Apple Watch's reliance on the iPhone could mean more battery life

Battery life has been a major concern for those anticipating the Apple Watch, but Apple may have come up with a solution.

It turns out the iPhone will handle some processing for the Apple wearable, thus letting the smartwatch save battery, according to a hands-on report from A Blog to Watch.

Like other smartwatches, the Apple Watch lets you install apps from a dedicated smartphone app on the iPhone, but the two gadgets' relationship reportedly goes deeper than that.

And with the iPhone doing some of the Apple Watch's heavy lifting, the smartwatch could stay on for longer than previously thought - though it will presumably also sap your iPhone's battery more quickly.

Cutting it close

"The Apple Watch is snappier, with longer battery life because a lot of tasks can be off-loaded to the host phone," this report notes.

The Apple Watch is scheduled to launch in early 2015, though Apple has yet to provide any specific dates.

It is slightly worrying that the Apple Watch might not even go into full production until January, according to Taiwanese site Apple Daily, though Apple might still technically hit its expected launch window - depending on the company's definition of "early."

Either way assembly firm Quanta Computer is reportedly amping up for Apple Watch production by adding new workers, reports G for Games, and things could kick off in the next few months.

• The Apple Watch was inspired by the iPod Nano

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iOS 8.1 beta code reveals Apple Pay support for the iPhone 6 and iPad

In case users were wondering where Apple Pay was on their brand new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus it looks to be coming with iOS 8.1.

A developer with access to the iOS 8.1 beta named Hamza Sood tweeted a screenshot revealing a new section of settings allowing users to fill in their pertinent billing information. This includes credit or debit card numbers, addresses, phone number and email – all of which point to Apple's tap based payment system.

In the another screenshot you can also Apple Pay's privacy policy, which adds further evidence to iOS 8.1 will include the NFC-powered payment method.

Tablet-sized wallets

Sood also claims to have discovered another string of code, which reveals the iPad will get Touch ID and allow users to make purchases though apps with Apple Pay.

However, the United Kingdom-based programmer also clarified the code makes no mention of NFC. So users might not be bopping credit card machines with the iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 in the near future.

Apple Pay is slated to launch in the coming month. Meanwhile, the Cupertino is also expected to hold yet another press event where the company has been rumored to unveil new iPads and OS X Yosemite.

Like a perfect storm of tech announcements, it seems very likely Apple will unveil its next line of tablets running the full commercial build of iOS 8.1.

• What of Apple Pay on the Apple Watch?

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In Depth: 10 great new features in Windows 10

In Depth: Windows 10 combines the best aspects of Windows 7 and Windows 8

By now we all know the fateful story of Windows 8. Released in August 2012, the new Microsoft operating system represented an avant garde approach to computing that excited tech enthusiasts and baffled the general consumer.

Hailed for its sleek design, security enhancements and speed, Windows 8 was an attempt by Microsoft to usher in the era of hybrid laptop-tablet computing by offering touchscreen functionality and a revamped user journey that combined the richness of desktop computing with the sexiness of a tablet interface.

Although it received an A for effort from the tech community, it failed to win over the hearts and minds of businesses and consumers. Windows 7 continues to be the operating system of choice for users, accounting for more than half of all PCs and Macs in use, while Windows 8, after two years on the market, represents only 13.4% of total users.

In comes Windows 10

In order to make lemonade out of lemons, Microsoft has leveraged the creativity and inspiration behind Windows 8 and combined it with the usability and intuitiveness of Windows 7 to try and create a hybrid-based operating system that users will, well, be able to use. Windows 10, which beta testers will gain access to next week, is expected to be generally available by Spring of 2015.

Although it is immediately unclear why Microsoft chose to skip the Windows 9 tag for its latest operating system, it's clear that the loyalty of Windows 7 users impacted how Microsoft chose to build out the new operating system. So much so that Microsoft might have been better off calling the new operating system Windows 7.5.

Start menu and app launch

For starters, Microsoft has brought back the Start Menu, a notable absence from the first iteration of Windows 8 that irked many Windows traditionalist. Windows 10's Start Menu will not only provide easy access to heavily-used applications, it will also feature customizable tabs that allows users to include their favorite apps, programs, and websites. Additionally, the tiles will feature Windows 8's resizability, which will enable people to customize how big each respective app appears on the Start Menu.

Instead of applications that open to fill a screen like they do on a tablet, Windows 10 will feature an app launch that will more closely resemble desktop application launches. Now, app windows can be resized and relocated, just like internet browser windows.

Task view and search

Windows 10's new Task View button and multiple desktop option will allow users to quickly navigate between applications and files without getting lost and having to flip between dozens of windows. Task View allows all open apps and files to be viewed in the same format so that users can simply click from one task to the other without having to adjust their device's perspective. The multiple desktop option lets users create separate desktops for different purposes and projects (think work stuff and fantasy football stuff) so that navigation to and from tasks can be done with fewer swipes and clicks.

Users of desktop search will be happy to hear that, unlike the original Windows 8, Windows 10 has a search field. So no more desperately swiping, flipping and scrolling through documents, apps and emails. You can simply enter your search query and find what you're looking for...just like the good old days.

• Everything you need to know about the future of Windows

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Opinion: Why did Microsoft choose Windows 10 instead of Windows 9?

Microsoft didn't choose Windows 9 as the name of the next version of Windows, instead it went for Windows 10, which is still better than say, Windows TH but we're still very much surprised by this apparent snub at the number 9.

Windows 10, we now know, will be cross-platform, absorbing Windows Phone (confirmed) and possibly Windows RT, Windows Server and Windows Embedded. In other words, this version of Windows is more than a mere evolution of Windows 8.1, which Windows 9 was supposed to be.

Microsoft veteran, Mary Jo Foley, sums up why Microsoft chose 10: "they wanted to signify that the coming Windows release would be the last major Windows update." while Microsoft's official stance, from Myerson is that "when you see the product in your fullness I think you'll agree with us that it's a more appropriate name".

• Check out our Windows 10 (formerly known as Windows 9) hub.

In other words, that version of Windows is likely to be the last with a suffix; expect Microsoft to stick with Windows alone and potentially extend this naming strategy to the rest of its other brands (Office, Xbox etc) as it wholeheartedly embraces and extends the "as-a-service" paradigm to the jewel in the crown: Windows.

One cannot however ignore the fact that there's another operating system that carries a number 10, that's right, Apple's Mac OS X is in its 10th iteration (hence the X). Whether or not the naming convention is a subtle finger waving exercise at Apple, no one knows.

Before Google and Apple, Microsoft is the first to finally come up with a unified operating system strategy, the fabled one OS to rule them all. 2015 is going to be one of the most interesting in a decade as I expect both Microsoft rival to finally merge their mobile and desktop operating system.

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iCloud Drive users, careful with that iOS 8 reset button

Apple's rocky iOS 8 launch apparently isn't quite over yet, as a number of users are reporting a "Reset All Settings" option appears to be living up to its name, effectively wiping out valuable iCloud Drive data it's not supposed to.

MacRumors reported Monday that multiple readers on their forums have been bitten by an undocumented iOS 8 bug capable of purging documents from a connected iCloud Drive account, despite assurances from Apple that "no data or media will be deleted."

The problem appears to only be affecting iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users who have first upgraded to iCloud Drive, which offers a more robust method for saving documents and other data, which can then be accessed from other synced devices.

Selecting the "Reset All Settings" option found under the General > Reset menu of the Settings app is intended as a troubleshooting measure, but as the screenshot above shows, should always leave connected iCloud account data intact.

iWork at risk

Affected users claim the bug targets only documents saved to the cloud from Apple's own iWork suite, which is includes Microsoft Office alternatives Pages, Numbers and Keynote, while leaving data from third-party apps intact.

MacRumors was able to test the apparent bug on its own hardware, noting iCloud Drive data purged from a reset iPhone also removed all iWork documents from the iCloud.com web app as well as a Mac running the latest beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.

While OS X users have been successful at restoring lost documents from backup folders or Apple's Time Machine software, the report recommends iOS 8 users who have already upgraded to iCloud Drive refrain from resetting their devices until a permanent fix can be found.

Apple has yet to acknowledge the glitch, although at least one user has had their iCloud account placed into troubleshooting mode as engineers worked to investigate the problem.

• Go big or go home with our review of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus!

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Windows 10 is the name of the next version of Windows Phone, too

Microsoft surprised everyone today with the announcement that the next version of Windows is called Windows 10, not Windows 9 as most had thought.

But during the announcement Microsoft executives said that Windows 10 will run on devices with screen sizes ranging from four to 80 inches, raising an important question: is "Windows 10" replacing "Windows Phone?"

And the answer, given during the Q&A portion of Microsoft's Windows 10 announcement, is a resounding "yes."

Moving units

This shift was signaled earlier in September when Microsoft documents describing a gradual phasing-out of Windows Phone and Nokia branding was leaked online.

Microsoft wants Windows 10 to cover a huge range of devices and be the only operating system its users need.

"Our new Windows must be built from the group up for a mobile-first cloud-first world," Microsoft Executive Vice President of Operating Systems Terry Myerson said during the Windows 10 reveal.

Microsoft may have forgotten how to count, but at least its message with Windows 10 is clear.

• Best Windows Phone - which should you buy?

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iCloud Drive users, careful with that iOS 8 reset button

Apple's rocky iOS 8 launch apparently isn't quite over yet, as a number of users are reporting a "Reset All Settings" option appears to be living up to its name, effectively wiping out valuable iCloud Drive data it's not supposed to.

MacRumors reported Monday that multiple readers on their forums have been bitten by an undocumented iOS 8 bug capable of purging documents from a connected iCloud Drive account, despite assurances from Apple that "no data or media will be deleted."

The problem appears to only be affecting iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users who have first upgraded to iCloud Drive, which offers a more robust method for saving documents and other data, which can then be accessed from other synced devices.

Selecting the "Reset All Settings" option found under the General > Reset menu of the Settings app is intended as a troubleshooting measure, but as the screenshot above shows, should always leave connected iCloud account data intact.

iWork at risk

Affected users claim the bug targets only documents saved to the cloud from Apple's own iWork suite, which is includes Microsoft Office alternatives Pages, Numbers and Keynote, while leaving data from third-party apps intact.

MacRumors was able to test the apparent bug on its own hardware, noting iCloud Drive data purged from a reset iPhone also removed all iWork documents from the iCloud.com web app as well as a Mac running the latest beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.

While OS X users have been successful at restoring lost documents from backup folders or Apple's Time Machine software, the report recommends iOS 8 users who have already upgraded to iCloud Drive refrain from resetting their devices until a permanent fix can be found.

Apple has yet to acknowledge the glitch, although at least one user has had their iCloud account placed into troubleshooting mode as engineers worked to investigate the problem.

• Go big or go home with our review of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus!

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Basis Peak fitness tracker adds touchscreen, smartwatch notifications

Get ready to climb new heights in your workout routine with the Basis Peak strapped to your wrist. One of the most accurate fitness trackers is due for a redesign in November.

The iOS 8 and Android-compatible watch is being fashioned by Basis, now an Intel company, to be slightly more aesthetically pleasing than the Basis Carbon Steel Edition.

Front and center is a new touchscreen interface that makes it easier to swipe through menus rather than pressing one of the four corners to move about in a confusion fashion.

The touchscreen makes it more like Android Wear, and in that vein is crosses into smartwatch territory via notifications for incoming calls, SMS and email.

Basis Peak fitness features

Notifications won't be available for November's Basis Peak launch, but come in a free software update, according to Basis. Hopefully it fares better than the doomed Fitbit Force notifications we demoed.

What will be part of the fitness tracker from the get-go are five returning metrics: steps, calories, skin temperature, perspiration and heart-rate even during workouts - not just when you ask for it.

Sleep tracking is once again automatically detected, a huge advantage over the fairly accurate Jawbone Up24 tracking feature and inaccurate (when it comes to sleep tracking) Fitbit Force and Fibit Flex.

Basis Peak also measures REM, deep, light sleep, which is slightly more advanced than the competition.

If you're under water, it's rated for 5 ATM, which is good enough for normal swimming, and the battery lasts four days. That's the same exact Pebble Steel waterproof and battery life stats.

Basis Peak price, release date

Basis Peak will be available in two colors schemes at launch: a matte black module with black and red-accented straps and brushed silver module with white and gray-accented straps.

It will cost $199 (likely north of £122, AU$227) with a North American release date falling in November. Amazon, Best Buy, REI and Basis' own store will carry the new fitness tracker.

The UK and Canada won't be too far behind with a release date slated for later this year.

• Check out our review of the Basis B1 Carbon Steel Edition

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