Apple Releases Wireless Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad

Apple today released a wireless Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad priced at $129 in the United States. The wired version has been discontinued.

The keyboard features an extended layout with a numeric keypad, document navigation controls for quick scrolling, and full-size arrow keys for gaming.

Like the traditional Magic Keyboard, the Numeric Keypad version has a Lightning port with a built-in, rechargeable battery that lasts a month or more between charges.

Apple says a Bluetooth-enabled Mac with macOS 10.12.4 or later, or iOS devices with iOS 10.3 or later, is required.

The keyboard is currently available for delivery as early as June 8 in the United States. Pricing and availability varies in other countries.

Tag: Magic Keyboard
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First Beta of iOS 11 Now Available for Developers

Following the conclusion of today’s keynote event where Apple introduced new versions of its iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS software, Apple has provided the first beta to developers, kicking off the iOS 11 beta testing period.

Registered developers can download the iOS 11 beta from Apple’s Developer Center, or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed.

Apple is calling iOS 11 its biggest software release ever for the iPad, thanks to the myriad iPad features it includes, like a new dock that supports improved multitasking, a Files app for better managing files, improved Apple Pencil support, a new App Switcher, and system-wide drag and drop.

iOS 11 also includes many features for both the iPhone and the iPad. There’s an incredible ARKit API that’s going to let developers build all kinds of new augmented reality apps, and there’s also a CoreML machine learning API that’s going to allow apps to become a whole lot smarter.

Peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments are being introduced, Messages is gaining a new App Drawer that makes it easier to access apps and stickers, a Do Not Disturb feature that mutes notifications will make it easier for drivers to stay focused on the road, and Siri, Photos, and the Camera app are gaining huge improvements.

The iOS 11 beta is only available for registered developers at this time. As it has done in the past, Apple will provide a public beta for public beta testers later this summer, and the software will see an official release in the fall alongside new iPhones.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS High Sierra to Developers

Apple today announced new versions of iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, and following the conclusion of this morning’s keynote event, new betas are being distributed to developers. macOS High Sierra beta 1 is now available for download.

The new beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

macOS High Sierra builds on the features introduced with macOS Sierra and introduces new core storage, video, and graphics technology. macOS High Sierra supports the new Apple File System (APFS) and High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), plus it introduces an updated version of Metal with VR support.

Photos is gaining a new sidebar that makes it easier to access editing tools and albums, plus there are new editing options like Curves and Selective Color, and it supports external editing apps like Photoshop and Pixelmator.

There are improvements to Safari, including speed improvements and a new feature that blocks tracking data, Siri on the Mac has expanded music capabilities and a new more natural voice, and Spotlight has been updated with flight status information.

At the current time, macOS High Sierra is only available for registered developers. Apple will make a public macOS High Sierra beta available later this summer, giving public beta testers a chance to try out and test the software before it sees a public release in the fall.

Related Roundup: macOS 10.13
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Apple Shares First Ads For New iPad Pro

Apple today shared the first two ads for the new iPad Pro, including the all-new 10.5-inch model just announced, on its YouTube channel.

The 15-second spots are the latest in Apple’s ongoing ad campaign that reads out actual Twitter complaints and then promotes the iPad Pro as a solution.

In “a whole new kind of computer,” Apple recommends the person purchase a new iPad Pro, which will allow them to quickly forget about their broken computer.

In “so many things to love,” Apple quips that the person who tweeted “I hate everything” is going to “hate” the new iPad Pro because they can do “pretty much everything” with it, like type, take notes, and multitask.

The new iPad Pro is available to order today in 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch sizes starting at $649 and $799 respectively in the United States.

Tag: Apple ads
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Apple Releases First Beta of New WatchOS 4 Operating System to Developers

Apple today announced new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS at the keynote event of its Worldwide Developers Conference, and is now providing betas to developers for testing purposes. watchOS 4, the latest version of the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch, is now available for download.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the watchOS 4 beta 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 charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual, new Disney-themed Toy Story watch faces starring Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie, and a Kaleidoscope watch face designed to turn static images into “mesmerizing patterns.”

There are new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app. GymKit, a new technology platform, will allow the Apple Watch to interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and Activity app will offer up intelligent coating and tailored encouragement, plus new monthly activity challenges.

A redesigned Music app syncs automatically with the Apple Music new Music Mix, and there are auto-sets for for swim workouts. There’s also a new High Intensity Internal Training workout option, and the Apple Watch supports the new person-to-person Apple Pay feature.

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Apple Provides First Beta of tvOS 11 to Developers

Following today’s WWDC keynote event that saw the debut of iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, and watchOS 4, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new tvOS 11 operating system for the Apple TV to developers for testing purposes.

Registered developers can download tvOS 11 by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C cable and installing the beta software using iTunes.

tvOS 11 saw little screen time at today’s event, and in fact, it wasn’t even officially announced on stage. The new operating system was largely glossed over, with the exception of an announcement for an upcoming Amazon Prime Video app.

According to Apple’s release notes, tvOS 11 brings automatic light/dark appearance switching, Home screen syncing potions, new background modes and notification support, Focus API improvements, custom sound support, network-based pairing and development support, and improvements to Mobile Device Management.

tvOS 11 is only available for registered developers due to the installation requirements for tvOS betas. For that reason, non-developers will need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to give it a try.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Debuts New Summer Apple Watch Bands, Including Rainbow Pride Woven Nylon Band

Alongside a new version of the watchOS operating system for the Apple Watch, Apple today quietly debuted a selection of Apple Watch bands in new summer colors.

Apple Watch Sport Bands are available in Mist Blue, Pollen, and Flamingo for both the 38 and 42mm Apple Watch. As with all sport bands, the new bands are priced at $49. The only new leather band is a yellow Sunflower Classic Buckle, priced at $149.

The new Nike Sport Band options that match the Nike Air VaporMax Flyknight Day to Night shoe collection are also available. The bands are priced at $49 each and come in Light Violet/White, Violet Dust/Plum Fog, Blue Orbit/Gamma Blue, and Obsidian/Black.

The final watch band that’s new today is a Pride Edition Woven Nylon band that features a rainbow stripe. Priced at $49, the band is available for both 38 and 42mm Apple Watch models. The Pride band was originally given out to employees during last year’s Pride parade in San Francisco.

All of the new bands are available for purchase today with the first shipments arriving later this week.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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AppleCare+ Now Available For Mac With Accidental Damage Coverage

Apple today introduced AppleCare+ for Mac, an extended warranty plan that provides accidental damage coverage for a service fee.

AppleCare+ extends a Mac’s warranty coverage to three years from its original purchase date, and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage. Prices are based in U.S. dollars and vary elsewhere.

AppleCare+ for Mac also includes 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone. It replaces the AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac, which was essentially the same as AppleCare+, but didn’t include accidental damage coverage like Apple has long offered for devices like the iPhone and iPad.

AppleCare+ for Mac is available for the 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini for between $99 and $379. The service fees are additional in the event of accidental damage. Prices are between equal and $30 higher than the old AppleCare Protection Plan sans accidental damage coverage.

AppleCare+ can be purchased alongside a new Mac, or customers can buy it online or in store within 60 days of purchasing a Mac.

Related Roundups: iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
Tag: AppleCare
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), Mac Pro (Caution), Mac Mini (Don’t Buy), MacBook Air (Don’t Buy), MacBook Pro (Caution)
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Apple Releases macOS Sierra 10.12.5 for 2017 iMacs and Touch Bar Update for 2017 MacBook Pro

Some new iMac and MacBook Pro models will need upgrades right out of the box, with Apple today releasing a version of macOS Sierra 10.12.5 that’s specific to the new iMacs and a Touch Bar update for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

macOS Sierra 10.12.5 for 2017 iMacs is identical to the version of macOS 10.12.5 that was released on May 15, with the following bug fixes:

– Fixes an issue where audio may stutter when played through USB headphones
– Improves reliability when connecting an external display or waking it from sleep
– Enhances compatibility of the Mac App Store with future software updates
– Adds support for media-free installation of Windows 10 Creators Update using Boot Camp

The Touch Bar update will need to be installed on all 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro machines that feature a Touch Bar. According to Apple’s release notes, the update resolves issues with system stability and graphics corruption on the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Apple’s new 2017 iMac and MacBook Pro machines are available for purchase starting today. They feature upgraded Kaby Lake processors, improved GPUs, and faster SSDs.

Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), MacBook Pro (Caution)
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Amazon’s ‘Ice’ smartphone may eschew Alexa for the Google Assistant

Why it matters to you

Alexa’s second attempt at smartphones will reportedly be far different — and more affordable — than its first.

To say Amazon’s 2014 foray in smartphones was underwhelming is an understatement. The sprawling Seattle-based retailer was forced to cancel production of its Fire Phone, which used an innovative eye-tracking system to produce three-dimensional software effects, after it sold a mere 35,000 units. But the company is not giving up.

Amazon is reportedly working on a new smartphone, code-named “Ice,” that runs Google’s Android mobile operating system. It will ship with Google’s voice-enabled Google Assistant instead of Amazon’s Alexa, and retail at or below $200.

Here is everything you need to know.

Specs

Amazon’s affordable Ice — unlike its high-end, top-of-the-line Fire phone — is aimed at developing markets like China and India.

The Ice handset has a screen between 5.2 and 5.5 inches in size, and reportedly packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor (the same as ZTE’s Max XL) paired with 2GB of RAM. It is said to ship with 16GB of storage and Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and capture photos at a maximum resolution of 13 megapixels.

Interestingly, Amazon’s Ice might not support Alexa, the retailer’s artificially intelligent voice assistant. Instead, it will ship with the full range of Google services and apps, including the Play Store and Google’s eponymous Assistant, the digital helper that handles voice commands on Google Home and Android devices that support it.

It is an approach that would seem to run counter to Amazon’s current strategy: Partnering with phonemakers to integrate Alexa into existing devices. Huawei’s flagship P10 is the first with an Alexa app that responds to the same voice commands as the Echo line of home speakers. And separately, Motorola is said to be working closely with Amazon on an Alexa-enabled charging dock that works with the company’s Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play phone series.

Things could change, of course. A person who’s “seen and used” Amazon’s Ice smartphone told Gadgets 360 that the software build had not been finalized, and that “Alexa could make it to the device by the time of launch.”

Localization could be a factor. Amazon’s Ice phone will reportedly launch in India first, a country where Amazon does not currently sell is its Echo speakers. Recent job listings by the company suggest it’s working on bringing Alexa-powered devices to the subcontinent, but plans have yet to materialize.

Name and release date

Just when Amazon will launch its Ice phone is a mystery. But according to Gadgets 360, it might not be long.

The Ice phone will reportedly retail for $93 when it launches “later this year.” It will go on sale first in India, where Amazon has committed more than $5 billion in the form of expanded server infrastructure, a new software engineering and development center, 21 fulfillment centers, and a partnership with India Post.

It’s unclear whether Amazon’s Ice phone will be made available unlocked via Amazon’s website, or in partnership with India’s local cellphone carriers. Some analysts point to the Fire Phone’s AT&T exclusivity as a factor that contributed to its demise — a mistake Amazon is no doubt eager to avoid repeating.