Microsoft Working on Fix for Office Bugs in OS X El Capitan

Since OS X El Capitan was released to the public last week, Microsoft Office users have noticed some serious bugs when attempting to use the software. MacRumors has received multiple emails from people having issues with Office 2016, and there are several threads about the problem on our forums.

Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint are crashing for many Microsoft users who have installed Office 2016, and Office 2011 users are also noticing problems with Outlook.

Microsoft is aware of the problems with its software and has been responding to customer complaints. In a thread on the Microsoft forums, Microsoft Program Manager Faisal Jeelani said the company is working with Apple to resolve the issues, but said there is no timeline for a fix. Microsoft also gave Computerworld a similar statement:

“We know that some users may be experiencing issues with Office 2016 for Mac running on El Capitan,” the statement read. “We are actively investigating the matter with Apple. Until there is a fix, we recommend people install the latest updates to Office 2016 for Mac using Microsoft AutoUpdate.”

Customers who are running Office 2016 are running into a wide variety of problems. Some are seeing only occasional crashes with the software, while others are unable to open any Office 2016 apps at all. Many who use Outlook for email are unable to access their inboxes, and this particular issue affects both Office 2016 and Office 2011.

I even did a fresh install of El Cap and then did a fresh install of 2015 Office. The whole office suite just bounces when I try to load a file. The programs freeze when using them and then crazy. I just keep sending the crash reports to Microsoft. I thought it was more widespread but apparently it is just me. I uninstalled 2016 office and went back to 2011.

Microsoft’s first support replies came shortly after OS X El Capitan was released, which means the company has been working on a fix for several days now, but it is not clear when a patch might be released. Many customers on the Microsoft forums are growing angry with the company because Microsoft had several months to work out crashing issues ahead of OS X El Capitan’s release. Crashes and Office 2016 problems were first reported during the beta testing period but remain unresolved.

Adobe Backpedals on Commitment to Bring Metal to After Effects

At WWDC 2015, Adobe director of engineering David McGavran demonstrated After Effects and Illustrator on Mac integrated with Metal, Apple’s new high-performance graphical acceleration API on OS X El Capitan. At the end of the demo, he said that Adobe is committed to bringing Metal to multiple Creative Cloud apps on Mac.

“Adobe is committed to bringing Metal to all of its Mac OS Creative Cloud applications, such as Illustrator and After Effects I showed you today, as well as Photoshop and Premiere Pro. We are very excited to see what Metal can do for our Creative Cloud users.”

Adobe has since changed its tune about its commitment to Metal on Mac, however, as Adobe product manager Todd Kopriva this week said in the Adobe Communities that the company has not made a commitment to Metal or any other GPU acceleration technology at this time.

“We are currently exploring various technologies for GPU acceleration, and Metal is one possibility, but we have made no commitment to any specific GPU acceleration technology at this time.”

Kopriva admitted that Adobe “sent a confusing message” about its commitment to Metal.

“I am the person who makes the commitments for After Effects. The person who did the demonstration was a member of of our engineering team demonstrating the results of an experiment,” said Kopriva. “I certainly agree that the engineer who spoke on the Apple stage sent a confusing message. At this point, the best that I can do—as the leader of the After Effects team—is to clarify the reality, which I have done above on this thread.”

Adobe’s demo included Illustrator’s rending engine built on Metal, which allowed for continuous zoom, while After Effects had up to an 8x performance improvement in rendering and reduced CPU usage with Metal.

Metal is available for both iOS and OS X developers, with documentation, sample code and video tutorials available on Apple’s website.

MacRumors has reached out to Adobe for comment.

(Thanks, Chris!)

Apple Watch Hermès Collection Debuts in Select Apple & Hermès Retail Stores

Apple today officially launched the Apple Watch Hermès collection, which the two companies announced at the September 9 “Hey Siri” event. The collection includes three different strap options for customers — Single Tour, Double Tour, and Cuff — alongside a stainless steel Apple Watch casing. None of the new Hermès bands are available to purchase separately, however, and are only included in one of the collection’s ten available models.

Hermès offers four different colored versions of the Double Tour band, including Bleu Jean and Etain gray, but only in 38 mm sizes. Those interested in the Single Tour can choose between three different colors, two of which come in both 38 mm and 42 mm, but one — the red-tinted Capucine Leather band — is only offered in 38 mm. Alternatively, the Cuff option is a bit more simplistic for buyers, due to its availability in one single color and size option: a Fauve Barenia Leather Band with a 42 mm casing size.

Anyone interested can expect to pay above the average price point for the Apple Watch’s mid-tier stainless steel range: the Single Tour starts at $1,100, the Double Tour costs $1,250, and the Cuff comes in at the most expensive with a $1,500 price tag. No models in the collection will be made available online, but instead are set to be offered at select Apple Store and Hermès retail locations in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Laurene Powell Jobs Tried to Kill New ‘Steve Jobs’ Film, Friends Object to Portrayals

With the release of Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs starting in just a few days, a new report from The Wall Street Journal states that a handful of Steve Jobs’ “allies,” centering on his widow Laurene Powell Jobs, attempted to shut down the movie before its release. Going so far back as to when it was in the hands of Sony, she lobbied the various production companies the script passed through — ending with the movie’s distributor, Universal Pictures– in attempts to prevent its eventual release.

The report describes the objections of Powell Jobs and others to the new movie and several others as depicting Jobs as “cruel and inhumane” with scripts and stories that “play down his accomplishments” in preference for entertainment over accuracy. Among those speaking out against the films is Jobs’ close friend Bill Campbell:

“A whole generation is going to think of him in a different way if they see a movie that depicts him in a negative way,” said Campbell, a longtime Apple board member and friend of Mr. Jobs. Mr. Campbell hasn’t seen the film.

“If they want to make a drama, they shouldn’t do it at somebody else’s expense,” said Mr. Campbell. “He’s not there to defend himself.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook has also spoken out against the new movies, calling them “opportunistic” during a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin objected to Cook’s characterization, stating Cook “had a lot of nerve” making such an assessment when Apple has “a factory full of children in China assembling phones for 17 cents an hour,” but he quickly apologized for the statement.

Steve Jobs producer Scott Rudin said that the crew behind the film offered a chance for Powell Jobs to be included in the film’s production and on set, but her dislike of the Walter Isaacson biography — from which Aaron Sorkin based his script — prevented her from becoming involved.

“She refused to discuss anything in Aaron’s script that bothered her despite my repeated entreaties,” producer Scott Rudin said in an emailed response to questions from The Wall Street Journal. He said Ms. Jobs “continued to say how much she disliked the book, and that any movie based on the book could not possibly be accurate.”

She has, however, apparently yet to see the film, as she declined an offer to screen the film in advance under a non-disclosure agreement.

The film still has a few supporters from Apple’s corporate past, including Steve Wozniak, who was paid $200,000 to consult on the film. Wozniak states that since the movie is about “Jobs and his personality,” he believes that the filmmakers “did a great job.” Although there were a few bumps in the road leading up to filming, Steve Jobs is earning largely positive reviews from a few early screenings, even generating Oscar buzz for star Michael Fassbender and his portrayal of Jobs.

Philips Hue now responds to your Siri commands

One of the frustrations of choosing an Internet of Things device is finding one that plays well with the other smart appliances in your home. Philips’ Hue lighting platform is already pretty extensible, but today it’s finally gained support for another big partner: Apple. With its new Homekit-enabled bridge, Philips will let you control your lighting via Siri (and supporting third-party apps), whether your bulbs are old or new.

Philips first announced it would integrate Apple’s smart home technology back in June, giving it time to put the finishing touches on the Hue Bridge 2.0. This rounded box, which could be mistaken for a Nest product at first glance, comes packed with the necessary Homekit hardware and features. If you already own a range of Hue products, then you’ll need the updated bridge in order to incorporate Hue bulbs into your existing Homekit setup or say things like “Siri, dim the table lamp to 30 percent.”

The company does recognize that existing users won’t want to spend too much to add Siri functionality to their current setup. Owners of the old bridge will be able to upgrade to the Homekit version for $40 (£33) until the end of December, while everyone else will need to spend $60 (£50). If you want to go all in, the full lighting kit comes with brighter new bulbs and Bridge 2.0 for $200. They all go on sale from tomorrow (October 6th) and are available from Apple stores, Amazon and other supporting retailers.

Source: Philips

Adobe Unveils New Mobile Apps, Adobe Portfolio and Updates to Desktop Apps at Adobe MAX

Adobe is hosting its annual Adobe MAX creativity conference today, where the company is announcing new mobile apps, updates to a number of Creative Cloud products, and unveiling new services.

The two new mobile apps Adobe is releasing today include Photoshop Fix and Capture CC. Photoshop Fix was highlighted on stage at Apple’s recent iPad Pro unveiling, where it was used on the new 12.9-inch tablet. Photoshop Fix [Direct Link] is an image retouching and restoration-focused app that includes powerful Photoshop tools like the Healing Brush and Liquify.

Capture CC [Direct Link], Adobe’s second new mobile app, combines the capabilities of several existing Adobe apps including Adobe Brush, Adobe Shape, Adobe Color, and Adobe Hue, making the tools from each of these apps accessible in a single app. Several other Adobe apps like Lightroom for iPhone and iPad, Photoshop Mix, Photoshop Sketch, Illustrator Draw, Premiere Clip, and Comp CC are also receiving minor updates today.

Each of Adobe’s apps interfaces with its range of Creative Cloud desktop apps via CreativeSync technology, allowing files to be transferred and worked on between mobile and desktop devices.

Most of Adobe’s desktop apps are receiving new features today, with the changes for more popular apps listed below.

Both InDesign CC and Illustrator CC are being updated with new Touch workspaces. Illustrator CC is also gaining a new Shaper tool that combines 12 tools and panels in one, non-destructive Live Shapes, and improved Smart Guides, while InDesign CC is getting new online publishing features. Premiere Pro CC includes expanded UltraUD support for editing 4K to 8K video footage, plus it will gain support for HDR workflows.

Photoshop CC is gaining Artboard features for better visualization of design layouts. Adobe’s Design Space design-centric Photoshop layout is also now available to all customers. Lightroom CC is gaining improved importing tools and integrated training content for beginners, while Lightroom for web is being enhanced, adding Photoshop editing capabilities for adjusting exposure, temperature, white balance, and more.

Several of Adobe’s apps, including Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, and Premiere Pro CC are being updated with new Touch capabilities usable on Windows tablets and Apple trackpad devices. Adobe Fuse CC is being added to existing Creative Cloud plans.

On the services side, Adobe is adding video support to its Adobe Stock feature, allowing users to download and purchase video content right within the CC desktop apps. Adobe is also announcing Adobe Portfolio, which is free with any Adobe Creative Cloud plan. With Adobe Portfolio, Adobe customers can create simple portfolio websites that are powered by Behance.

Adobe will also be debuting a new CC desktop app that’s being developed under the codename “Project Comet.” Details on Project Comet will be available at the MAX conference.

Adobe’s mobile apps are all available for free beginning today and updates to Creative Cloud desktop software will ship to Creative Cloud members before the end of the year. Adobe’s software is available from its website, and pricing can be found here.

Apple Remains World’s Most Valuable Brand Per Latest Interbrand Rankings

Apple has retained the number one spot in Interbrand’s annual ranking of the world’s most valuable brands, a position it has held onto since 2013 when it knocked Coca-Cola out of the top spot. Following close behind the Cupertino-based company are brands like Google, Microsoft, and Samsung in second, fourth, and seventh place, respectively.

Since last year’s ranking, Apple has grown in brand value a total of 43 percent, earning it one of Interbrand’s “Top Riser” designations. Overall, the company increased from $118.9 billion last year to $170.3 billion in this year’s survey, up a total of about $51.4 billion in brand valuation from 2014 to 2015. Other companies like Amazon and Facebook, which saw increased growth in 2015, also earned a “Top Riser” spot.

A handful of big launches helped make Apple’s 2015 a notable one, including the Apple Watch’s release in April and the announcement and launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus just a few weeks ago in September. In their opening weekend alone, the new iPhones sold a record-breaking thirteen million units, beating out last year’s ten million units for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The company also announced the iPad Pro, all-new Apple TV, and a handful of new Apple Watch features and bands at its “Hey Siri” event on September 9.

Tim Cook Commemorates Steve Jobs on Fourth Anniversary of His Death

Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent an internal email to employees (via The Telegraph) to commemorate the fourth anniversary since the death of late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who passed away October 5, 2011 following a lengthy illness.

Cook described Steve as a “brilliant person,” encouraging Apple employees to ask their co-workers about “what he was really like,” and reminded his staff about the “privilege and responsibility” of continuing the work that he “loved so much.”

Team,

Today marks four years since Steve passed away. On that day, the world lost a visionary. We at Apple lost a leader, a mentor, and many of us lost a dear friend.

Steve was a brilliant person, and his priorities were very simple. He loved his family above all, he loved Apple, and he loved the people with whom he worked so closely and achieved so much.

Each year since his passing, I have reminded everyone in the Apple community that we share the privilege and responsibility of continuing the work Steve loved so much.

What is his legacy? I see it all around us: An incredible team that embodies his spirit of innovation and creativity. The greatest products on earth, beloved by customers and empowering hundreds of millions of people around the world. Soaring achievements in technology and architecture. Experiences of surprise and delight. A company that only he could have built. A company with an intense determination to change the world for the better.

And, of course, the joy he brought his loved ones.

He told me several times in his final years that he hoped to live long enough to see some of the milestones in his children’s lives. I was in his office over the summer with Laurene and their youngest daughter. Messages and drawings from his kids to their father are still there on Steve’s whiteboard.

If you never knew Steve, you probably work with someone who did or who was here when he led Apple. Please stop one of us today and ask what he was really like. Several of us have posted our personal remembrances on AppleWeb, and I encourage you to read them.
Thank you for honoring Steve by continuing the work he started, and for remembering both who he was and what he stood for.

Tim

Cook replaced Jobs as Apple CEO on August 24, 2011 and introduced the iPhone 4S, alongside the launch of iOS 5 and iCloud, on the day prior to Jobs’ death. He has shared similar tribute messages for Steve over the past three years.

Remembering Steve for who he was and what he stood for. We honor him by continuing the work he loved so much. pic.twitter.com/6UiXBjYe3l

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2015

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsJobs co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976, but was ousted from the company in 1985. He returned as CEO in 1997 and remained at the company until his death in 2011, overseeing the launch of iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Philips Announces New Hue Bulbs, Hue Bridge 2.0 With HomeKit Compatibility

Philips today announced its first HomeKit-enabled product, debuting the Hue Bridge 2.0, an updated version of its original Hue Bridge. With the Hue Bridge 2.0, its line of Philips Hue lights are able to work with Apple’s home automation platform, allowing all existing and future Hue bulbs to be controlled with Siri voice commands.

Commands like “Turn lights red” can be used for specific colors, while commands like “Set the lamp to 30 percent” can be used for dimming. Lighting scenes that have long been available in the Philips Hue app can now be turned on using Siri. With HomeKit integration, an entire household of lights can be manipulated with a single command.

While most HomeKit apps support other HomeKit products, the Hue app will work differently. It can be used to control the Hue line of lights and set up light-specific scenes, but it is not able to incorporate other HomeKit products. Hue lighting scenes will be made available in other HomeKit apps, however, so it is possible to group the Hue lights with other products, using one command to do things like unlock a door and turn on the lights at the same time.

“Lighting is the most accessible aspect of the connected home, and as the lighting expert for the Internet of Things we are taking connected lighting to the next phase,” said Eric Rondolat, Chief Executive Officer at Philips Lighting. “By integrating Philips Hue with Apple HomeKit, we are broadening people’s experience of light beyond what has been previously possible, providing seamless interoperability with other connected home devices.”

The new Hue Bridge 2.0 looks similar to the existing Hue Bridge, but it is square like the Apple TV rather than round. Along with the new bridge, Philips is also debuting a new set of lights. The new Hue bulbs are somewhat brighter at 800 lumens instead of 600 lumens.

The original Hue Bridge will not be updated with HomeKit compatibility as it does not have the necessary hardware, but Philips plans to continue to support it with software updates. Original Hue Bridge owners will need to purchase a Hue Bridge 2.0 to access HomeKit, but will get a discount of $20 on the product.

The new Hue Bridge 2.0 is priced at $60, but customers who own an existing Hue Bridge can get it for $40. The full lighting kit with new bulbs and the new bridge is priced at $200. All new Hue products are available beginning October 6 from Apple retail stores, Best Buy, and Amazon.