The Transport Guy: An Apple employee was found dead in a conference room at the company's headquarters

Steve Kovach April 27, 2016 at 11:08AM

An Apple employee was found dead in conference room at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Local news station KTVU first reported the death.

ABC 7 reporter Matt Keller tweeted that Santa Clara's Sheriff's office has confirmed that an Apple employee was found dead:

Sheriff spokesperson confirms person found dead in conference room was #Apple employee. No one else involved. http://pic.twitter.com/rLic0WGTo7

— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) April 27, 2016

TMZ claims it has a recording of the dispatch call from local Santa Clara police. The call says a body was found dead in a conference room and that he possibly died from a gunshot wound.

Keller also reports that a gun was found near the dead man's body:

#Breaking- Person found dead in conference room at #Apple Headquarters is a man. A gun was found nearby. http://pic.twitter.com/PKgnFy7MRh

— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) April 27, 2016

In a press conference, Sheriff's office could only confirm that the employee was found dead and could not comment on the cause of death. The Sheriff's spokesperson also said there was no danger to other employees.

 

We've reached out to Apple and the local Sheriff's office for more information.

We'll update this story with the latest information as we get it.

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An Apple employee was found dead in a conference room at the company's headquarters from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: ClassPass increased its price by about $75 and everyone is freaking out

Steve Kovach April 27, 2016 at 07:31AM

ClassPass, the startup that lets you book gym classes at various locations for a flat monthly fee, has increased its cost from $125 per month to $190 per month for unlimited classes. New members will be charged $200 per month for unlimited classes. 

To put that in perspective, ClassPass is now more expensive than a membership at the high-end gym Equinox. Those currently paying $125 per month will be enrolled in the plan that gives you 10 classes per month and will have the option to pay more for unlimited classes.

As you can imagine, ClassPass customers aren't happy. 

My entire Twitter feed (which, yes, is mostly tech and media people living and working in New York or the west coast and hardly representative of the entire US population) is full of complaints. But it does highlight the broader challenge all those "Uber for X" companies face. You either have to reach a massive scale to keep costs low or raise prices. ClassPass decided to effectively double its prices from where they were about a year ago.

In a statement to Tech Insider, a ClassPass spokesperson said the price increase was necessary to keep a sustainable business.

"We’re encouraged by the usage on ClassPass and the tremendous growth we’ve had, but we have to be realistic about the economics to sustain it and are in the process of investing in the health of our business," the spokesperson said. "We are evolving our business model and adjusting prices in order to create long-term sustainability with both our members and the market. We are committed to having an unlimited product as affordable and accessible as possible, that still provides incredible value to our members while also growing and validating the industry as a whole."

And here's what some customers had to say:

the ClassPass bubble just popped 😭 http://pic.twitter.com/4g6xCpVMMk

— Jenna //\\ Wortham (@jennydeluxe) April 27, 2016

 

ClassPass roped us in at $99/month, now wants to charge $190/month FOR THE EXACT SAME SERVICE https://t.co/QytMNdTzYs

— Jenna //\\ Wortham (@jennydeluxe) April 27, 2016

It's been a good run, @classpass. Bye!

— Stephanie Haberman (@StephLauren) April 27, 2016

@stevekovach raising prices by almost $100 in less than a year... Bye bye customer loyalty

— Bianca McLaren (@biancamclaren12) April 27, 2016

I maintain ClassPass is an excellent service for everyone except ANYONE WITH A JOB, who are, unfortunately the only people who can afford it

— Caro (@socarolinesays) April 27, 2016

And so on.

ClassPass has gotten great reviews, but it's tough to see how it's better than joining a "normal" gym that also offers unlimited classes. 

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ClassPass increased its price by about $75 and everyone is freaking out from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Someone invented a drone that will follow you around and take selfies

Steve Kovach April 26, 2016 at 10:08AM

Is this the future of selfies?

Instead of a selfie stick, a startup called Zero Zero is working on an autonomous drone called the Hover Camera that follows you around everywhere, snapping photos and shooting video.

The company recently raised $25 million for the project, according to Re/code.

Sound cool?

Here's how it works.

This is the Hover Camera.

It's thin, light, and folds in half, making it easy to take with you.

It's made of carbon fiber that's light and durable. The enclosure also keeps your hands safe from the whirring blades.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Someone invented a drone that will follow you around and take selfies from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Dropbox figured out how to save a ton of space on your computer

Steve Kovach April 26, 2016 at 05:55AM

You may be used to accessing your Dropbox files from any device connected the internet, but what you might not realize is that Dropbox syncs those files to your computer's hard drive.

That can take up a lot of space.

But soon Dropbox will release a new service called Dropbox Infinite, which gives you access to all your files without taking up any space on your computer. The files will still show up in the Dropbox folder on your Mac or Windows PC, but won't download until you attempt to open them.

Of course, the caveat here is that you won't be able to access your files if you're not connected to the internet. However, Dropbox will let you download the files you use the most for offline use.

Dropbox Infinite will only be available for business users at first, but it seems like the next step will be to bring it to individual accounts too.

Here's a video from Dropbox explaining how Dropbox Infinite works:

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Dropbox figured out how to save a ton of space on your computer from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: There's only one reason to buy the new MacBook (AAPL)

Steve Kovach April 25, 2016 at 01:23PM

Remember that impossibly thin MacBook Apple launched last year?

It's back again with a slight upgrade.

The updated MacBook, which you can buy now starting at $1,299, is pretty much the same as before except for a faster processor, improved graphics, better battery life, and a faster flash storage drive.

Oh yeah, it also comes in pink now:

Other than that, it's essentially the same computer as last year. Here's a quick look at what it's like using the new MacBook.

It's more powerful, but still slow compared to other MacBooks.

If you need a lot of power, the MacBook isn't for you.

Even though the latest update has a chip that's 25% faster than the last model, it's still relatively weak compared to the MacBook Air or Pro. I found that the MacBook is fine for tasks like web browsing and light photo editing, but it can still get hung up if you have a lot of tabs and apps open at once. And don't even think about working with professional programs like Photoshop or Final Cut.

Overall, it's about as powerful as the MacBook Air was four years ago, which might be fine for some people, but it does make me wonder how well it'll hold up a few years from now.

It's beautiful

The MacBook is the best-looking computer I've ever used.

It has a roomy 12-inch screen, but it's still shockingly thin and light. It's closer to an iPad than a laptop. Even the svelte MacBook Air looks chunky by comparison. Plus, it has Apple's sharp Retina display, which you can't get on the MacBook Air.

I also love the keyboard, which has keys that are almost flush against the body. They don't press down as much as keys on a normal keyboard, but it's a delight to type on once you're used to it.

It only has one port.

I'm fine with pushing things forward, even if everyone isn't quite ready for the future yet. Apple has a history of doing this. Over the years, it has eliminated floppy disks, DVD drives, and replaceable batteries from its computers, and it was right to do so every time.

The MacBook takes that theme to the extreme and has just one port: A USB-C plug, which is the new standard that lets you charge the MacBook and connect to accessories like monitors or your smartphone. USB-C has a lot of promise, and it could replace a lot of the plugs on your gadgets one day. It's faster than regular USB, works with HD monitors, and it's reversible so you don't have to worry about plugging it in the wrong way.

But I was hoping Apple would add a second USB-C port to the refreshed MacBook. Instead, you're stuck with just one, which means you can't charge and plug in an accessory simultaneously. You also can't plug in multiple accessories at once.

In theory, Apple says you should be able to charge your MacBook overnight and have plenty of juice to get you through the day, freeing the USB-C port for other things. In my tests, the battery did get me through the day, but I can imagine plenty of scenarios where I'd want to plug in multiple things at once.

And since USB-C is so new, you'll also need to buy a lot of pricey adapters to connect to your existing gadgets. Get ready to drop even more cash on those.

The MacBook Air may be old, but it's still a better computer.

Even though it looks a bit dated and is just begging for a redesign and a sharper screen, I still have to recommend the MacBook Air over the MacBook. You get more power for your dollar (the 13-inch model starts at $999), and it's still plenty thin, light, and portable. It won't turn heads like the new MacBook, but it will definitely last you quite a bit longer.

There's only one reason to buy it.

As enticing as the MacBook is, it's hard for me to recommend it over the MacBook Air or even the MacBook Pro. At $1,299, the MacBook is actually the same price as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is several times more powerful and capable.

It seems like the only real advantage the MacBook has over other computers is its design and portability. The only reason to buy it is if you value looks over everything else and are willing to pay a premium for it.

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There's only one reason to buy the new MacBook (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Beyonce's 'Lemonade' album is coming to iTunes

Steve Kovach April 24, 2016 at 05:39PM

So much for Tidal's exclusive.

Beyonce's new album "Lemonade" will be available for sale on iTunes at midnight Sunday, according to a report in the New York Times. 

That means you'll be able to own the digital version of the album through iTunes, but a Tidal spokesperson told Tech Insider that Tidal will be the only platform where you can stream the album. You can also buy digital versions of the "Lemonade" video that premiered on HBO Saturday through Tidal.

"Lemonade" made its debut exclusively on Tidal, the streaming service owned in part by Beyonce's husband Jay Z. The move helped Tidal blast towards the top of Apple's App Store as new users signed up for the free 30-day Tidal trial.

But it looks like the exclusive was short lived. Anyone will be able to buy the album once it hits iTunes Sunday night.

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Beyonce's 'Lemonade' album is coming to iTunes from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Beyonce's 'Lemonade' album is coming to iTunes

Steve Kovach April 24, 2016 at 01:10PM

So much for Tidal's excslusive.

Beyonce's new album "Lemonade" will be available for sale on iTunes at midnight Sunday, according to a report in the New York Times. However, it's unclear if you'll be able to stream it if you're an Apple Music subscriber.

"Lemonade" made its debut exclusively on Tidal, the streaming service owned in part by Beyonce's husband Jay Z. The move helped Tidal blast towards the top of Apple's App Store as new users signed up for the free 30-day Tidal trial.

But it looks like the exclusive was short lived. Anyone will be able to buy the album once it hits iTunes Sunday night.

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Beyonce's 'Lemonade' album is coming to iTunes from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: The Apple Watch isn't the breakthrough product we were hoping for

Steve Kovach April 24, 2016 at 09:05AM

Happy birthday to the most over-hyped consumer product in recent history.

April 24 marks one year since the Apple Watch went on sale, along with the lofty expectations you'd expect from any new Apple gadget.

Even before Apple announced the Watch, its competitors were scrambling to beat it to the next big thing.

In the year and a half between New York Times columnist Nick Bilton's scoop that Apple was working on a smartwatch and its initial unveiling in September 2014, Samsung released six (yes, six!) different smartwatches. Google launched its own watch software, Android Wear. The smartwatch startup Pebble was the darling of tech geeks everywhere.

And then the Apple Watch arrived and we got a taste of reality.

After using the Apple Watch for a year, I don't think it's the breakthrough gadget many were hoping for. It hasn't freed us from our smartphones, which was the reason why Apple said it made the Watch in the first place. App developers aren't innovating on the Watch, and most apps feel like shrunken-down versions of what you get on your iPhone. (Why anyone would want to squint at teeny Instagram photos is beyond me.)

Apple doesn't discuss sales for the Apple Watch, but the fact that it dropped the price $50 can be seen as an indication that it isn't meeting expectations. Meanwhile, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is often very accurate with Apple reports, said Apple Watch sales are expected to decline significantly this year.

After wearing the Apple Watch nearly every day for the first few months, it has spent more time in my nightstand drawer than on my wrist. It's a fashionable accessory to the iPhone, not a new computing platform. And it won't achieve that until it becomes much more powerful and capable than it is today. It's a nice thing to have, but not essential like the iPhone.

My original criticism from when I first reviewed the Apple Watch a year ago still stands: Apple made it do too much and you're better off ignoring most of the features.

I started wearing the Apple Watch again a few weeks ago in preparation for this column, and discovered not much has changed in the last year. I ignore just about everything the Apple Watch can do, except for a few, pared-down features. I even limit notifications, the best feature of the Apple Watch, to the things I care most about like text messages, calendar reminders, and Slack alerts. Other than that, I use it for fitness tracking, Apple Pay, and, of course, checking the date and time.

But that's only a tiny fraction of what the Apple Watch is capable of. Unfortunately, it either doesn't do those things well, or the features are buried under layers of confusing interfaces. Siri? Sending doodles or your heartbeat to other Apple Watch users? Sending a text with your voice? Glances? They just don't make much sense on the Watch given today's limitations.

A year after launch, there are thousands and thousands of apps available for the Apple Watch, but I haven't found a single one that's good enough to use every day. Most of them feel too similar to their smartphone counterparts, and are a clunky to use on such a tiny screen. But even worse, they're painfully slow because they rely on a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone for everything. You end up spending more time looking at the spinning loading screen than using the actual app itself.

It's as if Apple designed the Apple Watch to act like a mini smartphone on your wrist, but didn't give it the technical abilities to fulfill everything a smartphone does.

I think the most significant addition to the Apple Watch was third-party complications, which lets developers turn their apps into glanceable information on the main clock screen.

For example, I really enjoy the weather app Dark Sky's complication that lets you know the temperature and when it's going to rain next. That kind of functionality fits the form factor much better than a traditional app. You look at a watch for a second or two to get the information you need right away. You don't need to spend time tapping and swiping and pressing buttons to uncover what you want to know, especially when whipping out your phone is much faster. In the future, I think smartwatch "apps" will look more like Apple Watch complications and less like the mini versions of iPhone apps you see today.

The Apple Watch would've been more successful if it did a lot less from the beginning. Give us notifications, fitness tracking, and third-party complications. Sell it for $199 and let people get addicted to it. Then, over time, add new features like apps, Siri, voice calls, whatever. Those slow, iterative advancements worked well for the iPhone, and it could've worked well for the Apple Watch.

Instead, we got everything Apple could pack into the Apple Watch at once, which is too much to swallow given the device's limitations.

In the near term, I predict the Apple Watch will be more like the iPad, something fun to use on occasion, but not center to your life the way the phone or computer is today. And it'll stay that way until Apple irons out a lot of the device's limitations.

The Apple Watch's first birthday may look a little grim, but things could get a lot more rosy a few years from now.

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The Apple Watch isn't the breakthrough product we were hoping for from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Beyonce's new album has already made Tidal one of the top apps in the App Store

Steve Kovach April 24, 2016 at 06:09AM

Beyonce's new album "Lemonade" has already given a big boost to the streaming service Tidal.

Within hours of the album's release, Tidal, the only place you can listen to "Lemonade" for now, shot towards the top of Apple's App Store rankings.

It was number 12 as of Sunday morning, even though it wasn't even listed in the top apps list before "Lemonade" dropped. However, Tidal hasn't cracked the top apps list for Android yet.

Tidal is a streaming music service owned in part by several famous artists, most notably Beyonce's husband Jay Z. The service is pretty much the same as Spotify and Apple Music, but it does offer several exclusives. For example, it's the only streaming service where you can get all of Prince's music. Prince's death last week also helped give Tidal some momentum in the App Store, but "Lemonade" seems to have pushed it over the top.

Still, it hasn't really caught on like Spotify and Apple Music have. At last count, Tidal only had 3 million subscribers. Spotify has 30 million subscribers and Apple Music has 11 million.

To highlight the power of Beyonce, even Prince's death last week didn't get Tidal into the top charts. It still remained relatively buried in the App Store rankings. (Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people chose to pirate his albums instead.)

If you don't want to wait for "Lemonade" to hit iTunes, Amazon, or other services, you can test Tidal for free for 30 days. It costs $9.99 per month.

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Beyonce's new album has already made Tidal one of the top apps in the App Store from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: This mysterious startup wants to kill computers for good

Steve Kovach April 19, 2016 at 07:02AM

A startup called Magic Leap is working on a headset that displays augmented reality (AR), which means overlaying virtual images on top of the real world. And if all goes according to plan, it'll be able replace all the screens in your life.

In fact, according to a new profile on Magic Leap in Wired, employees at the company "will soon abandon desktop screens altogether in favor of virtual displays."

What's a virtual display?

Here's an example of one from Magic Leap's latest video, which was recorded directly from one of its headsets:

Of course, it's just early days. Magic Leap has only given demos of its prototype headsets to a handful of people, and it's unclear what the device looks like in its current form. Is it still tethered to a computer? Is it big and bulky like the recent virtual reality headsets from Oculus and HTC? 

Who knows! (Well, Magic Leap knows, but it's being very careful with how it shares early versions of its technology with the world for now.)

But the fact that the company is at a point where it can start migrating some of its employees from computers to AR headsets shows how far it has come.

If you want to fast-forward several years when these headsets become smaller, lighter, and untethered, there's the potential to eliminate all screens from your life. Even your TV. Take a look at this patent from Magic Leap that imagines just that:

There's no understating how significant that would be — a single gadget that replaces all the gadgets in your life, and delivers whatever you want from entertainment to the apps you need to do your job.

Check out the full video from Magic Leap to see what that could be like:

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This mysterious startup wants to kill computers for good from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Netflix is open to letting you save shows to watch offline

Steve Kovach April 18, 2016 at 02:39PM

As easy as it is to stream from Netflix, it's pretty annoying to watch stuff when you're somewhere without an internet connection like an airplane or subway car.

But for the first time ever, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings hinted that the company could allow offline viewing one day.

Here's what Hastings said when asked about offline streaming during the company's earnings call on Monday:

"We should keep an open mind on all this… as we expand around the world where we see an uneven set of networks, it’s something we should keep an open mind about."

That's not a "no."

One of Netflix's main rivals, Amazon Instant Video, already lets users store videos offline on their devices. (It's an amazing feature too.) Amazon also just announced it'll start selling a standalone video streaming service for $8.99 per month, which is a dollar cheaper than Netflix's subscription. 

However, offline viewing often has limitations, like a 48-hour window before the video disappears from your device. Netflix would have to negotiate those rights with its various content partners. Don't expect anything too soon.

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Netflix is open to letting you save shows to watch offline from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: You should still pick Netflix over Amazon Video, even though it's more expensive (NFLX, AMZN)

Steve Kovach April 18, 2016 at 07:40AM

Amazon made a surprise announcement Sunday by undercutting Netflix with a new standalone video streaming service that costs $8.99 per month.

The timing may be perfect for Amazon to swoop in and undercut its rival, weeks before many Netflix subscribers are about to see their subscription fee increase. But the reality is that even at $9.99 per month, Netflix is one heck of deal and a much better option than Amazon.

While both Amazon and Netflix have a lot of overlap when it comes to third-party movies and TV shows, Netflix stands out because it has a much better catalog of original programming than Amazon does. Amazon has a few sleeper hits like "Transparent," but its originals have largely failed to get the same kind of buzz and critical acclaim as Netflix's growing library of excellent shows.

In fact, Netflix's content is so good, that a recent Morgan Stanley survey found that viewers prefer watching Netflix's original shows over those from HBO and Amazon.

So, if you have to decide between Netflix and Amazon, I recommend spending the extra buck each month for Netflix. It's worth every penny.

But if you shop on Amazon a lot, you should definitely take a look at Amazon Prime, which costs $99 per year and gives you free access to Amazon Video on top of free two-day shipping for just about anything you want to buy, plus a host of other perks. That way you get the best of both worlds.

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You should still pick Netflix over Amazon Video, even though it's more expensive (NFLX, AMZN) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: HTC probably made the best phone no one will want to buy

Steve Kovach April 13, 2016 at 07:45AM

HTC missed its chance to be stand tall with the biggest smartphone makers.

Until 2011, it was widely regarded as the best Android phone maker, and its sales were jumping as it looked like the only viable alternative to the iPhone.

But Samsung saw an opportunity and seized it, essentially buying its huge market share through aggressive marketing and using its own lucrative chip business to make many of the components for its phones. The relatively small HTC didn't stand a chance.

Year after year, HTC released really nice and well-reviewed phones that never sold well compared to the iPhone or Samsung's extensive line of Galaxy phones. It was one of the saddest stories in tech — a focused company making excellent devices that just never took off with a broad range of consumers. Bummer.

HTC seems to have come to grips with that reality this year with the release of its newest flagship phone, the HTC 10. It's a gorgeous device, even better looking than the iPhone. It also has an impressive camera, sharp display, and clean software that isn't bloated down with extras like most Android phones are.

It's a tech geek's dream. But it also signals a shift for HTC, which is no longer chasing the dream of catching up to Samsung and Apple. At $699 unlocked (you can buy it through 12 monthly payments from HTC too), the HTC 10 is $50 more expensive than the iPhone 6s. AT&T, the second-largest carrier in the US, won't even be selling the 10 in stores.

At best, the HTC 10 is a niche device, similar to Google's line of Nexus phones. It's not going to sell millions, but it will appease Android purists who want the best of the best. It's the Tesla of Android phones — not for everyone, but appealing for those who value premium over anything else.

"All the ingredients of an HTC phone makes it great. We have a very pure, very differentiated design," Andre Lonne, HTC's new US president, told me in an interview Tuesday.

He added that individual components like high-end audio and a premium camera will also attract buyers. That doesn't make the HTC 10 a bad device, it just makes it a device for a very special kind of customer.

The HTC 10 doesn't have the ingredients for a mass-market product, and I doubt we'll ever really see one from HTC again. In the meantime, the company is chasing the next big thing through its HTC Vive VR headset and fitness technology through its partnership with Under Armour.

But when it comes to the smartphone, the most important consumer gadget today, HTC's devices will remain a niche.

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HTC probably made the best phone no one will want to buy from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Here's why Tesla just made a radical new design choice

Steve Kovach April 12, 2016 at 08:31AM

Tesla updated its luxury Model S Sedan Tuesday with some new design tweaks and other features.

But one major change has everyone talking.

Take a look at the front:

Tesla removed the standard grille and smoothed it out. It's very similar to the front of the upcoming Model 3, which Tesla will start selling at the end of 2017:

Here's what the Model S used to look like when it had a grille:

So, why did Tesla get rid of the grille in its two newest cars?

Tesla's and other electric cars don't actually need a grille because they don't have a combustion engine in the front. In fact, the "grille" on the old Model S was mostly there for looks, perhaps to make people feel comfortable with the design after seeing grilles on cars for the last 100 years or so.

It's clear now that Tesla has decided to do away with that concept and go completely grille-less moving forward.

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Here's why Tesla just made a radical new design choice from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Samsung and HTC have out-designed Apple

Steve Kovach April 12, 2016 at 07:04AM

A few years ago, it seemed infeasible that anyone could out-design Apple. Android makers like Samsung kept pumping out flimsy, plastic devices, while Apple was all about using premium materials like metal and glass. 

But after years of refinement, some of its competitors have finally out-designed Apple.

This year we've seen impressive designs from two of Apple's biggest rivals. There's Samsung's Galaxy S7 and the new HTC 10. I think they've both leapfrogged the iPhone design.

If I had to rank the devices by design alone, here's where I think they all stand:

#3 The iPhone 6s/6s Plus

#2 The HTC 10

#1 The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge/Galaxy S7

Design isn't everything, of course, but it does mean a lot. If you're going to spent $650 or more on a gadget that you carry everywhere with you, then it had better look and feel good. I still think the iPhone is the best overall device for most people, but it is falling behind its rivals in terms of design.

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Samsung and HTC have out-designed Apple from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Kobe Bryant and Michael B. Jordan are in a really good new Apple TV ad

Steve Kovach April 10, 2016 at 02:47PM

Here's a cute new Apple TV ad that started airing Sunday. It stars Michael B. Jordan ("Creed") and Kobe Bryant.

It's actually pretty funny, especially if you're like me and can't believe Bryant is still playing in the NBA at age 37.

Check it out:

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Kobe Bryant and Michael B. Jordan are in a really good new Apple TV ad from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: The space station just caught SpaceX's Dragon capsule

Steve Kovach April 10, 2016 at 07:45AM

SpaceX's Dragon supply capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station Sunday morning. European astronaut Tim Peake used the ISS's robotic arm to grab the Dragon capsule and pull it into the airlock.

The Dragon launched Friday afternoon and is full of supplies for the astronauts living on the ISS as well as an inflatable capsule addition to the station. The astronauts will deploy the bedroom-sized capsule next month. If all goes well, inflatable capsules could serve as a model for future additions to the ISS and even be used to establish temporary settlements on Mars.

It's been a great few days for SpaceX. After Friday's successful launch of the Dragon, SpaceX's delivery rocket, the Falcon 9, performed its first-ever landing on a drone ship in the middle of the ocean.

You can watch the Dragon dock with the ISS here:

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The space station just caught SpaceX's Dragon capsule from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Apple fans aren't impressed with the iPhone's hottest new feature

Steve Kovach April 10, 2016 at 07:03AM

3D Touch, the pressure-sensitive screen on the iPhone 6s, was pitched as the feature that would change the way we interact with our devices.

But seven months later, even the Apple press, which is generally positive on Apple products, aren't finding it to be the breakthrough feature they had hoped.

Writing for MacWorld, Jason Snell pointed out how 3D Touch actions are often redundant and don't add much value beyond how we've been using the iPhone since the beginning:

...most of the time I don’t see any benefit to using 3D Touch to reveal content in apps over just tapping to reveal that content the usual way. It’s a solution to a problem we didn’t have. And this says a lot about the problem with the way Apple has deployed 3D Touch in iOS.

And John Gruber, one of the most prolific and pro-Apple writers out there, agreed with Snell's take on the "Peek and Pop" feature of 3D Touch, which lets you preview content from a link in a pop-up window:

The gimmicky nature of peek/pop is alarming ...It’s a demo feature, not a real feature, and I find that deeply worrisome.

A lot of this echoes what my colleague Dave Smith wrote a few months ago:

In theory, all of this sounds useful. Everyone loves shortcuts! But in practice, 3D Touch is only saving you one or two taps at best. It doesn't do anything your phone can't already do, it just does it a bit quicker.

There's been more criticism of 3D Touch recently, but that should give you a good idea where we're at.

Even though I've been using a 6s since the day it came out, I can't find a good everyday use for it. Sometimes I'll use the shortcut on the Phone app icon to call someone in my favorites list. Sometimes I'll use the handy trackpad feature on the keyboard that lets you move the text cursor around. (That one is actually really great, and it should serve as a model for making 3D Touch more useful in the future.) But for the most part, I've ignored 3D Touch on my iPhone.

Seven months later, it's clear now that a lot of people feel the same way. At a system-wide level, 3D Touch has never been as natural as tapping, swiping, or any of the other gestures we're already used to. Part of that is because 3D Touch still isn't ubiquitous across iOS. Some apps have it. Others don't. Meanwhile, features like Peek and Pop feel redundant to a traditional tap or swipe.

When I tested the iPhone SE a few weeks ago, I didn't realize it was missing 3D Touch at first. I started using it as my primary phone after six months with the 6s, and felt like nothing significant changed but the screen size. By the time I wrote my review, 3D Touch's absence didn't matter. I called the iPhone SE the best value of any smartphone out there because it had all the excellent high-end features you find in the 6s for $250 cheaper. 3D Touch didn't even make my list of those features. A lot of other reviewers felt the same way.

Last September, Apple promised 3D Touch would transform the way we interact with our devices. The line? 3D Touch is "just as profound as multi-touch." That's saying a lot. There were even a lot of big name apps on board. Facebook. Evernote. Instagram. Yelp. But for every one of those apps using 3D Touch, there are dozens that don't. Apple may be excited about 3D Touch, but the developers don't seem to be yet.

That could change as Apple adds 3D Touch to the rest of its devices and figures out new, more natural uses for it across iOS. And on a hardware level, it's an amazing technical achievement. But in the near term, 3D Touch doesn't feel as profound as Apple originally pitched it.

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The Transport Guy: Elon Musk deleted a perfect tweet about his SpaceX rocket landing

Steve Kovach April 09, 2016 at 11:40AM

SpaceX made history Friday afternoon when its Falcon 9 rocket stuck its first successful landing on a drone ship in the ocean after delivering a supply capsule to the International Space Station.

Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO, seemed happy with the results. In fact, he tweeted the perfect celebratory reaction and then deleted it — a parody of Lonely Island's "I'm on a boat", according to The Verge.

Why would he delete it? Because of all the F-words? Maybe he doesn't like T-Pain? Who knows, but you can watch the video here and have a good laugh.

 And if you want to pretend it's 2009 again, here's the Lonely Island original:

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Elon Musk deleted a perfect tweet about his SpaceX rocket landing from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Fans are freaking out about this mysterious cloaked figure in the new 'Star Wars' spinoff trailer

Steve Kovach April 07, 2016 at 07:59AM

Don't read this post if you want to avoid potential spoilers or speculation about "Rogue One", the new "Star Wars" movie that comes out this December.

There's a lot to unpack in the new "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" trailer, but one shot in particular has everyone scratching their heads.

Who is this person?

Since "Rogue One" tells the story of how the Rebels stole the original Death Star plans and takes place shortly before the events of "A New Hope", a lot of people think it could be Darth Vader. (Vader has been rumored to have a small role in the film, after all.)

It's a smart guess. Black cloak? Imperial guards? Kneeling before... some kind of glowing column thing? Sure. This scene seems to fit Vader's vibe.

My theory: It's a new villain who's powerful in the Dark Side and this shot is just a trick to make us think we're looking at Vader. 

In the "Force Unleashed" video game series — which are no longer part of the official "Star Wars" canon, by the way — Vader has a secret apprentice named Galen Marek. Perhaps the character we see in the trailer is Marek or a character based off him. And the shot we have from the trailer could be this apprentice approaching Vader for a meeting to discuss whatever it is Dark Side villains like to talk about.

The "Rogue One" teaser left out one big actor in the film, Mads Mikkelsen ("Hannibal"). Maybe he's the man under the cloak? 

We're about to get a new "Star Wars" movie with loads of new characters. As great as it'd be to see Vader in "Rogue One", it'd be a lazy move to make him the main bad guy again. Let's see something fresh. A new Dark Side villain (plus a brief cameo from Vader) is much more exciting.

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The Transport Guy: Tech Insider is hiring tech reporters

Steve Kovach April 07, 2016 at 07:38AM

Tech Insider is looking for talented tech reporters to join our growing team.

We’re looking for gadget gurus, social media experts, and people who are always the first to know about the best apps out there. We’re also looking for people who can help us grow our product review coverage.

The ideal candidate will have an understanding of consumer tech, and, most importantly, be excited about chasing down news and open to adventure.

Strong communications skills are a must, and the ability to separate the boring from the interesting is important. Video skills (experience writing scripts and being on camera) are a plus.  

APPLY HERE with your resume and cover letter. This is a full-time job based in New York City.

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The Transport Guy: This is the most impressive feature of the iPhone SE (AAPL)

Steve Kovach April 01, 2016 at 07:46AM

One of the reasons I like using big phones is that they come with big batteries that last a lot longer.

But the new iPhone SE, Apple's 4-inch phone that looks just like the old iPhone 5s, turns that notion upside down. Even though its battery is significantly smaller than the iPhone 6s Plus battery, it lasts longer in several key areas.

I used the iPhone SE for a week instead of my 6s Plus, and found it did in fact have better battery life. Apple's official specs sheet has it lasting longer than the iPhone 6s Plus for most tasks. For me, I was able to get through a full day and then some on a single charge. 

As I wrote in my full review of the iPhone SE:

Even though the battery is technically smaller, it outperforms the iPhone 6s in most tests thanks to the smaller screen and power efficiency of iOS 9 and Apple’s latest A9 processor. You no longer need a massive phone with a massive battery to get great battery life. That may be the SE’s single most important achievement.

The iPhone SE is the best value of any smartphone. It can match the 6s and other high-end phones in processing power, but still costs a reasonable $399. But it's the battery life I was most impressed with.

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This is the most impressive feature of the iPhone SE (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach