much time running out the game clock trying to rack up some easy powerups.
You can also earn powerups by playing a lot of multiplayer matches, but it's a slow, tedious process. By now, others have had a lot more time to play the game, so matches are essentially run by players who are overpowered and able to stomp on newbies like me. It's not even close to fair.
And once I did earn enough powerups to hold my own in multiplayer, I didn't enjoy the various game modes at all. Like the single-player mode, it's just a lot of running around and shooting with very little strategy involved. The only somewhat fun mode is called "Walker Assault" where the Rebels have to stop two Imperial walkers from advancing on a base. (Without diving into too much detail, it involves coordinating bombing attacks on the walkers and holding defending checkpoints.)
"Battlefront" just feels like a big missed opportunity to tap into the engaging "Star Wars" universe and create a game everyone will love to play, not just something diehard fans like me will hopefully appreciate.
There are a few redeeming qualities: The graphics, sound design, and other details are immediately recognizable, making you feel like you're playing an interactive version of some of the most iconic battles from the movies. If only the gameplay could hold up to the aesthetics.
My advice: Only play "Battlefront" if you're willing to put in the hours it takes to hold your own in multiplayer mode. Then it can be (kind of) fun to essentially dominate a battle all on your own. But if you're looking for an engaging online multiplayer shooting experience, you're better off with a game like "Halo 5."
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The new 'Star Wars' game is so disappointing even a huge fan like me can't enjoy it from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 20, 2015 at 08:56AM
Microsoft hasn't given up on making smartphones, but critics don't recommend the company's latest effort.
The reviews are in for the Lumia 950, the first Windows Phone to run the new Windows 10 operating system, and critics were far from kind. No one recommends buying the Lumia 950 over other devices.
The Lumia 950 goes on sale this week for $600, the same price range as other top-tier devices like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S6. But even though it can do some nifty tricks like connect to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor and run sort of like a traditional desktop PC, reviewers agree that it doesn't have what it takes to compete.
Here's what reviewers are saying:
Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal complained about the Lumia 950's poor app selection, saying most popular apps either aren't available or haven't been updated in years. For example, Instagram is still in its "beta" phase and doesn't let you upload videos.
Dan Seifert of The Verge criticized the new Windows 10 operating system. He says it's very similar to the last version, Windows Phone 8.1 and "feels like a work in progress."
Peter Bright of Ars Technica had problems with the new "Hello" feature, which lets you unlock the Lumia after it scans your iris. Bright says he had difficulty getting Hello to work when wearing glasses. And the WSJ's Stern said the feature didn't work well in low light.
Those complaints were pretty consistent across all the early reviews. There's no compelling reason to buy Microsoft's newest phone, the reviewers say.
For what it's worth, one reviewer seemed to like the Lumia 950, but he was writing for Microsoft's own blog. So you might want to take what he says with a grain of salt. Still, the writer isn't a professional tech critic. He's a longtime fan of Windows Phones, and it seems like the Lumia 950 was designed for the small sliver of the population that's still dedicated to the platform.
There were some other positives: Reviewers generally saw a lot of potential in Continuum, the feature that lets you dock your Lumia with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor and run PC-like programs on the desktop. It hints at a future where you might not need a full PC for a lot of tasks. But for now, the hardware of the phone isn't powerful enough to run many PC programs. Critics also said the camera held up well against the excellent cameras in the iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S6, and Nexus 6P.
But for most people, the Lumia 950 won't be the best option. It simply doesn't have the useful apps and services the iPhone and Android devices have. The Lumia, and other Windows Phones, are only good for people narrowly focused on using phones for the basics.
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Microsoft's new smartphone sounds like a dud from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Corey Protin, Chris Snyder and Steve Kovach November 16, 2015 at 11:09AM
In 2007, Steve Jobs famously came out against the use of a stylus when it launched the first iPhone; however, Apple is now releasing a stylus with the new iPad Pro. So why did the company do a sudden 180? Here's why.
Produced by Corey Protin, Will Wei, & Chris Snyder. Report by Steve Kovach.
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Steve Jobs never wanted a stylus — here’s why Apple made one from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Corey Protin and Steve Kovach November 13, 2015 at 12:24PM
Apple thinks you can replace your laptop with their newest gadget release, the iPad Pro. However, there's a bunch of things the iPad Pro can't live up to compared to regular laptops and notebooks.
Produced by Corey Protin & Will Wei. Report by Steve Kovach.
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The iPad Pro isn't a laptop killer — here's why from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 12, 2015 at 07:24AM
A glitch in Apple's Mac App Store is prompting users to delete and re-download some of their apps.
Wednesday night, the security certificates for some Mac apps expired. Users got error messages and were forced to delete and re-download all of their affected apps.
Security certificates are pieces of code Apple uses to prevent piracy in the App Store.
The reports of the errors started on Twitter. Paul Haddad, the developer behind the popular app Tweetbot, was one of the first to notice why this was happening. In a tweet, he posted a screenshot that shows security certificates expiring on November 11.
Well that would explain the MAS problem. http://pic.twitter.com/Nuqj9Uxxiz
— Paul Haddad (@tapbot_paul) November 12, 2015
One of Tech Insider's own reporters, Alex Heath, experienced the issue too. He got an error message saying some of his apps were "damaged" and could not open when he tried to update them Wednesday. He was forced to delete and reinstall the affected apps.
The Guardian found other affected users, and several more have complained on Twitter.
Tech Insider has reached out to Apple for comment and will update if we hear back.
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There's a glitch in the Mac App Store and you might have to re-download your apps from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 11, 2015 at 08:32AM
The early reviews for the new iPad Pro are out, and they're all over the place.
While the reviews are relatively positive (except for maybe the one from Walt Mossberg of The Verge), tech pundits can't seem to reach a consensus on what the device is for. Is it a replacement for your laptop? Is it a niche product aimed at professionals like graphic designers? Is it just a big iPad?
It's impossible to tell from the reviews.
And even Apple doesn't know.
This week, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been pushing the narrative that the iPad Pro can replace your laptop. That's the most consistent pitch we have from the company that made the device. The claim is that Apple pushed the iPad to the limit, making it powerful and capable enough to do everything a traditional laptop can do.
So far, it seems only one reviewer agrees with that sentiment: John Gruber of Daring Fireball. He says the iPad Pro "stands as an alternative to a MacBook."
But other than Gruber, no one is buying Apple's pitch. (TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino comes close, saying the Pro "could be the central computing device for a home," but he doesn't go so far as to call it a replacement or alternative to a laptop.)
Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal says the iPad Pro is just a big iPad. It's nothing we haven't seen before, just the same old iPad with a bigger screen and optional keyboard and stylus. Mossberg agrees that the iPad Pro isn't a laptop replacement, and might be better for graphic artists that want to use the well-reviewed Apple Pencil stylus.
Those are just a few examples, but overall they're representative of the initial reviews of the iPad Pro. It's a good tablet, but it's still unclear what you need to spend all that extra money for when a regular-sized iPad will serve most people just fine.
I think The Verge's editor Nilay Patel put it best in a tweet Wednesday morning. Reviewers are doing a better job than Apple at figuring out what the iPad Pro is for:
Every iPad Pro review I've read so far is better at creating a narrative for the product than Apple has been.
— nilay patel (@reckless) November 11, 2015
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No one can make up their mind about the iPad Pro from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 10, 2015 at 04:41AM
Apple is making a big push for its big iPad.
The iPad Pro, which goes on sale Wednesday, is the largest and most powerful device in Apple's iPad lineup. It has a 12.9-inch screen, while the iPad Air 2 has a 9.7-inch screen. You can also get an optional keyboard cover and a stylus.
And Apple is making bold claim about the iPad Pro that'll be very difficult to back up. This isn't just a bigger iPad, Apple says. It's a replacement for your laptop.
In interviews with The Telegraph and The Independent this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the iPad Pro will be the device a lot of people will be able to use instead of a traditional laptop.
“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore?" Cook told The Telegraph in an interview.
And he told The Independent: "You can marry [the iPad Pro] with a keyboard cover that turns it into a laptop replacement, say."
That's a claim we've heard before. When Microsoft released the first Surface tablet in 2012, it was pitched as a miracle machine, something that could run full PC programs, but also touch-friendly tablet apps. It didn't fully live up to that promise. Neither did the second, third, and now the fourth Surface. (However, the new Surface Book, which is laptop with a screen that can detach and be used as a tablet, comes close.)
But the iPad Pro is actually more limited than the Surface. It runs iOS, which isn't compatible with desktop programs. And developers have been slow to make innovative apps for the iPad. There's little indication that they'll suddenly gravitate towards the iPad Pro just because it has a big screen and a keyboard. The iPad Pro will continue to function as just a jumbo-sized iPad unless developers push the hardware past content consumption apps for streaming video or reading.
I think Ben Thompson, an independent tech analyst at Stratechery, put it best in a post he wrote the week Apple unveiled the iPad Pro:
That, then, means that Cook’s conclusion that Apple could best improve the iPad by making a new product isn’t quite right: Apple could best improve the iPad by making it a better platform for developers. Specifically, being a great platform for developers is about more than having a well-developed SDK, or an App Store: what is most important is ensuring that said developers have access to sustainable business models that justify building the sort of complicated apps that transform the iPad’s glass into something indispensable.
In other words, Apple created some incredible hardware with the iPad Pro, but it hasn't given developers the tools they need to transform that hardware into something truly innovative and revolutionary.
Yes, some apps from great companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and FiftyThree will be ready for the iPad Pro, but I'm not convinced they'll be enough to get someone to spend $930 on an iPad Pro and keyboard instead of $900 on a MacBook Air.
I used the iPad Pro briefly at Apple's big launch event back in September. It was nice. The stylus worked well. The keyboard cover felt unfinished and difficult to type on. But nothing about what I saw in that brief interaction hinted that this was a replacement for my MacBook.
It just felt like a really big iPad.
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Apple is making a bold claim about the next iPad that'll be very hard to back up (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 02:53PM
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I was skeptical about the new Apple TV at first — then I used it from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 02:41PM
I was skeptical at first.
About two months ago, I was in the theater in San Francisco where Apple CEO Tim Cook declared the company had cracked the future of TV.
It was the same concept as the iPhone: Apple would invent the hardware and then open the platform up to creative developers who would hopefully untap its true potential with innovative apps.
I wasn't really blown away by what I saw that day. A lot of it was obvious: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and some basic games. Nothing we haven't seen before from rival devices like the Roku or Amazon's Fire TV. My biggest fear was that developers would start pumping out jumbo-sized versions of their iPhone apps to the TV and call it a day.
But that's not what happened. After spending over a week with the new Apple TV, which is on sale now starting at $149, I see the potential. It's clear that we're early in the app-centric world of TV watching, but the first crop of apps to hit the Apple TV App Store hint that we're not far off from the reality that we won't have to pay for pricey cable packages stuffed with content we don't want to watch.
Even better, the TV apps I've used so far show that TV doesn't have to be a passive experience. It can also be interactive.
This is going to sound absurd coming from a 30-year-old male, but I think the best app on Apple TV right now is the QVC app. I don't say that because I love buying junk from infomercials, but because the app is the clearest look at the future of interactive TV.
The QVC app lets you log into your account and then watch a live stream of the channel. There's no need to authenticate the login using your cable or satellite subscription. It looks exactly the same as the QVC you're used to, but there's a handy "buy" button hovering over the video so you can purchase what you see straight from the TV app. There's no booting up your computer. No launching an app on your phone. Just a simple click of the remote.
Now imagine that concept stretching to other forms of interactive television. Voting for your favorite singer on "The Voice." Engaging in real-time polls during presidential debates. Viewing Instagram photos from celebrities at awards shows.
There's been a bunch of talk in recent years about engaging users on their "second screen" devices (phones and tablets) during live television, but TV apps take the second screen out of the equation. There's massive potential to bring everyone back to the most important screen in the living room.
There's more coming. Next year, Apple is expected to launch a live TV service that'll let you stream select channels over the internet. When that happens, Apple TV will be the perfect package: You'll be able to stream the most popular channels live whenever you want and use apps for everything else. And all you'll need is an internet connection. No more wrestling with your cable company.
That's not to say all apps are winners. I'm not a big fan of the casual games like "Crossy Road" or "Alto's Adventure," but I do realize there probably is an audience for those. I'm more interested in seeing big-name game publishers take a crack at the Apple TV.
Besides the new App Store, the new Apple TV is pretty similar to the last version. The home screen layout has been cleaned up with a fresher look, but the overall concept is the same — a grid of apps. Nothing special.
There are two major changes to the hardware though.
The first is the remote, which includes a touchpad for navigating through menus and volume controls for your TV.
The second, and most important, is Siri, which lets you search for any actor, TV show, or movie across iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and a few select other services. (More will be added.) It makes finding what you want to watch incredibly easy. Instead of launching an app like Netflix and poking around for the title you're looking for, you just speak into the microphone on the Apple TV remote and ask for it. If the video you want is on multiple services, you'll get the options for where to watch too.
Navigating iPhone-like menus on a TV with just a remote can be a pain, and Siri is able to bring you what you want no matter where you are in an app or Apple TV's menus.
Unfortunately, Siri is limited to just a few select video services right now. And you can't use it to search through the Apple Music catalog like you can on the iPhone. (Apple says Apple Music support is coming.) It also doesn't work with the App Store.
Finally, I was really disappointed that you can't use Siri to type, so you're stuck entering login information and search queries one letter at a time on a virtual on-screen keyboard. I've been an Apple TV user for almost five years, and I've always enjoyed using the Remote app on iPhone to type on the TV. But the new model doesn't support the Remote app, and it's unclear if it ever will. For now, typing is a pain. It's the single most disappointing thing about the Apple TV.
If the future of TV truly is apps, then Apple is in the best position to make it happen. Yes, Roku and Amazon's boxes both offer third-party apps, but developers these days still tend to make the best stuff for Apple devices before anything else. It's the platform the most innovative apps will appear on first.
For that reason alone, the Apple TV is the best streaming box. But if you're not interested in apps and just want to stream from standard services like Netflix and Hulu, there are plenty of cheaper options like the Roku 3 ($100) or Chromecast ($35) that will get the job done.
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I was skeptical about the new Apple TV at first — then I used it from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 01:33PM
If you can't wait to feast your eyes on some more precious few seconds of new "Star Wars" footage, Twitter had you covered Sunday.
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Twitter just showed some new footage from the next 'Star Wars' movie from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 09:29AM
When it comes to streaming set-top boxes, the Apple TV may get most of the attention, but it's not the device used by most in the US for streaming video.
According to a new study by the research firm Parks Associates, the Apple TV only accounts for 3.6% of all video streaming to televisions in the US, while its biggest rival, Roku, accounts for nearly 10% of streaming.
But even more interesting, video game consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation are the most popular streaming devices for TVs. The study broke down streaming by brand, lumping all models of the Apple TV, Roku, and video game consoles together.
This doesn't mean the Apple TV is a flop. The device received its first major update in five years just a week ago, and it wasn't included in this study. Meanwhile, companies like Roku and Amazon have been regularly updating their devices about every year or so, which has given them the advantage.
The new Apple TV is also the first model to include Apple's App Store, which has standard streaming services like Netflix, shopping apps like QVC, and casual games like "Crossy Road."
Here's a chart breaking down the most popular streaming TV brands:
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The Apple TV is lagging behind its biggest rivals from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 07:35AM
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Apple TV buyers are overwhelmingly male from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 07:18AM
If you can't wait to feast your eyes on some more precious few seconds of new "Star Wars" footage, Twitter had you covered Sunday.
The company tweeted a new 30-second spot for "The Force Awakens," the new "Star Wars" movie that comes out on December 18. It's mostly footage we've seen from previous trailers, but there are a few new bits of video and dialogue.
The clip seems to be a TV spot, so expect to see it a bunch over the coming weeks.
Check it out:
The force is calling to you... Check out the first official TV spot for #StarWars #TheForceAwakens. https://t.co/tsKiEvZAK7
— Twitter (@twitter) November 8, 2015
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Twitter just showed some new footage from the next 'Star Wars' movie from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 08, 2015 at 06:46AM
Who's buying the new Apple TV?
According to a study from research firm Slice Intelligence, it's almost exclusively men.
Slice Intelligence analyzes email receipts from about 3 million people to gather its data. In the first week of sales, Slice Intelligence says 90% of Apple TV buyers were male, mostly between the ages 35 and 44.
But that gender disparity isn't exclusive to the new Apple TV. According to Slice Intelligence's data, men are much more likely than women to buy any streaming gadget like the Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Chromecast.
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Apple TV buyers are overwhelmingly male from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 06, 2015 at 08:15AM
It took about eight years, but BlackBerry finally has a phone that can hold its own in the modern smartphone era.
The new BlackBerry Priv, which goes on sale this week, is the first phone from the company that doesn't run its own mobile operating system, BlackBerry 10.
Instead, the Priv runs Android, just like millions of other devices out there.
For the first time, a BlackBerry owner has access to millions of top-tier apps that he or she couldn't get before. (BlackBerry's app store is in a sorry state of disarray.)
As my colleague Antonio Villas-Boas wrote in his review of the Priv, BlackBerry made a solid, attractive device that marries the best of Android with the best of what BlackBerry fans have always loved. It has a sharp, 5.4-inch touchscreen and access to all of Google's excellent services like maps, calendar, and Gmail. There's a slide-out physical keyboard that will delight those longing for the feeling physical keys beneath their fingertips.
But I'm not convinced the Priv will be enough to rescue what's left of BlackBerry's smartphone business. Compared to other Android phones in the same $700 price range, the Priv is under powered and doesn't have any key differentiating features to convince me your money isn't better spent on the iPhone 6S or one of Google's new Nexus phones. Sure, the physical keyboard is nice, but ever since the introduction of the iPhone, we've learned that virtual keyboards do the trick for just about anyone.
Simply put, the Priv is too expensive for what you get.
This is the same problem Samsung has been facing for the last two years or so. It continues to make pricey Android phones at a time when other companies are making similar devices for hundreds less. So, naturally, people gravitate towards the cheaper devices. (However, it seems like Samsung may make its next flagship Galaxy phone a lot cheaper to adapt to this trend.)
But Samsung already has a large chunk of the global smartphone market. It can take the hit. BlackBerry's market share is hovering near 0%, according to the research firm IDC, and the Priv is unlikely to change that. Industry analysts agree. Even though the Priv is a good phone, BlackBerry waited too long to release it.
There are plenty of excellent Android phones out there, and most of them cost a lot less than the Priv. (Google's new Nexus phones start at $379 and are the best Android phones you can buy.) Unless you really want a physical keyboard, there's no compelling reason to buy it over something else.
And that isn't a good sign for BlackBerry.
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BlackBerry's new phone has a fundamental problem (BBRY) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 05, 2015 at 02:25PM
The Apple TV is a pain to type on.
I've been an Apple TV user for about 5 years, ever since the second-generation model launched. One of my favorite features was pairing it with Apple's Remote app on my iPhone so I could use the on-screen keyboard to easily fill in empty fields on various Apple TV menus.
But things are different with the new Apple TV, which went on sale last week. I've been testing the device for several days, and typing has gotten worse, not better.
First of all, the iPhone Remote app doesn't work with the new Apple TV, and it's unclear if it ever will. (Apple won't comment.) So you're stuck using the new Apple TV remote's touch pad to swipe through a line of letters on your screen and tap out one letter at a time.
It's especially annoying when setting up the Apple TV for the first time and entering your login information for iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and other apps.
It took me nearly 30 minutes to get everything up and running.
I'm also disappointed that you can't use Siri dictation to type. One of the most important new features on the Apple TV is Siri. It lets you search for shows and movies across a bunch of different services and works really well. But you can't use it to search the App Store or dictate text on the screen.
Overall, I've been enjoying the new Apple TV a lot. I'm using a test unit from Apple, but plan to buy my own after I give it back. It really is a great device. I just wish Apple thought of a way to make it easier to type.
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I only have one major complaint about the new Apple TV from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 05, 2015 at 11:22AM
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Tech Insider is hiring a paid intern to write about technology from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 05, 2015 at 08:19AM
Apple is making it easier to find apps on the Apple TV.
This week, the Apple TV App Store added top charts and category sections to help divide up the rapidly expanding library of new apps. The sections work just like they do on the iPhone or iPad.
It's a nice improvement over how the App Store looked last week when the Apple TV launched. At first, all you could do was scroll through apps featured by Apple. If you wanted anything else, you had to search and hope it was there.
It was a painful, unfriendly process for users and developers. If Apple didn't take the time to feature an app, there was a good chance users had no clue it existed.
But the new top charts and category sections aren't a perfect solution.
So far, there are only two categories: games and entertainment. While most of the Apple TV apps fall into those two broad categories, it still makes it tough to zero in on what you're looking for like sports, social networking, or authenticated apps from TV channels like FX.
And the App Store is still missing Siri search — a key feature on the Apple TV you can use to find movies and TV shows on iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and a few other services. Instead, you still have to enter letters one at a time using the remote control. It's really annoying.
If you have a new Apple TV, you should see the new sections in the App Store appear automatically. If not, try restarting the device.
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NOW WATCH: 6 cool things the new Apple TV can do
The new Apple TV just got a critical update, but it's still not good enough from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 04, 2015 at 01:45PM
Google security researchers published a report Monday pointing out a number of security flaws they discovered in the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, one of the new, popular Android phones that launched this year.
The report says that the security flaws were there because of changes Samsung made to Android. Like most Android phone manufacturers, Samsung modifies Android with customized apps and user interfaces. It's not the same "pure" version you see on Google's own Nexus phones.
And that's the problem. Because manufacturers play around with Android so much, it has the potential to open up even more security holes, just like the ones Google found on the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Plus, it can take manufacturers a long time to patch those holes because of various restrictions from wireless carriers and other third third parties. Samsung was able to fix most of the major problems Google found in the Galaxy S6 Edge, but Google says three other flaws it found remain unfixed.
For even more evidence, look at the Stagefright bug that came to light over the summer. Stagefright was a hole in most Android phones that allowed devices to be taken over simply by receiving a text message. Google pushed out a fix, but most Android phones weren't able to get it.
The biggest problem with owning an Android phone is that you rarely have a guarantee that it'll be supported by critical security updates from the manufacturer, especially when a new hack like Stagefright is discovered. The only way to ensure you're running the latest and greatest version of Android with no compromises is to buy a Nexus phone straight from Google. Nexus phones receive regular, timely updates.
No other manufacturer of Android phones can guarantee that yet.
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Google's new research points out the biggest flaw with owning an Android phone from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 04, 2015 at 12:07PM
The iPhone 6S may have just launched, but we're already hearing whispers about Apple's plans for the next iPhone. So far, there aren't too many details.
But if we had it our way, here are seven things Apple would add to the next iPhone.
For years, Apple has kept the iPhone battery life pretty much the same: "all day" is the term the company regularly uses. It seems like Apple prefers to make its devices thinner, instead of leaving room for a larger battery. But we'd rather have a slightly thicker phone if it means we can get more battery life.
How great would it be to just plop your iPhone down on a charging pad and get a little extra juice? Other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6 offer wireless charging, but we have yet to see it in the iPhone. It'd be especially useful now that more public places like Starbucks are installing wireless chargers.
What if you're pressed for time, but still need to charge your iPhone? Unlike other smartphones, the current iPhone doesn't have a "quick charge" feature that can give you a lot more battery life in a short amount of time. It'd be a great feature for the iPhone 7.
7 things we want to see in the iPhone 7 (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 04, 2015 at 11:13AM
When you think of 5th Avenue shopping in New York, Microsoft probably isn't the first brand that comes to mind.
But the company recently opened a huge flagship store in the middle of one of the priciest shopping districts in the country.
I went to the new Microsoft Store on 5th Avenue in New York Wednesday, and the experience was nearly nearly identical to what it's like shopping at the Apple Store. There are no lines. Most products except for accessories are held in a store room. And the entire floor is dedicated to product demos.
Overall, it was a great experience. And if you like Windows devices, you'll probably like visiting the Microsoft Store better than Best Buy or other third-party retailer.
Here's what it was like when I visited.
I was pleasantly surprised with my experience shopping at Microsoft's new mega store in New York (MSFT) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 03, 2015 at 01:43PM
The latest clip from the upcoming "Star Wars" game, "Star Wars Battlefront," has a big teaser for the upcoming movie, "The Force Awakens."
In the clip, we see a battle between the Empire and Rebels on Jakku, a desert planet featured prominently in all three "Force Awakens" trailers.
First, watch the clip:
Since "Star Wars Battlefront" takes place about 30 years before the events in "The Force Awakens," it looks like the game's designers had the unique opportunity to explain why Jakku is littered with destroyed ships and other junk in the new movie.
Here's what Jakku looks like in the movie trailers:
Until we saw the clip from the video game, we had no idea why this planet was littered with so much space junk. It appears that "Battlefront" will serve as a prequel of sorts to the new movie. Awesome.
But don't expect to get the answer right away. Even though "Star Wars Battlefront" launches on November 17, you won't be able to unlock the battle of Jakku level until December 8, 10 days before the premiere of "Force Awakens."
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NOW WATCH: 7 reasons you should play 'Star Wars Battlefront' right now
The new 'Battlefront' game trailer has some big teasers for the upcoming 'Star Wars' movie from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 03, 2015 at 08:14AM
The new Apple TV, which came out last week, is Apple's first step into its reimagination of the television experience.
At first glance, it may seem like the previous two versions of the Apple TV — but thanks to a new remote control, Siri integration, and the App Store, it's clear that Apple is beginning to make good on its promise of making a big push into the living room.
I've been testing the new Apple TV for a few days, and I've been enjoying it a lot so far. There's a lot to love, but also a few things I'm not so crazy about. I'll have a full, detailed review later this week.
But for now, here are some initial impressions:
Using the built-in microphone on the new Apple TV remote, you can ask Siri to find you just about anything across iTunes and streaming services like HBO Now, Netflix, and Hulu.
I love that you no longer have to launch an app, type in what you're looking for, and wait for the results to load before watching. Just give Siri an actor name, an episode title, a movie title, or whatever else, and the results come up.
Even better, you can search while you're using an app — that's something rivals like the Amazon Fire TV can't do.
While Siri makes it easy to search for shows and movies, it doesn't work with the App Store, one of the major new features on the Apple TV.
Apple features a lot of great apps on the main page of the App Store, but there are thousands of others basically hidden behind that. That said, Apple will likely add more discovery features to the App Store like category pages and lists of the most popular apps in the near future.
When Apple first announced developers could make apps for the Apple TV, my biggest concern was that we'd see a bunch of smartphone apps blown up for the big screen. That's thankfully not the case.
I've tested several of the new third-party apps and they all offer a unique, TV-centric experience. This probably sounds crazy coming from a 30-year-old guy, but my favorite app so far is QVC. It has a live stream of the channel (for free!) and a simple buy button that lets you purchase the product the hosts are talking about. This feels like the future of interactive TV.
I've been an Apple TV user for about five years. One of my favorite features has been using Apple's Remote app on my iPhone as a virtual keyboard when I needed to type something in. But the Remote app doesn't support the new Apple TV yet, so I have to tediously use the remote to select one letter at a time on the screen.
I also wish I could use Siri to dictate what I want to type, but it's unclear if Apple will ever add that feature.
My biggest complaint with the original Apple TV remote was that it was a little too simple — just a directional pad, menu button, and play/pause button. In addition to the Siri microphone, the new remote also has volume controls and a home button that brings you right back to the home screen. (The volume controls work with just about any TV too. There's no need to program the remote.) And the glass touch pad at the top makes it a lot easier to navigate menus than the old-fashioned directional pad.
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5 things I love and hate about the Apple TV (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
Steve Kovach November 02, 2015 at 12:21PM
The holidays are right around the corner, which means smartphone makers are now offering their best devices.
Here's our ranking of the best phones you can buy.
Note: All prices below indicate how much the phones typically cost without a carrier contract. Prices may vary depending on the retailer.
The BlackBerry Passport may look strange, but a lot of BlackBerry fans seem to love it. It has a really nice physical keyboard, but the key feature is its unique square design.
Price: $500
If you were a BlackBerry fan back in the company's heyday, you're going to love the BlackBerry Classic. It looks similar to older BlackBerry models, but features a sharp touchscreen and an excellent physical keyboard.
Price: $380
The BlackBerry Priv is a huge departure for BlackBerry. Instead of running BlackBerry's own operating system, the Priv runs Android. While it may look like a standard Android phone, the Priv actually has a slide-out keyboard. This could be a great device for those who want a physical keyboard but still have access to Google's apps and services that aren't available on other BlackBerry devices.
Price: $700
The 18 best smartphones in the world from Business Insider: Steve Kovach