Sprint Undercuts T-Mobile With $1/Month iPhone 6s Lease on iPhone 6 Trade-In
Sprint today announced a new offer as part of its iPhone Forever program, where customers can get the new 16GB version of the iPhone 6s for $1 per month and the iPhone 6s Plus for $5 per month, with the trade-in of an iPhone 6. The carrier noted that the new offer is a “limited time” deal for those users visiting Sprint’s retail locations, with the official launch of the program coinciding with the new iPhone debut on Friday morning.
Just like T-Mobile’s offering, the price required to pay each month will vary depending on the exact type of iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus model you purchase, and the quality of the iPhone 6 that is traded in. With that in mind, customers can expect to pay around $5.77/month (64GB) or $10.53 (128GB) when purchasing an iPhone 6s, and $9.77/month (64GB) or $14.53 (128GB) when buying an iPhone 6s Plus.
“Once again it is clear that the best place to get the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is Sprint,” said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. “New and existing customers who trade in their current iPhone 6 can now get a device for only $1/month, making it the best way to get the iPhone – and a yearly upgrade is included in this charge. We are certain that more people will continue to switch to Sprint because of the great service and value we offer.”
Those who trade in an iPhone 5s will also be able to participate in the offer, but can expect slightly higher monthly rates due to the older model of the iPhone. Preparations have begun for the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The smartphones will officially go on sale tomorrow, September 25 in first-wave launch countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States.
Apple Lists Top 25 Apps Compromised by XcodeGhost Malware
Apple has updated its XcodeGhost FAQ on its Chinese website with a list of the top 25 most popular App Store apps that were compromised by the malware. The list includes some notable apps such as WeChat, Heroes of Order & Chaos and a localized version of Angry Birds 2.
Apple advises that users should update the affected apps to fix the issue, noting that if a listed app is available on the App Store right now, it has already been updated. Apps with an asterisk are currently not available on the App Store, but Apple says they should be updated very soon.
Apple has been working to remove all apps compromised by XcodeGhost from the App Store, but some affected apps may remain available for download. Apple has also outlined steps for developers to validate Xcode and said it would alert users to let them know if they have downloaded apps that could have been compromised.
XcodeGhost is a new iOS malware that arose from malicious versions of Xcode, Apple’s official tool for developing iOS and OS X apps, downloaded by some developers in China. Chinese developers then unknowingly compiled iOS apps using the modified Xcode IDE and distributed those infected apps through the App Store.
MacRumors posted a detailed XcodeGhost FAQ over the weekend that explains more about the malware, who is affected and how to keep yourself protected, although Apple has downplayed the severity of XcodeGhost compared to what some security firms initially reported.
We have no information to suggest that the malware has been used to do anything malicious or that this exploit would have delivered any personally identifiable information had it been used.
We’re not aware of personally identifiable customer data being impacted and the code also did not have the ability to request customer credentials to gain iCloud and other service passwords.
Chinese developers initially disclosed XcodeGhost on microblogging service Sina Weibo last Wednesday.
Apple Debuts Beats ‘Active Collection’ Headphones With New Colors for Solo2, Tour2, and Powerbeats2
Apple today updated its lineup of Solo2 Wireless, Tour2, and Powerbeats 2 Wireless headphones, adding a trio of new colors as part of a new “Active Collection.” The Beats Tour2 In-Ear Headphones, Solo2 Wireless Headphones, and Powerbeats2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones are now available in simple primary shades of Blue, Yellow, and Red.
Get to work. New Active Collection out NOW. http://t.co/ypeqBjDJir #ChargedUp pic.twitter.com/7zj1375cYG
— Beats By Dre (@beatsbydre) September 23, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
There are no changes to the hardware or the pricing of the three sets of headphones, and the Active Collection joins the existing range of color options for each product. Apple will likely begin offering the new Active Collection in its retail stores in the near future, and each of the three products is available immediately from the online store.
Both the Active Collection Solo2 Wireless Headphones and the Powerbeats2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones will ship out to customers immediately with next day shipping, but the Tour2 In-Ear Headphones lists a delivery date of Tuesday, September 29.
Pricing for the Active Collection starts at $129.95 for the Tour2, with the PowerBeats2 priced at $199.95 and the Solo2 priced at $299.95.
Apple fixes an iOS 9 bug that kept you from upgrading
The launch of iOS 9 was supposed to be a joyous occasion if you own an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, but it didn’t always work out that way. A bug left some stuck on the “slide to upgrade” screen, preventing them from using their gear unless they rolled back to iOS 8 or started fresh. If you’re one of those glitch victims, you’ll be glad to hear that relief is in sight: Apple has released an iOS 9.0.1 update that (you guessed it) makes sure you get past that upgrade screen. It also tackles a few other hiccups that could sour your initial experience, including one that prevented some alarms and timers from playing. As such, you’ll probably want to check for the update right away. And if it’s too late to avoid the worst, Apple’s support site (linked above) has a guide to getting your device back to normal.
Via: Computerworld
Source: Apple
T-Mobile will start selling the Apple Watch September 25th
Well folks, it seems the rumblings were in fact correct. T-Mobile will begin selling the Apple Watch this Friday when it’s also scheduled to hit shelves at Sprint. As you might expect, Big Magenta is offering some zero down and zero interest options (while supplies last, it seems) for two years to make Cupertino’s wearable even more attractive. The payment plan only applies to the Sport models which are $349 (38mm) and $399 (42mm) if purchased at full price. When you do the math, that’s $14.54 and $16.62 for 23 months with the final payment for each going up a few cents. If you’d prefer the pricier Apple Watch you’ll have to shell out the entire $549 (38mm) or $599 (42mm) to take one home. Full details on the available models and band options reside at the source link below.
Source: T-Mobile
Apple Seeds Second iOS 9.1 Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 9.1 to registered developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 9.1 beta following its fall “Hey Siri” event and one week after releasing the first version of iOS 9 to the public.
The new beta of iOS 9.1, build 13B5119e, is available as an over-the-air update and through the Apple Developer Center.
iOS 9.1 includes new features for the iPad Pro, adding support for accessories like the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, both of which are deeply integrated into the operating system. It also includes features that will allow the iPhone to interact with the new Apple TV.
iOS 9.1 also includes Unicode 8, adding support for some long-awaited emoji like the taco, burrito, cheese wedge, middle finger, unicorn head, and more, plus it includes a new “Hey Siri” Settings feature that lets the “Hey Siri” command be customized for an individual user’s voice. On-demand voice activation for Siri using the “Hey Siri” command is a new feature in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. On older devices, “Hey Siri” only activates Siri when plugged into a power source.
It is not clear when iOS 9.1 will be released to the public, but it’s likely it will come in November, alongside the launch of the iPad Pro.
Sony Pictures Releases First Official Trailer for ‘The Angry Birds Movie’
Sony Pictures and Rovio today revealed the first full-length trailer for next summer’s film adaptation of the popular iOS game Angry Birds (via Coming Soon). First announced back in 2012, the movie stars Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Danny McBride as Bomb, and Bill Hader as the villainous pig Leonard. According to the film’s producer John Cohen, the movie aims to answer the question posed most to Rovio by the game’s fans, “Why are these birds so angry?”
The movie is set to debut in theaters on July 1, 2016. When it opens, The Angry Birds Movie will premiere about seven years after the release of the original game. Earlier in the year, developer Rovio reported its first major profit decline since the debut of the first Angry Birds, and even began laying off employees last month.
T-Mobile Shares Full Details on $5/Month iPhone 6s Offer
T-Mobile has shared the full details of its new JUMP! On Demand promotion that offers the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus for as low as $5 and $9 per month respectively with a qualifying smartphone trade in. The exact monthly payment is calculated based on both the iPhone model purchased and smartphone model traded in.
A base 16GB iPhone 6s starts at $5 per month with zero due upfront when trading in an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Note 5. The price rises to $10 per month with an iPhone 5s, Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Note 4 trade in, or to $15 per month with the trade in of most other smartphones.
A 16GB iPhone 6s Plus starts at $9 per month with zero due upfront with an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Note 5 trade in. The price rises to $14 per month with an iPhone 5s, Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Note 4 trade in, or to $19 per month with the trade in of most other smartphones.
The promotion also offers the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in larger storage capacities, but upfront payments of $99.99 or $199.99 are required for 64GB or 128GB models respectively. The monthly payments for the new iPhones are $1 cheaper for 64GB models and $2 cheaper for 128GB models compared to 16GB pricing.
Each payment must be made for 18 months, at which point the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus must be returned in good condition. T-Mobile offers the option to pay an additional $164 to keep the iPhone, bringing the total cost to $524 for a 16GB iPhone 6s — a savings of $125 over the device’s full retail price through Apple.
T-Mobile also has a non-trade-in JUMP! On Demand promotion that offers the 16GB iPhone 6s for $20 per month, or 16GB iPhone 6s Plus for $24 per month, for 18 months with zero dollars paid upfront. As with the new trade-in promotion, 64GB and 128GB models are available with upfront payments of $99.99 or $199.99 respectively.
T-Mobile will honor these deals for customers who already pre-ordered an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus with a trade in by issuing an upfront bill credit.
T-Mobile will begin selling the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus on September 25.
Fantastical 2 for Mac Updated With New Features, Support for OS X El Capitan
Fantastical 2 for Mac received a significant update today, adding support for OS X El Capitan and several interface tweaks to improve the Fantastical for Mac experience. Today’s 2.1 update adds a huge list of new features that were requested by Fantastical 2 users since the app first launched in March.
For users running OS X El Capitan, it’s now possible to swipe an event in a list to delete it. All users will be able to scroll to a specific day or week in the Week and Month views with a trackpad, and arrow keys now navigate in Day, Week, and Month views.
When working with Reminders, it’s now possible to organize them by list. They’ll also show up in Day, Week, and Month views, and there are shortcuts for cutting, copying, and pasting events and Reminders.
There are several new preferences options for the Menu bar icon and there are new font options. Flexibits has also fixed several bugs and improved overall performance when loading events with a lot of invitees. A full list of changes added in today’s update can be seen below:
– Full support for OS X El Capitan
– Ability to scroll to a specific day or week in the Week and Month views when using a trackpad
– Reminders now appear in the Day, Week, and Month views
– Reminders can now be organized by list
– Cut, copy, and paste events and reminders
– Added Dock app icon badge preference
– Additional options for Menu bar icon preference
– Text size setting now adjusts the text size in the Day, Week, and Month views
– Added Extra Small and Huge text size options
– Arrow keys can now navigate in the Day, Week, and Month views
– Invitee autocomplete now includes other users on CalDAV servers that support user lookup
– Improved drag-and-drop when dragging events or reminders to the Finder
– Use a pinch-and-zoom gesture to change the number of hours in the Day and Week views
– All-day section in Day and Week views now shows more events
– Added Message with Sound alerts for birthdays
– Swipe an event in the list to delete (OS X El Capitan only)
– Drag-and-drop URLs or text on event or reminder details to change the URL or note
– Added preference to disable going to today after adding new items
– Performance improvements when loading events with huge numbers of invitees
– Fixed an issue where the incorrect date would sometimes be shown when opening Fantastical
– Fixed an issue where times could appear shifted in the Day and Week views
– Fixed an issue where alerts couldn’t be removed on Google Calendar
– Fixed an issue where a single instance of a recurring invitation wouldn’t appear in the pending invitations section
– Fixed an issue where some invitations imported from .ics files didn’t allow responding to them
– Various fixes and improvements
Fantastical 2 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $39.99. [Direct Link]
iPad Pro Case Announcements Rolling Out Ahead of November Launch
Announced alongside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at Apple’s “Hey Siri” event earlier in September, the iPad Pro has seen a little less coverage than the company’s new smartphone line thanks to its less immediate launch date of November. All the same, a few companies have confirmed accessory support for the 12.9-inch tablet, with detailed information and pre-orders already up for some of the third-party cases.
First is Waterfield’s zippered iPad Travel Express case, which the company has offered for the iPad Air 2 in the past, and will now provide versions for the iPad Mini 4 ($64) and all-new iPad Pro ($89). Waterfield promises that the durable case will store charging cables, power bricks, the new Apple Pencil, and can even fit the full iPad Pro alongside the Smart Keyboard accessory Apple also introduced on September 9.
The Travel Express case comes with an optional shoulder strap accessory, sold separately, that customers can purchase to carry their iPad Pro hands-free. Waterfield’s iPad Pro case is up for pre-order now, but the company notes that those who order now can expect a shipping date of about a week-and-a-half after Apple begins shipping the iPad Pro units to customers.
Brenthaven’s BX² Sleeve Plus acts as sort of an active-lifestyle counterpart to Waterfield’s more classically designed case, with a “patent-pending Secure Grip handle” to provide users with a strengthened hold on the case alongside the company’s “Xtreme Foam” outer layer providing drop protection from all sides. The $49.95 case — available for purchase today — also has a smaller outer pocket to fit a smartphone or charging cable, and comes in both blue/black and red/black color options.
Catalyst touts its upcoming case for the iPad Pro as “the world’s first fully-waterproof case” for the new Apple tablet, with a waterproof rating of IP68 that can submerge up to 2m. The company says that full functionality of the iPad Pro is kept in check thanks to an “integrated touchscreen film,” allowing users access to Touch ID and all the promised nuances of the Apple Pencil.
The case will also provide unobstructed acoustic emissions from the iPad Pro’s four speakers, thanks to the location of a handful of “acoustic membranes” on the case. The Catalyst Case for iPad Pro is the only option not up for immediate purchase or pre-order today, with the company encouraging users to follow them on various social media platforms and sign up for their mailing list to be updated on its availability.
As with any major product launch, there are also a handful of cheaper knock-off options for customers to consider. On Amazon alone the cheapest alternative for an iPad Pro case is $6.99, with a few other, more intricate cases going up to around $29.99. With a launch in November, customers who plan to purchase Apple’s new big-screen tablet have plenty of time to shop around for a suitable case option, and should probably keep in mind that Apple will introduce its own first-party options into the mix as we get closer to the device’s launch.
AIVAnet 