As if Apple’s giant spaceship campus isn’t high-profile enough, news now that the Cupertino company is planning to locate their new UK headquarters to an iconic British locale: the imposing Battersea Power Station, which is currently undergoing a massive restoration after standing empty for over 30 years. Currently, Apple’s UK staff is split between eight different locations, but by 2021 they’ll all be together at Battersea.
If you find the building somewhat familiar, you’re probably a Pink Floyd fan, as it was featured on one of their iconic album covers. Apple’s main European headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland.
Alexa, order me a Fire TV Stick with that new Alexa remote
After Roku announced their new Express miniplayer and with rumors of a new 4K Google Chromescast swirling about, Amazon has just posted a new Fire TV Stick, with Alexa support.
It’s another win for video streamers as the new Fire TV Stick is up for preorder right now for just $40. Amazon says it’s 30 percent faster than the old model and with the Alexa functionality, you can just say something like “Launch Netflix” and boom, you’re all set. You can also load it up with apps that will allow you to voice-order pizza, play your favorite music and on and on.
The new device only outputs HDTV and not 4K, so if want that, you have to bump up to the 99-dollar model. Amazon is also including a free month of Sling TV, two months of Hulu’s Limited Commercials plan, and a $10 credit for Amazon video if you buy and activate the new Fire Stick TV before October 31st.
Eleven months to go and counting
Got your new iPhone 7 or 7 Plus? Good, then it’s time to start chatting about the iPhone 8. That’s what it was called by an Apple employee who told Business Insider that staffers at an Apple facility in Israel are working on. The next iPhone, which will come out on the 10 year anniversary of the launch of the original iPhone by the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, may indeed be a radical redesign of the popular smartphone.
The source, whom Business Insider said called the new device the “iPhone 8” in conversation, will be, quote, “different” from the 6 and 7 models with a new camera system, but other details were not… detailed. That would break from Apple’s follow-up “S” model release pattern. According to Mac Rumors, the top-of-the-line iPhone 8 may have an edge-edge OLED screen, wireless charging, no physical home button, and possibly a special kind of all-glass body.
As always, we’ll keep tabs on the iPhone 8 rumor mill for you, so check back often.