Video Review: Zagg’s Folio Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2

Apple has designed a keyboard for its larger-screened 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but for other iPads, such as the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 4, customers looking for a keyboard solution will need to stick with keyboards created by third-party manufacturers.

Zagg is often a popular choice among iPad users who need a keyboard, so we went hands-on with the Zagg Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2 in our latest video review. The Folio is a thin case that has a built-in keyboard, turning the iPad into a mini laptop.

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We weren’t fans of the construction of the case. It’s made of plastic, with a leather texture added to the top and bottom, but its plastic design makes it fragile. We ended up cracking our review unit when attempting to get the iPad in and out of the case. While Zagg has a replacement program in place for faulty products, we wish this case was made of better materials.

The Folio allows the iPad to be angled into several different viewing positions, and it leaves all of the ports on iPad accessible. It includes a keyboard with backlighting, and while the keyboard is not full-sized, it doesn’t take long to adjust to the smaller keys. The keys felt similar to the keys on a MacBook Pro keyboard and weren’t too mushy or too clicky.

The Zagg Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2 can be purchased from the Zagg website for $99.

Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.

Review: Schuttenworks’ Ripple is the Perfect Apple Watch Dock for Nightstand Mode

With watchOS 2, Apple introduced a new feature called Nightstand mode, which lets the Apple Watch be used as a nighttime clock and morning alarm when it’s attached to the charger. Nightstand mode only works while the Apple Watch is placed in landscape mode on its side, rendering a lot of early Apple Watch docks and stands less useful.

Going forward, accessory makers will likely focus on making products that work with the new Nightstand feature, but small Apple Watch dock maker Schuttenworks has already developed a simple, high-quality watchOS 2-compatible Apple Watch charging stand called the Ripple.

I’ve been using the Ripple on my night table for several weeks now, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It’s an attractive, low-profile stand that works with all Apple Watch models and all bands, both closed and open-loop, and at $54, it’s not a bad value.

Like its predecessor the Wave, which we reviewed earlier this year, the Ripple uses a clever split design and magnet system to lock the Apple Watch charger in place and keep the cord out of sight.
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Schlage Sense HomeKit-Enabled Smart Deadbolt Now Available for Pre-Order

Schlage today announced that its HomeKit-compatible Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt will be available for purchase beginning in November, with pre-orders that are kicking off today. Priced at $229, the Schlage Sense was previewed earlier this year at CES and is the first door lock that works with Apple’s HomeKit home automation service.

With HomeKit integration, the Schlage Sense will allow homeowners to control their door lock with Siri voice commands, and it has the built-in end-to-end encryption that Apple requires of all HomeKit-compatible products.

The Schlage Sense is able to manage as many as 30 access codes through its accompanying app, which will let users create and delete codes at will, check the lock status, and view in-and-out activity. Unlocking the deadbolt can be done via the iPhone app, through Siri, or through a built-in touchscreen, and installing it can be done without professional help.

“We are thrilled to announce the release of the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt into retail. This launch has been highly anticipated, as we continue to reimagine and develop innovative keyless solutions that integrate smart-home technology,” said Steve Down, Allegion residential leader. “As a leader in technology and innovation, the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt is the newest offering in our suite of electronic products designed to offer consumers the strength, style and convenience that they expect from our brand, and now that also includes support for Apple HomeKit technology.”

Schlage is selling the Sense Smart Deadbolt in two of its iconic styles, Camelot and Century, and it will be available in several finishes including Matte Black, Satin Nickel, and Aged Bronze, to match a range of home styles.

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, and Build.com for $229. It will ship out in November.

First iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Pre-Order Customers in New Zealand Begin Receiving Shipments

It’s just after 8:30 a.m. in New Zealand, which means the first customers who pre-ordered an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus are now beginning to receive their shipments. Soon, customers in Australia will begin getting their iPhones, and the first Apple retail stores in the country will open for in-store sales. New Zealanders have started sharing photos of their new devices on social networks like Instagram and Twitter.

Image via Instagram user Gyuriels
As September 25 hits around the world, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States. Retail stores in those countries will be opening at 8:00 a.m. local time, letting customers pick up reserved devices and purchase a new phone via walk-in.

@MacRumors #iphone6S here! pic.twitter.com/CQ2N6Uy7CO

— John  (@rhcp011235) September 24, 2015

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Walk-in purchases will not be available in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Oregon, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Alaska, to discourage purchases by scalpers. In these locations, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available only by reservation. Reservations are not currently available, but will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26.

A photo posted by @dianelee209 on Sep 24, 2015 at 1:28pm PDT

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Customers who ordered an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus for home delivery will also begin receiving their devices around 8:00 a.m. local time through couriers like UPS and FedEx. U.S. customers in New York and Pennsylvania should be aware of shipping delays that will prevent iPhone pre-orders from arriving on launch day in certain zip codes.

Apple Store App for iOS Gains Support for iPhone 6s, iOS 9

Apple today updated its Apple Store app for iOS devices to version 3.5, adding support for the new iPhone 6s and the iOS 9 operating system. Apple’s release notes for the update are vague, so there are no details on what new features the app might have for iOS 9 and the iPhone 6s.

It’s possible the Apple Store app update adds support for the 3D Touch feature built into the new iPhones, enabling Quick Actions that can be accessed directly from the Home screen, but it’s also possible this is a simple compatibility update that makes sure the app works properly with the new devices. We’ll update this post when we learn more about what’s new in today’s update.

What’s New in Version 3.5
– iOS compatibility update
– Adds support for iPhone 6s

The Apple Store app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Apple Releases iOS 9.0.1 for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

Apple today released a version of iOS 9.0.1 designed for its newest devices, the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. iOS 9.0.1 was initially seeded to the public yesterday, but that version of the software did not include support for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.

Customers who receive an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus tomorrow will need to update to the new operating system after unboxing their devices, as they will presumably ship with iOS 9.0 installed.

iOS 9.0.1 is a minor software update that was released one week after the public launch of iOS 9. It includes several bug fixes, including a fix for an issue that prevented some users from upgrading their iPhones to iOS 9 because of an unresponsive “Slide to Upgrade” dialog.

There are just a few hours to go until the iPhone 6s launch kicks off in New Zealand. Once 8:00 a.m. rolls around in the country, iPhone 6s pre-order deliveries will begin. The first Apple Store sales will begin a couple hours later as 8:00 a.m. hits in Australia. In the United States, retail stores will open at 8:00 a.m. local time and pre-order deliveries will start at 9:00 a.m.

iPhone 6s Lines Forming at Apple Stores Ahead of Launch Day

With less than one day until the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch in twelve countries, customers have begun forming lines at Apple Stores around the world to purchase one of the new devices. The size of the lineups vary depending on the location and will undoubtedly grow longer as we get closer to 8:00 am local time on Friday in each country.

Longer lines have formed at two Apple Stores in the German cities of Hamburg and Munich on the evening prior to the iPhone launch, while there are shorter queues in U.S. cities such as Chicago and San Francisco. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australia, a media executive has a robot holding her place in line.

Birmingham, U.K.

Birmingham customers have the benefit of lining up indoors (via Benjamin Mason)
Chicago, U.S.

A short line has formed at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue (Thanks, Marc!)
Hamburg, Germany

A large crowd has formed at the Apple Store in Hamburg (via Daniel Knott)
Munich, Germany

Apple Store in Munich has one of the longest iPhone lines so far (via Martin Gollwitzer) Read more

Why wait in line for an iPhone when you can send a robot?

You can now wait in line for an iPhone 6S without leaving your bed at an unearthly hour. At Apple’s flagship store in Sydney, Australia, a telepresence robot (essentially an iPad on Segway-style wheels) is standing in for Lucy Kelly. The robot showed up at 5am and is currently fourth-in-line to get a new iPhone. As the robot continues to wait overnight in a tent where it can stay charged for the final phone transaction, Kelly has been using an app to log in and communicate with humans in line from the comfort of her home.

“I wanted to be one of the first people to have the iPhone 6S, but obviously because of work I can’t spend two days standing in line waiting for a mobile phone,” Kelly, who borrowed the robot from her media agency, told Mashable. “So my boss said ‘just take the robot down, you’ll still be able to do your work, but you’ll still be waiting in line.’”

[Image credit: Atomic 212]

Source: Mashable

Apple Store in Tokyo Begins Setting Up iPhone 6s Display Models

Less than ten hours before the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch in Japan, at least one Apple Store in the country has begun setting up display models for customers to view. The new iPhones will go on sale in Japan at 8:00 AM local time on Friday just a few hours after the smartphones launch in Australia and New Zealand.

MacRumors reader Shawn DaSilva sent us a trio of photos and a video showing Apple retail employees installing the new iPhones at an Apple Store in Omotesando, Tokyo on Thursday evening. The new iPhones are also advertised on a digital banner spanning the length of the store.

Apple is no longer accepting pre-orders or in-store reservations in time for September 25, leaving lining up at an Apple Store as one of the only options to get a new iPhone on launch day. Apple is not allowing walk-in sales in China, Hong Kong, Japan and four tax-free U.S. states: Oregon, Delaware, New Hampshire and Alaska.

If you plan on waiting it out at an Apple Store, it is highly recommended that you reschedule any important plans tomorrow, as it can take several hours before you reach the front of the queue. In some cases, in-store stock of new iPhones may run out completely before you get a chance to buy one.