Facebook Implements Fix for iOS App Battery Draining Issues

Facebook Implements Fix for iOS App Battery Draining Issues - Facebook's newest iOS update, out today, fixes a major battery draining bug that some Facebook users have been experiencing in recent weeks. Affected users were seeing large amounts of battery drain on their iPhones due to Facebook running in the background, something that happened even when background app refresh was toggled off in the Settings app.

While the latest Facebook app release notes don't include a reference to the issue, Facebook engineering manager Ari Grant wrote a post (via TechCrunch) explaining the issues behind the battery drain and what Facebook has done to fix it. According to Grant, there were several factors that contributed to the problem, including a "CPU spin" in the network code and silent background audio sessions that kept the app awake even when it wasn't open.

Western Digital to buy SanDisk in $19 billion takeover connected to flash memory

Western Digital to buy SanDisk in $19 billion takeover connected to flash memory - Hard drive maker Western Digital on Wednesday announced a $19 billion deal to acquire SanDisk, reflecting a shift in the storage industry away from magnetic hard disks towards solid-state drives and other forms of flash memory.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Enjoy 45 minutes of slow-motion Apollo rocket launches

Enjoy 45 minutes of slow-motion Apollo rocket launches - Step back into the '60s with a video full of gorgeous slo-mo footage of massive Saturn V rockets carrying Apollo missions into space.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Hands On: Apple TV 2015 with tvOS apps, Remote featuring touch, motion & Siri

Hands On: Apple TV 2015 with tvOS apps, Remote featuring touch, motion & Siri - Apple has been selling its Apple TV as long as iPhone, but the set top box has neither sold in similar quantities nor earned even a significant fraction as much money for the company. While neither of those facts are likely to change, the new 2015 Apple TV is poised to radically change the TV and game console industries.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple pictures the future with new cameras in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus

Apple pictures the future with new cameras in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus -

The iPhone has long been the most popular camera on the planet, and Apple has worked to make the lives of point-and-shoot manufacturers even worse --?and the lives of selfie hounds even better --?with the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. AppleInsider took a look at the glass and silicon inside Apple's latest shooters.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Google Chrome 45 improvements reduce memory usage by tabs

Google Chrome 45 improvements reduce memory usage by tabs - The latest release of the Chrome web browser has introduced a number of measures to make it faster and less resource-hungry earlier than anticipated. Version 45 of the browser for desktops now incorporates a number of features that can minimize the amount of memory the software uses for tabs and other functions, with one other feature coming out in the coming weeks which could help notebook users extend their battery life ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Apple and the TV Market

Apple and the TV Market -

Well-researched, insightful piece by Pavan Rajam:

There is clearly a viable market for streaming media players like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. However, the bigger opportunity is breaking into the market for Pay TV set top boxes, which today are less compelling products but retain access to the content consumers want. The only way any tech company will be able to pull that off is by having a TV Service to accompany their hardware. Of the companies with streaming media products on the market, only one is rumored to be working on such a service.

Unlike its competitors, Apple is playing the long game in the TV market. Apple TV’s long term goal is not about beating Amazon, Google, or Roku in the streaming media player market, it’s about redefining the TV market by building a true smart TV platform.

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(Via Daring Fireball.)