Apple’s smaller iPad Pro is the 9.7-inch iPad we’ve always wanted

Last year’s iPad Pro was without question the most powerful tablet Apple ever made, but let’s be real: Its size made it a complete non-starter for some people. That’s why the folks in Cupertino took all the things that made the iPad Pro a pro and shoved them into a smaller chassis for everyone else to use. Heading into the event, I was skeptical about how well this would work, but I didn’t need to be. After playing with the new, smaller Pro, I realize it’s actually the iPad Air 2 sequel I was hoping for. Well, in most ways, at least.

All of the iPad Pro’s broad strokes can be found here, from the powerful A9X chipset to the four-speaker setup to the Smart Connector for accessories like Apple’s magnetically connecting keyboard. The Apple Pencil also works here. Arguably, it works even better, since the 9.7-inch Pro feels like a clipboard when you cradle it in hand. Speaking of feel, I’m astonished Apple squeezed nearly all of the big Pro’s components into a body that’s basically no bigger and no heavier than last year’s Air 2. No matter how much I try, I can’t give up the traditional iPad form factor for something bigger, and now I don’t have to.

Then there’s the screen, which matches the original Pro in terms of how nicely saturated it is. Sadly, since the demo room Apple set up was well lit, I couldn’t get a feel for how its auto-color-temperature-adjusting TrueTone feature works. The other potential upside to pairing the existing (and already very fast) A9X chip with a smaller screen is a bump in performance since the silicon doesn’t need to light up as many pixels. It’s tough to get a feel for the performance difference between these two devices, but either way, the 9.7 absolutely flies. With any luck, I’ll get to put one of these things side by side with a full-sized Pro and see exactly how the performance stacks up. Oh, and there are are some visual differences here too — Apple dumped the plastic panels that help with connectivity from the cellular models, instead going with a more subtle antenna band. Meanwhile, that 12-megapixel camera was plucked out of the iPhone 6s, signature lump and all.

All that said, there are still some lingering curiosities. For one, using Apple’s first-party Smart Keyboard case to peck out quick messages and notes was a little more painful than I’d hoped. After all, the keys are a hell of a lot smaller on this version than on the original, which was meant for use with a 12.9-inch display. As Apple pointed out several times during its keynote this morning, the iPad Pro has found a niche as an “ultimate PC replacement,” but that might be a tougher argument to make with this more compact approach.

Apple also hasn’t clarified what the introduction of this smaller Pro means for the iPad Air brand. Since the 9.7-inch Pro is almost physically identical to the Air 2, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Air line was just supplanted completely. Then again, with the Air 2 now priced at $399, the cost difference might mean Apple keeps the Air 2 around as its introductory full-sized iPad. The trick lies in how Apple decides to divvy up its hardware innovations, and only time will tell.

Get all the news from today’s iPhone event right here!

Spotify now has 30 million subscribers

Who said that Spotify was going to lose customers just because rivals like Apple Music were in town? Certainly not Spotify. Founder Daniel Ek has revealed that his streaming music service has 30 million subscribers (that is, honest-to-goodness paying users). That’s up 10 million compared to June 2015, and 20 million more than in 2014 — clearly, Spotify is picking up some speed. Ek didn’t say how many free users were in the mix, but it’s safe to say that there are more than the 75 million from nearly a year ago.

This isn’t to say that Spotify is squeezing out the competition. Apple Music took half a year to reach 10 million subscribers, for example, while upstarts like Tidal are carving out some space for themselves. It instead suggests that there’s plenty of room to grow in the streaming music market as a whole, and that exclusives (or holes in artists’ catalogs) aren’t doing much to affect growth. It may take a long while before these companies have to poach you from another service to get your business.

We have 30 million @Spotify subscribers, but none of them are in Cuba … yet. So cool to see Cuba opening up! https://t.co/nZa67f0l8U

— Daniel Ek (@eldsjal) March 21, 2016

Via: The Verge

Source: Daniel Ek (Twitter)

Apple’s ‘Loop You In’ iPhone event, by the numbers

Another Apple event came and went today, ho-hum. The surprisingly succinct press conference highlighted the company’s environmental efforts, a bit of shade thrown the FBI’s way and a couple new products. Apple unveiled four new straps for its Watch, an iPhone SE that packs the power of a 6s into the chassis of a 5s and, oh yeah, a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro that, fully-loaded, will cost more than my first car. Come, see what sorts of obscenely-priced gadgets you’ll need to buy if you want to keep up with the Joneses this year.

Get all the news from today’s iPhone event right here, and follow along with our liveblog!

DraftKings and FanDuel stop operating in New York, for now

We hope you aren’t an ardent DraftKings or FanDuel fan in New York — that reprieve they got isn’t going to last. The state’s Attorney General has reached agreements with both daily fantasy sports sites that will have them shut down paid contests in New York from March 21st until at least September, when they get to appeal a ruling that put them on the wrong side of the law. You can still use them as a New Yorker if you’re out of state, but you’re otherwise out of luck.

Whether or not they reopen depends on more than just the appeal. New York’s government has bills in motion that could legalize daily fantasy sports, possibly before the legislature winds down its current session on June 30th. The Attorney General will drop nearly all lawsuits against the companies (claims of false advertising would stick) if one of those bills becomes law by the end of June. If the Attorney General wins the appeal, however, things will be bleak — DraftKings and FanDuel drop their lawsuits, the state ditches most of its claims and the services likely stay dark. However it shakes out, there will be many people sitting on pins and needles for the next several months.

Via: Legal Sports Report

Source: Attorney General (PDF 1), (2)

Apple Releases watchOS 2.2 With Multi-Watch Support for iPhone, Maps Improvements

Apple today released new software for the Apple Watch, upgrading watchOS 2 from version 2.1 to version 2.2. WatchOS 2.2, which has been in testing since January 11, comes more than three months after the release of watchOS 2.1 and brings a couple of important new features alongside bug fixes and performance improvements.

The 2.2 update can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

WatchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, and each watch paired with an iPhone running iOS 9.3 must have watchOS 2.2 installed.

There are few other outward-facing changes included in watchOS 2.2, but the update brings improvements and a new look to the built-in Maps app. Maps now supports the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9, allowing users to quickly locate local points of interest, and it has new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.

Along with multi-watch support and a revamped Maps app, watchOS 2.2 also brings under-the-hood performance improvements and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Tag: watchOS 2.2
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Offers Lightning to USB-C Cable for Fast-Charging 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Apple has introduced a Lightning to USB-C Cable to its online accessory store that lets users connect their iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to a computer’s USB-C port for syncing and charging.

Significantly, the cable can be used with an Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter to take advantage of the fast charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but not the brand new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which lacks the fast-charge capability.

The new adapter will be a welcome option for iPhone and iPad owners who also own a 12-inch MacBook, which uses a 29W USB-C Power Adapter.

The cable comes in 1-meter and 2-meter lengths, costing $25 and $35 respectively, and both are shipping immediately. Apple’s 29w USB-C Power Adapter is separately available for $49.

Tags: USB-C, March 2016 event
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Hands-On With iPhone SE, 9.7″ iPad Pro, and New Apple Watch Bands

Following today’s Apple event that saw the 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands and pricing announced, members of the press have been invited for hands-on time with the new products.

The new iPhone SE looks almost identical to the iPhone 5s, beyond the switch to matte-chamfered edges and a color-matched stainless steel Apple logo on the rear.

The new 4-inch smartphone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, despite rumors that Apple will switch to an all-in-one Lightning connector on the iPhone 7 due later this year.

A closer look at the iPhone SE’s new matte-chamfered edges (Image: The Verge)
iPhone SE is available in the same four colors offered across most of Apple’s newer product lineups: Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold.

16GB and 64GB models can be purchased for $399 and $499 respectively. The 16GB model is also free when subsidized with a two-year carrier contract. Financing plans are available from $17 per month.

The new iPad Pro also looks virtually identical to its larger 12.9-inch sibling, with the only noticeable difference being the tablet’s smaller 9.7-inch screen akin to iPad Air.

A side-by-side comparison of the new 9.7″ iPad Pro (right) and 12.9″ iPad Pro (left) (Image: The Verge)
The smaller iPad Pro has adopted many of the same pro-level features, including an Oxide TFT display, Smart Connector, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support, and the same positioning of other ports and buttons.

The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in four colors: Silver, Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold. Pricing starts at $599 for 32GB of storage with Wi-Fi only, while 128GB and a new 256GB option will be available for $749 and $899 respectively. Pre-orders begin March 24 and shipments to customers will start March 31.

Meanwhile, new Apple Watch bands and finishes were announced at today’s event. Apple introduced new Woven Nylon bands in a variety of colors, a Space Black Milanese Loop, and new colors for the Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, and Sport bands.

New woven nylon, leather, and sport Apple Watch bands (Image: The Verge)
Apple Watch now starts at $299, and the new bands can be ordered from Apple’s website starting today for $49 and up. Orders placed today currently have estimated shipping times of late March for most new bands.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, iPad Pro, iPhone SE
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral), iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases iTunes 12.3.3 With Support for iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro

Alongside OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan, Apple has released an iTunes 12.3.3 update, introducing support for the iPhone SE and iPad Pro. Following the update, those who purchase a 9.7-inch iPad Pro or an iPhone SE will be able to sync their devices with their computers once they are available for purchase.

In a recent interview, Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue promised Apple would introduce a new version of iTunes with an improved Apple Music interface, but new Apple Music features are not included in the release notes so it’s likely that iTunes update will be coming at a later time.

Today’s 12.3.3 iTunes update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.

Tag: iTunes
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Looking for a challenge? Drain Pipe Contract is it. [Review]

Overview Truly difficult games can be hard to come by in the Play Store. Not just jerky, fickle tapping/rhythm games like all the “Flappy Bird” clones out there; I mean

Dimensional Intersection will make its way to Steam, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR this fall

Dimensional Intersection, the upcoming title from publisher Nicalis Inc., will be available later this fall on Steam, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. The game, which was developed by the Swedish studio DNV will create surreal environments that continuously morph and evolve, and give you a truly unique journey. The team behind this game is also the one responsible for various successful titles already, such as The Binding of Isaac, Cave Story and others. The team describes it as:

Dimensional Intersection’s meditative gameplay syncs with the music and creates surreal environments that continuously morph and evolve over time, with a grand sense of scale in a physics-driven world. Dimensional Intersection is a truly unique journey where players will lose themselves while exploring new virtual realities.

Full details about the game and its release can be found in the release below.

Press release:

Nicalis Reveals Interactive VR Experience, Dimensional Intersection

Enter the Heart of the Music in a Mind-Altering 3D VR World

Santa Ana, Calif.—March 21, 2016—Nicalis Inc., a publisher known for its work on critically-acclaimed games such as The Binding of Isaac, 1001 Spikes and Cave Story, today announced that it will publish Dimensional Intersection for Steam, Oculus Rift and PlayStation®VR. Experience an ever-changing, intensely visual world synced to trance-oriented music this fall.

Developed by Swedish studio, DNV, and tested in the psychedelic city of Anjuna in Goa, Dimensional Intersection is a transformation experience inside the heart of music. Featuring music from artists such as Soulacybin, Land Switcher and MONS, Dimensional Intersection will take participants to a new reality through surreal scenes filled with interactive real-time fractals, infinite tunnels and morphing 3D models.

“Dimensional Intersection is a crazy experience that distills music into the purest form,” said Tyrone Rodriguez, Founder of Nicalis. “It’s being developed in a place very close to the origin of psytrance and that influence is evident in the game.”

Dimensional Intersection’s meditative gameplay syncs with the music and creates surreal environments that continuously morph and evolve over time, with a grand sense of scale in a physics-driven world. Dimensional Intersection is a truly unique journey where players will lose themselves while exploring new virtual realities.

The game is currently under development by DNV and slated to release later this fall. For more information on Dimensional Intersection, please visit http://www.dimensionalintersection.com/.