Earbuds down the subway grate?
Last year in New York City, more than 7,000 cellphones, tablets, laptops and headphones were found throughout the subway system by Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff members, according to an article in The New York Times. Just from September to December, the MTA said that it had recovered 2,194 items dropped through subway grates – 1,220 of them earbuds or AirPods. In New York, at least, there may be a happy ending: Dial 511 and MTA will send someone out to retrieve your lost earbuds. If there’s a subway system in your city, find out if it has a 511 service too.
iPhone 12 could be a whopper
At press time, leaked reports were saying that Apple’s iPhone 12 will be just as strong as a MacBook Pro, according to Tech Times. Among the rumored features are a long-range 3D camera with time-of-flight sensors, 6GB RAM, a ‘refreshed’ Face ID, in-display Touch, and 5G technology.At 6GB, RAM is 50% bigger than the iPhone 11’s, which can lead to graphics comparable to those used in games.
Let Google screen your calls
Robocalls are a nuisance. They make you second-guess each and every call from a number that’s not in your contacts, and you know answering a call from a scammer will only lead to more robocalls. Deciding whether to answer an incoming call shouldn’t be so stressful. Enter Google Call Screen. According to a report in CNET, instead of answering the call yourself, you can have Google Assistant answer it for you and provide you with a real-time transcript. You can then decide if you want to talk to the person or end the call. Here’s how it works: Google Assistant tells the caller that you’re using a screening service, one that will provide you with a transcript of the call, and asks the person to state the reason for the call.Once the caller begins talking, a transcript of the response shows up on your phone’s screen in real time. Google has yet to expand Call Screen beyond itsPixel phone line.
Bose closing retail stores
Bose is significantly shrinking the number of retail stores it operates because of the “dramatic shift” to online shopping, the company said in a statement, reports CNN. The maker of high-end electronics said it’s closing 119 retail stores worldwide across North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. It will continue to operate about 130 stores throughout China, the United Arab Emirates, India and some Asian countries. In addition to selling products online, Bose products are sold by large retailers like Best Buy and Target, and it also has an Amazonstorefront.
Trade or sell your Apple hardware
Apple’s GiveBack trade service will give you Apple Store credit in exchange for your computer, iPhone, or iPad, reports The Verge. At Apple’s site, you can find out how much you can get for your machine before sending it in. You’ll just need your serial number and access to its specifications to find the value. Apple won’t pay you as much for your device as it might go for on the public market, but it’s a good option if you just want to flip your tech without a fuss. Otherwise, Swappa.com and Craigslist remain the best options for selling your hardware. Before you sell, though, erase your data. Find instructions at The Verge at https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/30/18023686/macbook-pad-mac-apple-trade-in-program-how-to-value-swappa