Paul Thompson

Dummerfest 2017 - Live in MilwaukeeAnimal Youth - AnimalSievehead - Worthless SoulYou can check out any of our reviews right here. 

The pieces are now in place for Kanye West to go back on tour as soon as early 2018 ... and we're told it's moving in just that direction. Sources familiar with the situation tells us Live Nation -- which produced the 2016 Saint Pablo Tour -- has…

According to Apple's System Status website and multiple reports sent in by MacRumors readers, Apple's iCloud Backup service is unavailable for some users. Apple's site says iCloud backup is down for "less than 1 percent of users," but those affected have been unable to restore from an iCloud backup since yesterday.

Customers impacted by the iCloud outage who attempt to restore an iOS device using a backup are seeing the process hang while in progress, with the restore failing to complete. iCloud backups can still be made from iOS devices, so data is safe, but affected users will not be able to restore from backups until Apple's servers are back up. In some cases, existing iCloud backups are also not showing up on new devices.


Apple employees have been telling customers to wait it out and set up recently purchased iPhones and iPads as new devices rather than restoring from an existing backup.

Apple's iCloud Backup service has been experiencing issues since 8:00 a.m. yesterday morning, and it is not clear when a fix will be implemented. We'll update this post when the problem is resolved.


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On this week's episode of AppStories, we consider the effect on third-party apps of PDFKit, the system Markup extension, changes to Notes, and password AutoFill for apps.

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Rihanna's new beau is certainly up for a new challenge -- whether it's landing a smoking hot chick or lining up hundreds of cars to smash world records. Hassan Jameel -- the guy RiRi was sucking face with in Spain -- accepted a challenge from…

The grand prize (left), first place (top right), and second place (bottom right) winners of the 2017 iPhone Photography Awards. Photos courtesy of IPPA, individual credits below.

When the iPhone Photography Awards were established in 2007, the first iPhone had just been released and its 2MP images were... well, they were nothing to write home about. Fast-forward to 2017, and the winners of this year's 10th annual IPPAs are stunning, taking full advantage of a decade's technological advancement.

This year's winners were selected from 'thousands' of entries that poured in from over 140 countries around the world. Let's take them one by one:

Grand Prize

This year's grand prize and title of iPhone Photographer of the year went to Sebastian Tomada for his photograph titled 'Children of Qayyarah'. Photo © Sebastian Tomada

The grand prize winner, titled 'Children of Qayyarah', was captured by Sebastian Tomada, a photojournalist based in New York City and the Middle East.

As the title suggests, the image was captured in Qayyarah, Iraq. It was shot on November 4th, 2016 after Islamic State militants set fire to oil wells in the city. The image was captured with an iPhone 6s.

1st Place

First place went to photographer Brendan O Se from Ireland, for her striking photograph titled 'Dock Worker'. Photo © Brendan O Se

Photographer Brendan O Se—a university teacher/teacher trainer in Cork, Ireland—was awarded 1st place in the competition for his portrait of hands titled 'Dock Worker'.

The photograph was taken on an early morning walk around the docks in Jakarta in April of 2016. "These were the hands of a dock worker who was taking a break," says O Se. "I was struck by the texture created by the accumulated dirt on his hands."

This photo was also taken with an iPhone 6s.

2nd Place

Second place was awarded to photographer Yeow-Kwang Yeo of Singapore for his portrait titled 'The Performer'. Photo © Yeow-Kwang Yeo

Coming in 2nd behind O Se and Tomada is photographer Yeow-Kwang Yeo, formerly a Mechanical Engineer and Business Administrator who decided to change tracks and devoted himself entirely to photography in 2007.

His photograph, 'The Performer', was captured at a performance of traditional Chinese street opera.

"Instead of shooting their performance, I decided to go the back of the stage to capture the performers’ preparation activity," says Yeo. "I spotted this experience performer who is taking a short rest and was waiting for his turn to perform. I was attracted by the lighting of the old plastic curtain, electric fan, and the overall calm atmosphere."

The photo was captured with an iPhone 6 Plus.

3rd Place

Third place in the overall competition was awarded to photographer Kuanglong Zhang of Shenzhen, China for his image 'The City Palace'. Photo © Kuanglong Zhang

The 3rd and final award handed out in the IPPA's main Photographer of the Year category went to Chinese photographer Kuanglong Zhang, a freelance photographer living in Shenzhen city. This photograph was taken in Udaipur, a city Zhang calls 'one of the most romantic in India.'

"In the City palace, I snapped a moment of one of the staff gazing out of the window," says Zhang. "[It's] as if he saw the slowly historic course of the palace’s construction, which was quite an attractive moment."

The photo was taken with an iPhone 7.

To see more winning images from the other 19 categories the IPPA ran, or if you'd like to learn more about each of the photographers above, visit the IPPA website by clicking here.

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All photos used with permission, courtesy of IPPA.

The La Crosse Public Library has partnered with professional storyteller Michael Scott to spin yarns of ghosts and other things that go bump in the night in historic downtown La Crosse.

TOWN OF JEFFERSON -- A 21-year-old West Salem man sustained serious injuries after he was ejected from his motorcycle Sunday afternoon in the Monroe County town of Jefferson, according to the sheriff's department.

The G6 is LG's latest flagship smartphone. For the new model, LG has abandoned the G5's modular concept and has instead designed a device that offers a water- and dust-proof body and a 5.7" QHD+ display with an unusual 18:9 aspect ratio.

In the camera department, LG sticks with the G5's dual-camera concept but both sensors now offer the same 13MP resolution. The wide-angle lens comes with a 71 degree angle of view and F1.8 aperture while the super-wide-angle offers 125 degrees and a slower F2.4 aperture. OIS is available on the wide-angle. 4K video capture with stereo sound recording and a laser-assisted AF system are on board as well.

Other specs are flagship-worthy too. Android 7.0 is powered by last year's top-end chipset Snapdragon 821 and 4GB of RAM. 32 or 64GB of internal storage are expandable via a microSD slot. And unlike some of its competitors the G6 still offers a 3.5mm headphone jack.

With improved camera specs, the interesting new display format and the waterproof body, the LG G6 looks like an appealing option for mobile photographers. Read the full article to find out how it performed in our test.

Key Photographic / Video Specifications

• Dual-camera with two 1/3" 13MP sensors
• Wide-angle, 71 degree angle of view, F1.8, 3-axis OIS
• Super-wide-angle, 125 degree angle of view, F2.4
• Laser-assisted autofocus
• 4K video with stereo sound recording
• 5MP front camera with 100 degree angle of view, F2.2
• Dual-LED flash

Other Specifications

• Android 7.0
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset
• 4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage
• microSD support up to 256GB
• 5.7" 18:9 QHD+ IPS display, 2880 x 1440 resolution, 564 ppi
• IP68 certified, water and dust resistant
• Fingerprint reader
• Google Assistant
• 3300 battery with Quick Charge 3.0

DPReview smartphone reviews are written with the needs of photographers in mind. We focus on camera features, performance, and image quality.

One update after another has given Instagram, the Facebook-owned image sharing app, a look that resembles Snapchat. And here we are, the day we knew was coming: the day that silly augmented reality filters arrive on Instagram. Instagram version 10.21 for iOS and Android enables a set of eight face filters for the front and rear cameras. The ability to adorn photos with hashtag 'stickers' is new as well. Like it or not, it's just a matter of time before you see someone wearing adorable bunny ears in your Instagram feed.

NASA's Mars Rover recently spent some time on the Red Planet's Ogunquit Beach, studying the area's dunes that stretch for miles. According to NASA the image above was stitched together from 115 individual images taken between March 24th and 25th. Color has been adjusted to represent how it would look in daytime Earth lighting. To fully enjoy a quick trip to Mars, be sure to play the video above in a browser that support 360-degree video.

Last week we reported that Apple had emailed all iTunes Affiliate Program members to inform them that its commission rate for all apps and in-app content would be reduced to 2.5 percent on May 1, down from 7 percent, globally.


The news came as a blow to app review and discovery websites like AppShopper and TouchArcade that depend on the commissions to generate revenue.

However, this morning MacGamerHQ posted an email communication from iTunes Affiliate Support that casts doubt on Apple's original announcement.


The message above was received in response to a query about whether Mac apps would be impacted by the commission changes. As shown, the email states that iOS and Mac app commissions remain at 7 percent, while only in-app commissions will fall to 2.5 percent.

If the affiliate team's information is accurate, then the change in commissions does not apply to individual app purchases, as Apple originally stated.

MacGamerHQ notes that several affected site owners and bloggers are still seeing 7 percent commissions come through for iTunes affiliate links, despite the fact that the changes were meant to come into effect on Monday. We'll make sure to update this post if/when Apple clarifies the situation.


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The Coathangers have released a video for their song "Captain's Dead." That's off their upcoming EP, Parasite out via Suicide Squeeze in June. The video was directed by Matt Odom. See the video below. Punknews recently spoke to Julia Kugel of The Coathangers.

Airfoil by Rogue Amoeba is a Mac app that lets you stream audio from a Mac to multiple connected devices using technologies like Bluetooth and AirPlay. I reviewed version 5 of Airfoil last year, and was impressed with its ability to stream audio to every device I could find in my home and keep them in perfect sync.

Rogue Amoeba has done some impressive reverse engineering of Apple’s OSes to make Airfoil work. The upside is Airfoil is a remarkable audio hub for anyone who wants to stream audio to virtually any connected device. The downside is that changes to Apple’s OSes can break Airfoil, which is what happened when Apple released tvOS 10.2. That update broke Airfoil streaming to Apple TVs that updated to the latest version of tvOS.

Since tvOS 10.2 was released about a month ago, Rogue Amoeba has been working on two solutions for customers. The first is Airfoil Satellite TV, a tvOS app that was released earlier this week. The app, which can receive an audio stream from Airfoil for macOS, is available as a free download on the Apple TV App Store. When you open Airfoil Satellite TV on your Apple TV, a new audio destination appears in Airfoil on your Mac named ‘Airfoil Satellite on [Your Apple TV Name].’ Pick that destination and music starts streaming from your Mac to your Apple TV.

I tested Airfoil Satellite TV on two fourth-generation Apple TVs, and it works as advertised. I did have a setup issue with one of my Apple TVs that wouldn’t show up in Airfoil on my Mac initially. The problem may have been a glitch in my home network and was easily fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling Airfoil Satellite TV. With the setup out of the way, my Apple TVs showed up as audio destinations in Airfoil on my Mac, and streaming worked flawlessly.

The downside of the Airfoil Satellite TV solution is that you can’t switch to a different app without ending the audio stream because Airfoil Satellite TV must be running in the foreground. That’s a limitation of how tvOS apps work that Rogue Amoeba can’t avoid. Despite that constraint, Airfoil Satellite TV is a good solution if you’ve been relying on Airfoil to stream to your Apple TV.

As I mentioned at the outset though, Rogue Amoeba is working on a second solution too. When Airfoil Satellite TV was released, Paul Kafasis said that his team had made progress in reverse engineering the changes Apple made that broke streaming to tvOS 10.2 devices. There is no release date yet, but the Rogue Amoeba post about Airfoil Satellite TV says the team is working to release a free update that will return Airfoil to its previous functionality as soon as possible. It’s never fun when OS updates break apps, but Rogue Amoeba’s clear communication with customers and diligence in finding solutions has been commendable. In the meantime, Airfoil Satellite TV is a good alternative for users who want to stream to Apple TVs running tvOS 10.2.

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Pictures of a dummy "iPhone 8" model appeared on social media over the weekend depicting a handset with a front and rear made of what looks like 2.5D curved glass and a stainless steel edge design.

The dummy device is purportedly a "CNC model according to Foxconn", according to the original Twitter poster, but there's no way to verify the claim one way or the other, so take the following with a big pinch of salt.


The front of the device appears to have an edge-to-edge screen with no discernible bezels, while around the back there's a vertically aligned dual-lens camera, but no other identifiable markings. That includes no rear-mounted Touch ID sensor, but also no Apple logo, either.


The sides look like stainless steel, similar to those of the iPhone 4. There are volume buttons and a mute switch on the left, and a power button and SIM tray on the right. The power button appears to be longer than on previous iPhones, however.

The poster of the images offered additional details supposedly from a source with links to Foxconn, suggesting that the "iPhone 8" will have a thickness and size similar to the current iPhone 7, while the steel edges will be finished in a polished "Space Black" color.

Apart from a further image showing off the latter feature, the poster has also shown off schematics "based on blueprints" that depict a series of components hidden beneath the top of the display, where the edges of the display are indicated by a red outline. An alleged schematic of the internal components of the next iPhone has also been shared.


Apple is thought to be testing more than 10 prototype iPhone models, so it's not yet clear what we should expect. Most rumors so far suggest the upcoming OLED iPhone will have a 5.5-inch bezel-less screen with Touch ID embedded in the front display, so there will be no home button.

However Apple is said to be having trouble integrating the Touch ID technology into the screen, and leaked design schematics have indicated that the fingerprint sensor could be moved to the rear of the device, so the final design is far from certain.

Some rumors suggest the display itself may feature edges that are curved on both sides like the Galaxy S7, but the phone may have the same slightly curved 2.5D display as the iPhone 7 due to technical challenges manufacturing the more curved version. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the glass will be built around a polished stainless steel frame that's similar in design to the Apple Watch.

More images of the dummy iPhone shown above, including one of a machined chassis, can be found here.


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Darkness lives on ... thanks to George Lopez and D.L. Hughley! The comedians decided to get permanent tributes to their late friend, Charlie Murphy, Thursday night -- rolling into Fun City Tattoo in NYC to get CM's famous nickname inked on…

It has been announced that Epitaph Records will be reissuing the Descendents' record Everything Sucks for its twentieth anniversary. The album will also come with a new 7-inch that features two unreleased songs called "Lucky" and "Shattered Milo." The reissue is due out on May 5, 2017. The band last released Hypercaffium Spazzinate in 2016.

OCONTO, Wis. (AP) — An 84-year-old woman accused of causing a car accident that killed her husband and two friends in Oconto County is now facing charges, which her attorney says is "outrageous and cruel."

DENVER (AP) — A transit security officer talking to two women trying to catch a late-night train home was shot and killed after a man came up from behind, stuck a handgun to the officer’s neck and fired, according to…

NYPD officers hauled Shia LaBeouf away in handcuffs from his marathon protest site in NYC ... after he got into it with another protester. The arrest happened right in the middle of Shia's "He will not divide us" live stream ... which has been…

President Donald Trump's got a Secret Service agent that's gone rogue ... all but saying she's NOT taking a bullet for him, and now the agency is investigating. The senior agent from the Denver field office went on a Facebook rant that has since…

After doing 13 hours of research and considering 76 models, we performed dozens of hours of real-world testing and 13 additional hours of focused, in-depth testing on the top 14 Bluetooth-audio receivers for adding wireless connectivity to an existing audio system. We think the StarTech BT2A Bluetooth Audio Receiver is the best receiver for most people thanks to its combination of connectivity, range, audio quality, and usability.

President Obama will stay at the Palm Springs home of one of his ambassadors ... TMZ has learned. The Obamas will be unpacking their suitcases late Friday at the abode of outgoing US ambassador to Spain James Costos and his husband -- an…

Mother's Day came in January for Karl Joseph's mom ... the Oakland Raiders rookie safety just bought her a brand new house in Florida ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.  The 14th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was laser-focused on hookin' up his…

SanDisk has unveiled its new 256GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card. Meeting A1 performance standards, it's designed to expand smartphone storage for photos and videos as well as provide space to store and run apps. It's said to achieve transfer speeds ranging up to 95MB/s. At this capacity, the card is able to store up to 24 hours of 1080p Full HD video.

The A1 performance standard means this microSD card can handle random read input-output access per second, also called IOPS, of 1,500, as well as a write IOPS of 500. As such, SanDisk says this card is suitable for handling in-app permissions, graphics and audio, and save profiles on a smartphone. The A1 spec is particularly useful in in light of Android Marshmallow 6’s option for storing and launching apps from the microSD card.

SanDisk also announced a 256GB USB 3.1 solid state flash drive. Claimed to be the world's fastest, highest capacity drive, it offers read speeds up to 420MB/s and write speeds up to 380MB/s. SanDisk claims that's fast enough to transfer an entire full-length 4K movie to the drive in 15 seconds.

The new Ultra microSDXC Premium Edition card will be available globally later this month for $199. The 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 drive arrives at the same time, and will sell for $179 through Best Buy and Amazon.

Press release:

Bad Religion have some European tour dates planned for summer 2017. The band released Christmas Songs in 2013 via Epitaph Records.

You can see the list of shows below.

Apple is widely rumored to release its first iPhone with an OLED display next year, but reports have been conflicting about its potential screen size.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said Apple will launch a 5.8-inch iPhone with a curved OLED display and glass casing next year, while Barclays analysts recently called for a 5-inch iPhone with a curved, bezel-free OLED display. Japanese website Nikkei also expects a new glass-backed 5-inch iPhone.


Now, in a new research note, Kuo said the much-rumored premium iPhone model will indeed have a 5.8-inch OLED panel, but with a smaller actual active display area of between 5.1 and 5.2 inches. Kuo said this is for "specific design purposes," which likely points towards a wraparound or curved display of some sort.

We predict OLED iPhone will be 5.1-5.2”, despite various market speculation. In terms of the display size of the OLED iPhone, current information from the upstream points to 5.8”, while that from the downstream points to 5”, which does not conflict, in our view. We predict OLED iPhone will adopt a 5.7-5.8” flexible OLED panel (with Samsung (KR) as the exclusive supplier). Nonetheless, for ‘specific design purposes’, the actual active area may be around 5.1-5.2”. Other than the OLED model, we expect Apple to launch new 4.7” and 5.5” TFT-LCD iPhone models.

Kuo reiterated the all-new OLED-based iPhone will be accompanied by new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones with traditional LCD displays.


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Q: I’m looking for advice regarding a run-of-the-mill, rugged Android-based tablet. The goal is to eventually attach this tablet to my dual-sport motorcycle and use it as a stand-alone GPS device, but I’d like to avoid an expensive, purpose-built, military-grade rugged tablet. I’m looking for overall durability (related to dust, vibration, and rain) and screen legibility in direct sunlight.

Not exactly Tupac vs. Biggie, but celebs on both coasts tried to outdo each other Monday night, partying hard. On the East ... Heidi Klum, Kelly Bensimon, Questlove, Alicia Quarles, Jay Pharoah, Jessica Williams, Danielle Brooks, Serena Williams,…

Lindsey Vonn put her full athleticism on display Tuesday night ... proving she can still bowl like a champ -- even in stilettos.  Vonn celebrated her 32nd bday last night with some help from racing legend Lewis Hamilton ... who met Vonn at a…